Chapter 37
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: New Friend? (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The next day, as the promised time approached, my mind was filled with worries about what to wear.
‘My first time going to a friend's house... What should I wear?’
Too formal or flashy clothes would make it seem like I tried too hard and feel awkward, but it also felt wrong to show up in my usual sloppy wear for someone I was meeting in person for the first time.
Jeans? T-shirt? Hoodie? Dress?
After agonizing over it, I settled on denim hot pants, a white t-shirt, and a cardigan.
"Um...."
The shorts were shorter than anything I'd worn as a guy, leaving my legs totally exposed—a feeling I still didn't like, but there was no helping it.
‘This is VVIP client management meets first impressions with a friend. Can't half-ass the outfit.’
It was one of the combos Yu So-jeong had recommended, and checking the mirror, it was definitely cute and fit my body perfectly. Her fashion sense was spot on.
The embarrassment from my guy days got quashed in an instant by my desire to look good for my friend. I checked my outfit one last time and dashed to the living room.
"Outfit's on!"
Yu So-jeong, waiting on the living room sofa, turned her head. Her eyes scanned my clothes from top to bottom.
"How's it look?"
I spun around once to show her.
"It suits you perfectly, though perhaps something a bit longer... No. It looks good."
"Huh? Longer what?"
"I meant it suits you as much as the long time you spent deliberating."
"Um... Okay!"
It felt like she was about to say something else, but probably nothing important.
"Alright, let's head out!"
As I slipped on my shoes and reached for the front door, Yu So-jeong called out to me.
"Please wait just a moment."
She pulled an oval-shaped yellow plastic device with a strap from her pocket and handed it to me.
"What's this?"
"A personal alarm."
As she placed the alarm in my hand, she explained.
"In an emergency, pull the ring on top. It blares a 130-decibel alarm and simultaneously sends your location to the Management Bureau control room and my personal device."
"What? I'm not a kid..."
I was dumbfounded and at a loss for words. It was just a visit to a friend's house.
"Hunter Han No-eul is unpredictable and very greedy. Please carry it on you for any contingencies."
"It's just a casual visit... Fine, I'll take it."
I started to refuse, but her expression was so serious that I accepted it, figuring I'd humor her.
Eh, no way I'd actually need it. No point stressing.
I shoved the alarm into my pocket and headed to the underground parking garage with Yu So-jeong.
The car pulled up right in front of Han No-eul's house in no time.
Beyond the wall towering like a fortress, a glimpse of a grand mansion peeked through.
The vibe was straight out of a TV drama—some chaebol chairman's estate—which made me shrink back a little, but I forced my shoulders straight and kept walking.
First things first: text that I'd arrived.
[Golden Hand] [I'm here]
[Han No-eul] [Already? Opening it up, come on in]
The message got read after just one second, and right away, the massive iron gate slid open smoothly on its own.
Yu So-jeong and I crossed the impeccably manicured garden and stood before the front door. I took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell.
Ding-dong—
A moment later, the door flew open.
"You're here?"
How to even describe the figure who opened it. She looked way more... intense than her profile pic.
Red hair sloppily tied back, tight sleeveless top hugging her body, training pants—Han No-eul. She was striking in every sense.
Her sharp eyes gave me a quick once-over, then shifted to Yu So-jeong standing beside me.
"You're Golden Hand?"
She scanned Yu So-jeong up and down, her face showing clear surprise.
"Figured you for a guy from how you talk. Who's the kid? Little sis? Big bro vibe?"
Kid? Kid?! And who the hell was she mistaking?
I barely held back from flaring my wings in a surge of anger. Yeah, okay, I get how I look right now.
As I stood there shaking, Yu So-jeong corrected her with a straight face.
"No. This is Golden Hand."
Han No-eul's gaze snapped back to me, loaded with totally different emotions now. Confusion, shock, surprise... and interest. Desire.
"H-hi!"
She blinked at my greeting for a second, then let out a short, incredulous laugh before continuing.
"Huh, now that's unexpected."
Her eyes roamed over my body.
"You're really Golden Hand?"
"Y-yeah..."
"Whoa, damn. This is wild."
Han No-eul stared at me blankly for a moment, then grinned and stepped aside from the door.
Following her inside, the house was ridiculously huge and opulent—way more than it looked from outside.
I'd thought our place was pretty big and fancy, but it didn't have massive chandeliers like these.
"Sit wherever. What do you want to drink? Orange juice? Cola? Got pretty much anything."
"Um... Cola...?"
"Bodyguard next to you? You want anything?"
Yu So-jeong shook her head at Han No-eul's question.
"I'm fine."
"Cool. Whatever."
Han No-eul eyed Yu So-jeong for a sec before tossing out a question.
"Hey, don't we know each other? What's your name?"
"Yu So-jeong. We've never met in person."
"Hm, nah. Guess I was wrong..."
Han No-eul shrugged it off casually and headed to the kitchen. She came back moments later with two glasses of cola.
"Here, drink up."
She set the cola down in front of me and flopped onto the sofa across from me.
"Man, you really made those weapons? Hard to believe."
"Yeah. My skill's crafting-based."
She propped her chin on her hand, staring at me with keen interest. The intensity made me fidget with my cola glass for no reason.
"So, how old are you anyway?"
"Me? Twen—uh, er..."
Almost slipped and said twenty-five. Yu So-jeong thinks I'm a legit little girl. Revealing the truth here would make things messy.
No choice—I turned to Yu So-jeong and whispered softly.
"Miss So-jeong. Got some stuff I wanna talk about just the two of us. Can you give us a minute?"
As Yu So-jeong's face stiffened, Han No-eul waved it off.
"Nah, we'll just move. Weird sending a bodyguard off alone. Let's hit my room."
Han No-eul stood and beckoned me over.
Yu So-jeong's mouth twitched like she wanted to protest, but she shut it and sank back onto the sofa.
With her face full of worry, I shot her a reassuring look before following Han No-eul.
Her room wasn't spotless, but it wasn't a total mess either. A huge bed and a wall-spanning weapon rack caught my eye. Dozens of items on display, easy.
First time getting invited to a girl's room, but Han No-eul's felt more like an athlete's or warrior's den than anything girly.
"All these...?"
"Yeah. My old gear. Too good to toss or sell."
Checking them out, yeah—they were worn weapons, grades a bit low for her level now.
"Kinda like a roadmap of how I got here. Seeing 'em in the morning pumps me up."
"I see."
"So, for real—how old?"
She plopped onto the bed and asked again.
"Twenty-five."
Her eyes went wide at my answer.
"What? For real? Looking like that? Always been this way? Or awakening side effect?"
"Yeah. Happened after awakening. Body changed, that's all."
"Damn, wild world. Mind if I touch your wings and tail?"
"Um, a little's fine?"
She stroked my tail scales and wing membrane. Her calloused hands were rough, but her touch was gentle.
We ended up chatting about trivial stuff for a good while—how long it'd been since my awakening, what her life's been like, that sort of thing.
Unlike the initial tension from meeting face-to-face, her vibe matched her online self perfectly, so I warmed up quick and we clicked fast.
After nonstop chatter, Han No-eul slapped her knee.
"Oh yeah! Was gonna show you the greatsword in action. Wanna see it now?"
"Huh? Right now?"
"Yup. Body's itching for a workout anyway. C'mon."
She led me out back. There was a massive training ground, big as a whole sports field.
"Watch close. See how badass your weapon is."
Han No-eul drew the red-glowing greatsword from her sub-space.
"Might get hot, so heads up."
She did some light stretches, then gripped the greatsword two-handed.
"Hup!"
With a short grunt, red mana rose from her body like shimmering heat haze. The blade's central red gem pulsed in response, flashing brightly.
As she swung, the patterns flowing along the sword erupted with explosive heat. That single swing engulfed the thick iron target across the training ground.
Sizzzzzzz—!
No thunderous boom. Just a devouring heat that filled the space. Flames swept through, leaving no trace of the target—just a puddle of glowing red molten metal on the ground.
"Whew... Power control's a bitch. So, you feel it now?"
And me? I could only gape at the sight.
‘How hot does it gotta be to melt steel like that? Targets here must be top-tier alloy.’
At least 1000 degrees, transmitted all the way to that distant target. And this was her holding back.
"Amazing..."
"You're shocked, huh. Best part? Barely scratched my mana—like a fraction. Sword does all the work!"
"...Hm! I am pretty great."
I shrugged, and Han No-eul grinned, slinging the greatsword over her shoulder.
"Yeah, you really are. Best crafter I've ever seen. Hell, best anyone I know, period."
"Ehehe..."
Praise always hits nice. Especially this bold, no-holds-barred kind.
"Da-yun."
"Yeah?"
"Wanna join our guild?"
She stepped toward me as she spoke. Her eyes gleamed red.
"Join up, and that mana heart you mentioned? 1000? Nah, 2000 even. I'll snag every one on the market."
She took another step closer.
"Money? Pfft, you'll be swimming in it soon anyway. Need anything? Name it. Got a crush? I'll drag him over by the hair. Want something? I'll fetch it myself."
She closed right up to me, dropped to one knee, and gently took my hand—like a knight pledging to his princess.
"Any terms, I'll meet 'em. Whatever you want, it's yours."
"Hic?"
A hiccup slipped out before I knew it. Her raptor-like eyes gazed at me full of warmth.
"Be mine."
She lightly kissed the back of my hand, flashing a deep smile.
Warning alarms blared in my head. Not mere unease—this was the full-on territorial growl of an invaded beast.
I thrust my hand into my pocket fast.
And yanked the cord hard.
"Eh? Wait, the mood was perfect—"
Beeeeeeeeeep—!
An ear-shattering shrill alarm rocked the entire training ground.