Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Rest After the Storm
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Last time at the Gangnam Station guerrilla gate, we'd wrapped up the raid and headed straight home.
This time was completely different.
The dungeon boss monster was A-rank, and sea-and-land monsters that could freely traverse ocean and land weren't exactly common. So the Association wanted to ask us a bunch of questions and record everything.
Even after finishing my chat with Lee Yu-chan and dozing off for a bit before waking up, nothing had changed inside the field tent.
"Yawn... slept well."
People really do need sleep.
Potions and skills are great, but there's something they just can't fully restore.
I stretched my arms wide and got to my feet.
I was bored out of my mind.
Everyone else was busy working, and it felt awkward just lying there like a bump on a log.
But just as I was about to get out of bed, someone grabbed my shoulder.
"No, you don't."
It was Lee Yu-eul.
She must've showered somewhere in the meantime—fresh and smooth, cute as a little pebble.
"What? Why not?"
"While you were sleeping, the doctor checked you out. Said you've lost a lot of blood and your body's depleted. Absolute bed rest. And eat a ton."
"Come on, one bottle of Clear Water Potion fixes that right up."
"Natural healing is best, she said. Absolute bed rest!"
With that, she flipped me over like a hotteok pancake and tucked me back into bed.
"Hey, you. Even if it's absolute rest, that just means get some solid sleep. I was gonna stretch my legs for a bit, that's all."
"Still no. What if you collapse?"
"Ugh, seriously."
That was when Lee Yu-eul and I were bickering.
"Nayeo-ju-ssi."
"Ah, Guild Master. Talk some sense into her. She's telling me to stay glued to this bed..."
"Yes, do that."
...You, huh?
The only one who'd put Lee Yu-eul up to this was Kang Han.
"No, I'm fine, really."
"You're not. Your face is still pale."
My complexion was pale?
Me, Nayeo-ju, healthy as a corpse otherwise?
I looked up at them skeptically.
They both looked pretty serious.
This was awkward.
No mirror around to check my face.
Still, lying here like this made me antsy.
"Then I'll just walk around gently."
"...Is lying there that hard? You spend all day in bed at the guild anyway."
Kang Han hit the nail on the head.
"No, but everyone's so busy..."
I kept grumbling, so Kang Han let out a small sigh before speaking.
"Fine, compromise. You don't go outside the tent."
"Under conditions?"
"When we get back to Seoul, you let Director Seo Yu-baek at the Awakener Hospital examine you..."
"I'll just lie here then? This bed's comfy."
I pulled the blanket over me and said it quick.
Of course, I shot Kang Han a glare while I was at it.
You jerk.
He knows I hate getting chewed out by the director.
"I've been careless."
As I settled back under the covers obediently, Kang Han rubbed his forehead and muttered to himself.
"You're not as sturdy as the other guild members. I'll be more careful from now on..."
"Don't. Why make a big deal out of nothing?"
I cut him off fast.
"You pulled Lee Yu-chan off the raid team to guard me this time too. That's plenty. Honestly, even that's pushing it for a small guild like ours. Every raider's a huge asset."
Now that Lee Yu-chan had reawakened as A-rank, it'd be even more true going forward.
I stared up at Kang Han without blinking, my resolve clear: I wouldn't back down.
"...We'll talk about this later."
Kang Han retreated a step.
"Then I'll catch some more Z's like you two want, so go handle your stuff."
"Unni, still..."
"Hoo, tsk."
Lee Yu-eul looked like a kicked puppy as she trailed after Kang Han into the crowd of busy people.
I watched their backs, then sank my head into the pillow and stared at the ceiling.
Lying here like this, the gate ordeal felt like a savage dream.
I pictured Lee Yu-chan's face, full of self-recrimination even after squeezing out every last bit of strength to protect me and the three civilians, then reawakening.
I totally got where he was coming from.
I'd been pissed at Sama Young and the Association head for blocking our path, so I'd come on this MT trip and snatched the gate on purpose.
But if one of my guildmates had gotten seriously hurt, I'd have regretted it big time.
It hit me anew: every dungeon run is a gamble with your life.
'Thank goodness everyone's safe.'
I meant it from the bottom of my heart.
Then suddenly, system windows popped up densely in front of me, accompanied by a chime.
"Huh?"
I hadn't even overused my abilities like last time, and it levels up?
I poked around the sudden system window.
"Synchronization rate."
That seemed key.
Still at Beginner level was a bummer, but it made me feel pretty good anyway.
If someone got hurt, I could heal them even more effectively now.
We were back at the pension.
"Uwaaah, I'm starving!"
Jang Su-ho wailed as he climbed out of the van.
Everyone else seemed the same, chiming in one by one with what they craved.
"I want meat, meat."
"Doenjang jjigae for me."
"We ate all the meat we bought yesterday, I think. Should I run to the store now?"
That was when Han Ji-seong spoke up.
"Aigoo, you're all back safe and sound!"
It was the pension owner uncle who'd welcomed us so warmly yesterday.
"You worked hard! Great job!"
He came half-running from the main house, his face split in a huge grin.
And behind him came an auntie we hadn't met yesterday, rolling out in a wheelchair.
"We survived thanks to you. Truly grateful."
"No need. Don't mention it."
The uncle shook his head at Kang Han's matter-of-fact reply.
"You could've said no. The news said even Taesan Guild failed against that A-rank guerrilla gate. Super dangerous."
"Just doing what needed doing."
Kang Han wasn't saving face.
That was genuine.
Awakened with power protecting powerless civilians.
That was Kang Han's idea of an 'obvious duty.'
The uncle looked at him proudly, like a grown son, then grabbed his hand tight.
"We thought about evacuating, but we couldn't leave home..."
His gaze drifted to his ailing wife, and to the mother dog and puppies that had appeared out of nowhere.
The meaning came through loud and clear without words.
We all felt it.
As the air grew quiet, the uncle said once more,
"Really, thank you. So much."
The owner uncle tried to refund our lodging fee.
A token of gratitude.
But we refused flat-out, so he said he'd cook us a feast instead and headed back to the main house.
And just like that, an unexpected afterparty kicked off.
The guild members were thrilled.
Pork belly, hanwoo beef, even dakbokkeumtang.
Three kinds of meat and bubbling doenjang jjigae on a perfect table—gulping sounds echoed nonstop.
"Eat up, everyone."
"Thanks for the meal!"
I hadn't eaten since breakfast, so my stomach was screaming. I polished off two bowls of rice.
"This is so good, Auntie! The best!"
"Aigoo, such a sweet talker. Another bowl?"
"Yes!"
Lee Yu-eul beamed, soaking up the auntie's affection, while the other guild members wolfed down their food without a word.
"We got some beer left from yesterday. Want me to grab it?"
"Ooh, yes!"
I cheered him on, and Jang Su-ho dashed inside, emerging with an armload of cans at top speed.
Pssht—
Cracking open a refreshingly ice-cold can made my chest flutter.
"Good work, Su-ho."
"You too, Yeo-ju."
We clinked cans lightly and were about to take a sip when...
Bzzz— bzzz—
My phone on the table vibrated.
The screen showed 'Gu A-ri,' her guild alias.
A sudden call from the guild.
Everyone froze like someone hit pause.
"Yeah, A-ri?"
[ "Unni, can you come to the guild right now by any chance?" ]
"What's up? Something wrong?"
[ "I know the raid went fine, but... the familiars... the kids are acting weird." ]