The F-Rank Hunter Defies Fate Chapter 2.5

“Didn’t Baek Hyemin tell you? He’s on our team starting today.”

At the single word “team,” Jaei’s intensity grew even stronger.

“He must be incredibly skilled. To come in without even a test. What’s his ability?”

He felt a sense of déjà vu. Harang shot a glare at Yoogeom, conveying the meaning, ‘Do I have to explain again?’

“Min Harang is a civilian. I’ve already confirmed it.”

“Confirmed what?”

What did he confirm? Harang was so surprised that he forgot about Yoo Jaei in front of him and asked. If Yoogeom had been right in front of him, he was in a state to grab him by the collar.

“HunterNet, I searched everywhere, but he wasn’t there.”

It was a casual remark, but it was enough to bring Harang’s wildly racing heart rate back to normal. After all, Harang’s physical abilities, even after repeated level-ups, only amounted to a total of 6. With today’s advanced technology, it might have been possible, but at the time of his awakening, there was no way to detect such minute stats.

To think he wasn’t on HunterNet, where only the awakened were registered. Harang, who had been living in hiding because he had no right to view various data networks, let out a sigh of relief.

“A civilian? Then what can he do on our team? Jeonghye noona is already writing the reports.”

Regardless of whether Harang was calming himself down, a pure question surfaced on Jaei’s face. Harang, seeing a normal reaction for once, could not show it but agreed internally.

“Min Harang is the team’s fortune-telling assistant.”

“A f-fortune-telling assistant…”

Yoogeom, who had spoken, was confident, but Harang wanted to hide. It seemed the young hunter felt the same way. Jaei, who had stammered and repeated the job title Yoogeom had mentioned, asked back as if he had realized something.

“Was the lucky color you mentioned earlier for real? You, do you have some kind of divine power? A shaman?”

“No! I just read tarot cards. Tarot!”

Harang, who had been listening to their conversation, jumped up and vehemently denied it. When he even held out the cards from his pocket, Yoo Jaei looked at Harang’s desk with a calm gaze.

“You’re a con artist.”

But the silence was brief, and contempt filled Yoo Jaei’s eyes. As he spoke, covering his mouth with his hand, Harang had mixed feelings. This was the normal reaction, it was right… but he felt bad.

“It’s not like that. Min Harang is the real deal.”

“Boss! How did you get caught up with a superstition-monger like that? This won’t do. Jeonghye noona! Baek Hyemin! Drag this con artist out immediately.”

Harang, who had suddenly become a con artist of the century, let out a deep sigh. He glanced behind Yoo Jaei and saw Mu Jeonghye and Baek Hyemin, who had run over in the meantime, peeking their heads in. Hyemin, who was just big in stature, mouthed a question. Should I take him?

No, it’s fine. Harang looked at Yoogeom, who was only making the situation worse, and then calmly accepted Yoo Jaei’s glare.

“Mr. Yoo Jaei Hunter, I’m not a hunter, but I’m not a con artist either.”

Thinking he would freak out if he got too close, he tapped the desk with his fingertips. At that, Yoo Jaei, who was on high alert, followed Harang’s gesture and shifted his gaze to the tarot deck.

“I don’t know why either, but it seems the tarot I read suits your boss well. You hunters say that luck is also important, right? It’s not so much that he truly believes it, but more like a routine. Like what athletes do before a game.”

The words spoken to Jaei were also the result of Harang’s endless deliberation. It was not an entirely impossible story, so Jaei’s attitude also softened a little.

“Isn’t that obvious? There’s no way the boss would seriously believe something like that.”

This time, a sigh of relief escaped. Harang, who was about to introduce himself and leave, flinched his shoulders at the voice that followed.

“Then you can read mine too.”

Instead of leaving the team leader’s office, Yoo Jaei was asking back sharply. Harang only understood the meaning after seeing the eyes full of suspicion. This young hunter was testing Harang’s worth.

“Of course. You can pick one card.”

Harang roughly shuffled and spread the deck he had just put down. Yoo Jaei did not seem to be expecting much either, as he chose a card carelessly.

Using a skill.

Client: Hunter Yoo Jaei

Current Mood: Suspicion, Jealousy

The rank difference is ignored due to the effect of a passive skill.

Today’s One-Line Fortune: A spring rain is falling. It’s time to wake up from your winter slumber. You are a stronger person than you think. Don’t be afraid, and take a step forward.

Lucky Color: Sky Blue

Lucky Item: Glasses

As soon as he flipped the card Yoo Jaei had chosen, the status window appeared without fail. As the letters appeared one by one as if a book were opening, Harang thought for a moment. He could not shake the feeling that he had peeked into an important destiny.

“A con artist after all…”

It seemed both the team leader and the team member were equally impatient. Harang, who was trying to decide how much to say, hurriedly cut off Yoo Jaei’s words.

“It seems you’re worrying about something. It says you’re fully prepared, so you should trust yourself and start. The lucky color is sky blue and the lucky item is glasses.”

Yoo Jaei’s confident face hardened slightly. He seemed to firmly believe he was good at acting, but the twenty-year-old hunter was just fresh-faced.

“That’s some skill, to be able to bewitch the boss.”

Yoo Jaei licked his lips and said, “Indeed,” lifting his chin haughtily.

“Still, don’t go around sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. It’ll be troublesome if any strange rumors start.”

The choice of words was a little poor, but that was exactly what Harang had been hoping for. Finally finding someone he could communicate with, Harang nodded his head vigorously.

“Well… you seem to have the right attitude.”

Yoo Jaei, who had moved back at the intense reaction, muttered grudgingly.

“Are you all done?”

Hyemin, who had been watching blankly, as if he had noticed the situation was resolved, came into the team leader’s office. When Harang nodded, this time Jeonghye opened her mouth.

“Team Leader, I’ve finished sorting the spoils. What should I do with the consumable items?”

He had thought she had followed out of curiosity like Hyemin, but she really did have business to attend to. Harang feigned disinterest and subtly perked up his ears.

It had been a long time since he had given up on living as a hunter, but the changed world was full of exciting things. From gems that could emit all sorts of abilities just by holding them, to equipment that raised stats in an instant. There were still people who laundered their identities through good items or skill rewards, even if their awakening abilities or ranks were poor.

“Do it by the book.”

According to rumors, the higher the floor of the tower, the better the rewards. On top of that, it had the ‘first’ designation, so most people would have been scrambling to get even the smallest scrap. However, Yoogeom was as indifferent as a hunter who made pop-ups ring as if it were a daily meal.

Harang inadvertently let out a disappointed sigh. At that, the gazes of the hunters in the team leader’s office focused on one spot. From Hyemin, who asked thoughtlessly, Should I give you mine? to Jaei, who glared frighteningly with a Has he lost his mind? look.

“Hmph.”

Yoogeom silently stared at Harang, who was flustered, not knowing where to look. Had it been when he first started climbing the tower, perhaps. But in truth, Yoogeom had not the slightest interest in anything other than the personal rewards that came in automatically. It was possible because his team members or Mincheol took care of it for him, but it probably would have been similar even if Yoogeom had received no share.

“I’ll go myself.”

Yoogeom, who had organized his thoughts in a short time, stood up from his seat and said.

“Really? I want to go too.”

Yoo Jaei’s cold complexion changed in an instant.

“The rewards this time were really good. I was hoping you would get them for sure, Team Leader.”

Yoogeom lightly patted the head of Yoo Jaei, who approached, chattering. At just that, Yoo Jaei shrugged his shoulders and smiled happily. Even though they were in the same team leader’s office, Harang felt as if he were the only one left out. A young team member with a sparkling talent and a blunt but appreciative team leader.

“Min Harang, you come too.”

“What?”

“Why him? He’s not even a hunter, is he?”

A furious Yoo Jaei was faster than the bewildered Harang’s question. Although he had let out a disappointed sigh, Harang had no intention of being particularly greedy. He just felt awkward, as if he had become a shameless person.

“You asked me to introduce you.”

“Ah… yes.”

So that’s what it was. It seemed he had no intention of sharing items or skills. Harang recalled the raid pop-up he had seen. He had seen Baek Hyemin, Mu Jeonghye, and Yoo Jaei, so the only one left was Kim Yonghoon.

“I will go as well.”

If Yoo Jaei was stuck to Baek Yoogeom, then Jeonghye approached Harang. Harang, who had wanted to maintain as much distance as possible, wrinkled his nose and backed away.

“Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”

There was only one thing that was uncomfortable. Raid Team 1. Instead of saying it outright, Harang gestured with his chin at Yoogeom, who still had not left. Let’s just go.

Just as Hyemin had said in the morning, the item warehouse was on the 28th floor, one floor above. It was close enough to walk up, but when Hyemin, who had followed along saying he did not want to be alone, also tagged along, the wide hallway became packed.

The one saving grace was that there was no one to see the strange sight. Harang, who had not been at ease even after hearing that they used four floors entirely for themselves, walked in Hyemin’s shadow.

Taking the elevator up just one floor and getting off again, Harang did not let down his guard for a single moment. His heart pounded, wondering if someone might see him.

If the 27th floor was an open office space, the 28th floor was dominated by tight security. Harang clicked his tongue inwardly at the thick door he saw as soon as he got off.

“Please wait a moment, it’ll open soon.”

Letting Hyemin’s guidance go in one ear and out the other, Harang watched as Baek Yoogeom went through iris recognition. It was said that it could only be opened with biometric information, not a password or an access card. If it was only possible for Raid Team 1, could his information also be registered? The silly assumption quickly disappeared due to the door opening with a loud noise.

The cold-colored door was even more impressive when seen from the side. A sense of pressure was felt from its thickness, which looked to be about 15cm. Well, it was the exclusive warehouse of Saenara’s, and on top of that, the most outstanding Raid Team 1, so anyone would covet it. He did not know for sure, but it probably was not just steel. It must be some kind of special metal brought from somewhere in the tower.

“Aren’t you coming?”

“I’m coming.”

Harang, who had been captivated by the rare metal, noticed that four hunters were waiting for him and hurried his steps.

“It’s a door made by mixing barium titanate with orichalcum. It’s said to be the strongest among existing metals.”

Just like when they left the office, Jeonghye followed closely and explained. Titani… what? It was a name he had never heard before in his life, so his tongue twisted even trying to repeat it in his head.

“Ah, yes…”

Harang was not particularly curious, but considering Jeonghye’s sincerity, he awkwardly played along. After walking a few steps, a chilly sound reached his ears.

Swish, rustle.

It sounded like the wind one could hear in a bamboo forest, and also like something being cut.

The identity of the sound that gave him goosebumps was soon revealed. Following the hallway, which felt quite long, and turning a corner, he saw a man crouching. Amidst all the equipment on display, he alone had his head buried in the floor.

“Kim Yonghoon.”

“What brings the Team Leader all the way here?”

Harang, who had been looking at the equipment lined up on the wall, lowered his gaze at the surprisingly ordinary tone of voice. Yonghoon was diligently sharpening a greatsword as big as his own body. The eerie sound effect he had heard on his way here had started from there.

“This is a reward I got this time, and I just couldn’t let it be. Look at this color. Isn’t it incredibly cool?”

He would have to take back what he said about him being ordinary. Yonghoon went on and on, praising the equipment, until Harang’s expression became somewhat fed up. Seeing him ramble on and on even when no one was responding, it seemed this kind of situation was a daily occurrence for Raid Team 1.

“Ah, you must be the new team member. Nice to meet you.”

Yonghoon, who had been muttering ecstatically about the sword blade this and the edge that, spoke as if he had just discovered Harang. Since he had been greeted nonetheless, Harang also bowed his head in return.

“You knew too, Vice-Leader? About this superstition-monger?”

What was he so displeased about, even with just a simple exchange of greetings? Yoo Jaei’s sharp gaze darted back and forth between Harang and Yonghoon.

“Jaei, you have to speak nicely. Didn’t you see the organizational chart? I saw it on my way to work, it was added.”

Yonghoon gently chided Jaei and lifted the greatsword he had been polishing so preciously. The greatsword, which had looked massive even when lying down, felt even heavier when it stood upright. In addition, the reflection of the lights made Yonghoon look like a legendary warrior.

“Wow… that’s cool.”

Harang let out a small gasp without realizing it.

“You’ve got a good eye. I look forward to working with you.”

Kim Yonghoon, catching the honest compliment, winked one eye. At the somehow familiar sight, Harang guessed that Yoo Jaei had learned his showmanship from him.

Yonghoon did not stop there and held out his other hand while supporting the giant sword with just one. The moment Harang, captivated by an inexplicable charm, was about to take that hand.

“Kim Yonghoon, 28 years old, his class is Swordsman.”

Someone recited the sentence he had seen on Cherry Wiki. Wait, is that what you call an introduction? Harang, dumbfounded, looked back at Yoogeom. Seeing him hold his head high with confidence, it seemed he felt nothing was wrong.

“Is it okay to just reveal information like that?”

Finding that detestable, Harang lowered his voice and asked Yonghoon. Yonghoon, whose handshake had been interrupted, lightly clenched and unclenched his own hand. Though he said nothing, the greatsword he had been holding in his other hand disappeared.

“It’s fine. I have hidden skills and equipment separately.”

That must be true. It wasn’t like Harang had asked out of real concern. He just wanted to ask someone if that man’s brain was okay.

“Mu Jeonghye, 25 years old, her class is Elementalist.”

At the another Cherry Wiki sentence that followed, Jeonghye greeted him with her eyes. When Harang bowed in kind, Hyemin stepped forward.

“I’m twenty-three and I’m a Tanker.”

This, too, was information anyone could find with a simple search. Even though he already knew it, Harang listened as if he were very interested. The content might be lacking, but these were people he would be with for at least a month. He did not want to get off on the wrong foot, at least.

Last was the turn of the youngest, Yoo Jaei. Jaei, who had reacted sensitively as soon as Yonghoon had acknowledged Harang, was waiting for his turn with his shoulders confidently squared.

“Yoo Jaei, 20 years old, his classes are Buffer and Healer.”

Yoo Jaei, who had his eyes gently cast down, looked at Yoogeom with an expression that said, ‘Is that all?’ It might have been his imagination, but Yoo Jaei’s majestic shoulders seemed to have slumped a little.

“Wait, wait a minute. I’m the first winner of Super Hunter K. I beat the odds of 1 in 600,000. Do you know how rare a hunter with two classes is? On top of that, I’m the only support hunter in the top 10 rankings.”

“Ah, I see. That’s amazing.”

He hastily added an explanation, but Harang’s attitude was just perfunctory. Yoo Jaei’s usually haughty face turned fierce. It was not that he was intentionally ignoring him; Harang was truly indifferent to Super Hunter K, as well as the rankings. If it was a dream he could never achieve, it was better not to even start.

“I’m Min Harang. I’m twenty-six this year, and I’m not a hunter, I’m a civilian. My original profession is a tarot… master. Anyway, they say I’m exclusively assigned to this team, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

He had thought it was the best choice he had made to hide his abilities, but now that he had to say it in a place like this, it was a little embarrassing. As he finally managed to utter his superficial profession, Jeonghye acknowledged him.

“So that was the site the boss was always looking at. I heard the guild members often use it too.”

That was information he did not really want to know.

“Yes… well. But don’t believe it too much. It’s easier if you think of it as just organizing your thoughts.”

“As expected! You’re different, Master. Other places tell you to pay up first if you want a more detailed reading.”

Hyemin was likely being sincere, but Harang’s face hardened even more reluctantly. Yoo Jaei, who had been watching the three of them chat in confusion, took a step closer as if he had made a firm decision.

“Then… I’ll try to believe in it too.”

No, that’s not it. Harang wanted to dissuade the determinedly vowing Yoo Jaei. He had hoped that even if he was treated as a superstition-monger, he would remain a normal person. It was the moment his favorability towards Yoo Jaei, which had been drawing a gentle curve, plummeted vertically.