Chapter 155

"What do you mean, you're not?!"

Boom!

The middle-aged man who had suddenly appeared didn't stop his attacks on Suho. His name was Baek Yoonho, the guild master of the White Tiger Guild and an S-rank Hunter. He had rushed to Pocheon as soon as he received Baek Miho's request for support.

'She said Hwang Dongsoo might be involved in the Jisan Prison breakout! And now I find this strange guy!'

His presence was truly unsettling. Baek Yoonho could bet everything on Suho being a villain. The ominous aura he had sensed the moment he entered Pocheon! The pungent smell of blood emanating from this suspicious guy he found while following that aura!

'There are only two kinds of people who give off such an eerie smell!'

A villain, or a bounty hunter who hunts villains. And Baek Yoonho was 200% certain that Suho was a villain. It was obvious, wasn't it? Someone skilled enough to dodge his, an S-rank's, attacks couldn't possibly be chasing mere villains. Besides, there was one more thing. Clear evidence that solidified his belief that this suspicious guy was a villain.

"You're not a villain? Do you think I'll fall for such a flimsy lie?! Reveal that ominous power you're hiding!"

Baek Yoonho relentlessly pressured Suho, who effortlessly countered his attacks. However, it was because Baek Yoonho wasn't using his full power yet. The S-rank Hunter's true strength was far beyond this. He was still holding back, wary of the 'ominous' power Suho was concealing.

"Ominous power?" Suho's brow furrowed at those words.

'It must be...'

[He's probably talking about Harmakan, my liege.] At Beru's whisper, Suho sighed softly.

Indeed. Harmakan, a Demonic Spirit, was a being whose very existence was ominous, corrupting the souls of others and using their despair as the source of his power. Suho had taken him in as a Shadow Soldier because he was useful, but he hadn't expected it to lead to such a troublesome misunderstanding.

'Just you wait, Harmakan.' Suho inwardly gritted his teeth, and Harmakan, sensing his displeasure, trembled in fear within the shadows.

Bzzzzzz.

[...]

Moreover, there was another reason for Suho's bad mood.

'Of all times...' Taking advantage of the chaos, Arsha had transformed into ordinary bees and was observing the situation from a distance.

"Where are you looking?! How dare you act nonchalant in front of me?!"

"Ugh." The continuous attacks from Baek Yoonho left no room for distraction. Suho grumbled and thought of the most efficient way to end this pointless fight.

Whoosh! Suho immediately changed direction and started running at full speed.

"Stop right there!"

Baek Yoonho, seeing Suho flee, chased after him with ferocious speed. He was genuinely dumbfounded. Who was he? He was Baek Yoonho, the strongest Beast Transformation Hunter alive. Surely, this villain knew that too.

"You might have avoided being caught initially, but you don't seriously think you can fool my senses and escape, do you?!"

Of course, if the opponent were an S-rank villain like Hwang Dongsoo, it would be a different story. But this young man was clearly not Hwang Dongsoo. No matter what power he was hiding, how dare he turn his back on an S-rank Hunter?! But...

'Wh-what's this?'

Something was strange. No, it was very strange!

'Why is he so fast?'

Baek Yoonho couldn't help but be flustered. No matter how much he chased, the distance between him and the fleeing villain didn't close. Of course, playing tag in a dense forest was tricky. The irregularly grown trees made it impossible to run in a straight line. In such situations, agility was usually more helpful than strength. However... seeing the guy running ahead, he couldn't make such excuses.

Crack! Crash! Boom! Boom! Boom!

"...What a brute."

The young man was running in a straight line, not dodging any trees but smashing through them with his body.

'Is he using some kind of running or dashing skill?'

No. It didn't feel like he was using any skills. Baek Yoonho, who had been constantly wary of the power Suho was hiding, could sense that he wasn't using any skills right now.

'...No, that can't be. It must be a skill.' Yes, it had to be a skill. If it wasn't, how could he do such a ridiculous thing with just pure strength...?

Shiver.

'W-wait a minute. Come to think of it!' A sense of foreboding washed over Baek Yoonho as he chased Suho.

'Could he be heading...?!'

As if to confirm his fears.

"...!"

Suddenly, the dense forest ended, and his vision opened up. And beyond that, a small village came into view. There, he saw the White Tiger guild members diligently rescuing the survivors of Yamri Village.

"Oh no!" Baek Yoonho, realizing Suho's intention, panicked. He immediately unleashed his full power.

Beast Transformation.

Complete Transformation.

His entire body began to morph into a monstrous form. Baek Yoonho hated showing this hideous appearance to others, so he rarely went all out unless absolutely necessary. But now wasn't the time for such concerns. At the end of the villain's path...! Baek Miho, his daughter and the vice president of the White Tiger Guild, was in the village, commanding the guild members!

'Despicable bastard! How dare he try to take my daughter hostage!'

KWAOOOOH!

The moment his Beast Transformation activated, his speed increased dramatically. And finally, his sharp claws were about to slash the villain's back.

"Hmm? Hunter Sung Suho?"

Baek Miho, sensing a familiar presence, turned her head and blinked.

"Why are you back? Did you forget something?"

"I'm here to deliver your father."

"...My dad?"

Gulp

At that moment, Baek Yoonho froze. And he was utterly bewildered, but in a completely different sense than before.

"...D-dad? You said dad?"

"..."

"..."

An awkward silence hung in the air amidst the rescue operation in Yamri Village, where numerous ambulances and healers were coming and going.

"..."

Of course, the only one with an awkward expression here was Baek Yoonho. And before him stood Baek Miho, arms crossed glaring at him.

"...Dad." Flinch… Baek Yoonho's shoulders flinched at his daughter's cold words.

"Aren't you going to apologize?"

"N-no. I really felt it, you know? I really sensed an ominous aura from him..."

"Then what kind of aura was it?"

"...I don't feel it at all now, though."

"Then maybe he picked it up while fighting villains here."

Baek Yoonho, intimidated by his daughter's sharp gaze, averted his eyes and muttered in a sulky voice. 

"But, you know, he reeks of blood all over..."

"That's obviously the blood of the villains."

"..."

"And of course he smells like blood when he's covered in it like that."

"..."

"Do you know? It was 500. The number of villains Hunter Sung Suho faced alone today."

"..."

Baek Miho's words were undeniably true, and Baek Yoonho's gaze sank lower and lower with each argument she made.

"And he couldn't even go home and shower because of someone."

"Honey, but still, you should use honorifics..."

"Hmph."

"..."

Baek Yoonho, having failed to gain any ground, lowered his head again. But even amidst this, he still couldn't shake his suspicion of Suho. Logically, it didn't make sense, but his senses were far more accurate than logic.

'The aura I felt wasn't a mistake.' And it was definitely something ominous, something a human couldn't possibly possess. In the end, Baek Yoonho decided to trust his instincts.

"Dad, stop it."

"Hey."

Ignoring his daughter's words from behind, he strode towards Suho. He reached out and grabbed Suho's shoulder, saying,

"Your name is Sung Suho, right? I heard you're a C-rank Hunter?"

Hah, as if. This guy, a C-rank Hunter? A mere C-rank Hunter defeating 500 villains alone? That was more absurd than a stray dog turning out to be a boss monster of a dungeon.

"False ranker." Baek Yoonho growled softly into Suho's ear.

A very small number of Hunters could control their magic power. If they wanted, they could lower their rank during the magic power measurement. These Hunters, who hid some of their magic power and received a lower rank than their actual one, were commonly called 'false rankers.' And...

"Most false rankers are twisted killers who enjoy massacres."

"...What are you trying to say?"

Baek Yoonho, seeing Suho's nonchalant expression, gave a meaningful smile and exuded an intimidating aura. He carefully imprinted Suho's face in his mind and pressed him further.

"Go to the Association right now and get re-evaluated. Of course, even then... I'll keep an eye on you. So be careful with everything you do... Hmm?" But something was odd. Eyes, nose, mouth... Baek Yoonho's expression grew increasingly strange as he memorized Suho's face.

"W-wait. Wait a minute!"

He hurriedly pulled out his phone from his pocket.

"No, th-that can't be..."

With trembling fingers, he opened an app on his phone and checked the profile picture of his most respected senior. And there it was...

[Chief Sung Il-Hwan]

A picture of his senior's 'beloved grandson' was proudly displayed on his profile. Baek Yoonho's eyes widened in disbelief.

"...Huh? Huhhh?"

"...?"

Suho couldn't help but look puzzled at Baek Yoonho, who had suddenly turned pale.