I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 176

176.

Kang Su-jeong and Noh Yun-ji got into Han Seok-hyun’s car, while Seo-ah settled into the passenger seat of Yoo Ji-an’s car.

“Aren’t you busy?”

“I finished everything urgent before coming.”

Yoo Ji-an replied simply and started the engine.

There was no way he wasn’t busy.

“Hoo….”

However, Seo-ah didn’t press the issue. Instead, she leaned back in the passenger seat with a long sigh.

Yoo Ji-an glanced at Seo-ah but didn’t say anything more. He seemed to understand that her sigh wasn’t about his schedule.

Grateful for his consideration, Seo-ah closed her eyes for a moment and replayed the events in the dungeon.

‘I need to develop my support abilities a bit more.’

Venturing into a mid-level gate with low-level hunters offered some practice, but it wasn’t enough.

Most of all, Seo-ah regretted acting more like a front-line fighter than a supporter in this gate, since the problems seemed to vanish whenever she intervened. But she couldn’t stand by and watch them get hurt when she had the power to help.

The car stopped, likely at a traffic light.

Click.

Yoo Ji-an made a clicking sound, as if he’d pressed a button, but Seo-ah didn’t bother to open her eyes.

After a few moments, she felt the seat warmer activate beneath her. He must have turned on the heated seat.

Even though her physical fatigue wasn’t significant as an S-class hunter, she still felt mentally drained.

The warmth relaxed her, and the tension that had been building to protect the group in the gate gradually subsided.

The person next to her didn’t need her protection.

That was surprisingly comforting.

She probably wouldn’t have realized this if it weren’t for this experience: what it meant to be the strongest person in a dangerous place and bear the greatest responsibility.

A thought suddenly occurred to her.

Even though the dungeon Seo-ah had been in was relatively easy, Yoo Ji-an always stood at the forefront in the most dangerous gates.

And recently, he even took Seo-ah, an E-class, along and had to protect her.

‘…It must have been tough on him.’

Just as Seo-ah was about to open her eyes to look at Yoo Ji-an, she felt a hand gently cover her eyelids.

“It’ll be a while before we get there, so get some sleep.”

It was a soft yet firm, and warm hand. Seo-ah mumbled with her eyes closed.

“I… also need to… get a license….”

“…….”

Seo-ah drifted off to sleep.

Yoo Ji-an removed his hand from Seo-ah’s eyes. The fingers of his other hand, which was holding the steering wheel, twitched slightly.

Yoo Ji-an stared intently at Seo-ah as she slept.

Focusing on the soft breathing filling the quiet car, he started the engine again, waiting for the light to change.

***

Consciousness slowly returned. She felt arms carefully holding her and the gentle swaying of her body.

Barely opening her sleepy eyes, she saw a sharply defined jawline and handsome nostrils.

‘Isn’t it cheating to have handsome nostrils too?’

“Are you awake?”

Yoo Ji-an’s voice startled her fully awake.

Yoo Ji-an was carrying her. She was tired, but she hadn’t woken up at all during the drive and getting out of the car.

“I, I. I’m okay now. Please put me down!”

“We’re here.”

As he said that, they were inside the elevator.

Ding-

As he said, a familiar space appeared. It was Yoo Ji-an’s penthouse apartment at the top of the Taeyang Guild building.

Seo-ah carefully grabbed Yoo Ji-an’s shoulders and slid out of his arms. Glancing out the glass window, she saw that the sun had already set and it was dark outside.

“Um….”

She knew she should say she was going back to her place, but the words wouldn’t come. It felt wrong.

Yoo Ji-an silently walked past Seo-ah into the apartment. Seo-ah followed behind him, unsure of what was happening.

“Where are you going?”

Yoo Ji-an headed to the dressing room.

He retrieved something and handed it to Seo-ah. She took it without thinking; it was a short-sleeved t-shirt and comfortable-looking shorts.

“The bathroom is over there.”

Seo-ah looked where Yoo Ji-an was pointing and slightly opened her mouth. Of course, she really wanted to wash up. But why here…?

Seo-ah looked at Yoo Ji-an with a questioning gaze, and Yoo Ji-an gave a slightly troubled smile.

“I didn’t realize a week was so long.”

“A week? Has it been a week?”

It had only been a little over a day inside the gate.

“Yes, a week.”

“Ah….”

“I missed you.”

As he said that, the corners of Yoo Ji-an’s lips curved into a smooth smile.

To say those words so directly… he’s really something. Is he trying to charm her to death with words?

Seo-ah hugged the clothes in her arms a little tighter at that very, very seductive smile.

Her face turned bright red.

She wasn’t naive enough not to understand what he was implying.

But… like this, so suddenly?

“Um, um… I, I need to prepare myself. No, I mean, it’s not that I don’t want to.”

“Then have dinner and go.”

“That’s a bit, ah… Ah, dinner?”

Seo-ah’s eyes momentarily went blank before darting downwards in embarrassment.

Unlike the flustered Seo-ah, Yoo Ji-an’s voice was annoyingly calm.

“It’ll be uncomfortable to eat in that state.”

Yoo Ji-an pointed to the bathroom again.

Seo-ah raised her reddened face. She looked back and forth between Yoo Ji-an and the bathroom before tightly closing her mouth like a clam.

What was she even thinking? She wanted to disappear, but that was impossible.

Yoo Ji-an grabbed Seo-ah’s shoulders, turned her around, and personally escorted her to the bathroom door.

“You can use whatever’s there, so take your time and wash up.”

Yoo Ji-an gently pressed down on her stiff shoulders and lowered his head slightly.

At a distance where she could feel his breath, Yoo Ji-an whispered softly.

“But when *will* you be ready?”

Seo-ah’s head snapped around. Then, her eyes met Yoo Ji-an’s at close range. It felt like their lips would touch with just a slight movement.

Seo-ah took a deep breath and slipped into the bathroom, escaping Yoo Ji-an’s presence.

His low laughter echoed through the closed bathroom door.

“…So annoying.”

He’s really annoying, but the problem is that even his laughter is too attractive.

What can she do? It’s her own fault for falling for him.

***

Seo-ah dried her wet hair and looked in the full-length mirror.

Yoo Ji-an’s clothes were a little, no, *a lot* too big.

It felt like she was wearing an oversized t-shirt and capri pants, which was a bit awkward but comfortable.

‘Good smell….’

Seo-ah buried her nose in the t-shirt for no reason and sniffed before quickly realizing what she was doing and lifting her head.

Come to think of it, she had been smelling something delicious since earlier.

“Is the butler preparing it?”

Seo-ah opened the door and went outside, drawn by the aroma. There were cute bunny-shaped fur slippers waiting outside the door.

Seo-ah put them on and looked around.

‘Hunter Yoo Ji-an’s taste is unexpected.’

She shuffled in the slippers to the kitchen, where an unexpected scene was unfolding.

“Hunter Yoo Ji-an?”

Yoo Ji-an was grilling steak himself. The butler was nowhere to be seen.

“You cook too? Where’s the butler?”

“He said today is his son’s graduation ceremony.”

“…Ah.”

He had given him leave for the graduation. She thought he would have someone else handle it, but it was unexpected that he was doing it himself.

Seo-ah hesitated and stood next to Yoo Ji-an.

The thick beef sizzled on the heated frying pan. The way he grilled the meat looked quite skilled.

The Royal Guild hunters didn’t seem to have much talent for cooking last time.

“You’re good at cooking.”

“To some extent. I have to eat to live.”

“Didn’t you have someone to do it for you? Like the butler.”

After it was cooked to a certain point, Yoo Ji-an flipped the meat over. The golden-brown surface made her mouth water.

“I wasn’t affiliated with the guild in the 2nd and 3rd playthroughs [referring to his past lives or iterations]. And I didn’t stay home much even when I had a house, so it was cumbersome to hire someone.”

“Ah, I see.”

Yoo Ji-an, who had been focused on the frying pan, turned his head to look at Seo-ah.

Seo-ah flinched noticeably when their eyes suddenly met. The embarrassing situation from earlier flashed through her mind.

“How well done do you want it?”

“Please make mine well done.”

“I will.”

Yoo Ji-an first put his steak on a plate. It seemed like Yoo Ji-an didn’t like his well done.

He’s so calm, too calm.

She was secretly annoyed.

Seo-ah brought Yoo Ji-an’s plate to the table and came back.

And after a very brief hesitation, she hugged him slightly from behind.

“Seo-ah, in the refrigerator-”

Seo-ah felt his tongs stop abruptly as he was flipping the meat. His flustered emotions washed over her with a thick intensity through [Emotion Transference, her ability to sense others’ feelings].

Seo-ah leaned her forehead against Yoo Ji-an’s broad back and mumbled. She thought they needed to define their relationship first.

“Hunter Yoo Ji-an, are we dating?”