The F-Rank Guild Master Has Too Much Money Chapter 55

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“Yes. About the video—”

 

“Whether it was installed incorrectly or there was interference, all it recorded was a black screen.”

 

I let out a sigh of relief before I realized it.

 

“Was there something you didn’t want recorded?”

 

“No, it’s just… being reminded of that day isn’t exactly pleasant. I’d rather never think about it again.”

 

“Hm.”

 

Yeon Do-jin gave me a ‘Really? You?’ kind of look, but I ignored him, gathered the photos, and slid them back into the envelope.

 

“So you couldn’t trace the client?”

 

“Nothing. Cash payment, and the middleman—Kim Wan-su—has vanished into thin air.”

 

The kidnapping case had hit a dead end.

 

They wanted to see my ability… But why? What did they plan to do after?

 

“They said the investigation will continue. I’ll update you if anything new comes up.”

 

“Ah, okay.”

 

He’d handled it so thoroughly that not a single article leaked out—like it never happened at all.

Even Gumiho told me to convey her thanks.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“For what? My neck was on the line too, remember?”

 

I shrugged, and Yeon Do-jin let out another low laugh. I never noticed before the regression, but this guy seriously laughs at everything. A leaf could blow past the window and he’d find it hilarious.

 

☆ Handsome has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

Choi Tae-hyuk is handsome too, but Yeon Do-jin is totally my type. Seriously hot.

 

☆ Face Aside has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

Looks don’t matter — it’s the power. That’s why I stan Aether.

 

☆ Look Closely has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

He looks like the Supreme God — infinitely handsome.

 

Just like the gods said—handsome, tall, rich. An SS-rank hunter standing at the top. Nothing fazes him. No wonder he treats someone like me as entertainment.

 

“Actually, I have a question.”

 

“Go ahead.”

 

“Does Kanghyeon Guild allow dual employment?”

 

“Dual… Ah. The school.”

 

Gumiho had tied our guild to the newly established school and pushed out promotional articles everywhere. She did so well that not just PR, but other departments were now handling admission inquiries.

 

“Yes. The tamer teaching Yun-seo used to be an elementary teacher, so if dual employment is allowed, I’d like to make him an offer.”

 

“As long as it doesn’t interfere with dungeon schedules, it’s allowed.”

 

“Perfect. Then I’ll move forward with the proposal.”

 

Recruiting elementary teachers had been the hardest part. If he could hold two jobs, scouting him would be easy.

 

‘Just give him whatever he wants.’

 

“Then… how about arranging the spar sometime next week?”

 

“That works for me.”

 

“I’ll contact you with a date.”

 

I nodded and rose from my seat. For some reason, being around Yeon Do-jin always felt uncomfortable. Especially when he gave that faint, curved-eyed smile—it often felt like he knew everything.

 

“Leaving already?”

 

“Classes are about to end.”

 

“What a pity. I was hoping to watch a little longer.”

   

Huh? Why does he sound disappointed?

 

His oddly sulky tone stuck with me.

 

And then—

 

Bang!

 

The heavy wooden doors burst open with a crash.

 

“Where’s the F-rank guildmaster?!”

 

A woman strode in, dressed head-to-toe in a well-known sportswear brand. Her hair was so short it was practically shaved.

 

“You? It’s you!”

 

The blue-eyed woman marched straight toward me and suddenly wrapped me in a hug.

 

☆ What The Heck?! has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

Why is she hugging my Aether?!

 

☆ HolyCow has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

A mere mortal dares hold Aether-nim?!

 

☆ Nooo! has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

Let go! Aether-nim is public property — NO DATING!!

 

“Nice to meet you!”

 

“…Sorry?”

 

“You don’t know who I am?”

 

How would I know someone I’m seeing for the first time today…?

 

Golden blonde buzz-cut, sky-blue eyes, loud personality.

 

So—

 

“Emeline Kiyo?”

 

“Bingo! That’s me! Told you — no one in Korea doesn’t know me! I’ve been dying to meet you!”

 

Right. Emeline Kiyo.

 

A hunter who awakened as A-rank and, believing hard work never betrays, climbed to SS-rank on effort alone. With long, flowing golden hair, blue eyes, and doll-like beauty, she was called France’s Joan of Arc.

 

Then, one day, she shaved her head and naturalized as a Korean citizen. She never explained why. Even so, with her boldness and lovable personality, she remained beloved in France even after giving up her nationality.

 

So why is someone like her… hugging me?

 

“Let go.”

 

“Oh, Choi Tae-hyuk. You’re still—”

 

“Emeline Kiyo.”

 

At Yeon Do-jin’s voice, Emeline froze for a beat. Choi Tae-hyuk sighed and pulled me out of her arms. Once free, I glanced between the three of them.

 

Still?

 

So Choi Tae-hyuk and Emeline Kiyo knew each other already?

 

“Guess I got a little carried away, huh? I was just really excited to see you.”

 

This time, Emeline grabbed my hand and shook it enthusiastically.

 

Why is she this happy to see me?

      

It felt strange for her to be so thrilled over an F-rank guild master like me.

 

“What’s your name?”

 

“Ji Yeon-woo.”

 

“Yeon-woo? Even your name is pretty. Wanna be friends?”

 

“…Sorry?”

 

Was the conversation really flowing naturally, or was it just in my head? Wearing a bright smile, Emeline Kiyo released my hand.

 

“In France, if you meet someone you like, you become friends regardless of age. So let’s be friends.”

 

☆ Only Me has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆
What, how is that supposed to make sense??

 

☆ She’s Making a Move has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆
It always starts with friendship and ends with dating. Don’t fall for it, Aether.

 

Forget flirting—“If you meet someone you like, be friends”?

 

Where have I heard that line before…? Oh, right!

 

“…‘When you meet, you’re good friends’—isn’t that from a TV station commercial?”

 

“Tsk. Didn’t fall for it.”

 

She actually clicked her tongue in genuine disappointment.

 

Falling for it would’ve been weirder!

 

“The point is—I want to be friends with you, Yeon-woo-gun.”

 

“‘Gun’? Why that all of a sudden?”

 

“You said you didn’t want to be friends, so I’m trying alternatives. Yeon-woo-gun, Yeon-woo-ssi, Yeon-woo-nim… what else… Ah! Baby. Honey. Sweetheart. Darling. My sweet—”

 

☆ Whoa, She’s Really Doing It! has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

She’s full-on flirting. She said EVERYTHING.

 

☆ Aether is— has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

Just push a little more and he’ll give in. He’s an easy godㅠ

 

“No—wait! Hold on! Can’t you just call me ‘Guild Master’ like normal?”

 

“Nope. If I say, ‘Hi, Guild Master!’, how am I supposed to know whether I mean you or Yeon Do-jin?”

 

So she won’t even bother saying “Guild Master Ji Yeon-woo.” And—if she calls Yeon Do-jin “Yeon Do-jin-ssi,” does that mean they’re not friends? Why me but not him? They’re both SS-rankers.

 

“You’re not friends with Yeon Do-jin-ssi?”

 

“Nope. He’s scary. Way too scary to be friends with. Are you leaving already? Stay and talk with me. Yeah?”

 

I’m not scary?

 

We’d only known each other for five minutes. Exhausted, I just told her to call me whatever she wanted and sat back down.

 

“Okay then! I’ll call you Yeon-woo!”

 

“Sure, sure. Whatever.”

 

“You call me Kiyo too.”

 

“Sure, sure. Ms. Kiyo.”

 

“It’s not Ms. Kiyo. I don’t like that. Just call me Kiyo.”

 

“Emeline Kiyo.”

 

Even when Choi Tae-hyuk quietly called her name, she only continued smiling brightly at me.

Did she have trouble making friends or something? Why was she so desperate?

 

Something about her tugged faintly at my chest. When I looked at her, she rested her chin on her hands like she was posing with a flower. Her doll-like features and striking blue eyes were almost too intense, so I just nodded.

 

“Okay.”

 

“And drop the honorifics too!”

 

“I’ll… try.”

 

“Good. We’ve got plenty of time. We can take it slow.”    

 

With a satisfied smile, Emeline plopped down on the opposite sofa. She kicked off her shoes and sat cross-legged. If this were her house, she’d probably ignore the sofa entirely, sit on the floor, and lean against it instead.

 

Her hair, eye color, and face were unmistakably foreign, but her behavior was extremely Korean. Her Korean pronunciation was perfect too… Honestly, she might as well be Korean on the inside.

 

“But Kiyo, your Korean is really good.”

 

“Oh? Oh—yeah. I didn’t get naturalized for nothing. I became Korean after falling in love with Hangul.”

 

“Even your pronunciation’s perfect.”

 

“Of course. I learned from a news anchor! I can even do this: ‘The red bean porridge at the house in front is red-bean red red-bean porridge—’”

 

“Emeline Kiyo. Stop.”

 

At Yeon Do-jin’s words, she pouted but stopped. Earlier, too…she listened to him surprisingly well.

 

Does he have something on her?

 

“Why are you here?”

 

“Just.”

 

“Just?”

 

When Yeon Do-jin pressed, Emeline flinched.

 

“I mean… I heard the Yeon Guild’s guildmaster was here, so I came. I’m a guildmaster too.”

 

“Hm? You’re a guildmaster, Kiyo?”

 

How…?

 

In my previous life, Emeline may have naturalized, but she was still part of a French guild. A junior hunter under me once cursed their guild leader—an A-rank water ability user—for “getting lucky” and snatching up an SS-ranker like her.

 

Was that information wrong? Or did my regression change that future?

 

“Yep! I made my own guild!”

 

She pulled something from her pocket and handed it to me. On the worn sheet was written, in English:

 

Emeline Kiyo

Guild Name: Emmerdement

 

“Hm. How do you read this?”

 

“Uh-mer-duh-muh. It means ‘annoyance.’”

 

“…What?”

 

☆ Wow, It’s Fate. has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

Aether’s favorite phrase is “so annoying,” so is this destiny??

 

☆ Stop It has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

Don’t manifest it! Words have power! Aether is public property!!

 

“Why? Do you like it? Want to join my guild? Want to merge with us?”

 

As if I’d fall for that just because I say “annoying” a lot. Gods and their logic…

 

“No, thanks. I like my guild.”

 

“Tsk.”

 

Seriously—no matter the language, who names their guild Annoyance? A guild name is basically your company name.

 

“If you find everything annoying, why’d you make a guild?”

 

“There’s a tragic story behind that. Wanna hear it?”