Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: Gungki Finds Its Master
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This guy, this guy.
I hurriedly covered Gungki's mouth and said,
"Hey, that uncle's a bad guy. What are you doing?"
"Nya."
But Gungki kept staring only at Sama Young.
Its red eyes sparkled like rubies.
Ha, this really wasn't happening.
To make matters worse, Sama Young stopped in his tracks at Gungki's little mewl.
"Did you call me?"
"Nya."
"Do you like me?"
"Nyaang."
"You're fun, too."
Sama Young crouched down, stared intently at Gungki, and smiled.
"I thought you were just a cat. You're a familiar, aren't you?"
Grrr, grrr.
Gungki seemed thrilled that Sama Young had recognized its true nature. It narrowed its round eyes happily and purred deeply.
Sama Young's outstretched fingertip touched Gungki's forehead.
In that instant, a speech bubble appeared above Gungki's head.
...I give up. I wash my hands of this.
Even without that speech bubble showing its feelings, anyone could tell.
Gungki had chosen Sama Young as its master.
I didn't know the exact criteria familiars used to pick their masters.
Except that they chose someone with a similar disposition.
"Haa."
I let out a deep sigh before saying to Sama Young,
"Take it with you."
I hated myself for saying it, but what could I do?
Gungki wanted it.
Besides, it couldn't keep surviving on snacks made by Im Cheong-su forever.
Gungki needed a master to share power with it.
"You're serious?"
Sama Young looked at me with eyes just like Gungki's, sparkling brightly.
"It likes you. Take it. But."
I glared straight at Sama Young in warning.
"If you mistreat it, you'll die by my hand. Don't leave it alone, either. It's still a baby, so take proper care of it. Familiars need their master's energy to grow, so take it everywhere you can. It hates noisy places and loves looking outside, so don't forget to set up a spot by the window."
I quickly pulled out some familiar snacks and handed them over with a plea.
"It loves these, so make sure to give them to it."
Try neglecting it, just try.
Even if the world ends like this, I'll send you to the afterlife first.
"You wanna come with me?"
"Nyaang."
Gungki let out a long, joyful cry.
"I'll take it."
Those words finally slipped from Sama Young's mouth.
I let out another huge sigh.
Having to send off the well-raised Gungki to a guy like that.
Meanwhile, Gungki sat obediently, enjoying Sama Young's touch.
"What's its name?"
"We're calling it Gungki for now."
"Gungki. So you're half of the White Tiger."
Sama Young seemed well-versed in the Four Divine Beasts.
"I like it even more now. But we'll change the name."
What was wrong with calling it Gungki?
As the one who named it Na Baek-ho, I felt a twinge of annoyance.
"Hmm."
Sama Young pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Hongju. Sama Hongju it is."
At the same time, Gungki's status window changed.
"It means 'red jewel.' Like it?"
"Nya!"
Gungki answered loudly and hopped up onto Sama Young's shoulder.
"...It suits you."
Looking at them like that, their appearances and vibes matched perfectly, like a match made in heaven.
Above all, Gungki—no, Hongju—didn't look lonely anymore.
'I can't watch any longer.'
I forced my gaze away from Gungki.
I hadn't given up my spot next to it, but I'd grown quite attached over time.
All I could do was hope that Hongju, leaving my arms for its true master, would grow big and strong on a diet of Sama Young's affection.
"Hongju."
"Nyaang."
"Let's go home."
Sama Young deactivated the barrier item with a click and opened the window.
Yeah, get out of here quick.
As if reading my mind, Sama Young, with one foot on the windowsill, turned back and smiled at me.
"See you next time."
I'd have to see him again because of Hongju, but I really didn't want to.
Even with my blatant disregard, Sama Young chuckled like something was hilarious and strolled off into thin air.
"Haa. Starting tomorrow, I need to figure out what to tell everyone."
The Justice Guild members had grown just as attached to Hongju as I had.
Lee Yu-eul had even lunged at it several times saying, 'Let me be its master.'
Tension released, I flopped onto the floor.
Opening my door to find Sama Young sitting there.
I never wanted to go through that again.
"Gotta make money fast."
Most worldly problems could be solved with money.
"Gungki found its master yesterday. That's what everyone should know."
Clink.
At my bombshell, chopsticks dropped onto the table.
Lee Yu-eul had been holding them.
"What... did you say?"
"Gungki left."
Thud!
"No way! What do you mean? It was home safe and sound until yesterday!"
"Lee Yu-eul."
As Lee Yu-eul shot up from her seat and yelled at me, Kang Han called her name to stop her.
"...Sorry. But it's so sudden."
"I get how you feel. I was shocked too."
I soothed her as she slumped back into her chair.
"But Gungki seemed happy about it. Even got a new name: Hongju."
"Hongju..."
I patted the shoulders of Lee Yu-eul as she murmured the new name.
I thought it went over smoothly.
"By the way, was there a visitor at the guild yesterday?"
"...Well, yeah."
I tried to brush off Kang Han's question vaguely, but Seong Yona tilted her head, looking puzzled.
"A visitor? There were no notifications yesterday. No one went out after mining, either. I've set it so I get alerts for anyone passing through the entrance subspace."
Kang Han stared at me silently.
Explain, his gaze said.
I couldn't withstand it and confessed.
"Well... there's more than one way in besides the entrance. Like the window, or whatever."
"Nayeo-ju-ya."
Han Ji-seong, who had been listening quietly, widened his eyes in surprise.
"Gungki—no, Hongju's new master wall-climbed in? And you let him?"
"...No. After the raid ended yesterday, I came back to my room, and he was already there."
"Hongju's new master... trespassed?"
Oh, he was pissed.
I could see Kang Han's thick, straight brows furrowing.
Emotions flashed across his usually impassive face.
Worry for me, then anger.
"If I didn't notice, they must have at least an A-rank Stealth skill. Probably used an item too."
A ghost. It's a ghost.
And inevitably, the name came up.
"Was it Sama Young by any chance?"
"...Yes."
"Sama Young broke into the guild?!"
"That bastard's Hongju's new master?!"
Everyone lost it.
I'd already been shocked enough yesterday, so I calmly munched on fruit and said,
"That's how it is. The real issue is how much of the guild Sama Young snooped around."
Hongju was Hongju, but this was the biggest problem.
"I was in the basement the whole time yesterday. He probably didn't see it."
Seong Yona spoke in a deflated voice, clearly shocked that someone had strolled through the guild unnoticed.
"That's a relief."
"We should call a barrier master today and reinforce the guild defenses."
"I was thinking the same."
I replied to Kang Han, whose face had hardened.
"Since we're doing it, better save up more money and do it right. Mining starts today anyway."
Kang Han pondered my suggestion before nodding reluctantly.
"Sama Young as Hongju's master..."
As Lee Yu-eul murmured in lingering shock, I quietly revised my plans.
'Maybe instead of spending the mining money right away, I should aim bigger.'
Crunch.
The apple tasted especially sweet today.
Back inside the labyrinth dungeon.
Or what used to be the labyrinth dungeon.
It would've been easier with Maeng-i's 'Treasure Hunt' ability, but since Im Cheong-su was busy with new potion research, I brought only the White Tiger for this mining run.
"Even though it's C-rank, the dungeon's size means plenty of stones."
Mana stones piled up neatly in one corner, making fatigue a distant memory.
Plus, we weren't alone this time—Magma Guild was helping, speeding things up.
"But isn't Magma Guild kinda quiet today?"
I nodded at Lee Yu-chan, who had crept up and whispered.
They were usually so rowdy it hurt your ears.
I'd been thinking it was weird how they weren't joking around, just silently working.
And during break time.
Yang Hwa-yeon approached me and Kang Han.
"I'm really sorry about this. Could we borrow some of the mana stone sale money?"
