I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 208

208.

Everyone stared at them in shock, but Baek Eun-hee didn’t stop, continuing to beat Jackson.

Ruben and Mila flinched and tried to stop her, but retreated after seeing Jackson shake his head.

“You bastard! How dare you kidnap our Seo-ah? Are you crazy and looking for death! And if you took her, you should have treated her well. How badly did you treat her that she ended up like that? You’re going to die today too.”

At first, Jackson seemed to defend himself, but at some point, he just willingly took the beating.

From the start, there was a difference in physical strength. Even though she was a ranged dealer, Baek Eun-hee’s strength was far superior to Jackson’s, who was a mage.

Of course, if Jackson had decided to use magic to defend himself, he could have overwhelmed her, but he seemed resigned and just silently took Baek Eun-hee’s punches and kicks.

“I’ve cherished our Seo-ah so much, afraid she’d fly away if I breathed on her, afraid she’d break if I held her too tight! Our fragile Seo-ah has a hole in her stomach because of you guys! What if she’s scarred for life!”

At her words, Ruben made a dubious expression.

The Park Seo-ah he experienced was strong. Even if her stats were a bit lacking, or rather, the fact that she performed so well with those stats meant she had a natural talent for combat.

Moreover, Ruben had been saved by Seo-ah several times. Ruben was a strong Hunter, and he had never owed his life to anyone before. Park Seo-ah was the first.

To call such a Park Seo-ah fragile?

He had a lot to say, but since they had kidnapped Park Seo-ah and caused the incident, he just watched. If he said the wrong thing here, those kicks would be directed at him.

Ruben kept his mouth shut, and the others stepped back from the chaos, watching as if it were a fire across the river [watching from a safe distance].

Of course, even in the midst of all that, Yoo Ji-an only looked at Seo-ah lying on the stretcher.

“Hunter Yoo Ji-an.”

Cha Tae-woon, who had just arrived from Korea, approached.

He didn’t come alone. He came with Congressman Noh Hak-young from Korea. He was Noh Yoon-ji’s father. And he had also brought the Maker, who had been imprisoned in a Japanese hotel.

Yoo Ji-an raised his eyebrows at them, but that was it.

The Maker clicked his tongue and came closer to the stretcher where Seo-ah was lying. Song Jin-ah was constantly by Seo-ah’s side, looking after her.

“Jin-ah, use this.”

The Maker took out five of the best potions he had made from his inventory and handed them to Song Jin-ah. Song Jin-ah was surprised to receive them.

“Maker, all of these?”

She could tell as soon as she received them.

This potion was several times better than the high-grade potion called ‘Maker’s Potion’. Life, mana, and fatigue levels would be restored at once with just one bottle.

Even though the market price hadn’t been set yet, it probably had an astronomical value that was priceless.

“Yes, I was able to complete it thanks to this kid.”

[Midas’s Hand], which Seo-ah had given to the Maker, allowed him to identify purer ingredients. Before that, he had tried, but the ingredients were not pure enough, so the efficiency was not consistent. So they were all just testers.

Hearing the Maker’s words, Song Jin-ah opened a potion bottle without hesitation and poured some of it into her palm. She placed her palm on Seo-ah’s stomach and used her recovery skill to help the medicine absorb better.

“This is really something. Maker, are you going to sell this? If you’re going to sell it, start with our Angel Guild….”

“Tsk, I’ll decide after consulting with this kid. Seo-ah has a stake in it to some extent.”

Hearing those words, Song Jin-ah’s eyes twinkled.

Song Jin-ah took her hand off Seo-ah’s stomach, and after a while, Seo-ah slowly opened her eyes.

“Are you awake?”

“…Ah.”

“Seo-ah.”

Yoo Ji-an, who had been talking to Noh Hak-young and Cha Tae-woon, turned around at once when he heard that Seo-ah had woken up.

Seo-ah looked around, her eyes darting here and there as if she was a little uneasy.

Yoo Ji-an took Seo-ah’s hand and made eye contact with her.

“Seo-ah, look at me. It’s okay.”

“Ah, where is this….”

“It’s outside the gate. We cleared it.”

At those words, Seo-ah’s expression seemed to brighten a little, but suddenly she jumped up.

“Is everyone safe? Ugh.”

“Oh, you shouldn’t move suddenly yet.”

Song Jin-ah warned her and handed Seo-ah the half-empty potion bottle.

“Drink the rest, I’ve healed everything, but there might be some internal injuries left.”

Only then did Seo-ah realize that Song Jin-ah had healed her. Seo-ah emptied the potion and said hello.

“Thank you, you saved me.”

“If you’re thankful… don’t forget, okay?”

Song Jin-ah smiled brightly and held Seo-ah’s hands, and Seo-ah tilted her head, not knowing what she meant, but nodded.

“Of course.”

The surroundings were still noisy. Seo-ah turned her head and saw Ruben being trampled by Baek Eun-hee after Jackson. She seemed to know what was going on without anyone explaining.

Seo-ah chuckled and called her softly.

“Eun-hee unnie [older sister/friend].”

At that barely audible voice, Baek Eun-hee stopped kicking and quickly ran to Seo-ah.

“Seo-ah!”

Baek Eun-hee was about to hug Seo-ah out of joy, but she remembered Seo-ah’s condition and hugged her very gently.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Seo-ah….”

“Why are you apologizing, unnie?”

“Because I couldn’t kill that bastard. No, there’s nothing I can’t do for Seo-ah. Should I just kill him? If he committed a crime worthy of death, he should die.”

If they killed Jackson here, it would cause a major diplomatic and social problem. Besides, Jackson was taking the beating quietly now, but if they really tried to kill him, he wouldn’t just die quietly.

At Seo-ah’s silence, Baek Eun-hee pointed to Yoo Ji-an.

“If we combine forces with this guy, there’s nothing we can’t do.”

To that, Yoo Ji-an rarely agreed with Baek Eun-hee’s words.

“That’s right.”

It was as if they were ready to run at any moment if Seo-ah gave the word. She didn’t dislike that.

Seo-ah burst into laughter and stopped them.

“Haha, stop it and call Jackson over.”

“You want to see that guy?”

Yoo Ji-an openly showed his displeasure. Seo-ah gently coaxed him, overlapping her hand on his.

“I have something to say.”

“…….”

Behind Yoo Ji-an, Oscar Jackson, who had heard his name being mentioned, was already approaching. Mila and Ruben were also by Jackson’s side.

He looked terrible from being beaten by Baek Eun-hee, but he seemed to be moving fine, so it didn’t seem like anything was broken.

Baek Eun-hee probably knew how to hit him well. Only hitting areas that would hurt a lot but not cause any major damage.

Before Seo-ah could say anything, Jackson spoke first.

“Hunter Park Seo-ah, I apologize first. I’m sorry for everything.”

“I kept my promise.”

“Yes, I admit it.”

At that moment, Cha Tae-woon, who had hung up the phone, approached and said to Jackson in a stiff tone.

“We will formally protest at the national level for trying to kidnap a Korean Hunter on Korean soil.”

Jackson nodded slightly with a bitter face. Then he looked at Seo-ah again.

‘Huh?’

Seo-ah forgot what she was going to say to him because of the whirlwind of emotions she felt from him. Regret, guilt, a slight attachment. She understood that far.

But what was this sweet and fluttery feeling like the scent of spring?

‘Even [Gentle Sunlight] is quiet right now.’

Seo-ah looked at him with the most nonchalant face she could muster, and Jackson spoke again.

“And, I haven’t given up on you yet.”

“What? This bastard, haven’t you been beaten enough yet?”

Baek Eun-hee clenched her fist, and Yoo Ji-an also put his hand on Ruin Blade, but Jackson continued.

“Next time, I will work hard so that Hunter Park Seo-ah comes to me of her own accord.”

“…Ah.”

So it was in the context of being a Hunter, but it sounded different to Seo-ah’s ears, who knew his feelings.

“Hunter Seo-ah, why is your face red? Are you sick somewhere?”

Song Jin-ah sensed Seo-ah’s change and asked urgently, and Seo-ah quickly shook her head.

“Ah, no. It’s nothing.”

Sensing something, Yoo Ji-an blocked the space between Jackson and Seo-ah and lifted her up.

“Let’s go, that’s enough. You need to rest more.”

“Ah, um… yes.”

Seo-ah reluctantly turned away from Jackson’s regretful eyes and obediently snuggled into his arms.

Behind Yoo Ji-an’s back, Mila and Ruben’s voices were heard.

“See you next time, Hunter Park Seo-ah! You were really cool!”

“Take care of yourself.”

Seo-ah waved her hand at them as well, then leaned her head against Yoo Ji-an’s chest. Certainly, she was very tired.

Her injuries and visible stats had been restored with skills and potions, but her body’s energy had to be recovered on its own.

Thinking that she was in Yoo Ji-an’s arms, she felt incredibly secure and comfortable.

Seo-ah fell asleep like that, and when she woke up again, she was in a hotel room.