Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Team Leader Likes It, Right? (3).
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Training Team 4's first and last company dinner dragged on far longer than expected.
In the wake of the Milky Way Guild's disbandment, it was as if they had a gut feeling that this marked the end of Training Team 4, pushing their livers to the limit.
Lee Eun-seo asked Choi Da-eun.
"Sister, don't you have someone you like?"
Leaning fully back against the chair's headrest, Choi Da-eun slowly turned her head to look at Lee Eun-seo.
Her cheeks were flushed red, and her eyes were half-lidded in a hazy gaze.
Choi Da-eun was currently pleasantly buzzed.
A state where she could enjoy the intoxication without any discomfort.
Where her iron walls softened and boundaries blurred.
With her fierce look, she seemed like the type who could down twelve bottles of soju without breaking a sweat, but Choi Da-eun's alcohol tolerance was noticeably lower than mine.
"...Someone I like?"
At Lee Eun-seo's question, Choi Da-eun pondered deeply.
She shook her head as if there was no one like that.
Drunk Choi Da-eun was answering even potentially sensitive personal questions without issue.
"Really none?"
"Yeah."
"No one you're interested in?"
"Yeah."
"There has to be someone."
"Yeah?"
Lee Eun-seo pressed on with her questions like an interrogator.
It was clear she was fishing for a specific answer.
Finally realizing something was off, Choi Da-eun sharpened her gaze and slammed a soju glass down in front of Lee Eun-seo with a clink.
"Pour me a drink, you bitch."
"...Yes, sister."
Lee Eun-seo backed off a step.
But she didn't give up.
Regathering her resolve, she started pouring drinks for Choi Da-eun again.
They had a light round at the first spot before moving to the second.
Regular office workers supposedly make all sorts of excuses to avoid dinners with their bosses, but Training Team 4 was different.
It was like they had a lot to say to each other, unloading stories nonstop.
Most of it was about me.
"What the hell happened all of a sudden? Just a month ago, you were a total loser."
"...Don't call the man himself a loser right in front of him. That's a bit harsh."
"Joking, joking. It's a compliment. Who would still think that after seeing how strong Sun-woo has gotten?"
"His eyes don't look all that trustworthy."
"Honestly, he still looks like a loser. But that's a compliment. When we saw him set himself on fire to take down monsters, we all thought the same: total madman, total loser—in a good way."
We'd been together for half a year, but I hadn't really exchanged personal talk with any of them.
Training Team 4's supporters and ranged dealers chattered away.
Most of them were women.
"But thanks to him, we survived. I didn't want to go to the 10th floor, but I had no choice. Couldn't leave the Milky Way Guild..."
"Same here. If you don't fulfill a year on the contract, you can't join another guild. No money for penalties either."
"Among mid-tier guilds, Hwang Deok-su's is one people actually respect. I only went because I was scared of backlash if I transferred, and then Sun-woo oppa just boom!"
All the members of Training Team 4 were F-Rank Hunters in the same boat.
They shared similar grievances.
But they survived.
They'd gritted their teeth and cleared the dungeon on the 10th floor.
This was undeniably a spec boost.
The idiom "blessing in disguise" fit perfectly.
"Haha, as a tank, it was just my job."
"Look at that face. Now I get why the team leader doesn't praise you. Why are you so punchable?"
The women grimaced at me.
But the mood wasn't bad.
"What are you all planning to do now?"
The F-Rank Hunters huddled together, discussing.
It had nothing to do with me.
They were considering various options for their future affiliations.
They all seemed eager to join guilds better than the Milky Way.
Naturally, if transferring anyway.
"What about you, Sun-woo?"
"Eh, Sun-woo will take the rank exam and go somewhere better. Milky Way's nothing for him."
"Me... I'm..."
I'd decided to join Han A-ra's guild.
It might be inferior to Milky Way right now, but with S-Rank Hunter Han So-ra involved as her only blood sister, its potential and buzz were on another level.
I planned to grow the guild alongside Han A-ra there.
A dream impossible without the Taming App, but now fully feasible.
"For real?"
"Sounds not bad. Sun-woo's at a level where clearing up to the 10th floor is smooth..."
"Jealous, Sun-woo oppa."
The F-Rank Hunters were envious of me.
Just a month ago, I was worse off than them.
Hard to believe I was now way ahead.
Then, someone glanced at me cautiously and spoke up.
"...A brand-new guild probably doesn't have any hunters yet, right?"
"Probably."
Han A-ra was surely recruiting in her own way.
But for a freshly created guild like "Park Sun-woo and the Bitches (Temporary)," no hunters would join willingly.
'It'd be even harder without selling Han So-ra's name.'
Han A-ra didn't want to rely on Han So-ra's power.
She'd used it minimally just to start the guild, and was probably struggling solo now.
"That's why I'm saying, how about our whole team transfers together?"
"......"
It sounded like Training Team 4 wanted to latch onto Han A-ra's guild.
"If we all go, including the team leader, wouldn't that be pretty solid?"
"...Ooh, that's a good idea."
With Milky Way gone, Training Team 4's F-Rank Hunters were like duck eggs in the Nakdong River—adrift.
No downside for them.
If "Park Sun-woo and the Bitches (Temporary)" turned out lame, they could bolt.
My position was awkward—I'd wanted to check out new faces under the transfer excuse.
The high-energy vibe made it hard to refuse.
Ugly, but no ordinary bitch.
Maybe her political instincts sharpened because of her looks.
To survive.
Pretending to read the room, but no hint of apology.
Her voice trembled, but her attitude was bold.
She had me completely figured out.
'Not a bad deal, though. Especially if Choi Da-eun comes along...'
The F-Rank trash could be eased out later.
This gave me an excuse to be with Choi Da-eun—the ugly female supporter had paved the way.
"Our Da-eun sis hates me a lot, so even if the whole team transfers, I doubt she'd come easily."
"Da-eun sis."
Lee Eun-seo called out to Choi Da-eun.
She asked about the viability of the just-proposed plan.
"Da-eun sis, besides Milky Way, got any other guilds in mind?"
"......"
Choi Da-eun clamped her mouth shut.
Ignoring the question, she glared daggers at me.
Then she snorted and answered.
"...I do have one in mind."
"Sis, how about joining the guild where Training Team 4 and Sun-woo are going? New guild, so no faction fights."
"Hm..."
Choi Da-eun crossed her arms, huddled up, and let out a thoughtful hum.
The Training Team 4 members gazed at her with pleading eyes.
"Let's dungeon casually together, okay?"
"...Have to be in the same guild as that loser again?"
"You like it too, Da-eun sis. Being with Sun-woo."
"...What bullshit. Wanna get torn apart? Wanna die?"
"Eep."
Lee Eun-seo pursed her lips.
Not scared, though.
She kept prodding Choi Da-eun with playful eyes.
"Sis, no—Team Leader."
Lee Eun-seo whispered.
"If we transfer together to the new guild... you'd be team leader again... Legally able to whip Sun-woo."
"Better to join a different guild and never see that guy again."
"Tsk tsk, Team Leader. Can't hide your feelings. You want to join Sun-woo's guild too. Be honest."
"......"
Choi Da-eun hesitated but didn't deny it.
She really seemed to want to join "Park Sun-woo and the Bitches (Temporary)."
Why, though?
'...I get it.'
Choi Da-eun knew which guild I was transferring to.
The one where S-Rank Hunter Han So-ra lent her name to her one and only little sister.
"Park Sun-woo and the Bitches (Temporary)" was a guild any hunter would kill to join.
'Wants to save face, huh?'
Choi Da-eun was probably thinking the same inside.
Training Team 4 had given her the perfect excuse in her dilemma.
'That's why she's been spacing out.'
Checkmate, Choi Da-eun.
"Ugh, fuck no. Look at that smug face. Fucking asshole."
Our eyes met.
She recoiled in revulsion.
Pride wouldn't feed her, yet she was about to throw away a golden opportunity solo.
"Sis wants to join my guild too? Didn't wanna split from Training Team 4?"
"Fuck off. I'm not going, so shut up."
"Sis, no—Team Leader."
I set everything aside and begged.
She'd have no choice but to accept.
"I won't take orders from anyone but you, Team Leader."
"Ooh...!"
Lee Eun-seo flared her nostrils.
Her face was annoying as hell, but not the time to nitpick.
"I don't follow other bitches. I wanna go with you, Team Leader."
"What're you on about, loser."
"...You're different from the others."
Teary eyes mode, on.
"The others called me a loser and kicked me out. Abandoned me in dungeons too. But..."
"......"
"You called me a loser but didn't abandon me. Beat the shit out of me, sure, but I'll call it tough love."
"Bullshit."
"Now I'm growing, shining... But splitting from you?!"
I shook my head vigorously.
"No way!"
"...Are you really a loser?"
"I wanna be with you, Team Leader. Da-eun, come with me."
I extended my hand to Choi Da-eun.
She'd surely take my sincere confession.
Smack!
Choi Da-eun slapped my hand away.
"...The whole Training Team 4's going, right?"
Lee Eun-seo chimed in.
"Tsundere, Da-eun sis."
"Shut up, you little shit."
"...Touching. I finally got cussed at by Da-eun sis."
"Not calling me Team Leader?"
Choi Da-eun snapped at Lee Eun-seo for no reason.
Still, the dinner vibe held strong, tension high.