Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Because You're Cute
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Because, you're cute.
"Nice to meet you, Iroha."
"Hello. But what brings a congressman like you here...?"
I had no idea when he'd rented it out, but he'd taken over the entire little café right in front of my house.
Whether I came out or not, his preparedness covered every possibility. It was a bit intimidating, so I asked cautiously.
Jin Tae-san noticed my guarded demeanor and continued, bowing his head politely with his usual affable smile.
"I'm sorry for the sudden visit. I didn't mean to startle you, but the situation is so urgent that I took the liberty of requesting this meeting."
"What's going on? And how do you know my name... Did you hear it somewhere else?"
If he had, the only source would be the Heavenly Flame Guild.
I'd had a good impression of them until now, so if Jin Tae-san nodded here, I'd be pretty disappointed in Heavenly Flame.
"How many CCTV cameras do you think there are in Korea? We've checked every bit of footage of your movements since the day you first appeared."
Ah, security CCTV. So there were other eyes watching.
Damn it, all because the public safety is too good for no reason.
"And? I'm not guilty of anything, so isn't tracking me like that illegal?"
"Ah, of course, I'm not here with any ill intent toward you, Iroha. I just... have a proposal for you."
"A proposal?"
A proposal from the minister himself, no less.
I couldn't help but be curious. It had to be a recruitment offer, right?
"I'll get straight to the point. Just allow us to publicly announce you as affiliated with the Association for one year, until you decide on your permanent affiliation. In return, we'll cover 300 million won a month, plus full support."
"Just announcing me as affiliated gets me 300 million...?"
"Yes. And if you want to actively work as an official Association hunter, we'll provide even more support. If you wish, we can guarantee you a position equivalent to the Association Chairman."
"Pardon?"
"We ask only that you help out occasionally in emergencies. Nothing more."
Helping in emergencies was one thing.
But a position on par with the Association Chairman? What was that about?
I was left dumbfounded by the aggressive offer.
"And for whatever reason you're hiding your identity, we'll create a new one for you."
"My identity...?"
"It's a pretty elaborately fabricated persona. I almost fell for it completely, but you made one surprisingly big mistake."
"A mistake?"
"Yes. Making it male. It confused us at first, but anyway. Whoever helped you, we'll turn that sloppy fake identity into a real one. As female, of course."
...That's actually me for real.
It felt a bit off having my past life dismissed as fake, but with no immediate way back anyway, it was a tempting offer.
A proper ID would be great for me, but what did the Association gain from going this far?
Wasn't it just an incredibly sweet bait? Bite, and I'd be hooked.
"Th-that sounds too good. What's the reason for offering so much?"
"Do you know about the S-rank gate?"
How could I not? All eyes in Seoul—no, all of Korea—were on that gate.
"Yesterday, Heavenly Flame Guild's Cheon I-ryeong and numerous A-rank hunters entered the gate."
They went in. Cheon I-ryeong's hurried response right after the gate opened had left a good impression.
As guild master, she led from the front. Impressive—she wasn't the type to just snap her fingers.
"Yes, and?"
I'd asked why such conditions, but he'd veered into unrelated gate talk. What did that have to do with anything?
"Heavenly Flame requested support from Busan and Daejeon's S-rank hunters, but they refused. As a backup, they called for every available A-rank."
It was a shame the biggest firepower hadn't moved, but with A-rank support, it should be fine.
"However, the A-rank hunters gathered nearby aren't entering the gate. They're dragging their feet."
"...Dragging their feet?"
"Excuses like 'not enough gear' or 'not ready yet'—plenty of them. But what they're really after is one thing."
"No way... They want Heavenly Flame to perish with the gate...?"
As soon as I voiced the suspected motive, Jin Tae-san widened his eyes in surprise and nodded slightly.
"Exactly. Not full mutual destruction... but at least, they want Heavenly Flame weakened."
"What do the hunters gain from such a stunt... Ah."
"Yes. They want Heavenly Flame's territory, which covers most of Gangnam. It looks like Abyss and Naraka Guilds are leading this."
My teeth ground together in anger.
Profit? Fine.
I'm human too—naturally drawn to gainful opportunities. But gambling with a gate like that? Once breached, it's over.
If Heavenly Flame lost its main force, and those greedy latecomers entered and failed too—
A horrific disaster would hit Seoul.
"...I get the situation. But I don't see how announcing a healer like me as Association-affiliated changes that."
"Do you know why Abyss and Naraka can lead the hunters?"
Abyss and Naraka Guilds.
Holding Gangbuk and Gangseo, mid-tier guilds mostly A- and B-ranks, their unique edge: one healer each.
Abyss Guild Master's sister, A-rank healer Chae Jeong-ah.
Naraka's B-rank healer Min Ji-yeon.
"Both guilds have healers."
"Correct. With just a promise of 'slightly better priority in emergencies,' they're swaying other guilds. They'd rather turn from Heavenly Flame than cross the healers."
"......"
I knew healer privilege was bad, but this much?
And over something so trivial, gambling the land we all live on?
It wasn't even my business, but rage boiled up.
No, it was my business.
This was my home soil now—about to be stolen by monsters over some petty turf war.
'Truth be told, I don't feel much national pride for Korea... but I do love this land.'
I love kimchi, stews, pork belly, all Korean food.
Convenience stores on every block are great, and late-night delivery is life's bliss.
"So the Association plans to wrest gate control from the guilds. From now on, only Association-designated guilds and hunters enter, for efficient clears."
"Is that... even possible?"
It was a sore spot for Jin Tae-san, but a natural question.
Right now, guilds barely maintained peace.
The government, which botched the start, now wanted control back?
With fierce hunter backlash potentially toppling the government, was he speaking too lightly?
"Your presence, Iroha, will be the start."
"Me...?"
"Yes. If you, repeatedly performing selfless healing worthy of the Saintess title, join the Association... hunters will naturally flock to us."
"Th-that much...?"
No matter what, solving everything with just me seemed... off.
"Exactly. The Association will inherit your noble will and provide free emergency treatment to hunters."
Eh? Free?
Noble will? I don't have any such thing...?
Anyway, I got what Jin Tae-san meant.
If they used healers as leverage, we'd flip the board using me as bait. Free treatment had real appeal.
"Of course, only cases we deem urgent, so no burden on you. Secrecy is standard to avoid harm or hassle."
With that, he placed a black card on the table.
"Use this unlimited corporate card for everything. We'll pay an extra 100 million per hunter you treat. Money probably isn't your concern, but please accept and use it in line with your will."
"Huh? Eh?"
Unlimited corporate card, 300 million a month, plus 100 million per treatment??? What kind of money madness is this!
The sheer flood of cash left me dazed.
At this level... it might actually be fine.
No guild hunter work needed.
No grinding low-rank gates for meager EXP.
No other duties—just treat the badly injured occasionally, and 300 million hits the account monthly.
Tower climbs in spare time around gate schedules... pure honey.
Later, once grown, I could join gates. Basically, a shot at the power center.
"...Alright. I'll do it."
"As expected of you, Iroha. I knew you'd accept."
Jin Tae-san, with his weathered hunter-like face, broke into a broad grin and laughed heartily.
He seemed so stiff before, but laughing like this gave warm, next-door-uncle vibes.
Win-win for him, me, and everyone on this land—so I smiled back—
"...By any chance, no thought of becoming Association Chairman? We'd pay at least 500 million a month then."
"Yes?! What do you...?"
"Because, you're cute."
...?
Is this uncle crazy?
Next thing, he'll say run for president way later?