Chapter 60
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The Path Ahead
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―Teacher Yu, use your abilities for me. Then I'll make sure you and Teacher Baek live comfortably for the rest of your lives.
―You're wrong. Gates are a problem that must be solved, not a way to make money. Dozens at least, hundreds at most, go missing wherever they appear. And you want to play games with money over that? You're insane.
―So you're choosing to oppose me in the end? Fine then. You'll have to die.
―Father! Snap out of it!
―Yu-ya, step back. This is all for our family.
―Father, please, even if it's for my sake, don't do this to Teacher Il-won. Please.
―I said get out of the way!
Han Ho shoved the sobbing Han Yu aside with all his might and hurled his shield at Yu Il-won.
Han Yu intercepted the shield flying toward Yu Il-won with her own body.
Blood poured from Han Yu's mouth, and more gushed from the gash left by the shield on her chest.
―Yu-ya!
―Darling! Be careful!
Baek Yi-an shouted toward Yu Il-won as she dragged the unconscious Han Seung-woo and Han Eun-woo to one side of the gate.
―Drayger!
A rift tore open inside the gate at Yu Il-won's call.
A drayger emerged from the rift and began attacking Han Ho.
Han Ho blocked the drayger's assaults, then suddenly charged at Baek Yi-an.
The drayger's fireball hurtled toward Han Ho and Baek Yi-an.
―No, don't! Darling!
Baek Yi-an was engulfed in flames. Han Ho burst through, slamming his shield down onto the wailing Yu Il-won's chest.
"Th-this is..."
Lee Ru-ri trembled from head to toe, rage overflowing.
―Are you alright? What you just saw was the end of a worthless spare.
"D-Dad and Mom... Sob, sniff..."
―I happened to learn that your father was there in that final moment for those worthless spares I protect.
"I'm going to kill Han Ho."
―Is that your choice?
"I'll kill them all and wipe them out."
―It reminds me of when we first met. Back then, you said you'd die if it meant saving him.
At Keres's words, Lee Ru-ri collapsed, tears streaming silently.
Keres waited patiently until she spoke.
After sobbing for a long time, Lee Ru-ri slowly rose.
"Everything that happened to me... it's all in the past now... Dad definitely said gates are a problem that needs solving... I saw it too. The grief of families missing loved ones when gates appear... Dad believed I could solve it, and he still does."
―Is that your choice?
"An old man who's gonna die soon anyway—sending him off quicker won't change much. I'll do something more meaningful."
―Good girl.
Keres spoke firmly to Lee Ru-ri, who was taking deep breaths to calm herself.
―Grow stronger. Crush Teba, then come to me. I'll be waiting.
Lee Ru-ri replied with all her strength.
"Yeah, I'll be there soon. Wait for me."
Keres stared at her with blazing eyes for a moment before sending her out of the gate.
Lee Ru-ri roughly wiped her damp eyes with the back of her hand and stepped out. After completing the clear certification, she returned to her room.
"Gotta sleep it off. Sleep, then live strong again."
She forced herself into bed, squeezed her eyes shut, and tried to sleep.
Four days later.
Ding.
"Mm..."
Ding.
"F-food... wanna eat..."
Ding.
"Gah!"
Lee Ru-ri jolted awake in surprise.
She'd slept so deeply that even long after waking, the haze lingered.
"Whoa, feels like I slept forever... What time is it?"
It was 3 p.m.
"Notifications kept going off, I think."
Opening her status window revealed thirty new messages.
"Han Seung-woo, Han Seung-woo, Han Seung-woo... Teacher Jeong-hyun sent a bunch too. What's going on?"
Something felt off as she checked them. She rubbed her eyes hard and confirmed the date.
"Wh-what? I slept for four days?"
Han Seung-woo's group had taken turns monitoring her deep sleep, sending messages asking to be contacted if she woke.
"Crazy."
Lee Ru-ri jumped up, washed quickly, and rushed to Yang Jeong-hyun's lab.
"Ru-ri, you okay?"
Yang Jeong-hyun greeted her warmly.
"Ha, hahaha. I slept too deeply. Sorry."
"Nothing to apologize for. No pain anywhere?"
"No, I just feel like I caused trouble."
"Nonsense. Seung-woo's finishing a meeting and coming over. The others went to wrap up re-inspections."
"Re-inspections are done?"
"Yeah, finished the last slot this morning."
"Now we start full position name reorganization."
"Exactly. Seung-woo's super on edge. Comfort him a bit."
"C-comfort him?"
"Our director melts at your words."
"Come on, stop with those jokes."
Yang Jeong-hyun grinned and handed her a sandwich and water.
"Thanks. Dig in."
As Lee Ru-ri bit into the sandwich, Han Seung-woo burst in.
"Are you alright?"
"Good grief."
Yang Jeong-hyun shook her head in exasperation and tidied her desk.
Lee Ru-ri swallowed quickly.
"Yes, totally fine. You worried a lot."
"Relieved. Eat first."
She hurried to finish, but he stared too intently.
"Um... something to say?"
"No. Just checking your condition. Eat."
"Still, that stare..."
"Ease up, Director Han."
Yang Jeong-hyun punched his back lightly as Ham Dae-hee and Kim Tae-woong entered.
"Ru-ri! Long time! You okay now?"
"Yes! Sorry for worrying you."
"Ru-ri needs to eat first. Chat later."
"Hey, love makes you blind to hierarchy!"
Ham Dae-hee covered Kim Tae-woong's mouth and handed Yang Jeong-hyun a file.
"Jeong-hyun, last re-inspection grade log."
"Guild-wide meeting in an hour. Let's go together."
"Sure."
"Please explain the re-inspection results and our re-awakening details."
"I'll nail that briefing. Hahaha!"
Everyone chuckled softly at Kim Tae-woong's booming laugh.
Choi Si-jin entered struggling with a carrier full of coffee.
"Ru-ri, hot coffee served!"
"Thanks."
Yang Jeong-hyun glared at him.
"Seriously, you guys? Elders first, got it?"
"Oops, sorry. Bad habit. Blame the director!"
Choi Si-jin grinned and distributed coffee.
"Um..."
"Yes?"
"I want to see my aunt... Where can I find her?"
"You sure you're up for it?"
"Yeah, she'll be worried."
"Ru-ri, I'll call and bring her."
"Thank you."
Soon the meeting time approached amid chatter.
"Oh, Ru-ri."
"Yes?"
"You'll meet someone nice today."
"Someone nice?"
"Teacher Jin's waiting in the conference room after her re-inspection."
"Ah!"
Excitement bubbling, they left the lab. Familiar and new faces waited by several cars.
"Not heading to Association HQ?"
"To our guild HQ."
"Guild HQ?"
Han Seung-woo took Lee Ru-ri in his car.
They arrived at a massive building, over 20 stories tall.
"Huge."
"Floors 1-10: offices for guild ops. 11-22: member dorms."
Han Seung-woo entered, took the elevator to floor 7.
The large conference room held Kwon Dong-nyeon and Lee Sang-chun sipping tea.
"Ru-ri, welcome."
"Hello."
"Director Han—no, Vice Chairman now?"
"Call me whatever's comfy."
"V-Vice Chairman?"
"Yes, happened while Ru-ri was out cold."
"Congrats."
"Not sure it's worth celebrating."
People filed in, stirring the room.
'Wow, so many... Where's the president?'
Scanning for Jin Mi-seon, Han Seung-woo turned on the mic, quieting the murmurs.
"Han Seung-woo here. Thanks to all for attending our first guild meeting."
Clap clap clap clap clap clap.
"As you know, with the National Hunter Association expanding to International and guilds introduced, major duties delegated from HQ to guilds. But with Korea's heavy role internationally, Yongsan HQ must run smoothly. At a national meeting, they proposed Light Guild Master also serve as Yongsan Vice Chairman. I accepted. Please understand.
Lee Sang-chun took the mic.
"As Korea's hunters stand at the world's center and top domestic guild, Master's decision was best. His burdens grow heavier. Let's unite and follow him boldly."
"Thank you."
Han Seung-woo bowed to the guild members.
Clap clap clap clap clap clap.
"Now, briefing on re-inspection results, current guild grades, and re-awakenings. Teachers Kim and Ham, please."
Ham Dae-hee took the mic first.
"Total re-inspected hunters: 37,098. Upgraded: 7,112. Light Guild members: 120, plus 69 upgrades among us. Upper ranks: 13 S, 10 A. B: 72. No lowers; rest 25 C. That's it."
Kim Tae-woong paused thoughtfully, then grabbed the mic.
"Ahem, mic test!"
His light joke eased the heavy air.
"Re-awakening status: No B-grades re-awakened, sadly. Some odd C-grades popped up. Position names will adjust them, but..."
He trailed off.
"Need more time?"
"Uh... one sec."
Kim Tae-woong whispered with Ham Dae-hee.
Everyone sipped tea, waiting.
"Can we turn on the screen?"
"Yes. Data?"
Kim Tae-woong pulled a small USB from his pocket and gave it to Han Seung-woo.
The screen showed the old position classification chart.
Kim Tae-woong cleared his throat and stood abruptly.
"This here? Dae-hee and I pulled all-nighters for it!"
"Bro..."
"Anyway! A Taster-Awakener masterpiece, you see. Old position names? Total outdated mess."
Government specials: Awakener, Hider (Taster temporarily delisted).
Tank: Guard Knight.
Melee DPS: Doom Knight, Warrior, Assassin.
Ranged DPS: Wind Archer, Wizard (rare sub: Summoner, Sorceress).
Support: Buffer, Healer.
"Looks tidy, but tons won't fit. So Dae-hee and I figure it should be classified like this."
Kim Tae-woong revealed the new position names they'd pondered together.