Chapter 75 – Classmates

High school classmates gathered in one place after a long time.

“Here, here.”

“Su-hwan, long time no see!”

“It’s been almost 2 years since graduation?”

“I met Su-hwan often though.”

“Did you call Tae-young?”

“Of course. Called Min-ji and Su-jung too?”

Ding-

The men chatting at the restaurant turned their attention to the door.

A plain woman wearing glasses and another with a model-like figure were walking towards them.

It was Min-ji and Su-jung from their first-year class.

“Hi, good to see you guys.”

“Is that really Min-ji and Su-jung?”

“Wow, you’ve changed so much?”

The women shouted back.

“What? We look exactly the same!”

“Come on, you clearly had work done.”

“What nonsense? It’s just makeup!”

“Say that in front of Do-jun and you’re dead?”

“What? Did you put on makeup to impress Do-jun?”

“Oh my god!”

The men giggled.

Such teasing was only possible because they were friends without ulterior motives.

However, everyone there, regardless of gender, had ulterior motives towards Min Do-jun.

“Is Do-jun really coming?”

“When’s he coming?”

“It’s 6 now, so he should be here soon.”

“He’s really coming, right?”

“He set the time, so he’ll definitely come.”

“You better not be lying.”

“Hey, Im Su-jung. Your obsession with Do-jun is suspicious?”

“Be honest. You like Do-jun, don’t you?”

Im Su-jung snapped back.

“What are you talking about, I just haven’t seen him in a while!”

“You weren’t even close to Do-jun in school.”

“Yeah, I never saw you talk to him once.”

“N-no! We talked a few times.”

It was a lie.

Im Su-jung hadn’t even known Do-jun was in her class.

No, she hadn’t known of his existence at all.

She only learned about him when classmates told her a hunter came from their class.

That’s when she suddenly became interested.

Ding-

When the shop door opened, everyone’s attention turned there.

It didn’t take long for expectation to turn to disappointment.

“Ah, it’s Hyung-chan.”

“I thought it was Do-jun.”

The person who disappointed the classmates was Im Hyung-chan.

“Why are you so late?”

“What? I’m only 3 minutes late?”

“Still should’ve come right on time. Sit here.”

Im Hyung-chan, unnecessarily scolded, glanced across while sitting down.

‘Su-jung is here too?’

Im Su-jung was his first love from high school.

Though in the same class, he was too shy to talk to her and only liked her secretly.

In other words, first love and unrequited love.

‘She’s gotten even prettier as an adult. Hehe…’

His lips curved up unconsciously.

Im Su-jung frowned and turned away at his expression.

‘What’s with that pervert? Gross.’

Having been completely uninterested in male classmates, she didn’t recognize Im Hyung-chan.

Strictly speaking, it was like meeting for the first time.

So she could only make an awkward expression when Im Hyung-chan spoke to her.

“Su-jung, your surname is Im, right?”

“…So?”

“I’m Im too. Im Hyung-chan.”

“…And?”

Seeing her cold response, Im Hyung-chan scratched his cheek embarrassedly.

“Just… we never talked in class, so I wanted to try talking.”

“…”

Im Su-jung closed her mouth disinterestedly.

Im Hyung-chan felt the need to gain her interest.

“I work at the Hunter Management Center. Feel free to ask if you’re curious about anything.”

At those words, life returned to Im Su-jung’s previously indifferent eyes.

‘Yes, I got her attention!’

Im Hyung-chan was happy just having his crush make eye contact with him.

“Really? You work at the Hunter Management Center?”

“Yes.”

“Then can you look up other people’s rankings and such?”

“Of course. I can easily check on my tablet. Just a moment.”

Im Hyung-chan rummaged through his bag and took out a tablet.

“I can find out just by typing a name here. Who are you curious about?”

“Min Do-jun.”

His hand stopped as he was about to operate the tablet.

It was the name he hated most.

‘Why him of all people?’

As Im Hyung-chan remained still, Im Su-jung urged him.

“What? Why aren’t you moving? Can’t you search?”

“N-no, I can.”

‘She’s probably just interested because he’s a classmate…’

Im Hyung-chan anxiously looked up Min Do-jun.

“National rank 585th… level 1,400…”

Im Hyung-chan trailed off at the overwhelming level.

‘How does this bastard’s level keep rising every day?’

As a manager who had received training, he knew.

How impossibly fast Min Do-jun’s leveling speed was.

“Wow, that’s quite a high rank? Isn’t that 500th among 40,000?”

“Amazing! Is he really level 1,400?”

“How long has it been since he turned twenty?”

Unlike the men’s excitement, the women’s reactions were lukewarm.

They didn’t know much about the hunter industry.

“What’s the big deal? Is level 1,400 high?”

“It’s incredibly high!”

“What grade is he?”

“B-grade. Soon to be A-grade.”

The women, who understood grades better than levels, widened their eyes.

“Even B-grade earns a lot, right?”

“B-grade? Even F-grade makes over 100 million won annually.”

“Really? I thought C-grade and below were all bottom feeders…”

“Then how much does Do-jun earn as B-grade?”

“How would I know? We should ask Hyung-chan.”

Everyone’s attention turned to Im Hyung-chan.

“Hyung-chan, you know right? B-grade hunter income.”

“How much on average?”

Feeling jealous, Im Hyung-chan deliberately understated the earnings.

“…About 10 million won per day?”

“Wow… that’s insane.”

“That’s my annual salary in three days?”

“So Do-jun makes billions?”

Even though he lowered the amount significantly, the men praised the absent Min Do-jun.

The women were quickly calculating the annual salary in their heads.

When they reached the conclusion of 3.6 billion won, they gulped.

“Do-jun made it.”

“Amazing at such a young age.”

Seeing this, Im Hyung-chan got so irritated he unconsciously objected.

“It’s all just luck to become a hunter anyway.”

“Luck?”

The women, seeming to know something, countered.

“But you can’t be a hunter with just luck, right?”

“Right. I heard you need skill too?”

“I’d be too scared to fight.”

“That’s why Do-jun is amazing.”

The men and women exchanged conversation.

The topic was Min Do-jun.

‘What’s with these people? I came when they called but they’re just talking about that bastard Min Do-jun…’

For Im Hyung-chan, who had an inferiority complex, even hearing Min Do-jun’s name irritated him.

Feeling annoyed, he looked at the empty table and spoke.

“Hey, aren’t we ordering food?”

“Huh? Do-jun hasn’t arrived yet.”

“You’re trying to order without Do-jun?”

Those words hit Im Hyung-chan like a hammer.

“…What? You invited Min Do-jun too?”

“Of course we did. Why else would we gather?”

“It wouldn’t be right without Do-jun.”

It was quite a shock for Im Hyung-chan, who hadn’t known Min Do-jun was coming.

‘Kim Sang-hyung, you bastard! You could have at least told me he was coming!’

If he had known Min Do-jun was coming, he wouldn’t have shown up at all.

Im Hyung-chan glared at Kim Sang-hyung, the organizer.

“What? Why?”

“N-nothing.”

Intimidated by the atmosphere, Im Hyung-chan could only swallow his anger.

‘Ah, I don’t want to see that bastard Min Do-jun. Should I just say something urgent came up and skip?’

Just as he made his decision and started to get up.

“Oh? It’s Do-jun!”

“Do-jun, over here!”

Min Do-jun appeared.

“Long time no see, everyone.”

Min Do-jun had dressed up nicely to meet his friends.

He wore a stylish suit and even put wax in his hair.

On his wrist was a visibly expensive watch.

“Sang-hyung, Su-hwan, Tae-young, Min-ji, Su-jung. Good to see you all. Ah, Hyung-chan too.”

“Oh? You remembered my name?”

“Wow, I’m touched.”

It had been almost 4 years since they last met in first year.

‘What? He remembers my name too?’

While everyone was greeting happily, Im Su-jung blushed.

‘Could he have been interested in me?’

Unlike her who didn’t even know his face despite being in the same class, Min Do-jun looked straight at her and called her name.

‘He couldn’t know unless he was interested…’

But it was just her misunderstanding.

Min Do-jun had simply read her name using his weakness detection ability.

“Good to see you all.”

Min Do-jun naturally sat next to Im Su-jung.

‘Gasp.’

Maybe because she knew he was a hunter, but up close he looked manly and handsome.

Her heart fluttered just from him sitting next to her.

“Is this our first time meeting since first year? What’s everyone been up to?”

Friends answered Min Do-jun’s question.

Generally complaining about how hard it was to make a living.

“Let’s eat dinner first? I’ll treat, so order whatever you want.”

“Wow, really?”

“Do-jun’s the best!”

Everyone ordered what they wanted.

With seven people ordering what they wanted, there were many menu items.

The fusion restaurant had a diverse menu.

Min Do-jun called the server to order.

“…Chili rose pasta and shepherd’s purse carbonara, tofu pizza please. And four bottles of soju, beer…”

Classmates were surprised when he listed over ten menu items without looking at the menu.

“Do-jun, did you memorize everything we just said?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow, amazing.”

“That’s incredible.”

“It’s nothing.”

The women saw Min Do-jun differently.

‘I thought hunters were just strong, but he’s smart too?’

Soon after, when the alcohol came first, everyone raised their glasses.

“Let me pour.”

“No, Do-jun! I’ll do it. You just receive.”

After filling the soju glasses, they made a toast.

“To Do-jun!”

Though unclear why Min Do-jun was in the toast, no one complained.

Except Im Hyung-chan.

‘Everyone’s desperate to look good to Min Do-jun.’

He could clearly see his classmates’ intentions.

They were just money-crazy people.

‘Such materialistic people.’

Friends chatted until the food arrived.

“Do-jun’s the only hunter among our classmates, right?”

“Probably? He might be the only one in our entire school year.”

“Hyung-chan, didn’t you say you wanted to be a hunter too?”

“Huh? Uh…”

“I remember. Didn’t you go around saying you’d become a hunter in first year?”

“Hehe, it’s funny thinking about it now. It’s not like you can become a hunter by taking a test.”

“This guy just lazed around until his birthday thinking he’d become a hunter.”

“Wow… must have been quite a reality check then.”

The men snickered while taking shots at Im Hyung-chan.

Having said those things before, he couldn’t even defend himself and wanted to hide in a mouse hole.

The women also tattled about what Im Hyung-chan had said.

“Right, Do-jun. He just said hunters only need luck, is that true?”

“No. You need skill too. And the courage to face monsters.”

“Right?”

“Good thing we asked Do-jun.”

“A current hunter’s words are more accurate.”

Shortly after, when the food arrived, everyone started eating.

They maintained a cheerful atmosphere with occasional toasts.

“Do-jun, look at thish. It’s a photo I took, isn’t it nice?”

Im Su-jung clung close while showing her smartphone, speaking with an affected cute accent.

Im Hyung-chan’s pupils shook as if experiencing an earthquake at the sight.

‘Th-that bastard Min Do-jun!’

Though Min Do-jun just sat there, Im Hyung-chan blamed him.

‘Get away from him right now, you!’

Im Su-jung spoke with aegyo-mixed nasal voice trying to get closer to Min Do-jun.

Min Do-jun seemed not to mind, answering even bothersome questions in a gentle tone.

“Is it true you make 10 million won like he said earlier?”

“10 million won?”

“Yeah. They say B-grade hunters make 10 million won a day?”

Min Do-jun glanced at Im Hyung-chan and smirked.

“What’s 10 million? I make nearly 200 million.”

“Huh…?”

Im Su-jung was momentarily stunned at the unimaginable amount.

The abacus in her head rolled quickly.

“Just one A-grade magic stone sells for 360 million won. And I get about one every two days.”

“Th-then your annual salary…”

“Over 60 billion.”

“Wow, really?”

Though everyone was having their own conversations, they must have been listening to Min Do-jun’s story as all classmates showed surprised expressions.

“Hey, Im Hyung-chan! You said he makes 10 million?”

“How did 200 million become 10 million?”

“That bastard deliberately lowered the amount.”

“Do you have some grudge against Do-jun?”

“He must be jealous. Pathetic guy.”

Im Hyung-chan’s face turned red and blue as classmates openly attacked him.

Min Do-jun just smirked at the sight.

“It’s okay, guys. He might not have known.”

“Don’t you work at the Hunter Management Center?”

“Acting like you knew everything, tsk tsk.”

“Stop it. It looks bad picking on a friend for one slip of the tongue.”

At Min Do-jun’s words, friends immediately changed their attitude.

“Sorry, Do-jun.”

“As expected, Do-jun is so understanding and generous!”

For every word Min Do-jun said, friends responded with ten words of praise.

No one apologized to Im Hyung-chan.

‘Damn it.’

Im Hyung-chan trembled with an expression like he’d eaten something foul.

When Min Do-jun defended him, he felt even more miserable.

He glanced at Im Su-jung.

Im Su-jung was chatting with Min Do-jun, smiling with her eyes.

They had become close somehow, with laughter never ceasing between them.

‘Even losing the girl…’

Im Hyung-chan thought he’d lost her though she was never his to begin with.

‘Serves you right.’

Min Do-jun felt no pity for Im Hyung-chan eating silently with a dejected face.

He was someone who tried to scam him after all.

“Shall we get up if everyone’s done eating?”

“Where should we go now? Karaoke?”

“Do-jun, what would you like to do?”

“Sorry, but I have something to do so I should go.”

The classmates were shocked at those words.

“What? Already?”

“We have to go for round two!”

“I don’t have time. You guys keep drinking. Ah, right.”

Min Do-jun looked to the side and spoke.

“Su-jung, come with me.”

“Huh? Why me?”

Min Do-jun grinned and said.

“Because I have something to tell you.”

——

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