Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Overcoming Dungeon Fears
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After training ended, Seong Yona was bursting with excitement.
"Unnie, how did you even come up with that idea?"
"I just thought since it's a space compression skill, why not use it to shorten distances instead of only pulling them apart."
"Why didn't I think of that all this time?"
"Because you haven't had to go into dungeons."
"Ah."
Oh no.
The excitement faded from Seong Yona's face at the mere mention of "dungeon."
She had already been on high alert when she entered that gate, and people had died there.
She'd barely escaped and spent the next two years living in hiding under the false accusation of murder.
It was more than enough reason to develop a phobia of dungeons themselves.
"Right... dungeons. We have to go in..."
Worry clouded her small face.
But I didn't comfort her with soothing words.
"Your attacks synergize so well with Yu-chan's. I'm looking forward to it."
"Me too. I was shocked."
"It didn't even take long to take down that A-rank Relicia hatchling, right?"
"Yeah."
"So let's go into the next dungeon together. With all the Justice Guild members."
"T-Together."
Only then did relief soften Seong Yona's tense expression.
"You trust the Justice Guild, right?"
"...Yeah, I do."
Seong Yona's gaze turned to the guild members training individually.
Kang Han and Jang Su-ho battling simulated monsters.
Lee Yu-eul and Lee Yu-chan locked in fierce sparring, overseen by Yoo Jin-rok.
And Han Ji-seong and Im Cheong-su diligently researching in their own spaces.
As she watched them carefully, the light in Seong Yona's eyes gradually settled into calm.
"Yona, want to keep training?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah!"
"Good luck then."
I gave her shoulder a final pat and left the training grounds.
Today, my steps up the stairs felt lighter than usual.
Overcoming her fear of dungeons and maintaining trust in her guildmates—
Those were things only Seong Yona could accomplish for herself.
"You come here way too often these days."
Im Cheong-su chuckled as I looked up at the National Awakener Hospital.
"Who said I'm sick?"
"No, I wasn't sick. I was fine."
"Liar. Guild Leader hyung told me you were puking blood."
"You're late for your appointment. Hurry up and go."
I jabbed his back with my finger as I said it.
"But do you really have to hire an assistant?"
This was about the suggestion I'd made in the taxi on the way to the hospital.
Whether it was the concentration potion or the wound treatment potion we were researching in collaboration with Seo Yu-baek—
It might be too much for Im Cheong-su to handle alone, so how about recruiting someone to help?
"Why? It'd be nice and convenient to have someone to work with."
"I'd have to teach them how to handle herbs from scratch. It's easier doing it solo."
"You'll never grow if you keep that up."
"You always nag me about my height! I'm still taller than you, noona!"
"That's why it's a shame. Such a waste. Imagine how much merch would sell if you got even taller with that face."
"Money ghost."
As we bantered, we arrived at the director's office where Seo Yu-baek was waiting.
"You look much better today, ma'am."
"Come on in, Nayeo-ju-ssi. Great to see you too, Hunter Im Cheong-su. I'm Director Seo Yu-baek."
"Hello."
Im Cheong-su, who was shy around strangers, had turned into a quiet teen and just bowed his head briefly.
"I've heard about you from Nayeo-ju-ssi, but it's still astonishing that someone so young developed the wound healing potion."
"Not... that young. I'm in high school."
I saw it.
Seo Yu-baek swallowing hard to hold back a laugh.
"My apologies. Anyway, I set up this meeting to update you on the research progress so far and make introductions. Nayeo-ju-ssi, since you're still technically Hunter Im Cheong-su's guardian as a minor, I asked you to come along."
A neatly organized binder of documents was placed in front of us.
"As you'll see in the report, we've completed recruitment for the first phase of clinical trial participants. Mostly C-rank and higher hunters who suffer frequent injuries in dungeons."
"But ma'am, there are more participants than I expected."
"Because there are never enough healers. These are hunters eager for an effective trauma potion to hit the market ASAP—even one day sooner. Commercial potions take time to kick in even if they work. Plus, Nayeo-ju-ssi already used the wound healing potion in a dungeon, so safety concerns are minimal. What do you think, Hunter Im Cheong-su?"
"The first test group is 30 people total. Seems like overkill."
"It's not just about whether the potion works or not. I want to develop various trauma potions with you, Hunter Im Cheong-su."
"Various potions?"
"For example, what if Nayeo-ju-ssi's injury last time had included a fracture? With the current potion that temporarily maximizes recovery, the bone might have healed crooked."
Oh, I hadn't thought of that.
Im Cheong-su's face hardened too.
"I get it. More participants sound better then."
"Can I add a suggestion?"
I raised my hand as I spoke.
"I'd like to include not just awakeners but civilians in the trials too."
"Civilians...?"
"Yes. Trauma doesn't just happen to hunters."
"True. The wound healing potion would have even broader impact on the general public. I'll reach out to university hospitals for collaboration."
"And maybe a version that's slightly less potent but mass-producible."
"That's a valid point."
Seo Yu-baek began jotting notes in the margins of the report.
I sipped the beverage in front of me while watching, but felt a prickling stare on my profile.
The culprit was Im Cheong-su.
"What? Why are you glaring at me like that?"
"Noona."
"Yeah."
"You're not planning to go off to some war or anything, right?"
I gripped my cup tightly to hide my flinch and laughed it off incredulously.
"War? What war?"
"Good. As long as you're not."
"If you're gonna say weird stuff, eat a snack. These look tasty."
The kid grew up in clean air and water, so sometimes he sees right through people.
The meeting dragged on far longer than planned.
Probably because they shared common interests—Seo Yu-baek and Im Cheong-su's conversation flowed lively.
"Mandala flowers are great for stopping bleeding. But you have to dry them properly; otherwise, they worsen the hemorrhage."
"Vascular dilation effect. Once we analyze the mechanism, we could make anti-swelling meds or post-op blood clot preventives."
What on earth were they talking about?
I was just sitting there quietly as his guardian, but I was reaching my limit.
"Yawn."
Oh dear.
A yawn slipped out before I knew it.
"Haha. Bored, huh, Nayeo-ju-ssi? Time flies."
"Noona, why don't you head back to the guild first? We still have tons to talk about with Director ma'am."
I figured Seo Yu-baek would wrap things up here and say, "Let's continue next time."
"I'll drive Hunter Im Cheong-su home safely myself today. That okay?"
Seo Yu-baek was thrilled to chat with someone who got her after so long and went even further.
"Sure. Looks like you're done with the research talk, so I'll head back to the guild fi—"
Bzzz. Bzzz.
My phone vibrated in my pocket.
"Hello?"
[ "Hey, Nayeo-ju-ssi." ]
This low, sticky-yet-pleasant voice belonged to Sama Young.
"...Get to the point, Sama Young-ssi."
[ "Harsh. This is our first call." ]
"No point, I'm hanging up."
[ "Wait, there is. It's about Hong Joo." ]
"What about Hong Joo?"
Had something happened to Hong Joo shortly after it returned to its original owner?
Or was it sick?
A flurry of thoughts raced through my head in seconds.
Then Sama Young spoke in a slightly downcast tone.
[ "Hmm. Seems off since yesterday. Like it's not feeling well or something." ]
"Where are you? I'll come over."
I gave Im Cheong-su and Seo Yu-baek a quick nod goodbye and stood up.
[ "Oh, really? You'd do that?" ]