I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 68

68.

Seo-ah spoke up, as if a thought had just struck her.

“By the way, I know Hunter Song Jin-ah and Hunter Song Jin-ho of the Taeyang Guild are siblings.”

“Ah, the Song-Song siblings? What about them?”

“They didn’t seem to exchange a single word, like they’re not on good terms.”

Baek Eun-hee chuckled and gently pressed the accelerator.

“That sibling relationship is a bit complicated. First of all, the Song-Song siblings are children of Songwon Enterprise….”

“Songwon Enterprise? Are they a *chaebol* [a large, family-owned industrial conglomerate]? Wow, it’s my first time meeting someone from a *chaebol*.”

“Well, a *chaebol* is more fascinating than a dime-a-dozen S-class Hunter, right?”

“Uh….”

Seo-ah briefly compared S-class Hunters and *chaebols* before realizing it was pointless and stopping.

*Chaebols* were fascinating, but S-class Hunters were heroes in their own right, walking corporations.

Both were just people from another world to Seo-ah.

“They’re both amazing… I’ve just ended up with a lot of S-class Hunters around me.”

As Seo-ah mumbled self-consciously, Baek Eun-hee laughed cheerfully again.

“Hahaha, Seo-ah. How can you be so cute? Anyway, Song Jin-ah is the child of the first wife, but the wife died early. Then the second wife came in and gave birth to Song Jin-ho. They’re half-siblings.”

“Ah, that’s why they don’t get along.”

“It’s not necessarily that. The chairman is an old-fashioned person, so he decided to hand over the company to his son Song Jin-ho, not his first daughter Song Jin-ah.”

Seo-ah’s eyes sparkled as she listened intently to the story that seemed straight out of a morning drama.

“In the meantime, Song Jin-ah awakened first and left home, and Song Jin-ho also awakened and seemed to have left for some reason.”

“Wow… I see. Hunter Song Jin-ho was the son of a *chaebol*.”

As Seo-ah marveled and muttered, Baek Eun-hee chuckled amusingly.

“Why, are you interested now that he’s a *chaebol*’s son? Well, Song Jin-ho is handsome enough, and he’s nice.”

“Yes, he’s nice. Gentle and kind….”

“Oh my, is that so?”

“No? No, no. That’s not what I meant.”

While Seo-ah desperately waved her hands, they arrived in front of the Taeyang Guild before she knew it.

“Pfft, go on in now. I’ll see you in Gangwon-do next time.”

“Yes, Sister. See you again soon. The meal was delicious today.”

“It was nothing, let’s eat something even more delicious next time. Goodbye, Seo-ah.”

Seo-ah got out of the car, looking regretfully at Baek Eun-hee. She stood there until the car left and then went inside the building.

Even though she only went out for lunch, it was late afternoon.

* * *

The next day.

Many Hunters gathered in the gymnasium owned by the Taeyang Guild. Of course, they were all members of the Taeyang Guild.

Today was the day of the Taeyang Guild’s internal tournament.

The tournament was held to check the training progress of each Hunter and to select Hunters to participate in the group match with the Royal Guild.

It goes without saying that S-class and A-class Hunters did not participate in the tournament. The matches were held only between B-class and C-class Hunters.

And in the case of mages or healers, they competed against each other by position to ensure fairness.

Park Seo-ah and Kang Su-jeong were outsiders and E-class, so they could not participate in this match, but they were given the opportunity to watch.

The two sat quietly on one side of the Hunter waiting area.

“Ah, the A-class Hunters are over there.”

A-class Hunters were gathered in the VIP seats in the center of the opposite spectator stand. Yoo Ji-an was not visible, but Song Jin-ho made eye contact instead.

The handsome man, equipped with a dazzling, sun-like smile even from that far away, waved his hand towards Seo-ah. It seemed like he was telling her to come over.

Knowing that he was a *chaebol*, he seemed even more radiant, but, ah, would that make me seem too materialistic?

“Ahem, ahem.”

However, she had to go up a floor to get there. The spectator seats were packed with people, so it seemed a bit cumbersome to go. Besides, the Hunter waiting area was closer to the stadium.

Seo-ah waved her hand greatly to decline.

“It’s a guild tournament, but there are so many spectators. It’s like a sports game.”

“Most of them are Hunter’s families or friends.”

“…Ah, I see.”

Looking closely, she could see everyone looking for their son, daughter, or friend with expectant eyes.

‘I would have felt a little discouraged if I had participated in the game.’

Seo-ah had no family to come and see her.

Just as she was about to feel slightly downhearted, Seo-ah remembered something and turned to look beside her.

As expected, Kang Su-jeong was looking gloomy enough to have a blurry aura around her. Well, Su-jeong was still much younger than Seo-ah, so it was understandable.

“Su-jeong.”

“Why am I E-class? I can’t even participate.”

“Huh? Ah, right. I’m sad too.”

Su-jeong was gloomy, but she was much more energetic than Seo-ah. More than who came or not, she seemed more upset that she couldn’t participate in the game.

The sorrow of an E-class Hunter was probably not just this.

“Still, it looks fun. To see Hunters fighting each other this close.”

Seo-ah tried to speak brightly, but Su-jeong didn’t answer.

‘She seems quite upset.’

Seo-ah felt sorry because she couldn’t change her innate Hunter rank.

“Okay, okay. Mic test. Can everyone hear me well?”

The first one to grab the microphone was Instructor Kim Cheol-du. The inside was still buzzing.

Then Kim Cheol-du shouted loudly with his inner strength.

“Can you hear me!”

The resounding sound echoed throughout the gymnasium, and the inside became quiet in an instant. The Hunters who came to their senses answered all at once. Most of them were his students.

“Yes, Instructor!”

“Hunters participating in today’s game, please gather at the stadium quickly.”

Hunters began to line up and leave in front of Seo-ah and Su-jeong, who were sitting down. Su-jeong looked at them with envious eyes, and Seo-ah looked at them with curious eyes.

Even so, Seo-ah kept looking for Yoo Ji-an with her eyes without realizing it.

‘Is he not coming?’

It was more awkward for him to come, but wasn’t he also a member of the Taeyang Guild? Come to think of it, Guild Leader Han Seok-hyun was also not visible.

Then she made eye contact with someone. It was Noh Yoon-ji and Heo Chae-yoon. Noh Yoon-ji slightly raised one corner of her mouth and deliberately approached Kang Su-jeong.

“Oh dear, Su-jeong. You can’t participate because you’re E-class. What a pity?”

“…….”

Kang Su-jeong only glared, but this time she couldn’t say anything. Noh Yoon-ji glanced at Seo-ah and sneered at Su-jeong again.

“Enjoy watching from there. My dad said he’d be here soon, I wonder if he’s arrived.”

Noh Yoon-ji skipped away happily, and Kang Su-jeong sighed deeply as she looked at her back.

“Sister, her dad is a member of the National Assembly. He’s also a Hunter.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, so there are always a lot of kids around her who want to look good to her.”

She certainly seemed to have something to rely on; she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

There probably wouldn’t be any special treatment in the Taeyang Guild system, but anyway, this is also a place where people are, so there would be some influence.

It looked like childishness to Seo-ah, but it seemed to have come differently to Kang Su-jeong, who was the same age.

Then someone came up to the center stage. It seemed like he was giving a simple congratulatory speech, but who was it?

She felt like she had seen him somewhere, but she didn’t know at all.

“Ah, ah. Hello. I am Noh Hak-young, a member of the National Assembly.”

“Daddy!”

Then Noh Yoon-ji waved her hand greatly among the Hunters who were lined up at intervals. Noh Hak-young made eye contact and continued his congratulatory speech.

Noh Yoon-ji clearly turned to this side and stuck out her tongue. She must have been enjoying Kang Su-jeong’s reaction.

“I just wish I could hit her just once.”

Seo-ah stared blankly at Su-jeong clenching her fist. Seo-ah looked at the air for a moment as if contemplating, then quietly got up from her seat. Then she looked down at Kang Su-jeong and said in a low voice.

“Really, would you be satisfied if you hit her just once?”

“Yes?”

“It doesn’t matter if you can’t win?”

“How can I beat her? I know that much. But I’ve tried several times and haven’t been able to touch a single hair on her head. I’m so upset about that…!”

“Shh.”

Seo-ah gently pressed on Kang Su-jeong’s shoulder, who was about to raise her voice.

“I’ll be back for a while.”

“Where, where are you going? Sister?”

Without answering Su-jeong’s question, Seo-ah walked out.

If you were to pick the person who is receiving the most special treatment in the Taeyang Guild, and the person who caught the golden rope, it would definitely be Seo-ah herself.

Seo-ah picked up her cell phone without hesitation. How dare you touch my baby?

The signal went and the other person answered the phone.

– Oh, Hunter Park Seo-ah?

“Yes, hello, Guild Leader. Are you busy by any chance?”

– No, what’s the matter?

Han Seok-hyun answered Seo-ah with his unique, affable attitude. She had confidently made the call, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask.

She was embarrassed, and what if he refused?

No, I’m not directly telling him to punish her, so this much is okay.

– Hunter Park Seo-ah?

“Ah, well, about the tournament, can we….”

– Ah, just a moment. But where are you now?

“I’m in the gymnasium.”

– Yes, I understand.

“Yes?”

The phone was still connected. But Han Seok-hyun’s voice was heard from the entrance.

“Here it is, Hunter Park Seo-ah!”

When she turned around at the voice, Han Seok-hyun was standing there in person. Not only Han Seok-hyun, but also Yoo Ji-an was with him.

Today, Yoo Ji-an was attacking all directions with his S-class looks.

As she watched his handsome face and tall body walking towards her, Seo-ah unconsciously turned her gaze away from Yoo Ji-an.

‘Ah, why did I avoid him?’

When she raised her head again, Yoo Ji-an was right in front of her.

“What’s wrong?”

It was a dry tone, but he was definitely worried. Seo-ah now knew his ways.

Seo-ah blankly admired Yoo Ji-an’s face before suddenly coming to her senses.

Ah, right, this is not the time for this.

Seo-ah turned to Han Seok-hyun. The one to ask was clearly the Guild Leader here.

“Please let me and Su-jeong participate in the tournament.”

Han Seok-hyun answered without much thought to Seo-ah’s words.

“Yes, let’s do that.”