Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: S-Rank Hunter's Intuition (3)
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All of this had been orchestrated under Han So-ra's lead.
To be precise, it was more like Han So-ra and Lee Hae-wan's interests had aligned.
Han So-ra still didn't look kindly on Han A-ra's activities.
Even though her limits as an F-Rank Hunter were crystal clear, it was heartbreaking to see her stubbornly insisting on trying to make it as a hunter.
She wished her sister would spend that time on something more worthwhile instead of wasting it on a hopeless cause.
Like going out and making a boyfriend, just like other girls her age.
Even though Han So-ra herself had never experienced a proper romance and had been raped by a man whose face she didn't even know, she wanted her one and only little sister, Han A-ra, to enjoy everything that age had to offer.
'If only Hunter Sun-woo wasn't around!'
Because of Park Sun-woo, Han A-ra hadn't given up on being a hunter.
Without Park Sun-woo, all of Han A-ra's efforts would go down the drain.
Her plan was to recruit her into the far superior 'Haetae Guild' compared to 'A-ra and Friends,' so she'd have no interest whatsoever in some guild founded by an F-Rank Hunter.
And that plan was proceeding successfully.
'Sorry, A-ra.'
She felt bad for her little sister, but as her big sister, she wanted Han A-ra to stay out of danger.
Not a precarious life as a hunter, but a smooth, steady one as a young woman.
After hearing the full details of the scheme, Lee Hae-wan decided to help Han So-ra.
Whether there was backlash from within the guild or not, all he cared about was impressing her.
'...It's my guild, so it should be fine.'
The 'Haetae Guild' was one he'd built from the ground up.
He figured it was fine to recruit someone like Park Sun-woo using his master privileges.
"You're quick to decide. I like that."
"Of course. It's an offer from the 'Haetae Guild,' after all. What hunter would even hesitate?"
Park Sun-woo accepted the offer without a second thought.
A verbal agreement was struck on the condition that he'd register with both 'A-ra and Friends Guild' and 'Haetae Guild.'
'Is he pretending to be some loyal guy?'
Lee Hae-wan didn't like Park Sun-woo.
If anything, he leaned toward hating him.
'Why on earth does So-ra like a guy like that?'
There was a clear difference in how she treated him versus how she treated Park Sun-woo.
It was so blatant that even someone as oblivious as him couldn't miss it.
Did she find him intimidating because he was the guild master?
At Han So-ra's level, guild master or whatever meant nothing.
To Han So-ra, Park Sun-woo was the benefactor who saved her little sister.
When you got right down to it, a lifesaver outranked a guild master in importance, hands down.
And yet, Han So-ra treated Park Sun-woo more warmly.
She used formal speech, sure, but her energy was relaxed and friendly, like she was talking to a buddy.
'It's gotta be his face, right?'
Was Park Sun-woo that handsome?
Lee Hae-wan shook his head.
No matter how he looked at it, he wasn't.
If Lee Hae-wan rated himself a 7 out of 10, Park Sun-woo was maybe a 7.1.
That's how Lee Hae-wan saw it.
'Or maybe it's his body?'
Under his casually thrown-on cotton t-shirt, the outline of his frame stood out sharply.
Like the saying that a good rack makes anything look designer, Park Sun-woo had a pretty impressive physique.
'I hold my own, though.'
Hunters all trained their strength without fail.
It was the simplest, most straightforward way to boost survival odds.
Stick with it long enough, and everyone ended up with a solid build naturally.
Lee Hae-wan was no exception.
'But being short and big-headed... Even working out can't fix that...!'
It was infuriating to be outdone by a D-Rank Hunter because of things effort couldn't change.
Lee Hae-wan forced an awkward smile as he finished his meal.
His mind was so cluttered he barely registered if the food was going in his mouth or his nose.
As they paid after lunch, Lee Hae-wan shot Han So-ra a sidelong glance.
"How about some coffee before we go? We can chat with Hunter Sun-woo too."
"Sounds good. Hunter Sun-woo, let's grab a cup. It's on me."
Han So-ra gave a positive response.
'...She only ever mooched off me!'
Now she was offering to buy coffee for Park Sun-woo.
Didn't that guy have any pride as a man?
Not from another woman, but freeloading like that?
"Hmm, sure."
The decision was Park Sun-woo's call.
He nodded slowly.
"Mind if I hit the bathroom real quick?"
"Go ahead, no problem. Hurry back."
Eating and then immediately emptying out—Park Sun-woo's guts must not be great.
Lee Hae-wan filed that weakness away in his head.
"We'll wait for you at the cafe."
There was a cafe right below the Korean restaurant.
Technically in the next building over, but no one cared.
As they entered the cafe, Lee Hae-wan struck up a conversation with Han So-ra.
"You seem to think really highly of Hunter Sun-woo, So-ra. What is it about him that impresses you so much? From what I've looked into..."
"Hunter Sun-woo? He saved my little sister."
"...Besides that. I'm curious why you're going so far as to recruit him into Haetae Guild. Even if you want your sister to quit, do you really need to pull Hunter Sun-woo into Haetae specifically...?"
"......"
Lee Hae-wan let a hint of displeasure slip.
He'd jumped in to help Han So-ra willingly enough, but facing Park Sun-woo in person had him fuming.
It had started building up the moment they'd gotten all cozy for those photos.
"His abilities are solid too."
Han So-ra picked up on Lee Hae-wan's feelings.
Did he not own a mirror? Was he clueless about his place? She could even sense he was jealous of Park Sun-woo.
"His growth trajectory is impressive. Makes you wonder why he stayed stuck at F-Rank for three whole years after awakening."
It wasn't like they'd recruited Park Sun-woo without any plan.
Not even Lee Hae-wan could pull that off.
"Hunter Sun-woo's recent growth spurt is faster than your average A-Rank Hunter's. Compared to his records over the past three years, it's on another level entirely."
The two of them based their judgment on Park Sun-woo's explosive recent progress, at minimum.
Even so, it was still lacking in a lot of ways, which was why Han So-ra was defending him so vigorously.
"If he keeps it up, he might even hit S-Rank. Tough by international standards, but doable by Korean ones. Assuming he maintains this growth."
"You rate him that highly? I get your faith in him, So-ra, but it feels a bit over the top. We'll have to wait and see..."
"Just watch. Hunter Sun-woo will definitely deliver results."
Lee Hae-wan and Han So-ra ordered their drinks and took their seats.
In a neighborhood packed with big-name guilds, even S-Rank Hunters walking around didn't draw much attention.
Though someone might ask for a photo now and then.
Lee Hae-wan stared openly at Han So-ra.
The more he looked, the prettier and more captivating she seemed.
'I want her so bad.'
No unique gear in the world or item that cost a fortune appealed to him as much as the woman sitting right there.
A wave of possessiveness surged through him.
'If a devil appeared one day and asked if I'd trade my S-Rank power and status for Han So-ra's love?'
He wouldn't hesitate—he'd ditch the power and status in a heartbeat.
That's how badly he wanted to hold her.
But Han So-ra had zero interest in him.
Lee Hae-wan wasn't blind to that.
He should cut his losses and move on, but he couldn't bring himself to give her up.
That's why he kept pestering her.
'...Park Sun-woo...!'
Lee Hae-wan envied the guy's luck.
The odds that Han So-ra's sister would be in a random lightning-party match.
The odds that a dungeon surge would hit just as they entered together.
The odds that the disaster would be survivable enough for them to make it out.
What were the chances that a string of absurd events would land him as an S-Rank Hunter's benefactor?
'If it had been me, I would've saved her too.'
Lee Hae-wan gazed intently at Han So-ra.
He set aside his jealousy of Park Sun-woo for a moment to admire her looks.
Then the words tumbled out.
"So-ra, mind if I get a photo too? I just realized we don't have any just the two of us."
"...Just us, a photo, really?"
What Park Sun-woo had done, he'd do too.
That's what he'd decided.
"Can't I?"
Han So-ra's reaction wasn't good.
She clearly didn't want a two-shot.
Still, he pushed his luck.
"Fine, whatever. Hunter Sun-woo might take a while anyway..."
She figured refusing would just lead to endless nagging until she caved.
He was the clingy type, so better to snap one quick pic and be done.
Lee Hae-wan beamed as he stood from his seat.
He had every intention of getting right up next to Han So-ra, just like Park Sun-woo.
Han So-ra's expression hardened seriously.
His constant nagging was getting on her nerves—enough was enough.
She'd have to clear the air properly later and set boundaries.
She'd only planned to use him until she got that skill, but he wasn't gonna last that long.
Lee Hae-wan sidled right up to Han So-ra.
He snapped photos in the exact same pose as with Park Sun-woo.
"Hmm...?"
After three or four shots, Lee Hae-wan caught a weird smell.
His head tilted quizzically.
Night-blooming flower scent, rotten squid stink, semen reek.
The kind of odor that lingers after jerking off—why was it wafting through a cafe?
An S-Rank Hunter's senses didn't lie.
This had to be real.
'Coming from right next to me?'
Lee Hae-wan whipped his head around and glared at Han So-ra.
His razor-sharp sense of smell pinpointed the source.
Han So-ra's cheeks were slightly flushed.
Even with the cafe's AC blasting, she looked hot and uncomfortable, beading sweat.
A single curly strand clung to the corner of her mouth as she pressed her lips tight, glancing warily at Lee Hae-wan.
"Urk."
And then a burp.
The all-too-familiar stench hit the virgin Lee Hae-wan like a truck.
If it hadn't been a burp, he could've nailed it down for sure—but mixed with that, it was ambiguous.
"S-Sorry. My stomach's too full. It was an accident."
"...Yeah, happens."
Even so, it didn't add up.
He couldn't figure out why Han So-ra's mouth suddenly reeked of semen.
An awkward silence crushed the table.
That's when Park Sun-woo walked into the cafe.
"Sorry I'm late."
Park Sun-woo plopped down with a shameless grin.
Lee Hae-wan and Han So-ra both turned to stare at him almost in sync.
An S-Rank Hunter's senses didn't lie.
'...Why does Hunter Sun-woo smell so familiar...?'
'Ah, damn. Did this bastard jerk off in the bathroom?'
Han So-ra's eyes went wide.