I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 64

64.

They headed to the 69th floor. Floors 60 through 69 of the Sun Guild building were used for storage.

This area had tighter security on each floor than the other sections of the building. The 69th floor, in particular, had not only double and triple security measures but also A- and B-grade Hunters stationed throughout.

Amidst the tense atmosphere, Seo-ah and Song Jin-ah walked leisurely, led by Han Seok-hyun.

Song Jin-ah meticulously observed every corner, not wanting to miss any detail of the rival guild’s interior.

Seo-ah, wondering if she, not being a member of the Sun Guild, was even allowed to be here, followed along, constantly glancing around with curious eyes.

Reaching the end of the hallway, Han Seok-hyun opened the door with his fingerprint.

Inside was a small reception area with sofas and a table.

And deeper inside, there was another door. Two Hunters guarded that door.

“It’s here. I’ll bring it to you.”

“Hmm, that’s too bad. I was hoping to see inside.”

“Please, make yourselves comfortable.”

Han Seok-hyun gave a polite smile and approached the inner door. Then, he glanced back.

“Hunter Park Seo-ah, are you perhaps curious about what’s inside? I could show it to you.”

For a moment, she was tempted. She was curious about what items were so heavily guarded.

But Han Seok-hyun wouldn’t offer such a favor for no reason. He’d probably use it as bait to lure her into joining the guild.

Seo-ah didn’t want to create a situation where she had to refuse those who were being kind.

“It’s alright, Guild Leader. I appreciate the thought.”

Han Seok-hyun looked slightly disappointed but nodded readily. Then, he stepped through the open door.

Song Jin-ah stretching her neck to catch a glimpse through the brief opening looked somewhat…amusing.

After a moment, the door reopened, and Han Seok-hyun emerged. In his hand, he held a long, black box. But even before he opened the box, Song Jin-ah looked surprised.

She took out the silver dagger she had used during Yoo Ji-an’s treatment from her inventory. Seo-ah also looked at the dagger with surprise.

The dagger was humming, making a vibrating sound.

The dagger Song Jin-ah possessed was known as the Tail of the Moon. But this sword was originally a pair of swords.

While it was only a Special A-grade as a dagger, it became a Legend-grade weapon when combined into a pair.

Anyway, in response to the Tail of the Moon’s hum, the box Han Seok-hyun was holding also began to vibrate.

As Han Seok-hyun placed the box on the table, the vibration intensified.

Certainty and doubt flickered alternately in Song Jin-ah’s eyes.

“Could it be…?”

“You’re probably guessing correctly. Why don’t you open it yourself?”

Song Jin-ah placed the dagger, Tail of the Moon, on the table. And with trembling hands, she opened the lid of the box.

“…Oh, my god.”

Even though she had expected it, she couldn’t help but be amazed.

A sleek, curved golden dagger was humming along with its partner. Everyone’s gaze was fixed on its brilliant and dazzling appearance.

Song Jin-ah carefully lifted the sword. The golden dagger’s name was Tail of the Sun.

Song Jin-ah also lifted the Tail of the Moon with her other hand. Then, the hilts of the swords in both hands were connected by a ring of light. And instantly, the weapon’s grade rose to ‘Legendary’.

Song Jin-ah’s shoulders trembled. She turned to Han Seok-hyun with eyes full of excitement and greed.

“Are you really giving this to me?”

“Yes, do you like it? As soon as Hunter Yoo Ji-an obtained it, he said it would be perfect for Hunter Song Jin-ah.”

“Of course, I’m the owner of the Tail of the Moon. Ah, this grip. This resonance….”

Song Jin-ah rubbed her cheek against the blade of the dagger, overjoyed.

Han Seok-hyun watched her meaningfully.

After enjoying the pleasure for a while, Song Jin-ah put down the two swords.

“But, it’s more than I expected. Of course, I was planning to bleed the Sun Guild dry, but this is too much, isn’t it? Aren’t you wasting it? For just healing one healer.”

“Hunter Yoo Ji-an’s life is worth this much.”

“If you put it that way, I have nothing to say.”

As Song Jin-ah was about to happily take the daggers, Han Seok-hyun added.

“Well, to add to that.”

Han Seok-hyun pointed to Park Seo-ah with his eyes.

“I hope you’ll give up your interest in Hunter Park Seo-ah.”

Song Jin-ah, who was picking up the dagger, paused and looked up. Then, she stared intently at Park Seo-ah.

Seo-ah flinched under the intense gaze of the S-grade Hunter. But she didn’t bother to avoid it.

Song Jin-ah stared at Park Seo-ah for a long time, then looked at the dagger. And then she looked back at Seo-ah.

Song Jin-ah was now comparing the joy of holding the dagger with the elation she felt when receiving buffs from Park Seo-ah earlier.

Both were hard to let go of, but if she had to choose now….

After hesitating for a moment, Song Jin-ah picked up the dagger. At the same time, she smoothly raised the corners of her lips.

“The Sun Guild won’t stop Hunter Park Seo-ah from coming to me on her own, right?”

“Well… yes, but….”

Han Seok-hyun glanced at Park Seo-ah and answered awkwardly. Seo-ah, who had suddenly been put on and taken off the negotiating table, tapped her toes awkwardly.

Song Jin-ah took a step closer to Seo-ah with a pure and innocent expression. She didn’t hesitate to use her beautiful face as a weapon.

“You know how I feel, right? Contact me anytime. I’ll be waiting.”

“Um, Hunter Song Jin-ah? This is against the promise….”

“A farewell is okay, isn’t it?”

As Han Seok-hyun tried to stop her, Song Jin-ah suddenly hugged Park Seo-ah.

“Ah….”

The petite Song Jin-ah was now clinging to Seo-ah.

“See you again. I’ll miss you.”

As if saying goodbye to a lover, Song Jin-ah left a heartfelt farewell and then dashed out of the room.

After she left, Han Seok-hyun wore a distinctly relieved expression.

‘If she knew the true value of Hunter Park Seo-ah, she would never have made that choice.’

“I guess my skills are useful.”

As Seo-ah said with an embarrassed face, Han Seok-hyun immediately became serious.

“Yes, so you really need to be careful from now on. Make sure to find a way to protect yourself. It’s been okay so far, but you can’t always meet Hunters with good manners.”

“Ah, yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Seo-ah had already received some warnings from Baek Eun-hee, so she understood and answered in the same vein.

Han Seok-hyun looked at her worriedly but didn’t offer any more advice. He didn’t want her to feel burdened.

“I think I’ll go downstairs to take care of some things. You must be tired, so rest for today. You can use the 75th-floor accommodation you used before.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you. Where is Hunter Kang Su-jeong now?”

“We’ve allowed her to stay there ever since Hunter Park Seo-ah left. With absolutely no shortage of anything.”

Park Seo-ah smiled softly at Han Seok-hyun’s emphatic words.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“Yes, thank you for acknowledging it.”

The two headed to the elevator side by side. Han Seok-hyun caught the first elevator and let Seo-ah get on first.

Seo-ah couldn’t hide her awkwardness at the overly courteous treatment, but she eventually got on.

“Then, please go in.”

Seo-ah made eye contact with Han Seok-hyun and then pressed 75th floor. Then she paused for a moment, canceled the 75th floor, and went to the 84th floor.

It was the A-grade lounge where she had treated Yoo Ji-an earlier.

‘Is he still sleeping there? Then I should wake him up and send him up [to his own room].’

It would be better for him to sleep in his own house to get a good night’s rest.

Thinking so, she got off the elevator. But Yoo Ji-an, who had been asleep until just now, was already gone.

He must have come to his senses and gotten up in the meantime.

It was a little embarrassing, but on the other hand, she was relieved.

‘I guess he’s well enough to walk around. That’s a relief.’

He was walking around just fine even before the treatment.

Seo-ah turned around again, took the elevator, and headed to the 75th floor. It felt welcoming and a little unfamiliar after a long time.

As soon as she entered the registered number and opened the front door, someone ran and hugged her.

“Sister…!”

Seo-ah patted Kang Su-jeong’s back, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, and greeted her kindly.

“Hello, Su-jeong. How have you been? Wow, you’ve been working out!”

“Hehe, I’ve been training really hard. Oh, right, I heard you got caught up in the gate earlier, sister? I just heard.”

“Oh, right. Somehow… but I came back safely.”

Seo-ah sat in the living room and chatted with Kang Su-jeong for a long time.

* * *

Ring-ring-

Gil Gyeong-tae, who had collapsed and fallen asleep as soon as he got home, opened his eyes wide at the sound of his cell phone ringing.

“Yes, hello….”

– Hello, this is the Hunter Association calling Gil Gyeong-tae. Is it okay to talk?

“Ah, again. What is it.”

– We missed one question at that time. Did you bring out any objects or creatures from inside the gate?

“Of course not! Damn it. You’re asking about useless things.”

Gil Gyeong-tae answered irritably to the question and hung up the phone.

Then he quietly got up and picked up the jacket he had carelessly taken off. Rummaging through the pockets of the jacket, a fingernail-sized seed came out.

Bringing this out was purely impulsive.

Thinking about when he would come to the gate again, he picked a seed from a flower similar to a sunflower and put it in his pocket.

He had forgotten about it as soon as he came out, but he remembered it with the phone call just now.

Gil Gyeong-tae looked at the seed, turning it this way and that. But since he didn’t have a hobby of growing plants, he soon lost interest.

He roughly threw the seed out the window and then lay back on the bed and fell asleep again.