The F-Rank Hunter Defies Fate Chapter 2.4

“Ah, Mr. Jaei Hunter! You’re glowing today. Were there any injuries?”

On the screen, the reporter turned to Yoo Jaei with a wide smile. Everyone probably knew Yoo Jaei’s age as well, but he seemed to have no interest in such things. The corners of his eyes were curved to such an extent that one might think the reporter was his mother.

“Thanks to the team leader’s excellent guidance, there were no injuries. In fact, it was surprising how quickly we cleared it. You all know how strong each and every one of our team members is, don’t you?”

With that, Yoo Jaei winked one eye. He was definitely a hunter, but it was fan service that would not seem out of place if he were to become an idol right now.

“Of course, of course. Everyone in the Republic of Korea knows that Raid Team 1 is strong, and wouldn’t the whole world know as well?”

Haha. An exaggerated laugh followed, as if they were acting in a play. It was a cringe-worthy sight, but it was an undeniable fact. The worldwide pop-up only appeared in very rare situations, such as when a tower was cleared for the first time or when a special quest was completed.

And, with the exception of the first few times, most of the first ascents were achieved by the Republic of Korea. Harang was proud as well, but it was not a pleasant sight to see them focusing only on the external aspects of these people who were, at best, in their twenties.

• Wow this is national pride
• I agree, Baek Yoogeom has no manners but I acknowledge his skills
• who are you to talk about his manners?
• still glad our hunters weren’t hurt

The reactions in the chat window were also varied. Half were those who spammed emojis, getting drunk on national pride, a quarter were those who criticized the Raid Team 1 hunters while pretending to praise them, and an even smaller number acknowledged the hard work of Raid Team 1.

“By the way. I think there’s one thing that everyone in the world is curious about.”

Perhaps because of the reaction in the chat window, the reporter hurriedly changed the subject. Yoo Jaei, who was said to be twenty, was brimming with confidence, as if he would accept any question.

“Our Mr. Baek Hunter hasn’t been seen for two weeks, has he? According to rumors, his abilities have declined due to a penalty.”

Yoo Jaei must not have predicted the question about Baek Yoogeom’s private life, as his gentle smile slowly faded.

“Of, course! Seeing as you succeeded in your ascent today, that’s obviously not the case.”

The reporter, who looked to be twice the age of the young hunter, made a joke. Yoo Jaei managed to smile along with him, but it was obvious to anyone that he was uncomfortable.

“Isn’t Mr. Baek Hunter’s health the national power of the Republic of Korea? So, could you tell us what you were doing for two weeks?”

Other reporters squeezed in next to the reporter who was whispering spitefully. A few of the microphones flying in from here and there grazed Yoo Jaei’s face.

“I heard that you had no intention of climbing as of this morning. Is there a reason for the sudden change?”

“What happened during that time? Is it true that there was a problem with your personal safety? Please answer!”

As the reporter had said, the period Baek Yoogeom had been away was a mere two weeks. Yet, they threw rude questions as if all the fault lay with Baek Yoogeom. It seemed they did not even know that one of Jaei’s cheeks had turned red.

“We cannot answer questions that have not been agreed upon in advance. Please direct all inquiries through the administrative office.”

“We want to hear Mr. Baek Yoogeom Hunter’s answer, not Mr. Mu Jeonghye Hunter’s.”

“Mr. Baek Yoogeom Hunter! Is it true that you have a health problem?”

• what’s up with yoon-sword is he sick?
• Omg wt..then what do we do?

Mu Jeonghye tried to smooth things over for the speechless Yoo Jaei, but not only the reporters on site, but also the heat in the chat window, only rose tirelessly.

“The fortune.”

Just then, Baek Yoogeom, who had been observing the whole situation, opened his mouth. Unlike when Yoo Jaei or Mu Jeonghye had stepped forward, the crowd fell silent in an instant.

“Excuse me?”

At the random word, the reporter asked back stupidly. Unlike when he was teasing the young Yoo Jaei, he seemed to have a screw loose. It seemed others also wanted to listen closely, doubting their own ears, but Harang wanted to disappear from the face of the Earth right now.

‘Don’t tell me that luck freak is using me as an excuse?’

“The fortune wouldn’t come up.”

A horrified Harang gripped the monitor with trembling hands. He desperately wished someone would shut that bastard’s mouth, but the reporter, the journalists, and the countless chats were all just waiting for Baek Yoogeom to open his mouth.

“Wh-What do you mean by that…”

“My last lucky color was white. But white doesn’t suit me.”

The crowd was engulfed in silence. Harang, who was screaming a silent scream, slammed his forehead on the desk. Thwack. A sharp pain arose with the sound, but it was not welcome. He had hoped it was a dream, but it wasn’t.

“So… because you didn’t like your lucky color, you didn’t, no, you couldn’t go in?”

Judging by the lack of an answer, it seemed Baek Yoogeom had not responded to that. But that was no comfort.

“He must be a real madman…”

Frustration and anger at being unable to do anything, and an anxiety of unknown origin, flowed out with his mumble.

“Are you talking about me?”

A familiar voice reached Harang’s ears as his vision went dark. If he could have his way, he would have shown him his middle finger, but there was a huge difference between Team Member 5 and the team leader. Biting his lip hard, Harang etched the character for patience in his mind and sat up.

“Of course not. I’m talking about those reporters. No matter how fast the ascent was, their bodies come first. I don’t know what they’re doing in front of a tired person.”

When he spoke with deliberate sarcasm, Baek Yoogeom smiled with satisfaction. It seemed he was unable to distinguish between lies and truth.

What’s up with Yoon-Sword? Is he crazy?

Author: Anonymous1 – 16:44

What’s with that lucky color?

They say for rankers, luck is more important than skill.

Is that fr?

↳ yeah I’m the no. 1 ranked hunter and I don’t enter the tower if my fortune is bad

↳ ffs lolol I’m the no. 2 ranker and I don’t go in unless it’s my personal color

↳ no is this for real? is this real? anyone know for sure??

↳ so what’s Baek Yoogeom’s favorite color? I’m curious about that

“What’s with him?”

Jeonghye, who had returned to the office last because Yoogeom had disappeared during the interview, gestured towards the inside of the team leader’s office and asked Hyemin.

There were two people inside the team leader’s office, which was translucent below the waist but clearly visible above. The boss, as indifferent as ever, and the prophet, who was trailing after him. The prophet, who had seemed listless just a moment ago, was now explaining something with gestures of his hands and feet.

“I don’t know. I have no idea either.”

Hyemin, who had been glancing at the team leader’s office with a feignedly flushed expression, shrugged as if he really did not know.

“What do you mean, why? He’s just trying to get on the boss’s good side. With no abilities to speak of.”

The one who interjected between them was Yoo Jaei. Unlike the other team members who had sorted through their spoils or filed reports as soon as they returned to the office, water dripped from the hair of Jaei, who had taken a thorough shower.

Jeonghye looked at the remaining moisture and then used her specialty, the flame ability, to fix Jaei’s hair. Jaei, who had accepted her touch with familiarity, chewed on his lip and glared at the team leader’s office. To be precise, at Harang, who was restlessly following Yoogeom around.

“What does the boss see in him to keep him around? How much must he have whined to get to share an office. I want to be with him too.”

I don’t think that’s it. That’s right, I think hyung is a bit uncomfortable with the Master. The gazes of the two who had met Harang before became strange, but none of that registered in the eyes of Jaei, who was consumed with jealousy.

Who was he? He was the rookie of rookies, who had proudly won first place in ‘Super Hunter K,’ planned by Saenara, and secured a spot in Raid Team 1. It had not been long since he had started climbing because he had just become an adult this year, but he had trained really hard until now.

But who was that guy? Jaei did not want to admit that the boss had gone into hiding for two weeks just to find a vagrant hunter, nor that the guy had snatched up the position he himself had earned by beating hundreds of thousands of others.

“Aren’t you tired?”

Yoogeom, who had only been watching with an indifferent gaze no matter what Harang said until now, reacted. Harang looked at the crookedly raised eyebrow and bit the inside of his cheek to summon his patience.

“Don’t hunters usually rest after a raid?”

One would think he would have gotten the hint by now, but Yoogeom still had a ‘so what’ expression.

“It’s my first day of work, you know. If you’re going to be here, at least introduce me to people. Can’t you see everyone is staring at us?”

Harang, who had been demonstrating various mimes and sign language, finally spoke bluntly. Then the clueless Yoogeom tried to look outside, but he was able to stop him only by desperately shaking his head.

It would not have been so burdensome if he had been mixed in with the team members. However, Yoogeom, unlike someone who had just finished a raid, was just sitting in the team leader’s office wasting time, and Hyemin kept alternating between tapping his keyboard a few times, looking at Harang, and then pretending to work again.

On top of that, the hunter who had just appeared clearly did not seem to like Harang. Well, even in dramas, no one liked a person who got in through connections. Unless they were that person, of course.

“You want to get close to them?”

“What?”

“I asked if you want to get close to them.”

Yoogeom asked with a sullen attitude, misinterpreting his restlessness. He did not know what he was so displeased about, but Harang wanted to cast off this suffocating pressure. Because of the unnecessarily attention-grabbing Yoogeom, the spotlight was also on the very ordinary Harang.

“I have to know something to get close to them or not. You said I’m in Raid Team 1. You just dropped me off here without a word, so of course they think I got in through connections.”

“Connections…”

When he spoke his thoughts without filtering, Yoogeom singled out one word and repeated it. He seemed to quite like it, stroking his chin and pronouncing it a few more times.

“It’s true that Mr. Baek Yoogeom pulled some strings for me. But I said I wouldn’t do it, okay? Ah, that person is coming. Do something!”

Harang no longer had the energy to argue. He would just accept his situation, he just wanted them to stop paying attention to him, but he could see the hunter who had been glaring at him from earlier approaching. Even though he had only peeked at him by rolling his eyes, he could feel his fiercely burning fighting spirit.

Knock, knock.

He was not completely without manners, as he did not just open the door and come in. When a steady knocking sound followed, Yoogeom, the owner of the office, looked at Harang.

“Should I tell him to come in?”

“Why are you asking me that!”

Harang, dumbfounded, clenched his fists and shouted in a small voice. Yoogeom, who was looking at Harang as if he were a hysterical puppy, raised his voice loud enough to be heard outside.

“Come in.”

The door opened smoothly and the hunter he had seen through the live broadcast earlier came in. Was his name Yoo Jaei? The hunter, who was said to have just turned twenty, had a smile on his lips, but his eyes were cold and sunken.

“What is it?”

“There’s someone here I haven’t seen before.”

Even while glaring at Harang as if he would melt, Jaei did not open his mouth until Yoogeom gave him permission. That seemed to show the identity of Raid Team 1, and Harang’s heart sank.