Here's an Opportunity
Chapter 35: Aeple (1)

Chapter 35: Aeple (1)

"We plan on delaying them as long as possible to keep Mr. Woo-Hyuk hidden."

Crunch, crunch.

"As you all know, a treasure is useless without the power to protect it."

Crunch, crunch.

"Mr. Woo-Hyuk's abilities are to be kept secret because, objectively, DG Guild lacks power."

Chhk. Gulp, gulp.

"Of course, soon there will be people who doubt our rapid growth rate and, as a result, will show interest in weapons and appraise to confirm our enhanced weapons. In preparation for such events, we must collaborate with Shine Guild..."

Crunch, crunch.

Jeong Man-Kook had shoved a handful of snacks into his mouth. Yoo Seh-Eun ran out of patience and smacked him on his back. "Stop eating, you f—"

Realizing that it would be best to avoid swearing with Kim Ji-Hee around, she instead demanded, "No more chewing."

"Snacks are meant to be chewed on," he replied indifferently.

"We can't have a meeting because of you! You understand?"

As if he refused to acknowledge this fact, Jeong Man-Kook comprehensively glanced at Kim Ki-Rok, who responded, "We can have the meeting, but it'd be hard to focus."

Jeong Man-Kook looked like a sulking bear as he sat there, letting the contents of his mouth quietly melt away.

"Hmm, hmm! Let's get back to the main point. We should keep Kang Woo-Hyuk's abilities hidden. Oh, and Mr. Woo-Hyuk..." Kim Ki-Rok picked up from where he had left off.

"Yes! Guildmaster!"

"Can you prioritize enhancing the equipment of our guild members before accepting external requests?"

"Of course! Our comrades must come first."

The Five Siblings of Mapogu couldn't control the delight creeping from their faces after listening to Kang Woo-Hyuk's response. As they were smiling, they received the documents prepared by Kim Ki-Rok.

"As for our Hunters, the Mapogu team, and Miss Ji-Yeon, all of you will be moving together for a while."

They turned to Kim Ki-Rok to confirm the information on the paper in their hands.

The Cursed Forest of Actoss

Description: A C-Class Gate with Giant Wood Golem and Tree Monsters

Terrain: Forest

Monster Type: Tree Golem, Tree Monsters (seven types)

Clear Condition: Eradication of Mountain Golem (B)

※Special Reward Condition: Destroy five skull staffs in various parts of the forest

※Special Reward 1: Increased Willpower

※Special Reward 2: Gate destruction extended by 1 hour and mana stone mine coordinates revealed

"Special rewards?"

"If I use my Discernment Skill on an Awakened, I can see their abilities and whether there are any conditions to unseal them. If I use it on a Gate, it shows the clear condition, any special rewards, and what you need to do to earn those rewards," Kim Ki-Rok explained.

"Wow..." Lee Ji-Ah muttered while everyone else nodded.

He continued, "Thanks to the considerable amount of treasure we've donated to the Hunters Association, we could freely monopolize this Gate. Of course, the Association members will be on standby in case we fail to clear it. This shouldn't be too hard to clear with the power of Miss Ji-Yeon, since it's only a C-Class Gate with multiple Tree Monsters that are vulnerable to fire. However, don't expect it to be a walk in the park," Kim Ki-Rok warned the Mapogu siblings who were starting to think they could kick back a bit with Lee Ji-Yeon present. "Oh, by the way, you should all take full advantage of this Gate by eradicating every monster within."

Lee Ji-Ah tilted her head, sensing a slight nuance to his words. "Guildmaster, aren't you coming with us?"

"No. I have a lot of work to do."

Although they were already a top-class guild in terms of reputation, DG Guild was still small in terms of scale and manpower. Much work needed to be done to grow the guild.

"While we are still in good standing with the Hunters Association, I need to negotiate with guilds throughout the whole country in order to take over more Gates. I also need to network and increase the number of our members, as well as look for those in the monster-dismantling field to improve Hunter Kang Woo-Hyuk's production abilities."

On top of all that, he still needed to regularly check in on certain situations involving Awakened criminals.

"W-woah. There's so much to do," Lee Ji-Ah said.

"Indeed. But we have no choice but to do it ourselves because we lack manpower. Still, it's convenient that I can show Ji-Hee around Seoul."

***

After the Hunter team left for the underground training facility, Kim Ki-Rok handed pieces of equipment over to Kang Woo-Hyuk, who had remained in the Guildmaster's office.

"In the next five days, please increase your proficiency and upgrade this equipment."

"Understood. I will report back as soon as the upgrades are complete."

"Thank you. And I will also request equipment upgrades for guild members two days before the start of your Gate activities."

"Is this because of my proficiency?"

"That's right. If you need any materials to increase your proficiency, please inform me immediately via text or call."

"Yes!"

"Mr. Woo-Hyuk, your growth is directly linked to the safety of our guild members. Do not neglect this opportunity."

Kang Woo-Hyuk had already received too much. Because of that, he had tried to reduce Kim Ki-Rok's burden. However, after hearing what Kim Ki-Rok had said, he had a completely different mindset.

"I understand. I will report immediately if I need anything," Kang Woo-Hyuk said.

Kim Ki-Rok sent Kang Woo-Hyuk off and immediately started his own work.

"One week..."

His tasks as a Guildmaster could be finished in two days, so that wouldn't take too long.

"Ji-Hee should be coming up after she's bored... Should I leave then?"

About an hour had passed when faint footsteps of the elevator could be heard, and sure enough, the door to the Guildmaster's office opened as Kim Ji-Hee peeked in.

"Ji-Hee. Shall we go eat something delicious?"

Kim Ji-Hee's eyes sparkled. "Delicious food!"

Kim Ki-Rok held Kim Ji-Hee's hand as they left the guild's building.

***

At the Hunters Association, the cafeteria was bustling.

"Hey, look over there."

"She's so cute."

"Is that a child actress?"

"Yeah, she does look familiar."

There were no words to accurately describe how cute this girl was, eating rice with her fork and spoon adorned with teddy bear dolls. After circling the girl and what seemed to be her guardian for some time, some Hunters Association staff cautiously sat down across the two.

"Hello," they greeted.

"Good day." Kim Ki-Rok returned the staff's greetings.

A female staff member gathered her courage and asked, "The child is so cute. Is she a child actress, by any chance?"

"No, she's not."

"Oh, then she must be your daughter. She's so adorable."

"Oh! That's Ji-Hee!" Just then, a woman who had just entered the cafeteria exclaimed.

"Ji-Hee? Oh, Sarah. You know this girl?"

"Yes, I do, Assistant Manager Han. I saw her on a livestream."

But didn't her guardian say that she wasn't a child actress?

The young female assistant manager sitting across from them looked once more at the puzzled girl. After recognizing where she had seen them, her eyes widened in shock.

"The Crazy Bastard?"

"Yes. I'm the Crazy Bastard."

"Oh, oh my! S-s-s-sorry, I'm so, so sorry."

"Haha. No, it's alright. Even I think I look like a total lunatic when I stream." Kim Ki-Rok smiled.

"Oh, but why is the DG Guild here?"

"To check if we can purchase a Gate."

"Ah." The assistant manager nodded, then glanced at Kim Ji-Hee and grinned. "But why is Ji-Hee here?"

"I wanted to show her around the Association a bit."

***

After finishing work at the Association, Kim Ki-Rok met with a shop owner specializing in monster-dismantling whom he had previously scheduled a meeting with. After signing a contract with the owner, they returned to the Guild at 4 p.m. It was an awkward time to call the day off.

"Ji-Hee."

"Yes!"

"Shall we go meet our grandmas and grandpas?"

Kim Ji-Hee nodded enthusiastically with shining eyes.

On the fourth floor where the meeting room and Guildmaster's office were located, there lived some people who loved Kim Ji-Hee very much. They passed the Guildmaster's office in front as well as the first and second meeting rooms on the right, and turned left toward the large lounge.

"Oh my, oh my."

"I knew that would happen."

Translucent people wearing gray gloves were gathered around watching a soap drama.

Tak!

"Hmm, hmm."

"Ah, it's empty there. See."

"Hey! Who are you to tell me how to play the game?"

Others who were also wearing gray gloves were playing go. Some were playing chess and some were reading books.

All of them happily turned their heads at the two who had just entered the lounge.

"Oh! Our Ji-Hee is here!"

"Grandpaaaa."

The spirits who were brought out from the Fortress of Living Armor cheered as Kim Ji-Hee ran toward them with her arms outstretched.

"Oh! Our Ji-Hee! You're just skin and bones! You've got no fat on you!"

Kim Ji-Hee had been eating well enough that her cheeks had become plump compared to before. However, it seemed that in the eyes of the elderly, that hadn't been the case.

***

"So you want help?"

The spirits had finished listening to Kim Ki-Rok's story.

"Yes. You have to do your share, after all."

"No! We are spirits. We don't even eat!" The spirits protested vehemently.

"But you absorb mana stones."

Quickly adapting to life on Earth, the spirits survived by absorbing mana stones and wearing expensive gloves provided by Kim Ki-Rok.

"And the gloves you all are wearing are quite expensive."

Since the spirits had no physical bodies, they couldn't touch objects, so Kim Ki-Rok prepared equipment using spirit mana stones that allowed them to enjoy a modern lifestyle.

"That a gift, was it not?"

"One of those goes for more than a couple million won. By your dimension's currency, that's at least hundreds of gold."

Dozens of such equipment would definitely be a considerable expense.

"Hmm, hmm! So what should we do to help?"

"Help me destroy a Gate. It would take about two days."

"Gate?"

"Yes. A Gate."

"When?"

"In a week."

"Will Ji-Hee be there as well?"

"Ji-Hee won't be there."

Kim Ji-Hee's face crumpled with sadness as soon as she heard she wouldn't be able to go with them. Kim Ki-Rok patted her head in comfort.

"This Gate is very dangerous, so Ji-Hee can't go with us."

"I'll be... alone?"

"You'll be with the Mapogu unnie and oppas, and Ji-Yeon unnie."

The Mapogu unnie and oppas? She liked them. Lee Ji-Yeon unnie? She liked her as well. However, Kim Ji-Hee liked Mister Kim Ki-Rok the most.

"I just need five of you to come and help," Kim Ki-Rok said while comforting the sulking Kim Ji-Hee. "It won't be anything dangerous. There won't be any monsters or traps that could directly harm spirits."

"But some traps or monsters could endanger you."

"That's why Aeple is also coming with us."

"Aeple?"

Kim Ji-Hee's eyes twinkled as if she had never felt down in the first place.

Kim Ki-Rok shrugged his shoulders and called, "Summon Aeple."