NOVEL NEXT Chapter 83
Chapter 83. Family (3)
Min Yu-ri’s gaze followed the sylph darting back and forth.
The softly glowing green sphere captured her attention.
“It’s my first time seeing a spirit…!”
She was thoroughly fascinated by the sylph.
It had always been something she only heard about through rumors.
Perhaps she could have encountered one in the field at least once.
But given her situation, where she only hunted giant cat monsters in Rank 4 Monster Areas and rejected all promotions, that would not have been possible.
“Do you want to see it up close?”
“Huh?”
“Sylph.”
Zoom—
At Yoo Ji-han’s call, the sylph flew toward him.
Then, when he pointed to Min Yu-ri with his hand, the sylph flew toward her.
“Click?”
Chilla, behind Min Yu-ri, watched the approaching sylph with keen eyes.
Recognizing it wasn’t an enemy, he didn’t block its path.
“Wow….”
Min Yu-ri cautiously raised her hand and stroked the sylph.
The sylph seemed to enjoy it, leaning its body into her hand.
‘So cute.’
The way it rubbed against her palm reminded her more of a puppy than a spirit.
Min Yu-ri smiled softly at the sylph, which showed friendliness even to someone it had just met.
“Then I should probably introduce myself too, right?”
“That would make sense.”
Yoo Ji-han and Kim Si-hu exchanged meaningful glances.
Min Yu-ri looked at the two of them with a puzzled expression.
Then, a moment later…
Swish—
Kim Si-hu took off his hat.
The hat, which had stuck to his head like a part of his body, vanished.
His true identity, not human, was unveiled to Min Yu-ri.
“…Elf?”
“I’m a Half-Elf.”
“Gasp.”
Min Yu-ri genuinely gasped in surprise.
The person who had just called her ‘sister’ was not even human!
“Have more shrimp.”
“Uh, uh….”
Kim Si-hu handed a large fork with a big shrimp stuck on it to the flabbergasted Min Yu-ri.
Taking the fork, she was stunned by his nonchalant demeanor.
But when she saw Kim Si-hu chatting naturally with Yoo Ji-han, she soon regained her composure.
‘What in the world is this guild?’
Min Yu-ri was peeling the shrimp shell with her hands, deep in thought.
A spirit master, completely unknown to the public.
And a Half-Elf, the leader of a guild.
They would easily become the hottest topic if even one of them revealed themselves publicly.
She would now be acting alongside them.
‘… I don’t really have anything to say either.’
A hero who had only hunted giant cat monsters for four years.
A Tamer who refused direct promotion offers from the Hero Department and continued to maintain Rank 4.
Remembering her own situation, Min Yu-ri forced a wry smile.
She was just as unusual a hero as Yoo Ji-han and Kim Si-hu.
She wasn’t in a position to speak down to them.
“Ji-han hyung.”
“Yeah?”
“Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever heard about your family.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. What are your family members like?”
Family…
At Kim Si-hu’s question, Yoo Ji-han fell into thought for a moment.
Then, while flipping the meat on the grill, he said.
“My parents passed away when I was young, so they aren’t here anymore. I have one aunt.”
“Oh… I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
A heavy response came back to a light question.
Kim Si-hu looked a bit deflated.
However, Yoo Ji-han shook his head as if it didn’t matter.
‘I don’t even remember my parents’ faces.’
Yoo Ji-han’s parents had gone missing in an MA when he was too young to remember.
Investigations found various bloodstains at the scene, which precisely matched his mother and father’s DNA.
After that, it was concluded that they had been attacked and killed by a monster.
‘I owe a lot to my aunt.’
At the young age of losing his parents, Yoo Ji-han had been entrusted to his father’s sister.
Though she was married, his aunt had no children and took care of his living expenses until he entered Hero Academy.
Because of her blunt personality, they didn’t often communicate.
Yet, she was the only family member who had helped him significantly during his childhood, so Yoo Ji-han maintained a steady relationship with her.
*
After finishing all their meals, Yoo Ji-han’s party entered their lodgings.
The three had planned to spend the night there.
Sitting on the sofa, Kim Si-hu looked at Min Yu-ri, who sat on the opposite sofa, and said.
“Let’s finalize your contract while we’re at it, Yu-ri noona.”
“Alright.”
He planned to conclude the negotiation with Min Yu-ri right then.
Having passed the National Exam, there was no reason to delay any further.
“Ji-han hyung will also participate in this negotiation as someone who holds shares in the guild. Is that okay?”
“Sure.”
Originally, it would be correct for only Kim Si-hu, the Guild Master, and Min Yu-ri to be present.
However, Yoo Ji-han, holding an impressive 25% share, was far from being an ordinary guild member.
“This is the document that Yang Ji-cheol from the Hero Department prepared for us.”
Kim Si-hu pushed a document forward on the table.
Min Yu-ri accepted it and read it.
“Merger contract?”
“Yeah. It might be a bit lengthy. To summarize, after the dissolution of the Snowflake guild, you will be transferred to Sweet Fun, receiving some shares in exchange.”
“So, I’ll have stock too.”
“However, these shares can only be traded after you’ve worked in the guild for at least five years. If you leave before that, you’ll receive cash equivalent to a fixed amount per share.”
Kim Si-hu offered Min Yu-ri shares with conditions.
She could only trade them after working in the guild for at least five years.
This way, Sweet Fun could encourage her to remain in the guild for a minimum of five years.
“And this is the employment contract for heroes. The only important thing we need to discuss is the salary… Do you have a specific amount in mind, noona?”
“I haven’t really thought about it.”
Min Yu-ri was naturally not someone very greedy for money.
Her family living costs and her brother’s hospital fees were already more than covered.
She rarely bought high-priced items aside from her equipment.
“Then may I go ahead and share our prepared conditions?”
“Sure. Tell me.”
Kim Si-hu flipped a page of the document he held.
The figures written there represented the salary table they’d already organized through discussions with Yoo Ji-han.
Minimum conditions Sweet Fun could offer her, as well as a set upper limit.
It was specifically prepared for Min Yu-ri alone.
Kim Si-hu looked at Yoo Ji-han sitting next to him.
‘What should I start with?’
Without speaking, Kim Si-hu communicated through his eyes.
Yoo Ji-han silently pointed at a specific spot on the document with his finger.
‘Let’s go with this.’
It was the amount just below the upper limit.
Nodding at this, Kim Si-hu turned back to Min Yu-ri.
“The base salary is 240 million won, and performance bonuses will be paid separately every quarter. The calculation for bonuses will be as written here, and salary increments depending on the party grade will be….”
240 million is higher than the average salary for a Rank 4 Hero.
With bonuses included, it could easily surpass 300 or 400 million.
“Salary is separate from the shares received during the merger.”
“I see. I understand.”
“We also plan to gradually increase benefits for the guild! If you have any specific benefits you’d like, we’ll do our best to incorporate your opinions.”
After reviewing the documents laid on the table, Min Yu-ri nodded several times.
“Okay. I’ll sign the contract as it is.”
Min Yu-ri agreed to the contract coolly.
She seemed satisfied with the agreement that guaranteed shares as well.
Kim Si-hu took out a tablet PC and pulled up the prepared electronic contract.
With Min Yu-ri signing it, the contract between her and Sweet Fun was complete.
Finally relieved, Yoo Ji-han said to Min Yu-ri.
“Once again, welcome to the guild.”
“I look forward to working with you.”
The two smiled at each other.
Meanwhile, Kim Si-hu wore a grim expression.
“I’m actually troubled about something right now…”
“What is it?”
“Should we pay Chilla a salary too?”
Kim Si-hu pointed to Chilla, who somehow managed to fit his large body into the living room.
“….”
Chilla getting paid.
Min Yu-ri seemed taken aback by the unexpected thought.
Chilla, who would be active as the party’s tanker moving forward.
Wouldn’t it be necessary to provide him with a separate salary?
“Click….”
As his name was mentioned, Chilla tilted his head.
It didn’t seem likely that a monster would understand the words salary or money…
Yoo Ji-han spoke in place of Chilla.
“I’ll just grill you meat once a month.”
“Click.”
As soon as Yoo Ji-han finished speaking, Chilla nodded immediately.
Then he looked at Min Yu-ri with surprised eyes.
“Did he just understand what was said?”
“….Maybe?”
Thus, Chilla’s salary was replaced with pork belly.
*
A few days after Min Yu-ri’s welcome party.
As Sweet Fun was about to move into its new office soon.
Kim Si-hu was alone at Incheon Airport.
‘They’re coming.’
People began entering through the immigration area.
Kim Si-hu quickly scanned the faces of those coming through the door.
And…
“Dad!”
There he spotted his father, Kim Geon-oh.
Today marked the anniversary of his late mother, Erna Hass.
In line with that, his husband, Kim Geon-oh, had come from Japan to Korea.
Kim Geon-oh welcomed his son running toward him.
“It’s been such a long time, son!”
Although they chatted weekly…
It had been nearly seven months since the father and son had met in person.
“You should come to Korea more often.”
“I’ve been so busy that I didn’t have time to take a vacation. Today was a hard-won holiday.”
“I’ll call a taxi right now.”
Finding his luggage, Kim Geon-oh flagged down a taxi in front of the airport with Kim Si-hu.
The destination had already been decided before they landed at the airport.
“It’s been a year since I was here.”
[Incheon Memorial Park]
The taxi, which drove nonstop, arrived at the place in Incheon known as the Columbarium.
A place also known as a columbarium where human bodies are cremated and the ashes are kept.
The ashes of Kim Si-hu’s mother, Erna Hass, were stored here.
‘A351.’
A space filled with countless urns so numerous they were literally uncountable.
Despite that, Kim Si-hu and Kim Geon-oh had memorized the location of Erna Hass’s ashes.
[A351]
[Erna Hass]
A photo of a smiling woman with gray hair.
That was Kim Si-hu’s mother and Kim Geon-oh’s wife, an elf.
Erna Hass.
“Dear. I’m so late, aren’t I?”
Kim Geon-oh greeted the photo of Erna Hass.
“….”
Silently gazing at his mother’s photo, Kim Si-hu placed a small bouquet with tape on it at the site.
And followed with a moment of silence.
It was a recurring action every time he was here.
“I’ll be back in a moment; I need to go to the restroom.”
Having stood there blankly while staring at his mother’s photo for some time, Kim Si-hu briefly stepped away.
Kim Geon-oh silently watched his son leave.
He knew that Kim Si-hu would shed tears each time he came here.
“Ah.”
Turning his head, Kim Geon-oh looked back at the photo of Erna Hass.
A stunning beauty that would make any man envious.
That face he would never see again was there.
“My love, every time I come here, I always think…”
Kim Geon-oh brought his palm to the photo of his wife.
But the glass shield installed to protect the urn prevented his touch.
‘If only you had listened to me, you wouldn’t have had to die like this.’
He swept his hand across the glass, wearing a slightly forlorn expression.