Page Ten: Cafe Rieul is Always With You
The guild leader’s office located on the top floor of The White Silver Guild.
A few days ago, the guild leader was suddenly replaced, so the place was still untidy. The staff announced the arrival of the visitor with a knock.
Kwon Jiwoon, who headed to the drawing room, leaned deeply on the sofa and looked at the visitor.
“What’s the matter? The friend of my sister, and my friend now.”
“…Hello.”
Choi Yichan bowed his head.
Choi Yichan, who had been held captive by the Dungeon Management Office for a full week, was finally released yesterday, and the ranking was updated.
Ranked 6th on his first registration. It was a phenomenal result.
Kwon Jiwoon slightly frowned as he recalled that his ranking had fallen by a notch thanks to that. He wasn’t obsessed with the Hunter rankings, but it didn’t feel good to lose the ranking he had maintained for a long time.
“I heard you’re recruiting Hunters here.”
“I heard the general story. The reason why Hunter Choi Yichan said he wanted to meet me this early in the morning. Our staff ran out of breath to inform me after you contacted us.”
“Then, could you accept me into the guild?”
Choi Yichan, who immediately brought up the main point, was still in a daze. Kwon Jiwoon lifted the tea cup on the table, moistened his throat, and opened his mouth slowly.
“Before that, I want to ask you something. What is the benefit for Hunter Choi Yichan to join The White Silver Guild?”
“…..”
“We don’t even know each other, so let’s be more honest. Currently, The White Silver Guild has little real power compared to its past fame.”
The words that followed revealed difficulties that could not be hidden.
“My father … haa, he can’t just throw everything at me … he told me that he wanted to appear on ‘I am a Natural Person’.”
“Ha, haha….”
Thinking it was a joke to lighten the mood, Choi Yihan tried to laugh. However, he had no choice but stop laughing when he saw Kwon Jiwoon’s expression.
That troubled look.
He’s serious….
He’s truly glad that his father, who has been missing for years, has returned. However, as a result, Kwon Jiwoon had one more headache.
He urged him to meet Kwon Rieul in a hurry, but when they returned from the dungeon, he disappeared with only the words that he would return to their hometown this time.
It seems like he has a plan based on his meaningful tone.
Does he … is that the case?
“I don’t know what the hell he’s thinking….”
“…….”
Choi Yichan offered silent consolation.
“Ahem, hm. I’m ashamed to say this since it’s an internal affair, but our guild is in a situation where a lot of people are missing and we have to rebuild the guild from scratch. It is difficult to treat Hunter Choi Yichan appropriately for his abilities.”
“That’s all right. That kind of thing….”
Kwon Jiwoon’s words continued even before Choi Yichan could say anything.
“As far as I know, Hunter Ju Noeul contacted you. Although she looks carefree on the outside, she leads her guild with integrity. Won’t you like their terms better?”
“She … I met her yesterday and refused.”
Kwon Jiwoon sighed inwardly.
No wonder ‘Lime Love Team‘ kept writing depressing things on Hunter Channel this morning, so this was the reason.
“What about Cheongna? Coincidentally, I’m close with Hunter Han Yiseong. It’s a high-class guild.”
“I have no intention of going there.”
Hoo. That’s an unexpectedly firm tone.
Kwon Jiwoon rested his chin on his hand. A crooked smile is hidden in the palm of his hand.
Naturally, the sight he saw a few days ago came to mind. The day he returned with his younger sister from the Garden of the Eternal Living Flame, Cthugha.
The man who caught Kwon Rieul, Ki Yoohyun.
When he saw him before, he couldn’t look at it properly because he didn’t have much time, but he looked very close to Rieul.
It also reminds him of Choi Yichan’s expression when he saw them.
‘It’s easy to understand.’
Now, Kwon Jiwoon found his position both funny and unpleasant. He chose the last words to conclude the interview. The displeasure on his face was not completely hidden.
“I think you already know that I care a lot about my younger sister, Rieul, even if I don’t say it.”
“….Yes.”
Choi Yichan nodded slightly.
“But that doesn’t mean that I will meddle in my sister’s relationships. Whatever happens, I won’t do it. If Rieul likes it, then I….”
Kwon Jiwoon swallowed his breath for a moment. That’s what he said, but it was not a good feeling to have someone hanging around his younger sister. With a sigh, he spat out his irritation and continued.
“…..I will accept it no matter who it is.”
“I suppose so.”
“If you’re trying to join this guild because I’m the family of Kwon Rieul, it means you should go home because you offended me, Hunter Choi Yichan.”
Choi Yichan was silent for a moment.
He was wondering if there was anything important to ask for a meeting this early in the morning, but it was a waste of time. He was about to raise his body and tell him to get things sorted out, but then Choi Yichan opened his mouth again.
“Even if the person is Muwon?”
“…….”
Kwon Jiwoon looked at Choi Yichan quietly without even moving.
“Haha, you’re not surprised.”
“No, I was surprised … that Hunter Choi Yichan knows about it.”
Han Yiseong did not directly reveal Muwon’s identity to Kwon Jiwoon. He didn’t even think about digging the information.
However, there are things that you naturally notice when you interact for a long time. For example, things like the identity of the Hunter that Han Yiseong is particularly concerned about.
It was only a vague guess, but he just became convinced.
The reason he pretended not to know the obvious was simple. This is because all Hunters of the current generation feel a sense of debt to Muwon to some extent.
Kwon Jiwoon recalled an incident from long ago. It happened not long after he awakened.
An A-Grade rift broke out in the middle of downtown Changwon. Of course, it’s a contingency.
It was also the day Kwon Jiwoon experienced his first real fight. It was harder than the thought to treat a person who was pouring blood in critical condition. Far from being proud of having fulfilled his mission, he just wanted to run away.
Then, someone shouted, ‘We’re alive now!’. He was going to ask ‘what nonsense are you talking about when the situation is so serious?‘, but when he looked up, he was there.
It was far away, but it was clearly visible. It was the sight of only one person repairing the distorted and twisted space with a net of light and returning it to its original form.
He vividly remembers the emotions he felt that day.
A feeling of inferiority, longing, jealousy, goodwill … there is a sense of indebtedness at the base of the countless emotions toward Muwon.
Therefore, it’s worth showing his loyalty by preventing that person’s identity from being revealed in a form he doesn’t wish for.
It wasn’t difficult for Kwon Jiwoon to read the still intact boundary in the quiet man in front of him. Then, how did this newly awakened S-class learn about Muwon’s identity and become wary of him?
“He, that person, Muwon, will be the one who will resurrect the demon of the Great Dungeon Abyss.”
The conversation jumped into a ridiculous place. The strongest Hunter in existence resurrects the Demon? That sounds unreasonable.
Kwon Jiwoon slightly narrowed his eyes and spoke.
“I don’t think it’s good to speak ill of your rival.”
Abyss is a large dungeon in the form of a tower divided into several floors. The hypothesis that something scary is asleep on the top floor has been around for a long time. However, the current generation of Hunters simply do not have the power to reach the end yet.
How far did the attacking progress go … he was in the middle of estimating it in his head.
“If The White Silver is just a small guild, as the guild leader said, why did C&L aim for The White Silver in the first place?”
“……you know something.”
“More than the guild leader thinks. For example, there must be an old artifact in The White Silver that hasn’t been unsealed yet.”
“….!”
It was unpleasant for an outsider to mention the internal circumstances of the guild.
Kwon Jiwoon rested his hand on chin again. This time, the hardened mouth was hidden in his plan.
“Isn’t Hunter Choi Yichan an S-class Berserker? Detection … no, do you have a prophecy skill?”
“You can meet a prophet.”
His eyes are full of conviction. There must be something.
“I don’t believe in occult. Hunter Choi Yichan, be careful if anyone sells amulets or jars.”
“……Haha.”
Choi Yichan grabbed the pendant around his neck.
The small black stone sparkled exceptionally and stood out on the edge of his neck. He traced the shape of the black stone with his thumb and thought for a moment, as if it was an important object.
“When I was young, I was caught in a rift. The person who saved me was Hunter Kwon Seokmin. I have always thought that if I became a Hunter, I would definitely return the favor.”
“…..”
“You look like you don’t believe me at all.”
“Isn’t it too coincidental to bring the story up now?”
Choi Yichan shyly scratched the back of his head.
“Haha, really. I want to join the guild to repay his kindness, so you can think about it that way.”
“During the week when Hunter Choi Yichan memorizes the new awakening safety rules at the Dungeon Management Office,”
“…..”
Choi Yichan’s face darkened when he recalled the time of hardship.
“I did some research on my father’s condition. The cause is unknown, but it’s true that the ability has disappeared. My father … is really a natural man … No, he wants to retire, so he wouldn’t think that he’s done a favor to Hunter Choi Yichan.”
In other words, don’t try to persuade him and just tell the real reason.
Choi Yichan put down the hand that was touching the pendant. As if the conversation so far had only been an introduction, his expression became even more serious.
“At least I want you to know that I’m saying this in favor of you, guild leader.”
“….”
“At this rate, Kwon Rieul’s life will be in danger.”
Kwon Jiwoon’s face hardened fiercely.
