Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Hayang is the Grand Master!
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I replied right away to the message from Choi Geonwoo, and just like he'd been waiting, my phone rang.
I steadied my slightly tense heart and picked up the call.
- Yang Hayang.
Just three syllables.
The moment Choi Geonwoo called my name in that stiff, rigid voice, I let out a sharp squeak—"Eek?!"—and yanked the phone away from my face.
Scary!
He'd always been a bit intimidating, sure.
But right now, he sounded seriously pissed off!
"U-Uncle...?"
- What have you been up to? What's with that photo in the article I just sent? It looks like you.
"Well, about that..."
Argh, what do I do?
If I just tell him I wandered into a Layered Gate on a whim, he's gonna flip out with that personality of his.
But Han Yuseol was in trouble—what was I supposed to do?
Okay, sure, she's not someone I know personally or anything.
But does that matter when someone's life is on the line?
Still, I didn't have the guts to come right out and say it.
As I agonized over it, my eyes met Han Yuseol's.
"Hm?"
She tilted her head, like she was asking if something was wrong.
I covered the phone's mic with my hand and whispered to her.
"Um, I got a call from my uncle who I know. He said an article went up with a photo of us coming out of the gate together earlier."
"Is he worried?"
"It's less worry and more like he's demanding an explanation..."
Wait, is it worry, though?
Some kid he knows suddenly popping out of a Layered Gate would freak anyone out.
"Anyway, this uncle of yours is waiting for an explanation, right?"
"Yeah, exactly."
"Then let me handle it. Could you hand me the phone for a sec?"
"Here."
The moment Han Yuseol reached out her hand, it was like a halo glowed behind her.
The Sword Empress herself stepping in!
This was super reassuring.
Is this the prestige of a guild master?!
"Yes, we've switched. This is Sword Empress Han Yuseol..."
- ...Han Yuseol? Why are you answering her phone?
I had it on speaker, so Choi Geonwoo's voice came through clear as day.
He sounded full of suspicion.
And apparently, he wasn't the only one puzzled.
Han Yuseol's eyes went wide at the voice from the other end.
"This voice... it sounds familiar."
- It's me, Choi Geonwoo.
"...Pardon? Choi Geonwoo, why are you calling here?"
- That's what I want to ask you. Why are you with Hayang? I saw you two coming out of the gate together, but have you been stuck together ever since?
Han Yuseol's pupils shook at Choi Geonwoo's question.
She shot me a look that said, What the heck is going on?
Oh, right.
I'd only said it was my uncle—I never mentioned it was Choi Geonwoo.
Guess I should explain now.
"Actually, I'm acquainted with Uncle Geonwoo."
"The master knows Choi Geonwoo? How on earth did that happen...?"
"It's a long story, but he was in my party when I cleared the second layer of the Layered Gate."
"......Pardon?"
She looked totally lost.
Like, I can't follow this at all.
What, was my explanation lacking?
No way—it was perfect.
- We'll get to that story later. Sword Empress, where are you right now?
"At her place. The master fell asleep, so I had no choice but to bring her here."
- ...Master?
"I mean Hayang."
- ......I'm having trouble keeping up.
Whoa, same here.
But if we keep talking it out, we'll get on the same page, right?
As if to say it wasn't my day, Han Yuseol sipped her hot chocolate from a distance.
It had been too hot to drink right away, so she'd set it aside, and now it was perfectly cooled—nice and smooth going down.
Wow, this is pretty good too.
Not quite as good as the chocolate latte from Titan Guild, though.
Still, I'd give it an easy 85 out of 100.
For the record, most of those missing points are because there's no whipped cream.
Whipped cream is a super important part of a chocolate latte.
Yeah, that's right.
- Anyway, it's confirmed you came out of the Layered Gate with Hayang.
"Yes, that's correct."
- So Hayang helped with the clear. That's the takeaway, right?
"'Helped' doesn't even begin to cover it. Without the master, I never could've cleared it on my own."
Really?
I figured Han Yuseol could've soloed it anyway.
Even though when I showed up, she'd let her guard down and was about to get hit.
Who knows what would've actually happened, though.
By the time I got there, her ice dragon had already taken some damage.
- I see. No wonder it took so long—I had no idea something like that went down.
"Sorry for the delay."
- No need to apologize to me. You successfully completed your mission—something none of us could've pulled off. The Association's in an uproar because of it.
Yeah, I bet.
It basically looks like Han Yuseol cleared the third layer solo.
Even Yeohae's elite raid team couldn't manage that.
"Please pass along my apologies to the Association for the late report. I planned to head straight there, but I had to stay by the master's side, so it got delayed a bit."
- We can fill in the details later. Leave the other guild masters and the Association to me. For now, just look after Hayang.
"I was planning to do that anyway."
- Reliable as ever. Could you put Hayang back on for a sec?
"Sure. One moment..."
Han Yuseol beckoned me over, so I took the phone.
'Hello?' I said, and Choi Geonwoo continued.
- Hayang.
"Yes, Uncle?"
- I've got one question for you.
"Ask away!"
Why's he being so serious about whatever it is?
I tilted my head a little, but nodded eagerly anyway.
I'd answer anything Uncle Geonwoo asked.
- After that article spread, there's all sorts of speculation flying around about you.
"Speculation?"
- Yeah. Put a positive spin on it, it's interest. Negative? Gossip. I wanted to know what you think about it.
"Hmm... Honestly, it's a little overwhelming. Grandma always said there's no upside to people knowing your face. She told me the best thing in the world is to have tons of money but no one knowing your name."
- Wise woman. I totally agree.
Right? Exactly.
Grandma's words can't be wrong.
Choi Geonwoo must be just as wise as her.
- But you're not disappointed? People might never know you played a huge role in clearing the third layer. You could just fade into obscurity.
"Not really?"
Why would that be disappointing?
"If we'd left it alone, something huge could've happened. I didn't clear the gate—I saved people. I've never once wanted the fact that I did what I had to do to get me praise."
- ...I see. Same as ever, just like the first time I met you.
Is that a compliment?
I cocked my head, and that's when my eyes met Han Yuseol's.
She was looking down at me like she was impressed or something.
Uw, this is kinda embarrassing.
- Got it. That's enough for now.
"......? Okay."
No idea what that means, but whatever.
Uncle Geonwoo must have his reasons.
- By the way, has the Sword Empress already joined your guild?
"No, not yet."
- Good. Put her in your guild if possible, but make her the nominal guild master.
"Huh?! Why?!"
I'm the master!
This is Hayang's guild!
Han Yuseol even called me master!
- Being guild master comes with a ton of hassle. Meetings, paperwork. Fine for a solo guild, but once you start recruiting members, it'll be a pain.
"Gasp!"
I stomped my feet in frustration.
But his words snapped me right back to reality.
Oh!
Come to think of it, last time I was in Choi Geonwoo's office, his desk was buried in stacks of papers.
Ugh, no way.
And meetings? With all the other guild masters?
For someone like me who hates standing in front of people, that's pure poison.
"B-But then Yuseol won't call me master anymore..."
The problem is, she wouldn't call me master anymore.
I'd have to call her master instead.
I don't mind calling her that.
But not hearing it myself? No thanks!
I wanna hear it too!
If I hadn't heard it once already, maybe, but now that I have, I can't let it go!
"Don't worry about that, master."
"Huh?"
As I clung desperately to the title, Han Yuseol patted my back with a gentle tone.
"I call you master not because you're the guild owner, but because you're the one who saved me."
"Eh? R-Really?"
"Yes, exactly. Though if you're worried I'll seize control of the guild, you don't have to hand it over right away..."
I shook my head furiously as she tried to back off.
"No! Take it! Be master! But I'm the master of the master, right?!"
"Hee hee, that settles it then. How about Grand Master?"
"Grand Master!"
I'm a Grand Master!
This sounds way cooler!
For that, I can totally give up the master spot!
- Did you two sort things out?
"Yep! Uncle."
- Great. We'll talk details later then—gotta head to the Association right away.
"Good luck!"
- Yeah.
Thanks to Han Yuseol, everything wrapped up nicely.
Choi Geonwoo hung up sounding relieved.
Oh yeah, there was something I wanted to ask Han Yuseol.
I'm the Grand Master now, so I can ask, right?
Ahem.
"Um, Yuseol?"
"Yes? Something you want to ask?"
"It's nothing big. When I entered the third layer, you hadn't been fighting long, right?"
"Correct."
Just as I thought.
But that makes it even weirder.
"I heard you'd already been inside for over two or three hours by then."
"...Yes. Probably."
Hm?
Her reaction's kinda lukewarm.
Am I imagining it?
"So it took you almost two or three hours just to reach the third layer? Was there some other dangerous monster or something? Uncle Geonwoo said cleared-layer bosses don't respawn."
I'd heard minor mobs do spawn.
But from my memory, nothing strong popped up on the way to the second layer.
They were all weak enough to drop to one swing of Choi Geonwoo's sword.
I doubt something like that held up Han Yuseol.
Maybe there were hidden traps or gimmicks inside the Layered Gate I didn't know about?
As I voiced my doubts, Han Yuseol's lips twitched before she answered.
"...You promise not to tell anyone?"
"Yes! It'll be our secret. Pinky swear?"
"No need for... actually, sure, let's do it."
What? Make up your mind.
We hooked pinkies and promised, and she smiled for some reason.
Probably relieved I'd keep the secret.
"The truth is..."
"Truth is?"
"I... got lost."
"...Pardon?"
Her unexpected answer left me blinking blankly.
Wait, so...
The mighty Sword Empress got lost, couldn't reach the third layer properly, and wandered in circles?
"I-I'm actually a bit directionally challenged... GPS works fine outside gates, but inside, I get lost a lot."
"......"
The ridiculously anticlimactic reveal left me deflated.
What's that word for times like this?
Oh yeah. Lame.
Han Yuseol was surprisingly lame.