Chapter 20
Team 1 consisted of five S-rank members, and Team 2 was composed of 25 A-rank members. It was explained that this raid team would be responsible for A-rank Yellow or higher dungeons moving forward. Additionally, it was mentioned that they had recently formed a temporary team by uncovering hidden talents in the rough, and a select few who passed the test in this temporary team would be added to the elite team.
Although the team name, roster, and other details were not revealed, people learned within two minutes of the article's release that the hunter named Hellfire Hong Euiyoon was a member of the temporary team and that the elite team's name might be Perfect.
[HELLHONNG]
Perfect….
–
A new beginning (photo)
This was because of a post Hong Euiyoon uploaded on social media, along with a selfie of him drinking espresso on his home balcony. How did people know it was espresso and not tea in that small cup? It was because someone asked for tea recommendations in the comments, and Hong Euiyoon personally replied, "It's espresso."
Shortly after uploading the post, whether due to some hint from Seokyoung or not, Hong Euiyoon edited the caption.
[HELLHONNG]
Jewels are destined to shine, even in the mud….
–
A new beginning (photo)
It seemed he took quite a liking to the expression "hidden talents in the rough."
Not to be outdone, the guilds The Perishers and Sejung also released articles stating that members from their guilds were part of the temporary team. The Perishers didn't disclose Kim Jinhae's face, but Sejung openly posted a large announcement on their official account titled "Page Hunter Joins Temporary Team," accompanied by a picture of Lee Jungin.
With this, how could the fuss-loving Guild of Leaves stay silent? The group chat had already erupted, as if Yoon Seo had become a superstar. Remaining calm and composed, Yoon Seo first notified Seokyoung that he would be postponing his attendance today, then headed straight to the Guild of Leaves. The civilian support team and the dungeon strategy team were absent, leaving only the management support team. The management support team was his reason for visiting.
"Team Leader."
"Oh! Yoon Seo!"
The management support team leader greeted Yoon Seo with sparkling eyes.
"Welcome! I was just about to contact you. Ah, first of all, congratulations—"
"I'm not revealing any personal information."
Yoon Seo's face turned cold as he doused the overly excited team leader with cold water.
"Absolutely no personal information about me is to be revealed. Not under any circumstances. No interviews either. Even for print interviews where my face won't appear, reject them all without exception. I've already spoken with the guild leader about this."
"What are you saying, Yoon Seo? This is such an opportunity!"
The team leader looked aghast, as though hearing the news of the world ending.
"You know my personality. I prefer to stay low-key. I'm going to fail the temporary team test anyway."
"If you're going to fail, we should at least milk this for all it's worth beforehand. This is our chance to spread the Guild of Leaves' name far and wide."
"We are Seokyoung now."
"We can finally show those Rainbow guys, who always mocked us with things like 'leaves' and 'petals,' what we're made of. Imagine how jealous they'd be if they found out that a candidate for Seokyoung's elite team is a member of the Guild of Leaves!"
"There will be more opportunities to prove ourselves in the future."
"I've endured for ten years thinking, 'There will be more opportunities.' I can't take it anymore!"
"You've only been with us for five years, Team Leader."
"My soul has been with the guild since its founding!"
The team leader showed no intention of backing down.
Yoon Seo had somewhat expected this reaction.
[The
"Please don't reveal that I'm part of the temporary team to outsiders. We've already gotten back at the Rainbow Guild, haven't we? Even if we announce it publicly, it won't make much of a buzz. Let's just let it pass quietly."
"H-Huh…. Fine, I guess…."
The skill
The team leader, unaware that he had been affected by a skill, muttered while shedding large tears like chicken droppings.
"I'll cancel the HunterNet video interview shoot and the photo book shoot. And the print CF shoot…. I had lined up 12 interviews…. I was even planning to write an essay about your recruitment story for the Guild of Leaves and turn it into a movie…."
"...."
To have achieved so much in just two hours since the news broke, it was truly impressive. Yoon Seo resolved to use
After the conversation ended, Yoon Seo got up from his seat, and the team leader followed to see him off. As they walked, the team leader asked.
"By the way, Yoon Seo, will you be okay with the dungeon? You've never been inside one before. Since it's for the elite team selection test, it's not likely to be a low-level dungeon. I'm worried you might get seriously hurt."
"There's no helping it. It's too late to back out now."
Yoon Seo replied lightly, but in reality, it was no small concern. Although the likelihood was low, getting injured in the dungeon would be a significant issue.
On the other hand, entering the dungeon could be a good way to withdraw from the temporary team. Yoon Seo decided he would do his best to fail once inside.
Not getting injured anywhere and making no contributions, this was his goal for this time.
***
The temporary team conducted individual training in a private training room prepared in Seokyoung's underground facilities. With Kwon Jihan present, the team members' abilities had already been verified, and since the purpose of the mission was testing, no additional team training was planned.
Apart from the healer, Kim Jinhae, they tested the potency of their skills. Among them, the one who stood out the most was undoubtedly Hong Euiyoon. Despite his relatively small frame, Hong Euiyoon was exceptionally strong, quick, and agile. His flame skills also boasted devastating power. Park Kang, surprisingly, was adept at using his body. Namgung Simhae demonstrated a sharp sense in skill utilization, and Lee Jungin displayed a good balance between offense and defense. However, Hwashim did not show any remarkable abilities.
'Aside from Hwashim, the others are definitely worthy of being called hidden gems.'
Though his expression remained indifferent, inwardly, Yoon Seo was repeatedly impressed. It was astonishing to discover such strong individuals and bittersweet to think how much could have been different if such people had existed ten years ago.
Yoon Seo's turn was the very last. He created a shield that was only at the B-rank level, significantly lowering everyone's expectations. After the Seokyoung executives, who had come to assess their abilities, left, Yoon Seo, feeling pleased, smiled in triumph.
At that moment, someone called out to him.
"Um… Hunter Yoon Seo."
"Yes?"
The person who spoke was Park Kang, with his disheveled hair and horn-rimmed glasses. He hunched his large frame and couldn't even make proper eye contact with Yoon Seo.
"Well… I… actually…."
"...."
"My Hunter outfit… it's, it's, a hanbok…."
"Hanbok?"
"Modified, modified hanbok. Not just hanbok, but modified hanbok…. I-I thought you should… k-know beforehand…."
Park Kang shouted in a panicked voice.
Yoon Seo couldn't understand. Why was this messy-haired guy so terrified as he confessed that his Hunter outfit was a modified hanbok?
"I-I heard… Hunter Yoon Seo… h-hates hanbok…."
"Ah."
"On the day of the mission. I was worried… you'd be shocked when you saw my outfit."
"I don't dislike hanbok."
Yoon Seo recalled the time when Park Soobin had publicly accused him of being a traitor, and Park Kang had been present during that incident. Although Yoon Seo had quickly denied it, it seemed Park Kang hadn't taken his words seriously.
"Well, y-you could dislike it… e-everyone has their own preferences."
"No. Koreans shouldn't dislike hanbok."
"B-But Hunter Yoon Seo h-hates it…."
"I don't hate it."
"...."
"I've always loved the unique beauty of hanbok. Whether it's modified hanbok, traditional hanbok, or even if you're wearing a gat, feel free to wear whatever you like."
"Y-Yes… T-Thank you."
Park Kang bowed his head deeply. After parting ways with him, Yoon Seo resisted the urge to immediately send a message to Park Soobin, accusing him of making him seem like a traitor.
From that day onward, Park Kang didn't initiate any more conversations. Yoon Seo found it a shame because if he had, Yoon Seo had planned to show him the hanbok photo album stored on his phone.
Time passed uneventfully, and soon it was Friday.
During that time, Yoon Seo commuted to the underground training hall and discovered one thing.
Yoo Juncheol, who occasionally watched the temporary team's training alongside high-ranking executives, often focused his attention on Hwashim or Kim Jinhae.
Yoon Seo found it strange.
'Why is he interested in Hwashim and Kim Jinhae?'
Anyone could see that the strongest among them was Hong Euiyoon. Why?
The guild master of Seokyoung had stated that he wanted to form an elite team comprised only of strong Hunters. If Yoo Juncheol had checked everyone's system profiles using Kwon Jihan's
'I came to Seokyoung to find Seo Chaeyoon.'
Suddenly, Namgung Simhae's words during the merger ceremony banquet resurfaced in his mind. Namgung Simhae, who had joined Seokyoung to find Seo Chaeyoon, had willingly accepted joining the temporary team. What did that mean?
Yoon Seo couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that the temporary team served not only as a stepping stone to form the elite team called Perfect but also had another, hidden purpose.
***
[Mustache] Yoon Seo, drop by when you have time~ Talk to my daughter too ^^
That afternoon, a message arrived from the man he called "Mustache." Just as Yoon Seo was about to leave for the day, he decided to meet him.
[Me] Is it okay if I come up now?
[Mustache] 87th floor. The secretaries are out, so just come straight in.
Yoon Seo immediately got on the elevator.
When he arrived at the 87th floor, he found himself in an empty hallway. Though there wasn't a single ant in sight, he felt an inexplicable chill and rubbed his arms.
As the man had said, the area in front of what appeared to be the secretaries' office was deserted. Without knocking, Yoon Seo swung the door open.