Let’s raise the ransom (1)

What the Blue Guild suggested to us was an investment in itself. It was like winning a scratch card lottery, minus the scratching.

I had to hand it to them. They made sure to give us an offer that would feel like a major loss if we were to refuse it.

Yes, it was surprising for them to find out that the group who would finish the tutorial dungeon in the shortest time would only consist of four people, but they were also smart enough to act on this surprising fact as fast as possible.

‘I’m not stupid.’

Rather, it could be said that they were really the competitive types.

Returning back to reality, I caught sight of Park Deokgu reading something. Tilting my head, I asked him, “Are you reading the catalog?”

“Well, yes. We might end up staying here one way or another, so I figured finding out more about them wouldn’t hurt. Their guild restaurant sounds so nice!”

“Well?”

“Well, when I was on Earth, the star chef Rayman Park, my grandfather, had been in charge of our restaurant… Just looking at his food would make me drool…”

“I see.”

“That’s why the guild’s accommodations seem awesome to me. Maybe I could be just as much of a successful chef as my family members. My grandfather would be proud…”

I didn’t know if this was an appropriate thought, but I almost felt sure that Park Deokgu’s grandfather wouldn’t want him to be living in a world like this.

“I think the guild is very intriguing… How big are the other guilds?”

“It probably won’t make much of a difference if we compare Blue Guild to the others. They said it wasn’t the same as before, but even if a rich man lost his business, he can still last three years. If one was able to accumulate so much over the span of many years, then they must also know how to survive. I’m not sure if they want to recruit us because they want to regain their former glory…”

“Same here. I feel like I’ve become a special person because of the way I’m being treated, and I don’t think I feel bad about it, Hyung.”

“In the future, you will be treated with more respect.”

“Really?”

“Sure, you will.”

He was right about that part. It definitely wouldn’t take long.

After all, we were lottery tickets whose potentials have not yet been scratched. Anyone here with any sense would know that there was a high probability of winning if they recruited us. That was the whole reason why they were willing to give us more compensation than what was necessary, after all.

“I didn’t think Hayan would be so treasured here as well. I also didn’t think she would be so attached to you. I suppose wherever you choose to go, she will follow.”

“Even if you don’t say that, you yourself are doing well enough. I am only following these guild procedures because they’re necessary.”

“Still.”

‘You don’t have to say it like that…’

Even if Park Deokgu didn’t say it, I already knew how important Jung Hayan was. She was one of the biggest reasons why we were such a desirable team to have.

In the future, once they achieved legendary magical stats talent, Jung Hayan would be an Archmage, and Kim Hyunsung would be, for lack of a better term, a regret-free returner.

Potential ability was not simply the limit of ability. It was not a fixed measurement of how much one could grow, too. Players with enough determination could surpass their own set limits depending on how far they were willing to go.

This was where intelligence and luck came in.

In the case of Jung Hayan, she would have already completed her second job soon; what with her scary capacity for magic power, it was expected.

‘The Elemental Wizard.’

That would be the second job I would recommend for her. I knew Kim Hyunsung would agree with me.

Unlike me, Jung Hayan seemed to have an affinity for all elements. Even the alchemist job could not be found on her former job list.

In the first place, she had no reason to choose such a job. Right from the start, Jung Hayan’s stats were already pretty obvious. She was a wizard through and through.

Considering how much we had gone through, and how easily she had supported us throughout the entire tutorial dungeon, she was already growing at a very fast pace.

What she needed was the slightest opportunity, and her stats would skyrocket.

I don’t know if what happened in the dungeon became traumatic for her, but I had to make sure I took advantage of this and have her attached to me.

Because of this, I had created an unspoken rule that could be placed between Jung Hayan and me. This, in itself, made sure that I would be able to reap the rewards alongside her.

‘…’

Of course, the effect was more than I imagined.

I had only started off with simple praises, gradually increasing my attempts to deepen our relationship.

At first, all I had to do was stroke her head and hold her hand, but as I raised the level little by little, I started to obsess even over her performance.

Over time, she had proven that her real goal was not to achieve pure strength or fame but to continually receive praise from me. The fact that I showed no approval whatsoever when Jung Hayan did nothing also made her quite desperate and determined.

Perhaps the reason Park Deokgu said that was because of our current situation. He hardly saw me during the demonstration and had correctly guessed that something was off.

Among us, it was not Park Deokgu, Kim Hyunsung, nor I, but Jung Hayan, who spent the most time on personal training.

“I’m probably the one in the team who always causes blunders and gives everyone a hard time.”

“No, that’s not true…”

“This demonstration where our statuses determine how the Blue Guild or other guilds perceive us is very important. If I mess things up for everyone… Anyway, I’m glad they decided to accept us as a team.”

“Oh, please. You are doing great yourself.”

“One has to learn how to set themselves apart in this kind of thing. I can’t be stuck forever. This is a good moment to talk about this.”

“Then why are you doing this demonstration in the first place?”

“It’s almost a routine for athletes. They need to know how much we’re worth so they can set the correct price. It’s a little bad, but… It would be worse if I mess things up for everyone.”

“Oh, the more I think about it, the more I think I know why Hayan really likes you.”

I held the urge to laugh. Park Deokgu was so innocent that it was actually kind of endearing. Little did he know that Jung Hayan’s feelings had already gone past just liking. Most of that was thanks to Park Deokgu’s active intervention.

At this point, I started wondering if Park Deokgu really was as clueless as he seemed, or if he was just trying to hide how much he really knew.

I shook my head and responded,

“Then, let’s go.”

“Okay, Hyung.”

“Walk faster.”

“What? No….”

We took note of our surroundings as we started to move. The lush scenery was such a stark contrast to the drab tutorial dungeon.

This felt luxurious, safe, and treated.

Looking out the window, I could see that the people rescued from the shelter were gathering and doing something. Perhaps they were receiving mandatory education that was required by this new world.

Lee Jihye saw us for a moment, but she quickly focused on something else. Following her gaze, I saw what caught her eye. It was an internal smokehouse.

There were quite a few people already gathered around.

The clothes worn by these people looked quite luxurious, regardless of their rank or status. Apparently, it was not just the Blue Guild executives who dressed this way.

Those with different flags, looking somewhere around the training hall like a director of a large company, certainly looked like people from other guilds.

‘Scouter?’

Yes, these people were probably looking for talents.

Peering closely at their faces told me what I already knew. These people were anxious to find someone worthy of bringing back to their guilds.

It was already a week ago that the demonstration had been done, with the Blue Guild having first dibs on whoever they deemed fit to recruit for themselves.

Except for when I checked how she was faring, I hadn’t seen Jung Hayan in three days.

I felt particularly fine as I had other things to think about for these past days, but it seemed that it had been excruciating for Jung Hayan.

“Doesn’t she seem a little… sad?”

“A little.”

Actually, I looked like she was more tired than sad.

She said he would come to see the day of my demonstration, but it seemed like she herself wasn’t doing too well.

Seeing as she kept looking around, I guessed that she had been looking for me. Someone then approached her and spoke in a lower voice. Startled, Jung Hayan turned to the person and immediately reddened.

“Oppa! Oh… Oh, s-sorry! I was hoping…”

“Don’t you look a little weird right now?”

“I think it’s because I’m feeling nervous. And… It hasn’t been long since I left the dungeon. I don’t know what to expect yet.”

“Don’t be too nervous. I’m sure everyone here knows how traumatic the experience has been, so they won’t be too hard on us.”

I didn’t know who spoke in response to Hayan’s words, but I was glad that someone else could understand the situation correctly.

‘However, the rest of these people…’

All I could see were people shifting restlessly wherever I looked.

I wondered if anyone here felt confident at all, but I was pretty sure I would find no one like that here. Shrugging, I raised my hand high in the air. Jung Hayan spotted me in an instant.

‘You can’t ruin it,’ this was an important event.

-Alas. If you are ready, Jung Hayan, give a signal.

At this, Jung Hayan nodded.

If anyone here were to appear as if they were preparing in advance by memorizing spells, they could potentially be deemed unsafe.

Seeing those who, in turn, saw me, clicked their tongues, I thought maybe my deemed plan would fail.

‘Is it too hard…? The moment I experienced regret, I felt the flow of magical power that I could not even imagine.’

“Huh?”

It looked ridiculous, but you can see the dust scattering around Jung Hayan. It was surprising to see that a simple action such as moving one’s magic power within the body could give such an effect.

As I stood there, speechless, Jung Hayan continued her incredibly long chant. All the executives of the large guilds began looking at her with dumbstruck expressions.

Amidst the crowd, I could hear a flurry of sheepish voices.

“Report this now! Quickly!”

“Hey! Get her profile here as fast as possible!”

Everything was going according to plan.

Actually, everything was going better than I had originally expected. Indeed, I expected some achievement, but I couldn’t imagine it would reach this extent.

The longer the spell got, the louder the humming became.

From where they were situated, Lee Sang-hee and the other members of the Blue Guild looked dumbstruck. I found out what they were thinking. Jung Hayan had not displayed this type of power to them.

It wasn’t this much a week ago.

‘What, really…?’

It was during this time that Jung Hayan finally finished chanting,

“Materialize, elemental bomb!”

Qaw ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

The reverberation emanated from Jung Hayan’s hand with a tremendous sound. Even I had to cover my ears. Due to the intense vibrations, I made sure to coat an extra layer of magical protection so as to not damage my eardrums.

The mysterious magic Jung Hayan created immediately flew to her desired target – one of the objects found in the middle of the martial arts sector.

“What is this…”

Qaw ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Upon reaching it, the target disappeared without a trace in an instant after the second explosion.

There was no cheering, only silence.

Only

However…

For some reason, the silence had become a louder sound than if the people around us had cheered.

“She… What…”

Park Deokgu turned to me, “Hyung.”

I did not deem to respond.

“Are you seeing the same thing as I am?”

Again, I did not respond. However, a smile had begun to spread on my face.

I didn’t know just how lucky I was to get hold of such a prize.