D-Rank Constellation Hunter… Stuck Without Internet! - Chapter 52

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 52
Not everyone would simply come over just because I sought them out like Kim Gyuwun does.
They might even turn me away at the door, demanding to know why I suddenly showed up causing a fuss.
Especially Dan Yibum—I feel a bit awkward since I’ve been rather cold to him in the past.
“I’ll go.”
“You?”
I was racking my brain trying to solve this when Ha Gyuhyuk suddenly stepped forward.
He seemed quite concerned about how I’d been sitting here since morning, nursing a single cup of coffee and my solitude.
“Yes. There are quite a few cases where the Guild Master personally handles recruitment.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
But could someone as gentle, particular, and timid as Ha Gyuhyuk actually pull it off?
My boy does become relatively braver without me around, but still.
As I stared at him with a complicated expression, Ha Gyuhyuk laughed awkwardly.
“I may not be able to do it as well as you, Ulrim, but you can’t always be by my side, can you?”
It’s because of the Server, after all.
“That’s true.”
“So I can’t just wait around doing nothing every time something comes up.”
“Right, you’re right.”
“You look proud.”
Accurate. I am proud.
To elaborate, I feel genuinely impressed by him.
Until now, he’d carried such low self-worth, as if he were nothing without me.
I’d pointed it out several times to no avail, so I’d resigned myself to thinking that one’s nature simply can’t be changed easily.
“So you want to try doing this alone?”
“Yes, but will you be putting Dan Yibum on the Major Dungeon entry candidate list?”
“I’m not particularly inclined to exclude him, but if there’s someone to replace him with, we’ll do that. No forcing it.”
Unnecessary decisions like that could damage the Guild’s image.
There are already rumors that this is where Hunters who got cut or rejected elsewhere gather.
If it reaches the point where people say “Ulrim is wasting away here,” I’m not sure I can contain my anger.
“So you’re saying you want to try doing this alone, without my help?”
“Yes.”
“Even if I don’t teach you anything?”
“Yes, please let me take responsibility for any failures.”
His resolve is admirable, but if he fails here, where am I supposed to find another mentor, Ha Gyuhyuk?
Well, if it comes to that point, I’ll just have to figure something out.
“Alright then. I’ll just watch. I won’t help with anything.”
And so Touch One officially set a meeting date with Dan Yibum.
Even though the contact was made under Ha Gyuhyuk’s name rather than directly from me, Dan Yibum readily agreed.
[ I’ll be back soon. ]
I said I’d just watch, but I still wanted to hear his voice, so I had him take the phone I’d provided for him.
If he merely thought of conveying something to me, it would reach me instantly.
I remained at the Guild Building while Ha Gyuhyuk went to the meeting location alone.
“Go ahead.”
[ I’m almost there. I arrived early and I’m waiting. ]
“You came faster than expected. We still have twenty minutes before the scheduled time.”
I had thought there was a chance he might not show up, so it was somewhat surprising.
He has quite a punctual style. Still, I didn’t expect him to arrive thirty minutes early and wait.
“Good day.”
“Good day.”
Ha Gyuhyuk standing face-to-face with Dan Yibum was tall enough that their eyes met at exactly the same level.
In front of me, he always contorts his body trying to fold himself down, so I hadn’t truly sensed how tall he was.
Whenever I make a gesture to pat his head, he immediately lowers himself for me.
“I heard this concerns a recruitment proposal for the Guild.”
“Yes, but this isn’t something we should discuss on the street. I’ve made a reservation at a tea house.”
I had discovered that Dan Yibum’s preference was drinking tea.
When I handed him the corporate card, I told him not to worry about the price and to treat him as well as possible.
He went ahead and reserved a private room at a famous tea house on his own.
The fact that it was a tea house rather than a cafe or restaurant seemed to surprise Dan Yibum. He looked somewhat taken aback.
“Do you dislike tea?”
“No, actually I prefer it even more than coffee. Though I’ve never mentioned it anywhere.”
“That’s a relief.”
People’s gazes turned toward Dan Yibum.
It’s unavoidable since he’s a famous Hunter. In comparison, Ha Gyuhyuk nearly brought tears to my eyes.
“Since I’ll be paying with the corporate card anyway, please order whatever you’d like.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
“Then I won’t decline.”
He carefully examined the menu and ordered tea food and tea.
For someone who said he wouldn’t decline, it was clear he had chosen from among the cheapest options.
Only after the food and tea arrived and he took a sip did Ha Gyuhyuk open his mouth.
“I’m here to directly recommend that you transfer to Touch One, where I and Hunter Ulrim are located.”
“I’ve heard rumors that Hunter Kim Gyuwun joined your organization recently. And I believe someone from the Hunter Association transferred there as well.”
He seemed to be referring to Ji Chae-ah. The industry truly is small.
I wondered if the two were close given that Dan Yibum’s teaching ability was considered remarkable, but from his tone, it didn’t seem so.
“Yes.”
“After recruiting the most promising Hunter in the entire world and Kim Gyuwun, whom everyone desires, why would you need me?”
“Hmm.”
“As you’ve likely heard, I’m not the type of person suited for team activities.”
I hadn’t expected him to be so direct.
Generally, people tend to hide their shameful aspects.
“Yes, I’m not the type suited to be a Guild Master either. But people can’t spend their entire lives doing only what suits them.”
Ha Gyuhyuk had made his move as well. Though I wasn’t sure if this was the right place for such a statement.
But Dan Yibum seemed to sense something in those words.
Did they share some unspoken understanding? I couldn’t comprehend it.
[ I’ll hold off on presenting conditions for now and just have a conversation first. ]
Ha Gyuhyuk, perhaps thinking I’d grow bored just listening, made a point of explaining the situation thoroughly.
If I had been the one visiting Dan Yibum, I probably would have said something like, “Once you join, I’ll make sure you don’t regret it.”
Ha Gyuhyuk’s and my approaches were quite different.
Though Ha Gyuhyuk seemed to account for the possibility of failure, he appeared far more likely to succeed than I would.
“Do you know why I was expelled from the Guild?”
“I heard that a significant number of the raid team members died during a dungeon conquest you led.”
Normally in situations like this, wouldn’t people pretend not to know or speak around the issue?
All the one-sided common sense I’d known until now seemed to collapse, and I stared blankly at the screen before me.
Dan Yibum also seemed momentarily at a loss for words, blinking before nodding quietly.
“Yes.”
“But I only know the outcome, not the process.”
“The other Guild members at the time insisted we had to save those who fell behind. But my judgment was different.”
If I hadn’t brought them out then, Dan Yibum would have been the only survivor.
“The Guild members said that even if we all died there, we shouldn’t have abandoned people we’d suffered through together for years.”
“Do you regret it?”
“No. I still believe my judgment was correct. Losing all our forces would have been a tremendous loss to the Hunter community as well.”
His expression was somewhat ambiguous when it came to reading emotions.
[ It is the truth. (Regret 3% Guilt toward the dead 60% Distrust of himself 27% Loneliness 10%) ]
But at least I could tell his words were true.
I looked at the screen floating beside my face.
[ Franson: If he carries such a past, it would have been difficult for Se-um to persuade him from the start. ]
[ Se-um: That’s true. ]
Since I was at least in the position of being “sacrificed,” I couldn’t defend Dan Yibum’s actions or attitude.
I might have just said, “If you don’t want to, then don’t,” and walked away.
[ Ulrim, I think I’ve figured out how to bring this person in. ]
But Ha Gyuhyuk seemed different.
He looked directly at Dan Yibum and opened his mouth.
“So if you join our Guild, will you sacrifice others and save the majority if necessary?”
“If the situation demands it.”
People aren’t easily rewritten. Ha Gyuhyuk set down his half-cooled cup.
“But what if there’s a way to save everyone, even if it’s a difficult and unappreciated path?”
“What?”
For the first time, his face showed agitation.
[ Of course, I’ll need Ulrim’s help for that… ]
Laughter burst out.
I understand what you’re trying to say.
“The probability…”
“…isn’t high.”
“But it’s not impossible?”
“If you’ll stand with me.”
“Is this… related to Hunter Ulrim?”
Ha Gyuhyuk shrugged as if leaving the rest to my imagination.
My deliberation was brief.
“Understood. For now, I’ll take the gamble.”
I could almost hear Ha Gyuhyuk’s silent cheer from somewhere deep within.
I ended up laughing outright.
I tapped the screen lightly and murmured.
“Yes, if that’s what you want, then I’ll save him.”
But not with my hands—with yours.
Hunter Dan Yibum, temporary membership in Touch One.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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