Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Top Three
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Heading out to meet Seo Joohee were Woojin, Aileen, and Jihyun.
Jo Ayoung had whined that she wanted to come along too, but Woojin convinced her with, "What if they notice how much stronger you've gotten?"
Aileen chimed in as well. "It's not like it matters if I'm there with Jihyun anyway. No one can touch Woojin oppa. You just watch the kids."
She respected Woojin's opinion.
In the end, the three of them set off with Director Jeong to meet Seo Joohee.
In the outskirts of Seoul, beneath a building that looked like an ordinary gallery on the surface.
But the elevator leading down there wouldn't even work without Director Jeong's special card.
The moment the elevator doors opened, what hit them wasn't the cold scent of machinery, but a fishy metallic tang mixed with an indescribable, mystical aroma of mana.
"This is a Level 1 national security zone. Seo Joohee the Hunter avoids contact with the outside world as much as possible. It's her workshop and sanctuary."
Even as Director Jeong explained, Woojin furrowed his brow.
The eyes of the security agents stationed throughout the halls were anything but ordinary.
This felt less like protection and more like surveillance.
Perhaps that's why Director Jeong's expression was a bit tense.
He seemed to be watching the two women flanking Woojin—widely acknowledged as the world's strongest.
"Hmph. It's basically a prison."
Even as Aileen shot back like that, Director Jeong couldn't say a word.
Woojin glanced at Aileen and Jihyun standing beside him.
Aileen had already shifted into full "queen" mode, arms crossed as she appraised her surroundings, while Jihyun's face was colder and more impassive than ever.
Woojin chuckled inwardly.
'This must be how they really look to everyone else.'
These were the kinds of women who turned into such lovable people around him.
Woojin felt a fresh surge of pride.
Bzzz—
The final door slid open, and Director Jeong spoke.
"Let's go in. Seo Joohee the Hunter, we're here."
The moment the door opened, what unfolded before them was order amid chaos.
Unidentified gemstones scattered everywhere, mana lamps floating in the air emitting light, and precision tools strewn messily across the floor.
And right in the center.
A woman with messy hair roughly pinned up with clips, peering at a gem fragment through oversized magnifying glasses.
She seemed oblivious to their arrival, staring blankly at the gem.
Director Jeong nodded to Woojin's group and said,
"Then I'll leave you to talk. I'll be elsewhere."
"Yes, thank you."
"Just in case, but there are no listening devices or anything. Talk freely."
"Haha, just in case on my end too, but if you try any eavesdropping, these two won't stay quiet."
Director Jeong swallowed hard at Aileen.
"Haha, I know my place."
With that, Director Jeong closed the door and left.
Seo Joohee was still deep in her work.
Woojin muttered to himself.
"She's the same as ever..."
Jihyun asked Woojin at his words.
"Is she always like that?"
"Yeah, she doesn't respond when she's making something. Not sure if it's focus or just her personality..."
"She's an odd one."
For such a person, she was incredibly beautiful.
The kind of fragile noble lady from a novel, if she existed in reality.
Wavy long brown hair, pale skin, and a dazed gaze.
Well, not quite on the level of Aileen or Jihyun.
Time kept ticking by.
About five minutes passed, and Woojin, unable to hold back any longer, called out loudly.
"Hey! Yoo Joohee!"
His voice echoed through the workshop, and only then did Seo Joohee slowly lift her head.
Her eyes were unfocused and hazy, her eyelids heavy as if they might close any second.
"Ahh... whooo...?"
Been a while since I heard that tone.
She dragged out the ends of words, speaking slower than a sloth.
Anyone short-tempered would grab their neck and collapse.
Seo Joohee's gaze slowly swept over the group.
Then it stopped on Woojin.
One second, two seconds...
A faint spark of life began to flicker in her hazy eyes.
"Uh... Woojin oppaaa...?"
"Yeah, it's me. Long time no see."
Woojin greeted her with an awkward smile.
In fact, even in Unriworld, Seo Joohee had few friends because of her personality.
Everyone was too frustrated and bolted.
Woojin was one of the few who listened to her dazed ramblings to the end.
Crunch—!
Suddenly, Woojin heard a sound like a massive glacier cracking behind his back.
"Knew it would be like this... What? Oppa?"
Woojin panicked and shouted hastily.
"Ah, I mean! We've known each other so long, so I talk casually with Joohee!"
Seo Joohee nodded slowly and replied.
"Mm... yeahhh... Woojin oppa... is fun... so I liked him... and everyone did toooo..."
What the? Is this girl an assassin here to kill me? No, did I walk into my own death?
"Hey! Why are you like this? Why make up lies? Who says everyone liked me!?"
"Eh...? Lies...? Woojin oppa was popular... in Unriworld... Production top three...? That much...?"
Aileen smirked viciously and poked Woojin's side.
"Kuk!"
"Oh? Top three?"
Jihyun picked up the thread.
"What? While we were suffering on the front lines, oppa was back there playing around with girls?"
Woojin felt wronged.
He hadn't even held a woman's hand in ten years, let alone dated.
This was the first he'd heard of being popular.
"No! Joohee, you! Did I ever... Hey! Did you go weird while I wasn't looking?"
But Seo Joohee replied flatly.
"But... it's true...? Among the production class folks... we lived with back then... Woojin oppa was the best... "
Only then did Woojin recall the production class people he'd lived with.
Being a game, hardly any men chose production classes.
They all went combat.
So production classes were mostly women.
The men were just the blacksmith elder, the alchemist grandpa, the seamstress grandma, the pot-bellied chef uncle, and the rugged middle-aged lumberjack bro.
And Enhancer Kim Woojin.
In their 20s, Woojin was one of just a few—practically an all-women's bathhouse.
Ha... damn it...
Woojin sensed doom.
But Seo Joohee, oblivious to the murderous atmosphere, dropped another bomb with her dazed expression.
"So... living with him... would never be boringgg... loud and bustlinggg..."
"Good thing I came along. Otherwise disaster. My man who flirts with women like breathing."
Jihyun murmured lowly, glaring at Woojin.
Woojin broke into a cold sweat and had to change the subject.
"Ahem! Anyway, forget Unriworld stuff for now. We came today... because I have a favor. Can you make an accessory to defend against mental corruption, the necromancer's chronic issue?"
Seo Joohee nodded very slowly.
"Necromancerrr... dangerousss... death is... sticky... but... need good materials..."
"Got those materials right here."
Woojin handed Seo Joohee the fragment of Sebek he'd obtained from the gate boss.
"Oh... this is...!"
Seo Joohee's eyes sparkled brighter than ever.
A fragment of a god, no less.
A material that shimmered more mysteriously than any gem.
She rose silently, wobbling to her workbench, picked up an old necklace, and handed it to Woojin.
"For nowww... use this temporarilyyy... has some mental protectionnn... the one with your materials... will take a few daysss..."
Woojin checked the necklace and cheered inwardly.
'Oh! This is?!'
Chivalry. A solid mental skill among the bunch.
With just Chivalry, most mental attacks could be blocked.
"Wow, thanks. Got something good here."
But Seo Joohee wasn't done.
"In returnnn... I have a request toooo..."
"Tell me. I'll do what I can."
Seo Joohee stared blankly at Aileen.
"Hm? Something to say to me?"
Seo Joohee nodded.
"Take meee... to the Asia subjugationnn... the gems here are all too ordinaryyy... need diverse gems from gates..."
Aileen stepped forward with a sly grin at Seo Joohee's words.
She locked eyes with her, exuding overwhelming charisma.
"Fine. I was scouting talent like you anyway. You'll get first dibs on processing all the rare materials from the Asia subjugation right there on-site. Deal?"
Seo Joohee stared blankly at Aileen.
"Sooo good... but... who are youuu...? Your presence... is immenseee..."
Aileen brushed back her hair and smirked.
"Me? Aileen Benedict. Or in Unriworld, 'Aaron'—ring a bell?"
That was the moment.
Seo Joohee's eyes, which seemed indifferent to the world, blinked rapidly about five times.
For her, that was seizure-level shock.
"Uh...? Real...?"
"Yep."
"Wooow... so shocked..."
"That's shocked...?"
Woojin ribbed her, but Seo Joohee really seemed shocked.
"Shockeddd... Commander Aaron... was a womaaannn!!"
"Well? Coming along?"
At Aileen's words, Seo Joohee smiled brightly.
"Yesss... if it's Aaron-nim's party... I'll joinnn... Woojin oppa toooo..."
Seo Joohee's recruitment was a game-changer.
Aileen's proposal to the Korean government: exclusive processing rights for Asia gate byproducts.
It wasn't just advantageous for Korea.
In exchange for those rights, the Korean government was obligated to use its manpower to diligently produce necessary items for the gate subjugation.
The moment Woojin said he was meeting "Seo Joohee," Aileen cleverly seized the opportunity.
Seo Joohee was an S-rank item crafter.
Having a jeweler who could process and itemize byproducts on the spot in the heart of battle was invaluable for logistics and force amplification.
Especially accessories—they excelled at neutralizing monsters with specific patterns.
Meaning a huge boost for mid-tier personnel.
After meeting Seo Joohee, Aileen wore a satisfied smile.
"Perfect."
Jihyun agreed.
"Yeah, really turned out great. Back in Singapore, the road ahead looked so bleak, but somehow..."
Jihyun gazed lovingly at Woojin.
And naturally hooked her arm in his.
Grab—
"Somehow, with our Woojin oppa around, everything just falls into place like this?"
Her face truly looked delighted.
Woojin scratched his head, a bit embarrassed.
"What'd I even do..."
Aileen hooked the other arm, smiling slyly.
"No. Back in Singapore, we were really frustrated. But right after meeting Woojin oppa, Jo Ayoung joins, and now even a jeweler's on our side. Without Woojin oppa, it would've been tough."
Woojin felt good for some reason.
"Haha, glad I could help."
The next day.
"Got it?"
"Yeah, secured one. A solid one."
"Took quite the effort. Diverting a gate is such a hassle."
Woojin, Aileen, and Jihyun were huddled in conspiracy.
"At least our relations with the Korean government are smooth. Otherwise, no chance."
Aileen scoffed.
"Show strength when needed. Then they'll crawl next time."
"Sigh... yeah..."
Today was the day to help Brother Cheolsu awaken.
"Shall we go? Brother Cheolsu!"
Kim Cheolsu was a bit tense.
His sunglasses reflected the faces gathered here.
Mythic rank, hidden class, hero rank.
Overwhelming power, top 3 worldwide, right before his eyes.
And him?
Kim Cheolsu clenched his fist.
'At least unique... please hero or higher...!'
Then he looked at the faces again.
'No... what stupid thoughts. These people won't change even if I'm normal rank.'
He glanced at Kim Woojin.
'They might tease me a bit.'
Only then did Kim Cheolsu relax.
Click—
His Desert Eagle let out a heavy loading sound.
"Let's go!"