Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Persuasion (5)
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6 PM.
"“Good work today!”"
I wrapped up training right on time, sent the team members home, and headed to the restaurant I'd reserved in advance with Jin Seo-won, just as planned.
"Here it is."
The place we arrived at was a cozy family restaurant.
I could've picked something fancier, but I chose this spot on purpose, figuring it might make Jin Seo-won feel more at ease.
"I'm buying tonight, so eat as much as you want."
"…Thank you."
We split the menus the server brought over and each picked what we wanted, but…
Jin Seo-won started sneaking glances at me as she scanned the menu.
"All set?"
"…Not yet."
She seemed unsure what to choose.
"How about we get this popular set from the front page and share it?"
Catching on quick, I pointed to the recommended set on the first page of the menu.
She quietly stared at the item I indicated…
Then nodded her head in silent agreement.
Once the food arrived…
"…I'll dig in."
"Eat up."
Pretending to sip my soup, I closely observed Jin Seo-won across from me.
She'd been staring at the steak in the center the whole time, swallowing hard before cautiously picking up her fork and knife. But she hesitated, unsure how to proceed, her hands hovering aimlessly.
She must love meat.
Watching her like that, I picked up my knife as if I hadn't noticed a thing.
"Want me to cut it up for you?"
I sliced the steak into bite-sized pieces and placed them on the plate in front of her.
"This size okay?"
"…Thank you."
Jin Seo-won murmured her thanks, swallowed again, and popped a piece into her mouth…
"…!"
Her eyes went wide—it must've tasted great—and she started munching away eagerly.
She's got a cute side.
Different from Bang Han-na's blatant cuteness.
If Bang Han-na was like a puppy wagging its tail wildly…
Jin Seo-won was more like a cat showing its charm subtly.
"Try this with it."
For some reason, I found myself taking care of her throughout the meal.
She seemed a bit uncomfortable at first, reacting awkwardly, but I kept at it without paying it any mind. Before long, she got used to it and quietly accepted.
"…Whew…"
"Full?"
Jin Seo-won nodded with a satisfied look and set her fork down gently.
And as she sipped her drink…
Now's the time.
Having waited for the perfect moment, I casually brought up a topic to aid her digestion.
"That thing with the mana stone earlier was seriously cool. Not just anyone can do that… You sure it was your first time?"
"…Yes."
"Wow, impressive…"
Jin Seo-won blushed, clearly not used to praise.
I kept pouring on the sweet words.
"Out of everyone I've seen so far, you might have the most talent, Seo-won. You're the first person who's handled mana so effortlessly on their first try. It's all about pure intuition… Guess you got it from your parents."
Then I smoothly shifted the topic to her future.
"Got any plans? Like a job or college?"
"…No."
"I see… With that kind of talent, you could kick down the doors of a top guild. No interest in being a Hunter at all?"
"…Yes."
Testing the waters, I nodded indifferently and slipped in my pitch.
"Then how about working with me?"
"…Pardon?"
"You feel like a little sister to me, so I'm saying this… It'd be such a waste to let your talent go to seed. It's like throwing away gold in your hands."
"…Uh, I…"
"No, I don't mean become a Hunter. I'm not one, right? I'm a Producer."
She fell silent, tilting her head in confusion.
I met her eyes and laid it out simply.
"Unlike other Producers, I also do coaching and scouting. Not to brag, but I'm better than most at it. Even I can handle mana like you, but I don't do dangerous stuff. Right?"
Jin Seo-won slowly nodded in agreement.
I curved my lips into a slight smile and kept selling it.
"I want to give you a shot, Seo-won. A chance to use your talent. Honestly, there's no better Producer in this industry than me. You won't regret working with me."
It sounded like a sales pitch, maybe even scammy, but every word was true.
I am a capable Producer, and she does have talent.
"Of course, there'd be training like handling mana today. But that's just par for the course. No one takes advice from someone who can't even control their own mana, right?"
"…Right."
Jin Seo-won nodded along, seemingly swayed by my words.
She was starting to waver.
"Just one month. Until your name-leasing ends. Come in on weekdays and learn the ropes—how's that?"
"…Weekdays?"
"Yeah. Commuting from Chuncheon to Seoul would be tough… I'll book you a residence hotel in Seoul and handle your commute."
There was no real need to go that far with the commute, but to grasp the Heavenly Demon Divine Art faster, I needed to stick close to her as much as possible.
"Oh, and just so you know… I don't offer this to just anyone. Ask the team if you want. They might think 'a mana stone glow and that's it?', but I'm betting on my eye for talent and investing in your future. Compared to that, this is a steal."
"……."
Jin Seo-won turned her gaze away, seemingly lost in thought.
I told her there was no pressure, take her time thinking it over, then called the server to pay.
And then…
"…I'll talk it over with my sister."
I got a positive response from Jin Seo-won.
The same time.
Queens' office.
"Yu-ra, I'm trying my best…"
"Guild Leader, this isn't about effort."
Gu Seok-il was talking with Hong Yu-ra, who had stopped by for an interview.
"Gates are dangerous even when the team syncs perfectly. As team leader, I can't accept going in like this."
Hong Yu-ra was worried about the strained relations between Seol Ju-hee and Im A-rin lately.
Im A-rin had suddenly started insisting—even if her head split open—that they needed to bring Do Ji-hyeok back because she trusted him,
and Seol Ju-hee was grinding her teeth in displeasure watching it all.
"I'd like the guild to adjust our schedule. For me, for the others—we need time."
That's why Hong Yu-ra had requested time for the team…
"Schedule… Uh…"
Gu Seok-il couldn't readily agree.
Canceling already-booked schedules wasn't easy.
"Alright, I'll… do my best to adjust…"
Caught between Cheonhwa Group and Queens, all Gu Seok-il could do was ask for understanding.
He was in a position where pushing Queens too hard could cost him his head.
"If this keeps up, I won't have a choice."
"…Yu-ra, please. You're the only one who can rein them in…! Ju-hee and A-rin only listen to you…!"
"That's why I'm telling you. Cut back the schedule."
"O-okay…! I'll adjust the schedule as much as I can! But we have to hit the Gate…! We're only 1200 points ahead of Black Rose! Lose first place now, and I'm dead…!"
Gu Seok-il groveled to the much younger Hong Yu-ra, practically begging,
"Please, just spare me this once!"
and at his desperate plea—like his life was on the line—Hong Yu-ra felt an odd disconnect…
"…?"
She started to say something but trailed off, told him to handle it himself, and left the leader's office.
"…This is driving me crazy…"
Left alone, Gu Seok-il slumped into his chair with a heavy sigh.
"Guild Leader."
A woman's voice pierced his ear.
"!"
Gu Seok-il jumped in shock, shot to his feet, and looked toward the voice,
his face twisting like he'd seen something he shouldn't, before forcing an awkward smile and speaking cautiously.
"W-what brings you here so suddenly…?"
"I have something to say too."
"…O-oh! Right… What is it?"
The owner of that flustered voice was none other than…
"I brought a gift for your daughter."
Im A-rin.
A few days later.
"Han-na. Come here for a sec?"
"Yep!"
Bang Han-na was training with Do Ji-hyeok.
"Get into the same defensive stance as before."
"Uh… like this?"
"Yeah. Hold it there."
"…?"
Do Ji-hyeok circled behind Bang Han-na in her defensive pose and placed a hand lightly on her shoulder, giving instructions.
"Lower your waist a bit more."
"…L-like this?"
"A little more."
Producer's hands are surprisingly big…
Bang Han-na was startled by his hand through her combat gear but lowered her stance bit by bit.
Then…
"Lower it more."
Do Ji-hyeok lifted his hand from her shoulder and pressed gently on her lower back, applying pressure.
"…!"
It was pure coaching, no ulterior motive whatsoever…
H-his hand's touching me…!
But with her waist as a weak spot, Bang Han-na reacted sensitively.
"…L-like this…?"
"Yeah. That's how low it needs to be so your center of gravity doesn't shift… You okay?"
"…Y-yes…! Totally fine…!"
As Bang Han-na soaked up Do Ji-hyeok's attention body and soul, even enjoying the training's rigor…
"Producer!"
Han Gyu-ri approached suddenly and relayed some news to Do Ji-hyeok.
At which…
"Really!?"
Do Ji-hyeok lit up like a kid getting a gift,
…What's got him so excited…?
and Bang Han-na felt a twinge of curiosity at this unfamiliar side of him.
"Han-na, I've got something to handle. Keep going on your own?"
"Oh, sure!"
Do Ji-hyeok sent her to a booth and left with a beaming smile.
Bang Han-na watched his back, then quietly entered the booth…
"Hoo…!"
She finished a set and instinctively scanned around for Do Ji-hyeok, peering out.
And…
"…Huh?"
She spotted Do Ji-hyeok and Jin Seo-won standing side by side, chatting amiably.