I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 31

31.

Cha Tae-woon went outside and was relieved to find that the two hadn’t gone far.

Park Seo-ah was sitting on a chair brought from the Taeyang Guild, and Song Jin-ho was beside her, healing her.

“You really didn’t need to do this. Wouldn’t a potion have been enough?”

“Hunter Park Seo-ah, your insides are a mess. How much did you overuse your skills?”

“Uh… it was too urgent. The monster was strong.”

“The one you fought was a C-rank monster.”

Yu Ji-an blurted out from the side. Seo-ah looked at him, surprised.

“C-rank, it was.”

Then, as if understanding, she nodded. It was stronger than the previous D-rank [Stone Knight]. It must have been around that level.

“Um… Hunter Park Seo-ah.”

Looking up at the cautious voice, the members of Team 1, who had already escaped, were standing in front of Seo-ah.

“Ah.”

Seeing them, it finally hit her.

Seo-ah and her team members had really escaped safely. She felt relieved again.

When she faced the Tarantula, she was too busy fighting to think that someone could have died.

“I’m glad everyone is safe.”

At Seo-ah’s words, Choi Seok-hoon scratched his head and said.

“Well, it’s all thanks to you. Thanks for the antidote.”

“Thank you too.”

Seo-ah was flustered by their gratitude and waved her hands.

“Ah, no. I’m not the only one who deserves thanks. Everyone worked hard.”

“Of course, but… we received something.”

“That’s right, unnie [term of endearment for older sister or female friend]! It’s all because you were there.”

“Hunter Park Seo-ah’s skills… are really amazing.”

Only after Oh Hyun-soo said that did Seo-ah realize, ‘Ah.’

They were probably talking about ‘Breakthrough.’ But even if Breakthrough was applied, it would have been useless if she hadn’t raised her stats to the limit.

In fact, most diligent hunters raise their stats to the limit of their rank.

“Good job.”

At Yu Ji-an’s short praise, Seo-ah’s face slightly clouded over, and she lowered her head.

His praise had nothing to do with the current mission. He hadn’t even seen the battle. Yet, it deeply resonated with Seo-ah.

“To have the boss stolen by a guy like that!”

Turning around at Kang Soo-jung’s grumbling, she saw Bae Yong-soo’s group being forcibly loaded into a Hunter Association vehicle in the distance.

“I know….”

Nevertheless, Seo-ah’s face didn’t look disappointed. She had already received her reward.

In fact, she wanted to be alone as soon as possible. She wanted to check out her new skills.

‘Warm Sunlight, Love Yourself, judging by the names, are they related to psychology?’

After a while, Song Jin-ho’s healing skill ended, and the Team 1 members exchanged contact information and dispersed.

Choi Seok-hoon seemed to have something left to say, but he met Yu Ji-an’s eyes and eventually gave up with a flinch.

Seo-ah was about to leave when another visitor appeared.

“Hunter Park Seo-ah.”

“Cha Tae-woon.”

Then, Yu Ji-an, who had been relatively calm until just now, suddenly became sharp. But Cha Tae-woon seemed used to Yu Ji-an’s attitude and only spoke to Seo-ah.

“I’m sorry for the hardship caused by the association’s mistake.”

“Why did this happen? You said the boss we met was C-rank. The association clearly said it was an E-rank gate.”

“I have nothing to say but bad luck. Such things happen occasionally worldwide, but no one knows why yet.”

“Luck… you say.”

“By the way, Hunter Park Seo-ah, I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor for me?”

At the word ‘favor,’ Yu Ji-an frowned, and Cha Tae-woon took out his phone from his pocket and showed it.

“Can I have your number, please?”

“Wait a minute.”

Yu Ji-an stopped Seo-ah’s hand, which was about to take it, and took Cha Tae-woon’s phone and handed it to Seo-ah.

Seo-ah accepted it with a questioning look. Cha Tae-woon smiled wryly and said.

“You’re really thorough, Hunter Yu Ji-an.”

“How could I not know your dark intentions.”

Cha Tae-woon had a ‘Search’ skill similar to Yu Ji-an’s ‘Observation.’ It was a skill that allowed him to roughly know the other person’s hunter information.

However, while Yu Ji-an’s Observation could be done without contact, Cha Tae-woon had to make contact with the other person.

As Seo-ah entered her number, Yu Ji-an handed it back. Cha Tae-woon frowned as his fingertips brushed Yu Ji-an’s.

“You’ve become more of a monster in the meantime.”

“Look who’s talking.”

“Why aren’t you stopping her from exchanging numbers with Hunter Park Seo-ah?”

“Giving it is her decision. Is that all?”

Saying that, Yu Ji-an suddenly picked up Seo-ah, who was sitting on the chair, in a princess carry.

“Uh, uh, Hunter Yu Ji-an? Why suddenly!”

“Why else, we have to go home now.”

“I’m fine now. I can walk!”

Yu Ji-an didn’t respond to Seo-ah’s words and sat her on the seat inside the open van. Kang Soo-jung had already gotten into the car, sensing the situation.

Yu Ji-an went to the other side, got in himself, and started the car without hesitation.

“…….”

Cha Tae-woon watched the departing car with a displeased look.

“Association President.”

Kim Jung-soo approached and slightly bowed his head. Cha Tae-woon looked at him as if to tell him to speak.

“Um, didn’t I report to you before that the Taeyang Guild and the Royal Guild had simultaneously placed advance payments on gates of B-rank or higher?”

“You did, and it was also related to Hunter Park Seo-ah.”

“Yes, there has been a report that high magic power is being measured on the upper side of Bukhansan Mountain. A gate is expected to be created within a few days, and it is said to be at least B-rank, possibly A-rank.”

“…….”

“Which guild should we assign it to first? Both guilds are qualified.”

Cha Tae-woon shifted his gaze to the direction where the Taeyang Guild’s car, which had now disappeared, had gone. The corners of his lips slightly lifted.

“Hmm, that’s difficult. Assign it to the Royal Guild first.”

“Yes? Ah, yes. I understand.”

Unlike his words that it was difficult, Cha Tae-woon gave an immediate answer. It was revenge, unlike the principled Cha Tae-woon.

* * *

“Not dizzy?”

“I’m okay.”

“Check with the status window. See if anything is lacking. Health, mana….”

“No, it’s completely full!”

Seo-ah answered exaggeratedly to Yu Ji-an’s persistent questioning.

“Hunter Park Seo-ah, no matter how much you recover with potions, overdoing it will damage your body. You must rest well when you get back. And if you overuse your skills, your dantian [energy center in the body] will twist and damage your organs….”

“I know, I’ll be careful!”

Seo-ah looked at the scenery outside and tried to guess when they would arrive. At this rate, she felt like she would be nagged the whole way.

She hadn’t received this much excessive attention and concern for a while, so it was just awkward.

It wasn’t that she hated it, but even a good flower song is only good once or twice [even something good becomes tiresome if repeated too often]. She didn’t know why even Song Jin-ho was joining in this time.

Beeeeep-

At that time, Seo-ah’s phone vibrated.

“Ah, Hunter Baek Eun-hee.”

– Seo-ah! Are you okay? I heard the news. Are you hurt anywhere? I should have gone to see you!

“Ah, yes. I’m okay.”

– Whew, that’s a relief. Really, if you had been hurt, I would have chewed out Cha Tae-woon and Yu Ji-an.

“Ah… hahaha.”

– Anyway, Seo-ah. Are you going to the Taeyang Guild now?

“Yes, I’m in the car.”

– Then pack your bags and come down. I’ll pick you up.”

Seo-ah tilted her head and glanced at Yu Ji-an. Yu Ji-an, who had been listening to everything, was also looking at her as if asking what she meant.

“Yes? Today, now?”

– Yeah, haven’t you heard? A gate will be generated in Seoul soon.

“Really? I haven’t heard.”

– It’s said to be at least B-rank, Seo-ah, it’s the gate you’ll be going to with our Royal Guild!

“Uh… ah!”

At that moment, Yu Ji-an suddenly took Seo-ah’s phone.

“What does that mean?”

– What, Yu Ji-an?

“What does that mean?”

– What else! Our Royal Guild is going to the raid first. I wonder what happened there with Cha Tae-woon?

“…….”

– Hehehe, I’m grateful. Anyway, see you later! Bring Seo-ah carefully!

As soon as the call ended, Seo-ah quickly retrieved her phone from Yu Ji-an. Looking at Yu Ji-an’s expression, it seemed like he would smash the phone at any moment.

“Um….”

In the icy atmosphere, everyone was silent, and Seo-ah spoke with difficulty.

Yu Ji-an tried to ease his momentum and looked at Seo-ah.

“Speak.”

“Thank you, I used the things you gave me very usefully. Thank you for training with me.”

“Why are you suddenly saying such things?”

“I just feel like I should say it now.”

Judging by Baek Eun-hee’s momentum, she felt like she would be kidnapped right in front of the Taeyang Guild.

“Keep it, we’ll see each other again soon.”

Then, Kang Soo-jung, who had been quiet, carefully raised her hand from the back.

“Um… should I leave then?”

“Ah, Soo-jung, you….”

“Want to come along?” At the moment he was about to say that, Yu Ji-an interrupted.

“Stay there. Weren’t you training at the Taeyang Guild right now?”

“Ah, then I won’t refuse and stay. Unnie, have a good trip!”

Kang Soo-jung seemed to like the Taeyang Guild’s system more than expected. Well, there’s no need to bring her along when she’s just starting to adapt.

Anyway, after the raid with Baek Eun-hee’s group is over, it’s the Taeyang Guild’s turn next.

“Okay, have fun and stay well. Thank you, Hunter Yu Ji-an. Please take care of her.”

“…….”

Kang Soo-jung decided to stay.

Yu Ji-an, of course, had no interest in Kang Soo-jung. But Park Seo-ah was concerned about Kang Soo-jung.

So, he just thought that if he kept her, Seo-ah might come back a little faster.

Yu Ji-an looked out the window and unconsciously wished that the car would go a little slower.

He didn’t even realize that it was strange. For Yu Ji-an in this life, Park Seo-ah was just someone to watch and monitor.

Still, it’s true that she’s an important person in some way. Yu Ji-an rationalized his feelings that way.