Chapter 205
Chapter 205
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 206
Chapter Title: Part 2 Episode 26
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"Ehehe. Ehehehet."
I lay in the hospital bed, hugging a pillow and rolling around while giggling.
Every time I flipped through the news channels, the words "Justice Guild" kept popping up without end.
"Ah, I wanna read the articles too."
I rubbed my pitch-black eyes, as if I'd turned off the lights.
For overusing stamina potions, I'd lost my vision for 48 hours as payback.
Even while that damn gacha wheel was spinning, my heart had been in my throat.
I'd braced myself for something awful—like coughing up blood again, or at least slipping into a coma for hours.
Anything but pain, I'd prayed desperately.
And surprisingly, luck was on my side.
Of course, total blindness meant I'd had to be carried out of the gate in Kang Han's arms.
Still, for downing six stamina potions, I was getting off pretty cheap.
Sure, going from perfect vision to total darkness was inconvenient and boring as hell.
"This is good luck. Pretty damn good."
"Let's not say that."
"Ack, you scared me!"
Kang Han's sudden voice jolted me upright.
But thinking it was the bed, I'd grabbed at empty air.
"Whoa."
As my body tilted to one side, I squeezed my already useless eyes shut.
Thud.
A firm hand gripped my shoulder tight.
"...Nayeo-ju."
He must've been startled too—Kang Han's breathing, steady even against apartment-sized monsters, was ragged now.
"I-I thought I was falling."
"Be more careful."
"...Why are you mad?"
They said losing one sense sharpened the others, and damn if it wasn't true.
I could hear every hitch in Kang Han's breath, feel the tension in his fingertips on my shoulder.
Sensory info flooded in from all sides.
"I'm not mad."
"Liar. You're taking advantage now that I can't see, aren't you?"
"How could I ever... take advantage of you, Nayeo-ju-ssi? Your eyesight just suddenly..."
He'd been angry a second ago, but now Kang Han sounded sad.
You couldn't tell from his stone-faced expression, but who knew he had this range of emotions?
"Suddenly? It happened on the job. And it's almost over anyway."
"...Why didn't you tell me sooner that drinking five or more potions triggers a penalty?"
The second we got out of the gate and hit the hospital, Kang Han had insisted on every test under the sun. I'd had to spill the truth.
Stamina-boosting potions: five or more, and you get the drug overuse debuff. Symptoms? Random every time.
"Then you would've stopped me."
"You think that's something to—!"
Whoops, mad again.
To soothe him, I tugged lightly at his clothes.
"Even a tough A-rank fighter like Jang Su-ho was in real danger back there."
"You could've held out till we got him to the hospital."
"Maybe. But seeing the kid turn blue all over right in front of me? No way I could've stood by. Anyway, Jang Su-ho's fine now, and I'll be good as new in a few hours."
"...Haa."
Kang Han let out a deep sigh, and I felt his solid chest rise and fall.
This was kinda fun?
Grinning mischievously, I decided to tease him once more.
"So, how long are we gonna stay all clingy like this? You planning to use my temporary blindness as an excuse for nonstop skinship?"
"..."
Huh?
I'd figured he'd panic, drop my shoulders, and bolt by now.
"...Maybe I will."
"Wh-what do you mean, 'maybe'!"
He's lost it!
I shoved him away first in a fluster.
As I calmed my pounding heart, stifled laughter broke through.
"Pfft."
"Ugh, seriously!"
He got me good.
Doesn't matter if I can't see—no fun allowed.
Couldn't see his face, and it was driving me nuts.
Plus, his voice made my ears itch every time, and I hated it.
"Now, patient. Lie down nice and quiet and rest."
"I'm not the patient here."
"Say that when you can see again."
"Hmph."
Two dungeons back-to-back had worn me out for real, so I let him lay me back, resting my head on the pillow obediently.
"Aren't you busy, Guild Master?"
"Very. I just stopped by to say goodbye before heading out."
"Thanks to you, I ate dinner fine and even brushed my teeth. Appreciate the help."
"No problem."
Laughter laced his short reply.
"Yawn. Guess all that exhaustion's hitting me. Head hits pillow, and I'm out."
"I'll pick you up tomorrow morning. Rest up till then. If you need the bathroom, hit the nurse call."
"Got it. Yawwn. See you tomorrow."
No lights to turn off in pitch black anyway.
I didn't fight my heavy eyelids.
As sleep pulled me under body and soul, blurring the line between reality and dreams...
Swish.
A gentle hand seemed to stroke my hair, the last pleasant sensation before I plunged fully into slumber.
Four days had passed since clearing the desert dungeon.
But the public's fascination with Justice Guild showed no signs of fading.
"Feels like the government's fanning the flames even more."
For them, having a government-friendly Justice Alliance guild leave a lasting impression beat any Public Guild League outfit.
"Should we drop another press release this afternoon then, Team Leader?"
Quick-on-the-uptake Kim Ji-hee from the admin team asked me.
Couldn't ask for a better employee.
"Great idea. Strike while the iron's hot. Don't forget to subtly emphasize how hard we busted our asses in that desert dungeon."
"Leave it to me!"
"Oh, and 'that thing'—is it all set?"
Gu Eun-a answered my question.
"You bet. I made them swear up and down the servers won't crash this time."
"Better safe—give 'em a call around 5 to double-check."
"Yes, ma'am!"
I nodded in satisfaction and checked the time.
3 p.m.
That drowsy hour when coffee and sweets call your name.
But no coffee needed today.
My heart was already racing.
"Whew, I'm nervous."
To explain today, I'd have to rewind to right after the Pangyo mess—what felt like ages ago.
Independence Gate branch's new building was under construction, so our first admin team meeting happened in Jongno branch's conference room.
The ex-Magma Guild staff, freshly merged into Justice Guild overnight, were as tense as me.
"Hi, I'm Nayeo-ju. Nice to meet you all."
"W-we're the ones who should..."
"Looking forward to working together."
"Same here!"
Chaotic greetings out of the way, we dove into the meeting.
I already knew Magma Guild's people were pros.
But hearing their reports firsthand sealed it.
With these folks, we could really make shit happen.
I'd planned to keep the intro meeting light, just faces and names.
But I changed my mind.
"That's enough on the current status. Let's talk future plans."
"Future plans, you say...?"
"We're going into Justice Guild merch."