Chapter 17
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Wanna Eat?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The next day, I headed to the Azure Rose Guild with the contract Yu So-jeong had prepared for me.
"Perfect. The Guild Master's approval has come through, so just sign here."
"Sure."
I wrote the three characters of my name—Ida Yoon—in my still-unfamiliar small hand on the contract.
"Phew... That's one big worry off my chest."
Lee Ji-young looked visibly relieved.
"We can consider this the start of a partnership from now on, right, Miss Ida Yoon?"
With a stake in the Azure Rose Guild plus dungeon byproducts thrown in, it was a win-win—the better the guild did, the more I benefited.
"Looking forward to working with you."
Lee Ji-young extended her hand to me.
"Ah, me too! Looking forward to it!"
As I shook her hand, my chest swelled with emotion for some reason. It felt surreal—yesterday I was a job-hunting student, and now everything had changed in a flash.
"To celebrate our new partnership, how about taking a look at our guild warehouse?"
"The warehouse?"
"Yes. That's where we'll store the materials you'll be using from now on. It's full of rare dungeon byproducts."
Rare byproducts? Now that piqued my interest.
They might include stuff perfect for crafting with my ability, Divine Armament Creation, or something to cut down my debuff timer.
Especially after that White Drake heart I'd eaten a few days ago. That refreshing, sweet taste was unforgettable.
Gulp.
"I'd... love to see it."
Following Lee Ji-young's lead, we arrived at a massive steel door deep underground in the guild building, guarded by countless magical and mechanical locks.
"This is basically the heart of our guild."
After a complicated authentication process, she swung open the heavy steel door.
Kreeeeak—
"Whoa..."
Inside was a space far vaster than I'd imagined. Shelves divided by category stretched endlessly across what had to be thousands of square feet, each one glowing faintly with mana-preserved materials.
"We sort everything by rank and type. Plants over there, minerals here, and rare monster byproducts in the back."
Lee Ji-young proudly gave me the tour. I could see why she was so proud—this was a treasure trove.
"We'll set up a dedicated section just for you soon. Let us know whenever you need materials."
"Okay..."
A section just for me. I was already excited. With materials provided, I could craft and sell whatever weapons I wanted. If I made an S-rank one...
'Sign another deal like this?'
A happy future was already unfolding in my mind.
Lee Ji-young led me deeper into the warehouse.
"Oh, this area's for rare monster byproducts from drakes and wyverns like sub-dragons. The White Drake heart from before came from here."
But by then, my mind was too far gone to listen.
"Hng...?"
The moment I stepped in, uncontrollable excitement, hunger, and anticipation surged through my body.
Red wyvern hearts, blue drake hearts, even a black-glowing mystery heart. Each one emitted a soft, seductive glow in its own color.
They reminded me of those gem-shaped candies from childhood—the kind you could wear like rings. But these were several times more beautiful... and dozens of times tastier-looking.
My cells screamed amid the sweet mana feast.
I want to eat them. All of them.
"Our Guild Master is a collector when it comes to this stuff, so we keep core monster byproducts instead of selling them. We've got quite the variety."
Her proud voice fell on deaf ears.
I drifted to the shelves like a moth to flame, staring blankly at the hearts sealed in glass containers.
"...I want to buy all of these."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"All these mana hearts. I'll take every one."
Lee Ji-young's eyes went wide.
"Every single one? That'll cost a fortune."
"How much?"
"One sec..."
She traced calculations in the air before answering.
"Rough estimate? Around 50 billion won."
"Ah..."
50 billion? No way I could pay that now. My total cash from the A- and S-rank weapons was just 5.3 billion.
I could probably buy them over time by selling dungeon byproducts, but I wanted those candies in my mouth now.
"Any chance I could trade something else for them?"
I gazed at her pleadingly. She pondered for a moment, then smiled.
"Hmm... How about paying with your body?"
My mind went blank.
"...Pardon?"
Pay with my body? Was she going to peel off my scales? Saw off my horns? Or something else?
"I mean, with your ability. Craft some items for us as payment."
"Items?"
"Yeah. Make a few weapons for our guild members, and these hearts are all yours. Even B-rank ones would do. What do you say?"
A proposal as sweet as the aroma wafting from them. A bit of work for 50 billion in snacks.
I wagged my tail furiously and shouted.
"I'll do it!"
Lee Ji-young nodded, satisfied.
"Great. Deal. So, what are you planning to do with those hearts? Make new weapons or—"
Corrupted Prime Drake's Severely Damaged Mana Heart
I immediately grabbed the black, most delicious-looking gem and brought it to my lips.
Lick, lick.
"Mmm...!"
A heavy, profound sweetness filled my mouth. A touch of bitterness added sophistication, like chocolate melting on my tongue.
But licking wasn't enough—it was just a tease. I crunched down on the candy with my molars.
Crunch!
It shattered like soft chocolate, without a single fragment. A sweetness incomparable to before made my whole body shiver.
And then, a beat later, Lee Ji-young's shocked voice rang out.
"D-Da-yoon?! What are you doing?! Spit it out right now! Ptui! Ptui!"
She snatched the heart from my hand in an instant and hoisted me up effortlessly.
"Eek?!"
The saliva-covered heart tumbled from my hand and rolled across the floor.
With panic written all over her face, Lee Ji-young bolted out of the warehouse. The candy faded from my sight.
"Nooo!"
I screamed, but she wasn't listening. If anything, she poured mana into her legs to run faster.
"Infirmary! Get the healers and duty staff here now!!"
The scenery blurred by in seconds, people scrambling in confusion as we reached the hospital.
Lee Ji-young yelled urgently as she plopped me on the nearest bed and started pounding my back hard—whap, whap, whap!
"Ack! Ugh! Ack!"
These were palms backed by a pro hunter's full force. My body rang like a bell, tears welling up.
"Spit it out! Hurry!"
"Urk, ack! It hurts! My back's breaking! Eugh!"
Even as I wailed in protest, her back-smacking marathon didn't let up.
Then, a middle-aged man in a white coat came rushing in.
"Vice Guild Master! What happened?!"
"The kid ate a Prime Drake heart! Check her out quick!"
"F-First, let me assess her condition."
The man finally pried Lee Ji-young off my back and approached me gently.
"Uncle here's gonna check you out real quick, okay?"
He placed his hand on my chest and murmured softly.
Precise Diagnosis
A soft green light flowed from his hand, enveloping my body. It scanned me for a few seconds before fading away.
He tilted his head.
"...No toxicity, internal bleeding, or organ damage. Just one debuff detected."
"What?! What debuff?!"
"Problem is... I can't identify it. Looks like A-rank or higher."
Lee Ji-young stomped her feet in frustration.
"Then give her an emetic or something...!"
"No can do. Could damage her stomach lining and cause serious issues. X-ray first."
He called a nurse to prep the X-ray room. But I had a more pressing issue.
"Um... Doctor...?"
He leaned in as I sniffled.
"What's wrong, sweetie? Where does it hurt? Tell me all about it."
I wiped my tears and looked up at him, pleading from the heart.
"My back... my back hurts so much... Please fix it... Waa..."