14 – The Troublemaker Han Sojeong

“Who sucks in snow cones like that… doesn’t your head hurt?”

“Not at all? I’ve been hit by ice storms, and it didn’t hurt.”

“What does that have to do with snow cones? Do you know how weird you are?”

Jihun casually spewed out a story about being hit by Sung Chang-hun’s skill.

Jihun and Sojeong had left the snack bar and were sitting in an ice dessert shop located deeper in the downtown area, eating snow cones enthusiastically.

Well, it was only Jihun who was eating enthusiastically, while Sojeong simply looked at him with curiosity and chatted away.

“So, in the Academy, you learn, right? And you go into the Gate from time to time to gain real experience, right? How great is that… You underestimate real-life experience, and you’re going to get injured badly.”

“Aren’t you busy? Why are you following me everywhere… Go away.”

“I’m the one buying this snow cone. Are you going to pay?”

“You eat this strawberry… here…”

Jihun poured the strawberries into Sojeong’s bowl.

For the past few days, Sojeong had been persistently following Jihun.

She had meticulously investigated his movements and, by coincidence, brought up the topic of joining the guild when they happened to meet.

Of course, it didn’t fool him at all.

That bastard was only passionate about his academy classes as if he were crazy about studying.

Although his grades were said to be not very good…

Anyway, at some point, Sojeong stopped pretending to accidentally meet him and openly pursued Jihun.

“Don’t act annoying and please just shut up,” said Jihun, but Sojeong found a way.

Dinner Bill

Jihun, who usually avoids and ignores Sojeong when they are alone, discovered that he couldn’t help but listen to her when they had a meal together and split the bill.

Is it that simple?

Sojeong felt that all the time she had wasted designing accidental meetings instead of just following him around and talking at restaurants was too much.

Moreover, this guy seemed to be trying to visit every restaurant in the world or something, as he would go to several restaurants in a single day.

“It’s not just a gate… Is it because it’s really unusual? The gate itself wasn’t of high grade, but according to the team sent out to investigate-“

“No… Why are you talking non-stop when I’m not even curious about it?”

Jihun, with a tired expression, looked at Sojeong and took a spoonful of shaved ice into his mouth.

“Speaking is hard, but is listening any easier?”

“Listening is just as difficult right now…”

Sojeong gave Jihun a sly look, annoyed by his words.

“But don’t you have many good hunters in your class? You’re in the 2nd class, right? That’s where the upper-level hunters gather, isn’t it?”

“Upper-class students usually have one or two connecting guilds, if not more…”

Sojeong’s words were true.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd classes.

Upper-class students received scout offers from dozens of guilds every month just because they belonged to that class.

From large guilds to medium-sized ones, and even some elite guilds.

For upper-class students, the goal was to meet their desired conditions, unlike lower-class students who aimed to enter a good guild.

With dozens of guild membership cards in hand, all they had to do was negotiate well with the guild that offered the most favorable conditions.

Moreover, the monthly support funds they received from the academy were already 8 to 10 million won.

It was rare to find someone who urgently needed to make money.

Occasionally, students who wanted to gain practical experience by finding unusual gates could easily participate in gate subjugation internships with the large guilds they were negotiating with.

Therefore, upper-class students had no reason to take the risk of joining the gate subjugation of Sojeong’s father’s newly established guild.

“You don’t have a connecting guild, so it’s hard for you to get a chance to enter such a unique gate, right?”

“Oh… You’re giving me such a great opportunity… I’m grateful, but I’ll just take it to heart.”

With a snort, Sojeong glared at Jihun, who only seemed to pick and choose his words.

“What’s the name of the guild your dad set up?”

“Oh? Why do you want to know the name?”

Not knowing what to say, Jihun felt puzzled by Sojeong’s surprised reaction to his casual question.

“It’s just water, why does it matter so much? Can’t I ask your name? Is your guild name a secret or something?”

“No, it’s not that…”

“What’s with you then?”

“…Beau…tiful.”

“What?”

“…Beautiful Guild…”

“…Do you think I’m going to join your guild or not? You think I won’t join?”

“…”

***

“Do you even know how expensive the magic stones are over there? It’s all about getting them and selling them. But to have everything known, to collect them, set high prices, and dispose of them? It must be so convenient.”

On their way back to the building with the auditorium for the afternoon D-rank Gate Monster Analysis seminar, Jihun and Sojeong walked side by side. Sojeong was incessantly chatting, not giving Jihun a moment’s peace.

“Hunters without connections struggle to get the worth for the magic stones even after fighting hard to bring them out-“

“Enough!!! I’ll consider temporarily joining the Gate Conquest Unit… Please… just stop… talking.”

Jihun, with blood almost coming out of his ears, gave a somewhat affirmative answer, causing Sojeong to jump in joy like a child.

“Really? For real? You said you’ll go with me?”

“I’ll think about it, I said I’ll think about it! Please, go back now! Don’t you have any classes or something?”

As Jihun and Sojeong headed towards the building, students from classes 8, 9, 10, and 11 passed by.

The D-rank Gate Monster Analysis seminar, being held in the auditorium, was a class gathering for students from classes 8, 9, 10, and 11 who were eligible for the D-rank Gate Conquest mission scheduled for two months later.

“You’re clearly not at the level of an 11th class. Do you really need to attend this kind of seminar?”

Sojeong’s question was filled with doubt.

“Enough! Just stop it!”

Jihun didn’t respond, pulling away from Sojeong as they moved towards the entrance of the building.

Jihun was determined to study meticulously, believing that even the lower-level Gates might have their own characteristics. Using skills inside the E-rank Gate, when they had moved to a parallel world, had convinced him.

It was the main reason Jihun wanted to stick to the academy. It was because the academy had the most data on all Gates.

For Jihun, every piece of information on lower-level Gates such as the E-rank and D-rank Gates was precious.

“Are you Kang Jihun… right?”

Two men in black suits blocked Jihun’s path as he tried to enter the building.

The two men, who were significantly taller than Jihoon, wore matching suits and sunglasses as if to coordinate.

“Who are you?”

Han Sojeong, who was walking with Jihoon, asked the two men in front of her.

“Han… Sojeong Hunter? Second-class Han Sojeong Hunter, right?”

“Yes. That’s correct. Who… ah!”

From Noble mtl dot com

“You remember. I’m Kim Sungju, team leader of Ares Guild. I gave you my business card last time.”

“Yes, I remember. But what brings you here? Do you have something to discuss with Kang Jihoon?”

“Yes, I have something to discuss with this friend.”

The person who introduced himself as Kim Sungju took off his sunglasses and answered Sojeong with a kind smile.

“Sojeong Hunter, do you also know this friend?”

“Yes… I know him well.”

“Oh, but sorry, can we take this friend with us for a moment? We have something to talk to him about on behalf of Ares Guild.”

“Oh… Are you making a scouting offer?”

Sojeong’s eyes suddenly turned sharp as she looked at the unexpected competitor.

“A scouting offer? hahahahaha, that’s unlikely. Ares Guild is a large guild. The business card I gave to Han Sojeong Hunter is not something anyone can receive. hahahaha.”

“Then why this person…”

In response to Sojeong’s question, Kim Sungju erased the kind smile from his face and faced Jihoon.

“Kang Jihoon. Academy 11th class. E-rank Hunter, right? We are people sent by Director Dou Dok-hyeok to help you. Come with us for a moment.”

That’s right.

They were the people sent by Do Young-hwan, the father of Do Yeong-hwan, whose wrist, shoulder, and front teeth were damaged by Jihoon before.

Do Young-hwan, a managing executive and key figure in Ares Guild.

When his only son awakened, he was even happier than when he himself awakened.

Even when he confirmed that his son was not a high-ranking Hunter, he was not worried at all.

If his son reached a certain level by studying and training at the academy, it would be easy for him to join Ares Guild with his own power.

But one day.

His beloved son came back after being beaten by someone he didn’t even know.

After immediately contacting the guild and finding a skilled healer-type Hunter for treatment, his anger could not be eased.

Therefore, they were now sending two C-rank Hunters to block Jihoon’s path.

“Do Young-hwan’s son, do you remember Do Yeong-hwan, who lost all his front teeth?”

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