Chapter 56
“…Can I understand this as you saying you intend to be hostile toward Bluebird?”
“Well, is it really necessary to be hostile?”
There was absolutely no intention of being hostile toward Bluebird.
Having too many enemies in life isn’t beneficial.
“You wouldn’t gain anything by escalating things either.”
If things turned into outright enmity, the issue would naturally be examined, and scouting would also become difficult.
“I won’t deny it, but how exactly do you intend to do it properly?”
“Let’s do it in a week.”
Juhyeok stated a specific date and glanced at the bodyguard pouting beside him.
“Bring whoever you want—whether it’s that bodyguard or someone else.”
It didn’t matter who the opponent was.
In fact, if the bodyguard was chosen as the opponent, it was obvious he would flee from Bluebird.
Thus, Juhyeok had set a condition while taking a step back.
He then looked at the scout again.
“If I lose, I’ll sign an exclusive five-year contract at the average salary of a D-rank hunter.”
“….”
It was a shocking proposition.
Even though Juhyeok was judged to have abilities above A-rank, the scout could secure him on a D-rank hunter’s average salary.
And not for two or three years—but five.
It was a condition the scout couldn’t refuse.
Even facing an immediately lucrative bet, the scout remained composed and asked:
“And if our side loses?”
In a bet, one must have something to wager as well.
What could be equivalent to a five-year D-rank contract?
Juhyeok resolved the scout’s curiosity without much thought.
“One S-rank magic stone.”
No more, no less—just one S-rank magic stone.
The scout’s eyes twitched slightly.
“What do you think? I’d say it’s a well-balanced bet.”
“….”
An S-rank magic stone was worth nearly a billion won.
The scout couldn’t just casually agree to it.
“Fine.”
Here was a chance to secure a hunter capable of A-rank or higher on a D-rank salary.
Normally, if fighting the bodyguard meant a high chance of losing, the scout would never agree—but Juhyeok had just said anyone could be brought.
Why pass up such a free opportunity?
“In a week, we’ll prepare the contract and the location.”
The scout, now smiling confidently, left with the bodyguard.
The bet was set, and they vanished from the soondae soup restaurant.
Juhyeok watched their departing figures and sat down.
“…The soondae soup’s completely cold.”
Even in a clay pot, it normally retains heat well.
But because of all the chatter over the meal, the soup had cooled.
He stirred the soup with a spoon in disappointment. The person next to him looked incredulous and said:
“Is that your problem right now?”
For a moment, Juhyeok almost mistook him for a random passerby due to his indifferent attitude.
Hyeonsu sat down beside him, voice full of disbelief.
“Juhyeok, do you realize who you just declared war on?”
“I know. Bluebird.”
“Good, then you also know how absurd your proposed bet is, right?”
“I guess.”
“Ah, seriously…!”
Hyeonsu rubbed his face with both hands. He couldn’t comprehend the situation.
“What were you thinking when you made that bet? The bodyguard will likely be the only one they send.”
“Are there strong people in Bluebird?”
“Strong people? You’re asking me that because you didn’t know?”
By now, Hyeonsu couldn’t even laugh.
He was dumbfounded at Juhyeok’s seemingly reckless behavior.
“Bluebird has five S-rank hunters. Korea only has two, and they have five.”
Only two in the entire country.
Even in such a small land, that was considered a lot.
And Bluebird had all five S-rank hunters.
If even one of them were sent to fight Juhyeok…
“You’d be under a slave contract for five years.”
“….”
The air fell silent at the mention of a “slave contract.”
Juhyeok stopped stirring the soup.
“Do you think I’ll lose?”
“What?”
“You saw just now that even the bodyguard couldn’t move.”
Recalling how the bodyguard struggled while restrained, Juhyeok asked:
“That bodyguard was clearly A-rank… and I caught him, didn’t I?”
“But he’s just A-rank. S-rank is on a whole different level.”
“I’m on a different level too, aren’t I?”
“….”
Unlike Juhyeok’s serious demeanor, Hyeonsu responded casually.
Juhyeok leisurely called a staff member and asked to have the soondae soup reheated.
Feeling Hyeonsu’s piercing gaze full of worry, Juhyeok comforted him:
“Do you really think Bluebird will send someone that strong?”
“What?”
“I just want to teach a mere F-rank irregular a lesson. How impressive could they send?”
Juhyeok knew exactly how they viewed him.
Having easily defeated an A-rank bodyguard, they likely assumed he was somewhere between A and S rank.
Would Bluebird really go all-out against such an F-rank irregular?
“Well… I assume up to S-rank, but they’ll probably bring the weakest one.”
“…That makes sense, I guess.”
“Of course, it’s a good opportunity for Bluebird. They can secure a hunter above A-rank on a D-rank salary for five years.”
It was such a tempting opportunity that even saliva threatened to spill.
“But Bluebird probably won’t believe it so easily either.”
Thus, suspicion remained.
A rookie without a guild making such a claim had very low credibility.
“If they send an S-rank and I deny it, Bluebird wastes manpower.”
Even if Bluebird carefully sent their strongest S-rank, if Juhyeok backed out, they’d only waste time.
So Bluebird would naturally send a less costly hunter even if they sent an S-rank for safety.
“What if they bring someone stronger than you?”
“Then I’ll just back out.”
“Back out?”
“Yes, we haven’t even signed the contract yet.”
The bet wasn’t documented.
Even though oral agreements count, denying it leaves Bluebird in a bind.
“Bluebird knows too, right? If they bring someone ridiculous, I might back off.”
“….”
“If they send a reasonable opponent, we fight then.”
The reheated soondae soup arrived during their conversation.
He blew on the hot soup and ate it with satisfaction.
“Hot!”
The aunt carefully boiled it so it wouldn’t cool. He cooled it with some cubed radish kimchi.
Hyeonsu, watching quietly, murmured:
“It sounds like you think you can beat a decent S-rank.”
Arrogant? Audacious? Hyeonsu couldn’t decide.
Juhyeok, unconcerned, focused on his soup and replied lightly:
“Yes. I can win.”
“Ah… tired.”
He had entered a gate twice in a single month.
Normally, S-rank gates don’t appear this frequently, but lately new gates were appearing all over, leaving him stretched thin.
“I need to get home and rest.”
A middle-aged man stripped off his gear, tossing it in the car.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, he removed his trademark sunglasses.
“My home sweet home~”
He was excited to go home, imagining cracking open a canned beer and lying on the sofa.
Then his phone rang.
“What now…”
He frowned, contemplating ignoring it.
But he knew ignoring it would only cause more trouble, so he reluctantly answered.
[Kierran, do you have some free time?]
“Do you ask someone who just went through a gate if they have free time?”
[It’s urgent.]
His manager summarized the matter.
Kierran, intrigued despite the annoyance, listened carefully.
“There’s a kid like that? Interesting.”
[The guild leader told me to contact all S-ranks… it might be tough though.]
“Call that tough?”
After being overworked by two gates in a month, he was being asked to deal with a rookie overseas?
Even with extra pay, he refused to go.
“Is it in Korea?”
[Yes, the lower part of Korea.]
“Hm…”
Kierran pondered briefly.
He thought of his daughter, who lately watched idol videos on her phone at home.
‘She’s been into Korean idols… maybe she’d like to come along?’
Their distance had grown with age.
As a child, she’d cling to him constantly, calling him the best. Now she only looked at her phone.
‘We haven’t gone on a family trip in a long time. This might be good.’
Korea, with safe and interesting tourist spots, was perfect.
He didn’t hesitate.
“I’ll handle the duel.”
[Really?]
“Yes. Can I enjoy a bit of vacation while I’m at it?”
[Of course! Take care of that matter and rest!]
“Okay, then that’s settled.”
He hung up.
Excited for a family trip and intrigued by the rookie hunter, Kierran’s interest grew.
“An F-rank irregular… I wonder how strong this kid really is.”
Curiosity about the boldness that would lead someone to make such an outrageous bet.
For the first time in a while, Kierran Green, ranked 131st in the world, was looking forward to an interesting case.
