Chapter 70
Chapter 70
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Nayeo-ju Saves the World
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I was lying there with just one foot dangling into reality, half-asleep, when Kang Han spoke up with a genuinely apologetic look on his face.
"Would you mind getting up for a moment?"
"Huh? Why?"
I'm so comfy right now.
"Let's not do this here. Go to your room and get some proper rest."
"I like it here."
"Even a short nap should be done right, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
Kang Han said it quite sternly.
He sure has a knack for nagging subtly.
"Fine, I get it."
I reluctantly started to sit up.
Or at least, I tried to.
"Baek Young-ah?"
But Baek Young, who had fallen asleep on my chest at some point, wouldn't budge.
His tail tip was swishing faintly, so he was clearly awake.
"Baek Young-ah, your dad's here."
I tried coaxing him softly, but the little guy didn't move an inch.
"Baek Young?"
Kang Han seemed pretty flustered too, stroking Baek Young's head and tilting his own in confusion.
Then, something incredible happened.
Whoosh.
The little one dodged Kang Han's hand and buried his face deep into my chest.
"Baek Young..."
He was the type who always scurried over on his tiny legs whenever Kang Han showed up.
Kang Han looked deeply hurt by the sudden rejection, his eyes practically quaking.
But Baek Young was adamant.
He kept swishing his tail while squeezing his eyes shut, pretending to sleep—even yawning for effect.
'He's totally faking it.'
I had no idea why.
Why was he suddenly refusing to leave my side?
"Did something happen while I was asleep?"
"No, according to Ji-seong hyung, he ate snacks fine right by your side..."
Kang Han replied with a grave expression.
He must be worried the kid was sick or something.
I decided to soothe Baek Young first.
"Pretty Baek Young-ah, what's wrong with our Baek Young? Is something bothering you?"
This time, it worked.
He cracked one eye open slyly.
"I see. Our little highness—no, Baek Young—doesn't like something. But what is it? I can't guess. Won't you tell your sister?"
With that, he let out a tiny puff of a sigh and started moving.
First to my neck where he'd first settled, then to my face.
He rubbed his little body against me furiously.
Just like a furry animal trying to mark a family member who's been out.
'No way... does he know I went to Jeong Je-hwa's workshop?'
That was the only thing different from usual.
As I pondered that, Baek Young started rubbing his head against the nape of my neck, flipping my tickle switch.
"Yah! Hehe. That tickles! It tickles!"
But Baek Young showed no mercy.
I finally burst out laughing.
"Ahahaha!"
Honestly, I didn't hate it.
Sometimes, when loneliness crept in, I'd wanted to raise an animal to share body heat with.
But in my situation, barely taking care of myself, getting a pet felt too irresponsible.
So I'd just scrolled through other people's pets on my phone.
"Okay, okay? I got it. Puhehe."
"Haha."
It wasn't my laughter this time—a much deeper chuckle rang out.
I looked up to see Kang Han smiling at me and Baek Young.
And at the same moment...
I had no clue why his affinity went up in this situation.
Maybe Baek Young's cuteness cheered him up or something.
Whatever—good is good.
I stayed lying down, savoring the rare sight of Kang Han's smile.
Damn, he's handsome.
If he shot an ad with that face, it'd make bank for sure.
Not that he'd ever smile for a camera.
That was when it happened.
Slither.
Baek Young, who'd been rubbing all over me, suddenly hopped into Kang Han's hand without a second thought.
Look at this kid, zero lingering attachment.
But why he'd acted that way with me remained a mystery.
The only sure thing was that Kang Han's affinity had risen.
'He didn't plan that to make it happen, did he?'
Enigmatic spirit beast as always.
I shook my head at the sight of Kang Han's hood bulging thicker now that Baek Young had hidden inside.
The next day.
Kang Han and I arrived at the Awakener Association.
We headed straight for the Guerrilla Gate Raid Division.
The same place where we'd been shot down last time due to the association's nonsense interference.
"We're here to register as a Guerrilla Gate Raid Guild."
Kang Han said politely, ever the nice guy.
"Ah, Justice Guild..."
The staffer looked reluctant, glancing at what seemed to be his boss before handing over a single sheet of paper.
"Fill out this application form."
Wait, it's this easy?
"There's no section for experience? Last time we got rejected for lacking it."
"That rule..."
The staffer cleared his throat awkwardly before replying.
"Has been removed."
...Should I just take out the association president?
If I tracked him down and healed him a hundred times over, could I make him burst like he'd OD'd on tonics?
Or burn that wig he's wearing to fake a full head of hair right in front of everyone—would that kill him with shame?
Never thought being non-combat would frustrate me this much.
As I racked my brain for ways to off the association president, Kang Han finished filling out the form and tapped my shoulder.
"Let's go."
His expression wasn't great either.
He was pissed at the absurdity but wouldn't cross the line.
"Sigh, alright. Let's head out."
What sin did this poor wage slave commit?
He's just following orders from that pot-bellied association president.
With my combat power at zero, I followed Kang Han out.
As we entered the lobby, something I hadn't noticed last time caught my eye.
A massive screen on the association lobby wall, open to outsiders too.
"Korea Guild Rankings."
It listed guilds from 1st to 20th with their names and scores.
You might wonder about the scores without exams, but they're based on a fairly objective standard even Sama Young couldn't fudge.
Like merit points.
Points for clearing gates and contributing to public safety and national stability.
Affiliated hunters' numbers and ranks factor in too.
Of course, Justice Guild wasn't in the top ranks.
Having cleared just two guerrilla gates, we're probably scrapping with brand-new rookie guilds outside the top 100.
"As expected, the top four are just shuffling around."
Current standings:
Every one of them sporting sky-high scores.
"Now that we're on the list, we just need to rack up merit points."
Kang Han said to me as I stopped to gaze up at the rankings.
"Yeah. We'll climb into the top 20 in no time."
"...Let's."
Thinking I was joking, Kang Han chuckled softly.
But I was dead serious.
Mark my words—Justice Guild will settle into the top 20 in record time.
And eventually...
'We'll take number one.'
I gave the brightly shining Camellia Guild spot one last look before turning and walking away.
A few days later.
The seven of us guild members, including me, sat around in the training grounds.
On the table sat Justice Guild's phone.
Screen pitch black, no notifications.
"It should've come by now."
I tapped the screen, but nothing new.
"Why no contact?"
Days had passed since we got on the list, but Justice Guild still hadn't been assigned a guerrilla gate.