Chapter 681: I’m the Sesung Guild Leader
“I’ve never cooked before! What are we going to serve?”
“We’ll have to go look from now. Since we’re in a busy area, how about checking out the restaurants nearby?”
“Do I have to wait tables? I want to try cooking.”
“Just being S–rank is more than enough to get you into the kitchen. At the very least, you can handle a chef’s knife perfectly.”
“I’ve only ever cooked enough to throw together a quick meal.”
“Perfect.”
Seong Hyunjae said it with absurd kindness. Moon Hyunah watched him with a complicated expression. He had told them he’d thrown away his own life in the pre–regression timeline, yet he was still gentle with kids.
‘He’s got his eye on Mari, and Samir’s just the bonus.’
Even if he suddenly flipped again someday, he wouldn’t lay a hand on kids with potential. Even if his interest faded, the fence would stay up. Even now, when he no longer had any expectations for the future. Moon Hyunah scratched the back of her head and spoke.
“I’m taking the third floor. I’m borrowing Chief Song as a freebie.”
“You’re very proactive.”
“Letting you lose in a row is dangerous. We’ve at least got to give it our best.”
If Seong Hyunjae’s team went on a losing streak, the ones trying to pull tricks behind the scenes would only get bolder. They had to at least look evenly matched. Or, it would be fine to look overwhelmingly ahead.
“I’ll hand over the interior rights for the third floor.”
“Okay. Go have a good date with the kids, Boss.”
“There was a huge restaurant across the street! Let’s go check it out!”
Mari almost grabbed Seong Hyunjae’s arm, then stopped herself and grabbed Samir instead, dragging him outside. Moon Hyunah got into the elevator with Song Taewon.
“We should probably put in a couple more elevators. Chief Song, is there anything you want to do?”
“Not particularly.”
“Then do something you’ve never tried. You must have had some childhood dream.”
The elevator stopped. Song Taewon gave a short shake of his head and stepped out.
“I did not.”
“You didn’t become a cop because you wanted to?”
“…I was in the ‘had to’ category.”
Their footsteps echoed loudly in the empty third floor. Moon Hyunah worked the interior settings window she’d received from Seong Hyunjae and changed one wall into a solid pane of glass. She tilted her head, then pulled the glass wall inward to create an outdoor space.
“You gotta have a bar on top of a restaurant. We’ll give it its own entrance. Put the bar over there. They’ve got alcohol or something like it in this town too. Chief Song, you handle customers at the bar.”
“…Excuse me?”
Flustered, Song Taewon stared at her. Moon Hyunah’s lips curled into a mischievous grin.
“Since everyone here’s a balloon, we don’t even know if our looks will work. But ‘Song Taewon’ means trust, right? Just listen to people like you always do. That’s enough. Folks will flock in fast, and if we set the prices high, important info will start flowing. Business runs on connections and information.”
“…I’m not confident.”
“Even that Seong Hyunjae trusts you. Even the most uptight old fogeys trust anything Chief Song handles. At the very least, they’re sure you’re not skimming off the top. No matter the looks, the race, the culture, there’s no world where trust doesn’t shine.”
Even in a world where honesty and promises were treated like scrap paper, if you endured every betrayal steadily, stubbornly, and survived, you’d become the one and only exception. And Song Taewon was someone who could do that.
“…I’ll try.”
“Just do what you always do. And…”
A bar appeared. Perching lightly on top of it, Moon Hyunah propped her chin on her hand.
“That Seong Hyunjae’s getting on your mind, isn’t he?”
“Hunter Seong Hyunjae is always someone you have to keep an eye on.”
“Chief Song, you like Seong Hyunjae.”
“I do not.”
“If you had to pick the three people in the whole world – no, the whole universe – who like Seong Hyunjae, it’d be one, Han Yujin, two, Song Taewon, and three, Seong Hyunjae himself. Me, I’m not that fond of the guy. I trust his ability as a Hunter and a Guild Leader, though.”
He was the kind of person it never hurt to hang out with. In truth, the gains far outweighed the losses.
“He’s just annoying. Like no matter what happens, he’ll live fine, never die, never need my help. Someone that competent is kind of off–putting. But just now, he actually looked a little human. Not as cute as Dari, though.”
Dari was so cute~ Moon Hyunah chuckled.
“I mean someone who knows what it is to lose something, someone who’ll meet their own end someday. Well, the current Seong Hyunjae’s been acting pretty human lately too. Softer than before.”
“…Either way, I don’t like Hunter Seong Hyunjae.”
Song Taewon let out a short sigh.
“Even now, I’m only cooperating out of necessity.”
“Stubborn, aren’t you. Then how about we go have a drink in broad daylight. The bar’s probably not open yet, so let’s at least hit a supermarket.”
Jumping down from the bar, Moon Hyunah headed lightly toward the elevator. Song Taewon quietly watched her back, then breathed out another shallow sigh.
[The Era of Second–Generation Hunters Is Coming.]
[Four Years after Dungeon Outbreaks, Children Are Changing.]
[Global Mana Levels Affect the Young the Most.]
[If Your Child Is Awakened.]
On screen, the image of a young boy appeared. He was an incredibly cute child with soft pink hair and big, clear golden eyes. His round, soft cheeks had a healthy rosy flush, and the way he pressed his lips together on purpose to look mature made them stick out ever so slightly, only adding to his charm.
└ Just from his looks he’s basically S–rank already
└ S–ranks are all about proportions, man, eighty percent of it’s just being born that way
└ There are low–rankers all over the entertainment industry
└ I heard he’s got a special skill but F stats, that real?
└ Did you not see Yongdeok dangling yesterday? Kid couldn’t even get out lol, B at best
└ Our Gyeol’s cuteness stat is SSS so he’s S overall anyway
└ Even SF’s stats are F, official rank B, but online he’s S
└ The system’s what’s weird, what kind of F–rank keeps snagging S–ranks one after another lol
└ Ha… he’s seriously so freaking cute T_T
└ With Kangso glued to him like that, there’s no way he’s not her kid, right?
└ I heard his special skill is Pink Dragon
└ Yeah, worth ditching SS to stick to him, agreed
└ Gold–Black–Pink, let’s go, evolve into Ruler of Water Blue! You got this!
└ Even if he’s not Yongdeok’s, that face is a total copy
└ For real, if his parents were normal civilians, I’d get why they’d send him away, how are you supposed to raise an Awakened kid, low–rank maybe but once they’re mid–rank they’re stronger than the parents
└ If a little kid’s got a good skill, the kidnapping risk goes way up too, saw foreign news about trafficking underage Awakened
└ Even setting the parents aside, what did the neighbors do wrong, kid throws a tantrum at dinner and kicks his feet and the ceiling’s gone lol?
└ Honestly it’s dangerous, you never know when or where an S–rank kid’ll blow up, crazy
└ Can a kid even control that, isolating them is the right call tbh
└ Gyeol’s cute though so he can live next door, seems quiet enough
└ Gyeol I love you!!!111111
There had not been zero child Awakened before now. But most of them were low–ranks without any special skills, and anyone mid–rank or higher was hidden for safety’s sake. In contrast, Gyeol’s background alone was enough to set the world buzzing.
His guardian was Han Yujin, the only S–rank Monster Mounts breeder and the famed winner of the Chatterbox party. Officially, there was an S–rank Hunter, Seong Hyunjae, who was “just a relative,” but many suspected an even closer blood tie. On top of that, Gyeol himself was known as the wielder of a rare special skill, and more than anything, he was unbearably cute.
And that tiny Awakened…
[The Sesung Guild’s private jet has just arrived at the airport!]
[The first to appear is Richard Hwang, the S–rank Hunter known as Young Master Gyeol’s bodyguard.]
[We can see Princess Isabella bint Rashid as well. She is also an S–rank Hunter and… ah, we can see him now!]
[Emily Spence, the famous Saint! For security reasons she has never left Europe before, and now she has set foot in America for the first time! They say Hunter Isabella joined the entourage to protect the Saint. She’s also shown herself to be very close to Young Master Gyeol.]
[Ah! The hatch under the plane is opening and a black dragon is coming out! That’s Hunter Kang Soyeong and the S–rank Monster Mounts, Comet!]
He walked around with S– and A–rank Hunters in tow, and even a Saint.
Then a boy with a small backpack strapped on tight came down from the plane. His brows were drawn stiffly together, then he broke into a bright smile for the camera and even gave a relaxed little wave.
“You’ve gotten quite used to this.”
From inside Gyeol’s vest pocket, Seong Hyunjae spoke quietly. Keeping his smile, Gyeol lowered his voice in reply.
“This is nothing for me, you know?”
“I can vividly recall you smacking a reporter on the head with your bag in the middle of an interview, as if it were just yesterday.”
“Of course it feels like yesterday, because it was yesterday! That Mister kept prying about what my relationship with the Sesung Guild Leader was. So annoying.”
“Kicking the reporter and flipping him off with your middle finger was just like watching Han Yujin, really.”
“Because I’m Dad’s son! …Don’t tell Dad.”
Hwang Rim opened the door of the car that was waiting. His manner was so natural you’d think he’d been a bodyguard for ten years.
“Please get in, young master.”
Nodding like a little grown–up, Gyeol climbed into the car. Isabella took the driver’s seat, and Hwang Rim sat beside him. Emily got into another car with her own S–rank bodyguards, while Kang Soyeong took to the air with Comet, flying guard over the vehicles.
“Go easy, Princess.”
“Don’t worry. We’ve got a kitten right here.”
No sooner had she spoken than Isabella slammed down on the accelerator. The car shot forward, and Hwang Rim checked the interior for any bugs.
“Clean.”
“So Samir’s with Dad Cat, right?”
Isabella asked softly. Gyeol nodded.
“In the same space. They said his life won’t be in danger.”
“I still don’t really get what’s going on outside, but as long as he’s alive, good enough.”
The car headed straight for US Hunter Association headquarters. Officially, the Saint’s visit was to promote more active cooperation between the European and US Hunter Associations.
“Children aren’t allowed inside.”
The US Hunter Association’s vice president personally informed them before the meeting started. Gyeol scrunched up his face and protested, but the answer did not change.
“Be good, this isn’t a place for a kid to butt in.”
“Even if you’re all adults, you’re not more capable than me!”
“Adults are still adults. Most of the Hunters here are S–rank.”
“You all lost to my dad, and he’s got F–rank stats.”
Gyeol’s cheeks puffed out round. Then he wheeled around and marched into the bathroom attached to the waiting room.
“This is discrimination against kids. I thought America was supposed to be equal!”
“It is right for children to be protected. Endure another twenty years or so.”
“I’m not like normal kids. But I guess it can’t be helped.”
Gyeol grabbed the tiny Seong Hyunjae and lifted him up in front of his eyes.
“The Sesung Guild Leader can go in. Right?”
“I would not recommend it, but leaving it to Miss Spence would be fine too.”
“No. Dad said this was something he asked you to do.”
“Han Yujin asked me.”
“I can do it too. And if the Sesung Guild Leader backs me up, they’ll listen even better.”
Caught in Gyeol’s grip, Seong Hyunjae tilted his head slightly as if he had no choice.
“I recommend gray hair. It will make you look a little older.”
“Got it, got it. Ahem.”
Gyeol’s appearance changed quickly. Soon, an adult Gyeol was looking into the mirror. Reflected there was Seong Hyunjae with light gray hair. Gyeol tried out various stern expressions.
“You don’t have to force it. Just be natural. Posture matters more than your face. Loose and relaxed. For the suit… this one.”
Seong Hyunjae pulled up suit photos on his phone and showed them to him. Gyeol’s clothes shifted.
“Make your mana feel similar to mine. Like when you went into the vault.”
“…It’s not really working.”
“The atmosphere alone is fine. Put a handkerchief in your breast pocket so I can hide easily.”
“There. But…”
Staring at his exact copy in the mirror, Gyeol kept talking.
“Is this really something we can trust? I mean that thing. The traces from before you regressed.”
The current Seong Hyunjae, replaced by his own future and past. Gyeol furrowed his brows slightly.
“It’s you. What if you just do whatever you want.”
“Precisely because it is me, I have no choice but to help.”
Smiling, Seong Hyunjae slipped his body between the folds of the handkerchief.
“It was an offer I simply could not refuse. There are plenty of S–ranks, so use an in–ear.”
From the moment he had met Seong Hyunjae, escaping had been impossible. Wearing a thoroughly dubious expression, Gyeol followed his instructions. Either way, there was no harm in taking his advice.
“Then, shall we.”
Squaring his shoulders confidently, Gyeol left the bathroom and headed for the conference room.
“…Guild Leader Seong?”
“We hadn’t heard you were visiting, but welcome.”
The treatment given to a child and the treatment given to an S–rank Guild Leader were worlds apart. No one tried to block him; instead, they opened the door with pleased expressions.
“Do not make eye contact with the Hunter on your right. We had a brief connection once. If you show interest, he’ll get annoying.”
“That black–haired one is friendly toward me, but you don’t need to greet him. If he bows first, just flick your eyes at him.”
“You can ignore the one next to him too. For that one, just a light nod. Ah, that idiot over there, ignore completely. If he comes at you, Hwang Rim will handle it.”
“…What on earth have you been doing?”
Gyeol raised his hand to cover his mouth naturally and muttered. In his pocket, Seong Hyunjae shrugged.
“I have been minding my own business. Most of them came to me first.”
“This is a mess. And why are we ignoring Hunters who are actually on your side?”
Roughly two thirds of the high–rank Hunters they passed showed goodwill. The rest radiated hostility.
“That is what you call social life. Also, it is bothersome.”
“I miss Dad.”
“Agreed. I find myself missing Han Yujin and Chief Song Taewon.”
Following Seong Hyunjae’s advice, Gyeol strode shamelessly into the conference room. Everyone’s eyes turned toward him – toward Seong Hyunjae.
With a soft smile on his face, Gyeol spoke.
“I’m a bit late.”
It was a perfectly Seong Hyunjae–like expression.
–TL Notes–
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