## Chapter 362 – Debt Collection
Turning around, I saw Mariel standing there with a flustered look.
“You bastard.”
She was wearing her usual white qipao-like uniform. A mediocre lower-level instructor with impressive, bursting thighs; it was a coincidental encounter.
“Instead of working, where the hell are you wandering around?”
But thinking about it, I ran into her every now and then while I was out and about. It seemed that being an instructor at the Martial Arts Guild was a surprisingly leisurely job.
No wonder she was getting her ass kicked by me with that kind of lazy training.
The Guild Master, Liztina, was an absolute powerhouse on par with Karin, but honestly, even Lisette, a high-level instructor, was barely holding her own against me. It was absurd for a low-level instructor like Mariel to neglect her training and wander around like this.
“I don’t need to hear that from you! I’m just out running an errand!”
Mariel shouted back at my words.
“I don’t care about that.”
I took a step forward, as if to shake her hand, but she suddenly pulled one leg back and took a stance. Was she trying to fight?
What a belligerent bitch.
“What? Why are you doing this to me? You wanna fight?”
“N-No, that’s not it. I was just preparing for a surprise attack.”
“Why would I surprise attack you?”
“Think about what you’ve done, Cheonma. You’re the reason I developed this habit.”
“You’re so boring. I won’t surprise attack you, so relax. Our grudges are already half settled.”
As I said before, I’d almost forgotten my grudges against the Martial Arts Guild.
“…I see. Understood.”
Even if Serka appeared before my eyes right now, I wouldn’t even think about laying a hand on her.
Well, Liztina, the main culprit behind the kidnapping, had resolved the resentment by showing me her private parts, and I’d beaten up all the other instructors, so it was fine.
The problem was Lisette, but I didn’t really care about him anymore either.
We were comrades now.
“Oh, right. What’s Lisette up to these days?”
“Lisette-sabum, you mean? He’s probably at the guild.”
“Really? Then let’s go get Lisette.”
It suddenly occurred to me that I had promised Lisette that we would go to the slums to collect alimony when I was a Navi and lying in the Guho Monastery.
Since I ran into Mariel, I should ask her to call him out.
“Do you have business with Lisette-sabum?”
“Yeah.”
“Then… Ah, no! Why should I call him out for you! I’m currently running an errand for the Guild Master! I don’t have time for that!”
“Ah, just call him out since we ran into each other. It’s not like I can just call him out myself.”
If I went to the Martial Arts Guild alone, I would definitely only hear bad things. It would be better to bring Mariel, who I was somewhat friendly with, and ask her to call Lisette out.
I didn’t have anything to do today anyway, so it would be nice to go to the slums with Lisette for revenge and a bit of work.
I already had perfect equipment, so there wouldn’t be any problems with the job.
“I refuse!”
However, Mariel seemed to have a different idea than me.
“You little Mariel.”
How dare she refuse my request?
I immediately unleashed the secret moves of the murderous Siljang Fist Technique.
ㅡPapapap!
Conversation wasn’t difficult. Persuasion wasn’t difficult either. Of course, asking for favors and goodwill wasn’t difficult either.
ㅡBoongjjeuk boongjjeuk!
All you needed was a fist honed to the limit and a kick filled with murderous intent, and you could persuade people without much effort.
“Do you want to taste the Siljang Fist Technique?”
“Eek!”
Mariel tore at her hair and was horrified to see me demonstrating the Siljang Fist Technique.
“Okay, okay! I’ll go with you, so stop right now! I was wrong! Don’t attack me!”
“Hehehe, what do you mean hit you, we’re friends. Relax, it’s just a joke. I’m scared of your Guild Master too.”
I released my stance and patted Mariel on the shoulder with a nonchalant attitude. Mariel flinched for a moment and squeezed her eyes shut, then slowly opened them and said.
“Friends… you mean?”
“Yeah. We’re practically friends already. Anyway, guide me.”
“A-Alright.”
I stood side by side with Mariel and headed towards the Martial Arts Guild, chatting about this and that.
“How’s Serka doing these days?”
“She seems to be doing okay. She’s already finished her training, so there’s no need to worry about her.”
“Well, that’s good to hear. How’s the Guild Master doing?”
“She’s doing fine, as usual.”
It was good to hear she was doing well.
As we walked, we arrived at the Martial Arts Guild.
“Then, I’ll leave it to you.”
“…Alright. I’ll go get him soon.”
There was no need to go inside, so I just stood outside and waited.
But since I was standing at the entrance, the martial arts uniform-clad people who were coming and going seemed to recognize me and avoid me, so I decided to stand a little further away from the entrance to be considerate of them.
Was it almost lunchtime?
After a while, Mariel came out. She came out alone and looked around as if she was looking for me.
“Mariel? Where’s Lisette?”
“Ah… there you are.”
“Lisette’s not there?”
“No, Lisette-sabum is inside. But…”
“What, why? Does she want me to come in?”
“That’s… when I tried to tell Lisette-sabum, the Guild Master was there…”
Mariel hesitated before speaking.
What about the Guild Master?
“The Guild Master told me to bring you, Cheonma.”
“What? Why!”
“I don’t know. When I tried to talk to Lisette-sabum, the Guild Master heard it and told me that. Now, hurry up and go in. I’ll guide you.”
“Ah, damn it! Why would I go in there!”
Was she calling me in to beat me to death?
I could handle Lisette, so I could meet him comfortably, but Liztina was definitely not someone I could handle. If I was called in by such a vicious gangster boss, I didn’t know what would happen to me.
Well, looking back, she didn’t really harm me directly back then.
She just ordered me to be lynched for the sake of the guild’s honor.
She seemed to have some common sense, but it was better not to stick my face into dangerous situations. Even though the chances of her harming me were low, given what happened with Karin.
It was just stirring up trouble.
“Why are you suddenly shouting! I’m just doing as I’m told!”
“I don’t know! Goodbye! I’m not going!”
“Ah, no! The Guild Master will be angry with me!”
“I don’t care, you idiot! Deal with it yourself!”
“How irresponsible! I came all the way here with you, neglecting my errand, all because of you! Come to think of it, the errand was for the Guild Master! I just got scolded for that, so what am I supposed to do!”
What a twisted bastard.
But I had no intention of going in.
“I don’t know. Goodbye. Well, maybe we’ll see each other next time. Tell Lisette I’ll see him later.”
“Don’t go!”
“Hey, you don’t think she’d scold you for something like this, right? Relax.”
Today must not be my day.
I could always take revenge on the slum beggars with Lisette another time. I should go to the Adventurer’s Guild for a while to check out the quest list and meet Risha-nim before going back.
Anyway, Winia was at the Magic Tower, saying she had work to do.
Cloudy said she was going out for a while too.
I probably had time until dinner.
ㅡPachut!
I was about to shake off Mariel and head to the Adventurer’s Guild when it happened.
I felt a fierce energy and looked over there. Someone was standing in front of the main gate of the Martial Arts Guild.
This energy…!
More than anything, that long sky-blue hair, that chest-revealing qipao, and that white fur scarf around her neck!
It was the Martial Arts Guild Master, Liztina!
ㅡClick, click.
She was smiling slightly and silently beckoning with her finger.
What, what! When did she get here! She sent Mariel and came out herself? Was she that distrustful of Mariel! She had no basics as a Guild Master!
I never thought she would come out herself.
“Hey, hey! Mariel, that…!”
“Don’t fall for it… Huh? G-Guild Master!”
“Swift escape!”
Startled, I immediately used my footwork to try to escape the scene with all my might. I heard Mariel shouting something from behind. Honestly, I couldn’t hear anything good, so it was better to just run away.
ㅡStop!
“Ugh!”
I had run about 10 meters when an explosive lion’s roar struck my ears. That high-pitched, shrill voice…! It was the voice of the Martial Arts Guild Master!
Escape was impossible.
I turned around and saw Liztina with her arms crossed, looking at me. Only then did Mariel, who had caught up with me, drag me away, panting.
“Come on. Let’s go, Cheonma. Nothing will happen. As you said, our grudges have already been settled, haven’t they?”
“Damn it.”
In the end, I was dragged to the front gate of the Martial Arts Guild.
I couldn’t believe this was happening.
Standing in front of me, Liztina narrowed her eyes and looked me up and down before saying.
“Didn’t I tell you to come? Why are you running away?”
Of course I’d run away, you bitch.
“Ah, well, I left something behind. I think I left my wallet at the store, so I should go back before someone steals it. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, so I’m sorry I can’t greet you properly. But you’re still as beautiful as ever.”
“Heh, you’re really good with words. Anyway, follow me. I have something to talk about.”
I made up a lie and said something appropriate, and Liztina just told me what she wanted to say and turned away.
No, I lost my wallet.
“No, that’s my wallet…”
ㅡGlare.
When I emphasized it again, she turned back to me with a sharp look and said.
“Just follow me without saying anything.”
“…”
Damn it, I need to find my wallet!
I couldn’t believe this was happening.
I gave up and followed Liztina. Mariel was also walking next to me. The martial artists who passed by sent me strange looks.
What was she going to talk about?
“Um, Guild Master… about what happened last time…”
As I said that, Liztina stopped walking.
And she said quietly, still stopped.
“…We’ll talk about that inside.”
What did she mean by going inside?
In the end, I entered the rather large Martial Arts Guild building. It seemed that the gymnasium building had been repaired.
ㅡTap tap.
We maintained silence as we climbed the stairs. The only sound was the footsteps of Liztina, who was wearing red high heels.
We climbed to the second floor, then the third floor.
Finally, the fourth floor.
There were several doors on the fourth floor, and Liztina grabbed the doorknob of one of them and said.
“…Mariel.”
“Y-Yes! Guild Master!”
“Be quiet, please.”
“Yes… I understand.”
“Go back down now. No, go and finish what you were told to do.”
As Liztina instructed, Mariel went back down the stairs she had come up. When I tried to follow her down, she said.
“Where are you trying to go?”
“I’m going to help Mariel.”
“There’s no need for that. Just come in.”
ㅡCreak.
Liztina glared at me and opened the door.
“Oh, man.”
I had no choice but to enter the room. The inside of the room was… a reception room with a calm atmosphere. There was a rather antique desk in front of the window, as if it were a private seat, and there were closets and bookshelves in the room.
ㅡClick.
As I entered, Liztina closed the door and locked it.
Th-This is… what the hell.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and sit down. Are you just going to stand there blankly?”
“G-Guild Master. This is all fine, but why are you locking the door?”
“Because it’s a story that’s difficult for others to hear… Sit down.”
“Guild Master. I’m sorry. Please forgive me just once. It wasn’t intentional.”
I apologized and begged, not knowing what was going on. I didn’t know for sure, but locking the door seemed to mean that she was going to interrogate me about what happened last time.
This was so unfair, damn it.
“I was wrong! I really feel guilty!”
When I even knelt down and begged, she looked at me with even colder eyes and said in a ruthless tone.
“Sit.”
“Yes.”
I had no choice but to do as I was told.
I pulled up a chair and sat down, and she went to the desk and closed the curtains. The room became slightly darker, and Liztina pulled out a chair and sat down in the darkness.
Looking at her sitting in that seat, she felt like some kind of boss.
ㅡGulp.
I swallowed nervously.
What was this about…
“How have you been?”
“Yes? Yes? Ah, I’ve been well.”
But suddenly, she smiled brightly and asked how I was doing. I reflexively replied that I was doing well.
“Well, we had a bit of an unpleasant incident between us last time.”
