Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Geon-ju (6)
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I snatched the potion he was chanting over so preciously, since our conversation wasn't getting anywhere, and headed to the table where the reward chest sat.
If it had been anyone else—if I hadn't gone through the Unknown incident—I might have responded with my usual leisure and calm.
But given the situation and the guy I was dealing with, that just wasn't possible.
It wasn't some rash outburst born of anger; Sa-yoon really had a genuine talent for getting under people's skin. Even I, who prided myself on emotional control, was getting worked up.
As I stormed off in a huff, I heard the man sigh behind me. My fingertips twitched at the frustrated edge in that breath. The conscience I'd been shoving to the floor slowly started to rear its head.
Still, walking away like this... wasn't right.
Once I had a moment to cool off, my thoughts expanded.
Even if it was mine now, the potion's original owner was Sa-yoon, and if he hadn't saved me, I might be dead. Just storming off in anger felt ungrateful, so after some internal debate, I drew in a breath.
Fine. I should at least do the decent thing.
Sa-yoon seemed like a conscienceless lunatic, worse than me even, so someone had to keep up appearances.
I swallowed my discomfort and thanked him for saving me. Not wanting to drag out the awkward, embarrassing atmosphere, I quickly added whether he wasn't going to check the rewards. Sa-yoon laughed.
It was obviously a hollow laugh, but because he was so handsome, even his mocking smile looked annoyingly pretty.
Was he born with a face like that to offset his shitty personality? So you wouldn't hit him even when you were pissed?
As these idle thoughts ran through my head, the man approached. I'd learned something from the Beginner Gate and wanted to split the rewards, but he waved it off, telling me to take it all with a generous wave. Apparently, rewards from a C-grade gate weren't worth a damn to an S-rank.
Him handing over everything made that crawling fondness creep back up.
'Nice stuff came out.'
'Nice stuff?'
'It's gold jewelry. Accessories B-grade or higher are rare.'
This was my first proper gate clear since the Beginner Gate. Skipping straight to C-grade from there had paid off. Hiding my growing excitement, I let Sa-yoon appraise it, and I saw his eyes widen in surprise.
He kept a perfect poker face otherwise, but when money or items were involved, his expressions shifted easily. He got excited and startled easily—but only over good loot. Clearly, he had a greedy streak for valuables.
Judging by his face, whatever it was, it seemed like pretty damn good loot. He confirmed it was high-grade: an A-grade accessory, and he said B-grade and up were rare as hell.
Feeling lucky from the start, I was about to pocket it cheerfully when only one ring appeared in my palm, though there should have been two.
'Why just one?'
'Who're you gonna share it with? Think about it, pretty boy. Who was it that said he'd raise you up to S-grade?'
'You, Guild Leader.'
'Then who're you gonna stick with the most?'
'...You, Guild Leader.'
'So who should you share this ring with?'
I knew exactly what answer he wanted. It made sense when he put it like that, so I started to nod—then suspicion crept in. Was he just coveting the accessory? I'd just confirmed he was pretty materialistic, so it wasn't an unreasonable doubt.
On top of that, I didn't like the notification that would pop up if my HP dropped below half.
Knowing his personality, he'd tease me endlessly about getting my ass handed to me by some punk.
I wasn't thrilled about it at all, but he ignored my opinion entirely, slipped the ring on himself, and then put the other on my finger. He wore his boldly on his middle finger, but slid mine onto my ring finger. I was floored.
Why the ring finger?
The question nearly burst out of me. Did it have some special meaning? I scanned his face, but there didn't seem to be any particular intent. Realizing it was baseless suspicion, I accepted the earrings too. Hearing that every reward from a C-grade gate was top-tier made me feel bad about hogging it all.
Out of courtesy, I asked one more time if I should really take everything. He shot back, asking if he, at his rank, would use B-grade items. He could've just said no—guy had a real talent for saying things in the most obnoxious way.
'If we're gonna keep running together, grab every cold resistance item you see. Jong-sik's probably geared head to toe in it.'
That damn Jong-sik again. He'd just called him his vice-guild leader and close friend, but Jong-sik's name popped up every other sentence.
They were thick as thieves.
'You two close?'
'Jong-sik?'
'Yeah. You talk about him a lot, and you're always together.'
'We've known each other a while.'
How long did "a while" have to be for him to treat him so casually and trust him like that? Was it really just longevity?
It was a pretty reasonable suspicion in context, but either to deflect it or because he was just that oblivious, Sa-yoon asked if I liked Jong-sik.
That had to rank in the top five most absurd questions I'd ever heard in my life.
Just because he talked about Jong-sik a lot? By that logic, he called me "pretty boy," so did he like me? I fired back, but he just tilted his head with an unaffected expression, murmuring, "Is that so?"
When I asked why he was so nice to him, he spouted nonsense like I must've fallen for him.
I was the only one fuming.
If he couldn't get it, just assume I was smitten?
What a joke. Earlier he'd slipped the ring on my ring finger, hadn't denied liking me, and now this was basically a confession.
Obviously a prank, but being human, it shook me. Had he done this to Jong-sik too? I narrowed my eyes.
Did he always play the field like this?
Now I finally got what Jong-sik meant calling him a fox spirit. Let my guard down, and he'd take my liver and gall.
I was spinning theories alone—maybe Sa-yoon saw Jong-sik as just a comfy guildmate, but Jong-sik had deeper feelings—when he suggested a short break before heading to the next gate.
I asked where, and he said a Field. No gates came to mind. I didn't know much about gates anyway.
Having just cleared a C-grade, jumping straight to the next felt uneasy, but listening to him somehow convinced me.
I didn't want to relive the humiliation from Unknown. Once was enough for that powerlessness, so I agreed to go based on the grade.
The answer surprised me. I'd assumed B-grade after C, but it was A-grade.
Even the easiest A-grade would feel worlds apart from C.
Was hopping gates like this even okay? The doubt from the Unknown fight—"Can this guy really make me S-grade?"—resurfaced.
More dangerous than C-grade, and I hadn't even killed a single monster properly. I voiced not wanting to go, but he was stubborn as hell, dragging me along. I was about to threaten quitting the guild when—
'If it were anyone else, I wouldn't make this offer, pretty boy. It's because it's you.'
'Would be a shame to let your talent rot. Who knows? Clear this gate, and you might hit A-grade right away.'
'I've never offered this to anyone else. Means you're that special. Why not test it? What's the problem with an S-grade tagging along?'
His coaxing words shook me. As I hesitated, he nailed it shut with a tsk and his final line.
'If you still don't wanna go, fuck off then. I ain't dragging a coward.'
His disappointment was blatant. After all the praise, he went straight for my pride. My temper flared, and before I knew it, I was agreeing to go.
I finally understood what sweet-talking temptation really meant.
'But it's really an A-grade gate, right?'
Despite the pointless chit-chat along the way, the doubt lingered, so I asked quietly. Hard to blindly trust and follow Sa-yoon of all people.
The guy was shady and off-kilter.
No harm in double-checking, but he looked exasperated, insisting it was A-grade. He seemed genuinely wronged, so I figured it was fine. Right on cue, Jong-sik pulled up in the car. We hopped in and headed to the guild.
Finally seeing Jong-sik again, I planned to eavesdrop on their talk to settle my suspicions about him liking Sa-yoon. But maybe from the tension release, my eyes kept drooping.
We'd stuck together two days, but I couldn't fully trust them yet. Couldn't let my guard down. Shaking off sleep with effort, Sa-yoon clocked my state like a ghost and asked if I was tired.
Affirming would've made holding out pointless, so I mumbled vaguely. I could last till the guild, but as I tried to refuse his fake concern—
'Hey, don't hold back. Sleep.'
He spoke like he was laying down the law and sprinkled something over me. An unexpected scent hit my lungs.
Thought it was poison at first, but it was a fresh floral aroma. Relaxing my muscles or something—after inhaling, my body eased up. The sleep I'd barely fought off came rushing back.
I tried to resist, but my eyes closed anyway. As consciousness faded, I vaguely heard a gentle "Sleep well."
...Anyway, we'd rest at the guild before going, so a little shut-eye should be fine.
After agonizing, I let go of the exhausting tension cord I'd kept taut.
Sleep enveloped me in an instant.
When I woke from that deep slumber...
I was in front of an S-grade gate.
"It's fine, so relax and sleep"?
Absurdity and emptiness washed over me, quickly turning to irritation.
Fuck, I've never seen a scam like this.