Chapter 45
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Rival?
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"Then, the loot box goes to Hero Jeong Ye-rin!"
Hyun-ah spoke up in a bright voice as Minguk nodded. With the raid leader's approval, everyone agreed to let Ye-rin open the box.
'Please! Please...!'
As she walked toward the loot box, Ye-rin prayed desperately in her heart for a gold ticket to be inside. That's why she completely missed Minguk shrugging behind her.
According to the Hero Compendium, compiled from the vast experiences of senior heroes, the drop rate for a gold ticket in a 【B-8】 dungeon was about 0.5%. An incredibly low figure.
'I have to get it.'
But Ye-rin had a compelling reason to draw that ticket—one so desperate she'd gamble on those slim odds.
"That jerk..."
Ye-rin spat out the words laced with anger. She just couldn't bear Seol-ah mocking her. In a desperate bid last night, she'd begged her boyfriend to come to the hero gathering with her—a plea that tossed her pride as a hero aside. But he'd read her message and ghosted her.
That's why, if she got the ticket, Ye-rin planned to ask Raid Leader Han Minguk to accompany her to tomorrow's Gangnam Hero Academy Class of '44 reunion. He was the only guy she was close enough to ask.
She couldn't handle her old rival from Hero Academy days—Seol-ah, with whom she'd clashed fiercely—looking down on her. Skipping the gathering wasn't an option either; it'd make her a laughingstock.
'Damn it. If it weren't for that bastard...'
She bitterly resented her boyfriend for putting her in this position, forcing her to ask the raid leader of all people. But that was only if a gold ticket dropped. Calming her pounding heart, Ye-rin opened the loot box.
"Wh-what?!"
Seeing the contents, Ye-rin felt like her breath had stopped in shock.
Two gleaming golden tickets awaited her. And beside them, a revival stone shimmering with iridescent light.
"N-no way...!"
Faced with the unbelievable loot, tears welled up in Ye-rin's eyes without her realizing it.
"Last time, Hero Oh Hyun-ah hit the jackpot, and now Hero Jeong Ye-rin does?"
"Are you all collecting Dragon Balls or something? Wow..."
The team members wore expressions of utter disbelief. A 0.5% chance gold ticket—and two of them, no less.
Minguk, who knew the outcome, had joy and surprise mixed on his face. Not because of the gold tickets, but the revival stone. Could luck be this good?
"Not one, but two. We gotta make this worth it. So, what's your wish?"
Minguk asked Ye-rin, who was still lost in the thrill of her reward. She'd drawn the tickets, so now it was time to grant her wish. He had some guesses, but...
"Go to the hero gathering with me tomorrow!"
His expectations shattered.
Minguk flinched at Ye-rin's piercing shout, which rang in his ears. Hero gathering? His puzzled gaze turned to Hyun-ah, but she looked just as startled by the outburst. Thankfully, Yuna chimed in knowingly.
"Whoa! Come to think of it, it's time for the class reunions. The Class of '45 seniors and our class haven't graduated long enough, so ours is next year... Hero Jeong Ye-rin, you're from Gangnam Class of '44, right?"
Ye-rin nodded at Yuna's words, but her eyes stayed fixed on Minguk. He hadn't answered yet.
"I was planning to go with my boyfriend, but..."
"Whoa?! You have a boyfriend?"
Hyun-ah's excited shout made Ye-rin nod slightly. She hadn't planned to keep it secret, but it wasn't something to brag about either. No cartel involved—the relationship was just lukewarm.
"Yeah, but... lately, it's just meh. I don't even know if we're dating or if I'm managing his cartel. I asked him to come to the Hero Academy reunion, and guess what he said?"
Excited by her colleagues' interest, Ye-rin started spilling far more than usual. She vented about the ignored promise, her repeated mistakes today—everything nonstop.
The female heroes listening grew tense, empathizing and fuming along with her. Minguk could only smile awkwardly from behind. He had no place jumping into their conversation.
Still, one thing he agreed with: Ye-rin's boyfriend clearly didn't like her.
"Wow, what a jerk. How can someone be like that?"
"I don't think he's even a boyfriend. Sounds like cartel management to me. You should break up."
"She said no cartel, though. But..."
"From my experience doing a few stints as a 'personal secretary,' that's definitely a lie. Or he's hiding it. Otherwise, he just doesn't like you."
"Heroes make decent money, so he's probably treating you like a sugar mama. Didn't you buy his place too?"
As the women tore into Ye-rin's boyfriend, their gazes shifted to Minguk. Words aside, only he could decide if she'd take him as her reunion partner.
Someone swallowed dryly. In the sudden hush, Minguk scratched his head and spoke. The mood felt like he had to go.
"I don't know exactly what the gathering's like, but is it like a class reunion? Just eat, chat a bit, and head out?"
Ye-rin nodded vigorously.
"Yes! The venue's a hotel, so the food and desserts will be amazing. If anything makes you uncomfortable, I'll handle it all. So..."
"Got it. Let's go tomorrow then."
"Wheeee!!!"
Ye-rin's face lit up visibly at Minguk's words. Not just any guy—a full-fledged hero as her partner. She was done for!
Minguk smiled at Ye-rin too. The venue being a hotel appealed to him quite a bit.
Christmas—the biggest holiday for humanity—was approaching next week, but the weather lately had been unseasonably mild. Couples strolling warm streets hoped for snow before year's end. But none fell.
Unlike those few couples, many single women prayed for no snow this year. Active-duty female soldiers felt it even more. To them, snow was just dogshit falling from the sky.
Why do we bother celebrating another country's holiday?
But still, on Christmas, you need at least an hour with a guy, right? That's why we go to church.
Guys still at church?
The Lord will be with me...
Guess I'll be playing with myself down there again tonight.
Christmas solo heroes—LFG for Rank 1 dungeon! Grinding till we wipe.
Christmas was the same story.
A hundred years ago, it was a blessed holiday for everyone, especially couples. Now, with darkness monsters sweeping Earth, it crushed countless women's hearts and left them sad.
Today, Seoul's premier luxury hotel buzzed from Christmas morning with preparations for the Gangnam Hero Academy Class of '44 reunion. Heroes protecting humanity drew fans' gift baskets flooding in. Wielders of mana power were idols to the masses.
"We sincerely welcome your participation in the proud Gangnam Hero Academy Class of '44 gathering. We look forward to your future endeavors..."
The Class of '44 president's speech ended briefly. No point dragging it out—no one was listening closely. Clans varied, some worked abroad; the speech meant little.
Naturally, attending heroes clustered with old school friends or same-clan comrades.
"She actually came?"
"Oh my, is that the rumored boyfriend? He's handsome! A hero?"
Female heroes enjoying cake and tea whispered about the glamorously dressed blonde entering the hall.
Even with scarce men, this was a gathering of women heroes battling darkness monsters to save humanity. About half had male partners.
But among the men milling about, the young one arm-in-arm with the blonde drew the most eyes from the heroes. His striking looks demanded it.
"Heh."
Basking in the stares, Seol-ah—the blonde—curled one lip smugly.
No one here outshone her for attention. The president's young partner was decent, but hers edged him out looks-wise. Bringing him using her own stunning appearance? Best choice ever.
And she had the ranker clan Memoria as backup.
"Not a hero, I heard... But damn, he's hot. An idol?"
"Same field as us, apparently. Memoria's support team leader—good rumors all around."
As Seol-ah flashed winning smiles, feeling superior to the other heroes, her classmates Eunbyul and Ji-yoon watched her closely from their seats.
Not out of envy for her hot date. Seol-ah was their bestie Ye-rin's bitter rival; they loathed each other.
"Damn... Even Memoria has guys in support. Our clan's only got 'em in the secretary pool..."
Eunbyul's words drew a sigh and headshake from Ji-yoon. She'd been forcibly solo her whole 22 years.
"S-secretary pool? You don't think they... fool around on breaks?"
"Maybe. Hold up—remember when I screwed up and had to report to the clan leader with the raid boss? Well..."
"You know the rule: no spoilers. Stretch it out long and juicy—that's manners."
Where three women gather, plates shatter, as they say. Old classmates' chatter exploded. Fine tea, fragrant coffee, sweet desserts, luxurious hotel vibe—perfect for girl talk.
"Ugh, my side hurts from laughing. Any guys wanna date me?"
"Yeah, right? Hasn't been born yet."
"Says you. Same boat. Ah, damn—suddenly thinking of Professor Mana Studies."
Ji-yoon scooped dessert with her fork, replying to Eunbyul.
"Th-that... the one who said back when we enrolled, if you showed a pic of you out with your boyfriend from mana lecture, it'd count as attendance?"
"Yeah. No one skipped all semester to play till the end."
"I remember. Prof swore it wasn't a joke so many times... But we weren't joking either."
Both women bowed their heads. In their blooming twenties, landing a loving boyfriend was no easy feat. Best case? Joining a cartel—if lucky.
"So when did Ye-rin..."
Eunbyul was inhaling pricey desserts unaffordable on a mid-tier clan newbie salary, about to dish on her friend.
Ah...!
Whoa...?!
Sudden gasps erupted from the entrance.