The F-Rank Guild Master Has Too Much Money Chapter 78

 

 

Because Choi Tae-hyuk was there, I couldn’t even swear out loud. Self-conscious, I just rolled my eyes instead. He pulled his phone from his pocket.

 

“Ms. An Bom, please come to the study on the 8th floor.”

 

“There’s no need for that. This is—!”

 

He hung up without listening and grabbed my chin.

 

“There’s still blood around your mouth.”

 

Damn it. What am I supposed to say?

 

I shook his hand away as he tried to check for more injuries and scrambled for an excuse—just as the door swung open.

 

“Oh my god! Guild Master, what on earth happened to you?!”

 

Wait… was it really that obvious?

 

Following An Bom’s gaze, I looked down. Half of my shirt was soaked in blood.

 

He definitely did this on purpose—left it like this just to mess with me. That bastard.

 

An Bom rushed over and grabbed my hand to heal me. I tried to stop her, but she was faster.

 

“I’m fine.”

 

“It looks like you coughed up a lot of blood… Is it because you were giving power to Plolarin?”

 

“No. It’s not—!”

 

…Actually, should I just say it is? Might be a good excuse to get rid of Plolarin.

 

“I don’t think so,” Choi Tae-hyuk said. “You gave it power even when it was just a seed. If it had been too much, I would’ve stopped you back then. By the time I came after sensing a strange wave, you’d already coughed up blood. I think that wave might be the cause.”

 

☆ Wave? has donated 100 Mana Stones.☆

So there’s someone who can sense divine power?

 

☆ Divine Sense has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

More like he sensed a descent.

 

His tone was unusually certain.

 

「Mm.」

 

Plolarin’s voice was heard—perhaps because it had come to its senses at the sound of Choi Tae-hyuk.

 

Plolarin, who had been lying on the cushion, jolted upright. It looked at me in surprise and hurriedly tried to say something—

 

【Don’t call me a god! Just call me Master!】

 

I gathered divine power and issued an oracle to Plolarin.

 

‘There goes my precious divine power…’

 

Being in a human body, I could feel it draining rapidly just from issuing a single oracle.

 

☆ Descending Presence has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

A god who can’t even be called a god.

 

☆ Why Pick On A Child has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

Why are you doing this to a kid? Even Corne said she was just a child.

 

☆ That Feels Off has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

It looks exactly like his older brother—I’d feel weird too.

 

Startled by the sudden oracle, Plolarin sprang up and flew toward Choi Tae-hyuk.

 

Choi Tae-hyuk slowly raised his hand. His expression remained stoic, but his touch was noticeably gentler than usual.

 

I knew he had a soft spot for children and animals… but seeing him act like that toward a fairy who looked exactly like his brother made me feel a little sick.

 

“I think she likes the vice guild master,” An Bom said.

 

At that, Choi Tae-hyuk gave a faint smile.

 

As the atmosphere softened slightly, I asked what had been bothering me.

 

“What do you mean by a ‘strange wave,’ Choi Tae-hyuk?”

 

“A rookie hunter who handles spirits said they felt something unusual coming from upstairs during training.”

 

“A strange wave…”

 

Spirits are still divine. Are they sensing a god’s wave?

 

“Did something happen?”

 

“No. Nothing happened. The reason I coughed up blood was…”

 

All eyes—An Bom, Choi Tae-hyuk, and Plolarin—fixed on me.

 

Think, Aether. You must get out of this situation!

 

「I saw it.」

 

Plolarin, who had been sitting calmly on Choi Tae-hyuk’s palm, suddenly raised its hand.

 

「Master fed me too much! I was full and didn’t want to eat, but suddenly—bleh!」

 

‘Why is she acting like that?’

 

☆ Kind One has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

Even after you scolded it, she’s protecting Aether.

 

☆ One Thing Is Certain has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

It doesn’t resemble Corne or Aether. Both of them… have interesting personalities.

 

“Really?”

 

I had no choice but to nod.

 

“If you do that, the Guild Master will get hurt. That can’t happen.”

 

Plolarin nodded at An Bom’s admonition.

 

「Mm, I got it. I won’t do it anymore.」

 

“You’re so good, Larin.”

 

It was a believable excuse for both An Bom and Choi Tae-hyuk, but I still looked at Plolarin with suspicion.

 

* * *

 

“Is this for real?”

 

“Do you think it’s fake?”

 

“I can’t do it!”

 

I gave Kwon Beom-gaun a blacksmith workshop as a gift after she completed the basic blacksmithing course.

 

Following my advice to start with small projects, the first thing she made was a wooden bowl. Next, she made a copper toothpick, then bronze chopsticks.

 

At this rate, before even reaching S-rank, we’d never get to see a proper weapon. So I discarded all the cheap materials and replaced them with expensive ones.

 

I thought surely she wouldn’t waste the expensive materials on something strange… but apparently, I was wrong.

 

“Why can’t you do it? Every piece you make is experience and knowledge for you!”

 

“Who uses Oricalcon costing a million per 100 grams just for practice materials?!”

 

“You—”

 

“People have to learn step by step!”

 

Kwon Beom-gaun hit her chest in frustration.

 

☆ Why Steps? has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

Wasn’t it supposed to just get made instantly?

 

☆ Because They’re Human has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

This blacksmith is human. Hu-man.

 

☆ But She’s SS Rank has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

She’s a human granted power directly by the Blacksmith God. Why would she even need steps?

 

Exactly my point.

 

“You’re SS-rank, right?”

 

“Just like an IQ Mensa member can’t suddenly master all languages—”

 

“I mastered it in one day!”

 

Suddenly, Emelyn Kiyo appeared from behind.

 

☆ It’s Kiyo! Kiyo! has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

Kiyo is always so full of energy!

 

☆ Today Too has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

Isn’t she supposed to be a slacker? Showing up first thing in the morning?

 

“Kiyo? How did you get in here?”

 

“I said I had business with you, and Choi Tae-hyuk told me you were here. What are you two doing?”

 

“Hello.”

 

Perhaps because of the unfamiliar face, Kwon Beom-gaun hesitated before stepping closer to me.

 

“Kiyo, is this your first time meeting Kwon Beom-gaun?”

 

“Yeah. Who’s that?”

 

“She’s our blacksmith. SS-rank.”

 

I pulled Kwon Beom-gaun from behind me and guided her in front of Emelyn Kiyo, who smiled and held out her hand.

 

“So you’re the blacksmith from the news! Hi, I’m Emelyn Kiyo.”

 

“Hello. I’m Kwon Beom-gaun.”

 

“Nice to meet you. But… Why were you quarreling?”

 

“Well…”

 

I stopped Kwon Beom-gaun as she was about to speak.

 

No matter how close we were, there was no need to share our guild’s internal matters with the leader of another guild.

 

“Kiyo. Why are you here?”

 

“Ah.”

 

At my attempt to change the subject, Emelyn Kiyo paused briefly, then smiled brightly again and pulled a note from her pocket.

 

“I’m the messenger today.”

 

When I looked at the note suspiciously, she placed it in my hand.

 

“It’s fine. There’s nothing strange about it.”

 

“It’s not strange? No… let’s talk about this later.”

 

I lightly tapped Kwon Beom-gaun on the forehead before heading to the first-floor cafeteria with Emelyn Kiyo.

 

“Would you like some coffee?”

 

“No, I’m fine.”

 

Even though she declined, I couldn’t just leave her without a drink. I ordered my coffee and a simple juice for her, then sat in a corner and placed the note on the table.

 

“Why aren’t you opening it?”

 

“I think I know who it’s from.”

 

“I don’t know who you’re thinking of, but you’re right.”

 

Emelyn Kiyo grinned.

 

It was such a spot-on answer that I didn’t even feel like asking, Do you really know who I’m thinking of?

 

“He went into the dungeon, right?”

 

“He cleared it yesterday. He’s probably on his way now.”

 

“Then why send me a note?”

 

Emelyn Kiyo shrugged.

 

“I don’t know. I’m just the messenger, remember? I do what I’m told.”

 

“Do you owe him something?”

 

Even though Yeon Do-jin was the top guild master in the country and an SS-rank hunter, no guild master could normally make another act as a messenger.

 

There had to be some kind of leverage—but Emelyn Kiyo shook her finger.

 

“Nope. I already got what I wanted.”

 

I nodded and picked up the note. Written neatly in what looked like fountain pen ink were the words:

 

[Incheon Airport, arrival 14:40]

 

☆ What Is That has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

Incheon Airport? Arrival 14:40?

 

☆ I Think I Get It has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

He wants Aether to pick him up. That must be his arrival time.

 

☆ Our Aether has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

And he expects Aether to go meet him? Ridiculous!

 

“Is he crazy?”

 

“Why? What does it say?”

 

Instead of answering, I handed her the note.

 

“Puhahaha!”

 

Emelyn Kiyo burst out laughing the moment she read it.

 

“I’ll go get the drinks.”

 

With the vibrating pager still buzzing in her hand, she returned with the drinks and couldn’t stop laughing.

 

“Stop laughing.”

 

“He must really want to see you.”

 

“Damn it.”

 

I glared at her, annoyed, but she only laughed harder.

 

“Guild Master.”

 

“You’re here?”

 

Choi Tae-hyuk, dressed in a T-shirt and black sweatpants, sat down beside me.

 

“What about drinks?”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

His morning had been spent sparring with rookie hunters. Maybe that’s why he was slightly sweaty—I pushed my coffee toward him.

 

“It’s cold. Have some.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Despite saying he was fine, he must’ve been thirsty. He pulled out the straw and took a sip. After finishing, he set the glass down and picked up the note from the table.

 

“Is that from Yeon Do-jin?”

 

Choi Tae-hyuk raised an eyebrow, and I widened my eyes.

 

“How did you know?”

 

“Emelyn Kiyo.”

 

Instead of answering directly, he glanced at her and spoke in a low, rough tone.

Emelyn Kiyo, now done laughing, stirred her drink with the straw and said,

 

“He said he’d give me a ‘Devel.’”

 

“…”

 

A Devel? What’s that?

 

After a long pause, Choi Tae-hyuk sighed.

 

“What are you going to do? Just sit there?”

 

Ignoring the question, Emelyn Kiyo stood up.

 

“Yeon-woo, see you later. Choi Tae-hyuk, come with me. We need to talk.”

 

Her smile was bright—but not like before. It looked fragile, like it might crack at any moment.

 

Choi Tae-hyuk followed her outside. They spoke with serious expressions. 

 

Even someone like him—who stayed expressionless even when a dungeon appeared—now sighed and frowned.

 

☆ What’s This has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

What are they talking about? Don’t leave me out—let’s go together!

 

☆ Aether has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

Aren’t you curious? Maybe use your wind power to eavesdrop a little?

 

☆ Yeah. has donated 100 Mana Stones. ☆

It seems related to Aether anyway—let’s listen in. I’m really curious.

 

Alright, let’s see…

 

Just as he was about to act on the gods’ whispers, Choi Tae-hyuk and Emelyn Kiyo turned around.

 

Tch. Too late.

 

I clicked my tongue and watched him return, taking the seat Kiyo had been using.

 

“Are you leaving?”

 

“No.”

 

Still uneasy, Choi Tae-hyuk fiddled with the note for a moment before letting out a sigh.

 

“What did you talk about to end up like this?”

 

“Nothing.”

 

“That’s not ‘nothing.’”

 

Even without looking at his face, his whole body practically screamed, I’m depressed.

 

“I’ll explain once I’ve sorted out my thoughts.”

 

After that, there was no way I could push him further. I just nodded.

 

Choi Tae-hyuk stood up.

 

“I’ll be going back now.”