Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Volunteering and Healing
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"Sis, where are my fluffy socks!"
"Mm, got it."
"My doll's gone! Waaah!"
Min Ji-yeon gritted her teeth against the pounding headache as she rushed to get the kids ready for school.
"Ji-yeon, you don't have to come... You're busy too, and it's tough on you."
"I'm fine, Mom. Areum and Hyeon-woo are all set for school. You can take them now!"
The orphanage director, who was like family, felt guilty watching her bustle around with the kids and squeezed her hand tight.
"...I'm sorry, and thank you. Come eat after you're done!"
"Sure, I will. Okay, Areum? Hold Hyeon-woo's hand~"
The orphanage mornings were always chaotic.
Partly because there were so many kids, but mostly because dwindling subsidies meant they couldn't even afford extra staff.
'Hoo, this is exhausting...'
Since the gates started appearing, facilities like orphanages for vulnerable groups had been hit hard financially. Donations dried up as people tightened their belts, but the biggest blow was the government's budget cuts.
It wasn't fair to blame them entirely—the government had funneled most resources into preventing gate breaks. Those benefits went to hunters, who in turn protected the nation.
Ironic, though, that the choice to safeguard the country left its own people neglected.
"Ugh..."
"Sis, are you hurt?"
"No, I'm okay. Ye-eun, can you tidy up the shoes?"
"Yeah! Got it!"
Min Ji-yeon bit her lip watching her little sister dash off on short legs and cling to the shoe rack as tall as she was, then turned back to the kids.
'I should've turned down that drink yesterday...'
The party kicked off right after the alliance declaration. Amid endless bottles of premium wine worth months of the orphanage's operating budget, Min Ji-yeon had wanted nothing more than to bolt.
But Park Chung-gyo, master of her guild Naraka...
-What? You want to leave early? Ji-yeon, how can you say that now?
-We've always prioritized gates near the orphanage, haven't we? Don't you know how much we've suffered for it?
-The orphanage needs to hire some help now, and give the director a break. How long can you scrape by on those pitiful subsidies? If the alliance works out, we'll take good care of you.
-Later, the alliance can hook the kids up with jobs too, right? So stick around and pour the Abyss Guild master a drink.
It had been a nightmare.
The stench of booze poured from people chattering and laughing, their leering gazes still sticky on her skin.
The orphanage sat in Naraka Guild territory.
In an era where gates could pop up anywhere, survival without a guild's protection was no joke.
After awakening as a healer, joining Naraka—which had taken over the area—was inevitable.
'...If I'd hidden my background back then, maybe it wouldn't have come to this...'
Revealing she was an orphanage alum had become a shackle around her ankle. Sometimes it felt like a noose.
"Oh, Ji-yeon. The art academy volunteers for the drawing class are here. Could you greet them? Sorry about this."
The director made the request with an awkward smile while soothing two sobbing kids clinging to her.
"Sure, no problem. Hyeon-woo, listen to Mom, okay?"
She patted her brother's head—he was still adjusting to school—and headed to the entrance.
"Welcome! Thank you so much for coming, Director."
"Oh, it's nothing. Ji-yeon, you just get prettier every day~"
The art academy director, whom Min Ji-yeon had met a few times.
They exchanged light greetings and welcomed the other teachers, but one girl among them clearly wasn't staff.
'...She's beautiful. Like an angel.'
Min Ji-yeon had seen plenty of celebrities and influencers at Naraka Guild master's various parties.
But this silver-haired girl, still retaining a youthful innocence, was beyond words like "beautiful."
"Hello."
"Oh, hi! Hello...!"
Spring flowers seemed to bloom with the girl's smile.
'Min Ji-yeon?'
What were the odds of running into one of Korea's two healers during a routine volunteering gig?
She always showed up with Naraka at flashy parties, so even in casual clothes away from that scene, she was easy to spot.
At least she didn't seem to recognize me. Would've been hilarious if it were Chae Jeong-ah, who already knew me.
"This way, please. The kids are going to love you."
Min Ji-yeon, flustered as she led the way, looked exhausted. Was she volunteering too?
Unlike the rumors, she seemed decent.
"Sis, are you staying over tonight?"
"No, and we have guests, so say hi first."
"Hello! I'm Lee Ji-hye!"
Min Ji-yeon naturally patted the bowing kid's head as we followed her deeper inside.
We reached the living room where kids clutching sketchbooks had gathered in clusters. Min Ji-yeon hushed the noisy bunch and guided us to our spots.
'She must come here a lot.'
I eyed her curiously—she seemed right at home.
"Even Iroha thinks Ji-yeon is pretty, right? She grew up so well despite the tough circumstances."
Ah... so she's an alum.
Honestly, surprising. Even as an orphanage kid turned hunter—and a healer at that—she could've turned her back on her past.
Rumors aside, it was clear she had a good heart.
"Are you a teacher too, sis?"
"Well... something like that?"
A kid tugged my sleeve. I was a bit thrown by Min Ji-yeon's entrance, but volunteering came first.
I sat by some nearby kids as the academy instructors gathered groups and settled in.
"Alright, show me your artistic souls!"
"Jesus?"
Oh no, that's not it!
"No, yes! Art! Soul!"
"Art soul? What's that?"
"Just draw the coolest thing you can imagine! Or whatever you want!"
Inspire me, you little gremlins.
The kids whispered among themselves, then grabbed crayons and started scribbling.
I watched, then sketched a dragon I'd been practicing to show off.
'Hmm, still not quite there.'
It had escaped lizard territory, but it lacked the charisma of a true dragon.
"Whoa, it's a Nidoking!"
"No, it's a dragon. Like a wyrm."
It's obviously a dragon, distinct from a fire-breathing lizard!
"Hmm, but it looks like Nidoking..."
"It's different! What'd you draw?"
"I'm gonna be an angel hunter, so I drew that!"
"Looks like a dragonfly."
"Nooo! It's not a dragonfly!"
It's not? Just a stick figure body with wings—total dragonfly vibes.
"Okay, evil! Don't draw arms with crayons!"
"Kyahahaha."
"Dare to flee? Your angel hunter's fate rests in my hands. Better surrender quietly."
I menaced her angel hunter drawing with a crayon.
"Nooo! Don't do it!"
"Gotcha, you rascal! Challenging teacher authority? Tickle torture!"
I mercilessly tickled the kid's side.
As I hugged the wriggling troublemaker to carry out the sentence, Min Ji-yeon approached with a smile.
"You're great with the kids. Here, let me wipe that off your arm."
She cleaned crayon smudges with a wet wipe, then gently scolded the kid.
"Na-yeon, you can't do that to teachers."
"But she started it!"
"Ahem, that's adult advice."
"Why are you adults so short?!"
The kid's words made not just me but Min Ji-yeon—standing nearby laughing—reel back. Her build was close to mine, so she took splash damage too.
"...Na-yeon?"
"Time to taste adulthood. This is collaboration!"
I pinned the kid's arms, and Min Ji-yeon swooped in to attack her sides mercilessly. The kid thrashed and laughed hysterically before crying uncle.
"I surrender! Uncle! Ahahaha!"
"Act up again? No mercy next time."
"Heehee, okay! I got it! Kyahaha!"
As volunteering wrapped up and everyone tidied, the kids whined about parting. Na-yeon clung to my sleeve forever before letting go.
Min Ji-yeon soothed them on the way out. She looked more energized than her initial weary vibe.
"Thank you so much for coming today."
"We're the ones healed up. We'll come again."
While the directors chatted, Na-yeon ran up and hugged me again.
"You leaving? Don't come back?"
"I'll be back. Train hard till then. Don't tarnish your master's name!"
"Yeah! Master!"
She didn't get most of it but nailed "master" and shouted it loud. Min Ji-yeon reclaimed(?) the kid and bowed.
"Sorry, she really likes you. She's usually shy..."
"'Cause I'm pretty? Kidding."
"No, you really are pretty—it sounded natural. Thank you again."
"No biggie. See you next time."
"We'd love that... Take care."
After polite farewells with the ever-courteous Min Ji-yeon, I asked to be dropped near home and headed to the association, calling Seol A-yun who was waiting.
"Welcome, Iroha. You had a favor to ask...?"
"Yes, Secretary Seol. Could you look into Naraka's Min Ji-yeon? Ask Minister Jin."
"Min Ji-yeon... Naraka's healer, right? Got it."
As Seol A-yun bowed and dialed Jin Tae-san, I slurped my pre-ordered chocolate latte and leaned back in my chair.
'Min Ji-yeon... Doesn't seem like someone who'd fit in a place like Naraka.'