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Chapter 12
03 – The S-classes are Falling from the Sky (4)
“Did you say, money?” Kim Jihwa looked at the two of us alternatingly with wide eyes, as if she were dumbfounded.
I was tired of Yoon Suho and the weird, offensive things he said; lacking the energy to fight back, I glared at him. “Wow, you really haven’t changed.”
“So, stop working as a Hunter.”
“Yoon Suho, who do you think you are to tell me to quit my job?”
“We’re family, aren’t we?”
Temper rising, I grabbed him by the collar.
Family? It had been a long time since we had been close enough as neighbors to call each other family. And, since then, he had avoided me as if I were some cockroach. “Hey, this is my workplace. Family or not, don’t bother me by suddenly visiting like this.”
“I’m telling you to stop working.”
“Hoo…Both of you should calm down for now. Hunter Yoon Gaho, please take a seat–you might end up hitting him at this rate.”
Even if I hit him, my fist would be the one to pay the price. I thought about doing it anyway, but I sat down calmly, trying to be considerate of Jihwa-nim’s position.
“Hunter Yoon Suho, if you say such strange things out of the blue, Hunter Yoon Gaho will never listen to you. Similarly, our guild also doesn’t want to lose an outstanding member without knowing the reason why,” Kim Jihwa continued.
“I heard what happened last night.”
Last night… Was he bothered and belatedly concerned when he had heard I almost died?
What does it matter to him whether I died or not?
“That sort of thing can occur during one’s career as a Hunter. Don’t you know that?” I said.
“That’s why you shouldn’t continue. If you continue to persist as a Hunter with such bare-minimum skills…!”
“What? Bare-minimum skills?”
Yoon Suho furrowed his brow, as if he were saying, ‘Aren’t I speaking the truth?’
‘So, he’s some successful S-class, and that’s all that matters, hm? He’s underestimating me because I’m a C-class. Just look at him.’ Angered, I retorted, “You must be annoyed that a C-class Hunter would poke around in your turf, but this is none of your business.”
“Why would it be none of my business? When I heard you were involved in an interference phenomenon, do you know how much I….”
“Hey, Yoon Suho. I don’t know why you’re suddenly playing at being family, but you’ve got the wrong number. Piss off–see yourself out of our guild.”
“I should have told Auntie to oppose this till the very end back then…”
“What? Wait. Is that all your fault?”
Yoon Suho nodded shamelessly.
When I had awakened, my parents strongly opposed me becoming a Hunter. In the end, I could not persuade my parents and ran away to Seoul. 1
Even though the government strongly recommended those who were awakened and received a comprehensive evaluation D-class and above to become a Hunter, they still didn’t listen to me… And, apparently, that was all his fault!
‘So, there was a reason why they continued to oppose me even though I said C-class Hunters wouldn’t encounter anything too dangerous.’
My parents withered and gave way in front of Yoon Suho, who excelled in everything. They must have been so uncompromising because of this guy, who was always one step ahead of me and managed to become S-class. Agh, should I kill him or let him live?
“I don’t know why you’ve become so interested in my life, but you should really go before I hit you.”
“What’s the issue? I said I’d provide financial support.”
“It’s not like I’m doing this because I don’t have money.”
Yoon Suho blinked as if this truly was news to him.
What the hell was wrong with him?
“Frustrating! Agh, so frustrated!” Honestly, what the hell was wrong with him? I felt suffocated and banged my chest with my fist.
Kim Jihwa watched us with her chin resting on her palm, as if she were watching some amusing sitcom.
I continued, “I’m not as frail as you believe, and, even if I were fragile, I have no reason to listen to you. Whether you’re my friend or some S-class…”
“We’re family…”
“Even more so if we’re family. Even if you can’t comprehend this, just memorize what I’ve said. Understood?”
“Do you think what happened yesterday won’t happen twice? More dangerous events happen all the time–why are you so stubborn about working as a Hunter?”
What’s this, all of a sudden? I contemplated getting angry or soothing his worries, but Yoon Suho was too obstinate.
This meaningless scuffle would not end easily.
“You’re too weak,” he said.
It seems that Yoon Suho thought of me as a fragile branch that would break with one tap.
To sum up his argument, I’m reckless but weak. I’m someone who’ll get caught up in all sorts of dangerous business, but I’m not suited to be a Hunter.
That guy made all sorts of assumptions while staring at me–I wished he’d take the distorting lenses off his eyes, though.
‘He must have forgotten that we beat each other up as kids, huh?’
My head throbbed; the words tumbled out automatically. “I gained an S-class trait.”
“What?”
“I’m not just a C-class Hunter anymore. I’m a semi-S-class.”
“Hunter Yoon Gaho…?” Kim Jihwa grabbed my shoulder. Yoon Suho looked at me with furrowed brows as if he was trying to determine the authenticity of my words.
“I’m not saying this to get out of this situation.” I briefly explained my trait to the two people. Their expressions became quite serious when they were told that my S-class trait involved crafting.
I held out the glove I had received from Cha Taeyang this morning. “I’ve only succeeded once, but if I improve my proficiency, I’ll be able to get much better results.”
“Gaho, does anyone other than us know about this?” Kim Jihwa asked.
“Those who were assigned to the mission with me know. Although, they don’t know that it’s an S-level skill…”
Yoon Suho suddenly jumped out of his seat and began to drag me by my wrist.
I shouted, “Hey, Hey! What’s your problem?! I said I’m no longer just a C-class!”
“Do you really not know? We’ll have to hurry before rumors of your skill spreads…”
“Hunter Yoon Suho. I’m sorry, but now that I’ve heard about this, I can’t let go of Hunter Yoon Gaho anymore.” Kim Jihwa grabbed Yoon Suho’s shoulder with her mechanical, prosthetic left arm. In the meantime, I quickly shook off his hand.
“Hunter Kim Jihwa, you know what I’m concerned about,” he replied.
“I understand the concern you have for your family. But still, I can’t.”
“How many C-classes have S-rank skills…”
“If you insist upon taking her away, please take it up with Kwon-young-ie. You are not allowed to take away our members without the guild leader’s permission.”
Yoon Suho bit his lips at her firm tone–he looked like a puppy abandoned in the rain. However, any sympathy I had for him disappeared when I remembered our recent fight.
He hesitantly said, “Until then, can you guarantee her safety?”
“Wilderness always spares no effort in ensuring the safety of our guild members.”
“That’s not enough. Please make a promise with your name on the line.”
“Understood. I, Kim Jihwa, promise. Don’t worry.”
Only when he received this promise did Yoon Suho bow to Kim Jihwa and leave the meeting room.
‘He’s selfish until the very end. He never gave me a proper greeting either.’ I spitefully glared at the back of his head.
“What an interesting friend,” Kim Jihwa commented.
“Hoo… I apologize. We’ve lost touch, and I don’t know what’s wrong with him all of a sudden.” I slumped down into a chair. All my energy for the day had been drained so early in the morning.
Kim Jihwa tapped the gloves, “Let’s not disclose your trait for the time being. I’ll order your party members to keep silent as well.”
“Do you really need to go to that extent?”
“Hunter Yoon Suho is right to be worried. Hunter Yoon Gaho does not yet understand the high-ranking Hunter’s ecosystem.”
Even if it has been a long while since I’ve become a Hunter.
Kim Jihwa continued to explain in a grave tone, half-mumbling. High-rank Hunters–those above A-class–are more obsessed with equipment than most people realize. In the absence of an SS-class Hunter in today’s Hunter system, good equipment is the only means for S-class Hunters to stand above their colleagues of the same class.
Meanwhile, I, who was C-class by virtue of my comprehensive evaluation, suddenly gained an S-class crafting trait.
“If you can’t come to a concession or appease them, they’ll probably try to kidnap Hunter Yoon Gaho.”
Will a blood-red future unfurl before me instead of a rosy path?
My fingertips trembled from anxiety.
“Your situation would have still been dangerous if there were other crafting Hunters out there with the ability to strengthen equipment. They can obtain equipment in the tower, but…” She continued.
“My skill is one-of-a-kind.”
“Since, for a while, no one will find out about this situation, it should be fine. Let’s talk about further details after Kwon-young-ie returns. Why did he have to disappear now, of all times?”
I was sure nothing would happen until Choi Kwon-young returns, right? Well, with Kim Jihwa guarding the guild, things should be fine. In the meantime, I needed to become more proficient with my skill.
“Jihwa-nim, I don’t suppose I could be subsidized with guild-owned equipment?”
“For what?”
“I want to practice before I lose my touch.”
Kim Jihwa laughed as she replied that, in that case, I could have as much as I want. She told Hwang Jae-hui, ‘It’s a secret,’ before loading my arms full of spare equipment.
With my inventory full of equipment, I felt reassured.
“Ah, also, I have a favor to ask of Hunter Yoon Gaho…” Kim Jihwa said.
“Me?”
She didn’t ask for anything too difficult. But, was it really necessary to ask me, of all people? Feeling a bit sour, I accepted Jihwa’s request and returned to my room.
***
As soon as I returned, I lined the equipment on the floor. My hands itched to explore how amazing my skill was.
“Shall we test it out?”
Yesterday’s events–the feeling in my hands–were still vivid.
“The second time should be easier, right?”
Confidence–an unusual emotion for me–rose within my body.
However.
[Enchant, ‘Brilliant (A)’ has failed.]
[Failure Penalty activated! ‘Shadow Dagger (C)’ was destroyed.]
Grey smoke billowed up to indicate my failure.
“What’s the problem this time!”