Chapter 880

EP.880 [Light Novel Side Story] The Death Dinass of the Sky and Heaven Volume 1 Chapter 27

New Seoul General Hospital.

Nuri’s expression was impossibly complicated as she watched her parents lying in a special room arranged by the Hero Association.

If anyone was at fault, it was them. Not long after Nuri said she needed time to think about guild matters on graduation day, her parents fell under May’s spell. Though they couldn’t have imagined it was a monster’s trick, the result remained the same.

“…”

Gaon stood beside her, head bowed like a guilty criminal. It was Gaon who had ignored Nuri’s warnings, and if only Xian had trusted Nuri, their parents might’ve already become monsters’ pawns.

Even though Gaon had managed to destroy one monster, the guilt weighed heavily on her heart.

“I’m leaving the guild.”

Gaon finally spoke, and Nuri slowly turned her head.

“How can I even dream of being a Round Table Hero when I didn’t know my own parents were in danger, let alone protect them? I just want to be by their side.”

“But you’re in Esquire Guild, right? Once you leave, you can’t go back.”

“What choice do we have? One of us needs to take care of them.”

Gaon smiled with resignation. While there might come a time to call for help, due to her guilt, Gaon wanted to personally nurse her parents back to health. Nuri quietly observed her before responding.

“Alright.”

“…”

Gaon tightly shut her eyes. This decisive statement from her usually superior younger sister, who would’ve normally argued “Are you crazy?” felt completely alien. As if discussing someone else entirely, Nuri’s voice was eerily calm.

“Sis must’ve thought this through. The Association said they’d cover hospital expenses for a year, so we’ll be fine for now.”

“…I’ve saved some money too.”

“Please. We all know internships at Esquire Guild pay next to nothing.”

They both sighed deeply at the same time. Despite having awakened special abilities, often called the modern lottery, the family always struggled financially. Mostly due to their parents’ reckless investments and repeated failures, the debt now rested squarely on the shoulders of the two sisters.

“Nuri.”

At the end of the corridor, Raon approached with a bandaged arm. After Xian recklessly drove to protect the couple, Raon had collided with a wall and needed a cast while the swelling went down. Nuri greeted her with concern.

“What happened?!”

“I apologize. The medical staff couldn’t find any other solution.”

With the couple in a coma-like state, the doctors reached conclusions beyond modern medicine.

“It’s like…their spirits left their bodies.”

“They basically said that. Cause unknown.”

Nuri turned away with self-deprecating humor. The shadows of nosy people lurking beyond the barriers irritated her. Thankfully, no insane individuals tried to recruit or interview Nuri in the quiet hallway reserved for the special ward. Taking a deep breath in the peaceful area where only medical staff passed by, Nuri spoke up.

“Don’t worry. I’ll figure out how to make money.”

“…How?”

Gaon looked up. Her always superior and talented younger sister seemed close to breaking as she cried. Clenching her fists, Nuri pointed at Raon.

“I’ll join a guild with this sis. That uncle’s guild.”

“What? …Xian?”

“Uncle? …Yeah. That uncle’s guild. He promised he’d help me make hundreds of billions. So…”

Nuri pounded her chest twice with confidence.

“Just trust me, sis. When I reach SS Rank and defeat dungeons and villains, I’ll properly deal with the monsters behind this.”

“…Alright.”

Gaon accepted Nuri’s words calmly.

“I thought you’d tell me to join another guild.”

“…Do you even know who that person really is?”

“That uncle’s just an uncle. Though he does seem to hide his true identity…”

Nuri raised an eyebrow as she continued.

“Considering how Oracle stuck around Yuna sis guarding the hospital, I kinda have an idea.”

At Nuri’s confident statement, Gaon scanned the surroundings and turned pale as she stood up.

“Nuri, we absolutely cannot say-”

“Oracle isn’t here.”

Nuri wiggled her pinky finger. Raon’s face turned red, and Gaon froze in disbelief at this failed joke. Feeling embarrassed by the unexpected reaction, Nuri blushed and cleared her throat.

“I was just joking because the mood was too heavy. Let’s cheer up, okay? Right? Come on, do you really think that uncle has something going on with Oracle? …Why does Raon sis look so happy?”

“Ahh, it’s nothing. Hmm.”

“Haha…You’re something else…”

With the mood lightened by Nuri’s joke, Gaon’s eyes regained some of their former spark. Nuri grinned widely, forcing herself to smile.

“That’s the spirit. Smile. We need to be ready to greet mom and dad with smiles whenever they wake up.”

“Right. Don’t worry about money. I still have some savings.”

“Got it. Still, don’t overdo it. Even though I’m only C Rank now…”

Nuri nodded confidently while looking at her parents’ bed.

“I’ll definitely reach SS Rank in that uncle’s guild and ensure our family never worries about money again. Don’t worry, I’m this guild’s ace.”

* * *

<11:00 AM, Xian's Office>

-And with that resolve…

Nuri’s plans began to unravel from the start.

“So now the guild master is Yuna sis? Are you messing with me, uncle?”

“…This is unacceptable.”

Nuri felt inexplicably wronged. Raon found it equally hard to understand. Xian drank coffee with his right hand while firmly holding Yuna’s hand with his left. Both Raon and Nuri found this gesture particularly irritating.

“Wait a minute. Just hear me out.”

Xian waved his right hand defensively.

“I’m not joking around. Because of the <May> incident, it’s practically impossible for foreigners to establish guilds anymore. Our original plan was basically unfeasible anyway.”

“That’s true, but still…”

Raon stopped mid-sentence as she glanced at Yuna. Yuna caught the gaze and quickly defended herself.

“It’s just a name. The actual guild master will obviously be him.”

“<May>‘s actions aren’t that different. Having Yuna front as the guild master is actually best. Officially, we’ll all gather under Yuna. Formally speaking. Besides, it’ll be much easier to handle things later.”

“Later?”

Xian showed the other two Yuna’s test results after getting her permission.

“Allow me to introduce our goddess.”

“Please stop doing that…”

Faced with overwhelmingly inhuman numbers, Raon and Nuri were speechless.

“Yuna, what exactly are you?”

“Hero Academy dropout, 21-year-old Yuinah. Our guild’s sole deity and goddess. Just think of it that way. I don’t even know how she possesses these talents.”

“Yes. Thinking of it that way is probably best.”

Raon gave up trying to think rationally.

“Cheating. No way, this is ridiculous. All stats maxed out? And that speed affinity of 101? Isn’t this test rigged?”

“Don’t believe me? Want to retest yourself?”

“Give me the tester. If sis can do this, I should definitely have dark affinity of 1000-”

BZZT. Nuri’s test results appeared, showing no difference. Staring at her dark affinity compatibility rate of 94, Nuri couldn’t comprehend why it felt so pitiful. With a trembling voice, she asked Yuna.

“Sis, be honest. Is this your second life?”

“If it were, would I have wasted a whole year?”

“That’s true…Ah! Why! There’s stuff like that! I knelt to gain momentum!”

Interrupting Nuri’s dramatic reaction, Raon raised her hand to stop her.

“Nuri, let’s revise that to ‘one step back for two steps forward.'”

“…Ugh! This is so unfair!”

Nuri fidgeted on the couch, throwing a tantrum. Raon sent her a lukewarm glance of sympathy before excusing herself to the others.

“She was boasting about being this guild’s ace before coming here.”

“Sis!”

Embarrassed by Raon’s revelation, Nuri’s face turned beet red. Yuna avoided eye contact with Nuri’s jealousy, while Xian tried to calm her down with forced encouragement.

“Hey, um. Nuri. There are maybe 100 S Rank dark affinity users worldwide? Only ten SS Ranks. You’re among the world’s top potential-”

“Am I supposed to act high and mighty in front of someone who’s one in six billion?”

Yuna became even more flustered at Nuri’s straightforward critique, and Raon strongly empathized with her words without stopping her.

“Like moths trying to act wise in front of a firefly.”

“…I’m losing my mind.”

Clenching her hair with both hands, Nuri glared at Xian.

“Uncle, what’s your deal? First me, now Yuna sis. How do you keep awakening everyone you meet?”

“It’s not like that. Just say I have a good eye for talent. It’s one of my few skills.”

Xian pointed to his eyes.

“Why do sports coaches have such talk about seeing talent, right? Same with me. Just specialized in ‘special ability users.’ Of course, it’s all based on instinct. Without these precise data, I wouldn’t make hasty judgments.”

Xian gestured to the tester on the table.

“So I have a request for Kim Nuri, whom I discovered. Would you consider joining my guild?”

“Yuna sis’s guild, right?”

“Of course.”

After sighing deeply towards the ceiling, Nuri soon nodded.

“Alright. But you have to deliver on the promise to help me make money. You’re fully responsible.”

“Of course…Still, you’re accepting pretty coolly? I appreciate it, but…”

“Isn’t it obvious? You gave me a second chance in life.”

Nuri sipped her coffee to moisten her throat.

“Without you, I might’ve fallen into ruin this year. Could’ve ended up in complete chaos before regular retesting.”

“Nuri, that’s-”

“Just talking.”

After pausing briefly, Nuri continued.

“Of course, it hurts that mom and dad ended up like this because of that. But that’s not something you need to feel guilty about. You did try to help them, right? If you really feel bad, do this.”

Nuri sat up straight and met Xian’s gaze directly.

“Help me, Kim Nuri, awaken as an SS Rank dealer. Make me earn tons of money. …Possible?”

“…Of course it’s possible. Welcome to our guild.”

Xian extended his left hand, and Nuri reciprocated with hers for a handshake. Yuna clapped to welcome Nuri’s addition. Raon tilted her head while fiddling with her cast.

“But will a guild with Nuri as an initial member pass the review?”

“That’s not a problem. As long as the procedural requirements are met, it was just a matter of time.”

Yuna pointed at herself and continued.

“I had to join by February due to timing issues, but now I’ve made my decision. I’m dropping out of the academy and becoming the guild master of Xian’s guild. Get expelled if you must.”

“Wow, this sis is serious…”

Nuri was speechless. Though she had decided to go all-in relying on her S Rank potential, Yuna was even more reckless. Raon nodded in understanding before asking.

“I see. With that level of determination, I understand. Please take care of me, Guild Master Yuinah.”

“…Thank you. So now all we need to do is register the guild, right?”

“Nope. There are still many issues.”

Raon shook her head while counting with her fingers.

“I’m fine since I meet the conditions, and Nuri can get away with asserting her choice. But are you really putting Xian and Yuna out front? That could cause bigger problems than Nuri.”

“No. Yuna’s our joker card. She just awakened, so she still has a long way to grow. Everyone keep it a secret. That’s why we need one more member…”

“In that case, it’s settled. There’s one more unemployed special ability user.”

Nuri tapped her magical gear.

“It’s just a name, right? Let’s borrow sis’s name.”

“…Kim Gaon’s in Esquire Guild. Even if-”

“Gaon’s quitting to nurse mom and dad. Now I have to support sis too. Uncle, can you take responsibility for her too? Oh, do I need her permission now?”

“……I’m fine with it.”

Contrasting with all of Xian’s previous deliberation, the situation was resolved remarkably simply.

Guild Master Yuinah.

Prospective members Park Raon, Kim Nuri, Kim Gaon.

And the scout, financier, benefactor, office renter, and coffee runner Xian.

They had satisfied one of the minimum requirements for guild registration.

All that remained was dungeon clearance performance. With Kim Gaon joining, that wasn’t expected to be a major issue.

With the personnel problem resolved, they were essentially down to official guild registration. Xian muttered to himself.

“So what should we name our new guild?”

The passionate discussion involving the guild master, two guild members, and the jack-of-all-trades commenced.