CH 24

5 chapters coming right up!

“So, you’re saying that even if diluted, as long as it accumulates, the effect is the same?”

“Yes.”

“That’s great.”

As she said ‘great,’ the idea of utilizing the hair growth formula, crafted with the crystal of Balrans, was indeed excellent.

In a modern society that didn’t differ much except for this place, the tower, and the existence of hunters, I had seen how people were struggling to save what little hair they had left.

Hospitals, medicines, injections, scalp massages, even machines. Investing big money was a routine matter if it meant hair could grow back.

But now, all those processes could be bypassed just by applying this regularly?

Even if the price was ten million won, anyone would want to buy it.

Suddenly, Seo Moon-no-eul, who looked as if a gold mine had opened before her eyes, turned to me.

“It’s a 5:5 split, right?”

“No, it’s 7:3.”

The smooth forehead of Seo Moon-no-eul, just moments ago, crumpled in an instant.

‘Ah, she’s quite expressive.’

However, Seo Moon-no-eul’s expressiveness and the ratio were two separate issues. She seemed to have misunderstood something. And my suspicion that she had misunderstood was correct.

“If Seo Go-woon does the gathering and the guild does the rest, isn’t a 7:3 split too harsh a deal?”

“You’re misunderstanding. The 7 parts mentioned is for the guild, and I’m the 3.”

At my words clearing up her misunderstanding, Seo Moon-no-eul’s eyes widened for a moment.

It was a reasonable reaction. We were initially discussing a 5:5 ratio, and now suddenly I’m offering 2 more to the guild’s side. Seo Moon-no-eul, who is both a senior close to Seo Taeju and also a guildmaster, would undoubtedly have known all of Seo Go-woon’s actions up until now. She must have thought that such a statement couldn’t possibly come from the mouth of Seo Go-woon, a wasterel outlier.

Instead of explaining this to her, I merely returned her penetrating gaze with a small smile.

And Seo Moon-no-eul, proving her worth as the head of a large guild, quickly grasped my intent.

“Do you have any other conditions you desire?”

‘Yes, I was waiting for that question. Whether I make 100 million or 10 billion here, it’s money I can’t take with me when I return to my world.’

I had already made enough to live comfortably as Seo Go-woon, and there was no risk of starving, so I was fine with taking just 30% of the profits from the hair growth formula business.

What I needed was…

“I’d like an increase in the number of dungeon entries.”

“Pardon?”

Just a condition that would be beneficial for clearing the Cradle.

Seo Moon-no-eul briefly furrowed her brows at my words and then leaned in as if she had misheard. She must have thought she heard wrong.

“I’d like to start actively exploring dungeons to level up. As I’m D-rank, I don’t get many assignments, but I’d like to participate in dungeon raids three times a week. Could that be arranged?”

“No.”

The reply came from the side.

“No.”

‘Huh?’

‘What is this quiet guy saying all of a sudden?’

As I stared at him with surprise, Seo Taeju frowned even more.

“I don’t understand why you suddenly want to start exploring dungeons, but no, I can’t allow it.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? ‘Allow,’ you say. Why do you need to ‘allow’ me to go to a dungeon?”

This body, originally Seo Go-woon’s, is ultimately possessed by Kim Hae Ah, which is to say, mine. I should be responsible for what I do. Besides, from Seo Taeju’s perspective, shouldn’t he be overjoyed and welcome me with open arms if Seo Go-woon, who has been nothing but a freeloader up until now, starts to do some Hunter work?

However, contrary to my expectations, Seo Taeju seemed to have a completely different view.

He took my hand and said, “I acknowledge that I’ve been harsh until now. And I’m sorry. But I can’t, or rather won’t, let you go dungeon exploring. Just keep living as you have been, spending money and enjoying life. I’ll give you as much money as you need—”

“Hey, enough with your nonsense when I’m trying to reason.”

“Seo Go-woon!”

“Do you have some kind of disease? Why are you so inconsistent?”

The kid who had been tearfully calling me ‘brother’ just moments ago now screamed at me. I momentarily worried if he was actually sick, but regardless of his condition, my future was for me to decide. It was appropriate for me to assert my intentions here.

“Hey, Seo Taeju. Who are you to approve or disapprove of my affairs? Money? As you have seen, I will have a lot coming my way. Why the uproar when I say I’ll go? Why?”

“Just live comfortably! You’re a D-rank. Not even an offensive class but a production class. Barely a D-rank, yet you’re insisting on going into the dungeon! You nearly died there today!”

“So did I die? I’m alive, aren’t I? Plus, it was Kang Do-hoon, this guy here, who summoned the hidden boss. If he hadn’t been there, I would’ve cleared it by myself and left quietly.”

“Where’s the guarantee that such a thing won’t happen again!”

“Where’s the guarantee that such a thing will happen again? No, that’s not even the main issue right now. So who are you to talk about approval or disapproval to me?”

Seo Taeju’s pupils quivered.

“Did I look like your toy because I accepted your crying? Did I look like your emotional trash bin because I put up with your tantrums?”

“Damn it. That’s not what I’m saying!”

“Hey. I can curse too, you son of a b*tch. Why are you swearing all the time?”

“Hey! You’re swearing more than Taeju-hyung!”

“You should just shut up. Can’t you read the room?”

Kang Do-hoon flinched at my sharp retort.

Why the hell is he acting like that? Can’t he discern when to interfere and when not to? Who does he think he is, meddling here?

In the meantime, as I was silencing Kang Do-hoon, Seo Taeju, who had briefly gone silent, spoke again, “Whether I approve or not, I can’t allow it. This is a decision I’m making as a vice-guildmaster, not as a guardian.”

Seo Taeju, with a smirk on his face, was asking what I was going to do.

‘Ah, so you’re going to press me down with your authority? Then I’ll just have to go all out.’

What a ridiculous situation. I shook off Seo Taeju’s hand and stood up.

“Guildmaster, let’s pretend this conversation never happened. I’m leaving the guild. I haven’t even signed anything yet, so there shouldn’t be a problem with me leaving, right?”

“Are you insane, Seo Go-woon!”

Seo Taeju, who had abruptly stood up, grabbed my arm as I was about to leave the room.

“Hyung, please.”

The word that came out of his mouth had gone from ‘Seo Go-woon’ back to ‘brother’.

Of course, that didn’t mean I had to accept his plea.

“Let go, you jerk. You said you couldn’t stand to see me entering the dungeons. So I’ll leave the guild, oh, and I’ll move out, too. Wouldn’t it be simple if I’m out of sight?”

“Please.”

Please, what? His grip was so strong that I could feel pain in my wrist. It was absurd that the guy begging ‘please’ was holding my wrist this tightly.

Just as I was about to shake off Seo Taeju’s hand again, Seo Moon-no-eul clapped loudly.

“Alright, Hunter Seo Go-woon-ssi. You seem to be quite upset. Why don’t you sit down for a moment? Seo Taeju, you need to get a grip. Why are you trying to exert authority in front of me, the guildmaster? Do you think I’m a joke?”

When Seo Taeju continued to stand still despite her stern words, Seo Moon-no-eul made eye contact with me and gestured toward the sofa. She wanted me to sit down again.

It was not a mere verbal suggestion. The heat gradually radiating from behind Seo Moon-no-eul was a demonstration of her power, proving how she had climbed to her current position.

Sighing, I had no choice but to sit back down.

On the other hand, Seo Taeju, having seen me sit down, started arguing with Seo Moon-no-eul again.

“Noona, I can’t allow it. I absolutely cannot approve.”

“Seo Taeju-ah. No matter if he’s family, Hunter Seo Go-woon-ssi is an adult and technically a guild member under me. You don’t have a say over this issue.”

Sure, I’m not a minor, but a full-fledged adult. Naturally, I should decide on my own matters.

Seo Moon-no-eul. As I’ve felt earlier, unlike some lunatics, she was a person of sound judgment. No wonder she managed to grow such a large guild with such people.

“Seo Go-woon, the Hunter. Your rank is D, so it’s difficult to place you in higher ranks. However, I will consider up to B rank for you.”

“Noona!!”

Seo Taeju snarled and scowled at the sight of Seo Moon-no-eul, who was intent on continuing the deal, ignoring his own opinion.

Kang Do-hoon, holding onto Seo Moon-no-eul’s arm, said, “Sis, listen to what Taeju-hyung has to say—”

“Kang Do-hoon, what are you butting in for? Go-woon-ssi said it earlier. Can’t you read the room? And Seo Taeju, if you interfere one more time, you’re the one leaving the guild.”

“Really? Then I’ll go with hyung—“

“What are you talking about? If you leave, I’ll stay here, won’t I?”

“Is that so?”

Seo Taeju looked at me with a betrayed expression at my casual addendum.

What had happened between us that was so significant to warrant such a look? He was the one who had discarded the peace-offering toast and refused my olive branch. Yet, overnight, his attitude changed so drastically. No matter how I thought about it, he was unquestionably an unpredictable fellow.

“What will you do? Will you leave Hunter Seo Go-woon behind and just go? Or will you stay quiet?”

‘Oh… she’s being quite tough, isn’t she?’

Seo Moon-no-eul’s threat was quite harsh, considering that Seo Taeju, who made up 80% of the guild’s growth, was being chased out.

“……”

“……”

Taeju and the guildmaster started a silent staring contest.

I didn’t care who won… but if I had to choose, I’d prefer to support Seo Moon-no-eul. It’s a hassle to look for another guild, even though I said I’d leave.

An awkward silence persisted for a while.

“…Sigh, alright.”

In the end, it was Seo Taeju who was lost in the silence.

Heaving a deep sigh, Seo Taeju asked me, “Are you really going to the dungeon?”

“Yes.”

“Even though I’m against it?”

His eyes were serious. But my answer doesn’t change.

“Yes.”

“Then let’s stick together.”

“What kind of crazy…”

“You’re the crazy one.”

The words I wanted to say jumped out of Seo Moon-no-eul’s mouth, not mine.

Indeed, she was a person with sound judgment. As the woman interrupted and nodded, Seo Moon-no-eul spoke with heightened emotions, “Hey, you crazy bastard. Are you saying you’ll go to a B-rank dungeon with your current rank? Is that what a vice guildmaster should say?”

“If that’s a problem, I’ll quit being a vice guildmaster. I just want to be a Hunter now.”

“You, you—!”

“Sis!”

Kang Do-hoon, who had grabbed Seo Moon-no-eul as she seemed to be choking from her blood pressure rise, was stomping his feet as if he didn’t know what to do.

‘The guild sure is running smoothly.’

I never thought Seo Moon-no-eul, the master of the Sunset Guild who survived till the end of the novel, would experience this.

Looking back and forth between the guildmaster and Taeju with a dumbfounded expression, Seo Moon-no-eul, who had regained some color, seemed to gesture at me to somehow fix the situation. But.

‘Why should I? Is there anything bad for me to tag along with an S-rank? He might be annoying, but…’

There wasn’t only disadvantage in Seo Taeju coming with me. Strictly speaking, the difficulty of leveling up would drop dramatically just by having a balance destroyer beside me.

Seeing my grumpy expression, Seo Moon-no-eul, as if this wouldn’t do, threw out a remark. “Do you think he’ll just let you, Hunter Seo Go-woon kill the monsters?”

Ah, I didn’t think of that. That madman wouldn’t even let me go into the dungeon because it was dangerous.

“Seo Taeju.”

“Yeah.”

“You do you, and I’ll do me. Okay?”

“No. If you’re going to the dungeon, come with me. I’ll kill everything.”

“What kind of…” I held back from yelling at his response and took a deep breath. And I pulled out the Sunshine Policy that I had abandoned in the corner of my heart.

‘I’m the sunshine. Yes, I’m the sunshine.’

“No, Taeju, you idiot. Listen. I’m not going to the dungeon for sightseeing, but to level up. If I go with you, will I be able to level up? Or will I just be a spectator?”

Seo Taeju scowled. “Then I’ll let you kill the high-rank monsters.”

Is that even a thing to say? Isn’t it better to just hit him once? I feel like he’ll come to his senses if I smack him on the back of his head. Phew, sunshine. I’m the sunshine. XX. How can a person be sunshine? Damn, this bastard. Phew, no, he’s a citizen. A citizen who threatens to report to the national petition.

Regaining my composure, I spoke gently again, “How am I supposed to kill those? Even when I tried alchemy in the crystal cave earlier, it seems like no damage is inflicted unless it’s something trivial, so…”

“Then you just have to watch me kill.”

A ping— like sound echoed in my ears as if a screw had just fallen out.

It was the sound of my patience snapping.