By Zephyria 
‘He’s turned into a complete thug!’
Not only was he wearing sunglasses and a Hawaiian shirt, but his face was adorned with piercings, and he was draped in flashy gold necklaces and bracelets, with tattoos covering his body. Kim Si-baek could almost hallucinate a black loan-shark bag hanging by his side.
The older brother and guardian, who had raised Pi Min-hyeong after he was abandoned in front of an orphanage as an infant with nothing but a slip of paper with his name on it, felt a wave of despair.
‘I told him so many times that he shouldn’t grow up to be a gangster or a thug!’
Unlike Tae-un, who had studied hard despite nearly beating to death any kid who picked a fight, Pi Min-hyeong hadn’t studied at all. Even when he entered middle school, the first-year student—who still looked like an elementary schooler—had charged head-first into the third-year bullies. Moreover, since school fights were usually a contest of physicality, he had even managed to win a one-on-one fight against Tae-un, who was smaller than their peers.
He had been on the verge of becoming a delinquent, so not only Kim Si-baek, but the nuns and priests had used every means possible—nagging, persuading, shielding, and scolding him…
‘…No. Min-hyeong was a good kid, so this is… yes. It’s fashion. It’s just fashion. Un-i said Min-hyeong was a hunter, not a gangster…’
In terms of a menacing appearance, wasn’t Tae-un actually worse?
Recalling Tae-un, who had the impression of a gangster but seemed to run his guild diligently, Kim Si-baek regained his composure. Unaware of his inner turmoil, Pi Min-hyeong laid down the person he had been carrying next to the group and scurried over to Tae-un, who continued to ignore him.
“Hey, hey. Tae, Tae. Tae-tae-tae. Where’d you hide your lover?”
“I told you, they are not my lover!”
Seo Gae-un, who had arrived carrying two unconscious people—one on her back and one tucked under her arm—slapped Pi Min-hyeong on the back the moment she set them down.
“You crazy bastard! I could break a bone if I get hit by you!”
“I’ve told you how many times already!”
“They are your lover! They are! I heard it from CEO Choi!”
“Do you actually trust that old man’s mouth?!”
The two began to waste their energy on a pointless argument. Meanwhile, the civilians they had escorted here approached hesitantly.
Pi Min-hyeong continued to pester Tae-un, who ignored him completely as if he couldn’t hear, while scanning the area with a penlight. However, the moment a survivor was spotted, he immediately went to retrieve them. Kim Si-baek felt relieved, thinking that while his fashion was that of a thug, his nature seemed to remain kind. Though the third-year bullies who had fought Pi Min-hyeong and Tae-un twenty-one years ago would likely disagree.
The survivors they found were either shivering alone or gathered in small groups. After searching the vicinity, they found over thirty people. Not a single one was a hunter.
“It’s rare for this many people to be swept in when an Id Portal opens.”
“Is he not your typical ‘insider’?”
As Kim Si-baek wondered what ‘insider’ meant during Pi Min-hyeong and Seo Gae-un’s conversation, Tae-un quickly explained.
“It refers to someone who is socially active and extroverted. The number of people capable of entering an Id Portal is somewhat related to their personality.”
“So, are we going to clear it now?”
“The Invitation Bureau might send supporting hunters, so let’s wait a bit longer. While you can’t leave before the clear, entry is possible. Though it’s impossible for too many people. Right, Seo Gae-un?”
“Uh, yes. It would be better to wait. But why are you suddenly asking me…?”
Despite seeking her opinion first, Tae-un ignored her confusion.
“Let’s do as Gae-un says.”
Kim Si-baek also nodded. Even if it was an unfamiliar portal, he wasn’t lacking in confidence that he could clear it, but there were only four people capable of fighting and many people to protect. Even a momentary gap could easily lead to casualties among the helpless civilians, and Kim Si-baek was always accustomed to fighting to protect others.
After that, it was a period of waiting in one spot. Since magical beasts were rare in the outskirts, a bored Pi Min-hyeong brought up the topic of the lover again.
“Hello. I’m Pi Min-hyeong. You’re Tae-un’s companion, right?”
“…Yes. I am Kim Si-baek.”
Having experienced his younger brother greeting him as if he didn’t know him at all for the third time, Kim Si-baek was able to react calmly. Controlling his agitation by clenching his fist once, he offered an appropriate greeting for the situation.
“I’ve heard a lot about you from Un-i.”
Pi Min-hyeong’s eyes widened.
“Whoa, damn. You’re the first person I’ve seen call Tae-un that intimately besides the nuns. Are you really his lover? I don’t care if that bastard is gay, so you can tell me comfortably.”
“That’s not it…”
Tae-un, who should have wrapped up the conversation, stood a short distance away with his arms crossed as if it were someone else’s business. Why was he just smiling?
The one who helped was Seo Gae-un, who returned after slicing through a magical beast with her battle axe.
“I was told that he’s not a lover, but an elder and mentor to Tae-un oppa. So Min-hyeong oppa, stop being arrogant and treat him with utmost respect and courtesy.”
“Wait, how old is he to be an ‘elder’? Honestly, he looks younger than us. Is he just that youthful?”
Seo Gae-un was also curious about that part, so she turned her gaze toward him. He could feel the civilians gathered nearby glancing at him, unable to hide their curiosity.
Feeling a bit awkward, he looked back to see that Tae-un had already pulled out his ID card from his wallet and was waving it provocatively.
“….”
I guess that’s the only way…
[Death and beauty would rather cover their ears.]
Kim Si-baek took a deep breath and spoke with a faint blush on his face.
“…I’m 9.”
“39? How do you take care of your skin?”
“No. 49. Born in the 7X’s.”
The first word was hard, but once it was out, it was nothing. It was embarrassing to shamelessly lie about his age, but who would believe he was close to 100 with this face? It was Tae-un who was strange for believing everything at the first word.
“…He really is an elder.”
Pi Min-hyeong, whose mouth had dropped open upon hearing the age, quickly corrected his posture and bowed his waist at a right angle.
“Elder, then I shall serve you as a hyung-nim. Hey, you, put your head down too.”
“I already did that the last time I saw him.”
Feeling as if he were receiving a greeting from a gangster rather than a younger brother, Kim Si-baek pretended not to hear the whispers of the other surprised people.
Not long after, the edges of the instance dungeon shimmered, and hunters from the Supernatural Phenomenon Response Agency entered. The person leading them happened to be Gwak Yun-sang, who was acquainted with Kim Si-baek.
“I expected the Guild Master to be swept in, but what brings you two here?”
“I got caught while coming to meet Tae-un, I suppose.”
“Anyway, it’s good. Is anyone injured?”
There was no one who needed treatment. Before searching for the core while escorting the civilians, Gwak Yun-sang first looked at the Guild Master, Tae-un.
“The Guild Master and the two hunters who entered in the first wave might be enough to clear it, but since there are many civilians, may I lead the clear?”
Id Portals are not very cost-effective relative to the time spent. Civilians had to be protected, and because the number of entrants was limited, they couldn’t even transport the hunted magical beasts; it was a one-time dungeon, not a field. If pressed for time, they might not even be able to extract the magic stones.
Thus, it was customary for the hunter from the Supernatural Phenomenon Response Agency to hold command to avoid wasting time on power struggles, and Gwak Yun-sang’s words were merely a formal question. However, Tae-un’s reaction was sharp.
“Section Chief Gwak, it is quite unpleasant that you would spread fabricated facts in my presence.”
Gwak Yun-sang’s heart sank. Exactly which part had he messed up?
“Ha, haha! I must have made a slip of the tongue. Of course, the Guild Master is capable of clearing this solo…”
“No, that’s not it. There’s no way I’d be helpful in clearing a portal. What power do I have? I’m so faint-hearted that I feel like I’ll faint just witnessing the sight of a magical beast being hunted. I’m afraid of blood. It’s truly horrific.”
“…What?”
“Pi Min-hyeong and Seo Gae-un do the clearing, and I just get carried by them. The best I could do was not be a burden. It’s always been like that; don’t you remember?”
“….”
A strange silence descended not only over Gwak Yun-sang but over everyone present. Had that man, who was known as a mad dog, finally actually gone insane?
“Eh? The Guild Master, just last month… mmp!”
Pi Min-hyeong clamped his palm over the mouth of Bae Jihan, who was about to intervene tactlessly.
“You two, tell him. He’s only standing on the field because he’s the Guild Master, but in reality, he never got used to it and his legs were shaking from fear, right? Wasn’t that it?”
“That… th-that…”
“Uh, uh… because you’re… a scrub? Yeah, that’s right. You scrub.”
While Pi Min-hyeong and Seo Gae-un answered Tae-un clumsily, their eyes were fixed on Kim Si-baek. That man was barking nonsense he had never uttered before, and the only thing that had changed in the surrounding environment was one person.
“So, hyung.”
Tae-un, who had not taken any initiative other than searching for survivors since being forcibly entered into the Id Portal for this very moment, spoke gloomily.