Round 90

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While I was dumbfounded by the unexpected hospitality, I noticed a familiar face.

“Mr. Kyu-seong! Welcome. I’ll show you the way.”

“Oh, it’s been a while.”

It was Chairman Baek’s secretary. He greeted me with a bright smile and then shook my hand warmly.

“But there are so many people here.”

“Everyone’s here to express their gratitude. They all know, you see. Thanks to you, our Awakened, Baek Seung-hyun, was healed.”

Though the media had only released scanty reports, it seemed the guild members were all aware. Oh Min-joo, who had come with me, began to shed tears quietly.

“Thank you, Mr. Kyu-seong. Truly, thank you.”

“Oh, no, it’s just….”

As I was struggling to grasp the situation, a few more people, moved by the emotion, began to tear up as well.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to….”

“Awakened Min-joo, please go inside first. I’ll guide Mr. Kyu-seong.”

“I’m sorry.”

As I watched the still-tearful Min-joo disappear, the secretary apologized with a remorseful expression.

“I’m sorry for the suddenness. Actually, Awakened Min-joo is Baek Seung-hyun’s fiancée. It’s not publicly known.”

“Oh!”

I wondered why someone as famous as Awakened Min-joo came to greet me personally, but now it made sense. Her emotional reaction was understandable.

“They grew close while conquering dungeons together.”

“They really suit each other. I’m so glad Awakened Baek Seung-hyun recovered.”

“Haha, it’s all thanks to you, Mr. Kyu-seong. Now, let’s go. The chairman and Awakened Baek Seung-hyun are waiting for you. In fact, the chairman wanted to greet you himself, but he had to stay inside to prepare, so here I am.”

“Prepare?”

As I voiced my confusion, the secretary gave a meaningful smile and led me on. Members of the Iron Blood Guild surrounded us as we walked in together.

Bang!

Pop! Pop!

“Huh?”

As soon as we entered, we were showered with confetti. Fanfare blared, accompanied by drum sounds and cheers.

What on earth is going on?

I just wanted to come quietly and offer my congratulations, but it seemed they had prepared a grand event.

As the scene spun around me, someone suddenly hugged me tightly.

“Hahaha! Mr. Kyu-seong! You’re here!”

“Chairman Baek.”

“Thank you so, so much for coming today!”

Chairman Baek hugged me like a child, full of joy. He had even summoned his familiars to join the celebration.

“Th-thank you.”

“Hmm?”

Noticing my awkward gratitude, Chairman Baek waved his hand, and the noisy music instantly ceased.

“Kyu-seong, I hope it wasn’t too overwhelming. Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

I said that, but my ears were still ringing.

Sensing my discomfort, Chairman Baek looked worried and kept checking my expression. I appreciated his efforts to please me, but the unexpected event was quite overwhelming.

“Ahem.”

Chairman Baek signaled to someone.

Then, the people carrying a giant cake quickly disappeared behind the curtains.

“…….”

“Well then, shall we have a more intimate celebration among ourselves?”

The band that had been playing the fanfare quietly disappeared before I knew it. 

As an awkward atmosphere slowly began to envelop the surroundings, I finally took a moment to look around. 

‘Oh, wow.’

The Iron Blood Guild, being one of the top guilds in South Korea, had most of its members as well-known figures. Being in the industry, I recognized everyone, even those who might not be known to the general public.

While I was scanning the faces, I noticed Baek Seung-hyun standing awkwardly in the distance, as if unsure of when to make his appearance. 

Though his complexion was pale, seeing him standing there confirmed that the detoxification was complete. 

“Ah.”

Just then, Baek Seung-hyun made eye contact with me and hurriedly approached. Oh Min-joo, whom I had seen earlier, was supporting him. 

His walk was still awkward, unlike Si-young, who was in the combat sector and needed significant rehabilitation. 

“Awakened Baek Seung-hyun?”

“Ah….”

Baek Seung-hyun couldn’t speak and just started to cry. The pain he had endured was palpable, causing my emotions to surge.

When I gave him the vegetable juice, it was simply to save a person. I didn’t fully grasp the reality until now, seeing him like this and feeling his emotions intensely.

“Th-thank you. Thank you.”

Baek Seung-hyun grabbed my hand and bowed deeply. 

Listening to his trembling voice, I slowly helped him stand upright.

“Seeing you safe makes me want to cry too. Now that you’re healed, only happiness awaits you.”

“Truly… thank you.”

Oh Min-joo, standing nearby, was crying with her mouth covered. 

Chairman Baek also subtly turned his head to wipe away his tears, and other guild members were reacting in their own ways.

“Thank you! Awakened Lee Kyu-seong!”

“Thank you so much for treating our Seung-hyun.”

“Now let’s live happily together!”

Amidst everyone’s joy, Baek Seung-hyun wiped his tears and gave an awkward smile.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen… This occasion to thank you, Kyu-seong, has turned quite strange.”

“It’s fine. This is a celebration for Awakened Baek Seung-hyun’s recovery. And the party isn’t over yet.”

I had already glanced around to confirm something.

I immediately took Bokkeum out of my backpack and started preparing something. 

The last vegetable juice and the real reason I came here.

‘This time, I’m properly prepared.’

I had aged dough made with barley malt, home-grown toppings, and honey from Alfheim.

“I’ll make this an unforgettable party.”

I smiled confidently.

***

In an alley in Yongsan, a trio was nervously conversing while preparing something.

“Brother, are you sure there won’t be any problems?”

“What if there are problems? What are you going to do?”

“Um….”

“Enough talking. Are you both ready? Don’t forget to use the artifact masks now. And remember, during the operation, keep your mouths shut unless necessary.”

“Huuh.”

Nervous breaths filled the air.

The trio were all Awakened. However, each had been expelled from their guilds for various reasons and had become criminals.

Despite this, they were not to be underestimated; the strongest among them was a Level 5 Awakened.

A Level 3 support Awakened, a Level 4 combat Awakened, and a Level 5 summoner Awakened.

They were planning a robbery.

“Let’s go.”

“…Okay.”

Their target was a building in Yongsan housing shops for Awakened equipment.

Each piece of Awakened gear was extremely valuable. Additionally, there was a thriving black market for such items, so there was little concern about selling the stolen goods.

Of course, given that the area is well-policed, Jeong Ji-hwan, a Level 5 Awakened, took advantage of this fact.

He planned to execute the robbery, relying on the complacency that comes with a sense of security. His special ability gave him confidence that he could escape swiftly afterward.

Jeong Ji-hwan had brought along various monsters he had summoned specifically for this job. Using the abilities of these summoned monsters, he had devised a perfect plan to transport the stolen goods and escape.

‘These guys are just here as a backup. I could have done this alone.’

He was even prepared to abandon them if things went south.

As the corrupt trio of Awakened executed their crime, an unexpected figure was also heading to Yongsan.

* * *

After saying goodbye to Frey, the slimes, and Gomgom, Ara left the slime dungeon, wearing a straw hat and carrying a bag.

“Mm!!”

With a face full of determination, Ara clenched her fists tightly.

After passing through the familiar mountain path she always walked with Kyu-seong, Ara descended to the street and waved her hand aimlessly at passing cars.

However, no matter how much she waved, no car suddenly stopped.

“Why isn’t it stopping!?”

Ara puffed her cheeks, remembering how Kyu-seong would always stop a car this way. 

After about 10 minutes of waving, a car finally stopped. Luckily, it was a taxi.

“Hmm? Are you hailing a taxi?”

The taxi driver asked, rolling down the window, and Ara confidently exclaimed.

“Yongsan!”

“Yongsan?”

“Take me to Yongsan!”

Ara said confidently and walked toward the passenger seat to open the door. The taxi driver, who was watching her blankly, asked again.

“Yongsan? You’re going to Yongsan?”

“Yep!”

“Alone?”

“Yep!”

“You’re a smart young lady.”

The taxi driver scratched his head and then nodded. As the car started moving, Ara, feeling a sense of excitement, checked the bag she had brought.

Inside were a box containing slime pieces and various treasures (trinkets).

Looking out the window, familiar scenes she had seen with Kyu-seong passed by. The fact that Kyu-seong wasn’t there now felt strange to Ara.

“I already miss him!”

“Hmm?”

The driver tilted his head at Ara’s sudden remark, but Ara was already lost in her own world.

Recalling various thoughts and memories, they soon arrived in Yongsan.

“Thank you!”

“Hey, kid, what about the fare?”

“Fare?”

Ara, who had quickly gotten out of the car, stared blankly before rummaging through her bag. She then pulled something out and handed it over.

“Hmm?”

“Goodbye~!”

“Uh, uh…! Kid!”

The taxi driver looked alternately at the item Ara handed him and Ara, who was quickly disappearing, only to find that what he received was a bag full of cherry tomatoes.

“Heh, heh….”

Having cleared her first hurdle, Ara then looked around and froze.

‘It’s so big!!’

When she came with Kyu-seong, she always stuck close to him and never had to check the directions herself. She never realized how vast the area was.

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