The Daemyung Group employee's face was full of composure, as if he had anticipated my choice. Also... it seemed he had noticed that I was acting.
"Who is that one person?" "I cannot tell you until you sign the contract." "...."
Since they proposed a contract to me, I had already figured out that they intended to entrust me with the treatment of someone from the owner's family. But the fact that they couldn't tell me even now meant there was a problem with the current Chairman or his successor.
'I hope I don't get entangled in anything dangerous.'
Saying I would leave my things at home and come out, he nodded and stepped aside. As soon as I entered my house, I rented an A-Rank Status Effect Removal skill for 3 hours.
'3 hours is enough to treat anyone, anywhere in Seoul.'
Thanks to that, my remaining Origin Power dropped below 100, but since the resource consumption is only 40, there's no problem.
"Are you ready?" "…Yes." "Then, please get in."
When I sat in the back seat of the luxury car, the secretary sat next to me and held out the contracts. One was a contract with no limit on the number of times, and the other was a contract that removed the limit for only one designated person.
"I will go with the designated person option." "You thought well."
As soon as I signed the contract, the car departed, and the secretary organized the documents without a word. After traveling for about 40 minutes, we arrived at the VIP ward of Hankook University Hospital.
"You may enter after knocking twice." "…Is it the Chairman?"
The secretary bowed his head silently and stepped back, so I had no choice but to knock lightly. Seeing no response, I looked at the secretary, who nodded to signal that I could enter.
"Excuse me." "…You've come."
Sitting on the sofa in the center of the spacious VIP room was the Chairman of Daemyung Group. As soon as I saw him, I realized he hadn't sought me out for a simple disease.
"What do you want from me?" "Sit down first."
At his soft yet weighty voice, I sat on the sofa to his left.
"It's lifespan." "Lifespan is not a status effect." "No, it is a status effect."
Saying so, the Chairman of Daemyung Group opened a scrapbook containing old newspaper articles.
"Read it." "…I apologize, but I am weak in foreign languages." "Is that so? Then I suppose I'll have to read it for you."
The contents of the scrapbook the Chairman read were all from the early days when Gates and Hunters first began to appear.
"…Boring? Then let's get to the core. The shocking efficacy of the first-ever S-Rank Status Effect Removal skill." "…!" "It says that it returns the biological clock by 3 to 4 months, limited to 20 times per person."
It's a skill I can't rent right now, but the A-Rank skill I rented is more than capable of producing the same effect. No, to be precise...
"Looking here, it says the research began when abnormal phenomena were discovered, just like when you treated that child today." "That means..." "Yes, S-Rank Status Effect Removal skills classify a shortening lifespan as a status effect."
Having said that much, the Chairman drank water with an expression that felt slightly weary.
"Chairman. My skill is not S-Rank." "I know. It simply showed an effect similar to an S-Rank Status Effect skill because your mana efficiency is high." "Still, it isn't S-Rank." "That's why I called you, thinking to test it."
Since the Chairman looked at me with a serious expression, I used the A-Rank Status Effect Removal skill as he wished. I thought there would be no change, but I could clearly see a ruddy complexion returning to his face.
—Beep-beep!
"…Not 3 to 4 months, but about 2 months. Then the number of times will surely decrease too, so it's better to assume a maximum of 10 times." "What is that right now...?" "It's a device that shows the state of my body."
The screen he showed me displayed a model of a human body dyed red here and there, along with numbers.
"…I see a lot of red." "Until just a moment ago, it was all red." "That means..." "Yes, thanks to your skill just now, most bodily functions have returned to normal."
Saying that, the Chairman stood up, did some light stretching, nodded, and spoke.
"Then, I should give you a reward. Let's see... How about listing your name in the Daemyung Guild?" —Clack! "What are you...!" "As a guest member."
I jumped up from my seat in a momentary fit of anger, but I had to pause at the words 'guest member.'
"As you may know, all large guilds manage Gates up to B-Rank by fixing them with anchors." "…Yes. I know." "If you list your name in the Daemyung Guild, assuming schedules don't overlap... you will be able to freely enter all Gates managed by the Daemyung Guild."
Saying that, the Chairman handed me an SD card.
"That SD card has an app installed with the locations of all Gates managed by Daemyung Group. If you insert it into a device that can use the internet, you'll also be able to check the reservation status." "…Why are you giving me such authority?" "It's the price for extending my life and the life of Daemyung Group."
The Chairman said that Daemyung Group is currently undergoing a succession competition, and the fight seems likely to continue for at least another 2 years.
"But the time left for me was, at most, 17 months." "…Even if 2 months are added with my skill, isn't it still insufficient?" "Once a month. I will call you separately."
Then, if 10 times is the limit as the Chairman said, it means his lifespan increases by a maximum of 20 months. So I offered to use the skill once more right there, but...
"Ah. You don't seem to know yet. One can only receive the Status Effect Removal skill once a month." "Is, is that so?"
The Chairman laughed pleasantly, walked over to the bed, lay down, and spoke.
"You, you're hiding something, aren't you?" "…I am not." "Keep hiding it well in the future." "I don't know what you mean."
Taking it as a sign to leave, I stood up, but suddenly the Chairman's voice called out.
"The Association will raise your rank to B this time." "…How do you know that?" "However, I will use my influence to make it C-Rank." "…Pardon?"
When I turned around dumbfounded, the Chairman clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"Think carefully. This is for your sake, but it is also for mine." "Chair..." "I'm tired. I must rest now." "…."
Since it was clearly an order to leave, I gritted my teeth and left the hospital room. The secretary from earlier was waiting in front of the room and said a car was ready.
"It's fine. I'll go on my own." "Understood. Then, we will come to pick you up next time."
Walking to clear my head, I only understood why the Chairman lowered my rank after arriving in front of my house.
'First. If I go from D to B at once, attention is bound to be focused on me.'
If I suddenly skipped C-Rank, reports would come in suspecting I became a villain or dabbled in illegal drugs. But what if I go up to C-Rank normally?
'They might think my growth is fast, but they won't be suspicious.'
Even with a fast growth rate, if it becomes known that I hog experience by hunting alone, people will just accept it.
'And being called by the Daemyung Group Chairman will be misunderstood as simple disease treatment.'
There is a possibility that those competing for succession might intervene, but the Daemyung Group Chairman will take care of blocking that.
'Then... what I need to think about now is the authority I receive as a guest member of the Daemyung Guild....'
First off. just considering the authority to enter Gates without reporting to the Hunter Association anytime seems like a benefit, but...
'It's a poisoned chalice. I'm sure to incur the hatred of the Daemyung Guild.'
They might claim I messed up the guild's schedule and harm me after the Chairman's death. So I have no choice but to give up using Daemyung Guild's Gates.
'Of course, that doesn't mean there are no benefits at all.'
Having risen to C-Rank this time, and as I continue to raise my rank in the future, there is a high possibility of receiving scouting offers. However, if it becomes known that I belong to the Daemyung Guild, they won't dare approach me, thinking 'how dare we.'
'Just preventing annoying things from happening is benefit enough.'
**
The next day. Seeing the text that arrived as soon as the day broke, I couldn't help but chuckle hollowly.
—Tiriling
[Hunter Han Seo-jun. Your rank upgrade review has been completed. Please visit the Hunter Association as soon as possible to renew your Hunter ID. -Hunter Association-]
"Is it because someone pulled strings, or is the processing originally this fast?"
Searching the internet as I left the house, it said that for late people, the text arrived only after lunch on the third day.
'It seems the Chairman of Daemyung Group pulled some strings.'
A short while later, as I walked out with my renewed Hunter ID from the Hunter Association, a text arrived as if it had been waiting.
—Tiriling
[This is the Daemyung Guild HR Team. We inform you that as of today, C-Rank Hunter Han Seo-jun has been registered as a guest member of our guild.]
It was a text that stated only the facts, simply and plainly. Normally, there should have been content about visiting the guild to do something, but...
'It feels like they intentionally cut out the content to avoid dealing with a parachute appointment.'