Chapter 53
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: The Elder's Recovery
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As expected from Yeon Sung-hun's potion—which always delivered results far beyond expectations, bizarre taste and smell aside—the effect kicked in almost immediately.
The last drop had barely slid down his throat when Jeon Hae-ryong quietly opened his eyes.
"Mm...!"
"Elder!"
"Are you alright?!"
Jeon Hae-ryong tilted his head in confusion at the crowd rushing toward him.
"Why are you all here? No, more importantly, where is this...? I could've sworn at the end..."
Yeon Sung-hun spoke up as Jeon Hae-ryong furrowed his brow slightly.
"Don't push yourself. Your condition isn't great."
"Mm...? And you are...?"
"I'm Yeon Sung-hun. I gave you a potion to... treat you, I suppose."
"Yeon Sung-hun...? Treatment? Potion? Hmm. I don't quite get it, but it seems my state was pretty rough... Yeah, after what happened at the end."
"Elder, what exactly went down in there? Do you remember?"
Jeon Hae-ryong rubbed his throbbing temples as if dizzy, then responded to Jeong Hee-chan, the master of Dawn Guild.
"Mm. We ran into those bastards. Talk about bad luck."
"You mean those monsters?"
"Hm? Yeon-ah, you were here too? It's been a while."
"How could I not come when it's about you, Elder? Please stop making us worry."
"Mm... My apologies."
"So, Elder—what happened to Hunter Yoo Jun-young?"
Jeon Hae-ryong let out a quiet sigh at Seong A-reum's question.
"We managed to link up somehow, but escaping together was impossible. While moving with a few survivors, we bumped into them... Jun-young stayed till the end, trying to do his duty..."
Everyone let out low groans as Jeon Hae-ryong trailed off.
Yeon Sung-hun spoke flatly into the suddenly somber mood.
"Let's set other matters aside for now. Treating Hunter Jeon Hae-ryong comes first."
"Mm. Treatment? Is my condition that bad? I don't feel anything off."
"Oh, come on, Elder. Don't even ask. Everyone else had thrown in the towel, but Guild Master Yeon Sung-hun here barely pulled it off."
"Hm? Is that so? He must be quite the guy. Though the name rings a bell... Sorry, I can't place it."
"We've never met before, so no need to worry about it."
"He's the alchemist I've mentioned before."
Jeon Hae-ryong gasped at Seong A-reum's quiet clarification.
"Ah! That one...! No wonder it felt familiar! The alchemist Ye-rang keeps raving about? Yeon-ah's boyfriend?"
"...Not her boyfriend."
"Pfft. If even Choi Yeon-ah is all meek around him, it's obvious. That wild girl has grown into a proper lady..."
Jeon Hae-ryong clamped his mouth shut upon noticing Choi Yeon-ah's quiet stare.
"Ahem...! Anyway, I've heard a lot about you. We're grateful for your potions... Not to impose, but could I trouble you for a personal supply?"
"...I can't provide a lot, but I'll manage some."
"Ha ha! Thank you, truly! Once you get used to yours, no other potions cut it."
Yeon Sung-hun gave a wry smile at Jeon Hae-ryong's genuinely delighted grin.
Jeon Hae-ryong's current state was even worse than Choi Yeon-ah's.
Not just his magic power—his physical condition had clearly deteriorated across the board.
He could probably manage as a hunter if he pushed it, but never at Choi Yeon-ah's level.
In Yeon Sung-hun's judgment, he was in no shape to continue as a hunter until fully healed—he'd have to retire completely.
Even after full treatment, lingering aftereffects might make a comeback impossible anyway.
"Hunter Jeon Hae-ryong, I need to explain your current condition."
"Mm. You mentioned more treatment is needed? Go ahead. And drop the formalities."
"Alright. Then I'll go over your condition point by point from now on."
Yeon Sung-hun began a rather long explanation as Jeon Hae-ryong nodded encouragingly.
Jeon Hae-ryong groaned softly at the recommendation of full retirement.
"...Is it that bad?"
"One thing upfront: no using magic power at all. Pain aside, it'll tangle your already messed-up circuits even further..."
"Guhhh...! This really hurts!"
Yeon Sung-hun sighed deeply as Jeon Hae-ryong winced after testing his magic.
There was always this type.
The kind who wouldn't listen until they experienced it themselves.
"...Once is fine, but restrain yourself going forward. It could delay treatment even more."
"Got it, got it. Lighten up. You're a scary one now that I see it. No wonder Yeon-ah's got you on a short leash..."
"Elder?"
"Kh-hm! Sorry, sorry! Just excited to see you after so long!"
"...I'll visit more often from now on."
"Good. Don't come alone—mm. Can I speak casually?"
"Yes, that's fine."
"Alright. Bring Sung-hun every time. Sounds like you'll have plenty of free time ahead."
Everyone sighed at Jeon Hae-ryong's casual remark.
It was as good as accepting Yeon Sung-hun's advice and retiring.
"Speaking of, Kim Pan-yong's gonna love this. After all the crap he pulled..."
"That's actually what I wanted to talk about."
Seong A-reum raised her hand quietly and detailed Kim Pan-yong's actions.
Jeon Hae-ryong sighed lowly after listening silently to the end.
"...I knew he was ambitious, but that...?"
"A few association folks were in on it too."
"...I see."
He'd been so pure-hearted back when they founded the guild together.
What was so great about power and fame?
Jeon Hae-ryong sighed again and spoke.
"Headquarters Chief No Gwan-sik."
"Yes, Elder. What is it?"
"...Looks like I'll have to become association chairman, even if I retire as a hunter. Never wanted it—my temperament doesn't fit—but here we are."
"I'll assist you with all my heart."
"I'll count on you alone."
And so, while retiring as a hunter, Jeon Hae-ryong resolved to become association chairman.
After more talk with Jeon Hae-ryong, they finally let in those waiting outside.
Kim Pan-yong and company entered with sour faces, recoiling like they'd seen a ghost at the sight of the fully awake Jeon Hae-ryong—but most were purely joyful at his recovery.
Those who'd tried treating him themselves pestered Yeon Sung-hun for details, only to be gently blocked by Choi Yeon-ah or Lee Ye-rang and turn away quietly.
Jeon Hae-ryong said nothing to the gathered crowd about his condition or retirement.
He acted as if perfectly normal. He couldn't hide it forever, but it seemed he wanted to buy time for now.
Not everyone here could be trusted, after all.
'For someone who hates it, he's pretty good at this.'
Yeon Sung-hun chuckled softly at Jeon Hae-ryong's composed act.
He'd helped purely for Choi Yeon-ah, but a Jeon Hae-ryong-led association meant benefits ahead.
Plus, he'd connected with every S-rank hunter except the missing Yoo Jun-young—well worth the legwork.
And with folks already eyeing him to talk, building those ties promised solid gains.
Above all, Yeon Sung-hun was pleased by Choi Yeon-ah's constant smile.
He smiled quietly at the thoroughly satisfying situation.
Jeon Hae-ryong had awakened safely, but that didn't mean all problems were solved.
Everyone was trying to ignore it, but the fallout from this failed expedition was just beginning.
Yoo Jun-young was officially missing, but Jeon Hae-ryong's report made it as good as dead.
Mass deaths among key members of Immortal, Heavenly Sky, and K.G guilds.
And with three major guilds involved, the ripple effects were massive.
Plenty of mid- and small-guild hunters had joined, and business ties meant others felt the pain too.
The association had worked hard to keep the S-rank rift under wraps, but they couldn't hide this failure entirely.
One top S-rank hunter missing, three major domestic guilds crumbling—the hunter world, and Korea itself, buzzed nonstop.
Through it all, Yeon Sung-hun and Golden Guild's routine stayed much the same.
They delved rifts, trained, and went about their days.
Yeon Sung-hun was swamped brewing potions on days off and meeting people—ten bodies wouldn't cut it—but it was business as usual.
The main change? Carving out time lately for Jeon Hae-ryong's treatments.
He'd originally visited Jeon Hae-ryong himself, but lately the elder came to him.
To accommodate Yeon Sung-hun's schedule, Jeon Hae-ryong visited the Golden Guild HQ under construction.
And he'd offer "treatment fee" advice to the diligently training members.
Advice from a near-legend of Korea's hunter scene, active till recently? Priceless.
The guild members had been awkward at first, but lately treated him like the friendly neighborhood grandpa.
They mingled casually now.
He gave especially detailed pointers to Kim Jun-su.
Impressed by Kim Jun-su's daily earliest arrivals and latest departures.
"Tsk tsk! Jun-su, loosen up a bit!"
"How do I catch monsters without power?"
"It's about technique, technique."
"Can't you explain it simpler?"
"This is simple. Want me to spoon-feed you? If my body weren't busted, I'd show you hands-on... Sung-hun, can't I move a little? As long as no magic, right?"
"You need maximum rest. Like I always say, your condition's worse than you think. If Yeon-ah's a 1, you're a 10."
"Argh... Nothing else bothers me, but this..."
Yeon Sung-hun chuckled at Jeon Hae-ryong's tongue-click.
He could see why everyone liked him so much.
For someone at the top of the hunter world so long, he was remarkably down-to-earth.
"So, how's it going lately?"
Jeon Hae-ryong prodded Ur, begging for food at Yeon Sung-hun's feet, and asked.
"What do you mean?"
"You and Yeon-ah's romance... Whoops. Got it, got it. No jokes."
He cleared his throat lightly at Choi Yeon-ah's glare from afar and continued.
"Heard the potions you sold to the guild alliance fetched a fortune? With all three guilds disbanding... You getting paid back?"
"They're liquidating buildings, land, gear mainly. Hunter Seong A-reum's helping a lot, and Team Leader Gye's handling it well."
"Hm... Buildings and land aside, decent gear's rare. Most was with Jun-young or the others."
"They must've planned for fallout—we snagged some good pieces. Just the real estate covers the potion costs."
"Raking it in like a king."
Yeon Sung-hun chuckled softly at Jeon Hae-ryong's tongue-click.
He was earning big, but spending just as fast.
Guild HQ construction drained funds steadily, for one.
Plus black market buys for personal needs ate up cash—savings weren't ballooning as hoped.
Still, his accounts held plenty already.
"And you, Elder? Swamped these days, right?"
"Me? What's there to be busy about? Headquarters Chief No's sweating it. Oh, that Na Seong-sil you introduced? No praises him nonstop for his work."
"Good to hear. What about Hunter Kim Pan-yong?"
"Gave him a quiet talking-to. Didn't mention chairman stuff, but he'll stay low for a bit. Why, he bothering you?"
"Keeps calling to meet up lately."
Jeon Hae-ryong tsked at Yeon Sung-hun's offhand remark.
"That guy's got nerves of steel. Heard he said plenty he shouldn't to you that day, yet still wants to meet... Wasn't like that before."
Yeon Sung-hun shrugged at Jeon Hae-ryong's bitter mutter.
"...Anyway, if trouble hits, tell me. You saved my life—I'll help however."
"No need for that. I got paid for it."
"Chump change for what you did... Speak up if anything's off. Semi-retired old man's got plenty left to back you."
Yeon Sung-hun nodded with a soft smile at Jeon Hae-ryong's earnest plea.
His current network meant he probably wouldn't need the elder's pull anyway.
S-rank hunters like Seong A-reum and Lee Ye-rang would rush over if needed.
He'd had a solid chat with Joo Ji-won too— she'd help in a pinch.
Still, feeling Jeon Hae-ryong's sincere support warmed him.
More cards in hand, the better.
Thus, amid national uproar, Yeon Sung-hun and Golden Guild enjoyed their peaceful routine.