Chapter 57

On the contrary, Yuseong had dark circles under his eyes.

"You too, hyung."

"Don't lie. I'm on my fifth cup of coffee now."

He shook his tumbler to show.

On Yuseong's desk, there were a few figurines, tributes to the three founders of the Oseong Guild, who had been wondering who would buy them. They depicted the founders at the peak of their greatest achievements during their lifetimes.

"Surely, hyung didn't buy them yourself?"

"Oh, those?"

He picked up a duster made of ostrich feathers.

"Oseong Guild gave them as a set, I think. About 500 sets came in."

It seemed odd that something he treasured so much had quite a bit of dust on it.

"There are still many left in the warehouse, so Seoon, you should take some."

"Don't think I'll take them for recycling."

Yuseong laughed awkwardly.

"But... Did Ji-geon come with you?"

Yuseong leaned in and whispered to Seoon, glancing up at Ji-geon behind him.

"No."

"Um... If Mr. Ji-geon came to claim a reward, you should go to the Disaster Recovery Policy Department, not here."

"I've already received it."

Ji-geon stood with a high posture, making Yuseong feel awkward.

"Then why did you come?"

"I followed Seoon."

Yuseong gave Seoon a look as if to say, "What's this about?"

"I don't know, so just ignore it."

"Wow, Ji-geon is hurt."

Ji-geon pouted and hunched his body. Despite his nickname 'Ji-geon,' his build was impressive, making the other guild members of Tacheon look small in comparison. He had a well-built physique, and if not for his eye color, he could easily be mistaken for a combat type.

"Do you have something to talk to Seoon about?"

"Yes, I'm curious why he went into hiding."

In fact, Yuseong had also planned to ask Seoon why he had come. Rumors had been quietly spreading that the deputy guild leader of Tacheon had disappeared for a while.

Seeing Yuseong's curious eyes, Seoon succinctly replied.

"I went into hiding because the Underworld was a mess. If Mr. Ji-geon's curiosity is satisfied, you can leave now?"

"Now I'm curious what you two will talk about."

Seoon realized anew how well-behaved and obedient their guild members were. There was no need for a wall to separate them.

"Are you trying to pick a fight with me?"

Ji-geon's eyes widened. Then he used his finger to draw a long stream of coffee from Yuseong's tumbler.

As he moved his finger, the brown coffee began to form letters.

[I want to be friends >.<]

Seoon, finding the writing disgusting, pushed it away with his hand. As a water attribute user, Ji-geon could freeze things, and the floating letters remained frozen and rigid.

Does someone who wants to be friends start talking about bathroom stuff on their first meeting?

When Seoon pushed from top to bottom, the frozen letters shattered into pieces.

"Tacheon doesn't accept Elemental or Mental types, right? Is that true?"

"Yes, we don't accept them."

"Even if I join?"

"There are many places with better conditions than us."

"Why? I'm not bad-looking."

Tacheon had recently been misunderstood. There was a rumor that they had been expelling members based on their appearance. According to the rumor, Ji-geon had a rather popular and good-looking appearance. He wasn't particularly striking in any one feature, but his overall aura was warm, possibly due to his soft hair.

"We don't select members based on their looks."

"Then do you select based on the size of their...?"

If he were a combat type, he might have fit in well with their guild members.

"We only have combat types."

"Even Seoon?"

Seoon calmly looked at Ji-geon.

"Indeed."

"Really?"

Ji-geon, making a joke, glanced at the Matahari hanging from Seoon's side and added a meaningful expression.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I have an urgent call to take."

Yuseong had been holding his phone, looking troubled.

"I need to go out right now."

"Hyung, I came to ask you something. Are you very busy?"

"Then, can we talk on the phone?"

Actually, Seoon didn't mind talking on the phone, but he had come to see Yuseong in person.

"That's fine, but what's the matter? Another mutant appeared?"

The messenger was still quiet.

"It's a long story to explain, but you'll understand when you see it."

Yuseong handed his phone to Seoon.

★We can awaken you as a Multigen with an 80% success rate. Call 070-XXX-43XX. First 10 callers get a 30% discount★

"Hyung, are you going to catch a scammer...?"

"What? What are you talking about?"

Yuseong looked at his phone and scrolled up. The last comment was visible, leading to Seoon's misunderstanding.

"Look again."

[Title: Big News. A low-level healer has reawakened as a top-tier Seeker. Just arrived in Korea and announced his name.]

He is a member of the Oseong Guild.

- Shout! Seeker!

- He predicted it, so Seeker is the best.

- Cute?

- BS, if he's cute, he'd never meet a girl in real life.

- Seeker is male.

- Look at this. He said mutants will appear in other countries too. (Video)

- Should we just try it?

- ★We can awaken you as a Multigen with an 80% success rate. Call 070-XXX-43XX. First 10 callers get a 30% discount★

"Hyung, is this true?"

"I don't know for sure yet. They told me to check it out. I need to verify it."

Do you have any information? Yuseong shook his head. Yuseong, telling him to call later, rushed out, knocking over the Oseong Guild figurines.

Seoon righted the fallen figurines and took out his phone. He was about to search for the Oseong Guild Seeker but saw a message from Chahaya first. It was a fresh message, only a few minutes old.

[Waiting... Waiting...]

Seoon, finding it absurd, tapped the keyboard.

[Didn't I tell you not to wait? I'm going home.]

[You have a home, right? I don't have a home anymore.]

[Are you lying again?]

[Uncle is selling the guild building. :-(]

[Why?]

[I also contributed to a good cause, so he can't just sit there.]

Seoon was so surprised he wanted to call, but the wave symbol made him feel unnecessarily heated.

"Who are you talking to?"

As he tapped the screen, Ji-geon suddenly interjected.

"Still here?"

"I was going to exchange contact information."

"We're not growing our guild anymore. And Mr. Ji-geon is already a member."

"I haven't been a member for a while."

"I don't know why you're interested in our guild,"

"I'm just curious about Seoon."

"Really, it's frustrating."

Seoon's eyes narrowed.

"Do you know that one-sided interest is also a form of violence? Right now, Mr. Ji-geon is being violent to me."

"Then respond with violence."

The boy wrapped Matahari's handle in a stream of water from an unknown source.

This kid, something seems off about him, as if he's just picking a fight...

It's as if he's sure I won't use force.

"I don't want to destroy the control center."

"Like someone from Tacheon would bite me?"

"If you want to join our guild, get recommendations from the other members. Then I'll consider it."

Seoon bowed slightly and started to leave. As the conversation ended, a call came from Chahaya.

"You can stay at the guild building until it's sold."

[Yeah, I'll do that.]

"..."

Seoon regretted going ahead.

[So, come visit before the guild building is sold.]

"Ah! Really!"

Seoon was startled by a thin stream of water running down his back. The water, like a leech, seeped into his waist.

I've held back long enough.

"Listen, Mr. Ji-geon!"

[...Seoon?]

Seoon, raising his voice, took the phone away from his ear.

Ji-geon, standing in the hallway, opened his eyes wide, looking puzzled as to why Seoon was suddenly angry at him. As Seoon approached, still talking on the phone, he continued.

"I'll call you later."

Seoon ended the call and glared at Ji-geon.

"Why?"

Why? Seoon still felt the water on his waist, making his back uncomfortable. Moreover, he didn't know where the water had come from, making it even more unsettling.

"What did you just do?"

"Me? What did I do?"

Ji-geon blinked innocently.

"You were playing a prank on me, weren't you?"

"Me?"

With no evidence and no admission from the other party, it seemed a waste of time to press further. Just then, Chahaya called again, so Seoon retracted his cold gaze. As he was about to turn back, he heard a thud.

Seoon saw something fall in front of him. Looking up, he saw water dripping from the ceiling.

Seoon's mouth opened in dismay, then closed tightly.

The water was leaking from above, and it had just happened to drip on the back of his neck as he passed by.

As he stared at the dripping water, he heard a suppressed laugh from behind. Seoon's face flushed with embarrassment, and he bowed slightly.

"I... I think I misunderstood. I'm sorry."

That's right, who would follow and cause a misunderstanding?

Seoon blamed himself silently and quickly walked away.

[Who's Ji-geon?]

When he touched the call button, Chahaya immediately asked.

"Do you know?"

Upon reflection, it was a silly question. Chahaya would certainly know about the top-tier Ji-geon.

[I know. Where are you now?]

"I just stopped by the control center headquarters."

[Why there?]

He openly showed his displeasure. Chahaya didn't seem to like it when he got involved with the mutant disaster control center.