I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 38

38.

In the car, Baek Eun-hee and Seo Ah-hyun exchanged curious glances.

“What’s up with Maker? Ah-hyun, don’t you think it’s strange too?”

“Yes, it’s odd. They aren’t taking money, and they haven’t really asked for anything in return.”

“And Seo-ah’s weapon is properly… no, they put even more effort into it than usual. Seo-ah.”

“Yes?”

Seo-ah, who had been quietly sitting in the back seat, peeked her head out.

“Could you hand me the squeaky hammer?”

“Yes, yes.”

Seo-ah quickly retrieved the squeaky hammer from her inventory and handed it to Baek Eun-hee. Baek Eun-hee couldn’t help but admire the hammer once again.

“Wow, look at this. It’s completely covered in Pokrylium.”

“Pokrylium? I think I’ve heard of it…”

Pokrylium was a metal that only came from specific gates. Only hunters in the artisan position with special skills could handle it.

Not only was the price a problem, but the metal itself was very rare. So, Pokrylium wasn’t usually made into weapons, but it was often used in this overlaying form [as a coating or plating].

Of course, even that was a luxury that ordinary hunters couldn’t even dream of. Because of this, even Seo Ah-hyun, the vice guild leader of the wealthy Royal Guild, had only lightly coated the blade of her main weapon, a double-edged axe.

But Seo-ah’s squeaky hammer was covered in Pokrylium from head to handle. The subtle glow emanated the unique color of Pokrylium.

Seo-ah’s expression turned awkward as she listened to the explanation.

And Seo-ah’s touch became very polite as she received the squeaky hammer back.

This isn’t a weapon; I should keep it as a family heirloom.

“Seo-ah, if it’s covered in Pokrylium, you can use it as armor in an emergency.”

“Ah, yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Seo-ah carefully examined it, as if worried about even a speck of dust, and then neatly put it back into her inventory.

The car, which had been traveling on a quiet road, headed back towards the city’s night streets.

Park Seo-ah hesitated for a moment with her phone in hand, then sent a text message to Yoo Ji-an.

「Thank you for today. Good night!」

* * *

The next day, the elite Team 1 members of the Royal Guild were summoned for a gate strategy meeting to be held in a few days.

“It’s A-class.”

“Yoo-hoo, it’s going to be fun for the first time in a while. There hasn’t been any work for a while.”

They were talking as they walked down the hallway to the conference room.

“But an E-class hunter is joining an A-class raid? Really?”

“That’s what I heard. They say she’s the guild leader’s ‘special someone’.”

“‘Special someone,’ my foot. Did she see a fortune teller or something? Then she should just bring a talisman [a good luck charm].”

The members, who hadn’t received a proper explanation yet, whispered about the rumors.

“What if we all die trying to take care of an E-class? I don’t want to.”

“She’s just a burden.”

“Hey, even so, calling a person a burden? Try saying that in front of the guild leader?”

“What are you talking about? Do I look like I have a death wish?”

And Seo-ah, who was called a burden, was walking behind them, keeping a little distance.

They didn’t seem to know that the person in question was listening, as they didn’t know Seo-ah’s face yet.

‘Hmm, when should I step in?’

It was a little embarrassing, but their conversation wasn’t particularly offensive. Putting herself in their shoes, it was natural for them to think that way. It was a concern that Seo-ah herself was worried about.

‘Should I break the ice first?’

Still, first impressions are important.

After a moment of contemplation, Seo-ah quickened her pace, walked ahead of them, and turned around.

“Hello, my name is Park Seo-ah, and I’ll be participating in the raid with you.”

At the same time Seo-ah greeted them, [Warm Sunlight] flickered. Fortunately, it worked well this time too.

“Oh, uh? Ah, that….”

“That’s right, I’m the E-class. It’ll be difficult, but I’ll try not to be a burden as much as possible. Please take care of me.”

Seo-ah smiled brightly and spoke kindly.

They seemed flustered and looked at each other, stammering. A man with a sturdy build among them stepped forward.

“I’m Go Geon-hoo, the tanker. If you heard what we said, please don’t take it to heart too much. If Guild Leader Baek Eun-hee has decided to bring you along, there must be a good reason.”

This man, who introduced himself as Go Geon-hoo, seemed to have considerable faith in Baek Eun-hee.

“It’s okay, I understand.”

As Seo-ah generously brushed it off, the others relaxed their tense expressions and smiled awkwardly.

Anyway, it seems like I left a good first impression.

“Everyone’s here, the guild leader will be here soon too.”

Then Seo Ah-hyun, who was at least familiar, came in and dispersed the awkward atmosphere.

‘Come to think of it, what’s Hunter Seo Ah-hyun’s position? I think I heard Eun-hee unnie is ranged.’

Seo-ah sat down in the seat with her name on it. The conference room was a little dark, and each seat had a monitor installed.

It seemed like they would be holding the meeting while looking at this screen. The screen showed the team members’ general profiles.

They were all A-class hunters.

With a click-clack sound, Baek Eun-hee appeared. As soon as she appeared, you could definitely feel the team members tensing up.

Until now, Baek Eun-hee had been a comfortable older sister to Seo-ah, but it seemed like she was different as a hunter.

Just as Seo-ah was about to get nervous, Baek Eun-hee made eye contact with Seo-ah, waved her hand, and smiled brightly.

“Seo-ah! Our Seo-ah is here too.”

“Ah, yes. Hello.”

Baek Eun-hee still treated Seo-ah casually, making it seem pointless to be nervous. Seeing the team members looking back and forth between Seo-ah and Baek Eun-hee with puzzled eyes, it seemed like it wasn’t a common occurrence after all.

“Okay, let me formally introduce you. This is Hunter Park Seo-ah, who will be joining us on this raid. She’s an E-class, but she’s a very precious person, so I won’t stand for anyone ignoring her.”

Baek Eun-hee’s tone of voice as she made that threat was quite different from when she greeted Seo-ah earlier.

While everyone was silent at her charismatic voice, Healer Yang Tae-woo barely managed to speak.

“But… why are you taking her with us? It can’t just be for observation purposes… and you wouldn’t take an E-class as a healer…”

Yang Tae-woo was actually complaining in the form of a question. When Baek Eun-hee frowned and looked at him, Yang Tae-woo flinched and lowered his head.

“Actually, I’m a little curious too. It’s not that I necessarily dislike it, but it’s true that it’s dangerous to protect even an E-class. An A-class gate is not easy.”

This time, Mage Seol Jin-ah spoke. She spoke more calmly than Yang Jin-woo, but she was still raising the same question. As everyone’s attention turned to Baek Eun-hee, Baek Eun-hee pondered and remained silent.

They weren’t wrong. But that didn’t mean she could reveal the details about Seo-ah first. In fact, Baek Eun-hee was only planning to add one or two more people to Park Seo-ah.

However, since Yoo Ji-an and Baek Eun-hee had cleared the last two A-class gates solo, respectively, they hadn’t had any work for a while.

So, she included them out of consideration.

While Baek Eun-hee and the dealers were active, Seo-ah could be protected by the rest, and Team 1 members could also participate in high-level raids for the first time in a while, so it was a win-win situation for everyone.

Seo-ah stared at Baek Eun-hee.

‘Unnie seems to be in trouble.’

“Then you guys can just drop out….”

Just as Baek Eun-hee was about to speak irritably, Seo-ah quietly stood up from her seat.

“I’ll tell you.”

All eyes, including Baek Eun-hee’s, turned to Park Seo-ah. Seo-ah looked over the faces of the Team 1 members and took a moment to compose herself.

“Um, I actually have a hidden position.”

“Seo-ah.”

Baek Eun-hee flinched and tried to stop Seo-ah, but Seo-ah raised her hand and gave Baek Eun-hee a sign that it was okay.

“It’s okay, these people are right. We’re going to a place where lives are at stake, so I can’t be trusted if I hide anything.”

In fact, it wasn’t without risk for Seo-ah to reveal it.

Hidden position. It was clear that she had abilities that many hunters would covet, but she didn’t have the ability to protect herself. Seo-ah was slowly realizing what she had and what it meant.

But she didn’t want Baek Eun-hee to be in trouble because of hiding it.

As she lay in bed last night, she realized that Baek Eun-hee and Yoo Ji-an were putting an enormous amount of effort into her. In a new way.

She didn’t know how much help she would be in the future, but she didn’t want to be a burden.

“That kind of….”

Anyway, when Seo-ah revealed that she was a ‘hidden position,’ people couldn’t say anything. It was because they knew what it meant to reveal it themselves.

Their faces were full of curiosity, but it would have been difficult to ask questions rashly.

Instead, Seo-ah calmly continued.

“Guild Leader Baek Eun-hee has agreed to help me unlock my hidden position. I’m sorry if I’ve caused any inconvenience. But I will try my best not to be a burden.”

Then Seo-ah slowly bowed her head to everyone.

Baek Eun-hee approached Seo-ah with a troubled and apologetic face.

“Seo-ah, you didn’t have to reveal that. You could be in danger.”

“I have unnie, don’t I?”

At those words, Baek Eun-hee made an emotional expression and held Seo-ah’s hand tightly.

“Of course, I’ll protect you. I won’t let anyone touch you.”

The team members were awkward at Baek Eun-hee’s doting behavior, but they seemed to understand more than before.