In this world where S-ranks are even more dazzling than celebrities, word of Castorice spread to near-household status in just half a day.
Aside from the elderly who don't follow the web and the working folks too busy to check, almost no one was unaware of this new S-rank.
This immense attention, however, brought not just excitement, but also immense unease.
That's right. Even with a new S-rank, just as there was a huge crowd buzzing with excitement, a significant portion of people felt anxious.
The reason was very simple: Castorice's ability was like that of the Grim Reaper.
Die just by getting close? A power like that practically challenged human comprehension.
While most felt it was someone else's problem... Castorice had a school.
A university campus is like a little society of its own.
Once it became known that the reclusive, standoffish student in their class was a Grim Reaper who could cost you your life just by proximity, opinions instantly polarized.
Even as Castorice arrived at the school gates, plenty of people were still whispering and gossiping.
Looking at the students around her—some curious, some fearful, but all keeping their distance—Castorice wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed.
Not having to actively maintain distance anymore was pretty nice, but... being avoided like she was something filthy didn't feel so great...
Having lived this long, she'd never been shunned like this before...
She sighed inwardly. After all, she wasn't really here to make friends. Her main goal was to accumulate recognition for the Core Consciousness.
With that thought, she stopped dwelling on it, maintaining her unapproachable aura as she walked onto campus.
But she hadn't gone far before she saw a female student with short blonde hair and pink eyes jogging towards her.
She'd thought it watching TV, but seeing it in person, Castorice genuinely wanted to ask: 'Misumi Uika, what are you doing here as a Hunter?'
"Hello, Castorice... may I call you that?"
Cha Hae-in held a black leather case, greeting first, then hesitating over the formalities.
The Guild Master said to use the best possible attitude, to try and recruit her into the guild...
"It's fine, Cha-ssi."
Castorice wasn't surprised the other sought her out first. Choi Jong-in's intentions could barely even be called 'ulterior motives.' Still, while he had his agenda, the fact remained he had helped her.
"Ah, no need for 'Miss' or anything! Just like I'm calling you Castorice, you can call me Cha Hae-in. Or 'sunbae,' or 'senior'?"
Cha Hae-in wasn't particularly skilled at social interaction either. Even her current level of social grace was something Choi Jong-in had painstakingly cultivated.
This somewhat flustered version of her hardly matched the calm, elegant 'Dancer' image from the news and reports.
"Then I'll call you Cha-sunbae."
Castorice couldn't help but see an overlap with how Misumi acted around Sakiko.
The resemblance right now was just too strong, making her feel more goodwill towards this existence so similar to a past friend. "After all, you are my senior both in school and as a Hunter."
"I'll accept the compliment."
Having adjusted her mood slightly, Cha Hae-in regained her composure.
She then held the case in front of her, offering a grateful smile.
"You saved members of our guild before. Both the Chairman and I wanted to express our thanks. This is equipment we obtained earlier in a dungeon. We're not sure if it will suit your taste."
As she spoke, she handed the case to Castorice.
Only after Castorice took it, feeling the chill that seeped through the case without direct contact, did Cha Hae-in belatedly remember the danger of proximity. She instinctively pulled her hand back.
With only her fingertips having touched it, and not yet supported by a hand, the case immediately tilted backward. But neither of them was ordinary.
Before it could fall, Castorice shifted her arm and pulled it back into her embrace.
Then, she offered Cha Hae-in a serene smile.
Before she could speak, Cha Hae-in's face filled with self-reproach. "I'm sorry! Just now, I...!"
"No need to apologize, Cha-sunbae."
Castorice shook her head, her face showing no trace of awkwardness or sorrow. "Your concern is only natural. Everyone should maintain a healthy respect for death."
"But..."
Cha Hae-in wasn't comforted. Seeing this young girl treat being feared and avoided as something normal only made her feel worse. "No matter what, my behavior was still... inappropriate."
She couldn't find the words to describe this abnormality when the person involved simply accepted it, ultimately settling on 'inappropriate.'
Immediately, she added, "After all, you called me 'sunbae.' Even if you yourself don't feel hurt, I have a responsibility to care for your feelings!"
This part was different from Misumi. When first meeting, Misumi only showed superficial concern for anyone except Sakiko.
She only gave her genuine heart after truly becoming close. But calling Misumi hypocritical wasn't quite right; it was more that she was too timid to form deep connections carelessly.
"Then I thank you for your consideration, Cha-sunbae."
With the other putting it that way, Castorice dropped any intention of deliberately keeping distance.
But she also didn't want any misunderstandings. "However... regarding the guild matter, I can't give you a favorable answer, Cha-sunbae."
"Huh?"
Cha Hae-in was puzzled by the sudden mention of the guild, but quickly caught on. She hurriedly waved her hands.
"Don't misunderstand! I didn't say all that because I want you to join the guild!"
"I understand your stance, Cha-sunbae. But consider this my reply to Chairman Choi as well."
Castorice knew that, of course. But just because Cha Hae-in thought that way didn't mean Choi Jong-in wouldn't try to use it.
Her words were meant to cut off any notion Choi Jong-in had of using Cha Hae-in to pull her into the guild.
"I see..."
Assured that Castorice hadn't misunderstood her, Cha Hae-in finally relaxed.
She seemed like someone easily misunderstood. When she first joined the guild, she was mistakenly seen as arrogant and was ostracized. In daily life, people often misinterpreted her meaning too... sigh...
"Let's exchange contact info. Even if we might not be in the same guild in the future, it doesn't mean we won't have chances to cooperate."
Thinking of Castorice now as her junior at school, a protective feeling arose in Cha Hae-in's heart.
Even an S-rank Hunter has a tough start without a guild. Not just from lacking seed money, forcing them to bid for low-level gates against others from the get-go.
More importantly, even after clearing a gate, their earnings would be slashed by about 40% due to taxes.
Those two points alone were enough to make the early days rough. And if she still didn't join a guild later, wanting to establish her own, she'd face 'trials' from the Five Major Guilds.
Basically, they'd exclude and suppress her, hoping to make her change her mind, give up on building her own, and choose to join one of theirs.
Just thinking about this very likely scenario, coupled with Castorice's hard-to-accept ability, made Cha Hae-in's heart ache even more.
'I'll find some high-level dungeons later and invite Castorice along. That way, she can accumulate her first pot of gold faster.'
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.