Ch.6422. Cooperation Mission Meeting (2)

“It was really Minsu. How long has it been?”

The face was familiar.

The person who called me was Seo Ha-eun. She was a senior at Aince, one year above me.

Neat skirt outfit. And her seemingly dyed blonde hair was eye-catching. Overall, she was a beautiful woman with a calm demeanor. If not for the dyed hair, she could have passed for a news anchor at the Yeouido Broadcasting Station.

But looking at the spear she carried diagonally across her back, that comparison was impossible.

Aince 18th class, Seo Ha-eun. She’s currently an S-rank hunter. And she was Yuri’s predecessor as student council president.

“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

“Of course. I’ve been doing fine.”

Saying that, the senior grabbed both my hands warmly. She also flashed an incredibly friendly smile.

At that moment, I saw Yuri and Soso’s expressions turn cold.

“I heard about the 19th class graduation ceremony. But the fact that you’re here at the Hunter Association means you must be doing okay now, right? I was worried and sent you a few messages, but you never replied…”

“I changed my phone number, that’s probably why.”

“Really? Then can you give me your new contact information?”

I exchanged phone numbers with Senior Ha-eun. At that moment, somehow the surrounding air seemed to grow colder.

‘That can’t be… my imagination.’

And the killing intent I felt, enough to make my back tingle with pain, was probably coming from Yuri and Soso.

Senior Ha-eun belatedly noticed the two people with me and greeted them as well.

“Oh my. There are two more Aince juniors here. Did Yuri and Soso come together with you? I only sent a wreath to Flame before and haven’t been in touch often. But I’ve heard you’re doing very well. You’re an S-rank guild, right?”

Saying that, she extended her hand to both of them without hesitation.

They both seemed quite displeased, but since they couldn’t possibly not know Senior Ha-eun, they reluctantly accepted her greeting.

‘Senior Ha-eun. Still as sociable as ever.’

To describe Senior Ha-eun’s personality, she was the quintessential social butterfly. That was natural for someone who had been student council president. But her style was completely different from Yuri, who became the next student council president.

If Yuri ruled with overwhelming skill and coldness, Senior Ha-eun had a personality like a kind big sister full of human goodwill.

‘She was even extremely nice to me and Soso, whom she’d only met a few times…’

During the mandatory public service activity for Aince cadets, I had the opportunity to work with Senior Ha-eun when I participated with Soso.

Unlike Yuri who was in the same student council, Senior Ha-eun was extremely kind to the two of us, with whom she had barely any acquaintance.

Since it was an external activity outside the academy, there wasn’t really any need to be mindful of others’ gazes. The only Aince cadets in that service activity were me, Soso, and Senior Ha-eun.

‘So it wasn’t pretense or an act.’

When established hunters who participated in the activity looked down on me, Soso, and other hunters, she even stood up for us and confronted them.

In many ways, Senior Ha-eun was the model cadet. She continued her conversation with the two.

“Yuri, you’re still as beautiful as ever. And Soso, you’ve become so pretty too! That’s why I didn’t recognize you at first. I almost mistook this place for a broadcasting station rather than the Association headquarters.”

“Is that so… I mean… I see… Sister Ha-eun.”

“Have you been well? You haven’t changed at all, senior.”

Fortunately, as the senior moved away from me, the hostility emanating from the two seemed to subside a bit.

But even looking at such a kind-hearted Senior Ha-eun, I couldn’t help feeling a bit uncomfortable.

‘Senior Ha-eun. She looks fine now, but…’

In the original work, AcaHunter, there was a famous episode in the latter half where renowned hunters turned into villains.

Senior Ha-eun was the central figure in that episode.

‘That was quite a plot twist in its own way.’

Of course, the Senior Ha-eun I met after my possession could be described as the furthest thing from a villain.

Just to be sure, I had checked the recent activities of her corporate guild, Sigurd.

Fortunately, there were no unusual developments related to Senior Ha-eun yet.

Rather, whether in news articles or web reactions, there were only favorable responses about Senior Ha-eun recently.

Senior Ha-eun is an elite raid party member of the corporate giant Sigurd. And she’s a very promising hunter being promoted by the Association.

‘Someone like Senior Ha-eun is practically a minor celebrity in Korea.’

Despite that, she was treating the three of us here very comfortably.

‘Because she’s a kind senior. She might not care about the uncomfortable relationship between Sigurd and Flame.’

The corporate giant Sigurd, second only to Manseong, or even surpassing Manseong in certain fields.

In the original work, when Siwoo’s guild Justice was growing in size and power, Sigurd was the guild that most sharply opposed them.

Since Flame is taking Justice’s place, Senior Ha-eun, an elite of Sigurd, could potentially become an enemy in the future.

No, with Pyotr’s collaboration, we’re already clashing with Sigurd in several cities on business matters.

Of course, as long as she doesn’t become a villain, I probably won’t have to directly fight her with weapons drawn.

By then, her conversation with Yuri and Soso had ended. Senior Ha-eun approached me again.

“Anyway, it was great to see you after so long. What a coincidence that we’re participating in the same task force meeting. Could this be fate?”

Yuri coldly replied to that.

“That’s because our Flame received a cooperation request from the Association. It’s nothing special.”

“Still, you’re amazing. Yuri was incredible even at Aince, but for a new guild to already be S-rank… Oh! Look at me. Meeting participants should arrive early. I’m sorry for taking up so much of your time. See you a little later!”

The senior showed a friendly smile, waved to our group, and returned to her companions.

In that moment, as if suddenly remembering something, Senior Ha-eun turned to me and said:

“Oh right. You know about the Aince alumni reunion in a few days, right? Minsu, you should definitely come!”

“I don’t go to those things.”

But at that moment, I thought again about Senior Ha-eun’s future.

‘If Senior Ha-eun becomes a villain… and she’s a spear wielder.’

It was just a vague feeling, but the dragon-slaying spear Epitheus was destined to stop the Red Dragon. Coincidentally, Senior Ha-eun was also a spear wielder.

Of course, if she becomes a villain, she’d be the furthest thing from a dragon slayer, but Yuri and Soso are here.

‘I can’t dismiss any connection, no matter how trivial.’

So I decided to reconsider Senior Ha-eun’s invitation to attend the alumni reunion.

Senior Ha-eun spoke to me once more.

“Many from the 19th class want to see you, Minsu. You must come! Oh, if you’re worried about feeling awkward at such gatherings, don’t worry at all. I’ll stick right by your side. That way you won’t be bored, right? Anyway, I’ll send you a message about the reunion. Read it later!”

Saying that, the senior walked away. And Yuri and Soso remained silent until we entered the conference room.

***

The Association headquarters’ grand conference hall. Like a venue for an international organization’s general assembly, the hall was spacious and formal.

Of course, the Korean Hunter Association is the world’s first hunter association and the model for hunter associations in other countries.

In fact, under the leadership of the Korean Hunter Association, countless overseas hunter deployments have taken place. In terms of status and role, it’s equivalent to a major international organization. This isn’t just showing off.

Of course, while waiting for the meeting to start now, the atmosphere of the grand conference hall was of no interest to Yeon Soso.

She was in a very bad mood. And she was fidgeting restlessly, feeling anxious and uneasy.

‘Why did I have to meet Senior Ha-eun in a place like this?’

Thinking of Senior Ha-eun’s face irritated her. Of course, the senior hadn’t been rude or done anything wrong to Soso and her companions.

Seo Ha-eun is an S-rank hunter. And she’s a promising hunter being promoted by the Korean Hunter Association.

Of course, Yuri who came with them is also an S-rank hunter, and she herself thinks she’ll soon become an S-rank hunter too.

Still, it’s rare for such a famous hunter to approach her juniors first and be so friendly.

According to the hunter world’s hierarchy, they as academy juniors should approach first and show proper respect.

But Seo Ha-eun didn’t care about such formalities at all.

‘She hasn’t changed. Senior Ha-eun…’

And Soso knew well that her kind personality wasn’t fake, having participated in volunteer activities with that senior before.

Even after that, whenever they met at Aince, Senior Ha-eun would buy them snacks. So Soso actually liked Senior Ha-eun personally.

That’s why Soso was feeling even more anxious now. Senior Ha-eun is beautiful and has a great personality. Her skills are exceptional, needless to say, as an S-rank hunter.

‘She’s even publicly famous, so since Minsu is a man, when he sees Senior Ha-eun…’

In many ways, she’s the opposite style of herself, who is disqualified as a woman. Although current Soso isn’t as extremely gloomy as she was at Aince.

Still, compared to Senior Ha-eun, who was so popular at Aince and was called “Mama Ha-eun” among male cadets, she simply couldn’t compete.

‘And Senior Ha-eun.’

During the public service activity she participated in with Minsu in their second year, Minsu showed unexpected prowess while getting involved in an incident.

Senior Ha-eun seemed to know that Minsu had defeated Yuri in a duel, but she probably didn’t know much about a junior who was a year below her.

But that day, during the public service activity, Minsu showed prowess beyond cadet level. And when it was all over,

Soso remembered the look in Senior Ha-eun’s eyes as she gazed at Minsu.

‘It wasn’t just simple surprise. That was…’

Perhaps it was a woman’s instinct. Soso inadvertently noticed that Senior Ha-eun had become aware of Minsu as a man in that moment.

Fortunately, after that, the senior graduated and had no particular contact with Minsu, but Soso, who had frequented countless romance dramas, novels, and online dating communities, knew well.

That such a chance encounter like today’s would be a very good opportunity to revive those old feelings.

Sure enough, Senior Ha-eun repeatedly asked Minsu to come to the alumni reunion.

‘Yuri and Arin are already driving me crazy, but if Minsu starts contacting Senior Ha-eun again…’

She saw them exchange contact information today. She wanted to snatch Senior Ha-eun’s smartphone and smash it right then, but given the location, she had to restrain herself.

Above all, if she did such a thing in front of that kind senior, Minsu might come to hate her. But if Minsu had been very friendly to Senior Ha-eun, Soso would definitely have done something.

‘No. Absolutely not… That popular, famous senior and… letting Minsu be alone with her at the alumni reunion.’

Before the meeting started, Yuri and Minsu seemed to be continuing to talk about this cooperation mission, but nothing was registering in Soso’s mind.

‘Again… I can’t lose Minsu again. By any means necessary.’

In the seats assigned to Flame, Minsu happened to be sitting between Soso and Yuri. And during a pause in Yuri and Minsu’s conversation,

Soso placed her hand on Minsu’s thigh.

***

With the meeting not yet started, Yuri, Soso, and I were sitting in our seats waiting.

The task force formed for this S-rank dungeon raid had impressive participants.

“Manseong and Sigurd’s elite team 1. And the Association’s special department has also agreed to participate.”

Yuri told me after confirming the faces of the elite team. The elite teams from two corporate guilds. And even the Association’s special department.

Each elite team alone is considered among the world’s finest. The fact that three such elite teams have gathered means that this S-rank dungeon raid is no ordinary matter.

I checked the materials I received from Executive Director Maria once more. These materials are also restricted from viewing unless you’re an authorized person.

Just earlier, at the desk where we met Senior Ha-eun, there was another personal verification to receive the license and entry pass to access this place.

‘Paju-Gaeseong S+.’

The Association seems to have sent investigation teams to that dungeon multiple times, but they ultimately failed to identify the boss monster.

And what makes this mission particularly dangerous is that the dungeon’s territorialization has already begun.

Unlike dungeon collapse, where monsters burst out of the dungeon and roam reality, territorialization can actually be more dangerous than collapse.

Territorialization is a phenomenon where the gate and reality interfere with each other, turning reality into a dungeon. And the area affected by territorialization is much wider than the dungeon’s interior.

That’s why this dungeon’s name spans two administrative districts.

“A dungeon that expands its territory to this extent is exceptional. The Association and government are trying to conceal the danger of this dungeon raid as much as possible, but just looking at this data, the risk is…”

As Yuri said, the Association initially seemed to have planned to use this dungeon mission to increase support rates for the Association.

But the dungeon’s danger level was much higher than expected. The delay in the dungeon raid schedule was also because what was originally supposed to be a solo mission led by the Association’s special department was expanded into a cooperative mission with other guilds, requiring coordination time.

‘But this data alone has limitations in understanding that dungeon.’

There was information that would be revealed directly at today’s meeting. And I was also very tense about this mission.

In the original work, the cooperative mission Siwoo participated in was ‘Paju S’. The dungeon didn’t spread to two administrative districts, and the estimated boss monster was S-rank.

In contrast, this mission is upgraded to S+ rank. Accordingly, the level of participating raid teams has changed.

While organizing this mission in my head and waiting for the meeting to start,

I was suddenly startled.

“Lee Minsu. About this alumni reunion. There’s something I want to ask you.”

Soso abruptly placed her hand on my thigh.