Chapter 40

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 40

Chapter Title: Kwon Yena (2)

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"Hng~ Crimson Lotus Hotel~..."

After a vigorous romp on the bed for the first time in ages, Yena began looking around the room.

'Looks like I can't win with raw strength anymore.'

Not only had she been overpowered by sheer force, but also by her precise control over the wind. It really hit home that Yena had become an S-rank Awakener.

The fact that she'd flown here through the sky on her own was proof enough.

"Yujun's been living it up in a nice place all by himself~?"

"Haha... I've only been here a short while myself."

"Reaaally~?"

Flop—

After circling the entire room once, Yena climbed back onto the bed.

"Not hungry?"

"Mm~ Not yet! Let's go grab something delicious later!"

"Got it. Then..."

There was no need to drag this out any longer.

I decided to share the current situation with her right away.

"You remember I said my job is Blacksmith, right?"

"Of course! I've actually been dying to ask about it since earlier!"

"Just ask then. Why hold back?"

Was it intentional?

Ever since that phone call where Yena and I talked about my job and Awakening ability, we hadn't brought it up much.

I'd only listened to her stories about what happened during training and how she felt.

I didn't mention how I was doing, worried it might make her feel even worse about being forced into a month of grueling training.

And after learning I was actually an EX-rank Blacksmith, she probably figured I had nothing to worry about, so she didn't ask about me either.

"You've had a tough month."

Poke—

"...Yeah."

That realization made Yena seem all the more admirable in that moment.

It hurt even more thinking about how I'd been living it up alone for the past month.

"Yena, can you handle guild life? I mean, the next 11 months... you gonna be okay?"

"...It's manageable. The Guild Master looks out for me specially."

Unlike that month of training where her freedom was completely restricted, guild life as a Twilight Guild member still came with obligations.

Sensing my concern in my expression, Yena smiled instead, trying to reassure me.

"For real~? Look, I even got this~"

"Oh. I've been curious about that since earlier. Mind if I check it out?"

I took the staff that had been floating by Yena's side since we met.

"Ah.."

"First time seeing it, huh? I put it in my inventory to appraise it."

Swoosh—

Pang! Pang!

"Come over here."

I leaned against the wall by the headboard and beckoned Yena to the spot beside me.

"See this?"

I pulled out my Galaxy Z Flip, launched the forge, and showed it to her.

"Oh... yeah."

She could see the screen too, apparently.

It was a relief that she could view what I saw, but it also meant I had to be extra careful not to let anyone else spot it from now on.

"This is your ability, Yujun?"

"Yeah. If I tap here."

"What do you think?"

"It's exactly like the appraisal certificate they gave me.."

"C-grade staff, perfectly matched to your attribute."

It'd only been a month since Yena Awakened, so they'd probably rushed to get her this gear.

For something like that, a C-grade with the right Wind attribute must've cost a pretty penny.

"Impressive."

"Huh?"

"Yena, you should join my guild."

A month ago, before I Awakened as a Blacksmith, this Staff of the Swirling Winds would've been an amazing weapon for her.

But now...

'In this day and age, C-grade is a bit...'

Since I'd been mass-flooding the auction house with B-grades, C-grade gear had become outdated relics that no one treated seriously anymore.

Besides, I had an S-grade on hand.

With the Eye of the Storm, I had no reason to feel intimidated trying to poach her from a major guild like Twilight.

"I'd come, obviously, but why all of a sudden~?"

She looked puzzled at my abrupt invitation to join my guild.

"Don't tell me you set ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠aside a B-grade staff as a gift for me~?"

It matched her similarly, but the expected grade was worlds apart.

She hadn't asked me directly, but she'd clearly been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠keeping tabs on my activities through the Gallery.

Knowing I'd been cranking out and selling tons of B-grade gear, she was probably hoping I had something suitable for her.

Seeing the C-grade Staff of the Swirling Winds prompted that assumption, naturally.

"Yena, cup your hands."

"Huh?"

At my words, she immediately clasped her hands together like she was praying.

"No, palms up like this."

"Ah~ Oops. Like this?"

It was obvious I was about to give her something, so she stared at me with eager anticipation.

Plop—

The Eye of the Storm dropped onto Yena's neatly cupped palms.

"Wha... a gem...?"

"Your custom weapon, prepared by me."

"Weapon...?"

"Check your status window."

"..."

"S... S... S.."

Yena stared blankly ahead, murmuring "S" over and over.

"Like it?"

"Ah... uh... is this real...?"

She kept blinking at the Eye of the Storm resting in her palm, still in the same position.

Then she blinked her big eyes wide and stared right through me.

Whoosh—!

Yena lunged at me.

"W-wait a sec!!"

It wasn't just Yena charging; I was flung toward her too.

The bedsheets floated up lightly, making room for us.

I ended up pinned under her on the bed.

Thud—

"Calm down, Yena. Let's check the equipment appraisal together, and there's more to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠try."

Just seeing the changes in her status window wouldn't convey the full greatness of the Eye of the Storm.

Plus, I was curious what it meant to truly become its owner, so I needed to give her full ownership rights too.

"Okay, Yujun... I have something I wanna try too..."

But Yena's eyes were already glazed over.

I couldn't resist her strength, which was a stage above mine, let alone her supporting wind magic.

In the end, all I could do was try to calm her with words.

The moment I opened my mouth to persuade her again—

Ding!!—Dong!——

"Mr. Shin Yujun! Are you inside? I saw your message, but came to confirm you're safe!"

"Mr. Shin Yujun!"

Kim Hyuncheol must've finally returned to the hotel.

His timing was impeccable.

"Tch. Who's that?"

"My bodyguard... yeah, he's my security. We flew off suddenly, so he's probably just gotten back."

"Hng..."

"...I'll go show my face real quick?"

Swoosh—

I had no idea why she was giving me that look, but I wriggled out of bed while gauging her mood.

Smack!—

I'd almost escaped, only to get pulled right back.

"I really gotta go out..."

"Shhh..."

Just when I thought she was letting me go, Yena pulled me back down beside her.

"Just message him you're fine and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tell him to head back~"

"But he came to check just in case..."

"Suck it up!... "

"Fine."

With no choice, we agreed I'd call Kim Hyuncheol to confirm I was okay.

"Now we can do what I wanna do, right?"

"Mm.."

As soon as I finished the call, Yena, who'd been waiting beside me, pulled me close again.

"..."

I had no clue what was coming, but with some anticipation... no, expectation building, I closed my eyes in tension.

Something soft and squishy landed on my lips.

Mm.

'...A kiss?'

About 2 seconds.

That soft, thrilling sensation withdrew exactly after 2 seconds.

"...You've worked hard for a month, so this much is okay... right...?"

"Y-yeah... um... w-wanna check the gear together?"

"Yeah, let's~"

Yena and I had been together every single day since we were kids.

That's why we were both hopeless virgins.

——

A way to lighten the awkward mood.

I pulled out my Galaxy Z Flip again for that.

"Ahh!... "

The Eye of the Storm, which Yena had been levitating with her wind magic, got sucked back into my inventory with one tap.

It made sense since I hadn't fully transferred ownership yet.

I'd only taken it out of my inventory; it just happened to land in her hands.

"Still mine for now. So behave if you want it."

"Why~ I'm always good~"

"After pinning me down like that with brute force?"

"...Sorry..."

Recalling earlier, she blushed and apologized.

I felt embarrassed too and cleared my throat awkwardly before tapping the forge screen again.

I pointed out the Eye of the Storm from the equipment list on the right side of the appraisal screen.

"Ooh..."

Yena was pressed right up against me again, peering at the screen with wonder in her eyes.

I appraised the Eye of the Storm to bring up its info window.

"Eye of the Storm... S... S... Ssss..."

"S?!!!!!!!!"

"This is an S-grade weapon?!?!?!?!"

She'd known it was impressive from her status window changes, but S-grade must've been beyond her wildest dreams.

Her previous gear was C-grade, so she probably had no idea what B, A, or S would feel like.

Status windows only show stat changes and added skills anyway.

The Eye of the Storm didn't add any skills, so the impact from her status window alone would've been muted.

"Hehe..."

Finally.

Now that she'd confirmed the Eye of the Storm's true value, Yena was reacting with utter delight.

"E-Eye of the Storm... Yujun. Y-you're giving this to me, right??? You said it was my custom weapon... yeah?!!"

"Hng~ What to do. I was gonna, but you've been all rough and forceful since earlier..."

"S-sorry!! I didn't mean to put you in danger or anything~! You know that, right..?"

"You shook me around on purpose even though you could've flown safely..."

"Please forgive meee..."

Dogeza.

I guess I have to, right?