Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Sit with Your Close Friends
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Sit with your close friends.
Korea's premier guilds. Reliable guilds. Number one in domestic guild reputation and image.
These were the phrases that described the Camellia Guild.
"How did it go, Master?"
The bespectacled female secretary addressed the B-rank Hunter who had just debated with Ga-eun.
"Hm, there was something there, but... she really seems clueless about it."
The B-rank Hunter in charge of recruitment—no, S-rank Hunter Gu Jun-hyeok—replied.
"I figured even if she didn't know, she'd bluff her way through and bite anyway. Guess I underestimated Ga-eun. Do I have this preconception that all streamers are money-grubbers?"
"...I have no intention of prying into your private life, but please be more aware of your position."
"Hey, it's fine! I don't even chat on my main account, and donations are anonymous. No chance of linking it to Camellia, that's what I'm saying."
The secretary let out a silent sigh.
"And we have a guest."
"Oh, Cheol-min? You're early."
He headed to his office with the secretary in tow.
Bang—
Without so much as a knock, he flung the door open. There sat a man boldly in the head seat, as if he owned the place.
"You're here."
Short-cropped gray hair and a scar on his lip.
Lee Cheol-min, Guild Master of Steel Guild, another major guild like Camellia.
"Hey, Ah-yon Mae-en—"
"Don't call me that."
"Go-ro-ke Bu-ru-di Myuh."
"You son of a bitch."
"Yeah, loser. Steel Guild, my ass—soft as a baby's bottom, squishy butt, mushy butt."
Cheol-min wanted nothing more than to shut that irritating mouth, but reality made it impossible.
They were both heads of major guilds, but he was S-rank, while Cheol-min was A-rank.
Unlike A-ranks, who could advance through evaluations and assessments, S-ranks were selected purely based on power.
And power here didn't just mean raw combat strength—it meant the sheer influence one could wield on the world single-handedly. Sure, there were S-ranks he could overpower, but...
The man before him had earned his S-rank through sheer fighting prowess.
And those types usually lived bored and jaded lives, turning playful, self-indulgent, and always picking fights.
If S-ranks ever gathered by chance, the nation would beg them not to fight.
He was probably hoping Cheol-min couldn't take the teasing and would lunge at him.
Cheeky bastard.
'Insolent prick. Who the hell asked for this.'
Back when his blood still ran hot, he'd charged in countless times, but now he knew it was a waste of time.
"So, how'd it go?"
"Huh? What'd I get assigned?"
"We agreed you'd share info instead of making a move!"
Cheol-min finally snapped and raised his voice.
"Just kidding, kidding. Getting mad over something this small? Anyway, that girl...?"
"Master."
The secretary glared at Jun-hyeok as a vein bulged on Cheol-min's forehead.
If he smashed the desk and walls again, it'd be the fourth time this month already. And it was barely March.
"She claims she doesn't know, but there definitely seems to be something. She turned down 30 billion won."
"Pardon?"
"...Thirty...?"
"Master...!"
As the secretary's face twisted like a vengeful demon, Jun-hyeok hurriedly added,
"No, from my personal funds! I was gonna cover it myself!"
"Even if you covered it, that doesn't make the embezzlement go away!"
"Think about it—we're talking an A-rank Hunter or higher. Thirty billion's a steal, right?"
"What if it was a dud or a fake?"
"Then chalk it up to recruiting a promising C-rank Hunter-slash-streamer."
"Who burns 30 billion on a C-rank?"
"I thought she was worth investing in."
...He valued that Lee Ga-eun woman's potential at A-rank or above. Cheol-min's eye twitched at Jun-hyeok's words.
The guy might be a jerk, but he didn't spout nonsense—which made this all the more shocking.
"...Acquiring a company and acquiring a person are different things. Maybe she got suspicious from the excessive offer and backed off?"
"...Huh, you think?"
Cheol-min stood as Jun-hyeok pondered seriously.
"Then, we can approach her now, right?"
"Oh, that? Better not."
"...What the hell does that mean? I held up my end."
"Nah, there's something behind her. Can't say more."
While investigating everyone involved in the incident, he'd received an official document.
A plain envelope, no seals or markings.
Inside: a single crisp sheet of white paper.
If not for the special material, he'd have dismissed it as a prank—or a printing error with blank paper.
But to him, it meant something else.
Dubbed 'White Space.'
The term itself referred to characters representing blank spaces in computers, consoles, or printers.
It was urban legend among special forces.
Board a chopper for a secret op, and unknowns are already aboard—unannounced.
Slim builds, gender obscured by helmets covering faces.
Yet post-mission docs lack pseudonyms, no personnel fields, not even headcount.
Check records, and the last page has a lone white sheet enclosed.
Some say DEVGRU variant; others, a prank.
If he hadn't seen them with his own eyes, he'd have shredded it without a thought.
"...Noted."
Cheol-min replied, noting Jun-hyeok's rare gravity.
"By the way, you into soccer?"
"Huh? Oh, that?"
As Cheol-min headed out, he glanced at a cheap white soccer uniform hanging on the wall.
"Played a lot back in school. Just nostalgia."
"Your school days? Bet you were a total delinquent without even seeing it."
"Hey, I had plenty of friends."
"Even stray dogs would laugh. I'm out."
Cheol-min snorted and slammed the door.
Jun-hyeok gazed quietly at the uniform swaying in the breeze.
Over the weekend, I learned the secret of my birth: I'm a Dryad.
How've I been since? Not much change.
Well, maybe a lot, considering I'd been holed up in my room for over two years before.
My account's flush now—thanks to Grandma power.
What hasn't changed is my personality.
Friends drifting away yearly? My laziness and desire to stay put? Not my fault—racial traits. Inevitable.
But personality doesn't flip overnight.
That's why I was hunkered down in the library now.
With Ga-eun, of course—and her two friends from day one.
One was Park Min-ji from the PC bang recently.
So this last one's Han Ji-eun, right?
"23!? Class of '23!?"
"For real? Ga-eun, is it true?"
They were shocked I was 23 but shrugged it off and glommed on fast.
"A bit... farther. Uwuu...."
Freshman energy made my vision spin.
...There was a reason I was like this.
Usual morning.
Lazed in the sun, ignored stares on the commute, hunkered in the lecture hall corner, tuned out murmurs as class started.
Until the general ed prof said three acquaintances should form groups...
"Ah."
Cruelest words ever.
The world has no mercy for loners.
Three?
Mom and Grandma make three—barely. Absurd.
Post-class, acquaintances paired up; strangers chatted with neighbors naturally.
No one approached early-bird Su-hyeon hiding behind her bag.
"Ah, uh, ah."
Talked to? Problem. Ignored? Problem.
Su-hyeon fiddled her phone, contemplating dropping the class.
"Um, Su-hyeon? Right?"
That's when Ga-eun's two friends approached the trembling Su-hyeon.
...Leading to now.
Su-hyeon was dragged to the library like a captured alien, hands in theirs.
They even booked a study room all day, called Ga-eun, and started chatting.
"In gen ed?"
"Yeah... Didn't know it was group work."
"Huh, but you're bantering casually?"
"Yeah, not calling her sunbae?"
Min-ji and Ji-eun eyed Ga-eun and Su-hyeon casually bantering.
"Eh, we decided to drop formalities."
"No fair! Us too, Su-hyeon sunbae?"
"I-it's already casual...."
"Oops, sorry—your look makes honorifics impossible! And you gotta go casual too, sunbae!"
"Uh, um.... No, not yet, sorry...."
The onslaught was overwhelming.
Ji-eun's eyes widened, unprepared for rejection.
"Whyy?"
"Hehe."
Ga-eun smirked, smug at her edge.
"Look at that smile—what's with the face?"
The two gawked, baffled.
Anyway, they backed off on forcing casual speech with reluctant Su-hyeon.
"Gotta ease open the heart's door. Can't just barge in."
Ga-eun hugged Su-hyeon sideways, cheeks touching, to flaunt their bond.
"Mmuh."
'...You strong-armed me at first too.'
The pair stared enviously, oblivious to Su-hyeon's thoughts.
"But Su-hyeon sunbae studies well, right?"
"For real? She's a top student?"
"Yeah, prof praised her day one."
"That was you? Wow!"
"He did mention it day one."
"Lucky Ga-eun. Ask her anything for majors?"
With near-strangers, hype with praise to spark talk. Half-sincere.
But one had zero tolerance.
"N-no biggie. Heh, hehe."
"?"
"?"
"?"
Ears beet-red, Su-hyeon giggled goofily.
Min-ji and Ji-eun got her number now.
"Wow!"
"Amazing!"
Clap clap clap clap—
I panted, darting between flowerbeds on the walkway.
'Huh? How'd this happen...'
"One more!"
Question popped, but cheers yanked my body along the flowerbed again.
Thud thud thud.
Whoosh—
Flowers waved like ocean swells as I ran.
Spectacular.
"Wow, seriously trippy?"
"What now—power's too cute."
Click click.
"Su-hyeon, enough—come here."
I staggered to Ga-eun's bench at 'stop.'
"Look at the sweat—got hyped from praise.... No sweat earlier. Power-related?"
Ga-eun's words didn't register amid dizziness.
Panting, I aimed for the bench to flop...
'Hard...'
"Huh?"
Unthinkingly sought fluffiness, climbed atop, and sprawled limp.
"Kyaa! So cute!"
"Seriously, why only you—no distance?"
Su-hyeon draped over Ga-eun's thigh like a wilted cabbage, breathless.
Friends burned with jealousy, but Ga-eun couldn't reply.
Cheek and belly doughiness pressing her thigh stole her mind.