Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Good Instincts!
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The way people were looking at me had clearly changed. Three more had discreetly taken my business card.
'This is all profit for me.'
Having folks from Blackline Risk join would elevate the overall quality of Deciding Agency's clientele. And since none of them had any major flaws in their looks, landing an A-rank match wouldn't be hard at all.
Gazing at Baek Yeonhwa's back as she led the way, introducing the sect's interior, I felt a twinge of gratitude.
Baek Yeonhwa's appearance had steered things in a very positive direction.
Security at the Azure Dragon Falls had become much easier, and I'd even gained access to the Tai Chi Yin-Yang Sect's grounds—off-limits to ordinary folk.
"I heard your throat isn't doing well."
"Ah-! Yes!"
"Please come this way. I'll escort you to our family's apothecary."
"Yes?!"
Baek Yeonhwa wore a smile, but a clear shadow lingered in her eyes.
The fire from the Blue Dragon's thunderbolt.
A singer whose throat was ruined from inhaling too much smoke in that blaze.
It was top-secret info that could've escalated into an inter-floor war, so I couldn't speak the truth aloud.
Still, I could see Baek Yeonhwa's efforts to shoulder the blame.
The old woman in the apothecary was one such gesture.
"This is a renowned physician even in the Old Martial World. She'll examine your throat and brew some medicine to help improve it, even if just a little."
"Y-You don't have to go this far!"
To the flustered Aul's question, Baek Yeonhwa replied with a forced smile.
"If you're a guest of the great hero, you're my guest as well."
It was a lie.
But she couldn't voice her own responsibility, so she was borrowing my name.
It was also what we'd agreed on yesterday.
Baek Yeonhwa and the Tai Chi Yin-Yang Sect were using me as an excuse to repay even a fraction of their debt to Aul.
"Wow..."
"Ahem, ahem."
While the moved Aul underwent the examination, the security team stole glances my way, visibly impressed.
From the perspective of big-corp hunters, I was just some guy who'd made it into the training academy but ended up running a small side gig instead of becoming a hunter.
One of the countless failures they'd seen. Yet here I was, with unexpected connections.
"Um, could I get one of your business cards too?"
"I'd like to sign up for Natural Meetings—"
Hence the reactions.
Too embarrassing to apologize outright, so this was their way of showing sincerity.
I responded with a capitalist smile.
"Business cards are right here. Natural Meetings, you say? Truth is, these days, marriage agencies are basically just natural encounters anyway. See—"
Whether they ignored me before or not, what did it matter?
Pride doesn't pay the bills.
Besides, what good would saying, 'Actually, I topped the 111th class' do with these people?
They wouldn't believe me, and it wouldn't change the fact that I don't have a hunter's license.
As I politely pitched premium membership over their nonsense about "natural meetings,"
"Kim Juseon."
Ryu Seram called me from behind, beckoning.
Standing apart from the apothecary, she nodded toward it with her chin.
"That woman—you sure she's trustworthy?"
"Hm? Of course. Can't explain why, but Baek Yeonhwa is definitely someone you can rely on."
She owed me that much, after all.
Ryu Seram didn't press for more after my answer.
She just took my word for it.
"No issues?"
"Issues? Not really."
"Alright. If you say so, then it's fine. You've got good instincts."
With that, she patted my back and changed the subject.
"Getting along well with the team, huh? Bet a bunch'll come knocking once this is over."
"Out of everyone who's taken my card with interest, maybe one or two actually show up."
A complaint born of experience.
Ryu Seram chuckled, then glanced at the security team.
"What do you think of our kids' skills?"
"Skills? Good enough to make it into Blackline."
"Straight-up, could you take 'em in a scrap?"
"...Does that matter?"
"Hell yeah, it does!"
Ryu Seram grinned, awkwardly hyping herself up.
"No whiny attitudes from folks who peaked at the academy?"
"Sigh, come on. Who hasn't been there?"
I instinctively reached for a cigarette, then shoved it back. Day 2 of forced nicotine withdrawal.
Might as well ride this momentum and quit for good? Nah, gave up on that.
"Top ranks at the academy, fat paychecks hitting the bank young, admiring stares. Pretty standard for young hunters."
"..."
"I get why they're prickly. Though how they show it is a different story."
Ryu Seram nodded at my words and patted my back again.
"Get back to it. You're done tomorrow morning."
"Morning?"
"Tomorrow's schedule is the Celestial Sanctuary visit. Strictly speaking, you're an outsider on temp duty, so can't take you further."
Celestial Sanctuary.
A highly exclusive island unique to the 5th Floor Old Martial World.
Where elite masters at a certain realm or injured tycoons go to recuperate.
No outsiders allowed except the guests themselves, and even knowing it exists is rare.
If you ask if it's real, well, people have come out of it claiming so.
Bound by contracts, they can't speak of it, but tales abound: severed limbs regenerated, 80-year-olds turning back to 20.
A place shrouded in unverified rumors.
'Celestial Sanctuary...'
They've got serious money.
Retreating from the mortal world to heal.
It was exactly what Aul needed most right now.
That night.
Thanks to Baek Yeonhwa's arrangements, we were staying in the Tai Chi Yin-Yang Sect for the day.
"Great hero, why are you here?"
Baek Yeonhwa visited the guest room prepared for two per room.
"Great hero, this way. You should stay with me."
Her overt gesture was seductively alluring.
The dwarf sharing my room, Dedral, nodded with a hearty laugh.
"Hah, exactly! Can't leave a lady waiting, right? I'll enjoy the solo room."
I'd heard dwarves were straightforward and good-natured, save for their blacksmith stubbornness. Dedral fit the bill.
For him, the rank underrating dwarves got was a real shame.
"Just stepping out for a quick chat. Don't pack up."
"Heh, she's a stone Buddha for you."
Dedral clicked his tongue and started some light barebody exercises on his bedding.
Outside, a crisp breeze greeted me, along with a starry sky framed by moon and stars.
The 3rd Floor was midwinter deep freeze, chilly here too but not Seoul-level.
Baek Yeonhwa, who'd led me out, wiped away her seductive allure and wore a grim expression.
"The physician examined Aul today."
"What'd she say?"
"It's tough."
"..."
"His throat's completely wrecked. You're heading to the Celestial Sanctuary tomorrow, right? Let's hope for the best there."
"We have to."
"Um, great hero."
"Yes?"
"There was something odd about Aul's throat. The physician told me separately—said she's seen similar cases where body parts were damaged, even if symptoms differ."
"..."
Baek Yeonhwa hesitated, then carefully began explaining.
"Hoping this helps—"
Another day passed.
Finally, the temp gig's last day.
I wondered if something special would happen, but it was all travel to the Celestial Sanctuary.
Lunch was rice balls in the carriage, so basically no work.
Feels wrong taking pay for this, but hey, life's gotta have those cushy gigs.
We arrived at the Twilight River.
A thick fog blanketed it, with a hat-wearing ferryman waiting ahead.
The rest of security would escort Aul to the Sanctuary till the end.
Me, the outsider? This was my stop.
"Ju- Juseon! Shi!"
Before parting, Aul rushed over and grabbed both my hands.
"Thank- you!"
"Aw, what'd I even do."
"No-! To the max! Medicine-! Too!"
He fumbled out a pouch from his pocket. A subtle green scent masked the bitter medicinal smell.
"Thank you!"
"Haha, no biggie. It was just work. Only natural."
"Later-! When throat heals-! I'll come!"
"Come by anytime. Meracle welcomes all guests."
That's our strength, after all.
"Be it solo players, weird personalities, floor origins, age—doesn't matter. We take everyone. So don't worry and drop in."
"Thank- you!"
He shook my offered hand with a smile.
The famous singer Aul.
We hadn't talked much, but it was meaningful time—
Tri-li-rik! Tri-li-rik!
An alarm blared nearby, drawing all eyes.
Ryu Seram, wearing the latest smartwatch, shrugged.
"Noon. Good work on the gig, Juseon."
"Thanks to you, I'm leaving richer, Seram."
Now I can drop the formalities. I immediately lit a cigarette from my pocket.
The security team frowned.
Probably "don't smoke in front of someone with throat issues," but too late.
"Lighter. Where's my—"
"Need- fire?"
Aul pulled a lighter from his pocket.
"Here-! Take it! No need- return!"
Smoker too, huh?
I gratefully accepted.
"Fancy one."
"Heh, well-! See ya!"
"Bought with stock manipulation profits?"
Aul froze mid-step toward the boat.
Flustered glances from the security team.
Fuuu.
My first smoke in ages.
My body soaked up the nicotine eagerly.
"Huh?"
Aul met my eyes.
Serious vibe, but the drag tasted so good I couldn't help smirking.
"Nah, you're just loaded. Famous singer or not, Seven Apex Hunters for security and the Celestial Sanctuary?"
"..."
The mood turned awkward.
Security team at a loss.
But one woman smiled at me amid it all.
"I've got good instincts. Runs a marriage agency, so spotting client lies is part of the job."
Aul clamped his mouth shut. His eyes pierced me sharply.
Owl-like, they looked eerie narrowed.
"You- hurt my! Feelings- digging like this?!"
The fire from the Blue Dragon's lightning.
Smoke from it ruining a singer's throat.
Wolf Guard Tactical Solutions' stock plummeting as a result.
A young man's shattered dreams overnight.
Time to cash in.
Dreams in ruins? Might as well profit off the info.
"Nah."
Sadly, wrong premise.
"No."
"What- no?!"
"Your throat? Wasn't smoke."