Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: The Maestro's Visit
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"Do you know him?"
Kang Han rose from his seat, his face stiffening at the sight of the unfamiliar visitor, and asked me.
"Yeah, he's the president of the workshop I always commission items from. But why would he come here?!"
The guy who stays holed up in his own building, Maestro Tower in Jamsil, and never comes out!
I was so shocked that seeing Jeong Je-hwa in the Justice Guild building felt like looking at a bizarre photoshop job.
For now, I set Baekho down next to my bow and headed out of the training grounds to greet the guest.
But Kang Han stuck right by my side.
"Just in case, I'll come with you."
"I told you, I know him."
"I don't."
In short, he didn't trust Jeong Je-hwa and was coming along anyway.
No one could stop Kang Han when he had that look on his face.
I'd planned to introduce them anyway, so I led him to the guild entrance.
I flung the door wide open and greeted him.
"President! What brings you all the way here!"
"Nayeo-ju-ssi."
Jeong Je-hwa, standing calmly in the middle of the space created by Seong Yona with his hands clasped behind his back, strode toward me the moment he spotted me.
I felt Kang Han tense up beside me, so I quietly reached out and tapped his leg.
It'll be fine.
By then, Jeong Je-hwa had fully entered the Justice Guild and grabbed both my shoulders.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
I couldn't make sense of his sudden apology.
Was he sorry for showing up so early in the morning?
"Because of the necklace I gave you, you got hurt."
"No, I survived thanks to the necklace you gave me!"
He wasn't someone to apologize—he deserved a deep bow from me!
"Still, it was my mistake. I should have accounted for the impact when it deflects physical attacks. I unconsciously based it on my own body. I'm sorry."
It had hurt a ton when I got flung back and slammed into the ground.
...Did that mean Jeong Je-hwa could take that kind of impact without budging?
But looking at his massively muscular frame—like a door— it made perfect sense.
"Why are you apologizing to someone who's alive because of you! Keep this up, and I'll give you a proper bow right here!"
A faint smile finally crept onto Jeong Je-hwa's face at my words.
But it didn't last long.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kang Han, guild master of Justice Guild."
Kang Han approached and extended his hand.
"...Jeong Je-hwa."
Watching the two men—who'd both be offended to come in second in a bulk contest—stand side by side and shake hands felt suffocating.
"I've heard you're the one who always crafts such great items for us. The necklace this time was the same. Thank you."
"Why are you thanking me, Guild Master Kang Han?"
Hmm?
There was a sharp edge to Jeong Je-hwa's tone.
"It wasn't for Justice Guild. It was for Nayeo-ju-ssi."
It was like he was drawing a line in the sand right there on the ground.
But Kang Han wasn't one to back down.
"Is that so? Then I owe you even more thanks. Nayeo-ju-ssi is a member of Justice Guild, after all."
The conversation was taking a weird turn.
Their handshake seemed to be getting tighter by the second.
Before things could get any uglier, I slipped naturally between the two men, breaking their grip, and said,
"Don't do this at the door. Since we have a guest, let's head to the office..."
"Nayeo-ju-ssi, have you ever thought about switching guilds?"
Suddenly?
And right in front of the guild master?
"Why would I switch guilds?"
"You deserve better treatment."
"Jeong Je-hwa."
Kang Han's expression turned icy cold as he called out to him in warning.
But Jeong Je-hwa ignored it and pressed on.
"Actually, I run a guild myself. You've probably heard of..."
I threw every ounce of strength I had into clamping his mouth shut.
"L-Let's not do this here—come to my room!"
What kind of workouts does a crafter even do to be this solid and heavy!
No time for the elevator—I headed for the stairs.
By the time I dragged what felt like a boulder up them, gasping for breath up to my throat, we reached my room.
"Huff... huff... Oh man, this healer's dying."
I shut the door and collapsed flat on the floor, leaving Jeong Je-hwa where he stood.
As I sprawled there fighting for air, he stood with his hands behind his back, scanning the room.
Then he blurted out,
"This is your room, Nayeo-ju-ssi? It's too small."
Yeah, yeah.
It must look shabby to the owner of Maestro Tower.
Still, it had an attached bathroom and wasn't a bad place to live, or so I'd thought.
Apparently not to Jeong Je-hwa's eyes.
"Seriously thinking about switching guilds, Nayeo-ju-ssi?"
"Nah, no thanks."
I waved one hand dismissively while lying down.
I'd sunk my entire fortune into this place—where else would I go?
Jeong Je-hwa let out a small sigh and pulled over the desk chair to sit.
The chair creaked faintly under his bulk—twice my size—and he frowned, clearly displeased.
"So, President, why'd you come here all of a sudden?"
My breathing steadied, and I sat up to ask.
"I couldn't just wait around for you, Nayeo-ju-ssi. I needed to check if your injuries had fully healed."
"Ah, I'm good. Doesn't hurt at all now. It wasn't even that bad to begin with. I'm alive and kicking thanks to the necklace you gave me."
I cut him off before he could apologize again.
"Could I see the necklace for a moment?"
"Oh, sure."
The black gem was shattered, and it no longer had any item effects, but I was still wearing it around my neck. I took it off and handed it over.
Honestly, I was half-hoping he'd fix it up for reuse.
But then—
Crack.
"Why'd you break it! Why break it like that!"
He'd taken it like he just wanted a quick look!
Jeong Je-hwa crushed it in his fist without a second thought.
I jumped up in shock and rushed over, but it was already powder.
"Even if you made it, that's no reason to just smash it! What am I supposed to do now!"
Even if it had no effects left!
It was still an S-rank item!
"Don't worry. I won't leave your neck bare, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
"What do you..."
Before I could recover from the shock of the powdered necklace, a new one was draped around my neck.
"Like the new necklace?"
I nodded dumbly at the item info window, a beat late.
"Yeah... the design's similar to the old one. But are you sure you can just give me another?"
Wasn't he going to empty out the master's treasure vault at this rate?
Jeong Je-hwa tilted his head at my question.
"Who else would use the items I make if not you, Nayeo-ju-ssi?"
"Well, you could sell them..."
There had to be at least a few hundred orders piled up for master items!
"I have plenty of money already."
It sounded suspicious coming from the workshop president holed up in the basement corner of Maestro Tower, but fitting from the owner of Maestro Guild.
I couldn't exactly correct him.
I fiddled dazedly with the necklace and said thanks.
"This one can block five attacks but won't reflect them. Reflecting the impact could hurt you again, like last time."
"That's... a relief."
A few days after the dungeon clear, I was still getting mocked online as the 'last-hit healer.' This was truly a godsend.
Goalies could score now and then if they were on form— what was so funny about that?
Hmph.
"And I finished the shoes, so I brought them too."
"...President, you do sleep sometimes, right?"
"I sleep plenty. Sit here for a sec."
He chuckled softly and sat me in the chair he'd been using.
Then, like last time, he took off my sneakers and slipped on the new ones.
Even after twice, the VIP treatment felt surreal.
"I made a certificate of authenticity too. Figured you'd prefer this."
"I feel bad just taking all this... Movement speed up to five times?!"
How much would someone have to pay for something like this?
Even without the master label, it'd be an astronomical sum.
"A healer's virtue is quick reflexes."
Jeong Je-hwa stated firmly.
True, but...
I cautiously stood and gave a light hop.
"Whoa?!"
I'd only jumped a little in place, but I shot up so high my hair nearly brushed the ceiling.
"Be careful."
Luckily, Jeong Je-hwa caught me in time, sparing me a embarrassing tumble.
"...I'm not exactly light."
He chuckled at my mutter and sat me back down.
"President, you're not even charging me for labor or materials anymore. Keeps making me feel guilty just taking stuff."
Me, Nayeo-ju.
I love money, but I'm not shameless.
But he tied my laces securely and said casually,
"You'll get used to it if you keep receiving."
"Hmm."
"And the last gift needs a bit more time."
"There's more?!"
S-rank necklace and S-rank sneakers—what else could he give?!
"If it were just for you, it wouldn't have taken long. But..."
Jeong Je-hwa frowned slightly, looking a touch displeased, and continued.
"It seems like you and Justice Guild come as a package."