A Cradle to Avert Apocalypse C7

Chapter 7

But it’s still not enough.

In the early days, Epic Guild had only a single S-rank Hunter—Kwon Haeju himself—and even A-rank Hunters were scarce. The guild struggled so badly with manpower that even B-rank Hunters were appointed as squad leaders.

Epic Guild’s rapid rise into a major guild, drawing widespread attention in such a short time, was made possible by their meticulously coordinated combat formations. Every guild member trusted Kwon Haeju’s commands absolutely and followed them without hesitation. Yet no matter how much strategy compensated for their lack of high ranks, there was always a limit. Once they faced stronger dungeons, they would inevitably hit a wall.

In the world of Hunters, rank was absolute.

Nam Shinhoo and Kwon Haeju were often compared for having built their guilds at a young age, but their circumstances were fundamentally different.

Saint Guild had been founded from the start by two S-rank Hunters—Nam Shinhoo and Choi Kanghyun. With two rare S-ranks working together, it was only natural that other Hunters gathered around them.

Kwon Haeju, however, as a latecomer, had to achieve alone what two S-rank Hunters had built together. It must have been at least twice as difficult as Nam Shinhoo’s path.

Back then, Nam Shinhoo hadn’t wanted to admit it—but looking at things objectively now, he could clearly feel it. Kwon Haeju was exceptional. In appearance, leadership, and ability.

Especially his ability.

Among his many strengths, what made Kwon Haeju truly stand out was his overwhelming combat power.

Nam Shinhoo watched as Kwon Haeju charged forward with a sword in hand.

Kwon Haeju was known as a Weapon Master. True to the title, he handled a wide variety of weapons as if they were extensions of his own body—swords, spears, bows, axes, even whips—choosing weapons suited to each monster type. Because of this, he was the only Hunter capable of fighting any monster without suffering a disadvantage in compatibility.

Resting his chin in his hand, Nam Shinhoo stared at Kwon Haeju with dissatisfaction. He was certainly strong, but to Nam Shinhoo’s eyes, he still seemed lacking. The Kwon Haeju he remembered was not a Hunter limited to this level.

I really do need to find that weapon first.

At this point in time, the reason Kwon Haeju used so many different weapons was simple—he was too strong. Very few weapons could fully withstand his power, so he rotated through multiple types.

But the Kwon Haeju Nam Shinhoo remembered from later years used only one weapon. A formless weapon that changed shape according to its wielder’s intent—Jinmu. It was Kwon Haeju’s personal weapon, one he would obtain several years later.

Once he wielded Jinmu, Kwon Haeju shed the title of Weapon Master and came to be known instead as the Ruler.

The future Nam Shinhoo desired was not merely one in which humanity survived. He dreamed of a future where damage was minimized—where humanity achieved victory without bloodshed.

I need to move up the timing of him obtaining Jinmu.

As Nam Shinhoo searched his memory, trying to recall where Jinmu had first been discovered—

“Watch out!”

A white beam of light poured down before his eyes. Instinctively, Nam Shinhoo reached out and caught it.

He watched as the monster wrapped around his wrist, scorching his flesh as it slithered rapidly up his arm. With his other hand, he tore it off.

With a dull thud, a worm-shaped monster made of light fell to the ground.

“…Huh?”

“He grabbed it… with his bare hand?”

The Epic Guild members’ eyes widened. They alternated between staring at the monster sizzling as it burned the ground—and Nam Shinhoo’s uninjured arm.

Nam Shinhoo crushed the writhing creature under his boot and gestured sharply.

“Focus. One o’clock, front.”

“A-Ah! Yes!”

At his command, the Epic Guild members immediately covered the indicated direction. Even so, they kept glancing sideways at Nam Shinhoo. Letting your attention wander during combat—still a long way to go.

Unfortunately, a lack of weapons wasn’t the only thing Kwon Haeju was missing.

Until his death, there had never been anyone at his side who could truly be called an adviser. As the guild grew, more S-rank Hunters joined and its influence expanded—but Kwon Haeju remained alone.

As far as Nam Shinhoo knew, he always stood at the front by himself. A man who seemed to have everything, yet was strangely unlucky when it came to people.

Was that why he made such an extreme choice? Because when he wavered, there was no one beside him to hold him steady.

Hmm…

Nam Shinhoo bitterly revisited the past as memories from his previous life surfaced abruptly.

—We regret to bring you tragic news today. Korea’s representative S-rank Hunter, Kwon Haeju, has passed away early this morning at the age of thirty-six…

It had been the 7 a.m. news on a morning when rain poured down like spears. News of Kwon Haeju’s death shook the entire world. A state-level funeral was held, and mourning continued for months—so profound that many fell into apathy.

People gathered in plazas, sobbing openly, long lines forming as they laid flowers in his honor.

After the long period of mourning, just as people seemed to settle, a new fact came to light. The revelation shocked the world once more—no less than news of his death itself.

Suicide.

The Hunter called the strongest in the world, Kwon Haeju, had ended his own life.

“We’ll be moving to the boss map shortly.”

Kwon Haeju’s voice rang out from the front of the dungeon. Pulled from his thoughts, Nam Shinhoo looked up. A black, ominous portal swirled against the wall.

“Hunters whose mana has dropped below thirty percent, fall back. Rejoin combat once you’ve recovered above eighty percent.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Squad Three, check spells. Buff durations too.”

“A-Ah, yes. Buffs… and spells…”

“Focus, Squad Three.”

“Y-Yes!”

Among the crisp responses, one squad’s anxious replies stood out. Squad Three. Curious, Nam Shinhoo checked its members—and frowned.

There was a familiar face in Squad Three. Not someone he was personally close to, but someone he knew of.

The man, with a gentle impression and bangs covering his eyebrows, was an A-rank Hunter serving as Squad Three’s leader. His name was Kwon Shinju—better known not by his own name, but as Kwon Haeju’s younger brother.

So he’s still alive at this point.

Kwon Shinju had died before his brother. Not long after beginning his career as a Hunter, he’d been killed during a dungeon subjugation. It had been so early on that Nam Shinhoo couldn’t even clearly remember when it happened. Kwon Haeju had withdrawn from activity for several months afterward, while Nam Shinhoo struggled to fill the sudden void.

Kwon Haeju had lost his parents at a young age. His younger brother had been his only remaining family—and he lost him in a dungeon.

Nam Shinhoo watched Kwon Haeju’s back as he prepared to enter the boss map. If he could save the younger brother, might it prevent Kwon Haeju’s suicide? If even one family member remained, perhaps someone could steady him when he faltered.

If only it were that simple.

There were no certainties. He needed to meet the Divine Younger Brother as soon as possible. After asking about the savior’s identity, he would also need to ask whether saving the brother could truly prevent Kwon Haeju’s death.

As that thought crossed his mind, a shadow fell over his vision.

“…What scheme are you plotting now?”

“Hm?”

While he’d been lost in thought, Kwon Haeju had approached right up to him. Wiping monster blood from his combat gear, Kwon Haeju looked down at Nam Shinhoo. Curly hair fell beneath thick brows, casting a shadow over the bridge of his nose.

“The dungeon will be over soon. Now tell me—why did you follow us all the way here?”

“I told you. I came to gather herbs. If you allow it, I can head over to the gathering team right now.”

“…”

His clean-cut face twisted as he swallowed his rising irritation. His expression was so transparent that it almost amused Nam Shinhoo; compared to the man he remembered, this version was oddly guileless.

“Let me know if you need help. Boss maps can make anyone tense. If you want, I could even fight alongside—”

“There’s no need.”

“We don’t know what type of boss will appear. Cooperation might be the better choice.”

Kwon Haeju’s face contorted sharply.

“Stay right here. Do not even think about entering the boss map.”

Grinding his teeth, he glanced at the gathering basket Nam Shinhoo was holding and muttered,

“Like a proper herbalist.”

The hostility was razor-sharp. Nam Shinhoo raised both hands and shrugged.

“Pity. I’d be quite helpful.”

As if the conversation wasn’t worth continuing, Kwon Haeju turned away. Gathering his fully prepared guild members, he entered the portal without hesitation.

Left behind among the injured Hunters and gathering teams, Nam Shinhoo scratched his cheek.

Being hated like this wouldn’t do. But suddenly flipping his attitude and acting friendly would be even stranger. More than anything, it simply wasn’t in Nam Shinhoo’s nature.

His body was twenty-eight, but his mind was forty-five. For someone who had sat at the top of the food chain for twenty years, the hardest thing was managing other people’s feelings—especially acting amiable toward a former rival.

It can’t be helped. I’ll focus on what I can do.

After all, Nam Shinhoo’s goal was Kwon Haeju’s survival and the subjugation of Nukelabi. There was no need to force a close relationship.