I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 36

36.

As if on cue with the loud noise, Seo Ah-hyun pulled Seo-ah back, and Baek Eun-hee stepped forward to shield them. Even though it was an artificial gate, they couldn’t rule out potential dangers.

However, what emerged from the gate were a middle-aged woman and Yoo Ji-an.

“Ugh, wait a minute! I said I’d walk! Let go of me, Yoo Ji-an!”

Yoo Ji-an carried the petite woman by the scruff of her neck. As she shrieked and struggled, Yoo Ji-an dropped her like an object.

“Ugh, you crazy bastard! Just barging into the basement like that?”

As Yoo Ji-an released her, Maker [a title or nickname, not a proper name] shuddered and brushed off her shoulders. Baek Eun-hee smiled brightly at her grumbling.

“Maker!”

“Huh? Baek Eun-hee, what brings you here? What, is there a war outside or something? An S-class appearing twice in a row, oh right, you guys can’t fight here!”

“What are you talking about? Why would we fight?”

“Last time, when you and Cha Tae-woon came, you bickered so much that the gate…!”

“Oh, come on, Maker! Why does the past matter? The important thing is, listen to what I have to say!”

“Don’t want to.”

Seeing Baek Eun-hee approach amiably, Maker retorted bluntly and crossed her arms.

Baek Eun-hee’s expression showed a hint of annoyance, but she still treated her kindly, perhaps because she needed something.

“Why are you saying no without even listening? I’ll compensate you handsomely, okay?”

“Seriously, do you think I’m short on money? Shut up, barging in on someone in the middle of research! These young ones have no manners these days!”

“That’s right, that’s right. Yoo Ji-an is a bit rude!”

Aside from benefiting from Yoo Ji-an dragging her out, Baek Eun-hee joined in on the criticism to appease Maker.

Yoo Ji-an simply stood there, showing no reaction even as he heard it. However, he kept a close watch on Maker, as if ready to grab her again if she tried to escape.

“Anyway, no way, I’ve been up for days, I’m exhausted.”

“It’s just a slight modification to a weapon; it’s not difficult.”

“Are the weapons you guys bring ordinary weapons?”

“Oh, come on, just take a look! Seo-ah!”

At Baek Eun-hee’s call, Seo-ah peeked out from behind the shelves. As Seo Ah-hyun led the way with a gesture, she followed closely behind.

Maker glanced at Seo-ah casually, then looked again more closely. A slight glint appeared in Maker’s eyes.

“Is that the kid?”

“Yeah, Seo-ah. Come here and say hello; this is Maker.”

Seo-ah approached and bowed deeply.

“Hello, Maker-nim [term of respect]. My name is Park Seo-ah.”

Maker scanned Seo-ah with a sullen face, then muttered in a barely audible voice.

“Well, she’s kind of cute. Unlike some others, she has manners.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you, that you’re the only S-class crafter in Korea! It’s amazing; you made all these things by hand.”

At Seo-ah’s pure admiration, Maker cleared her throat with a ‘ahem.’ She didn’t seem displeased. Baek Eun-hee watched Seo-ah with a satisfied smile.

“Well, I am quite something. So, Park Seo-ah, you say? What’s your deal?”

Maker’s eyes sharpened momentarily as she asked the last question.

“What do you mean, deal…?”

“Don’t even think about lying to me. You’re running around with hunters like these; you can’t just be any ordinary hunter.”

“Oh, come on, Maker! Why are you suddenly asking that?”

“Quiet, Baek Eun-hee. Didn’t you have a favor to ask me? Is this kid’s weapon it? Now, answer me. What’s your deal? You better tell me straight.”

Even though she was a crafting type, Maker was definitely an S-class hunter.

As she became serious, the atmosphere changed drastically. A strong pressure swirled around Seo-ah and the surrounding air.

“Well, I…”

As Seo-ah’s complexion turned slightly pale because of it, Baek Eun-hee subtly stepped in front of Seo-ah. Surprisingly, the pressure that had been bearing down on Seo-ah vanished instantly.

“What’s wrong, Maker? I do have a favor to ask, but don’t be so scary to Seo-ah. It pisses me off.”

Baek Eun-hee still had a bright smile on her face. However, her demeanor was also quite different from before.

Yoo Ji-an was openly glaring at Maker.

“Huh, you’re awfully protective.”

Maker clicked her tongue in disbelief. Meanwhile, Seo-ah stepped forward again.

Seo-ah wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, but she didn’t avoid Maker’s gaze. Instead, she calmly and gently answered the previous question.

“I don’t really have a ‘deal.’ I’m just helping these people out because I can.”

“Hmm, is that so? I’m not so sure.”

“I’d like to tell you more, but there are too many listening ears around.”

Seo-ah shrugged and gestured around. The hunters who had come in with them were eavesdropping from a certain distance, curious about the situation.

It was understandable, as Maker had come out in a situation where Yoo Ji-an and Baek Eun-hee alone were already drawing attention. Naturally, Seo-ah, who was with them, also attracted attention.

“Why are you eavesdropping, you lot? Want to get kicked out?”

Maker shouted fiercely, and Seo Ah-hyun naturally covered Seo-ah’s ears. The hunters flinched and stepped back at the force emanating from her small frame.

“Tch, annoying things! Come in!”

Maker opened the door she had come out of and went in first. Baek Eun-hee looked at Seo Ah-hyun with wide eyes.

“What’s going on? Why did she suddenly change her mind? That old lady. I’ve only been inside once.”

“That was when you offered the Phoenix’s tail, wasn’t it…?”

Maker only allowed access to the basement when she was truly satisfied. Of course, that excluded cases like Yoo Ji-an barging in without permission just now.

“Oh, come on! Are you guys not coming in? I’ve told you so many times that temperature control is important here!”

Maker’s voice boomed from inside.

“Let’s go quickly, Seo-ah. Stay behind me.”

“Yes.”

Seo-ah followed her, smiling slightly. She had been seeing these words since earlier.

[Skill ‘Gentle Sunlight’ is activated!]

‘It’s useful at times like this.’

Perhaps one of the reasons Maker was showing a slightly different reaction was because of that.

First, Baek Eun-hee stood at the front, followed by Seo-ah, and then Seo Ah-hyun and Yoo Ji-an. Yoo Ji-an hadn’t been told to come, but he followed naturally. Seeing that the sensitive Maker didn’t say anything about it, it seemed he was included as well.

Inside the door, there were stairs leading down.

“Watch your step, Seo-ah.”

“Yes, thank you, unnie [term for older sister or female friend].”

Listening to their conversation, Maker clicked her tongue.

“Tsk, tsk, raising a kid? Raising a kid?”

Baek Eun-hee chuckled.

“Maker, if you knew about Seo-ah, you wouldn’t be so nonchalant.”

“Hmph, she probably has some unique ability. Unlike you guys, I don’t have much greed.”

“We’ll see? We’ll see.”

Amidst the slight war of nerves, Seo-ah looked around curiously while quietly following.

“It’s amazing; I can see even though there’s almost no light.”

“That’s because you’re a hunter, Seo-ah. As you get stronger as a hunter, darkness won’t be much of a restriction.”

“Then does unnie look as bright as daylight right now?”

“Ah, no, that’s not it. I know it’s dark too.”

Baek Eun-hee kindly answered all of Seo-ah’s questions, constantly checking to make sure Seo-ah didn’t trip over anything.

After going in for quite a while, Maker’s workshop came into view. The workshop was smaller and messier than expected.

“Well, just sit or stand anywhere.”

Baek Eun-hee brushed the dust off her suit with an annoyed expression.

“Ugh, look at this dust. It’s bad for the respiratory system.”

“An S-class hunter worrying about the respiratory system.”

“Not me, our Seo-ah. She can’t get sick. She’s delicate.”

“That ‘our Seo-ah’ again. Ugh, Yoo Ji-an, you tell me. You know her too, right? Why are you following her around?”

Yoo Ji-an, who was coming in last, glanced at Seo-ah and leaned against the wall indifferently.

“She’s important to me too.”

“What…”

Maker shook her head as if she had nothing more to say and sat down in her desk chair.

Baek Eun-hee brought a suitable chair from the corner, dusted it off, and sat Seo-ah there. Yet, she herself didn’t sit down.

Seo-ah was at a loss, feeling embarrassed, but she calmly faced Maker.

“Hmm, first, take out the weapon.”

“Yes.”

Seo-ah quickly took out the Bbyong Hammer from her inventory and handed it over politely. Maker carefully observed Seo-ah’s every move as she received the Bbyong Hammer.

“What, it looks like a child’s toy.”

“Don’t say that; it was dropped by an A-class boss hammer. I went through so much to catch it… Ah.”

Seo Ah-hyun poked Baek Eun-hee in the side, and she shut her mouth again. She had told Seo-ah it was nothing, but if she said things like this, it would seem like she was showing off.

Now, Seo-ah had reached the point where she pretended not to see the situation at all. She should tell Baek Eun-hee not to do that when they left.

Maker, who had been examining the Bbyong Hammer, held out her hand.

“Hand.”

“Yes?”

“Give me your hand. I’m going to check the matching rate.”

Maker grabbed Seo-ah’s outstretched hand. Seo-ah thought that she was a person with great charisma.

“Ummm…”

Maker closed her eyes and pondered, holding Seo-ah’s hand in one hand and the Bbyong Hammer in the other.

“Huh, I see.”

After a while, Maker opened her eyes and let out a sigh. She looked at Seo-ah with narrowed eyes.