Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: First Guerrilla Gate
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Yang Hwa-yeon watched Nayeo-ju's retreating figure, her light steps fluttering away despite her impassive expression, and let out a small chuckle.
"She's cute, your new healer."
At that, Kang Han's thick eyebrows twitched faintly.
'Cute?'
The image of Nayeo-ju constantly shouting 'Money! Money! My money!' filled his mind.
"...Tastes differ from person to person."
"Pfft! Looks like she won you over anyway. That's no easy feat."
Yang Hwa-yeon slapped Kang Han's back with a sly grin.
"Good one's joined up."
"Lucky, yeah."
A strange woman who had dropped out of the sky like that.
He didn't know the reason yet, but even someone as obtuse about others' feelings as him could tell she cared about the Justice Guild.
Especially the twins, who had been so unstable—they'd settled down quickly after Nayeo-ju joined.
Even the picky Han Ji-seong had started exercising with her.
Nayeo-ju was someone bringing fast, positive change to the Justice Guild.
"She's reliable."
Yang Hwa-yeon's eyes widened at Kang Han's curt assessment.
"Oh? She's the real deal, then."
She had left the Justice Guild to start Magma Guild independently, but a corner of her heart had always felt heavy.
It was like leaving comrades on the battlefield.
And as Magma Guild raced toward success, that sense of debt only grew heavier.
But maybe now she could set that burden down a little.
"If the raid goes totally sideways, bail out."
"Won't happen."
"Confident, huh."
"Everyone's improving."
After a few more exchanges of banter, Kang Han watched Nayeo-ju return triumphantly with the guild-to-guild trade contract in hand.
"Thanks."
Yang Hwa-yeon had brushed it off like it was no big deal, but it wasn't that simple.
Falling out of favor with the Association Chairman would bring some kind of backlash on Magma Guild.
"I'll repay this debt."
"I'm repaying my own right now, so we're good. Keep it in mind."
Yang Hwa-yeon waved Nayeo-ju over with a grin.
"Once we clear the guerrilla gate, let's grill some meat on the Jongno building rooftop. All of us."
Like old times.
Kang Han and Yang Hwa-yeon shared a faint smile at the old memory.
A few days had passed since signing the contract with Magma Guild.
Today, too, she lay sprawled on the training ground sofa, staring up at the ceiling, when those events suddenly came to mind.
'They seemed to be getting along. Did I butt in cluelessly?'
That stoic Kang Han had smiled more after running into Yang Hwa-yeon.
He'd even talked more.
Back then, thrilled about securing the safety net that was Yang Hwa-yeon, she'd dashed off with the contract—but looking back now, maybe she should've taken a detour to the bathroom or something.
"Yang Hwa-yeon's solid."
Magma Guild had fought alongside Justice Guild, giving their all despite repeated rampages and member sacrifices.
Nayeo-ju had quite liked her.
After today's training, she checked that Kang Han was recovering in the recovery room and called out to Han Ji-seong.
"Han Ji-seong-ssi! Time for some healing!"
She wasn't sure how much exercise helped with rampages, but his complexion had improved a lot from the consistent workouts. He emerged from the lab at her call.
"You did it this morning already, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
"I know. But you've probably burned through your stamina researching again since then."
"True, but..."
Even as he said it, Han Ji-seong held out his left hand.
He could feel how much better his condition got after her heals.
But this time, she wouldn't use the healing skill.
"There, all done."
Luckily, there were no outward signs when using the skill.
If there had been flashy effects or something unique for each skill, she couldn't have pulled this off.
"How's that? Feel lighter?"
"Yeah, better than this morning."
Han Ji-seong was in a chronic Dark Addiction state, after all.
"Thanks, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
"No big deal."
She barely had the energy to respond honestly.
She pulled a Stamina Recovery Potion from her subspace and downed it.
Awakener delivery was the best.
The blue liquid slid down her throat, and its effects kicked in immediately.
Her dizzy vision cleared, and strength returned to her limbs.
"What the hell."
Then how was she supposed to do Dark Purification, healing, and hold out without potions?
She flicked her hand to dismiss the system alert.
"I just have a feeling."
Thanks to Magma Guild's help, they had a shot at a guerrilla gate raid, but no one knew when or where it'd pop up.
But from this morning, her intuition had been tingling weirdly. She'd rushed an Awakener delivery for Stamina Recovery Potions and managed the team's stamina too.
Plus Han Ji-seong's Dark Addiction just now.
This was already her third potion today.
"But I've still got 13 more. Heh."
Just then, she spotted Kang Han emerging from the recovery room and was about to call him for healing.
Trrrrrr—
Kang Han's phone rang.
He listened silently, pressed the call button, hung up, and spoke.
"Guerrilla gate assigned."
The guerrilla gate assigned to them via Magma Guild was smack in the middle of an apartment complex in Dongdaemun-gu's Jang-an 2-dong.
Fortunately, the prediction system caught it this time, notifying them 30 minutes before it opened fully.
Luckily, it was close to the Justice Guild building in Jongno.
It hadn't fully opened yet—like someone had slashed the air with a sharp sword, the tear growing steadily.
"Hey, over here!"
Yang Hwa-yeon, who had arrived early, spotted them and waved enthusiastically.
Again—middle of an apartment complex.
People holding up their phones to snap pics of Yang Hwa-yeon by the gate turned their attention to the Justice Guild crew.
"Isn't that Justice Guild?"
"For real. What's up? They do gates too?"
"This isn't dangerous, is it?"
The gate's snake-pupil-like black tear had Association hunters blocking civilian access, giving the area a tense vibe.
But citizens, long used to gates and hunters, buzzed excitedly around the perimeter like crowds at a drama shoot, ignoring the disaster alerts.
"Whoa, gotta post this on StarTalk."
"Already sent it to the group chat."
"Damn, Han Ji-seong's face is insane up close."
It was a far cry from the past hate they'd gotten everywhere—most reactions now were favorable.
Proof of the Justice Guild's improving reputation.
But the innocent Justice Guild members, unused to the attention, hurried along pretending not to care, faces flushing.
"Whoa, they're blushing."
"They're embarrassed, heh."
It was obvious anyway.
Only Nayeo-ju sauntered along shamelessly at the rear.
"Justice Guild here on Magma Guild request."
Kang Han flashed his hunter ID to the blocking Association hunter.
"...Go ahead."
Visibly frustrated at lacking reason to bar them, the hunter sighed deeply and lifted the restricted line.
"Knew it'd end up like this anyway. Thanks for your hard work."
Nayeo-ju offered a perfunctory word of encouragement to the mere staff hunter and crossed the line.
"Heard ahead of time it's a jungle-type dungeon..."
The two guild leaders were already deep in raid planning.
"They do suit each other."
Stoic, stick-in-the-mud types like Kang Han went well with action-oriented, bold ones like Yang Hwa-yeon.
"Who suits who?"
It was a genuine mutter, but Lee Yu-eul heard it like a ghost and asked.
"Those two. They look good together."
"Nah, Hwa-yeon unnie and Han-i oppa? Never."
"Hey, never say never between men and women."
"True, but. No, unnie's type is more the cute side, not like Han-i oppa. Not that wooden type."
"Come on, a guild leader's face makes up for any woodiness."
"Yeah, but purely on looks, you'd match her better."
Lee Yu-eul grinned mischievously, pointing at Nayeo-ju.
"Me? With Guild Leader Kang Han?"
Nayeo-ju snorted.
"Never gonna happen."
"But you just said you never know between men and women..."
Then Kang Han turned to them.
"Get ready."
The gate was about to open fully.
For Nayeo-ju, it was just counting potions in her subspace, but the others drew their weapons.
Click! Click!
Phone cameras snapped pics of Justice Guild prepping here and there.
"Fighting!"
"We believe in you, Yang Hwa-yeon hunter!"
Some citizens cheered too.
At that moment, the gate's entrance swelled abruptly, like a 'pop' was about to burst forth.
The guerrilla gate gaped wide its black maw.
Every phone nearby blared piercingly.
"Let's go."
Kang Han stepped into the gate first.
The Justice Guild's first guerrilla gate raid had begun.