Chapter 28
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Delivering Straight into the Dungeon
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'I'd forgotten because she's been in such a good mood lately, but all the previous attendants by her side called Yi Seo-ro a total personality case...'
Her stunning looks and the way she'd been smiling nonstop for a while had made me overlook it, but Yi Seo-ro was an extreme human mistruster with a picky, sensitive temperament.
She just wore that smile as a social mask at all times.
Once her patience for keeping it on ran out, she immediately revealed her true colors. That was Yi Seo-ro.
Yi Seo-ro's lips curled up ever so slightly in her cold expression as she spoke.
"Come to think of it, you've been unusually nosy about interfering with me lately. I tried to let it slide three times... but you just ruined the good mood I had from finding a rare talent after so long. I can't forgive that."
Yi Seo-ro aimed the artifact gun she'd crafted herself at the alchemy apprentice trapped inside PongPong.
Her finger gripped the trigger as she flashed a chilling smile.
"Well then. The government doesn't meddle in disputes between hunters bound by contracts anyway."
"Grrrk...!"
"What if I just shoot you right here and kill you off? It'd be a perfect chance to test this new product's performance."
'P-please... spare me...!'
The man trapped in PongPong thrashed like a madman.
In his eyes, Yi Seo-ro was no longer some ecstatic angel reborn. She was a demon wearing human skin.
'I thought since Yi Seo-ro was personally gracing the Hunter Market after so long, it'd be a golden chance for my employer to snag her...!'
The captured alchemy apprentice had been hired by some scheming bastard, but now he could only curse Yi Seo-ro as she aimed the gun and spoke so murderously.
Of course, Yi Seo-ro had long since figured out exactly what that apprentice had been after by cozying up to her.
"Ah, no need for all these long-winded explanations when you're just a rat in human disguise."
"Grrrk!"
"Just die here then."
Bang-
Yi Seo-ro pulled the trigger at last. The other attendants dutifully turned away as per contract terms, avoiding the 'execution scene.'
Red blood spread through the blue PongPong.
PongPong asked its owner if it could eat this.
"No. Don't eat junk like that."
"And that rat's not dead yet. I only shot his leg to knock him out, so spit him back out. He's filthy."
Ptooey. PongPong spat out the apprentice, who'd lost consciousness from the leg shot. Then it shrank back to the size of a hand and returned straight to Yi Seo-ro, of course.
Yi Seo-ro flashed her bright smile again and spoke cheerfully.
"Alright, everyone. Handle this rat according to workshop rules."
"Y-yes, understood."
"And... if you doubt my attack power and treat me like some weakling, I won't let it slide. If you want to end up like this rat, I won't stop you."
Click. The sound of a mana-infused bullet chambering rang out crystal clear.
It was so eerily pristine that goosebumps prickled, raising the fine hairs on the attendants' skin.
"I've got someone I want to keep an eye on now, so don't get in my way with your annoying meddling. Got it?"
"...Yes."
"Great. Then let's head back to the workshop. Gate open!"
Yi Seo-ro opened a travel portal. The group hurried inside one after another.
Just before Yi Seo-ro stepped in herself, PongPong whined at her.
'Master, I wanna see that lady again.'
"Me too."
Yi Seo-ro was as picky about her tastes as she was prickly in personality.
And a hunter with cooking skills that satisfied her had finally appeared.
'Moon Chae-ryeon, was it?'
She was useful, so Yi Seo-ro already had a full scouting scenario plotted out.
'I'll snag that incredible cooking talent no matter what.'
Moon Chae-ryeon's status window, pierced by her skill [Eye of Truth], was dazzling with skills Yi Seo-ro had never seen before.
Among them, the one that caught Yi Seo-ro's eye was [Become My Ingredient!]
"Turning tasteless dungeon monsters into the world's most delicious ingredients... How could I let someone like that slip away...?"
'I think so too, Master!'
"Yeah, yeah. We've still got time."
With that, Yi Seo-ro leaped into the portal and vanished.
Meanwhile, another person was keeping tabs on the real-time trends shooting up thanks to Yi Seo-ro...
"Oh no... Of all people, the delivery hunter had to run into that one."
It was none other than Shin Ha-rang.
'Nothing good comes from crossing paths with that bastard.'
Shin Ha-rang could easily guess at the pitch-black intentions behind Yi Seo-ro's flashy exterior.
She'd pierced the delivery hunter's stats with [Eye of Truth] and was scheming to toss her into her prized talent basket.
Yi Seo-ro's potions as an alchemist were worth their weight in gold, so scouting hunters she fancied was as easy as digging up sweet potatoes.
Finishing his mental calculations, Shin Ha-rang dialed someone up.
[Yes, Guild Master. What is it?]
"I've got a job for you."
The person Shin Ha-rang called was none other than a PR staffer from his own guild, Wing Guild.
"Ugh, I'm wiped."
Was it because she'd passionately sold out all that sandworm meat the day before? Despite her S-Rank body, Chae-ryeon's fatigue had maxed out, and she collapsed into bed the moment she got home.
It wasn't physical exhaustion—just mental fatigue. The pressure of selling out monster meat for the first time ever had weighed on her more than expected.
How many hours had she slept soundly?
A blaring alarm hammered at Chae-ryeon's eardrums.
"Ugh... Five more minutes..."
As Chae-ryeon mumbled under the covers, trying to snooze it, two fluffy paws firmly pinned her hands.
"Huh...?"
Half-asleep, Chae-ryeon found Mimi and Sol-chan standing before her, arms crossed, roaring like lions.
"You must rise, Master! The sun has already dawned!"
"Didn't you say today was a very important day, Master? Get up early, handle it quick, and come back so we can raid a new dungeon together!"
"Important what..."
"Leave of absence! That's what!"
"...Huh?"
Whoosh. Mimi darted to Chae-ryeon, who'd rolled up like a caterpillar in her blankets, and yanked them off. She shoved a tablet right in Chae-ryeon's face, displaying the leave-of-absence files.
A date was circled boldly in red.
'Don't forget this day no matter what—file for leave ASAP.'
"Today is the last day you can apply for leave this semester, Master!"
"Eek!"
Chae-ryeon snapped awake as if doused in cold water once she grasped the situation.
That's right! Today was the final day to apply for a leave of absence this term.
Ever since becoming an S-Rank Dungeon Express Delivery Person, Chae-ryeon had made one resolution.
'Take a one-year leave and see if I can make a living at this.'
Delivery work was unpredictable, like dungeon gates popping up anywhere!
Balancing school and hunter deliveries would be tough. Running a food business wasn't child's play.
Right now, she didn't have many customers since she'd just started, but if they flocked like sheep, she'd have to pour every waking hour into it.
'I've got this!'
Chae-ryeon had bet on the niche market strategy, basing it on data from Min Hae-yul and Shin Ha-rang.
She'd applied online ages ago, but she still needed an interview with her department advisor, so she had to wrap it up within the deadline...
In her busy days, she'd completely forgotten. Miss today, and she'd be stuck juggling school and work with no escape!
'Quick, quick, quick, quick!'
Chae-ryeon moved like her feet had motors. From washing up to changing and light makeup, it took under ten minutes. Her hair wasn't a mess, thankfully.
She tied her hair back tightly and rushed for the door when Mimi and Sol-chan held something out.
"Take this with you!"
"...What's this?"
The two summons offered a cute paper bag containing a Lock & Lock container.
Inside were several egg potato salad breads stuffed to bursting with tangy stevia tomatoes. The morning rolls were packed fit to explode.
"You guys..."
Chae-ryeon looked at the summons, touched, and they rubbed their noses shyly.
"You skipped breakfast, Master. As the fools' box says, breakfast is a must for a good day—so eat up! I whipped this up in a hurry, so I hope you enjoy it!"
"Ahem, I made this with care alongside Senior Mimi. This is my homemade yuzu tea. It'll warm your stomach nicely."
"...Thanks. I'll savor it."
Chae-ryeon, who always cooked for others, was all the more touched by this surprise gift.