#061
“It’s unheard of for a rank to change in such a short period… Maybe the previous result was incorrect?”
Hearing the examiner’s muttering, my initial joy suddenly turned to anxiety. Although instinctively I felt this was the correct result, I had a tendency to be quickly overwhelmed by negative thoughts once they started.
‘What if this current result is wrong?’
I chewed my lip nervously and asked the examiner if we could do one more test.
The machine was already on, and all I had to do was sit down and press a button, so the examiner nodded willingly. It seemed he was just as curious about whether this result was correct.
So we did another test… and the result sheet still showed my rank had risen to E-rank.
“At this point, it’s certain. Congratulations on becoming an E-rank guide.”
The examiner smiled and handed me the result sheet.
The despair I felt when I got F-rank was completely forgotten. Some might say it’s just E-rank, but for me, it was incredibly encouraging news.
Suddenly, my heart was filled with hope. Even if I couldn’t become S-rank, the fact that I could raise my rank further was amazing news.
I felt my cheeks rising with joy and was about to put my hands on my face when suddenly Shin Haejun pulled me into a hug.
“I’m so glad, really.”
He muttered, holding me tight. Seeing him happy about my rank increase made me happy too. I felt relieved that he was genuinely happy instead of saying “it’s just E-rank.”
“Jaeha, congratulations.”
Hyun Dowoon, who took my hand as I stood awkwardly in the embrace, whispered with a gentle smile. He too seemed strangely pleased.
‘It’s just E-rank though.’
I’m this happy because I know more hopeful facts, but why are those two so happy? It’s not like I suddenly became A-rank or S-rank.
While I was thinking I should quietly ask Shin Haejun about this later, Shin Haejun snatched my hand from Hyun Dowoon’s grasp.
“Don’t grab someone else’s lover’s hand.”
“Guide Shin Haejun seems to have a knack for ruining good celebratory moods.”
The two started growling at each other again. I sighed, held Shin Haejun’s hand, and bowed my head to Hyun Dowoon.
“Thank you for granting my request, which might have been unreasonable.”
“You’re always welcome, Jaeha.”
Hyun Dowoon, who had been looking at Shin Haejun with an expressionless face, turned to me with a complete change of expression and smiled.
“Let’s go now.”
Shin Haejun pulled me with a sullen face. As I was being dragged away with an “Ah!”, I looked back to see Hyun Dowoon watching us with a subtle expression.
***
We decided not to disclose to others that my rank had risen to E-rank yet. Officially, I was still F-rank in the Center’s records.
They say it’s not common to change from F-rank to E-rank, but in any case, I would still be seen as an unremarkable guide to most people.
So I thought it would be much better to get re-verified and make it public when I eventually achieve 100% efficiency. I was confident that Nine would give me another reward to increase efficiency again.
‘The fact that the word “seal” appears in the game means there must be a way to break it.’
Words like “seal” and “restriction” were the arch-nemeses that gamers most wanted to overcome. I was no exception, having tried to break through restricted areas and sealed items until now.
‘Now, let’s focus on the dungeon verification.’
It was confirmed that I would have my dungeon verification in two weeks. This was the result of Hyun Dowoon pushing more aggressively right after my rank rose to E-rank. It seemed that my rank increase gave him a bit more confidence too.
Quite a few people had applied to come and watch, so I had to perform flawlessly. Even the slightest flaw could lead to immediate attacks from people.
Perhaps because of this, Hyun Dowoon sent me a file summarizing the information needed for dungeon conquest. It was much more detailed than what was in the guide book, like a secret manual meticulously summarizing the monsters he had actually encountered as an Esper and the know-how he had gained over time.
The file seemed to have been created by Hyun Dowoon himself, and it also contained a message hoping that I would safely conquer the dungeon.
It was very kind of him to think this far. Although such enthusiastic help might be a ploy of the mercenary system, it must be possible because of Hyun Dowoon’s fundamentally kind nature.
‘There’s so much to memorize.’
I felt the file size was enormous when I opened it on my phone, and indeed, my eyes hurt from the detailed dungeon terrain strategies, compatibilities, types of monsters, and their strengths and weaknesses all written in tiny print.
For fairness, I would be entering a B-rank dungeon voted on by other teams, so I couldn’t know which dungeon I’d end up in. That’s why the file comprehensively covered all existing dungeons.
‘Should I go buy a laptop?’
This house didn’t have a separate computer. There was a TV installed in the living room for interior design purposes, but the desk was empty. When furnishing this house, it was strictly for the contract, so there probably wasn’t any thought given to these additional details.
I had enough money to buy a laptop, so I thought I’d wash up and go to the mart.
As I was getting dressed after washing up in the bathroom, the doorbell suddenly rang.
‘Who could it be?’
I had already given Shin Haejun the house password. Is there anyone else who would come here besides Shin Haejun? I tilted my head and checked the intercom. I saw Kim Sehyun standing with his head bowed.
“Hmm…”
Should I not go out today? I thought it might be better to check the file Hyun Dowoon sent tomorrow and just ignore Kim Sehyun to avoid encountering him.
I shook my head and turned off the intercom screen.
As I was about to go into the dressing room to take off my clothes, suddenly the front door started banging loudly.
“I know you’re in there! I heard everything, Lee Jaeha!”
Ugh, we’re already uncomfortable with each other, so what’s wrong with avoiding each other? From his tone, it doesn’t sound like he’s here for anything good. I really don’t want to meet him…
I don’t understand why he keeps hovering around when we’re both uncomfortable. Did he come to confront me about the day we met at Shin Haejun’s house?
‘That day passed quite quietly though.’
After cuddling with Shin Haejun for a while, I was about to go up to my house when the housekeeper lady told me that Kim Sehyun had left with an angry face.
Because of that, I was able to return home nicely without encountering him, but it seemed his anger hadn’t subsided even after a few days, and now he was barging in.
“Open the door already!”
Kim Sehyun’s voice was full of rage, as if possessed by anger. It still seems like I’d only suffer if I open the door…
‘Is Kim Sehyun coming here his own will or the author’s idea?’
Either way, it was clear it wouldn’t be very positive for me. Kim Sehyun harbors negative emotions towards me, and the author would want to resolve this frustrating situation.
If there’s a cathartic moment in the story, it probably means I’m about to get crushed. I should definitely avoid this.
‘Should I just take a leisurely bath?’
I thought it would be better to pretend not to know and go to the master bathroom where the sound wouldn’t be heard, rather than the living room bathroom.
As for Kim Sehyun… well, he can wait or not, whatever he wants.
As I was filling the bathtub with water and dropping in a fizzy bath bomb, I suddenly thought of Shin Haejun.
‘Use it when you’re feeling down. Well… you can use it with me too.’
I remembered his face with a mischievous expression when he gave me the bath bomb as a gift last time. I shook my head, immersed my body in the water, sighed, and floated.
The water temperature was just right to make me drowsy, so I closed my eyes slightly, but suddenly I felt like the surroundings were noisy.
Even though I was supposed to be alone in the house, I heard thumping sounds coming from somewhere.
‘Is it Haejun?’
Only Shin Haejun knew the house password. If there’s noise loud enough to be heard from the master bathroom, doesn’t that mean someone is walking around in the living room…?
‘Something feels off.’
I had an uneasy feeling.
Thinking I should go out and check, I quickly rinsed off the bubbles and went out wearing a shower robe. I saw that the front door facing me was wide open.
Feeling even more ominous, I tightened my robe more carefully and went towards the source of the sound. I saw Kim Sehyun walking around the living room.
“What are you doing? How did you get in?”
“I knew you were home. If you had just opened the door when I told you to, this wouldn’t have happened. I wasted money for nothing.”
Looking closely, I could see a broken door lock lying on the living room table. It looked like it had been carelessly thrown there.
“Did you… did you just break into someone else’s house?”
“How is this someone else’s house? You’re living here because of my contract.”
Kim Sehyun sneered and said. His face was surprisingly brazen.
Seeing that face, I suddenly felt a chill. He broke into someone’s house just because they didn’t open the door? From his comment about wasting money, it seems he called a locksmith. Did he pretend this was his house?
‘So he doesn’t need to pretend to be nice to me anymore, huh?’
I clenched my fists. I couldn’t understand why Kim Sehyun was behaving so irrationally.
‘Is this what the author considers cathartic? Kicking down someone’s door and barging in?’
This is just criminal behavior. Isn’t this breaking and entering?
“So why did you come?”
I stood with my arms crossed, glaring at Kim Sehyun. Kim Sehyun smiled in response.
“Why can’t you stay put and keep stirring things up everywhere?”
“What are you talking about? What did I do?”
“Why do you keep taking what’s mine? That way you have of looking at people with that clueless face of yours and solving everything just by…”
Kim Sehyun, who had been speaking excitedly while poking my chest, suddenly stopped. For a moment, a look flashed across his face as if he had made a mistake. It might have been my imagination though.
“Anyway, I don’t like you.”
“Well, I don’t like you either. Why are you making a fuss breaking into someone else’s house?”
I wanted to curse him out, but I held back for now. Instead, I tightly gripped the phone I had put in my robe pocket.
“I don’t know how Dowoon and Haejun said they would help you, but conquering a dungeon alone? Do you think that’s possible?”
“How do you know about that?”
Was it Kim Sehyun who spread the rumors after all? As I scrutinized Kim Sehyun’s face suspiciously, he suddenly threw out a meaningful comment.
“Do you think the world is yours? Do you think you’re the protagonist or something?”
“What?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
