Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Real New Family Member
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While Iroha was screaming her head off at the amusement park.
Chae Myeong-in's office looked like it had been hit by a bombing raid.
"So... that's what you have to say for yourself?"
"I have no excuses."
"S-Sorry!"
Grinding his teeth, Park Chung-gyo bowed his head, while Zeus Guild Master Nam In-ho, dressed in hospital garb, prostrated himself flat on the floor.
At the sight of those pathetic figures, Chae Myeong-in nearly summoned his shadow.
"Ha, an A-rank hunter gets taken down by a few B-rankers and lets them slip away?"
"Th-That... my injuries from last time still—"
"After gobbling up every bit of healing from my little sister, and you still say that?"
"Eek, no! I misspoke!"
"To think we caused all this commotion just to save trash like this. It's so absurd it's not even funny."
Chae Myeong-in glared at Nam In-ho as if he wanted to chew him up and spit him out.
Park Chung-gyo understood the sentiment completely.
He'd told that worthless bastard to keep the Zeus Guild members at the scene tightly in check so they could capture them, but instead, the guy got beaten senseless.
He was an idiot for believing Nam In-ho's bold promises.
'Guild members aren't all like little brothers following you around? Like family? Bullshit.'
The Federation rescue team consisted of civilians, so a little intimidation worked fine, but hunters were trickier to handle.
Zeus had been loyal like a Naraka affiliate even before the Federation, so letting things escalate was the mistake.
They'd spent a fortune buying off media outlets to spread manipulated footage. Even if the original leaked, a drawn-out fight claiming it was fake would have let public interest fizzle out eventually.
'But of all things, Zeus Guild members betray us and testify.'
Things had gotten royally screwed.
"See the reactions right now? We couldn't pull Heavenly Flame into the Federation, that's unavoidable, but shouldn't we at least have kept our own house in order?"
"...Our guy in the government says Jin Tae-san didn't breathe a word to him either. And Cheon I-ryeong joining hands with the government was completely unexpected."
Everyone at guild master level knew Cheon I-ryeong's father had died in a military op during the early gate days. It was famous that she distrusted the government and operated independently.
She'd been hanging around the Association's Saintess lately, but they figured it was just guild recruitment or friendly ties.
"The mood's shifting favorably toward the Association right now. The Federation just looks like a petty, money-grubbing mob. No, we banded together for hunters' rights, not money, right?"
"Of course not. We're the guilds who've fought hardest for hunters... It's bullshit from ignorant fools who don't know who protected them all this time."
"For now, Vice Chair, keep the mid and small guilds from wavering. How's Min Ji-yeon?"
"Yes, sir. Starting today, she'll support all four B and C-rank gates. The response to the news has been great."
"Good. And Zeus Guild Master."
"...Yes, sir!"
At Chae Myeong-in's gesture, the monitor displaying the community feed now showed Zeus Guild members lined up at the press conference.
"What's the point of keeping a guild without members? We happen to have an opening for a maknae in ours..."
"I-I can fix this! Just give me a little time...!"
"Why should I? If not, just cleanly leave the Federation and we'll go our separate ways."
"N-No! Please, give me a chance!"
Nam In-ho, trembling on the floor, felt despair blacken his vision.
Hunters were currently split between the Association and Federation factions. Starting a new guild wouldn't attract anyone easily.
And his pride as a guild master couldn't handle joining another as the baby.
Chae Myeong-in replied with a sinister smile and a gentle voice.
"I get it, betrayed by your own members. Understandable. In the heat of conflict, powers flare up, innocents get caught—shit happens... The Federation never abandons its own, even if they slip up a little."
Chae Myeong-in's eyes gleamed white.
"...Why morning already...?"
I remembered picking up the brush full of ambition last night.
But then I passed out right away.
I'm not some kid from a new country—playing at an amusement park shouldn't have knocked me out like that.
This body's starting stats must've been the absolute worst.
Even after level-ups boosted my stats, my strength and stamina were still like a normal little girl's.
While others start with base 10s, this body definitely began with Vitality 1.
"Well, better to do it with a clear head anyway."
This worked out fine.
Rushing creation while exhausted could've birthed some freak hybrid.
I pulled out the brush again, got serious, and focused on my senses.
Unbound freedom.
The infinite flow filling the world.
A gentle breeze blew in through the open window just in time, carrying the brush along.
Air rippled at the brush tip.
My steady exhale blended in.
Hair floated lightly, the flowing brush shifted the incoming wind's direction.
In the space free from gravity's pull, something transparent bloomed anew.
...Wind.
A name of endless freedom.
I guided the breeze wrapping and swirling around me back to the brush, shaping it as I desired.
An image that suited the wind perfectly.
A creature with wings soaring nobly through the skies.
I etched in feather by feather of wind, drawing a spirit forever free to fly.
A plump body like a ripe nightshade berry.
Tiny enough to fit in one hand, with adorably matching wings.
Small beak and pitch-black eyes—harmless to the core.
"Peb!"
"٩( ๑╹ ꇴ╹)۶"
Dali spread his arms wide to greet the newborn bullfinch's chirp.
Startled by the big moon's dramatic move, the bullfinch flapped, whipping up a gust that swept the room.
"Whoa! Stop, cut it out!"
Memories of the flood when Dali first appeared flooded back; I hurriedly tried to calm it.
"(⑉･⌓ ･⑉)"
"Peb?"
Dali took a solemn pose and started scolding first.
Do they understand each other?
The bullfinch stopped its cute wingbeats and tilted its head, chirping "peb peb" in front of Dali.
Seemed calmed down for now... Time to name it?
Snowflake or glutinous rice cake came to mind, but it felt lacking.
Snow-white and especially cute in winter...
"Your name from now on is Seol. Got it?"
Simple: Seol (), snow.
What I drew was actually a white-headed bullfinch variant, not the red-headed one usually called bullfinch.
I lumped them as cute birds of the same family, but glutinous rice cake suited my taste better.
"Peb!"
Pleased with the name, Seol fluttered up to my shoulder, chirped loudly once, then flew to perch on Dali's head.
Rude for a newbie, but Dali didn't seem to mind.
Looked happy to have a friend, even.
"(⑅˃◡˂⑅)"
Watching them tumble and play, afternoon rolled around before I knew it.
As I got up, Seol A-yun called right on time.
"The materials you requested are ready. Shall I send them to your place?"
"Nah, I'll come get them."
Better to have someone explain in person for my questions.
"Here are the files on Hunter Min Ji-yeon as requested."
"Thanks."
Seol A-yun handed over the investigation on Min Ji-yeon.
Wasn't she playing with me all this time?
Surprised by the speedy work, I recalled this was the Association and sat down.
Opening Min Ji-yeon's file revealed her orphanage background up to her activities in Naraka Guild.
So she was there to help her old home, not just volunteering.
"She spends all her free time at Angel Orphanage?"
"Yes. Seems to treat the place like family. No other friends; doesn't meet anyone else."
"Hmm, but what's this foundation?"
A foundation in Min Ji-yeon's name caught my eye.
"She set it up for the orphanage."
"Really...? But the orphanage didn't look that well-off..."
The Angel Orphanage I'd seen was rundown, traces of age everywhere. Facilities were outdated—not a great environment.
"Per the director's wishes, donations are split to other orphanages too."
"Ah, that lady..."
The one with the kind smile etched in my memory.
Ask what devotion and love look like? Pointing to her would convince anyone.
But considering Min Ji-yeon's position as a healer... this level of funding and solo effort felt off somehow.
Like she wasn't being properly valued?
Not just my case—Chae Jeong-ah's arrogant attitude said it all.
"By chance, is Angel Orphanage's location..."
"Yes. Inside Naraka Guild's zone."
"Knew it."
Just a hunch, but she didn't seem like a simple guild member.
Maybe some weakness held over her, forcing her into Naraka activities semi-coercively?
Compared to Naraka's image, Min Ji-yeon seemed genuinely kind in person.
If played right... maybe I could poach her?
"Do you know much about the foundation?"
Seol A-yun gave me a puzzled look at my question.