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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Consequences
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His pale hand clenched in the air, then tore through it. The vibrant blue wolf-emblem brooch, proudly pinned to Park Jinyong's chest, was ripped away and landed in Han Su-eon's grasp. He would never have that brooch again.
“I'll be suing you for damages for tarnishing the guild's image. You'd be wise to save your money instead of spending it frivolously.”
With an irritated flick of his hand, Han Su-eon sent Park Jinyong's heavy body slamming against the wall with a loud *thud!* before collapsing to the floor. The impact to the back of his head must have been significant; he lay sprawled on the ground, unable to move, only twitching.
Tucking the brooch into his inner pocket, Han Su-eon dusted off his hands and bowed politely to Yoon Seora.
“I sincerely apologize for this grave discourtesy.”
Unlike the half-conscious Park Jinyong, his demeanor was remarkably courteous.
“Oh, no, it's alright. I don't think this is something you need to apologize to me for, Guildmaster. But... that guy, he's not dead, is he...?”
“He's an A-Rank, rotten as he may be, so he won't die from something like this. It would be problematic if he did. He has more than a few punishments to face.”
“Ah…”
“Besides, a little shock is fine. Guildmaster Yoo Su-eun happens to be here, so don't worry.”
Yoo Su-eun, the guildmaster of Suhoryeong, was the only S-Rank healer in the country. Had Han Su-eon thrown Park Jinyong knowing that?
*Well, it's understandable he'd hold a grudge.*
Because of what Park Jinyong did, he had incurred the wrath of Song Hanna and Do Junyeong, been forced to bow to her in his capacity as a guildmaster, and had other S-Ranks witness the entire spectacle.
His pride must have been so wounded that he wanted to tear Park Jinyong limb from limb right then and there.
[System Administrator: ヽ(*´∀`)////]
The sight of Park Jinyong twitching on the floor seemed to please the Administrator, who beamed and pestered her for a high-five. After a quick glance around, Seora discreetly reached out and tapped the emoticon.
[System Administrator: ヽ(*´∀`)人(´∀`*)ﾉ]
It was a cheerful display, completely at odds with the situation.
“Is that all you have to say?”
Song Hanna, who had been watching the whole time, asked Han Su-eon coldly. Han Su-eon nodded, his expression tense.
“Then I will now deliver the Association's punishment to Park Jinyong.”
The three of them, excluding the unconscious Park Jinyong, listened to her with grave expressions.
While non-Awakened are judged in regular courts, all Awakened are punished through the Association in accordance with the Awakened Punishment Act.
“In accordance with the Awakened Punishment Act, A-Rank Hunter Park Jinyong, for obstruction of official duties and assault on a public official, is hereby sentenced to a fine of 300 million won and ordered to undergo 720 hours of Awakened-related re-education. Furthermore, his hunter license will be revoked for five years.”
*Tsk.* Even as she spoke, Song Hanna clicked her tongue in clear dissatisfaction.
Seora understood. Since she hadn't been injured and had returned safely in one piece, it was difficult to press charges beyond assault. The gate closing wasn't something Park Jinyong had intended; it was purely an accident.
Knowing this punishment was the best Song Hanna could do, Seora gave her a bright smile.
The gruesome sound of knuckles cracking echoed from Song Hanna's tightly clenched fist.
“...And since he shows no remorse, he will be placed under the Association's surveillance for three years, and a restraining order is issued, prohibiting him from approaching Yoon Seora for ten years.”
Song Hanna's furious voice trailed off. Seora's smile faded as she gently patted her hand.
“Even if he gets his hunter license back, he won't be able to return to any guild. No one would be bold enough to hire a man expelled from Cheongrang for such an act.”
Han Su-eon was right. It was no exaggeration to say that Park Jinyong's career as a hunter was effectively over from this moment on.
Once he’d completed his punishment, Song Hanna probably wouldn't leave him alone. Nor would a certain brother who lost sleep worrying about his little sister.
“Thank you.”
Seora expressed her gratitude to those who had gathered there for her sake. Song Hanna and Do Junyeong sighed in turn, and Han Su-eon quietly called out to her.
“Miss Yoon Seora.”
“Ah, yes.”
“If you ever need my help, please contact me at any time. As a token of my apology, I will assist you with anything.”
*Gasp.* Seora's eyes widened at what he held out to her. It was a blue business card engraved with a wolf emblem, and on it was Han Su-eon's direct phone number.
“This... this precious thing, for me...?”
“Just don't leak it to anyone else.”
“Th-thank you.”
My goodness. A trump card that would let her call on the top magic-class hunter in the country. Wasn't this what it felt like to hold a black card?
The unpleasant feelings from the incident with Park Jinyong washed away completely. Seora chuckled to herself, *ehehehe*, as she carefully tucked the business card away.
“Good grief, getting all happy over something like that. Honestly.”
Seora heard Song Hanna sigh beside her but pretended not to notice.
***
After the unconscious Park Jinyong was dragged away and Seora had returned to her office, only the three S-Ranks remained.
Without hesitation, Song Hanna threw a punch at Han Su-eon's face.
“That's the price for daring to stomp your muddy feet into my territory. Know that I'm letting you off this easy only because you handled it properly.”
“Thank you.”
Han Su-eon quietly wiped away the blood trickling from his lips.
His pale skin, as if carved from ice, quickly began to swell and turn a dark blue, but he neither stumbled back nor lost consciousness. Knowing that Song Hanna had held back considerably, Han Su-eon silently bowed his head.
“Keep your brats in line. Everyone who belongs to the Association is mine, and I don't let anyone who messes with my territory go.”
“I will be careful to ensure this never happens again.”
Song Hanna put a cigarette to her lips. She exhaled an irritated breath, and the office quickly filled with gray smoke.
“Hunter Yoon Seora seemed remarkably weak.”
It was Han Su-eon who broke the silence.
“Why? Did you think she'd had some fateful encounter in the dungeon and reawakened?”
In truth, it wasn't an entirely impossible scenario.
While some grew stronger step by step, there were others who, though the chances were slim, would literally have a fateful encounter and suddenly skyrocket to a higher rank.
However, it seemed Yoon Seora had not been granted such fortune.
Three—no, including the two uninvited guests, a total of five—S-Ranks had seen her, but to all of them, Yoon Seora still appeared as fragile as a baby bird.
“It would be impossible to deceive the eyes of not just one, but five of us. Unless she contracted with a highest-tier Constellation.”
At Han Su-eon's words, Song Hanna's gaze drifted into the distance for a moment. A Constellation, a Constellation...
“Why? Did your Constellation say something?”
An S-Rank could see most information, but their eyes couldn't compare to those of the beings called Constellations. High-tier Constellations would sometimes whisper secrets to their contractors that they weren't supposed to know.
“No, not at all.”
But Han Su-eon's Constellation, which possessed considerable power, had said nothing upon seeing Yoon Seora.
“Mine was the same.”
A look of surprise flickered in Han Su-eon's eyes.
Among the three of them, Song Hanna was the only one contracted with a highest-tier Constellation. If even one of the world's most powerful Constellations had nothing to say, then Yoon Seora really was just an ordinary F-Rank.
“So she really did just get lucky and escape the dungeon. I had my suspicions because Park Jinyong had a scratch on his face that even he didn't know about.”
“A scratch?”
“Yes. It was the day he came back from meeting Hunter Yoon Seora alone. It was a rather deep scratch, yet he was completely unaware of it, and a strange aura was emanating from it, which made me wonder.”
But the Yoon Seora he'd seen in person didn't seem particularly special, other than being quite bold for her young age.
“It seems I was mistaken.”
“Miss Yoon Seora is someone who has just been through a major ordeal. The mental shock hasn't even begun to heal, so please retract your pointless curiosity.”
Do Junyeong, who had been silent the whole time, finally interjected. At his clearly displeased tone, Han Su-eon quietly nodded.
He was well aware that Do Junyeong took care of his subordinates just as fiercely as Song Hanna did.
“I am truly sorry for causing this incident. I've been a great inconvenience.”
“Park Jinyong has been cut off, and you, Han Su-eon, have paid your price. So we'll end this matter here. Understood?”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
Once Do Junyeong and Han Su-eon replied, the tension finally left Song Hanna's face. As her oppressive aura, which had been unknowingly weighing down their shoulders, dissipated, the two men let out small sighs of relief.
Grinding her cigarette out in the ashtray, Song Hanna let out a snort of laughter as if she'd just remembered something.
“By the way, I heard Yoo Su-eun and Eun Injae came all the way here? They must be thrilled to have seen you bow your head, Su-eon.”
The relief was short-lived; Han Su-eon's face immediately stiffened.
“They'll be even more ecstatic when they see that swollen cheek of yours. How terrible for you.”
“...I paid my price. I don't care.”
Though his words said otherwise, his handsome face was filled with displeasure. Song Hanna cackled.
“Those two haven't left yet, have they? It's rare for five S-Ranks to be in one place, so let's all have dinner together. My treat.”
Han Su-eon and Do Junyeong stared at Song Hanna, the refusal clear on their faces, practically at the tips of their tongues. But our dear dictator was not one to listen to others' objections.
“What do you want to eat? I'll let you pick the menu.”
The color drained from both men's faces. They looked pitiful, as if they had aged thirty years in an instant.
