Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Mistrust's Burrow (11)
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“Hah.”
This time, Sa-yoon let out a hollow laugh. He'd tried to hold it back, but irritation bubbled up from within.
Calling her pretty, pretty, and going easy on her had only encouraged her to keep crossing the line.
Saved her life, healed her wounds, brought her into the gate, provided support. In such a short time, he'd invested so much in raising her, only to get this ungrateful response. Not even a basic thank you. He'd said it was fine since she had some talent, but this was too much.
He had no idea how to handle this capricious, picky brat. His fists trembled with frustration. The brilliant battle she'd waged against Palsirokus as a beginner had completely slipped his mind, replaced by a cold resentment filling his gut.
Those who wouldn't listen needed to be beaten until they did.
That was the immutable law he'd learned from years of running the guild: no matter how stubborn, they all eventually submitted to the rod. The saying "the carrot is weak" wasn't just empty words—if they still wouldn't listen after a beating, it just meant not enough force had been used. There were hardly any who didn't yield to the stick itself. He was pondering if Geon-ju would be no exception when—
“...Still.”
“...?”
“Thanks for saving me.”
If he didn't say even this, he'd feel like total trash.
It was a tone that bruised his pride but upheld basic decency. Standing at the table, he turned to look at Sa-yoon, finished speaking, then faced forward again.
“What're you doing? Aren't we checking the rewards together?”
She still sounded a bit prickly compared to usual, but softer than when she'd rapid-fired her complaints earlier. Sa-yoon stayed put, observing Geon-ju. The tips of her pale, round ears were tinged faintly pink.
Quest window.
Calling it up, Sa-yoon checked the relationship tab.
The text shimmered for a moment before changing completely.
It was the most positive shift since meeting Geon-ju.
“Hah.”
This time, Sa-yoon chuckled in a different sense. Seeing she wasn't coming over, she glanced back, laughing emptily at Geon-ju waiting patiently.
Really, what was this?
Just moments ago, he'd wondered where such an arrogant punk came from, thinking maybe she'd lost all fear from being spoiled at home. Now she looked pretty decent again.
Go easy on her, and she gets cocky.
Letting it slide here would be like walking around with a "Sucker" stamp on his forehead. But the other party was Geon-ju, after all. Weighing her earlier insolence against the updated relationship tab, Sa-yoon soon stepped forward.
If he earned a new title from this, "Legendary Sucker" seemed likely.
So what if she was a bit insolent?
They said first-time parenting was always full of grievances and tears, but you still doted on your kid and let things slide.
“So, you got sulky because it was embarrassing or something?”
“Why do you have to phrase it like that?”
As he walked over to Geon-ju, she shot back sharply. Sa-yoon cooed, yeah, yeah, soothing the pouty twenty-two-year-old like a sulky child. Now he finally had a grasp on her personality.
The smug nonchalance was mostly a defense mechanism that popped up in crises; her real temperament seemed closer to this. Like a kitten that bristled when poked.
Geon-ju would probably jump up and snap that he had no eye for people if he'd lived this long, but Sa-yoon was convinced. Geon-ju was a little fox kit.
“You look like you're thinking something weird right now, so cut it out.”
Her senses were ghost-sharp as she met his eyes. Shrugging, Sa-yoon pointed to the reward chest abandoned on the table for minutes now.
“Let's check the rewards.”
“Me?”
“Who else? You think I'd check the rewards from the gate I brought you to raise you? It's all yours anyway—open it.”
Why bother checking and handing it over himself?
What a hassle.
Gladly handing over the honors, Sa-yoon watched Geon-ju's face openly show her surprise. She placed her long, slender finger on the chest.
“If you keep giving me everything, what'll be left for you?”
“You.”
“Ah, right...”
“Don't brush it off. You know you have to pay it all back when you hit S-rank, pretty.”
“I don't think I ever agreed to that. Was there something like that in our contract?”
“Even magpies repay favors— if people don't, what are they? Beasts?”
“Yeah, let's say that.”
This cheeky one.
As he sent a chilling glare at her bold freeloader declaration, Geon-ju pretended not to notice and opened the chest. Golden light flashed. Soon, three items emerged as clear rewards.
“Nice stuff.”
“Nice?”
“Golden glow on accessories. B-rank or higher accessory items are rare.”
Reward chests emitted one of four colors: white, gold, gray, or black.
Gold for items ranked higher than the gate, gray for equal, black for lower. White for SS-rank or above. This gold meant B-rank or higher.
Geon-ju seemed to appraise the two rings and one earring that came out, then handed a ring to Sa-yoon.
“Why?”
“My appraisal level's too low—it says I can't see it. Take a look.”
“Can't see it?”
Geon-ju was B-rank, Mistrust's Burrow C-rank—how could an unappraisable grade pop up? Tilting his head skeptically, Sa-yoon used his appraisal skill on the ring.
[Palsiro's Bond Pairing (Growth A)]
Palsiro's wedding ring, used to create Palsirokus through research. (Unique) (Soulbound) • Combat ability +30% when with paired wearer • Mana recovery speed +10% • Agility +10% • Alerts pair if paired wearer's HP drops below 30% • Unlocked (A+ rank unlock) • Unlocked (S rank unlock)
“Growth A?”
And unique, too?
He'd appraised lightly, but now rubbed his eyes and looked again. Unique meant exactly that—no identical item anywhere in the world, from any gate.
Was this really a reward from a C-rank gate?
This had to be the best possible reward from Mistrust's Burrow. Was this that beginner's luck thing? Stunned, he felt Geon-ju peeking over.
“Your face says it's good. How is it?”
“If it weren't soulbound, I'd sell it.”
“Sell it?”
“Nah, can't anyway since it's soulbound. And it's perfect for you right now.”
Growth items typically scaled with their bound user. If B-rank Geon-ju reached S-rank, the pairing likely would too. Considering her other skills, it was tailor-made. Sa-yoon read the full description aloud before handing back the pairing. Geon-ju reached out, took the ring, and looked puzzled.
“Why just one?”
“Who'd you plan to use it with?”
“...?”
“Think, pretty. Who said they'd raise you to S-rank?”
“The Guild Leader.”
“Then who'll you be sticking with most?”
“...The Guild Leader, I guess.”
“So who should you pair this ring with?”
Explaining patiently like an eye-level lesson, Geon-ju pursed her lips as if they'd been coated in honey, frowning ever so slightly. Sa-yoon wouldn't miss that tiny crease.
“What's wrong? Don't like it?”
“Not really thrilled.”
“Why.”
“I don't love the Guild Leader knowing when my HP drops below 30%.”
“Why.”
“You asking 'cause you don't know?”
Then he wouldn't ask if he knew.
His eyes pressing her, Sa-yoon ignored her complaints from the start and slipped the pairing onto his middle finger, then put the other on hers. Before Geon-ju could react to the sudden act, the system dutifully sent a notification.
“...You know you're being totally high-handed, right?”
Blindsided into the pairing, Geon-ju sounded exasperated, but Sa-yoon wasn't fazed. Good was good—now if his pretty one ever got in danger, he could pull her back from death's door.
“Think of it as an extra lifeline.”
“Not one less?”
“Why are you being cheeky since earlier?”
Only after he drooped his eyes in warning did Geon-ju sigh and accept the pairing. Sa-yoon then appraised the earring too and handed it over. It boosted cold resistance—perfect if she'd be sticking with him.
“I really wear this?”
“You think I'd use a B-rank item at my level?”
“Didn't say otherwise.”
“If we're teaming up, grab every cold resistance item you see. Even Jong-sik's geared head to toe in them.”
He'd heard it cost a fortune. Mentioning the one he'd stuck with most before Geon-ju purely as reference, Sa-yoon watched her pause mid-equip and turn to him.
“You two close?”
“Jong-sik?”
“Yeah. You talk a lot and hang out often.”
Closer to slave than friend. But saying that outright to his pretty recruit on day two of guild life? He needed to mind his image a bit.
“We've known each other a while.”
“Hmm.”
“What.”
“Just asking.”
Finishing with a slight shrug, Geon-ju equipped all the items. Sa-yoon eyed the man beside him, noting how often Jong-sik's name came up from her mouth. Meeting her gaze of doubt and suspicion, Geon-ju asked what was up. Sa-yoon boldly voiced the thought that had suddenly filled his head.
“You got a thing for Jong-sik or something?”
“What?”
Geon-ju paled in response.