Chapter 36
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: New Members Join the Fold
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Seo Jin-su had brought along his colleagues who wanted to switch guilds, just as he promised.
The number wasn't large.
Just two, at most.
This was purely because Yeon Sung-hun preferred one person he could truly trust over ten uncertain ones.
From what Seo Jin-su had said, if he'd really pushed for it, he could've easily rounded up thirty.
Considering his personality, it might've just been some exaggerated joking around, but on the other hand, it could mean KG's situation was that dire.
After finalizing contracts with Seo Jin-su and the two new recruits, Yeon Sung-hun quietly stroked his chin.
"Something troubling you?"
"Ah, Team Leader Gye. I was just thinking about KG."
"Hm. From what the new members said, it sounds pretty serious. Planning to do anything more about it?"
"No. This is the limit for our size right now. Hm... From the stories, they might disband soon anyway."
"That would be a shame. Anything I need to prepare for separately?"
Yeon Sung-hun shook his head at Gye Cheong-san's question.
"I don't think there's much to prepare for. Just keep doing what you're doing."
"Understood."
"Hm. Anyway, what do you think of the new recruits?"
Gye Cheong-san pondered for a moment at the question.
The two who joined with Seo Jin-su were both B-rank hunters.
Their names were Yoon Ga-ram and Lee Da-hye.
Before signing contracts blindly, he'd naturally done some checking—and not much checking was needed, really.
He'd just asked Choi Yeon-ah, who knew them well.
According to her assessment, neither had any major red flags.
Quite the opposite—Choi Yeon-ah had spoken very positively of them.
Considering her cool, objective nature even toward close acquaintances, that meant no issues with personality or trustworthiness.
"No big problems with either. They should blend in fine with the existing raid members."
Yoon Ga-ram was the quiet type, but he had a correspondingly serious demeanor.
According to Choi Yeon-ah, he was calm and level-headed—perfect for balancing the team.
In contrast, Lee Da-hye was extremely energetic.
Today, she'd even taken the lead in conversations, speaking up for the mostly silent Yoon Ga-ram.
From their stories, the two were childhood friends who'd both lost their families in the Rift crisis and had leaned on each other ever since.
It was a heartbreaking tale, and Choi Yeon-ah had looked out for them back in the day.
"Though those two don't seem to have fond memories of Choi Yeon-ah Hunter..."
Yeon Sung-hun chuckled at Gye Cheong-san's offhand remark.
He recalled how Yoon Ga-ram, usually so stoic, had started trembling the moment Choi Yeon-ah's name came up.
Whatever his personal feelings toward her, the fear etched into his body was apparently inescapable.
"Looks like Yeon-ah was pretty flashy back then."
"Want me to look into it?"
"Do that, and you might vanish without a trace, Team Leader Gye. Want to end up as a corpse in a Rift?"
Gye Cheong-san nodded thoughtfully at the lighthearted jab.
"Sounds realistic."
"...Even so, I don't think Yeon-ah's that bad."
"...Working at the Association long enough, you hear all sorts of stories."
Yeon Sung-hun swallowed a quiet hum at Gye Cheong-san's words.
Come to think of it, Gye Cheong-san had been at the Association even during Choi Yeon-ah's prime.
He must know plenty about her back then.
"...Looking back now, she was something else. I never imagined a hunter who'd actually grab our division chief by the collar."
"Mm..."
Yeon Sung-hun fell silent.
For Choi Yeon-ah's personal honor, if nothing else, he felt he shouldn't pry further.
Who else would look after his own guild members if not him?
It absolutely wasn't because he was scared of her or anything.
...Speaking of which, didn't she say she'd wait just one more year?
Yeon Sung-hun absently rubbed his neck, thinking he should hurry her treatment along.
"Anyway, I heard you've finally hired some staff?"
Changing the subject to shake off the unease, Yeon Sung-hun pressed on.
"Mm. I'd prefer to handle everything myself, but as you said, Guild Master, it's not efficient. I've scouted a few faithful devotees."
"Good call. 'Devotees,' though?"
"Yes, those who worship our Guild Master, who performed miracles for us..."
"That's enough."
Cutting Gye Cheong-san off firmly, Yeon Sung-hun asked,
"When's Deputy Na coming over?"
"I was about to mention that. Between me and Seong-sil, it might be better if he stays at the Association for now rather than joining right away."
"Hm."
Yeon Sung-hun nodded.
Gye Cheong-san was already doing great, and with new staff hired to assist him, there was no urgent need for Na Seong-sil to join yet.
In fact, keeping him at the Association as a connection might be the smarter strategic move.
The only practical issue was...
"Association salaries are pretty stingy, aren't they? Deputy Na's okay with that?"
"...I'll handle compensation separately."
"Isn't that straight-up bribery?"
"If we get caught, I'll just quit and bolt. It's already grounds for heavy discipline as is."
Bribery could mean prison time, not just firing—but Yeon Sung-hun figured Gye Cheong-san would manage it.
Besides, no one was forcing him; Na Seong-sil had chosen to stay himself.
He'd have to bear the risks of his own choice.
Yeon Sung-hun decided not to dwell on it.
If it's really not working, he'll speak up.
No immediate need aside, Yeon Sung-hun hadn't forgotten Na Seong-sil's efforts.
He was one of their own, after all.
One way or another, Yeon Sung-hun wanted to take care of people within his circle this time around.
He hadn't been able to last life.
After some more casual chat with Gye Cheong-san, Yeon Sung-hun stood.
It was nearly time for his dinner meeting with Oh Young-taek, the president of their factory.
The other guild members were still on vacation, but Yeon Sung-hun had a mountain of tasks.
Meeting people, brewing potions, training.
It was called vacation, but really, this break was for catching up on backlog.
And so, Yeon Sung-hun hustled through another breathless day.
A few days later, as the vacation period wound down and Yeon Sung-hun pondered extending it amid the piled-up work...
A section of the guild headquarters under construction on Seoul's outskirts had been completed.
For now, just the training grounds and basic amenities—thanks to Gye Cheong-san pushing the construction company, tired of paying rent for rented facilities.
Yeon Sung-hun didn't mind the delay much, with potion sale proceeds from the auction (thanks to Seong A-reum) stacking up like mountains, but he was pleased to cut unnecessary expenses.
Word spread, and despite being on vacation, all guild members gathered.
Lee Ha-na and Kim Jun-su let out quiet gasps at the massive training grounds.
Even Choi Yeon-ah, a former S-rank used to such setups, looked highly satisfied.
In terms of equipment and scale, it rivaled KG's.
As guild members toured the grounds, Gye Cheong-san spoke up.
"It looks finished, but it's not fully complete. This is Training Ground 1, to be used by regular members later. It has basics like showers, but that's it for now. Training Grounds 2 and 3 are still under construction, and there's a dedicated one for executives behind the main building..."
Lee Ha-na and Kim Jun-su could only murmur "wow" at Gye Cheong-san's steady explanation, while Seo Jin-su and the new recruits whispered near Choi Yeon-ah.
"...Incredible. Construction aside, the land cost alone must be insane... Where'd all this funding come from?"
"Didn't I mention? The Guild Master's that famous alchemist F."
"Even so, a few potion sales build this?"
"The Guild Master's potions are different."
"Still... Did we borrow money or something?"
"Team Leader Gye said the landowner nearby was pretty desperate."
"...Ah."
Everyone sighed at Choi Yeon-ah's matter-of-fact explanation.
All present had prospered, but they'd heard plenty of tales from those who hadn't.
"Lucky we're hunters. At least our bodies hold up."
"Not always, apparently? Heard from someone in Galaxy Guild—their guild master's starting to lose his hair."
"Really? Poor guy."
Seo Jin-su said it was a shame, but his face showed no pity.
Lee Da-hye giggled at him, then poked the silent Yoon Ga-ram's side.
"See? Told you transferring here was the right call."
"Mm."
Yoon Ga-ram nudged her elbow away with a nod, then quietly called to Choi Yeon-ah.
"Noona."
"Yeah? What, Ga-ram?"
"Could you introduce me to the other guild members? Haven't properly greeted them yet..."
It was longer than his usual speech.
He seemed cool and quiet on the surface, but Yoon Ga-ram was thoughtful and considerate underneath.
Lee Da-hye and Seo Jin-su let out impressed "oohs."
"Oops, my bad. Ha-na, Jun-su! Come here!"
Realizing her oversight, Choi Yeon-ah called the two gawking from afar like country bumpkins.
They hurried over, eager to chat with the new members anyway.
They hadn't shown it much, but they'd been inwardly anxious about introductions.
Thankfully, everyone meshed well.
Seo Jin-su and Lee Da-hye were outgoing, and surprisingly, Yoon Ga-ram fit right in.
His personality reminded Kim Jun-su of the late Shin Jae-jun.
Yeon Sung-hun watched quietly from the side as they quickly bonded.
Having tired of faction fights that prompted their transfers, they clearly had no intention of cliquing up.
He'd trusted Choi Yeon-ah's endorsement, but seeing it firsthand was satisfying.
Gye Cheong-san approached Yeon Sung-hun, who nodded approvingly.
"Glad they're getting along."
"Yeah. Very glad."
"About recruiting more members?"
"How many minimum B-ranks for entry?"
"Minimum eight, recommended twelve. Entry requires one A-rank and at least four B-ranks."
Unlike C-rank Rifts with no restrictions, B-ranks had Association-mandated entry conditions for safety.
"Seo Jin-su Hunter was C-rank, right?"
"High for an appraiser, but by his own assessment and mine, his combat power's below C."
Yeon Sung-hun nodded at Gye Cheong-san's report.
He hadn't recruited Seo Jin-su for combat prowess anyway.
His value lay in appraisal skills.
They weren't a major guild like KG pulling gear from Rifts daily, so it was more future investment.
Plus, it brought Yoon Ga-ram and Lee Da-hye—solid additions.
And Seo Jin-su had immediate work.
For now, have him appraise my potions.
He'd recently experimented with Earth ingredients for new recipes.
Basic effects were predictable, but Seo Jin-su could detail them without testing.
And speed up flavor and aroma tweaks people crave.
An area Yeon Sung-hun had researched extensively with little success.
Forced to taste-test every batch himself, Seo Jin-su's presence was a godsend.
But first, meet B-rank entry requirements...
"Need to bring in So-yul sooner."
With her, numbers and rank conditions were met.
"Han So-yul Hunter's contract has time left, I believe?"
"That's the problem."
Yeon Sung-hun clicked his tongue briefly.
What would Hwarang do if he poached their star, Han So-yul?
No good outcomes, surely.
Unlike fledgling Golden Guild, Hwarang was a solid mid-tier.
He had superior funds, but they outmatched elsewhere.
"Borrowing Seong A-reum's influence..."
"Not a great move."
Poaching a contracted hunter was delicate.
If Hwarang started trouble, fine—but initiating here gave even Seong A-reum and Dawn little leverage.
"Major guilds do it casually."
"Because they're majors. They bulldoze issues with power."
"Unfair."
"Yep. To avoid that unfairness, we grow fast."
Gye Cheong-san followed Yeon Sung-hun's glance at the members.
"I'll work harder."
"I always count on you, Team Leader."
"Thank you. So, for Han So-yul Hunter...?"
"Mercenary-style for now. Though Hwarang might pick a fight over it..."
Yeon Sung-hun trailed off slyly.
Gye Cheong-san nodded.
"You're baiting them deliberately."
"Don't make me sound like the villain."
"You're not a villain, Guild Master—you're our great savior. We devotees shall forever..."
"...Enough. Looks like they've seen enough. Let's do a welcome party for the newbies today."
"Right away, I'll book a good spot."
"Thanks."
Yeon Sung-hun nodded slowly, eyeing guild members pulling weapons to "test skills."
"...Might need to delay the reservation."
Clicking his tongue, he headed to watch Seo Jin-su and Lee Ha-na's spar.
The outcome was obvious without watching.
Same C-rank, but unlike appraiser Seo Jin-su, Lee Ha-na was Choi Yeon-ah-endorsed super rookie.
As predicted, minutes in, Seo Jin-su crashed into the wall with a pitiful scream.
Choi Yeon-ah tsked about his hair loss when she wasn't looking; Lee Da-hye and Yoon Ga-ram marveled at Lee Ha-na's skill.
Next, likely Lee Da-hye or Yoon Ga-ram.
Standing by Choi Yeon-ah, Yeon Sung-hun tossed Lee Ha-na a potion as she prepped for Lee Da-hye.
He gave her a quiet thumbs-up as she looked puzzled.
Choi Yeon-ah snorted at the gesture.
"Isn't the Guild Master's potion cheating?"
"Rank gap's there. And they've sparred once already. Just stamina potion."
"Doesn't feel like it..."
Yeon Sung-hun shrugged at her sideways glance.
"Lee Da-hye Hunter doesn't mind."
"She hasn't tasted your potions yet. She'd never allow it if she knew."
"Knowing in advance is skill."
Choi Yeon-ah finally chuckled helplessly at his nonchalant tone.
Lee Ha-na vs. Lee Da-hye ended predictably in Lee Ha-na's win.
Even accounting for rank-based physical differences, her talent stunned both Yeon Sung-hun and Choi Yeon-ah.
No veteran like Lee Da-hye could overcome that gap.
Stunned by her loss, Lee Da-hye stepped aside as Yoon Ga-ram advanced.
Kim Jun-su subbed for the consecutively sparring Lee Ha-na.
Yeon Sung-hun tossed him another potion.
"Jun-su's fresh—this his first. Isn't that stamina potion?"
"You know better—why play? Let's keep it fair."
"It's fair because it's one-sided. Matches the rank and experience gap anyway."
Choi Yeon-ah agreed it was fair handicap.
Kim Jun-su vs. Yoon Ga-ram began.
Yoon Ga-ram, usually rear-guard archer, had solid melee basics from Choi Yeon-ah's training.
Unlike casual Lee Da-hye, he moved steadily from the start; Kim Jun-su matched diligently.
Average talent but endless drive and effort kept him competitive.
Victory went to Yoon Ga-ram drawing his bow in desperation, but it was Kim Jun-su's decision win.
Perhaps knowing this, Yoon Ga-ram's victorious face stayed grim.
The other new recruits felt the same.
Such results were unimaginable—pure shock.
Lee Ha-na and Kim Jun-su consoled them, crediting Yeon Sung-hun's potions, but Choi Yeon-ah saw differently.
"Looks like you all slacked on vacation."
"H-Hyungnim...! No, Noona! It's not—"
"...My apologies."
"Sorry, Unnie."
The trio hung their heads; Choi Yeon-ah sighed, displeased.
She cherished Lee Ha-na and Kim Jun-su too, but these three had rolled under her in Rifts for years.
She couldn't stomach either side losing—but this? Unacceptable.
"All of you—special training with me from now on."
Her tone brooked no argument; they paled.
Her "special training" was hell in their memories.
As they trembled like aspen leaves, Yeon Sung-hun approached slyly.
"Hey, hey. Training plans later—let's move. Team Leader Gye booked a great spot. Welcome party's due."
"Do these kids even deserve one?"
The trio lit up like salvation arrived, only for Choi Yeon-ah's words to crush them again.
Yeon Sung-hun awkwardly smiled and soothed her.
"Now's not the time. Future matters more. They can hustle from here. Cool off, Yeon-ah—we're starving. Team Leader's waiting."
Prodded along, Choi Yeon-ah grudgingly walked ahead.
The trio whispered as she left.
"That Yeon-ah noona...?"
"Letting it end this easy...?"
"Told you—more than ordinary ties."
Choi Yeon-ah's sharp rebuke rang out ahead.
They scrambled after.
Either way, the three had joined Golden Guild without major hitches.