I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 131

131.

“I don’t know. If you’re really lucky, it might open that day… but if a high-level gate appears, it’ll take longer. It could be a few days, or even over a month.”

Geon-woo’s expression darkened slightly.

While speaking, Seo-ah also felt worried. She was concerned that Geon-woo would be anxious while she was gone, and worried about his condition worsening like last time.

This time, Song Jin-ah was also going on the raid with her.

But despite that, she had to go. It was to find the elixir to save Geon-woo. It was the last remaining hope.

Therefore, Seo-ah deliberately spoke in a bright tone to avoid revealing her anxiety.

“You’re not going to cry every day because I’m not here, are you?”

“Who’s crying! I’m glad when there’s no one nagging me.”

“Still, someone will come to check on you every day. Don’t worry.”

“…Okay.”

Seo-ah smiled seeing Geon-woo’s slightly gloomy reply.

“By the way, what kind of gate are we going to this time?”

“Ah, that….”

Geon-woo had always been interested in hunter stories. Seo-ah told him that she was opening the gate with the cards she had collected from defeating the freakish sunflower.

She thought it would be okay to tell him since the information would be released to the press soon anyway.

“Wow, you mean that sunflower I saw at the hospital last time? The one that opens its mouth wide?”

“That’s right, I’m opening the gate with the cards from there.”

“That’s amazing, I didn’t know you could do that.”

Seo-ah also told him about meeting other S-Class hunters, piquing Geon-woo’s interest. After talking for a while, she saw that Geon-woo had fallen asleep and went outside.

***

“Seo-ah…!”

“Sister?”

This time, the car had changed again.

As Seo-ah approached the black sedan waiting for her, Baek Eun-hee was, as expected, inside. Baek Eun-hee was in the back seat.

When she got in next to her, Baek Eun-hee hugged her lightly and rubbed her face against Seo-ah’s cheek.

“Did you get some sleep?”

“Of course, I slept.”

“But why are you living in such a terrible… no, small place? I thought you were using an entire floor, but you’re saying ten people live on one floor?”

“That’s right, isn’t it? Because there are up to number 10.”

“Oh my gosh! That’s a chicken coop! How can people live in a place like that?”

She wanted to tell her that most office workers lived like this, or in even smaller and more miserable places, but she stopped herself.

Baek Eun-hee wasn’t a politician looking after the people’s livelihood, so what need was there for her to know?

“I’m planning to look for a new place to live together when Geon-woo gets better.”

“Yes, you’ve thought it through well.”

Come to think of it, it had been a while since she went on a raid with Baek Eun-hee.

“You don’t seem nervous at all, Sister.”

“Me? Ah, well… I’m the only one from our guild going. It’s more comfortable that way. The guys going with me are all capable of doing their part.”

“Are you nervous when you go with the guild?”

“Of course, I am. Because I know my limits. It hurts my heart if they get hurt.”

The meaning of nervousness was completely different.

“I’m only going to worry about you. The other guys can survive on their own.”

Baek Eun-hee gently brushed Seo-ah’s hair to the side. Then Seo-ah said with a slightly triumphant air.

“I’m an S-Class now, you know, Sister. I’ll be a lot different than before?”

“That’s right! Our Seo-ah is also an S-Class! Oh my, how cute.”

“Wah, Sister!”

At the word S-Class, Baek Eun-hee hugged Seo-ah tightly, not holding back her strength as before, and Seo-ah struggled to escape her embrace, flustered by the sudden display of affection.

While receiving Baek Eun-hee’s abundant affection, the car drove and drove, arriving at a sparsely populated mountain foot in Uijeongbu [a city in South Korea].

Anyone could tell that a gate was about to be created there.

A strong magic barrier was widely surrounding the area to prepare for the first gate break.

As they approached the wall, they saw a small door just big enough for one person to pass through. A person who appeared to be a government official was standing in front of it, checking identification.

“Hunter Baek Eun-hee, wow! To see you in person like this, I’m a fan!”

Despite the official’s reaction, Baek Eun-hee simply wore a cold expression and didn’t respond. It was a distinctly different atmosphere from when she was alone with Seo-ah. The official, feeling awkward, let Baek Eun-hee in first, then checked Seo-ah’s identification as well.

“Park Seo-ah? Hunter? Ah, you’re on the list here. Please come in.”

Seo-ah didn’t seem to be well-known, so there was no particular reaction.

When they went inside, it was a different world.

Magic circles for gate break defense were spread out on the floor, and many people were busily moving around.

Yoo Ji-an, Song Jin-ah, and Choi Eun-gyeol weren’t visible, perhaps they hadn’t arrived yet. Instead, Cha Tae-woon was already there.

“Hunter Cha Tae-woon!”

As she was about to approach him, taking the initiative to greet him, Baek Eun-hee pulled Seo-ah back.

“Let’s just stay here.”

“Yes? Why?”

“Because annoying people might come around.”

While she was tilting her head, not understanding what she meant, two men in suits approached Cha Tae-woon.

“Chairman. This is the Minister of Special Abilities.”

“Haha, how do you do. I am Choi Dal-soo.”

Cha Tae-woon, who had been discussing something with the association staff, glanced at them and nodded.

“Yes, hello.”

“My, this is amazing. To deliberately open a dangerous gate. Do you know why we approved it? Chairman.”

The Minister of Special Abilities started acting haughtily towards Cha Tae-woon as soon as he arrived. Were the ‘annoying people’ Baek Eun-hee mentioned government officials?

Cha Tae-woon dealt with them without any agitation.

“I don’t know.”

“Well, it’s because we trust Chairman Cha Tae-woon. But, there’s something strange no matter how I look at it. There are six members.”

Seo-ah felt an uneasiness that her story would come out.

When Cha Tae-woon stared at Choi Dal-soo, Choi Dal-soo continued.

“Suddenly, the number of S-Class hunters has increased. As if they fell from the sky.”

“It’s true that they appeared as if they fell from the sky. Because an E-Class hunter awakened to S-Class.”

“Oh, that’s a national benefit. Congratulations. So where is that hunter?”

“They haven’t arrived yet.”

Cha Tae-woon said that even though he had clearly seen Seo-ah and Baek Eun-hee coming in.

“That’s a shame. I don’t have time to wait….”

“Since it will be revealed after the raid anyway, you can see them then.”

“I understand, Hunter Cha Tae-woon. Anyway, to get back to the main point, I hope you recognize that we have provided convenience.”

“Tell me specifically what you want.”

In fact, the Minister of Special Abilities, Choi Dal-soo, was also a D-Class hunter.

If Choi Dal-soo had remained in the hunter world, he would have been in a position where he would never have met and talked with Cha Tae-woon, who was the chairman and an S-Class hunter at the same time.

In fact, even becoming a C-Class hunter greatly changes one’s life from that of an ordinary person, so they don’t step into real-world politics. Noh Hak-young is also a D-Class hunter, so he is a member of the National Assembly [South Korea’s legislative branch].

“After the raid, during the official interview, I would like you to say a word of support for the current regime.”

“…….”

Cha Tae-woon, who had not changed his expression at all, frowned slightly.

The current regime could not be said to be very popular with the people.

On the other hand, hunters were always heroes, as they always had been. If the Hunter Association, which could be said to be the center of those hunters, made a statement in favor of the current regime, the popularity of the ruling party would inevitably increase as well.

The Hunter Association was, in any case, close to a public enterprise, so it tended to cooperate appropriately with the regime while refraining from other political statements.

The only force that dominates the hunter world is one.

The ability as a hunter must be absolute. If anything else intervenes, there is no way to guarantee the lives of hunters in the gate.

“Is it difficult? Just saying one word?”

When Cha Tae-woon didn’t answer, Choi Dal-soo openly showed his displeasure.

Cha Tae-woon was forced to agree. This regime was still in its early stages, and to seek various forms of cooperation, he shouldn’t cause unnecessary friction.

As he was about to open his mouth, the door of the magic barrier burst open.

Hunter Yoo Ji-an appeared.

Seeing that, Cha Tae-woon’s expression seemed to relax a little for some reason.

“Oh, who is this! Isn’t it the national hero, Hunter Yoo Ji-an!”

Choi Dal-soo approached Yoo Ji-an with an exaggerated voice.

Cha Tae-woon was not displeased at all that Choi Dal-soo was going to Yoo Ji-an after talking to him, but seemed very pleased. If he could avoid it, he wanted to avoid talking to government officials as much as possible.

Yoo Ji-an easily ignored the person approaching him and looked for Seo-ah.

“Park Seo-ah.”

Seo-ah, who had been listening to the conversation between Cha Tae-woon and Choi Dal-soo from a short distance away, was startled and shrugged her shoulders when Yoo Ji-an suddenly called her.

“Y-Yes?”