Chapter 907

EP.907 [Light Novel Side Story] The Death Dinass of the Sky 2 Volume 024

– Ah, but even though I join that guild, I can’t leave Busan right away. No matter what, we need at least one Hero to protect six million citizens.

“Feels like I’ve been scammed.”

Seon Harang’s parting words echoed in Xian’s mind as he gritted his teeth. After accepting membership and getting the stamp, Seon Harang suddenly changed attitude and hastily fled to Busan.

“Shouldn’t think of him as a Busan-exclusive cheat.”

“He has to come down to Busan to be useful anyway. Tch.”

Xian muttered while scanning nearby dungeons around Busan. Fortunately, there were many dungeons around the outskirts of Busan, and Xian pondered how to milk Seon Harang for all he was worth.

“Still, seems like I need to cultivate another S-Rank.”

“That easy, huh?”

Raon commented with a defeated expression, pointing out the impracticality of Xian’s dream. Finding Yuna and Nuri had been pure luck, and even the interviews Raon conducted under the pretense of bodyguard duty only managed to uncover Ha Yujun.

“Speaking of which, how’s Yujun doing? Anyone heard any reason why he disappeared?”

“The guy closest to him doesn’t know—how should we?”

Ha Yujun had vanished after sending a text saying, “Got some urgent business today.” He occasionally replied to messages but never explained why he couldn’t show up.

“We’ll ask later. Anyway, if we’re gonna use Seon Harang freely, we need to train someone with Special Abilities who can stay in Busan…”

Though there were a few potential S-Ranks like Nuri, they were already being cultivated by other guilds. If Oracle Studio wanted to cultivate their own, they’d need fresh faces.

“Auntie, I’ve got an idea.”

Nuri raised her hand with an idea. Xian, initially uninterested, perked up when Nuri presented a surprisingly decent plan, and they rented a small space with the association’s help.

– That was something we shouldn’t have done…

The next day’s Xian shouted at today’s Xian during lunch, but the message didn’t reach back.

At least in that moment, everything seemed like it would work out fine.

* * *

<2:00 PM, Hero Association New Seoul Headquarters 1st Floor Small Conference Room>

☆ Studio Staff Recruitment Ongoing ☆

Nuri’s suggestion wasn’t anything special.

Yuinah, Park Ra-on, Kim Nori, Ha Yujun.

Add Kim Gaon and Seon Harang, who are only usable under specific conditions, and even Yuna had to outwardly claim to be an E-Rank healer.

With just four members, they could handle D-Rank dungeons while building experience and growing, but higher ranks required more manpower.

Especially since Xian lost his right arm and had to seal his ‘Thunder’ finishing move, a new face was urgently needed to fill the power gap.

“Let’s just hold interviews like when we recruited Brother Yujun.”

“It might not be bad to recruit dungeon-enterable individuals. Like how aspiring actors become managers, those supporting Nuri could eventually become new cultivation targets.”

Nuri’s suggestion was supported by Raon, and Xian visualized the squad while recognizing the necessity of expanding their forces and recruiting new talent.

“Then let’s lower our standards and recruit.”

Thus, Xian’s team rented a small conference room from the association and posted a recruitment notice for studio staff.

Unlike online job postings, this was practically direct on-site recruitment. Yuna borrowed a whiteboard and wrote large letters to stick on the wall.

“Yuna’s unexpectedly bad at this kind of thing.”

“It’s about efficiency. If we wanted to decorate, we definitely could, but that’s not the point, right?”

“That’s true. Still, seeing a new side of Yuna is nice.”

“Compliments won’t change anything.”

Yuna muttered while fidgeting with her fingers under the table. Raon looked away entirely, while Nuri fiddled with Magical Gear to pass the time.

“No one’s coming.”

“Let’s quit before dinner?”

The team nodded at Xian’s suggestion. While recruiting new members was important, it wasn’t urgent enough to stress over.

“Do any of you know anyone to recommend?”

Tired of endless waiting, Xian decided to tap into their networks. Yuna, Raon, and Nuri thought hard to suggest candidates.

“I know someone.”

Yuna first floated a picture using Magical Gear. As Xian focused on the photos taken when Yuna was an academy student, Raon tilted her head at the girl Yuna pointed out.

“Foreigner?”

“She dyed her hair and tanned. Kinda unique, right?”

Unique might be an understatement. Blood-red hair with bronze skin was a rare combination in Korea.

“Ah, Sir Xian, this is her.”

“Huh? Who’s she?”

“…That person you mistook for a guy last time in the car.”

Remembering, Xian recalled the academy student who revealed the genuine reactions of students during Seon Harang’s early dismissal order. She was no longer a student but remained friends with Yuna.

“What rank is she now?”

“C… or D? Not sure.”

Yuna scratched her cheek sheepishly.

“Her biggest strength is that her Fire Attribute growth limit is A-Rank.”

“Holy crap. That sister must be at least half-blood. How does a Korean have an A-Rank Fire Attribute growth limit?”

Quiet until then, Nuri gasped at the background and identity of Yuna’s acquaintance.

Considering how many people awakened Water Attribute powers due to the Price Touching Heaven phenomenon, it was strange how Korean ability users generally had low Fire Attribute growth limits.

“Pure Korean. She awakened Water Attribute first, though.”

“…Poor thing. With opposing attributes, her awakening process must’ve been brutal.”

Nuri clicked her tongue sympathetically. Unlike herself, who awakened Water and Dark Attributes that shared similar properties despite being non-affecting, Yuna’s acquaintance possessed great talent in Fire Attribute but unfortunately awakened Water first.

“She tried for a year but couldn’t awaken Fire Attribute.”

“Alright. Let’s contact her sometime.”

Xian noted it on Magical Gear while glancing at Yuna. Potential A-Rank Fire Attribute academy student. Awakened Water Attribute.

“What’s her name?”

“Su Ri.”

“Su Ri?”

“Su. Ri. …It’s her real name, family name Jeong, so just call her Su Ri.”

“……? …Ah, okay.”

Xian marked a star on the note. Ignore family name. Call by first name directly.

“Anyone else?”

“…Besides Su Ri, there’s no one else at the academy.”

“Same here.”

Raon hung her head gloomily.

“My acquaintances are either retired or senior guild members. Either way, they seem unlikely to join us easily.”

“Didn’t you know that ‘Usa’ uncle?”

Fiddling with Magical Gear, Nuri asked. Raon solemnly nodded. Xian stroked his chin while speculating about Raon’s profile and Usa’s relationship.

“Wasn’t that person part of the Celestial Army…?”

“Yes. An old guildmate of mine.”

While reluctantly explaining, Raon seemed hesitant to elaborate.

“Hmm. Is that so?”

Xian casually scrolled through the Hero Wiki without prying further. Even without asking, considering Raon’s actions after her Core broke, he could guess why her relationship with old guildmates soured.

“And you, Nuri?”

“…Uncle, I was still in high school a month ago.”

“Ah, cafeteria duty. Still, maybe you know or can recommend someone?”

“…Sigh, Uncle, you’re teasing me on purpose, aren’t you?”

Nuri grumbled while quickly manipulating Magical Gear.

“Tch, do we even need recommendations? Just wait and see. They’ll come themselves. Watch, I’ll make this place louder than the summer vacation PC café.”

“Will you?”

Xian ignored Nuri’s fiery determination and called Ha Yujun instead.

[What’s up?]

Fortunately, he answered this time. Fresh out of a shower, water dripped from Ha Yujun’s hair.

“Just finished showering?”

[Not really… Uh, yeah.]

Suspiciously evasive, Xian squinted while checking Ha Yujun’s condition. He wore a white gown, and without comment, Xian moved straight to the topic.

“We’re trying to recruit more guild members. Do you know anyone good?”

[Good? Hmm… Does it have to be an ability user?]

“If normal people, they’d likely just help with studio work. If ability users, they might drive or accompany on dungeon runs. If you’re at Brother-level combatants, that’d be ideal.”

[Then how about this person.]

Ha Yujun sent Xian a profile. Recognizing the familiar face but frowning at the affiliation, Xian sighed.

“…Leader of <Megrez> camp near Guro? LP? Seo Ye-seong?”

[He’s much younger than you but a good person. Nice and kind. Oh, LP is his preferred shortened name…]

“Little Prince. You mean <The Little Prince>?”

Yuna interjected. Ha Yujun awkwardly nodded.

[Yeah, it’s an embarrassing nickname to him, but it fits perfectly, doesn’t it?]

“Do you know Seo Ye-seong?”

[…An intern under an acquaintance from U-Sung where I worked. We barely knew each other, but that brother was really saddened when he heard about this kid’s accident.]

“Accident?”

Ha Yujun briefly recounted Seo Ye-seong’s condition. Xian nodded while stroking his jaw.

“Broken Core, making revival difficult, but wishes to work in the hero industry or related fields?”

[He’s been dreaming of becoming a hero for a long time. Got abilities, worked hard, climbed to guild leader under U-Sung. Tough and skilled enough that bringing him over would be beneficial… According to that brother.]

“Understood. Anyone else?”

Xian scraped Seo Ye-seong’s <The Little Prince> profile from the Hero Wiki and selected a few more recommended candidates suggested by Ha Yujun.

“Thank you. We’re probably disbanding here today.”

[I see. I’m busy until tomorrow, but can I come in the day after?]

“…? Sure. No rush since nothing’s urgent.”

Click. After ending the call with Ha Yujun, Xian stretched until Yuna poked his side, making him flinch.

“Ga, what’s wrong?”

“Sir Xian. Outside…”

Yuna’s face had gone pale as she pointed at the window.

Following her finger, Xian turned to see numerous ability users’ eyes gathered outside the glass, peering in curiously.

“What, what is it?”

“Auntie…”

Nuri sniffled with a teary face. Xian immediately associated her demeanor with a child who’d tried something ambitious and caused a big mess.

“Nuri, what did you do?”

“Just posted something on social media…”

Xian instantly accessed Nuri’s SNS while talking with Ha Yujun. During that time, Nuri had been aggressively promoting.

– Anyone want to work with me at this studio?

– Beginners welcome, experienced preferred, ability users encouraged, only those with perseverance allowed

– Looking for someone to join my guild!

– Ah, typo

– Not a guild, just a mistake! Don’t misunderstand, I haven’t planned to join a guild yet

– Not a Guild, I said!

As posts grew more recent, Nuri’s increasingly desperate excuses made Xian smirk as he ruffled her hair.

“Good job, kiddo. Though judging by this, it seems you dug your own grave. Did this cause such a crowd?”

“That’s…”

Nuri squeezed her eyes shut and opened the comment section. Despite posting only minutes ago, hundreds of comments piled up, with one from someone Xian knew well at the top.

– Snow Princess Seon Harang: Is this Sir Xian’s guild? Let’s team up, sis! Nuri promised to work with me, right? Let’s walk the SS path together! 😊

“Sh–”

Xian held his breath. Raon buried her face in her hands in despair.

“Never thought we’d get spoiled…”

“What exactly were we so desperately trying to hide…?”

“Exactly.”

Yuna and Xian exchanged wry smiles filled with self-deprecation.

“Nuri.”

“Uh, yes.”

Xian pointed at the whiteboard hanging on the wall with resignation.

“Let’s start by making number tickets with that, shall we?”