I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 62

62.

Yu Jian brushed past her. Seo Ah whipped her head around, watching his retreating figure.

‘A compliment….’

A warm feeling bubbled up inside her. Then, she regretted it.

‘It would have been nice if he’d said it inside the gate.’

She didn’t expect anything from Gil Gyeong-tae in the first place.

Seo Ah rubbed the top of her head where Yu Jian’s hand had touched and followed him.

They went through the underground shopping center and directly into the Taeyang Guild building. They took the elevator from the basement to the first floor.

Someone was already there, waiting for the group. Seo Ah’s eyes widened at the sight of the woman’s innocent and lovely beauty. Who is that?

“Guild Leader Song Jin-ah, thank you for coming so quickly despite the short notice.”

Han Seok-hyun greeted her first, which gave Seo Ah a clue. It was Song Jin-ah, the S-class healer and leader of the Angel Guild.

She was rarely exposed to the media compared to other guild leaders or S-class hunters. Seo Ah, fascinated by Song Jin-ah, lagged slightly behind the others, stealing glances at her face.

‘Wow, she’s like a doll….’

She had long, jet-black hair, large eyes, delicate features, and a petite frame smaller than Seo Ah’s.

At first glance, she looked as young as a high school student, and she was so cute and lovely that most idols couldn’t even compare.

It was a curious thing. Not all hunters had outstanding appearances. Of course, their bodies were in better shape than the average person, but their faces weren’t particularly beautiful in an aesthetic sense.

But Yu Jian, Baek Eun-hee, Cha Tae-woon, and Song Jin-ah…

Each S-class hunter had a different image, but they all had exceptionally good looks.

‘If I become an S-class… will something change? Or am I the only one who will stay the same?’

While she was lost in such thoughts, Song Jin-ah’s words were a bit different from her appearance.

“Don’t mention it. I heard that Hunter Yu Jian was on the verge of death, so how could I not come? But… you’re still alive? A little disappointing, isn’t it?”

Song Jin-ah had a talent for speaking rudely despite her angelic smile and warbling voice.

Seo Ah suddenly remembered something and glanced at Song Jin-ah, then peeked at Song Jin-ho, who was behind her. She knew they were siblings, but they didn’t even exchange glances.

‘They don’t seem alike, but then again, they do.’

“Sorry to disappoint you. Let’s go up; this isn’t something we should do here.”

Yu Jian, who possessed a face that didn’t pale in comparison to the idol-like Song Jin-ah, grabbed the elevator door without any reaction to her words.

“Tch.”

Song Jin-ah clicked her tongue as if she was bored and walked inside. Han Seok-hyun and Yu Jian followed, while Song Jin-ho stood in front, saying curtly,

“Go on up, there’s nothing for me to do anyway.”

Seo Ah hesitated as she was about to get in. I don’t really have anything to do there either, do I?

“Oh, then I….”

Seo Ah was about to step back awkwardly, but Yu Jian lightly grabbed her wrist. Then, without a word, he pressed the close button.

Song Jin-ah’s eyes darted from Seo Ah’s wrist, held by Yu Jian, to the elevator display, then back to the display again.

The elevator went up silently and arrived on the 84th floor. It was the A-class lounge that Seo Ah had visited before.

“Ah, it smells like money here, I love it. When will we ever build a building like this in the middle of Gangnam [a wealthy district in Seoul]?”

Song Jin-ah muttered as if lamenting her fate, and Han Seok-hyun replied seriously,

“The Angel Guild’s finances aren’t that far behind the Taeyang Guild’s. Just the commission fees alone….”

“You can never have too much money.”

The corner of her cherry-like lips curved up slyly.

Han Seok-hyun simply shrugged, not bothering to respond.

He had known from the start that Song Jin-ah was very calculating and greedy, unlike the guild’s name, ‘Angel Guild.’

“Anyway, I plan to take at least one of the Taeyang Guild’s pillars as today’s commission fee. It’s the price for Hunter Yu Jian’s life, so it shouldn’t be too much, right?”

“Of course, please heal him completely.”

Song Jin-ah looked around the reception room and pointed to a spacious sofa.

“First, take off those clothes so I can see.”

Yu Jian walked over to it and obediently took off his jacket and shirt, hanging them on the side.

Before anyone could focus on his well-defined muscles and firm body, their eyes were drawn to the wound on his left arm.

A chaotic, black line started from his hand, running along his wrist, arm, shoulder, and even part of his left chest.

The skin was cracked along the line, looking painful and sore just to look at. Seo Ah couldn’t bring herself to get close and stood a little further away.

How did he endure that pain? And I didn’t even know, wasting time trying to save a wild boar. He must have been in a hurry.

Even though she didn’t know it at the time, Seo Ah felt deeply sorry for Yu Jian, who had been enduring the pain all along.

“What do you think? Can you do it?”

“Hmm.”
Han Seok-hyun asked in a dark voice, as if the situation was more serious than he had thought. Then, for the first time, a crack appeared on Song Jin-ah’s usually bright face.

“Ha, you opened a gate with your bare hands? You’re really reckless.”

“Just tell me if you can fix it or not.”

Yu Jian was the only one who remained calm.

“I’ll do my best. It’s a very expensive commission, after all. But… it’s going to be quite painful. It’s a process of extracting the chaotic energy that has permeated deep within your body.”

“I don’t care, as long as you can fix it.”

“If that’s the case, don’t come crying to me later, begging me to stop, okay?”

With those words, Song Jin-ah reached out into the air. Then, a crescent-shaped, smooth silver dagger appeared and wrapped around her hand.

‘Wow….’

The blade of the beautiful dagger was densely engraved with geometric patterns.

Song Jin-ah gripped the beautiful sword in her hand and tried to stab Yu Jian’s left chest.

Seo Ah froze at the incredible sight, but only for a moment. Yu Jian raised his hand.

“Wait.”

“Why? Are you scared now that it’s going to hurt?”

“It’s not that, Park Seo-ah. You can leave if it’s too hard to watch.”

Seo Ah was puzzled that Yu Jian, who had insisted on bringing her here, would say that, but she shook her head.

When you think about it, it’s my fault he ended up like this, and it would be too cowardly to avoid the situation, unable to even hold his hand.

“It’s okay, I’ll stay. Don’t worry about me.”

Yu Jian didn’t try to stop her any further.

“Is that settled?”

Yu Jian answered Song Jin-ah’s question with a slight nod.

“Okay, then….”

Song Jin-ah gripped the dagger again with one hand and raised it high. Yu Jian leaned back on the sofa and stared at her expressionlessly.

Song Jin-ah closed her mouth tightly and stabbed the dagger straight into Yu Jian’s left chest, at the end of the wound.

Seo Ah barely managed to resist the urge to close her eyes. But she couldn’t help but grimace.

“Ha, let’s begin.”

When about half of the sword was buried in his body, Song Jin-ah took a short breath and began to infuse the tip of the sword with her skill. It seemed like she was using a healing skill and other skills at the same time.

From then on, Yu Jian also closed his eyes and pressed his lips tightly, as if he was in pain.

The light that started from the sword’s blade dug into the wound engraved on Yu Jian’s body.

The light didn’t move forward smoothly but rather retreated and advanced due to resistance, so the progress was slower than expected.

Park Seo-ah and Han Seok-hyun watched anxiously, not daring to say a word, lest they get in the way.

How long had it been?

Sweat was beading on Song Jin-ah’s forehead and neck as she concentrated. Yu Jian remained as he was, with his eyes closed.

About an hour later, the streak of light finally reached Yu Jian’s fingertips.

Song Jin-ah sighed deeply and stepped back.

“Is it done?”

“No, not yet… ha, this is driving me crazy.”

The sword was still stuck in Yu Jian’s chest. He slowly opened his eyes and said in a low voice.

“Is there a problem?”

“I’m running out of energy. I poured everything into it… it feels like it’s just one step away, but it’s not working. I’m really embarrassed to say this, but I don’t think I can completely heal him with my abilities.”

“So even the great Song Jin-ah can’t do everything. How much has he been healed?”

“It’s not completely healed, but he’s about 80% recovered. This should be enough for everyday life. But… he won’t be able to use his strength as much as before in battle with that arm.”

With those words, Song Jin-ah bit her lower lip. She really seemed to have hurt her pride.

Yu Jian nodded nonchalantly.

“That’s enough, finish it up.”

“20% is a bigger difference than you think. Ah, what should I do?”

Yu Jian said it was okay, but Song Jin-ah was even more anxious.

“It can’t be helped.”

“Wait, there might be a way….”

Song Jin-ah stared intently at the sword stuck in his chest as she pondered.

That’s when it happened.

Seo Ah, who had been quietly standing to one side, raised her hand and stepped forward.

“Can I… help?”

Everyone’s eyes turned to her at Seo Ah’s words. Seo Ah hesitated a little, but then mustered her courage and spoke in a firm tone.