Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: It's Not Like I Intentionally Stole Your Girl (1)
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If I ever end up going to another party hosted by a company—especially a public corporation—I want to leave a note for my future self: don't get your hopes up.
"Mm..."
The seminar room—no, the party venue—was dead silent. They'd pushed all the tables from the spacious hall against the walls and set out a few chairs at each large round table, as if inviting people to sit together. But the number of folks actually sharing seats? You could count them on one hand.
There hadn't been that many people to begin with. Excluding the mid-tier hunters standing guard, maybe twenty at most. Not that surprising for an event thrown together on such short notice.
Munch munch.
I picked up a canapé that seemed like a cheap knockoff and popped it in my mouth. Worried some crumb might fall on my pricey suit from just days ago, I leaned forward a bit and brushed the bits off my hands.
The reason I was slouched in this corner? Nothing major. Pretty much everyone else in the room—the less-than-twenty souls filling the space—were famous faces I recognized.
'Whoa, that's... and that's another one...'
Just looking at them drove home how incredible A-rank and S-rank unique skills really were. Even the ones huddled in corners like me, looking intimidated—they'd all popped up on TV at least once.
Put another way: I was the only one here whose face nobody knew.
Sure, I'd made the news once. But calling that "fame" felt like a stretch, so I didn't count it.
I mean, come on. "Hi, I'm Park Jungwoo, the guy with the tiny dick who's been making waves lately." Not exactly an intro you drop, right?
-If you spot anyone promising, feel free to scout them.
Yang Jihee's words popped into my head as she straightened my suit jacket.
Scout? Lucky if they don't laugh in my face after taking a look. With dead-fish eyes, I grabbed another canapé from my nearly empty plate.
Creeeak.
Right then, the seminar room door swung open with a grand creak.
Click-clack, click-clack. In strode a guy around 180 cm tall, with a rather rough, intimidating face. Standout features: the rapier at his hip and the crisply uniformed Vigilante Corps outfit.
The combo felt oddly familiar, so I kept sneaking glances. The guy scanned the room, his eyes locked on me, and started marching straight over.
What the...? Did I do something wrong? I desperately averted my gaze, trying to play it cool like I couldn't care less.
"You're Park Jungwoo?"
No dice. A stiff voice came from right beside me. The guy was glaring down at me, brows furrowed hard, face the picture of menace.
"Uh... yeah. How'd you know...?"
"You ate all this? Greedy bastard."
The familiar tone gave me a vague sense of déjà vu, but it was cut short by his jeering interruption. My eyebrow twitched.
"They put it out to be eaten. Nobody else was touching it, so I did."
"No basic manners."
The party's air grew heavy, a few pairs of eyes turning our way. The guy's gaze bored into me with blatant contempt.
"Your manners don't seem so hot either. They say don't mess with a dog while it's eating, but here you are, poking at me."
Irritation boiled over—no way my words were coming out polite. He scoffed like it was straight out of a textbook, yanked off his white glove, and slapped it onto the floor.
"I challenge you to a duel."
Chin up, declaring it all high and mighty. Looked like a rehearsed line and move.
Makes sense. Nobody drops a line that stupid and outdated without practicing their smug face first.
So I shot back instantly.
"Why should I?"
Pfft. Laughter burst from a quiet corner of the party.
Luckily, the guy didn't charge red-faced. Instead, he stepped back calmly, drew his rapier, pointed it at me—and proved he was way crazier than I'd thought.
"No manners at all. Enough talk. Draw your weapon."
"Ah~."
I eyed his sword stance suspiciously and finally pieced it together.
Front foot planted steady on the ground, back foot poised to lunge any second. That unique sword grip. Empty hand extended slightly for balance.
It was all too familiar. I let out a snort and gave him a once-over.
"This about Chae Seoah?"
"Damn right. Steal talent from another clan, you pay the price."
"I didn't steal her. She came to me."
The phrasing felt a bit off as I said it, but it wasn't a lie, so I stuck to my guns.
Truth be told, my confidence came from knowing the other hunters on guard duty would step in if he swung that sword.
Whatever. He started it. Might as well use the security they're paying for.
His face flushed beet red as he glared. His grip tightened, making the rapier tip tremble.
"No way she'd do that!"
"Did you ask her? She'd confirm it right now."
"That's..."
"Oh. No contact info?"
Mid-sentence, I clamped my mouth shut. Sounded way too snarky—not like me.
Felt like I'd heard it before. Ah, Oroji talked just like that. "Near-ink-makes-you-black," huh? Old sayings nail it.
Anyway. I'd been on the receiving end—this tone scraped nerves raw. Meaning: the guy in front of me was pissed enough to lose it.
Whoa. Look at that. He might actually stab me. I nudged the flat of the blade with a finger and flashed the friendliest smile I could muster.
"Want me to let you call her? Better to hear it straight from her."
Hold up. That's not right. Sounds like some blonde delinquent tossing his phone: "Call your girlfriend yourself."
I tried to backpedal, but his eyes were already bloodshot and flipped. No rationality in sight.
"You little shit...!"
"Enough!!"
A slender spear tip shot in, perfectly blocking the thrusting blade.
As I twisted away from the sword's path, I caught sight of the spear's owner.
Tall and handsome, with flowing black hair. Forehead practically stamped "protagonist." I knew the guy well.
Five years ago, started as an S-rank skill holder. Built steady fame. Undefeated expedition leader. Gate's Overlord, said to freeze monsters just by standing there.
Never shows on media, just clears gates relentlessly. Role model for today's celebrity hunters.
The moment Jin Dowon appeared, the room erupted.
"Wooooah!! Is that for real?!"
"Kyaa!! Make a baby with me!!"
"Hey hey, that guy's got game!!"
...What a reaction. Do celebrities live with this crap daily?
I scanned the crowd in confusion. The sharp-eyed hunters? Vanished. Extras cheering like mad now.
And the Vigilante guy wasn't immune. Dropped his sword, dropped to his knees.
"Sob... I was a fool! Thank you for awakening this idiot—I'll never forget your grace!!"
Listening to the wailing made my head spin. No clue what sparked this, but it sure wasn't normal.
Jin Dowon, frowning as he looked around, turned to me. Staring hard. Like, piercing.
...Not the Potential skill, right? He didn't spot some weird potential in me I don't wanna know about?
I backed up a step, clenching my butt cheeks. Then his deep voice rumbled.
"You're not cheering?"
Ah. Nah. Just an egomaniac.
I got it. Mental issues were a hunter's best friend. So I forced a grin, loosely pumping my fist.
"W-Woooh... C-Cool... You're awesome..."
Disappointment flickered across Jin Dowon's face. He swung his spear down, then strode back to the corner with protagonist-level swagger.
"Wooooo!! So cool, damn it!!"
"Make a baby with me!!"
"Damn, that guy's merciful too!!"
No idea what made him "cool" or "merciful." Or if "make a baby" became some weird slang for "wow" without me noticing.
So my face naturally twisted again as I watched his back.
Glanced at the Vigilante dude—still bawling, now full-on kowtowing.
"What the hell...?"
My quiet mutter got swallowed by the endless extra cheers.