Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Nayeo-ju Saves the World
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"Grandma and Grandpa knew all along, huh."
"You think they believed the medicine you brewed for them every day was just licorice water?"
"...Yeah, fair point."
Cheong-su looked deflated, lost in thought.
Let's hear him out first.
"Why the long face, kid? If you don't wanna go, we won't make you."
I figured I'd sweet-talk him into wanting to come along somehow.
"It ain't that."
Im Cheong-su kicked idly at his toes before continuing.
"If I go, what about Grandma and Grandpa?"
Sure enough, this little guy's weakness—and treasure—was the grandparents who'd raised him all these years.
"How about we set them up with a nice place to live in Seoul?"
"You could really do that?"
"Well, nothing fancy—our guild's a bit tight on cash right now. But we can find the best spot possible."
"...Nah, no need."
Cheong-su's brief spark of excitement faded right back to gloom.
"Why not? We can swing that much at least."
Do you have any idea how much you'll rake in down the line?
A few months, and it'll pay itself back tenfold.
Im Cheong-su was worth every penny to us.
"It ain't about the money. I reckon them two won't wanna leave this house anyhow."
Cheong-su's beady squirrel eyes gazed at the cozy mountain retreat of a home.
"And sendin' me off far away? They'd worry themselves sick."
"Worry, yeah. Can't rule that out."
Even if he was non-combat, Cheong-su was still a hunter.
No guarantees he'd always be safe.
He'd have to raid dungeons with Justice Guild sometimes.
"Hah."
A short sigh escaped me.
I'd planned to just butter him up proper.
"Worry comes in all shapes, y'know."
I glanced up at the starry sky before speaking.
"Your grandparents are gettin' on in years. They'll probably head to the great beyond before you do, right?"
"...Kid, I know that much."
"But what if they knew you could make it on your own?"
The last glimpse I had of Mom's face—in that shaking car, amid the flashing headlights—was pure worry for me.
Worry for the kid she'd leave behind.
"Wouldn't that lighten their hearts a bit?"
That I'd be fine on my own, no need to fret.
If only I could tell her now.
"Anyway, handin' you over to us? That couldn't have been easy for them."
I can't even imagine the pain of sending your only grandkid off to strangers.
"But they know where your talents belong, so they're trustin' the Justice Guild name."
"...Heard that plenty growin' up. 'People are still alive on this land thanks to Justice Guild,' they'd say."
"Yeah. Even if I say so myself, Guild Leader Kang Han's the real deal."
I added one last bit.
"And Cheong-su, you've always got a place to come back to."
"...True enough. Ain't like I'm headin' to some planet in outer space."
"It's just money holdin' us back. Teleport awakener shuttle service? Twenty minutes tops."
"...Alright."
I hadn't reeled him in exactly as planned, but it worked out somehow.
Just get the stamp tomorrow morning, and...
"One condition."
"What now!"
I was just startin' to feel good!
Picky little brat.
But Im Cheong-su's eyes were dead serious.
"Don't go treatin' me like a baby just 'cause I'm young."
"What do you mean by 'treatin' like a baby'?"
"Leavin' me outta dungeons 'cause it's dangerous, stickin' me in the guildhall all day."
Im Cheong-su scrunched his nose.
"I'd rather stay holed up in these mountains."
"Hey, that was never the plan!"
Stick you in a hole? Please.
I plan to drag you everywhere, mining mana stones and loot from every dungeon!
"Then we're good."
He left it at that, shuffling off in his worn slippers.
"So you're comin' or not?!"
I yelled after him. He glanced back with that look he gave his cousin—like I was hopeless.
"If you can't figure it out after all that, better off not knowin'."
This damn brat.
The next morning.
The other guildmates stayed back in their rooms. Just the two elders, me, Kang Han, and Im Cheong-su.
I dropped to my knees and shouted.
"Grandma! Grandpa! Give Cheong-su to me!"
"Aw, c'mon. Even after all that talk..."
I ignored Cheong-su's grumbling.
The grandparents were what mattered now.
"...Our Cheong-su really caught your eye, huh?"
"Yes! I'll take him to Justice Guild and raise him right, feed him good—"
Almost said "work him to the bone" there.
"But Kang Han the guild leader agrees?"
"I forgot to mention yesterday, but guild ops fall under Nayeo-ju here, not me."
"Huh? How'd that happen?"
"Well, Nayeo-ju basically saved Justice Guild—"
I cut in quick before Kang Han—incapable of lies or spin—spilled the awkward truth.
"I'm tryin' to set Justice Guild right again, Grandpa."
Grandpa eyed me steadily through wrinkled lids.
Even tucked away in the mountains, anyone who watched the news knew Justice Guild's mess.
Yet here he was, willing to trust us with his grandson. Must be some faith in the old Justice Guild.
"That's the thinkin', eh."
"The Justice Guild you remember? That's what I'm aimin' to rebuild. So Kang Han and I are handlin' what we're best at."
"I see. But with all that goin' on, you sure takin' our Cheong-su won't be a burden?"
Grandma said worriedly.
"Burden? As someone runnin' the guild, if I wasn't dead sure Cheong-su's a game-changer for us, I wouldn't ask."
"Really... our boy got that kinda talent?"
"We'll test proper at the Awakener Center, but I'm certain. He'll be a fine hunter."
No parent hates hearin' their kid's gifted.
Sure enough, the tension eased. Grandma and Grandpa beamed proudly at Cheong-su.
"Proper contract comes when we pick him up in a few days. But the terms upfront..."
I rattled off the conditions I'd mulled over all night.
Dumped every won from mining and item sales into it.
Wanted to lowball, but...
Like when Cheong-su asked if Justice was top guild and I answered straight—no games.
Snaggin' him cheap now? Short-term win, but he'd resent us once he knew his worth.
'Can't have that.'
Cheong-su's gotta stick with us till we stop the apocalypse.
No poachin' allowed.
"Kinda awkward sayin' this, but... Justice Guild ain't exactly flush, right?"
"True. Don't overdo it. We're happy just sendin' him with folks we trust."
"No."
Kang Han spoke up this time.
"Even if he leaves after the contract, they'll base his market value on this. Better he gets fair treatment now—for his future."
"...Justice Guild through and through."
Grandpa looked moved, eyeing me then Kang Han.
My conscience stung a bit uncharacteristically, so I smiled and bowed.
'Shut it, conscience.'
Yeah, the offer was overly generous for an ungraded mountain kid.
Chump change for an S-rank potion master.
But I'd carve out a fat cut from Justice Guild-branded potions down the line.
And bump his salary as we grow.
Can't pay lump sum yet—installments it is.
"We'll be back in three days for Cheong-su."
My handshake with Grandpa sealed the stamp.
Three days later.
Back to the Chungcheong mountains.
Bumpy road, but drivable right to the house—thank goodness.
Everyone but the schoolbound twins came along.
"Gotta welcome the new guy proper, all together."
Han Ji-seong's reply to my "Is this necessary?"
"Nobody made a fuss when I joined."
"You barged in on your own two feet, Nayeo-ju."
Oh, right.
I got out quietly.
Wonder what the serene house felt like now.
Was tiny Cheong-su bawlin' his eyes out?
Stubbornly refusin' Seoul?
That'd be trouble.
Shoulda given more time?
Such thoughts swirled as I opened the gate to the yard.
"Grandpa! These gotta dry in the sun!"
"Movin' the baskets all day? Waste of time! Close enough!"
"If your knee acts up again, who's takin' blame?!"
"Who said that!"
It was noisy.
Cheong-su, one simple bag on the yard bench, nagging Grandpa. Grandpa barking back, vein popping.
Grandma watched the pair with a smile.
"We're here."
Kang Han's words cut the racket short.
"Ah, you made it."
The yard fell silent, like the fuss never happened.
Cheong-su moved first.
Slung the big bag over his shoulder and strode right up.
"Let's go."
"Say goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa at least."
"Did that till I was sick of it yesterday."
He breezed past us at the gate and out.
"...Cold one."
Grandpa tsked at his back, then told us,
"Long road ahead. Don't waste the day here."
He gathered Grandma and headed out too.
"Uh, what do we do?"
Jang Su-ho stammered at me.
I shrugged at the wide-open blue gate.
"What else? Grandpa said not to linger. Let's roll."
Cheong-su had nimble beat us to the car.
Sitting shotgun-back, starin' ahead stubbornly.
"Grandma, Grandpa. We're off then. And this."
I handed over the contract.
"Read it careful. Questions? Call me. Here's the lawyer's card—have 'em check for anything unfair to Cheong-su."
"Justice Guild tryin' to fool mountain folk like us? Got it."
Scariest words yet.
Backed by the Justice Guild name.
Kang Han bowed deeply.
"I'll look after Cheong-su."
No empty words from him—heavy promise.
Now saddled with world-saving stakes, he'd gladly take on more.
"Y'all goin' or not?! Sun's settin'!"
Cheong-su hollered from the car.
We all knew his heart—no one snapped back.
Not even Grandpa, just gazin' quietly.
Suddenly—
Grandma's wrinkled, warm hand grabbed mine.
"Take care of our boy."
"...Yes, Grandma."
I'd shared Kang Han's burden.
With that, the engine turned.
"Let's get movin'."
I urged them on.
Best to keep goodbyes short.
As the car inched forward, I peered out the window.
"No need to bow that long."
The two elders stood at the blue gate, bent-waisted toward our departing car.
Cheong-su, twisting to look like me—
"Grandma, don't forget to brew your meds daily! Air out the house every mornin' too!"
Naggin' to the end.
On the highway to Seoul, Jang Su-ho quietly flicked on the radio.
To cover the tiny sniffles.
We made Seoul before sundown.
Tollbooth past, amid towerin' buildings, Cheong-su stuck to the window like a fish tank cat, nose mashed flat.
Jongno hit, and his jaw dropped.
The car wove past jagged skyscrapers and lazy Cheonggyecheon, pullin' up to Justice Guild.
Cheong-su hopped out first, starin' up speechless.
Figured the dingy little building amid giants bummed him out.
I sidled up to spice things.
"Don't let looks fool ya—this place has history..."
But his black eyes sparkled.
He grinned at me.
"This here's my home now, huh."