Chapter 60

“…. Oppa, aren’t you sorry for me?”

“…. Hmm…”

“I, I was worried about you… I wanted to help…”

The situation was simple. I had noticed Yoo Rim’s exceptional talent for administrative work and dumped everything on her.

For days, I had Yoo Rim handle the work while I did my own thing, so naturally, she was furious and came looking for me.

‘I had to make a chimera… I had no choice…’

If I had to make an excuse, it was because I needed to recreate the chimera. Of course… half of me just wanted to rest.

“Uh… Yoo Rim, I had no choice. I had things to do…”

“… Oppa, but making me and Ho-won handle all the work for five days is really not okay…”

Hearing Yoo Rim’s words, I felt a pang of guilt. Honestly, the chimera only took two days to make. Since I had already made it before, it wasn’t that hard.

“… Hahaha! Our Yoo Rim, is there anything you want? Should I buy you something? Just tell me what you want!”

They say there’s nothing in the world that money can’t solve. If money can’t solve it, it’s just that the amount isn’t enough.

“… Oppa.”

Yoo Rim was looking at me with pity.

‘Damn it…’

“… Alright. I’ll handle the work too…”

Reluctantly, I bowed my head in agreement, and Yoo Rim grabbed my arm and dragged me to the office.

As soon as I saw the state of the office, one thought came to mind.

‘Damn… I have to do this again?’

As soon as I entered the office, Ho-won grabbed my shoulders with both hands and firmly said to me.

“Yoon Seong… you have to keep doing your job, right? A man should take responsibility for his work. You can’t just run away.”

Hearing Ho-won’s resentful voice, which I had never heard before, my body automatically flinched.

And so, the hell began again.

*****

Bang!

“What, what’s wrong? Why are you like this?!”

“B-bro?”

In the middle of having a meal with the clan members for the first time in a long while, I couldn’t hold back my frustration and slammed the table, startling everyone.

‘Damn it… damn it… she ran away! Seo Yoo Ju!’

Seo Yoo Ju hadn’t returned even after a week had passed.

“… It’s nothing. Sorry, everyone…”

I felt resentment toward Seo Yoo Ju, who hadn’t returned even though the promised week had passed. My workload just kept piling up.

Yoo Rim’s expression was lifeless as she poked at the food in front of her.

She was probably regretting helping me out.

While the other party members were steadily training and looked lively, Yoo Rim, Ho-won, and I looked like the walking dead.

Even Ho-won was staring blankly into space.

“Old man… are you okay?”

“Ah… huh? Ah… I’m fine. Just a bit tired.”

Honestly, it would have been right to suggest that Ho-won take a break from work… but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

‘If that happens… it’s even more hell for me.’

Handling the work with just Yoo Rim and me would be like jumping into a pit of hellfire. I felt sorry for Ho-won, but there was no other choice.

*****

“Brother… do you think something happened to Yoo Ju noona…?”

“……”

Seo Yoo Ju hadn’t returned to the clan house for two weeks now.

‘… Did something happen?’

Given her personality, she usually keeps her promises. It was supposed to take a week, but now it’s been two weeks, so it was impossible not to worry.

‘Damn it, the problem is there’s no way to contact her.’

The issue was that I had no way to contact Seo Yoo Ju first.

“… Yoon, Yoon Seong oppa. Shouldn’t we try to find out where Yoo Ju unni went?”

“… I’m thinking about it.”

I told Ha Eun that I was thinking about it, but finding Seo Yoo Ju was practically impossible. How could newbies like us find her in this vast continent?

‘… At least tell us why you’re leaving.’

I understand that she has things to do as a Returner, but I wish she would at least tell us why she’s leaving.

‘Damn it, it’s worrying from the waiting side.’

As I tapped the desk nervously, Yoo Hyun hurriedly opened the office door and came in.

“B-bro! Yoo Ju noona is here!”

As soon as Yoo Hyun finished speaking, Seo Yoo Ju entered the office.

‘… Who are the two behind her?’

What was curious was that two unfamiliar people followed Seo Yoo Ju in.

One was a man wearing glasses. He looked to be in his 30s. The other was a woman. She seemed to be around Seo Yoo Ju’s age, wearing a black wolf-cut hairstyle and giving off a cold impression.

She looked to be around my age and was carrying a sword, so she seemed to be a swordsman.

I opened their status windows.

[ Name: Song In-woo ]

[ Age: 31 ]

[ Job: Alchemist (Common Grade) ]

[ Title: The Patient One ]

[ Unique Traits ]

Alchemy of Truth (Hero Grade) – Significantly reduces the chance of failure when using alchemy.

[ Traits ]

Master of Alchemy (Hero Grade) – Greatly increases understanding of alchemy.

Ancient Language Interpretation (Rare Grade) – Can interpret ancient languages.

[ Stats ]

Strength – 42 Agility – 39

Stamina – 64 Luck – 54

Magic – 52 Resistance – 30

[ Name: Wi Ho-yeon ]

[ Age: 26 ]

[ Job: Sword Monarch (Legend Grade) ]

[ Titles: Outlaw Hater, Eastern Alliance Martial Arts Champion, Exercise Addict, Sword Monarch ]

[ Unique Traits ]

Sword’s Extremity (Legend Grade) – Gains bonuses for all actions involving swords. Can also resonate with swords.

Noble Loyalty (Hero Grade) – If there is someone to whom loyalty is pledged, within a 50-meter radius of that person…



All stats increase by 2.

[Traits]

Sword Mastery (Hero Grade) – Greatly increases understanding of swordsmanship.

Combat Mastery (Hero Grade) – Greatly increases understanding of hand-to-hand combat.

[Stats]

Strength – 86, Agility – 87

Stamina – 87, Luck – 58

Magic Power – 81, Resistance – 79

“Ha… this is insane.”

It seemed like Yoo Ju took a long time recruiting talent.

The women aside, the men, despite having low stats in alchemy, were underestimated, but that’s not the case at all.

“The traits are really good.”

Since the clan didn’t have an alchemist, recruiting one was a great choice.

“Wait, is the woman Chinese?”

Her name and appearance suggested she was of Chinese descent. I’d heard that not everyone on this continent was Korean, but seeing a foreigner here for the first time felt strange.

“Translation is automatic, though.”

I learned at the training facility that in this world, language barriers are overcome by the system’s automatic translation.

The party members looked flustered as strangers suddenly joined.

“Sorry everyone… I’m really late, aren’t I?”

Yoo Ju apologized, especially glancing at me nervously.

“…Yoo Ju, we were worried when you didn’t show up even after two weeks.”

“Ahaha…”

What was supposed to take a week ended up taking over two, and Yoo Ju looked embarrassed.

“By the way, who are the two behind you?”

“Ah… they’re new recruits for the clan. This is Song In-woo.”

The man extended his hand politely and greeted me.

“N-nice to meet you. I’m Song In-woo.”

I shook his hand and introduced myself.

“…Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Yun-seong.”

The man gave off a soft, salaryman vibe. He seemed nervous, likely a shy personality.

“Seems like he’d be good at administrative work.”

I really hope this hellish workload eases up.

After greeting the man, the woman stepped forward.

“…Nice to meet you. I’m Wi Ho-yeon.”

“Likewise. I’m Lee Yun-seong.”

The woman seemed… stiff. Not rude, but the type who’d take time to warm up.

“Wi Ho-yeon will handle administrative and financial duties while also guarding Yoon Seong.”

“Yes, understood, Clan Master.”

Wi Ho-yeon replied casually to Yoo Ju’s words.

“…Huh? Wait, Yoo Ju. Guarding me?”

“Exactly. Wi Ho-yeon will be your guard.”

“What’s the meaning of this…”

Why would I need a guard? People would laugh. Even the Clan Master doesn’t have a guard, so why would a regular clan member?

“It’s for your safety. No objections.”

“…Huh? No, wait. What’s going on…”

The conversation was moving too fast to process.

“No, we can’t just rush into this. What clan assigns a guard to a regular member? People will mock us.”

“Others’ opinions don’t matter. What matters is that Yoon Seong has nearly died twice already.”

“No, even so…”

“As I said, it’s for your safety. Please understand.”

If it were something else, fine, but a guard is a different issue.

“I get recruiting new members, but assigning a guard is too much. Please reconsider.”

“It’s for your safety. Please understand.”

“No, Wi Ho-yeon would feel uncomfortable too. We just met…”

“…I’m fine with it.”

“Ha…”

Judging by her expression, she really didn’t mind.

“…Was this prearranged?”

Yoo Ju must have discussed Wi Ho-yeon’s role with her beforehand.

“That’s how it is, Yoon Seong.”

“….”

This feels like a carefully planned move to prevent me from refusing.

“I don’t get it…”

Wi Ho-yeon is one of the top-tier fighters. Not on the level of Kang Seong-jun or Yoon Yeon, but still a high-ranking powerhouse.

Her traits are still at Hero Grade, so she has room to grow.

Why would someone like her join our clan and not refuse being my guard?

If she were guarding the Clan Master, I’d understand, but a regular member… No, technically, Wi Ho-yeon is now a clan member too, so guarding someone of the same rank makes no sense.

“I’ll have to ask Yoo Ju about this later…”

Yoo Ju spoke up.

“Also, Song In-woo will handle potion-making, clan promotion, and administrative tasks. Since we’re short on administrative staff, focus on recruiting for the admin team.”

“Understood. I’ll do my best, Clan Master.”