Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Not Blonde, No Tan, and Not a Delinquent
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As soon as they stepped out of the taxi, Jiyu came trotting up to greet them.
"Hi—"
"You were almost late? Out with another girl again, huh."
"Hehe…."
Jiyu punched Sia's arm like it was a speed bag.
It tickled just right.
Her cheeks were slightly puffed up in the cutest way.
"Seriously… You know you're already the talk of the site? They say a Golden Sun returnee showed up who's banging women left and right."
"Not blonde, no tan, and not a delinquent?"
"You act just like one."
With her pale skin and black-and-blue two-tone hair,
Sia didn't look the part of a Golden Sun at all.
But her skills were overwhelmingly superior to even veterans who'd been at it for years.
She wasn't just good at one thing either—she pulled boss aggro up front, handled hordes of monsters, and even nailed support roles from the rear, all flawlessly.
And to top it off, her sex life was as messy as it got, right in proportion to her talent.
The list of women she'd already slept with was already piling up.
The ones who'd been with her didn't complain much, but there was this weird vibe hanging around them.
Plus, Sia didn't hide the fact that she was packing—even if she didn't advertise it outright—which only fueled the rumors more.
She had all the traits of those Golden Suns you'd see in adult content, straight out of the gate.
"Check the Awakener app's local board—it's full of posts about guys whose girls you stole."
"Nah, that's exaggerated. And I didn't touch anyone who's taken. Or even anyone who seemed like they were in the talking stage…."
Like with Subin, where the husband cheated first or they kept refusing sex.
Unless there was something seriously wrong with the relationship, Sia never made the first move.
Even if they were single, if it felt like a fling was brewing, she'd back off tactfully.
Her sex life was utter debauchery otherwise… but she still carried the title of Hero.
The reason she wasn't treated like some new succubus queen in that other world was thanks to the Goddess's blessing—and her skill at walking that tightrope.
"Doesn't change how much of a scumbag you are."
But excuses like that only worked on people who'd buy them.
Not on someone she'd had tons of sex with, even if they weren't girlfriends… someone who'd been talked into getting pregnant, no less. It just pissed her off.
Sia let Jiyu land a few more cute punches with her pouty face before pulling her into a hug.
"Ack… Hey! This is right in front of the guild!"
"So what? Can't I hug my girl however I want?"
They'd both been busy lately, so it had been almost a week since they'd last met.
Sia buried her face in Jiyu's hair and took a deep breath.
She planted light kisses on her forehead here and there… gradually inching toward her lips.
"…You real player. I hate you so much…."
Jiyu squirmed shyly in Sia's arms for a while before settling down and wrapping her own arms around Sia's waist.
After hugging and sharing light kisses for a good long while, Jiyu jolted away when the guild building suddenly grew noisy inside.
"Did they… see us?"
"What? Why?"
"I told you. New recruit interviews today—first round."
"Oh—kinda rings a bell? But interviews and tests on the same day?"
"The interviews wrap up in the morning. Mom's short on days off, so she crams this stuff into one day."
"Makes sense… Saw on the news how swamped she is."
"She usually gets more rest around now, but with the Gate acting up…."
"That's why I'm here to handle it, right?"
"…You're a jerk, but damn reliable."
Peering through the building's frosted glass, Sia saw boys and girls in suits, still looking young and fresh, clustered together.
"Whoa. They're all just kids."
"They're around our age, sis."
"Ugh…."
Sia clamped her lips shut after blurting out something that made her sound old.
She was usually quick with a snarky comeback, but age talk shut her right down. Adorable.
'Does feeling like the only one who's aged really bug her that much?'
Feeling a pang of regret for teasing her, Sia reached for her hand—only for Sia to keep going.
"But… they really do look super young? Just taking twenties?"
"Yeah. Lots of minors this time, I heard. …Feels kinda strict, but that's Mom's policy."
You had to be an adult to awaken and work properly.
Before that, it wasn't impossible, but restrictions abounded.
Jiyu's mom, Haran, preferred nurturing young awakeners in her guild from the start, sticking to those standards.
"Kinda few applicants for such a famous guild, though."
Inevitable, really.
Not many awakened that young to begin with.
And guild apps had minimum requirements, thinning the herd even more.
"C'mon in. I'll give you the guild tour till Mom's done with interviews."
"She's doing them herself? Surprising."
"We're a small guild. Lots of interaction, so she likes chatting them up personally to pick who fits. It's more like gossip than a real interview."
"You go through it too?"
"Duh. Back then, the guild master had to use formal speech with her applicant. You have no idea how awkward it was hearing Mom talk all polite."
"Hm… Never had a mom, so no clue."
Jiyu grimaced at Sia's words and smacked her butt.
As the two entered the building, all eyes turned to them instantly.
At first, they tensed up, thinking rivals had shown—but relaxed with sighs once they saw the casual clothes.
Moments later, though, the applicants' youthful eyes lit up with that minor's mix of awe and nerves upon recognizing Jiyu.
You could see them debating whether to approach.
Sia chuckled at the reactions.
Just as they were about to pass by, a tall guy called out, his voice dripping with admiration.
"Um, excuse me… Are you Jiyu-sunbae?"
"Uh… Yeah."
"Ah…! Nice to meet you, sunbae! I watch you on the news all the time!"
His words broke the dam—hesitant applicants swarmed in.
Some sparkled with pure excitement, firing off questions; others hung back, either too shy or just uninterested.
"Um… sudden, but thank you. That sudden Gate last time? My brother's house was right there."
"Oh, uh… Is your family okay?"
"Yes, thanks to you!"
This much was a little overwhelming but nice.
Stories like that always warmed her heart.
But everywhere you went, some annoying types cropped up, age be damned.
One guy went straight for flattery to impress the guild master's daughter.
"Wow…! Saw it in articles, but you're even prettier in person!"
Skill compliments? Fine. Random looks praise? Jiyu grimaced.
Especially with Sia right there.
She almost snapped back snarkily but held her breath and endured.
No point airing displeasure to guild hopefuls.
As Jiyu forced an awkward smile, the chaos ramped up.
"O-okay… Everyone, calm down a sec…."
All the attention felt suffocating.
Jiyu had done interviews before, but never been mobbed like this.
News appearances didn't make her a celeb—no one recognized her outside.
But these were all awakeners, Cheongrin Guild hopefuls.
The reaction was only natural.
That's when Sia, who'd been hanging back a step, slid an arm around Jiyu's waist and pulled her close.
"Ack…!"
Sia beamed a gentle smile, locking eyes with each applicant one by one.
Even the quiet ones in back.
No words, just that gaze—and the rowdy vibe went dead silent from the subtle pressure.
"Um…."
"Aren't you here for guild interviews today? Is all this commotion okay?"
Her soft words made them all look away.
They bowed and apologized one by one after a beat.
Jiyu waved them off frantically.
Just as the minor fuss was dying down, the first guy who'd spoken up piped up again.
"Um… Are you a new guild member? I'm a huge Cheongrin fan—I know all the members, but I've never seen you…."
"Ah, no, I'm not—"
Sia seized the moment, hugging Jiyu's waist tight and leaning in cheek-to-cheek.
"Just… this close with Jiyu?"
"Heyyy…! What the—?!"
Jiyu startled and tried to pull away, but Sia held firm.
Better to flaunt it than keep it secret—fewer complications.
'Kill one, you're a murderer; kill thousands, you're a hero.'
Crude analogy, far from the point… but half-assed playboy antics drew brutal backlash.
Go big, own it shamelessly, and people just shrug.
'Push any boundary hard enough, and eventually you hit that ridiculous peak.'
Shed done it once in that other world.
Hero status helped, sure.
No reason she couldn't here.
Timing was key, but as they said, rip the bandage off—Sia struck when the iron was hot.
Rumors were already swirling anyway.
Always seen together? Bound to stir talk. Better clear it fast.
"…Black-and-blue secret two-tone hair…. Eek, you're that person from the boards!"
A girl yelped then.
The applicants split clear down the middle.
Those in the know recoiled in shock; the clueless just tilted heads.
"…Come to think of it, I think I saw you two kissing outside earlier."
Someone muttered low.
Quiet as it was, no one here missed it.
The oblivious kids startled back at the bombshell.
Time seemed to freeze—until Jiyu's mom, Yeon Haran, stepped out from the hall's end, mumbling blankly.
"…What did you just say?"