Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: New Friend (3)
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“Why all of a sudden?!”
Han No-eul shouted with a flustered look on her face. Her plan to kidnap me must have gone awry, leaving her thrown off balance. She took a step toward me.
“N-No! Stay back!”
I instinctively stepped back as well, and Han No-eul raised her hand.
“Eek?!”
I immediately covered my face with my arms and wings, hunching down.
“No, seriously, it was just a joke! Did I go too far? Sorry, I’m sorry!”
I was the fool for thinking she was a friend. Han No-eul had only ever intended to devour me from the start.
That was the moment she reached out toward me.
Whoosh!
A black figure like a streak of wind brushed past me.
When I opened my eyes, a woman in a black suit stood blocking my view. Yoo So-jeong. She positioned herself perfectly in front of me, facing Han No-eul.
“Hunter Han No-eul. If you threaten her any further, I will use force.”
“No, damn it, this is insane… I was just joking around, and now this? Da-yun, it was really just a prank. For real. Believe your sister just this once.”
I peeked out from behind Yoo So-jeong, glancing at Han No-eul. She wore an aggrieved expression, but it was clearly fake tears like a crocodile’s.
As if I’d fall for that!
I pressed myself tightly against Yoo So-jeong’s back, clutching the hem of her clothes. Yoo So-jeong shot Han No-eul a sharp glare.
“More importantly, can’t you do something about that noisy thing?”
Han No-eul grimaced, plugging her ears. The piercing alarm was definitely disrupting any conversation.
“Miss Da-yun. I’ll disable the alarm.”
I nodded, and Yoo So-jeong took the buzzer from me, pressing the side. The noise stopped, and silence returned.
Han No-eul let out a deep sigh, scratching her head.
“Haa… My bad. Sorry. Right, you said you like sweets? Hold on a sec.”
Han No-eul turned and disappeared into the house. Even after she was out of sight, Yoo So-jeong stood guard between us for a long while.
She soon returned with soft-serve ice cream in both hands. Her pockets were bulging too.
“Here, eat this and cool off. You can’t get this just anywhere, you know? Special treat from me.”
Han No-eul held out a creamy milk-white soft-serve. But before I could reach for it, Yoo So-jeong blocked my arm.
“Miss Da-yun. You shouldn’t eat food from strangers carelessly.”
“What, you think I poisoned it or something? That’s too much!”
Han No-eul bristled, but Yoo So-jeong didn’t even blink.
Hmph, does she think I’m some kid who’d fall for a single ice cream?
I scoffed inwardly. Did she even know how much money was in my account right now? If I wanted, I could buy the whole factory making this stuff. Thinking she could appease me with something like this was a huge mistake.
I was just about to turn my head away with a huff.
“Sigh, if you won’t eat it, I guess I will.”
Han No-eul took a big bite from the ice cream in her other hand.
The soft ice cream vanished by about thirty percent in an instant. Seeing its smooth surface melt slightly from her body heat made saliva pool in my mouth.
How soft would it be? How sweet?
As I watched the ice cream disappear into her mouth, I couldn’t help but swallow.
…What does it taste like?
Come to think of it, accepting the ice cream didn’t mean I was forgiving her, right? If anything, it was only right for me to take it as compensation for the threat.
I reached out and took the ice cream.
“Y-Yeah. This stuff’s really good. Try it.”
“……!”
The moment it touched my tongue, my eyes flew open.
A deep, rich flavor filled my mouth, yet the aftertaste was surprisingly clean.
Lick, lick.
If it’s this good, maybe I don’t need to report her after all. Too much hassle anyway.
Even after I finished the ice cream without a word, Han No-eul fidgeted, watching my reaction.
“Um… Still mad?”
She shoved her hand deep into her pocket and pulled out a dark brown gemstone-like object.
“Here.”
A stone that shimmered with different colors depending on the angle, like opal. Blues, greens, and earthy yellows sparkled in the natural light. It was clearly no ordinary item.
“It’s the heart of an underground drake subspecies. You know how ridiculously hard these are to get, right?”
Han No-eul thrust it right in front of my face.
“You said you make elixirs out of stuff like this, yeah? Here, it’s yours. Peace offering. What do you say? Forgive me with this, okay?”
Gulp.
I swallowed dryly without thinking. Underground drake subspecies? I’d never even heard of it. Drakes live underground too? What would it taste like? And how much would eating it shave off my debuff timer?
New types of mana hearts gave even more time reduction. Meaning this one would shorten the time until I reached adulthood.
“Miss Da-yun. The Management Bureau can procure mana hearts for you as well. One will be delivered tomorrow.”
“Hey, bodyguard lady, can you butt out a little? It’s just an apology gift.”
Caught between their staring contest, I could only watch. I desperately wanted to snatch that gem and crunch it down right then, but Yoo So-jeong wasn’t wrong either.
Yeah, if I take it too easily, I’ll look like a pushover.
I wasn’t that kind of easy mark.
I turned my head away from the mana heart and said,
“I don’t need that stuff.”
“Hey, this thing’s super expensive! You couldn’t even buy it with money if you tried!”
“So what if it’s expensive? I’ve got plenty of money too.”
Han No-eul looked dumbfounded at my bold reply.
“Then what do I have to do to make it up to you? I’ll do anything.”
“I dunno.”
Han No-eul sighed deeply.
“Fine. Guess I’ll just put it away then. See you next time.”
The moment she started putting the gem back in her pocket, my hand shot out faster than I expected.
“Huh?”
“Oh, uh… Just let me look at it. Just a peek.”
“Sure thing, Da-yun. We’re friends, so I’ll show you. Take a good look first and think it over.”
I carefully took the gem. The heavy, cool weight in my palm, the iridescent hues shifting with every angle—it was a work of art.
“Pretty, huh?”
“…Yeah.”
I found myself staring, mesmerized. An irresistible urge overtook me.
Just once… Can I lick it just once?
Lick.
In the end, instinct won over reason. The flavor on my tongue was beyond imagination. An indescribable mix of nuts and fruits in a complex sweetness slammed into my brain.
“Hey, you…! You’re supposed to process that—”
I heard Han No-eul freak out, but my reason was already numb.
Crunch!
The pieces shattered in my mouth, melting smoothly and delivering an ecstatic flavor I’d never tasted before.
“…Hah. Well, whatever. Guess you’ve got a skill like that too.”
Han No-eul let out a hollow laugh of disbelief, then watched me eat with a resigned expression.
Slurp, slurp.
“Haa…”
After sucking down the last piece, I let out a complicated sigh. The mana heart’s taste was satisfying, but it didn’t fill my stomach. My hunger lingered.
Right then,
Grrrowl…
A loud rumble from my stomach shattered the silence.
“Uh…”
My face burned. I’d had ice cream and a mana heart, but I’d skipped lunch, so my stomach was still empty.
“…Hungry?”
“I didn’t eat lunch…”
“Got it. Let’s eat first. We’ll talk after food.”
Han No-eul’s words had both me and Yoo So-jeong nodding. She tapped on her phone inside the house and said briefly,
“Chef, prepare a meal.”
Soon, bustling sounds came from the kitchen. While the food was being prepared, Han No-eul sat in the chair across from me, propping her chin.
“Hey, Da-yun.”
“Yeah?”
“Cancel what I said earlier about joining our guild.”
“Huh?”
I tilted my head at the sudden statement.
“You don’t need to join a guild or anything. Honestly, it doesn’t matter.”
She grinned and continued.
“Instead, keep making gear for me from now on. I’ll pay whatever it costs.”
“……”
“And in return, I’ll buy up every mana heart that hits the Korean market. Every single one I see.”
My heart pounded at her offer. For real? She’d buy all the mana hearts?
“…Seriously?”
“Of course. It’s not like I’m short on cash.”
The shocking proposal came, but the meal itself was surprisingly ordinary. Things with Han No-eul remained awkward, with no quick progress—just short exchanges as we ate.
When it was time to head home, Han No-eul saw us off at the entrance.
“Hit me up anytime if you change your mind.”
“…Okay.”
I gave a vague reply and followed Yoo So-jeong to the car.
The car pulled away smoothly, Han No-eul’s mansion receding in the side mirror. I quietly started doing mental math.
Management Bureau or Han No-eul…
The Bureau was stable. Yoo So-jeong handled everything, and my safety was guaranteed. But they wouldn’t procure mana hearts in bulk.
Han No-eul, on the other hand, was extravagant. Buying every mana heart in Korea? Something even the Bureau couldn’t promise easily. With Flame Dragon Guild’s intel and funds, it wasn’t impossible.
If it’s just about clearing the debuff, Han No-eul’s way better…
The deeper I thought, the more complicated it got. I glanced at Yoo So-jeong via the rearview mirror. She was focused solely on driving, saying nothing.
Finally, I cautiously spoke up.
“Miss So-jeong.”
“Yes.”
“What if I joined another guild instead of staying with the Bureau?”
“…Pardon?”