Even If Dirt Gets in My Eyes

"Everyone, listen up."

Kang Yeonsu, still wearing sunglasses because her recent plastic surgery hadn't fully settled, drew everyone's attention.

"When Mr. Cho over here first brought this up, I had the exact same reaction you all do now. But from my position managing our finances, this competition offers us way too much to gain. Do you have any idea how much the broadcasting rights alone are worth? Do you know how much the betting sites bring us every two years just to beg us to participate?"

Her eyes sparkled as she slammed her hand hard on the table and continued.

"I don't know what wind blew into our illustrious Guild Leader's head, but let's just focus on what we stand to gain. Park Jin-gon was complaining earlier, right? If any of the kids under him make it into the top four, we'll ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠let them pick one additional A-rank dungeon from the ones we ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠manage. And that goes for everyone else too."

―!!!

"F-for real? No take-backs later, Vice Guild Leader."

"Wait a second! It's not like we have hundreds of A-rank dungeons. Then it's obvious what that rat bastard will pick, isn't it?"

"Kwaaahaha—! Our guild is finally walking the righteous path. Hey— just wait a bit, lady. Keep it well-managed until I come take it."

"This rat-like son of a bitch!"

Low-rank dungeons were managed exclusively by government officials, but starting from B-rank, the limited number of state-affiliated hunters could no longer handle them all.

That's why a system was created granting qualified guilds of a certain size independent management rights. Once the concept of dungeon equals money became firmly established, the number of premium dungeons a guild controlled became a crucial indicator of its prestige.

The value of even a single A-rank dungeon was nearly impossible to measure. One renowned scholar had described dungeons as inexhaustible springs and strongly advocated investing in research to artificially increase the number of awakened individuals.

"Anyway, it's an age-restricted competition that only goes up to C-rank, and we can't participate ourselves. So focus on raising the kids properly and producing results."

"Are mercenaries allowed?"

Park Jin-gon asked, but Kang Yeonsu shut him down immediately.

"No. At the very least, let's maintain the bare minimum justification of fostering the next generation. Understood?"

"Tsk..."

Everyone began glancing at each other as calculators spun rapidly in their heads. Seok Ryu-hwa was already on the phone with someone, clearly starting the recruitment process.

"Also, the person next to me and I will be participating."

―!!

In that strange tension, Kang Yeonsu dropped another bomb.

"What the hell?! That's not fair!!"

"Ugh, seriously. Don't butt into the kids' fight."

"It's not like I'm the one fighting. And this isn't an internal guild match. Don't forget the goal is to take dungeons from other guilds and raise our prestige."

"Even so!"

"Wait, Vice Guild Leader, are you talking about Hwaryeon?"

"Oh? How did you know?"

"Ah! Are you kidding me right now?!"

"Pffft— Calm down. Of course I'm joking. I already have someone in mind, so don't worry about it."

What?

"If anyone touches Hwaryeon, I'll burn everything to the ground..."

The moment her beloved disciple's name came out of someone else's mouth, Seok Ryu-hwa released her mana. The intense aura caused a brief flash of tension on everyone's faces.

Ahem—

There were still other topics left, but it didn't seem like a proper meeting would be possible anymore. Kang Yeonsu knocked on the conference table to signal the end of the emergency summons.

"Anyway, that's the decision, so I hope you'll all follow along nicely. That's all."

"......"

They were annoyed that the two leaders had decided everything on their own and then called them in, but the hidden dragons of the White Knight Guild—overshadowed by two such brilliant stars—were already running plans in their heads to use this as a chance for a major leap forward.

After everyone except Kang Yeonsu and Jo Giman had left the room.

"Satisfied?"

"Should I be thanking you?"

"No need. Just give me Yeonhee."

"......"

Jo Giman asked something he'd never asked before, though he'd always been curious.

"Why do you care so much about Lee Yeonhee?"

"Yeonhee? She's pretty and cute, isn't she? Those cheeks are so white and plump, like glutinous rice cakes."

"......"

"Mind your own business. Weren't we supposed to stay out of each other's interests from the start?"

"We were."

"Hmph!"

Kang Yeonsu walked past the now-empty table, leaving Jo Giman behind as she strode out without another word.

Tsk—

"How can that bitch be this damn annoying in every single loop?"

That was something Jo Giman found deeply curious.

The day after the after-party.

Yeonhee had said we should try using all the summoning scrolls we had, but the moment she came out of the shower, she collapsed straight into my arms and passed out.

Whoa! I hope she didn't get hurt anywhere.

I gently caught her as she fell against me, checked to make sure she wasn't injured, then brought over a blanket, wrapped her in it, and carried her to the bedroom.

Yeonhee slept like the dead until lunchtime the next day.

During that time, I focused solely on training—creating fireballs and refining their shape, or swinging my club around.

Why is this so fun?

Ever since I'd managed to manifest a fireball, even if clumsily, I'd started enjoying magic. My body itched to use Fireball as soon as possible. I still hadn't made any progress on creating rocks, but watching Bae Jua manipulate them might give me some insight.

Oh right, I should test that.

Glug glug glug—

I poured water from a kettle all over my body.

Irmana's Blessing! Please!

Damn it. As long as it's wet, isn't that enough? Why does it have to be so damn picky? If you keep doing this, I'm going to get upset, you know?

But when I tried with regular tap water, it didn't apply at all. It seemed only water containing Irmana's energy worked.

······

Thank you, Irmana-nim...

I politely bowed my head toward the kettle in genuine gratitude. It was the first time I'd meant it sincerely, unlike the lip service I'd offered while doing Irmana's quests.

After that, I ran several more experiments and discovered I didn't actually need to douse myself with water.

If I simply dampened my cloak with water from Irmana's lake and wiped my body with it at regular intervals, I would still receive 50% of the effect.

Hehehehe— It works. It actually works.

Another fragment of memory flickered past, but this time I had something to say.

Whether it's a petty trick or whatever, as long as I get stronger, that's all that matters. Where does it say some things are allowed and others aren't, old man?

Just as the faintly recalled benevolent man's face began to fade, Yeonhee finally staggered out into the living room.

"Mmmngh—!"

She stretched with her back arched like a bow, and the breathtaking body line it revealed instantly captured my gaze.

I stared, entranced, when a part of the conversation from last night's drinking party suddenly came to mind.

"From what I saw, that guy Hyeon I-hwan seemed interested in Yeonhee."

"What?! What evidence?!"

"Just a feeling."

Hyeon I-hwan... Hyeon I-hwan, huh...

As soon as I recalled the keyword, the forgotten memories began sorting themselves rapidly in my head.

I never saw him reach S-rank, but I remember he had the talent for it. Of course, not as much as his brother.

The Hyeon Il-hwan and Hyeon I-hwan brothers, who had enjoyed popularity almost on par with idols.

At that level, he'd be more than suitable as Yeonhee's partner...

Looking at the current situation, other people would probably say there were more than enough candidates for Yeonhee's partner.

No way!! She's still too young right now! After everything else is settled first... Hmm...

Was this the feeling a father got when sending off his daughter to be married? I finally understood what it meant to hate the idea even if dirt got in your eyes.

Sigh...

Just imagining Yeonhee building a family with someone else caused my mood to plummet. The happiness I'd felt alone yesterday now seemed ridiculous.

There's nothing I can do about it... It's something I'll have to experience someday.

"Hm?"

Whoa...

Before I knew it, Yeonhee had come right up to my nose and was looking up at me with those sapphire-like eyes.

Seeing her in daylight is completely different. Will my face be okay?

The moment ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'd gotten home last night, I'd checked the mirror first and nearly had a heart attack. The face reflected in the mirror was the very image of a demon. Now I understood why Jin-gyeong had described me that way.

Ever since then, I'd felt too self-conscious to lift my face properly and kept my head down.

"Hmm? Why do you keep trying to cover your face? Hey— stop that."

When I covered my mouth with my hand, she struggled, trying to pull it down by force.

"Come on. I told you it's fine."

Nod...

Her tastes really are something else.

I nodded and pulled my arm back further to create some distance between us.

"Hmmm..."

She carefully touched the thorns that had sprouted across my body with her fingertips and said,

"Doesn't this feel uncomfortable?"

Nod—

"Still, it looks like it would be helpful in a fight, right?"

"Clack clack clack!!"

I stared blankly at Yeonhee's serious face as she pondered how to deal with them.

She gazed back at me intently, then raised her index finger as if something had occurred to her.

"First, I'm going to wash up real quick! After that, let's open the 'Brown Summoning Scroll' together right away!"

Nod nod—

She soon went into the bathroom and started showering. Meanwhile, I tried bending one of the thorns that had sprouted on my body by force.

Oof! Why is this so hard?

But it didn't seem like something I could do anything about with just my hands.

While I was at it, I sat on the floor and stared at the thorns on my arm, raising my mana and senses.

Become blunt... Become blunt... Come on, you bastard. At least let me give her a hug! Ugh!

Rattle rattle rattle—

Oh?

For a moment, the thorns trembled and seemed like they might change, but that was as far as it went. Still, seeing some potential, I decided to add this to my training list.

If I can make the thorns disappear... then I should be able to make them sprout too, right?

I recalled a movie protagonist whose sharp claws suddenly extended from the back of his hand.

If I can suddenly reveal an attack method like that, I should be able to land a sufficiently threatening blow on my opponent.

It seemed like it would be good to use as a variable in battle.

I was gradually turning into something more and more grotesque, but since I'd been born as a skeleton soldier to begin with, there wasn't really anywhere left to fall.

A short while later, Yeonhee came out with slightly damp hair and flushed cheeks.

Since the heating was better here than in her old studio apartment, she'd changed into dolphin shorts. It was the kind of stimulating sight that would greatly affect most men.

But ever since becoming a skeleton, my emotions had become somewhat dulled. Rather than base desires, I simply thought she looked beautiful.