Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Han Geon-ju (3)
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I was confident when it came to sweet-talking people. I'd spent twenty-two years of my life doing just that, so even if he was the leader of a major guild, I figured I could butter him up during our chats, soften him up nice and slow, and easily pry out what I wanted.
But I quickly realized that flattery and persuasion only worked on 'normal' people.
To me, Sa-yoon didn't fall into the category of normal.
What kind of person is this guy?
When I stamped that contract and joined the guild, I thought things were going smoothly. The plan was to build up my strength with their full support, uncover Sa-yoon's weaknesses, and then slip away clean.
But after officially joining Night Rat, the 'initiation' I got wasn't some welcome party or entry test—it was more like the tyranny of a massive guild.
Of course, I wasn't the one getting tyrannized. I was on the side dishing it out.
Sa-yoon drove us somewhere and pulled up right in front of Yongho Guild.
It was the tenth-ranked guild in the country, so I'd at least heard the name.
I wondered why we'd come here all of a sudden, but what Sa-yoon did next was shocking.
After trading stares with the guild's guards, he straight-up killed one of them. And he didn't even blink.
He looked so used to it, like the shock was hitting me twice as hard on his behalf. I nearly passed out just watching.
A person died.
There wasn't even any blood flowing or a fierce battle dragging on. Sa-yoon just flicked his hand once, and the frozen guy vanished in an instant. I can't even describe how that clawed at my nerves and summoned pure terror.
In the face of that unbelievable power, my sense of reality vanished, and my thinking slowed to a crawl.
That must be why I was dumb enough to ask the guy who'd just murdered someone if that was okay.
Even right after killing a man, Sa-yoon was bickering with that guy Jong-sik like it was just another day. When I voiced my doubt, he hit me with something I never expected.
"You're smart. You didn't really think hunters only hunt monsters, did you?"
Of course I hadn't been that naive. I figured there'd be clashes with other hunters, maybe some threats. But I never imagined it'd escalate to life-or-death fights.
As I stood there flustered, Sa-yoon shared things I hadn't considered—things no freshly awakened hunter would think of.
Like how deaths in gates are common, making it easy to cover up murders. Or how swinging a sword at people is often easier than at monsters.
Listening to him lay out the dark underbelly of the hunter world like he was digging it all up for me, I felt strangely convinced.
He lacked morals, sure, but his points had some logic. Wherever groups gather, this level of filth is bound to exist.
Every real incident he cited made me realize just how naive I'd been. As I reaffirmed my vigilance as a hunter and tried to see his harsh methods as a twisted form of advice...
"...I get what you're saying, but what the guild leader did and that example are on different levels."
"What's different?"
"...Huh?"
"If I hadn't killed that guard, I might've ended up stabbed by his sword."
An S-rank dying to some low-rank hunter who wasn't even C-grade?
Give me a break.
The guy spouting sophistry was now straight-up scamming me. Thanks to that, I revoked my attempt to see him in a positive light and eyed the man claiming the strong had to be ruthless with suspicion. As I blinked in disbelief, my brief lapse gave him an opening—he grabbed me.
And just like that, the man's face was suddenly right up in mine.
I swallowed hard at those eyes staring into me from point-blank range.
What's with this guy and no sense of personal space?
He grabbed my arms and neck without hesitation, closing the distance like physical contact meant nothing to him. He didn't seem to care if it made the other person uncomfortable, leaving all the embarrassment to me.
Does he always stick this close to people?
My pulse raced reflexively; I swear he could probably hear my heartbeat.
My mind was blank; I couldn't even process what he was saying. Then a familiar name pierced my ears like a needle.
Jong-sik.
The guy always at Sa-yoon's side, grumbling, scolding him, running his errands. I'd pegged him as a mere lackey, but from what Sa-yoon said, he seemed more important. Even the stingy Sa-yoon trusted him explicitly.
Thinking back, Sa-yoon was always more cheerful around Jong-sik, pulling silly pranks. Around the time I realized Sa-yoon treated him the most casually, a sudden question wrapped around my mind.
Has Sa-yoon ever acted like this with that guy?
Treated him the same way?
Calling him 'pretty,' grabbing his arm, shoving his face close?
We were so close his lips could've brushed mine.
An unpleasant feeling surged up. Like I was some easy mark, a cheap toy that'd fall into his hands with a little coaxing.
My arm stung where his hand had gripped it, throbbing uncomfortably. Just as I started hating that 'pretty, pretty' voice calling me, luckily, I didn't let the feeling swallow me whole.
Thanks to Sa-yoon's 'initiation'—hurling a guy at me.
"Uwaaaah!"
The thrown man flew through the air screaming, and I stared in horror. He crashed down with a thud and charged like 'fight first, talk later.' I dodged the unannounced sword swing in shock, realized I had no choice, and drew my weapon.
Fighting a person for the first time, I thought:
No matter how Sa-yoon treats Jong-sik or sees me, the key fact is he's just a complete psycho.
And handing me six guild members to toss wasn't enough—he solidified that by suggesting I spar with him, an S-rank.
"Kuh...!"
The man in Sa-yoon's grip flailed, slapping at the hand choking his throat. Watching from afar, I flinched when the guy facing Sa-yoon unleashed flames.
The scorching heat hit me even from there the moment the fire ignited. Sweat poured out from the intense blaze, but Sa-yoon didn't flinch before those flames.
He mocked the attacking fire and released a cold aura instead. It was the skill he'd used on the guards, but this was leagues stronger—I could tell from how he stood unfazed amid the blazing flames.
Well, strictly speaking, unfazed wasn't quite right.
His hand gripping Chun-bok's throat was burning from direct contact with the fire. The fingertips had turned pitch black.
It looked agonizing just to watch, but Sa-yoon didn't groan once. The one choking and suffering was Chun-bok, Yongho's leader, crushed by those blackened fingers.
"Retract your skill."
"......"
"Retract it."
Killing intent seeped from his commanding tone. His dark blue eyes flashed. Sensing he'd snap the neck if he didn't comply, Chun-bok hesitated.
Finally, the flames died down, and the sweltering room cooled rapidly. Sa-yoon's icy energy filled the space, as if blanketing the whole guild.
"If you don't have the power, don't get greedy."
His soft warning sent chills down my spine. I watched Chun-bok, the tenth-ranked guild leader, grovel before Sa-yoon. Then I saw Sa-yoon draft a devilish contract that'd strip the man's soul bare.
Compared to what Chun-bok signed, my own guild contract was flawless—no poison clauses, ideal even.
"That coat of yours is S-rank, right?"
Not content with leaving red handprints on the man and forcing him to sign that demonic contract, Sa-yoon even took Chun-bok's clothes.
Watching him loot everything down to the last coin, all my built-up grievances from the past few hours melted away.
If you're his enemy, he'll thresh your soul.
For the first time, I felt relief that Sa-yoon needed me.
At least for now, I wouldn't end up like Yongho's leader.
At the same time, the future felt uncertain. Darkness loomed ahead.
Uncover secrets?
From that guy? Me?
My gaze clouded over the potion bottle in my hand. It looked expensive at a glance, yet he handed them out like candy, no hesitation.
He had that kind of wealth. And the force to one-shot the leader of a top-ten guild.
In power, money, experience—Sa-yoon outclassed me completely. Could I really dig up his secrets?
At first, he seemed to have cracks. But now, in my eyes, he was an impenetrable wall. Approachable from afar, but up close, it towered several times higher.
This isn't happening.
The info could turn my life around if I got it, but it wouldn't be easy.
I'd try, sure. But unable to shake the feeling it was impossible, I clung to the potion bottle in my hand like a lifeline.
For now, it was the only proof he valued me—and my sole comfort.