EFME 96

Three days later.

Sunyul sat side-by-side with Muyoung in the Guild Leader’s office. Unlike their usual interactions, they were here to discuss official business.

Specifically, the matter of Sunyul joining the Cheongyeon Guild.

“We’ll talk things over between us first, then we’ll draw up the formal contract separately.”

“I’m fine with whatever, really.”

“You shouldn’t be.”

“But I don’t mind…”

“Lim Sunyul.”

At Muyoung’s stern tone, Sunyul had no choice but to sit up straight in his seat.

“First… listen to the explanation of how our guild operates.”

“Yes, sir.”

“We tend to leave the choice of when to participate in dungeon raids entirely up to the guild members. However, as long as you belong to the guild, you have an obligation to participate in a certain amount of guild raids. That’s how you get paid. Participating beyond that minimum is voluntary. You’re also free to clear any dungeon you want, even if it’s not a raid organized by the guild.”

“That sounds quite free.”

“It generally is. At least domestic guilds have a proper system. Among overseas guilds, there are many places that are guilds in name only, with no rules, just bound by the same name.”

“Then is there even a point to being in the same guild?”

“They just like to pack together. It’s a way of saying they’ll use the group to threaten others if necessary.”

Muyoung clicked his tongue.

“The guild collects byproducts from the dungeons, and the guild and the raid party each take a certain percentage. The guild takes the largest share. However, any rewards that go directly into your own inventory belong to you. Do you have any questions so far?”

“I saw before that people get vacations. If running dungeons is voluntary, what’s the deal with that?”

“It’s a system I put in place to force people to rest. There are some idiots who keep entering dungeons even when told to take a break. If you don’t get proper rest, skill efficiency drops and your body breaks down quickly.”

“If I join the guild, can I keep clearing dungeons with you, Guild Leader?”

“It would be a waste of combat power for you and me to go in together.”

“…Ah.”

The Rank 1 and Rank 2 hunters going in together—it certainly was an overkill in terms of balance. Sunyul became somewhat dejected.

“There’s no law saying we can’t, though. We can do it occasionally.”

“Yes!”

“Anything else?”

“Hmm.”

He tried to think of a question… but the moment one came to mind, the answer seemed to follow right after. After pondering for a while, Sunyul shook his head.

“I don’t think I have any.”

“What do you mean ‘none’? We have to set your employment terms.”

“Oh.”

Muyoung slid a tablet PC toward Sunyul. Sunyul examined the tablet on the table.

“This is the standard contract for an S-rank hunter.”

“…Whoa.”

How many zeros were there? Sunyul’s jaw dropped.

The base salary alone was substantial, and since the dungeon byproducts and items that went into his inventory were also his… hunters weren’t rich for no reason. Sunyul was impressed.

“This is amazing.”

“And this is the contract I’m offering you.”

Muyoung pulled up the next page and handed it over. After looking it over for a moment, Sunyul nearly fainted right there in his seat.

“I— I— I— I can’t do this.”

“You can’t do what?”

“I can’t work this much!”

“It doesn’t mean I’m going to grind you down just because I’m paying you this much. Look again. This amount of work is… a bit harder than other S-ranks, but it’s manageable.”

“No… but with these terms, it feels like I’d have to clear an S-rank dungeon about 100 times!”

“100 times is physically impossible.”

“I mean…”

“It’s fine. You’re being paid what you’re worth.”

His head was spinning. As Sunyul grew confused, Muyoung shrugged as if wondering why he was overreacting.

“I know there were overseas guilds that offered this much.”

“…That was just an offer, but this is a real contract!”

“I’m sure they intended to actually pay that much, too.”

Sunyul squinted at the contract, then squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head as if he couldn’t bear to look at it anymore.

“A—anyway. Please lower it. I can’t accept this much.”

“I’m not sure why you’re saying that when I should be raising it further.”

“If you don’t lower it, I’m going to Busan.”

“Sigh…”

Sunyul pulled out his trump card. Even though he had already promised not to go, and they say a man shouldn’t go back on his word… he had no choice. This was just too much.

Muyoung let out a sigh.

“Fine, I’ll lower it a little.”

“Thank you!”

Sunyul’s face brightened instantly.

“Truly absurd.”

Muyoung clicked his tongue. Regardless of Muyoung’s reaction, Sunyul was satisfied.

However, Sunyul didn’t know that Muyoung had anticipated his reaction and set the salary slightly higher than he originally intended just to show him…

⊹₊｡ꕤ˚₊⊹

After finishing his conversation with Muyoung, Sunyul headed to a cafe.

He had planned to have a drink alone and get lost in thought, but as soon as he arrived, he saw familiar faces. It was Bada and Dakyung.

“Sunyul.”

Almost the moment Sunyul spotted them, Bada saw him and smiled brightly. Sunyul walked toward them. Just then, Dakyung tugged on Bada.

“Hyung, let’s go to your office.”

“Why?”

“Let’s talk there. It’s too open here.”

“Talk about what?”

Sunyul wondered what kind of conversation couldn’t be held here. When Sunyul showed interest, Bada, who had looked reluctant, immediately changed his attitude. The three of them headed to Bada’s office.

As soon as the door closed, Dakyung grabbed Sunyul with both hands. His attitude was so passionate that Sunyul felt a bit overwhelmed. Beside them, Bada glared.

“Hey, you right now…”

“Hyung, are you really joining Cheongyeon?”

“I think so. I just talked to the Guild Leader.”

“Yes!”

Excited, Dakyung let go of Sunyul and started jumping around. Bada also forgot he was about to get angry and smiled brightly.

“Wow. Then we can go to dungeons with you now, Hyung?”

“Yeah, I suppose so.”

“Ah… dammit, I’m so happy. You’re really the best, Hyung.”

Dakyung cheered, suppressing the curses that almost slipped out habitually.

Bada was just as happy. His hands were practically shaking with joy. However, unlike Dakyung, he couldn’t express it openly and simply squeezed his fists in triumph.

“But did you make sure to get good terms? Don’t tell me specifically, but compared to the offers you got from other places.”

“Yeah. It was similar to the best offer I got.”

“That’s a relief. If it seems like Kwon Muyoung is scamming you, tell me. I’ll help you.”

Bada spoke kindly, though his tone made it sound as if he were hoping Muyoung was scamming him.

Just then, a phone rang. It was Sunyul’s smartphone. Since he didn’t get calls often, Sunyul checked who it was first. Then he tilted his head to the side.

“I wonder what Yoonjae wants?”

“Pick it up.”

Thanks to Bada’s prompt, Sunyul answered the call.

“Yes, hello.”

─Sunyul, what are you doing?

“Just… chatting.”

─Are you busy? I have something to tell you.

Sunyul glanced at Bada and Dakyung before replying.

“No, I’m not busy. What is it?”

─It’s about the compensation money.

“…Compensation? What compensation?”

─They say five years ago, your assets were auctioned off and seized by the national treasury. They have to return that, and you said you were in a dimensional rift for five years, right? They have to pay hazard pay for that, too. Plus your severance pay and a few other things.

“Uh…”

─They’re saying it’s being given too late.

He hadn’t thought about money like that at all. Yoonjae grumbled as if it were only natural that the processing was delayed.

“They’re giving it to me even though I said I won’t work for the Ene-cheong anymore?”

─Of course. Everyone is on your side. Except for the truly bad guys.

Yoonjae’s voice was full of laughter as he spoke. Sunyul felt better too, not because of the money, but because people were on his side.

─Between what you saved up and the hazard pay, it’s quite a lot. You could probably buy a house in Seoul with this money.

“I see.”

─Use this chance to buy a house and move out. It’s better to live comfortably on your own.

Yoonjae dropped a bombshell on the happy Sunyul. Sunyul frowned and grumbled.

“I don’t think that would be very good…”

─I’m telling you, it is.

He was definitely saying that to try and separate him from Muyoung. After listing a few more advantages of living alone, Yoonjae said he had to go and hung up.

Sunyul returned to his seat. Seeing Sunyul’s mysterious expression, Bada asked worriedly.

“What’s wrong?”

“They say I’m getting compensation. My old assets, hazard pay, severance… all sorts of things.”

“Whoa, really? That’s awesome!”

“They should have given it to you already. It’s ridiculous that they haven’t until now. Bastards.”

Dakyung and Bada got heated as if it were their own business. Soon, Bada regained his composure and did the math.

“Even if Ene-sa salaries are tiny, hazard pay should be quite a bit. It’s five years’ worth, after all.”

“Yeah, that’s what he said.”

“Combined with your security deposit and hazard pay, it should be enough to buy a house. You’re going to buy one, right? You could even live near the guild. Real estate around here is…”

Bada seemed to know Sunyul’s past circumstances quite well, as he laid out a very specific plan. Even though Sunyul himself had zero intention of buying a house.

“Did you guys plan this?”

“Plan what?”

“You’re saying the exact same thing as Yoonjae—to buy a house.”

Bada looked disgruntled at Sunyul’s comment.

“…We didn’t. Why would Go Yoonjae and I plan something like that?”

“Do you two not get along?”

“Go Yoonjae hates me.”

Bada clicked his tongue.

“That guy hates everyone who likes you. He’s definitely suspicious…”

Bada muttered.