The Herbivorous Guild’s Peculiar Performance

While Park Hayoon’s robe was undeniably large on him, the subtle fragrance emanating from it brought a calming clarity to Seo Dowoon’s mind, making him reluctant to part with it.

Han Gureum, assenting to his unspoken desire, extended the robe back to Park Hayoon.

“Hayoon, here.”

“You wear it, Hyung.”

“I’m fine. You keep it on.”

Finishing his words, Han Gureum pulled the shield he had embedded in the ground and slung it back onto his back. Though it appeared heavy enough to produce a dull thud, he lifted it with astonishing ease, using only one hand.

Kim Ajun regarded Seo Dowoon, a castaway unlike any he had encountered before, with an air of intrigue. A faint smile played on his lips as he posed a question.

“May I ask your name? We’ll be moving together until we get out, so there might be times I need to call for you.”

“It’s Seo Dowoon.”

“Alright, Mr. Seo Dowoon. Just stick close to Guide Park Hayoon, and you’ll be perfectly safe, so there’s no need to worry. All you need to do is follow closely behind us. We’ll be maintaining a certain distance as we move, but absolutely, I repeat, *absolutely*! We’ll ensure your safety, so we appreciate your cooperation.”

Kim Ajun spoke with unwavering confidence, as if he genuinely believed that injury was an impossibility. His assured demeanor inexplicably mirrored Han Gureum’s earlier. Feeling the gentle warmth of the small orb resting on his left shoulder, Seo Dowoon nodded in acknowledgment.

As Han Gureum took the lead, the others fell in behind him.

Park Hayoon spoke to Seo Dowoon before taking his first steps.

“Let’s go.”

Seo Dowoon, who had been intently watching Han Gureum’s back as he illuminated the dark passageway ahead, slowly began to move as well.

****

The cyclopean, six-armed humanoid monster wielded a variety of weapons, as if flaunting its numerous appendages. Each swing delivered three distinct attacks, and as it alternately lashed out with its right and left hands, the sheer force generated winds powerful enough to whip through the cavern.

From the rear, Lee Beomgyu, a healing-type Esper, fired his specially crafted gun, keeping watch over the monsters that sought to advance towards Park Hayoon and Seo Dowoon. Though the two stood at a distance, observing the fierce battle, they were not entirely beyond the monsters’ reach and could become targets at any moment.

Seo Dowoon meticulously observed the Herbivorous Guild’s performance, each member’s actions unfolding vividly before his eyes. Not a single person lagged, as they moved in perfect synchronicity, showcasing truly phenomenal teamwork.

Yoon Dokyung, a fire-type Esper, boldly severed the arms of the colossal monster, which stood approximately three meters tall. Its six limbs were cleanly sliced off by his sabre, a fencing sword wreathed in vibrant blue flames. Maintaining a calculated distance, he systematically lopped off each arm before finally striking the monster’s neck, opting for a methodical approach rather than an immediate kill.

‘A fire-type Esper using a sword like that—what a unique approach.’

The sabre Yoon Dokyung wielded was particularly noteworthy. As a fencing blade, it lacked a sharp edge and possessed high elasticity, rendering it ill-suited for hunting. His choice of such an unconventional weapon was peculiar enough, but when imbued with flames, its destructive power became truly extraordinary.

And Yoon Dokyung wasn’t the only one.

Kim Ajun, a wind-type Esper, also employed pistols—twin pistols, no less. While the recoil would typically make such a feat challenging, Kim Ajun handled them with remarkable proficiency. A .38 caliber revolver usually holds six rounds, yet he fired beyond that capacity without once reloading, suggesting he compressed his abilities to unleash each shot.

‘A combination of guns and wind power, then…’

Kim Ajun deftly utilized the surrounding terrain, concealing himself behind rocks and scaling walls. He even effortlessly lifted large monsters, tossing them at their brethren.

And then there was Han Gureum.

South Korea’s sole light-attribute Esper and one of its rare S-rank individuals.

Han Gureum stood at the center, wielding a massive shield as large as his own body, and swung it with incredible force at the charging monsters. Could such a formidable object truly be swung so lightly? Seo Dowoon doubted it. He continued to observe, noting that Han Gureum employed no other abilities beyond the sheer power of his shield.

‘Is this what it means to be an S-rank Esper?’

The orb of light not only illuminated their surroundings but also radiated a comforting warmth. Furthermore, considering the ability he had displayed during their initial encounter, and the sheer amount of power he must have condensed, Han Gureum ought to have been exhausted. Yet, he appeared remarkably fresh and energetic.

Watching the Herbivorous Guild’s battle unfold, Seo Dowoon allowed a faint, mocking smile to touch his lips.

‘This is truly the 23rd ranked guild?’

Even for a C-rank dungeon, bordering on D-rank difficulty, such a performance seemed illogical.

Guild rankings were not determined by mere displays of strength, but rather by dungeon subjugation records and the grades of their registered Awakened members. While it was true that their small roster limited their overall grade, their demonstrated skill should have been more than enough to significantly boost their ranking through dungeon achievements alone.

Their performance was so exceptional that it raised suspicions—were they deliberately maintaining their current rank? Above all, what truly set them apart was the palpable enjoyment they derived from the battle, even when they could have dispatched their foes with far greater ease.

Among them, Han Gureum was, without a doubt, the most striking.

‘He was incredible even back then.’

Seo Dowoon began to retrieve the information he had stored away in his mind, piece by piece.

Han Gureum, twenty-eight years old, male, Vice Guild Master of the Herbivorous Guild, and an Esper who had played a pivotal role during the Great Dungeon Break that devastated Seoul, South Korea, five years prior.

Footage from that event remained highly popular, still frequently discussed. What elevated its fame even further was the inclusion of the moment when Han Gureum, then an A-rank Esper, awakened to become an S-rank Esper.

Seo Dowoon, a mere sixteen years old at the time, had witnessed the event unfold live through a broadcast. While many Espers had participated, only a select few had truly achieved widespread recognition.

Above all, the incident had occurred in the heart of Seoul, leading to countless casualties. Many still bore the scars of that day, and a memorial had been erected in remembrance. Had Han Gureum not been present, the names etched upon that monument would undoubtedly have been far more numerous.

Seo Dowoon, too, frequently visited that memorial, seeking out the names inscribed upon it.

“Are you alright? Not too cold, are you? If the wind picks up, feel free to stand behind me.”

Seo Dowoon, momentarily lost in his thoughts, turned his head at the sound of the voice beside him. Park Hayoon’s face was etched with genuine concern as he asked the question, making it clear that his words were not merely polite inquiries but sprang from a sincere place.

Seo Dowoon assured him he was fine, carefully taking the orb from his shoulder and turning it over in his hand.

“Cave dungeons can feel a bit stifling since there’s no open space, but at least there’s a clear path, which makes things easier.”

“…”

“Typically, monsters in these dungeons tend to gather in one specific area, so as long as you avoid that, the chances of an encounter are low. Oh, are your ears alright? Monster sounds can be quite jarring.”

For Awakened individuals, whose hearing is far more acute than that of civilians, the sounds produced by monsters are among the most unbearable. While some creatures emit tolerable noises, the majority produce piercing, sharp sounds that grate on the ears. Consequently, Awakened with particularly sensitive hearing often carry earplugs with them.

Preparing for any eventuality, Park Hayoon pulled out a pair of earplugs he had brought along.

“Would you like to wear these?”

“I’m alright.”

Seo Dowoon stared at the earplugs for a moment before shaking his head. For him, wearing earplugs would only silence the external world, amplifying the persistent ringing in his ears.

Declining Park Hayoon’s kind offer, Seo Dowoon’s gaze once again settled on Han Gureum, who was still engaged in battle further ahead.

‘What were those sensations I felt earlier? Why did that scent, *that* scent from long ago, emanate from him? Could such a smell truly originate from a person? And what about the momentary disappearance of my tinnitus?’

As if to mock his very questions, the robe Han Gureum had given him still carried that peculiar scent. And with it, the persistent ringing in his ears remained, stubbornly refusing to fade.

In that brief interval, the battle concluded. It marked their eleventh engagement already.

If they were indeed an elite unit, then their designation was no lie; only one Esper displayed any discernible signs of fatigue.

That Esper was Lee Beomgyu, the healing-type Esper.

Whether it was a unique characteristic of the Herbivorous Guild or not, it was peculiar how none of them held back. This made Lee Beomgyu’s role as a healing-type Esper critically important. Naturally, given it was only a C-rank dungeon, no Esper sustained any severe injuries.

“Ugh, everyone, please go easy on yourselves! At this rate, I’ll be the first to collapse!”

Only three individuals were actively fighting, yet the issue lay in the fact that all three approached combat with an almost reckless abandon. Even Kim Ajun, despite being a gun user, subtly relished close-quarters combat, accumulating numerous minor scrapes and bruises as a result.

Espers of their caliber should have been perfectly capable of fighting while minimizing damage, but they were, to put it mildly, rather reckless. Still, it seemed absurd for Lee Beomgyu to be struggling so much with only three active combatants.

Kim Ajun, helping the slumped Lee Beomgyu to his feet, playfully chastised him.

“You’re struggling with *this*? Aren’t you ashamed in front of Kio?!”

‘Kio’ here referred to the Herbivorous Guild’s logo.

A charming green herbivorous dinosaur.

Its full name was Brachiosaurus, though it was commonly shortened to ‘Kio’.

“Please… I’m genuinely exhausted! Look. Can’t you see my hands shaking?”

“You do suffer a lot.”

“Don’t just say it…”

Lee Beomgyu buried his face in his trembling hands, whining at Kim Ajun’s encouragement, which clearly lacked any genuine sympathy. While a grown man acting like this might seem unappealing, the others exchanged knowing glances, understanding his plight.

They silently agreed to start taking it easy now, as the boss room seemed to be not far off.

It wasn’t that Lee Beomgyu had exerted himself to such an extent during *this* particular battle. The frequent dungeon outbreaks in Dongjak-gu had kept him constantly on the move, leaving him with insufficient recovery time before this expedition. Since healing-type Espers were rare, Lee Beomgyu also ran dungeons with other guilds, a factor that contributed to his chronic fatigue.

Yoon Dokyung, aware of his situation, chided him.

“Well, who told you to go to that dungeon yesterday?”

“You think I *wanted* to go? I went because there were still remaining sessions from the previous contract!”

“Then don’t make those contracts. Let’s live a little more leisurely.”

Yoon Dokyung and Lee Beomgyu, both the same age, continued their playful bickering.

Han Gureum, wiping monster ichor from the back of his hand, slung his shield onto his back and picked up the monster core, all while observing Seo Dowoon. He had long since noticed whose persistent gaze was fixed upon him, and he knew it wasn’t merely out of curiosity.

It wasn’t just Han Gureum. Most of the Herbivorous Guild members had noticed Seo Dowoon’s scrutiny. Since he made no effort to conceal his observations, it was impossible not to. Kim Ajun, in particular, regarded Seo Dowoon with immense interest.

Kim Ajun, who had subtly moved closer to Han Gureum, spoke in a low voice.

“No matter how I look at him, he doesn’t seem like just a civilian, does he?”