I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 165

#165

Seo-ah quickly retrieved a disguise mask. She hadn’t bought it recently; she had a few left over from what Cha Tae-woon had given her previously.

“How does it look?”

She put on the mask and turned to show Soo-jung, who exclaimed in admiration.

“Oh, it’s perfect! I’ve seen them before, but it’s still amazing. But what name are you going to use, unnie [older sister or female friend]?”

“Name? Uh, I don’t know…”

She realized she hadn’t thought of a fake name or even a designated role.

She was trying to think of something quickly when Noh Hak-young and his daughter Noh Yoon-ji arrived in their car.

Seo-ah and Soo-jung blinked, startled, as they watched Noh Hak-young get out of the car.

Noh Hak-young’s attire was truly dazzling. He was fully decked out with all sorts of items from head to toe.

Usually, even when hunters equip items, they set all but one or two to [Hidden], but Noh Hak-young was showing everything off.

It was obvious from this display that he didn’t have much raiding experience.

“Ahem, so you must be the hunters who are joining us today.”

Noh Hak-young scanned Seo-ah and Soo-jung up and down as soon as he arrived. Then, he clicked his tongue slightly.

Since Seo-ah and Soo-jung had hidden most of their equipped items, as most hunters do, Noh Hak-young couldn’t assess their gear.

Because of this, he seemed to have concluded that they were insignificant hunters.

Having made his judgment, Noh Hak-young introduced himself confidently.

“If you must know, I am Noh Hak-young, a member of the 21st National Assembly.”

“Dad, these two are…”

Noh Yoon-ji hurried over to introduce them to Noh Hak-young, but Noh Hak-young waved his hand dismissively, pretending to know them.

“I know. Kang Soo-jung, the student who competed against you in the tournament. And this one’s name is…”

“Baek Ji-ah.”

Seo-ah nodded slightly. Baek Ji-ah was a name Seo-ah had come up with on the spur of the moment.

She had been nervous that he might recognize her, so her tone was unintentionally stiff.

“Ahem, yes. Baek Ji-ah. I heard you’re a B-grade hunter from the Taeyang Guild. What’s your role?”

Noh Hak-young, not recognizing Seo-ah because of the mask, naturally used a condescending tone.

Noh Hak-young had already heard the news that ‘Park Seo-ah’ had become an S-grade. If he had known, Noh Hak-young’s tone might have changed drastically.

Seo-ah decided not to pay attention to his tone since she was technically his junior anyway.

“…I’m both a healer and a tank.”

She hadn’t thought about her position in advance, so she just made something up.

In fact, except for being a mage, Seo-ah could demonstrate A-grade level abilities in any position.

Still, B-grade was the highest rank here, but Noh Hak-young seemed to think he could overshadow that with his equipment or status.

Perhaps that’s why he continued to boast.

“That’s right. You’re also from the Taeyang Guild, so you probably already know… Even though our Yoon-ji is C-grade, her outstanding skills at a young age have earned her the full expectations of the Taeyang Guild.”

“Ah, Dad! Please stop…”

Noh Yoon-ji, mortified by her father’s sudden bragging about her, tried to stop him.

Everyone in the Taeyang Guild knew that the person they were desperately trying to recruit was Park Seo-ah, who was standing right there.

To talk about ‘full expectations’ in front of such a person was like showing off in front of an expert.

While Noh Yoon-ji’s face turned red with embarrassment, Seo-ah smiled brightly.

“Yes, I already know about Noh Yoon-ji Hunter’s outstanding skills.”

She was somewhat sincere.

It was true that Noh Yoon-ji was quite hardworking for a C-grade, and her skills were good among her peers.

Noh Hak-young laughed heartily, seemingly satisfied with Seo-ah’s answer.

“Haha, that’s right! At least you have an eye for talent!”

Whatever else, his love for his daughter was genuine.

Noh Hak-young passed them and headed towards the gate where magical energy was swirling.

“Hmm, not yet. How many raids have you experienced?”

“I’ve experienced about five raids.”

“Were you the team leader?”

“No, I was a team member.”

She answered truthfully and honestly.

Noh Hak-young smirked and turned around.

“Oh dear, not much experience. Don’t worry, I’ve been on seven raids.”

Considering that he awakened in his teens, it wasn’t that many.

On the other hand, Seo-ah had only been on five raids, but they were all recent and mostly intense.

However, Noh Hak-young seemed to recognize himself as a true ‘senior’ and nodded with a trustworthy expression.

“Don’t worry, if you just do as I say, we’ll be able to complete the raid safely. Kang Soo-jung, keep that in mind too. This isn’t a playground.”

At Noh Hak-young’s stern warning, Soo-jung shrugged and looked at Noh Yoon-ji.

Her expression said, ‘Seriously, what’s up with your dad?’

Noh Yoon-ji, meeting Kang Soo-jung’s eyes, sighed, and Kang Soo-jung patted Noh Yoon-ji’s shoulder as if to say she understood.

While waiting for the entrance to be fully formed, Seo-ah looked around.

Because it was an illegal trading gate, they couldn’t receive even basic support from the Hunter Association.

Things like equipment to measure the gate’s grade, potions, healers, or hunters to support them in case of an emergency were absent.

All there was were chairs and tents set up by Noh Hak-young’s aides, and water and snacks that they had brought.

Noh Hak-young was sitting under the tent, resting. Seo-ah casually put her hand near the swirling vortex of magical energy.

As an S-grade, Seo-ah could roughly grasp the magical energy waves emanating from within, even if not accurately.

‘It’s a bit high, but it seems to be C-grade.’

That was a relief.

Even if it were B-grade, Seo-ah could manage, but she couldn’t guarantee that she could bring everyone else out safely.

Even though Seo-ah valued herself the most, she wanted everyone to come out unharmed if possible.

“Don’t go near there and come over here. It’ll be a while before we can enter.”

At Noh Hak-young’s words, Seo-ah obediently moved away from the gate. Then, turning her back to Noh Hak-young, she quickly sent a text message on her phone. The recipients were Cha Tae-woon and Han Seok-hyun.

Just then, Noh Yoon-ji cautiously approached Seo-ah from behind.

“Um, I’m sorry.”

“Huh? Ah.”

She seemed to be apologizing for Noh Hak-young’s attitude.

“It’s okay, don’t worry about me.”

In fact, Seo-ah didn’t care about Noh Hak-young at all.

She had no real connection to Noh Hak-young, and Seo-ah had the power to subdue Noh Hak-young if necessary.

‘Is this the余裕 [composure/余裕] of the strong?’ she wondered.

“Still…”

Seo-ah looked at Noh Yoon-ji with a fresh perspective.

She seemed quite confident before, but whether she had matured in the meantime or had lost her spirit, she had become quite docile since they last met.

Or maybe it was because Seo-ah had become an S-grade.

‘Well, she was always quiet in front of high-ranking hunters.’

Seo-ah took Noh Yoon-ji to a place a little away from Noh Hak-young.

“It’s really okay now. But…”

“Yes?”

“If you act recklessly inside the gate, I might have to be a little rude to your father. Would that be okay?”

Seo-ah’s lips were smiling kindly, but her eyes were warning.

Noh Yoon-ji looked at Seo-ah with a flinch and slowly nodded.

After becoming an S-grade, Seo-ah hadn’t realized that the atmosphere surrounding her had changed.

That energy wasn’t felt much by ordinary people or stronger hunters, and those familiar with Seo-ah, but it was clearly felt by C-grades who were ambiguously strong.

That’s why Noh Yoon-ji, who was usually assertive, had no choice but to be docile like a herbivore in front of Seo-ah.

And Seo-ah’s warning was, in a way, natural.

“If it’s a truly dangerous moment, there’s nothing we can do. Rather, I’m asking you to trust my judgment. I’ll take responsibility for what happens afterwards.”

Even though Noh Yoon-ji had little experience, she was a hunter who had seen and heard a lot around her.

Noh Yoon-ji knew best that Noh Hak-young was taking the raid too lightly, where they had to risk their lives.

At that moment, Noh Hak-young, who was resting under the tent, called Noh Yoon-ji.

“Yoon-ji, come here and drink this! Here’s a potion I prepared especially for you…”

“Ah, okay!”

Noh Yoon-ji shouted as if she was reluctant, but looked at Seo-ah with a troubled face.

Only after Seo-ah nodded slightly did Noh Yoon-ji turn around and go to Noh Hak-young.

“Noh Yoon-ji, she’s a total baby at home!”

At Kang Soo-jung’s playful teasing, Noh Yoon-ji couldn’t say anything and just hurried past with a red face.

Soo-jung stared at Noh Yoon-ji for a long time, and Seo-ah also looked at Kang Soo-jung from behind. Seo-ah felt like she understood what Soo-jung’s playfully teasing heart was like.

Noh Hak-young was pathetic, but his heart as a parent, cherishing his child Noh Yoon-ji, was enviable anyway.

To Soo-jung, and to Seo-ah as well.