CHAPTER 67: BLOODY CONTRACT

WONHEE gathered her courage to look at Soobin and the Big 4. "Uhm, Tannie is a good boy..."

She got different reactions from everyone.

Graham and Semi laughed at what she said.

Soobin just smiled his "business smile."

Song Moonho sipped his tea as if to hide his little laugh.

Yejun’s face softened up a bit. "Wonhee-ya, if the System asked you to make a contract with them, don’t sign right away, okay?"

Wonhee knitted her eyebrows because Yejun was talking to her as if she was a child.

"Tell me right away if the System asks you for anything," Yejun continued using the same tone. "If I’m not available, then tell your oppa and unnie first. Even Graham will do."

Graham glared at Yejun for the backhanded compliment, but he nodded in agreement with what Yejun had said. "That’s right, Chu Wonhee. I may look unreliable, but I’m guarded enough not to be fooled by the System."

Wonhee smiled awkwardly. "Uhm, does it mean you all think I’m naïve enough to be deceived by the System? That’s a bit disheartening..."

Graham looked flustered. "No, it’s not like that, Chu Wonhee. Instead of being naïve, I think you’re just too soft-hearted for the world we live in."

Soobin nodded in agreement. "The System also knows that, so it might take advantage of your kindness and generosity, Hee-ya."

"Knowing you, if the System asks you to sacrifice yourself for the greater good, I know you’d do it in a heartbeat," Semi added while shaking her head. "That’s why we’re worried, Hee-ya. The System may be helping us fight monsters and dungeons by giving us abilities. But we can’t trust it 100%."

"You’re still a rookie, so we just don’t want you to make the same mistake that we did when we first awakened," Yejun said, clenching his jaw as if he remembered something unpleasant. "It wasn’t just once or twice that the System had screwed us over when we were rookies."

Soobin, Graham, Semi, and Song Moonho all nodded eagerly.

Oh.

[They’re just looking after me since I’m a rookie.]

Wonhee felt a bit embarrassed that she felt offended earlier. "I see," she said. "Then I apologize for misunderstanding your good intentions."

Everyone said that she didn’t have to apologize for it.

But she still felt bad.

[I’ll reflect and strive to have a broader mind next time.]

"Why didn’t anyone mention me, though?" Song Moonho complained lightly. "Miss Chu can also ask me for guidance."

"Wonhee-ya, Song Moonho is the #2 most untrustworthy person in the Awakened World, second only to the System," Yejun said firmly. "It’s better to trust your own judgement than trust anything the old man says."

Soobin, Semi, and Graham nodded in strong agreement with what Yejun had said.

[They really don’t trust Song Moonho, huh?]

"Kids these days are scary," Song Moonho complained again. This time, he turned to Wonhee and Tannie. "But the System sent that orange here to fix our distrust of each other, right?"

Tannie flinched and didn’t say anything.

[He must have been traumatized when Soobin Oppa and the Big 4 glared at him earlier.]

Tannie didn’t even correct Song Moonho when the ahjussi called him an ’orange.’

"It’s alright, Tannie," Wonhee encouraged the tangerine fairy. "They won’t scold you. Just choose your words carefully, okay?"

"Fine," Tannie said, then he cleared his throat and looked at the powerful Hunters in the room. "For those who don’t know me yet, my name is Tannie. I’m the System’s Administrator in charge of Chu Wonhee’s welfare."

"I didn’t even know the System has Administrators," Song Moonho commented. "Is Miss Chu the only Awakened Person who has a guardian?"

"Chu Wonhee is special."

Tannie said it as if it was a fact that everyone had to accept.

[He didn’t even offer an explanation...]

"Of course, our Hee-ya is special," Semi said, nodding. "But I’m not comfortable that the System is paying too much attention to her."

"Because that means the System wants something from our Hee-ya," Soobin said, then he looked at Tannie sharply. "Tell everyone here why it has to be the Big 4."

Right.

They had to start there.

Tannie turned to Wonhee. "Chu Wonhee, activate the Sleeping Salon first."

"Oh, okay," Wonhee said, then she addressed everyone with a gaze asking for understanding. "I’m going to activate my Sleeping Salon skill. Please don’t be startled. The room will be covered in something similar to a barrier."

Everyone just nodded.

Wonhee then took a deep breath, then she imagined the entire room getting covered in a barrier.

That was how she activated the Sleeping Salon.

"Wow," Graham commented while clutching his heart. "I feel like I’ll die if I do or say something the System wouldn’t like."

"Right?" Song Moonho agreed. "This is what I call favoritism."

Wonhee felt embarrassed even though she knew that Song Moonho was just expressing his thoughts.

[The System is really being obvious, after all.]

"We won’t get hurt if we behave," Soobin said. "So, don’t say or do anything funny. I’m warning you, Song Moonho."

"I’ll listen to my hoobae1 this time since I don’t want to die," Song Moonho said. "We’re still in Miss Chu’s penthouse. But I can tell that this space is already separated from reality. The System can kill us all, except for Miss Chu, and hide our corpses here forever."

Semi clicked her tongue. "Don’t sully our Hee-ya’s ears with bad words."

Song Moonho just shrugged.

"Stop talking nonsense, Song Moonho," Yejun said, then he turned to Tannie. "Hey, talking orange. Get straight to the point."

Tannie said before speaking. "First of all, Chu Wonhee’s Guiding only works on the Big 4. For now."

For now?

That was the first time Wonhee heard of that.

"Only because only the members of the Big 4 are naturally awakened S-Class Hunters," Tannie said. "But you haven’t forgotten that there are naturally awakened S-Class Hunters all over the world, right?"

Wonhee gasped because she only realized it now. "Does it mean I’m going to be like some sort of a global ambassador?"

"No, I don’t want that," Yejun complained. "I won’t share my Wonhee with the world."

"Well, it’s not up to you, Hwang Yejun," Tannie said. "But, for now, the System wants Chu Wonhee to stay in Korea. That’s why the System wants the Big 4 to protect Chu Wonhee."

"Until when?" Song Moonho asked. "I’m sure you know we can’t protect her forever."

"Only until Chu Wonhee activates all her skills. The System predicts it will happen in a year," Tannie explained, the he floated in the air. "That’s why the System needs the Big 4 to protect Chu Wonhee until then. Your service will also be needed, Yeon Soobin. One of Chu Wonhee’s skills will require your help."

"I’m fine with it," Soobin said without missing a beat. "Anything for our Hee-ya."

"Great," Tannie said, then his body vibrated for a moment before he spoke again. "The System will give the following to Yeon Soobin and the Big 4 as a reward if you sign a contract as Chu Wonhee’s bodyguards."

Soobin, Yejun, Graham, Semi, and Song Moonho all looked up in the air.

[Their Status Windows probably popped up.]

Wonhee couldn’t see their Status Windows, but it was clear that the rewards were worth it because everyone’s face lit up.

[The System sure knows how to bribe Awakened People.]

***

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