The PD furrowed his brows, eyes fixed on Chae Soo-hyun. The shot just wasn’t working out.

It felt like everything he had prepared for the shoot was going to waste.

‘Ugh... aren’t these three S-rank hunters supposed to be putting on an epic display, each showcasing their power?’

He recalled the scene he’d envisioned: three striking women skillfully defeating terrifying A-rank beasts, creating a spectacle that would awe the audience.

In reality, however, Chae Soo-hyun appeared as though she’d aged ten years, cowering in the back, while Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na laughed and enjoyed themselves in the front.

‘What a mess…’

He shook his head in frustration.

He had wanted to create a powerful, heroic image for the hunters, but that vision was slipping away.

He glanced over at the other teams.

‘See, that’s what it should look like...’

The other groups were embodying everything he’d hoped for—like a scene from a movie, beautifully choreographed and intense.

‘Now that’s what makes for good TV…’

“Uh, PD-nim... our team is in last place... What should we do?”
“What should we do? Damn…”

It felt like he had made a stew out of expensive sashimi-grade fish.

“Hunter Chae Soo-hyun, please... You know we’re filming live, right?”

The PD pressed her further.

“Yes, I understand...”

Her words said one thing, but her expression was one of desperation.

‘What do you expect me to do?! Are you just telling me to go and die?’

Chae Soo-hyun was caught between protecting her image and preserving her life.

Off in the distance, Lee Soo-ah paused mid-fight to glance back. She saw the serious-faced PD speaking with the visibly uncomfortable Chae Soo-hyun.

‘Tsk, tsk, Hunter Chae Soo-hyun...’

She clicked her tongue, fully understanding the situation at a glance.

“Hunter Chae Soo-hyun, what are you doing? Come on over here.”

Lee Soo-ah dashed over and grabbed her, practically dragging her forward.

“L-Lee Soo-ah! What... what are you doing? Let go of me! Let go, now!”

Chae Soo-hyun struggled to break free from Lee Soo-ah’s grip, but it was impossible. The difference between an S-rank and an E-rank was too great.

‘See? She can’t even get free...’

Lee Soo-ah was now certain: Chae Soo-hyun was an E-rank. Completely helpless.

Hisssss.

She dragged Chae Soo-hyun right up to a monstrous beast that was emitting a disgusting sound.

“Hunter Chae Soo-hyun, we need to try our best! I want our team to come in first. After all, we’re three top-ranked hunters!”

She spoke as if she were encouraging her.

“I know, but... that’s not the point...”

Chae Soo-hyun was trembling.

The A-rank monster before her flicked its tongue as though it were ready to devour her at any moment.

‘D-Damn it... I’m gonna die like this...’

Her mind raced. The broadcast cameras were trained on her, and Lee Soo-ah was relentlessly pushing her into danger.

“Hunter Chae Soo-hyun, what are you doing? Join us already.”

Even Yoo Ha-na joined in, piling on the pressure.

“I... I can’t do it!!”

Her scream echoed, so loud that even the other S-rank hunters turned to see what was going on.

“You can’t? Why not?”

Lee Soo-ah wore a sly grin, as if she already knew the answer.

“I-I just... I... I...”

She couldn’t finish her sentence.

“Hunter Chae Soo-hyun, you’re not actually an S-rank, are you?”

Lee Soo-ah seized the opportunity to drive her point home.

“What... what did you say?!”

Chae Soo-hyun’s face paled as she looked at Lee Soo-ah.

“Oh, it was just a joke. Since Hunter Chae Soo-hyun hasn’t been doing anything, I thought maybe you weren’t actually S-rank. If that’s not the case, why don’t you go ahead and take down this A-rank beast?”

Lee Soo-ah pushed her forward, harder this time.

“W-wait! Wait!!”

Chae Soo-hyun was helpless against Lee Soo-ah’s strength, ending up face-to-face with the beast.

“Fine! Fine! I’ll tell you!”

At last, she seemed resigned to her fate.

‘What’s going on here?’

The PD who had been filming them was bewildered.

“PD-nim, our viewership seems to be spiking. Rumors are spreading among the netizens. It’s all over the internet,” the assistant whispered.

“Alright, I’ll tell you everything, Hunter Lee Soo-ah.”

Chae Soo-hyun looked at her with a resentful expression, as if asking why she’d put her through this ordeal.

“I... I’m not an S-rank hunter.”

“What?!”

All eyes turned to her. Even the camera operators seemed shocked, their hands shaking slightly.

“What? I didn’t quite catch that. Could you repeat yourself?” Lee Soo-ah pressed, eager to seal the deal.

“I... I’m not an S-rank hunter.”

It was as if she’d given up all hope.

‘Ji-hoon oppa…’

Even now, she looked for Baek Ji-hoon, the one person she believed could save her.

“Not an S-rank hunter, you say?”

The familiar voice sent a chill down her spine. In her moment of despair, she heard Baek Ji-hoon’s voice.

‘Huh? Oppa… did you hear my wish?’

Her face brightened with hope. Maybe he would pull her out of this mess after all.

“Hmm…”

Baek Ji-hoon rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“This is disappointing.”

His response was icy cold.

‘W-what? Oppa...?’

Her last hope crumbled.

‘Weren’t you missing me? Weren’t you waiting for me? Didn’t you plan to help me in my time of need?’

Her face fell into a stony expression, devastated.

“Hunter Chae Soo-hyun, could you clarify? You’re not an S-rank?”

Joining Lee Soo-ah, Baek Ji-hoon closed in, adding to the pressure.

“You’re not S-rank? So you lied to everyone?”

Baek Ji-hoon feigned ignorance as he spoke, letting his words cut through her defenses.

‘No… Why, oppa… Don’t do this…’

Her pupils quivered as she stared at him.

‘Please... oppa...’

She tried to convey her desperation through her eyes, but it was clear it wouldn’t work.

“What’s going on? What’s happening?”

By now, the other hunters had gathered around, watching the drama unfold.

 

The moment I heard Chae Soo-hyun’s desperate scream, I hurried over with Park Hyung-seok.

“Hyung, it looks like Hunter Chae Soo-hyun is finally cracking.”

He was grinning from ear to ear.

“Look at this. The internet is going wild.”

[ Wait, Chae Soo-hyun isn’t S-rank? ]
[ What? Just now? ]
[ I thought this was a documentary, but it turned into a drama! ]
[ This is pure entertainment. Is this real? ]
[ Looks like there was bad blood between Lee Soo-ah and Chae Soo-hyun. ]
[ Of course, she took the number one spot from her. ]
[ But they’re saying Chae Soo-hyun was never S-rank to begin with. ]

The netizens were quick to react, clearly shocked by her confession.

“Not an S-rank?”

I approached Chae Soo-hyun to drive the point home.

She looked at me with an imploring expression, as if she were on the edge of a cliff, begging for her life.

‘Yes, this is the end for you. You’re out of the hunter world for good.’

“Maybe I misheard, but are you really not an S-rank, Hunter Chae Soo-hyun?”

“I... um... well…”

Her voice trembled uncontrollably.

“Did you deceive the entire nation?”

I moved closer, my face turning stern, and the crowd fell silent.

Everyone was watching Chae Soo-hyun, waiting for her response.

“Yes…”

Her answer was barely a whisper, filled with resignation.

“What?! No way!”
“Are you serious? It was all a lie?”
“She’s not S-rank? Really?”

The dungeon, once filled with the cries of beasts, now buzzed with people’s reactions to Chae Soo-hyun’s confession.

“I'm afraid this broadcast will have to end here.”

I turned to the cameras and spoke.

This was the end for Chae Soo-hyun.

The beginning of her downfall, starting today.

“Hunter Baek Ji-hoon? There’s still a lot of time left on the schedule…”
“I’m sorry, but due to unforeseen circumstances, we can’t continue. There are internal issues we need to address.”
“Wait, Hunter Baek Ji-hoon! I have a question.”
“Please don’t just leave it like this. Can you take some questions?”

The A-rank dungeon descended into chaos as the broadcast was abruptly cut. Everyone was left in confusion, unsure of what to make of the sudden turn of events.