Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: The Association's Offer
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"......So, you got lucky and took down Na Joo-cheol. Then Team Leader Seok-woong and the others showed up right after."
"Yes. I think we're good now. Sorry for asking for your cooperation right after that mess. You've been through a lot."
"No, no. The doctor's treatment made me good as new."
Jeong-hyeon swung his injured right arm around before wincing at the lingering ache and letting it drop back into place.
Sure, he was still exhausted and had some residual pain, but this was C-rank healing.
Compared to the injuries he'd sustained inside the gate, "good as new" was no exaggeration.
Yet Ye-rin’s eyes sparkled.
"From the way you describe it, it sounds like you were really badly hurt, but you seem to heal pretty fast."
"......Pardon?"
"You said your agility traits let you respond in time, and your body’s tough too...... Hmm."
How did it come to this?
While Jeong-hyeon stared in bewilderment, Ye-rin gave a sly smile.
"I did a little digging into the public records—legally, of course. Awakening after just two years of procedures...... You're one of a kind. Maybe......"
Does she know what my traits are?
Gulp.
Jeong-hyeon swallowed hard, unable to predict what might come out of Ye-rin’s mouth.
It wouldn't even surprise him if she said, "You're EX-rank and hiding it!"
Well, he’d be shocked, but still.
But Ye-rin’s guess was far more mundane than his worries.
"Have you re-awakened?"
"Ahem. No."
Truth be told, there was no way Ye-rin could have guessed his traits.
EX-rank? He’d never even heard of such a thing outside conspiracy theories.
Awakening shortly after procedures, then re-registering after re-awakening—that was probably the most one could infer from public info.
Jeong-hyeon relaxed the tension in his body and shook his head.
He’d thought he’d hidden it well so far, but dodging a detective’s eyes was no easy feat.
The way she’d subtly eased his guard for a leading question proved she was as sharp as they came.
"That said, would you mind telling me—just me—what your traits are? I won’t put it in any reports, of course."
With her ace guess missing the mark, Ye-rin asked outright, as if there was no point hiding more.
But Jeong-hyeon was a bit miffed himself.
Not only had she led him on like a suspect, she’d even done background checks—legally or not?
He’d have no ground to complain even if he filed a formal grievance.
"Do I have to answer that?"
"Oh, no, of course not."
Even as Jeong-hyeon made his irritation obvious, Ye-rin waved it off good-naturedly and leaned back.
She didn’t seem ready to give up easily, though.
"It’s not that I suspect you even a little. I was just wondering if you’d ever consider working for the association."
"Pardon?"
"I may be young, but I’m good at reading people. You’d do great. And the pay’s like this."
She tapped some numbers into her laptop and turned the screen toward him.
Jeong-hyeon’s eyes went wide.
"You’re offering me that much?"
"Not too much for an unregistered hunter who took down two D-rank villains."
Ye-rin’s gaze was full of conviction.
Conviction that Jeong-hyeon was hiding some tremendous secret.
And that salary was nowhere near the stingy civil servant pay it was rumored to be.
Hunter world aside from civil servants, even if Jeong-hyeon joined a guild right now, he’d never snag that amount.
Not many D-rank hunters at his level made that kind of money.
But Jeong-hyeon shook his head.
"I’ll pass."
"Wow, so you’re confident you can get more?"
"What are you......"
Ye-rin asked with a playful smile.
Jeong-hyeon wanted to refute it, but the more he did, the deeper he’d sink.
If he just had a little time, her words would prove spot-on.
"Let’s call it here for today."
"Will I see you again?"
"I think so. Just not here."
Jeong-hyeon’s eyes took on a strange glint.
What did that mean?
A hint that the scouting would continue?
Ye-rin reverted to her innocent first-meeting face.
"I gave you my card, so call if you need anything. Especially if you’re job hunting."
"I don’t think so."
"We’ll see...... Anyway, association section chief connections are better than you’d think."
Jeong-hyeon eyed the ever-shifting Ye-rin suspiciously, but he had to concede this time.
Guilds chased profits, but an association section chief came with incomparable power.
Especially in the investigation division that probed hunters.
And at her age? Her future looked bright.
Ye-rin grinned at him, which felt unsettling, but Jeong-hyeon nodded anyway.
"So, I can go now?"
"Of course."
She opened the door and led the way as if it were the most obvious thing.
They left the office together and walked side by side down the hall.
"Um, aren’t you busy?"
"I am."
"Then why......?"
Jeong-hyeon gave her a dubious look.
Her subordinates were swamped with work—did the boss really have time to escort him out?
But Ye-rin blinked in surprise.
"Because the association basement is full of classified areas. What if I let you go alone and you snag something?"
"Why would I steal anything?"
"You never know with people. Like an unregistered hunter taking down two D-rank villains."
Ye-rin smirked cheekily.
Jeong-hyeon sighed but held his tongue.
The doors lining the hall were all plastered with dire "Authorized Personnel Only" signs.
"So, if you don’t want the hassle, join the association?"
"Argh, I said no!"
Was this brazen scouting never-ending?
As Jeong-hyeon yelled, Ye-rin grinned again, averting her eyes.
"You never know with people."
In the end, Jeong-hyeon had to walk with Ye-rin all the way to the main entrance.
***
"Ugh, I’m beat."
His tiny one-room apartment, which he’d never thought twice about before, felt so welcoming now.
Jeong-hyeon flopped onto the bed like water flowing.
The gate had piled physical fatigue from Na Joo-cheol and Hee-soo; the association had added endless mental exhaustion from Ye-rin.
That sticky, lingering gaze at the gate, like she’d wanted more.
"Just who is that woman?"
On a whim, Jeong-hyeon pulled out his phone and searched "Cha Ye-rin."
In an era where hunters saved the world, any somewhat famous hunter had basic info on portal sites.
Some even had fan clubs tailing them.
Association section chiefs probably had official profiles too.
Nothing classified like exact positions, but still.
"Here she is."
A profile popped up with a photo matching the face he’d seen.
"Twenty-five...... two years older than me?"
Her age startled him first.
She’d seemed his age, but he’d chalked it up to looking young.
The gap was tiny.
Even in a trait-and-talent-driven era, her rapid promotions screamed exceptional talent.
Far better off than Jeong-hyeon, lounging in a cramped room scrolling his phone.
"Tch......!"
Clicking his tongue as he skimmed, Jeong-hyeon’s eyes widened.
- A-Rank
Those two letters next to the hunter rank at the bottom.
A-rank was the upper limit for average hunters.
S-rank existed above, but only a few hundred worldwide.
They were state secrets, rarely showing their faces.
"And that’s the one who clung to me like that......"
Jeong-hyeon recalled Ye-rin’s association scouting push.
Sure, he’d nabbed D-ranks, but to an A-rank? Barely a blip.
Why bother?
"Ah, whatever. No point overthinking it."
He shook his head and scrolled down.
How could he fathom an A-rank’s motives?
Even if he could, he had no real way to counter.
News articles followed the profile.
No surprise for an A-rank trait holder.
Incident resolutions, fast promotions, etc.
Trait probably melee combat type......
Jeong-hyeon lost interest, set his phone down, and summoned his shop window.
He’d been interrupted by Ye-rin earlier—time to check the new list.
A tune escaped his lips.
"Rerolls are the best. Always a thrill."
But staring plainly dulled the fun.
Eyes squeezed shut, he summoned the shop and peeked open one eye bit by bit.
[Shop List (Reroll Cost: 2 Coins)
「Poor Movement Speed」(F, Lv.1), 1C
「Decent Toughness」(E, Lv.1), 2C
「Passable Swordsmanship」(F, Lv.1), 1C
「Somewhat Decent Toughness」(F, Lv.1), 1C
「Equippable Slot Expansion Ticket」(E), 2C
Current Coins: 7]
He’d hoped higher odds meant better, but not necessarily good for him.
To him, it was a parade of uselessness.
"Should’ve gone full tank knowing this."
Toughness traits popped up often.
Even an E-rank this time.
Worse, movement speed was among the least popular for hunters.
It was like his existing agility—pure movement speed boost.
Useless in combat; hunters with it often did logistics in guilds or delivery jobs.
High ranks made bank, but F was worthless.
"A trait that can’t even qualify for Olympics...... Huh?"
Expectations dashed, Jeong-hyeon tilted his head at the list.
「Equippable Slot Expansion Ticket」(E), 2C
"Slot expansion ticket? No way......"
Spotting the suspicious item triggered a new popup.
[You have viewed the Slot Expansion Ticket.
Related info unlocked.]
[Slot Expansion Ticket: Expands equippable/storage trait slots.
Equippable Slot Expansion Ticket: E-rank expands to 4 slots, D to 5, C to 6, B to 7, A to 8; S-rank unlimited.
Storage Slot Expansion Ticket: F-rank to 9 slots, E to 10, ...... S-rank unlimited.]
"Crazy......"