Chapter 58
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: American Dream
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Chicago Dungeon Conference, one of the world's top three dungeon conferences. Hosted by the American research-focused guild 'Windy,' it draws top hunters and renowned scholars from around the globe.
For someone like me, whose life has always been far removed from academics, the only reason I'm interested in this conference is one thing.
To meet the Azadivar siblings from the Windy Guild.
Mina Azadivar and Muha Azadivar. These twins are the guild's rising stars. In the previous timeline, they succeeded in creating an ultra-lightweight liquid barrier using advanced dungeon materials, and thanks to that barrier, America held out the longest when the Hell Path opened.
Their barrier research was first presented at this Chicago Dungeon Conference, and it wasn't long before it was put into practical use. After commercialization, orders poured in from hunter associations and guilds worldwide, but unfortunately, our country ranked pretty low on the delivery priority list.
This time, I need to propose a contract right after their presentation.
The best option would be to convince the Chairman to secure a preliminary agreement, but if that's not possible, I'll have to borrow money from Ha Mi-jun Hunter or do whatever it takes to get my hands on those barriers.
This isn't just about supporting research—it's the strongest insurance policy for protecting the world from the Hell Path later on.
Vrrr.
Before I knew it, the limousine had merged onto the highway, gliding smoothly toward Incheon Airport.
What the hell is all that?
I was speechless at the sight beyond the window. The entrance to Incheon Airport was already swarming with reporters, and mixed in were people who looked like regular civilians.
Oh, like, fan clubs or something?
Well, if it were just me traveling alone, maybe only a few reporters would show up. But with active celebrity-slash-hunter Han Jin-woo Hunter, Ha Mi-jun Hunter who frequently appears on broadcasts for other reasons, and even Se-bin making headlines, it made sense that this many people had gathered.
"Driver, am I the first one to arrive?"
"Seems like it? The Chairman's car just passed through the toll gate... Ah, looks like everyone else is pretty much here now."
"Uh, I'll get out now."
Better to slip inside before drawing more attention. If even one person's arrival time overlaps with mine, we'll all end up immortalized together in departure photos!
"Haha, no need to be so tense. Just ignore the reporters and head straight inside."
"Thank you..."
The driver pressed the trunk button, got out of the driver's seat, and I cautiously opened the car door.
"Who's that?"
"Oh, it's Hunter Shin Ji-ui!"
The reporters sprang into action. Camera shutters clicked everywhere, mixed with murmurs from the crowd. I took my suitcase from the driver, bowed in greeting, and stood at the crosswalk signal.
"First time seeing her in person."
"She looks really nice up close."
Even counting the previous timeline, I'd stood in front of reporters hundreds of times, but it still made me shy.
Click, click, click.
A bizarre standoff formed between me and the crowd across the crosswalk.
Where am I supposed to look? And why won't this signal change?
Screech.
Just then, another limousine pulled up. The camera lenses that had been trained on me swung toward it, and I instinctively turned my head that way too.
"Se-bin unnie~!"
"Se-bin! Se-bin unnie!"
Before I could even spot the person stepping out, I heard the ecstatic screams from the fans. Flashes exploded on a scale incomparable to before.
As Se-bin closed the car door, she noticed me and waved.
"Holy shit, is she insane? Did you see that smile?"
"Casual fit slays. Just a white tee and jeans, but how does it look that good?"
They were talking so loudly I could hear them clearly from across the crosswalk.
All sorts of exclamations poured from the mouths of the camera-wielding crowd.
"Ji-ui!"
Cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha.
Sounds like rain in monsoon season.
The moment Se-bin flashed a bright smile, the shutter sounds filled the entire airport entrance. The star of the show herself seemed oblivious as she wheeled her suitcase over to my side.
"I was trying to hurry inside before the attention turned this way."
"Huh?"
Cha-cha-cha-cha-cha.
Oh man.
Se-bin tilted her head curiously, and another barrage of shutters rained down.
"Crazy, did you see that?"
"She's so freaking cute, what the~"
Vulgar expressions pierced through the shutter noise. Fortunately, Se-bin hadn't heard and just blinked at me innocently.
"Never mind... Let's go."
Just as the signal changed and we started crossing, a limousine and what was unmistakably a celebrity van arrived simultaneously. If someone was riding in that kind of celebrity vehicle...
Ah, we're totally screwed.
The reporters and civilian photographers swapped lenses with battle-hardened fervor. For a moment, it even felt like sparks were flying around them.
Cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha.
The van door opened, and as expected, Han Jin-woo Hunter hopped out energetically.
"Kyaaah! Jin-woo!!"
"Jin-woo, have a great trip!"
"Jin-woo, stay safe~"
Those lungs were impressive. Han Jin-woo Hunter waved familiarly at the telephoto lenses like a pro and trotted cutely toward the crosswalk.
"Oh, Hunter Shin Ji-ui! Hello, Hunter Kang Se-bin too!"
"It's been a while."
"Huh, Hunter Shin Ji-ui. You don't look so good?"
"No, I'm fine. Haha..."
By the time Han Jin-woo Hunter's manager dragged over a massive suitcase, a long leg suddenly emerged from the black car behind.
"Whoa..."
A mix of disbelief and pure admiration escaped my lips. Sleek ankles peeked from black slacks, polished shoes gleamed, and a short-sleeved shirt featured bold red floral prints alongside a luxury logo. I didn't need to see the face to know who was striding toward us.
"Ha Mi-jun Hunter! Over here too!"
"Mi-jun unnie!!"
"Damn, that height though?"
Bathed in exclamations, cheers, and a flash storm, Ha Mi-jun Hunter strode confidently our way. He pushed down his oversized sunglasses with a finger, eyed me with his bare eyes, then slid them back up and stood right beside me. A cool minty cologne scent assaulted my nose.
"Ew, cologne overload."
"Everyone been good~?"
"Long time no see, Ha Mi-jun Hunter! How've you been?"
"Han Jin-woo Hunter's as adorable as ever today?"
Han Jin-woo Hunter responded with just a twitch of his lips, flashing a peculiar host's smile. The one whose face actually scrunched up was me. As Ha Mi-jun Hunter waved to the reporters and fans, groans of longing echoed from across the crosswalk.
"Mi-jun, your suitcase!!"
"Oh, right, right~ Thanks, unnie!"
The limousine driver rushed over dragging a huge suitcase. Ha Mi-jun Hunter took it with one hand on his forehead, then shot a playful glance at the cameras.
This guy would fit right in as a full-time celebrity instead of a hunter.
"Hunter Shin Ji-ui, you been well?"
"Yeah, doing great."
Click, click, click.
We crossed the crosswalk amid an enormous flash bombardment and headed straight into the airport. Being a Monday around lunchtime, the interior was fairly quiet.
"We'll take your luggage~"
Association staff who had slipped inside ahead of us smoothly collected all the suitcases with practiced efficiency. They loaded them onto the conveyor belt at the dedicated check-in counter and soon returned.
Super smooth.
The whole process flowed so naturally that I found myself staring blankly. The staff politely handed back our passports and tickets.
"You can use First Class, and I'll escort you to the private plane before boarding time."
"Thank you."
With empty hands, it finally felt real—we were actually leaving the country.
Plenty of time before departure, so maybe follow Han Jin-woo Hunter to browse the duty-free shops?
"Looks like I'm the last one after all."
"Ah, Chairman!"
"Long time no see~"
Ha Mi-jun Hunter kept up his cheeky demeanor even in front of the Chairman, who responded by patting his shoulder familiarly and handing his passport to the staff.
"By the way, Chairman, you look incredibly young today. I almost thought you were my friend coming from over there."
"Haha, thanks. You look more ready for Milan than a conference."
The Chairman stared pointedly at Ha Mi-jun Hunter and smiled faintly, deepening the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.
"But a conference isn't a fashion show. Hope you at least packed a proper suit."
That's what smooth charisma looks like.
He'd said it calmly, but an inexplicable pressure hung in the air. Ha Mi-jun Hunter pouted, glancing between me and the Chairman, then draped an arm over Han Jin-woo Hunter's shoulder and grumbled.
"These are brand-new runway pieces, and now they're going back in the suitcase? Too harsh~"
"Um... I don't want weird rumors with Ha Mi-jun Hunter, so could you back off?"
A cutesy voice paired with an un-cutesy attitude. Ha Mi-jun Hunter clutched his chest like he'd been wounded but quickly recovered and leaned on Han Jin-woo Hunter again.
"If rumors were gonna happen, they'd have by now. How many cozy dinners have we had?"
"That was just shopping together~ Help me pick a bag later?"
"As our Prince Jin-woo wishes."
I ignored Ha Mi-jun Hunter's dramatic bow and headed first toward the dedicated departure gate.