Chapter 17

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 17

Chapter Title: You're saying I'm that person?!

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After sharing a bit more conversation with Hayang at the upscale fine dining restaurant.

And treating her to a fancy meal.

Choi Geonwoo returned to his office and sank into the sofa.

"Hoo..."

"Why the big sigh?"

Jeong Yujin, who had followed him in, asked. He gave a wry smile.

"Just... She must've had it rough at such a young age."

"Tell me about it. Sometimes she seems like a total kid, but then she acts so mature in weird ways. It kinda messes with my head."

"Yeah, kids look best when they're just being kids. Growing up too fast isn't all it's cracked up to be."

That was one of Choi Geonwoo's firm beliefs.

Adults should act like adults, kids like kids.

Living true to yourself in your own place is the best way.

Adults desperately trying to recapture their inner child was pathetic.

And kids straining to grow up prematurely wasn't much better.

But the Hayang he'd seen was already an adult.

There were moments when he caught glimpses of her being a child.

But her basic mindset.

Her awareness of those around her.

Those were more mature than most adults.

That fact left him feeling a complicated mix of emotions.

"What kid checks the price tag just to pick out shoes?"

"I was shocked too. I told her I'd buy her some for once—she could've just grabbed one happily."

Jeong Yujin nodded with an expression that was hard to read, like she was crying or laughing.

In truth, both of them had already noticed Hayang's suspicious behavior at the shoe store.

How could they not?

She picked up the pink shoes, her eyes sparkling so brightly.

But the moment she saw the price tag underneath, she freaked out, set them down like they were a lump of gold, and scurried off to rummage through the cheaper rack without a second glance.

So Choi Geonwoo had pulled a little trick of his own.

He was grateful to the compliant store clerk.

"Has she acted like that before?"

"Yeah. The first time at the café, she handed over a single crumpled thousand-won bill and asked for just a glass of water."

"...Bittersweet."

The image of Hayang carefully pulling out that wrinkled thousand-won bill from her pocket came to mind, and Choi Geonwoo clicked his tongue softly.

"Kinda feels bad now. Taking a kid like that into a dangerous Layered Gate..."

"If you're gonna feel sorry about that, it'll never end. Better think about what comes after."

"What comes after?"

Jeong Yujin tilted her head at his cryptic words.

"If we successfully clear this Layered Gate, I plan to invite her to join the guild."

"Well... I was gonna suggest that too."

From the start, her performance in the Layered Gate raid.

It surpassed not just newbie hunters, but even mediocre ones by a wide margin.

Inviting her to the guild was a given.

Jeong Yujin tried to brush it off as no big deal.

"But just so you know, it's not purely based on her skills. It's a decision as an adult."

"What do you mean?"

"You saw her reaction earlier. The way she talked like her own life meant nothing."

"Ah...!"

Jeong Yujin let out a low sigh.

She'd forgotten amid how cute Hayang was at the shoe store.

"She needs affection. People's attention. But she doesn't even go to school, so filling that right away will be tough."

"So the fastest way is to hang around guild members."

"Exactly."

Joining a guild means naturally rubbing shoulders with people.

Whether you like it or not.

Of course, there'd be some downsides.

She was still so young, and it seemed like she'd never been close to people before.

But Choi Geonwoo figured it was still better than leaving her alone.

It wasn't just about recruiting a talented hunter.

It was providing a fence called a guild for the girl named Yang Hayang.

That was what an adult should do.

"Master, you're sneakily kind."

"Sneakily?"

"You're like a tiger in front of the guild members."

"Aren't you the ones turning a perfectly normal guy into a tiger?"

"Whoa, blaming others."

"...Shut up."

As Choi Geonwoo turned his head, Jeong Yujin inwardly cheered, 'I win!'

"Hayang will definitely be thrilled to join. It's Titan Guild, after all."

"Probably. But don't assume."

"Come on, this is like 100% guaranteed! People would pay to get in."

It might fall a tad short of Yeohae Guild's prestige.

But it was still Titan Guild.

Jeong Yujin was certain Hayang would accept the offer on the spot.

"If Hayang joins, I'll help her manage her money first."

"Hm? Money management? She doesn't seem like the overspending type."

"Not spending enough is a problem too. Plus, she's kinda bad at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠calculating money—worries me in all sorts of ways."

"Aren't you terrible at it yourself?"

"Rude! I do solid investing too, you know?"

Jeong Yujin huffed.

Choi Geonwoo, no longer wanting to deal with her, waved her off like handle it yourself when the time comes and openly ushered her out.

'If Hayang joins our guild, I'll brag about it everywhere!'

Jeong Yujin turned and left the office humming cheerfully.

Brimming with anticipation for the future.

"Fwaaa..."

Plop—

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠got home a bit late and collapsed face-first onto the bed.

Honestly, talking with Choi Geonwoo wasn't as hard as I thought.

But I tensed up too much at that restaurant midway, and now I'm wiped out.

It was super fancy or something.

And we were the only ones there.

The chef kept bringing out dishes right in front of us, and they were all delicious.

Bet it was crazy expensive.

Like, a few chocolate lattes? Nah, probably ten.

"Gotta brush my teeth..."

Ugh, I don't even wanna lift an arm.

Wish someone would bathe me right now.

Just open my mouth, and they'd brush for me.

Wash my hair too.

And my face.

This is totally king treatment!

But who'd do all that?

It's basically a nanny gig.

"Guess I'll check the gallery..."

Enough pointless fantasizing. Time for a quick gallery browse.

After getting flamed hard last time.

I'm a bit scared now, so I haven't posted anything.

But I still peek at posts here and there.

Cuz sometimes there are fun news bits.

Or tiny tips and info on hunters I didn't know.

"...Huh?"

While browsing, a post caught my eye.

Titan Guild?

Something happen?

Huh...?

F-Rank Hunter, Layered Gate raid?

Is this about me?

Yeah, looks exactly like it.

Lots of people worried, huh.

Makes sense. A mere F-Rank suddenly joining Titan Guild's party.

For a Layered Gate raid, no less.

Weirder if no backlash.

'But there's nothing I can do about it.'

Still, it's a done deal.

Can't back out to Choi Geonwoo now just cuz of their concerns.

But I can't just leave it either.

To reassure them, I'll drop a comment.

But the reactions were lukewarm.

They all seem to not believe me.

It is me.

Why won't anyone believe me?

So mean.