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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The Guild Masters Assemble
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However, the two shameless individuals did not stop their rampage.
Seora genuinely felt sorry for Do Junyeong. It must be exhausting for him, a known A-rank, to be unable to drag out two S-rank guild masters. Hiding halfway behind a partition, Seora clicked her tongue.
Hang in there, Siljangnim.
“Please, stop…”
“Ah, teasing Siljang Do is always fun. But it really is strange. There's no way the 'tiger whose territory has been invaded' would just sit still, right?”
“Right. She should be grabbing Su-eon-jji's head and slamming it into the floor right now. Siljang Do, are you lying?”
“Would lying to you two even work?”
“Then what is it? Why isn't she doing anything?”
“It is not your concern. Please don't get on the Association President's bad side and leave now.”
The two, who never lost an argument, finally shut their mouths at the mention of the Association President. It seemed even for them, Song Hanna, the nation's number one, was a handful.
“Greetings! Right, since we're here, we should at least say hello to the Association President!”
“Oh, oh, right! We can't just leave without saying hello after coming all this way!”
Good grief. They were in perfect sync, like spiritual twins.
However, Do Junyeong didn't back down either.
“The Association President is not in a good mood.”
“…”
“…”
Seora was inwardly impressed by the two's sudden silence.
Wow. The sheer presence of the Association President, enough to shut the mouths of even the most arrogant S-ranks.
“So please, let's save it for another time. For today, it would be best if you just left…”
“I never expected to see two guild masters here at the same time.”
Oh, for heaven's sake.
Just when she thought the situation was finally about to be resolved, it was only for a moment. As if to add insult to injury, the protagonist, Han Su-eon, had appeared.
Seora clearly saw Do Junyeong's complexion turn a shade paler.
Ah, what a shame! If this were a perfect stranger's problem with no connection to me whatsoever, I'd be eating popcorn with the Administrator and watching the show…!
“It seems the Association President has another appointment besides me.”
Han Su-eon shot Do Junyeong a look that said, *Why are these useless, annoying things here?* Do Junyeong's face aged in an instant.
‘Poor Siljangnim… Still, having four S-ranks gathered in one place is quite a spectacle.’
Seora slowly scanned the four of them.
If she were an F-rank, she wouldn't have felt a thing. They seemed to be just standing there, but she could feel the auras subtly sharpening against one another.
It was as if sparks were flying in the empty air. Seora was astounded.
‘But they're definitely not as overwhelming as the Association President.’
Song Hanna is still a bit of a question mark, but at this level, I think I could take them on.
‘Wow, amazing. To think I'm having thoughts like this about three guild masters. I must be pretty strong, huh?’
【Administrator: (*´∀`*)ゞ】
‘Yes, yes. It's all thanks to you, Administrator.’
The Administrator appeared as if on cue, acting cute for attention. Seora patted the emoticon, like patting a puppy's bottom.
“Where is the Association President? Surely I'm not meeting her with these two?”
Han Su-eon glanced back and forth between Eun Injae and Yoo Su-eun with an annoyed look. Eun Injae snorted, while Yoo Su-eun looked disappointed.
“Of course not. The Association President has a prior engagement, so you two should leave now. Now then, Ms. Yoon Seora.”
Watching them from behind the partition, Seora gasped as the gazes of four S-ranks suddenly turned to her.
The gazes of the three guild masters simultaneously grew peculiar.
“Yoon Seora? As in, the victim from that incident?”
“Oh my. So you're the civil servant who suffered because of Su-eon-jji's foolish guild member! What a pity.”
Eun Injae and Yoo Su-eun's faces were instantly filled with pity. Thankfully, it seemed the Blessing's Veil was working well.
“Su-eon-jji, how can you let this go with just words when such a delicate civil servant went through something so terrifying? Huh?”
“Right. Shouldn't you at least show some sincerity by bowing your head to the ground in apology?”
“Just look at how fragile she is! Looks like she'd shatter if you so much as tapped her! Aigoo, how pitiful.”
“Are you hurt anywhere, little civil servant? Should I heal you? Tsk, tsk. All this trouble because of Su-eon-jji.”
Yoon Seora, the unknown S-rank, had in an instant become a fragile person who looked like she would shatter if tapped. The blessing was working a little too well.
‘These people are dead serious about teasing Han Su-eon…’
Moving to Do Junyeong's side, Seora gave an awkward smile as Yoo Su-eun, who was shorter than her, touched her arm here and there with her tiny hands. Seeing the still-pitying look in her eyes, it seemed her true identity wouldn't be revealed even with direct physical contact.
Seora looked from Yoo Su-eun and then glanced over at Han Su-eon. And she flinched in surprise.
‘What's with that look?’
What is it? It was a gaze that seemed to be observing something.
But why? The Blessing's Veil is working perfectly, so there's no way he could have noticed anything, right?
“It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Han Su-eon, the guild master of Cheongrang. You went through a great ordeal because of my foolish guild member. I am terribly sorry. I apologize in the name of the Cheongrang Guild Master.”
However, Seora's suspicion quickly vanished. Because Han Su-eon withdrew his scrutinizing gaze and bowed his head.
Seora was floored to suddenly be looking at the top of an S-rank's head.
She had thought he might apologize, since he was said to be a reasonable person. But to think he would bow his head while invoking the name of the Cheongrang Guild Master!
“Uh, um, I…”
“Let's discuss the details upstairs. The Association President must be waiting.”
But it seemed she was the only one surprised. Do Junyeong led them on with a nonchalant expression.
Seora was dumbfounded. Over there, Park Jinyong was also wide-eyed, as if he hadn't expected this either.
‘Wow, Han Su-eon really is a reasonable person…’
After seeing Eun Injae and Yoo Su-eun act up, I thought all S-ranks were crazy, but I was wrong, Mom…
At this point, the two guild masters who had come all this way just to watch Han Su-eon bow his head to the ground looked like complete lunatics.
Seora glanced at Yoo Su-eun and Eun Injae.
He didn't bow his head to the ground, but they seemed satisfied just watching him bow. Their faces were full of delight. They looked ready to post about it on the community forums at any moment, and honestly, Seora felt a bit sorry for Han Su-eon.
‘This is why you have to choose your friends wisely.’
Seora looked at Park Jinyong, the main culprit of all this commotion, and clicked her tongue. She hoped Han Su-eon would tear him a new one later.
***
The five-way meeting began.
Association President Song Hanna sat in the middle of the table, and the other four faced each other.
The first to speak was Association President Song Hanna.
“Hunter Park Jinyong, head on the floor.”
Park Jinyong, who had been secretly glaring at Seora, flinched at her words.
“I don't like to repeat myself. Head on the floor.”
*Or I'll smash your head into it myself.* The unspoken words hung in the air.
Han Su-eon gestured to Park Jinyong with his eyes, and with a beet-red face, he got up, put his head on the floor, and held the position. Even in a room with three furious S-ranks, Seora had to bite her lip to keep from breaking into a wide grin.
“Now, let's begin our conversation.”
Song Hanna beamed as if everyone had finally found their proper places. She was definitely the scariest one here.
“First, I'd like to ask one thing. I heard that two days ago, Mr. Park Jinyong came to apologize to Ms. Yoon Seora, and she accepted it. Is that true?”
‘Oh, he's really starting with that.’
At Han Su-eon's question, Seora glanced at Park Jinyong, who was in his punishment pose beside her. Whether from anger or something else, the back of his exposed neck was flushed red, as if it might burst.
“No. I demanded an apology, but Hunter Park Jinyong brazenly claimed that I was the one who should be apologizing.”
“Th-that's a lie! That's a lie! You, you accepted it then! Why are you changing your story all of a sudden!”
Seora's eyebrows arched at the cry, full of indignation, that erupted before he could even finish.
*I see. So you were planning to pin everything on me?*
“It's a retaliatory lie. She's clearly holding a grudge and trying to completely ruin me!”
“I see. Then apologize again.”
The moment Han Su-eon's calm voice was heard, everyone fell silent. It was so calm that it was hard to fully grasp the meaning of his words.
“What? Guild Master, what did you just say…”
“Ms. Yoon Seora was nearly killed because of Mr. Park Jinyong. Even if she is lying out of retaliation, that's nothing more than a petty tantrum compared to what Mr. Park Jinyong did. So, apologize until she is completely satisfied.”
‘Wow. This guy's character is seriously on point.’
Looking at his calm face, it seemed he hadn't believed Park Jinyong's words in the first place. No, it looked like he didn't even care.
Park Jinyong must apologize to Yoon Seora. Seora was moved by his unwavering stance, as if that had been the sole purpose of his visit to the Association from the very beginning.
‘Wow, so cool. This is the class of a top-tier Korean guild master…’
Covering her mouth with her hand, she examined Han Su-eon with newfound admiration.
His cool face, like a sculpture of ice, was handsome enough to grace the cover of magazines, and his blue eyes, said to have changed as his abilities seeped in upon awakening, only enhanced his mysterious aura. His logical thinking and consistently serious demeanor seemed perfect on second look.
Kyah. Suddenly, I'm starting to like him a lot.
Seora's gaze toward Han Su-eon softened considerably.
‘Right, a person should be this good-hearted and good-looking.’
【Administrator: /(`Д´)/】
‘What, why the sudden change? I was feeling moved for the first time in a while.’
【Administrator: (╬◣д◢)】
‘Seriously, what's wrong?’
Seora glanced at the others before peeking at the Administrator's emoticon. Nothing in particular had happened, so why was it suddenly angry?
There were often times when she was perplexed, unable to understand the Administrator's feelings just from the emoticons. If only they could talk.
“Mr. Park Jinyong. What are you doing? Apologize again. It's not that difficult, is it?”
Han Su-eon urged him on, tapping the table.
The gazes of three S-ranks—four, technically—simultaneously focused on Park Jinyong. Beads of cold sweat were visible on the back of his neck, which was now much redder than before. She couldn't be sure, but he must feel like a heavy steel beam was resting on him right now.
“Are you not going to?”
“G-Guild Master, I…!”
“I see. You nearly killed an innocent person, yet you're shameless enough not to even atone for it…?”
His last words were so cold they seemed to chill the very air.
Park Jinyong, still with his head to the floor, snapped his head up, his face pale and blue.
“Guild Master! I've been wronged! What did I do that was so wrong? An F-rank who's never even cleared a dungeon was speaking carelessly, not knowing our suffering, so I just pushed her a little to teach her some reality! How was I supposed to know the gate would close!”
Wow. He's still spouting that nonsense. Seora's face contorted, as did Do Junyeong's.
And Song Hanna gave a chillingly cold smile. Judging by her cracking knuckles, she looked ready to bury Park Jinyong in the basement right this instant.
Startled, Seora quickly reached out and grabbed her hand tightly.
H-Hey, Auntie. I get that you're angry, but let's calm down a bit. We can't kill him here…!
“This is…”
In the volatile situation that seemed ready to explode at any moment, Han Su-eon squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them.
“I can't stand how pathetic I am for entrusting a raid party to a man like this. My precious guild members, to a guy like him…”
“Gack!”
Park Jinyong, who had been voicing his grievance, clutched his own neck. A stream of blue water, which had appeared out of nowhere, was wrapped around his neck like a rope. The bluish mana was connected to Han Su-eon's hand.
“You haven't forgotten your contract with Cheongrang, have you?”
“G-Gui, Guild Mast, gack, keuk!”
“You were swept up in personal feelings, committed a crime, and dared to tarnish the name of Cheongrang. As of this moment, you are permanently expelled from the guild.”
