“Hah... is that how it’s going to be? I guess so, huh?”
Yoo Hana had the look of someone who had already made up her mind. Lee Soo-ah had a similar expression.
It was a situation where they were almost forced into it.
If six S-rank hunters were suddenly recruited, their positions within the Blue Guild would shrink rapidly.
“Hah... Hana, how about this? I’ll take first place, and you can have second. We’ve always done that, right?”
Lee Soo-ah cautiously gauged Yoo Hana’s reaction. Her intention was to avoid an unnecessary heated competition.
“Why? I was planning to come in first this time. I made a pretty firm resolve when I left the entertainment industry. I think you’re underestimating me, Soo-ah. We should compete fairly.”
Yoo Hana brushed off Soo-ah’s suggestion with a dismissive gesture, as if it were absurd.
“Come on, Hana! Think about the public image. I’ve held first place for a long time, so it’s better this way. Plus, there’s no reason for us to fight each other too fiercely. Isn’t our common enemy Hunter Cha Soo-hyun?”
“That’s true, but... I still want to be first. Don’t try to stop me. And as for Hunter Cha Soo-hyun, I’m definitely going to leave her behind. What matters to me is whether or not I can surpass you, Hunter Soo-ah.”
A tense atmosphere was building between the two, as if they were unwilling to lose to each other under any circumstances. A new crisis was brewing.
‘Ugh. Why are these S-rank hunters suddenly showing up again? Seriously...’
Lee Soo-ah was starting to get annoyed by the situation. She had been so close to approaching Baek Ji-hoon, only for it to be ruined at the last minute.
‘Damn it... I could’ve monopolized the opportunity if I’d played my cards right. But it’s okay. If I handle things well from now on, I can take everything back from Cha Soo-hyun. I’ll definitely look better than Yoo Hana.’
“Did you... see earlier? The S-rank hunters arriving...?”
The atmosphere in Team A was restless. Rumors were already spreading about the six well-known S-rank hunters visiting the Blue Guild.
No one could concentrate on work. What mattered more than the tasks at hand was figuring out why the S-rank hunters had flocked to the Blue Guild all at once.
“I saw them in person. It’s real.”
“I heard they’re joining the Blue Guild... is that true?”
“No way. S-rank hunters, joining the Blue Guild? That’s too far-fetched. If that’s true, the Guild Master would probably faint, don’t you think?”
“Maybe, but I overheard them talking, and it seems like they’re seriously considering it...”
“For real...?”
The staff exchanged doubtful glances, not sure what to believe.
No one had a clear understanding of the situation.
Even seeing it with their own eyes was hard to believe. If those S-rank hunters really did transfer to the Blue Guild, it would be an overwhelming fact to accept.
“If they actually do transfer, that means we’ll have ten S-rank hunters in the Blue Guild... Is that even possible? That’s crazy. We’re lucky to have even one S-rank hunter. Honestly, it’s hard to believe we already have four.”
“True. There are so many guilds that don’t even have a single S-rank hunter. If this really happens, it’s going to be huge news.”
“Honestly, I think they came for something else. Maybe they’re here to give a thank-you plaque or something. I heard Hunters Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana helped them out recently, so maybe they’re here to express their gratitude.”
“Well, we’ll know soon enough. I heard they went up to the Guild Master’s office...”
The Team A members craned their necks to look in the direction the S-rank hunters had gone.
“But it seems like they really are here to transfer.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because the other guilds are in chaos right now. The S-rank hunters have declared they’re leaving.”
“No way? For real?”
Everyone froze in place.
“Are you really here to transfer...?”
The voice of the Guild Master, hidden in the shadows, trembled. He was usually composed, but today’s events had clearly shaken him.
“Yes, that’s correct. We’ve thought this through carefully.”
Hunter Lee Ye-ji answered on behalf of the group.
“Why? I don’t understand why so many hunters would suddenly decide to join the Blue Guild.”
The Guild Master was visibly struggling to contain his excitement. He was trying to remain calm, but it wasn’t working.
“We have a feeling. It seems to us that the Blue Guild is going to grow rapidly. Since the atmosphere is already shifting, we decided to join in.”
They all had determined looks on their faces, as if they had made up their minds without any doubt.
“We’ve already settled everything with our previous guilds. Please, accept us.”
Knock, knock, knock.
“Ji-hoon...”
It was Manager Cha, and he looked utterly exhausted, like his soul had left his body.
“What’s the matter?”
I was a little surprised to see him looking so different from his usual self.
‘What’s wrong with him? Did something bad happen? Maybe he’s buried in work...?’
“Well, Ji-hoon, you really are the Blue Guild’s lucky charm, aren’t you?”
“Why do you say that... all of a sudden?”
He was making a strange face, almost like he was plotting something.
“Today... Hunter Lee Haru, Lee Ye-ji, Lee Areum, Cha A-yeon, Park Yeo-eun, Jo Su-ji—those six S-rank hunters... they’ve declared that they’re joining our guild.”
“Huh? All of a sudden? Why?”
“Well, how should I know?”
Then he stared at me intensely, as if it were somehow my fault.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Haha. I think it’s because of you, Ji-hoon. That’s how all this happened.”
“No way. I don’t even know those people.”
“Haha. But didn’t you guide Hunters Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana to make contact with them? This is all thanks to you, Ji-hoon. Haha!”
Manager Cha let out a hearty laugh, clearly pleased.
“This is unbelievable. Having even four S-rank hunters is already crazy... and now we have ten. Ten!”
His voice trembled with excitement, almost as if he were sick.
‘I was planning to gather S-rank hunters, but they all just came on their own...’
I thought of Cha Soo-hyun. The reason I wanted to gather S-rank hunters in the first place was to surpass her.
Now, there was hardly any time left before I would completely crush her.
‘Luckily, they’ve come to me of their own accord, saving me the effort.’
“Kekeke... Ji-hoon? Is there anything you’d like to eat? I’ll get you anything you want.”
“Why, Manager Cha?”
“Oh, I’m just in a really good mood.”
He looked slightly flustered.
‘Weird... Could Manager Cha actually be the Guild Master?’
That didn’t make any sense, but I couldn’t shake the strange feeling.
“Haha. I want to take you somewhere fancy. Where should we go?”
Manager Cha started humming and even did a little dance.
“Hey, Ji-hoon. Is it true? Did you really bring those six S-rank hunters here?”
Not long after Manager Cha left, Team A members burst into my office.
There were at least ten of them.
“No, I didn’t.”
“You didn’t? But that’s what the rumors say.”
These ridiculous rumors in the guild. First, there were rumors that Lee Soo-ah had fallen for me and that we were dating, and now they were spreading all sorts of nonsense.
“And you know what? There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Are you... a spy for the Baekho Guild?”
“?”
What kind of...?
Where were they getting this nonsense from?
‘Is someone deliberately spreading these rumors? Why are these ridiculous stories spreading so freely?’
I couldn’t help but frown.
“You’re not, right? It doesn’t make sense. How could you be a spy for Baekho Guild and still help Blue Guild grow like this? That’s impossible, right?”
“See? I told you I’m not. I’m not some Baekho Guild spy. The guild’s been growing ever since Ji-hoon joined. It’s almost unbelievable. Having ten S-rank hunters in a single guild? That’s unheard of.”
There are only 15 S-rank hunters in the entire country. If ten of them are in our guild, it’s ridiculous. This would be a near-monopoly.
Of course, we’d have to exclude Cha Soo-hyun. She’s an E-rank now. So, 14.
“Then, if you didn’t bring them, why did they suddenly come to our guild? Sure, we had a strong reputation, but not enough for them to all rush in like this. And they were treated really well in their own guilds.”
“Yeah, I don’t see why they’d come unless...”
Everyone looked at me. As if it wouldn’t make sense if it wasn’t because of me.
“Come on. Do you really think they came because of me? It’s just a coincidence. A coincidence.”
Everyone shook their heads in disbelief.
“Ugh... What am I supposed to do if they really come?”
Lee Soo-ah was pounding her desk.
“This is a disaster. Seriously. It was hard enough dealing with Yoo Hana, and now I’ve got to deal with Cha Isul and... those others too? What the hell is going on...?”
She still hadn’t realized that she had brought all this upon herself.
“It’s fine. I’ll definitely reclaim the number one S-rank spot... even if I have to stay up all night.”
Lee Soo-ah gritted her teeth and stormed out.