The Next Day.
“Hufff...”
Everyone in the Blue Guild lobby stood with their mouths agape, staring at the scene before them. Yoo Hana was standing there, radiating elegance.
“What’s going on? Why is Yoo Hana here?” “It’s been ages, hasn’t it? What’s this about?” “Who knows? Maybe she’s here to see the Guild Master?” “But didn’t she say she wouldn’t be a Hunter anymore when she left?” “What could this be?”
People were whispering among themselves, but no one dared to approach Yoo Hana.
Click-clack, click-clack.
Yoo Hana seemed entirely unbothered by the stares directed at her, focusing solely on her purpose.
‘Ha. It’s been a while, Blue Guild. Who would have thought I’d return here?’
Her expression suggested she hadn’t anticipated this at all.
‘I don’t care. I’ll just go with the flow. I’m already here, after all.’
“Huh? Soo-ah?” “Yes... Why? Are you planning to make me go through another tough dungeon today?” “No, not that. Yoo Hana is in our Guild’s lobby right now.” “???”
Lee Soo-ah’s eyes widened in shock.
“What did you say? Why?” “I don’t know either.” “What... What is this!!!”
Chief Cha and Lee Soo-ah hurriedly ran out.
“Why are you here, Yoo Hana?”
Lee Soo-ah, with a wary expression, crossed her arms and stood in a defensive posture.
“What does it matter to you, Soo-ah?” “Ha. I’m the top S-rank Hunter of the Blue Guild. Of course, I should know.” “Not anymore. Step aside.”
Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana were clearly engaging in a battle of wills.
“Ha. Ji-hoon isn’t here, you know?” “I know. That’s why I contacted him earlier and asked him to come to the Blue Guild building today.”
Yoo Hana didn’t seem to care much about Lee Soo-ah. She was simply focused on her own goal.
“Then why are you here? Isn’t it to see Ji-hoon?” “Yes. I’m returning to the Blue Guild.”
“????”
Everyone who heard this gasped and covered their mouths in surprise.
“What? Yoo Hana is coming back? Why?” “Who knows? What’s going on?”
Everyone knew the Guild Master had always wanted Yoo Hana back, yearning to return to the days when the Blue Guild was the only one in the country with two S-rank Hunters.
“Move. I need to see the Guild Master.” “Ah... damn...”
Lee Soo-ah’s expression was filled with confusion.
“Guild Master, I want to return. You wanted me back, right?” “Welcome back, Yoo Hana.”
A voice full of satisfaction echoed in the darkness. The Guild Master, though obscured in the shadows, seemed pleased that things were going according to his plan.
“Can I choose my own team?” “To reorganize a team suitable for Hunter Yoo Hana...” “No. I want to join Team A, Division 6.”
“???”
Everyone in the executive meeting room looked at Yoo Hana in surprise.
“H-Hunter Yoo Hana? Did I hear that right? You want to join as a regular member, not as a team leader?” “No, I don’t need a leadership position. I just want to be a regular employee.” “???”
The situation grew even more confusing.
“What the... what is this...”
Lee Soo-ah was pacing back and forth, clearly agitated.
“Team Leader, did you know Yoo Hana is coming back?” “Of course, that’s why I’m acting like this.”
She seemed to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Hunter Kim, from Division 6, was taken aback by Lee Soo-ah’s reaction and backed off, fearing she might lash out at him.
“Ha... What’s Yoo Hana thinking... seriously... Is she planning to compete with me again? Is she aiming for Team B? Or maybe Team C? Team C has been doing better recently.”
Lee Soo-ah was hastily trying to devise plans for scenarios she had never considered before. She hadn’t anticipated Yoo Hana’s return at all, so she had no contingency plans.
‘Ha... Why is Chief Cha absent at a time like this?’
The person she relied on the most was Chief Cha, who, despite his frequent nonsense, had a keen sense of judgment.
Click-clack, click-clack.
The sound of uneasy footsteps could be heard from afar.
‘What now? Is Yoo Hana coming to pick a fight again?’
Lee Soo-ah flinched and turned towards the direction of the footsteps.
“What is it? Are you here to pick another fight? Which team are you joining? Go to your own team.”
“That’s exactly why I’m here.”
“????”
The members of Team A peeked out and started watching Yoo Hana, all with expressions suggesting they couldn’t believe what they were hearing.
“W-What... are you... saying?”
Lee Soo-ah asked in a trembling voice as she stared at Yoo Hana.
“I’m joining Team A.” “What? But I’m the team leader of Team A.” “I know. I’m not here to be a team leader. I’m just here as a regular member.”
“Huff!”
All the members of Team A gasped, covering their mouths in shock. No one had seen this coming.
“What?”
Lee Soo-ah’s face contorted with disbelief.
“I’ve already planned everything out. I’m joining Division 6 of Team A as a regular member. The Guild Master has already approved it.” “???”
Lee Soo-ah looked dazed, as if she’d been hit with a series of powerful punches.
“This is my plan moving forward. I’ll be supporting Baek Ji-hoon.” “???”
Everyone seemed utterly baffled by what was happening.
“W-Why...? Isn’t it Baek Ji-hoon who should be supporting Hunter Yoo Hana?”
Hunter Kim timidly spoke up.
“I’ll handle that myself. Don’t worry about it. I believe Baek Ji-hoon has great potential, so I’m betting on him. Now, where’s my desk?”
The members of Division 6 quickly began to move.
“What’s this about?”
I was on my way to work at the broadcasting station when I received a message from Yoo Hana.
[Please come to the Blue Guild today. It would be best if you headed there.]
“Why?”
I had no idea what this was about.
“What’s going on? Does she have business with the Blue Guild? I don’t recall anything special happening yesterday. Could she have already decided to return?”
I had been subtly pressuring her, but I didn’t think I had delivered a decisive blow yet.
[Breaking News] S-Rank Hunter Yoo Hana to Rejoin the Blue Guild (First Report)
‘Huh?’
While browsing the internet on the subway, I noticed a familiar name.
‘What? It’s true? She’s really returning to the Blue Guild?’
Things were about to get a lot more complicated.
“Ahhh! Ji-hoon! Why are you only arriving now? Seriously.”
Lee Soo-ah was frantically pacing in place.
“What’s wrong?” “Ha... Yoo Hana has returned to the Blue Guild!!! To Division 6!!!”
I flinched slightly.
‘What? Why is she joining Division 6?’
This was completely unexpected. I had assumed that Yoo Hana would naturally compete with Lee Soo-ah as team leader versus team leader.
“What on earth did you talk about during dinner last night!!” “We didn’t talk about much.” “Then why did she suddenly cancel all her plans today and make such an abrupt return!!!” “How would I know?”
Ding!
The elevator arrived at the floor where Team A was located.
“Wow... Baek Ji-hoon, you’re here.”
Chief Cha, whose face was bright red, was standing in front of the elevator.
‘Is this some kind of special treatment?’
“Wow. Baek Ji-hoon, please, come this way.”
He personally escorted me.
“Ha... I knew you would succeed, Baek Ji-hoon. Finally!! Yoo Hana has rejoined the Blue Guild!”
He seemed extremely pleased, so much so that his voice and body were trembling with excitement.
‘Is it really that good? I remember when both Lee Soo-ah and Yoo Hana were here before, you complained about how noisy and exhausting it was.’
Step, step.
“Oh? Baek Ji-hoon? You’re here?”
Yoo Hana greeted me with a bow.
“Yoo Hana, aren’t you supposed to be at a shoot today?” “No.” “Why not?” “What do you mean? I’ve returned to the Blue Guild. Haven’t you seen the news? The press release was sent out too.” “What about the penalties? Your broadcasts?” “I’ve postponed everything until the evening. When I said I’d do it for a lower fee, everyone was okay with it.”
She smiled brightly.
“But why didn’t you join Team B or Team C?” “I want to work with you, Baek Ji-hoon. I like it here. Division 6.”
She had firmly settled in, right at the desk next to mine.
“Hmm. Alright, let’s work hard together.” “Yes!”
Yoo Hana smiled widely.
“Nooo!! Baek Ji-hoon, how can you just agree like that? She shouldn’t be in Team A! She’s an S-rank Hunter; she should be leading a team. Why does she have to be in Team A!!!”
It seemed Lee Soo-ah wasn’t pleased with Yoo Hana’s presence.
“If our team’s strength increases, isn’t that a good thing?” “Ha... That’s true, but~ not her.” “Hmm. So, other S-rank Hunters would be okay?” “? Are you planning to bring in more?” I nodded.
“No. As Team A’s leader, I oppose this. What do you mean, S-rank Hunters don’t just come so easily! That can’t be possible!!”
I stared at Lee Soo-ah.
“Ha... It might be possible. No! But you’re not planning to bring them all to Team A, right?”
I didn’t respond.
“No... You can’t. Please, Ji-hoon...”
Lee Soo-ah started to plead.
In Lee Soo-ah’s office.
It was just the three of us: Lee Soo-ah, Yoo Hana, and me.
“Yoo Hana, care to explain? What’s this all about?”
Lee Soo-ah, with a disgruntled expression, tilted her head and glared at Yoo Hana as if she wanted to devour her.
“I’ve regained my interest in being a Hunter. There’s something I really want to do.” “Ha. What is it?” “Make Baek Ji-hoon an S-rank.”
Both Lee Soo-ah and I were left with no choice but to focus entirely on Yoo Hana.