Chapter 108

Whoosh- The sound of the airplane taking off was loud. Jihan Kim looked around, searching for someone.

“Hunter Cho-i Hyeon!”

“What!”

“Don’t wander off alone!”

“It’s my first time in Japan!”

“You know very well we’re not here on vacation, right?”

“I know, I know.”

“It doesn’t seem like you do.”

“It’d be nice to do some sightseeing while we’re here, though.”

“Just stay put for now.”

Cho-i Hyeon, Jihan Kim, Yuri Ja, and Seoyeon Ha had arrived at Haneda International Airport. This was because Cho-i Hyeon had immediately suggested going to Japan when he heard the dungeon was there.

“Money is really good. We can come to Japan just like this.”

“There wasn’t even time to prepare a private jet. We don’t have any luggage either.”

“What’s the problem? We can just buy some.”

“That’s true. First of all… do you speak any Japanese?”

“No, not at all!”

“I figured as much.”

Jihan Kim quickly pulled out something he had brought. The translator device, made from a magic stone, could interpret both speaking and listening. Cho-i put the device in one ear and looked around. Unintelligible Japanese words were immediately translated and entered his mind.

“Ah, now I can understand a bit.”

“It’s a good thing we brought this.”

“Do you speak Japanese?”

“Yes, to some extent. The others also speak Japanese. We often go overseas.”

“Wow, I’m the only one who doesn’t speak Japanese?”

“An S-Rank would learn faster. How about trying to learn it?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“That means you won’t.”

“Ah, I’m caught.”

“It’s a good thing we brought even one translator device, otherwise what would we have done?”

“Well, we would have just cleared the dungeon and left.”

“That’s… true.”

“So, what do we do now?”

“First, I talked to the secretary and contacted the Japanese guild that owns the dungeon. They said they’d come pick us up.”

Cho-i Hyeon and his companions passed through the airport gate and went outside. As soon as they stepped out, the continuous clicking of camera shutters began. The constant flashes were so bright it hurt his eyes. Cho-i Hyeon stood there, bewildered, and Jihan Kim said with an expectant look,

“Japanese reporters have swarmed here.”

“I know about Japanese reporters, but…”

Kyaaaak-! Cho-i pointed at the crowd of civilians. They were each holding picket signs written in Japanese, so he couldn’t read them. Jihan Kim smiled brightly and waved at them, and once again, screams echoed with gasps for breath.

“Those are my fans. But Hunter Cho-i Hyeon seems quite popular too, over there.”

Jihan Kim pointed to one side. There was a bustling crowd with pickets displaying Cho-i’s name in Japanese.

“Your name is there too.”

“Wow, how did they know we were coming to Japan?”

“Do you think reporters are just reporters for nothing? And the guild that’s coming to pick us up…”

“Ah! You’re here!”

Just then, a man with neatly combed hair and black glasses approached. Cho-i looked his way, and he smiled broadly and greeted them.

“You’re even more beautiful in person.”

“Yes.”

When Cho-i Hyeon gave a short affirmative, the man seemed flustered, then quickly offered his business card and said,

“I am Yoshino Ren from Guild Kanata.”

Jihan Kim stepped next to Cho-i and accepted the business card on her behalf. The man, Ren, brightened and offered Jihan Kim a handshake.

“I can’t tell you how surprised I was to hear that you would be visiting our guild. We will take good care of you during your stay in Japan.”

“We’re the ones who came to ask for a favor. So, it’s us who should be saying we look forward to working with you.”

“Not at all. It’s an honor for us that you’ve come to visit.”

While they were exchanging pleasantries, Cho-i, who was caught in the middle, let out a big yawn. Ren was startled and said,

“Ah, you must be tired from your hurried journey. I didn’t think of that. Please come this way.”

They followed Yoshino Ren out of the airport and began to travel in a waiting large van.

“We’ll head straight to the guild. If you’d like to rest, I’ll wake you when we arrive.”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll stay awake.”

“Are you sure? Please tell me if you’re tired.”

“Understood.”

Cho-i Hyeon yawned once more and closed her eyes. Jihan Kim looked at Cho-i Hyeon and thought she seemed like someone who lived without a care in the world. Just then, Ren, who was driving, suddenly asked,

“Now that I think about it, I understand that Hunter Cho-i Hyeon belongs to Guild Paehyeok, but how did you end up coming with Geumsin?”

“We’re also interested in what Hunter Cho-i Hyeon is interested in. Our goals aligned, so we ended up coming together.”

“I see. Is there anything we can help with?”

“Providing the dungeon is enough. We will provide compensation as previously discussed.”

“Ahaha, thank you.”

Just as the conversation between the two of them paused, Cho-i Hyeon stretched out long, turned off her translator device, and said,

“This feels more like a sales job than being a hunter, doesn’t it?”

Seeing that Cho-i seemed to have intentionally turned off her translator device, Jihan Kim also replied in Korean.

“There was something I was going to say earlier. This is a small to medium-sized guild, but it’s not a proper one.”

“Not a proper one?”

“They recruit good-looking, low-ranking hunters and push them into the entertainment industry. They need an excuse, so they have a few dungeons, but they’re all below C-Rank.”

“Ah, does that mean the place we’re going to is also…?”

“Yes. It’s D-Rank.”

“Wow, they must be really curious, huh?”

“I guess so. If great hunters from Korea suddenly show interest in a D-Rank dungeon owned by a small to medium-sized company in Japan, it would look strange, wouldn’t it?”

“Do you have a rough script prepared?”

“Of course, as many as you want.”

“That’s reassuring.”

Just then, Ren, who was driving, spoke to the two of them as if curious. Cho-i also turned her translator device back on.

“I’m curious what you two were talking about~.”

“Oh, we were just talking about the dungeon we’re going to this time.”

“Ah, you mean Cat’s Tunnel.”

Cho-i thought, “No, it’s more like a dog, right? It’s not a dungeon in another language, is it?” While Cho-i was thinking that, Len’s explanation continued.

“It’s a dungeon shaped like a dark tunnel, a maze where you never know when or where a monster will pop out. It’s also the dungeon our guild, Hunters, hates the most.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it is. Fortunately, it’s D-Rank, so we Hunters can clear it on our own, which is a relief.”

“When was the last raid on that dungeon?”

“Probably about six months ago. We’re just managing it enough so it doesn’t burst.”

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

“It’s fine. It’s really well managed.”

“Well, I see…”

Jihan Kim nodded for now. Beside her, Cho-i Hyeon smirked crookedly. She didn’t know what kind of guild it was, but she figured it wasn’t a proper one. And when Ben arrived at the guild building, that’s exactly what she thought. “Ah, this place really isn’t fulfilling its role as a hunter guild.”

“Wow.”

“What is this?”

“I thought it was a celebrity agency building.”

“Me too…”

Each of them said something. On the clean exterior of the building, photos of the guild’s Hunters, taken like celebrities, were displayed. The sign clearly said ‘Kanata Guild,’ but it looked more like Kanata Entertainment.

“The exterior is quite nice, isn’t it? Let’s go inside.”

“Yes.”

Cho-i stepped into the building with a light stride. She hadn’t expected much anyway. And she could handle the dungeon alone, so it was fine. She’d go in, say hello, and then head straight to the dungeon. But things didn’t go that easily. The pot-bellied president, who was the Guild Master of Kanata Guild, greeted them with a sly smile.

“Welcome. Thank you so much for visiting us.”

“Not at all.”

Jihan Kim replied briefly. It seemed she, too, felt tired in that short time.

“Everyone is very good-looking. There are so many talented people in Korea, aren’t there?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Especially Hunter Cho-i Hyeon! I was really impressed by your videos! I don’t know if you realize how popular you are in Japan.”

“I’m not interested in such things, so I don’t know much.”

“Is that so? Since you’re in Japan, it might be good to take a look around.”

“It’s fine. I’m really not interested.”

“Oh dear, isn’t it a good thing to have people who love you?”

Cho-i Hyeon openly frowned. She said she wasn’t interested. The Kanata Guild Master, who kept giving her strange compliments, slowly revealed his true intentions.

“Actually, there’s something I’d like to ask of you this time.”

Jihan Kim asked.

“What is it?”

“We would be very grateful if Hunter Cho-i Hyeon could appear on TV with our Hunters just once…”

Cho-i Hyeon’s face became listless, and Jihan Kim also frowned with a smile.

“No. We don’t have the time or the reason. I believe I offered a sufficient amount for the dungeon usage fee; was it not enough?”

“No! The dungeon usage fee is sufficient, but we thought that the other option would be more beneficial.”

The Guild Master was quite shameless.

“If our Hunters appear on TV with a famous Korean hunter, our recognition would increase even more. Instead of the dungeon usage fee, just that condition…!”

“Again, that has nothing to do with us…!”

Finally, when Jihan Kim burst out in annoyance. -!!!! A loud roar erupted.

[Shout is being cast!]

Cho-i Hyeon cast Shout. The Kanata Guild Master and Ren froze at the deafening roar that made their ears ache. Cho-i Hyeon smacked her lips, then yawned broadly and said, sitting askew,

“Say it again.”

“Th-that…”

“Don’t annoy me.”

Cho-i Hyeon listlessly crossed her legs and hit the sofa. With a crack, the armrest of the sofa broke off.