If Jurim was angry enough that he didn’t even want to see the Chairman, it might be something bad.
Geuru checked the last message.
On Suhyeong
It would make me happy if you simply let me know how you are from time to time.
It was from On Suhyeong after they had parted ways.
‘I’m not sure.’
But he knew how much the Guild Master’s dad loved the Guild Master.
Whenever On Suhyeong talked about Jurim, his stiff face would soften into a gentle smile.
When Geuru said he wanted to stay by the Guild Master’s side and give him strength, it had seemed like hearts were about to come out of his eyes.
Then what did the Guild Master feel?
‘Does he really only hate the Chairman……?’
In his four years of life experience, hating someone was draining and difficult.
Especially when it was family, and someone who loved you so much at that—not to mention your only family now—it had to be even harder.
Geuru was deep in thought when—
Ding!
[A quest has occurred due to the influence of (Unknown Title)!]
[Caregiver Quest: What is the feeling sleeping deep within the heart of your puzzling primary caregiver? Let’s face the hidden problem.
Reward: 10,000 Filial Piety Points]
Geuru checked the quest.
‘The reward is huge this time! With this much, I could even hatch Shakipiyo’s egg……!’
But what was he supposed to do?
Just then, his phone vibrated.
On Suhyeong
I heard you helped Chairman Nam and received a gift.
Yes!
(Emoticon of a squirrel dancing)
On Suhyeong
Well done.
If you put it up for auction, you should be able to get a good price.
As it happens, Grandfather will also be attending the auction, so if you want to see it in person, tell me anytime.
‘Oh!’
Geuru, who had been sprawled on the sofa, sprang upright.
‘Did Chairman Nam tell me it’d be good to go because he knew the Guild Master’s father would be attending too?’
If so……
Geuru looked toward Jurim’s closed bedroom door, since he still hadn’t woken up.
‘I have to go to the auction house!’
Then he might be able to make the two of them meet.
If he wanted to change their relationship, it made sense to start with a meeting first.
It was a scene that appeared all the time in dramas and animations too.
Characters formed relationships and changed them through chance meetings and conversations.
‘It’s a totally great idea!’
Giggling, Geuru replied that he understood, then bought an emoticon and gifted it to On Suhyeong.
It was an emoticon he had also bought for Jurim. Of course, even after buying it for him, he never used it.
‘He calls anyway, so whatever. Hmph.’
Soon, an emoticon came back from Suhyeong of a cute squirrel bowing in thanks.
‘He used it!’
When he imagined the Chairman, who looked like a cold-faced organization boss, sending a cute squirrel emoticon, laughter escaped him on its own.
On Suhyeong
I’ve received a precious gift. Wait just a moment.
Soon, a photo of a building under construction and an architectural rendering appeared in the messenger window.
‘Wuuung?’
Then an address in the heart of a busy district in Seoul followed. It seemed to be where the building was located.
On Suhyeong
How is this place?
How was it—what did he mean, how was it? Geuru tilted his head while looking at the stylishly designed building photo.
It’s cool.
On Suhyeong
What should we name it?
A name Geuru likes?
On Suhyeong
Yes.
‘If it’s a name…….’
There had been a time when he made a nickname for Onion Market.
Geuru thought of things like “zi-Zone Hunter” and “Strong and Mighty Chick Class,” then switched the keyboard to English and tapped away.
GROOT123
On Suhyeong
Understood. I’ll take care of it.
He didn’t know what he was taking care of, but Geuru glossed over it with his all-purpose reply again.
Yes!
(Emoticon of a squirrel spinning around and shooting hearts)
On Suhyeong
(Emoticon of a squirrel shaking its butt and making a finger heart)
Just then, the bedroom door opened. Geuru locked his phone screen and scampered over.
Since it was the weekend, Jurim had woken up late and was staggering toward the kitchen.
“Guild Mastew.”
“Mmh……. Wanna bwush your teeth?”
Moving with his eyes closed, he asked reflexively, drunk with sleep.
“Later! Not dat!”
“Not that?”
“Geuru has somewhere he wants to go.”
“Somewhere you want to go?”
Jurim, who had been repeating his words like a parrot, finally opened his eyes a little. Surely he wasn’t saying he wanted to go into a dungeon again.
“Ta-da!”
Geuru pulled out an auction promotional poster.
Jurim yawned so wide his mouth might split, then checked the poster and narrowed his eyes.
“Where did you get something like this?”
Ah, that was a question he hadn’t expected.
“Uuum, I picked it up on the street?”
“No way.”
Because it was morning, Jurim was more out of it than usual. As he brewed coffee, he added quietly,
“Did you bring it from the company?”
“Yeees.”
In truth, when he registered the item at the auction house, the agency had sent it to him, but he decided it had been brought from the company. This was a good lie!
The smell of coffee. When Geuru sniffed and sniffed at the scent, Jurim held out the mug.
“Want to try some?”
“Yes!”
“What do you mean, yes, hey. Of course you can’t.”
Then why did he ask? Geuru puffed out his cheeks sulkily.
Jurim let out a low laugh, swirled the mug around, and tilted his head.
“Do you know what kind of place that is?”
It’s not exactly somewhere children go, he trailed off—
“Fun exhibitions and performances!”
A plump finger pointed to one corner of the poster.
“Mm.”
Jurim took the poster and crossed his arms.
It had phrases written on it such as “Flame lasers,” “Various attractions,” and “Fully equipped space and performances for children.”
Only then did he seem to accept it, thinking, So that was why.
With his eyes half-lidded, Jurim folded his arms and tapped his index finger against his arm.
‘An auction house, huh.’
There had been a time when he attended fairly often, but it was a place where all sorts of random people gathered, from businessmen to Hunters.
Especially this time, because the byproducts of Malikian that Hyeonak had put up had become quite the issue, anyone with money was certain to gather at the auction house.
On top of that, the fifth anniversary of the Tower conquest was approaching.
Whenever this time came around, gifts and cards full of praise from all over the world, as well as interview requests, poured in—while curses and condemnations directed at him came along with them.
Cowardly, rude, bring them back to life, all the way to telling him to follow them in death. The patterns were varied every time.
Of course, he wasn’t unaware that part of it was because of the interview five years ago, when he had come down from the Tower and lashed out indiscriminately.
If he had shed a few pitiful tears in the manner they wanted to see, expressed condolences to the bereaved families, and knelt in front of the joint memorial altar sobbing, he might not have melted everyone’s hearts, but it probably would not have gone this far.
But back then, there had been no need to do that. No matter how he calculated it, putting on a show like that hadn’t been worth it.
Because he had thought that other people’s malice or grief could not harm him.
Until now, he had never cared about his public image, and yet now he was fretting all by himself, worried about what the child might think.
‘You’ve become pathetic, On Jurim.’
Just as Jurim was lost in thought and raising the mug to his lips—
Click!
Geuru’s phone camera was pointed at him.
“……?”
When Jurim turned around with a frown, a flustered Geuru blurted out,
“Y-you looked handsome!”
All of a sudden? Jurim crooked one corner of his mouth.
“I know.”
“Eht.”
Geuru scrunched up his face.
Look at that expression. Jurim pressed Geuru’s forehead between the brows as he said,
“If I’m not busy, let’s go.”
“Ah! Den we’re going.”
“I meant there’s a chance we can’t.”
“Mmm. Guild Mastew plays around every day.”
“I’m busy. Incredibly busy.”
“Hmph!”
Geuru puffed his cheeks out full and turned his back, returning to the sofa.
‘I know all you do is sleep.’
While the other guild members worked hard on dungeon raids, gave interviews, and took part in various activities, Jurim either lay alone in the guild master’s office like a lazy sloth or read reports.
It was to the point where one wondered how he had not fallen from the number one spot.
Geuru sent the Chairman a tousled photo of Jurim, then buried himself in the sofa.
On Suhyeong
Thank you.
(Emoticon of a squirrel greeting politely)
He knew he would like it.
Geuru was thinking that he should take and send more pictures of Jurim, and gift him a few more emoticons too, when more messages came in one after another.
On Suhyeong
(Building photo)
(Building rendering)
(Sign with the building location written on it)
How is this place?