I didn’t really think that I needed to save them. It was understandable for the Blue Guild to not take an interest in them because considering the amount of money and time they had to spend in order to foster proper combat members, it was better to avoid the possible small group of elites that were among the survivors. If the Blue Guild hadn’t recruited us, they might have taken advantage of this opportunity, but the guild had already spent a lot of money in order to recruit Kim Hyun-Sung’s party. Since another dungeon was going to open, the chances of these people getting recruited were low, and investing in them would be a stupid thing to do.
‘They’re not incompetent…’
“Well then...”
When I saw the big shots of the guild turn around after bowing, the remaining people looked dumbfounded.
“Mr. H-Hyun-Sung!”
In the end, someone yelled out his name.
“...”
“P-Please…take us…with you.”
It was a slightly ridiculous request and I knew exactly who it was. It was one of the survivors from the shelter, but I didn’t really remember his name.
He was one of the people that aggressively took the supplies that Kim Hyun-Sung brought and talked badly about Jung Ha-Yan. Not only did he quietly look away when we asked him to go hunting with us, but when Jung Jin-Ho, who was now dead, first came to the shelter, he stuck next to him. He was beyond shameless.
Not only did Kim Hyun-Sung create a safe shelter in the tutorial so that people could rest, but he even got supplies for them. Even after having received sufficient training, he was still asking Kim Hyun-Sung to take responsibility for his life. The instructors even looked confused.
In some ways, he was pretty amazing because despite being the weak one, he made that kind of request, which was admirable. If I was in his place, I wouldn’t be able to say what he said.
I didn’t bother saying anything because I wasn’t the target of his request. It was solely up to Kim Hyun-Sung to make the decision.
‘I’m sure he’s not that big of a pushover.’
Even if he was a pushover, I was sure that it wasn’t to that point, no, I was actually kind of worried. After all, gathering survivors in the tutorial dungeon and setting up a shelter for them wasn’t something an ordinary human could think of doing.
“You should take…responsibility until the end…” the man said.
‘Bullshit.’
He probably didn’t understand what he was saying because desperation made a person stronger, but it sometimes made them dumber.
Lee Sang-Hee quietly looked at Kim Hyun-Sung and was asking whether they knew each other from the tutorial dungeon.
“U-Us too…”
I couldn’t help but laugh because crazy people that gained courage because of him started to appear one by one. It was really shocking because the losers who didn’t make any decision back at the shelter were asking him to save them from hell.
“You’re not just going to abandon us, right?” he asked.
“Mr. Hyun-Sung!”
“Mr. Hyun-Sung, please take us…”
Kim Hyun-Sung started walking towards them slowly. I was a bit worried, but seeing him bite his lips made me think that he was angry. It was an obvious reaction and even if a monk was in his situation, I was sure that he would be angry too.
As expected, Kim Hyun-Sung slightly lowered his head and spoke. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?”
“I think our relationship ends here,” he said.
“Heup.”
It was only for a moment, but I almost laughed out loud because I felt a bit more satisfied than I thought.
“Rather than staying with me, it’ll be better if you live your lives in a new environment. It had been a short time, but I had fun,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.
“T-That’s…”
“I’m sure the city is safe.”
“Don’t talk so…irresponsibly,” the man said.
I didn’t know which part about that was irresponsible.
I might’ve seemed arrogant for stepping up, but I couldn’t help but take a step forward and say something. “We have no obligation to take responsibility for you.”
“Huh?”
“The inside of the city should be safe. It may not be the comfortable life that you’re expecting, but at least you won’t be in danger,” I said.
“But…”
“I’ll say it again, but Mr. Hyun-Sung and I have no obligation to look after you. We’re strangers,” I said.
“...”
Despite explaining it nicely, he looked as if he didn’t understand, but he also looked as if he had been wronged. He was probably thinking how it was unfair that we were on this side while they were on the other side.
‘Idiots.’
You couldn’t gain anything without sacrifices and I was sure that he would never realize that. The man looked as if he was going to run to us and beg us to help him, so with a small smirk, I took out the gold coin bag that was in my pocket.
“It’s a bit awkward to say that this is going to be our last meeting, but here’s a gift. I’m sure it’ll help a little,” I said.
The way he hurriedly grabbed the bag that I gave him looked ridiculous. He looked as if he was betrayed, but he must have realized that the slightly heavy bag was precious because he immediately placed it in his pocket. It really wasn’t that much, but despite that, the people around him instantly stared at him.
“T-Thank you,” the man said.
“I hope you survive and if we ever cross paths again…”
“Yes…”
It seemed like he still hadn’t realized the fact that he wouldn’t be able to gain anything if he didn’t sacrifice anything. I wasn’t sure if he would be able to protect the gold or himself once he entered the city, but it was honestly none of my business because it was nothing more than me throwing a few coins to get rid of the leech.
Lee Ji-Hye must have realized the reason why I willingly threw the bag towards him because she was looking at the man like an idiot. It was a bit surprising that she wasn’t trying to join us, but seeing her quietly watch the situation made me think that she was thinking about something.
‘Lee Ji-Hye…’
There was a chance that another guild may contact her. Since her nature was similar to mine, she would probably grow by using her skills in talking.
‘Such a waste…’
Taking her in myself was burdensome, but letting her go was a waste. It was that attitude of hers that caught my attention. Her confidence showed that she had nothing to lose and for some reason, it was pulling me in more.
‘I don’t have to be with you.’
It seemed like that was what she was saying.
I already checked with Mind’s Eye that there wasn’t anything special about her stats, but I thought about how she would be better than some random person, so I spoke while looking at Lee Ji-Hye. “I’ll…see you again.”
“Oh…okay,” she said.
I didn’t say it to the man, but I guess my words made him happy. When our eyes met, Lee Ji-Hye lightly nodded. I wasn’t sure if she was going to apply to the Blue Guild, but I was certain that we were going to see each other again.
When I immediately turned around, both Lee Sang-Hee and Kim Hyun-Sung nodded and before I could start walking, I heard a voice. “Mr. Ki-Young, you’re a really kind-hearted person and the basic living support fund that you gave seemed like a good amount too…” the instructor said.
“That was nothing. I mean, we did spend some time together in the tutorial dungeon. So, are we heading to Lindel now?” I asked.
“Yes, we are somewhat done with the preparations. We actually wanted to take our time, but there were a lot of things that we needed to prepare.”
“Oh, regarding the trainees…”
“They’ll immediately head to the free city with us. Let’s head out,” the instructor said.
“Okay.”
The instructors and the guild members started moving busily as if the life they had in the tutorial dungeon was now over. I wasn’t exactly fond of the survivors, but I was looking forward to them living in a totally new city.
The gifts that Cha Hee-Ra sent were stacked high and I saw a few of the guild members following me.
“Oppa,” Jung Ha-Yan called out.
“Hyung-nim!” Park Deok-Gu called out.
Of course, both Jung Ha-Yan and Park Deok-Gu were prepared to leave. The slightly haggard-looking Jung Ha-Yan stood next to me and Park Deok-Gu spoke as if he was sad about leaving.
“I didn’t think that we were going to leave so soon, but I guess it’s urgent. It’s unfortunate…”
“What is…”
“This!”
There was a small boat that was tied to a rope. It didn’t look incomplete and I never imagined that he would bring with us the boat that he was building by the lake. I wasn’t sure if he was good with his hands, but the quality looked pretty good.
‘Why did he make it so nicely?’
“...”
“If we stayed a bit longer, I was thinking about sailing at the shelter nearby…I decided to bring it with me since I put some time into building it,” he said.
“We have a lot of baggage…”
“We can put them in the boat so it won’t be a problem…and I think it’ll help with training my strength. If you get tired while walking, you and noonim can ride it together while I pull, right hyung-nim?” Park Deok-Gu said.
“It’s not that far so you don’t have to force yourself to do that,” I replied.
For some reason, I didn’t want to ride it right now.
“I heard that there isn’t a lake near the free city…ugh,” he commented.
“Let’s ride it together later…o-oppa,” Jung Ha-Yan said.
“Yeah, let’s do that,” I said.
When I lightly patted her head, I noticed her smiling as if she was in a good mood. I felt relieved because her condition looked better than I expected. I wasn’t certain, but it seemed like she talked about me whenever she was with Park Deok-Gu. I was then able to realize the fact that Park Deok-Gu played a big part in calming Jung Ha-Yan’s mind.
“I think we’re leaving now,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.
“Okay, Mr. Hyun-Sung,” I said.
The Blue Guild that was neither big nor small started to move slowly. I was a bit annoyed by the fact that we had to walk for a long time, but it was fun as well.
“And so…I used a new spell today…”
“Yes, yes.”
“I saw it myself and it was really amazing…noonim started reciting a spell and the lake suddenly split. A long time ago, a lady that lived in the same neighborhood told me that someone named Mase or something had once split the ocean. It felt like I was really looking at that scene,” Park Deok-Gu explained.
“I’m sure that the man’s name was Moses,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.
“Ahh! Yes, I think Moses was the man’s name. Dude, you’re really smart. So anyways,” Park Deok-Gu said.
Park Deok-Gu was talking a lot, Kim Hyun-Sung looked like he was in a good mood and Jung Ha-Yan was walking while holding my hand tightly. I looked at her walking half asleep while holding my hand tightly. I guess she didn’t really get much sleep.
While walking, the executives of the Blue Guild also made time to explain a few things, and we enjoyed what could possibly be our last break time.
After walking for a while, I saw a tall clock tower.
When I quietly looked to the side, I saw Kim Hyun-Sung’s expression. This was the start for me, but it was also the start for him. His face looked complicated, so I couldn’t guess what he was thinking, but it was only natural for him to have a lot of thoughts. The things that happened in the past, the things that were going to happen in the future, the Blue Guild, and our party. He looked as if he was calmly organizing his thoughts.
Jung Ha-Yan looked as if she was looking at a house for newlyweds and I guess she thought of this place like a home that we were going to live in because a smile appeared on her face.
“That’s…”
It was the location where the earthlings settled down within the Holy Empire.
“Lindel…”
Lindel, the free city.
“Hello world, Park Deok-Gu is here!” he shouted.
“Hahaha!”
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