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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The Slingshot Incident
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“Hunter Yoon Seora!”
Do Junyeong rushed over at once. Han Su-eon, following close behind, also wore a grim expression.
“Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere? We called you as soon as we heard Park Jinyong had evaded surveillance and disappeared, but you didn’t answer. We were worried.”
“I-I’m fine… Fortunately, before anything terrible could happen, Mr. Kang Sejun here helped me… Thank you, I… I’m truly grateful.”
Seora bowed to Kang Sejun, trembling uncontrollably. Her quivering shoulders conveyed a mixture of relief, fear, and the sheer joy of having survived.
Kang Sejun thought to himself.
*From now on, let’s not be surprised by anything this woman does.*
A scam is one thing, but seeing it again and again, he was starting to get used to it. Not that he was happy about it.
“…I’m glad I could be of help.”
Sejun said with a resigned smile. The words were half-sincere.
“We were worried something terrible might have happened because we were too late. Thanks to you, Mr. Kang Sejun, we were able to prevent that. Thank you.”
“I apologize. We should have monitored him more carefully. I am truly sorry you had to go through this.”
Han Su-eon bowed to Seora, his face a mask of genuine remorse. The tension in his clenched jaw revealed his simmering fury. His ice-blue eyes turned to Park Jinyong.
“After pulling a stunt like this again, we’ll finally be able to throw him in prison. If we pull some strings, he might even get the death penalty.”
“Did you inflict those wounds, Mr. Kang Sejun?”
Do Junyeong asked Kang Sejun. Not wanting to complicate his relationship with Seora by telling the truth, he simply nodded.
“Yes. I saw no reason to show mercy to a man who was trying to kill someone.”
“A sound judgment. With this, any chance of him escaping has been completely eliminated.”
Nodding, Do Junyeong made a call to arrange for the screaming Park Jinyong to be moved. Meanwhile, Han Su-eon, who had been glaring at Park Jinyong as if he wanted to incinerate him, suddenly voiced a question.
“Pardon me, but I heard you were a fire-based mage, Mr. Kang Sejun. Is that correct?”
“It is.”
“It’s just that Park Jinyong’s wounds look a little strange. No matter how I look at them, they seem to have been caused by a firearm. Do you also use firearms, Mr. Kang Sejun?”
Do Junyeong, having just finished his call, shifted his gaze to the shattered knees. Though covered by pants, it was no trouble for two S-rankers to assess the damage.
The two holes, still bleeding, looked like gunshot wounds from mana bullets. There were even some burn marks, suggesting they were fired at very close range. And Kang Sejun did this?
Do Junyeong and Han Su-eon’s gazes moved in unison.
Come to think of it, in the heat of the moment, they hadn't noticed, but Kang Sejun had been holding something. Just as they wondered if it was the gun used to shoot Park Jinyong, their expressions turned utterly bizarre.
Do Junyeong asked with a dubious look.
“Mr. Kang Sejun, did you… by any chance, shoot Park Jinyong with that?”
“Ah, this…”
Only then did Kang Sejun look down at his own hand. Just before they arrived, Seora had pulled something from her inventory and forced it into his hand. It was none other than…
“With a slingshot…?”
It was a toy slingshot with a rubber band.
“…”
“…”
“…”
Silence fell over the dark alley.
Staring blankly at his hand, Sejun looked at Seora, who was still pretending to tremble, with a sense of futility. Seora subtly averted her gaze.
*Sorry. But I had no choice. If it were a real gun, it might have caused problems for Sejun, who doesn't have a shooter specialization. But with a toy slingshot, there's no such risk.*
It was a pure-hearted decision, with absolutely no intention of teasing Sejun.
【Administrator: ꉂꉂꉂꉂ☞( ﾟ▽ﾟ)☞】
The Administrator was roaring with laughter, but Seora’s intentions were sincere.
…They really were.
In the awkward silence, the way Do Junyeong and Han Su-eon looked at Kang Sejun changed ever so slightly.
Though it was by no means a positive change, Kang Sejun offered no excuse, simply enduring their stares with a stoic expression.
*My goodness. How can a person be so reliable?*
Seora felt both incredibly grateful and sorry toward him for not breaking his promise to protect her identity, even in a situation like this. Since she had created this mess, she figured she should be the one to clean it up.
“Th-that slingshot is mine. I can’t use a gun, but I thought a slingshot might be okay, so I carry it around. Mr. Kang Sejun must have picked it up after I dropped it.”
“Ah, I see.”
Fortunately, the two were quickly convinced.
Once their gazes finally left him, Sejun turned his head toward Seora. He looked even more exhausted than when he’d seen her swinging a pickaxe in the dungeon.
“…Here, take this back.”
“Ahem. Thank you so much for your help. And, uh, I apologize for the trouble.”
*You think?* Sejun’s eyes, staring intently at her, were filled with a mix of sorrow and weariness. Seora avoided his gaze as she stored the slingshot in her inventory.
“Park Jinyong’s knees may be shattered, but that won’t resolve the mental shock you’ve suffered, Ms. Yoon Seora.”
Han Su-eon clicked his tongue, expressing his concern. Sejun’s expression grew even more peculiar, but Seora didn’t even glance his way, offering a weary smile instead.
“It’s okay. I was lucky to get help before anything serious happened, and while my rank is low, I’m still a hunter. I live my life prepared for this level of danger.”
“Nevertheless, since this incident originated with my guild, it’s my responsibility to handle it. If you’re amenable, I’d like to offer you the protection of the Cheongrang Guild for the time being.”
“Protection?”
“Cheongrang provides lodging for its guild members. How about staying there until you feel at ease?”
The Cheongrang Guild dormitory! It was so famous that even Seora knew of it.
While its state-of-the-art facilities were one thing, what truly made it famous was its incredibly delicious food. It was so renowned that posts titled ‘Today’s Cheongrang Menu’ would circulate online.
For a Korean who runs on good food, that was the most important thing.
*Damn, that’s tempting.*
Images of the Cheongrang dormitory meals she had occasionally seen flashed before her eyes, making her mouth water.
“There’s no need to feel burdened. You can stay as long as you need to feel comfortable. You can even come with us right now.”
*How can he be so reasonable? To think he was hiding such a kind side behind that ice-sculpture-like appearance. He’s like a protagonist from a novel.*
The fact that he was this sensible on top of it all made her opinion of him skyrocket.
*Should I eat delicious food, sleep comfortably, and maybe build a friendship with a handsome guy while I’m at it?*
*Hehehe.* Just as Seora’s temptation-filled heart was about to lean in one direction…
【Administrator: ٩(๑`н´๑)۶】
The petty Elizabeth began to throw a fit.
*What’s with her now? Does she hate the idea of me eating a good meal that much?*
Trying to take food away from a Korean. How cruel could one be?
【Administrator: (･`д´･);】
Whoops. She was suddenly breaking out in a cold sweat. It seemed food wasn’t the issue. In that case…
*Does she not want me to get close to Han Su-eon?*
【Administrator: !!(╭☞｀Д´)╭☞】
【Administrator: ｡゜(｀Д´)゜｡】
My word. She hated the idea so much she was crying. A person can form all sorts of relationships with all sorts of people.
*Well, it’s not like I’m actually going to date Han Su-eon…*
She was just getting ahead of herself, and Han Su-eon probably wasn’t even thinking about it. She tried her best to convey this.
【Administrator: (°ㅂ° ╬)】
But the Administrator’s mood did not improve.
*Ah, I get it, I get it! Geez. Anyway, chiseled handsome guys aren’t my type.*
After grumbling to herself for a while, Seora turned away with an apologetic look. But before she could speak, another one of the Administrator’s emoticons appeared.
【Administrator: (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻】
What on earth is she doing? I’m not going. I said I’m not going! So why is she flipping the table?
“Ms. Yoon Seora?”
Snapping out of her strange staring contest with the empty air, Seora came to her senses at the sound of Han Su-eon’s voice.
“Ah, thank you for the offer, but I’m fine. I’ll calm down soon.”
“I don’t mean to insist, but it would be better than being alone.”
“Um, a friend visits me often.”
*It’s more like she practically lives with me. Her name is Elizabeth, a friend with a very classic nickname.*
“The offer I made before is still valid, so please keep that in mind. Feel free to contact me anytime.”
Han Su-eon’s business card was as good as a black card. Seora had been keeping it very safe.
“By any chance, do you have any interest in joining the Cheongrang Guild?”
But his next words couldn’t help but startle Seora.
Sejun, who had been standing by with a bored expression, and Do Junyeong, who was looking down at Park Jinyong with disgust, both turned to look. Everyone was equally surprised by the sudden proposal.
“Pardon? Uh, I…”
“I’m not asking you to transfer immediately. But if you have even the slightest interest, you are always welcome, so please let me know.”
It was rare for Han Su-eon to personally extend a guild invitation. That he would offer this groundbreaking opportunity to a mere F-ranker like herself was utterly bewildering. If this was out of guilt, he had already done more than enough.
“Guild Master of Cheongrang, if I recall correctly, the Association President gave a warning just a few days ago about not encroaching on our territory.”
Just then, Do Junyeong, who had been listening quietly, interjected, his voice carrying a faint edge.
