Chapter 95
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: The Guild Master's Fury
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Charge!
The guard, Da-hye, and I rode the elevator up.
Unlike the one at Camellia Guild, this elevator offered a crystal-clear view of the outside.
Kuoooo—
'Ughhh.'
Watching the ground rapidly recede below made my lower body tingle unpleasantly.
Su-hyeon kept her eyes narrowed but couldn't stop peering out.
"...Our Master has never gotten along well with the Council."
"Hah."
The burly guard's deep voice snapped Su-hyeon back to attention, and she turned to face forward again.
On the glass were faint traces of moisture: two small handprints and a round forehead smudge.
"What happened?"
The guard continued his explanation at Da-hye's question.
"The ones leading the Council are mostly veteran Hunters who've seen plenty of action. Back when there were no proper tactics or strategies in place, they rolled around in the field themselves. Because of that, there's still this lingering disdain for support types like us in the rear guard or supporters."
"Rear guard...?"
Su-hyeon tilted her head, eyeing the guard.
No matter how you looked at him, he seemed like the type to smash through walls and pin down criminals.
"Yes. I can't go into details, but I'm a C-rank detection-type ability user myself."
"Oh..."
It made sense now why Chan-seong had been scouted.
Were Hunters really not to be judged by appearances?
"So, you're saying Chan-seong was dragged off as a way to keep Mystic in check?"
"We'll have to look into the details, but given everything we've been through so far... yeah, probably."
"...Damn."
"Not just once or twice? What petty jerks."
"Right?"
The Hunter continued as the two fumed.
"The reason supporters get treated like nobility these days is all thanks to our Master. She's the one who personally proved how much easier Gate clears become with rear-guard Hunters and how much safer beast subjugations are."
His tone was matter-of-fact, but the deep respect for Na-rin came through loud and clear.
"It's not about ability—it's the lack of knowledge and experience among Hunters, and the absence of a proper environment for them to shine. She shattered those old prejudices completely. How could we not respect her?"
"...She's pretty cool."
"She is. But the Council sees it as arrogance."
"..."
The Hunter gave a wry smile.
"It's gotten a bit better lately, but they've been picking fights over the pettiest things for a while now. So... well, the Council is like Master's reverse scale."
"Pardon?"
The elevator arrived, and the Hunter trailed off.
"Anyway, try not to be too shocked when you see her."
"...?"
Su-hyeon and Da-hye exchanged baffled looks.
Weeeeng—
The doors slid open and...
"Those old geezers—I oughta rip their guts out! Huh? That geezer An Jung-bong, I'll crush him! And that bastard Jang Tae-won, I'll yank every hair off his face @#%$%!"
Crash-clang-bang—
A hysterical voice echoed from afar.
"No way this is..."
"Ahem..."
The burly Hunter fiddled awkwardly with his radio again.
A crackle of static came from far down the hall.
"Master, they'll be here any minute now..."
"Ah, aah! Damn it all! You think you can screw me over like this? This crosses the line. Yeah, doesn't it?"
"Yes, exactly. So please calm down first..."
"Calm down? Hah. Siiiip... Haaa. Round up the kids on break right now."
"Being calm doesn't make it go away."
"Kyaaaaah! Burn those old hags at the stake!!"
No mistaking it—that was Seo Na-rin's voice.
Su-hyeon recalled the Seo Na-rin from her memories.
"Everyone knows her, right? She's been on TV a ton lately."
Full of pride and a strong sense of responsibility.
"Hello? Didn't expect to run into you here."
Even in sweats, she exuded elegance.
"Hehe, it's fine. It's the path I chose. Still, sometimes I think it'd be nice to hole up somewhere no one knows me."
Weary yet wistful smile.
'...This doesn't match the image I had at all?'
The public face of Seo Na-rin was cool, chic, and capable big-sis vibes.
And from what Su-hyeon had seen, it matched.
So what the hell was that pterodactyl screech...?
The guiding Hunter quickened his pace.
"...Ahem. Let's head in."
"Uh... is it okay to go in now?"
Maybe hang back a bit?
"I know you two aren't the type to tarnish Master's image. And given the situation..."
"Mm..."
The pair followed with uneasy expressions.
As they neared the conference room, the thick scent of Na-rin's incense grew stronger.
...How much was she burning?
Creeeak—
"So first, make sure they can't escape..."
The heavy door swung open, and the rowdy interior fell silent in an instant.
Proof that one person's noise had dominated.
There stood Seo Na-rin, arms draped awkwardly around a suited female Hunter and Burly Guard No. 2.
Her eyes slowly turned toward the entrance.
Burly Guard No. 1 once. Da-hye once. Finally, Su-hyeon down low once.
"...That's why I told you."
"Uh... hello?"
"..."
"..."
Things calmed down quickly.
Made me suspect the burly guard had timed our entrance on purpose.
"I heard the gist. It's about our newbie, right?"
Seo Na-rin flashed a sultry smile.
Was that earlier outburst just a hallucination?
If not for the female Hunter fixing her hair behind her, I might've believed it.
"Yes, but you already knew?"
Su-hyeon asked cautiously, wondering how she'd found out before we arrived.
"This much is basic. How's our friend doing since then?"
"Ah, yes... Thank you."
Her caring tone was nice, but that scene wouldn't leave my mind.
"When was Su-hyeon sick?"
Da-hye asked Na-rin in surprise.
"Oh, nothing big. She passed out after too long in the sauna..."
"Oh dear, you need to be careful in your condition."
Da-hye relaxed once she knew it wasn't serious.
"So, what's your plan?"
Sip... haa...
Seo Na-rin Hunter took a long drag from her pipe, exhaling deeply.
A sweet scent tickled my nose.
"..."
Su-hyeon watched her lips intently, a bit of anticipation building for her response.
"They mobilized a bunch of high-rank Hunters, forcibly dragged off an innocent one, stirred panic among civilians, and even damaged our business."
She addressed Da-hye directly.
"And when Attorney Lee Da-hye tried to protest, she nearly got hurt."
"Yes...? Ah... yes."
Was she talking about getting shoved?
If you nitpicked, maybe...
"High-rank Awakener abusing power like that is a crime, right?"
"It... is?"
Su-hyeon and Da-hye nodded.
"Especially an A-rank—even worse. Imagine the shock for you, Attorney. A weapon that slices steel like butter threatening your life. Could leave you with trauma."
"Yes...?"
"Hm."
Su-hyeon thought back quietly.
The Council Hunter's annoyed glare as he roughly shoved Da-hye.
Even B-rank Ga-eun folded orc muscle piles like origami.
An A-rank, no less.
"...That really is too much."
Su-hyeon's brows furrowed slightly upward.
Da-hye was the righteous type who protested injustice fiercely, even for others.
"We're off to catch some criminals now. And while we're at it, rescue our guild's newbie they snatched. It's an emergency, so we'll sort out any misunderstandings later."
"Pardon? Seo Na-rin Hunter? Huh?"
"Let's go. Time to raise hell."
"W-Wait! Is this okay?"
"You know the justification's on our side, Attorney. Who do they think they are, playing judge...!"
Seo Na-rin started heating up again.
"Still..."
"Mm, you're right. And it's not just today—it's been like this all along, right?"
Unlike Da-hye, Su-hyeon nodded seriously.
True to her timid-yet-never-backs-down nature.
"See? Our friend gets it."
Na-rin smiled at Su-hyeon, then stood.
Her disheveled hair was already neatly fixed somehow.
"Chan-seong's our fresh newbie. We have a duty to protect him. If we let the Council get away with this, who else would join our guild?"
"True, but..."
Na-rin took a cap from the female Hunter and shouted.
"Kids! Let's go! Time to vent all that pent-up frustration!"
"Yes!"
The Hunters, who'd been statue-still until now, raised their fists and roared.
The thunderous cheers startled Su-hyeon.
But she soon got swept up in the heat.
Yeah! If they hit you, hit back!
Wooo!!
"Eugyaaa—!"
"Su-hyeon, why are you joining in...?"
Da-hye clutched her head as Su-hyeon mimicked the Hunters, thrusting both hands skyward with a yell.
Na-rin strode out of the conference room, and Burly Guard No. 1 said,
"You two come along too."
"Hm!"
Su-hyeon, face flushed with fury, hopped off her chair and scurried after Na-rin.
The pair of leaves sprouting from her head bobbed wildly.
"Haa..."
Da-hye sighed and followed.
What could she do? This was Mystic she'd come to, and Seo Na-rin Hunter.
Behind the three, black-suited Hunters fell in line.
It was WWE time.
They attacked first—time for a killer comeback.