Chapter 196: Chief Song (6)
“Hello.”
Han Yujin greeted them softly. His voice, expression, and demeanor all screamed nervousness. For someone with F-Class stats surrounded by higher-ranking Hunters, it was an entirely natural reaction, and the two Japanese representatives had no reason to suspect otherwise as they bowed in return.
“Our guild, Amaterasu—the number one guild in Japan—is extremely interested in Director Han Yujin’s Monster Breeding skills.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
“You must want the ‘Forest of the Black Cow’ dungeon to acquire riding beasts, correct?”
“…Yes.”
His answer was reluctant, and Nakajima didn’t miss the way Han Yujin glanced nervously at Seong Hyunjae.
“Since the basic arrangements are already complete, there’s no need to drag this conversation out.”
Seong Hyunjae said as he sat down. Han Yujin hesitated for a moment before sitting a little distance away from him. Seeing Han Yujin’s shadowed expression, Nakajima spoke in the kindest tone he could muster.
“The one who needs the Forest of the Black Cow is Director Han Yujin, and the Slime Dungeon belongs to Haeyeon Guild, correct? That’s why we believe Director Han Yujin’s opinion is of utmost importance in this matter.”
Outwardly, it sounded like he was advocating for Han Yujin. However, underneath his words was the intent to manipulate someone who seemed easier to deal with. At the same time, he wanted to leave a good impression on the owner of the Monster Breeding Facility.
If the rumors were true that the Beast Breeder was being oppressed by the S-Class Hunters around him, then perhaps they could even coax him into defecting. Judging by what Nakajima was seeing now, those rumors didn’t seem baseless. This thought made his smile grow even friendlier.
“Don’t you think so, Han Yujin?”
Seong Hyunjae’s casual question made Han Yujin’s gaze drop to the table.
“I just…”
“Please, feel free to speak, Director Han.”
Encouraged by Nakajima’s words, Han Yujin raised his head slightly. His eyes darted back and forth nervously before briefly landing on Seong Hyunjae. He hesitated, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t. Nakajima encouraged him again.
“It’s fine. Don’t worry and speak freely—I, Nakajima, will listen carefully.”
“As you mentioned, the Slime Dungeon belongs to Haeyeon Guild.”
Han Yujin clenched his fists tightly as he spoke. He still looked timid but seemed to have gathered a bit more courage.
“And the juvenile monsters obtained from Japan’s dungeon are under my jurisdiction as well.”
“Of course, you’re absolutely correct.”
Nakajima nodded, throwing a glance at Seong Hyunjae. However, the Sesung Guild Leader showed no particular reaction.
“So, regarding this negotiation…”
For a moment, Han Yujin’s voice gained strength but then quickly faded again. He sighed deeply, slumping his shoulders. Seeing this, Nakajima stiffened slightly and turned his gaze to Seong Hyunjae.
“Guild Leader Seong, if I may, could I ask you to step out for a moment? I believe Director Han Yujin might feel more comfortable speaking freely if you’re not here.”
Asking an S-Class Hunter to leave was a bold move that required significant resolve, especially for Nakajima, who came from Japan, where ranks were considered absolute. Even making such a small act of resistance made him feel a chill down his spine. But the opponent was a foreign Hunter, and this was for the sake of his own country’s guild.
Seong Hyunjae slightly narrowed his eyes before speaking.
“Our Director Han is far too precious and important. I can’t possibly leave him alone with Hunters from another country, without his guardian present.”
“Even if I had ten lives, I wouldn’t dare harm someone under Guild Leader Seong’s protection. Should even a single hair on Director Han Yujin’s head be harmed, I wouldn’t need you to dirty your hands—I would slit my own stomach right here.”
“There’s no need to go that far…”
Han Yujin muttered quietly as Nakajima gave him a reassuring smile.
“Once again, I sincerely request your understanding, Guild Leader Seong. Please allow Director Han Yujin the chance to speak.”
Seong Hyunjae, who had been resting his chin lightly on his fingers, slowly shifted his gaze toward Han Yujin.
“What do you think, Director Han?”
“I…”
“Don’t worry and answer honestly.”
Nakajima’s encouragement made Han Yujin bite his lower lip. After a long hesitation, he rose from his seat.
“Guild Leader Seong, could you come over here for a moment?”
Han Yujin led Seong Hyunjae to a corner of the meeting room and whispered something to him in a voice so low that even the A-Class Japanese Hunters couldn’t hear. Then, looking at Seong Hyunjae with pleading eyes, he spoke earnestly.
“Please, I’m begging you.”
“I’ll remember what you just said.”
“Yes.”
Without further words, Seong Hyunjae turned and left the room. As Han Yujin watched his retreating back, he returned to his seat with a defeated look. Nakajima, wearing a deeply concerned expression, spoke up.
“I hope you didn’t push yourself too hard.”
“…It’s fine. Guild Leader Seong is someone who knows his limits, so he wouldn’t go too far.”
Even as he spoke, Han Yujin fidgeted with his hands on the table, clearly uneasy. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh.
“I’ll be honest. I don’t want the Forest of the Black Cow dungeon.”
“…What?”
Nakajima and the Japanese Hunter next to him looked visibly flustered.
“Raising juvenile monsters takes a significant amount of time and effort. It’s not something that can be done quickly with multiple monsters at once. Yet Guild Leader Seong… has demanded that I rapidly raise several ordinary riding beasts. If we secure the Japanese dungeon, acquiring juvenile monsters would certainly become easier.”
Han Yujin spoke with a face full of worry.
“And to make things worse, he’s using a dungeon owned by Haeyeon as bait. On the surface, he claims it’s beneficial for Haeyeon and a good opportunity to expand the Monster Breeding Facility, but in reality, it’s no different from Sesung exploiting me. He even told me they would create a perfectly equipped S-Class raid team with riding beasts in the shortest time possible.”
“Ah… is that so.”
Nakajima and his colleague exchanged uneasy glances. This was entirely different from what they had expected. Han Yujin didn’t seem to want the Japanese dungeon. On the contrary, he seemed to view it as a burden.
“But wouldn’t having a stable supply of A-Class juvenile monsters be helpful in the future?”
“I’m more than satisfied just fulfilling requests as they come. No, to be honest, it’s overwhelming. I have no desire to personally go out and capture juvenile monsters. So if possible, could we treat this negotiation as if it never happened?”
Han Yujin’s voice was earnest, and Nakajima furrowed his brow. Canceling the negotiation outright was not an option. They couldn’t afford to miss the chance to claim the slime dungeon, which was a vital resource for producing various items. Especially since Japan had yet to see the appearance of any slime dungeons, all slime materials had to be entirely imported from abroad.
“…It’s unlikely that Guild Leader Seong would agree to that.”
“…Yes, I suppose not.”
Han Yujin nodded weakly, and Nakajima seized the opportunity to persuade him.
“At any rate, it’s not as if the negotiation can simply be voided. So—”
“No, it’s too early to give up.”
Han Yujin suddenly straightened his posture, raising his gaze to meet Nakajima’s. He squared his shoulders and looked him directly in the eye.
“I can’t keep acting timid when a Hunter from another country is supporting me so enthusiastically. That would be shameful, wouldn’t it?”
“Ah, well, that’s…”
“Nakajima, you’re on my side, aren’t you?”
He asked with a shy smile, leaving Nakajima stammering. Securing the slime dungeon was imperative, but gaining Han Yujin’s trust was also crucial. Should he use his authority as an A-Class Hunter to intimidate him, or should he persist in persuading him gently? After some hesitation, Nakajima nodded vigorously.
“Of course, I am.”
“Thank you. Then please, help me.”
“Of course, I’ll help you. But, Director Han, continuing the negotiation isn’t necessarily a bad idea.”
Nakajima’s tone was soft and soothing, as if trying to placate him. Even an S-Class Hunter wouldn’t be able to hear the conversation outside the meeting room at this volume.
“Directly opposing Guild Leader Seong would be too much, don’t you think? Instead, why not pretend to comply while quietly taking advantage of the situation?”
“Take advantage?”
“Yes. Harada.”
At Nakajima’s call, the Hunter next to him retrieved a contract and a stack of documents from his inventory.
“To be honest, without Director Han Yujin’s involvement, the Forest of the Black Cow dungeon doesn’t hold much value. So we prepared a few bonuses in case the negotiation didn’t go smoothly.”
These were incentives intended to ease difficult negotiations.
“Guild Leader Seong seems content with a simple trade, so why not quietly take these for yourself, Director Han?”
Han Yujin’s gaze shifted to the documents spread out on the table. The list of various items was written in both Japanese and Korean.
“…I don’t know Japanese, so I’m a bit skeptical about whether the translations are accurate.”
“That’s why we have this contract. If you sign this agreement stating that the items you want will be provided—”
“How about a different contract instead? One where, for the next 30 minutes, you agree to answer all my questions about the items truthfully and honestly.”
“Ah, yes, that works too.”
Nakajima began drafting the new contract, glancing at Han Yujin with a hint of curiosity. From what he knew, Han Yujin had dropped out of high school, passed the equivalent certification test, and had worked a series of unremarkable jobs before becoming a 25-year-old Monster Breeder. By all accounts, someone like him should have been clumsy and awkward in such negotiations.
And yet, for some reason, he seemed strangely adept.
‘Though, at the end of the day, he’s still just an F-Class under the thumb of an S-Class.’
Even now, Han Yujin seemed to falter, showing a brief flash of resolve only to lower his gaze again.
“I sincerely appreciate your consideration, but I can’t help but feel uneasy about Haeyeon Guild.”
“Haeyeon Guild?”
“Yes. The thought of Sesung Guild taking the slime dungeon for their own gain bothers me. There are… some complicated reasons that I can’t go into detail about, but it’s a terrible deal both in appearance and in reality. So, if possible, I still think it would be best to cancel this altogether—”
Nakajima clicked his tongue internally as he watched Han Yujin trail off again. Just when it seemed like he’d be easy to sway, he’d backtrack. As he mulled over his options, Nakajima’s eyes glinted slyly.
“Then how about this? In Japan, when there’s a conflict between Hunters, we settle it with duels between those of the same rank. The winner takes everything.”
“A duel?”
Han Yujin’s eyes widened in surprise.
‘Finally, it’s out.’
Internally, I celebrated, but on the outside, I feigned confusion. Nakajima—or whatever his name was—nodded with a smug expression.
In Japan, where Hunters’ influence often overrode the law and ranks were treated like medieval social classes, disputes over dungeon management rights or item ownership were commonly resolved through guild battles or individual duels. It was a system where the strong took it all.
Barbaric and unreasonable as it was, I couldn’t have been more pleased in this instance. Let them fight it out—it’s all good for me.
“Yes. The Slime Dungeon is owned by Haeyeon Guild, so the duel would be between a Hunter from Haeyeon and one of our Hunters. Rather than a trade, the winner takes the loser’s dungeon.”
“…If it’s a Haeyeon Hunter…”
“Hunter Park Yerim would be a fitting choice. She only awakened three months ago, so even if she loses, it wouldn’t be seen as a flaw. In fact, if the fight is close and well-fought, it might even raise her reputation as a promising talent for the future.”
As expected, they were targeting Yerim. A fledgling Hunter without any experience raiding S-Class dungeons yet—they must see her as an easy opponent.
“But wouldn’t Haeyeon ultimately lose the dungeon one-sidedly in the end?”
“Of course, we’d have to compensate them. Behind the scenes, Director Han and Haeyeon Guild would receive compensation, while Sesung Guild wouldn’t gain anything. What do you think? Isn’t this an excellent solution? On the surface, it’ll look like you’re still following Guild Leader Seong’s lead, so you wouldn’t even have to worry about backlash.”
I gave Nakajima a clumsy smile in return, looking at his grinning face. Honestly, he was helping so much that I almost felt a little sorry. Just a little.
“That sounds like a wonderful idea, but… the value of the Slime Dungeon isn’t small. Could you offer Haeyeon adequate compensation?”
“We’ve prepared something for such contingencies.”
Nakajima put on a serious expression and pulled something out of his inventory. It was a black garment, halfway between a robe and a coat. Its belt was adorned with strange symbols and feather-shaped decorations.
As soon as I saw it, I struggled to keep my lips from curling upward. I knew that equipment.
‘Is it really that? Is it real?’
I was certain it belonged to the Japanese guild leader, but I never imagined they’d bring it here to offer as payment.
“This is the ‘Blue Thunderbird’s Formal Wear,’ acquired during the first raid of a Japanese S-Class dungeon. It’s SS-grade equipment.”
“SS-grade?”
“Yes, would you like to verify it yourself?”
Nakajima stood and draped the garment over my shoulders. Of course, he kept hold of the hem to ensure I couldn’t stash it into my inventory.
“It boosts base stats, increases movement speed temporarily, enhances defense the more damage you take, and… it also has S-grade resistance to electric-type attacks!”
I grinned widely, not even needing to fake my enthusiasm. I knew this gear well—it was the equipment frequently used by the Amaterasu Guild Leader during ranking matches. He’d bragged endlessly about how the resistance stats made him the only one capable of defeating the world’s number one-ranked Seong Hyunjae.
Of course, he never managed to win even once. But if Yuhyun were to use it, things would be different. The non-electric resistance stats were excellent, too, and matching equipment for different attributes to suit various situations made this incredibly desirable gear.
“SS-grade equipment must be rare even in Japan.”
“Of course, but our guild leader has a separate SS-grade coat that he uses more often. The Thunderbird’s Formal Wear doesn’t quite align with his abilities, and the attribute resistance isn’t something he currently needs. On the other hand, Haeyeon Guild might find it incredibly useful, especially given their potential clashes with Sesung in the future.”
There weren’t any S-Class world ranking matches yet, so it made sense for them to offer this now. Still, the fact that they had another SS-grade coat was surprising. Even if Japan produced twice as many items as Korea, there should only be a handful of SS-grade items. They must have scraped together every top-tier item they had—a clear show of a large guild’s power.
“So, you’re really offering this as compensation?”
“Of course. I trust you’ll find it satisfactory.”
Yuhyun! Your older brother did it! I snagged some gear for you! I felt like planting a kiss on the formal wear—it was that beautiful.
“This will allow Haeyeon Guild to save face. Even if the Slime Dungeon is highly valuable, this couldn’t have been an easy decision. Thank you for your generosity.”
“Not at all. We fully anticipated Haeyeon Guild’s resistance and prepared accordingly. We look forward to strengthening our relationship moving forward.”
I had been planning to extract three or four S-grade items, but this was a jackpot. Even if it wasn’t currently in use, they handed over an SS-grade item to a foreign guild. The level of authority the Amaterasu Guild Leader wielded in Japan must be immense.
Judging by the way he was freely trading items he didn’t need for something he wanted, it seemed he was personally ambitious as well.
Claiming the A-Class Slime Dungeon would undoubtedly solidify his guild’s position in Japan. That was likely his ultimate goal. Whatever the case, I was grateful.
“There won’t be a guild leader representing Japan in the duel, right? Park Yerim is still young, so I’m a bit concerned.”
“Of course not. We’ve selected a Hunter with two years of experience. To put your mind at ease, we can finalize the contract here and now. Ah, would you need separate approval from Haeyeon’s Guild Leader?”
“No, I’ve been given full authority for this matter. That’s why I’ve been extra cautious. Here are the related documents. If possible, I’d like the location to be near the sea. A one-sided fight might hurt a young heart too much.”
“We’ll accommodate your request as much as possible.”
The Japanese representative replied confidently. Yerim, feel free to sink the arena. Go wild. It’s not even our land.
‘If it’s by the sea, it’ll be enough to rival even Yuhyun.’
There was nothing to worry about. Still, I would’ve preferred if they had chosen Yuhyun as her opponent, but it was unlikely that the Japanese side would take such a risk.
Yerim and I had already discussed everything. She had been disappointed about not being able to participate in ranking matches, so she’d be thrilled with this.
I took out the contract that bore the guild leader’s signature. Officially, it was a simple duel for a wager.
The contract was written in duplicate, and along with the Blue Thunderbird’s Formal Wear, I also secured an S-Class bracelet for Yerim. It was a deal that naturally brought a smile to my face.
“This might not sit well with Guild Leader Seong, but are you sure this is okay?”
The Japanese representative asked with feigned concern while gathering the contract. As if they wouldn’t love for Seong Hyunjae to pressure me because of this.
“Don’t worry.”
“If you ever face difficulties, feel free to contact us anytime. Director Han Yujin would be more than welcome.”
With that, he handed me his business card. Why not just outright ask me to defect? They were clearly trying to secure the slime dungeon, drive a wedge between me and Sesung, strengthen ties with Haeyeon, and lay down plenty of other schemes.
I accepted the card, stored it in my inventory, and sent a quick text on my phone before standing up.
At that moment, the door opened, and Seong Hyunjae entered. He strode toward me with large, confident steps and handed me something he was holding.
“Here is your iced café latte as ordered.”
“Thank you for fulfilling my request.”
“It’s only natural to meet the wishes of my partner.”
I sipped from the straw as the two Japanese representatives stared at us, completely dumbfounded.
“You said you’d remember what I told you, but this is overly sweet. Didn’t I ask for no whipped cream?”
Medium iced café latte, not too sweet, and no whipped cream. But this was sweet, and there was even cocoa powder sprinkled on top of the whipped cream.
“Isn’t it delicious?”
“It is. This hotel’s coffee is pretty good.”
Is it because it’s such an expensive place?
With the business concluded, I turned to leave without hesitation. Then I paused, took out my business card, and placed it on the table with a smile brimming with professional charm.
“I look forward to hearing from you, dear customers. Please prepare as quickly as possible.”
“W-Wait, Director Han!”
“Yes?”
“Uh, well… about you two…”
Nakajima stammered, unable to finish his sentence as he glanced back and forth between me and Seong Hyunjae. I could practically hear the gears in his head turning. He seemed utterly flustered.
“…It’s nothing. We’ll be in touch again soon.”
After much deliberation, he ultimately just pocketed my business card. For now, he probably thought all they had to do was beat Yerim. Keep your hopes high.
–TL Notes–
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