Translator: Vine
Translated At: Nyx Scans
Chapter: 72
"Noona, wait a bit. What I'm about to show you this time is a huge masterpiece."
After the meal.
Minjoo, tireless, continued to introduce his masterpieces.
This was precisely the 89th masterpiece.
"Amazing."
"Right? See, Noona and I just click. There's more. Just a moment."
...And he began rummaging through every nook and cranny again to find the 90th masterpiece.
Beyond Minjoo, who scurried around the workshop like a squirrel, Eunha turned her gaze to the clock on the wall.
'Time has flown by already.'
Jehwi's blood was probably boiling by now.
Should I head back soon?
Even while thinking that,
"Hmm, where did I put that?"
Minjoo, rummaging through the workshop, looked so excited that the words "I should go back" wouldn't easily come out.
"Ah, Ms. Yura."
Suhyeon, a guild member passing by, suddenly handed Eunha a can.
"You must be thirsty, right? This is called Matstar; try it. It's quite drinkable."
"Ah, it's alright."
"You're working hard dealing with our Master; I should at least offer you this."
Suhyeon winked and whispered in a voice soft enough for only Eunha to hear.
"I secretly swiped it from Gyeongho. Ah, Seok Gyeongho. He's in charge of supplies, and he's as petty as he looks."
"...Thank you."
Eunha stared blankly at the can she was handed, then placed it on the side table.
The tabletop was already covered with drinks and snacks.
All were things handed to her one by one by passing Corps family members.
As she looked at them with a slightly troubled gaze, Junhwan approached, smiling good-naturedly.
"Haha. If there are leftovers, you can take them all back with you."
"It seems I'll have to."
Eunha replied calmly and lifted her head.
"By the way, where did Minjoo go?"
Just a moment ago, he was busily moving around to show off his next collection.
"Ah. He received an urgent call and went upstairs for a moment. He'll be back soon."
Junhwan said so and naturally sat down beside Eunha.
And so, the two sat side by side amidst the cluttered workshop filled with parts, figures, and various unidentified devices, tearing open a bag of hardtack.
The taste of the hardtack was exactly as Eunha remembered.
The dry texture that felt like it would choke her throat.
Yet, if you chewed it diligently, a savory and subtly sweet taste would eventually emerge.
Rustle—
The sound of a bag rustling came from beside her.
Junhwan, following Eunha's lead, tore open a bag of hardtack but didn't eat the contents, instead meticulously picking out the star candies one by one.
"I heard modern hardtack comes with star candies packaged separately. Should we change suppliers?"
Grumbling, Junhwan began to put the star candies into a small glass jar he had prepared beforehand.
What is he doing?
As she stared intently at him,
"Ah."
Sensing her gaze, Junhwan smiled awkwardly.
"Our Master likes these star candies more than the hardtack itself."
"Ah... I see."
"I think I've found almost all of them."
Junhwan carefully examined the hardtack bag again, finding even the last star candy.
Eunha, beside him, observed Junhwan with a somewhat curious gaze.
"Do you always set them aside like that?"
"Yes, well. It's not a difficult task."
Junhwan, looking embarrassed, rubbed his nose and unnaturally changed the subject.
"Anyway, it feels like it's been a really long time. Since someone other than us seven visited the HQ, I mean."
"Is that so?"
Eunha feigned ignorance and went along with his change of subject.
"Probably three years... no, it's been over four years. I first met Master around then too. At that time, Master was only 11 years old."
...11 years old.
Eunha lifted her gaze to stare at the ceiling.
11 years old, would that be fourth grade in elementary school?
It felt like a lifetime ago.
When she turned her gaze back to Junhwan, he was staring at the star candies in the glass jar with a somehow subdued expression.
"At first, I felt sorry for him. An elementary school student who should normally be carrying a character-themed backpack to school, having received an S-Class rating and bearing a burden too heavy for his small shoulders."
"..."
"I asked if his family didn't object. When I first said I wanted to become a hunter, my mother, despite me being an adult, refused all food and drink and vehemently opposed it."
It's still the same now. Adding that, Junhwan chuckled lowly.
"But Master just answered briefly."
Junhwan lifted his head.
"He said, he has nothing like that."
"..."
His lips were clearly curved, but his eyes were downcast.
Eunha said nothing, just quietly observing his profile.
"So I decided to become one for him. This boy's new family. What grand undertaking would it be? If we eat together every day and share sad and happy things, that would be family, wouldn't it?"
Suddenly, his eyes curved into a gentle smile.
"That's why we call each other family."
I don't quite know what to say.
Instead of answering Junhwan, Eunha silently gazed at the pile of snacks heaped on the table.
'This Noona here is also our family starting today.'
"..."
Eunha slowly brought the drink she was holding to her lips.
Beside her, Junhwan was carefully tucking the glass jar filled with star candies into his pocket.
Minjoo, who had gone upstairs after receiving an urgent call, returned about 30 minutes later.
"Ah, so annoying."
Minjoo, grumbling as he returned to the underground workshop, looked extremely dejected.
"What's wrong, Master?"
Junhwan approached, cautiously observing Minjoo.
"Don't know. Said to go to Pohang."
"Pohang?"
Junhwan tilted his head.
The other guild members who had been suddenly summoned by Minjoo also wore puzzled expressions.
"Right now?"
"Yeah."
Puffing out his cheeks petulantly, Minjoo nodded reluctantly.
He hadn't even gotten to show Eunha all his toys yet.
The promised figure assembly hadn't even begun.
If it hadn't been a request from Roje, who usually gifted Minjoo new military products, he would have refused already.
"...I'll be back soon, I guess."
Minjoo took out the German-made miniature Roje had sent him recently and sighed deeply.
"One person stays here to guard, the other five follow me."
"Huh?"
Junhwan's eyes widened in surprise.
Five people? What on earth is the business in Pohang?
However, Minjoo skipped the detailed explanation and turned around to face Eunha.
"Noona, I'll be back soon, so can you come visit again in a few days? Hmm, Saturday! Saturday would be good!"
Eunha stared blankly at Minjoo, who clung to her, his eyes sparkling.
At that, the other guild members also gathered around Eunha in small groups.
"Ah, great! Then I'll prepare coffee muffins. I can teach you how to eat dried mealworms then too."
"Ooh, sounds good?"
"I'm looking forward to Saturday!"
Eunha, standing awkwardly amidst them, blinked.
"...Yeah, Saturday."
Nodding slightly, Eunha slowly approached Minjoo.
And from the sleeve of her dress, she took out a slender wish bracelet.
"And this."
It was a gift she was finally able to give, having not found the right timing until now.
"It's a present. A wish bracelet."
Let me see your wrist for a moment.
Eunha personally tied it onto Minjoo's left wrist.
"...It's not expensive, but there's a saying that if you have this, your wishes will come true."
Whether he heard Eunha's words or not, Minjoo stared intently at the orange wish bracelet, as if fascinated.
Various emotions seemed to flicker in his round, acorn-like eyes for an instant.
Come to think of it, Minjoo had never received something like this even from his parents.
After gazing at it for a long time, a gentle smile bloomed on Minjoo's lips.
"This, it's the same as Noona's. Right?"
Hehe.
Smiling as if pleased, Minjoo gently touched the orange wish bracelet with his right hand.
"Thank you, Noona. I'll never lose it."
After that, Minjoo repeated several times that they must meet again on Saturday before finally leaving the HQ.
Pohang City, Gyeongbuk.
Arriving at a reservoir near Bihak Mountain, Minjoo's eyes widened at the sight before him.
"Wow, what is this?"
Gooooo—
Large whirlpools were forming on the water's surface.
Not just one.
Dozens of whirlpools, occupying the entire reservoir, spun round and round, emitting an ominous aura.
"Damn, I have trypophobia."
Gyeongho, a guild member who had followed him, grumbled.
Deputy Guild Leader Junhwan, who arrived last, also stopped and stared at the churning reservoir.
"It seems Doctor Plant's words were true after all."
They, who had subjugated countless gates, could feel it in their skin.
'A precursor phenomenon.'
A gate will appear here soon.
The five hunters, including Minjoo, each took out their equipment.
"It seems this will be a big fight."
Junhwan, who had strapped the weapon 'Bbyororong Knife' (Magical Twirl Knife) that Minjoo personally made to his waist, spoke heavily.
"Shall we request reinforcements now? The Inyeon Guild's HQ was in Daegu, right? If we contact them now, they should arrive soon."
"What for? We already have a 50,000-strong army here."
Tap, tap, tap...
Minjoo busily tapped his phone screen with his short fingers.
Arrived~~
PM 3:21
PM 3:21
Probably gonna open soon?? Will contact again when I'm out
PM 3:21
Oh yeah! Don't forget the promised QKZ-786 renewal version!!!
PM 3:21
Soon, a reply arrived.
Auntie Roje
Alright.
PM 3:22
Unknown Gates, depending on the case, can sometimes be abandoned midway even without defeating the boss.
PM 3:22
If so, just take a quick look inside and come back.
Even if not, prioritize your life above all else. Got it?
PM 3:23
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Auntie, there are six of usㅋㅋㅋ Junhwan hyung came tooㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
PM 3:23
Auntie Roje
Still.
PM 3:23
Complacency is absolutely forbidden.
PM 3:23
"..."
Minjoo stared blankly at the screen, then slowly moved his fingers again.
Okaying
PM 3:24
Clank.
Minjoo, lightly shouldering his orange bazooka, shoved his phone into his back pocket.
"Everyone ready? Let's finish this quickly. We need to be back in Seoul by Saturday."
Crackle—
Black sparks began to fly from the whirlpools.
The five Corps guild members, including Minjoo, slowly began to walk towards the reservoir.
