80 – HGL 80

“Ah, so….”

Bae Won-woo, who was about to say something, shut his mouth tightly upon seeing Kang Ji-soo standing next to him.

A state right before Awakening. Eui-jae looked down at Sa-young in his arms. The irregular breathing was gradually returning to stability as soon as the chain was released. The pale white face, paler than usual, was also slowly regaining its color.

Only then did Eui-jae feel like the stuffy breath that had been blocking his throat was finally clearing. He lowered his head slightly and silently composed his breathing.

“Since Lee Sa-young’s condition check is urgent right now, we will visit Wave Guild and Lee Sa-young separately later to formally apologize.”

Jung-bin took out a bottle of purple liquid from his Inventory and opened the lid. Seeing that, Eui-jae immediately grabbed Sa-young’s nape and tilted his head back. Jung-bin, who greeted him with his eyes, poured the liquid into Lee Sa-young’s mouth and asked.

“I was handling other matters, so I haven’t fully grasped the situation in the hall yet. Can you explain it to me?”

“The auction just ended, and those Hunter bastards fought each other because of that, what was it, the huge spear auction. That’s why it’s in this state… What else should I say?”

As Bae Won-woo glanced sideways with an awkward expression, Kang Ji-soo suddenly interjected.

“The Guild Leader won the spear!”

“Do I have to say that too?”

“He’s about to miss out on receiving it because he collapsed, so you have to say it.”

“…I see. That’s enough for now. Thank you.”

Was it thanks to being released from restraint, or thanks to the liquid Jung-bin fed him? Lee Sa-young’s condition improved even faster than before. At first glance, he looked like he was just asleep. As his condition stabilized, Jung-bin quickly began to assess the situation in the hall and issue instructions.

And Hong Ye-seong was originally supposed to enjoy the secular world a little more before starting work, but for the safety of the VIP, the Bureau of Rift Management said they would immediately transport him to the mountain. Avoiding the hands reaching out to him, Hong Ye-seong jumped off the stage.

“Who decided that!”

“It’s Director’s order.”

“Wait, wait, my deal isn’t over yet….”

Hong Ye-seong’s desperate eyes scanned the hall here and there before reaching Eui-jae. Just before he called out to Eui-jae,

“Ugh!”

“Please cooperate, The Artisan!”

“What, won’t you let go?”

The security personnel rushed at him. Since Hong Ye-seong had a history of scattering powder and running away, the guards quickly and nimbly wrapped him in a blanket. Hong Ye-seong, who had become a yellow checkered gimbap, struggled violently.

“Ah, wait a minute! I really, really! Can’t work without that! Just a minute!”

“Transport him.”

“Yes.”

After Hong Ye-seong, who was crying his heart out, disappeared pathetically, Matthew’s HB Guild took over the task of dealing with the super hamsters who had fainted from fighting. While Honeybee grumbled and moved the Hunters she had knocked out, Jung-bin bowed silently to Matthew.

“Thank you for your help.”

“You’re welcome. You’re always working hard. Have some of this.”

Matthew handed over warm squid legs and headed to where the Hunters had fallen with Honeybee. Jung-bin bowed deeply to Bae Won-woo, who was standing awkwardly.

“I’m really sorry. This is entirely my fault. I will definitely take responsibility.”

Bae Won-woo scratched his head as if embarrassed.

“Well, it’s already happened, so there’s nothing we can do. It’s not like you did it on purpose… But still, come visit Wave sometime. That’s all I need. Are you going to Seowon Guild now?”

“Yes, that’s right. Nam Woo-jin knows Lee Sa-young’s condition best.”

“Please take good care of Sa-young.”

“Of course.”

As Jung-bin disappeared with Lee Sa-young, only Bae Won-woo, Kang Ji-soo, and Cha Eui-jae remained in the hall. Kang Ji-soo, who had been watching silently with his arms crossed, complained.

“…Is it okay to let it go with just this? The Guild Leader collapsed? We almost lost our heads.”

“It’s fine, you idiot. It was an accident, an accident. Sa-young will take care of getting compensation from the Bureau of Rift Management. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Bae Won-woo, who was moving towards the exit, stopped abruptly and turned around with wide eyes.

“Why isn’t the secretary coming?”

“…Me? Are you talking about me?”

Eui-jae, who had been standing still as if frozen, raised his head. Bae Won-woo smiled kindly and pointed to the door with his thumb. It was the same smile he had seen several times at the Hanover Soup Restaurant.

“Let’s go together! We came by car. We’ll drop you off in front of the Guild.”

“No, I’m okay….”

“Hey.”

Kang Ji-soo, who had come behind him, pushed Eui-jae’s back. Only then did his feet leave the ground. Bae Won-woo, not missing the opportunity, put his arm around his shoulder and pulled him closer.

“Alright, let’s go quickly!”

A little later, inside the car.

Until they left the convention center and entered a familiar street, it was quiet between the three without much conversation. Then, tok, tok, small raindrops left traces on the window. Bae Won-woo clicked his tongue.

“Aish, it’s raining.”

The secretary, who had been sitting quietly in the back seat, opened his mouth.

“Excuse me, can you drop me off here?”

“Vice Guild Leader, do you have an umbrella? The secretary probably doesn’t have one, so let’s lend him one.”

“No, I’m really okay….”

“No, why would you think about walking in the rain when there’s an umbrella here. Alright, take the umbrella first!”

Bae Won-woo forcefully handed over a black umbrella. The secretary, who had taken it in confusion, hesitated for a moment before bowing his head.

“…Thank you.”

“Go in carefully. You worked hard today taking care of Sa-young.”

Pang, the back view of him getting out of the car and opening the black umbrella disappeared into the cloudy street. After walking a few steps, he looked back for a moment. Bae Won-woo and Kang Ji-soo, who were watching him with the window down, waved their hands at the same time as if they had made a promise.

Swish― The rain had already become thicker. Even though quite a bit of time had passed since the secretary got off, Bae Won-woo was not thinking of starting and was just resting his arms on the steering wheel and looking at his phone. Kang Ji-soo, who was leaning his elbow on the window and chewing on a chewy candy, opened his mouth.

“But you know, Vice Guild Leader.”

“Yeah.”

“Who is that person?”

“…….”

Before he knew it, the back view in a suit had disappeared without a sound. As if it had melted into the rain. Kang Ji-soo stretched his neck out as if trying to see inside the dark alley and muttered.

“The Guild Leader and Vice Guild Leader didn’t say anything, so I just stayed still for now? But I’ve never seen someone like that in the secretary team, let alone in the Guild. Shouldn’t we bring him back now?”

“Ji-soo.”

“Yes.”

Bae Won-woo said solemnly and held out his hand. When he placed the chewy candy on it, he quickly took it to his mouth and chewed.

“There’s a reason for everything Sa-young does.”

“…….”

“…Probably.”

Kang Ji-soo looked at him suspiciously, but Bae Won-woo finally started the car leisurely. The wipers busily wiped the rain off the window.

“If he needed to keep him, he would have told us a long time ago. But he didn’t.”

“Isn’t it because he didn’t have the mental capacity to?”

“No. Don’t underestimate that guy’s poison. He probably even calculated the timing of his collapse.”

Come to think of it, Lee Sa-young, whom Kang Ji-soo knew, was more than capable of doing that. Even while slumped over, he didn’t lose his mind until he had given various instructions. To the point where it was doubtful whether he was really sick or just pretending to be sick. Kang Ji-soo cautiously asked.

“But Guild Leader, is he really sick?”

“Yeah. That’s real.”

“Was it very painful before Awakening?”

“Well…. I heard it was.”

Bae Won-woo, who had mumbled his answer, added while turning the steering wheel with one hand.

“And I don’t know who that secretary is either. He could be a new member of the combat support team… or there could be something we’re cooperating with another Guild on.”

“Yes, yes. You’re saying I shouldn’t be curious. I understand.”

“No, I really don’t know!”

Kang Ji-soo shrugged indifferently and reached out to press the power button on the radio. Just in time, a familiar CM song came on. Passing the Bureau of Rift Management exam is Hunter One, passing the Hunter exam is Hunter One…. Listening to the familiar melody, she quietly opened her mouth.

“Well, he didn’t seem like a bad person though.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Didn’t the Vice Guild Leader see?”

“See what?”

“…If you didn’t see it, then it’s fine.”

Kang Ji-soo sighed softly and leaned her head against the window. Bae Won-woo grumbled something, but she was too tired to reply after running around at the Artisan Exhibition, so there was no response. And since there was something Bae Won-woo didn’t tell her, she had the right not to say it either.

Unlike his calm voice and quick actions, the veins that bulged on the hand that grabbed the collapsed Lee Sa-young and the fingertips that turned white and trembled. The secretary, who was noticeably relieved when his condition improved, did not take his eyes off Jung-bin and Lee Sa-young until they disappeared.

Although his face was not visible because he was wearing a Gas mask, she was sure that he was not feeling well either. Kang Ji-soo was so sure. Maybe he was even paler than Lee Sa-young. She pouted her lips.

‘That person was more worried than I was.’

“Shall we have dinner?”

“Hanover Soup Restaurant is closed today.”

“…Ah, that’s right.”

“That’s right. Vice Guild Leader, stop eating so much Hangover Soup. At this rate, Hangover Soup broth will flow instead of blood.”

“You don’t know the real taste of Hangover Soup….”

The conversation they were having was soon buried in the sound of the rain.

At the end of a very long day, Eui-jae was finally alone. The wind felt particularly cold today.

Eui-jae entered a deserted alley and took off the stuffy Gas mask. A clean shoe tip could be seen, out of place with the dirty street covered with soggy flyers and business cards that had been soaked in the rain. He kicked the ground once for no reason, and the rainwater splashed.

After walking through alleys where he wouldn’t run into anyone, he could vaguely see a sign flashing red. Hanover Soup Restaurant. The place I have to return to. Eui-jae folded his umbrella and staggered towards the store.

When he stood in front of the door and raised his head, the paper he had put up immediately caught his eye. It was wet with rain and the writing was all smudged, but he could tell that a lot was written on it.

Eui-jae narrowed his eyes and read the smudged writing. The paper, which had only one reply written on it the last time he saw it, was now filled with different handwriting all the way to the empty space.

Closed on the day of the Artisan Exhibition.

Reason: Taking Grandmother to the hospital.

└Hope Grandmother is healthy!!

└I was wondering why the door was closed. I hope you received it well?

└If you need hospital bills, please let me know…

└Let’s do business for a long time! Please

└Take care of your health too, part-timer

└Will you open tomorrow?

At that moment, the phone in his pocket buzzed. Judging by the short vibration, it must be a text from Ha-eun. Eui-jae slowly took out his phone and turned on the screen.

Sa-young: Are you okay

Eui-jae took a long breath. The damp air filled his lungs. When he pressed his head against the glass and closed his eyes, the sound of rain shattered faintly in his ears. The lump that had been messed up and hardened was also crumbling together.

A moment later, a resolute light settled in his slowly opened eyes.