Chapter 997: Side Story – Vacation Time (1)

It was a certain day, about a week after Jung No-eul had newly joined the Sky Blue Shield.

Han Min-ah, holding a report summarizing the Sky Blue Shield party’s performance, entered the company representative’s office and stared incredulously at Eunbyul, who stood beside me dressed in a maid outfit.

“Seriously, your hobby is still something I can’t figure out. Were you making Eunbyul Unnie wear that kind of outfit and work, both at home and now at the guild?”

“What do you mean, ‘that kind of outfit’? What’s wrong with a maid outfit?”

“I apologize, Han Min-ah-nim, but this is my Master’s hobby, so please refrain from criticizing him.”

“No, well, it’s my hobby too, so it’s not exactly criticism. I also think Eunbyul looks prettiest when she’s wearing a maid outfit.”

“…Thank you for the compliment, Master.”

“Ugh, really. Fine, fine. It was my fault for bringing it up.”

Han Min-ah waved her hand in disbelief after watching the mutually supportive defense from Eunbyul and me.

Her reason for visiting the office today was to report on the performance as the acting leader of the S-rank Hunter Party (Jin).

Originally, this role belonged to Hye-eun, but she was currently on maternity leave, resting at home. Among the remaining members, Han Min-ah was undoubtedly the most objective and trustworthy acting leader.

“First off, after No-eul Unnie joined, the Sky Blue Shield has been running reasonably well. Recently, we were able to defeat the boss monster inhabiting the Ice Lord’s snowy mountains. We can also handle the monsters in the Valley of Rock Monsters and the Burning Woods.”

“It’s pretty much the same as when Hye-eun was here.”

“Well, No-eul Unnie’s rank is higher than Hye-eun’s, so… Of course, Hye-eun has been working with our party for a longer time, so she’s more helpful in the finer details. But No-eul Unnie is a swordswoman, so she can change positions more freely than Hye-eun. There are pros and cons, but it feels like it’s operating okay.”

I wondered how Hye-eun would react if she heard this news. Would she be happy that the party was functioning well even without her, or would she feel a bit lonely that she was replaced so easily?

Before I could finish that thought, Han Min-ah continued her report about the ‘minor’ issue that arose from Kang Hye-eun’s departure from the party.

“If I had to point out any difference from before, it’s that Jihee Unnie’s condition hasn’t been great lately?”

“…Ah, I see.”

Come to think of it, the Sky Blue Shield was originally formed by Hye-eun and Cheon Jihee, wasn’t it?

It was natural for her skills to decline when Kang Hye-eun, the driving force behind her hunter activities, was on leave.

“Everyone in our party knows who that Unnie likes, except for Yuri Unnie. It’s only been about a week since Hye-eun started her break, and she’s already looking lonely, which makes me a bit anxious. This is just my personal opinion, though.”

“…….”

Of course, even if a problem arose, with my awakening ability, I wouldn’t die inside a dungeon.

At worst, I’d have to return to the guild naked after leaving my equipment behind, and then only be able to go on expeditions to lower-ranked dungeons for about a month until the emergency summon cooldown reset. That would be the extent of the loss.

Thinking about that, maybe it would be better to send the rest of the Sky Blue Shield members on ‘vacation’ before any problems occurred. As I mentioned before, if they had to take time off for childbirth anyway, it would be better for them to take it all together.

“It might be a good idea to let Cheon Jihee-ssi take a year-long vacation too. I was having a similar conversation with Cha Yuri-ssi.”

“…I’ve always wondered, what’s your relationship with Jihee Unnie?”

“Huh?”

“It’s obvious you’re intimately involved with Kang Hye-eun and Yuri Unnie, but your relationship with Jihee Unnie seems… ambiguous.”

“Why are you talking like yours isn’t? We’re intimately involved too, you know.”

“…A-anyway! Putting that aside, what exactly is your relationship with Jihee Unnie?!”

“Hmm, well.”

Thinking back, my first meeting with Cheon Jihee wasn’t exactly pleasant.

To her, I must have seemed like a rival suddenly appearing for Kang Hye-eun. And to me, Cheon Jihee was just an unwelcoming presence from the existing party, acting cold for no reason.

Of course, now we’ve become quite close due to Hye-eun being between us, and we’ve even developed things beyond that relationship, but I can’t say our bond is as deep as with other members like Hye-eun, Cha Yuri, or Min-ah.

It was somewhere between the sex between lovers and the sex that occurs in a business relationship.

“It’s just… a necessary relationship for each other.”

“…Hmm.”

If I were to give Cheon Jihee a vacation, the most suitable excuse would be to make her take maternity leave. However, having a child wasn’t something that could be done without her consent.

Besides, it wasn’t certain whether Cheon Jihee herself would even want to have a child with me.

I wasn’t sure about the extent of her feelings for me, or how I could persuade her if her feelings fell just short of wanting to have a child.

…Or perhaps, it might be a better strategy to send off members who are relatively easier to persuade, one by one.

“Yahan Min-ah.”

“I told you not to call me that.”

“Since things have turned out this way, do you want to take a vacation too, like Hye-eun?”

“Huh? Suddenly?”

“I always think this, but you’re a total workaholic. Aren’t you still coming to work on days other than group expeditions?”

“…Well, it gets a bit boring just playing at home. Plus, I have to keep an eye on Jin-ah and Seon-ah’s activities, and this is something I can do while resting sufficiently.”

“Resting means properly lying down with your legs stretched out at home. How many days did you actually rest combined last month and the month before?”

“Still, these days I consistently take off once a month…”

“Exclude the ‘horny vacation’ you spent with me, Han Min-ah.”

“…….”

Han Min-ah shut her mouth, becoming speechless as if she realized she was trying to claim rolling around in bed during our ‘heat’ as a vacation.

She probably felt herself that she didn’t get enough rest. Yet, the reason she overworked herself without rest was likely a remnant from her past when she was crushed under the weight of responsibility.

Now that she didn’t have to worry about being kicked out of her home or being the sole provider for her family, including her younger siblings, it was hard to understand why she acted like this.

“Yahan Min-ah.”

“…W-what?! Whether it’s a ‘horny vacation’ or whatever, what does it matter?! Resting like that is still resting, right?! Anyway, it’s true that I’m resting more than when I was working for the company!”

“Since things have turned out this way, how about taking a whole year off like Hye-eun? Of course, not just you, but all the other Sky Blue Shield members too.”

“…W-what?”

“I can create the ‘circumstances’ that necessitate you taking a vacation. Understand?”

“Circumstances that necessitate a vacation…? What does that mean…”

Han Min-ah tilted her head in confusion, not immediately understanding my wordplay. It didn’t take long for her face to turn red as she grasped the meaning of my pun.

“I-I-I-I don’t need it?! Wh-who would ask you for something like that?!”

“Why not? It would be nice to relax and take a vacation for a year with Hye-eun. You could do prenatal education together, and childcare together.”

“A-are you crazy?! Y-you’re really not in your right mind?! I get it if it’s Hye-eun since she’s your girlfriend, but why are you so sure I’d be in that kind of relationship with you?!”

“I already got Hye-eun’s permission. Besides, while polygamy is forbidden in Korea, having children out of wedlock is legal, Min-ah.”

“D-don’t talk nonsense! A-anyway, I won’t do it! I-is this what you meant by being shamelessly bold…!”

-tak!

With those words, Han Min-ah placed the activity report she was holding onto my desk and turned away.

Although she denied it verbally, the gray ears and tail that had sprouted above her head and waist indicated she was indeed interested in the proposal I just made.

“A-anyway, whether I rest or not is my decision, so butt out! If you try anything weird under some strange pretext, I’ll really kill you?!”

-kwang!

Han Min-ah stormed out, slamming the office door shut with a bright red face.

Even though her favorability level was at its highest, her inability to be honest about her feelings was both her flaw and her charm.

“I was unaware until now, but you already have a child, Master.”

“…Ah, sorry. Come to think of it, I should have told you sooner, Eunbyul.”

“It’s alright. The increase of life inheriting Master’s excellent genes is always welcome… However, Do Sihee-nim might be a bit shocked if she finds out.”

“…That would be true.”

Sihee, in particular, had seriously considered marriage with me. That feeling probably still holds true for her.

Soon, I would have to tell not only Sihee but also the others that a child had been born between me and Hye-eun.

Loving many women means bearing many responsibilities.

I let out a faint sigh, thinking that some weariness was unavoidable, when the office door, which had been closed, slowly slid open, and Min-ah’s gray ears reappeared.

-kkiiik-

“Ah, about what I said earlier.”

“Hm? Didn’t you leave?”

“W-what I said was just that it’s a bit difficult right now, it doesn’t mean I’ll never consider it for the rest of my life… “

“…….”

“I-if the circumstances allow someday, I might… B-but it’s not right now, so just keep that in mind…”

-kkiiik-, tak.

…I wondered why she came back, only to say that.

It seemed she was subtly bothered by her own outburst in her agitated state.

Seeing this changed side of her, Han Min-ah had certainly become more honest than before.