ETVC C20

Chapter 20

The atmosphere instantly grew cold. Even Meow, who had been quietly sitting on my lap, bristled his fur and hissed at Kang Gwonhoo. Everyone except Kang Gwonhoo was gripped by the fear that someone might be trapped in this house.

“It’s a joke, so please laugh.”

He spoke leisurely despite the tense mood. The joke was so plausible that no laughter came. I just hoped there wasn’t anyone imprisoned or a corpse inside this house.

‘But on second thought, there’s no way he’d commit such things in his own home. Unless someone else is cunningly manipulating things.’

Quickly regaining my composure, I steered the conversation back to the original topic.

“So, you’re all joining the event, right? Why did Jun agree without telling me? It could be dangerous.”

“I want to help you, hyung!”

“Thanks.”

Kim Jun was surprisingly gentle for his age. Compared to other boys his age who cursed constantly and were rowdy, he was almost miraculous.

“By the way, what’s our guild’s objective in this event?”

Like a studious student, Ryu Jisoo raised her hand and asked.

“The goal is just to survive. To endure well without being absorbed or defeated.”

At the scoff, I narrowed my eyes and looked at its source: Kang Gwonhoo.

“Having such a small presence is both cute and funny.”

I wanted to tell him not all villains lived like scary villains like him.

‘You need insignificant villains like Baek Woojin to make the game enjoyable. If there were only guys like you, it’d be an unbalanced trash game no one would play.’

I defended Baek Woojin earnestly, but the words felt hollow if spoken aloud.

“So, you plan not to absorb guilds but only to retaliate against and defeat the guilds that attack us?”

“Yes. I don’t intend to grow the guild much.”

Adding one or two guild members would be okay, but he didn’t like expanding the guild too much. Absorbing other guilds could lead to uncontrollable chaos, which would be even worse.

“That’s a really good idea, hyung.”

Kim Jun’s unquestioning agreement lowered his credibility. It didn’t seem he flattered, but he nodded unconditionally to those he liked.

“Since we’re not famous, I guess not many guilds will try to mess with us?”

Ryu Jisoo offered a hopeful comment.

“I don’t know. But by tomorrow, we might be somewhat famous?”

Though shameless to others, Kang Gwonhoo was right. They looked at us as if to ask why.

“Because I’m here.”

Kang Gwonhoo had no shame.

“I think Jisoo-ssi noticed; this guy’s a pretty famous hunter. I hope you both can at least protect yourselves. Until we’re somewhat safe, I want us to stay together during guild war hours. After 6 PM, attacking other guild members is forbidden, so can you stay from morning until evening for a while?”

There weren’t many people who would invade even the mighty Kang Gwonhoo’s house; if they did, he wouldn’t just let it slide.

“If you want, do that. Woojin-ssi, you can even sleep over.”

He casually added as if recalling the others nearby.

“There’s only one guest room, so the rest leave as soon as you’re done.”

There was no way a house this big had only one guest room, so it was blatant discrimination. Fortunately, Ryu Jisoo and Kim Jun didn’t mind much.

“Then we’ve secured a refuge, and first, I think the two need to learn to control their skills. Is there a big enough space for training?”

“We have a training room.”

Kang Gwonhoo led us to the basement training room. It was a vast space with white walls everywhere; staying too long here would probably drive someone mad.

“Everything’s made of sturdy material, so don’t worry about it collapsing.”

He kindly explained.

“Have you two tried using your skills?”

“Hyung, actually, I know how to use my skill somewhat.”

Kim Jun whispered as if revealing a secret. It had been several days since his skill manifested. If it wasn’t a tricky skill like Jisoo’s, he could probably learn quickly.

“The first skill I manifested is poison. I can infect others with poison through a liquid my body emits.”

Kim Jun’s skill seemed heavily influenced by Levin. Although scientific evidence is lacking, such connections between skill manifestation and environment sometimes occurred.

Kang Gwonhoo’s eyes briefly sharpened at Kim Jun’s words but then softened.

‘I don’t know Jun’s skill level, but poison skills are quite versatile, so he might be interested.’

Especially fitting for someone who liked scheming behind others’ backs.

“Don’t share your skill info with others.”

“I’m telling you because you’re hyung.”

It would have been better to talk only where I could hear it. The villain standing behind overheard anyway, so it was already too late.

“Is Jun your younger brother?”

Ryu Jisoo, who had been silent, suddenly asked.

“No. I met him recently.”

It wasn’t a very funny reply, but he laughed out loud anyway. It was a bright, carefree laugh I hadn’t heard even in the game.

“Woojin-ssi has a real knack for making people on their side.”

‘I hope that knack makes Baek Soohyuk turn to my side too.’

Embarrassed by the compliment, I rubbed my hair with my fingers.

“Sorry for being late with thanks. Thanks to the potion, my younger brother fully recovered.”

Ryu Jisoo’s honest eyes looked at me. They resembled Baek Soohyuk’s but contained something different.

“I want to get stronger if it helps you, Woojin-ssi.”

Ryu Jisoo was someone who pursued the right path. Unlike me, who lived passively and barely grasped what was in front, she was strong.

“Jisoo-ssi, I heard this from someone with a similar skill. If you try to use strength sparingly or control it with that mindset, you’ll never fully master it.”

Even though the topic shifted drastically, he focused on my words.

“You need to verify how far you can use that power, breaking it into stages. After finding the maximum, you gradually learn to control the power exerted.”

This was an explanation I learned in the game from a giant clan possessing the “Descendant of Giants” skill. Finding a giant to properly learn from would be ideal, but for now, all I could do was give advice.

“I see. So you couldn’t control your strength until now.”

Ryu Jisoo’s behavior showed a fear of her own power. Avoiding contact with others or touching things only with fingertips, like a giant afraid of hurting a child. Once she properly passed this phase, that wouldn’t be necessary.

“In that case, it might be better if only Jisoo-ssi stays here.”

If she would use her strength recklessly, it’d be better for both to stay apart. We returned to the first floor and stood awkwardly for a moment.

“So, what should we do?”

The huge house was so clean it didn’t seem to need cleaning.

“It’s good to know what kind of poison you can use and how far you can detoxify.”

Kang Gwonhoo, unusually, gave helpful information to Kim Jun. I watched carefully, wondering if he was trying to secretly lure him into his own guild.

“Go in there and study alone.”

Defying suspicion, Kang Gwonhoo handed Kim Jun a pencil and paper and put him in an empty room. Kim Jun obediently entered and didn’t come out to the living room, appearing to study quietly. So in the end, only Kang Gwonhoo and I remained.

“Sit comfortably. I can lend you the bedroom if you want.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Before the word “bedroom” left his mouth, I quickly sat on the sofa. Kang Gwonhoo sat beside me unlike before.

“Now that I’ve cleared this quest, I already have questions.”

I realized Kang Gwonhoo confined Kim Jun so he and I could talk alone. I was amazed by his thoroughness.

“Did you get this quest because you’re participating in the guild war?”