"While monsters with poison skills higher than C classes are subject to special management, but as Mr. Yoojin Han has a beast breeding skill and a poison resistance skill of a class that can detoxify others, you were made an exception."
Taewon Song spoke as he handed me a monster registration form.
"However, you have to report to the Hunter Association every time you move it. Do not carry the snake with you except for breeding facilities and hunter related buildings."
Velare's poison skill was an A class, and while other attack skills were also dangerous, poison required special care because most of them were persistent and contagious. Those who were not awakened could die if a drop or two of an A class poison dropped on the street. The reason Taewon Song came directly here was probably because of the poison skill, as he could prevent the snake from using the poison with his looting ability.
-Hss.
Velare was hiding behind a teacup and showed only its head after being pressed down by the chick. Myriad shades of light sparked every time its tail tapped the table in dissatisfaction. I found it difficult to even look at it at times because of the bright summer sun.
"Why did you bite your brother…or sister…"
I did not know the sex of the chick nor Velare, even though I was assuming that the chick was a male.
"Did Riette tell you Velare's sex or other matters?"
I asked as I handed back the signed monster registration form.
"She did not speak of other things."
"All right. Also, will you help me out?"
"Yes?"
I sent a desperate gaze to Taewon Song's surprised face.
"I'm imprisoned now, and they won't send me home. Since this is illegal, please get me out, Director Song."
Two S class hunters placed a weak F class hunter in confinement, and even my cell phone was confiscated. Taewon Song looked at the snacks on the table at my words.
"…I believe that you're living well, and I believe you need a bit oppressive protection."
"Not being able to go out, watch television, call someone is not a bit. I have to spend all day with Hyunjae Sung. Can you endure that?"
Spending all day with Hyunjae Sung for more than a day made Taewon Song contemplate. His gaze moved to Hyunjae Sung, who was watching us. Hyunjae Sung unfolded his hands and spoke.
"I'll prepare a high tower and a dragon if you want to rescue a princess. Had your tastes been more of an underground prison and shackles?"
"I do not prefer them."
…Was there an underground prison here? What was that about towers and dragons? Was he thinking about casting Riette after renting the Namsan tower?
Taewon Song looked back at me after thinking things over.
"Has the Sesung Guild Leader force[[d]] you to do unjustified acts?"
"…He's treating me well."
"Then bear him for a while longer, please."
Taewon Song went back without rescuing me.
While I had asked Yoohyun to let me go to a dungeon during our evening phone call, his refusal was firmer than necessary. Another day passed as I waited for Hyunjae Sung to ((go away)) [[leave]] from his post.
Finally, it happened on the next day's evening.
"I heard that the dungeon conquest is finished."
Hyunjae Sung told me as he spoke about going out for a while. The S class dungeon [[where]] he had sent another Sesung's S class hunter was complete, and as he [[was]] ((had been)) the one to have gone in officially, Hyunjae Sung needed to show his face.
"Can I expect you to wait quietly?"
"How can you ask me that? I'm going to do everything I can to run."
I spoke the truth, as Hyunjae Sung will not expect me to keep still.
"However, since my stats are an F class, you don't need to worry if you place one or two capable A to B class hunters."
So, just go feeling relieved. Hyunjae Sung opened his mouth as he stared at my face.
"Even if there's some loss, I should…"
"Just go. The contract does not say that you have to protect me directly. Yoohyun knows well how busy a guild leader is, so don't sweat about it. You having stuck this much to me was more than enough."
It was excessive that the Sesung Guild Leader had been protecting a single individual all this time, ((even if)) [[to the point]] he had to be in the guild facilities to pretend that he had gone into a dungeon. Hyunjae Sung left when I said that he could not watch over me all the time now since the conquest was over. Of course, he left behind an A class hunter.
"I hope I'm not causing you much trouble."
While the hunter answered no, I felt a gaze that was not all that positive. While many people had been friendly towards me in the last few days I had spent in the Sesung Guild. There were, of course, those who looked at me askance.
Even if I had a useful skill, the only one known to the public is the beast breeding skill. I was entirely below the ranks of the Sesung Guild Leader, and since he had been paying attention all day to me, there would be people who did not like the situation.
Some might feel jealous since an S class was admired even if the person's character was questionable. Some might think that the leader prefers someone whose relationship with Sesung will end after I gave him the beast, who ((had worked)) [[would work]] hard for Sesung and continue to do so.
'He would have placed someone who is dissatisfied with me.'
Someone who dislikes me would protect me more firmly and completely and would refuse any offers I would make to create a gap. I smiled at Igyeong Hwang, who was said to be an attacker, as it was better for him to hate me so I could run with less guilt.
"I have to have the door open because I need air circulation."
I opened my new bedroom door wide and spoke to him.
"So, please step away from the door. How about taking a chair over there?"
I pointed to a spot about four steps away from the door.
"Don't come to look at me suddenly, since there's the matter of privacy."
"I won't need to if you remain quiet."
Igyeong Hwang moved after nodding. Since the bedroom was large and a small living room was attached to it, Igyeong Hwang would not be able to see the bed if he does not come in. I placed the chick on the bed and stroked its head.
-Chick, you keep still.
-Peep.
I whispered since he might hear me and placed toys for under five-year-olds on the table. Igyeong Hwang would think I was staying still if he heard the chick play.
I could not leave Velare behind since I could not leave the owner's token to the hunter, and it might escape causing accidents. What if someone who came to clean became poisoned because the snake dripped poison?
I wrapped the snake on my wrist and went to the bathroom next to the bedroom, and as I could set the timer for a hot bathtub, I set it for one hour and closed the door with the lights on. Igyeong Hwang would think I was in the bathroom even if he looked at the bedroom, and the sound of water would confuse him more.
'I would have to go out and come back quietly.'
My goal was to return without being discovered, as the bedroom door might become a locked cage if I was caught.
I took my wallet and used my stealth skill, Find the Hidden Picture. I went out of the wide-open door as carefully as possible to not make any noises. The hunter did not find me out as he sat and only looked around when I passed right in front of him.
I went down the stairs to the exit where the miniature portal was, and while the front gates made a sound, he would not have heard it because of the distance. It was a relief that the manor was large.
One did not usually need a key to go out from inside through the miniature portal since having a gatekeeper in and out was burdensome when the guild members and the hired help had to use the portal.
An A class hunter who had the portal key was standing guard outside. As I had asked for a late-night snack at ten, I could come back in with a cook.
'There are about two hours left.'
I could come back after meeting the depraved if I moved fast. I went out of the long corridor with quiet steps. Since there was an A class hunter standing guard at the portal, other security systems were minimal. Of course, no one would be able to win against the owner even after getting in. I managed to get out of the building without being caught and went to a nearby ATM machine. I took out twenty 50,000 won bills, folded them, and wrote a memo.
[Excuse me, but please lend me your cell phone. This is for the rental fee. The cell phone will be stored in the No. OOO storage locker at Sadang Station, and please come back for it after 11 o'clock today. I will place a post-it on the locker as a sign.]
I wrote that I would place the cell phone in the lost-and-found center if a locker were unavailable with the password number.
I looked around at the pedestrians walking by after placing the memo amidst the folded bills. They all wore lightly since it was summer, and I followed someone who took out a cell phone from an unprotected eco-bag inner pocket. He unlocked the screen with a pattern, checked the messages, answered, and put it back in the bag.
I exchanged the cell phone and the bills as he stood in front of the bus stop and looked over the direction board. While the bag shook a bit, he seemed not to notice.
'Where's a nearby low-class dungeon?'
I searched low-class dungeons that had been publicly bid on the cell phone, as information on public bids was available to everyone as [[long as]] the team or guild for the dungeon conquest are ((let)) known. An E class dungeon close by was planned to be conquered tomorrow after being ((bid)) [[auctioned]]. While one cannot delay the conquest due to the possibility of a break, one can go anytime beforehand. A team consisting of E classes with a D class hunter as team leader had bid on it, and the team leader had listed his phone number.
I went inside a narrow alley and phoned the team leader, and a man about thirty answered.
"I want to purchase the rights to conquest the E class dungeon you have bid."
I was not going to conquer it, but just meet the depraved and come out before the gates closed. I would then give the rights back to this team, saying that I gave up on the conquest. I called a million won when he called five hundred and fifty thousand. I thought of the ATM limit and decided to give them a high-class potion if I could not get the cash. Potions were easy to sell for money.
"All right, I'll then see you in front of the dungeon building."
After laying a 10,000 won bill on the counter in a nearby store after I ended the call, I took a mask. I should see what my brother was doing if I had time left after getting out of the dungeon.
***
There was another phone call for Minyui Kim's cell phone, and a mid-class guild's name appeared on the phone number app with a bright ringtone. Yoohyun Han confirmed the name and blocked the number.
It seemed everyone tried to contact him after the rumors about Minyui Kim surfaced, and while most of them were valueless, Yoohyun received the call from MKC.
'I have to take care of Seokwon Choi.'
He is an S class hunter who had made a contract with that filial duty addict like the dead Gyeonsoo Yoon. He was in hiding and being protected after the lake dungeon incident, which made approaching him difficult. Yoohyun Han, the Haeyeon Guild Leader, will not be able to see even his face. However, Minyui Kim, who was considered to be almost S class and a candidate for scouting, will be able to meet him directly.
Contact had been made quietly and a secret meeting was going to take place. While he did not know whether Seokwon Choi would come out directly, it was highly probable that he would appear when a candidate said he wanted to meet the guild leader before moving between guilds.
Yoohyun called Yoojin's phone before going out to the designated spot, and after Hyunjae Sung answered, Yoohyun could hear his brother's voice.
[You can't even visit once? What's keeping you so busy?]
Yoohyun smiled without thinking at his brother's sullen voice.
"Wait for a bit longer. I'll clean up as fast as possible."
[What are you cleaning up? I can't move here, so tell me.]
"Have you eaten dinner?"
[I'll [[do so]] soon. Where are you? Home?]
The call continued as Yoojin asked to let him go home, and Yoohyun Han stood up after the phone call ended.