Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: My Childhood Friend is a Ranker Tomboy!
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The Chomok Guild's guild home stood proudly in a busy thoroughfare on the first floor of the Brass Tower.
Whether it was the guild master's taste or not, the entrance was tangled with thick vines, giving it the look of a lush green hotel that suited the guild's plant theme perfectly.
'It's huge. As expected of one of the top six guilds. How much money do they have to build a hotel exclusively for guild members inside the tower?'
It was the kind of building you'd see in a tourist spot like Florida.
The entrance was spotless, making it hard to believe this was a place where you'd bring corpses.
And maybe that's why?
"Hey, you there. Who are you, and why've you been lurking around the entrance?"
"Ah."
Just like the tower entrance, there was a heavily armed guard here too.
He must've found my suspicious figure with the massive frame strapped to my back.
Even I thought I looked shady; I could only imagine how he saw me.
"I asked who you are."
"What else? I'm a fellow hunter here on business. This is the Chomok Guild, right? I have some matters to attend to and was hoping to head inside... is that okay?"
"An unaffiliated hunter, huh. Sorry, but no entry. You see what's going on inside? We're renting out the whole guild home to celebrate conquering the Brass Tower. The guild master's strictly ordered no outsiders today."
"I saw someone go in through the back door earlier."
"You mean the press crew from outside? They had appointments booked days ago, so no choice there. We're not taking requests today either, so unless it's urgent, come back tonight or tomorrow."
He was getting irritated.
He'd been staring inside at everyone raising toasts while he was stuck guarding the door, and it soured his mood.
Was there a rotation for guards too?
"I have my own circumstances. I'd really prefer to wrap this up today if possible."
"What kind of circumstances?"
"Well..."
He didn't seem unreasonable. Though annoyed, he struck me as diligent in his duties, so I laid out the whole story honestly.
He rubbed his eyes and let out a sigh.
"I see... Of all places, he had to die there..."
"Did you know him?"
"New recruit who joined recently. Had a good vibe but didn't listen well, so he was a bit of a headache. Not a bad guy, though."
"Why'd he go up alone?"
"Same as always—ignored the seniors. Everyone warned him not to climb the tower solo..."
"I see."
Haah.
The guard, who looked fairly older, shook off his displeasure and opened the door for me.
"Fine. Can't be helped with circumstances like that. Don't know who you are, but we can't just ask you to keep holding onto someone else's corpse. Over there in the lounge—talk to someone, and they'll handle it."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me. I'm grateful you're bringing back a guild member's body, but watch yourself inside. Not everyone'll take it as nicely as I did."
I nodded that I understood and stepped into the lounge.
What a good guy.
'Man, it's really spacious. What is this, a modern-day castle?'
The clink of glasses and booming laughter never stopped. In one corner of the expansive lounge, the TV was playing a program from this morning. Their proud guild master was being showered with praise by the MC on screen, and the guild members watched, cheering wildly about their achievement.
'Crashing this vibe makes me look like a total idiot.'
I regretted not just leaving the body somewhere, but it was too late now.
"Hello, sir. What brings you here?"
"Uh, well..."
A woman handling reception and guidance in the lounge approached.
Her expression was awkward.
Couldn't be helped.
They were told no outsiders, and here comes a guy hauling a frame on his back.
—Hey, that guy.
—It's the Scavenger.
—Why's he here?
—No way.
As I stood there blankly, eyes started turning my way.
Damn. They're sharp.
Should've just kept eating my snacks and ignored them.
I steeled my face and headed to the reception counter, explaining the situation along with the body on my back.
"...A body? One of our guild members?"
"Yes."
"That can't be. Right after the official notice came down, the guild master ordered everyone to gather and celebrate—no one should've gone up the tower today..."
She murmured quietly, reading the mood. But the body was real, so she hurriedly contacted the Brass Tower side. Soon, her face lit up in shock.
"Ah..."
Looks like there was one.
Just like the guard said, a real troublemaker.
"Mind if I check?"
"Go ahead."
I stepped back a bit, and she verified the identity of the body I'd wrapped in a bag and carried. The moment she saw the face, she recognized him and uttered his name. He must've been a promising newbie, as the surrounding laughter died down a notch, and a few hunters who caught on stood from their seats.
Had I ruined the mood?
But as the guard said, I couldn't just keep the body myself.
"Confirmed. He's one of our new recruits."
"...For real?"
"Wait, isn't this the punk the guild master recruited last time?"
"Ah, damn it~!"
"Heard his skills were killer. Why the hell did a promising kid like that die in the Brass Tower?!"
"Cut the crap!"
Eventually, hunters who knew the guy approached.
Their vibes were off.
No atmosphere for negotiating rewards through the association. Even I could read that much.
'Screwed. Totally screwed. Gotta bail now.'
If I left right then, I'd leave as the good guy who brought their comrade's body.
The moment I stored the frame in my item pouch and awkwardly said, "Well, I'll be going," and turned—
"Wait, you punk!"
Ah, shit.
"What is it?"
"Where'd you get this body?!"
You piece of trash.
Talking down to me like we're buddies?
"Where else? The Brass Tower."
"Think I don't know that!? What floor, where exactly, how'd he die?!"
"35th floor. Ogre cave. Body was there, surrounded by corpses, so looked like they went down fighting each other."
"An ogre?"
"No way that weakling took him down! The kid was promising!"
What's with the bullshit?
I tried to go my way, pretending ignorance, but my shoulder got grabbed again.
"What the hell? Why?"
"Tell me straight. Did an ogre really kill him?"
"What else? What're you getting at?"
"You're that guy, right? The hyena who picks up corpses everywhere. The grave robber who's weirdly good at finding bodies."
"Watch your mouth. Why keep calling everyone 'punk'? Do you know me?"
"Know you? One of my pups got done in! You... you didn't..."
"Hold up. I get what you're implying, but don't cross the line. Why would I touch your guild member?"
"........."
His mouth stopped.
The mood was tense.
The booze stench wafting from the hand gripping my shoulder was nasty.
Drunk as hell.
"Any reason you didn't?"
"Pardon?"
"You E- and D-rank trash were all up in arms about the tower conquest. Why would punks like you gang up on a newbie in the tower?"
He crossed the line.
Anger boiled over.
"Look at this guy. One drink and he loses it. Accusing me of murder, you crazy bastard!"
"Damn right! Everyone in the tower knows the corpse-picking trash! Spill it—did you steal from my pup?!"
"Oh, come on. First murder suspect, now thief? And 'pup'? Keep saying 'punk,' you drunk shit! If you're so sure, search me then!"
"You trash!"
I knew I shouldn't engage with idiots like this, but my boiling point was low too.
Dumbass. That's why you get burned.
"Whoa, whoa! Calm down, you maniac!"
"Even so, that was too far!"
"Let go! Boss, that was my guy! And he drops dead outta nowhere—how can I stay quiet?!"
"I get it, but you're barking up the wrong tree!"
"Drinking your ass off and—!"
"Still, there's some logic. He's a Scavenger. Murder maybe not, but he could've looted the body. Gotta check."
"Right. Calling him killer was harsh, but what's wrong with checking for looting?"
"Hey, he brought the body—why talk like that?"
"Did we say anything wrong?"
"Come on, not today. Good day and all."
Luckily, I didn't get hit or anything.
When the guy tried to swing, guild members held him back. When I tried to stand my ground, they pulled me too. So we faced off amid the murmurs, splitting into those saying his words were too much and those suspecting I'd looted the body.
Loot the body? If he weren't Chomok, I might've.
But today, I'm innocent as hell.
"Hey, you assholes~! Heard Chomok's got a good rep, so I ditched my daily pay to haul this over, and this is the thanks? Fine. I'll empty every pouch right here—take a look. If nothing turns up, the punks calling me thief now smash your heads in!"
"Filthy dog barking in our guild! Think I don't know you hid stuff somewhere?!"
"Oh? First murder, now denying loot? Flip-flopping already? Slippery tongue much? I didn't do shit—why treat me like this?!"
"That's 'cause he wasn't the type to die there! Everyone here knows that, right?!"
"True... but the tower ain't safe. Accidents happen—we all know."
"But an ogre? He wasn't that weak."
"Yeah. Cadre candidate."
"Scavenger rep doesn't help trust."
"...Isn't that too much?"
"Yeah. Looting maybe, but murder?"
"He's drunk. Everyone chill."
"Accusing a guest of murder crossed the line."
"Exactly. What a scene in front of a guest. If the guild master sees—"
—It's blowing up.
Someone muttered that when—
"—What is all this commotion?"
A husky voice of indeterminate gender echoed through the hall.
"「「「「.........」」」」"
That one line silenced everyone.
Mouths gaped open, someone hiccuped.
The door bell at the guild hall's main entrance jingled, and a strikingly feminine figure entered the lounge.
"G-Guild Master..."
"What's with the mood? Weren't you supposed to just have a few drinks while I did the interview?"
"N-No... it's..."
The guild member's face who grabbed my shoulder went pale, the drunken haze clearing as reason returned.
Scary guild master, even blackout drunk.
...No surprise.
Song Seong-yeon, the 【Saint】.
Currently ranked 9th among hunters, a fiery celebrity.
In a coat, with an undeniably feminine face, she eyed the rowdies alternately with a puzzled look.
"...Who's the guest?"
"Yes."
"Ceres clearly said no outsiders today. What's with the guild vibe? Did this guy do something?"
"Not exactly... various things happened..."
"What does that mean?"
She raised an eyebrow at me.
Then stopped questioning.
"........."
Staring at me.
Had I pissed her off somehow? But no.
"Feels like I've seen your face before...?"
"Ah, that's him."
"Him who?"
"The Scavenger."
"Scavenger? Oh, the D-rank with the epithet~?"
"Y-Yes..."
"Why's someone like that here? Wait, a friend invited him? No way. We're celebrating guild-only today. I told Ceres to issue that notice so I could relax with you all— what about others?"
"........."
"What? That's it?"
Nods all around.
"You idiots. I can tell from the mood. You did something."
"...A little."
"A little?"
"Sorry... let me explain the situation..."
"Nah, later. More importantly..."
Song Seong-yeon stepped closer, right in front of me.
She was much shorter. Up close, the short, boyish feel remained.
She tilted her head oddly, circling me.
"The burns on your face too..."
Why's she worried about my burns?
Something on my face?
The irritation from before gone, I tensed like at a guild interview— she poked my chest.
"I only know your epithet, so... may I have your name?"
"Chang-gi. Hong Chang-gi."
"...Chang-gi?"
"Yes."
"Wha... wha-wha?"
She trembled at my name.
I braced for an explosion from my antics, but no.
"S-Sorry if this is rude, but... those burns, from saving a friend as a kid or something...?"
"...Huh?"
"Ahh~! Knew it from your reaction! It is you!"
The world brightened.
No—she beamed wide.
"It is you! —Chang-gi ya!!"
She hugged me tight!
Tiny arms around my neck, pressing that cute forehead against me.
"Ugh?! What the hell is this?!"
"What else? It's me! Seong-yeon, the one you saved back then! Forgot me?"
"Wha-wha...?"
Wha-wha-wha??
Wait, what the hell?
Why does she know me...?
"Waha~! Long time no see, dude!! What've you been up to?!"
"No way, the real Song Seong-yeon?"
"Who else~? Two Seong-yeons in the world?"
"Huuuh?!"
An unexpected reunion.
She was just as thrilled, clinging nonstop.
The rising star of the hunter world, whom I'd thought was just a namesake, was ridiculously my childhood friend.