Chapter 73: Regarding Our Guild Member Having a Scam Skill
"Ehehehe…."
I was lying sprawled on the sofa in the guild HQ office, staring at the wall with a goofy grin plastered on my face.
Just then, Han Yuseol came in from the kitchenette, carrying some snacks. She smiled when she saw me.
"You seem pleased, Master."
"Hehe, of course I am. I've never gotten an award like this before."
I pointed at the wall, where a large plaque reading Model Citizen Award hung proudly. It was the one Han Yuseol and I had received together.
Of course, I hadn't done it for any reward. But actually getting the plaque made me swell with pride anyway.
When we'd gone to pick it up, the cops had showered us with praise. On top of that, we'd gotten a reward payout and all sorts of other goodies. Apparently, they'd even put in a recommendation for some kind of medal.
"Wouldn't I look super cool wearing a medal?"
"Yes. It would accentuate your dignity even more, Master. It would go perfectly with the uniform I dressed you in last time."
"Hehe."
I'd looked it up out of curiosity a while back, and they looked seriously badass. If I wore one, people would spot it from afar and go, Whoa! Is that a medal?! and look at me all impressed. Ahem. I could feel my neck stiffening with pride just thinking about it.
"By the way, you donated the entire reward money. Are you sure that's okay? It's not a huge sum, but…."
"Yeah! It's fine. It's going to a good cause."
For reference, I'd donated every bit of the reward money. And where to? Straight to the Rose Foundation, run by Black Rose Guild.
Ryu Sea-ah had told me it was like an orphanage of sorts—a great organization that helped kids without parents, just like me.
So as soon as I got the money, I'd called her up and said I wanted to donate it there. She burst into tears on the spot—I was totally caught off guard.
"Speaking of which, Sea-ah did some really amazing stuff too. I had no idea."
"She's fundamentally a good person. Lately, she does seem a bit… unhinged, though."
"Huh?"
"It's nothing you need to worry about, Master."
"Oh? Okay then."
I immediately lost interest and started munching on the cookies in front of me.
These were from a new bakery Han Yuseol had discovered—stuffed full of chocolate chips, and so delicious.
"Oh yeah! Sea-ah invited us over. Think it's okay if we go today?"
"Of course. Shall we postpone gate exploration until tomorrow, then?"
"Hmm… Yeah, let's just hit a couple quick ones on the way!"
"I'll finish preparing and meet you out front."
Han Yuseol started heading to the changing room next door, but I suddenly had a great idea and grabbed her urgently.
"Yuseol! Can Seunghyeon come with us?"
"Seunghyeon?"
"Yeah! He's always stuck here at HQ—it must be lonely. And staring at text all day is bad for you! You gotta move your body, they say."
I dropped some expert-sounding advice, and it even made me feel a little smug. Han Yuseol must've been impressed too, right?
I winked slyly with one eye, peeking at her reaction.
"Pfft."
For some reason, she let out a small laugh.
"You were watching that MeTube video so intently earlier. So that's where it came from."
"Ack?! N-no, it wasn't…."
How'd she know? It just popped up on Alibay or whatever, so I watched it. Wait, was it Alibay? Want to know? I know! Ugh, whatever! As long as the point lands!
"Anyway, you're absolutely right. Sitting at a desk all day isn't healthy. We'll bring Chae Seunghyeon along too."
"Yay!"
Score! I'll ask Seunghyeon for a piggyback ride!
Last time, he'd given me one during his break, and it was a blast. Inside a gate, with my buff active, it'd be even easier for him to carry me around.
I threw my arms up in excitement and started getting ready to head out. Not that there was much to do.
I just carefully packed the pile of cookies on the table into my item pouch. Yep, super convenient. I could fit at least a hundred boxes in here easy. Normally I eat them before they pile up, so I don't get to test it much.
"Master, sorry, but could you let Seunghyeon know first? He might have urgent work and not be able to go…."
"Sure thing!"
I heard Han Yuseol's request as she poked her head out from the changing room. I dashed out of the master's office and straight to Chae Seunghyeon's office—doot doot doot!
Knock knock—
The sudden knock made Chae Seunghyeon tilt his head curiously as he responded.
"Come in."
He didn't need to ask who it was. He was the lowest rank in the guild anyway, and the other two were way up there.
The door opened, and in trotted the girl, striking some weird pose. She looked like she thought she was being cool, with that dreamy expression.
"Seunghyeon! Gate time!"
"Me too?"
He blinked in surprise at the sudden invitation. And why not? He'd never gone into a gate with them before.
Sure, when he joined the guild, one of the job conditions mentioned possible gate expeditions. But it'd been a dead letter until now.
"Yeah! Oh, it's not mandatory or anything—I just want you to come."
"…I see."
Hayang was surely speaking from the heart, without any malice. She wasn't forcing him.
If he refused, she'd probably just look a little disappointed and leave.
But fat chance of that.
Back in his office days, his section chief had dragged him hiking every free weekend. The PTSD was real.
It'd started with the exact same tone: You don't have to if you don't want, but if you're free…
Refuse citing a schedule, and the guy's face would crumple up.
Ugh, that trash Kim. His mug's haunting me again.
Truth be told, it wasn't the hiking he hated—it was wasting his precious golden weekend. No, even more than that, it was being stuck with that trash boss.
But this was different.
Formally, Han Yuseol and Hayang were his superiors. But they'd never pressured him or lorded their authority over him.
Especially Hayang—she was just a normal girl her age. No, purer and brighter than most kids these days.
Gate diving with people like that? And during work hours, no less—not eating into his precious weekend. He could even set aside the eye-straining paperwork for a bit. Big plus.
"Yes, I'll get ready right away."
"Yay!"
No reason not to—he nodded briskly and closed his laptop.
Hayang whooped, throwing her arms up high. What a pure girl. No one in the world would guess she was the wielder of the famed sword, Sword Empress.
He gave a wry smile and started gathering his stashed gear.
Just then, Han Yuseol entered the office.
"Master, did you tell him?"
"Yep! Seunghyeon's coming too."
"Hehe, you're thrilled."
"Hehe, it's our first time going as a trio. Feels like a picnic."
"Don't get too relaxed, though. We're hitting an erosion gate today, remember?"
"Oh, right. Yeah."
Hayang suddenly stiffened, trying to look serious. But to the other two, she just looked adorable—like a kid mimicking an adult's angry face.
"That said, Yuseol… I'm not sure I'll be much help in an erosion gate."
Meanwhile, Chae Seunghyeon voiced a fundamental doubt as he finished gearing up.
Gates were divided into seven tiers, but apocalypse gates were theoretical—no one had seen one yet. In practice, annihilation gates were the top.
Erosion gates were just two steps below—dangerous enough that even packs of B-grade hunters sometimes got wiped.
What could an E-grade like him do there? At best, he'd tagged along on rift gates. He'd be lucky to handle trash mobs.
"It doesn't matter. I'll handle the monsters—you just follow and rack up contribution points."
"Carry me?"
"You could put it that way."
Carry—RPG slang for a higher-rank player clearing a dungeon for a lower-rank one.
Common in the hunter world too, especially in guilds. Contribution points benefited guild rankings regardless of who earned them. So for understaffed lower gates, they'd sometimes fill a slot and carry.
"I'll try not to be a burden."
"Good attitude."
Han Yuseol nodded approvingly. Hayang, looking up with sparkling eyes, spoke up.
"Um, but… Seunghyeon."
"Yes, Captain?"
The title slipped out reflexively by now. Hayang fidgeted with her hands and asked cautiously.
"I know it's rude, but… what's your unique skill? I've never heard."
"…Ah."
For the first time, Chae Seunghyeon looked troubled.
Not because asking about unique skills was taboo—guildmates often shared.
She's gonna be disappointed.
He just knew the reaction it'd get. A skill that boosted treasure room rewards? Even innocent Hayang would cringe.
But hey, if asked, he had to tell. Gotta have some conscience at a job like this.
"W-well, my unique skill is…."
"…Your unique skill?"
"It, uh, boosts rewards in treasure rooms."
"Pardon?"
"What?"
Hayang and Han Yuseol blinked in unison. Chae Seunghyeon gave an awkward smile.
That disbelieving look—like they were questioning their own ears. Probably thinking, That's a skill?
"Haha, pretty useless, right? Even I wonder why I got this…."
Relieved it was milder than expected, he tried to laugh it off with some self-deprecation.
"What do you mean?! That's an awesome skill!"
"Impressive. I don't know the exact boost, but it sounds incredibly useful."
"…Huh?"
The unexpected praise left him stunned instead.
A trash skill he'd never even triggered once—and they called it good?
More touched than confused, tears nearly welled up.
These are good people.
He was glad he'd joined this guild, inwardly wiping away the tears in his heart.