The F-Rank Guild Master Has Too Much Money Chapter 26

 

 

After sending the others off in taxis, I headed to the Awakening Center with Ji Yun-seo.

 

The place gave off a warm, welcoming vibe—undoubtedly thanks to the amount of money poured into it.

 

“Oh, you’re here again, sir!”

 

“Yes. I brought the kid here to awaken.”

 

“This little one?”

 

“I’m not a little kid!”

 

“You are to me.”

 

☆ Even To Us! has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

Baby! Baby! You’re just a tiny little bean!!

 

☆ Baby’s Finally Awakening? has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

May our baby walk the path of an S-rank Hunter! The gods will protect you!!

 

Shaking my head at the gods’ antics, I set Ji Yun-seo down. Her round eyes wandered over the Awakening Center while I handed my card to the staff.

 

“Will it be the premium option again?”

 

“Yes.”

 

The staff member hurried off happily, and a moment later a payment confirmation buzzed on my phone. Soon after, just like with An Bom, a staff member from the second floor came down.

 

“Please follow that lady over there.”

 

“Go on, Yun-seo.”

 

“…”

 

Ji Yun-seo looked up at me silently. When I knelt to meet her gaze, she suddenly threw her arms around my neck.

 

“What is it? Do you want to say something?”

 

“…Can’t you come with me?”

 

“Are you scared?”

 

“A little.”

 

“Excuse me, would it be possible for me to accompany her upstairs?”

 

“Yes, that’s fine.”

 

I picked Ji Yun-seo up again.

 

Following the staff’s lead, I patted her back as we climbed to the second floor, where several capsule-like devices came into view—some already occupied.

 

“You paid for the premium option, correct?”

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

“And the one awakening is…?”

 

“This little one here.”

 

The staff led us to a capsule tucked into a corner, and I gently laid Ji Yun-seo inside.

 

Since the capsules were designed for adults, it looked far too big for her small frame. The lid was made of glass.

 

“Uncle….”

 

“Can I stay here while she awakens? She’s very young.”

 

“Of course.”

 

With permission granted, I looked down at Ji Yun-seo.

 

The confident, outspoken girl I knew was gone—in her place was a child whose eyes brimmed with tears.

 

I wiped them away with my thumb.

 

“Uncle’s not going anywhere. Even when this closes, you’ll still see me through the glass. Just keep your eyes on me.”

 

“You really won’t leave?”

 

“Promise. I’ll be here until it’s all over.”

 

“Then I’ll close the lid now, sir.”

 

I gave Ji Yun-seo a reassuring smile, since she looked even more frightened than before.

 

The capsule door shut. Once the staff pressed a button and stepped away, Ji Yun-seo reached out and pressed her palm against the glass.

 

I placed my hand against hers. A faint smile crossed her face, as if that simple gesture eased her fear.

 

“You okay?”

 

Of course, she couldn’t hear me, but I still asked—hoping it would calm her.

 

Slowly, Ji Yun-seo nodded.

 

In truth, there was nothing remarkable about the awakening machine. All she did was sit inside the capsule and look at me.

 

Beep—

 

About ten minutes later, an alert sounded. Along with the crackle of static came the whirring of a printer.

 

Ji Yun-seo seemed calmer now, no longer fixated on me but curiously looking around the capsule.

 

With her tiny body inside that oversized machine, it was like watching Thumbelina.

 

‘How can someone be this small? Are seven-year-olds usually this tiny?’

 

Maybe it was because she’d grown up malnourished, without proper meals.

 

“It’s finished.”

 

As another alarm rang, the staff hurried over and opened the capsule.

 

The moment the lid lifted, I took Ji Yun-seo into my arms.

 

“You did great.”

 

“I wasn’t scared at all.”

 

“Yeah, you weren’t. You were really brave.”

 

“Hehe.”

 

Her cheeks flushed red.

 

‘So cute.’

 

“…Huh?!”

 

I turned at the sound of a gasp. The staff member was staring wide-eyed between the printed sheet and Ji Yun-seo.

 

“P-please wait just a moment!!”

 

Clutching the paper, the staff bolted downstairs.

 

Ji Yun-seo tightened her arms around my neck.

 

“Did something go wrong?”

 

“No.”

 

“Then why did that lady act like that?”

 

“Because you’re just too amazing.”

 

☆ Whose Kid Is That! has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

Our little treasure that we gods cherish! Of course she’s exceptional!

 

Ji Yun-seo tilted her head, not quite understanding. I gently patted her back and looked at the results.

 

Just as I’d seen through Clairvoyance, she awakened as S-rank without a single miss. Until now, no one at this Awakening Center had ever scored higher than A- or B-rank. But S-rank, and on her very first awakening…

 

‘Not that she can even register as a hunter here.’

 

Holding Ji Yun-seo, I went down to the first floor, where the center’s owner stood waiting with a bright smile.

 

“Sir! She’s S-rank! S-rank! How did you know she could awaken?”

 

“I just thought it was worth a try. Honestly, I didn’t expect it to really work.”

 

For now, Clairvoyance was something we agreed to keep hidden. Gumiho had warned me—someone might covet the ability and try to kidnap me, or the government could pressure our guild.

 

I had to agree.

 

When it came to things like this, it was better to play it safe. You never know what could happen—always expect the unexpected.

 

“This is the very first S-rank to awaken at our center! What a joyous occasion!”

 

“Is S-rank… good?”

 

“Yes. Once you grow up, Yun-seo, it’ll be a wonderful thing.”

 

At that, Ji Yun-seo gave a little nod, then buried her face against my neck. Her body was radiating heat now—signs that the awakening fever had begun.

 

“We’ll be going now.”

 

“Oh, of course. By the way, since she’s a minor, you’ll need to register her with the Hunter Association. Please handle it there.”

 

I nodded and left the awakening center. Registration wasn’t urgent. Right now, getting Ji Yun-seo to An Bom was my priority.

 

I quickly hailed a taxi and got in. Her body felt feverish in my arms, and by the time we were on the road, the awakening fever had fully set in. Her small frame grew hotter and hotter as I held her close.

 

“Sir, the kid’s sick. I’ll pay double—please get us there fast.” 

 

“Shouldn’t we head to a hospital instead?”

 

“No, it’s fine. We have a doctor at home.”

 

The driver gave a quick nod and swerved into a side street, pressing down on the accelerator like a race car driver.

 

Thanks to the clear route, we arrived much faster than expected. I handed him a generous fare and hurried out of the taxi.

 

☆ Awakening Sickness has donated 100 Mana Stones! ☆
Why does an S-rank have to suffer through this?ㅠㅠㅠ Poor kid, don’t be sickㅠㅠㅠ

 

☆ Don’t Be Sick, Baby has donated 100 Mana Stones! ☆
Even though she’s not my own child, my heart hurtsㅠㅠ Please don’t be in painㅠㅠ

 

☆ Even a Blessing has donated 100 Mana Stones! ☆

I wish she could at least receive oneㅠㅠ It’s too heartbreakingㅠㅠ

 

I carried Ji Yun-seo to the bedroom at the far end and gently laid her on the bed. Her face was flushed red, her fever rising even higher.

 

When I placed a hand on her forehead, the heat was scorching. Despite holding back her pain the whole way here, she’d now lost consciousness to the fever.

 

I quickly called An Bom. Before I could even hang up, a gate of light opened and she stepped through.

 

“Her awakening sickness already started?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Alright.”

 

An Bom took Yun-seo’s hand, and bright light glowed between their palms. Meanwhile, I pulled out the thermometer and cooling patches I had once used on Choi Tae-hyuk. I pressed a patch to Ji Yun-seo’s forehead and checked her temperature—39.7 degrees.

 

‘Is it because she’s younger than Tae-hyuk? Her fever’s even higher.’

 

I rushed to the kitchen, filled an ice pack, and pressed it to her side.

 

“Did you bring any fever medicine?” An Bom asked.

 

“Oh? Can’t she take this?”

 

I held up the antipyretic Choi Tae-hyuk had used before, but An Bom shook her head.

 

“It might not be safe—the dosage is for adults. There’s a separate one for children.”

 

“…Then I’ll go get it.”

 

“No need. I asked Mr. Choi Tae-hyuk to pick it up earlier. He should be back soon.”

 

While An Bom urged Choi Tae-hyuk to hurry, I sat down at Ji Yun-seo’s bedside. At first, I had only meant to protect her from bad people.

 

She was supposed to be the S-rank I needed to keep close to prevent the world’s destruction. But after seeing her laugh, cry, and now suffer in pain all in a single day—

my heart ached.

 

Looking at her ragged breaths, my eyes wandered around the room. Maybe my bedroom was too bleak for a child. She’d grown up in an orphanage, probably never had a room of her own. Well, there were plenty of empty rooms here. I’d have to set one aside just for her.

 

As I mentally sorted through today’s tasks and the things I needed to do for her, An Bom returned after finishing her call.

 

She checked Ji Yun-seo’s temperature again—the fever had gone down a little, perhaps thanks to the Heal.

 

“Thankfully, it’s dropped.”

 

“Yes. But it might rise again. Please keep a close eye on her tonight.”

 

“First, let’s change her into comfortable clothes so she can rest.”

 

The clothes delivered from the department store were still neatly stacked on the 8th floor. I dug through the bags and pulled out the thermal underwear Gumiho had insisted on, then handed it to An Bom.

 

While she changed Ji Yun-seo, I went into the dressing room to grab some clothes for myself.

 

When I’d built this place, I hadn’t planned on bringing Ji Yun-seo here. There was only one bedroom on the 8th floor—and naturally, only one bed.

 

Since An Bom was here too, I couldn’t very well claim it for myself. But I also couldn’t kick them out. So I decided I’d stay in one of the empty dorm rooms instead.

 

“Sorry, but could I trouble you to watch over her just for tonight?”

 

“Of course. It’s something I should be doing anyway. It’s painful, seeing a kid who smiled all day suddenly fall so ill.”

 

Her expression, as she brushed back Ji Yun-seo’s damp hair, was full of sympathy.

 

“Then please sleep here tonight. I’ll head down to the dorms.”

 

“You don’t have to—”

 

“I’d feel uncomfortable otherwise. Besides, Saphi seems lonely too, so I’ll stay with it tonight.”

 

“Yes. Saphi’s been whining a lot lately.”

 

“By the way, An Bom—there’s food in the fridge, and I bought porridge too, just in case.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

She gave a small bow, and I waved it off—just as the gate suddenly flared with light.

 

Choi Tae-hyuk stepped through, holding a small white pharmacy bag.

 

“Oh, you’re here already?” An Bom asked.

 

“Yes. Here’s the children’s fever reducer you asked for.”

 

“Thank you so much.”

 

It was the liquid type.

 

Carefully, using the small spoon that came with it, An Bom fed the medicine to Ji Yun-seo while I quietly stepped out.

 

She had said it was her responsibility, but it still felt like I was dumping the burden on her. The thought left me uneasy.

 

“Guildmaster.”

 

By the time I reached the 7th floor, Choi Tae-hyuk had followed me down from the gate.

 

“Yes?”

 

“Have you eaten yet?”

 

“…Ah.”

 

Had it gotten that late already?

 

I checked my phone. Sure enough—it was already dinner time.

 

Between the chaos and worrying about Ji Yun-seo, I hadn’t even thought of eating.

 

“I’m not really hungry….”

 

“Then could I trouble you to spare me a little of your time?”

 

‘Huh? Out of the blue?’