Chapter 110
Chapter 110
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Sponsorship Deals and Taesan Guild
-----------------------------------------------------------------
That morning, when we announced that our guild had entered the rankings at 135th place...
The guild members' reactions were decidedly lukewarm.
"Wow, that's great news."
Han Ji-seong clapped lightly a couple of times, but that was it.
"Guild rankings?"
"Oh, right, those exist."
The twins nodded as they busily stuffed two sandwiches into their mouths at once.
"That's good."
I'd expected our guild master, Kang Han, to be at least a bit more excited.
"Let's have breakfast, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
Instead, he just sipped at his Americano.
I shook my head and pulled out my phone as I sat down.
They clearly had no idea what it meant to break into visible ranking territory.
This was why pioneers were so lonely.
Living with knowledge others didn't have...
The guild members gradually gathered around and started breakfast, but today, there was something more important than food.
I kept infinitely refreshing the Stargram DM window, staring at the screen.
"It should be here any minute now......"
Then, in the middle of absentmindedly eating my sandwich, I tilted my head in realization.
"Whoa, it's here!"
The message I'd been waiting for had finally arrived.
I shot to my feet, and the guild members' surprised gazes focused on me.
"Whoa? What came?"
"Who showed up?"
Even Lee Yu-eul paused mid-bite and glanced toward the dining hall door.
Normally, I'd have teased her for that, but not now.
With slightly trembling hands, I tapped the fresh, steaming DM.
"Heh heh heh heh."
This was the change that came with entering visible rankings: sponsorship offers.
'Easy Life' was just the beginning for this supplement company.
Coffee companies, furniture firms—a slew of proposals poured in after that.
And the ads were simple, too.
No need for cumbersome shoots anywhere.
Just post a photo on Stargram with hashtags like #ad, #EasyLife, #HunterSupplements, and millions of won would hit the Justice Guild account right away.
"Heh heh, money, money."
The guild funds were running low, and now sponsorships were rolling in.
We'd see about climbing the rankings.
And the best part? The higher we rose, the bigger the offers would get.
Someday, we might even shoot official ads like Sama Young.
"Yeah, official ads...... Huh?"
Was it that words turned to seeds, sprouted, and grew into a beanstalk?
I blinked a couple of times, but the message that stopped my finger didn't vanish.
"Sneakers... ad?"
Checking the details, it was a real ad proposal.
Not just posting a couple of pics on Stargram.
A company I'd never heard of wanted Justice Guild as models for YouTube and print ads.
"Ha, for real."
They had an eye for talent.
I glanced at the guild members obliviously eating breakfast.
Scrap off the eye boogers and fix the bedhead, and they were all pretty decent—no, downright stunning.
The guild's finest assets, for sure.
"Hello...... Justice Guild here......"
I immediately started typing a reply.
The smartphone keyboard clacks sounded like our balance going up.
A few days later.
We stood in front of the Taesan Guild building in Seoul's Gwangjin-gu.
We were there for a meeting about a joint raid alliance.
"Whoa, it's pretty big."
I looked up at the massive building Taesan Guild occupied from the first floor to the fifth.
According to Jang Su-ho on the way, the dorms and training grounds were separate and a bit away, so this was purely for the guild operations staff.
'Makes sense they'd invite us, then.'
No issue showing it off to outsiders.
But that didn't mean anyone could just stroll inside.
The guild entrance required card access or someone opening from within.
In the end, I called the staffer I'd spoken with when scheduling.
"Justice Guild here. We're out front now."
[ "Ah, yes! I'll come down right away!" ]
Despite the promise...
The staffer who sounded like they'd sprint down showed no sign of appearing.
"This seems like......"
"They're making us wait on purpose."
Han Ji-seong frowned as he spoke, and I nodded.
The other guild members looked equally displeased.
The reason for leaving us standing dumbly at the door became clear soon enough.
"What, Justice Guild?"
"Why's Justice Guild at Taesan?"
Taesan had unusually fervent supporters, like a fan club.
Even on a weekday morning, plenty loitered nearby hoping to spot their favorite hunters.
And they spotted us right away.
"Ugh, I hate Justice Guild."
"Me too, me too."
"They're not allying with Justice, right?"
"No way our guys team up with Justice Guild."
The comments weren't pretty.
Probably fallout from the Gangneung Gate.
Kwak Ho-young's fans had raged that Justice stole a gate Taesan had prepped, and Taesan supporters echoed that.
"Crazy, even Jang Su-ho's here."
"So shameless."
But there was a limit to just listening.
As the remarks crossed the line, I turned to face them.
"He's out, he's out!"
The area suddenly buzzed.
The faces that had glared sharply at us moments ago turned sheepish in an instant.
Turning, I saw Kwak Ho-young emerging from the first-floor entrance, along with hunters I'd seen on raid streams.
"Sorry, you must've waited a while."
Kwak Ho-young flashed a bright smile our way—so different from the mountain man in Gangwon-do, it was hard to believe it was the same guy.
Neatly styled hair met his slightly droopy eyes, forming the archetype of a stylish, upbeat handsome guy.
"No, it's fine."
Kang Han shook the hand Kwak offered.
"You worked hard at Gangneung."
Kwak Ho-young's eye smile deepened.
"Oh, saw Justice Guild on the rankings this time. Congrats. Heard it's brutal with all the new guilds competing."
On the surface, harmless.
But Kwak was basically smiling while spitting.
Translation:
'You charted thanks to stealing our Gangneung Gate? But competition's fierce—you'll drop soon enough.'
Acting like some romance novel count's lady.
Pretty slick at the shade.
But snide wordplay only stung those who got it.
"Thanks."
Kang Han just answered curtly.
Still, Kwak's efforts weren't wasted.
"Aw, Ho-young's too nice."
"Look at our guild master's manners."
The Taesan supporters stomped excitedly.
Kwak was appealing to his fans while talking to us.
Seemed he wanted to look magnanimous, reaching out first despite the gate theft.
As if.
"Hello, Guild Master Kwak Ho-young."
I stepped forward beside Kang Han and greeted first.
"Ah, Hunter Nayeo-ju."
I caught the 'What the hell?' flicker in Kwak's eyes.
I ignored it, offering a handshake.
"Big fan—always cheering for you, Hunter Kwak. But last time, you looked so worn out I couldn't greet you properly."
Translation: 'Shat bricks last time, huh?'
Kwak got it instantly and gripped my hand—squeezing hard enough to sting.
Think that'll make me yelp?
I smiled even wider than him.
"If we work together this time, hope it won't be as rough as before. Right?"
In short: Screw up again, and you're done.
Got it, punk?
"......Of course. Nice to meet you, Hunter Nayeo-ju."
Kwak's gaze on me shifted oddly.
Yeah, I'm your opponent now, buddy.
"Haha, shall we head inside and chat more?"
Kwak held the entrance door open.
As we followed the staff inside, I glanced back—Kwak lingered last, signing for supporters and posing for pics with that fake smile.
Living the hustle, aren't you.
Taesan Guild was famous for its young average age among active hunters.
That went for the office staff running the guild, too.
Plus the clean, airy interior design gave it a hot startup vibe.
The impression strengthened in the meeting room.
I'd expected a big conference table and chairs, but the spacious room had round couches and small coffee tables arranged casually.
As we looked around puzzled, Kwak appeared from somewhere.
"Taesan Guild values free communication, so we designed the meeting rooms this way."
"I see."
While Kang Han humored him, I thought:
'Never seen a 'communication-focused' company that actually communicates.'
Lucky if it doesn't explode.
And sure enough...
The staffers' faces at Kwak's words were hilariously awkward.
"Anyway, formal introductions. These are our regular raid team hunters."
"Hello, Vice Guild Master Kim Han-kwon."
Introductions went around.
I closely observed each Taesan hunter greeting us.
None matched the novel's key characters.
Except the last one.
"I'm Yoo Jin-rok, advisor to Taesan Guild."
The sole middle-aged man in a room full of youngsters.
Taesan's retired former guild master, Hunter Yoo Jin-rok.
And inwardly, I grinned.
'Found you, Master Han.'