ALL NOVEL
Chapter 90:
It would have been nice if you’d mentioned that a bit earlier.
“Here’s my number.”
After a while, I entered the contact information into the other person’s cell phone while breaking out in a cold sweat. Well then, the business is over, now all that’s left is to run away safely.
“Ah, right.”
Gu Seohyeong paused after being handed the cell phone and then spoke.
“Excuse me, but could you please tilt your head down for a moment toward my side?”
“Yes?”
“It’s nothing special. I just suddenly became curious about how you came to be.”
“….”
“Haha. If I think about it, I don’t even know my benefactor’s facial features right now.”
Is it not possible to clearly distinguish features from this distance?
Hmm. Well, if it’s just looking and not touching the body, then I guess it’s fine.
“Sure.”
When I accepted the offer, the other person started to come closer and give me expectant looks.
‘Is this enough?’
But a few seconds later.
Somehow, the smile slowly faded from her mouth.
“….”
“….”
Soon, Gu Seohyeong’s face turned pale with silence. Her wide-open eyes and trembling pupils made it seem as if she had seen a ghost. I asked out of curiosity.
“Is there something wrong?”
Then the other person answered.
“Word.”
“Word?”
“I had imagined a gentle demeanor just from your tone of voice alone…”
Oh my, that’s it.
***
Tuesday back.
[Association President’s Office]
The sound of laughter leaks out into the quiet hallway.
“Hehehehe!”
In this room labeled as the Association President’s Office, there were about three people dressed in suits sitting. Among them, the middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table suddenly spoke in a loud voice.
“Wow~ Our country has finally become a holder of an Enchanter. This is it!”
“Hahaha.”
“And to top it off, we’re the first in Asia!”
When the head of the association said that, the people sitting around nodded in unison.
“Now, even places like Japan and China will come here to receive reinforcements.”
“Hahaha!”
“Anyway, those Europeans have been too arrogant. Charging such high fees for just a simple enchantment.”
They were currently rejoicing at the untimely auspicious event.
Enchanter.
That rare talent, of which only 10 people could be found even after searching all over the world, has finally appeared in Korea.
“Oh, by the way, have we reached out to the S-ranks?”
“Of course.”
“Hunter Esther heard the news and seems eager to fly over to the association. Hahaha.”
Enchanters usually showcase their true value when assisting top-tier awakened individuals. Since S-Class hunters each possess top-notch equipment suitable for their level,.
Raising the item’s performance to the limit. No, the Enchanter’s skill improves the function to the point where it can almost be considered to be breaking the limit. It’s the final enhancement factor that gives a step-up in strength to S-Class individuals who have gathered the best equipment.
That’s why S-Class individuals from various countries relied on awakened ones who were only C-D classes.
“Hehehehe!”
Indeed, acting as intermediaries in these enchantment contracts will bring tremendous benefits in the future. The association president let out a hearty laugh, almost ear to ear
“Excuse me, president of the association.”
But as with everything, if there are ups, there are also downs.
“But yesterday, Gu Seohyeong submitted a request to the association…”
The association president’s mood subsided. This was because he had heard some unpleasant news.
“What?”
According to the secretary, Gu Seohyeong had been making steady demands since the moment of her awakening.
-I will return the favor!
She claimed to have a benefactor more important than any other request, so she wouldn’t accept any external strengthening tasks for the time being.
“At such an important time?”
“Well, the awakener is quite stubborn…”
The association president rubbed his temples. Really, even at this very moment, Japan is waiting with contracts worth tens of billions, asking for strengthening.
“Why does Gu Seohyeong or something have so many wishes?”
He spoke in an uncomfortable voice.
“I went to great lengths to protect her personal information, so I couldn’t even publish a decent article, and anyway, I did everything she asked me to do.”
“Ahaha…”
“But now she wants to pick and choose what work she’ll take on? Oh my.”
Tsk tsk. The president of the association clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“That’s why you hear people saying young people these days are selfish.”
The staff around him showed signs of discomfort, but the association president didn’t stop criticizing her.
“We should be using that precious ability to contribute to the country’s prosperity. Instead, everyone’s just getting more and more arrogant, doing as they please. Right?”
“Phew, that’s right.”
How on earth did the world end up like this?
The primary age group of awakened individuals is between their 20s and 30s. It’s rare to find older hunters in this industry. After their 40s, the internal magic power tends to have lethal effects, making it difficult for them to continue their activities.
“Tsk. In our time, at least we didn’t act like this when the country was in crisis. There used to be some shame.”
The association president was annoyed by the current situation where even those with no experience were claiming to be awakened ones and boasting about it.
‘I’m happy when I heard that she would come under the association without joining a guild, but anyway, this awakener is a headache. A real headache.’
Besides, there have been more than a few things that have been bothering him lately.
“Really.”
After a brief pause, the association president suddenly spoke as if something had just come to mind.
“Is… Jung Haseong still on strike?”
The secretary nodded at those words, and the association president scratched his beard irritably.
The sudden disappearance of the top-ranked S-Class hunter. What could be a bigger headache than this?
“Anyway, that kid picked up a strange sound somewhere and came back…!”
As he speaks in a rough voice, the people around him remain silent and only stare.
“No, that’s what he said when he was on the phone with me last time, he said he felt he was still too weak and needed to focus on his health and training for a while…”
“Hehehe.”
“But hearing this, a clear picture forms in my mind. Ah, this must be a conflict between hunters!”
Bang.
Soon his thick fist hits the table.
“Unless he received a few beatings from another awakener of the same rank, why would Jung Haseong’s spirit be so broken like this? Don’t you think so?”
The association president began muttering with a confident expression on his face. His secretary, standing beside him, just glanced at his watch briefly, showing little interest in the conversation.
“Anyway, the awakeners are the problem. Always getting into fights…”
“President.”
“Ugh, really, I thought I was looking for something that encouraged Jung Haseong…”
“P, President.”
A moment later, the secretary pointed at the clock with a troubled expression, and the association president stood up in surprise.
“Has it already been so long?”
It seems like it’s time to start moving for the next schedule.
“Hehe, well then, I’ll be off for now, I will see you later…”
At that moment, the association president noticed a familiar face beyond the window behind them.
Brown hair tied up messily. White skin without a trace of color. And those big round eyes.
“Is that Gu Seohyeong?”
“Yes, yes. She’s the Enchanter.”
Gu Seohyeong outside the window was constantly saying something with a bright smile on her face. And the listener of that conversation is…
“Who is that?”
Ssssk.
The president of the association pointed to the man with Gu Seohyeong. “Yes? Who?”
“That one.”
“Could it be the one with blonde hair there?”
“Why is he next to Gu Seohyeong? What if there’s a problem with the security?”
Then another employee of the association immediately responded.
“Ah! That person is the benefactor that Miss Seohyeong was talking about.”
However, what returned was the association president’s cold reaction. He clicked his tongue as if displeased with something.
“A benefactor my foot. Probably just her lover or something.”
“Yes?”
“Maybe because she’s a former entertainer, she can’t even distinguish between personal and professional matters… Tsk tsk.”
If such words were to reach the ears of the Enchanter, who knows what trouble could arise. How can he speak so thoughtlessly?
As the secretary and staff awkwardly fell silent, the president of the association muttered while looking at the man walking with Gu Seohyeong.
“Anyway, he looks really mean.”
The sharp features and dry skin without double eyelids. Was it really a coincidence that their eyes met for a moment with that sharp impression?
***
‘What’s this? Feels like someone’s gaze is…’
Damn it. I’ve been stalked so much that now I’m even starting to feel paranoid for no reason.
Whenever I’m outside, it feels like someone is watching me.
No, maybe it’s just my imagination. Right now, Kang Changho could be checking my location from somewhere…
“Why are you doing this?”
Whoosh.
I quickly looked around and answered.
“It’s nothing. Let’s go inside quickly.”
“Yes.”
We soon arrived at a multi-purpose room in a nearby building.
Today felt like a day for splitting logs. Of course, I don’t mean it literally, just using the tale of the woodcutter and the swallow as a metaphor for the situation.
‘Hmm.’
Who would have known that an act done without much thought would come back as such a reward? In exchange for saving the falling Gu Seohyeong, I gained the authority to enhance items. And it was completely free of charge.
“Do you know? The awakening skill of an Enchanter is usually divided into two main categories.”
However, since Gu Seohyeong is a beginner who has just awakened, there are clear limitations.
“One is to enhance the abilities already present in the equipment. The other is to add completely new abilities.”
“But you’re saying you can’t use the latter?”
“Yes.”
Gu Seohyeong immediately put on her newly fitted glasses and averted her eyes.
“I can only enhance the abilities of the equipment as it is, for now, using ‘Amplification’…”
A somewhat subdued attitude for some reason. But I didn’t mind at all after hearing her explanation.
‘Free!’
Anyway, I’m 100% satisfied just by not paying anything. I didn’t expect anything like quality from the beginning.
“Don’t worry about it. Skills will improve with practice.”
I put the items I quickly bought for today on the table.
[Intermediate Ring]
[Grade: General]
[Description: A ring imbued with protective magic. When worn, it slightly reduces damage taken.]
Gu Seohyeong, who saw this, tilted her face with a puzzled look on her face.
“Is that all?”
She wanted to repay the favor with a big heart, but it seems smaller than she thought?
But it is something that can’t be helped. Except for this ring, I only have two types of equipment at best. The Pyromancer Necklace is originally for self-destruction And the Twin Guardian Angels already have the highest level of defense, so enhancing them would be meaningless….
“Haha, yes.”
I led the conversation by showing off the earth-style emotional expressions I had practiced.
“I forgot to mention, but I’m an F-Class hunter.”
“F-Class?”
“I hardly have any items to begin with.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Seeing her respond so passively, it seemed she hadn’t fully grasped the hunter’s ranking system yet.
“First, I got it.”
Seohyeong answered like that and started looking at the ring I presented.
“Hmm.”
But why?
She couldn’t seem to focus on the ring and kept glancing over here. Then, cautious words flowed from Seohyeong’s mouth.
“By the way, Hunter-nim, you had no idea who I was, right?”
“Yes. Since I only watch the news on TV, I’m not really familiar with celebrities…”
What could be the reason for suddenly asking such a question? Is she secretly disappointed that someone didn’t recognize her?
‘But she was still an active actor, right?’
When I found myself caught up in various assumptions, Gu Seohyeong seemed to want to ask something again.
“Then maybe…”
But I couldn’t hear the end of that sentence.
“No, it’s nothing.”
“Yes?”
Because like this, she glossed over her words.
“What? It’s frustrating”
“Because it’s really nothing.”
“If you have something to say, just say it, okay?”
I urged the other person to tell me quickly and not hide it for no reason. Then Gu Seohyeong spoke with a reluctant face.
“I, I was asking about your age. I was just curious how old you are!”
Anyway, Earthlings really like to ask about age. Back in my hometown, people often forget their own age because of the long lifespan. But well, it would look weird if I suddenly shut up here.
“Me? I’m 24 years old.”
I shamelessly borrowed Kim Kiryeo’s age. But why? After revealing my age, I heard unexpected news from the other side.
“Really? I happen to be 24 as well.”
Gu Seohyeong said, ‘Since we’re the same age, why don’t we speak comfortably?’
Of course, I readily agreed. Personally, I don’t like formal language. They just make language less efficient.