Chapter 41

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 41

Chapter Title: That Gentleman Over There Is Doing It

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Arriving at Titan Guild headquarters with Han Yuseol, the people milling around the entrance spotted us and their eyes went wide.

They were the same folks we'd partied with during the second layer raid last time.

"Hey? Isn't that Hayang?!"

"Hayang!"

"What the—? Why's the Sword Empress with her…?"

Oh crap, I hadn't thought of this.

I exchanged a glance with Han Yuseol, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠then approached with an awkward smile.

"Ah, hi…?"

"Yeah, hey. What brings you here?"

"Uncle called me today."

"The Master did?"

"Oh yeah, tons of people were heading to the Master's office today. Something going on?"

A crowd heading there?

Ah, maybe the people Uncle Choi Geonwoo was going to introduce me to?

"Probably that."

"Gotcha. But why's the Sword Empress with you…?"

"Dude, didn't you see the article? Hayang's big sis is the Sword Empress."

"What, for real?!"

"You been holed up in a gate for four days or something?"

I gave an awkward ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠smile as they bickered.

Glancing up at Han Yuseol, she looked just as uncomfortable as me.

"Huh, but aren't your last names different?"

Even in the midst of it, Jeong Jaeyoon tilted his head questioningly.

He was the guy who'd challenged Choi Geonwoo about pushing for the third layer after we cleared the second.

Thwack! A woman in armor smacked the back of his head.

Kim Yena, that was her name.

Ouch, that looks painful…

"Argh, you clueless idiot! Why ask something like that? Ah, sorry about that, Sword Empress. He's a bit immature…"

"No, it's fine. It's a natural question. But I'm afraid I can't share details."

"Of course, of course. Asking's the weird part. Ahaha!"

Then she locked him in a headlock.

'Come on!' she yelled, dragging him off somewhere.

Was it my imagination?

Jeong Jaeyoon seemed to be grinning as he got hauled away.

Did she hit him too hard?

Maybe take him to the hospital first.

Anyway, what do we do now?

Just head straight to Uncle's office?

Not guild members, though. Wonder if that's okay.

[Me] - Uncle

[Me] - Just arrived at the guild building

[Me] - Where to?

[Geonwoo Uncle] - Just come up

I messaged Choi Geonwoo just in case.

Got a straight reply right away.

Really okay?

I hesitated, then pointed to the elevator while looking up at Han Yuseol.

"Yuseol, he said just go up. Uncle's waiting in his office."

"Is that so? Let's go, then."

"Yup."

No one around for a moment.

So I called her casually like always, without worrying.

Han Yuseol's expression darkened a bit again, but probably my imagination.

We took the elevator up.

A familiar hallway greeted us soon after.

The one leading to Choi Geonwoo's office.

The burly guys in sunglasses still stood guard at the entrance.

Eek! Moose!

"Ah, hi there…"

"Well, hello."

"Long time no see, Hayang."

I mustered courage and greeted first.

They both smiled back warmly.

Just scary-looking on the outside. Nice guys.

"Huh?"

We reached the office door.

It was oddly open.

I peeked in.

Two people sat facing each other on the sofa: Choi Geonwoo and Jeong Yujin.

"Oh? Hayang!"

Thief senses sharp as ever, huh?

Jeong Yujin spotted me instantly and rushed over.

"Long time no see, Yujin."

"Yeah, it's been forever! You good? Your exploits lately are insane."

"Ah, no big deal. I didn't do much."

Jeong Yujin and I had messaged a few times in between.

I'd told her the truth about me and Han Yuseol.

Why? No idea.

I just didn't want to lie to her.

That was it.

"This is the Sword Empress, right?"

"Yeah. Yuseol, this is Jeong Yujin. She helped me out a ton."

"Aw, drop the formalities. Call me unnie. Unnie."

"Th-that's a bit…"

I did think of Jeong Yujin as close.

But unnie? No way, unnie!

Even calling Han Yuseol unnie was just for keeping our secret!

"Nice to meet you. Han Yuseol. I've heard a lot about you from the Master."

"Oh, really? Hayang talked about me?"

Jeong Yujin looked at me with sparkling eyes at Han Yuseol's words.

Huh…?

Did I?

I racked my brain. Nothing.

"Ah, no? Never have…"

"Yes, just being polite. Actually, no mentions of you."

"What?! Hitting me right out the gate?!"

"Sorry. Didn't expect that reaction."

Han Yuseol looked genuinely surprised, a bit dumbfounded.

Probably didn't expect a fact-check.

Making the mighty Sword Empress flustered.

Jeong Yujin had insane potential.

Knew it from her status window!

"Stop hogging my guest and bring her in."

"Yessir!"

We were chatting just the three of us when Choi Geonwoo finally spoke up.

He beckoned Jeong Yujin over, waved us in.

Dododo—I dashed right to him.

He held out his hand.

What? I tilted my head, held out both palms nicely.

A handful of chocolates poured down.

Gold foil-wrapped, fancy-looking ones.

Wow!

"Good to see you. Eat these while we talk."

"Hehe, okay."

Nom nom—

I quickly unwrapped the foil and popped one in.

Hm? Something crunchy inside.

Nuts?

Crunch crunch—the nutty bite paired perfectly with the chocolate.

Choi Geonwoo seemed busy pondering something.

So while munching chocolate, I checked Hunter Gallery.

Curious about something anyway.

Yikes, ten million minimum?

More than I thought.

No, still cheap all things considered.

If buying new like this guy assumes, it'd cost way more.

Think positive.

"…Yeah? Got it. I'll bring Hayang along, so have your people on standby."

While glued to my phone, Choi Geonwoo was on a call too.

His voice made me snap the phone shut quick.

Perfect timing for him to talk to me.

And yep, nailed it.

I'm smart.

"Hayang."

"Yes, Uncle?"

"Actually, I sent some of our staff to your place. Gotta inspect the structure to estimate costs."

"Aha! And?"

Made total sense. Nodded.

The gallery comment said pre-checks are key too.

"Just got word: house is so old, simple repairs or patches won't cut it."

"Eek, really…?!"

So like the comment—might cost even more?

Worrying.

Means full rebuild?

"Yeah. Not total teardown and new build, but close."

"Th-then it'll cost a ton?"

"Sure will. Way more than you think."

"Ugh…"

Uncle saying it'd cost a lot had me stressing already.

Shattering my dreams of a shiny new home.

"How much?"

"Well, minimum…"

"Minimum…?"

Thump thump—heart pounding, waited tensely.

Choi Geonwoo held all the gravity, then firmly held up three fingers.

Gasp! No way…

Three hundred million?!

I had near nine hundred million, sure.

But over half gone… right?

Thinking that made my hands shake.

"Th-that much?"

"Yeah, three million. Not nothing."

"…Huh?"

His follow-up snapped me back.

Huh?

What'd he say?

Three million?

No way three million billion won?

Three million billion—what even is that?

Three million times a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hundred million… ten billion, hundred billion, trillion? Dunno.

No, no!

Not that much, duh!

I'm not an idiot!

"Uncle, this fingers mean… three million won?"

"Obviously. What'd you think?"

"I-I thought three hundred million…"

Uncle paused at my words.

Then glanced somewhere.

Toward Jeong Yujin.

Why? I looked too.

She was gesturing wildly, then beamed innocently.

"Psh, Hayang. Not buying new—just building on the spot. Weird it'd cost that much."

"Exactly, Master. Houses are mostly land value. You already own the plot from your grandma, so costs are minimal."

"Yeah, what they said."

Got it.

I own the land, so barely any cost.

All thanks to Grandma.

Best grandma ever!

But then why'd that gallery commenter say ten million just for fixes?

Ah, probably assumed no land ownership.

My bad for not explaining.

"Next, pick fridge and appliances here."

"Yes! Uh, how much extra?"

"New builds come with options free. No charge."

"Aha!"

Options.

Han Yuseol's place had those.

So our house gets an ice-dispensing purifier too?!

Hehe, perfect for iced chocolate lattes.

Melts fast if you sip slow, though.

Three million for new house and appliances.

Contractors still profit?

Yeah, must—why else offer?