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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Uninvited Guests
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“Which is why you came back, right? I told you to meet the victim in person, get on your knees, and offer a sincere apology. And if she didn't accept, you were to stay there until she did. I made myself clear.”
“……”
“Your answer?”
Han Su-eon looked at Park Jinyong. As his gaze met those blue eyes—a side effect of his ability—Park Jinyong’s body began to tremble uncontrollably.
“I-I did it. I did exactly as you commanded!”
“And did the victim accept your apology?”
*That damn victim!* Park Jinyong was getting frustrated.
Wasn’t he the real victim here? He was the one who had been beaten by that, that monster, all for putting some insolent F-ranker in a slightly dangerous situation!
He wasn’t the one who closed the gate, so why was the guild master treating him like the perpetrator?
“Hunter Park Jinyong, you are aware that I dislike liars, are you not?”
But he couldn’t say any of that to Han Su-eon. Vowing to make that insolent F-ranker’s life short, he bowed his head.
“I apologized, and that… that F-ranker definitely accepted it!”
“I made it clear that I dislike liars. If what you’re saying isn’t true, you will pay the price.”
Han Su-eon’s gaze dropped back to his documents.
Only then did Park Jinyong feel a sense of relief. It didn’t matter if that F-ranker denied it. He could just frame her as a liar trying to get revenge.
After all, he was the leader of one of this guild’s attack squads. Everyone would surely believe his word over hers.
“By the way, what happened to your cheek?”
Park Jinyong’s eyes widened at Han Su-eon’s subsequent question.
“A wound?”
“It looks quite deep. You didn’t notice? It’s on your left cheek.”
Park Jinyong hastily felt his cheek. The moment his calloused fingertips touched it, a throbbing pain spread through him. It was so intense, he couldn’t believe he hadn’t noticed it until now.
“Huh? When did this…”
He was a high-ranking hunter with heightened senses. How could he not have known he was injured until he touched it?
“Judging by the fact that the blood hasn’t clotted, it must have happened recently.”
“Y-Yes, it seems so.”
“...Our business is concluded, so you may leave. And as I said, you are not to speak a word of the truth about Chief Do Junyeong to anyone. Not if you want to live.”
Do Junyeong. The name of that terrifying monster masquerading as an A-ranker made Park Jinyong instantly forget about the scratch.
The memory of that horrible day, when all he could do was take the beating without a single act of defiance, made his face turn a deathly pale.
Park Jinyong staggered out of the guild master’s office.
“He didn’t even know he was injured…”
Han Su-eon stared intently at his retreating back.
The cut was right below his eye, so it would have been hard to miss… Which meant it was inflicted by someone strong enough to deceive the senses of an A-rank hunter.
“The probability that it was an S-rank hunter or higher is quite high.”
But it was unlikely that he had met with Association President Song Hanna or the suspended Do Junyeong. And if he had met another S-ranker, he would have mentioned it.
That left only an unknown individual.
“Yoon Seora, Yoon Seora.”
The victim who had narrowly escaped a terrible fate and returned safely, all thanks to a stroke of luck.
What was the true nature of the luck she had experienced in that dungeon?
“I’ll find out when I meet her.”
Han Su-eon, who had been alternating between thoughts of Park Jinyong’s wound and the name Yoon Seora, eventually shook his head and returned to his paperwork.
Thanks to the mess Park Jinyong had made, there was more than one thing he needed to clean up.
* * *
Do Junyeong finally finished his suspension and returned to the office.
The waiting office staff erupted in a round of applause, hailing the return of their hero. Of course, Do Junyeong, with his usual deadpan expression, simply told them to get back to work before disappearing into his office.
Our chief hasn’t changed a bit! Everyone burst into laughter.
Hahaha. Amid the laughter and applause, Seora quietly slipped into the chief’s office.
“Please, have a seat.”
As if he had been expecting her, Do Junyeong showed no surprise and personally prepared two cups of coffee, placing them on the table.
Seora sat on the sofa and studied his expression. Despite the suspension, he looked exactly the same as the last time she’d seen him at the hospital.
Just as Song Hanna had said, it seemed to have been a punishment in name only. Still, she didn’t feel at ease, so Seora bowed her head respectfully.
“I’m sorry, Chief.”
“Pardon?”
“To think you were suspended and had your pay docked because of me. I truly have no excuse.”
“Did the Association President not tell you anything?”
Do Junyeong’s face contorted slightly, his expression more one of puzzlement than displeasure.
“It was all a formality. It has no significant impact on me. The suspension was more like a vacation, so you don’t need to worry about it.”
“I-I heard that, but still, my conscience…”
As Seora awkwardly scratched her cheek, Do Junyeong, who had been watching her quietly, nodded.
“If it will ease your mind, I will accept it. So let us end this topic here.”
That was his blunt way of telling her not to feel guilty. That was why he was a trustworthy superior.
Seora smiled so brightly that her dimples showed.
“Thank you, Chief.”
“That’s better than an apology.”
When Do Junyeong smiled, Seora felt a weight lift from her shoulders.
“I heard you met with Park Jinyong. Are you all right?”
“Nothing much happened. He had the audacity to blame me instead of apologizing, but he didn’t try to pick a fight.”
“He told the Cheongrang Guild Master that he apologized and that you accepted. So that was a lie, as expected.”
Seora scoffed, having anticipated as much. A faint trace of anger flickered across Do Junyeong’s face.
“Does the Cheongrang Guild Master actually believe him?”
“That man is always neutral. He is not the type to blindly trust Park Jinyong’s word without having met you.”
“Oh, even if he’s one of his own guild members?”
“Even so. In fact, he tends to apply a stricter standard to his own members.”
Oh, that was unexpected. She had assumed he was the same type as Park Jinyong, given that he kept someone like that around.
“Then why on earth did someone like him appoint a guy like Park Jinyong as a squad leader?”
“Because even if his character is poor, he is skilled. And one cannot simply ostracize a man who has never caused a major incident like this before.”
Ah, right. That was a sound judgment for a guild master to make.
“Tomorrow, the Cheongrang Guild Master and Park Jinyong will come to the Association. Will you be meeting with them?”
“Yes, I will.”
She was quite curious to see how that jerk Park Jinyong, who had been so insolent to her, would grovel before the real powers of the Association. Openly mocking such a spectacle would be rather satisfying.
“When you meet them tomorrow, feel free to curse him out until you’re satisfied. Though I doubt something so trivial will be enough.”
Seora finally burst out laughing. But her laughter died the moment she heard his next words.
“Still, Park Jinyong and the Cheongrang Guild Master will be bowing their heads to the floor, so it should be a decent sight to see.”
Excuse me? Wait, hold on…?
“Really? Even the Cheongrang Guild Master…?”
“Of course. It’s a situation that warrants it.”
Do Junyeong’s firm fist clenched, and a formidable aura emanated from him. Seora shut her mouth.
So that’s how it was. Both Song Hanna and Do Junyeong were serious. To think they were the kind of people who would make the Cheongrang Guild Master, the so-called Monarch of the Magic World, bow his head to the floor.
These terrifying S-rankers.
“He didn’t do anything wrong, so you don’t have to do that. Of course, with someone like Park Jinyong, I honestly want to give him the same treatment… but you said he’s not like that, right?”
Do Junyeong made it very clear he wasn't happy about it, but he wouldn't lie about something like this.
“He is not. That is why I don’t particularly dislike him.”
Since the words came from Do Junyeong, who was an excellent judge of character, Seora decided to trust him.
‘The other S-rankers will be disappointed. Like the Noeul Guild Master.’
Seora thought of Eun Injae, the Noeul Guild Master, who had been endlessly chanting for Han Su-eon to bow his head in the S-rank exclusive community. She couldn't fathom why they were on such bad terms.
Not that she wanted to see it in person, of course.
Getting involved with the Cheongrang Guild Master was already exhausting enough; she wanted nothing more to do with it.
* * *
But it was only today that Seora realized things in life rarely go as planned.
On the day the Cheongrang Guild Master and Park Jinyong were scheduled to visit the Association.
Two other people arrived before them.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been to the Association!”
“This place seems to get nicer every time I come. It’s on a whole other level from our headquarters. Hey, think we could trade headquarters?”
“You’d have to ask the Association President about that. Is there anything she wouldn’t allow if she gave her blessing? She’s the one person the country defers to.”
“That’s a roundabout way of saying no. As if that greedy woman would ever allow it.”
One was a tall woman with short hair, wearing a traditional-style overcoat. The other was a shorter woman, restlessly looking all around.
An odd pair that somehow seemed to fit together, they were all too familiar to the Association.
They were none other than the Noeul Guild Master and the Suhoryeong Guild Master.
In the Association office, which had been thrown into chaos by the sudden appearance of these titans, Seora quietly clutched her head.
‘Did they really come to watch Han Su-eon bow his head?! No, he’s not doing it! I’m telling you, he’s not!’
Seriously, who actually shows up for something like this!
She’d seen their posts in the S-rank community, but these people were truly on another level of crazy.
【Administrator: ∠( ᐛ 」∠)＿】
And the cheeky administrator was clearly settling in to enjoy the show.
But Seora couldn’t say a word to him, only wailing internally in his direction.
‘A blessing, a blessing!’
Now, more than ever, was a moment that called for a blessing.
“Yo, Chief Do!”
Do Junyeong, who had rushed out after being informed of the situation, wore an indescribable expression as he saw the two women waving cheerfully at him.
Watching from a distance, Seora felt genuinely sorry for him.
“I believe I told you not to come.”
His voice was filled with weariness as he rubbed his face.
“How could we not come when there’s such an exciting show to see? I’ve been so bored lately, this is perfect!”
“Please return. What you two are hoping for will not happen.”
The Noeul Guild Master, Eun Injae, let the corners of her eyes droop.
“What? Why! After he caused such a huge mess!”
“Regardless, it is not happening. Please do not complicate matters and return.”
“No way, no way! Su-eun wanna see!”
The Suhoryeong Guild Master, Yoo Su-eun, who had been listening to their conversation, started throwing a verbal tantrum. It was the first time Seora had ever seen the always-composed Do Junyeong look so openly repulsed.
Unfortunately for him, that only seemed to amuse the two unhinged women even more.
“Injae doesn’t wanna either! Injae wants to watch, too!”
“Su-eun’s gonna stay and watch!”
“Injae’s not leaving until you show us!”
“Su-eun’s gonna stick right here, too!”
“...And you call yourselves guild masters.”
Faced with their truly dreadful tantrum, Do Junyeong finally covered his face and hung his head.
