I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 159

159.

Seo-ah glanced around the house, following Yoo Ji-an’s gaze.

“Anything uncomfortable?”

Far from uncomfortable, it was excessively nice, but if she had to pick one thing, it would be:

“…It’s too big?”

Baek Eun-hee immediately retorted.

“Oh, Seo-ah. This isn’t big at all. It’s for two people, not just one.”

“It actually feels a bit small. But the view is good, so bear with it.”

“…Okay.”

She wasn’t sure how to explain. They needed to establish a concept of average housing first.

“Anyway… come in.”

“Tch, I should have gotten you a better place first. How is it, Seo-ah? Tell me if you don’t like it. I can get you something right away…”

“Ah, no. It’s really more than enough! It’s great. Especially the view…”

“Really?”

Seo-ah quickly led Yoo Ji-an and Baek Eun-hee to the table.

“Just a moment.”

Geon-woo went to the refrigerator to get drinks, and Seo-ah brought the washed lettuce for the wraps.

“Oh, the seats…”

Because Baek Eun-hee and Yoo Ji-an sat facing each other, there was an empty seat on either side.

“What are you doing? Seo-ah, the meat’s cooking.”

Baek Eun-hee very naturally cut the cooked meat onto the plate next to her.

“Ah, yes.”

Park Seo-ah glanced at Yoo Ji-an before passing and sitting next to Baek Eun-hee.

Geon-woo also brought the cola and sat next to Yoo Ji-an. Judging by the way Geon-woo’s nostrils were flaring, he seemed quite excited to be next to Yoo Ji-an.

“Here, Seo-ah, eat a lot.”

“Thank you!”

Baek Eun-hee also put a couple of pieces of meat on Geon-woo’s plate. She completely ignored Yoo Ji-an. Of course, Yoo Ji-an didn’t care.

“I’ll do it, Unnie [older sister or close female friend].”

“Uh-uh, no. The young ones should just eat what they’re given.”

“…Okay.”

Was it okay to waste the Royal Guild Leader’s precious labor on just grilling meat?

Nevertheless, the Korean beef melted in her mouth.

“Oh my, she eats so well.”

Like a mother feeding her child, Baek Eun-hee looked at Seo-ah chewing with a satisfied expression.

“Unnie, you eat too! Hunter Yoo Ji-an too… Ah, you’re already eating.”

Yoo Ji-an looked at Park Seo-ah.

“How did you know we went to Japan earlier?”

“Ah, that’s…”

Seo-ah chewed and swallowed the food in her mouth, choosing her words carefully. How much should she say?

If she mentioned Minister Choi Dal-soo, these two would be furious. They might charge in right away.

“I met Oscar Jackson earlier today.”

Yoo Ji-an stiffened slightly and stared at Seo-ah, while Baek Eun-hee jumped up from her seat.

Geon-woo, not knowing what they were talking about, quietly listened and ate.

“What? Who did you meet?”

“Oscar Jackson… the American.”

“That guy, finally.”

Yoo Ji-an didn’t hide his displeasure. Seo-ah watched them carefully but continued.

“It wasn’t a big deal. He just asked me to be a temporary member of Heaven… I refused, to get to the point.”

“Good job!”

“Well done.”

Their reactions were very honest and straightforward. Seo-ah was rather taken aback.

“Oh, okay…”

“Ugh, going to America, that unlucky and barren land, is out of the question.”

Baek Eun-hee poured cola into her glass and drank it in one gulp.

“I’m not going. I’m not good at English, and Geon-woo… and my people are all here.”

As Seo-ah said that, she looked at Yoo Ji-an and Baek Eun-hee in turn. Then, Baek Eun-hee looked at Seo-ah with an emotional expression.

“Seo-ah…”

“Oh, Unnie. The meat’s burning!”

“Oh.”

While Baek Eun-hee quickly flipped the meat on the grill, Yoo Ji-an said,

“They might not give up so easily.”

“How do you know?”

“I was offered too.”

Seo-ah rolled her eyes. Baek Eun-hee didn’t react much, as if she already knew.

“You refused.”

“Yes, and they persistently tried to persuade me several times after that.”

“Hmm. So…”

When Jackson and Yoo Ji-an had met, Jackson had also shown Yoo Ji-an a rather negative emotion.

‘Did he call me arrogant?’

That must have been because he refused to join.

Yoo Ji-an lightly shook the glass of cola and said,

“Yes, it seems his pride was quite hurt.”

“Ugh, does that mean they might come to me too?”

Seo-ah frowned and covered her face with both hands.

“Tell me if they bother you too much.”

“Yeah, Jackson will get hit if he bothers Seo-ah.”

“…….”

Seeing them speak so casually about the number one ranked hunter, Seo-ah felt an indescribable sense of security.

‘How can I choose just one of them in a situation like this?’

While Seo-ah was feeling shy, Geon-woo asked with genuine curiosity,

“But isn’t Heaven supposed to be a really great place? Isn’t it good to go? Well, I wouldn’t want my sister to go to America either.”

Baek Eun-hee tore open a new pack of Korean beef and put it on the grill, saying,

“It’s true that they’re very skilled. And since it’s America, the benefits are enormous.”

Yoo Ji-an also glanced at Geon-woo next to him.

“Those benefits come with the condition of handling dangerous gates that each country can’t handle on its own. There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

“Ugh, I see. I just thought it was cool…”

Of course, it looks cool when someone else is doing it, but who would be happy if their family member was jumping into dangerous situations?

“Don’t go, Noona [term of endearment for older sister or female friend], Okay?”

“Yeah, I already refused. So anyway… what happened with the Japan thing? Jackson said there were signs of a strong gate forming in Japan.”

“That’s right, that guy probably stopped by Korea on his way to Japan, deliberately.”

As she said that, Baek Eun-hee frowned but continued to explain kindly to Seo-ah.

“Magic power is swirling there. If it gathers, it will definitely become a pretty strong gate. If it forms, we probably won’t be able to ignore it. If it explodes there, the damage will reach us.”

“Hmm, if that happens, should I go too?”

“We’d welcome you if Seo-ah wants to go, but it could be dangerous, so think carefully.”

“…Okay, I will.”

They finished off all the Korean beef and were even eating the cake they had bought for dessert.

In the midst of all this, Baek Eun-hee’s phone rang. Baek Eun-hee’s expression turned gloomy as she looked at the screen.

“…I finally came to Seo-ah’s house.”

Muttering, Baek Eun-hee answered the phone weakly.

“Yeah, Ah-hyun.”

As Seo Ah-hyun’s nagging voice came from the receiver, Baek Eun-hee sighed and replied,

“Okay, I got it. I’ll go.”

Hanging up the phone, Baek Eun-hee got up from her seat.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yeah, something came up at the guild. I have to go.”

“Ah, okay. Then you should go.”

Seo-ah also got up, but Yoo Ji-an just sat and watched. Baek Eun-hee saw this and said bluntly,

“Aren’t you going?”

“No.”

At his curt reply, Baek Eun-hee looked at him enviously and resentfully before turning around. Seo-ah followed her out to see her off.

“Unnie, come again.”

“Okay. Call me often. Ask me to buy you delicious things.”

“Yes, I will.”

Baek Eun-hee lightly stroked Seo-ah’s hair and went outside. Seo-ah watched Baek Eun-hee get on the elevator before coming back inside.

Yoo Ji-an and Geon-woo had already moved to the living room sofa. Geon-woo was asking Yoo Ji-an something with a gleam in his eyes, and Yoo Ji-an was answering gruffly.

“What are you guys talking about?”

At that, they both stopped talking at the same time, and Geon-woo jumped up.

“I’m going in. I’m going to play games.”

“Hey, you… you played games all day today.”

“Just for today! I was discharged from the hospital today.”

Seo-ah shook her head as if she couldn’t help it.

“Don’t overdo it and go to sleep.”

“Okay!”

Geon-woo rushed into his room, and Seo-ah awkwardly sat down a little away from Yoo Ji-an.

“…Would you like some tea or something?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Ah, okay.”