I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 164

164.

The two went outside.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay. You’re leaving soon anyway.”

Seo-ah patted Yoo Ji-ahn’s shoulder at his apology. Yet, Yoo Ji-ahn’s expression didn’t ease.

He seemed quite disappointed that he couldn’t take her home.

He knew it wasn’t easy for Seo-ah to get into serious trouble anywhere now, but it seemed to be just a matter of his feelings.

“You’re going straight home, right?”

“Yes, I have to have dinner with Geon-woo.”

“…….”

Yoo Ji-ahn looked down at Seo-ah intently. Seo-ah gently took Yoo Ji-ahn’s hand and let it go.

“I’ll contact you.”

Only then did Yoo Ji-ahn slowly nod and get into the car.

The call from earlier was from Han Seok-hyun. He called because Yoo Ji-ahn, who said he would just talk to Seo-ah, hadn’t returned.

Watching the departing car, Seo-ah scratched her cheek with her index finger.

‘So, we are now… dating… right? Or not yet?’

Until just now, they were hugging, kissing, and walking around holding hands, but she hadn’t heard the words ‘Let’s date.’

But somehow, she couldn’t imagine Yoo Ji-ahn saying, ‘Let’s date.’

“Ah, I don’t know.”

Still, the feeling of her heart pounding in one corner of her chest was subtly pleasant.

Seo-ah glanced up at the Sun Guild building once and headed to the subway station.

***

The next day.

Seo-ah decided to meet Soo-jung first before going to the C-grade gate that Noh Yoon-ji had secured.

But before that, she called Baek Eun-hee first.

“So, I decided to go.”

– “I see. It’s a C-grade, so it should be fine, but still be careful, Seo-ah.”

Seeing her answer so readily, like Yoo Ji-ahn, it seemed that a C-grade was nothing to an S-grade.

“I will. Anyway, that’s why, unnie [term of endearment for an older sister or female friend],”

– “Yes, tell me.”

“Um, those items you lent me when I was an E-grade… could Soo-jung borrow them for a bit?”

– “Oh my, you don’t need to ask permission for something like that. They’re yours anyway… well, not really, but do as you please.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

Seo-ah knew that Baek Eun-hee had lent them to her as a formality.

– “But Noh Hak-young might not listen well.”

“Hmm, I guess so, right?”

– “If he annoys you too much, just beat him up. After all, things that happen between hunters inside the gate aren’t a big deal unless it’s murder.”

“Haha, still, how could I… I’ll think about it.”

– “Okay, then, Seo-ah. Let’s talk again.”

“Goodbye.”

Seo-ah smiled after hanging up.

“That’s settled.”

Even if she protected her to some extent, a C-grade gate was still dangerous for Soo-jung.

The items Seo-ah had received before were so strong that even an A-grade rhino couldn’t kill her, so they would definitely be helpful.

Ding-dong-

The doorbell rang, and Kang Soo-jung arrived. Since there was still some time left, Seo-ah had called Soo-jung to her house.

Opening the door, Soo-jung entered with her mouth wide open.

“Wow, this is really nice….”

“Haha, it is nice, right? It’s still a monthly rental.”

“Still. It’s better than the Sun Guild’s A-grade accommodation!”

Though not as good as the S-grade.

“Oh, Soo-jung. I heard you moved accommodations. Is there anything uncomfortable?”

Seo-ah asked, following Soo-jung, who was wandering around looking at the house.

Soo-jung had recently vacated the A-grade accommodation and moved to a regular lower-level accommodation.

“Yes, actually, I lived in the A-grade accommodation because of you, unnie… and it was too big for me alone. Now is just right.”

“Hmm, really?”

“Really! The Guild Leader actually told me to do as I pleased, but I said I would move. There are a lot of kids living on the 5th floor too. I only sleep at the accommodation anyway.”

“Okay, well. If that’s what you want. Come this way. Let’s have lunch and leave.”

There was a housekeeper in the kitchen who had come to work in the morning.

“Shall I prepare for two?”

“Yes, please.”

Soo-jung sat quietly at the table, expressing her admiration with her eyes.

Soon after, Soo-jung and Seo-ah, finished with their meal, patted their stomachs and sat in the living room.

“Soo-jung, I have something to give you.”

“Give me? What is it?”

Seo-ah opened her inventory and took out the items she had worn when she was an E-grade. Soo-jung’s eyes widened.

“This… to me?”

“Um, actually, I borrowed them too. But I don’t think they’ll take them back. Probably.”

“Wow, wow.”

Soo-jung couldn’t help but admire them, picking them up one by one.

“Druck’s Vest! Special A-grade! Wow, it’s made by a maker! Oh, the Ladybug Hat, this too?”

“A C-grade is still dangerous for you, Soo-jung.”

“Then what about unnie? Unnie… oh, you must have something better. Because you’re an S-grade.”

Seo-ah smiled. Even that was sponsored. This house is also sponsored.

‘When I think about it, I’m always excessively indebted to those around me.’

I should go and say hello to Song Jin-ah soon too. Cha Tae-woon is also dealing with the media on Seo-ah’s behalf right now.

‘Hmm. I really need to do something after this gate.’

Soo-jung tried on each of the items Seo-ah gave her.

“Wow, with this much, I could even take on a C-grade with just item power.”

“Do you like it?”

“It’s not just that I like it… I feel like I’m going to faint. When would I ever get to try something like this?”

Soo-jung’s face flushed, and she teared up, seemingly really touched. As expected of a hunter, she was much happier to receive hunter equipment than anything else.

‘She likes it that much.’

It wasn’t bought with Seo-ah’s money, but she felt proud nonetheless. And she reflected.

‘Should I have shown that I liked it more too?’

She felt sorry that she couldn’t express it clearly because she was burdened. Of course, Baek Eun-hee kept emphasizing that she was lending it on purpose.

“Shall we go now?”

The gate was said to be near Incheon.

They had to leave now to make it on time. As she got up from the sofa, the phone rang. Looking at the screen, it was Yoo Ji-ahn.

Seo-ah glanced at Soo-jung and answered the phone.

“Yes.”

– “I’ve had the car waiting downstairs, take it.”

“Ah, really? It’s okay.”

– “You need to save your energy before you go. And it’ll be there when you come back, so take it.”

“…Thank you.”

– “Contact me when you’re done.”

“Yes, I will.”

The call ended, and Seo-ah stared at the phone screen for a moment.

‘He really takes care of me like a boyfriend.’

Yoo Ji-ahn had always been good to Seo-ah in his own way, but since that incident, he had started taking care of her openly.

As they stepped out of the front door, Soo-jung came to her side and poked Seo-ah in the ribs.

“Unnie, are you finally with Yoo Ji-ahn Hunter-nim [term of respect]?”

“Huh, huh?”

“Oh, don’t pretend you don’t know. Honestly, there’s no one in the Sun Guild who doesn’t know you two are flirting.”

Seo-ah said, pressing the elevator button.

“Ah, um… that’s how it is.”

“Wow! Awesome, you two really look good together!”

“Re, really?”

Actually, Seo-ah had thought that she wasn’t good enough for Yoo Ji-ahn.

“An S-grade hunter and a complete visual couple! Wow, I’m jealous. I want a boyfriend too….”

“A visual couple… but we’re not dating yet. It’s just….”

“You’re not dating?”

“Um, not yet. Maybe?”

The elevator arrived, and the two entered.

“Yoo Ji-ahn Hunter-nim didn’t ask you to date him?”

“No, but what we’re doing seems similar to dating.”

“It’s a bit ambiguous. Well, it’s not like you have to say ‘Let’s date’ to start.”

“Right, that’s why I don’t really know either.”

The elevator reached the ground floor.

As Yoo Ji-ahn had told her in advance, a luxury sedan was waiting for them in front of the lobby.

The driver politely greeted them and opened the door, and the two got into the car.

“But Noh Yoon-ji’s dad is amazing too. How did they even think of trying to raid a C-grade with just the two of them? Isn’t that almost suicide?”

“Um, well… it must be because of greed.”

“Her dad is a hunter, but he’s hardly ever done a raid. What were they trying to do, really.”

“I know.”

So, he was originally destined to die. She couldn’t explain that far to Soo-jung.

‘Will it be different if I go?’

The fact that something had happened once before made her a little uneasy. But Yoo Ji-ahn said that this life was already much different compared to the past lives.

With a slightly troubled expression, Seo-ah looked out the window of the speeding car. The car was already passing through the city and heading towards a quiet outskirts.

“It looks like it’s a sparsely populated area. That’s a relief.”

“It seems like unnie hasn’t rested much….”

Soo-jung muttered apologetically, and Seo-ah replied in a bright voice.

“So, let’s raise it a lot this time if possible, okay?”

Soo-jung nodded, and the car stopped in a quiet field in Ganghwa Island, Incheon.

As Seo-ah got out of the car, she naturally looked at the place where the magic power was swirling.