FVHB 115

Chapter 115

The moment Choi Taesik said that he would bet Philippus, Jinhyuk’s expression completely changed. Park Chanhyung, who had come to stop this, looked troubled.

“Guild Master Choi Taesik. Aren’t you going too far? That man has never lost against any guild until now. And you’re saying you will bet your guild against such a vicious… human? Isn’t this an act that doesn’t even consider your guild members?”

Park Chanhyung spoke clearly and logically, so Choi Taesik tried to act calm.

“Listen, Manager Park. That bastard… No, even if Director of Arcana has acted extremely viciously, do you really think he would do such a thing to me, the owner of his patient? There is no way he would.”

Balakas nodded as if he had just heard something obvious. Beside Balakas, Ma Dongtak also had a pleased expression. Of course, although he was smiling happily, it felt frightening to Choi Taesik.

“Ahem… Anyway, I trust Director Kang. How long has it even been since Magma Cat Kkyu was treated? He wouldn’t do something like that. He’s just trying to scare me with his words…”

“Haha… As expected, Guild Master Choi’s courage is the same as ever. This is why I wanted to meet you at least once. I’m really looking forward to seeing what kind of conversation we’ll have.”

Choi Taesik failed to notice the weight behind Jinhyuk’s words. Yisu understood exactly what he meant, so she turned her head away and let out a small sigh.

“Director! Director!”

Just as they were about to focus on the Guild Competition again, Luna and Beris walked over. Luna’s voice was soft, but it was easy to hear. After Luna spoke, Beris pushed her glasses up irritably and opened her mouth.

“What on earth have you been doing? Why were we left at the empty hospital, then had to receive these documents for you and even undergo a simple investigation?”

Surprised by those words, Jinhyuk took the documents from Luna’s hand and checked them.

[National Tax Service] Notice of Scheduled Seizure Due to Overdue Value-Added Tax Payment

“…A notice of scheduled seizure? Wait. We didn’t pay our VAT? We definitely… paid it. No, that’s not right. The only people who temporarily worked as the head of hospital administration were Mephisto and you, Yisu.”

Jinhyuk looked toward Yisu. Yisu casually spoke.

“I should have known something was wrong when that bastard Mephisto hurriedly ran away. There’s no way I would mess around with your money. So there is only one answer. It has to be Mephisto. Look carefully at the period.”

After hearing that, Jinhyuk checked the period during which the VAT had not been properly reported. It matched exactly with the time Mephisto had worked as the head of hospital administration.

“This crazy bastard? I saved his life, and he dared to take my money and run?”

“You should have thought of Mephisto first. It’s not like he would do something like that only once or twice… Besides, he’s a demon, isn’t he? There is a famous saying in this world. Demons are divided into two types. One is a bad demon, and the other is a damn bastard of a demon. Which one do you think Mephisto is? I think he’s the latter. No, maybe he’s a bastard somewhere between the two who was wearing a mask?”

“Haah. Yisu, this won’t do. We have to put our original plan aside for now and go catch that bastard Mephisto. How the hell is the overdue VAT 120 billion won? Is he insane?”

Choi Taesik’s mouth dropped open as he listened to Jinhyuk and Yisu’s conversation.

Long ago, during Jinhyuk’s days as a porter, he had walked around looking shabby. He had been nothing more than a porter wearing incredibly worn-out equipment.

But things were different now.

Not only had he played a major role in saving the life of his Magma Cat, Kkyu, but he was also a man at the center of enormous wealth, capable of paying 120 billion won in VAT alone.

At that moment, Choi Taesik realized who he needed to impress more: Park Chanhyung standing in front of him, or Jinhyuk.

“Manager Park, let’s talk separately next time… Guild Master Choi Taesik? As you heard our conversation earlier, I have to go for now. I need to catch that bastard Mephisto. Ah, by any chance, do you know where Mephisto ran off to? If you do, I’ll give you about a 10% discount.”

It was a tempting offer.

Saving even 1 billion won would be wonderful.

However, Choi Taesik had cut off contact with the industry for a while after Magma Cat Kkyu had suffered from its illness, so there was no way he knew where Mephisto was.

“If I knew, I would contact—”

“Rather than waiting for the Guild Master’s call, I think it would be better for us to search the building thoroughly ourselves. Luna, Beris, Balakas, Manager Ma…”

Jinhyuk called each person’s name and looked around. Everyone seemed ready.

“Are you ready to go catch that bastard Mephisto?”

Crack—

Ma Dongtak cracked his fingers. The sound alone was threatening.

Beside him, Balakas pursed his lips and lightly breathed out fire.

Whoosh.

As expected of a Fire Dragon. Even a small flame was enough to spread heat around them.

“Wow. As expected of Lord Fire Dragon!”

Luna smiled brightly at Balakas.

Finding Luna cute, Balakas picked her up and placed her on his shoulder.

“Little elf brat. You have good eyes, so I’ll let you watch from the closest place. You will get to see this red-haired Fire Dragon Lord catch the demon Mephisto and punish him.”

“Yay! I’m excited! Just thinking about how Lord Balakas has been stuck in the boiler room all this time… I really wanted to see Lord Balakas fight!”

“I’ll be much better than that human Ma Dongtak. Manager Ma, you told them properly about me, right?”

Balakas proudly puffed out his chest.

However, there was someone quietly watching this situation.

“What can a Fire Dragon that did nothing but live as a boiler-room slave and be useless actually do?”

Beris pointed this out in a sharp voice.

Balakas’s eyes became cold, and the atmosphere around them sank.

Only Jinhyuk and Yisu remained calm.

“That’s why I’m doing this now. I’m going to show you, Beris. Just some mere librarian…”

“‘Mere librarian’? Hey, isn’t that going too far?”

“You’re allowed to say it, but I’m not?”

Just as Balakas and Beris were about to fight, Park Chanhyung stepped in.

“So, are you going to establish the Arcana Guild or not? Haah. Do you think government officials have nothing better to do?”

At Park Chanhyung’s words, Yisu pulled the tablet she had been holding back into her arms.

“Of course, establishing the Arcana Guild will have to come later, right, Manager Park? Thank you for wasting your time because of us. Anyway, it’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to achieve anything meaningful at today’s Guild Competition, but establishing a guild isn’t something we can only do today. We’ll look for another opportunity.”

Park Chanhyung looked at Jinhyuk to confirm whether Yisu’s words were correct.

Only after Jinhyuk gave him a look saying that it was fine to go did Park Chanhyung withdraw.

Now, the only one left was Choi Taesik, who had lost his chance to receive a 10% discount on the medical bill.

“Guild Master Choi? I’ll send the bill to your guild. It’s unfortunate. I was going to give you a great opportunity for a 10% discount. There are many injured monsters these days that need physical therapy, so you’ll have a lot to deal with. Well, Magma Cat’s treatment was completed quickly, but the treatment cost can vary depending on the monster’s rank and the injured area. Anyway, if you come next time, I’ll treat you well, so please introduce many people to us. That’s all for now.”

Yisu hugged her husband, Jinhyuk, and jumped high into the air.

Ma Dongtak, Balakas, and Luna disappeared after them.

Even Beris, who had been grumbling, disappeared in an instant.

Choi Taesik looked around with a dazed expression, unable to understand what had just happened before his eyes.

“Guild Master! Guild Master!”

As he stared blankly at the path where Jinhyuk had disappeared, one of his guild members called out to him.

The guild member asked Choi Taesik where Magma Cat was.

“Guild Master! Come to think of it, you said you were taking Magma Cat for treatment. Where did it go? Magma Cat is gone, and only you are here, so something seems strange…”

“Crazy! Those bastards took it!”

“…Pardon? Who? Don’t tell me you let Kang Jinhyuk take it? That evil veterinarian?”

Choi Taesik weakly nodded.

At that moment, something slowly fell from the sky.

Choi Taesik caught it.

Along with the words [Notice], it said:

[If you want to get your Magma Cat Kkyu back, please visit Arcana Hospital with 10 billion won! (Wink)]

“AAAAAH! My Magma Cat Kkyu! They took Kkyu away! That insane bastard Kang Jinhyuk took my Kkyu…”

“No, how did this happen…? Did you really get robbed right in front of your eyes? Or did you get robbed while your eyes were closed…? Of course, it couldn’t be the latter.”

“Of course it was the former! He suddenly said something had come up and was about to leave, so I never imagined he was taking my Kkyu with him!”

“Oh no… It’s almost our guild’s turn. Are you going to be okay?”

“Guh… At this point, we’ll give up on Philippus in the Guild Competition. Instead, we’ll go to Arcana and get my Kkyu back. We’ll mobilize our forces and break in.”

“…The place that even has the Fire Dragon Balakas?”

“Yes.”

Just as Choi Taesik was burning with fighting spirit—

“Waaaaah! You’re so cute! Lord Balakas! How did you even think of bringing a Magma Cat here? It’s so cute!”

“The creature sent telepathy toward me. It said it wanted to stay beside a Fire Dragon too. It said it was only natural for a Magma Cat to be beside the great Fire Dragon Lord, so I brought it here.”

That’s right.

The real culprit was somewhere else.

While Jinhyuk was having a serious discussion with Yisu about finding Mephisto’s whereabouts, Balakas had kidnapped the Magma Cat for the sake of the cute Dark Elf Luna sitting on his shoulder.

If Jinhyuk found out, it would be disastrous.

But Balakas calmly stroked Choi Taesik’s Magma Cat Kkyu on the forehead.

Flames rose from Kkyu’s fur, but they showed no hostility toward Luna.

The flames on its fur, which would have felt hot to another being, were merely warm to Luna.

“Lord Balakas! Then can I make him my friend? No, can I make him my pet?”

Balakas gave a bold laugh.

“Wahaha! Of course. If it’s a Dark Elf, then wouldn’t a Magma Cat be a perfect match? Since this guy wanted to come with us, and you like him too, I’ll specially allow him to stay at Arcana Hospital—”

BAM—!

An enormous punch struck, and Balakas’s body fell forward.

“M-Manager Ma…”

“Don’t move. Are you trying to pull a trick here and kidnap someone? Who told you to do it? Luna. If you don’t tell me right now…”

“I didn’t kidnap him!”

Luna looked at Balakas with tears in her eyes.

Balakas, who had lost his balance and fallen forward from Ma Dongtak’s tremendous punch, stood up and grumbled.

“I just thought both of them needed a friend, so I brought him here! What’s the problem?”

“Balakas. What if you end up causing trouble for the director’s business? How long has it been since you escaped from being a boiler-room slave, and you’re already doing this?”

“Exactly. Mr. Balakas. Please show some manners, okay? Don’t do anything that could affect our business.”

Beris added to Ma Dongtak’s words.

“…Wait. What did you say? Why is the Magma Cat here?”

At that moment—

Jinhyuk’s cold gaze landed on Balakas.

Balakas hurriedly avoided his eyes, but it was already too late.

Jinhyuk approached Balakas faster than anyone else and grabbed him by the collar.

“Balakas, do you want to be buried together with Mephisto?”