Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: A Much-Needed Break
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"Seriously? An S-rank Awakened has been born! How can there not be a single article about it?"
Park Kyung-min fumed, staring intently at his smartphone.
Do-jae watched him and let out a deep sigh.
"I told you. I asked them to keep the reporters away."
"Still, it's been three or four hours. The news must have spread like wildfire by now."
"I asked them to keep it under wraps as much as possible."
Normally, the official appearance of an S-rank would be a historic event, making headlines in every media outlet.
And it wasn’t just a national affair; it was an event that would capture the world's attention.
It was such a big deal that even the president would hold a press conference to offer congratulations.
Yet, Do-jae had left the Seoul Regional Hunter Administration more quietly than anyone.
There was a chance he could have been spotted by the swarming reporters, but with the help of the Head of the Hunter Administration, he'd managed to slip out to the parking garage easily.
This was thanks to the Head of the Hunter Administration putting on a show, personally congratulating an A-rank Awakened named Im Seo-jun in front of the press.
"That's right. If you hadn't done that, do you think we could've come to Busan this peacefully? There probably would've been dozens of cars following us."
Young-jin said as he unloaded luggage from his car.
Just as he said, Do-jae had requested that the Hunter Administration not only keep things quiet internally but also delay any press releases as long as possible.
Otherwise, he might have ruined the guild members' trip.
It was a long-awaited vacation, after all. How exhausting would it be to have reporters following them everywhere they went?
"And Sir! I didn't say anything in the car, but from now until we head back, reading is forbidden!"
Having unloaded all the luggage, Young-jin approached Do-jae and growled.
While the other guild members came in the guild van, Do-jae had ridden separately in Young-jin's car, reading a book he had brought from the Magic Kingdom during the drive.
Since he'd been investing all his points from leveling up into his mental stats, his reading speed and comprehension had improved.
Do-jae, who had finished a book in no time, felt grateful to Young-jin for having tactfully kept quiet the whole drive.
"Alright. We made a promise."
"Hehehe. We're going to have fun today!"
The promise he had made with Young-jin before they left.
During the trip, he would just relax and have fun.
After seeing Do-jae almost cut off Choi Dong-wook's legs last time, Young-jin had pondered it the next day and then planned this trip.
"Vice Master Young-jin! If we were just coming to the mountains, did we really need to come all the way to Busan? And we should've just taken a plane. The driver must be exhausted."
Ji-yoon, having moved all the luggage, approached Young-jin while stretching her stiff body.
She spoke in an annoyed tone, but inwardly, she was excited.
Although she was sick of the sight of mountains from her time in Cheorwon, it was her first time in Busan, and more importantly, the lodge was beautiful.
"Sorry… our budget… we have to save every penny… and I drove too…."
Young-jin replied sullenly.
Lately, the guild had been growing rapidly, and though their dealings with Choi Woo-seok of Bustling Wholesale and Retail were thriving, their expenses were also significant.
They weren't in the red, but with so much money being invested, they had to save where they could.
"If you say it like that, what does that make me… Besides, I actually love it! There's no ocean, but there's a pool and a walking trail. The atmosphere is amazing…!"
Ji-yoon said with exaggerated gestures.
But her words were true; the lodge's swimming pool was large and clean, not just a simple rectangle but also beautifully designed.
Behind the lodge, a well-paved hiking trail was perfect for enjoying the fresh air.
"Hmph. It's not easy to find a lodge this nice anywhere in the country."
"But this place looks pretty expensive. If the budget was tight, shouldn't you have looked for somewhere cheaper?"
"It's fine. Someone I know runs it, so I was able to rent it for super cheap."
"You don't mean…?"
"Ji-yoon! What do you take me for? I'm a man who wants for nothing!"
"Right. You're the son of a corporate chairman, aren't you?"
*Tap. Tap. Tap.*
As Young-jin and Ji-yoon were talking, a white-haired man emerged from the lodge, leaning on a cane.
"Sir! I'm here!"
Young-jin beamed at the sight of the man and ran toward him.
The two embraced tightly.
"Welcome, Young Master."
"Sir, I've missed you."
The man who called Young-jin "Young Master."
He was Hwang Jang-gyu, the butler who had looked after Young-jin in his childhood.
"You've grown so dignified since I last saw you."
"Oh, come on. I'm just glad to see you looking so healthy, sir."
"Thanks to the Chairman, I'm doing well. Are these your friends, Young Master?"
"Yes! They're my guild family."
Starting with Jeong Hoon-hyeon, Young-jin introduced the guild members one by one to Hwang Jang-gyu.
Everyone took a liking to Hwang Jang-gyu, with his deep voice and courteous manners.
And finally, it was Do-jae's turn.
"This is the pillar of our guild, the man I'm indebted to. I mentioned him before, right? And Sir, this is the butler who looked after me when I was young."
"A pleasure to meet you. I'm Lee Do-jae."
"It's a pleasure. I'm Hwang Jang-gyu. I've heard a great deal about you from the Young Master."
Do-jae and Hwang Jang-gyu shook hands.
His hand was thin and wrinkled, but his grip was anything but weak.
*Truly a man befitting a butler in the house of a corporate chairman,* Do-jae thought.
"Sir, are you all better now? Still, seeing you walking around like this is a relief."
"Haha, Young Master. Let's save the stories for later. I should show you to your rooms, shouldn't I? Your friends are waiting."
"Ah, yes! Everyone, let's go inside!"
Following Hwang Jang-gyu, they entered a hallway in the lodge that was nice enough to rival a luxury hotel.
It was impeccably clean, and the subtle aroma and warm, reddish lighting created a cozy, not dim, atmosphere.
The guest rooms were the same.
The understated interior design and calming furniture arrangement were designed to make guests feel at ease during their stay.
It was clearly a lodge that reflected Hwang Jang-gyu's experience.
"Well then, I hope you have a comfortable and restful stay."
After giving them an introduction and some instructions, Hwang Jang-gyu left.
Do-jae followed him and stopped him.
"Mr. Hwang, there's something I'd like to ask you."
***
*Spla-a-ash!*
"Hahaha! Everyone, focus your attack on Vice Master Young-jin!"
*Pew, pew.*
*Spla-a-ash!*
"Ugh! Stop, stop!"
In the swimming pool.
Led by Ji-yoon, the Mint Trio—who must have packed them specially—were shooting water guns at Young-jin.
After unpacking, they had immediately changed into their swimsuits and jumped into the pool.
In dungeons, they were always tense, surrounded by a heavy atmosphere, but seeing them now, they looked no different from any other people in their twenties.
"Master! Sir! Help me!"
Young-jin cried out, dodging the streams of water.
Do-jae watched them from a sunbed, while Jeong Hoon-hyeon paced around the pool, talking to someone on the phone.
"Ugh! Wait, time out! Everyone, come here. No! I'm not trying to splash you, just come here for a second!"
Young-jin gathered the others and began to whisper.
Unfortunately for them, Do-jae heard every word of their conversation.
*‘When I say one, two, three, you all shoot your water guns at him. Then I’ll run over and knock him into the water. Okay, one… two…'*
Do-jae smiled faintly and extended a hand toward the pool.
And just as Young-jin gave the signal, Do-jae cast his spell.
"Three!"
"Wave."
At the same time, Young-jin and his crew turned toward Do-jae.
But a massive wave, conjured by Do-jae's magic, crashed down on them.
"Aaaah!"
"Gurgle..."
"Uuugh...!"
"Sir!"
"Sir!"
Drenched by the wave, they looked like drowned rats as they glared resentfully at Do-jae.
Do-jae gave them a light wave.
*‘I’ll get in a little later.’*
Leaving the guild members to resume their playing.
Do-jae recalled his conversation with Hwang Jang-gyu.
*'Lee Ki-hyuk. Young-jin's oldest brother… at least he's said to be uninterested.'*
Lee Ki-hyuk, the eldest son of Song Ja-kyung.
He was the young CEO of Paulina Life & Style, one of Paulina's subsidiaries.
The executive of a massive corporation—so big that there wasn't a single person in South Korea who hadn't used Paulina Chemicals' shampoo and conditioner—he was fifteen years older than Young-jin.
Because of this, he was relatively indifferent to Young-jin, and his personal competence had earned him Song Ja-kyung's deep trust.
Therefore, as long as Young-jin didn't cause any major trouble, the chance of them clashing was the lowest.
*'The second son, Lee Ki-hoon…'*
The second son, Lee Ki-hoon.
As Young-jin's second older brother, he was the head of the planning and coordination office at Paulina Fashion; though officially a department head, he was the de facto CEO.
Moreover, he had a nasty temper and had often hit and tormented Young-jin since childhood, and was said to resent Young-jin's very existence even as an adult.
Lee Ki-hoon had grown up receiving almost no love from Song Ja-kyung, and he blamed it all on Young-jin. Outwardly, it seemed he hated Young-jin the most.
But in reality, he wasn't the one who made things hardest for Young-jin.
*'The most concerning one is Young-jin's older sister, I suppose.'*
The eldest daughter of the four siblings, Lee Ha-jung.
This was how Hwang Jang-gyu remembered Lee Ha-jung.
*'A cruel girl…'*
Lee Ha-jung was said to have a cunning and cruel personality.
The Lee Ha-jung that Hwang Jang-gyu had observed was the type to pull strings from the shadows without ever revealing herself.
She was a woman who always created a surefire escape route before causing trouble.
Furthermore, on his right shoulder blade, Young-jin had a burn scar from a major fire when he was seven, and Hwang Jang-gyu suspected it might have been Lee Ha-jung's doing.
Because Lee Ha-jung's nanny had died in the fire, and it was later discovered that not only was there a massive insurance policy on her, but her family had also received money from an unknown source.
If that were true, it meant she possessed a cruel nature, one that wouldn't hesitate to set her own house on fire to achieve her goals.
*'All three of them are owners of massive corporations. While your older brother and sister were inheriting the family business, what were you doing, Young-jin?'*
Do-jae gazed at the laughing and chatting Young-jin.
Watching Young-jin play with such innocent eyes, oblivious to the fact that his own growth was putting his life in danger, Do-jae found him both pathetic and pitiful.
"Oh? Sir! Are you finally getting in?"
"Guys! Let's get him!"
As Do-jae got up from the sunbed, Young-jin and the Mint Trio quickly ran over and hoisted him up.
Then, Young-jin grinned slyly and whispered in Do-jae's ear.
"Hehehe. Sir, if you move, the others might get hurt. Just let yourself fall in!"
*Splash!*
In the end, Do-jae fell into the water without resistance.
And as he tried to get up.
*Pew, pew!*
The moment Do-jae emerged from the water, they all opened fire on him.
"You guys...!"
Do-jae smiled brightly and chanted a spell.
"Everyone, move!"
A third of the pool's water rose above Do-jae's head. He threw the mass of water toward Young-jin's group.
"Hieeek!"
Unfortunately, the one it hit was the pacing Jeong Hoon-hyeon.
Completely soaked by the sudden water bomb, Jeong Hoon-hyeon tumbled ungracefully, and the other guild members burst into roaring laughter at the sight.
"My apologies… Hahaha."
Do-jae scratched his head and laughed along with them.