Cyborg-tl
“Ah... I feel so relieved.”
The internet was in an absolute frenzy. Everyone was wondering how someone like Chae Soo-hyun managed to deceive people into thinking she was an S-rank hunter.
“Did she ever really have S-rank powers, or was it all fake?” “Who knows? Can she even prove it?” “Isn’t the head of the hunter ranking department involved in this?” “Is she just a master manipulator?” “How did she manage to get an S-rank? I’d love to know.” “Wow... What a scammer. She needs to explain herself.” “Even if she explains, it’s not like it’ll settle down.” “Her life’s over. What a massive fraud.”
People were all shaking their heads at Chae Soo-hyun, utterly bewildered. It was hardly surprising.
After all, Chae Soo-hyun had been parading around on various shows and interviews for a month, proudly claiming to be S-rank. She acted like she was at the top of the world. Naturally, people were bound to feel betrayed.
“Looks like Soo-hyun has reached rock bottom. I wonder if there’s anything else she could possibly do.”
No matter what, be it a press conference or a live broadcast, she was clearly finished.
“See? Maybe you should’ve treated me better. What were you thinking, being so foolish?”
Even if the allure of wealth was appealing, dumping a boyfriend who had supported her every step of the way was unforgivable. Especially dumping him right after she achieved the top S-rank. That was just inhuman.
“You reap what you sow.”
Watching people’s reactions, Ji-hoon let out a faint chuckle.
“Phew. Hyung-nim, we’re getting flooded with calls. Our email inboxes are blowing up too. I guess people found out you’re part of A-Team, and now everyone’s reaching out to us.” “What’s Soo-hyun doing right now?” “She’s just locked herself in her office, doing nothing.” “Maybe we should set up a platform for her to explain herself publicly.” “A live apology broadcast?” “Well, her life’s already in shambles. But even so, if she doesn’t explain properly, this will just keep going. Go tell her.” “Heh, got it!”
Park Hyung-seok immediately took off.
“Hah...”
Chae Soo-hyun couldn’t stop crying.
“What... How did my life end up like this?”
She’d spent her life manipulating men for personal gain, but she had never experienced this level of backlash before. She was beyond shocked; she felt as if her life was utterly ruined.
“There’s no one who doesn’t know my face.”
She had freely given interviews and appeared on shows for a month, so it wasn’t like she could hide. Even if she ran overseas, there’d be plenty who’d recognize her.
“Ji-hoon oppa... Please... If you’ve seen me fall this low, maybe...”
Sobbing, she clutched a photo of Baek Ji-hoon.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Yes! Yes!”
She hurriedly wiped her tears, standing up, hoping it was Ji-hoon.
“Hunter Chae Soo-hyun.”
Realizing it was Park Hyung-seok, her face fell, but she held onto a shred of hope. Maybe Ji-hoon had sent him to help.
“I thought it was important to inform you of the guild’s position. You know you’re a hot topic nationwide right now, right?”
Hyung-seok’s expression was grim and serious. She could immediately tell he wasn’t here to help her.
“Yes...” “I think you’ll need to make a public apology.” “What? An apology broadcast?” “Yes. A proper press conference might help calm things down. All the companies you were contracted with are up in arms. The guild can’t handle the flood of calls. I think Hunter Chae Soo-hyun needs to clarify the situation.” “Oh...”
Soo-hyun squeezed her eyes shut. She didn’t want to, but she knew what she had to do.
“Alright... I understand...”
She had decided to accept her fate.
“Maybe... if I handle this well... Ji-hoon oppa might forgive me...”
Even at the last moment, she held onto hope.
“Ah... I feel so relieved.”
The internet was in an absolute frenzy. Everyone was wondering how someone like Chae Soo-hyun managed to deceive people into thinking she was an S-rank hunter.
“Did she ever really have S-rank powers, or was it all fake?” “Who knows? Can she even prove it?” “Isn’t the head of the hunter ranking department involved in this?” “Is she just a master manipulator?” “How did she manage to get an S-rank? I’d love to know.” “Wow... What a scammer. She needs to explain herself.” “Even if she explains, it’s not like it’ll settle down.” “Her life’s over. What a massive fraud.”
People were all shaking their heads at Chae Soo-hyun, utterly bewildered. It was hardly surprising.
After all, Chae Soo-hyun had been parading around on various shows and interviews for a month, proudly claiming to be S-rank. She acted like she was at the top of the world. Naturally, people were bound to feel betrayed.
“Looks like Soo-hyun has reached rock bottom. I wonder if there’s anything else she could possibly do.”
No matter what, be it a press conference or a live broadcast, she was clearly finished.
“See? Maybe you should’ve treated me better. What were you thinking, being so foolish?”
Even if the allure of wealth was appealing, dumping a boyfriend who had supported her every step of the way was unforgivable. Especially dumping him right after she achieved the top S-rank. That was just inhuman.
“You reap what you sow.”
Watching people’s reactions, Ji-hoon let out a faint chuckle.
“Phew. Hyung-nim, we’re getting flooded with calls. Our email inboxes are blowing up too. I guess people found out you’re part of A-Team, and now everyone’s reaching out to us.” “What’s Soo-hyun doing right now?” “She’s just locked herself in her office, doing nothing.” “Maybe we should set up a platform for her to explain herself publicly.” “A live apology broadcast?” “Well, her life’s already in shambles. But even so, if she doesn’t explain properly, this will just keep going. Go tell her.” “Heh, got it!”
Park Hyung-seok immediately took off.
“Hah...”
Chae Soo-hyun couldn’t stop crying.
“What... How did my life end up like this?”
She’d spent her life manipulating men for personal gain, but she had never experienced this level of backlash before. She was beyond shocked; she felt as if her life was utterly ruined.
“There’s no one who doesn’t know my face.”
She had freely given interviews and appeared on shows for a month, so it wasn’t like she could hide. Even if she ran overseas, there’d be plenty who’d recognize her.
“Ji-hoon oppa... Please... If you’ve seen me fall this low, maybe...”
Sobbing, she clutched a photo of Baek Ji-hoon.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Yes! Yes!”
She hurriedly wiped her tears, standing up, hoping it was Ji-hoon.
“Hunter Chae Soo-hyun.”
Realizing it was Park Hyung-seok, her face fell, but she held onto a shred of hope. Maybe Ji-hoon had sent him to help.
“I thought it was important to inform you of the guild’s position. You know you’re a hot topic nationwide right now, right?”
Hyung-seok’s expression was grim and serious. She could immediately tell he wasn’t here to help her.
“Yes...” “I think you’ll need to make a public apology.” “What? An apology broadcast?” “Yes. A proper press conference might help calm things down. All the companies you were contracted with are up in arms. The guild can’t handle the flood of calls. I think Hunter Chae Soo-hyun needs to clarify the situation.” “Oh...”
Soo-hyun squeezed her eyes shut. She didn’t want to, but she knew what she had to do.
“Alright... I understand...”
She had decided to accept her fate.
“Maybe... if I handle this well... Ji-hoon oppa might forgive me...”
Even at the last moment, she held onto hope.
“Wow... I never would have guessed.” “Yeah, I had a weird feeling, though. Didn’t you catch the grumbling from Baekho Guild?” “Really? I thought she was just sick or something.” “Come on, there’s no way an S-rank hunter could pull that. Not a chance.” “Hmm, I guess you’re right.”
The press conference was packed with reporters. It was more intense than any conference before it.
“How did you even think of lying like that? Were you ever really an S-rank?” “Doubt it. What’s her actual skill anyway? What did the hunter ranking department even say?” “Who knows? They’re all keeping silent and claim they have no idea.” “Ugh. They’re probably all in on it. Did they take bribes or something?” “But why would they falsify her rank?” “The ranking chief claims he’s a victim too, but who believes that?”
Some still wondered if she was really an S-rank and just temporarily lost her edge. But they were in the minority.
Most were simply enjoying watching her downfall, as if munching on popcorn while watching a fire from afar.
Eventually, Soo-hyun entered the room.
All eyes were on her.
She looked utterly defeated, as if all happiness and hope had been drained from her.
“Hello, this is Chae Soo-hyun.”
Her voice trembled, almost breaking.
“First, I’d like to apologize to everyone who was shocked by my actions... I am not currently an S-rank hunter. Officially, I am labeled S-rank, but my actual level is E-rank...”
She had agonized over whether to explain that Ji-hoon had given her points and then taken them back. She had thought about it for almost two hours.
But in the end, she decided not to mention it.
If she brought it up, people would question why Ji-hoon took the points back, and it would make her not just a fraud but someone who betrayed her boyfriend.
Trying to explain might just fan the flames. She didn’t have a choice.
“Ah... Who knew it would come to this... Let’s keep it as quiet as possible...”
“Since I was young, I’ve admired S-rank hunters, which led me to...”
Soo-hyun tried to downplay it as a mistake born of admiration. Maybe if she explained well enough, people might forgive her.
“I deeply regret my actions and promise never to repeat them...”
She bowed her head after delivering her prepared lines.
“Hunter Chae Soo-hyun! So, you’ve never truly been an S-rank hunter?”
She closed her eyes tightly. She had been S-rank once, but revealing that would bring up her past.
“No... I haven’t...” “Then, what exactly is your ability? The ranking department didn’t disclose it. What’s your power?”
“Hah...”
As soon as question time started, the reporters bombarded her. She was at a loss, wondering if she should lie again or come clean.
“My... my ability... is Succubus.”
The room erupted.
“What? A succubus? They have hunters with that kind of ability? Sounds like an easy life, just seducing men.” “Why didn’t she go into showbiz with a trait like that? She could’ve made way more money.” “So, did Jin-hyuk fall for her power? What about the ranking chief? Did she charm him too?”
Online reactions were just as explosive. It was a rare, unique power, so people were fascinated and confused.
“Did you seduce the ranking chief to get S-rank status!?” “N-no. That’s not true.”
One reporter shot a sharp question.
“Then how did you rise to S-rank?” “I’m... sorry, but I can’t discuss that.” “That’s the main question here!!”
The public wanted to know how she managed to reach S-rank. It shook their trust in the system.
“T-that’s...” “Alright, let’s wrap up the conference for today.”
Park Hyung-seok stepped in to close things up. Soo-hyun was flustered, unable to respond further as reporters kept pressing.
“This might blow up on Ji-hoon hyung and Blue Guild too.”
“Th-thank you...”
Soo-hyun tearfully followed Park Hyung-seok offstage.
“It’s not like I did it for your sake anyway...”