Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Golems' Joyful Reunion
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“Eueungheungheung, you rascals! You missed the princess, didn't you!”
—Keeit
—Clack!
It felt like forever since I'd last seen Minium and Suri. The moment we entered the UK, they jumped straight into a brawl—what utter delinquents. Of course, it was all on my orders, so no harm done.
I scooped up the shrunken Minium and Suri, hugging them tight and patting their heads. Now it finally felt like we were whole again.
“Ophelia! So, are we going to pick up our weapons now?”
“Not today. For now, we'll get the list of available gear from Crown Guard and take our time deciding.”
“Oh, I see.”
A shame—I couldn't just demand they hand everything over right now and take it back to the dorm. Besides, transporting it ourselves would be a hassle anyway. They said Crown Guard would ship it directly to Korea later, since hauling dangerous weapons on a regular passenger plane wasn't ideal.
There was always the risk of lost baggage or someone attacking to steal it.
“I remember them being a bit bigger just a moment ago. They've shrunk.”
“Ah, Minium can grow and shrink at will.”
“Minium? Is that the golem's name?”
“Yep!”
Beanpole Uncle took a flying kick from Minium and went soaring off with a tee-yoong. Thanks to that, he was out of bounds—my victory. The guns I'd had Ophelia fuse for the fight were outdated consumables anyway, so I just gave them away.
They also mentioned rewards from the association itself. We wanted Crown Guard products, sure, but it might look like the UK Hunter Association was dumping all the compensation on them.
“What're they offering from the association?”
“I'm mulling over the proposed list. I'll show you later.”
“Ah, got it.”
I hadn't expected things to play out like this. I went to ride the London Eye, ran into terrorists out of nowhere, played the hero, then scrapped with some bigwig at the UK Hunter Association.
“Hmmmmm...”
“Is there something you'd like?”
“Ophelia, I think I need something to protect myself with too.”
“I see.”
Ophelia had gotten her guns, and if something like this happened again, I could be in danger too. Sure, with Summon, the golems would all come running, but I'm a Hunter at the end of the day—I want to fight.
“Something like a sword I can turn into a golem myself...”
You know in those games, the kind mounted on your arm that shoots out with a pshook? Not a golem exactly, but something that assists in combat?
“When we get back to Korea, I'll make a weapon tailored to your wishes.”
“Really!? Yay!!”
* * * * *
“Ugh, I'm beat.”
Evening, back at Claridge's from the UK Hunter Association. A ton had happened, but it boiled down to collecting rewards—which would take time and arrive after we returned to Korea.
—Dwoing
“Did I overeat?”
All that was left of dinner was the super tasty pasta now in my belly. Poking my stomach, it felt all soft and squishy.
“Did I... gain weight...?”
Come to think of it, I'd been indulging in Dubai Chewy Cookies a bit too much lately. I sped through my Roblox workouts at 1.5x speed to save time for gaming, but shouldn't faster movements burn way more calories?
Sure, I skipped a few things at the quicker pace, but I'd been walking the doggo plenty too.
“Hmm.”
Ophelia, sitting at the table next to me reviewing papers from the association, turned to stare at me blankly for a moment before standing up.
“Ophelia?”
“Pardon the intrusion.”
She slipped her hands under my armpits and hoisted me up effortlessly. Tilting her head briefly, she set me down and closed her eyes.
“Princess. You've gained weight.”
“Eung.”
“Dubai Chewy Cookies—the 70-gram ones you usually order—are about 210 calories each. They're extremely high-calorie.”
“Eek.”
“It seems we need to cut back on snacks.”
“Nooo...!”
I'd only gained a tiny bit, but Ophelia ruthlessly confiscated my Dubai Chewy Cookies without batting an eye.
“B-but! I'm still a kid! It's... my growth spurt!!”
“During growth periods, the priority is building a healthy body through a balanced diet. Extreme high-fat, high-sugar desserts like Dubai Chewy Cookies aren't much help.”
“Ugyaak!”
Ophelia hammered me with straight facts. Reeling from the truth bombs, I flopped onto the bed after she set me down.
“Th-this can't be...”
“You're currently modeling for Royal Mayfair. If weight gain leads to contract termination and penalties...”
“A-and if it does...?”
“Your allowance could drop to 150,000 won a month.”
“Nooooooo!!!!!!”
150,000 won a month. Half of what I get now. For someone who freaks over 500 Robux, that's enough to buy the universe.
I'd splurged 290 Robux on a new class in a fun game recently, but it underperformed, so that was already weighing on me...!!!
“Waaah, nooo...”
“Then, let's do some exercise today.”
My workouts had been on vacation since coming to the UK. I'd been busy with work and walking more than usual. No way skipping a little exercise caused this...! Impossible!!
“But I don't have my gym clothes...?”
“We do.”
“Oh.”
She brought them. For real.
* * * * *
“No wonder you look tired today.”
“D-did I...?”
“A little.”
“Haaa...”
Next morning, during equipment setup at the shoot.
Last night's workout left me drenched in sweat, then bath and bed—and somehow the fat melted away. The pasta had just bloated my belly. Ophelia weighed me that morning and confirmed I'd slimmed back down.
But I'd already done the workout—super intensely—and my body felt a tad fatigued. Eloise spotted it right away.
“Oh yeah, did you get home safe that time?”
“Yeah. You?”
“Me too. Whew, never saw that coming. How're your grandparents?”
“They're both fine. Just a bit startled.”
“Phew, good.”
Luckily, Eloise's grandparents weren't badly hurt. I remember her bawling her eyes out back then, but she seemed better now. Don't kids get trauma from stuff like that?
“You okay?”
“Me...? Yeah. Totally fine.”
But Eloise was with her grandparents on New Year's, not her parents. Busy, maybe? I wanted to ask, but it felt like prying...
“What? Spill it.”
“H-how'd you know...?!”
“Your mouth kept twitching. Figured you had something to ask.”
“Gasp, really?”
I slapped a hand over my mouth too late—she'd already clocked it. Eloise stared, head tilted like just ask already.
“It's... kinda personal.”
“What? I'm fine with it.”
“N-no, never mind. Not curious anymore.”
“Now I am. What were you gonna ask?”
She yanked her chair closer, our shoulders brushing, face inches from mine—cocoa scent wafting over.
“Y-you won't get mad...?”
“Nope. Out with it.”
Kids who say that always blow up when you actually ask. But I'm her lifesaver, right...?
“U-um... Eloise, where are your parents...?”
“Ah...”
“N-no! I mean! New Year's Day, wouldn't it be nice to be together...?”
See? Awkward vibe instantly.
Eloise looked up slowly at the sky after hearing me.
'N-no way... they're in heaven...?!'
No, couldn't be. Both parents gone? With grandparents around!? No way.
“Mom and Dad are busy. They're Hunter cops.”
“Gasp, both of them?”
“Yeah. They met on the job.”
“I-I see... Still, missing New Year's together feels off. Especially after that near-miss.”
Eloise raised her right hand, showing the back.
“Huh? Your hand?”
“See this?”
“What is it?”
Rubbing the back of her hand, a curious yellow pattern shimmered to life. I felt a faint mana reaction too.
“What's that?”
“Mom engraved it. Said it'd protect me in danger.”
“R-really...?”
But I protected her when it counted. It looked like glow-in-the-dark ink, but the mana suggested real power.
“Did you... use it at the London Eye?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh? What'd it do?”
“I met you.”
“Eung.”
Why's that your mom's power? It's mine.
“It calls super strong luck.”
“Heh, really?”
Do Awakeners have luck powers? Sounds superstitious, but calling her mom's gift fake would make me the villain. Hard to say outright.
“Cool. Your mom's amazing.”
“Hehe, right?”
Eloise is usually blank-faced and prickly at work, but smiling? Adorbs.
“Eloise, you look pretty when you smile.”
“Wh-what. Outta nowhere.”
Face flushing, she rubbed her cheeks awkwardly, then went silent before looking at me.
“You're pretty too, Eve.”
“I'm cool.”
“Doesn't feel like it.”
“Hey!”
This kid.