Although the boundary problem was resolved, the situation of the <Silver Guild> remained complicated.
With a significant number of hunters leaving the guild, it was now impossible for the guild to tackle dungeons on its own.
Whether a guild can tackle dungeons independently is a crucial criterion for dividing the so-called 'ranks' of guilds.
Moreover, considering that Hunter Park Hee-young, who had always been by Kwon Ji-won's side, had betrayed him so thoroughly...
It's only natural that Kwon Ji-won's feelings are complex.
Ah, I should have torn out all of Park Hee-young's hair. Although I did pull at it quite a bit that day, my anger still hasn't fully subsided.
She is currently under investigation and detained by the <Dungeon Management Office>. With multiple charges against her, it seems unlikely we'll meet again.
"Now, we need to recruit new hunters."
Kwon Ji-won added.
He had almost never recruited new hunters to maintain the <Silver Guild> as it was, which his uncle had established and nurtured.
However, Kwon Ji-won also looked relieved as he said that this situation couldn't last forever.
I suddenly thought of Choi Se-dric.
The hunters who left the <Silver Guild> moved to a guild under <C&L Corporation>.
Suspecting <C&L> as the mastermind behind the <Silver Guild> incident is only natural.
It's just that their cunning actions left no clear evidence.
Is Choi Se-dric involved in this? When I met him, he didn't seem that sinister...
Well, it's something I can't know right now, so let's set it aside.
There's only one reason why they're asking me to join the <Silver Guild> in such a difficult situation.
To protect me.
While in the past, he kept his distance to protect me, this time he wants to keep me close. As the cafe owner, I don't have any specific tasks to do at the <Silver Guild> right now.
That's why I refused. I'm glad to have confirmed my bond with Kwon Ji-won and his family, but I don't want to be a burden to him.
When I said this, Kwon Ji-won looked bitter but quickly agreed.
"But you've never been a burden."
He didn't forget to add this.
And...
"Whaaat (human, what is this)?!"
Mi-eum's cry snapped me out of my thoughts.
My bag had fallen over, and the commendation certificate inside had slipped out. Just as Mi-eum and Lime, who had been enthusiastically eating cake, were about to touch the certificate case,
"Wait! Kwon Mi-eum, Kwon Lime, stop! Stop!"
"Kyaaah?!"
"Kyaah!"
Startled, Mi-eum puffed up her tail. I quickly grabbed a wet wipe and rushed over to them.
"Don't get anything on the paper or touch it!"
Phew, thank goodness. I managed to stop Mi-eum and Lime, who were almost covered in cream, from leaving greasy footprints on the paper.
After thoroughly cleaning their bodies, feet, and mouths, I finally let the animals go.
"Kyaah! Kyaah!"
"Meow (is this the commendation certificate)?!"
After briefly examining the words on the certificate, they soon started bouncing the case and playing with it. They really like unexpected things.
"Be quiet... Ah, whatever."
I tried to stop the animals from bouncing the case and hitting each other's foreheads with it, but eventually gave up.
They'll stop eventually...
Instead, I looked at the commendation certificate lying there.
Despite feeling embarrassed and undeserving of such an honor...
'Still...'
It feels good.
* * *
Deep into the night.
As felt thirsty and opened his eyes. His light sleep had already faded. He put down the red slime cushion he had been hugging and got up.
He intended to get some water from the fridge, but an unexpected scene caught his attention.
"Hmm..."
The first-floor hall was dimly lit by a yellow lamp. A woman with a dazed expression was lying face down on the table.
What is she doing here at this hour?
As's curiosity was resolved before he even approached her. He heard her steady breathing.
On the table was a book titled 'Dungeon Ecology.' It seemed she had fallen asleep while reading.
'If I leave her, she'll wake up on her own.'
As was about to ignore her and head to the fridge, but then he heard a voice.
"As..."
"Why?"
He waited for a moment, but no more words followed. It must have been sleep-talking.
As became curious about the rest of the sleep-talking, which was swallowed by her lazy breathing, and annoyed with himself for being curious.
The woman shifted but showed no signs of waking up.
It was already early winter. The first floor, where the heating was off, was quite chilly. If she continued to sleep like this, she would definitely catch a cold.
"Ha..."
She was so dazed that it was hard to describe her. Seeing her sniffle with a cold would be unpleasant. He decided he had no choice but to carry her to her room on the second floor.
...But he hesitated.
He remembered the time in the space under the giant tree when she had hugged him.
Her eyes were swollen, and she looked a mess, yet she worried about him and patted his back. How could she be so careless?
As felt his ears burning hot.
Since that day, his body has been acting strangely.
His breathing quickened and his cheeks flushed whenever she approached him without hesitation or touched his hair.
So As was trying his best to avoid meeting Kwon Yi-reul. Although he hadn't been very successful today.
"Ugh."
No, no. Unlike this woman who randomly hugs people, he was just going to move her to her room.
Really, that's all...
But touching her while she was asleep felt somehow cowardly.
In the end, As didn't pick her up but took a step back. Instead, he used his magic to levitate her body.
[Connection is unstable. Reconnection requires reconstitution of the entity.]
A warning window flashed before his eyes. As slightly frowned and deleted the warning.
When the alien gate closed, As became a 'separated ring,' meaning his connection to the main body was completely severed, and he became an independent entity.
The individual self of an avatar is meaningless to him. Normally, he would choose to dissipate due to the instability...
But As floated Kwon Yi-reul's body to the second floor. She didn't wake up until he gently placed her on the bed.
As watched her silently and thought.
A weak human body.
There's nothing I can do about it.
'I have to protect her.'
Chapter 8. Holstein, Jiji, and... the Golden Triangular Horned Cow
This happened when I was talking to Ki Yu-hyun about the commendation certificate.
Just before hanging up, he suddenly said,
"Mr. Yi-reul, there's something I want to tell you... When would be a good time?"
"Then, come to the cafe whenever it's convenient for you, Mr. Yu-hyun."
"No, that's not what I meant... I want to meet you outside."
Ah, he's helped me several times, and it's not right to always ask him to come to the cafe.
I was thinking of properly expressing my gratitude anyway, so this is perfect.
We set the meeting for today. As soon as I finished tidying up the cafe, Ki Yu-hyun arrived. Given the chilly weather, I put on a thick coat and got ready to go out.
"Then, As, I'll be back."
But As ran forward and blocked Ki Yu-hyun's path.
...Huh?
His pout clearly showed his dissatisfaction.
"As, what's wrong?"
"..."
Shh, shh.
When Ki Yu-hyun stepped to the left, As also moved to the left, and when he stepped to the right, As moved to the right.
Left, right, left, left, right, left, and back to the right. He perfectly blocked the view.
All perfect combos!
I didn't know As had a talent for rhythm games. With such agile and sharp movements, he could perform impressively in any arcade.
No, no, that's not the point.
"Why are you playing along with the kid, Mr. Yu-hyun?"
Ki Yu-hyun turned his head with an awkward expression.
"It was just fun..."
I, being much shorter, couldn't block Ki Yu-hyun at all, so I asked As,
"As, what's wrong?"
"When are you coming back today?"
"Um... I might be a bit late."
It's early evening now. Considering the time for dinner and travel, it might be late at night.
A look of struggle crossed As's face. He seemed reluctant to say something because it would hurt his pride.
I knelt down to meet his eyes and waited for his internal conflict to resolve.
After a fierce internal battle, the side that spoke seemed to win. He closed his eyes tightly and spoke.
"Sis...!"
"Huh, huh?"
As calling me 'sis' was a first. No matter how much I asked before, he wouldn't do it.
His face, which had improved from eating well and resting, made his 'sis' sound so cute. As's cheeks were flushed red.
"Whaaat (good, good)!"
"Kyaah!"
With the audience either teasing or cheering, As continued.
"Sis, can you come back early today?"
"Uh... what?"
Why is he suddenly doing something he's never done before?