TRHSOS 29

Chapter 29

Want a latte before you go?

“Shit!”

As soon as I shouted the code, the familiar scenery of the hot spring appeared in an instant.

“Elder!”

I was about to rush up to the pharmacy to return the elder’s glasses when someone grabbed my collar.

“Becka?”

Looking down, I saw Becka holding onto me with her soft, white, bread-like hands.

“Why are you only here now? I’ve been waiting for a long time.”

Waiting for me?

Looking into Becka’s eyes, which shone so brightly it felt like they could spill stars at any moment, I naturally crouched down to meet her gaze.

“Becka, when did you know I would come and wait for me? Do you have something you want to say to me?”

Becka puckered her lips like a little duck, as if curious.

“You promised.”

A promise? Had I promised to spend time with Becka?

The only promise I could recall with Becka was that I’d invite her to the hot spring when I came out of the 46th floor.

“That’s right. We made a promise! But… what was the promise I made with our Becka again?”

Pretending to remember, I subtly asked what the promise was. Becka’s expression grew even gloomier.

“You don’t remember?”

“No, I remember making a promise… I’m just asking to see if our Becka remembers the promise she made with me.”

Caught off guard, I scrambled to cover up my confusion with a string of excuses.

Fortunately, innocent Becka seemed to believe me without suspicion.

“You promised to love me. Deeply.”

…Wait, had I promised to love Becka deeply?

I went over the memories carefully.

Right! When I had turned the balcony to dust, I had said that if she helped cover it up, I would love her deeply.

So many things had happened in such a short time that I had completely forgotten.

It was a careless remark made in a hurry, but Becka had taken it to heart and waited for me.

This adorable little creature!

“Our Becka, you were upset I came late, weren’t you? Come here! I’ll love you deeply, just like I promised!”

I scooped Becka into my arms and repeatedly kissed her plump cheeks.

[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Luck?’ says, “Even now, still a sly little rascal.”]

[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Luck?’ touches his forehead, saying, “I almost mistook myself for a little rascal too.”]

‘If Becka isn’t a little rascal, then what? And sly… what’s that supposed to mean?’

I met Becka’s eyes, bright and clear, as she looked back at me.

Cuddled quietly in my arms, she looked exactly like a baby rabbit.

‘She really does look like a completely innocent little child.’

[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Luck?’ asks, “Do you know how much fear that child inspires in humans?”]

[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Luck?’ says, “Everyone climbing the tower sees that child as a wicked being and wishes she didn’t exist.”]

‘Luck, have you even met Becka?’

[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Luck?’ shakes his head.]

‘Don’t talk about Becka carelessly if you’ve never properly spoken to her. I don’t care what others think. I only trust the Becka I’ve seen with my own eyes.’

[Constellation ‘Do You Believe in Luck?’ grumbles, “Weird one,” but continues to watch me.]

I thought he would leave angrily as usual, but he didn’t.

I wondered if I had been too harsh, but I knew better than anyone that judging someone based on others’ words is wrong, so I chose not to apologize.

Back when I was the only one in a family that only produced S-rank hunters who hadn’t awakened, I was in a situation similar to Becka’s now.

‘If you’re the only one in that family who can’t awaken, isn’t that a curse?’

‘Maybe there’s something lacking. Poor thing.’

‘Looks decent, but somehow doesn’t live up to it?’

Unlike my family or others who made wild guesses without knowing me, young me had to live being treated as an unlucky child just because I was “normal.”

That’s why I had to hide my origin.

“Thanks to you, I was able to get through this without revealing my identity, Becka.”

I expressed my gratitude, hoping she wouldn’t get hurt.

Even though Dungeon Break was SS-rank and caused some trouble, Becka had probably only been trying to help me.

Becka quietly fiddled with the cheek I had kissed.

She seemed embarrassed about the kiss.

Cute! A shy baby rabbit!

Seeing Becka like this made the day’s fatigue melt away.

Is this what they mean when adults say seeing their children makes them feel full even without eating?

I unconsciously smiled warmly.

“Oh, right. I need to return something to the Elder now. See you again, Becka.”

Remembering I had to give back the glasses, I put Becka down, and she quietly nodded.

“Even though it’s borrowed, I should probably clean it first, right?”

I hurriedly rubbed the glasses with my jacket as I entered the pharmacy.

After Suwon disappeared into the pharmacy, Becka’s shadow cast beside the stairs gradually grew until she appeared as an adult.

Her appearance was very different from before: short black hair with curls, broader frame, sharper features, charming rose-red eyes, and bright red lips curved into a satisfied smile.

“Becka!”

At that moment, a black mist appeared beside Becka, and a small black dragon with bat wings emerged.

“Hunter rookies have come to the 46th floor. Though it may be troublesome, Becka, please personally show them how powerless they are!”

The black dragon, reporting the tower’s situation, flashed its golden eyes and laughed wickedly.

A black mirror floated in front of Becka, showing the guild ‘Writing’ at the entrance of the 46th floor, including Siwoo and Jiho.

Becka’s gaze turned to Siwoo and Jiho.

‘I’ve seen those faces at Suwon’s house before. Did they say they were family?’

“This might be a good opportunity.”

“Indeed! These clueless fools must be made to regret their arrogance…!”

The black dragon snorted loudly at Becka’s words.

“Quiet.”

Noticing Becka’s cold gaze, the black dragon closed its mouth and lowered its tail.

When Becka turned from the stairs, both she and the black dragon disappeared like smoke.

“Elder, are you there? I came to return the borrowed item.”

At my call, the medicine jar transformed into a person.

“Did you borrow something from me?”

The Elder approached, his light gray robes fluttering.

“I didn’t borrow it directly, it’s… here.”

Hesitantly, I handed over the gold-rimmed glasses.

“Were my glasses here? No wonder I couldn’t find them for a while.”

The Elder took the glasses.

“Sorry for using them without permission.”

“If it helped you, that’s enough. I have a rough idea of who took my item.”

The Elder furrowed his brow as if he already knew the culprit was Sharenian.

“Surely it’s that reckless one who acts without thinking.”

Muttering quietly to himself, the Elder’s gaze naturally returned to the pharmacy entrance.

“They say the tiger comes if you talk about it… but you, young man, are no gentleman.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Sharenian peeked in from the hallway.

“Huh? Master, you’re here today?”

How did he appear as if he’d been waiting?

The Elder’s intuition was stronger than I thought, and Sharenian really seemed clueless.

“While you’re here, why don’t you make me a drink?”

Ignoring the Elder entirely, Sharenian boldly approached me.

“Is that all you have to say after seeing me? Don’t you have any ethics?”

No wonder it felt precarious.

As always, the Elder’s fan struck Sharenian on the head.

“Ah! Why’d you hit me? Elder, are you crazy?”

Covering his head with both hands, Sharenian shouted.

“Crazy? This guy stole my item, should have been begging for forgiveness, and still speaks rudely?”

“Ah…”

Spotting the Elder’s glasses belatedly, Sharenian seemed guilty and trailed off.

“Sorry about that, Elder…”

For once, Sharenian humbly apologized to the Elder.

“So now, forgive him graciously…”

But his politeness lasted only a few seconds.

“What?! I decide whether to forgive! Not you!”

The Elder’s anger flared to the top of his head, and Sharenian could not escape the punishment.

“Touch my things again, and it won’t end this mildly!”

“All right, all right, Elder…”

Scratching his ear with his pinky, Sharenian ignored the warning and turned back to me.

“So… can you make me a drink?”

Had he already forgotten the beating? Sharenian looked at me expectantly.

“You know, I’m really tired after coming back from the dungeon.”

I was about to tell him the hot spring shop was closed today.

[!!Warning!! Work Negligence]

[You have neglected the ‘Make Hot Spring Mugwort Latte’ quest for a long time, and are at risk of being evaluated as failing to fulfill the Hot Spring Owner’s duties.]

[Quest ‘Make Hot Spring Mugwort Latte’ has new conditions.]

[!!Make Hot Spring Mugwort Latte!!]

[Make and serve a hot spring mugwort latte (0/1)]

[Reward: 1,000,000 gold / Additional reward: ???]

[!!Warning!! Penalty applies if failed due to negligence.]

[Penalty: Full refund of hot spring usage fee if failed]

“Well, that makes sense. Then I guess I have no choice.”

I grabbed Sharenian’s arm with authority as he tried to leave, spun him around, and pressed him against the wall so he couldn’t escape.

“Want a latte before you go?”