Guild Masters (2): Big Trouble – What If the Master Gets Angry?
Terrified, I clutched my tail with both hands and looked up at the master. "P-please don't get mad..."
I pleaded desperately with him, though honestly, I didn't think he'd listen. I was just a freeloader mooching off the guild, and he was basically the king of this place. Whether he got angry or fired Kwon A-rin was entirely up to him. Knowing that, I gazed up at him anxiously, but he simply placed a hand on my head.
"What's going on?"
"W-well, this girl was saying weird stuff like she's an adventurer from Yeomyeong Guild..." The woman who'd been arguing with Kwon A-rin pointed at her, trying to shift the blame for the commotion.
Kwon A-rin flinched, but the master showed no emotion whatsoever.
"She is an adventurer from the guild, though?"
"P-pardon...?"
The woman's face drained of color in an instant. Realizing the responsibility was now on her, she stopped breathing altogether.
"Looks like you had a little spat with one of our guild members."
"Th-that's..."
"It's good to be full of youthful vigor, but don't overdo it." With that, the master turned his gaze to Kwon A-rin. Was he doing this for my sake? He didn't seem particularly angry.
Maybe the master isn't as scary as he seems? He'd let a beggar like me stay at the guild and even granted some of my requests. Despite his intimidating aura, he might actually be a kind person deep down.
"And you."
"Y-yes, sir...!"
Spotlighted by the master, Kwon A-rin snapped to attention and squeezed her eyes shut, like someone facing their doom.
"You know you can't take back words once they're out, right?"
"Yes, sir..."
The master approached the downcast Kwon A-rin. He whispered softly enough for only her to hear—or so he thought. From right behind me, it came through crystal clear. His advice: work hard so it doesn't turn out to be empty talk.
Pat pat.
He patted her shoulder reassuringly. He was an even better person than I'd imagined.
"Th-thank you!"
"Yeah."
With the incident wrapped up, we headed toward the pit. The master and a bunch of others came to check out the hole I'd dug, and I felt a bit embarrassed for some reason.
"Th-this is the tunnel that Levi Nas and I dug..."
I found myself explaining it to the crowd. Beside me, Levi Nas cleared her throat dramatically and placed her hands on her hips.
"Why'd you dig up the ground?"
A kind-looking, gentle woman crouched down next to me, smiling right into my eyes. It put my heart at ease.
"F-for feral training..."
"Feral training?"
"Yeah. Living like this in the wild helps build up your feral instincts."
"Oh? Beastkin have something like that? Ah, I'm Chae Ju-yeon, master of Shinseong Guild." The woman introduced herself and extended her hand. Knowing it was for a handshake, I took it.
"You're a guild master?"
"Yep. Excluding the attendants, everyone here is a guild master."
"Huh...?"
All these people were guild masters? As I scanned them in shock, Chae Ju-yeon gracefully descended into the pit I'd dug.
"Master...!"
Her attendant tried to stop her, but she waved it off, saying it was fine. Dusting off the dirt without a care, she crouched down inside.
"Oh... It really does feel like it's boosting my wild side."
"Really...?"
"Yeah. The earthy smell makes me feel the energy of nature."
"Hehe."
I'd worried about weird misunderstandings, but being a guild master, she seemed to get my training method. Thrilled, I started climbing down after her when a middle-aged man's voice came from behind.
"Ahem. It's getting late—shouldn't we feed the kids first?"
"Ah... I didn't think of that."
Chae Ju-yeon hopped lightly back to the surface.
"Whoa."
Levi Nas's eyes sparkled at her jumping prowess.
"Shall we eat at the guild?"
"That was the plan, but the kids didn't like the menu much. Guess we should ask what they want."
"Mm... Yeah, good idea."
The masters' eyes turned to me and Levi Nas. Were they inviting us to dinner? It felt overwhelming, but I couldn't exactly say no.
I glanced at Levi Nas, but she was busy hopping around like Chae Ju-yeon.
"Levi Nas, anything you wanna eat?"
"Levi Nas likes whatever the king likes!"
"Uh, o-okay..."
Me picking dinner for all these big shots? Is this some kind of test? I had no clue what fancy people ate, so I hesitated.
"Um, I, well..."
The nearest tasty spot. All I knew was that tonkatsu place from before. There was a buffet too, but it was too far to walk.
"I'll go with tonkatsu..."
I said it while sneaking peeks at the masters' reactions. Tonkatsu at around 10,000 won a pop felt way too cheap for elite dinner vibes.
"Oh, tonkatsu sounds delicious."
"Right?"
"Our kids love it, so I got hooked too."
The masters chatted amiably. Looked like I hadn't bombed the menu choice.
Sophia can get takeout, I guess? It sucked not eating together, but survival came first.
"Boss lady."
I rushed into the tonkatsu shop faster than anyone. The kindly middle-aged owner greeted me warmly.
"Winter, you're here!"
"Yeah. I brought a ton of customers today."
"Hehe, really?"
"Yep. I'll help you sell a bunch of tonkatsu."
They had so much stock they couldn't move—maybe that's why business was slow. Glad I could bring in a crowd for the nice owner.
I wagged my tail, waiting for everyone. Soon the masters filed in, and the bustling shop fell deathly silent.
"...What the hell."
"Why're the guild masters holding a meeting at a tonkatsu joint...?"
"Yeomyeong, Utopia, Shinseong... Hwarang's here too...?"
The regulars gawked in shock. Bringing guild masters to a tonkatsu place—total blunder? I looked up at the boss lady anxiously; she seemed pretty stunned too.
"Winter, are these folks...?"
"Yeah. I suggested tonkatsu."
Had I screwed up? As I glanced around nervously, Chae Ju-yeon approached.
"Does Winter like fish cutlet?"
"Yeah. Fish tonkatsu's my favorite."
"Knew it."
She placed a hand on my head. No idea why, but my eyes fluttered shut naturally.
"How'd you know I like fish?"
"Hehe, who knows?"
Chae Ju-yeon smiled down at me with a playful glint. No clue how she'd guessed my tastes.
"The king's a cat, so of course he loves fish!"
"...Cats like fish?"
Did cats in this world love fish? Was that why I, a feline beastkin, craved it? Shocking revelation—I'd never noticed. Cats back home weren't that into fish.
"Shall we sit?"
"Sure."
I sat with everyone. Dinner with the masters wasn't bad at all. Contrary to my fears, they were all nice people.
Park Min-gyu wandered near the Beginner Hunting Ground, eyes bloodshot. He was hunting for the one who'd ruined his life.
That bastard...
His brother, an executive in Legion Guild, had been fired. Park Min-gyu had taken a brutal beating from his enraged sibling and barely escaped.
Just wait till I catch that cat bitch.
He knew Winter hung around the Beginner Hunting Ground. That's why he prowled the area.
Blinded by rage—or rather, never one for deep thought—Park Min-gyu nurtured his grudge against her.
I'll rip her apart.
He vowed it. He'd make her life as hellish as his own downfall, tormenting her until she begged for death.
After days of searching the Beginner Hunting Ground, Park Min-gyu finally spotted them: two kids playing in front of the tonkatsu shop.
"King! Let's play hop-hop!"
"Okay. Sure?"
Found them. Park Min-gyu grinned wickedly. Did they have any idea what was coming?
Cracking his neck, he approached the pair—unaware of the eyes watching from inside the building, sipping coffee with fond smiles.