Ch. 221 - You too, Guild Leader. Behave yourself.

Name: Thomas Lee. 

Korean name: Lee Do.

This C-rank mage, who shares the same name as King Sejong, a renowned king of the Joseon Dynasty, was adopted into a third-generation Korean-American family at the age of seven.

Although the  circumstances of his biological parents was unfortunate, Thomas was fortunate to grow up with loving adoptive parents in a fairly wealthy household. His life was safe and stable until the age of twelve when disaster struck. A red gate appeared near his neighbourhood, causing a massive outbreak.

His adoptive parents lost their lives, and once again, Thomas became an orphan. From there, he bounced between foster homes before awakening as a hunter. It seemed like fate was urging him to fight, and he embraced the opportunity that so many others could only dream of.

Thomas possessed a brilliant mind and learned to hunt faster than anyone else. Utilizing his innate traits as a mage, he quickly rose to prominence. However, his growth was capped at C-rank due to his illness: mana poisoning.

Since the gates first appeared, Thomas had experienced allergic reactions to an unknown force that spread across the world.  Shortly after reaching C-rank, he developed mana poisoning.

Kang Mu-hyuk tried to imagine the struggles of a hunter afflicted by mana poisoning.

'I'm a hunter in name only, and I can't even use my own power to my heart's content, so it's even harder to hunt, let alone rank up.'

This came from an email Thomas had sent to Kang Chang-soo.

For many, revealing such a personal weakness to a stranger would be risky. But Thomas was open and forthright. He seemed to sense that Kang Mu-hyuk's research into mana poisoning might be his only chance. He laid himself bare, hiding nothing.

So Kang Mu-hyuk was considerate of him and dismissed the rest of the group and spoke with Thomas one-on-one. The two began an honest and uninhibited conversation.

"When the symptoms first started, you must have been in immense pain during each seizure attack. How did you manage that?"

"I suppressed it with mana."

"With mana? "

"It's ironic, but this disease---though caused by mana---can also be managed with mana."

Kang Mu-hyuk was taken aback. This perspective had never crossed his mind.

'Does my father know about this?'

He wondered about Thomas's suggested alternative, but almost immediately, dismissed the idea.

'Even if he did, it wouldn't matter. I'm not a hunter. There's no way a normal person can manipulate mana within his body.'

As if responding to his thoughts, Thomas added, "Of course, the control range is very limited. It puts a strain on the heart. I've found out a lot about this disease in all this time. If I weren't a hunter, I would've already died."

"How long has it been since you first fell ill?"

"Since I was twenty... so about four years."

"And you can still hunt?"

"Yes, it is possible. There are restrictions on the types and number of spells I can cast."

"I heard you're a mage. Which line are you currently active in?"

"The frontline."

"The frontline?"

 A guild's frontline is an elite raid team. Meaning hunters who go inside the gates.

Kang Mu-hyuk was puzzled. Even for a hunter, enduring the symptoms of mana poisoning proved difficult. The pain Thomas described in his email would take a significant toll on his body every time he went hunting. Going hunting was an arduous ordeal in itself. This? You could say this was torture.

"Your email mentioned severe unbearable symptoms---loss of vision, hearing loss, chest pain, vomiting, hemoptysis, and fainting---How can you continue hunting?"

"I'm what you'd call a short-cut mage."

"By short-cut, I'm sure you don't mean the cut of your hair. Does that mean you only cast one spell at a time like a single-shot?"

"Ah, my bad. My Korean isn't perfect, so I tend to make mistakes like that. struggle to express myself. You're right. Something like... one-time use? That's the closest term for it. But yes, regardless of the rank of the magic spell, I can successfully use it at least once. That's why I'm in the Ithaca Guild."

"Can you tell me more about this ability?"

Thomas hesitated briefly before agreeing.

"I think it's best if I start by explaining my unique traits."

"Are you sure about that? A hunter's traits are usually confidential and not even disclosed to their guild."

"I believe knowing them is necessary for you to understand my current situation."

Kang Mu-hyuk couldn't hide his surprise from the start. The meaning of a hunter's trait carried significant weight. Traits weren't just abilities granted at the moment of awakening; they embodied inherited knowledge and newly acquired power---an instinctive ability naturally accepted and expressed that felt as natural as a long-held habit.

This trait created vast differences among hunters of the same rank, making them one of the most closely guarded secrets. For this reason, Kang Mu-hyuk knew little about Ju Se-ah's traits beyond what was publicly known. She had no intention of revealing them, and he didn't press to find out---it was an unspoken rule in the industry to feign ignorance even if you knew.

Similarly, Thomas hadn't fully disclosed his traits to the Ithaca Guild. He shared only essential details, cleverly modifying them to produce similar effects. He couldn't avoid sharing the most basic details as traits directly influenced guild raid strategies. Aware of this, Kang Mu-hyuk sat up straight.

"I'll listen with one ear and let it go out the other. I won't share anything about your traits with anyone else."

"You didn't need to swear an oath. If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have come here."

"Trust and having no alternative are two very different things. You don't have any other option other than me, so trusting me is like taking a risk. It's not too late---you can still keep your traits hidden."

"Thank you for the advice. But now that it's come up, I feel I have to share. My trait is called 'Mana Companion.' It allows me to feel, see, touch, and directly influence mana."

At first, his explanation didn't make much sense, but Kang Mu-hyuk caught on to one part about seeing mana.

"When you see mana, does it look like mist, flowing like wind, a little colourful?"

"So you know about it. Can you see mana too, Guild Leader?"

"Yes, I can see it. I think I understand what it's like to touch it."

Kang Mu-hyuk thought back to Aila, recalling the way her hands seemed to play with the mana in the wind during their first meeting. Thomas's eyes lit up with interest.

"Can you touch mana?"

"No, but I know someone who can."

"Is it Guild Master Ju Se-ah by any chance...?"

"No, it's someone else--- someone unrelated to mana poisoning. I can't reveal their identity; I gave my word."

"I see. I must've overstepped. I got excited since you're the first person I've met who can see mana, let alone touch it."

"I understand. Mana is really... fascinating."

Fascinating was the only word Kang Mu-hyuk could use. Though he could see mana, he couldn't wield it, leaving him unable to describe it beyond its allure.

"It's more than fascinating. Sensing mana allows all kinds of possibilities."

"Possibilities?... Like what?"

"You know mana has properties, right?"

"Yes, typically classified by elemental properties."

"There's more to it. As for mana ---sometimes it's tough, some are light, others are strong. I call this its 'personality.'"

"What difference does knowing a mana's personality make?"

"For starters, it makes combinations possible."

"Combinations?"

"Let me show you."

Thomas opened his palm, and a small flame appeared above it. It was the most commonly used elemental magic, fire property. It was the element with the greatest destructive power and the widest range of applications.

"Now, if I mix a tough personality into it, like this...."

The flames stretched and coiled, forming a rope-like shape.

"Flame wire?"

The moment Kang Mu-hyuk fully caught on to the transformation of Thomas's magic, the hotel door burst open with a loud crash.

"Guild Leader!"

Jang Deuk-goo, No Songrin, and Go Eul-ji stormed in, weapons drawn. Go Eulji's dominating power squeezed Thomas. Kang Mu-hyuk quickly intervened.

"It's fine! Thomas was just using his skills to demonstrate a spell."

"Oh, I see. We overreacted. We'll head back out then."

Jang Deuk-goo left immediately, but No Songrin glared at Thomas, spinning the karambit knife in her hand as if issuing a silent warning. Meanwhile, Go Eul-ji muttered gruffly while fixing the broken door.

"Hey, Tomato. Don't get any ideas. If you try anything stupid with our leader, you'll lose your balls before you know it."

"I'm touched by your concern for my safety. Truly, as a  Guild Leader, I'm moved."

"You too, Guild Leader. Behave yourself. If anything happens to you, the guild master will kill me. And I'd rather not die before my oppas retire."

Once she left, Kang Mu-hyuk resumed the conversation.

"That spell earlier wasn't flame wire, was it?"

"No, it wasn't."

"Then, was it Fire chain?"

"No. The only fire-related spells I have are Fire Stick and Fire Wall."

"But how did you cast that spell...?"

"It's by harnessing the property of mana. I can use magic to some extent without formally learning any skills."

"!!"

***

Washington, D.C.--- the political epicentre of the United States, the hub of the economy and the hunter world.

When people think of this city, the White House is the first thing that comes to mind. However, the original White House was destroyed during the Great War, leaving no trace of its existence.

In its place now stands the Pure White House (PWH), a governing body whose name was like a pun playing on the idea of a "Perfect White House." Of course, people still called it the White House. But while the shell was the same, the core was something entirely different.

The biggest difference between the previous White House and the PWH was the Hunter Policy Bureau.

This department was responsible for studying and forecasting the influence of hunters on the nation and society, addressing their impact across diverse fields such as politics, the economy, and religion. Though its existence is hidden from the general public, the Hunter Policy Bureau can be said to be the central axis that oversees the Hunter world in the shadows.

Hamilton, the head of the department, was grappling with a pressing report that had just arrived from the West.

"Rider Wolf? Isn't that a business venture the Federation has been involved with?"

"Yes. It's a mount monster sourced from Iron Will in Korea. I've heard they're attempting to establish connections with a Western Guild."

"This is happening in the West but it'll be the East that is going to get noisy."

"I doubt the East will sit idly by. If they want to maintain their dominance in gate conquests, they'll need to ensure that the only mounts available in North America come from their ranches."

"I'm about to get some harassing calls now..."

Before Hamilton could finish speaking, the phone rang.

"There it is"

"Should I step out?"

"No superior wants their subordinates to witness them cower in front of their financial backer. Let's pick this up later."

Hamilton took a few deep breaths before answering the phone.

"Hamilton here. I figured you'd call. Yes, I'm aware of the situation. The West, right? Rider Wolf. No, the President hasn't been briefed yet. Let's arrange a meeting. Sure. The White House might be a bit hesitant. I'll go to you. You can focus on preparing some good whiskey."

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