Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Chapter 43

All the guild members who volunteered were defeated by Neo Haias alone.

At first, when he won against the guild members, they cheered, shouted, and applauded.

But as Neo Haias defeated the guild members one after another, everyone’s expressions turned serious...

Now, they were glaring at Neo Haias as if they had animosity.

The special ability to transform into a pink cat and use magic.

He thought he could definitely win if it was him, but... this is another difficult situation.

Winning against an opponent who has been continuously fighting?

Against a first-year student who hasn’t even graduated from the Academy yet?

If he loses, it’s a complete disgrace, and even if he wins, he can’t even gain any justification.

Just stepping forward is meaningless and only results in losses.

Of course, none of the guild members stepped forward.

Originally, the battle should have ended with a sparring match with Pierre.

However, Neo Haias was stronger than expected.

As a result, it became an opportunity to confirm Neo Haias’s talent and skills.

Team Leader Kim, who was in charge of judging, wanted to step forward himself, but...

"Stop the sparring here. Team Leader Kim, bring Neo Haias here immediately."

Guild Master Layla’s order was given.

Team Leader Kim had no choice but to stop the sparring here.

In order to carry out the order, he wrapped up the sparring and sent the guild members back.

However, there were people who didn’t budge from their seats despite his orders.

It was the executives of the Goblin Guild who were watching the sparring from a place decorated like a VIP room.

"Amazing. If it wasn’t a virtual sparring match, some of our guild members would have died."

"Yes. So far, he’s been hiding his skills? No, to think that he’s grown to this level in less than a month since his abilities manifested... I don’t know whether to see it that way or to say he’s a born genius."

"A thorough examination is necessary. We can’t evaluate Neo Haias based on the data we see on the surface."

There were people who were secretly watching Neo Haias.

They were the executives of the Goblin Guild and also the personnel affairs executives who analyzed abilities and evaluated potential and skills.

"Neo Haias. He has become the number one person that our Goblin Guild must recruit. Since Neo Haias is here, we have been given the knife."

"Yes. There’s no need for him to be at the Academy. Being at the Academy might be a waste of time. He’s at a level where he can be put into practical training right away and then deployed into a Dungeon."

"If he joins the Guild, there won’t be any problems with him being in the mid-to-lower ranks right away... and if his abilities haven’t all been revealed yet... there won’t be any problems with him being in a higher position either."

All five executives highly evaluated Neo Haias.

If you combine the abilities he showed at the Academy and the abilities he’s showing now, there’s no reason why he wouldn’t be able to join the top Guilds.

Moreover, considering that he’s a first-year student at the Academy at that age, he was truly a talent and a person who would become the strongest.

"The problem is that we shouldn’t pass on information related to Neo Haias to other Guilds."

"Yes. Then, other Guilds will definitely use all sorts of dirty tricks to recruit Neo Haias."

"I’ll have to report to the Master first. We must recruit Neo Haias by any means possible..."

Because the power that Neo Haias showed was so overwhelming, the conclusion was naturally unanimous.

"Ah...! As expected of the Guild Master. She said she gave Team Leader Kim the order to bring Neo Haias here right away."

"That’s fast. The Master must have been keeping an eye on Neo Haias as well."

"He’s a guest that the Master brought in herself. Then we’ll prepare for the case where Neo Haias doesn’t join our Guild."

"Understood. Those kinds of geniuses usually have their own firm beliefs."

The executives quickly got up from their seats and leisurely left the place.

"You were amazing."

Team Leader Kim, who temporarily took on the role of judge for the sparring match, immediately carried out Guild Master Layla’s order to bring Neo Haias.

He took Neo Haias, who had returned to his original form from his pink cat form, and walked down a long, oriental-style corridor.

Then, Team Leader Kim spoke to Neo Haias, perhaps trying to break the awkward atmosphere.

"To think that you have such abilities as a student... On the day you become a formal Hunter, the Hunter ecosystem might be turned upside down!"

"You flatter me. I’m just a student."

"Hehehe! You’re even humble... There was a reason why the Guild Master cherishes Neo Haias so much. Skills and humility... Keuheum! So, what do you think of our Goblin Guild?"

The Team Leader, who had been speaking like a friendly uncle, suddenly asked a question.

"I’m someone who originally had no connection with Goblins. I was close to being an ordinary person. But on the day the Monsters invaded at dawn, I manifested my abilities. However, the number of Monsters was too great, and I was in danger of dying. It was Guild Master Layla who saved me and the people who were preparing. She personally stepped forward to save the safety and property of the people and disappeared leisurely. Like a Goblin."

"..."

He suddenly brought up his own story.

"The world is changing rapidly. The front lines beyond the territory secured by humanity are literally hell. The top Guilds are drawing out troops, but they say they might be pushed back soon. Neo Haias... no, Hunter Neo Haias. Please lend us your strength. Surely... the Master will want to have Neo Haias as a Guild member."

"Is that so? Ah... I don’t really know yet... Hahaha!"

Neo Haias laughed awkwardly.

Neo’s true feelings were that he didn’t really want to join the Guild.

Think about it! There’s a talent with such innate abilities, so wouldn’t the Goblin Guild, as well as other Guilds, be eyeing him?

He read the fleeting true feelings in Neo’s expression.

On the outside, he looked like a naive student, but on the inside, he was like a sly old fox.

"I still need to be at the Academy. I want to build practical experience through classes and assignments, and also make a lot of connections."

A perfect and exemplary answer.

But within it was the meaning that he wouldn’t join the Guild willingly.

"Still, it will be impossible to gain as much experience and skill as joining a Hunter Guild."

"That’s definitely good. Especially since it’s the top Guild, the Goblin Guild. But joining a Guild and becoming a Guild member ultimately means becoming someone who has to move according to the Guild’s interests and beliefs... doesn’t it?"

"..."

When Neo Haias hit the nail on the head, Team Leader Kim tried to say something but closed his mouth.

"Rather than being the tail of a dragon, I want to be the head of a snake."

This time, he indirectly expressed his intention not to join the Guild.

Usually, when they receive an invitation from a top Guild, they would be flustered or dazed, but Neo Haias wasn’t like that.

More than I thought... more...! Even more! Neo Haias is cunning and smart.

"I see. I’m sorry. I made a slip of the tongue. Keuheum!"

Team Leader Kim confirmed Neo Haias’s feelings.

He realized that it was impossible to persuade him further on his own.

Instead... he decided to leave the rest to Guild Master Layla.

Perhaps she, as a Ranker and the Guild Master leading the top Guild, might be able to win over Neo Haias.

Like that, the two of them walked down the corridor in silence for a while and arrived in front of the office where the Guild Master was.

Team Leader Kim was about to knock, but...

"Team Leader Kim, step back, and Neo Haias, come in."

Layla’s indifferent voice was heard from inside the room.

"Yes, Master. Then Neo Haias. I’ll step back. Please... reconsider one more time..."

After saying that, Team Leader Kim bowed his head and stepped back at a fast pace.

Neo Haias was left alone in front of the office.

He looked at the place where Team Leader Kim had left...

"Then I’ll go in."

Neo Haias gave a polite greeting and opened the door to the office without any particular thoughts.

At that moment, a sweet fragrance penetrated Neo Haias’s nose.

When he opened the door, a scene that Neo Haias had never imagined greeted him.