You Will Be Blessed If You Do Good Deeds¿-Chapter 158

Jeong Da-on was in front of Lee Un-gyeol, and he felt good.

It was clear to anyone that Lee Un-gyeol was interested in her.

Lee Un-gyeol grinned with satisfaction.

‘My efforts are paying off!’

In fact, it was strange that she hadn't given in yet.

He had spent over a month following her around, enduring countless hardships.

And it wasn’t just following her around; he had interfered every time she was in trouble.

Of course, Jeong Da-on found him extremely annoying, but Lee Un-gyeol had no way of knowing that.

Lee Un-gyeol was a man with high self-esteem.

‘It’s not that hard to seduce a girl like her.’

Jeong Da-on’s position was very precarious.

She had been classified as an S-class Hunter right after turning 20, but she had no parents or relatives to give her proper advice about her future.

She was like a big fish pulled out of the sea, yet had no clear destination for where she would be sold.

Honestly, no matter how smart she was, how could a newly 20-year-old know what would help her?

So, like Han Jae-young, she might end up stumbling through life, just running low-level dungeons, with the S-class title being the only thing to her name!

“Honestly, I’ll be straight with you. Da-on, aren’t you thinking about joining our guild?”

“Hmm.”

“You don’t have to decide right now. I just want you to consider coming to our guild instead of spinning your wheels in low-level dungeons. You could pursue your desired research.”

“Desired magic research... But isn’t NLE a newly formed guild?”

In other words, Jeong Da-on was concerned about NLE’s financial stability?

Lee Un-gyeol felt a bit insulted to have his financial capabilities questioned by this inexperienced rookie, but he hid it well and answered calmly.

“Although we’re a new guild, our finances are in good shape.”

“Really? Where does the income come from? I don’t see you making or selling items.”

“...You’re well-informed. But we’re very aggressive with bidding for cost-effective dungeons. We also lease dungeons.”

“Oh... So you have quite an expertise in dungeon bidding.”

“Let’s just say I have some adults who can give me advice.”

Lee Un-gyeol’s father had recently become a member of parliament, and his mother was a lawyer running a major law firm.

In the Hunter world, which was still somewhat new, having these connections was a powerful asset.

“And honestly... the most important thing is sincerity, right? Even if HP Guild has a lot of money, it’s useless if they don’t invest it in someone like you.”

The NLE Guild naturally had lower economic productivity than Han Jae-young’s HP Guild.

HP Guild was home to many item manufacturers and magical experts.

But the thing was, HP Guild had many mages that needed reinvestment, while NLE could focus on Jeong Da-on and invest just for her.

Lee Un-gyeol pounced on that point.

“I guess that’s true. After all, I’m just a rock rolling in HP Guild.”

And as the conversation continued, Jeong Da-on seemed intrigued by what he was saying.

It was working better than expected.

So, Lee Un-gyeol added:

“And... this support isn’t just for you, Da-on. You have a special older brother, right?”

“...”

“I’ll bring him into our guild too. He’ll be more comfortable here than at his current job.”

“...My brother is a normal person.”

“We need ordinary people in the guild too. There’s so much administrative work. We have dozens of regular staff in our guild.”

“Isn’t that a parachute?”

“Ah, is a parachute an issue when we’re bringing in an S-class talent? This kind of parachute is gold-plated. Plus, this is practically a welfare program. If you’re sacrificing your life for the country as a Hunter, how can you be fully effective if your family is struggling?”

Jeong Da-on’s eyebrows twitched, and Lee Un-gyeol felt satisfied.

‘So it seems like the sibling relationship is indeed special.’

Lee Un-gyeol had received this information from his mother.

Having grown up without parents and with a much older brother, she had advised him to target that fact.

“In that sense, the fact that Han Jae-young is keeping an eye on you... It’s not slander, but a plausible story.”

And while Jeong Da-on might not show it outwardly, she was a naturally suspicious person.

Although she appeared to be on good terms with Han Jae-young, she was likely wondering if there was some hidden agenda on his part.

Instill distrust in Han Jae-young’s intentions.

Lee Un-gyeol faithfully followed his mother’s advice.

“Han Jae-young... He’s regarded as one of the top S-class Hunters. But do you know why?”

“Why?”

“Because he’s close with Yoo Han-ul.”

And to further strengthen the suspicion, bring Yoo Han-ul into the conversation.

“Honestly, Yoo Han-ul is a true national hero. I really respect that. All his earnings go to charity, and whenever the government calls, he rushes to clear dungeons. Isn’t that like an angel?”

“...A sucker?”

“Haha, well, that’s one way to put it...”

Follow current novels on ƒreewebηoveℓ.com.

Lee Un-gyeol was momentarily thrown off by her blunt answer but continued.

“Anyway, Han Jae-young, is he really on the level of Yoo Han-ul? No, right? All the profits from HP Guild go into Han Jae-young’s pocket... His good image is just because he’s personally close with Yoo Han-ul. He’s getting the benefits.”

He had now discarded even the minimal respect of calling him ‘senior.’ Jeong Da-on’s eyebrows twitched at his words.

“Well, Yoo Han-ul’s image is good, I’ll admit.”

“Right?”

It wasn’t surprising.

According to what was known, Jeong Da-on was quite close with Yoo Han-ul.

And from what he knew, Jeong Da-on trusted Yoo Han-ul quite a bit.

It wasn’t that surprising, given Yoo Han-ul’s character was widely known.

Now, here came the gamble.

“So, are you not close with Yoo Han-ul?”

“Well, it depends on how you look at it.”

“From Han Jae-young’s perspective, that’s a problem. If you rise up suddenly like a national hero, and you’re also close with Yoo Han-ul... Don’t you think Han Jae-young would fear losing his influence if you grow?”

Lee Un-gyeol genuinely believed this. If that wasn’t the case, Han Jae-young wouldn’t have forced Jeong Da-on to grind through low-level dungeons.

Jeong Da-on tilted her head.

“Is that Han Jae-young’s personality?”

“Personality? You’re so naive, Da-on.”

Lee Un-gyeol scoffed.

“Hunters today are walking, one-man businesses and weapons. It’s not about personality; anyone in that position wouldn’t want to lose it.”

“...I suppose that’s true.”

“In that situation, if you join a guild with another S-class, people will just see you as another one of Han Jae-young’s underlings.”

“So, you’re saying NLE, a guild without an S-class Hunter, is better for me? Since I’d become NLE’s poster child.”

“Exactly!”

He felt a slight sting from her remark, but Lee Un-gyeol still agreed.

“If there was even a little bit of helpful adults around you, Da-on, I’d have recommended the NLE Guild.”

Jeong Da-on spun the champagne glass she was holding, then gently set it down.

“From the way you talk, it sounds like you’re jealous.”

“Hmm?”

“You probably have a lot of helpful adults around you.”

“Haha, that’s true. But in the end, I earned this spot myself.”

The suggestion that Lee Un-gyeol had only gotten to where he was because of his family connections was a sore spot for him.

Lee Un-gyeol had worked hard to get to this position.

Even if he had been rated A-class, it still took tremendous effort to achieve such results at his age.

“But, like you said, advice from adults is important, isn’t it? Just like I listen to your advice.”

“Well, I don’t ignore my mother’s advice. She runs a law firm.”

Indeed, it was Lee Un-gyeol’s mother who had told him to target Jeong Da-on and provided him with this information.

Two months ago, she had summoned him.

“You need to scout Jeong Da-on for NLE.”

“What? Jeong Da-on, an S-class? No, she’s under mandatory service right now. Why would you care about someone who can’t even be used right away?”

When Lee Un-gyeol protested, his mother’s gaze turned sharp.

“Your father finally got elected to the National Assembly after ten years of hard work, and you’re going to let people call you a useless heir?”

“Useless heir...!”

“Don’t you understand what it means to scout Jeong Da-on yourself?”

Her words were sharp. Lee Un-gyeol stammered like a student being graded on a test.

“No, it’s just... If we bring an S-class Hunter, our guild’s status will go up, and we’ll have a star to promote...”

“That’s not it. The poster child of NLE Guild is you, Un-gyeol.”

His mother’s gaze pierced through him, as though she knew exactly why he was hesitating.

Lee Un-gyeol was taken aback.

That was the truth.

He was afraid that if Jeong Da-on, an S-class Hunter, joined NLE, his status might diminish.

“Jeong Da-on is just an eye-catching asset.”

“Hmm?”

“Jeong Da-on is under Han Jae-young right now. If you steal her away, people will see you as being on par with Han Jae-young.”

“Ha, but Han Jae-young is an S-class, and I’m A-class...”

“Right, the class difference. That’s why you have to show your ability in this issue. That’s how you’ll gain influence in the Hunter world. And we’ll have a foothold.”

“Foothold...?”

“You don’t need to know the details, just bring Jeong Da-on first. I’ll set up the position. Get results, no matter what.”

Thinking back on that conversation with his mother, Lee Un-gyeol took another gulp of his drink.

He had been predicted to awaken as a special ability user, though not as strong as Yoo Han-ul. He had shown potential since childhood.

His parents had set up mentors who were expected to become S-class Hunters.

But when it came down to the ability test, Lee Un-gyeol had been rated A-class, and that had been his first failure in life.

The disappointed look on his parents’ faces still haunted him.

As he recalled that, he swallowed his bitter thoughts along with the sweet wine.

“...There’s nothing to ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) be jealous about. Even if you listen to advice, you’re the one who has to take action. Sometimes it’s even frustrating.”

“Ah, I see. I must have said something out of line.”

“Haha, it’s fine. No worries... Shall we have another drink?”

Lee Un-gyeol raised his glass toward Jeong Da-on.

Jeong Da-on, looking concerned, spoke up.

“Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”

“Oh, no, this is nothing. It’s not that easy for a Hunter to get drunk... Wait, Da-on, haven’t you tried alcohol before?”

“I’m not really fond of it.”

“Ah, Han Jae-young Guild Leader is being unreasonable. He should teach his juniors how to drink! See? That’s proof he doesn’t care about you.”

“Really? I don’t know much about these things. I hope you’ll teach me more in the future.”

“Ah, of course!”

Jeong Da-on’s words were as sweet as champagne, slipping smoothly into Lee Un-gyeol’s ears.

He was sure now—she definitely had a soft spot for him.

Lee Un-gyeol beamed.

‘She seemed arrogant at first, but she knows a thing or two.’

Talking to her now, she was surprisingly good at flattering him and smiling brightly.

In fact, at this rate, it might be okay to actually date her.

“I’ve been meaning to say this... Hunters haven’t been around long, you know. Because of that, they’re often looked down on in various fields.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, especially in politics.”

“Politics?”

“Well, politics is really just about protecting your own interests.”

This wasn’t Lee Un-gyeol’s line, but his father’s.

There was no need to complicate politics—it was something you had to do to protect your own benefits.

“Look at the Hunters now. You might not understand yet, Da-on, since you’re still young... but the government and the National Assembly are trying to tighten the leash on us.”

This wasn’t exactly a lie either.

Forming guilds, conditions for dungeon entry, taxes, and regulations... Hunters were burdened with a lot of tedious tasks.

Honestly, protecting the country with your life but having all the monetary rewards stripped away—it felt like losing everything.

Had it not been for the international Hunter Association treaty, they would’ve left the country long ago.

“During mandatory service, we’re technically under the Ministry of National Defense... but it’s the Central Hunter Administration that really manages us. The lowest level of government. They’re always in a delicate position.”

“I’ve heard that the Special Agency was set up initially because they didn’t know when dungeons and monsters would appear.”

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

“The Central Administration has been around for over twenty years. How long are they going to regulate and monitor us? It’s like they don’t accept us as part of society. Has there ever been any policy for Hunters?”

“...”

“See, you can’t think of any. That’s how it is. Hunters are too busy looking out for themselves to care about government or parliamentary issues. A Hunter department needs to be created to secure our position.”

Jeong Da-on bit her lip in silence.

Seeing that, Lee Un-gyeol felt a strange satisfaction.

‘Yeah, she probably doesn’t get any of this, right?’

Even though she was an S-class Hunter, she was just a young girl.

When politics came up, kids her age usually kept quiet.

And those who did speak often didn’t understand the complicated administrative and political issues involved. They just repeated what they heard online like parrots.

In that regard, Lee Un-gyeol felt that he had a political edge over others.

At least, that’s what he believed.

“But I care about protecting the interests of our Hunter group. That’s why I founded the NLE Guild.”

“Are you planning to enter politics?”

“Not exactly, but I need to apply pressure on the National Assembly. They can’t just keep taking taxes while suppressing our economic power. They need to protect our interests too if they want us to keep contributing to the country.”

As he said that, Lee Un-gyeol laughed lightly, seeing Jeong Da-on’s expression shift.

“Ah... You’re bored with politics? Don’t care about it?”

She looked very indifferent.

It was a stark contrast to the smile she had just given him.

“Well, I suppose at your age, you wouldn’t care much... But this is really important. Especially for you, Da-on. You’re an S-class Hunter. You’re going to become the center of the Korean Hunter world, whether you want to or not.”

“...I’m not too happy about that.”

“If you’re not happy about it.”

Lee Un-gyeol leaned forward and looked at Jeong Da-on closely.

He had intentionally requested a small table for this reason—it was now close enough to her.

“Won’t you leave your future in my hands?”

“...”

“For now, I’m not asking for anything big. Just expose the fact that we’re close, and occasionally show up at our guild events. That’s enough for now.”

Jeong Da-on didn’t give a clear answer, but she didn’t seem entirely negative either.

Lee Un-gyeol thought this was a big step forward.

He wanted to make her sign a contract for the guild immediately, but...

‘You can’t be full after one bite.’

By narrowing the distance little by little, the opportunity would eventually come.

“I had a great time today.”

Continuing to drink, Lee Un-gyeol intentionally dragged out the meal, but all good things must come to an end.

Almost five hours later, the two finally stood up.

“Ah, thank you.”

“Not at all.”

As Lee Un-gyeol staggered, Jeong Da-on helped support him. She could feel his warmth.

Lee Un-gyeol, swaying, spoke.

“I should walk you home... but I’m too drunk. I’ll call a taxi for you.”

“I’ll wait until you’re inside, then go. Should I call a driver?”

“Uh? Oh... then thank you. I’ll just call a driver and drop you off at home.”

“Alright, I won’t decline. Ah, here they come.”

The driver waved, holding up a phone.

He looked slightly foreign, but Lee Un-gyeol was too tired to care.

He nodded off in the car, his head resting on the window.

Half-conscious, he thought he heard something.

-Master, what should we do?

-We’re going to the nearest dungeon.

Dungeon?

Lee Un-gyeol wondered, but soon drifted into the depths of sleep.