Chapter 99
Translator: MJK
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: One-Shot via Gorani Stroll
4 PM.
In front of the gates of Saint Mary International School.
I stood there shuffling along like a zombie.
From the cafe's opening day right up to today, the second day, my very soul had been wrung out.
The drink frenzy, Secretary Park Min-cheol's meltdown...
Looking back, all that came out were sighs.
"Oppa..."
So-ye emerging from the school gate looked every bit as wrecked as I did.
She'd spent the whole day on edge, her shoulders slumped in exhaustion.
We locked eyes—hollow gazes meeting—and nodded wordlessly.
"Let's head home."
"Yeah... let's hurry."
We trudged over to the building across from the school.
Rode the elevator up to the rooftop and opened the dimensional gate.
Kiiik—
"We're home..."
The moment we dragged ourselves into the countryside house yard with listless voices.
"Pwoeng!"
Hasuo came barreling over first, latching onto my leg.
And there on the porch sat two basins side by side, steaming with warm water.
"W-what's this...?"
[Moon-White Spiritual Water] heated into a fatigue-busting foot bath.
Beside it stood an otter with a towel slung over its arm, bowing politely.
"Osot."
The otter gestured courteously toward the basins.
'These guys...'
It finally clicked.
Yesterday, they'd seen our brother-sister duo come home utterly spent—souls drained from So-ye's big first day of school and the cafe launch.
So today, day two, they'd been lying in wait to spring this on us the moment we returned.
I obediently sat on the porch as directed, peeled off my socks, and soaked my feet.
"So warm..."
So-ye wiggled her little feet with a smile.
The languid heat crept up from her toes, melting away the day's stiffness.
And then.
"Kkiyoot!"
Gorani lumbered up and plopped right behind me.
It offered up its broad, fluffy back like a pillow.
"This is basically a living recliner sofa."
I leaned back, and its firm muscles cradled me perfectly—pure bliss.
"Kkokkok!"
On the other side, the chicken hopped onto So-ye's shoulder.
It started a delicate wing-flap massage.
"Thanks, Kkokko."
A genuine smile finally bloomed on So-ye's face.
-Hmyut!
Finally, Muryong and Hasuo waddled over, balancing a tray on their heads.
Peeled, refreshing lychees and honey-glazed sweet potato sticks were artfully arranged atop it.
Of course, Muryong had snatched a few en route—honey smeared all over its mouth.
"You guys... you prepared all this and waited for us?"
Overwhelmed, I asked, and they all nodded in unison.
Hasuo clambered onto my knee and kneaded my palms like it knew how hard we'd worked, while Muryong burrowed into So-ye's arms for some cuddles.
'Yeah, this is happiness.'
A place to come back to and unwind, no matter what chaos the outside world threw at us.
A place with family waiting.
I buried my face in Gorani's back fur and murmured.
"Home really is the best."
So-ye beamed, mouth stuffed with lychee.
"Yeah! Our home is the absolute best!"
I dried her feet with the towel and asked about her day.
"So-ye-ya, so how was today? Make lots of friends?"
"Yeah! They're all so nice. Oh, but Min-jun tried giving me something super expensive, so I turned it down... That was right, yeah?"
She looked up with worry in her eyes.
"Exactly. I told you not to just grab stuff like that—could cause problems. Good job."
"Yeah!"
All that preemptive coaching had paid off.
Beijing, Xiao family mansion.
In the midst of the chaotic packing frenzy, Xiao Lin received Chairman Zhu Lun's message—and her fist trembled.
[Conditional Approval: Xiao family departure permitted. However, S-Rank Hunter Xiao Lin must perform guardian duty at Kunlun Mountains' 4th Seal for 2 years for national security. Freedom guaranteed upon completion.]
[Special Clause: This agreement is Class 1 classified. Should any third party (family, Korean contacts included) learn of it, naturalization revoked immediately; entire Xiao family punished for treason.]
"...Ha."
Vile old bastard.
The 4th Seal was a demon realm crawling with S-rank beasts.
'Telling me to guard it alone? That's just code for "die there."'
But she couldn't refuse.
Her parents' exit visas were already tied to this, and for Liu's safe transport, she couldn't afford to piss off the Chinese government any further.
'Two years... I can endure. For Liu and the family.'
Xiao Lin bit her lip and signed the contract.
Countryside house yard.
I watched Liu helping with the fieldwork.
Now fully recovered, she was unleashing abilities way beyond my expectations.
"Gorani-man nim, check this out!"
[S-Rank Healer's Life Infusion]
[Crop potential unlocked to maximum.]
[Harvest yield +200% / Growth speed +300%]
Liu touched the scallion roots, emerald energy pouring from her fingertips.
The stems instantly doubled in thickness, their scent intensifying.
It was like jabbing the garden crops with a mega-dose of nutrients.
One lap around the field from Liu, and we'd harvest top-grade produce better than usual.
A walking plant growth booster—auto-farming cheat key!
'Of course, this isn't Liu the hunter's real power.'
An S-rank healer wasn't just about patching wounds.
I'd seen records of how she'd solo-climbed the Tower's upper floors.
'Over Healing.'
Forcing unmanageable life force into monsters to rupture their cells and self-destruct—or cranking physical stats beyond limits to smash dealers with raw power.
Liu was a combat healer who flipped healing into destruction.
"Liu-ssi, mind taking a quick look at this?"
I pulled a fist-sized black stone from my inventory.
An ore from Okinawa, brimming with unstable chaos.
"Okinawa crystal. Curious what happens if you infuse it with your power."
"My power? You mean healing?"
"Yeah. Cram it in till it's fit to burst."
Liu placed her hand on it dubiously.
Emerald mana flooded from her fingertips, sucked into the black crystal.
Wuoooong—!
The crystal lit up and vibrated wildly.
Chaos energy clashed with the excess life force, spewing precarious vibes like it could blow any second.
Zzzzt!
[Item: Overloaded Okinawa Black Crystal]
[Rank: Hero]
[Description: Chaos ore infused with S-Rank healer's excess life force, reaching critical point. Minor impact triggers energy backlash for massive explosion—mana bomb complete.]
"...Whoa, this looks dangerous."
Liu yanked her hand back in alarm.
The stone glowed cherry-red, humming like a ticking bomb.
"Perfect."
I grinned, satisfied, and stowed it back in my inventory.
"I'll treasure it. It'll come in super handy later."
Kiiik—
Footsteps at the gate. Xiao Lin, luggage in tow.
"Lin-ssi?"
"Gorani-man nim, and Liu. Came to say goodbye."
Lin smiled brightly.
"Sent my parents to Korea ahead. Me? Got some loose ends in China."
"Loose ends?"
"Yeah. Govt negotiations—probably two years. No big deal. Just national duty stuff."
She played it casual, but I could see through her eyes—resignation laced with grim resolve.
"Take care of Liu for me. Just till I get back."
"Lin, what do you mean? Two years?"
Liu panicked, but Lin just hugged her tight, no words.
"I promise. I'll come back."
She bowed deeply to me and left without a backward glance.
"...?"
Viper-nim, need a check on something.
What did China demand as Xiao Lin hunter's exit condition? Not the official line—the real backroom deal.
Got it. Super closed-off place, won't be easy, but digging now.
Exactly fifteen minutes later.
Found it.
Already? Only 15 mins.
Haha, truth? Nearly died hacking Public Security Bureau. Their firewall's insane. Any other broker? Week minimum.
But for Gorani-man nim? Gotta deliver! That's my skill. Praise me.
Impressive. So, details?
Xiao Lin forced dispatch to Kunlun Mountains seal site. Basically 2-year exile. Even S-ranks can't guarantee survival.
"...Two years?"
Western China, Kunlun Mountains 4th Seal.
In the heart of blizzard-lashed jagged peaks, a massive barrier stone pulsed red.
"Kraaa!"
Inside, an S-rank troll with glacial bones and dozens of cold-breath wyverns battered the barrier, roaring.
Only Xiao Lin stood against them.
"Haa, haa..."
She panted raggedly, regripping her greatsword.
Beast onslaught from the moment she arrived.
No breather.
Her armor hung in tatters; her sword hand was numb-frozen.
'Two years of this...'
Zhu Lun's intent was crystal: die here.
'Won't quit. I'll survive and return.'
She gritted her teeth and swung again.
Liu was waiting.
She had a home to go back to.
Kuuuung—!
Then—a mountain-shaking boom split the blizzard.
From the horde's rear, what seemed a snow peak shifted, revealing a colossal monster.
[Seal Master, Snow Mountain King Yeti awakens.]
Rumble!
The massive snow peak ahead rose entirely.
Ten stories tall.
Covered head to toe in eternal ice armor—a top-tier S-rank boss among bosses.
"Ye... Yeti?"
One puff of its white breath flash-froze the air subzero.
'No way. Seal breaking already?'
This was the 4th Seal.
A barrier that'd pinned S-ranks for decades tore like paper mere half-day after her arrival.
Impossible without outside tampering—or an insider unlocking the gate.
"Grrr..."
The Yeti loomed over Xiao Lin slumped in the snow.
Eyes like it eyed a puny ant.
It slowly raised a massive fist.
The air pressure alone nearly buckled her knees.
'...No.'
She couldn't block it.
Instinct screamed.
HP bottomed out, that strike would pulp her bones to mush.
Kwaaa!
The fist plummeted toward her head.
No escape.
Xiao Lin squeezed her eyes shut before the death shadow.
'Liu... sorry.'
The instant she thought it was over.
Kwaaaaaaaaaa!!!
A sky-crashing roar shredded her eardrums.
But no pain hit her.
Just a gale tousling her hair.
"...?!"
Xiao Lin cracked her eyes open cautiously.
An unbelievable scene unfolded.
"Kuoooo!"
The Yeti that'd nearly killed her was hurled far off, smashed into a snow wall.
That hulking mass flying so pathetically...
"W-what..."
She rubbed her eyes, peering through the dust cloud.
There stood a house-sized muscular beast, snorting steam.
And astride it—a man all too familiar, sorely missed.
"Go-Gorani-man nim?!"
I dusted off the grime and gave Xiao Lin a casual wave.
"Out for a stroll, got a bit lost. This Kunlun Mountains?"
"Huh? A stroll... all the way here?!"
Korea to China's western inland—hours by plane.
Absurd claim, but Gorani's state left no room for doubt.
"Kkiyoooooot!"
Gorani wasn't winded—in fact, it stomped excitedly, like it was just getting warmed up.
"Huk, huk!"
Like it was yelling, "Great air here—let's run more!" Maniacal stamina.
And the power to yeet a Yeti...
Recalling that brush with death, emotions surged.
"Huu, huuung..."
Her tension snapped; relief buckled her legs, and she collapsed into the snow.