Chapter 27
After Han Chasu closed the door and left, the two guild masters went down to the cafeteria. Not that they were particularly mindful of the hunters strewn about the appraisal office.
“I hear you’re busy.”
“Look who’s pretending he isn’t.”
Jeong Iheun had come to keep Geum Myeonggyeol away from Han Chasu.
“If you don’t hurry there now, your plane will leave, Guild Master Geum Myeonggyeol.”
“You know my flight schedule, but you don’t know it’s a private jet. I suppose your source isn’t as useful as I thought.”
And Geum Myeonggyeol had simply followed him down to get under Jeong Iheun’s skin while Han Chasu was away.
Beaming, Geum Myeonggyeol propped his chin on his hand.
“You must be feeling a sense of crisis. Seeing how eager you are to chase me away. Are you afraid Han Chasu’s heart will lean toward me?”
“Guild Master Geum Myeonggyeol.”
Jeong Iheun set down his cup with an amiable smile.
“When a person drives out a beast, it isn’t out of rivalry, but because it is the proper thing to do for the safety of the community.”
Han Chasu is one of mine, and you are not even human but a beast. Therefore, I am driving you out to protect my own.
At the barbed words hidden within that gentle voice, Geum Myeonggyeol smiled quietly.
“Oh….”
“I wonder what they’re talking about.”
The cafeteria staff watching them from afar whispered among themselves.
“They said they didn’t get along, but they look close.”
Just as they said, the sight of the two men smiling at each other was picturesque.
On one side was Jeong Iheun, who led Cheonryeong, the number one guild in Korea.
And on the other was Geum Myeonggyeol, the head of Exilis, which ranked even higher globally.
The two men’s gentle charisma and overwhelming presence showed their differences from their very appearances.
“One looks like an actor, and the other looks like he’s in the mafia.”
“Right? Maybe because the Exilis Master is mixed-race, but he really fits the part.”
They were whispering from a fair distance, but there was no way it would escape an S-rank’s hearing.
Jeong Iheun gave a soft laugh and covered his mouth.
“Oh, dear. My apologies.”
At the sight of his eyes curving into crescents, a vein bulged on Geum Myeonggyeol’s forehead.
‘Fox-like bastard.’
Judging by his public image and the way he treated his subordinates, Jeong Iheun was undoubtedly the most well-liked hunter among the S-ranks.
But the S-ranks who stood shoulder to shoulder with him knew.
Jeong Iheun was not simply a gentle, affable man.
After taking one sip of the tea he had ordered, Geum Myeonggyeol pushed it far away and said,
“Guild Master Jeong Iheun.”
“Go ahead.”
“I may have acted a bit frivolous in front of Mr. Han Chasu, but I trust you don’t intend to get swept up in that.”
“Of course not.”
Jeong Iheun raised the corners of his mouth and said,
“Is there anyone who doesn’t know that Guild Master Geum Myeonggyeol’s light-hearted goodwill is directed at the item Han Chasu possesses?”
“…….”
“If you dislike the word light-hearted, shall I call it heavy and gloomy goodwill instead?”
“I’ve always thought this, but I think half of my Korean skills are thanks to you.”
“I never intended to take on a disciple, but I’m glad I was of help.”
“So my secretary taught me something this time. I’d like you to tell me if I’m using it correctly.”
Geum Myeonggyeol grinned.
“The word is ‘rash.’ I was told it can be used for someone who grabs hold of a person who wants to rest and forces a lifetime contract on him. Is that right?”
“…….”
Amid their bloody exchange of words and endless battle of gazes, a loud ringtone rang through the cafeteria.
“You should answer it.”
Jeong Iheun gestured with his chin toward Geum Myeonggyeol’s phone.
A crease formed between Geum Myeonggyeol’s brows when he saw the screen. Seeing his expression, Jeong Iheun was certain.
‘It’s Britain.’
Geum Myeonggyeol had been just about to board his flight to Britain. Then he had suddenly left the airport and headed here.
It was fortunate that Jeong Iheun had told his people beforehand to report any strange movements.
Otherwise, today, Han Chasu might have been subjected to a second kidnapping attempt.
“You can go without worrying about Korea.”
Geum Myeonggyeol silently stroked his chin. His golden eyes, carrying a deep light, stared at Jeong Iheun.
A man who laughed carelessly on the outside, but was cold-blooded within. Jeong Iheun knew what he was weighing.
‘He must be making a list of people who might target the item Han Chasu possesses.’
The Cursed Earring of Resonance was an item Geum Myeonggyeol had to obtain no matter what. But he was in a situation where he could not pressure Han Chasu because of himself.
Then the next targets would undoubtedly be the potential buyers.
Awakeners related to curses and faith, the sort who would covet that item just like Geum Myeonggyeol.
Jeong Iheun could immediately think of three or four names himself.
Geum Myeonggyeol was probably planning to control things so that information would not leak to them.
As far as Jeong Iheun was concerned, he had no reason to stop him.
It was common sense that the fewer risks, the better. And variables within a controllable range, if anything, added a slight sense of tension.
Instead of countless reckless, unidentifiable threats, a definite and controlled danger.
‘One Geum Myeonggyeol should be fine.’
As long as he coveted the item, Han Chasu would have no choice but to continue staying with Cheonryeong Guild.
What cut off that satisfying thought was Geum Myeonggyeol’s bold declaration.
“The tea was good, Cheonryeong Guild Master.”
Had he finished deliberating? Geum Myeonggyeol rose from his seat without lingering.
“We’ll continue this conversation when I return.”
He swept back his hair and gestured with his chin toward the teacup. It meant Jeong Iheun should pay.
Jeong Iheun smiled soundlessly and gave a slight nod.
“Don’t mention it.”
If he could drive him out for the price of a single cup of tea, it was a profitable trade. Jeong Iheun was willing to buy him tea any number of times in the future.
Out of courtesy, he was about to get up and see Geum Myeonggyeol off when a loud ringtone rang once more.
“Aren’t you going to answer?”
“…….”
“As far as I know, that call is from that noisy deputy guild master of yours.”
Geum Myeonggyeol, openly mocking him, brightened his eyes as if urging him to answer. He did not look ready to leave until Jeong Iheun picked up.
“Ha….”
In the end, the moment Jeong Iheun sighed and answered the call, a shout poured through the receiver.
—Hey, Jeong Iheun! Where are you right now!!
Hearing the voice, Geum Myeonggyeol wore the satisfied look of a tiger with a full belly.
***
Meanwhile, Han Chasu was buried in extreme anguish. Leaning against the wall, sighs kept bursting from his mouth.
It was the result of hitting that dreadful, utterly dreadful 0.5 percent jackpot.
‘If you were going to pour this kind of luck on me, you should have given it to me when I possessed the villain.’
If God truly existed, he wanted to break his back. Han Chasu looked out the window with gloomy eyes.
The sky was so clean and beautiful. A clarity that could not even be compared to his previous world.
But his circumstances were too terrible for him to enjoy unspoiled nature.
[ Cursed Earring of Resonance ]
—An earring worn by a priest who served an ominous god. The owner’s blood has dried onto it.
—Acquisition Difficulty: Grade 1
—Increases attack power of curse/faith-type skills (S)
—Increases mana recovery speed for curse/faith-type skills (S)
—Increases curse/faith-type trait stats (S)
—Registerable Sockets (2/2): Currently sealed
—Couple Item ( Partner has not been registered. )
—Bound Item ( Owner: Han Chasu )
He checked it again, but as expected, nothing changed.
Han Chasu repeatedly rubbed his face dry and closed the item window.
‘Acquisition Difficulty Grade 1, with three S-rank skills. On top of that, it even has two sockets.’
In terms of value alone, it was enough that he could run to the auction house right now and exchange it for an Emergency Escape Stone.
No, if one were to be precise, to some people it would be even more precious than an Emergency Escape Stone. After all, it had two whole sockets attached.
Sockets were an option that appeared at an extremely rare rate regardless of acquisition difficulty.
Usually, mana-bearing raw stones or gems were processed and set into them, granting additional stats to the item.
Geum Myeonggyeol had probably lost his mind when he saw this. If done well, a single earring could have the effects of three items.
That was why he had to undo the binding no matter what.
‘Even if I die… No, I can’t die.’
After everything he had done to preserve this life. He did not want to lose it because of Geum Myeonggyeol.
After killing as much time as possible in the hallway, Han Chasu slowly moved his feet.
He sincerely hoped that the two S-ranks had left because of their busy schedules.
He had taken nearly a full minute to move each step and finally arrived at the issuance room.
“Ugh.”
“…?”
The guidance staff member standing in front of the issuance room gasped when she saw him. When Han Chasu tilted his head, she even clapped a hand over her mouth.
‘Is she sick or something?’
Now that he thought about it, he remembered that the appraiser had kept coughing too.
Han Chasu thought that perhaps the appraiser had had a cold, rather than coughing because of the pressure from the S-ranks.
Well, the air-conditioning in this building was especially strong.
“Are you all right?”
“Hah… Yes, yes!”
After gathering her breath, the staff member carefully asked,
“…Are you number 72?”
“Yes. May I go in?”
“No. The customer before you is still inside. Please wait a moment until you’re called from within.”
He had come so slowly, and yet the person before him still was not finished. Han Chasu was extremely pleased with the Korean Awakeners Association’s work speed.
After checking his waiting ticket, he lingered for a while in front of the issuance room. Since the wait was longer than expected, Han Chasu decided to look through the news.
It was a habitual search, wondering if his name had appeared somewhere again.
‘Seoraksan, Frost Giant Dungeon… Nothing. There aren’t any articles that seem to be about Baekseon either.’
Feeling relieved, he was rapidly flipping through the pages when his turn came.
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