Chapter 207
Chapter 207
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: The Heroine Saves the World Part 2 Ch. 28
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The moment I decided I needed to meet Artisan Jeong Hee-ok, the person who naturally came to mind was Jeong Je-hwa.
It was thanks to him that Justice Guild had been able to wear Jeong Hee-ok's creations as our uniforms in the first place.
"I have a personal connection with Hunter Jeong Hee-ok. If you have any desired designs or effects, write them down here. I'll pass them along."
I was certain going through Jeong Je-hwa would make it much easier to meet the artisan.
I might even ask him to put in a good word about me or Justice Guild.
That could make the conversation about my difficult request a little smoother.
But instead, I dialed the publicly listed number for the head of 'Inyeon Guild' that I'd found online.
"Hello. Thank you for your hard work. This is Nayeo-ju, healer from Justice Guild. The reason I'm calling is..."
It felt wrong to impose on a personal connection for such a tough favor.
Jeong Je-hwa might feel hurt if he found out later, of course.
Naturally, there was also a chance I wouldn't get to meet her at all.
Even after explaining the situation briefly through an Inyeon Guild staff member, the artisan might take offense and refuse everything outright.
Yet the meeting was arranged surprisingly easily.
"Ah, yes. Next Monday? Yes, understood. I'll come by then."
I'd been invited to Inyeon Guild in Andong.
They even offered to provide transportation from Justice Guild.
But the invitation was for me, Nayeo-ju, alone.
"Are you sure it's okay to go by yourself?"
"Well, it might feel a bit lonely, but what can you do? I'm the one invited—I can't just bring extra people on my own."
"That's true, but... Andong is pretty far."
As if sensing Kang Han's concern, what came to pick me up at Justice Guild on the appointed Monday morning wasn't a car, but a person.
"I'm Kim Mi-hyun, personal secretary to Guild Master Jeong Hee-ok. I'll escort you to the guild."
"You're a teleporter."
A secretary with teleportation abilities.
It was both astonishing and somehow perfectly fitting.
Having spatial movement skills would make things incredibly convenient for a secretary.
"I'll be back."
After a final wave to Kang Han, I took the secretary's hand.
With a queasy lurch and a blink, I was suddenly at Inyeon Guild in Andong.
"Whoa."
It felt like I'd been dropped right into a folk village.
Inyeon Guild members lived in a village-like cluster around the guild building, like a traditional clan village.
I hadn't expected it to all be hanok houses.
"This way, please. I'll guide you to the guild master's workshop."
After walking quite a distance following the secretary, we arrived at a massive gate topped with ornate roof ridges—so imposing I almost wished they'd turn me away at the door.
The gate creaked open, as if saying, Come on in through here.
"Whew."
I let out a small breath to ease my nerves a bit, then climbed the stairs and crossed the threshold.
"Wow."
The moment I stepped over, a wave of warmth hit me.
Outside it was autumn, but inside, it was spring.
Flowers bloomed everywhere, butterflies fluttering lazily between them.
With proper planning from the construction phase, you could create spaces with temperature control like this easily enough.
Our guild's greenhouse was proof of that.
I knew it intellectually, but early winter giving way to spring felt so alien and wonderful that I couldn't tear my eyes from the flower garden.
"Why are you just standing there instead of coming in!"
A sudden shout from behind startled me into turning around. There stood Artisan Jeong Hee-ok, clicking her tongue disapprovingly at me.
A woman in her sixties, slightly shorter than me, dressed in hanbok with her hair neatly pinned up—she blended perfectly with the antique hanok.
Her white jeogori blouse and jade-green skirt draped especially gracefully.
"My apologies. The flowers were so beautiful, my feet just stopped."
"Follow me in."
With that, she turned sharply and strode off. I hurried after her along a somewhat winding path, tilting my head in confusion.
Did she come out to meet me because she thought I might get lost?
Nah, no way.
Just moments ago, those eyes had glared at me fiercely.
"What are you dawdling for? Hurry up!"
"Yes! Coming!"
The workshop we arrived at was utterly unlike what I'd imagined.
Given her impeccably neat appearance, I'd assumed the place would be spotless, without a speck of dust.
Instead, fabric bolts were piled haphazardly, and what looked like a half-finished pattern lay scattered across the desk.
The secretary must handle only external affairs, because brewing the tea—boiling water, preparing cups—was all done by Jeong Hee-ok herself.
She seemed like the type who rarely let others into her personal space.
Then why me?
What was the reason for bringing a total stranger straight into her workshop?
"Drink if it suits your taste."
"Thank you. I'll enjoy it."
No matter how awkward the atmosphere, I couldn't refuse tea she'd brewed herself.
The moment I cautiously brought the steaming green tea to my lips...
"What are you to Je-hwa?"
Cough! Cough!
The hot tea went down the wrong way—scalding my mouth, stinging my nose.
After a three-second tour of the River Jordan and back, Jeong Hee-ok tossed a handkerchief onto the table in front of me with that same displeased expression.
I quickly covered my mouth with it and asked,
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"I heard you're the first person in years whose name Je-hwa has revealed."
"Ah. I see."
I was surprised she even knew Jeong Je-hwa's real name, but even more shocked at how much closer they seemed than I'd guessed.
"Are you... perhaps related by blood to the workshop owner—no, to Mr. Jeong Je-hwa...?"
"Not by blood. And you? Connected by marriage?"
"M-marriage...?"
Straight balls flying at me with nowhere to hide left my mind reeling.
"No, nothing like that. I just place frequent orders with Mr. Jeong Je-hwa and pester him—a sort of regular customer."
I'd carefully chosen my words to explain, but Jeong Hee-ok just snorted derisively.
"Hmph, as if. A kid who never asked for favors before suddenly wants uniforms made. Several sets, no less."
"We're still wearing the uniforms you made back then—they're great!"
"I figured. So, really nothing between you and Je-hwa?"
"Yes!"
I answered promptly.
I didn't want any misunderstandings.
She clearly didn't like me much already. Assuming some shady connection to Jeong Je-hwa would only make her dislike me more.
Jeong Hee-ok's eyes fixed straight on me.
Her sharp gaze felt like it was picking apart every stitch that made up who I was.
She's no ordinary person, that's for sure.
It was intensely uncomfortable, but I met her stare without flinching.
For a brief instant, a flicker of amusement seemed to cross her eyes.
Maybe I'd made a good impression?
As that hopeful thought bloomed...
"So, you want to copy my work and make some money off it?"
...Maybe I'd blown it completely?