Chapter 107
Chapter 107
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Equipment Shopping (1)
📰 Breaking News [South Korea's 'Haetae' Guild succeeds in conquering the 48th floor!] 📰 Breaking News [South Korea chasing its eternal rival Japan... S-Rank Hunter Lee Hae-wan, "I feel a sense of responsibility and will work hard."] 📰 Breaking News [#1 Groom Candidate S-Rank Hunter Lee Hae-wan—what's his ideal type?] Lee Hae-wan and the Haetae Guild had succeeded in breaking through the 48th floor.
As the ceiling rose higher, South Korea plunged into a frenzy of excitement.
The growth story of the perennial second-place Haetae Guild, which had been suppressed by the former top guild Joseon, captured people's hearts.
The downfall of the strong and the rise of the weak—it was material that was bound to resonate.
And so, the Haetae Guild began establishing itself as South Korea's number one guild.
'...At this rate, even if Lee Hae-wan killed someone, people would just let it slide?'
The physical gap was already making things uncertain, and now the social status gap was widening enormously too.
It was truly disheartening.
"Good work."
While Lee Hae-wan was conquering the 48th floor, I finished clearing the 13th.
The personnel from Haetae Guild working with me totaled five in all.
They were all B-Rank Hunters—talents the Haetae Guild was diligently nurturing.
"Are we heading straight to the 14th floor tomorrow?"
"That's right. Hunter Sun-woo's skills aren't lacking, so it should be fine to go up to the 14th right away. It won't be too dangerous."
I felt the same way.
My current skill level made the attacks from 10th-floor monsters feel like mere tickles.
I hunted on the 13th floor, but honestly, there were no real threatening crises.
I exchanged brief greetings with the Haetae Guild members and headed home.
No car of my own, so it was tough, but I'd take public transport...
...or so I thought!
"Hey!"
A black sedan screeched to a halt right in the middle of the road.
The driver's side window rolled down, revealing a familiar face greeting me.
"Get in quick!"
I dragged my heavy body into Choi Da-eun's car.
For some reason, my mind instantly relaxed.
The moment I settled into the passenger seat, Choi Da-eun asked what she'd been dying to know.
"How was the 13th floor? Manageable?"
"Pretty decent? Even the B-Rank Hunters said we could head to the 14th right away."
Choi Da-eun smiled contentedly at my proud achievement.
"Of course. Who raised you? The 14th floor's a piece of cake."
It was a far cry from our Training Team 4 days.
From Choi Da-eun's perspective, who had toiled through the cesspool that was the Milky Way Guild, the growth of F-Rank Hunter Park Sun-woo must have felt quietly impressive.
I shot a glance at Choi Da-eun as she turned the wheel for a U-turn and muttered.
"You'd threaten to kill me every time I messed up, and I got beat a ton growing up."
"......"
Choi Da-eun clamped her mouth shut.
Back in those days when she'd casually dislocate my joints and kick my balls at the drop of a hat—getting hit by her hurt more than any monster wounds.
Choi Da-eun hesitated, fumbling for words.
She finally squeezed out an excuse.
"...I had no choice back then. No, with Hwang Deok-su being such a massive asshole, what was I supposed to do? That bastard pulled every trick to screw me over."
"Did he?"
"If I didn't produce results, I'd be the one getting screwed."
If it weren't for the Taming App, that future might really have come to pass.
Training Team 4, myself included, dying on the 10th floor due to Hwang Deok-su's schemes, and Choi Da-eun offering her body to him to compensate for the mid-sized guild support funds...
"Park Sun-woo, you fucking..."
"Huh?"
I was about to brush it off as a joke and move on when Choi Da-eun started reacting almost hysterically.
"Your girlfriend nearly got eaten by that gross old geezer, and you're that hung up on getting beat a little?"
"Why're you suddenly like this?"
I almost added, Did I strike a nerve? but held back.
I had that much sense.
Choi Da-eun let out a shrill wail.
"I had to hit you for the results. I didn't hit you because I wanted to."
I almost added, Sure, sure, but held back.
I had that much sense.
I just shut up and listened.
"Dragging up old crap for no reason... It's all my fault, right? I'm the only bitch here?"
"It was a joke."
"Joke my ass—stuff like this always has some truth to it, don't you know?"
Choi Da-eun had apparently been harboring those past events deep down.
Ironically, the victim didn't care much, but the perpetrator was the one agonizing over it.
To soothe her, I spat out a blatant white lie.
"It really was a joke. Honestly, I kinda like getting hit. Some guys have that kink, you know? That's me."
"...What?"
The car sped along.
But Choi Da-eun's nerves were all focused here.
I could feel her gaze.
"If I really hated you, I'd have just bailed when the Milky Way Guild disbanded. Right?"
I was confident.
Honest about my feelings.
The beginning was definitely born of malice, but now I could say it clearly.
I like Choi Da-eun.
Not love yet, but I want to make her body and heart all mine.
I won't let her go, ever.
"Yeah, I guess..."
Choi Da-eun seemed to grasp what I meant.
"And honestly, even I thought it was too much back then. A tank not tanking? Of course it'd piss people off."
"......"
"As the person involved, I'll forgive your sins."
"Thanks a lot."
Choi Da-eun smirked and looked straight ahead.
My forgiveness seemed to comfort her a bit.
"Thanks for the ride. I'll head in first."
I arrived at my officetel studio via Choi Da-eun's car.
I was beat, so public transport would've sucked, but she made it easy.
"Keep pushing tomorrow. Gotta break through the 20th soon."
"Got it. I'll do my best."
Choi Da-eun gave my raid a straightforward cheer and pulled away.
A woman who drives well? Incredibly hot.
I stood there blankly until her car vanished from sight.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A week passed.
I cleared one floor per day.
Climbed from the 14th to the 19th, earning the qualification for the 20th floor raid.
'...Pushing it a bit?'
I started feeling my limits from the 18th floor.
Just brute-forcing with stats didn't cut it anymore?
One-on-one was easy, but as a tank, that wasn't feasible.
Realistically, I'd hit a wall.
I needed to raise my skill levels and stats more.
Or get some good gear.
Relying solely on the Taming App and going wild could backfire hard.
I planned to prepare thoroughly for the 20th floor.
"Pardon?"
But life doesn't go my way.
─ We'll attempt the 20th floor raid a week from now. Combining Haetae Guild personnel with second-string guild 'Blue Dragon' members.
Lee Hae-wan delivered the schedule almost like an announcement.
With them in the majority, I had to align with Haetae Guild.
"A week from now?"
─ The execs want to fast-track growth for Haetae Guild's B-Rank Hunters. Some shareholders want to test Hunter Sun-woo's abilities too.
"......"
If they say go, I go.
It was the mindset you pick up in your early 20s from mandatory service.
'Can I do it?'
I'd roughly researched the 20th floor.
Info was widely available, so gathering it wasn't hard.
Haetae Guild could handle it.
I'd seen the B-Rank Hunters' skills up close, so I was confident.
I didn't think we'd fail the 20th floor.
'Da-eun cleared the 20th too.'
Choi Da-eun was C-Rank.
No way B-Ranks would fail a floor that C-Ranks pass.
The issue was me.
Could I survive the 20th?
That was the worry.
─ You're with Haetae Guild Hunters. No big risks.
Lee Hae-wan's voice brimmed with confidence like never before.
I felt the trust.
I'd already faced assassination threats.
Nearly died on the traceless 10th floor due to the Milky Way Guild Master's schemes.
This time might be no different.
'...Haetae Guild Master, S-Rank Hunter Lee Hae-wan?'
Judging by his ugly mug or his petty, vile personality—100%.
Even on the 20th, he'd scheme something, and thoroughly at that.
'An S-Rank Hunter, no way.'
I shook off the negative delusions.
We were rival males competing for the same woman, but not now.
He wouldn't cross the line here.
─ That day, Haetae Guild will claim South Korea's top spot. I'll successfully conquer the 50th, Hunter Sun-woo clears the 20th safely. It shows our hunter training system's solid.
"Sounds good?"
─ Assume you're in a week from now? I'll inform the folks below.
"Yeah, yeah, no choice."
Just in case, I'd prepare thoroughly.
I hung up.
Now it hit me.
F-Rank me challenging the 20th—sudden tension kicked in.
Deep breaths.
Woo, haa.
Woo, haa.
Then my smartphone buzzed again.
Incoming call.
Han So-ra.
"Hello?"
─ Hunter Sun-woo, got time by any chance?
Her voice was light, like she was humming.
─ Need gear before challenging the 20th, right?
"Yeah, probably. More gear's always better."
─ Always so grateful. So I wanted to give Hunter Sun-woo a gift this time— that's why I'm calling.
"......"
No reason to refuse.
"Sure, if you're offering, I'll gladly take it."
─ When works for you? Tomorrow?
"Whenever's good for So-ra. I'll match you."
─ See you tomorrow.
Her voice bubbled with laughter.
Meeting me that fun?
'Modern life's monogamous... Da-eun or So-ra—which to pick?'
I'd already married Han So-ra in my head, had kids, the whole deal. And with Choi Da-eun too.