Chapter 40: Echoes After the Duel

“Hahahaha, well done! You did amazingly well!”

On the way home.

In the back seat of the limousine, Shin Daeho was roaring with laughter.

The reason he was so happy was simple.

Because I had won the spar against Dokgo Yeong.

“To think you defeated that Dokgo Yeong fellow. And with just one skeleton, no less. Incredible. Truly incredible!”

Shin Daeho said while patting my shoulder repeatedly.

Even though I had already heard this praise more than ten times, I forced the corners of my mouth up into a smile.

It wasn’t that I disliked hearing it.

I was simply still in disbelief.

I won…

I recalled the spar that had unfolded at the Night of Transcendents.

Baekho Guild’s Hunter Dokgo Yeong.

He looked every bit as fierce as a wolf, and he really was strong.

In fact, he was genuinely powerful.

But I was stronger.

Overwhelmingly so.

Honestly, I wasn’t confident. 

No—I thought I’d be crushed without landing a single hit. Yet I won. 

And with just one cyan skeleton…

I had stepped forward talking about representing Myth Guild, but in truth I didn’t think I had much chance of winning.

I only accepted the spar so I wouldn’t look like a coward running away as the representative of Myth Guild.

Yet I had won so decisively.

Even though I had won in front of everyone, I still couldn’t believe it was real.

“To be honest, I thought Hunter Seo Juwon would lose. Not in the future, but right now—I thought you’d be pushed back by that Dokgo Yeong guy.”

“Haha, is that so?”

“Yes. I’m sorry to you, but that’s what I thought. Yet you won. How on earth did you do it? What is that skeleton of yours? Is it made of diamond? Or does it have the soul of an S-rank hunter inside? Hahaha.”

Shin Daeho laughed heartily.

I hadn’t seen him often, but this was the first time I had ever seen him this happy.

Well, what does it matter if I don’t know the reason? 

As long as the Guild Master is happy, that’s enough.

I had no idea why the cyan skeleton was that strong.

I knew it was strong against monsters, but overpowering someone like Dokgo Yeong was still a mystery.

Even so, I just smiled happily.

What did it matter that I didn’t know the reason?

I had won, after all.

And because I won as a representative of Myth Guild, I had made Guild Master Shin Daeho happy.

“Thanks to you, Hunter Seo Juwon, I saved face.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Just imagine if you had lost. That crazy woman Baek Inha would’ve been insufferably smug. The other major guild masters watching would’ve spread rumors like hyenas.”

I nodded.

He was right.

If I, the companion of Myth Guild’s master, had lost, Baek Inha and the major guild masters would’ve made a huge fuss.

Yes.

Thinking about it that way, winning felt truly fortunate.

“Thank you, Hunter Seo Juwon. Bringing you as my companion was truly a divine move.”

“You honor me too much, Guild Master.”

“No, it’s not flattery. You deserve praise. And words alone won’t do. I’ll give you a proper reward soon, so look forward to it.”

Shin Daeho said that and patted my shoulder again, telling me to expect good news.

I smiled at his words.

I was happy once because of the word “reward,” and again because I had pleased Shin Daeho enough to earn one.

“Phew, I’m glad it ended well.”

I looked out the gently gliding limousine window.

When I had set off as the companion for the Night of Transcendents, I had been trembling with nerves.

But now that it was over so successfully, a wave of pride washed over me.

Eunbyeol, Daddy did well, right?

I looked at the full moon floating in the dark night sky and smiled warmly.

For some reason, I felt like I had become a cool dad, and it felt good.

Baekho Guild master’s office.

A horrific sound echoed through the room.

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

The sound of something being struck.

The culprits were Baek Inha and Dokgo Yeong.

Baekho Guild Master Baek Inha.

She was the one slapping Dokgo Yeong across the face.

“You! And you still dare call yourself the companion for the Night of Transcendents?! With that pathetic skill?! You think you can call yourself a Baekho Guild member?!”

Baek Inha relentlessly slapped Dokgo Yeong’s cheeks with both hands.

His cheeks turned red from the nonstop blows.

Yet despite the excruciating pain, Dokgo Yeong remained at attention and silently endured the beating.

“…I’m sorry, Guild Master.”

Dokgo Yeong said in a low voice.

It wasn’t an excuse.

He was genuinely sorry.

For losing to that man named Seo Juwon at the Night of Transcendents.

“Sorry? I hate hearing that word the most! You shouldn’t do things that make you have to be sorry! Why do you keep doing things you have to apologize for?!”

Baek Inha roared with rage and kept swinging her arms.

Baek Inha, Korea’s number two ranked powerhouse.

She used her tremendous strength to slap Dokgo Yeong’s face hard.

“Haa…”

After slapping him for a long while, Baek Inha finally stopped.

Then she grabbed Dokgo Yeong by the collar and shouted.

“What are you going to do about it?! Because you lost to that pathetic weakling, I was utterly humiliated! What are you going to do?!”

“…I’m sorry, Guild Master.”

“I told you not to say you’re sorry!”

Baek Inha kicked Dokgo Yeong.

BAM!

He slammed into the wall with a loud noise.

Still not satisfied, Baek Inha walked over to the fallen Dokgo Yeong and spoke.

“Dokgo Yeong.”

She grabbed him by the hair.

“Yes, Guild Master…”

“Get revenge.”

“On who…?”

“Who do you think?! On that trash Seo Juwon! Train like your life depends on it and get revenge for today’s disgrace! Got it?!”

At Baek Inha’s words, Dokgo Yeong weakly nodded.

Baek Inha threatened him further.

“If you screw up like this again, you really will die. I’ll tear you to pieces and hang your corpse in front of Baekho Guild. Understand?”

“Yes, Guild Master…”

“You know my personality, right? I don’t make empty threats. Remember this—if you lose one more time, you’re dead.”

With those words, Baek Inha stormed out of the office.

Silence fell over the room.

The battered Dokgo Yeong slowly rose to his feet.

“Seo Juwon…”

Feeling the intense pain, Dokgo Yeong recalled Seo Juwon’s face.

Necromancer Seo Juwon.

The bastard who had used that damned cyan skeleton to defeat him.

Grinding his teeth as he remembered that son of a bitch’s face, Dokgo Yeong made a vow.

“If I meet him again, I’ll kill him.”

The ferocious wolf-like Dokgo Yeong.

As he left the guild master’s office, he resolved.

That Myth Guild’s “Seo Juwon.”

If he ever met that bastard again, he would truly kill him.

A few days after the Night of Transcendents ended.

I returned to being just Daddy Seo Juwon.

Because today was a special day for Eunbyeol’s composing activities.

“Hello! We are Daisy!”

While I was with composer Ahn Hyeji, the members of the girl group Daisy filed in one by one.

Yes.

Today was the official recording day for Eunbyeol’s song <Lovey Dovey>, which she had previously recorded as a guide vocal.

“Ah! Unnies, hello!”

Eunbyeol greeted the Daisy members brightly.

And the Daisy members also greeted Eunbyeol with cheerful faces.

“Ah! Eunbyeol, hi!”

“Hehe, should we call you Composer Eunbyeol now?”

“Ah, I don’t know! I’m just gonna call you Eunbyeol!”

“Kyaa! Why are you dressed so cutely today, Eunbyeol? You look exactly like a doll!”

The Daisy members fawned over Eunbyeol.

Seeing them treat her like a beloved little sister made me smile warmly.

After their noisy greetings were over.

Ahn Hyeji spoke.

“Okay, as I mentioned, today we’re doing the official recording. First, let’s listen to the song!”

“Yeees!”

At the Daisy members’ cheerful shout, Ahn Hyeji played the track.

The song title was <Lovey Dovey>.

The very song our Eunbyeol had composed.

On this path we walk together,

Only happy smiles fill the way.

Reflected in your eyes,

Everything about me is love.

The song that started after the intro.

With the cute tone of the guide vocal layered over it, the song was truly beautiful.

Even if I removed the doting-dad buff, it was that good.

Even if spring comes, if I’m with you,

All the flowers will sing.

Forever by your side,

The flower of our love will bloom.

The song continued to flow.

Holding Eunbyeol’s hand, I felt my heart pounding with excitement.

While my heartbeat raced.

—You’re my lovey dovey.

—You’re my lovey dovey.

—You’re my lovey dovey.

—You’re my lovey dovey.

The chorus—the highlight of the song—exploded.

The sweet, repetitive melody.

The addictive chorus repeated, and the Daisy members made strange, enchanted faces.

The interlude followed.

Then the second verse, the bridge, the chorus again, and finally the outro.

When the entire song ended.

Ahn Hyeji pressed the space bar and turned around.

“What do you think?”

Her face was full of anticipation.

Eunbyeol and I were also waiting with bated breath for the Daisy members’ reactions.

What would they think?

Would they like the song?

What if they didn’t like the song our Eunbyeol made?

All sorts of worries and anxieties swirled in my mind.

Then—

“It’s insane! This is totally insane!”

The leader of Daisy exclaimed with a shocked expression.

She wasn’t the only one.

Every member shouted with bright faces.

“It’s legendary!”

“Hyeji-unnie! What is this song? It’s so good!”

“No way, I’m seriously shocked. This is our song?”

“It’s insane! I love it! I really, really love this song!”

The Daisy members jumped up and down with joy.

It wasn’t just the usual bright idol reaction.

They were genuinely thrilled.

“Eunbyeol-ah! You made this?”

“Wooow! Eunbyeol, thank you! Thank you so, so much for making us such a good song!”

“Eunbyeol, we’ll definitely repay you!”

“We love you, Eunbyeol! Thank you so, so much!”

The Daisy members held Eunbyeol’s hands or hugged her, pouring out their gratitude.

Thank goodness—the song really seemed to be a hit.

“Hehe, I’m glad the unnies like it!”

Eunbyeol also grinned widely.

She must be happy that the unnies loved the song she made.

“Phew, thank goodness. Really, thank goodness.”

And beside them, I let out a huge sigh of relief.

The singers who would perform our Eunbyeol’s song loved it—this was truly a relief.

“So everyone likes it?”

Ahn Hyeji asked the Daisy members.

“Yes! We love it!”

“Okay! Then shall we listen a few more times and jump right into recording?”

“Yes! Sounds good!”

The Daisy members chirped like baby birds in unison.

And so <Lovey Dovey> began to fill the recording studio once more.

For some reason, I had a very good feeling.

Is this really going to be a mega-hit?

I had a strong premonition that the song our Eunbyeol made would become an enormous success.