The F-Rank Guild Master Has Too Much Money Chapter 53

 

 

A warm morning sun streamed in. I stared blankly at the clear sky before lifting Bia—who’d been purring on my thigh—off me and standing up.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“Meow?”

 

“Kyuu?”

 

Choi Tae-hyuk, who was reviewing documents with Saphi on the sofa, looked up.

 

“To the bathroom.”

 

“I’ll go with you.”

 

He tried to rise, gently settling Saphi back onto the cushions. I waved him off.

 

“Why would we go to the bathroom together? Just stay there.”

 

☆ That’s Right has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

Who goes to the bathroom together??

 

☆ Lol has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

No way he’s letting him go alone. The man is glue.

 

☆ Mommy’s Shadow has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

He’s like a kid. Why even suggest it? I’m dead.

 

“What if something happens?”

 

“Nothing’s going to happen in the bathroom. Seriously—don’t follow me.”

 

After the kidnapping incident, I’d been recovering under the devoted care of An Bom, Choi Tae-hyuk, Gumiho, and Ji Yun-seo. Even Bia and Saphi—maybe sensing something—had stopped fighting and were getting along.

 

But the real issue was that Choi Tae-hyuk’s already ridiculous overprotectiveness had hit new heights. Early on, he acted like the world would end if I even tried to get out of bed.

 

My legs and head had healed ages ago, yet he still panicked whenever I tried to walk. I’d thrown enough tantrums that now he only let me get up, sit down, and lie down with his assistance.

 

“It’s not like I’m under surveillance. Seriously.”

 

At first, I let it slide because everyone—Ji Yun-seo, Saphi, Bia, An Bom, Gumiho—was genuinely worried, and it felt nice to be cared for. But a whole week of this? It was too much.

 

‘I really need to talk to him today.’

 

☆ Look Forward To It has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

Aether never disappoints. Whatever you’re imagining right now, he’ll exceed it.

 

☆ That Perseverance has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

I salute him. Following Aether requires devotion.

 

☆ Clingy Much has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

Aether probably hates this, but I’m living for it. Pant pant.

 

When I came out of the bathroom after washing my hands—of course—just as the simping gods foretold, Choi Tae-hyuk, Saphi, and Bia were waiting right outside.

 

“Please. Enough already.”

 

“Standing for too long isn’t good for you.”

 

This stubborn man…

 

A sudden headache pulsed, and I pressed my temple. Choi Tae-hyuk immediately panicked.

 

“Does your head hurt? I’ll call Ms. An Bom—”

 

“Choi Tae-hyuk. We need to talk.”

 

“Is your head okay?”

 

“It hurts because of you, Choi Tae-hyuk. So come with me.”

 

I motioned for him to follow and walked to the living room, flopping onto the sofa. He trailed behind anxiously, watching every step. The moment he sat, I sighed heavily.

 

“Alright. Listen carefully, Choi Tae-hyuk.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I am a healthy, adult man.”

 

“…Healthy…”

 

“Tsk.”

 

He closed his mouth when I frowned.

 

☆ Choi Tae-hyuk-ah has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

Aether isn’t a high-ranking god for nothing. Interrupt him right now and there’ll be nothing left of you.

 

☆ Yep Yep has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

Behave while he’s still being lenient. He’s forgiving you ‘cause you’re a hero.

 

☆ It’s Aether has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

He’s infinitely weak to what he considers his, frfr.

 

“I was injured during the kidnapping incident, yes. But I’m fully healed. You know how good An Bom’s healing is.”

 

“Yes.”

 

For Hunters, a Healer is basically a cure-all. The world’s only SS-rank Healer can revive anyone still breathing. Even A-rank Healers can fix almost everything.

 

Thanks to An Bom—who healed me without holding back—every injury on my body vanished.

Even my shattered ribs and leg were restored like new.

 

If I went to a hospital, they’d ask:

 

‘Where exactly are you hurt?’

 

That’s how cleanly it healed.

 

I rolled up my sleeve and showed my smooth, scar-free arm.

 

“See? Not even a scar.”

 

“Yes. I’m relieved.”

 

“So I am a healthy adult man—and there’s no reason for this overprotectiveness.”

 

“It’s not overprotective.”

 

“Then what is it?”

 

I crossed my arms and leaned back, daring him to explain.

 

His handsome lips opened and closed… but nothing came out.

 

So he knows exactly what he’s doing.

 

I clicked my tongue and shook my head.

 

“I’ve been going along with you because everyone was worried. But honestly, there’s a lot I need to do—I can’t just sit here forever.”

 

To be fair… I did enjoy doing nothing. Why else hire all those heroes, if not to relax? But now wasn’t the time to laze around.

 

More Hunters had joined, regular employees were working, and the guild finally resembled a proper organization. Gumiho handled on-site management; Choi Tae-hyuk—while obsessively hovering—helped wherever needed.

 

All I really had to do was fund things and approve paperwork. The two of them could practically run the place without me. So yes, I could have continued slacking…

 

But there was one thing neither Gumiho nor Choi Tae-hyuk could take over: Ji Yun-seo’s school.

 

That was my personal project. The new building had finished construction just yesterday—I needed to inspect it. I had to review applications from prospective students, process transfer requests, and interview potential teachers.

 

There was a lot to do.

 

☆ That’s Right! has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

Staying home is comfy, but we want more Aether adventures!

 

☆ Sorry, Aether has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

I’m trash, sorry. I like seeing Aether suffer a little too much ㅠㅠ

 

☆ I Can’t Help It Either has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

We’re gods, okay? Sorry, Aether. Now—one dungeon run, yes?

 

I spoke with a sour look at the gods’ shamelessness.

 

“I’ve rested enough. You can stop now.”

 

“But—”

 

“No ‘but.’ Keep this up and I’ll ban you from coming here.”

 

Choi Tae-hyuk’s face froze. His expression barely shifted, but the way his pupils shook told me he’d just been hit with a critical blow.

 

Serves you right for overdoing it.

 

Even if he was shaken, I wasn’t going to back down this time.

 

☆ You Know has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

How is that different from: “Keep this up and we’re sleeping in separate rooms!”?

 

☆ Mmhmm has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

Worse. He’s not even allowed near him. Mmhmm.

 

☆ Clingy One has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

He’s hurt. Say it again and he might cry.

 

Choi Tae-hyuk stared at me for a long moment, then sighed and nodded. But his resolve quickly returned.

 

“Then from now on, do not go anywhere without me. Wherever you go, I go.”

 

“Huh? But for the dungeon—”

 

“When I’m in a dungeon, you’ll stay home.”

 

“No, what if something urgent comes up?”

 

“Otherwise, I’ll continue what I’ve been doing.”

 

I stared at him, speechless. His expression clearly said he’d already compromised and expected me to do the same.

 

‘Well… once the school is sorted, I’ll be home anyway. And if something urgent happens, I can explain…it’s fine.’

 

When I nodded, his face immediately brightened.

 

“Then right no—”

 

“No. Rest today.”

 

As I tried to stand, Choi Tae-hyuk blocked me.

 

“Why?”

 

“I have a meeting soon.”

 

“Oh.”

 

Gumiho had told me earlier—today’s meeting was about assigning newly registered Hunters into teams. It didn’t require my presence, so I wasn’t attending.

 

“Then I’ll stay home today.”

 

“Yes. Please do.”

 

As our negotiation ended, my gaze fell on a whip coiled nearby.

 

Didn’t he throw that thing out the window?

 

“Didn’t you toss that outside, Choi Tae-hyuk?”

 

“…It keeps coming back no matter how many times I throw it.”

 

“What?”

 

As if demonstrating, he stood, picked up the whip, and casually threw it out the window. It fluttered limp in the air—then snapped back like it was attached by a rubber band, returning to its exact place.

 

☆ Huh? has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

Why does it come back??

 

☆ Oho has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

Homing instinct? Or did it fall for Aether too?

 

“…Is that thing… possessed?”

 

“It’s not possessed.”

    

Then what is it?!

 

My horrified expression made Choi Tae-hyuk seem like he was about to explain, but instead he glanced at the wall clock and said,

 

“Just think of it as Yeon Do-jin. I’m heading to the meeting.”

 

He stepped through the gate to the conference room and disappeared. I stared at the whip again.

 

“Hey. Move.”

 

“…”

 

I tried talking to it, thinking maybe it would react—but of course, nothing.

 

☆ No Way has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

“Hello! I’m a whip!” Not the response you’re hoping for, I bet.

 

☆ Did You Hit Your Head has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

Maybe you haven’t fully recovered…

 

Right. It’s a whip imbued with a god’s power. A ghost wouldn’t be able to possess it anyway… probably.

 

Feeling embarrassed by the gods’ teasing, I grabbed the whip and went to the open window Choi Tae-hyuk had left ajar.

 

Just like before, the whip dangled limply, so I dropped it out the window. As it fell, it suddenly rebounded like a rubber band and coiled neatly back into place.

 

“It’s definitely possessed.”

 

There were Hunters who specialized in spiritual abilities—so who was to say ghosts didn’t exist? And frankly… ghosts were under the domain of gods anyway. They might even be apex predators here.

 

Besides, if Yeon Do-jin was behind this, he totally seemed like the type to manipulate a ghost just to make use of it. Suspicious, I eyed the whip and pulled out my phone.

 

“Gumiho.”

 

—Yes, Guildmaster.

 

“Do you have Yeon Do-jin’s number?”

 

—You mean Guildmaster Kanghyeon?

 

“Yes.”

 

—The Vice Guildmaster should have it. Why do you need it?

 

“So I can tell him to take his whip back.”

 

—Ah. One moment.

 

The murmur of her voice speaking to Choi Tae-hyuk dwindled, and his low response could be faintly heard.

 

—Guildmaster, the Vice Guildmaster will send you the number.

 

“Okay. Thanks.”

 

The call ended, and a moment later, Yeon Do-jin’s contact popped up. I dialed immediately. The call barely rang once before a voice answered, full of amusement.

 

—I was wondering when you’d call. Took you long enough.