Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: The Heroine Saves the World
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“What should we do about Nayeo-ju the hunter?”
“Nayeo-ju?”
At the name ‘Nayeo-ju,’ both Sama Young and Hong-ju turned to look at Woo Jun-kyeong simultaneously.
“Why Nayeo-ju?”
“It seems like what the lord wants.”
“Is that so?”
Sama Young’s hand gently stroked Hong-ju’s body.
“Her eyes keep drawing me in. It’s strange, isn’t it, Hong-ju?”
“Nyaa.”
Hong-ju narrowed her eyes and let out a long meow.
“Why is that, I wonder.”
If she didn’t want to owe him her life, she could just pay whatever amount he demanded and call it even.
But for some reason, he didn’t want to do that.
‘If I do, we probably won’t meet again.’
Every time they met, her expressions of disgust in different ways kept catching his eye.
He found it intriguing how this tiny woman acted like a mother hen fiercely protecting her newly hatched chicks around her own people.
To the point where, covered head to toe in bright yellow powder, he almost wanted to pretend to be a chick himself.
“She’s an interesting woman.”
At that moment, Hong-ju’s sensitive ears perked up.
Pring—
It was a sound humans couldn’t hear.
Hong-ju’s tail swayed happily as she looked up above Sama Young’s head.
Justice Guild underground training room.
“Your body can’t cool down. Get up again, Nayeo-ju-ssi.”
“Ah, just five more minutes.”
“No.”
At Kang Han’s firm words, I snapped back in frustration.
“I’m a healer! Why do I have to train?!”
I’d used up all the tiny bit of strength I’d recovered during that short break on whining, so I just flopped down on the training floor.
“I don’t care. I’m not doing it.”
“Nayeo-ju-ssi.”
“Aigoo, you heartless locals. The Justice Guild treats its healers like this.”
I meant it.
This was neglect like no other.
They’d suddenly shoved Im Cheong-su’s tonic at me, then dragged me to the stamina training room and started working me to the bone.
Lying there, the cool floor felt so good that I squirmed even more, and Kang Han crouched down beside me to speak.
“Is it really that tough, Nayeo-ju-ssi?”
“Yes. For real. Totally. Honestly. One hundred percent.”
“Your stamina is worse than I thought.”
“No, I’m not going into dungeons to fight monsters like you, Guild Master. Why do I need training?”
“You need to know how to protect your own body, Nayeo-ju-ssi.”
“That’s why we hired Teacher Yu!”
“What if Teacher Yu gets injured, just in case?”
“……”
I hadn’t thought of that.
Yu Jin-rok had plenty of experience and combat history, but he was still a C-rank hunter.
In A-rank dungeons or higher going forward, there was always a chance of danger.
“Argh, whatever. You can just come save me every time, Guild Master. Why worry when we have the strongest guild master?”
“Me?”
“Yes. What? You won’t save me?”
“Of course I’ll save you, no matter what.”
“Then we’re good. I trust you, Guild Master. Training’s over for today—no, forever!”
I figured my stubbornness would at least make Kang Han sigh.
But it was eerily quiet.
So I looked up.
“Guild Master, are you hot? Your face is red.”
Kang Han’s face was flushed when I looked up at him lying down.
“No, it’s not that.”
And then, after a long silence, that sound rang out louder than usual.
Prorrororong—
What the hell?
I shot up, determined to question it, when—
Vrrr— vrrr—
Kang Han’s pocket buzzed with his phone’s vibration.
“……Unknown number.”
He glanced at the screen showing only digits, no name, then answered.
“Yes, this is Kang Han.”
[“It’s Yu Myeong-hwa from Camellia.”]
The voice from the phone was loud enough for me to hear clearly beside him.
“What brings this on?”
[“I need help from Guild Master Kang Han right now. Can you come?”]
“If it’s about gate raids, we should go through official channels…”
[“It’s not that.”]
Yu Myeong-hwa hesitated unusually before speaking.
[“Our vice guild master went berserk inside the dungeon.”]
What?
I sidled up next to Kang Han and pressed my ear close.
[“She’s an A-rank combat-type, hard for me to handle alone. She stepped out briefly to make this call.”]
“Wouldn’t it be better to request help from the Association?”
[“Those Association bastards… Anyway, it’s complicated. Will you come?”]
Kang Han let out a small sigh, glanced at me with my ear glued to the phone, and replied.
“Send me the location. I’ll head there now.”
“Of all places, Bukchon Hanok Village. Terrible spot.”
“Do you really have to come along?”
“Camellia’s healers aren’t in Korea right now, right? There’ll be lots of injured. I have to help. Don’t you think?”
“That’s true, but…”
“And I’m planning to rack up some debt with Camellia while I’m at it. Never know when it’ll come in handy. Plus, Yona’s here. She can space-jump us out if things go south, right, Yona?”
“Yes! I’ll protect you, Unnie!”
Seong Yo-na clenched her fists and answered energetically.
“Come on, let’s hurry.”
I gently pushed against Kang Han’s broad back.
‘Perfect chance for Yona to show her face to people. Can’t miss it.’
That was my real aim.
Having our guild officially reveal her during a dungeon raid would be ideal, but in big events like that, Seong Yo-na would probably tense up too much.
She stiffened up at the mere word ‘dungeon.’
Subduing a berserk hunter would be handled by Kang Han and Yu Myeong-hwa anyway, so this was a low-stakes chance to dip her foot in a dungeon.
“Hmm. Quite a crowd.”
I’d thought a weekday afternoon would be fine.
But foreigners and Koreans alike were swarming the place.
This was common near gates, so I shrugged it off.
But today, people’s stares felt off.
“Justice Guild’s here.”
“They’re not going berserk in the gate too, are they?”
“Nah, no way…”
“Could happen. Awakened don’t even know when they’ll snap.”
I got the gist.
Lately, non-awakened were starting to fear and avoid us.
That explained the unfriendly looks.
“Excuse us, coming through!”
I announced loudly on purpose and cleared a path.
Thankfully, the gate wasn’t far.
As we arrived, Camellia Guild members waiting nearby lit up.
“Thank you for coming!”
“How long since the berserk started?”
“Just over an hour. But…”
“Guild Master Kang Han? What brings you here?”
Interrupting was an Association staffer I vaguely recognized.
“At the request of Camellia Guild Master Yu Myeong-hwa. She asked for help subduing the berserk hunter inside.”
“Oh, come on. We’ve got this, so head back, Guild Master Kang Han.”
The Association guy frowned and gestured to people behind him.
‘All hunters, huh.’
Checking just in case, yep.
All A-rank, B-rank high-rankers.
So why did Yu Myeong-hwa call us?
Something felt fishy.
A Camellia hunter raised his voice, scowling too.
“Guild Master Kang Han, an S-rank, is here to help—what are you saying?!”
“Is Camellia defying Association orders now?”
“Orders? We’re not soldiers! Make some sense first!”
“Keep being uncooperative, and the Association can impose penalties on Camellia Guild—don’t forget that!”
“Penalties? Try it! No, let’s settle this right here!”
Now a full brawl was brewing in the middle of Bukchon.
The growing shouts stirred up the murmurs of the gathering crowd.
Kang Han watched the two men argue for a bit before speaking.
“Will someone explain what’s going on?”
The Association guy scowled harder at Kang Han showing no sign of leaving, while the Camellia hunter pounded his chest indignantly and answered.
“It’s about our vice guild master who’s berserk right now. Yi Chorok the hunter. The Association says they’re here to execute her!”
“Did I… hear that wrong?”
“Execute! Like some wild beast—they came to kill Yi Chorok Hunter!”