Jurim, who had returned alone, became entangled in a whirlwind of gossip.
The world’s reactions ran hot and cold toward his disposition, which shunned melodrama, and his attitude, which was honest to the point of rudeness.
He had been advised to try fitting in a little, but after weighing his options, he simply said he acted as he did because it was justified, and because he could.
He seemed not to care greatly about the reactions, yet an air of exhaustion always trailed after him.
The tale of the 99th floor was left deliberately unasked. Everyone knew it had all been Ijo’s decision. Ijo never went back on a decision once made, and Jurim yielded to no one but Ijo.
Before long, reports began on the preferential treatment Doan had received, and Jurim—who had been watching the political movements with suspicion—finally unearthed the existence of the “Project” that Ijo had participated in.
Jurim laid documents regarding the Project—details of which even he had not fully known—before him.
“What is this? Did you know about this too, Father?”
“Yes.”
“Did you send him? Because of that measly sum?”
“Chairman On, the auction will begin shortly; allow me to guide you inside.”
It seemed someone had come to fetch him after he had been away from his seat for too long. Su-hyeong nodded and followed the staff member.
There had been a time when he had been in such agony that he had grown pessimistic, wondering whether this world was worth throwing one’s life away for.
As he walked toward the table, On Su-hyeong quietly gazed at the backs of the child and Jurim. Then, as if engraving the two of them into his mind, he closed his eyes.
Even pain that felt eternal would, over the course of living, wear down, fade away, and become familiar.
And after letting it flow away without clinging to it, he found that things still worth valuing remained in this world.
*Thank you, Ijo. For leaving me a world like this.*
***
The auction proceeded smoothly.
The Malakian byproduct—the item of greatest interest—fetched a winning bid slightly above its estimated price.
Then came the anomaly: the bidding war for Chairman Nam’s collection piece, which had been estimated to sell for around 100 million won at most.
“The starting bid is 20 million. Bids will increase in increments of 5 million won.”
He already knew, having been tipped off, that Chairman Nam’s collection piece belonged to Gru. Thus, Chairman On raised his paddle to give his granddaughter some pocket money.
“Paddle number 11. We have 25 million.”
After he started, paddles went up here and there. Just as the auctioneer was driving the price higher, someone seated at the table labeled “Luminous Holdings” punched in and sent an arbitrary price via tablet.
It was a tactic of calling out an overwhelmingly high price to head off competitors. It was rarely used, as it was usually more profitable to encourage competition.
The auctioneer blinked upon confirming the transmitted price.
“2 billion… We have 2 billion from paddle number 71.”
A mana stone estimated to fetch 100 million at most, for 2 billion? An uproar broke out among the attendees.
On Su-hyeong also set his paddle down on his knee with a bewildered expression.
“The current winning bid is 2 billion. Any further bids?”
The hall was filled with murmuring, but no one raised their paddle.
“Then it is sold to customer 71 for 2 billion.”
Jurim and Gidan glanced at the mannequins seated at the Luminous Holdings table, then looked at each other.
Having won the desired item, Serhi—who had been blowing a bubble with his gum—slipped his phone into his pocket and rose from his seat.
Naohyeong hunched his shoulders, looked around, and followed after him.
*Damn. Almost fucked things up for nothing.*
Winning Chairman Nam’s mana stone had been the Teacher’s order. No matter the cost, he was to bring that mana stone.
*What does he plan to do with that old thing?*
The Teacher was someone who lived lost in a world of his own, leaving only orders behind before fluttering away, and Serhi had merely stated that it would be used as the foundation for the next plan.
It should have been an easy task, so he had tried to let his guard down for a moment—who knew On Jurim would suddenly show up there. He hadn’t been caught, but he had nearly attracted unnecessary suspicion.
That aside.
*What the hell does that girl have?*
He stole a glance at the girl sitting at the table.
*An unmeasurable item…*
That alone made it impossible to tell if it was the jackpot or a dud.
But if what that child possessed was truly the jackpot?
Desire clouded judgment and narrowed one’s vision.
He wanted to know. What was it that the child possessed?
If the chance presented itself, no matter what, he would find a way to check.
He gazed at Gru with eyes dripping with regret, then followed after Serhi and left the hall.
Meanwhile, Gru blinked upon confirming the winning bid for the mana stone.
*2 billion?*
A 2 popped into her head, followed by a stream of zeroes.
One, ten, hundred, thousand, hundred million…
*If there are twenty hundred-millions…*
It was a unit she had never once conceptualized, so Gru opened her mouth blankly, failing to grasp the feeling of it.
*Gru, am I rich now?***
At kindergarten, Gru—who had been rolling dice with Harry in Blue Marble—gazed indifferently at the Saessak Bank currency marked with 100 million.
Since when had paper like this ceased to excite her?
*Have I grown up too much?*
They said people who suddenly became rich like Gru were called “nouveau riche” in society.
Not knowing what nouveau riche meant, Gru had searched for a while and discovered it was not a term used in a purely good sense.
The image of a nouveau riche implied a lack of dignity and propriety in one’s demeanor.
*Gru, even if you’re a nouveau riche, you have to keep your dignity.*
Harry pointed at Gru.
“Gru, the corner of your mouth is weird. It’s all wobbly.”
Gasping, Gru covered her mouth with both hands.
“No. Gru has dignity.”
“No, you don’t.”
Did she reek of nouveau riche so badly that it was impossible to hide? Gru pouted and handed the Saessak Bank 100 million to her friend.
*But I have twenty of these!*
According to the agency, the winning amount would come in after deducting fees and taxes. The total would be far less, but it would still be an enormous sum regardless.
*Thump, thump.*
One way or another, Gru was happily awaiting her ascension as a nouveau riche.
Harry had built up many buildings in Blue Marble and was delighted to be rich, then suddenly asked:
“By the way, Gru, are you all ready?”
“Huh?”
“Tomorrow, my mom and dad are coming. Is Gru’s Guild Mas-ter coming too?”
“Ah, mhm.”
Gru broke into a satisfied smile.
Ever since meeting the fourth-ranked mister at the auction house, Gru had thought for a long time about how she could be of strength to the Guild Master.
Then, as the kindergarten’s parent observation presentation drew near, she came up with a way to be a dutiful child to the Guild Master.
Gru had prepared everything meticulously at kindergarten in advance and invited Jurim.
“Guild Mas-ter, you are invited to Saebom Kindergarten!”
At that, Jurim said:
“Do I have to?”
Gru puffed out her cheeks.
Gru thought she needed to confiscate words like *“Do I have to?”*, *“Out of nowhere?”*, *“Forbidden.”*, and *“I’m busy.”* (while putting on a sleep mask to take a nap) from Jurim.
“I don’t really plan on attending kindergarten at this point,” Jurim muttered quietly.
“…!”
It seemed there had been confusion because he had said at the auction house that he had never attended kindergarten and thus wouldn’t know.
Gru opened the Kidsnote app and showed him the notifications from kindergarten.
“There was such a thing?”
“Yeah.”
“What are you presenting?”
“That’s a secret!”
Jurim readily said he would go, and the date was already tomorrow.
“Are Harry’s mom and dad coming too?”
“Of courthe! You dummy. But daddy can’t come. He has to go to work, tho only mom is coming. Tomorrow, Harry will show her!”
“Mhm, mhm. Gru will show the Guild Master too.”
Gru and Harry smiled brightly.