NOVEL NEXT Chapter 51
The bright smile on her face sent a shiver down my spine. Avoiding the Hero’s gaze, I quickly typed out a reply.
|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master)|: Sorry.
There was no response.
I cautiously glanced up at the Hero, only to quickly lower my head again. She was glaring at me with a burning intensity, while the Demon King stood tall, unyielding as ever.
“Do Haun.”
“I know, just be quiet.”
I silenced the Demon King and anxiously waited for the situation to resolve itself. As I waited, a message popped up from the Hero.
|Pr. Hero|: Follow me.
Follow her? To where? She wouldn’t take me to some back alley, would she? Swallowing hard, I reluctantly moved to follow.
“Where are you going?”
“The Hero wants me to follow.”
“The Hero? You mean the one who helped you defeat the Demon God?”
The Demon King’s shocked exclamation made the Northern Grand Duke, who had been working to sort out the situation, snap his head toward us in surprise. Fortunately, it didn’t seem like anyone but the Duke had heard the Demon King’s voice.
I gave the Duke a slight nod and responded, “That’s right.”
“Is that person here?”
“Didn’t you see the last time we came to the shop? This is the Hero’s place.”
The Demon King’s lips parted slightly in amazement as he began looking around the shop. Apparently, he found it fascinating that the Hero was running such a place.
“Save your sightseeing for later. The Hero is waiting over there.”
The Hero stood near the door at the back of the shop, holding it open as if waiting for us. My urging prompted the Demon King to begrudgingly move his feet.
But what exactly was the Hero seeing? Did the Grand Duke cast a spell so only she could see us?
“Everyone, over here!”
—Mama!
“Oh my, so cute!”
Ah, so the customers couldn’t see the Mamma Monster. To them, that “mama” probably sounded like a dog barking.
Leaving the Grand Duke and the Mamma Monster behind, I followed the Hero through the open door. As soon as the door clicked shut behind us, a deep sigh echoed through the room. The Hero ruffled her hair in frustration, her face showing clear annoyance.
“Guild Master, what the hell is going on here?”
“Well, about that…”
“And who are those people the Demon King is carrying?”
The Demon King’s eyes widened in surprise at her question.
“Hero, do you recognize me?”
“I’d have to be an idiot not to.”
“How dare you call me an idiot!”
“I wasn’t talking about you.”
The Hero frowned, then pointed at the mage and spirit master the Demon King was holding like baggage.
“Put them down over there.”
She gestured toward a worn-out sofa. The Demon King strode over without hesitation and unceremoniously dropped the two onto the sofa.
“Be gentle! It’s your fault they’re like that!”
“Why hit me! I’ll apologize once they wake up!”
What nerve does he have to yell after causing this mess?
I smacked the Demon King on the back again with a loud slap, then turned to the Hero.
“Sorry. This was the only place I could think of.”
“Fine. And who’s that man next to the mage? Guild Master, if you brought him here, I’m guessing he’s one of your guild members… He looks familiar.”
“He’s a spirit master. His name is Kang Hasu.”
Wait, was it okay for me to reveal his name? Well, considering Kang Hasu’s fame, anyone who watched TV would recognize him.
“Kang Hasu? That entertainment agency CEO who only hires hunters?”
“Bingo.”
The Hero immediately recognized him and frowned as she spoke.
“So, the esteemed CEO is also a returnee. But why is he lying there so amicably with the mage?”
“Ah, well…”
“Boss! I’ve finished sorting things out!”
The door swung open, and the Northern Grand Duke burst in.
Startled by the sudden entrance, both the Hero and I widened our eyes in surprise. Only the Demon King remained unfazed, casually addressing the Duke.
“Northern Grand Duke, it seems you’ve gained some weight.”
At the Demon King’s comment, the Duke shrieked in protest.
“What are you talking about?! I haven’t gained a single pound! Everything I eat goes to Rim anyway!”
―”Mama!”
So he brought the Mamma Monster along too. Huffing and puffing, the Duke shut the door and stepped inside.
“The mage and the person next to him… Isn’t that CEO Kang Hasu? What’s he doing here?”
“Well, he’s a guild member.”
“What?!”
Ruffling my hair, I plopped down on an empty sofa.
“Weren’t you here to track down Doby? Didn’t you meet him before?”
“No, this is my first time seeing him.”
Come to think of it, if they had met, the Duke would’ve likely blown up the guild chat with excitement over meeting such a famous person.
“Stop dodging, Guild Master. What on earth happened?”
“Wait a second. I think I know what’s going on with the Guild Master,” the Duke interjected, holding up a phone with one hand. He showed me the screen and asked, “Did you and the Demon King do this?”
I groaned as soon as I saw what was on the screen.
[Breaking News] Terror Attack During Filming… Many Injured
[Breaking News] Woo Mahan of Hwarang Guild in Critical Condition
“That’s nonsense. My brother isn’t critical; he’s just out of it,” the Demon King calmly refuted.
It seemed the mage had sent the affected people elsewhere, but the Demon King had checked on my brother’s condition before coming to me. That explained his assurance.
“Guild Master, what the hell…”
“It wasn’t me.”
The Hero, looking at me as if I were some lowlife, prompted me to quickly identify the culprit.
“It was that damn Dragon Slayer.”
“The Dragon Slayer…?”
“The Dragon Slayer. He showed up in front of me again.”
I nodded, and the Hero squinted suspiciously before asking, “Then what about the mage and the spirit master? Did the Dragon Slayer do that to them too?”
“No, that was the Demon King.”
“…?”
Both the Hero and the Duke turned to stare at the Demon King, who pointedly avoided their gazes, pretending not to notice. At least he knew he was in the wrong.
The Duke let out a long sigh and said, “Demon King… Team-killing, really?”
“It was a mistake.”
The Hero asked how knocking out two allies could possibly be a mistake, but the Demon King replied with an unbothered expression.
“It was a mistake.”
“…”
Realizing there was no getting through to him, the Hero shook her head in exasperation and backed off.
I let out a small sigh and turned to the Demon King.
“Demon King, I think it’s time for you to head back.”
“I refuse.”
“What do you mean, you refuse? Didn’t they say Woo Mahan is in critical condition?”
The Demon King furrowed his brows at my words.
“Do Haun, didn’t you hear me? My brother is merely out of it, not in critical condition.”
“…”
Still, though.
I felt my reason slipping away and massaged my forehead. Watching me, the Demon King finally broke the silence.
“My sister-in-law is by his side, along with my nephew.”
“Exactly, so go. Don’t you think they’re worried sick about him?”
The Demon King pouted, clearly unhappy. I beckoned him closer, lightly tapping his forehead as I spoke.
“Come back after Woo Mahan wakes up.”
“…”
The Demon King rubbed his forehead for a moment, then gave a reluctant nod. See? Isn’t it nice when you listen?
With that, the Demon King disappeared from the cramped room. Just when I thought a little peace had returned, the Hero spoke up.
“So, what are you going to do with these two?”
“Can they stay here until they wake up? I’ll pay.”
Reaching into the scorched inner pocket of my coat, I pulled out my phone. After removing the case, I handed the black card hidden inside to the Hero. She took it immediately, smirking crookedly.
“How much do you think I’ll charge?”
“I’m sure you’ll be reasonable.”
The Hero let out a dry laugh, as if in disbelief. Still, Hero, I trust you. Surely, you won’t rack up a bill in the hundreds of millions, right?
“More importantly, what are you going to do now, Guild Master?”
“What do you mean, ‘what am I going to do’?”
“About the Dragon Slayer, of course.”
The Duke’s words made my face twist in frustration. Damn Dragon Slayer. I had lost him twice now.
Not only was my pride shattered, but if I left him alone, there was no telling what crazy stunt he’d pull next.
“Obviously, I’m going to hunt him down and teach him a lesson.”
My irritation-laden response made the Duke suck in a sharp breath. The Mamma Monster, now perched on the Duke’s head, mirrored him, inhaling dramatically.
That adorable sight made the corners of my lips tug upward.
“So, Duke.”
“W-What? Why are you calling me like that?”
The Duke stared at me warily, sensing impending trouble. I smiled sweetly and asked,
“Can I borrow Harim for a bit?”
―”Mama?”
“No way!!”
Called it.
The Hero shook her head at the sight of the Duke clutching Harim protectively and left the room, presumably to go charge the card.
“If you even think about laying a finger on Harim’s fur!”
“Harim doesn’t have fur. Just scales.”
“Ugh, seriously!!”
The Duke, hugging the Mamma Monster tightly, shot me a glare sharp enough to pierce steel. I shrugged my shoulders at his hostility.
“Duke, think about it.”
“Think about what?! Harim is absolutely off-limits!!”
His firm refusal made me let out a long sigh.
“Poor Harim.”
―”Mama?”
“What’s so poor about him?!”
The Duke looked at me suspiciously. I met his gaze, the corners of my mouth lifting mischievously as I replied,
“Duke, think about it. Do you really think little, cute Harim can make it through this harsh world on his own?”
“He’ll make it just fine! I’ll be by his side the whole time!”
―”Mama!”
Harim, do you even know what you’re agreeing to?