Translator: Vine
Translated At: Nyx Scans
Chapter: 119
#119. Their Own Send-off Ceremony
2022.11.27.
"—Then, let's conclude the special meeting for the South Coast Gate preparations here."
Gwanghyun, rising from his seat with a smile, looked somewhat weary.
The meeting, which he thought would end early due to the sudden participation of Phantom Thief and Trickster, had dragged on far beyond the expected time.
"Our Association has prepared a small gathering for all of you, so if you have time, how about having a meal at the grand ballroom located in Special Hall 2, as a small send-off ceremony?"
"We appreciate the sentiment, but we'll be heading back first. We have a schedule."
Hagyun, rising from his seat, politely declined.
Whether it was a send-off ceremony or a meal, he had neither reason nor time to participate in such a gathering.
"I'm not really into send-off ceremonies either."
"It's bothersome. I'm just going to go home and cook some ramen."
Minju and Ayeon also consecutively expressed their intention not to attend.
Especially in Ayeon's case, she had been yawning repeatedly throughout the meeting as if she were dying of boredom.
She looked as if she were itching to escape this stuffy and uninteresting Association right this instant.
"Everyone's being so standoffish."
Amidst them, Yoo Hwan, who had been sitting with his arms crossed, slowly spoke.
"It's a rare occasion, isn't it? How about everyone has a light drink before heading back? When will we all gather like this again?"
Of course, there was also the reason that he was inwardly looking forward to the alcohol and food prepared by the Association...
Yoo Hwan, rising from his seat, scanned the faces gathered there one by one.
Himself, Monkey King, and Heo Jaemin beside him.
Rose's Doctor Plant and Silver Plum Blossom.
Corps' Trickster, and his family, Bae Junhwan and Ham Suhyeon.
Wolf's Vice-Guild Master Lee Hagyun and the man in the mask beside him.
Finally, Phantom Thief Kang Ayeon and the Princess of Dark Flare, 'Lee Yura'—a total of 11 hunters were gathered here.
Excluding the unidentified man hiding his face with a mask, all of them were strong hunters with proven skills.
Truly, those at the very top of the Korean hunter world.
—However.
"I don't want to say this, but when the South Coast Gate opens, one of us might not come back, right?"
At Yoo Hwan's words, the surrounding air instantly grew heavy.
It was proof that he wasn't wrong.
No one there could accurately predict what kind of battle they would face at the South Coast Gate.
However, everyone could anticipate that it would by no means be an easy fight.
"Am I wrong, younger brother?"
Yoo Hwan glanced at Eunha, who had remained silent.
"Younger brother is going, right? Round 2, I'm ready, how about it?"
Eunha pondered for a moment.
Should she go home and eat the dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken) she had leftover from last night, or should she eat here and then go home...
That was her dilemma.
It didn't take long to make a decision.
"Alright."
As Eunha nodded, Yoo Hwan smiled satisfactorily, as if he knew she would.
And at that moment.
Thump.
Minju and Ayeon, who had been about to leave the conference room, stopped simultaneously, as if by agreement.
"Hmm, if Noona is going, then well."
"...Come to think of it, there's no reason to refuse free food."
Meanwhile, they weren't the only ones who had stopped in their tracks.
Hagyun, who had opened the conference room door and stepped outside, glanced back.
"Young Master? Aren't you going?"
Siwoo, standing stock-still, was staring blankly at their boisterous figures inside the conference room.
Then soon,
"...Go on ahead."
He spoke with a serious expression.
Is Young Master planning to participate in the send-off ceremony?
Hagyun momentarily questioned his unexpected decision, then dismissed it.
'He must have his reasons.'
It was a gathering where other S-Classes were present.
There was a high possibility that not only matters related to this South Coast Gate operation but also other topics might be discussed.
Since he's a thoughtful person, he's probably considering various things.
"Understood. Then I will return first and take care of the matters you instructed."
"Alright."
Siwoo replied shortly, without taking his eyes off the inside of the conference room.
"Noona, let's go quickly! I'm suddenly hungry!"
"Kid, move aside. Unnie is going with me."
"There should be some good alcohol. Right, younger brother?"
"..."
Even until Hagyun had completely left the place, Siwoo's blue gaze remained solely fixed on one spot.
Following the Association's guidance, they moved to the grand ballroom in Special Hall 2 and held a small party there, under the name of a simple send-off ceremony.
Excluding Hagyun, who had returned first, 10 people participated.
For a gathering of only 10 people, the food, decorations, and everything else were extravagantly splendid.
An endless buffet under a dazzling chandelier.
Each table was adorned with glittering gold name cards and vases filled abundantly with colorful flowers.
"What would I have done if I just went home? Wow, this is also super delicious, isn't it?"
Ayeon, popping a gold-dusted cube cake into her mouth in one bite, glanced sideways.
"Unnie, have some of this... Huh?"
However, Eunha, who had been sitting there just moments ago, had vanished without a trace.
Where did she go?
As Ayeon, rising from her seat, looked around, Jaemin, who had piled food high on his plate like a mountain, approached.
"Didn't she run away to avoid you?"
Jaemin naturally sat down next to Ayeon.
Ayeon made a "Weck." sound and frowned.
"Why are you sitting here, Oppa? This is my unnie's seat."
"What does it matter where I sit."
"Ah, why. Go sit next to that furry... Monkey King."
"If you don't eat this, I will."
Pretending not to hear Ayeon's words, Jaemin snatched the cube cake from her plate.
"You crazy bastard!"
—Just as the atmosphere was getting lively like that.
Eunha, slipping out onto the balcony, glanced back.
Fortunately, no one seemed to be following her.
"...Phew."
Eunha lifted her head with a slightly tired face.
A yellow, round moon hung high above her head.
Being pestered by Minju, Ayeon, and Yoo Hwan in turns, it seemed time had flown by.
It wasn't that she disliked such a boisterous atmosphere.
Just that she wasn't used to it.
Eunha intended to take a short break on the quiet balcony and then return.
While leaning against the cold glass railing and gazing at the sleeping night view of Seoul.
"Hello."
Suddenly, a calm female voice came from behind.
Instead of a white gown, she wore a long, off-the-shoulder dress with a translucent shawl... It was Doctor Plant, Keum Roje.
"I saw you going to the balcony and followed. Did I perhaps disturb you?"
"No."
As Eunha replied shortly, Roje smiled brightly, "That's a relief," and slowly approached Eunha.
Roje's wine-colored hair fluttered softly in the blowing night breeze.
"I felt I couldn't greet you properly that day."
That day?
Eunha glanced at Roje.
Their eyes met suddenly as Roje swept her hair back with an elegant hand.
"About the Bokgye Mountain incident. If it weren't for you, what tragedy might have occurred... Just thinking about it is terrifying. Thanks to you, Rose was also able to lessen its responsibility. Thank you so much."
Ah.
Come to think of it, the support qualification test held at the Colony of the Dead was organized by the Rose Guild.
Eunha, acknowledging that fact once more, replied without any particular sentiment.
"I just did what was natural."
If no one had stepped forward, the test participants would have been helplessly trapped there.
In a situation where someone absolutely had to step forward, if she had the ability and the means to do so, Eunha could step forward without a moment's hesitation.
Come to think of it, it had always been like that since she lost her home and family.
There was nothing new about it now.
"...However."
Roje spoke lowly.
"How were you able to avoid having your name taken by the boss?"
Pause.
Eunha, slightly stiffening, looked at Roje beside her with newfound eyes.
"...You know the details well."
"Because I received a report."
Whoooosh—
A sudden wind, sweeping over the balcony, made both their clothes flutter wildly.
The moment Eunha, thinking about something, was about to part her lips.
Bang!
"Younger brother, when are you coming? The alcohol is getting cold."
It was Yoo Hwan, who had opened the balcony door and appeared.
"...Hmm? Roje?"
He, who had barged in with force, flinched upon spotting Roje beside Eunha.
"Were you talking about something important?"
"No. I was just expressing my gratitude to her for the Bokgye Mountain incident."
Smiling faintly, Roje slightly adjusted the shawl that had slipped down her shoulder and said.
"Ms. Yura... you said? Thank you again."
Then.
Roje, giving a slight nod, gracefully exited the balcony.
Eunha, with her black eyes, silently followed her retreating figure.
"Pretty, isn't she?"
Suddenly, Yoo Hwan poked his head in front of her.
Grinning, showing his canines, he looked somewhat proud.
"If it's your first time seeing her, it's only natural to be captivated. I was like that too."
Hmm. I understand completely, younger brother.
Yoo Hwan, nodding his head greatly, gazed into the air with a nostalgic look, as if recalling a memory from a bygone day.
...It seemed there was a small misunderstanding.
Certainly, Roje possessed a beauty that would make people of all ages and genders hold their breath, but Eunha wasn't captivated by her appearance.
In the first place, it wasn't even their first meeting.
What Eunha was actually concerned about was a different part.
'How were you able to avoid having your name taken by the boss?'
The boss encountered at the Colony of the Dead, 'The One Who Lost Their Name'.
However, in reality, that creature wasn't the real boss there.
According to Clown Ahjussi, its identity was a hunter who had gone missing on Bokgye Mountain long ago.
To be precise, it was just his corpse, his shell.
Though it crumbled like dust as soon as the battle ended, leaving not even bones behind.
Anyway, the real boss there was the fairy-type monster 'Ruler of Grudges', which not only took the lives of the living but also their names, manipulating them like puppets.
The moment Eunha defeated the 'Ruler of Grudges', 'The One Who Lost Their Name' also collapsed like a marionette with its strings cut, and the dungeonization stopped, so it was certain.
All the hunters gathered there had witnessed the situation at that time.
However, just before defeating the 'Ruler of Grudges', no one except Eunha knew that the creature had attempted to take Eunha's name.
Meaning, though Doctor Plant said she 'received a report', there was a contradiction in that statement.
"Now, let's head in too. I found some pretty good alcohol. It seems even that stingy Association President put in quite an effort this time."
Yoo Hwan hummed and opened the balcony door.
Eunha, harboring her doubts, slowly followed him.
"Oh, Noona is here."
As soon as Eunha returned to the ballroom, Minju, who had been eating a sandwich nearby, rushed over as if he had been waiting.
She could also see Ayeon waving her hand, "Unnie!" from afar.
At that, Yoo Hwan, as if to block them, abruptly extended his hand!
"Kids, go away."
At Yoo Hwan's words, Minju, who had been rushing towards Eunha, screeched to a halt and his eyes widened.
And.
"What's that hairy guy talking about."
"Pffft—!"
Junhwan and Suhyeon, who had been sipping from their glasses beside Minju, simultaneously spat out their orange juice.
Startled, they wiped their mouths and observed Yoo Hwan's mood.
However, Yoo Hwan, who was in a very good mood, laughed off Minju's cheeky remark.
What was important to him right now wasn't that.
"Now, shall we begin?"
Yoo Hwan, gripping a liquor bottle as soon as he sat down, glanced at Eunha with a much more serious face.
"Are you ready?"
It was the beginning of the second K-Dionysus seat contention.
