Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 31

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Even Hastily Made Ones Keep Stacking Up as EX-Rank (31)

Could you please give me an answer?

The last day of the expo drew enormous crowds, just as expected.

This was even more than Lee Si-hyeok had anticipated, and it seemed to be due to Chronos withdrawing early.

Thanks to that, even though they had expanded the booth space this morning with the Association’s support, the waiting numbers were backing up like crazy.

‘Just how many people are there…?’

Still, it wasn’t unmanageable.

“We’ll help you with the experience over here!”

A cheerful voice.

It was because Lim A-yeon, the deputy representative of Termion Security, had come to help.

Actually, it wasn’t common for someone of deputy representative level to personally step forward at such events, but wasn’t she the person who had been trying to somehow revive the company in place of the representative who had fallen into despair?

She had contacted them even before Lee Si-hyeok requested support, saying she would rush over anytime if they just said the word.

So today she brought several company employees with her, and they were quite helpful.

“Those receiving rewards, please come this way!”

“Waiting numbers are over here!”

Having worked together for a long time, they were well-coordinated.

Even though the situation had become much busier, it felt rather relaxed, if anything.

‘Nice.’

Lee Si-hyeok chuckled softly as he guided the visitors.

Unlike the first day, he was now showing his bare face. Perhaps because of that, he could feel obvious stares from all directions.

Those gazes made his heart swell with emotion on one hand, while also feeling burdensome on the other.

‘Well, at least I’m not the only one like this.’

Lee Si-hyeok looked at Isaac to catch his breath for a moment.

In front of Isaac, who had deactivated his stealth skill according to Lee Si-hyeok’s instructions, five or six little children were gathered closely together.

“Wow. It’s Uncle Isaac.”

So cool…”

“Photos! Could you please take a photo with us?!”

Even though the little ones were jumping up and down and shouting, Isaac was leaning against the wall with his back turned, pretending not to hear or see them.

A guy with no humanity. That’s what he thought at first, but it didn’t seem to be entirely like that.

His closed eyes and shut mouth were trembling slightly, so it seemed like he was just pretending not to see or hear because he didn’t know how to react.

“Oops.”

Then one of the kids dropped their smartphone, and Lee Si-hyeok, who had been watching, approached and picked it up for them.

When he handed it to Isaac, only then did Isaac slowly open his eyes.

“Don’t be like that and take a photo with them.”

“…Understood.”

It seemed he didn’t particularly dislike not refusing. He had just hesitated about how to act since this was his first time with such a situation.

“W-wow.”

But seeing that, the kids suddenly started sparkling with excitement.

“He answered right away when that uncle commanded him!”

“He must be stronger than Uncle Isaac!”

“Uncle, take a photo with us too!”

It seemed they had misunderstood something.

Still, Lee Si-hyeok took the photo without complaining and returned to his position.

And while he was waiting to guide the next visitor, someone unexpected came to visit.

“Um.”

Lee Si-hyeok’s eyes widened.

“Hello.”

“Chae-ah?”

Short stature and gentle-looking appearance. It was Song Chae-ah, who had been with him during the awakening grade assessment not long ago.

“What brings you here…”

He was about to ask that when he saw the man standing next to her and closed his mouth.

It was the man from the booth across from them who had visited Lee Si-hyeok’s booth on the first day of the expo. Even then, he had wondered if he had met him somewhere before after seeing his face.

The two looked that much alike.

“So you two are siblings.”

“Haha. That’s right, older brother.”

“…Older brother?”

“Yes, older brother. Let me introduce myself properly. I’m Song Hyeon-gyu!”

Song Hyeon-gyu suddenly bowed 90 degrees. More than that, calling him older brother when they had only seen each other’s face once? Even as Lee Si-hyeok straightened Song Hyeon-gyu’s back, he tilted his head and asked.

“Then the booth across from us, was Chae-ah running it?”

“That’s right. After hearing what you said that time, Si-hyeok… I decided to give it a try.”

“Oh.”

Lee Si-hyeok opened his mouth in surprise.

Not much time had passed since then, yet she had already changed her mindset.

Honestly, he hadn’t expected it. Change wasn’t something that happened so simply. Emotional change was even more so, and if it was negative emotion, even more so.

Emotions weren’t something layered on top, but rather something that soaked in deep. That’s why Lee Si-hyeok hadn’t put much meaning into what he said either.

It was just that Song Chae-ah at that time looked too precarious. The way she was rushing forward impatiently, having forgotten her original intentions, looked exactly like his own past.

So he had just said a few words, never imagining that it would become a catalyst for them to meet again in this place.

Lee Si-hyeok spoke with sincerity.

“You did well.”

“R-really?

“Yes. I’ll visit your booth once today’s schedule is over. Is that okay?”

“Of course…”

“Of course, older brother! We’re always open!”

Song Hyeon-gyu suddenly interrupted without warning. Song Chae-ah’s eyebrows furrowed.

“You stay quiet.”

“Why, when older brother wants to come?”

“Si-hyeok was talking with me. Don’t interrupt.”

“Geez, talking? You were too embarrassed to speak properly.”

“…When did I?”

Older Sister doesn’t even know how red her ears are right now, does she?”

“Wh-what.”

“Of course you wouldn’t know. Because it’s a lie.”

“This guy really…!”

Just as the argument was about to escalate, Deputy Representative Lim A-yeon walked over from the table next to them.

Lee Si-hyeok, who had been watching the siblings with an expression of disbelief, relaxed his expression and welcomed her.

She looked at the siblings and casually made a suggestion – if the two were okay with it, how about helping out at Lee Si-hyeok’s booth?

“How about it?”

It wasn’t a bad proposal from Lee Si-hyeok’s perspective either.

Today, unlike the second day, because they had expanded the booth, the siblings’ booth had virtually no people at all, and rather than that, gaining practical experience and learning work during that time would be a valuable experience. They would also receive appropriate pay.

At least Lee Si-hyeok wouldn’t have missed such an opportunity.

However, since he couldn’t force them, he waited for their answer.

“…”

Song Chae-ah seemed to be hesitating for some reason. It didn’t seem like she disliked it, more like she was uncertain about how to respond.

“We’ll definitely do it!”

Song Hyeon-gyu pounded his chest without a moment’s hesitation.

Then he grabbed the back of Song Chae-ah’s head and nodded for her instead.

“Older Sister, hurry up and say you’ll do it too!”

“Uh… Yes!”

“Good. Then this way.”

Lim A-yeon, who had been watching with a cute expression, took the two away.

Time passed quickly after that.

Thanks to the increased booth staff, work became much easier, and the time for the expo to end was gradually approaching.

It was around the time they started packing up the booth items one by one.

“Si-hyeok!”

Hearing a cheerful voice from behind, he turned around to see Manager Yoon Seo-jin standing there with a bright smile.

Lee Si-hyeok turned back around and continued packing while answering.

“Hello, Manager.”

“Huh, what’s this? Now you answer without even looking at me?”

“….”

“That’s too much, really too much. Do you know how hurt I was?”

“Ahem.”

Only then did Lee Si-hyeok look at Yoon Seo-jin. Of course, it was only because he had finished packing.

“You suddenly appeared in Stage Zero, and it was such a shock. Well, when I got to about the middle of the corridor, I figured it was probably you, Si-hyeok. But couldn’t you have given me at least a heads up? Between us?”

“Mm.”

Yoon Seo-jin snorted.

“And why don’t you check your messages? I sent you so many.”

“…I did see them.”

“But you didn’t reply!”

Well, if you send 200 messages in a row by yourself, what am I supposed to reply? He wanted to retort like that, but Lee Si-hyeok had some sense and kept his mouth shut.

However, Lee Si-hyeok also had something to say. He looked straight at Yoon Seo-jin’s face and spoke.

“But Manager, you didn’t say anything either. Yesterday you called me a crazy person.”

“…!”

Yoon Seo-jin’s mouth fell open for a moment.

“You actually saw that? From that far away?”

“Yes.”

“…H-how could you see that? Are your eyes crazy too?”

He’s a monster. After muttering that, Yoon Seo-jin calmed down and asked again.

“Then you must have seen what expression I had at that time too?”

“I saw it, you were smiling. You didn’t seem hurt at all.”

“Hehe. You caught me. I understand too. You were really tormented by Chronos, right? Pyo Jae-hwan’s face got all crumpled up, it was so entertaining. I remember exactly how many wrinkles appeared on that guy’s face.”

Lee Si-hyeok continued listening to her story while organizing the booth.

Yoon Seo-jin said she had successfully wrapped up the Termion booth, and gained even more popularity by announcing that she received Lee Si-hyeok’s help on the last day.

Fortunately, since it was a non-combat artifact, it didn’t overlap with Hollow Trace’s field.

When the cleanup was almost finished, Han Da-hee from the Association’s Grade Assessment Team passed by nearby.

Today, the Association had dispatched personnel in preparation for crowds, and she had come as one of them.

It was probably largely due to public opinion concerns. There had been the Chronos surveillance incident, and it would look good for the Association to step in appropriately.

And since Han Da-hee was the one who had some acquaintance with Lee Si-hyeok, she probably came as a representative.

“Oh, right.”

But seeing Han Da-hee passing by with an expressionless face, Yoon Seo-jin spoke as if something had occurred to her.

“We were supposed to have a company dinner!”

“A company dinner?”

“Don’t you remember? On the day Si-hyeok’s awakening grade was announced!”

“…?”

Lee Si-hyeok looked at her as if asking what she was talking about, then slowly searched his memory. If it was Yoon Seo-jin saying this, there must have been such an occasion.

Meanwhile, a memory flashed through his mind.

Right after watching the press conference announcing his awakening grade.

―Let’s have a meal next time, Manager. I’ll treat you then.

‘Ah.’

He had erased it from his memory right after saying those words.

He was already busy just thinking about artifacts, so he didn’t want to waste energy on it.

And that was still the case now.

The difficult expo was finally over, and he wanted to spend happy time reading papers and analyzing artifacts again….

“You remembered, didn’t you? I can tell from your expression that you just remembered.”

He didn’t answer.

Yoon Seo-jin didn’t mind either.

“Good. Then we can do it today.”

“….”

“What should we eat? A barbecue restaurant would be good, right? Pork? No, beef might be better.”

He didn’t answer….

“Could you please give me an answer?”

He wanted to refuse if he could. But wasn’t this a promise he had already postponed once? Moreover, he had said with his own mouth that they should do it when Termion’s reorganization was finished.

It would be like saying two different things with one mouth. Lee Si-hyeok didn’t want to do that.

But since he wasn’t particularly keen on the company dinner either, Lee Si-hyeok answered with a question instead.

“Shouldn’t you have dinner with the Termion people first? They must have worked hard running the booth, so with them first….”

But Yoon Seo-jin was firm.

“I already made plans with the employees for next week. And today is the only day I’m free. Starting the day after tomorrow, I’ll be busy submitting performance reports for this event.”

“….”

Lee Si-hyeok swallowed his silence.

‘I can’t avoid it.’

Then it would be better to get it over with today.

He had a plan that just came to mind too.

“Understood, Manager. But I have one favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

“Could we invite other people too? We all worked hard together, so it would be awkward if only we got together.”

“Ah, the people who helped Si-hyeok? Of course that’s fine!”

Yoon Seo-jin nodded in admiration.

“I’ve always felt this, but your sense is incredible. Like how you kept giving energy drinks whenever things got tough. Hehe.”

Of course, Lee Si-hyeok’s true intentions were a bit different.

‘Perfect. Gather as many people as possible, then sneak away in the confusion.’

He had wanted to repay the people who helped today anyway, so this was a perfect opportunity.

If he secretly left and even paid the bill, no one could complain.

“Then I’ll gather people, Manager.”

“Great! I’ll see off our employees and come back.”

Thinking about it again, it was a brilliant plan.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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