Chapter 8
Saebyeok met his burdensome gaze for a long moment.
After a while, she slowly shifted her eyes toward the man hiding behind Kim Ihan.
“So that’s why the Gwanaksan gate, a guild’s clean zone, ended up in Glory’s hands—it was Jin Seongcheol’s achievement.”
The title of Glory’s Deputy Guild Master, Jin Seongcheol, was well known even to the public.
“All or nothing.”
For a B-rank hunter like him to be able to become a deputy guild master of Glory, it was thanks to the power of that title.
Yet now, he looked at Saebyeok from head to toe with a face as pale as if he’d seen a ghost.
“But to think he came smelling the gate’s money and then acts like this just because I took it from him…”
Saebyeok’s sharp eyes scanned Kim Ihan again.
Having observed him for a long time in her previous life, she knew that this was not just the look of someone who lost a mere B-rank jackpot gate.
Then…
“Something must have caught Jin Seongcheol’s eyes.”
Had the gate’s golden glow been transferred to her, or was there some other light mingled in it?
Either way, it meant that Kim Ihan’s interest at this level indicated power…
“Do you know that telling a woman you see for the first time that she smells ‘delicious’ is considered rude?”
Saebyeok said sharply, her expression displeased. Kim Ihan smiled faintly and slightly bowed, matching her gaze.
“I know all the faces of South Korea’s A-rank and above.”
‘Not a single face I don’t know…’ The unspoken addition implied that this was indeed her first time meeting him.
“Newcomer? Or registered overseas?”
“Either way, it doesn’t concern Hunter Kim Ihan.”
“Doesn’t?”
He suddenly closed the distance between them, so close that their breaths mingled. His curious eyes pierced her as he whispered:
“If you’re a newcomer, I’ll have to seduce you boldly. If overseas-registered, I’ll have to throw everything I’ve got to seduce you.”
Saebyeok let out a hollow laugh.
This was yet another reason this man was difficult—his sly attitude, not a trace of sincerity.
“Either way, it’s seduction?”
“If you dislike the word ‘seduction,’ let’s just call it scouting.”
Kim Ihan moved his fingers flamboyantly, and with a pop, a business card appeared.
Even a simple magic trick didn’t make Saebyeok blink.
Instead, she looked at him and the card alternately, clearly unimpressed, then walked past him.
Ignored, Kim Ihan froze briefly, then quickly followed her down the mountain, his smile in full bloom again.
“You don’t deny being A-rank, do you?”
He asked as they walked side by side.
“No, A-rank.”
Saebyeok replied lightly, and at that moment, Kim Ihan’s eyes glowed red.
It was brief, but the flash of red swept over her from head to toe.
Then, his eyes narrowed.
“…Doesn’t apply?”
The thought escaped him unconsciously. Or perhaps it was meant for her to hear.
<Skill: Sage’s Eye (B)>
Celebrities are always exposed to danger. Equip yourself with eyes that can distinguish good and bad comments.
Among Kim Ihan’s skills was lie detection.
Along with lie detection, it could also detect the intent—good or evil—behind a person’s words. It was a useful skill, but it only worked on awakened individuals of B-rank or lower.
So the moment she said she wasn’t A-rank, Kim Ihan tried the skill.
As expected, the skill bounced back.
<Skill: Sage’s Eye (B)> canceled.
Target not applicable.
There was no clearer evidence that she was indeed A-rank.
Kim Ihan’s smile grew wider.
“Of course not.”
He leaned in closer to her again, speaking slyly:
“Do you think I wouldn’t be able to figure that out? I’m Kim Ihan of Glory.”
Saebyeok shot him a sidelong glance, smiling slightly.
Her eyes, as if she had seen all the fools in the world, made Kim Ihan frown in slight indignation.
“Hah, I didn’t want to go this far…”
Normally, he would have used the skill more leisurely, but now he activated it immediately.
He only used this skill when his charm and eloquence weren’t enough, typically as a last resort when nothing else worked.
But spurred by Saebyeok’s provocation, he wanted to see her crumble before him—even if he had to use a skill to do it.
<Skill: Eloquence Charm (A)>
A persuasive voice always attracts attention. Use your dazzling speech to captivate others with your charm.
“Think about it. The head of Glory Guild is personally scouting you. You won’t get this treatment anywhere else.”
He leaned close, whispering in her ear.
“You know our guild’s exchange is the best in South Korea, right? And considering our agreements with the Association…”
His voice was sticky-sweet, with a subtle magical aura in its alluring timbre.
At that moment, as it brushed against Saebyeok’s ear…
<Skill: Eloquence Charm (A)> canceled.
Target not applicable.
Kim Ihan’s steps froze.
The faint smile vanished completely.
His A-rank skill <Eloquence Charm> normally captivated everyone, its effect varying only in intensity.
This skill was the reason why people said they’d eventually be persuaded after talking to Glory’s guild master for long enough.
But now the skill had bounced off.
“S-rank…?”
Hearing him murmur, Saebyeok stopped walking.
She was looking at the alert that appeared in her system window.
!! Alert !!
Status abnormality detected.
<Passive: Care of Heaven (S)> prevents influence.
<Passive: Care of Heaven (S)>
The energy of the land that does not reach the sky cannot harm the rising sun.
└Effect: Immune to all poisons and status abnormalities.
A passive skill of <Dawn Spear Mage> had activated.
Saebyeok let out a faint laugh. Somehow her ears had been itching, and he had tried the skill again.
Since her previous life, thanks to this passive, she had never once been swayed by his eloquence.
“You’re quick to ‘figure things out’.”
She had anticipated his skill but hadn’t expected him to use it so fast.
Since he’d revealed himself, she turned to face him.
With a crooked smile, she returned the earlier arrogance he had displayed, boasting of being Kim Ihan of Glory.
“Your deputy guild master seems to have realized it already.”
Turning his head, Kim Ihan saw Jin Seongcheol a few steps behind, swallowing hard.
“I remember now. Where I’ve seen such violent silver before.”
His face was pale as paper, clearly terrified.
“Nine years ago, the Association President…”
As if confronting an unheard-of legendary monster.
“Before the Association President measured ranks, that silver… it was so violent.”
The Association President he referred to was Yoon Byunggeun, the strongest among South Korea’s registered S-rank hunters.
An S-rank even among S-ranks—a proof that hierarchy existed within the S-tier.
The reason he could reform the corrupted Association from its core as soon as he became president was exactly that.
A threateningly radiant silver, like an untouched lottery ticket.
For the first time, Kim Ihan’s face showed an expression other than a smile.
He looked at Saebyeok with eyes that seemed at a loss for words.
This time, Saebyeok smiled warmly.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Han Saebyeok.”
The first exchange of strength was, by all appearances, a clear victory for Saebyeok.
Saebyeok and Kim Ihan went to Glory Guild’s VIP Exchange.
Jin Seongcheol had left, perhaps frightened by the light Saebyeok exuded, or perhaps to start investigating her in advance.
The VIP Exchange was unusually quiet, with only the staff, Saebyeok, and Kim Ihan present.
The first thing Saebyeok did was sell magic stones.
“This amount will take some time to verify. Would you like to look around the exchange while you wait?”
The staff carefully attended to Saebyeok while keeping an eye on guild master Kim Ihan.
Curious about who she was, they avoided asking outright.
“Yes, I’d like to see the weapons.”
As the staff began to guide her, Kim Ihan followed closely.
“Doesn’t seem like there are any extra-dimensional items… Is it a skill?”
Saebyeok’s display of pouring magic stones from the air impressed him.
“Those must have been obtained in the ‘Stone Hammer’ dungeon, right? They’re too pretty to call combat-oriented.”
She even subtly teased him while looking at selling the <Stone Hammer>.
Saebyeok ignored Kim Ihan and inspected the exhibition.
But Kim Ihan couldn’t leave her be.
Seeing she had stopped at a spear display, he hovered closer, speaking again.
“Your main weapon is a spear? Seems more like buff or magic type…”
“….”
“Or are you thinking of gifting it to someone? You must be close to the hunter if you’re giving this much of a gift.”
“….”
“Curious about Glory Guild’s contract fees, or what perks you might get? By the way, for S-rank, I could even promise a deputy guild master position.”
“….”
“Wow, being ignored this thoroughly is a first since Hwang Taesan.”
“Ah, Hwang Taesan.”
Though unfair to Kim Ihan, Saebyeok’s first reaction came at the mention of the name ‘Hwang Taesan.’
