Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Friends and New Gear
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"Why say something so disheartening?"
"Teacher, how old are you turning this year?"
"Thirty-two."
"That's only a nine-year difference between us."
"Nayeo-ju-ssi."
Seo Yu-baek looked at me with an expression that said, What am I going to do with her?
"Nine years is a big gap. Especially for someone like you, Nayeo-ju-ssi, who's barely been an adult for a minute. You should meet people closer to your age."
"But..."
I didn't back down.
"I don't think age matters that much when it comes to making friends."
Right?
Age gaps of three years don't even register once you're out of school and in the real world—might as well be the same age.
And while Seo Yu-baek was nine years older than me, his face was so smooth and firm that no one would bat an eye if he claimed to be mid-twenties.
"..."
But Seo Yu-baek fell silent for a moment.
I watched a flurry of emotions flicker across his pale, pristine face in the quiet.
Was suggesting friendship such a huge deal?
Had I crossed a line?
Just as I started feeling timid, Seo Yu-baek asked,
"You really meant... friends?"
"I don't think I beat around the bush there."
"Ah, right. You're correct."
Seo Yu-baek muttered to himself, removed his glasses, and rubbed his face dry.
"Teacher, you okay?"
"Yes, just... for a second, I felt like trash."
If an upstanding adult like Seo Yu-baek was trash, what did that make me?
"If someone like you is trash, then I'm non-recyclable waste. Perfect—we trash buddies can be friends."
Suddenly, Seo Yu-baek let out a self-deprecating chuckle at my words. He adjusted his glasses, straightened his back, and returned to his composed posture.
Back to the familiar Seo Yu-baek.
"Alright, let's do that."
Mission accomplished.
"Whoa, look at the time already. I've got somewhere to be next, so I'll head out. Call me if you get bored, Teacher!"
No way was I sticking around for more lectures.
As I bolted for the door, Seo Yu-baek called out to stop me.
"Nayeo-ju-ssi, come find me anytime if things get tough."
"Obviously!"
That's why I'd shown up with a fruit basket full of apple mangos!
"See you later!"
Maybe because we'd become friends, he didn't repeat his usual "let's not meet too often" line from last time.
As I stepped out of the consultation room, I heard a cheerful ding-dong- in my ear.
Nice—everything's going according to plan.
Becoming friends with Seo Yu-baek, the guy novel readers dubbed the "adult gentleman."
One life truth I've learned: fake friends are better the more you have.
Saturday morning.
The Justice Guild gathered in the office for the first time in ages after finishing training, all huddled together.
"Was this place always this cramped?"
"They say tadpoles don't remember being that small. You're just used to the big training grounds now."
"Idiot, it's the frog that doesn't remember being a tadpole."
"Shut up."
"Yes, sir."
We had more than one or two things to discuss.
The twins shut their mouths at my word.
Though they were still kicking each other under the desk, bickering away.
When do I raise those two?
I ignored it for now and got to the point.
"As the guild's sugar mama and CEO, the reason I called this meeting today is—"
I pulled two items from my sub-space.
"My sword!"
Lee Yu-eul lit up, reaching out with both hands and making grabby motions.
"Yes, yes."
I handed the machete back to Lee Yu-eul and passed along Jeong Je-hwa's appraisal sheet too.
"It even has a sheath now!"
Just in case, I'd brought the crocodile leather item, and Jeong Je-hwa whipped up a perfect sheath for the machete in a flash.
It seemed like a crafting method that took some effort even with skills.
Jeong Je-hwa munched on the candy I'd bought him and finished it in under five minutes.
"That jungle guy? It was itemized after all. Even imprinted it for you."
"I-Imprinted?"
Only then did Lee Yu-eul hurriedly open the appraisal sheet and read it.
"For real? A-grade? And now only I can use it properly?"
"Someone else could swing it, but they wouldn't get the same effects as you."
"Whoa, jackpot. What should I name her?"
Seeing Lee Yu-eul beam like a kid on Christmas made me feel pretty good.
All I'd done was confirm she'd earned the sword's recognition by picking it up.
Lee Yu-eul rubbed her face against the machete, squealing in delight—it'd take a while for her to calm down, so I moved on.
"This is a crystal from the glacier gate mining run last time."
I set the small wooden jewelry box on the table and showed everyone the appraisal sheet first.
"My eyes aren't playing tricks, right?"
Jang Su-ho rubbed his eyes and said.
Lee Yu-chan looked skeptical too.
"Sis, I think the appraisal's wrong."
"Appraisal's solid. A top-notch expert did it."
"So this is really...?"
Han Ji-seong and Kang Han, usually men of few words, read the sheet over and over.
That's when I opened the jewelry box.
"Argh! So bright!"
"It's gorgeous!"
"Ooh, the sparkle! The sparkle!"
As expected, the hellhound trio reacted the best.
I bet this is how Jeong Je-hwa felt watching me freak out.
"Ta-da! Thanks to a skilled crafter's touch, this B-grade crystal has been reborn as A-grade earrings!"
"Wooow!"
Even applause broke out a few times.
"Great item. 40% stamina recovery will be a huge help for you, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
Han Ji-seong said.
"This one's for you, Han Ji-seong-ssi."
"...Pardon?"
Not just him—everyone's eyes went wide, assuming it was for me.
"No way—this design screams Han Ji-seong-ssi."
"It's not about design. Stamina recovery is for healers..."
"I commissioned this specifically for you—insulting the design right now?"
"N-No, that's not it."
Teasing the ice prince is always fun.
The faint blush on his pale face made it even better.
"I told you last time. You need stamina boosts, Han Ji-seong-ssi. That's how you'll endure berserk mode."
"But still, Nayeo-ju-ssi should..."
"No buts. It's yours."
I slid the jewelry box toward Han Ji-seong.
"Try it on."
Even then, Han Ji-seong hesitated to touch the earrings.
His blue eyes, filled with emotion, just stared.
"Come on."
At my urging, he finally carefully lifted the earrings from the box and hooked them into his left ear.
"Waaah."
"Suits you perfectly."
"Looks good, hyung."
Even Kang Han praised him, and Han Ji-seong with the earrings was stunning.
Before, he was like a handsome plaster statue; now, he had an air of divinity.
The earrings' effect might be minor now, but over time, that 40% difference would grow massive.
"Here, keep the certificate safe too."
"Tha...nk you."
Han Ji-seong couldn't hide his emotion as he spoke to me.
Ding-dong-
"If you're grateful, drop the formalities. Honestly, it's awkward hearing honorifics from someone turning thirty next year."
With the mood set, I brought up something that'd been bugging me.
Politeness is fine, but Han Ji-seong was the eldest in the guild anyway.
"That's..."
Han Ji-seong's eyes shook wildly.
But after moving his lips a few times while looking at me, he said clearly, if softly,
"Okay, thanks for the earrings, Nayeo-ju-ya."
Ding-dong-
Very satisfying result.
Now, time for the real main topic.
"Alright, let's talk about our next move."
All five pairs of eyes turned to me.
"Guerrilla gates are great, but our main income source is still elsewhere, right?"
"You don't mean..."
"Bingo. We're going mining again!"