Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: First Guest, Aura
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New Year's Day.
The very day Molrang Park made its debut to the world.
Whether from tension or lack of sleep, my hazy mind was drifting away, so to hold onto it—
Chomp! Chomp!
I slapped my soft cheeks and shook my head vigorously.
"Hoo... Let's do this!"
I steeled my resolve.
Just in case it wasn't enough, I even stepped onto the glass floor section.
...Ugh, I nearly died of fright.
Rustle.
Every time I moved, the improved hanbok rustled against my ears, tickling them.
It was mostly comfortable, but somehow it felt constricting.
'Did I wear it too tight for no reason?'
Given the occasion, I'd chosen to wear it snugly to show my determination.
Uncharacteristically, I'd even applied makeup prettily to my face.
Even during model shoots, I'd just lightly patted on some cushion foundation or whatever.
"Seriously, such a fuss..."
Ha-young had nagged me that if we were preparing, we should do it thoroughly, leaving me no choice.
Thanks to that, I'd spent over an hour just on primping.
I'd arched my eyebrows, patted my face for a tone-up, and applied something to my lips.
It was a lipstick(?) with a subtle sweet scent and taste—not too overpowering, which was nice.
Finished with a touch of perfume and hairspray.
As a result of such full-effort grooming, my body was emanating a scent that screamed, "I worked hard on this!"
Of course, it felt more like a young girl's vibe than an adult's.
Anyway, think positive.
"Ugyaaaaah!"
Crack.
I stretched languidly and yawned with a big "ahhh" to chase away the last of my sleepiness.
I considered doing a cat wash for the finale...
But worried it'd smudge my makeup, so I just swallowed dryly instead.
And after all that flailing, finally.
[The elevator is ascending.]
The VIP elevator began to move.
Today's first guest.
I'd gone all out in full armor just for her alone.
And she was none other than the Hunter Association President.
Hunter Association President Lee Hyun-ah.
As mentioned before, an S-rank hunter and the ultra-ultra-ultra-elite leading the Hunter Association.
'That's why the Five Major Guilds can't act out because of the President.'
It was the era of great awakeners.
The Five Major Guilds were clusters of key awakeners, right?
The reason the government could rein in those ruffians was thanks to Lee Hyun-ah.
And she and I shared one thing in common.
Ding!
[The doors are opening.]
She also suffered from Highlander Syndrome.
"Hello. You're Saebyeok, right? Looking forward to today."
The President greeted me with a gentle smile.
Her face showed no wrinkles or signs of aging—it was incredibly youthful.
How is she in her 70s?
Hunter Gallery rumors even said she was actually 80, maybe over 90.
She might be the oldest among those afflicted with Highlander Syndrome.
Seeing her in person, she really looked like a vampire.
Could Highlander Syndrome have turned her into an actual immortal long-lived species?
Especially with the overwhelming aura she exuded—it made it feel even more so.
They call this presence? It was so profound it was suffocating.
I usually felt this way around impressive people, but Hyun-ah's was on another level.
Even when I first met Joo Ha-neul, it wasn't this intense.
"Ah, h-hello..."
Her aura made me shrink involuntarily.
Hold on.
...Me? Intimidated?
Me, an S-rank hunter and president of mid-sized company Molrang Mol?
So there's a reason she keeps the Five Major Guilds in check.
Even that fool Hwa-yeon couldn't mouth off in front of her.
"Then, could you show me around?"
"Y-Yes...!"
For some reason, my tongue lisped cutely.
Was my instinct creating aegyo from the overwhelming gap?
Suddenly, shame welled up at the absurdity...
'No... maybe this is right.'
I skillfully rationalized it to myself.
At this point, the Hunter Association was like a heavenly realm beyond reach for Molrang Mol.
So, bowing a little before her today made sense.
Laying the groundwork for the future.
For a hundred steps forward, I could afford one step back.
"Th-this way, please follow me..."
Having resolved myself, just as I was about to enter the gate—
"Uhyaaaa!"
I stepped on my skirt hem instead of the floor, losing my balance forward.
...Damn.
If I'd known, I'd have worn the short skirt from that model shoot.
Choosing a long skirt to set the mood was a mistake.
Anyway, at this rate, I'd tumble comically.
In the slowed spacetime like it was frozen, as I flailed—
Thud!
"Are you okay?"
The President grabbed my wrist.
With just the right gentle strength—not letting me fall, yet painless.
As expected of an S-rank hunter. Perfect control.
"Th-thank you... Hehe..."
I smiled awkwardly and stepped forward again.
From tension, I stepped on my skirt a few more times, but didn't fall again.
'...Warm.'
Hyun-ah was holding my hand tightly.
A warmth far beyond body heat flowed in, like being petted by Joo Ha-neul.
Just hand-holding made my chest fluffily melt—a mystical feeling.
I liked how it eased my tension, but now I needed to stay sharp.
'I have to figure out why she's here.'
That's right.
Why did Lee Hyun-ah, Hunter Association President, visit here?
Even bidding 2 billion on Molrang Tail.
At least from the Christmas event eye-stamp, she didn't seem like an enemy.
But it was still a bit unsettling.
The Hunter Association is basically a government agency, right?
They got along moderately with guilds but didn't favor anyone.
She'd been invited to events before, but this was the first time she'd participated herself.
'No way she came to uncover my identity?'
Specifically, not model 'Han Saebyeok', but Molrang Mol owner 'DragonWantToRaise''s personal info.
Whatever it was, she wasn't someone to let my guard down around.
Vrrr.
Woo!
As soon as we entered the gate interior, two mini golems welcomed us.
They were the guides. They handed us booklets and pointed toward the greenhouse.
"Hmm... You've made it quite pretty."
"Yes. I was shocked when I first came too. And the beasts treat you so kindly."
"Amazing. It really seems like a special ability."
Hyun-ah gazed at me warmly after saying that. Was she probing me?
Nah, probably overthinking.
Just a simple impression, it seemed—she headed straight to the greenhouse.
Satisfaction filled her face. At the edge of her gaze hung the Aurora.
Today, it was shimmering especially prettily, doing its job.
Zing!
"What would you like to try first?"
I asked right after arriving in the greenhouse.
It was before official opening, so all the staff preparing turned our way.
They were all Baekya affiliates...
Click!
Some sneakily snapped photos of me and the President.
Cute, I get it.
I said I'd get separate shots later, but they couldn't wait.
It was a minor deviation, but I didn't mind much.
It was heating up a bit anyway...
I'd braced for thousands of photos wandering Molrang Park today.
Even at the last fanmeet, I couldn't count how many were taken.
So I refocused on Hyun-ah.
"Hmm..."
She scanned around, rolling her eyes, then spoke.
"Shall we just go to the restaurant? More than anything, I want that dragon meat from before."
"Nothing else you'd like to experience?"
"Nah. Seems fun, but... not that interesting."
Hyun-ah smiled wryly.
Makes sense—from her perspective, playing with beasts wouldn't be that novel.
Regardless of age, she was an S-rank hunter.
A hunter always clashing with beasts wouldn't find bonding with them thrilling.
Except for the few with pet beasts, beasts were usually prey to hunt for hunters.
"Then let's go right away. I'll make it delicious for you."
"Really? Can't wait already."
Dragon meat was originally set to be grilled and sold by mini golems.
But today, this New Year's, was a special event period!
I'd personally boil and sell dragon tail rice cake soup!
A super dish you couldn't taste anywhere else but today.
Look forward to it, Madam President.
And feel honored—you're this body's first guest.
Whoosh!
Upon arriving at the special kitchen prepared for today, I lit the mana stone burner.
The huge pot was packed with dragon bones and Kendart horns.
The broth was dragon.
Simmered deeply since yesterday, it must've infused the water with amazing umami.
Plop! Plop!
Just add the rest of the ingredients and boil, like before.
Of course, no seasonings. Didn't need 'em—plenty tasty.
Bonus: could promote it as natural food.
"Here you go!"
I presented the perfectly finished rice cake soup to Hyun-ah.
The ecstatic aroma wafting up filled the restaurant area.
......Suddenly hungry. Should I have a bowl too?
Of course, absolutely not.
Unless she offered...
"Let's eat together. Eating alone feels so lonely."
"Y-Yes...? But..."
"Please."
Okay. Hunter Association President, full marks on tact.
If we worked together, we'd click perfectly.
Before she could change her mind, I hurriedly grabbed my portion and sat facing her.
"I'll dig in!"
"I'll dig in."
And so our meal began.
Nom nom.
Mm. Delicious, so delicious. This is rice cake soup.
Packed with flavor—each bowl really felt like aging a year.
Fortunately, Hyun-ah seemed satisfied too, little gasps of delight slipping between spoonfuls.
As the saying goes, win over the stomach first.
From that angle, this rice cake soup was perfect firepower.
If it kept going like this, making the Hunter Association a solid ally wouldn't be so far-fetched.
"Saebyeok."
"...Yes?"
"I have a question—mind if I ask?"
"Of course! Ask anything!"
At my spirited reply, Hyun-ah quirked her lips and asked.
"By any chance, what do you think about Hwa-yeon?"