I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 22

22.

“Haha, that’s unlikely. More like Jian *hyung* [older brother or male friend] tends to tell us to run away and leave him behind when he encounters a difficult enemy.”

“What do you do then?”

“I just do as he says. It’s better than being a hindrance. Since he’s an S-class Hunter, he must have a plan.”

Seo-ah recalled when she first met Yoo Ji-an. He easily finished off the A-class monster toad.

‘Since he’s skilled enough to clear an A-class gate alone, it might indeed be a hindrance to have someone else around.’

‘What if we go together next time? I’ll definitely be a burden.’

Well, they asked first, and I expected it to some extent.

“Then, about the criteria for choosing a Mace…….”

*Drrrrr.*

Just as Song Jin-ho’s lecture was about to begin again, Seo-ah’s phone vibrated on the table. It was hers.

When Seo-ah glanced at him, Song Jin-ho gestured with his chin.

“Don’t worry about it. Answer it.”

Seo-ah slightly bowed her head to ask for understanding, then slid the green button to the side and answered the phone.

“Hello?”

– *Unnieeeeeee!* [Term used by younger females to address older sisters or female friends]

The youthful voice echoed loudly, even beyond the receiver. Seo-ah, flustered, checked the number again. She tilted her head at the unregistered number, then soon recalled someone.

She forgot to save the number.

“Is this Su-jeong?”

* * *

Kang Su-jeong, whom she met after a long time, was wearing a school uniform.

‘She’s actually attending school.’

She felt a sense of relief.

“*Unnie*! Wow, it’s amazing. I’m coming to the Taeyang Guild.”

Kang Su-jeong wanted to meet Seo-ah, but Seo-ah, who had difficulty going far, explained her situation, so Su-jeong came here herself.

When she asked Song Jin-ho, he said that outsiders were allowed up to the first floor of the guild building.

It was the same spot as before.

“Thank you for coming all this way.”

Seo-ah placed a peach iced tea in front of Kang Su-jeong.

“Ah, thank you.”

Su-jeong rummaged through her schoolbag and took out an old wallet with a chick drawn on it.

Seo-ah, knowing what that meant, quickly stopped her.

“Ah, Su-jeong-ah. I’m buying this. You can just drink it.”

“Really? Then I won’t refuse!”

Watching Su-jeong gulp it down, Seo-ah briefly wondered if she looked like that in Song Jin-ho’s eyes just now.

‘No way, after all. Su-jeong is a student.’

“Kyaa, so refreshing.”

Su-jeong emptied the glass in one go, then smiled brightly and told her about her recent activities.

Kang Su-jeong said that she had gone on one more raid after parting with Seo-ah.

“It was really amazing. I was practically flying!”

“That’s great, good for you.”

After rattling off her heroic tales, she said she was looking into guilds.

“I’m planning to join a suitable small to medium-sized guild. It’s more convenient to work with a guild anyway…….”

“I see, but aren’t you going to ask me?”

“About what?”

“About me being in the Taeyang Guild right now…….”

She hadn’t told Su-jeong all the details, but Su-jeong didn’t ask Seo-ah anything. It was clearly strange for an E-class Healer to be openly in the Taeyang Guild lobby, but she didn’t ask.

“Hmm, if it’s *Unnie*……. It’s not strange. You must have a reason to be here.”

Kang Su-jeong said nonchalantly. Hadn’t she already experienced the [Breakthrough] skill from Seo-ah?

There were occasionally Healers and support-type Hunters who had buff-type skills.

However, Su-jeong had never heard of a skill that directly increased stats like this. Even though she hadn’t been a Hunter for very long, she could tell that Seo-ah’s ability was special.

“And I saw it back then, Yoo Ji-an and Baek Eun-hee. I was so surprised that day.”

“Ah, that’s right. But I didn’t join the guild. I’m just here for training.”

“Wow, training at the Taeyang Guild, that’s crazy.”

Watching Su-jeong genuinely envy her, Seo-ah felt awkward. She felt embarrassed for unintentionally showing off in front of a kid.

“Su-jeong-ah, but why are you working so hard on raids? You’re still a student.”

“That? Hmm, I need money. My family went bankrupt.”

“…….”

“Dad ran away, and the house we live in is being auctioned off. I have nowhere to go if I get kicked out right away, so I have to earn money.”

Su-jeong casually brought up the heavy topic as if it were nothing. But Seo-ah knew the weight of that story well.

Seo-ah also lived alone, taking care of her younger sibling without parents. That life was never easy, and it still isn’t. Working as a Hunter for a living.

But Seo-ah herself was an adult now, but Su-jeong was too young. That’s why she felt even more sorry for her. But Seo-ah didn’t have much to offer, so she couldn’t easily say she would help.

“Hey, let’s stop talking about this. How’s the training? What kind of training do you do here?”

Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Su-jeong waved her hand and continued brightly.

At that moment, a group walked in from the lobby over there. And someone at the front recognized her and approached.

“Hunter Park Seo-ah!”

It was Han Seok-hyun, the guild leader of the Taeyang Guild.

“Ah, Guild Leader.”

Seo-ah stood up from her seat. Kang Su-jeong also glanced at her and followed suit.

Han Seok-hyun waved his hand with a friendly tone.

“Ah, no. Please sit down! I was just about to come and see if you were doing well.”

“Me? I’m doing well, thanks to you.”

Han Seok-hyun naturally joined the table and sat down.

“Then……. Ah, I’m sorry. Just a moment.”

Just as Han Seok-hyun was about to speak, his phone rang. He excused himself for a moment and turned his head to answer the phone.

He seemed to listen to the other person for a moment, then he said with a serious expression.

“No, it’s impossible.”

It was a cold and sharp tone, as if he wasn’t the same Han Seok-hyun who had been so friendly and kind until just now.

Well, he wouldn’t be in this position if he was always soft.

Han Seok-hyun was the guild leader of Taeyang Guild, which was the number one guild in the country. No major conglomerate chairman or high-ranking politician could openly ignore him.

Anyway, Han Seok-hyun, who was so socially great, changed his expression again as soon as he hung up the phone and showed a kind smile.

“I’m sorry. I suddenly got a useless call……. Hunter Park Seo-ah, if you have any inconveniences, please let me know anytime.”

“Ah, yes. I’m not uncomfortable at all.”

It was both grateful and burdensome for Seo-ah to have someone like that come out like this.

“But this person is…….”

Han Seok-hyun’s gaze slowly turned to Kang Su-jeong. Seo-ah quickly introduced Su-jeong.

“Ah, she’s my younger sister. Su-jeong-ah, this is the guild leader of the Taeyang Guild.”

“I know, I’m Kang Su-jeong!”

Su-jeong suddenly jumped up and bowed deeply. Unlike when she treated Seo-ah, Han Seok-hyun remained seated and only nodded his head at Kang Su-jeong’s greeting.

It was a look as if he had sensed something from Su-jeong’s attitude.

“Nice to meet you, Hunter Kang Su-jeong.”

“……You recognized that I’m a Hunter right away?”

“Of course, I can tell just by looking.”

Su-jeong sat down again, and Seo-ah looked back and forth between the two, moving her lips as if she was about to say something.

“Hmm, you must be very close to Hunter Park Seo-ah.”

“Yes, of course. We’re close.”

“Really? But I know that you two met for the first time in the last D-class raid.”

“Ah……haha. You have fast information. But we’re people who have shared life and death.”

Su-jeong skillfully deflected Han Seok-hyun’s subtle remark and gave Seo-ah a look of rescue.

“Hmph.”

Seo-ah also knew Su-jeong’s intentions to some extent, and decided to just go along with it.

“We’re close, and we will be in the future.”

“Ah, is that so? If Hunter Park Seo-ah says so.”

“Um, about that.”

“Then how about Hunter Kang Su-jeong staying at our Taeyang Guild as well?”

“…….”

Just as Seo-ah was about to ask with difficulty, Han Seok-hyun took the lead. When Seo-ah looked at him with surprised eyes, Han Seok-hyun clapped his hands and said.

“Hunter Park Seo-ah must be lonely in a place where there’s no one, so it would be better if Hunter Kang Su-jeong is here. We will also provide basic training programs together.”

“Wow……. Amazing.”

Kang Su-jeong also wanted to make a good impression on Han Seok-hyun just in case, but she never dreamed that Han Seok-hyun would propose it first.

“Would that be okay? It seems like the child has nowhere to go. I’ll only be with her while I’m here.”

“Of course, Hunter Park Seo-ah. Do as you wish. You can stay as long as you want, hahaha!”

While Han Seok-hyun was laughing heartily, someone approached him from behind and whispered in his ear.

“Ah, um. Is that so? He’s an unreasonable guy.”

Once again, Han Seok-hyun changed his expression and spoke in a low voice, then smiled at Seo-ah again. He was truly a person with a variety of facial expressions.

“Um, a problem has occurred, so I have to go. If you tell my secretary, they will take care of the procedures, so please feel free to speak.”

“Thank you so much, Guild Leader.”

“No, isn’t she a close acquaintance of Hunter Park Seo-ah, who is guaranteed by Yoo Ji-an? If she’s an acquaintance of Hunter Park Seo-ah, she’s our acquaintance.”

It seemed like a bit of an exaggeration, but in conclusion, it was a good thing, so who cares.

Anyway, Han Seok-hyun greeted them and left.

“Don’t even think about coveting, coveting.”

Turning around, he gritted his teeth and muttered. The person who called him was Cha Tae-woon, the chairman of the Hunter Association.