I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 113

113.

After receiving the mask, Seo-ah examined it and then put it back on, hearing Baek Eun-hee say it was ‘disposable.’

She could only discover what face it would change into once she used it. It was fascinating and intriguing.

“By the way, coming here, I saw everyone fighting over the Sunflower monsters.”

“That’s also a problem. It’s because of the items that drop when you catch the monsters.”

Yoo Ji-ahn had mentioned this briefly on the way. Just in case, Seo-ah checked her inventory. And indeed, there was an item she hadn’t seen before. It looked like a card.

Seo-ah took the card out of her inventory and examined it in her hand. Golden letters shone against a purple background.

[Creation Card]

“Gate creation…? Is this it? Oh, uh…!”

But as soon as she took out the card, Yoo Ji-ahn snatched it from Seo-ah’s hand. Then, she made it disappear in her own hand.

“That’s a reckless and foolish thing to do. They’re running in like moths to a flame without knowing what’s inside.”

“…….”

Yoo Ji-ahn had been very negative about this item back on the bus as well.

“So, what is it?”

Yoo Ji-ahn kept her mouth shut, and Cha Tae-woon continued the explanation instead.

“It’s a card that can create and open a gate, as the name suggests. You can’t do it with just one card; you need to collect at least ten.”

“What’s so good about creating a gate?”

Instead of avoiding danger, they deliberately open dangerous gates and go inside. *Is that what hunters are like?*

“There’s some legend or rumor that there are useful items there.”

“Nonsense.”

At Yoo Ji-ahn’s sharp remark, Cha Tae-woon calmly added.

“Yes, of course. Fundamentally, it’s a phenomenon that arises because the supply of gates doesn’t meet the demand of hunters….”

“Indeed, if individuals could open gates as they please and then fail to manage them, causing a gate break [a catastrophic event where monsters spill out uncontrollably], there would be utter chaos.”

Han Seok-hyun, who had been listening all along, nodded in agreement. Then, Baek Eun-hee, who had been quiet, suddenly chuckled and interjected.

“Well, I think we all know the reason without saying more. But Yoo Ji-ahn, you’re being quite sensitive. Like someone who’s been there.”

“…….”

Indeed, it was true. Was snatching the card from Seo-ah’s hand and destroying it as soon as she got it simply because hunters are reckless and gates are dangerous?

Seo-ah glanced at Yoo Ji-ahn with a questioning look, but Yoo Ji-ahn kept her mouth shut with an unpleasant expression, looking only ahead.

Sensing the slightly awkward atmosphere, Song Jin-ah waved her hand dismissively, trying to lighten the mood.

“So, anyway, the point is we need to wipe them out before other hunters do, right? Please tell us the area.”

“Yes, I understand. First, please look at the map.”

Seoul and Gyeonggi were divided into five areas, and the top five guilds were assigned to each area. And the Association, where Cha Tae-woon was, decided to take the center for the role of the control tower.

Seo-ah was also set to move with the Association.

“Everything’s fine, but… Cha Tae-woon, why do you get to take Seo-ah?”

Baek Eun-hee asked, dissatisfied, and Cha Tae-woon coughed awkwardly, making excuses.

“The center is where multiple guilds overlap, so it’s good for providing support in emergencies, and it’s also relatively safe. If we assign Hunter Park Seo-ah, who isn’t affiliated with any guild, to one place, you’ll fight again, won’t you?”

It seemed like that wasn’t the only reason, but anyway, it wasn’t wrong, so Baek Eun-hee accepted it while snorting.

“We can’t use guilds with too many nobodies. Recovering the items is important, and the more there are, the more likely someone will not cooperate. Each guild should pay special attention to this point.”

“But if a hunter is determined to hide it, there’s really nothing we can do. You won’t hold the guild responsible for that, will you?”

Song Jin-ah asked Cha Tae-woon as if to make it clear, and he explained.

“Since you need to collect at least ten cards anyway, and the cards aren’t given every time you catch a monster, it won’t be easy to actually open one. If such a thing happens….”

In fact, Seo-ah had caught over a hundred Sunflowers at the hospital, but she only got one [Creation Card].

That meant the probability of obtaining one was less than 1%.

“A fine will be imposed on the guild to which that hunter belongs.”

The guild leaders made faces at Cha Tae-woon’s casual remark. In reality, the fines imposed on hunter guilds were not at a level that could be easily dismissed.

“If we’re going to do it, let’s handle it quickly.”

Yoo Ji-ahn got up from her seat. And the other hunters also got up and took out their phones to give instructions to their guilds.

Seo-ah decided to stay here for now since she was going to move with the Association.

“Ah, just a moment… Association President.”

As everyone got up, Seo-ah quietly called out to Cha Tae-woon. The S-class hunters who were heading out the door looked at her curiously, but Seo-ah only spoke to Cha Tae-woon.

“I have something to tell you.”

“Yes, then please sit down again.”

Cha Tae-woon was the busiest person here, but he willingly made time to listen to Seo-ah.

Cha Tae-woon didn’t know Park Seo-ah well yet, but he knew very well that she was very valuable.

Moreover, the story that she had recently awakened as an S-class supporter was astonishing. He wanted to meet and talk to her properly anyway, but he couldn’t find an opportunity because the other S-class hunters were so wary.

“Ah, I heard the news that you awakened as an S-class supporter in the raid with the Sun Guild. Congratulations.”

Cha Tae-woon lightly offered his congratulations, but Seo-ah didn’t answer and sat down.

Cha Tae-woon also sat down opposite Seo-ah.

“I don’t know how this story will sound to the Association President, but I didn’t start this hunter job because I wanted to.”

“Actually, that’s true for everyone. I didn’t become a hunter because I wanted to, and I ended up in this position as the Association President by chance.”

“I guess so.”

Since everyone said so, there was nothing to say, but Seo-ah really felt that way. If it weren’t for the system’s threats, if she didn’t need the surgery money for Geon-woo, Seo-ah would never have set foot in a gate.

“I heard that Hunter Park Seo-ah’s parents went missing in a gate. I’m very sorry about that.”

“And actually, my brother is sick right now. I’m sure you know about this too, right?”

Cha Tae-woon nodded.

From the time he became interested in Park Seo-ah, he had investigated her to some extent, so he couldn’t help but know.

“Surgery is no longer effective, and he’s receiving chemotherapy, but we don’t know how effective it will be.”

She didn’t say it at the time, but Seo-ah was very surprised and heartbroken to see Geon-woo, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, looking thinner than before. *How hard must it have been for him all this time.*

Seo-ah stared blankly at Cha Tae-woon’s face. But Seo-ah felt a slightly different, unfamiliar emotion stirring within her feelings.

Seo-ah was in a complicated mood right now, but it was strange to feel emotions like curiosity and anticipation.

‘What is this?’

Then, when she looked closely at Cha Tae-woon, the words [Affinity Level 1] flickered above his head and soon disappeared.

‘Ah… could this be emotional transference [the ability to feel the emotions of others]?’

“Hunter Park Seo-ah?”

Cha Tae-woon called out in confusion when Seo-ah stopped talking. Seo-ah hurriedly spoke again.

“Ah, so… so, I want to be with my brother for a long time. Actually, I don’t think I can actively participate in the hunter work. And the raid I promised….”

In fact, she had promised to go on a raid on the condition that Cha Tae-woon would keep the secret.

“I promised, so I’ll go with you someday. But I don’t think I can for a while.”

She couldn’t predict how long it would take to enter an upper-level gate and come out.

She heard that even the gate she went to with the Sun Guild had taken a whole month. If something happened to Geon-woo in the meantime, Seo-ah really wouldn’t be able to bear it.

“Hmm, I see.”

Cha Tae-woon nodded, stroking his chin as if he was in trouble.

“I’m sorry, Association President.”

“No, of course, I should understand since you have such circumstances.”

Seo-ah looked at Cha Tae-woon’s face as he said that again. But she didn’t feel the same emotions as before.

‘Is it just a short, fleeting feeling like this?’

What kind of connection does it have with the [Affinity] that appeared above his head?

“But then… ah, um. Never mind.”

Cha Tae-woon seemed to have remembered something and was about to say something but stopped.

“Yes?”

“So, Hunter Park Seo-ah. I understand what you’re saying. Then, is it difficult to participate in today’s operation as well?”

“No, I’ll participate in catching the Sunflowers today. The raid is difficult, but this is for everyone’s safety.”