"Jeong Da-on Hunter, or... would it be too stiff to call you Da-on junior instead?"
At the sa ti, Lee Un-kyul extended his hand toward .
I wanted to refuse, but there were people around.
Damn quest.
I secretly clicked my tongue and reached out my hand to shake his.
"Ah, ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) I should introduce myself first. I'm Lee Un-kyul. An A-rank Hunter and I run a guild..."
"Yes, I know."
"Haha, this is an honor. Our new national hero knows my na. Do you perhaps know about our NLE guild as well?"
"To so extent."
"Wow! This is really an honor."
Even though my answer was very brief, he reacted exaggeratedly.
During the conversation, Lee Un-kyul was still holding my hand that I had extended for the handshake.
As the handshake stretched a little longer than usual, I was starting to feel uncomfortable, and just as I was about to pull my hand away, Lee Un-kyul flashed a smile, and his fingers brushed lightly across the back of my hand like a feather.
'......'
I twitched my eyebrow.
He's being this blatant about it?
Isn’t this the kind of situation I used to experience in social circles in my past life?
"So, Da-on junior, are you perhaps interested in joining our guild?"
Lee Un-kyul asked with a grin, his smile full of confidence in his own appearance.
His attitude showed a firm belief that no one could dislike him.
"......Right now, I’m doing my mandatory service and working for the HP guild."
"Ah, that’s natural. But once your mandatory service ends, you don’t have to stay, right? Right, Ji-eum junior?"
In response to Lee Un-kyul’s question, Shin Ji-eum still seed displeased, but she shrugged.
"That’s... not an incorrect statent."
Knowing Shin Ji-eum’s personality, even if she wanted to join the HP guild, she wouldn't reject the approach like this.
"Yeah, Ji-eum junior, you're easy to talk to. Da-on junior, here’s my business card. Call anyti if you need anything."
I stared at the business card he handed .
NEXT LEVEL ENVY.
At first, I wondered what the abbreviation ant... but it seed like a na copied from a very famous Arican company.
‘...Still, the strategy isn't bad.’
Objectively speaking, as soone with a past as a demon, this man had reason to be confident.
First of all, his looks.
As soone with very high standards for beauty, I could say he was a pretty handso guy.
A fresh type of good-looking man, I'd say. What’s more, unlike in Korea, it was obvious he had invested in his appearance.
If he kept appearing in the dia, he'd definitely... create a stir.
"Wow, you look good in person!"
"Did you style your hair and makeup? You look like a celebrity..."
Even now, I could hear the surrounding hunters whispering while looking at Lee Un-kyul.
And Lee Un-kyul, far from feeling uncomfortable, seed to enjoy their gazes.
Of course, if he was just a person with good looks, there wouldn’t even be a need to be cautious.
‘He’s not bad.’
From what I observed briefly while shaking his hand, that was the impression I got.
An A-rank Hunter, huh? That’s not a title without substance.
He was probably at a similar level to Shin Ji-eum, maybe even a little better.
Lee Un-kyul, grinning proudly, continued speaking.
"I'm not just saying this, but if anything unjust happens while you're hunting, contact . If I can help, I will."
“That’s a heavy thing to say on our first eting.”
"Haha, everyone has their first ti. We can build our relationship as we go, right?"
Even though his response was quite guarded, Lee Un-kyul showed no sign of backing down.
As Han Jae-young said... if he approached for information about the HP guild, he wouldn't back down that easily.
And now that I look at it...
‘...This seems like there’s a scout purpose involved.’
The way he handed over the business card, the subtle hints in his words...
It seems like he wants to create a network and win my favor rather than gather information.
After all, for a new guild like NLE, they wouldn’t be thrilled if HP guild, a major guild, brought in another S-rank Hunter.
‘So that’s why Lee Un-kyul ca personally.’
If I were a 20-year-old girl who had just beco an S-rank Hunter and had no idea about the world...
It wouldn’t be hard for a kind man who looked like a white knight to make fall for him.
Of course, that wouldn't work on .
"You will be blessed if you do good deeds?" quest is in progress.
User "Jeong Da-on" cannot engage in socially unjust behavior according to societal norms.
...Got it. Can we stop showing system ssages whenever I feel murderous intent?
It just makes my anger swell.
"And it's not bragging, but I've really lived hard... This is all a result of trying to help my struggling juniors," Lee Un-kyul continued while smiling his friendly smile.
"Because my parents always told to live a life of giving."
His father was a congressman, his mother a lawyer at a law firm, and he himself was an A-rank Hunter and a guild leader at a young age...
It wasn’t like there wasn’t a basis for his confidence that he could solve any problem.
‘Ugh, so annoying...’
But it’s true that I felt uncomfortable.
That gaze from the privileged class that looks down on others.
Why do these people always mistake the results of their easy achievents as if they were their own hard work?
Easy power can be lost just as easily.
‘Seriously, so irritating.’
Honestly, with my temper, I’d want to throw everything off the table.
But the problem is...
‘Why are there so many of these people?’
Lately, with the growing fa, many people have been hanging around the dungeon just to catch a glimpse of my face.
Hunters looking for autographs or positive stories, and even YouTubers or reporters hiding caras.
If I make a scene here, it’s clear it will have a negative impact on public opinion.
And if that happens, it will ss with my automated hunting plans.
‘For now... I’ll endure.’
Patience isn’t the devil’s virtue, but at the mont, I’m human.
"Anyway, give a call soti. I wanted to et you, and it's a lucky coincidence that we ran into each other."
"Coincidence, you say?"
Up until that point, Shin Ji-eum, who had been silently watching Lee Un-kyul, suddenly smiled and interjected.
But despite her smile, there was no hiding her displeasure.
"Lee Un-kyul, what brings you to such a low-level dungeon by coincidence... Was there a filming going on?"
"Oh, no, that’s not it. I’m here for work. We have so juniors on mandatory service in our guild, you see. Can you see them over there?"
Looking where he pointed, I could see so young hunters registering their dungeon raid roster at the entrance.
They had ivory-colored badges with the NLE guild’s logo on their chests.
"I brought them today."
"...You do this kind of thing?"
"Why? Ji-eum junior does it, so why can't I?"
"......"
Shin Ji-eum’s gaze said a lot.
And even I, who knew how the Korean hunter community worked, was dumbfounded.
There was no need for an A-rank Hunter to accompany low-ranking mandatory service hunters on a low-level dungeon raid.
But with the HP guild, they sent people like and Lee Pyeong-hwa because we weren’t ordinary service hunters.
I, being S-rank, was obvious, and Lee Pyeong-hwa was at least A-rank.
So, the HP guild had invested in developing talents by assigning valuable forces like us.
But with the NLE guild, it was different.
Though they were doing well recently, they were still a new guild.
And the regular service hunters in a guild like NLE weren’t forced into training by the governnt like we were, but rather they were people who struggled with group life, and most likely, they were E-F rank at best.
And for such lower-ranked service hunters to be raiding low-level dungeons, what crazy guild would send an A-rank Hunter with them?
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.
It didn’t make sense, especially if the guild leader was the one going.
"Be honest."
It was obvious from the start that Lee Un-kyul ca to et , but he’s saying all this.
Shin Ji-eum raised the corners of her mouth in a small smile.
"Coincidence? That’s such an old excuse. No one uses that these days, senior."
"Really, how can I help it if it’s a coincidence? Maybe it’s destiny."
That was definitely ant to provoke.
Shin Ji-eum’s hand trembled as she rested it on her sword scabbard.
"...Let’s see..."
"Did you co back? What’s going on?"
At that mont, Lee Pyeong-hwa, who had returned after sharpening his sword, looked between and Shin Ji-eum with a confused expression.
At the sa ti, Lee Un-kyul standing in front of us.
Seeing Lee Pyeong-hwa, Lee Un-kyul’s eyes glead brightly.
Like he had found fresh prey.
"Wait, isn’t that Lee Pyeong-hwa? We keep eting in places like this."
"Uh... yeah. Hello?"
Lee Pyeong-hwa, looking stunned, reflexively greeted him.
Lee Un-kyul spoke in a friendly tone as if glad to see him.
"I cheered for you a lot when you were on the national youth team. It’s good to see you here by chance."
I wonder how much truth there was in that statent.
"Th-thank you."
Of course, this was obvious to and Shin Ji-eum, who knew the backstory, but Lee Pyeong-hwa, unaware of the circumstances, accepted the greeting happily.
Lee Un-kyul, encouraged by Lee Pyeong-hwa’s response, continued talking in a friendlier manner.
"Da-on junior and Pyeong-hwa... no, you’re a junior now, right? Since we t by chance, I’d love to treat you both to a al. I’ll buy you sothing expensive and delicious, just let know. Today would be fine too."
"Uh, sure? A al...?"
Lee Pyeong-hwa shook his head with a smile.
"I’m grateful for your support, but I don’t need anything else."
"Oh, don’t feel burdened. I just want to treat you to a al as a fan and senior Hunter."
"Uh..."
Lee Pyeong-hwa tilted his head, then trailed off.
And then he asked.
"A Hunter senior? Are you... a Hunter?"
"...Hmph."
Shin Ji-eum didn’t even try to hide her laughter. Actually, it felt like she laughed even louder.
"...Are you a Hunter?"
For the first ti, the corners of Lee Un-kyul’s eyes twitched.
He clearly hadn’t expected Lee Pyeong-hwa to not recognize him.
Then, Lee Pyeong-hwa looked genuinely apologetic.
"Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve only just awakened, so... your na is...?"
"Lee Un-kyul."
"Ah!"
Lee Pyeong-hwa brightened as if he rembered sothing.
Lee Un-kyul’s expression was about to soften when...
"I saw you on so variety show. Aren’t you a famous businessman?"
"..."
I almost laughed out loud.
Seeing Lee Un-kyul’s face freeze, Lee Pyeong-hwa quickly apologized again.
"I’m sorry, I’ve been busy and couldn’t watch the shows. I didn’t recognize you right away."
"Haha... No, it’s okay. Looks like there’s a reason for it. People are too much."
Lee Un-kyul emphasized his experience as a Hunter and subtly flaunted his connection with Han Jae-young.
Everything about him was grating on my nerves.
I was about to step in and stop the conversation when Lee Pyeong-hwa answered first.
"Eh, Guild Leader Han Jae-young is way busier than . I appreciate your concern, but I’d prefer if you didn’t say unnecessary things. I’m just too busy with my own training to enjoy other things."
"Eh? Well, that’s..."
"Ah, speaking of... I didn’t recognize Han Jae-young at first either."
Lee Pyeong-hwa casually continued.
"Han Jae-young doesn’t appear on shows, so I couldn’t have recognized him."
Wow.
I silently applauded. Honestly, I almost clapped.
So, you're saying you're the one who has ti to go on shows and make unnecessary comnts?
The skill of subtly embarrassing soone is just as good as Jas Chen’s.
"Haha, really?"
Lee Un-kyul forced a smile.
"Yes, it seems that being an S-rank Hunter cos with a whole different level of busyness."
His last words were solid.
At this point, Lee Pyeong-hwa deserved the Old Bottle 25-year Macallan, not Shin Ji-eum.
I made a silent vow to pass on Han Jae-young’s card later.
"Is that so?"
Of course, Lee Un-kyul wasn’t easy either.
He clearly felt his pride wounded, yet he still kept a fresh smile on his face.
"I’ll work harder so that all the Hunter juniors will recognize through this."
"Yes, good luck!"
Lee Pyeong-hwa clenched his fist and smiled brightly.
If I were the referee, I would’ve rung the bell.
It was a victory for Lee Pyeong-hwa.
"Well, we’ll see each other again later."
Defeated in his attempts, Lee Un-kyul turned around, shoulders drooping, and walked away.
As soon as Lee Un-kyul left, Lee Pyeong-hwa scoffed.
"Ha, what a funny guy. Trying to play so tricks."
"...Ahhahaha!"
At the sa ti, Shin Ji-eum burst out laughing loudly.
This was definitely sothing Lee Un-kyul could hear.
"This is hilarious. Lee Pyeong-hwa Hunter, what a big deal. I didn’t expect this side of him. You purposely pretended not to know, right?"
"Of course."
Lee Pyeong-hwa, his face filled with irritation, scowled deeply.
"And I’m glad I butted in. Da-on was about to kill him, but he doesn’t know when to stop... Hey, what are you doing?"
"..."
I wiped my hand across the back of Lee Pyeong-hwa’s neck where irritation still lingered.
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