Chapter 185
Chapter 185
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: Nayeo-ju Saves the World Part 2 Chapter 6
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"That's a strange question. Why don't I hate you?"
"You know what my question means."
I couldn't give an honest answer. What now?
"Um."
I thought for a moment before answering.
"Because... 'why bother?'"
"Explain it in a way I can understand."
Seeing Sama Young's serious expression, it was clear he wouldn't let it go without a convincing explanation.
"The beginning wasn't good. You followed me all the way to the market, trying to take me out. But that was it, wasn't it?"
I shrugged.
"Of course, it was unexpected that Hongju chose you. But now Hongju seems well-adjusted to her new home. So let's call it even—trying to kill me and being a good owner for Hongju."
"So you don't hate me anymore?"
"Well, yeah. Hating someone takes more energy than you'd think."
Meaning I don't want to waste that much energy on you.
The perceptive Sama Young read between the lines, his expression turning even colder.
He was still handsome, but a little scary.
Instinctively, I backed away toward the conference room where Kang Han was.
It was a foolish decision.
The moment I retreated, a glint flashed in Sama Young's red eyes, and he closed the already short distance even further.
"Too close..."
Naturally, I hesitated and stepped back to widen the gap again. After repeating this a couple of times, our positions had swapped.
My path to retreat was blocked.
I was flustered enough as it was.
Pling—
♥ AFFINITY ♥
14
...Why on earth is the affinity going up?
"Sama Guild Master, you should keep your distance now."
Trying not to show my fear, I forced a calm voice.
"Distance?"
Sama Young muttered the word and took exactly half a step closer.
"Why should I?"
"Why? You're with the Gongil Corporation, aren't you?"
This is all your own doing.
I explained it like I was laying down rules to a disobedient elementary school kid.
"I absolutely can't agree with the Gongil Corporation's response that nearly caused a dungeon break."
So stay away from me.
But somehow, he interpreted my words differently.
Sama Young's red lips curved into an ominous arc as he smiled.
"The Gongil Corporation's... meaning my response method is 'hateful'?"
"No, that's not—"
"Hmm."
Sama Young shoved both hands into his pockets and slowly bent at the waist.
Then he whispered right in my ear.
"Should I spread a rumor that you have the ability to stop rampages?"
"...I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Truth is, I never lost consciousness, not even for a second back then."
"Liar. I saw you pass out..."
"Remember it clearly. From the moment you hugged me, the rampage symptoms started fading slowly."
Sly fox.
He remembered everything and pretended to know only half of it when he showed up at my dorm last time?
My voice naturally sharpened.
"Even if that's true, who would believe it?"
"Who knows? Not everyone, but there are definitely people who'd want to check it out themselves. Right?"
"You bastard..."
He leaned in close enough that my grinding teeth reflected in his pupils, then suddenly chuckled and stepped back.
"Just kidding, Nayeo-ju-ssi. If I started that rumor, how could I stand seeing you hug some other guy?"
Regaining his leisure, he lifted one corner of his mouth in a savage smirk.
Watching him, the anger that had shot up to the top of my head slowly subsided.
I'd realized I was completely toyed with by his prank.
Rationally speaking, Sama Young—whose possessiveness was stronger than anyone's—would never go around blabbing about my ability.
Still infuriating in its own way.
It had only been a few hours since I'd vowed not to let him toy with me!
As I took deep breaths to forcibly suppress my anger, true to form for a fire-affinity user, he fanned the flames again.
"So don't say things like keeping our distance. We'll be seeing a lot more of each other from now on."
Unlike his ominous words, Sama Young—with his flawless facade—added innocently with the world's brightest smile.
"I've gone from wanting hate from you... to wanting love."
Pling—
Pling—
Pling—
Pling—
♥ AFFINITY UPDATE ♥
《 ♥ 25 : Mine 》
...Ugh, crazy bastard.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After the meeting ended, traffic jammed up the road back to the guild.
But the car interior—without even music playing—was simply quiet.
It wasn't awkward, and the silence wasn't uncomfortable.
We only realized we hadn't exchanged a single word after the car had been moving for quite a while.
I turned my head to the side and saw Kang Han's face reflected in the front car's glaring red brake lights.
With one elbow propped on the window sill, staring straight ahead, he seemed lost in deep thought.
Earlier in the conference room, surrounded by all those hunters' gazes, he'd been unshakable as a rock.
But now was different.
This deeply contemplative side was one no one else got to see.
Watching him made me think that even this man was just a 'person' with warm blood flowing beneath soft skin.
And in this moment, I had a feeling I knew exactly what he was thinking about.
"Hmm."
I turned my gaze to the window and spoke.
"You seemed a bit pissed off earlier. When you said, 'A hunter's enemy lies beyond the gates.'"
"...Was it that obvious?"
Kang Han's eyes beneath flushed faintly red.
"The others probably didn't notice, so don't worry."
"But Nayeo-ju-ssi caught it."
"Well, I was sitting right next to you. And... it was me, after all?"
I tossed in a joke to make him smile.
But Kang Han nodded seriously instead.
"No one knows me like Nayeo-ju-ssi does."
...Really?
"Guess so. But it was all true, from one to ten. We're busy enough hunting monsters and closing gates—internal fights over rice bowls?"
"It won't last long."
"Even so, if it wraps up too quickly, that'll be a problem."
"You just called it a rice bowl fight..."
His green eyes shook like there was an earthquake, gazing at me with a hint of betrayal.
I could've cut the joke short here, but I chose honesty instead.
"Because it is a rice bowl fight. So ours gets the biggest bowl."
"You mean..."
"Let's raise our guild ranking."
The ranking was an intuitive indicator of a guild's various elements.
Its size, the number and ranks of affiliated hunters, contributions to gate clears, and more.
Hunters weren't obsessed with guild rankings for no reason.
"With all the things Justice Guild has to do ahead, it's annoying getting dismissed every time because of our low rank."
I'd seen it earlier.
A few hunters sneering with 'who does he think he is?' looks while Kang Han spoke with sincere passion for the greater good.
I pulled out my phone from my pocket, checked the latest guild rankings, and said,
"As of today, Justice Guild is at 87th."
"That's a big jump."
It reflected the contributions from resolving the Pangyo incident.
Compared to the state of Justice Guild when I joined, it was absurd growth.
But from another angle,
"That means there are 86 guilds above us—and I can't stand that. I need to see Justice Guild's name at the top."
Worried he might misunderstand, I quickly added,
"I'm not asking for permission. It's going to happen, so I'm just saying don't be too shocked."
Right then, the signal turned green, and the car started moving forward.
"I'm looking forward to it."
Kang Han lifted his foot from the brake, pressed the accelerator, and smiled.
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