Chapter 83 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Bokbok Interior's New Employee (3)
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Jang Chaewon wore an utterly baffled expression. An awakener who always trailed after the Heavenly Demon, picking up monster byproducts, was a member of the Illusion Shock Clan?
"Ah, thanks to you, I've been able to get monster meat without any hassle."
Go Eunjin, who had been gazing at the Heavenly Demon, flashed white teeth that contrasted sharply with her tanned skin.
"I don't really like beating up monsters, you know."
She turned her gaze back to Jang Chaewon, rubbing her nose as she spoke.
"Following around this human lets me gather plenty of materials without lifting a finger. Pretty sweet deal."
"I-is that so?"
Jang Chaewon managed a weak smile.
When the Heavenly Demon got serious, he'd clear out every monster in a dungeon until it reset, so it made sense.
"But why go out of your way to work at our shop...?"
Go Eunjin scratched her nose again at Jang Chaewon's question.
"The divine realm bans us yokai from entering dungeons, right? Sure, we sneak in anyway..."
She glanced cautiously at the Heavenly Demon before continuing.
"I heard that employees of the territory get awakener registrations just like humans do from the divine realm."
"Ah, actually... the Heavenly Demon isn't registered."
Jang Chaewon said with an awkward expression.
"Our shop has all sorts of circumstances. There's a secret passage to the dungeons right here in the store, and the Heavenly Demon isn't even from this human world..."
"I get what you mean."
"Ah, of course, since you're a high-grade yokai, Miss Eunjin, we could apply for you if you want. But..."
Jang Chaewon frowned dubiously.
"It's a shame, but entering dungeons for personal gain isn't allowed. Even for territory employees."
"I'm not after artifacts. I just want to gather dungeon ingredients openly—and as much as possible. That's fine, isn't it?"
She was right. The divine realm wasn't that strict; it didn't outright ban territory employees from picking up things like food ingredients in dungeons.
"You don't need to work at our shop specifically to get ingredients... Anyway, we're an interior design firm specializing in home repairs."
"Doesn't matter to me. I've never had ties to the territory before. I just want to work for the one handling commissions from the Earth Gods."
'Her speech keeps flipping back and forth?'
She'd switch from clipped, military-style talk to casual speech. First it was about dungeon ingredients, now she suddenly wants to work for the territory no matter what.
Noticing Jang Chaewon's suspicious look, Go Eunjin stiffened and said.
"Actually, both. I'm researching dungeon ingredients to open a dungeon cuisine restaurant. That's my goal."
"A dungeon cuisine restaurant...?"
"Yeah, that's my dream."
"Dream..."
Dream. It was a word that could beautify a sewer-like reality, a pillar propping up a bleak heart.
And that word was deeply cherished in a corner of Jang Chaewon's heart, where she gathered divine grace.
"Of course, I want to properly learn interior work too."
Determined to get the job somehow, Go Eunjin pointed to the food stall and added.
"I built this cart myself. I'm pretty handy—can whip up anything in a snap."
"Hmm."
Something still felt off. A young high-grade yokai running a food stall, suddenly wanting to work at an interior shop.
Kim Chanwon, sensing Jang Chaewon's hesitation, muttered lowly.
"The Illusion Shock Clan has strong pride. She won't harm the shop."
Jang Chaewon trusted Kim Chanwon's judgment more than any other yokai while running Bokbok Interior. If he said so, there was no reason to hesitate.
"Um, I do have one question."
"Ask away!"
Jang Chaewon stared intently at Go Eunjin's rigid face before cautiously opening her mouth.
"Your speech pattern is unique. Were you in the military by any chance?"
"Does it show that much?"
Go Eunjin scratched the back of her head and replied.
"I worked as a mercenary for a PMC—private military company—for a long time and just returned home recently."
"A mercenary? Like, fighting in conflict zones?"
"Ah, no, that's MPS—military supply company stuff. I mostly did VIP protection."
Go Eunjin looked down at the knife strapped to her thigh, her eyes dimming.
"It's all the same kind of work, really."
"Yeah..."
She wasn't sure of the details, but it sounded like some kind of bodyguard gig.
'Something's a bit weird... but she doesn't seem like a bad person.'
Her erratic speech was annoying, but her posture and attitude were upright and polite.
A high-grade yokai who was handy to boot—perfect employee material. And with Kim Chanwon's recommendation too.
Jang Chaewon smiled brightly and extended her hand.
"Alright. Let's work together then."
"Really? Thank you!"
"I'm the thankful one. Our shop... we have a ton of work. Not just interiors—gathering dungeon materials, divine requests, you name it."
"Just what I wanted."
Go Eunjin smiled, and Jang Chaewon pulled out a business card.
"Then come to the shop tomorrow..."
But suddenly, the Heavenly Demon cut in.
"No. This one's no good. Useless."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"She just picks up scraps from what I kill and sells them. Not up to snuff for the main shop."
"What did you say?"
Go Eunjin widened her gray eyes.
"Didn't you hear earlier? I don't like killing monsters."
"Probably because you can't."
"Don't make up stories. Who do you think you are?"
"Don't talk down to me."
"You don't talk down to me. I'm older too, you know?"
"How old?"
Go Eunjin coughed awkwardly after a pause.
"Ahem, yokai years... twenty-two."
"I'm over forty."
"Didn't hear that?"
"Shopkeeper, this yokai's speech is seriously weird."
The Heavenly Demon, oblivious that his own speech was plenty odd, scowled.
"And no manners. Just a thug."
At his words, Go Eunjin shot back irritably.
"Ah, yes. I should use honorifics. You've got the seniority. And I'm all about Confucian values, after all."
She sneered mockingly, then whipped her head away and muttered.
"A human judging my age..."
"A human judging?"
This time, Blood Flame Radiance shot from the Heavenly Demon's eyes.
"Daring to spout such nonsense before me."
"What do you know? You look like a mountain goblin."
"Arrogant yokai. Types like you only cry after seeing blood."
As the Heavenly Demon cracked his knuckles, silver light gleamed from Go Eunjin's eyes too.
"Tears?"
The haughty, fearless nature of the Illusion Shock Clan revealed itself.
"You think catching a few monsters makes you something...?"
A misty aura flowed from her body.
The air was thick with tension, ready to explode at the slightest provocation.
"W-wait!"
Jang Chaewon jumped in front of the Heavenly Demon.
"You two gonna fight right now? We're all on the same team!"
"Hmph. Just teaching a pup to fear the tiger... What was that? Same team?"
The Heavenly Demon scowled as Jang Chaewon nodded vigorously.
"Didn't you hear? I just hired Eunjin as an employee."
"Didn't you hear me? She's worthless. Not fit for our shop's staff."
"What are you saying? The Illusion Shock Clan has power on par with Sir Kim. And if she can cook underfed monsters, she's got plenty of dungeon experience."
Jang Chaewon smiled and handed Go Eunjin the business card.
"If you're okay with it, come to the shop tomorrow. We can discuss pay and hours then. Oh, part-time's fine if you're busy."
"That'd be perfect. I was thinking of running the stall whenever I get good ingredients..."
"Shopkeeper!"
The Heavenly Demon interrupted again, and Jang Chaewon whipped around.
"A few days ago, the dungeon management team put out a request for Gkok Gkok Bugi eggs. Know what those are?"
Gkok Gkok Bugi eggs. Round eggs carried by the dungeon boss monster of the B-rank dungeon Star Candy.
With short limbs like a baby bear and a turtle shell on its back, the Gkok Gkok Bugi had a surprisingly cute appearance for a monster.
But its danger level was near 10,000, and it crushed its egg the moment it sensed an awakener.
Even veteran awakeners rarely obtained an intact egg.
"Nameless knows."
The Heavenly Demon wore an obvious expression.
Jang Chaewon shook her head at his shamelessness, and Go Eunjin piped up.
"Ah, I've heard of them. The ones in Star Candy dungeon, right?"
"Don't butt in, gray-eyes."
"Not talking to you, muscle monster."
Go Eunjin glared right back, refusing to yield. No matter what the Heavenly Demon said, she seemed dead set on working at Bokbok Interior.
"Eunjin's right. I was gonna turn down that request. Scant info, impossible solo. But with one more staff member..."
Before Jang Chaewon finished, the Heavenly Demon thumped his chest.
"Don't worry. Like always, I can handle it alone."
"Bull. I can do it solo too."
"Hmph. You'd just trail someone and beg scraps again."
Provoked, Go Eunjin said coldly.
"Wanna bet?"
"Bet?"
"Ears full of wax? Let's see who gets a Gkok Gkok Bugi egg faster."
"Heh heh heh heh."
To the lonely gambler Heavenly Demon, a bet wasn't about fair competition. It was a chance to crush the opponent's pride and claim the stakes as spoils.
"Sounds fun."
Go Eunjin grinned as his eyes flashed.
"Good. I'll stake this food cart. What're you putting up?"
"Anything."
"Eh, you look broke anyway. All you've got is fragile pride."
Stroking her chin, Go Eunjin smirked widely.
"Fine. If I win, call me 'senior.' I'm the dungeon senior, after all. Deal?"
"Heh heh heh. Ha ha ha ha!"
Enraged by her impudence, the Heavenly Demon unleashed Blood Demon Thunderous Roar. The stall shook like thunder had struck beside it.
"Gutsy."
"You in?"
"Of course."
The Heavenly Demon chuckled lowly, eyeing the stall interior.
"I'll have myself a mobile tavern."
"You'll get a creepy junior out of nowhere."
A flame-backed demon king and a gray wolf exhaling white mist sneered at each other.
"Hold on. No bets. Dungeons aren't for ego trips."
Jang Chaewon stepped in, but the Heavenly Demon waved her off.
"Don't worry. Just testing skill."
"You the boss?"
"Senior's responsibility."
Jang Chaewon glared at them both firmly.
"Fine, here's the deal."
"What?"
"Heavenly Demon, want more dungeon material requests? Go with Eunjin and get those eggs."
"Refuse."
"Then no more material requests. Cover Lamas maintenance yourself."
The Heavenly Demon had no comeback. The Lamas guzzled more upkeep than a luxury car.
He could afford that decades-old classic only because of the extra dungeon material gigs.
"Same for you, Eunjin."
Jang Chaewon turned to her.
"Can't work with Heavenly Demon? No job here."
"Do we have to team up? We can handle tasks separately."
"Even if not this one, future jobs might need teamwork. Can't always go solo."
Go Eunjin pondered, then locked eyes with the Heavenly Demon's blazing gaze.
-Refuse. Refuse.
His charcoal-hot eyes screamed it.
Staring into that fiery stare, Go Eunjin grinned and nodded.
"Yes, got it!"
The next day, Bokbok Interior's backyard, secret dungeon passage. A woman in jeans and a leather jacket stood before the pitch-black tunnel.
An icebox on her back, a helmet-style old nano helmet on her head.
High-grade yokai and Illusion Shock Clan member Go Eunjin.
Opposite her stood a muscled man with a round nano on his shoulder, clad in Light Demon Blood Battle Robe: the Heavenly Demon.
Jang Chaewon eyed the glaring pair and spoke slowly.
"Team up properly and bring back intact Gkok Gkok Bugi eggs. Got it?"
"Trust only me. I'll bring perfect ones."
"Don't worry. I'll deliver the best possible."
They answered in unison, then traded "blessings" while glaring.
"Gray-eyes. Get in my way, and you're dead."
"Pull any dirty tricks, and I'll report you to the divine realm. Muscle-mon."
They'd already coined affectionate nicknames.
"Absolutely no fighting! Attack each other, and it won't end well. Clear?"
Her stern tone made them nod obediently.
"Don't worry. She's not worth my time."
"Of course. We Illusion Shock Clan don't attack ugly, dumb humans."
'Haah.'
Jang Chaewon drooped her head wearily.
"Can't you two just get along?"
The Heavenly Demon shot Go Eunjin an annoyed look.
"The shopkeeper's condition was to get the eggs with gray-eyes. Nothing more."
Go Eunjin sneered contemptuously at him.
"As the boss said, I'll cooperate with muscle-mon for work. But no need to be buddies off-duty, right?
They'd only accepted Jang Chaewon's terms, still glaring like enemies.
"Ah, fine. Won't say more. But..."
As Jang Chaewon sighed at the ground, shoulders slumped, the two had already slipped into the passage.
"...at least drop the weird nicknames."
Her low mutter dissolved into the air.
* * *
Safe Dungeon, 8km point, B-rank dungeon, Star Candy.
Named for the star candy-shaped stones embedded in walls and floors.
Purrr, splat.
The Heavenly Demon followed Nameless's guide wires, deploying his movement art, Night Moon Extreme Speed.
He leaped skyward with each step, then landed gracefully like a folding great peng as the entrance came into view.
Whoosh.
At the same time, Go Eunjin, cloaked in faint mist slicing through the air, reached the entrance.
"Nice weather."
Arriving late, Go Eunjin feigned nonchalance, gazing at the sky to salve her pride.
"Days like this make me wanna take a leisurely stroll."
"Hmph."
Snorting, the Heavenly Demon entered and said.
"No need for you to go in. Just watch from here."
"What?"
"The shopkeeper wants monster eggs, right? You're useless anyway. Wait here."
"Crazy? Cut the crap."
As Go Eunjin coldly brushed past into the dungeon, the Heavenly Demon crossed his arms and halted.
"Then go first."
"Didn't hear right?"
"You've just been scavenging my kills. Without me, you won't breach the entrance, let alone the core."
He looked down at her with contempt. Instantly, cloudy mist poured from her gray eyes.
"Wait right here. I'll grab the egg quick."
"Let's see."
Go Eunjin glared murderously at the sneering Heavenly Demon, then kicked off. Her body dissolved into mist and vanished into the entrance.
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