[Chapter 139]
[The Phoenix Egg]
There are a total of seven clans that have received S-rank certification in South Korea.
People who like rankings would add +, 0, or - even within the same rank to denote differences in performance and scale when relatively evaluating clans.
Of course, since there were only seven S-rank certified clans, dividing them into grades was meaningless.
Nevertheless, the markings after the rank created different levels of public recognition.
In that sense—
"—Here is the clan's first quarter performance report. You can see how much it differs from last year's first quarter performance."
"The first digit dropped, that's all."
"Yes, that's right, Clan Lord. It dropped 20% compared to last year. The economy wasn't that bad, and we haven't caused any incidents this year yet."
The Blaze Clan, which dropped from S-rank to S- rank, started the year with quite low performance.
Blaze Clan Lord Kang Hyun-chul was currently being scolded by the administrator while checking the operating profit in his office.
"I thought we had just become S-rank, but what is this..."
"S or S-, what's the big deal... It's not like it puts food on the table."
"It does put food on the table, that's why I'm saying this. Didn't I tell you? Operating profit dropped 20%."
"Can't we just earn that much more next quarter?"
The administrator sighed deeply.
Regardless, Kang Hyun-chul maintained a nonchalant attitude.
He didn't care much about clan rankings.
The same went for the clan members including him.
They were satisfied as long as they could swing their swords.
So wrinkles inevitably increased on the forehead of the administrator in charge of the clan's housekeeping.
"Isn't it fortunate we didn't drop to A-rank when I thought we would?"
"Please don't think about dropping."
Meanwhile, there was one more reason Kang Hyun-chul was nonchalant.
The clan rank didn't drop as much as he had expected.
"If you're a Blaze Clan member, don't worry about things like rank, okay?"
"Is that something a Clan Lord should say?"
"And it dropped to S-, not A, so it's good we got off easy."
"Haha..."
A few months ago.
The Blaze Clan intruded on the finals of the Academy Cultural Festival Comprehensive Competition.
As a result, the Academy sent a stern protest along with—
'—Shouldn't you have some sense now that you're that age? Did you want to be humiliated in front of your clan members like this?'
Even though she had retired from the Twelve Seats, her career couldn't be ignored.
So he had to be thoroughly scolded by her without any rebuttal.
In front of the clan members too.
"Anyway, let's forget about the past and do well from next quarter."
"...Excuse me, Clan Lord? Why does it sound like I did something wrong?"
"Go out and do your work now."
"Haha..."
That wasn't the end of it.
The Academy intrusion incident even reached the ears of the Fairy.
So Fairy Lim Ga-eul assigned Kang Hyun-chul various tasks to maintain dignity as one of the Twelve Seats.
She also demoted Blaze Clan's detailed rank by one and ordered them to devote themselves to national projects until the first quarter of this year.
That was the reason for Blaze Clan's poor performance in the first quarter this year.
"So what if performance is poor. We were still able to see how much that Choco Pie kid has grown. Man, that kid is really something, something."
Snap.
Kang Hyun-chul snapped his fingers and burned the report the administrator had just handed over.
He hummed a tune recalling what the clan members who sparred with No Eunha had said recently.
It was a military song.
"I'd like to run over right now and ask for a match..."
A promising player with a title despite not being a player, known as the most anticipated future player in the industry.
Kang Hyun-chul wanted to compete with No Eunha if he could.
But he couldn't touch someone who wasn't even a player yet.
The
He was also wary of the Fairy's reaction.
"...2 years. Let's endure for 2 years..."
Until 2 years when No Eunha would graduate from the academy.
Kang Hyun-chul repeated to himself.
Then he decided to do something else to divert his attention.
[—You're not working and just playing around now, right?]
"I'm working my bones off. Why, what's up?"
[I doubt that's the case...]
Just then, Park Hye-rim contacted him.
It was a call to check in.
She said she would be dispatched to the Player Market as part of her Twelve Seats duties.
"Oh, really? That'll be tough."
It was the time for the first half auction at the Player Market.
Thorough preparations for security were needed as items not commonly traded were put up for auction.
She was probably attending as one of the Twelve Seats for that reason too.
Kang Hyun-chul brushed it off as unimportant.
It wasn't his business after all.
Just then—
[—You'll be coming to the market too as a Clan Lord, right?]
"Probably."
[Then why don't you help me with my work?]
"Huh? Why should I?"
Park Hye-rim's sudden request.
Kang Hyun-chul frowned.
He had no intention of helping with someone else's work.
But Park Hye-rim, as if anticipating his reaction—
[—I'll treat you to blood sausage soup. That place we went last time. The one I said was delicious.]
"..."
[I'm being generous. I'll treat you to assorted blood sausage too. Deal?]
"Deal."
Park Hye-rim proposes a deal.
Kang Hyun-chul who unconsciously salivated at the mention of blood sausage soup nodded like Pavlov's dog.
☆
April passed quickly.
Around when Eunha finished his midterms.
The long-awaited contact from Twenty-five arrived.
—As I thought, I was right.
According to Twenty-five.
What is presumed to be the item Eunha is looking for is scheduled to be auctioned at the Player Market's first half auction.
Eunha rejoiced then.
The timing was truly perfect.
He almost missed a precious opportunity.
I was lucky.
It was well known that Kang Hyun-chul discovered it at an auction, but the exact timing wasn't known.
In his previous life.
Twelve Seats
It was quite a famous story in the industry.
But Eunha didn't know when he encountered that chance.
He only thought it was around this time by roughly comparing his memories.
So Eunha left instructions for Twenty-five to keep monitoring the Player Market.
And so—
"—There are a lot of players."
"It's the Player Market after all."
"It seems players who mainly operate in the provinces have come up too from the looks of it."
"You can tell that too?"
Seoul COEX.
Eunha visited the Player Market where the first half auction was being held.
Of course, he wasn't alone.
Han Seo-hyun accompanied him too.
Han Seo-hyun who was holding Eunha's hand was carefully observing the players entering the building.
Then she casually guessed which clans they belonged to.
Eunha couldn't help but be surprised.
"If you're going to become a clan administrator, shouldn't you at least remember other clans' emblems?"
As if this much was basic knowledge one should have.
Han Seo-hyun replied nonchalantly.
Eunha noticed she was studying hard to become a clan administrator after entering university.
This noona is a strange person too.
She could live comfortably just by staying still...
Eunha inwardly gave a bitter smile.
He couldn't help but think Han Seo-hyun was truly eccentric.
Not that he disliked it though.
Rather, he liked that side of her.
"Let's hurry and go in too. Let's have a cool coffee inside."
"Okay."
After getting engaged to Han Seo-hyun.
Eunha met Han Seo-hyun every other weekend.
According to Han Seo-hyun, even if it was a strategic relationship, they had to not make people around them think it was strange.
Eunha who fell for her words was fulfilling the dates they verbally promised at the beginning of the engagement.
Meeting her today could also be said to be part of that promise.
Dating Ha-yang last week, dating this noona this week.
Even when I leave the academy on weekends, I can hardly find time to be at home.
Thanks to that, Eunha had to meet Han Seo-hyun and Jeong Ha-yang alternately on precious weekends.
He was in a situation where he couldn't properly rest at home.
It was to the point where Eun-ah and Eun-ae complained that he wasn't paying attention to them.
Not that he disliked it though.
Even when dating the two, he usually returned home before night.
Eun-ah and Eun-ae's complaints were just jokes anyway.
Eunha looked back at Han Seo-hyun who was following him holding his hand.
"—Why are you looking at me?"
"No, just... You look pretty today."
"You're supposed to say that when you first meet. Anyway, thank you."
"No. I didn't think you looked particularly pretty when we met earlier? Did you put on makeup while in the bathroom..."
"Want to get punished? Only do jokes in the first verse. If someone's pretty just say they're pretty, why are you being shy?"
"You're pinching really hard too..."
"You're exaggerating."
Though they didn't verbally promise.
Eunha naturally held her hand when meeting her at some point.
She didn't mind either.
Sometimes she held Eunha's hand first.
It was the same today too.
When they first met Eunha held her hand first, when they got off at Samsung Station she held his hand first.
...She looked strangely pretty then.
Maybe because she suddenly struck.
When getting off the subway and looking at the map.
Han Seo-hyun silently held his hand.
Then Eunha unconsciously thought she looked very pretty.
He couldn't just say that so he joked around and ended up getting his hand pinched by her now.
Eunha rubbed his reddened hand.
Actually he only rubbed it briefly.
Because she rubbed it for him.
"I'm holding your hand."
"So?"
"What to do with this hand is up to me now. Be nice to me."
"Oh my."
Han Seo-hyun raises their interlocked hands with a swish.
Then she shows she can pinch his hand anytime.
Eunha chuckled seeing her act proudly as if holding his leash.
Like that, when he let his guard down.
She suddenly struck.
"—Tell me honestly."
"What?"
"Did you enjoy dating Ha-yang last week?"
"..."
"She's your girlfriend so you must have enjoyed it, right?"
A very awkward question.
She was probably asking jokingly, but Eunha felt like he was walking on a knife's edge.
Whether he said he enjoyed it or not.
Eunha could tell the initiative would pass to Han Seo-hyun no matter which answer he gave.
He had already experienced it thoroughly last week.
"Come on, what does that matter. The most important thing is that I'm on a date with you like this now, right?"
"Hmm..."
As a result, Eunha knew what answer would be wise.
He exaggeratedly played dumb and avoided the question.
Han Seo-hyun stared intently at his eyes as if lost in thought.
Eventually she said—
"—You've really become a two-timer now. Cleverly avoiding like that."
"...Isn't it too much for the person who made me two-time to say that?"
Han Seo-hyun clicked her tongue.
Eunha stuck out his tongue.
He felt very unfair that Han Seo-hyun was condemning him.
Regardless—
"—I'll let it slide pretending I was fooled. You're right, being on a date with you like this is the most important thing."
Han Seo-hyun giggled.
While outwardly scolding him, she let out a pleased laugh.
☆
Unlike the black market, the Player Market was a market legally used by players.
That was why Eunha brought Han Seo-hyun without any hesitation.
"I was originally going to come with Do-jun. Someone like Do-jun would be able to enter any auction hall."
"But I can enter too, so you decided to go on a date while you're at it, right?"
"You said you're going to become an administrator. So I wanted to show you how the industry works at least once."
"What an excuse."
"It's not an excuse."
"I'll pretend it's not."
There are Player Markets in various places.
But most high quality goods gathered at Seoul COEX.
Of course, the quality of goods put up for auction only twice a year was much better.
So it was natural for players from all over the country to come to participate in the first half auction.
"—From here on, you must show me your membership card to enter."
There are no entry restrictions for the Player Market.
But there were entry restrictions when participating in auctions held inside the market.
Also, auctions held in various places had different entry restrictions.
"Here."
"...Confirmed. I hope you have an enjoyable time today."
"As expected of Sirius."
"You're Sirius too."
"How am I Sirius? My father just works there."
"Won't you become Sirius when you marry me?"
"Okay, I give up."
"Where do we need to go?"
"We'll see now."
The item Eunha was trying to buy at this auction was top grade.
Naturally, the entry conditions had to be strict.
It wasn't an auction he who wasn't even a player yet could participate in.
Without Sirius Group's power.
In the end, Eunha was able to enter the auction hall as Han Seo-hyun's companion.
So many people came.
Player Market Grade 1 Auction Hall.
He quickly scanned the players gathered in the auction hall.
There were quite a few familiar faces.
They could be said to be seniors far above him.
"Let's go sit over there."
"Okay."
Just as he looked at the players.
The players looked at Eunha too.
He who made eye contact bowed his head slightly to them as if showing courtesy.
Then he found a seat as inconspicuous as possible with Han Seo-hyun.
And a moment later—
[—We will now begin the first half auction of Seonryeok 13.]
The auction began.
Hard to obtain elixirs, artifacts, skill stones etc. came up for auction.
Each time, players raised their hands to bid in a bidding war to win items.
There were no unsold items, and items sold quickly as soon as they went up for auction.
The items that came up in the Grade 1 auction hall were that precious.
And as time passed again—
—It's here.
Finally.
The item Eunha had been waiting for came up on stage.
""""...""""
[I think those of you here probably know. Yes, this is indeed a return beast egg.]
A pure white egg.
The egg about one and a half finger spans in size was wrapped in mana.
Eunha smiled seeing that egg.
[This egg discovered on Mt. Bibong in Gyeongbuk is estimated to be an egg influenced by the 8th rank monster Fire Rat.]
The auctioneer explained about the return beast egg in a regretful tone.
The explanation that it was likely influenced by the 8th rank monster Fire Rat.
Players sighed here and there.
Return beasts are rare, but...
Even so, it's ambiguous to use a return beast based on an 8th rank monster.
Eunha knew why they were sighing.
It's not a very helpful return beast.
A return beast based on a Fire Rat, it probably wouldn't have much use besides lighting cigarettes.
Eunha chuckled hearing them whisper.
Well, it's good for me.
The value of that egg is certainly not low.
Eunha could assert.
But he had no intention of saying so.
It would cause an uproar if he did.
[—Then we'll start the bidding.]
Among the people gathered here.
He was probably the only one who knew that egg was actually based on the 3rd rank monster Phoenix.
Eunha smiled broadly.