Chapter 181
Chapter 181
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: Part 2 Episode 2
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Her deep green eyes shook like there had been an actual earthquake.
"If I was a bother, I'm sorry."
"No, what are you talking about?"
At that response, I'd end up looking like the bad guy!
Unlike the boisterous chatter at the other tables, a heavy silence hung over the spot where Kang Han and I sat facing each other.
I was the one who had grumbled in complaint and kept glancing around nervously.
Thinking back on it, that was exactly what had happened.
Kang Han had only been looking out for me, but instead of thanking him, I'd ended up snapping at him.
Maybe I should apologize first for letting my words come out so harshly.
Wondering if he might be upset with me, I sneakily checked his affinity.
Thank goodness, the affinity was the same as when I'd checked it a few days ago.
"......"
An awkward silence stretched on.
This was the first time something like this had happened since we met.
And suddenly, I realized one thing.
"You're not going to say 'I won't do it again' this time, are you?"
I'd hit the nail on the head, and Kang Han averted his gaze slightly as he replied.
"I can't lie to you, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
"Aigoo."
"And Nayeo-ju-ssi."
"What about me?"
"......You're someone my hand keeps drifting toward."
I'm not some shrimp or anything.
I started to snap back curtly but closed my mouth again.
It was because his laughing face, as if there was nothing to be done, brimmed with affection toward me.
......I'll get rid of that "ward" keyword soon enough.
"Good morning, you two."
Just then, Han Ji-seong sat down next to me and greeted us.
He didn't seem to have much appetite, holding just a single carton of soy milk instead of a tray.
"Oppa looks tired again today."
"Yeah. I stayed up late last night."
With that, Han Ji-seong thunked his forehead against the table and flopped over.
I neatly gathered his scattered silver hair and asked.
"Is the new lab that great?"
"......Yeah."
Whether he was grinning or not, the cheek facing me puffed out roundly.
Moving from Jongno toward Independence Gate hadn't just changed the dorms.
With the buildings now separated into training wing, office wing, and dorms, Im Cheong-su and Han Ji-seong's labs had become independent too.
The new location was at the top of the training wing—a massive space compared to the tiny room attached to the training hall before.
Han Ji-seong had even teared up a little while shelving the books he'd piled on the floor for lack of space into the custom-made bookshelves.
"How about the new training hall, Guild Master?"
Kang Han's face bloomed into a smile at my question, tossed out to change the mood.
"It's fantastic. The space is so much bigger now that multiple raid teams can train together at once."
It was well deserved.
Sung Yo-na's sub-space recreation of Jongno's underground practice room had been excellent, of course.
But the training wing, the most effort poured into during the Justice Guild Independence Gate branch construction, had been upgraded just as much as the money invested.
The entire building—four stories underground and five above ground—was all training facilities. That said it all.
It was an overly generous scale for the Justice Guild, which only had three raid teams so far.
But with plans to recruit more members soon, and no telling how far the Justice Guild would grow, they'd prepared thoroughly for long-term use.
"Having a nice lab must be helping. Things are progressing faster."
Han Ji-seong turned his head toward me and Kang Han as he spoke.
"That mana storage research you mentioned last time?"
"Yeah. I think we can succeed soon."
"Oh."
I tried to react as nonchalantly as possible so as not to burden him, but my soul was racing through the foothills of Mt. Bukak, screaming.
'I saw right through youuuu!'
The mana storage tech Han Ji-seong was researching was as groundbreaking as Im Cheong-su's concentration potion.
"So we'll be able to stockpile mana normally and use it inside gates?"
"That's the goal of the research."
If it succeeded, a lot would change.
Magic awakeners wouldn't have to rely solely on mana potions anymore.
They could just use the mana they'd gathered themselves.
I didn't know the capacity of Han Ji-seong's "mana storage unit," but in dangerous high-rank dungeons, one attack or one shield could change everything.
Even the Justice Guild's finances, which were bone-dry after pouring everything into the new branch.
"Heh heh."
"I'm experimenting with various mediums right now, and there's a promising candidate."
"Hope it works out."
"Yeah, me too."
Han Ji-seong didn't add anything more.
He was probably worried about jinxing it by saying too much.
I got that feeling.
Instead of prying, I peeled off two plump, juicy Shine Muscats from the dessert and handed one each to Han Ji-seong and Kang Han.
Maybe they sensed my feelings, because both men chuckled at the same time.
"What's Nayeo-ju's schedule like today?"
Han Ji-seong asked me after biting into his Shine Muscat.
"Me?"
I took a sip of the warm water Kang Han had poured for me and answered.
"I've got to head to the Association today."
Screech.
The car pulled into the Association parking lot with a small noise.
It was one of the new vehicles for the Justice Guild.
They'd received two vans from the Magma Guild for raid transport, but the guild members insisted it looked bad for the guild master to take taxis for other business.
We arrived ten minutes early, but the lot was already packed.
Are all the supercars cruising Seoul parked here?
Glancing around the lot full of luxury cars, Kang Han and I took the elevator up.
As I stared at the quietly changing numbers, he said to me.
"Just in case, stick close to me even if it feels stuffy."
It irked me a bit, like he was talking to a four-year-old troublemaker, but given my track record, I held back.
"Got it."
At my ready agreement, Kang Han smiled, his eyes crinkling warmly.
"Good girl."
What did you call me?
But before I could bristle, the elevator arrived with a soft ding and opened.
Dozens of gazes turned toward us at once.
"It's Kang Han."
"Justice Guild's here."
"Whoa, it's Nayeo-ju the healer."
The people gathered in groups in front of the Association's main conference hall all turned to look.
All hunters.
And not just any—the kind who could strut around with their rank.
But not all of them were friendly.
"Thick-skinned bastards."
"If they weren't S-rank......"
"Annoying pricks."
Plenty glared at us with open hostility.
'Still better than the nationwide hate we got back then.'
This was way milder than I'd braced for.
With that thought, I said to Kang Han.
"Lots of people."
"It's the first official meeting between the two factions, so that's to be expected. Want to wait somewhere else if it's uncomfortable? There should be a lounge."
"Nah."
I shook my head at his concerned question.
This was nothing.
Me, Nayeo-ju—I had exhibitionist power to spare.
Trailing those stares like a tail, we entered the conference room, where a massive banner hung at the front.
Why does Joint Guild Council come first?
As I muttered my petty complaint, one person approached.
I knew who it was without looking.
"Nayeo-ju-ssi, you're here?"
The syrupy voice calling my name like we were close—the Sama Young.
His red eyes fixed only on me, pushing everyone else aside, and his alluring beauty overflowing today as ever like a flower in bloom.
But no matter how pretty, biting into that flower like you'd been enchanted would spell disaster.
Sama Young swayed his scarlet petals like the poppy flower.
The one who'd tried to sacrifice tens of thousands for his own goals.
"It's been ages since we last met. Nice to see you."
I stared at Sama Young blankly as he spoke sweetly, as if the Pangyo incident was some distant country's affair.
Not showing dislike like before, nor growling.
It wasn't about following the wisdom of not feeding crazy people.
Quite the opposite.
This was to properly provoke Sama Young.