Roommates (2)
“……Are you out of your mind?”
Choi Junseok had expected that reaction. He continued calmly.
“I’m serious, though.”
Lee Jiyu narrowed her eyes sharply, then took a sip of her beer as if to say, Fine, let’s hear this nonsense.
“What the hell are you talking about all of a sudden?”
Choi Junseok walked over to the fridge, grabbed a can of beer, and replied just as naturally.
She didn’t seem like the type to drink top-shelf wine or whiskey, but apparently she preferred canned beer. One of the three refrigerators was packed exclusively with two or three different brands of it.
When he moved to sit down, Lee Nayeon quietly shifted closer to Song Hana, making space for him. He popped the can open, took a long drink, then slid into the empty spot on the sofa beside Lee Nayeon.
Lee Jiyu was quietly surprised by the sight. She had assumed the two of them were on tense terms, yet Lee Nayeon had willingly made room for him without the usual guarded reaction she showed around others.
“Of course, you wouldn’t be at a loss.”
“……?”
“Hana. Lee Nayeon’s protection. You’ve already summoned Choi Byeong-ryeol, an S-grade summon, so you should know exactly what level of security they provide.”
She’s not wrong……
“So wouldn’t it be fine to just keep Song Hana and Lee Nayeon here as guests?”
“But things don’t work that way in real life. Who’s going to protect me? They’re my summons, bound by contract.”
It was a fair point, so Lee Jiyu couldn’t argue.
“You’re not seriously relying on the security guards at the apartment entrance and the lobby, are you?”
“……”
“On top of that, you’re on bad terms with Eden, one of the Five Great Guilds, right?”
“……What kind of provocation is that? And how the hell do you even know that?”
Lee Jiyu had met all kinds of people in her career as a businesswoman, but Choi Junseok’s blunt, aggressive way of speaking was something she had never encountered before. She felt herself being pulled into his conversational rhythm whether she liked it or not.
“I don’t. It’s just an educated guess. With your personality, I doubt you’re great at office politics.”
……?
She wasn’t exactly on good terms with the Eden Guild, but she wasn’t on bad terms either. Still, Lee Jiyu knew exactly how people in the guild looked at her. They didn’t show open hostility, but she was well aware they gossiped viciously behind her back. Not that she cared in the slightest.
My position in the guild has been shaky for a while now.
Especially after the disappearance of Choi Byeong-ryeol, her S-grade summon. That had been one of the main reasons the guild had treated her like an SS-grade executive. If she were just another double-digit ranker, there would be no reason for a massive guild like one of the Five Greats to give her special treatment.
That was why she had been so furious about losing Choi Byeong-ryeol in the first place.
She understood the reality of the Magic Towers now, and Function’s overwhelming strength had left her with no choice but to accept it. Still……
Is this guy actually asking me for a favor right now?
Lee Jiyu felt like she understood Choi Junseok less the more she got to know him.
“Forget all that. Why are you suddenly bringing up guilds when you’re trying to move into my house? Do you like me or something?”
“……No?”
“You…… don’t like me? Really?”
She made a face that said there was no way that could be true.
Of course not. Lee Jiyu was a top model and influencer with celebrity-level popularity. The number of wealthy men and famous male actors who admired her could probably fill a parade ground twice over. If you searched her name, multiple famous idols and actors had already named her as their ideal type.
“Don’t you want more freedom in your activities?”
“What does living here have to do with that? Don’t tell me……”
“You’re right. I’m planning to make a guild. How about being member number one? It’s an honor I don’t hand out to just anyone.”
“……Function’s guild.”
“It’ll be a very small group, just enough to climb the Magic Towers.”
“But isn’t it usually the other way around? If I join a guild, I’d have to contribute to their tower climbs and goals, and get paid for it. Letting me stay here for free doesn’t add up.”
It was a reasonable objection.
“That’s how it works when a guild provides labor, but my guild will be different. I can guarantee it—people will be lining up to join just to get stronger.”
“How can you be so confident?”
“Then think of it as me repaying your kindness these past few days. I’ll show you.”
“……?”
Choi Junseok set his beer down on the table and opened a portal connected to Haetaesik’s forge.
A dark red portal appeared in the middle of the room. Lee Jiyu flinched and checked the floor, but there was no damage.
“Follow me.”
Choi Junseok stepped through first. Lee Nayeon and Song Hana nodded reassuringly. Lee Jiyu took a breath and followed him into the portal.
She lost her words at the sight that unfolded before her. It was like stepping into a massive forge belonging to the gods themselves. The floor was filled with lava, as if they had entered the crater of an active volcano. Thick chains crisscrossed the sky, connecting enormous furnaces and blacksmithing equipment.
Clang—! Clang—!
The sound of a hammer striking an anvil echoed steadily. The place looked scorching hot, yet strangely, she felt no heat at all.
“……Where are we?”
“A kind of item workshop.”
Lee Jiyu’s eyes landed on the massive griffin corpse lying nearby. She immediately recognized it as the boss monster from the 30th floor. She had no idea how they had brought it here, but it was clear they intended to use it to craft items.
“I’m already swamped. Why’d you bring another one? Here to get in the way?”
Haetaesik spoke with his back muscles as usual, but he had already sensed the new presence.
“I want you to make some equipment for her.”
Clang—!
He brought the hammer down on the anvil one last time, sending sparks flying, then turned to look at Lee Jiyu.
“Hm.”
Lee Jiyu was equally startled when she saw Haetaesik’s unreadable level. From the context, he was clearly connected to the Magic Tower, but since he wasn’t a monster, his level didn’t display. He was an unappraisable existence. Yet the blacksmith seemed to be sizing her up in return.
“S-grade. Awakened the Supersonic skill. Probably a close-range attacker who fights with agility. No equipment equipped…… so a martial artist?”
“Correct.”
Haetaesik held out a simple pair of leather gloves as if he had been waiting for this.
They were made from tanned basilisk hide—a Legendary-grade piece of equipment with a level requirement of 130.
Lee Jiyu’s eyes widened as she appraised it.
“Legendary……?”
“Here. Take it and use it.”
Even for something casually tossed over, it was an absurdly expensive item.
Category: Equipment — Gloves
Grants damage immunity and indestructibility to the equipped area.
Required Level: Lv. 130
— Binds on equip.
Lee Jiyu didn’t even own any Legendary-grade equipment herself. She had only ever been equipped with Unique-grade items that suited her. Legendary items were the kind you needed luck just to obtain.
Yet he had handed it over like it was some random piece of trash.
“First acquisition — cannot be traded……”
Lee Jiyu stared blankly at the gloves in her hands. The design wasn’t bad either. A bit rugged, but they had the classic look of rider gloves.
Haetaesik had already turned his attention back to the anvil, as if his only goal in life was crafting items.
“I’ll make you a custom set of armor too.”
Lee Jiyu picked up the gloves in a half-dazed state. The options were simple and completely broken.
Damage immunity…… That meant even if she blocked or punched with the gloves, she wouldn’t feel any impact.
For a close-range fighter, the biggest weakness was being directly exposed to enemy attacks. This item completely compensated for that flaw. Indestructibility and damage immunity on the gloves meant that as long as she blocked with them, no damage would register on that area……
How many times had she driven her fist into a monster only to feel her wrist throb and swell from the recoil?
“……Are you sure I can have these?”
“If you’re just here to get in the way, get lost. I’m busy.”
Clang! Sparks flew once more with the ringing of metal.
Lee Jiyu looked at Choi Junseok, still holding the gloves in a daze. She had suddenly been given an item worth hundreds of billions—something money alone couldn’t even buy.
At this point, giving up a single room felt like she should be offering the master bedroom instead.
“Consider it an advance payment for joining the guild. How about it? If I outfit you with a full set of Legendary gear, how far do you think you could climb?”
“……”
Still dazed, Lee Jiyu returned to her living room with the single glove in hand. She placed it on her lap and took a sip of beer, trying to pull herself together.
She couldn’t believe this was real, so she stretched her soft, pale cheek with her fingers.
“So? Still think giving up one room is too much?”
She nodded quietly.
At that nod, both Lee Jiyu and Song Hana smiled in satisfaction.
“Really?! Whoa!”
Song Hana grabbed Kkamdori, who had been sitting on her lap, and lifted him into the air, spinning him around in delight.
“Kkamdori! We’re living here now!”
Lee Jiyu belatedly stored the item in her inventory and nodded to herself. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She was certain she needed to stay by Choi Junseok’s—by Function’s—side.
“So when are you making this guild of yours?”
After handing over a single Legendary item, even the proud Lee Jiyu had agreed immediately. Choi Junseok belatedly realized just how valuable Haetaesik truly was.
Honestly, from his perspective, having people manage the house would make daily life much more convenient. There was no downside at all. An auntie would come cook three meals a day, handle cleaning, laundry—everything.
And drinking beer while looking out at the Seoul night skyline from this building? He could do that for years and never get tired of it.
“Then we have a roommate contract.”
Lee Jiyu nodded without hesitation.