EP.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 Class 6 and others were shielding their faces from the dust and wind, struggling to endure.
As time passed, the completely subdued form of Baron came into view.
“Wow…”
Hunter Class 6 and others clapped 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 exclaimed in surprise simultaneously.
“No, why…?”
“Well, it was a bit too brief. Plus, since both of you are S-Rank Hunters, you looked quite similar in performance. I think I need to see a bit more data before making a comparison.”
I subtly left room for ambiguity.
“Ha… Is that so?”
Sooah and Yoo Hana were exchanging glances, silently communicating.
“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 had come 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 Class 6.
“I’ll tell you later!!!”
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 playground? How can you just disappear without permission?”
“Well, I asked to delay 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 collapsed 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 burning competitive 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 becoming a Hunter.
*
“Jihoon.”
Upon returning to the office, all the members of Hunter Class 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 place.
“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 place smoothly.
*
“Well, today I’ll leave work right away.”
It had been quite a complicated 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.
*
Clack clack.
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 she come here?’
I frowned at the sight of her.
But now it was fine.
I had completely distanced myself from her.
Thanks to Lee Yeji.
“Oppa, can we talk? Please. I feel like there are many things I need to explain. 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.
“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 café 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. According 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, glaring 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.
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