《I Was Betrayed But It’s Okay haha》 Chapter 1 ¡°Oppa, let¡¯s break up.¡± A sharp and cold statement struck my heart. She threw the words while staring nkly elsewhere, with an expression that was icy and unfeeling. Her tone was utterly devoid of emotion, as if she had no heart left. My heart, which had been soaring with joy from her achieving S-Rank 1st ce, plummeted in an instant The expression of joy on my face hardened within moments. ¡°What?¡± I could only look at Suhyeon with a distorted expression. Chae Suhyeon. She had just reached the pinnacle of South Korea¡¯s S-Rank, no¡ªshe was at the top of all hunters. After years of struggles and challenges, we had finally reached S-Rank. And today was the day she imed the highest position of S-Rank. Yet here she was, saying something absurd at the celebration. ¡°What do you mean? You want to break up?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear? I said let¡¯s break up. It¡¯s time for us to part ways. I want a clean break, you know? I don¡¯t like messy situations. You don¡¯t like them either, right?¡± It was evident that it hadn¡¯t been this way before she confirmed her S-Rank 1st ce. Of course, I had sensed something was amiss, but every couple goes through a phase of monotony. I thought it was just that. Or perhaps it was a result of the intensifying difficulties that came with nearing S-Rank 1st ce. S-Ranks who were ahead of us had shown such signs. Once everyone reached a certain level, they began to exhibit abnormal symptoms. As if they were carrying various mental disorders. Because of that, Suhyeon was able to make a leap forward. Ultimately leading her to achieve S-Rank 1st ce today. To be precise, it was because of me, after all. I possessed a rare characteristic that set me apart from regr hunters. The ability to allocate the points gained from hunting activities to others. Points could be earned bypleting quests assigned within dungeons. And those points could be distributed to modify one¡¯s stats. This was a basic andmon cycle in the current South Korea. The era of hunters had begun due to dungeons that appeared suddenly one day. Naturally, the basic principle was to invest the stats into oneself, but that wasn¡¯t the case for me. I could also distribute points to others. That was a peculiar feature of my status window. In the beginning, I had quite the struggle adapting. No matter how much I searched and asked, there was no one who understood. ¡°Eh? You can give points to others? What does that even mean?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s me, why would I give it to someone else? I worked hard for this! Can you just give it away like that?¡± ¡°Sigh¡­ haven¡¯t you ever yed games? How can you give stats to someone else? It¡¯s not like it¡¯s money or anything.¡± ¡°Come on, if that were possible, wouldn¡¯t rich people just buy all the stats they wanted? That can¡¯t be the case¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen a game like that¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but it seems like such a feature has not yet been reported to the Hunter Association.¡± Of course, no one understood. Not only regr people but even the employees of the Hunter Association. ¡°No. Damn¡­ what the heck is this?¡± It took quite a while for me to understand my unique trait. I had no choice but to experiment and learn through trial and error. ¡°Eh? You can invest points in others?¡± That was when I met Suhyeon. The only person who could understand what I was saying. I can still vividly recall the sparkle in her eyes. ¡°Uh¡­ Oppa¡­ then, wouldn¡¯t the recipient grow faster¡­? I¡¯m not really good at games, so I don¡¯t know, but isn¡¯t that an amazing trait¡­?¡± She was definitely quick-witted in this regard. As soon as I spoke, she started nning everything immediately. ¡°Oppa! How about it? Shall we team up? Let¡¯s date! Starting today, day one!!!¡± ¡°Here¡¯s the thing. We¡¯ll go dungeon exploring together and gather points quickly. Then you can funnel them to me, and I¡¯ll grow twice as fast!¡± ¡°Ah, Oppa. Just think about it. I¡¯ll grow at double speed and be S-Rank quickly, then I can lead you too. From then on, you¡¯ll growfortably and quickly. What do you say?¡± ¡°Ah Oppa, don¡¯t you trust me? It¡¯s me, Suhyeon. Chae Suhyeon.¡± ¡°Oppa, I know you¡¯ve had feelings for me. You¡¯ve been following me for years, haven¡¯t you? Now you¡¯re fulfilling your dream. Hehe¡­¡± As soon as I heard the words about breaking up, memories of the past rushed through my mind at lightning speed. ¡°Ha¡­ this is ridiculous¡­¡± I sighed internally as I recalled the events of the past. ¡°Did I do something really foolish by selling myself to a woman? Damn¡­¡± ¡°What are you doing? Aren¡¯t you supposed to answer? Why are you just staring nkly? If you¡¯re not going to answer, I¡¯ll just leave. I was only waiting out of courtesy, anyway. There¡¯s only one answer you can give, right?¡± While I was lost in thought, a voice startled me back to reality. It seemed she was annoyed since I hadn¡¯t responded. ¡°Hey. Was this always your goal? Huh?¡± She started to interrogate me with a deeply furrowed expression. ¡°What? What goal? This is ridiculous. Do I need a goal to break up? I just don¡¯t like you anymore. We don¡¯t match.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°And, oppa, I¡¯m now S-Rank. Meanwhile, you¡¯re still E-Rank. Our ranks don¡¯t match. When will you level up? You want me to go through all that hardship again? Ugh. I¡¯m just tired of it, and I want to enjoy my life now. I¡¯m going to take a break.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve grown faster than others using all my points, and now you want to break up? Are you serious?¡± I¡¯m usually not one to get angry, but today, I couldn¡¯t hold it in. All the effort and memories we shared seemed to be flying away in an instant. ¡°Ugh. A man is being so petty. Just because you gave me some points, you¡¯re acting all high and mighty? What do you want me to do? Are you going to ask for those points back now that we¡¯re breaking up? Huh?¡± She turned to leave but nced back at me with a look of disdain. She shook her head disapprovingly. ¡°If you want to take them, go ahead. How would you take them, anyway? You said there¡¯s no way to get them back, right? Ugh. Live a little more generously. I¡¯ve endured your arrogance until now; it¡¯s been a mental strain for me, no less.¡± ¡°What? Mental strain?¡± ¡°Take them, take them. Ugh. Whether you take them or not, what difference does it make? Anyway, I¡¯ve said everything I needed to say. I¡¯m busy now. I¡¯ve been focused on gathering points and have turned down all external requests, right? I¡¯m going to be super busy going forward. I was bound to drift apart from you anyway.¡± She made a face as if she were looking at a bug. ¡°Wow. This is ridiculous?¡± This was the first time I had ever been blindsided like this in my life. No, it wouldn¡¯t happen to anyone. No one could have expected such a betrayal. Aren¡¯t all basic principles in society about give and take? This woman didn¡¯t even possess the basic traits of a human. Not even realizing that. I can¡¯t believe it. ¡°Oppa¡­ It¡¯s tough¡­ Just a little¡­ Hang in there¡­ I¡¯ll soon¡­ be D-Rank¡­¡± ¡°Oppa¡­ I¡¯m about to be C-Rank now.¡± ¡°Phew.. I¡¯m not far from S-Rank!! Give me a little more strength. Oppa~¡± ¡°Ha¡­ Damn¡­ Those sweet words. Were you just ying with me?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but feel that I had been toyed with. Isn¡¯t this clearly deceitful behavior? But that didn¡¯t mean there was anything I could do. As she said, I couldn¡¯t recover my points. Not only had I been blindsided, but all the points I had umted until now had also been taken away. I was nowpletely broke. What was left for me was the lowest level¡ªE-Rank Hunter. All my efforts until now had turned to nothing. What was I working so hard for? ¡°Hey. You damn cheating scumbag.¡± ¡°What?¡± Hearing my words, she immediately frowned deeply.@@novelbin@@ Instantly, there was a reaction. She looked very displeased. ¡°I guess you¡¯ve struggled hard to deceive me all this time. You must have had quite a hard time. But you know what? I don¡¯t even want to think about that s*ty past with you, so get the hell out of my sight right now. I don¡¯t know who you¡¯ve teamed up with, but they¡¯re probably the same kind of scum as you, so I hope you get back this terrible treatment one day. Damn you.¡± If I could have said it more logically, that would have been great, but all I could spit out with my current state of mind was just that. If only other party was a man, I might have been able to confront him with more spirit, but since it¡¯s a woman and an S-Rank at that, it¡¯s too much. If I picked a fight, I¡¯d end up getting hit. ¡°Ha. How did I end up like this?¡± Just moments ago, I had felt the liberation of finally reaching the peak and was in a happy situation. But I had fallen into the abyss in a matter of moments. All I could do now was to let out some curses. I knew exactly how she would react, having seen her temper countless times before. ¡°Well, regardless of the consequences, I have to say what I want to say. It¡¯s thest time after all.¡± Chae Suhyeon was trembling with her fists clenched, ring at me fiercely. ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re pathetic. This is exactly why I¡¯m leaving. I¡¯ll let it slide this time, but I want this to end cleanly. Never contact me again. I¡¯m going to block you.¡± With those absurd words, she abruptly turned away and left. ¡°What the hell? Damn, did she at least have a shred of conscience?¡± Sure, it was a situation where she could have pped me, yet she held back and just walked away. Could she have really felt so little attachment? ¡°Ha¡­ damn¡­ how did ite to this¡­¡± For a while, I just stood there in a daze, feeling utterly defeated. After Chae Suhyeon left, some time passed before I began to grasp the situation. ¡°What the hell have I been working so hard for all this time?¡± ¡°Was it just to waste my efforts on someone like her?¡± ¡°Ha¡­ my points¡­ damn it. If I had just invested that in myself, I would have at least reached B-rank. Damn it.¡± I thought of my friends who were all thriving. The ones who became Hunters and those who found jobs were all doing well. ¡°Ha¡­ what do I even do now¡­¡± With my strength drained, I could only crouch in one corner. I threw whatever I could grasp in frustration, but it couldn¡¯t fill the void in my heart. Amidst all this, something caught my eye. ¡°Huh? What¡¯s that¡­?¡± The status window had never shone on its own before. It usually turned on only when the user activated it. [You have met the conditions. You can retrieve points invested in others.] [Would you like to retrieve them?] Arge red buttonbeled ¡°Retrieve¡± was sparkling right in front of me. ¡°Huh? I can actually retrieve them?¡± Chapter 2 I couldn¡¯t help but rub my eyes in disbelief, staring back at it repeatedly. ¡°Huh? I can actually retrieve them?¡± Even though I was staring wide-eyed, I found it hard to believe. How could I have had such a perfect function avable to me? A feature that was just right for this situation, something I truly needed. ¡°No, I¡¯ve never seen anything like this before. What is this? I¡¯ve definitely searched through everything thoroughly!¡± Memories of the past kept flooding back. I had meticulously searched every corner of the status window to deeply analyze my attributes. But there had been no mention of such a thing. I had undoubtedly looked for it multiple times while cultivating Chae Suhyeon. It had been tough, after all. There were moments of grumbling, and I had felt a bit uneasy too. There had been times when I wanted to consider it a sunk cost and just quit midway, but I couldn¡¯t. I had already invested too much, and she had definitely told me to believe in herself. Damn it. I should have just quit back then. Even while I was lost in thought, the retrieve button was still blinking, seemingly begging me to press it. It shone in red, as if to indicate how important it was, pulling me into deep contemtion. ¡°Is this really retrievable?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only invested in Chae Suhyeon. So, what happens now?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. Damn it. What happens to her has nothing to do with me. Why should I worry about someone who¡¯s quietly waiting to backstab me?¡± ¡°Forget it. Whatever happens, I¡¯m just going to live well moving forward.¡± My n to quickly train my girlfriend and change my life had been utterly shattered. Yet right before my eyes, a chance to restore it was being presented to me again. ¡°What more of an opportunity could there be?¡± ¡°Let me just press it. No matter what happens, I¡¯ll just go for it.¡± In truth, I was quite a cautious andposed person. Even when buying a single item, I would thoroughly consider and evaluate it from multiple angles. The same went for the status window. I diligently searched on the inte and made judgments on what to do next. Ah, of course. Regarding the status window, not just me but almost all hunters behaved in that way. Everyone was cautious about how to invest the hard-earned points. In a game republic like South Korea, a strategy guide is a must, right? But today was a little different. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Damn it. Just let it be.¡± I felt like I was in a do-or-die situation. After spending so much time on it, I felt like my character had been deleted. I thought it would be nice if I could at least earn some crumbs. ¡°Please, let me recover at least some of it¡­¡± After deeply praying in my heart, I pressed the retrieval button on the status window. With a sh of effect, another notice appeared. [Retrieval is in progress. It takes time for the other party¡¯s stats to decrease. The invested points will be returned at three times their value.] ¡°Eh?¡± Having pressed the retrieval button with the mindset of gambling, I could only be dumbfounded once again. ¡°What does this mean? You¡¯ll get your points back at three times their value?¡± I was surprised and started to rummage around. ¡°Wow. Damn.¡± The detailed page listed the conditions for fulfillment. It had to be for a long period, the invested value had to exceed a certain amount, and you had to part ways by shouting a specific word at the other person. ¡°What kind of ridiculous conditions are these?¡± The absurd conditions didn¡¯t matter to me at all. ¡°I did shout after much deliberation, so I¡¯m d I shouted that foul word at her.¡± I felt a sudden sense of pride in myself. My emotions were fluctuating rapidly throughout the day. I was falling from heaven into the depths of hell and barely managing to w my way back. ¡°This damn, bitch.¡± Looking at the guide page for the retrieval process, Cha Suhyeon¡¯s face came to mind again. The person who had toyed with me during that time. Such a detestable expression. ¡°Hey, thanks. Because of you, I became rich in points.¡± Actually, three times as much. It was an absurdly exaggerated situation. Even a simple calction would reveal that I could easily rise to S-Rank. When Ibined my points with Chae Suhyeon¡¯s, we reached a level that could secure first ce in S-Rank. It was more than enough. I felt dizzy in this unexpected situation, but I decided to pull myself together. After all, I was in a position to make a fresh start. ¡®It takes time for the other party¡¯s stats to decrease¡­¡¯ Hmm¡­ It was a phrase that made me think a lot. While points flowed in for me immediately, it seemed to take some time for Chae Suhyeon to feel the effects. ¡®Wait a minute¡­¡¯ I immediately began calcting. I wanted to analyze what would happen to Chae Suhyeon if she lost all her points. C-Rank. ¡°Damn¡­ I¡¯ve been yed around a lot.¡± I clenched my eyes shut and suppressed my anger internally. From the start, I might as well say that my share ounted for over 70% of Chae Suhyeon¡¯s rank. It had always been like that. Even when we went into dungeons, I handled almost everything. ¡°Ah, anyway, Oppa. Whether you or I do it, the total reward is the same, right?¡± ¡°Oh. Can¡¯t you do something? Isn¡¯t this what a man is supposed to do?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard. It¡¯s difficult. I¡¯m so tired of this. Ugh, why make it worse?¡± ¡°Oppa, shouldn¡¯t someone with more free time handle this?¡± ¡°Ha¡­ just take me to the nearest caf¨¦, will you?¡± Looking back, I realized I was aplete fool. ¡°Why did I act like that? Damn it.¡± I could tell I was really a sucker thinking about it. When I recalled carefully, Chae Suhyeon had always just yed around in the back. I had done almost all the work. But it was fine. Ironically, because of that, I was only finding humor in the current situation. I was getting back threefold for all the hard work I¡¯d put in until now. On the other hand, Chae Suhyeon would have no choice but to face the consequences of her previous carefree attitude. ¡°Ah. Watching an S-Rank first ce holder crumble down to C-Rank would be quite a sight.¡± Although I had spent a long time together with Chae Suhyeon, it took only a moment for my feelings to cool. It was definitely a moment to celebrate together for achieving the S-Rank 1st ce just a moment ago. Perhaps because I fell into despair during my happiest moment, the shock was immense. ¡°Wow, Bro, congrats! Suhyeon finally hit 1st ce, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s awesome. She actually made it to 1st? You¡¯ve put in so much work. When are we grabbing drinks to celebrate?¡± ¡°Dude, congrats on Suhyeon hitting 1st. Now all you need is to join a major guild, and you¡¯re golden.¡± ¡°Congrats, man. You¡¯ve really put in the effort.¡± Suddenly, I remembered the congrattory messages that had poured in on my smartphone. ¡°Hah¡­ Everyone is congratting me like this.¡± ¡°When exactly were they nning to stab me in the back?¡± ¡°Surely they didn¡¯t n this from the start, did they?¡± I was filled with disappointment. Of course, I quickly organized my thoughts and began preparing for a fresh start. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m going to start over.¡± Seeing the congrattory messages ignited a fire in me. From today, we could officially live well as an S-Rank couple. ¡°I¡¯ve invested so much until now, I can¡¯t just let it go foolishly.¡± I shook off the spot and stood up. The shock from Chae Suhyeon was one thing, but I had to step forward into my life anew. ¡°The triple points¡­ It might be nice to be an S-Rank right away, but¡­.¡±@@novelbin@@ My mind was full ofplicated thoughts. In this situation, I needed to carefully consider what actions to take next. ¡°First of all, raising my Hunter rank suddenly to draw attention doesn¡¯t seem prudent.¡± ¡°I could unnecessarily attract scrutiny.¡± The world of Hunters resembles the existing society. A fiercepetitive society. Fights between guilds also broke out to seize and monopolize dungeons. And nder and backroom dealings againstpeting hunters were alsomon. ¡°There¡¯s no need to draw attention unnecessarily.¡± ¡°After all, time is on my side.¡± I looked at the overflowing points in my status window and smiled contentedly. Being S-Rank or whatever, I was at a level where I could freely allocate almost all my skill tree points. I could essentially say I was at the level of a point tycoon. In this situation, there was no reason to rush. It was important to move wisely and carefully at a slow pace for my advantage. ¡®For now¡­ joining arge guild would be a good idea.¡¯ Chae Suhyeon and I had never joined a guild until now. Of course, due to our very rapid growth rate, we had received countless scouting offers. ¡®Ah. Oppa, joining a guild sounds nice, but if we go there, we¡¯ll have to engage in all the unnecessary PR stuff and even participate in pointless CFs and broadcasting activities, right? I just want us to focus on earning points¡­ what do you think? I¡¯d prefer if you used the energy for guild activities on me instead. That way, we can grow faster. Hehe. You get what I mean, right?¡¯ Looking back now, I thought that her opposition to joining a guild was purely for her own benefit. ¡°Ha¡­ she was very strategic. No wonder. I was curious why she was so reluctant to join a guild while doing so well.¡± ¡°To establish a solid foundation in the Hunter industry, I need to join a decent guild¡­¡± ¡°Ha¡­ but I¡¯m E-rank¡­¡± In situations like this, there was nothing to do but rely on connections. ¡°Hey, bro. Long time no see.¡± ¡°Oh, hey senior! Congrats! I heard the news. That¡¯s awesome.¡± ¡°Haha, thanks. But I actually need a favor.¡± ¡°A favor? What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Yeah. Is there a bottom-tier spot open in your guild?¡± I had to ask a junior I knew, even though it felt a bit awkward. ¡°Uh, our guild? Why do you need to join us?¡± ¡°Well, I think I need to join a guild now.¡± ¡°But why ours? I heard Suhyeon-noona is joining Baekho Guild. Isn¡¯t that a rival of ours?¡± ¡°What?¡± It felt like a punch to the gut. Everything started spinning. ¡®That f*ing b*tch. What¡¯s she been up to without telling me?¡¯ This waspletely new info for me. Chapter 3 ¡®Wow¡­ damn¡­¡¯ I could only stare nkly at the sky with apletely bewildered expression. I had never once thought that something like this would happen to me in my life. It felt as if I were a victim of a voice phishing or a lease scam. All I could do was let my soul drift away. ¡®How meticulously did Chae Suhyeon prepare for this?¡¯ Usually, offers to scoute from well-known guilds as soon as you reach B-Rank. They¡¯re sopetitive when ites to talent acquisition. Chae Suhyeon was not only growing rapidly but also quite young, making her very popr in the hunter industry. Moreover, she was a woman. From a marketability standpoint, she was absolutely perfect. Yet, she held her ground until the end. ¡®Oh, oppa. Let¡¯s just not join a guild¡­ for now, let¡¯s just focus on leveling up. Why do you keep worrying about other things?¡¯ ¡®If we receive guild support, we can grow morefortably, right?¡¯ ¡®Oh, I don¡¯t like that. I don¡¯t want to be exposed to others. I also don¡¯t want to share anything with them. Why should we bother joining a guild? When we be in a position of powerter, then we can think about it. It¡¯s too early for that now.¡¯ She was stubbornly sticking to her point. ¡°Oh, speaking of which¡­¡± Suddenly, another thought crossed my mind. ¡®Oppa, I don¡¯t want us to be well-known publicly. You know what I mean? I don¡¯t want to build a reputation as a frivolous woman who casually dates. I hope our rtionship isn¡¯t made public. It would only tire us out if reporters got involved.¡¯ That was definitely true. She was making a careful effort to maintain a clean image. Except for her close friends, she wanted to keep everything secret. ¡®Wow. She¡¯s really well-prepared.¡¯ I couldn¡¯t help but grit my teeth. From my perspective, it felt like I had been set up. ¡®What the hell¡­ damn¡­¡¯ It¡¯s amusing how difficult it is to notice things when you¡¯re right in the middle of them. Everyone calls those who fall for scams foolish, but when you actually experience it, you understand why it happens. Looking back now, I can clearly see that my past actions were incredibly foolish, but back then, I had no idea. Of course, I thought it was something we had to endure for our future. We firmly believed that we were looking towards the same ce and moving in the same direction. ¡°It shatters my heartpletely.¡± Maybe I should be thankful instead. I¡¯vepletely put my heart to rest. Not a single emotion remains. ¡°I¡¯m going topletely crush you.¡± ¡°Are you stupid? You had so much to lose and yet you acted like that?¡± ¡°Did you really gamble, believing that you couldn¡¯t recover your points?¡± I let out a hollowugh. ¡°I wonder how happy you were every time you scammed points from me, thinking of backstabbing me.¡± ¡°Or did you not care about me at all? Were you just focused on your own future?¡± But it doesn¡¯t matter. I can take it step by step. ¡°Senior? Senior?¡± I heard a voice through the phone. Maybe I was so lost in thought that I didn¡¯t notice. ¡°Brother, I¡¯m sorry. I have some things to think about. By the way, is there any room avable?¡± ¡°I can make room one way or another. You¡¯re my senior, after all. I¡¯m starting to gain some influence now.¡± Fortunately, I got a good response. With a tone that hinted at confusion over the current situation. ¡°Oh, great. Can you make one spot for me?¡± My mind was quiteplicated, but I decided to take things one step at a time. ¡°Yes, Senior. Um, can youe to our guild office? Whenever you have time.¡± ¡°I have plenty of time now. I¡¯m good to go even now.¡± After that, I got a reaction that suggested he had an idea of what was going on. * ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ You look just the same.¡± Seeing Hyungseok after a long time gave me a rather mixed feeling. I had to make a slightly humiliating request, so I felt embarrassed and miserable, but at the same time, I was looking forward to this situation. ¡°I probably have the highest umted points among all hunters in the world¡­¡± ¡°And it¡¯s overwhelmingly high¡­¡± Thinking about telling my friends and seniors that I got dumped by Chae Suhyeon made me feel a bit gloomy, but at the same time, I felt good. The future ahead was bright. It was clear. ¡°Senior. But what position are you looking for? Is something wrong?¡± This guy, since he takes on quite important tasks in the guild, is quite perceptive. He seemed to have already caught on to what had happened to me. ¡°Well, I have nothing to hide anyway. This will bemon knowledge soon.¡± I loosened my body slightly. ¡°I got dumped by Soo-hyun.¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± Well, naturally, there wasn¡¯t much of a reaction. It¡¯s certainly a difficult topic toment on. ¡°Isn¡¯t today the day she achieves S-Rank 1st ce¡­?¡± He asked cautiously, as if testing the waters. ¡°Yeah. So we gathered to celebrate that, and then I got dumped.¡± As I spoke, I couldn¡¯t help but find it quite absurd. It was like someone who had to support their girlfriend through two years in the military, only to get dumped by her on discharge day. ¡°Wow¡­ How could that happen¡­¡± ¡°Hey, you can curse as much as you want. Don¡¯t worry about my feelings. That b*tch is frustrating me too. Again, feel free to say whatever you want.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ I have no words. Just how could a person¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk about thister over drinks. So, what about the guild position?¡± ¡°Oh! Right. There are a few positions avable¡­¡± He started pulling out some materials he had prepared. ¡°These positions probably won¡¯t suit you well. Hmm¡­ How about going this way¡­?¡±@@novelbin@@ He pointed out a specific position. It was a junior position in Lee Sooah¡¯s S-Rank hunter team. ¡°Uh? Sooah?¡± ¡°Yeah. Well, you¡¯re about the same age, and considering¡­ Soo-hyun¡­¡± He continued speaking while keeping an eye on my reaction. I knew exactly why Hyungseok was acting that way. There are several S-Rank Hunters around the same age as Chae Suhyeon. It¡¯s obvious that their rtionship with Chae Suhyeon isn¡¯t good. One of them was Lee Sooah. ¡°How do you¡­ feel¡­? I thought this ce might be the best.¡± There was quite a bit of meaning hidden in his words. ¡°Damn it. You already figured it out when I called. Given that you prepared this data.¡± It was certainly not something I could brush off as a quick reaction. ¡°Did it look like I was going to break up¡­?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s not important right now.¡± ¡°Anyway, are you saying this is better than the other ces?¡± ¡°It might be a bit tough, but I think this is the best optionpared to the others. The other spots are just trash¡­ Haha¡­ Anyway, you¡¯re still E-Rank¡­¡± Once again, he was checking my reaction. ¡°Come on. I know that. If I¡¯m E-Rank at this age, I wouldn¡¯t have gotten a good position from the start.¡± In fact, my current rank was useless. Getting a rank like that was just about pouring points into it and getting government certification¡ªthat¡¯s all there was to it. What really mattered to me wasn¡¯t that. Chae Suhyeon. What could I do to make Chae Suhyeon angry? ¡°To cook up something delicious¡­¡± Some might see my actions now and wonder why a man is being petty, worrying about his ex-girlfriend. But for me, it was a significantly important issue. It could have nearly cost me half my life. I had dedicated almost everything for Chae Suhyeon, and I almost lost it all. This wasn¡¯t just a simple breakup or a mild annoyance. A person¡¯s life was on the verge of being ruined. Ding ding ding. While I was lost in thought, an rm rang. ¡°Ah, just a moment.¡± Hyungseok took out what looked like a work phone from his pocket. ¡°Ah. Senior¡­ right now¡­¡± He had a rather awkward expression, hesitating to say something. ¡°What¡¯s up? What¡¯s going on?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but think about the possibility of being rejected when joining a guild. Of course, I could go to another guild, but Hyungseok¡¯s guild was one of the top five in South Korea. It would be best to seize a good opportunity. ¡°Um¡­ Chae Suhyeon Hunter is holding a press conference¡­¡± ¡°What? A press conference?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°How far along are they prepared? Without me knowing?¡± I had no prior knowledge. Not about breaking up, not about joining Baekho Guild, not about holding a press conference. She had clearly said she disliked press conferences and interviews while we were dating. She expressed her desire to minimize exposure and hated the idea of bad rumors spreading. ¡®Oh, oppa. What good is a press conference? The reporters are just going to tear me apart. Ah, since you¡¯re E-Rank, nobody cares about you. But I¡¯m now S-Rank, so everyone is going to go crazy. I don¡¯t want that.¡¯ It seemed she had been quietly hiding her tiger¡¯s ws. I couldn¡¯t believe how meticulously she had acted. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but can we continue the conversation after just watching this? I have some work to do.¡± Hyungseok was asking for understanding. ¡°Ah, of course, that¡¯s fine. It¡¯s you who was called out in the middle anyway. Moreover, I¡¯m really curious about this press conference too! Let¡¯s watch together.¡± In the video, Chae Suhyeon was smiling brightly. There was a banner announcing that she would dere her achievement as the number one S-Rank Hunter and her intention to join Baekho Guild. ¡°Ha. F*ck¡­ Is she really saying she¡¯ll join Baekho Guild?¡± ¡°She never mentioned it to me!¡± I started to get quite furious. ¡°Alright then. F*ck it. Let¡¯s hear what she has to say.¡± ¡°That¡¯ll help me decide how to act.¡± Hyungseok and I became engrossed in the screen. Chapter 4 ¡°Hello. Nice to meet you.¡± In the screen, Chae Suhyeon wore a bright expression, bowing to the reporters. It had only been a few hours since she had notified me of our breakup, yet she looked so cheerful. ¡®Huh¡­ Is she an incredible professional? Or is she just a massive b*tch?¡¯ I was fuming inside but tried my best to hold it in. Now wasn¡¯t the time to be angry or anything like that. Besides, Hyungseok was here. ¡°But, when did you two break up¡­?¡± ¡°Today. Just a moment ago.¡± ¡°Huh? Just a moment ago¡­?¡± Hyungseok clicked his tongue as he looked at the screen. He was also ncing at me. ¡°Hunter Chae Suhyeon¡­ She¡¯s really unbelievable¡­¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Right? Like, who even thinks like that?¡± ¡°I gathered you all here today to share the good news that I¡¯ve ranked first among S-Rank Hunters. I must apologize to the previous first ce S-Rank Hunter, Lee Sooah.¡± She smiled sweetly, pretending to be all good-natured. ¡°Oh dear. Our guild is inplete chaos because of this.¡± ¡°Chaos?¡± ¡°Yes. Of course, the top hunter getting dethroned would cause a stir. Hunter Lee Sooah wentpletely out of her mind, smashing everything in sight. It was absolute chaos trying to stop her.¡± ¡®What the hell. That bit*h. Is he trying to shove me into the ring to deal with her?¡¯ A flurry of thoughts crossed my mind. ¡°Oh, but I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be fine. You can just focus on supporting in the dungeon and level up. Since our system has you avoiding direct encounters, you probably won¡¯t meet her much. Other than when we greet each other, I doubt you¡¯ll run into her.¡± Quickly picking up on my mood, he changed his demeanor. He was indeed a master at navigating social situations. ¡°The reason I haven¡¯t engaged with the media or joined any guilds until now is¡­¡± Chae Suhyeon began spinning tales and weaving stories. ¡®Huh¡­ You¡¯re really good at lying effortlessly.¡¯ ¡®You set all this up from the start, using me as a pawn.¡¯ ¡®Haha. This is turning into quite the funny situation.¡¯ I decided to calmly observe how Chae Suhyeon would act. It would be better to move ordingly. ¡®Well, the first step is good.¡¯ ¡®Chae Suhyeon joining the Baekho Guild. I just need to join the rival Blue Guild.¡¯ I couldn¡¯t tell how far she had prepared. Had she been anticipating this for quite a long time? ¡®Was her original goal to join the Baekho Guild?¡¯ I found myself lost in thought for a moment. However, my thoughts quickly solidified. As Lee Jinhyeok appeared on the screen. The star of the Baekho Guild, Lee Jinhyeok. Of course, he¡¯s not highly ranked among S-rank Hunters. But he has one significant point. Hees from a chaebol family. He was the heir to the Taeyang Group, arguably thergest conglomerate in our country. ¡®Hah¡­ Was that her goal¡­?¡¯ Using me as a stepping stone to be the top S-rank Hunter. And then joining the Baekho Guild. After that, seducing Lee Jinhyeok. The entire process seemed too obvious. ¡®Hah¡­ Are you kidding? Really? Using people as mere tools?¡¯ It was absurd. But seeing Chae Suhyeon and Lee Jinhyeok on the same screen made it seem usible. That guy, Jinhyeok, was notorious for treating people as tools as well. The Taeyang Group was known for treating its workers poorly; no other group could im to be more ruthless. Furthermore, the Baekho Guild had grown under the substantial support of the Taeyang Group. It was evident that they shared the same culture and system. They wouldn¡¯t flinch at the cost of a few lives in the dungeon. People like them clearly had no interest in a human life as long as there was profit. ¡®They really are gathering in their own little circle.¡¯ At this point, I felt quite foolish. ¡®Hah¡­ No, it¡¯s fine. If I use my points wisely, I might be able to be the top in the world.¡¯ I once again recalled my status window in my mind. There were definitely enormous points avable. Chae Suhyeon and Lee Jinhyeok might all be irrelevant. ¡°I would like to announce that I have joined the Baekho Guild today.¡± With a very bright voice, she tightly held Lee Jinhyeok¡¯s hand while leaning on his shoulder. ¡®Huh? Damn. Is this how it feels to be NTR-ed??¡¯ ¡®Was it always like this? Damn it.¡¯ I started to feel irritated. ¡®Suhyeon, you really can¡¯t do this. I can¡¯t just let it slide.¡¯ She was continually stoking the fire within my heart. ¡°Um¡­ Are you going to keep watching this?¡± Hyungseok began ncing between me and the press conference scene, sensing the difort in my mood. ¡°Hey. I¡¯m joining right away. Is there some kind of contract?¡± ¡°Yes. Here it is. Please read it carefully and fill it out.¡± The contract was processed very quickly. Seeing Suhyeon going on air and doing that made it impossible for me to just sit back. ¡®Ha¡­ Suhyeon. This is it for you.¡¯ ¡®The peak has already passed. Once the points I gave you run out, you¡¯ll just end up as a C-Rank Hunter.¡¯ ¡®Moreover, even if you manage to break through to S-Rank again, what will you do about your status ailments?¡¯ The aspect that I considered important about myself was exactly this. Releasing status ailments. Interestingly enough, points could also be invested in improving status ailments. Thanks to this, Suhyeon was able to grow without significant mental issues, unlike other S-Rank Hunters. ¡®Even if you try again, you won¡¯t be able to reach that position, right?¡¯ Now, it was just a matter of time. Even if I just stood still, her stats would gradually deplete. And I would slowly grow in the Blue Guild. Someday, we would cross paths. ¡°Um, senior, let¡¯s introduce ourselves to Ms. Lee Sooah. When we sign a contract, we usually exchange greetings.¡± Hyungseok, having finished reviewing the contract I wrote, started the conversation. ¡°Yeah. Sure.¡± * ¡°Hello, Hunter Lee Sooah. I¡¯m Baek Jihoon, and I will be working with you starting today.¡± Under Hyungseok¡¯s guidance, I met Hunter Lee Sooah. ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen Hunter Lee Sooah up close.¡± So far, it had been quite difficult to be friendly or close with other hunters. After all, Suhyeon had opposed it. ¡®Ah, Oppa. What¡¯s the point of meeting other hunters? Are you going to date them? Hang out? What do you want to do with them? Don¡¯t meet them. You¡¯re too busy leveling up with me right now, aren¡¯t you?¡¯ ¡®No. Why should I care about other female hunters when you¡¯re here?¡¯ ¡®Oppa, seriously, don¡¯t be distracted by other women. If you keep doing that, I don¡¯t know what I might do.¡¯ Although I hadn¡¯t put in any particr effort, memories of the past gradually surfaced. ¡°She really is pretty.¡± Once, an S-Rank hunter who caused quite a stir nationwide. She was a hunter who held the number one spot for quite a long time. Her skills were exceptional, and her beauty was outstanding. But she was hindered by mental issues. Those mental problems that even doctors around the world couldn¡¯tprehend. It seemed that those issues often arose particrly among S-Rank hunters. These days, she was known for being short-tempered and easily irritated. ¡°Hello.¡± She greeted with a voice that contained a hint of annoyance. ¡°I heard you¡¯re E-Rank. Just be careful not to get hurt. I might not be able to pay full attention to you.¡± Her voice and expression were clearly filled with irritation and annoyance, yet there was a warmth that shone through. ¡°Yes. Understood.¡± I bowed slightly in acknowledgment. * ¡°I feel like it wasn¡¯t this bad before, but it seems to be getting worse over time. Please understand if she¡¯s a bit irritable.¡± We carefully closed the door behind us and headed to another location. Hyungseok was trying hard to make excuses for Lee Sooah, who had initially responded unkindly. ¡°Ah, I know. Apparently, not just Hunter Lee Sooah, but other hunters are in simr situations too.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Sigh. It¡¯s frustrating that no one knows why.¡± ¡°Well, it can¡¯t be helped.¡± ¡°By the way, I think Hunter Chae Suhyeon seems okay¡­¡± Hyungseok wore a thoughtful expression as if he was recalling something. ¡°Hmm. Maybe it¡¯s because of me¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t certain, but I had a feeling that my decent distribution of points had something to do with it. Of course, I wouldn¡¯t be mentioning that fact here and there. Every time I brought up the fact that I could distribute points to others, everyone looked at me as if I was crazy. I might have tried to exin it earnestly in the beginning, but now I didn¡¯t do that at all. It would just be a hassle. ¡°Senior. But are you going out starting today? The Lee Sooah Hunter Team has a schedule today.¡± He spoke with a tone that seemed to offer me an option. ¡°Well, yeah, I guess I¡¯ll go out starting today. After all, Chae Suhyeon is also¡­¡± I inadvertently mentioned Chae Suhyeon. I didn¡¯t want to show that I was concerned about her, but it happened. ¡°Ah¡­ um¡­ yes. Understood.¡± *@@novelbin@@ ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Hello. I hear you¡¯re E-Rank?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I greeted the team members I would be working with in the future. Of course, this was inside a dungeon. ¡°Hehe. How did an E-Rank end up with our team¡­¡± ¡°Right? Did they send a rookie to such a difficult team¡­?¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯m not a rookie¡­¡± Of course, socially speaking, E-Rankers are undoubtedly considered rookies. But along with Chae Suhyeon, I had been through a lot and was a veteran. Maybe I might even know more than these guys. It was only natural that most hunters wouldn¡¯t know anything about me since Chae Suhyeon and I had kept a low profile. ¡°Hmm. Everyone tends to say that. Well, anyway, nice to meet you. Wee to the Hellish Lee Sooah Team.¡± He offered me a handshake. ¡®Helllish Lee Sooah? Why? Hyungseok clearly said it was okay and rmended it¡­¡¯ A slightly suspicious feeling began to arise. Chapter 7 Hearing Lee Sooah¡¯s voice brought me back to my senses. The situation was what it was, and I was already upset about Chae Suhyeon. ¡®Ha¡­ Did I get too immersed in it?¡¯ I quickly pulled myself together while looking at the shattered pieces of the Medusa¡¯s stone. I must have looked strange, going on a rampage like a madman. ¡°Yup.¡± I put aside my feelings of anger towards Chae Suhyeon for the moment and became a gentle sheep instead. After all, I was just a rookie in this guild. Moreover, I was only an E-rank hunter. The other party was Lee Sooah, a hunter who could be considered the best in the country. ¡°Are you okay¡­? How are you feeling?¡± She seemed to genuinely care for her team. ¡®Ha.¡¯ Seeing Lee Sooah reminded me of Chae Suhyeon¡¯s face. ¡®Ah. Oppa. I need to do well first. I need to seed for everyone to do well, right?¡¯ ¡®Aish. This is why men are all immature. Why do they keep trying to divide things equally? You have to give it all to me first for me to grow quickly.¡¯ ¡®Oppa, the way for me to seed is the way for all of us to seed. I told you that from the start. You need to give it all to me for me to do well, don¡¯t you?¡¯ ¡®No, how can I give something that I can¡¯t? Only you can give to me. So you obviously need to do that for me, right?¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t you know the phrase dies first¡±? Why do you keep saying such silly things?¡¯ It was clear. Chae Suhyeon had always been someone who put herself first. In contrast, Lee Sooah waspletely the opposite. Even when she herself was in danger, she was concerned about me. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not hurt? Our team seemed to have shown a bit of a poor side today. This isn¡¯t how we usually are¡­¡± She had a rather apologetic expression. It seemed like a lot ofplicated thoughts were running through her mind in this situation. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°But that skill¡­ was it something you already had?¡± Then came the question about the skill. She asked it with a very cautious tone. It was understandable; an E-rank hunter suddenly rushed in and rampaged alone must have seemed strange in the eyes of an S-rank hunter. ¡°Ah, yes.¡± I stammered at first. It was the first day, and I thought there was no need to draw unnecessary attention. From my experience so far, whenever I mentioned my traits, people tended tough or react with disbelief. Moreover, the circumstances under which I obtained those points were quiteplicated. First of all¡­ I should mention that I was dumped by Chae Suhyeon. Bringing that up with a beautiful woman I had known for less than 24 hours felt like a crazy thing to do. ¡°Why did you choose that skill?¡± Her tone suggested she was genuinely curious. It felt much closer to confusion rather than suspicion. After all, having a skill that an E-rank Hunter wouldn¡¯t typically have was indeed something worth looking at oddly. ¡°Haha¡­ it just happened that way¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m really d.¡± She let out a sigh. Having picked up on my reluctance to talk, she seemed to decide not to pry further. ¡°I¡¯m really d. Earlier, you did something amazing. We were on the brink of total annihtion. The government team reported they were still over 10 minutes away¡­¡± It seemed she was recalling the terrifying situation from just moments ago. She shuddered a little at the thought. ¡°Yes. I think I was just lucky. But is it normal for you to operate so dangerously?¡± I still couldn¡¯t understand how the Blue Guild operated. They didn¡¯t enter a dungeon with enough preliminary information? A guild of this size? Just yesterday, Lee Sooah had been ranked number one among S-rank Hunters. ¡°No, this is strange. Medusa shouldn¡¯t normally appear in this dungeon. The dungeon¡¯s attribute doesn¡¯t support that at all¡­¡± She wore a thoughtful expression, as if pondering something. ¡°Hmm. I wonder. Could it be because of me?¡± I had to entertain the possibility since my presence seemed to be the only variable. ¡°Well, either way, it¡¯s all over now, so it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Phew¡­ Hunter Lee Sooah¡­ We¡¯ve wrapped everything up for now. I think it would be best to finalize things for today.¡± Although the dungeon clear itself still had a bit more left, everyone seemed to think that it would be impossible to continue due to the shock they had all experienced. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s call it a day for now. Hmm¡­¡± Hunter Lee Sooah then nced at me subtly. ¡°I would like for us to have a weing dinner today. Everyone needs to recover from the mental shock. And our Hunter Baek Jihoon also saved all of us.¡± ¡°Ah. Yes. Understood.¡± * ¡°Wow. Senior.¡± I returned to the guild office to wrap things up. Hyungseok came rushing toward me without giving me a chance to do anything else. ¡°You were totally amazing today. Wow¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t hide his admiration, visibly excited. ¡°I¡¯ve heard bits and pieces about it. They said you almost faced ruin?¡± He had a look of significant excitement on his face. His sparkling eyes were fixated on me, curious about what was making his heart race. ¡°Well, I¡¯m d¡­¡± ¡°No, but how on earth do you have that skill? That¡¯s a garbage skill that hardly anyone would pick.¡± Hyungseok is a die-hard Hunter fan. He¡¯s memorized almost every single piece of information about Hunters. Of course, it¡¯s ironic since he¡¯s not actually a Hunter. He has always expressed a desire to be one. But the heavens did not grant him that opportunity. Thus, he studied every detail about Hunters rigorously and was currently ying an important role in the Blue Guild, known as the best guild in the country. ¡°Then why on earth do you have such a skill¡­ But it¡¯s a good thing. Because you had it, you were able to deal with that Medusa so easily; if you hadn¡¯t had it, it could have been a major issue.¡± He was chattering away as if he had been right there in that situation, excitedly discussing it. ¡°Lee Sooah¡¯s Team. As you know, it¡¯s our guild¡¯s A Team.¡± The A Team is regarded as the team that represents the guild, possessing the highest capabilities and performance. ¡°But today, it almost seemed like the A Team was about to vanish in an instant. If that had happened, I bet it would have been stered all over domestic news, as well as the front page of international news!¡± A face that looked utterly terrible. ¡°Phew. That¡¯s a relief. If that were the case, Chae Suhyeon would have be even more arrogant.¡± It was certain. She was always grinding her teeth behind my back. ¡°Ha. No way, oppa. You think that girl is pretty? She¡¯s way more attractive!¡± ¡°Why? I just can¡¯t understand why those types of girls are so popr.¡± ¡°I will definitely make her eat her words once I rise to the top.¡± She was the embodiment of jealousy. Looking back, it was strange, but at that time, even that side of her seemed pretty. ¡°Oh my. Senior. You really made an impression as soon as you walked in. Our guild is inplete chaos. Everyone was shocked when they heard about Medusa. I thought it would be a guaranteed 100% annihtion, but turns out everyone is fine, and I was left speechless.¡± He kept rambling on, trailing behind me. He must still be too excited, bouncing around as he followed me. ¡°Wow¡­ at this rate, are you dating Hunter Lee Sooah?¡± He yfully nudged my shoulder. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Hunter Lee Sooah. She rarely opens her heart to others. She doesn¡¯t ask for favors or rely on anyone. But today, she¡¯s indebted to you in an enormous way for the first time.¡± He was giggling as if he found it immensely funny. ¡°What does that have to do with anything?¡± ¡°Come on, you never know what might happen. At the very least, I think you¡¯ve made quite an impression on Hunter Lee Sooah. Ha, I really think my rmendation was spot on. When you get married, I¡¯ll be the one to officiate!¡± Suddenly, he seemed to gulp down an entire pot of kimchi soup by himself. ¡®Does this guy have any idea how dangerous it was today? Suddenly bringing up pointless topics.¡¯ I had been feelingpletely restless all day because of Chae Suhyeon, so I wasn¡¯t really paying attention to his words. I thought he was just babbling due to his mood. ¡°Oh, by the way. But do you know this, senior?¡± Hyungseok, who had been chasing after me excitedly, suddenly changed his expression and switched the topic. ¡°Hmm? What is it?¡± ¡°Ugh. While you were in the dungeon, Hunter Chae Suhyeon¡­¡± ¡°Hmm? What? Did that womane looking for me here?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not like she came looking for you¡­¡± She made a slightly incredulous expression. ¡°Guess what? Your name¡¯s on the Hunter cklist.¡± ¡°What?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but frown at yet another terrible piece of news. The Hunter cklist. It¡¯s a ce where they list Hunters who¡¯ve caused trouble in dungeons or have negatively affected others through malicious actions. ¡®Ha. This is ridiculous. Is she out of her mind?¡¯ I waspletely taken aback. Anyone in my position would feel the same way.@@novelbin@@ ¡°By what level did they put you on?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ ck.¡± ck. It means being categorized as the most dangerous individual. Skipping over the Red and Blue grades, one goes straight to being listed as ck. ¡®No way. Is she insane?¡¯ Not only did she turn against me, but she also put me on the cklist? And it¡¯s the ck grade, no less. If you¡¯re ck, all guilds will avoid you. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a good thing. I¡¯ve processed your guild membership quickly.¡± It meant that Hyungseok already cut in before Chae Suhyeon could take action. ¡°Our guild¡¯s HR team had some concerns, but fortunately, you performed well in today¡¯s dungeon. I don¡¯t think there will be any issues. Our guild usually doesn¡¯t care much about being ck or Red as long as you do your job well.¡± He had a look on his face that said there was nothing to worry about. ¡®No, the problem isn¡¯t joining the guild right now; I should be thinking about the fact that this freaking idiot is trying to bury me.¡¯ Hyungseok was looking at me, but he wasn¡¯t managing his expression well. It felt like everything I had carefully prepared over a long time was about toe pouring out all at once. Chapter 8 Drrr drrr. Lee Sooah scrolled the mouse wheel with her chin resting on her hand, deep in thought. She seemed a bit rattled by the massive incident that had just urred. ¡°That could have been a really big problem.¡± ¡°I should have done something¡­¡± Even though she was an S-Rank Hunter, she found herself unable to act. She didn¡¯t have any useful skills. ¡°Why on earth was there a Medusa in that dungeon?¡± ¡°We should have conducted thorough research beforehand¡­¡± The Blue Guild operated much like a corporation, and thorough research before tackling a dungeon was a given. ¡°Something terrible could have happened.¡± ¡°A-Team could have beenpletely wiped out¡­ and I too¡­¡± ¡°If we hadn¡¯t had Baek Jihoon, we would have beenpletely erased from this world.¡± She slightly bit her lip. And she grimaced, as if her head hurt a little. ¡°This damn status ailment¡­ I wish it could be resolved somehow.¡± It had been a symptom that had tormented her for quite some time. Before it really started to hurt, Sooah used to soar through dungeons. Everyone admired her. ¡°Hah¡­ Damn it¡­ I can¡¯t do anything like this.¡± Almost all S-Ranks, including Sooah, were afflicted by status ailments. It seemed that they could no longer continue with their Hunter activities. ¡°How on earth is that person so vibrant?¡± She looked at the monitor with a slightly displeased expression. On the screen was Chae Suhyeon, holding a press conference. She looked very cheerful. ¡°Hunter Sooah has held the number one spot for quite some time now. As of today, the rankings will change. Would you like to say a few words?¡± ¡°Um. First of all, I¡¯d like to express my gratitude to Hunter Lee Sooah for her hard work up until now. From now on, I will take responsibility for domestic safety as the number one S-Rank Hunter representing South Korea.¡± She seemed to respond positively to the reporter¡¯s words. Crack. She identally broke the mouse she was holding lightly in her hand. She seemed to be in a very bad mood. ¡°There¡¯s not a single thing that pleases me.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯ve dropped to second ce¡­¡± ¡°Ha¡­ If only these pains didn¡¯t exist¡­¡± Then the cklist caught her eye. ¡°Hmm. It says Chae Suhyeon put Hunter Baek Jihoon on the cklist.¡± Typically, a certain kind of review is required to cklist someone. However, if an S-Rank Hunter requests it, the individual gets tentatively listed. ¡°For what reason was he added to the cklist?¡± ¡°So suddenly?¡± She suddenly became curious. ¡°Sexual harassment¡­ attempted sexual assault¡­ stalking¡­¡± She began reading the words one by one. ¡°Hmm¡­? Was he such a person?¡± It gave her a slight sense of cognitive dissonance. She definitely hadn¡¯t felt this way when she saw him in the dungeon during the day. ¡°It seems I shouldn¡¯t judge based on appearances alone¡­¡± She appeared slightly confused. ¡°Hmm¡­ and¡­¡± She continued reading, her finger tracing down the cklist paper. ¡°When he requests to join a guild, please refrain from epting¡­¡± ¡°Normally, this isn¡¯t something that¡¯s noted separately¡­¡± ¡°Why¡­?¡± It felt slightly odd. The vibe was quite different from usual. ¡°Hmm¡­ Joining our guild¡­¡± ¡°It must have been a special recruitment with Hyungseok¡¯s guarantee.¡± She quickly checked how he hade into the guild. Then she thought of Lee Hyungseok. A total fanatic when it came to Hunters. That was exactly his image. Also, his dedication to the guild. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°If Hyungseok is vouching for him, he probably isn¡¯t a strange person¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re not that lenient of a guild either.¡± ¡°This feels strange. Strange¡­ I should investigate further.¡± ¡°It feels like there¡¯s something more to him, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Why do I feel so uneasy¡­?¡± Lee Sooah was not someone to be underestimated. ¡°Since Baek Jihoon had joined my team, I felt the need to urately assess the people around me.¡± * ¡°What the hell. This fucking woman.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but close my eyes tightly. I was holding the paper so hard that it felt like it would crumple and tear. ¡°What? Sexual harassment? Rape? Stalking?¡± ¡°No way. Chae Suhyeon was far more outrageous than I had imagined.¡± ¡°Wow. How the hell did she manage to endure it all for such a long time without showing it?¡± Since I was in the guild office, I couldn¡¯t make any noise outwardly and was internally simmering with anger. All I could do was crumple the paper and tremble. Chae Suhyeon was doing almost everything I could think of that was utterly ridiculous to me. No, it was beyond that. It seemed she was skilled at tormenting me without meeting me directly.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Ha¡­ the HR department must know all about this.¡± My face flushed with heat. I felt a mix of guilt and gratitude towards Hyungseok. After all, he hadn¡¯t shown any signs of knowing how I felt. Of course, since he had known about the rtionship between Chae Suhyeon and me for quite some time, he might have just thought it was a funny situation andughed it off lightly. Ironically, the more it became like this, the angrier I grew, feeling even more provoked. Somehow, it seemed Chae Suhyeon was pulling this stunt to thoroughly dissuade me. It was obvious. She wanted topletely cut ties with me to make a fresh start with the chaebol man Lee Jinhyeok. Drawing a line and pretending to be neat and tidy was likely Chae Suhyeon¡¯s goal. However, I couldn¡¯t tolerate it. There was no way I would remain silent after being struck like this as if nothing had happened. Maybe under normal circumstances, I would have. But today¡¯s incident was not something to be brushed aside lightly. It was an event that nearly ruined my entire life. ¡°Ha¡­ is she really nning to press charges against me as a rapist or something?¡± At this point, I was curious about what her next move would be. From the flow of things so far, it seemed that Chae Suhyeon wouldn¡¯t simply end it here. It seemed like they were trying topletely bring me to the bottom and prevent me from rubbing against myself. ¡°Cleanse¡± It was the only word that popped into my head. Clearly, they were in the process of cleansing their own life. They took in so many points from me and then ran away. And then they did this filthy thing. ¡°Wow¡­ I¡¯m beyond angry now; it¡¯s reaching the point of admiration.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but scoff. And then, the corner of my lip naturally lifted into a smile. It wasn¡¯t on purpose; it just happened that way. ¡°Hey, Chae Suhyeon. You¡¯re screwed. Those points of yours are about to dwindle. No matter what nonsense you pull, I will rise in the end. And I¡¯ll shove you back down to where you originally were.¡± If my calctions were correct, once all my points were recovered, Chae Suhyeon would probably be a C-rank. Of course, there¡¯s usually no such regression, so I was unsure how the national system would process it. But I thought there must be all sorts of ways to drag them down. ¡°Let¡¯s see what happens to you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll live well from now on.¡± Though I felt a bit anxious, I still thought I had joined the Blue Guild nicely. I believed that as long as Inded safely, there wouldn¡¯t be major problems. ¡°At least Hyungseok is holding up strongly.¡± I decided to trust Hyungseok, who knew a bit of the truth, and work hard in guild activities. ¡°I¡¯ll steadily climb up.¡± * ¡°Yaaah! I¡¯m so happy!¡± As Chae Suhyeon entered the enormous mansion, she shouted. She raised her arms in delight and was thoroughly enjoying her happiness. Having just finished her breathless schedule of the day, she had just arrived home. ¡°Hey, Chae Suhyeon. Thanks for your hard work during this time. It must have been tough, right? Oh, don¡¯t worry~ now it¡¯s time to enjoy life.¡± ¡°Of course, there¡¯s still a bit of a way to go.¡± She recalled Lee Jinhyeok in her mind. ¡°Ha. No matter what, as long as I can cook him well¡­¡± ¡°Once I get pregnant, it¡¯ll all be over.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s okay. It¡¯s just the beginning, so there are plenty of opportunities!¡± She was patting herself on the back. ¡°Hmm. I feel a bit sorry and regretful for Jihoon Oppa, though¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a greedy woman.¡± ¡°Thank you for everything up until now. Unfortunately, you¡¯re not a chaebol man.¡± Still, it seemed like her conscience was slightly pricked, as her expression turned dark. ¡°Well. He¡¯ll manage just fine.¡± ¡°At this point, he won¡¯t daree at me again, will he?¡± She stared nkly at the Hunter cklist application form. ¡°He¡¯s not the type to stir up trouble.¡± ¡°He might get angry a bit, but at least he won¡¯t have any thoughts of bothering me.¡± ¡°This is enough of a warning that he won¡¯t spread rumors about how we dated or had fun at night.¡± Chae Suhyeon wanted a clean image. And she quickly thought of devouring Lee Jinhyeok and integrating into the chaebol family. ¡°I really don¡¯t want to leave a stain on my image.¡± ¡°Dating an E-rank Hunter just seems wrong¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m now the top S-rank Hunter, after all.¡± ¡°From today, it¡¯s apletely fresh start. Chae Suhyeon. Fighting!¡± She seemed to be celebrating as she nced around her status window. She looked quite proud of achieving the top rank in S-rank. ¡°I should be able to sleep quite soundly today. I was somewhat anxious that something might go wrong in the meantime.¡± She lightly turned off the status window and got into bed. In her joyful state, she hadn¡¯t managed to read the small text floating in the corner of her status window. [All points used by Hunter Baek Jihoon will be retrieved from Chae Suhyeon.] [Estimated time: 100 days] [Progress: 1%] Chapter 9 On the way to the wee dinner. ¡°Wow¡­ Senior¡­ You looked really cool today.¡± Hyungseok was guiding me to the dinner while continuously expressing his admiration. Seeing him give me a double thumbs-up made me feel somewhat embarrassed. ¡°Hey¡­ stop it. What¡¯s with that¡­¡± ¡°No, today was really amazing! Senior, the work you did today was incredible. I don¡¯t think you realize how big of a deal it was just hearing the situation.¡± Suddenly, he took out his smartphone. ¡°Look at this. Our guild has already started operations on it.¡± ¡°Operations?¡± [ Did you know that Team A of the Blue Guild almost got wiped out today? ] ? Why wiped out? Isn¡¯t Lee Sooah there? ? I heard Lee Sooah almost died too? ? Why? How would Lee Sooah die? Even if she¡¯s a has-been, she¡¯s not that weak. ? Lee Sooah¡¯s got the goods. I want to touch. ? Everyone, let¡¯s stop this nonsense. Creating baseless rumors. [ They say a Medusa appeared in the Yongsan War Memorial Dungeon, and that¡¯s why Lee Sooah¡¯s team almost got wiped out. ] ? No way. Why would a Medusa appear there? It doesn¡¯t even match the dungeon¡¯s attributes. ? If you¡¯re going to make up stories, at least make them usible. ? Is there anyone out there writing fresh and believable stories? There¡¯s ack of talent. [ That post from earlier seems legit? The Blue Guild seems to have acknowledged it too? ] ? What are you talking about? Stop with the nonsense. ? I won¡¯t believe it until there¡¯s proof. ? If a Medusa appeared in the War Memorial Dungeon, I¡¯ll cut off my own balls. That dungeon isn¡¯t even that type. ? But I heard no one was prepared, so they almost got wiped. Various posts were appearing across multiplemunities. ¡°What the¡­?¡± It seemed that people still couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± ¡°Well¡­ You did something amazing today, right? So, our guild wants to leverage that~ That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying. The Guild Master was really angry today about Lee Sooah getting pushed out¡­¡± It indeed seemed that there was chaos in the guild because Lee Sooah was pushed out due to Chae Suhyeon. ¡°But?¡± ¡°So, the Guild Master wants to spotlight you~ that¡¯s the stance.¡± ¡°Guild Master what? Me?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but be perplexed by the sudden turn of events. ¡°Hey. You know our Hunter Lee Sooah is a rival to Hunter Chae Suhyeon, right? Well, I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s right to call it a rivalry, but still. Anyway, I casually mentioned your rtionship with Hunter Chae Suhyeon to the Guild Master.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± Honestly, it wasn¡¯t a good thing for me if such information got around. Of course, I knew how others would think about it. Everyone wouldugh at me. A foolish E-rank Hunter who dedicated himself as a ve to an S-rank Hunter only to be discarded like trash. I didn¡¯t want to spread a bad image. ¡°Ha¡­ I¡¯m going to end up looking like a pushover again.¡± ¡°Ah, don¡¯t worry.¡± When I frowned, Hyungseok lightly tapped my shoulder. ¡°Senior. I¡¯ve got this. I won¡¯t let it go in the direction you¡¯re worried about.¡± He seemed to have some confidence. ¡°Our Guild Master is quite perceptive. I think they might be expecting something from you.¡± ¡°Expecting? What kind of expectation?¡± ¡°Well, you know, someone who has a connection with Hunter Chae Suhyeon hase into our guild. It wouldn¡¯t be a bad thing, would it?¡± It seemed like the situation was gettingplicated without me even knowing it. I hadn¡¯t taken any action, but Hyungseok looked like he was diligently scheming behind the scenes. ¡°You just focus on what you need to do. I¡¯ll work hard behind the scenes. After all, the goal is, ahem, Hunter Chae Suhyeon, right?¡± Hyungseok cleared his throat for a moment and said with a wink. He had an attitude as if he knew everything. ¡®Did I give too much away?¡¯ Well, considering I had walked around with an annoyed expression all day, it was understandable if he noticed. My ex-girlfriend was on TV causing a ruckus while being celebrated, and here I was, joining a new guild at the bottom rank in a wilted state. It was hard not to notice. ¡°Well, that¡¯s true.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t have lingering feelings for Hunter Chae Suhyeon¡­¡± ¡°Ugh. Why would I have any feelings left for that b*tch?¡± I suddenly got angry. It wasn¡¯t just a simple breakup. There are definitely various ways for people to break up. But this woman is going beyond just ending things unpleasantly; she¡¯s attacking me in a very petty way. ¡®Am I really going to interact with Chae Suhyeon again?¡¯ I ground my teeth. ¡°Alright then. We¡¯ve been keeping a close eye on Hunter Chae Suhyeon. After all, Lee Sooah has been in first ce for a long time. To be honest, we haven¡¯t really talked about it, but today¡¯s incident was a huge shock to our guild.¡± Then he sighed deeply. This guy usually doesn¡¯t sigh, so this issue must have been quite serious for him too. ¡°So, we¡¯re thinking of pushing for you to take on a more prominent role in our guild.¡± ¡°Why me?¡± I still didn¡¯t understand. ¡°To put it simply¡­ The Guild Master thinks of you as the right counter to Chae Suhyeon. So, if your presence bes somewhat simr to hers, then we can blow the lid off her past. That¡¯s what I mean.¡± He returned to a bright expression. ¡°Is that even possible?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what public rtions is all about. Growing someone to outshine the opponent. Don¡¯t worry about whatever Hunter Chae Suhyeon is doing. We just need to do our own thing. That will ultimately be the best revengeter.¡± I could roughly grasp what he was saying. I hadn¡¯t met the leader of the Blue Guild personally, but they were famous enough. For a long time, Chae Suhyeon had beenpared to existing S-Rank Hunters, due to her unprecedented growth rate, making her a target of caution for other hunters. The Blue Guild must have been paying attention to Chae Suhyeon as well. And then¡­I caught their eye¡­ I don¡¯t know what will happen, but I felt like I had gained a solid ally. At least, in confronting this b*tch, the Blue Guild would be a very reliable friend. ¡°We¡¯ll do our best to elevate you to hero status. That way, you¡¯ll be able to stand against Hunter Chae Suhyeon.¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t the development I expected, but it wasn¡¯t something I disliked either. Well, it¡¯s good for me. If I can get the support of a renowned guild in our country, and if that path allows me to take down Chae Suhyeon¡­ ¡°Alright. Not bad.¡± ¡°Hehe. Look forward to it.¡± * ¡°Hello. I¡¯m the new recruit who joined today, E-Rank Hunter Baek Jihoon.¡± I bowed in greeting. ¡°Waaaaaah!¡± A surprisingly loud cheer erupted. This was my first experience with such a lively gathering. Although it was a weing event for the new member, everyone was being quite extravagant. ¡°Oooh¡­ our hero!!¡± ¡°Wee, Hunter Baek Jihoon.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really impressive right from day one.¡± Everyone chimed in with theirments. It definitely felt like a festive atmosphere. ¡°Wow¡­ no, I¡¯ve been to that dungeon 70 times, you know?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say it was 40 times?¡± ¡°Same difference~¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°But seriously, this was my very first experience for something like today!!¡± There was even a middle-aged hunter speaking in an excited state. ¡°We could have really died today! The government team was prettyte, by the way. The nearest team said it would take at least 20 minutes, right?¡± ¡°Exactly. I¡¯ve never felt so anxious in my entire hunter life! I have no idea why a monster that doesn¡¯t match our attributes showed up. Plus, it was a rare monster, right? It¡¯s not like ites out randomly unless someone goes out specifically to hunt it.¡± ¡°Right? And it wasn¡¯t just one or two¡­¡± Everyone continued discussing what had happened today. It seemed that thinking back on the event made everyone¡¯s hearts race. ¡°By the way, Jihoon. Do you have any bad feelings towards that Medusa?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I mean, when you were fighting the Medusa earlier, you looked really angry.¡± Someone came over and casually asked. ¡®Ah¡­ I guess they¡¯re referring to when I swung my weapon thinking it was Chae Suhyeon because I was so pissed off.¡¯ ¡®Did I look that angry¡­¡¯ ¡°Haha¡­ it was just that the Medusa caught me off guard. I didn¡¯t expect it toe out.¡± ¡°Ugh. I thought you had a grudge against the Medusa or something.¡± Everyone was in a cheerful mood. ¡°Jihoon. I¡¯ll apologize on behalf of today¡¯s event.¡± Suddenly, Hunter Lee Sooah hade to sit nearby. ¡°Huh? No, it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°It¡¯s your first day, and you¡¯re a rookie¡­ I should have done better at protecting you, but instead I showed you an ugly side.¡± Lee Sooah apologized with a grimace. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m just d it was resolved well.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s work well together from now on.¡±@@novelbin@@ She left with those brief words, returning to her seat. ¡®Wow¡­ to be in the same team as Hunter Lee Sooah.¡¯ Today had been so eventful that I hadn¡¯t thought about it until now. In fact, if it¡¯s about Hunter Lee Sooah, she is the most famous hunter in our country, someone everyone wants to team up with. If there were a poprity poll online, she would surelye in first. ¡®Although I lost to Chae Suhyeon, this isn¡¯t bad at all.¡¯ They say life is a mix of fortune and misfortune. There were certainly some frustrating moments, but I felt lucky because there were good things that matched them. ¡®Huh? What is this?¡¯ The status window suddenly began flickering in front of my eyes. ¡®Why is it flickering again?¡¯ Usually, the status window doesn¡¯t go haywire like this on its own. But today seemed particrly strange. Tick. I lightly touched the status window to open it. There was the status window of Lee Sooah disyed. ¡®Huh¡­? What¡¯s going on with her status¡­?¡¯ It was a screen I had never seen before. Depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, bipr disorder, PTSD, obsessivepulsive disorder, headache¡­ The status window of Hunter Lee Sooah was filled with various red markers. Of course, red markers are mostly not good traits for hunters. ¡®Wait, so she¡¯s living with this status¡­?¡¯ I subtly turned my head to observe Hunter Lee Sooah. She seemed to be frowning in considerable pain. ¡®Hmm¡­ I think I need to help her¡­¡¯ I moved my hand toward the status window. Chapter 10 ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Looking at Lee Sooah¡¯s status window, a sigh involuntarily escaped me. It was the first time I had seen a status window so covered in red indicators. Ah, I can see other people¡¯s status windows. Of course, that sounds obvious in a way. It wouldn¡¯t make sense to be able to invest points in someone else if I couldn¡¯t see their status window. ¡°No way. You¡¯ve been living like this¡­?¡± I finally began to understand why the S-Ranks were making such a fuss. Of course, until now, I had been solely focused on Chae Suhyeon, so I had no idea about the other S-Ranks. ¡°Ah, Oppa, why are you searching for that girl¡¯s information? You¡¯re right here with me but looking up another girl?¡± ¡°Hah¡­ Oppa, I¡¯m going to be an S-Rank Hunter¡­ why do you keep looking up other S-Rank Hunters? I don¡¯t get it¡­?¡± ¡°With how well I¡¯m treating you, why do you keep turning your gaze elsewhere!!¡± Well, I could maybe search a bit. It wasn¡¯t just because she was a woman; I was trying to gather information about S-Rank Hunters but was being stopped. ¡°That makes sense¡­ S-Rank Hunters always seem to be doing well, then they crash, right¡­?¡± ¡°Can they not see this themselves¡­?¡± ¡°Or even if they can see it, is there nothing they can do about it¡­?¡± Of course, this was a familiar feature for me. I had used it countless times already. ¡°Ah, Oppa!!!!¡± ¡°Hah¡­ Oppa¡­¡± ¡°Hey, Baek Jihoon¡­¡± ¡°Oppa¡­ really, are you going to do this?¡± I was with a very hysterical Chae Suhyeon. Each time, I used a bit of points from the status window to make adjustments. ¡°Phew. It¡¯s getting better.¡± ¡°Hah¡­ I feel like I can finally breathe.¡± ¡°You need to do better, so I don¡¯t have to get angry.¡± Come to think of it, I had been living like a ve hadn¡¯t I? Ugh, what a fool I am. Without realizing it, I smacked my own head. ¡°Huh? Why are you doing that? Jihoon?¡± The Hunter next to me jumped slightly in surprise. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry. I suddenly remembered something.¡± The Hunters nearby began chatting among themselves again. ¡°Um¡­Hunter Lee Sooah ¡­¡± I recalled the Hunter Lee Sooah I had seen before. She was certainly graceful and elegant¡­ yet a person of strong resolve¡­ Though her image is somewhat different now. You can easily find out with just a little search online. [Ah, Lee Sooah. That f*ing b*tch. Her tits are ridiculously big. So damn tempting.] [What¡¯s the point? She¡¯s such a b*tch. Apparently, she abuses her power.] [That makes it even more tempting.] [Crazy bastard.] [I hear she doesn¡¯t care about anyone? Supposedly has a really bad temper.] [Hah, if she would show me her temper, I¡¯d be into that. I can take it.] [If you get pped by an S-Rank Hunter, your head will fly off. Haven¡¯t you seen someone hit by a volleyball yer?] Everyone thinks of Lee Sooah as having a quirky personality. ¡°Um¡­ maybe¡­ it¡¯s because of the issues disyed on her status window.¡± I felt a tremendous curiosity arise. Not just because of my fondness for Lee Sooah Hunter¡­ But wouldn¡¯t anyone be curious in this situation? What would happen if I improved Hunter Lee Sooah¡¯s condition? What if I turned off this ring warning light¡­? ¡°I want to try.¡± After all, I had an overflowing amount of points returned from Chae Suhyeon. Plenty enough. To put it simply, I could easily elevate at least three Hunters to S-Rank top-tier status. With that, I could be considered a point tycoon in the Hunter world. Compared to that, the points needed for status ailment improvements were but a drop in the bucket. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a shot. I¡¯m curious.¡± I moved my fingers and began resolving various issues on the status window. The status window, which had been filled with red marks, quickly became clear. ¡°Um¡­ now¡­¡± I looked over at Lee Sooah Hunter. As expected, her expression began to brighten up considerably. ¡°See? This is how you should look pretty.¡± Just by changing her expression, it felt like she returned to her peak days. It felt as if a halo was shining behind her. ¡°Hey there, Jihoon. What are you doing? Why so busy? Do you have a lot to sort out on your status window?¡± As I momentarily lost myself staring at Lee Sooah, a hunter sitting in front of me spoke up. ¡°Oh my. Are you watching Hunter Lee Sooah right now?¡±@@novelbin@@ Then he giggled and continued. ¡°Isn¡¯t Hunter Lee Sooah beautiful? Wow¡­ she was even prettier back in the day. Of course, any vigorous young man in his 20s would find it impossible not to fall for her.¡± ¡°Right? Anyone who joins our team feels the same way.¡± ¡°Well, she¡¯s not a tree that can¡¯t be climbed, so sneaking a peek wouldn¡¯t hurt~¡± ¡°Uh, Manager, you¡¯re a married man, saying that¡­ about your wife¡­¡± ¡°Ah! Save me!¡± He was making idle chit-chat. I felt a bit embarrassed for some reason. That wasn¡¯t the kind of look I was giving her¡­ Well, I couldn¡¯tpletely deny it either. In any case, I felt a bit relieved that Hunter Lee Sooah¡¯s expression brightened. ¡°Wow, but why does Hunter Lee Sooah look even prettier today? She seems to be in a good mood¡­?¡± ¡°Hmm? That¡¯s true. What could it be¡­ Is something good happening?¡± ¡°What good can happen? If anything, only bad things have happened. With Chae Suhyeon¡­¡± ¡°Manager, shh.¡± This Manager seemed to be the type to say anything that came to mind. Well, I suppose it¡¯s good to have someone like that around. ¡°Jihoon, if you¡¯re interested in Hunter Lee Sooah, just let us know. We¡¯ll push you hard.¡± ¡°Ohe on, Manager, do you really think that will work?¡± There was a lot of meaning behind that statement. Even without saying it, Hunter Lee Sooah was quite famous. As someone who puts up walls against men. I know she¡¯s kind to me as a teammate, but it¡¯s unlikely that it will develop beyond that. And right now, I have no room to be concerned about such things. My goal is Chae Suhyeon. I need to take it one step at a time. Who knows what this girl might do to mess with me next? ¡°Ha¡­ If only I were ten years younger. I¡¯d approach Hunter Lee Sooah¡­¡± ¡°Manager, ten years ago, Hunter Lee Sooah would have been a minor. That¡¯s against thew. Tsk tsk.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± It seemed like these people just yed around like this. Still, I¡¯m d the team seemed to have a cheerful atmosphere. ¡°There are definitely some Hunter teams with a ridiculous atmosphere from time to time.¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s no need to look too far. Just think about Chae Suhyeon¡­¡± I recalled the past. ¡°Oh, Oppa. Is that all you can do? You¡¯ve only scored 120 points today? When are you ever going to be an S-Rank Hunter with this?¡± ¡°Sigh¡­ You promised you would take good care of me, right? You said you wouldn¡¯t let me get my hands dirty? You said you would let me livefortably?¡± ¡°What am I to you, Oppa? Am I just a living fleshlight? Really? Is it going to work like this, being so slow?¡± ¡°Oppa, I know it¡¯s tough. But first, we need to reach a higher ce quickly. That¡¯s the only way we can livefortably.¡± Looking back on it now, it was incredibly harsh whipping. ¡°Sigh¡­ I guess he was a madman. To have achieved those results in such a short time.¡± I momentarily fell into a brief contemtion. ¡°But, Jihoon, what did you originally do?¡± Suddenly, the question hit him out of nowhere. Perhaps the alcohol was starting to kick in, as everyone¡¯s expressions began to rx. ¡°Oh, I¡­¡± It was truly awkward to bring up his story. Where should he start, and how far should he go? Surely, while talking, the topic of Chae Suhyeon would inevitablye up. After all, for the past few years, his entire life had revolved around Chae Suhyeon. Didn¡¯t he have anything to talk about besides that? ¡°Hey~~ Normally, you shouldn¡¯t ask about past stories~¡± The manager, who had been observing his expression, reached out and stopped him. ¡°What I did isn¡¯t important; what matters is that you saved all of us today, right?¡± He felt the atmosphere shift dramatically. ¡°Wow¡­ but Jihoon, how did you possess that skill? That skill consumes a ton of points, you know? I have at least 4,000 Hunter acquaintances on my smartphone. But among those guys, not a single one probably has that skill, right?¡± The manager raised his smartphone, looking a bit smug. ¡°Really¡­ I thought I was going to die earlier, you know?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah¡­ Were you originally hunting Medusa? But Medusa¡¯s drop items are pretty lousy¡­¡± Even in games, there are undoubtedly unpopr skills. Today, the skill I recorded was exactly that unpopr skill. Rather, it would be treated as strange if I captured it¡­ ¡°Haha¡­ Back then, I had no idea and just¡­¡± I decided to vaguely brush it off. Exining that I had an overflow of points would certainly lead to no one understanding, and I¡¯d be treated as a weird person. More than anything, the atmosphere right now isn¡¯t bad. I felt that if things continued like this, I would have a satisfying Hunter life. ¡°Oh wow~ I really got lucky. Who would have thought that something I recorded by ident would turn out like this? If Jihoon hade in just a dayter, we would have been totally out of luck.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ that¡¯s terrifying¡­¡± ¡°Phew¡­ Thankfully, it¡¯s a relief. I think I made a good first impression.¡± I felt that my Hunter life would go smoothly. ¡°Sooah, you seem to be in a good mood today?¡± Suddenly, the manager sprang up and walked over to Hunter Lee Sooah. He seemed to be quite tipsy. ¡°Oh no, the manager is doing that again.¡± The other Hunters nearby started to get up to stop him. ¡°Huh? Um¡­¡± While talking with someone else, Sooah¡¯s expression turned surprised upon hearing the manager¡¯s words. She definitely looked a bit flustered. ¡°Hmm. She really seems surprised to be in a good mood¡­?¡± ¡°Thank goodness. I hope it helps her to deal with Chae Suhyeon.¡± I decided to fullymit to the Blue Guild. * Sooah stepped out to the restroom for a moment. ¡°Hmm¡­? What is this¡­? Why is this happening¡­?¡± She was tilting her head as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. She moved around and twisted her body. ¡°Huh¡­? Why do I feel okay¡­? Why¡­?¡± Chapter 11 ¡®Hmm¡­ what¡­¡¯ Lee Sooah began to ponder with her hand on her chin. It was certainly a strange situation. Various mental issues that had long troubled her. She had visited numerous hospitals, but they could not pinpoint the exact cause. Not just general hospitals, but even specialized Hunter hospitals could not identify the symptoms. This was an issue not only for Lee Sooah but also for other S-Rank Hunters. ¡®Hmm¡­ it¡¯s strange. I feel like I¡¯ve returned to my old self¡­?¡¯ She looked at the mirror again. Her reflection showed Lee Sooah¡¯s face looking very refreshed. It was apletely different appearance from the recent photos she had taken.@@novelbin@@ ¡®Did I¡­ regress¡­? Have I been healed¡­ um¡­?¡¯ Whatever it was, it clearly made her very happy. After having poured immense effort over a long time without any progress, the sudden disappearance of it brought her a sense of joy she couldn¡¯t deny. ¡®Well. I don¡¯t know what it is, but¡­ it¡¯s definitely good news.¡¯ She seemed to be so cheerful that she temporarily forgot about Chae Suhyeon. * ¡°Ah. Hunter Lee Sooah has returned.¡± As Hunter Lee Sooah came back from the bathroom, Team A stood up as if they had been waiting for her. ¡°Hunter Lee Sooah! You have to lead today¡¯s highlight, the cheer chant. Our team has been blessed, after all!¡± The manager seemed to take the lead in slightly embarrassing tasks like this. ¡°Yes!!!¡± Lee Sooah¡¯s refreshing and crisp response came back. Hearing that voice, everyone flinched in surprise. ¡°Um..? Hunter Lee Sooah seems really in a good mood today, doesn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°You look quite different somehow.¡± ¡°Is something going on?¡± Everyone was simultaneously confused. ¡°Um¡­ I¡­ I don¡¯t know. Let¡¯s just try the cheer chant!!!¡± Indeed, Hunter Lee Sooah looked like a different person. It was as if she had returned to her former glorious self¡­ ¡®As expected¡­ it¡¯s definitely helped that I put points into the status window.¡¯ She felt as if she was experiencing apletely different person¡¯s vibe. For some reason, I felt a sense of pride well up in me. ¡®What is this¡­? It feels like my life is finallying together¡­?¡¯ Until yesterday, I had been living as Chae Suhyeon¡¯s damn ve. And now, I had barely escaped from a moment that could have made me lose everything. No, in fact, I can say things turned out even better. ¡®Phew. Great. It seems like Hunter Lee Sooah is doing a bit better too¡­¡¯ ¡®I will grow from here.¡¯ ¡®And I will deal with Chae Suhyeon.¡¯ I probably would have kept quiet if Chae Suhyeon had just broken up with me peacefully. But this damn woman has struck me in the back repeatedly. Even on the cklist. ¡®Damn¡­ the cklist¡­ That¡¯s crossing the line. Is she trying to bury me in the hunter industry? What have I done? Damn stalking? This damn woman.¡¯ Thinking about Chae Suhyeon made my inner thoughts boil over again. I couldn¡¯t help it. ¡°Hehe¡­ then let me chant the cheer.¡± What melted away my frustration was Hunter Lee Sooah¡¯s voice. She looked pretty cheerful, probably because she was drunk. Everyone raised their sses high. ¡°For Team A of the Blue Guild!!!¡± ¡°For Team A!!!!¡± The atmosphere had risen to a peak. * ¡°Ow¡­ my head¡­¡± We had a fairly deep dinner gathering after a long time. I couldn¡¯t understand why these hunters drank so heavily, going for round six¡­ Well, to be precise, round six is what I remember. ¡°Senior, are you awake?¡± It was Hyungseok. ¡®Then this ce is¡­¡¯ Right. It was Hyungseok¡¯s house. ¡°Everyone said they didn¡¯t know your home address. So, I brought you here.¡± He seemed busy getting ready for work. ¡°Take your time to recover your senses. It¡¯s okay if Team Aes inte today. The Guild Master said you could because of yesterday¡¯s incident.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± I awkwardly replied while my head was still spinning. ¡°Did you know you¡¯ve only been at my house for three hours? You drank almost until morning, you know? Going up to round eleven. As expected, only monsters gather in Team A.¡± He shook his head in disbelief, clicking his tongue. ¡°11th round?¡± It was almost a terrifying word. Of course, I couldn¡¯t remember anything. ¡°Ugh¡­ Oh man¡­ Do hunters usually drink this much? Or is it just the Blue Guild?¡± Even in my hungover state, I couldn¡¯t help but be curious. ¡°Who drinks like this? It¡¯s ridiculous. I heard Hunter Lee Sooah led the chargest night.¡± He said that lightly, almost teasingly. ¡°Huh? Hunter Lee Sooah?¡± ¡°Yes. Apparently, she suddenly went wild and seemed really excited? Then she just went on a rampage until the 11th round. This has never happened before.¡± Memories flickered through my mind. I thought we had gone to karaoke about three times¡­ The sight of Hunter Lee Sooah, holding the microphone and going wild¡­ Manager Cha showing off some crazy tricks with his shirt off¡­ Assistant Manager pouring bomb shots non-stop¡­ ¡°Oh boy¡­¡± ¡°Hehe. Take your time. I have to go; I¡¯m busy.¡± It seemed he was frantically preparing, and soon Hyungseok left. I blinked and tried to gather my thoughts. ¡°Wow¡­ What¡­ 11 rounds¡­¡± ¡°My head feels like it¡¯s going to explode.¡± Then suddenly, something brushed through my mind. ¡°Um, could this be solved with points?¡± I hurriedly opened my status window. Of course, there was a red marker on my status window. [Hangover] ¡°What? This is a thing?¡± It was somewhat amusing how embarrassed I was about not knowing the full functions of my status window yet. I had spent years focused solely on pouring everything into Chae Suhyeon. ¡°Hah¡­ I really was young and foolish.¡± While reflecting on that, I spent some points to relieve my hangover. In an instant, I returned to apletely clear state of mind. ¡°Wow¡­ This is amazing¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t help but marvel at my status window. ¡°If I just have enough points, isn¡¯t this basically an invincible life?¡± Countless thoughts raced through my mind. Then I noticed the notifications on my smartphone beside my head. [Hey, Jihoon! You¡¯re amazing! How did you do that?] [Isn¡¯t that you? Wow¡­ you¡¯ve got some serious luck.] [Hey, are you okay? You didn¡¯t get hurt, right?] [It¡¯s a total chaos. If Team A had been wiped out, the whole country would have been in an uproar.] Friends were flooding my phone with messages. ¡®Huh? What¡¯s going on?¡¯ I felt a bit bewildered by the reaction. As I read through, it seemed like news about me had exploded on the inte. [Yesterday¡¯s almost-disaster scene.avi] ? Wow. That¡¯s insane! Why is Medusa so fast? ? Those crazy girls. They¡¯re running while flicking their tongues so seductively. ? Possible. But where do you even put Medusa? ? Ugh. Stop being so stupid. Are you just gonna think of disgusting things? Is your mouth just for decoration? ? Can we catch up to that? It¡¯s too fast! ? No way. Just getting closer turns you to stone; how are we supposed to catch it? This is crazy. ? You definitely can¡¯t do it without that skill. How can you approach it? ? So that¡¯s why they talked about a wipeout. Incredible. ? No way. Did Medusa really appear in the War Memorial dungeon? Why? Who let it loose? ? All you guys who said it wasn¡¯t happening,e out now. I¡¯ve got FDA-approved proof. The scene from yesterday was already uploaded online. It looked like it was captured by a body cam. ¡®Really¡­ did someone upload this online?¡¯ It probably came from our guild. ¡®I guess I understand.¡¯ It was a pretty big deal after all. I¡¯d heard that it was considered a serious matter by national agencies as well. Overall, people were giving it good reviews. Before the video was released, most opinions felt like nonsense. But after watching the video, the public sentimentpletely changed. Everyone seemed to agree that Medusa was too fast and utterly unmanageable. ¡®Phew. At least that¡¯s a relief.¡¯ [Oppa. Is that person really you, oppa? Did you join the Blue Guild?] I received a message that made me question my eyes. A message from Chae Suhyeon. ¡®What¡¯s up with this f*cking girl? News spreads fast. How did she hear already? Did she recognize me from the video?¡¯ It probably wasn¡¯t easy to determine it was me from the body cam footage since it was shot from a bit of a distance. But since my friends were also getting in touch¡­ ¡®This girl really has a knack for smelling things out, doesn¡¯t she?¡¯ I considered reading it but decided to just leave it alone. ¡®There¡¯s no need to block her¡­ right?¡¯ For now, I chose to leave it be. No, rather, I felt excited. Somehow, I had a feeling that I was going to keep moving forward and achieving more. I was sure that Chae Suhyeon would be sending me messages more frequently in the future. Yeah. I shouldn¡¯t block her. I need to see how her thoughts change. A smile crept onto my face without me realizing it. ¡®Heh. Should I start preparing as well?¡¯ [A-team is off work this morning. See you in the afternoon.] I checked the message but decided to head out early. * ¡°Eh? Senior? Did you juste out? Right away?¡± Hyungseok spotted me as he was passing by. ¡°No. Senior, are you okay? How are you so sober?¡± He marveled and looked me up and down. ¡°Eh, well¡­ it just happened¡­¡± ¡°Heh¡­ but Lee Sooah Hunter is also here.¡± ¡°Wait? Lee Sooah Hunter is here?¡± I jumped a little, surprised. ¡®How can she be so sober after drinking like that¡­?¡¯ If I saw a perfectly fine Sooah, I¡¯d probably get chills. ¡°Oh? Jihoon? You¡¯re here? Sorry. I¡¯m just a bit¡­¡± I caught a glimpse of Lee Sooah, who seemed to be sprawled slightly in the conference room. ¡®Hehe. Looks like she¡¯s suffering from a hangover.¡¯ Just as I thought. If she was totally fine after drinking that much, she wouldn¡¯t be human. She tried her best to lookposed, but there was no hiding the hangover. Moreover, the conference room she had been in alone was filled with the smell of alcohol. Seeing Sooah looking a little out of it made meugh. ¡°Oh, you should have rested more at home.¡± ¡®I guess I need to help Lee Sooah with her hangover too?¡¯ I opened my status window. Chapter 12 Just as expected. Yesterday, Lee Sooah¡¯s status window. Today, the red tag ¡°Hangover¡± was shing brightly. ¡°Sigh¡­ Why did shee to work so early while having a hangover?¡± I could roughly guess the reason. She is quite famous for being professional. They said she never shows a gap. Not even for tardiness. No matter how out of her mind she may feel, she seems like the kind of woman who would stille to work. ¡°Then, hangover relief.¡± I lightly tapped on the status window. Then, Lee Sooah¡¯s status window cleared up. ¡°Ugh¡­ Huh¡­?¡± Lee Sooah, who seemed to be sprawled over the conference table, suddenly began looking around. As if she had just woken up. ¡°Huh¡­? Huh? Huh??? What¡¯s going on?¡± Lee Sooah continued to turn her head, looking around. As if something was strange. Just a moment ago, she had a face that looked like she was suffering from a hangover, but now, her expression hadpletely returned. To the pure and beautiful appearance of her past self. ¡°Uh¡­? Huh¡­.?? Uh¡­ Um¡­ what¡­ is¡­? What is this?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ huh¡­?¡± Seeing her looking bewildered, I almost burst outughing without realizing it. Scenes from early yesterday morning started toe back to me, ovepping with Lee Sooah¡¯s image. ¡°Let¡¯s party hard!!!¡± ¡°Woohoo~~!!!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s make some noise, oppas~~!!¡± ¡°Ah say hun! You say ter! Hun! Ter! Hun! Ter!¡± Sooah, who had been drinking, was an entirely different person. Now, she was sitting elegantly like apletely professional woman. But yesterday, for sure¡­ ¡°Ha. It¡¯s a bit hot, so I should loosen a button. Otherwise, I feel like I might burst while singing.¡± ¡°Joo-nin-han~~Hoo!! As a woman~ Hoo!! Don¡¯t touch me~¡± At the office dinner yesterday, she was dressed in appropriate office attire: high heels, a neat skirt, and a blouse. By the time we were about to go to karaoke, she was practically disheveled. I distinctly remember her hair, which had been neatly tied up, was now down. ¡°Wow~~ Lee Sooah! Lee Sooah!! Show us how you look with your hair down!!¡± ¡°Wow!!!! Hunter Lee Sooah let her hair down!!!!¡± I don¡¯t remember exactly, but it felt like Lee Sooah, the Hunter, letting her hair down was a signal that she was going to have a wild time. She was twirling her hair while wearing a short skirt and high heels. She looked like a wild young colt. Now, she waspletelyposed. Her office attire matched perfectly with her straight ck hair. ¡°Wow¡­ somehow, it feels sexy¡­¡± ¡°A perfectly fitted office outfit. Prim during the day, but a free spirit at night.¡± ¡°I¡¯m getting turned on¡­¡± No, damn it. Get a hold of yourself, Baek Jihoon. What am I even saying? We¡¯re colleagues, after all. Feeling turned on by someone I just met. How rude. Without realizing it, I started to think strangely while recalling Lee Sooah¡¯s appearance from yesterday. Instincts can¡¯t be helped. ¡°Um¡­? Jihoon-ssi..? What are you thinking over there¡­?¡± Since I wasughing and making a fuss by myself, it must have seemed odd, causing Hunter Sooah to speak up. ¡°Oh. Nothing.¡± I can¡¯t say, ¡®I¡¯m turned on by seeing Hunter Sooah.¡¯ ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Um¡­ uh¡­ I¡¯m fine¡­? Hmm¡­? Why? Why am I okay¡­?¡± Sooah seemed to be talking to herself. ¡°Thank goodness. The status window is working very well, huh? This is totally amazing!¡± I couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how hard life must have been until now¡­ Oh, of course, it was probably because I had struggled so much that I had an overflow of points. ¡°Well, with this much, I could live quitefortably without holding back on spending points.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but admire my status window. ¡°Um. Jihoon-ssi, are you okay¡­?¡± Seeming puzzled by her own body, she began to show interest in me now. ¡°Haha. Yes. I think I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°How¡­ how is that? We went up to the 11th round yesterday¡­¡± ¡°Haha. I suppose I handle my alcohol well.¡± Without even realizing it, a lie slipped out naturally. I hadn¡¯t nned or prepared for this. I don¡¯t know why I said that. It¡¯s generally expected for a man to boast about handling alcohol, while a woman pretends to be weak with it. ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that. It seems like the other team members are all out of it.¡± Looking at the empty office, I spoke. ¡°Phew¡­ I guess I should get familiar with the office today.¡± Suddenly, I became aware of the spacious office. Team A upies an entire floor. There must be at least 50 members in the team. Despite reaching up to the 11th floor yesterday, I hadn¡¯t properly introduced myself to anyone. Of course, Lee Sooah could be said to be the leader who guides the whole team. ¡°Well, seeing the leader of the teame to the office early despite her hangover is quite nice.¡± I felt a strange emotion unconsciously. Maybe it was because I had been cooped up with Chae Suhyeon every day, but everything seemed to look good. ¡°If you need anything, please let me know. I¡¯ll help with everything.¡± Lee Sooah smiled brightly. She looked very happy. Just yesterday, before removing her status ailment from the status window, she always wore a frown. But today was definitely different. It felt like there was a brightness radiating from her. ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± Havingpleted a casual greeting, I returned to my seat. ¡°Phew. Well then¡­ should I start looking into the guild¡­¡± * Lunchtime. ¡°Senior. How was your day? Was it quiet in the morning? Did no onee to work?¡± ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s right.¡± I epted the coffee cup Hyungseok offered and sipped it as I answered. ¡°Wow. It must have been nice for you to be alone with Ms. Sooah in the empty office today¡­¡± ¡°Huh? What¡¯s nice about it?¡± ¡°Come on~ don¡¯t y dumb. Sooah Hunter is totally pretty. Who wouldn¡¯t have a crush on her?¡± He lightly shoved my shoulder. ¡°Eh, what? I just got dumped yesterday. Plus, I¡¯m only seeing her for the second time today.¡± ¡°Well, you never know. Anything could happen between you two.¡± Hyungseok had a smirk on his face. ¡°Wow¡­ just the two of you, a man and a woman, in thatrge empty office¡­ Hah¡­ just thinking about it makes me excited¡­¡± He mumbled to himself while staring into space. This crazy guy sometimes says weird things. It seems like this is one of those moments. ¡°Anyway, Senior. About Hunter Lee Sooah. Doesn¡¯t she seem a bit off today? No, to be precise, I think it started fromst night at the drinking party¡­¡± He suddenly changed the topic. ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s that?¡± I feigned ignorance and asked. It seemed rted to the status window, but¡­ I hesitated to bring it up¡­ ¡°No. I¡¯m a huge fan of Hunter Lee Sooah. I can tell just by her expression. She¡¯spletely different now.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like someone who was sick is suddenly better¡­¡± He was pondering something deeply. ¡°The reason I joined this Blue Guild was because of Hunter Lee Sooah. She¡¯s beautiful, kind, and really diligent in everything she does. The perfect image of a hunter in my eyes. Wow!¡± He was gesturing to the air, as if giving a kind of speech. ¡°I¡¯ve been watching her closely for so long! But it definitely feels like something has changed. I heard from my teammates that she was already like that since thepany dinner. Of course, I need to meet her to get the details, but¡­¡± He continued speaking with a somewhat gleeful expression. ¡°I think it¡¯s probably because of you, Senior.¡± He suddenly looked at me intensely and casually threw out that statement. ¡°Phew.¡± I almost spilled my coffee. It waspletely unexpected. ¡®What? Wait, does he know about my status window¡­? Has he sensed it? Or¡­ what is it? Has it been discovered?¡¯ He was very knowledgeable about hunters. A thought crossed my mind. ¡°I think Hunter Lee Sooah would suit you well. She probably has a crush on you~¡± ¡°No, what nonsense are you talking about? We met yesterday, and she hasn¡¯t said a word about that.¡± That was the truth. We had only exchanged cautious words, checked if we were okay, and a few greetings. ¡°Hmm¡­ No, I think she likes you. Otherwise, a person¡¯s expression wouldn¡¯t suddenly change like that. Hmm¡­¡± He quietly took another sip of coffee, wearing a mysterious expression. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t say such ridiculous things, and stop spreading rumors unnecessarily.¡± ¡°Hehe. I¡¯ll definitely gather evidenceter and let you know. I have a good intuition, you know.¡± It was a sarcastic smile. ¡°What is it with this guy? At least he¡¯s quick on the uptake. Of course, he didn¡¯t get the answer right.¡± I thought there was nothing to actually like about him yet. We hadn¡¯t done anything together. And of course, the reason Lee Sooah looked good to me was because of the status window. It was indeed a strange conversation, and then we parted ways to our respective offices. * ¡°Ah, what the hell!!!¡± Crack.@@novelbin@@ She seemed annoyed as she broke her mouse with her hand. It was Chae Suhyeon. ¡°Ah. Baek Jihoon. Why isn¡¯t this guy replying to my messages?¡± She frowned on one side of her face, clearly showing her displeasure. ¡°Oppa, whenever I contact you, always reply within 10 minutes. If you¡¯re even a littlete, I get annoyed, got it?¡± ¡°Unless you¡¯re hiding something, it doesn¡¯t make sense not to respond to a message, right? You¡¯re not with another woman or something?¡± ¡°It¡¯s absolutely 10 minutes. You must respond within 10 minutes!¡± ¡°Ugh. Aren¡¯t you supposed to reply right away after a breakup?¡± ¡°This is Baek Jihoon, right? Baek Jihoon. What on earth is going on?¡± She seemed unable to hide her displeasure. The highlight of the 9 o¡¯clock news yesterday should have been about her. [ Chae Suhyeon Hunter finally achieves 1st ce ] The headline she had imagined. But unexpectedly, another news story caught more attention. [ Blue Guild Team A makes a dramatic escape from a life-or-death situation ] ¡°What the heck is this? This is my oppa, right? Isn¡¯t it? What¡¯s going on? What the hell is happening?¡± She threw away the broken mouse and came back with a new one, rummaging through various materials. ¡°Every way I look at it, it¡¯s my oppa. Hah¡­ for real¡­ he¡¯s ruining my mood from the first day.¡± She was furious, feeling like she had missed out on getting a chance in the spotlight. Chapter 14 Thump, thump, thump, thump¡­ Chae Suhyeon was trembling her legs in anxiety. And she was biting her nails. With a face full of unease. This was a sight that hadn¡¯t been seen in a while. Naturally, since she had been on a continuous winning streak heading towards S-Rank number one. It had been a long time since she had shown such a nervous and shaky appearance. ¡°Hah¡­ what the hell¡­ why??? Why isn¡¯t he answering the phone? And just turned it offpletely? My messages? How is he not seeing them? Why isn¡¯t he checking them??¡± She looked incredibly anxious. It hadn¡¯t even been 10 minutes since she sent the message, yet her expression was filled with worry. ¡°Ugh. What¡­ what is it? Why¡­? Why isn¡¯t he picking up? Is he busy? What is he doing? Hah¡­ is he busy working at the guild? What the hell? Seriously? Ugh, what is that bastard Baek Jihoon doing!!!!¡± Various frantic thoughts were swirling around in her head. ¡°No, wait¡­ hmm¡­ so that Baek Jihoon guy¡­ did he do a retrieval¡­?¡± ¡°This can¡¯t be a natural retrieval, right? His status window isn¡¯t some kind of AI or something?¡± To calm her own anxiety, she decided to think about something else. She looked at her status window and started to collect her thoughts calmly. ¡°Retrieval¡­ so that means¡­ my points are being retrieved¡­?¡± ¡°No, why is he taking them without permission? Shouldn¡¯t I have to allow him to take them?¡± ¡°And Baek Jihoon. Does this petty guy seriously take them just because he says so? Isn¡¯t that insane?¡± ¡°Ugh. I can¡¯t believe I wasted my time on such a loser.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care anymore. I¡¯m just going to live well with Jinhyeok now.¡± ¡°What does this guy want to do by retrieving it?¡± ¡°Sigh. Just eat well and live well!!!¡± Chae Suhyeon shook off her anxiety and began to think like usual to preserve her pride. She still hadn¡¯tpletely epted this situation. ¡°Well. It probably will stop at 2%. He¡¯s just trying to scare me with this crap, right?¡± ¡°Baek Jihoon¡¯s personality is like that. He just wants to poke at me but is too scared to do anything else. So, he probably expressed it as a kind ofint towards me. Ugh, I don¡¯t know.¡± Chae Suhyeon immediately closed her status window. And she decided not to worry about it. In her heart, she firmly believed that someone like Baek Jihoon could never do such a thing. So she thought she would just brush it off as nothing. ¡°Ha. I don¡¯t know. I guess I¡¯ll go shopping again. I should y around while swiping Jinhyeok Oppa¡¯s card.¡± ¡°I need to relieve some stress through shopping. Ha¡­ After all, I¡¯m S-Rank 1st, aren¡¯t I? I should take a break for a while.¡± ¡°Chae Suhyeon, you¡¯ve worked hard during this time. You should rest a bit now~¡± Putting aside thoughts of the future, she decided to enjoy the present. * ¡°Yes. Did you call for me?¡± She peeked into Lee Sooah¡¯s office and hesitantly poked her head in. It seemed like they were still somewhat unfamiliar with each other. Moreover, Lee Sooah¡¯s office looked quite extravagant, making her feel like she shouldn¡¯t just barge in. ¡®Well, someone like Sooah¡­ would be considered an executive in apany¡­ probably at the executive level¡­¡¯ ¡®I guess having an office like this is only natural.¡¯ The conference room she had seen in the morning wasn¡¯t one that the entire team used collectively. It was a conference room that Lee Sooah could use exclusively. ¡®It seemed like it could amodate at least 40 people.¡¯ ¡®Indeed, this is how it is when you have skill and capability.¡¯ Since she had only been active with Chae Suhyeon, she didn¡¯t really know how guilds operated. She was in awe every moment. ¡°Oh. Jihoon.¡± Upon hearing her voice, Lee Sooah turned her head. She seemed to havepletely ovee her mental illness and was wearing a very bright expression. It was truly as if her past glory years had returned. Of course, one concern lingered. Such mental illnesses had also been an experience for Chae Suhyeon. The problem was that there wasn¡¯t a permanent solution. The points spent to resolve it were quite small, but the solution wasn¡¯t evesting. That¡¯s why Chae Suhyeon had to continuously invest points to maintain her status. ¡®Of course, that f*ing girl was still a pain in the ass, even after I eliminated her mental illness. She was a hopeless case from the start.¡¯ I couldn¡¯t help but think that Lee Sooah might be in a simr situation. For now, it¡¯s fine¡­ but after some time¡­ Well, what¡¯s important is not that right now. ¡°What did you call me for?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ um¡­ er¡­.¡± Lee Sooah was slightly rolling her eyes. ¡°Uh¡­ um¡­ why did I¡­ um¡­ call you¡­ oh¡­ um¡­..¡±@@novelbin@@ Suddenly, she was making nk statements. ¡®What the¡­ She called me here and is just rambling.¡¯ ¡°Ha ha¡­ I¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I¡­ I called you without realizing¡­ um¡­ wh-why did I call you? Haha¡­¡± Suddenly, her face turned red. ¡®What¡¯s going on? So awkward.¡¯ ¡°Ah¡­ um¡­ how do you feel about our guild?¡± She unexpectedly asked a totally random question. ¡°What? Um¡­ It¡¯s only been half a day since I started, and the team just arrived, so we were just exchanging greetings. Well¡­ for now, it seems good.¡± I ended up giving a vague and strange answer to a ridiculous question. ¡®What¡¯s wrong with you, Sooah? Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?¡¯ She clearly looked professional, but there was something off about her. She calls me over and asks strange questions. ¡°Ha ha. Is that¡­ um¡­ okay¡­ er¡­ yes¡­ ah¡­ understood¡­ um¡­ thank you¡­ you¡­ can go now.¡± That¡¯s how the odd conversation ended. ¡®What the¡­ I thought there would be something important to discuss.¡¯ ¡®Isn¡¯t it usually for something significant when you¡¯re asked toe to the office¡­? Maybe she has another status ailment¡­?¡¯ As I left Lee Sooah¡¯s office, I opened my status window. It was definitely clean. ¡®What the¡­ There¡¯s nothing at all.¡¯ I walked back to my desk. ¡°Jihoon, what did Hunter Sooah say¡­?¡± As soon as I arrived, a crowd rushed toward me. There were easily about 15 people. ¡°Wait¡­? She didn¡¯t say anything¡­?¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Everyone eximed ¡°Eh?¡± at the same time. ¡®What¡¯s going on? Did they make a promise or something?¡¯ I could only roll my eyes in confusion, not understanding anything. After all, I was in the position of a new recruit today. I had no clue what the situation was. ¡°Didn¡¯t Hunter Lee Sooah say anything¡­?¡± ¡°Um¡­ well¡­ she didn¡¯t? What was she supposed to say??¡± I couldn¡¯t follow their conversation at all. ¡°What¡¯s this? When we¡¯re called into Hunter Lee Sooah¡¯s office, we usuallye out half-baked¡­¡± ¡°Yeah¡­?¡± ¡°Hm¡­ and usually, she doesn¡¯t show much interest in new recruits¡­¡± I remembered what Hyungseok had said. ¡°Well, you¡¯re on the same team as Hunter Lee Sooah, but you probably won¡¯t run into them much. A-Team is just so big, and there¡¯s a significant rank difference.¡± ¡°Our Guild A-Team is about the size of a midsize guild. They say Hunter Lee Sooah has a rather entric personality, but if you quietly avoid running into them, you¡¯ll probably be able to live a decent guild life.¡± Hyungseok definitely said something like that. ¡°Um¡­ what is going on¡­¡± Since I joined this guild, I hadn¡¯t particrly felt that Hunter Lee Sooah was strange or had an entric personality. Although¡­ it might be due to my status ailment being resolved. Anyway, everyone was looking at me strangely. ¡°Well¡­ maybe I¡¯m lucky. Or maybe¡­ it¡¯s because they¡¯re in a good mood fromst night¡¯s dinner gathering¡­¡± I answered carelessly. I didn¡¯t know the real reason anyway. ¡°No way. That doesn¡¯t make sense! That¡¯s never happened before. We went until the 11th roundst night, right? Hunter Lee Sooah drinks like a fish. But they always pretend to be tough¡­ you said they came this morning, right? Hunter Lee Sooah was probably sprawled out in the conference room¡­¡± That¡¯s definitely how it was. Just as the assistant manager mentioned a moment ago¡­ ¡°That¡¯s true. They were definitely in the conference room¡­ um¡­¡± Well, I solved their hangover, but I decided not to mention that. ¡°What is it¡­? Now that I think about it, Lee Sooah Hunter looks really lively today¡­?¡± ¡°Sooah, is something going on? Doesn¡¯t it feel like you¡¯ve changed a bit?¡± ¡°Um¡­ kind of¡­ yeah.¡± Everyone appeared to be perplexed. ¡°Ugh, I don¡¯t know. My head feels like it¡¯s going to explode. Oh, my head¡­ We all really ran hard yesterday¡­¡± ¡°Right? Maybe it¡¯s because we¡¯re getting older, but the 11th round is tough¡­¡± ¡°Anyway¡­ we owe Jihoon for doing the 11th round. Hunter Baek Jihoon saved us and we had a lot of fun for the first time in ages. Ah¡­¡± Fortunately, it seemed that the team members were giving me a good evaluation. ¡°Phew¡­ Thank goodness. I shouldn¡¯t do anything that could make me look bad.¡± ¡°Hey, Assistant Manager Park. As we talked about yesterday, make sure to take care of Jihoon and teach him well. I think he¡¯s a real gem. He¡¯s going to be a treasure for our team.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll make sure to teach him rigorously.¡± A man next to me saluted the manager. ¡°Okay. Shall we exchange greetings now?¡± My assigned mentor, Assistant Manager Park, approached with a bright smile. ¡°I am¡­¡± Just as Assistant Manager Park was about to speak. ¡°Uh, Jihoon¡­¡± Hunter Lee Sooah was calling me again. This time, she wasn¡¯t calling from a distance but came closer to the department and shouted. ¡°Eek¡­¡± Upon seeing Hunter Lee Sooah, the people around me quickly scattered. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Can you look at me again?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡®What could it be this time¡­ Why does she keep calling me¡­?¡¯ I felt slightly confused. Chapter 15 ¡°Hmm~~¡± Chae Suhyeon had her hands full of shopping bags. Walking around the entire department store, she swung them side to side. She was proudly showing off her good mood, swaying her hips. ¡°Shopping is indeed enjoyable~¡± ¡°I¡¯m such a money maker, right? Hehe.¡± As she walked with a self-satisfied demeanor, it seemed no one could stop her. ¡°Hehe¡­ New stuff¡­ so precious¡­¡± ¡°I absolutely loved the shoes I bought today¡­¡± With a very happy expression, she was cheerfully strolling around. Ding ding ding. ¡®Oh? It¡¯s Baek Jihoon!!¡¯ ¡®Ugh. Is he finally responding? Huh? This guy. You¡¯rete, man.¡¯ ¡®Well, I¡¯ll ept your apology.¡¯ When her phone rang, she suddenly tossed all the shopping bags she was holding onto the floor. Then, in a fluster, she rummaged through her bag to find her smartphone and awkwardly answered the call. ¡°Y-yes¡­? Ji¡­ Jihoon¡­ Oppa?¡± With an incredibly pitiful and mournful voice, she answered the phone. ¡°Hello. This is Moon Jeonghyeon, Deputy Manager of the Baekho Guild.¡± ¡®Ugh¡­ it wasn¡¯t Baek Jihoon?¡¯ Her expression changed in an instant. Anger seemed to swell up within her. Bang. She hung up the phone without listening to the rest of his words. She had assumed it would be Baek Jihoon, but it was someone else¡¯s call. ¡®Ugh. Why¡­? Jihoon, what are you doing? Why? Why aren¡¯t you contacting me? Seriously¡­?¡¯ ¡®No, are you crazy? Jihoon, please call me!!!! Why¡­!!!¡¯ For a moment, she had forgotten about Baek Jihoon while shopping, but the phone call snapped her back to reality. ¡®Ha¡­ Seriously¡­ this is so annoying¡­ once this is over, it¡¯spletely done with this guy. Done.¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t care anymore.¡¯ Chae Suhyeon decided topletely cut off her ties with Baek Jihoon and erase him from her life. ¡®Honestly, this guy¡­ he hasn¡¯t been helpful from the start to the end. All he does is take back points like those annoying guys who want their gifts returned when breaking up. So frustrating.¡¯ She frowned slightly and looked down at her smartphone. * ¡°Yes. Did you call for me?¡± This time, I was curious about what Hunter Lee Sooah was about to say. ¡°Um¡­ I¡¯m calling you for an interview.¡± ¡°Pardon? An interview?¡± It sounded quite unexpected. Why an interview? Suddenly¡­? I hadn¡¯t received any prior notice. Hyungseok had definitely said that my role was close to that of an intern. As long as I didn¡¯t stick my neck out too much, I wouldn¡¯t attract the Hunter Lee Sooah¡¯s attention, and I wouldn¡¯t get scolded or put in an awkward situation. ¡®Ha¡­ Did I stick my neck out yesterday because of Medusa incident¡­?¡¯ Of course, the Lee Sooah Hunter in front of me was calm and quiet. But I never knew when she might suddenly change. ¡°Hunter Lee Sooah? Usually, she¡¯s fine, but sometimes she suddenly bes super scary.¡± ¡°Come on, you shouldn¡¯t lie just because you¡¯re new. When has she ever been nice? Besides at parties, she¡¯s scary. You can¡¯t pretend to be a newbie just because you¡¯re E-rank. Everyone will find out eventually.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true¡­ She¡¯s always scary¡­ Not just in the office¡­ but also in the dungeon¡­ She¡¯s only nice when you first meet her¡­¡± ¡°But it¡¯s okay. She won¡¯t me you. After all, Hunter Lee Sooah doesn¡¯t really care much about anyone below the manager level.¡± ¡°Haha. Don¡¯t worry, she won¡¯t kill you. So far, no one has died. For now¡­¡± It had definitely been like that. ¡®Huh¡­ An interview¡­ Isn¡¯t that something you do when something goes wrong? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve done anything particrly wrong yet¡­¡¯ Feeling something unusual, I took a seat in the conference room. Clunk. Lee Sooah locked the conference room door with a heavy sound. ¡®Somehow¡­ this feels very serious¡­¡¯ I gulped nervously. The atmosphere was decidedly serious. I bit my lip and waited for Hunter Lee Sooah to speak. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯d like to hear about Hunter Baek Jihoon¡­ regarding yesterday¡¯s incident.¡± ¡°Pardon? What¡­ incident are you referring to¡­?¡± I felt a bit flustered. A thought crossed my mind: Could it be that she had caught me giving points? ¡°Um. I¡¯m just talking about when we went to the dungeon. I want to hear how Hunter Baek Jihoon did. I just want to hear the details and stories at length.¡± ¡°Uh¡­?¡± Confusion arose at this unexpected situation. ¡°What the hell is going on? Why does this feel like an interrogation? What am I supposed to say? And why did you lock the office door?¡± Office staff could be seen through the window of the office room. Everyone was undoubtedly looking at me. I could definitely feel that atmosphere. ¡°Um, what kind of exnation do you want to hear?¡± ¡°Well¡­ I just want to know¡­ what did you do in the dungeon?¡± I tilted my head slightly and started borating on what Lee Sooah asked. After about a 30-minute interview, I came out. ¡®What¡¯s wrong with them? Why do they keep calling me and asking weird questions?¡¯ I tilted my head in confusion and quietly closed the door. ¡°Jihoon! What did she say??? What did Hunter Lee Sooah say¡­?¡± The manager, who was the most lively at yesterday¡¯s dinner gathering, had stealthilye near me. ¡°That¡¯s shocking!¡± ¡°Um¡­ she didn¡¯t really say much. She just asked me to talk about what happened in the dungeon yesterday.¡± ¡°Huh? What do you mean by that?¡± There were more than a few people curious about what I talked about in the conference room. Everyone was staring at me like meerkats. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Hunter Lee Sooah seems a bit strange today. Why does she keep calling for Hunter Baek Jihoon?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Did something odde down from upper management?¡± ¡°Come on, what kind of instructions? It¡¯s not like she gives lectures to someone who¡¯s just started in the office for the first time¡­¡± ¡°No, but isn¡¯t Hunter Lee Sooah acting a bit strange today¡­?¡± ¡°Exactly. She normally doesn¡¯te around to departments like this, right? She should be calling from her own office¡­?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ you¡¯re right¡­?¡± Everyone was gathered around me, engaging in collective reasoning. Since I didn¡¯t know how things usually went, I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut. ¡°What do you usually do on the first day?¡± ¡°Um, you¡¯re usually busy listening to your mentor¡¯s exnations¡­¡± ¡°Then when is the interview with Hunter Lee Sooah?¡± ¡°Um¡­ about three yearster¡­ when I get promoted to deputy¡­?¡± The manager seemed to be recalling memories from the past. ¡°I think I only talked to Ms. Sooah after I got promoted to manager.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I feel the same.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never had an interview until now¡­¡± They started whispering among themselves. And then, they nced at me suspiciously. ¡°Baek Jihoon, do you perhaps have something to hide from us¡­? Like being a hidden ex-boyfriend of Hunter Sooah¡­? Or maybe her lost childhood friend¡­? Or a ssmate from university? A junior or senior¡­? Or¡­ a church oppa¡­?¡± ¡°Do you have any connections with the guild master? Or maybe¡­ ties to the government¡­?¡± Everyone had the same expression as if thinking the same thing. ¡°Uh¡­? No, not at all. I just met her for the first time yesterday¡­?¡± ¡°Well¡­ then why is Hunter Sooah¡­?¡± ¡°What is everyone doing here?¡± A sharp voice cut through the conversation. Everyone quickly rushed back to their ces before finishing their sentences. It was Sooah. ¡°Are you sharing some interesting stories?¡± ¡°Haha, no. Hunter Sooah, what brings you here¡­ You rarelye this way¡­ Hehe¡­¡± The manager stood awkwardly and spoke on behalf of everyone. ¡°Um¡­ no, well¡­ I just came to see if everyone is doing well at work. You know, we have to be busy with post-dungeon processing, right? Even if we have fun, we need to work hard when it¡¯s time to work.¡± ¡°Absolutely. That¡¯s right.¡± The atmosphere felt both cheerful and strangely tense. ¡°Alright, then keep up the good work.¡± It seemed like something was off about the atmosphere. ¡°Ah, today is really unusual. What¡¯s going on with Hunter Sooah?¡± Assistant Manager Park rolled over to me while sitting in his chair. ¡°Hello, I am Assistant Manager Park Kyuhun. I¡¯ll guide you through various things as Baek Jihoon¡¯s senior.¡± ¡°Ah, okay.¡± We exchanged phone numbers. ¡°By the way, you were really amazing yesterday. I thought I was going to die!¡± ¡°Ha ha.. Yes¡­¡± ¡°Why on earth did you put points into that skill? It¡¯s a relief, ha ha¡­¡± ¡°Speaking of which¡­ it seems like Hunter Lee Sooah is quite curious about it too.¡± I began learning various things about the guild from Manager Park. Although Hunter Lee Sooah¡¯s strange reaction was a bit worrying, what mattered most to me right now was getting familiar with the guild work. ¡®Don¡¯t fall behind or get nitpicked.¡¯ * Tap, tap, tap, tap. Lee Sooah was sitting at her desk, incessantly tapping the desk with a pen. ¡°Hmm¡­ Hmmmmm¡­ Hmmmmm¡­..¡± Her mind was filled with a flurry of chaotic thoughts. ¡°Ha.. what is this¡­? Um¡­ what¡¯s going on¡­¡± ¡°Ha¡­ this is strange¡­ Oh really.. what the hell!!!¡± ¡°I just can¡¯t¡­ stand it¡­ I can¡¯t hold it back¡­ Ha¡­.¡± It felt like she was filled with an emotion she couldn¡¯t evenprehend. It wasn¡¯t anguish or pain. It just seemed that she couldn¡¯t focus on her work as other thoughts kept intruding. ¡°Excuse me, Hunter Lee Sooah.¡± ¡°Oh. Yes, yes.¡± ¡°When can you get back to me with what I asked for? It seems to be taking a while.¡± ¡°Oh. Yes, yes. I¡­ I¡¯m so sorry. I¡¯ll get it done and send it to you right away!¡±@@novelbin@@ ¡°Yes¡­ We are in quite a urgent situation, so I hope you can pay attention to it. You don¡¯t seem like yourself today, Hunter Lee Sooah.¡± ¡°Oh. Yes, yes¡­ I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± The call seemed to be from higher up. ¡®Phew¡­ Come on¡­ pull yourself together. You need to focus quickly.¡¯ Lee Sooah took her pen and tried to concentrate on her work. But soon, her posture rxed again. Then she started to tap the desk with her pen once more. ¡®Baek Jihoon Hunter¡­ what on earth¡­ what the hell!!!!¡¯ Chapter 16 ¡°Ugh, what the hell!! Seriously!! Baek Jihoon!! Are you really not going to contact me? When will you contact me?!!!¡± Chae Suhyeon returned home, shouting at her smartphone. She was quite frustrated about not hearing from him even after spending about three hours shopping. ¡°What the hell? This guy? He used to pick up right away when I called? Why? No, howe¡­??¡± She was biting her lip as if she were about to smash the smartphone resting in her palm. ¡°Ah, I see. Baek Jihoon. So this is how you want to y it?¡± ¡°Yeah, right. If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll make your life hell too.¡± ¡°I was just going to end it with a cklist, but you¡¯re making it impossible.¡± Chae Suhyeon initially intended to merely obstruct Baek Jihoon¡¯s path. At least, she didn¡¯t want him to be a hindrance in her own life. However, after discovering about the point recovery, her thoughts had beplicated. ¡°You¡¯re doing this on purpose, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re trying to mess with me, right? Ha. Baek Jihoon, what good are those points? Seriously, a guy acting so pathetic?¡± She was getting angry while looking at the saved photo of Baek Jihoon on her smartphone. ¡°Seriously. Ha¡­ I¡¯m going to lose my mind.¡± ¡°Are you trying to shake me by grabbing my lifeline or something?¡± ¡°Are you seriously a crazy bastard?¡± A plethora of diverse thoughts raced through her mind. Just when she thought her n was perfectly wless, a significant hole had opened up. [Point Retrieval] She never even thought it would be possible. ¡°Oppa. Is it possible to take them back?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not allowed? Really? Are you sure it can¡¯t be done?¡± ¡°But what if we break upter? What if you just take them all?¡± ¡°Uhm¡­ There¡¯s no way that would happen? Definitely not? You can¡¯t take them at all?¡± ¡°Really? Okay. I¡¯ll make sure to enjoy it.¡± Past conversations shed through her mind. ¡°Seriously. You can¡¯t trust guys¡¯ words.¡± ¡°They just make all kinds of promises when they¡¯re in a good mood.¡± ¡°What? You can¡¯t retrieve it? What do you mean you can¡¯t? That¡¯s such bullshit!!! You bastard!!!¡± She expressed her anger with fervor. ¡°Hey. Baek Jihoon. I¡¯m really giving you 6 hours. If I don¡¯t hear from you before the end of today, I swear!!! I¡¯ll bust into your house!!!¡± She muttered to herself, shaking with frustration. * ¡°Hey, Senior. Have you finished everything?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± On my way home, I ran into Hyungseok. ¡°How was your day? It was your first day, right? Afterall, you didn¡¯te to the office yesterday.¡± He had a very curious expression about how it went. After all, he had previously pushed me into this role, so it was only natural that he would be concerned. ¡°Um, well. In the morning, I just looked around the building and the organization¡­ In the afternoon, I listened to my mentor talk about various things¡­¡± ¡°So, nothing too special then.¡± ¡°Yeah. But about Hunter Lee Sooah¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Why does she keep calling me over?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Hyungseok looked confused. ¡°What do you mean?¡±@@novelbin@@ ¡°I just have this feeling she keeps calling me over. But when I get there, she doesn¡¯t really say much. I don¡¯t get it. Did I do something wrong?¡± Honestly, I felt a bit pricked by that. I had removed a status ailment without receiving consent from the other party. Some people might not think it was wrong, but to me, it felt rude. Like saying, ¡°Oh, you look sick. Here, take this cold medicine,¡± and then forcing it on someone. It doesn¡¯t make sense, no matter how good the intentions are. ¡°Ha. Did I do something unnecessary? She wouldn¡¯t me meter, would she?¡± ¡°Mr. Baek Jihoon, I understand you meant well. But isn¡¯t it a bit too much to do it without even asking?¡± ¡°And besides, is it okay to peek at someone else¡¯s status window like that? It¡¯s personal information, isn¡¯t it? Just because it¡¯s a feature doesn¡¯t mean you can use it freely.¡± ¡°Ha.. I¡¯m really disappointed. Do you know how I feel right now? I feel like I¡¯ve just been molested.¡± ¡°From now on, don¡¯t ever do that again. I¡¯ll handle my own pain, thank you very much.¡± ¡°Ugh, seriously.¡± A vision of Lee Sooah pouting in annoyance came to mind. She would definitely be the type to scold me while dressed in her office attire. ording to what the team members exined to me, that¡¯s exactly how she would speak. She waspletely professional, cing great importance on established rules. Plus, she genuinely loved her team. ¡°I should have just asked first. Things would have been better that way.¡± It was definitely the influence of alcohol. The atmosphere at the drinking party was very pleasant too. And¡­ I think I was a little intoxicated with the heroplex. After all, having saved the entire team from the brink of death probably made me a bit ted¡­ ¡°Lee Sooah Hunter called you out? My senior? Several times?¡± Hyungseok lookedpletely bewildered and shook his head. ¡°That can¡¯t be right. Hmm? That¡¯s never happened¡­¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not that it¡¯s bad. It¡¯s just that since it¡¯s my first time in a guild, I was wondering if this is normal,¡± Baek Jihoon said. ¡°There might be ces like that, but not in our Team A. Plus, Hunter Lee Sooah is usually really intimidating. People can die in dungeons, you know? And she¡¯s very thorough with her work,¡± Hyungseok replied, still looking puzzled. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me everything, right? You didn¡¯t mess up at the dinnerst night or anything, did you?¡± ¡°Huh¡­?¡± When he mentioned a mistake, I hesitated, wondering if removing the status ailment was a mistake. ¡°Did you, by any chance, get carried away because you were smitten with Hunter Lee Sooah?¡± ¡°Hey, how can you say ¡®smitten¡¯ about your senior? And absolutely not! Do you think I¡¯m some teenager who gets turned on that easily?¡± As I said that, I felt a little guilty. ¡°Then why would anything happen if you didn¡¯t mess up at the party?¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know¡­¡± ¡°What did she say when she got angry? She must have scolded you for something, right?¡± ¡°Huh? What do you mean scolded? It felt like she was just asking pointless questions and going in circles.¡± ¡°W-what¡­???¡± He seemed more surprised that Lee Sooah didn¡¯t scold me than by the fact that she had called me out multiple times. Hyungseok always assumed that when Lee Sooah called someone, it was for something bad. ¡°No, I¡¯m not saying she called me to scold me! What the hell are you talking about?¡± Suddenly, he seemed intrigued and stopped in his tracks. ¡°No, we¡¯re talking about Hunter Lee Sooah here. There¡¯s a saying that if she calls you, you should be cautious. If you¡¯re called three times, you might end up with your neck on the line¡­¡± He looked horrified and gestured across his neck. ¡°So, Team A is nicknamed ¡®Life 3.¡¯ If you get called three times, you¡¯re done for.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­? I think I¡¯ve been called at least five times today¡­¡± Roughly counting, that seemed correct. He had been called a few more times while being trained in various things by Assistant Manager Park. It seemed that the odd reactions from my team members were rted to that. He felt that every time he was called, all team members were looking in his direction. ¡®At this rate, I should have died twice today alone.¡¯ ¡®Could it be that she noticed I resolved the status ailments¡­? So she¡¯s testing me¡­?¡¯ ¡°Senior, could it be that Hunter Lee Sooah likes you? It kind of seems like she has a crush on you¡­?¡± ¡°Huh? Heh, what are you talking about?¡± His reaction made meugh out loud. It was such an absurd idea. It had only been about 24 hours since we first met. Plus, we hadn¡¯t done anything noteworthy. We had only met at the guild¡ªor rather, thepany. ¡®No way.¡¯ If anything, Lee Sooah seemed a bit upset that I removed her status ailments without her consent. ¡°Hmm¡­ It¡¯s clear that¡­¡± ¡°No,e on. Does that make sense? I just met her yesterday. We haven¡¯t done anything. And besides, is Hunter Lee Sooah really that type of person?¡± He clearly set boundaries. ¡°That might be true.¡± Lee Sooah was well-known for having emotional walls as strong as a fortress. Even when she was a media sensation from the start, she didn¡¯t react much to attention or show much response to others. Her image was that of a professional, stubborn workaholic. ¡°It¡¯s strange. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen Hunter Lee Sooah act like this since I joined this guild. She always screams loudly in the office, encouraging her team members.¡± If you only heard about it, you could say she¡¯s a very Spartan leader. Of course, I¡¯ve never felt that way even once until now. ¡°That¡¯s not it. Today, she was clearly just keeping quiet, right?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Is that so? What could have caused such a change in her mood¡­?¡± The two of us continued to wear puzzled expressions. ¡°Hey. There¡¯s no point in us worrying about it anyway. Let¡¯s just go grab some food.¡± ¡°Sure, Senior.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll treat you today. Thanks to you, I got to join this nice guild.¡± ¡°Hehe. That¡¯s no big deal¡­ Just tell me more about Hunter Chae Suhyeon. That¡¯s what I¡¯m most curious about. I wanted to ask about it yesterday but was waiting.¡± I casually brought up the topic. ¡®Ha¡­ This damn girl¡­¡¯ Park Hyungseok¡¯s words suddenly came to mind. Without realizing it, my expression couldn¡¯t help but sour. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine.¡± I recalled themotion earlier when the call hade in. ¡®What the hell was she trying to do?¡¯ I pressed the power button on my smartphone and waited for it to turn on. ¡®I need to hear what she was babbling about.¡¯ ¡°Jihoon!¡± A familiar voice reached me as I waited for my smartphone to boot up. ¡°Hmm? Lee Sooah¡­?¡± Looking up, I saw Hunter Lee Sooah. Chapter 17 ¡°Hah¡­ what¡¯s going on?¡± Lee Sooah¡¯s face flushed as her heart raced in her office. ¡°No, Sooah, what¡¯s up with you today? We said this was urgent, remember?¡± ¡°Sooah? You really need to get it to us today. You know that, right?¡± ¡°Um¡­ Hunter Lee Sooah, please¡­ when can we expect it? I¡¯m really sorry, but today you seem different from your usual self.¡± She recalled the things she had heard throughout the day. It was unlike her to be overwhelmed with so much work. ¡®Why¡­ why am I like this¡­?¡¯ She was incredibly famous, known just for being a professional. Even though she hade into work and started her day in the morning, she hadn¡¯t been able to make any progress at all. ¡®Why¡­ why can¡¯t I focus on work¡­?¡¯ Her heart waspletely racing. It was a sensation she couldn¡¯t seem to calm down. This feeling was utterly bewildering. It felt good yet chaotic all at the same time. She couldn¡¯t seem to concentrate on anything. It was as if she was floating in the air. Moreover, she couldn¡¯t shake the image of Baek Jihoon from her mind. ¡®What¡­ what is this¡­? Did I get too attached to Hunter Baek Jihoon¡­?¡¯ She believed she was heavily influenced by the shocking Medusa incident from yesterday. There was nothing else she could rte to Jihoon. ¡®I¡¯ve never seen him before. We only met for one day yesterday.¡¯ It was clear. No matter how hard she tried to think back, she had never seen Baek Jihoon before. Plus, looking at her career, there was nothing ovepping with him. There was no ovep whatsoever in college, work, or any social activities. ¡®I don¡¯t understand¡­ This feeling is so new to me.¡¯ Alone in her office, with her face flushed and heart racing, Lee Sooah felt she couldn¡¯t bear the situation any longer. ¡®It looks like I need to leave work early today.¡¯ She grabbed her clothes and headed out. ¡®Ah, Sooah. Seriously, what¡¯s up with you today¡­ Hah¡­¡¯ ¡®I really need that today.¡¯ ¡®Sooah¡­? You¡¯ll hand it over today, right?¡¯ Ignoring countless messages and calls, she stepped outside. She waspelled by this strange feeling she couldn¡¯t ovee. It felt like she really needed to get out quickly¡­ ¡°What could this feeling be¡­?¡± ¡°Huh? Hunter Baek Jihoon?¡± Then she spotted Baek Jihoon in thepany¡¯s lobby. ¡°Ji¡­ Jihoon-ssi!!!¡± * ¡°Hmm¡­?¡± It was a phrase I had heard repeatedly throughout the day. [ Jihoon-ssi! ] I had heard it so much that I could tell who was calling me without even looking up. Of course, it was S-Rank Hunter Lee Sooah. ¡°What is it¡­ Why again¡­?¡± She had called for me all day in the office, and now it felt like she was following me on my way home. ¡®What is it? Why do I feel like she¡¯s constantly following me¡­?¡¯ I watched as Lee Sooah ran towards me. Hyungseok was next to me, looking bewildered as he switched his gaze between Lee Sooah and me. ¡°No, Senior, look at this. This is definitely odd, right? You should handle it well.¡± He tapped my shoulder. He whispered quietly. He had a somewhat devious smile on his face. ¡°No, what do you mean ¡®handle it well¡¯?¡± I found myself getting lost in quite aplicated train of thought. ¡°Hah. Hah. Jihoon-ssi, are you on your way home?¡± For some reason, Lee Sooah was panting with a flushed face. ¡°Yes¡­ I guess so¡­?¡± I couldn¡¯t continue speaking. Since I was confused about what was happening, it was hard toe up with an appropriate response. After all, context is important in a conversation. Considering our rtionship¡­ We were on our second day of seeing each other¡­ superior and subordinate¡­? Furthermore, I couldn¡¯t simply describe her as my direct superior. To liken it to apany¡­ it was more like a general manager and an intern¡­ Socially speaking, being S-Rank is quite a big deal. Lee Sooah was a key executive, significant enough to say she held more than half the pirs of the Blue Guild. If a general manager asks an intern if they¡¯re going home after work, what should the intern say? 1. Yes, that¡¯s right. 2. Should I do more work? 3. Would you like to leave together? 4. Where are you going, General Manager? 5. I¡¯ve finished my work, but why do you ask? 6. Then let¡¯s go home. Where else would I go? I couldn¡¯t think of what to say. ¡°Uh¡­ by any chance, which direction is your house?¡± Before I could respond, another question came at me. Even while panting, they kept asking questions. ¡°Uh¡­ I¡¯m in district Gwanak¡­ I live in Sillim-dong.¡± It was a bit embarrassing. I didn¡¯t have much money saved at my age. District Gwanak is in southern Seoul, and Sillim-dong is known for its busy roads like Gwanak-ro and Sillim-ro. I wondered why she suddenly asked about my home. ¡°Oh, I see. That¡¯s a relief. It¡¯s in the same direction as my house¡­ so we can go together?¡± Her expression turned into a slight smile. ¡®Huh? No way¡­ what¡¯s going on? Is she saying we can go home together? What the hell¡­¡¯ Either she liked me or had immense affection for a team member. It had to be one or the other. Of course, I thought thetter was much more likely. Considering her usual image, she seemedpletely cool and professionally intelligent. That was the social image of Lee Sooah. Even within our guild, it was the same. Did she like men and cling to them, following them home? ¡°Eh, there¡¯s no way. This is nonsense, right?¡± ¡°Haha. Jihoon, you¡¯d have better luck imagining you¡¯ve woken up as a famous VTuber girl. That¡¯s how ridiculous this is.¡± ¡°You really can¡¯t read people. Our Sooah isn¡¯t that kind of person.¡± ¡°Jihoon, do you seriously think about such weird things? Ugh¡­¡± ¡°You seem to be reading too many web novels¡­ You should live in reality¡­ you¡¯re not on +19 Novelpia, are you?¡± ¡°You look perfectly fine on the outside but seem a bit out of it inside¡­¡± It was all too obvious. Everyone¡¯s reaction. Not just from our Team A, but if you asked anyone nationwide, they would give the same kind of answer. I didn¡¯t know Hunter Lee Sooah, well either, but I had a vague image of her from the newspapers. She always appeared stiff andposed in press conferences. No matter what dungeon she was in, she handled everything calmly and without panic. ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t Hunter Lee Sooah¡¯s house in Cheongdam? That¡¯s in Gangnam¡­ How is it in the same direction?¡± Hyungseok immediately reacted with disbelief, as if hearing somethingpletely absurd. After all, Sillim and Cheongdam were in entirely opposite directions from Gangnam Station. At his words, Sooah shot him a very frightful re. I could feel an overwhelmingly heavy aura pressing down, though I hadn¡¯t said a word. The bright neon signs and lights of Gangnam were definitely overflowing, but in an instant, it felt like they all disappeared, plunging the surroundings intoplete darkness. There was a strange sensation, as if the moment I slightly opened my mouth, I¡¯d be immediately cut down on the spot. It was like being frozen in ce, merely by the gaze of a tiger shining with light before it let out a sound¡­ Because of that, Hyungseok fell silent, unable to finish his words. He appeared just like a hamsterpletely cornered by a cat. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± For the first time, I felt a sense of fear towards Lee Sooah. ¡®So this is the feeling.¡¯ The reason why the team members had been trembling¡­ The reason they called it Hellish Lee Sooah Team. They had partied joyously at the gathering ce, but when it was time to work, she was utterly thorough and serious. Without saying a word, she couldpletely crush anyone just by looking at them. ¡°Ah, by the way¡­ I have a prior engagement today¡­ Haha¡­ with Hyungseok¡­¡± Suddenly, the words slipped out of my mouth without my awareness. I didn¡¯t know why I said it, but reflecting on it, it seemed my desire to go to a bar with Hyungseok and vent about Chae Suhyeon had been overwhelming. Of course, it was important that Lee Sooah suggested leaving together, but there was something even more important to me. That was taking down Chae Suhyeon. Suddenly, I recalled the smartphone in my hand. At this moment, the Blue Guild and Lee Sooah didn¡¯t matter. ¡®I need to see what Chae Suhyeon said to me today¡­¡¯ There were so many things piled up¡­ I was genuinely curious. And besides, I hadn¡¯t lied. I was on my way to have drinks with Hyungseok anyway. I had so much to say¡­ Suddenly, Hyungseok grabbed my hand abruptly. Then he shook his head side to side rapidly at a frequency of 5Hz, wearing a look that clearly expressed disapproval. He said nothing, but his eyes conveyed his intention. ¡®Senior, please don¡¯t do that.¡¯ ¡®If I do, I¡¯ll die. Just go along with what Hunter Lee Sooah wants.¡¯ ¡®I want to live, you know. We can have our drinking sessionter.¡¯ ¡®Senior, are you crazy? You want to die?¡¯ ¡®Why are you doing this!!!!!!¡¯ It was a gaze and expression full of numerous meanings. Very earnest. A person can speak with their eyes. But the words had already escaped my mouth. ¡°Y-Yes¡­? A prior engagement¡­?¡± Hearing my words, Lee Sooah disyed an incredibly flustered expression. It was as if she hadn¡¯t even considered that possibility at all. Moreover, her reaction felt like it waspletely unprecedented. It felt like a chaebol man, acting on his whims, was struck by the pitiful and unfortunate female lead, eximing, ¡®I¡¯ve never met a woman like this before.¡¯ Her response was as if she were hearing about a prior engagement for the first time. Seeing Lee Sooah¡¯s reaction, my hand started to ache. Because Hyungseok was gripping it tightly as if it was the most critical crisis of his life. ¡°Why is he acting like this?¡±@@novelbin@@ ¡°Even though Lee Sooah can be a bit scary, is she really going to kill someone?¡± While I could understand Hyungseok to a certain extent, I thought his reaction was overly dramatic. ¡°Well¡­ then¡­ ah¡­ got it¡­ Go ahead and chat with Hyungseok¡­ Haha¡­ I didn¡¯t realize¡­ I¡¯m sorry. Uh¡­ um¡­ Ah¡­ um. Eeehee! I should head home. Where was it?¡± Seemingly too shocked by my words, she began to mumble strangely and then, as if embarrassed, suddenly turned and ran away. ¡°What¡­ What was that¡­?¡± For two days, I witnessed various sides of Lee Sooah. ¡°Is it possible¡­ that there is a status ailment I didn¡¯t notice¡­? Or could it be¡­ she¡¯s always been this crazy?¡± Isn¡¯t there a saying that geniuses are a bit entric? With someone like Lee Sooah, it wouldn¡¯t be unusual for her to have somewhat deranged traits. Looking at the reactions of my teammates¡­ even if she were originally crazy, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising¡­ As I stared at the retreating figure of Lee Sooah, I felt perplexed, while Hyungseok next to me had his jaw nearly unhinged, wearing apletely dazed expression. As if he had just seen Medusa, he was frozen in ce. ¡°Dude¡­ close your mouth. Your jaw is going to drop.¡± Chapter 18 Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud. How long had I been running? Hoo¡­ hoo¡­ hoo¡­ I exhaled roughly. I had just been near Gangnam Station, but by the time I regained my senses, I was at Apgujeong Station. I ran frantically with a very embarrassed expression. There was no way I could stay in that ce any longer. ¡°Is that¡­ Lee Sooah?¡± ¡°Huh? Lee Sooah? Where?¡± ¡°What¡¯s up? Why is she in such a hurry?¡± ¡°Is it really Lee Sooah?¡± Amidst my desperate run, I heard people around me recognizing and calling out to me. On a normal day, I would have paid attention, but today, that was impossible. I was definitely someone who managed myself meticulously. I would never act so recklessly. My image was tied to the guild¡¯s image. The Blue Guild was one of the top five in the country. I couldn¡¯t afford to act rashly. But today, just today¡­ ¡°Hah¡­ what¡­ what¡¯s going on¡­?¡± The events from just a moment ago left mepletely disoriented. It felt like I had been given some strange drug. I couldn¡¯t regain myposure. It felt like being hit in the head with a hammer. I couldn¡¯t think or make judgments properly. ¡°Ah¡­ no¡­ what on earth have I done¡­?¡± It felt as if my body was moving of its own ord. Like some marite being controlled by strings connected to my arms and legs. ¡°Soo¡­ Sooah¡­ Lee Sooah. Get a grip. Why are you acting like this¡­?¡± ¡°But¡­ I just can¡¯t contain it¡­ this strange¡­ pull¡­¡± ¡°I felt like I had to do it!!!¡± As I exhaled heavily, I was lost in thought. Having blitzed from Gangnam Station to Apgujeong Station, recovery would take a long time. I never wanted to recall the situation from just moments ago. I wished to forget it in a state akin to amnesia¡­ ¡°No¡­ that wasn¡¯t me. But the result was even worse.¡± It had been a series of very impulsive actions. Yet the oue was embarrassing enough to make me want to scream. ¡°Uh¡­ let¡¯s go home together.¡± ¡°Oh, but I have prior ns?¡± ¡°Aaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!¡± Without realizing it, Lee Sooah screamed right in the middle of Apgujeong. She felt so embarrassed. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is that Lee Sooah?¡± ¡°Yeah. Right¡­? What¡¯s up with her? Is she sick?¡± ¡°I heard those S-Rank people get all sorts of illnesses. Could it be that?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s too bad¡­ She is a hero, but she really has it tough¡­¡± ¡°Should we report this? It seems like she needs to go to the hospital¡­¡± The people around were looking at Lee Sooah with very worried expressions. Anyone screaming in the middle of the street would generally be viewed negatively, but it was Lee Sooah in this case. It felt like everyone understood to some extent the hardships and struggles of being an S-Rank Hunter. Some were watching her with pitying looks. ¡°It seems like dungeon raids have been pretty toughtely¡­¡± ¡°Well, if she¡¯s S-Rank, she must be tackling only the really tough dungeons. It must be exhausting.¡± ¡°Just how hard must it be for her to act like that¡­¡± ¡°Seems like the dungeon they raided today was extremely difficult¡­¡± ¡°Look at her face¡­ so red¡­¡± Lee Sooah didn¡¯t have the capacity to care about the people watching her from afar. Right now, she was too busy trying to mentally cope with her embarrassed outburst. ¡°No¡­ Hey. Lee Sooah¡­ why did you do that¡­? Why did you invite someone you just met two days ago to walk home with you?¡± Even when she tried to think it through slowly, she couldn¡¯t understand her own actions. [ I don¡¯t even know myself~ ] The lyrics came to mind. ¡°Besides, the other party is an E-Rank Hunter. The lowest tier in our team. As the leader of Team A, you need to lead and manage your team members well. What were you thinking¡­?¡± She couldn¡¯t forgive herself. She had done something utterly nonsensical. In her whole life, she had never acted like this before. No, she had never even thought of or imagined doing something like this. For some reason, despite having unfinished business that needed to be dealt with today, she simply left work without a second thought. From that very action alone, she couldn¡¯t forgive herself. Apletely irresponsible and nonsensical impulse. And yet, it was to the rookie who had just joined the team¡­ ¡°Why did you do that?!!!¡± She thumped her head with her fist and shook it left and right vigorously. Trying to shake off her thoughts. But it was difficult. She felt overwhelmingly embarrassed. The embarrassment was just too much to bear. She thought even Baek Jihoon¡¯s response was ridiculous. ¡°Hyungseok and his prior engagement¡­¡± It seemed like he had absolutely no interest in me¡­ Or rather, it felt like there wasn¡¯t even a hint of affection. His response waspletely cold. In fact, it even felt like he was angry about something. ¡°Is he¡­ mad at me? Did I call him too much today¡­?¡± I felt as if I were staring at a stone. ¡°No, does he¡­ not care about me at all¡­?¡± ¡°Or was there something urgent¡­?¡± ¡°What could be so urgent? What¡¯s the hurry about drinking with Hyungseok?¡± Lee Sooah waspletely shocked, left in a state of disbelief. This was the first time she¡¯d ever experienced such a reaction in her life. She had never faced anything like it, not even once. ¡°Could you bring this for me?¡± ¡°When are we doing this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking you to do this.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go here.¡± ¡°Would you like to do this with me?¡± ¡°I think this would be better.¡± For over twenty years of her life, she had always been in the super, super, super top position. It was because of her stunning beauty. On top of that, her abilities were exceptional too. No matter what Lee Sooah said, people always nodded and listened with endorsement. As if they were entranced. She had never been turned down even once.@@novelbin@@ Her beauty was wless. Of course, Lee Sooah had never exploited that. She had always proposed things she believed were beneficial. There shouldn¡¯t have been any problems. However¡­ Today, for the first time in her life, she was met with apleteck of concern and a rejection. ¡°Prior engagement¡­? With Hyungseok¡­?¡± ¡°Why¡­ um¡­ how¡­? That can¡¯t be¡­?¡± Lee Sooah¡¯s mind was inplete disarray. She had never unted her looks or her S-Rank status. Yet, it was always so incredibly obvious that everyone liked her. This was clearly a bizarre situation. It wasn¡¯t just one or two oddities; it was a total catastrophe. While her own state was peculiar, the shock of rejection was overwhelming. She was growing increasingly dazed. It made her feel so dizzy that she had to hold her head and shake it. ¡°Ah¡­ Lee Sooah¡­ how did ite to this¡­?¡± Ever since Baek Jihoon the Hunter joined the guild, she felt like strange things had been happening all around. ¡°No, what I don¡¯t understand is¡­ why did he reject me¡­? Why¡­?¡± She hadn¡¯t been unting her pride, but it was clear her appearance was striking. Even the physical aspect. I had to endure frequent sexual harassment in variousmunities, where they called me ¡°Sooah¡¯s Boobs.¡± But then came the shocking rejection. ¡°Alright. Lee Sooah. Let¡¯s think this through calmly.¡± Lee Sooah plopped down onto a chair on the street. She felt like she couldn¡¯t do anything in this state. ¡°So, besides my actions, I need to figure out why Baek Jihoon Hunter acted that way.¡± ¡°Surely¡­ he mentioned having a prior engagement with Hyungseok.¡± ¡°Yeah, that could be it. He must have wanted to leave work with Hyungseok. It seems like they were nning to leave together.¡± ¡°And we did meet in our guild¡¯s lobby¡­¡± Lee Sooah nodded as she thought it through step by step. She understood this much. ¡°But¡­ why? Did he reject my proposal?¡± ¡°Well, I mean, he doesn¡¯t have to ept my proposal. Who am I, Lee Sooah? Just because I suggest something, do all the men have toply? That¡¯s not how it works, right?¡± She tried to think coldly and rationally. She didn¡¯t see herself as a woman who acted foolishly with ridiculous confidence. ¡°But wait. Has there ever been a man in my life who rejected me?¡± Every man had always nced at her chest and quickly epted whenever she made a suggestion. ¡°But¡­ Baek Jihoon Hunter¡­ didn¡¯t even budge¡­¡± ¡°It seems like he had not the slightest bit of interest in me¡­¡± ¡°Could it be¡­? Was I too out of his league¡­?¡± She thought about whether her high social status might have been the problem. She vaguely recalled reading simr content in a newspaper article. [Men tend to avoid women who are too sessful or higher than them¡­] [As a result, women who were obsessed with social sess end up being avoided by men as they age¡­] [Excessive sess can actually be poison in terms of marriage or rtionship opportunities¡­] The memory was vivid. The article implied that if a woman is too sessful, men might find it burdensome. ¡°No, but those men who have worked under me or alongside me have never reacted like that.¡± It was a hypothesis she found difficult to ept. ¡°So then¡­ what could be the reason¡­¡± Lee Sooah was in a situation where she couldn¡¯t bear her confusion and embarrassment. She needed to find the reason somehow, no matter what. I was thinking that I couldn¡¯t go home unless I did something. No, I thought that I wouldn¡¯t be able to fall asleep today without kicking my nket in frustration. As Lee Sooah was ruffling her hair in a frenzy, someone caught her eye. In the middle of Apgujeong, there were two ordinary men holding hands and walking affectionately together. ¡®Ah¡­¡¯ Lee Sooah¡¯s expression was like a light bulb had gone off above her head. It looked like she had realized something big. And a sense of relief followed. A short gasp. It was clear. Earlier, when she had fiercely red at Hyungseok for interrupting herpanion, the action he had taken was bewildering. With a flustered expression, she grabbed Baek Jihoon¡¯s wrist. Lee Sooah understood. She had to rationalize everything somehow to cover her own embarrassment. Otherwise, she felt like she would either want to hide in a mouse hole or just die. Seemingpletely out of sorts while feeling her heart race and heat rise, she had to eliminate her embarrassment first. And she thought she had finally reached the solution. ¡®Yes. Lee Sooah. You haven¡¯t died yet.¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t lose your confidence.¡¯ ¡®For women, confidencees from the chest.¡¯ ¡®Right. I am not being rejected by Hunter Baek Jihoon.¡¯ ¡®Could it be that I would ever be rejected?¡¯ She was thinking crazily with no clear thoughts. The end of a long contemtion. And a profound conclusion came to her. ¡®Yes. Hunter Baek Jihoon is gay.¡¯ ¡®Yeah. That¡¯s right.¡¯ ¡®It has to be.¡¯ ¡®And I¡¯m still hungover¡­ so I made a mistake.¡¯ ¡®I drank way too much for the first time in a while¡­¡¯ Lee Sooah nodded as if she waspletely convinced. She absolutely could not acknowledge the current situation. An embarrassing mistake she had unwittingly made. Unable toprehend her state, she decided to think randomly. Of course, that wouldn¡¯t solve the situation. ¡®No¡­ right¡­ let¡¯s say the rejection is fine¡­ then why do I keep thinking about it¡­¡¯ She bit her lip slightly, with an expression of not understanding. Chapter 20 ¡°Why the hell aren¡¯t you reading it!!!!!¡± Chae Suhyeon threw her smartphone onto the bed and started punching the hunter training sandbag. Surely, once she sent a message, he was supposed to reply immediately. That had been the norm for thest few years. But everything changedpletely in just two days. ¡°I mean, I did break up, but does that mean he gets to act like this? That guy is really petty. Ugh. I can¡¯t believe I was dating a guy like this.¡± It only fueled her anger even more. And then¡­ Ding! She heard the notification sound of a messageing in. ¡°Oh? A reply came!!!!¡± ¡°Of course, this nice guy. He¡¯s probably gonna whine about beingte.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°Right. I¡¯ll have to pretend like it¡¯s no big deal and let it slide.¡± ¡°Then he¡¯ll be whining and begging¡­¡± Chae Suhyeon nned to feign weakness and get points back easily. Given Baek Jihoon¡¯s tendencies so far, it seemed entirely possible. In fact, she had some faith in it. Her traits. ¡®The effects should still be in y.¡¯ With a hopeful heart, she unlocked her smartphone. And then she started screaming like crazy. [????] In her message inbox, there was just a single character. ¡°You¡­ insane¡­ bastard!!!!!!¡± Her face was turning bright red as she trembled with anger. It seemed she couldn¡¯t hold back her feelings of rage, embarrassment, shock, and confusion. The smartphone in her hand looked like it was about to crumble. ¡°Chae¡­ Suhyeon¡­ calm down¡­ don¡¯t let this provoke you¡­¡± ¡°Haha¡­ just hold on a bit¡­ if this nice guy can be trained well¡­ your life will thrive¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s not much time left. Just stopping the retrieval is enough for me, right?¡± Even though fury surged wildly within her, she decided to keep her cool. This wasn¡¯t a situation where she should react emotionally. In such matters, Chae Suhyeon was very quick-witted and rational. ¡°Getting worked up over this nice guy would do me no good.¡± ¡°Getting those points back in any way possible is what benefits me¡­¡± She took a deep breath. No matter what, as long as the retrieval stopped, the future she dreamed of woulde. [ Oppa. It seems like there¡¯s a typo. Where are you right now? ] Suppressing the deep-seated anger surging within me, I carefully typed out each letter. ¡®Right. Chae Suhyeon¡­ You held it together well.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re truly a professional.¡¯ ¡®Let¡¯s act rationally.¡¯ ¡®As long as we achieve our goal, there¡¯s no need to get caught up in unnecessary distractions and lose the match; that¡¯s something only amateurs do.¡¯ Having calmed myself for the moment. ¡®Please¡­ If I could just get close¡­¡¯ Chae Suhyeon briefly recalled her attributes. * ¡°Krkrkrkrk.¡± Hyungseok chuckled softly. [ ???? ] Just one word he sent. ¡°I think¡ªif it¡¯s the Hunter Chae Suhyeon, she would have reacted strongly to this. She might have even destroyed her house.¡± I genuinely liked the message he sent on my behalf. If it were me, I would have sent a long-winded text, but Hyungseok kept it concise. He encapsted everything into a single message. Then I quickly received a reply. [ Oppa. It seems like there¡¯s a typo. Where are you right now? ] It was quite different from what I had anticipated. I had thought she would be furious and try to dominate the situation. It was definitely a situation where she could have thrown a fit. Considering my years of experience, that would have been more than reasonable. She always acted as if she were the boss. Of course, I had been putting up with it to some extent for our happiness and goals. Yet, despite the ¡®????¡¯ in the message, she humbled herself like that. ¡®Oh my¡­¡¯ I had a feeling. She was definitely feeling intimidated. It was a clear indication that the recovery was underway. Given her personality, even if I had identally sent something, she would have made a huge fuss over it. But instead, she¡¯s trying to cover it up as if it was a mistake? That showed just how seriously apprehensive she was. Thanks to that, I started to rx andugh a little. ¡°Wow. But Senior, what¡¯s going on? For Hunter Chae Suhyeon to act like this? It doesn¡¯t make any sense!¡± I nced at his perplexed expression. He seemed puzzled by the unusual behavior of Hunters Chae Suhyeon and Lee Sooah. ¡°Senior, what is she after? Do you owe her something? Is it a gift? Is it expensive? Or is it something rare and hard to get?¡± His expression was full of curiosity. I understood his confusion. Being able to do this to Chae Suhyeon was a big deal. ¡°Anyway, you wouldn¡¯t understand even if I told you.¡± ¡°Aw,e on, just tell me.¡± I had exined it to Hyungseok several times already. ¡°I gave this bit*h some Hunter Points, okay? I¡¯m in the process of retrieving them.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re just joking again.¡± As expected, he didn¡¯t believe me today either. It felt like a lock had been put on the reality so that nobody couldprehend it. No one believed me. ¡°Anyway, so you¡¯re getting something back from her? Hehe. Looks like she¡¯s in a bit of a bind?¡± Hyungseok didn¡¯t seem to care much about the reasons. He just found the situation amusing. ¡°Senior, since we¡¯re at this point, why not tease her a bit more?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I have something I want to try¡­ mind if I go ahead with it?¡± I didn¡¯t know what he had in mind, but I decided to go along with it. After all, I wanted to avoid dealing with that troublesome girl again. Whatever she did was none of my concern. [Gimpo Ttukbaegi House. I¡¯ll give you 30 minutes.] He sent the message. ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t that in Nonhyeon? How is she supposed to get there in 30 minutes? She lives in Apgujeong, right?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Exactly. Hehe¡­¡± He had that look that suggested he was really looking forward to this. It seemed like he was nning to send her on a wild goose chase. * ¡°Uh????¡± This time, the reply came back really quickly. [Gimpo Ttukbaegi House. I¡¯ll give you 30 minutes.] ¡°Uh¡­??? Gimpo Ttukbaegi House¡­?¡± She smiled at first, happy to get a response, but then her expression hardened. ¡°No, I get that it¡¯s Gimpo Ttukbaegi House. But 30 minutes? Are you kidding me? How am I supposed to get there in 30 minutes from here?¡± Realizing she couldn¡¯t waste any time, she started to panic. ¡°Ugh, what should I do? I need to hurry.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t even get to get ready.¡± She had been loungingfortably at home, never expecting this turn of events. ¡°It¡¯ll take at least three hours to get fully ready.¡± ¡°Ugh, what the hell.¡± Chae Suhyeon¡¯s eyes trembled as she quickly tried to figure out what to do. ¡°U-um¡­ Let¡¯s just go¡­ I¡¯m pretty even without dressing up.¡± ¡°Anyway¡­ If it¡¯s Baek Jihoon, he¡¯ll be blown away even if I go just as I am.¡± She hurriedly threw on some clothes and dashed out the door frantically. * ¡°Hunter Chae Suhyeon must be in a total frenzy right now. She was probably rxing at home. It takes ages for girls to get ready to go out, right? She must be agonizing over what to do. Hehe.¡± He continued tough, clearly amused by the situation. I couldn¡¯t help but feel happy too. I had never thought about messing with her like this, but it was quite interesting. ¡°I wonder what Chae Suhyeon will do.¡± Before I could even think, a reply came back. [Oppa. I¡¯m on my way to Gimpo¡­ Just wait a bit¡­] ¡°Wow¡­ I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but it seems like Hunter Chae Suhyeon is really caught up in something with me. Wow¡­¡± Seeing the reply, he was practically in awe. It seemed Hyungseok was also wondering if Chae Suhyeon would really act this way. ¡°Right. This is definitely escting.¡± She had joined the Baekho Guild as an S-Rank. What would happen if she dropped to C-Rank? It was bound to cause a stir. There had to be a reason for Chae Suhyeon to be so desperate. ¡°Wow¡­ Does the mighty Chae Suhyeon really act like this?¡± In just two days, the tables had turnedpletely. Yesterday, things had seemed grim. All that effort seemed to have gone down the drain, and he felt messed up because of it. But after one day of being devalued, the tide had changed. It felt like a sessfulrge-scale invasion that split the enemy¡¯s lines in half. ¡®Now the initiative is in my hands.¡¯ ¡®Yeah, you won¡¯t be able to do it your way, Chae Suhyeon.¡¯ ¡®Hand over everything you took from me.¡¯ I felt no fear at all. As long as I waited, Chae Suhyeon¡¯s points would gradually decrease. And if the government simply verifies¡­? She¡¯ll go straight to C-rank. Then I¡¯ll quickly rank up andpletely reverse the situation. Everything has its order. Once Chae Suhyeon falls to C-rank, I n to pour all the points into an upgrade. [Oppa¡­ I don¡¯t think 30 minutes will be enough. I¡¯m really moving quickly. Can you give me a bit more time?] While I was happily thinking about various things, another message came in. [No. That won¡¯t do. Where are you?] I smiled subtly. ¡°Hunter Chae Suhyeon seems to bepletely nervous right now, doesn¡¯t she?¡± Looking at the message, we both chuckled. Then we decided to calmly wait and see what would happen if we left her on read. [Alright. I¡¯ll find a way to get there. Just wait a bit longer.] After leaving her on read, it didn¡¯t take long for another message toe in. She was now being verypliant. ¡°Geez¡­ I should have done this earlier. I¡¯ve been living like such a fool until now,¡± I muttered without realizing it.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Ah, senior. Love is originally like this.¡± He called himself a love expert. ¡°But you¡¯re still a virgin.¡± ¡°Knowing the theory doesn¡¯t always require practical experience. Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± His expression became very firm and serious. Well, that¡¯s true. This guy, even though he¡¯s not a Hunter, knows a lot about Hunters. Anyway, Hyungseok and I decided to calmly wait and see how Chae Suhyeon would act. After all, she¡¯s not even in Gimpo. ¡®Now there are 10 minutes left.¡¯ Chapter 21 ¡°Tsk¡­ He really told me to take Olympic Boulevard¡­¡± Chae Suhyeon gripped the steering wheel, deep in thought as she considered her options. ¡°From Apgujeong to Gimpo¡­ Even if I speed, it¡¯s going to take at least 40 minutes.¡± Ignoring most of the traffic signals still wouldn¡¯t get her there in time. The navigation app estimated nearly an hour of travel. But there was no time to worry. She set off immediately. ¡°Ugh. How can he expect me to get there in 30 minutes when it takes an hour?¡± ¡°What is going on with this guy?¡± A surge of irritation rose within her, a feeling she hadn¡¯t experienced in years. She could sense Baek Jihoon manipting her. ¡°Is this revenge? Huh? Are you testing me?¡± But Chae Suhyeon wasn¡¯t easily swayed. ¡°Hmph. I¡¯ll let it slide this one time.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not about letting it slide. We¡¯re just trying tomunicate on equal footing.¡± ¡°I just need to ask him to stop the retrieval.¡± Driving like a madwoman, she nodded to herself. All she could think about was the point retrieval. She was preupied with nning how to handle Baek Jihoon when she arrived. ¡°Hah¡­ And if he refuses, don¡¯t me me for beating him up.¡± ¡°And then with the traits¡­¡± She nced at her skill tree, reluctant to use it. ¡°Why is he acting like this all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I kept my distance¡­¡± For years, she had beenpliant, confident she had tamed him well. But now, it felt like their roles had reversed in an instant. Chae Suhyeon could no longer stand the current situation. Bam! ¡°Ah! Seriously!¡± She honked the horn mid-drive. In front of her, cars were lined up slowly, their red brake lights illuminated. ¡°Ugh. Of all times, it has to be rush hour.¡± Olympic Boulevard had turned into a parking lot. Seeing the gridlock in front of her, Chae Suhyeon began to tremble. Today was crucial. She believed that if she could just get through it, everything would fall into ce. ¡°Damn it. I don¡¯t care. This isn¡¯t what¡¯s important right now.¡± She sharply turned the steering wheel and headed for the shoulder. ¡°No matter what anyone says, this is more urgent right now.¡±@@novelbin@@ There were only 20 minutes left. Anxiety began to tighten around her throat. * ¡°Wow. It¡¯s already been 10 minutes,¡± Hyungseok said, arms crossed, looking very satisfied. ¡°She¡¯s probably driving like crazy right now. She probably doesn¡¯t even have time to send a message. Hehe.¡± He looked pleased, as if everything was going ording to his n. ¡°But what if she actually makes it in 30 minutes? Won¡¯t I just look like the jerk who gave her an impossible task?¡± ¡°Come on, Senior. It¡¯s impossible to get from Apgujeong to Gimpo in 30 minutes at this hour. Just think about Olympic Boulevard. It¡¯s got to bepletely packed.¡± He was very confident. ¡°Anyway, she won¡¯t make it in 30 minutes. The important thing is whether she tries to obey what you told her. That¡¯s where you gain the advantage.¡± He treated the situation like a fun game. Listening to him, I started to get a general idea of what to do. Though I had never experienced like this before, it felt like learning along the way. ¡°You lived too much like a nice guy,¡± Hyungseok said cautiously. ¡°Really? I don¡¯t even know why I did that.¡± I realized I shouldn¡¯t live like that anymore. ¡°Well, what can you do? Who wouldn¡¯t be charmed by the Subus Queen?¡± Hyungseok tossed out thement casually. ¡°Subus Queen?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s Chae Suhyeon¡¯s nickname, right? Although, we only use it among ourselves.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± I had never heard that before. ¡®What is this all about?¡¯ ¡®What does ¡®Subus Queen¡¯ even mean?¡¯ The word subus isn¡¯t exactly apliment for a guy. No man would like a woman who drains his vitality and uses it as she pleases. ¡°Subus?¡± ¡°You really didn¡¯t know?¡± Hyungseok looked puzzled. I was certain Chae Suhyeon had acted all innocent. I could understand now, but back then, I had no idea. I didn¡¯t even notice. ¡°Oppa¡­ you¡¯re my first. Please take care of me.¡± ¡°Please understand if I¡¯m a bit inexperienced. I¡¯ll try my best.¡± ¡°Oppa, I¡¯m so shy¡­ Hehe.¡± ¡°Aww, Oppa.¡± Thinking back to the beginning, she seemed nothing like a subus. Maybe she was just a good actress. ¡°How is she a subus? Am I not her first love?¡± Pfft. Hyungseok spat out his beer. ¡°What are you talking about? Senior, you were at least her 32nd.¡± What the hell. Without realizing it, my fist clenched, and I cursed inwardly. ¡°32nd?¡± Was she just a total slut? My mind waspletely knocked out, almost shattered. ¡°Yeah¡­ the number I know is at least that much, so it might actually be more. You didn¡¯t know¡­¡± Hyungseok started to notice my struggle to hide my shock. No man would be happy to find out that his ex-girlfriend, whom he thought was a virgin, was actually promiscuous. ¡®How could this happen? She definitely wasn¡¯t that experienced when we started dating.¡¯ It was aplete disaster. My head was spinning. ¡°Oppa¡­ you¡¯re my first love. You know that, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve given you everything, so I hope you can give me everything in return.¡± ¡°Let¡¯sst forever. I want you to be my first andst love.¡± Her words came flooding back, one by one. Looking back now, it was undoubtedly a lie. ¡°Ha¡­ so why is she nicknamed the Subus Queen?¡± It was frustrating, but I had to ask. ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s because shepletely drains the life force out of her boyfriends. The guys who date her end up looking like walking skeletons within a week. The way she cycles through boyfriends is almost an art¡­¡± I was pondering whether to continue the conversation, watching Hyungseok closely. It was annoying, but I guess it¡¯s because she was my ex. ¡°Hey, Hyungseok. Just tell me everything. I don¡¯t care anymore. I don¡¯t have any feelings left for that b*tch. I don¡¯t understand how she managed to hide all this from me.¡± ¡°Could it be some kind of trait?¡± Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind. ¡°Well, everyone says that once a guy gets involved with Chae Suhyeon, he bespletely infatuated and can¡¯t escape. People started avoiding her without even realizing it, fearing they might fall for her. The thrill is exhrating, but¡­¡± Hyungseok licked his lips, clearly intrigued. ¡°But what about you?¡± ¡°Ha¡­ I¡¯m still a virgin, you know? She didn¡¯t seem interested in me at all.¡± His reaction hinted at some disappointment. ¡°Haha¡­ I guess that¡¯s something.¡± I wasn¡¯t sure whether to feel envious or not. ¡°So what the hell has she been up to?¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t really know. She drains the life force out of men and turns them into skeletons within a week, but I have no idea why. Everyone who knows just keeps quiet, pretending not to know, because they could end up as her next victim.¡± ¡°What was she doing? And what about me?¡± After hearing all this, I was filled with questions. I was fine, after all. Based on Hyungseok¡¯s words, it seemed that any guy who dated Chae Suhyeon turned into a skeleton within a week, no matter how fit or muscr he was. ¡°Senior, it¡¯s a relief. Everyone was surprised. I thought it would be over in a week, but look at you¡ªyou¡¯re doing just fine.¡± Hyungseok looked puzzled, as if he was trying to understand the same thing. ¡°Hmm¡­ this is a bit awkward, but¡­¡± He hesitated for a moment. ¡°How many times did you meet with Chae Suhyeon in a day?¡± It was a question that might seem a bit awkward. But now wasn¡¯t the time to worry about that. ¡°Maybe 12 times? I think it was even 15¡­¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Hyungseok leaned back, looking nervous while he waited for my answer. ¡°As expected. A subus is a subus. But, Senior, did you never suspect anything?¡± He looked genuinely baffled. ¡°Well, now that I think about it¡­¡± I realized I had never considered it before, as if my thoughts had been blocked. Looking back, it was truly strange. ¡°Ah, everyone else was saying simr things. Of course, most of them barelysted a week. But saying 12 times in a day is just ridiculous.¡± Hyungseok¡¯s words made everything seem bizarre. Yet, I had never sensed anything strange. ¡°Ha¡­ I think I¡¯vepletely fallen for Chae Suhyeon. It¡¯s truly bizarre that I never found it strange for years. What state was I in?¡± It felt like I was under some irrational influence. A strange force that made me feel like a fool. ¡°Surely, Chae Suhyeon¡­ there¡¯s something going on.¡± ¡°This f*cking woman. What on earth did she do to me?¡± I was starting to realize that something unusual was happening beyond my control. ¡°I don¡¯t know what it is, but I will find out.¡± Chapter 23 Ding dong. Finally, the message arrived. ¡°Wow. Did she get there already?¡± Hyungseok was in awe. ¡°No way. How did she arrive this fast? It¡¯s impossible on a normal route¡­¡± He kept ncing at his wristwatch, looking puzzled. ¡°Well, it¡¯s obvious. Whether it¡¯s speeding or driving on the shoulder, if she has a goal, she won¡¯t care about the means or methods.¡± I wasn¡¯t too surprised. Having spent a lot of time with her, I could roughly predict how she would act. However, even so, she couldn¡¯t get past the 30-minute barrier. ¡®Now, what did she say? Let¡¯s take a look.¡¯ [Oppa~ I¡¯ve arrived, but where are you? I might be a tiny bitte, right?] A faint smile escaped me. ¡®Looks like she¡¯s really in a hurry.¡¯ Seeing her talk like this definitely indicated that she was flustered. ¡°It¡¯s clear. She seems very anxious. What did you do to make Hunter Chae Suhyeon this way?¡± Hyungseok was looking up at me, confused. Combining Chae Suhyeon with Hunter Lee Sooah from earlier, I was gradually bing a suspicious figure. It felt like S-Rank Hunters couldn¡¯t move freely around me¡­ someone who could corner them. ¡°Let¡¯s throw a punch back at her.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± [You¡¯rete.] I decided to keep it very brief. Without any further exnation. Words that are annoying yet not overly verbose. ¡°I wonder how she will react.¡± * [You¡¯rete.] A very short reply came back. It felt like there was zero affection in it. ¡®What the hell?¡¯ Chae Suhyeon stood still in the middle of the store, looking as if she had just been hit on the head with a hammer. ¡®No, I know I¡¯mte. But you weren¡¯t even here in the first ce, you bastard?¡¯ She was barely holding onto her sanity, but she felt herself slowly losing grip. ¡®Are you joking? You didn¡¯t evene and youpletely yed with me? And now you say I¡¯mte? Ha¡­¡¯ Deep within her chest, anger was surging like crazy. ¡°Ha¡­ Chae Suhyeon¡­ Just hold on¡­ Getting angry right now won¡¯t solve anything. In fact, it will only harm you.¡± Her hands trembled like crazy. But she managed to calm down and sent a message calmly. [Oppa, I¡¯m sorry for beingte. Where are you now?] It was practically her first apology in life. For Chae Suhyeon, there had never been a need to apologize to a guy. But right now, there was no other choice. She just needed to solve the problem in front of her well. * I couldn¡¯t help but smile. In this situation,ughter was the only thing that came out. ¡°Chae Suhyeon is apologizing?¡± This girl had never been like this before. Sure, she¡¯d mix in apologies when trying to get what she wanted, but that was different. This was the first time she had apologized for something she had done wrong. In fact, I might say that Chae Suhyeon was at fault in this situation. ¡°Unbelievable. Look at this shift in attitude. She was living life just as she pleased until the day before yesterday.¡± ¡°Still, senior, it seems like she finally got her act together. This is what she should have done. Well, of course, it can be hard to get out once you fall for a subus.¡± Unfortunately, it was unavoidable. The past was the past. ¡°So what should we do now?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s send one final message to get her even more riled up and then stop contacting her.¡± Hyungseok picked up my smartphone and started typing a message for me. [There¡¯s no chance left. Don¡¯t contact me again.] * Tremble, tremble. Her eyebrows twitched as she unleashed her anger with her entire body, right in the middle of the store. ¡°Um¡­ Why is that person acting like that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ Did something upset her? It¡¯s scary¡­¡± ¡°It feels like something¡¯s about to go down¡­ Hey, let¡¯s get out of here.¡± The people in the store were staring, focused on Chae Suhyeon, who was dangerously breathing heavily. She was exuding a terrifying aura that even regr people could feel. One by one, the customers began to exit the store in fear. ¡°Um¡­ Excuse me, miss. Is something wrong?¡± The boss, sensing the atmosphere, approached with a very worried expression. It was evident that the store¡¯s sales were steadily declining. However, in Chae Suhyeon¡¯s eyes, the store owner didn¡¯t matter at all. [There are no chances left. Don¡¯t contact me again.] Not knowing how to respond and feeling an indescribable sense of anger and frustration, she pushed everyone aside and stormed back to her car. ¡°Eeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!!!!¡± ¡°Baek Jihoon, you f*ing bastard!!!!!!!!!!!¡± ¡°You yed with me!!!!¡± ¡°This f*ing bastard!!!!!!!!¡±@@novelbin@@ She screamed as ifpletely insane. The sound inevitably leaked out of the car. She was making such a ruckus and screaming that the horn was honking intermittently. Passersby could only stare at Chae Suhyeon with puzzled looks. * ¡°Ha. Let¡¯s not worry about Chae Suhyeon for now and have some drinks.¡± I thought I had dealt a good hit. It was an act I had never attempted in my life until now. But after doing it, I felt so relieved. ¡®Ha, that f*ing slut.¡¯ ¡®You think this is just the beginning? Have you been ying with me until now?¡¯ ¡®Subus Queen? Ugh.¡¯ I shook my head. Now I was very certain. It wasn¡¯t just a breakup; it wasn¡¯t just being dumped. The Hunter cklist, the press conference, the Subus¡­ There were countless things that made me furious. ¡®I will definitely make you pay.¡¯ I made a firm resolution. ¡°Senior, let¡¯s make a toast. Here¡¯s to starting a new life.¡± Today, I decided to ride this mood and enjoy myself. * ¡°Let¡¯s go go go go¡­¡± It seemed I had gone too far yesterday, feeling too good. It was hard to gather my thoughts. ¡°Ha¡­ what time is it now¡­¡± Stretching a bit, I checked the time. ¡°Huh? Shit. This is bad. I¡¯mte.¡± It was the kind of moment that snapped me back to reality. I was supposed to head to the Guild, but it was alreadyte for my arrival. ¡®Oh f*ck. I¡¯m receiving the same treatment I gave to Chae Suhyeon yesterday.¡¯ I had no choice but to hurriedly get ready for work. * ¡°What the hell are you doing right now!!!!!!!!!!¡± A tremendous scream echoed through the air. I was slowly entering the office. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± 30 minutes. I had already arrived 30 minuteste on my second day of work. ¡®Ugh. Seriously, Baek Jihoon, are you crazy? Why did you drink so much that you couldn¡¯t even keep the time promise?¡¯ I must have been too excited because of Chae Suhyeon yesterday. This was the first time I had ever beente like this. ¡°Ugh¡­ Jihoon! What are you going to do now!!¡± ¡°You¡¯rete, you know. Oh no¡­ We¡¯ll help you no matter what.¡± ¡°Jihoon, we had the morning off yesterday, but you still came to work. Can we just let it slide¡­¡± My team members rushed out withpletely pale faces upon seeing me. ¡°Is that a thing to say right now!!!¡± The screams were still ringing in the air. It was clearly Lee Sooah¡¯s voice. ¡®What¡¯s going on? Why is she like this?¡¯ She lookedpletely different from what I had seen yesterday and the day before. She seemed quite rough. ¡°Ha. Hunter Lee Sooah has returned.¡± The team members looked sad. ¡°What do you mean returned?¡± I could only ask cautiously. ¡°No, she was fine for just yesterday, right? It¡¯s been years since she acted like that.¡± ¡°Yeah, it would be great if things could just go like yesterday.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know why she¡¯s acting like this today.¡± Everyone looked bewildered. ¡°Anyway, Jihoon. I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to make sure your head stays attached to your body, so justy low, got it?¡± The manager patted me on the back. Everyone else looked as if I was about to die, creating a glum atmosphere. ¡°Hunter Lee Sooah really, really hates tardiness. She considers keeping time extremely important. Didn¡¯t someone die because of a dy in a past application? That¡¯s why she¡¯s a bit sensitive.¡± Everyone seemed to be in shock and horror. Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like everyone thought I was about to be killed. ¡®Ah, damn. What¡¯s going on? It¡¯s my fault for beingte, but it¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to die over this, right?¡¯ ¡®And Lee Sooah, why are you speaking so loudly? This meeting room should be soundproof, right?¡¯ I thought it waspletely soundproof, yet her voice seemed to pierce right through. Then suddenly, a thought struck me. ¡®Is this because of a status ailment, perhaps?¡¯ I opened my status window. Naturally, Lee Sooah¡¯s status window was covered in red marks. ¡®Just as I thought. So that¡¯s what happened.¡¯ I don¡¯t know when those red marks will disappear either. It was always like this with Chae Suhyeon too. Sometimes they would go away in one day, sometimes in ten. There didn¡¯t seem to be any discernible pattern. It just seemed like it happened when there was a change in her mood. ¡®First, I should get rid of the status ailments. Then I¡¯ll just have to prostrate myself and beg for mercy. At least that way I might save my life¡­¡¯ ¡®Sigh. Baek Jihoon. Get your act together. Who shows upte for two days straight?¡¯ Yesterday, I had been so absorbed in my victory that I made a huge mistake. But water has already been spilled. I need to get things sorted, no matter what. I quickly started removing the red marks from my status window. ¡®Phew. I hope this helps a bit.¡¯ Creeeak. The meeting room door opened. And then a certain department head stumbled out with apletely drained expression, as if his soul had been harvested. ¡°Ugh.¡± Hearing the door open, my team members hurriedly returned to their seats, pretending to work. *Click ck.* The fearsome sound of Lee Sooah¡¯s heels grew louder. Slowly approaching. Gulp. I wonder what she will say. Please, just don¡¯t kill me. ¡°J¡­ Jihoon ssi¡­?¡± As the sound of her high heels stopped, I caught a glimpse of Lee Sooah smiling slightly with a faint blush on her cheeks. ¡°You were a bitte today, huh? Hmm. That¡¯s okay. It could happen to a rookie like you.¡± Then she quickly disappeared, as if flustered. Chapter 25 Crash. Park Hyungseok jumped up suddenly. His expression was that of someone who had just heard something utterly shocking. It seemed his eyes had be somewhat misty. ¡°Uh¡­ How could you¡­ say something like that!!!!¡± It waspletely opposite to what he had expected. In fact, it was a situation far from what he had wanted. ¡®No matter how much of a loser I am, no matter how unattractive I might be¡­ gay? Isn¡¯t that too much? Am I really that unattractive?¡¯ A wave of sadness and mental shock washed over him. After years of fervently fangirling over Lee Sooah and working hard for the guild, she had just mistakenly thought he was gay. ¡°I¡­ I may be a loser¡­ and not popr with women¡­ but¡­ that¡¯s not true!!! This is really too much.¡± With a choked voice, Park Hyungseok ran out. ¡®Huh?¡¯ Lee Sooah was left in a daze, bewildered by what had just happened. She waspletely lost in thought, wondering what was going on. ¡®What¡­? Isn¡¯t he gay¡­?¡¯ ¡®Then what is he¡­?¡¯ ¡®What on earth is happening?¡¯ She was sinking deeper into confusion. As she began to gather the mess that Park Hyungseok had left behind, ¡®Wait, so Hunter Baek Jihoon isn¡¯t gay, but just not interested in me? Huh? What does that mean? Is he just unattracted to me? What¡¯s going on?¡¯ She was in a state of severe panic. Of course, Lee Sooah wasn¡¯t parading around showing off her femininity or exuding excessive pride, but she was somewhat taken aback by Baek Jihoon¡¯s attitude. After all, even if someone is indifferent, hearing that you¡¯re unattractive is bound to sting. ¡®Damn it. What¡¯s going on? Baek Jihoon? Not interested in me? Huh? Not attractive? Huh? What is this? Hm?¡¯ Then she nced down at her chest. ¡®Hah. Do I need to enhance it a bit¡­?¡¯ ¡®Should I add some padding?¡¯ ¡®What am I missing?¡¯ Up until now, Lee Sooah had never attempted to unt her sexual appeal. She had a high default value, after all. Men flocked around her without her doing anything. But Baek Jihoon seemed to bepletely immune to her charms. ¡®Is he dating someone else?¡¯ ¡®Or is it that Ick appeal?¡¯ Her thoughts began to spiral into one direction. ¡®Right. I¡¯m getting older, so I should put myself out there a bit, shouldn¡¯t I¡­?¡¯ She was still confused. ¡®No, no, Lee Sooah! Get a grip. What¡¯s wrong with you? This isn¡¯t like you.¡¯ Lee Sooah suddenly felt her face flush red. She was embarrassed by her brief strange thoughts. ¡®Focus on work. You¡¯re not that kind of woman. Why do you keep getting distracted?¡¯ ¡®But¡­ I can¡¯t help but think of Baek Jihoon.¡¯ ¡®But he said he¡¯s not gay, right?¡¯@@novelbin@@ ¡®So why does it feel like he¡¯s not that interested in me?¡¯ ¡®Why? What¡¯s wrong with me?¡¯ ¡®No. Focus on work. What¡¯s going on? There¡¯s so much to do. Plus, he¡¯s your team member. Don¡¯t go off in a different direction again!¡¯ She kept trying to whip herself back into shape. In fact, it was Baek Jihoon¡¯s attitude that was provoking her. Lee Sooah began to experience a serious internal conflict. * ¡°Uh?¡± The Team A members who had just witnessed Lee Sooah were staring at each other in shock. ¡°What just happened? That was Hunter Sooah just passing by, right? Am I seeing a ghost?¡± ¡°Did she just let me off for beingte after two days¡­? Why?¡± ¡°No way. What¡¯s going on? I almost died when I was five minuteste after never beingte for five years?¡± They all gathered around me, murmuring. ¡°Jihoon, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t Lee Sooah saying anything to you?¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± Everyone was looking at me with suspicious eyes. ¡®What the¡­¡¯ ¡°Wait, so Sooah actually returned to her usual self today? And the manager was¡­¡± They all nced at the manager, who had just been through a shocking experience. ¡°Like that. But why isn¡¯t she saying anything to Baek Jihoon?¡± The atmosphere was split. Half were envious nces, and half were suspicious looks. ¡°Jihoon, just be honest with us.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± I gulped. Could they have really noticed what had happened between me and Lee Sooah? ¡°That Hunter Sooah borrowed something from you? Did she get into debt? Or maybe¡­ are you two dating?¡± ¡°Nooo wayyyy.¡± ¡°Whoa!¡± Everyone looked at me with wide eyes in disbelief. ¡°E-eh? No, no. What are you talking about?¡± I waved my hands in a panic. ¡®What? Dating just two days after meeting? And there¡¯s such a huge difference in rank and social status? I haven¡¯t even spoken much to Lee Sooah.¡¯ ¡®I just helped her with her status ailment.¡¯ I shook my head emphatically. My face was turning red too. Things had taken an unexpectedly weird turn. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that. I¡­ helped Lee Sooah with her¡­¡± ¡°Ah, you¡¯re dating, aren¡¯t you? Right? Look at your face turning red!¡± Before I could exin myself, they jumped to conclusions. ¡°That¡¯spletely absurd.¡± ¡°Wow. How on earth did you manage to win over Hunter Sooah in just two days? She¡¯s famously known for her imprable walls!¡± ¡°Impressive.¡± p, p, p. Someone began pping. ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. There seems to be some misunderstanding. We¡¯re¡­¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s how it is. So that¡¯s why you looked so happy during the dinner gathering. That was your first day together, right?¡± ¡°No, wait¡­¡± ¡°Wow¡­ congrattions! So you started dating from your first day at thepany? Didn¡¯t we have our dinner gathering on that day?¡± ¡°I was just helping with Lee Sooah¡¯s status ailment¡­¡± ¡°So, did Hunter Sooah fall for you during her first dungeon raid? Is that it? So she got enchanted because of the Medusa resistance skill? Oh, I should have prepared something too.¡± No one seemed interested in listening to me. They all just babbled among themselves, giggling. It seemed they weren¡¯t concerned about the uracy of the facts. They appeared to simply enjoy the situation and wished it to be true. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but no.¡± ¡°Does that mean our Sooah is going to lose her temper? Isn¡¯t it generally true that women be softer when they start dating? They also get a chance to relieve their pent-up desires, right?¡± They continued tough amongst themselves. ¡°No, that¡¯s not true at all. If she hears that, Hunter Sooah would actually be embarrassed and confused.¡± Even as I insisted that it wasn¡¯t the case, it felt increasingly like a foregone conclusion. ¡°Damn it. What¡¯s going on? Why is this atmosphere bing so strange?¡± ¡°Baek Jihoon, what on earth is your secret? I¡¯m curious, tell me. I¡¯ve watched from the sidelines for five years, and you seem wless!¡± ¡°Oh my. Manager, you¡¯re talking nonsense again. If you keep this up, I¡¯ll tell your wife!¡± ¡°I¡¯m really not dating! Please stop with the strange talk.¡± ck, ck. Amidst my teammates making a ruckus, the sound of high heels could be heard. ¡°What¡¯s everyone doing? Is there something so enjoyable going on?¡± It was Lee Sooah. She had rushed off somewhere earlier but returned almost immediately. She looked even more confused than before. ¡°Uh, Sooah.¡± Everyone turned back to their ces as if they were shot. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Share it with me too.¡± Lee Sooah had an expression full of curiosity. ¡°Well, you see, our Baek Jihoon got hired into our guild and immediately started dating someone in our office. We know who that is, but he probably wouldn¡¯t want to say~ heh heh.¡± The manager spoke to Lee Sooah with a very excited expression. ¡°Uh¡­????¡± Lee Sooah suddenly turned red. She switched her gaze between her teammates and me. ¡®Wait, why are you reacting like that!!¡¯ ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that. I think there¡¯s some misunderstanding going on.¡± Everything was getting out of hand. Everyone nodded in understanding as they observed Sooah¡¯s behavior. Lee Sooah¡¯s face turned red as she entered her office without saying a word, leaving us to wonder if she was embarrassed or angry. ¡°Wow. That¡¯s right. Hunter Sooah just hinted at it! Wow¡­¡± As soon as the door to Hunter Sooah¡¯s office closed, everyone began pping. ¡°Congrattions, Hunter Baek Jihoon! Congrattions! Our Team A finally has a workce couple. p, p, p.¡± ¡°No way! Didn¡¯t Hunter Sooah say not to engage in workce romances? And yet she¡¯s the first to start one? Unbelievable.¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious! It¡¯s really not like that. Please listen to me for a moment.¡± My voice waspletely drowned out. ¡®What the heck is going on.¡¯ Everything suddenly became aplete mess. Everyone was thoroughly misunderstanding the situation. I had simply helped her with her status ailment. And it seemed that Lee Sooah was just feeling good because of that. And that was that? *sigh* I could only show apletely troubled expression. [Senior, let¡¯s meet.] And then suddenly, I received a message from Hyungseok. ¡®What the heck is going on with him? Is something wrong?¡¯ It felt like things were spiraling into chaos. * ¡®What is going on? Baek Jihoon?¡¯ Closing her office door with a bang, Lee Sooah leaned against it, breathing heavily. ¡°Dating someone? Why? When? With whom?¡± ¡®In the meantime?¡¯ ¡®Wow¡­ so that¡¯s what it was?¡¯ ¡®So that¡¯s why he was putting up barriers against me?¡¯ It was slowly starting to make some sense. ¡®Right. If he has a girlfriend, that would exin it.¡¯ ¡®But why was I feeling so flustered about it?¡¯ ¡®But how did they get together in such a short time?¡¯ At least there was some constion in knowing he was rejecting her because he was dating someone else in the office. However¡­ It still seemed like she couldn¡¯t shake her thoughts about Baek Jihoon. ¡®Lee Sooah, get a grip. Baek Jihoon is someone else¡¯s man. Why do I keep thinking about him!?¡¯ She pressed her palms against her cheeks and tried to focus, but it wasn¡¯t easy. Chapter 27 Bang. Bang. KABOOM. Thud. CRACK. The whole house was basically being wrecked. Chae Suhyeon was in the process of smashing everything in sight. ¡°F*ck!!!!! Baek Jihoon!!! You bast*rd!!!¡± Despite acting like this for almost half a day, she seemed no less angry. In fact, it seemed like the more she did, the more her fury intensified. ¡°How could you do this to me? F*ck?¡± ¡°How many times have I given you the chance to f*ck?¡± ¡°So you think it¡¯s okay to take my points, you f*cking bastard?¡± ¡°Why do you take back what someone else gave me? You bastard.¡± She didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of calming down at all. ¡°Ugh¡­ Hey, damn. You took me way too lightly.¡± ¡°Did you think I¡¯d be easy like other women? Huh. No way, you stupid bastard.¡± Chae Suhyeon opened her status window. [Retrieval process 3%] ¡°AAAAAAAH!!!!¡± Seeing the status window made her even angrier. Unable to contain her rage, she started pounding the wall with her fists. Bang. Bang. Every time Chae Suhyeon hit the wall, the entire building trembled. ¡°Suhyeon, what¡¯s going on?¡± With the building vibrating, Lee Jinhyeok rushed over. Hearing his voice, Chae Suhyeon quickly closed her door and came out. She changed her expression into a bright smile. ¡°Hmm? Oppa? It¡¯s nothing. I just dropped a dumbbell while working out, and it shook the building a bit. Hehe¡­¡± She smiled brightly and acted cute. ¡°Huh? How heavy could a dumbbell be? Well, I guess it could be heavy since you¡¯re an S-Rank Hunter¡­¡± He looked slightly suspicious, but since it didn¡¯t seem like Chae Suhyeon wanted to talk any longer, he went back. The two had started living together in the same house. They hadn¡¯t officially announced their rtionship yet, but it was only a matter of time before it would happen. ¡°Eldest Daughter-inw of a Chaebol Family.¡± Chae Suhyeon¡¯s ultimate goal. The situation was almost within reach. ¡°Ugh. Damn. Why do you mess with someone who¡¯s doing well?¡± She resumed looking at her status window. Chae Suhyeon¡¯s traits disyed on the status window. [ Subus ] [ You can choose various effects when f*cking with a man. ] [ Steal Points (the other party doesn¡¯t recognize it.) ] [ Recover and enhance physical abilities ] [ Strengthen and amplify enchanting state ] ¡­. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [ Enchant ] [ A subus can designate a male to enchant at a time. ] [ Adjust the male¡¯s stats based on the number of f*cks. ] [ Intelligence, Situational Judgment, Stamina, Agility, Indecisiveness, Courage, Weakness, Self-Control¡­ ] ¡°Baek Jihoon, do you think you can beat me?¡± Tapping on her status window, she smirked. She was angry right now, but she believed she would ultimately be the winner. ¡°Hah. This bastard. I let him live thinking he¡¯d earn more points, but then he backstabbed me, huh?¡± ¡°This time, I¡¯ll suck everyst point he has from him.¡± Chae Suhyeon recalled the men she had seduced up until now. Typically, the men she targeted were muscr young Hunters with fit physiques. With points, she could invest in things like muscle, height, bone structure, and even the size of their¡­ well, you know. Surprisingly, many men spent their points not on Hunter skills but on such things. Naturally, Chae Suhyeon wanted to steal as many points as possible and usually selected her victims based on their appearances. Those who invested in such things were easy to spot. ¡°As expected, this bastard also invested points in his¡­ you know. It¡¯s obvious at first nce.¡± ¡°Oh, all men are the same.¡± ¡°They should invest in skill development, why waste points on this stuff?¡± ¡°Ugh, such fools.¡± Once you stripped them down, it was always like that. But it was all in vain. No matter how strong a physique or well-endowed they were, once they were drained by Subus Chae Suhyeon, they would be skinny and weak. They werepletely drained down to their very souls. Like nomads or sh-and-burn farmers. Roaming through fields, sucking the vitality from thend, and moving on to find more when they determined there was nothing left to eat. That¡¯s how Chae Suhyeon had lived up until now. At least, until she met Baek Jihoon. ¡°Can I really get points just by having him give them to me?¡± Since she could manipte part of someone¡¯s specs through f*cking, she was uniquely capable of understanding Baek Jihoon¡¯s traits. ¡°But it¡¯s much more efficient than the way I¡¯ve been doing it.¡± No matter how fit a man was, he usually couldn¡¯tst more than two days. That was partly because they didn¡¯t have that many points to begin with, and also because the subus¡¯s energy absorption efficiency wasn¡¯t that great. There were limitations to how much she could drain to her desired level. ¡°How long do I have to keep doing this?¡± ¡°Ugh. To think I have to f*ck with such fools.¡± But there was no doubt that Baek Jihoon had an efficiency far surpassing anyone she had drained before. Of course, Chae Suhyeon decided to use Baek Jihoon as her stepping stone. ¡°Yeah. From now on, I¡¯ll make him recover infinitely. So if I make him run dungeons ten times more than others in a day, that¡¯ll work, right? As long as I just have to f*ck him? Ten times, twenty times?¡± She thought of it like running an automated hunt. And the result? A wonderful one. Achieving rank S, number one. ¡°Yes, this is it. It¡¯s finally over!!!!!¡± She was now in the highest position avable to gather points. Her goal now had only one spot left. [Position of the Eldest Daughter-inw of a Chaebol Family] ¡°It feels like this is thest position I can reach.¡± ¡°Hehe. Then if I remove the enchantment from Baek Jihoon and¡­ just switch to Lee Jinhyeok? The Taeyang Group and the Baekho Guild will all be mine. I¡¯ll be able to control everythingpletely.¡± A perfect n. And a n with no problems. However, a problem arose with that n. ¡°Ah f*ck. Baek Jihoon? Recovery? You¡¯re going to recover? No f*cking way?!! Why are you recovering?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been f*cking you this whole time, and you¡¯re just going to take that away from me?¡± ¡°This bast*rd?¡± Naturally, there was no way she could back down. Moreover, it felt unjust.@@novelbin@@ If she just lost everything like this, she would feel as though she had yed the role of a living fleshlight. No, rather, Baek Jihoon, who had diligently recovered his stamina, would be the one benefiting. F*cking and earning points ten to twenty times more than others. ¡°This f*cking bastard. Did he deceive me from the start?¡± ¡°No, that can¡¯t be it.¡± ¡°How the hell did hee to his senses? There¡¯s no way he could¡¯ve thought this on his own.¡± Chae Suhyeon opened the status window for Baek Jihoon, whom she had set to enchant. Intelligence¨‹ Situational Judgment¨‹ Self-Control¨‹ Sexual Impulse¡ø Duration of Excitement¡ø Indecisiveness¡ø Overly Busy¡ø ¡­ She thought she had cooked it up deliciously. That he would have no choice but to obey hermands. And in such a state, she believed he wouldn¡¯t strike her from behind. ¡°What the hell happened?¡± ¡°This is something he¡¯s never done before.¡± The only suspicion floating in her mind was: ¡°The distance from Baek Jihoon.¡± [The further you are from your target of enchantment, the weaker the effect.] It was written in the guide. But she had never cared about it. Before Baek Jihoon, she had always drained and discarded them within one or two days. Ever since being with Baek Jihoon, they had always been together. She hadmanded him to do intense dungeon raids every day with a harsh regime. ¡°Hah. I really never thought it would turn out like this.¡± ¡°Has he graduallye back to his senses because of the distance?¡± ¡°Hah. Did I end up saying something too infuriating? I should have just drained him moderately and then parted ways.¡± ¡°You idiot.¡± She could only me herself. She had let herself be so intoxicated with victory that she hurt Baek Jihoon. She felt that if she had simply f*cked him a few more times and left gently, it might not have turned out like this. Every man she had discarded until now had been treated that way. Even so, no one had dared to rebel. What could those who had be skinny and weak after losing all their points do, especially when they didn¡¯t even realize they had been drained? But she overlooked the fact that Baek Jihoon was different from them. Who she diligently f*cked to help him recover his stamina. He felt more like a lively, well-fed pig. ¡°Damn it. I made a mistake. I misjudged.¡± Thus, Chae Suhyeon rushed over to the ce where Baek Jihoon was, creating such a ruckus. ¡°As long as I get close, I can casually lead him into f*cking, and he¡¯ll fall for it quickly, right? He¡¯s already in a state of sexual addiction anyway.¡± She tapped on her carefully adjusted status window to check. ¡°Then I¡¯ll just f*ck him fifty times or a hundred times and drain all his points.¡± ¡°Baek Jihoon, up until now, you¡¯ve been recovering stamina every time we f*ck, right? Just enjoying it happily?¡± ¡°Now you¡¯ll feel as if your soul is getting sucked out.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll feelpletely uprooted.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll lose not only the points you took from me but also everything you had.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ll have no choice but to be a skinny and weak man. Hehe.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see how an E-Rank Hunter survives.¡± The grand showdown between Baek Jihoon¡¯s recovery skill and Chae Suhyeon¡¯s enchantment skill was about to take ce. They were bound to engage in a fierce battle to take each other¡¯s points. ¡°I¡¯m confident. After all, once those guys get aroused, the game is over.¡± ¡°As long as I can make you stand up for me, it¡¯ll be the end¡­¡± ¡°Once they fall for it, they can¡¯t escape.¡± ¡°All men can¡¯t stop once they get aroused, right? Hehe, fools.¡± She decided she had to set an incredibly strong web to ensnare Baek Jihoon. And once trapped in the web, sapping himpletely until only his shell remained. ¡°Wait for me, Baek Jihoon.¡± Chae Suhyeon shed a scheming, devious smile. Chapter 28 ¡°Huh? A monster you say?¡± I look at Hyungseok in disbelief. It was definitely not good news for me. After all, choosing such a word meant that Chae Suhyeon was truly something else. ¡°Damn it. That b*tch¡¯s virginity talk is ridiculous. Damn.¡± A deep sense of betrayal. I was a firm believer in the virginity theory. This was beyond simply being non-virgin; it was practically on the level of being aplete slut. ¡°Senior¡­ I looked into it, and it¡¯s horrifying.¡± ¡°Horrifying?¡± ¡°Just take a look at this.¡± I gazed at the photos Hyungseok hadid out on the table. Everyone lookedpletely emaciated. They appeared five or ten years older than their stated ages. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why do they all look so old? Is her taste that of an old man?¡± ¡°No. Look at this.¡± Hyungseok began toy out another set of photos. ¡°Senior, this is what they originally looked like. Look.¡± All of them had incredibly robust physiques. They were big and well-built. From their appearance alone, one would think they were high-ranking hunters or fitness trainers. ¡°Huh? What? Are these people the same individuals?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Park Hyungseok shuddered, reacting as if it was truly horrifying. ¡°No, what on earth is this?¡± It was hard to believe they were the same people at all. ¡°The problem is, this happened in just a day or two.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but be shocked. Could someone so muscr turn into that in just one or two days? No matter how exhausting it is for men during sex, it shouldn¡¯t be this extreme. ¡°What¡¯s going on? How did this happen?¡± ¡°See? Everyone wanted to avoid Chae Suhyeon.¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± It looked extremely serious. Seeing this made me intimidated too. ¡°If all the men who met Chae Suhyeon ended up like that, I would naturally try to keep my distance.¡± Of course, I thought Chae Suhyeon was a virgin. I dly consumed that rumor. ¡°Oppa¡­ I¡¯m¡­ you¡¯re my first¡­¡± ¡°You know you¡¯re the only one for me.¡± ¡°My first love¡­ Hehe¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never been excited in my life, but why do I feel so fluttery when I¡¯m with you?¡± Her words came rushing back to me. ¡°Damn, she¡¯s a great liar.¡± ¡°Why was I so foolish?¡± I loathed my own naivety. ¡°The problem is that it seems like nearly 500 people have been victimized.¡± Without realizing it, I pped my forehead. That was an outrageous number. ¡°F-five hundred¡­??????????¡± ¡°Yeah, I think there might be more.¡± Hyungseok dumped an enormous pile of photos onto the table. The stack of pictures were all identical. Completely robust men had turned into the frail appearance of old men in an instant. ¡°Damn¡­¡± I was nowpletely engulfed in a state of shock and horror. It was shocking that Chae Suhyeon could reduce healthy men to that. And to think she had gone through 500 before me¡­ Damn. What a total slut. ¡°But how has she not been caught until now? Is she that lucky?¡± ¡°Well, ording to the victims, they all say they¡¯re fine. They described it as the best day of their lives¡­¡± Hyungseok frowned slightly. ¡°Damn those sex-obsessed fools. Damn.¡± ¡°I might enjoy it too, but not to this extent.¡± It looked as if their rationality had been overtakenpletely. I couldn¡¯t help but worry if I might end up like that too. ¡°No, despite having so many victims, she hasn¡¯t been caught yet? And after doing such disgraceful acts? This is total luck.¡± ¡°This kind of issue usually needs the victims to step forward, but everyone seems to be defending Chae Suhyeon instead.¡± Hyungseok looked regretful as he rubbed his chin. ¡°Ugh, how good must it be¡­¡± It seemed like he, too, was wondering if he wanted to try it. ¡°You crazy bastard. Are you really saying that after seeing this?¡± ¡°No, Senior, you said you knew about around 32 people, right? They weren¡¯t as bad as this though. Simr, of course, but not to this extent¡­¡± It seemed that they were willing to endure some losses for pleasure. ¡°Anyway, I just learned a very important fact this time.¡± Suddenly, he beganughing like a madman. It was enough to make me think he had lost it. ¡°What the hell? Why is heughing in this situation?¡± ¡°You see, I thought Chae Suhyeon would try to seduce me too. But she justpletely ignored me. Ugh¡­ I thought I must be unattractive as a man, that I was doomed to a lonely life. I¡¯ve been thinking that way.¡± ¡°And?¡± I started to think he wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. ¡°B¡­but!¡± His eyes sparkled as if he had a revtion. ¡°Do you know what themonality among these people is?¡± ¡°What? They¡¯re handsome? Attractive?¡± ¡°No. They¡¯re all ¡®hunters.¡¯¡± ¡°Hmm? Hunters?¡± Now I finally understood why he hadughed so much. ¡°Hahaha. It wasn¡¯t that Icked charm; it was that I wasn¡¯t a hunter, so she skipped over me. Hahaha!¡± ¡°Hey,ugh quieter. I¡¯m getting embarrassed.¡± I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s really that enjoyable. ¡°Then why only target hunters? Why are all the victims hunters?¡± ¡°Maybe¡­ I think it¡¯s because she steals hunter points.¡± A very sharp deduction. ¡°After all, subi are known to drain energy or life force from men, right? If she¡¯s only targeting hunters, it¡¯s obvious. She must be stealing their hunter points.¡± That made perfect sense. Having been by her side for years, I couldn¡¯t help but agree. Every conversation we had revolved around points. ¡°Oh, Oppa. Why did you only earn this much today? Ha. I¡¯ll give it to you, so earn more.¡± ¡°Oppa, you have to achieve at least this much each day, okay? Come on, let¡¯s do it.¡± ¡°Focus a bit. You seem to be cking offtely. We should definitely do it.¡± That was definitely how it was. Back then, I thought it was just an obsession with sex¡­ but it might have been an obsession with points. ¡°But¡­¡± Hyungseok was cautiously looking at me. ¡°Why do you seem healthier?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You look like you¡¯ve actually gotten fitter after dating her. Your muscles seem to have developed.¡± He wasn¡¯t wrong. Since getting involved with Chae Suhyeon, I had definitely gained a more masculine physique. Of course, I thought it was because I was working hard as a hunter or perhaps just because I was in my twenties. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why is it that everyone else is turning into mummies, but I¡¯m not?¡± ¡°He said it happened in just a day or two.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been doing it up to 15 times a day¡­ so what¡¯s up with that?¡± I had no idea what was happening. ¡°Hmmm. It seems like Chae Suhyeon actually helped improve you¡­ why could that be?¡± ¡°Maybe my stamina is just really strong?¡± ¡°Can you prove that?¡± ¡°No.¡± I didn¡¯t think so either. ¡°It¡¯s really fortunate. If you had been affected like those hundreds of victims, you wouldn¡¯t have been recognizable.¡± ¡°True.¡± I let out a sigh of relief without even realizing it. Except for me, hundreds of victims had beenpletely devastated. Just thinking about the possibility of ending up like that sent shivers down my spine. ¡°Chae Suhyeon. What the hell is she doing?¡± Does she really possess the characteristics of a subus, something you¡¯d only read about in fantasy novels? It felt strange. An exhrating yet chilling dual nature. ¡°Anyway, Baek Jihoon. Get a grip.¡± ¡°If I mess with Chae Suhyeon, I won¡¯t be able to escape.¡± Suddenly, I wondered if I had underestimated Chae Suhyeon. Anyone who saw the photos in front of me would surely feel that way. ¡°I¡¯ve managed to survive so far by sheer luck, but I don¡¯t know what the future holds.¡± ¡°I must not fall for Chae Suhyeon¡¯s charm.¡± I made a firm resolution while looking at the pictures. ¡°I absolutely will not let my brain be controlled by my libido.¡± * Lunchtime. The news reported on an incident that urredst night. [¡°Yesterday evening, a vehicle that was speeding and cutting off others on Olympic Boulevard was confirmed to be driven by a well-known hunter. The hunter imed that it could not be avoided due to important work rted to a dungeon, and authorities have stated that no legal action will be taken under the Hunter Special Law¡­¡±] ¡°Huh? Olympic Boulevard?¡± The footage showed Chae Suhyeon¡¯s car. There was no way I could mistake it. ¡°Hehe, looks like she was in a hurry.¡± Chae Suhyeon¡¯s car was crazy, weaving in and out. Whenever the road got a bit congested, she would immediately drive onto the shoulder. Moreover, her speed appeared to exceed 140 km/h. ¡°What¡¯s up, is it a highway or something¡­¡± While it was somewhat ridiculous, thinking about how desperately she might have needed to get to Gimpo brought a smile to my face. ¡°It seems she really put her life on the line for points.¡± ¡°Given that her image could take a hit, it¡¯s surprising to see her act like that.¡± Sigh¡­ It had been a day filled withplicated thoughts. I had learned absurd information about Chae Suhyeon, and now there were ridiculous rumors spreading that I was dating Lee Sooah, which left me in a bind. Various scenes shed before my eyes. I leaned back with my hands behind my head. It felt like a strange situation, but I had the feeling things would be quite enjoyable. ¡°All I have to do is handle Chae Suhyeon well.¡± ¡°As long as I can defend against her¡­¡± She would undoubtedly try some schemes against me. I needed to stay mentally strong and resist being drained of energy. ¡°Jihoon!¡± Suddenly, a sharp voice pulled me from my thoughts. ¡°Huh?¡± I turned around to see Lee Sooah. She had her hands on her hips and looked incredibly annoyed and frustrated. It seemed she had been searching for me for quite a while, angrily huffing and puffing.@@novelbin@@ ¡°What¡¯s up, Sooah? Did you hear about the rumors?¡± My heart raced, and I stood up abruptly, partly out of fear. ¡°Oh no. What should I say to clear this up?¡± I hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. Chapter 30 ¡°Hmm~~¡± Lee Sooah was eating French fries, almost humming a tune. ¡°Um, is there something you wanted to say to me?¡± ¡°Oh. No?¡± ¡°Then do you usually eat with other team members like this?¡± ¡°Yes, often!¡± It felt like she was just fibbing. The manager had said this for sure. ¡°Sooah? She usually eats alone. She hates getting photographed while eating with other people nearby. And since she¡¯s the boss, she thinks it would be ufortable if her meal time oveps with work, so she avoids it.¡± ¡°She thinks of lunchtime as a break. When it¡¯s time to rest, she wants to take a break, not eat with her boss as if it¡¯s just an extension of work, so she¡¯s worried about us instead.¡± I recalled her passingment from earlier. ¡°Hm. Does she really like me? But that doesn¡¯t seem usible. I just treated her for the status ailment. But, wait, did I even notice? Why?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t it feel like she keeps following me around?¡± Of course, I had only recently joined the guild, so I wasn¡¯t really aware of how things were usually done. That meant I couldn¡¯t quite say anything definitive about the situation either. ¡°This is tasty, right? Isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± I was too focused on observing her to eat properly. Well, it was understandable since the ce was quite spacious, amodating about 100 people, and it was very crowded. Yet, all those people were whispering and ncing our way. In a situation like this, there was no way I¡¯d be able to eat. * ¡°Sigh¡­ what can I say¡­ it feels strange¡­¡± Sooah waspletely distracted. While munching on the French fries, she was lost in thought to the point where she didn¡¯t notice anyone else around her. ¡°Why do I feel good? It¡¯s strange. I feel great whenever I¡¯m near Jihoon. Why¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m feeling unbelievably happy right now. I¡¯ve never felt this thrill in my life. It¡¯s strange. Strange. Is the French fry really that delicious?¡± She tilted her head from time to time. But no matter how much she thought, she couldn¡¯t find an answer. ¡°Wow. Is that Lee Sooah? Who¡¯s that guy in front of her? Is he her boyfriend?¡± ¡°Hey, are you crazy? Do you really think Lee Sooah woulde to a ce like this in broad daylight with her boyfriend?¡± ¡°Oh, good point. Unless she lost her mind suddenly, there¡¯s no way that would happen.¡± ¡°She¡¯s probably just with one of her guild members.¡± ¡°Then why is she only out with him? Their guild is pretty big, right?¡± ¡°Who knows? Maybe they¡¯re just seeing each other.¡± I could hear whispers directed toward me. But I didn¡¯t catch any of it. ¡°Haah¡­ I feel so good¡­ it feels like my body is melting away¡­¡± It was a weird feeling with no identifiable cause, but I decided to enjoy the moment. * ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­¡± Sooah seemed to be getting more and more dazed. ¡°Did this cece their French fries with something¡­?¡± Nervously picking up a fry only to set it back down, I realized that Sooah was giving off apletely dual nature in my eyes. ¡°Was that bipr disorderbel actually urate?¡± The status window popped into my mind. She was clearly a meticulous, cold, andposed professional urban woman. And on the other side, she was warm, affectionate, and seemed like a woman who would cling to men. It was a bit confusing. ¡°Things are odd. Why is she acting like this?¡± It seemed her expression transformed to one of intrigue. ¡°Is her status acting up again¡­?¡± I opened the status window to check. But there was nothing unusual. I had treated everything this morning. ¡°Uh?¡± I spoke involuntarily. ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Sooah turned her surprised gaze toward me. ¡°Oh. It¡¯s nothing. Sorry. Hehe. This ce is great, right? Wow, it¡¯s tasty enough to make a sound! Haha¡­¡± I hastily covered it up with chatter. Then, I returned my focus to the status window. There was a phrase disyed that I had never seen before. Since it was tucked away in a corner, I must have just overlooked it¡­ [If you proceed with point recovery, you may obtain part of the counterpart¡¯s traits.] ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± It was a phrase thatpletely bewildered me. So, parsed by the sentence itself, it seemed like if I gave points to Chae Suhyeon and then recovered them, I would be able to use her traits. ¡°Hmm? Chae Suhyeon¡¯s traits? Subus?¡± I didn¡¯t precisely know what Chae Suhyeon¡¯s traits were. I had just learned about them from Hyungseok a while ago. Yet, ording to the information in the status window I was looking at, it seemed I could obtain those traits as well. ¡°Um¡­¡± Naturally, I could only be left in a daze, staring fixedly at the status window. * ¡°Hehe¡­ it¡¯s delicious¡­¡± Sooah was gazing softly at Baek Jihoon while munching away delightfully. Having nearly finished eating, she began picking at her food more slowly now. She didn¡¯t want to end it quickly. Once she finished eating, she¡¯d have to return immediately. For some inexplicable reason, she didn¡¯t want that. It felt strange. She wished only for this moment tost. ¡°Sooah, you were talking about Baek Jihoon and the guild earlier.¡± ¡°Ah, just be quiet for a bit.¡± Lee Sooah was preupied, battling the voice within her head. In the midst of her thoughts, Baek Jihoon suddenly spoke up. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why?¡± He seemed to have been looking at the status window but wore a perplexed expression, as if something was off. ¡°Hmm? Is something up?¡± Without realizing it, she spoke out loud. Though she said it was nothing, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he was staring at the status window, lost in thought. ¡°What is it? By the way, I didn¡¯t ask about Baek Jihoon Hunter¡¯s traits.¡± A twinge of regret struck her. * ¡°So, does that mean I¡¯m bing an Incubus?¡± If the exnation was urate, it implied she would be an Incubus. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± ¡°Um, Baek Jihoon Hunter.¡± Sooah¡¯s gentle voice broke through. ¡°Oh, yes.¡± Startled from her reverie while staring at the status window, she snapped back to attention. ¡°Um, what are Baek Jihoon Hunter¡¯s traits? I realized I never asked properly. We¡¯re in the same guild, the same team, right? I think I should know more about you. Hehe.¡± She shed a bright smile. ¡°Ah. I¡¯m¡­ Incubus¡­ No, I¡­¡± Her unintended slip of the tongue escaped before she could stop it, prompting her to correct herself. ¡°My trait is being able to see others¡¯ status windows and invest in them.¡± She stated it clearly.@@novelbin@@ Having epted that no one would believe her anyway, she felt unreserved about it. Plus, it didn¡¯t seem like something she needed to hide. ¡°Huh? Hehe. You¡¯re quite the jokester.¡± As expected, Lee Sooah blushed slightly, clearly thinking she was joking. Afterughing for a while, she resumed the conversation. ¡°So, your trait is an Incubus?¡± She tilted her head slightly as she asked. ¡°No, damn it. That was a mistake,¡± he thought, thoroughly flustered. ¡°No, no. That¡¯s absolutely not the case. I just misspoke while I was distracted. Please don¡¯t misunderstand. It¡¯s not true. Not at all.¡± He expressed himself with wide gestures, clearly in distress. However, it seemed Sooah hardly heard what he said next. It appeared she only retained the initial part where he said he was an Incubus. ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand! I¡¯m not an Incubus! I¡¯m not that kind of person! Absolutely not! Really!¡± ¡°Damn it. Chae Suhyeon isn¡¯t helping at all. I¡¯m being bewitched by that Subus over this mess.¡± The atmosphere felt off. * ¡°An Incubus¡­¡± Lee Sooah¡¯s mind spiraled as she processed the words that had juste out of Baek Jihoon¡¯s mouth. ¡°Baek Jihoon Hunter is an Incubus? Huh? What¡­ Was he joking, or is he serious? What¡¯s going on?¡± She recalled having read Baek Jihoon¡¯s admission file not long ago. The traits section had been nk. Typically, that meant either the trait was something people didn¡¯t want to brag about or something they wished to hide. Naturally, she assumed it wouldn¡¯t be something he¡¯d boast about¡­ ¡°Was it something he wanted to keep hidden? Is his trait truly an Incubus?¡± ¡°But he doesn¡¯t look the part¡­?¡± To her, Baek Jihoon didn¡¯t seem the type to seduce or charm women. ¡°What is this¡­? He must be joking, right? There¡¯s no way Baek Jihoon Hunter is an Incubus.¡± Confusion mixed with unease as she grappled with the absurdity. Her face flushed red, and she shook her hands in disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s suspicious¡­¡± Lee Sooah¡¯s eyes sharpened as she tried to analyze the situation. * ¡°Um, why don¡¯t we go in separately?¡± As they awkwardly resolved the situation, they aimed to head back. Sooah suggested they take their time eating, a ridiculous proposition. ¡°Isn¡¯t it true that if we¡¯re even a momentte after lunch, the manager will be mad? She definitely said that.¡± ¡°Does that rule not apply to her? Is it double standards?¡± ¡°Why? Why must we go in separately?¡± ¡°Sigh. It¡¯s just that if we both go in together, our teammates might misinterpret things¡­¡± From the moment they entered the guild building, the gazes from other employees had changed noticeably. They were all looking at them with expressions that had shifted. She could sense what they were thinking. ¡°If this keeps up, they might really misunderstand.¡± ¡°Sooah, you go ahead. I¡¯ll join you a bitter.¡± Though time was nearly up, she decided to send Sooah in first. ¡°I don¡¯t want to! Let¡¯s just go together. Why should we go separately?¡± ¡°Ugh. Really. Is there no way out of this?¡± Sooah was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation. ¡°What excuse can Ie up with? Sigh¡­¡± Lost in thought, he stepped into the elevator. * To be continued¡­ Chapter 31 ¡°Manager, do you think this time it will go well?¡± As lunch hour was drawing to a close, the A-team members gathered in a corner of the office. ¡°I think it will go well¡­? What do you think, Department Head?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure. But it does seem a bit strange.¡± ¡°Right? This time feels a little unusual, doesn¡¯t it?¡± It looked as if they were plotting something. Their expressions were a mix of anticipation and concern. Project A. This was a secret project that the A-team members were conducting quietly, known to everyone except Lee Sooah. Having worked under Lee Sooah for a long time, they realized what she was missing. It was a man.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Our Sooah is truly perfect, right? Body, face, fame, S-Rank, wealth¡ªshecks nothing at all¡­ except for one thing: no man. Oh dear.¡± ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s such a pity she doesn¡¯t have a guy with all that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying. It¡¯s too much of a waste.¡± ¡°How is she supposed to meet someone when she¡¯s working like that? Even if a guy approaches her, she probably pushes him away!¡± ¡°Could it be that her irritability is due to not having a man?¡± Theymented how, given Sooah¡¯s qualities, no man seemed to stick around, and they also had a glimmer of hope that if she did find a man, her grumpiness might ease up a bit. ¡°How about we set up a man for Hunter Lee Sooah?¡± ¡°Huh? What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°No. If she doesn¡¯t have much thought about it herself, then the people around her need to cheer her on a bit.¡± ¡°Really? Would that actually work?¡± *Sigh. It¡¯s true that sometimes people feel differently when there¡¯s a supportive atmosphere around them.* ¡°Yeah, I suppose¡­?¡± They all gradually began to converge on the idea collectively. ¡°Think about it. If Hunter Lee Sooah happens to get a man, she might be a little softer than now. It could be that her hysterics and irritability are all due to being single.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it because she¡¯s an S-Rank Hunter? Other S-Rank Hunters are all like that, right?¡± ¡°*Eh.* You never know. Even if she¡¯s an S-Rank Hunter, things could change if she gets a man. There are people who didn¡¯t like kids before giving birth but ended up loving them afterward.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­?¡± ¡°If we really push her, there¡¯s a good chance Hunter Lee Sooah might develop an interest.¡± They had been secretly preparing a strange project for Hunter Lee Sooah. Of course, they had already faced several failures. ¡°*Sigh.* This new employee also failed. He quit after just five days.¡± ¡°This new employee seems a bit mismatched. He¡¯s too old.¡± ¡°Looks like this one already has a girlfriend.¡± ¡°*Ugh.* How could we send a married man as a new recruit?¡± ¡°Apparently, he has two kids¡­¡± They had encountered quite a few failures. Then, Baek Jihoon came into the picture. ¡°Isn¡¯t this new guy a bit decent?¡± ¡°Yeah, you think so too? He looks quite fine, and might match well with Hunter Lee Sooah.¡± ¡°But have you seen the cklist? There are some weird details.¡± ¡°Well, ording to Manager Park Hyungseok from HR, he stated that it was all baseless. He said it was from a close acquaintance, and it¡¯s definitely not true.¡± ¡°Oh, really? But why is it written there¡­? I even heard that Hunter Chae Suhyeon was the one circting it.¡± ¡°Did they date and then break up? Was this done out of vengeance?¡± ¡°But on the show, they said Hunter Chae Suhyeon has never dated anyone.¡± ¡°Come on. Who really believes everything they seeon TV? That¡¯s so naive.¡± There was a strange excitement emerging among them. Given what they had seen of Lee Sooah, they thought Baek Jihoon might actually be a good match. ¡°Let¡¯s keep the good vibes going.¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s do our best.¡± ¡°Even if those two really end up dating, remember? Act like we don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Of course!!¡± On the first day that Baek Jihoon joined, Project A was reactivated after a long time. And three days had passed since then. ¡°But you know, doesn¡¯t it seem like it¡¯s going well without our push?¡± ¡°Right? Isn¡¯t it strange? I thought so too. We didn¡¯t really do anything, yet it seems to be happening on its own¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it? It¡¯s a bit odd. I think Sooah seems to be showing interest in Baek Jihoon Hunter. It¡¯s strange. Usually, she doesn¡¯t evene around our department much.¡± They were sipping coffee and enjoying the remaining lunch time, which now had only ten minutes left. ¡°It seems like the atmosphere was different from the very firstpany dinner. I felt like Hunter Lee Sooah¡¯s expression changed since that day.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I think so too. She seems to be less irritated and angry than usual. She seems to be letting things slide more easily.¡± ¡°*Hmm.* I don¡¯t think so. She was still really harsh on us.¡± The department head, who had been scolded earlier that morning, adjusted his tie and spoke. ¡°Come on. Think about it. The atmosphere has definitely changed.¡± ¡°Right, right.¡± They all felt convinced that Lee Sooah had changed. Although it wasn¡¯tpletely stable yet, it was evident. ¡°Maybe~ even before we could orchestrate anything, they might already be dating~¡± ¡°Ugh. That¡¯s ridiculous. No way. Hunter Lee Sooah? That can¡¯t be true~¡± ¡°Honestly, if that were the case, I would genuinely be shocked! Lee Sooah Hunter getting a man so fast?¡± Everyone shook their heads in denial. ¡°But by the way, where¡¯s our main character, Baek Jihoon Hunter?¡± ¡°He said he had something important to think about, so he¡¯s having lunch separately. Originally, we were nning to have lunch with Lee Sooah Hunter, you know? We were supposed to sit them close together¡­ sigh, we almost had Lee Sooah Hunterpletely charmed.¡± ¡°Anyway, didn¡¯t Lee Sooah Hunter leave in a hurry too? She bolted as soon as lunch ended.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. She came by Baek Jihoon Hunter¡¯s desk looking for him and then left right away.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± All eyes turned towards each other. ¡°She came by Baek Jihoon Hunter¡¯s desk?¡± ¡°Yeah. She said she needed to ask him something about the report, and then she went out¡­¡± The hunter sitting next to Baek Jihoon shrugged it off unceremoniously as he sipped his drink. ¡°Could it be¡­?¡± Everyone started looking back and forth at each other. ¡°It¡¯s clear. They must really be dating. We started this as a project, but they¡¯re actually in a rtionship now.¡± ¡°Right? Isn¡¯t that right? They are meeting each other separately, right?¡± ¡°Is everyone else around?¡± They began to look around the office. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true. Only Baek Jihoon Hunter and Lee Sooah Hunter haven¡¯t returned yet.¡± After taking a quickp around the vast office, they returned. ¡°Now there are just five minutes left. Obviously, everyone should be back by now, unless they want to lose their heads.¡± ¡°What? Are they really out together? What¡¯s going on? Were they secretly dating this whole time? Did we even need to push them?¡± Everyone burst intoughter, sharing all sorts of conversations. Ding! While the A-team members were discussing Baek Jihoon and Lee Sooah, the sound of the elevator stopping at their floor echoed. Then, out came Sooah and Jihoon from the elevator. ¡°Oh my¡­¡± All of them couldn¡¯t help but look at the elevator in shock. Someone was so stunned they spilled their coffee. * ¡°Damn it.¡± As the elevator doors opened, there was no option but to be utterly bbergasted. It just so happened that all the team members were gathered in the conference room right in front of the elevator. ¡°What¡¯s this? Were they all having some important meeting or something?¡± Naturally, the only ones getting off on this floor were Lee Sooah and me. Since our team upied this entire floor. After dropping us off, the elevator doors closed. ¡°Hey? Why is everyone gathered here? Are you discussing something interesting? There¡¯s still some lunch time left.¡± Lee Sooah nced at her watch and said. ¡°No, it¡¯s not that¡­ it¡¯s just that¡­¡± Seeing their expressions, I was increasingly certain that misunderstandings were forming. ¡°Haha¡­ Did everyone have a good meal?¡± I casually tried to return to my seat, pretending not to notice. I even nodded at Lee Sooah Hunter. Crash! Everyone quickly dispersed to their respective seats, as ifmunicating through their messengers. ¡°Hmm¡­ Baek Jihoon?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± The manager approached me with a rather curious smile. ¡°Hey, do you have anything to say?¡± ¡°Uh? Um. What do you mean?¡± Of course, I knew what he was implying, but I decided to hold on and see. Ultimate technique. Feigning ignorance. ¡°Ha. Seriously. Where did you go with Lee Sooah Hunter? What did you have that was so good? Come on, just tell me in secret. I swear I¡¯ll keep it a secret, really. Promise.¡± The word ¡°secret.¡± I knew full well it wouldn¡¯t be kept. Everyone was looking at me, their senses tuned in. ¡°Aha. I think there¡¯s been a misunderstanding. I didn¡¯t have a meal with Lee Sooah Hunter. We just ran into each other on the way up. Hehe.¡± ¡°Hmm? Really? That¡¯s hard to believe¡­¡± He tilted his head slightly, returning to his seat. ¡°Phew. What¡¯s going on right now?¡± I felt like I was on a precarious tightrope. My team members seemed to think I was secretly dating Sooah. Meanwhile, Sooah seemed to be inexplicably drawing closer to me. Plus, I had just read about those unknown Incubus-rted details. ¡°An Incubus¡­¡± I opened the status window again, calmly looking it over. Of course, there was nothing about Incubi in there. But based on everything I had gathered so far, it was clear that Chae Suhyeon¡¯s traits could manifest in me as well. ¡°Could it be that with every investment I make, my likeability or excitement level increases¡­?¡± It was apletely absurd and crazy thought. Chapter 32 ¡°Ha. This guy. How strange.¡± Chae Suhyeon was fuming while holding her smartphone. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why hasn¡¯t he contacted me?¡± She had sent a considerable number of messages to Baek Jihoon. [ Oppa. Let¡¯s meet up for a bit. ] [ No, Oppa. Didn¡¯t you say you weren¡¯t there? Did you really go? ] [ Sure, I was a bitte, but that doesn¡¯t mean you can ignore me. ] [ Baek Jihoon Oppa. I think there¡¯s been a misunderstanding. Please get back to me. ] [ I arrived almost on time after 30 minutes. Isn¡¯t that enough to warrant a response? ] [ There¡¯s definitely a misunderstanding. Let¡¯s make this work again, okay? ] [ Oppa. Please reply to me. ] She had sent quite a few messages, swallowing her pride a little. But there was no reply at all. No, he hadn¡¯t even read them. ¡°This guy is doing this again?¡± ¡°Seriously, after embarrassing me like that?¡± She recalled the scene from Gimpo. Moreover, she had also received a call from the police. ¡°Is this Ms. Chae Suhyeon? Ah, it¡¯s an honor. Haha. I saw you on TV.¡± ¡°Actually, we have footage of Ms. Chae Suhyeon¡¯s vehicle on our CCTV, and there are some possible criminal implications, so we¡¯d like your cooperation.¡± ¡°Oh, I see. You said it was due to Hunter work? Well, that¡¯s understandable.¡± ¡°Fortunately, it appears that no one was hit or hurt, so we¡¯re all good here.¡± ¡°Okay, take care!¡± ¡°Damn it.¡± She had been confident that she could live a more morous life than anyone else. But now, it was all ruined before it even began. Baek Jihoon had messed up the first impression. Although it was reported anonymously, she had appeared in the media as the speeding woman. This was not how she wanted to start. ¡°So, you¡¯re not going to respond to my messages, huh?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ll just go find you then.¡± ¡°You¡¯re in the Blue Guild anyway, right? That person is you, right?¡± Chae Suhyeon hurriedly gathered her clothes. Then she quickly opened the door and stepped out. * ¡°Seriously, do I really have to go this far?¡± Wearing sunsses and a cap, she worried someone might recognize her. Yet, she couldn¡¯t hide the frown on her face. Still, her status window already showed that 3% had been recovered. ¡°It¡¯s not enough to feel just yet¡­ but I definitely need to stop.¡± ¡°This bastard. How could he do this to a woman?¡± She barely managed to rein in her anger at the same time. As long as she achieved her goal, that was all that mattered. She was confident that brighter days awaited her afterward. ¡°Hello. I¡¯d like to contact someone here, please.¡± Chae Suhyeon walked towards the lobby of the Blue Guild with a sweet and innocent expression. ¡°Yes? What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to reach someone.¡± ¡°Oh. Did you have a visit appointment?¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t, but I came directly because I couldn¡¯t get in touch.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t have an appointment, then it¡¯s impossible.¡± Apletely curt answer came back. ¡°Damn. The Blue Guild is surprisingly strict about this.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we at least have a chat if it¡¯s not a visit?¡± Chae Suhyeon said with a desperate voice. It wasn¡¯t an act; she really was anxious. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but it¡¯s not possible. We have too many strange outsiders.¡± ¡°Damn it.¡± ¡°Should I just use the Baekho Guild¡¯s influence?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯ll just raise suspicion.¡± Chae Suhyeon had to pretend to be a virgin in front of Lee Jinhyeok. She had to maintain a clean image of her past, and the rumor of chasing after an E-rank Hunter could definitely raise doubts. ¡°Ugh¡­ should I just use my Subus abilities?¡±@@novelbin@@ She hesitated for a moment. ¡°This is the Blue Guild. If I use my abilities recklessly, someone will undoubtedly catch on.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ I¡¯ll hold it in¡­¡± As she was contemting, she spotted a familiar face in the lobby. ¡°Huh? Who is that¡­ Oh, that awkward kid?¡± It was Park Hyungseok. ¡°This is my chance.¡± Chae Suhyeon suddenly seemed to cheer up. She quickly approached Park Hyungseok. ¡°Excuse me¡­ hello.¡± She spoke in a very soft voice. ¡°Is this guy still awkward?¡± As a Subus, she could see the other party¡¯s encounter count on her status window. 0 ¡°Well, a little lip service from me should get him to do what I want.¡± ¡°Thank goodness. Phew. This is too easy.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he rted to Baek Jihoon? What did he say? They were military buddies, right?¡± ¡°Hmm? Who are you?¡± Park Hyungseok showed a slightly wary expression. A stunning woman wearing sunsses and a cap approached him. ¡°Is this a fishing attempt? Why is this kind of girl talking to me?¡± He had never encountered something like this in his life. Naturally, he felt suspicious. ¡°Uh, are you Park Hyungseok?¡± She slightly lowered her sunsses. ¡°Huh? Chae Suhyeon?¡± Park Hyungseok couldn¡¯t help but look displeased. In the past, he had been madly infatuated, but now he vaguely understood how crazy she was. ¡°Is there something you want from me? I¡¯m not a Hunter, so why?¡± He naturally showed a guarded attitude. ¡°Why is this guy acting like this? He used to be all smiles when he saw me.¡± Chae Suhyeon felt a bit strange, but decided to push forward for her purpose. ¡°Um. Is Baek Jihoon Hunter here? Right?¡± ¡°No? He¡¯s not here. What¡¯s the matter?¡± Park Hyungseok responded immediately. ¡°Whoa. Did youe directly to our guild? How urgent could this be?¡± He couldn¡¯t understand why she was hiding her true self, but she definitely seemed frantic. ¡°Wow. But a Subus really is a Subus, huh?¡± He felt an indescribable aura around her. In the past, he would have been infatuated, but now he was doing his best to keep his wits intact. ¡°Huh? He¡¯s not here? No Hunter Baek Jihoon?¡± ¡°Yes. He¡¯s not here. Please leave. I¡¯m busy.¡± Park Hyungseok hastily dismissed Chae Suhyeon and left as if fleeing the scene. ¡°What? Why isn¡¯t he here? Isn¡¯t this the Blue Guild? It must be right? Baek Jihoon?¡± She felt perplexed as she scanned the newspaper articles again. ¡°No. And what¡¯s up with this guy? Why is he acting like that?¡± Watching Park Hyungseok move away, Chae Suhyeon made an expression of displeasure. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he even want to acknowledge me?¡± * ¡°Senior. Senior. Senior. Senior.¡± An urgent message arrived. Just as lunch hour was ending and the afternoon work was about to begin. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why so urgent?¡± This was the first time someone had messaged like this. ¡°What? What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Senior, whatever you do, don¡¯te down to the lobby. Chae Suhyeon Hunter is looking for you.¡± ¡°Huh? She came here?¡± ¡°Yes. I had a brief conversation with her, and she¡¯s looking for you. I told her there¡¯s no one like that here.¡± A chill ran down his spine. ¡°Wait. She¡¯sing to the workce?¡± ¡°Looks like she¡¯s in quite a panic.¡± He couldn¡¯t help but smirk. It felt like everything was proceeding just as he had envisioned. ¡°Hey, Baek Jihoon. Anything good going on?¡± ¡°Uh.. No.¡± The manager suddenly interjected, ncing at my message window. I must have been smiling too happily. I quickly dodged away. ¡°Hey. If anything good happens, let us know too~¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll let you know when something good happens~¡± I hastily replied and opened my status window. I wanted to check if the recovery was progressing well. ¡°Hmm. 3%, huh? Seems a bit slow. Can¡¯t it recover any faster?¡± In fact, just staying still automatically reduced Chae Suhyeon¡¯s points, so I didn¡¯t need to worry much. But it was a bit tantalizing. Then a word caught my eye and made me wide-eyed. [ Recovery eleration ] ¡°Huh? Was there a button like this? I must have missed it?¡± It was a button that was quite tempting. [ You can elerate recovery. Points will be consumed for eleration. 50pt for 5% ] ¡°Hmm¡­¡± It costs points to elerate the recovery. It felt somewhat like a bittersweet choice. 50pt could roughly get you a mid-level skill. Of course, I had plenty of points, so it wasn¡¯t a big deal, but still. ¡°Let¡¯s just try it.¡± After all, isn¡¯t it hard for a guy to resist this kind of thing? I lightly tapped it twice. [ Would you like to elerate by 10%? 100pt will be consumed. ] ¡°Okay!¡± I energetically pressed the yes button. Now it was at 13%. It jumped up suddenly. ¡°I wonder when Chae Suhyeon will notice.¡± ¡°This is her paying the price foring to my workce. If she keeps this up, I¡¯ll just dump points to push it to 100%.¡± It was a sort of warning. I thought she would grasp the situation quickly since she¡¯s perceptive. ¡°Now it¡¯s not a situation where you can do as you please anymore.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but smile. And the team members, noticing my demeanor, looked at me with curious expressions. ¡°Why? What¡¯s up? What are you thinking?¡± * ¡°Kiiiiiieeeeeeeek!¡± The loud roar of a pterosaur echoed through the lobby of the Blue Guild. Since the building was decorated in marble, the sound resonated powerfully. Numerous people in the lobby plugged their ears and stopped in their tracks to look towards the source. Chae Suhyeon. She had just checked her status window again and waspletely in shock. ¡°Huh?? Why??? Why?? What¡­ what¡¯s going on??? Why? It¡¯s at 13%! Why? It was just at 3%! Why? Why? Why???¡± Her expression was full of confusion and fear. ¡°I thought it was 1% a day? It was definitely 3% earlier, right? Why did it jump up to 10% all of a sudden? What happened? Am I seeing things wrong?¡± No matter how many times she turned her status window off and on, it remained unchanged. Her expression became one ofplete despair. Next episodeing soon! Chapter 33 ¡°What¡¯s going on? What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Is that Chae Suhyeon?¡± ¡°Why is Chae Suhyeon here in our guild? Didn¡¯t she go to Baekho Guild? Why is she suddenly here in a rival guild?¡± People started to gather curiously, buzzing among themselves. Chae Suhyeon had screamed loud enough that it shocked everyone, drawing their attention. ¡®W-what the hell¡­ Why has the progress suddenly elerated?!¡¯ ¡®Is it because I came here directly? Right? He didn¡¯t even acknowledge my call but just brushed me off?¡¯ Chae Suhyeon sat down on the floor, boiling with rage. Her mind was aplete mess. There had been a level of trust since she had controlled Baek Jihoon for years. She never imagined things would turn out this way. Just before leaving home today, she believed it would all end happily. ¡®Ah. Suhyeon¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I was too angry.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll cancel the recovery.¡¯ ¡®I hope you live happily.¡¯ ¡®I must have lost my mind for a moment after losing you.¡¯ ¡®I feel like I can¡¯t live without you. What should I do? Sob¡­¡¯ She had envisioned a conversation like this would unfold¡­ But reality was met with rejection. Moreover, the progress had now elerated as an added bonus. Chae Suhyeon feltpletely blindsided and could only tremble in shock. ¡°Excuse me. Are you okay? Should I call an ambnce?¡± A man approached with a subtle smile. ¡°Ah. Get lost. Don¡¯t interfere in other people¡¯s business!¡± She red at him with a severely furrowed brow. The man flinched and quickly left, as if fleeing the scene. ¡®13%¡­¡¯ The number had shot up too quickly. ¡®At this rate, I¡¯ll lose everything soon.¡¯ ¡®What should I do? How can I stop this? That bastard, what on earth should I do?¡¯ Until now, she had never encountered a problem dealing with men. But since cutting ties with Baek Jihoon, things had continuously gone awry. ¡®For now, I need to retreat. Today isn¡¯t my day.¡¯ After showing up with confidence at the Blue Guild¡¯s lobby, she was now retreating in a fluster, having received a massive blow. * ¡°Heh. Chae Suhyeon. Feeling a bit dizzy since you got hit, huh?¡± Seeing her quietness, I sensed that she was aware of my recent actions. Having spent a significant time with Chae Suhyeon, I could generally read the situation just by observing her behavior. ¡®She must be scared.¡¯ ¡®She isn¡¯t messaging me toin.¡¯ A sense of pride washed over me. ¡®Hmm. Should Ipletely destroy her today?¡¯ ¡®Nah. Let¡¯s wait a little. I think I need to raise my own level first.¡¯ My thoughts shifted slightly. I never had much ambition regarding my rank, intending only to quietly live in the Blue Guild. Just witnessing Chae Suhyeon¡¯s gradual downfall would have been satisfying enough. However, I felt a change of heart today. ¡®How dare shee to our guild?¡¯ It seemed she wouldn¡¯t easily give up despite the weak intensity. I believed a more powerful approach would be necessary to invoke regret or self-reflection in her. ¡®Gradually ramping up the intensity¡­¡¯ ¡®After a few consecutive blows, she¡¯ll be crying and begging for mercy, right?¡¯ That was my n. To quickly raise my rank. Then what if I became famous? From Chae Suhyeon¡¯s perspective, she would likely feel regret that transcended anger. The lowest-rated servant beside her turns out to be a highly sessful top-tier hunter? That would be enough to send her into a frenzy of regret. Imagining hertering to me on her knees, sobbing and apologizing made me chuckle involuntarily. ¡®Exactly. When she remembers what she did to me¡­¡¯ ¡®Subus¡­ damn¡­¡¯ I had seen something simr in an insect documentary. Creatures controlled by paralysis or venom. That was the state I was in. ¡®Damn girl¡­¡¯ But it¡¯s alright. ¡®Yes, Chae Suhyeon. Thank you. It seems like I¡¯ve be an Incubus thanks to you.¡¯ Though I didn¡¯t haveplete information yet, it certainly felt that way. Perhaps I could be the hunter with the weirdest traits on Earth. I could invest in others and automatically gain their affection. ¡®Then I could just go around swindling S-rank hunters, huh?¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s why Lee Sooah keeps acting that way, right?¡¯ For some reason, it was starting to feel amusing. With each blow Inded on Chae Suhyeon, I felt more clear-headed. ¡®Is this the process of breaking free from the Subus?¡¯ It felt like a good thing overall. ¡®Alright. Let¡¯s start progressing.¡¯ ¡°Hey, Jihoon!¡± I realized I had been lost in my thoughts for too long, grinning away. When I snapped back to reality, all the team members were staring at me. ¡°Yes!¡± Caught in the odd atmosphere, I could only respond strangely. ¡°Hey~ What¡¯s up? Is something good happening? Why are you smiling to yourself since earlier? Did something good happen with a girl or something?¡± EP.33 It was as if they were subtly hoping for something and kept probing. ¡°Oh, well, it¡¯s somewhat simr.¡± Since it was somewhat urate. ¡°Wow, indeed~ Baek Jihoon. You know, I have a serious request.¡± The manager leaned in quite close. ¡°Please, save our team.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°We¡¯re counting on you, Jihoon.¡± ¡°What do you mean¡­¡±@@novelbin@@ Everyone was focused on my face. ¡°So, you know our Hunter Lee Sooah? She has everything good going for her. Great looks, an impressive body, outstanding abilities as a hunter, fame¡­ all good except one thing. Her personality has be quite difficult, you see?¡± I shook my head slightly as I spoke. ¡°Originally, she wasn¡¯t like that. I was one of the early members. But at some point, she changed.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement at this point. ¡°Everything else is fine, but she¡¯s just so hysterical that it¡¯s stressful for us. Our guild is great, and our A-Team is solid, but just that one thing about Hunter Lee Sooah¡¯s personality makes it really tough.¡± Everyone looked at me, almost in tears. ¡°You probably don¡¯t know what Lee Sooah was like before, Jihoon. Her temper is really down now¡­ about -95%?¡± ¡®Huh? Really?¡¯ Of course, I only knew her from broadcasts. I had no way of knowing how she used to be. ¡°Um, so?¡± ¡°But ever since three days ago, after Baek Jihoon joined our guild, things changed drastically!¡± ¡®Hmm¡­ so her temper died down after I joined¡­¡¯ I was beginning to understand little by little. If it were before, I might have been confused about the situation, but now I think I get it. It was clear that some of Chae Suhyeon¡¯s subus abilities had transferred over to me, causing such effects. Moreover, I had also removed her status ailments. ¡°So, we have a favor to ask. Please seduce Lee Sooah for us.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± The strangest request I had ever heard in my life. To seduce the nation¡¯s top S-rank hunter. Of course, it was true that I had been dating Chae Suhyeon, who had just imed the top S-rank position, but still, it was an odd request. ¡°Haha¡­ Is that really something I can just will into existence? Just because I want to doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯ll happen.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that! We¡¯ll push for it. Our A-Team, no, our entire guild will support you.¡± ¡°Yeah, everyone wants Hunter Lee Sooah to find some peace.¡± Everyone seemed to nod in agreement. ¡®Well, I¡¯m also thinking about using my abilities and exploring them, but now being thrown into this situation feels a bit burdensome.¡¯ As all eyes turned toward me, while some might eagerly ept the challenge, I felt a bit pressured. Perhaps it was because I had lived as a ve for years. I still seemed to have a ve mentality. ¡°Well then¡­ I understand. I¡¯ll give it my best shot.¡± ¡°Waaaaaaah!¡± Everyone suddenly erupted in cheers at my answer, throwing papers into the air. It turned festive. ¡®Damn. Is this really that important?¡¯ The most sessful guild in the country. Among them, the highest and most famous A-Team. Yet, they were focusing all this energy on something trivial. ¡®So does Lee Sooah really have such a terrible personality? Or are these people just odd?¡¯ It felt like the whole world was pranking me. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± A cold voice from Lee Sooah cut through the air. All at once, everyone quickly returned to their positions. ¡°Ah, Hunter Lee Sooah. Hehe.¡± The manager began to sweat profusely. ¡°Is there something so amusing happening? The atmosphere of A-Team seems to have improvedtely?¡± She gave him a slightly menacing look, mixed with aplex expression. ¡°Haha, indeed. Things changed a bit since Baek Jihoon joined. Hehe.¡± ¡°So, what¡¯s this interesting story they were cheering about? I¡¯d like to know too.¡± Lee Sooah moved closer to the manager, starting to apply strong pressure on him. It felt like if he didn¡¯t answer properly, he would be in big trouble. ¡°Ah! Um, well¡­¡± ¡°How good could the news be that everyone erupted in cheers? I¡¯m curious too.¡± Wearing high heels, Lee Sooah leaned menacingly over the manager with her arms crossed. ¡°Um¡­ well, Baek Jihoon said he would raise his rank from D to C in this week¡¯s rating test.¡± ¡®Wait. When did I say that?¡¯ ¡°Eh? Really? There¡¯s not much time left. Is it possible?¡± Lee Sooah looked at me with a peculiar expression, while the team members peered over the partition, wearing anxious faces pleading silently. ¡®Hah¡­ What a sudden bombshell.¡¯ ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± Faced with overwhelming, unspoken pressure, I could only hurriedly answer out of necessity. Chapter 34 ¡°Hmm¡­? Is that really true?¡± Lee Sooah had a somewhat skeptical expression. Maybe she sensed the strange atmosphere. ¡°Haha. No, I really mean it! Why do you ask?¡± The manager was trying hard to calm her down and send her back. ¡°No. You¡¯re saying someone can quickly rise from E-rank to D-rank? Didn¡¯t you prepare beforehand?¡± ¡°Haha. Yes. I was originally closer to D-rank than E-rank, you see.¡± I was just trying to fit in with the mood. It wasn¡¯t entirely my intention, but the atmosphere made it inevitable. Everyone was looking only at me. I couldn¡¯t help it. I had to keep an eye on things and navigate social interactions. After all, I had decided to bury my roots in this guild instead of being tied to Chae Suhyeon. It wouldn¡¯t do me any good to sour rtionships with these people. ¡°Hmm¡­ I see. Well, it¡¯s good news for sure. Everyone was so cheerful that I couldn¡¯t help bute out and see what was going on. Hunter Baek Jihoon, I¡¯ll be looking forward to it.¡± Lee Sooah shot a sharp look at the manager, then spoke to me in a very friendly manner. ¡°Haha¡­ Yes, yes.¡± ck, ck. Lee Sooah seemed to be in a good mood as she hummed while entering her office. ck. As soon as the door to Lee Sooah¡¯s office closed, sighs of relief were heard from various corners. ¡°Wait. But suddenly bing D-rank?¡± Anyone with knowledge in the hunter field would understand how absurd this situation was. Typically, it takes almost a year to rise a single rank, even for those incredibly talented. Of course, Chae Suhyeon became famous after reducing that time to less than six months with my help. ¡°Phew. Thank you! I might have gotten into big trouble if I hadn¡¯t been careful. She gets really angry over trivial matters. As long as it involves some profit for the guild, it¡¯s fine. Phew¡­¡± ¡°Hey, manager. How can you say something like that so suddenly? I¡¯m not ready yet.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Well, if I fall, there¡¯s nothing I can do about it. I¡¯ll just get scolded then. Hehe.¡± Seems like they were living in the moment. ¡°But Baek Jihoon, is it true that you¡¯re closer to D-rank than E-rank?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Oh dear¡­¡± Of course, that¡¯s not true.@@novelbin@@ I¡¯ve been stuck with Chae Suhyeon all this time. It doesn¡¯t really matter. Even though this situation turned out like this, I had no worries because. It was clear that I had recovered points. Adjusting my ns just a moment ago didn¡¯t change things at all. I could quickly grow by taking the hunter assessment test every month. Since it turned out like this, I nned to grow as rapidly as possible. ¡°Oh dear. What should I do about this?¡± ¡°Exactly, manager. How can you just say anything? You can¡¯t take responsibility for that. You really need to fix that habit of yours.¡± ¡°Hey, what else was I supposed to say in that situation?¡± ¡°I guess you¡¯re right.¡± Everyone appeared to be in a teasing mood towards the manager. Of course, it looked like they all felt there was nothing they could do about it. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Jihoon. Let¡¯s make the most of the time we have and put in our best effort.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll give it a try. I can elevate my rank.¡± To be precise, it¡¯s not that I can elevate it; I just need to elevate it. I just have to distribute my umted points appropriately. ¡°Hmm, there shouldn¡¯t be any limitations on that.¡± I thought it would be a good idea to max everything out to S-rank first, then raise my rank by one level monthly. Of course, it would take time to study the whole tech tree. I nned to approach it a little differently than Chae Suhyeon did. Her tech tree felt more focused on external promotion and shy skills rather than practicality. I wanted to concentrate on useful skills. ¡°Just don¡¯t overspend on skills; I should mainly invest in my basic stats¡­¡± ¡°Haha. Then Jihoon, this might help, so take a look at this.¡± The manager brought forth a rather thick encyclopedia-like book. It was a Hunter Skill Book. ¡°Wow, are you serious? 5,000 pages?¡± ¡°When am I supposed to read all of this?¡± ¡°This contains information we¡¯ve gathered in our guild. It¡¯s probably overwhelmingly more than what you can find online. Let¡¯s get prepared step by step with this!¡± The manager was grinning as though he wasn¡¯t aware of what he had just done. Well, it didn¡¯t really matter to me, so I chose to focus on point distribution. ¡°First, let¡¯s invest in the essentials.¡± I felt like I had a lot of work ahead of me. * ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Lee Sooah was back in her office, resting her chin on her hand, lost in thought. She still couldn¡¯t focus at all today. ¡°Why is everyone else having fun while I¡¯m left out?¡± ¡°Hmm, is it because I¡¯ve been too strict about worktely?¡± ¡°Ugh. Baek Jihoon seems to be having an interesting time.¡± ¡°Hah¡­ I want to be part of that, too.¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t just jump in suddenly.¡± Lee Sooah seemed eager to find a way to join in their conversation. ¡°Hmm. Should I break down the office wall¡­?¡± ¡°Or should I rearrange this meeting room and move Baek Jihoon¡¯s department here instead¡­?¡± EP.35 *Hmm. What should I do?* Baek Jihoon¡¯s department was quite far from Lee Sooah¡¯s office in terms of location. Lee Sooah was constantly pondering how to get closer. [ Ms. Lee Sooah, the Guild Master is really angry. You need to submit your work today. Please do so. ] [ I¡¯m sorry, but you absolutely have to submit it today. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll have no choice but to report to the Guild Master. ] [ This is already the third day. Did you get hurt somewhere? Have you not recovered yet¡­? ] Today, just like before, she was receiving messages concerning her piled-up work. But today was a bit different. Everyone was warning her while mentioning the Guild Master. *Ugh. Damn it.* The mention of the Guild Master made Lee Sooah flinch. Even the great Lee Sooah couldn¡¯t move under that name. It was the Guild Master of the Blue Guild. *Ugh. There¡¯s no helping it. Sigh¡­ I¡¯ll just get it done today.* Everyone sent their warnings as if it was the final red line. In response, Lee Sooah grumbled about how she had no choice but to start working. She half-heartedly began her tasks, as if working was merely an obligation. * *Hmm. So, raising basic stats is enough for D-rank instead of focusing on skills.* I was absorbed in my studies. This information waspletely different from what I had gathered over the years. Up until now, I had been distributing points based on Chae Suhyeon¡¯s suggestions. *Hey, bro. Just raise it up.* *Yeah, yeah. Shouldn¡¯t agility just be raised to about 150?* *No, that skill isn¡¯t needed. It¡¯s not like I¡¯ll mention it when I¡¯mon Tter, right?* *Exactly. That¡¯s it. Raise that one!* What each skill meant and how the hunter system worked were not particrly important. I was too busy earning points every day just to offer them to Chae Suhyeon. *Phew. It seems like I can finally study properly now.* There was a rmended tech tree provided by the Blue Guild. If I simply followed that path, I was sure to reach S-rank without issue. In about six months, I could likely reach the S-rank assessment. And then Chae Suhyeon would be left speechless. ¡°By the way~¡± While I was deep in concentration, the manager came over to talk to me again. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Baek Jihoon, do you perhaps know our Guild Master?¡± The Guild Master of the Blue Guild. Of course, I didn¡¯t know. Neither did most people. He was known for not engaging in external rtions. A hidden person. ¡°No? Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Well, Jihoon, although you might not know it, there¡¯s actually a movement within the guild to push for your recognition.¡± This seemed unrted to Lee Sooah. It probably had to do with what Hyungseok mentioned not long ago. *They¡¯re trying to promote me? Why? I¡¯m just an E-rank.* Ater in life, I had just entered as a rookie E-rank hunter. Yet now, the Guild Master of the Blue Guild was supposedly paying attention to me. *What¡¯s up with that? Why?* When I heard this from Hyungseok, I didn¡¯t think much of it. No, I felt that it couldn¡¯t possibly be true. So I didn¡¯t pursue the matter further. Yet here was the manager, bringing it up again. ¡°Why? Why me specifically¡­?¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know~¡± The manager shrugged his shoulders. He genuinely seemed to have no idea. ¡°So I asked. Do you happen to have a close rtionship with the Guild Master?¡± ¡°No. I don¡¯t know who they are at all.¡± *Hmm~ So it¡¯s my potential that¡¯s outstanding?* I could only nod and look at the manager. ¡°Ah. Our Guild Master has a remarkable ability to discern a hunter¡¯s potential, like someone who knows how stock prices will rise. A true fortune teller. He¡¯s had a 100% uracy rate so far.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± I began to think that maybe he had a knack for recognizing other people¡¯s potential. *Could he have noticed that I have a lot of points?* It wasn¡¯t strange, considering I could also see other people¡¯s status windows. Yet, how could he assess potential? ¡°Well, in any case! From that, it seems that Baek Jihoon is a valuable asset. You might even be an S-rank!¡± ¡°Haha¡­ That would be great. I¡¯ll have to work hard.¡± Well, it was indeed true that I had to work hard. Given the situation, I wanted to be an S-rank and make Chae Suhyeonment and regret her past actions. And then there was Lee Sooah. I wasn¡¯t so sure if it meant she¡¯d genuinelye to like me, but if I were to end up dating her, that wouldn¡¯t be so bad at all. Slowly, expectations for the future began to build up. *First, I¡¯ll aim for D-rank at the assessment test in three days¡­* *Then Chae Suhyeon will be shocked and faint from the surprise.* *I bet Lee Sooah will also look at me differently.* *Alright! Let¡¯s go!* I tightened my grip on the pen in my hand. To be continued¡­ Chapter 35 *Kwa-kwak-wak-wak.* As time passed, the thick dust settled. ¡°Ugh¡­???¡± Everyone was staring in shock. ¡°No, is Baek Jihoon really E-rank¡­?¡± This was the Hunter Training Ground. A ce solely owned by Team A. ¡°Indeed, Team A has their own dedicated space.¡± It was a very spacious gymnasium with high ceilings. Here, various simtions could be conducted, and checks or tests could be performed. *Phew¡­* There was a slight ache, but I was okay. It was probably just because I was doing something I hadn¡¯t done before. Everyone was pping, their faces still in disbelief. Some members from our department hade down to guide us through the training ground. ¡°Wow, Manager. Did you know about this?¡± All eyes were on the manager. ¡°Baek Jihoon, with this level, he could easily jump to D-rank! There¡¯s no need to look at anything else! Wow¡­¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°Hmm! I have a knack for reading people.¡± The manager proudly puffed out his chest. I had done well, and he was boasting about it. Little by little, I was adding points and testing various things. It was probably wise to adjust points gradually rather than dumping them all at once, as I might need an item to readjust themter. The cost of such an item was astronomical. At my current level, there was no reason to make a reckless gamble. ¡°Wow, Jihoon! You¡¯ve clearly been exceptional, right? You did well from the very first day during the War Memorial Dungeon.¡± ¡°Oh right. That¡¯s true.¡± Everyone was agreeing and pping. *No, back then, I didn¡¯t actually do much¡­* It was just that everyone else couldn¡¯t participate because theycked a special skill. Compared to now, my basic stats were extremely poor. *Sigh. What was I thinking back then?* If the Medusas had any other offensive capabilities, I wouldn¡¯t have survived. I was just incredibly lucky. ¡°But is this ce only used by Team A?¡± ¡°Yes! Of course! We¡¯re Team A! The most sessful in the Blue Guild!¡± Typically, guilds shared training grounds. There was no other choice. Setting up a state-of-the-art training ground would cost billions. It was evident, considering that building a concert hall filled with expensive sound equipment would require that much. *I really have good luck.* Joining Team A was, in hindsight, a tremendous stroke of fortune. Of course, I was still at the bottom of the hierarchy. I couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. ¡°I really need to thank Hyungseok.¡± ¡°What a guy! He has more abilities than I expected.¡± I hadn¡¯t realized it when I joined, but now I could definitely feel it. Park Hyungseok seemed to hold considerable weight in the guild. His obsession with being a Hunter had evidently paid off. ¡°No, no. Baek Jihoon, how about we test for not just D-rank but also C-rank? Huh?¡± The manager suddenly grinned, looking extremely excited. ¡°Ah, Manager, are you joking? Jumping to C-rank all of a sudden? Jihoon is still E-rank! If he tries to jump two levels, he could end up dead. What if he gets seriously injured?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Jihoon, we need to take care of you. That¡¯s how you keep Hunter Lee Sooah¡­¡± The surrounding female Hunters were trying to warn Manager Cha. ¡°Oh, but listen. He just easily surpassed D-rank level! You all saw it, right? I¡¯m not trying to push him into anything.¡± ¡°No, this isn¡¯t a game. Safetyes first! Even if Hunter Lee Sooah were here, she¡¯d definitely oppose this.¡± ¡°Hey, Baek Jihoon. What do you say? Don¡¯t you want to give it a try? Men always seek to grow stronger and want to test their limits. It¡¯s in their nature to want to leap into higher difficulties, even if it¡¯s risky.¡± He was nudging me to take the plunge. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± With a feigned reluctance, I epted. Honestly, it didn¡¯t matter much to me. C-rank, B-rank, S-rank¡ªit was all the same. After all, my points exceeded those levels by a wide margin. I hadn¡¯t pinpointed exactly how to allocate my skills, so I hadn¡¯t done that yet. But I had already raised my basic stats to the average of S-rank Hunters. *Wow, having surplus points is nice. And if I keep this up, I¡¯ll be able to gather more quickly while raiding dungeons in the future.* With overwhelmingly strong physical abilities, it would naturally be easier to raid dungeons. I thought I might earn back points even faster than I spent them. Much like money generates more money, big capital gathers interest efficiently. ¡°Come on, Jihoon, don¡¯t overdo it. You¡¯ve only just arrived.¡± ¡°Right. We¡¯ll help you, but please don¡¯t push yourself too hard.¡± The female Hunters seemed quite concerned. They appeared to be a bit more timidpared to the male Hunters. ¡°Haha. Baek Jihoon. Show us the strength of a man. You know what I mean?¡± In contrast, Manager Cha was clenching his fists tightly, looking at me. His expression was filled with determination. EP.35 Continued ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get started~~~ This time it¡¯s C-rank, Baek Jihoon.¡± The voice of the manager echoed from the control room as he spoke through the microphone. I raised my hand high to signal that I was ready. *Gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-ooong.* *Whiiiiiing.* Strange mist began to spread, and the training ground started to take on the appearance of a dungeon. *Hmm, this ce feels unfamiliar¡­* It was a somewhat dark environment. Having visited various dungeons with Chae Suhyeon, I could sense that I had never been in a ce like this before. *Gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-ooong.* *Thud thud thud thud.* The sound echoed, causing the ground to tremble. Even just feeling the vibrations gave me a rough idea of what to expect. *It¡¯s a giant stone golem.* *I¡¯ve dealt with simr golems before, but this one is massive.*@@novelbin@@ Instinctively, I tensed my body. A slight sense of nervousness crept in, and I knew I had to prepare quickly. *If I fight this purely with physical strength, it¡¯ll be tough. I need to allocate my skills.* Even without searching for information, I recognized that I had to be strategic. *I definitely need a water attribute skill.* *Let¡¯s see¡­* I quickly lifted skills such as Water Bending, Weather Maniption, Wave Riding, Blessing of Water, and Mist Wave, and before I knew it¡­ *Thud.* Amidst rapidly choosing my skills, the giant stone golem arrived right in front of me. As the enormous figure emerged from the darkness, I couldn¡¯t help but gasp. *What the f*ck. This isn¡¯t just a giant stone golem; it¡¯s a super giant stone golem!* It was muchrger than I had imagined. I was expecting a roughly four-story golem, but instead, a ten-story apartment-sized creature appeared. *Wait, is this really C-rank? What on earth has the manager done?* I turned my head to look at the control room, but it was nowhere in sight. Since the simtion had alreadymenced, there was no turning back now. *Sigh. I¡¯ve never encountered anything like this before.* Just because I assigned my skills doesn¡¯t mean I can use them masterfully right away. Obviously, practice is crucial, which is why a training ground costs such a fortune to build. Nevertheless, I had only just allocated my skills. I had never used them before. *Damn it.* *I guess I¡¯ll just have to try.* Though it was somewhat awkward, I felt I could still handle it. An inexplicable confidence surged within me, apanied by a sense of challenge. *First, let¡¯s change the climate.* I used Weather Maniption to alter the environment. Golem types are significantly influenced by climate effects. In an instant, clouds formed on the ceiling, and torrential rain began to fall. It was akin to a summer monsoon. [Durability of Super Giant Stone Golem decreased by -40%.] [Agility of Super Giant Stone Golem decreased by -35%.] [Power of Super Giant Stone Golem decreased by -10%.] [Visibility of Super Giant Stone Golem decreased by -30%.] ¡­ Numerous messages appeared in the status window. *Alright, this is it. Now it¡¯s manageable.* *We¡¯ll set the stage for victory.* The stone golem now looked noticeably slower. It seemed to be aware that it was slipping on the wet ground. *Let¡¯s finish this quickly. This is nothing to worry about.* I began to move swiftly. The golem hadn¡¯t seemed to spot me yet. *I¡¯ll sneak around behind it¡­* I navigated cautiously around the golem¡¯s back. I had some experience from previous attempts and had also seen videos of other Hunters tackling it. Even if it was a super giant stone golem, it would still operate simrly. *I¡¯ll use Blessing of Water, then sever the joints with Wave Riding and Water Bending.* Having enhanced my agility, I found my speed considerably improved. *Tip-tap.* ¡°Here we go.¡± As I had nned, I activated Blessing of Water. [Water Attribute Attack increased by +30%.] [Water Attribute Attack uracy increased by +15%.] [Water Attribute Ssh Range increased by +20%.] ¡­ *Now, time to boost up. Let¡¯s go!* I decided to utilize the heavy rain pouring down from the Weather Maniption for the attack. The super giant golem still hadn¡¯t detected me and was wandering around aimlessly. *Hey, over here! Not there!* It was a huge creature but clearly rather dim-witted. *This needs to end quickly.* I jumped up to grab hold of the nape of the super giant golem. *If I can just sever its joints with Water Bending¡­* As I approached its neck, just before making my move¡­ *Huh? What the f*ck?* It opened its eyes from the back! *What the f*ck? Why does it have eyes in the back? What is this?* I was caught off guard and could only feel panic rising. However, I couldn¡¯t afford to stop now. To be continued¡­ Chapter 37 ¡°Hey, what on earth are you doing?!!!?¡± A sharp voice cut through the air. At that moment, Manager Cha and the female assistant manager flinched and shrank down a bit. It was Lee Sooah¡¯s voice. I had just barely calmed down after an intensely heart-pounding training session. ck, ck. She strode toward us, clearly fuming. ¡°Manager Cha.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am¡­ Hunter Sooah.¡± Just a moment ago, Manager Cha had been strutting with confidence, but now he looked like a mouse in front of a cat,pletely diminished. He seemed to shrink into himself. ¡°You brought Baek Jihoon to the training ground? And¡­ you let him go in alone?¡± She was checking various information on her tablet. ¡°And B-rank¡­???¡± Lee Sooah¡¯s expression contortedpletely. She looked absolutely furious. ¡°Manager Cha, have you lost your mind!!!!!!!¡± Her voice boomed. It was so thunderous that I wondered if the training ground would copse. The training ground that didn¡¯t even flinch at the enormous stone golem was now shaking under the presence of just one Hunter, Lee Sooah. ¡°What were you thinking? Why would you put Baek Jihoon in such a test!!!¡± Her voice was enough to make my eardrums ring. I could clearly see why the team members had been so tense. Manager Cha was quaking like a mouse in front of a lion. ¡°Uh¡­ no, I mean¡­ Hunter Sooah¡­¡± He was trying to make excuses, but his attitude hadpletely shrunken, with little chance of sess. ¡°What I thought was that Baek Jihoon could¡­ I thought it was possible¡­ you can see from the footage that¡­¡± ¡°No. Are you really saying that? Baek Jihoon is an E-rank Hunter, right? But you give him a B-rank simtion? What do you expect from that? Are you trying to make excuses?!!!¡± She was practically shrieking. ¡°See, right? Manager, we told you not to do this.¡± ¡°What should you do now?¡± The two assistants nking Manager Cha were poking him while asking something. With her hands ced firmly at her waist, Lee Sooah red daggers at Manager Cha, looking thoroughly annoyed. ¡°Ugh. This won¡¯t do, Manager Cha. Write a report. I can¡¯t let this slide. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Y-yes?? Hah¡­ understood¡­¡± It seemed he tried to protest a bit but quickly turned glum and slumped away. ¡°And Baek Jihoon!¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± Now it was my turn. The trouble was unavoidable. It was only natural. ¡°Baek Jihoon, this isn¡¯t going to work. I¡¯m really worried about you. Come sit beside me.¡± ¡°Huh???¡± ¡°Do I need to repeat myself? I saide sit beside me!!!!¡± She shouted before storming off. ¡®Huh¡­? Beside you¡­?¡¯ * ¡°Seriously, what is Manager Cha thinking? Does he even have a brain? How could he put an E-rank Hunter through that kind of training? I mean, even a D-rank alone would be dangerous, and he knows that. Is he messing around or what?¡± Lee Sooah mumbled as she returned to her office, still frustrated. She nervously chewed on her nails. ¡°Hmm¡­ I think I need to keep Baek Jihoon close. Yeah, I can¡¯t help it. Because Baek Jihoon is like the baby bird of our department, right? As a new employee, I shouldn¡¯t just leave him alone. I have to take good care of him since I¡¯m the team leader, so no one falls behind.¡± Lee Sooah nodded her head, as if it was only natural. ¡°First, I¡¯ll keep him by my side, and then I need to teach him about the guild, step by step. Yeah, that¡¯s something I must do as a team leader.¡± * ¡°Hey, Manager Cha, why do you look like you¡¯re about to cry? What did you screw up this time?¡± ¡°What did you do wrong today, huh?¡± The department members asked Manager Cha with pouty faces. ¡°Wah, I just yed a little prank¡­ now I have to write a report.¡± He plopped down at his desk and began to write something with great diligence. Given his posture, it was evident he¡¯d done this many times before. He started writing quickly and professionally, as if it were second nature. ¡°What kind of prank did you pull?¡± ¡°Well, I thought Baek Jihoon would do well¡­ so I put him through B-rank dungeon training. But he managed to do it sessfully.¡± ¡°Wait, seriously? A B-rank dungeon? How did that happen? He¡¯s an E-rank, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just thought he could do it, but the problem is that Hunter Sooah caught me.¡± ¡°Whoa.¡± Everyone¡¯s faces disyed horror. They all had the attitude that Manager Cha¡¯s life was over. ¡°So what now?¡± ¡°What do you think? I¡¯m going to have to write a report. That¡¯s the 14th time this month.¡±@@novelbin@@ ¡°Sigh.¡± The others shook their heads in disbelief. This wasn¡¯t his first rodeo. ¡°But Baek Jihoon, how did you do it? That¡¯s weird. Wasn¡¯t it really dangerous?¡± ¡°No, he even did it alone!¡± ¡°Huh? Alone? You didn¡¯t help him at all? That was really risky, Manager Cha. You need to get in even more trouble.¡± EP.37 ¡°See, we were right.¡± Everyone murmured in agreement. ¡°Haha¡­ I was just lucky,¡± I said, scratching my head before returning to my seat. ¡®Phew. Wait, did she say toe close¡­?¡¯ Hunter Sooah had told me to pack my things first. She said she would make space for me. ¡®What is this about?¡¯ I began to pack my things, grumbling to myself. ¡°Hey? Baek Jihoon, what are you doing? Are you quitting?¡± ¡°Huh? Where are you going? No way!!!¡± ¡°Ugh, our project. Is it a four-day cut or what?¡± Things started to get a bit chaotic. ¡°What? No, I¡¯m not quitting. I¡¯m just packing my things to move.¡± ¡°Move? Where to?¡± ¡°To near Hunter Sooah.¡± ¡°Whaaaaaat?¡± Everyone looked confused. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why? What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m just doing what I was told,¡± I said, helplessly packing my things. I finished packing quickly and set off. ¡°Ow? What¡¯s this all about?¡± Everyone was puzzled, but I had no answers to give. I was just as confused. * Knock, knock, knock. ¡°Is this Hunter Sooah?¡± ¡°Yes,e in.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve finished packing but where am I moving to?¡± ¡°Right here.¡± She pointed to the seat right beside her. ¡°Excuse me???¡± It was an utterly bewildering situation. I thought I might get ced near her office, but instead, I was being assigned to a desk directly inside, right next to Hunter Sooah. ¡®What? Why? How?¡¯ ¡°Baek Jihoon, you¡¯re the weakest in our department. I think I should take special care of you. You can stay here. From now on, you will work here.¡± ¡°Um¡­ yes, ma¡¯am.¡± It was a strange, no, a very strange situation, but I had no choice but toply. I could sense my colleagues outside whispering. They must have been having strange conversations while looking at me. * ¡°Alright. From today onward, Hunter Baek Jihoon will be working beside me.¡± ¡°U-uh, Hunter Sooah?¡± ¡°Yes. What is it?¡± A brave Hunter raised his hand and asked. ¡°Why though?¡± ¡°Why? Because he¡¯s a fresh recruit. It seems very dangerous to me. As the team leader, I think I need to protect him well. Thinking back, I feel like I¡¯ve neglected him since the War Memorial Dungeon.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Everyone murmured slightly. ¡°But there¡¯s never been a case like this before, right?¡± ¡°Traditions don¡¯t matter. What matters is now.¡± ¡°Umm¡­ I¡¯m not sure about this¡­¡± Someone tentatively raised their hand, appearing quite flustered. ¡°It¡¯s only been two months since I joined¡­¡± It was Hunter Kim Seungsoo, who joined right before me. ¡°Hunter Kim Seungsoo can handle himself well. You¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°Hiiiing.¡± He suddenly looked dejected. ¡®Eh? No, I can handle it too.¡¯ Hunter Sooah seemed to suddenly change her attitude. Or did she always act this way? In any case, she appeared very determined. Of course, Manager Cha made a significant mistake, but to this extent¡­ Am I actually going to work in Hunter Sooah¡¯s office? This was an unprecedented situation, enough to make me feel a little sorry for my fellow department members. ¡°From now on, we¡¯ll be doing it this way, so just be aware. And Hunter Baek Jihoon, please follow me.¡± Humming a little tune, she returned to her office, swaying her hips a bit. ¡®What the heck is going on?¡¯ I suddenly found myself working in Sooah¡¯s office. It felt like a lightning strike. * ¡°Um, Baek Jihoon, why did you go to the training ground earlier? Newbies don¡¯t usually do that.¡± She rested her chin on her hands, looking at me. It was so intimidating. To be honest, I couldn¡¯t fully grasp the situation. Getting close to Hunter Sooah like this¡­ My heart couldn¡¯t help but race. ¡°Ah. I thought I could qualify for hunter rank assessment, so I was going for a promotion to D-rank.¡± I spoke honestly. ¡°Eh? Already? Oh, you don¡¯t have to rush. Why are you pushing to rank up? You can just stay E-rank. Hmph~¡± She sang a little tune again. ¡®No way. Staying E-rank is not an option. Besides, I already have enough points, and getting promoted would be beneficial. Plus, I need to give Chae Suhyeon a bit of a shock.¡¯ ¡°But Baek Jihoon, I want to ask you something.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am?¡± ¡°You mentioned you lived in Sillim, right?¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Are you considering moving?¡± She stared straight at me. Next episode preview. Chapter 40 Thump. ¡°What the hell¡­ this f*cking bastard.¡± Chae Suhyeon threw her smartphone to the ground. She had managed to hold back until now, but today it seemed like she just couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She must have been shocked that despite all her efforts to win over Baek Jihoon, it hadn¡¯t worked at all. ¡°Am I not lowering myself enough for you to understand? You can¡¯t even meet me? Huh? Why not?¡± Her expression reflected deep offense. ¡°Fine! Whatever, Baek Jihoon. Live your life well. It¡¯s just dirty and pathetic. This is it! There¡¯s not much left, but I can still raise my rank with this. I¡¯ve got 46% left, after all.¡± Chae Suhyeon forced herself to think positively. Despite the significant drop, she still considered her abilities to be quite high. Based on that, she thought that she could quickly recover on her own. She resolved not to cling to Baek Jihoon anymore. ¡°Hmph. How hard can it be to earn points? Acting all high and mighty for something trivial¡­ Ugh.¡± She opened her status window, only to be left aghast, her mouth agape as if her jaw had dropped off. This time, it seemed she couldn¡¯t even muster the energy to scream. [ Recovery Progress: 100% ] And just like that, she copsed. * ¡°Hey, Suhyeon. Suhyeon, can you hear me?¡± Chae Suhyeon woke up in the VIP room, and Lee Jinhyeok was there in front of her. ¡°Uh¡­ uh¡­¡± She struggled to articte her thoughts. ¡°It seems the patient has received quite a shock.¡± ¡°Did she hit her head when she fell?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the case. It¡¯s unrted to the fall; she needs to rest a bit, and then we¡¯ll see how it goes.¡± With that, the doctor bowed and left. ¡°What happened? You just suddenly copsed!¡± Lee Jinhyeok looked slightly concerned and suspicious at the same time. ¡°Uh¡­ uh¡­¡± Chae Suhyeon appeared to be too shaken to speak properly. ¡°Ha¡­ I¡¯m swamped with work here. Why are you doing this? Just take a break; that¡¯s the best thing for you. I¡¯lle backter.¡± Chae Suhyeon could only watch nkly as Lee Jinhyeok walked away. Slowly, she began to regain herposure. ¡®P-Progess¡­ why is it 100%? No way¡­ did Baek Jihoon raise it all? Right? He must have elerated something?¡¯ She couldn¡¯t believe it. Up until now, she thought he had just been sending warnings. But today, he hadpletely filled it to 100%.@@novelbin@@ ¡®Wait¡­ what¡¯s my status window like now?¡¯ She hurriedly started to check her status window. Her pupils began to shake wildly. ¡®Uh¡­ gone¡­ gone!?!? Points¡­ I have no points??!?!?¡¯ Her expression teetered on the brink of madness. In a seriously contorted way, she expressed disbelief. ¡®This can¡¯t be! Am Ipletely broke?¡¯ Her status window was close to the newbie state she had at the very beginning. She couldn¡¯t fathom the situation. It felt as though someone hade to her status window while she was unconscious and stolen everything. ¡®Why? Why is this happening? Why?¡¯ ¡®Surely, even if everything was taken, I should still be at a C-rank. I¡¯ve calcted it all! Why did it suddenly drop to the bottom? It¡¯spletely empty!¡¯ She couldn¡¯t ept the situation. ¡®Ah¡­¡¯ Realization struck her. [ Points earned from others will all be erased. ] In other words, everything she had obtained through her subus activities had vanishedpletely. ¡®W-What kind of rule is this?¡¯ ¡®I was never informed about this!!!¡¯ ¡®My¡­ the points I gained through subus activities¡­ it¡¯s all gone?¡¯ She wore an incredibly unfair expression. But right now, she couldn¡¯t act on any of it. Perhaps she was so shocked that she fainted again. * ¡°Uh, Professor?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°She should recover soon, right?¡± Lee Jinhyeok peeked into the room and asked. ¡°Of course. After all, she¡¯s an S-rank Hunter. Based on previous cases, I think she¡¯ll probably recover in a few hours.¡± ¡°Right? Thanks for keeping an eye on her.¡± He lightly nodded. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ He fell into a slight deep thought. He had some suspicions about Chae Suhyeon. ¡®Doesn¡¯t that guy seem a bit strange? Achieving S-rank so quickly and even surging to first ce like a storm¡­¡¯ ¡®Maybe I should investigate a bit¡­ if I¡¯m to bring him into the family¡­¡¯ ¡®I did an extensive search, but there¡¯s nothinging up. Either they¡¯re incredibly thorough or just clean.¡¯ ¡®Let¡¯s just observe for now. Keep her in the Guild.¡¯ He felt that Chae Suhyeon was necessary. And he quite liked her too. However, those around him seemed to feel some vignce. ¡®Well, nothing should happen. It¡¯s just a minor health issue.¡¯ He tried to brush it off as nothing serious. * ¡°Hm. What¡¯s with her? She¡¯s not saying anything at all.¡± I had been waiting for quite a while. Given that she hit 100% recovery, I expected her toe to my house right away. EP.41 ¡®It¡¯s not like she doesn¡¯t know where I live, right? Or did she not know at all?¡¯ It¡¯s true that she had shown little interest in me. ¡®Or maybe she fainted from the shock of hitting 100% recovery?¡¯ Considering Chae Suhyeon¡¯s personality, that was quite likely. ¡®Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m relieved now.¡¯ He had managed to shake off the various thoughts lingering in his mind all at once. He wasn¡¯t sure why this was happening. ¡®Could it be because Hunter Lee Sooah got a bit closer?¡¯ For now, he decided to prepare for work tomorrow. * ¡°Hmm~¡± Lee Sooah was swaying her hips slightly, looking in good spirits as she headed to work. ¡°Hunter Lee Sooah, you seem to be in a good mood today. Can I get your approval on this?¡± A hunter swiftly shoved a document for approval in front of her. ¡°Mr. Lee Soo Jong, didn¡¯t we agree that approvals are to be done in my office? And it¡¯s still not working hours yet.¡± Her expression turned frigid. ¡°Ah¡­ yes¡­¡± The employee began sweating profusely as he took the document back, scratching the back of his head. ¡®Ah, I thought she was in a good mood, but I guess not.¡¯ ¡°Hmm~ I wonder if Baek Jihoon arrived first~¡± She hummed again as she continued on her way to work. Bang. ¡°Ah, he¡¯s not here yet. That¡¯s fine. He¡¯lle when he¡¯s ready~¡± * Tap, tap, tap¡­ ¡°Phew. I almost ended up beingte.¡± Was it because she had felt so good about shaking everything off yesterday that she had almost beente? He had barely avoided it. ¡°Hey, Baek Jihoon.¡± ¡°Oh yes, Manager Cha.¡± ¡°Hey, can you tell me in secret? Are you dating anyone? What happened? Why did you suddenly sneak into the office together?¡± ¡°What? That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Besides, I heard you both clocked out together yesterday?¡± He was grinning like a snake. ¡°We all know. There are countless eyes in this guild¡­ a million eyes are watching.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± He felt an inexplicable pressure. It was as if the entire guild was monitoring him, and it seemed like Lee Sooah was continuously pulling him toward her. ¡°Does Lee Sooah usually take good care of her team members?¡± ¡°Well, that can be said to be true, but it can also be said to be false.¡± It was a rather unexpected response. ¡°In the dungeon, she doesn¡¯t hold back at all. She¡¯s concerned that someone might get hurt. But in the office, it¡¯s not like that. In fact, it feels like our necks might be on the line.¡± ¡°Then, you¡¯ve never shared an office with someone like her¡­?¡± ¡°True, right? Ah~ no, that hasn¡¯t happened. I¡¯ve been in this guild for years. Not once! I haven¡¯t even paid attention to a new employee. Lee Sooah is an S-rank, you know? Do you have any idea how busy she is? She has more than 50 documents to handle every day!¡± He shook his head in amazement. ¡°Haha¡­ But why was she so focused on me yesterday¡­¡± He distinctly remembered her staring at him absentmindedly all day long. Her desk had been piled high with work. ¡®Hmm¡­ Could it be that she really has feelings for me?¡¯ That thought sent a slight shiver down his spine. But he couldn¡¯t confirm it. There was no way he could just go up and ask, ¡°Do you like me, Lee Sooah?¡± ¡®For now, I¡¯ll keep observing the situation.¡¯ Ding! The elevator arrived. He lightly greeted the colleagues who were giggling while looking at him and headed straight for Lee Sooah¡¯s office. Bang. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Oh my, Hunter Baek Jihoon! You¡¯re here. I was waiting for you.¡± She offered him a coffee. ¡°Here, drink this. It¡¯s really good. I sometimes treat my team members with it.¡± That sounded like a big fat lie¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t feel burdened; go ahead. I find that coffee in the morning makes work go well. I have a lot to do today as well. Hehe.¡± ¡®What on earth is Lee Sooah¡¯s true self?¡¯ At times, she seemed ferocious like a beast, and at others, she appeared as gentle as amb. Moreover, she acted like she was extremely caring toward him. Of course, she had been this way during their first meeting too. ¡®Hmm. Do I look that weak?¡¯ He recalled what Manager Cha had mentioned in passing earlier. ¡®Hmm~ Maybe it¡¯s because Baek Jihoon is E-rank? Until now, we¡¯ve never had an E-rank in Team A. It¡¯s the first time ever. So maybe I just seem a bit weak?¡¯ There was some truth to that. Team A of the Blue Guild was a top-tier group. It wouldn¡¯t be easy for an E-rank to join. ¡®Then it could be that she¡¯s not in love with me but just feels pity for me.¡¯ Isn¡¯t there a maternal instinct in women? Seeing outstanding hunters might make an E-rank hunter seem adorable. ¡®Regardless, I need to focus on my own work.¡¯ He sat down at his desk. Lee Sooah also took her seat beside him. And then she started staring at him intently. ¡®C¡¯mon. Didn¡¯t you say you had a lot of work to do?¡¯ It was a bit awkward and embarrassing to point that out. To be continued¡­ Chapter 41 ¡°Um¡­ Ms. Sooah?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± I couldn¡¯t concentrate on my work at all. Lee Sooah was resting her chin on her hand, continuously staring at my face. There aren¡¯t many people who can solely focus on their tasks when someone is intently looking at them. Moreover, this person is S-rank Hunter Lee Sooah. I could confidently say that no one in South Korea doesn¡¯t know about Lee Sooah. She is that famous. And now, she was continuously watching me. ¡°Uh¡­ aren¡¯t you working?¡± ¡°I am.¡± She had already pushed aside the mountain of documents piled on her desk. It looked like she had a lot of work to do. ¡°What exactly are you working on?¡± ¡°Managing team members.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t help but let out a wryugh in my mind. What kind of team management is this? ¡°Is this usually what you do?¡± This waspletely different from what I had heard earlier. Hyungseok said the same on the first day. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry too much. You probably won¡¯t even run into Hunter Lee Sooah. You don¡¯t have to put too much pressure on yourself, and you shouldn¡¯t get your hopes up too high. You¡¯ll only get to interact with her after you¡¯ve been here for about three years.¡± This was not the case at all. Lee Sooah was piercingly observing me right now. It was an incredibly ufortable situation. ¡°Yes, this is how I usually am. I tend to act like this when a new person joins.¡± She was lying so nonchntly. Everyone said it took time to engage in a conversation with Hunter Sooah. After all, she was at least someone at the level of a small to medium-sizedpany CEO. ¡°What exactly do you do in team management¡­?¡± I asked carefully. I was concerned about potentially offending her. ¡°Um~ first, I need to see what they look like. And I also have to check what abilities they have~¡± ¡®What does that even mean by team management?¡¯ Knock, knock. ¡°Yes. Come in.¡± Her tone of voice suddenly turned icy. Just a moment ago, she had been chatting with me in a warm tone. Now she had an expression that seemed annoyed as if our conversation was disturbing her. Squeak. ¡°Haha¡­ I-I¡¯m sorry. Um¡­ I¡¯m here to give something to Hunter Baek Jihoon¡­¡± Manager Cha scratched his head as he came in. He hurriedly approached me and handed me what I needed to prepare. ¡°That Baek Jihoon. There are things the rookie needs to prepare when going to the dungeon.¡± ¡°Um, wait a minute, Manager?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± As Manager Cha was about to exin something, Sooah suddenly interrupted him. As a result, Manager Cha flinched. ¡°Baek Jihoon is still weak, right? Are you trying to send him to the dungeon already?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ yes? He¡¯s part of Team A, after all, and he¡¯s from Hunter ss 6 as well.¡± ¡°Jihoon is weak, weak. You can¡¯t put him somewhere dangerous.¡± ¡°Uh? Until now, all rookies¡­¡± ¡°Weak. Weak.¡± She emphasized the word firmly. ¡°Then¡­ what should we do¡­?¡± Manager Cha was slightly trembling, looking to Sooah for guidance. While he had been quite frank among us, now he resembled a trembling mouse. ¡°Um. When going to the dungeon, don¡¯t assign him to the attack group; please arrange for him to be always by my side.¡± In the world of hunters, there is a concept of formations. It¡¯s somewhat simr to militarybat formations. I sensed she was referring to that. ¡°Well, given that Baek Jihoon is the youngest, he would naturally be ced at the back¡­¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right~ But I still want him by my side. It¡¯s too dangerous, you know?¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± When Sooah raised her voice, Manager Cha couldn¡¯t say another word and simply sealed his lips. ¡°Then, what should the youngest do¡­?¡± ¡°Manager Cha?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± He was about to exin something while looking at me but got interrupted again. ¡°Ha¡­ Manager Cha, seriously, you have no sense of awareness, do you?¡± She shot him a re. ¡°Uh¡­ um¡­ since he¡¯s the youngest¡­¡± ¡°Why should the youngest take on all the unpleasant tasks?¡± ¡°Because that¡¯s how it¡¯s always been¡­ and, of course, it¡¯s important for him to learn¡­ and the seniors are busy¡­¡± ¡°Ha¡­ Are you really doing this in Team A? Shouldn¡¯t you protect and cherish a rookie who just joined?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ yes, yes. In that case¡­¡± With a perplexed expression, he took a few steps back and simply left. ¡°Ha¡­ I¡¯m really sorry. It seems like our Team A ispletely disorganized. They all need a bit of a wake-up call.¡± She gave a bright smile. ¡°Um¡­ but¡­ as the youngest¡­¡±@@novelbin@@ I thought this was perfectly natural. It had been like this in the military as well. ¡°Baek Jihoon. You don¡¯t have to worry about unnecessary things. I¡¯ll guide you step by step.¡± Her face brightened with a cheerful expression. * ¡°Ugh.¡± Manager Cha grumbled as he returned. ¡°Huh? What¡¯s wrong? Are youing back so soon?¡± Everyone peeked over to look at Manager Cha. ¡°No. Why is it that every time I try to say something, I get interrupted?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Our Team A has changedpletely.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± His bewildered look indicated he didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Our hierarchy used to be strictly hierarchical and obeying orders, right?¡± ¡°Yes¡­?¡± Since hunters risk their lives in dungeons, their nature is inevitably simr to that of a military structure. ¡°Then why¡¯s the deal? Baek Jihoon is the youngest, so he has to be protected, right~ that¡¯s what you¡¯re saying!¡± He mmed the stack of papers down on the desk with a mix of annoyance and confusion. ¡°Huh? Protected?¡± ¡°Yeah. Baek Jihoon is the youngest, so they¡¯re saying he needs protection. So he¡¯ll be pulled from the formation and kept close to Hunter Lee Sooah. And the youngest won¡¯t have any tasks.¡± ¡°Excuse me??? Then what about me¡­????¡± Suddenly, someone shot up from their seat. It was a Hunter who had joined three months ago. He looked quite happy at first since he had just been relieved of his position as the youngest. ¡®Hehe. Finally escaping from being the youngest. It was tough, but now I can breathe a little easier.¡¯ That was just a few days ago. ¡°What should I do? I just have to keep being the youngest?¡± After hearing Manager Cha¡¯s words, he slumped back down into his chair with a defeated expression. ¡°Huh? So I¡¯m being pulled from the formation? Doesn¡¯t that mean I¡¯m doing rear support?¡± ¡°Yeah. Ugh¡­ Reorganize thebat formation again.¡± ¡°Oh wow¡­¡± Everyone looked baffled as if questioning what the hell was going on. ¡°Hey~ Manager Cha, everything going well?¡± The Hunter ss 5 manager entered with a sly smile, poking his nose in. ¡°I heard a new rookie joined?¡± ¡°What do you want now?¡± ¡°Just trying to remind you that even with a new rookie around, it won¡¯t change things for us in ss 5.¡± ¡°Get out of here. Don¡¯t annoy me.¡± They were bickering back and forth. After finally sending the ss 5 manager off, Manager Cha sighed in frustration. ¡°Ugh, I seriously thought with a new rookie, we might finally have some realpetition. But now? This is practically like not having any reinforcement at all.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ I guess you can¡¯t even make any sound during the managers¡¯ meeting now¡­¡± ¡°Oh dear¡­¡± Manager Cha wore a somewhat awkward expression. He had hoped to turn things around with Baek Jihoon, but now he was caught in a strange situation instead. ¡°Manager, now that it hase to this, how about we just make use of Baek Jihoon?¡± ¡°Huh? Make use of him?¡± ¡°I mean, I think Hunter Sooah really likes Baek Jihoon, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Come on, that doesn¡¯t make sense. We joked about that before, but why would that happen?¡± Everyone thought it was utterly absurd that Hunter Sooah could have feelings for someone. Of course, they all desperately hoped it could be true, but it was generally unreasonable to think someone would fall for a newbie so quickly. ¡°Look, Manager Cha. Project A isn¡¯t just a mere hope; it¡¯s a necessity. We need to push Baek Jihoon so that Hunter Sooah will lend us her support.¡± Everyone nodded slightly in agreement. Maybe they could turn this crisis into an opportunity. ¡°Hey, everyone, get a grip! You¡¯re taking a joke way too seriously!¡± Manager Cha seemed to think everyone was taking the lighthearted talk about Project A far too earnestly. ¡°Seriously, Manager Cha, you don¡¯t get women at all. You talk about them all the time, so just wait; we¡¯ve got this.¡± The female assistants huddled together and started giggling. * ¡°Uh, Ms. Sooah¡­?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit too close?¡± She had moved from merely staring to sitting right next to me. ¡°Are you really working?¡± I sneakily nced at the documents piled on the desk, subtly prompting her. ¡®Get to work¡­ why are you glued to my side?¡¯ I was both bewildered and frustrated by the absurd situation. ¡°Why? I¡¯m just getting to know Baek Jihoon. Don¡¯t they do things like this in the military? Chief Warrant Officers observe new recruits¡ªit¡¯s normal!¡± She said this as if there were nothing wrong. ¡°Well, that¡¯s true, but¡­¡± ¡®But I don¡¯t think the Chief Warrant Officer would lean on the table, staring at your face while smiling like that¡­¡¯ I couldn¡¯t possibly concentrate on my work. Ding, ding, ding. Lee Sooah¡¯s smartphone rang. ¡°Yes, yes. What is it?¡± Once again, her voice turned irritated. That feeling again of why am I being disturbed? ¡°What? What do you mean¡­? Yes??? No, why!!!!!¡± Suddenly, she shot a nce at me. Then she stood up abruptly. ¡°No way. I object. Baek Jihoon is on my team. Who allowed this to happen?!!!!!¡± ¡®What¡¯s going on? Why is she reacting like this?¡¯ From her reaction, it seemed something rted to me hade up. ¡°I¡¯ll go up right now!¡± With an expression filled with anger, she stormed out of the office. Author¡¯s Note: Whoa. I woke up to some support that came in! Thank you, JIN Y, for your donation. I know I still have a long way to go and there are many areas for improvement, but I¡¯ll do my best to get better going forward. Chapter 45 ¡°Ugh¡­ ugh¡­¡± Chae Suhyeon barely regained consciousness. ¡°Ah. Patient, are you aware? Do you know what day it is today?¡± Fortunately, the nurse who hade into the VIP room where Chae Suhyeon was noticed that she was awake. ¡°Ugh¡­ ugh¡­¡± Chae Suhyeon attempted to say something to the nurse. However, no words came out of her mouth. ¡®Huh¡­? What¡­ what¡¯s happening¡­? Why¡­? I can¡¯t speak?¡¯ Her expression was one ofplete panic. Startled, she fumbled and moved her body around. Then she began fiddling with her mouth and throat. But there was no change. Chae Suhyeon still couldn¡¯t speak. ¡°Ugh¡­ ugh¡­¡± She reached out her hand toward the nurse, trying to gesture something to say. Her expression was quite frantic. ¡°Ah. Is there something you need, patient?¡± The nurse approached with a gentle smile. ¡°Uh¡­ uh¡­¡± Chae Suhyeon wanted to say something earnestly, but nothing wasing out. After some back-and-forth between Chae Suhyeon and the nurse, the nurse quickly went outside to call for a doctor, apparently realizing the issue. * ¡°Uh¡­ so¡­? Is it aphasia?¡±@@novelbin@@ ¡°Yes. It can be ssified as such symptoms or something simr.¡± The atmosphere was very heavy. The doctor and Lee Jinhyeok were engaged in a serious discussion. ¡°What in the world happened¡­?¡± ¡°It seems that something has urred that gave the patient a tremendous shock. Unless it¡¯s something significant, it¡¯s unlikely to cause this¡­¡± ¡®No. What suddenly happened? What the heck? An S-rank and still recovering so slowly?¡¯ Lee Jinhyeok¡¯s mind was swirling with various thoughts. It felt like something was tripping him up all of a sudden in the midst of a busy day. ¡°Will natural recovery happen?¡± ¡°That¡¯s something we can¡¯t say for certain either. Sometimes it happens¡­ sometimes the statests forever.¡± ¡°Ha¡­ this is maddening.¡± Just when he had just barely secured the top spot as an S-rank, suddenly aphasia struck. If she couldn¡¯t speak, her value would inevitably drop significantly. ¡®Damn it. Should I have bet on Lee Sooah instead?¡¯ Of course, Lee Jinhyeok had made countless advances toward Lee Sooah over the years. But it was aplete wall. There was not even the tiniest gap. In the midst of all that, he had discovered the rapidly growing Chae Suhyeon. ¡®Fine, I¡¯ll just nurture Chae Suhyeon instead if Lee Sooah, Yoo Hana, and Cha Ahyeon refuse.¡¯ Lee Suhyeon caught his eye when she reached B-rank. From that point on, he showered her with various gifts and immense funding. But just when he was about to officially announce that she was finally his, this happened. ¡®Ha¡­ How much have I poured into Chae Suhyeon until now?¡¯ He couldn¡¯t hide his anxiety. Just when it seemed that the funds invested would finally show effects, suddenly there was nothing he could do. He cast a quick nce toward the hospital room where Chae Suhyeon was. * ¡°Hey Suhyeon. Are you somewhat back to your senses?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Chae Suhyeon was staring nkly into space, almost like someone whose soul had left their body. And she slowly nodded. She seemed entirely dazed. Entering the hospital room, Lee Jinhyeok didn¡¯t seem to register in her mind. All that filled her head was Baek Jihoon. ¡®Why¡­? Why has ite to this?¡¯ ¡®Baek Jihoon¡­ has brought me to ruin¡­¡¯ ¡®Could it be that I¡¯ve made a terrible mistake?¡¯ ¡®Should I have just lived well with Jihoon oppa?¡¯ She continued to gaze into space. Her eyes began to feel slightly moist. As if she couldn¡¯t ept the shock she was experiencing. She activated her status window and slowly looked at her stats. Even after fainting and regaining consciousness, it remained unchanged. The status window waspletely empty. She had thought that even if Baek Jihoon took it all, she would still be at least C-rank. But that wasn¡¯t the case. It waspletely E-rank. She had plummeted to the bottom. ¡®All the benefits I gained from my Subus traits¡­ I¡¯ve lost them all¡­¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m finished¡­¡¯ She had been so happy for the past few years. She had grown at an insane pace. She could surpass all the hunters sheid eyes on. ¡®Did I¡­ get too greedy?¡¯ Chae Suhyeon¡¯s heart was gravely shaken. To fall from the top to the depths in just a few days was a shock beyond measure. ¡°Suhyeon, are you okay? It can recover naturally, you know? Let¡¯s wait a bit. Since you¡¯re S-rank, you should recover quickly.¡± Lee Jinhyeok wore a face of slight skepticism. * ¡°Stop all the news. There¡¯s no reason for useless information to leak out.¡± ¡°Understood. I¡¯ve already dealt with it to some extent. I also spread some false information abouting to the hospital for a health check.¡± Lee Jinhyeok was moving very busily. He also needed to keep an eye on thepetition with the Blue Guild. It had been very hectic days. ¡°Ha. I just needed to recruit Chae Suhyeon to surpass the Blue Guild in one fell swoop. It¡¯s so frustrating.¡± While he was burning with rage inside, he couldn¡¯t let it show outwardly. He maintained an effort to stay calm, thinking it would likely be nothing significant. ¡®Chae Suhyeon. This can¡¯t be some sort of trick, right?¡¯ There was a sense of unease in her heart. ¡®Should I have someone keep an eye on things?¡¯ * ¡°Ugh¡­ Baek Jihoon oppa¡­¡± Chae Suhyeon seemed to be spiraling into a state of despair. In the empty hospital room, she was just fiddling with her smartphone. ¡®Can I¡­ start over?¡¯ Her mind was in total disarray. On the surface, she was ranked first among S-ranks, but in reality, she was an E-rank with her points stripped away. She felt like there was nothing she could do. ¡®Ugh¡­¡¯ ¡®Huh?¡¯ As she gazed nkly at her status window, her expression brightened slightly. [Baek Jihoon: Enchantment Status 95/100] ¡®Did I have this?¡¯ It was something she had never seen before. In fact, except for Baek Jihoon, the rest of the men were almost one-night-stand levels, and Baek Jihoon had been the one who stuck around. ¡®Then¡­¡¯ It became clear to her. She felt that the enchantment status was gradually decreasing. ¡®It¡¯s only decreased by 5% so far? Then there¡¯s some hope, isn¡¯t there? Ugh¡­¡¯ Chae Suhyeon quickly began brainstorming. The problem was no longer Lee Jinhyeok or the Taeyang Group. What mattered most was to regain her previous status, no matter what. ¡®If I can somehow entice Jihoon oppa back to me¡­¡¯ ¡®Or maybe I¡¯ll have to cling to him.¡¯ Chae Suhyeon was being quite cautious. She was feeling a bit of reflection and regret about herself. Still, she had not yet beenpletely abandoned by Lee Jinhyeok. It felt like a fifty-fifty situation. ¡®Somehow, I need to seduce Baek Jihoon oppa again without being caught by Lee Jinhyeok.¡¯ ¡®If I¡¯m given another chance¡­ perhaps I can recover¡­¡¯ ¡®Baek Jihoon oppa¡­¡¯ She fell into deep thought. * ¡°Ugh¡­ Manager, isn¡¯t today¡¯s dungeon a bit underprepared?¡± ¡°Eh? Why? We¡¯re doing the same as usual. It seems like Lee Sooah has returned to her usual self, too.¡± Manager Cha nced toward Lee Sooah. Team A¡¯s Hunters were currently out at the National Museum dungeon. ¡°No. Isn¡¯t Lee Sooah Hunter acting rather scatterbrainedtely?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t she like that anyway?¡± ¡°Still, she didn¡¯t seem this dazed before¡­?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true¡­¡± ¡°Something feels off.¡± ¡°I thought about it, and it¡¯s probably because of Baek Jihoon.¡± ¡°Hmmm.¡± The department members showed an attitude that they couldn¡¯t quite ept Manager Cha¡¯s words. ¡°Ha. Manager, that¡¯s just something we joked about, right? You don¡¯t actually think Lee Sooah Hunter is really interested in Baek Jihoon, do you?¡± ¡°Based on the circumstances, it seems so. Have you seen how things went after Baek Jihoon went to the dispatch? Lee Sooah haspletely lost her mind, you know?¡± Lee Sooah was staring nkly into the void. She seemed to be alternating her gaze at the clock, as if waiting for something. ¡°Lee Sooah, have you ever acted like that? Have you ever been lost in thought like that? No, right? A workaholic like her has gonepletely off the rails.¡± ¡°Hmm. I don¡¯t really think Baek Jihoon is that charming¡­¡± ¡°Eh~ Love isn¡¯t determined just like that~ Maybe all the guys she¡¯s seen until now haven¡¯t been attractive to Lee Sooah Hunter at all~¡± Manager Cha wore a confident expression. ¡°Well, anyway, everyone be careful today~ Don¡¯t get hurt unnecessarily~¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Manager Cha approached Lee Sooah Hunter. ¡°Lee Sooah Hunter, shall we head in right away?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Lee Sooah appeared to be dazed. ¡°Oh? There¡¯s Baek Jihoon Hunter.¡± ¡°Eh? Where?¡± Lee Sooah suddenly jumped in surprise and started looking around. ¡°I think he just went into the dungeon?¡± ¡°Oh, Manager Cha, stop lying.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s true~¡± Manager Cha smiled like a sly fox. ¡°Baek Jihoon is right next to Yoo Hana. Ha¡­¡± Suddenly, she took on an angry expression. ¡°Oh no~ So have you been overshadowed by Yoo Hana?¡± Manager Cha deliberately made ament to provoke Lee Sooah. ¡°Manager Cha.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Are you going to write another report?¡± ¡°Haha, no?¡± Lee Sooah¡¯s warm words enveloped Manager Cha. ¡°Hmm~ But did you know?¡± ¡°What about?¡± ¡°I heard about Baek Jihoon Hunter¡¯s ideal type¡­¡± ¡°Yes? What is it?¡± Suddenly, Lee Sooah¡¯s eyes seemed to be lighting up. ¡°You can¡¯t just say it outright~¡± ¡°What is it!!¡± Lee Sooah burst out in anger. It seemed like she might twist his neck if he didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Didn¡¯t they say he¡¯s the best in the S-rank Hunter ranks~?¡± Manager Cha was spinning a tall tale. ¡°Really? Is that what they said?¡± ¡°Yes~ I think I heard that at a dinner gathering.¡± ¡°Manager Cha?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hurry up and start the ambush. We¡¯re in a hurry.¡± Lee Sooah stepped ahead before Manager Cha could respond. To be continued in the next episode. Chapter 47 ¡°Hmm.¡± The ss leader of Division 5 approached quietly and secretively. ¡°Hey, Manager Cha.¡± His voice was very cautious and low. ¡°What on earth is going on? How did thingse to this?¡± He looked at Manager Cha with eyes like a snake. ¡°Hehe. Manager Baek.¡± The two had been long-standing rivals for years, constantly bickering and arguing. ¡°What¡¯s going on? How is this situation unfolding?¡± ¡°What do you mean? Our Division 6 is about to be an elite group.¡± Manager Cha had a smug grin on his face, appearing quite pleased with the current situation. ¡°What? What do you mean? Why is Lee Sooah Hunter suddenly stepping up like that? And why is she concerned about Division 6?¡± ¡°Why do you call us ¡®Division 6¡¯? What¡¯s so great about Division 5?¡± ¡°Hehe. We¡¯re obviously far better, right?¡± They red at each other. ¡°I heard the pay is increasing suddenly? Is that true?¡± ¡°Yep. Gradually, rank by rank.¡± ¡°Are you kidding? Then what about us?¡± Manager Baek furrowed his brow, feeling not justpetitive but struggling to understand the situation. ¡°Hehe¡­ there¡¯s no Baek Jihoon Hunter in Division 5, you know?¡± ¡°Baek Jihoon? Oh, you mean that new guy who¡¯s rumored to be liked by Lee Sooah Hunter? That guy¡¯s an E-Rank, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Hehe. I trust my discerning eye¡­¡± ¡°Ha. What a joke.¡± Manager Baek of Division 5 grumbled and walked away. ¡°No, Manager! But really, what happened with Lee Sooah Hunter? What did she say that led to all of this?¡± ¡°No. I just casually made an excuse for Baek Jihoon. After that, Lee Sooah Hunter took the lead herself~¡± ¡°Lee Sooah Hunter? It seems like she hasn¡¯t taken a stand like this in years¡­ This is impressive, isn¡¯t it? Almost newsworthy!¡± ¡°Yeah, especially since the S-Rank Hunters have been worried.¡± The members of Division 6 wore expressions that seemed unable to adapt to the sudden changes. However, they were also filled with hopeful anticipation for the future. ¡°Oh ho ho. Speaking of Baek Jihoon, honestly, I underestimated him when I heard he was an E-Rank Hunter, right? I thought he was just being sent here for disposal.¡± ¡°Exactly. It felt like all the better talents were being taken by Divisions 1, 2, and 3, while we were left with the scraps. That side wouldn¡¯t even take less than a C-Rank¡­¡± ¡°Ugh. Could it be that the days of sunshine are finallying for Division 6?¡± ¡°Indeed! We should give it our best! I wonder if Baek Jihoon Hunter is doing well on his dispatch¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m worried unnecessarily. Surely, he¡¯s not quitting? He wouldn¡¯t get caught by Yoo Hana Hunter¡­¡± Everyone¡¯s expressions grew slightly dark at this thought. ¡°Let¡¯s all pay a bit more attention to Baek Jihoon Hunter. He might just be our lifeline.¡± Manager Cha wore a look that suggested he was plotting something new. * ¡°Hmm.¡± Yoo Hana continued to look at me with a strange expression. ¡°What¡¯s up¡­? Why does she keep looking at me like that?¡± ¡°Hmm. Baek Jihoon? Were you originally a Hunter? How long have you been a Hunter? Why are you still E-Rank?¡± She seemed genuinely curious and had many questions. I calmly answered her inquiries, avoiding the topic rted to Chae Suhyeon. There was no point in recounting bad past experiences. ¡°Hmm¡­ So you volunteered toe here? Why are you here as an E-Rank Hunter? The Guild Master of the Blue Guild is definitely not an easy person to deal with, you know? There must be a reason for sending you, Baek Jihoon¡­¡± She kept speaking without pause, ring at me intently. It felt like she had many suspicions. ¡°No, I don¡¯t even know. I was just sent here. Besides, I¡¯ve never met the Guild Master before.¡± What I wanted to say was almost at my throat, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to say it. ¡°Let¡¯s not create unnecessary chaos. If I just keep my head down and return to the Blue Guild quietly, everything will be fine.¡± This ridiculous dispatch. Of course, meeting that famous top star like this was a pleasant surprise, but¡­ I couldn¡¯t understand the current situation. ¡°Why is the Guild Master sending me? Is it just because I¡¯m E-Rank and disposable bait?¡± Being in a position where I didn¡¯t know the backstory was just confusing. ¡°Ugh, I should¡¯ve asked Hyungseok for more information.¡± Hyungseok had said he was busy with a meeting concerning undersea realm hunters. After heading down to Busan, he wentpletely off the radar. ¡°Nowhere to ask and feeling awkward.¡± I sat idly, feeling somewhat pointless. Yesterday, they had me doing various useless tasks, and today, all they did was stare at me and ask pointless questions. ¡°Ha¡­ Hey? Is there any chance we could look at the next schedule¡­?¡± Yoo Hana¡¯s manager cautiously spoke up, appearing wary and concerned. ¡°Hmm. Yeah, alright. I¡¯m fine with the schedule. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Huh? You¡¯re okay¡­? Why? Why are you okay?¡± ¡°What?¡± Yoo Hana red at her manager. ¡°No, you usually reschedule when things get tough, saying you¡¯re unwell. But now you¡¯re okay¡­?¡± ¡°Oppa, when did I ever do that? Aren¡¯t you being too harsh on me?¡± ¡°No¡­ clearly¡­ until now¡­ you have¡­¡± The manager¡¯s voice trailed off like an ant scurrying. ¡°Oppa, stop talking nonsense and hurry up and prepare the car.¡± ¡°Yeah. Hey, Baek Jihoon, you¡¯re going to drive the car now¡­¡± ¡°Oppa?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°You do it.¡± Yoo Hana was crossing her legs and flicking her fingers. ¡°Uh? Here, the ve¡­ I mean, Baek Jihoon¡­¡± ¡°O-ppa. Do it.¡± She said this in a very cold and intimidating tone. The manager went to do his job without a word. ¡®Sigh¡­ the atmosphere is really bad. I¡¯d rather be in the Blue Guild¡­¡¯ I felt an inexplicable pressure fill the space. It reminded me a bit of when I met Lee Sooah. Of course, I felt that Yoo Hana was on another level than Sooah. Lee Sooah was somewhat intimidating, but perhaps because there were many other people around, it wasn¡¯t quite like this. However, Yoo Hana had a demeanor and posture that made her seem quite difficult to handle. ¡°Hmm. Baek Jihoon?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Have you ever thought of being a manager?¡± ¡°Uh¡­? What?¡± I unintentionally blurted out a ¡°huh¡± because the statement felt so out of context. ¡®Manager? What on earth is this about all of a sudden?¡¯ ¡°No, Baek Jihoon. I feel like you would do well as a manager.¡± She was looking at me with a ratherplex expression. Her eyes were sharp, yet there was a strangely wavering feeling. ¡°I belong to the Blue Guild, you know?¡± ¡°Ha. So, it seems you really can¡¯tprehend what I¡¯m saying. I¡¯m asking if you¡¯d consider working under me, not in the Blue Guild~ that¡¯s what this means.¡± She rested her chin on her hand, appearing to ponder various things. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I haven¡¯t really gained enough guild experience yet. I¡¯ve only just joined.¡± ¡°You just joined? Really?¡± She furrowed her brow. ¡°Hmm. What¡¯s this? Do you have some grudges against the Blue Guild? Shouldn¡¯t you be groveling at my feet instead? What is this¡­¡± She had a very displeased expression as she pouted. ¡°Anyway, what would it take for you to be a manager?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± The conversation seemed to be drifting into a strange direction. ¡®Why does this keep happening?¡¯ ¡°Well, I¡¯ve never thought about it. I don¡¯t know enough to be a manager.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the point? A manager doesn¡¯t have to know everything. You just need to be beside me and manage well!¡± It seemed my answer didn¡¯t satisfy her, and she began to sulk. ¡®Isn¡¯t there already a manager doing well? I don¡¯t see any shortage of help.¡¯ ¡°Hey, Hana. The car¡¯s ready. Let¡¯s go.¡± The manager returned with a cheery smile, looking very pleased that Yoo Hana wasn¡¯t postponing her schedule. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go. The next shoot is the photoshoot, right?¡± Yoo Hana stood up with a haughty demeanor and stepped out the door.@@novelbin@@ * ¡°Ah~~ Yoo Hana, you look amazing!¡± ¡°Why do you look so beautiful today?¡± ¡°Give us a look here too.¡± ¡°Wow, incredibly sexy. I¡¯m really looking forward to the results today!¡± ¡°Now look this way a bit. Could you slightly tilt your head? Lifting your left leg a little would be great.¡± ¡°Ah~~ perfect! You¡¯re stunning!¡± The photographer continued to shower Yoo Hana withpliments. He seemed to be in a very good mood, just like her manager. Yoo Hana¡¯s manager was pping his hands from a distance, looking delighted. ¡°Yoo Hana! Just keep doing this! If you did this every day, wouldn¡¯t it be great? No tardiness! Work hard on the shoot! So beautiful~~¡± ¡°I was already beautiful, you know, photographer.¡± ¡°Oh, who doesn¡¯t know how beautiful Yoo Hana is? It¡¯s the attitude that¡¯s the problem!¡± ¡°Ha, why me? I¡¯ve been working hard until now!¡± ¡°We know you¡¯re working hard, but you¡¯ve beente and said a lot of things, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°When did I ever do that? I¡¯m not that kind of person!¡± Yoo Hana quickly nced in my direction. ¡®Hmm. Is she really that kind of person?¡¯ Of course, I wouldn¡¯t know how she normally acted, being just a regr public person. But seeing her joke around with the photographer didn¡¯t seem like she was a bad person. Her professional demeanor somewhat ovepped with Lee Sooah¡¯s. ¡°Alright, everyone. Now that we¡¯ve all rested, let¡¯s move on to the next shoot~~¡± ¡°Yes!!¡± The staff started to move busily. ¡°Excuse me¡­ um¡­ photographer?¡± Someone rushed in, looking flustered. ¡°Yeah? What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Lee Sooah has arrived¡­¡± ¡°Wait?? Lee Sooah? The S-Rank Hunter from the Blue Guild?¡± ¡°Yes¡­.¡± The photographer dashed out in a frenzy. ¡®Huh? Lee Sooah? Why is she here?¡¯ I felt a mix of delight and confusion. Chapter 48 ¡°Ah~~ Lee Sooah~~!¡± The photographer weed Sooah with a full bow. ¡°Hello.¡± A slightly stiff voice belonging to Sooah was heard. ¡®Huh? Why is she dressed like that¡­?¡¯ She hade in wearing an outfit that waspletely different from her usual style. Her makeup was clearly different too. Of course, it could be that I had only seen her in the Blue Guild up until now. She had always been in office wear before. But today, she was dressed up like a celebrity. ¡®What? Did shee for a photoshoot?¡¯ ¡°What?? Sooah is here?¡± Yoo Hana, who had beenfortably seated in the waiting area, jumped up. ¡°Oh no! My makeup isn¡¯t done yet.¡± ¡°Ah, the makeup isn¡¯t what¡¯s important right now.¡± She walked out with determination. ¡°Hey, Oppa, how does Sooah know toe here? Did she p a GPS on me? Why is she here?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Sooah, please don¡¯t get mad, just listen¡­ I told her.¡± ¡°What??????¡± Yoo Hana suddenly made an angry face. ¡°Why would you say that? Are you insane? Seriously?¡± ¡°No¡­ I had to say it, or she¡¯d kill me¡­ she¡¯s an S-Rank Hunter after all¡­¡± ¡°So what? You think she can take me on?¡± ¡°No.¡± The manager was slowly backing away. Yoo Hana reached Sooah. A showdown felt imminent. ¡°Lee Sooah? Why are you here?¡± ¡°Why? I¡¯m the team leader of Team A. I came here to make sure Yoo Hana isn¡¯t doing anything bad to our team member. It¡¯s part of my duties as a team leader, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Why would I do something bad?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve had 15 people from our Blue Guild resign under your watch, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Do you think there wasn¡¯t a problem with those people?¡± A tense power struggle was urring. ¡®What? Fifteen people quit? How terrible must it be to work under her?¡¯ Until now, I hadn¡¯t felt that it was especially bad or ufortable. It was only the second day, after all. ¡°See? You¡¯re doing well, Baek Jihoon.¡± Yoo Hana pointed at me. ¡°So now, can we leave? I really hate sharing the same space with her.¡± She shot a re at Sooah. ¡°Baek Jihoon. Are you ufortable at all? Has Yoo Hana mistreated you?¡± ¡°Oh, no. I¡¯m fine.¡± Sooah walked over and asked me that. ¡®It feels like the two of them are fighting because of me.¡¯ ¡®Why is Sooah all dressed up toe here?¡¯ I felt like I was sitting on a bed of nails. ¡°Yoo Hana, I¡¯ll be watching you. Don¡¯t mess with our Baek Jihoon.¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous, Lee Sooah. Don¡¯t cause a scene in someone else¡¯s workce and just leave.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do my job my way, so just mind your own business.¡± With that, Sooah walked over to the photographer. ¡°Photographer, do you remember you said before that you wanted to take pictures of me?¡± ¡°Oh, of course I remember¡­ I think I¡¯ve mentioned it about 316 times¡­ I¡¯ve sent you emails around 234 times too.¡± He seemed to be gauging her mood. ¡°But you always declined, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, but today I¡¯d like to try a camera test.¡± Suddenly, things took an unexpected turn. ¡°About five minutes should do, right?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Lee Sooah? Right now? Huhhh.¡± His expression lit up instantly. And he began to prepare in a hurry. ¡°Wait, photographer. Don¡¯t I have to shoot?¡± ¡°Oh, Yoo Hana~ you haven¡¯t finished your makeup yet~¡± Hearing that, Yoo Hana suddenly dashed back to the makeup room. ¡®What is going on?¡¯ An odd atmosphere filled the set. ¡®Are these people really arguing over me? Isn¡¯t that right¡­? It must be¡­?¡¯ It was a confusing mix of feeling good and uneasy. Two S-Rank Hunters were growling at each other in front of me. If this was truly because of me, it was utterly astonishing. ¡®Wow, Sooah and Yoo Hana are fighting over me.¡¯ ¡®What the hell? Is this even reasonable?¡¯ ¡®Crazy. Jihoon, you need medication.¡¯ ¡®Our Jihoon got dumped by Suhyeon, and now he¡¯spletely lost it, huh?¡¯ It was clear. Even my close friends wouldugh at me. ¡®It¡¯s not going to happen¡­¡¯ Click, click. The noisy sound of the camera shutter rang out, and shes were going off continuously. ¡°Wow, Sooah, do you always walk around like this? You look so beautiful today!¡± ¡°Yes, this is just the way I usually look. Please take some pretty pictures.¡± Sooah focused on her poses as she prepared for the shoot. ¡®What do you mean, just the way you usually look? It¡¯s clear you¡¯ve put in way more effort than in the Blue Guild.¡¯ I sneered internally. It was ridiculous to see her lie so casually. ¡°Wow. Sooah, since it¡¯se to this, why not debut in the entertainment industry? You¡¯re just too pretty!¡± Click, click. The shutter sounds kepting one after another. ¡°Should I? Well, if Yoo Hana can do it, I guess I could give it a try.¡± They were subtly engaged in apetition of their own. ¡°Tatata-tak.¡± ¡°Okay¡­ Photographer, I¡¯m all done with my makeup. Please, let¡¯s get the shoot started quickly.¡± Yoo Hana¡¯s expression appeared a bit frantic. Just a moment ago, she had seemed dominant over the photographer, but now it felt as if she was tucking her tail between her legs. I stood with my arms crossed, watching as Sooah posed for the shoot. ¡®She¡¯s indeed beautiful. She was already pretty, but she really shines when she dresses up like a celebrity.¡¯ I stared nkly. ¡°No, Baek Jihoon. What are you doing? If you¡¯ve been dispatched here, please focus on me. No matter how much of a team leader Lee Sooah is, she¡¯s here to work for me after all.¡± Yoo Hana quickly approached me and gripped my arm, pulling me away from Sooah. I had no choice but to be dragged along helplessly. ¡°Wow. Lee Sooah. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a need to continue. You¡¯re perfect. Perfect. Haven¡¯t you done a photoshoot before?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°You have the innate quality of a celebrity. Everything is an A-cut, A-cut. Truly wless. Nothing to discard.¡± The photographer flipped through the recent shots, marveling at them.@@novelbin@@ ¡°No, photographer. I just finished my makeup, you know? Please hurry up with my shoot.¡± Yoo Hana began to follow the photographer around like someone desperate for the restroom. ¡°Just a moment, Hana. Let me look at this and I¡¯ll get to you right away~¡± ¡°Hey, Yoo Hana.¡± Sooah nced at Yoo Hana and snorted. ¡°Ha. This is just ridiculous. Lee Sooah? Don¡¯t invade someone else¡¯s workce. Just leave already. Seriously.¡± Yoo Hana looked like she was about to explode. ¡°Uh, photographer? Please contact meter~ I¡¯m leaving for now~¡± Sooah casually waved goodbye and headed in my direction. ¡°Baek Jihoon. Get your act together. I¡¯ll see youter~¡± ¡®Huh? What do you mean byter?¡¯ I felt a bit dazed. Sooah exited with an air that suggested she¡¯d just demonstrated her worth. ¡®What? Is this for real? I feel a bit confused.¡¯ ¡°No, Baek Jihoon?¡± Yoo Hana rushed toward me and turned my body to face her. ¡°What exactly is your rtionship with Sooah?¡± ¡°Uh? We don¡¯t have any rtionship. Just the team leader and a rookie employee rtionship, I suppose?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie. She¡¯s never acted like this before. What¡¯s going on? What are you hiding?¡± She looked quite annoyed. ¡°I really don¡¯t have any rtionship with her. Nothing significant happened.¡± Her pupils were trembling slightly. * ¡®What¡¯s this? Just what happened?¡¯ Yoo Hana was reying the bizarre events in her mind. It was utterly nonsensical. Sooah had suddenly shown up on set and stole the spotlight entirely. ¡®What? This can¡¯t be right. Baek Jihoon, did you charm her? Right?¡¯ She bit her lip hard enough to nearly draw blood. ¡®What¡¯s up with Baek Jihoon? He has this mysterious charm that¡¯s hard to pinpoint¡ªa strange power that keeps drawing my attention.¡¯ Yoo Hana began to tremble slightly. ¡°Um¡­ Hana, I¡¯m sorry¡­ I told Hunter Sooah about this ce by mistake¡­¡± ¡°Hmph. No, it¡¯s okay. If anything, it seems to have made things more certain.¡± ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± ¡°Ah, you don¡¯t need to know. I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The manager quickly slipped away, sensing the tension. ¡®Is she so interested that she tracked down where I was? Right? And what¡¯s up with that outfit and makeup? Is she trying to be a celebrity? Isn¡¯t she supposed to act like a Hunter? What is going on?¡¯ Yoo Hana felt a bubbling frustration within her. She also felt her strange feelings toward Baek Jihoon intensifying. A peculiar and unclear sensation began to rise within her. Moreover, seeing Sooah act so strangely made it impossible for her not to be even more curious about Baek Jihoon. ¡®Out of the 15 people sent from the Blue Guild, they all resigned, right? But¡­ Baek Jihoon is different¡­ there¡¯s something strange¡ªsomething unattainable about him.¡¯ She couldn¡¯t shake the thoughts swirling in her head. * ¡°Excuse me, Baek Jihoon?¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± It was Yoo Hana¡¯s manager, looking extremely angry. ¡°Why is Lee Sooah here?¡± ¡°She asked me about the address earlier, so I told her¡­¡± ¡°Heh. Hunter Sooah asked where Baek Jihoon was.¡± He frowned, crossing his arms. ¡°What exactly is going on? No one from the Blue Guild has ever acted like this before.¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ I suppose so¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t really respond. ¡®It seems like Sooah and Yoo Hana arepeting for my attention. Maybe they both like me?¡¯ I couldn¡¯t say that, of course. I would undoubtedly be treated like a lunatic. ¡®Hmm¡­ I think I need to keep an eye on this. Until it bes clearer, I should avoid any rash actions.¡¯ I couldn¡¯t afford to be a madman consuming a whole pot of kimchi soup. Next episode viewing. Chapter 49 ¡°Thank you for your hard work today.¡± I could see that her expression seemed much better than yesterday. Yoo Hana. ¡®Is it because Lee Sooah barged in today¡­?¡¯ Regardless, it was good for me. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then, see you tomorrow.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After our brief exchange, we parted ways. ¡°Phew. Today was quite eventful as well. I wonder how Hunter ss 6 is doing.¡± Suddenly, the Blue Guild office came to mind. Although I had a very brief experience there, the atmosphere was vastly different from what I was currently involved in. It had its own charm. ¡®After all, working beside Yoo Hana is just temporary¡­¡¯ I recalled when Yoo Hana had asked if I had any thoughts about working as a manager. ¡®Hmm. Being a manager¡­ that might not be a bad idea.¡¯ ¡®Still, I have a lot of points right now.¡¯ Working as Yoo Hana¡¯s manager would certainly be enjoyable. Not just for me, but quite a few people would want that too. However, I had a surplus of points built up. For now, I decided to throw all of them into investments and think about what to do with the remainder. ¡®I¡¯ll invest my points this weekend.¡¯ I¡¯ve been so busytely that I haven¡¯t had time to thoroughly go through the massive skill tree. I felt that only with a longer period like the weekend could I properly focus on my Hunter skills.@@novelbin@@ * ¡°Oh. Ms. Sooah.¡± Upon arriving at the Blue Guild, I spotted Sooah standing alone. As expected, she seemed to be waiting for me again today. ¡°Oh. You haven¡¯t left yet?¡± It wasn¡¯t aste as yesterday, but I was technically about to miss the end of work hours. ¡°Hey~ Hunter Baek Jihoon. Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d prepare dinner for us today?¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± I remembered what I had said yesterday. ¡®Ha¡­ I just blurted that out in a rush.¡¯ I had been so busytely. There was nothing prepared for dinner or anything. My expression naturally turned awkward. ¡°Come on! Let¡¯s go! I¡¯m all set!¡± Sooah looked genuinely excited, wearing a bright expression. ¡°But I¡¯ve been so busy with worktely that I didn¡¯t get a chance to prepare¡­ maybe next time¡­¡± ¡°Oh~ Then we can just go grocery shopping together~ Hehe. Let¡¯s take my car!¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Yes¡­¡± For some unknown reason, feeling the pressure and urge from Sooah, I found myself agreeing to her n. ¡®What? Is this an incredibly expensive car?¡¯ Of course, it was. It¡¯s Sooah, after all. She wouldn¡¯t be driving anything cheap. What surprised me wasn¡¯t just the high-end car itself, but that she had previously taken the subway rather than using this. ¡®Are you kidding me? Why take the subway when you have this?¡¯ ¡°Get in~ We¡¯re going grocery shopping~¡± She seemed unusually thrilled today. Vroom. She stepped on it with noticeable excitement. ¡°How was Yoo Hana today? Did she say anything after I left?¡± I was quite curious. It felt like Sooah had intentionally barged into the set. ¡°Hmm. She looked a bit annoyed, to be honest.¡± ¡°Oh ho ho ho. She¡¯s my rival, you know. Well, not so much of a rival, I¡¯m still above her.¡± Smiling brightly. ¡°Hahaha¡­ But does Yoo Hana usually visit the set often?¡± ¡°No? Today was my first time. I don¡¯t think I quite fit in with the entertainment industry~¡± ¡°Then why did youe today?¡± I subtly prodded. It definitely wasn¡¯t just for my sake. ¡°Ah. Um¡­¡± She suddenly became flustered. ¡°Um¡­ It¡¯s just that one of our team members works under Yoo Hana, right? Yoo Hana, her personality is just the worst. Did you know that 15 people resigned under her? She¡¯s a total resignation-inducing disaster. I can¡¯t let that happen again.¡± Her expression shifted slightly, bing sharper. ¡°But why is Yoo Hana being dispatched to our guild?¡± I couldn¡¯t understand why at all. It was an unheard-of system. Of course, myck of knowledge about the Hunter Guild yed a part, but even so, sending someone who had left for an entertainment career seemed unreasonable. ¡°Oh, we usually send out dispatched workers to those we want to scout~ It serves both as cooperation and persuasion. She used to be from our guild, you know. Hehe. She left due topetition with me~ Anyway, the Guild Master wants to bring Yoo Hana back to our guild~ Since he¡¯s eager to gather S-Rank Hunters.¡± She was talking non-stop. It was clear she was feeling a little upbeat. ¡®Ah, so the Guild Master wants that¡­¡¯ My mind began racing. ¡®Then to gain the Guild Master¡¯s favor, do I need to entice Yoo Hana toe to our guild?¡¯ The Guild Master of the Blue Guild must be someone incredibly impressive. Initially, I wanted to be an S-Rank Hunter as well. That¡¯s why I had been working so hard with Chae Suhyeon. ¡®If it weren¡¯t for Chae Suhyeon¡­¡¯ ¡®Well, it¡¯s fine. I can just start again step by step.¡¯ Simply having a higher rank isn¡¯t enough; it¡¯s also important to build recognition by meeting various people in the Huntermunity. ¡®Getting closer to the Guild Master would be beneficial.¡¯ I saw this as one of the necessities for seeding as a Hunter. ¡°So, if I entice Yoo Hana, would the Guild Master like that?¡± ¡°Why!!!!!! Would you try to entice Yoo Hana!!!!!¡± Sooah suddenly yelled at the top of her lungs, nearly having a fit. ¡°Why would you go after someone like that!!??!! Baek Jihoon, I didn¡¯t see you as that kind of person. Your taste is really unique. She must have had some work done on her face, right? No? Well, anyway, she definitely wears makeup. Don¡¯t be fooled by her face. And just because she¡¯s a celebrity doesn¡¯t mean she has a great figure; thates from training! All the photos are heavily retouched. Don¡¯t believe it.¡± She started rambling at breakneck speed as she drove. Her intense reaction left mepletely speechless. ¡°No¡­ Ms. Sooah¡­ Didn¡¯t you mention that the Guild Master wanted to bring Yoo Hana back¡­? If I entice Yoo Hana to return to our guild, wouldn¡¯t that please the Guild Master?¡± ¡°Oh? Hmph. Uh¡­¡± She made a strange sound again and blushed, looking extremely flustered. The atmosphere changed dramatically in an instant. ¡°Oh. So that was what you meant. Hehe. You¡¯re probably right. The Guild Master would definitely be thrilled¡­ Hehe¡­¡± Then she focused on driving quietly, and the atmosphere became very awkward. ¡°Um, so if Yoo Hana returns to our guild, you wouldn¡¯t mind?¡± ¡°Me? Ugh. Why would shee here? We don¡¯t get along, and I¡¯m not a fan~ I feel like it would just ruin the atmosphere.¡± ¡°Aha. You seem a bit burdened by that.¡± ¡°Hah, what are you talking about? Me? Compared to her? No. I¡¯m above her. I¡¯ve always been better than Yoo Hana, you know? I¡¯ve nevergged behind her as a Hunter.¡± I tried to break the awkward silence, but it was getting increasingly strange. ¡°Well, that might be true, but since you moved into the entertainment industry, hasn¡¯t Yoo Hana been doing better?¡± ¡°Baek Jihoon, you must not read the news. I¡¯m doing great. What are you talking about? Did you see what the photographer said? I would do fantastic as a celebrity too! The only reason I¡¯m still in Team A is because I have a lot of responsibility toward my team. Ugh. It¡¯s ridiculous.¡± Sooah opened the window, showing her frustration. ¡°Hah. That won¡¯t do. Baek Jihoon, I somehow have to prove how much better I am than Yoo Hana because of you. Hah¡­ I can¡¯t believe this. And tell Yoo Hana toe! Whether she joins our guild or not, I¡¯ll take her down. I¡¯m not scared at all. What are you even saying?¡± It felt like she was starting to ramble in circles. I felt like I had identally pressed her ¡®frustration button.¡¯ ¡®Sigh¡­ Does Sooah really seem to like me¡­?¡¯ I began to observe her behavior closely. ¡®Or maybe she just really dislikes Yoo Hana¡­?¡¯ While I was curious, I didn¡¯t think this was the right time to ask. ¡®Maybeter¡­ I should find a way to ask subtly¡­¡¯ ¡°Hah, but, Baek Jihoon?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I have something I want to ask you.¡± Just as I was lost in thought, Sooah suddenly spoke up. ¡°Yeah? What is it?¡± I waited for her question. ¡°Well~ Both Yoo Hana and I have been seen in person, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then between the two of us, who do you think is prettier? Who¡¯s your type?¡± Pff. I nearly spat out the coffee I was drinking. That was a question I never expected. ¡°Uh? Why are you asking that all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Just~ I¡¯m curious~ It¡¯s okay to be curious sometimes. Hurry up and answer me. Come on.¡± She looked as if she would chop me up right there if I didn¡¯t respond. ¡®Sigh. I really need to answer this carefully.¡¯ ¡®What¡¯s the thought behind this question?¡¯ ¡®No, it really feels like she likes me. It¡¯s clear. That¡¯s why she asked that question.¡¯ ¡®But isn¡¯t she denying it? She keeps saying it¡¯s not her¡­?¡¯ ¡°Hmm¡­¡± I thought hard about my answer. It felt like I needed to say the right thing to keep things good moving forward. ¡®Maybe I should y hard to get.¡¯ If I just throw out what she wants to hear, it would seem like I¡¯m being led along. That wouldn¡¯t do. I need to make her reveal her own thoughts. ¡®Now, Ms. Sooah, what¡¯re your feelings?¡¯ I looked at Sooah and prepared to answer. She was waiting with a look that showed she was highly expectant. ¡°I think Yoo Hana is a bit more to my liking.¡± ¡°Wha?????¡± Screeeech. She suddenly mmed the brakes in the middle of the road. ¡®Damn.¡¯ Chapter 50 ¡°Lee Sooah!!!¡± I unknowingly raised my voice. It was only natural. After all, we hade to an abrupt stop on the eightne Southern Circr Road. Brrrrrrring!!! Cars around us red their horns like crazy. Some even shed their high beams as a form of protest. ¡°Ah, damn!!! Are you crazy, ma¡¯am? What do you think you¡¯re doing stopping suddenly here? You almost caused an ident! Get out!!! Right now!!! Just because you¡¯re driving an expensive car, does that make you special??¡± The driver behind us, seemingly flustered, approached Sooah¡¯s side of the car and knocked on the window. Swoosh. Sooah rolled the window down. ¡°What did you say? Ma¡¯am?¡± As soon as the window was fully down, she casually rested her arm over it. Sooah was exuding an enormous dark aura. An overwhelming atmosphere that made the surroundings eerily silent. ¡°Gasp¡­ Th-this is Hunter Sooah¡­¡± ¡°Say that again. Ma¡¯am?¡± Sooah shot a furious re at the person who had protested. With a gaze that felt like she could kill just with her eyes. ¡°Gasp.. Ah.. No, that¡¯s not it. Uh.. Have a safe trip!! I¡¯m rooting for your hunter activities. F-fighting!!¡± The driver of the rear vehicle hurriedly retreated without achieving anything. ¡°Baek Jihoon? Would you care to repeat that? What did you say?¡± Now the target was back on me. ¡°I think I misheard you. You said Yoo Hana, right? Please say it again correctly?¡± The atmosphere waspletely frozen. It felt as though I might lose my head if I answered incorrectly. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ I began to think calmly. The old me would have stepped back like a fool in this situation. But I, Baek Jihoon, would not be the kind of pushover anymore. ¡®Nah, I¡¯ll just shoot my shot. Can she even do anything to me? She seems to like me anyway. Life is a gamble after all.¡¯ ¡°Yes. It¡¯s Yoo Hana.¡± Against Sooah¡¯s strong stance, I boldly responded back. I spoke clearly, enunciating each syble distinctly. ¡°Huh???¡± Surprisingly, it was Sooah who was caught off guard. Since her attack clearly wasn¡¯t having any effect, she looked bewildered. Until now, acting like that had always made all the men back down. She was pretty and strong. How many men in South Korea could dare defy an S-Rank Hunter? ¡°It¡¯s Yoo Hana. Didn¡¯t you hear?¡± I began my counterattack. ¡°W-why? Why? Howe? I just can¡¯t believe it?¡± Her words turned slightly shaky as she appeared to tremble. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving first. You¡¯re blocking the road.¡± ¡°Ah. Yes!¡± Following my words, Sooah pressed the gas pedal once again. ¡®She¡¯s listening really well.¡¯ In that brief moment, I had be a man casually directing an S-Rank Hunter. ¡°Wait. I really don¡¯t understand. Yoo Hana? I¡¯ve never heard something like that in my life. It¡¯s Yoo Hana? Are you serious? My name is Lee Sooah, you know? I think you¡¯ve confused the names, Baek Jihoon.¡± She distinctly pronounced her name again. Her voice was increasingly tinged with indignation. ¡°Turn left here.¡± ¡°Ah. Yes. But I genuinely don¡¯t get it! You think Yoo Hana is better than me? Why? Howe? In every aspect, I¡¯m better than Yoo Hana!¡± She was extremelypliant. While driving ording to my instructions, she keptmenting her unfairness. From the way she spoke, it was clear she thought I would definitely choose her. With no doubt whatsoever. Yet, it seemed she was shocked when my response was about Yoo Hana. ¡°Surely Yoo Hana wouldn¡¯t have mmed on the brakes in the middle of a busy road, right?¡± I began to slowly draw out my points. ¡°Eh? Ah¡­ No, I¡¯m not that kind of person. I was just really startled back there. It¡¯s something I¡¯ve never done in my life. Really. No, Baek Jihoon. It¡¯s a misunderstanding. Can we treat that as a tie? Please. I mean, just because I made one mistake, is that really fair? People can get flustered sometimes.¡± She began to ramble nonsensically at my words. It felt as if she didn¡¯t even realize what she was saying. Then, contrary to how she had been a moment before, she suddenly began to drive much more smoothly. For sure, the car we were in was a sports car which didn¡¯t provide the best ride. But suddenly, her driving demeanor had transformed. ¡°I¡¯m really good at safe driving. What happened back there was a total mistake. A mistake. I¡¯m sorry. I won¡¯t do it again. However, isn¡¯t it a bit absurd? mming the brakes like that was rted to my appearance discussion, wasn¡¯t it? Now that I think about it? Why are you evaluating my looks in this conversation? You should be asking how I lookpared to Yoo Hana, right? Aren¡¯t I a better catch than her? I mean, seriously?¡± She continued to talk endlessly after that. I felt like I had pressed the button for a seizure very urately. Even without saying much, she kept muttering to herself, sounding regretful. ¡°How do I look? Which one of us is better?¡± She stopped driving and shot me a re. ¡°Hey, aren¡¯t you looking ahead?¡± ¡°No.¡± At my reply, she returned her gaze to the front. ¡°Ugh,e on. I¡¯m trying to drive¡­¡± She muttered as if she were slightly annoyed. ¡°I told you, it¡¯s Yoo Hana.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Sooah let out a very deep sigh. It was the kind of sigh I had never experienced before in my life. It felt like the earth was about to swallow me whole. Meanwhile, we arrived at the supermarket. *Tsk. If only I had prepared earlier, we wouldn¡¯t be in this situation.* How was I supposed to go to the supermarket with Sooah? It was bound to be a bit awkward. Taking the subway together had already been ufortable enough. ¡°Ugh. Baek Jihoon, I really don¡¯t get it. Are you sure you¡¯ve seen my face properly? Or are you just too close to Yoo Hanately? That must be it. You were with Yoo Hana all day, and you haven¡¯t been with me that much.¡± Sooah kept following closely behind me. I was moving quickly through the aisles, and she was hurrying to keep up. ¡°Hey? Isn¡¯t that Sooah?¡± ¡°Hmm? Where? No way. Why would Sooahe to this supermarket? It¡¯s not Gangnam.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Plus, it looks like she¡¯s with a guy. That¡¯s impossible. In a public ce like this, she wouldn¡¯t be following a guy like that. She¡¯s definitely chasing after him.¡± ¡°Yeah, that makes sense.¡± It felt like people were murmuring around us. ¡°Uh¡­ Excuse me, but is that really Sooah?¡± Ady passing by stopped, grabbed Sooah, and asked. She seemed too curious about it. ¡°Oh¡­ um¡­ no! I¡¯m not Sooah! Haha. I¡¯m not Sooah! Have a nice day¡­¡± Sooah looked a bit flustered, denying it and continuing to follow me. ¡°Uh, Baek Jihoon? I just asked a light question. I was just really curious, so I asked, but it seems like you misunderstood my question. You understood me correctly, right?¡± She kept leaning in, asking me. *Wow, she¡¯s really worked up¡­ Why is she so bent on this?* We had been talking about the same topic for almost 30 minutes now. The conversation couldn¡¯t move forward. ¡°Lee Sooah?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you know why I think Yoo Hana is prettier?¡± ¡°Why? Please tell me. Why??¡± ¡°Well, she came to the filming set wearing a pure white dress, and it looked really beautiful. I¡¯d never seen such an attractive girl in my life.¡± I just threw out any random words. If I didn¡¯t say something, Sooah would keep trailing after me, chattering away. The bigger problem was that people were continuing to stare at us. It was clear that I needed to calm Sooah down. ¡°Eh¡­? White¡­ dress¡­?¡± She seemed to be pondering something. It was certainly effective. Suddenly, everything fell silent.@@novelbin@@ *Phew. Now I can finally shop. I need to pick things quickly.* I regretted casually bringing up dinner; it had made things quite messy. *I¡¯ll just treat her to dinner¡­ phew¡­* ns started to form in my mind. *Well, I don¡¯t have to serve anything extravagant¡­ just something decent and send her off¡­* Regardless of whether Sooah liked me or not, she was a very daunting presence for me. Having here over for dinner was just absurd. *What? Hosting an S-Rank Hunter for dinner¡­?* Of course, Chae Suhyeon was also an S-Rank Hunter, but that had a different weight to it. My ex-girlfriend, Chae Suhyeon, had been with me since I was E-Rank, almost like family. In contrast, Sooah was a highly renowned Hunter known nationwide. The significance was clearly different. ¡°White¡­ dress¡­¡± Sooah was no longer chattering; it seemed like she was busy searching for something on her smartphone. * ¡°Phew. Is that really you, Lee Sooah?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Sooah had been glued to her smartphone since earlier. We had already shopped at the supermarket, returned home, and prepared dinner. She had worked hard to prepare, but now everything was too quiet. ¡°Uh¡­ I¡¯ve finished preparing everything¡­? It¡¯s time to eat¡­?¡± ¡°Oh! Yes, yes¡­¡± Sooah seemed to be having trouble focusing. *What¡¯s up with her? Did I say too much?* Her odd reaction made me suspicious. Next episode preview. Chapter 53 ¡®Is it already Friday?¡¯ This week felt like the most chaotic and eventful one in my life. Getting dumped by Chae Suhyeon, joining the Blue Guild, meeting Lee Sooah, and even being dispatched to Yoo Hana. Life seems filled with unpredictable events. I never imagined I would be acquainted with two S-rank hunters just a week ago. ¡®She¡¯s really pretty.¡¯ My thoughts about Yoo Hana were always like this. She was much more beautiful than what I had seen on TV. ¡®You need to look like this to be a celebrity.¡¯ Anyone who catches a glimpse of her would instantly understand. Anyone would fall in love if they saw her even for a moment. ¡°What are you doing? Do you have something on your face?¡± I must have been staring at Yoo Hana too intently. A slightly sharp remark flew my way. ¡°Oh. No, you¡¯re just so beautiful.¡± I identally let my true feelings slip. ¡°What?¡± Yoo Hana¡¯s face suddenly turned red. ¡°Don¡¯t say such things. I know I¡¯m not that pretty, so stop.¡± With that, she quickly went to prepare for the shoot. ¡®Why did I say something so foolish¡­?¡¯ After seeing Yoo Hana¡¯s reaction, I finally snapped out of it. ¡°Ah, Baek Jihoon-ssi. Saying things like that won¡¯t make Yoo Hana notice you~~~¡± Out of nowhere, the manager sat beside me and offered me a coffee. ¡°Phew, here, have this.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Click. ¡°By the way, how did you end up dispatched to our team?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°The 15 people who came before you were all A-rank or at least at aparable level, but you¡¯re supposed to be E-rank?¡± He was looking at me with a mix of caution and suspicion. ¡°Uh, right. I¡¯m not exactly sure. I was just ordered toe here suddenly.¡± ¡°Hmm, really? You honestly don¡¯t know? There¡¯s no way the Blue Guild would suddenly send you here without a reason.¡± He seemedpletely unwilling to believe me. ¡°It¡¯s true. I just joined this week.¡± ¡°Eh? This week?¡± His face scrunched up. ¡°Yes. I was told toe here on my third day?¡± ¡°Then where were you originally assigned?¡± His voice was gradually darkening. He didn¡¯t seem particrly pleased. ¡°I was part of Team A Hunter ss 6.¡± ¡°Eh¡­ Team A means you belong to Hunter Lee Sooah, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s why Lee Sooah kepting after you.¡± His expression showed that he understood something now. ¡®Then what did he think this was all about until now?¡¯ ¡°I thought that Hunter Lee Sooah came up with some excuse just to provoke our Yoo Hana¡­¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± ¡°But then what were you doing before? How did you end up in the Blue Guild? I wanted to go there too.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± I felt like the conversation was heading in a pointless direction, so I tried to brush it off. I felt I¡¯d be a really strange person if I talked about Chae Suhyeon. ¡°By the way, about Yoo Hana.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Do you think she mighte back to the Blue Guild?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I don¡¯t think so at all. She really hates being a hunter.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡®This might be a bit difficult after all.¡¯ Having parted ways with Chae Suhyeon, I have nothing to do but to rise to S-rank. In that case, Chae Suhyeon might regret it. What I wanted with Chae Suhyeon from the start was to be an S-rank hunter. I actually think it would be best for me to win over the S-ranks. That way, Chae Suhyeon would surely get upset and restless. If I take the ce she longed for, it¡¯s only natural to expect how she might react. To do that, I need to conquer each S-rank one by one. Winning over Yoo Hana would certainly bring me closer to what I want. If I could bring her back to the Blue Guild, it would be pretty good. I started thinking deeply. ¡°If I mention hunters in front of Yoo Hana, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll see a furious expression. Moreover, talking about the Blue Guild is even worse. Right now, epting a dispatch from the Blue Guild is something I¡¯m just barely managing. They only take me back because I¡¯m groveling at their feet~¡± ¡°Hmmm.¡± Exactly. What I should be doing is groveling before Yoo Hana. However, I thought doing that wouldn¡¯t resolve the situation. Until this matter was settled, I wouldn¡¯t be able to return to ss 6. Then I¡¯d have no choice but to resign. Just like the previous 15 people. But I can¡¯t just end up back in the Blue Guild after all this. I decided toe up with a slightly different strategy. * ¡°Hm¡­ Baek Jihoon¡­¡± Yoo Hana was lost in deep thought. ¡®Did he really say I¡¯m pretty?¡¯ ¡®Ha, right. What kind of obvious statement is that? Of course, I¡¯m pretty. Do I look unattractive?¡¯ ¡®Is he just trying to tter me? Does he think I¡¯ll like him for such insincerepliments?¡¯ EP.53 ¡®Hmph. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going back to the Blue Guild.¡¯ ¡®No matter how he tries to charm me, I¡¯m absolutely not falling for it.¡¯ She grumbled while having her makeup done. ¡®But why can¡¯t I get this Baek Jihoon out of my head? What is it? What on earth is going on?¡¯ ¡®Did he ce some strange spell on me? Why am I feeling like this?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ve never felt this way about anyone before.¡¯ She crossed her arms, showing her displeasure. ¡°Um¡­ Yoo Hana, is there something wrong with your makeup today¡­?¡± The staff member, who was working diligently on her makeup, froze in a state of panic.@@novelbin@@ ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll do better!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not about the makeup. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± She resumed her grumbling demeanor. * ¡°Okay, we¡¯re starting! Scene 138, let¡¯s go.¡± Yoo Hana was surrounded by numerous filming staff. It was the peak scene of a fairly popr drama. Today was an important day for filming a crucial moment. ¡°Jinseok, do you think¡­ you might take me back?¡± This was a scene where Yoo Hana¡¯s character, set up as a tremendous viin, regretted her actions and clung to the male character once more. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. If you just give me one more chance¡­ I was so foolish¡­¡± Yoo Hana was doing her best to act. ¡°Cut. Huh¡­¡± Suddenly, the cut was called. ¡°Yoo Hana¡­?¡± The director had a slight frown, mixed with an apologetic expression. ¡°It seems like you¡¯re a bit unfocused today. I wonder why? You¡¯ve been doing well so far? And you know today is the highlight scene, right? But¡­ how should I put it¡­ it doesn¡¯t feel sincere.¡± He looked quite disappointed. ¡°Is it bad?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not bad, just¡­ it could be better.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the same thing!¡± ¡°No, no~ I just want you to focus a little more~¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Yoo Hana returned with a bit of hurt pride. Then the second take began. ¡°Please¡­ please look at me again. I admit everything was my fault.¡± ¡°Cut.¡± Once again, the director seemed dissatisfied. ¡®Hmm. Isn¡¯t this okay? What more does he want?¡¯ Naturally, I was watching from a distance as Yoo Hana acted. Being a celebrity¡¯s manager is indeed busy and tough. But during the filming, there wasn¡¯t much for me to do. There was nothing to assist with. ¡°Ugh. The angle isn¡¯ting out the way I want it~¡± The director kept scratching the back of his head, still not pleased. ¡°Is this also not good? I worked really hard.¡± ¡°I think Yoo Hana has never truly experienced regret. Therefore, there¡¯s no sense of boiling emotions. It¡¯s not that she is the problem¡­ I just don¡¯t know how to exin it? Various feelings of guilt, reflections on the past, and self-examination need to be felt~ That way, you can impact the person receiving the apology too~¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Yoo Hana had a thoughtful expression. But she still looked confused. ¡°Ugh¡­ let¡¯s try again¡­ if this doesn¡¯t work, we might have to postpone this scene¡­¡± Yoo Hana had a look that said that wasn¡¯t an option. She was determined to finish this. ¡®Sigh. Is there anything I might be able to help with?¡¯ Watching the repeated cuts was beginning to frustrate me. ¡®I wonder if I¡¯ll be leavingte today too.¡¯ Status window. I opened Yoo Hana¡¯s status window. ¡®There should be stats rted to her acting¡­ hmm¡­¡¯ ¡®I found it.¡¯ There were so many types of stats, some I didn¡¯t even notice before began catching my eye. ¡®Hmm. Regret-rted emotions¡­ let¡¯s adjust a bit of this and that¡­¡¯ Not wanting to mess things up, I decided to take a small test. ¡®Will this help her at all?¡¯ ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go~~~ Action!¡± ¡°Jinseok!!!!¡± Yoo Hana rushed towards the male actor. Her face began to fill with sadness and remorse for her past actions. Her eyes were starting to get misty. It was as if she was recalling each of the actions she¡¯d taken one by one up until now. She asionally trembled and shook. ¡°Please¡­ forgive me¡­¡± Her voice trembled more and more. And with a face overflowing with grief and regret, she looked up at the male actor. ¡°I¡­ was wrong¡­¡± The whole filming set fell silent as if everyone was holding their breath. For a brief moment, all eyes were riveted on Yoo Hana, creating a tremendous immersion. Next episode preview. Chapter 54 The filming set was enveloped inplete silence. Just a moment ago, there had been rustling sounds here and there, but now it was utterly quiet. ¡°Jinseok, it has to be you, no one else. You know that.¡± Yoo Hana tightly clung to the male actor. She was practically trembling, as if the feeling could be sensed even from a distance. With tear-brimmed eyes, she buried her face in the male actor¡¯s chest. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ pleasee back¡­¡± ¡°O¡­ okay!!!!¡± The director, visibly excited, yelled out the okay signal with a tremor in his voice. ¡°Oh¡­ no¡­ Yoo Hana!!!¡± Then, in a rush, he sprinted towards her. ¡°Yoo Hana, are you going crazy? Why are you acting so well all of a sudden? Wow, just a moment ago, I unconsciously thought I should take back that wicked Cha Ji-hye! Wow~¡± The atmosphere was electric with excitement. ¡°What was that just now? Are you insane?¡± ¡°Wow, I¡¯ve been working as a filming staff for ten years, and that just gave me chills.¡± ¡°I seriously thought you deserved an honest apology and regret. That was phenomenal!¡± The staff were all expressing their astonishment, whispering to one another. ¡®What¡¯s going on? Is this actually working?¡¯ I too couldn¡¯t help but feel startled. I had only made slight adjustments, yet the results werepletely different. ¡°No, seriously. Yoo Hana, I¡¯m not joking; with just that one scene, you might win the Best Actress award this year! Wow¡­ I might need to ask the writer to tweak the ending a bit.¡± I could see the director pping his hands, trailing after Yoo Hana with excitement. ¡°Really¡­?¡± Yoo Hana was gently wiping away the tears that were welling up in her eyes. She seemed to be getting herself together for the next shot. ¡°I mean it! That Best Actress award you¡¯ve always wanted? This time it might actually be possible. See, I told you that ying a viin would bring out your best performance. My judgment is spot on!¡± The mood shifted dramatically. What had felt dull just a moment ago suddenly transformed into something vibrant. ¡°Phew~ Yoo Hana, take a little break, and let¡¯s get ready for the next scene.¡± She wore a beaming smile. ¡°Baek Jihoon?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Follow me.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Yoo Hana pulled me along to the makeup room. ¡°Ha¡­ Baek Jihoon?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°How was my acting just now?¡± ¡°Um¡­ it was absolutely amazing!¡± It was clear. If Chae Suhyeon had clung to me like that, I might have been tempted to fall for her without realizing it. ¡®No, that little b*tch shouldn¡¯t be let off the hook.¡¯ Of course, I regained myposure. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. Was that your usual acting?¡± I spoke nonchntly. It was evident that the results were a consequence of my adjustments, but that wasn¡¯t what mattered. ¡°I¡¯m not usually this good, you know?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But ever since you came, it¡¯s suddenly changed?¡± ¡°Uh.¡± I was momentarily at a loss for words. ¡®Ha¡­ You know, Yoo Hana is really perceptive. So Jihoon, be careful. Don¡¯t give her any reason to catch you off guard with anything. Just do your best not to give her a reason to pick at you~¡¯ I recalled what Lee Sooah had cautioned me about. ¡®Has she figured it out?¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m just asking this just in case, but¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have any traits of manipting others, do you?¡± A very keen observation. No one had approached me so closely before. ¡®Is it because she¡¯s S-Rank? No, that can¡¯t be right. Thinking that, what about Lee Sooah¡­¡¯ Clearly, Lee Sooah had just seemed a little off. ¡°Hmm¡­ that¡¯s right.¡± After a moment of contemtion, I decided to admit it. Of course, based on past patterns, I knew that no one would have believed me regardless of what I said, so I just decided to go for it. ¡°Just as I thought. That makes sense.¡± ¡®Huh?¡¯ Yoo Hana nodded and looked at me. ¡®Did she just acknowledge my trait?¡¯ No one had ever understood my capabilities like that before. It had felt as if exining it waspletely forbidden, but she was the first to show that kind of understanding, aside from Chae Suhyeon. ¡°So, could it be¡­ that you did something just now?¡± She started to re at me intently. It seemed she was having quite a perplexed thought process. ¡°Yes¡­ yes¡­ the director was saying a lot, so¡­¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± There was no choice but toe clean. I didn¡¯t want to stayte today either. The biggest downside of being a celebrity¡¯s manager is that if filming drags on, you¡¯re stuck workingte too. What should have wrapped up at 3 PM would end up extending to 8 PM; it could be maddening. ¡°Well, that was good. Very well done. I liked it. I think I¡¯m starting to like you, Baek Jihoon.¡± EP.54 ¡°Uh¡­.¡± The manager, cautiously opening the door to enter, was startled by thestment. ¡°Ha¡­ Hana, how could you say something like that¡­¡± ¡°Ah, Oppa. It¡¯s not like that, so you should step outside. I¡¯m talking with Baek Jihoon.¡±@@novelbin@@ ¡°Uh¡­ Okay¡­¡± He quickly closed the door and dashed out. ¡°Jihoon, remember what I mentioned yesterday?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°About whether you¡¯d consider being a manager.¡± ¡°Oh. Well, no, I¡¯m not interested.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°I¡¯m nning to be an S-Rank Hunter.¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± She suddenly burst outughing. ¡°No, Jihoon, you¡¯re an E-Rank Hunter. Isn¡¯t it hopeless to be E-Rank by that age?¡± Of course, it made sense. I had wasted so much time on Chae Suhyeon. To others, I would appear as if I had been unemployed for years. But they didn¡¯t know I had a ton of Points saved up. ¡®Sigh. I really need to sort out all my Points this weekend.¡¯ It seemed the only way was to quickly rise to S-Rank. ¡°Hunter, give up. How abouting to work for me? I¡¯ll pay you very well. I really like you, Jihoon. I don¡¯t know what that power of yours is, but I¡¯d love for you to use it for me. It means I want you to stay by my side.¡± Yoo Hana spoke earnestly and at length. It seemed she was really pleased with her acting just moments ago. ¡°Well, I have things I need to do first.¡± ¡®Being a celebrity¡¯s manager? That¡¯s preposterous. I need to be an S-Rank first, achieve my original goals¡­ and definitely give Chae Suhyeon a taste of her own medicine¡­¡¯ The deeply moving performance Yoo Hana had just delivered was something I had to extract from Chae Suhyeon. I couldn¡¯t just let that slide and be a celebrity manager, no matter how good the offer was. ¡°Ugh¡­ it¡¯s frustrating. What¡¯s it to you? Bing an S-Rank Hunter? What use is that? I¡¯m an S-Rank Hunter, you know? Yet here I am, doing this celebrity work. All it does is give me headaches. I¡¯m just being used here and there.¡± She spoke as if she really despised being an S-Rank Hunter. ¡°What conditions do you want? I¡¯ll meet all your wishes. If you want to be my manager, what do I need to do?¡± Yoo Hana seemed to adopt a very submissive posture. It was apletely different situation from what I had known so far. She was said to be capable of beingbeled a tyrant. After all, she was an S-Rank Hunter and also an S-Rank celebrity. No one could stop her. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, I¡¯m not interested in being a manager. Once this project is finished, I n to go to the Blue Guild and work as an S-Rank Hunter.¡± ¡°Ha¡­ you¡¯re really a frustrating person. Could it be¡­ because of Lee Sooah?¡± She asked in a sharp voice. ¡®Why is she bringing up Lee Sooah here?¡¯ ¡°Are you seeing her? Is that it? You¡¯re dating Sooah, right? She wouldn¡¯t act like that otherwise. She¡¯se here twice now!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that. Hunter Lee Sooah just came to visit.¡± Though I knew that exining wouldn¡¯t help. ¡°Don¡¯t give me that nonsense. Well, saying you¡¯re dating Sooah doesn¡¯t make sense either. She wouldn¡¯t obsess over anyone like that. She¡¯s very tough to get through to.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Ha ha¡­ I get it.¡± ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m open to epting all conditions. Once you¡¯ve thought about it ande up with your terms, let me know.¡± * ¡°Hmmhm~¡± Lee Sooah, dressed in a white dress, was diligently tackling her backlog of work. Seemingly in a good mood, she hummed whilepleting paperwork at an almost invisible speed. Knock, knock. ¡°Yes~~¡± ¡°Uh, Hunter Lee Sooah?¡± ¡°Yes, Manager Cha~¡± ¡°Is there something good happening today?¡± ¡°Oh, not really~¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ then could you please approve this?¡± ¡°Yes~~¡± In an instant, she read the document and stamped it vigorously. ¡®What? Did that get resolved this quickly?¡¯ Manager Cha felt both pleased and perplexed. ¡®Is she expecting something today¡­ should I just wait until the end of work to see what¡¯s going on¡­?¡¯ ¡°What are you doing just standing there? I¡¯ve already approved that!¡± ¡°Ah, yes. But are you really sure nothing¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Would you like me to create something for you?¡± Lee Sooah¡¯s expression turned ominous. ¡°Eek. No, it¡¯s fine.¡± Manager Cha quickly closed the door and exited. ¡®Hmm¡­ how suspicious¡­ Her outfit and mood seem like she¡¯s about to go on a date with Baek Jihoon!¡¯ Chapter 56 ¡°Ah, my head.¡± Last night, I had a casual beer with Lee Sooah. There wasn¡¯t anything particrly special about it. I just listened to her ramble on about various things for an hour. She mostly rambled about her past experiences. ¡®It seems like I don¡¯t really match beer well.¡¯ I had a slight headache. ¡®Today is Saturday. I¡¯ll take the Hunter ssification test¡­¡¯ Finally, a break had arrived after a busy week. * Creeeak. I stepped out of my house to take the Hunter ssification test. I was set to promote from E-Rank to D-Rank. Since I had already invested all the necessary stats in advance, I had no worries at all. ¡°Ah, damn. You scared me.¡± I opened my front door and was shocked. ¡°What are you doing here, Ms. Sooah?¡± Lee Sooah was standing in front of my door. It was quite a bewildering situation. ¡°Uh, well¡­¡± ¡°Sooah, why are you at my house?¡± I felt a slight chill crawl up my spine. ¡°Well¡­ I somehow thought that Yoo Hana mighte by today¡­ and I was a little worried about Jihoon.¡± ¡°No way. Why would Yoo Hanae here out of the blue?¡± That didn¡¯t make any sense. Of course, Sooah being here was also nonsensical. ¡°But, um!! Where are you going?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m going to take the Hunter ssification test. I was nning to promote to D-Rank today.¡± ¡°Ah? Really? Then let¡¯s go together!!!¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m the S-Rank Hunter, Sooah. I know the ce well. Isn¡¯t this your first time, Mr. Baek Jihoon?¡± Strictly speaking, it wasn¡¯t my first time. Naturally, I had gone frequently with Chae Suhyeon. ¡°Yeah¡­ well¡­¡± I yed along, pretending not to know. I didn¡¯t want to bring up Chae Suhyeon unnecessarily. ¡°Hehe. Then let¡¯s go together!! I¡¯ll guide you.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± * ¡°Eh??? Ms. Sooah???¡± Amotion erupted at the Hunter Grade Assessment Center. Because S-Rank Sooah had arrived. ¡°Why are you here¡­?¡± ¡°Wow¡­ Ms. Sooah! It¡¯s an honor to meet you in person.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ Ms. Sooah, you¡¯re even more beautiful in person.¡± People started flocking around us in excitement. ¡®What the? Sooah really has a lot of fans.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t that I didn¡¯t know that Sooah was popr. But today, since I was proudly walking beside her, people surrounded us wherever we went. ¡®Of course, being close makes it hard to perceive that aspect.¡¯ After spending a week hanging out with Sooah, I had gotten somewhat used to her. Clearly, judging by people¡¯s reactions, Sooah was a major star. ¡°Hehe¡­ We¡¯re here for our Team A member¡¯s rank promotion.¡± ¡°But you¡¯ve nevere here before, right? What¡¯s the asion?¡± ¡°Haha¡­ please don¡¯t say that¡­ Haha¡­ I¡¯ve been here¡­ a lot¡­ right? This isn¡¯t the first time, is it?¡± She spoke clearly and with emphasis. The staff at the Hunter Grade Assessment Center sensed the atmosphere and awkwardlyughed, agreeing with Sooah. ¡°Haha¡­ yes¡­ that¡¯s right¡­ Ms. Sooah¡­ you havee here often¡­ Haha.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Mr. Baek Jihoon? You¡¯re E-Rank?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After looking over the documents I filled out, the staff raised an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°Oh. Is it possible for an E-Rank to enter Team A? I didn¡¯t know that. I thought only C-Rank or above could join the Blue Guild.¡± ¡°Come on~ Does rank really matter now? What¡¯s important is future potential. Our Baek Jihoon Hunter will be an S-Rank Hunter. I¡¯ll make sure of it.¡± She had a slightly intimidating expression. ¡®Why does she say she will make me? I could do it by myself anyway.¡¯ ¡°Are you all set? I think we can start the procedure right away.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I had already prepared the appropriate stats to promote to D-Rank. Unfortunately, no matter how many points I had, I couldn¡¯t promote directly to S-Rank all at once. There was a huge scandal that had caused an uproar across the country once, which is why. Moreover, if there was too much of a difference between actual rank and ability, it would draw government scrutiny. I didn¡¯t want to deal with that hassle. ¡°Uh¡­ it is confirmed. There doesn¡¯t seem to be any issues. You will be recognized as D-Rank from now on. Here¡¯s your registration certificate.¡± After various tests and checks, everything went smoothly. It seemed that because it was a low rank, there were no additional procedures to go through. ¡°Wow! Now you¡¯re D-Rank, Jihoon! That¡¯s great!¡± Sooah loudly congratted me from the side. ¡®What¡¯s the big deal about being D-Rank¡­ you¡¯re S-Rank, after all.¡¯ Four more times like this and I¡¯d be an S-Rank Hunter in no time. ¡®Chae Suhyeon. Yeah. Just you wait. I¡¯ll be an S-Rank soon. Then, you¡¯ll get on your knees and cry!¡¯ ¡°Scenes that Yoo Hana yed came to mind.¡± ¡°Jihoon?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Shall we go out to celebrate this meal?¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± It definitely felt like she was making an effort to stay by my side no matter what. ¡®Well, I can¡¯t refuse. There¡¯s really no reason to say no.¡¯ * ¡°How about this ce?¡± Sooah asked while eating her steak. ¡°Haha¡­ it¡¯s tasty and all but¡­¡± I looked up and nced around. Everyone in the restaurant was whispering and looking at us. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit too conspicuous? Everyone¡¯s staring at us.¡± ¡°Oh, what does it matter? We can just say we came to celebrate our team member¡¯s promotion.¡± ¡°But if that¡¯s the case, all the team members should be here too. And this is usually a restaurant for couples, right?¡± ¡°Eh~ I told the other team members to take a break since it¡¯s the weekend. Plus, we can just say we¡¯re a couple.¡± Cough, cough. I nearly choked on my food without thinking. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°I mean~ if anyone says something, just say that.¡± ¡°Sooah, do you like me?¡± ¡°No!!!!!!¡± She reacted strongly again. It was clear that it was due to her enchantment resistance. ¡°Ha. Baek Jihoon. Just to rify, this is definitely not what you think. I will draw a line here. This is all for our team.¡± ¡®What¡¯s going on? She¡¯s acting like a robot, repeating the same thing.¡¯ ¡°Then we can¡¯t even say we¡¯re a couple. People might misunderstand, right?¡± ¡°Ah~ I just mean it like that.¡± ¡®What is this? She doesn¡¯t like me, yet she follows me around¡­¡¯ Her behavior was too obvious, but she was absolutely refusing to admit it. ¡®Hmm. I wonder how I can get her to acknowledge it.¡¯ ¡®Of course, it¡¯s not a significant matter. But still.¡¯ ¡°By the way, Jihoon.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I have a question. What are you going to do in the future?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± I pondered for a moment. How should I say it? ¡°There¡¯s someone I want to make regret their actions. I¡¯m going to focus on that.¡± I spoke in a slightly stiff and firm tone. ¡®No matter what, just seeing Chae Suhyeon cry would be satisfying.¡¯ ¡°Regret? Why?¡± ¡°Ah, someone did something very unforgivable to me.¡± ¡°Um¡­ what do you think would make that person regret their actions?¡± ¡°Well, first, I think I¡¯ll need to be an S-Rank Hunter and seed.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Sooah had a look of genuine interest. ¡°Great! It seems our goals are somewhat aligned!¡± Her voice sounded cheerfully motivated. ¡°Then let¡¯s work hard together! You¡¯ll be an S-Rank Hunter, and I¡¯ll reim my spot as the number one S-Rank Hunter. You know Chae Suhyeon, right?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but flinch. ¡°Yes, I know her very well.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ Chae Suhyeon took my spot this time. Because of that¡­¡± Sooah had an expression as if she could hardly contain herself. ¡°I have several Hunters I dislike, including Yoo Hana. But now Chae Suhyeon has been added to that list.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ I see.¡± I had no idea what to say in response. ¡®Well, that¡¯s actually because I heavily invested in Chae Suhyeon.¡¯ It was clear that Sooah was not pleased with Chae Suhyeon being first. If she found out that I contributed to that result, my life in the guild would surely beplicated. ¡°Ugh¡­ She¡¯s really amazing, isn¡¯t she? How did she rise so quickly in such a short time? Someone must have helped her, right?¡± ¡°Haha¡­ indeed¡­¡± Once again, I found myself at a loss for words. Because it was the truth. I helped her. ¡®She keeps making subtle jabs¡­¡¯ ¡°Hmph. It doesn¡¯t matter. If yesterday¡¯s words from Baek Jihoon Hunter are true, I can be number one again. Since I can manage all the status ailments!¡± Sooah was beaming with a bright smile. ¡®Thank goodness. She seems to be in a good mood.¡¯ ¡°So, you see¡ª¡± Her expression turned slightly dark. ¡°Baek Jihoon Hunter, don¡¯t even think about going elsewhere. You must stay near me. Got it? No matter if it¡¯s Yoo Hana or Chae Suhyeon, don¡¯t be swayed by any S-Rank Hunter. You understand?¡±@@novelbin@@ Sooah was slicing her meat with an intense, fierce expression. ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Why are you so quiet?¡± Suddenly, she stabbed her fork into the meat with a rather aggressive gesture. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Yes¡­ for now¡­ I understand¡­¡± ¡®No way¡­ she isn¡¯t going to be overly clingy, is she¡­?¡¯ I chose to believe that the aloof Sooah wouldn¡¯t be like that. Next Episode Chapter 59 ¡°Hello~~¡± With a jingling sound, a woman entered the shop. ¡°Uh¡­ Could it be¡­ Hunter Lee Sooah, S-Rank¡­??¡± The shopkeeper looked as if she was about to fall over in shock. ¡°No way. What brings Hunter Sooah here to Sillim¡­?¡± ¡°Oh, ho ho. Just a little errand¡­ ho ho¡­¡± ¡°What kind of errand¡­¡± ¡®No, I heard rumors about Hunter Lee Sooah showing up around heretely, but is it actually true¡­?¡¯ The shopkeeper seemed unable to believe what was unfolding before her eyes. ¡°I, uh, have a favor to ask¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Would it be alright if I installed some CCTV around here~~¡± ¡°Uh?? What CCTV?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a bit of a secret¡­ heh heh¡­ I just want to install CCTV that monitors the street¡­ heh heh¡­ In exchange, I¡¯llpensate you like this.¡± She sneakily handed over a piece of paper with an amount written on it. ¡°Eh?¡± The shopkeeper wore a nk expression, unable toprehend the situation. ¡°No¡­ what the¡­?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about invasion of privacy. With AI, I¡¯ll only target what I want filmed~ It¡¯s just for tracking movement~~ ho ho.¡± After pondering various matters at home for a while, Sooah had suddenly jumped up and began taking action. ¡°Ah¡­ But I still need to get consent¡­¡± * ¡°I¡­ I want to do this¡­¡± She also visited thendlord of the building where Baek Jihoon lived. ¡°Eh¡­? Hunter Sooah?¡± Naturally, she was astonished to the point of nearly falling over. ¡°Excuse me¡­ In room 203, there lives Baek Jihoon¡­ ho ho. I¡¯m his team leader¡­¡± Sooah started exining various things. ¡°Well, uh, Hunter Sooah¡­ hmmm. I can approve most things, but I think you need his consent for this¡­¡± ¡°Ah¡­ is that so?¡± ¡°Of course. But who is he? Why do you need to monitor him so intently¡­?¡± ¡°Oh. He¡¯s a very important member of our Blue Guild.¡± ¡°Really¡­? He didn¡¯t seem that impressive when I saw him during the contract¡­¡± ¡®Oh no¡­ I have no choice. Then¡­¡¯ Sooah thought she would have to meet Baek Jihoon regardless. * Ding ding. ¡°Yes~ Hello.¡± ¡°Eh? Right now? Um¡­ yes, sure¡­¡± Not long after Hyungseok left, a call came in. ¡®What¡¯s up? Why? Suddenly? On a Sunday?¡¯ Lee Sooah suddenly said she wanted to meet me. She said it was a very important and urgent matter. ¡®What is it? Did something urgent happen?¡¯ I had met with her yesterday and just this morning with Hyungseok. Again, she wanted to meet me? I couldn¡¯t figure out what it was about at all. * ¡°Ha¡­ Hello, Jihoon. Thank you foring out~ ho ho. You¡¯re not busy, are you?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ I did have some things to do, but it¡¯s okay. It¡¯s not urgent.¡± I was nning to take it easy this weekend and study about Hunter Points, but it seemed like Hyungseok and Hunter Sooah stirred things up. ¡°What¡¯s the matter??¡± ¡°I¡­ I need you to sign this¡­¡± ¡°Um. What is this about?¡± Hunter Sooah, with a slightly embarrassed expression, handed over a piece of paper. ¡°???¡± ¡°If you sign that¡­ It would help me manage Baek Jihoon.¡± ¡®Huh? What is this¡­?¡¯ The content stated that she wanted to establish a surveince system around my house. ¡®????¡¯ ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s exactly what it says. To ensure Baek Jihoon¡¯s safety, there are some necessary measures I need to take. I n to build them one at a time. But everyone says Baek Jihoon¡¯s consent is required for this.¡± ¡®What is this crazy talk?¡¯ She wants to install 500 CCTV cameras? To surveil me? I couldn¡¯t help but alternate my gaze between the document and Sooah¡¯s face. Isn¡¯t anyone going to react to this situation? It had only been a week since I joined the Blue Guild, and now I was faced with something absurd. ¡®Why do they want to surveil me? Are they joking?¡¯ ¡°I can¡¯t agree to this¡­? What on earth is¡­?¡± Naturally, I returned the paper with a nk expression. ¡°Ah, why¡­ why not?? I put a lot of thought into this.¡± ¡°Eh? What thought?¡± ¡°Ha¡­ Baek Jihoon¡¯s trait. They say you can handle status ailments of S-Ranks, right?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s correct¡­?¡± ¡°So, what if other S-Rankse charging at Baek Jihoon¡­?¡± ¡°Eh?¡± She was saying something totally iprehensible. ¡°I¡¯ll protect Baek Jihoon. And I have to prevent other people from getting too close to Baek Jihoon unnecessarily. I think it¡¯s necessary action for our Team A.¡± Her expression waspletely resolute. No, her determination transcended that; it felt almost intimidating. EP.59 ¡°Exin it to me.¡± She thrust the document towards me again with a very stiff tone. ¡°No, I don¡¯t quite understand. Why are you surveilling me¡­ And I heard you bribed Hyungseok to be an informant¡­?¡± I shot Sooah a slight re. ¡°Ah¡­ that¡­ when did he be so loose-lipped?¡± She was pouting a bit. ¡°Sooah, are you really trying to manage me¡­? Is this what Team A does? Are there others you¡¯re monitoring too?¡± I decided to take a slightly more aggressive stance. ¡°Uh¡­ um¡­¡± She rolled her eyes as if deep in thought about something. ¡°So if you monitor everyone else, would you sign for me then?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I¡¯m saying¡­¡±@@novelbin@@ The conversation was bing increasingly strange. I felt like I was stepping into the tiger¡¯s mouth. Somehow, I felt the urge to resist. ¡®Ha¡­ What on earth is going on right now¡­?¡¯ I waspletely bewildered. It seemed apparent that unusual events were urring because of the Incubus trait. ¡°Sooah, are you really doing this because you like me?¡± ¡°Ha~ Jihoon, I think you¡¯re sipping too much Kimchi soup. It¡¯s not like that. I see Baek Jihoon as the core of our A Team. Your trait is very appealing to me. I really need it. That¡¯s why I¡¯m doing this. Please just sign the document.¡± She looked like she was pleading for it. Like there was apelling reason for her to surveil me. ¡®Wait, what? You want me to sign off on being monitored?¡¯ I stared at Sooah intently. ¡°Heh heh¡­ please¡­ It¡¯s all for your safety¡­ Other Hunters might target you for no reason¡­¡± ¡°If other Hunters are targeting me, that could be a good thing, right? My value would go up.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ that¡­ No, you never know what they might do! They might kidnap you and use you as a status ailment removal shuttle!!¡± She burst out in irritation. ¡®No way that could happen¡­¡¯ ¡®And how do you even think of that¡­?¡¯ ¡°Is it something you would want to do, Hunter Sooah?¡± ¡°Of course not!! How could you think that!!!¡± She suddenly shot up, looking very flustered, her face turning red. ¡°Ha¡­ Jihoon, you want to do well with the Blue Guild, right? I don¡¯t get why you¡¯re resisting when I, Sooah, the team leader of A Team, am offering special management? Isn¡¯t it just a given that you ept it? Other people would have jumped at the chance if I offered it, moring for even more!!!¡± Sooah looked like she could hardly contain her frustration over my behavior. ¡®Well¡­ she¡¯s not wrong¡­¡¯ Sure, when you strip down the situation, it sounds strange. But at the same time, she had a point. Just looking at Hyungseok, he would definitely be thrilled if he were in this position. ¡°Hmm¡­ So you¡¯re saying it¡¯s for my safety¡­? Really¡­?¡± ¡°Yes!! Of course!! Isn¡¯t that the function of CCTV¡­?¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± ¡°Please¡­¡± Her eyes were shaking. ¡®Ha¡­ This is ridiculous¡­¡¯ Looking at her face, it didn¡¯t seem like saying no would yield any results. It felt like they were hell-bent on surveilling me. ¡®And Hyungseok too as an informant¡­ What is going on? And why give me a heads-up about the surveince¡­?¡¯ I was utterly perplexed but felt I had no choice. ¡®Sigh. Well, I¡¯m not the one directly getting hurt, so who knows. Maybe Sooah is genuinely worried about some potential situation that could arise.¡¯ ¡°Jihoon, you are a crucial member of our A Team. Your trait might be incredibly significant. It¡¯s my job to manage the team¡¯s core asset safely.¡± She spoke with absolute conviction, leaning more towards me and starting to exert pressure. ¡®Ha¡­ I can¡¯t not do this, but it feels weird to go along¡­¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s no helping it.¡¯ I quickly signed the document. It was an iprehensible situation, but I thought surely she wouldn¡¯t do anything too strange to me, so I hastily dealt with it. Swish swish. ¡°Ha. Thank you. Now you¡¯re safe, Jihoon. Phew¡­¡± ¡®Is it really safe? Right¡­?¡¯ I was getting guaranteed safety when nothing had threatened me yet. ¡°But Sooah, this only watches around my house and outside, right? Not inside my home or anything like that, correct?¡± Sooah averted her gaze and looked elsewhere after hearing my words. ¡°Well¡­ for now¡­¡± ¡®For now¡­?¡¯ To be continued¡­ Chapter 62 ¡°Kyyaaaah!!!¡± Yoo Hana was going absolutely wild in the waiting room. ¡°Hey, Hana¡­¡± ¡°Get out! Get out!!!¡± She was throwing things around, her state of excitement continuing unabated. ¡°Ha¡­ Our Hana has returned to her usual self¡­¡± The manager shook his head in disbelief. During the three days that Baek Jihoon had been around, things had been incredibly quiet. She had be an ordinary woman. But as soon as Baek Jihoon disappeared, chaos erupted. ¡°Ha¡­ Does Baek Jihoon really have to be here? What is going on?¡± The manager began to have a lot of thoughts. ¡°Ha¡­ At this rate, I feel like we won¡¯t be able to shoot.¡± * ¡°Hey, Yoo Hana? Hehe. If you can perform as you didst week, our project will surely skyrocket, right? Of course, it¡¯s not bad now, but the viewership will definitely increase even more. This year¡¯s Best Actress Award is already yours.¡± The director greeted Yoo Hana with a wide smile. It seemed he had been nning all weekend, recalling her performance from the previous week. ¡°Ha. I really want to capture Yoo Hana beautifully this week. I¡¯ve prepared a lot for it. I¡¯ll create a scene that will go down in history. Oh, but Yoo Hana, are you not feeling well today?¡± He tilted his head slightly while looking at her. ¡°Director¡­¡± ¡°Yes~¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I can shoot today.¡± ¡°????¡± Everyone at the shooting site suddenly froze, turning their eyes towards Yoo Hana. ¡°Why, Yoo Hana? Is something bothering you today? But you still look beautiful! Is your concentration a bit off? Maybe you didn¡¯t prepare enough? But you performed exceptionally wellst week!¡± The director hurried over to her, trying to soothe her as much as possible. ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s just that¡­ I¡­ I don¡¯t think I can do it today¡­¡± ¡°No, no~ Yoo Hana, you can definitely do this. Just perform likest week. That¡¯s all I ask. Got it?¡± The director seemed determined to proceed regardless of her state. * ¡°All right~ Action!!!¡± The director yelled loudly. ¡°Jinseok, how can I get you toe back? I¡¯ll grant you whatever you want. Just tell me what to do.¡± Yoo Hana began to concentrate as much as possible, exerting all her capabilities to showcase her best performance. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± The director shook his head repeatedly. Something seemed off. ¡°Why is this happening? Yoo Hana? Is something wrong?¡± The acting that had moved even the crew watching from the sidelines justst week was nowhere to be found. Although her performance wasn¡¯t terrible, there was definitely somethingcking. It seemed not just the director but also the other crew members shared a simr sentiment, whispering to each other. ¡°Cut!¡± ¡°Director¡­ How was it?¡± ¡°Haha. Yoo Hana, you¡¯re truly beautiful. You really are. But could you do it like you didst week? You were astonishingst week. I was genuinely surprised!¡± Yoo Hana bit her lip. ¡°Ha¡­ It¡¯s Baek Jihoon¡­ I need Baek Jihoon¡­¡± Her expression began to turn into one of resignation, as if she had anticipated this. ¡°I messed up. I should have protected Baek Jihoon, but I let him go too easily.¡± ¡°Director, I¡¯m sorry, but I really don¡¯t think I can do this today¡­¡± Yoo Hana showed a submissive attitude. Normally, she would have acted self-centered during the shoot, but today felt different. ¡°Eh?? Why? No, no, it¡¯s okay. You can just perform at today¡¯s level. Let¡¯s just go with this. No, Yoo Hana, don¡¯t misunderstand! I wasn¡¯t criticizing your performance. Last week was simply phenomenal! Let¡¯s just go with this, you must have had a tough timest week.¡± The director barely managed tofort Yoo Hana and began the shoot once more. * ¡°Ha¡­ Oppa¡­¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°How was it today?¡± ¡°What do you mean? Our Hana is still beautiful, charming, and performing well.¡± ¡°No, how was itpared tost week?¡± Yoo Hana was resting in the waiting room after finishing the shoot. She looked quite furious as she red at her manager. ¡°Uh¡­ this week¡¯s performance wasn¡¯t bad, butst week was definitely intense.¡± ¡°Right? Do you think this week¡¯s performance will win me Best Actress?¡± ¡°Ah. Um. That¡¯s¡­ a bit unlikely.¡± ¡°Ha¡­¡± Yoo Hana pressed her forehead. ¡°I was toocent. I should have acted more perceptively. I should have quickly charmed Baek Jihoonst week. I should have ensured he was firmly on our side. How foolish I was. Icked awareness.¡± She began to regret her actions fromst week, thinking that Baek Jihoon was just an ordinary Hunter. In fact, she hadn¡¯t paid him much attention, thinking he was merely an E-Rank Hunter. But now, in her mind, Baek Jihoon had be a crucial figure. Essential for her future career in the entertainment industry. ¡°Oppa.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡±@@novelbin@@ ¡°I need Baek Jihoon.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± The manager tilted his head in confusion. ¡°What do I have to do to get this person on our side?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ That¡¯s it. Lee Sooah is protecting Baek Jihoon. How can I break through that? I absolutely have to bring him in!¡± ¡°Eh?¡± ¡°I urgently need to hold a meeting¡­ for the battle over Baek Jihoon.¡± EP.63 Yoo Hana wore a very serious expression. * ¡°Oh? Jihoon? Weren¡¯t you working in Hunter Lee Sooah¡¯s office?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. But I just came out.¡± ¡°Huh? You just came out? How? Just like that? Through Sooah?¡± Everyone was staring at Baek Jihoon with stunned faces, their expressions reflecting a mountain of questions. ¡°So you¡¯re working here again? Not going to Hunter Sooah¡¯s office?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Everyone.¡± A voice echoed, and it was Lee Sooah. ¡°Gah! Yes.¡± Everyone turned their attention to her. ¡°You all know I¡¯ve been observing Hunter Baek Jihoon, right?¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± ¡°And I¡¯ll be doing so within the office as well.¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°This means that a focused surveince will be implemented on the Hunter ss 6 as well.¡± Lee Sooah¡¯s statement implied that CCTV would be installed in the Hunter ss 6 office. Everyone in Hunter ss 6 was in shock. Yet, no one dared to oppose Lee Sooah¡¯s words. ¡°Ha. Now we can¡¯t ck off.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the problem right now.¡± ¡°No. Baek Jihoon? What¡¯s going on? Why is Sooah acting like this? She seems to have changed suddenly. She was already strange, but now¡­¡± ¡°Why is she so clingy towards Baek Jihoon? It¡¯s odd. Baek Jihoon, you¡¯re being monitored by Hunter Lee Sooah, right?¡± Everyone was murmuring and whispering. It seemed almost no one could understand the current situation. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. For now, I decided to leave the monitoring aside. I don¡¯t think just telling her not to do it would work anyway.¡± It was clear. It felt like they would even send drones for tracking and monitoring. So, they decided to leave it. But that¡¯s okay. It felt like something had changed, and now they could do things their way. * ¡®Huh? What is this?¡¯ When lunch break ended and I returned, there was a strange letter on my desk. [I am closely watching Hunter Baek Jihoon¡¯s activities. Please continue to do your best ¨C Guild Master ¨C] ¡°Huh? Guild Master?¡± I nced around. But there was no one that particrly stood out as suspicious. ¡®The Guild Master is watching me?¡¯ ¡°What are you doing, Jihoon?¡± ¡°I received this letter.¡± ¡°A letter?¡± Members of Hunter ss 6 gathered around me. ¡°Eh? A letter from the Guild Master? Whoa, Baek Jihoon, are you getting promoted quickly now?¡± They all looked shocked. ¡°What does this mean?¡± ¡°This is a personal letter from the Guild Master. Anyone who receives this is guaranteed to be promoted rapidly. Wow¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. This is given to only one person a year. And it was you, Baek Jihoon? Wow¡­¡± Everyone was cheering and envious. ¡®What? All I did was escape between Sooah and Yoo Hana.¡¯ I was confused, but that wasn¡¯t what mattered right now. First, it was important to organize the situation quickly and establish myself. * ¡°Wait~ But don¡¯t we have to protest about being filmed by CCTV? Is it okay to film us while working like this?¡± Manager Chained while sipping his coffee. ¡°Then you say something, Manager Cha. ¡®Putting a bell on a cat¡¯.¡± ¡°No~ I just thought it¡¯d be good if Assistant Manager Kim said it.¡± ¡°Wow. It¡¯s better if you, Manager Cha, say it as a representative. What strength do we have toin¡­¡± Everyone seemed like they were resigned to doing whatever they were told. ¡°What can we do¡­ Hunter Sooah raised our pay, so we just have to shut up and work¡­¡± Everyone was reminiscing about the incidents that happenedst week. The eliteposition of Hunter ss 6 and the focused surveince. The attention Lee Sooah was giving to Hunter ss 6 was increasing day by day. ¡°Ha¡­ This isn¡¯t what I wanted. I didn¡¯t want Hunter Sooah to focus on us like this¡­¡± Manager Cha murmured. ¡°This is what you wished for. It¡¯s better than being the unpopr ss 6. No one noticed us back then¡­ Now Hunter Sooahes to our side so often.¡± Everyone seemed to feel a bit of regret. After all, they had been the most marginalized among sses 1 to 6. Until now, they had struggled to get noticed by Lee Sooah. But since Baek Jihoon joined, everything had changed. It felt like Lee Sooah¡¯s top priority had be ss 6. Everyone was slowly feeling the burden of having their long-cherished dreame true. ¡°Wait¡­ Are we going to be sent on dungeon runs as well? I saw Hunter ss 1. They looked incredibly busy. They go out twice a day.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t get paid so much for nothing. Yeah.¡± ¡°Ha¡­ Maybe it was better before?¡± Everyone seemed to have a hard time adapting to the speed of the changes. ¡°Eh~ Still, isn¡¯t it better than having Baek Jihoon around? If we use Baek Jihoon well, it could be very beneficial for us.¡± Manager Cha seemed to have high expectations for Baek Jihoon. ¡°Hmm¡­ Maybe¡­¡± The other employees looked uncertain. ¡°Come on~ Just wait a bit. I feel like we¡¯re going to be just fine.¡± Manager Cha smiled brightly. Chapter 64 ¡°W-What do you mean by that¡­?¡± Chae Suhyeon asked the store owner with a trembling voice, her demeanor serious as if the matter were extremely important. ¡°No~ Justst week, Lee Sooah started appearing here and there~ It¡¯s just a quiet vi neighborhood, you know.¡± ¡°Could it be that she was with the man I mentioned¡­?¡± ¡°Right?¡± Chae Suhyeon¡¯s mouth fell open in shock. She looked as if she might faint from the unexpected news. ¡®Jihoon Oppa is with Lee Sooah??????¡¯ She appeared to be unable to ept this fact at all. This was something that absolutely couldn¡¯t happen. Lee Sooah getting closer to Baek Jihoon. ¡®This is bad. I mightpletely lose Jihoon Oppa to Lee Sooah.¡¯ Her heart raced even more. Justst week, when she was with Baek Jihoon, she hadn¡¯t thought it was a big deal, but now it had turned into a very serious situation. ¡®No. Jihoon Oppa. How is this possible? They¡¯ve be close in less than a week?¡¯ ¡®No, not just close; aren¡¯t they dating? Lee Sooah ising here? To Jihoon Oppa¡¯s house? A ce I hadn¡¯t even visited?¡¯ ¡®What? How far have they gone? How close are they?¡¯ Her mind was aplete mess, embroiled in chaos. ¡°Do you know him?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ no.¡± Still in a daze from the shocking news, Chae Suhyeon managed to collect her thoughts momentarily at the store owner¡¯s words. ¡°Thank you.¡± With that, she stepped outside, thinking it was imperative she meet Baek Jihoon quickly. What if Lee Sooahpletely won over Baek Jihoon? What if she settled down with him? She feared she might have no chance left. ¡®Jihoon Oppa¡­ where are you? Where could you possibly be? Please. Please don¡¯t get closer to Lee Sooah. I¡¯ll find a way to get closer.¡¯ Her thoughts were crumbling one by one. When she had thought simply of dumping Baek Jihoon, she had nned to use him as a stepping stone to enter the Baekho Guild and then ess the Taeyang Group. To her, Baek Jihoon was nothing at all. Just a mere pawn. But now, the tables hadpletely turned. It felt like she had to go to great lengths to cling to him instead. ¡®No. I won¡¯t let this happen. I will definitely find a way to get Jihoon Oppa back!¡¯ Wearing an expression filled with fear, she set out to find Baek Jihoon¡¯s house. * ¡°Oppa, it¡¯s okay. From here, I¡¯ll just find my way on my own.¡± Yoo Hana spoke with a voice still tinged with annoyance. ¡°Oh really? Alright. But be careful not to get caught taking photos. You¡¯re a celebrity, remember? A celebrity¡¯s image is everything.¡± ¡°Ugh. Am I a child? I know how to handle myself. I¡¯m not some naive fool.¡± ¡°Right, you¡¯re acting so na?ve right now¡­¡± The manager murmured quietly so that Yoo Hana wouldn¡¯t hear. Squeaking sounds filled the air. Stepping out of the van, she began walking quietly around the Sillim Station area wearing sunsses and a hat. ¡®Hmm. Where¡¯s the house¡­ hmm¡­ is it here?¡¯ ¡®Why is the road so narrow here? This is a bit messy.¡¯ She slowly entered a back alley. * Clunk, clunk. Inside the swaying subway train. ¡°Excuse me, is that you, Lee Sooah?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Lee Sooah struggled to respond, squeezed in and unable to speak clearly. ¡°Do you really have to go this far?¡± ¡°No¡­ I¡¯m sure other people will definitely swarm around Jihoon. My instincts are never wrong.¡± In the crowded subway packed like sardines, Lee Sooah barely managed to speak. ¡®Do you really have to go to such lengths to follow me? What on earth¡­¡¯ Other men kept stealing nces at Lee Sooah, making her feel embarrassed for no reason. ¡®Ah¡­ I hope this doesn¡¯t be a news article or something.¡¯ ¡°Ms. Sooah, starting tomorrow I¡¯ll handle my ownmute. I¡¯m safe, you know?¡± ¡°No! I¡¯m definitely going to keep following you.¡± ¡®Who could possibly break through that stubbornness of hers?¡¯ There was no choice. If it were anyone else, they wouldn¡¯t be able to stop Lee Sooah, a woman known for her unyielding determination in our country. ¡°Excuse me, Ms. Sooah?¡± A man nearby spoke to her. ¡°You¡¯re the S-Rank Hunter, Lee Sooah, right?¡± Everyone was paying attention to Lee Sooah, and our conversation had likely drawn some ears. ¡°Ah¡­ no, I¡¯m not¡­ just a regr person¡­¡± Lee Sooah hung her head low. ¡®Come on, as if no one knows now.¡¯ Her behavior was a far cry from her usual confident self. * ¡°Phew. Wow, the subway really is packed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you don¡¯t need to follow me. Why did you leave your car behind?¡± ¡°Oh. Then Jihoon, starting tomorrow I¡¯ll drive you home!¡± Lee Sooah seemed relentless, trying to up her game. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that might spark some misunderstandings?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ maybe people will think it¡¯s a team leader caring for her team member?¡± ¡°Hah¡­¡± With how it was going, misunderstandings were bound to happen. ¡°Ms. Sooah, you really don¡¯t have any interest in me, do you? Right?¡± ¡°Hah, Jihoon. I care about our team. It¡¯s just that you¡¯re going to be a core member, so I¡¯m giving you special attention. Special attention.¡± She was still drawing a line, though her actions said otherwise. ¡°Yup, understood.¡± ¡°Hah, this is ridiculous.¡± As they bantered slightly, they walked home. But then¡ª ¡°Wha???????????¡± I spotted someone almost shrieking in surprise as they looked at me. It was Yoo Hana. ¡®Wait, why is Yoo Hanaing out from there?¡¯ She was closer to my house than we were. ¡°Is that¡­ Lee Sooah???¡± Yoo Hana¡¯s face quickly hardened. She tried her best to hide, but I recognized her immediately. She was wearing the exact same outfit as before. ¡®Is she hiding or not? This is absurd.¡¯ Anyone could see she was unting her celebrity status. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Ms. Sooah? Why are you here? This is ridiculous!¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m the one who finds this ridiculous¡­ Why did youe here, Ms. Yoo Hana?¡± They began to argue seriously. Both seemed shocked by the situation. ¡°Wait, what about Baek Jihoon? Why is he meeting up with Ms. Sooah after work? This doesn¡¯t seem like the agreement we had!¡± Yoo Hana¡¯s protests were pouring out like a flood. She seemed less angry and more aggrieved. ¡°No, I¡¯m telling you, I couldn¡¯t film today because Jihoon wasn¡¯t there. I struggled so much, and Jihoon spent the day with Ms. Sooah? And then they went home together? How ridiculous!¡± Yoo Hana kept chattering as she marched toward us, exuding a fierce energy. ¡°Excuse me, Ms. Yoo Hana, didn¡¯t you hear the contract terms? He¡¯s mine for the day.¡± ¡®Wait, I never said that.¡¯ My gaze naturally shifted to Lee Sooah. What she said was preposterous. Lee Sooah stated it confidently. ¡°Oh, was that it? I must have been mistaken. Then Jihoon, when it¡¯s our day together, let¡¯s head to my ce after work. Or I can juste over here too.¡± ¡®This is driving me nuts.¡¯ I couldn¡¯t help but touch my forehead. Things were getting increasingly bizarre. The two women started arguing as they did earlier in our neighborhood. ¡°Could you please be a bit quieter? This is a narrow alley, and we can be overheard.¡± I was bound to feel embarrassed and flustered. If two prominent S-Rank Hunters were raising their voices over a man in an alley, rumors would spread fast, and soon people would gather to film us. It¡¯d be just a matter of time before we became the top trending topic in themunity. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re here, Ms. Yoo Hana. How did you even find out the address?¡± ¡°I asked the Blue Guild, and they told me.¡± ¡°Hah, the HR team? Come on! Is it okay to just hand out employee info like that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not my concern. I¡¯m still associated with the Blue Guild, you know. Anyway, Ms. Sooah, if you¡¯re done, can we leave? I have things to discuss with Baek Jihoon.¡± Yoo Hana was trying to dismiss Lee Sooah. ¡°Oh, why should I? I¡¯m having dinner at Jihoon¡¯s house today!¡± ¡®That¡¯s not true!¡¯ I hurriedly looked at Lee Sooah¡¯s face. Of course, this hadn¡¯t been discussed beforehand, and we¡¯d already had dinnerst week. She was just saying whatever came to mind. ¡°Wait, you were invited to dinner?¡± ¡°Yes, we had dinner once alreadyst week.¡± ¡°???¡± Yoo Hana was looking bewildered. In contrast, Lee Sooah had a proud expression. It was as if she felt aplished.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Didn¡¯t you meet with Ms. Sooahst week? Why¡¯s the progress so fast?¡± ¡°Progress? That¡¯s not it at all. It¡¯s just that Sooah has been clinging¡­¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll cling too. Please invite me to dinner.¡± ¡®This is driving me insane.¡¯ These two couldn¡¯t manage a normal conversation at all. They kept misunderstanding what I said. ¡°Since you¡¯ve already eaten with Ms. Sooah, then please invite me once too. That way, it¡¯s fair.¡± ¡°Why¡­ does it have to be fair¡­?¡± The whole conversation had turned into a chaotic mess. Maybe we were so loud that people in the nearby buildings could hear us moving around. ¡°Wha¡­? Ji¡­hoon¡­ Oppa¡­?¡± Amid all that, I heard a familiar voice from behind me. ¡®Oh, sh*t.¡¯ Swearing slipped out involuntarily in my mind. ¡®Chae Suhyeon.¡¯ I slowly turned my head. It was indeed Chae Suhyeon, staring at us inplete horror. Her expression was frozen. ¡®What¡¯s her deal now?¡¯ A party I couldn¡¯t handle at all was unfolding before me. Next Episode Preview Chapter 67 ¡°Ah¡­ Jihoon oppa¡­¡± She suddenly thought of Baek Jihoon. Memories of the four years spent struggling alongside him surfaced. ¡°Ah, oppa. Just hold on a bit longer. No, I¡¯m about to be an S-Rank Hunter, you know? Then we can all live happily together.¡± ¡°We¡¯re almost there. Oppa should not take a break just because it¡¯s the weekend.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ Oppa, why are you cking off after doing so well until now? You need to try harder.¡± She recalled how she had urged him on. ¡°Ugh¡­ Damn it¡­ Why did I do that?¡± Just moments ago, seeing Lee Sooah and Yoo Hana had suddenly shifted her thoughts. ¡°No. Seriously, what are Lee Sooah and Yoo Hana doing? Why are they suddenly inserting themselves?¡± Bang. Bang. Bang. She started pounding on the wall again, feeling her anger rise. ¡°No!¡± Bang. ¡°Why?¡± Bang. ¡°Lee Sooah!¡± Bang. ¡°Yoo Hana!¡± Bang. ¡°Why are they butting in between me and oppa?!¡± Kwang! She couldn¡¯t hold back her fury. She had thought it would be easy. ¡°Ugh¡­ It hurts¡­¡± She clenched her hand into a fist. If she were still an S-Rank, this wouldn¡¯t have been a big deal. But now, she was just an E-Rank Hunter. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­ If I can charm Jihoon oppa again¡­¡± Getting Baek Jihoon back. She thought it shouldn¡¯t be too difficult. Over the years, she had easily trained him. But now, Lee Sooah and Yoo Hana had suddenly wedged themselves between them. ¡°Ugh¡­ Even ordinary women are annoying, but it had to be Lee Sooah and Yoo Hana. They¡¯re S-Rank Hunters.¡± She bit her lip in frustration, feeling extremely vexed. The difficulty level had shot up tenfold. ¡°I didn¡¯t even get to talk to him today. No, I couldn¡¯t even approach him.¡± She recalled the face of Lee Sooah, who had stuck to Baek Jihoon and looked down on her disdainfully. ¡°Just how close have they gotten in just a week to be practically interlocking arms?¡± Right now, Chae Suhyeon¡¯s mind was in utter chaos. Her feelings for Baek Jihoon intertwined with those for Lee Sooah and Yoo Hana. ¡°Ugh¡­ I admit I may have mistreated Jihoon oppa a bit¡­ I was too focused on immediate gains and hurried him¡­¡± She slowly began to mend her mindset. When she had considered herself the overwhelmingly superior one, she had had no reason to care about others. But now, the situation had changed drastically. She felt that the power dynamics were shifting beneath her. ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± After a long time, she opened her status window. ¡°Ah¡­ Tsk¡­¡± Her enchantment level regarding Baek Jihoon had dropped significantly to just 92%. ¡°Moreover¡­¡± [ Nice Guy ] [ He tends to agree to a woman¡¯s requests without much consideration. ] A red tag was affixed to Baek Jihoon. [ There isn¡¯t much time left. It will soon disappear. ] Especially the reason she had been able to easily manipte him was that it was running out. ¡°Ah¡­ If that disappears, it¡¯s going to be really troublesome.¡± She felt a sense of urgency. The traits that were advantageous to her were gradually diminishing. ¡°Could it be that the nice guy trait activated for Lee Sooah or Yoo Hana?¡± She narrowed her eyes slightly. Up until now, she hadpletely monopolized Baek Jihoon. She had never thought he would nce at other women. She had kept him so close that other women wouldn¡¯t even think of approaching him. She hadn¡¯t given anyone that opportunity. But in just one week, after letting him go, Baek Jihoon seemed to have charmed two S-Rank Hunters. ¡°Ugh¡­ What¡¯s going on? Is he turning into a Casanova?¡± Chae Suhyeon¡¯s expression grew darker. Considering Baek Jihoon¡¯s traits, he would inevitably be the nice guy showering points on others. And if he continued to repeat that? It would be as if he had be a Casanova. ¡°Not. Allowed.¡± She resolutely shouted in her mind. If the current situation repeated itself, it was obvious what would happen. ¡°All S-Rank Hunters nationwide will flock to Jihoon oppa.¡± That could absolutely not happen. She had to ensure that she alone could monopolize Baek Jihoon. ¡°Ugh. How did ite to this? I seriously misjudged the situation.¡± Thinking about it now, Baek Jihoon was quite a treasure. An extremely important person. Yet, she had so easily let him slip through her fingers while focusing too much on the immediate benefits. ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I let Jihoon oppa go so easily. And in that gap of just one week, Lee Sooah and Yoo Hana stuck to him? Ugh. What a foolish girl I am!¡± Chae Suhyeon mmed her head against the wall. She felt like she wanted to hit her head hard enough to burst it open. She regretted letting go of the valuable catch so easily. ¡°This is bad. I need to quickly¡­ bring Jihoon oppa back to my side¡­¡± Suddenly, the door burst open. ¡°Suhyeon.¡± Lee Jinhyeok entered. ¡°Are you okay? I heard a banging sound on the wall repeatedly.¡± He looked at her with a worried expression. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m fine. Just¡­ thinking about some stuff¡­¡± Chae Suhyeon forced a smile, pretending to be good-natured as she looked at Lee Jinhyeok. ¡°Hmm, you seem to be a bit better?¡± ¡°Uh-huh¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think you should go to the Hunter Assessment Center to see if there are any other issues?¡± ¡°Hmm? No, no. That¡¯s unnecessary.¡± Chae Suhyeon raised both hands and shook them in refusal. ¡°If I go now, I¡¯ll definitely drop to E-Rank, and there¡¯s no reason to do that. Are you crazy?¡± She was quite adamant. ¡°By the way, oppa.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Is there anyone you¡¯re trying to recruit from the Baekho Guild?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ We operate a secret scout team, you know? Typically, we contact them from behind the scenes¡­ for smaller guilds, we just buy them outright.¡± He spoke as if it were no big deal. ¡°Hmm~ So, what if I wanted to recruit someone from the Blue Guild?¡± ¡°The Blue Guild? Is there anyone worth recruiting there? Maybe someone like Lee Sooah? The others don¡¯t seem that impressive.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ Not Lee Sooah.¡± The mention of Lee Sooah made Chae Suhyeon frown. ¡°Ah, right. Since you¡¯ve been sidelined by her. It seems like there¡¯s no one else to bring in.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m just asking, what would you do if there was someone you really wanted to take from the Blue Guild?¡± ¡°What would I do? I¡¯d just offer money and a higher position to lure them in. Or find out their weaknesses and threaten to expose them. There aren¡¯t many options.¡± Lee Jinhyeok looked at her as if questioning why she was asking such things. ¡°Okay, I get it. For now¡­¡± Lee Jinhyeok left. ¡°Hmmm¡­ Weaknesses¡­¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ I have to get Jihoon oppa out of the Blue Guild¡­¡± Chae Suhyeon¡¯s mind was entirely upied with thoughts of Baek Jihoon. She believed that somehow separating him from Lee Sooah was her only chance of winning. ¡°It¡¯splicated. I need to leverage the power of the Baekho Guild to draw him away from the Blue Guild. Once I do, I¡¯ll be able to bring him back to my side.¡± She abruptly stood up, starting to ponder various strategies regarding the Baekho Guild. * Tap, tap, tap. Lee Sooah entered the office, looking quite tense. ¡°Um, is this Lee Sooah, Hunter? Are you feeling unwell today?¡± ¡°Manager Cha.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°It seems we need to start working harder from today onward.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°I mean the Hunter ss 6. I haven¡¯t paid much attention to them until now, have I?¡± ¡°Ah¡­?¡± Manager Cha began to sweat profusely. ¡°What in the world is she going to say?¡± For years, Hunter ss 6 had been striving to catch Lee Sooah¡¯s eye. But now that she seemed to be noticing them, it was bing increasingly burdensome. ¡°So from today, I n to be more active. I¡¯m going to reorganize the department, and we are going to focus on operating Team A rigorously with Hunter ss 6 at the center.¡± Lee Sooah¡¯s expression turned quite fierce. ¡°W-why¡­?¡± Manager Cha looked as if this was not at all what he had wanted. He looked somewhat taken aback, hesitating slightly. ¡°Why do you ask? I know that Hunter ss 6 has been working hard, wanting to engage with me. I¡¯m offering them an opportunity as a reward for their support. Plus, I need to reim the top S-Rank position.¡± Her determination was very evident. ¡°Ugh¡­ I understand¡­¡± Manager Cha read the atmosphere and realized to some extent what was happening. ¡°And we¡¯ve encountered a significant threat to our Team A.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Another guild is trying to recruit Baek Jihoon.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± He had a look on his face that indicated he didn¡¯t quite understand. ¡°Why? He¡¯s just a D-Rank Hunter, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ I can¡¯t go into details, but I think we need to strengthen the protection protocols regarding Baek Jihoon. Please keep an eye on him in Hunter ss 6.¡± Lee Sooah looked straight at Manager Cha with an expectant expression. ¡°Yes¡­ of course¡­¡± * ¡°Wait, Baek Jihoon?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Manager Cha¡¯s voice sounded somewhat excited, and it was evident from the morning. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Jihoon, did you cause any trouble?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± This was naturally a confusing question. ¡°Was there anything unusualst night?¡± He was looking at him skeptically. ¡°What the¡­? How much does he know? Has he figured out that Chae Suhyeon, Yoo Hana, and Lee Sooah came over to my house yesterday¡­?¡± It seemed there were quite a few people from the Blue Guild. Someone in their area may have seen something. ¡°No, it seems that Hunter Lee Sooah has changed a lot today¡­ Hmm¡­ In my opinion, it looks like a love rivalry. Right? Jihoon, are you perhaps dating multiple girls¡­?¡± He red suspiciously.@@novelbin@@ ¡°No, not at all.¡± ¡°He seems to know this intuitively.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but wonder how he even got promoted to manager in the first ce. Next episode preview. Chapter 68 ¡°Why? Manager Cha?¡± ¡°Ha¡­ Our department is in big trouble.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t y around anymore. The good times are over. Hunter Lee Sooah is going to work us hard.¡± He set down the enormous stack of documents he was holding. ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡± ¡°Dungeons we have to handle.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Everyone¡¯s expression turned to one of confusion. ¡°Uh¡­ Isn¡¯t this the level of Hunters ss 1 and 2bined?¡± ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s right. So it seems.¡± Manager Cha looked as if he had reached a state of enlightenment. At the same time, all of ss 6 was looking at me. ¡®Why? What did I do?¡¯ It felt like everyone was looking at me as if I were the root cause of this situation. ¡°Ha~ No way, Baek Jihoon. Seriously, what did you dost night? Why did you make Hunter Lee Sooah angry?¡± ¡®Angry?¡¯ ¡°No, nothing happened.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Something must have happened. It¡¯s definitely a rtionship issue. I might not look it, but I¡¯m extremely perceptive, you know?¡± Manager Cha ced his hands on his hips and spoke confidently. ¡°What on earth did you do, Jihoon? Spill what happenedst night. We need to know to brace ourselves. What is this? How are we supposed to handle all this?¡± He pointed at the mountain of work piled on the table. ¡°Haha¡­ I can¡¯t really talk about what happenedst night¡­¡± ¡®You know, Lee Sooah, Yoo Hana, and Chae Suhyeon all ended up at my ce? They were fighting over me.¡¯ I knew exactly what kind of reaction that would elicit. ¡°Huh? Jihoon, were you out of your mind? You should probably head to a mental hospital, huh?¡± That exact response would definitelye. It paints me perfectly as someone who might be suspected of having delusions. Honestly, this current scrutiny was preferable. Everyone was looking at me like I was the enemy of Hunter ss 6. ¡°Ha¡­ I thought it would be easier with you on board, Jihoon, but what¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Even if you raise the pay, this is too much. You have to give us more.¡± ¡°No way. I can¡¯t do this. This is insane. Even if you pay me more, I can¡¯t handle this. Are you kidding me? You¡¯re asking us to do the work of both Hunters ss 1 and 2 at the same time? Are you out of your mind?¡± Everyone was airing their grievances. ¡°No, Manager. But how could you just ept this? Isn¡¯t this too much? You should have fought for us!¡± ¡°Exactly. Are we really supposed to manage this? We¡¯ll all be dead¡­¡± Theints from the team members were loud and clear. They seemed taken aback by the sudden downpour of catastrophe that had struck from the morning. ¡°Oh, but I forgot to mention this.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Our Team A is being restructured.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Our Hunter ss 6 is now the main focus, and the Hunters ss 1 and 2 will support us.¡± ¡°????¡± Everyone had a puzzled look on their faces. ¡°What does that mean? I can¡¯t evenprehend this¡­¡± ¡°It means Hunters ss 1 and 2 will back us up~ Do you think I brought this up without reason? I¡¯m Manager Cha!¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± Hearing such outrageous news, everyone jumped up. ¡°Ahhhhh! Manager Cha!!!!¡± They hugged and went wild. ¡°Wow, Jihoon. I knew we could count on you. Good things are happening now that you¡¯re in our department.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s Jihoon. I¡¯m always rooting for you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know what you did yesterday, but it¡¯s incredible!¡± The dynamics within Team A were slowly shifting. The once long-standing bottom-tier department, Hunter ss 6, was on the rise. ¡°Wait, Manager Cha. What exactly did you do?¡± While the people of Hunter ss 6 cheered, the managers from sses 1 and 2 approached. ¡°Heh heh¡­ Managers Kim and Park.¡± Manager Cha smiled as he looked at his colleagues. It wasmon knowledge that they had been overshadowed by their peers for years. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. We¡¯re supposed to back up Hunter ss 6? Isn¡¯t there just junk here?¡± ¡°Excuse me? Junk? Manager Kim, that¡¯s a bit harsh.¡± ¡°Ha. But if you look at the Hunter ranks alone, it¡¯s true they¡¯re just junk¡­¡± That was a factual statement. Hunter sses 1 and 2 were seen as elite groups, while Hunter ss 6 had a more general feel. ¡°Ha. We¡¯ll show you we can do well from now on. Just wait and see. We have Baek Jihoon with us.¡± Assistant Manager Kim pointed at me. ¡®Ha¡­ Why me?¡¯ I didn¡¯t want to get dragged into a conflict I didn¡¯t ask for. Already, dealing with Lee Sooah, Yoo Hana, and Chae Suhyeon was giving me a headache. And now, it felt like I might get caught up in a war between Hunter sses 1, 2, and 6. ¡°Hm¡­ You might be the root cause of this incident¡­¡± The managers of Hunter sses 1 and 2 stared at me intently. As if they were feeling truly wronged and frustrated. ¡°No¡­ I didn¡¯t do anything¡­¡± I stated clearly and firmly. Did I ask for a restructuring of the department? Did I ask the guild to do anything for me? No. I didn¡¯t do anything, and suddenly things turned out this way? ¡®Ha¡­ Really¡­¡¯ * Squeak. I hade to talk to Lee Sooah about the current situation. She was focused and dealing with her work. ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°Yes, Jihoon.¡± She smiled brightly as she looked at me. The serious demeanor she had just a moment ago hadpletely vanished. ¡°I heard about the department restructuring?¡± ¡°Yeah~¡± ¡°Are you saying that Hunter ss 6 is the main one and sses 1 and 2 are backing us¡­?¡± ¡°Yeah~¡± ¡°Is this because of me?¡± ¡°Yeah~¡± ¡®Aw, f*ck¡­¡¯ ¡°Why? It seems like there¡¯s a lot of chaos right now. It looks like there¡¯s a lot of dissatisfaction from sses 1 and 2¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll make sure to give them some other carrots so they don¡¯t feel neglected. You don¡¯t have to worry about it~¡± Lee Sooah lookedpletely unconcerned. ¡°Jihoon?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m nning to make the entire Blue Guild revolve around you.¡± ¡®F*ck. What on earth is this about?¡¯ ¡°That way, you can¡¯t escape anywhere.¡± Lee Sooah suddenly had a scary expression on her face. I could only quietly roll my eyes. ¡°Everyone in our Blue Guild is going to unite in solidarity. We¡¯ll be the number one guild in the world. The Blue Guild will be number one, and I¡¯ll be the top S-Rank Hunter. That way, it¡¯ll work out, right?¡± She then smiled sweetly. ¡®What on earth is this situation¡­?¡¯ ¡°And I¡¯ll be putting all resources into making sure Baek Jihoon also bes an S-Rank Hunter. After a few years of hard work, you¡¯ll be harshly pushed to be an S-Rank Hunter, whether you like it or not.¡± She said such frightening things with absolute nonchnce. Of course, I had nned to be promoted to S-Rank in four months. Since I had plenty of points, ranking up monthly wouldn¡¯t be a problem. ¡®Hyungseok was right; I shouldn¡¯t use my points on anyone else¡­¡¯ It seemed I needed to be clear-headed about this. I would definitely rise to S-Rank quickly. Nevertheless, the rapid movements of Team A were something I had to be bewildered by. ¡°Just ept it without any worries, Jihoon. Oh, and I¡¯ll be strengthening the surveince even more.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°See? Yesterday.¡± Lee Sooah suddenly had a very scary, chilling expression. ¡°I told you, didn¡¯t I? That other guilds would try to approach you?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Look, yesterday, Yoo Hana and Chae Suhyeon approached Baek Jihoon, right? This is quitemon in the Huntermunity. I have no idea how the Baekho Guild learned about you and sent Chae Suhyeon over.¡± Lee Sooah shook her head lightly, as if disapproving. ¡®Ah, thank goodness. It seems Lee Sooah believes that Chae Suhyeon approached me to recruit me.¡¯ Should I be d about that? ¡°That¡¯s why I prepared in advance. That¡¯s why I insisted on the surveince. All guilds are very attentive to protecting their key talents. Other guilds do this too, you know?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ that¡¯s true.¡± I had somewhat heard about that. ¡°But¡­ I want to withdraw the permission for the surveince¡­¡± I recalled the conversation I had with Hyungseokst night. It seemed I had been too much of a nice guy, allowing everything and causing problems. ¡°No. You. Can¡¯t.¡± Her reply was very firm and cold. ¡°Actually, I think we need to strengthen the surveince even more. We might even need to deploy drones¡­¡± She appeared almost manic at that point. ¡°I believe my predictions from yesterday have been clearly proven. We confirmed that the Baekho Guild has its eyes on Jihoon. And as for Yoo Hana¡­¡± She seemed like someone who wouldn¡¯t let anything slide. Rather, she argued for even more surveince. ¡°We also need to add surveince around Jihoon¡¯s house¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± This time, I firmly rejected it. ¡°To prevent Chae Suhyeon or Yoo Hana from getting too close¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± It felt right to stick with Hyungseok¡¯s advice. I shouldn¡¯t be too forgiving. That just seemed to lead to umted problems. ¡°Ha¡­ Miss Sooah?¡± ¡°Yes¡­?¡± ¡°If you keep insisting, I might just resign.¡± ¡°Gasp.¡± Lee Sooah looked shocked and sealed her lips. ¡®It works surprisingly well.¡¯ Of course, I was just bluffing; I had no real intention of resigning. There weren¡¯t many other ces I could go from the Blue Guild¡­ If I truly did resign, it would probably create a bigger mess. Without a doubt, Hunter Lee Sooah would pursue me relentlessly and wreak havoc. But one thing was certain. I couldpletely reign Lee Sooah in with the mere mention of the word ¡®resign.¡¯ ¡®Phew. At least it seems I have the whip in my hand now.¡¯ ¡°No, Ji¡­ Jihoon¡­ Uh¡­ Um¡­ I¡­ I was wrong. I got a little carried away. Ho ho ho. I¡¯ll withdraw the strengthening of the surveince. That was just a joke. Ho ho. That¡¯s unreasonable~ I¡¯ve already crossed the line by just setting up surveince near your house, right? Ho ho ho.¡± She seemed totally flustered, making a fuss about it. ¡®So she was aware of it?¡¯ ¡°Ho ho. Anyway, from now on, our Team A, no, the Blue Guild will focus on protecting Baek Jihoon.¡±@@novelbin@@ She spoke in a very serious tone. * ¡°Ha¡­¡± In the dressing room, Yoo Hana sighed while gripping her head. ¡°Hana, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Oppa¡­ I just can¡¯t stand it¡­¡± ¡°Then go to the bathroom.¡± ¡°No! Not that!!!¡± She red at the manager as if feeling frustrated. ¡°What then¡­?¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ Baek Jihoon¡­¡± Yoo Hana looked at her manager with a distant expression. Chapter 69 [ Senior. Come down to the first floor. ] Hyungseok¡¯s sudden text. ¡®What? Why? All of a sudden?¡¯ ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± It was rare for him to ask me toe out like this. ¡°Ha¡­ I really didn¡¯t want it toe to this¡­¡± He was standing with a hand on his waist, waiting for me, looking quite frustrated. ¡°You¡¯re so hopeless, Senior.¡± He clicked his tongue. ¡°Why? Me. What?¡± ¡°Come here.¡± He led me to a caf¨¦. There, I found S-Rank Hunter Lee Yeji. ¡®Huh? What? Why? What¡¯s going on?¡¯ I didn¡¯t exactly know what abilities she possessed, but I recognized her face well. I only vaguely knew her name. She wasn¡¯t exactly a highly active S-Rank Hunter. Though she was surely an S-Rank Hunter and somewhat well-known, she still gave off an aura of quietly living her life. ¡°What¡¯s this? Why? What¡¯s going on right now?¡± I waspletely puzzled as Hyungseok practically dragged me along. ¡°Ha. Just sit here for a second.¡± He continued to look immensely frustrated. ¡°Okay. You know Hunter Lee Yeji, right?¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Hunter Lee Yeji bowed slightly as she greeted me. ¡°Ah¡­ Hello.¡± I had no choice but to awkwardly shrink back and greet her. I could only speak in a whisper. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s this? You know Hunter Lee Yeji too? Did you bring her here?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°How? An S-Rank Hunter?¡± ¡°Oh, I have a bit of a widework in the Hunter industry.¡± ¡°Wow. You can invite an S-Rank Hunter like this, but can¡¯t charm any women?¡± ¡°Doing my job well and that is a bit different.¡± His expression was quite confident. ¡°Hey. But seriously, what¡¯s this all about?¡±@@novelbin@@ ¡°Ha. I brought her here because you¡¯re being such an idiot.¡± ¡°What?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but be offended. ¡°This is Hunter Lee Yeji; she can remove effects that other Hunters have inflicted.¡± ¡°?¡± I had no choice but to look back and forth between Lee Yeji and Hyungseok. ¡°Ha. So, I think the weird way you¡¯ve been acting is likely because of Hunter Chae Suhyeon.¡± ¡°Umm¡­¡± ¡°And I wanted to confirm that. Hunter Lee Yeji, could you take a look?¡± It seemed she was rummaging through something. ¡°Um¡­ It looks quite serious, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Her expression shifted. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°How have you been living like this?¡± She nodded her head, looking utterly perplexed. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Severe deterioration of intelligence, severe decline in judgment, and your naivety and gullibility have increased¡­¡± She rattled off the list. ¡°Are you talking about me?¡± ¡°Ha¡­¡± Hyungseok rubbed his forehead. ¡°You¡¯ve lived like this? Until now? Why? How? What happened here?¡± Hunter Lee Yeji had apletely bewildered expression. ¡°It seems like you were nearly a ve¡­?¡± ¡®Well, that¡¯s not entirely wrong.¡¯ ¡°Hmm¡­ It looks like I¡¯ll need to spend quite a few points to sort this out.¡± She appeared to be deep in thought. ¡°Um¡­ the caster is¡­ indeed Hunter Chae Suhyeon¡­ and the intensity of the enchantment is still about 92% remaining¡­ I assume you haven¡¯t been around hertely?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± It felt like I hade to a fortune-teller¡¯s house, getting my fortune read. She seemed to instantly grasp what was going on. ¡®What? Can Hunter Lee Yeji see the status windows of others too?¡¯ For some reason, I felt delighted to meet someone simr to me. ¡°Hmm¡­ I can¡¯t believe Hunter Chae Suhyeon would do something like this¡­ This is serious.¡± She frowned deeply. Then she looked at Hyungseok, her expression worried. ¡°Um, Hunter Lee Yeji, can this all be resolved?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Her smile after Hyungseok¡¯s words was bright. ¡°Baek Jihoon Hunter? This is quite serious. Your judgment seems to be low right now. You probably shouldn¡¯t go near Hunter Chae Suhyeon again¡­ How could someone end up like this¡­¡± She bit her lip, her voice filled with concern. ¡°From what I can see, you¡¯re nearly at the level of a rag doll. It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen someone cast such a range of negative effects on someone else.¡± ¡°Um¡­ is it really that serious?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Her voice was very definitive. ¡°Is this what you usually do?¡± ¡°To be precise, I can remove or amplify the effects caused by other Hunters. Well¡­ It¡¯s not a particrly shy ability, so I¡¯m not very well-known for it.¡± She smiled slightly bitterly. ¡°Senior, I¡¯m going topletely eradicate this today. Phew. Hunter Chae Suhyeon is way more serious than I expected. This is the first time I¡¯ve heard Hunter Lee Yeji speak like this.¡± Hyungseok shook his head. ¡°Yeah¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle this quickly. It seems like you¡¯ve been carrying a heavy burden for quite some time.¡± She began to touch various parts of the status window. * ¡°Hey~ Baek Jihoon, where have you been?¡± Manager Cha greeted me with a wave. ¡°I just went to the first-floor lobby.¡± Earlier, I had experienced Lee Yeji¡¯s effect that allowed me to break free from Chae Suhyeonpletely. I was strenuously suppressing the remaining anger I had towards Chae Suhyeon, but now I had no reason to do so. It felt like I waspletely liberated. What a relief it was. ¡®Ha¡­ So, all those things were caused by Chae Suhyeon? What a damned bitch?¡¯ An even stronger anger welled up inside me. I couldn¡¯t help but harden my expression. ¡°Um, Jihoon, you look a little different. Did something happen? You seem like a different person.¡± Manager Cha was surveying me with a somewhat perplexed expression. ¡°Yeah, it has changed a bit.¡± I sat down in my chair and began to focus on my tasks. Of course, I wasn¡¯t concentrating on them right away. ¡®Ha. That bitch has been messing with me this whole time¡­? How do I handle this?¡¯ All my nerves were now focused on getting back at Chae Suhyeon. I suddenly realized how absurdly I had been living. ¡°Hey, Jihoon. Could youe to my office for a moment?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± It was Lee Sooah calling for me. * ¡°Um¡­ Jihoon? You know, I think we have reasons to get closer.¡± ¡°And so?¡± I spoke a bit more stiffly. ¡°Um¡­¡± Lee Sooah looked flustered. It seemed she was struggling to adapt to my sudden change. ¡°Um, Jihoon, is something bothering you? Was I too rude? I¡¯m really sorry.¡± Her tone slightly shifted. It felt like she was bing increasingly humble. ¡°Then¡­ I¡¯ll just talk for today¡­¡± ¡°Sure.¡± * ¡°Oh, is it already over? I thought you were going to have a long talk with Hunter Lee Sooah?¡± Manager Cha looked confused. He seemed to be quite perceptive, reacting sensitively to my transformed demeanor. ¡°Yeah, she didn¡¯t say much.¡± * ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Lee Sooah sat at her desk with a nk expression. She had called for Baek Jihoon with cheerful anticipation, but something felt off. It was as if I had be someone entirely different. ¡®Um¡­ Why? Suddenly? Huh?¡¯ She looked quite confused. ¡®Was that the real him? Perhaps he was just pretending to be weak all this time¡­?¡¯ ¡®Um¡­¡¯ ¡®This is actually better!¡¯ Despite tilting her head with an expression that suggested she found something odd, she began to smile cheerfully. ¡°Later at quitting time~ we should go together~¡± Lee Sooah started humming as she focused on her work. * ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Chae Suhyeon appeared to be deep in thought. She kept tapping the desk with her pen, wearing a serious expression. ¡®Ha¡­ Jihoon oppa¡­ what should I do? Ha¡­ sigh¡­¡¯ Then she opened her status window. ¡®Hmm¡­ Is there nothing I can do with the remaining enchantment¡­ Did I speak too irritably? Is that why the enchantment doesn¡¯t work¡­?¡¯ She started fiddling with the status window. ¡°Wait?????¡± Suddenly startled, she jumped up from her chair. Her chair nearly toppled over. ¡°What? Why? Howe?¡± She couldn¡¯t close her mouth. The status window showed Baek Jihoon¡¯s enchantment level had dropped to zero. ¡°Why? It was clearly 92%! What? What¡¯s going on? Why? What? What is it? Huh??¡± She was in such disbelief that she kept touching and looking around the status window in a frenzy. ¡°Huh? Did the status window malfunction? Why suddenly drop from the 90s to zero? What¡¯s going on¡­?¡± Her face became rigid with a very perplexed expression. It seemed she was profoundly shocked that what she thought was her glimmer of hope had vanished. Thud. She sat down heavily as if the world had copsed around her. ¡®Ah¡­ What the hell? What is this? Is the status window crazy? Why suddenly?¡¯ Her face contorted seriously. But there was nothing she could currently do. ¡®What should I do?¡¯ ¡®Jihoon oppa¡­¡¯ ¡®This is a big deal¡­¡¯ Various thoughts about Baek Jihoon began to bubble up inside her. To be continued. Chapter 70 ¡°Ha. Thank you for today.¡± Park Hyungseok bowed his head to Hunter Lee Yeji. ¡°My brother really needed to get his act together. He was acting very strangely.¡± ¡°It makes sense now. I¡¯ve never seen anyone walk around with so much baggage before.¡± She smiled slightly. But it seemed she thought it was quite serious. ¡°Seems like Hunter Chae Suhyeon is someone who normally maniptes others?¡± ¡°Yes. She seems to be a really nasty person. There are even more serious issues beyond this.¡± Park Hyungseok¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Anyway, I hope for a good oue. It¡¯s time to start living his own life.¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you.¡± He bowed at a 90-degree angle and left. ¡°Ha. Hunter Chae Suhyeon¡­ what a wicked woman.¡± Park Hyungseok was deep in thought. ¡®Surely, the Baekho Guild won¡¯t make any useless ys against us.¡¯ He felt the need to be prepared for Chae Suhyeon¡¯s strange behaviors, just in case. * ¡°Ha. Oppa, I¡¯m quitting today.¡± ¡°Why? What do you mean? We still have four shoots left today!¡± ¡°I¡¯m really sorry¡­ I just can¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the reason?¡± ¡°Jihoon¡­ I feel like I need Jihoon around¡­ it¡¯s a big problem¡­¡± Yoo Hana¡¯s expression hadpletely changed. Normally assertive and confident, now she looked like a puppy that needed to go out. ¡°What? No, what¡¯s wrong? Hana?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just can¡¯t do anything about this¡­¡± ¡°Come on, pull yourself together.¡± ¡°No, how can I pull myself together in this situation? Please adjust today¡¯s schedule somehow¡­¡± ¡°No way~ Today is really important.¡± Yoo Hana was practically pleading with her manager. It was the first time anyone had seen her like this. She had alwayspletely dominated her manager. ¡°Ha¡­ damn¡­¡± Yoo Hana started sending messages with great urgency. * [Hey Jihoon. This is Yoo Hana. I¡¯ll be direct. Can youe to me today? Please.] Yoo Hana sent a sudden message. ¡®What the?¡¯ I quickly looked at the message. But it didn¡¯t seem that important. ¡°Hmm? Who is this~ Looks like it¡¯s Yoo Hana¡¯s profile~¡± Manager Cha casually nced as he passed by. ¡°Yes, it is Yoo Hana.¡± ¡°Really?¡± His expression turned bewildered. ¡°The S-Rank Hunter Yoo Hana? The one our Blue Guild is focusing on? Is Jihoon dispatched there?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Wow. You¡¯re messaging with Yoo Hana? Our Jihoon really is impressive!¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t exchange messages per se; strictly speaking, I just received it.¡± It was the first time for me. How they directly contacted each other like this. ¡°I heard Yoo Hana never makes personal contact¡­ She says it could harm her image¡­ How did¡­?¡± He looked quite surprised. ¡°Yeah, why is this happening?¡± Then he returned his focus to his work. I had a lot to prepare for today¡¯s dungeon exploration as well. * [Oh no. Jihoon, if you¡¯ve read this, please reply. I really need you. Are you noting? It¡¯d be great if you could at leaste for a bit.] [Uh, Jihoon? Are you busy? If you¡¯re too busy, should Ie to you? What¡¯s the best way to handle this?] [Jihoon, I¡¯m going toe over. Just wait for me.] After that, a flurry of messages came through, but I was in a dilemma about how to respond. ¡®For now, I should focus on my work¡­¡¯ * ¡°Alright, everyone! Starting today, our Hunter ss 6 will have a lot of hard work ahead! That¡¯s the only way to prevent Hunter ss 1 and 2 from bothering us!¡± Manager Cha spoke to everyone in front of the dungeon entrance. He seemed to be in a good mood, smiling widely. ¡°Should I say it¡¯s good that more work hase? Or should I not?¡± ¡°The workload skyrocketed. But if we¡¯re getting pushed, that¡¯s a good thing, right? I always felt like we were neglected, so this is actually better.¡± ¡°Right? I prefer being busy. At least we can earn more money.¡± They were having a lively conversation. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Under Manager Cha¡¯s lead, they started the dungeon expedition. * ¡°Wow¡­ So the Hunter sses 1 and 2 did this every day? This is really tough.¡± ¡°No~ Last time, when Hunter Lee Sooah went wild, that was hard too, and today is just the same.¡±@@novelbin@@ ¡°At least today, Hunter Lee Sooah isn¡¯t running around, so that¡¯s a relief.¡± They looked toward Lee Sooah. Lee Sooah was closely following Baek Jihoon. ¡°I¡¯m certain about it~ she¡¯s totally infatuated with Hunter Baek Jihoon.¡± ¡°True. She says she isn¡¯t, so¡­ Let¡¯s leave her be until she admits it herself.¡± They clicked their tongues, yet they also seemed to find the situation not too bad. * ¡°Hey, Jihoon? Let¡¯s go together. Isn¡¯t this too fast? Wait for me a bit.¡± Lee Sooah was persistently trailing after him. ¡°Hey, Sooah. Didn¡¯t you say you usually watch from the back and give instructions?¡± I distinctly remembered hearing that before. It was the same during the War Memorial Dungeon. Today marked the second day of the dungeon expedition with Hunter ss 6. ¡°No~ when did I ever say that? Who said that? I¡¯m supposed to be following the team members around and taking care of them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true. I remember you said you often stayed back because it gave you a headache~¡± Manager Cha casually passed by and tossed thatment over his shoulder. ¡°Manager Cha!!¡± Lee Sooah red fiercely at him. ¡°Heeek. I¡¯m going that way~¡± He hurriedly scampered off. ¡°Anyway, Jihoon, you¡¯re not having any trouble, are you?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°But Jihoon, aren¡¯t you a D-Rank? You seem much more capable than I imagined.¡± She kept babbling as she followed me closely. ¡°Yes. My stats are a bit higher.¡± I had indeed taken the time to boost them a little in advance. I had also invested quite a few skill points by now. I nned to finish this all off by the uing weekend. There was no need to prolong it any further. ¡°Ugh~ Our Jihoon has great abilities.¡± ¡°And what about you, Sooah?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to help over there?¡± I pointed to a spot at a distance. In that area, Assistant Manager Kim was struggling alone. ¡°Ah, I think Assistant Manager Kim can handle it by himself¡­¡± She resolutely refused to budge. ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± I nced at Lee Sooah. With my eyes, Imunicated my intent. ¡®Aren¡¯t you going?¡¯ ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll go¡­ I¡¯ll go¡­¡± Lee Sooah peeked around, looking hesitant, but eventually turned toward Assistant Manager Kim, seeming a bit flustered. Her demeanor resembled someone begrudgingly epting a situation. ¡°Phew. Now can I focus quietly on what I want to do?¡± Today, I wanted to apply the points I had invested. Of course, I had done plenty of dungeon raids with Chae Suhyeon too. But at that time, my approach was different. I hadn¡¯t boosted my stats but instead managed with the items Chae Suhyeon brought. ¡®Oh Oppa. Are you telling me now you¡¯re going to invest in your stats? Are you crazy?¡¯ ¡®I found this, so just use what I¡¯ve provided to fight.¡¯ ¡®You need to invest in yourself, not Oppa.¡¯ ¡®Ugh. This is so frustrating.¡¯ Every time that happened, I would say, ¡®Oh, is that so?¡¯ and follow Chae Suhyeon¡¯s advice. ¡®Damn, I was seriously off my game.¡¯ Boom! As I was concentrating on my tasks, a massive explosion sound echoed from a distance. Then, a gigantic monster appeared. ¡°Huh? What¡¯s that? Hunter ss 6, everyone, gather here!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± They all quickly started to group around Manager Cha. ¡°Why on earth is that thing appearing today with a spawn chance of only 0.01%?¡± Manager Cha grumbled. ¡°Right? I was hoping today would just be a smooth, easy day.¡± ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll need to pour everything we¡¯ve got together!¡± Hunter ss 6 was mobilizing to face the massive creature nicknamed Baron. ¡°Ha¡­ It would be nice if Hunter Lee Sooah stepped up; that would make things easier¡­¡± ¡°True¡­ but she¡¯s unlikely to¡­¡± ¡°What a surprise¡­¡± Everyone was just exchanging nces. ¡°Should I speak up?¡± I took a step forward, gauging the atmosphere. ¡°Um? Is that Jihoon?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± ¡°I think it would be cleaner and faster if Hunter Lee Sooah steps up rather than us tackling this as Hunter ss 6.¡± ¡°True. But Hunter Lee Sooah usually doesn¡¯t participate in these kinds of things¡­¡± Manager Cha shook his head. ¡°Well, we won¡¯t know until we try.¡± I walked forward confidently. ¡°Hunter Lee Sooah!¡± ¡°Yes!!!¡± Lee Sooah, who had been some distance away with Assistant Manager Kim, ran toward us. They had noticed Baron too, but it seemed to take them longer to reach us. Gasping for breath. ¡°Why did Baron show up? I don¡¯t understand.¡± Lee Sooahined as soon as she arrived. She seemed clearly displeased, as she had intended to focus on the dungeon raid quietly. ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°You can handle this, right, Hunter ss 6?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± I could feel everyone¡¯s eyes on me. ¡°Ahem. Hunter Lee Sooah?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I heard that Hunter Lee Sooah can take it down by herself.¡± I stared intensely at her. Lee Sooah¡¯s pupils started to waver. ¡°You can handle it ¡®alone¡¯?¡± Her eyes were now trembling more and more. I kept my gaze fixed on her. ¡°Well¡­ should I take it down alone?¡± After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she finally spoke up. To be continued¡­ Chapter 72 BANG!!!!!!! With an incredible sound, smoke billowed up. A loud tremor. Even though Baron was quite far from us, smoke was spewing out here as well. Cough cough. The members of Hunter ss 6 and others were shielding their faces from the dust and wind, struggling to endure. As time passed, thepletely subdued form of Baron came into view. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Hunter ss 6 and others pped and cheered, appearing to be witnessing something very exciting and magnificent for the first time in a while. ¡°How did that happen?¡± They then turned their heads to look at me. ¡°How on earth did you manage that?¡± Their curiosity was not about Sooah or Yoo Hana. It was solely focused on me. ¡°Um¡­ Baek Jihoon. How did you manage to make them like that? It seems like you subdued S-Rank Hunters with just your gaze?¡± ¡°Right? How did you do it? I¡¯m more amazed by you, who made Sooah and Yoo Hana Hunter look like that, than I am about them beating Baron to this extent.¡± They observed me as if I were something extraordinarily fascinating. ¡®Well, I can¡¯t really tell them about what happened in the past.¡¯ Tap. Sooah and Yoo Hana returned. ¡°How was it? Jihoon?¡± ¡°Did you see me?¡± They wore expressions full of expectation. ¡°Um. You both looked really cool. It¡¯s my first time witnessing an S-Rank Hunter take down a boss.¡± ¡°But Jihoon, who do you think performed better between us?¡± Sooah asked with eager anticipation. She seemed to be hoping for her name to be mentioned. ¡°Uh, I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°Excuse me??¡± Sooah and Yoo Hana eximed in surprise simultaneously. ¡°No, why¡­?¡± ¡°Well, it was a bit too brief. Plus, since both of you are S-Rank Hunters, you looked quite simr in performance. I think I need to see a bit more data before making aparison.¡± I subtly left room for ambiguity. ¡°Ha¡­ Is that so?¡± Sooah and Yoo Hana were exchanging nces, silentlymunicating. ¡°Regardless, it was great. I really enjoyed it.¡± It was somewhat amusing. I was merely a D-Rank Hunter, yet the atmosphere seemed to suggest that I was the leader of this team. Moreover, not only Sooah but even Yoo Hana hade here. ¡®If Yoo Hana gradually returns to the Blue Guild¡­¡¯ I thought it wouldn¡¯t be too difficult of an issue. ¡°Um, but Yoo Hana, don¡¯t you have a shoot to go to? We need to tidy up here a bit. It¡¯s a shame that you¡¯re a celebrity.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Yoo Hana looked a bit stunned after hearing my words. It seemed a lot of thoughts were racing through her mind. ¡°Well¡­ um¡­¡± ¡°But why are you here today?¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯m¡­ um¡­¡± Suddenly, she looked a bit embarrassed. It seemed she found it awkward to speak in front of Hunter ss 6. ¡°I¡¯ll tell youter!!!¡± And then she just bolted out. * ¡°Oh no!!! Hana!!! What the heck is this!!!¡± Her manager was scolding her with an extremely angry expression. If it had been any other day, he wouldn¡¯t dare speak to Yoo Hana like that, but not today. ¡°How can you mess up your sponsor¡¯s clothes like this? Did you roll around in a yground? How can you just disappear without permission?¡± ¡°Well, I asked to dy the shoot for a moment.¡± ¡°Oh dear¡­¡± The manager pressed his hand to his forehead as if he had a headache. ¡°Is there any tear?¡± ¡°Nope. Just dirty. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not that fragile.¡± ¡°What do you mean you¡¯re not fragile?¡± ¡°I just came back from a dungeon. It¡¯s been a while.¡± Thud. The manager copsed onto the floor as if his legs had given out. ¡°You!!! Are you out of your mind? What were you doing in a dungeon?¡± ¡°Hah. Oppa, you know I¡¯m an S-Rank Hunter, right? I just went there for a light visit.¡± ¡°You chased after that Baek Jihoon guy, didn¡¯t you? Right?¡± ¡°Yeah. I was just trying to show off my skills, but it got me dirty.¡± ¡°Sigh¡­¡± The manager let out a deep sigh. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ Yoo Hana was deep in thought. After engaging in Hunter activities for the first time in quite a while, her heart was racing. Moreover, she had frustratingly not received the appraisal she wanted. She thought she¡¯d win, but the verdict was a draw. ¡°Why? Didn¡¯t I do better? How? Ugh, this is intolerable.¡± She felt a burningpetitive spirit rise within her. ¡°Then¡­ I guess I need to see more before making a decision~ Right? Hmph.¡± ¡°Should I get back to being a Hunter¡­?¡± Her mind was rather unsettled. EP.73 It¡¯s been almost a year since I left the Hunter world. Now, my heart was starting to lean back toward bing a Hunter. * ¡°Jihoon.¡± Upon returning to the office, all the members of Hunter ss 6 were looking at me. ¡°It seems like something has changed a lot today.¡± ¡°Indeed. What could it be?¡± ¡°It definitely wasn¡¯t like this until just a while ago¡­¡± Everyone had a suspicious expression as they looked at me. ¡°Did you take something behind our backs? Why do you seem different?¡± ¡°Hmm. That¡¯s true. How on earth did you do it? With Sooah and Yoo Hana? It felt almost like you were controlling them. They couldn¡¯t move at all?¡± ¡°Could controlling others be your trait?¡± ¡°Hey, what kind of trait would that be?¡± Their opinions were all over the ce. ¡°I didn¡¯t do much, really.¡± That was the truth. I hadn¡¯t said much at all. They just stepped up on their own. ¡®Now I know roughly what to do.¡¯ I felt that there was no longer a reason to be overly humble. If I just acted like today, everything would fall into ce smoothly. * ¡°Well, today I¡¯ll leave work right away.¡± It had been quite aplicated day. I decided to quickly leave the guild. ¡°Um¡­ Jihoon¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Can we go home together?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be going alone.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Sooah looked flustered at my firm response. * ck ck. As I was about to exit the guild building, I heard the familiar sound of high heels approaching. ¡°Oppa.¡± It was Chae Suhyeon. ¡®Hah. Why did shee here?¡¯ I frowned at the sight of her. But now it was fine. I hadpletely distanced myself from her. Thanks to Lee Yeji. ¡°Oppa, can we talk? Please. I feel like there are many things I need to exin. I think you misunderstood.¡± It was rare for us to face each other and have a long conversation like this. ¡°No? I have nothing to say.¡± I responded with an expression that suggested I wasn¡¯t concerned. ¡°Ah, Oppa¡­ wait a minute¡­¡± As I tried to push through the revolving door, Chae Suhyeon stood in my way. ¡°Move.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Oppa, please give me just five minutes. I came to the Blue Guild after all.¡± ¡°So what?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Oppa¡­¡± ¡°Excuse me? Chae Suhyeon?¡± A very annoyed voice came from behind me.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Is this really happening? Doesn¡¯t Baekho Guild have any shame? Coming boldly to the Blue Guild lobby and doing this?¡± Sooah was standing with her arms crossed, giving Chae Suhyeon a disapproving look. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I know that our Baek Jihoon Hunter is a prized asset. But you shouldn¡¯t attempt to scout him, okay? Keep your hands to yourself. Stay away from Jihoon.¡± She waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Hah¡­ Sooah Hunter, I just need to have a little chat with Baek Jihoon.¡± Chae Suhyeon clenched her eyes shut. ¡°I have nothing to say, so get lost.¡± She then stepped out the door. ¡°Ah¡­ O¡­ Oppa!!!!!¡± ¡°Excuse me, Chae Suhyeon Hunter. The person you should be talking to is not Baek Jihoon, but me. Let¡¯s have a conversation.¡± * ¡°What on earth is going on?¡± Sooah was almost dragging Chae Suhyeon into the caf¨¦ in the lobby. ¡°Well, it¡¯s just that¡­¡± Chae Suhyeon wore a seriously troubled expression, appearing to be unable to open her mouth. ¡°Hmph. Do you think our Jihoon would fall for such a pretty face? Jihoon is a core member of our Blue Guild. You probably shouldn¡¯t think you can just take him away.¡± ¡°Pretty face¡­?¡± Chae Suhyeon¡¯s mind was racing. ¡®What? Did she think I was trying to recruit Baek Jihoon? Hmmm¡­¡¯ ¡®That might be better. I could approach him without revealing my past, framing it in that manner.¡¯ ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. ording to our analysis in the Baekho Guild, Jihoon seems to be an outstanding talent. That¡¯s why I came here personally.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that being rather brazen?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that how the Hunter industry works?¡± Chae Suhyeon was quite confident. The two women stood there with their arms crossed, ring at each other. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely warn you: keep your hands off Jihoon.¡± ¡°Why is he ¡®our¡¯ Jihoon?¡± ¡°Because he belongs to Team A. So he¡¯s ours.¡± Sooah said confidently. Chae Suhyeon bit her lip in frustration. But she had nothing to counter with. ¡°Let¡¯s leave it up to Baek Jihoon. Isn¡¯t it important to see who can charm him?¡± Chae Suhyeon held a glimmer of hope in her heart. If she could somehow win back Baek Jihoon¡¯s heart, she could fix everything. ¡®Jihoon oppa¡­ I need you. Otherwise, I am nothing.¡¯ She felt more and more anxious within herself. Next Episode Preview Chapter 75 ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Hunter Lee Yeji appeared to be very busy. Typically, she was an unupied support-type S-Rank Hunter. Her trait was to nullify the effects of other Hunters, so there weren¡¯t many specific duties she needed to handle. Of course, there were the typical busy tasks thate with being an S-Rank Hunter. ¡®Hmm. Baek Jihoon is really something special¡­¡¯ She was recalling the status window she had seen earlier. She had observed countless status windows of other Hunters, but this time she had encountered a very rare and unique Hunter for the first time. ¡®So many points?!¡¯ Although she didn¡¯t show it on her face, internally she was astounded. ¡®How can there be over one hundred million points? How did he earn that?¡¯ She thought it was unbelievable. Moreover, the fact that they were ¡®surplus¡¯ points was problematic. ¡®It can¡¯t be an error, right?¡¯ ¡®Did he invest and still have that much left?¡¯ ¡®No, I distinctly heard he was E-Rank and upgraded this week. So he should only be D-Rank.¡¯ ¡®But even so, if he used all those points, he would still have nearly one hundred million left, right?¡¯ ¡®Isn¡¯t that enough to max out all his skills?¡¯ Although she couldn¡¯t show any sign of it in front of Baek Jihoon, she was genuinely astonished. ¡®It seemed Hyungseok had no clue about it¡­¡¯ ¡®What on earth is this person?¡¯ She searched through all the data she could ess. However, nothing rted to it came up. ¡®And it¡¯s not just the points; his traits are strange too¡­ what is that¡­?¡¯ ¡®Can he invest in others?¡¯ ¡®Is it a form of investment where he even earns interest back?¡¯ Naturally, she couldn¡¯t help but be perplexed. Most existing Hunter traits were attack-rted. Her own trait was quite unique. But Baek Jihoon¡¯s trait feltpletely novel. ¡®It¡¯s also odd that something like this hasn¡¯t been reported until now.¡¯ ¡®Could it be that Hunter Chae Suhyeon stopped it?¡¯ She subtly thought of Chae Suhyeon. Then she also considered Park Hyungseok and Baek Jihoon. There was definitely an atmosphere suggesting that Chae Suhyeon had some sort of rtionship with Baek Jihoon. ¡®Could those two be dating? Did Baek Jihoon invest in Chae Suhyeon¡­ and got a return? What is it¡­?¡¯ ¡®And what kind of trait does Hunter Chae Suhyeon have? A subus or something?¡¯ She wore quite aplicated expression. ¡°This won¡¯t do. This is a problem I can¡¯t solve alone.¡± *@@novelbin@@ ¡°Um¡­ Yeji, what¡¯s going on?¡± A very calm and quiet voice was heard. Another S-Rank Hunter, Lee Haru. She was the top Hunter of the Undersea Realm. Primarily, she maintained a low profile, avoiding media attention. A veryposed and elegant Hunter. ¡°Hmm¡­ you know, I found something strange.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I saw a status window of a Hunter yesterday¡­¡± Hunter Lee Yeji spoke with an expression of confusion as she began to share her story. ¡°Huh? There¡¯s a Hunter like that? That soundspletely new to me.¡± Lee Haru tilted her head. ¡°You think it¡¯s strange too? What is it?¡± ¡°Well¡­?¡± ¡°But it seems to be rted to Hunter Chae Suhyeon as well¡­¡± Among the S-Rank Hunters, Chae Suhyeon was a hot topic. It made sense, considering her incredible growth ratepared to others, alongside her hidden personal life and identity. Then suddenly, she shot up to take the number one spot in S-Rank with the news of being scouted by the Baekho Guild. Everyone was looking at her with curious gazes. ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­? Did Baek Jihoon give points to Hunter Chae Suhyeon?¡± ¡°I wonder¡­?¡± The two Hunters pondered while tilting their heads, yet no conclusion was reached. ¡°I think it would be better to ask Ah-reum. She might know something.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ is that so? But Haru, you know how loose Ah-reum¡¯s lips can be.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but she¡¯s really good at gathering information, isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lee Yeji couldn¡¯t contain herself any longer. This was definitely a huge matter. And it was bound to be public knowledge sooner orter. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ask Ah-reum.¡± * Lee Ah-reum. She was known to be close with almost every S-Rank Hunter. She could be called the epitome of information prowess. This was only appropriate since her trait was the ability to search for detailed information on all monsters, dungeons, items, and traits. Other Hunters could only check basic information. ¡°Um¡­ Ah-reum.¡± Hunter Lee Yeji cautiously opened her mouth. ¡°Yeah. Yeji! It¡¯s been a while. What¡¯s up?¡± Lee Ah-reum nodded slightly as she spoke. She seemed pleased to meet Lee Yeji again after a long time. ¡°I have something I¡¯m curious about. But I don¡¯t think it should get out as gossip¡­¡± ¡°Aha~ And why is that?¡± ¡°I thought asking you might lead to it bing gossip.¡± ¡°Ohe on, Yeji. My lips are sealed.¡± Lee Ah-reum replied with a slight chuckle. ¡°Absolutely not.¡± Lee Yeji thought firmly. However, she believed she couldn¡¯t leave it as a mystery forever. ¡°Well, it¡¯s bound toe out sometime, right?¡± She began to ask Ah-reum various questions. ¡°Are you familiar with this kind of trait?¡± ¡°Hmm??¡± Ah-reum appeared perplexed as she listened to the story. She was busy fiddling with her own status window, searching for information. But it seemed like nothing relevant was appearing. ¡°Nothing? There¡¯s no information like that. Absolutely none.¡± She tilted her head. ¡°None¡­?¡± ¡°Yeah, none. Are you sure you didn¡¯t misread it?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­ I really saw it.¡± Lee Yeji had a very determined look on her face. She had certainly checked multiple times. ¡°Should I meet that person again to confirm¡­?¡± ¡°Who is that person?¡± ¡°Oh, I can¡¯t say that. It seems to be personal information.¡± ¡°Come on~ just tell me~¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t think I can do that.¡± ¡°Aww.¡± Lee Yeji and Lee Ah-reum chatted eagerly about Baek Jihoon¡¯s traits. But no answers were found. ¡®If Ah-reum doesn¡¯t know, then nobody will, right?¡¯ That was definitely the case. All information in the Hunter world seemed to originate from Ah-reum. ¡°By the way, Yeji.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Why are you so curious about this?¡± Lee Yeji felt a bit flustered. ¡°Oh¡­ no. I just thought it was a peculiar trait?¡± Her face turned slightly red. ¡°Oh, is that so? Well, it is unique. But wouldn¡¯t it be incredible if you could receive investment from that person?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ I guess.¡± Lee Yeji was only sharing a fraction of the information. ¡°Are you nning to take investment?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ no, it¡¯s not that.¡± Lee Yeji¡¯s eyes subtly wavered. ¡®More than investment¡­ it seems like he could resolve status ailments¡­¡¯ The chronic problems of S-Rank Hunters. The status ailments that gued them. She felt certain that Baek Jihoon could eliminate those. ¡°But~ isn¡¯t it possible for that person to remove the status ailments of other S-Ranks?¡± The mind of the information expert, Ah-reum, began to race. ¡°Huh?¡± Lee Yeji, now even more flustered. ¡°C-could that be?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it? If he can invest points¡­¡± Ah-reum was busy searching for something on her status window. ¡°I learned recently that the status ailments affecting S-Ranks are simr to having negative stats, right? So if you raise the stats, wouldn¡¯t that resolve it?¡± ¡°Hmm. Is that so?¡± ¡°If such a person really exists, it would be fantastic news for S-Ranks.¡± Ah-reum seemed a bit excited. * ¡®Hmm¡­ So he can see others¡¯ status windows and also invest in them¡­¡¯ After parting ways with Lee Yeji, Ah-reum¡¯s mind became quiteplicated. This was something she had been researching for quite some time. ¡®Status ailments of S-Ranks.¡¯ Research that had to be conducted almost forcibly, despite any personal desires. Various national organizations and research institutes had approached her as well. ¨C I don¡¯t know either. ¨C What could it be? ¨C Hmm¡­ nothinges up when I search with my status window. This was the issue that had tormented her for a long time. She thought it could be the answer to that problem. ¡°What could he be? Who is he? Lee Yeji probably won¡¯t tell me¡­¡± Ah-reum decided to take the initiative. She didn¡¯t think this issue was something to keep hidden. * ¡°Doctor, have you ever heard of such a trait?¡± Lee Yeji began a profound discussion with the people at the Hunter Research Institute. It was a topic that everyone was bound to be interested in. ¡°Huh? There¡¯s someone like that? I¡¯ve never heard of it.¡± Little by little, the word about Baek Jihoon¡¯s trait began to spread. * ¡°Hmm. This won¡¯t do. I can¡¯t hold back any longer.¡± Lee Yeji stood up abruptly. She had asked all the Hunters she knew, but everyone was hearing it for the first time. But it was clear. With the information she had seen, Baek Jihoon could resolve this pain and suffering. ¡®I think¡­ I should ask for help.¡¯ Lee Yeji, who had always been the one to help others, made her first move towards Baek Jihoon. ¡®Sigh¡­ We¡¯re not really close, and it feels a bit rude, but I¡¯ve helped others, so¡­ he shouldn¡¯t refuse, right?¡¯ After a lot of deliberation, she decided to approach Baek Jihoon. She gathered her belongings and contacted Park Hyungseok. ¡°Um¡­ Hyungseok, I have a request about Baek Jihoon¡­¡± Chapter 76 ¡°Park Jinsoo?¡± I nodded slightly. I seemed to have heard the name before, but I couldn¡¯t recall it precisely. Since Team A was quiterge, it was difficult to get to know everyonepletely within just a week. We lightly shook hands. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Oh, I just wanted to say hello. I have a good feeling about you.¡± He was an associate of Hunter 1. ¡°Could you spare some time for a chat?¡± ¡°Sure, let¡¯s do that.¡± I wasn¡¯t sure what it was about, but decided to listen to what he had to say. We moved to a different spot. ¡°It turns out we¡¯re the same age,¡± he noted. ¡°Oh, I see¡­¡± This was the result of my guild joining a few yearster due to Chae Suhyeon. Friends my age had already been promoted to managerial positions. ¡°I was quite interested in the new person who¡¯s the same age as me. Have you faced any challenges?¡± ¡®Difficulties? No way.¡¯ The chaotic events of the past week were more bizarre than difficult. ¡°I haven¡¯t faced any at all.¡± ¡°If you ever encounter any problems, please reach out to me. I¡¯d love to help. I want to get closer to Baek Jihoon.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if this guy was gay. His behavior was quite suspicious. Of course, many people in the Blue Guild had shown interest and affection towards me. The Hunters from Group 6 had weed me warmly as well. But this man was from Group 1. Why him? I had heard that Groups 1 and 2 had lingering resentment towards Group 6 due to the recent reorganization. So why was he interested in me? I looked at him with a hint of caution. ¡°Oh. I have no ulterior motives. I just genuinely want to get to know you and learn more about Baek Jihoon.¡± ¡®Then why do you want to know about me?¡¯ The situation felt increasingly suspicious. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know if I need anythingter.¡± That couldn¡¯t be seen as negative. It was clear he wanted something from me. Usually, Groups 1 and 2 looked down on Group 6. But extending a hand like this didn¡¯t put me in a bad position. ¡°Thank you.¡± * ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t you just visit Group 6?¡± The manager of Group 1 threw a question at Park Jinsoo. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Why? Is there any reason to go over there? You don¡¯t have any work, do you?¡± He looked at Park Jinsoo suspiciously. ¡°Oh, I just wanted to gather some information.¡± ¡°I see. Information¡­ But what do you n to do with information from Group 6?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit odd? Hunter Lee Sooah showing such affection and interest in Group 6.¡± He cast a sidelong nce at Group 6. ¡°Yeah, that is strange. It doesn¡¯t make sense. Why assign Group 6 as the main team? This is absurd. Since I joined the Blue Guild, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen it. That Manager Cha, his face must be shining. Ah,e on.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t Manager Cha one of the founding members?¡± ¡°So? What good does that do? He¡¯s just a manager of Group 6.¡± He made a face as if he was utterly exhausted. ¡°Anyway, once we gather some intel on Group 6, that should be good for us, right?¡± ¡°Sure, that¡¯s good. Just work hard~¡± The manager of Group 1 patted Park Jinsoo¡¯s shoulder. ¡®Hmm. He seems like an ordinary person.¡¯ Park Jinsoo appeared slightly confused. ¡®Why is Hunter Chae Suhyeon focusing on him? And what¡¯s his connection with Lee Sooah? Why is Hunter Lee Sooah interested in someone like him?¡¯ It didn¡¯t make sense at all. There didn¡¯t seem to be anything particrly outstanding about him. ¡®Very strange.¡¯ * ¡°Umm¡­ Baek Jihoon¡­¡± When I returned to my seat, Lee Sooah was there. ¡°Do you have something to say?¡± ¡°No, why are you wandering around during work hours?¡± ¡°If I do my job well, does it matter? I¡¯m sure it¡¯s fine by regtion.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ That may be true, but please don¡¯t wander around dangerously.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of myself.¡± Lee Sooah had a slightly irritated look. The other members of Group 6 were casting cautious nces. ¡°Is there something you want to say?¡± ¡°Sigh¡­ I need to go see Yoo Hana again this afternoon.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t just not go, can I?¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Sigh¡­¡± A deep sigh escaped Lee Sooah. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Why not? Didn¡¯t you promise? That¡¯s why I stayed in the Blue Guild for two days.¡± ¡°Well, I know that, but why is time passing so quickly?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. If you¡¯ve said everything you wanted to say¡­¡± I hinted at her. ¡°Sigh¡­ Fine, I¡¯ll go.¡± Lee Sooah left without saying another word. ¡°Hoo¡­ Baek Jihoon¡­¡± As soon as Lee Sooah disappeared, the members of Group 6 looked at me with admiration. ¡°You¡¯re our savior in Group 6¡­¡± ¡°How did you manage to handle Hunter Lee Sooah like that¡­?¡± ¡°Wow¡­ I almost couldn¡¯t breathe just now. Didn¡¯t we all deserve to have our heads on the block?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t even flinch, Jihoon. That was amazing.¡± They all seemed in awe.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Well, it¡¯s nothing special.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ It feels like our Group 6 has a bright future ahead! Let¡¯s all work hard together!! Fighting!!!¡± Manager Cha unexpectedly shouted a cheer. A slightugh escaped me. * ¡°Hah¡­ Hah¡­¡± ¡°Hana¡­¡± Yoo Hana¡¯s manager looked at her with a very worried expression. ¡°Why are you like this? Are you okay?¡± ¡°Hah¡­ Oh¡­ Oppa¡­ I¡¯m so excited¡­ Jihoon is going toe soon¡­¡± She looked as if she had fallen into a strange ecstasy. ¡°Yeah¡­ right¡­ but why do you look like that?¡± The manager gazed at Yoo Hana with a somewhat disgusted expression. ¡®Did shee back from the dungeon yesterday and lose her mind¡­?¡¯ ¡®Sigh¡­ how can I control such a scatterbrain? We need one more manager for her.¡¯ ¡°I told you I went to the dungeon yesterday.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°And it was good.¡± ¡°Huh? Really good?¡± The unexpected words caused the manager to be taken aback. ¡°But you said you hated dungeons, so you ran away to be a celebrity.¡± ¡°Well, when I¡¯m beside Baek Jihoon, it feels okay¡­?¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s not the dungeon you like, it¡¯s Baek Jihoon you like, right?¡± The manager wore an expression that suggested this was more serious. ¡°N-no! What are you talking about? Are you saying I¡¯ve fallen for Baek Jihoon?¡± She reacted vehemently against the idea. ¡°Yep.¡± The manager replied with a very resolute expression. ¡°Hah. Not at all. I¡¯m just¡­ enjoying the life of a hunter¡­¡± She trailed off, deep in thought. It seemed even she didn¡¯t know what she truly wanted. ¡®What could it be¡­ really¡­? Why am I feeling this way?¡¯ Her expression was filled with utter confusion. ¡°I don¡¯t care! I¡¯m just going to wait for Baek Jihoon.¡± She immediately turned with an expression that showed excitement. ¡®Sigh¡­ This girl has really lost it. Well, as long as she manages her schedule well¡­¡¯ The manager shook his head. Though she was always a bit odd, it felt like she was drifting further into strange territory. * ¡°Hello, Baek Jihoon.¡± Yoo Hana greeted me with an air of confidence, as if she had prepared for the moment. ¡°Hi, nice to see you.¡± ¡°Please stay close to me today and support me well~¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The manager looked like he had something to say. ¡°Uh, Baek Jihoon?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Did anything happen in the dungeon yesterday?¡± He leaned in to whisper to me. ¡°Well, I defeated Baron with Hunter Lee Sooah.¡± ¡°What?¡± Her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Isn¡¯t that supposed to be really tough? I don¡¯t know the details, but¡­¡± ¡°Well, it didn¡¯t seem challenging for an S-Rank Hunter.¡± That was clearly the impression I got from the scene yesterday. ¡°But, Yoo Hana, you need to focus on being a celebrity, not a hunter. What if your legs get thick? You need to do a photoshoot.¡± The manager spoke in a very worried tone. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It wasn¡¯t my intention¡­ Yoo Hana just appeared out of nowhere. Why didn¡¯t she capture it?¡± ¡°How could a regr person catch an S-Rank Hunter? Just because I want to catch them doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯llply. They just do as they please. Sigh¡­¡± He let out a deep sigh. ¡°I was in big trouble when Yoo Hana disappeared yesterday. The boss was furious. It¡¯s hard. It¡¯s reaching a limit even with her beauty, sigh.¡± He looked utterly frustrated and weary. ¡°I wish she would just listen and manage her schedule well. It¡¯s so annoying.¡± He shook his head slightly. ¡°What are you two talking about?¡± Yoo Hana red at the manager with a slightly sharp voice. ¡°Oh, I was just saying you look pretty today~¡± He gave a hasty excuse. ¡°Don¡¯t say such obvious things. I know that~¡± ¡®She¡¯s getting a bit conceited. Is that a necessary quality for a celebrity?¡¯ ¡°Sigh¡­ Anyway, I¡¯m d Baek Jihoon is here. When Jihoon was gone, I couldn¡¯t stop singing his song.¡± ¡°You were looking for me?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± While I somewhat expected it, judging by the manager¡¯s reaction, it seemed to be quite serious. ¡°Why does everything keep getting more difficult¡­?¡± He plopped down wearily. ¡°Oppa, can I go grab something to eat? There¡¯s a kalguksu ce nearby. It won¡¯t take long.¡± ¡°No. Why didn¡¯t you eat when I told you earlier?¡± The manager was getting irritable. ¡°Well, I just¡­¡± She shot a quick nce at me. ¡®Are you saying you didn¡¯t eat because I was absent?¡¯ ¡°Sigh. Just ask them to dy the shoot a bit. I¡¯ve been starving for the photoshoot. I feel like I¡¯m going to copse.¡± ¡°No, not today. That could lead to trouble.¡± ¡°Has getting in trouble ever been a one-day affair?¡± ¡°Sigh. Are you really going to act this way?¡± ¡°Oppa.¡± Yoo Hana made a grimace. ¡°Are you serious with that tone toward me?¡± She spoke as if having a slight tremor. ¡°N-no¡­¡± The manager was quickly subdued by her. He then hung his head low and trudged off toplete his tasks. ¡®How can he keep dying things? Is he trying to push back quitting time?¡¯ Of course, I could not hold back. ¡°Hey, Yoo Hana?¡± ¡°Yep~~¡± Yoo Hana responded with a bright smile. ¡°How about you eat kalguksuter?¡± The waiting room fell into a profound silence. It felt as if I had said something that should never be spoken. Everyone froze and stared at me. ¡°Lter?¡± Yoo Hana replied in an exasperated tone. As if to say, what do you mean by that when I¡¯m starving to death? ¡°Sigh¡­¡± I took a long breath and jumped up. It felt like everything hade to an end as I tidied my clothes and dusted myself off. Then I walked toward the door confidently. ¡°Oh¡­ wait a minute!!! I-I got it!!!!!!!¡± Yoo Hana¡¯s voice rang out in a panic. Chapter 77 ¡°Hmm. Thank you, Baek Jihoon.¡± The manager bowed slightly with gratitude. It was quite different from the initial impression I had of him. ¡°No, I¡¯m here. Until now, I couldn¡¯t manage to curb Yoo Hana¡¯s stubbornness. But now that you¡¯re here, things have changed a bit.¡± He was subtly inching closer to me. ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how you did it, but I hope you stick around.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± It didn¡¯t really bother me. ¡°However¡­ why did our Hana go to the dungeon yesterday?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure. She came on her own, so I can¡¯t say much.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ You don¡¯t think Hana is trying to be a Hunter again, do you?¡± I raised my eyebrows slightly without realizing. He looked genuinely worried. ¡°But didn¡¯t Yoo Hana often say she didn¡¯t like dungeon activities?¡± I had forced her topete with Lee Sooah, but I thought it was probably just a fleeting action. ¡°Hmm. That¡¯s true, but originally, Hana used to frown a lot. She said dungeons gave her headaches. But it doesn¡¯t seem like that¡¯s the casetely.¡± He looked at me with a skeptical gaze. ¡°Hmm. I wonder if I can bring her back to the Blue Guild.¡± Several thoughts were swirling in my mind. ¡°What if I could gather all S-Rank Hunters at the Blue Guild?¡± It was just an idea for now, but I felt it could lead to something significant. ¡°For some reason, I feel like Yoo Hana will return to the guild soon.¡± I stole a nce at Yoo Hana. She was hastily eating kalguksu after finishing a shoot. ¡°Excuse me, Yoo Hana?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Do you dislike dungeons?¡± ¡°Ha. Of course. Don¡¯t even mention dungeons in front of me.¡± ¡°Hmm. So why did you go yesterday?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yoo Hana was at a loss for words. ¡°No, I just wanted to ask Baek Jihoon something¡­¡± Her eyes darted around as she desperately tried to make excuses. ¡°Yoo Hana, would you like to go on a dungeon raid with me someday?¡± I casually threw it out there. After all, the reason she was dispatched to me was for this. To reinstate Yoo Hana in the Blue Guild. If I could seed in that, my standing in the Blue Guild would surely be solidified. Right now, I was merely a newly arrived D-Rank Hunter. ¡°Um¡­ uh¡­ yeah¡­ sure!!¡± ¡°No. What do you mean by sure? And right now, Baek Jihoon, aren¡¯t you being unreasonable? You¡¯re not trying to steal Yoo Hana away, are you?¡± The manager intervened. He looked like he meant business. ¡°Oh oppa. Why are you like that? Move aside.¡± Yoo Hana shoved the manager away. ¡°When? When would be a good time?¡± She appeared a bit more eager. ¡°Hmm. But first, Yoo Hana, you¡¯ll need to return to the Blue Guild¡­ It¡¯d be great if you could join Hunter ss 6¡­¡± I let this slip out subtly, as if it were a random thought. ¡°Ha¡­¡± She began to bite her lip. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ think about it.¡± ¡°Ah, Hana, are you crazy? You need to be an entertainer. You¡¯re under contract with ourpany.¡± ¡°Oh, oppa. I can handle both being a Hunter and an entertainer simultaneously.¡± She was slightly irritated. ¡°Ah, Baek Jihoon, you can¡¯t do that. Please, don¡¯t touch our Hana. She¡¯s ourpany¡¯s top treasure.¡± The manager appeared to be pleading now. ¡°Well, I do have my own position to consider.¡± I felt that I really needed to bring Yoo Hana back to the Blue Guild before I could achieve anything. Being stuck in this indecisive position wouldn¡¯t yield results. * ¡°Hmph.¡± I was scrolling through my smartphone, searching for various things. ¡°cklist¡­¡± I was reading through the various regtions about it. Since it was meant for maintaining order within the Hunters, it wasn¡¯t very easy to findprehensive information. ¡°Should I probe with this?¡± I thought of Chae Suhyeon. And considered stirring things up a bit regarding this cklist matter. ¡°Yoo Hana.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Are you aware of the Hunter cklist?¡± ¡°Yes, I know it well.¡± Sheughed lightly. ¡°What happens if someone makes a mistake while writing it? If they were trying to nder someone¡­¡± ¡°nder? Why? Who are you trying to nder?¡± She began to show interest in my query. ¡°Oh no, I wasn¡¯t the one ndering; I was the one who was wronged.¡± ¡°Really? Ha. Who would dare nder our Baek Jihoon? That¡¯s absurd.¡± She started to get annoyed. Then shepletely turned her body to face me. ¡°Who on earth is it? Ha. Tell me their name. I¡¯ll take care of it. Even though I¡¯m in the entertainment industry, I can handle that much. Any Hunter below A-Rank will be finished in one hit.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s an S-Rank Hunter.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Her expression stiffened slightly. ¡°Why is there an S-Rank Hunter involved¡­?¡± ¡°Exactly. I¡¯m just as curious about why this is happening.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Would it be possible to hold a public hearing about it? Privately. To contest it¡­¡± ¡°Does it matter if they¡¯ve already been removed from the list?¡± ¡°Right¡­? A public hearing¡­¡± ¡°Should I help you? I¡¯m pretty good at those; I¡¯ve been to quite a few hearings, especially because of the fight with Lee Sooah¡­¡± Her expression twisted slightly. ¡°It would be great if you help.¡± ¡°Which Hunter are we talking about?¡± ¡°S-Rank Hunter Chae Suhyeon.¡± Upon hearing the name, her expression twisted even further. * ¡°What the¡­¡± Yoo Hana was tapping her lips and pacing back and forth. ¡°What could it be¡­ Why is it always Chae Suhyeon?¡± The name kept lingering in her mind. Chae Suhyeon. The recent encounter with Lee Sooah and the other two in front of her house was still unsettling. And now she was on the cklist because of Baek Jihoon. ¡°Hmm. What could it be? It doesn¡¯t seem like it¡¯s just a coincidence. Her expression was definitely tense. What could it mean?¡± ¡°Anyway, if I help, there should be a result, right? It seemed like Yoo Hana was determined to help Baek Jihoon as much as possible. ¡°And¡­ going back to the Blue Guild¡­¡± Her heart was wavering greatly. The biggest reason she left the guild. An unknown pain and status ailment. But now, she felt fine. It was oddly refreshing. Of course, sometimes when Baek Jihoon got distant, she felt like she might revert to how she used to be. But still, it was better than before. ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­ Should I be near Baek Jihoon to feel good?¡± ¡°Maybe¡­ it would be better to return to the Blue Guild?¡± She was deep in thought. * ¡°Hmm. A public hearing¡­¡± I figured it would be a great way to strike back at Chae Suhyeon. Of course, since it was rted to the cklist, it wouldn¡¯t be public knowledge. But if I applied and had a chance to face Chae Suhyeon, I could see a seriously twisted expression on her face. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you pay for what you did?¡± ¡°And¡­ Now I need to act based on my interests.¡± This was my n.@@novelbin@@ Though I couldn¡¯t know for sure, it was clear that S-Rank Hunters were fixated on me. Then? I¡¯d just gather all the S-Rank Hunters to Hunter ss 6. Of course, the members of Hunter ss 6 would bepletely shocked. ¡°And Hunter sses 1 and 2 will definitely look at me suspiciously.¡± I could sense the atmosphere about me changing. The order within Team A waspletely being altered because of me. They were looking at me with disdain in Hunter sses 1 and 2. And I could feel their growing anger directed towards me. ¡°Park Jinsoo¡­ who is this guy? Could he be trying to extract information by getting close?¡± I wondered if I had read too many novels. Hunter sses 1 and 2 had always treated Hunter ss 6 as garbage. But Park Jinsoo approached me with an unusually friendly demeanor. It didn¡¯t seem like a situation for warm greetings. ¡°Hmm¡­ Could he be in cahoots with Chae Suhyeon?¡± As a male Hunter, he would fall within Chae Suhyeon¡¯s range of influence. Who knows what kind of schemes he might be up to? She would definitely be devising ways to get at me. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll check that out. I can casually feel him out.¡± * ¡°Excuse me, Yoo Hana?¡± ¡°Yes~¡± ¡°Can I step out to the guild for a bit?¡± ¡°Why?¡± Her voice was annoyingly sharp. ¡°I have something urgent to attend to.¡± I stared at Yoo Hana intently, trying to exert pressure with my gaze. ¡°What are you going to do about it?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ You made a promise, didn¡¯t you? You said you¡¯d be here for at least half the time!¡± With just my gaze, she quickly deted. ¡°Okay, okay!! You can go!!!¡± After continuously looking at her, she had no choice but to surrender. ¡°Thank you.¡± * ¡°Wow. Baek Jihoon, what do you need me for?¡± Hunter Park Jinsoo looked remarkably cheerful. He seemed pleased that I reached out to him in less than half a day. ¡°This guy definitely has something going on.¡± His suspiciously positive reaction didn¡¯t seem natural. If he genuinely wanted to be friends, or if he really wanted to offer kindness, he wouldn¡¯t have such an expression. He definitely had a motive behind it. ¡°Well, whether it was Chae Suhyeon¡¯s doing or not, I¡¯ll find out.¡± ¡°I wanted to ask you something.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Are you familiar with the cklist hearings?¡± ¡°Yes, quite well. They don¡¯t ur often, but I know the procedures and requirements. Would you like me to exin?¡± ¡°Oh, not that. I¡¯m looking to apply for a cklist hearing in order to contest a certain Hunter¡­¡± At this point, I noticed Park Jinsoo¡¯s expression rapidly hardening. His lips seemed to seal shut. It was clear. ¡°This guy was sent by Chae Suhyeon¡­¡± No one in the Blue Guild would be unaware of my name being on the cklist at Chae Suhyeon¡¯s request. He definitely knew about it. There was no doubt. ¡°I¡¯m looking to bring it up with Hunter Chae Suhyeon, you know. The cklist hearing. You know her? S-Rank Hunter, Chae Suhyeon.¡± I directed a cold gaze at Park Jinsoo. Chapter 78 ¡°Ha ha. I know. I know.¡± He started to stutter, and his face turned a bit red. He looked like he was sweating rapidly. ¡®Great, I¡¯ve caught him. This guy is too easy to read.¡¯ For him to suddenly want to get friendly with me while being a D-Rank Hunter? It¡¯s too obvious. ¡°I¡¯m looking to apply for a cklist hearing. I heard from Hunter Yoo Hana that if I do, I can hear the person¡¯s side of the story.¡± ¡°Y-Yoo Hana Hunter?¡± ¡°Yes. She¡¯s currently on dispatch.¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ Well, it seems like you¡¯re quite close then, considering you¡¯re having those kinds of conversations.¡± ¡°Yeah. Something like that.¡± He appeared flustered, almost as if he were trembling. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°W-What do you mean?¡± ¡°About summoning Hunter Chae Suhyeon to the hearing.¡± ¡°Ha ha, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea.¡± He began scratching his head. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Well, Hunter Baek Jihoon was an E-Rank Hunter justst week, right? Even if he says he¡¯s risen now, he¡¯s still only D-Rank. But the other party is an S-Rank Hunter¡­¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t the purpose of this hearing to clear the wrong done?¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­ But as far as I know, Hunter Chae Suhyeon has canceled the cklist.¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯s done.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ but¡­¡± He kept trying to dissuade me. ¡®Ha. Chae Suhyeon has spies nted, huh?¡¯ I thought to myself how absurd it all was. But honestly, it didn¡¯t matter. I was going to act decisively now. ¡®Park Jinsoo. You¡¯re holding onto a rotten lifeline. Let it go when you get the chance.¡¯ I was watching him with a slightly sharp expression. Of course, he was my senior. He ranked above me. ¡°That¡­ Well, I don¡¯t think it would look good. How about thinking it over once more? Just a piece of advice from a senior.¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯m feeling wronged. I really want to pull him into the room and rify everything.¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­¡± He looked awkward and seemed unsure of what to do. * [ Hunter Chae Suhyeon. We¡¯re in big trouble. ] ¡®What is it?¡¯ Chae Suhyeon was looking down at her smartphone while getting her makeup done for the broadcast. ¡°I¡¯m on standby in 10 minutes~¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She was quite nervous since it was her first appearance on public broadcasting excluding news. ¡®Ha. Let¡¯s do well, Chae Suhyeon. For now, I just need to charm Jihoon. I believe in Jihoon. If he has even a smidgen of feelings left for me, it should be fine.¡¯ [ What¡¯s going on? ] [ I heard Hunter Baek Jihoon is trying to request a cklist hearing against you. ] Chae Suhyeon¡¯s expression twisted. ¡®What? A cklist hearing?¡¯ Her face looked like she couldn¡¯t even fathom such a thing. ¡®Why? How? What? What does that even mean?¡¯ She appeared unable to ept it, slightly trembling. ¡°Uh¡­ Ms. Chae Suhyeon, are you okay? It looks like your makeup is getting messed up¡­¡± ¡°C-Can we wait a moment? I¡¯m feeling a bit¡­¡± ¡°There are 10 minutes left until the broadcast. You can¡¯t. If you don¡¯t fix it now, it might look weird on screen.¡± The makeup artist said firmly. ¡®Oh Baek Jihoon, what the hell are you doing? Why? Ugh¡­¡¯ She blinked her eyes and tried to suppress her anger. There was nothing she could do in that moment. She had to appear on the broadcast immediately. [ Park Jinsoo, do something to stop him. No matter what, whether to hinder, persuade, or block him, just get it done. ] [ I¡¯ve tried, but he seems to have made up his mind¡­ ] ¡®Made up his mind? Ha¡­ What? This nice guy can¡¯t possibly be like that.¡¯ Her expression was one of disbelief. Chae Suhyeon had no choice but to start going through her contacts. ¡®It can¡¯t be helped.¡¯ [ Ji-Hyun Oppa, I have a favor to ask. ] Contacting Lee Jinhyeok. ¡®Ugh¡­ Do I really have to talk to Ji-Hyun about this?¡¯ She tried to handle it without getting caught if possible. But deep down, she sensed that there was no one else but Jinhyeok to rely on right now. ¡®Hopefully, I won¡¯t get caught.¡¯ ¡®Alright, I¡¯ll just try to gloss over it.¡¯ ¡®If I could just get through this quietly¡­¡¯ [ What is it? ] [ Can you stop the cklist hearing? Use your influence at the Hunter Association? ] [ Why suddenly? ] The reply was somewhat bewildered. ¡®What should I do¡­¡¯ ¡°Ms. Chae Suhyeon, you¡¯re on standby in 5 minutes!¡± A staff member rushed in and shouted before leaving. ¡®Oh whatever, I need to handle the urgent stuff first.¡¯ [ No, that Hunter I said I didn¡¯t like keeps stalking me and saying he knows me. It seems like he¡¯s trying to bother me. ] Chae Suhyeon bit her lip in frustration. ¡°Ms. Chae Suhyeon, please don¡¯t bite your lips like that. It¡¯ll look bad on camera~¡± The staff interjected. ¡°Y-Yes¡­¡± [ I¡¯ll handle it. There aren¡¯t any applications submitted yet, right? ] [Got it, Oppa. Thanks.] ¡®For now, Ji-Hyun will take care of it. I just need to focus on my broadcast debut.¡¯ I thought that as long as I made a good impression today, everything would be fine. ¡®Let me just concentrate on my work.¡¯ ¡®For the cklist¡­ I¡¯ll just paint Jihoon as a stalker.¡¯ I considered that a ridiculous n. ¡°Alright, Ms. Chae Suhyeon! Let¡¯s go. The broadcast is in 2 minutes!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± * ¡°Jihoon, what are you doing here?¡± Lee Sooah tilted her head, her expression nk. ¡°I have some business to take care of.¡± ¡°Business? Weren¡¯t you with Yoo Hana?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m nning to apply for a cklist hearing.¡± ¡°Wait, what?¡± Lee Sooah¡¯s expression became quiteplicated.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Are you talking about Ms. Chae Suhyeon?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Ah~ that¡¯s interesting~¡± She suddenly smiled brightly as if feeling cheerful. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand why Hunter Chae Suhyeon would do something like that. Why would our Jihoon be used of stalking? That¡¯s not the purpose of the Hunter cklist. Ugh.¡± She shook her head disapprovingly. ¡°Hmm¡­ But isn¡¯t this supposed to be not applicable right now?¡± In her inquiries, she realized that applying for the cklist hearing was currently unavable. ¡°Huh? Why? That can¡¯t be right?¡± Lee Sooah quickly approached with a curious expression. ¡°Uh¡­ What? It just suddenly got blocked?¡± ¡®This must be Chae Suhyeon¡¯s doing.¡¯ I immediately recognized it. It was obvious. What I told Park Jinsoo must¡¯ve reached Chae Suhyeon and had some effect. ¡°Is there no way to get around this?¡± ¡°Well, this falls under the jurisdiction of the Hunter Association.¡± ¡°Lee Sooah, can you do it?¡± I looked at her intently, almost boring a hole through her. ¡°Uh¡­ um¡­¡± She seemed quite flustered and hesitated. ¡°You¡¯re the top S-Rank Hunter after all; you should be able to handle this.¡± I kept staring at her. ¡°I¡­ will take care of it¡­ I can do this.¡± Then she started contacting someone. * ¡°Ah, yes. Hunter Lee Sooah. Yes, yes.¡± The Hunter Association employee was on the phone, sounding very respectful. ¡°Ah~ about that¡­ but¡­¡± And then it seemed he was choosing his words carefully. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but the Baekho Guild has made a very strong request to temporarily close [the hearing]¡­¡± He seemed to be in a position where he had no choice but to follow orders. ¡°So¡­ Blue Guild is asking for it to be reopened¡­?¡± He looked quite troubled. ¡°Yes¡­ that¡¯s correct¡­ but as for the Baekho Guild¡­ uh¡­ yes¡­ that is indeed correct¡­¡± He scratched his head repeatedly in an awkward manner, sounding exasperated. ¡°Understood¡­ There¡¯s nothing we can do. It is what it is. Yes¡­¡± He hung up the phone. ¡°Ugh, why is this a mess? What day is it today? Why is there such a fuss between the Baekho Guild and the Blue Guild?¡± ¡°Why?¡± A nearby employee asked with a serious expression. ¡°They¡¯re arguing about whether to open or close the cklist hearing, and it¡¯s chaotic.¡± ¡°Why? Who wants to open it?¡± ¡°Seems like someone does. But the Baekho Guild is adamantly trying to close it, whereas the Blue Guild is vehemently trying to open it. I¡¯m stuck in the middle and it¡¯s driving me crazy.¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s no solid reason to close it, is there?¡± ¡°I was using the pretense of rearranging the hearing room, but then Hunter Lee Sooah called directly¡­¡± ¡°Huh? Hunter Lee Sooah? Directly?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Everyone reacted with surprise. ¡°What could it be? What kind of situation would warrant a direct call?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Ugh, I¡¯ll just open it. I need to check what¡¯s going on.¡± * ¡°Hmm? It worked.¡± Three minutes after Lee Sooah¡¯s call, the application became possible again. ¡°Hunter Lee Sooah, you¡¯re quite capable, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Ah, I was the top S-Rank Hunter! Lee Sooah here¡­¡± ¡°Surprising.¡± ¡°What¡¯s surprising about it!!!¡± ¡°Anyway, thank you.¡± I filled out the application form. ¡°Hmmm¡­ but this is odd.¡± ¡°What¡¯s odd?¡± ¡°Now that I think about it, didn¡¯t Hunter Chae Suhyeon want to recruit Hunter Baek Jihoon? Why did she cklist him? I thought she was trying to recruit him¡­?¡± While I was filling it out, she kept chattering away beside me. ¡°Hmm. So, did they know each other before? Was she not trying to recruit him? Could they have been dating?¡± She continued to specte. ¡®What¡¯s with her keen intuition?¡¯ ¡°Uh, Lee Sooah?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Could you be a bit quiet?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Lee Sooah mimed zipping her lips. ¡°Good.¡± Ipleted the application process for the hearing. Chapter 81 "Ha. Ji-hoon!" "Yes." "Why are you sote!" Yoo Hana''s voice had a hint of annoyance. "I was busy. I told you earlier." "Ha. That''s true. But if possible, I''d like you to stay by my side. Where do you keep going? You¡¯re supposed to be with me today." "Yes, but I had the hearing and then met with Hunter Lee Soo-ah..." "Huh? A hearing?" "Yes." Yoo Hana''s expression changed suddenly, looking very interested. "What happened? Was it with that Hunter Chae Soo-hyun you mentioned earlier...?" She ced a finger on her lips, looking at him with curiosity. "Yes. Ipletely won." "Oh, really~?" Her face brightened up, looking relieved. "But, if it was that interesting, you should have taken me with you! You didn¡¯t go with just Hunter Lee Soo-ah, did you?" "I did." "Oh." She looked disappointed. "Ah... Why... Why, Ji-hoon! Listen carefully from now on. Whenever there''s something important like that, you must take me with you. Understood? I''m an S-rank Hunter, you know that, right?" "Hunter Lee Soo-ah is also an S-rank Hunter." I nced at Yoo Hana. Hearing that, her expression turned more heated, her face gradually reddening. "I''m ranked higher among the S-ranks, even while I''m busy with my entertainment activities. My rank hasn¡¯t dropped at all." "Hunter Lee Soo-ah is the same. She''s ranked second, only behind Chae Soo-hyun." I held up two fingers. Yoo Hana realized she had been caught off guard. "Ha... Fine. Then just... The more, the merrier." It seemed she decided to change her strategy.@@novelbin@@ "Take me with you too. Don¡¯t just go with Hunter Lee Soo-ah. Include me as well." "But Yoo Hana, you¡¯re busy with your entertainment activities, aren¡¯t you?" "Ha..." Her schedule was indeed packed, as expected in such a high-stakes industry. Although Yoo Hana was known to be the type who frequently canceled hermitments. "Ha... But... How much busier can you get?" "Very busy. I might not be around here much anymore." "Why?" "Why do you think? I have a lot of work to do." I subtly looked at Yoo Hana, signaling her with my eyes. ¡®Let¡¯s see how you handle this.¡¯ "Ha. Ji-hoon, you''re officially dispatched by the Blue Guild, right? And I allowed you to go there today, so..." I silently stared at Yoo Hana. ¡®So what? What are you going to do? What can you do?¡¯ "I see. So?" "Ah... Well... Um... Just! Think about my position a little... Ha..." Yoo Hana sighed again. It seemed she felt helpless, like there was nothing she could do. "You want me to stay by your side, Yoo Hana?" "Yes!!!" I responded softly. "Then you can follow me." "..." She suddenly fell silent, as if she¡¯d been punched in the gut, contemting. "Well... I¡¯ll think about it." "Ha... What a mess..." Lee Soo-ah looked at the massive stack of papers on her desk. They had been stored for so long that they were covered in dust. "Am I really going back to the old days...?" Back in the early days of the Hunter era, the structure was that the higher-ranked Hunters took the lead. Lower-ranked Hunters would "ride the bus" as a result. But over time, and with S-rank Hunters suffering from various ailments, the structure began to change. It felt like harsh leadership. ¡®Ha... So, I¡¯ll have to work hard again...¡¯ Knock, knock, knock. "Yes..." Lee Soo-ah answered weakly. "Hehe. Hunter Lee Soo-ah?" It was Chief Cha, smiling brightly. "Are you ready? Let¡¯s start right away." "Ha... Chief Cha..." "Oh, why~? Are you not going to do it?" Chief Cha gripped his smartphone tightly, silently threatening to make a call if she didn¡¯tply. "Ah!!! Chief Cha!!!" Lee Soo-ah mmed her desk and stood up abruptly. "Ah, you¡¯re being too much! Why are you treating me like this? Was I really that bad?" "Yes." Chief Cha responded firmly. "Ah. I just did it for Team A!!!" "And I''m doing this for you, Hunter Lee Soo-ah." "But thanks to me, the Hunters in Team A grew quickly, didn''t they?" "Making Lee Soo-ah great again." "Ha..." Everything she had said to Team A was nowing back to haunt her. "Alright... Alright... Let¡¯s go... Where are we going today?" "We¡¯ve prepared something light. The Noksapyeong Station Dungeon." Chief Cha made a polite gesture, like a butler, extending his arm toward the entrance. "Are you kidding? How is that light?" Grumbling, Lee Soo-ah headed outside. "Hmm... Hana? Do you think you¡¯re ready today?" "Yes!" The director looked at Yoo Hana with a skeptical expression, likely due to her inconsistent performance. ¡®Ha... She was amazing in the middle ofst week.¡¯ "I can do well today." She nced over at Baek Ji-hoon. She smiled. Baek Ji-hoon, seemingly uninterested, focused on his own work. ¡®Ah,e on. Just pay a little attention. It¡¯s okay. If I perform well today, maybe he¡¯ll take an interest in me. This is my chance to show my skills.¡¯ She was resolute. "Director, please capture this moment well, okay? I want to make sure the audience roots for me too." "Ha... Really? Can I trust you?" "Alright, let''s start filming!" The set bustled with activity. Yoo Hana sat down on the floor, beginning to sob. "Jin-seok... What did I do so wrong? Is it such a crime to be crazy in love? I just loved you so much... I did it because I loved you too much!!! I only wanted your attention!!!" She quickly immersed herself in the scene, tears streaming down her face as she grabbed the male actor¡¯s pant leg. "I¡¯m sorry. I was wrong. Please, just give me one more chance. I won¡¯t do it again. You know you¡¯re the only one I have. How can you just abandon me like this? Please... If you don¡¯t take me back, I¡¯ll die right here!!!!!!" Yoo Hana pulled out a prop and pretended to stab herself in the neck. "Oooookay!!!!" The director ran over to her with a handkerchief. "See? You can do it so well!! Yoo Hana, are you crazy? You almost made me forgive you just now! You¡¯re incredible." He was making a big fuss. "Director, was it good? I really put my heart into it." Yoo Hana wiped her tears and spoke to the director, ncing over at Baek Ji-hoon. He was still focused on his work, seemingly unbothered. ¡®Ha... He must have seen it, right? My acting? He must have, right? Ha... I kind of imagined I was doing it for Ji-hoon...¡¯ "Ah~ Yoo Hana, you¡¯re amazing. You nailed that climax!!!" The nearby crew members approached, pping. "Wow. With that performance, he really should forgive her." "Yeah. Can¡¯t we just change the story? Let them reconcile, and everyone will be happy." "No way~ The ending is already set." Step, step, step. The male actor approached. "Yoo Hana, you were incredible today." It was Lee Ho-joon, a very famous actor. "Oh, really? Thank you." Yoo Hana seemed uninterested. "Hmm. But do you have time tonight? Your acting was so amazing, and I¡¯d love to learn from you. How about...?" "I¡¯m busy..." She smiled and brushed him off. It seemed like Lee Ho-joon had mustered up the courage to ask. "Ah... Okay..." He left without another word. ¡®I should go see Ji-hoon.¡¯ "Hmm... The rankings..." I was busy researching. There was so much to learn about Hunters. ¡®Well, Lee Soo-ah will handle the rankings herself. I''ve set her on the right path. It¡¯s not urgent, but applying some pressure on Chae Soo-hyun...¡¯ The Blue Guild had a reputation as the number one guild. But after recruiting Chae Soo-hyun, the Baekho Guild had taken that image. ¡®We need to take it back. How dare they.¡¯ To do that, I had to push Lee Soo-ah. It was all about image in the end. [ Lee Soo-ah, are you heading to the dungeon? ] [ Ha... Yes... I''m going. ] [ Good luck! ] [ Good... luck... ] I sent her a message just to check, and she replied almost immediately. ¡®Good. It seems like getting Lee Soo-ah back to the top rank is just a matter of time.¡¯ "Excuse me... Ji-hoon..." I was absorbed in my work when I heard Yoo Hana''s voice calling me. I looked up at her. "Did you happen to see my acting just now? How was it?" She seemed tense, as if her heart was racing. "It was fine." I answered somewhat indifferently. My focus wasn''t really on that at the moment. "And...?" "?" "Don''t you have anything more to say? Like a review? Apliment? Something like, it touched your heart, or maybe you were impressed by Yoo Hana, or even that you fell for me~?" It was clear she was fishing for a specific response. "No, nothing more." Chapter 82 "Huh? Nothing more?" Her trembling voice echoed back, disbelief evident on her face when I said there was nothing more. "Why... why? Why not? You have nothing else to say? Didn''t I move you at all? Me? That''s impossible, right? Huh?" She seemed quite flustered. "Your acting was good, really." "No, Ji-hoon, did you actually watch me while I was acting? It''s part of your job to assist me, right? So, you should focus on me when I''m performing and give feedback. Why were you distracted?" Yoo Hana''s expression turned slightly indignant as she began toin. "I watched." "But just saying ''it was good'' can''t be all there is, right? That doesn''t make sense." "What exactly do you want me to say? Just tell me." "Ha..." Yoo Hana bit her lip, her expression suggesting that she didn''t want to have to say it herself. "Well... I mean... When you watch an actor, there are things you could say, right? Like, the actor was charming, or you might fall for Yoo Hana, or it was so moving, and so on." She continued to press the point. "In my opinion, when you''re asking for forgiveness from a man, it should feel more desperate, like your heart is about to burst." "What???" Yoo Hana looked even more flustered, shocked by the critique. "Was it really not enough?" "Yes." "Why... why not?" "Ah, I mentioned before that I was owed an apology, didn''t I? But this level won''t cut it." "Oh..." I responded dryly, and Yoo Hana''s expression shifted to one of realization. "I see... I underestimated the situation. I''ll increase the intensity." With that, she clenched her fists and headed toward the dressing room. "Um, excuse me, sis." "Yes?" "Can you make my makeup look even more messed up?" "What?" "Like, smudge the mascara more. Make me lookpletely crazy." "What?" "I just think that the way I acted earlier wasn''t enough, so I want to up the intensity." "What? Yoo Hana, your acting was already insane just now... It was amazing, and you want to take it further?" "Yes~ I want to make it so that the guy has no choice but to forgive me." "Aha?" Yoo Hana stared at her reflection in the mirror, deep in thought. ¡®Hmm. My gut feeling is...¡¯ She was considering several things. ¡®Could it be that Hunter Chae Soo-hyun and Ji-hoon are dating? Maybe Chae Soo-hyun did something really wrong, and Ji-hoon wants her to regret it...? Yeah...? That''s probably it, right?¡¯ She seemed certain. ¡®Alright. Let''s do it this way.¡¯ She nodded slightly to herself. ¡®I''ll act like I''m channeling Hunter Chae Soo-hyun. That way, Ji-hoon might like it, right? Hmm... Can I tweak the script a little...¡¯ She was feeling a sense of urgency, with the final shoot of the day approaching. Yoo Hana desperately wanted to capture Baek Ji-hoon''s attention. "Hey, can you smudge the mascara here a bit more... Yes, like that. And can we make this costume look even messier?" She was very proactive. "Sigh..." Lee Soo-ah looked down at her smartphone. The messages she had just exchanged with Baek Ji-hoon. ¡®He¡¯s telling me to hurry up...¡¯ The pressure was immense. It had been a long time since she felt such pressure. In fact, since bing an S-rank Hunter¡ªor rather, since achieving B-rank¡ªshe hadn¡¯t felt this kind of pressure. She was one of the fastest people to ever reach B-rank during the early days of the Hunter era. "Ha... How did I end up like this...?" She couldn''t understand it. Justst week¡ªor rather, the week before¡ªshe was the number one S-rank Hunter. Before Chae Soo-hyun took her spot as the top S-rank, she had proudly held the highest position in the country. But now... Lee Soo-ah nced over at the Hunter Team 6. "So, we''re supposed to push Hunter Lee Soo-ah hard, right?" "Exactly~ That¡¯s how it¡¯s supposed to be. Now things are going back to the way they should be." Chief Cha was enthusiastically exining the roles to Hunter Team 6. "And Assistant Manager Park, make sure you handle the support from the rear properly." "Yes!!" "And Assistant Manager Kim, just cover the left wing. Hunter Lee Soo-ah will handle the rest, so there¡¯s no need to worry too much." "Yes, sir!!!" "Alright, everyone, what¡¯s our job? To push Hunter Lee Soo-ah to her limits. Got it?" "Yes, sir!!!!" The loud response echoed through the room. "Ha..." Lee Soo-ah let out a deep sigh. There was no way she could escape this situation. ¡®Ha... If I say I don¡¯t want to do it, Ji-hoon will probably say something again, right?¡¯ ¡®Why am I facing this kind of trial...¡¯ ¡®Wait...?¡¯ Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind. ¡®Could it be that Ji-hoon is deliberately giving me a hard time? Like, he¡¯s pretending to make things difficult for me, but thenter, he¡¯ll swoop in and give me points to save me? Ah~ Is that what this is?¡¯ Lee Soo-ah, influenced by the many romance novels she had read, began to entertain this wild imagination. ¡®Oh, that must be it~ Oh my, Ji-hoon, you''re just ying hard to get, right? You¡¯re going to give me the points anyway but just want to tease me first? Right? That¡¯s why you¡¯re putting all this pressure on me, right? Yes, that must be it. It has to be.¡¯ She began to indulge in her own delusions. ¡®Got it. So, if I work really hard, my knight in shining armor will appear and help me out. Awesome, awesome.¡¯ Suddenly, Lee Soo-ah became all smiles. "Hey, Soo-ah?" "Yes!" "Let¡¯s get going then~ I¡¯m all excited. It¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve done something like this, right?" "Yes, that¡¯s true." Chief Cha started to chuckle mischievously. "Ha... Ha..." Lee Soo-ah was breathing heavily. ¡®Was it always this tough?¡¯ It had been a long time since she had taken the lead in this kind of operation. It felt more challenging than she had anticipated. ¡®No way... Starting with the Noksapyeong Dungeon is too much!¡¯ She shot a re at Chief Cha. He, oblivious to her struggle, was smiling brightly with the rest of Hunter Team 6. "Hey~ Soo-ah, are you taking a break? Isn¡¯t this a bit too slow~?" "Ha. Chief Cha, can¡¯t we take it easy? Just take a little break..." "Hmm. What did you say to us when we asked to take it easy, Soo-ah?" "Ha..." She had no response. After all, those were her own wordsing back to haunt her. She was getting a taste of her own medicine. ¡®Ha... Why did I say that... I should have let them take it easy... I was too harsh...¡¯ She was undergoing a harsh reality check. "Alright, Soo-ah~ No time for breaks~ We¡¯ve got to finish this before the end of the day. Let¡¯s move!" "Yes..." ¡®Sigh... Ji-hoon...¡¯ ¡®No, maybe if I brag about working hard, he might help me out.¡¯ She dusted herself off with a hopeful expression and resumed the dungeon raid. "What? Yoo Hana looks a bit different." "Director, for the final shoot today, I''m going to pour my soul into it." Yoo Hana looked fierce, like a general heading into battle, ready to give everything. "Uh... Why? You were already good enough earlier?" The director flinched slightly, stepping back as if he felt the intensity. "I''m going to beg for forgiveness from the man. I¡¯m going to cling to him like it¡¯s myst chance, with all my heart." "Ah... But, you know, Hana, this work does include regret, but it doesn¡¯t end with forgiveness, does it?" "Yes, I know. But it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m going to bring the character to life in a way that makes him want to forgive her, even if he doesn¡¯t." It seemed like no one could stop her now. "Understood. Let¡¯s get ready then." "Ji-hoon?" Yoo Hana approached Baek Ji-hoon. She tapped him to get his attention. "Ah, you startled me. Why does your makeup look like that?" "We¡¯re about to reshoot. It¡¯s thest one today, so please watch it. Please, okay?" "Ha... Fine." Yoo Hana walked away with a bright smile, ready for the shoot. "What¡¯s with Yoo Hana¡¯s makeup? She looks like aplete mess." It was as if she had transformed into a chaotic, wild character. ¡®What is this, a crazy woman?¡¯ She clearly wanted me to focus on her performance. ¡®Is she portraying a woman who regrets her actions?¡¯ ¡®Did I identally provoke her?¡¯ I thought that maybe my earlierments had driven her to this extreme. ¡®Well, she asked me to watch, so I guess I should see what she¡¯s going to do.¡¯ Step, step, step. I moved closer to get a better view. "Alright, Yoo Hana, are you ready? Have you gotten into character? Then let¡¯s go~~ Action!"@@novelbin@@ The scene had be much more intense. The man was about to walk away after delivering his final lines. Yoo Hana was desperate, doing everything she could to hold onto him. She copsed on the floor, struggling to keep the man from leaving. ¡®Ha. Chae Soo-hyun... This is what she should be doing.¡¯ "Ji... Jin-seok!!!" Yoo Hana''s desperate voice echoed as the scene began. The set fell silent as everyone focused on Yoo Hana. Chapter 83 The set becamepletely silent. Everyone was captivated by Yoo Hana''s performance, almost as if the air had be too heavy to breathe. "Please... just give me one more chance. Just one more. I¡¯ll make everything right. I¡¯ll fix all the things that broke your heart, Jin-seok. I really can''t take it anymore." Yoo Hana¡¯s body trembled violently, tears and snot mixing together as they streamed down her face. "I don''t need that." Smack. Lee Ho-joon harshly pped away Yoo Hana¡¯s delicate hand with a look of utter contempt, making it seem almost real. "Do I really have to die for you to look at me again?" She looked at him with wild, crazed eyes. "Disgusting. Don¡¯t evere looking for me again. We¡¯re done." His tone was icy as he spat out the words and exited without a backward nce. ¡®Wow. I should be doing that too.¡¯ ¡®That b** Chae Soo-hyun should be crying like that, just like Yoo Hana.¡¯** I couldn¡¯t help but be impressed as I watched the scene unfold. My jaw dropped. ¡®Now I see why Yoo Hana wanted me to watch.¡¯ This wasn¡¯t just acting¡ªit felt like reality itself. It didn¡¯t feel like I was watching actors; it was like witnessing a real couple¡¯s story.@@novelbin@@ Yoo Hana appeared to be on the verge of convulsing. Her trembling was so intense it was pitiful to watch. Staggering, she finally stood up and gazed in the direction where the male actor had disappeared, her face full of deep emotions¡ªregret, nostalgia, remorse, sorrow, longing... The depth of her sorrow was beyond words. Multiple cameras captured every nuance of her final, intense performance. Even the directors werepletely immersed. The main director watched Yoo Hana with his mouth agape. Normally, he would have called "cut" by now, but he seemed unable to, as if savoring the lingering atmosphere. "Okay!!!!!!!" Finally, as the tension began to fade, he shouted the okay sign loudly. He looked almost overwhelmed, as if he had just witnessed something unprecedented in his life. With trembling hands, he rushed over to Yoo Hana. "Wow... Hana, I almost cried just now. For real. Wow..." Yoo Hana quicklyposed herself, then ran over to me, still full of energy. The entire crew and directors watched her intently. "Ji-hoon? How was it? This time? Did I change your mind?" Her expression was filled with hope. Just moments ago, she had been the woman full of regret, but now she was apletely different person. "Hmm. It was good. I really liked it. The scene just now was excellent." I pped for her. It was truly impressive. The scene went beyond mere acting. If it aired, it would certainly create a buzz. It felt like she might be the goddess of regret in the acting world. "But... can we talk about itter?" "Huh?" "Everyone¡¯s watching us right now." The entire set''s attention was focused on me since Yoo Hana had run over right after the shoot ended. "Ah, right. Sorry about that. I¡¯ll talk to youter then!! Over dinner~" ¡®What? Did she just n dinner without asking me?¡¯ Back in the dressing room. Scratching the back of his head, Lee Ho-joon approached Yoo Hana. "Ha... Yoo Hana, I think I hit your hand too hard earlier. I¡¯d like to apologize... maybe over dinner?" "No, it¡¯s fine." Yoo Hana was all smiles. Her performance had been outstanding, and Baek Ji-hoon seemed genuinely moved. ¡®He pped for me. For the first time.¡¯ She felt her heart fluttering. "But still... I feel really bad about it..." "I said it¡¯s fine, didn¡¯t I?" Her tone became slightly irritable. Lee Ho-joon, a top star, was clearly interested in her, trying to get closer, but Yoo Hana had no interest in him. "Ah... okay... ha..." He sighed deeply and left with his head hanging low. "Heheh. Sis, how was I today?" "Wow, Hana, you were amazing. Did you hear the staff talking? They were allpletely engrossed in your performance as the viin. They said it was the first time they¡¯d ever been so captivated by a viin character." "Really?" Yoo Hana¡¯s face lit up with innocent delight, as if all her stress had been lifted. "This project was originally centered around the lead actress, right? But I feel like you¡¯re the main character now. I think you¡¯re going to win an award for this¡ªmaybe not for Best Supporting Actress, but Best Actress." "Best Actress?" "The script might be revised. I saw the director talking about it earlier. He seemed to be seriously considering rewriting the entire script. Wow..." "Heheh." She beamed with pride. "Alright, I¡¯m heading out for the day." It was time to wrap things up. I said my goodbyes. "Uh... Ji-hoon!" Yoo Hana, now fresh-faced with her makeup removed, came running out. "Let¡¯s go together! Please, have dinner with me tonight. I really want to talk about my performance. I want to discuss it with you." She pleaded with earnest eyes. "Is this acting?" "Ah! No!!! I¡¯m serious!!" "Hmm." "Please. I¡¯ll take you to a really expensive ce. Just give me this one chance." It reminded me of the desperate character she had just yed. ¡®It still feels like she¡¯s acting, though.¡¯ "Alright. I¡¯ll give you a chance. Let¡¯s go tonight." "Yay!!! Thank you. I¡¯ll call my manager!" She quickly dashed off. "Seriously, Hana, I¡¯m so disappointed." "Why?" "Have you ever taken me to a ce like this?" He was driving, taking Yoo Hana and me to a restaurant. "Well, you didn¡¯t help my acting, did you?" "And Ji-hoon did?" "He was a huge help. I couldn¡¯t have nailed today¡¯s scene without him." "What? Are you saying you regret something with Baek Ji-hoon? Or did you learn something about regret from him? How exactly did he help?" "No!!! What are you talking about?" "Then what is it?" "Just be quiet and drive. I don¡¯t know!" She then closed the partition between the front and back seats. At the restaurant. "Ha... Ji-hoon, my acting was really good today, right? I overheard the crew saying I might win Best Actress this year." She smiled brightly. "Hmm. Yes, it was good." I calmly replied while cutting my steak. "Originally, I was supposed to y a viin who falls out of the story midway through. But who knows what¡¯ll happen now. Hehe." She giggled while chewing her steak. "But Ji-hoon, you said you wanted to make someone regret something, right?" "Yes." "So, what if that person begs for forgiveness like I did earlier? What will you do?" She looked at me as if she was trying to peer into my soul, genuinely curious. "What would I do?" "Well~ you could forgive them, right?" "Not at all." I cut her off sharply. There wasn¡¯t even a hint of such a thought. "Really?" Yoo Hana seemed to be quite pleased with my response. "Wow~ That person must have done something really terrible." "Exactly." "They deserve punishment~ for sure." "That¡¯s why I¡¯m working hard on a few things." "Like what?" She seemed genuinely intrigued by my words. "First, I¡¯m going to push Hunter Lee Soo-ah back to the number one S-rank spot, and then I¡¯m going to recruit all the S-rank Hunters to the Blue Guild." "???????" She paused mid-bite, staring at me with a bewildered expression. "You¡¯re joking, right?" "I¡¯m serious." "???" She tilted her head, confused. "It¡¯s already started." "What?" "Hunter Lee Soo-ah started her dungeon raids today. She¡¯s going to reim her number one S-rank spot." "Oh...?" "And I¡¯m going to gather all the S-rank Hunters into the Blue Guild. Including you, Yoo Hana." "No way~ I¡¯m not going anywhere~" "Are you sure?" I stared at her intently, almost piercingly. "Ah... um... well... maybe I could... possibly go..." She started to avoid my gaze, her eyes darting around nervously. "But... you¡¯re really going to push Hunter Lee Soo-ah to number one again?" "Yes." "Oh... so, are you going to give her the points you mentioned before to boost her rank?" She bit her lip and asked seriously, with a hint of jealousy in her expression. "Nope. Not at all. Hunter Lee Soo-ah will have to work hard on her own." "Oh~" She looked relieved, her expression brightening considerably. "That¡¯s fine then~ Hehe." She covered her mouth andughed, clearly in a good mood. "But." "Yes?" "I¡¯m curious... So you need someone to be number one?" "Hmm. Yes." "Aha~" Yoo Hana¡¯s eyes sparkled. "So it doesn¡¯t have to be Hunter Lee Soo-ah, right?" "No." "Oho..." She seemed deep in thought, scheming something. "Oh, I forgot to ask something important." Her expression suddenly brightened, as if she had just remembered something crucial. "What did you think of my performance earlier?" "What do you mean?" "I mean, did your opinion of me change at all after watching my acting?" "Hmm..." I paused to think. Yoo Hana rested her chin on her hand, looking at me with high expectations. ¡®What should I say...¡¯ I put down my fork. "Yoo Hana, your performance today was very moving. I almost forgave you myself." I calmly praised her. "Oh~ really?" She began to smile so broadly that it looked like her grin would stretch from ear to ear. "So, do you like me a bit more now? Right? Right?" Her voice was full of anticipation as she leaned closer to me. "No, not at all." Chapter 84 "Ah... why... why?" Her expression was one of slight disappointment and confusion. She flinched a little. "Well, you performed well, didn¡¯t you?" "Yes, I did, didn¡¯t I?" Her expression seemed to say that she thought she had done enough to be seen as charming. "But I don¡¯t need that." I began chewing on my steak again. "Sigh... Then what do you need, Ji-hoon?" "Hmm. An S-rank Hunter working for our Blue Guild." "Ha..." It was a sigh filled with many thoughts. "Alright then..." She focused on her steak, slightly sulking. "But still, I enjoyed your performance. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here, isn¡¯t it?" "Oh? That¡¯s true. Hehe." I nced up at Yoo Hana as she ate. She seemed to be feeling a bit better. "Sigh..." "You did great today. Hehe." Chief Cha looked at Lee Soo-ah with a big, cheerful grin. "Chief Cha, your expression!" "Ack." His face immediately stiffened. "Are you happy? About this situation?" "No, no, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m happy. Isn¡¯t it a good thing? That Hunter Lee Soo-ah is determined to reim the top S-rank position?" "Ha... Why is that a good thing?" "Because it means the Blue Guild will return to being the top guild, which is a good thing, right?" "Haaaa...." Lee Soo-ah rubbed her forehead, feelingpletely puzzled. She felt like she was firmly caught in Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s grasp, unable to move at all. ¡®That look in his eyes... I can¡¯t do anything... Even if I want to, I can¡¯t choose anything else... It¡¯s overwhelming... Ha... What is Ji-hoon...¡¯ She brushed her hair back. "Sigh~ Baek Ji-hoon is the treasure of our Blue Guild~ See? I told you from the first day he joined that he¡¯d be great~~" Chief Cha struck a confident pose. "You were right. You do have a sharp eye, Chief Cha." "Chief Cha, keep up the good work!" The members of Hunter Team 6 looked very pleased. Up until now, they had always looked exhausted, but today was different. "Sigh..." "Soo-ah, you did very well today. It¡¯s time to go home." "Yes..." Lee Soo-ah slumped over,pletely drained. "But still, Soo-ah, wouldn¡¯t Ji-hoon be happy to hear how hard you worked today?" "Oh, that¡¯s true." Lee Soo-ah¡¯s expression brightened again. ¡®Hehe, I¡¯ll wait for Ji-hoon toe. I wonder when Yoo Hana¡¯s schedule will end today~¡¯ Even though it had been a hectic day from the hearing to the dungeon raid, she suddenly seemed energized. She decided to wait in the office for Baek Ji-hoon. ¡®Hehe, if I tell him how hard I worked today... will he give me some points? He¡¯s probably just trying to impress me, right? Isn¡¯t he?¡¯ "Today was great. Your performance was amazing, and dinner was nice too." "Ha... Thank you for having dinner with me. Let¡¯s do it often!" "I¡¯ll think about it." "Pfft..." She pouted a bit as we said our goodbyes and parted ways. "Hmm~ Now to clock out~" I headed up to the office. "Baek! Ji! Hoon!" "Yes." As I approached the office of Hunter Team 6, a thunderous voice rang out. Of course, it was Lee Soo-ah. "Do you know what time it is?" "Hmm, it¡¯s 8:30." "Ha... Does Yoo Hana usually film thiste?" "Ah, we had dinner together, so it took a bit longer. She performed really well today." "????????" Her face froze in shock. "Dinner... with Yoo Hana?" "Yes." "What about me?" "Did you have dinner?" "No! Why did you have dinner with Yoo Hana and leave me out?" "Why would I include you, Lee Soo-ah?" "Ha!!! Unbelievable!!!!!" She looked extremely annoyed. "Never mind that!" "Yes." "Come to the office." Thud, thud, thud. "Take a seat. Let¡¯s have a little chat." ¡®What¡¯s this about?¡¯ The atmosphere was rather odd. She seemed annoyed, but there was also an air of expectation. It was hard to tell if she was in a good mood or not. "So, Ji-hoon, do you know how hard today was for me?" "No?" "Let me tell you." She began to talk in great detail about what had happened in the Noksapyeong Dungeon today¡ªhow hard it was for her to take the lead alone, how tough the dungeon was, and how she managed to handle it well because she¡¯s so skilled. She chattered on without stopping. "Ha. Today was really tough, but I worked hard just like you said." She sounded like a kindergarten student seeking praise from the teacher. I was a D-rank Hunter, and Lee Soo-ah was ranked second among S-rank Hunters. The roles werepletely reversed. "I see. You did very well." "Right? I did really well, didn¡¯t I?" She looked at me expectantly, as if waiting for a reward. "So?" "Uh... don¡¯t you have something to do?" "Hmm..." I thought for a moment. ¡®What does she want?¡¯ She had eagerly reported her achievements and was now looking at me expectantly. ¡®Does she want a reward? But I¡¯m a D-rank Hunter, and she¡¯s my superior, so what is she expecting?¡¯ "Well, do even better next time." Not knowing what she wanted, I just offered some generic encouragement. "Huh??" "Do your best. It¡¯s your first day, right? You¡¯ll get better as you get used to it." "Ah... yes... haha... I see..." She had been brimming with expectation, but now she lookedpletely deted. "I¡¯ll be going now." "Ah... okay..." I left her behind, looking somewhat sad. "What? Why? Wasn¡¯t I supposed to get points? Didn¡¯t Ji-hoon say he could give points? Did I misunderstand? What¡¯s going on? Is this a game of push and pull?" Lee Soo-ah paced anxiously around her office, biting her nails. She was reying the short interaction that had just taken ce. "What¡¯s going on? I thought for sure he¡¯d say, ¡®Soo-ah, you worked so hard today. Let me reward you with some points.¡¯ I really thought that would happen." She had been so full of expectation. It was a scene she had dreamed of since childhood. But things had gone in apletely different direction. "Do better...? You¡¯ll do better next time? What does that mean? Is he not satisfied with today¡¯s results? Does he think the Noksapyeong Dungeon isn¡¯t good enough? Is he just observing? What is it?" She rested her chin on her hand, looking utterly confused. "Ha... this is tough. I have no idea what he meant. Ugh..." She crossed her legs and began tapping her foot. "But still... dinner with Yoo Hana? That¡¯s so annoying." Suddenly, she felt a surge of anger. "I worked so hard in the dungeon today, and he¡¯s off having dinner with Yoo Hana? Why? Shouldn¡¯t he be having dinner with me? I was the one who had a tough day!!" She felt a bit resentful. "Ha... no, Soo-ah, get a grip. You were just doing your job, right? You¡¯re an S-rank Hunter, so this is what you¡¯re supposed to do. And maybe Ji-hoon just prefers S-rank number one." She started muttering to herself. "Huh? Wait a minute..." Something suddenly crossed her mind. "Could it be? Chae Soo-hyun? S-rank number one? Is there a connection to Baek Ji-hoon? Huh?" As she thought more, her mind began to wander in a strange direction. "What? So does he only like the number one S-rank? Huh. Maybe he doesn¡¯t care about second ce. Hmm. I guess I need to be number one?" She clenched her fist determinedly, drawing her own conclusions based on her wild spections. "Hmm. Maybe hisment about working harder... was that what it meant? No, what is it? If I work harder, will he help me? Or was it a hint to hurry and be number one?" She kept tilting her head, puzzled. "Hmm. I guess I¡¯ll have to try a few more times. Maybe then I¡¯ll figure it out." Lee Soo-ah decided to strengthen her resolve. "Hmm... so he ns to make Lee Soo-ah the number one S-rank..." In the car on the way home, Yoo Hana¡¯s expression was deeply troubled. The things Baek Ji-hoon had said earlier had clearly shocked her. "It seems like Ji-hoon only thinks about Hunters... He doesn¡¯t seem to care much about me..." Her heart was wavering. She had given a ster performance today, thinking she would earn points with Baek Ji-hoon, but it didn¡¯t feel like that at all. ¡®It felt like I didn¡¯t matter to him at all, like his mind was somewhere else...¡¯ She pouted, frustrated by how things weren¡¯t going her way. Up until now, she had always been able to get what she wanted, but Baek Ji-hoon seemed like an insurmountable wall. "No, it¡¯s strange. He wasn¡¯t like thisst week. He suddenly feels so different this week. Why? What changed? Ha... really..." She felt lost, unsure of what to think or do next. ¡®Hmm... recruiting S-rank Hunters to the Blue Guild... What does that mean? Is he nning to win over all the S-rank Hunters?¡¯ She rested her chin on her hand and stared out the window. ¡®Could it be... do other S-rank Hunters have feelings for Ji-hoon too? He seemed so confident, but what is it? If all the other S-rank Hunters really do go to Ji-hoon... what about me? Will I be the only one left in the entertainment industry...¡¯ ¡®No, no, that can¡¯t happen.¡¯ Her expression was one of deep confusion. ¡®Ha... maybe I should contact the Blue Guild...¡¯@@novelbin@@ She stared at her smartphone, her fingers fidgeting with it as she pondered deeply. Chapter 86 "What? What did you just say?" "Oh, Soo-ah, you''ve really lost your touch, haven¡¯t you? In my opinion, the Blue Guild has be too old and tired. It¡¯s turned into just another ordinarypany. Where did the passionate and challenging spirit of the old Blue Guild go?" Yoo Hana¡¯s tone was sharp and sarcastic. "Ha. Stop with the useless talk and repeat that nonsense you just said." "What I¡¯m saying is, I believe Baek Ji-hoon will be the top Hunter in the country. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here, to stay by his side. I¡¯m investing in him early." Yoo Hana spoke as if it was the most natural thing in the world. ¡®Hmm. Originally, the n was to make Lee Soo-ah the number one S-rank and crush Chae Soo-hyun, but I suppose this works too.¡¯ "But why do you need to do that? I¡¯m fine with things as they are now. That way, Ji-hoon and I can..." Lee Soo-ah¡¯s voice trembled slightly. "Oh, Soo-ah, it seems you¡¯ve lost your mind a bit. I don¡¯t care~ I¡¯ll do things my way, and you do things your way. Ji-hoon, starting today, I¡¯ll be your assistant." "Assistant?" "Yes, I believe Ji-hoon will soon rise to S-rank. Shall we head back to our seats?" "Sure, let¡¯s do that." There was a slightly different look in her eyes today. We left the fuming Lee Soo-ah behind and returned to our seats. "But, Yoo Hana... Our team¡¯s youngest member is Baek Ji-hoon, and you¡¯re saying you want to be his assistant?" Hunter Kim, from Division 6, nervously spoke up. "Yes, I¡¯m going to make Ji-hoon an S-rank." Everyone looked puzzled, as if they couldn¡¯tprehend what she was saying, no matter how many times they heard it. "Is that even possible?" "Yes, I believe it is." "Ha... Well, it¡¯s good for us, but... What¡¯s going on, exactly?" Everyone wore bewildered expressions. "Ji-hoon, let¡¯s start earning points quickly. I¡¯ll help you out! Or... don¡¯t tell me you already have a lot of points?" Yoo Hana pulled her chair closer to mine, looking at me with an expression that suggested she knew something. ¡®Hmm? What¡¯s this? Does she know something about me?¡¯ Last night, Yoo Hana. [Sister, did you know?] [What?] [They say there¡¯s a really unique Hunter that¡¯s appeared.] [What do you mean? What¡¯s unique about them?] It was a fellow S-rank Hunter, Yeo Joo-ah, who had reached out. They had a friendly rtionship. [I don¡¯t know the details, but they say he has about 1.5 billion points that he hasn¡¯t used yet.] [Hmm? Why? Why hasn¡¯t he used them?] [I don¡¯t know~ But with that many points, wouldn¡¯t he be almost SSS-rank?] [If that¡¯s true, then yes.] [And they say he can also invest in others and elerate their growth. I¡¯m not sure about the specifics, though~] Yoo Hana tilted her head slightly, hearing something like this for the first time. ¡®Who is this? Who umtes points like that? Even the current number one S-rank wouldn¡¯t have more than 500 million pointsbined.¡¯ She was confused. If what she heard was true, this person could probably take on any Hunter and win. ¡®This isn¡¯t just a gap, it¡¯s an insurmountable difference.¡¯ [But do you know this person¡¯s name?] [Yeah. I¡¯ve heard it roughly. It¡¯s Baek Ji-hoon.] ? Yoo Hana jumped up from her seat. ¡®What? Baek Ji-hoon? Could it be the Baek Ji-hoon I know?¡¯ [Where are they affiliated?] [I heard they work at the Blue Guild... That¡¯s what I¡¯ve heard. But don¡¯t go spreading this around¡ªit¡¯s personal information~] [Uh-huh...] Yoo Hana¡¯s expression was one of pure shock. ¡®What? Baek Ji-hoon? Ji-hoon? Ji-hoon has 1.5 billion points? What? How? Who is this person?¡¯ Her first impression of him had been that he seemed rather naive, just a pushover... But something had changed this week. And there was the way Lee Soo-ah and Chae Soo-hyun were clinging to him. ¡®Who is he, really? What¡¯s going on?¡¯ Rumors that had been circting among the S-rank Hunters were all about Baek Ji-hoon. ¡®If this is true...¡¯ Yoo Hana felt her heart race slightly. ¡®I¡¯m going back to the Blue Guild. I think I need to.¡¯ "But, Yoo Hana." "Yes." "You said you¡¯d be assisting me?" "Yes." "With what?" "I already told you everything earlier. I believe I need to make Baek Ji-hoon an S-rank Hunter as quickly as possible." She spoke confidently, her expression firm. ¡®Well, it¡¯s fine by me.¡¯ "I¡¯ll show you how to build your skill tree, and your stats." Yoo Hana started diligently writing something down. ¡®Hmm. Maybe I should¡¯ve done this sooner?¡¯ I quietly watched her. "What on earth was that hearing about?" Lee Jin-hyuk asked Chae Soo-hyun in a voice tinged with irritation. He had never spoken to her like that before.@@novelbin@@ But he was starting to feel like things were going wrong. "Ah... Oppa. It was a closed hearing, you know. Closed, closed. Just calm down, okay?" Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s eyes wavered. "This isn¡¯t something to calm down about, is it? You asked me to try and block the hearing, but now our guild looks like aplete fool." He ced his hand on his hip, clearly showing his anger. "I know, I know... I get it, but..." "If you knew, then why did you act like that? And what was the hearing about?" "Ha. I can¡¯t tell you what it was about. And that¡¯s not the issue here, is it?" Chae Soo-hyun started to snap back at Lee Jin-hyuk. ¡®Ha... Should I just take advantage of him right now?¡¯ Chae Soo-hyun was waiting for the right moment topletely capture Lee Jin-hyuk, but she didn¡¯t think that time hade just yet. "Ha. Why are you getting angry? Just calm down." "Isn¡¯t the content of the hearing irrelevant? Shouldn¡¯t you be more concerned about how I feel right now? What about me? What am I supposed to do?" Chae Soo-hyun shouted loudly. "Ha. Fine. Fine. So what do you want me to do?" "I don¡¯t know. Just do something about the Blue Guild. Why do they keep interfering with us at every turn?" "That¡¯s how they¡¯ve always been. That¡¯s why I hate them the most." "Ha... Seriously." "So what do you want me to do?" "What do you mean, ¡®do something¡¯? Just make sure this closed hearing doesn¡¯t be public. And work on sweet-talking themittee members. I need to manage my image, right? I¡¯m the mascot of Baekho Guild, after all. I¡¯ve just started my broadcast activities, and I can¡¯t afford to mess this up." "Fine. I¡¯ll take care of it somehow, so don¡¯t worry." "Okay." Lee Jin-hyuk was clearly annoyed, but he seemed determined to deal with the immediate problems. "I¡¯ll handle it." Lee Jin-hyuk left. ¡®Ha... Seriously... Baek Ji-hoon... What¡¯s going on? What¡¯s happening?¡¯ Chae Soo-hyun sat down on her bed with a perplexed expression after finishing her conversation with Lee Jin-hyuk. Her mind was in a whirlwind. ¡®Ah. Maybe I should have stayed by Ji-hoon oppa¡¯s side? I probably didn¡¯t even need to join Baekho Guild. Maybe I should have just focused on bing the number one S-rank...¡¯ She opened her status window. It waspletely empty, an E-rank status window. ¡®Ha... When am I going to fill this up again? No matter how many male Hunters I absorb, it¡¯s still difficult...¡¯ She bit her lip hard. ¡®Ha... Seriously... I was too greedy. If I go and apologize to Ji-hoon oppa, will he take me back? If there¡¯s even a little bit of feeling left... Still...¡¯ She recalled her visit to the Blue Guild. ¡®Sigh... He must be totally disappointed in me. That¡¯s why I was turned away at the door, right?¡¯ Click, click. She started reading various posts on the inte. She searched for various situations simr to hers, but the responses were overwhelmingly negative. ¡®Ha... damn... Was I too hasty? Or was I just too greedy?¡¯ She looked around her room. The house that Lee Jin-hyuk had provided for her. She liked it very much. ¡®Ha... But honestly, I could have just made money as an S-rank Hunter... right...¡¯ She smacked herself on the head. ¡®Why did you do that, Chae Soo-hyun? You caused all this trouble, and now you¡¯ve ruined everything.¡¯ Regret was slowly consuming her. And then. ¡°Huh???¡± [Breaking News] S-Rank Hunter Yoo Hana Returns to the Blue Guild. ¡°What?¡± Her eyes widened, and she shot up from her seat. "Yoo Hana??? Returning to the Blue Guild?" Naturally, a thought quickly shed through her mind. ¡®This is Ji-hoon oppa. This happened because of Ji-hoon oppa.¡¯ With a bewildered expression, she started frantically reading through the news articles. Chapter 89 "Ha... sss..." Lee Soo-ah was pacing back and forth in her office, her restless energy making even those watching her feel uneasy. "Ha... What do I do? What should I do? Why did I act like that?" She seemed on the verge of losing her mind, her expression increasingly reflecting the realization that she had made a serious mistake. ¡®I messed up... I should have been more considerate... Why did I do that?¡¯ Her face twisted in distress. ¡®Surely... there won¡¯t be a flood of S-rank Hunters rushing to our guild, right?¡¯ What had started as a joke was now beginning to feel like a frightening possibility. After all, this had been the Guild Master¡¯s n all along. Even Chief Cha had echoed this sentiment. ¡®Is it really going to happen? No, it can¡¯t...¡¯ A deep sense of unease settled in her heart. She realized that thepetition for Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s attention was growing fiercer. ¡®Ah... damn... Yoo Hana...¡¯ The biggest problem for her was Yoo Hana, who had immediately positioned herself as Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s assistant, practically throwing herself at him. She felt as if her position was being usurped. ¡®Ha... Why did I do that...¡¯ Memories of the surveince cameras she¡¯d set up, the times she had followed Baek Ji-hoon to and from work despite his objections, all came flooding back. ¡®I... I¡¯m sorry, Ji-hoon... I thought I was above you...¡¯ Lee Soo-ah stood there, trembling, not knowing what to do next. She nced out the window towards Baek Ji-hoon. He and Yoo Hana were intently focused on something, clearly deep in thought.@@novelbin@@ ¡®Ha... So it¡¯s true, he¡¯s already been boosted to S-rank... His stats are already at that level...¡¯ Her shaky eyes betrayed her growing anxiety. ¡®Hmm... No... This won¡¯t do...¡¯ She began to feel that she needed to take drastic action. "Um, unni? What¡¯s going on?" S-rank Hunter Chae Soo-hyun looked at Lee Soo-ah with wide eyes, waiting for her to speak. "Uh, yeah. I wanted to talk more about what you mentioned earlier." Lee Soo-ah sat down, her voice trembling slightly. "About what?" "That guy, Baek Ji-hoon." "Oh, right." "What¡¯s the deal with him?" "Well, this is supposed to be a secret, so you need to keep it quiet. ording to Hunter Lee Ye-ji, that Baek Ji-hoon guy is apparently really rich in points? And it seems like he can invest points in other people? Maybe even remove status ailments?" "What...? R-really?" Lee Soo-ah¡¯s expression grew more anxious. "But isn¡¯t Baek Ji-hoon part of your team? That¡¯s what I heard." "Yeah, that¡¯s right." "So, how is he? Is he a good guy? Should I try to get closer to him?" "NO!!!" Suddenly, Lee Soo-ah mmed her hand on the table, startling Chae Soo-hyun, who flinched and pulled back. "Oh... okay... unni... Why are you acting like this?" Chae Soo-hyun seemed genuinely shocked by the twisted expression on Lee Soo-ah¡¯s face. It was as if she had never seen her like this before. "Calm down." "Uh, what I mean is..." Lee Soo-ah herself seemed surprised by her own reaction, her eyes darting nervously. "Uh... well... he¡¯s... he¡¯s gay!" "What?" Chae Soo-hyun tilted her head, clearly confused. This was one of the tactics often used among women to ward offpetition. "Gay?" "Yeah, yeah. There¡¯s this guy named Park Hyung-seok in ourpany who was in the military with him, and apparently, they were... you know." "Uh-huh...?" "So you shouldn¡¯t bother trying to get close to him~ You¡¯d just be wasting your time and effort, hohohoho." "Uh-huh... I see... I was thinking it would be amazing if I could date him, given what I heard." "Uh. No. Way." Lee Soo-ah spoke with a rigid tone. "Aww, I was getting excited for nothing. I thought I might try to get close to him if he didn¡¯t have a girlfriend." Lee Soo-ah¡¯s face twisted further. ¡®Damn it... Does everyone really think like this?¡¯ She could feel the momentum rapidly shifting. Justst week, when Baek Ji-hoon first joined, she had thought he was just a simple new recruit. Now, he had be a target of interest for S-rank Hunters nationwide. "And those points... That¡¯s just a rumor. I checked, and it¡¯spletely false." "Huh? Really?" "Yeah, yeah! He¡¯s just a D-rank Hunter, and everything got blown out of proportion. Why would Ye-ji spread such nonsense?" Lee Soo-ah pouted as she dismissed the rumors as baseless. "Oh... And about that... Park Hyung-seok? You said they were close... in the military..." "Ha..." Lee Soo-ah¡¯s expression soured even more. "Haha... I see... I caught you, you liar." She seemed to be deep in thought, mulling over somethingplex. "Hey, Hyung-seok." "Yes, yes!!!" Park Hyung-seok greeted Lee Soo-ah with a bright smile. He was pleased that she had called him aside like this. "What have you done?" The atmosphere shifted to that of an interrogation room in an instant. "Uh? What... did I do?" Park Hyung-seok was taken aback. "Why did you connect Hunter Lee Ye-ji with Baek Ji-hoon? Encouraging other S-rank Hunters to approach him... Isn¡¯t that against our internal rules?" Lee Soo-ah¡¯s tone was icy as she cornered him. "Uh, I think there¡¯s a misunderstanding, Hunter Lee Soo-ah." "Misunderstanding? I¡¯ve already heard everything. Do you have any idea how much trouble you¡¯ve caused because of your actions?" "What trouble?" "S-rank Hunters from all over the country are trying to get close to Baek Ji-hoon!" "Isn¡¯t that a good thing?" "NO! IT¡¯S NOT!" Lee Soo-ah mmed her hand on the desk again. ¡®What the... What¡¯s wrong with Lee Soo-ah? Has she reverted to her old self?¡¯ Park Hyung-seok flinched,pletely thrown off by her aggression. "Ha. This is uneptable. Attempting to poach talent through external S-rank Hunters...¡± Lee Soo-ah began writing something down furiously. "Ah... no!! Hunter Lee Soo-ah, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. I just introduced him to Hunter Lee Ye-ji because he had some issues that needed fixing. You know how skilled she is!" Park Hyung-seok stood up abruptly, his voice frantic. The sudden shift towards disciplinary action had caught him off guard. "I¡¯m disappointed in you, Park Hyung-seok. You¡¯re facing disciplinary action..." "No, please! It¡¯s really not what you think." "Then what is it? Why did you connect him with Hunter Lee Ye-ji? Exin yourself." "Ha... sss..." Park Hyung-seok hesitated. If he told her, it would inevitably bring up information about Chae Soo-hyun, something he knew Baek Ji-hoon wouldn¡¯t want to be exposed. "Ha... It¡¯s nothing major. Ji-hoon hyung was just curious about S-rank Hunters, so I introduced him." "But I¡¯m an S-rank Hunter too. Why didn¡¯t he ask me?" Park Hyung-seok suddenly realized that the tables had turned on him. "Hunter Lee Soo-ah." "Yes?" "Do you think a guy would want to ask you anything when you act like this?" "What?" "Do you think a guy would want to confide in someone who behaves so forcefully? Do you think a woman like that would be popr with men? Yes or no?" Park Hyung-seok stepped closer, pressing his advantage. The dynamic in the room shifted. "What... what are you saying..." "S-rank or not, if you act like this, of course he¡¯s going to seek advice from another S-rank Hunter." Park Hyung-seok was now almost nose-to-nose with Lee Soo-ah. "Th-th-that¡¯s..." Lee Soo-ah was so flustered that she seemed to have lost her words. "Ha. Hunter Lee Soo-ah?" "Y-Yes...?" "This won¡¯t do. I think I need to tell Ji-hoon hyung about what just happened." Lee Soo-ah¡¯s face paled. "N-No!!!!" She suddenly dropped to the floor, clinging to him. "Hyung... Hyung-seok, I¡¯m... I¡¯m sorry. Please forgive me." ¡®What? Why is she reacting so strongly?¡¯ Park Hyung-seok was surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected this kind of reaction. ¡®Is S-rank Hunter Lee Soo-ah really begging me...? Could this be a green light?¡¯ He began to entertain a very pleasant thought. "Ha. Move aside. I¡¯m going to Ji-hoon hyung right now." "Noooo!!! Please don¡¯t go!!!!" She reacted even more desperately. ¡®Wha...? Is Lee Soo-ah really clinging to me? Wow...¡¯ Park Hyung-seok started to get the wrong idea. "So... then..." "Yes..." Lee Soo-ah had turned into a meek,pliant figure. "What do you want?" Park Hyung-seok had quickly assumed the upper hand. "Uh... well... I want to... be the woman closest to Baek Ji-hoon... as a member of Team A..." "What is it that you want, exactly?" He mmed his hand on the desk for emphasis. "I want to be the woman closest to Baek Ji-hoon!!!!" Park Hyung-seok was momentarily taken aback by her sudden boldness. ¡®Ha... Why is Ji-hoon hyung so popr... Damn, I¡¯m jealous.¡¯ Chapter 91 "Chief Cha, are you feeling better now...?" It took quite some time before Chief Cha finally came to his senses. "Sigh... I''m sorry, everyone. I guess I was too shocked." He was slowly regaining hisposure. "Geez, Ji-hoon. How can you suddenly be an S-rank like that? I almost had a heart attack!" "Seriously, is this real? Weren''t you an E-rank justst week? You were E-rank when you joined, so how do you suddenly be S-rank in just a week? Did you save up your points without using them?" Everyone was looking at me with strange, questioning eyes. A moment ago, they were focused on waking up Chief Cha, but now that he was fine, all the attention turned to me. "Uh... yeah, something like that," I replied, scratching the back of my head awkwardly. "That doesn''t make any sense! Are you saying you''ve been hoarding 50 million points this whole time?" They all exchanged skeptical nces. ''Well, it''s only natural they''d find it odd... There''s nothing I can do about that.'' "Yeah, that''s right," I answered. "Why? Why didn''t you use them?" "Oh, well... I had them invested somewhere for a while, and they rued interest." I tried to brush it off casually. "What? Is there a feature that gives you interest if you save points?" They were still puzzled, murmuring among themselves. But they didn''t press further. The world of Hunters is so varied that there are plenty of things people don¡¯t fully understand. "Ji-hoon, you''re a real treasure for our guild. You did great, really great," Chief Cha said, looking at me with a face full of affection. "Uh, Chief Cha?" The noise andmotion had drawn the attention of the Hunters from Teams 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and they all crowded in. "What¡¯s going on? Why is it so noisy here? Are you throwing a party at work or what?" Their tone was aggressive. Lately, there had been rising discontent regarding Hunter Team 6, and it was clear why. Traditionally, Teams 1 and 2 had always been the representatives of the A-Team. "Hahahahahahaha! You know what? Now our Hunter Team 6 has two S-rank Hunters! Not just Yoo Hana, but Baek Ji-hoon here is also an S-rank Hunter." The five team leaders stared in disbelief, tilting their heads in confusion. It was shocking enough that Yoo Hana had joined the Blue Guild this morning, but now, a new recruit had suddenly be an S-rank Hunter? They couldn¡¯t believe it. "What? This guy is an S-rank Hunter?" "Yep." "But why? How?" They all looked at Chief Cha as if he were spouting nonsense. "Are you out of your mind? Do you need to go to the emergency room?" "No, I''m fine." Chief Cha answered very firmly. "Ji-hoon, give me that." He snatched the rank card I had just received from the Hunter Assessment Center. "Look at this~~~!" The card gleamed with a golden light, with "S-Rank" boldly inscribed on it. "What...? Seriously?" The leaders of Teams 1 through 5 stared at the Hunter rank card, then back at me, their faces filled with shock. "See? I told you. Our Hunter Team 6 is the real deal now~." Chief Cha looked incredibly confident. "What... the hell? What is going on?" The leaders of Teams 1 through 5 had gathered in the conference room, lookingpletely bewildered. "Are we finished? Why are there suddenly two S-rank Hunters in Team 6?" "Exactly! This doesn¡¯t make any sense! How does this happen in just a week?" "Sigh... But wasn¡¯t it Yoo Hana who brought that Baek Ji-hoon person?" "Yeah, and didn¡¯t she say she would be assisting him? What¡¯s that about?" They all seemed unable to ept what was happening. It was strange enough that Yoo Hana had returned in the morning, but then a neer fromst week had suddenly be an S-rank Hunter. "Sigh... This puts us in a tough spot..." "What about Lee Soo-ah? Didn¡¯t she mess up the department reorganizationst week?" "Right? I have no idea what¡¯s going on with her. Should we investigate that guy?" "Wasn¡¯t there a rumor that Lee Soo-ah was dating him when he first joined?" "Yeah, right?" "What¡¯s going on with that now?" "I have no idea. Nothing has been said since then." "So, is he dating Yoo Hana now? What is this, a love triangle?" They couldn¡¯t ept the situation. Untilst week, Teams 1 and 2 were the stars of the A-Team, the top performers in the entire Blue Guild. They even had the highest number of A-rank Hunters in the country. But now, the atmosphere had shifted drastically. "Hey, Jin-soo." "Yes, sir." Park Jin-soo quickly approached. "Sigh... What¡¯s going on with you and Baek Ji-hoon? Weren''t you getting close to him?" "Uh,tely, I¡¯ve been busy, and Baek Ji-hoon has been away often, so I haven¡¯t had much chance to interact." "But why did you do that? Were you expecting something? Did you know this would happen?" The Team 1 leader found Park Jin-soo¡¯s actions suspicious. After all, Jin-soo had approached Baek Ji-hoon when he was still just a D-rank. Park Jin-soo was an A-rank Hunter, so it was unheard of for him to be so friendly with someone so much lower-ranked in the Hunter world. "Sigh... No, that¡¯s not it." Park Jin-soo seemed like he was hiding something. "What is it? Are you hiding something from me? Spill it, man." The Team 1 leader jabbed him in the ribs. "Well... actually..." "Come on, spit it out! We¡¯re in deep trouble here. Teams 1 and 2 are going down!" He barked angrily. "Sigh... The thing is..." Park Jin-soo had no choice but to start confessing. "What? Cha Soo-hyun...?" "Yes..." "But why...?" The news left the Team 1 leader even more stunned. The idea that Cha Soo-hyun, the number one S-rank Hunter, was interested in Baek Ji-hoon? It was beyond bizarre. To make matters worse, Cha Soo-hyun wasn''t just from any other guild¡ªshe was a Hunter from Baekho Guild, Blue Guild¡¯s rival. "Are you a spy?" "No!!!" Park Jin-soo eximed in panic. "Really? Alright then, let''s keep doing our best." "Yes, sir." The Team 1 leader patted Park Jin-soo on the back. ''Who the hell is this Baek Ji-hoon?'' The A-rank Hunter and leader of Team 1 couldn¡¯t contain his frustration. He had spent years working hard but was still far from reaching S-rank. Yet this Baek Ji-hoon, a rookie who had joined just a week ago, had suddenly be an S-rank Hunter. ''Sigh... Who the hell is this guy? It feels like he''s ying us...'' "Haha, but you know..." Chief Cha began speaking again, and everyone turned their attention to him. "So now that Ji-hoon is also S-rank... shouldn''t there be a reorganization? Maybe we need to form a new team...?" Chief Cha tentatively suggested, testing the waters. "No way, Chief Cha! What are you saying?" Lee Soo-ah reacted sharply. "Are you saying you want to split the team?" "No, no, think about it. We have two S-rank Hunters in our team now. And you''re already leading the A-Team. Wouldn''t it make sense to split the two into separate teams?" "But I like things as they are now." Yoo Hana subtly moved closer to me, almost linking arms with me. "Ah, well... I also like things the way they are now! Why change it...?" Lee Soo-ah seemed desperate to shut Chief Cha up. "Well, I just think it wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea for Baek Ji-hoon to be a team leader too, haha." Chief Cha grinned, looking almost like he was drooling. "Stop saying weird things, Chief Cha! You''re being too much." Lee Soo-ah pouted and walked away, clearly upset. "Oh, we¡¯re doing great, aren¡¯t we? Hunter Team 6 is really on the rise. I have no idea how this happened, but it¡¯s fantastic~," Chief Cha beamed at me after Lee Soo-ah left. "Yeah, I¡¯ll do my best," I responded, showing my resolve. "Alright, everyone, let¡¯s work hard for the Blue Guild! Where are we headed today? Let''s get ready, wrap things up, and then call it a day!" "Yes, sir!" Thanks to Yoo Hana joining the team and my S-rank designation, Hunter Team 6 was in a very good mood. But on the other hand... I nced over to the other side. It was clear that Teams 1 through 5 were not looking at us with kind eyes. ''Hmm, I hope this doesn¡¯t cause too much division because of me.'' It wasn¡¯t something I should be too concerned about, but it did weigh on my mind a little. ''It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not something that really matters to me.'' My phone buzzed. [ What? Hyung, did you really be an S-rank Hunter? ] It was a text from Hyung-seok.@@novelbin@@ [ Hyung, we need to meet up! ] News sure travels fast. He contacted me immediately. "Wow..." Hyung-seok was at a loss for words. "What¡¯s going on? Why? How did you suddenly be an S-rank Hunter?" He waspletely dumbfounded. Which made sense. In the world of Hunters, an S-rank was an incredibly prestigious status. I had jumped four ranks in one go. It was almost an unbelievable, nearly impossible event. "Holy... How did you do it?" "Well, I just spent all the points I had." "So, you were sitting on close to 50 million points this whole time?" His face showed total disbelief. Which was understandable. Most people would spend their points immediately since there wasn¡¯t much advantage to hoarding them. "Yeah." "Wow... This is insane... So, now it¡¯ll be easier for you to manage Hunter Lee Soo-ah, right?" "Huh? Manage?" Chapter 92 "Huh? Training?"@@novelbin@@ I couldn''t help but make a puzzled expression at the strangement I just heard. ''Why is he suddenly talking about training?'' "Now that you''re an S-rank Hunter, isn''t it going to be easier to handle Hunter Lee Soo-ah?" "Well, I suppose so." "So, you''re going to train an S-rank Hunter like Lee Soo-ah... Haha..." ''What is wrong with this guy?'' Hyung-seok seemed to be in a weird state. "What are you talking about? Training?" "Isn''t training an S-rank Hunter every man''s dream? Haha... Just thinking about it is thrilling." "If I were to train someone, it should be Cha Soo-hyun. Why bother with Lee Soo-ah?" "Why not both? Haha..." ''I think I get what his tastes are.'' "If it were me, I¡¯d be having fun with Hunter Lee Soo-ah by now. Haha..." He had a look of excitement on his face. ''Why is he telling me about his preferences?'' "But hey, I¡¯veid all the groundwork for you." "Groundwork?" "Yeah, I think Hunter Lee Soo-ah is now eager to be trained by you." "What?" I couldn''t believe the nonsense he was spouting. "You know she¡¯s always wanted to cling to you, right?" "Yeah, that¡¯s true." "So, I''ve been giving her some tips on what might be good." "Sigh... Let¡¯s not do anything weird, Hyung-seok." "It¡¯s not weird! It¡¯s a good thing!" He looked at me with an expression as if he didn¡¯t understand why I was objecting. "Look, I can¡¯t do it myself, so you should enjoy it for me." He was really starting to sound crazy. "What is this...?" "Training... Training..." The word kept echoing in Lee Soo-ah''s mind, a word that Park Hyung-seok had mentioned. Click, click. She was scrolling through various searches on herputer. [ I gave my boyfriend a special gift for our anniversary. It¡¯s a bunny girl outfit! ] ? Wow, that¡¯s hot. ? I wish my girlfriend would do that for me. ? Where can I find a girl like that? [ Day 135 of training my boyfriend. It was tough at first, but now I''m used to it... ] ? Lucky boyfriend... ? I wish my girlfriend would go through that for me... ''Sigh... What is all this...'' Knock, knock. It was Chief Cha. Lee Soo-ah, blushing furiously, quickly closed the inte browser. "Lee Soo-ah, we''re heading to the dungeon now. Are youing with us? Though, with two S-rank Hunters in our department now, we could manage without you..." "N-no!!! I¡¯m going!!!" Lee Soo-ah jumped to her feet. "Were you looking at something strange? Why is your face so red?" Chief Cha, ever perceptive, teased her. "No!! What do you mean strange? It¡¯s nothing!!!" "If it¡¯s nothing, why are you so defensive?" Chief Cha chuckled. Lee Soo-ah''s expression was a mix of confusion and frustration. She felt like Baek Ji-hoon was drifting further away from her, and it was bing increasingly difficult to keep up. ''Sigh... What does it mean that I need to be trained to hold onto him? Is that really good advice?'' She bit her lip. She couldn¡¯t understand how she had ended up in this situation. Justst week, she was a top-tier professional, a workaholic woman at the peak of her field. Now, here she was, seriously considering training herself for someone. ''Sigh... This is all Yoo Hana''s fault!'' She felt like she was being swept along by an unstoppable current. ''I have to stop this somehow.'' With a determined expression, she left her office. "Ji-hoon!" Yoo Hana called out to me sweetly. "Yes?" "I''ve prepared all the materials. This is your first time going, right?" "Yes, that''s right." "Just follow the guide I¡¯ve prepared, and everything should be fine. Hehe..." In just one day, S-rank Hunter Yoo Hana had almost be my personal manager. She waspletely submissive, diligently gathering information for me. I wasn¡¯t sure how things had gotten to this point, but here we were in this strange situation. "Okay, shall we get going?" "Yes!" Who could have imagined a celebrity following you around and assisting you like this? Justst week, the situation was theplete opposite. "Alright everyone, let¡¯s cover this dungeon thoroughly today and then wrap it up!" Chief Cha took the lead. "Teams 1 and 2, please back us up." He smiled at the Hunters from Teams 1 and 2, who seemed unable to hide their grumbling. "Let''s go!" The dungeon raid began. "This creature is called Behemoth. It''s weak to fire, so use this skill..." Yoo Hana was exining things one by one, helping me quickly adapt to my S-rank status. "Uh... excuse me..." Lee Soo-ah bit her lip and approached. "Is something wrong?" "Um... Hunter Baek Ji-hoon..." There was a noticeable change in her demeanor. "Yes?" "I... I''ll do whatever you ask..." "???" ''What? What''s with Lee Soo-ah all of a sudden?'' Her expression was pitiful. "Why? What¡¯s going on?" "I... I just want to... Please handle me however you like..." Suddenly, I remembered what Hyung-seok had said earlier. ''What on earth did he say to make her like this?'' It seemed like Lee Soo-ah was not in her right mind. "Hey, Soo-ah." "Yes, yes!" "Do you see those guys over there?" "Huh?" "The forty mini-dragons down there." "Yes, yes!" "Could you take care of them? I¡¯m toozy to go over there." "Yes, of course!!!" Lee Soo-ah happily skipped off. ''What the heck? Why is she being so obedient?'' Everything was starting to feel stranger by the minute. It was almost as if I was bing some sort of authority figure. ''Is this okay? I mean, she''s the A-Team leader, after all. Can she really be acting like this?'' It was odd, but I had my own tasks to focus on. "Yoo Hana, I¡¯ll take care of these creatures now." "Yes, please!" I stepped forward to deal with the Behemoths as Yoo Hana had instructed. "Wow... Ji-hoon, you really are an S-rank Hunter, aren¡¯t you?" I heard a voice of admiration from behind me. Although I didn¡¯t use any special items, it felt pretty satisfying. sh. The beasts were quickly cut down. ''This is working out nicely, just as Yoo Hana said.'' Having a guidebook always makes things easier. "Good job!!!" Yoo Hana cheered from behind. p, p, p. The dungeon raid concluded sessfully, and the members of Hunter Team 6 gathered together. "Wow~~~ We finished so fast today, didn¡¯t we?" "Yeah, it usually takes us about three hours, but it hasn¡¯t even been two." "Awesome!! It¡¯s all thanks to you, Baek Ji-hoon." Everyone looked at me, pping enthusiastically. It felt like they were weing me much more warmly than they hadst week. ''This is nice. I feel like I¡¯m really finding my ce in the Blue Guild.'' "Yoo Hana." "Yes?" "Thank you." I expressed my gratitude lightly. Yoo Hana seemed very pleased. "And... what about me?" Lee Soo-ah interrupted after hearing my words. "Hmm..." I pretended to think for a moment. "I¡¯ll keep an eye on you for a bit longer, Lee Soo-ah." "Oh..." Her face fell, looking disappointed. "Sigh... Why... Why me..." Back in the office, Lee Soo-ah slumped at her desk, pouting. "What is this... It feels like there¡¯s a wall..." She felt as if she was up against something she couldn¡¯t ovee. ''Sigh... This really isn¡¯t going well... I need to call Hyung-seok...'' [ Hey, Hyung-seok... Could youe to my office? ] It hadn¡¯t even been three minutes after sending the text when Park Hyung-seok came running. "What is it? Do you need my help?" "I... can you tell me what it means to be trained...?" "What? Huh...!" Park Hyung-seok looked like he was about to burst with excitement, as if his dream had juste true. "Sigh... I mean... What do I need to do to get closer to Ji-hoon? Please tell me!!!" "Well... you see..." Park Hyung-seok moved closer to Lee Soo-ah. "Hunter Lee Soo-ah? Listen closely. Men like women who arepletely obedient, who act like they¡¯ve turned belly-up." "Turn... belly-up?" "Sigh, think about it. Ji-hoon is growing at an incredible pace, right? Isn¡¯t he?" "Uh... Yes, he is..." "Last week, you might have been above him, but now, Ji-hoon is about to surpass you." Lee Soo-ah didn¡¯t want to admit it. But she could feel it too. Baek Ji-hoon was growing at an extraordinary speed. "Sigh... That¡¯s true, but..." "Hunter Lee Soo-ah, you need to understand that you¡¯re no longer the one ruling over other Hunters. You have to ept that if you want to move forward." "Sigh... Ruling... I liked being on top..." "Tsk. You still have a long way to go, Hunter Lee Soo-ah. I¡¯ll be going now." "Noooo!!! Don¡¯t go!!! Tell me what to do!!!" Lee Soo-ah had no choice but to hold onto Park Hyung-seok. "What do you mean what to do? You just need to be ready to give up everything." Chapter 95 "Who exactly is that guy?" "Not sure. Can you even save up points like that? It seems suspicious." "Well, who knows? Wasn''t there someone who quietly saved up while they were A-rank and then jumped to S-rank all at once?" "Yeah, but that person wasn¡¯t avoiding investment; they were just staying low-key while they were A-rank because they didn¡¯t like the attention." The Hunters of the Zeus Guild were buzzing with chatter. As the fourthrgest guild in the industry, Zeus Guild, along with every other guild, waspletely stunned by the news about Baek Ji-hoon. It was unheard of for someone to jump from E-rank to S-rank in such a short time. Curiosity was rampant. Adding to the intrigue was the fact that Yoo Hana had recently rejoined the Blue Guild. Most people were specting that it had something to do with Baek Ji-hoon. "That guy definitely has something to do with Yoo Hana." "Right? Otherwise, why would Yoo Hana go back to a guild she left so adamantly? She swore she¡¯d never be a Hunter again." "And from what I hear, both Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana are clinging to that Baek Ji-hoon guy." "What?" Everyone was taken aback. "No way, that¡¯s too far-fetched." "It¡¯s true!" "Those untouchable women? Come on, that sounds like a wild rumor." "I¡¯m serious. My friend is in the Blue Guild, and they said that Baek Ji-hoon and Lee Soo-ah were secretly dating the first week he joined. Can you believe that?" "He doesn¡¯t even look like someone who would be that popr..." They all exchanged skeptical looks. "Hey, what are you guys talking about?" Cha I-seul, an S-rank Hunter, had just arrived at the guild after ate-night shift. "Oh, Hunter I-seul, you haven¡¯t heard about the big news yet?" "Big news?" "Take a look at this." The Hunters pointed to the TV. "A guy named Baek Ji-hoon jumped five ranks in just a week and became an S-rank Hunter. It¡¯s causing a huge stir. The Guild Master is on edge, thinking that the Blue Guild might dominate all the other guilds." "Baek... Ji-hoon... Baek Ji-hoon?" Cha I-seul¡¯s eyes widened in shock as she saw the screen. "Why? Do you know him?" The Hunters noticed her reaction immediately. "Do you know that guy, Hunter I-seul?" "Uh... yes... I know him..." Cha I-seul¡¯s eyes were filled with confusion. ¡®What... Ji-hoon? How did this happen?¡¯ Her reaction showed that Baek Ji-hoon was indeed a familiar face to her. "Sigh... This is a serious problem." The atmosphere at Baekho Guild was tense, almost suffocatingly so. "Guild Master Jin-hyuk, should we consider throwing money at this problem?" One of the high-ranking executives suggested in a sneaky tone. "I don¡¯t think this is about money." Lee Jin-hyuk cut off the suggestion sharply. "Sigh. This Baek Ji-hoon, we¡¯re looking into him, and it doesn¡¯t seem like he¡¯s particrly wealthy. There¡¯s talk that he lives in Sillim-dong... If we offer him money, he might be swayed." ¡®Sillim-dong...?¡¯ Lee Jin-hyuk¡¯s expression hardened. ¡®How does someone who became an S-rank Hunter in just a week live in Sillim-dong? What kind of mindset does this guy have? Is he crazy?¡¯ He was baffled. The idea that someone could save up so many points while living in Sillim-dong was iprehensible. ¡®I don¡¯t understand what he¡¯s thinking. Could it be that the Blue Guild was hiding him on purpose? Or is it possible that Baek Ji-hoon himself is the Guild Master of Blue Guild?¡¯ There had always been a lot of curiosity surrounding the Guild Master of Blue Guild, but very little information had been disclosed about them, other than that they were a man. Lee Jin-hyuk couldn¡¯t think of much else besides this line of spection. "If it were that easy, Blue Guild would have tried it already." "That¡¯s true... But what about offering him a position connected to Taeyang Group?" "That¡¯s unlikely. What use would apany be to someone like him?" "Sigh..." Baekho Guild was clearly in a state of panic. Justst week, they were celebrating the recruitment of Cha Soo-hyun, who had dethroned Lee Soo-ah to be the top S-rank Hunter. They had ns to dominate the Korean Hunter industry and expand globally. But the sudden rise of Baek Ji-hoon had thrown everything into disarray. "I¡¯ll handle this personally." "But, Guild Master, it¡¯s just a regr employee. Isn¡¯t this beneath you?" "No, it¡¯s necessary. If I don¡¯t act now, we might lose the chance entirely." Lee Jin-hyuk was quick to grasp the situation. He knew that if he didn¡¯t approach Baek Ji-hoon now, the opportunity might slip away entirely. "Oppa, where are you going?" Cha Soo-hyun, who had been wandering around anxiously, spotted Lee Jin-hyuk. "You saw the news, right? About Baek Ji-hoon." Cha Soo-hyun visibly flinched at the mention of Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s name, almost as if she were having a seizure. "Y-yes..." "I¡¯m going to meet him." "What???" Cha Soo-hyun¡¯s eyes widened in panic. She rushed over to Lee Jin-hyuk. "Oppa... don¡¯t go. There¡¯s no need to meet him. He¡¯s just an S-rank Hunter, right? And isn¡¯t he just a low-ranking member at Blue Guild? Why should the Guild Master of Baekho Guild go meet him? Don¡¯t go..." Her voice trembled with anxiety and fear. ¡®Why is she reacting like this? Does she know something about my rtionship with Baek Ji-hoon? No, that can¡¯t be...¡¯ Her pupils were shaking violently. The thought of Lee Jin-hyuk meeting Baek Ji-hoon and possibly uncovering her connection to him terrified her. Cha Soo-hyun was losing her confidence by the second. "Soo-hyun." "Yes..." "Have you recovered at all?" "N-no..." "Do you know what our n was?" "Yes..." "We were going to use the number one S-rank Hunter to dominate the other guildspletely. But look at you now, doing nothing, while Baek Ji-hoon has rapidly risen. At this rate, he¡¯ll surpass you in no time. Every guild, not just ours, is focused solely on him. And you¡¯re telling me not to go?" He spoke coldly, then walked away to handle his business. "No... don¡¯t..." Cha Soo-hyun was frantically fiddling with her smartphone, sending text after text, but Baek Ji-hoon remained silent. ¡®Ji-hoon oppa... I¡¯m so... so sorry... What do I do...¡¯ Her once confident demeanor was fading. Her status window was still empty, and she felt that even if she started building it up now, it would take over ten years to reach S-rank again. ¡®How did ite to this...¡¯ She bit her lip in frustration. "Hyung, Ji-hoon." "What is it?" Hyung-seok, who had just started as my secretary, looked slightly surprised as he spoke. "The Guild Master of Baekho Guild is here... He wants to meet with you." Hyung-seok¡¯s expression was a mix of confusion and concern.@@novelbin@@ "Is it Lee Jin-hyuk?" "Yes... that¡¯s right..." It was no wonder Hyung-seok looked that way; he was aware of the situation with Cha Soo-hyun. "What should we do?" "I¡¯ll meet him. Let¡¯s see what he has to say." "Yes, sir!" "Good day. I¡¯m Lee Jin-hyuk." His tone was formal and slightly intimidating. "Hello. I¡¯m Baek Ji-hoon, the newly appointed leader of Blue Guild¡¯s A-Team." "A-Team leader? What about Hunter Lee Soo-ah...?" "The reorganization took ce today." "What?" Lee Jin-hyuk¡¯s face showed clear confusion. He hadn¡¯t expected this at all. It was obvious from his reaction that he hadn¡¯t anticipated such a sudden shift. "So, what happened to Hunter Lee Soo-ah? Did she resign?" "No, she¡¯s been reassigned as the Deputy Manager of Hunter Team 1." "Deputy Manager? You demoted Lee Soo-ah?" His expression became even more bewildered. For someone familiar with Lee Soo-ah¡¯s reputation, this was utterly iprehensible. He was visibly rattled. When he first came to meet me, he had been confident and imposing, but now he was clearly shaken by the information he had just learned. "What brings you to see me?" "I had some personal questions." "Go ahead." "Why didn¡¯t you invest your points until now?" "I¡¯m not sure why that would concern you, and I don¡¯t feel like discussing it." ¡®Of course, it¡¯s because of Cha Soo-hyun, that damn woman.¡¯ I couldn¡¯t tell if Lee Jin-hyuk knew this and was just pretending to be ignorant or if he was genuinely clueless. His expression didn¡¯t give anything away. "My apologies. I was just very curious. It¡¯s almost impossible to understand how someone could be an S-rank Hunter in just a week." "Yes." "Then, may I ask more seriously, what are your ns moving forward?" I could tell what he was getting at. His demeanor, his posture, and the way he asked the question¡ªit all pointed to one thing: he wanted to join forces. Whether it was recruiting me or forming an alliance, he was trying to get closer. "I n to gather all the S-rank Hunters." Lee Jin-hyuk¡¯s expression hardened at my words. ¡®Yes, everyone except for you two.¡¯ Chapter 97 "Me...? Are you asking me to join your side?" Cha I-seul looked genuinely taken aback. It was unusual for a single guild to have more than one S-rank Hunter, and even more unheard of for an S-rank to try and recruit another. Just looking at the rtionship between Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana was enough to show how chaotic things could get when two S-ranks were in the same guild. After all, there couldn''t be two suns in the sky. "I think I need to hear more about this..." Cha I-seul''s expression was one of deep contemtion. Given our history, it was understandable. We had always had a peculiar rtionship. If it hadn''t been for family matters, perhaps we might have even grown closer than Cha Soo-hyun and I did. Of course, if that had happened, it would have been much harder for me to live as well as I do now. "Hmm... I''ll have to think about it... It''s not something I can decide on quickly." She looked slightly troubled. After Cha I-seul left... "Ahem, excuse me, Mr. Baek Ji-hoon." "Yes?" Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana approached. "We just saw Cha I-seul Hunter leave. Tell us the truth. What was that about? Why was she here? Cha I-seul is the representative S-rank Hunter of Zeus Guild, isn''t she? Why did shee here? It''s incredibly rare for an S-rank Hunter from another guild to visit our office. It happens maybe once or twice every five years. You need to tell us everything." Lee Soo-ah bombarded me with questions. "That information is ssified." "What?? What do you mean, ssified?!" Her face filled with shock. "Oh,e on... Please tell us. What¡¯s going on? You¡¯re not really nning to recruit Cha I-seul, are you? Right? Please..." Lee Soo-ah began pleading. "She said she needed to think about it." "What?! You were serious about recruiting her?" Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana''s faces immediately hardened. They looked like they were dealing with a serious crisis. "Oh no..." They wore expressions as if the world was crumbling around them. "So... what exactly is your rtionship with Cha I-seul? Did you know her before? Surely not? You¡¯re just acquaintances, right?" "She¡¯s my childhood friend. We¡¯ve known each other for 20 years." Lee Soo-ah looked as if she had been struck by lightning, standing there as if she had turned to stone. "Soo-ah, snap out of it." Yoo Hana, looking just as startled, tried to bring her back to reality. "Well, I think I''ll be heading back now." I hurried past them, leaving them behind. "Hah..." Lee Soo-ah remained in ce, her mouth agape, unable to move. She stood there like a statue. "Hey, Soo-ah, what are you doing? ying freeze tag again?" Section Chief Cha, wearing a bright smile, spoke to her without a clue. "Yoo Hana Hunter, why is Soo-ah acting like this? She¡¯s been like this a lottely." "Oh... it¡¯s because Baek Ji-hoon keeps doing strange things." "Strange things? What strange things?" "Hah... Isn''t it enough that we already have two S-ranks? It feels like Blue Guild has already conquered the industry. Just releasing a press statement should be enough to end it, right?" Yoo Hana¡¯s voice was sharp, while Lee Soo-ah still stood there, dazed. "Well... yeah, having three S-ranks in one guild is unheard of... We''ve had two before, though." Section Chief Cha seemed to be reminiscing about the old glory days. "But... is Mr. Baek Ji-hoon, no, Team Leader, really nning to recruit another S-rank Hunter?" "Huh?!" Section Chief Cha¡¯s smile grew even wider. "Who could it be? Is there anyone suitable for our guild?" "Hah... Do you know Cha I-seul?" "Of course I do. She¡¯s the representative S-rank Hunter of Zeus Guild, and quite the beauty too. Don¡¯t tell me..." "Yes, it seems she¡¯s the target for recruitment..." "Oh..." Section Chief Cha looked positively ecstatic. "Ugh... Section Chief Cha! Is this really the time to be happy?" "Then when?" "No, our A-Team, no, Blue Guild¡¯s identity is at stake!!!" Lee Soo-ah finally snapped out of it and started scolding Section Chief Cha. "What even is our A-Team¡¯s identity?" "Isn¡¯t it me, Lee Soo-ah?" "No, that¡¯s old news." Lee Soo-ah¡¯s face grew even more shocked. "I think our A-Team is about to be the top in the nation. No, the top in the world. Hahaha!" Just the thought seemed to fill Section Chief Cha with joy. "Oh no..." Realizing that Section Chief Cha wasn¡¯t going to side with her, Lee Soo-ah touched her forehead and staggered slightly. ''No... Ji-hoon, this is bad. Why? Why are there so many S-rank Huntersing to Blue Guild...'' Just a week ago, such a situation was unimaginable. Now, everything was changing at a breakneck pace. ''I was toocent. You idiot, Lee Soo-ah. You should have actedst week... Hah...'' Just a week ago, Lee Soo-ah hadplete control over A-Team. She couldmand everything, dictate the course of the 1st through 6th Hunter Departments. She even had some sway over the Blue Guild¡¯s high-level executive meetings. But now, it felt like she was falling rapidly, like a gourd with a broken string. The future seemed even more bleak, with more S-rank Hunters likely to join. The rarity of S-rank Hunters made them extremely valuable. But now, they were no longer as rare. Three of them in one guild was already overwhelming, and with Cha I-seul potentially joining... ''No... this can¡¯t happen...'' She felt as if she could copse. "Soo-ah, what do we do?" Yoo Hana¡¯s eyes were filled with uncertainty. "I... I¡¯m going to see Cha I-seul. I can¡¯t just stand by." Lee Soo-ah quickly ran out. "So... me, in Blue Guild...?" It was a thought she had never entertained. S-rank Hunters almost never switched guilds. Their guild essentially became their identity. As the representative Hunter of Zeus Guild, Cha I-seul naturally thought of Zeus Guild as a part of herself. But now, after meeting Baek Ji-hoon again... He was asking her to join Blue Guild. It was already impressive enough that Blue Guild had Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana... ''What¡¯s this about? Baek Ji-hoon? What¡¯s he trying to do? Is he really trying to gather S-rank Hunters? No way... Could it really be? Does that even make sense?'' Although it was just a passing thought, she quickly dismissed it as absurd. Yet, at the same time, she found herself oddly drawn to Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s words. ''Hmm... He¡¯s changed a lot since Ist saw him. He seems even more impressive than before...'' There was something about him, an aura that drew people in. While he still had the same familiar traits from their childhood, there was also an unexinable charm emanating from him. ''He seems more manly... Should I really consider going to Blue Guild...?'' She thought of the people in Zeus Guild. ''But I can¡¯t just abandon my team... What should I do...?'' Her mind was in aplete mess, tangled with conflicting thoughts. "Hmm..." "Excuse me!!!" Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice as loud as a thunderp. "Ah! You scared me." "Cha. I. Seul." It was Lee Soo-ah. "Lee Soo-ah Hunter?" "Let¡¯s have a talk. Somewhere quiet." Lee Soo-ah had chased after her. "Tell me, Cha I-seul, what¡¯s your game here?" Lee Soo-ah asked aggressively after taking a sip of tea. "What do you mean by ''game''?" Naturally, Cha I-seul looked puzzled, wanting to hear more from Lee Soo-ah. The question hade so abruptly that she had no idea what the context was. "Why did youe here to steal Baek Ji-hoon?" Cha I-seul¡¯s expression shifted slightly, as if she understood something. ''Oh, she must think I¡¯m here to scout Ji-hoon.'' "It¡¯s a misunderstanding. I didn¡¯te here to scout him." "Then why are you here?" Lee Soo-ah narrowed her eyes, staring intently. "I¡¯m here to discuss coboration between guilds. The Hunter industry has been in an uproar today, with everyone scrambling to work with Blue Guild." "Yeah...?"@@novelbin@@ "There¡¯s never been anyone who ascended to S-rank so quickly. He¡¯s risen even faster than Cha Soo-hyunst week... That alone makes him incredibly attractive..." "No! What¡¯s so attractive? There¡¯s nothing attractive about Baek Ji-hoon. Stop being interested in him." "I was talking about coboration." "Oh... Uh... yes, yes..." Lee Soo-ah, slightly flustered, cleared her throat. "Anyway, let me be direct. Stay away from Baek Ji-hoon." "Pardon?" "I¡¯ll pay you whatever it takes. Just stay away from him. How much do you want?" She sounded like a disapproving mother-inw from a weekend drama. "I¡¯m afraid not." Cha I-seul was not one to back down easily. Chapter 99 "Yes!" I silently celebrated the sess of the recruitment. The process had been swift and decisive. Technically, Yoo Hana and Lee Soo-ah were already part of Blue Guild, so Cha I-seul was the first real target I had actively pursued and sessfully recruited. [Hey, Hyung-seok,e over here.] [On my way!!] Hyung-seok showed up in less than two minutes after I sent the message. "Hey, you know who Cha I-seul is, right?" "Of course I do, bro. How could I not know Cha I-seul Hunter? I¡¯m familiar with all the female Hunters in the country, even down to B-rank." This guy was truly obsessed with women. The number of Hunters in the country, even just the B-ranks, was massive. He wasn¡¯t just a Hunter fanatic; he was a fanatic specifically for female Hunters. "Cha I-seul Hunter is joining Blue Guild. She¡¯s transferring." "What????" His face was filled with disbelief. I¡¯d grown ustomed to seeing that expression recently. "Are you serious...? Cha I-seul Hunter is transferring to Blue Guild? That¡¯ll make four S-rank Hunters?!" It was a massive shift in the Hunter industry. Having three S-rank Hunters in one guild was already unprecedented, but four? We were making monumental changes in just one day. "Just remember that. You¡¯re my assistant, after all." "Yes, sir!!!" "Then I¡¯d like you to prepare for I-seul¡¯s arrival." I smiled. "Of course, sir!" "Kekekekekeke." Hyung-seok was practically skipping down the hallway like a madman. ''What¡¯s his deal...?'' Lee Soo-ah couldn¡¯t hide her anxiety. Whenever Hyung-seokughed like that, it never boded well for her. "Hey, Hyung-seok." She quickly chased after him. "Hey... wait..." Her face was tense, her body hunched as she cautiously asked. "This... isn¡¯t what I think it is, right? You¡¯re not talking about... Cha I-seul Hunter, are you?" "Cha I-seul Hunter ising to our guild." "Oh no..." Lee Soo-ah copsed on the spot. "Miss Lee Soo-ah? Please, get a hold of yourself. Miss Lee Soo-ah." ''What¡¯s going on...?'' As soon as I heard that Lee Soo-ah had fainted, I rushed over. ''Why? What happened?'' I looked at Hyung-seok, who shrugged, clearly clueless. "I just told her that Cha I-seul Hunter was joining us. That¡¯s all." "Wait, what?" Everyone around us gasped in surprise. "Cha I-seul Hunter ising to our guild? Blue Guild?" "Yes, that¡¯s right~" Hyung-seok replied with a grin that made it clear he was thoroughly enjoying himself. His job satisfaction was through the roof. "Um... Team Leader..." The members of Hunter Sections 1 and 2 approached me with newfound deference. Just recently, they had been casually calling me "Ji-hoon." "Is it true? Is Cha I-seul Hunter really joining our guild?" Their faces showed disbelief, like they were hearing something too extraordinary to be real. "Yes, it¡¯s true. She just informed me of her decision." "Wow... Amazing..." They had initially gathered out of concern for Lee Soo-ah, but the news about Cha I-seul left them stunned. "Team Leader... I don¡¯t understand... How are you doing this? I can¡¯t make sense of what¡¯s going on right now..." The Section Chief of Hunter Section 1 approached, his demeanor far more humble than before. It was clear his attitude had changed dramatically; he could no longer stand confidently in front of me. "Well, it¡¯s a skill, I suppose." I smiled. Bam!!!!!!! The Guild Master of Zeus Guild mmed his desk in fury. "Cha... Cha I-seul... How could you...?" "I¡¯m sorry, Guild Master." Cha I-seul stood her ground, unshaken. "Do you know how much effort I put into raising you?" "If we¡¯re being urate... I think I¡¯m the one who raised Zeus Guild." Cha I-seul¡¯s reply was firm and to the point. The Zeus Guild Master gritted his teeth, biting down on his lip. She wasn¡¯t wrong. "The contract renewal period still has a long way to go..." "I¡¯ll pay the penalty." "What????" His expression showed clear displeasure. "Cha I-seul Hunter, you can¡¯t do this. How can you just leave your guild? You know that¡¯s not how the Hunter world works. What do you think you¡¯ll do there? Do you really think you¡¯ll be treated well? From what I¡¯ve heard, the S-rank Hunters there are only department heads." Being the Guild Master of the 4th ranked guild, his informationwork was quick. "I¡¯ve heard about that guy too, and he seems like a mess. Why would you go to someone who¡¯s known for hoarding points instead of spending them?" He couldn¡¯t understand and pressed further, his tone bing sharper. "If I don¡¯t do this now, I might miss my chance. I believe I¡¯m making the right choice." Cha I-seul¡¯s voice was resolute. As an S-rank Hunter, she had every right to be. "Hah... Fine. Go ahead and leave. How ungrateful can you be?" His tone was as sharp as a knife. "Thank you." With a polite bow, Cha I-seul left the Guild Master¡¯s office. "No way... Is Cha I-seul really leaving? This is a big deal... Not just for Zeus Guild, but for the entire Hunter industry..." "Yeah, and the situation hasn¡¯t even been fully reported yet... If Blue Guild ends up with four S-rank Hunters... That¡¯s going to be crazy, right?" "Is there any guild that can handle four S-rank Hunters? It doesn¡¯t make sense... They¡¯ll just end up fighting each other." After all, S-rank Hunters were known to sh whenever they met. They usually kept their distance from one another. So it was hard toprehend how such a force could be gathered in one ce. "Thank you for all your hard work. If I do end up transferring to Blue Guild, I¡¯ll see you again then." Cha I-seul wore an apologetic expression. Leaving a guild she had been with for years was hard, but it was something she had to do.@@novelbin@@ She couldn¡¯t let the opportunity slip by after reuniting with her childhood friend. The conditions were simply too perfect. Both of them were S-rank Hunters. There was no more stable situation than that. And then there were Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana. Something felt off about them. She could see how they clung to Baek Ji-hoon. ''Why... Why are they doing that...?'' Cha I-seul decided to follow her instincts. It had been a long time since she had taken such a bold step. The Guild Masters'' meeting. For the first time in a long while, the leading Guild Masters gathered together¡ªthose from the top 1 to 20 guilds. It was like a G20 summit for the Hunter world. Such meetings were rare, but the situation had be urgent. Bang! Bang! The Zeus Guild Master, his face contorted in anger, mmed his fist on the table. "Hey, you, Blue Guild Master." The Blue Guild Master, his face hidden, calmly looked at the Zeus Guild Master. "Is this really eptable? Isn¡¯t there an unspoken rule in the industry? Are you just going to poach S-rank Hunters from other guilds?" "Haven¡¯t we all done simr things before? Poaching talents, nting spies¡ªit¡¯s been an unspoken practice between guilds." The Blue Guild Master spoke calmly, though there was an unmistakable satisfaction in his voice. "What...?" The Zeus Guild Master hesitated, momentarily at a loss for words. "Are you saying it¡¯s true? That Cha I-seul Hunter is transferring? I thought there was an unwritten rule in our industry. S-rank Hunters don¡¯t transfer unless they¡¯re leaving the Hunter world entirely." The Orange Guild Master, his voice tinged with dissatisfaction, picked up where the Zeus Guild Master left off. "Exactly. I don¡¯t know if this is right. If Cha I-seul Hunter transfers, that¡¯ll mean Blue Guild has four S-rank Hunters. Is that really eptable?" Another Guild Master, who had been quiet until now, added his voice to the discussion. "There¡¯s no rule against it, and it¡¯s not prohibited. To be frank, the only reason it hasn¡¯t happened before is that no one has been able to pull it off." The Blue Guild Master spoke with a sharp tone, his voicemanding and overwhelming the others. "Why are you being so aggressive?" Lee Jin-hyuk, trying to keep his emotions in check, responded as calmly as he could. It was clear he wanted to protest strongly, but he was also trying to resolve the situation amicably. ''Recruiting Cha I-seul? How is that even possible? She¡¯s the face of Zeus Guild. If they can recruit Cha I-seul, they can probably recruit anyone. What are they using to recruit these S-rank Hunters? Are they seriously going to gather all the S-ranks?'' Lee Jin-hyuk¡¯s thoughts raced as he furrowed his brow, remembering the time he had met Baek Ji-hoon. From appearances, Baek Ji-hoon hadn¡¯t seemed capable of something like this. There had been nothing aggressive or sharp about him. But in such a short time, in less than half a day, he had sessfully recruited Cha I-seul. ''Hmm. I thought he was just bluffing, but I guess I was wrong. There must be a reason why the Blue Guild Master promoted him to Team Leader.'' There were many things Lee Jin-hyuk didn¡¯t understand, but he could see that things were unfolding just as the Blue Guild Master had nned. "Aggressive? I¡¯m just continuing the same recruitment practices that have always existed between guilds. The only difference is that the target this time is an S-rank Hunter." Transfers weremon enough among B-rank Hunters. No one really paid much attention. But when it came to A-rank and above, things became much more sensitive, as these moves could significantly impact rtionships between guilds. "I think we should avoid indiscriminate recruitment between guilds..." Lee Jin-hyuk tried to steer the conversation in a more diplomatic direction. "Didn¡¯t Baekho Guild just secretly recruit Cha Soo-hyun Hunterst week? A previously unknown S-rank Hunter, no less." The Blue Guild Master¡¯s voice grew a bit sharper. After all, Baekho Guild had engaged in simr behavior recently. "Th-that¡¯s..." Lee Jin-hyuk was momentarily speechless. He had indeed been trying to achieve the same effect as Baek Ji-hoon, though it hadn¡¯t worked out as nned. ''Hah... Cha Soo-hyun... She¡¯s turning out to be more of a burden than I expected...'' "In fact, I think Baekho Guild might have started this whole situation with your recruitment of Cha Soo-hyun Hunter. Wasn¡¯t that the first move?" The Blue Guild Master began to press Lee Jin-hyuk harder. Chapter 100 "Shit," Lee Jin-hyuk muttered harshly as he got into the car. "Shall we go?" the driver asked cautiously. "Go," he replied in a clipped tone. As they drove, Lee Jin-hyuk''s mind reyed the events of the guild masters'' meeting. ''So they''re saying I started this mess by making the first move?'' The irritatingly smug voice of the Blue Guild Master echoed in his mind. ''I made the first strike by sneakily recruiting Cha Soo-hyun to crush Lee Soo-ah... Is that what they''re saying?'' A deep scowl formed on his face. Since recruiting Cha Soo-hyunst week, nothing had gone ording to n. He had thought that by bringing Cha Soo-hyun into the fold and marrying her, his position as the heir would be solidified. But the reality was far from what he had envisioned. Things were slipping away from him, further than he had ever imagined. He wanted to establish an image of his guild as the perfect number one. That¡¯s why he had gone to great lengths and invested heavily in Cha Soo-hyun. And then, suddenly, this wild card¡ªBaek Ji-hoon¡ªhad appeared, stirring up the entire pond. ''Who the hell is Baek Ji-hoon? And Cha Soo-hyun... she¡¯s pretending not to know him, but they seem too closely connected.'' His frustration grew. Ring, ring. "Yes, Father. Yes, things are progressing... Yes, understood..." His expression hardened further. His father had just given him a scathing reprimand. "You should never assume there''s something I don''t know." Chairman Lee Pan-sik of the Taeyang Group stared at his son with a piercing gaze. "I heard Blue Guild now has four S-rank Hunters?" There was a weight to his words that carried multipleyers of meaning. "How did you sit still while Blue Guild moved like that?" "Well... it¡¯s just that..." "You useless fool. After all the money I¡¯ve thrown at you, you can¡¯t even control a single guild." "But... it''s not that simple..." "Get out. I don¡¯t want to see your face." Lee Jin-hyuk gritted his teeth as he left, feeling a surge of anger towards Baek Ji-hoon. ''If it weren¡¯t for that bastard. If only he hadn¡¯t interfered, my n would¡¯ve been perfect once I married Cha Soo-hyun, the top S-rank. Even Father would¡¯ve acknowledged me.'' He had never once received praise from his father. Only the constant push to do better, to be more. This situation was driving him to the brink. "You, do something." "Huh...?" "How long are you going to sit around? What¡¯s the point of being the number one S-rank if all you do is stay home?" Lee Jin-hyuk¡¯s voice was sharp as he berated Cha Soo-hyun. "Uh... I just..." "You heard, didn¡¯t you? Blue Guild just recruited Cha I-seul." "What????" The news made Cha Soo-hyun copse into her seat. ''What? Ji-hoon oppa? In just half a day?'' Everything was happening so fast that she couldn¡¯t keep up. She had expected things to escte, but not this quickly. ''What is going on...? What¡¯s happening, Ji-hoon oppa...?'' It felt almost surreal, like Baek Ji-hoon was operating in apletely different dimension. "Hey, Cha Soo-hyun, can¡¯t you do something? Can¡¯t you take down the Dark Balrog by yourself?" Lee Jin-hyuk started making unreasonable demands. "The Dark Balrog?" "Yeah. If you can solo it, we can use it for publicity. How else are we going topete with a guild that has four S-rank Hunters? No guild in the world has that. Damn it!" He spat on the ground in frustration. "How could I possibly take down the Dark Balrog by myself...?" The regr Balrog was already a formidable challenge. The Dark Balrog was on another level entirely, and no one had ever attempted it solo. After a few S-rank Hunters were incapacitated by its status effects, no one dared to try again. Most Hunters had settled for A-rank dungeons at best. "Well, you have to try. Just try. If you keep at it, something might work out, right?" His expression was terrifying, as if he was genuinely considering forcing her into the dungeon. "No... No, I can¡¯t..." ¡®Hah...¡¯ Tears welled up in Cha Soo-hyun¡¯s eyes. The events of the past few moments were weighing heavily on her heart. ¡®I¡¯ve been such a fool. Ji-hoon oppa... I¡¯m sorry... I didn¡¯t know other men were like this...¡¯ She was struck by how much Lee Jin-hyuk seemed to see her as nothing more than a tool. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a deep sense of shock. ¡®Ji-hoon oppa... I¡¯m sorry... I was such an idiot...¡¯ Her resolve was starting to crumble. ¡®Please... Just give me one more chance...¡¯ Cha Soo-hyun was beginning to feelpletely drained. On the way home. "Wow, hyung! Today was absolutely insane." Hyung-seok was practically bouncing with excitement, acting like a child despite being a full-grown adult who had evenpleted his military service. Could he really be that happy? Hyung-seok looked like he was about to burst with glee. "Man, Blue Guild is shaping up exactly how I imagined it¡ªabsolute power! I bet we could clear every dungeon now." "Every dungeon?" "Yep~ Until now, the world has been divided, but there are still so many unexplored dungeons out there. I think we¡¯ll be the first to clear them all. Hahaha." His satisfaction with today¡¯s events was clear on his face. "Hey!!! Ji-hoon!" Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana suddenly appeared, practically clinging to me. "Are you guys heading to a bar?" They both looked like they wanted to tag along. "Doesn¡¯t Yoo Hana have a shoot today?" "Nope, nothing today." Her response was firm. ''Sigh. I¡¯m sure I saw a van in the guild parking lot earlier...'' "Hyung, hyung, let¡¯s grab some beers. It¡¯s a day to celebrate, after all." "Hmm. Sure, why not." "To A-Team!" We shouted the toast enthusiastically. I could feel the eyes of the other patrons on us, probably because Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana were with us, and because I had been in the news a lottely. "Ahhh~ This beer tastes amazing. I guess it¡¯s because today was such a good day." Hyung-seok said as he mmed his ss down on the table.@@novelbin@@ Bang! "Well, this beer tastes bitter to me. What¡¯s wrong with it?" Lee Soo-ah also mmed her ss down, almost breaking it. "Phew... I¡¯ll pass. I have a shoot tomorrow..." Yoo Hana¡¯s voice was soft and somber. "Hey, Soo-ah, aren¡¯t you happy? We just recruited Cha I-seul! Can you imagine the chaos this is causing in the Hunter industry? Do you know how many texts I got today?" Hyung-seok waved his smartphone, beaming. "Hyung-seok, can you read the room for once?" Lee Soo-ah shot him a re. "Ji-hoon... But... You¡¯re not nning to recruit more... are you?" Her voice wasced with pleading, her eyes wide like a kitten¡¯s. "I am. This is just the beginning." I replied firmly. "Oh..." She let out a sigh that seemed to drain the life from her. "So... will you stop once you¡¯ve filled the position of Division 6 Head...? Right...?" There was a hint of hope in her voice, a desperate need for reassurance. "Nope. I¡¯m going to gather them all." "Ah." A deep, despairing groan escaped from her. "Why? Ji-hoon, can¡¯t it just be the two of us in the guild? Yoo Hana can go back to being an actress." "Excuse me? Are you attacking me right now, Soo-ah? How ridiculous." Yoo Hana red back at her. "Hah. Yoo Hana, why did you quit being an actress toe here, anyway?" "I didn¡¯t quit. I¡¯m still going to be on TV tomorrow, and I¡¯ve got a new dramaing up." "Why didn¡¯t you just stick with that, then?" Soo-ah grumbled. "Soo-ah, whether I¡¯m here or not, I don¡¯t think things would¡¯ve gone the way you wanted, so stop trying to me me for everything." Yoo Hana¡¯s voice was cold. "Hey, look at that." On therge TV mounted on the wall, Yoo Hana¡¯s face appeared. It was a scene from a drama she had filmedst week, airing this week. "Wow. Isn¡¯t that show doing pretty well in the ratings, Yoo Hana?" Hyung-seok asked with a wide grin. "Yes, it is. And it¡¯s only going to get better from here." We all turned to watch the TV. "Jin-seok..." The scene where Yoo Hana¡¯s character expressed deep regret began to y. Instantly, the entire pub¡¯s attention was glued to the screen. The atmosphere was so tense that no one even dared to breathe, just like the crew on set had been when filming it. Chapter 103 "Keke, Lee Soo-ah Hunter." "Yes..." Lee Soo-ah seemed to have calmed down a bit. After pouring out her thoughts, she appeared to be sorting through a mix of conflicting emotions. "Don¡¯t be like that~" "Yes." "Try this approach instead. That way of acting won¡¯t get you anywhere. It¡¯s too childish." "Hah... Then what should I do...?" "You should be morepliant with Ji-hoon¡¯s wishes~ Show him that you care about him and support him. Acting out like this won¡¯t help at all~" Section Chief Cha sipped his coffee as he calmly advised Lee Soo-ah. "Hmm... so then..." "Here¡¯s what you should try." Section Chief Cha began to offer various suggestions to Lee Soo-ah. Knock, knock. It was Cha I-seul. "Ji-hoon, I was thinking..." She entered with a serious expression, indicating she had something important to discuss. "What do you think about us tackling high-level dungeons?" "Hmm? High-level dungeons?" "Yeah, not just A-rank dungeons, but at least S-rank or higher." "Hmm..."@@novelbin@@ Her suggestion was bold. Typically,rge guilds focused on A and B-rank dungeons to make money, but she was proposing that we aim higher. "Isn¡¯t that too dangerous? There¡¯s probably a reason why others don¡¯t attempt it." "True, but we have four S-rank Hunters. I think we might be able to handle it. We don¡¯t need to do the same as other guilds. We¡¯re in a unique position." "Hmm." It wasn¡¯t a bad idea, though it did seem a bit risky. "Besides..." Cha I-seul frowned slightly. "The Hunter Association has been putting a lot of pressure on us." "Pressure?" "Yeah. You might not know this since you¡¯ve only recently be an S-rank Hunter, but the association has been pushing S-rank Hunters to take on more dangerous dungeons." She looked rather troubled. "Why?" "It seems that the higher-level dungeons are slowly expanding because no one¡¯s clearing them. If left unchecked, they might start encroaching on civilian areas." It made sense, but it wasn¡¯t an easy task. "And the current S-rank Hunters aren¡¯t able to handle it?" "Exactly. They¡¯re all spread out across different guilds, so it¡¯s been difficult to coordinate. But now that we have four S-rank Hunters in our guild, I think we might be able to take on the challenge." Knock, knock. "Uh, Ji-hoon hyung. The Hunter Association president is on the line... It seems like you should go see him." Just as we were discussing, I received my first call from the Hunter Association president. "I¡¯ll go." I had to move quickly. ¡®The Hunter Association president... This is a bit nerve-wracking.¡¯ After all, he was the most powerful figure in the Hunter industry. "Baek Ji-hoon?" "Yes." His voice was sharp from the start. "How did you be an S-rank Hunter?" The first question was pointed. "I saved up my points and used them." I answered truthfully, though the full story was moreplicated. "Hmm." He didn¡¯t seem pleased. "I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯re the one gathering S-rank Hunters in Blue Guild. Is that true?" "It¡¯s true, but not entirely. While I did recruit them, most of them came voluntarily." That was also true. "I find you suspicious, Baek Ji-hoon." He said it outright. It was rare to meet someone who would speak so bluntly to a person¡¯s face. "Whatever your intentions are, drawing too much attention to yourself won¡¯t end well." His tone carried a subtle warning. "I believe S-rank Hunters should be doing their job as S-rank Hunters. I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯ve heard, but we need you to focus on higher-level dungeons." He looked at me with a piercing gaze. ¡®Ah, so this is what I-seul was warning me about.¡¯ "Everyone¡¯s been taking on the easier dungeons, and I think that¡¯s why the Hunter industry isn¡¯t progressing. Therefore, I¡¯m considering penalizing those who take on dungeons below their rank." He came across as someone who didn¡¯t care much about others¡¯ opinions¡ªhe was determined to do things his way. "Now that you¡¯re a newly minted S-rank Hunter, you should be aware of this." His voice was cold. "Our A-Team will focus on higher-level dungeons." I replied in a serious tone after listening to him. He seemed a bit surprised by my response. "Really? Other Hunters have been avoiding them..." "I¡¯ll handle it." ¡®The Hunter Association president... He¡¯s not exactly pleasant. He seems like someone who wants to control everything.¡¯ I began to understand what I-seul had been hinting at. It seemed like her decision to join Blue Guild might have been influenced by these pressures. ¡®The S-rank Hunters were under more pressure than I thought.¡¯ It was clear from my conversation with the Hunter Association president. He seemed to view S-rank Hunters as mere tools, not caring about their struggles or difficulties. ¡®What kind of person is he? No empathy at all.¡¯ ¡®Well, I¡¯ll just have to deal with it my way.¡¯ I decided to take a bold approach. I¡¯d go all in, using every point I had. "Hyung-seok." "Yes!" "Is there a cap on the points?" "Yes, there is. Not many people reach it, but it exists." "Really?" "If you max out your stats, you could reach SSS-rank. But honestly, it takes so much time that no one¡¯s likely to achieve it in their lifetime." ¡®SSS-rank, huh...¡¯ I began to n something that would take everyone by surprise. "Hmm..." Lee Soo-ah was deep in thought. She was reflecting on what Chief Cha had just told her. ¡ªSoo-ah, whining and clinging won¡¯t make a man like you. ¡ªThen what should I do? ¡ªYou need to be more attractive in his eyes. ¡ªHow do I do that? I wouldn¡¯t be asking if I knew. ¡ªWell, first... Chief Cha had given her various pieces of advice. ¡®Hah... Why is winning someone¡¯s heart so difficult?¡¯ She was realizing how challenging it was. She wished things could just fall into ce, but nothing was going the way she wanted. ¡®Get it together, Lee Soo-ah. You can¡¯t keep living like this. You need to make another good impression on Ji-hoon. Focus and stay sharp.¡¯ Lee Soo-ah decided to take action. Knock, knock. "Yes." Squeak. "Um... Ji-hoon..." Her demeanor hadpletely changed. Where she had once been whiny, she now seemed moreposed and demure. ¡®What¡¯s going on? Lee Soo-ah? What happened to her? Did she take some kind of medication?¡¯ "Ji-hoon... Is there anything you need?" "Not at the moment." "If you ever need anything, please call me. I¡¯ll do my best to help." "You?" "Yes..." Her behavior waspletely different, as if she were a whole new person¡ªkind, gentle, and polite. The demanding, clingy side of her was nowhere to be seen. "Hmm... Okay. I¡¯ll keep that in mind." Though it felt odd and suspicious, I decided to see where this would lead. "Phew... At least I¡¯ve taken the first step..." Lee Soo-ah took a deep breath as she left Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s office. ¡®Soo-ah, pull yourself together. S-rank Hunters might keep flooding in, and you could end up being left out in the cold. You can¡¯t let that happen. Stay calm and approach this slowly.¡¯ With a determined expression, she headed towards Hunter Section 1. "Um... Section Chief?" "Yes?" "How¡¯s the preparation going for what I asked earlier?" "Oh... Yes, yes." The Section Chief looked a bit startled, clearly not expecting such a change in Lee Soo-ah¡¯s behavior. "Um... Deputy Chief Lee Soo-ah...?" "Yes?" "Did you take some medicine?" "No? Why?" "You seem... different." "Oh,e on, Chief." Lee Soo-ah smiled slightly. ¡®What¡¯s going on with Soo-ah...? This is so unlike her.¡¯ This was the most unrecognizable version of Lee Soo-ah he had ever seen. When she had led A-Team alone, she had exuded the aura of a general. But now, she seemed almost feminine. ¡®Hah... I can¡¯t get used to this...¡¯ He couldn¡¯t help but tilt his head in confusion. "Hmm. Independent dungeon expeditions for each department are fine, but I¡¯m thinking of organizing a team of S-rank Hunters to tackle an S-rank dungeon. What do you think?" I was discussing this with Hyung-seok. "Uh... just S-rank Hunters...?" "Yeah." "That¡¯s never been done before." "It¡¯s not that it hasn¡¯t been done¡ªit¡¯s that no one could do it. S-rank Hunters used to fight among themselves. But I don¡¯t think that¡¯ll be an issue for us." "Well... that¡¯s true." "So, I¡¯m nning to give it a try." "Hmm. If it works out, it could be huge. S-rank dungeon items are incredibly rare, and they sell for ten times the price of A-rank items." "What? Really?" It meant that, unlike A-rank dungeons, whererge guilds had driven the market price down due topetition, S-rank dungeon items were still extremely valuable due to their rarity. ¡®Then it¡¯s obvious¡ªwe should focus on S-rank dungeons.¡¯ I felt a surge of excitement. Chapter 104 I gathered the three S-rank Hunters into the office: Lee Soo-ah, Cha I-seul, and Yoo Hana. ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s going on? Why did you call us?¡± Lee Soo-ah asked, curiosity evident in her voice. ¡°Didn''t you just mention that you met with the President of the Hunter Association?¡± Yoo Hana added, her expression reflecting the shared confusion of the group. The three of them waited, puzzled, for me to exin. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking,¡± I began, ¡°what if we take on an S-rank dungeon?¡± ¡°What? An S-rank dungeon? Why all of a sudden? We¡¯re currently focused on A-rank dungeons,¡± Cha I-seul responded, surprised. ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m suggesting we tackle an S-rank dungeon. Don¡¯t you think doing something too easy would be boring?¡± ¡°Oh... I guess so...¡± Yoo Hana quickly agreed, catching on to my reasoning. ¡°I think it¡¯s time for Blue Guild to show that we¡¯re ahead of the curve. We¡¯ve already got four S-rank Hunters, after all,¡± I said,ying out my case. ¡°Hm. So, you want to solidify the guild¡¯s image?¡± Lee Soo-ah surmised. ¡°Exactly. And besides, the Hunter Association...¡± I trailed off, ncing at them meaningfully. ¡°Hasn¡¯t the Hunter Association been pushing S-rank Hunters to take on S-rank dungeons?¡± I asked. ¡°Oh... yes, they have. They keep telling us to clear S-rank dungeons... I don¡¯t get why they¡¯re nagging us about it all the time. If it¡¯s so important, they should do it themselves, instead of giving us no support,¡± Lee Soo-ah grumbled. ¡°But there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been wondering,¡± I said, leaning in slightly. ¡°Why don¡¯t S-rank Hunters clear S-rank dungeons? Shouldn¡¯t they be tackling dungeons of their own rank?¡± That was the question that had been on my mind. There had to be a reason why they were sticking to lower-rank dungeons. ¡°That¡¯s... it¡¯s because of the status effects...¡± Lee Soo-ah answered hesitantly. ¡°Status effects?¡± I echoed. ¡°Yeah, every time we clear an S-rank dungeon, the status effects get really bad,¡± she exined, her voice quiet. ¡°Ah... I see. But what about the points you earn from an S-rank dungeon? Are they higher than from lower-rank dungeons?¡± I inquired. ¡°Yes, much higher. But because of the status effects, nobody really wants to do it. It would be great if we could just deal with that issue,¡± Yoo Hana chimed in. ¡°So that¡¯s the main problem¡ªstatus effects,¡± I thought, ideas rapidly forming in my mind. ¡°How about we try it once?¡± I suggested, confidence in my voice. And so, I led the S-rank Hunters into the dungeon. ¡°Status effects, huh...¡± For me, it was hardly a problem. I could just use points to get rid of them. From what I¡¯d heard earlier, S-rank dungeons gave about twice the points of A-rank dungeons. ¡°If I can just alleviate their status effects, we can clear S-rank dungeons and make a ton of profit,¡± I mused. S-rank dungeons weren¡¯t just more challenging; they also contained rare items, including the highly valuable purple mana stones. ¡°If I can get my hands on those, I¡¯d be set for life,¡± I thought, briefly recalling my small apartment in Sinlim-dong. Sure, being an S-rank Hunter meant I could make money easily, but clearing S-rank dungeons would bring in wealth at an unprecedented speed. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll end up as a tycoon?¡± I chuckled to myself, letting my thoughts wander. ¡°Uh... Ji-hoon, about these status effects... we¡¯re worried. I mean, we trust you, but what if theye back?¡± Cha I-seul asked, concern clear in her voice. ¡°Just trust me and follow my lead. Everything will be fine,¡± I reassured them. Though I had mentioned my unique abilities to them before, I hadn¡¯t gone into detail about how I could deal with status effects. I figured it was better to show them firsthand. ¡°Alright... we¡¯ll trust you, Ji-hoon,¡± Lee Soo-ah said, taking the lead, followed by Yoo Hana. Lee Soo-ah was clearly keeping an eye on Cha I-seul, making it obvious that she was trying to gauge her reaction. ¡°Ji-hoon, are we really okay to tackle an S-rank dungeon like this? Have you done it before? It¡¯s been a while for me, and I remember getting terrible headaches and all kinds of weird pains whenever I entered one,¡± Cha I-seul expressed her anxiety. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just trust me, okay?¡± I reassured her. ¡°Okay...¡± she replied, albeit with some hesitation. With a slight sense of anticipation, we began the dungeon raid. From behind, I kept an eye on their status windows. ¡°As expected...¡± The status effects were rapidly intensifying, the red indicators multiplying across their status screens. ¡°It seems like it¡¯s going to take around 500 points to deal with these... but the scenario in this dungeon is...¡±@@novelbin@@ I checked the scenario window. [Defeat 50 Beast Spiders.] [Reward: 5 Purple Mana Stones, 800 points.] ¡°Looks like it¡¯s better to just push through this scenario, even if it causes them some difort. The rewards are definitely worth it.¡± ¡°Ugh...¡± I heard Lee Soo-ah groan in pain. ¡°Soo-ah, are you alright?¡± I asked. ¡°Ugh... it¡¯s a bit tough, but I¡¯m okay. I trust you, Ji-hoon,¡± she said, surprisingly resolute. I wondered if she had taken something to bolster her courage; she seemed different, more determined than I¡¯d expected. ¡°Hana, are you holding up?¡± I asked Yoo Hana. ¡°Huff... huff... I¡¯m okay... I think I can manage,¡± she replied, though her expression was starting to show signs of strain. It was clear that neither of them was backing down, despite the growing difort. ¡°Good, they¡¯re more resilient than I thought,¡± I noted as Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana began fiercely attacking the Beast Spiders. [Beast Spider] [S-rank Beast] [Its shell is so tough that A-rank and below can¡¯t even scratch it.] [Specialty: Slow Technique. Beware of its poison attacks.] [HP 2150, MP 320, ATK 540, DFE 230, DEX 600] ¡°High agility, huh? I might need to help out a bit.¡± [Crushing Bubble] I decided to use the skill that Yoo Hana had suggested earlier. The Beast Spiders were fast, and Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana seemed to be slowed down by the web effects. ¡°Ugh... Ji-hoon, are we overdoing this?¡± Cha I-seul asked, her face full of concern as she passed by. ¡°I¡¯ll help out a bit,¡± I replied. Bubbles floated gently toward the webs that the Beast Spiders had spread everywhere. Boom! Boom!! Boom!!! The seemingly harmless bubbles exploded with a deafening roar as they touched the webs, tearing them apart. Thud, thud. ¡°Huh? Ji-hoon?¡± Lee Soo-ah looked back at me, surprised by the destruction the bubbles had caused. ¡°Now¡¯s your chance! Finish them off!¡± I urged. ¡°Right away!¡± she responded, eagerly stepping up her game. With the webs gone, the Beast Spiders were little more than walking slimes, easy prey for Lee Soo-ah¡¯s sword. Slice. Slice. Ding! [Scenario Complete] [Defeat 50 Beast Spiders] The whole process seemed simple enough, but it wasn¡¯t something just anyone could pull off. ¡°Wow. Ji-hoon, when did you level up that skill?¡± Lee Soo-ah asked, her curiosity piqued. ¡°Yoo Hana suggested it. Don¡¯t other S-rank Hunters level it up?¡± I asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t. Did you, Yoo Hana?¡± Lee Soo-ah looked over. ¡°Oh, no. I didn¡¯t either... I just knew Ji-hoon had a lot of points, so I suggested he try leveling it up,¡± Yoo Hana exined. ¡°Ah, I see...¡± ¡°Well, you used it perfectly! I¡¯ve never heard of anyone dealing with these spiders using that skill. Where did you learn that strategy?¡± Lee Soo-ah inquired, clearly impressed. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a guide or anything. I just figured that getting rid of the webs would make them easier to deal with, so I thought this might work,¡± I replied. ¡°You¡¯re pretty sharp, Ji-hoon. You handled that like a pro,¡± Yoo Hana added, visibly pleased with the oue. Everyone looked satisfied with our sess. ¡°Now, about those status effects...¡± Since the fight was over, I decided to fully heal their status conditions. There was no point in doing it earlier since the red tags would just keep reappearing during the battle. ¡°Huh?¡± Lee Soo-ah¡¯s expression brightened as I removed the status effects. ¡°Normally, I¡¯d be in a lot of pain after clearing an S-rank dungeon... but Ji-hoon must have...¡± her voice trailed off, as a look of realization dawned on her face. It wasn¡¯t just Lee Soo-ah; Yoo Hana and Cha I-seul also noticed the change. ¡°Huh? I feel it too,¡± Yoo Hana said, examining herself. ¡°Yeah, is it because we finished the raid?¡± Cha I-seul spected, still puzzled. The three women exchanged confused nces, then turned their eyes toward me, suspicion creeping into their looks. [Lee Soo-ah¡¯s Affection Level ??????????] [Yoo Hana¡¯s Affection Level ??????????] [Cha I-seul¡¯s Affection Level ??????????] ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± I wondered as I noticed a new page in my interface. It had appeared while I was healing their status effects. ¡°Affection? Could this be rted to my Incubus trait?¡± The thought made me nervous. ¡°Wait... is a perfect score 10? Was I-seul already at max affection for me?¡± It had only been a day since she joined, and we¡¯d only just reconnected after so long. ¡°Ji-hoon...¡± Lee Soo-ah¡¯s voice pulled me back to the present. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Thank you for today,¡± she said, bowing her head slightly in a way that felt different from before. ¡°Huff... huff... What¡¯s happening to me?¡± Lee Soo-ah, who had just returned from the S-rank dungeon raid, leaned against the wall, her hand clutching her chest. Thump, thump. It had been a long time since she felt her heart race like this. The sensation was strange¡ªalmost exciting, yet unsettling. ¡°I can¡¯t stop thinking about Ji-hoon...¡± her eyes trembled as she tried to make sense of the new, inexplicable turmoil within her. ¡°What¡¯s happening to me...?¡± Lee Soo-ah whispered, confused by the unfamiliar and overwhelming emotions. Chapter 106 ¡°Uh, Soo-ah?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± I found myself in an S-rank dungeon alone with Lee Soo-ah. I wasn¡¯t entirely sure why she was so insistent on this, but her urgency had somehow drawn me in, leaving me with no choice but to go along with her request. ¡°Is there something specific you¡¯re trying to confirm?¡± ¡°N-no...¡± She seemed a bit flustered as she moved deeper into the dungeon. ¡°About yesterday...¡± ¡°P-please forget about yesterday! It won¡¯t happen again. It was a mistake, just a mistake. And Ji-hoon?¡±@@novelbin@@ She suddenly rushed over to me, her expression tense. ¡°I just want to make it clear, in case there¡¯s any misunderstanding¡ªI don¡¯t have feelings for you, Ji-hoon.¡± ¡°?¡± She blurted it out so abruptly. ¡°I never said you did.¡± ¡°N-no, I mean...¡± Her face turned bright red, and she quickly walked ahead into the dungeon. ¡°Wait, we need to stick together. We¡¯re supposed to do this as a team,¡± I called out, following her as she hastily moved forward. ¡®What¡¯s going on with her?¡¯ ¡°Wait, just the two of them? An S-rank dungeon? Even if it¡¯s a short one, why would they go alone?¡± Yoo Hana¡¯s face was scrunched up in displeasure as she watched Lee Soo-ah and Baek Ji-hoon head into the dungeon together. She felt as though she¡¯d been blindsided by Lee Soo-ah. ¡®Seriously, Soo-ah? You¡¯re going on a date? In an S-rank dungeon? Using a ce where others can¡¯t easily join in?¡¯ She was taken aback by the unexpected move. She hadn¡¯t anticipated things escting so quickly. ¡®Has thepetition already started? I didn¡¯t think it would progress this fast. This is going to be tougher than I thought.¡¯ She could feel how rapidly everything was changing around her, and the pace of it was starting to rm her. In just one week, so much had shifted, and she realized she needed to stay sharp, or she could be left behind. ¡®Get a grip, Soo-ah...¡¯ Lee Soo-ah¡¯s thoughts were in turmoil as she shed her way through the dungeon¡¯s monsters. ¡®Do I really have feelings for Baek Ji-hoon? Or did he do something to me? What¡¯s going on with these status effects? Is Ji-hoon removing them somehow? Who am I, really?¡¯ She was starting to realize that something was seriously wrong with her. ¡®This isn¡¯t like me. I¡¯ve been so off these past two weeks... This can¡¯t continue...¡¯ She decided to endure and see it through, determined to figure things out. ¡®If I keep thinking about Baek Ji-hoon after clearing this dungeon... then maybe the problem is with him...¡¯ She nodded to herself as she continued to cut through the monsters with precision. ¡®This is how I¡¯ve always been. But I feel like I¡¯ve been under some kind of strange spell thesest two weeks.¡¯ She focused on her work with renewed intensity, reminding herself of the professional, driven S-rank Hunter she was supposed to be. ¡®What¡¯s with Lee Soo-ah today? Why is she so intense all of a sudden?¡¯ Her erratic behavior was starting to give me whish. She seemed to oscite between different moods each day, leaving me confused and struggling to keep up. ¡®Could this be because of my Incubus trait? Or maybe it¡¯s because we brought in I-seul? Or was she shaken by the news?¡¯ Lee Soo-ah¡¯s actions were impossible to predict, and I found myself simply trying to keep up with her while focusing on clearing the dungeon. ¡®Alright, this dungeon¡¯s worth about 200 points... I¡¯ll use around 100... Not many purple mana stones here, though.¡¯ Compared to the dungeon we cleared yesterday, this one was significantly less valuable. ¡®I¡¯ll finish this up and see what Soo-ah has to say.¡¯ Bang! The boss monster fell after the final blow. ¡°Huff... huff...¡± Lee Soo-ah panted heavily, clearly affected by the various status effects that had taken hold during the battle. ¡®So it¡¯s true¡ªthese status effects are unavoidable in S-rank dungeons. But why...? Ji-hoon doesn¡¯t seem to be affected...¡¯ Lee Soo-ah nced at me, noticing that her own status effects were gradually fading. ¡®As I thought... Ji-hoon must be doing something to help...¡¯ But the real issue was how she felt about Baek Ji-hoon. When she took a moment to collect herself, she realized that her thoughts had been entirely consumed by him. ¡®So... he¡¯s definitely doing something, right? Am I... am I being manipted?¡¯ Her expression grew increasingly serious. ¡®Is he really removing the status effects? But why do I keep feeling drawn to him...?¡¯ ¡®I need to resist this. It feels like he¡¯s toying with me somehow. Soo-ah, get a grip. You need to stay rational and not fall under his spell.¡¯ Lee Soo-ah was in a deeply conflicted state. She couldn¡¯t fully grasp or ept what was happening to her. ¡°Soo-ah, it¡¯s over. Shall we head out?¡± I asked, uncertain whether she had been preupied with the status screen or if she was suspicious of something. ¡°Uh... Ji-hoon.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± I was tidying up my status screen when Lee Soo-ah approached me. ¡°I don¡¯t have feelings for you, Ji-hoon.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± There she goes again. We¡¯d just sessfully cleared the S-rank dungeon, and now she was saying strange things. ¡®What¡¯s with her? And what about all the behavior I¡¯ve seen over the past two weeks? Wasn¡¯t she interested in me?¡¯ Even Hyung-seok had mentioned that it seemed like Lee Soo-ah was interested in me, pointing out that she wasn¡¯t usually like this. But now, all of a sudden, she¡¯s denying it. ¡®Is she ying hard to get? Or is it because there¡¯s too muchpetition? What¡¯s going on?¡¯ I couldn¡¯t make sense of her sudden denial, especially after everything that had happened. ¡®Could it be that removing the status effects yesterday increased her affection too quickly...?¡¯ That was just a guess, but I started to wonder if reaching a certain level of affection might trigger some kind of self-denial, almost like a bacsh. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, Ji-hoon, I don¡¯t like you. I¡¯m just saying this in case you¡¯re getting the wrong idea!¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t misunderstood anything.¡± ¡°R-really?¡± She seemed taken aback by my response. ¡°Alright then... And yesterday was definitely a mistake!!!¡± With that, she hurried away, clearly embarrassed. ¡®Ah... So that¡¯s it. I guessing to my ce and hugging me yesterday must have been a shock for her. So she¡¯s struggling toe to terms with it, huh?¡¯ I could tell from her expression and behavior that she was rattled by the fact that she had lost control of herself. It seemed like she was trying to rein herself in today, acting more distant and brusque, perhaps to regain control over her feelings. ¡®Well, I guess I¡¯ll have to see how this ys out.¡¯ We stepped out of the dungeon. ¡°Ji... Ji-hoon!!!!¡± It was Yoo Hana. ¡°Oh, Yoo Hana. What brings you here?¡± ¡°Why did youe here with only Lee Soo-ah?¡± ¡°Oh, Soo-ah wanted to test something.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not fair! It¡¯s against the rules toe alone with her!¡± ¡°Against what rules?¡± ¡°Uh... I mean...¡± Yoo Hana seemed flustered by my question. ¡°Soo-ah, is that true?¡± ¡°Hana, calm down. It¡¯s nothing like that. I just needed to check something...¡± Soo-ah said as she led Yoo Hana away. ¡®Check something, huh...¡¯ ¡°Uh... Yoo Hana.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Yoo Hana, visibly annoyed, stood with her hands on her hips, ring at Lee Soo-ah. ¡°I think something strange is going on.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I think... we might be under Ji-hoon¡¯s influence.¡± ¡°What??¡± Lee Soo-ah began exining her suspicions. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying Ji-hoon... is trying to seduce us?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly, but it feels like something along those lines...¡± ¡°But why would Ji-hoon do that? I haven¡¯t felt anything like that. Did something happen between you and Ji-hoon?¡± Yoo Hana asked sharply. ¡°What? N-no, nothing happened.¡± Lee Soo-ah¡¯s eyes darted around as she tried to avoid the question. ¡°Then what? I don¡¯t feel like I¡¯m being controlled or anything. I like Ji-hoon, sure, but I¡¯m not obsessed or anything.¡± Yoo Hana¡¯s tone suggested she thought Lee Soo-ah was being a bit ridiculous. ¡°Sigh... Hana, listen. What I¡¯m saying is, we need to protect ourselves from Ji-hoon.¡± ¡°Protect ourselves? From what?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know... It just feels like he¡¯s toying with us...¡± Lee Soo-ah bit her lip, unsure of her own thoughts. Over the past two weeks, she had felt like she waspletely under Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s spell. Now that she was finally starting to regain her senses, she felt lost, unable to understand what had happened to her. And yet, the excitement and interest she felt toward Baek Ji-hoon kept bubbling up from deep within her, making her feel even more unsettled. ¡®Soo-ah... You¡¯re not that kind of woman. Get a grip. Why have you been acting like this sincest week? Have you lost your mind? Focus on bing the top S-rank Hunter again... Okay?¡¯ Yoo Hana didn¡¯t seem to fully grasp what Lee Soo-ah was talking about, but it didn¡¯t matter. Lee Soo-ah was determined to get a hold of herself, no matter what it took. ¡®There¡¯s definitely something off about Baek Ji-hoon... He must have done something to us...¡¯ Chapter 108 ¡°Huff... Soo-ah, what happened to your face?¡± Passing colleagues stared at Lee Soo-ah in shock. Her cheeks were swollen and red from all the pping she had done to try and snap herself out of her strange behavior. ¡°Haha... It¡¯s... nothing,¡± Soo-ah responded awkwardly, trying to avoid their gaze as she hurried away, her hands covering her cheeks. ¡®What¡¯s wrong with me... why am I like this...¡¯ She had tried everything¡ªpping her cheeks, pinching her thighs, anything to bring herself back to her senses¡ªbut nothing seemed to work. ¡®Huff... huff... Ji-hoon... I¡¯m getting... excited just thinking about him... This doesn¡¯t make any sense...¡¯ Her body trembled as she struggled to control the overwhelming feelings that kept bubbling up inside her. The image of Baek Ji-hoon refused to leave her mind, and she could feel her body heating up in response. ¡®I need to get closer to Ji-hoon... Maybe then this feeling will ease...¡¯ Knock, knock, knock. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Ji-hoon...¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Can I... can I just sit here for a while?¡± ¡°What?¡± Lee Soo-ah suddenly appeared at my office door, asking if she could sit down. She looked tense and nervous. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I... I was just passing by and needed to rest.¡± ¡°But why here?¡± ¡°Just because.¡± ¡°Alright, go ahead.¡± I didn¡¯t think much of it. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ Soo-ah sat down at a desk in my office, looking noticeably shaky. ¡°Soo-ah...?¡± ¡°Yes...?¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes... I¡¯m... fine.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem fine...¡± ¡°I-I am...¡± She was definitely trembling, though she seemed to be calming down a bitpared to when she first came in. ¡®Huff... huff... What¡¯s happening to me... Why am I like this?¡¯ Soo-ah ced a hand on her chest, trying to make sense of what she was feeling. ¡®I¡¯m sure of it... Ji-hoon must have done something to me... Soo-ah, pull yourself together. You need to resist this, okay?¡¯ She was doing her best to fight off whatever was happening to her, but it wasn¡¯t easy. Knock, knock, knock. ¡°Ji-hoon? Oh? Soo-ah, what are you doing here?¡± Yoo Hana hade to talk to me but stopped in her tracks when she saw Soo-ah. Her expression quickly turned to one of annoyance. ¡°I... I was just resting for a bit.¡± ¡°Why are you resting in someone else¡¯s office?¡± ¡°I was just passing by...¡± ¡°Hmmm...¡± Yoo Hana gave her a suspicious look. ¡°Well, then I¡¯ll rest here too.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because Soo-ah is resting here.¡± ¡°Ugh...¡± I let out a small sigh, feeling a bit annoyed by the interruption. ¡°Both of you, out.¡± ¡°What?¡± Both Soo-ah and Yoo Hana were unceremoniously kicked out of my office. ¡°This is your fault, Yoo Hana! I got kicked out because of you.¡± ¡°Why were you even sitting in there, Soo-ah? Don¡¯t you have work to do? And what¡¯s up with your cheeks?¡± ¡°None of your business... Anyway, you weren¡¯t any help at all.¡± Soo-ah shot Yoo Hana a re before walking off. ¡°What¡¯s her problem... She was the one hanging around in Ji-hoon¡¯s office...¡± Yoo Hana muttered to herself, watching Soo-ah leave with an exasperated expression. Back in her office, Lee Soo-ah let out a deep sigh. ¡®What¡¯s wrong with me... Why can¡¯t I get a grip... I know I need to hold it together, but I just can¡¯t...¡¯ ¡®What about Yoo Hana? Is she feeling the same way? Or is it just me?¡¯ Soo-ah couldn¡¯t shake her curiosity, so she went to find Yoo Hana. ¡°Hey, Yoo Hana.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something I want to ask you...¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Yoo Hana looked at her, puzzled by the sudden question. ¡°Have you ever felt like... you can¡¯t stop thinking about someone? Like, they¡¯re constantly on your mind, and you just want to be near them?¡± ¡°What?¡± Yoo Hana¡¯s expression turned a bit strange as she processed the question. ¡®What is Soo-ah talking about...¡¯ Yoo Hana briefly thought of Baek Ji-hoon. The feelings Soo-ah described were vaguely familiar, but not overwhelming. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡± Yoo Hana responded firmly. ¡®What? Is it just me...¡¯ Soo-ah scratched the back of her head awkwardly. ¡°Why? Is that how you feel, Soo-ah?¡± ¡°No! Of course not!¡± Startled, Soo-ah quickly retreated back to her office. ¡°Whew... Soo-ah, why is your face like that?¡± Staff members were again surprised by Soo-ah¡¯s appearance as she walked through the office. Her cheeks were still red and swollen. ¡®Why can¡¯t I stop thinking about Ji-hoon... I need to do something...¡¯ No matter how much she tried to focus, her thoughts kept drifting back to Ji-hoon. It was as if her mind was working against her. Soo-ah paced around her office, struggling with the inexplicable pull she felt toward Ji-hoon. It was a feeling that had only grown stronger over the past week. ¡®I can¡¯t... I need to resist this... I have to...¡¯ She sat down, trying to steady her breathing and clear her mind, but her resolve quickly faltered. Her body trembled, and she felt herself losing control. ¡®I can¡¯t take this...¡¯ She realized she was on the brink of giving in to something she couldn¡¯t fully understand. Knock, knock, knock. Before I could even respond, the door swung open. Creeeak. Click. Soo-ah quickly entered and shut the door behind her, then rushed toward me. ¡°Soo-ah, what¡ª¡± Before I could finish my sentence, she wrapped her arms around me again. ¡°Ji-hoon... I don¡¯t like you, okay? Don¡¯t get the wrong idea. I just... I just have to do this... I¡¯m sorry!¡± Just like yesterday, she hugged me tightly for about 30 seconds, then ran out, her face bright red. ¡°Huh...? What just happened?¡± Once again, I was left standing there,pletely baffled by the situation. ¡°Soo-ah, what are you doing!?¡± Back in her office, Soo-ah banged her head on her desk. She had been unable to resist the overwhelming urge to be close to Ji-hoon. She felt like she needed physical contact with Ji-hoon to calm down. After hugging him, she did feel a bit more in control, as if the storm inside her had quieted. ¡®What... what is this? Do I really need to hug Ji-hoon to feel better? What kind of spell has he cast on me? I need to confront him about this.¡¯ Now that she was thinking more clearly, her confusion was giving way to anger. ¡®He must have done something to me. That has to be it.¡¯ Knock, knock, knock. ¡°Ji-hoon, I need to talk to you.¡± Not long after, Soo-ah burst through the door again. ¡°Ji-hoon, I¡¯m going to be direct. What have you done to me?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°What did you do that¡¯s making me act like this? Why do I keep making mistakes around you!?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything... You¡¯re the one who keeps hugging me. If anything, that could be considered harassment, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°What...?¡± Soo-ah¡¯s frustration was clear, but she hesitated, looking a bit flustered. ¡°Yesterday you hugged me, and today you did it again. You¡¯re the one behaving strangely.¡± ¡°No... I just... Did you really not do anything to me? Are you sure you haven¡¯t used some kind of ability on me?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything.¡± ¡®How am I supposed to exin this... ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve developed an Incubus trait...¡±¡¯ I couldn¡¯t exactly say that. She¡¯d think I waspletely insane, although it seemed she was already leaning that way. ¡®She¡¯s definitely resisting the Incubus trait...¡¯ ¡°Soo-ah, didn¡¯t you say you don¡¯t like me?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right!¡± ¡°Then why do you keep hugging me? You¡¯re sending mixed signals.¡± ¡°What? No! That¡¯s not it...¡± ¡°If you keep doing that, I¡¯ll have to assume you do like me.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t!!!¡± She hade in to confront me but ended up leaving, red-faced and flustered. ¡®What am I supposed to do about this?¡¯ This situation was gettingplicated. On one hand, I was gathering S-rank Hunters to clear S-rank dungeons and amass wealth. But on the other hand, it seemed that using my points on them was causing them to be increasingly attached to me. Even if I used all my points to be an SSS-rank Hunter, it wouldn¡¯t mean much if I had to do it alone. The scenarios had time limits, after all. ¡®What am I supposed to do...?¡¯ I couldn¡¯t help but feel conflicted. I was beginning to worry that Soo-ah¡¯s obsession would only grow stronger. ¡°Hah...¡± Back in her office, Soo-ah let out a deep sigh. ¡®What¡¯s happening to me... I need to resist this... I know I have to... but why can¡¯t I get a grip...¡¯ ¡®What about Yoo Hana? Is she feeling the same way, or is it just me?¡¯ Soo-ah¡¯s curiosity got the better of her, and she went to find Yoo Hana. ¡°Hey, Yoo Hana.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something I want to ask you...¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Yoo Hana gave her a curious look. ¡°Have you ever felt like... you can¡¯t stop thinking about someone? Like they¡¯re always on your mind, and you just want to be near them?¡± ¡°What...?¡± Yoo Hana looked at her, puzzled.@@novelbin@@ ¡®What is Soo-ah talking about...¡¯ Yoo Hana thought briefly of Baek Ji-hoon. There were some moments when she felt a slight pull, but nothing overwhelming. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡± Yoo Hana responded firmly. ¡®Is it just me...¡¯ Soo-ah scratched the back of her head awkwardly. ¡°Why? Is that how you feel, Soo-ah?¡± ¡°No! Of course not!¡± Startled, Soo-ah quickly retreated to her office. Chapter 111 ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Yoo Hana couldn¡¯te to a conclusion easily. Lee Soo-ah¡¯s words were shocking, after all. Both Yoo Hana and Lee Soo-ah had undeniably felt a strong attraction toward Baek Ji-hoon recently, almost as if they were under a spell. Yoo Hana had even given up her sessful career in entertainment to return to Blue Guild, which had certainly resulted in significant losses. ¡°Yoo Hana, just look at this. Isn¡¯t this you? The beautiful S-rank Hunter!¡± Lee Soo-ah waved a picture of Yoo Hana from her days as a celebrity, showing off her wless appearance. ¡°We were both yed by Baek Ji-hoon. I don¡¯t know exactly how, but we need to wake up. This is Blue Guild. I built this guild. I can¡¯t let it slip away.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t build it alone, Soo-ah. I yed a big part too¡­¡± Yoo Hana¡¯s voice trembled. As much as she didn¡¯t want to admit it, Lee Soo-ah¡¯s argument was starting to make sense. ¡®Why was Cha Soo-hyun there that day?¡¯ Yoo Hana began recalling the time when the four Hunters had gathered in Sinlim-dong. ¡®It was obvious¡­ They knew each other, didn¡¯t they?¡¯ At the time, she hadn¡¯t been close enough to Baek Ji-hoon to ask directly, so she had let it go. Besides, Cha Soo-hyun had left abruptly, almost like she was fleeing. ¡®If they weren¡¯t already acquainted, why would Cha Soo-hyun show up at his house?¡¯ Yoo Hana was thinking quickly, piecing things together in her head. ¡°Soo-ah, you might be right¡­ Cha Soo-hyun was still the number one S-rank Hunterst week, wasn¡¯t she? And at that time, Ji-hoon was still just an E-rank.¡± ¡°Exactly!!¡± Lee Soo-ah pped her hands in agreement. ¡°But¡­ it doesn¡¯t make sense for Cha Soo-hyun to be sent to scout an E-rank Hunter¡­¡± ¡°See? There¡¯s something fishy going on with her! Trust a woman¡¯s intuition! Right?¡± ¡°Could she have been giving him orders¡­?¡± ¡°I think so.¡± Both S-rank Hunters grew more serious. They were beginning to treat this situation with the gravity it deserved. ¡°And another strange thing¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I kept trying to visit Ji-hoon¡¯s housest week. I practically begged him to let me in for dinner, but he kept refusing.¡± ¡°What? You¡¯ve been to Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s house? When? Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Yoo Hana¡¯spetitive spirit red up a bit at the thought. ¡°Hey! That¡¯s not the point right now!¡± Lee Soo-ah quickly interrupted, worried the conversation was veering off course. ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll deal with thatter. So what¡¯s your point?¡± ¡°Well, think about it. I might have dropped to number two in the S-rank rankings, but I¡¯m still the most famous S-rank Hunter, right? Beauty, physical prowess, skills¡ªI¡¯m notcking in any department.¡± ¡°Hmph. I¡¯ll give you that.¡± Yoo Hana snorted slightly in agreement. ¡°So why would he reject me? Think about it. Unless he¡¯s gay, wouldn¡¯t a healthy man be thrilled if someone like me wanted toe over? I mean, wouldn¡¯t a normal guy want to kidnap me and bring me inside?¡± ¡°Hm¡­¡± Their suspicion deepened as everything started to click into ce. ¡°Do you think Ji-hoon¡¯s awkwardness was all an act?¡± ¡°Exactly! It¡¯s because he was working as a spy. He had to be cautious about how he handled things in Blue Guild.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°It all felt strange from the start. The rumors about me and him dating on the first day¡­¡± Lee Soo-ah frowned. ¡°What? What rumors?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, but apparently the rumors were all over the guild¡¯s intr from day one.¡± ¡°Ha. Did you start them?¡± ¡°Why would I do that? Are you crazy?!¡± She vehemently denied it, clearly frustrated. ¡°Alright, fine. I get it now. I agree with you. Thinking back, there were a lot of strange things. It¡¯s clear now. Baek Ji-hoon has been ying us all along. He dragged me back into the guild, only to take advantage of us.¡± ¡°And¡­ now that you mention it¡­ Cha Soo-hyun is making her debut in the entertainment industry this week¡­¡± Lee Soo-ah¡¯s face stiffened, and so did Yoo Hana¡¯s. ¡°That¡¯s right¡­ I saw that broadcast too¡­ causing quite a stir. Some news outlets are even saying Cha Soo-hyun is going to rece me¡­¡± Yoo Hana clenched her jaw, feeling a growing sense of betrayal. ¡°That¡¯s it. I thought Ji-hoon was a brilliant Hunter for gathering four S-rank Hunters for Blue Guild. That¡¯s why I admired him, even liked him. But now I see¡­ he wasn¡¯t after me. He was trying to rece me with Cha Soo-hyun.¡± ¡°Hana¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°We¡¯re in this together now. We¡¯ve both been stabbed in the back by Baek Ji-hoon. It¡¯s time to wake up.¡± What had started as Lee Soo-ah¡¯s suspicion due to her strange behavior had now escted into a nearly unshakable certainty. ¡°So, what should we do?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ve already confronted him.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°I told him I knew about his rtionship with Cha Soo-hyun and that he should leave Blue Guild quietly. I don¡¯t want to cause a scene here.¡± ¡°And what did he say?¡± ¡°He denied everything, of course. He¡¯s stubborn.¡± ¡°Hah¡­ Baek Ji-hoon really is something else, isn¡¯t he? Even when the former A-Team leader asks him to leave, he holds his ground.¡±@@novelbin@@ ¡°I told you, he¡¯s dangerous. I thought his awkwardness was just a personality quirk, but it was all an act. He¡¯s been deceiving us from the start.¡± ¡°Hah¡­ so all those little flirtations were just part of his n.¡± Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana were nowpletely in sync. They had joined forces, their sights set on Baek Ji-hoon. ¡°Hey, Hyung-seok.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t¡­ betray me, did you?¡± ¡°Huh?? N-no...?¡± He looked genuinely startled. ¡°What did you tell Hunter Lee Soo-ah?¡± Naturally, I assumed that if anyone had spilled the details about Cha Soo-hyun and me, it had to be Park Hyung-seok. None of my other friends had any contact with Hunters, let alone knew about my past. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry!!!¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ I¡¯m disappointed in you. Do you know what Lee Soo-ah thinks of me now?¡± ¡°I just thought you¡¯d like it if she started dominating you¡­¡± ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± ¡°You know¡­ when I suggested you let her dominate you¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± I stared at him in disbelief. ¡°Then what?¡± ¡°She barged into my office and told me to leave Blue Guild.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°She said she knows about Cha Soo-hyun and me. And she was mad¡ªfurious, even. But why?¡± ¡°Ehh?¡± Park Hyung-seok looked puzzled. Then, after a moment of deep thought, his face lit up like he had found the answer. ¡°Hyung, I know exactly what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Hunter Lee Soo-ah¡­ she¡¯s in love with you. Like, crazy in love.¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but spit out my drink. ¡°What? What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Think about it. She found out about your past with Cha Soo-hyun, then she told you to leave, and she got mad. Why would a woman get mad in that situation?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± I started to get what he was implying. ¡°There¡¯s only one reason¡ªLee Soo-ah is insanely jealous. She¡¯s furious that you hid your rtionship with Cha Soo-hyun from her.¡± ¡°How would you know? You¡¯ve never even been in a rtionship.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a web novel and light novel master. I¡¯ve read over 200,000 of them.¡± ¡°You¡¯re nuts.¡± In a weird way, I had to admire him. ¡°Live in reality for once¡­¡± ¡°I can¡¯t seed in reality, so I¡¯ve chosen to excel at what I know.¡± His expression was one of someone who had given up on real-life rtionships. ¡°Sigh¡­ Still, I can¡¯t agree with you. Lee Soo-ah in love with me? Isn¡¯t it just a passing attraction?¡± I couldn¡¯t easily ept such a wild idea. After all, Lee Soo-ah was one of the most famous Hunters in the country. She was so famous that even people in remote viges knew her name. epting that someone like her could love me seemed impossible. If I epted that too easily, wouldn¡¯t I be delusional? ¡°Think about it. Has Lee Soo-ah ever given you signs that she¡¯s in love with you? I¡¯m sure there must have been something. You¡¯ve even had meals together.¡± Park Hyung-seok was giving me a suspicious look. ¡°Well¡­ that¡­¡± I started thinking deeply. Chapter 113 "Huff... Huff..." Lee Soo-ah was panting heavily, alreadypletely exhausted. Hunter Team 1 had long since fallen behind, barely visible in the distance. "Hah, I thought Hunter Team 1 was the best, but it seems like I¡¯ve made them toocent." She reflected on her past decisions, now filled with a sense of regret. ¡®I should¡¯ve trained them harder... I never imagined something like this would happen.¡¯ "Soo-ah, are you struggling?" Yoo Hana also looked exhausted, barely able to catch her breath. "Yeah... just a little. But it¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s get through all this today." "Yeah, we have to hit Ji-hoon where it hurts. That guy is too much. I really thought I had lost my charm because of my age. I tried so hard to get his attention, but he barely gave me a nce. Hah¡­ He has to be a spy. There¡¯s no other exnation for why he¡¯d treat me like this." Yoo Hana¡¯s eyes were filled with frustration. She was deeply offended that Baek Ji-hoon hadn¡¯t responded to her efforts to win him over. She found it easier to believe that he was a spy than to ept that he wasn¡¯t interested in her. "Yeah, Yoo Hana. Let¡¯s push through this!" "Everyone, fighting!!!" "Cross!!!" ¡°Hah¡­ Hah¡­ Manager¡­ This is too much. Why is Lee Soo-ah acting like this all of a sudden? She used to be tough, but now¡­ she¡¯s lost it. It¡¯s like she¡¯s gonepletely mad.¡± Hunter Park Jin-sooined to the Section Chief, his face filled with disbelief. He was clearly hoping the chief could do something to fix the situation. "Don¡¯t look at me. I¡¯m just as surprised as you. She came into my office, dropped this massive pile of paperwork, and told me we had to finish it by tomorrow." "By tomorrow?? All of it???" Park Jin-soo gasped in shock, while the other members of Team 1 began trembling in fear. "Hah¡­ Manager, you should¡¯ve said something! Like, ¡®We can¡¯t do this!¡¯ How could you just ept it?" "Hah... Jin-soo, if you were in my ce, you would¡¯ve shut up too. Have you ever seen Lee Soo-ah when she¡¯s furious? It¡¯s terrifying. It¡¯s not the kind of situation where you can just speak up¡ªif I had, I would¡¯ve lost my head right then and there." The Section Chief, usually bold and assertive, was reduced to a timid hamster in front of Lee Soo-ah¡¯s wrath. "Why was she so mad, anyway?" Park Jin-soo tilted his head, confused. There was no obvious reason for her to be in such a rage. "I don¡¯t know, but from what I can tell, it seems like something¡¯s going on between her and the team leader." "Team leader? You mean Baek Ji-hoon?" "Yeah. Do you know anything about him? You¡¯ve always had a nose for this kind of thing¡ªyou were trying to get close to him before he even became popr." "Well, yeah, that¡¯s true¡­" Park Jin-soo scratched the back of his head awkwardly. ¡®Not that I did it on my own. It was because Cha Soo-hyun asked me to look into him¡­¡¯ "You don¡¯t know anything about Baek Ji-hoon?" "No, not really. I haven¡¯t had the chance to talk to him deeply." "Ah, I see." "So, what¡¯s going on?" "Well, from what I¡¯ve heard, Lee Soo-ah thinks Baek Ji-hoon is a spy from Baekho Guild." "A spy?" Park Jin-soo flinched in surprise. ¡®A spy? But I¡¯m the spy. Could Baek Ji-hoon be one too? But then, why would a spy be an S-rank Hunter and a team leader?¡¯ It didn¡¯t make any sense to him. "Yeah, that¡¯s what she says. She thinks he¡¯s here to steal her position and that she needs to get it back. Personally, I think it¡¯s just a lover¡¯s quarrel." "A lover¡¯s quarrel?" "Yeah. The spy thing doesn¡¯t add up, right?" "Yeah, Baek Ji-hoon isn¡¯t a spy." Park Jin-soo nodded slowly, a thoughtful look on his face as he crossed his arms, firmly denying the idea. "Huh? How can you be so sure? You seem pretty confident. Do you know something?" The Section Chief looked at Park Jin-soo suspiciously. "Oh, no, I just mean¡­ Baek Ji-hoon doesn¡¯t seem like the type to be a spy. Doesn¡¯t he seem more like a¡­ tofu-brain? Or maybe an udon-noodle brain?" "Udon-noodle brain?" "Yeah, you know, his brain is kind of like udon noodles." "Hahahahahahaha!"@@novelbin@@ They bothughed heartily. "Anyway, whatever¡¯s going on, it¡¯s because of Baek Ji-hoon. And it seems like he and Lee Soo-ah are having some kind of fight. Rememberst week when there were rumors about them dating? I think it¡¯s all part of that." "Sigh¡­ So, we¡¯re just caught in the middle of their lover¡¯s spat?" "Pretty much." "And what about Yoo Hana?" Park Jin-soo pointed to Yoo Hana, who was far ahead, working with Lee Soo-ah. "Who knows? I don¡¯t get how those two became a team. They used to hate each other¡¯s guts." "Right? I thought they¡¯d kill each other." "What could it be? Maybe they made a deal? Like, helping each other out in exchange for a guy?" "Who knows¡­" Hunter Team 1 waspletely confused. They had no idea why Lee Soo-ah was acting this way. "Let¡¯s just catch up. We don¡¯t have time to stand around. We¡¯re falling behind¡­" "Sigh¡­ Alright¡­" Team 1 followed with a sense of dread, their faces full of despair. "Sigh¡­ If we stay up all night, we should be able to finish this by tomorrow, right?" Yoo Hana sounded a bit more hopeful. "Y-yeah¡­ we can do this if we push ourselves a little more¡­" Lee Soo-ah was drenched in sweat as she replied. Both women had resolved to finish everything Baek Ji-hoon had assigned, even if it meant pushing themselves to the limit. "Fighting!" "Fighting!!!" "Oppa¡­" "Hmm?" Cha Soo-hyun sidled up to Lee Jin-hyuk, trying to initiate some skinship as she pressed her body against his. ¡®I¡­ I have to¡­ get pregnant!! That¡¯s the only way out now¡­ Ji-hoon oppa won¡¯t take me back¡­¡¯ She was nning to use her final cheat¡ªpregnancy. After all, once she was pregnant, she would be exempt from most responsibilities. No one could force a pregnant woman to raid dungeons or take on heavy tasks. "What is it?" "I¡­ I have a wish¡­" She slowly started to touch him, subtly trying to seduce him. "What? Do you want me to buy you a bag?" "No¡­ not that¡­" Cha Soo-hyun¡¯s hand moved lower. "No." Lee Jin-hyuk immediately caught on to her intentions and shut her down coldly. "We¡¯re not even married yet. There¡¯s no reason to rush. And you¡­" His gaze sharpened. "You¡¯re not nning to quit being a Hunter, are you?" In the world of Hunters, pregnancy often meant the end of a career, especially for high-level Hunters who couldn¡¯t risk the aftereffects of childbirth in dangerous dungeons. "I¡­ uh¡­" Cha Soo-hyun¡¯s face turned pale,pletely caught off guard. "You just became the number one S-rank Hunter. You need to maintain that spot for at least five years. Don¡¯t you know what¡¯s going on with Blue Guild? There¡¯s talk that Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana cleared an S-rank dungeon together recently." "I¡­ I heard something about that¡­" She had heard bits and pieces of the rumors. "But¡­ I¡­ I want to have your baby, Jin-hyuk oppa¡­" "I get that, butter. Right now, Baekho Guild is about to get crushed by Blue Guild, and you¡¯re thinking about babies? What are you thinking?" His expression made it clear he thought her request was ridiculous. "F-fine." "Listen, instead of focusing on that, get out there and raid some dungeons. Start with an A-rank dungeon, and once you¡¯re back in shape, try an S-rank one. We can¡¯t lose to Blue Guild, can we?" "B-but¡­ that¡¯s a bit much right now¡­" "Too much?!" Lee Jin-hyuk¡¯s temper red. He was clearly frustrated after watching her do nothing for nearly two weeks, wasting time while their guild struggled. "I¡¯ve worked my ass off to make Baekho Guild number one, and what are you doing? Thinking about getting pregnant? Go raid some dungeons! Lead a team! What have you even done since joining? You¡¯ve contributed nothing, and now you want to ck off again? Is your dream to be a housewife?" His anger spilled out, unleashing all the pent-up frustration he¡¯d been holding in. "Fine¡­ I get it¡­" Cha Soo-hyun, cowed by his outburst, turned and left. ¡®What the hell¡­ This is ridiculous¡­¡¯ Cha Soo-hyun was fuming, frustrated that her n to manipte the situation had failed. ¡®And he wants me to raid dungeons? How am I supposed to do that when I¡¯ve been demoted to E-rank? I want to raid dungeons too! But I¡¯m an E-rank now!¡¯ Her situation was bing more and more dire. She couldn¡¯t tell the truth, but hiding it was pushing her closer to dangerous dungeons. ¡®This is getting dangerous¡­ If I¡¯m not careful, I could get killed in a dungeon¡­¡¯ Cha Soo-hyun realized she had to change her strategy quickly. Chapter 116 ¡°Ha¡­¡± A long sigh echoed. ¡°Ha¡­¡± It wasn''t just Lee Soo-ah, Yoo Hana was feeling the same way. They both looked at the mission orders they had just received with expressions that screamed frustration and disbelief. Moments ago, they were riding a high, feeling as though they hadpletely outdone Baek Ji-hoon. Their faces had reflected pure victory, the confidence that they had finally bested and conquered him. But now, the atmosphere had shiftedpletely. ¡°Lee Soo-ah... wasn¡¯t Ji-hoon supposed to give up on taking over the Blue Guild if we showed him our strength¡­?¡± ¡°I thought¡­ that¡¯s how it would go¡­ Didn¡¯t we both pull off something really impressive¡­?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I thought. Looking at it socially, what we did yesterday was huge. It¡¯s something the media would be praising us for if they got a hold of it¡­¡± They nced at each other, exchanging uncertain looks. ¡°What the¡­ Why is it that instead of things getting easier¡­ the work just keeps piling up¡­¡± Lee Soo-ah had been so proud of herself earlier. When Baek Ji-hoon had assigned them an impossible task, she hadpleted it wlessly, thinking that it would leave him awestruck and reevaluate her. ¡®What¡¯s this? Ji-hoon, seriously, what¡¯s going on? Is this some kind of push-pull game you¡¯re ying? Are you nning to stay in the Blue Guild or not?¡¯ Lee Soo-ah felt like she''d been hit over the head with a hammer. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion, and she couldn¡¯t make sense of the situation. ¡®Ji-hoon¡¯s definitely a spy from the Baekho Guild, right? Everything points to it, doesn¡¯t it? He¡¯s in cahoots with Hunter Che Su-hyeon, that¡¯s for sure. They¡¯re probablyughing at me. First, he politely asked us to leave, then gave us this absurd task. What is this¡­?¡¯ She had thought that enduring Ji-hoon¡¯s tricks would eventually lead him to throw up his hands and retreat. But instead, he handed them even more ridiculous missions. None of it made any sense. ¡°Hana, what do we do now¡­? Should we change our strategy?¡± ¡°Strategy?¡± ¡°Maybe we should start gathering evidence that Ji-hoon is a spy from Baekho Guild. We could keep tabs on Hunter Che Su-hyeon, see if they meet up somewhere.¡± ¡°Hmm, but I think a more direct approach might be better.¡± ¡°A direct approach?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Yoo Hana nodded seriously, her face filled with determination. She looked as though losing was not an option. ¡°Think about it, Soo-ah. We¡¯ve beenpletely toyed with by Baek Ji-hoon. Us! Beautiful women like us, losing to someone like him? It¡¯s infuriating, isn¡¯t it? For thest two weeks, we¡¯ve been so absorbed in him that we¡¯ve practically lost our minds. I¡¯m not sure exactly how he did it, but if he really is a spy, we can¡¯t just let this slide. We need to show him our true strength.¡± ¡°Our strength... but haven¡¯t we already shown him everything we¡¯ve got?¡± Lee Soo-ah¡¯s expression hardened. She believed they had already pushed themselves to the limit, especially when working with Yoo Hana, showing the full extent of their abilities. Yet, Baek Ji-hoon seemed unfazed. ¡®He¡¯s an extraordinary person. That¡¯s why he can do this kind of spy work. But now, I don¡¯t know what we should do next.¡¯ Lee Soo-ah bit her lip hard. It was the first time in her life she had ever felt such a deep sense of defeat. ¡®Do I really have to hand the Blue Guild over to the Baekho Guild like this¡­?¡¯ Her mind raced through memories¡ªof Hunters 1 through 6, the Blue Guild members, and all the dungeons they had conquered together. They had worked so hard, side by side. And now, Baek Ji-hoon was slowly taking over. ¡®It must be under the orders of the Taeyang Group¡­ There¡¯s no way anyone could easily turn down the backing of a conglomerate like that¡­ Ha¡­¡¯ Lee Soo-ah felt a pang of regret. No matter how hard she worked, she couldn¡¯tpete with the lucrative offers from the Taeyang Group. ¡®It¡¯s going to be difficult to turn Ji-hoon back to our side. The Taeyang Group is just too powerful...¡¯ ¡°Soo-ah.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I have an idea.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Lee Soo-ah looked at Yoo Hana with a glimmer of hope. It was clear from her confident tone that she had something in mind. ¡°You know what? How about we try this? Have you seen the movie?¡± ¡°What movie?¡± ¡°Avengers.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± ¡°What if we did something like that?¡± ¡°?¡± Lee Soo-ah was still confused. What was she talking about? ¡°Avengers, assemble. What if we gathered all the S-rank hunters? You may have had some rivalry with me, but you¡¯re on good terms with the other S-rank hunters, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Well¡­ kind of, yeah.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s try it. Let¡¯s make it known that we¡¯ve joined forces and gather the S-rank hunters. Let¡¯s mobilize all of them to solve this problem.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Lee Soo-ah was beginning to understand. ¡°So you¡¯re saying¡­ let¡¯s unite the S-rank hunters?¡± ¡°Exactly. Since it¡¯se to this, we might as well go all in. Think about it. What has Baek Ji-hoon been going around sayingtely?¡± Lee Soo-ah tilted her head in confusion. ¡°He said he wanted to gather all the S-rank hunters into the Blue Guild, right?¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s beat him to it.¡± ¡°!¡± Lee Soo-ah¡¯s eyes widened in realization. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Think about it. Whatever Ji-hoon¡¯s ability is, he was clearly aiming to take full control of the Blue Guild by gathering the S-rank hunters under his leadership from the start.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But what if we gather the S-rank hunters first?¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Lee Soo-ah was genuinely impressed by Yoo Hana¡¯s idea. It was an angle she hadn¡¯t considered. ¡®Right. Ji-hoon¡¯s been going on and on about gathering the S-rank hunters. So that means the Baekho Guild must have given him those orders. But if we beat him to it? He¡¯ll be left out in the cold.¡¯ ¡°Ehehehe¡­¡± Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana exchanged sinister smiles. ¡°Soo-ah, hehe, you know what to do now, right? Start reaching out to the other S-rank hunters and build good rtionships with them. There¡¯s no need topete with them. It¡¯s time for us to join forces.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand perfectly. Let¡¯s pool our strength and drive Baek Ji-hoon out. It¡¯s not our fault that we fell for him.¡± With that, they began to rationalize their behavior and devise a peculiar n. ¡°Shall we start making some calls? Hehehe.¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s. Hehehe.¡± ¡°Pfft. Hyung, what are you going to do if Hunter Lee Soo-ahpletely surrenders and falls for you?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to have to date her~?¡± ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Baek Ji-hoon was momentarily thrown off by Park Hyung-seok¡¯s words. ¡®Does Hunter Lee Soo-ah really love me? Not just some passing crush, but actually love¡­?¡¯ Lee Soo-ah had certainly done some strange things. Things most women wouldn¡¯t even consider doing. ¡°Well, if she really wants to¡­ maybe?¡± ¡°I¡¯m jealous, hyung. What did you do in your past life to deserve this? Did you save a country or something? How do you keep attracting all these S-rank hunters?¡± Though, the real reason was probably due to his Incubus trait. ¡°Anyway, I think we¡¯ve got them beat this time. There¡¯s no way Hunter Lee Soo-ah and Hunter Yoo Hana can handle the task they¡¯ve been assigned. Cha Manager set it up perfectly to make sure they couldn¡¯t seed. Pfft.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± We both smiled smugly, waiting to see how Lee Soo-ah would respond. ¡°Ji-hoon, how¡¯s everything goingtely?¡± A sweet voice called out. It was Cha I-seul.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Hmm, well¡­ I guess it¡¯s going okay?¡± It was hard to say whether things were really going well. After all, he was in the middle of a bizarre game of push-and-pull with Hunter Lee Soo-ah. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Cha I-seul looked a bit shy as she opened her mouth. ¡°How about we hang out more often?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Now that we¡¯ve reconnected, I thought it¡¯d be nice to do some of the things we missed out on.¡± ¡°Sounds good to me. As long as you¡¯re up for it, I¡¯m in.¡± ¡°Like the old days, when we used to hang out more often. We¡¯re both S-rank hunters now. Who would¡¯ve thought, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s crazy. I never saw thising, not even a couple of weeks ago.¡± ¡°Wait, really? But weren¡¯t you saving up points the whole time?¡± Cha I-seul gave him a curious look. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like I was actively saving them¡­ It¡¯s more like I had a piggy bank I didn¡¯t know about¡­¡± Of course, he couldn¡¯t exactly mention Che Su-hyeon. ¡°Oh, I see. So you didn¡¯t even know how much you¡¯d umted?¡± ¡°Yeah, I was just focused on saving, and then suddenly, I had all these points. Haha¡­¡± Heughed awkwardly. ¡°Well, it¡¯s still amazing. I mean, how did you gather so many points? Doesn¡¯t that leave you totally exhausted?¡± ¡°Yeah, kind of¡­ Haha¡­¡± Ji-hoon thought it was all thanks to Che Su-hyeon. Funny how she had tried to stab him in the back, but instead, she¡¯d handed him a golden opportunity. ¡°Ji-hoon, how about we go to the amusement park this weekend? We used to go all the time, but we haven¡¯t been since we drifted apart.¡± Cha I-seul gave a shy smile. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go this weekend.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± The atmosphere was light and happy. Chapter 118 ¡®No way... Is this really a Fragment of a Tormented Soul? On my first try?¡¯ Just earlier, ording to Hyung-seok¡¯s exnation, the drop rate for this item was around 0.5%, making it extremely rare. It was a crucial item for enhancing S-rank attack items, which meant the demand was sky-high, while the supply was practically nonexistent. ¡®20 billion won...¡¯ My heart raced as I stared at the pile of money sitting in front of me. ¡®Is this a dream or reality?¡¯ Structurally, the dungeon wasn¡¯t that different from the ones I had cleared before. Monsters all looked pretty simr, and the item drops were no different from those in regr dungeons. But the price¡ªthat was the difference. In A-rank dungeons, the items dropped were rtively insignificant in value. Sure, hunters still earned way more than the average office worker, but it was nothing to get too excited about. Each item dropped would sell for just a few hundred thousand won, maybe up to a few million if you were lucky. It was easy to get bored of that. But this time, the dropped item was a Fragment of a Tormented Soul¡ªan incredibly rare item worth 20 billion won. Although the strategy for this dungeon was the same as usual, my heart was pounding like crazy. ¡°Uh?? Hyung... are we done...?¡± Hyung-seok, who had been trembling with his eyes and ears covered, slowly approached. ¡°Yeah. Hey, your strategy is amazing. How do you know all this stuff? You¡¯re seriously a hunter nerd.¡± ¡°Oh, I just eat, sleep, and breathe this stuff.¡± ¡°Man, I followed your instructions, and it felt like I was dealing with a pushover. Just had to use the skills in the right order.¡± ¡°Right? Haha.¡± ¡°But look at this.¡± I opened my hand to show him the Fragment of a Tormented Soul. ¡°What??? W-wait, what????¡± Hyung-seok¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head. ¡°Wh-what¡­ Did this just drop? Seriously?¡± He kept looking back and forth between me and the item,pletely bewildered. ¡°Yeah. It dropped just like that. Is this normal?¡± ¡°No!!! No way! Holy... This is huge! There¡¯s not a single one avable on the market right now!¡± ¡°So, can I really sell this for 20 billion won?¡± ¡°Well¡­ I think¡­¡± He started frantically searching for information on his device. ¡°It might even go for more than 20 billion... There¡¯s none avable anywhere, not even globally¡­¡± He was trembling with excitement. ¡°See? I told you we should try this. Stick with me from now on. You said you¡¯d be my assistant, right? Then just stay close.¡±@@novelbin@@ ¡°Haha! Yes, yes, of course!!¡± He was practically bouncing with excitement, the kind that only a true hunter nerd could experience when faced with such a rare item. ¡°Hah¡­ hah¡­ The Fragment of a Tormented Soul... We¡¯ll probably need to auction this. There¡¯s none avable on the world market right now.¡± ¡°What? Really?¡± Looking at the fragment resting in my hand, I felt like I was about to lose my mind. ¡®Wait, this is the only one in the entire world right now?¡¯ ¡°I think it¡¯s because of the rare item shortage caused by the U.S.¡± ¡°The rare item shortage? What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Oh, the U.S. and China have beenpeting in this.¡± ¡°What kind ofpetition?¡± ¡°Well, China¡¯s been flooding the market with items by exploiting their massive hunter poption, so the U.S. shifted its focus to high-value, rare items.¡± ¡°Exploiting?¡± ¡°Yeah, I heard China has about 100 million hunters. They¡¯ve been using real-life macros, grinding the lower-tier dungeons non-stop for 16 hours a day.¡± It was horrifying. They were basically using humanbor like automated farming. ¡°So, the price of items from C-rank dungeons and below haspletely tanked. They¡¯re focusing on volume, regardless of item quality.¡± In B-rank dungeons and above, you needed at least some decent gear and skills. But in C-rank dungeons, it seemed you could just grind with minimal investment. ¡®So that¡¯s what those articles were talking about.¡¯ I remembered reading something recently about China¡¯s low-cost strategies crashing the dungeon item market. The economy in the hunter world was bing a mess. Of course, it didn¡¯t affect the Blue Guild much, since we primarily cleared A-rank dungeons. ¡°So what¡¯s the U.S. doing exactly?¡± ¡°Since China¡¯s flooded the lower-tier dungeons, the U.S. has shifted all its focus to high-value strategies. They¡¯re pouring tons of resources into enhancing rare items. I heard there¡¯s been a massive capital shift toward item enhancement.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± It was an interesting development. Up until now, I¡¯d thought the hunter world was peaceful and stable, but it seemed like things were far morepetitive and intense behind the scenes. ¡®Does that mean my value just skyrocketed¡­?¡¯ Right now, I was the only one who could freely enter and clear S-rank dungeons. All I had to do was follow Hyung-seok¡¯s strategies, and I¡¯d get rare items instantly. ¡®This is crazy!¡¯ Excitement started building up inside me. Up until now, I had just been focused on adjusting to life as an S-rank hunter in the Blue Guild. Honestly, just a week ago, I had been an E-rank nobody, so it seemed odd to act like a big shot. But after today¡¯s experience in the S-rank dungeon, it felt like I had stumbled onto a golden opportunity. ¡®Alright, I¡¯m going to focus on rare items from now on.¡¯ ¡°Let¡¯s go, Hyung-seok. Let¡¯s put this up for auction.¡± ¡°Woah¡­ Yes, let¡¯s go!!!!!¡± With a pounding heart, I entered the office. ¡°You know how to handle auctions, right?¡± ¡°Of course! Leave it to me~ I¡¯ve got this covered!¡± Hyung-seok was buzzing with excitement, running around the office like a kid on Christmas. Clearly, he was thrilled about finding such a rare item. ¡°Hyung, how about we do this auction privately?¡± ¡°Privately?¡± ¡°Yeah, we report it only to the guild leader and keep it quiet from everyone else. Just in case¡­¡± He hesitated for a moment, deep in thought. ¡°If my guess is right, and you can freely clear S-rank dungeons at this level... there¡¯s going to be an explosion of interest and attention.¡± ¡°An explosion of attention¡­?¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s not just a Korean thing, this is a global issue. You have no idea how badly people want items from S-rank dungeons. This is a huge deal. If word gets out that you¡¯re pulling these items effortlessly, there¡¯ll be a media frenzy. You¡¯ll probably even get reporters from overseas.¡± ¡°Reporters? That¡¯s a bit...¡± He exined enthusiastically, describing the intense demand for rare items. Apparently, the demand was astronomical, but since no one could supply them, the market had been quiet. Now that I could easily gather rare items, it would cause a massive uproar. ¡®I don¡¯t want to be famous. I just want to make money quietly.¡¯ ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s do it your way. Report only to the guild leader and let¡¯s quietly keep collecting rare items.¡± ¡°Yes, yes!!!¡± Hyung-seok beamed from ear to ear. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll put it up for a private auction!¡± ¡°Good. Do you think we¡¯ll get a response right away?¡± I felt a sense of anticipation building. Holding a 20-billion-won item felt surreal. As soon as we listed the item for auction, we started seeing responses. ¡°Hyung, look at this. We¡¯re already getting reactions.¡± [ What? A Fragment of a Tormented Soul just appeared in the auction? ] ¡ª Stop messing around. Why would that item show up now? ¡ª Who even has that? Is it Yu Hana? She went back to Blue Guild, right? ¡ª No way. I don¡¯t think Yu Hana could pull that off. Maybe it was Lee Soo-ah? ¡ª Maybe they worked together. You can¡¯t clear an S-rank dungeon solo, right? [ Real-time Auction: Fragment of a Tormented Soul Listed ] ¡ª Wow. First time seeing this on the market in like eight months. Is this legit? ¡ª Who found it? Was it posted from Korea? ¡ª Yeah, it seems like a Korean seller. ¡ª Looks like international bidders are already catching wind of it. Auction ends in a week. ¡ª A week? The whole world¡¯s going to hear about this by then. ¡ª Doesn¡¯t the U.S. usually scoop up stuff like this? Don¡¯t they have a fund for this kind of thing? [ A Fragment of a Tormented Soul Just Listed from Korea ] ¡ª Sounds like fiction to me. ¡ª Who found it? They¡¯re about to get filthy rich. ¡ª Are you sure it¡¯s from Korea? I¡¯d believe it more if it were from the U.S. or China. ¡ª Has that item ever been found here before? ¡ª Who¡¯s selling it? Is this a scam or something? ¡ª The picture looks legit, though. Thements were flooding in rapidly. Just as Hyung-seok had predicted, the item was drawing a massive amount of attention. It had only been five minutes, and the news was already spreading across everymunity. The power of the inte was overwhelming. It wasn¡¯t just in Korea¡ªinternationalmunities were also buzzing. As Hyung-seok said, the demand was insanely high, but the supply had been so scarce that no one had really noticed. ¡®Wow... What is going on?¡¯ I feltpletely bewildered. It was as if my life had suddenly taken a dramatic turn. ¡®Damn... I was an idiot. I could¡¯ve been living like this all along.¡¯ Regret started to wash over me. Why had I been struggling for so long? ¡°Hyung, look at this¡­¡± Park Hyung-seok¡¯s hands were trembling as he pointed at the screen. ¡°I-it¡¯s already surpassed 25 billion¡­¡± His voice was shaking with emotion¡ªa mix of awe, excitement, and a bit of fear. ¡®Shit... 25 billion?¡¯ Chapter 121 "What''s this?" A staff member under Lee Jin-hyuk¡¯s supervision had been browsing through a forum when he stumbled upon a post that piqued his interest. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the monitor. The world of hunters had been rtively quiettely. After securing Che Su-hyeon, the number one S-rank hunter, Jin-hyuk had expected things to pick up, but instead, everything had been strangely calm. The staff member had been waiting for something exciting to happen within the guild, and now, he might have just found it. The auction news had caught his attention, and as he scrolled through the post, disbelief shed across his face. His hands shook slightly as he kept scrolling, feeling a mix of excitement and unease. His legs began to jitter as he was filled with growing excitement. ¡°No way¡­ it¡¯s the Fragment of a Tormented Soul. It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve seen this. The market¡¯s been bone dry.¡± His expression was one of pure tion. It was clear that something exciting had finally surfaced. Naturally, these high-grade items were something Baekho Guild, backed by the financial might of Taeyang Group, was eager to snap up. Recently, the United States had begun employing simr strategies, making things morepetitive on a global scale. ¡®Damn it. The Americans are definitely going to throw their money at this too.¡¯ He squinted at the screen, his mind racing as he began piecing things together. The excitement was palpable. ¡®Where did thise from? People are saying it¡¯s from Korea¡­¡¯ Everyment in the forum pointed to the item being listed from Korea. ¡®If it¡¯s in Korea, we could try to secretly make contact and secure it before the Americans do¡­¡¯ With Baekho Guild¡¯s influence, they could easily acquire the item in a private deal. But getting reliable information was proving difficult. ¡®Let¡¯s see¡­ how did this even get listed?¡¯ He dug deeper into the listing records, and what he found shocked him. ¡®What? It just appeared out of nowhere?¡¯ Normally, acquiring such a high-tier item required careful nning andrge teams. Word would¡¯ve spread beforehand, or at least there would¡¯ve been hints or preparations. ¡®So it really was posted without warning. No wonder I didn¡¯t know.¡¯ He had worried for a moment that he might have missed out on crucial information, but that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. ¡®Who the hell just throws up a rare item like this without any advance notice? Were they trying to inte its value? Or¡­ something else? This doesn¡¯t seem like a scam.¡¯ Despite his confusion, he knew the only thing that mattered now was securing the item. The how and why could wait. ¡®You need at least twenty hunters, including S-rank and A-rank, to farm an item like this. And even then, the drop rate is insanely low. Whoever got this must have been trying for ages¡­¡¯ He stared at the screen, deep in thought. The situation didn¡¯t make sense. ¡®Who managed to get this? You can¡¯t just waltz in and grab it. It¡¯s not that easy.¡¯ His curiosity was piqued. He scrolled down to check the seller¡¯s details, but what he saw left him even more perplexed. [Anonymous] The bold red letters stood out. ¡®Anonymous? Why? What¡¯s the point?¡¯ Usually, people wanted to show off when they acquired a high-tier item, especially one as valuable as this. It wasn¡¯t something you¡¯d typically keep quiet about. ¡®Why are they hiding their identity? This is an S-rank item. Most people would be bragging about it.¡¯ His confusion deepened. In all his years working with hunters, he¡¯d never seen anything like this. Typically, when someone got their hands on such a rare item, they¡¯d ster it all over the news. It was a big enough deal that articles would be written about it. ¡®No transaction history¡­ anonymous seller¡­ and they just casually listed a Fragment of a Tormented Soul?¡¯ He examined the listing carefully. The photos seemed legitimate¡ªno recycled images, all freshly taken from various angles. He realized something big was happening. Not just Baekho Guild, but the entire global huntermunity was going to be interested in this. ¡®I need to report this immediately.¡¯ He shot up from his seat, a mix of excitement and worry shing across his face. ¡°Guild Leader¡­" The staff member entered the guild leader''s office, his face grim. He hadn¡¯t had much reason to enter the officetely, especially since there had been no high-profile items up for grabs in recent months. ¡°Hmm? What is it? Do you have something to report?¡± Lee Jin-hyuk looked up from the papers he was working on. ¡°Sir¡­ I think you need to see this. The inte is going wild, not just in Korea, but internationally as well.¡± ¡°Internationally?¡± The staff member cautiously handed over a tablet, and Jin-hyuk furrowed his brow as he took it. ¡°A Fragment of a Tormented Soul? This just went up for auction?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The staff member¡¯s voice was tense. Jin-hyuk nced between the tablet and his subordinate, clearly finding the situation strange. ¡°What the hell? How did this suddenly appear? It¡¯s been, what, a year?¡± ¡°Eight months, sir.¡± ¡°And how much did it sell for back then?¡± ¡°Thest one went for about 19 billion won, sir. And there hasn¡¯t been a single one on the market since then.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t the kind of item you just stumble upon, though.¡± Jin-hyuk raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. For him, this was crucial. If he was going to leverage Taeyang Group¡¯s financial power, he needed to secure the best items avable. He had already begun to realize that relying on hunter rankings alone had its limits. Acquiring rare items had be his top priority. ¡°And it¡¯s being sold anonymously?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°So who¡¯s behind this? It must be one of the top 10 guilds¡­¡± His thoughts immediately turned to Lee Soo-ah. He¡¯d heard rumors that she had been gathering S-rank hunters and engaging in some odd activities. ¡°Could it be Lee Soo-ah or Yoo Hana? I heard they¡¯ve been raiding dungeons with a group of S-ranks.¡± His voice was thick with suspicion. ¡°I don¡¯t think so, sir. From what I¡¯ve heard, they¡¯ve been focusing on A-rank and lower dungeons. It seems they¡¯re prioritizing quantity over quality.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Thatplicated things. Whoever had listed the item had to be at least S-rank, but if it wasn¡¯t Lee Soo-ah or Yoo Hana¡­ ¡®Is Su-hyeon secretly nning something?¡¯ He briefly thought of Che Su-hyeon. She hadn¡¯t taken on any official missions for the past two weeks, which made him wonder if she was preparing some sort of surprise. ¡°Are we sure this was listed in Korea?¡± ¡°Yes, sir. The listing was written in Korean, and the background in the photos suggests it was taken in Korea.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Something was off. This was no ordinary situation. ¡°We need to secure this item, no matter what. It¡¯s only been a few hours, but word is already spreading overseas.¡±@@novelbin@@ The staff member¡¯s expression was filled with concern. Given Baekho Guild¡¯s track record, they would do anything to get their hands on the Fragment. ¡°Right¡­ but who the hell put this up?¡± Jin-hyuk was more interested in who had listed the item than in the item itself. ¡®We can buy the item with money. The real question is who posted it¡­¡¯ His eyes narrowed. This was an entirely new and strange situation. ¡°Let¡¯s see what the price is at¡­¡± Jin-hyuk nced at the auction and immediately felt a surge of frustration. ¡°40 billion?¡± His voice dripped with annoyance, and his face twisted into a frown. ¡°It¡¯s getting a lot of attention, sir. People are mystified. The market for this item has been dry for so long¡­¡± ¡°And it¡¯s only been a few hours? The price jumped that high already?¡± ¡°I think the Americans have already started bidding.¡± ¡°Tch¡­¡± Jin-hyuk scratched the back of his head, clearly agitated. ¡°Keep a close eye on this. I¡¯ll start digging around on my end.¡± His tone was firm as he stood up and left the room. ¡®If anyone can get their hands on this, it¡¯s probably Su-hyeon¡­¡¯ A glimmer of hope sparked in his mind. Chapter 123 "Are you sure it''s okay to bid this much?" "Yes, the guild master said it''s fine. Just go ahead." That was the conversation that just took ce. Baekho Guild was moving quickly. Ever since Lee Jin-hyuk learned about the auction, he focused all his attention on it. "We have to buy this item. Use any means necessary to acquire it," he had emphasized before leaving. Naturally, the members of Baekho Guild were feeling the pressure to secure the item at all costs. "I raised the bid to 60 billion for now, to try and push out the otherpetitors." "But what if the American bidders throw their capital into the mix?" "Hmm¡­ I¡¯m not sure what will happen, but..." They checked the remaining days disyed on the monitor. D-7. There was still plenty of time left. "Sigh¡­ can''t we just end this now? I want to buy it outright. Have you contacted the auction house? Maybe we could offer them whatever they want and have them give it to us directly?" "I already checked, but since it was posted with an anonymous condition, it''s impossible." "Sigh... The guild master specifically ordered us to get this item." With the pressure mounting, the Baekho Guild staff were on edge, struggling to find a solution. "Who the hell put that item up for sale?" "That¡¯s the mystery. We¡¯ve tried to gather information, but no one knows." "What about the S-rank hunters? I heard there''s a rumor that Lee Soo-ah is gathering other S-rank hunters." "But those guys are only running A-rank dungeons. They have nothing to do with this." The manager of Baekho Guild scratched his head, feeling the pressure weighing down on him. "Anyway, we¡¯ve prepared up to 100 billion in funds. Use it wisely and scare off any other bidders. Make them give up." "Understood." The tension in the room was palpable. "Su-hyeon." "O-Oppa¡­" Che Su-hyeon was startled by Lee Jin-hyuk¡¯s sudden visit. She seemed a bit anxious, wondering if he was going to ask her to do something again. "Hey, do you have anything for me?" "Something for you?" "Yeah, like a surprise gift. Don¡¯t you have anything prepared for me?" "Huh¡­?" Che Su-hyeon looked utterly confused, as if she couldn¡¯t understand what he was talking about. ¡®A gift? All of a sudden? For Jin-hyuk oppa?¡¯ "Nothing¡­ nothing at all?" "Really? You¡¯re sure?" Now it was Lee Jin-hyuk''s turn to give her a strange look. "Um¡­ yeah, nothing¡­ What are you thinking about?" "Have you found any items? Maybe snuck into an S-rank dungeon without telling me?" "No¡­ I haven¡¯t." Che Su-hyeon cautiously responded. It was clear that Lee Jin-hyuk had high expectations, but she couldn¡¯t figure out exactly what he wanted. ¡®A gift? An item?¡¯ "Sigh. You really don¡¯t have anything? You''re sure?" "I don¡¯t even know what you¡¯re talking about. Just tell me." "Ugh, damn it." Lee Jin-hyuk was starting to get annoyed. ¡®What the hell? So it wasn¡¯t her? Then who was it?¡¯ His expression turned puzzled, clearly trying to piece things together. "What is it? Just tell me, what¡¯s going on?" "Is this not yours?" He thrust something in front of her. "Huh¡­? What¡¯s this?" "A Fragment of a Tormented Soul. It suddenly appeared on the market. There hadn¡¯t been a single one for eight months, and now it¡¯s just up for sale. Wasn¡¯t it you?" "Me? No, it wasn¡¯t me. Why?" "Sigh... If it wasn¡¯t you, then who the hell was it? Isn¡¯t this something only S-rank hunters can get?" "Yeah¡­ it is." Che Su-hyeon knew very well how valuable the Fragment of a Tormented Soul was. It was a highly coveted crafting material that Baekho Guild would be after, no doubt. ¡®What? That fragment is up for sale? It¡¯s such a rare material¡­¡¯ Just like Lee Jin-hyuk, she began reacting with concern. ¡®Could it be¡­ Ji-hoon oppa?¡¯ Her mind raced. With ess to Baekho Guild¡¯s informationwork, she could connect the dots quickly. ¡®Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana are running A-rank dungeons right now, so it¡¯s not them¡­ Then¡­¡¯ The only name that came to her mind was Baek Ji-hoon. ¡®I¡¯m sure it¡¯s Ji-hoon oppa.¡¯ She quickly tapped her screen to check the auction information. ¡®Of course. The seller is anonymous. There¡¯s no reason to list it anonymously unless it¡¯s someone who doesn¡¯t want attention.¡¯ Her eyes narrowed, and she started to look suspicious. For months, no one had listed this item, and now, suddenly, it¡¯s on the market. It didn¡¯t add up. ¡®It¡¯s definitely Ji-hoon oppa trying to keep a low profile.¡¯ Her emotions began to swirl. ¡®No way¡­ Did he really get that item so easily? In such a short time? How?¡¯ It felt like somethingplicated was happening behind the scenes, something she wasn¡¯t aware of. ¡®Is Ji-hoon oppa able to obtain items this easily? No¡­ it can¡¯t be¡­¡¯ Her eyes started to tremble with doubt, and she felt a growing sense of difort. ¡®Please¡­ Ji-hoon oppa, please stop¡­¡¯ The thought of Baek Ji-hoon seeding only brought her more pain. It reminded her of her mistakes, which haunted her over and over again. Che Su-hyeon clenched her fists, her body trembling. It felt as though Ji-hoon was beginning to stretch and rise, preparing to step into his power. "Are you sure it wasn¡¯t you?" "Yeah¡­ it wasn¡¯t me." "Then¡­ do you have any idea who it might be?" Lee Jin-hyuk, watching her closely, shifted his focus to her, sensing something from her expression. ¡®What¡¯s this? She looks like she knows something¡­¡¯ He was taking the situation very seriously, picking up on her subtle reactions. "No, I don¡¯t know. Maybe it¡¯s Lee Soo-ah?" Che Su-hyeon quickly deflected with an excuse. "No, they¡¯re in A-rank dungeons right now. No way that item came from there." "Hmm¡­" "Sigh¡­ Who the hell could it be¡­?" Lee Jin-hyuk loosened his tie in frustration, but there were no answers. "Hey, if you find out who it is, let me know immediately. And you¡ªcan¡¯t you handle this? I thought you said you could deal with stuff like this." He was speaking in an using tone, as if she had broken a contract. "Um¡­ not right now¡­" Che Su-hyeon stayed passive, unsure of how to handle the pressure. "Goddamn it. What the hell are you even good for?" Finally, Lee Jin-hyuk seemed ready to explode. His ns were falling apart, and now he felt like he was falling behind. Suddenly, someone he didn¡¯t even know had started auctioning off a rare item. "Ugh¡­ alright! Stop it! Just stop! I¡¯m trying my best here, okay? Give me some time." Her voice was desperate. Che Su-hyeon realized she couldn¡¯t just sit and wait anymore. [Ji-hoon oppa¡­ can you make time for me? There¡¯s something I want to talk about¡­] It was a text from Che Su-hyeon. The excitement I had felt from watching the auction numbers rise instantly faded. ¡®What¡¯s this? Does she know something? Is that why she¡¯s texting me?¡¯ I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if she was aware of something, considering the auction price had jumped to 60 billion as soon as Baekho Guild joined the bidding. Was she reaching out because she knew? ¡®Nah, no way. How could she know? It¡¯s all anonymous. I just need to bleed Baekho Guild dry.¡¯ Hyung-seok had mentioned earlier that once Baekho Guild starts bidding, they¡¯ll do whatever it takes to win, no matter the cost. They always y it safe, ensuring they get what they want. [Busy. Don¡¯t contact me.] I shut her down immediately. ¡®Yeah, what¡¯s the point of her clinging to me now? Get lost.¡¯ Knock, knock.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Yes?¡± It was Cha Isul. "Hey, Ji-hoon, are you free tonight?" "Huh? Tonight?" "Yeah, I was thinking we could grab dinner together. We¡¯ve never really had a proper meal, just the two of us." "Sure, sounds good." I was in a good mood, so I agreed right away. "Hey, what¡¯s got you smiling like that? You seem really happy." Cha Isul tilted her head, looking at me with curiosity. "Ah, yeah. Something really good happened." I couldn¡¯t help but smile. After all, how could anyone not grin when an item they got from a dungeon just reached 60 billion? "See you after work, then." "Yep!" Cha Isul left with a bright smile. "Hyung-seok, how high do you think this will go¡­?" After Cha Isul left, I became curious about how far the auction might go. I wasn¡¯t familiar with how long auctions usuallysted, but I was so excited that I wanted to get my hands on that money as soon as possible. "Hmm¡­ I think it could reach 100 billion. Usually, when items get this heated, they can go up to five times their normal price." "100 billion? Seriously?" I swore in disbelief. "Yeah, haha¡­" Hyung-seokughed like a madman, clearly as overwhelmed as I was. The auction was making both of us deliriously happy. Chapter 125 ¡°Hahahahaha!¡± Lee Soo-ah let out a heartyugh. It was the happiest and most carefree expression she¡¯d had in a long time. ¡°Hehehe.¡± Yoo Hana, standing next to her, was no different. As an S-rank hunter, she hadn¡¯tughed like this in ages, but today was different. "Soo-ah, you seem really happy. It feels like it¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve properly worked as S-rank hunters." "Right? Same here." They had just finished a task assigned by Baek Ji-hoon, leading other S-rank hunters andpleting it wlessly. Within a short time, the eight S-rank hunters had done something truly extraordinary. "Hehe, we worked so hard I didn¡¯t even notice howte it had gotten." "Looks like we were really focused. Hohoho." They were both filled with a sense of victory, clearly pleased with how they had managed to outmaneuver Baek Ji-hoon. ¡®Hmph. Ji-hoon, I gave you all this attention, and you didn¡¯t even look my way. You¡¯ll have no choice but to react to me this time.¡¯ Lee Soo-ah felt a deep sense of frustration and unfairness towards Ji-hoon, and she wanted nothing more than to prove herself. ¡®He probably thought I wouldn¡¯t be able toplete the mission. But look at me. I can do it¡ªeasily.¡¯ Despite theplicated tasks that had been twisted and stacked against her, she hadpleted them all. ¡®Tomorrow... I¡¯ll be there bright and early, waiting for him. Hahahaha.¡¯ Lee Soo-ahughed joyfully, and Yoo Hana wasn¡¯t far behind. ¡®Ji-hoon... He¡¯s no ordinary guy. I thought he¡¯d just do what I told him, but he¡¯s not that easy... He even knows how to manage S-rank hunters. Hmm. Could he be trying to charm other S-ranks, too?¡¯ Yoo Hana found herself in a simr position to Lee Soo-ah. She, too, was frustrated by her inability to grab Ji-hoon¡¯s attention. Until now, everyone she¡¯d met had showered her with admiration and interest, but Ji-hoon¡¯s indifference was driving her crazy. ¡®It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll just prove myself with skill. Ji-hoon doesn¡¯t know what I was like back in the Blue Guild. I¡¯m Yoo Hana, the S-rank hunter. He just doesn¡¯t know me well yet. Hmph!¡¯ "Alright, Yoo Hana, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow morning. How about we report in early?" "Yes, let¡¯s go early and wait for him. I can¡¯t wait to see Ji-hoon¡¯s surprised face." "Me too. Sleep well~" The famously antagonistic pair, Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana, waved goodbye to each other with a friendly smile and parted ways. ¡°Tell me, Jin-soo.¡± It waste at night, in a dimly lit corner of a caf¨¦. Che Su-hyeon and Park Jin-soo were seated together. ¡°What exactly is going on in Blue Guild?¡± Her voice trembled as she asked. Che Su-hyeon was visibly anxious, a stark contrast to the arrogant attitude she had shown when theyst met. She seemed to sense that things were getting dangerous, and it was bing clear to her that she was no longer in a position of overwhelming dominance. She needed allies, and that¡¯s why she was now turning to Park Jin-soo for help. ¡°Sigh... Well¡­¡± Park Jin-soo scratched the back of his head, unsure of what to say. ¡°There¡¯s so much conflicting information. Honestly, no one really knows exactly what¡¯s happening inside Blue Guild right now¡­¡± His face was tense. ¡°Please, tell me whatever you know, even if it¡¯s unclear.¡± Che Su-hyeon, her voice shaking, was now speaking respectfully to him. It was clear she was desperate. ¡°Well... Blue Guild is restructuring very quickly around Hunter Baek Ji-hoon. I¡¯m sure you know that he¡¯s now a team leader. He¡¯s also gathering S-rank hunters for senior positions. Yesterday and today, from what I¡¯ve heard, he¡¯s been organizing dungeon raids with S-rank hunters from other guilds¡­¡± ¡°Was it Ji-hoon who ordered the S-rank hunters to gather for raids?¡± Che Su-hyeon¡¯s voice wavered. She sounded deeply suspicious. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯ve heard, but the information is all over the ce. Some people are saying that Hunters Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana were the ones tasked with gathering other S-rank hunters¡­¡± Park Jin-soo sounded uncertain, as the information was hard to verify. It wasn¡¯t easy to dig up solid details about Baek Ji-hoon, and with Che Su-hyeon pressing him for answers, he could only provide what he had heard. ¡°So... It seems like Ji-hoon is using Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana to recruit other S-ranks¡­ Hah¡­¡± Che Su-hyeon began to draw her own conclusions, unaware that much of the information was inurate. ¡°And... what¡¯s the rtionship between Lee Soo-ah and Baek Ji-hoon?¡± ¡°Sigh¡­ The rumors are unclear¡­¡± He hesitated, clearly unsure how to proceed. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Even if it¡¯s just rumors, I want to hear it.¡± ¡°Well... there¡¯s a rumor going around the guild that Lee Soo-ah and Baek Ji-hoon are dating, but that Baek Ji-hoon still can¡¯t forget about his ex-girlfriend, and that he¡¯s thinking about going back to her¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± Che Su-hyeon shot to her feet, her expression lighting up as if she¡¯d just heard the best news of her life. ¡®What... What is this? Ji-hoon oppa?¡¯ Her face brightened even more. ¡®Why is she so happy all of a sudden?¡¯ Park Jin-soo frowned slightly, confused by her reaction. He knew well that rumors within thepany often held little truth. In a ce where a casualment about liking coffee in the morning could turn into rumors of opening a coffee shop by the afternoon, uracy wasn¡¯t their strength. ¡®Sigh... there¡¯s still not much useful information, but... Che Su-hyeon is really pressing me.¡¯ From his perspective, Che Su-hyeon was a major figure. Even being an S-rank hunter was impressive, but she was ranked number one among them. ¡®If I can earn her favor... maybe I can join her team. Then I could secure a powerful position¡­¡¯ He had high hopes, though for now, the information he had wasn¡¯t very helpful. ¡®Still... she¡¯s reacting to this silly rumor.¡¯ Her reaction was puzzling.@@novelbin@@ ¡®Is she Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s ex or something?¡¯ He couldn¡¯t believe it. To him, Che Su-hyeon and Baek Ji-hoon didn¡¯t seem like a match at all. Che Su-hyeon had a sharp, almost predatory air about her, while Baek Ji-hoon seemed much more subdued. ¡®Unless... was Baek Ji-hoon her ve or something? That wouldn¡¯t count as a rtionship, would it?¡¯ A swirl of conflicting thoughts filled his mind, but none of them seemed certain. ¡®Could it be... that Ji-hoon oppa still hasn¡¯t forgotten me?¡¯ Che Su-hyeon¡¯s face was now glowing with happiness. The information she had just heard filled her with joy, and she felt her heart racing. ¡®He... he still hasn¡¯t forgotten about me.¡¯ Even though office gossip shouldn¡¯t be taken at face value, this was something Che Su-hyeon had hoped for, and she quickly believed it. ¡°And... is there anything else? Any other stories?¡± Having collected herself a bit, she sat back down. ¡°Well... there¡¯s also a rumor that Hunter Cha Isul has feelings for Baek Ji-hoon...¡± ¡°Hah¡­¡± Che Su-hyeon scowled, annoyed. ¡®Why her too¡­?¡¯ She had already heard a bit about it. Cha Isul, Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s childhood friend, had quickly been recruited into the Blue Guild. Cha Isul¡¯s swift transfer from the prestigious Zeus Guild had been a major topic in the huntermunity. ¡®Hah¡­ for her to fall for Ji-hoon oppa so easily¡­ she must really like him.¡¯ Che Su-hyeon narrowed her eyes. She had felt a glimmer of hope, but now an annoying obstacle had appeared. ¡®It¡¯s hard enough dealing with Lee Soo-ah¡­ and now Cha Isul too...¡¯ ¡°And aside from Lee Soo-ah and Cha Isul... any other hunters? Don¡¯t tell me¡­ Hunter Yoo Hana¡­¡± ¡°Yoo Hana also seems to have a lot of interest in Baek Ji-hoon¡­¡± ¡°Hah¡­¡± Park Jin-soo was speaking cautiously, knowing this wasn¡¯t the kind of news Che Su-hyeon wanted to hear. Every time he mentioned Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s rtionships with women, he could see the tension increasing in Che Su-hyeon¡¯s expression. ¡®What¡¯s going on with this guy, Baek Ji-hoon?¡¯ The situation was iprehensible. While Park Jin-soo didn¡¯t fully believe in the office rumors, most of the gossip in Blue Guild revolved around women being drawn to Baek Ji-hoon. Yet, Che Su-hyeon kept asking about and reacting to every bit of information on the subject. ¡°Um... excuse me¡­¡± Park Jin-soo decided to take a leap of faith and ask. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Do you... have feelings for Hunter Baek Ji-hoon?¡± ¡°I... I don¡¯t!!! That¡¯s incredibly rude of you to ask!¡± Che Su-hyeon responded almost explosively, clearly trying to conceal her true feelings. ¡°Ah¡­ I see. I apologize. I overstepped.¡± Park Jin-soo quickly apologized, not wanting to risk angering her further. ¡®Sigh... so what is this all about? Theseplicated rtionships?¡¯ The tangled web of S-rank hunters surrounding Baek Ji-hoon was impossible to unravel. Chapter 128 "Right. That¡¯s what it was.¡± Lee Soo-ah nodded her head as she returned to the office. She recalled Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s expression from just moments ago. An expression that seemed utterly clueless. His reaction was as if it was the first time he had heard anything like it. ¡®He¡¯s acting like this... all for me... Ji-hoon...¡¯ She felt her heart flutter slightly. ¡®He wanted me to grow quickly... for my sake... So that¡¯s why he acted like he didn¡¯t know anything¡­¡¯ She nodded slightly. It was a moment where her heart inexplicably trembled. Until now, she had never met anyone who truly cared for her. All the men around her had only ever been obsessed with her, clinging to her. But Baek Ji-hoon was putting immense pressure on her. For the first time in her life, she had resisted such pressure fiercely... But then, she started to think it was all for her. ¡®Someone who cares for me... Someone who acts for me... Ji-hoon... He¡¯s a true cold city man...¡¯ Her expression turned slightly trembling. She thought it was the first love she had ever experienced. ¡®Yes. From now on, I¡¯ll live right. Just for myself.¡¯ With firm determination, she stood up. Yoo Hana¡¯s situation was the same. ¡®He truly cared for me. That¡¯s why he was so cold and forceful... I see now...¡¯ Her pupils trembled slightly. She felt a strange emptiness in her office. ¡®I¡¯ve always lived like this... No one has ever truly understood me or cared for me. Everyone only ever tried to gain something for themselves or tried to build a connection with me. This is the first time¡­¡¯ She couldn¡¯t control her shaking emotions. She felt like she hadpletely fallen for Baek Ji-hoon in an unusual way. ¡®Hana, stay strong. From now on, live your life. You need to repay Ji-hoon¡¯s care...¡¯ She clutched her trembling heart, trying to regain herposure. ¡°Hey, Hyung-seok. We don¡¯t have to pay taxes on this, right?¡± ¡°Nope~ That¡¯s all taken care of when you deposit it with the guild. Ie tax is almost 50%, after all. Once you give it to the guild, taxes are basically all handled~ Hehe.¡± He was beaming, grinning widely. Looking at the billion won in his hand, he was in an exceptionally good mood. ¡°Hyung... Thank you so much... sniff... I¡¯m not even a hunter. I never imagined this could happen to me... sniff...¡± Tears of gratitude seemed ready to spill from his eyes. ¡°Hey, this is just the beginning. We¡¯ve only sold one item so far. There¡¯s so much more to do.¡± ¡°Yeah... sniff¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous. [Wow, I saw the auction closed early. That¡¯s crazy.] ? I saw it too. Sold for 10 billion won. ? Baekho Guild bought it. Those guys are insane, they must be swimming in money. ? Well, it¡¯s not something you can buy with money, so I get it. ? These days, there¡¯s no supply at all, so it makes sense. It¡¯s not like they¡¯re wasting money. ? But isn¡¯t 10 billion a bit much? It sold for 2 billionst time. ? Prices are based on supply and demand. If you think it¡¯s too expensive, go try to get it yourself. [Is that person going to keep getting fragments of the tormented soul? Is it luck? Or did they pick it up somewhere?] ? If I were them, I¡¯d run dungeons like crazy every day. ? But S-rank hunters can¡¯t even clear S-rank dungeons due to status effects, right? How are they doing it? ? Yesterday, female S-rank hunters cleared an A-rank dungeon, so who is it? ? Who knows? Maybe they¡¯re not really an S-rank hunter? ? Stop talking nonsense. If they weren¡¯t an S-rank hunter, how could they get that item? Did they make it with alchemy? ? Either way, I¡¯m super jealous. Their life is made. ? Not quite. After taxes and fees, the government takes 90%. ? Damn, what do they even do for hunters? ? They give you permission to enter, lol. ? Still, even at 10%, that¡¯s crazy, isn¡¯t it? 1 billion won? You¡¯d need 20 years to earn that with a 50-million-a-year sry. ? Damn, I¡¯m so jealous. I want to be a hunter too. Of course, the inte was buzzing with talk about us. Everyone was incredibly curious about who we were. They were also wondering if more items like this would continue to appear in the future. ¡®Well, we¡¯ll keep going.¡¯ ¡°Heheh. Hyung, how about we hit a different dungeon next? Hehehe...¡± Hyung-seok, who had been digging through various things, smirked suspiciously. ¡°A different dungeon?¡± ¡°Yeah. I have a feeling, Hyung, that your abilities are limitless. I think we could aim for even rarer items. Hehehe...¡± He was busy scribbling something down.@@novelbin@@ ¡°This will be a breeze for you, Hyung. Hehe. Just trust me and follow my lead.¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll do what you say. It¡¯s no big deal to me.¡± ¡°Hehe. Thank you. This time, let¡¯s aim for something even pricier. Hehe...¡± Knock, knock. ¡°Yes.¡± Creak. It was Cha Manager. ¡°Ahem, I heard the news... You sold the item?¡± He must have seen it online. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Both Hyung-seok and I couldn¡¯t help but smile happily. ¡°Wow... That¡¯s insane. How did you... Wow... Ji-hoon, I knew from the moment you joined us that you¡¯d make it big~ Didn¡¯t I say so?¡± ¡°Haha... Did you?¡± ¡°Of course! My eye for people is spot on.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± I bowed my head to Manager Cha. ¡°But Ji-hoon, how about enhancing the items before you sell them?¡± ¡°Enhancing them?¡± ¡°Yeah... If you could enhance it, the price would skyrocket...¡± He looked at me with an expectant expression. ¡°Hmm... I¡¯m not too familiar with enhancing...¡± ¡°That¡¯s where Ie in.¡± Manager Cha quickly moved closer and grabbed my hand. He looked at me with a desperate expression. ¡°Whoa, Manager Cha, don¡¯t get any ideas. I¡¯m still here, and I know plenty about enhancing.¡± ¡°Hey, Hyung-seok, can¡¯t I join in too? I know my stuff.¡± Manager Cha started begging. ¡°Haha, no way... Ji-hoon is mine. Haha...¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy with your department¡¯s work?¡± ¡°Haha... I am busy... But this is much more interesting...¡± His eyes sparkled. ¡°Ahem...¡± ¡°Hey, there¡¯s something I want to suggest...¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°How about we reorganize the department? Things are a bit chaotic right now, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Reorganize the department...?¡± ¡°Yeah... We should split into six teams like before and create a separate S-rank hunter team. And I¡¯d love to join your secretarial office...¡± He spoke with gleaming eyes. ¡°You want to be my secretary?¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve wanted to since the first day you joined.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie.¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡± He looked utterly sincere. ¡°Hmm... I¡¯ll think about reorganizing the department. First, let¡¯s gather the S-rank hunters...¡± I recalled the six hunters Lee Soo-ah had mentioned. ¡®Could it be... those people areing over to our side?¡¯ If we could gather the S-rank hunters, we could create a super-elite team. ¡®If that happens... It¡¯ll be an insanebination... But will the S-rank hunters reallye to us?¡¯ I was feeling a bit uncertain. ¡°Hmm...¡± Lee Haru, Lee Yeji, Lee Areum, Cha Ayeon, Park Yeo-eun, and Jo Suji. The six hunters were gathered in one ce. Their expressions were quite strange. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t the Blue Guild acting really weird these days...?¡± Cha Ayeon broke the silence. ¡°Yes... It¡¯s really weird. Soo-ah kept pestering me, so I had no choice but to help... But does any guild assign missions like that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying. It felt like a mission designed to screw us over.¡± ¡°Is the Blue Guild leader out of his mind...?¡± Lee Haru, Park Yeo-eun, and Jo Suji nodded in agreement. They felt like there had been significant upheaval in the hunter industrytely. ¡°That guy, Baek Ji-hoon... He seems a bit unusual...¡± ¡°Right? He suddenly became an S-rank hunter? And after he joined, Yoo Hana came back to the Blue Guild, and Cha Isul too...¡± They were struggling to adjust to the situation. On top of that, they were also a bit worried about their own positions. The hierarchy of S-rank hunters had been solid for a long time. But now, Cha Soo-hyun had suddenly risen to the top, and Baek Ji-hoon had appeared out of nowhere, shaking things up. ¡°Hmm... What if we joined the Blue Guild too...?¡± Lee Areum nced at the others, gauging their reactions. She seemed to have already made up her mind. ¡°Huh? You¡¯re saying you want to transfer to the Blue Guild...?¡± Everyone felt quite confused by the situation. ¡°Judging by the current state of things... The Blue Guild is growing rapidly. Just look at Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana...¡± Lee Areum bit her lip slightly. ¡®That¡¯s true. The world is changingpletely... What on earth is going on...?¡¯ Lee Yeji recalled seeing Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s status window. ¡®He can transfer points to others...? Hmm...¡¯ Her eyes wavered slightly. Chapter 130 A few dayster... "Hmm... I think we should just consolidate the departments altogether..." I was thinking of changing the direction of Team A¡¯s management. "Are you nning another reorganization?" "Yeah, I was considering merging everything into one." I thought back to when Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana had recently led other S-rank hunters into the dungeon. "Doesn''t it seem like dividing teams and departments is meaningless at this point? We should just keep the ranks and get rid of the rest." "Well, smaller guilds do that, but do you think it¡¯s okay for us to do the same?" "They seem to be managing just fine without much oversight." Looking at how dungeons were being cleared recently, that was the case. Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana were going at it full force, voluntarily. I hadn¡¯t even given them any specific instructions, but they were practically tearing through dungeons like mad. In fact, it seemed that the departments were only restricting them. Now, they were working on their own without needing any organizational boundaries. "Wait... you''re saying we should just get rid of the departments altogether?" "Yes, I¡¯m thinking of leaving only the ranks. My original n was to assign each department to an S-rank hunter, but I don¡¯t see the need for that anymore." I wondered if they¡¯d be disappointed. After all, the S-rank hunters were probably looking forward to being assigned to their own departments. Everyone in the hunter world wants to work with an S-rank hunter. "Th-thank you!!!"@@novelbin@@ "...?" The reaction was unexpected. "Oh, we thought we were going to die!!! Lee Soo-ah was running us ragged. There was no way we could keep up with the S-rank hunters." "It was the same for us. Yoo Hana was way ahead of us, clearing dungeons like it was apetition. We couldn¡¯t keep up at all." They were practically tearing up as they spoke, clearly overwhelmed by the previous restructuring. ''What? They¡¯re actually relieved?'' I felt a bit guilty, but they seemed to be happy about the change. Instead of assigning S-ranks to separate departments, the n was to let them work together freely as one team. ''Did Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana really push them that hard over the past few days?'' Everyone let out a sigh of relief, looking like they¡¯d been freed from shackles. Their expressions were practically filled with gratitude, as if they were looking at their savior. "Honestly, A-rank should stick to A-rank, and B-rank should do the same. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s gotten into Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hanately. They¡¯ve been tearing through dungeons like crazy." "Exactly! They used to handle things just fine, but now, all of a sudden, they¡¯re acting like this... Why?" The heads of departments 1 and 2 were staring at me, as if I was the one responsible. "I didn¡¯t say a word. Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana are doing this on their own." I waved my hands in denial, but it didn¡¯t seem like anyone believed me. "Reorganizing the departments? You''re going to merge them? All at once?" "Yes. It seems like Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana are managing things well on their own." "Huh...? But don¡¯trge guilds usually divide things more systematically?" "True, but Lee Soo-ah was basically doing things her own way anyway, right?" "Well... that¡¯s true..." Lee Soo-ah looked a bit flustered, as if I had hit a nerve. "So, I think we should just leave the ranks and let everyone work freely. I believe Team A¡¯s profits will stay high regardless." "Yes." Lee Soo-ah left with a satisfied smile on her face. ''What¡¯s she so happy about?'' Everyone seemed to be content with the situation. I had expected some pushback before making the changes, but it looked like everyone had their own ns in mind. ''Hehe... Whether the departments are divided or merged, it doesn¡¯t matter to me. As long as I do what Ji-hoon wants and be the number one S-rank hunter, that¡¯s all that matters.'' Lee Soo-ah was giggling to herself, feeling very pleased. She had made significant progress over the past few days. There had been a gap between her and the current number one S-rank, Cha Soo-hyun, but she was quickly closing that gap. ''Hmm... but Yoo Hana...'' She couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Yoo Hana. It seemed like she had the same goal. ''What the hell... Yoo Hana... Seriously...'' Herpetitive spirit towards Yoo Hana was reigniting. Although they had formed an alliance for a while, in this situation, the first to get ahead and please Baek Ji-hoon would be the winner. ''Ji-hoon may not want to make it obvious, but I know he¡¯s rooting for me. To meet his expectations, I have to be the number one S-rank as soon as possible...'' Lee Soo-ah set her sights on Cha Soo-hyun. The biggest obstacle in her way was Cha Soo-hyun. ''He wants me to be number one again. If I reim the top spot, Ji-hoon will definitely pay more attention to me. Hehe.'' She smiled brightly as she returned to the office. "Soo-ah, you seem to be in a good moodtely. Not tired? I heard from Manager Park that you were running through dungeons like crazy yesterday." Manager Cha was looking at her suspiciously, as if something was off. "Yes, I¡¯m going to be the number one S-rank again. I¡¯m working hard to take Cha Soo-hyun down. Hehe." "Why the sudden change? You weren¡¯t like this before." "Well, it¡¯s my decision. I was struggling with status effects before, but since Ji-hoon arrived, I¡¯ve been doing much better. I think Ji-hoon is having a positive influence on me." "Hmm. Is that so? Well, I won¡¯t stop you from working hard, Soo-ah." He tilted his head slightly in confusion and walked away. "Sigh, Manager Cha. I¡¯ve always worked hard. Why does he keep picking a fight with me?" She didn¡¯t seem to care too much. Bang! Lee Jin-hyuk stormed in, mming the door open. "Hey, Soo-hyun! Soo-hyun!!!" "What is it? Can you keep it down?" Cha Soo-hyun nced at him with a slightly annoyed expression. She was too busy figuring out how to get back to Baek Ji-hoon. "Ugh... Do you even know what Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana are doing right now? They¡¯re going crazy trying to be the number one S-rank. I heard they¡¯re about to overtake you. What are you doing?" Lee Jin-hyuk was visibly upset. The only reason he had managed to hold on to Cha Soo-hyun was because of her position, but now that reason was at risk of disappearing. ''Wait... Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana are suddenly working hard? To be number one? What¡¯s going on?'' She looked a bit surprised. ''Whatever. I don¡¯t care. I¡¯ll just focus on getting back to Ji-hoon oppa.'' Cha Soo-hyun thought everything would be fine once she got back to Baek Ji-hoon, so she didn¡¯t care about anything else. "So what? What do you expect me to do? What do you want from me?" "Are you kidding me? It¡¯s been almost a month now, and what have you done? You were recruited as the number one S-rank, but what are you doing? Are you just going to live like this?" His voice grew louder, fueled by the scolding he had just received from his father. "Ugh, I don¡¯t care. Do whatever you want. I¡¯m going to live my life and do what I need to do, so stop bothering me." Their rtionship was breaking apart, cracking at the seams. "What? Didn¡¯t you want to marry me? If you keep acting like this, I¡¯ll call the whole thing off." "Ha." Cha Soo-hyun let out a dryugh. She stood up, ring at him. "Fine. Do whatever you want. End it if you want. I¡¯m sick of this. What am I, your toy? Always telling me what to do. You¡¯re so annoying. Fine, let¡¯s end it here. I have plenty of things to do, so I¡¯ll just focus on my work." Cha Soo-hyun showed no signs of backing down. "What? Are you serious? Damn..." Lee Jin-hyuk looked like he wanted to say something more, but he bit his tongue. "Fine. I¡¯ll let it slide today. But if you mess with me like this again..." "What? Mess with you? Are you kidding? I¡¯m the number one S-rank. What are you?" It was clear that she had decided to end things with him. "Ugh... Are you serious right now?" Lee Jin-hyuk looked like he wanted to hit her, but he couldn¡¯t, not against the number one S-rank. "Whatever. Just think about what I said. Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana are working their butts off to take the number one spot. Everyone in Blue Guild knows about it. If you don¡¯t want to be left behind, you¡¯d better start trying." Bang! Lee Jin-hyuk mmed the door in frustration as he left. "Hah... This is ridiculous." Cha Soo-hyun frowned deeply as she stared at the door. ''This is all Jin-hyuk¡¯s fault. Really. I¡¯ve always liked Ji-hoon oppa. But he¡¯s the one who messed everything up. He ruined my life. Jin-hyuk... I¡¯m ending this now. I¡¯m done.'' She was beginning to gather her thoughts, realizing that there was no future for her in the Baekho Guild. ''Yeah. I¡¯ll wrap things up here. Then I¡¯ll sincerely apologize to Ji-hoon oppa. Maybe he¡¯ll take me back. He¡¯s probably waiting for me.'' Lost in her fantasy, she smiled to herself, already imagining her happy reunion with Ji-hoon. Chapter 132 ¡°Hah... is that how it¡¯s going to be? I guess so, huh?¡± Yoo Hana had the look of someone who had already made up her mind. Lee Soo-ah had a simr expression. It was a situation where they were almost forced into it. If six S-rank hunters were suddenly recruited, their positions within the Blue Guild would shrink rapidly. ¡°Hah... Hana, how about this? I¡¯ll take first ce, and you can have second. We¡¯ve always done that, right?¡± Lee Soo-ah cautiously gauged Yoo Hana¡¯s reaction. Her intention was to avoid an unnecessary heatedpetition. ¡°Why? I was nning toe in first this time. I made a pretty firm resolve when I left the entertainment industry. I think you¡¯re underestimating me, Soo-ah. We shouldpete fairly.¡± Yoo Hana brushed off Soo-ah¡¯s suggestion with a dismissive gesture, as if it were absurd. ¡°Come on, Hana! Think about the public image. I¡¯ve held first ce for a long time, so it¡¯s better this way. Plus, there¡¯s no reason for us to fight each other too fiercely. Isn¡¯t ourmon enemy Hunter Cha Soo-hyun?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but... I still want to be first. Don¡¯t try to stop me. And as for Hunter Cha Soo-hyun, I¡¯m definitely going to leave her behind. What matters to me is whether or not I can surpass you, Hunter Soo-ah.¡± A tense atmosphere was building between the two, as if they were unwilling to lose to each other under any circumstances. A new crisis was brewing. ¡®Ugh. Why are these S-rank hunters suddenly showing up again? Seriously...¡¯ Lee Soo-ah was starting to get annoyed by the situation. She had been so close to approaching Baek Ji-hoon, only for it to be ruined at thest minute. ¡®Damn it... I could¡¯ve monopolized the opportunity if I¡¯d yed my cards right. But it¡¯s okay. If I handle things well from now on, I can take everything back from Cha Soo-hyun. I¡¯ll definitely look better than Yoo Hana.¡¯ ¡°Did you... see earlier? The S-rank hunters arriving...?¡± The atmosphere in Team A was restless. Rumors were already spreading about the six well-known S-rank hunters visiting the Blue Guild. No one could concentrate on work. What mattered more than the tasks at hand was figuring out why the S-rank hunters had flocked to the Blue Guild all at once. ¡°I saw them in person. It¡¯s real.¡± ¡°I heard they¡¯re joining the Blue Guild... is that true?¡± ¡°No way. S-rank hunters, joining the Blue Guild? That¡¯s too far-fetched. If that¡¯s true, the Guild Master would probably faint, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Maybe, but I overheard them talking, and it seems like they¡¯re seriously considering it...¡± ¡°For real...?¡± The staff exchanged doubtful nces, not sure what to believe. No one had a clear understanding of the situation. Even seeing it with their own eyes was hard to believe. If those S-rank hunters really did transfer to the Blue Guild, it would be an overwhelming fact to ept. ¡°If they actually do transfer, that means we¡¯ll have ten S-rank hunters in the Blue Guild... Is that even possible? That¡¯s crazy. We¡¯re lucky to have even one S-rank hunter. Honestly, it¡¯s hard to believe we already have four.¡±@@novelbin@@ ¡°True. There are so many guilds that don¡¯t even have a single S-rank hunter. If this really happens, it¡¯s going to be huge news.¡± ¡°Honestly, I think they came for something else. Maybe they¡¯re here to give a thank-you que or something. I heard Hunters Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana helped them out recently, so maybe they¡¯re here to express their gratitude.¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯ll know soon enough. I heard they went up to the Guild Master¡¯s office...¡± The Team A members craned their necks to look in the direction the S-rank hunters had gone. ¡°But it seems like they really are here to transfer.¡± ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°Because the other guilds are in chaos right now. The S-rank hunters have dered they¡¯re leaving.¡± ¡°No way? For real?¡± Everyone froze in ce. ¡°Are you really here to transfer...?¡± The voice of the Guild Master, hidden in the shadows, trembled. He was usuallyposed, but today¡¯s events had clearly shaken him. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct. We¡¯ve thought this through carefully.¡± Hunter Lee Ye-ji answered on behalf of the group. ¡°Why? I don¡¯t understand why so many hunters would suddenly decide to join the Blue Guild.¡± The Guild Master was visibly struggling to contain his excitement. He was trying to remain calm, but it wasn¡¯t working. ¡°We have a feeling. It seems to us that the Blue Guild is going to grow rapidly. Since the atmosphere is already shifting, we decided to join in.¡± They all had determined looks on their faces, as if they had made up their minds without any doubt. ¡°We¡¯ve already settled everything with our previous guilds. Please, ept us.¡± Knock, knock, knock. ¡°Ji-hoon...¡± It was Manager Cha, and he looked utterly exhausted, like his soul had left his body. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± I was a little surprised to see him looking so different from his usual self. ¡®What¡¯s wrong with him? Did something bad happen? Maybe he¡¯s buried in work...?¡¯ ¡°Well, Ji-hoon, you really are the Blue Guild¡¯s lucky charm, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Why do you say that... all of a sudden?¡± He was making a strange face, almost like he was plotting something. ¡°Today... Hunter Lee Haru, Lee Ye-ji, Lee Areum, Cha A-yeon, Park Yeo-eun, Jo Su-ji¡ªthose six S-rank hunters... they¡¯ve dered that they¡¯re joining our guild.¡± ¡°Huh? All of a sudden? Why?¡± ¡°Well, how should I know?¡± Then he stared at me intensely, as if it were somehow my fault. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°Haha. I think it¡¯s because of you, Ji-hoon. That¡¯s how all this happened.¡± ¡°No way. I don¡¯t even know those people.¡± ¡°Haha. But didn¡¯t you guide Hunters Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana to make contact with them? This is all thanks to you, Ji-hoon. Haha!¡± Manager Cha let out a heartyugh, clearly pleased. ¡°This is unbelievable. Having even four S-rank hunters is already crazy... and now we have ten. Ten!¡± His voice trembled with excitement, almost as if he were sick. ¡®I was nning to gather S-rank hunters, but they all just came on their own...¡¯ I thought of Cha Soo-hyun. The reason I wanted to gather S-rank hunters in the first ce was to surpass her. Now, there was hardly any time left before I wouldpletely crush her. ¡®Luckily, they¡¯vee to me of their own ord, saving me the effort.¡¯ ¡°Kekeke... Ji-hoon? Is there anything you¡¯d like to eat? I¡¯ll get you anything you want.¡± ¡°Why, Manager Cha?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m just in a really good mood.¡± He looked slightly flustered. ¡®Weird... Could Manager Cha actually be the Guild Master?¡¯ That didn¡¯t make any sense, but I couldn¡¯t shake the strange feeling. ¡°Haha. I want to take you somewhere fancy. Where should we go?¡± Manager Cha started humming and even did a little dance. ¡°Hey, Ji-hoon. Is it true? Did you really bring those six S-rank hunters here?¡± Not long after Manager Cha left, Team A members burst into my office. There were at least ten of them. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t? But that¡¯s what the rumors say.¡± These ridiculous rumors in the guild. First, there were rumors that Lee Soo-ah had fallen for me and that we were dating, and now they were spreading all sorts of nonsense. ¡°And you know what? There¡¯s something I¡¯ve been wanting to ask.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Are you... a spy for the Baekho Guild?¡± ¡°?¡± What kind of...? Where were they getting this nonsense from? ¡®Is someone deliberately spreading these rumors? Why are these ridiculous stories spreading so freely?¡¯ I couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°You¡¯re not, right? It doesn¡¯t make sense. How could you be a spy for Baekho Guild and still help Blue Guild grow like this? That¡¯s impossible, right?¡± ¡°See? I told you I¡¯m not. I¡¯m not some Baekho Guild spy. The guild¡¯s been growing ever since Ji-hoon joined. It¡¯s almost unbelievable. Having ten S-rank hunters in a single guild? That¡¯s unheard of.¡± There are only 15 S-rank hunters in the entire country. If ten of them are in our guild, it¡¯s ridiculous. This would be a near-monopoly. Of course, we¡¯d have to exclude Cha Soo-hyun. She¡¯s an E-rank now. So, 14. ¡°Then, if you didn¡¯t bring them, why did they suddenlye to our guild? Sure, we had a strong reputation, but not enough for them to all rush in like this. And they were treated really well in their own guilds.¡± ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t see why they¡¯de unless...¡± Everyone looked at me. As if it wouldn¡¯t make sense if it wasn¡¯t because of me. ¡°Come on. Do you really think they came because of me? It¡¯s just a coincidence. A coincidence.¡± Everyone shook their heads in disbelief. ¡°Ugh... What am I supposed to do if they reallye?¡± Lee Soo-ah was pounding her desk. ¡°This is a disaster. Seriously. It was hard enough dealing with Yoo Hana, and now I¡¯ve got to deal with Cha Isul and... those others too? What the hell is going on...?¡± She still hadn¡¯t realized that she had brought all this upon herself. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll definitely reim the number one S-rank spot... even if I have to stay up all night.¡± Lee Soo-ah gritted her teeth and stormed out. Chapter 134 "I don¡¯t want to hear anything you have to say. So get lost." I responded coldly and indifferently, heading straight toward my house. "W-wait... oppa, please... just hear me out for a moment," Cha Soo-hyun¡¯s voice trembled. She looked utterly flustered, clearly taken aback by how her ns weren¡¯t going as expected. ¡®How the hell did she even find out where I live? This is ridiculous,¡¯ I thought. The only person who knew where I had moved was Hyung-seok. I shot a questioning look at Hyung-seok: ¡®Did you tell her?¡¯ Hyung-seok frantically shook his head, looking equally shocked and guilty, as if he was being falsely used. "No, I swear it wasn¡¯t me!" He seemedpletely innocent, almost desperate to clear his name. "Let go of me. And don¡¯te back here ever again." "O-oppa... please... just listen to what I have to say. I¡¯m begging you." "And what is it?" I was growing more irritated by the second. I had never imagined she would show up at my new ce like this. "I... I just wanted to apologize for my mistakes." "Mistakes?" She was really trying to downy everything, acting as if it was just a minor error. My voice turned sharper. "I mean... not a mistake. I¡¯ll admit it was my fault... my wrongdoing..." Cha Soo-hyun was carefully watching my expression, clearly trying to gauge how I would react. This wasn¡¯t like her at all. ¡®What¡¯s going on? Who fed her some nonsense that made her act like this today?¡¯ "Oppa... I want to admit I was wrong. And I want to start over again... properly." "Start over? What do you mean?" "If you would take me back..." "That¡¯s never going to happen." "Huh...?" She tilted her head slightly, clearly confused. "Why not?" "Why not? Are you out of your mind? You dumped me. And not just dumped me¡ªyou took my investments and ran off to Lee Jin-hyuk, didn¡¯t you? Go live happily with that Lee Jin-hyuk guy. Why are you here now, causing a scene?" I spoke bluntly, without holding back, because I had no feelings left for her. Her eyes darted around in shock, clearly not expecting my response. "But... oppa, you miss me, don¡¯t you?" "What kind of nonsense is that? Stop spouting garbage and get out. Besides, your time is almost up." "What...?" "You heard me. You¡¯re about to lose everything." "What do you mean...?" Cha Soo-hyun¡¯s face showed increasing confusion. "I¡¯m about to start making a lot of money. Enough to catch up with the conglomerates. But you? Your only path left is to fall into ruin. Just wait a little longer¡ªI¡¯ll show you what hell looks like. You¡¯ll realize how foolish your decisions were." I stared at her for a long moment before closing the door and going inside. "Uh...??" Cha Soo-hyun stood frozen in front of Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s house, staring nkly into space. ¡®What... what just happened? He misses me, right? Then why did he say all that...?¡¯ Everything had gonepletely off course. The situation had turned out entirely different from what she had nned. ¡®How did things go so wrong? This isn¡¯t what I imagined. What¡¯s going on with Ji-hoon oppa?¡¯ She had been confident. She believed Baek Ji-hoon would take her back. That¡¯s why she had gathered her courage ande to see him. But her expectations had been shattered in the cruelest way. ¡®Maybe... maybe something bad happened to him today. Yeah, that¡¯s it. It¡¯s just a bad day, that¡¯s all.¡¯ Cha Soo-hyun decided to brush it off. Even though she had been rejected right at the door, she convinced herself there must be another reason. ¡®It¡¯s probably because of Park Hyung-seok...¡¯ She thought back to Park Hyung-seok¡¯s panicked expression inside the house. It made sense that Ji-hoon wouldn¡¯t want him to know about their past. ¡®Yeah, this isn¡¯t my fault. It¡¯s just because Park Hyung-seok was there today. Ugh, why did he have to be at Ji-hoon oppa¡¯s house today of all days? Ugh...¡¯ She let out a small sigh but didn¡¯t feel too bad. ¡®He even moved to a ce near my apartment. He¡¯s definitely still thinking about me. He¡¯s sending me signals, indirectly.¡¯ From Cha Soo-hyun¡¯s perspective, Baek Ji-hoon had always seemed like a clingy man. She never thought he would move to a fancy or expensive neighborhood. So, the fact that he had moved so suddenly only confirmed her belief that his feelings for her were still strong. ¡®I¡¯ll go home for now, but I¡¯lle back when Park Hyung-seok isn¡¯t around... hehe.¡¯ With a sly smile, she turned and walked away. "What the hell? Why did shee here?" "I don¡¯t know..." Hyung-seok was frozen in ce, clearly terrified. Meanwhile, I stood there, annoyed. "I¡¯m sorry, hyung. I thought it was you when I opened the door." "So she just showed up, and you let her in?" "Yes... she rang the bell, so I opened the door..." "But how did she even know where we live? Did you tell her the address earlier when you mentioned S-rank hunters?" "No!!! No way! I swear I¡¯m on your side, hyung. Always!" "Hmph..." Hyung-seok frantically waved his hands, desperately trying to prove his loyalty. "Well, whatever. We¡¯ve reached this point, so it¡¯s time for the final phase." "Final phase?" "Yeah. We need topletely destroy Cha Soo-hyun. Make sure she can¡¯t even live here." I was systematically taking over everything Cha Soo-hyun had once tried to control. Now that I had moved to Cheongdam-dong, the only thing left was her title as the number one S-rank hunter. Once that was gone, even Baekho Guild wouldn¡¯t have any use for her. If it was revealed that she had fallen from S-rank to E-rank... she¡¯d bepletely out of the hunter industry. ¡®It¡¯s almost time to finish her off.¡¯ The past month had been a whirlwind of events. I never imagined things would change so quickly, but everything was falling into ce. "Hyung, so are you done with Hunter Cha Soo-hyun for good?" "Of course. You think I¡¯d still want anything to do with that subus?" "Of course not~~ I was just asking to be sure." "Ugh." In a dark room, with no lights turned on... Huff... huff... Someone was frantically typing on aputer, researching. It was Lee Soo-ah. "Ji-hoon... huff... huff... I¡¯ll be the number one S-rank soon. Then you¡¯ll notice me, right? Right?" Her eyes were bloodshot as she obsessively looked up ways to climb to the top of the S-rank leaderboard. As of now, there was a gap of five million points between her and Cha Soo-hyun. But that gap had recently narrowed to two million points. ¡®Thankfully, Cha Soo-hyun hasn¡¯t been doing much since she became the top S-rank hunter. I¡¯ve been hustling, and now I¡¯ve cut the gap to two million points.¡¯ For a long time, Lee Soo-ah hadn¡¯t made much progress. Not just her¡ªmost of the other S-rank hunters were in a simr situation. But after getting tangled up with Baek Ji-hoon and various events, she had unknowingly racked up points. ¡®It was definitely a sign. Ji-hoon was giving me a hint. He wanted me toe back quickly, and if I do, he¡¯ll give me a chance... he must have called in Cha Isul to push me into action. I was so clueless. Ji-hoon was telling me this the whole time, and I didn¡¯t realize. It¡¯s okay. Now I get it. Hehehe...¡¯ Lee Soo-ah, still in a daze, continued making ns for dungeon raids in her office. It was already 10 PM, and she hadn¡¯t even left for the day, workingte into the night. Knock, knock. "Y-yes... hehehe." Creak. "What the hell... Soo-ah, what are you doing?" It was Manager Cha. "Why haven¡¯t you gone home yet...? And what¡¯s with your hair? Ugh, look at your eyes, they¡¯repletely bloodshot. Turn on the light... I thought yourputer was still on, so I came to check." Manager Cha was taken aback when he saw Lee Soo-ah. "Manager... I want to be the number one S-rank hunter again... I need to take back what Cha Soo-hyun stole from me... huff... huff..." "I... see. Then do that..." Manager Cha was clearly concerned. It was good news in a way, but something seemed off about Lee Soo-ah¡¯s mental state. ¡®Is she addicted to Baek Ji-hoon or something...?¡¯ "Tomorrow... I¡¯ll gather the S-rank hunters... and push them hard..."@@novelbin@@ She seemed pleased with the grueling n she had created for herself. "I-I¡¯ll... be going now..." Feeling uneasy, Manager Cha hurried out of the office. "Phew... I¡¯m d the Blue Guild is growing, but still..." He shook his head as he closed the door to Lee Soo-ah¡¯s office. "Soo-ah has definitely lost it." He looked back with a touch of pity in his eyes. [What? Are you serious? You moved to Cheongdam-dong?] [Yeah. I figured it was time to live somewhere nicer.] [Wow, that¡¯s awesome. I guess we¡¯ll be seeing a lot more of each other now.] It was a text from Isul, who seemed excited. I figured it was okay to tell her about my move, and she seemed genuinely happy for me. [You seem a lot brightertely. You used to look a bit gloomy for some reason.] [Really?] [Yeah. I¡¯m d to see you breaking free of that. Makes me feel good too.] [Thanks.] [Let¡¯s meet tomorrow. It¡¯s gettingte tonight.] [Okay. Sleep well.] After finishing the conversation with Isul, Iy down on my bed and stared out the window. ¡®Life really can change so quickly...¡¯ It¡¯s incredible how unpredictable things can be. Chapter 137 ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t do that.¡± It was an awkward situation. Out of nowhere, Lee Soo-ah had made an unexpected proposal. ¡®What? Did she just ask me to date her?¡¯ Despite the rumors that had been circting since his first day at the guild, Ji-hoon never thought it woulde to this. Moreover, he had just recently started dating Isul. "What...???" Lee Soo-ah looked utterly shocked. It seemed as though she had never considered the possibility of being rejected. "Why? Why not? It¡¯s me, Lee Soo-ah! I¡¯m an S-rank hunter. Aren¡¯t I South Korea¡¯s number one girlfriend material?" Her words overflowed with confidence. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m already dating Isul.¡± "What...?" Her confusion only deepened. "Wait, you¡¯re saying you¡¯re dating Cha Isul...?" "Yes." "Since when?" "Not long ago. I apologize." Ji-hoon bowed slightly, feeling awkward. He hadn¡¯t expected any of this. Lee Soo-ah, of all people, asking him to date her? He couldn¡¯t help but recall how Hyung-seok had joked about something simr, though he hadn¡¯t taken it seriously at the time. ¡®What is going on? Why am I suddenly so popr...?¡¯ It was a bizarre situation. Thud. "Holy crap... Did Hunter Lee Soo-ah just confess to my brother...?" A trembling voice came from nearby. Park Hyung-seok, who had apparently been eavesdropping, copsed onto the floor, his legs giving out beneath him. He must have overheard the entire conversation. "Hey, why are you here?" "Ah... I was just... passing by... sniff... Soo-ah..." Hyung-seok¡¯s voice quivered as he looked heartbroken.@@novelbin@@ "Wait, did Hunter Lee Soo-ah just get rejected?" "Shut up!!!" Lee Soo-ah snapped, her voice sharp and cutting. Her face, however, was full of despair. "I¡¯ll give you one more chance. Please reconsider, Hunter Baek Ji-hoon. I don¡¯t usually do this, but I¡¯m asking because it¡¯s you. I¡¯m giving you this opportunity, so think it over and say yes." Her voice was desperate, almost pleading. "I¡¯m sorry, but as I mentioned, I¡¯m already dating Isul... And besides, Hunter Lee Soo-ah..." Ji-hoon narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at her. "Why? Why? What¡¯s wrong with me?!" "You... cause a bit too much chaos." "I-I can change! That¡¯s not who I really am! I just wanted to catch your attention. Normally, I¡¯m a quiet andposed person, right? Hyung-seok, isn¡¯t that true?" Lee Soo-ah gave Hyung-seok a deathly re, clearly warning him to agree with her. "Uh... y-yes...?" Hyung-seok reluctantly nodded, looking terrified. "See? I¡¯m calm, quiet, andposed. I¡¯ll do anything you want, please..." "I¡¯m sorry." Ji-hoon bowed again, feeling the need to escape this ufortable situation as quickly as possible. "AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" A piercing scream echoed through the office, loud enough to almost break through the soundproof walls. It was Lee Soo-ah¡¯s voice. "What the hell?! Cha Isul got to him first!!!" She couldn¡¯t believe what had just happened. Bang. Bang. Bang. She started banging her head against the wall. Even though she was an S-rank hunter, it was clear that mming her head into the wall would still hurt. But she didn¡¯t care. The shock of the situation was too overwhelming. "Why... why did this happen...?" Just a short time ago, she had been living her life with absolute confidence. Her inted ego had convinced her that she could charm anyone she wanted. "But Ji-hoon... no... this can¡¯t be happening..." Knock, knock. "Soo-ah...?" "WHAT?!!!" Her voice wasced with murderous intent as she looked at Cha Manager. "Uh... is everything okay...?" "NO! IT¡¯S NOT! GO AWAY!" Lee Soo-ah screamed, her voice full of fury. "Eek... got it..." "Wait... are you serious?! Did that really happen?" The A-Team breakroom was packed with people, all huddled together. "I swear! I heard it with my own two ears!" Park Hyung-seok sounded both upset and disappointed. "No way. The great Hunter Lee Soo-ah got rejected? That doesn¡¯t make any sense. How?" "Are you sure you¡¯re not making this up? That¡¯s a shocker." "Didn¡¯t people say they were dating already?" "No, I think it was more like people said she had a crush on him." "Ah, that makes sense..." "Yeah, that¡¯s what I thought." The group was divided in their opinions, struggling to wrap their heads around the situation. "What are you all talking about?" Yoo Hana popped her head into the breakroom. The sheer number of people gathered there immediately made her suspicious. "Uh... we were just..." Hyung-seok looked embarrassed. "What is it? What¡¯s so funny? Tell me!" "Um... well, Hunter Lee Soo-ah confessed to Ji-hoon hyung and got rejected." "Pffffthahaha!" Yoo Hana burst intoughter the moment she heard. "Seriously? Hahaha, that¡¯s the best thing I¡¯ve heard all day! Soo-ah, always acting so high and mighty, and she got rejected just like that? Oh, that¡¯s priceless!" Yoo Hana seemed to be in a great mood. Thest few days had been stressful, but this news wiped all that away. "Haha, well, that means Ji-hoon is all mine, then." "That¡¯s not gonna happen." "What? Why?" Yoo Hana stoppedughing abruptly, her expression suddenly serious. "Because Ji-hoon is dating Cha Isul." "What???" Her face froze in disbelief. It was clear that she had never expected such news. "Hold on... Ji-hoon is dating Cha Isul? Hunter Baek Ji-hoon?" "Yes... that¡¯s what I heard." Yoo Hana¡¯s energy shifted immediately, and the breakroom felt like it was shaking under the intensity of her aura. "Calm down, Yoo Hana..." "Hyung-seok! Why would you tell me that!!! Have some tact!" The members of A-Team looked on in fear. "So you¡¯re telling me... Ji-hoon already has a girlfriend...?" Yoo Hana looked furious, her temper barely restrained. The rest of the team was visibly nervous. "What¡¯s going on here?" Cha Manager suddenly appeared, startling everyone. "Manager... Ji-hoon is dating Cha Isul..." Yoo Hana gritted her teeth as she spoke. "Oh, really? So why are you so upset, Yoo Hana?" "Why?! Do you even know why I came back to Blue Guild?!?" "No, why?" "To get closer to Ji-hoon!!! And now he¡¯s with Cha Isul?!" Her voice echoed loudly through the breakroom. "All that effort, and for what?! He¡¯s with Isul!" Yoo Hana¡¯s voice boomed with frustration. "Ah... I see. Hunter Lee Soo-ah is upset, and now you are too..." "Isn¡¯t this too much?! I worked so hard!" "Yoo Hana." "Yes..." "Just because you work hard doesn¡¯t mean someone¡¯s going to fall for you." Cha Manager¡¯s tone turned sharp, an unusual sight. "Ji-hoon pressured us, right? He wanted us to work hard! Wasn¡¯t that supposed to make him like us?" "Come on, that was just him being your team leader. Nobody starts dating someone just because they work hard." Cha Manager tried to calm her down. "I thought being a great hunter would..." "You¡¯re a terrible romantic, Yoo Hana. People date because they¡¯re attracted to each other, not because of work performance." "Oh... I didn¡¯t think of that..." Yoo Hana looked as if she had just made a major realization. "Hmm..." She fell deep into thought. "If I were you, I¡¯d be figuring out how to appeal to him as a woman, not a hunter." "Oh..." Yoo Hana was speechless. "Okay... I... I¡¯ll be going now!!!" She quickly scurried off to her office. "Wow... did you see that? Unbelievable. Both Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana are after Baek Ji-hoon? Our team leader is something else..." The team members couldn¡¯t believe what they had just witnessed. "We were joking, but this really happened?" "Ji-hoon is so lucky. How does he do it...?" "Still... what¡¯s Lee Soo-ah going to do now after being rejected? How embarrassing..." "We should probably pretend we didn¡¯t see anything... If we bring it up, we might not survive." "Yikes... good point..." The A-Team debated how they should handle the situation moving forward. Chapter 140 "Jihoon, let¡¯s go here~" The weekend turned out to be much more hectic than Jihoon anticipated. Following Isul''s meticulously nned schedule left them rushing from one spot to the next without a moment to rest. "Okay, okay." Jihoon felt more exhausted than he had during some of his toughest dungeon raids. ¡®Do people really go on dates like this?¡¯ He wasn¡¯t sure why Isul was so intent on following this grueling schedule, but it was clear that she had her heart set on it, making it hard for him to refuse. It reminded him of the time when Cha Soo-hyun dragged him around. Back then, it had been to meticulously n dungeon raids, pushing him to his limits. ¡°Isul, can¡¯t we slow down a bit? Why are you pushing yourself so hard?¡± ¡°I just¡­ there are so many ces I want to go with you. But okay, let¡¯s take it slow.¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s rx a bit. We have plenty of time. There¡¯s no rush like we¡¯re on a time limit¡­¡± Finally, he managed to calm her down and they took a breather. Not far away, Lee Soo-ah, disguised, was secretly following Jihoon and Isul. ¡®Hmph¡­ Isul, why can¡¯t you just settle in one ce? Who even goes on dates like this?¡¯ Soo-ah was annoyed with everything about Isul, particrly her constant moving around, which made it harder for her to keep up unnoticed. She was doing her best to tail them from a distance, keeping her eyes glued to Jihoon. ¡®Jihoon¡­ that should¡¯ve been me by your side¡­¡¯ Soo-ah bit her lip as she continued her surveince. ¡°Soo-ah!¡± A familiar voice suddenly called out to her¡ªit was Yoo Hana. ¡°Gah! You scared me! What is it?¡± Soo-ah jumped, startled by Hana¡¯s sudden appearance. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°W-what do you mean? I¡¯m just resting.¡± ¡°What¡¯s over there?¡± Hana pretended to be clueless as she looked in Jihoon¡¯s direction. ¡°Ugh! What are you doing? You¡¯ll get caught!¡± Soo-ah hurriedly pulled Hana down, panicking. ¡°Hm? Isn¡¯t that Jihoon over there~¡± Hana gave Soo-ah a knowing look. ¡°Hmph, what about you, Yoo Hana? Why are you here?¡± Soo-ah quickly realized that Hana was up to the same thing as her. ¡°You¡¯re following them too, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯re stalking them!¡± ¡°Ha, stalking? Do you think I¡¯m like you? I¡¯m not doing anything shady. I¡¯m just providing long-distance protection.¡± ¡°Long-distance protection? Oh, please¡­¡± Soo-ah rolled her eyes in disbelief. ¡°Yes~ You never know when someone might try to threaten Jihoon.¡± ¡°Jihoon¡¯s an S-ss Hunter, you know. And aren¡¯t you more at risk, Hana? You¡¯re a famous top celebrity, walking around in the open like this. What if one of your crazy fans attacks you?¡± ¡°Psh, I¡¯m an S-ss Hunter too. I¡¯m fine.¡± The two of them began to bicker back and forth. ¡°But seriously, why is Isul dragging him around like this? They¡¯ve already moved to eight different ces today.¡± ¡°Right? Do you think she¡¯s doing this because she feels threatened by us?¡± ¡°Threatened?¡± ¡°Yeah, like she¡¯s heard the rumors going around in the Blue Guild and is trying to stake her im.¡± Hana spoke with confidence. ¡°Hm¡­¡± The two exchanged nces, deep in thought. Bam! Suddenly, someone approached and mmed their hand down on the table. It was none other than Cha Isul. "Uh, oh¡­¡± Soo-ah and Hana froze, staring at Isul. ¡°Lee Soo-ah, Yoo Hana. Hello.¡± Isul had just told Jihoon she was going to the bathroom, but instead, she hade straight for them. ¡°H-hello! Oh my, I didn¡¯t expect to see you here, Isul! Haha!¡± Soo-ah stammered, trying to y it off with augh. ¡°Right! We¡¯re just here hanging out together! Haha! We¡¯re really close friends, you know. Haha!¡± ¡°Oh really~ This ce is usually for couples, though.¡± Isul looked around, noticing that every table, except for theirs, was upied by couples. ¡°Well, you two aren¡¯t a couple, right?¡± She shot them a sharp look. ¡°Haha, can¡¯t we juste here for fun? Do we have to be a couple to be here?¡± ¡°Right, right! It¡¯s just a famous spot, so we decided to check it out.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm, but I¡¯ve been watching you for a while now. Why are you following us?¡± Isul went straight to the point, clearly aware of their tailing from the start. ¡°What? What do you mean? Us? Following you? Oh, no way!¡± Soo-ah jumped, her denial overly dramatic. ¡°You¡¯ve been following us the whole time. I¡¯ve been watching you since earlier.¡± ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s just a coincidence.¡± ¡°Shall we check the CCTV?¡± ¡°Oh, no need for that! Really, it¡¯s just a coincidence that the ces I wanted to visit ovepped with yours. Haha!¡± Soo-ah tried desperately to evade the confrontation. ¡°Alright then. We¡¯re about to move again, but I¡¯m sure we won¡¯t ¡®coincidentally¡¯ end up in the same ce, right?¡± Isul smiled knowingly. ¡°Haha¡­¡± Soo-ah and Hana forced awkwardughs as Isul walked away. ¡°Hah¡­ How did she notice? Since when did she realize we were following them?¡± ¡°Judging by how she spoke, she probably knew from the moment we first ran into them.¡± ¡°Hah, why is she so sharp? I thought my disguise was wless. Could you tell it was me?¡± ¡°Yes, it was very obvious.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± The two continued to whisper, trying to figure out how to continue following Jihoon and Isul without getting caught again. ¡°You took a while. Was the bathroom busy?¡± ¡°Oh, you know how long the lines can get in women¡¯s restrooms.¡± Isul had returned from her little confrontation with Soo-ah and Hana. ¡°By the way¡­¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been wondering¡­ What do you think of Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana?¡± She asked directly, making Jihoon suspect she had heard some rumors. ¡°Uh? Well¡­ I don¡¯t really think about them.¡± ¡°Really? Not even a little?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± ¡°What if they were interested in you? What would you do?¡± ¡°Well, to be honest¡­¡± Jihoon hesitated for a moment, but decided it would be better toe clean. ¡°Soo-ah confessed to me earlier this week¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± Isul¡¯s expression quickly hardened, clearly irritated. ¡°And¡­?¡± ¡°I turned her down right away, of course.¡± ¡°Phew¡­¡± She let out a sigh of relief, visibly rxing. ¡°Why do they even have a crush on you?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Isul¡¯s frustration boiled over, and she finally voiced her question, one she¡¯d been holding back. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just started working at Blue Guild, and it all happened.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ why are they so obsessed with you? Following you around like stalkers.¡± ¡°Stalkers?¡± ¡°Yeah, look over there.¡± She pointed toward a nearby table, where two very obvious figures, poorly disguised as Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana, were trying to hide. ¡®Why are they here?¡¯ ¡°Those two have been following us all day. I¡¯ve noticed them everywhere we went.¡± ¡°All day? Even with all the ces we visited?¡± ¡°Yup, every single one.¡± ¡°Hah¡­¡± Jihoon was at a loss for words, stunned by their persistence. ¡®What are they thinking?¡¯ He couldn¡¯t understand what was going through Soo-ah and Hana¡¯s minds. First, they confessed, and now they were stalking him. ¡°I thought I made things clear to her yesterday.¡± Jihoon had believed he had clearly expressed his disinterest, but apparently, the message hadn¡¯t gotten through. ¡°Did you leave her with any hope or something?¡±@@novelbin@@ Isul asked, sounding genuinely concerned. She was clearly worried about their intentions. ¡°No, I was very clear. Should I have been harsher?¡± ¡°Why are they still following you if you turned them down? This is really starting to bother me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Jihoon agreed. This was getting out of hand. ¡°I¡¯ll have a stronger word with them next time.¡± ¡°Thanks. I really think you need to. There might have been a misunderstanding, so just make sure to clear it up.¡± ¡°I will. I¡¯ll talk to them next week.¡± Jihoon nced over at the table where Soo-ah and Hana were sitting. As soon as he turned his head, they both quickly tried to hide. ¡®As if that¡¯s going to help¡­¡¯ It was painfully obvious that it was them. ¡°Ugh, Jihoon keeps looking over at us.¡± ¡°Right? What¡¯s going on? Do you think Isul told him something? Ugh¡­ I think we¡¯ve been caught.¡± ¡°Why did you have toe to my table? It¡¯s your fault we got spotted, Yoo Hana!¡± ¡°Excuse me? How is this my fault? Your disguise was terrible, Soo-ah!¡± ¡°Hah¡­ unbelievable¡­¡± Soo-ah and Hana red at each other, neither willing to ept the me. They were both incredibly frustrated with each other. Chapter 143 "Looks like you''re out of options if you''vee to me. There¡¯s no one else left to recruit, right? And what about Chae Soo-hyun? Is she useless or just refusing to cooperate?" Seo Ji-soo¡¯s sharp intuition was as impressive as ever. She always had a talent for gathering information and turning it to her advantage, making her a natural opportunist. Lee Jin-hyuk couldn¡¯t respond immediately. He knew exactly what kind of person Seo Ji-soo was, and he¡¯d expected her to have already pieced things together by the time they met. ¡°Hmph. So you thought recruiting Chae Soo-hyun, the S-rank number one, would secure Baekho Guild¡¯s top spot, but things didn¡¯t go as nned, huh? And now, with Blue Guild rising so fast, it must be killing you with jealousy. Am I right? You know I¡¯ve always been good at reading you.¡± She smirked, her eyes glinting with amusement. ¡°Enough. Just tell me if you¡¯re joining the guild or not.¡± Jin-hyuk was feeling the full weight of humiliation. He cursed inwardly. ¡®Damn it... If only it weren¡¯t for Chae Soo-hyun...¡¯ Everything felt like it had fallen apart because of her, and now he was reduced to groveling for help from his ex-girlfriend. ¡°That¡¯s not how you ask for a favor, Jin-hyuk. Do you expect me to consider joining with an attitude like that?¡± Seo Ji-soo wasn¡¯t backing down. She knew she held the upper hand and was enjoying every moment of it. She swayed her legzily as she continued to toy with him. ¡°This is boring. I¡¯m leaving. Call me again when you¡¯re desperate enough.¡± Seo Ji-soo abruptly stood, preparing to walk out. "Seo Ji-soo!" Jin-hyuk called after her. ¡°Call me Ji-soo,¡± she responded coolly. ¡°Ji-soo...¡± ¡°What?¡± She tilted her head, feigning innocence. ¡°If you want something from me, you¡¯ll have to ask properly.¡± Jin-hyuk gritted his teeth. "Alright, fine. You were right. I recruited Chae Soo-hyun hoping she¡¯d bring us to the top, but for some reason, she¡¯s not doing anything. It¡¯s suspicious, and I don¡¯t have time to wait around. That¡¯s why I need you." Chae Soo-hyun was now a lost cause in his mind. ¡°Oh? So Chae Soo-hyun is just sitting idle? Interesting. Why do you think that is?¡± ¡°If I knew, I wouldn¡¯t be here, would I?¡± Seo Ji-soo chuckled softly, enjoying how much control she had over him. ¡°Well, well... I could check it out myself, but anyway, what do you want from me?¡± "Join Baekho Guild. Be our lead S-rank hunter." ¡°And what¡¯s in it for me?¡± Seo Ji-soo locked her eyes on him, as if she already knew the answer. Jin-hyuk sighed, knowing full well what she wanted. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll marry you. Is that what you want?¡± His tone was resigned, as though he was giving up. ¡°Kneel.¡± ¡°What?¡± Jin-hyuk¡¯s face contorted in frustration. ¡°Kneel for me. Just like when you dumped me back then, right? Fair¡¯s fair. You want me to consider your offer? Then kneel, and maybe I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Jin-hyuk¡¯s blood boiled, anger rising within him. ¡®Damn it! Because of Chae Soo-hyun, I have to deal with this crap...¡¯ He hesitated for a moment, but the reality was clear. After weeks of trying to get Chae Soo-hyun to move, nothing had worked. Meanwhile, Blue Guild and Lee Soo-ah were climbing rapidly. He had to ept the truth: Chae Soo-hyun was a dead end. She wasn¡¯t going to help Baekho Guild seed. ¡®It¡¯s better to cut my losses and move on with Seo Ji-soo...¡¯ After a quick internal debate, he made his decision. Kneeling, he swallowed his pride.@@novelbin@@ ¡°There, happy now?¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s more like it,¡± Seo Ji-sooughed gleefully. ¡°Alright then... I¡¯ll think about it.¡± She got up, brushing off her clothes. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®think about it¡¯? Wasn¡¯t this settled?¡± ¡°I still need to check things out, don¡¯t I? I¡¯ll have to investigate how weak Baekho Guild really is and whether it¡¯s worth my time.¡± ¡°What?¡± Jin-hyuk¡¯s face darkened with frustration. ¡°Don¡¯t get upset. It¡¯s a business deal, after all. I¡¯m not about to jump aboard a sinking ship without doing my homework.¡± With a mischievous wink, she walked out, leaving Jin-hyuk fuming. ¡®Damn it...¡¯ Jin-hyuk was left feeling utterly humiliated. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Chae Soo-hyun sat in stunned disbelief after hearing about Jin-hyuk¡¯s meeting with Seo Ji-soo. ¡®He¡¯s moving that fast?¡¯ Typically, recruiting an S-rank hunter took a lot of negotiation, but Jin-hyuk was moving at lightning speed. ¡®After just a month? He¡¯s ditching me after I¡¯ve barely been here? This is ridiculous...¡¯ The betrayal stung deep. She didn¡¯t think she¡¯d done anything wrong, but it was clear that Jin-hyuk wasn¡¯t willing to wait any longer. ¡®Ugh, why did I ever join this stupid guild? What an idiot I was.¡¯ The more she thought about it, the more she resented Jin-hyuk. In contrast, her thoughts began drifting to Baek Ji-hoon. To her, Baek Ji-hoon was the rising star, while Jin-hyuk was the one on the decline. Just a month ago, she had been convinced that Jin-hyuk, with the backing of the mighty Taeyang Group, would guarantee her continued sess as the top S-rank hunter. But now, things had flippedpletely. Jin-hyuk was groveling before his ex-girlfriend for help, while Baek Ji-hoon was flourishing, having be an S-rank hunter himself and recruited seven more S-ranks into Blue Guild. ¡®I can¡¯t believe how quickly things changed...¡¯ This sudden reversal of fortune was something she had never expected. ¡®It¡¯s fine... I can just go back to Ji-hoon oppa. He hasn¡¯t forgotten about me, I¡¯m sure of it.¡¯ Her mind was filled with wishful thinking. ¡®Alright, I¡¯ll just move to Blue Guild...¡¯ Chae Soo-hyun made up her mind. ¡°Hunter Park Jin-soo, how have you been?¡± ¡°Good, thank you.¡± ¡°Nothing new with Blue Guild?¡± Chae Soo-hyun was surprisingly polite and soft-spokenpared to her usual self, catching Park Jin-soo off guard. ¡®What¡¯s going on here¡­? This is weird¡­¡¯ S-rank hunters didn¡¯t typically act this friendly. ¡°Well, Blue Guild has been quite busytely, especially with all the recent changes and restructuring.¡± ¡°Hah¡­¡± She sighed softly, before cutting to the point. ¡°I was wondering, is Blue Guild nning to recruit any more S-rank hunters? I¡¯m curious about the direction it¡¯s headed.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ are you asking about our guild?¡± ¡°Yes, exactly.¡± ¡°Why¡­? Did youe across an S-rank hunter who¡¯s interested?¡± ¡°Well... actually, yes. Me.¡± ¡°What?¡± Park Jin-soo was visibly shocked. ¡°You¡¯re saying you want to transfer to Blue Guild?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Her determination was clear, and Park Jin-soo could see the resolve in her eyes. He struggled to process what was happening. ¡°But¡­ why would you transfer? Didn¡¯t you just join Baekho Guildst month?¡± Naturally, he was puzzled. After all, Baekho Guild, backed by Taeyang Group, had made a huge deal of Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s recruitment. There had even been media coverage about it. It was strange enough that so many S-rank hunters had suddenly flocked to Blue Guild, but now, Chae Soo-hyun wanting to leave Baekho Guild was even more baffling. ¡°Does it matter why? I¡¯d rather not discuss the details.¡± She brushed off his question coldly. She had no intention of revealing that Jin-hyuk was nning to rece her with Seo Ji-soo. Park Jin-soo nodded, still reeling from the surprise. ¡°Alright¡­ But could I at least get credit for the transfer? It¡¯d be great if it looked like I was the one who helped bring you to Blue Guild.¡± ¡°Fine. It¡¯s better that way. It¡¯ll look less like I¡¯m begging to join and more like you requested me.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ Alright then.¡± Chae Soo-hyun preferred this approach. She didn¡¯t want to seem like she was desperately clinging to Blue Guild. She also wanted to show Jin-hyuk that she was still in control. ¡®You think you can stab me in the back? I¡¯ll find my own way out before you get the chance.¡¯ Chae Soo-hyun wasn¡¯t about to go down without a fight. ¡°And one more thing.¡± ¡°Yes? What is it?¡± Her tone grew serious, and her expression was resolute. ¡°When you bring this to Blue Guild, make sure to tell A-Team leader Baek Ji-hoon directly.¡± ¡°To the team leader? Why?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll definitely be thrilled to hear about it. Trust me. Once you tell him, this will all be sorted out in no time.¡± Her eyes gleamed with confidence. Chapter 146 ¡°A-ni-go-deun-yo.¡± Chae Soo-hyun spoke in a stiff tone, drawing a clear line in the sand as if topletely deny Seo Ji-soo¡¯s words. ¡°Not true? Haha. What do you mean it¡¯s not true? I know exactly what¡¯s happening. It¡¯s the same situation I was in a few years ago. You¡¯re being dumped by Jin-hyuk oppa right now. Hohoho.¡± Seo Ji-soo was deliberately provoking her, almost as if she was doing it for fun. Chae Soo-hyun clenched her fists tightly and red at Seo Ji-soo. ¡®This bitch... She¡¯s really testing me...¡¯ But there was nothing she could say. She had already suspected it, even if only vaguely. There was no helping it. She couldn¡¯t act out while she was still stuck at E-rank. And she couldn¡¯t reveal her true E-rank status. She had held on stubbornly for nearly a month. There had to be a reason why Lee Jin-hyuk had chosen a different path. ¡®She¡¯s probably in a good mood because Jin-hyuk is trying to get back with her after dumping her before. Fine, whatever, let her have that.¡¯ Chae Soo-hyun felt an odd sense of familiarity. Seo Ji-soo¡¯s situation now was simr to the one she had hoped for herself. What if she got back together with Baek Ji-hoon after breaking up? Of course, it would feel amazing. In some strange way, she could even understand why Seo Ji-soo was mocking her. ¡®Whatever, you can have Jin-hyuk, that loser. I¡¯m going back to Ji-hoon oppa, bing rich, and when I get my hands on some S-rank items, I¡¯ll tear both of you apart. Just wait.¡¯ A sly smile crept across Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s face. ¡°Hunter Seo Ji-soo.¡± She straightened herself, fixing her posture before speaking in a soft, calm voice. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what you think. I¡¯m going to be just fine, no matter what. There¡¯s information that you don¡¯t have, and I guarantee I¡¯m going to live a good life. No matter how much you try, you won¡¯t be able to beat me. So, feel free to think whatever you want. You might¡¯ve called me here to taunt me, but I¡¯ll tell you something: Whether Lee Jin-hyuk dumps me or not is none of my concern. So, enjoy your delusions. Hoho.¡± Finishing her words, she stood up abruptly and sneered. ¡®What the...?¡¯ Seo Ji-soo was momentarily taken aback. This wasn¡¯t the reaction she had expected at all. ¡®Why isn¡¯t she scared? Does she have something to rely on...?¡¯ Seo Ji-soo had called Chae Soo-hyun here thinking she had already won, but Chae Soo-hyun showed no signs of being intimidated. ¡°I¡¯m leaving. It¡¯s ridiculous that you called me here for such nonsense. I¡¯ll let it slide this time, but this is incredibly rude.¡± Chae Soo-hyun adjusted her clothes and confidently walked away, heels clicking on the floor. ¡®What the hell...? That bitch...?¡¯ Seo Ji-soo could only stare in bewilderment as Chae Soo-hyun left. ¡°Haa... seriously. Nothing¡¯s going right. Nothing.¡± Back in her office, Chae Soo-hyun stared out the window, looking utterly frustrated. ¡°Haa... If only Ji-hoon oppa would just take me back, everything would be solved... Please...¡± She looked quite desperate. ¡°Right. This is what happens when I keep leaving things to others. It seems like I need to handle this myself.¡± She seemed to have made up her mind about something and quickly headed out. Click, click, click. ¡°Huh? Hunter Chae Soo-hyun?¡± Park Hyung-seok¡¯s face scrunched up slightly when he saw Chae Soo-hyun. He had run into her in the lobby of the Blue Guild building, purely by coincidence. ¡°What brings you here...? To our Blue Guild?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the guild master¡¯s office?¡± Chae Soo-hyun asked without even looking at him, ncing around as if he was unimportant. ¡°What¡¯s your business here?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you need to know why I¡¯m here. I¡¯m here to meet the guild master.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t just meet him that easily.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already arranged a meeting. Now, please show me to the guild master¡¯s office.¡± She demanded it confidently. ¡°Ji-hoon! Our guild haspletely lost its mind.¡± ¡°What now?¡± It was Chief Cha, who had wandered into my office and was sipping coffee. ¡°S-rank hunters keep flooding in! The guild master always wanted this, but now it¡¯s bing a problem because it¡¯s going too well~¡± ¡°Right...? There¡¯s way too many.¡± I was reminded of the conversation I¡¯d had with Park Jin-su recently about Chae Soo-hyun wanting to join the Blue Guild. ¡®Is that even possible? She dumped me and now she wants toe to our guild? How dare she.¡¯ ¡°I think we need to start turning away S-rank hunters. Don¡¯t we already have too many?¡± ¡°Oh,e on~ The more, the merrier~¡± Chief Cha took another sip of coffee, looking as rxed as ever. ¡°Why more? They¡¯re pointless at this stage. Too many S-rank hunters will just cause conflicts and power struggles among themselves.¡± ¡°Oh, no way~ Didn¡¯t you see the newspapers? Everyone¡¯s making such a fuss over it!¡± ¡°Well, they don¡¯t actually handle the day-to-day operations. For all the hype around S-rank hunters, they¡¯re mostly just for show. We don¡¯t even need them for anything beyond A-rank dungeons.¡± The reality was that S-rank hunters were mostly figureheads. They couldn¡¯t go into S-rank dungeons because of the status effects. They were essentially just decorations. Of course, they did contribute in A-rank dungeons to some extent, but practically speaking, they weren¡¯t as advantageous as people thought. ¡°I still think having lots of S-rank hunters is great~ Maybe we should gather them all up at once.¡± Chief Cha winked yfully as he spoke. ¡°I disagree. That¡¯s why I rejected a recent request.¡± I decided to bring up Chae Soo-hyun. I didn¡¯t think there would be any harm in mentioning it to Chief Cha. ¡°Huh? You rejected an S-rank hunter request?¡± Chief Cha jumped up, looking mildly irritated, as if I had let him down. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Who... who was it!?¡± ¡°Chae Soo-hyun from Baekho Guild.¡± I thought the guild master would probably throw a fit if he heard this, so I braced myself for a strong reaction. Since Chief Cha was usually aligned with the guild master, I expected him to flip out. ¡°Huh? I see.¡± ¡®?¡¯ There was no reaction. Instead, Chief Cha calmly sat back down with a peaceful expression. ¡°What is it? Chief?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Why are you so calm? I thought you¡¯d be angry. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t bring it up earlier.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Why?¡± I was getting a bad feeling. I could tell from his expression that something was off. It was the kind of look someone gives when they¡¯re about to do something reckless. ¡°Hunter Chae Soo-hyun ising here with a transfer proposal for our guild master.¡± ¡°What?!¡± This time, I couldn¡¯t help but jump up in shock. ¡°Wait, what? That doesn¡¯t even make sense!¡± ¡°What¡¯s so unbelievable about it?¡± Chief Cha sipped his coffee leisurely, ncing at his watch. ¡°Ah, looks like it¡¯s time~ I think Hunter Chae Soo-hyun has arrived.¡± ¡°What?! That can¡¯t be!¡± ¡°She said she wasing today. She¡¯s probably in our lobby right now. Well, I have things to do, so I better get going. The guild master wanted to discuss Hunter Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s transfer with me.¡± ¡°Chief Cha, Chae Soo-hyun can¡¯t join! That¡¯s absurd!¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°We already have 10 S-rank hunters!¡± ¡°So?¡±@@novelbin@@ ¡°Ugh... I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯ll cause problems! It¡¯s definitely going to have a negative impact!¡± ¡°Oh, nonsense. Having 11 S-rank hunters is even better~¡± ¡°No, no, no... Please, just¡ª¡± ¡°Thanks for the coffee, Ji-hoon~ I¡¯ll see youter!¡± ¡°Aaaah...¡± I could only watch as Chief Cha left, leaving me utterly dumbfounded. Bang. No sooner had Chief Cha left than Hyung-seok came rushing in. ¡°Hyung!!!¡± ¡°What...¡± I responded, feeling deted. ¡°Chae Soo-hyun hunter is in our building¡¯s lobby...¡± ¡°I know. I just heard. Apparently, she¡¯s here to propose a transfer directly to the guild master...?¡± I could only contemte how to deal with this bizarre situation. ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°What do you mean, what should we do...¡± My mind was spinning. ¡°Why did she suddenly leave Baekho Guild ande here? Is she insane?¡± ¡°Well...¡± Hyung-seok scratched his head, thinking quickly. ¡°Hey, hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Just a thought... Could it be that she got kicked out of Baekho Guild?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°She¡¯s been abandoned, maybe? Why else would she suddenly leave Baekho Guild?¡± ¡°What...?¡± His words made me pause. Something didn¡¯t add up. ¡®That makes sense. She left me, went to Baekho Guild, and now she¡¯sing here out of the blue?¡¯ My thoughts were all over the ce. ¡®Wait... does that mean... she lost her position over there?¡¯ A flood of ideas surged through my mind. ¡®Hmm... In that case... maybe I should wee her. Let her join our guild... and then make her life utterly miserable...¡¯ It could turn out to be a golden opportunity after all. Chapter 148 ¡°Eeeh... even Hunter Chae Soo-hyun ising here?¡± The A-Team was in an uproar. They were already struggling to adapt to the recent series of events, and now another huge development had been dropped on them. ¡°Isn¡¯t Chae Soo-hyun part of Baekho Guild? Wasn¡¯t she recruited to crush us? Why is sheing here?¡± ¡°No idea. Could it be because Hunter Lee Su-ah took the number one spot in the S-rank rankings?¡± ¡°No way! Would she really transfer to our guild just because of that? We¡¯re rivals, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Exactly, right?¡± ¡°Having someone like here from Baekho Guild feels strange. We¡¯ve had people from top guilds like Zeuse over, but Baekho? That¡¯s really unusual.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. But I heard her transfer is already finalized.¡± Everyone had gathered in the conference room, deeply discussing the current problem. ¡°What¡¯s going on in here?¡± Baek Ji-hoon made his entrance. ¡°Ah, team leader.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Hunter Chae Soo-hyun is transferring to our guild, right?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve heard.¡± ¡°Did you call her over?¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± Baek Ji-hoon shook his head firmly. ¡°Wait, then what¡¯s going on? Why are so many S-rank hunters flooding in all of a sudden?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure either.¡± ¡°Do you know which team Chae Soo-hyun will be joining? Isn¡¯t A-Team already packed with too many S-rank hunters?¡± Naturally, everyone thought she should be assigned to another team since the Blue Guild had more than just the A-Team. ¡°I believe she¡¯ll be joining A-Team.¡± ¡°What?! A-Team? That would make it 11 S-rank hunters on our team!¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware. But I¡¯m requesting she be assigned here.¡± Baek Ji-hoon grinned. ¡°Huh...?¡± Everyone looked at him, confused. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be off. Continue your discussion.¡± With that, Baek Ji-hoon hurriedly left the room. ¡°Wow... This is crazy. He¡¯s not saying it directly, but this must be happening because of Ji-hoon, right?¡± ¡°Of course. Since Ji-hoon joined, things have been like this. There¡¯s no other exnation.¡± ¡°It¡¯s insane. It¡¯s like S-rank hunters are just walking through the door voluntarily. What is he, honey to bees?¡± ¡°Unbelievable. Now A-Team has 11 S-rank hunters.¡± ¡°What¡¯s his secret? Women are flocking to him like magic. I¡¯m jealous, seriously...¡± The A-Team members couldn¡¯t wrap their heads around the situation. ¡°Hey, Hyung-seok, let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Yes, yes! Everything¡¯s ready.¡± I grabbed Hyung-seok, and we headed toward the S-rank dungeon. From today, I was going to start gathering S-rank items as fast as possible, aiming to increase my wealth at an incredible speed. I was counting on Lee Jin-hyuk buying the items I put up for auction, likely at higher-than-market prices. ¡®Who knows how long he¡¯ll keep that up, though.¡¯ It didn¡¯t matter much. Even if Jin-hyuk didn¡¯t buy them, there were plenty of others willing to pay exorbitant amounts for S-rank items. What I was really looking forward to was Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s reaction. When she came to the Blue Guild and saw me doing so well, it would definitely sting. And when she saw how easily I could acquire S-rank items, she¡¯d feel even worse about her situation. ¡®Perfect. Let¡¯s get started.¡¯ ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go. Move out!¡±@@novelbin@@ ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Back in her office, Chae Soo-hyun began packing up her things. ¡®This is it. A fresh start. I¡¯m starting over.¡¯ Her mind was filled with thoughts of Baek Ji-hoon. She had sessfully secured her transfer to the Blue Guild. Now, it was crucial for her to gradually approach Baek Ji-hoon from within the guild. If she could do that, everything would fall back into ce. She was confident that once she reimed her status as an S-rank hunter, bleeding Lee Jin-hyuk dry of his money would be an easy task. ¡®For the past month, I¡¯ve been a mess, freaking out over bing an E-rank. I was so scared...¡¯ She recalled the hell she had been through in the past month, struggling without any clear way out. All she had done was butt heads with Jin-hyuk while her anxiety grew worse and worse. But now, she felt like she could leave it all behind and make a fresh start. Bang. Lee Jin-hyuk barged into the office. ¡°Hey, Soo-hyun... Huh? What are you doing?¡± He had been about to say something but stopped in his tracks, visibly confused. ¡°What¡¯s with the packing? Are you moving out? Throwing stuff away or something? Where are you going?¡± Lee Jin-hyuk¡¯s sharp senses immediately picked up on the atmosphere. He quickly realized that Chae Soo-hyun was nning to leave. ¡°Yup, I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°Where? What are you talking about?¡± ¡°I¡¯m joining the Blue Guild.¡± ¡°WHAT?!¡± Lee Jin-hyuk¡¯s face turned red with rage. Another guild, and not just any guild¡ªBlue Guild. ¡°Say that again. What did you just say?¡± He was barely holding back his anger. The Blue Guild was a sore spot for him, something he absolutely couldn¡¯t tolerate. ¡°I¡¯m transferring to the Blue Guild. The deal is already done. I¡¯m leaving today.¡± ¡°What?! Are you joking? You¡¯re part of Baekho Guild! What¡¯s this nonsense about the Blue Guild?¡± Lee Jin-hyuk stormed toward her. ¡°Step aside. It¡¯s already over.¡± ¡°What...?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already signed the contract with the Blue Guild. If you want to dispute the contract termination, take it to court.¡± ¡°What???¡± Lee Jin-hyuk was utterly dumbfounded. ¡°Court? What the hell are you talking about?¡± ¡°Seo. Ji. Soo. Did you think I wouldn¡¯t find out?¡± Chae Soo-hyun enunciated Seo Ji-soo¡¯s name clearly, looking up at Jin-hyuk with cold, sharp eyes. ¡°You know about that...¡± Lee Jin-hyuk¡¯s face was filled with shock. He had tried to secretly recruit Seo Ji-soo behind the scenes. ¡°How do I know? Go ask Seo Ji-soo herself. She came to me personally and told me everything. She said you were nning to dump me and rece me with her. Did you think I was an idiot?¡± ¡°What?! No, that¡¯s not true. Not at all!¡± ¡°What do you mean, not true? You even knelt before her, didn¡¯t you? She¡¯s your ex-girlfriend, isn¡¯t she? The one you dumped? And now you¡¯re groveling to her? What else could it be?¡± Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°Ugh, what nonsense has she been spouting now?¡± ¡°The story is all over Baekho Guild already. There¡¯s no point in pretending anymore. We were both ufortable with each other anyway, right? I wasn¡¯t doing any hunter activities, and that must¡¯ve frustrated you. So I¡¯ll leave on my own. But I think the court should decide on the contract termination fee since I don¡¯t believe I¡¯m at fault here.¡± ¡°What...?¡± ¡°You tried to recruit another S-rank hunter without informing me, someone who was promised my spot. I doubt you¡¯ll have much to argue in court, right?¡± Lee Jin-hyuk was momentarily flustered. There was a use in the contract that promised to prioritize Chae Soo-hyun over other hunters to secure her loyalty. ¡°Well... that...¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in hearing excuses. I¡¯m going to the Blue Guild. It¡¯s booming right now. This ce is just pathetic. You guys treated me like a criminal just because I took a month off. What am I, a ve? Did you think I came here to be your workhorse?¡± Chae Soo-hyun red at him, seemingly forgetting how she had once treated Baek Ji-hoon like a ve herself, speaking now with righteous indignation. ¡°A criminal? No, it¡¯s just that the contract¡ª¡± ¡°Forget it. It¡¯s over. The moment you tried to bring in Seo Ji-soo, it was done. Good luck with her. From what I¡¯ve seen, she¡¯s just as rude as you. You two will be perfect together. Hmph.¡± With that, Chae Soo-hyun cut the conversation off. She grabbed a few of her things and headed for the door. ¡°Hey!!! Chae Soo-hyun!!!¡± Lee Jin-hyuk roared in anger, but Chae Soo-hyun ignored himpletely, walking out without a second nce. ¡°Are you serious? You¡¯re really leaving like this?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m leaving. Send the rest of my stuff to my house. Hmph.¡± With an expressionpletely free of regret, Chae Soo-hyun left the office. Her face was full of hope and determination. ¡®I¡¯m going back to Ji-hoon oppa. I¡¯m going to rebuild my life, step by step!¡¯ ¡°Ha... Fine, get lost. You bitch. I should¡¯ve never taken in garbage like you in the first ce. No ss, no nothing.¡± Lee Jin-hyuk cursed after her, but it made no difference. ¡°Hey, what the hell did you do?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Seo Ji-soo was sitting cross-legged, gently stroking her dog. ¡°What did you say to Chae Soo-hyun?¡± ¡°Why? What happened?¡± Seo Ji-soo smiled, as if she was expecting something interesting. ¡°Chae Soo-hyun transferred to the Blue Guild! Because of you!¡± ¡°Oh my. She really went through with it? Hoho, good.¡± Seo Ji-sooughed lightly, covering her mouth with her hand, pleased with how things had turned out. ¡°So now there¡¯s no other S-rank hunter in Baekho Guild? Except me? Well, that works perfectly for me. I¡¯ll be the queen of Baekho Guild.¡± She slowly stood up and wrapped her arms around Lee Jin-hyuk. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you, oppa? We¡¯re destined to be together. In the end, you¡¯ll alwayse back to me. Chae Soo-hyun was never right for you anyway.¡± Seo Ji-soo whispered into Lee Jin-hyuk¡¯s ear. Chapter 150 ck, ck. Chae Soo-hyun was busy searching for something. She was certain that the person causing a stir at the auction house had to be Baek Ji-hoon. ¡®Ji-hoon oppa... Why didn¡¯t you tell me you were this kind of person?¡¯ Chae Soo-hyun shut her eyes tightly. If she had known that Baek Ji-hoon would be this sessful, she would have never left him. ¡®This has to be Ji-hoon oppa. He didn¡¯t do anything up until now, right?¡¯ She was investigating all sorts of rumors and transaction records floating around online. Although she didn¡¯t find anything substantial, her instincts told her it was Baek Ji-hoon. ¡®Ha... Okay... I should use the excuse of joining the Blue Guild to get close to him.¡¯ Judging by the fact that S-rank items were being auctioned off anonymously, she thought asking directly could backfire. Because of that, she decided to approach the matter very cautiously. Knock, knock, knock. ¡°Yes.¡± The door creaked open. ¡°Uh...¡± It was Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s face. ¡®Shit...¡¯ I wasn¡¯t in a particrly good mood. At the same time, though, I found some satisfaction in thinking about how Chae Soo-hyun would soon be ruined. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°O... Oppa...¡± Chae Soo-hyun lookedpletely different. She was utterly submissive now, entirely unlike how she had behaved toward me in the past. Her face wore an innocent expression as she edged closer to me, pretending to be all pure and delicate. ¡®Don¡¯t give me that crap, you slut.¡¯ I couldn¡¯t help butugh internally at how absurd it was, watching her act all innocent and fragile. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°O... Oppa... Have you been well?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve been doing great. Thanks to you.¡± ¡°Huh? Thanks to... me...?¡± Of course, I was referring to achieving S-rank and other things thanks to retrieving points, but Chae Soo-hyun seemed to take it in apletely different way. ¡°You know... I just want to apologize...¡± She spoke with a shy expression. ¡°Since I¡¯ve joined the Blue Guild, I wanted toe by and say hello. We¡¯ll be seeing each other often from now on...¡± ¡°No.¡± I cut her off coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t n on seeing you often. I¡¯m actually thinking of shoving you into a corner. So, it¡¯d be great if you joined Team A.¡± ¡°Huh..? Uh...?¡± She looked visibly flustered. I guess she had imagined a different scenario in her head. ¡°You... don¡¯t get it, do you? We didn¡¯t ept you into the Blue Guild for your sake.¡± I spat out my words with an icy tone. ¡°Huh..? Then...?¡± ¡°You¡¯re going down. Count on it.¡± ¡°D... down...?¡± Her expression hardened even more. Judging by the mood, she probably came here intending to reconcile with me. Not a chance. Considering what she did to me and how she treated other hunters like trash, there¡¯s no way I¡¯d ever ept her apology. ¡°Oppa, what¡¯s wrong...? I¡¯m telling you I¡¯m sorry... I really am. What do you want me to do? I even left the Baekho Guild...¡± Her desperate tone and pleading voice were obvious. ¡°Weren¡¯t you kicked out?¡± ¡°Huh...?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you kicked out of the Baekho Guild? You didn¡¯te to us voluntarily; you were dumped by Lee Jin-hyuk, weren¡¯t you?¡± I had heard bits of the story, and I knew very well that Chae Soo-hyun wasn¡¯t the type to act like this unless she had to. ¡°...¡± Chae Soo-hyun was speechless, looking utterly shocked. ¡°W... who said that..?¡± ¡°No one had to tell me. Isn¡¯t that just who you are? An opportunist. Isn¡¯t screwing around with different men your specialty?¡± I decided to throw some jabs her way. ¡°W... What are you talking about? You were my first...¡± ¡°Cut the bullshit.¡± Watching her try to weasel out of it, I couldn¡¯t help but open the drawer and pull out some documents Hyung-seok had dug up. ¡°What about these guys?¡± I red at her sharply. ¡°Uh... uh... that... that¡¯s...¡± Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s face went pale as she stammered. I had never seen her this flustered before, ever since I¡¯d known her. ¡®So it was true. Looks like she really did mess around while acting like a damn subus.¡¯ My expression involuntarily twisted in disgust. ¡®Ugh, to think I wasted so much time suffering over this bitch.¡¯ Of course, now my life was going great, and I was on the verge of bing filthy rich.@@novelbin@@ ¡°No, oppa. That¡¯s not it. Really, it¡¯s not. Please believe me.¡± She was shaking her hands wildly, denying it with her whole body. ¡°How could it not be? These guys already gave their testimony.¡± ¡°No!!! It¡¯s not true!!! I¡¯m not some slut!!! Why do you believe them and not me?!¡± Realizing she was cornered, she shrieked at the top of her lungs. ¡°Enough. Just leave. You¡¯re sinking fast now, so you¡¯d better watch your step.¡± ¡°Huh...? No... oppa. Ji-hoon oppa, I¡¯m really sorry. I¡¯m telling you I¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°Get. Out.¡± ¡°Oppa... please...¡± She refused to leave until I gave her a harsh, piercing re. Seeing my expression, she finally backed off, retreating out of the room. ¡®Whew... Now it begins. Chae Soo-hyun... I¡¯ll bring you down piece by piece.¡¯ In a way, it might be better for me that Chae Soo-hyun joined the Blue Guild. It¡¯d be easier to trap her and destroy her. [ Hey, Hyung-seok. Do you know anything about the hunter rank re-evaluation process? ] [ Hunter rank re-evaluation? Why? What¡¯s up? ] [ Could you look into it for me? I¡¯ve got something to take care of. ] I began setting my ns in motion. For the grand finale. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, oppa? Are you mad at me? I thought you missed me, couldn¡¯t stop thinking about me?¡± Clearly, she had been running fantasies through her head based on some ridiculous rumors. She seemed pretty shocked. But even so, she couldn¡¯t let go of her misunderstanding about Baek Ji-hoon. People never want to believe they¡¯re really going under. Even when it¡¯s right in front of their eyes. ¡®He¡¯s just mad because he¡¯s hurt, right? But those photos of the men...¡¯ Images of the various hunters she¡¯d seen earlier shed in front of her eyes. ¡®Damn... Those bastards... Did they talk? Why? My trait should¡¯ve made it impossible for them.¡¯ They were photos of hunters looking weak andpletely worn out. She recognized every face. ¡®Damn it... Ji-hoon oppa... Where the hell did you get those?¡¯ What shocked her more than Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s attitude was the fact that her past had been exposed. Up until now, she had always pretended to be a virgin whenever she met someone new, so this was a serious issue for her. ¡®Those bastards... They¡¯re really going to ruin me.¡¯ She had never paid any mind to the men she¡¯d been with before meeting Baek Ji-hoon. After all, she had always been focused on gaining S-rank, and those men didn¡¯t matter to her. ¡®Ji-hoon oppa must¡¯ve misunderstood. He misses me, can¡¯t forget me. There must be someone working behind the scenes to turn him against me...¡¯ Chae Soo-hyun clenched her fists and then thought of someone. [ Park Hyung-seok ] ¡®Him. He¡¯s the one always hovering around Ji-hoon oppa, right? He must¡¯ve fed him those photos to frame me. Even when we were dating, he didn¡¯t seem to like me...¡¯ Her eyes narrowed as she recalled Park Hyung-seok, analyzing every detail. She had no idea that Park Hyung-seok hated her for the way she treated Baek Ji-hoon like a ve. She just thought of him as someone who held a grudge against her. ¡®First, I need to meet with him and clear up the misunderstanding... Seriously, why is my life like this? Every time things start going well, someone always gets in the way.¡¯ Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s thoughts were a mess. Everything revolved around her, and she felt like everything was just so irritating. She had now set her sights on Park Hyung-seok. [ Mr. Park Hyung-seok. This is Chae Soo-hyun. I¡¯d like to talk to you about something. ] ¡°Huh? Chae Soo-hyun... hunter?¡± Park Hyung-seok, who had been looking into the auction of the Golden Armor and the hunter rank re-evaluation process, was surprised to see his phone light up with her message. ¡®Why me...?¡¯ He couldn¡¯t think of any reason why he¡¯d be in contact with Chae Soo-hyun. Plus, it was Chae Soo-hyun who had dumped Baek Ji-hoon, so there was even less reason for her to reach out to him. ¡®Could it be... Am I some kind of power broker now?¡¯ He started chuckling to himself. For some reason, he felt like he was gaining power as one of Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s closest confidants. ¡®Whatever it is, this is great. Man, Ji-hoon hyung really is a lifeline for me!!!¡¯ He grinned as he headed off to meet Chae Soo-hyun. Chapter 152 ¡°What should we do, hyung?¡± Park Hyung-seok asked, looking quite excited. ¡°Hmm...¡± I had a lot of thoughts swirling in my head. Lee Jin-hyuk. He wasn¡¯t someone I liked. He gave off the vibe of someone who stole Chae Soo-hyun from me. Although Chae Soo-hyun was a bitch, there was no denying that thinking about him brought up memories of her. ¡°Hmm. Do I have to meet him in person?¡± ¡°Well... it seems like we¡¯ll have to. The auction system doesn¡¯t have a proper setup for this kind of transaction.¡± ¡°Alright then. Tell him we¡¯ll meet to negotiate.¡±@@novelbin@@ ¡°Hyung, but won¡¯t that reveal your identity? Is that okay?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s fine now. With Chae Soo-hyun already here, I might as well reveal everything and end it.¡± Things were slowly falling into ce, step by step. ¡°What...? Baek Ji-hoon...?¡± The moment Lee Jin-hyuk saw me, he was visibly shocked. I couldn¡¯t tell if it was because he hadn¡¯t expected this or because he was hoping it wouldn¡¯t happen. His expression was a mix of emotions. ¡°Are you the one who anonymously listed the items for auction...?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± The transaction proceeded swiftly. For me, this was an opportunity to not only meet Lee Jin-hyuk but also to reveal my identity naturally. I epted right away. ¡°Mr. Lee Jin-hyuk, you know about me, right? About Hunter Chae Soo-hyun...¡± I decided to bring it up first. I didn¡¯t know exactly how much he knew or what his thoughts were. ¡°Ahem... I don¡¯t know the details, just that she¡¯s your ex.¡± It seemed like he was hiding something, but I didn¡¯t think there was any need to press him further. ¡°Before we proceed with the transaction, there¡¯s something I¡¯d like to ask.¡± ¡°Yes? What is it?¡± ¡°Was Hunter Chae Soo-hyun kicked out of Baekho Guild, or did she leave on her own?¡± This was an important question for me. I was curious about why she hade to Blue Guild. ¡°Hmm... It¡¯s a bit of both, I guess.¡± ¡°Both?¡± ¡°Yes. Sigh... I pushed her too hard...¡± He exined what had happened. He seemed to be telling the truth without hiding anything, probably fearing that I might back out of the deal if I sensed any lies. ¡®Hah. So Chae Soo-hyun was tossed aside by Lee Jin-hyuk after running to him and abandoning me? Serves her right.¡¯ I couldn¡¯t help but let out a bitterugh. Once, I had truly believed I could be happy with Chae Soo-hyun. I had worked like a ve for her. But she had thrown me away so easily. In the end, I came out on top, while she was discarded by Lee Jin-hyuk. ¡®So Seo Ji-soo has be the main hunter of Baekho Guild.¡¯ ¡°By the way, how¡¯s Hunter Chae Soo-hyun doing in Blue Guild?¡± I was deep in thought when Lee Jin-hyuk asked, his tone carrying aplicated mix of emotions. He didn¡¯t seem to want Chae Soo-hyun to seed in Blue Guild. I could hear the frustration in his voice. ¡°She¡¯s about to fall.¡± ¡°Fall?¡± ¡°Yeah. She¡¯ll sink to where she belongs.¡± I left him with those words. ¡°Anyway, thank you for agreeing to the meeting. I didn¡¯t expect you to actually show up.¡± ¡°Well, I haven¡¯t agreed to the deal yet. To be precise, I¡¯ve only agreed to the meeting.¡± Lee Jin-hyuk flinched, clearly taken aback by my response. ¡°What do you mean by that...?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to change the terms of the deal.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°I think 25 billion won isn¡¯t enough.¡± ¡°Then...¡± ¡°35 billion.¡± I quoted an outrageous price. I didn¡¯t expect him to ept; it was more of a ploy to mess with him. Whether he epted or not didn¡¯t matter to me. Either way, I would win. ¡°Kuh...¡± Lee Jin-hyuk looked flustered. The man who always appeared calm, gentle, and collected on TV now seemed genuinely shaken by my proposal. ¡°Sigh... I¡¯ll have to look into...¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll take that as a refusal and proceed with the auction.¡± I cut him off bluntly. ¡°I believe the item could fetch 50 billion if I auction it. As you know, even the U.S. has caught wind of it. You understand what that means.¡± I was just bluffing, but I figured the pressure would make Lee Jin-hyuk squirm. ¡®This is what you get for trying to get with Chae Soo-hyun, bastard.¡¯ I smiled slightly, waiting for his response. ¡°Alright.¡± After a brief moment of contemtion, he answered seriously. ¡®Huh? He epted?¡¯ I couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit surprised. I¡¯d heard that chaebols receive dividends in the hundreds of billions each year, but I didn¡¯t think 35 billion won would be such a light amount. Especially since he had already spent a fortune buying the Soul Fragment for 10 billionst time, I thought he¡¯d be strapped for cash. ¡®No wonder Chae Soo-hyun went after him.¡¯ It was a world of wealth beyond my imagination. ¡°Very well. Let¡¯s proceed immediately.¡± ¡°Whoooaaah!!¡± Park Hyung-seok was so excited he was practically hyperventting. ¡°H-Hyung... 35 billion won? 35 billion?? Huff...¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°So... if I get 1% of that... that¡¯s 350 million... Is... Is that right...?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± While Park Hyung-seok was practically losing his mind with excitement, I remained calm. At this point, money felt like just numbers to me. ¡®Man, making money is way too easy.¡¯ To be honest, money itself didn¡¯t matter to me. All I cared about was showing off my sess to Chae Soo-hyun. That was satisfaction enough. ¡°How on earth did you manage to pull this off?¡± He looked at me with a mix of awe and confusion. ¡°Well, I guess they¡¯re in desperate need of the item.¡± I casually brushed it off. ¡°Wow... You¡¯re amazing. Although, I wonder if we could¡¯ve gotten more if we had gone through the auction.¡± ¡°No, this way is better. I got to hear about Chae Soo-hyun, after all.¡± From my perspective, this was a huge win. I¡¯d learned why Chae Soo-hyun hade to Blue Guild. ¡°Ah... Hunter Chae Soo-hyun...¡± Park Hyung-seok¡¯s expression shifted slightly. ¡°What¡¯s up? Did something happen?¡± I quickly picked up on his reaction and asked. ¡°Well, actually...¡± He began recounting the conversation he had with Chae Soo-hyun. ¡°Sigh... Unbelievable.¡± I wasn¡¯t sure what expression I should make. It seemed like Chae Soo-hyun waspletely delusional. ording to Hyung-seok, she thought that all this misunderstanding was simply because of him, and that I had just misinterpreted things slightly. ¡®Not even close.¡¯ And on top of that, she seemed to think I was still hung up on her. ¡®Not even close again.¡¯ The day she left me, it was like something snapped inside me, and all the feelings I had for her disappearedpletely. ¡®What a joke. Is she stupid, or just clueless?¡¯ In any case, it didn¡¯t matter. My life was moving forward, smoothly and sessfully. Meanwhile, Chae Soo-hyun was spiraling down into oblivion. ¡®She¡¯s going to wish she stayed with Baekho Guild.¡¯ ¡°By the way, did you look into that hunter rank re-evaluation?¡± ¡°Oh, right. I did some research like you asked, but it doesn¡¯t seem like the Hunter Association can enforce anything.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no regtion?¡± ¡°No. So even if someone was cheating, it¡¯s usually handled through individualwsuits. And cases like that are pretty rare.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Why...?¡± Hyung-seok looked curious as he noticed me deep in thought. ¡°You know Chae Soo-hyun, right? She¡¯s an E-rank hunter.¡± ¡°What?¡± He tilted his head in confusion. ¡°I mean, she only became an S-rank hunter because of me. I gave her the points. But I took them back, so now she¡¯s an E-rank again.¡± ¡°Uhh...?¡± Even though I exined it to him, he still didn¡¯t seem to fully grasp it. ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s not the point. What I mean is, I¡¯m going to reveal that Chae Soo-hyun is actually an E-rank hunter.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to do that through a re-evaluation?¡± ¡°Yeah, exactly. The issue is how to get that to happen.¡± ¡°Uhh...¡± He didn¡¯t fully understand, but he seemed to be catching on. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying Hunter Chae Soo-hyun isn¡¯t actually an S-rank hunter... but an E-rank? And you¡¯re the real S-rank...?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Whoa.¡± He looked genuinely shocked. ¡°So if it gets revealed that she¡¯s an E-rank...?¡± ¡°She¡¯ll be finished.¡± I felt this would be the ultimate act of revenge. In just a short time, I had sold two S-rank items for nearly 45 billion won. That¡¯s something no S-rank hunter has ever done. I was on the road to sess, but for Chae Soo-hyun, it was the end. ¡®If I can just get the Hunter Association involved...¡¯ My eyes drifted to the logo of the Hunter Association hanging in the corner of the office. Chapter 155 ¡°Huh? What¡¯s this now?¡± Chae Soo-hyun''s eyes were drawn to a post. It was thetest trending topic in the onlinemunity. [Recent Activity of S-Rank Hunters] Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na being bossed around like dogs.jpg ? What is this? What are they doing? ? Don¡¯t know? Looks like Baek Ji-hoon is the one giving the orders. ? I was there. They were doing everything Baek Ji-hoon told them to do. ? Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na? Seriously? Attached was a video clip of Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na fiercelypeting to take down B-rank monsters. ? What the hell are they doing? Why are S-rank hunters fighting B-rank monsters? ? People say Baek Ji-hoon told them to do it. ? And they just do whatever he says? ? Who knows? Maybe they like him or something. ¡°What the...¡± Chae Soo-hyun frowned. She continued reading through various posts andments, piecing together what was happening. ¡®So, Ji-hoon oppa went to a dungeon with Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na?¡¯ A wave of irritation surged through her. ¡®Ugh... Why are there so manypetitors in Blue Guild?¡¯ She felt like an invisible, fiercepetition was taking ce around Baek Ji-hoon. ¡®They¡¯re clearly trying to get on his good side by following him to the dungeon, right? Or... wait, could they have figured out that Ji-hoon oppa is ID Parfaris?¡¯ Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s sense of urgency increased. Based on Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na¡¯s odd behavior, she thought it was highly possible they had already realized the truth. In the video, Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na were enthusiastically hopping around, grinding away to defeat the B-rank monsters. ¡®S-rank hunters doing B-rank work...¡¯ Chae Soo-hyun quickly flipped through more information. ¡°Just as I thought...¡± The dungeon where Baek Ji-hoon, Lee Soo-ah, and Yoo Ha-na were located was a double dungeon. Inside, there was a hidden area where S-rank items could be found. ¡°So, it¡¯s true. Ji-hoon oppa really is ID Parfaris. He just enjoys keeping things secret, just like I thought.¡± She smirked, feeling like she had solved the puzzle. Then, she jumped to her feet. ¡°Alright, looks like I¡¯ll be tagging along too.¡± She felt like Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na were already one step ahead. There was no other exnation for S-rank hunters acting like that unless they had a reason. ¡®I can¡¯t let them win. Ji-hoon oppa is mine. The two of you can back off.¡¯ She hurriedly made her way to the dungeon. ¡°Hey... Ms. Yoo Ha-na, can you move over there? This area is mine.¡± ¡°What? Are you serious? Weren¡¯t you the one who asked me toe here in the first ce, Ms. Lee Soo-ah?¡± Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na were locked in a tense exchange. They were both on edge, reacting to the rare chance that Baek Ji-hoon had actually asked them to do something. ¡°Wait... Where¡¯s Ji-hoon?¡± Distracted by the tasks Baek Ji-hoon had assigned, they suddenly realized they had lost track of him. ¡°Where is he? Where¡¯s Ji-hoon?¡± They scanned the area, but Baek Ji-hoon was nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, a crowd of regr hunters was gathering around them, eager to catch a glimpse of the two famous S-rank hunters. ¡°Wow... Ms. Lee Soo-ah, Ms. Yoo Ha-na, could I get an autograph?¡± ¡°This is crazy! I never thought I¡¯d run into you in a B-rank dungeon!¡± People were flocking around them, asking for handshakes and autographs. ¡°Excuse me? Have you seen the two guys who were with us?¡± ¡°They went into the double dungeon.¡± ¡°What??¡± ¡°Hurry, Ms. Soo-ah! Let¡¯s go!!¡± ¡°Yes!¡±@@novelbin@@ Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na snapped back to reality and realized that Baek Ji-hoon had gone ahead without them. ¡°Wait, are you just going to leave? Didn¡¯t he give you something to do?¡± A nearby hunter asked, looking confused. ¡°Oh, right. He did.¡± Reluctantly, Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na realized they had to finish the tedious tasks Baek Ji-hoon had assigned. If they just followed him withoutpleting the job, he might get annoyed. ¡®Ugh... did he ask us to do this just to get rid of us? No, it¡¯s fine. We¡¯ll just finish quickly and catch up with him.¡¯ Lee Soo-ah decided to stay positive. ¡°How much will this one fetch if we get it today?¡± ¡°Uh... probably around 50 billion won. It¡¯s one of the top 20 most valuable known items. And it¡¯s a weapon too.¡± Hyung-seok looked thrilled, practically trembling with excitement. ¡°Hyung, I think I¡¯m gonna lose it. Seriously. Can¡¯t we just keep this one for ourselves?¡± [Ruby Sword] The design was simple¡ªnothing shy or particrly cool-looking. But this item had earned its fame for one reason. [Hunter Rank +1] It could raise a hunter¡¯s rank by one tier, but only in terms of attack power. Naturally, this item had never once appeared on the market. It was something only spoken about in legend. Considering that it usually took 2-3 years, sometimes up to 5 years, to level up as a hunter, this item was incredible. Though I personally didn¡¯t feel like I needed it. ¡°What would I do with it? I¡¯ve already maxed out my level.¡± To me, it seemed utterly useless. ¡°Sigh... I guess you¡¯re right. But it feels like we should keep it for sentimental reasons. Anyway, let¡¯s find it first and decideter!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Following Hyung-seok¡¯s lead, I carefully advanced through the dungeon. ¡®I wonder how many attempts it¡¯ll take to get a drop today...¡¯ ¡°What? Is that Chae Soo-hyun?¡± The hunters in the dungeon were startled when Chae Soo-hyun entered. ¡°What¡¯s going on today? Why are there four S-rank hunters here?¡± ¡°Wow. Let¡¯s take a picture.¡± ¡°She¡¯s even prettier in person. I guess S-rank hunters really do take care of themselves with all that money.¡± The hunters already in the dungeon murmured among themselves, watching Chae Soo-hyun from afar. ¡°Excuse me, have you seen Baek Ji-hoon, Lee Soo-ah, or Yoo Ha-na around?¡± ¡°Oh, of course! I even posted about it on themunity board.¡± A man who had been grinning ear to ear approached her, answering eagerly. ¡°Where are they?¡± ¡°Well, I know where Ms. Lee Soo-ah and Ms. Yoo Ha-na are, but Baek Ji-hoon seems to have gone into the inner dungeon.¡± Hearing this, Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡®So, it¡¯s true. Ji-hoon oppa is really him... Su-hyun, get it together. You can¡¯t lose him this time. You have to show him how you feel, no matter what. Then, you¡¯ll be set for life.¡¯ Chae Soo-hyun steeled her resolve. ¡°Ms. Yoo Ha-na... Are you done yet? How much longer...?¡± Lee Soo-ah panted, showing signs of fatigue. The task Baek Ji-hoon had given them involved defeating a total of 5,000 monsters. Even though B-rank monsters were a breeze for S-rank hunters, the sheer quantity was overwhelming. No matter how strong an S-rank hunter was, dealing with that many monsters in a short time was exhausting. ¡°I think I¡¯m almost done... But this is tough. Whew...¡± ¡°We need to finish this quickly and get inside. But... do you think we¡¯ll even survive in there? We need to catch up to Ji-hoon soon...¡± Yoo Ha-na looked a little worried. ¡°Let¡¯s finish up here and then think about it. We¡¯re almost done.¡± ¡°Okay...¡± ¡°Ms. Lee Soo-ah? Ms. Yoo Ha-na?¡± A sharp voice called out. It was Chae Soo-hyun. ¡°Oh? Chae Soo-hyun...?¡± Lee Soo-ah immediately tensed up. Yoo Ha-na did the same. They both remembered the time they had run into her in front of Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s house in Sillim-dong, which naturally made them wary. ¡°What are you doing here? Ms. Chae Soo-hyun, you¡¯re an S-rank hunter. There¡¯s no reason for you to be in a B-rank dungeon, right?¡± Lee Soo-ah fired the first shot, her voice sharp. ¡°And why are you here, Ms. Lee Soo-ah? Ms. Yoo Ha-na? Aren¡¯t you both S-rank hunters too?¡± Chae Soo-hyun didn¡¯t back down. ¡°Hah. We¡¯re just here to get some items we need. It just so happens that they¡¯re in a B-rank dungeon.¡± Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na exchanged a knowing nce, silently agreeing to y along. ¡°Don¡¯t lie. You¡¯re here because of Baek Ji-hoon, right? I already know. It¡¯s all over themunity.¡± Chae Soo-hyun showed them the post with the viral video of them grinding B-rank monsters. ¡°Damn it...¡± Lee Soo-ah rubbed her forehead, looking frustrated. ¡®So it was those people. When did they even have time to record this...¡¯ She was annoyed but knew there wasn¡¯t much she could do. ¡°So, why are you here, Ms. Chae Soo-hyun?¡± Still on guard, she questioned her again. ¡°I¡¯m here for the same reason you are. Because of Baek Ji-hoon.¡± Chae Soo-hyun delivered her line with a subtle bite. ¡°The same... reason?¡± Lee Soo-ah pretended not to understand, feigning innocence. ¡°Oh,e on. Why are you acting like amateurs? Ms. Lee Soo-ah, Ms. Yoo Ha-na. You¡¯re here because of Baek Ji-hoon, right? You¡¯re trying to get on his good side, aren¡¯t you?¡± Chae Soo-hyun decided toy it all out in the open. She figured the only way toe out on top was to confront the issue head-on. ¡®What could they possibly do to stop me? I¡¯m Chae Soo-hyun. I¡¯ll take Ji-hoon oppa from under their noses and be done with it.¡¯ She had no intention of backing down. In fact, she was determined to draw a firm line with Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na. She didn¡¯t want any unnecessaryplications. ¡®I hope they understand what I¡¯m saying now.¡¯ Chapter 156 ¡°Ah, I see. Well, it seems like I¡¯ll be the final victor. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time for you to give up, Chae Soo-hyun?¡± Despite hearing Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s words, Lee Soo-ah didn¡¯t seem the least bit bothered. ¡°What did you say?¡± Naturally, Chae Soo-hyun couldn¡¯t hide her difort. A strange tension was brewing between the three female hunters. ¡°Chae Soo-hyun, you¡¯ve only just joined Blue Guild, haven¡¯t you? That makes you the junior here. On the other hand, I¡¯m Lee Soo-ah, the lead hunter of Blue Guild. I understand what you¡¯re trying to say, but wake up from your delusions. Our Ji-hoon has zero interest in you.¡± Lee Soo-ah spoke confidently. ¡®Hah¡­ ridiculous. What do you mean he¡¯s not interested? Ji-hoon oppa still misses me. Not to mention, I¡¯m his ex-girlfriend.¡¯ Chae Soo-hyun debated whether or not to reveal that she was Ji-hoon¡¯s ex, but decided it wasn¡¯t the right time. ¡°Lee Soo-ah, you¡¯re seriously mistaken. If you were such a prominent lead hunter, you should¡¯ve been dating Baek Ji-hoon by now. Oh wait, isn¡¯t it true that Baek Ji-hoon is already dating Chae Isul?¡± Chae Soo-hyun smirked, her expression turning teasing. ¡°What¡­ what did you say!?¡± ¡°Hmph. Anyway, that¡¯s enough. I¡¯ll be going to Baek Ji-hoon now. I don¡¯t have time to waste on either of you. I¡¯ll be heading to the S-rank dungeon~¡± With a dismissive wave, Chae Soo-hyun walked away, leaving Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na behind. ¡°That¡­ that b****.¡± Lee Soo-ah looked visibly upset. Losing Baek Ji-hoon to Chae Isul had struck a nerve for her. ¡®This guild was mine¡­ how did it end up like this?¡¯ ¡°Lee Soo-ah, did you hear that? We need to hurry up and finish this. If we don¡¯t, Chae Soo-hyun is going to get ahead of us!¡± ¡°Sigh¡­ okay.¡± Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na refocused on their tasks. ¡°Woooooo!¡± We had just acquired the item. It took three attempts, but we got it. ¡®Wow. Something that looks this in is worth 50 billion won?¡¯ It was simple in design¡ªa sword adorned with ruby decorations. Though the base stats were nothing extraordinary, the special option was what made it valuable. ¡°Wow¡­ hyung... you¡¯ve conquered the weapons category too. If we keep making money like this, we¡¯re set for life. I think we should just make Baekho Guild our regr customer instead of going through the auction. It would be faster that way.¡± ¡®Hmm...¡¯ The truth was, I had met with Jin-hyuk mostly because of Chae Soo-hyun. I wasn¡¯t sure if I should continue doing so. ¡°Hyung, are you really going to put this up for auction?¡± ¡°Yes, list it.¡± ¡°Aw... I feel like we should just keep it as a memento¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t a bad idea, but I had a goal. I wanted to surprise Chae Soo-hyun. I needed her to see just how well I was doing¡ªenough to shock her into realizing what she had lost. To fully move on and live my best life, this was a step I had to take. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯re done for the day.¡± ¡°Yes, hyung!¡± As I led a grinning Park Hyung-seok out of the dungeon, a familiar voice rang out. ¡°Oppa!!!¡± ¡®What the...? Why is Chae Soo-hyun here?¡¯ I was momentarily caught off guard. Though I quicklyposed myself. Not far behind her, Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na came rushing up as well. Seeing them, Chae Soo-hyun quickly changed her demeanor. ¡°Hello, Baek Ji-hoon Hunter.¡± Her greeting was awkward, almostical. It was obvious that she hadn¡¯t told anyone about our past rtionship. ¡°Ji-hoon¡­¡± Panting, Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na arrived right after her. ¡°Where are you going? Are you done already? We worked really hard on what you asked us to do¡­¡± Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na looked like anxious puppies, desperately waiting for me to respond. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve finished what I needed to do. I¡¯m heading back now.¡± ¡°Baek Ji-hoon Hunter¡­¡± Chae Soo-hyun blocked my path. ¡°What do you need, Chae Soo-hyun Hunter? What brings you here?¡± I kept my tone cold and indifferent. ¡°I was wondering if there¡¯s anything you need. I¡¯d like to help you...¡± Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s expression was one of longing, as if begging me to use her. ¡°Did youe all this way just to ask me that? This is something you could¡¯ve said back at the office. And if I recall correctly, I already gave you an answer. I. Don¡¯t. Need. You.¡± I left her standing there and walked past. ¡°Ji-hoon~~ Ji-hoon~~ We finished everything you asked us to do!¡± Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na excitedly followed, practically bouncing behind me. ¡°Haa¡­¡± Left alone, Chae Soo-hyun clenched her fists, staring at the ground. ¡°It¡¯s because of Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na, right? You just couldn¡¯t say anything because of them, right? Ji-hoon oppa, you still have feelings for me, don¡¯t you¡­ right...?¡± Her resentment toward Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na began to fester. In her mind, she was convinced that Baek Ji-hoon couldn¡¯t possibly have abandoned her. She was certain that he would have taken her back if Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na hadn¡¯t shown up. ¡®I saw it in his face¡ªhe was surprised and happy to see me.¡¯ In her delusion, she decided that the two other women were obstacles that needed to be dealt with. ¡®How should I get rid of these two¡­?¡¯ ¡°Ji-hoon~~ We finished everything!¡± Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na continued chattering as they trailed after me, desperate for my attention. It was clear that they were trying to report their sess and win my favor. ¡°Good job.¡± I wanted to head back and sell the Ruby Sword as soon as possible, but their constant chatter was making it difficult.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Ji-hoon~ what should we do next?¡± ¡°Can you be quiet?¡± Their incessant babbling was starting to give me a headache. ¡°Pfft.¡± Park Hyung-seok, who had been listening nearby, couldn¡¯t hold back augh. Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na red at him so coldly, it was as if they were ready to slice his throat. ¡°Ah, sorry!¡± Intimidated, Park Hyung-seok shrank under their icy stares. ¡°Fine¡­ we¡¯ll be quiet¡­¡± ¡°And can you walk a bit farther behind me? You¡¯re too close, and it¡¯s ufortable.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Grudgingly, Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na fell in line behind me and Park Hyung-seok, following like scolded children. ¡°Hyung¡­ are you really going to list this? It¡¯s such a waste¡­ We¡¯re already rich, why not keep it?¡± Park Hyung-seok asked for the 50th time, just before pressing the upload button. ¡°List it. We¡¯ll be swimming in gear like this soon enough. Don¡¯t be sentimental.¡± It was true. I was confident that I¡¯d keep acquiring items, so this one wasn¡¯t particrly important. ¡°Alright¡­¡± Within minutes of listing the item, word began to spread like wildfire. Given that we had over 2,000 followers on the auction tform, it didn¡¯t take long for people to start reacting to the new listing. ¡°Wow, word spreads fast now. It¡¯s already blowing up on social media.¡± [Ruby Sword Listed] [Insane! They¡¯ve unlocked the weapons category too.] [Who¡¯s this Parfaris guy? Another new item.] [This is nuts. Whoever this is, they¡¯re making bank.] [Even with a 90% tax, that¡¯s still a fortune.] [I¡¯m jealous. I wish I could do that...] No matter where I looked online, everymunity was buzzing about the Ruby Sword. As expected, weapons were the hottest, most in-demand category. [Does owning this mean you can level up from A-rank to S-rank?] [But normal people won¡¯t be able to afford it. It¡¯s probably going to go for hundreds of billions.] [So it¡¯s just for show?] [I bet someone from the U.S. will buy it. I heard they¡¯re pooling money to invest over there.] What I was most curious about now was whether Baekho Guild would try to buy the item. ¡®How much money does Jin-hyuk have left¡­¡¯ At the same time, my thoughts drifted to Chae Soo-hyun. I wondered how she would take all of this. After all, she had ced her bet on Baekho Guild¡¯s sess by siding with Jin-hyuk. But in reality, Blue Guild¡ªwith me at the helm¡ªwas doing far better. No doubt, this would cause her some heartache. ¡®It¡¯s all good for me. I get to rub it in her face and get rich at the same time. ¡°Uh¡­ Hyung.¡± Just as I was lost in thought, Park Hyung-seok¡¯s urgent voice broke through. ¡°Jin-hyuk from Baekho Guild is trying to contact you. I think you should take this call directly.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what Jin-hyuk had to say now. Chapter 157 ¡°Haa¡­¡± Jin-hyuk was holding his smartphone, deep in thought. As each day passed, his expression grew darker. There had never been a time in his life when things didn¡¯t go the way he wanted, but recently, everything seemed to be going in the exact opposite direction of what he had anticipated. epting the current circumstances was proving to be overwhelming for him. Seo Ji-soo¡¯s words echoed in his mind. Her face, looking at him with a mixture of pity and frustration, lingered in his memory. ¡®Damn it¡­ I have no talent? I¡¯m just sessful because of my parents? Bullshit! I have talent, and I can seed on my own.¡¯ This was something he had felt ever since he was young. Everyone said the same things. It felt like no one recognized his true worth. ¡®Damn it¡­ what do they know about me?¡¯ Because of that, proving his abilities had always been his focus from a young age. He wanted to prove himself, even if it meant pouring everything he had into it. Their words cut deep. ¡®Damn it¡­ recruiting Chae Soo-hyun was supposed to be something I could be proud of.¡¯@@novelbin@@ It was the first thing he believed he had achieved with his own abilities. But even after joining the guild, Chae Soo-hyun had done nothing. ¡®Haa¡­¡¯ And that frustration had led him to this point. ¡®Baek Ji-hoon¡­¡¯ He had just heard that the Ruby Sword had been listed for sale. ¡®How is this guy getting S-rank items so easily? It¡¯s insane.¡¯ Jin-hyuk desperately hoped that Baek Ji-hoon was just getting lucky. He believed that if he kept funneling money into collecting rare items, he would eventually win. ¡®It¡¯s fine. The expenses are high, but I¡¯ll handle it with some PR and funding injections. It¡¯s expensive, but it¡¯s rare¡­¡¯ He immediately called Baek Ji-hoon. ¡°Hello, Ji-hoon.¡± It hadn¡¯t been long since they had met to discuss the Golden Armor deal, and now they were facing each other again. ¡°You obtained the Ruby Sword¡­?¡± Jin-hyuk¡¯s voice carried a hint of unease. ¡°Yes, I did.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get straight to the point¡­ how does 500 billion sound?¡± He sounded slightly desperate. ¡®What the¡­? He¡¯s just offering 500 billion like that? Hyung-seok was right.¡¯ It felt like things were going exactly as Hyung-seok had predicted. ¡®Stay calm, Baek Ji-hoon.¡¯ I reminded myself to remainposed. Honestly, 500 billion was a jaw-dropping figure. Even after the fees, I¡¯d still pocket 50 billion. ¡®Fifty billion? I could just buy a house in Gangnam with that.¡¯ It felt unreal. But I couldn¡¯t let myself get swept up in it. I had to maintain my image. ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± I pretended to be unimpressed. Seeing my reaction, Jin-hyuk seemed to get a bit nervous. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it interest you¡­?¡± ¡°No.¡± I cut him off sharply, giving him exactly the response I knew he was dreading. ¡°We calcted its value at¡­¡± ¡°700 billion.¡± I decided to go all out and see how far I could push it. ¡°Considering the overall auction market value¡­¡± ¡°700 billion.¡± I made it clear I wasn¡¯t negotiating. I felt confident that I held all the power here. After all, Jin-hyuk had reached out to me as soon as the item was listed. Even if he didn¡¯t ept my offer, I had nothing to lose. ¡®If I list it on the auction, it¡¯ll likely hit 500 billion anyway.¡¯ At first, I hadn¡¯t fully grasped the flow of the auction market, but now I was starting to get a feel for it. ¡®Items that are the only one of their kind in the world have enormous value.¡¯ ¡°I think 500 billion is a very reasonable price considering¡­¡± ¡°700 billion.¡± I was relentless, seeing who would break first. Jin-hyuk¡¯s face grew darker and darker. From what I could tell, he was desperate to get his hands on this item. I had sensed that about him from the way he treated the Soul Fragment, too. He was obsessed with items. Even Hyung-seok had said as much, and the online reactions to him confirmed it. ¡®Let¡¯s see how far we can push this.¡¯ ¡°Baek Ji-hoon, 700 billion is an outrageous price¡­¡± ¡°700 billion.¡± The one who¡¯s desperate digs the well. I had nothing to lose here. ¡°Haa¡­¡± Jin-hyuk sighed deeply. ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve wasted my time. I¡¯ll be leaving now to meet with my next buyer.¡± I abruptly stood up, preparing to leave. ¡°Wa-wait!!!¡± Jin-hyuk, clearly panicked, grabbed my wrist. ¡°Another buyer?¡± ¡°Did you really think you were the only one interested in this item? The only reason I met with you first is because you¡¯re the heir of Taeyang Group. But now I see you¡¯re too stingy. It¡¯s a waste of my time to deal with someone who doesn¡¯t recognize the value of my items.¡± I shook off his grip and moved to leave. It was all a bluff, of course. ¡°Who else is interested?¡± I rattled off the names of several investment funds and hunter item investors I had read about online. With each name I mentioned, Jin-hyuk grew more and more flustered. ¡°I¡¯ll be going now. My schedule is packed.¡± ¡°A-Alright¡­ 700 billion¡­¡± He finally caved, looking pale and defeated. ¡®What the¡­ it actually worked?¡¯ I epted his offer, careful to keep my reaction neutral. Back at the office, Park Hyung-seok was frozen like a statue after hearing what I had done. ¡°Hey. Are you dead?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Are you dead?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If you¡¯re dead, I¡¯ll just keep your share.¡± ¡°AAAH!! No, hyung!¡± He had been too shocked by what I had just told him. ¡°Did you really¡­ sell it for 700 billion? 700 billion!? That¡¯s the highest price for an item in history, isn¡¯t it? Is this real?¡± He was trembling uncontrobly, clearly unable to believe it. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s real. Do you want me to show you again?¡± Even after showing him the numbers in my ount, he kept asking. ¡°Oh my god¡­¡± ¡°Come on, pull yourself together. This is just the beginning.¡± ¡°I-I can¡¯t¡­ you keep doing things that make it impossible to stay calm¡­¡± Knock, knock. At that moment, Chief Cha entered the office, practically dancing with joy. ¡°What¡¯s up, Chief Cha?¡± ¡°I¡¯m dancing?¡± ¡°Yeah, but why?¡± ¡°Oh my~~~ Ji-hoon~~ I just overheard the Guild Leader say~~¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You sold it for 700 billion~~~¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Oh my god~~ At this rate, Ji-hoon, you¡¯re going to be our guild¡¯s top earner. You¡¯re single-handedly carrying the guild¡¯s revenue. At this pace, 90% of our earnings wille from you alone!¡± ¡°Haha.¡± Chief Cha was looking at me with what could only be described as adoration. It was kind of ufortable. ¡°Keep it up! You¡¯re doing great. But Ji-hoon, is the price really going up like this? Are you selling more and more expensive items each time?¡± ¡°It just kind of turned out that way.¡± ¡°Oh, I knew it! I knew from the moment you joined our guild that you were going to be special.¡± ¡°Thank you. I wouldn¡¯t have made it this far without your help.¡± It was an awkward but necessary exchange. Chief Cha had yed a role in my sess, after all. ¡°Keep up the good work~~¡± ¡°Will do.¡± ¡°Oppa, are you an idiot?¡± ¡°What?¡± Jin-hyuk was getting an earful from Seo Ji-soo. ¡°Ugh. Just stop buying items. Stop wasting money. Do you think this is sustainable?¡± ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t talk about things you don¡¯t understand.¡± Jin-hyuk snapped at her, clearly frustrated. ¡°I mean, I wouldn¡¯t even pay 500 billion for it. Heck, I¡¯d hesitate at 300 billion.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you have no sense of money.¡± ¡°No, oppa, the only reason it¡¯s expensive is because it¡¯s rare. But what if it¡¯s not rare anymore? What then?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Think about it. What if that Parfaris guy keeps getting and selling these items? What are you going to do?¡± ¡°That¡­ that¡¯s impossible.¡± Jin-hyuk looked visibly shaken. It was clear he had never considered that possibility. Caught up in the fierce auction wars, he had only been focused on the immediatepetition. ¡°Ugh¡­ you¡¯re acting like a fool. Why do you keep doing this?¡± Seo Ji-soo was starting to think Jin-hyuk was acting more and more foolish by the day. Chapter 158 "Hmm..." I found myself sinking deeper into thought. I was now making a lot of money, and as a hunter, it could be said that I was doing quite well. Thest thing remaining was Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s rank. And I was thinking it might be time to expose Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s past. If I did that, she¡¯d bepletely expelled from the huntermunity, and I wouldn¡¯t have to see her face again. ¡®How should I go about this¡­¡¯ It wouldn¡¯t be easy to make someone who¡¯s already an S-rank hunter get reassessed. Even if I suddenly shouted, "Chae Soo-hyun is actually an E-rank hunter!!" no one would believe me. It wasn¡¯t that kind of atmosphere, and it shed with social conventions. ¡®Hmm¡­ What should I do¡­ Hmm¡­¡¯ Then, something crossed my mind. ¡®I should give her the chance to expose herself, right? That¡¯s what a decent person would do.¡¯ Some might ask why I was bothering to give her a chance, but I didn¡¯t want to dirty my own hands. Also, even if people found out about my past rtionship with Chae Soo-hyun, it wasn¡¯t a story I was particrly fond of. ¡®Then I just need to drag her into a dungeon.¡¯ A slight smile crept onto my face. Knock knock. Lost in thought, Chae Soo-hyun snapped back to reality. ¡®Ha. How long was I daydreaming? I must have been thinking too much about Ji-hoon oppa.¡¯ ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I have something to deliver to you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± It was someone from Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s secretary office. Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s expression brightened immediately. ¡®What is it? Good news? Is Ji-hoon oppa finally sending me a signal?¡¯ Filled with overwhelming excitement, her eyes sparkled as she looked at the person who had just entered. ¡°Please ept this document.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡®Huh¡­?¡¯ Chae Soo-hyun looked slightly puzzled. After reading the document, her expression showed she wasn¡¯t sure what the intent behind it was. [Isn¡¯t Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na basically ves now?] Reply: Seems like it. The vibe is different, why are they working so hard? Reply: I told you, they probably have a thing for that Baek Ji-hoon guy. Reply: People were saying on thepanymunity app that Lee Soo-ah and Baek Ji-hoon are dating. Reply: No, they said Baek Ji-hoon was dating Cha I-seul. Reply: Is he juggling multiple women? [Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na¡¯s recent activities] (Cool-looking pic) -> (Pic of them frantically cleaning up B-rank monsters) What happened to these girls? Reply: Something weird seems to be going on with Blue Guild. Reply: Do you think the auction house is rted to Blue Guild? Reply: Why is Blue Guild doing so welltely? Reply: I wanna join Blue Guild too. If you looked online recently, it was filled withments like this. It seemed like 99% of the discussions were about Blue Guild. In the past, the topics had been more varied, but now everyone was overwhelmingly interested in our guild. Especially those images of Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na panting as they cleaned up B-rank monsters¡ªthey were even being turned into memes. They must know this as well. I sent Chae Soo-hyun the document. [Joint Attack of S-rank Hunters from Blue Guild] Naturally, the content was about gathering all the S-rank hunters for a joint attack. This would make things obvious. On the surface, everyone¡¯s an S-rank hunter. But with Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s E-rank abilities, it would be painfully obvious. If things went this way, she would have no choice but to step down herself. I figured she had enough sense to pick up on that. [Joint Attack of S-rank Hunters from Blue Guild] ¡®Hmm¡­ What¡¯s this about¡­¡¯ Chae Soo-hyun pondered deeply. She couldn¡¯t figure out what the point was of gathering all the S-rank hunters like this. ¡®Why? Why would they drag 11 people into a dungeon? Is there even a reason for that¡­?¡¯ She thought back to thest dungeon where Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na had been behaving like ves, which had quickly spread across the inte. ¡®What is this? Is he nning to make all the S-rank hunters into ves or something? Is that why he made Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na test it out first¡­?¡¯ Since this kind of joint dungeon attack was unheard of in the hunter industry, it was impossible to discern the true intent. ¡®But they included me, right? That means he still has feelings for me, doesn¡¯t it? He misses me¡­ That¡¯s why he¡¯s including me, right?¡¯ She knew that her past actions were enough to seriously piss off Baek Ji-hoon¡ªor any man, really. So she had fully expected him to cut her offpletely. But in reality, she had settled into Blue Guild without a hitch, and now she was being included in a joint dungeon raid with the S-rank hunters. ¡®It¡¯s a relief. He¡¯s not mad at me. Phew¡­¡¯ She thought she saw a glimmer of hope. Though she had been quite anxious, she was now deluding herself into thinking the situation was improving. ¡®Alright! Then of course!! I have to participate, right!¡¯ ¡°Hm? What¡¯s this¡­?¡± Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Ha-na had both received the same document. ¡°Yoo Ha-na, what do you think this is?¡± ¡°They¡¯re talking about gathering all the S-rank hunters for a joint attack? Why? What¡¯s the point?¡± ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t know. Ji-hoon¡­ Do you think he¡¯s into harems?¡± ¡°Ohe on, no way. Didn¡¯t he reject youst time?¡± Yoo Ha-na hit the mark with herment, causing Lee Soo-ah to re at her with a scowl. ¡°Hey, I wasn¡¯t rejected, okay...¡± ¡°That¡¯s totally getting rejected. And if he really was into harems, wouldn¡¯t it be even worse for you? You didn¡¯t even make it in.¡± Yoo Ha-na smirked teasingly. ¡°Are you kidding me? I wasn¡¯t rejected!! I¡­ I¡¯ll get my chance eventually, okay?!¡± ¡°Wake up~ I bet Baek Ji-hoon is going to marry Cha I-seul anyway.¡± ¡°Ugh, stop saying such unlucky things!¡± Lee Soo-ah snapped at her. ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t know why we¡¯re doing this¡­¡± ¡°Could it be that he liked the way we worked so hard to take down those monsters like vesst time?¡± Lee Soo-ah, looking hopeful, showed an eager expression. ¡°I can totally act like a ve again¡­¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ Lee Soo-ah, get a grip. Haven¡¯t you seen the memes going around?¡± Yoo Ha-na showed her a meme circting online. ¡°Yeah, I know. I get it. But¡­ People just don¡¯t understand our situation!¡± ¡°What don¡¯t they understand? I think they¡¯ve got it pretty spot on.¡± Yoo Ha-na, being more rational, responded coolly. ¡°Anyway, I think this is meant to spark somepetition among the S-rank hunters. I¡¯ll take first ce.¡± ¡°Go ahead~ It¡¯s mine anyway, so think whatever you want~¡± Yoo Ha-na scoffed. ¡°Hunter Baek Ji-hoon.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°All the S-rank hunters have responded. They¡¯ve all agreed to participate.¡± ¡°Even Chae Soo-hyun?¡± ¡°Yes, she seemed very excited.¡± ¡®Yes. She¡¯s taken the bait. But why is she happy?¡¯ It was a bit confusing. ¡®Isn¡¯t she misunderstanding something?¡¯ Though it was ridiculous, she¡¯d figure it out soon enough. ¡°Huh? You¡¯re gathering all the S-rank hunters?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°To expose Chae Soo-hyun as an E-rank, of course.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± A look of understanding crossed his face. ¡°So you¡¯re nning to make her embarrassed enough to quit on her own.¡± ¡°Do you really think Chae Soo-hyun will give up willingly? I don¡¯t think that¡¯s in her character¡­¡± He looked a bit worried. ¡°If she doesn¡¯t, we¡¯ll just make her do it by force~¡± It was only a matter of time. There was no way she could be an S-rank again. There was no way she could recover her abilities on her own. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get going.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Hello. Thank you all for epting my invitation.¡± I was addressing a group of 10 S-rank hunters. We were now standing in front of an A-rank dungeon. ¡°The reason I¡¯ve gathered you here is because our Blue Guild has be famous for having 11 S-rank hunters. We¡¯re gaining global recognition.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement as I spoke. Blue Guild was now reaching unprecedented levels of fame. No other guild in the world had more than 5 S-rank hunters. ¡°And that¡¯s why I think it¡¯s important for us to create a strong concept, emphasizing what makes our guild unique.¡± I nced at Chae Soo-hyun. She was smiling brightly, as if she had some strange expectations. ¡®Is she crazy? Why is she so happy?¡¯ She didn¡¯t seem to realize she was heading straight toward her downfall. ¡®Well, that¡¯s good for me. It¡¯ll make my job easier.¡¯ ¡°And so, I believe that by showing the world how the 11 of us work together to conquer a dungeon, we¡¯ll increase our value even further.¡± ¡®Of course, the real purpose is to expose Chae Soo-hyun¡­¡¯ Everyone nodded, showing their agreement. No one resisted. It was an unusual and bold move, but they believed there was a valid reason behind it.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll give you your first mission. Complete the task I give you, and we¡¯ll move forward step by step.¡± My assistant Hyung-seok stood beside me, handing out sheets of paper with the missions to each S-rank hunter. ¡°So we just need toplete these?¡± ¡°Yes, this is the first step.¡± Of course, it was an easy mission for an S-rank hunter, but I had given Chae Soo-hyun an impossibly difficult quest for someone of E-rank. Naturally, I was curious about her reaction, so I couldn¡¯t help but watch her closely. Her face had turned bright red, her expression one of utter shock. Chapter 161 ¡°Oh-ho-ho. Hello! Today, we are joined by none other than the recently promoted S-rank hunter, Chae. Soo. Hyun!¡± Chae Soo-hyun nodded politely in response to the MC¡¯s introduction. She was currently on a TV show. ¡°You became quite famous when you took the S-rank number one spot, beating out Lee Soo-ah. Instantly ranked first after bing S-rank! Wow, how did you manage that?¡± ¡°Well, I was just so focused on my hunter activities that before I knew it, I was number one. Hoho.¡± Chae Soo-hyun smoothly lied without missing a beat, her expression as calm as ever. ¡°Wow, hunting really must be in your blood. But, if I may ask a slightly touchy question~ Recently, Lee Soo-ah reimed the top spot as S-rank number one. How do you feel about that?¡± The host asked carefully, aware that this was a delicate topic, given Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s reputation. ¡°Well, I suppose after achieving the number one spot, all the fatigue and tension I had built up suddenly hit me all at once. I¡¯ve been busy resting and recharging since then. It seems like while I was taking a break, Lee Soo-ah made her move.¡± Chae Soo-hyun smiled, handling the question gracefully. She had decided that her best chance at survival was to make a name for herself in the media. ¡®Hunting might not work out for me¡­¡¯ She thought about Baek Ji-hoon. She had assumed that moving to Blue Guild would make it easier to win his forgiveness, but things hadn¡¯t gone as expected. ¡®Is Ji-hoon oppa really that mad at me? Ugh¡­¡¯ Cha I-seul¡¯s face shed before her eyes. ¡®That bitch¡­ If only she wasn¡¯t around¡­¡¯ Chae Soo-hyun wanted to fully understand her situation, but it wasn¡¯t easy. She had no idea what Baek Ji-hoon was really thinking. ¡®Oppa¡­ you can¡¯t forget me. Please, just give me one more chance. I¡¯ll do anything you want, anything you ask. Just take me back¡­¡¯ She was lost in thought, momentarily distracted by memories of Lee Soo-ah and Cha I-seul. ¡°Are you feeling alright?¡± The MC asked with a concerned expression, noticing her zoning out. ¡°Oh! Yes, I¡¯m fine!!¡± ¡°Actually, the reason we invited you today, Chae Soo-hyun, is because everyone¡¯s curious about your rtionship with Baekho Guild and now Blue Guild. We¡¯d love to hear more about that.¡± The MC continued cautiously, aware of the sensitive nature of the topic. ¡°Oh¡­ sure.¡± Chae Soo-hyun had already prepared herself for these questions, having rehearsed her answers carefully in advance. ¡®Pfft. That trash Baekho Guild¡­ Jin-hyuk¡­ Ugh. I must have lost my mind, getting involved with a rich jerk like him¡­¡¯ She pouted slightly as she thought about it. ¡°After you became an S-rank hunterst month, you joined Baekho Guild. Many people thought you and Hunter Jin-hyuk from Baekho Guild were dating. It certainly looked like that from the outside.¡± The host tried to ease into a more personal question with a lighthearted tone. ¡°So, what¡¯s the real rtionship between you and Hunter Jin-hyuk from Baekho Guild?¡± The MC emphasized the question as if it were the crux of the interview. ¡°Hoho. I know some people might have expected that, but I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s no rtionship. Really, none at all. Hohoho.¡± Chae Soo-hyun firmly denied the rumors, stering on a confident smile. ¡°Oh¡­ really no rtionship at all?¡± ¡°Yes, I just wanted to appear friendly and approachable on camera. I thought being too stiff wouldn¡¯t look good on TV.¡± ¡°Ah, I see¡­¡± The MC smacked his lips in slight disappointment, having hoped to dig up some juicy information buting away empty-handed. ¡°So, the next question is¡­ you left Baekho Guild after only a month and quickly moved to Blue Guild. That¡¯s something we don¡¯t really see among top-tier rankers.¡± The host¡¯s tone sharpened a bit as they moved onto the topic of her guild switch. ¡°Yes.¡± Chae Soo-hyun answered nonchntly. ¡°Was there a particr reason for such a quick transfer? You said earlier that you have no rtionship with Hunter Jin-hyuk, so it must not be rted to that?¡± ¡°Well, Baekho Guild is certainly a great and prestigious guild.¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± ¡°But recently, I found myself bing quite interested in a certain hunter.¡± Her expression shifted slightly, bing more serious. She seemed poised to make a bold move. ¡°A hunter you''re interested in?¡± The MC leaned in with interest, sensing something intriguing. ¡°Yes, there¡¯s a hunter in Blue Guild by the name of Baek Ji-hoon. I¡¯ve been quite interested in him. Hohoho.¡± Chae Soo-hyun began putting her n into motion, gradually revealing her strategy. ¡®Ji-hoon oppa¡­ hurry and forgive me. Otherwise, I¡¯ll start ying this game in the media.¡¯ Her n was to use her social image, bolstered by the powerful media presence Baekho Guild had built for her. She had crafted a pure and transparent image in just under a month, appearing on several shows and solidifying her public persona. The fact that she had dethroned Lee Soo-ah, who had been S-rank number one for quite some time, had brought her a lot of attention. ¡®If I keep spinning this narrative¡­¡¯ She nned to manipte public opinion to the point where Baek Ji-hoon would have no choice but to ept her apology. ¡°Oh my, Baek Ji-hoon? I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s almost impossible to get an interview with him. Even getting in touch with him is difficult. But I¡¯ve also heard he¡¯s an amazing person. Is that true?¡± The MC, who had seemed slightly annoyed by her earlier denials, was now visibly intrigued, eager to learn more about Baek Ji-hoon. ¡°Do you know anything more about him? We¡¯d love to hear it.¡± The MC blinked with curiosity. ¡°Well~ let¡¯s see. Baek Ji-hoon is an incredibly generous and kind person. He¡¯s always willing to help people in trouble. He doesn¡¯t abandon people easily.¡± Chae Soo-hyun began fabricating an image of Baek Ji-hoon as a hero on national television. ¡°What the hell? Is she insane?¡± I couldn¡¯t believe my eyes and ears as I watched the TV, and I couldn¡¯t help but shout at Hyung-seok. ¡°Wow¡­ Chae Soo-hyun Hunter is something else, huh? That¡¯s some serious nerve.¡± Hyung-seok shook his head, equally baffled. ¡°Is she saying all this for me? Does she want me to act like that?¡± The situation was so absurd, I couldn¡¯t help but feel frustrated. ¡®Who does she think she is¡­?¡¯ Chae Soo-hyun was tantly making things up, spinning her own narrative as if it were fact. ¡°Fine. Let her keep ying this little act. If she wants to use the media like this, then I¡¯ll just have to beat her at her own game.¡± I had already nned to bring the media to our next dungeon raid. I would make sure she had no choice but to face the truth in front of everyone.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Oh man. What is Chae Soo-hyun thinking, making up all these stories?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Hyung-seok and I could only cluck our tongues at the absurdity of the situation. ¡°Oh my, does that mean you transferred to Blue Guild because of Baek Ji-hoon? I¡¯ve heard that Blue Guild has been growing rapidlytely, and they say Baek Ji-hoon is at the center of it all.¡± The MC was fascinated by Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s words. The event where six S-rank hunters had joined Blue Guild had sparked widespread spection, and people were dying to know the real reason. This was the first time anyone had openly spoken about it. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct. I do feel a bit sorry for Baekho Guild, but I think it¡¯s better for me to work with Baek Ji-hoon.¡± Chae Soo-hyun continued crafting her image. ¡°Does Baek Ji-hoon have a romantic partner?¡± ¡°Well, I haven¡¯t heard anything.¡± She lied without hesitation. ¡°Oh my, so perhaps you and Baek Ji-hoon could¡­?¡± ¡°If things go well~ I¡¯ll be sure to let you know.¡± She winked yfully. ¡°Haha¡­ This is insane. She¡¯s absolutely lost it.¡± I had agreed to watch the show with Hyung-seok, but I was utterly dumbfounded by what I was seeing. Chae Soo-hyun was just making things up as she went along. ¡°Isn¡¯t the guild going to stop her? Shouldn¡¯t there be some sort of restriction on her broadcasting? She¡¯s going to ruin my reputation at this rate.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ I didn¡¯t think she¡¯d go this far. Should I say something to her?¡± Hyung-seok seemed even more irritated than I was. ¡°No, no. Let her keep running her mouth. When she starts thinking everything¡¯s going her way, that¡¯s when we¡¯ll tear it all down.¡± I had no lingering feelings for her, but watching her act like this on TV was enough to ignite a fire in me. ¡°Hey, Hyung-seok. Can you get all the broadcasters together this week?¡± ¡°Of course! They¡¯ve been desperate to interview you. I¡¯ve got tons of messages from them.¡± ¡°Good. Then let¡¯s make the next dungeon raid a live broadcast event.¡± ¡°You¡¯re nning to broadcast the dungeon raid live?¡± ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s get all the broadcasters there and make sure all eyes are on Chae Soo-hyun. She¡¯s practically begging for it. I¡¯m going to crush her image and expose everything.¡± I couldn¡¯t wait any longer. If I let this go on, I¡¯d end up looking like the viin in this whole mess. ¡®Poor I-seul probably doesn¡¯t even know what¡¯sing.¡¯ Chapter 163 Tok-tok-tok-tok. Lee Soo-ah lightly tapped her fingers on the desk as she waited for Jin-hyuk. ¡®If I hear it directly from the Baekho Guild, it¡¯ll be much clearer.¡¯ Originally, Lee Soo-ah had almost no interaction with Jin-hyuk, but she couldn¡¯t help herself due to her overwhelming curiosity. Suddenly, a massive thought had struck her. ¡®Maybe this whole mess with the Blue Guild has something to do with Hunter Chae Soo-hyun and Hunter Baek Ji-hoon being involved in something together. I mean, didn¡¯t the whole hunter industry get shaken up when they both became S-rank?¡¯ Up until now, she¡¯d been single-mindedly focused on Baek Ji-hoon. But once she opened the floodgates of thought, all sorts of strange ideas started flowing in. ¡®And then there¡¯s Parafaris¡­¡¯ She held a significant amount of suspicion regarding the ID ¡°Parafaris.¡± ¡®It¡¯s definitely Ji-hoon. It¡¯s weird, weird. The entire hunter industry haspletely shifted in an odd direction.¡¯ ¡°Hello...?¡± A voice with a rather odd nuance called out. ¡°Hello,¡± Lee Soo-ah replied, epting the handshake Jin-hyuk extended. ¡°What brings you here? The Blue Guild... requesting me...?¡± Jin-hyuk seemed to have no clue why Lee Soo-ah had summoned him out of the blue. ¡®What¡¯s this about? Did Baek Ji-hoon send her as an emissary? Is this some secret negotiation regarding items? Or maybe he wants to ept the proposal I made to him ages ago?¡¯ Long ago, Jin-hyuk had tried to recruit Lee Soo-ah. After all, she had once been the top S-rank, and he was determined to bring her into his team. But he failed miserably, like a dog barking up the wrong tree. Since then, he hadn¡¯t met with Lee Soo-ah alone. ¡°I have something I want to ask,¡± she said, preparing her voice to speak very seriously. ¡°It¡¯s about Hunter Chae Soo-hyun.¡± ¡°Ha¡­¡±@@novelbin@@ The moment Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s name came out of her mouth, Jin-hyuk let out a big sigh. ¡°Please, let¡¯s not talk about her. She makes me sick.¡± He clearly didn¡¯t want to hear anything about her. ¡°Oh... did things end badly between you two? I read something in the news...¡± ¡°Yeah. We ended things really badly. Normally, I¡¯m not one to handle things that way, but...¡± Jin-hyuk recalled Chae Soo-hyun. ¡®She spent an entire month just goofing off and doing nothing.¡¯ He felt she¡¯d been more of an obstruction to his ns. ¡°I heard something... has Hunter Chae Soo-hyun ever joined a dungeon raid while she was with the Baekho Guild?¡± Lee Soo-ah fired off her question quickly, gauging Jin-hyuk¡¯s reaction. She could immediately tell that the rtionship between Jin-hyuk and Chae Soo-hyun was far from friendly. In this situation, it seemed unlikely that the Baekho Guild would cover up any mistakes Chae Soo-hyun might have made. ¡°She didn¡¯t. Not even once. Sorry, Hunter Lee Soo-ah, but we practically begged her to join us, assuming she was the top S-rank. But she wasn¡¯t helpful at all. Ha¡­¡± Jin-hyuk paused mid-sentence to nce at Lee Soo-ah. ¡°Actually, the Baekho Guild¡¯s target was the Blue Guild. We wanted to surpass them...¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware. I think everyone, not just me, had the same thought. The sudden announcement of Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s recruitment was out of nowhere.¡± Lee Soo-ah felt that her suspicions were aligning more and more with reality. ¡®See? Hunter Chae Soo-hyun isn¡¯t S-rank. If I look at this guy¡¯s reaction, it¡¯s clear she¡¯s been deceiving even the Baekho Guild.¡¯ Her eyes began to narrow. ¡°I apologize, but why was Chae Soo-hyun released? If she transferred freely¡­¡± ¡°Yes, she was so unmovable that we caught her contacting S-rank Hunter Seo Ji-soo. She transferred to the Blue Guild that very day. That damned woman.¡± It seemed Jin-hyuk hadpletely given up on Chae Soo-hyun. ¡°Ah...?¡± Lee Soo-ah¡¯s suspicions were solidifying, and her actions started to make sense. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°But, is that woman doing well? Honestly...¡± His words came out in a dissatisfied tone. Seeing his face, Lee Soo-ah chuckled slightly. ¡°Not really. In our guild, she seems unwilling to put her strength to good use~ Maybe she isn¡¯t an S-rank hunter after all?¡± She casually let the information slip. ¡°What?¡± Jin-hyukughed out loud as if in disbelief. ¡°Not an S-rank hunter?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lee Soo-ah nodded with a look of absolute certainty. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I personally took her to the rank assessment center. To be sure, I had her tested on three different machines for cross-verification.¡± Jin-hyuk slowly shook his head, firm in his belief. ¡°Well, maybe she was back then, but now she might not be. Right?¡± Lee Soo-ah, for once, had a clever response. ¡°No way. You¡¯re saying ranks can regress? Besides, she¡¯s never entered a dungeon to trigger any nerf effect, so that¡¯s impossible.¡± Jin-hyuk maintained his stance of disbelief. ¡°Hmm, we¡¯ll have to look into it. Anyway, I think it¡¯s clear: Hunter Chae Soo-hyun isn¡¯t an S-rank. No way someone with such a slow recovery could be...¡± Lee Soo-ah recalled a conversation she¡¯d had with Chae Soo-hyun. ¡°Hmm? Slow recovery¡­¡± A memory shed through Jin-hyuk¡¯s mind. He remembered that when Chae Soo-hyun joined, she¡¯d copsed at home, and her recovery took ages. ¡®What¡¯s going on...?¡¯ ¡°Um? Do you know something?¡± Jin-hyuk shared a bit of that memory with her. ¡°Ah-ha...?¡± Hearing it, Lee Soo-ah¡¯s expression brightened. ¡°I think I¡¯m right. Chae Soo-hyun isn¡¯t an S-rank hunter. Absolutely!¡± She quickly wrapped up the conversation and left. ¡°Phew¡­¡± Chae Soo-hyun took a deep breath after finishing her live interview. ¡®If I keep cornering Ji-hoon like this... he¡¯ll have no choice but to take my side. After all, I¡¯m charismatic enough to be a sessful celebrity... if I harness the power of the broadcast...¡¯ She felt she couldn¡¯t just sit back anymore. She had to do something, fearing that Cha I-seul might actually snatch Baek Ji-hoon away if she wasn¡¯t careful. Then there was the recent dungeon raid. She felt an inexplicable pressure surrounding her. ¡®Didn¡¯t he say he knew I was E-rank? If he knew, did he set that up on purpose... for me to be at risk of death...? What¡¯s his angle...?¡¯ She couldn¡¯t grasp Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s intentions. As a result, she thought it best to act, signaling to Baek Ji-hoon in her own way. ¡®From now on, I¡¯ll appear on TV often. I need to cement my image as a celebrity. That way, I¡¯ll have an excuse to dodge anything dangerous by saying I can¡¯t afford to get hurt.¡¯ As long as no one discovered she wasn¡¯t really an S-rank, she figured she¡¯d be fine. Of course, she¡¯d hoped the Blue Guild wouldn¡¯t pressure her into dungeon raids like the Baekho Guild had. But, in reality, the pressure was even more intense. ¡®No way I¡¯m going back to Baekho Guild.¡¯ She recalled Jin-hyuk¡¯s face, which had grown cold toward her. ¡®Even a worm will wriggle if stepped on. I¡¯ll do what I have to.¡¯ She decided she couldn¡¯t keep whining and clinging to Baek Ji-hoon forever. So, she resolved to pivot, highlighting her charm and appeal. ¡°Uh... Park Hyung-seok.¡± Lee Soo-ah had called upon Park Hyung-seok, the third most trustworthy person in her circle. ¡°What is it, Hunter Lee Soo-ah? If it¡¯s not a confession, I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± Park Hyung-seok stood with his shoulders practically bursting through the ceiling. ¡®Hahaha. I might even make more money than those S-rank hunters at this rate.¡¯ Just by sticking to Baek Ji-hoon¡¯s side, he¡¯d quickly amassed almost a billion won. He was ted, almost to the point of madness. ¡°A confession?¡± Lee Soo-ah squinted with a look of disbelief. ¡°Why would I?¡± ¡°What do you mean, why? I¡¯m Park Hyung-seok! Ji-hoon¡¯s right-hand man! A soon-to-be rich man. I¡¯ll take care of you, Hunter Lee Soo-ah.¡± He pounded his chest with confidence. ¡°I can take care of myself, thank you very much. Now stop with the nonsense and listen to what I have to say.¡± Lee Soo-ah dismissed his absurdity with a look of mild exasperation. ¡°Uh, yes.¡± The stern response left him speechless, closing his mouth. ¡°I¡¯ve been investigating some suspicious things, and I¡¯vee to a conclusion that¡¯s a bit unusual.¡± ¡°Which is...?¡± Park Hyung-seok¡¯s curiosity was piqued. ¡°Well... you know Hunter Chae Soo-hyun?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not trying to nder her...¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Nor is this out of any inferiorityplex...¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not because I feel inferior in looks...¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But... I don¡¯t think Hunter Chae Soo-hyun is an S-rank hunter!!!¡± Lee Soo-ah stared intensely at Park Hyung-seok, as if she¡¯d just dropped a bombshell. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°???¡± To Park Hyung-seok¡¯s response, Lee Soo-ah was left dumbfounded. ¡®What? He knew???¡¯ Chapter 164 ¡°What? You knew...?¡± Up until now, whenever she¡¯d brought this up with Yoo Ha-na and Jin-hyuk, they¡¯d dismissed it as nonsense. But Park Hyung-seok epted it as if it were obvious. ¡®What the...? Is he such a hunter fanatic that he knows everything?¡¯ Among all the people she knew, Hyung-seok ranked third in hunter knowledge, right behind the guild leader and Deputy Director Cha. Although his personality and actions were peculiar, his expertise was undeniable, and she figured he probably knew about this as well. ¡°Uh... right?¡± ¡°What¡¯s up with that...?¡± Lee Soo-ah eyed him suspiciously. ¡°How do you know? Does Ji-hoon know too? Wait. So Ji-hoon¡¯s okay with Chae Soo-hyun not actually being S-rank?¡± Lee Soo-ah shot the questions with a sharp, piercing tone. ¡®Ah, maybe I shouldn¡¯t have said anything...¡¯ Seeing her reaction, Hyung-seok immediately regretted speaking up. Her sensitivity made him realize he might have been better off staying silent. ¡°Well... there are some circumstances...¡± ¡°Circumstances? Seriously?!¡± Lee Soo-ah red up, her voice biting. ¡°Hyung-seok, I didn¡¯t peg you for someone who¡¯d defend Chae Soo-hyun.¡± ¡°No, absolutely not!¡± he protested, leaping up and waving his hands frantically. ¡°It¡¯s a misunderstanding. Really.¡± ¡°Oh, so someone¡¯s been pretending to be an S-rank hunter, and you¡¯ve all just been letting it slide? Isn¡¯t that conspiracy?¡± She seemed more irritated than satisfied, despite her suspicions being confirmed. Her anger overshadowed any sense of relief. ¡°No, it¡¯s not a conspiracy! I¡¯m just... trying to send her to hell...¡± ¡°What?¡± Lee Soo-ah¡¯s expression softened a bit. ¡®Sending her to hell...?¡¯ That was music to her ears. ¡°What is it? Really? But first, let me ask: Is Chae Soo-hyun actually an A-rank hunter?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Uh... B-rank, then?¡± She asked cautiously. ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°C-rank?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°... D-rank?¡± Her face grew stranger as she tilted her head. ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Wait, E-rank? Seriously?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± It was almost like a game of Twenty Questions. She¡¯d assumed Soo-hyun had inted her rank by one or two levels since that asionally happened. ¡®E-rank? E-rank?! That¡¯s rock bottom! That¡¯s practically a beginner!¡¯ The situation made no sense. To think that someone hailed as her equal, someone who¡¯d appeared on TV shows and made headlines, was actually an E-rank¡ªit was shocking. ¡®So this n to send her to hell...¡¯ Her mind worked quickly. ¡®Are they nning to expose her for being E-rank when everyone thinks she¡¯s S-rank?¡¯ It was getting interesting. ¡°What¡¯s going on here, exactly?¡± ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t say any more. Apologies!¡± He quickly made to leave. ¡°Wait, wait! Hyung-seok, where are you going?!¡± Lee Soo-ah chased after him.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Even if you lock me up and torture me, I can¡¯t say a word more. Just remember that much for now.¡± ¡°Seriously? Even if I torture you?¡± She spoke with a strangely serious tone. Hyung-seok swallowed hard, looking like he was debating it for a moment. ¡°Yes! Absolutely not.¡± Sigh... He really wasn¡¯t going to talk. ¡°Come on, can¡¯t you just give me a little hint? I won¡¯t tell anyone, I promise. Just between us. Please?¡± She started pleading. ¡°No. Sorry!¡± Hyung-seok took off in a hurry. ¡®Tsk...¡¯ Lee Soo-ah clicked her tongue. ¡®Well, at least I confirmed she¡¯s not S-rank. E-rank? Seriously? She¡¯s been milking that and appearing on TV?¡¯ [There¡¯s a rumor that Lee Soo-ah reimed her spot, but isn¡¯t it Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s time now?] Online sentiment seemed to side with the idea that Lee Soo-ah¡¯s time was over, and Chae Soo-hyun, as the new face, would continue to thrive. ¡®They¡¯re too much. It¡¯s fine. Once the truth about her E-rank status gets out, her poprity will plummet immediately.¡¯ It was the most satisfying news she¡¯d heard recently. ¡®But with Hyung-seok¡¯s reaction... it¡¯s clear...¡¯ She began to piece things together. ¡®Hyung-seok can¡¯t be doing this alone. He said something about sending her to hell... He¡¯s not powerful enough to pull that off solo.¡¯ Baek Ji-hoon crossed her mind. ¡®No way. Could Ji-hoon be involved?¡¯ Her mind started racing. ¡®Wait, was she sent to that dungeon on purpose?¡¯ She pped her knee, as if having a realization. ¡®So, it was to pressure Chae Soo-hyun. But she caught on and evaded it. And I just let her wriggle around like a fish, didn¡¯t I?¡¯ She knocked her head lightly with her hand, feeling a bit frustrated. ¡®It could¡¯ve all been exposed right then. It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll make sure to push next time.¡¯ She had a growing sense that things were happening beyond her awareness. She didn¡¯t know the full picture yet, but she felt the urge to contribute. ¡®Chae Soo-hyun. You think you can just roll in here and rece me? Hmph.¡¯ Then, another thought crossed her mind. ¡®Wait, did they bring her into the Blue Guild on purpose?¡¯ It seemed usible. It felt like they¡¯d deliberately pulled her in just to watch her fall. ¡®Ah. That exins it. Ji-hoon¡¯s been rather indifferent about her. Wait, could it be... an ex-girlfriend situation...?¡¯ Her mind spun even faster. ¡®What? Really? Were they dating? That would exin why Chae Soo-hyun kept ring at Cha I-seul like that.¡¯ Everything started falling into ce in her mind. ¡®Oh... so that¡¯s it... Alright, Lee Soo-ah. Let¡¯s do this! Let¡¯s get rid of Chae Soo-hyun!!!¡¯ She was grinning from ear to ear. ¡°Hyung...¡± ¡°What?¡± Park Hyung-seok closed the office door and let out a rough breath. ¡°Chased by a bear?¡± He looked like he¡¯d just narrowly escaped something terrifying. ¡°Hunter Lee Soo-ah... I think she found out. That Hunter Chae Soo-hyun isn¡¯t S-rank.¡± ¡°Wait, what? Hunter Lee Soo-ah? I didn¡¯t think she had that kind of smarts.¡± It wasn¡¯t easy to believe right away. Chae Soo-hyun had done an impressive job pretending to be S-rank, going on TV and doing interviews, even having her rank confirmed alongside Baekho Guild¡¯s Jin-hyuk. ¡®How did she find out?¡¯ It felt a bit intimidating. ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. As long as Chae Soo-hyun falls, it¡¯ll be fine.¡± I decided to speed up my n. Now that Lee Soo-ah knew, things might get messy. I¡¯d lift Chae Soo-hyun to the peak before sending her crashing down. That would end everything. And I had a feeling Lee Soo-ah might be useful. ¡®If she finds out that Chae Soo-hyun is E-rank, she¡¯ll be furious... and that could y into my hands.¡¯ The fact that she figured it out on her own was impressive. ¡°Hyung-seok, make sure the broadcast is prepared smoothly. We¡¯ll promote her heavily and then let her crash.¡± ¡°Yes, absolutely.¡± Knock, knock, knock. ¡°Yes~?¡± Chae Soo-hyun answered in a voice that sounded slightly upbeat. Park Hyung-seok entered. ¡°I¡¯m here for your consent on the uing dungeon raid broadcast filming.¡± He smiled slyly, one corner of his mouth curling up. ¡°Wait, broadcast filming?¡± ¡°Yes. We¡¯re nning to film S-rank hunters taking on an A-rank dungeon. Everyone else has signed off, so it¡¯s just you left, Hunter Chae Soo-hyun~¡± Hyung-seok moved quickly. ¡°Everyone else already signed?¡± ¡°Yes~ Take a look here~¡± He slid the paper toward her. ¡®Ugh... what is this?¡¯ Chae Soo-hyun bit her lip. She could tell something strange had happened while she was away doing interviews. ¡°So, the concept is...¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s about S-rank hunters tackling A-rank beasts.¡± ¡°I... I think I¡¯m going to feel sick.¡± She already looked worried. ¡°Don¡¯t worry~ We¡¯ll film it when you¡¯re feeling well, Hunter Chae Soo-hyun.¡± His eyes sparkled. Chapter 167 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 disy, 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-naughed 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 nced over at the other teams. ¡®See, that¡¯s what it should look like...¡¯ The other groups were embodying everything he¡¯d hoped for¡ªlike a scene from a movie, beautifully choreographed and intense. ¡®Now that¡¯s what makes for good TV¡­¡¯ ¡°Uh, PD-nim... our team is inst ce... 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 nce back. She saw the serious-faced PD speaking with the visibly ufortable Chae Soo-hyun. ¡®Tsk, tsk, Hunter Chae Soo-hyun...¡¯ She clicked her tongue, fully understanding the situation at a nce. ¡°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 toe 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!¡± Atst, 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 theizens. It¡¯s all over the inte,¡± 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.@@novelbin@@ ¡°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...?¡¯ Herst hope crumbled. ¡®Weren¡¯t you missing me? Weren¡¯t you waiting for me? Didn¡¯t you n to help me in my time of need?¡¯ Her face fell into a stony expression, devastated. ¡°Hunter Chae Soo-hyun, could you rify? 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 inte 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. ] Theizens 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 uncontrobly. ¡°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. Chapter 169 ¡°Ah... I feel so relieved.¡± The inte was in an absolute frenzy. Everyone was wondering how someone like Chae Soo-hyun managed to deceive people into thinking she was an S-rank hunter. ¡°Did she ever really have S-rank powers, or was it all fake?¡± ¡°Who knows? Can she even prove it?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the head of the hunter ranking department involved in this?¡± ¡°Is she just a master maniptor?¡± ¡°How did she manage to get an S-rank? I¡¯d love to know.¡± ¡°Wow... What a scammer. She needs to exin herself.¡± ¡°Even if she exins, it¡¯s not like it¡¯ll settle down.¡± ¡°Her life¡¯s over. What a massive fraud.¡± People were all shaking their heads at Chae Soo-hyun, utterly bewildered. It was hardly surprising. After all, Chae Soo-hyun had been parading around on various shows and interviews for a month, proudly iming to be S-rank. She acted like she was at the top of the world. Naturally, people were bound to feel betrayed. ¡°Looks like Soo-hyun has reached rock bottom. I wonder if there¡¯s anything else she could possibly do.¡± No matter what, be it a press conference or a live broadcast, she was clearly finished. ¡°See? Maybe you should¡¯ve treated me better. What were you thinking, being so foolish?¡± Even if the allure of wealth was appealing, dumping a boyfriend who had supported her every step of the way was unforgivable. Especially dumping him right after she achieved the top S-rank. That was just inhuman. ¡°You reap what you sow.¡± Watching people¡¯s reactions, Ji-hoon let out a faint chuckle. ¡°Phew. Hyung-nim, we¡¯re getting flooded with calls. Our email inboxes are blowing up too. I guess people found out you¡¯re part of A-Team, and now everyone¡¯s reaching out to us.¡± ¡°What¡¯s Soo-hyun doing right now?¡± ¡°She¡¯s just locked herself in her office, doing nothing.¡± ¡°Maybe we should set up a tform for her to exin herself publicly.¡± ¡°A live apology broadcast?¡± ¡°Well, her life¡¯s already in shambles. But even so, if she doesn¡¯t exin properly, this will just keep going. Go tell her.¡± ¡°Heh, got it!¡± Park Hyung-seok immediately took off. ¡°Hah...¡± Chae Soo-hyun couldn¡¯t stop crying. ¡°What... How did my life end up like this?¡± She¡¯d spent her life manipting men for personal gain, but she had never experienced this level of bacsh before. She was beyond shocked; she felt as if her life was utterly ruined. ¡°There¡¯s no one who doesn¡¯t know my face.¡± She had freely given interviews and appeared on shows for a month, so it wasn¡¯t like she could hide. Even if she ran overseas, there¡¯d be plenty who¡¯d recognize her. ¡°Ji-hoon oppa... Please... If you¡¯ve seen me fall this low, maybe...¡± Sobbing, she clutched a photo of Baek Ji-hoon. Knock, knock, knock. ¡°Yes! Yes!¡± She hurriedly wiped her tears, standing up, hoping it was Ji-hoon. ¡°Hunter Chae Soo-hyun.¡± Realizing it was Park Hyung-seok, her face fell, but she held onto a shred of hope. Maybe Ji-hoon had sent him to help. ¡°I thought it was important to inform you of the guild¡¯s position. You know you¡¯re a hot topic nationwide right now, right?¡± Hyung-seok¡¯s expression was grim and serious. She could immediately tell he wasn¡¯t here to help her. ¡°Yes...¡± ¡°I think you¡¯ll need to make a public apology.¡± ¡°What? An apology broadcast?¡± ¡°Yes. A proper press conference might help calm things down. All thepanies you were contracted with are up in arms. The guild can¡¯t handle the flood of calls. I think Hunter Chae Soo-hyun needs to rify the situation.¡± ¡°Oh...¡± Soo-hyun squeezed her eyes shut. She didn¡¯t want to, but she knew what she had to do. ¡°Alright... I understand...¡± She had decided to ept her fate. ¡°Maybe... if I handle this well... Ji-hoon oppa might forgive me...¡± Even at thest moment, she held onto hope. ¡°Ah... I feel so relieved.¡± The inte was in an absolute frenzy. Everyone was wondering how someone like Chae Soo-hyun managed to deceive people into thinking she was an S-rank hunter. ¡°Did she ever really have S-rank powers, or was it all fake?¡± ¡°Who knows? Can she even prove it?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the head of the hunter ranking department involved in this?¡± ¡°Is she just a master maniptor?¡± ¡°How did she manage to get an S-rank? I¡¯d love to know.¡± ¡°Wow... What a scammer. She needs to exin herself.¡± ¡°Even if she exins, it¡¯s not like it¡¯ll settle down.¡± ¡°Her life¡¯s over. What a massive fraud.¡± People were all shaking their heads at Chae Soo-hyun, utterly bewildered. It was hardly surprising. After all, Chae Soo-hyun had been parading around on various shows and interviews for a month, proudly iming to be S-rank. She acted like she was at the top of the world. Naturally, people were bound to feel betrayed. ¡°Looks like Soo-hyun has reached rock bottom. I wonder if there¡¯s anything else she could possibly do.¡± No matter what, be it a press conference or a live broadcast, she was clearly finished. ¡°See? Maybe you should¡¯ve treated me better. What were you thinking, being so foolish?¡± Even if the allure of wealth was appealing, dumping a boyfriend who had supported her every step of the way was unforgivable. Especially dumping him right after she achieved the top S-rank. That was just inhuman. ¡°You reap what you sow.¡± Watching people¡¯s reactions, Ji-hoon let out a faint chuckle. ¡°Phew. Hyung-nim, we¡¯re getting flooded with calls. Our email inboxes are blowing up too. I guess people found out you¡¯re part of A-Team, and now everyone¡¯s reaching out to us.¡± ¡°What¡¯s Soo-hyun doing right now?¡± ¡°She¡¯s just locked herself in her office, doing nothing.¡± ¡°Maybe we should set up a tform for her to exin herself publicly.¡± ¡°A live apology broadcast?¡± ¡°Well, her life¡¯s already in shambles. But even so, if she doesn¡¯t exin properly, this will just keep going. Go tell her.¡± ¡°Heh, got it!¡± Park Hyung-seok immediately took off. ¡°Hah...¡± Chae Soo-hyun couldn¡¯t stop crying. ¡°What... How did my life end up like this?¡± She¡¯d spent her life manipting men for personal gain, but she had never experienced this level of bacsh before. She was beyond shocked; she felt as if her life was utterly ruined. ¡°There¡¯s no one who doesn¡¯t know my face.¡± She had freely given interviews and appeared on shows for a month, so it wasn¡¯t like she could hide. Even if she ran overseas, there¡¯d be plenty who¡¯d recognize her. ¡°Ji-hoon oppa... Please... If you¡¯ve seen me fall this low, maybe...¡± Sobbing, she clutched a photo of Baek Ji-hoon. Knock, knock, knock. ¡°Yes! Yes!¡± She hurriedly wiped her tears, standing up, hoping it was Ji-hoon. ¡°Hunter Chae Soo-hyun.¡± Realizing it was Park Hyung-seok, her face fell, but she held onto a shred of hope. Maybe Ji-hoon had sent him to help. ¡°I thought it was important to inform you of the guild¡¯s position. You know you¡¯re a hot topic nationwide right now, right?¡± Hyung-seok¡¯s expression was grim and serious. She could immediately tell he wasn¡¯t here to help her. ¡°Yes...¡± ¡°I think you¡¯ll need to make a public apology.¡± ¡°What? An apology broadcast?¡± ¡°Yes. A proper press conference might help calm things down. All thepanies you were contracted with are up in arms. The guild can¡¯t handle the flood of calls. I think Hunter Chae Soo-hyun needs to rify the situation.¡± ¡°Oh...¡± Soo-hyun squeezed her eyes shut. She didn¡¯t want to, but she knew what she had to do. ¡°Alright... I understand...¡± She had decided to ept her fate. ¡°Maybe... if I handle this well... Ji-hoon oppa might forgive me...¡± Even at thest moment, she held onto hope. ¡°Wow... I never would have guessed.¡± ¡°Yeah, I had a weird feeling, though. Didn¡¯t you catch the grumbling from Baekho Guild?¡± ¡°Really? I thought she was just sick or something.¡± ¡°Come on, there¡¯s no way an S-rank hunter could pull that. Not a chance.¡± ¡°Hmm, I guess you¡¯re right.¡±@@novelbin@@ The press conference was packed with reporters. It was more intense than any conference before it. ¡°How did you even think of lying like that? Were you ever really an S-rank?¡± ¡°Doubt it. What¡¯s her actual skill anyway? What did the hunter ranking department even say?¡± ¡°Who knows? They¡¯re all keeping silent and im they have no idea.¡± ¡°Ugh. They¡¯re probably all in on it. Did they take bribes or something?¡± ¡°But why would they falsify her rank?¡± ¡°The ranking chief ims he¡¯s a victim too, but who believes that?¡± Some still wondered if she was really an S-rank and just temporarily lost her edge. But they were in the minority. Most were simply enjoying watching her downfall, as if munching on popcorn while watching a fire from afar. Eventually, Soo-hyun entered the room. All eyes were on her. She looked utterly defeated, as if all happiness and hope had been drained from her. ¡°Hello, this is Chae Soo-hyun.¡± Her voice trembled, almost breaking. ¡°First, I¡¯d like to apologize to everyone who was shocked by my actions... I am not currently an S-rank hunter. Officially, I ambeled S-rank, but my actual level is E-rank...¡± She had agonized over whether to exin that Ji-hoon had given her points and then taken them back. She had thought about it for almost two hours. But in the end, she decided not to mention it. If she brought it up, people would question why Ji-hoon took the points back, and it would make her not just a fraud but someone who betrayed her boyfriend. Trying to exin might just fan the mes. She didn¡¯t have a choice. ¡°Ah... Who knew it woulde to this... Let¡¯s keep it as quiet as possible...¡± ¡°Since I was young, I¡¯ve admired S-rank hunters, which led me to...¡± Soo-hyun tried to downy it as a mistake born of admiration. Maybe if she exined well enough, people might forgive her. ¡°I deeply regret my actions and promise never to repeat them...¡± She bowed her head after delivering her prepared lines. ¡°Hunter Chae Soo-hyun! So, you¡¯ve never truly been an S-rank hunter?¡± She closed her eyes tightly. She had been S-rank once, but revealing that would bring up her past. ¡°No... I haven¡¯t...¡± ¡°Then, what exactly is your ability? The ranking department didn¡¯t disclose it. What¡¯s your power?¡± ¡°Hah...¡± As soon as question time started, the reporters bombarded her. She was at a loss, wondering if she should lie again ore clean. ¡°My... my ability... is Subus.¡± The room erupted. ¡°What? A subus? They have hunters with that kind of ability? Sounds like an easy life, just seducing men.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t she go into showbiz with a trait like that? She could¡¯ve made way more money.¡± ¡°So, did Jin-hyuk fall for her power? What about the ranking chief? Did she charm him too?¡± Online reactions were just as explosive. It was a rare, unique power, so people were fascinated and confused. ¡°Did you seduce the ranking chief to get S-rank status!?¡± ¡°N-no. That¡¯s not true.¡± One reporter shot a sharp question. ¡°Then how did you rise to S-rank?¡± ¡°I¡¯m... sorry, but I can¡¯t discuss that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the main question here!!¡± The public wanted to know how she managed to reach S-rank. It shook their trust in the system. ¡°T-that¡¯s...¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s wrap up the conference for today.¡± Park Hyung-seok stepped in to close things up. Soo-hyun was flustered, unable to respond further as reporters kept pressing. ¡°This might blow up on Ji-hoon hyung and Blue Guild too.¡± ¡°Th-thank you...¡± Soo-hyun tearfully followed Park Hyung-seok offstage. ¡°It¡¯s not like I did it for your sake anyway...¡± Chapter 170 ¡°What? She was never even S-rank?¡± Lee Soo-ah clicked her tongue in amazement as she and Yoo Ha-na watched Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s press conference. ¡°Unbelievable. I thought she must¡¯ve been an S-rank at some point but lost it for some reason,¡± she muttered, shaking her head. In the aftermath of the press conference, the controversy only intensified. ¡°Wait, she wasn¡¯t even A-rank or B-rank? Just E-rank?¡± ¡°Is she nuts? How did an E-rank pull off pretending to be S-rank?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the head of the hunter ranking office take responsibility and resign?¡± ¡°How did she get an S-rank? Unreal.¡± ¡°Guess she used that subus ability to trick people. Was the ranking chief just another victim?¡± ¡°Victim? He might be a co-conspirator.¡± People were in shock, discovering that Chae Soo-hyun was only an E-rank. ¡°Can you believe it? Just E-rank,¡± Soo-ah said, shaking her head in disbelief. ¡°She acted all high and mighty with me for nothing? Unbelievable.¡± Memories of being overshadowed by Soo-hyun flooded back, but now, they seemed almostughable. ¡°So I was actually the top S-rank all along. What a relief.¡± Feeling reassured, Soo-ah sighed. ¡°So, is Chae Soo-hyun getting kicked out of Blue Guild?¡± ¡°Probably out of the entire hunter industry. I doubt any guild would take her now. The Hunter Association might even cklist her.¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s basically done as a hunter.¡± ¡°Especially at E-rank...¡± They exchanged a look of mild pity, as if witnessing a hopeless case. ¡°Are you telling me that little sh*t was E-rank? How did she fool everyone?¡± Jin-hyuk mmed his fists on the desk. ¡°Damn it. My image is trashed.¡± Online, people were calling Jin-hyuk an idiot for falling for Soo-hyun¡¯s subus charm. Some mocked him,beling him as just another of her victims. ¡°Aww, oppa. You got yed by a girl like that?¡± Seo Ji-soo teased, barely suppressing augh. ¡°Shut up. She¡¯s the scammer. I was just the victim here.¡± Jin-hyuk was fuming. ¡°Well, maybe so, but you¡¯re still left looking like a fool. Don¡¯t worry, oppa. I¡¯ll work hard to raise Baekho Guild¡¯s standing again.¡± Ji-soo grinned, determined not to miss this opportunity. ¡°What? She was never even S-rank?¡± Lee Soo-ah clicked her tongue in amazement as she and Yoo Ha-na watched Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s press conference. ¡°Unbelievable. I thought she must¡¯ve been an S-rank at some point but lost it for some reason,¡± she muttered, shaking her head. In the aftermath of the press conference, the controversy only intensified. ¡°Wait, she wasn¡¯t even A-rank or B-rank? Just E-rank?¡± ¡°Is she nuts? How did an E-rank pull off pretending to be S-rank?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the head of the hunter ranking office take responsibility and resign?¡± ¡°How did she get an S-rank? Unreal.¡± ¡°Guess she used that subus ability to trick people. Was the ranking chief just another victim?¡± ¡°Victim? He might be a co-conspirator.¡± People were in shock, discovering that Chae Soo-hyun was only an E-rank. ¡°Can you believe it? Just E-rank,¡± Soo-ah said, shaking her head in disbelief. ¡°She acted all high and mighty with me for nothing? Unbelievable.¡± Memories of being overshadowed by Soo-hyun flooded back, but now, they seemed almostughable. ¡°So I was actually the top S-rank all along. What a relief.¡± Feeling reassured, Soo-ah sighed. ¡°So, is Chae Soo-hyun getting kicked out of Blue Guild?¡± ¡°Probably out of the entire hunter industry. I doubt any guild would take her now. The Hunter Association might even cklist her.¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s basically done as a hunter.¡± ¡°Especially at E-rank...¡± They exchanged a look of mild pity, as if witnessing a hopeless case. ¡°Are you telling me that little sh*t was E-rank? How did she fool everyone?¡± Jin-hyuk mmed his fists on the desk. ¡°Damn it. My image is trashed.¡± Online, people were calling Jin-hyuk an idiot for falling for Soo-hyun¡¯s subus charm. Some mocked him,beling him as just another of her victims. ¡°Aww, oppa. You got yed by a girl like that?¡± Seo Ji-soo teased, barely suppressing augh. ¡°Shut up. She¡¯s the scammer. I was just the victim here.¡± Jin-hyuk was fuming. ¡°Well, maybe so, but you¡¯re still left looking like a fool. Don¡¯t worry, oppa. I¡¯ll work hard to raise Baekho Guild¡¯s standing again.¡± Ji-soo grinned, determined not to miss this opportunity. ¡°Whew. It¡¯s over for now, hyung.¡± ¡°Yeah, the press conference is done.¡± I decided it was time to end everything for good. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± I tossed a photo onto the desk in front of Park Hyung-seok. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m releasing this too. We need to show people who Chae Soo-hyun really is.¡± ¡°If you release this... she¡¯ll bepletely finished.¡± ¡°Whether I release it or not, she¡¯s finished anyway. But people need to know it wasn¡¯t just about her lying about S-rank.¡± Clearly, Chae Soo-hyun wanted to keep things about me hidden. It was only natural; no one would want to be seen as someone who betrayed their boyfriend and then fell from grace. ¡°Yes, sir. I¡¯ll prepare everything and leak the relevant information to the press. We¡¯ll gather all the victims too.¡± ¡°Good.¡± ¡°Ugh... ugh...¡± Chae Soo-hyuny sprawled across her bed, sobbing for hours. She couldn¡¯t even bring herself to return to the Blue Guild office. She felt like she couldn¡¯t face anyone. ¡°I¡¯m ruined...pletely ruined.¡± She had a faint hope that Ji-hoon might have attended the press conference. She recalled the look of utter contempt on Park Hyung-seok¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m ruined... I¡¯m at rock bottom. There¡¯s nowhere left to go...¡± But she was wrong. ¡°What... What¡¯s this?!!¡± Hoping to distract herself, she logged onto amunity site, only to be horrified. [ Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s Past ] (Photos of men Chae Soo-hyun had drained for points. Before and after.) ¡°Whoa, is that for real?¡± ¡°So, if you get with Chae Soo-hyun, you end up like that?¡± ¡°Damn... insane.¡± ¡°No matter how desperate, that¡¯s dangerous.¡± ¡°Honestly, I¡¯d still go for it.¡± ¡°How did she hide all this until now?¡± ¡°Looks like she only targeted low-rank guys.¡± ¡°Wait, is that Park Joon-ho? He¡¯s famous!¡± ¡°Yeah? So there were some high-rank guys too? Maybe they were too embarrassed to talk about it.¡± ¡°Or she used her power to make them keep quiet.¡± ¡°What... what is this?! AAAAH!!!¡± Clutching her head, Soo-hyun screamed in horror. [ From Korea¡¯s #1 S-rank Goddess to the Nation¡¯s Scandal ] She read through the rumors and testimonies about her escapades. ¡°Was she always a slut?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a scammer and a whore?¡± ¡°Did she just luck out and seduce the ranking chief?¡± ¡°She looked so sweet on TV, but she¡¯s terrifying.¡± ¡°I¡¯d be too ashamed to show my face.¡± ¡°What... who¡¯s spreading this?!!¡± She saw that her past was popping up everywhere online and that journalists were starting to pick it up. ¡°No... no, this can¡¯t be happening!!¡± With a twisted expression, she rushed out. Bang. The door mmed open. On a normal day, no one would dare enter without knocking, but today was different. ¡°Oppa!!!¡±@@novelbin@@ Mascara smeared, face tear-streaked, Soo-hyun stumbled into the office, sobbing. ¡°Hunter Chae Soo-hyun, you need to leave. You can¡¯t just barge in like this.¡± Park Hyung-seok quickly blocked her path. ¡°Oppa... please help me. You know I¡¯m ruined. Just this once, please help me. These rumors... they¡¯re spreading like wildfire.¡± She must¡¯ve thought I was herst hope. ¡°They¡¯re not rumors, are they? You lied to me too.¡± I looked at her coldly. ¡°No... no, it¡¯s all lies! Those people are lying! I... I only loved you, oppa!¡± She iled desperately as Park Hyung-seok dragged her out. ¡°Hunter Chae Soo-hyun... stop lying. Do I need to bring everyone here for you to finally admit it?¡± I replied, my tone t and professional. I couldn¡¯t tell if she was genuinely delusional or just putting up a final act of desperation. Either way, she was done for. That much was clear from her reaction. ¡°Oppa...? Was it you? Did you leak all this?¡± Instead of answering, I just gave her a slight smile. ¡°Oppa!! How could you do this to me?! Oppa!!! You¡¯re not supposed to treat people like this!!!¡± With onest scream, she waspletely dragged out. ¡°Finally... it¡¯s over.¡± With Soo-hyun¡¯s situation almost fully resolved, I could finally focus on starting anew. Creak. ¡°I handed her over to building security. She won¡¯t be able toe back in here,¡± Hyung-seok said, wiping the sweat from his forehead. ¡°Good. It¡¯s finallying to an end. Phew...¡± I couldn¡¯t help but shake my head, reflecting on the time I¡¯d spent with a woman like that. ¡°It¡¯s fine, hyung~ You¡¯ll be a rich man soon anyway, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, this is just the beginning.¡± I shot him a grin. ¡°Did you hear? They say Chae Soo-hyun was dragged out today, kicking and screaming.¡± ¡°Oh, I wish I could¡¯ve seen that!¡± Soo-ah and Ha-na were having a conversation with serious expressions. ¡°Ji-hoon is a terrifying guy... to destroy her so thoroughly.¡± ¡°Come on~ It¡¯s not Ji-hoon¡¯s fault. Chae Soo-hyun brought this on herself.¡± ¡°Sigh... I guess that¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Of course~¡± Soo-ah nced at her phone to read the news. [ Hunter Ranking Office, Under Internal Investigation ] [ Head of the Ranking Office Resigns Amid Controversy ] [ Baekho Guild States: This Has Nothing to Do with Us ] [ Hunter Association Permanently Bans Hunter Chae Soo-hyun ] [ Blue Guild Announces Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s Dismissal ] [ Ad Industry Discusses Compensation ims ] ¡°It¡¯s like a tsunami,¡± she remarked, looking horrified. ¡°Right? Do you think Chae Soo-hyun will be able to handle this?¡± ¡°She was celebrating just a little while ago.¡± Soo-ah¡¯s expression showed nothing but satisfaction. Chapter 171 ¡°What on earth is going on...?¡± The Hunter Association¡¯s chairman had just decided on Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s permanent expulsion. She was the first hunter to be permanently banned. While the rules had always allowed for such an oue, no one had ever faced it before. She was grinding her teeth in frustration. ¡°Our Hunter Association has be aughingstock.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry. We should have monitored things better...¡± ¡°How does the ranking office even function to allow this?¡± ¡°...¡± The interim head of the Hunter Ranking Office remained silent, wearing a baffled expression as if they couldn¡¯tprehend how this had happened. ¡°I apologize. We¡¯ve initiated an internal investigation... Once we have results, we¡¯ll inform you immediately. ording to our records... Chae Soo-hyun was verified as S-rank through cross-checks...¡± He wore a scowl, as if biting into something bitter. ¡°This must never happen again.¡± ¡°Yes...¡± ¡°Notify Hunter Chae Soo-hyun immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, understood.¡± ¡°Per...ma...nent...expul...sion?¡± Chae Soo-hyun¡¯s eyes trembled as she stared at the Hunter Association¡¯s employee, who was waiting for her signature. ¡°Please... sign here.¡± ¡°Wait... Are you kidding? You¡¯re saying I¡¯m permanently expelled as a hunter?¡± ¡°Yes... I don¡¯t know the details myself. I didn¡¯t make the decision. Just sign, please.¡± The employee looked irritated as Soo-hyun sat there, staring nkly at the document from the Hunter Association. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense... No one¡¯s ever been permanently expelled, right? So now I¡¯m just... a regr person? Not even a hunter?¡± ¡°Yes. You¡¯ll be treated as a civilian under the rules.¡± Soo-hyun¡¯s face was filled with despair. She had hoped to handle the situation and return to being a hunter. ¡°If you use your hunter abilities without being registered with the Association, that¡¯s illegal, you know?¡± The employee clicked his tongue, as if to say she should¡¯ve known better. ¡°Does this mean... I can¡¯t even enter dungeons?¡± ¡°Right. You won¡¯t be allowed into dungeons, you won¡¯t get a civilian license, and you can¡¯t use your Subus ability. If you use your power without registration, you¡¯ll be arrested.¡± He was clearly frustrated, eager to leave, but Soo-hyun kept dragging things out. ¡®Ugh, I don¡¯t want to be near her. What if she drains me or something?¡¯ He couldn¡¯t wait to get out of her presence. ¡°Sob... sob... how... how did ite to this...?¡± In an instant, everything had turned upside down. She had no one left. Not Jin-hyuk, not Ji-hoon, not the Hunter Association, not Blue Guild, not Baekho Guild. All she had left were people¡¯s scornful gazes. ¡°Yes... I understand...¡± She signed and dismissed the employee, then copsed onto the couch, staring nkly at the ceiling. ¡°Ha... ha... I¡¯m...pletely finished... ha...¡± She had fallen to the bottom and lost all will to fight. ¡®Hmm... Now, for the final step...¡¯ He felt that things were almost wrapped up. ¡®Once I reveal myself as ID Paraparis, it¡¯ll be over.¡¯ This would be the perfect end to his rtionship with Chae Soo-hyun and the beginning of a new chapter. ¡°Hyung-seok, I¡¯d like to hold a press conference. Can you set it up?¡± ¡°A press conference? Alright, I¡¯ll get right on it.¡± They moved quickly. ¡°Huh? Did you hear? Ji-hoon is holding a press conference.¡± ¡°Yeah, I heard. Everyone¡¯s buzzing about it. What could he possibly have left to say?¡± Everyone was still excited from the whirlwind of the Soo-hyun scandal. Soo-ah and Ha-na were curious about what Ji-hoon could be up to next, though he was already gone, leaving them unable to ask. Creak. As they entered Ji-hoon¡¯s office, they found Cha I-seul there. ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Hunter Cha I-seul, hello. What brings you here?¡± Soo-ah and Ha-na gave her a slightly annoyed look. To them, she was just the neer who had taken Ji-hoon away. ¡°Well, we came to see if you knew anything about Ji-hoon¡¯s press conference. Do you know what it¡¯s about?¡± ¡°No, I haven¡¯t heard anything.¡± ¡®Even I-seul doesn¡¯t know? Then what could it be? Is it something he hasn¡¯t told anyone?¡¯ They couldn¡¯t help but feel even more curious. ¡°What¡¯s this press conference about?¡± ¡°I have no idea. Apparently, Ji-hoon is going to make an announcement.¡± ¡°Could he be revealing that he¡¯s not really S-rank too?¡± ¡°Nah... No way. Is this like a chain confession?¡± The journalists were abuzz with confusion. The Chae Soo-hyun scandal had thrown them all for a loop. ¡°Did you hear anything?¡± ¡°Nope. Even Blue Guild doesn¡¯t know. I used my sources, but nothing came up.¡± ¡°Hmm~ What could it be?¡± Unable to make any guesses, they waited for Ji-hoon¡¯s announcement. Tap, tap, tap. Finally, Ji-hoon stepped into the press conference. As someone who rarely made public appearances, all eyes were on him. ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Baek Ji-hoon, representative hunter of Blue Guild.¡± He started calmly. ¡°Recently, there¡¯s been a lot of buzz around a certain auction.¡± As he mentioned this, a murmur spread through the crowd. The reporters exchanged nces, wondering if this could be it. ¡°An ID by the name of Paraparis has been cing rare and well-known S-rank items up for auction.¡± The reporters¡¯ fingers flew across their devices, realizing that this could be another major story. ¡°I am that ID, Paraparis.¡± As soon as he finished, the room exploded with noise. Reporters raised their hands, desperate to ask questions. But Ji-hoon left without answering, disappearing from the stage. ¡°What...???¡± Soo-ah, Ha-na, and I-seul gaped as they watched the press conference unfold on TV from Ji-hoon¡¯s office. ¡°Ji... Ji-hoon is... ID Paraparis??? See! I told you!!! It¡¯s all Ji-hoon! It¡¯s him!¡± Soo-ah, clearly excited, shouted. Ha-na and I-seul looked as if they still couldn¡¯t process what they¡¯d just heard. ¡®Huh...? Ji-hoon is... really Paraparis...?¡¯@@novelbin@@ I-seul could hardly believe it. She¡¯d never suspected her childhood friend of being such a person. ¡®No way. Ji-hoon...? He was collecting those incredible items?¡¯ She knew about the auction, of course. But she never imagined Ji-hoon was behind it. She¡¯d always thought of him as just her childhood friend. ¡®So he made hundreds of billions just like that...?¡¯ It was hard for her to wrap her mind around it. ¡°Ji-hoon! Why did he hide so much from us?¡± Soo-ah nced at I-seul, wondering if things could have been different if she¡¯d known Ji-hoon better from the beginning. ¡®Ugh... but I didn¡¯t treat him badly... right?¡¯ But it felt like the ship had already sailed. ¡®Ji-hoon is ID Paraparis... There¡¯s no room for me anymore...¡¯ She began to wonder if she should give up on Ji-hoon altogether. ¡®Instead...¡¯ She nced at Park Hyung-seok, feeling that Ji-hoon had now moved too far ahead,pletely out of reach. She thought she might have a chance as long as there were still areas where she had an advantage, but now it felt impossible. ¡®How can Ipete... He¡¯s been throwing out S-rank items like they¡¯re nothing...¡¯ She shook her head in disbelief. ¡°What...???¡± Back at her ce, still sobbing, Soo-hyun stood frozen in the middle of the living room. She¡¯d been holding onto a tiny sliver of hope after hearing about Ji-hoon¡¯s press conference. Despite everything, she had clung to her hope for Ji-hoon. ¡®Ji-hoon oppa... is Paraparis...?¡¯ Chapter 172 ¡®Ahh...¡¯ Watching Ji-hoon¡¯s press conference, Chae Soo-hyun began to sob uncontrobly. It felt as though fate was ying a cruel trick on her, bringing only sad news one after another. ¡°No way... so Ji-hoon oppa has been making money like that?¡± She recalled reading about how much the ID Paraparis had earned at the auctions in such a short time. Although the exact figures weren¡¯t disclosed by Baekho Guild, the estimated total was close to 20 billion won. ¡°Ahh...¡± She sank deeper into despair. The man who had once been by her side, who had given everything for her, was nowpletely out of reach, beyond what she could ever hope to grasp again. She, who had once imed the top S-rank thanks to Ji-hoon¡¯s dedication, was now expelled from the Hunter Association, not even a hunter anymore. Meanwhile, Ji-hoon stood at the top, as the representative hunter of Korea¡¯s prestigious Blue Guild, leading nine S-rank hunters and amassing wealth with S-rank items at an astonishing pace. ¡°I was... I was such a fool...¡± The damage was done, and there was no way to undo it. She wished she could scrape together even a little of what she¡¯d lost, but it was impossible. Chae Soo-hyun was nearly losing her mind, struggling to ept her reality. ¡°Ji-hoon, are you really ID Paraparis?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± As soon as I returned to the office, Cha I-seul was there to greet me. ¡°How... how could you...?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s a long story.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. The details don¡¯t matter.¡± She threw her arms around me. ¡°It feels like life is finally settling down...¡± She whispered softly. ¡°It¡¯s a relief. Everything¡¯s sorted out. Now, it¡¯s just about living life properly.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± ¡°Sigh... Ji-hoon.¡± ¡°Yes, Soo-ah.¡± ¡°You¡¯re telling me you¡¯re ID Paraparis?¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± Our rtionship hadpletely flipped in just a month. When I first joined Blue Guild, Hyung-seok had constantly warned me to be wary of Hunter Lee Soo-ah. ¡°Ah... Ji-hoon, you¡¯re something else... You should¡¯ve given me a heads-up. I could¡¯ve...¡± ¡°Soo-ah?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Even if I¡¯d given you a heads-up, the result would have been the same.¡± ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°I feel that I¡¯m better suited to I-seul.¡± She looked a bit disappointed. ¡°So, no chance for me?¡± ¡°Afraid not.¡± ¡°Ah... just my luck.¡± She looked a bit down. ¡°Alright. I don¡¯t want to mess with someone who¡¯s taken.¡± She seemed to be contemting something. Knock, knock. ¡°Uh, Hyung-seok?¡± Lee Soo-ah went straight to the secretary¡¯s office. ¡°Yes, is there something you need? You usually don¡¯te here.¡± ¡°Well, I came to see you.¡± ¡°About what?¡± Park Hyung-seok didn¡¯t think much of it. He¡¯d already had his hopes dashed by Lee Soo-ah a few times, so he didn¡¯t expect much. ¡°Don¡¯t you have something to say to me?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Why not? No confession today?¡± ¡°Nope. Anyway, you don¡¯t care about me. It¡¯s all about Ji-hoon for you.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ve given up on him. Ji-hoon¡¯s be someone I can¡¯t reach.¡± ¡°Uh... so?¡± Hyung-seok looked puzzled. He had no idea what she was getting at. ¡°I think it¡¯s best to be with someone who likes me.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± He replied coolly, not catching on. ¡°I heard someone joined our guild because of me.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Naturally, he assumed it must be someone else. ¡°You, right in front of me.¡± ¡°?¡± He stared at her nkly, not immediately understanding. ¡°Hyung-seok, are you interested in me?¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes, you, Park Hyung-seok.¡± ¡°Wha¡ª¡± Hyung-seok nearly fainted on the spot. ¡°Ha-ha-ha! So, hyung, now I¡¯m dating Lee Soo-ah! It¡¯s all thanks to you.¡± Hyung-seok was practically dancing with joy. ¡°Bringing you into Blue Guild was the best decision ever. Now, I¡¯m happier than I ever thought possible.¡± He seemed noticeably brighter, like he could finally enjoy his work. ¡°Good for you. Soo-ah is great, but I don¡¯t think we were a match.¡± ¡°Thanks, hyung. Because you cleared things up, I got my chance.¡± After joining Blue Guild as a fan of his idol, Hyung-seok had managed to end up dating her. He felt immensely grateful and would¡¯ve bowed repeatedly if he could. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re dating Lee Soo-ah?¡± The section chief, sipping coffee, approached with a grin. ¡°Yes! I think it¡¯s a reward for all my hard work here at Blue Guild.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ve earned it. Even though you¡¯re not a hunter, you know everything there is to know about them.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°And Ji-hoon is doing amazingly well, too. Didn¡¯t I tell you? He¡¯s our guild¡¯s treasure.¡± ¡°Oh, Chief, you tter me.¡± I found myself chuckling, caught up in the mood. ¡°Eh? Chief... are you the guild leader?¡± Hyung-seok¡¯s sharp mind seemed to pick up on it instantly. ¡°Uh... that¡¯s...¡± The chief, caught off guard, looked at him with a panicked expression. ¡°You knew?¡± ¡°Had a hunch. There are only two people in the guild who know more about hunters than I do: you and the guild leader. I thought it might be possible.¡± ¡°Your intuition is spot on. But keep it between us, okay?¡± ¡°Wait... the chief is the guild leader...?¡± Soo-ah nearly screamed, appearing from behind. ¡°Oh dear...¡± The chief rubbed his forehead, resigned to the fact that his long-held secret had just been blown wide open. Now that Soo-ah knew, he figured there was no stopping the rumors. ¡°N-no way! Chief, or rather, guild leader? What... how could you...?¡± Soo-ah was visibly shocked. The one person in Blue Guild who could keep her in check had been none other than the section chief she had bossed around for years. ¡°I¡¯ve told you, be careful how you treat people.¡± I couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Guild leader... why did you hide it from me all this time!?¡± ¡°Well, I wanted to support you closely. It was easier to do that by staying nearby.¡± ¡°Oh! You¡¯re terrible! How could you fool me like this?¡± Soo-ah bit her lip and stomped her foot, likely reying the many times she¡¯d scolded the chief in her mind. ¡°Please forget how I treated you. I thought you were just the chief...¡± Her face was as red as a tomato. ¡°Hey, hyung, have you heard thetest news?¡± It was a while after the dust had settled. We had been busy handling various follow-ups. Curious, people had bombarded me with questions about ID Paraparis, and I had been busy answering them. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about Hunter Chae Soo-hyun.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but flinch. Although I was free of her, my body instinctively reacted to the name. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°She¡¯s been admitted to a mental hospital.¡± ¡°A mental hospital?¡± It was an oue even more tragic than I had anticipated.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Tsk, tsk. She should¡¯ve treated me better when she had the chance.¡± Looking back, those years as her pawn¡ªearning points like a ve¡ªwere beyond miserable. ¡°Well, it seems the shock was too much for her. Finding out you were ID Paraparis seemed to be the final straw.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± I understood. She had always dreamed of wealth. Money might have meant everything to her. No doubt, realizing I had achieved everything she desired was too much for her to bear. ¡°Yeah, she probably couldn¡¯t handle it. After all thewsuits, her expulsion from the Hunter Association, and the public bacsh, she had nowhere to hide. Now she¡¯s be the national disgrace, the so-called ¡®hunter slut¡¯ who slept with over 200 men. If she¡¯d stayed as an S-rank, she could have lived a happy life.¡± Hyung-seok clicked his tongue. ¡°Yeah, she threw away her luck. If she¡¯d stayed with me, we¡¯d have been fine. But it¡¯s okay. Now I¡¯m happy. She¡¯s hit rock bottom, and I¡¯m finally living my best life.¡± With visions of a bright future as a hunter, I smiled.