Chapter 104 (1/2)

Chapter 104. The Village Head's Gift

A clear, bright morning dawned in Paradise. The sky was serene and blue, like a cool seaside that presented a refres.h.i.+ng feeling to anyone who saw it.

However, Carpe Diem's office was bustling with Jang Maldong's bombsh.e.l.l announcement.

“You're staying!?”

When Chohong shot up in shock, Jang Maldong frowned.

“I haven't gone deaf, so stop yelling!”

Chohong looked left and right in utter disbelief.

Hugo was busy cheering and dancing around the room, and it didn't look like he was the one responsible. But it was hard to believe that Seol Jihu convinced him. After all, Jang Maldong was more stubborn than a mule.

In the end, she could only conclude that he changed his mind on his own.

“…Are you serious?”

Seeing Chohong's complicated gaze, Jang Maldong tapped the floor with his wooden cane.

“I'm not saying I'm coming out of retirement. It's just….”

“It's just…?”

“I'm the one who created Carpe Diem and have been with it through thick and thin. If I leave it alone, it will either get disbanded or get absorbed. It didn't sit well with me to let that happen.”

“Geez, Old Man, you're worrying about it too much. Didn't I say we'd take care of it?”

“Take care of it?”

Jang Maldong laughed out loud.

“Even if your mouth is twisted, you need to speak properly. You are actually saying that, when you said you can't handle being the leader!?”

“Hurrah!” Hugo raised his arms and cheered.

“Shut it! What are you so proud of!?”

Thwack! Jang Maldong's cane struck his head mercilessly. But that was seemingly not enough to calm Hugo as he continued giggling while rolling around on the floor screaming.

“Then,” Chohong spoke, “What are you saying you'll do?”

“For the moment, I'll stay on as the team advisor.”

After smacking his lips, Jang Maldong looked back and forth between Chohong and Hugo and sighed.

“It would have been a different story if I wasn't aware of Carpe Diem's current state, but now that I am, I can't just sit by and watch it fall to ruin. I'll be here at least until you find a new Archer.”

“Ah, stop! We're not going to fall to ruin!”

“I can see that happening as clear as day, you brat!”

In truth, Jang Maldong's temporary return should be something to celebrate given Carpe Diem's current situation. His long experience would definitely keep the team well balanced.

Chohong's eyes rolled, and she slumped down on the couch. She could tell the old man had made up his mind by the way he had switched out of his suit and changed into his training clothes.

“Whatever! Do what you want!”

“Good, I will.”

“Hmph, you'll regret it for sure. For the record, I did tell you to go back!”

“Shut it. Now that we're talking about this, let's get something straight. Didn't I tell you to learn about reading the state of affairs? What's the point in becoming a High Ranker? All you're good at is fighting.”

“Aaaaah!”

Chohong waved her hands fiercely. Jang Maldong stopped talking, but it was too late. Seol Jihu and Hugo were looking at her with widened eyes.

“Really? You're a High Ranker now?”

“Ah, why did you tell them? I was going to surprise them!”

Hearing Seol Jihu's question, Chohong threw a temper tantrum. Jang Maldong snorted without batting an eye.

“What's there to be surprised about anyways?”

“Ehew.” Chohong scratched her head, then shot a boasting smirk at Hugo.

“See, I told you I was gonna get there first.”

She then turned to Seol Jihu and made a peace sign with her fingers.

“I'm a High Ranker now!”

“Whoaa!”

Seol Jihu ran forward excitedly, and the duo rejoiced while dancing to the tune of Libertango. Animated by the lively atmosphere, Hugo began to dance as well.

“So? What did you go with?”

“Templar.”

Seol Jihu drew a deep breath.

Templar! It just sounded too cool!

His eyes shone with admiration, especially when he thought of his own half-a.s.sed cla.s.s name.

Seeing him be so openly jealous, Chohong rubbed his nose in satisfaction. She then remembered the saying, 'happiness multiplies when shared', and remembered the gifts she had brought.

“Wait here.”

Chohong went and found the shopping bags that had been sitting in the corner of the office since she returned. Then she cleared her throat with a cough.

“Kuhum, I generously brought you a gift.”

“Really?”

Seol Jihu's eyes widened. Hugo then peeked his head, asking “What about me?” but both Chohong and Seol Jihu were too absorbed in their own world to pay attention to him.

“Yep. Knowing how much you like training, I—”

“What a coincidence. I have a gift for you too.”

“Hm?”

“Wait here.”

With a sweet grin, Seol Jihu hopped to his bedroom. When Chohong saw what he returned with, she only stood there and blinked her eyes dazedly.

“Here, it's a gift for becoming a High Ranker. Congrats!”

Chohong stared at the iron mace tinged with black as if she was entranced. The large iron ball hanging on the tip and the sharp thorn-like spikes gave the weapon an intimidating aura.

“It's called the Thorn of Steel. It's apparently made out of a meteorite.”

“Hoh! A meteorite?”

Even Jang Maldong was impressed.

“It even has two enchantments on it that doubles its power!”

It sounded like he was selling an insurance plan or something, but Chohong was too busy gawking at the terrifying beauty of the mace to notice.

“How is it? You like it?”

She loved it. There was no way she could possibly not like it.

Rising to Level 5 was difficult, but just getting there wasn't enough. One had to obtain equipment worthy of their level to truly call themselves a High Ranker.

The problem was that the cost of the equipment shot up dramatically from Level 5. Most people couldn't even dream about changing out all of their equipment, as they could only afford one or two with the money they had saved up.

The money Chohong had saved was barely enough to change out her weapon, but this '+2 Thorn of Steel' was a true weapon worthy of a High Ranker. Thanks to this, she could invest her money in her armor.

“Ho… how…?”

The shock she received must have been great as even her voice was trembling.

“I was invited to the royal palace when I came back. They told me I could take whatever I wanted, so I brought that one.”

Hugo appealed his existence going, “Me! What about me!?” But ignoring him completely, Chohong looked at the gift surpa.s.sing her imaginations and stood at a loss for what to do.

“What… y-you should have brought something for yourself…. How could you use that precious opportunity for me…?”

Even though such words were coming out of her mouth, her body was honest. The corners of her mouth were twitching up repeatedly.

“I-It's fine…. Tell them you want to switch it out for something else….”

She even said something she didn't mean.

“Eii, I chose it because I wanted to. I'd never do that.”

“But.”

“Don't be like that. Here. Be a good Chohong, okay? Here—”

“Ah, hey, s-stop. Stop~”

When Seol Jihu tried to push the mace into her hands, she took a small step back and twisted her body side to side. Then when she pretended to give in and finally took it, her body shuddered as if it had just been electrified.

'How can it fit into my hands so perfectly?'

The Thorn of Steel's temptation was simply too great. Once she grabbed it, she didn't want to ever let go. In her ecstasy, she even began to delude herself into thinking that the weapon was crafted just for her.

“Ah~”

Chohong moaned in a daze, then quickly snapped back to reality. A youth with a blush on his face was looking at her with antic.i.p.ation. Her complexion slightly paled.

“So what gift did you get me?”

“…Huh? Uh….”

Looking at his smiling face, she couldn't bring herself to not give it to him. But when she compared her present to the mace….

That wasn't all. Chohong spotted the sandbags tied around his wrists and her eyes swayed like a stream of water.

“What~ Don't tease me and show me.”

“W-Wait.”