Chapter 197: Breaker Guild (1)
Walking down the hallway, I briefly explained to Seong Hyunjae about the contract with the Japanese side. I kept what I gained to myself. I only mentioned that the deal was to acquire dungeon rights through a duel, and that I received a few items in return. Surprisingly, Seong Hyunjae didn’t ask much about the items.
“They must be confident they can easily defeat Hunter Park Yerim. They’re sending S-Rank Hunter Iwahata Gakuto, if I’m not mistaken. Do you know him? Apparently, he’s been active for two years.”
I hadn’t heard of him, which meant he wasn’t very highly ranked in the pre-regression hunter rankings. So far, Japan only had a total of five S-Rank hunters.
“I’ve at least heard his name, as he’s an S-Rank hunter.”
“There’s no need to worry, is there?”
“Wasn’t it by the seaside? The result is already decided.”
I thought the same, but still couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy. Yerim was still young, after all.
‘If worse comes to worst, I can just buff her with my skill.’
If I got caught, it’d be an automatic disqualification, but it was better than her getting hurt. Not getting caught would be ideal, and I could just say something that sounded like encouragement to anyone listening.
“Preparing for Japan will require a lot… no, never mind.”
“I could offer some advice, if needed.”
“You’ve already played the overly helpful advisor for me. I’ll handle it myself.”
First, I’d need to report to the Awakener Management Office and the Hunter Association. The schedule could be decided once Japan got back to us. Haeyeon could handle Yerim’s preparations. Would Yuhyun insist on coming along as well? With Seonghan around, it’d be fine to leave things for a bit. But if he was going to join, we’d need to clear at least one dungeon beforehand, so the earliest departure would be in a week.
Japan wouldn’t be able to wrap up their preparations in a day or two, anyway. While organizing my thoughts, I glanced at Seong Hyunjae.
“Will Guild Leader Sesung also be going?”
“Considering its importance, I should be there in person. But I already have dungeon raids scheduled starting tomorrow, so I’m not sure if the timing will work out.”
“As your business partner, I’ll cheer you on, but if you’re late, I’m leaving without you. Good luck.”
“I’ll do my best not to be abandoned by my one and only partner.”
Hearing that, anyone would think I was the one in control here.
Before heading to Japan, I needed to wrap up things at the Breeding Facility, even if only roughly. I should also gather information about Breaker and Hanshin.
“Though you said you don’t need advice, let me offer one warning.”
Seong Hyunjae suddenly brought up something ominous. A warning, of all things.
“For the time being, avoid meeting Song Taewon alone. Also, I recommend not contacting him first.”
“…What?”
“You’d be safer in a space with many non-Awakened or low-rank hunters than in the company of a small group of high-rank hunters. In an ordinary setting, he might find it easier to restrain himself.”
“…You make it sound as if Chief Song might harm me.”
“I’m simply advising you not to provoke him.”
Seong Hyunjae’s gaze held a mysterious smile, leaving me unsure whether it was directed at me or at Song Taewon.
“Chief Song is not easily shaken. But when he does break, the sound it makes will inevitably be louder. If it all passes quietly, well, that could be amusing in its own way.”
It would be troublesome if my partner ended up getting hurt. Seong Hyunjae spoke in a low, calm voice, and I found myself swallowing dryly.
“Is this because my relationship with you has changed, even slightly?”
“I can’t claim to know the deepest inner thoughts of others. While it’s possible our relationship plays a part, I can’t say for sure what kind of turmoil Chief Song might be experiencing.”
This was unexpected. I thought that if my standing with Seong Hyunjae improved, even slightly—even if we weren’t equals yet—Song Taewon would feel more reassured than before. After all, Yuhyun was my younger brother, Yerim was still young, and Noah was a former A-Rank supporter with a somewhat childish demeanor.
It made sense for Song Taewon to have doubts about me. But if even Seong Hyunjae recognized me, I thought that would change things for the better.
“…Chief Song is a difficult person to understand.”
“A wolf pretending to side with sheep while grazing on grass will find acceptance from neither. I even wonder if he himself ever questions his actions.”
Grazing on grass—what a fitting analogy. Both high-rank hunters and low-rank hunters or non-Awakened individuals must find themselves questioning why Song Taewon suppresses himself to such an extent.
He truly was complicated.
I felt like marching over to him and asking directly, but… perhaps it was better to hold back for now. Just then, a message came through on my phone. It was from Yuhyun.
“My brother’s coming to pick me up.”
He’d sent a message asking if I was done with work, saying it was late and he’d come get me. I replied that I was finished. Thinking about the items I’d gotten, I couldn’t help but feel a grin creeping across my face again. Ah, this really was great.
Yuhyun must’ve already been near the hotel when he sent the message. By the time I took the elevator down to the lobby, he was already there, along with the staff who’d accompanied me.
“Yuhyun~”
This older brother got something amazing! I wanted to shout it out loud, but I held back since it wasn’t time for the reveal yet. It was a secret deal, after all. I couldn’t go around announcing it in public. Instead, I threw my arms around my younger brother, pouring all my excitement into the gesture.
“My brilliant little brother!”
“This time, let’s aim for first place! If the new recruit keeps performing well and we manage to secure one more piece of SS-Rank or higher equipment, it’ll really become doable. I wonder if there’s anything else I can extract. Maybe there’s an item to help spirits grow? That’s plausible. Lin said she’d reach L-Rank once fully grown, didn’t she? The problem is that it’ll take a thousand years.”
“…Hyung.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Are you… drunk?”
Yuhyun asked in a low, worried voice, just loud enough for me to hear.
“You didn’t turn off Poison Resistance and then drink, did you?”
“Of course not!”
Maybe I was being a bit over the top.
“I’m not drunk, I’m perfectly fine. I’m just in a really good mood. It feels like I’m drunk, though.”
What could I do? The laughter just kept bubbling up. Yuhyun shot a glare over my shoulder, likely directed at Seong Hyunjae.
“Are you sure nothing happened? There are substances that can bypass Poison Resistance, you know.”
“I’m telling you, I’m fine. Let’s just go home.”
I couldn’t talk about it here, after all. I gave Seong Hyunjae a casual farewell and tugged on Yuhyun’s arm.
“I’ve negotiated for the winner of the duel to claim the Japanese dungeon. The stakes are, as we discussed, the Slime Dungeon.”
As soon as I sat in the car’s passenger seat, I informed him of the negotiation results.
“Just as we expected, they chose Yerim.”
“The opponent?”
“Some hunter with two years of experience. The duel is by the seaside.”
“Then it’s over.”
Yuhyun concluded, as if it were a done deal. Both Yuhyun and Seong Hyunjae had witnessed Yerim fighting during the Hong Kong incident. Yuhyun had even gone up against her himself, so he would understand Yerim’s capabilities better than anyone else.
Hearing both of them confidently predict victory put me at ease.
“Yerim will win, right? She won’t get hurt, will she?”
“She won’t.”
“That confident?”
“If it’s the seaside, it’s literally like a fish in water. Even an early-stage awakened S-Rank hunter wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Our Yerim—she’s only been awakened for three months. Ah, there I go grinning again. I turned my head toward the window, trying to suppress the unseemly laughter. The lights of shops and signs glittered outside. That building over there looked like an office—why were the lights still on? Let your employees go home already.
“Hunter Park Yerim will have to go, of course. Are you planning to go as well, Hyung?”
“I should. I want to enter the dungeon myself, too. I’ll say the discovery of the materials was made by the monsters I bring along.”
It was originally discovered when a dungeon monster was seen eating it. Since the root fruit worked even when consumed raw, that explanation should suffice. That meant Peace would need to come along too. Chirp, of course, was a given.
“When do you plan to go?”
“I asked them to prepare as quickly as possible. If they enter for a second attempt, the fruit might get discovered.”
The first run would be too hectic for such a discovery to happen, but it’d be a different story with the second attempt when they’d have more information. In the pre-regression timeline, it was discovered much later, but who knew how things would play out now? Even the dungeon’s appearance timing had changed, so it was better to be cautious.
“Then I’ll have to get ready to leave as well.”
“You’re coming too, huh? We won’t be gone for long, but it’s overseas, so make sure you’re prepared.”
Thankfully, with Seonghan around, I felt reassured.
Once we reached the Breeding Facility, I didn’t head straight home. Instead, I took Yuhyun to the reception room on the first floor. Since the primary clientele here were high-rank hunters, the room was well soundproofed.
“Honestly, the Slime Dungeon is far more valuable than the Japanese dungeon. And those Japanese bastards are assuming Yerim will lose.”
With that as leverage, I’d swindled some items out of them. I proudly pulled out the Blue Thunderbird Regalia, telling him to keep it a secret for now since it was part of an under-the-table deal.
“It’s an SS-Rank piece of equipment!”
“SS-Rank?”
“Yeah! Until now, the only SS-Rank outerwear in the country was Silekia’s Wings, right? This is the second one!”
Of course, it would’ve been better to be the first, but even second wasn’t bad. Seeing Yuhyun’s eyes widen in surprise filled me with pride.
“The options are amazing too. Try it on.”
As I unfolded the garment, old memories came flooding back. Though I hadn’t bought it myself, it’d been so long since I’d done something like this.
Yuhyun draped the coat over his shoulders. The black fabric rippled softly like flowing water, yet maintained a crisp structure. I thought it looked impressive on the Japanese guild leader, but this? This was on a whole other level. It suited him perfectly. Absolutely stunning.
“It has resistance to electric attributes?!”
“Yup. And it’s S-Rank resistance! Plus, the skill for instantaneous speed boosts—it’s perfect for you, isn’t it?”
If I remembered correctly, the Japanese guild leader was more of a defensive type, specializing in holding his ground in battle. No wonder it hadn’t suited him. But Yuhyun was different.
“The Blue Willow Leaves skill isn’t a general flight skill; it’s my own movement skill. This will help in a lot of ways. The defense stacking is a great option too…”
Yuhyun went quiet for a moment, likely considering the various ways to use the equipment. Then, a bright smile spread across his face.
“Thanks so much, Hyung.”
“What are you thanking me for? Now that you’ve got attribute resistance, make sure you win this time!”
“…This time?”
Yuhyun’s expression froze for a moment. He looked puzzled, almost alarmed. Realizing my slip-up, I quickly added an explanation.
“I just figured you might’ve had to fight Seong Hyunjae at some point. Chief Song said that back when dungeon breaks happened frequently, S-Rank hunters would often clash. Of course, I’m not saying you’re weak, but that guy is kind of a cheat, isn’t he? You’re still young, Yuhyun, and there’s a difference in equipment, too.”
“…”
Yuhyun’s expression visibly grew sullen. So, he really had lost before. Honestly, that Combat Prediction skill is completely unfair. Not to mention the Seeker’s Chain. It’s a weapon that’s a whole rank above its owner—basically carrying an SS-Rank weapon right from the start. Who could possibly win against that?
“That was a long time ago. Don’t dwell on it too much. From the start, Seong Hyunjae was on a whole different level. He was the first to claim and conquer high-level dungeons. Meanwhile, you were just a student back then.”
“…If I’d been older, do you think you wouldn’t have relied on Seong Hyunjae?”
“Huh?”
“It bothers me. Even though I know the gap between us couldn’t be helped, I still get jealous. If I’d been twenty, or no, thirty when dungeons first appeared, so much could’ve been different.”
…Well, yeah, things would’ve turned out differently.
“Maybe. But Yuhyun, the person I rely on most is you. That doesn’t change no matter when or where.”
Whether you were twenty or thirty.
“I can’t do without you. It’s because I have you that I can even work with other people.”
If it hadn’t been for you, Yuhyun, I wouldn’t even be standing here like this.
“And besides, I get jealous too, you know?”
“…Why would you?”
“Why wouldn’t I? I feel the same way. When you weren’t around, Seong Hyunjae helped out with this and that.”
“It was nothing. I paid him back.”
Yuhyun spoke with a slight pout. Still, it wasn’t like he hadn’t accepted any help. And that help must’ve had quite an impact. After all, they were both natural-born S-Ranks. And Seong Hyunjae had always been a mature adult that I couldn’t hope to keep up with.
“There were things I couldn’t do for you. So yeah, I got jealous and envious. I wanted to be the one helping you instead. Even though I told myself it was better than having no one at all, it still hurt.”
The words left a bitter taste in my mouth as I spoke.
“It really wasn’t anything significant. You don’t have to worry about it at all. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to manage without you either. Look at you taking care of me even now. You’re the best, Hyung.”
Yuhyun pulled me into a hug, speaking in a way that felt both affectionate and playful. My brother really is a good kid. I hugged him back tightly.
“Alright. Let’s knock that oh-so-great Guild Leader Sesung down a peg in the rankings match.”
“You’re really planning to go through with an S-Rank rankings match?”
“I’m thinking of making it a worldwide event.”
It wouldn’t be easy, what with that Combat Prediction and his SS-Rank weapon… Should I just use my kid’s buff skills? Though winning fair and square would feel the best. What else could we prepare? I wonder if there’s a way for Yuhyun to get a skill like Combat Prediction. If we could counter it, he’d have a real shot.
When Yerim heard about the duel against an S-Rank hunter in Japan, she got so excited that she declared she’d absolutely crush her opponent—right before slicing a table clean in half. That led to Yuhyun sarcastically asking if she still couldn’t control her strength, almost triggering an S-Rank hunter match in our own house.
The next day, Guild Leader Seong Hyunjae entered a dungeon for a raid, and Moon Hyunah came by the Breeding Facility.
–TL Notes–
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