Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Han Yoo-jung (3)
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Lee Ji-ah's mansion had a training room in the basement.
As an S-rank hunter who'd set it up for her own workouts, every piece of equipment down there was top-of-the-line.
Of course, Ji-ah herself rarely came down except for her Peace of Mind training.
Thanks to that, I'd pretty much rented out the state-of-the-art facility for myself.
Even though I'd given up being a hunter to pivot to manager life, a year of habit died hard.
It wasn't lingering regret so much as finding meaning in those grub-like incremental improvements. Plus, it was a good chance to stay in shape.
After a solid workout today, my lips were parched. I cracked open a water bottle and poured it down my throat. What was left, I dumped over my head. The cool rush hit me, and my legs turned to jelly.
I'm gonna die...
I peeled off my soaked T-shirt and wrung it out with a snap, snap. That's when I heard footsteps at the entrance.
"Ji-ah?"
"It's me. Why's everything gotta be about Lee Ji-ah with you?"
"We're in Ji-ah's house. Who else would I be looking for?"
"Let's drop it."
It was Han Ye-rim.
I'd thought it was Ji-ah and started to get dressed, but instead just plopped down casually.
Han Ye-rim scanned the training room as she approached, eyes wide at all the gear.
"This is a private gym? Even most guilds don't go this hard. What kind of home has hundreds of millions in training equipment just lying around?"
"She's an S-rank hunter."
How much sweat had I even shed? Water was still dripping off me. I twisted my shirt carefully, making sure not to rip it.
"Hey, I've crossed paths with plenty of S-rank hunters at the guild. You think they all have setups like this? She's probably just avoiding the crowds at guild gyms. Classic homebody."
Han Ye-rim nudged the adjustable dumbbells rolling on the floor. She let out an impressed whistle.
"These are R&G models, right? The ones where the weight scales up to tons?"
"Tried 'em out just now. Pretty solid."
"How much you lift?"
"150 kg for five sets."
"For real? So you haven't been slacking."
She approached with a warm smile, but her steps halted abruptly. I looked at her quizzically.
"Why stop mid-sentence?"
"Uh, yeah?"
Our eyes met, and Han Ye-rim—uncharacteristically—stumbled over her words. I draped my shirt over my shoulder and stepped closer. Our faces were inches apart.
"Why'd you trail off?"
Her pupils trembled faintly as her lips parted. She covered her mouth with the back of her hand, averting her gaze slyly.
"...You've been working out hard, huh?"
"Died and came back to life every day for a year. Remember when I did boxing?"
"Yeah, the coach refunded you after three months and begged you not to say he trained you if you got hit."
"No combat sense at all. Trainer just had me grind my body endlessly."
"Figures..."
Han Ye-rim's eyebrows twitched as she swallowed hard. Her eyes darted up and down aimlessly. They traced my neck to my collarbone, then snapped back to my face.
"Ha... Anyway, guild stuff to talk about."
So that's why she'd come all the way down here.
I stared at her, urging her on. She shook her head sharply, exhaling a dazed breath.
"Hyun-woo, got any water?"
"Here."
I unscrewed the cap and handed her the bottle. She chugged it down, then wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
She sighed, looking a bit more composed.
"Ji-ah can't solo dungeons. Even if she could, she needs you."
"Yeah."
Truth was, Ji-ah wasn't in any shape to hunt normally. She was pushing herself out of greed to bind me with a contract.
More than my worries, Ji-ah herself probably hated the idea of dungeons even more.
Back when I convinced her to try hunting.
That timid girl shot it down flat.
Dungeons were unpredictable danger zones.
Like during Pung-hwa Guild's entrance test, when the Evil Eye appeared and Ji-ah panicked instantly.
No guarantee it wouldn't happen again.
"Sending you in with her is too risky."
You're out of your weight class. For Ji-ah to fight while protecting me perfectly, she'd have to stick to way lower difficulty dungeons. There's a limit to using a cattle knife for chickens—costs wouldn't even cover labor at that point.
"That's why we're benching Ji-ah. No dungeons."
Had I heard that right?
"You're gonna let an S-rank hunter sit idle?"
Han Ye-rim nodded.
What's with her?
Obviously, sidelining a hunter like Ji-ah was a straight-up loss.
Normally, Ye-rim's personality would've had her squeezing every drop out of Ji-ah with double shifts.
Then it hit me—Ji-ah wasn't taking contract pay, positioning herself as a co-founder.
"You're not thinking of coasting without paying her until the guild grows, are you?"
"..."
Han Ye-rim sheepishly twirled her hair. I glared, and she laughed awkwardly, making excuses.
"It's not that. Just facing reality. What if you get hurt? Ji-ah's not gonna sit still—she'll blame herself."
True enough.
"Ji-ah hunts, guild funds grow too. Not like that, so stop looking at me like that."
I smoothed out my furrowed brows with my fingers.
"Fine, say no dungeons like you say. Then what's the point of Ji-ah joining the guild?"
Han Ye-rim broke it down point by point.
"The prestige of having an S-rank on the roster. Until Ji-ah's back to normal, she'll just be our figurehead."
"How?"
"Her depression's from the hate comments, right?"
Yeah. Ji-ah's depression stemmed from malicious comments. She couldn't stop herself from scouring the internet for every insult, even if she knew better.
Probably holed up in her room right now, surfing for hate or praise.
The hearing flipped public opinion overnight, but as time passed, fans and antis were back at each other's throats.
In the end, nothing had changed for Ji-ah since we first met.
"Guild handles the hate management."
"How?"
"Image makeover. SNS for fan chats. Charity at nursing homes with press. Humanize her on shows. Opinion shifts favorably over time."
Standard playbook for big hunters. Hunting's a business built on image. Equal skill? The crowd-pleaser wins. Charisma helps too.
Ji-ah hadn't even made an SNS, barricaded at home.
One question nagged.
"You worked in the States—got Korean connections? Press, broadcasts, Association?"
Han Ye-rim thumped her chest confidently.
"Think I went independent blind? Got seniors from Ace Guild who left first."
"That enough?"
"Fresh off U.S. gigs, back in Korea? They're all killing it. Don't worry. Guild fattened me up for times like this. Connections are made through others anyway."
Look at her gilding her own lily.
Her confidence was kinda convincing.
Still, one big issue left.
"Will Ji-ah go for it...?"
I asked worriedly, knowing her personality best. Even Hwasin Guild Master Han Ye-rim couldn't have missed this approach.
A shut-in who only left for groceries once a month—on TV? In front of press? Chatting SNS? All while looking likable?
"That's why I came to you."
"Me?"
"Convince her."
"How?"
"...Just, go cute on her or something. Say we work together. Tell her dungeons scare you so bad you can't sleep."
Arms crossed, Han Ye-rim kicked the floor irritably. I let out a disbelieving laugh.
"Like that'll work?"
"It will."
I chuckled at her dead-serious joke and gripped my shirt. Flexed my forearms—sweat trickled down. Better now. I shook it out in the air.
Gulp, gulp!
Han Ye-rim threw her head back, chugging water.
"You working out too? Thirsty much?"
She fanned herself with her hand.
"Haa... Isn't it hot in here?"
"Killed the AC to sweat properly."
"Ah, that explains it... I'm sweating too."
"Want a towel?"
Before I finished, whoosh! She snatched the towel from my hand. Han Ye-rim rubbed her face furiously with it.
"Haa..."
I said cautiously, stunned.
"Got a fresh one in my bag."
"Nah! I'm out soon!"
"Cool."
I slipped on my shirt and tidied the scattered gear. Felt eyes on my back. Han Ye-rim was watching, towel to her face.
"You go ahead. I'll clean up."
"...Hyun-woo, there's Han Yoo-jung."
"Yeah?"
Why bring her up?
She fidgeted with her lips before speaking.
"Han Yoo-jung's an S-rank Awakener. How about recruiting her to the guild..."
"No."
I cut her off firmly.
"We got Ji-ah. Why greed for Yoo-jung too?"
She bristled at my shutdown, messing her hair in frustration.
"Why not Han Yoo-jung?"
"She's 17. Remember us at 17? Arcade games, that's it."
"You took her to a dungeon for the test."
"Same gun doesn't make a soldier a merc. Wasn't slaying monsters. Protecting me."
Han Ye-rim bit her lip hard.
"Ji-ah can't enter dungeons."
"That's what you just said."
"She'll be our signboard hunter, but still just a figurehead. Everyone knows her issues now. Word's spread."
"..."
"Without Ji-ah's name value, what draws hunters? Yoo-jung aces the exam, she's instant prospect."
"..."
"S-rank Awakener. Makes the guild look legit. Not just rankers—top prospect picks us..."
"No."
"Kim Hyun-woo!"
"Don't even think of luring Yoo-jung."
I shoved past Han Ye-rim's shoulder.
That kid's got enough scars.
Unless she wants in later, no way I'm dragging her into the meat grinder.
Try tempting her, I dare you.
After dinner, as Han Yoo-jung quietly ate her dessert, she dropped a bombshell.
"Uncle, I'll be a hunter."
Clink!
I slammed my spoon down and glared at Han Ye-rim.
"Hey! Han Ye-rim!"
She waved her hands, shaking her head.
"Didn't say a word to Yoo-jung!"
She looked panicked too, shooting desperate eyes at Han Yoo-jung for backup.
"Overheard you talking while passing by."
Overheard that?
I was floored. Headache incoming from her declaration. I said,
"...That's no reason to become a hunter. Think it over."
Han Yoo-jung poked at her chiffon cake with her fork, deep in thought. After a silent moment, she flashed an awkward smile.
"Remember when I said I'd help at the dessert shop?"
"...Yeah."
"You need it. I'll help."
Head bowed, Han Yoo-jung took a bite of chiffon cake.
A shy smile played on her chewing lips.