Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Founding "Hayang's Place"
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Choi Geonwoo and Jeong Yujin both widened their eyes at my response.
Is it really that surprising?
I'm the one who's actually shocked.
I never expected them to suddenly invite me to join their guild.
"Wh-why? Hayang, if you join our guild, there are so many great perks. You could have chocolate lattes every day, and your unnie could dote on you all the time...?!"
Gasp, chocolate lattes.
That does sound tempting.
The part after that, not so much.
"You, just stay quiet. I'll handle this."
"...Yes, sir."
Jeong Yujin was trembling with excitement, hands shaking as she listed off the guild's benefits, but Choi Geonwoo had heard enough and silenced her before stepping forward himself.
"May I ask why? No boasting intended, but I believe Titan Guild holds its own anywhere."
"O-of course. It's not that I don't like Titan Guild at all. Quite the opposite— I love it."
I waved my hands frantically and nodded at Choi Geonwoo's words.
I'm not an idiot; I know this invitation is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
I'd heard before that over 500 people apply to join Titan Guild every year.
Even established hunters from other guilds with solid reputations.
They want to come to Titan Guild for a better environment.
Just hearing that tells me this offer is more than I deserve.
Rejecting it isn't because Titan Guild falls short.
I have my own reasons.
"Uncle, you remember I was raised by Grandma, right?"
"Yeah, you mentioned it before."
"That's why I've always felt that way. I grew up just receiving from her, so I can't do anything on my own."
"At that age, no one can do much alone. You're not the only one."
Right.
Choi Geonwoo thinks I'm twelve.
But I'm actually five years older, so it's not something I can take lightly.
"Maybe you're right... But helping Yujin unnie and you this time made me realize I want to be more independent. I want to be able to do more things by myself."
"In other words, you want to stand on your own two feet?"
"Yes, exactly. Joining Titan Guild would mean meeting new people, getting all sorts of support from the guild, and it'd be really comfortable. But more than immediate comfort, I want to develop myself a bit more."
As I stated my resolve, Jeong Yujin murmured "Hayang..." with a strangely moved expression as she gazed at me.
Her stare felt burdensome, so I averted my eyes a little.
Choi Geonwoo's voice continued.
"That's admirable, but as an adult, it feels a bit premature."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. But if that's your will, I can't push it. You think well of our guild. That's enough for us."
"Of course...! To me, Titan Guild is the best."
If I didn't have these thoughts.
I would've accepted the offer without a second's hesitation.
Titan Guild is something I'm truly grateful for, a place I really want to be part of.
But I'm a proper hunter now too.
I want to figure out what I don't know on my own.
And adapt to this world's ecosystem by myself a bit more.
"It pains us to let a talent like you go. So, could you keep a good relationship with us going forward? We don't usually hire mercenaries, but you'd be the exception."
"I'd love to ask you the same. The gate raid today was amazing, and all the guild members were great people."
"I see. Then we'll settle for that, for now."
Choi Geonwoo looked genuinely regretful, showing his emotions more openly than usual.
Seeing someone so stoic make that face because of me.
It was both surprising and joyful.
It meant he thought highly of me.
"Wait, Master...! Are you really just going to let Hayang go like this?"
But Jeong Yujin still couldn't accept it.
She clung to Choi Geonwoo, looking at me with pleading eyes.
Choi Geonwoo's reaction remained impassive.
"What can we do if she doesn't want to?"
"Argh! Let me convince her. Hayang, listen. If you join Titan Guild, unnie will carry you around 24/7 and show you off everywhere... Kyaa?!"
"If you don't want to see yourself get even more sidelined, shut it."
Jeong Yujin, on the verge of going off the rails, was shut down with a single hand chop from Choi Geonwoo.
To wrap up the unfinished conversation, he spoke again.
"...Anyway, I'll keep cheering on your journey. If you have questions, ask me anything. Jeong Yujin works too."
"Yes, I will."
I said I wanted independence.
But that doesn't mean I'd charge ahead blindly like a fool.
Choi Geonwoo and Jeong Yujin.
They're seniors who've been hunters far longer than me.
I had no intention of throwing away the chance for their advice.
[Geonwoo-nim]
After receiving and saving the contact info from Choi Geonwoo,
"Uncle."
"Y-yes...?"
His ghost-like eyes must have caught it.
He immediately suggested I change the saved name.
Ugh, it's my phone.
But I decided to call him uncle.
It's a bit awkward still, but it'll get familiar in time.
"I'd love to talk more, but I have a ton of cleanup to do. Better head out now. The car's waiting."
"I can take the subway..."
"Can't send a hero from a Layered Gate on the subway. No arguments—get in."
"Yes, thank you."
I slurped up the last of my third chocolate latte.
Then hopped off the sofa and scurried out.
"Sob sob, my dream of carrying Hayang around and showing her off everywhere..."
At that moment, Jeong Yujin's quiet sobbing voice came from behind.
...Yeah.
Good call turning down that offer.
"Haa, I'm beat."
The bed had long since lost its purpose.
I flopped onto the living room floor and let out a deep breath.
Ugh.
I tried not to show it, but my whole body ached.
The raid wasn't even that long.
Yet this frail body screams after just that.
"Guild..."
I mulled over the offer from those two earlier.
Not that I'd changed my mind.
Choi Geonwoo's parting words as he saw me off at the headquarters just popped into my head.
'Even if it's not Titan Guild, it's good to join somewhere you like.'
Saying it like that.
Even if it's not a top guild like Titan.
It sounded like just being in a guild brings plenty of benefits.
What exactly do guilds offer?
Now I'm curious.
Where can I look this up... Ah!
"Gallery!"
Right! That's it!
Internet search works too, but Hunter Gallery has an info tab full of tips for hunter life.
- Newbies must read! 'Why join a guild?'
"Oh, there it is!"
I rummaged through the info section just in case.
And the exact post I wanted popped up.
Hunter Gallery delivers.
Lots of weirdos, sure.
But tons of helpful info too, so I can't stay away.
Clicking the post brought up a lengthy article.
Back at it with Hunter Sensei.
Today, for all you newbie hunters stepping into this world: what is a guild, and why join one?
First, what is a guild?
Simple. Just a group of hunters. End of story.
So why join one? Why do people claw their way into top guilds?
Another simple reason.
Because there's this thing called Guild Contribution Points you can only get by joining a guild.
Hunter ranks aren't just handed out because you're super strong.
Sure, there are monster exceptions, but we're skipping those.
What you need for rank ups is Contribution Points.
Most newbies know this much, I figure.
"I didn't..."
Yeah, ego bruised a bit, but keep reading.
.
.
.
So what are Guild Contribution Points?
Separate points you only get while belonging to a guild.
Unrelated to hunter rank.
But stacking them up has tons of perks.
Like higher bids at auctions.
Tax breaks.
If you come back crippled from a gate, you can even snag a pension with it.
Plus, more Guild Points make top guilds notice you.
Discounts on brokerage, repairs, mods within the guild.
So many sweet benefits it's a must. Too many to list all here.
And for Layered Gates and top-tier ones?
Priority goes strictly to guilds.
Solo hunters without a guild? No entry.
Prime example: current S-Rank Sword Empress runs a 1-person guild for this.
She's a class apart, soloing gates, so exception... but anyway.
Plenty of hunters do it.
Party members? Grab 'em on-site or at recruitment offices.
Even group-life vets run 1-person guilds.
Still recommend top guilds for better welfare.
That's it from Hunter Sensei.
"I see..."
After finishing the post, guilds suddenly seemed amazing.
Especially domestic #2 Titan Guild—how great must it be?
But what stuck with me most wasn't the benefits.
It was the bit about 1-person guilds right below.
Curious, I searched 1-person guilds.
Didn't seem hard to make.
Just a nominal thing to rack up Guild Points.
"Kinda cool."
But "1-person guild" sounded super cool to me.
Doesn't it? Everyone else huddles in guilds.
Me? "This body's the guild! 1-person guild!" Strutting solo.
Even #2 ranked Sword Empress has one.
So a 1-person guild can't be that bad, right?
Perfect fit for me.
Turning down Titan wasn't about hating guilds—it was for independence.
1-person guild gets me both: independence and benefits.
No reason not to.
Gates? Same as always, recruit party outside.
"Online application too, huh."
Checked the Hunter Association site.
Guild creation fully online.
Hunter license suffices—no age limit.
One issue: need a place for HQ, like land or house...
Our home works!
"Hehe, I'm the master...!"
Filling in guild master: Yang Hayang.
A weird sense of superiority made me grin.
Me, a guild master like that awesome Choi Geonwoo!
Face down, kicking my legs excitedly, I pondered the guild name.
Hmm, what to pick?
Nothing grandiose.
Just for me anyway, and HQ's our house...
"Perfect, 'Hayang's Place' it is!"
This works.
Hayang's Place Guild Master Yang Hayang.
Mmm, great ring!
"Am I a genius...?!"
Achieving this independence so quick.
Feels like I've grown up already.
"Time to chug and crash!"
I pulled out the chocolate milk from the convenience store on the way home.
Not quite Titan's chocolate latte.
But tasty enough.
And it's buy-one-get-one!
"Hehe...!"
Ripped open a bunch, dumped into a big bottle.
Chugged the whole thing.
Feels rich.
Downing chocolate milk in bulk like this.
"Sale proceeds tomorrow?"
The items divvied from today's Layered Gate.
Once sold, real chocolate lattes incoming.
My heart was already pounding.