Love Call
Even though a fox is a dog, a crazy dog might suit me well enough.
But I can't even open my mouth in front of her.
'No matter how many times I think about it, it's such a strange connection.'
I have connections with someone as grand as Miho.
It is an excessive connection for someone like me, who was merely a low-level employee at another guild.
But why me?
Why did Miho specifically pick me out?
I can't figure out her intentions in approaching me.
"Didn't you eat dinner?"
"Yes, not yet."
"Let's go eat something delicious. I'll pay, so don't worry and come along."
Miho led the way.
The destination was the best 5-star hotel in Korea.
It was located right near the meeting place.
Just looking at the entrance, it was luxurious to the extreme.
It was a bourgeois accommodation facility. A place that would scare off a small citizen like me with the price.
"Guild Master!? W-where is this······!"
"Why is the destination a hotel?"
"I reserved a restaurant at this hotel. The view is amazing, and it's a Michelin-starred restaurant, so the food is good too. Come on in."
"Wait a minute! No matter how you look at it, it looks extremely expensive······."
"Aigoo~ Don't be like that and come in. I'll pay."
Pushed into the hotel by Miho, Siha followed her restlessly.
This treatment was overflowing with respect. It felt like this was really the case.
No, the top hunter in the industry can afford to spend.
But the other party is me. Just me.
'I haven't been to a hotel like this as a date course······.'
Originally, I hadn't even booked a hotel.
All because of my naivety. I'm such a fool.
A private room called the elevator, just the two of us.
Siha fixed her gaze on the floor indicator.
Hoping to arrive at the top-floor restaurant soon.
"Siha, aren't you too tense?"
Miho giggled teasingly.
That appearance was like a fox hiding nine tails.
Siha was the one being teased by Miho's face.
It was quite different from dealing with Se-hyeon.
The S-rank hunter point was the same, but the compatibility difference was extreme.
"If you bring me to a place like this, I have no choice but to be tense. You made me like this, Guild Master."
"Aha ha- The expression is meaningful. Is it flirtatious?"
"It's a misunderstanding. It's not some strange remark."
Siha drew a firm line.
Had to maintain a healthy atmosphere.
"Don't worry. Just think of it as getting a free meal."
"Yes, I'll try."
"Well, I'm preparing a seat to make Siha my person. As far as I'm concerned, I'll do my best."
'...Ugh.'
Got burdened then let go — a cheap remark.
Miho giggled at Siha's reaction.
"Moreover, Siha is now single. There's no need to watch the atmosphere."
The expression was ambiguous.
Was it meaning that after being expelled from Black Wolf Guild, she's single?
Or after the breakup, she's single?
"Guild Master, what you said just now······."
Eventually, the elevator arrived at the designated floor.
"Huh?"
"No. ······Nothing."
Siha missed the timing to ask and got off the elevator.
Upon entering the restaurant, there was no time to talk.
'Wow······. It's making me uncomfortable.'
The feeling of a young lady who had never attended a tea party before.
Subtly tickling the ears with classical music.
Obviously high-end tableware and accessories.
Sitting at the reserved seat, Siha lowered her gaze.
Couldn't face Miho since earlier.
'Everyone else here is couples, right? This is definitely a date. ······Ugh, ugh.'
How did it come to this.
Feeling like observing a pressure interview. The atmosphere was painful.
"Hey, Siha?"
"Y-yes!?"
"What kind of wine do you want to order?"
"······Huh?"
Wine, meaning wine?
Siha, stunned, hurriedly scanned the menu.
'Let me see, the wine list······ 2014 Don Forte? What? No, why is it all in English! Why not in Korean! What about French!?'
The feeling of an elementary school student struggling with foreign news.
Not to mention, I don't know anything about wine.
"Ah, um······. I'll have the same as the Guild Master."
After agonizing, she casually passed it to Miho.
Difficult. Couldn't read Miho's mind.
'Why is she treating me so well.'
If I switch to Nine Tails Guild, Miho would be the highest rank.
Siha, a mere employee, has a sky and earth difference in status.
'In Black Wolf Guild, I was only treated like a slave and couldn't adapt.'
A development read in light novels.
A pitiful slave meeting a new master and thriving.
Giving body and mind to the master.
No, applying that situation to me, what?
Siha shook her head to clear her mind.
"Siha, shall we toast?"
Miho poured wine into Siha's glass.
Siha instinctively grabbed the wine glass.
'What to do. I heard there's etiquette for drinking wine. I know nothing.'
The feeling of a criminal receiving a death sentence.
Didn't know how to savor it, but had to drink anyway.
"Well, to Siha's bright future. Cheers."
"T-thank you······."
Clink. The glasses lightly touched.
Recalling the dinner etiquette, the first glass must be a shot.
Siha downed the wine in her glass.
"K-kha······!?"
The throat that swallowed the wine burned.
Not grape juice. The alcohol content was higher than thought.
"Aha ha, it's better to sip wine slowly."
"Y-yes."
Her face flushed. Ah, embarrassing.
With a sense of shame, she forced herself to drink.
"Then, I'll get to the main point with Siha."
Around the time the atmosphere had softened,
Miho opened her mouth with a serious face.
"I hope Siha joins our guild."
Finally came.
Siha listened to Miho's words with tension.
Time travel. End the story as soon as possible.
'I drank too much earlier. The alcohol is making my head······.'
Due to the habit of drinking as given.
Even after becoming a woman, the tolerance decreased, but still stupid.
"What kind of work will I be assigned in the Nine Tails Guild?"
"At Black Wolf, you were in charge of hunter management, right?"
"······That's right."
Judging the hunter's ability and deploying them to appropriate dungeons to achieve dungeon extermination results.
That was the role of the Hunter Manager.
Talk is cheap, but in reality it's just odd jobs.
"What I officially want to assign to Siha at Nine Tails is Dungeon Analyst."
"Huh? But I don't have experience in that area······."
"I saw Siha's abilities in the joint extermination team. I especially highly evaluate Siha's brilliant judgment."
Unexpected proposal.
Dungeon Analyst is a more intellectual job than manager.
Expert who predicts lurking dangers in dungeons and establishes raid plans accordingly.
Dungeon analysis is a job area close to being a layman.
At the time of dispatch, it was just forcing herself to take on the work.
If working overtime every morning like now, the result is one of two.
Either complete the work or end one's life.
Siha had survived the swamp of overwork.
The help of Miho, who didn't spare advice, was great.
"Of course, I'm not thinking of immediately assigning Siha as Dungeon Analyst. I plan to give her about a year of on-the-job training."
"N······!?"
"Ah, if training is insufficient, it can be extended up to a maximum of 2.5 years. Of course, salary during the training period is fully guaranteed."
Radical conditions.
Each time hearing, mouth agape in surprise.
Now, she would lick the boss's feet.
Even a dog of Nine Tails Guild.
"Guild Master, I have a question."
"Oh? Is there something bothering you?"
"No! It's not that-!"
Rather the opposite. Too good, so suspicious.
Not conditions that someone like me should get.
"Then, what is bothering you?"
"Why me?"
Asked Miho.
Why is she giving goodwill to me.
Siha wasn't a hero who saved the country in her previous life.
Perhaps she was a vicious traitor.
Betrayed by the person she trusted,
Expelled from the guild she devoted herself to,
And now gender changed. Full of despair.
"Why Siha?"
Miho, hearing the question, giggled.
Her expression hiding some scheme.
"Um. Why is that. Why am I treating Siha so well?"
"Guild Master······."
The question came back like a boomerang.
Siha appealed in a complaining voice to Miho.
"Ah, by the way, do you know about that?"
Sudden topic change.
"Black Wolf Guild, right? Since expelling Siha, the situation has gone to hell."
The state of Black Wolf conveyed by Miho was pitiful.
The S-rank assessment that had been brewing for a long time couldn't even step on the threshold.
A-rank hunters couldn't even submit a list.
This time, didn't make it to the Major Guild ranks.
Internal morale was shaken.
Promising talents with complaints joined other guilds.
Other hunters openly posted unhappy faces.
Moreover, results were greatly staggering.
Due to consecutive extermination failures, received warnings from the Hunter Association.
The sturdy mid-tier guild Black Wolf was slowly crumbling.
"To put it in detail, there's no end to it. Black Wolf is in total crisis. Since Siha left."
The call from Black Wolf was probably for that reason.
She was glad she didn't answer the phone then.
They only called when urgent. Now, not her problem.