CHAPTER 41: SIDE QUEST

WARNING!

Next Client: Han Graham

Status: Berserk Mode!

Mission: Bring Han Graham back to his senses!

Wonhee covered her mouth with her hands when she gasped. "The System is asking me to stop Graham-ssi from going berserk!"

"R-Really?" Ahyeon asked worriedly. "Why does the System keep on giving Wony Noona such dangerous tasks...?"

"Well, stronger power always equals heavier duties," Yool said, shrugging. "But it’s a good thing if you can save Graham in place of Ahn Kisoo, Wony-ah."

"Why?" Wonhee asked curiously. "Did Graham-ssi also go berserk in the novel?"

Yool nodded. "Ahn Kisoo wasn’t there when Graham went out of the dungeon because the Autumn Guild took him away for investigation. In the novel, Song Sunho shot himself and made it look like Ahn Kisoo was the one who did it."

Wonhee knitted her eyebrows. "But why would he shoot himself and frame up Ahn Kisoo-ssi for it?"

"First of all, I’ll have you know that in the novel, Song Sunho used a special kind of bullet that could make a person’s heart stop beating for an hour. It can also create fake blood so that the "victim’s" condition would look worse than it really is."

Ahyeon let out a gasp. "Did Song Sunho-ssi fake his death in the novel?"

"That’s right," Yool confirmed while nodding. "In the novel, they imprisoned Ahn Kisoo in the Autumn Guild for the crime of "killing" Song Sunho. But Song Sunho, that crazy bastard, was actually alive. He even turned their guild’s basement prison into a love nest for him and Ahn Kisoo."

Wonhee and Ahyeon had the same reaction. "That’s disgusting!"

"I know, right?" Yool agreed with them. "Anyway, if Graham didn’t go berserk mode, then the Autumn Guild wouldn’t have let Ahn Kisoo out. Unfortunately, some people already lost their lives by then."

Wonhee gulped before she asked. "W-Who died in the novel?"

"Since Ahn Kisoo couldn’t be contacted while Graham was on a rampage, the Vice Guild Master of the Summer Guild tried to stop him. When it didn’t work, the National Guide Center stepped in to help," Yool continued his explanation. "The director of the Center was an A-Class Guide, so he tried to help Graham. But in the process of trying to bring Graham back to his senses, the director died–"

Wonhee gasped, causing Yool to stop talking. "Are you talking about Shin Geon?"

"I’m not sure. I just know that he was an A-Class Guide that held the position of the director in the Center. Why?"

There was only one director in the National Guide Center who was an A-Class Guide.

"He’s my brother-in-law!" Wonhee said worriedly. "He’s Soobin Oppa’s husband! Are you telling me that my brother-in-law died in the novel?"

Yool blinked as if he was flustered. "Oh. Right. I know that your brother’s husband is working in the Center, but I didn’t know he was the director..."

Oh.

It was because Wonhee rarely talked about her family even with Yool and Ahyeon.

[Plus, I assumed Yool already knew about my family since he read the novel.]

Most of all, Yool wasn’t the nosy type so he rarely asked Wonhee questions about her private life.

"Graham’s berserk happened after your break-up with Lee Seodam, so the novel never mentioned you during that time," Yool said, clutching his head as if he was trying to remember the details of the novel. "I’m sorry, Wony-ah. I don’t really remember all the names of the characters in the novel. Had I known the director was your brother-in-law, I would have told you about what I know right away."

"No, you don’t have to apologize for that, Yool-ah. I don’t remember the names of the characters in the books I’ve read either," Wonhee said while shaking her head. "Plus, I’m glad that you remember that part in the novel." She clenched her hands tight. "I’ll do a good job so my brother-in-law won’t lose his life during Graham-ssi’s berserk."

Yool nodded, but he still looked like he felt bad for her.

Aww.

[Yool can really be a softie when he wants to.]

"Should we ask someone from the Summer Guild about Graham-nim’s schedule?" Ahyeon asked carefully. "We need to know when Graham-nim will come out of the dungeon."

"I can take care of that," Yool said, bouncing back. "Graham’s cousin is working in their guild and I have her number, so I can just ask her about Graham’s schedule."

"Okay," Wonhee said, nodding. "Anyway, I’ll tell my brother about my second mission. Aside from the two of you, I also told Soobin Oppa and Geon Oppa about the task that the System gave me. I also plan to tell Semi Unnie about it once she’s out of the dungeon."

Yool nodded as if he approved of her decision. "Thank you for telling us, Wony-ah."

Ahyeon nodded eagerly. "T-Thank you for the trust, Noona! I promise to keep your secret safe, and I’ll do my best to assist you with your secret missions!"

’Secret’ missions, huh?

That reminded Wonhee of the "side quest" that Tangerine Fairy gave her...

***

[During Wonhee’s official Awakening...]

"YOU’RE AN S-Class Guide, Chu Wonhee," the Tangerine Fairy said. "Your ability only works on Awakened People with an S-Class grade or above."

Wonhee heard what the administrator said.

But she got distracted by the new Status Window that popped up in front of her.

SIDE QUEST ALERT!

Mission: Gain Hwang Yejun’s Favorability!

Reward: The more Hwang Yejun adores you, the quicker you’ll gain the points you need to unlock your S-Grade skills!

Time Limit: None~

Penalty: None~

Will you accept the side quest?

Yes or No

"Points?" Wonhee asked, turning to Tangerine Fairy. "I need points to unlock my S-Grade skills?"

"Oh, that’s just for a quicker leveling up," Tangerine Fairy explained. "The more you interact with high-class Hunters, the more you’ll grow as a Guide, Chu Wonhee. Guides have this unique energy that can fix a Hunter’s sanity. On the other hand, Hunters give off the type of energy that can replenish a Guide’s lost energy. It’s a cycle that helps both the Hunters and Guides with their progress. The more compatible a pair is, the quicker they can level up together."

"Ah, so I’ll unlock my S-Grade skills naturally even without doing this side quest?"

"That’s correct. The side quest is just there to help you level up fast."

"Not that I’m complaining, but is it really necessary? I mean, if leveling up while interacting with high-class Hunters comes naturally, then is there a reason the System wants to speed it up for me?"

"Yes– because you are lucky, Chu Wonhee."

Oh, that again?

She actually didn’t believe it completely.

[There must be a catch. The System won’t pay this much attention to me just because I was born under the Lucky Star. There’s definitely a reason why the System wants me to unlock my S-Grade skills quickly, but they’re keeping it a secret from me for some reason.]

"It’s just a side quest, so you can ignore it," Tangerine Fairy said. "All you have to accomplish is the main quest, Chu Wonhee."

Right.

Saving Hwang Yejun was her main job.

"It won’t hurt to do a side quest that doesn’t have a penalty," Wonhee said. But her intention for accepting the side quest was to find out why the System was in a hurry to speed up her progress. "And it’s easy for an actress like me to gain one’s favor by acting nice anyway."

***

AFTER Wonhee remembered the side quest that she accepted, she shared it with Yool and Ahyeon.

"I have a confession. I’m actually keeping this a secret from Yejun and my family," Wonhee said, taking a deep breath. "But the System gave me a "side quest"– and that side quest requires me to gain Yejun’s affection, so I’m being super nice to him."

She felt bad because she felt like she was being a fake towards Hwang Yejun.

The guilt in her chest was actually starting to feel heavy.

"I-It’s okay, Wony Noona!" Ahyeon cheered for her right away. "To be honest, you’re a nice person anyway so I’m sure you’re not being 100% fake..."

"I told you before, didn’t I?" Yool said, nodding approvingly while giving her a thumbs up. "Wony-ah, being a villainess is your true calling."

Pfft.

Wonhee wanted to refute what Yool said, but she stopped when her phone rang.

It rang again and again.

She received calls from different people, but those people came from the same family.

"Seodam Oppa’s mother and sister are calling me," Wonhee said, smiling bitterly. "Should I really just become a villainess?"

"Lee Seodam’s family, except for his younger brother, was really mean to you," Yool reminded her. "No one will blame you if you decide to exact your revenge against them, you know? Don’t let them walk all over you again, Wony-ah."

Ahyeon nodded eagerly. "You suffered a lot because of them, Noona. And I don’t think Lee Seodam ever stood up for you against his family..."

Oh.

Ahyeon was right.

[Seodam Oppa used to tell me to be the bigger person...]

And she endured it for three years...

... only for her (ex)boyfriend to dump her to have sex with his Guide.

Wonhee suddenly burst out crying when she remembered the news she saw earlier. "I really loved Seodam Oppa, and I still do," she said between sobs. "I wanted to be a Guide for him, but why did I achieve my dream when I’ve already lost him?"

Ahyeon, who was already teary-eyed while watching Wonhee cry, handed her a box of tissues.

"Maybe it’s because your ability isn’t meant for you to use on Lee Seodam," Yool said while gently rubbing Wonhee’s back. "Wony-ah, since you already decided to accept the side quest, why not focus on gaining Hwang Frost’s favorability so that you’ll level up faster? They say one of the quickest ways to get over your ex is to get busy with work."

"I did accept the side quest, but I’m starting to feel bad for Yejun," she said between sobs. "I’m using him for my own benefits. Worse, I’m exploiting the fact that I’m the only person who can heal him just to gain some points..."

"N-Noona, it’s not as bad as you think it is," Ahyeon said, obviously panicking. "Hunters and Guides have a natural give-and-take relationship. Y-You’re taking care of Hwang Frost-nim, so it’s only right that Noona u-uses his gratitude for your progress..."

Was that right?

Then... since she already decided to be a bad person...

"I’ll be super nice to Yejun and gain his affection," Wonhee said determinedly while wiping the tears off her face with a tissue. "I’ll keep myself busy by leveling up so I won’t have the time to even think of Seodam Oppa..."

***

SIDE QUEST ALERT!

Hmm.

Yejun stared at the Status Window floating in front of him.

He was alone in Shin Geon’s office because Shin Geon and Yeon Soobin were too busy getting lovey-dovey in their private room.

Speaking of being "lovey-dovey..."

Mission: Love and protect Chu Wonhee even if it kills you!

Reward: Unique S-Grade Skills!

Time Limit: None~

Penalty: None~

Will you accept the side quest?

Yes or Yes

Yep, that was right.

The System didn’t give him a "no" option, and he couldn’t even cancel the Window. Hence, he was forced to accept the side quest.

But...

"How do you love someone?" Yejun wondered out loud. "The Hunters around me often say that the best way to show their love for their Guide is through sex..." He paused for a moment, then he nodded. "Ah, so that must be it. Love equals sex."

It made sense.

After all, the Hunters in his own team would always rave about sex with their Guides.

[Now that I know what love is, there’s only one problem left.]

Yejun tilted his head to one side. "How do I seduce Wonhee to sleep with me?"

***

sola_cola’s thoughts on this Chapter: No, Yejun, nooo!!! .

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