Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Flames of Ambition
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Thank goodness Sama Young was busy chatting with his subordinates sitting next to him.
Yeah.
The auction was right around the corner, so he had to be occupied.
'Please, let's just pass each other without crossing paths.'
With that thought, I glanced around.
"Seeing the Justice Guild Master here makes it even nicer."
"I see."
"I heard you're teaming up with Taesan..."
Kang Han was talking with Yu Myeong-hwa, and the other guild members were doing the same.
Everyone was caught up greeting hunters from other guilds they knew.
"Gwak Ji-hyeon, what brings you here?"
"You guys too. Our guild master let us come observe..."
Even the twins were chatting amiably with Gwak Ji-hyeon, despite their spat last time.
I'd been a bit worried, but it seemed their relationship had improved since the apology.
"Hmm."
I stood there awkwardly for a moment.
I didn't really have anyone to greet—aside from my guildmates, Yu Myeong-hwa, Jeong Je-hwa, and Geum Eun-dong, there weren't many familiar faces.
"Guess I'll hit the bathroom."
Once the auction started, I wouldn't be able to get up for a while.
I checked that Kang Han was still talking with Yu Myeong-hwa, then quietly slipped out of the auction hall.
Fortunately, the restroom wasn't far.
"As expected from the Awakener Association. Even the bathrooms are top-notch."
I muttered to myself while using facilities that put most luxury department stores to shame.
The temperature was perfectly warm, cozy enough to curl up and nap, mindful of the chilly rainy weather outside.
"Please let today pass without any issues."
Lotto God, if you exist.
I washed my hands and prayed while looking in the mirror.
"What a hassle."
There had to be paper towels hidden somewhere for appearances' sake.
But finding them was too much trouble, so I just shook my hands dry and headed out.
"Hello."
A short greeting came with a handkerchief extended toward me.
As I followed the hand up to its owner, chills ran down my spine.
"...Not so friendly, Guild Master Sama."
It was Sama Young, smiling at me.
I'd seen him busy just moments ago!
Yet here he was, waiting outside the restroom.
I mentally scolded myself for being careless when Sama Young spoke.
"Oh dear. Don't you need a handkerchief?"
He held it out again.
He'd just been talking with Woo Jun-kyeong, the poison expert.
Who knew what that guy might've done to it?
"No need."
I demonstratively wiped my hands on my clothes and replied.
Sama Young chuckled at me, then pocketed the handkerchief.
"Nice to see you again, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
"I see. Well, I'll be going then."
Keep it short and simple, just like his motto.
I turned to head back into the auction hall.
But even that was blocked.
Sama Young had stepped in front of me.
Now the distance between us was barely two steps.
Close enough for him to reach out from his pocket and do whatever he wanted.
Yet he just stood there and said,
"I want to rip that hair out."
Rip what?
I was about to snap back when he beat me to it.
He extended the hand that had held the handkerchief and flicked a loose strand of my hair with his fingertip.
And then he threw a straight ball.
"What's your secret?"
That I'm the possessor in this novel and you're just a mid-boss who dies?
I was tempted to spoil his pathetic future and see his stunned face, but I responded calmly.
"There's no secret to why Justice Guild is thriving."
"No, not that."
As Sama Young shook his head slightly, his ink-black hair swayed with it.
"Strange things keep happening around you, Nayeo-ju-ssi. Like re-awakening, for instance."
His red eyes flickered like flames.
And then a familiar warning popped up before my eyes.
'This bastard.'
That jerk tried to charm me again.
And his follow-up was,
"Ah, it doesn't work after all."
"You're really pissing me off."
I smacked his hand away and said.
"Hey."
He was probably hitting his A-rank limit right now.
So I decided to poke at it.
"Want to re-awaken?"
Instead of answering, his eyes narrowed menacingly.
"People reap what they sow. If you want to re-awaken that badly, clean up your act."
"Ha."
Sama Young let out a hollow laugh, exasperated.
Then he reached out with the hand I'd smacked away.
Same motion as before, but instinct told me.
This was different.
'Oh, this is dangerous.'
That's when it happened.
A scarred, rough hand shot out and grabbed Sama Young's pale, slender one.
"Nayeo-ju-ssi, are you okay?"
It was Kang Han.
"I'm fine."
I said that, but Nayeo-ju's face was tense.
Kang Han roughly flung away the hand he'd gripped tightly and placed his on her shoulder.
Gentle beyond compare to moments ago.
"Go inside. The auction's about to start."
"Come with me."
Her gaze flicked toward Sama Young.
Kang Han didn't like that.
The anxiety clouding her usually sparkling eyes.
"I'm good."
He shook his head firmly but softly.
Unable to argue, she glanced back once more and entered the auction hall.
Once the door clicked shut, Kang Han's expression turned icy.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Sama Young was examining the hand Kang Han had grabbed.
"At least Justice Guild has something worthwhile."
His red eyes turned toward the auction hall door Nayeo-ju had entered.
A sticky, greedy gaze.
Kang Han blocked it.
"Sama Young."
Their eyes met at Kang Han's call.
A fierce standoff that could erupt any second.
"That greed of yours will consume you one day."
Kang Han warned with dark green eyes.
"Nayeo-ju-ssi and Justice Guild aren't for the likes of you."
"The likes of me?"
Sama Young smirked.
Gradually, the amusement faded from his crinkled eyes.
"Ah, this isn't fun."
He muttered, tilting his head.
At the same time, a system window visible only to him appeared.
Justice Guild had always been the target of his grandfather's endless greed.
But Sama Young had to admit it now.
That same greed for Justice Guild, inherited through blood, had taken root in him too.
"You should be careful, Kang Han."
Sama Young said, curling one lip.
"Or you might burn up and turn to ash."
"..."
Kang Han didn't reply immediately.
Not because Sama Young's aura intimidated him.
Quite the opposite.
Words that once felt so threatening no longer carried the same weight.
All he could think of were his Justice Guild comrades and Nayeo-ju's smiling face.
Kang Han unconsciously mirrored her smile as he replied.
"Whatever."
"You're back?"
I eyed Kang Han as he sat beside me.
Fortunately, no burns or dishevelment.
Kang Han asked, looking at me.
"Were you worried?"
His voice carried a hint of amusement.
"Of course I was. Wouldn't you be?"
"You worry too much, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
I somewhat agreed with his casual remark.
If he fought seriously, Kang Han wouldn't lose unilaterally to Sama Young.
But Sama Young was an unpredictable monster with who-knows-what inside him.
"As long as nothing happened."
"We just do our part."
Kang Han said calmly.
Like a sturdy tree unmoved by the wind.
The protagonist of this world was growing.
Which meant I was on the right path.
The dimming lights hid the faint goosebumps on my skin.
I turned to the large screen ahead, pretending nonchalance, and spoke.
"You're right. In that sense..."
But I couldn't continue.
Because of the auction list on the screen.
"No underwater dungeon?"
Lee Yu-eul said softly, flustered.
The rest of us, including me, were just as shaken, though we didn't voice it.
Our target dungeon wasn't on the list.
This was unexpected.
Of the dungeons suited for us, only the flame one Gwak Ho-young wanted remained.
"Damn."
Beyond it being tough to clear, we had another reason to avoid the flame dungeon.
"Nayeo-ju-ya..."
Jang Su-ho, to my left, looked pale even in the dim light.
The dungeon where he'd once lost control to boiling rage and heat.
It was a flame-type dungeon.
Only one person could eliminate all other options and force Justice Guild into the flame dungeon willingly.
"Sama Young, you're good."