Chapter 19
Chapter 19
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Scout (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
────────────────────────────────────
────────────────────────────────────
Yu Cheol-yong, the one who’d been spouting nonsense about taking my arm, shrieked and tumbled to the floor.
“Vice Guild Master!”
“No way. How…”
“Why is the Vice Guild Master…”
He twitched, struggling to rise, but it was pointless.
One of his legs was already broken, and I had no intention of just watching.
*Thwack—Thud—*
I kicked him again, and he rolled across the floor.
I learned this when I first faced the Gold Lycanthrope.
When you have the upper hand, finish it decisively.
“Stop!”
“To someone who can’t even stand properly…”
From the circle surrounding us, five members of the Silver Wolf Guild stepped forward.
Yu Cheol-yong was the one who proposed a fair 1-on-1 duel.
This wasn't some friendly match held in a warm, cheerful atmosphere.
Is it my fault he got destroyed?
It's his own lack of skill.
Of course, I had anticipated that a situation like this might arise.
There was only one thing I hadn't expected.
That I was much, much stronger than I thought.
“Does the Silver Wolf Guild have no sense of hierarchy? Are you going to ignore everything that old geezer spouted and gang up on me? You feeling confident?”
As I took a taunting step forward, they all stepped back as if on cue.
*Tsk, tsk.* If they weren't confident, why did they even step up?
I approached the Vice Guild Master, who was still down and struggling, but no one blocked my path.
When I pointed my sword at him, the ones who had stepped forward earlier, along with other guild members, surrounded me.
“S-Stop!”
“The m-match is already decided!”
They were all talk; no one charged.
Well, I had no intention of killing the Vice Guild Master here and now.
If I had, I would have kept my necklace on.
“I don't plan on killing you, but I haven't heard you concede yet, have I? Hey, do you admit defeat?”
“Ughhh… I… I admit it.”
Perhaps shocked by their Vice Guild Master declaring defeat in a dying voice, the Silver Wolf members hung their heads low.
“Good. Then it's time to fulfill your promise, right?”
I sheathed my sword, unfastened the belt from the fallen Vice Guild Master's waist, and picked up the sword he had dropped.
[You have acquired Zeke's Grudge.]
[You have acquired Nameless Knight's Conviction.]
Perhaps because of the prowess I'd shown in battle, there had been no interference so far, but the real problem was yet to come.
The number of onlookers had grown, and most of them were likely Silver Wolf members.
I now knew I was stronger than I'd thought, but taking on that many people at once would be difficult.
Being indoors, the situation was a bit different from my fight with the Four Stars Guild.
If the space were wide open, or if my back was against a wall, it would be another story. But in a place like this, I could get hit by a stray blade coming from outside my line of sight.
The Guild Master or another Vice Guild Master could show up.
If things got worse and they started flinging magic around, ignoring the fact that we were indoors, I could be in real trouble.
In that case…
“Red Hare.”
As a red horse, one and a half times larger than a normal one, appeared in a flash of light, everyone looked startled.
I jumped and landed in the saddle on Red Hare's back.
I was about to use the Thousand-Mile Horse skill right away when I remembered something I'd forgotten.
Fortunately, they didn't seem ready to attack yet, so I opened my inventory.
*Clink—*
Three 10-silver coins I tossed landed in front of Yu Cheol-yong.
“This isn't for your medical bills, so don't even think about pocketing it. I originally came here to pay the basic training fee.”
“B-Basic training fee?”
“Wait, I think I've seen that guy before.”
“Huh? You're right. He was definitely at the last 34th-term basic training…”
It seemed some of the Silver Wolf members in the crowd had been dispatched to the training.
“My name is Oh Hyeon-ung. I hope our paths don't cross again, Silver Wolf Guild.”
As I finished speaking, I thought the words, *Thousand-Mile Horse*.
[You have used the Thousand-Mile Horse skill. Think of your destination to teleport instantly.]
I pictured my room in Kabisa, and my vision changed with a flash of white light.
A familiar scene. My private suite in Kabisa.
Dismounting Red Hare and sitting in a chair, I finally felt the tension begin to ease.
I'd never in my life fought in front of so many people.
I had clashed with the Four Stars Guild in the Labyrinth, but they were all enemies, not spectators.
If I hadn't run into Ju Yeon-seong and Lee Ji-ah—no, if we had just pretended not to see each other—I could have settled the debt peacefully without any trouble.
Ah, but of course, I have no regrets.
They say the nail that sticks out gets hammered down, and I have no intention of getting drunk on my power and acting out, but I'm also not going to tolerate unfair situations anymore.
*Neigh—*
[Red Hare wants to run.]
Hey, buddy. If you run in here, we'll get kicked out.
I usually thought this room was quite spacious, but with Red Hare in here, it didn't feel so large anymore.
“Good work. Thanks to you, I made it back safely.”
I patted Red Hare's neck once and dismissed the summon.
It's my first time using the Thousand-Mile Horse skill, and its effect is really… wait a minute. Can I use this skill in the Labyrinth?
There were no specific restrictions mentioned, so it should be possible.
Did I buy that teleportation magic stone on the 10th floor for nothing?
Well, it's not certain yet. I'll have to test it next time I go to the Labyrinth.
Ah! First, I should check the spoils.
I opened my inventory and took out the sword and the belt.
First, the belt.
[Zeke's Grudge (Unique)
A belt favored in life by Zeke, the great barbarian warrior from the south who rose against the empire's invasion.
Defense 20, Luck +20, Strength +20, Agility +20
Physical-type damage increased by 10%.
Number of registerable potions: 6.
Auto-refills registered potions when depleted (activates if the corresponding potion is in the inventory).]
Reading the description, I noticed small pouches on the belt for holding potions.
The auto-reload feature for potions seems convenient, but since I rarely use potions myself, it's a bit of a shame.
I have a few that I bought before going into the Labyrinth, but I also have Rina and Bio.
Except for that first time against the Lycanthrope, I haven't even been injured.
For a unique item, the stat boosts seem a bit stingy, but that's probably just because my standards are high.
It's better than nothing.
It felt a little long before I put it on, but once equipped, it shrank to fit my waist perfectly.
Next, the sword.
[Nameless Knight's Conviction (Unique)
The sword of a nameless knight from the Sorenda Kingdom who fought against the invasion of the Gulat Empire.
The Sorenda Kingdom was eventually annexed by the empire, but the nameless knight's conviction could not be broken.
Attack Power 61, Strength +20, Agility +15, Stamina +30
Damage increased by 50%.
Special Ability
30% chance to inflict Bleed status effect on target.
Unbreakable Conviction always active.
(Unbreakable Conviction: Durability enhanced in proportion to user's Mental Strength / Can strike incorporeal targets such as spirits and ghosts.)]
It can't compare to Kalisina's Fang, but it seems much better than the Ice Sword.
A unique sword, as expected.
It's nice that I got a decent sword thanks to that guy coveting my gear, but I'm a little worried.
That Bio guy... surely he won't try to take this sword too, right?
****
Top floor of the Golden Lion Guild, the Guild Master's office.
A man and a woman were locked in a fierce staring contest, a battle of wills.
“Conducting another status window inspection on the next Labyrinth entry day is absolutely out of the question.”
“We didn't find them last time, so we have no choice, do we? And am I not the Guild Master?”
“And I'm the one in charge of the guild's finances. Didn't you see the documents?”
Lee Seol-hwa, the financial manager of the Golden Lion Guild, glared and pointed at the papers on the desk.
[Payment Record for Status Window Check Scrolls]
“It cost a lot of money, yes. But doing it one more time won't make our guild stumble, will it? Think of how much I've earned for us. Tax season is still a long way off.”
“Well said. Have you forgotten that tax season just ended? We already spent 110 gold from our tight budget, and now you want to spend more?”
Moreover, he'd said that this time, everyone from the 30th term and below would be investigated without exception, so the cost would obviously be even higher.
Lee Seol-hwa, responsible for the Golden Lion Guild's finances, had no intention of backing down.
“This is more important than money. Without a Pioneer, we can't meet the Lord freely, and we lose the 30% benefit. Didn't I explain this?”
“The Lord's support only amounts to about 50 gold a year. And you can't even transfer the items you buy with the 30% discount!”
Lee Seol-hwa retorted, not yielding an inch.
“You have to consider all the other conveniences he provides, not just the money. And the fact that someone has surpassed us and gone deeper means they're incredibly skilled. We have to recruit them, no matter what.”
Lee Tae-soo had no intention of backing down either.
“But Master, wouldn't a person that skilled have already joined a guild?”
“I doubt they're part of the Alliance. Besides, does a goalie stop every shot? We'll offer them the best treatment… no, we'll just recruit their entire guild.”
“Master!”
“I understand the finance manager's concerns, but if you consider me the Guild Master, then this time, you'll do as I say.”
“It's not just about the money; you have to consider the backlash from the other summoners.”
Lee Seol-hwa shook her head, her expression grave, but Lee Tae-soo just tilted his.
“The community? I saw it. There was nothing much there. There weren't any complaints on site, either.”
“Look at the general discussion board, not the verification board.”
“Isn't that place a dumpster fire? Wait, Seol-hwa, you use the general board?”
“I don't usually look at it either! But how can I not when it's flooded with posts cursing our guild?”
“Why worry about cowards who can't even reveal their own names? If someone skilled enough to take the Pioneer title joins us, think how much faster our Labyrinth progression will be.”
Watching Lee Tae-soo speak so casually, Lee Seol-hwa thought to herself.
It seemed the only thing in the Guild Master's head was conquering the Labyrinth.
“Master, think logically. Who would dare criticize the Golden Lion Guild using their real name?”
“Then there's even less of a problem, isn't there?”
“How is that not a problem? Our reputation will suffer. Are you planning on never recruiting new members again? As it is, Silver Wolf spread some nasty rumors this time and snatched up all the good rookies.”
“Don't we do the same thing during training? It was the Silver Wolf Guild's turn, so it couldn't be helped.”
Just as Lee Seol-hwa was about to explode, the door opened and a tall man in silver armor entered.
“Oh, Chil-seong, you're here? Hurry up and take this kid away.”
“I'm not leaving. Vice Guild Master, you're just in time. Please stop the Guild Master.”
“You two fighting again? I heard brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law are supposed to get along. Why are you two like this?”
Seeing the two facing off, Chil-seong shook his head.
“Brother-in-law—no, the Guild Master keeps being unreasonable.”
“Chil-seong, you have to help me convince her. You, of all people, know how important the Pioneer is.”
Originally, it was Vice Guild Master Yoon Chil-seong who held the Pioneer title up to the 41st floor.
Lee Tae-soo's class was Maestro of the Battlefield.
Since his class focused on strengthening allies through command and didn't engage in direct combat, he had given the Pioneer title to the main tank, Yoon Chil-seong, but the 41st-floor boss had been the problem.
In its last throes, the 41st-floor boss had split the raid party into two groups and teleported them. Lee Tae-soo's group was the one that reached the 42nd floor first.
“The Pioneer title is important, but Tae-soo, I think you're taking this too seriously…”
“See?”
“Hey, Chil-seong, if you say that, what am I supposed to say?”
“We fought perfectly well against the 42nd-floor boss without the Pioneer. Even if I'd had the title, the result wouldn't have changed.”
“Then I'll assume the Labyrinth entry status check is cancelled and take my leave.”
With Chil-seong's support, Lee Seol-hwa declared the matter concluded and quickly fled the office as if escaping.
“But we really need to find them… If it comes to it, I'll use my own money…”
“Tae-soo. I know you're eager to go back, but let's not be too hasty. There's still plenty of time before the Labyrinth opens again.”
At Chil-seong's advice, Lee Tae-soo reluctantly nodded.
“Alright. Have you had lunch?”
“You haven't even eaten? Sheesh. Anyway, I've got a much more interesting story, want to hear it?”
“What interesting story? If it's another one of your lame dad jokes, I'm confiscating your gear.”
Chil-seong shook his head.
“This one's actually interesting. Apparently, there was an incident at the Silver Wolf Guild's hideout this morning.”
“Oh, that's the best news I've heard recently. I don't know what kind of incident it was, but we definitely need to have a celebratory drink tonight.”
Though they were part of the same alliance, Tae-soo didn't particularly like the Silver Wolf Guild.
Part of it was their rivalry, being called the two great pillars, but their respective Guild Masters also pursued different goals.
Unlike the Golden Lion Guild, which prioritized returning to reality by conquering the Labyrinth, the Silver Wolf Guild was more focused on living well in this world, which included securing influence within the Guild Alliance over Labyrinth progression.
“It's more than just a celebratory drink. You know Yu Cheol-yong, right?”
“The Vice Guild Master of the Silver Wolf Guild?”
“He got completely wrecked. Had two unique items taken from him, too.”
Lee Tae-soo's eyes widened like saucers.
“This calls for more than a drink. We should throw a party in Kabisa for the first time in a while. Who did it? It wasn't you, was it?”
A shadow of concern crossed Lee Tae-soo's face.
“What are you talking about? If I did it, do you think things would be this quiet?”
“True. Then who? Yu Cheol-yong should be at least level 60.”
“Right. I heard he just hit level 60. Now, don't be shocked. Do you know what term the summoner who wrecked him today is from?”
Lee Tae-soo tilted his head, indicating he didn't know, and Yoon Chil-seong smirked.
“The 34th term.”
Startled, Lee Tae-soo shot up from his seat.
“Not the 3rd or 4th term, but the 34th?”
“Yep.”
“The 34th term is the current one. Does that even make sense? You must have heard wrong.”
“I thought the same thing, but apparently, the trouble wasn't originally with Yu Cheol-yong. It seems he didn't get along with one of their rookies from the start. That rookie picked a fight, got wrecked, and then Yu Cheol-yong stepped in and ended up like that.”
“But still, how could a 34th-term summoner… a level 60…”
“It's certain. Other Silver Wolf members said they saw him at the training. He apparently came to their hideout to pay the basic training fee, threw down 30 silver at the end, and then disappeared on a red horse.”
Though still half-in-disbelief, Lee Tae-soo was impressed.
“A mount with a skill would have to be unique. What on earth are his traits… No, wait. If he's really from the 34th term, we should still have the paperwork.”
Lee Tae-soo rushed over to his desk and started rummaging through documents.
“Found the list. What's his name?”
“Ah, his name was… Oh… something. I forgot.”
“Hey! Are you kidding me?”
Tae-soo snapped, but Chil-seong just chuckled.
“Don't get so worked up. If you're planning to recruit him anyway, isn't it faster to just go meet him in person?”
“You said he disappeared on a horse. Don't tell me he's already been caught by the Silver Wolf Guild?”
“Nah. Silver Wolf copied the crystal orb footage from their hideout and is circulating it to find him, but they haven't had any luck.”
“Then how do you…?”
“I saw the video, too. It was a face I saw yesterday.”