Chapter 43
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Delivery into the Dungeon
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"Haaaah..."
"You're way too happy about this."
"It's the first time I've stuffed myself like this in a dungeon."
The hunters patted their full bellies, beaming with satisfaction after the meal. If it weren't for the dungeon, they might've mistaken this for a picnic.
"Kiiiiiieee..."
-Kiii, how dare they eat all the good stuff without us.
-What's going on? Kiiiak. This is nothing like we expected.
A discontented screech echoed from the harpies in the distance, as if warning them. The hunters mostly ignored it, cracking jokes instead.
"What are those things yapping about?"
"They were speaking human earlier, but now I can't understand a word."
"Oh yeah, the plates just appeared out of nowhere."
"What?"
"Remember what those harpies said? That they'd keep attacking until they could eat us plates and all."
"You took that seriously? How do you even eat this stuff? They're probably just bluffing."
"Right? Let's pass these along to the hunter who delivered them."
Even without the guild master's orders, the hunters carefully gathered the empty bento boxes and handed them over to Chae-ryeon and Sol-chan.
Shin Ha-rang had tried to take charge of it, but this time Han Joo-wo was quicker.
"Thanks for the meal, delivery hunter. Your cooking skills are top-notch."
Without hesitation, Han Joo-wo approached Chae-ryeon and handed her the bento boxes. He didn't even glance at Sol-chan.
'Eek. It's Han Joo-wo!'
He could've overlooked Shin Ha-rang, but Han Joo-wo had seen Moon Chae-ryeon's face before.
'Don't recognize her. Don't recognize her...'
Pleading silently while pointing at Sol-chan did nothing.
"Uh... delivery hunter includes the person next to you, right?"
"No, it doesn't, does it? Moon Chae-ryeon. Or should I call you delivery hunter?"
She was busted.
Chae-ryeon let out a sigh as she looked at Han Joo-wo's playful expression.
"Are you going to go around telling everyone I'm the delivery hunter?"
"No."
Huh?
'What kind of game is he playing now?'
Unsure of what Han Joo-wo would say next, Chae-ryeon shot him a glare. He scratched the back of his head and muttered.
"I never thought I'd understand that guy through Seo-ro... like this."
"What was that?"
"Mm, I want to enjoy this time while the delivery hunter's presence hasn't spread far and wide yet. I want to ask for more delicious food."
"..."
He spoke with a sweet smile and polite phrasing, but this was...
'He's saying he'll keep my identity secret in exchange for making him tasty food whenever he wants, isn't he?'
"Hey. I'm a delivery person who works while raiding dungeons! I don't have time to come running just because you want me to!"
Chae-ryeon protested to Han Joo-wo, careful not to let the other distant hunters hear.
He deflected her complaint with a bright laugh.
"Ah, that's easy. I can just raid only the dungeons you're delivering to."
"...Pardon?"
"We can choose dungeons ahead of time and let you know via message or text beforehand, right?"
Even his fresh, charming words as a handsome guy made Chae-ryeon want to smack her forehead.
'Oh man...'
At this rate, Han Joo-wo didn't seem all that different from Yi Seo-ro.
Chae-ryeon's face soured like a rotten apple, but Joo-wo pressed on steadfastly.
"You'll do it, right?"
"...I shouldn't have bothered making that full-course hot pot for you back then."
Ugh. She should've just let him die from the dungeon poison or whatever.
As Chae-ryeon grumbled, Joo-wo flashed a satisfied grin and sent her a finger heart.
"I'll take that as a yes, delivery hunter."
Ooh, that smug look.
Seeing his handsome face beaming like that only made her blood boil more. Goosebumps prickled her skin.
"Grrr."
She needed salt. Needed to sprinkle it right on that annoying face so she'd never have to see him again.
As Chae-ryeon clutched her neck searching for nonexistent salt, Sol-chan stopped her.
"J-Ju—no, Chae-ryeon! You can't!"
"Why not!"
"I get you want to shove that annoying jerk straight into a harpy's mouth right now! But he's our customer at the moment!"
"..."
Who was it that said the customer is king?
Chae-ryeon wanted nothing more than to punch that guy's smug mouth. If it weren't for the delivery job, she would've done it already.
"You have to hold back... Our reorders, star ratings, and reviews are on the line..."
Sol-chan practically begged with tears in his eyes, leaving Chae-ryeon no choice. Starting a fight at a customer's site? This was their first group order—she couldn't ruin it. She knew better than anyone how vicious word-of-mouth could be.
'He's getting compared to someone big time.'
Chae-ryeon glanced at Shin Ha-rang, then glared at Han Joo-wo.
"I can't give you special treatment like that. Besides, I plan to work five days a week steadily—do you really think you can raid dungeons every single day during that time?"
Hunters were human too. Unless they were S-rank, mental fatigue built up, and rest was essential.
"You, are you that strong? Can you even handle that?"
"Mm... I'm not exactly weak."
This didn't feel good.
"...What's your rank?"
"S-rank."
"..."
Damn it. The rank that made curses spill out on their own.
Why did the ones who took real interest in her job have to be S-rankers?
"Still no. Go ahead and expose me if you want. But if you do, I'll never deliver to you again."
She was the one at a disadvantage, but she didn't want to fall for his scheme. So she bluffed like she had nothing to lose.
But Han Joo-wo nodded readily.
"Got it. I won't say anything. I didn't mean to upset you. Really."
"...You just threatened me, and now you're saying that?"
"I just wanted to learn more about you, delivery hunter... I'm sorry. I sincerely apologize for everything I've said and done. My bad."
Han Joo-wo bowed neatly like a folding phone, a far cry from the arrogant brat she'd met at the workshop. No cockiness, no rudeness.
Like a docile large dog, his eyes glistened as he prepared to heed her words.
[……( ･᷄ὢ･᷅ )9]
[You... what the hell are you?]
[(⋆ˋ⑉̈ˊ)൭൭⁼³₌₃]
[My fists are crying, punch him!]
'What good is an admin who can't even land one hit but talks a big game.'
Chae-ryeon couldn't help but chuckle, but having someone unconditionally on her side calmed her down.
She narrowed her eyes at Han Joo-wo and asked.
"If you know you were wrong, then focus on raiding the dungeon properly. I only deliver to hunters who are out raiding."
"Ugh... Got it. Guess I'll stick around this <Mir> Guild for a while. They're on contract anyway."
"Huh? You don't have your own guild?"
"Ah, yeah. I'm a freelancer. In the hunter world, they call us mercenaries. We don't belong anywhere, so benefits are hard to come by, but we're free as a result."
Han Joo-wo spilled every detail to Chae-ryeon's questions, like an innocent country boy.
He didn't seem particularly threatening.
'Hm... Doesn't seem like a bad guy.'
She shouldn't judge by appearances, but the admins were quiet too—no objections.
[◔_◔……?]
[Hmph.]
[system: Though the first impression tanked hard and he's not exactly likable, I'll admit he's no villain.]
Well, in that case.
'If he ever threatens me, I can just hop on the bike and activate a skill.'
Chae-ryeon saw no need to make an unnecessary enemy, so she extended her hand to Han Joo-wo.
"Don't go blabbing about my identity. I want to live quietly."
"Of course. Why would I ruin my own chances of tasting more of the delivery hunter's delicious food?"
What was this guy saying? Like his tongue would just float if he drowned.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
She waved him off like shooing a mosquito, urging him back to his group. Then Han Joo-wo turned to Sol-chan and asked.
"Ah, so is this gentleman here for the disguise? Or... maybe your boyfriend?"
[What the fuxx...]
[Warning: This message has been filtered and hidden.]
"Cough."
"Ack! Cough! Kek!"
Chae-ryeon, mid-sip of sikhye, and Sol-chan both spat out everything in their mouths at Han Joo-wo's innocent straight ball.
"W-What? Who's whose what?"
Boyfriend~?
"No, you two have matching helmets and uniforms. I thought you were a couple..."
Han Joo-wo's voice trailed off toward the end.
Because Chae-ryeon was radiating fiery rage.
"Absolutely not, so shut up with the nonsense, Han Joo-wo. I just wasted good sikhye because of you."
"Mm. I get it's not. My apologies. My condolences to the sikhye absorbed by the dungeon floor."
With that, Han Joo-wo bolted back to the <Mir> Guild's base camp.
"Y-You..."
"No! Hold back!"
This time, Sol-chan's eyes blazed as he tried to chase him down with a broom for a thorough beating. Wondering where the broom came from, she saw Delicious Waitress Mimi peeking from a box—she'd lent it.
"...This loyal servant merely lent it to dispose of the impudent red colt."
"And reflection? Have you done any?"
"I-I am upholding justice..."
No reflection there.