Chapter 187
Chapter 187
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Nayeo-ju Saves the World Part 2 Chapter 8
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Jeong Je-hwa slumped over his workshop desk and let out a low chuckle.
Across from the phone that looked tiny in his massive hand, Nayeo-ju's cheerful chatter poured out.
"That shocking, huh?"
Just like always, she asked straight up without any beating around the bush.
"Why else would someone submit an application? Because I want the job."
Her bright laughter filled the workshop for a moment.
"What was my first impression like?"
He recalled the day he first met Nayeo-ju as he asked.
It was truly strange.
Back then, his memories from that period were hazy like fog due to the severe depression and ennui he was suffering.
But the moment she opened the door to the workshop stood out crystal clear.
Jeong Je-hwa picked up a notebook and pen from his desk and began sketching that instant like a doodle.
"...That was my first impression?"
That wasn't true, though.
Jeong Je-hwa thought as he stroked the corners of his loosely curved lips with the fingers holding the pen.
Scratch, scratch.
With the faint noise that wouldn't carry over the phone, her round eyes as she entered the door etched themselves onto the paper.
"No one else even knows my name is Jeong Je-hwa."
He hadn't disclosed that he was the Maestro Guild master on the application.
He'd only put down his real name as an S-rank crafter, Jeong Je-hwa.
"Ah."
"You're right. I didn't think it through."
He'd simply written the application as the person Jeong Je-hwa, not as 'Master'.
"Thanks. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"A weird item?"
Jeong Je-hwa's pen, which had been sketching her fluidly, came to an abrupt halt.
Weird things had a way of sticking to Nayeo-ju.
He somewhat agreed with her own assessment that it was due to her rough fate.
Clearly, things drawn to the bright light she emitted were swarming her.
'Maybe I'm one of them too.'
He let out a wry chuckle.
"Got it. So, when should I...?"
Up until then, only her voice and the sound of wind had come through the phone, but suddenly an urgent voice broke in.
Click.
The sudden end to the call left Jeong Je-hwa with a heavy sense of disconnection from the world.
He froze with the phone still at his ear for a moment, blinking several times before accepting he was alone again.
In the silence, the pen moved a few more times, completing the sketch of her.
With a long rip, he tore the drawing from the notebook and opened the first drawer.
A file folder inside tumbled out, revealing itself.
Jeong Je-hwa tossed the finished drawing on top of it.
"Too bad."
He muttered shortly, then shut the drawer without regret and turned away.
Thud, thud.
With both hands in his pants pockets, his footsteps echoed freely through the vast space as he headed to the bedroom.
I hurriedly headed to the greenhouse after abruptly cutting off my call with Jeong Je-hwa.
That's when I reached the top floor of the training hall that Im Cheong-su shared with Han Ji-seong.
Boom—!
A massive roar erupted as the glass greenhouse wall burst toward the hallway.
"Eek!"
"Sis!"
The moment Im Cheong-su yanked me into a hug and pulled me down, we tumbled to the floor.
My shoulder throbbed as if it might dislocate, but before I could dwell on it, a second explosion rang out.
Bang!
It was smaller than the first, but sharp glass shards flew everywhere.
One headed our way, but luckily it only grazed my cheek, and Im Cheong-su was unharmed.
"Hey, we gotta run... Ugh."
As I grabbed Im Cheong-su's shoulder to help him up amid the chaos of the blasts, a stinging pain shot through my hand.
I must've landed wrong while rolling—my wrist was already swelling.
"Damn it, seriously."
Im Cheong-su was cursing, his face pale as he stared at something.
Following his gaze, I saw a green something slithering out from the gaping hole in the greenhouse.
"...Pitcher plant?"
Docile my ass.
That thing was demolishing a brand-new building!
I stared blankly at the massive monster in disbelief at the surreal sight.
"Nayeo-ju!"
Kang Han shouted my name loudly and leaped in through the open hallway window.
His face twisted when he spotted me and Im Cheong-su rolling on the floor.
"Are you hurt anyw—"
"Behind you! Kang Han! Behind!"
I frantically pointed at the pitcher plant—no, El-Rosque.
"What the hell is that doing here?"
Kang Han approached the monster while drawing his spear.
Crackle—!
A sickly pale blue current began flowing along the pitch-black spear, sending chills down my spine just hearing it.
Spotting the approaching foe, the El-Rosque gaped its blood-red mouth—spit or whatever—and lunged first.
"Kyaaaak—!"
True to B-rank, it was clever.
Whoosh—!
It thrust forward with arm-thick fangs to distract, while a thick vine simultaneously tried to snag Kang Han's ankle.
But Kang Han wouldn't fall for such a shallow trick.
He leaped up immediately to dodge the vine and jammed the spear straight into the El-Rosque's maw.
Followed by the electric surge.
Crackle-zzt—!
"Krrk, kek, kek..."
The monster's every movement froze in an instant.
Seizing the opening, Kang Han wrenched the deeply embedded spear upward with all his might.
Splatter—!
Like a water balloon bursting, the sound echoed down the hall, and sticky black monster fluids splattered the ceiling and floor in long streaks along the spear's path.
Thud!
The bisected El-Rosque hit the floor and began oxidizing into black ash.
"Phew, we're safe..."
Before I could even finish sighing in relief—
Boom—!
The last intact greenhouse wall shattered with a familiar roar.
"No way."
"Kyaaaak!!"
"Kieek, kyaaat!"
More El-Rosque remained.
This time, two of them slithered out of the greenhouse together.
Kang Han shook off his spear at length as he asked Im Cheong-su,
"Cheong-su, how many more of those are in the greenhouse?"
"Th-three or so... Ah! But the others might've grown more too!"
Grown?
So those were the things being grown in the greenhouse?
Only then did I recall what Im Cheong-su had yelled at me earlier.
So that's what he meant.