Chapter 71 - Chapter 71 (1/2)

Yu Jin-Ho was taken by surprise.

'….The Red Gate?'

Why was the story of the Red Gate brought up here, out of the blue?

Since the incident had been talked about non-stop in mass media, even Yu Jin-Ho knew what had happened. But, this timing was suspiciously coincidental and so, he found it difficult to figure out where his father was going with this.

'And this man here...'

A man who was supposed to be a survivor of that incident.

Why did the survivor that the media was madly scrambling over to find appear here? Yu Jin-Ho's curiosity continued to balloon greatly.

After staring at his son for a little while, Yu Myung-Han slowly opened his mouth.

"Looks like you haven't heard of it yet."

"Pardon me?"

Yu Myung-Han disregarded the still-confused Yu Jin-Ho for the time being and shifted his gaze over to Goh Myung-Hwan, sitting there in nervousness.

"Mister Hunter."

"Yes, Chairman."

"Please inform my son who was there besides the White Tiger Guild's new recruits on that day."

"Understood."

Goh Myung-Hwan's stare now was directed to Yu Jin-Ho.

Unintentionally, Yu Jin-Ho met Goh Myung-Hwan's gaze, and a question mark floated up on his face.

Goh Myung-Hwan opened his mouth.

"There was a young female Hunter who looked to be a high schooler, and....."

'A young female Hunter?'

Even then, Yu Jin-Ho couldn't imagine just whose name would pop out from Goh Myung-Hwan's lips.

"....And, Mister Seong Jin-Woo."

Tumble.

Yu Jin-Ho thought that he could hear his own heart fall to the pit of his stomach.

'H-hyung-nim was there at the Red Gate incident?'

What was going on here?

He was already feeling quite confused, but now, his thought process devolved into an even more complicated mess. In the middle of his confusion, he suddenly remembered something.

'Wait. Now that I think about it, a few days ago....'

….Hyung-nim was conversing with such familiarity with Hahn Song-Yi, someone whom he didn't even share a casual greeting before that day.

"Do you still remember the name of that female Hunter, by any chance?"

"It was Miss Hahn Song-Yi."

How can this be?

Yu Jin-Ho's jaw dropped to the floor.

To think, there was such a secret to the mysterious relationship between those two people.....

'Wait, if that's the case, then...?'

Then, the identity of the potential helper the news outlets were talking about was....

As if he knew what Yu Jin-Ho was about to ask, Goh Myung-Hwan quickly confirmed the truth.

"We, the members of the White Tiger Guild and Miss Hahn Song-Yi, could escape from the Red Gate all safe and sound thanks to Mister Seong Jin-Woo."

'Hah, haha, ha...'

….Hyung-nim, just what did you do in there?

Yu Jin-Ho formed an expression comprised of half surprise and half joy. He even forgot that he was in front of his father, and asked out loud.

"What happened inside the Red Gate?"

Goh Myung-Hwan glanced to his side, to the head of the dining table.

Yu Myung-Han nodded his head.

Goh Myung-Hwan carried a face of a man dying to open his mouth until then, and as soon as the permission was given, he began to tell his story with great relish.

"So, what happened was...."

Yu Jin-Ho's eyes twinkled as he listened.

"At first, everyone was taken back somewhat, after learning that a pair of rank E Hunters were coming to observe the new recruit training process. But then...."

Goh Myung-Hwan began describing what happened that day with a hyped-up voice reminiscent of a little kid proudly showing off to a friend the brand new toy he got as a gift.

However....

"He did what to a rank A Hunter??"

Goh Myung-Hwan wasn't the only over-excited person in the room.

"Exactly!! With his palm, he went like, Pah!! He smacked the back of Kim Cheol's head, and...."

"Huh...."

As he listened to the exploits of hyung-nim, Yu Jin-Ho's heart beat faster as if he was there, experiencing everything personally.

'As expected of hyung-nim....'

To him, hunting down high-ranked monsters was nothing. Well, he could knock out a rank A Hunter with a single slap, after all.

Yu Jin-Ho felt so moved and proud at the same time after realising that such an incredible person had been standing by his side until now.

Meanwhile, Goh Myung-Hwan continued on with his story.

"....I really thought that we'd die for sure when dozens of Ice Elves showed up. But then again...."

Was he paying too close an attention to the story? Time flew by really quickly. The definitely-not-short story of that day's events was finally coming to its end.

The excited Goh Myung-Hwan's voice became louder.

"So, what I'm saying is, this whole thing is just too unfair. Mister Seong Jin-Woo saved our a*ses back there. He's my life's saviour."

Yu Jin-Ho unconsciously nodded his head in agreement. He could understand where Goh Myung-Hwan was coming from. He also had received similar help before, too.

"But then, I'm not supposed to reveal the existence of Mister Seong Jin-Woo? I find it difficult to accept the decision of the White Tiger Guild. However, Chairman Yu has given me a call out of the blue, and so, here I am."

It was at this point that Yu Myung-Han stopped Goh Myung-Hwan in a dignified manner.

"Goh Myung-Hwan Hunter-nim."

"Yes?"

"I believe that should be sufficient."

"Ah. My apologies, sir. I got carried away."

Goh Myung-Hwan embarrassedly lowered his head.

Yu Myung-Han's stare then shifted over to his son, Yu Jin-Ho.

"In the process of investigating more about Hunter Seong Jin-Woo, a name that I never expected to hear popped up."

At the ends of Yu Myung-Han's pointing finger....

His index finger pointed to a piece of paper with Yu Jin-Ho's name written on it. And it was none other than the raid records Yu Jin-Ho handed over to his father.

His index finger pointed lower and stopped at the three words 'Seong Jin-Woo' next.

The raid leader, Yu Jin-Ho. The raid member, Seong Jin-Woo.

This was irrefutable evidence.

'….I'm busted.'

The truth about hyung-nim helping him out during the process of acquiring his Guild Master licence was now out in the open. Yu Jin-Ho's expression hardened.

"Hunter Seong Jin-Woo aided you greatly during your attempt to earn the Guild Master licence. Do you acknowledge this fact?"

".....Yes, Father."

"Is there anything else you want to add?"

"..."

Yu Jin-Ho's vision darkened.

Now that the matter of hyung-nim lending aid was out in the open, it was impossible to convince his father that he was the right person to take on the position of the Yujin Guild's new Master.

'….....'

He sensed his father's strict eyes bearing down on him. In the past, being subjected to that withering glare, Yu Jin-Ho would lose all strength in his legs.

'However!'

He couldn't give up like this. For the first time ever, Yu Jin-Ho summoned his courage in front of his father.

He lowered his head and raised his voice.

"Can you entrust the Yujin Guild to me, Father?"

"I will."

"Eh?"

At that refreshingly simple answer, Yu Jin-Ho hurriedly raised his head.

"I shall entrust the Yujin Guild to you."

"But, why....?"

"Didn't you say it yourself? It is too risky to entrust the Guild to an outsider. With you here, is there a reason to take on that risk now?"

"B-but, I tried to deceive you, father."

"You thought I'd scold you and kick you out because of that?"

What was going on here?

Yu Jin-Ho thought that his father was smiling, for some reason. But, Yu Myung-Han's lips would always remain in a straight line, no matter what the occasion was. So, how come?

"If you entered the dungeons without any plans whatsoever, then I'd have done just that. Because I don't remember raising an idiot son like that."

Yu Jin-Ho's face became hot at that moment.

'If I hadn't met hyung-nim, then I'd be getting scolded by father right about now....'

No, wait – he'd be dead long before that.

Yu Jin-Ho spat out a sigh of relief inwardly.

"However, I have a condition."

"Yes, Father."

"This Hunter Seong Jin-Woo... can you bring him over to Yujin?"

Yu Jin-Ho's eyes opened wider.