I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 54

54.

The quiet night skill was thankfully effective within a certain range without needing direct contact.

“Sister, I’m okay. Calm down.”

“Huh? Oh, right. I was just too worried about you. Sorry. But Cha Tae-woon is so annoying.”

Park Seo-ah gave an awkward smile at Baek Eun-hee’s words and looked at Cha Tae-woon. His sharp demeanor had indeed lessened, so the skill seemed to be working.

Seo-ah met Cha Tae-woon’s gaze steadily, remaining composed.

“Please promise me something clearly. How long can you keep this secret? It can’t be forever.”

Cha Tae-woon smirked, looking at Seo-ah with amusement.

“Of course. As long as Hunter Park Seo-ah remains active, we won’t be able to keep it hidden indefinitely.”

Cha Tae-woon crossed his arms and leaned back on the sofa. He tapped his fingers a few times before speaking again.

“After the raid with the Sun Guild, what are your plans?”

“That’s…”

I hadn’t really thought that far ahead. Or rather, I had, but I couldn’t make a firm decision.

I didn’t know if I could even succeed in the mission [referring to her personal quest], or if there would be another one after that.

In the worst-case scenario, I might die because I couldn’t unlock the supporter [a term for a system or ability she needs to access].

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“But you’re still considering continuing your hunter activities, right?”

“Maybe. But that’s not certain either.”

“Then let’s do this. Our Association will make you the same offer as the two guilds. Participate in a raid with our Association once. The conditions will be the same.”

“Wait a minute, Cha Tae-woon. Are you planning to take Seo-ah to an advanced gate [a high-level dungeon]?”

Baek Eun-hee was startled and immediately questioned him.

“Yes, why? Is there a problem?”

“It’s not allowed. The Association doesn’t have many high-level hunters besides you, do they?”

“Hunter Baek Eun-hee, you’re being too harsh. While the number is small, the Association definitely has a team capable of handling advanced gates,” Han Seok-hyun quietly interjected.

“Of course, the skills of the Association’s ace team are reliable, but they have a critical weakness. Don’t they lack their own dedicated advanced healer? That’s why you always ask for cooperation from the Angel Guild.”

“Yes, is that an issue?”

“Isn’t it? At least Hunter Park Seo-ah’s information will be exposed to the Angel Guild.”

Cha Tae-woon ignored Han Seok-hyun’s words and looked at Park Seo-ah again. Seo-ah, meeting his gaze, calmly blinked.

“So, if I accept the offer? What happens if I don’t?”

“Even if you decline, I’ll keep your information secret until the end of the Sun Guild raid, simply for having been given Hunter Park Seo-ah’s information.”

“If I accept the offer…”

“It will be until the end of the raid with us.”

“That’s not long.”

“No, but as I said, even if we don’t make an official announcement, many people will notice Hunter Park Seo-ah’s existence around that time. Raids of advanced gates attract a lot of attention.”

Seo-ah knew this as well.

At the level of an A-class gate, not only domestic organizations but also overseas ones are interested in the results. Experts analyze the videos, estimating the abilities of both the monsters and the hunters.

“Then isn’t it unnecessary to accept? It’s only a month or two difference.”

“That’s right, you don’t have to if you don’t want to, Seo-ah.”

Seo-ah looked back and forth between Han Seok-hyun and Baek Eun-hee, lost in thought.

A couple of months of peace might not seem like much, but it was important to Seo-ah right now.

If my existence becomes widely known, it could interfere with the mission to unlock the supporter. What if they find out I have a limited time to live?

I would attract even more attention. And in the process, Gun-woo could be exposed. I had to prevent that.

Even if I don’t tell Cha Tae-woon, according to him, everything will eventually come out.

In that case, it’s better to have refined information released through the Association. Plus, another raid wasn’t a bad opportunity for Seo-ah.

I might not be able to complete the system mission during the Sun Guild raid.

“I understand. I accept.”

When Seo-ah said that, Baek Eun-hee and Han Seok-hyun looked a little uneasy, but they remained silent.

Cha Tae-woon smiled.

“Thank you for your wise choice. Now, could the two guild leaders please step outside for a moment? An employee will guide you through the necessary paperwork.”

Han Seok-hyun and Baek Eun-hee looked at Seo-ah. When Seo-ah nodded, they reluctantly left, their expressions still not entirely relieved.

Only Cha Tae-woon and Park Seo-ah remained in the office.

“Well, should I explain things verbally? Or how should we proceed?”

“There’s no need to make it complicated. Now, Hunter Park Seo-ah…”

Suddenly, Cha Tae-woon stood up and extended his right hand. It was an invitation to shake hands.

Park Seo-ah remembered Yoo Ji-an preventing contact between them. He seemed to have a skill similar to Yoo Ji-an’s ‘Observation’ [a skill that allows the user to assess someone’s abilities].

Seo-ah also rose, looked at Cha Tae-woon’s large hand for a moment, and carefully took it.

Cha Tae-woon’s eyes, as he looked at Seo-ah, shone intensely. But he quickly lowered his hand, looking puzzled.

That was understandable.

Since I haven’t unlocked the supporter yet, he would see Seo-ah as an E-class healer. Just like in Yoo Ji-an’s ‘Observation’.

“You have a few more skills than an E-class hunter should… but it’s nothing significant.”

“Yes, it’s not much, right?”

He looked completely clueless. He couldn’t possibly understand why S-class hunters and large guilds were so eager to recruit someone with this apparent level of ability.

“Now that you’ve seen it, can I leave?”

Cha Tae-woon’s eyes flickered, but he readily replied.

“Yes, that’s right. But… perhaps…”

Seo-ah looked up at him with innocent eyes. Cha Tae-woon hesitated, thinking that it couldn’t be possible.

“Is there anything else you need to confirm?”

“How much did you manage to confirm?”

“With my ‘Search’ skill, I can only see the E-class healer designation, title, average stats, and the number of active and passive skills.”

“Hmm, it seems like you’ve seen everything.”

“Is that really all?”

Seo-ah looked at Cha Tae-woon and paused. Should I tell him about the mission and the part about unlocking the supporter? I certainly hadn’t specified where I would stop.

“Okay, since I’ve decided to tell you something, I’ll tell you this much.”

Seo-ah reached out her hand again. Seeing Seo-ah smiling brightly, Cha Tae-woon also reached out his hand, looking bewildered.

As soon as they shook hands, Seo-ah immediately cast [Fighting] and [Love Yourself] on Cha Tae-woon simultaneously. [These are likely buff skills]

She carefully watched the cracks slowly forming on his indifferent facade.

“This… is?”

I expected him to be surprised. Everyone reacted that way.

Especially with these percentage-based skills, S-class hunters would realize their power even more.

Cha Tae-woon’s shoulders twitched. Seo-ah lightly released his hand and stepped back.

“That’s all I’m going to tell you today. I hope you keep your promise.”

Seo-ah made brief eye contact and left the office leisurely.

[Skill ‘Gentle Sunlight’ is activated.]

Just then, the skill activated.

‘Why now? At this timing?’

Seo-ah still couldn’t figure out the trigger for Gentle Sunlight.

As she closed the door and came out, Baek Eun-hee was waiting.

“Sis…”

Just as she was about to greet her, there was a sound of something collapsing from inside the office.

“Seo-ah!”

Baek Eun-hee pulled Seo-ah behind her for safety. But after the loud noise, everything quickly fell silent.

Seo-ah and Baek Eun-hee exchanged glances. Baek Eun-hee spoke first.

“What did you do in there?”

“Ah, I gave him a buff skill. It’s hard to explain, so I told him to experience it directly…”

“Ah, really? I understand.”

Baek Eun-hee, having directly experienced Seo-ah’s skill, knew how powerful it was.

It would have been great inside a gate, but that level of buff in everyday life would make it difficult to control one’s power.

Looking at the office, Baek Eun-hee wore an amused expression.

“Seo-ah, how long does the buff last?”

“The long one is about 30 minutes.”

“Really? Then he won’t be able to sit or stand still for 30 minutes. Hahaha, that would be quite a sight. If I watched, you’d get angry, right?”

“S-Sister?”

“Huh? Let’s go, that’s enough.”

Baek Eun-hee suppressed her curiosity and took Seo-ah to the elevator. When they came down, Han Seok-hyun was waiting.

“Hunter Park Seo-ah.”

“Sun Guild Leader.”

“You know you’ll be with us on the next raid.”

“Of course, I haven’t forgotten.”

“Then I’ll see you again soon.”

Han Seok-hyun conveyed his message to Seo-ah without being intimidated by Baek Eun-hee. He was indeed the head of the number one guild in the country.

In the meantime, Han Seok-hyun’s phone rang.

“Uh, uh? Ji-an? Uh? That, that’s… Uh, the Association. Yeah, I saw her with the Association President and everyone… Uh? Wait a minute, calm down. Ji-an?”

The calm demeanor from before was gone, and Han Seok-hyun looked very flustered. It seemed I knew who the caller was without even asking.

“Tsk, tsk. For a guild leader to be so helpless. A-class is still weak. Let’s go, Seo-ah.”

“Ah… Yes.”

Seo-ah glanced at Han Seok-hyun, who was sweating profusely, and quietly left with Baek Eun-hee.

They headed to the car Baek Eun-hee drove, not the one they arrived in.