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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Kang Dohui, Shall We Do That? (1)
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In a world where monsters could appear anywhere, anytime, even civilians carried weapons.
In such a world, it was perhaps natural that Hunters, who took the lead in ensuring public safety, garnered people's attention.
From a young age, children wrote down their dreams of becoming S-rank Hunters in the future,
and with the name of 'Hunter' appearing in every corner of cultural industries and merchandise, there was no need to question their popularity.
Among them was the Velvet Hunter Academy.
A world-renowned elite educational institution founded by the #1 ranked Demon King,
and a school that anyone who awakened a Status Window dreamed of attending at least once.
However, only a handful of Hunters could actually gain admission.
Therefore, when Chunhwa and Touken, two celebrities who had entered the academy, formed a party and announced their dungeon clear even before the midterm evaluations,
it was only natural that such attention would be drawn.
Against this backdrop, the ball Shin Se-hee had set in motion was rapidly growing in size, like a snowball rolling down a slope.
『[Issue Check] Star Prospects, Touken and Chunhwa Return… The Korean Peninsula is Stirring with Anticipation!』
『Crazy…! America is Shocked, China is Appalled, Japan is on its Knees! The Utopia Party! 'Why doesn't our Japan have a party like that!!!!'』
『[Hunter Talk!] Touken! Is the Reason She, Who Used to Solo, Formed a Party Because of Loneliness?』
Even though enough news had already poured out while they were in the dungeon,
newspapers that weren't even present seemed determined to jump on the bandwagon,
churning out articles filled with nationalistic fervor and provocative wording.
It was a self-replicating phenomenon, where articles begat more articles, which were then dragged and re-used like a wrecking ball.
The comments attached to them also multiplied by dozens in the blink of an eye.
First, the reactions to Shin Se-hee and Kang Dohui, who had been quiet for a while since entering the academy.
─ Wow! Hello, Se-hee! Welcome, Se-hee! Se-hee YEEEE! Scream your lungs out!!!
─ I thought we wouldn't be able to see our goddess for a while after she entered the academyㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
─ Crazyyyy hahaha Touken unnie's scale is insane lol She formed a party with Shin Se-hee and came out ZZZ
─ A party managed by Chunhwa-nim? So, all those Touken stans who always mocked Shin Se-hee for being weaker than Kang Dohui are gonna shut up, right?
┖ Bullsh*t. This is Chunhwa officially declaring that she admits her combat ability is lacking and she's retreating to the background. Argue with me and you're a flower shop punk lol Touken is a god.
┖ Yeah, Picked.Up.Dohui.
┖ Yeah, Back.Room.Sehee.
And then there was the new face who had carved his name alongside Chunhwa and Touken.
Jin Yuha also emerged as a hot topic among the comments.
─ Seriously, wtf. What's up with his face? Did they really pick a party leader based on looks?
─ A guy… as strong as Kang Dohui? And with *that* face? Seriously shocking… Is that face even real?
─ Holy sh*t, would Chunhwa be crazy enough to lie, putting her name on the line? So, it's true that he's stronger than her, but what the hell?
─ Explain what 'lifted and thrust' means explain what 'lifted and thrust' means explain what 'lifted and thrust' means explain what 'lifted and thrust' means explain what 'lifted and thrust' means.
─ Yuha Oppa… Is this it? Is this where I'm going to die?
┖ ●▅▇█▇▆▅▄▇
─ I didn't know it, but I guess I like Jin Yuha…
Fortunately, Shin Se-hee's manipulation of public opinion seemed to have a significant effect, as most expressed favorable reactions and anticipation towards Jin Yuha.
However, there were, as always, those who looked at him with disdain.
─ Tsk, I'm disappointed in Touken and Chunhwa. It seems like they're just using a decent-looking guy as a figurehead party leader and doing noise marketing with his looks.
─ If you read the article carefully, it says he's part of a male quota system. Seems like the academy used him to attract attention? There's no reason to hype up someone who got in without even taking an exam.
─ Tsk tsk tsk, he won against Touken? It's obviously a blatant lie, but look at you guys getting all hyped up. Do you even give your all when fighting a guy? He probably just went easy on him, landed one lucky punch, and then claimed victory, lol.
┖ If this article is wrong, Touken's personality wouldn't let her stay silent. Don't you know Touken throws gender-equality punches when she gets pissed off? And there are already testimonies from students, so what nonsense are you spouting?
As I scrolled through the comments on my phone, Shin Se-hee, who had subtly leaned over from beside me, hardened her expression and bit her lip.
"How dare they…"
When I glanced sideways, Shin Se-hee quickly composed herself and put on a worried expression.
"A-are you alright?"
"Hm? About what?"
"Uhm, please don't pay too much attention to the comments! They're just talking without knowing anything…!"
"Are you worried I got hurt by reading this or something?"
"…"
Shin Se-hee remained silent, but her quietness only served as an affirmation.
"Don't worry. I don't really care about stuff like this."
Before and after my transmigration, I've always been an orphan, so I'm truly immune to parent-related insults.
My mental fortitude wasn't so fragile as to crumble from attacks by people whose faces I didn't even know.
"Even if you're fine now, it might suddenly come to mind later—before you sleep, during a meal, or at any point in your daily life…"
I let out a soft, deflating chuckle.
"I said I'm fine. Honestly, I'm surprised it's less than I expected. If you hadn't arranged it like this, it probably wouldn't have ended with just insults, you know? You did a good job."
"If that's the case, then that's a relief…"
Shin Se-hee looked at me with a dubious expression.
"Hmm, I think it'd still be better to explain it fully."
"Huh?"
"I fully understand why you put out the article this way, but it seems like that person over there hasn't quite grasped it yet."
I gestured with my head towards the back.
There stood Kang Dohui, enveloped in surging mana.
"Ah."
After all, she had gotten quite a harsh nickname because of this incident.
Ahem. Ahem.
Shin Se-hee cleared her throat, approached Kang Dohui, and spoke.
"Kang Dohui. I truly regret how the article turned out."
"...What? Regret?"
At Shin Se-hee's words, Kang Dohui's eyebrows twitched.
"Yes, I only stated the facts, but it seems the article was released in a somewhat provocative manner."
"Facts? Provocative…?"
Kang Dohui let out a dry, incredulous laugh.
"Yes. But…"
Shin Se-hee pursed her lips, carefully choosing her words.
"Did I state anything that wasn't true?"
"What?"
"You acknowledged Jin Yuha-ssi, didn't you? Isn't that why you joined the party? And it's also true that you lost to Jin Yuha-ssi in the spar. Well, the wording 'lifted and thrust' was a bit strong, but… I didn't say that."
"…"
"…"
Kang Dohui closed her mouth and glared at Shin Se-hee.
Shin Se-hee, not backing down, stared right back at her.
Then.
Surprisingly, it was Kang Dohui who sharply turned her head away first.
"Tch."
Kang Dohui clicked her tongue, turned her back, and strode towards the warp gate.
'Hmm…'
I scratched my chin, watching Kang Dohui's retreating back.
"Shin Se-hee."
I turned my head to look at Shin Se-hee.
"Yes?"
"You can distribute the party's profits fairly, right? To all party members."
"All of them? But Jin Yuha-ssi, as the party leader…"
"Distribute my share equally, just like the other party members. And I clearly said 'all party members,' didn't I?"
"...Are you suggesting that I would give Kang Dohui a disadvantage because of what just happened?"
Shin Se-hee furrowed her brows, as if asking if I saw her as such a petty woman.
I chuckled and shook my head.
"No. I was worried you'd exclude yourself."
At that, she flinched.
"Just in case one of the hardworking party members today decided to remove their own name, claiming they didn't do anything."
"Th-that's…"
"I recognized you as a party member, so you wouldn't be thinking of refusing that, would you?"
"N-no, I wouldn't…"
"Alright, then I'll leave the cleanup to you. I have somewhere I need to go in a hurry."
I said, looking towards the warp gate.
* * *
Kang Dohui, by nature, possessed an incredibly strong ego and pride.
She always spoke her mind directly, without holding back, no matter where she was,
and if anyone showed disrespect or looked down on her, she wouldn't hesitate to punish them, regardless of who they were.
Though she might seem simple at first glance, there was a reason behind all her actions,
and if she acted roughly, it was only when someone crossed a line she had drawn.
'Yet, Kang Dohui had suppressed herself considerably during this dungeon expedition.'
Even when we took paths that clearly weren't the way, Kang Dohui followed my orders without raising any objections.
Kang Dohui, who had always operated solo, had no history of collecting byproducts other than magic stones.
Even so, despite Lee Yu-ri's remarks that stung her pride, asking if byproducts were a joke, she silently picked up the thorns.
And finally, regarding Shin Se-hee, her fated rival, writing provocative articles for the press without a word.
Ultimately, Kang Dohui swallowed her pride.
'That's truly like Kang Dohui.'
The Dorm of Valor, the dormitory for dealers.
I stood before her door with a small smile.
Knock—knock—knock—
"Who is it?"
As I lightly knocked on the door, a low voice came from inside.
"It's me."
"...Jin Yuha?"
Creeak—
Soon, the door opened, and Kang Dohui emerged, a bewildered expression on her face.
"Hey, Kang Dohui."
I looked at her, my eyes curving into a smile.
"How about we… do that?"
At that, her expression twisted into a grotesque grimace, as if I'd said something insane.
"...What?"