Chapter: Crime Must Be Considered with Circumstance

Hyeonak Guild had officially begun its new recruit hiring phase.

One by one, applicants who had passed the document screening began arriving at the guild headquarters for interviews.

‘Not here today either.’

These days, Guru often snuck into the hallway to check if Chuen had shown up—only to leave disappointed again.

‘Chuuw Unni’s really not coming?’

Guru sulked and shook her head. Maybe she was too shy to apply with so many people around.

Then again, if it was Chuen, she might just get in without going through any formal process—like Serhi.

There were people who insisted on following proper procedure just to annoy the Guildmastuh, after all.

Guru narrowed her eyes and stared at the man laughing heartily.

Kazuki was signing Gidan’s back like it was a jersey, looking thoroughly amused by the whole situation.

Behind Gidan, a whole line of guild members had formed, all asking for autographs.

‘......He’s givin’ out autogwaphs?’

Like... he’s a celebrity Hunter?

Guru’s eyes turned triangular. She was not loving this situation.

“Hunter Amakusa! Once ownership of the weapons transfers, will we be able to see them here at Hyeonak?”

That’s probably it. The S+-Rank Amakusa Series.

“Whoa, Gidan’s got guts, just askin’ straight out.”

“Honestly, I was curious too!”

“Me too!”

“Same here.”

With all the eager comments flying around, Kazuki let out a big, bright laugh.

“The Amakusa Series is still technically owned by the Japanese government, right?”

“Yeah, that’s true, but... I’ll be bringing them to Hyeonak now.”

“Ooooh—!”

“Waaaah!”

Cheers and exclamations of awe erupted from all directions.

Watching everyone celebrate together, Guru clenched her tiny fist and trembled.

Her heart was once again turning black. The cause? Jealousy—boiling, bubbling, sizzling jealousy!

‘He didn’t cling to Gwuu wike dat!’

Sure, his S+ Series was way ahead of Guru’s prototype in grade and use case... but still!

As a fellow crafter, it hurt.

‘Should Gwuu go out as Jjapso?’

But what if no one paid attention even then?

Then her desperately attention-starved heart would be torn into pieces.

Just as Guru was quietly burning with jealousy, showing only half her face—

A few guild members spotted her.

“Guru, why are you hiding there? Come on over.”

“Our Guru’s wearing such a cute outfit today.”

“Oh, it’s Gru-Gru~”

They called out to her like trying to coax a wary wild animal, shaking snacks from their pockets.

Guru managed to hold in the wide grin that was about to stretch across her face.

Should she go out? She wavered—

Then Kazuki suddenly stepped forward and scooped her up.

“Guru-chan, how’s Sabbuu today?”

Kazuki had styled his hair and covered all his tattoos for the interview. He looked particularly dashing today—

But Guru stuck out her lips in a pout.

“Meh......”

“Why?!”

“Jus’ ‘cuz......”

“What’s wrong? Something happen? You got dat duck mouf again.”

Gidan came over and grinned as he asked.

“No, nuffin’.”

Instead of honestly admitting that she was feeling petty about the difference in treatment between two S-Rank crafters, Guru pulled a hidden acorn from her pocket and handed it to Kazuki.

“Sabbuu, dis.”

“Ah......”

Kazuki took the acorn, but for some reason, his smile turned a little bitter.

“...It’s already grown, huh.”

“Wum?”

Guru tilted her head at the somber tone, but then Kazuki smiled again as if nothing happened.

“Thanks, Guru-chan.”

He whispered the words softly, then kissed her cheek and quickly stashed the acorn into his inventory.

“Sabbuu not gonna use da acown?”

“Mmh, I will—later.”

Later when?

She wanted to ask but couldn’t bring herself to. His expression was a little too dark for that.

Suddenly, Guru remembered Kazuki’s [Caregiver Quest].

[Caregiver Quest]

[Caregiver ‘Amakusa Kazuki’ is hesitating and unable to make a decision. Let’s help your caregiver with some filial piety!]

“Huuuung...?”

***

As more people crowded around, Guru wriggled free from Kazuki’s arms and made her way to Serhi’s office.

Serhi, reviewing some files, looked up as Guru scurried in.

For once, he thought, she came in dressed normally.

But that lasted only a moment—Guru pulled out her magic wand and twirled it around like she was doing a dance. Chara-lan! went the sound.

“Miwwacuw Change! Twans-fowm!”

A glow enveloped Guru, and with a pop, a Delmadeunbear appeared where she had stood.

It was a prototype of the transforming toy they were planning to release.

“Oh.”

Serhi actually looked a bit intrigued.

“That the new transformation toy everyone’s been talking about?”

—It is. Not very good for combat, but it’s optimized for kids who wanna twansfowm!

She explained that it could store two outfits, switch between them using the wand, and since transformation was the only feature, it didn’t consume much mana.

“Yeah, that’ll sell.”

Even grown-ups wouldn’t be able to resist that one.

—Heu-heung!

Guru strutted over proudly and leaned an elbow on his desk, offering slyly—

—Serhi-yo, ya got anyfing ya wanna ask an S-Rank cwaftew?

Watching the bear’s wiggling eyebrows, Serhi answered flatly:

“Nothing.”

DENG—!

—Think hard. Gwuu might make ya somefin' amazin'... no, supew amazin'?

“Already thought hard. Still nothing.”

Another instant answer.

Guru, appalled, raised her eyebrow all the way to the top of her head.

—Magic depawtment need no buff weapons or anyfing?

“Nah, don’t really need it.”

—Why? Why not?

“I’m still the junior in my squad. I don’t really do anything.”

Shhhk shhhk.

Was that why Serhi hadn’t shown any interest in Sabbuu either?

Still making shhhk noises of frustration, Guru transformed again with a chara-lan! sound. Serhi gave a small chuckle.

She then plopped down right beside his chair and started grumbling into the armrest.

“Why no one evew says, ‘Gwuu, pwease make dis’ ow ‘Gwuu, pwease make dat’?”

“Well, that’s because...”

Instead of saying, Your dad gives everyone death glares, Serhi casually replied—

“You’re F-Rank.”

If she ran off to complain to the Guildmastuh, he’d just get yelled at too.

“But—Jjapso’s not.”

“And Dani Oppa knows, and he doesn’t say nuffin’. But he dumb. He even got Sabbuu’s autograph. Samesies! Both S-Rank!”

“You just realized? He really is dumb.”

Apparently Serhi had some grievances with Gidan too.

“He’s a total psycho. He’s got like five hundred shirts at home signed by baseball players. If you touch them, he goes batshi—I mean, he freaks out.”

He didn’t even wear them—just preserved them like some cult relics. Serhi made a face.

“He’s even got the Guildmastuh’s autograph at home.”

Guru’s jaw dropped. Dad’s autograph? At Dani Oppa’s house?!

“But, but—why he not ask Gwuu?”

“Ask what?”

“Fow an autogwaph!”

“Oh... yeah, no. Definitely not.”

Serhi turned back to his documents.

Sshhhk...

Was it because Guru still wasn’t great enough?

“Gwuu wants to be famous wike Sabbuu too!”

“You little ball of ambition. Grow up more.”

“How much?”

“As big as me?”

If she had to grow as big as Serhi, that’d take twelve more years.

“Hmph.”

Guru pouted and peeked at the file on his desk.

From the title, it looked like he was still helping his brother Jin Siwon with investigation work.

She read the large title at the top of the page:

[Unregistered S-Rank Instance Dungeon Unauthorized Raid Case Summary]

‘Huh?’

[Discovery Location: Yustitia International School]

‘Huhh?’

[Given the dungeon’s grade, the suspect is likely not a single individual but an organization......]

‘HUHHH?!’

Guru’s eyes widened as she snuggled close to Serhi and read the case file.

The content was exactly what the title said—a dungeon that had appeared at Yustitia International School was raided without permission by a “brazen suspect (likely multiple people),” and the investigation was ongoing to identify them.

Guru placed both hands over her chest.

An S-Rank dungeon that showed up at Yustitia...

Wasn’t that the same slime dungeon she had been stabbing with a fork?

“Oppa, what dis mean? Why it bad to beat da dungeon?”

“When bad guys clear dungeons without permission, they might use the loot or EXP for bad things. That’s why dungeons are strictly regulated.”

Cold sweat ran down Guru’s back.

‘Gwuu’s in big twouble.’

She clutched her tiny, shrinking heart.

‘Gwuu’s a cwiminaw again?!’