Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Meeting (5)
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A little later.
As always, before training, it was time for the team meeting.
"The debut match date has been set."
"...Al-already...!?"
"Is that true...?"
The moment I announced the debut news, the members jumped in surprise and started buzzing...
Except for Jin Seo-won, who showed no particular reaction.
"It's right after the Black Rose subjugation. So, about three weeks from now."
"Three weeks..."
"P-Produce-nim...! So, what gate are we challenging!?"
Bang Han-na was more interested in the type of gate than anything else.
She seemed a bit tense—probably because it was their first official gate subjugation.
"The one we're tackling this time is A-011, the 'Gwanak Mountain Gate'."
"Huh? The Gwanak Mountain Gate..."
"...N-No way, that Gwanak Gate...?"
"......?"
Kim Na-rae and Bang Han-na reacted with disbelief, as if they couldn't trust their ears.
Jin Seo-won, who had little interest in gates, just looked puzzled...
I couldn't help but smirk at the reactions from Han Gyu-ri, Kim Jun-hyeong, and the others.
'Yeah, that's the kind of response I was hoping for.'
I wanted to turn Team Seoul City Hall into a controversial team on par with Queens.
Not in a bad way, but in a good one.
Queens had generated massive buzz even before their debut.
In the annual National Academy Tournament during their academy days, they crushed every team and individual event. In friendly matches against established teams, they ignored rank differences and went around smashing dojos, building their fame.
Cheonhwa Guild, which had competed with Sejin Guild every year for promising recruits, snagged Queens' contract and was said to have bought ten years of victories in one go. That gives you an idea of their momentum.
I planned to leverage that experience to make Team Seoul City Hall known worldwide.
And that's why I chose the 'Gwanak Mountain Gate'.
It was a full-fledged B-rank gate.
"The Gwanak Mountain Gate is on the easier side even among B-rank gates. The rank is high, but it's practically a C-rank gate. So, no need to worry too much."
I encouraged the members, assuring them it was more manageable than it sounded.
"...Ugh..."
"It's still B-rank, though..."
But the two were already intimidated by the infamous gate's reputation, their spirits crushed.
B-rank gates were firmly in the upper tier.
No matter how much their skills had improved, on paper, they were a team of two D-ranks and one F-rank. It was natural to find a B-rank daunting.
But...
They couldn't keep feeling that way forever.
"You guys... aren't being a bit too scared?"
I crossed my arms and looked at the team members as I continued.
"Our goal is to hit 30th place before the points reset. We'll be clearing B-rank gates like clockwork from now on—how do you expect to handle that if you're like this already?"
"30th place... that's Section 3...?"
"Is that even possible...?"
To be honest, it was damn near impossible.
From now until the team points reset in three weeks—about 60 days—we'd need to clear B-rank gates every single day without fail to hit the 400,000-point minimum for Section 3.
Physically impossible, in other words.
However.
I believed we needed a goal this ambitious.
To pull what people call 'aggro'.
"...Kids. Let me ask you one thing. What do you think is most important for a hunter team to succeed?"
"Success... ability, right?"
"...Money?"
"Rank, maybe...?"
I turned my gaze from the members and directed the question to Han Gyu-ri and Kim Jun-hyeong, who had been quietly watching.
"What about you two?"
"Experience!"
"Real skill, obviously."
The team offered various plausible answers, but unfortunately, none hit the mark.
"Good answers, everyone... but the real answer is 'star power'."
"Star power...?"
Star power—the term usually means the potential to attract massive popularity from the public.
I believed it determined a hunter team's success.
"You need popularity to make big money. We're doing this to make a living, not just to beat up monsters, right?"
"...!"
This was a fundamental point.
What we did was a 'job' to earn money, not a 'charity' to donate our talents.
"Let me give a simple example."
I grabbed a pen and scribbled on the electronic whiteboard behind me.
"Between Team Valhalla and Team Lemon Candy, which do you think makes more money?"
Valhalla was the current 7th-ranked all-male team.
Lemon Candy was the 16th-ranked women's team, famous for their stunning looks.
"Hmm..."
"Not sure..."
"Definitely higher-ranked Valhalla, right...?"
"But I hear Lemon Candy makes a ton too..."
Even with the stark rank difference, the team couldn't decide easily.
That proved my point already.
"The answer is Valhalla. The gap between Section 1 and 2 is hard to bridge. But... the difference in their total sales is just a few billion won. Get what that means?"
"!!"
In short...
Whether Section 1 or 2, the team making the most money is the best.
"So... let's talk again."
I pointedly set the pen down and turned to the dazed team members.
"How do we make a lot of money?"
And then I explained our future plans...
Step by step, how we could become stars.
That afternoon.
I stopped by the mart with Bang Han-na and Jin Seo-won, who had just started living together, and we were shopping for dinner ingredients.
"Han-na, any foods you don't like?"
"None!"
"How about some sashimi then?"
"Oh, I'd love that!"
While Jin Seo-won went off to pick snacks, I was browsing the seafood section with Bang Han-na...
"Seo-won doesn't eat sashimi, so... one pack should do?"
"Uh... y-yeah...?"
I casually mentioned Jin Seo-won's preference, then caught Bang Han-na's subtle reaction and inwardly facepalmed. I quietly turned and glanced at her.
"......"
She was furrowing her brow, giving me a look like How do you know that?,
I gulped nervously, averted my eyes naturally, tossed a pack of sashimi in the cart, and smoothly changed the subject.
"Sh-should we check out the meat section too?"
Just as I turned the cart toward the butcher area across from us.
"Hmm..."
Bang Han-na, walking in step beside me, casually probed.
"What kind of meat does Seo-won like...?"
It was blatant leading-the-witness stuff.
"...Probably likes all kinds of meat? What do you like?"
"I... like all of them."
"Yeah?"
I deftly dodged the interrogation and reached the butcher section, picking out the type of meat Jin Seo-won liked while ignoring Bang Han-na's subtle stares.
'Seo-won likes marinated meat...'
That's when.
"Uh... Seo-won-ah. You gonna buy all that...?"
"...Yeah."
Jin Seo-won, back with her snack choices, started bickering with Bang Han-na over them.
"They're all super sugary. Isn't that too much...?"
"......No?"
"You hesitated just now."
"...Not too much."
"No, it is. Let's take some out."
"...We can share."
"I don't eat that much."
"...Why?"
It was like a kid who'd picked snacks and the mom scolding her.
'Cute.'
I watched them for a moment, then decided to side with Bang Han-na and chimed in.
"There is a lot of chocolate."
"...!"
Jin Seo-won shot me a betrayed look, and Bang Han-na started discreetly removing more than half the snacks while lecturing her...
"Seo-won-ah. Let's get fruit instead of chocolate. Fruit's sweet and tasty too!"
"...Fruit?"
"Yeah! I saw some strawberries and cherries that looked good earlier. What do you think?"
I quietly admired Bang Han-na's unexpectedly maternal side.
'She's good at handling kids?'
Of course, Jin Seo-won wasn't a child, but compared to Bang Han-na, calling her one wouldn't feel off.
"How about we go with Han-na's idea today?"
To back her up, I subtly scolded Jin Seo-won.
"Just a little chocolate today, and fruit instead. Okay?"
"......"
Jin Seo-won glared at me resentfully, then gazed longingly at the snacks in the cart before slowly nodding.
"Good thinking!"
Bang Han-na promptly left just a few snacks and cheerfully said she'd return the rest.
"I'm fine with anything, so you two pick the meat!"
"Got it. We'll look at veggies too, so come over here."
"Yes...!"
Meanwhile, Jin Seo-won eyed the snacks in Bang Han-na's arms wistfully...
"......"
She looked so adorable, I secretly slipped her a chocolate bar when Han-na wasn't looking.
"I'll set up dinner, so you two change and come out."
"Yes...!"
"...Okay."
After some twists and turns, we arrived back at the dorm. I shoved the two into their rooms and started prepping dinner.
"Let's see... what first..."
Their dorm had two rooms and a large living room, just like my place.
Of course, being girls' living space, the furniture and decor differed, so it wasn't identical—but despite that, it felt strangely familiar.
"Producer-nim! I'm out! What can I help with?"
"Quick, huh? Can you set the table then?"
"Yes...!"
"...What're you doing?"
"Seo-won-ah's out too. Hm... open the packaging next to me."
"...This?"
"Yeah."
With all three of us pitching in, dinner was ready in a flash.
"Thanks for the food!"
"...Thanks for the food."
We gathered around the table and dug in.
"Seo-won-ah, try this with it. It's really good!"
"...It's veggies."
"It's really good together... no, don't pick them out."
"...Unnie eats a lot."
Meals with just Jin Seo-won were silent except for clinking chopsticks, but with Bang Han-na, the mood felt much brighter.
'This feels like it's been ages.'
It reminded me of old times living with the three Queens members—nostalgic.
"Producer-nim! Have some of this too!"
"Ah, thanks. You don't have to serve me..."
"You made dinner yourself! This is the least I can do!"
"...No matter how I look at it, Han-na'd make a great mom."
"M-Mom...?"
We were enjoying the cozy meal when...
──
The phone in my pocket vibrated briefly.
'Who is it?'
I set down my chopsticks, pulled out my phone, and checked the message.
"......"
"What's wrong?"
"...?"
"...Huh? Nothing. Just spam, I think. ...Let's eat."
I hastily brushed off their concern, pocketed the phone, and mechanically moved my chopsticks while deep in thought.
[Hong Yu-ra: Kit arrived.]
[Hong Yu-ra: I'll tell the kids.]