Vice Guild Master Sia Seong (2)
The heavy door to the president's office creaked open. A thick stench of nicotine and tar assaulted my nose. It was hard to believe this was the domain of Korea's top authority over all hunters—surprisingly modest. A massive desk and bookshelves lining the walls. The only oddity was the stacks of documents floating in midair, sorting themselves.
A huge floor-to-ceiling window overlooked the city skyline. The room's owner stood with her back to us, puffing on a cigarette.
"Yaaawn... What is it? I told you to send reports through paperwork."
She turned lazily, like a drowsy cat. Raven-black hair, crimson eyes that seemed to pierce through everything. Hunter Association President Yoon Seo-ah, Korea's S-class telekinetic hunter with Clairvoyance.
Kang Jin-woo and I bowed deeply toward her.
"President, I'm Sia Seong, newly appointed vice guild master of Baekya Guild. It's an honor to greet you formally."
"Baekya Guild Master Kang Jin-woo here. Sorry to interrupt your valuable time."
She waved dismissively, as if annoyed. The floating documents shifted in perfect sync with her gesture, thanks to her telekinesis. Even alone, that outfit—exposing so much cleavage with half the buttons undone...
Yoon Seo-ah's languid expression held steady, but those blood-red eyes stayed razor-sharp, as if they could peer straight into our souls.
"Hmmm."
She exhaled a long plume of smoke, scanning us from head to toe.
"Fine, fine. I've seen it all on the news anyway. You could've just sent the papers—why bother coming here in person? Wasting time."
She lived with complaints of hassle on her lips, yet she was renowned for handling work cleanly and swiftly. In this merit-based world, no one dared question her ironclad efficiency. The ironic workaholic who slaved away harder than anyone just to secure her downtime—that was Yoon Seo-ah.
"We wanted to pay our respects in person and greet you properly, President," Guild Master Kang Jin-woo replied with his trademark affable grin. The man turned into a battle-crazed maniac in gates, hunting monsters like a demon, but out in society, he was the picture of a dutiful young man. Does he have split personality or something?
"Hmmm. Hunters aren't some stuffy old fogeys obsessed with hierarchy."
Yoon Seo-ah stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray and sank into her desk chair. Crossing her legs, she propped her chin and stared straight at the guild master.
"Kang Hunter, you seem to bulk up more every day. Pretty soon your brain'll be muscle too. Ease up on the training."
"Heh."
She wasn't wrong—I'd felt like a figurine on a toy car next to him.
"Haha, thanks to your encouragement, President, I'm getting stronger by the day."
He parried politely, living up to his reputation as the gracious leader.
Yoon Seo-ah muttered something like "Boring" under her breath, then pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. Her red eyes turned to me.
"Sia Seong Hunter."
"Yes, President."
Those crimson eyes felt like they were reading every secret I had.
"You... look pretty unstable. You okay?"
"...Pardon?"
"Eh, whatever. You're an adult; handle it yourself."
She shrugged nonchalantly.
"Just one bit of advice: treasure your body a little more. You're 21, right? Prime of your life. Lots you wanna try, I'm sure. Right?"
What the hell? Telling a hunter—who could die in a gate any second—to take care of her body?
She clicked her tongue at the guild master.
"Kang Hunter, take better care of this pretty girl. Handle her gently."
"...Pardon?"
Confusion flickered across the guild master's face. Even the sharp guild master seemed utterly lost on what she meant. Me too. We exchanged baffled glances.
Handle gently? What does that even mean?
"What, you two aren't dating?"
"...Huh?"
"...What?"
We blurted in unison, dumbfounded.
Yoon Seo-ah raised an eyebrow, surprised by our reaction.
"It's all over the Association. 'The human weapon who conquered the strongest Sword Princess.'"
"That's not true."
"Absolutely not!"
We denied it in perfect sync, like we'd rehearsed. I especially shot it down desperately.
"I-I'm... not into Guild Master's type at all!"
The guild master waved his hands frantically too.
"Sia's just a cherished colleague and precious junior to me!"
Our vehement protests only made her lean on her chin, eyeing us more suspiciously.
"Hoo, that overreaction... Guess you two are at least flirting."
"You're joking, President."
"Yeah, absolutely not. Never."
"No need to say 'never' that emphatically, right...?"
I caught the guild master muttering under Blessing of the Wind.
"Anyway, business done? Get out. Nap time."
The nap lady's lighting another cigarette already...?
"Ahem."
Guild Master Kang Jin-woo cleared his throat awkwardly to shift the mood.
"President, are you free tonight? Baekya Guild's throwing a dinner to celebrate Sia Hunter's appointment."
"And?"
"If it's okay, would you grace us with your presence?"
Proposing drinks to the booze-loving president was a smart pivot. She lit a fresh cigarette.
"Me? Why would I crash your party? I'd just cramp your style."
"Come on."
Kang Jin-woo shot back good-naturedly.
"A peerless beauty like you? Our guild members would be thrilled."
"Hmph. All talk."
She snorted, but didn't seem displeased.
Yoon Seo-ah's reverse scale was the word "auntie." Call her that, and she'd make sure you never set foot on Earth again. Her red eyes rolled toward me playfully, like asking What do you think?
I seized the chance, sidling up to her with a flirtatious purr—totally unlike my usual self.
"President, please come."
I channeled the coquettish voice I'd learned from Dr. Lee—bitch techniques for seducing men.
"If my esteemed president celebrates in person, I'd be... so thrilled, I'd fly."
Our eyes went wide at my odd behavior.
"Sia Hunter, you've changed."
"Definitely... since the hospital..."
She stared through me piercingly, then shrugged.
"Fine. Craving a drink anyway. But if it's boring, I'm out. Be warned."
With that, we left the office. Walking the hall, the guild master scratched his head sheepishly.
"Sia, don't mind what the president said. She's just like that."
"I know. It's fine."
Clack, clack—the man in the crow mask approached from afar. Ma Do-jun, right?
"Pleased to meet you, Sia Hunter. Ma Do-jun. Good to see you too, Kang Hunter."
He bowed like a British gentleman.
"Hello. Sia Seong of Baekya."
"On your way?"
The guild master glared like he was eyeing a bug—unusually emotional for him outside gates... Ma Do-jun's spiderweb threads everywhere ratcheted the tension.
From behind the crow mask, Ma Do-jun glanced up at me slyly.
"Hmmm, you're subtly... quite different."
As he stepped closer, the guild master blocked him.
"Ma Do-jun Hunter. State your business."
Kang Jin-woo rolled up his sleeves. His burly frame contrasted sharply with Ma Do-jun's slight build.
"Business? Haha."
Invisible sparks flew between the men, their auras clashing.
Rumble—
Something I don't know about?
Ma Do-jun stared down Kang Jin-woo briefly, then shrugged like he'd lost interest.
"Nah, just saying hi. Later."
"What a creepy bastard," he muttered low.
Less a hunter fighting world collapse, more a monster's vibe.
"Sia, stay away from guys like that. Shady as hell."
"...Got it."
***
We arrived at the dinner spot. Guild members already there cheered and stood as we entered.
"Guild Master! Vice Guild Master! You're here!"
"Congrats on the appointment, Vice Guild Master Sia Seong!"
I returned their warm welcome with an awkward smile.
"Thanks, everyone."
Seats were set. Top of the long table: Kang Jin-woo nameplate, mine right beside.
"Here, Sia."
He pulled out my chair. Sitting, I scanned the table.
Kang Jin-woo to my right, then key executives. Across from me, probably reserved for President Yoon Seo-ah.
Anal plug and chastity belt making this seat hell...
Where's Hyun-woo? Far end, mixed with rookies. Our eyes met; he grinned.
Vrrr—
The dormant dildo and rotor hummed to life.
"Hnnngh...♡"
The guild master raised his glass.
"Alright! Big day for the guild—let's drink till we drop!"
The party kicked off. Members poured drinks relentlessly, like scripted.
"Vice Guild Master, a shot!"
"Let me pour one!"
Time to memorize names...
"Vice Guild Master, one-shot! One-shot!"
Jin-woo held me back.
"You suck at booze. Fake it."
"One's fine."
Gulp, gulp. Yumi would've freaked and stopped me—drunks shouldn't drink... Where is she?
The vibe was lively, thanks to me. They toasted my promotion sincerely, chatting Baekya's bright future.
Can't overdo it...
"Cheers! Cheers!"
Laughing amid the merriment, a corner of my heart ached. Yumi wasn't here. She'd normally plop beside me first, chirping "Sis is the best!" But days without showing at guild... ignoring my calls and texts. Heard she took personal leave...
Where are you? Where'd you go?
"Easy on the drinks, Sia."
"Fihne... hehe. Guild Master. Hehehe."
Cheol-ho oppa, two seats over, spoke up.
"Vice Guild Master?"
"Yesh...! Vice Guild Master Sia Seong!"
"It's been ages since you joined a dinner like this."
"Yeah. Hic... Oppa, know where Yumi is?"
"Yumi... yeah."
"Yeah. Hic... No calls, no texts. Figured maybe you heard?"
"......"
His pupils visibly shook.
"You know something?"
"Ahem."
Guilty face. 100%.
"Hehe, you do know?"
