Chapter 84

< Sister, Please... (1) >

‘With this, I’ve met all the domestic S-grade hunters except one.’

I poured instant coffee into a fancy-looking coffee cup and added water. I prefer paper cups, but it’s good to reduce the use of disposable items.

‘Why hasn’t the last one contacted me?’

MKC wouldn’t be in a situation to contact me, and according to Song Tae-won, Han Shin is in a difficult position to approach me.

The last one, Yoon Kyung-soo of Sudam, might be in a similar state. Despite laying out tempting bait, the fact that this domestic S-grade guild leader remains so quiet must have a reason.

‘What about Manager Song Tae-won?’

He seems like a good person, but from my position, he’s a difficult opponent. This coffee mix is a brand I’ve never seen before, but it’s delicious. A bit sweet, though.

‘It’s a shame to let him die, but if he’s alive...’

He would be the biggest obstacle for Hae-yeon to swallow the Hunter Association. The turning point for the Hunter Association, which had the backing of the state, losing its power was none other than the death of Song Tae-won.

With no S-grade hunters and the dungeon difficulty increasing, it was natural for the association to weaken. They had to reluctantly hand over the S-grade dungeons they managed to large guilds. Eventually, after Se-seong disappeared and Hae-yeon gradually absorbed the vacant positions, the association was devoured.

‘So Yu-hyun was also suspected.’

After Song Tae-won’s death, when Se-seong suddenly left Korea, the most common rumor was that he had killed Song Tae-won. However, the circumstances also made Hae-yeon seem suspicious.

‘Given Song Tae-won’s personality, he wouldn’t compromise easily, and he would continue to clash with the guilds.’

Should I apply a keyword? But it’s hard to make a joke with him... If I say something awkward, I might get a serious response and not be able to speak again.

Since there’s still some time, I’ll wait and see.

I need to get the key and pack my things, so I decided to return to the Hae-yeon guild. Of course, I need to remove the hand marks on my neck first. If they’re discovered, it will be troublesome.

‘Mirror... Where was the bathroom again?’

I think it was next to the lobby. I took out a potion and headed there. Since there’s no one in the building except for the breeding facility—

“Ms. Han Yu-jin?”

It’s Kang So-young. She’s holding a five-tier cat tower in one hand and five large shopping bags in the other. I forgot about her. I instinctively covered my neck, but—

Thud

The shopping bags fell to the ground after the cat tower, and Kang So-young quickly approached me.

“What happened? Where are our guild leader and Yelim?”

“I sent them off first.”

“Yelim is one thing, but why did the guild leader do that?”

Kang So-young tilted her head and took a picture with her phone.

“Why are you taking a picture...”

“I need to file a complaint and report it to the guild leader.”

“It’s fine! Don’t call! Nothing happened, really.”

“Nothing happened, but there are hand marks on your neck?”

“This is because Manager Song Tae-won was worried about me...”

Kang So-young’s expression became subtle. Even I think it sounds a bit crazy.

Anyway, I managed to convince her not to say anything and got her to delete the picture. She gave me a lukewarm look the whole time as she escorted me to the dormitory.

No one was home. The kids had been moved to the breeding facility, Peace was taken by Yu-hyun, and Myeong-woo was holed up in the forge.

It’s been a long time since it’s been this quiet. After all, it’s better to have someone at home. That’s why people keep pets.

I wrote “Moving in progress” on the whiteboard in the living room. Since Myeong-woo spends more than half his day in the forge and his phone doesn’t work in the inner space, I communicate this way. He checks it every hour or so.

‘Most of the unpacked boxes are still here.’

With all the necessities, there wasn’t much to unpack. This time, I need to sort and discard things when I move.

I packed all my things into boxes and brought them to the living room, then emptied the fridge with an ice box. It’s summer, after all, even though it’s just next door. I also collected the kids’ things, which had increased a bit.

While I was doing this, Myeong-woo appeared, still radiating heat from whatever he was doing.

“Did you pack everything?”

“Yeah, mostly. Now I need to move them.”

“You don’t need to.”

Myeong-woo took out a string from his inventory. It looked like it was made by twisting silver, and it extended to wrap around the boxes, lifting them into the air.

What a strange thing he’s made.

“You can just put them in the forge and take them out later.”

“Ah, I see. I can use it like that.”

Cheater. Wait, can this be used in conjunction with dungeons? Like putting more people in than the limit, or keeping a low-stat healer for safe extraction and treatment.

“Can you put people in it?”

I asked Myeong-woo when he returned from moving the boxes to the forge.

“No, unfortunately, it’s not possible. Living beings are automatically ejected when I’m not around.”

That’s really disappointing. If Myeong-woo could grow to A stats, he could use low-stat hunters effectively in high-level dungeons, along with healers and special assistants.

But he’s busy just making items.

Kim Sung-han had the mini portal key and the inner door key. With Yu-hyun gone, he, as a new S-grade hunter and one of Hae-yeon’s initial members, was acting as the guild leader.

After receiving the keys and going to Seok Si-myeong for my resignation, Yelim suddenly appeared with fire in her eyes.

“Uncle, you can’t do this! You promised not to go anywhere!”

Right, I did. Seok Si-myeong nodded in agreement behind her.

“It’s just the next building. Are you done with your class?”

“It’s break time. Even if it’s the next building! If you resign, you’re really leaving. Can’t you just stay?”

“But is that okay?”

“It’s fine.”

Seok Si-myeong quickly answered.

“After all, you haven’t been doing much as a regular employee, right? Hae-yeon has many hunter employees, so there’s no clause prohibiting part-time work for those with a hunter’s license.”

“Keep your promise, Uncle! At least until the contract ends!”

Yelim’s eyes burned as if she was about to grab my collar. When she says it like that, I have no choice. A promise is a promise.

In the end, I decided to maintain my regular employee contract with Hae-yeon. Actually, due to Yelim’s insistence, it was extended to three years. It’s just a nominal position, though.

Returning to the breeding facility, I finally stepped into my new home. Although the main door keys are held by the guild leaders, they say a signal will be sent to each guild if someone tries to break in or open the door without a key. Think of it like a multi-unit building.

“This place is great.”

While it’s smaller than the first floor, the first floor is just too big, and this is also quite spacious. The ceiling was two stories high, probably due to the flying monsters. There was an open mezzanine with a railing, which looked perfect for Blue, who loves high places.

In addition to a human living room, there was a separate space for monsters, like a small gym. There were no windows for safety, but one wall was a special glass screen showing the rooftop garden in real-time. Other window-shaped screens did the same, adjusting the lighting to mimic natural light according to the time and weather.

The kitchen area was separated with a sturdy door as I requested. This would prevent Blue from raiding the fridge.

- Squeak! Squeak!

Despite moving to a new place after just one day, Blue was excited without any hesitation. She flew up and perched on the mezzanine railing, letting out a loud cry. It’s great that I don’t have to worry about noise.

- Chirp

Piyak, who now had an additional bracelet due to Comet, ran to the screen showing the garden and sat down. He seemed to like the view. I should take him out tomorrow.

The baby was still asleep, so I placed the nest on the table.

“Myeong-woo, you said you already moved, right?”

I asked Myeong-woo, who was helping me unpack.

Myeong-woo’s new home was in the residential area on the top floor of the building. It’s not the highest floor, but it’s a penthouse. He said he spent a lot of money on it, and Park Hae-yan and her team also stayed there.

“Yeah, it’s well set up. It’s too big to live alone, though... Actually, it’s a bit lonely.”

So that’s why he’s been staying in the dormitory.

“Come over if you’re bored. Do you want a key?”

Myeong-woo’s face brightened at my words.

“Sure, I’d love to! But aren’t keys only given to the contracted guild leaders?”

“I have an extra one. There’s no one else to give it to, and you’re the most reliable, honestly.”

My brother, being a guild leader, will take care of Hae-yeon on his own when he comes out of the dungeon. If Yelim finds out I gave you the key, she might grumble.

I gave him the mini portal key and the front door key. Myeong-woo took them like they were treasures and put them in his inventory.

“By the way, if you have time, can you make some equipment that mainly increases mental strength? It would be even better if it also boosts magic power as a secondary stat. High-level equipment with mental strength increase is very rare.”

“Of course. But mental strength after magic power? What about other stats?”

“The other stats are fine as they are.”

I only need it for training the kids. The baby monsters are at most C stats. However, mental strength and magic power are required for higher-level skills and are often used by S-grade hunters... I don’t know when I’ll need to use the teacher skill again, but I need to maximize it to avoid hospital visits. Besides, higher mental strength might reduce the side effects of fear resistance.

I considered turning off fear resistance but thought better of it when I remembered my brother. With fear resistance, I only get appropriately worried and annoyed. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to focus. Yu-hyun is one thing, but Peace is still inexperienced. Anyway, Yu-hyun is a real pain.

“Magic power, mental strength. Got it, I’ll make it as soon as I finish what I’m working on now.”

“What are you making?”

“It’s a secret for now.”

Myeong-woo grinned. I remember that making an S-grade sword didn’t take long, so is he trying to make an SS-grade item already?

After roughly finishing the unpacking, Myeong-woo returned to the forge. He’s going to come back to my place from here. Is he not going to his own home?

Meanwhile, I received a text message.

[Hey, my brother is coming to Korea tomorrow:)]

It’s Riet. She also sent a contact number, presumably for her brother. Despite Yu-hyun’s grumbling about not contacting him personally, it’s surprising that she sent a text. Given that she gave me a translation item, she probably wouldn’t still be blocking me. The breeding facility is also complete.

‘Are they starting to visit from overseas now?’

It would be great if some S-grade hunters who are good for keywords come. They said it could be done slowly, but I want to fill the 50 spots and be free as soon as possible.

Bang!

- Squeak! Hiss!

‘What’s that?!”

I woke up to a loud noise. Checking the time, it was just past midnight. Piyak was sleeping soundly, and Blue? She usually sleeps when the sun sets, so what’s going on?

Bang!

Oh no, what’s happening? I quickly went outside and climbed up to the mezzanine where Blue had made her bed. The baby griffin was sleeping peacefully among the shredded cushions. Its wings, folded neatly, fluttered with each breath.

If not Blue, then...?

- Chirp, Squeak!

It’s Comet. Comet, who wouldn’t wake up, was put in a glass cage in one corner of the monster living room. I went down and turned on the lights.

- Squeak! Hiss!

Rustle!

The baby dragon, which had been flying around wildly, landed on my head and wrapped its tail around my ear. The door wasn’t locked, but it was closed. Does it know how to open doors?

“Comet!”

Sliding down my neck and shoulder, it hung onto my arm. Its eyes, which were really, really clear, stared at me intently. Much clearer than during the day.

“You... are nocturnal.”

- Squeak!

This is bad.

< Sister, Please... (1) > End

ⓒ Geunseo