Chapter 9
I bought some food from the convenience store. With my short little limbs, I worked hard to prepare breakfast. Mina seemed to have calmed down a bit by now. Once the breakfast table was set, she slinked out of the room.
Preparing breakfast just meant heating up some lunchboxes and triangle kimbap, then pouring hot water into the retro instant noodle cup. That was it. Still, it pissed me off a little. I bought the food, I prepared it all, but she doesn't show her face until everything's ready. Her intentions are clearly impure! Hmph.
But I'm the adult here, so I'll let it slide. I won't say anything about it. Eutcha! I hopped up onto the chair with a little jump. Grabbing a steaming triangle kimbap, I chomped away happily. Nom nom...
Mina sat across from me and popped open the plastic lid. She snapped off the disposable wooden chopsticks attached to the lunchbox lid and started eating. Nom nom... I was starving, so I finished mine quick. The kimbap wasn't a huge portion to begin with.
Mina must've been hungry too after all that crying. By the time I finished one kimbap, she'd polished off her whole meal. Whew... Full belly, happy heart. I patted my satisfied tummy contentedly.
"...Pfft. You're just too cute, you know? You looked so cool a minute ago, but now you're absolutely adorable."
"? What'd you say? I didn't catch that."
"No, no. It's nothing. Not important."
I had no idea what Mina was talking about, but her expression looked cheerful. She'd pulled herself together now.
"Well... yeah. You found out I run a Hunter Gallery account, but what can you do? I'm just relieved you're not looking at me with contempt, oppa."
"Everyone's got their private life. I get your hobby."
"Sigh. I've been trying so hard to seem sophisticated and classy around you this whole time, but now that the mask is off, it's kinda embarrassing."
Sophisticated? Classy? Hmm... I never really saw her that way. Mina's a kind, good girl, sure, but she has her childish side sometimes. I just thought it was cute, but to her, that must've been her "mature" act?
Better not say anything. Might backfire and leave me embarrassed.
I didn't want to provoke her and end up forced into aegyo like last time. No way in hell. Just thinking about doing aegyo for her in the bathroom back then makes my whole body shudder. Ugh...
"Anyway, oppa. You said you wanna be the world's top hunter? Does that mean challenging for the number one spot in the hunter rankings? Be precise about it."
"Yeah, challenging for hunter ranking number one. Back in the day, I never cared about rankings, so I ignored stuff like influence or achievements completely. Not this time. I'll pay attention to that now."
During my Baek Minwoo days, my hunter ranking was 5th. No guild membership, no focus on achievements—and still that high? Pretty impressive. Mina's comments on the community were spot on; I climbed there on pure skill alone. So yeah, my strength deserved the hype.
Anyway, this life will be different. I'll boost my personal power, sure, but also build a guild, rack up achievements—cover all bases.
"First things first, make a guild. Wait, no. Before that, sort out my identity issue?"
Baek Minwoo is dead. Can't use that name anymore. The Korean government might hush up an S-rank's death as a national loss, but I can't just keep operating as him.
Well... I could reveal I'm a girl now and keep going as Baek Minwoo, but no thanks. Too embarrassing! Becoming a cute little girl isn't something to brag about. My look's totally changed anyway, so new life, new me.
"Don't worry about the identity stuff. I can handle that right away."
Good thing Mina can take care of it. She's an S-rank with connections everywhere; whipping up a new ID should be easy.
"Then I'll leave my identity to you. Make me an adult while you're at it."
"Adult? With that body? You'd pass for early teens at best—claiming adulthood might be pushing it."
"Maybe? But early teens ID comes with all sorts of restrictions, even for hunters..."
"Hmm... Fine. I'll pull some strings."
I know claiming adulthood in this form is cheeky. But no choice. Hunter or not, a kid's ID limits you big time.
While I mulled it over, Mina leaned in close, grinning mischievously.
"Oppa, oppa. New ID means new name too, right?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Lemme name you then? I have a total romance for this kinda thing."
"Sure, I trust you, Mina. Pick a good one."
"Yay! Got it, oppa!"
Names don't matter much to me, but no need to be rude when she's excited. Pretend it's a big deal.
She seemed thrilled with my response—practically beaming at the chance to name me.
"Hmm... name... what name... gotta make it legendary."
She muttered options like 'Seo Yu-ha', 'Seo Eun-ha', 'Seo Da-eun'. But something felt off. All her suggestions had the Seo surname—like hers.
She'd been treating me like a daughter before... she wasn't planning to legally adopt me, was she?
"Mina, just to be clear: the new ID can't be tied to you. Got it?"
"Hehe, of course. I wouldn't legally adopt you. Relax."
"...Just stick to Baek surname. No Seo."
"Eek? Why? Let's match! I'll take super good care of you!"
She grumbled about the Seo name for a sec, but quieted down quick. Must've realized Baek made more sense.
"Hmm... yeah, Korea follows the dad's surname, so Baek's more natural."
That sent a chill down my spine, but I ignored it. After pondering, Mina decided.
"Oppa, how about Seol? Baek Seol. Isn't it super pretty?"
Baek Seol. Perfect name. Matches my white hair and girl look spot-on.
"Love it. So pretty. Thanks, Mina."
"Hehe. Knew you'd like it, oppa."
Great. From now on, I'm Baek Seol. That's my name starting today.
Identity sorted, next up: guild creation. To be the world's top hunter, I need a faction—and guilds are the surest way. Essential for my goals.
Hmm... but actually making one is tricky. I've gotten tons of recruitment offers, but never joined one. No clue how they operate internally.
Small comfort: as an active S-rank, I know the industry well. Might stumble at first, but I'll get the hang of it.
"Ugh... guild... guild... already sounds like a hassle."
As I grumbled, something rolled across the floor. The crystal ball paddled up with its squid tentacles, somehow climbing onto the table.
"Ahem. Seems you're in a bind. Need my assistance?"
"Yeah, kinda annoying issue. But not sure you can help."
"Hmph! What do you take me for, you fool? I was once the manager of the Tower's first floor! I'm far more capable than you think!"
"? Tower manager? Oppa, was this thing really a Tower manager?"
Mina was genuinely shocked. Ignoring her, I eyed the crystal ball. So confident—must have something up her sleeve. Fine, let's see her hand.
"Alright, what can you do?"
"Ahem. Much indeed. Above all, I can lay the foundation for your guild to become the world's greatest."
"How?"
She's a legit Tower manager. No empty boasts. This is real—and I need it. Sensing her upper hand, the crystal ball puffed up.
"Hehe. I don't work for free. Name your price."
"...Fine. I'll diligently learn magic like you want."
"Hmph! Words aren't enough! Write up a proper contract! Forgotten your last betrayal?"
The Body-Self Synchronization Potion incident? Yeah, I broke a promise once—trust issues make sense. Okay, let's commit for real.
"Got it. I'll sign a contract promising to study magic hard."
"Good! I prepared one. Sign here!"
She'd anticipated this—contract ready on A4 paper, penned neatly, properly formatted. Nothing major: study magic diligently, about 10 hours of lessons weekly. Mostly that.
One catch: "Assist with magic experiments." Needed clarification.
"What exactly are 'magic experiments'?"
"Hehe. Nothing much. You execute the magic designs I theorize. No danger, don't worry."
"Hmm... okay."
Not magically binding anyway. She just wants solid proof. No reason to refuse. I grabbed the pen and signed.
Scribble-scribble—Baek Seol. The name felt a tad awkward, fresh off the press.
By the way, the crystal ball's name is Elroen.