Chapter 2.4
“Yes, Professor~! Yes, yes. I suddenly got the stomach flu… I already got the medical certificate. They said I should rest for a few days, so do I just need to submit that? Yes? Yes. Of course. I’m not faking it! I’ve been attending class diligently~! Huh? That, that thing… you’re asking if that’s me? Yes… it is…”
I guess the professor saw my info going around too. They asked if it was really me.
And, well, when a professor asks, you have to answer. I said yes, and they got all excited and asked for an autograph.
For grades, I’d do anything.
“Of course, Professor! Yes, yes, my attendance… yep, thank you! Bye now!”
Phew…
Just as I ended the call, the pharmacist, who had been watching me with an oddly sympathetic look, handed over the bag of meds.
“I threw in some vitamins too.”
“…Thank you.”
Completely drained, I walked out swinging the pharmacy bag in my hand.
There were fewer people on the street now.
I pulled my mask down to enjoy a bit of cool morning air.
The crisp breeze felt good…
I could feel eyes on me, but no one actually came up to me.
Hunters really do have it hard, considering how much money they make…
“Ms. Baek Youngha?”
While I was spacing out with some pointless thoughts, I naturally found myself in front of my house. The people who had been crowding around earlier were completely gone, and someone standing in front of a black sedan spoke my name.
Is this person here for my autograph too?
I let out a small smile, half-laughing at how I was already acting like some kind of celebrity. When I smiled, the other person smiled too and walked over with a friendly expression.
Now that they were up close, they looked familiar.
They looked like someone I’d seen often on the news. Seo Rana, the Hunter, second only to Moon Jiwoo in strength.
No way Seo Rana would show up in front of my house, right? When I looked up in disbelief, the person naturally held out a large envelope.
“Sorry for the late introduction. I’m Seo Rana. If you watch the news often, you might know. I’m the guild leader of ONES Guild.”
“Ah, yes. The guild leader of ONES G… Guild…?!”
Startled, I jerked my head up.
The person, Seo Rana, nodded with a smile still on her face.
Seo Rana… came here?
As if telling me to open it, Seo Rana gave a small nod toward the envelope.
I didn’t know what was going on, but I opened the sealed flap and pulled out a few sheets of paper.
“A… contract?”
A contract, handed to me out of nowhere.
Seo Rana, standing in front of my house.
From the looks of it, the guild leader had come personally to scout me.
“We couldn’t help but take interest in a rookie who debuted at rank 10. ONES Guild is always devoted to our members. We prioritize both physical and mental well-being, and we don’t operate on a performance-based system.”
A guild pamphlet was tucked in as well.
It boasted top-notch facilities and even provided housing. For a moment, I was tempted.
Ding—!
A lifeform has been detected nearby.
Calculating Affection Level…
[Seo Rana – Affection Level: -100]
The closest entity is displayed first.
If the Affection Level hadn’t been -100, I probably would’ve fallen for it on the spot.
-100. That’s the same score that monster in the Tunnel Dungeon had for me, isn’t it?
My jaw dropped open like a crocodile’s.
Seo Rana had a look on her face like she was wondering what was wrong, but I couldn’t meet her eyes thanks to the blinking system window highlighting the -100 Affection Level.
What the hell did I do to deserve such a low score?
And on top of that, for someone with such a low Affection Level, she was being ridiculously polite to me.
Wouldn’t a -100 mean she outright hates me?
Unable to get a read on her, I returned the contract she’d handed me, a bit unsettled.
“…Are you rejecting the offer?”
“I’d like to check out some other guilds first. It feels a bit too soon to decide where I’m going, and I don’t really have enough information yet.”
Giving a perfectly reasonable answer, Seo Rana nodded and handed me back the contract along with a business card she pulled from her coat.
“Still, would you mind keeping this? It’s my personal contact. Feel free to reach out anytime. Even if it’s not about the guild. If it’s Hunter-related, I’ll help. Like how to go over a contract, for instance.”
“Umm… okay.”
Is this what being a professional adult is like?
How can someone be this polite even when they clearly don’t like the other person?
Leaving behind only an uneasy impression, Seo Rana vanished from sight.
Before the crowd could gather again, I rushed back into my house and immediately looked her up online.
Most of the articles were glowing praise, full of good deeds and positive stories. Maybe she wasn’t such a bad person after all.
Sure, even bad people donate and volunteer, but just judging by the stories floating around among civilians and how she treated me…
Still. Why does she hate me?
I dove headfirst into the internet, surfing endlessly in search of the reason behind the -100 Affection Level.
Of course, I knew there was no way I’d find the answer this way. But after meeting two people in a row who clearly disliked me, I was desperate to dig something up.
Eventually, I stumbled on an old interview from Seo Rana’s very early Hunter days.
It was about 10 years ago. A much younger-looking Seo Rana appeared, wearing the uniform of a well-known private middle school, answering questions clearly and firmly.
[There’s been a lot of concern about you becoming a Hunter at such a young age. What are your thoughts on that?]
[There are Hunters even younger than me. I’m only doing this because I have a duty to fulfill.]
[Haha, hearing that must be very reassuring for people like us. Now, we’ve received lots of questions from viewers who are curious about Hunter Seo Rana… mind if I ask one?]
[Go ahead, as many as you like.]
[Thank you! As expected of an S-Rank Hunter, so generous! Here’s the question: Hunter Seo Rana, what do you hate the most as a Hunter?]
[What I hate the most… is people who act all arrogant just because they became Hunters.]
[Are you referring to anyone in particular?]
[Yes.]
[Could you tell us who?]
That interviewer was the worst. Isn’t it basic etiquette not to ask stuff like that if you care even a little about the person’s image?
[There’s no one I’d name specifically. There are just too many.]
Maybe because it was from way back, but she came across a little more raw than the Seo Rana I met today.
The irritation on her face was unmistakable.
Then I found a recent interview and the contrast was clear.
[Thank you, Hunter Seo Rana, for doing this interview!]
[Oh, no. I’m actually grateful to be given the opportunity.]
[Haha, that’s the kind of sweet talk you’d expect from the #1 Hunter people want as their significant other. Mind if I start with a light question?]
[Sure! I’m ready for anything.]
Before I knew it, I had watched not just interviews but even scrolled through fan accounts, and still, I couldn’t figure out why Seo Rana hated me so much.
Stuck in that mystery, I pulled out the contract Seo Rana had handed me again.
All polite on the surface, but the system didn’t lie about what was underneath.
What does -100 even mean?
Is it on par with Moon Jiwoo, who just outright ignored me?
If only I had a way to see his Affection Level, maybe I could get a better sense…
Maybe I should go visit his guild?
I could pretend it was just to explore options for my future guild and hang around his area. Maybe we’d run into each other by chance.
No way was I going back to the Association after they treated me like trash, so this felt like a pretty solid plan.
Let’s go to Moon Jiwoo’s guild. Void.
It was a completely impulsive decision, all because of that -100 Affection Level.
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