I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 34

Episode 34.

It was an uncharacteristically unconfident statement from Baek Eun-hee. Or perhaps, honesty suited her better?

“How do you know? Have you two fought before?”

Baek Eun-hee smiled wryly, toying with her water glass.

“Do you remember three years ago, when Korean S-Class Hunters went to support the Chinese S-Class Gate?”

“Ah, I think I saw that on the news.”

“I saw Yoo Ji-an fight then. It was frustrating, but I had to admit his skill.”

Seeing even a fellow S-Class Hunter acknowledge him, Yoo Ji-an must be truly remarkable.

“Of course, me saying this doesn’t mean I’m weak at all. And if you’re by my side, Seo-ah, I can become even stronger than Yoo Ji-an.”

Baek Eun-hee revealed her ambition and desire without hiding it. Seo-ah rather liked her honest attitude.

What about the other S-Class Hunters?

Yoo Ji-an definitely needed her support ability. But rather than simply becoming stronger, it was because he had a mission from the system that threatened his life, like Seo-ah.

‘And he said I might kill him.’

If that was true, Seo-ah was both a very necessary and a threatening presence to Yoo Ji-an. She couldn’t quite imagine what he felt, looking at someone like her.

“Oh, right, today’s the day.”

Baek Eun-hee clapped her hands as if she had just remembered something.

“Perfect timing. Let’s go together, Seo-ah. He might not meet us, but we need to buy something anyway.”

“Where are we going? Are we going now?”

“No, later in the evening. Ah-hyun needs to come too. It’s okay, take your time and eat more. I’ll get you more if you’re not full.”

“No, I’m fine. I’m done eating.”

As Seo-ah was about to get up, Baek Eun-hee approached her, looking alarmed.

“Seo-ah, are you sick? Why aren’t you eating more?”

“Ah, no? I ate plenty and feel full.”

She had actually overeaten more than usual. It reminded her of the situation she experienced with Yoo Ji-an, and she chuckled.

“I really enjoyed the meal.”

Seo-ah reassured Baek Eun-hee enough before being able to leave the table.

After breakfast, Seo-ah lazed around in the accommodation provided by Baek Eun-hee all afternoon, with nothing particular to do.

It was quite late at night when Baek Eun-hee called Seo-ah outside. Next to Baek Eun-hee was Seo Ah-hyun, the vice-guild leader of Royal Guild.

“Hunter Park Seo-ah, how is your life at Royal Guild? Are there any inconveniences?”

“Not at all, not at all. It feels like I’m on vacation at a hotel.”

“That’s a relief. The raid isn’t far off, so conserve your energy until then.”

Seeing Seo Ah-hyun smiling more kindly at Seo-ah than before, Seo-ah briefly wondered if [Gentle Sunlight, likely a skill or buff] was still in effect.

“Okay, let’s get in. If we leave around now, it should be just right.”

Seo Ah-hyun took the driver’s seat, and Baek Eun-hee got in the passenger seat. Seo-ah naturally sat in the back seat, looking around.

“But where are we going in the middle of the night like this?”

Seo Ah-hyun, who was driving, answered Seo-ah’s question instead.

“It’s a place that’s only open once a month, and only at night. Today happens to be that day.”

“Ah, I see. So where is it?”

“The Maker’s Gate. In short, it’s a secret hunter shop.”

“Hunter shop? Isn’t that in the system window?”

Then Baek Eun-hee, who was sitting in the passenger seat, turned her head slightly and said.

“It’s a shop run by someone with a hidden position called ‘Maker,’ like you, Seo-ah. It’s inside the gate that the Maker created.”

“Hidden position? If it’s a Maker, they must be good at making things, right? Like a craftsman. But it seems they use the position name as their nickname.”

When Seo-ah showed interest, Baek Eun-hee winked at Seo-ah.

“That’s right, a simple and eccentric person. Anyway, that’s why we’re going shopping now.”

After some time, the car stopped below a mountain ridge. It seemed like they would have to get off soon.

But then, the cell phone in her hoodie pocket started ringing. Glancing at it, it was Yoo Ji-an.

“Seo-ah, hurry and get out.”

“Ah, yes.”

It didn’t seem like the right time to answer.

‘I’m sorry, I’ll call you later.’

Seo-ah apologized in her mind, pressed the power button on her phone, and got out of the car.

The Maker’s Gate was located on a remote, deserted mountain. Climbing a mountain with no path at night was not an easy task for ordinary people.

But thanks to raising her stats, Seo-ah managed to climb up on her own, albeit with some difficulty. If it were the old days, she would have had to rest several times along the way.

Baek Eun-hee looked like she was eager to help, but she showed consideration by slowing down her pace a little.

Even though Seo-ah had raised her stats, it was impossible to keep up with the speed of S-Class and A-Class hunters.

“Wow, this is it.”

Seo-ah wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked at the amazing sight. The faint reddish mana shimmering was clearly visible even to Seo-ah’s eyes.

“It doesn’t seem open yet. Judging by the people gathered.”

It certainly seemed like this was the hunter shop. There were already several people who had arrived.

“This is a gate made by a hunter?”

“Yes, other gates occur naturally, but the Maker created this one directly.”

“Wow, that’s really amazing.”

The more she heard, the more curious she became about the Maker hunter. As she approached the people gathered, she could see a familiar figure from behind.

“Why is that bastard here?”

Baek Eun-hee reacted first, and Yoo Ji-an turned around. Next to him was Han Seok-hyun.

As soon as their eyes met, Seo-ah flinched and unconsciously hid behind Baek Eun-hee.

‘Oh no, why is he here after I just hung up on him.’

But Han Seok-hyun, unaware of Seo-ah’s feelings, approached Seo-ah. He greeted Seo-ah with his signature affable eyes, but gave Baek Eun-hee a wary look.

“Hunter Park Seo-ah, you’ve come too.”

“Ah, yes. Hello, Guild Leader.”

It would be strange to keep hiding.

When Seo-ah looked at Yoo Ji-an again, Yoo Ji-an turned his head away. Could it be that he’s sulking…? Could it be that ‘the’ Yoo Ji-an is.

While Seo-ah was looking at Yoo Ji-an with a dumbfounded expression, Baek Eun-hee called Seo-ah.

“Come here, Seo-ah. It looks like it’s about to open.”

“Ah, yes!”

The red light began to gather and form a vortex. While she couldn’t take her eyes off the amazing sight, even more hunters arrived on time.

Counting roughly, there seemed to be at least thirty people.

They whispered to each other while looking at Yoo Ji-an and Baek Eun-hee, but didn’t talk to them.

“It’s open, let’s go in.”

Baek Eun-hee held Seo-ah’s hand tightly and stepped into the gate first. Seo Ah-hyun followed behind.

The inside was directly connected to the shop.

The shop, filled with the scent of wood, was as complex as a maze and full of all sorts of junk.

The shelves that reached the ceiling were very high, and items were piled up precariously.

Baek Eun-hee walked into the complicated place as if she were familiar with it. It didn’t seem like everyone who came in came through the same entrance.

She could hear people coming in from the opposite side or other directions.

“Ah-hyun, let’s go there quickly first. First come, first served.”

“Yes, I know. Hunter Park Seo-ah, take your time looking around. We’re in a bit of a hurry.”

“Ah, yes.”

Leaving those words behind, Baek Eun-hee and Seo Ah-hyun disappeared deep into the shop at an incredible speed. Seo-ah blankly watched them before slowly moving her feet.

The items on the shelves were very diverse.

There were weapons she recognized, like swords, shields, and whips, but there were also items with unknown uses, like parking signs and aluminum pots. Those things were scattered randomly here and there.

She couldn’t tell if the Maker had made all of this or if they had just piled up junk they had picked up.

Seo-ah couldn’t bring herself to touch them and just looked around with her eyes as she moved her feet a little more. But then she heard a commotion from over there.

“Hey, this is too unfair!”

It was Baek Eun-hee’s voice.

“The Sun Guild is being too greedy. I don’t think there’s a big raid coming up anytime soon.”

Seo Ah-hyun’s voice followed. Even in her soft-spoken tone, she seemed quite upset.

“We have a raid right around the corner, how can you try to take it all!”

When she approached, she saw the Sun Guild and the Royal Guild facing off and growling at each other. Other hunters had also run over, panting and looking at them with regretful eyes. But they couldn’t bring themselves to intervene.

“What’s going on?”

“Seo-ah, Yoo Ji-an, that, that! Look at those cheapskates.”

Yoo Ji-an was holding the handle of a large basket. Inside were a lot of bottles about the size of a finger. The red and blue liquids inside were something Seo-ah recognized.

“Potions?”

“Well, those guys are taking all the potions…”

As Baek Eun-hee was pointing at Yoo Ji-an and Han Seok-hyun, Yoo Ji-an trudged over and placed the basket in front of Seo-ah with a thud.

Seo-ah’s eyes widened.

“Hunter Yoo Ji-an?”

“What are you going to do being so slow.”

Then, without saying anything to Seo-ah, he clicked his tongue at Baek Eun-hee and glared at her before leaving.

“Hey, Ji-an. Are you really going to give it all away? Do you even know how much that is? Let’s give away only half! Ji-an, let’s go together!”

Han Seok-hyun looked back and forth between the basket and Yoo Ji-an before quickly chasing after him.

“What, what. That annoying…”

“What are you doing, hurry up and take them!”

While Baek Eun-hee was about to foam at the mouth, Seo Ah-hyun quickly put the potions in the basket into her inventory.

Seo-ah also picked up one of them and examined it closely.

‘This is the mark I saw on the antidote that saved Choi Seok-hoon before. I remember him praising it as ‘Maker’s’ product. That Maker was this Maker.’