Chapter 53
"It's a misunderstanding. I'm only a B-rank."
"Hyung, are you still trying to hide your rank? Seriously persistent."
Soo Jaehee quickly cut in. He waved his hand at the surrounding people, including the leader of Team 2.
"Don't listen to this hyung. He's just a pitiful guy who can't let go of his rank even though it's already been exposed. I mean, he blocked Chichi's attack with
"He blocked Hunter Jaehee's Haechi with
"It turns out it is. I was surprised too."
"Hmph, if it's just a Haechi, I could easily block it with
"Hyung, are you picking a fight with me right now? Wanna go at it?"
"Anytime."
Hong Euiyoon abruptly stood up. His opponent was an S-rank, yet he acted as if it didn't matter. He was truly combative by nature. Soo Jaehee smirked as if watching an adorable elementary schooler, while the redhead, burning with even greater determination, prepared for battle. Ignoring him, Soo Jaehee turned to Yoon Seo and the leader of Team 2.
"But honestly, even Yoon Seo hyung is just a regular support-type hunter in front of Seo Chaeyoon. I'm not trying to put him down, it's just the truth. Wow, I was right there on-site on Saturday. I don't know the exact skill name, but it must be some impressive unique skill. Maybe something like 'Absolute Hero's Mighty Shield' or 'Miracle Angel Power Shield'?"
If that had been the name, Yoon Seo would have just chosen to die along with everyone else.
"That miraculous hero miracle angel power shield saved us. I heard its range covered all of Yangpyeong, how can something be that strong yet cover such a wide area? Insane, just insane."
"It was a skill worthy of the 'Seo Chaeyoon Survival Alert.' I envy those who got to experience that shield firsthand."
"Ahh, I debated whether to go or not, but I didn't… I can't believe something like that happened. Such a missed opportunity. Yoon Seo, I heard you were there on Saturday. Is that true?"
Park Soobin asked Yoon Seo. Yoon Seo nodded and quickly added,
"Hunter Hong Euiyoon was there as well."
And so was Park Kang, disguised as the Phantom Mask Thief, but Yoon Seo chose not to mention it since he wasn't sure how much these people knew.
"I was debating whether to go, but I couldn't get a ticket, so I gave up. I should've at least tried to go. If I had just been within Yangpyeong, I could have felt Seo Chaeyoon's shield. When would I ever experience something like that again in my life? Such a regret."
"This is why you need to be an active fan, Soobin hyung. That's how you hit the jackpot."
Soo Jaehee tilted his chin up arrogantly, then lowered his voice into a whisper.
"Look at those poor souls over there. Because they didn't take action, they couldn't even see Seo Chaeyoon's items or be in the same space as him. Now they're just taking out their frustration on an innocent guild master like he's some kind of scapegoat… Their lives are practically over now. And so is the guild master hyung's life."
Soo Jaehee threw a sympathetic glance at the S-ranks ruthlessly shaking Yoo Juncheol. Even with his lowered voice, they should have been able to hear him from this distance, but they were too focused on shaking Yoo Juncheol like a rag doll to pay attention.
"It's a shame I couldn't see it with my own eyes, but at least I know he's alive and well. I'll just have to be satisfied with that. If we keep living our lives, one day, we'll receive his grace too."
Park Soobin said this, but his face was still full of regret and disappointment. Yoon Seo never knew what to say in moments like this.
Most people around the world weren't exactly hardcore fans of Seo Chaeyoon, but they were at least 'semi-hardcore.' Many were captivated by the mystery surrounding the vanished hero, and even within The Guild of Leaves, there was someone on the management team who was an extreme Seo Chaeyoon fan. That person would bring up Seo Chaeyoon at every opportunity, making things awkward for Yoon Seo. At least that guild member was someone Yoon Seo didn't have to meet often, so he could just ignore it, but now things were getting harder.
"But if you think about it, Yoon Seo and Hong Euiyoon are both on the list of Seo Chaeyoon candidates, aren't you? And since you were at the scene, the suspicion around you two is growing stronger. Isn't that right, Candidate #1 for Seo Chaeyoon, Yoon Seo?"
Park Soobin grinned at Yoon Seo, who had been silently listening. The fact that the temporary team was actually a list of Seo Chaeyoon candidates was now common knowledge. Without so much as a twitch of his eyelid, Yoon Seo calmly replied,
"It's not me. But it could be Hunter Hong Euiyoon. I'd like to get his autograph in advance, though."
"Fuck, don't spout that bullshit. It pisses me off."
"Did you just say fuck?"
"What do you mean, it pisses you off?"
"What bullshit?"
Three Seo Chaeyoon fans asked in succession.
"When dangerous monsters or dungeons appeared, he was nowhere to be seen, but now that they're putting his weapons on display, he suddenly pokes his head out? What's so great about that bastard that you're all going crazy? How many times do I have to say I'm absolutely not Seo Chaeyoon! If I had known this was that kind of list, I wouldn't have stepped into the temporary team in the first place."
Hong Euiyoon, who had once bravely taken on hunters accusing him of trying to steal Seo Chaeyoon's weapon, was now fiercely criticizing Seo Chaeyoon.
Yoon Seo had anticipated Hong Euiyoon's reaction and had deliberately redirected the focus. It worked.
Soo Jaehee blinked and tilted his head.
"Hyung, do you hate Seo Chaeyoon?"
"Of course. That coward deserves to be criticized."
"..."
Soo Jaehee, Park Soobin, and the Team 2 leader exchanged glances before looking at the three foreign Seo Chaeyoon groupies who were harassing Yoo Juncheol. Then, they turned their attention back to Hong Euiyoon.
"Good thing those people are busy with guild master hyung right now. Otherwise, hyung, you might've had your throat slit. We respect your preferences and all, but watch what you say in front of those die-hard fans."
"Hey, you there."
Before Soo Jaehee even finished speaking, the blonde woman among the groupies shot a menacing glare in their direction. A murderous aura flared up.
"I think I just heard something unacceptable, someone speaking ill of Seo Chaeyoon."
"You must've misheard, noona. Go ahead and keep grilling guild master hyung."
"Hmph."
"If there's an idiot badmouthing Seo Chaeyoon-nim, I'll kill them with my own hands."
"..."
Lawrence Mille narrowed her eyes but seemed to believe Soo Jaehee's words. She turned her attention back to Yoo Juncheol and continued pressing him, demanding that he hand over Seo Chaeyoon's items. Soo Jaehee shot Hong Euiyoon a look as if to say, 'See?' Hong Euiyoon, now breaking into a cold sweat, clamped his mouth shut. No matter how fearless he was, being directly hit with an S-rank's killing intent made it impossible to move his lips.
Even the innocent Team 2 hunters standing behind them had gone pale.
Just as they were talking about Seo Chaeyoon, Hwashim arrived. Soo Jaehee quickly waved his hand toward him, greeting the arrival of Seo Chaeyoon Candidate 3.
"Hunter Hwashim, hello. Come sit here."
"..."
With an even sterner expression than usual, Hwashim sat down next to Yoon Seo. He was much taller and more built than Yoon Seo, but to Yoon Seo, he only looked pitiful. The melancholy gaze, the worried furrow of his brow…
"I'm Soo Jaehee. S-rank Summoner."
"I know."
Hwashim was curt, but Jaehee's eyes sparkled as he looked at him. Yoon Seo recalled that Jaehee had bet money on 'Hwashim is actually Seo Chaeyoon.'
"Hunter Hwashim, were you at the item market on Saturday?"
Hwashim silently shook his head.
"Thanks to Hwashim hyung's shield, we all survived. Thank you."
"..."
"Why aren't you denying it? The fact that you're not refuting it makes it even more suspicious."
"I… am not."
"You're taking too long to argue back. That's suspicious."
Since things had gone subtly quiet after Hwashim entered, Soo Jaehee's voice rang out quite clearly.
Yoon Seo was starting to get a headache.
No, Hwashim didn't even go to the exhibition hall. Why are they suspecting him so much? That guy is just a normal C-rank hunter. And why isn't Hwashim actively denying it?
"Hunter Hwashim has arrived."
Just like Jaehee, Alec, who had also bet money on Hwashim, stopped grilling the guild master and came over to the table. Since Alec left, the couple also lost interest and returned to their seats, finally freeing Yoo Juncheol. The couple and Alec sat across from Hwashim, staring intently at only him.
Now that he looked around, it seemed like all of Team 1's veteran hunters had bet on Hwashim. Soo Jaehee continued pressing him, while Hwashim, with his usual blunt demeanor, simply kept repeating, "I am not."
'He's going to get sick at this rate.'
Yoon Seo was worried about Hwashim, but he kept it to himself. Even the righteous Hong Euiyoon was sweating bullets and looking away.
From beside him, he could hear Park Soobin and Team 2's leader talking.
"Hunter Hwashim is too quiet to be Seo Chaeyoon."
"He could be relaxed precisely because he is Seo Chaeyoon."
"Who did you bet on again, Team Leader?"
"Park Kang."
"Ah, right. That guy was at the scene…"
'So Seokyoung also knows that Park Kang is the Phantom Mask Thief.'
Well, thinking about it, it was only natural. He was on the list because he was the Phantom Mask Thief.
"Alright, let's start the meeting now."
"Hunter Kwon Jihan isn't here yet."
"That guy's always late to meetings. Let's just start."
Yoo Juncheol adjusted his tie and took the seat at the head of the table. His hair was still messy, but no one pointed it out.
At the mention of starting the meeting, the rowdy Team 1 members, who had been pressuring Hwashim, finally shut their mouths and focused.
The manager, who had been quietly looking at their U-Pad the whole time, stood up.
"We will now begin the briefing for the S-rank Yellow Dungeon this Friday."
***
"The prophet who received the revelation for this dungeon is Mariel from the U.S., and the guardian god is the God of Flames. The S-rank Yellow Dungeon's boss monster is capable of flying and can freely wield the powers of both fire and water, possessing both flame and frost attributes. Additionally, it summons monsters at set intervals, and these monsters are estimated to be around A-rank in strength. Although the exact number was not revealed in the prophecy, based on previous records, it is likely that at least five monsters will be summoned at once. This prophecy only covers Phase 1, so the rest will have to be strategized by the hunters. Next, here is a list of past S-rank dungeon boss monsters with similar characteristics."
The images and descriptions of various S-rank dungeon bosses appeared in the center of the table. The data was automatically sent to the hunters' U-Pads.