Chapter 74

EP.74

“What… what did you just say…?”

She had a frightening expression on her face, one unlike anything I had ever seen before.

From her clenched fists, I could already sense how furious she was.

As her expression grew more rigid, it felt as if the building and desk were vibrating.

“Uh… why is this happening…?”

Hunter Park Jinsoo was flustered and panicking.

The immense energy radiating from Chae Suhyeon had turned the café into chaos.

“So… are you saying Hunter Lee Sooah and Hunter Baek Jihoon are secretly dating?”

She asked slowly again, her expression tightly contorted.

It was almost as if she were about to kill someone.

“Y-yes… that’s correct…”

Park Jinsoo cautiously replied, realizing her state a bit late.

He was trying his best to not upset Chae Suhyeon’s feelings.

“When did this start? Why? Why?!”

“Uh… well… it seems to have started right after he joined our company.”

Park Jinsoo hurriedly divulged all the information he had, desperately trying to keep up.

He had the feeling that if he lingered even a moment longer, his life would be at stake with Chae Suhyeon’s current atmosphere.

“After… joining the company?”

Her expression twisted even further.

She looked just like a terrifying monster.

‘What the hell. Why is Hunter Chae Suhyeon like this? What is going on right now?’

Park Jinsoo was at a complete loss.

The aura emanating from her felt far more powerful than anything he had faced in the dungeons.

It was an overwhelming feeling.

He felt as if he could barely move under the intense pressure.

‘So this is the aura of an S-Rank Hunter…?’

Chae Suhyeon had indeed fallen to E-Rank, but her overwhelming anger was radiating with an intensity close to that of an S-Rank.

She was pushing herself beyond her limits.

“So you mean… this started right after coming back from the War Memorial Dungeon?”

“Yes. I’m not sure if it’s because of that, but there are rumors in the Blue Guild about pushing for Hunter Baek Jihoon.”

“What?!”

Park Jinsoo felt he had perhaps said too much and was now terrified.

“You’re saying they’re pushing for Jihoon oppa… no, Hunter Baek Jihoon? In the Blue Guild?”

“Y-yes… Our Guild Master is very good at those things. I don’t know how, but he seems to know everything about the employees.”

“Ugh… why…?”

Chae Suhyeon was unable to process the situation at all.

‘Why? How? What happened? Just because I let him go, things suddenly turned out like this? Why?’

In her calculations, she believed that if she discarded Baek Jihoon like a two-stage rocket, she would soar high.

But in reality, she plummeted to E-Rank.

Meanwhile, Baek Jihoon began dating Lee Sooah.

Moreover, it seemed he was being pushed by the Blue Guild.

‘No. Why are they pushing someone like Baek Jihoon? Did he sweet-talk Lee Sooah? What on earth did he use to charm her?’

She was irritated and completely perplexed.

“Hunter Park Jinsoo.”

“Yes, yes.”

“I would like you to enter into a confidential agreement with me.”

“Uh… what kind of…”

“I need you to do one thing for me. If you come to the Baekho Guild later, I will reward you handsomely. I promise.”

Chae Suhyeon said with a very stern face, biting her lip.

‘This… could be an incredible opportunity for me?’

Park Jinsoo’s eyes sparkled.

He had initially intended to play the role of a bat between the Baekho Guild and the Blue Guild, trying to swindle his way onto the advantageous side.

Now it seemed he would become someone essential for Chae Suhyeon.

‘Perhaps this could change my life…’

He decided to seize this opportunity, thinking she was a sturdy lifeline.

“Yes. Please tell me. I will help with anything. I pledge my loyalty to Hunter Chae Suhyeon.”

‘Hmph. I won’t have to catch this guy myself. He’s just going to do what I say.’

Chae Suhyeon smirked.

“First, would you like to get close to Hunter Baek Jihoon? I hope you can become good friends, no matter what.”

“Excuse me?”

“That will be your first mission.”

It was resolute and straightforward.

“I understand. That seems like an easy mission. I hold a decent position in the Blue Guild, after all. Meanwhile, he is just a rookie.”

Park Jinsoo appeared confident.

“Once you accomplish that to some extent, please contact me again.”

Chae Suhyeon left with an expression that looked quite irritated.

Park Jinsoo bowed towards her and, once she was out of sight, unleashed a triumphant uppercut.

“Nice!!! F*ck!! I finally caught the attention of an S-Rank Hunter!”

He was exulting with joy.

*

‘Hmm, today… if I’m following my promise, I’ll be with Lee Sooah in the morning and Yoo Hana in the afternoon.’

I decided to split my time evenly between the two.

Well, to be honest, it seemed I’d be able to live freely from now on, but since I had made promises, I should keep them.

I began sorting through my thoughts while riding the subway to work.
EP.75

Thanks to Hunter Lee Yeji, I found myself with a lot more on my plate.

Whether it was as a Hunter, as a Blue Guild employee, or in the aspect of Chae Suhyeon’s revenge, there were many factors to consider.

‘First, I need to level up every month… and also increase my recognition within the Blue Guild…’

While I was lost in these thoughts, I heard a voice that shattered my concentration.

“What? Is that Lee Sooah?”

“Hey, hey. I heard that Hunter Lee Sooah has been spotted on Line 2 lately. They say you can see her during evening rush hour.”

“Really? But it’s morning right now. Why would she be on the train in the morning?”

“I have no idea.”

Students heading to school were talking loudly.

‘What? Did Sooah ride during rush hour too?’

I followed their gaze.

‘It was Lee Sooah.’

She smiled and waved at me, keeping a distance of about 10 meters, just as she mentioned yesterday.

‘But why is she here this early…?’

It felt like she had become captivated by me.

‘Oh my… seriously.’

*

“Is this Hunter Lee Sooah?”

“Yes.”

“Why are you here so early this morning?”

“Well, Jihoon, I went home and thought a lot about it. I also searched online and asked other Hunters. But! Everyone said to be cautious during rush hour~”

Lee Sooah was prattling on as she entered the guild building, looking unusually cheerful.

“So that’s why.”

“Yes.”

“So you came to my neighborhood this morning?”

“Yes.”

“But how did you know what time I’d leave? You can’t predict when I’ll come out.”

“I set up a surveillance system, remember?”

‘Oh right.’

I suddenly recalled that plan I had completely forgotten about.

“And actually, the surveillance system doesn’t matter. I had been waiting since dawn.”

“Wait, what?”

Her unexpected reply caught me off guard.

I couldn’t understand what she was aiming to achieve.

“I just have a good feeling about things, you know? People used to say I should become a shaman since I was a kid. I think another guild might start targeting you soon, Jihoon. I’m in a position to defend you, so don’t worry about it.”

“But Lee Sooah.”

“Yes?”

“Aren’t you busy?”

Lee Sooah was quite high-ranking in her typical job, much like an executive in a regular company.

There’s no way she wouldn’t be busy, especially since she was constantly getting involved in matters related to me.

It was all very odd.

“Ah… um… well…”

She began rolling her eyes.

“The section heads of Hunters 3, 4, and 5 are helping me out. Hehehe.”

‘Damn. She’s definitely leveraging her position.’

From the look in her eyes, it was clear she had pressured them into this.

Of course, everyone else probably complied with her wishes without a word.

‘What a mess this is because of just me.’

“It’s fine~ They all understand. I’m known for working hard and being busy anyway~ Hehehe.”

‘That doesn’t sound right…’

I felt like shaking my head in disbelief.

“Anyway, I’m in charge of the important task of protecting Baek Jihoon, so don’t worry too much about it. Hehe~~.”

With a cheerful expression, she stepped into the office.

*

“Ah~~ Jihoon~.”

“Yes?”

As soon as I entered the office, Manager Cha greeted me.

“Our pride of Hunter Class 6, Baek Jihoon!!”

Ever since yesterday, things had gotten even more chaotic.

“By the way, did you know?”

“What is it?”

“I received a little message from Yoo Hana…”

He was showing me something.

“Seems like she’s thinking about coming back to the Blue Guild~.”

“Really?”

It felt like things were taking a turn for the easy.

‘Hmm. Does that mean if Yoo Hana returns, I won’t have to be dispatched?’

If Yoo Hana came back to the Blue Guild…

But that could also pose its own set of problems.

Wouldn’t that mean constant brawling with Sooah every day?

“If Yoo Hana comes back, that would be an absolutely huge event. The Guild Master would be delighted. Hahaha.”

“Do you know the Guild Master well?”

“Uh? Not really, I just feel that way~ Anyway, if Yoo Hana returns, our Blue Guild will become incredibly strong!”

Manager Cha was beaming with happiness.

“Hi there.”

While I was conversing with Manager Cha, someone suddenly chimed in.

I didn’t recognize the person well.

I think I might have seen them pass by a few times.

“Um… I’m Park Jinsoo from Hunter Class 1.”

The neatly dressed man extended his hand for a handshake.

It seemed he had something he wanted from me.