Chapter : 12
Yellow Belt (4)
The climate of the Yellow Belt itself seemed to carry a will—one that treated outsiders with hostility.
During the day, the sun blazed down fiercely, pressing against the land with oppressive heat.
But once the sun set, everything reversed.
The scorching warmth of the day vanished, replaced entirely by a cold, suffocating darkness.
At night, temperatures dropped sharply, creating the illusion that this place had turned into an entirely different world.
A desolate land ruled by monsters became, after dusk, a place where icy winds raged and the air grew so cold it felt like it could cut flesh.
“Haah.”
Each time Park Jin-tae exhaled, his breath spread white into the air.
‘Damn it! This is ridiculous! Why the hell am I trapped in a place like this? It’s all because of that bitch.’
As he thought of Lee Yeon-hee, his burning anger surged through him.
Soon, that anger shifted from her to Seoyul.
“What rank is that Management Bureau hunter?”
“Usually around Grade 8.”
“What?”
To think a mere Grade 8 was pushing him—someone whose father was a candidate for Supreme Court judge—into such a corner felt absurd.
“I can’t believe I’m obeying that bastard and staying here!”
As Park Jin-tae glared at Heo Tae-woong, the latter responded calmly despite his own frustration.
“If your appointment goes through, even a small scandal could strip away your authority. Are you sure that’s fine?”
“……”
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Park Jin-tae fell silent.
Heo Tae-woong snorted.
“That’s why. Still, don’t worry too much.”
“Why?”
“This isn’t the time when hornets are active. It’s not completely safe, but it’s better to deal with that guy now and leave.”
“Right. That works. Kill him, get out of here, and then take that girl—”
At that moment—
“How exactly?”
Seoyul appeared in front of Park Jin-tae in the blink of an eye.
“Gyaaah!”
“You bastard! Are you playing with me?!”
Park Jin-tae screamed in shock, while Heo Tae-woong swung his fist at Seoyul.
But to Seoyul, that moment looked like slow motion.
‘So this is what a higher state of ability feels like.’
Seoyul shifted the punch aside with his palm and struck upward with his other hand.
CRACK!
Heo Tae-woong bit his tongue, and blood sprayed from his mouth.
Even that alone was enough to subdue him, but Seoyul followed with a brutal strike using his spear, Roga, into his abdomen.
“Ugh! Cough!”
Heo Tae-woong doubled over in a “ㄱ” shape, trembling uncontrollably.
Seoyul shoved him aside.
“You… do you know who I am?”
“Park Jin-beom’s son, right? So what?”
“What?”
That completely unexpected answer left Park Jin-tae stunned.
Seoyul kicked him in the ribs.
CRACK!
Park Jin-tae tried to block it with his arms—but it was pointless.
His arms shattered, followed by his ribs breaking like dry twigs.
“AAAAAAAAAAAH!”
Overwhelmed by pain he had never experienced before, he collapsed in tears and snot.
“So? What were you going to do to Yeon-hee once you got out?”
“P-please spare me! I was wrong! I won’t mess around again!”
For the first time in his life, Park Jin-tae felt true fear.
Until now, everyone had knelt before his father’s power—and he had mistaken that for his own strength.
Now, he realized it was never his strength at all.
“Even flies beg, you know? You think shaking your hands will clean off what’s stuck to you? You’re more like filth.”
CRACK!
Seoyul smashed both of his hands with his spear shaft without hesitation.
“AAAAAAAH! YOU SON OF A BITCH!”
Still, Park Jin-tae glared at him fiercely through tears.
“What? Why are your eyes like that? You got the devil in them?”
Like a mad dog, only violence worked.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
Seoyul beat him just enough to avoid killing him.
“Ugh… aaah…”
Covered in bruises, Park Jin-tae finally collapsed face-first, unable to resist any longer.
Heo Tae-woong, equally beaten, lay beside him in the same position.
“Haa…”
Each breath came out as cold white mist.
Every part of his body ached, and all he wanted was to lie down in a warm bed.
“You still think you can leave?”
Reading their thoughts, Seoyul spoke casually.
“Please… we’ll do anything…”
Heo Tae-woong’s expression was desperate.
Seoyul turned his back slowly.
‘Are we being spared?’
Just as hope flickered in them—
Grrrrr.
A chill ran through their bodies.
From the surrounding trees, glowing red eyes appeared.
Direwolves.
Hungry monsters that had been waiting for the hornets’ activity to calm down during the day had now emerged at night.
And before them were two very appetizing humans.
‘Damn it… no strength left…’
Panicking, Heo Tae-woong shouted:
“Please! You said you’d do anything!”
“Is that a request… or an order?”
“I’m just begging! I’m begging to live!”
“Right. You’re begging to live.”
“The people you harmed probably begged too.”
“……”
“I thought about it. It seems better if you two just disappear from this world.”
With that, Seoyul walked away toward the Direwolves.
Grrrrr!
The Direwolves ignored Seoyul completely and rushed straight toward Park Jin-tae and Heo Tae-woong.
“W-WHAT?! THIS CAN’T BE—!”
Heo Tae-woong froze in disbelief.
Direwolves distinguish between weak and strong.
They hunt in packs and will attack what they believe they can kill—but they never bare their fangs against an opponent they cannot face.
And if such a being shows no hostility, they simply pass by.
Yet now, they were clearly ignoring Seoyul.
And devouring the two men instead.
“Aaaagh! Don’t come here! GET LOST!”
Park Jin-tae scrambled desperately—but it was useless.
His screams were cut off as the Direwolves tore into him, erasing him from the world.
After finishing them off, Seoyul walked toward the Yellow Belt exit, scanning the surroundings.
The eerie atmosphere would have frightened him before—but now it only fueled his curiosity.
“…Not bad. This is a good place to grow.”
The labyrinth was nearly half-destroyed, but his increased capacity had unlocked many new traps.
‘If I’m at Hidden Class Lv.2 now… what will Lv.3 allow me to do?’
The feeling of possessing a class no one in the world could fully understand was thrilling.
While lost in thought—
Flash!
He suddenly sensed something and stiffened.
A cold wind blew through the silent forest.
Nothing was visible.
‘No. It’s over there.’
A distance of about 2km.
There, mounted on a grotesque tree, was a corpse impaled on branches like decoration.
At its top sat a hornet nest.
‘Sting Hawk, Honey Slasher, Swarm Pit, Wing Lash.’
Seoyul silently named each one.
Hornets.
Normally dungeon hornets were weak, often C-rank monsters of a single type.
But this nest contained four different species with distinct roles and weapons.
And in ambush conditions, they could even kill B-rank hunters.
‘I want them.’
The current labyrinth monsters were Ghouls and Red Goblins.
Not bad—but Ghouls were slow and Goblins were weak and disorganized.
Hornets were different.
They were dangerous enough to nearly break through the Spear’s labyrinth.
‘The one watching me… is probably the queen.’
At the top of the hierarchy stood the Queen Bee.
She was wary of Seoyul.
Even S-rank hunters would normally just be avoided—but Seoyul was different.
He could identify and hunt them precisely.
And he had already destroyed them in unpredictable ways.
To the queen, Seoyul was a catastrophe.
A variable capable of destroying her entire kingdom.
[Quest Generated]
[Extermination Quest]
- Eliminate the monster swarm: Hornets
[Description]
- The Queen of the Hornets is wary of Seoyul, whose presence may shift the power balance of the Yellow Belt. If not eliminated, the swarm will enter breeding season.
[Restrictions]
- Party play allowed
- Target condition: Those who have drawn the Queen’s attention
- Time limit: 10 days
[Rewards]
- Poison Fang Dagger
- 100 Gold
- Queen Scepter Royal Jelly
[Penalty]
- 50% performance reduction against insect-type monsters
It was good news—but the penalty was severe.
He wanted to fight them immediately, but it was already night, and there was too much to clean up.
Above all, his accumulated fatigue weighed him down.
‘Not in peak condition. Next time I come back, it won’t be so easy for them.’
And when he returned—
They would be ready.
‘Well… I’ll prepare my own gift too.’
Seoyul slipped out through the hidden gap in Kang Jeong-min’s barrier.
“Yeon-hee!”
“Dad! Mom!”
Lee Yeon-hee ran into her parents’ arms, crying.
Watching them, Seoyul muttered casually:
“Think I’ll get a year’s rent waived for this?”
“You’re as self-interested as ever when rescuing people.”
“I’m joking. Do you really think I’m like that?”
Seoyul glared at Kang Jeong-min, who was smoking an electronic cigarette nearby.
“Honestly? That’d be a lie if I said no.”
“…I only hoped a little. Just a bit.”
They chuckled.
Kang Jeong-min then briefed him:
“I already reported Park Jin-tae and the insiders to higher-ups. That will blow up soon. And the media will broadcast what he did—something like ‘son of a judge who tried to assault a classmate.’ They love sensational headlines. Either way, his school life is over.”
“She’ll get through it. She’s strong.”
Seoyul smiled bitterly.
“And you? You’ll be labeled a whistleblower.”
Kang Jeong-min scratched his head irritably.
“Just get promoted and pay me back! Seriously, I’m annoyed!”
He lit another cigarette.
Seoyul nodded firmly.
“Wait. I’ll repay you.”
“I’ve been waiting seven years for that, idiot.”
“Hey! Who’s smoking like a chimney in front of Yeon-hee?!”
At that moment, Lee Jin-soo walked over holding one slipper like a weapon.
“Kehek!”
Startled, Kang Jeong-min coughed out smoke.
“Dad, he helped me!”
“Oh! A honored guest! Please, come inside! I’ll treat you all today!”
Their tone suddenly flipped completely.
Seoyul and Kang Jeong-min exchanged awkward looks and followed them inside.
