Nearly a month had passed.
After receiving first aid for about a week at the Black Swan Guild, I was transferred to Blue and spent the rest of the time in the guild’s hospital room.
Of course, a week later, Ahn Ki-mo, a member of the Red Mercenary, headed back to his own guild, but in the process, I had no choice but to feel a little disappointed. This was because I genuinely wanted to snag him for myself. He would prove not only a trusted ally but someone who could take on the role of both sub-tanker and sub-healer.
His stats as a battle cleric wasn’t bad, and in fact, I liked that his disposition was a little similar to mine. It was natural for me to feel greedy. This was because, putting the good abilities aside, I knew it was hard to find an actor that was so passionate.
What made me happy was that he also said that he would like to work with me again.
He had said this because his contract period with the Red Mercenaries would end soon and thus had been hoping for me to take him in. Of course, I agreed.
I was going to visit Cha Hee-ra anyway. I would discuss Ahn Ki-mo with her the next time I visited.
‘It’s been a long time since I saw her.’
It wasn’t as if she had not visited me after receiving the news that we had gotten attacked by the Murder Brigade. Given the public’s opinion, her visit had been long-awaited. Though she didn’t stay for long due to her embarrassment, I was still able to talk to her for a bit.
In the meantime, the Black Swan made an official announcement about one of the Eight Imperial Seats of the Holy Empire getting attacked by the Murder Brigade, showing off its influence in Lindel in the city.
This was something that Cha Heera and Kim Hyunsung also officially agreed on.
Kim Hyunsung and the Blue’s main characters knew that all this fuss was a prank for Park Deokgu alone, but there was no reason not to politically use this big incident.
This was probably something that Lee Jihye herself had done.
The trilateral alliance between our guilds immediately strengthened the city’s boundaries and exercised influence within the city in terms of security.
Since I believed in Lee Jihye and Kim Hyunsung, I did not check the detailed report, but it was confirmed that they are actively moving to see if this incident could awaken a sense of awareness in a city that had been a little settled as of late.
Of course, Park Yeon-joo, the Guild Master of the Black Swan, seemed to be expecting to meet Kim Hyunsung for this reason, but according to Lee Jihye, there wasn’t much progress, so it would be up to me to arrange a meeting between the two of them.
Though I did everything I could to support our lovely returner, the fact that I would be getting myself into his love affair would make things a little complicated.
If I were to see the big picture, it would be beneficial for both guilds for him to connect with Park Yeon-joo. There was no reason not to help, so if this incident ended well, it would not be bad to take some measure in that matter.
Of course, the Black Swan’s movement was not limited to Park Yeon-joo’s personal greed. The first thing they asked upon coming to me was whether I could sell the Dragon Breath potion. Explicit amounts and explicit offers came and went, but I wasn’t surprised.
Since it was a potion that could show insane firepower simply by putting in magic power, it was understandable that they clamored for me to sell.
Of course, I had no intention of selling the Dragon Breath potion on the market.
In the first place, the production process was complicated, so mass production was impossible because the quantity of products could be limited.
It could not be made in a factory since it was something that had to be made by hand.
Of course, one could sell only one or two, but it didn’t make me feel so good to pass over my source of income. Anyway, the stone I had thrown had caused a ripple of events to ensue, so it wasn’t all for nothing.
“Hic… hic…”
Of course, the bastard in front of me was still unable to escape the influence of said ripples.
“I told you it doesn’t hurt anymore. Stop crying, Deokgu. It’s been a month.”
“But…”
“Tsk. I just have to be a little careful next time. It’s not your fault. I’m the one who made a mistake this time.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“I should have moved a little more closely. If I had properly prepared, this wouldn’t have happened in the first place. As Ahn Ki-mo said, I did become overconfident.”
“What… do you mean?”
“Why? It is said that players who have just passed a year are overflowing with confidence and go on unreasonable expeditions. The same happened to me. In fact, I didn’t really imagine something would happen or that I wouldn’t be able to solve it. To put it bluntly, I thought that even if the Murder Brigade attacked us, we could, of course, beat them. This is a big lesson. We’re not standing at the end. We’re just at the starting point. I think we gained more than losing. Not only me but you, too.”
“Ah…”
“So how is it? How do you feel about being stronger than before? Have you tried it?”
“Well, I haven’t tried many things. All I did was spar a few times with advisor Lee Sang-hee and Hyung-ssi… The two seem to be very satisfied. Actually, I’m not sure what’s changed. Certainly, my body has become firm, but… Ah! My endurance stat is now 90!”
“Really?”
“It’s still hard to use the sword as well as the advanced magical power management knowledge and advanced shielding knowledge, and I haven’t even absorbed all this knowledge yet…”
“You don’t have to rush, Deokgu.”
“Ah…”
“You’re doing well enough right now, and you’re actually strong. To be honest, it’s more than I expected. The things in your head won’t run away. If you keep doing the way you are now, you will achieve even greater results. And…”
“Hyung-nim…”
“I’m sorry about this.”
I slowly put Enhancement Serum down on the table next to the bed.
“It wasn’t because I didn’t believe in you.”
“Ah…”
I could see that he felt overly touched. Though it embarrassed me by doing this, Deokgu’s expression was more than enough to want to hug him. In the end, I had to be direct.
“As I have always said, I believe in you. All I can do, you can do better. From the time we first met until now, that fact has not changed. Anyway, congratulations, Deokgu.”
“Hyung-niiim…”
“Okay, don’t cry. I’m sick of it now.”
“Hic… Ye-ri.”
Seeing him getting teary-eyed once more, I had a feeling it would take yet another month for him to recover.
When I pushed him, he tried to grab Kim Ye-ri’s arm, who had been beside me, but there was no way Kim Ye-ri would accept it. Rather, Kim Ye-ri was desperately looking away from him.
The guilt in her had not healed yet.
‘I can’t look at Uncle Deokgu in the eyes,’ she’d told me, and I let her be.
“Hayan… Hic… hic…”
“I-I’m really okay now. I am healthy. I can walk around like this!”
Jung Hayan, who didn’t feel guilty in the slightest, was now also embarrassed.
Normally, it was okay, but when he asked us where we were hurting, everyone reacted the same way. Honestly, I was embarrassed to face him properly. I knew only Ahn Ki-mo could handle him.
“But, Hyung-nim…”
In fact, I, too, could move freely. As he kept following me, I just decided that it would be better to lie in bed. No matter how many excuses I made, I felt like he wouldn’t believe it, so I had to look at Sun Hee-young, who was currently here with us.
“I’m fine, too. Actually, I’m also doing work here. Hee-young also said that he’s fine… Isn’t that right?”
“Yes. The trauma has completely healed. There are no other side effects. The reason my recovery was slower than other people seems to have been unavoidable due to the nature of my class.”
“See?”
“Perhaps, after a week, you will be able to move as usual.”
“Than… I’m glad…”
“So, I would like you to be considerate so that Kiyoung-ssi can rest comfortably.”
‘Nice, Sun Hee-young.’
She fully understood that I wanted to be alone.
With Sun Hee-young hitting the nail on the head, Park Deokgu coughed a couple of times, taking Kim Ye-ri and Jung Hayan outside.
Of course, Jung Hayan didn’t seem to want to go out, but… She also thought that it was a good opportunity to talk with Deokgu.
In the end, it was only me, and Sun Hee-young left in the room.
Come to think of it. It had been a while since we had been together like this. There was nothing awkward about the situation, but I was very bothered about her strangely reddish face.
‘At least this one knows how to discern.’
Honestly, I was very grateful for her being in the Blue. The moment’s silence was bothering me, so I knew I had to speak soon.
“So, how is the tutorial dungeon?”
“Ah… Originally, it is usually opened around this time… It seems a little later than usual.”
“I see.”
“Yeah. It will probably open after a while. I haven’t been here a long time here either, but it usually opens around this time.”
“Ahhhhhh… Come to think of it, Hee-young has been around for a long time.”
“Yeah. In fact, I didn’t do anything productive back then. When I think of myself back at that time, I think I was just dead.”
“What?”
“I don’t know if this sounds a little ridiculous, but I only recently felt alive. So is the true meaning of service and the work I do in Blue. I always think about how insignificant my actions had been before. It’s all thanks to Kiyoung-ssi.”
“Hahaha. I didn’t do anything. It’s all thanks to Hee-young’s good work.”
“No. I am really grateful to Kiyoung-ssi. In fact, I think I know why you did this again.”
“What?”
“With Deokgu-ssi… That you made a plan to kill murderers outside the city conclusively…”
‘What is she talking about?’
I had never made such a plan. However, this crazy priest seemed to think that she was right.
Considering her disposition, however, I should’ve expected this.
“I understand that this kind of thinking is presumptuous, and I’m sorry… that… Kiyoung-ssi…”
‘What’re you thinking?’
I was getting nervous, especially now that Sun Hee-young was looking straight at me.
Her cheeks were strangely red, and she was holding her chest with one hand.
Her breathing was a little bit rough, but she didn’t seem all that excited. Rather, I felt like she was looking at me a little anxiously.
‘Ah…’
Even a fool would know what she was trying to say.
‘Why so suddenly?’
I knew that this crazy priest had a crush on me, but I couldn’t even imagine her making such a move. She had always taken on a passive role this whole time.
Though she had hinted at her feelings before, this was the first time she’d been so aggressive.
I mean, Sun Hee-young was definitely pretty. She was not called a saint of those who was abandoned for nothing. Of course, her behavior and character were certainly influential, but I was sure that one of the biggest reasons she came to be called a saint in Lindel was her looks.
With that neat priest’s uniform she always wore, with hair that reaches her shoulder and calming atmosphere would make one think, ‘This is an adult woman.’
I was also a man, so, naturally, I was thrilled. Looking at me with such a serious expression, it was not unreasonable that my heart began to flutter.
“Oppa!”
That was when the door opened with a bang. It turned out to be Jung Hayan that opened the door without knocking.
“Huh?”
There had been no physical contact between us.
She popped out in good timing, but I couldn’t even imagine that she would do this even after getting scolded the last time.
Perhaps there was a reason? Jung Hayan looked excited.
Rather than getting angry, she waited calmly for a moment, and I could be sure I wasn’t wrong.
“The tutorial dungeon has opened! The Red Mercenaries want to call you in as an instructor!”
“This is definitely interesting.”