This didn’t seem like a bad timing.
I felt like our party had reached a standstill, and now Kim Hyunsung wanted to step things up.
It was not an exaggeration to say that a few external factors had been the cause of our hindrance.
After all, Lee Jihye’s work alongside the Red Mercenary and Black Swan Guild were in the final stages.
‘You have won. It’s your victory. Lindel will be as peaceful as usual, and safer than ever. Let’s do our best to resolve each problem that comes.’
It was broadcasted that I had accepted Jung Yura’s apology, but I knew this would not be enough to calm the public down. However, this did not mean that nothing had changed.
In the face of media agitation, the public cheered for their victory and was satisfied with the results. They were delighted that one individual dared to fight against the larger guilds’ oppression and came out victorious.
Of course, this was a satisfactory result for me as well.
A few days after my presentation, the Black Swan pushed through with the reorganization of their command system and began giving donations to novice adventurers.
Though they had come from such criticism, no one judged their choice of action. They were satisfied with how all the guild executives had apologized in public. Until then, there were no such large guilds that dared to lower their pride, so this response pleased the public.
If there was anything that hadn’t been resolved yet, it was Jung Hayan’s reaction upon seeing Lee Jihye.
Although she did not actively express how she felt, I knew her anxiety had gone up. This manifested itself in the form of hovering around me all the time to ease her worries.
Simply put, she had clung to me more tightly than ever.
‘This isn’t good at all.’
I was not happy with this change in Hayan’s behavior.
She would always ask me, “Where are you going, oppa?” or “When are you coming back?”
Her questions themselves didn’t bother me. However, I knew this new type of obsession would slowly but surely work against me.
Jung Hayan must have felt like a connection had formed between Lee Jihye and me on that particular day. Lee Jihye must have riled her up on purpose by pretending to be unaware of the tension between her and me.
If the system itself recognized Lee Jihye as my soulmate, then Jung Hayan was bound to notice as well.
At this point, she felt warier of Lee Jihye than she was of Cha Hee-ra, the Mercenary Queen who had brought up the pretense of being my lover.
I knew I had to control Jung Hayan sometime soon. At this rate, I’d be hindered by her silly emotions forever.
Anyway, now was the best time for us to focus on our growth. There were no more external factors hindering us, except for the old lunatics still hanging around within the Blue Guild.
We had already formed a good alliance with two powerful guilds, had gained dungeon and hunting experience, and the public was on our side.
Simply put, we were ready to start growing.
“You might already know, but there are two prerequisites for changing jobs. One is to accumulate experience points by hunting and to repeat certain actions specific to a job, and the same goes for raising stats. You know that using magic power will increase your energy, and using muscle power will increase your strength.”
“Of course.”
“Since the last dungeon trip, it was crucial for us to take a break, but now I feel like we should start training once more. It would be ideal if everyone here grows up to at least Sun Hee-young’s level now. No, we should have the same specs as the people we had gone on the expedition with. At least it’s time for us to earn a beginner’s title.”
“I see.”
“At least three or four job advancements and 60 key stats. That’s all I ask of you all.”
This was going to be quite a problem. I knew Kim Hyunsung’s remarks were aimed at little Kim Ye-ri and me. I knew Kim Hyunsung would have noticed that I lacked potential.
Jung Hayan’s magical power had already exceeded the 40s, and Kim Hyunsung himself was already on the level of 50s. There was no need even to mention Sun Hee-young’s stats. Even Park Deokgu had slowly grown from his experiences in the dungeon.
In short, the only problems within the party were Kim Ye-ri and me.
‘Hmm.’
Of course, Kim Ye-ri would be stronger, what with her legendary growth potential stats. Narrowing it down, it seemed that the only trouble within the party would be me.
Of course, it didn’t mean I was set to be entirely useless. My job as an alchemist was something that made up for my meager magical abilities, and it suited me to some extent.
However, it was unreasonable to classify it as a combat occupation.
I did not regret choosing to take the path of alchemy, but I had to admit that there were times when I wished I could have taken Warlock instead. Sure, there would be a limited growth cap, but I would at least be stronger than I was now.
“Hngg…”
“It would be ideal if all of you could align your skills with your third job within a month.”
“That’s easier said than done. I don’t know how exactly to get a job, but even training to raise stats is a slow process. There may be some differences if we go hunting, but…”
“Perhaps there might.”
“How…”
“We’ll start with hunting. I’m not going to leave the city until we’ve completed what I’ve told you all to do.”
“Oh…”
“There will be five people going on the expedition. Everyone except Kiyoung will be going.”
“What are you talking about, hyung…?”
At this, I had stiffened. To me, it sounded as if I was being forced to get off the Hyunsung bus, which had proved to be a comfortable ride for me this entire time.
“Well, you can’t do that.”
Arrogant thoughts had begun to swirl in my head. Was he trying to turn me into a non-combat soldier? Or was he trying to push me off the main party?
This felt like a stupid idea.
Park Deokgu and Jung Hayan looked even more surprised than I did. Even Sun Hee-young didn’t look happy.
Perhaps this was Kim Hyunsung’s way of ensuring that my influence within the party wouldn’t continue to expand, but seeing his cool expression, I knew this wasn’t the case. Knowing Kim Hyun-sung’s personality, he wouldn’t do something like this.
I was also a valuable party member and had proven myself countless times.
Upon seeing the question plastered on my face, Kim Hyunsung nodded.
“They’ve been very reliant on you.”
“Ah…?”
“Both Park Deokgu and Jung Hayan have grown up in a very comfortable environment. The same is true of Hee-young, who is not used to hunting. Of course, I am not ignoring everyone’s hard work, but all of you have been relying on the psychological stability that Lee Kiyoung’s presence brings.”
“Psychological stability?”
I understood what Kim Hyunsung was talking about. It made a lot of sense.
“To put it simply, Kiyoung’s presence is preventing your growth. It’s embarrassing to admit it, but I’m convinced that my existence is also having an adverse effect. Unlike Kiyoung, I will have to join this expedition with you guys, but I’m not going to involve myself too much. I thought it would be better if there were only four people, with the exception of Kiyoung and I, to get through the situation.”
‘Ah, I overestimated this too much…’
What had been troubling me this entire time proved to give way to a completely different interpretation from what I originally thought.
It wasn’t that I was not growing up to standards - it was that I was impeding everyone’s growth.
I wondered if Kim Hyunsung was overestimating me, but it was true that Jung Hayan and Park Deokgu depended on me a lot. However, I never would have thought they would become so dependent to the point that they would stop growing.
“Kiyoung doesn’t look convinced.”
“To be honest, I’m not. Hayan and Deokgu…”
“You contribute more to the party than you’re aware of, Kiyoung. I don’t know if others have noticed it, but I have. To put it simply, an expedition without you would result in a fantastic failure for the party.”
“How can that be…? How am I to spend a month without all of you…?”
“We are not children, hyung. Of course, I admit that Kiyoung is great, but…”
“I am speaking as the leader of this party. Kiyoung will not be participating, and that’s final. And though I will be joining you, only the four of you will be responsible for hunting and attacking.”
Kim Hyunsung had an unreadable expression on his face, but I couldn’t help but nod.
‘He has a point.’
Although I felt a little puzzled, I knew that Kim Hyunsung had made the right choice in deciding which direction of growth the party should take.
My party members might not understand, but both Deokgu and Hayan needed to learn what to do without waiting for my say-so.
It was hard to believe that I would be separated from them for a month, but I also couldn’t find it in me to refute Kim Hyunsung’s decision.
“What…”
“Well, I agree with Hyunsung. If that helps in your growth direction, I think it would be a good idea to do just that.”
After all, the problem wasn’t me; it was them.
I knew that if I got off the bus, my party members would act like lost children. They needed to learn how to act on their own now instead of facing that problem later on.
However, if they grew stronger to the point that I would not be able to catch up, this would be a large problem.
‘That should not happen.’
If I had been excluded, then there must be a consolation reward in store for someone such as I who harbored such horrible stats.
I needed to find a way to increase my stats as well as get me a new job.
It was a far-off theory, but perhaps I could squeeze a reward out of this sudden exclusion.
“In the meantime, I…”
However, upon seeing Kim Hyunsung look my way with an expression filled with trust, I knew I had just been hoping.
Only
“The same is true of Kiyoung. You just need to focus on increasing your stats and changing your job for the whole month.”
“Ah… Yeah.”
“I advise you to start as quickly as possible. Of course, please do not help Kiyoung in this process. Everyone else should focus on their departure. Please do not worry about this, and just focus on your own growth.”
“Okay…”
This man was giving me so much trust. I didn’t know what I had done to earn it, but I didn’t know how I should feel about it, either.
“Thank you for understanding. I believe in you, Lee Kiyoung.”
‘Do not believe in me too much, you bastard…’
It took all of my willpower not to give him this reply.