Meanwhile, [Puppy] had arrived, holding onto Choi Kyung-sikās lunch in its mouth. Since it had run out in a hurry earlier, I couldnāt properly see it. Observing it closer, the puppy-shaped golem had the typical pebble-cobbled appearance of low-rank golems.
However, its movements were more gentle and fluid than any other golem I had ever seen. I had heard that it cost a lot of money to make the golemās joints move properlyā¦ seeing how its tail shook fiercely from side to side, it seemed that he had invested substantially into this simple golem.
āCome to think of itā¦thereās a lot of expensive things within this lab?ā
After receiving the bag containing the hamburgers from the golem, [Puppy], it was time to clean the desk so we could sit facing each other for lunch. After moving some documents to the side, I could see reagents and potions, ones often used in alchemy, lined up at the end of the desk.
As I kept my gaze far away from him, I noticed a small golden scaleātotally authentic no matter how one looked at itāat the end of the desk, close to Choi Kyung-sik. On top of that scale were a pile of jewels as big as fingernails.
Only then did I notice powdersāalchemical ingredients?āstored in flasks next to the thick books behind Choi Kyung-sikās back; they were displayed like hourglasses. There were even at least 10 flasks that looked like they contained powdered gold.
āI heard that alchemists have a lot of moneyā¦ā
The sight of these jewels and expensive ingredients scattered about seemed to be a common view for Choi Kyung-sik; he simply focused his gaze on the hamburger bag I was holding. I thought the Alchemist seemed rather easy-going and, on the other hand, used to such luxury.
I tried hard not to express my surprise and handed Choi Kyung-sik a hamburger. However, when he received it, his expression seemed a bit odd. It seemed as if he had seen something surprising.
āWow, you see all sorts of things in lifeāto think that Garam-ie would hand me a burger before taking care of his own.ā With that said, the Alchemist admired the hamburger in his hands.
""
āJust how did Jung Garam live his life for such things to be said about himā¦ā
I almost sighed, but I managed to cover that up with Jung Garamās blunt voice. āI-If you dislike it, then give it backā¦ā
āI already ate it though?ā Choi Kyung-sik laughed as he took a giant bite of the hamburger. Then, all throughout lunch, he chatted about this and that topic. He mainly talked about the new Golems he was making; I didnāt really understand most of what he was talking about. But, since I needed information on the Alchemist anyway, I concentrated on listening as much as possible.
However, that concentration could only take me so far. Honestly, how could I understand Golem circuit switching devices or whatever he was talking aboutā¦
āHaaahā¦ā On top of that, after polishing off my hamburger, a yawn inadvertently bubbled out from me.
However, Choi Kyung-sik didnāt seem to care very much and continued to speak. āSo, I thought it was a complete innovation. If I could phase it in immediately, we could save more than 30 percent base mana, I said. But then, Guild Master nodded with a face just like yours, Garam-ie. Anyway, Iām just glad it was easy to persuade him. I thought he would ask for a monthās worth of paymentā¦ā
āI guess Seo Dawon was boredā¦ā Chin resting on my palm, I observed the diligently chattering Choi Kyung-sik. I wondered if he was a denser person than I had imagined.
When Choi Kyung-sik started a conversation about topics he was interested in, it seemed like he was the type of person to say all that he wanted to say without paying heed to his surroundings. Like he cared little if the surrounding people were listening or not. Thanks to that(?), it felt like he didnāt notice that I wasnāt exactly Jung Garam despite my stuttersā¦
I couldnāt be sure whether or not this situation was advantageous for me, but this wasnāt too bad. Honestly, if I had met a sharp person, such as another guild member like Seo Dawon before I had met Choi Kyung-sik, I didnāt think I would be able to calmly sit down and converse.
āThe issue isā¦ even though we dined so close to each other, I donāt know how I should end this [Vengeful Ghost Memory].ā
What on earth should I do? I fell deep into contemplation as I stared at the still prattling Choi Kyung-sik.
It was then.
""
Knock Knockā
Suddenly, someone knocked on the laboratory door. For me, whose eyes were drowsily half-closing, the knock made me jump.
āHm? Whoās that?ā Unlike my nervous self, Choi Kyungsik didnāt double check who was behind the door and flung it open. Dressed in a flowy dress, Bang Eunji stood modestly behind the door. āAh, Eunji-yah.ā
āI didnāt realize that dwarf would be here too,ā Bang Eunji said calmly, staring and throwing barbs towards me.
I wondered if I should get angry or if I should ignore her, but I thought that Jung Garam would have immediately blown his top. āW-Whoās a dwarf!ā
āI didnāt mention Jung Garam-kun though?ā
āā¦ā¦ā
āIām really tired of your victim-mentality.ā
Even though I wasnāt the real Jung Garam, I was still somehow a little furious.
But, before I could retort, Choi Kyung-sik quickly stepped in between me and Bang Eunji and blocked our views. Then, as if he were changing the topic, he asked Bang Eunji, āAre you here because of the meeting?ā
āPrecisely. Iām convening our willful guild members for our hard-working, suffering guild master.ā
āAlright, alright. We wonāt arrive late.ā
āIt would please me if youād come up to the meeting room right now.ā
āShall we go, Garam-ah?ā
Of course, if possible, I didnāt want to go to a gathering with all the guild membersā¦ I knew I had no other choice, though, so I nodded and stood up from my seat.
When both of us stood up, Bang Eunjiāperhaps to find more of those āwillful guild membersāāvanished into the hallway. In just 1 second, I could hear her footsteps near the elevator entrance; I was a little scared. To think that just a while ago I had thoughtlessly and fearlessly gotten angry at the owner of that tremendous speed.
āI need to behave like the real Jung Garam, butā¦ What happens if that leads me into a fight?ā
I assumed that if I died as Jung Garam, the summoning would fail. After all, penalties have been applied.
āI sorely need to sign this contract safelyā¦ā I looked up at Choi Kyung-sik next to me, muttering inwardly.
* * *
Choi Kyung-sik and I rode the elevator to the very top floorāthe conference room. I let the Alchemist proceed me, letting him walk consistently half a step ahead.
However, the top floor didnāt have as tight security as the others. I saw several conference rooms separated by opaque glass walls. It felt exactly like a small enterpriseās office room? In each conference room, people were discussing or presenting using a beam projector or whiteboard, really adding to that corporate atmosphere.
And, amongst all the many conference rooms, I assumed the spacious room at the end was where we would have our meeting. Choi Kyung-sik abruptly opened the door without knocking; I followed him docilely inside.
āHello,ā The Alchemist said.
āGoodā¦afternoon.ā
After the Alchemistās cheerful greeting, I tried to add what was hopefully a normal greeting of my own before enteringā¦ The conference room contained more people than I had expected; cold sweat ran down my back.
Seo Dawon sat at the head of the table, looking over some documents (he did not look our way); Kim Olim and Woo Ragi sat beside him.
Kim Olim stood upright with a straight back, without even using her hands to aid in her posture; on the other hand, it was impressive to see how Woo Ragi leaned back on his chairāfar enough that I worried the chair would breakāwith both feet on the table.
Next to Kim Olim sat a man with tattoos on both arms; he laid down on the table, face cushioned by his arms, as if he wasnāt a part of this meeting. That man was probably Jo Chanyoung.
Howeverā¦ After observing Jo Chanyoung and looking at the man sitting across himā¦I saw an unexpected sight.
He was the only one who gave a soft smile to Choi Kyung-sikās greeting. From the moment I saw his face, I froze as if Iād been nailed to the floor.
It was Bae Jaemin.
āIāve brought them all right on time, Guild Master-nim!ā
If Bang Eunji hadnāt banged open the door, entering and shouting like that, I may have stood there, useless, for all eternity.
After barely recovering my senses, I sat next to Choi Kyung-sik and bowed my head. I knew I would see the other Red Lotus members while they were aliveāwhy didnāt I think to include Bae Jaemin
A chilly voice, ringing throughout the conference room, cut through my belatedly embarrassed thoughts. āThanks, Eunji-yah. Thenā¦ weāll start the raid meeting for [Second Company].ā
Startled, I raised my head at the familiar voice. Seo Dawon, who had taken his eyes off the document he was holding, was looking my way.
TL: Back to our regularly scheduled update~
Honestly, if I were an Alchemist, I would definitely create adorable golems.
Also, I made a slight mistranslation >.< Woo Ragiās weapon of choice is a āEcho Bladeā not a āChainsword.ā Iām going to slowly fix this in the previous chaps, but if you guys want to let me know where Iām missing stuff, feel free to tell me here or in Discord <3 (Thereās a channel in there for telling me about typos haha)