Chapter 97
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Why Did You Come Out From There?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Why are you coming out from there?"
"You little shit, what did I just ask you?"
A round, elderly man whose neck was barely visible.
Veins bulged on Ahn Jung-bong's forehead.
But Kang Chan-seong, sitting in front of him, remained utterly expressionless.
"I'm sorry, but how would I know?"
"No, think about it logically. We were in the same guild for years—does it make sense that you wouldn't know any of that? Don't you realize it only makes me more suspicious?"
"Is that so? I'm sorry."
"Grrrh..."
Ahn Jung-bong's face grew redder at Chan-seong's curt responses.
The interrogation room was surprisingly luxurious.
Expensive-looking potted plants were placed in every corner—probably Ahn Jung-bong's hobby.
Is this guy playing dumb, or is he really that thick-headed?
Ahn Jung-bong took a deep breath to calm his rising anger.
If he lost his temper carelessly, the potted plants he'd cherished for decades would all end up dead.
"Fine, then. Let's try something else. Do you know anything about this little kid?"
Finally, Chan-seong nodded.
"Yes."
Ahn Jung-bong's eyes sparkled.
"Oh ho, finally something you know. Alright, tell me about her."
"Kim Su-hyeon is... hmm..."
"Yeah, I know the name. Next?"
"She's short, has light green hair, and she's a girl. An E-rank Awakener, and..."
Ahn Jung-bong slammed his desk repeatedly.
Whether he'd controlled his strength well or the desk was sturdy, it held up without breaking.
"Who doesn't know that? I'm talking about her abilities, where she's from—that kind of thing!"
Chan-seong tilted his head.
"Her abilities? Well... she's cute, observant, and smart enough to attend university. I don't know much about her home."
"Arrrgh!"
Just as Ahn Jung-bong let out a beastly roar, a loud thud echoed from outside the door.
"What was that?"
Ahn Jung-bong looked up, and Chan-seong belatedly glanced at the door—
"Come here... now!"
Boom!
Seo Na-rin's powerful shout was accompanied by an explosive sound.
The thick door flew horizontally straight toward where Ahn Jung-bong sat.
It looked like she'd aimed for it from the start.
"Hmph!"
Clack.
But Ahn Jung-bong caught the hurtling door with one hand and gently set it aside, avoiding his potted plants.
It was a display of strength and flexibility unimaginable from his appearance.
In the doorway left by the vanished door stood Seo Na-rin, flashing the sole of one shoe.
"Chan-seong!"
"Mr. Chan-seong!"
A familiar voice came from behind Na-rin.
"Su-hyeon, Ms. Da-hye."
"It's not over yet."
As the two tried to enter the room, other Hunters blocked them.
"Seo Na-rin, what the hell do you think you're doing?"
Ahn Jung-bong's eyes narrowed as he recognized the intruder.
"Long time no see, Senior Ahn. Still love sabotaging promising young talents, I see?"
Click-clack—
Seo Na-rin entered with the click of her heels and smiled at Ahn Jung-bong.
"Done pretending to be prim and proper in front of others?"
Ahn Jung-bong sneered, but Na-rin—who'd been through thick and thin—was utterly shameless.
"Oh my, one of my cute juniors drops by, and instead of welcoming me, what are you saying?"
"......"
"......"
After a brief staring contest, Ahn Jung-bong glanced at Na-rin's back and snorted.
"Hmph, still hanging around with useless trash, I see."
Twitch.
"...Hey, you old potato. You'd better take that back."
Even after more than ten years, that contemptuous remark shattered Na-rin's composure.
"Be grateful I'm even calling wastes who can't do anything alone 'fellow Hunters.'"
"...I was gonna go easy and leave, but nah, not anymore."
"You're the ones who barged in like mud and smashed the damn door—what nonsense is this?"
As the two ramped up their auras, the atmosphere turned hostile in an instant.
"What are you lot doing? Grab them all!"
Snap—
With Ahn Jung-bong's shout, something burst right in front of Seo Na-rin's nose.
It was immediately countered, but the explosion's shockwave whipped Da-hye's hair around.
"Eek!"
"We've got the justification here—take them all down!"
Crash! Crunch—
Chairs and wood splinters flew as Hunters charged at each other.
Neither side seemed intent on killing, but the Mystic Hunters were struggling to subdue the Council's powerful ones.
Even with two or three against one, the Council side held the advantage.
"Su-hyeon, we should get out of here. Mr. Chan-seong!"
Da-hye clutched Su-hyeon tightly, trying to hide.
But Su-hyeon's eyes were fixed on one corner of the room.
"Over there!"
"Huh?"
That guy!
The target was the Hunter who'd shoved Da-hye aside and dragged Chan-seong away.
The culprit behind this whole messed-up day.
Couldn't even buy Ga-eun's gift—what the hell!
The thought reignited Su-hyeon's anger.
As if responding to her will, the potted plants in the room began to writhe.
Shrrk—
"Huh? W-What's this?"
The Hunter yelled in surprise, but it was too late.
Plants slithered out like snakes, coiling tightly around his legs.
She'd originally planned to grab his neck and shake, but that felt a bit too much.
Su-hyeon quickly softened and changed plans.
The plants yanked his legs, hoisting him upside down.
"Gahhhh!"
The Hunter tried clawing the floor with his fingers to resist, but it was futile.
Whirr-whirr-whirr!
The plants shook him around like a puppy tossing a toy.
"Su-hyeon...?"
Da-hye looked down at Su-hyeon in her arms, but her cheeks trembled with intense focus.
"What... is this?"
Da-hye wasn't the only one flustered.
Na-rin scanned the room, then stared at Su-hyeon in disbelief.
"Next, that side!"
Su-hyeon didn't stop there, directing aid to where Mystic members were at a disadvantage.
"Argh! What the—?!"
Council Hunters gleefully attacking were suddenly ensnared and hung upside down by plants.
Ahn Jung-bong, facing off with Seo Na-rin, screamed at the sight.
"Do you know how expensive those pots are?!"
The pots had long been shattered by the overgrown plants.
"You bastards, stop! Even your master doesn't know them! I've raised them for decades...!"
But the plants didn't care if Ahn Jung-bong tore his hair out.
The overly vibrant orchids seemed to exchange glances (though they had none) before snatching nearby Hunters.
Crash!
"Kieee!"
"You—stop this right now!"
The rampaging plants turned the room into chaos in seconds.
Hunters screamed while flying about, shards of broken lights raining down.
Not just property damage—the tide had turned instantly.
"Kang Chan-seong, over here!"
"Su-hyeon, it's dangerous!"
Su-hyeon stretched her hand toward Chan-seong. Worried she'd get hurt, Da-hye grabbed and tucked it back in.
Chan-seong dodged falling lights and hurried over.
"...You always exceed expectations. Has your power grown stronger?"
"You think so? Heh, feels about the same as at the exhibition."
Su-hyeon beamed proudly at Chan-seong's admiration.
What man wouldn't like hearing he'd grown stronger?
"...That little brat—I'm not letting this slide!"
Ahn Jung-bong bellowed, his face flushed crimson.
For a moment, it even seemed like smoke was rising—probably just imagination.
"Wait!"
Seo Na-rin quickly stepped in front, realizing Ahn Jung-bong's glare was aimed at Su-hyeon, not her.
"Get a grip. You planning to attack a civilian?"
"Civilian my ass! After this, you say that? Hand her over now!"
Flames flickered from his fist.
"Her? This old geezer's lost it!"
Seo Na-rin didn't back down an inch.
"We need to get out of here!"
Sensing the ominous vibe, Da-hye tugged Chan-seong's collar.
"I don't know the details, but as a Mystic Hunter, you two should retreat first."
But Chan-seong seemed intent on staying to fight.
"Right, yeah. Be careful th—ack!"
As Da-hye turned, she nearly collided with someone standing right there.
"Huh? What the..."
At that moment.
"What is this commotion?!"
Jang Tae-won appeared with a roar, slamming his cane down hard twice.
Whoosh—
"!?"
"What..."
The flames vanished from Ahn Jung-bong's hand.
All the other Hunters' abilities deactivated simultaneously.
"Ch-Chairman..."
"Hm?"
Jang Tae-won frowned at the flustered Hunter's words as he turned.
He'd purged all energy in the room—specifically, magic power.
Yet the monstrously wriggling plants remained unaffected.
That monster's power, huh.
Jang Tae-won's gaze shifted to the child in Da-hye's arms.
"Damn old fart. Nearly deafened me."
"Jun-hyuk...!"
The man in front of Da-hye was Camellia Guild's Guild Master, Goo Jun-hyuk.
"Insolent punk. Can't you at least show some manners in front of others?"
"Hunters don't have hierarchies, don't you know? My age gonna block monsters for me?"
"Cheeky..."
Jun-hyuk ignored the fuming Jang Tae-won and asked Su-hyeon,
"So, why are you here?"
"Huh? These people suddenly took our friend away."
"Sigh, did that bird cause more trouble? Hey, gramps—this means we're footing the bill now, huh?"
"Nonsense! After this, you say that? Mystic and Camellia are allies, so you'll share the responsibility!"
"Do whatever."
With that, Jang Tae-won began restoring order.
He released the Hunters bound by plants and ordered the unharmed ones to clean up.
Da-hye, still holding Su-hyeon, was utterly bewildered.
"Um... who...?"
"Oh, I'm just Su-hyeon's friend."
Jun-hyuk started to smile but recalled Su-hyeon's comment about his smile looking hideous (she hadn't said it that harshly) and just nodded slightly.
"Friend...?"
Da-hye eyed Jun-hyuk suspiciously.
"Anyway, putting that aside—I came to protest the Council's rudeness the other day."
"Rudeness?"
"Y'know, the PC bang incident."
"Oh."
The Hunter she'd thought was a scammer?
But what was rude about it? His speech was impolite, sure...
"Whatever, keep up the good work."
Su-hyeon nodded, giving up on thinking, and Jun-hyuk made a dumbfounded face.
"This involves you, y'know?"
"?"
Su-hyeon genuinely tilted her head in confusion.
Her leaves swayed in the same direction, tickling Da-hye's chin.
Then, Seo Na-rin approached after gathering her guildmates.
"Any injuries?"
"Oh, no... thanks to you."
"Me too..."
"Our friend's amazing, right? Wanna join Mystic? You can do it alongside school. How old are you?"
"Ah, haha..."
Hadn't she just said Mystic and Camellia were allies?
Su-hyeon was flustered by Na-rin's bold scouting pitch right in front of an allied guild VIP.
"Quit slobbering in front of my face, lady."
"Sigh... why the hell are you even here?"
Na-rin scowled upon hearing Jun-hyuk's voice.
"Came for similar reasons as you."
"Oh, yeah? Not that I expected you to sa—...what?"
Na-rin, who'd assumed he wouldn't tell, widened her eyes.
"Wanna talk alone, just us?"
"...?"
Na-rin eyed him suspiciously at his sleazy tone.
What the hell's this guy's deal?
He's not grinning extra slimy today.
...Though the sleaziness is still there.
"...What're you doing?"
"Thought you might be a fake."
Na-rin poked Jun-hyuk's cheek with her finger like testing dough.