Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Guild Master's School Visit
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Gyeongdong High School was abuzz with excitement.
The path from the high school main gate led straight to the school building.
Over twenty people boldly crossed that path and stood proudly in front of the school building.
"Whoa, who are those people?"
"They're so cool..."
Students peeked out from the windows of the main building, where classes were in full swing, gawking at them.
Before long, three people rushed out from inside the main entrance.
"Isn't that the principal and the vice principal?"
"The principal and vice principal are bowing their heads? Who the heck are those guys?"
"Whoa, is it the board of directors or something?"
The students' murmurs carried through the windows all the way to the front of the building.
But the principal and vice principal paid no mind to the commotion, their faces beaming with smiles as they repeatedly bowed to the man at the front of the group.
"Are you... the leader of Unwoo Guild?"
"Yes, I'm Kim Jin-cheol, leader of Unwoo Guild."
"W-We heard all about it from the chairman. Please, follow me to the principal's office."
"Let's head up."
Jin-cheol strode past the principal with dignified poise and entered the building.
The principal followed behind, wearing a bright smile as if humbling himself voluntarily.
What was once a neighborhood guild, Unwoo Guild, had now grown into one of Korea's top five guilds.
And that was just the beginning.
Unwoo Guild had established itself as Korea's premier guild, recognized everywhere.
As a result, Kim Jin-cheol, the guild leader, had undergone a significant change in demeanor.
They say position shapes the man.
With his elevated status, every action Jin-cheol took exuded elegance and refinement.
Clink.
Jin-cheol set down his teacup and nodded.
"Peruvian rooibos, is it?"
"As expected of Unwoo Guild's leader."
"Excellent."
Jin-cheol offered a small smile.
He glanced at the principal, who then gestured to the vice principal.
The vice principal carefully pulled out pre-prepared documents and set them down.
"We heard one of our students joined Unwoo Guild, but we still don't know who it is..."
Jin-cheol scanned the documents intently as the stammering vice principal spoke.
"It's a student named Jo Sung-min."
"According to Hunter Law, high school students can receive their diploma immediately upon joining a guild. However... that's only for those taking key positions in the guild..."
Jin-cheol turned to look at the principal.
It wasn't a glare—just a simple gaze.
Yet that look alone prompted the principal to reprimand the vice principal.
"What are you saying?!"
"B-But the law is the law... If we mess up, it could affect our board..."
"Didn't I tell you not to say unnecessary things? Do you want to be fired?"
"I'm sorry..."
"Unwoo Guild isn't the type to do anything illegal! You've just made a grave mistake in front of the guild leader."
Under the principal's sharp rebuke, the vice principal bowed deeply to Jin-cheol.
Jin-cheol shifted his gaze back to the documents as if it were the most natural thing.
"No need to worry. We've already informed the board. Student Sung-min will be taking an important position in Unwoo Guild."
The principal and vice principal exchanged stunned looks—they hadn't heard this from the chairman.
Unwoo Guild wasn't just any guild; it was one of the top five.
Harder to enter than a major corporation, and once in, its members were elite among elites, respected across Korea.
And now, one of their high school students was landing a key role in such a powerhouse?
Faced with this unbelievable reality, smiles slowly crept across the principal's and vice principal's faces.
'Jackpot!'
The school's reputation had plummeted lately, whispered as the place where all the delinquents went.
And now, in this dire situation, such a massive event drops into their lap?
This was a golden opportunity for both the principal and vice principal.
The perfect chance to promote the school.
A shot to skyrocket the tarnished image overnight.
"Vice Principal Park, what are you waiting for? Hurry and process Sung-min's diploma and clear his student records!"
"Yes, sir! Teacher Lee will handle the records—I'll take care of the diploma."
"Got it."
The man called Teacher Lee and the vice principal rushed out of the principal's office.
The principal rubbed his hands together eagerly, grinning like a lackey.
"It'll take at least two hours. Why don't you tour the school in the meantime?"
Swish.
Jin-cheol set the documents down and rose from his chair.
"Let's go. I want to see where Sung-min lived and who he spent time with."
"It's English class right now... You can see him in his classroom. I'll guide you."
The principal hurriedly opened the door.
Jin-cheol stepped out naturally through the opened door, a faint smile on his face, as if he'd been waiting for this moment.
Murmur murmur.
Sung-min's class, which should have been in lesson, was unusually quiet for some reason.
Knock knock.
The principal lightly rapped on the classroom door, and the murmurs grew louder.
The door opened, revealing a female teacher who looked visibly tense.
"I've got all the kids seated."
"Good work, Teacher Hwang."
The principal smiled, and the teacher's eyes locked onto Jin-cheol standing behind him.
Her gaze was like that of someone spotting a celebrity or a successful CEO.
"May we come in?"
"Ah, yes, please enter."
At Jin-cheol's polite words, the teacher guided him into the classroom.
"I'll guide you..."
The principal naturally tried to follow.
But Jang Han, one of Jin-cheol's escorts, blocked his path.
"The principal doesn't need to enter."
"But..."
"It's the guild leader's order. Wait in your office."
Jang Han was a towering figure, nearly 190 cm tall.
Having undergone a year of secluded training with the Demon Dragon Squad and Ghost Slaughter Soul Extermination, his Asura Demon Art had bulked him up even more.
His overwhelming presence gave off an indescribable unease to ordinary people just by looking at him.
"W-Well, alright then? Ha, haha."
Under Jang Han's piercing glare, the principal had no choice but to turn back the way he came.
With the principal gone, Jang Han closed the wide-open classroom door.
With Mu-hee and Myung-su's help, Sung-min had escaped the warehouse and returned to class.
He'd originally planned to bolt from school immediately, but for some reason, Myung-su had ordered him back to class.
Having decided to become a Ghost Soul of the Ghost Slaughter Soul Extermination, Sung-min couldn't defy One Ghost Soul's command.
To him, the Ghost Slaughter Soul Extermination was no light matter.
Sung-min, head bowed, cautiously glanced around.
His gang, trembling slightly and watching nervously, caught his eye.
It had clearly been a massive shock.
But Han-ul, the ringleader and son of a respectable family, wore a different expression.
He stared straight at Sung-min, grinding his teeth.
Sung-min met Han-ul's eyes head-on and clenched his fist tight.
'But who's that guy?'
His gaze shifted from Han-ul to Jin-cheol standing beside the English teacher.
'Why is everyone looking at me...'
Perhaps because he'd averted his eyes from Han-ul.
Only now did he feel his classmates' sidelong glances.
In fact, before Jin-cheol entered, the English teacher had already told the class who he was.
But Han-ul, his gang, and Sung-min—who'd fled the warehouse—were the only ones in the dark.
"Everyone knows who this is, right?"
Yet the class quickly revealed the not-so-secret identity of Jin-cheol.
"Yes! We know him as Jin-cheol Hunter, leader of Unwoo Guild!"
"...?!"
Han-ul, his gang, and Sung-min.
All four sets of eyes fixed on Jin-cheol simultaneously.
"Unwoo... Guild leader?"
Han-ul repeated in disbelief.
He whipped his head around to stare at Sung-min.
'Does that mean what he said was true...?'
「It's Unwoo Guild.」
At first, they'd dismissed Sung-min's claim of joining Unwoo Guild as a lie.
And it wasn't just Han-ul and his crew.
Dozens of classmates present had scoffed and mocked him.
But now.
With Jin-cheol's arrival and word of his identity spreading like wildfire through the school, every student at Gyeongdong High began whispering Sung-min's name.
It was beyond imagination.
Jo Sung-min, the notorious outcast of second year due to ghost rumors, had joined none other than Unwoo Guild.
And the guild leader himself visited the school for him.
The entire Gyeongdong High was in an uproar.
"Sung-min."
As all eyes and attention converged.
Jin-cheol, who had quietly scanned the class, called Sung-min's name.
"It's real..."
"This is insane... Epic."
"For real, nuts."
The two syllables of Sung-min's name rang crystal clear from Jin-cheol's lips.
The classmates gasped so loudly they forgot he was there.
"Yes..."
At Jin-cheol's call, Sung-min quietly raised his hand and stood.
Jin-cheol examined him closely, then smiled.
"Come here."
"Yes..."
At Jin-cheol's gesture, Sung-min walked toward the blackboard.
Out of habit, his eyes drifted to the floor midway.
But with no one tripping him today, Sung-min lifted his head, met Jin-cheol's eyes, and approached the podium.
Standing before Jin-cheol, Sung-min instinctively shrank back.
"Sixth Ghost Soul."
No matter that he'd become a Ghost Soul of the Ghost Slaughter Soul Extermination.
In Sung-min's common sense, Unwoo Guild's leader was an untouchable figure.
Shrinking was natural, but the familiar term from Jin-cheol's mouth slowly straightened his shoulders.
"Yes."
The strange emotion evoked by "Sixth Ghost Soul" was remarkable.
Just a change in how he was addressed, and facing Jin-cheol no longer felt daunting.
On the contrary, he felt emboldened.
"I've really wanted to meet the Sixth Ghost Soul of Ghost Slaughter Soul Extermination."
Jin-cheol's following words made Sung-min's shoulders snap back.
The guild leader himself acknowledged him.
The classmates' stares, which he'd normally hate, now felt gratifying.
He even thrilled at the idea of them seeing him like this.
A thrilling surge of pleasure raised goosebumps across his body.
"You look full of questions."
Jin-cheol's hand rested on Sung-min's spiked shoulders.
Gripping firmly, he pulled him into a side-arm camaraderie and positioned him beside himself.
"Ask away. Ghost Slaughter Soul Extermination is, in a way, a force superior to all of Unwoo Guild."
Sung-min's eyes widened to their limit.
"Th-That strong?"
"In terms of combat power, Unwoo Guild can't compare to Ghost Slaughter Soul Extermination."
The guild leader's claim that it surpassed mighty Unwoo Guild stunned Sung-min and every student at Gyeongdong High.
Sung-min stood speechless in shock.
Jin-cheol smiled at him.
"You'll graduate from here today. The Ghost Slaughter Soul Extermination you belong to holds an indispensable key position for Unwoo Guild."
His next words delivered a massive shock to the students.
But the surprise was short-lived.
The smile vanished from Jin-cheol's face.
Unlike the warmth he'd shown Sung-min, his next voice was cold and sharp, echoing through the classroom.
"But I hear someone here messed with you after you joined Unwoo Guild."
Creak.
"Consider this fair warning."
Lightly tossed out, yet a chilling aura emanated from Jin-cheol.
Even his smile carried an inexplicable weight.
Turning with his arm still around Sung-min, he faced the class.
"Ah..."
The English teacher reached out in panic.
"Isn't it over?"
"For the kids' sake, some words of wisdom..."
"Oh..."
It was nothing special, but famous visitors to schools often ended like this.
Words of wisdom...
After a brief thought, Jin-cheol stared straight at Han-ul, who cowered among the students.
"Don't take the world lightly. Every action comes with consequences, good or bad."
"Let's give a round of applause to Unwoo Guild's leader for those wise words!"
Clap clap clap clap.
Amid the applause, Jin-cheol and Sung-min exited the classroom.
"Now, shall we collect the price?"
Outside, Jin-cheol led Sung-min straight to the principal's office.
"P-Price?"
Curious about Jin-cheol's words, Sung-min asked.
Jin-cheol shrugged as they walked.
"Yeah, the price. It wasn't before, but since yesterday, you're the Sixth Ghost Soul. Time to make those who touched the Sixth Ghost Soul and Ghost Slaughter Soul Extermination pay dearly, right?"
Realizing what he meant, Sung-min smiled faintly and headed to the office.
"This'll be fun. The price for touching the Supreme One's possessions is never light. Especially for a frog in a well."