Chapter 188
[Woof Woof!]
anwhile, [Puppy] had arrived, holding onto Choi Kyung-sik’s lunch in its mouth. Since it had run out in a hurry earlier, I couldn’t properly see it. Observing it closer, the puppy-shaped golem had the typical pebble-cobbled appearance of low-rank golems.
However, its movents were more gentle and fluid than any other golem I had ever seen. I had heard that it cost a lot of money to make the golem’s joints move properly… seeing how its tail shook fiercely from side to side, it seed that he had invested substantially into this simple golem.
‘Co to think of it…there’s a lot of expensive things within this lab?’
After receiving the bag containing the hamburgers from the golem, [Puppy], it was ti to clean the desk so we could sit facing each other for lunch. After moving so docunts to the side, I could see reagents and potions, ones often used in alchemy, lined up at the end of the desk.
As I kept my gaze far away from him, I noticed a small golden scale–totally authentic no matter how one looked at it–at the end of the desk, close to Choi Kyung-sik. On top of that scale were a pile of jewels as big as fingernails.
Only then did I notice powders–alchemical ingredients?–stored in flasks next to the thick books behind Choi Kyung-sik’s back; they were displayed like hourglasses. There were even at least 10 flasks that looked like they contained powdered gold.
‘I heard that alchemists have a lot of money…’
The sight of these jewels and expensive ingredients scattered about seed to be a common view for Choi Kyung-sik; he simply focused his gaze on the hamburger bag I was holding. I thought the Alchemist seed rather easy-going and, on the other hand, used to such luxury.
I tried hard not to express my surprise and handed Choi Kyung-sik a hamburger. However, when he received it, his expression seed a bit odd. It seed as if he had seen sothing surprising.
“Wow, you see all sorts of things in life–to think that Garam-ie would hand a burger before taking care of his own.” With that said, the Alchemist admired the hamburger in his hands.
‘Just how did Jung Garam live his life for such things to be said about him…’
I almost sighed, but I managed to cover that up with Jung Garam’s blunt voice. “I-If you dislike it, then give it back…”
“I already ate it though?” Choi Kyung-sik laughed as he took a giant bite of the hamburger. Then, all throughout lunch, he chatted about this and that topic. He mainly talked about the new Golems he was making; I didn’t really understand most of what he was talking about. But, since I needed information on the Alchemist anyway, I concentrated on listening as much as possible.
However, that concentration could only take so far. Honestly, how could I understand Golem circuit switching devices or whatever he was talking about…
“Haaah…” On top of that, after polishing off my hamburger, a yawn inadvertently bubbled out from .
However, Choi Kyung-sik didn’t seem to care very much and continued to speak. “So, I thought it was a complete innovation. If I could phase it in imdiately, we could save more than 30 percent base mana, I said. But then, Guild Master nodded with a face just like yours, Garam-ie. Anyway, I’m just glad it was easy to persuade him. I thought he would ask for a month’s worth of paynt…”
‘I guess Seo Dawon was bored…’ Chin resting on my palm, I observed the diligently chattering Choi Kyung-sik. I wondered if he was a denser person than I had imagined.
When Choi Kyung-sik started a conversation about topics he was interested in, it seed like he was the type of person to say all that he wanted to say without paying heed to his surroundings. Like he cared little if the surrounding people were listening or not. Thanks to that(?), it felt like he didn’t notice that I wasn’t exactly Jung Garam despite my stutters…
I couldn’t be sure whether or not this situation was advantageous for , but this wasn’t too bad. Honestly, if I had t a sharp person, such as another guild mber like Seo Dawon before I had t Choi Kyung-sik, I didn’t think I would be able to calmly sit down and converse.
‘The issue is… even though we dined so close to each other, I don’t know how I should end this [Vengeful Ghost mory].’
What on earth should I do? I fell deep into contemplation as I stared at the still prattling Choi Kyung-sik.
It was then.
Knock Knock–
Suddenly, soone knocked on the laboratory door. For , whose eyes were drowsily half-closing, the knock made jump.
“Hm? Who’s that?” Unlike my nervous self, Choi Kyungsik didn’t double check who was behind the door and flung it open. Dressed in a flowy dress, Bang Eunji stood modestly behind the door. “Ah, Eunji-yah.”
“I didn’t realize that dwarf would be here too,” Bang Eunji said calmly, staring and throwing barbs towards .
I wondered if I should get angry or if I should ignore her, but I thought that Jung Garam would have imdiately blown his top. “W-Who’s a dwarf!”
“I didn’t ntion Jung Garam-kun though?”
“……”
“I’m really tired of your victim-ntality.”
Even though I wasn’t the real Jung Garam, I was still sohow a little furious.
But, before I could retort, Choi Kyung-sik quickly stepped in between and Bang Eunji and blocked our views. Then, as if he were changing the topic, he asked Bang Eunji, “Are you here because of the eting?”
“Precisely. I’m convening our willful guild mbers for our hard-working, suffering guild master.”
“Alright, alright. We won’t arrive late.”
“It would please if you’d co up to the eting room right now.”
“Shall we go, Garam-ah?”
Of course, if possible, I didn’t want to go to a gathering with all the guild mbers… I knew I had no other choice, though, so I nodded and stood up from my seat.
When both of us stood up, Bang Eunji–perhaps to find more of those ‘willful guild mbers’–vanished into the hallway. In just 1 second, I could hear her footsteps near the elevator entrance; I was a little scared. To think that just a while ago I had thoughtlessly and fearlessly gotten angry at the owner of that trendous speed.
‘I need to behave like the real Jung Garam, but… What happens if that leads into a fight?’
I assud that if I died as Jung Garam, the summoning would fail. After all, penalties have been applied.
‘I sorely need to sign this contract safely…’ I looked up at Choi Kyung-sik next to , muttering inwardly.
* * *
Choi Kyung-sik and I rode the elevator to the very top floor–the conference room. I let the Alchemist proceed , letting him walk consistently half a step ahead.
However, the top floor didn’t have as tight security as the others. I saw several conference rooms separated by opaque glass walls. It felt exactly like a small enterprise’s office room? In each conference room, people were discussing or presenting using a beam projector or whiteboard, really adding to that corporate atmosphere.
And, amongst all the many conference rooms, I assud the spacious room at the end was where we would have our eting. Choi Kyung-sik abruptly opened the door without knocking; I followed him docilely inside.
“Hello,” The Alchemist said.
“Good…afternoon.”
After the Alchemist’s cheerful greeting, I tried to add what was hopefully a normal greeting of my own before entering… The conference room contained more people than I had expected; cold sweat ran down my back.
Seo Dawon sat at the head of the table, looking over so docunts (he did not look our way); Kim Olim and Woo Ragi sat beside him.
Kim Olim stood upright with a straight back, without even using her hands to aid in her posture; on the other hand, it was impressive to see how Woo Ragi leaned back on his chair–far enough that I worried the chair would break–with both feet on the table.
Next to Kim Olim sat a man with tattoos on both arms; he laid down on the table, face cushioned by his arms, as if he wasn’t a part of this eting. That man was probably Jo Chanyoung.
However… After observing Jo Chanyoung and looking at the man sitting across him…I saw an unexpected sight.
He was the only one who gave a soft smile to Choi Kyung-sik’s greeting. From the mont I saw his face, I froze as if I’d been nailed to the floor.
It was Bae Jaemin.
“I’ve brought them all right on ti, Guild Master-nim!”
If Bang Eunji hadn’t banged open the door, entering and shouting like that, I may have stood there, useless, for all eternity.
After barely recovering my senses, I sat next to Choi Kyung-sik and bowed my head. I knew I would see the other Red Lotus mbers while they were alive–why didn’t I think to include Bae Jaemin
A chilly voice, ringing throughout the conference room, cut through my belatedly embarrassed thoughts. “Thanks, Eunji-yah. Then… we’ll start the raid eting for [Second Company].”
Startled, I raised my head at the familiar voice. Seo Dawon, who had taken his eyes off the docunt he was holding, was looking my way.
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TL: Back to our regularly scheduled update~
Honestly, if I were an Alchemist, I would definitely create adorable golems.
Also, I made a slight mistranslation >.< Woo Ragi’s weapon of choice is a “Echo Blade” not a “Chainsword.” I’m going to slowly fix this in the previous chaps, but if you guys want to let know where I’m missing stuff, feel free to tell here or in Discord
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