Chapter 77 – Peanut Fever

Thanks to that, the front of Hee-na’s office door was packed with a huge crowd. All the Hunters who had heard the rumor flocked to buy the peanuts from the siblings, Hee-na and Hee-won.

‘Why on earth are these people making such a fuss? Does it taste that good?’

Hee-na, the seller who actually needed to know the efficacy of the peanuts, was the only one who didn’t know the reason and was simply bewildered.

On top of that, every time a Hunter stopped by, a mana stone or a low-grade potion of some sort would definitely appear somewhere. Among them were also gifts of unknown origin, such as flowers, chocolates, or candies.

‘Does the Blue Dragon Guild only have Hunters with bad hand habits?’

Of course, the issue was that they were leaving things behind rather than stealing them, but if it flustered the recipient, it was correct to say they had bad habits.

Just as she was seriously contemplating whether she should write and upload a lost-and-found list on the company bulletin board while busy selling peanuts, it happened.

“Everyone, clear the area.”

The face she had seen a few hours ago appeared. HR Team Leader Kang Mok-hyun began to clear out Hee-na’s crowded office.

“Ah, why! Let us buy the rest and go!”

“Don’t push with force! Aaack!”

Contrary to his slender and intelligent image, Kang Mok-hyun’s strength seemed quite brute. The Hunters, who had lunged with eyes ablaze, began to be pushed back while screaming.

“I’ve memorized all your faces. If you do not clear the area within one minute, there will be disadvantages in your next personnel evaluation.”

Furthermore, when he laid down such a threat, the Hunters glanced at one another and hesitantly withdrew one by one.

“Aw, man. If I had waited just a little longer, it would have been my turn.”

“What a petty-minded HR Team Leader.”

“What are you going to do if you get backlashed for swearing?”

“But your voice is loud enough for him to hear too?”

Everyone did not forget to leave grumbling remarks as they withdrew.

Although regret was overflowing in their eyes as if it was a pity, they seemed more afraid of the HR Team Leader’s authority.

Hee-na looked anew at HR Team Leader Kang Mok-hyun, who had the unruly and troublesome Hunters under his thumb with one hand.

Should a team leader display that kind of charisma? Of course, if so, Hee-na would have to resign from her team leader position immediately.

After the very last Hunter left Hee-na’s office like that.

“Thanks to Team Leader Kang, the commotion quieted down quickly, didn’t it?”

At the low voice ringing from behind her back, Hee-na jumped up while sitting.

“Ack! You startled me!”

“Oops. Team Leader Lee, sorry. Look at me. I hadn’t let go of my presence. Were you startled?”

“……G-Guild Leader?”

It was Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee.

“I was worried things would get too big if even I appeared, so I left the cleanup to the HR Team Leader instead.”

She appeared calmly and fiddled with the peanuts piled on Hee-na’s desk.

HR Team Leader Kang Mok-hyun closed and locked the door to Hee-na’s office as if he had expected it.

The click of the lock sounded exceptionally loud.

“Why are you locking the door…?”

At the significant action, Hee-na’s face turned pale.

‘What are they trying to do to me secretly after locking the door?’

The expression of HR Team Leader Kang Mok-hyun, whom she looked at, was exceptionally blank.

Hee-na snapped her head around and looked up at Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee’s face. Somehow, her gaze seemed a bit chilly.

Was this how a mouse in front of a snake felt? Her body shranked on its own.

“Shall we talk a bit?”

Kim Kyu-hee, who had been staring into Hee-na’s eyes for a long time, walked over to the guest sofa at some point and sat cross-legged.

“Y-Yes.”

Hee-na scurried over and sat where she gestured. It was the sofa opposite the Guild Leader.

‘What did the Guild Leader come all the way here for?’

She was a Guild Leader who rarely moved unless it was a major matter. For such a Guild Leader to personally visit Hee-na’s office, had something big happened?

Just as she was pondering what was going on, Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee opened her mouth.

“I heard that Team Leader Lee is selling peanuts in the guild.”

The topic that came out of the Guild Leader’s mouth was none other than ‘peanuts’.

‘Gasp. Is there some problem? Am I not allowed to sell them? But the HR Team Leader said it was fine?’

At that question, all kinds of thoughts surged in Hee-na’s mind.

“Th-This might sound like a huge excuse… but since I received permission from the HR Team Leader, I thought it was okay to sell them. If there is anything I misunderstood, I will correct it immediately.”

For now, although she didn’t know what was going on, Hee-na bowed flatly. Although she felt a bit wronged, what could she do? The boss said no…

Meanwhile, she did not forget to bring up the HR Team Leader again, lest she take the blame alone.

“But I recall being guided by Team Leader Kang that monetary transactions within the company were fine…”

This was one of the basic survival skills of an office worker. The ‘Never Take the Blame Alone’ skill.

Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee looked at Hee-na with amusement as she said everything she needed to say while rolling her eyes anxiously.

“No. It’s not the kind of thing Team Leader Lee is worried about. We have no business interfering with private transactions occurring within our company.”

Phew. Hee-na swept her hand over her chest inside. She had almost harbored a groundless grudge against HR Team Leader Kang Mok-hyun.

“Then… may I ask what brought you to see me?”

As she cautiously opened her mouth, Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee uncrossed her legs and adjusted her posture.

“Let’s sign an exclusive contract with us, Team Leader Lee.”

Her eyes shone significantly.

“A contract?”

Bewildered by the sudden talk of a contract, Hee-na asked.

“Is there something more to write besides the employment contract?”

She thought they had just brought up the peanuts, but within Hee-na’s common sense, she could not find any connection between peanuts and a contract at all.

‘Does the Guild Leader also like peanuts?’

She had only harbored this kind of question at most.

At that, the Guild Leader, who had been resting her chin and staring straight into Hee-na’s eyes, chuckled.

“Yes. I do like peanuts too. But that’s not necessarily why I brought up the contract.”

It was an answer that was like she had read her mind.

No, actually, Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee had the ability to read people’s inner minds, so it was not entirely wrong.

Hee-na recalled a fact she had temporarily forgotten and grew extremely tense. At this rate, even her ‘Home Sweet Home’ skill was in danger of being caught.

“You must have heard about my ability from Hunter Kang. I don’t know what that skill you want to hide is, but I’m quite good at keeping secrets, so don’t worry, Team Leader Lee.”

The Guild Leader, who had read Hee-na’s mind with their locked gaze, spoke in a relaxed manner. She was like a tiger hiding its claws.

“I told you not to tremble so much.”

She laughed, haha, and waved her hand. It was a friendly sight, but that made it even scarier.

Of course, Hee-na was proud and had nothing to hide, but the anxiety of having her inner thoughts thoroughly read was subtly large.

She wanted to quickly hear the main point and escape this situation.

“So… what is the story of the contract you were going to bring up?”

“Ah, yes. We were talking about the contract.”

Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee snapped her fingers as if she had forgotten.

“I want you to sell all the peanuts you brought to our company. All of them, including the products you produce in the future.”

Hee-na doubted her ears for a moment.

“Yes? You are talking about peanuts… right?”

Her brother’s peanuts were extremely delicious, but that was all.

‘Of course, seeing the picky Hunters queuing up to buy them, the quality was certainly above average.’

If asked whether they possessed enough value for the Guild Leader to personally step in and covet them, that was not the case.

The Guild Leader looked at the wide-eyed Hee-na and laughed softly.

“It seems Team Leader Lee didn’t know the exact effect of the peanuts she was selling. Yes. Indeed, if you had known, you wouldn’t have put a few handfuls in a black plastic bag and sold them for a mere 6,000 won.”

The effect of the peanuts?

Hee-na tried to recall the efficacy of peanuts. However, other than the effect of naturally prompting beer as a savory snack, not much came to mind.

“Is there some problem with the peanuts I brought?”

As she asked after groaning and agonizing, Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee giggled.

“Of course, peanuts and beer are the best combination. However, Team Leader Lee’s peanuts have something more special. They have the possibility to be used as a substitute for portable rations.”

“Portable rations?”

Hee-na recalled one of the efficacies of nuts. Did they say it was good for dieting because it caused satiety…? Anyway, it seemed there was a similar effect.

“You said the peanuts were grown by Team Leader Lee’s family member, right? In my opinion, that family member is probably not an ordinary person either.”

Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee’s eyes shone. Hee-na thought of her brother, Hee-won.

‘My brother… is not an ordinary person?’

The first thing that came to mind was him wearing a stretched-out T-shirt and scratching his stomach. It was the very appearance of a blood relative who was nothing but ordinary.

However, it was clear that what the Guild Leader was curious about was not her brother’s shabby essence. She was probably asking about Hee-won’s awakening status and his class.

‘Indeed. Our sibling awakening classes are unique. A Homemaker and Farmer sibling duo is a class that would shock anyone who saw it.’

She didn’t know how she realized Hee-won’s class was unique, but it wasn’t something to hide. Hee-na scratched her cheek.

“My brother is also a D-grade awakened, but he is a non-combat Farmer.”

“A Farmer. So that’s why the efficacy of the crops was extraordinary.”

The Guild Leader stroked her chin with interest.

‘Sigh, so frustrating.’

Meanwhile, the Guild Leader read Hee-na’s mind, but Hee-na could not read the Guild Leader’s mind, so the conversation was not going properly.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Hee-na asked almost as if demanding an explanation.

“But you’ve been speaking since earlier as if the peanuts my brother grew are different from other peanuts. Exactly in what aspect are they special that you personally visited like this? You brought up portable rations, but I don’t really understand.”

The Homemaker of the Dungeon