How to Seduce S-Class Hunters with Bungeoppang - Chapter 31

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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 31】
It was an official interview with Alpha Team following their recent clearance of a B-Rank Gate. But then one of the reporters shot his hand up and posed a rather absurd question.
“Huh, suddenly asking that?”
I watched the footage and clicked my tongue in disbelief. I had no idea how they’d learned I’d entered the Gate, but it was clear they were targeting me with that question.
Without concrete evidence, I was certain this reporter had pocketed money from the investors. Since they weren’t getting the results they wanted, they were trying to drag in other controversial matters to stir things up.
‘I never expected them to ask something like that.’
I’d anticipated they’d bribe reporters to manipulate public opinion. So I’d already given customers visiting the shop a heads-up that questions about our establishment might come up.
But I hadn’t foreseen them using that information to question Park Jae-min.
‘Of course not. I’ve only spoken to Park Jae-min once at most.’
I’d even shredded the business card he’d given me. I swallowed hard with tension, anticipating his response.
-Hmm… An F-Rank entering a Gate? That’s quite a serious thing to say. You do realize that’s illegal, right?
At the word “illegal,” camera flashes erupted from all directions. I nervously bit my lip.
-But did you know this?
After glancing around for a moment, he continued with a composed smile.
-If you have a permit issued by the Management Bureau, Gate entry is possible regardless of rank. Perhaps that F-Rank Hunter is in such a situation?
-But an F-Rank Hunter entering a Gate is truly dangerous…!
-Well, I’m not sure. Where did you hear such rumors? I haven’t received any such information.
He tilted his head slightly with an innocent expression.
-By the way, the only famous F-Rank I know is one person. Our Ha-neul would be quite surprised to see this.
“Our Ha-neul? Is this guy insane?”
My jaw dropped in astonishment. Ha-nyang, who’d been lying beside me, peeked up his head and looked at me.
“What’s the matter, nya?”
“Park Jae-min is saying strange things at the interview!”
His casual way of referring to me sent a ripple through the atmosphere—I could feel it even through the screen. Another reporter quickly raised his hand and fired off a question.
-Your tone is quite familiar. Are you perhaps close with that Awakened One?
The more personal question made the atmosphere around the other Team Members freeze. Park Jae-min’s eyes curved as he surveyed the reporters with gleaming eyes.
-Well, I’d say we’re getting to know each other gradually? Let me put it this way for now.
* * *
Park Jae-min’s response had effectively neutralized the reporter’s attempt to disparage our shop. But…
“Boss! Are you really in that kind of relationship with Park Jae-min…?”
“No, I’m not!!!”
I raised my voice sharply, and the customer who’d asked the question flinched in surprise, clutching his chest.
“Gasp, oh. You startled me.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve just heard this question so many times today…”
Starting with Ari, every single customer had asked about my relationship with Park Jae-min. At first I’d laughed it off and denied it, but after hearing this question dozens of times, I felt like my ears were about to bleed.
“Then why did Park Jae-min say such things?”
“That’s exactly what I want to know.”
I wanted to call and confront him, but I didn’t have his contact information. And seeking him out would only fuel the rumors further. In the end, I decided to just pretend I knew nothing.
‘I don’t know why he’s doing this, but if I don’t respond, it’ll die down.’
But like the saying goes, rumors travel a thousand miles without feet, and this baseless gossip showed no signs of fading. And just when I was on the verge of developing a neurosis over it, an unexpected visitor showed up at my home.
It was none other than Lee Hyun-woo.
“After clearing the Gate, I heard some strange rumors circulating. Have you heard anything about them?”
“…If it’s about Park Jae-min, then yes.”
This was already the second time he’d come to my home. The cramped space still felt suffocating with his presence, but now wasn’t the time to worry about such trivial matters.
“…Sigh.”
He exhaled a deep, heavy sigh. This Gate had been so troublesome that even Team 1 took a full week to close it. And the moment he emerged, he’d rushed straight to find me.
“Are the rumors I heard really true?”
“How could they be! I only spoke a single sentence to him. And it wasn’t even pleasant, at that.”
I felt guilty and hastily explained the day I first met Park Jae-min. Fortunately, when I mentioned that I’d torn up his business card, his displeased expression softened slightly.
“Then what exactly is going on?”
“Honestly, I’m not entirely sure either. From the investment proposal to these strange rumors. Events just keep unfolding lately.”
“An investment proposal?”
Ah, right—he still didn’t know what kind of proposal had come to our shop. I shared the details while omitting anything that might cause problems.
But his expression changed subtly as he listened to my explanation.
“Could that investment company be NP Investment Partners?”
“Huh? How did you know? I didn’t even mention the company name.”
He paused thoughtfully before slowly opening his mouth.
“Do you know who’s behind NP Investment Partners?”
“No, I don’t really…”
“It’s Park Sung-chul, the Vice Director. And Park Jae-min is his son.”
According to Lee Hyun-woo, the investment proposal from NP Investment Partners was ultimately Park Sung-chul’s intention and Park Jae-min’s intention as well.
He clicked his tongue, suggesting that since they’d tried various methods after the proposal was rejected, there must be a reason why they specifically questioned Park Jae-min.
“But there’s still something I don’t understand. If the two of them are connected, why did Park Jae-min take my side?”
If he’d spoken badly of me, public opinion would have spiraled into overwhelming negativity. But in the end, he defended me.
If he truly wanted to invest in our shop, there would be no need to take a stance contrary to the investment company.
“He’s dissatisfied with living as his father’s puppet. Perhaps he’s trying to recruit you in his own way.”
Behind the investment proposal I’d casually dismissed, there was a powerful figure like a Vice Director hiding. And Park Jae-min, his son, as well.
I shook my head vigorously. No matter what happened, I didn’t want to get entangled with them.
“By the way, did you come all this way at this hour just to tell me this?”
It was 9:24 PM now. It wasn’t a good time to suddenly show up at someone’s home unannounced. He seemed embarrassed too, awkwardly avoiding my gaze.
“…I failed to check the time. That’s my mistake.”
In other words, he’d rushed straight to my home in such a hurry. Hunters certainly are sensitive when it comes to Hunter-related matters.
“By the way, I didn’t expect you to care about rumors. I thought you’d have no interest in such things at all.”
He hesitated briefly before shaking his head.
“Normally, I wouldn’t have given such rumors a second thought, but strangely, I couldn’t help but be concerned.”
“Aha! What do you…”
Wait. Doesn’t that phrasing sound a bit odd?
It sounded like he was saying he didn’t care about others, but he did care about me. He seemed to notice the subtle implication in his own words, and he began clearing his throat awkwardly.
“Ahem, I meant about Park Jae-min. Since he’s connected to you.”
“Ah. I thought you meant something else…”
I was surprised to realize I thought I was special in some way. Ignoring the unnecessary clamor of my racing heart, I straightened myself up.
“It’s gotten quite late, so I should be on my way.”
“Ah, yes, of course! Please be careful on your way in.”
Realizing it was an inappropriate hour to linger in someone else’s home, he rose from his seat hastily.
Before stepping out through the entrance, he turned back to me and added a cautious warning.
“They are people who will do anything to get what they want. If anything happens, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”
After he left, I collapsed onto the bed, cradling Ha-nyang in my arms. It felt as though strange incidents were erupting one after another when I could barely afford to focus on the shop alone.
“…Do you think our shop will be okay like this?”
“As long as you do well, it will be fine, meow.”
“I’m doing well, aren’t I?”
Ha-nyang made a peculiar mewing sound and settled comfortably in my arms. As I touched Ha-nyang’s warm, soft belly, the dizziness that had clouded my mind seemed to dissipate.
“Now that I’ve prepared most of the necessary documents, I don’t need to worry about surprise inspections. The real problem is the rumors about Park Jae-min….”
In truth, the rumors themselves weren’t particularly important. If I continued to ignore them, they would naturally fade away eventually. But the problem was that it bothered me.
“No matter how I think about it, he’s just unlucky.”
Last time too, he came to the shop spouting nonsense about falling for me at first sight.
“It doesn’t seem like a good idea for me to actively step forward and clarify things. What should I do….”
“Rumors are always buried by bigger rumors, meow.”
As I groaned and agonized over it, Ha-nyang, nestled in my arms, offered advice without a care.
“A bigger rumor?”
Now that I thought about it, Ha-nyang was right. When a bigger incident broke, the existing one would inevitably be buried.
But who could be a bigger figure than Park Jae-min? Ideally, it would be someone people were extremely curious about.
“…Wait.”
I suddenly sat up straight from my contemplation. Just then, the perfect person came to mind.

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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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