Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: 20th Floor (1)
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I gave Choi Da-eun a new assignment.
An assignment whose difficulty would vary wildly depending on how much she was thinking about Park Sun-woo.
But since it was a "command," she had no choice but to follow it.
'I wonder when she'll reach out.'
All I had to do was play dumb as Park Sun-woo, pretending I didn't know.
Then Choi Da-eun would let her feelings ripen on her own.
A day had passed since I sent Choi Da-eun on her way.
I'd expected to hear from her right away, but after the summoning, all contact with her had suddenly cut off.
[Choi Da-eun] ─ I miss you
[Choi Da-eun] ─ Horror movie lol you idiot
That was the last KakaoTalk message.
So I turned on my smartphone, secretly hopeful.
"Huh?"
There was no sign of the KakaoTalk I'd been waiting for. Instead, some other woman's name popped up at the top of the screen.
It was Han A-ra.
[Han A-ra] ─ Sun-woo, you free by any chance?
Han So-ra and Han A-ra, the two sisters taking turns asking if I had time.
This was a luxury I couldn't have dreamed of back in my F-rank hunter days.
Truly, a man had to succeed first.
'Sure, I'm only a D-rank hunter now, but I'll climb up to S-rank step by step...'
The road ahead was long.
But it didn't feel overwhelmingly so.
It was like I'd just merged onto a highway jammed up for the holidays.
I didn't know exactly how long it would take, but there was this vague sense that I'd get there eventually.
Not a bad feeling at all.
I replied to Han A-ra.
A hunter who didn't raid dungeons was no different from an unemployed bum.
Anytime was fine; I was a yes-man.
[Han A-ra] See you tomorrow then. I have something to talk about regarding the guild.
How was the guild "Ara and Friends" doing, anyway?
I hadn't paid much attention, so I had no idea.
The reason I'd gotten close to Han A-ra from the start was crystal clear.
My goal was to befriend an S-rank hunter through Han So-ra's one and only little sister. Now that I could contact her personally...
What happened to Han A-ra's guild didn't really concern me much.
The next day.
I headed to the café to meet Han A-ra.
"...I think I might not be able to be a hunter anymore."
We'd each ordered drinks and received them.
Before I could even take a sip, Han A-ra dropped a bombshell.
She looked miserable, saying she might have to disband the "Ara and Friends" Guild.
"Why? Suddenly?"
I hadn't been too concerned about "Ara and Friends."
Since Han A-ra had started it herself, I figured she'd handle it just fine on her own.
I wasn't desperate for cash to the point of jumping into a dungeon for every penny, either.
But disbanding the guild out of nowhere?
Han A-ra looked at me with eyes brimming with tears.
She poured out her pent-up feelings like she was vomiting them up.
"My sister, my sister...!"
Her voice grew louder and louder.
She seemed furious just thinking about Han So-ra.
"My sister says she's going to force the guild to disband. She said the Haetae Guild Master thinks highly of you, and when she allowed me to keep you in the guild...! But now she says if you start working with Haetae Guild, my guild won't have anyone reliable and it'll be dangerous..."
It looked like Han So-ra had told Han A-ra everything.
Lee Hae-wan, the Haetae Guild Master and an S-rank hunter, had extended a guild offer to me.
A dream offer for any D-rank hunter.
But I couldn't betray Han A-ra, so I joined Haetae Guild under the condition that I didn't have to leave "Ara and Friends."
'...Is she keeping a close eye on me?'
Using Han So-ra to keep "Ara and Friends" in check?
Or was Han So-ra acting on her own...?
'Could be either.'
I tried to reason out who benefited most from the current situation.
Han So-ra.
She could end Han A-ra—which she'd always resented—without any loss to herself.
"She used to at least pretend to listen before, but now it feels like she's dead set on it."
"Zero chance of changing her mind?"
"...Yeah, really... That's why I don't get it. Why is she doing this all of a sudden?"
Han A-ra's miserable expression showed no signs of improving.
'She knows her sister best, after all.'
It looked like "Ara and Friends" was done for.
"...You should try talking to her first."
This had nothing to do with me.
Was it right for an outsider like me to meddle in blood sisters' affairs?
My head was getting complicated.
To be honest, I wanted "Ara and Friends" to disband.
It would actually benefit me.
I could go all-in on Haetae Guild and prepare to target Lee Hae-wan.
I called Han So-ra.
I was the guy with an S-rank hunter's number.
'Gotta brag to Mom and Dad later.'
The triumphant return of the proud son.
The less reliable son would make them even happier, no doubt about it.
─ Hello?
"Hi, So-ra."
Han So-ra picked up.
Her voice carried a hint of amusement.
"I'll get straight to the point."
F-rank and D-rank hunters had no say.
Things would end up as Han So-ra wanted anyway, so no need to drag it out.
"Are you planning to disband A-ra's guild, 'Ara and Friends'?"
─ Yes.
Firm.
I could feel the sincerity.
"Sis...!"
Han A-ra sensed it too, which was why she was making that miserable face and whining.
─ Did A-ra go see you, Hunter Sun-woo?
"...Yes."
─ Put it on speaker? Or switch with A-ra.
"......"
I handed the smartphone to Han A-ra.
The moment she held it to her ear, Han So-ra's words shot out.
─ Han A-ra, I told you clearly. Haetae Guild sees Hunter Sun-woo favorably. You need to let him go, even for his sake.
"Th-then my guild..."
─ I told you to run the guild relying only on Hunter Sun-woo. That meant do your best, not cling to his ankle. Right?
"But..."
─ Hunter Sun-woo will be working with Haetae Guild from now on. Lee Hae-wan allowed a dual contract, but splitting attention between two guilds is inefficient anyway, and snatching this opportunity would be rude to him.
"......"
Han So-ra's words were flawless.
She was picking only the right ones.
Han A-ra couldn't even properly retort; she just had to listen.
─ You won't have anyone reliable. Then something like the Mirage incident could happen again. That's why I'm telling you to quit.
"...Sis, that's too much. Really."
─ Hunting is dangerous. I've told you over and over. I can't allow it. But you kept being stubborn. You know surviving this long without disaster is pure luck, right?
Han So-ra had one reason for trying to stop Han A-ra.
She was worried her little sister might meet with an unfortunate accident while hunting.
The justification was on Han So-ra's side.
Han A-ra knew that too.
─ Please, A-ra. Ease your sister's worries. Okay? I'm begging you.
"......"
─ Sis has to head to the 48th floor soon. Clear 48, then 49, 50, nonstop... You gonna keep stressing me out?
"Me being a hunter... That's stressing you out?"
─ Yeah. I want you to live comfortably.
This was sincere too.
Han So-ra wasn't tormenting Han A-ra out of spite.
I'll handle the hardship; you live an easy life.
─ You're still young. Twenty-two isn't even marriage age. Experience all sorts of things. No need to cling to being a hunter.
"......"
─ Date some hot guys, see what peers are into. Other girls your age are obsessed with travel—why not you? Sis'll give you money; go world-traveling.
"......"
Han A-ra knew that too.
So she couldn't retort and just sniffled.
Han A-ra handed me back the smartphone.
What great sisterly love.
The older sister wanted her little sister to live comfortably.
The little sister wanted to lighten her sister's load.
By proving she could do it herself.
"So-ra, it seems A-ra understands what you mean."
─ Really? That's a relief.
Han So-ra let out a sigh of relief.
It felt like a conclusion she'd agonized over.
"But then Da-eun noona will be left hanging all alone."
I was worried about Choi Da-eun.
She'd transferred to "Ara and Friends" after Milky Way Guild disbanded, only for this guild to blow up without her doing anything.
Was Choi Da-eun's real job "guild demolisher" instead of C-rank hunter?
─ Da-eun? Isn't she a C-rank hunter?
"Yes, C-rank."
─ At C-rank... Anywhere except top-ten or major guilds will take her. No need for Hunter Sun-woo to worry about her...
"Hmm, is that so?"
─ Hunter Sun-woo?
Han So-ra called my name.
"Yes, I'm listening."
─ Hunter Sun-woo, I have a question.
"Sure, go ahead."
Her tone changed completely.
There'd been a faint amusement before, but now pressure emanated from the receiver...
─ What's your relationship with Da-eun?
"...Like noona and dongsaeng. Same guild, same team. Started off like sworn enemies, but now... friends?"
─ Friends? I see.
She replied as if accepting it, but her tone screamed she wasn't buying it at all.
─ Got it. Friends, right?
"...Yes, friends."
No response.
Click. The call ended.
I stared blankly at Han A-ra.
Is your sister always like this?
I met her eyes with that nuance.
Han A-ra shrugged, as if she didn't know either.
Sisters didn't have to know everything; this must be an inner side even her little sister didn't know.
"...Sorry it turned out this way, A-ra."
"Yeah. I never imagined you'd end up going to Haetae Guild like this."
Han A-ra gave an awkward smile and sipped her coffee.
"Well... From the first time I saw you, Sun-woo, I knew you weren't ordinary. So it makes sense."
"Really?"
"That skill that only activates if there's a virgin in the party? You wiped out the Dark Knight with that. I could tell right away you weren't some F-rank guy."
Having composed her surging emotions, Han A-ra reminisced about a month ago.
It was her time of dreaming in a flower field, in her own way.
I listened to Han A-ra and nodded along vaguely.
Then I went home.
KakaoTalk-.
Choi Da-eun?
I checked my smartphone expectantly, only to be disappointed—it was Lee Hae-wan.
[Lee Hae-wan] ─ You free in a week? I could assign a team to help with the 11th floor starting then.
"Oh..."
Looks like her talk with Han So-ra was over.