The Strongest Guild Kidnapped Me

Chapter 156

A deep sigh escaped from the middle-aged man as he tilted his head skyward.  

He pulled a cigarette from his pocket but didn’t light it. Instead, he glanced at me briefly before crushing the pack in his hand.  

Was there a problem with the filming?  

The man continued to exhale into the air as though he were smoking an invisible cigarette.  

Uncomfortable with the heavy atmosphere, I fiddled with the kettle filled with dandelion tea.  

"Hey, friend, how much does this tea cost?"  

"The tea? It’s free."  

"Free? But it gives a buff effect!"  

The man tucked the crushed cigarette pack back into his pocket. His face eased, making it clear he had been worrying about the cost.  

"I offered it first, so it’s free in this case."  

"So, you only charge in other situations?"  

"Yes. We sell it at the guild café."  

Relieved that he didn’t need to pay, the man downed the remaining dandelion tea in one gulp.  

"Ah… So how much does it usually cost?"  

"About 100,000 won per cup."  

"A… a hundred thousand?"  

"Yes… Is that too expensive?"  

Even though others assured me it was fine, I still felt it was overpriced. Even knowing the buff was the main selling point, I struggled to accept charging so much for a single cup of tea.  

Am I overcharging adventurers?  

Hesitant, I looked up at the man nervously.  

"Why is it so cheap?"  

"Cheap?"  

"Yeah. I thought it would be at least a million won. Even a regular person like me can feel the effect."  

"I see…"  

Buffs are usually calculated in percentages. A 10% buff is a huge boost for adventurers but barely noticeable for an average person.  

If even a non-adventurer could feel the effect, how powerful was this tea?  

I didn’t know the specifics, but I understood it was quite valuable.  

Still, I had no intention of raising the price. One hundred thousand won was the maximum I was willing to charge. Since I could produce the tea as much as I wanted, there was no need to be greedy.  

"Wow, thanks to you, I’m living the high life."  

The man handed me his cup with both hands, his exaggeratedly polite attitude almost comical.  

"Please drink as much as you’d like. There’s plenty of tea."  

"Haha, thanks, but this will be my last cup. I’m not so shameless as to overindulge."  

"You can have more if you want."  

"No, I’ve had enough. This is plenty."  

Was it because I mentioned the price?  

No one else came for tea after that. Not wanting to pressure anyone, I decided not to offer any more.  

Next time, I wouldn’t reveal the price.  

Resolving to do better, I spent the rest of the time watching the kids and the rest of the filming. The documentary process was more fascinating than I’d expected.  

---

The day of the documentary broadcast had arrived, and we all gathered in the living room to watch it together.  

"Hmm… Not enough seats on the couch."  

"I could sit in the massage chair, but that still won’t be enough."  

Hanyeoreum crossed her arms, tapping her biceps with her fingers. My ears perked up at the sound as I tugged on her sleeve.  

"I’ll sit on the floor."  

"No, I’ll sit on the floor. We’ll just have to get a bigger couch later."  

Ignoring my protests, Hanyeoreum slid her hands under my arms and gently placed me on the couch.  

Levinas hopped over beside me with a bright expression.  

"Levinas has an idea!"  

"An idea?"  

"Yeah! We can sit on someone’s lap!"  

"Oh… Then we don’t need a bigger couch!"  

"Exactly!"  

Midsummer clapped her hands as if she’d stumbled upon a brilliant realization, catching everyone’s attention.  

"Let’s play rock-paper-scissors. Winner gets to sit on someone’s lap!"  

"Uh…"  

Shouldn’t the loser be the one to sit?  

Tilting my head in confusion, I held out my hand to join the game.  

Only three of us were small enough to sit on someone’s lap, but four hands were raised. The fourth, much larger hand belonged to Jung Yuna, who grinned mischievously.  

"…Yuna, you’re out."  

"…That’s harsh. It was just a joke."  

Scoffing, Yuna stepped back.  

The game began. My sharp reflexes let me predict what the others would play, so I closed my eyes to make it fair. Surprisingly, luck was on my side, and I won.  

"Gyeoul wins."  

Pat, pat. Midsummer patted her thighs, signaling me over. I hesitated for a moment before sitting down.  

Her hands wrapped gently around my waist, and my tail swayed uncontrollably. By now, I was used to it and didn’t pay it much mind.  

"Gyeoul, are you going to be in the documentary?"  

"Um… I’m not sure."  

"Not sure?"  

"Yeah. They said they filmed us naturally, without us knowing."  

I hoped there wouldn’t be anything strange or embarrassing in the footage. Worried but curious, I watched the documentary.  

It portrayed adventurers’ lives honestly, showing the gap between public admiration and harsh reality. It also highlighted the risks, including the number of adventurers who die annually, and even featured real dungeon battles.  

"The visuals are incredible."  

"They really are."  

We eagerly anticipated our appearance, but as the documentary neared its end, there was no sign of us.  

"It’s almost over…"  

"Hing… Levinas didn’t make it…"  

Just as Levinas’s shoulders slumped in disappointment, the narrator’s voice grew thoughtful.  

"There are no prerequisites for becoming an adventurer. Race and age don’t matter."  

With those words, we appeared on screen—Levinas’s carrot badge, and my and Saebyeok’s novice adventurer badges prominently displayed.  

Levinas gently held my tail with both hands as if it were something precious, the tip of my tail swaying side to side.  

Behind us, Saebyeok fiddled with my ears, making them twitch.  

The documentary concluded with this serene image.  

---

"Wow," Midsummer whispered, covering her mouth.  

Sophia looked pleased, and others like Jinhyuk, Yuna, Encya, and Argo also seemed satisfied.  

"What a heartwarming video."  

"Yeah. The online reactions are blowing up."  

Midsummer scrolled through her phone, giggling. Curious, I pulled her hand closer to see.  

---

[Just saw the adventurer documentary!]
Author: BeastfolkFan  

I was watching seriously, but the ending, wow…  

[FrogFan: I saw it… That ending was so cute I almost died…] 
  [? BeastfolkFan: The producers probably wanted to kill us with cuteness.]  
    [? FrogFan: With that much effort, I’d happily die.]  
      [? BrokenTiger: Lol.]  

[SuaMom: The kids look so close. I’m glad they seem happy.] 
  [? LuluNana: Same here.]  

[RealDeal: My heart can’t take this… Seriously…]  

---

The response wasn’t bad. I was relieved no one criticized the kids.  

"That’s a relief."  

"What is?"  

"I thought people might say mean things after watching."  

"Hah! Who would dare criticize Gyeoul? If they do, I’ll deal with them myself."  

Hanyeoreum hugged me tightly, and I felt all the tension drain from my body.  

"It’s fine. I don’t mind criticism. I was just worried about Saebyeok and Levinas."  

"…No, I mind. If anyone says anything about you, they’ll have to answer to me."  

"Um… okay."  

As I worried about the kids, Midsummer worried about me. I decided to accept her kindness for now.  

"If anything happens, promise to tell me?"  

"Gyeoul, let me know too."  

"Okay."  

My tail swayed gently, brushing against Hanyeoreum’s chin. The care and affection from my family filled me with happiness.  

The next morning, I was asked by Yoo Sangah to deliver a package to the master’s office on the top floor. It was about the size of my head but surprisingly light.  

"Good morning," I greeted the guards stationed outside the master’s office.  

Being fellow guild members, they smiled warmly in return.  

"Are you here to see the master?"  

"Yes."  

As one of the guards in a black suit reached to knock on the door, the master’s voice called out first.  

"Come in."  

"Yes!"  

Opening the door, I stepped into the office. The master seemed to be preparing to leave, fiddling with a set of car keys.  

"Delivery?"  

"Yes, I’m here to deliver a package."  

"Just toss it over there."  

"Got it."  

I placed the package on the table and glanced up at the master. He chuckled and pointed a thumb toward the guards outside the door.  

"This is the first time I’ve seen those guys smile."  

"Don’t they smile often?"  

"Not a chance."  

"Huh…?"  

That’s strange. They always smiled whenever I passed by. The master must have misunderstood something.  

"I’ve got somewhere I need to be, but I feel bad since you came all the way here."  

"It’s okay, really."  

"Hmm… Well, I suppose this will do."  

The master lightly nudged me forward, guiding me to his desk.  

It was the only piece of furniture in the vast space, exuding an undeniable aura of authority.  

"Take a seat in that chair."  

"Me?"  

Could I really sit in a chair that seemed to symbolize power? Hesitant, I looked for reassurance before finally sitting down.  

"You’re the master for the day."  

"What…?"  

"It’s a job experience. Just answer the phone and deal with any visitors. That’s all."  

"…?"  

Why all of a sudden? Was this some kind of prank? I gaped at him, unable to hide my confusion.  

"I’ve got urgent business, so I’ll leave it to you."  

With a quick farewell, the master disappeared through the door. A moment later, I heard the elevator descending, confirming he wasn’t joking.  

Now I was alone in this immense room of authority.  

Ring-ring!  

The phone rang, but I couldn’t bring myself to answer it. I was still trying to process the situation, and picking up the phone felt impossible.