Chapter 913

EP.913 [Light Novel Side Story] The Death Dinass of the Created Heaven 2nd Volume Side Story 04

<Incident 7> After the rain, the earth hardens.

“Ugh, this is so annoying.”

Nuri slammed her coffee down on the table in irritation. Across from her, Gaon had her face buried in the table, grinding her teeth.

“Fame was expected to have some impact…”

“Kim Gaon, what are we gonna do? This isn’t our fault!”

“Don’t talk so vulgarly.”

Gaon was at a loss on how to handle this chaotic situation. The weight of responsibility was too much for her small frame, and they barely had any cash.

“With payment deadlines approaching…”

Gaon pulled her hair while staring at numerous rental contracts spread across the table. Five hundred, seven hundred, one thousand – the various deposits added up to nearly tens of millions won.

“Cash… don’t we have any?”

“It’s almost all tied up in real estate. Like… Hero Suits and stuff. Ugh…”

Gaon felt disheartened as she checked the assets organized in Magical Gear. Parents’ medical bills, payments for caregivers, and their basic living expenses…

“Do you have any money from Miss Xian?”

“I got the Hero Suit for free; asking for a salary would be admitting defeat, right? …Besides, whatever I did get went to food already.”

Most of her part-time work earnings as an office assistant during vacation were deposited into the household account.

The settlement money received in February from working at the office was an enormous amount for the newly turned adult, but even that was mostly spent on hospital fees with little left for living expenses.

“The problem is we don’t have immediate cash to pay.”

“We can’t stop them from leaving because it’s too noisy either.”

The sisters sighed simultaneously. Most contracts in the building near the university ended in February, leaving only room 301 still rented.

“What should we do… Shall we jump into the dungeon final battle?”

“What if something happens?”

“When else will we get this kind of money? Some crazy guy threatened to go to our parents’ hospital room demanding his deposit back after you stopped him.”

“…Room 202, right? He needed the money urgently for his younger sibling’s surgery… there wasn’t much we could do.”

When people are desperate, they tend to think short-sightedly. Gaon understood his dire situation and managed to gather some cash to partially return the deposit.

“What about that ten million won? Where’d it come from?”

“I sold my car at a discount.”

“…Is it that bad?”

Nuri’s face lost all color. Every time Gaon returned to Korea, she always took the car out for a spin and drove around New Seoul – it was practically her prized possession, yet she herself had sold it used.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?!”

“You were busy. Coming all the way up to Seoul…”

“But still!”

“…I didn’t want to burden you with such heavy responsibilities. …As your older sister, I should handle this.”

The two remained silent for a moment. As Gaon scribbled numbers on the table, she eventually gathered the contracts neatly and took a deep breath.

“Nuri. It seems we’ll have to resort to our last option.”

“…Last option?”

Nuri’s mouth went dry at Gaon’s serious tone. Gaon bit her lip in shame.

“Let’s… pay them off with our bodies.”

* * *

“So that’s why the two of you came to me together?”

Xian sat in the driver’s seat of an autonomous vehicle, with the two sitting behind him. Gaon sat directly behind Xian, while Nuri sat behind the passenger seat, fastening her seatbelt.

“There’s no one else who can help besides Uncle.”

“I know it’s inconvenient. But still…”

“No, it’s not inconvenient. In fact, it couldn’t have been better timing. Coincidence doesn’t get any better than this.”

Xian switched the car to autonomous mode and picked up the terminal resting on the dashboard with his left hand. Gaon leaned forward slightly toward the driver’s seat.

“I’m sorry, but since I don’t have a car anymore…”

“Why does it matter so much? Isn’t this exactly what money is for? Don’t you think? I’ve got plenty.”

“…Uncle, it must be nice to be rich.”

Nuri rested her head against the window, muttering under her breath. Gaon immediately turned her head upon hearing Nuri’s words, but Nuri herself had already clamped her hands over her mouth in shock at what she’d just said.

“…”

Xian silently tapped away at the terminal with his thumb. Seeing Xian remain silent and focused on the device, Nuri sat up and leaned forward toward the driver’s seat.

“Ah, Uncle? That’s not what I meant-”

“Hmm? What did you say?”

Xian turned to Nuri with a blank expression. He was scrolling through photos saved on the terminal, causing Nuri’s face to turn bright red when she saw the risqué lingerie photos of faceless D-cup models.

“Y-you…!”

While someone was losing sleep over money problems, another was casually enjoying gravure images. Nuri glared fiercely and yelled loudly.

“UNCLE!!!”

SQUEAL!

Startled, Xian slammed on the brakes. Thanks to the AI assessing the surrounding road conditions, the car smoothly turned the wheel and gently parked by the side of the road.

“Did you see that?! Oh, hey! There are reasons for everything-”

“While someone is going crazy with stress, the other is chilling out looking at those scandalous pictures!!”

Nuri unbuckled her belt and roughly opened the door. She stormed out onto the sidewalk and began running, with Gaon chasing after her before being stopped by Xian.

“Kim Gaon.”

“…Yes, Master <Alchemist>.”

“Explain the situation.”

After explaining everything, Gaon hung her head like a sinner, and Xian looked at her with confusion.

“Why didn’t you say anything sooner?”

“Well, I tried handling it within my limits…”

“I might understand, but Nuri is your younger sister. Aren’t you family?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Tears dripped from Gaon’s skirt. Xian scratched his head and tapped on the terminal to call Ha Yujun.

“Yes, Master. It’s about the guild house issue.”

“…?”

“…Sorry, but we’ll have to cancel that deal. I found another building… Would you come take a look?”

Xian called in an expert.

* * *

“How am I supposed to know how to transfer ownership when I’m not even a licensed real estate agent?”

“How could it possibly not work?”

Xian stood in front of the building <Gaon Nori> with Ha Yujun. Gaon, having stopped crying, realized Xian’s intentions and refused strongly.

“Please, there’s no need to use this building as the guild house just for our situation.”

“What’s going on here?”

Ha Yujun questioned Xian with a serious expression.

He had gone through great lengths searching for guild houses, only for Xian to suddenly suggest using the dormitory he had secured. Though feeling uneasy, Ha Yujun understood the situation when he noticed the moistness around Gaon’s eyes.

“…Well, I guess there’s nothing we can do. I’ll cover things well for the young lady.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Ha Yujun.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. Dealing with superiors is part of a salaryman’s daily life. It’s fine, just let me curse a bit.”

Ha Yujun squatted down, making eye contact with Gaon and smiled. Gaon blushed and turned away, while Xian, satisfied with the growing closeness between the two team members who rarely interacted, called the others.

“Ra-on, somehow or another…”

[I’m fine with it. I’ll guard.]

“Yuinah, somehow or another…”

[Then I’ll take Room 302.]

“…Is the concept of a guild house different in Korea?”

Xian tilted his head in confusion while calling the next teammate. The phone rang twice before a white-haired woman appeared on the terminal.

[…What is it, you pervert who leaves women behind to ogle big-breasted pictures.]

“Misunderstanding. …But how did you know about that?”

[Oh, it’s obvious. This is why blonde harem men-]

“Did you happen to talk to Nuri?”

Seok Harang fell silent. Xian quickly summarized the situation before more misunderstandings arose.

[Nuri was wrong. You were wrong too. Why were you looking at those things when she’s struggling?]

“…It was an accidental call. I didn’t mean to look intentionally.”

Before further misunderstandings occurred, Xian cut off the topic and asked Seok Harang.

“If you see Nuri, please tell her. I’ll be waiting at home, so she shouldn’t misunderstand and should meet to talk.”

[Ah, actually…]

Seok Harang gave a troubled smile.

[Nuri said she was heading home five minutes ago after we ended our call-]

“…Why are you guys here?”

Behind Xian stood Nuri, holding a can of beer, glaring at the three of them with a grumpy expression.

“…Walking is faster than driving, huh.”

[Nuri. First, go inside and talk to this weirdo. Your sister and you owe him an apology.]

“…If it’s what Sister says.”

Nuri accepted the mediation from the terminal and followed the group upstairs to the fourth floor.

“Doesn’t feel like my role as the older sister has been taken away?”

“At least there’s no difference, so let’s just fight evenly-”

Ha Yujun scanned Gaon up and down and narrowly avoided a low kick.

* * *

“…Uncle, I’m really sorry!”

Nuri knelt down apologizing. Although it felt burdensome to Xian, he decided to clarify things once and for all, sitting cross-legged and meeting Nuri’s gaze.

“Nuri, you were embarrassed to ask for money, weren’t you?”

“Yeah.”

Nuri answered sincerely. In her own room, without Gaon present, the two were drinking a can of truth serum each, opening up to each other.

“And you were upset because Gaon didn’t consult you.”

“…Yeah.”

“That’s why when you came to ask me for an early salary, and I was… looking at those pictures, you got angry.”

“…You seemed too relaxed, so my anger just exploded.”

Xian gently held Nuri’s hand resting on his knee with one hand. Warmth flowed through their touch, and Nuri’s vision blurred at Xian’s warmth.

“Feeling sad and getting angry is normal. It’s not your fault, Nuri. The ones who made you angry are Gaon and me.”

“…I also misunderstood and got mad unnecessarily.”

“One can misunderstand, get angry, and make mistakes in speech too.”

Nuri flinched. Feeling a sinking sensation in her chest, she unconsciously tried to pull her hand away from Xian’s grasp, but Xian firmly held onto the hand of Nuri, who possessed special abilities.

“That’s why we’re talking now. If we misunderstand each other, we resolve it through conversation. If something makes us angry, we speak up. And if we make a mistake, we apologize.”

“…Sorry.”

Plop. A large tear dropped from Nuri’s eyes. Xian recalled Gaon’s crying face from earlier and thought, no matter how often siblings fight, they’re still siblings.

“Eh, um. So now-”

“Hug me.”

“Huh?”

Xian blinked. Nuri continued to cry quietly, bowing her head while urging Xian.

“I might start crying like a wimp if I stay like this… Please calm me down…”

“…Huff.”

Xian released her hand and moved closer to Nuri, patting her back. Nuri wrapped her arms around Xian, leaning into his embrace.

“…There, there.”

Xian adjusted his posture to support Nuri, offering his chest as a place for her to cry. As his shirt became increasingly damp, Nuri’s trembling body gradually calmed down.

“…Uncle, guess what?”

Nuri whispered softly from Xian’s embrace.

“Since meeting you… every day has become enjoyable.”

Nuri lifted her head to meet Xian’s eyes. Her usual mischievous demeanor was gone, replaced by a radiant smile with tears glistening in her eyes, resembling a blooming spring flower.

“So listen carefully. Even if other guilds invite me, I won’t go. I’m going to spend my whole life here. You messed up my planned retirement, so… you have to take responsibility, right?”

“…What are you saying-”

“Didn’t realize until now? I caused trouble that day while drunk. Hahaha.”

Nuri cheerfully wrapped her arms around Xian’s neck and leaned in close. The strong scent of alcohol wafted from her breath.

“Since I drank today… How about we cause some trouble together?”

SMACK!

“Ow!”

Nuri fell backward after receiving a smack on the head. Xian frowned and shook his hand at Nuri.

“Family doesn’t act like this.”

“Whaaat, family?!”

“Lee Yuna, Park Ra-on, and Kim Nuri… At least these three are family to me right now.”

Xian blushed as he cleared his throat. Nuri stared at him with her mouth agape. He was clearly embarrassed.

“Lee Yuna, Park Ra-on, and Kim Nuri… At least these three are more than family to me-”

“AHAHAHAHAHAHA! Family, saying family! AHAHAHAHA!”

Nuri clutched her stomach and burst into laughter. Xian awkwardly took a sip from his can of beer.

“Family, family… Uhhaha! So, family, right?”

Nuri sprang to her feet. Xian’s head tilted slightly upward as Nuri pointed down at him and declared,

“Great! Since we’re family, I can ask for anything, right? Right?!”

“Sure. Ask anything.”

“Hahaha. Didn’t know Uncle thought of us this way. …Ah.”

Nuri snapped her fingers and abruptly knelt down in front of Xian. Her sparkling eyes twinkled as she grinned. Xian felt both relief and unease at the sight. Nuri clasped her hands together like praying, slightly twisting them, and tilted her head the opposite way as she whispered softly.

“Could you give me some allowance?”

“…Haa, joking about allowance in this situation-”

“…Won’t you, Brother?”

“…….”

Xian froze.

“Ahhh! Guess Brother isn’t possible! Let’s stick with Uncle!”

“Hey, Nuri. Try calling me again? Brother. No, Brother. It’s a guild master’s order.”

“What kind of order is that! Get down on your knees! Then I’ll call you!”

“…Let’s maintain some dignity, shall we, Brother Xian?”