Chapter 27
Persuading people with words was the job of politicians.
Picking up a sword and fighting directly was the job of combat-type Hunters.
Then what about me?
What was someone like me, a sculptor and production-type Hunter, supposed to do?
Isn't it obvious?
Make art.
And if I wanted to screw over the Association through artistic work right now....
I hurriedly grabbed my phone.
Then I immediately presented one possibility to the confused Kim Sang-hyeon.
"What do you think would happen to the massive Gate raid if I gave you an item on the level of an A-Class item within a month?"
"..."
After the sound of him drawing in a breath, the other end of the phone went completely silent.
I didn't get impatient.
I simply waited.
Kim Sang-hyeon knew about the Scale Sword too.
He should understand that when I said an item on the level of A-Class, I meant something comparable to an A-Class item obtained from a Gate.
There were only a handful of known Gate-produced A-Class items in the world.
And every single one was currently being used by an S-Class Hunter.
Those Hunters all displayed significantly greater combat power than other S-Classes.
No one could claim their A-Class Gate items had nothing to do with that.
Well, that's only natural. Even handmade items above A-Class are rare enough that plenty of S-Class Hunters still walk around using B-Class equipment.
Apparently Kim Sang-hyeon finished calculating things.
He finally spoke.
"If it's truly an item on the level of A-Class, I believe Yeonwoo Guild could clear the Gate on our own. Artist Do, are you really capable of that?"
"More precisely, I'll make you an item containing a Story. A weapon with a special ability like <Yeonwoo's Comfort Frog Keychain>, the one I gave Guild Master Shin Ha-gyeon."
"...You mean an effect that isn't classified as either a skill or a stat."
"Exactly. I recently made Taepyeong Guild another item containing a Story. It gained an effect related to mental interference. But even though the item itself was only C+, that effect still worked on an A-Class Hunter."
"The jangseung's effect has already become a rather pitifully famous story within the industry. Apparently the thief who broke into Taepyeong Guild caused a huge scene in the lobby, crying and screaming. But I had no idea the item itself was only C+...."
Kim Sang-hyeon let out a genuine sound of admiration.
I added something else, almost as if answering his expectations.
"The item I'll make this time should rank higher than that one."
"Oh...."
"If you can make the preparation period at least a month and a half, I'll produce two items for you within that time."
"Two? Artist Do, are you serious?"
His normally calm voice shot upward.
"With two items, it's absolutely possible! We will definitely live up to your expectations."
At this point, it felt like the fact that Yeonwoo Guild would gain two A-Class-level items mattered more to him than the massive Gate with only three months remaining until its Break.
If they can guarantee a clear within a month and a half as long as they have the weapons, that's some confidence.
Definitely worthy of South Korea's number-one guild.
His confidence made me more certain too.
Shin Ha-gyeon and Kim Sang-hyeon.
If those two S-Class Hunters carry my works.... the entire board changes.
They had been national heroes since the early days of the Gate Crisis.
These days, they ran the guild and didn't personally clear Gates as often.
Even so, plenty of older people still remembered them as young heroes who had appeared whenever the country faced a crisis.
If those two from Yeonwoo Guild stepped forward and cleared the massive Gate before the Association could steal the spotlight....
Then all the fear the Association created would turn into overwhelming goodwill toward Yeonwoo Guild instead.
Even the media outlets that constantly attacked guilds and Hunters would have no choice but to praise Yeonwoo Guild then.
The positive image the Association intended to claim for itself would belong to Yeonwoo Guild.
The balance between guilds and the Association might even tilt slightly toward the guilds.
"Come to think of it, it's almost been a year since I signed with Yeonwoo Guild. Let's count these against the commission rights in our contract."
"Haha! Excellent. If Yeonwoo Guild succeeds in clearing the Gate alone this time, I'll gift you some of the byproducts. A massive Gate should produce quite a profitable haul."
"I'll gladly accept them. But I assume you'll still be paying the normal commission fee."
"You've become quite skilled at business."
Kim Sang-hyeon laughed.
"Of course. Consider the byproducts a gift from a fan who's just fallen for Artist Do all over again."
He sounded delighted by the fact that they wouldn't have to hand the Association a single unnecessary coin.
"Then I'll go tell the guild master this wonderful news. It's been a long time since we've had a chance to hit the Association where it hurts!"
The call ended faster than any I'd ever had with him.
I looked at the phone and grinned.
"All right. Then what should I make if I really want the Association's stomach to hurt?"
They'd pulled all those tricks because they wanted my S-Class production skill.
How would they feel when they realized their actions had only resulted in Yeonwoo Guild gaining excellent items?
"Guild Master Shin Ha-gyeon, let's make this easy. What we're asking isn't that difficult, is it?"
"Since when did asking Yeonwoo Guild to clear a massive Gate alone become something that isn't difficult?"
Bang! Bang!
"Are you going to keep pretending you don't understand? I'm talking about Crafter Do Hwa-in. Do Hwa-in, the crafter Yeonwoo Guild snatched away!"
The director of the External Cooperation Department slammed the table with a deep frown.
Shin Ha-gyeon couldn't have cared less.
He sat with his legs crossed, lazily bouncing one foot as he deliberately dragged out the meeting.
He even kept checking the phone in his hand every now and then, openly showing that he was waiting for a call.
It was enough to drive the Association insane.
Because the person Shin Ha-gyeon was waiting to hear from was obviously Kim Sang-hyeon.
They couldn't even yell at him to pay attention.
Despite his casual attitude, Shin Ha-gyeon answered every question immediately.
It was multitasking that only made the Association suffer.
"Let's get one thing straight. When did we ever snatch him away? All I remember is welcoming a talented man who walked in on his own two feet."
"You've had plenty of fun for the past year, haven't you? Share that talent for the public good."
"That's not Yeonwoo Guild's decision. It's Artist Do Hwa-in's decision."
Shin Ha-gyeon smiled.
"Oh, and Artist Do prefers being called Artist rather than Crafter. Keep that in mind when you publish your articles."
"Guild Master Shin Ha-gyeon!"
Shin Ha-gyeon only wiggled his foot irritatingly.
They hid the information about a massive Gate until now, and they have the nerve to act this shameless?
There was no way a massive Gate with only three months remaining until Break had appeared at such perfect timing unless they'd discovered it earlier and waited.
Even the claim that it was a Sudden-Type Gate might have been a lie.
Damn it. If only they hadn't taken the Gate Emergence Forecasting Device away from us.
Back when Yeonwoo Guild was still only a mid-sized guild...
The Association had seized control of the Gate Emergence Forecasting Device under the argument that it was too important to be managed by a single guild.
Yeonwoo Guild and Badger Guild had paid for practically all the investment.
Yet the Association had taken the profits.
The justification of it being a strategic national asset had simply been too powerful.
If the Association weren't the only ones controlling the forecasting system, we could at least search for evidence.
Even though Shin Ha-gyeon looked relaxed, his insides were burning.
The short time remaining until the Gate Break was one thing.
But he was also furious at the Association for apparently hiding a massive Gate.
They were gambling with citizens' lives just to pressure him into terminating a contract with a crafter.
They created the entire disaster themselves, then tried to make the guilds clean it up.
And what irritated him most was how the Association constantly restrained Hunters while still relying on Hunters whenever anything actually went wrong.
What happened to that man who said he'd stand at the very front so no sacrifice or death would be in vain?
Shin Ha-gyeon had watched the Association President's speech at the thirty-fifth anniversary memorial ceremony.
It had been broadcast on television.
Even then, he'd laughed bitterly several times while listening.
Now it simply felt absurd.
The thought of Yeonwoo suddenly made his stomach twist.
To hide it as much as possible, he deliberately raised a hand and slowly covered the area from his mouth to his chin.
Apparently the director mistook the gesture for serious consideration.
His voice softened persuasively.
"Think about it. One terminated contract makes everything easy. Yeonwoo Guild can cooperate with other small and medium guilds and clear the Gate safely. Crafter Do Hwa-in can work for the country while receiving public support."
The director raised his voice.
"And the Association can distribute various items fairly among Hunters and maintain the balance of power."
"..."
"That's how a country develops! A safe South Korea! Aren't you the person who wants a safe South Korea more than anyone, Guild Master Shin Ha-gyeon? Don't you represent the bereaved families of the Gate Storm?"
Shin Ha-gyeon's brows tightened slightly.
He released the mana he'd been suppressing.
And let it run wild.
The pressure filling the room felt as though gravity itself had doubled.
Crack.
The walls began to split.
Despite the instinctive terror of the situation, the director forced the corners of his mouth upward.
His back hunched.
His hands and feet trembled.
Yet he kept smiling.
That alone showed just how obsessive the Association was.
The heavy silence was broken by Shin Ha-gyeon's phone ringing.
He checked the screen.
Kim Sang-hyeon.
Shin Ha-gyeon deliberately answered at a leisurely pace.
He had controlled the range of his mana carefully enough that the phone remained perfectly intact.
"..."
He silently listened to Kim Sang-hyeon.
Then ended the call.
In an instant, Shin Ha-gyeon gathered all of his mana back.
The irritation on his face had vanished.
Instead, he looked so bright that the director immediately felt a sense of dread.
"Oh dear. It seems our precious talent, Artist Do Hwa-in, has solved Yeonwoo Guild's difficult situation for us."
A beat later, the director remembered the wordplay they'd been exchanging.
No way....
"Haha! Apparently he's going to make not one, but two completely unique items for Yeonwoo Guild, all because we're being forced to enter that massive Gate alone."
"..."
"Looks like I don't have any reason to sit here anymore."
Shin Ha-gyeon stood.
"I'm heading home. Your workday goes until seven, doesn't it, Director? Good luck."
Scrape. Creak.
Even the sound of the chair dragging across the floor seemed mocking.
The director's hands began trembling for an entirely different reason.
Was the pressure on Do Hwa-in too weak? I adjusted it so that someone unfamiliar with fame would feel frightened....
