Chapter 40

The next day. After breakfast, we were being issued equipment.

Everyone was visibly excited about receiving new gear.

“Wow… This bow is on a whole different level compared to the one from the tutorial. Is it because it’s a Hero-grade bow? It even boosts stats. This is amazing!”

“Well, duh. It’s Hero-grade equipment, so of course it’s better than the stuff from the tutorial.”

“True. Hey, what’s that shiny thing on your staff? Is it a gem?”

“Not a gem… It’s a refined mineral that helps manifest magical power. Basically, this mineral is the core of the staff.”

I heard that mage equipment is generally more expensive than melee equipment because of these minerals.

I stared intently at the black staff I was issued. Along with the staff and robe, I was also shown the item info, so I recalled it again.

[Staff of Silent Vergos (Hero-grade) – A staff once used by the infamous dark sorcerer Vergos 150 years ago. Increases magic power by 5 when equipped.]

‘This is really good.’

First off, I liked the sleek black design, and the fact that it increased my magic power by 5 was a huge bonus for someone like me who lacks magical ability.

[Robe of Silent Vergos (Hero-grade) – A robe favored by the infamous dark sorcerer Vergos 150 years ago. Aids in the circulation of magical power and increases resistance by 4 when equipped.]

The robe I received was also quite nice. It was a clean black robe with the emblem of the Eternity Clan. I liked that the design wasn’t too flashy.

Hyeon-jin was swinging his newly issued sword around.

“Whoa… The one I used before was heavy, but this one is definitely lighter. What’s it made of? This is really good.”

We all received Hero-grade equipment, so it might seem like Hero-grade gear is common, but on this continent, it’s actually quite rare. It’s only because we’re in the Eternity Clan that we, as newcomers, get this kind of treatment.

Gu Yeon-jeong, who had been watching us happily receive our equipment, spoke up.

“Now that you’ve received your equipment, you should all train hard before the expedition. You’ve been given a lot, so you better give it your all, right?”

“We’ll do our best, Clan Master.”

Of course, with this level of support, it’s only right to deliver results. A large amount of gold, Hero-grade equipment, and a training environment—all of this has been prepared for us. If we can’t deliver results, then we’re the ones who are trash.

‘From my perspective, I’m a little worried…’

Given my lack of talent, I have some concerns, but I’m not too worried. It’s fine if my contribution to the clan isn’t through combat.

“Yoon Seong? Where are you going?”

Noticing me moving, Yoo Ju asked.

“I’m going to train since I’ve received my equipment. It’s about time I learn some new magic.”

Honestly, even if I train hard, it’s unlikely I’ll achieve much, but the Clan Master is watching. I need to at least show that I’m putting in the effort.

As expected, Gu Yeon-jeong knows I lack talent, but she still looked at me fondly as I went off to train.

‘Regardless of talent… No one dislikes someone who works hard.’

No matter how talented you are, if you don’t put in the effort, that talent is meaningless. You have to work hard first before you can even talk about talent.

Perhaps inspired by me, others started speaking up one by one.

“Oh, if the boss is going to train, I can’t slack off either.”

“I should try out my new bow too. I’m itching to use it.”

“Ah! Wait, Hyeon-jin. I have something to say to everyone, so hold on a second.”

“Yoo Ju noona?”

Yoo Ju stopped Hyeon-jin, who was about to head to the training room.

“Hmm… This is just my thought, but what if the melee fighters trained together? You could spar with each other and identify each other’s weaknesses.”

Listening to her, it did seem like a good idea. For someone like me who focuses on magic, a quiet environment is necessary, but for the melee fighters, especially since Yoo Ju is a Returner, she could guide them through sparring.

Yoo Rim responded to Yoo Ju’s suggestion.

“That sounds like a good idea, Yoo Ju unnie.”

“Definitely a good idea, noona.”

In the end, the melee fighters decided to train together. I also headed to the training room to practice.

‘The magic I’ve been able to use so far… is only one attribute.’

And even then, just two spells: basic fire and a wall of fire. With my magic power now at 18 thanks to the staff, I thought I’d try learning a new spell.

After some deep thought, I realized that destructive magic would be too taxing for my weak magical power. So, I thought of a spell that could at least help the party, and that’s how I landed on Light Source Magic.

“Light.”

As soon as I chanted, a sphere of light, similar in size to the spirits Song Ha-eun summons, appeared.

‘It’s a basic spell, so it doesn’t consume much magic power.’

Given that it doesn’t strain my weak magic power, it seems like a good choice.

‘In case we ever have to enter a dark dungeon.’

Light Source Magic was something I’d been practicing on my own, and the new spell I planned to learn over the next week was Alarm Magic.

Alarm Magic would be useful for keeping watch or standing guard. After all, keeping watch consumes stamina.

‘It’ll also reduce the chances of being ambushed by outlaws.’

Honestly, it’s a bit odd for a dark sorcerer to focus on utility spells, but I had no choice.

‘Our party’s combat power is already sufficient.’

Right now, as newcomers, we might lack combat power, but once we grow a bit, our party won’t be lacking. With Yoo Ju here and everyone overflowing with talent, we’ll be fine.

‘My role… is just to support the party.’

My job is to create a foundation that allows them to grow more comfortably.

“…. Ugh!”

Maybe because I was distracted, I failed to cast the Alarm Magic.

While others might master basic spells in no time…



I’m supposed to pick things up quickly, but why is everything so hard for me?

‘F*ck… one more time.’

******

After training diligently, time flew by, and before I knew it, it was time for dinner.

After showering and heading to the dining hall, I ran into everyone who had just finished their training and showered as well.

“Ah, big bro! Are you done with training?”

“Yeah. I ran out of mana, so I can’t do anything else.”

This is the downside of jobs that heavily rely on mana. Once you deplete your mana, you can’t do anything until it recovers. Meaning, no more training.

Of course, you can still study theory. Reading books doesn’t require mana.

“By the way, did you all spar? You all look pretty exhausted.”

“Yes, Yoon Seong. We sparred for a long time, so everyone, including me, is tired, hehe…”

While the others looked exhausted, Yoo Ju didn’t seem particularly tired. It seemed like she was just saying she was tired because everyone else had hit their limits.

“Come on, don’t even say it, big bro. Yoo Ju noona is just a monster… I felt it since the tutorial dungeon, she’s on a whole different level.”

‘Well, of course, she’s a Returner, you idiot…’

It seemed like Yoo Ju had shown off her skills a bit too intensely during the sparring.

Still, Ho-won didn’t seem too exhausted. Among the party members, Ho-won had the second-highest stamina after Yoo Ju, so it was kind of expected.

While eating in the dining hall, I noticed that there were fewer people than yesterday.

‘What’s going on?’

Kang I-seo seemed to have noticed the same thing and started saying what I was about to say.

“But… there seem to be fewer people today than yesterday. Did something happen?”

Yoo Ju cleared up Kang I-seo’s confusion.

“They went on an expedition.”

“An expedition?”

“Yes. I heard from the Clan Master that parties 2, 3, and 4 went on an expedition today.”

‘… What?’

If it was just an expedition, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But Yoo Ju’s expression looked extremely serious.

‘… Why does she look so serious?’

Yoo Ju’s expression wasn’t just mildly serious—it was something else. So, a thought popped into my head.

‘… Could the expedition have failed?’

As a Returner, she would know the outcome of the expedition that the Eternity Clan had embarked on.

Kang I-seo asked Yoo Ju for more details.

“An expedition? If parties 2, 3, and 4 all went, isn’t that a large-scale expedition?”

“….. It is a large-scale expedition. Not just our clan, but all three major clans collaborated and went on the expedition together.”

‘… All three major clans collaborated and went on an expedition, and it failed?’

I couldn’t hold back my curiosity and asked her for more details.

“All three major clans went on an expedition to the same dungeon?”

“…. Yes. Do you remember what happened at the training facility?”

“What…?”

“The Hwashin Clan and the Eternity Clan had their Clan Masters personally come to recruit, but the Golden Wing Clan didn’t send their Clan Master, right?”

Now that she mentioned it, I remembered. While the other clans had their Clan Masters come personally, the Golden Wing Clan only sent an executive.

“From what I heard, the reason is that four months ago, the Golden Wing Clan Master went on an expedition to the dungeon we’re heading to now and went missing.”

‘Missing?’

“…. Are you saying that one of the three major Clan Masters went on an expedition to a dungeon and went missing?”

“Yes. Usually… after a month of being missing, they’re declared dead, so it’s safe to assume he’s dead.”

‘One of the three major Clan Masters is dead…’

“The problem is that the three major clans are in an alliance. So, the Golden Wing Clan asked the other two clans for help.”

In other words, the Golden Wing Clan asked the Hwashin Clan and our clan for help. That’s why parties 2, 3, and 4 from our clan went on the expedition to that dungeon.

“…. Then isn’t it extremely dangerous? Even if they’re allies… why did the Clan Master agree to this request?”

If one of the three major Clan Masters went missing in a dungeon, this isn’t just a small issue. It means the dungeon could be extremely dangerous.

Even if they’re allies, it’s hard to understand why the Clan Master agreed to this request.

“…. It’s probably because the Golden Wing Clan went with a small group the first time.”

“Huh…”

So, what she’s saying is that the first expedition included the Golden Wing Clan Master, but since the group was too small, they considered it a failure and decided to go again with a larger group.

‘…. No way, it can’t be.’

For a moment, I had a scary thought about Yoo Ju, but it couldn’t be.

‘I didn’t understand why Yoo Ju joined the three major clans… Could it be that she deliberately joined them?’

I’m not a Returner, so I don’t know the future, but she would know what happens to the three major clans.

‘…. If this expedition fails and they go on another rescue expedition that also fails…’

The three major clans would all fall.

And those of us who didn’t go on the expedition would take control of the Eternity Clan.