Chapter 39

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: penny

Chapter: 39

Chapter Title: You're Addicted Too! To Hayang's Cuteness!

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Suddenly, a massive amount of money poured into my account.

A truly unimaginable sum.

After opening the account last time, Jeong Yujin had shown me phone banking and I'd linked it up.

But when the alert popped up out of nowhere, I nearly jumped out of my skin.

"Hehehe…"

"Are you that happy, Master?"

"It's awesome!"

"Pfft. I see. That's a relief."

Grandma used to say that laughter is contagious—if the person next to you laughs, you can't help but laugh too.

Han Yuseol must have burst out like that for the same reason.

Sucking down chocolate milk and chocolate cake, my eyes stayed glued to the phone screen.

This isn't a lie, right?

I still couldn't believe it, even looking again.

Adding it to the money from before, it came to a whopping 900 million won.

900 million?

How much is that, exactly?

I couldn't even wrap my head around it.

"Um, Yuseol-ssi."

"Yes."

Huh?

I'd called Han Yuseol's name like usual, but her response felt a bit off somehow.

Her voice sounded a little lower, maybe.

But her expression hadn't changed.

It must just be my imagination.

I'd only said her name, after all.

Yeah, I didn't slip up or anything.

"You know, how much money is 900 million?"

"Well… What do you like most, Master?"

"Chocolate lattes, obviously!"

To be honest, anything with chocolate is great.

But lattes are my absolute favorite!

"Then… roughly speaking, it's enough to buy a chocolate latte every day for over five hundred years."

"Gasp! F-Five hundred years…?!"

"Yes. Just basing it on 5,000 won per latte."

No, that's not the point.

Five hundred years?

From now until five hundred years later—that means my kids' kids' kids' kids' kids… anyway, all their descendants could drink lattes too!

"S-So, can I start drinking a chocolate latte every day from today?"

"Of course."

"B-But isn't that being too extravagant just because I got some big money? Grandma always said money slips away like water—you have to save it…"

"Wise words. But even if you poked a needle hole in the sea, the water would fill it faster. And you have the ability to earn that much, Master."

Uh… her words are kind of complicated.

But basically, it's fine, right?

"Hehe, then let's go out together tomorrow, Yuseol-ssi! I'll buy you a chocolate latte."

"Pardon? Oh, no. I don't really like sweet things… I'll just take your kind offer in spirit."

"Aww, really? This chance doesn't come often, and you've given me so much—I want to treat you…"

As I pouted up at Han Yuseol, she looked down at me for a long moment, lips twitching, before finally nodding.

"…A-All right, then. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Instead of a chocolate latte, may I have just one coffee? Is that okay?"

"Yay, great! Then we'll share."

I'd love to show her how good chocolate lattes are.

But you can't argue with personal taste.

It was plenty to repay her a little.

"By the way, are you sure it's okay to spend it on me? I heard you're planning to fix up your house…"

"It's fine. I'm not trying to make it some fancy place like on TV or anything. Just replacing the leaky spots, broken windows, and plumbing."

"…Pardon? Leaky… water? And broken windows?"

Oh, right.

I hadn't told Han Yuseol the specifics of our house.

I'd only said it was the house I lived in with Grandma, and now it had some inconvenient spots.

Eh, whatever. I could just tell her now.

"Yeah. Plus, cockroaches show up way too often in summer—it's annoying. I heard there are people who exterminate them, so I was thinking of calling some."

"There are… but…"

Han Yuseol shut her mouth, looking like she had a lot to say.

Gasp, are those people super expensive?

Is that why she can't say it outright?

I mean, people who wipe out every cockroach?

Of course it'd cost a fortune for something that amazing.

Maybe tens of millions of won?

Ugh, that'd be a stretch.

Even just fixing the leaks, plumbing, and windows—that's money I couldn't have dreamed of before.

And now even more on top?

I need to think this over.

Yeah, cockroaches—if they show up, I can just squash them myself.

I'll stock up on tons of roach spray.

"Master, have you never thought about living somewhere else?"

"Hmm, I've thought about it. But it's the house I lived in with Grandma. I don't want to let it go."

"You did say that. Sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."

I'm fine with it, though.

And Han Yuseol has a point.

The house has so many issues—moving to a new one wouldn't be bad.

No, actually, that might be the normal thing.

I don't know much about regular people's lives.

But normally, if you come into big money, you'd ditch the rundown place for a nice one, right?

I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel that way too…

But getting the money actually made up my mind.

I'll fix it up as much as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I can and live there.

And when that house gets too tired, like Grandma did…

Then I'll really let it go and find somewhere new.

"Hmm, in that case, better to leave it to professionals than do it yourself."

"Professionals?"

"Yes. Since you're close with Titan Guild, why ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not ask them? Top guilds like that often have ties beyond just hunters."

"Aha!"

Oh, I see.

Makes sense—they're such a huge guild.

Jeong Yujin said before they even have regular staff in their HQ, not just hunters.

But it bugs me a little.

I've already gotten so much help from them.

Is it okay to ask again?

"B-But wouldn't that be imposing? I'm not even in the guild…"

"Doesn't matter if you're a guild member. They'll just connect you with a contractor they know or help out a bit. And it's not free—you plan to pay fair wages, right?"

"Of course! If I hire them, I pay them!"

It's just basic common sense.

I puffed out my chest proudly, and Han Yuseol covered her mouth, chuckling.

"Then it's fine. While we're on the topic, how about messaging Choi Geonwoo now?"

"Now? It's kinda late…"

"He was at the Association HQ with me until just now, so he should be up."

"Huh? You two were together?"

"Layered Gate business."

Oh, right. That's how it was.

Clearing Layer 3 with just Han Yuseol stuck in my head so much, I'd forgotten Titan Guild cleared Layer 2.

Okay, if Han Yuseol says so.

I'll test the waters. But carefully—not too pushy.

Every time I chat with Choi Geonwoo, I notice his stiff tone gets even stiffer in messages.

It makes me worry he's mad, and I get scared.

Still, I mustered my courage and typed.

Wha—I haven't even said it yet…?!

How does he know what it is?

As expected of Uncle Geonwoo.

He gets it quick.

Hehe, even Uncle Geonwoo thinks it's cute.

Of course—who could resist a cat?

Smooch—

I finished the chat grinning ear to ear, chugging my chocolate milk.

Han Yuseol, who'd been watching me intently, came over and asked.

"Did it go well?"

"Yes! Super well. Uncle's introducing me to people tomorrow!"

"Uncle… I see."

Huh?

Han Yuseol seemed kinda deflated again.

Maybe she's tired from the Association trip?

"Yuseol-ssi, are you sleepy?"

"No. Not particularly. Why?"

"You look kinda low-energy."

"I was just a little jealous of Choi Geonwoo."

"Of Uncle?"

Uncle Geonwoo is pretty amazing, sure.

But Han Yuseol's amazing too.

What would she have to be jealous of?

"No, forget I said that. Anyway, you've had too many sweets today—better brush thoroughly."

"Don't worry!"

I'm not a kid who'd forget to brush.

"Yujin-ssi, come on in."

"Oh, Jeong Yujin. Long time no see?"

"Hi, hi."

The next day.

Jeong Yujin visited Titan Guild HQ and exchanged warm greetings with guildmates she hadn't seen in a while as she crossed the hallway.

Her destination: the guild master's office.

It used to be a place she'd only visit rarely for important matters.

Lately, thanks to Hayang, she was stopping by almost once a day.

Choi Geonwoo had grumbled a bit at first.

But now he knew it was Hayang-related and just let it slide.

That meant the girl Yang Hayang had become a pretty big deal to him too.

Feeling a strange sense of pride, Jeong Yujin strode forward energetically.

"Excuse m—huh?"

The security guards in the hall now just waved her through without a fuss.

She reached the door smoothly, then blinked wide-eyed.

For some reason, the office door was open.

It was always locked tight unless she bellowed, "It's Jeong Yujin!"

"You're here again today."

"Yep, present! So, whatcha doing, Master?"

Jeong Yujin asked with genuine curiosity.

And for good reason—Choi Geonwoo's setup was weird.

Or more precisely, the state of the office was off.

He wasn't at his desk working, but lounging on the sofa.

And suited men hovered around him like flustered hens.

Were they in the middle of something important?

No, if so, he'd have sent her away when she arrived.

Puzzled, Jeong Yujin peeked inside.

On the table in front of the sofa lay scattered papers and tablet PCs.

And building blueprints.

At least three stories, some five—even reminiscent of chaebol mansions.

"Come pick one too."

"What's all this?"

"Hayang's house."

"…What're you talking about?"

Did he eat something bad for lunch?

Jeong Yujin's face twisted comically at Choi Geonwoo's out-of-left-field remark.

"I sent Hayang the Layer 2 item sale proceeds yesterday."

"And?"

"Thought she'd move, but she wants to fix up her current place. Probably 'cause it's where she lived with Grandma—sentimental."

"Sounds like Hayang."

Even splitting among ten—no, nine people.

Layered Gate Layer 2 clear share was huge.

Enough for a cash buy in Gangnam? Maybe not, but plenty for a solo place in a satellite city.

Yet she insists on that rundown neighborhood spot.

Jeong Yujin wanted to talk her out of it, but it was so Hayang she couldn't.

She loved that romantic side herself.

"So I was gonna lowball the price and swap it for something nice—been reviewing blueprints."

"…Dotard."

But Choi Geonwoo's way of helping? Straight-up doting grandpa to Jeong Yujin.

The kicker: he'd skipped land entirely, demanding blueprints pronto.

All were rejected; they'd settled on repairs only.

Village drama, straight out of a soap opera, to her eyes.