Chapter 61: Nice to meet you

Somehow, I ended up forming a deep connection with demons.

It wasn’t exactly a good connection, but the depth of that bond couldn’t be denied.

“I’ve also been keeping an eye on the information about the Snow Woman’s mansion that you guys cleared.”

“You checked that too?”

“As the Guild Master, I can’t neglect gathering information. Besides, this isn’t a party made up of ordinary promising candidates; it’s a party led by someone with a daughter.”

As a Guild Master, and a mother, I was curious.

Si-woo nodded at Kang Hong-yeon’s response and lightly skimmed through the paper she handed him.

<Gate Name: Lillim’s Playground>

<Danger Level: C~B>

<Monsters Appearing: Eden’s Snake, Golden Apple, Succubus Queen Lillim>

<Combat Method: Eden’s Snake uses a mental disturbance that triggers conflict in Hunters. It seems to induce the consumption of the Golden Apple, which contains toxins and parasites, by provoking people’s instincts. It is presumed that physical combat is avoided. However, the boss monster, Succubus Queen Lillim, is suspected to use some magic.>

“Did a Succubus event happen recently?”

“Well, there was something like an event.”

“Really?”

“When an S-rank gate opens, a large number of gates related to it also appear.”

If an S-rank gate is the general, other gates are like the troops.

On a usual day, the troops only carry out small-scale attacks, but when a general, an S-rank gate, appears, even the troops show more aggressive movements.

The number of gates increases by two or three times at the minimum, and the number of gates related to the S-rank gate increases exponentially.

“The number could rise by as much as ten times.”

“Is it really that much?”

“Exactly. That’s why S-rank gates are treated like disasters, unlike other gates.”

Just the appearance of an S-rank gate could easily destroy a whole city, with problems multiplying quickly.

“I’ve never heard anything like that. I don’t think I’ve even seen it on the news.”

“It got overshadowed by the big news of the S-rank gate appearing.”

The number of gates appearing increased.

The number of gates similar to the S-rank gate also increased.

But statements like “the birth of an S-rank gate” have much more impact on people than any other news.

“If we conquer the gate, it’s the birth of a hero. If we fail, it’s the beginning of a disaster that could destroy a country. Do you think anyone will focus on anything else in this situation?”

“Even so, shouldn’t we inform people? If a B-rank gate goes out of control, a whole village could be destroyed overnight.”

“Do you think reporters will care about something like that?”

Reporters aren’t driven by a sense of justice.

While it’s not impossible that there are some reporters like that, the majority write articles purely for money and attention.

The reality is that subtle information like this, which could make a good story, is hard for the general public to learn.

“Maybe they’ll only start paying attention when controversy arises.”

If a gate subjugation fails and it causes harm to civilians, or if a famous person is hurt or killed, that’s when reporters will swarm like fish finding bait.

Hiding behind the mask of the internet.

They’ll turn the blame onto the Hunters who failed the gate and the indifferent public, picking up the spears to poke at each other.

Because that’s how they’ll get attention.

“That’s pretty nasty.”

“It can’t be helped. A reporter is just a job to make money in the end.”

Si-woo shook his head at Kang Hong-yeon’s words.

“Let’s stop talking about this. I think it’ll only make me uncomfortable if we continue.”

“You’re right. I didn’t call you to debate about the rotten media.”

Kang Hong-yeon’s tone shifted as she refocused.

She went back to the information she had given him about the gate.

Si-woo read the details about Lillim’s Playground thoroughly.

Like Lilith’s Playground, monsters that use mental disturbances would be their biggest enemies.

With his Symbol of Allure, Si-woo had an advantage over them.

He read the gate’s information again, this time focusing on the specific details.

Just like in Lilith’s Playground, the monsters there used mental disturbances, and with his Symbol of Allure, Si-woo was naturally a counter to them.

“Do you have any Hunters coming with you?”

“As I mentioned earlier, the number of gates has increased by nearly double, so I could only get one person. If you want, I can call Lim So-yeon or even my daughter.”

“No, I’d feel guilty bringing those two along.”

“Guilty?”

Si-woo scratched his head with a somewhat uncomfortable look.

“Those two aren’t sleeping because of me.”

He had been gathering information and studying, not neglecting his Academy grades, even while learning about psychiatry and how to handle PTSD patients.

It was easier said than done.

For the two of them, who had been studying to become Hunters, psychiatry was an unfamiliar field.

They studied for 3 to 4 hours a day, and they even sacrificed sleep.

“The bodies of awakened ones are sturdy, so they say they don’t need sleep.”

“…That’s basically like shortening your lifespan.”

Si-woo gave a sheepish smile at the words born from experience.

“Of course, I told them to stop.”

“Do you think they would listen?”

Si-woo was certain that while Lim So-yeon might listen, Saria definitely wouldn’t.

She was the bloodline of Kang Hong-yeon, the daughter of an Explorer, and once she set her mind on exploring something, she would not stop until she reached the end, no matter what anyone else said.

“I barely managed to send her back to the dorms today. I told her to rest or sleep for just 10 hours and not study.”

“You think she’ll pick up if you call now?”

“…It’s hard to deny that.”

“Well, I won’t call her anyway. I don’t want my daughter to be overworked.”

“Thank you. By the way, who’s the other person?”

“Oh, they should be waiting outside.”

“Come in!!”

Kang Hong-yeon’s voice echoed from inside the room.

The door, which had been tightly shut, opened.

What entered wasn’t just any regular person.

The semi-formal black suit was rare not only in the Academy but also in the Hunter industry.

Her white bobbed hair reached her shoulders.

When Si-woo met her emotionless expression, he tilted his head in confusion.

“What’s her Hunter rank?”

“She leveled up to B-rank just a few days ago. She graduated from the Academy not long ago.”

A B-rank Hunter shouldn’t be someone who doesn’t feel any emotions, right?

Even though his Symbol of Allure had greatly reduced its power due to the Demon Hatred engraving, it still emitted a level of charm unmatched by others.

No matter how desperately Si-woo suppressed it, any woman would inevitably feel at least a sense of favor.

Even if it wasn’t love, they couldn’t help but see Si-woo in a positive light.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Cheong Ha-rin, a mage from the Arkineth Guild.”

However, the woman before him, Cheong Ha-rin, didn’t show even the slightest emotion.

No affection, no hostility, not even a trace of interest.

“Cheong Ha-rin is a Hunter with a special engraving. Would it be alright if I reveal it?”

“It’s fine. My engraving is of a type that doesn’t pose any issues when revealed.”

Kang Hong-yeon pulled a piece of paper from her drawer.

“Here, read this.”

Si-woo’s eyes widened slightly as he took the paper from Kang Hong-yeon.

‘Was she paying more attention than I thought?’

Even though he had told her it wasn’t necessary, it seemed she had been more concerned than he realized.

<Name: Cheong Ha-rin>

<Age: 22>

<Affiliation: Arkineth Guild, post-Academy graduation>

<Awakened Engraving: Emblem of Stasis>

<Rank: A>

<Effect: Can suppress the emotions of the awakened. It has been confirmed that in situations requiring cold judgment or in sudden, unexpected circumstances, her ability to make ideal decisions is enhanced.>

She suppresses emotions.

In other words, even if she falls under the influence of Allure, she can suppress feelings like love.

“Were you concerned about the story you heard back then?”

“After hearing such a tragic story, did you think I would just casually attach any woman to someone who said they were broken? That would make me look like an incompetent leader, wouldn’t it?”

“No, it’s not that. There’s no problem as long as the emotions aren’t coming back, right?”

“That’s only true if you assume emotions will never return. I’m acting this way because I want to maintain a relationship even after you regain your emotions.”

Despite how it may seem, as the leader of a guild, I cannot avoid preparing for unexpected situations.

“Please take car of me. My name is Kang Si-woo”

“Yes, please take care of me”