I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 223

223.

“Hunter Park Seo-ah, did you gather these hunters knowing in advance?”

Seo-ah slowly shook her head at the reporter’s question.

“It wasn’t the case when I first established the Union. However, while recruiting members, Camilla, a French hunter with [Future Sight, the ability to see potential future events], foresaw that this future would soon come to pass.”

She couldn’t tell the truth. That would mean revealing Yoo Ji-an’s regression [his ability to return to the past]. So, she concocted a plausible scenario. Ordinary people wouldn’t know the exact limits of [Future Sight].

She had already coordinated with Camilla on this matter.

“I understand that quite a few prominent hunters are participating. Is it really Hunter Park Seo-ah’s ability that allowed you to gather such personnel?”

“That is…”

Could she take credit for it herself? As she pondered, Jackson strode forward. Naturally, attention shifted towards him.

“I’ll explain that.”

“Jackson, it’s Oscar Jackson! Turn the cameras!”

The effect was clear. The reporters, excited by the appearance of the world’s number one ranked hunter, focused their cameras on him.

In reality, the hunter rankings were more influential among civilians and journalists than among the hunters themselves. For them, the visible rankings were the only basis for judgment.

“Hunter Park Seo-ah is an invaluable asset to the hunter community. Of course, many hunters have stepped forward voluntarily because humanity’s fate is at stake, but their decision to join the Union beforehand was solely based on their belief in Hunter Park Seo-ah’s abilities.”

Surprise flickered across the reporters’ faces.

They had thought of Park Seo-ah as an S-class hunter with some useful support skills.

In fact, that was how she had been reported. But with Jackson saying so much, the value of Hunter Park Seo-ah was reassessed in their minds.

“Hunter Park Seo-ah, can we stop this Legend Gate [a particularly dangerous type of dimensional portal]? Can humanity… survive?”

A reporter asked with a somewhat desperate expression. Seo-ah hesitated for a moment before slowly opening her mouth.

“What’s certain is that the hunters will fight with all their might, risking their lives. Please, even from afar, cheer them on.”

“…….”

Seo-ah didn’t give a definite answer. And the reporters seemed to know that it was the best answer, as they didn’t ask further.

Amidst the somber atmosphere, Yoo Ji-an walked over from a short distance away and watched. Seeing him, one of the reporters asked a question they hadn’t been able to ask before.

“Excuse me, Hunter Yoo Ji-an over there! Is the rumor that you are romantically involved with Hunter Park Seo-ah true?”

It was a question that didn’t fit the situation, but it seemed that even if the world was about to end, people were still interested in juicy love scandals. The reporters looked back and forth between Yoo Ji-an and Park Seo-ah with sparkling eyes.

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Yoo Ji-an slowly looked around at the crowd and smirked.

“That’s right.”

“Ooh! A scoop!”

Before the excited reporters could ask any more questions, Cha Tae-woon cut them off.

“It’s almost time for the plane to depart. We’ll end the interview here.”

As the reporters grumbled in disappointment, Seo-ah bowed to them and went down. Jackson followed behind her with a bitter smile.

She passed through the departure gate and walked to the front of the plane. It was a private plane prepared to transport the hunters.

Rare S-class hunters, normally hard to see, were gathered near the plane. The intense magical energy they emitted made Seo-ah, who was used to S-classes, flinch and stop.

Yoo Ji-an came to Seo-ah’s side. With him next to her, she felt much better.

Seo-ah gained courage and made eye contact with them as she stood in front of the stairs leading into the plane. She greeted those who were entering.

The first to come up were two German hunters, led by a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed mustache and silver hair.

Seo-ah recognized him first. She had memorized the hunters’ personal information in advance before coming here.

“You’re from the Eisenbeers Guild in Germany.”

“Greetings, Hunter Park Seo-ah. My name is Johannes. And this is Sebastian, an A-class healer. I was deeply impressed by your performance during the Japanese S-class Gate.”

As always, some of the S-class Gate battles were filmed and provided as videos. Then, the outside world analyzed and researched the Gate and the hunters’ combat methods based on that.

“I see. Thank you for coming.”

“It’s a hunter’s natural duty. Rather, thank you for providing this opportunity.”

Johannes was a German S-class tanker [a hunter specializing in defense] who could greatly increase the size of his body. It wasn’t just the size that increased, but he also became as hard as metal, so ordinary physical force and magic didn’t work on him.

Seo-ah handed him two of the Maker’s top-grade potions from her inventory. She had received them in advance from the Maker when she visited her Gate. Johannes, recognizing them, said in surprise.

“This is an amazing item.”

“Think of it as a souvenir from the trip.”

“A souvenir, I see.”

Johannes smiled faintly as he fiddled with the potion bottle and walked up the stairs.

After the German Eisenbeers Guild went inside, a familiar face appeared. It was Bachelo from the French Bulldozers Guild.

“Hunter Bachelo, it’s nice to see you again.”

“It is an honor to see you again, Mademoiselle. The skill you bestowed earlier…”

“Bachelo, please go inside quickly. I’ll see you later.”

Seo-ah quickly handed him a potion bottle, cutting off his words, as she thought he was going to talk about [Maximum], a skill he received from [Genie of the Lamp]. Bachelo greeted her without much displeasure and went in obediently. There were hunters lined up behind him.

After that, members of the Polaris Guild, which encompassed Northern Europe, and the Emerald Hunters Guild from Southeast Asia also entered in droves.

Not everyone was friendly to Seo-ah. Some showed slight hostility and curiosity, but they gave up trying to pick a fight after seeing Yoo Ji-an and Jackson behind Seo-ah.

And the guilds from South America and Australia, and the American guilds except for Jackson, didn’t come this way, perhaps because of the distance.

Then, finally, people Seo-ah was happy to see boarded.

“Eun-hee unnie [older sister or close female friend]!”

It was the Korean hunters. The first to appear were Baek Eun-hee and the Royal Guild’s A-class hunters.

Yang Tae-woo and Go Geon-hoo had come along on this raid. Yang Tae-woo was the Royal Guild’s A-class healer, and Go Geon-hoo was an A-class tanker. Seo-ah-hyun and Seol Jin-ah remained in Korea to manage the guild and handle the Gates that would be generated there.

“It’s intimidating to be among S-classes.”

Yang Tae-woo said, feigning exaggeration as he looked at Seo-ah, and the others also had light conversations with Seo-ah.

“Seeing you come out to greet us, you really seem like the Union Leader.”

Seo-ah smiled shyly at Go Geon-hoo’s words.

“Go inside and get settled. I’ll be there soon.”

“Okay, Seo-ah. We’ll go in first. Ah, this is the new product made by the Maker.”

Baek Eun-hee recognized the Maker’s top-grade potion that she had seen when treating Seo-ah.

“Yes, it’s very effective. I couldn’t secure a lot…”

Yang Tae-woo muttered, examining the potion bottle.

“I’m curious, but I hope we don’t have to use it.”

Indeed, if they had to use this, it meant they had pushed themselves quite hard and the situation was very difficult. Seo-ah said brightly.

At that moment, Choi Eun-kyul approached quickly, almost flying. He was alone without other guild members.

“Noona [term of endearment used by younger males to address older females]!”

“Hi, you came faster than I thought.”

“Phew, I almost died trying to avoid the reporters.”

“Go inside quickly. I heard there’s a lot of delicious food inside.”

“Oh, really? Noona, come in quickly too.”

Choi Eun-kyul snatched the potion and ran up, and finally Song Jin-ah and Cha Tae-woon came.

“I’ve heard that the other planes are just starting to depart now.”

“We’re all gathering in Hawaii, right?”

“Yes, we’ll move by ship from there.”

“How long will it take?”

“About 8 hours by plane and 10 hours by ship, but well, there are so many different hunters.”

There were hunters who could create wind to change the flow of water or enhance propulsion, so they might arrive faster at sea.

“Let’s all go inside now.”

Cha Tae-woon also participated in this raid. S-class tanker Cha Tae-woon was a force that couldn’t be left behind, even if he was the Association President.

Along with Cha Tae-woon, Yoo Ji-an, Jackson, and Park Seo-ah boarded the plane. Watching the ground move away, Seo-ah tried to calm her uneasy heart.

‘How many of these people will be able to return?’

Although it was to prevent the destruction of the Earth, the guilt of gathering them using herself as bait made Seo-ah feel heavy.

As if sensing Seo-ah’s heart, Yoo Ji-an, who was sitting next to her, quietly covered the back of Seo-ah’s hand with his own.