Accepting the Proposal (7)
A heavy silence passed. Breaking it, Park Sia's cold voice echoed through the Leviathan Guild conference room.
"It's our complete defeat, with no room for excuses."
She spoke in a low voice, gazing at Tiriya seated before her and Yeong-sik standing at her side. After his Dragonization ended—unintentionally exposing his naked body to all present—Yeong-sik had quickly changed into fresh clothes and joined them in the conference room.
"......I never imagined there'd be a summoner in the 61st wave who could surpass Cheon Tae-hwang."
Park Sia let out a sigh-tinged breath as she addressed Yeong-sik. He slowly shook his head in response.
"No, I was equally shocked. Cheon Tae-hwang had far more power than I'd anticipated."
"If it's not too rude, may I ask how someone at only level 73 possesses such strength? Including...... those guns emerging from your body."
Park Sia recalled the weapons Yeong-sik wielded—weapons utterly unlike those of any ordinary summoner—and posed the question. Cheon Tae-hwang's abilities, while far from conventional, were at least comprehensible on some level.
But Yeong-sik was different. He was too alien to even call a fellow summoner—or human, for that matter.
"It's hard to give a precise answer. But I can say I possess the hidden class Mechanical Engineer, and its abilities allow me to wield these modern weapons."
"Hmm. A hidden class......?"
She eyed him skeptically. Even a hidden class granting such absurd power strained belief.
"Let's drop this topic."
"......Understood."
Park Sia nodded, though doubt lingered on her face. She had many suspicions about his true nature, but prying into how a summoner outside her guild had gained such power would be impolite.
"More importantly, you'll honor the promise from this duel, right?"
Yeong-sik fixed her with a subtle glint in his eye. Park Sia nodded gravely.
"Of course. For the next year, Leviathan Guild will devote itself to protecting Salvatore Guild. However...... if Salvatore Guild intentionally reveals your identities to the kingdom, we'll respond at the guild level."
She drove the point home with a sharp look. Yeong-sik and Tiriya nodded.
They had no intention of exposing the guild's secrets for the coming year anyway.
"That won't happen, so rest easy."
"I trust you, Salvatore Guild Master."
Tiriya extended her hand. Park Sia clasped it firmly and nodded.
"Oh, and as Kang Ha-rin mentioned before the duel, we'll receive the 300,000 gold fee as well, correct?"
Yeong-sik flashed a sly smile as he asked. Securing Leviathan's protection for a year already achieved their goal, but grabbing every possible gain was wise.
"Ugh...... Fine. We'll pay it after the dungeon expedition ends."
"Haha. As expected of Leviathan Guild. Reliable."
Park Sia shot him a displeased glare as he chuckled lightly. Yeong-sik grinned, already picturing Kang Ha-rin getting thoroughly chewed out by her later.
"So, where is this dungeon that requires my power?"
At Tiriya's question, Park Sia swallowed a groan. Her eyes darkened as she scanned Han-seong, Yeong-sik, and Tiriya in turn.
"The dungeon we discovered is called the Forgotten Ones' Tomb. It's beyond the Northern Borderline, in what was once Ingrium Empire territory."
Tiriya and Han-seong's faces filled with shock at her words.
Going beyond the Northern Borderline—not just holding back the monsters pouring south, but venturing into their domain! It was reckless beyond imagining, something only Leviathan Guild could attempt.
"Ingrium Empire......"
Tiriya murmured the name, a faint nostalgia stirring within her. Once the continent's mightiest power at its center, it had single-handedly stalled the monster hordes—now splintered into three—long enough to ignite the Great War.
"So...... we have to cross the Northern Borderline and enter the dungeon?"
Yeong-sik's eyes sharpened as he asked. Park Sia nodded lightly.
"Yes. We've already secured the route to the dungeon. With your help, Tiriya, we just need to open the door to the deepest floor."
"So Salvatore Guild only needs to open that door on the lowest floor?"
A heavy sigh escaped Park Sia.
"Initially, yes—that was all I planned to ask. But after witnessing your battle with Tae-hwang, I've reconsidered. The summoners remaining in Salvatore Guild are all high-level. I'd be grateful if you'd assist in conquering the deepest floor."
"Of course, we'd offer additional compensation beyond the 300,000 gold."
Concern flickered across Han-seong, Yeong-sik, and Tiriya's faces. Yeong-sik turned to Tiriya and murmured softly.
"I'll leave this to the Guild Master's judgment."
Tiriya closed her eyes, deep in thought.
A brief silence fell. She slowly opened her eyes and spoke.
"Salvatore Guild will assist Leviathan Guild in conquering the dungeon's deepest floor."
"Thank you."
Park Sia smiled warmly and nodded. Then, leaning close to Yeong-sik's ear, Tiriya whispered cautiously.
"I wanted to know why angelic power is needed for that dungeon—and what Leviathan is after, going to such lengths."
"You don't need to explain every detail. If it's your decision, Guild Master, I'll follow without question."
"Still...... I'd like you to understand."
Tiriya blushed faintly, her words revealing how deeply she respected him.
"When is the dungeon expedition?"
"Once the collapsed Northern Borderline stabilizes somewhat. And...... Tae-hwang needs time to recover from his wounds."
Yeong-sik recalled Cheon Tae-hwang's state right after using Divine Sword Unification. The name fit, but as a pure skill, it was cheat-level. Even with stats rivaling a ranker's, Yeong-sik had been momentarily overwhelmed.
Such a skill can't be without drawbacks.
Considering Kang Ha-rin's words and Tae-hwang's collapsed form at the end, the restrictions were anything but ordinary.
"Please contact us once preparations are complete."
"Use our guild's annex in the meantime. With Salvatore's numbers, it'll be comfortable."
"Thank you."
Tiriya nodded brightly. They'd been worrying about lodging, so Leviathan stepping up solved it neatly.
Already trying to keep our info under wraps.
Yeong-sik realized her offer wasn't mere hospitality.
Though that's convenient for me.
Plans to exploit Leviathan to the fullest over the next year were already forming in his mind.
"One last request for Leviathan Guild."
"What is it?"
Han-seong, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward. Park Sia turned to him with interest.
"I'd like to purchase large quantities of mithril, orichalcum, saronite, iron ore, etc., through Leviathan Guild."
"Ore? Why ore......?"
"I have a use for it. We have ample funds, so please arrange suppliers."
Han-seong hadn't forgotten Yeong-sik's request and aimed to procure bulk materials via Leviathan.
"We have ties to many merchant guilds, so I can help with that."
Han-seong smiled and took a seat before her.
"Then I'll discuss details with you here and head to the annex later, Guild Master. You and Yeong-sik go ahead."
He adjusted his round glasses, eyes gleaming. Thorough with money, he'd surely vet the best deals among merchant guilds.
"I leave it to you."
Yeong-sik chuckled at Han-seong's enthusiasm and exited with Tiriya.
"Sis! What did the Leviathan Guild Master say?"
"She didn't back out on the promise, right?"
The waiting Salvatore Guild members swarmed them with questions.
"I'll explain slowly later. For now, let's head to Leviathan's annex."
Tiriya smiled at her excited guildmates.
"Leviathan's annex? Why there......?"
"The Guild Master offered it for our use."
Yeong-sik answered the puzzled group.
"Oh."
"Ahem."
Realization dawned, and they averted their eyes awkwardly from Yeong-sik.
His eyes narrowed.
"What's with that?"
"N-nothing, ahem."
Kim Gil-su cleared his throat, trying to erase the mental image of Yeong-sik's nudity.
"Ugh, I told you I have that minor flaw."
"Kehkeh. For a skill like that, shedding clothes is hardly a drawback. Besides...... you've got quite the impressive package down there."
Hwang-hyeon chuckled lewdly, glancing at Yeong-sik's crotch.
"......Don't look at me like that, Grandpa Hwang-hyeon."
"Tsk tsk. What's to be shy about? It's like a forearm......"
"G-Grandpa! Maybe drop it?"
Yuna's face flushed crimson as she cut in desperately. But Hwang-hyeon's words revived the image they'd tried forgetting; A-ra and Tiriya blushed and coughed repeatedly.
An suffocating awkwardness settled over the group. Yuna, A-ra, and Tiriya turned away from Yeong-sik—yet stole sidelong glances at his groin.
"......Stop staring, everyone."
Yeong-sik said with a grimace.
"W-we weren't trying to look!"
"W-what are you talking about? I don't know."
They startled at his words, avoiding his gaze. But soon, they swallowed dryly and peeked again.
"? Haa."
Yeong-sik sighed deeply, clutching his forehead.
"Oppa Yeong-sik, can I ask something?"
Lee Chae-rin approached, eyes sparkling.
He turned to her.
"What?"
"You said your body's mechanical, right?"
Chae-rin grinned mischievously, wedging her thumb between index and middle finger, pumping it vulgarly up and down.
"So, does it vibrate during that......?"
Smack!
Before she finished, Yuna's palm rocketed forward, smacking her head.