Chapter 858

EP.858 [Light Novel Side Story] Chronicles of the Death Dinastia Vol.1 Ch.5

“KYAAAH! So this is real booze! Uncle, you’re the best! Ugh, they say you gotta learn drinking from adults, and it’s true!”

The maiden sat on the swing, tipping back a can of beer. Xian sighed deeply, pressing his own beer can to his forehead.

“How did it come to this…”

“What’s wrong? I showed you my ID! Look, see? New Seoul Resident Permit.”

The girl pulled out her wallet and showed him her blue ID card, holograms of the government and New Seoul crests shimmering on it. Clearly visible was the birthdate ‘060102’. The girl named Kim Nori tucked her ID back into her pocket with a tut.

“This is why you shouldn’t speak carelessly. Huh? What’s that? Uncle, say that again!”

“…If you’re an adult, I’ll buy you drinks for life.”

“AHAHAHA!!!”

Nori laughed, shaking her whole body. She really was an adult, having just turned 19 on January 2nd. Xian cooled his burning throat with refreshing alcohol.

“Promise is promise, but go home soon. Your parents will worry.”

“I don’t have parents.”

“…Sorry.”

“They’re off raiding somewhere, so they’re not home! Hehehe!”

Xian almost crushed his beer can in anger. Nori had clearly relaxed around him now, teasing him openly.

“Just now you looked like a thug, but now you’re like a beggar who sleeps under flowers. Why are you homeless in New Seoul, uncle?”

“I came to make money.”

Which wasn’t a lie. Xian sipped his beer, calming himself down. Losing his temper to a kid barely older than 20 would be beneath him as an adult. Nori blinked up at him.

“Money? You need money, uncle?”

“No. I’m trying to start a ‘guild’ here in Korea.”

PUFFFFT! Nori sprayed beer all over the ground, foam dripping onto her tracksuit. Xian frowned but handed her his handkerchief anyway.

Wiping her mouth, Nori asked:

“Uncle, aren’t you a foreigner? Can you even start a guild?”

“It’s possible. It’s registered officially…though the process is complicated.”

That’s why he’d been looking for an office first, but things had gone downhill from the start. Xian briefly explained the situation, and Nori gave him a sympathetic look.

“Why didn’t you just stay in America? Why come here to suffer when everyone’s leaving?”

“That’s what I thought too.”

Xian bitterly smiled while chugging his beer. A cold wind swept through the park, making them both shiver violently.

“Ugh, it’s freezing.”

“Here.”

Xian handed over his hand warmer. After staring at it intensely for a moment, Nori grabbed it with trembling hands, their fingers brushing briefly. Xian let out a small gasp at how cold her fingertips were.

“You’re an unawakened one, huh?”

“…Can’t you tell? I’m shaking from the cold right now, ACHOO! …Yeah. I can’t even circulate the magic power in my body, so I get cold easily. Dang.”

“Not really. I’m in a similar situation.”

Xian hunched over. Looking at him, Nori felt natural sympathy arise – he really looked like someone who could end up sleeping in parks.

“Uncle, weren’t you saying you’re looking for a place to live?”

“Yeah. I should probably find a sublet first.”

“Do you have money?”

“I already said, Yu-Sung paid me a breach of contract fee.”

“Got it? Hehehe.”

Time was approaching midnight. Having finished her remaining beer, Nori tossed the can into the trash and stood up from the swing.

“In that case, come to my place. I’ll let you sleep there.”

“…What?”

Xian was genuinely surprised.

* * *

<January 4th, 12:10 AM, Multi-unit Apartment 'Gaon Nori', New Seoul>

[Hello, I’m Seo Hyang, Nuri’s mom. So you’re looking for a place to stay in New Seoul, right?]

Looking at the middle-aged woman on screen, Xian swallowed hard. Just as Nuri had said, she was wearing a combat suit stained with monster remains, likely fresh from a raid. Nuri quickly nodded beside him and started explaining.

“He rang the doorbell late at night. He plans to stay for a few years on business.”

“…?!”

Caught off guard by this sudden change in story, Xian was quite startled. Nuri pinched his thigh under the table and grinned sheepishly.

“It’s late, sorry. But I can’t just sign a lease without checking, right? Room 301 just happens to be empty.”

[This girl… Are you serious?! Does she have any sense?! If this foreigner had bad intentions, you could’ve died! Understand?! Even if times are tough, you shouldn’t bring people in to sign leases right away! Hmm… Sorry about that.]

“No, I understand.”

Xian nodded and patted Nuri’s hand reassuringly before immediately operating the screen to send some proof of identity to Seo Hyang. As she received the data and opened a popup window on her magical gear, Xian cleared his throat and introduced himself.

“Hem hem. Team Leader Si-an.w.Hibiscus of Oracle Studio’s overseas sales team. Sorry for the late visit.”

“Your name is Si-an and your last name is Hibiscus…? Why is your surname like that?”

[Oracle? The studio of the former Round Table hero? That Hollywood movie production company? …Oh my, wait a moment please.]

Xian nodded. On the other side of the screen, Seo Hyang was carefully examining the digital business card that had materialized before her eyes. While Nuri looked on in disbelief, Seo Hyang changed her expression and called out gently.

[Daughter, please bring out some drinks and fruit.]

“What? Mom, there’s nothing in the fridge except kimchi-”

[Then go buy some!]

As Seo Hyang shouted, Nuri jumped in surprise. Xian subtly adjusted the screen to point at the beverage gift set he’d brought as a present below the screen. While Nuri quietly poured drinks into cups in the kitchen, Seo Hyang cleared her throat.

[Hem hem, sorry about that. These days, the world’s so unstable, so I got suspicious.]

“No problem. These days, with monsters around, caution is necessary… I heard from Miss Kim Nori that room 301 is currently vacant-”

[Yes! Very… yes. Hem hem. It was supposed to be full, but one student moved out. We’ve gotten a few inquiries about it…]

As Seo Hyang paused dramatically, Xian inwardly sighed in relief but maintained an appearance of urgency and discomfort.

“Um, has the lease already been signed?”

[No, we’re still recruiting tenants. Ideally, we’d like someone reliable whose rent won’t be delayed…]

“Would it be alright if I signed the lease?”

[Of course! …Hmm… Ah, I can’t handle this. Seriously. My husband usually handles these things, but he’s temporarily ‘busy’ with…]

Seo Hyang glanced towards the kitchen. Nuri was struggling to pour drinks from glass bottles into cups quietly. Xian noticed the monster residue on Seo Hyang’s combat suit and opened a virtual keyboard under the table.

[If your husband finds it difficult to speak, please nod twice.]

Seo Hyang’s eyes widened in shock before her expression hardened and she nodded twice. Xian glanced at Nuri bringing the tray of juice then smiled faintly in response.

“There’s no need to wake the person resting. I need a place to unpack my luggage since it’s late. If room 301 is available, may I move in immediately?”

[But, haven’t you seen the room yet?]

“It suits me perfectly. Somehow, I feel like I might miss this opportunity if I let it slip.”

[…Carefully review the contract and contact us later. By text message. Nuri, prepare to open 301 for them, we’ll talk again in the morning.]

Click. The screen went dark as Seo Hyang ended the call. Nuri let out a sigh of relief while Xian carefully reviewed the contract sent by Seo Hyang.

Fully furnished. 1 year lease. Deposit 2000/ Monthly rent 70. Maintenance fee 10. 8 pyeong.

“…”

It was the fair market price. As Xan scratched his head and lowered the contract slightly, his eyes were caught by a phrase he’d never seen among all the rooms he’d searched for.

Lease purchase option. 200 million won.

“…”

Xian quickly checked his account. Coincidentally, the breach of contract fee he’d received from the building owner after his office was seized was exactly 200 million won. With a serious expression, Xian accepted the drink Nuri offered and chuckled.

“Truly, fate can be strange.”

Ding ding ding!! As soon as he sent the text message, a call came in from Seo Hyang. The ringtone sounded unusually urgent.

[Let’s do the contract! Let’s sign it!]

January 4th, 2025. The historical day when Xian established his base in Korea.

* * *

<2:00 AM, Room 301, Gaon Nori>

“Better than a hotel… Yeah, it’s fine.”

Thinking this to himself, Xian pressed his weight onto the somewhat dull mattress. It seemed true that the previous tenant had only just moved out – the room wasn’t heavily dusted, making it easy to clean.

‘I should return this blanket later.’

Xian sighed, lying down on the chick-patterned quilt. Though the consideration was appreciated, Nuri’s taste left much to be desired.

‘Just giving me a plain thin blanket would’ve been better.’

Ideally, a solid color. While thinking this, Xian placed his suitcase on the desk and manipulated the lock. The bottom slide opened, revealing a hidden compartment.

‘Threw it in too hastily to remove it.’

Click. Opening the rear cover of the gun, Xian pulled out the empty bullet casing drained of magic power. The pale green bullet made the corners of his mouth twitch downward.

“To remake this, I’d need to rebuild the ‘workshop’ as well.”

With a deep sigh, Xian inserted the empty bullet into its slot, leaving the empty barrel as is, closed the cover, slid it back in, and lay down on the bed.

‘I wonder if that young lady is alright.’

Xian suddenly remembered the female student he’d protected. Technically, he’d knocked her out with gunfire, but he’d decided to blame it on the monster bird as payment for saving her life.

‘She’s alive, so it’s fine. I need to get up early, so I’ll sleep now.’

Xian quietly closed his eyes.

“…Mom! It’s not like that! What? Fell in love? Give me a break!”

…The soundproofing seems a bit lacking. Xian took out his old earphones from his coat and used them as earplugs to finally drift off to sleep.

In the morning, he needed to start searching for an office.

* * *

<January 4th, 10:00 AM, Parking Lot of

“…So why are you following me this morning?”

“Because I got caught drinking yesterday thanks to you, so now you owe me breakfast.”

Nuri stuck out her lips petulantly. Frowning, Xian turned his back and walked out of the parking lot. Nuri followed, chattering non-stop behind him.

“Do you know how much mom grilled me? How did you meet, do you know who they are, do you have any common sense…”

“Sounds like you told it exactly as it happened. Good job. No need for lies between family members.”

“…I didn’t mention the guild thing. What’s up with Oracle Studio? Mom really believes it’s real, right? If it’s fake, uncle, the issue isn’t the room but potential legal action against the studio. Don’t mess with copyright law.”

“It’s real.”

While walking, Xian pulled a paper business card from his wallet. Nuri scanned it suspiciously onto her magical gear wrist device.

“I’ll scan this and report it.”

[Scanning magical signature… Database search… Scan complete. Hero <Oracle>.]

“……? Fake.”

“If you’re going to scan it and then act surprised, what’s the point?”

Xian reached to take back the business card. Instinctively, Nuri shoved it into her pocket. Xian half-closed his eyes.

“I only have five of those. Give it back.”

“But it’s an artifact imbued with the magic of the former Round Table member! Uncle, give me one more.”

“The name’s engraved on it, so selling it would be useless.”

“…I wasn’t going to sell it anyway. Uncle, don’t you have any unnamed ones?”

Nuri held out the business card to Xian. It bore the title and name he’d introduced himself with to Seo Hyang, embossed in gold foil.

“Of course not. These are genuine business cards meant for use.”

“Tch. Anyway, uncle, if you’re not starting a studio but a guild instead, then it’s useless, right?”

“That’s true. That’s why I’m going to check out an office now.”

Xian stopped and pointed at the two-story building ahead. On the first floor was a cafe that looked like it might close anytime soon, and on the second floor was an empty office space with large ‘For Lease’ signs. Nuri tilted her head.

“Wasn’t there a cafe here before?”

“Don’t say that in front of the owner. Turns out she’s surprisingly sensitive.”

Xian forcefully pushed open the cafe door, catching the attention of Huan sitting on a sofa watching TV.

“Oh, Xian. Are you here for conversation again?”

“No, I came to ask something.”

A brief look of disappointment crossed Huan’s face. Nuri elbowed Xian and pointed at the menu.

“Uncle, buy me that. I haven’t eaten breakfast yet.”

“……Did you deliberately pick the most expensive item? What’s with a frappe in winter?”

“But I like frappes! …Wait, thinking about it makes me mad. Can’t you afford to support future talent for Korea?! Annoying! Then keep your promise and buy me drinks!”

“Young man?”

Before Huan could call the police, Xian quickly explained the situation.

Nuri was the daughter of his landlord, had lost a bet, and had become a walking wallet. Showing her ID, Huan whistled.

“Easterners really look younger than their age. I thought she was maybe a middle schooler.”

“Hehe, thank you, sir.”

“Not a compliment… Anyway, sir, I have something to ask.”

Xian pointed at the ceiling.

“I’d like to use the office upstairs. Do you happen to know the building owner’s contact information?”

“……Why?”

Huan’s guarded expression was obvious.

Xian pulled out his business card to explain but ended up detailing his actual plan instead. While Nuri happily received her frappe, Huan stroked his beard and nodded at Xian’s explanation of wanting to use it as a hunter’s guild.

“Then feel free to use it. Wasn’t getting much use out of it anyway.”

“…What?”

“I said you can use it.”

Huan grinned meaningfully, pointing up and down with his finger.

“This building belongs to me.”

Barista Huan was actually the landlord.