WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Haruto
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ I Became the EX-Rank Pet Maker Hunters Obsess Over ◈
Chapter 14: Magical Beast Design Division
──────
Yoo Hyun finally arrived in Germany two days before the competition.
“Haaah. So this is Europe. The air really is different...”
I stepped out of the airport and filled my lungs with the foreign air.
The smell was a little strange, though...?
“Pant, pant...”
Haengbok, the spotted Jelly Dog, seemed fascinated by the European air too, licking its nose as it sniffed around.
Then voices came from behind us.
“Haha! This is my first time in Europe too, so I’m really excited.”
“Me too! This was actually my first time flying first class!”
For this trip to Germany, Wolyeong had assigned Hunter Yoo Dusik, the leader of Gamma Team, and Hunter Lee Yujin, a member of his team, as my escorts.
‘...Neither of them has ever traveled to Europe before, so what was Wolyeong thinking with this lineup?’
On top of that, it was a mage and archer combination...
Still, I knew both of them, so I felt more comfortable around them than I did around the people Dongbaek had sent.
Unlike Wolyeong, Dongbaek was so businesslike and stiff that they were hard to approach.
“Let’s head to the hotel first. We’ll take you to the place we’ve arranged.”
Hunter Kang Sujin, a B-rank Hunter, guided us in impeccably neat attire and with a crisp manner of speaking.
“...”
Beside her was Hunter Seong Taesik, another B-rank Hunter with a sturdy build, silently keeping watch over the surroundings.
Their professionalism was reassuring, but if this trip to Germany had consisted of only those two, I probably would have felt too stifled to enjoy any sightseeing.
‘Thanks for sending people I know, Hunter Yeon Harim...’
Buzz, buzz.
Maybe because the Magitech Technology Expo would be starting soon, countless tourists besides us were heading to Frankfurt.
Looking over the crowd, I spoke up.
“Let’s unpack at the hotel, then go sightseeing right away! I studied up on all the must-see spots!”
“Sounds great! We’ll follow your lead, boss!”
“Wooo!!!”
Unlike the excited Wolyeong pair, the Dongbaek members did not react at all.
“...The competition is just around the corner. Don’t you need to prepare?”
Concern colored Kang Sujin’s words, but Yoo Dusik answered instead of me.
“Hah... Dongbaek Guild still doesn’t know Boss Yoo Hyun’s greatness, so I suppose it can’t be helped.”
“...What do you mean by that?”
“Hahaha! It means Boss Yoo Hyun is going to crush this competition.”
“That’s right! With the boss’s ability, he could place... No, he could even win!”
The two of them had faith in me that seemed ready to pierce the heavens.
Yet Kang Sujin remained cold.
“Sigh... Do as you wish. But if you fail to prepare properly and don’t place, it will put us in a very difficult position. Dongbaek is covering every expense for this trip. Please keep that in mind.”
Well... I definitely didn’t look like someone preparing for a competition.
From the perspective of the two people Dongbaek had sent, I probably seemed crazy. There had to be countless things to check before such an important competition, yet I suddenly wanted to go sightseeing?
And I was only a mere pet shop owner.
If I competed unprepared and got eliminated right away, Dongbaek would have paid for nothing but my vacation. Their reaction was only natural.
If anything, the fact that they stopped there seemed to show that Baek Seola had firmly instructed them to give me special treatment.
Still, I’d already prepared everything I needed for the competition. So thoroughly that I had no idea what else I could possibly do.
Over the past few days, I’d studied every type of pet likely to fit the competition’s themes, looked up Design blueprints used in previous competitions, and done plenty of mental rehearsal.
Honestly, considering my abilities, the practical side was no issue. I studied magical beasts regularly anyway, so there really was nothing left to prepare.
Of course, Kang Sujin and Seong Taesik didn’t know that, so they probably found it hard to trust me when I wanted to go sightseeing...
‘...But it’d be a shame to miss this chance to travel just because I’m worrying about what Dongbaek thinks. In the end, I’ll prove everything through the results.’
And so, I enjoyed traveling around Europe until the day the competition began.
* * *
The day of the Magical Beast Creation Competition.
Messe Frankfurt was famous for hosting the world’s largest motor show.
At that very venue, Europe’s largest magitech exhibition was currently underway.
People involved in Hunter-related industries, as well as ordinary visitors, had poured in from all over to see cutting-edge technology in every field made from Gate by-products, creating a massive crowd.
I waited for the competition to begin in the contestants’ waiting room.
“Phew... Just thinking about going out in front of all those people is making me nauseous...”
Had I brought any Cheongsimhwan?
Calm down, calm down... It’ll be nothing once I’m out there.
I started meditating in the waiting room to settle my nerves when...
Without any warning, the waiting room door opened.
Click.
“Hey, you can’t go in there!”
Someone ignored Yoo Dusik, who was guarding the entrance, and entered the waiting room.
“At last, the day has come, my dear friend.”
“Who are you...?”
A pale green-haired girl in a white coat that made her look like a scientist or doctor had suddenly appeared and acted as though she knew me.
With her pale hair and slight frame, she was quite literally a woman I’d never met before.
“Hm? If you don’t recognize me, I’ll be disappointed, friend.”
I stared at her face, but I had no idea who she was.
‘No, wait... That distinctive hair color...’
I’d seen it before. An email had come shortly before the competition saying an additional judge had been added. It must have been...
‘Right! Germany’s young genius, Luise von Berg!’
Why had she come to find me?
No, think about it. There were enough clues.
That distinctive way of speaking... A foreigner calling me her friend... And a judge for this competition. Only one person fit all that.
Could this be...
“...Victor?”
“Just as I expected! I knew someone with an intellect to rival mine would recognize me right away. Yes, it is I, friend. The only one who understands you, Victor Kreutz!”
“No, Tor, did you trick me...? I thought you were a guy...?”
What kind of nonsense was this? She’d completely fooled me... My online friend had actually been a woman pretending to be a man...!
“Phew... It is regrettable. This body should have been born male! But that isn’t important... What truly matters is that I can finally witness that brilliant intellect of yours with my own eyes, rather than merely catching glimpses through a screen.”
A fierce light shone in her dark-circled eyes. Desire? Anticipation? Delight? I couldn’t tell.
“Hey, I’m glad to see you, but get out already.”
“Why? I haven’t even been here for three minutes. Isn’t that a little cold between friends?”
Did she not realize she was here as a judge?
“...It’s suspicious for a judge to meet a contestant alone right before the competition.”
I doubted I’d be disqualified over something like this, but it was best to avoid risks.
“Ah, I see. I was so excited that it never crossed my mind. Then we’ll catch up after the competition. I’ll be looking forward to it, YH1234. No, Yoo Hyun.”
She left, her white coat fluttering behind her.
“Wow... Boss, your connections are incredible. That was Luise, right? The genius girl who’s considered one of Germany’s finest! She’s one of the few Magic Beast Alchemists who can create A-rank magical beasts... She seemed really close to you...”
Maybe because he’d recently taken an interest in magical beasts, Yoo Dusik recognized Luise, a famous figure in the magical beast industry.
“...Hmm.”
But this...
[ Name 》 Luise von Berg ]
[ Species 》 Human ]
[ Awakened Rank 》 A-rank ]
[ Profession 》 Magic Beast Alchemist ]
[ Areas for Improvement 》 She is under continual stress due to excessive expectations from those around her. A hidden state of psychological anxiety persists. If this continues long-term, it may lead to serious problems. She seems to need stimulation to overcome her slump. ]
She was in worse shape than she looked...?
Yoo Dusik stared in the direction Luise had left and muttered, “With that level of genius at her age, it seems like she’d have nothing to envy in the world. Though you’re amazing too, boss.”
“She... might be having a harder time than she looks.”
...The competition came first, so I decided not to think about it for now.
* * *
The Magical Beast Creation Competition finally began.
Since the competition’s theme was magical beast pets, which had become extremely popular lately, it had attracted considerable attention at the Magitech Technology Expo, and a huge crowd had gathered.
Once the competition began, the contestants were introduced one by one.
When it was Yoo Hyun’s turn, the judges raised their eyebrows as they read his information.
“The next contestant is... South Korean? He’s Korean?”
“What an unusual contestant. As far as I know, Korea hasn’t achieved anything in the magical beast pet field.”
Korea’s suppression of the magical beast industry was well known among those in the field.
They understood that there were ethical issues involved and that it made useful political ammunition, but...
“I heard Korea’s magical beast creation technology was in ruins. I’m worried it will lower the level of the competition.”
“Watch what you say. Domestic business may have been ruined by regulations, but don’t you know Korean talent is highly sought after in the pet industry now?”
“...If they have so much talent, why did that country destroy its own magical beast pet industry?”
“Who knows? One thing is certain, though. It will be difficult for him to achieve much in this competition. His environment is far too poor. Good heavens, look at this! Even if he used to be a researcher, he’s the owner of an ordinary pet shop!”
The judges shook their heads.
At last, the brief introductions for every contestant ended...
And the Day One competition in the Design division began.
Footnotes:
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