Episode 15

Old Friends Starting Today is the fifteenth episode of The S-Ranks That I Raised webtoon.

Yoojin tries to gain Yoo Myeongwoo's trust to help him Awaken with an SS-rank skill.

Summary
Yoojin chases down Yoo Myeongwoo and greets him cheerfully, pretending to have known him when they were younger, and takes the opportunity to examine his SS-rank skill further. From the name, Gold Forge's Owner, it appears to be an equipment production skill, which would be a vanishingly rare and valuable find, making the weak and dispirited Yoo Myeongwoo the object of worldwide acclaim. Yoojin learns through further conversation that Myeongwoo has also Awakened as an F-rank, and only came for the 1 million won subsidy. When he finds that Myeongwoo won't be going for the novice Hunter classes because he'd have to pay for them, Yoojin offers for them to go to the classes offered by his own guild together, promising Myeongwoo wouldn't have to pay for it. Kim Sunghan, who finally catches up with them, shoots down this offer; Myeongwoo is startled when he recognizes him, and further so when Yoojin explains that he's related to the Haeyeon Guild leader. Yoojin continues making Myeongwoo generous offers, overwhelming him, and assures him that he's incredibly deserving of all this kindness.

Myeongwoo bursts into tears at this reassurance, and a startled Yoojin gets him a cup of tea over which to calm down. Myeongwoo admits he's been having a hard time, and explains how he struggled as he grew up, falling into a great deal of debt and struggling with poor grades and no job. Yoojin finds he can relate, thinking back on the hard time he had after Awakening. Rallying himself, he stands and reassures Myeongwoo, saying they have to be confident in themselves because no one else will be. He shouts that he loves himself, and that he loves Myeongwoo as well, urging him to join in on the self-affirmations. Moved, Myeongwoo is influenced by the keyword and feels better.

Unfortunately, Haeyeon's HR team head Seok Simyeong denies Yoojin's request to allow Myeongwoo to attend their novice Hunter lessons. Seok Simyeong explains how they cannot extend Haeyeon's powerful name to a random stranger, pointing out further how they still cannot trust Yoojin enough to take him at his word. Myeongwoo leaves, mortified that Yoojin's getting humiliated on his behalf, and Yoojin follows him in worry. He tries to reassure Myeongwoo that he'll find a way, but Myeongwoo refuses his offer, thanking him for his kindness and planning on working with a team that comes to pick him up. Yoojin looks inside the van coming for Myeongwoo, only to be horrified by what he sees: a group of sketchy thugs who ask when Myeongwoo will be paying off his debts.

Characters

 * Han Yoojin
 * Yoo Myeongwoo
 * Kim Sunghan
 * Seok Simyeong
 * Loan sharks (unnamed)

Locations

 * Hunter Association exterior
 * Haeyeon Guild building

Novel & webtoon differences

 * Unlike in the novel, Yoojin doesn't attempt to call Yoohyun when Kim Sunghan protests against letting Myeongwoo into Haeyeon's classes.
 * Seok Simyeong handles the matter of Yoo Myeongwoo's entrance into Haeyeon's classes, unlike in the novel, where he has no input into Myeongwoo's acceptance, and doesn't personally meet with him at all. Additionally, Myeongwoo gets rejected from Haeyeon's classes, unlike in the novel, where Yoohyun immediately granted him permission as Yoojin's 'friend'.
 * Yoojin's first meeting with Seok Simyeong is a negotiation about Yoo Myeongwoo's entry into Haeyeon's novice Hunter classes, rather than about Bak Yerim's contract with Haeyeon Guild. In the webtoon, Seok Simyeong is also noticeably critical of Han Yoojin as a person, instead of the polite exterior he offers him as Yerim's guardian in the novel.
 * Yoojin learns about Myeongwoo's involvement with the sketchy Hunters the same day as when he meets him, rather than a day or two later.