Chapter 205 – Just Leave It to Me

“Do-jun.”

Hwang Eui-cheol, who had said he had something to talk about, visited the guild office.

Min Do-jun immediately bowed his head.

“Have you been well and healthy, Teacher?”

“Don’t talk like that. I’m not some old man nearing the end. I’m a hunter too. A hunter without health is just a corpse.”

“Being a hunter doesn’t mean you’re immune to illness.”

“Anyway, even when I want to find fault, you only say the right things.”

Though he complained, a pleased smile hung on Hwang Eui-cheol’s lips.

Like a father visiting his child after a long time.

“Have you been well too?”

“Of course.”

“Congratulations on becoming S-rank. Here.”

Hwang Eui-cheol handed over the shopping bag he was holding.

“What is this?”

“You’ll see when you look.”

Inside the shopping bag was a nameplate decorated with gold.

The nameplate read ‘Guardian Guild Master Min Do-jun’.

“When did you get this…?”

“I ordered it a few weeks ago. I was planning to give it to you as a gift when you became S-rank. But you reached it faster than I expected.”

“You didn’t have to…”

“A guild office should have a proper nameplate. Use it.”

“Thank you, Teacher.”

“No need for thanks. Considering what you’ve done for me, I’m the one who should be grateful.”

Hwang Eui-cheol hadn’t forgotten.

The debt he owed Min Do-jun for saving his daughter.

He couldn’t forget because it came to mind every time he saw his daughter.

“I’m always grateful to you.”

“No, Teacher. Please think of it as repayment for saving me in the past and forget about it.”

“How can I do that? Gratitude is gratitude.”

Hwang Eui-cheol, who had been smiling contentedly, suddenly put on a serious expression.

“Um, I’ve been thinking about this for a while. If you’re interested in Da-yeon, I could make you my son-in-law…”

“Let’s go inside to talk about this.”

Min Do-jun, subtly cutting off the conversation, opened the office door.

Placing the gifted nameplate on the desk created an impressive boss’s seat.

“Teacher, is this real gold?”

“Yes. It’s specially made.”

“I thought it felt a bit heavy.”

“By the way, Do-jun, who were those people? I saw them leaving with disappointed faces after talking to you.”

“Oh, you saw that?”

Min Do-jun explained the situation from earlier.

“They came wanting to become Magic Swordsmen?”

“Yes. But I told them that without a Magic Swordsman-related characteristic, they couldn’t be like me.”

“I see. So your strength comes from a Magic Swordsman-related characteristic?”

That wasn’t entirely true.

‘I’m strong because I have multiple characteristics. If I only had the Magic Swordsman characteristic, I couldn’t have grown this quickly.’

This was evident from the fact that Sim Jin-seop, who was a Magic Swordsman before his regression, only reached 3rd place in the rankings.

“How is Da-yeon doing? I saw from the rankings that she’s already at level 200.”

“Actually, that’s why I wanted to talk to you. It’s about Da-yeon.”

“Why? Did something happen?”

Hwang Eui-cheol sighed and shared his concerns.

“As you know, I’ve been helping Da-yeon in dungeons all this time.”

“Yes, you have.”

He wasn’t what they called a “carrier” who captured monsters and handed them over.

“I simply guided her. Do this in the dungeon, do that. Always watch your back, and if too many monsters appear, run away. Sometimes I’d step in to help when dangerous situations arose.”

“And?”

“But now she says she’s tired of hunting with just the two of us and wants to try hunting with other people.”

“Um… so you’ve only been entering dungeons with just the two of you until now?”

“That’s right.”

“She’s never partied with anyone else?”

“Y-yes.”

Hwang Eui-cheol scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.

“I was too anxious to let her go alone…”

“Teacher. Even so…”

“Ahem.”

Hwang Eui-cheol knew.

He knew he was being overprotective.

“Others have been doing party play since level 1, but Da-yeon hasn’t had that chance. Even though she’s reached level 200.”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“You need to let her go now, Teacher. She’s not a child anymore, and you can’t follow her around forever.”

“She’s still a child in my eyes. Besides, she almost died once. It’s natural for me to worry.”

“She’s not going into dungeons alone, so what are you worried about? The other party members will protect her well.”

“But they’re all low-level like her. How is that different from children going on a picnic without parents?”

“That’s how you raised your level too, Teacher. Fighting alongside your comrades. Da-yeon needs to have that experience too. Starting from now while her level is still low. The longer you wait, the harder it will be.”

“But still…”

“You don’t want to see her being ridiculed later for not being able to coordinate with party members, do you? And ridicule would be the least of your worries. More dangerous situations could arise.”

“…”

Since every point was valid, Hwang Eui-cheol couldn’t refute.

Instead, he made a request to Min Do-jun.

“I know. That’s why, Do-jun, do you know any trustworthy hunters? Hunters around Da-yeon’s level.”

“Why? Are you going to put them in a party with her?”

“Yes. That’s the only way I can feel at ease. Oh, and male hunters are absolutely not allowed. Absolutely not!”

“Where would I find hunters at level 200 in my circle, Teacher?”

“Right… you probably only have A-rank or S-rank hunters around you.”

“Why not send her to a guild? That would be better for party members to build coordination.”

“Have you forgotten, Do-jun? That Da-yeon and I are members of the Guardian Guild?”

“You could leave and join another guild. Don’t worry, I’ll use my authority as guild master to process your withdrawal immediately…”

“Do you think I haven’t suggested that to Da-yeon? But what can I do? She adamantly refuses to join any other guild.”

“…”

Min Do-jun knew that Hwang Da-yeon was stubborn.

‘Even when I suggested finding another guild, she refused until the end.’

In that respect, Hyun Su-a was equally stubborn.

‘Wait, Hyun Su-a?’

Min Do-jun searched for her level.

‘780 level. A B-rank hunter?’

Seeing Min Do-jun touching the air, Hwang Eui-cheol asked:

“What are you doing?”

“Teacher, would level 780 be acceptable?”

“Level 780 is B-rank, isn’t it? Da-yeon is still D-rank…”

“Among the trustworthy hunters I know, this is the one with the lowest level.”

“Is it a woman?”

“Yes.”

“I hope she’s not an ex-girlfriend or anything like that?”

Min Do-jun’s expression hardened.

“How could that be?”

“I see from your serious face. I believe you.”

After saying that, Hwang Eui-cheol thought for a moment before speaking.

“There’s a bit of a level gap, but if that hunter is okay with it, I’d like her to party with my daughter. Guide her a bit. Are you sure she’s trustworthy?”

“Yes. At least she won’t stab you in the back.”

“If you say so, I trust her. That’s good enough. Being a woman and not too low in level, I can feel at ease.”

“But I don’t know if she’ll want to party with Da-yeon. I haven’t asked her yet.”

“Of course you need to ask. Just let me know the result. Oh, and make sure to tell her that I’ll compensate for any financial losses from running low-level dungeons.”

“I understand.”

‘Sigh, what should I do?’

Hyun Su-a had been picking up and putting down her smartphone repeatedly for 30 minutes.

‘Should I call or not?’

She was debating whether to call Min Do-jun to congratulate him.

‘I should congratulate him on becoming S-rank, but what if he finds it burdensome?’

She could sense it too.

That Min Do-jun was intentionally avoiding her.

It was evident from the fact that he was trying to place her in another guild.

‘I don’t want to join the Baekryeon Guild; I want to join the Guardian Guild…’

She still hadn’t given a definitive answer to the Baekryeon Guild master she had met before.

‘It wouldn’t be bad to join a guild that has a connection with Do-jun, but…’

That didn’t mean she would get to meet her idol, Min Do-jun, frequently.

‘Why is he avoiding me like this? Am I that burdensome?’

True, she had been quite insistent about joining the guild.

But it wasn’t because of romantic feelings.

‘I just wanted to be with the person who saved my life…’

Min Do-jun was like a guidepost that had shown her the direction in life.

That’s why Hyun Su-a thought of Min Do-jun not as a lover but as a benefactor, a mentor, and an idol.

Her desire to get closer to him was in that sense.

She definitely wasn’t approaching him with ulterior motives.

Rather, she thought her vessel was too small to harbor such intentions.

‘Someone like me could never fill the spot beside Do-jun…’

She just wanted to be of help somehow.

Such blind admiration was not much different from Min Do-jun’s following of Hwang Eui-cheol.

‘If I’m annoying, he’ll find it burdensome, so it’s better not to call, right?’

As she put down her smartphone weakly, she picked up something else instead.

It was the business card of the Baekryeon Guild master.

‘He went out of his way to introduce me, so I shouldn’t ignore it, right?’

Just as she had decided to join the Baekryeon Guild and picked up her smartphone:

Ring ring- Ring ring-

A call came in.

From none other than her idol.

“Ah! M-Min Do-jun Hunter?”

-Hello, Su-a.

“Yes, hello. C-congratulations on becoming S-rank.”

-You knew already. Thank you.

Her expression brightened as she managed to convey her congratulations as she had wanted.

“But why are you calling? It’s rare for you to call first…”

-Actually, I have a favor to ask. Or should I call it a proposal?

“What kind…?”

Upon hearing Min Do-jun’s proposal, Hyun Su-a’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit.

“J-join the Guardian Guild?”

-Yes. If you haven’t joined the Baekryeon Guild yet. You haven’t, right?

“No, I haven’t yet.”

Hyun Su-a pushed away the business card on the table.

-But there’s a condition.

“A condition?”

-Do you remember the female guild member you saw at the office before?

“Ah, the daughter of your senior that you mentioned?”

-Yes. She’s currently at level 200, but she’s never partied with anyone else before.

“Really?”

-So we’re anxious about sending her to party alone. I was hoping you could take responsibility and party with her… Do you understand so far?

“Yes, I understand.”

-You’ll have to run low-level dungeons, but any financial losses will be compensated, so don’t worry about money.

“Hmm…”

-What do you think? Would it be okay if your growth slows down a bit…

“But why are you contacting me specifically?”

-Because you’re the only person I can trust with this task.

“Ah…!”

Hyun Su-a was struck by a shock, as if she had been hit hard on the back of her head.

Not in a bad way, but because she had received praise beyond her expectations.

‘To think that I was someone Do-jun could trust…’

-Su-a?

After calming herself down from the emotion that nearly brought tears to her eyes, she said energetically:

“I’ll do it. Just leave it to me.”