LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 26
“This isn’t fate; it’s a cursed connection!”
Shut up. Whether it’s fate or a cursed connection, that’s for me to decide.
The mage, still caught by the ear, raised a hand cheerfully.
“Woohoo~! The Spirit Master’s caught too! Misery loves company, right?”
Why is this guy’s personality so terrible?
I briefly contemplated reporting the questionable character of our company-employed Hunter H to a media outlet. But I quickly set that thought aside; sealing the contract with the Spirit Master was the priority.
“Demon King, set up that forbidden pact thing or whatever it is, one more time.”
“As you wish.”
“What is this?! Such suspicious—”
“Spirit Master.”
The mage slung an arm around the Spirit Master’s shoulders, adopting the sagely expression of someone who had reached enlightenment.
“Just give up; it’s easier that way.”
“……”
“Besides, our Guild Master’s a nice person. I’m a regular salary worker, but I only have to take on one request every two weeks. Though I’m still stuck as a portal shuttle, of course.”
The Spirit Master shoved the mage’s arm off with a scowl.
“I don’t have time for requests like—”
“Then make time.”
I pulled a chair, crossed my legs, and smiled sweetly.
“Do you think any of us take on requests because we have spare time?”
My sharp tone made the Spirit Master flinch. Seeing his reaction, I smirked. I didn’t take on requests because I enjoyed them. If I wanted to, I could ignore them, just like my troublesome guild members.
But.
How could I ignore people I could save?
That, at least, was—
I bit my lip, swallowing my words.
“Spirit Master.”
“Yes?”
“Completing requests can make you stronger.”
“……?”
The Spirit Master tilted his head at the Demon King’s comment, muttering.
“Ifrit must be planning a picnic with Undine…”
“I have no idea what that means.”
“And I have no idea what you’re saying, Demon King.”
The two of them practically had question marks hovering over their heads. I let out a sigh and gestured toward the Demon King.
“Just cast the spell already.”
“As you wish.”
“I said I’m not agreeing to this!!”
Ignored.
[Forbidden Pact (Lv. ??), designated parties: ‘Godslayer’ and ‘Spirit Master’]
[Party A: Godslayer → Party B: Spirit Master]
Kang Hasu must have seen the system window appear because he let out a scream.
“Waaaaah! Ifrit!!”
“Could you stop summoning the Spirit of Fire already?”
“Then Undine?”
“Just shut up.”
Kang Hasu sniffled and plopped back into his chair. He looked like someone who had lost his country.
“If scandals involving my celebrities pop up, I won’t be able to take on requests.”
“I’ll take that into account.”
I counted on my fingers, weighing the options, before reaching a decision.
“Once a week for you.”
Kang Hasu whipped his head up in protest.
“Why! Why once a week for me?! That mage over there only has to do it every two weeks because he’s a salaried employee!”
“Isn’t being a CEO just a fancy term for lazing around?”
“Who told you that? Who?!”
I shrugged and ignored his desperate cries.
[The first pact has been sealed.]
“I haven’t agreed to anything yet!!”
“I’m the one in charge. Party B has to follow Party A’s orders. Oh, and breaking the pact will get your tongue cut off.”
“Ifrit!!”
Man, this guy really can’t let go of Ifrit.
What should the second pact be?
I hadn’t expected to meet the Spirit Master here, so I wasn’t sure what sort of contract would leave a good impression—or at least not a terrible one.
“Second, your Doby from your agency—”
Knock, knock.
A sharp knock interrupted me. The door creaked open, and someone stepped inside.
“Haun… Oh? CEO Kang Hasu, you’re here? I was worried when you weren’t around.”
“Ack! My apologies for worrying you, Guild Master Do Hajun!”
Kang Hasu leapt to his feet, his tone doing a complete 360 as he greeted my brother with excessive politeness. My brother offered a faint smile.
“Your secretary was looking for you. I’m relieved to see you’re safe.”
“There’s been a lot of commotion outside; did something happen?”
How shameless.
I clicked my tongue inwardly at Kang Hasu’s brazen behavior, but before I could react, the Demon King opened his mouth—the mouth that always spelled disaster.
No, wait! I need to stop him!
|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master): Demon King, shut up!!!
|Pr. Demon King: ?
Despite my desperate message, the Demon King, oblivious as always, spoke.
“Is it not the Spirit Master’s doing?”
“?!”
“!!”
“……”
My brother blinked in confusion, the Spirit Master and mage’s jaws hit the floor, and I buried my face in my hands.
That mouth of his is so consistent, it’s terrifying.
Damn it. How do I clean this up now?
My brother blinked a couple more times, his expression unreadable.
“…What do you mean the Spirit Master? Are you referring to CEO Kang Hasu?”
Before I could intervene, Kang Hasu shrieked.
“No, that’s not true!!”
“It is.”
The Demon King flatly contradicted him, rendering Kang Hasu’s protests meaningless. Kang Hasu glared daggers at the Demon King, who simply tilted his head as if he couldn’t understand why.
|9th Circle Archmage: LOL, this is hilarious XD
|Northern Grand Duke: What’s so funny?
|9th Circle Archmage: The Demon King is a legend XDD
|Northern Grand Duke: The Demon King…? Yeah, he’s kinda legendary…
The mage, stifling laughter, pressed a hand over his mouth. Meanwhile, I stepped forward with a calm smile to salvage this increasingly ridiculous situation.
“Brother, why are you here? I heard there’s an intruder outside—have they been caught yet?”
“Hm? Oh… not yet, but…”
My brother cast a suspicious glance at Kang Hasu. I quickly stepped in to block his line of sight.
“And?”
“I thought it might be best if you went home, Haun. I was planning to ask Roun for help with that.”
“Me? You’re asking me?”
The mage, barely holding back his laughter, made a deflating sound and tilted his head. My brother suddenly turned to the mage, addressing him directly.
“Yes, I know it’s presumptuous, but I’d like to ask for your assistance, Hae Roun.”
“……”
Silence fell over the room.
|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master): Hae Roun?
I tilted my head in confusion.
“Mage, you’re not harmful, are you?”
(tl/n: his name 해로운 literally mean ‘harmful’)
Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—the Demon King muttered quietly enough that my brother couldn’t hear him.
|Spirit Master: Oh dear, if he were a descendant of the Yi Dynasty, he’d be ‘Beneficial’ instead!^^ (tl/n: Beneficial ‘Yi Roun’ 이로운)
The Spirit Master teased with a sly grin.
It seems “Hae Roun” really is the mage’s name. The mage clenched his fists tightly, forcing a strained smile.
“Well, regardless, how can you trust someone you hardly know to take care of your sister so casually, Guild Master Do Hajun?”
“Guild Master?”
The mage’s stiff smile was followed by a message.
|Pr. 9th Circle Archmage|: Messing with someone’s name is the worst, isn’t it? So immature, right?
|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master)|: (9)▷9?
|Pr. 9th Circle Archmage|: ㅅㅂ;
Satisfied with shutting the mage up, I stifled a laugh with a fake cough. My brother, still deep in conversation with the mage, wore a resolute expression as he spoke.
“You’re the hero who saved countless citizens trapped in the gate.”
“T-that’s…”
The mage flinched as if struck.
|Pr. 9th Circle Archmage|: Ah, this sucks. I just wanted to go home and rest, but now I’m stuck as a hero.
|Pr. Northern Grand Duke|: ??
|Pr. Northern Grand Duke|: Wait, are you the so-called Hunter H people have been talking about?
|Pr. Spirit Master|: Correct~^^
|Pr. 9th Circle Archmage|: ㅠㅠ
|Pr. Northern Grand Duke|: Wow;;
As my brother gestured for me to approach, I stepped closer without a word. Placing a hand on my shoulder, he looked at the mage with sparkling eyes.
“I was planning to ask one of Haun’s guild members to accompany her, but given the intruder situation at the center, we can’t spare the manpower.”
“I see…”
Hearing mention of the center’s intruder, the Spirit Master flinched slightly. My brother’s sharp eyes caught the movement, but he continued speaking as if nothing had happened.
“Calling in extra personnel might not ensure Haun’s safety either.”
“Ooooh…”
The mage let out a vague sound, somewhere between a sigh and admiration.
|Pr. 9th Circle Archmage|: Our Guild Master with the same name as Haun is anything but fragile, yet somehow, she always ends up being treated like she is. It’s truly baffling.
|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master)|: Shut up, you annoying jerk.
|Pr. 9th Circle Archmage|: Making fun of someone’s name is the lowest form of humor!!!
|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master)|: ^^ㅗ
I replied simply to the message and turned to grumble at my brother.
“Brother, I want to leave when Seoha wakes up.”
“I’ll take Seoha there myself. This place is dangerous, so go home and wait, alright?”
Damn it. I’d have to find a way to open a portal as soon as I left the center.
But it didn’t look like it would be that easy.
“CEO Kang Hasu.”
“Yes? Yes!!”
“Why don’t you accompany Roun on the way back? It’s too dangerous for civilians to stay here with the intruder still on the loose.”
Brother, the intruder is Kang Hasu himself.
Perhaps sensing my thoughts, the Demon King kindly began to speak.
“What nonsense. The intruder—”
But before he could finish, the mage clamped his hand over the Demon King’s mouth.
My brother’s eyes narrowed again. Worried he might catch on, I hurriedly chimed in.
“You’re right, CEO! Let’s go together!”
I shot the mage a pleading glance. Fortunately, he understood and put on a bright, friendly smile, taking Kang Hasu’s hand.
“That sounds like a great idea, CEO! It’s an honor to act as a bodyguard for someone I’ve only seen on TV~!”
“Oh, no, thank you so much!”
The mage and the Spirit Master bowed repeatedly to each other, all smiles. Watching the scene unfold, I could only look on with a blank, unimpressed stare. It seemed the situation was finally wrapping up peacefully.
Until a sudden voice rang out.
“Woo Mahun!!”