I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 213

213.

The man approached Geon-hoo. Choi Soo-won stood behind the man, puffing out his chest triumphantly.

“Hey, don’t be so nervous. It makes it seem like I’m meddling in a children’s fight.”

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend]! What are you doing? Teach him a lesson!”

“Choi Soo-won. Stay still.”

The man stared intently at Geon-hoo, who looked up at him, visibly tense.

“Friends should get along. You shouldn’t pick on a kid like this. Looks like you beat him up pretty badly.”

The man glanced at Soo-won behind him. The man wasn’t particularly threatening, but it was intimidating to have an adult man, especially a Hunter [individuals with supernatural abilities], leading the charge.

Still, he tried not to show his fear as he retorted.

“It wasn’t a one-sided beating. Choi Soo-won started it, and I couldn’t just keep getting hit, so I hit him back.”

“Then why does your face look so unscathed?”

“That’s….”

It sounded strange even to himself to say that an A-grade healer had come and healed him perfectly.

As Geon-hoo trailed off, the man said sternly.

“Hey, I don’t care about the fight, but I don’t like lies.”

Just as Geon-hoo flinched in fear, a welcome voice was heard.

“Geon-hoo.”

Geon-hoo jumped up at the sound of Seo-ah’s voice.

“Noona [older sister or close female friend]!”

He then approached Seo-ah and took her arm.

The man’s eyes widened as he saw Seo-ah approaching.

“Oh… Hunter Park Seo-ah?”

Seo-ah also recognized the man. He was the D-grade swordsman who had been active in the Tutorial Gate where [Tarantula] appeared. Back then, Seo-ah was only an E-grade.

“Hunter Choi Seok-hoon, it’s been a while.”

“Ah, yes. So, that kid’s sister is…?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

Seo-ah’s quiet smile exuded strong confidence.

“Wow, Geon-hoo’s sister is Hunter Park Seo-ah!”

Among the children in the class, those interested in Hunters were the first to recognize Park Seo-ah.

“Who’s Park Seo-ah?”

“You know, the S-grade who went to Japan!”

“S-grade?”

Even those who weren’t interested in Hunters knew how amazing an S-grade was.

“Wow, Park Geon-hoo’s sister is an S-grade Hunter?”

The children in the class approached one by one with envious and curious eyes. Geon-hoo felt a little embarrassed, but also a sense of pride.

“I think you were saying something to Geon-hoo just now.”

When Seo-ah stared at Choi Seok-hoon, Choi Seok-hoon said with an awkward expression.

“Ah, they fought, but only this kid got hurt.”

“Our healer treated Geon-hoo. He wasn’t really unscathed.”

“…Ah.”

Seo-ah hadn’t seen it herself, but she said what she had heard anyway.

“You heard the story, right? Soo-won started it. He charged first, too.”

Choi Seok-hoon glanced behind him.

“Is that true?”

“…Well, it’s true, but.”

Choi Soo-won couldn’t even come out from behind Choi Seok-hoon after hearing that Park Seo-ah was an S-grade.

“Hey, why are you hiding?”

Choi Seok-hoon pulled Choi Soo-won forward. Choi Seok-hoon apologized first.

“I’m sorry. I came after hearing roughly what happened and seeing my brother’s face. But I really didn’t intend to threaten him or anything.”

Seo-ah looked at Choi Seok-hoon and then glanced at Choi Soo-won’s face behind him. Seeing how many injuries he had, she handed him a healing potion.

“Anyway, it’s Geon-hoo who caused the injuries. Please use this to treat him.”

“I have my own.”

“No, anyway, it’s true that Geon-hoo hit him too. He has to take responsibility for that much. It’s a high-quality potion.”

“Then I’ll gratefully accept it.”

At that moment, the teacher came in and announced the start of class.

Park Seo-ah and Choi Seok-hoon, along with the other guardians, headed to the back of the classroom.

Geon-hoo smirked at Choi Soo-won, and Choi Soo-won sat down in his seat without saying a word, though his face was sullen.

After watching the class for a while, Choi Seok-hoon and Park Seo-ah went out into the hallway to talk.

“I was surprised by the article. You’ve become an S-grade… Well, I thought you were unusual back then.”

“How have you been, Hunter Choi Seok-hoon?”

“Well, thanks to the ability you used back then, I’m getting paid more than before. I was grateful back then.”

It was nice to see a familiar face after a long time. But they had to address the issue at hand.

“I hope your brother doesn’t pick on my brother in the future. Like you, Hunter Choi Seok-hoon, he’s my only brother, so if it continues, I won’t just stand by and watch.”

At Seo-ah’s warning, Choi Seok-hoon readily replied.

“Yes, my family is busy, so I haven’t been able to pay attention to him… I’ll warn him.”

If Choi Seok-hoon had known in advance that Geon-hoo was Hunter Park Seo-ah’s brother, he would have warned him not to touch him in advance.

Seo-ah didn’t want to make an issue of it any further, so she eased the atmosphere again.

“Anyway, I’m glad you’re doing well.”

“Um, could I get your contact information? I don’t usually miss out on these kinds of connections. I don’t know when I’ll see an S-grade Hunter again.”

At his brazen but honest words, Seo-ah smiled and replied.

“I’ll give it to you.”

***

A few days later, Seo-ah was sitting in the cafe in the lobby of the Taeyang Guild, operating her smartphone.

“Send 700,000 won to Yoo Ji-an.”

With a ‘ding’ sound, the money was transferred.

Seo-ah’s landlord wasn’t interested in the monthly rent at all.

So Seo-ah sent it on her own, but the monthly rent was often delayed after long raids.

Of course, Yoo Ji-an didn’t care about that at all, but Seo-ah couldn’t do that.

After waiting a little while, a welcome face appeared.

“Unnie [older sister or close female friend].”

It was Kang Soo-jung. She seemed to have grown a lot in the few days they hadn’t seen each other. Kids grow up so fast.

“Soo-jung, welcome.”

At Seo-ah’s greeting, Soo-jung gave a refreshing smile and sat down in front of her. Seo-ah handed Soo-jung the strawberry banana shake she had ordered in advance.

“This is right, isn’t it?”

“Oh, yes. Thank you for the food.”

Seo-ah watched Soo-jung put her lips to the paper straw and slurp for a moment.

“How have you been lately?”

“Mmm, good. I can beat most D-grades now. And sometimes I can even hold my own against C-grades?”

Soo-jung seemed proud of her achievements and immediately began to boast to Seo-ah.

Soo-jung had more experience than others her age, and Seo-ah had often used [Breakthrough] on her, so her stats had long surpassed D-grade.

“Hmm, you’re doing well.”

“You’re doing better, Unnie. Everywhere I go, they’re just talking about you!”

Seo-ah was a little taken aback by Soo-jung’s words. Of course, now that articles had been written and she had appeared on the news, she was more well-known than before.

“Is it… that much?”

“Of course, they’re saying that you’re ten times stronger just by touching something, it’s so funny.”

“It’s not that much.”

“Well, they’re just saying whatever they want. So, can you take a picture with me?”

Soo-jung smiled playfully and took out her phone.

“A picture? Sure, but why?”

“Kimchi [a pose for taking picture in South Korea]-”

As soon as permission was granted, Soo-jung got up and stuck close to Seo-ah, smiling brightly. Seo-ah smiled along, and the shutter clicked.

“I’m just going to brag to the kids that I know you, hehe.”

“Heh, okay.”

To be someone’s pride, Seo-ah felt proud and a little ticklish in one corner of her heart.

“Soo-jung, I asked you to come today because I have something to give you.”

“Give me? What is it?”

Seo-ah smiled and took out an A-grade magic stone from her inventory and handed it to her.

[A-grade Magic Stone]

[Option: Breakthrough (Uses: 99)]

Kang Soo-jung’s eyes widened as she received the magic stone.

“Unnie?”

“If you have this, you can raise your stats even when I’m not around.”

“No, can you even do this?”

“I can’t make them infinitely, just very occasionally.”

Soo-jung fiddled with the magic stone and lowered her head.

“I feel like I’m always just receiving from Unnie.”

“It’s okay, you’re young. You’re at an age where you can receive help from adults.”

“You’re the only one who says things like that.”

Seo-ah patted the back of Soo-jung’s hand, who was getting a little teary-eyed.

Certainly, Seo-ah cared a lot for her, even though it started as a small connection.

But it wasn’t just Seo-ah who felt that way. The people around Seo-ah also treated her warmly. Whether there was a reason or not, it didn’t matter.

After that, Seo-ah and Soo-jung had various conversations.

While they were talking, Seo-ah suddenly looked towards the entrance of the building.

“I should go up now.”

“Huh? Already?”

“Yeah, she just arrived.”

Seeing Seo-ah looking at the main entrance behind Soo-jung, Soo-jung also turned around.

Yoo Ji-an was walking in from there. Soo-jung didn’t notice at all.

“Wow, do S-grades have some kind of connection? Or is it the power of love?”

As Seo-ah looked at Soo-jung with surprised eyes, Soo-jung approached Yoo Ji-an first and greeted her politely.

“Hello, Hunter Yoo Ji-an.”

Yoo Ji-an, who was walking towards Seo-ah, stopped when she saw Soo-jung greeting her and nodded lightly.