Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Escape from the Orphanage (3)
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The morning after awakening and getting some sleep.
Since the birth of the New Humanity, orphanages don't mess around.
The kids planning to join guilds affiliated with the orphanage get a day to rest, then head to the guild headquarters the next morning on the integrated guild bus.
And for the rest—the ones who weren't chosen—the orphanage offers just two options.
Stay on as staff, or take the 5 million won subsidy and get out right now.
You have until 9 a.m. this morning to decide.
"So~ Yujun, you're E-rank strength type, right?"
"Yes."
"You staying at the orphanage? You know it's not a guaranteed pass, right? With E-rank... honestly, doesn't look too promising."
From this point on, even the director doesn't bother hearing everyone out one by one.
The staff who chose to stay from the previous batch.
The one handling me was the big sister who'd always been especially kind to me...
"No time, so decide quick. You should've thought about it before bed anyway."
Ever since I awakened as E-rank strength—total failure—her attitude had completely flipped.
"I'll go independent."
"Good choice~ At least you can get some decent treatment in the manual labor market."
She stamped "independent" on my paperwork and asked me to sign.
"Alright, your stuff... not like you have much, but pack up and be out by noon. The money'll hit your account sequentially by 6 p.m."
And just like that, my orphanage life ended on a hollow note.
I didn't love life here or regret missing out on Twilight Guild, but that didn't stop the emptiness from hitting.
After all, it'd been my home since I was 13—for a full seven years.
"Yujun..."
And it was a place packed with memories of Kwon Yena, who was looking at me now with reddened eyes.
"You're leaving?"
"Yeah, have to."
"...Sniff."
"Wait, you're crying???"
"Nooo..."
"It's not like we'll never see each other again~"
In the end, I wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks with the back of my hand.
Honestly... this wasn't even a cry-worthy situation.
Yena could just work with Twilight Guild and meet up with me whenever, and I could live solo and hang out with her anytime.
She knew that too, so maybe she was crying because she thought I'd struggle on my own?
"Sniff... Yujun, don't worry! I'll make tons of money and buy us a place to live together soon...!"
It was real...
She really thought I was incompetent, that I'd fizzle out alone once I left the orphanage...
I got that she was worried, but it stung in a weird way.
'Good thing I'm not actually E-rank strength.'
That thought made me itch to check what the hell [Forge Creation] was and why a single skill made it EX-rank.
"Yeah, yeah... stop crying."
"Sniffle..."
"Help me pack."
"Okay..."
The first-floor space in Building A that we'd been using had lost all its boy-girl boundaries by now.
Till the 8th batch of Twilight Orphanage kids cleared out their stuff and the 9th batch moved in that evening, it was temporarily just empty dorm space.
Orphanage kids freely crossing gender zones, saying goodbyes, packing up.
Yena and I headed to my room to sort my things.
"Oh, hey?"
"...Hey."
Stepping in, there was my roommate Kim Suhyuk packing up—he hadn't come back till I'd fallen asleep last night, so I hadn't seen him.
"Awakened something good? Heading to Twilight Guild?"
"...Yeah."
Heavy, curt reply to my question.
"Hey! Why are you ignoring Yujun like that?!"
"..."
"'Cause he's E-rank?? Huh?! Even if he's useless, I'll take care of him!!! Yujun's not someone you can look down on! You can only diss him if it's me!!!"
"..."
It felt more like she was roasting me than defending, but anyway, Yena got mad for my sake...
"Yena, it's not that—Suhyuk's just not talkative."
"Huh...?"
"He even answered twice today 'cause it's the last day."
"What...?"
"Right, Suhyuk? Kinda bummed it's the end, huh?"
"...Yeah."
That was our relationship with Suhyuk.
We kept quiet to not bug each other, so it felt like single rooms—total privacy guaranteed.
"Really...?"
"Told you~ If we hated each other, I'd have requested a roommate switch. You know Suhyuk and I've roomed together for seven years since we got here."
"..."
Our seven years of friendship didn't need a ton of words.
"Se-seven... years..."
"Yeah~"
"You ignored Yujun for seven years?!?!"
"Sigh..."
I gave up clearing the misunderstanding, went inside, and started packing.
Yena quietly followed, couldn't really help, so she just watched from the side.
"Not much to pack...?"
"Right? Nothing really mine anyway."
Phone, bank book, wallet—that's all you need; rest isn't a big deal.
Grab a few days' clothes sure, but if not, just buy more right away.
Anyway, stuffed the bank book and wallet in my bag, added a few outfit sets for three days.
"Suhyuk, I'll hit you up."
"...Yeah."
Suhyuk was staying one more day till tomorrow, so after final goodbyes, I headed out.
Hated parting right away, and since Yena had waited for my packing, I naturally followed her to her room.
"Ah..."
Her roommate inside spotted me and made no secret of her discomfort.
But she didn't dare say anything to Yena—just left the room herself.
We weren't close, but we'd at least greet if we met...
Sudden attitude shift? Only one reason.
"She's joining a guild too?"
"Yeah, Hyeji? Not sure on job, but B-rank!"
As expected—decent grade awakened, so now equipped with E-rank disdain.
These types start by looking down on early-awakened E~D-rankers before they even awaken themselves.
Convinced they'll get higher for sure, that they're special.
And when they actually get something good? Exactly like her.
"Yujun... don't get down... I'm S-rank, so... we're average B-rank!"
Good thing I'm not really E-rank—Yena sucks at comforting.
"I'm fine."
I really was, but Yena's eyes said she knew I totally wasn't as she scanned the room.
"You don't have much either?"
"Hehe..."
Didn't expect it, but her room looked just like a guy's.
Five minutes later, packing done quick, we sat together—then she called me in a shaky voice again.
"Yujun..."
"We can still meet, I said...?"
"Still... I gotta train for a month, so no seeing each other..."
"True."
"You gotta survive till then??"
"What kinda obvious question is that..."
"Then what's your plan!"
"Plan..."
One I gotta make from now.
One thing for sure: I'd blow through the 5 million subsidy within three days of getting it?
Rent a one-room, dump the rest into blacksmith investments.
To explain that, I'd have to tell her I'm not E-rank but actually a real blacksmith.
It's not that I don't trust Yena, but blabbing my ability to anyone right now does me no favors.
"Gonna figure it out from now."
"Eek!!"
Pow—pow—pow—
"Ow!! That hurts!"
"Ah... sorry..."
Yena's usual kitty punches hurt way more than normal.
"What's your strength stat?"
"D..."
"Oh..."
Wasn't that she'd forgotten she awakened.
I was weaker than expected.
"Yujun... you said E-rank strength...? What's your stats like...?"
"...All E."
"Oh..."
This part wasn't a lie.
Unfortunately, my stats really were all E.
So yeah, it hurt from Yena's mere D-rank strength kitty punches.
"You're S-rank but strength D, so magic type?"
"Yeah... I'm a Wind Mage..."
S-rank mage, rare wind attribute too—total noble status.
But she didn't look happy about it at all.
"What're we gonna do with you, Yujun..."
She worried over me, then let out a huge sigh.
"Haa..."
"Ack! You okay?!"
"Huh...?"
"Phew... was worried an S-rank Wind Mage's sigh might blow me away..."
"For real?"
"Hehe..."
Half-joking, but yeah, she was teasing.
"Mad~?"
Yena hugging my waist, acting cute for forgiveness.
I'd decided back then.
My first goal as blacksmith: craft a weapon fit for S-rank Yena.
Plan fully revised.
Wouldn't take her requests till after I got famous.
"Waaah... Yujun, pick up every time I call—every day... no, anytime??"
"I got it~"
Squeeze—
Yena finally put real strength into her hug.
Right before the pressure crushed me, she let go.
"Alright, I'll call."
Even from far away, Yena stood there watching me instead of heading back to the orphanage.
Thanks to her, I waved till I hit the main road and turned the corner.
"Whew..."
I missed her too, sure, but I was dying to check my skill already.
One month later, we could meet freely anyway—not like forever goodbye.
[Forge Creation]
What the hell does it create that's so amazing to make it EX-rank...
I hopped on a bus straight to a spot where I could test my ability.
'Heh heh... All you pseudo-blacksmiths are done for.'
- S-Grade Wind Mage Kwon Yena -