If Jurim was so angry that he didn’t even want to see the Chairman, maybe it really was something bad.
Guru checked the last message again.
On Suhyeong
It would bring me joy just to hear how you're doing from time to time.
It had arrived after they parted ways.
I don’t really get it.
But she did understand one thing clearly—how much Guildmastew’s dad loved him.
Whenever On Suhyeong talked about Jurim, his hard face softened into a gentle smile.
And when Guru said she wanted to be by Guildmastew’s side to give him strength, it was like hearts were practically coming out of the man’s eyes.
So then, what about Guildmastew’s heart?
Does he really hate the Chairman that much?
From what she’d learned in her four years of life, hating someone was exhausting. It drained you.
Especially when it was family. And even more so when it was someone who loved you so much—and now was your only family left. That had to be an even harder thing to carry.
Guru was deep «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» in thought when—
Ding!
[A quest has been triggered due to the effect of (Unknown Title)!]
[Caregiver Quest: What lies deep within the heart of your ambiguous main guardian? Let’s face the hidden issue together.
Reward: 10,000 Filial Piety Points]
Guru checked the quest window.
That’s a huge reward! This should be enough to hatch Shakipiyo’s egg...!
But... how was she supposed to do it?
Just then, her phone buzzed.
On Suhyeong
I heard you helped Chairman Nam and received a gift.
Yes!
(sends dancing squirrel emoji)
On Suhyeong
Well done.
You could get a good price for it if you put it up for auction.
Your grandfather will be at the auction too, so if you’d like to see it for yourself, just let me know.
Oh!
Lying belly-down on the couch, Guru suddenly sprang to her feet.
Maybe Chairman Nam said it’d be good to check it out because he knew Guildmastew’s dad would be there too?
If that were the case...
She turned to stare at Jurim’s door, still closed since he hadn’t woken up yet.
I should go to the auction house!
Maybe then, she could get the two of them to meet.
To fix a relationship, you had to start with a meeting. That’s how it always worked in dramas and anime.
Characters always ended up forming—or mending—relationships through unexpected encounters and conversations.
It’s a great idea!
Grinning, Guru replied with an enthusiastic yes and sent Suhyeong a gift emoji.
It was the same one she’d once sent to Guildmastew. Of course, he’d never used it.
But whatever. I’m gonna call anyway. Hmph.
A moment later, an adorable squirrel emoji came back, bowing politely in thanks.
He used it!
The image of the stone-faced, mafia-boss-looking Chairman sending cute squirrel stickers made her burst out laughing.
On Suhyeong
You’ve received a precious gift. Give me a moment.
Then, images started popping up in the chat—a building under construction, a conceptual rendering.
Huh?
Right after that came an address in central Seoul. It must’ve been where the building was located.
On Suhyeong
What do you think?
Think about what, exactly? Guru tilted her head, looking at the sleek architectural design in the picture.
It looks cool.
On Suhyeong
What should we name it?
A name Guru likes?
On Suhyeong
Yes.
A name, huh...
She remembered coming up with her Onion Market nickname.
She thought for a second—ziZone Hunter, Super-Strong Chick Class—then switched to the English keyboard and started typing.
GROOT123
On Suhyeong
Got it. I’ll take care of it.
Whatever that meant, Guru gave her usual all-purpose answer.
Okay!
(sends spinning squirrel shooting hearts emoji)
On Suhyeong
(sends squirrel wiggling its butt and throwing finger hearts emoji)
Just then, the bedroom door creaked open. Guru locked her phone and scampered off.
It was the weekend, and Jurim had woken up late. He was staggering his way into the kitchen.
“Guildmastew!”
“Mm... You wanna brush your teeth?”
He asked reflexively, still half-asleep, moving with his eyes closed.
“Later! That’s not it!”
“Not it?”
“There’s a place Guru wants to go!”
“A place you want to go?”
Repeating her words like a parrot, Jurim finally cracked an eye open. Surely she wasn’t going to say she wanted to dive into a dungeon again.
“Tada!”
Guru held up the auction poster.
Jurim yawned so wide his jaw practically unhinged, then narrowed his eyes as he looked over the flyer.
“...Where’d you even get this?”
“Oh, I didn’t expect that question.”
“Um... I guess I picked it up on the street?”
“As if.”
Still half out of it from just waking up, Jurim muttered while brewing coffee.
“Did you bring it from work?”
“Yes!”
In truth, she got it from the agency after registering her item for the auction, but she decided to say it came from work instead. That was a good lie!
The smell of coffee drifted through the air. Guru sniffed eagerly, and Jurim held the mug out toward her.
“Wanna taste?”
“Yes!”
“What do you mean, ‘yes’? Obviously not.”
Then why’d you ask! Guru puffed up her cheeks in protest.
Chuckling low, Jurim spun the mug slowly and tilted his head.
“Do you even know what kind of place that is?”
His sentence trailed off, like he was about to say, not really a place for kids—
“There are cool exhibits and shows!”
She pointed with her pudgy little finger to one corner of the poster.
“Hm.”
Taking the poster from her, Jurim crossed his arms.
The flyer was plastered with phrases like:
“Flaming lasers! Spectacular sights! Shows and spaces designed just for children!”
It seemed he finally understood.
With his eyes still half-closed, Jurim folded his arms and tapped one with his index finger.
An auction house, huh.
He used to go every now and then. All kinds of people passed through there—corporate heads, Hunters, rich drifters.
And this time, the buzz around a Malikian artifact put up by Hyeonak Guild had already caught serious attention. Anyone with money was bound to be there.
On top of that, the five-year anniversary of the Tower raid was fast approaching.
Every year around this time, the world sent him cards filled with praise and gifts, along with a flood of interview requests.
Right alongside those came curses and accusations. They varied every year, too.
Coward. Rude. Bring them back. You should’ve died too.
He knew all that was largely his own fault—because of the interviews he gave right after descending the Tower, when he’d been clawing at everything in his path.
If he’d just shed a few tears, bowed his head before the bereaved families, offered condolences, wept at the joint memorial altar—
Even if it wouldn’t have warmed everyone’s hearts, it wouldn’t have gotten this bad.
But at the time, he hadn’t needed to do any of that.
No matter how he calculated it, putting on that kind of performance just wasn’t worth it.
He didn’t think other people’s grief or hatred could hurt him.
He’d never cared about public image.
And yet now, he kept worrying about how the kid might see him.
You’re pathetic, On Jurim.
Just as Jurim was lost in thought, tipping his mug—
Click!
Guru’s phone camera was aimed straight at him.
Frowning, Jurim turned toward her. Caught off guard, Guru blurted out:
“You, you look handsome!”
Out of nowhere? Jurim lifted one corner of his mouth into a crooked smirk.
“I know.”
“Wha...”
Guru scowled, face scrunching up.
Look at that expression. Jurim pressed his finger between her furrowed brows.
“If I’m free, we’ll go.”
“Oh! Then we’re going!”
“I said if. I might not be able to.”
“Ehhh. But Guildmastew’s always just playing.”
“I’m busy. Super busy.”
“Pfft!”
Guru puffed up her cheeks again and spun on her heel, trudging back to the couch.
I know you’re just sleeping all the time.
While the other guild members were throwing themselves into dungeon raids, giving interviews, doing events—
Guildmastew was either lying around like a lazy sloth in his office or skimming reports.
It was a mystery how he never lost his number one ranking.
Guru snapped a picture of his messy hair and sent it to the Chairman, then flopped onto the sofa.
On Suhyeong
Thank you.
(sends polite bowing squirrel emoji)
I knew he’d like it.
Guru thought she should send a few more pictures of Jurim. Maybe a couple extra emojis too.
Right as she was thinking that, more messages popped up.
On Suhyeong
(photo of a building)
(architectural rendering)
(sign with location details)
What do you think of this place?

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