Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Rewards
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A week passed—long if it felt long, short if it felt short. I spent a truly leisurely vacation in the luxurious VIP hospital room.
Min Chorong had been glued to me nearly 24/7 ever since she woke up, and I doted on her like a little sister.
Well, it was a simple case of building some goodwill. With her being a shoo-in for the next Saintess, getting close couldn't hurt.
Of course, her friendly personality and little-sister vibe made it easy to play along— that played a bigger part, honestly.
Then Legion finally came to after a full five days. He'd practically died and come back to life, only to throw himself at the Strong Giants again, blocking them with his body. It was a miracle he wasn't in critical condition.
No lingering aftereffects would've been surprising. But true to the man who'd awakened a Mythic-grade unique ability, Legion bounced back without issue. The moment he regained consciousness, he was complaining about muscle loss and demanding to work out.
He'd show up in my room after every session, stare at me with those intense, burdensome eyes, then leave. Rinse and repeat.
And finally, Guild Master Ki So-young of Miracle Guild—the one I'd been waiting for—came to visit.
"Hey there~! Hope you've been well. Reports say your body's fine, and no trauma messing with your head either!"
Her bright face couldn't hide the guilt and gratitude shining through.
I did my best to ignore it. Those were feelings she rightfully owed me, but at the same time, these events never should've happened because of me. She couldn't help feeling some responsibility.
Even if it was just a little. Anyway, she naturally plopped down next to Min Chorong and stole a piece of apple the girl had so carefully peeled.
Min Chorong, who'd poured her heart into peeling it, didn't notice until it was too late. She puffed out her cheeks in empty defeat, but Ki So-young just laughed like even that was adorable and handed me a document.
"The first page covers the post-incident measures. Page two has the hush money and apology rewards we've prepared."
I took the papers from her and checked them over.
The cleanup was thorough. As if taking full responsibility, they'd fired every single guard on duty.
Not literally beheaded, of course. Just sacked. Everyone except Legion, who'd held out alone to the end, was done for.
'Even Dangun Guild members were there.'
The top-ranked guild in Korea, led by SS-rank hunter Dangun Cheonje—the number one hunter in the country.
'Punishing even their guild members, huh?'
Ki So-young had definitely swung the axe hard. Those fired wouldn't easily join another guild or keep hunting. Word of getting blacklisted by the rank-one Miracle and rank-seven Dangun Guilds would've spread everywhere by now.
It was a blacklist entry. Unless they risked their lives delving into the Abyss and dungeons to grow strong enough no one could ignore them, their hunter careers were toast.
Well... if they were just disposable grunts manning internal security—not even full guild members—they probably lacked the potential or guts for more anyway.
Misfortune might've played a part, but hearing their behavior from Legion and Ki So-young, they sounded like utterly irresponsible idiots. No pity there.
Ki So-young had also leveraged her connections from running Miracle Hospital to bury the incident completely—no media leaks, wiped from everyone's memory.
It wasn't hard. They'd hidden it cleanly from the start, everyone survived without major issues, and reporters only sniffed around without real details.
But she'd sealed even rumors at the source. The event vanished from collective memory.
"Clean wrap-up. The fired ones won't talk, right?"
"Heh heh heh. Of course not. Those morons dare? Unless they quit hunting for good and go homeless, their mouths stay shut. We even used oath items to bind their vows."
I nodded and flipped to the next page.
My eyes widened at the very first line.
"Honorary Director of Miracle Guild? And 1.5% stake?"
Guilds worked like corporations—shareholders, issued stocks, valued on that basis.
Think of the Guild Master as the CEO. Directors existed too, naturally.
A rank-seven guild was like the seventh-largest corporation. Sure, compared to massive conglomerates raking in cash from countless ventures, the total value was lower. But in this hunter era, the intangible value outweighed the visible.
Miracle Guild's value was especially immense. As the only healer guild, it belonged in the top three, not seventh.
A 1.5% stake was worth billions at minimum.
No wonder I was shocked. They could've paid this to buy my silence gladly, and it was just the first reward?
I stared at Ki So-young with bulging eyes. She was probably the original owner—as Guild Master and majority shareholder.
"What're you thinking, offering 1.5% of the stock as compensation? Honorary Director of Miracle Guild on top? I hear those director spots have insane requirements."
Ki So-young smiled like she'd been waiting for the question.
"You saved my one and only family—the future Saintess's life. This is the least we can do! Sure, director quals are strict, but surprisingly, Mr. Shin Juha qualifies. You have divine power, so you're eligible for Miracle Guild membership. You prevented massive damage to the guild. And with me—the Guild Master—approving you, who'd object? It's just an honorary title—no power or influence."
Basically, because I say so. All that fancy talk.
"How'd you know I have divine power?"
Min Chorong—not Ki So-young—flustered at my mutter. Listening in, she'd caught something off and glanced between her aunt and me in confusion. That alone pieced it together.
Probably saw Lucifer's First Wing when I deployed it inside the dungeon.
Weirder if she hadn't. I'd popped it on cooldown constantly to fight.
I turned back to the papers, eyes landing on the second reward. My jaw dropped in shock.
-2. Wing that Lost the Darkness (Common-F) provided.
I looked at Ki So-young, then the paper. Another one here too?
At this point in time, wasn't there only one on Earth?
Later, two more turned up on Earth—good or bad luck?—and a hunter found one in the Abyss, totaling three in human hands.
Back then, they were just pretty trinkets, auction fodder, until one hunter collected them all.
That hunter never unlocked their secrets, though. Invaders from the Abyss stole them when they crossed to Earth.
Those wings became infamous— even bottom-tier F-rank me knew—thanks to that invader.
'An invader I'll have to face someday.'
He was strong. Had three wings even before hitting Earth.
Which meant, to collect all twelve, I'd need the three he had too.
'But in my memory of the future, there was only one. Guess the info was wrong.'
I swallowed hard.
I had to have this. Right now, on Earth, I was the only one who knew its value. This sacred relic's worth was immeasurable.
Staring greedily at the second item...
"Heh heh heh heh."
Ki So-young chuckled her signature laugh, nodding like her hunch was confirmed.
"Knew it. That wing item must be what you use."
She'd pegged me? Fitting for a major guild master.
Too sharp at schemes and reading people.
I sighed, nodded quietly, and activated the skill.
A radiant, holy wing emerged from my left back. The power of Lucifer—the being enthroned in Pride among the Seven Deadly Sins' demon lords—shone brightly.
"This is it. Only I know how to deactivate it."
"Heh heh heh. No worries. I already pulled it from the guild vault as compensation. No idea who sold it there, but if it's in storage, it was sold to us. No issues."
I nodded. Now I had two—a matching pair.
No clue what number this second one was, but I'd heard the set effect kicks in then, unleashing the wings' true power.
Satisfied, I checked the final third reward.
3. Eternal Alliance with Miracle Guild
"Eternal alliance?"
"Yes. Even if Mr. Shin Juha rebels, Miracle Guild and I, Ki So-young, swear to stand by your side."
"Sounds good. But how do I trust a verbal promise?"
"Right? Can't trust words alone. How about this? Here, take our cutie!"
With that, she playfully shoved her niece into my arms. Her face brimmed with mischief.
Min Chorong's face flushed beet red as she landed in my lap—understandably.
"Oh my! Same age too! A match made in heaven!"
"What're you— Wait, we're the same age?"
She looked so young, I figured she was around my little sister's age. Twenty? An adult?
"I-I wasn't trying to trick you or anything..."
"Heh heh heh heh! So what? You assumed on your own—no harm done. Besides, historically and practically, is there a surer alliance than marriage?"
I could only sigh in the midst of this chaos. And with that, the rewards were settled.
The next day, I checked out and headed straight to the Association.
"I'd like to apply for the promotion exam."
Perfect timing—it was just starting.