Chapter 50

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 50

Chapter Title: Delivery Into the Dungeon

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'A monster egg that could harm people, and from a boss monster at that.'

It might just be Chae-ryeon's misconception, or maybe she shouldn't have picked up this egg in the first place.

She'd brought it back for investigation, but... no one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠could predict what might hatch from it.

The easier path would obviously have been to destroy it outright.

But Chae-ryeon didn't want to do that.

'We'll only know what happens ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠once it hatches.'

The system administrator had even said there was a chance it could become a special summon.

It was too cruel to snuff it out before even knowing what it might become.

'Chae-ryeon, we just want you to live a stable life.'

'We don't want you finding out how tough this job can be.'

Yeah. She absolutely refused to be like her parents, who had unilaterally ignored her will...

"Master?"

"Huh? Oh?"

Chae-ryeon snapped out of her deep thoughts at Mimi's voice.

"Ah, sorry. What were you saying?"

"Hmm. Sol-chan and I were wondering how to effectively get revenge on that hunter who left the malicious review."

"Revenge?"

Chae-ryeon was skeptical about revenge.

"Doesn't seem like a great idea."

"Why not, ma'am? They ruined our reviews for no good reason!"

"Stuff like that happens a lot, even on real-world delivery apps."

People who leave hate comments for no reason, or malicious reviewers who claim food tastes bad despite eating it all, or nitpick over nonsense to demand refunds—there were more than you'd think.

"What kinds of people...?"

"Sadly, we can't punish every single one. That's just reality."

The best she could do was blacklist them and refuse future orders.

Even then, the bad reviews they'd already left wouldn't disappear.

Chae-ryeon felt uneasy for the same reasons but couldn't think of any specific action to take.

"Hmmm... Still, just letting it slide feels so unfair."

"I know."

The master and her summons faced each other and sighed deeply. As they exhaled like the ground might cave in, Sol-chan shifted to human form and adjusted his glasses slightly.

"By the way, that hunter named Ham Yun-ji... She muttered something about heading to Lee Seo-ro's alchemy workshop!"

"...Lee Seo-ro's workshop?"

Ugh. Chae-ryeon's reluctance was plain on her face.

"Yes. I know it's off-putting, but... she seemed thrilled about retrieving the final material—the rainbow feather—for her weapon commission there."

"That means if we go to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Lee Seo-ro's workshop, we'll run into Hunter Ham Yun-ji!"

The egg in Mimi's pocket thrummed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠excitedly.

Crack.

It was faint, but a tiny crack had formed.

No one noticed yet.

"Perfect! The egg says it wants to head there too!"

"Huh? Senior Mimi, eggs can't express intent. How do you know?"

"Tch. I can feel it! Feel it in my gut!"

"That's such boomer talk..."

"What'd you say?"

As the two summons bickered, Chae-ryeon smooshed her face against the desk and stared at the business card from Lee Seo-ro.

[Lee Seo-ro's Alchemy Workshop]

"Ha... Do I really have to go back there?"

She'd left telling him never to contact her again.

Ughhh.

Ham Yun-ji happily clutched the rainbow feather as she made her way to Lee Seo-ro's alchemy workshop.

'Finally, the day I receive my new divine weapon!'

With this item, her weapon would be complete.

Plus, she could sneak another peek at the handsome Lee Seo-ro.

Approaching the workshop with a light heart, Ham Yun-ji bumped into someone.

"Ah, sorry."

"Hey, watch where you're—oh?"

Ham Yun-ji was startled upon seeing who she'd collided with.

"Ham Yun-ji, long time no see. Doing well?"

"Ah, yeah. I'm great. How about you, Han Ju-o?"

"Eh... Hanging in there."

The person she'd run into at Lee Seo-ro's workshop was Han Ju-o.

'What's he doing here? Business at the workshop?'

After clearing [Harpy Eye's Tropical Rainforest], Han Ju-o had immediately terminated his mercenary contract, saying there was no reason to stay with <Mir> any longer.

He was talented with unexpectedly high rank, so the guild master had wanted to recruit him officially, but...

Han Ju-o had coolly lowered his golden eyes and firmly declined.

'I just had a feeling I shouldn't stick around here anymore.'

Because of who?

He'd added that pointed remark while staring intently at Ham Yun-ji, his gaze downright chilling.

'...Did I ever do something to piss him off?'

After their awkward parting, Ham Yun-ji had completely forgotten about it—until now.

An awkward air hung between them. Or rather, Han Ju-o didn't seem to care, leaving Ham Yun-ji fidgeting nervously on her own.

"Um... You here to commission something too?"

Gathering her courage, she asked, but his response cut like a knife.

"No."

"Th-then why are you...?"

"Got business. Figured I'd drop by and mess with my rude friend while I'm at it."

'...Lee Seo-ro's workshop is strictly appointment-only. No walk-ins.'

Yet Han Ju-o strolled in like it was a public square, wearing comfy training clothes and humming a tune.

Sensing he had zero interest in dealing with her, she itched to hurry off and check her new weapon.

"W-well, I'll be going then..."

"Hey, Ham Yun-ji."

"Yes?"

His words grabbed her ankle.

"If that delivery hunter hadn't stepped up first, who do you think would've taken the full brunt of the harpies' and Iris's attacks?"

'...Why ask that?'

"No idea."

Ham Yun-ji tried to slip away, but Han Ju-o added coldly, his smile unwavering.

"You. Ham Yun-ji."

"...!"

"The delivery hunter saved you. The same one you griped about being rude and left that malicious review for."

"Wh-what...?"

As Ham Yun-ji froze, Han Ju-o advanced toward her, step by deliberate step.

The distance closed in seconds.

"My unique skill, 'Tormented Shield,' has one handy feature."

His smile vanished as he whispered expressionlessly into her ear.

"It's clear as a mirror, reflecting what others nearby are up to. After the battle ended, when my shield hadn't faded yet... I saw you smirking and typing away furiously. That one-star rating? Crystal clear."

"I-I..."

"Feel good tearing down someone who worked hard like that?"

"...!"

Her face flushed crimson as she tried to shove him away, but she was outmatched. No way an A-rank like her could budge an S-rank.

"Burning your inferiority complex like that just makes you look pathetic."

"Hey, Han Ju-o!"

"That's why I bailed on <Mir> early, despite my contract. A guild with executives like you doesn't seem to have much future."

He knew she envied S-ranks while bullying those below her.

That's why he'd come to warn her—using Lee Seo-ro as an excuse.

"Fix that review while I'm asking nicely. If I leak your guild bullying and two-faced ass-kissing to the press, scandal-hungry reporters will eat it up."

"Wh-who are you to threaten me...!"

"Let's just say I have more connections than you think. And... I'm a huge fan of that delivery hunter."

Flashing his sly grin again, Han Ju-o now terrified her.

He looked like a slacker but was sharper and more calculating than expected.

"...Just fix that, and we're good?"

"Of course."

"...Fine. I'll revise it right here in front of you. Watch."

Psycho.

Shivering, Ham Yun-ji did as demanded.

"There. Happy? Can I go now?"

"Of course. Oh, one more thing."

"...What?"

"Drop any ideas about getting a good weapon from Lee Seo-ro. You poked the wrong bear—the part that pisses him off most."

"What does that even...?"

"Doesn't matter if you know. Take care going in."

'What the hell?'

Standing dazed where Han Ju-o had left, Ham Yun-ji spat curses as she moved on.