Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Promotion Exam (1)
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Monday. Natu Guild.
Whirrrrrlick—thunk!
Jeong So-won was spinning a sword around in her hand.
It was the Sand Dune Mandao sent over by the British Association Chairman.
"As expected, chain gate drop items are top quality. Back in my E-Rank days, I never got to touch a weapon this pricey."
"...I did, though. The Guild Master gave me the Sand Dune Orb."
"Right, yeah. So why the death glare?"
Shin Seung-ah, who had been dozing on the sofa, glared at her.
"Maybe because someone dumped their mess on me, and I slaved away all weekend?"
Jeong So-won had spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday kicking back and having fun.
So where had her work from those days gone?
Naturally, it had all landed on Shin Seung-ah's plate.
"Ahaha, sorry. I had some personal business that came up."
"Ooh, really? You had urgent business on Yeoto Hunter's stream day? That must've been sooo heartbreaking~."
It was a response utterly devoid of emotion—she'd be out in the first round of any acting contest.
Even a broken speaker would have more heart in it.
"I said I'm sorry. How about I make it up to you with a gift?"
"...A gift? What kind?"
Forgetting her complaints and anger, Shin Seung-ah perked up her ears.
Sadly, she was materialistic to the bone.
"This gear."
Whick, thunk!
Jeong So-won spun the sword and offered the hilt toward her.
"You can deliver it to Yeoto yourself if you want."
"...Hmm."
It sounded like she was just palming off an errand, but no—it was different.
This was a proposal worthy of calling a gift.
'A chance to build rapport with Yeoto?'
The British Association Chairman had gone out of his way, even playing the fool, to secure connections with a promising talent of exceptional skill.
This was an easy shot at snagging that for herself.
'Yeoto won't say no if I hand over my card and pitch some investment talk.'
Meet up, grab tea, toss in a few compliments.
Then steer the mood and hand over the gear set...!
'Just a few hours' investment, and I'll leave an impression as the one bridging the gap between him and the British Chairman!'
Yeoto was the hottest rising star right now.
To be the first 'person he owes a debt to' that comes to mind?
That position was awfully sweet.
'No debt harder to repay than an intangible one.'
An ace businesswoman like Shin Seung-ah was confident she could milk that debt ten times over.
Just as she was firing up her happy circuits...
'...Wait a sec.'
Shin Seung-ah's mind suddenly cooled.
It felt like someone had doused her in liquid nitrogen.
'Why would the Guild Master hand that role off to me?'
Shin Seung-ah was a good person.
Or rather, a 'nice' one.
Whether she was truly 'good' was debatable.
Jeong So-won had a penchant for mean-spirited pranks, after all.
'Four-dimensional, weirdo, genius.'
Those words described one person alone.
No one in Natu Guild was unaware of Jeong So-won's personality.
Would someone like that really hand over such a prime opportunity to Shin Seung-ah without any mischief?
What if this offer was just her prank or a trap?
Suspicion brewing, Shin Seung-ah opted for a direct charge.
"...Guild Master."
"Yeah?"
"Can I pass that role to someone else?"
A golden opportunity, but she'd gladly hand it off!
'If you were trying to mess with me, you'd be disappointed!'
It was a solid plan in her mind, but Jeong So-won just nodded like, fine, whatever.
"Do what you want. But it has to be an A-Rank or higher guild member. Otherwise, he might misunderstand and think we're just tossing him some random items out of pity."
"...W-Wait. Let me think it over a bit more."
A miss? Was I jumping the gun again?
Lost in confusion, Shin Seung-ah clutched her head.
Watching her, Jeong So-won quirked her lips.
"What's up? What's the problem?"
"No... Honestly, I was wondering if you were pranking me again."
"You think I'd do that? I said it's an apology gift. Hurts the Guild Master's feelings hearing that."
"Y-Yes... Sorry."
It was fair. Shin Seung-ah sighed.
"Thinking it over, there's no reason to hand it off to someone else. Sorry for doubting you."
"I'm entrusting it to you because I trust you."
"Thank you. Yeah, it's not like I'm some girl too nervous to meet her fave and asking a friend for an autograph instead—I wouldn't pass up a chance like this."
...Whirrrick! Clang!!
Suddenly, metal scraped across the floor.
The kind of noise that would startle any normal person.
But the women here were A-Rank Hunters, practically S-Rank.
Neither the dropper nor the one who looked up made a pathetic fluster of it.
"...Slippery hands."
Jeong So-won casually picked up the sword.
Looked like the scimitar she'd been twirling had slipped from her grip.
Shin Seung-ah blinked rapidly.
'Dropped the sword? Our Guild Master did?'
An A-Rank Hunter on par with S-Rank?
"...........Uh-huuung~?"
Shin Seung-ah's eyes curved slyly.
As if she'd just pieced it all together.
"Ah-haang~~ Uh-huuung~?"
"...Seung-ah. Rash assumptions lead to failure."
Tsk, can't rein her in, Jeong So-won crossed her arms.
"They say people who think they know a little of everything trust their intellect too much—and lies born from one's own self are hardest to escape."
"I~ diiiidn't~ saaaay~ aaaanything~?"
"Your face is saying it all. Non-verbal cues, ever heard of 'em?"
"Of course. Crossing your arms is a self-defense mechanism when you've hit a nerve~?"
...Flick. Jeong So-won uncrossed her arms.
"Hugging yourself to soothe anxiety. A defensive stance saying you don't want to be grilled anymore~ Makes it hard to get the truth out of someone?"
"...First time hearing that. Source sounds highly dubious."
"When someone looks up and to the left while talking~."
"Not looking. It's a myth. The nonsense that liars look up-left because lying is the left brain's job hasn't even been proven in neuroscience."
"You know your stuff? Read the same book as me?"
Jeong So-won raised her arms to chest level, then dropped them.
"Arms crossed?"
"Nope."
Shin Seung-ah laughed her head off.
Twirling both index fingers like she was hypnotizing her.
"Ah-haang~ Uh-huuung~?"
"Frivolous. Cut the weird noises."
"You had the whole plan ready~ But got cold feet thinking about meeting Yeoto Hunter face-to-face?"
...Twitch.
"So you wanted me to go instead, but admitting it straight-up would be embarrassing. Right?"
"...No."
Jeong So-won turned her head away, ignoring the grilling from her subordinate.
Unbeknownst to herself, her arms were crossed again.
"Ahem, I'll just take your apology to heart."
Shin Seung-ah stifled a laugh.
A funnier idea had popped up.
"...Fine. Hate it if you hate it. Then—"
"Ah, can't I pass it to someone else?"
That wouldn't fly. Too fun to... no, too wasteful.
Shin Seung-ah wagged her finger.
"You know the E-Rank promotion exam's coming up soon, right?"
"...Talk about jumping topics."
Anyone hearing would think she was innocent.
Shin Seung-ah was baffled but didn't press.
"Yeoto'll join this one. Next exam's months away. To raid D-Rank gates, he needs the promotion, so he's probably rushing the application now."
Hunters had the right to buy gate raid permits.
But some gates couldn't be bought, no matter the money.
"You can't challenge gates two ranks above your own, right?"
Even if bought, selling raid rights to Hunters unable to clear them was forbidden.
No point in it, just ripe for abuse.
It only burdened the Association and the state.
Banning it legally was only natural.
'Current F-Rank Yeoto can't touch D-Rank gates.'
Wait for the next exam grinding only E-Rank gates?
Ridiculous. His channel would tank.
'Months of E-Rank gates, and the viewers who showed interest would've bailed long ago.'
Yeoto, who'd cleared Absolute Defense Line and its chain gate.
Viewers would crave flashier challenges.
'Yeoto absolutely can't stand still.'
Thus, he'd aim for the exam in a few days.
That was Shin Seung-ah's prediction.
"Guild Master, let's go to the exam site. We can find Yeoto Hunter there."
"Where would I find the time? You know I'm busy."
The one who'd lounged Friday through Sunday says that?
It's not time she lacks—it's conscience.
Shin Seung-ah opened her mouth, then added,
"I'll be there with you when you talk."
Even as she said it, she doubted it'd work.
Sounded like coaxing a kid.
"...Sigh. Is that really the line you pull to convince someone?"
Jeong So-won swept her short black hair behind her ear.
Somehow looking elegant, which was infuriating.
"Be honest. You want to get chummy with Yeoto, but going alone makes you uneasy?"
It worked.
Damn.
"Yeah, pretty much. So, shall we do it that way?"
"...Do whatever."
For someone bluffing, she still seemed uneasy.
Mouth opening, then clamping shut.
Too late to back out now.
Plus, she did want to meet Yeoto.
"Ufufu. Hufufufufu."
It was like she could read Jeong So-won's mind.
A first in Shin Seung-ah's life.
Their great Guild Master looked downright cute.
"...You look awfully pleased, Seung-ah."
"Yes. Thinking about meeting Yeoto Hunter."
"And do what?"
"Dunno? Hit him with the honey trap?"
"I'll tell your husband, so watch it."
"Jealous?"
"...No."
"Want to try it too, Guild Master? The honey trap."
".........No."
"Whoa, you hesitated."
"Didn't."
See! That oh-so-fun reaction!
Who'd have thought the day would come to tease the Guild Master?
'Yeoto, you're the best!'
Shin Seung-ah shivered with delight.
Laughing already at the thought of exam day.
"Oh, what about the other examinees? They'll feel sorry for them. If you show up in person, Guild Master, everyone's eyes'll turn red and beg for a pass~, wonder if they'll get any real attention~."
"...You for real?"
"What? No idea what you m—oh?"
She wiped her mouth to lay it on thick, then froze.
'Iyan Hunter's observing this exam too?'
Ilryun Guild's new S-Rank.
She'd spotted the news about her attending.
Status difference or not, top two female Hunters in the country.
Bound to chat if they crossed paths.
'...Guild Master'll be too fixated on Yeoto to care, and if Iyan Hunter gets pissed...'
Iyan, an S-Rank Summoner like Yeoto.
Shed feel slighted being brushed off lighter than an F-Rank.
Especially if it was a young genius who could easily hit S-Rank like her.
Jeong So-won couldn't ignore her.
Similar gender, age, achievements.
'No way she doesn't care how the Guild Master views her promotion, but if our Guild Master's too distracted by Yeoto to respond properly...?'
...Chill.
Why was that?
The exam gate's entrance in her mind suddenly looked like the gates of hell to Shin Seung-ah.