Chapter 24
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Guild, Refusal.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
As we emerged after clearing the second layer,
the people who had still been guarding the area around the gate welcomed us back.
"Wowww!"
"They all came back alive?!"
"Did they really clear it?!"
"But the gate hasn't disappeared. What the heck is going on?"
"Anyway, you're safe—that's what matters!"
We received a reception as hot as a wildfire, which left me with a strange mix of feelings.
On one hand, the barrage of stares was embarrassing.
Wriggle wriggle—
I sidled up behind Choi Geonwoo and slipped right into hiding.
Choi Geonwoo then gently gripped my shoulder.
"What kind of MVP hides like that? Stand tall and proud."
"B-but it's embarrassing. And MVP? Me...?"
"You are. If it weren't for you, we'd all be dead."
"Ugh."
Even hearing it like that, it didn't quite sink in.
Without the party members, I wouldn't have accomplished a thing either.
But inwardly, his praise made me happy.
I ended up grinning like a fool without realizing it.
That was when it happened.
"Hayangggg!"
"Yujin unni!"
Squeeze—
As if she'd been waiting for her chance, Jeong Yujin came charging from somewhere and pulled me into a tight hug.
"I'm so glad you're safe! You have no idea how worried I was...!"
"Y-Yujin unni. C-can't... b-breathe..."
But somehow, it wasn't so much being held as...
I was dangling like from a tree branch.
My feet weren't even touching the ground, so I flailed my arms in resistance.
Finally, Choi Geonwoo stepped in and flicked Jeong Yujin's forehead.
"Don't torment the kid who worked so hard. Let her go."
"Torment? Master, this just means I missed her that much."
"You can still see her face without hugging her. You'll end up breaking her."
"Ah."
Only then did she notice my face turning beet red from lack of air.
Jeong Yujin startled and finally released me.
"Huff... huff."
I really thought I was done for.
I hadn't even seen my life flash before my eyes during the Kulrubark fight.
Jeong Yujin's danger level was higher than a Layered Gate boss monster.
I needed to be more careful from now on.
"This isn't the time to mess around. Let's head back to the guild."
At Choi Geonwoo's urging to get moving, everyone turned toward the guild headquarters in unison.
Somehow, even I—who wasn't part of Titan Guild—ended up following along.
No one raised any objections.
[Titan Guild: All Members Safely Return After Clearing Layer 2 of Layered Gate!]
[Choi Geonwoo: "Layer 3 exists, but we gave up...."]
[Layered Gate Conquest Competition: About to Ignite?]
[Yeohae Guild Master Jang Sehun: "We're different from cowards." Bombshell declaration.]
After exiting the gate, Choi Geonwoo reported the news to the Hunter Association.
The story he shared boiled down to two points.
First, they had successfully cleared up to the second layer of the Layered Gate.
Second, the third layer existed, but they would be giving up on further conquests for the time being.
The first piece of news alone was shocking enough.
But when the second hit, the association president's face still vividly came to mind.
And it was understandable why.
Many guilds had failed gate conquests before and given up after suffering heavy losses.
But declaring a clean give-up like today—while preserving their full strength after a clear?
This was practically unprecedented.
Naturally, some murmurs started leaking out into the public.
Choi Geonwoo couldn't help but see comments like that while checking the articles.
"Titan's master is too cowardly."
"The number two guild will always be number two."
"Hoo..."
With a deep sigh, he sank into the sofa.
Jeong Yujin, who had been sitting next to Hayang and doting on her, spoke up.
"It's a total uproar out there."
"For good reasons or bad, yeah."
"Yeohae will step right up, right?"
"Since we gave it up. Next priority goes to them, so they'll probably assemble a raid team tomorrow."
"It's Yeohae—they'll clear it, no doubt?"
"Who knows."
Choi Geonwoo shrugged while glancing at Hayang, who was slurping her chocolate latte.
It wasn't pride talking.
If it were before, he might have honestly said, "Yeah, Yeohae could do it."
But even so, he couldn't bring himself to agree this time.
Because Hayang over there had flatly judged that conquering the third layer was impossible.
'Her words have never been wrong.'
It had only been one gate run together.
But Choi Geonwoo had already reached the point of zero doubt in Hayang's judgment.
Undeniably, her eyes for observing objects,
grasping the overall situation,
and comparing enemy and ally forces
were far superior to his own.
Whether it was a skill effect or innate talent, he didn't know.
"Hayang, tasty?"
"Mm, delicious. The chocolate tastes a bit richer than last time."
'She looks like a perfectly normal kid.'
Especially now, chugging chocolate latte
with cream smeared all over her mouth.
It made you wonder if she swapped personalities inside the dungeon.
"Speaking of which, that Kang Jinhyuk guy was a Yeohae spy, right?"
Jeong Yujin asked, having heard a brief rundown of the dungeon events.
Hayang was staring wistfully at her nearly empty cup,
and Choi Geonwoo, watching her, subtly called his secretary for another chocolate latte.
Their gazes converged.
"Yeah. Just had someone investigate. His movements were definitely suspicious. Traced one of his equipped items backward, and it turns out it was auctioned off to Yeohae Guild."
"Surprising they'd leave such an obvious trail."
"Nah, they were clever enough. Bought it through laundered ownerships all over, like criminals. But it didn't matter."
Titan Guild's eyes weren't so narrow they couldn't spot that.
"Um, Uncle. So what happens to that guy?"
"First, we'll hold Jang Sehun accountable. But right now, he'd just deny everything anyway. So the plan is to recruit Kang Jinhyuk instead."
"Recruit him?"
Hayang paused mid-reach for a cookie on the table.
Choi Geonwoo nodded and signaled with his eyes that it was okay to eat.
"In other words, make him a double agent. Jang Sehun still doesn't know he's been exposed. He might've seen him faint on the way out, but he'll just assume something happened in the gate."
"Ah."
"Exactly—turn the enemy's weapon against them. Oh, Master. You're smart."
"Not exactly thrilled to get a 'smart' from you."
He might have been if it came from Hayang.
Choi Geonwoo brushed it off flatly, and Jeong Yujin threw a fit.
'What's wrong with me!' she demanded.
But Choi Geonwoo wasn't one to let it slide easily. "You have to say it out loud for me to know?"
'These cookies are good.'
Amid the chaos, Hayang steadfastly shoved one more cookie into her mouth.
They were premium ones she couldn't have any other day.
"Plus, Yeohae will be too busy for a while. They thought it'd be at least ten days out, but opportunity just fell into their laps. We can focus on Kang Jinhyuk in the meantime."
"Uncle, what if recruitment doesn't work?"
"We'll figure it out step by step. Hunters or not, mutual killing is straight-up crime. And if he and Jang Sehun keep denying it, it'll be hard for us to make it public."
He was a real headache in every way.
That's why Choi Geonwoo was trying to recruit Kang Jinhyuk somehow.
If it worked, it'd solve everything and put them at an advantage.
'She really exceeded expectations.'
There were still hurdles ahead.
But this was more than satisfactory.
No—beyond that, Choi Geonwoo thought as he gazed quietly at Hayang.
'No one in the guild will oppose now.'
What Hayang showed in the gate today was utterly unprecedented.
If the Devil or Sword Empress had been there,
or any other top-tier S-Rank Hunter,
would the result have been the same?
Choi Geonwoo tilted his head at the thought.
They might have cleared it, sure.
But clearing it while saving everyone,
and making them cleanly abandon any lingering thoughts on layer 3?
He wasn't sure about that.
'Perfect spot.'
That's why the last sliver of hesitation about bringing Hayang into the guild vanished—even if just for a moment.
Surely, the guild members who entered the gate with her today
shared his exact thoughts. He had no doubt.
"Hayang."
"Yesh, Unca."
"No—swallow first."
He beckoned to Hayang, who was answering with her mouth full of cookie and chocolate latte.
She gulped it down and replied again.
"Swallowed."
"Good. A bit late, but on behalf of Titan Guild, I want to thank you again for today."
"No need. I was happy to party with such cool members."
Hmhm, Hayang burst into an innocent grin, her words coming straight from the heart.
Jeong Yujin nearly lost it and charged again but held back,
sensing Choi Geonwoo's serious mood.
"Naturally, you'll get your rewards and shares. But before that, I have one proposal."
"Ah...!"
No sooner had Choi Geonwoo finished than Jeong Yujin reacted first.
She had already discussed Hayang's guild entry with him.
And she was the one who wanted Hayang in Titan Guild more than anyone.
She let out an exclamation and gazed at Hayang with eyes full of adoration.
Convinced Hayang wouldn't refuse.
Truth be told, Choi Geonwoo felt much the same.
This was Titan Guild, after all.
Sure, it fell ever so slightly short of Yeohae in prestige,
but no unaffiliated hunter would dare turn down an invitation from Titan.
"How about joining our guild?"
"Wow...! Perfect. Hayang!"
The moment Choi Geonwoo extended his hand, Jeong Yujin pretended she hadn't known,
feigned surprise, and clapped excitedly.
She could already picture herself doting on Hayang in blissful guild life.
Right then, as both their eyes brimmed with expectation.
"Ah, sorry. I don't think that'll work."
"......Huh?"
"......What?"
An utterly unforeseen answer smacked the backs of their heads hard.