NOVEL NEXT Chapter 43
Chapter 43. Thump Thump
“So you’re saying you’re going to pass the party leader position to me.”
“Just to clarify, this isn’t something I thought up on a whim. I’ve been considering it since the Giant Cat Monster incident.”
Party leader.
It literally means the highest-ranking person at the party.
In a large guild, depending on the results, the party leader is positioned just below the Guild Master and Vice Guild Master.
You could say they represent the face of the party.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. Besides, you already act like a party leader anyway.”
“……”
“That doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. It just means you’re better suited for the job than I am.”
Recalling the recent events, Yoo Ji-han honestly had nothing to say.
He was the one who decided to fight the monster chicken in the first MA, and it was his choice to jump out the apartment window with Kim Si-hu to escape the Giant Cat Monster.
Not only that, but he had even led temporary party members through paths obtained via sampling at the golf course.
Yoo Ji-han thought all those were appropriate judgments, but there was no doubt those actions were executed under Kim Si-hu’s leadership, not his.
“Your ability to analyze situations is far superior to mine, so I’d like to leave all on-the-spot judgments to you.”
“That’s not an easy decision to make.”
Yoo Ji-han took on a very serious expression.
Passing the party leader position wasn’t just a matter of changing titles.
“If the Guild Master and the party leader are different people, others might get really confused later on.”
If the person representing the guild is different from the one representing the party, who should the other party members follow?
Imagine a scenario where the Guild Master and the party leader’s opinions clash.
Generally, in the field, it makes sense to follow the party leader, the leader of the party.
But can you just ignore the Guild Master’s opinion?
As soon as you step outside the scene, the one with the most power in the guild is undoubtedly the Guild Master.
Since they won’t spend their entire lives in the MA, ordinary party members can’t help but be mindful of the Guild Master.
‘It could lead to conflict…’
Would they face disadvantages for not siding with the Guild Master?
Or would problems arise for not siding with the party leader…?
Chaos, pure chaos could ensue.
In severe cases, factions might even divide among the few party members, each taking different sides.
“I understand your concerns. But we can set a clear rule that ‘all decisions in the field are made by the party leader.'”
“Um…”
“I’m not going to ignore your decisions.”
To Yoo Ji-han, Kim Si-hu seemed like someone who respects others.
He could believe what Kim Si-hu said unlike anyone else.
“The party name will definitely be an issue.”
Typically, a party that’s somewhat established is named after the party leader.
If Yoo Ji-han were to take the helm as the party leader, chances were that the current party name would become Yoo Ji-han’s Party.
Even though the Guild Master was officially included in the party.
“Of course, we should go with Yoo Ji-han’s Party.”
Kim Si-hu smiled as if it were no big deal.
He had no desire to stamp his name on the party.
“Others might doubt the Guild Master’s leadership…”
“Making the most effective decisions at the same level as the party members. That’s my leadership.”
“……”
“And my decision this time is that you will take the party leadership.”
Kim Si-hu’s demeanor seemed as if he had already made up his mind.
Yoo Ji-han was left speechless, pondering.
‘Becoming the party leader would relieve me of some burden when giving orders.’
The party leader position, graciously relinquished by the Guild Master.
There were undoubtedly advantages.
For Yoo Ji-han, who made decisions based on experience and sampling, the idea of leading the party as its leader was a highly attractive condition.
But could a hero, who had received no respect as an ordinary party member in other parties, really take on the role of party leader?
Feelings of inferiority swirled in Yoo Ji-han’s mind.
“You do know… once the party image is established, it doesn’t change easily, right?”
“I know.”
“You better not regret it later.”
“Come on, I won’t regret it.”
After a few moments of agonizing, he finally decided to accept the position of party leader.
The creation of Yoo Ji-han’s Party had finally begun.
*
On the asphalt road under the blazing sun.
♪♬~
A large truck rolled down the road, sweet music wafting from within.
“This isn’t it~ My heart isn’t in this~”
The man cheerfully humming the lyrics inside the truck was Jang Sa-im, the representative of the Monster Disposal Company, Mongdang.
He was driving an empty truck somewhere.
“Hmm, here it is.”
The truck arrived in front of a golf course.
Due to the events of the previous day, the area had been elevated from Rank 4 MA to Rank 3 MA.
As he attempted to head deeper inside from in front of the Main Building, a man wielding a red signal baton approached him, waving it slowly.
Turning off the music, Jang Sa-im rolled down the driver’s side window.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Where are you from?”
“I’m from the Monster Disposal Company, Mongdang. I’ve come as a representative of the party that entered the MA.”
Yoo Ji-han and Kim Si-hu, who were hunting yesterday, had escaped from a mutation and couldn’t bring anything back.
Moreover, the Rank 4 MA had been raised to Rank 3.
Going through various procedures to get in here was indeed a hassle.
However, collecting monsters through a certified company allows you to skip those procedures.
That’s why Jang Sa-im was here on behalf of a request to collect monsters for the golf course.
“Could I see your MA exploration license and ID?”
“Here you go.”
“Please hold on a moment while I check.”
Taking the license and ID, the man tapped on his mobile phone screen and nodded.
“Jang Sa-im. Confirmed as the representative of the Sweet Fun Guild’s first party.”
“Can I go right in?”
“You’re aware that monster collection is only permitted at Hole 14, which was the designated area for that guild, right?”
“Of course.”
“As stated, the allowable collection amount is based on the average number of party members or the amount hunted the previous day. Two seeds from mutations count as one Giant Dandelion. Please be aware that violating the rules could result in fines… You can go in now.”
“Thank you.”
He pressed down on the truck’s accelerator.
Following the temporary signs, he found a parking area.
After parking the truck, he picked up an empty bundle and approached the entrance, where the heroes gathered.
“Where are you headed?”
“Hole 14.”
“Hole 14… I’ll take you there.”
Jang Sa-im quickly followed the hero guiding him toward Hole 14.
‘Looks like a serious battle took place here.’
As he walked and scanned the surroundings, he swallowed hard.
The ground was charred, branches were broken, and remnants of burnt weeds littered the area.
In one corner, many Giant Dandelion corpses were piled up.
Anyone could tell something significant had happened here.
During a focused management period like this, keeping an eye on monster appearances, it was a space one wouldn’t want to step into unless lots of heroes waited in the vicinity.
“Here we are.”
“Thank you!”
Jang Sa-im reached the destination, Hole 14.
After bowing to the hero who guided him, he turned back.
‘There it is.’
His gaze directed towards an area densely populated with people.
On the ground lay a mountain of Giant Dandelion corpses.
As Jang Sa-im approached, he heard voices around him.
“Hey, brother!”
“Wow, it’s been a while since you switched to another company and didn’t keep in touch. Good to see you here again.”
“I’ve been very busy, you know.”
There were not only heroes around but also many people from similar companies visiting, just like Jang Sa-im.
Employees from larger monster disposal firms were exchanging greetings.
And among them…
There was someone who recognized Jang Sa-im.
“Jang Sa-im?”
“… Park Hyuk, senior.”
Jang Sa-im, who responded shortly to the call, slightly tensed up.
‘To meet this person here.’
The man who called his name with an oily face was Park Hyuk, a senior employee from the previous company Jang Sa-im had been with.
“Sa-im, why are you here?”
“Why, I came to work.”
Park Hyuk grinned, lifting one corner of his mouth.
“Work? What kind of work? Did a guild assign you a job?”
“Do I need to tell you that?”
“……”
“We’re not really in a position to chat, are we?”
Jang Sa-im drew a clear line between their relationship with pointed words.
He had no choice but to do so.
Park Hyuk was the kind of person who often stole credit for Jang Sa-im’s accomplishments because he was older.
He was often awarded Employee of the Month and was promoted faster, all thanks to taking the merits from Jang Sa-im and other juniors.
Park Hyuk played a significant part in the reasons Jang Sa-im left that company.
“The way you speak… You’ve become more uptight since going independent.”
“……”
“But this industry is smaller than you think. You know that, right?”
“I’ll take care of my own matters.”
“Hmph, sure thing.”
Jang Sa-im shot a glare at Park Hyuk, who was looking down on him.
“By the way, why are you in a Rank 4 area until recently? Weren’t you primarily active in Rank 2 or 3?”
“With so many mutations around, would I let this gold mine of an area go to someone else?”
“……”
A Rank 4 MA was never a territory he should have taken in the first place.
Yet Park Hyuk’s presence here suggested…
He likely forcefully took the MA from another employee who was supposed to be in charge.
‘What a piece of trash.’
Just like before, Park Hyuk still retained his selfish personality.
“You still lack awareness, huh? Is that why you think you can operate as a company representative?”
“I already told you I’ll handle my own matters.”
“Sure, sure, got it. I’m busy, so I’ll take my leave~”
Park Hyuk waved his hand lightly and walked off.
He headed toward areas where people were already gathering numerous monsters.
Jang Sa-im watched him leave with an uncomfortable expression.
Then he returned to the spot where the Giant Dandelion corpses were.
‘At least I can fill this empty bundle.’
The Giant Dandelions hunted the day before at the Sweet Fun Guild were stored at the company.
Since they exceeded the average hunting quota for a two-person party, it wouldn’t be an issue to collect more than the average today.
He could adequately prove it to the Hero Department if they tried to cause any trouble.
‘This one’s too damaged… That one’s petals look odd. Were they scorched?’
He scrutinized the items with keen eyes.
His unique sharp insight could pick out at least B-grade items, enough to obtain average-priced Giant Dandelions.
‘Maybe coming a bit earlier would have been better.’
Unfortunately, though, top-grade items were hard to spot on site.
Most Giant Dandelions had been severely injured from the heroes’ attacks, and it seemed that those who had come earlier had already claimed the decent ones.
‘It can’t be helped.’
He began to stuff the selected Giant Dandelions into his bundle.
It was during this when…
While rummaging through the pile of Giant Dandelions, Jang Sa-im spotted a seed.
He noticed that seeds and mutations were usually kept separately, and one seemed to have been accidentally missed.
“Eh?”
However, the shape of the Giant Dandelion seed he found looked a bit unusual.
The color appeared a bit deeper, and it seemed to have a lot of white silky fibers…
‘……Oh my!’
He hurriedly picked up the seed and stuffed it into the bundle.
He hoped no one saw him at that moment.
With his fist tightly gripping the bundle, he scanned his surroundings, his heart racing.