A video showcasing this year’s guild achievements filled the massive screen. Each time a guild appeared, cheers erupted from their tables.
Since Gwangmyeong was a newly founded guild, it was almost embarrassing how little they had to show. The only footage of them was a scene of the members stumbling out of a gate in complete tatters.
It was a recording from the camera installed at the gate entrance, and it was honestly hard to watch. Seong Jiwoo lowered his head deeply.
“Wow! That’s us!”
Completely oblivious to Jiwoo’s mortification, Chae Minjung grabbed his arm and shook it excitedly.
“Damn, surviving all that hell was actually worth something.”
Her loud voice made the surrounding guilds burst into laughter. The moment the video ended, the camera—like it had been waiting—locked onto Gwangmyeong’s table.
Chae Minjung slung an arm around Lee Wonjae’s shoulders and flashed a V sign. Hunters she knew cheered from various places. It was exactly the kind of smooth social energy expected from someone so well-connected in the hunter world.
Lee Wonjae, who had unexpectedly become the center of attention, turned bright red. Son Jihwan, as if activating an ability, had already slipped cleanly out of the camera frame.
Even when the camera landed on him, Seong Jiwoo stubbornly pretended not to notice, rolling his gaze away. His eyes wandered the empty air in search of some distant mountain, trembling slightly.
Thankfully, the screen soon changed and the host took the microphone.
“Now, we’ve reached the highlight of Part Two! We’re about to begin the Guild Merit Awards. This year, especially, many guilds have shown incredible performances. Once again, thank you all for your hard work.”
As the host spoke, staff bustled beneath the stage. Cameras busied themselves capturing the nominated guilds.
Why do I have a bad feeling they’re focusing on us…
Seong Jiwoo deliberately ignored the camera lens that looked ready to shove itself right into his face.
“The Guild Merit Awards are divided into three categories: the Rookie Guild Award, meant to encourage newly founded guilds; the Guild Contribution Award, given to the guild that cleared the most gates this year; and finally, the Guild Grand Prize, awarded to the single most outstanding guild overall. Everyone’s eager to see which guild will take home the honor this year.”
Jiwoo quietly admired how smoothly the host explained everything without stumbling. On cue, two presenters stepped onto the stage.
“Are we getting an award?!”
Chae Minjung bounced on her feet in excitement. Lee Wonjae trembled like a leaf, while Son Jihwan stared at the screen with a look that said he just wanted to go home.
Watching his guildmates’ wildly different reactions, Jiwoo forced an awkward smile. After drinking nothing but bottled water on an empty stomach, he suddenly felt the urge to use the restroom and glanced around.
He planned to slip out quietly once the timing felt right.
Sensing Jiwoo’s suspicious movements, Yoo Heero turned his head to look at him.
Why? Heero mouthed.
Bathroom, Jiwoo mouthed back.
Heero immediately began preparing to stand.
“What—why are you getting up?”
“I’m going with you.”
“No. Why would you go to the bathroom with me?”
At Jiwoo’s disbelief, Heero wore an innocent expression, as if he genuinely didn’t see the problem.
“You might get lost, hyung.”
“…You’re joking, right?”
The venue was crawling with staff wearing blue-lanyard badges. Getting lost was absurd.
“You stand out too much. Just stay seated. I’ll be right back.”
Jiwoo gestured for Heero to move aside. Heero looked dissatisfied but still pulled his chair back.
And the moment Jiwoo rose—
“Gwangmyeong Guild! Congratulations!”
“…What?”
Their guild name was suddenly called. The camera swung straight toward the winners, and right in the middle of it all, Seong Jiwoo—standing alone—was captured in full close-up.
“…Huh?”
As Jiwoo’s dazed face was broadcast live, Heero barely held back his laughter as he stood.
“Let’s go, hyung.”
He naturally guided Jiwoo toward the stage, with the rest of the guild following behind.
“Gwangmyeong Guild was founded after Hunter HERO returned from the X-Gate, and they’ve already shown remarkable achievements.”
“That’s right. Even though it’s only been a few months since their founding, they’ve already gained a huge fanbase. Many of them are here today, aren’t they? I myself watched Hunter HERO’s exploits during the X-Gate incident from home, and I wholeheartedly support Gwangmyeong Guild’s bright, shining future.”
The celebrity presenters chatted as they introduced the guild. Then one of them smiled meaningfully and stared straight at Seong Jiwoo.
“Oh, and earlier we noticed Vice Guild Master Seong Jiwoo standing up as if he’d already anticipated winning. Quite a confident 모습—very fitting for a rookie guild, wouldn’t you say?”
“Exactly. That kind of confidence only comes when it’s backed by real ability.”
Listening to those words, Jiwoo wanted nothing more than to vanish. But with Heero gripping him firmly from behind, disappearing—or even hiding—was impossible.
His face, neck, and ears burning red, Jiwoo hesitantly accepted the bouquet. The presenter, arms full of brightly colored flowers, leaned in and whispered, “Congratulations.”
Standing beside him, accepting the trophy, Heero shot a sharp glance at the presenter. The man, who had said he’d followed Heero’s exploits, only smiled wider, clearly delighted just to make eye contact with him.
At the presenter’s gesture, Jiwoo stumbled toward the microphone and hurriedly dragged Heero’s arm forward, placing him in front instead. Pulled along without resistance, Heero let out a small “Oh,” and at the same time, a roar of cheers threatened to blow the roof off the hall.
“Wow…”
Lee Wonjae gasped as he looked out at the audience. It felt completely different from below the stage.
Only after a long while did the noise finally die down. Heero calmly surveyed the crowd the entire time. Everyone held their breath, watching his every movement.
Next to him, Lee Wonjae was visibly shaking—a stark contrast. Seeing the two of them in the same frame felt almost surreal. Chae Minjung patted Lee Wonjae’s back as he looked on the verge of throwing up.
With all eyes on him, Heero slowly opened his mouth.
“Thank you.”
“……”
After delivering just those two words, Heero stared straight ahead in silence.
“Uh… is that all?” the host asked carefully.
Heero didn’t answer, only gave a slight nod. The camera, still fixed on him, seemed to lose its sense of direction.
Letting out a sigh, the host pleaded,
“Just a little more, please…”
“Hmm…”
After a brief pause, as if something finally came to mind, Heero leaned back into the microphone.
“The doors of Gwangmyeong Guild are always closed, so don’t bother knocking.”
Hunter Gallery > Live Awards Show LOL
Rookie Guild Award obviously went to Gwangmyeong LOL
Honestly, they were the only new guild that stood out this year, right?
People whining about “Heero carry” and whatever—
There are tons of guilds without Heero at all, so salty losers should polish their abilities first LOL
Anyway, the acceptance speech was legendary
Seriously, respect, hyung
Don’t remember the exact wording but
Didn’t he say their guild doors are always closed, so don’t knock? LMAOOOO
Isn’t it usually “Our doors are always open, welcome anytime”??
That’s like the official rookie guild line LOL
And he just crushed it like that HAHAHA
Kyaaah, this is HERO…?
-
He really set records today in every way
└ What else happened?
└ Nothing special. His face alone is legendary;
└ LMAOOOOOO -
Dude was born like that
└ For real, heroes aren’t made, they’re born -
I love Yoo Heero but please make him stop
└ Why?
└ Guys in my class keep copying him and they’re all awful and annoying
└ LMAOOOO
└ All those dark/shadow ability kids got massive ego boosts, it’s unbearable -
LOL guess everyone really wanted to join Gwangmyeong
└ Heero halo buff is sweet
└ Heard the real power there is Seong Jiwoo though
└ Who even is Seong Jiwoo?
└ Just god. The identity of Gwangmyeong. Its spiritual pillar.
└ For real? LOL
└ Heero’s owner, apparently -
Compared to last year, new guilds weren’t that bad, but Heero’s career is just too top-tier
└ Guilds formed early this year worked so hard, then Heero and Gwangmyeong showed up in fall and wiped them out LOL
└ Everyone made guilds on Jan 1 to farm records LMAO
└ Shouldn’t personal achievements be excluded? Otherwise just give Heero all the awards
└ Agreed, give everything to Heero. We’re alive thanks to him anyway
└ If it were me, I’d tattoo “Savior of This World” on my forehead -
I’m here in person and the crowd reaction was hilarious
Front rows cheered, people in back couldn’t hear
Some thought he said the guild was recruiting and that the doors were open
Then the truth hit and everyone went quiet LOL
└ LMAOOOO
└ But yeah this one’s on Heero, who talks like thatㅠ
└ Honestly? Even better -
Heero one-top guild, rest are dead weight, will collapse soon
└ Yeah okay, say that without crying
└ tap tap “Heero one-top guild” sniff
└ LMAOOOO be gentle -
Host asked for more comments and Heero just dragged Seong Jiwoo to the mic
Two-shot on screen and damn—Oscar awards or hunter awards?
└ Everyone inhaled at once, it was hilarious
└ Jiwoo was unexpectedly cute
└ So what did Jiwoo say?
└ Good things
└ Like what good things?
└ Just… good things
└ You didn’t hear, did you?
└ Was too busy staring at his face, sorry
└ LMAOOOO
└ Okay, that’s fair
If You Notice any translation issues or inconsistency in names, genders, or POV etc? Let us know here in the comments or on our Discord server, and we’ll fix it in current and future chapters. Thanks for helping us to improve! 🙂