Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: S-Rank Potion Master Debut
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Im Cheong-su ended up sharing a room with Jang Su-ho.
Over the past few days, they'd put up a partition and brought in a bed and some furniture, but it still felt lacking.
'He's at that age where he needs his own space.'
I set his duffel bag on his bed and spoke to Im Cheong-su, who was looking around the room with wide, round eyes.
"I'll make you your own room as soon as we have some spare time. We can just expand it with a sub-space."
"Nah, no need fer that."
I'd expected at least a little disappointment.
Just like when he'd first seen the Justice Guild building, Im Cheong-su's eyes sparkled.
"Better sharin' with Su-ho hyung than bein' all by myself."
"Huh? Why's that?"
"Dunno. Feels like it'd be lonely alone."
Ah, right.
Im Cheong-su had spent his whole life bustling around with his grandparents.
I nodded and glanced at Jang Su-ho.
Sure enough, he was standing there with his chest puffed out, looking triumphant.
"Wouldn't want a kid who just came up to Seoul all alone to have his own room and feel lonely, right?"
That was what Jang Su-ho had said when I'd tried calling a sub-space contractor.
Yeah, you're right.
As I shot him a look, he lifted his chin even higher.
He looked just like a large dog begging for praise.
I had no idea why he was getting more and more dog-like in his antics.
Tsking my tongue, I pointed at the smartphone on Im Cheong-su's desk.
"That's yours."
"A smartphone? I don't need one o' them."
Even as he said it, his hand reached for it instinctively.
"We need it. We'll have to dive into dungeons on short notice sometimes. You gonna call the office every time and ask them to make an announcement?"
"...I'll take good care of it, thank ya."
"There you go. Now look here."
I took the phone from his hand for a moment.
"Remember this well. I'm not teaching you twice."
I found the pre-saved number and tapped a few buttons.
Ring ring ring—
After a few rings, the screen filled with the faces of his grandparents from their mountain village in Chungcheong Province.
"G-Grandma? Grandpa? Is that really you?"
[Yup. Can ya see our faces okay?]
"Crystal clear! When'd ya get a phone?!"
[It just arrived by Awakener express or whatever. Don't forget to thank yer hyung and noona properly, ya hear?]
"Yeah, got it."
Seeing his grandparents even through video seemed to cheer him up, as Im Cheong-su's voice brightened noticeably.
I watched from a step back and quietly told Jang Su-ho,
"Take good care of Cheong-su."
"...What's gotten into you, saying stuff like that."
"He's still a kid."
"He's not a kid. He's plenty grown. He'll handle himself fine."
Even if he said that, I knew Jang Su-ho would look after Im Cheong-su attentively.
He was the one who properly played the big brother role for the twins.
Without Jang Su-ho—compared to the quiet Kang Han and the kind but busy Han Ji-seong—the twins wouldn't have grown up so lively.
I gave Jang Su-ho's shoulder a final pat and turned to leave.
[Yer goin' off to the big city, so we'll be worried sick...]
Her grandson worries leaked out through the closing door, lightening my steps as I headed to my room.
'S-rank Potion Master recruitment complete.'
Justice Guild had been on its last legs not long ago, but after I set up the pillar, a ripe pumpkin came rolling in on the vine.
The next day.
Han Ji-seong and Kang Han took Im Cheong-su to the Awakener Registration Center.
Because Nayeo-ju had begged the manager for a day off and was lying flat on the training ground sofa, refusing to get up.
And the three men's arrival immediately drew everyone's attention.
"What's this, another new recruit for Justice Guild?"
"A kid this time?"
Curious stares.
And comments on their stunning visuals.
"Do they pick guild members by face or what?"
"Kang Han, Han Ji-seong, and who's the squirrelly kid?"
"Total idol material."
"...Cheong-su, you don't have to force a smile."
"Nayeo-ju noona said to smile."
Im Cheong-su, determined to speak Seoul dialect now that he was in the city, was already hitting his limits on day one.
Plus, the moment they arrived at the center, everyone was whispering about them, making his cheeks ache from smiling.
"I'm dyin' of worry it'll come out super low-rank. No idea why she said to smile at the center... um, yeah."
"...Nayeo-ju always has a plan."
Han Ji-seong gave up trying to understand her and patted poor Im Cheong-su's back.
"Justice Guild Master Kang Han here. We'd like to request an awakening scan for Im Cheong-su."
"Ah... um, do you have a referral note?"
"No, we don't. We'll take a number and wait..."
"No need! Right this way!"
The staffer sensed that leaving these three in the waiting room would draw not just the current crowd but every hunter nearby, so she hurriedly opened the exam room door.
And despite her efforts, about ten minutes later, the Awakener Registration Center was in chaos.
"An S-rank Potion Master?!"
That was Awakener Association President Jo Gye-young yelling as he rushed down to the waiting room.
"Crazy."
"Did I hear that right? Potion Master?"
"S-rank, they say. Justice Guild hit the jackpot."
"Justice Guild's on fire lately."
The waiting room turned into a bustling marketplace in seconds.
The shocked staffer came around the desk to greet the president.
"President! You're here!"
"It's really an S-rank Potion Master, confirmed?!"
Jo Gye-young's face flushed with joy.
He'd checked the auto-registered status window and run straight from his office, but he still couldn't believe it.
He'd been dying under Sama Young's watchful eye lately.
But if he could just connect this S-rank Potion Master with Sama Guild, he wouldn't have to face that terrifying guy for a while.
"Um, President... but..."
The staffer tried to speak, but Jo Gye-young waved her off.
"Tell them to come out quick! Or I'll go in..."
Click.
Just then, the exam room door opened, and as Jo Gye-young approached with a salesman smile,
"Excuse me."
"K-Kang Han Guild Master, why are you..."
Kang Han, as tricky as Sama Young, looked down at the president from on high.
"Step aside."
Jo Gye-young unwittingly stepped back.
Then, familiar Han Ji-seong and a boyish young man emerged behind Kang Han.
"Guild Master hyung! See? I'm S-rank!"
The flushed, bouncing kid was clearly the newly discovered S-rank Potion Master, Im Cheong-su.
"Why Justice Guild, of all places... why..."
The president wanted to faint.
He'd thought it was a gift from the heavens, only to find it already belonged to Justice Guild!
But he couldn't back down now.
Forgetting the crowd's eyes in the waiting room and tossing aside his dignity,
"Im Cheong-su, I'm Jo Gye-young, president of the Korean Awakener Association. I can introduce you to a better guild than Justice..."
As he approached Im Cheong-su, a wall suddenly appeared.
No, it was Kang Han's massive, solid chest.
"President."
"W-what."
"Don't you know the Minor Awakener Transfer Ban Law?"
It was a recent law to protect young high-rank hunters from guild turf wars.
No other guild could approach or offer transfers to a minor already affiliated until adulthood.
"That's for normal cases! An S-rank Potion Master could be an exception!"
"There are no exceptions."
Kang Han's low voice rang clear in the ears of the president and all the aspiring awakeners in the waiting room.
"Hunter Im Cheong-su is already Justice Guild. Follow the law."
After warning Jo Gye-young, Kang Han scanned the room.
Some were already filming personal streams on their phones.
Just as Nayeo-ju had said.
'Don't stop them.'
He recalled her words as she merged with the training room sofa, wriggling into a blanket.
'Treasures are safest when you brag about them loud and clear, not hide them.'
Kang Han naturally blocked the dejected president with his body and said,
"Cheong-su, let's head to the guild."
"Hey!"
Im Cheong-su clutched his printed status window to his chest and replied energetically.
"But that association uncle guy... we just leavin' him like that?"
Someone should prop him up.
Han Ji-seong just gave a wry smile at Im Cheong-su's question.
And as Kang Han strode forward, the crowd parted like the sea.
People stepped back without realizing it, making way for him.
"Guild Master hyung's so cool."
At the quiet whisper, Kang Han extended his large hand.
Soon, heavy but gentle pats landed on his head a couple times.
Knowing Kang Han was usually quiet and inexpressive, Im Cheong-su grinned.
'Joined the right guild.'
Eager to get back and show his grandparents the status window, Im Cheong-su hurried after Kang Han's broad back.
Sama Guild Master's office was dark, every outside light blocked by a single button.
In the pitch black, the only light came from a large screen playing someone's personal broadcast.
[But that association uncle guy... we just leavin' him like that?]
The new S-rank Im Cheong-su's boyish voice flowed from the speakers.
"Lost out on an S-rank Potion Master."
Sama Young muttered, twisting one corner of his mouth.
"Things are getting interesting."
Justice Guild, stuck in the mud, was struggling to climb out.
It had already gotten an arm and leg over the edge.
"What changed?"
Sama Young's long fingers picked up a document from the table, as if finding the answer.
"Nayeo-ju."
Ever since this woman joined Justice Guild, his plans kept going awry.
All changes traced back to this pretty little thing.
Whoosh.
Flames rose from his fingertips, instantly devouring the paper dense with Nayeo-ju's personal details and recent movements.
"Guess it's time to meet her."
In the darkness, Sama Young's eyes flickered red.