“So the guests are probably also being more cautious to avoid causing trouble unnecessarily. I hope those Blue Cloud bastards don’t come to the campsite.”

“Me too……”

I weakly agreed with his words.

“Why you?”

“That reporter from before was also associated with Blue Cloud…… Actually, someone came from Blue Cloud before with the purpose of recruiting me, but I didn’t have a good impression of them.”

As I spoke, I was reminded of what Hunter Kang Han Na had said back then.

‘Someone of Yu Bom’s rank absolutely cannot join a large guild. They’re making this offer knowing you’ll be restricted to this dungeon until you reach level 10. Think about it again. We don’t usually make repeated offers like this.’

An attitude that subtly looked down on people and acted arrogant. I could clearly sense the view that I would be stupid not to take this opportunity since Blue Cloud was bestowing kindness upon me. It still made me feel bad thinking about it again.

At that time, Hunter Kang Han Na had left looking visibly upset, and that reporter who only wrote positive articles about Blue Cloud had left the campsite after making vaguely threatening remarks about how I would regret it.

‘What regret? Not even a tiny bit.’

The campsite was so busy it made me wonder if it was okay for business to be this good. Aside from when the guild leaders made a ruckus while drunk that one time, there hadn’t been any incidents.

Now that we have a cafe too, the campsite will get even more guests in the future. Contrary to worrying that we wouldn’t get regular guests due to the bad location, the future of the campsite looked very bright.

“Who? Did something happen?”

Mo Gyeon noticed something was off and frowned.

“It feels a bit wrong to name them…… They said some strange things so I sent them away politely.”

“What kind of strange things did they say?”

Chae Dong Hwa, who had been listening silently, asked for more details.

“They said they came to scout me, but they spoke as if I should be grateful just to receive a recruitment offer from Blue Cloud……”

In the end, I ended up telling them everything that had happened.

“Actually, when I told them I had also received an offer from Hwarang, only then did they say they would give me even better conditions. So I honestly said that in terms of growth potential, wasn’t Hwarang better than Blue Cloud?”

“You really said that, Bom?”

“Yeah. It’s the truth, isn’t it?”

Mo Gyeon burst into laughter after hearing my story.

“Of course, if you look at guild growth potential, Hwarang is much better. Blue Cloud is a setting sun. Who would want to join that rotten stagnant water?”

It’s true, but I thought Blue Cloud was still the #1 guild that all hunters want to join…

Rather, except for growth potential, isn’t Hwarang actually viewed more negatively by the public?

But I didn’t say that honestly to Mo Gyeon.

“Are you referring to reporter Jo Sung Hyun?”

Ju Cheong Yeon, who I thought had been focused only on his book, put it down on the table and asked.

“Yes. Do you know him too, Hunter Ju Cheong Yeon?”

“I do.”

“Is there any chance of getting protection from the Association?”

I’m not afraid of retaliation from reporter Jo Sung Hyun, but it’s good to be prepared in case he tries to do something.

Above all, I didn’t want to just sit back and be victimized.

“I said that because it didn’t seem like there would be much impact even if he wrote false articles about the campsite, but I am a bit worried.”

“Were there other guests who witnessed that situation at the time?”

“There was no one when Blue Cloud tried to recruit me since we talked privately, but several people saw reporter Jo Sung Hyun’s behavior. Some of the current campsite guests were there too.”

“Hmm……”

He slowly rubbed his chin as if pondering.

“I can’t say for certain since it’s not my jurisdiction, but it should be possible. Interfering with business operations is a crime, and if he publishes an article, false allegations against hunters are subject to sanctions.”

“Ah, that’s a relief.”

“I’ll check and file a report as soon as I get back.”

“Thank you.”

Is this the power of public authority? Hunter Ju Cheong Yeon was very reassuring. Connections really are the best.

“I guess I’ll have to stay at the campsite starting tomorrow too.”

“Yes, please be careful since it’s the expedition period. That guild seems like it would be troublesome if there are any misunderstandings.”

Hunter Ju Cheong Yeon gave a deflated laugh for a moment.

“Blue Cloud would be the one troubled if they run into me.”

“Because you’re from the Association?”

This time he just smiled and stared at me intently. It seemed like the right answer, but also not.

“Anyway, there shouldn’t be any problems with Blue Cloud while I’m at the campsite. That’s partly why I came.”

He picked up his book again. And started reading slowly as if nothing had happened.

“Yeah, you take care of it somehow.”

Mo Gyeon finally added that Hunter Ju Cheong Yeon was earning his keep. Hunter Chae Dong Hwa also nodded in agreement.

‘Is Hunter Ju Cheong Yeon someone with a high position in the Association?’

That was all I could think at the time.

I tried all the cafe menu items once over 3 days. I also organized the books by genre and finished cleaning the surroundings.

‘Now I just need to buy effect items related to the book cafe.’

I went down to the first floor to find Hunter Ju Cheong Yeon’s tent.

“Hunter Ju Cheong Yeon. Are you busy?”

“No. What’s the matter?”

He was sitting in a relaxing chair reading a book. Borrowed books could be carried around freely within the campsite area.

“I came to hear your review of the items.”

“Ah.”

He straightened up and took out a notepad from his back pocket.

“The earplugs that make you hear books were comfortable to listen to before bed. They were also good for focusing on books in the cafe without noise. But one drawback is that you hear your own voice, which was a bit uncomfortable to listen to, perhaps because it was my voice.”

“You felt that way too, Hunter Ju Cheong Yeon? I felt the same. But your voice is nice, isn’t it?”

“Is that so. Yu Bom’s voice is gentle and pleasant to listen to as well. I guess everyone feels that way about their own voice.”

Hunter Ju Cheong Yeon smiled faintly. When I asked him to give me his review after using the items, he really wrote it down meticulously in his notepad and told me.

‘He’s truly diligent.’

He also said he had already grasped the contents of all the books registered in the outdoor book cafe using the plot summary notebook.

“You did that already? There must have been quite a lot.”

“I did it because I wanted to. There were many very useful books. The folktales were rich in hints about the living emotions and customs of a group, which helped a lot in understanding the values of the Lamie tribe.”

“I’m glad it was helpful to you. I wanted to repay you somehow for helping me a lot last time.”

“I didn’t do it expecting anything in return. I guess people should live kindly after all. Haha.”

Living kindly, he says. Somehow it really doesn’t suit Hunter Ju Cheong Yeon…

It’s a skill in itself to look suspicious despite always having a smiling face like that.

More precisely, after hearing that he dismembers monsters when hunting, I felt a bit creeped out every time he smiled.

‘No, anyway, he’s been kind to me.’

I glanced at the book he was reading and asked.

“What book are you reading now?”

“The Golem’s Missing Mistress.”

“What, what mistress?”

“Don’t you know this novel? It clearly said Yu Bom was the provider.”

He said with a smile. There was a hint of playfulness in his tone.

“Ah…… Why are you reading that, Hunter? You should just read Laura’s books.”

“No. It’s very interesting how it’s been adapted to fit the dungeon world view. Soon it will be time for Mandragora, the golem’s mistress, to run away. That’s the climax of this novel. Yu Bom, you remember this part, right?”

“I don’t know……”

“You must remember? Does Mandragora end up getting caught? I checked the plot summary but I can’t quite recall.”

“I don’t remember either.”

“Are you perhaps embarrassed about The Golem’s Missing Mistress?”

“No, please. Stop it! I’m sorry. I won’t ask what you’re reading anymore……”

I felt ashamed because of Hunter Ju Cheong Yeon who kept talking to me. Of all things, that book happened to be a high-level 19+ angst novel.

Even as I tried to cover my ears and leave, he wouldn’t let me go and kept talking about The Golem’s Missing Mistress.

He even said it would be fun to hear it in my voice when using the earplugs that make you hear books.

“What’s fun about that?”

“It would feel like watching a role-play. The golem duke’s lines are quite prickly, so it might be novel to hear them in Yu Bom’s voice.”

“I think your tastes are a bit strange, Hunter.”

“Did I get found out?”

He replied lightly with a laugh.

‘Does he think it’s a joke? I’m being serious though.’

Apart from being impressive, he had a chilling side. When you realize that sometimes it seems completely playful but then has bits of seriousness mixed in, it sends shivers down your spine.

The words he just said also seemed to have some truth mixed in…

“Bom! Weren’t you going fishing today? Aren’t you coming?”

“Oh, right, Mo Gyeon. I’m coming now!”

Mo Gyeon called out to me just then. Come to think of it, today was the day I was supposed to go finish the fish guide quest with Mo Gyeon.

“Um, then I have plans so I’ll be going now. Please continue reading.”

“Okay. Be careful.”

He waved his hand lightly and turned his attention back to the book. He had quickly returned to a normal expression as if our conversation just now had been a dream.

He really seems like a strange person. I should stop getting any closer to him.

I stuck out my tongue and prepared to go to the river.

Just before leaving, Hunter Ju Cheong Yeon approached and lent me a stand. He also lent me the King Slime lump I had used last time.

I had felt a bit regretful after using good equipment once, so I thought this worked out well and accepted without refusing.

‘I guess fishing really depends on equipment too.’

I managed fine without it before. I suddenly felt afraid of getting used to it.

“Is it good?”

“Yeah. This sandwich is really delicious with coffee.”

We put our fishing rods on the stand and ate the snacks we brought. There were sandwiches, rice balls, fruit, and coffee that Laura had brewed.

Mo Gyeon devoured his sandwich in just a few bites.