Chapter 263: Bastard (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 263: Bastard (5)
A new source of amusement had appeared in my school life, which was slowly starting to become tedious.
“…I think it would have been right for me to step forward just now, wouldn’t it?”
“Uh, uh… I think you’re right, Yu-jeong. But, Yu-jeong…?”
“What is it, Elena?”
“Why are your eyes like that…?”
“Hoo… What do you mean, ‘like that’?”
“I mean, your eyes look too kind, which is unlike you. Did you… catch something? A fatal disease?”
“……”
Perhaps because she had more people to talk to, Elena’s Korean skills were improving by leaps and bounds, and she used them to completely floor Yu-jeong.
“Ahem…”
I forced myself to stifle a laugh and turned my head away.
There is that saying, after all: if a person changes suddenly, they’re about to die.
A vein popped on Shin Yu-jeong’s forehead, unintentionally provoked.
I thought she was finally going to explode, but then…
“What are you talking about, Elena? I’ve always been like this.”
Wow, she’s holding it in.
Elena looked even more surprised by the words spoken with a forced smile.
“Where did the sharp-tongued, hyena-like Yu-jeong go, and why is a gentle Sheep-Yu-jeong suddenly left in her place…?”
What the.
What was with that pronunciation? It sounded like she was straight-up cursing at her.
“…Sheep-Yu-jeong?”
“Yes, sheep.”
Even when Shin Yu-jeong asked her to repeat it, the pronunciation didn’t change.
This, I really can’t hold back…
Just as I was watching with rapt attention…
“She means a lamb.”
Seo-yeon, who was next to me, interpreted Elena’s word.
“Ah… so you meant ‘sheep,’ as in the animal.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“And here I thought.”
Right.
There’s no way our Elena would say something as vulgar as ‘Ssib-Yu-jeong’ [Fuck-Yu-jeong].
With the misunderstanding quickly cleared up, Yu-jeong’s anger also began to subside.
“Tsk.”
What a shame.
If Seo-yeon had been a little slower with her explanation, I would’ve seen Shin Yu-jeong explode, which would’ve given me an excuse to give her a penalty.
“Hey, Do-jin.”
As I was clicking my tongue in disappointment, Na-eun, who was beside me, spoke up.
“Is something wrong with Yu-jeong? For some reason today… she seems a lot more mild-mannered.”
From breakfast until now.
I think I’d heard that same question at least five times.
That’s how much Shin Yu-jeong had changed.
Or maybe it’s more fitting to say she was still holding it in well.
In any case, she wasn’t throwing a fit just because she was in a bad mood, nor was she speaking bluntly.
Her usual way of talking hadn't changed much, but it felt like a bit of softness had been added.
Thanks to that, neither Jeong-hee nor the Ajeossi could eat properly.
They were worried that something terrible had happened to their daughter for her to change so much overnight.
Interpreted a little differently, it meant Shin Yu-jeong’s transformation was having a whirlwind effect.
For now, she was only managing to endure, but I had actually predicted it would take her about a week just to get to this point.
After all, fixing a personality that has become so set in its ways is no easy task.
How do I know?
Because I’ve been through it myself.
“She’s just in the process of changing her personality, so you don’t have to worry.”
“That’s a relief, but…”
With a look that said my answer had eased her worries, she asked again.
“She’s not going to suddenly explode all at once, is she?”
“It might not be entirely impossible…?”
“I’d better be extra careful for a while…”
I gave a quiet nod at her wise course of action.
That might be for the best.
* * *
The weather was transitioning from late spring to early summer, gradually growing warmer.
On a sunny afternoon, a massive crowd gathered at the Hunter Association.
From the executives of the Hunter Association to the heads of major guilds, and even famous figures from the political and business worlds.
It was a gathering of people so well-known you’d recognize them just by name.
Amid a flurry of camera flashes from reporters, a woman gracefully stepped onto the stage.
Dressed in a pure white gown, the person waving with a charming smile was none other than Han Ju-yeon.
All the celebrities gathered here had come to see her.
To commemorate the day an A-rank Buffer and Healer ascended to S-rank.
“We hereby appoint A-rank Hunter Han Ju-yeon as an S-rank Hunter.”
The emergence of South Korea’s sixth S-rank Hunter was a cause for major celebration.
There were only four other nations in the world with six or more active S-rank Hunters.
The United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and China.
With Han Ju-yeon’s promotion to S-rank, Korea could now stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them.
Of course, if you looked closer, the difference in power was still stark, but at least on the surface, the country had secured the next level of military strength after the so-called Big Four. How could they not be delighted?
“Congratulations, Hunter Han Ju-yeon.”
“Thank you.”
“This is a gift from the President.”
“Oh my, you didn’t have to give me something like this…”
“He wanted to come in person, but he was unable to due to state affairs and asked me to convey his apologies for only being able to send a gift.”
“Hoho, of course. I know very well how busy the President is. Please tell him not to worry, as I don’t mind at all.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Han Ju-yeon and the President’s Chief of Staff chatted in a friendly atmosphere.
However, their conversation didn’t last long.
“Well… I shall see you again on the next occasion. I would love to talk longer, but… the circumstances don’t seem to allow it.”
That was because, besides him, there were countless others swarming around, waiting to speak with her.
Realizing that each of them held considerable influence in the industry, he decided to retreat quickly before the atmosphere turned sour.
The empty spot left by the Chief of Staff’s departure.
People of no small influence began to fight amongst themselves to claim it.
“I was here first, where do you think you’re cutting in?”
“That’s ridiculous. My foot was a tiny bit ahead of yours.”
“Hey, I’m even acquainted with Hunter Han Ju-yeon.”
“Hunter Han Ju-yeon? Is Hunter-nim your friend? Huh?”
“We’re the same age, you bastard!”
The childish squabble escalated into an emotional brawl.
Watching this, Han Ju-yeon simply offered them an awkward smile, making no move to intervene.
Every one of their heated actions seemed meaningless to her.
‘What should I do… They’re all wasting their time.’
S-rank Hunter appointment ceremonies were always crowded.
As they were considered modern asymmetrical warfare assets, a single S-ranker had a massive impact on a nation.
However, this particular ceremony was unusually packed.
The reason was simple.
Unlike the other Hunters who had previously reached S-rank, Han Ju-yeon was a free agent.
“Hunter Han Ju-yeon, would you not consider leading a guild with me?”
“A signing bonus of 50 billion won. We will deposit it the moment you sign the contract.”
“We’ll even take care of all the taxes, Hunter Han Ju-yeon!”
Such was the prestige of an S-rank Hunter.
They weren’t just one rank above A-rank; they were beings on an entirely different dimension.
Their mere presence could boost the morale of all other Hunters, turning impossible dungeons into possible ones. In gaming terms, they were what you’d call an overpowered item or a cheat key.
What’s more, she was a Healer and a Buffer.
When ranking S-rank Hunters by class, they were a mythical beast-level rarity, vying with Mages for the least common.
An S-rank Buffer and Healer who is a free agent?
This was an ultra-rare commodity that not only her own country but foreign nations as well would drool over and covet.
“Hunter Han Ju-yeon, this is from the Giant Guild, ranked third in the United States…”
Indeed, there were quite a few foreigners mixed into the crowd.
If not for the Hunter Association’s interference, trying to prevent her from being poached by overseas guilds, there would have been at least ten times more foreigners present.
As she looked at the people who had made the heavy journey from far and near just for her, only one thought came to her mind.
‘How am I going to turn them all down…?’
Rejection was the only option.
She had no particular desire to join a guild.
The contracts they offered were all excellent, but none of them captured her heart.
It was only natural.
What she, Han Ju-yeon, truly wanted was not in the contracts they offered, but somewhere else entirely.
There were too many people to deal with one by one.
Just as she was pondering how to effectively get rid of them…
“You’re having a tough time.”
Her one and only older sister, Han Ju-hee, greeted her with an indifferent tone and sat down next to her.
“When did you get here? You said you might not be able to make it because you were busy.”
“Just a little while ago. I could only clear one thing from my schedule, so I have to leave soon.”
As she spoke, Han Ju-hee’s gaze was fixed on her smartphone.
Seeing words like ‘meeting’ and ‘documents’ on the screen, it seemed she was working even at this moment.
She really lives a busy life.
Just as Han Ju-yeon was looking at her sister, unable to understand her life of no leisure despite having grasped everything without missing a single thing…
“Have you made up your mind?”
Han Ju-yeon tilted her head at her question.
“About what?”
“The guild.”
“Ah…”
Han Ju-hee gestured with her chin toward the guild officials swarming like bees in the distance and continued.
“At this rate, you’ll be pestered constantly.”
“I suppose so…”
She was right.
Even if she managed to fend off all the officials here, what came next was obvious.
As long as she remained unsigned, they would relentlessly pursue her, looking for any opportunity.
“If you don’t have a particular place in mind, going to your brother-in-law doesn’t seem like a bad idea.”
“My brother-in-law’s guild?”
“He wouldn’t make you do anything you don’t want to.”
“My brother-in-law… I guess you’re right.”
Han Ju-yeon agreed with an awkward smile.
Her brother-in-law would certainly be like that.
‘Not anymore, though.’
Talking about it solidified her decision.
“You’re the best, Unnie.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Whenever I talk to you, everything gets sorted out so easily.”
With that reply, Han Ju-yeon stood up from her seat.
“I’ll be right back.”
Waving goodbye, she headed toward the stage where she had just been appointed as an S-ranker.
She picked up a microphone from a corner and began to speak.
“Ah, ah. Can everyone hear me?”
As her voice spread gently through the speakers, people’s attention turned to her.
“I’ve come back up because there’s something I’d like to say!”
The reporters who hadn’t left yet also focused on her, their camera shutters clicking incessantly.
“I apologize to everyone who made the long journey, but I have no intention of joining a guild yet.”
The guild officials who had come solely for her showed mixed emotions.
While they were disappointed they couldn’t recruit her, they also consoled themselves with the fact that she wasn’t joining any other guild either, meaning there was still a chance.
A man raised his hand and asked.
“Does that mean you have no immediate plans for your activities?”
“No! I do have plans.”
“May I ask what they are…?”
To the follow-up question, she replied with a bright smile.
“For the time being, I plan to continue what I’ve been doing. The work of healing growing sprouts… it’s more rewarding and enjoyable than I thought.”
To be precise, it’s because of one person hidden among those sprouts, but there’s no need to reveal that much.
Based on her statement, articles began to pour out.
While everyone was praising her actions as the good deeds of an S-rank Hunter…
One reporter wrote an article that went completely against the grain.
【S-rank Hunter Han Ju-yeon to Continue Working as a Healer at Korea University. Is There a Hidden Motive?】
The article claimed that there was another reason she wanted to continue working as a healer at Korea University, and it might be because of Kim Do-jin, who was currently a student there.
Given that dating rumors had surfaced between the two before, the content was quite plausible, but the netizens’ reactions were quite different from what was expected.
ㄴJuyeonMamaHeueung: Why would our Mama like some B-rank scrub when she could have anyone? lol
ㄴNoonaImDying: Does our S-rank Noona look like a joke to you, trash reporter?
ㄴCantLoseKimDojin: Could you stop shipping my Oppa with that ajumma? It’s disgusting, you know?
ㄴCucu-roo-ping-pong: Isn’t the real madness the newspaper that employs someone who writes this garbage and calls them a reporter...?
ㄴLemonButter: Recommend me a novel with this plot.
Faced with a flood of scathing reactions, the newspaper’s response was swift.
【This article has been deleted.】
They deleted the article in the face of the cold snap that hit not just the reporter, but the entire newspaper company.
They didn’t know.
That the article written by the reporter they had torn to shreds was the one closest to the truth.