Chapter 20
Chapter 20
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Scout (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I was woken by a knock on the door.
“Who is it?”
“Sir Hyeon-ung, it’s me. Luke.”
When I opened the door, Luke was there with a cart laden with food.
“Is it dinner time already?”
“It seems you’ve been sleeping all this time.”
“Well, yeah.”
It wasn’t that I was being cautious because of what happened this morning; I’d simply finished most of what I needed to do.
After lunch, I’d browsed the Summoner’s Shop for a bit and dozed off, and time just flew by.
I guess it’s because it’s my day off.
Even back outside, time always seemed to pass quickly on my days off from streaming.
I moved the cart into the room and was about to close the door when I noticed Luke’s expression was strange.
Usually, his face was plastered with a capitalist’s smile, but today he was fidgeting like a puppy that needed to go.
“Is there something you want to say?”
“Sir Hyeon-ung, do you happen to know anyone from the Golden Lion Guild?”
The Golden Lion Guild, not Silver Wolf?
I knew the Golden Lion Guild was looking for the Pioneer, but how did they know about me?
I did knock down the Silver Wolf Guild’s vice master this morning, but it seemed a bit of a stretch for them to figure out I was the Pioneer just from that.
“Sir Hyeon-ung?”
“No, I don’t know them at all. Why?”
“Well, about thirty minutes ago, some people from the Golden Lion Guild came by asking if you were staying here.”
“And?”
“Our Kavisa is the finest inn in Kramis. Naturally, we told them we could not confirm that.”
Oh, I hadn’t expected much since this was a medieval setting, but they protected customer information just like a modern luxury hotel.
Looks like my money was well spent.
“However, it turns out I’m somewhat acquainted with those members of the Golden Lion Guild.”
“So?”
“They asked if you were here, if I could at least pass on a message…”
Hmm, so the inn refused to confirm, but they’re trying to get a message to me through Luke?
“Did they pay you?”
“N-No, sir. They’re just frequent patrons of Kavisa. It didn’t seem like they were here with any ill intent…”
His flustered panic only strengthened my suspicion.
“I’m disappointed. I thought I’d treated you well, yet you sell my information for a bit of coin…”
“S-Sell? I haven’t told them anything yet! I just said I’d look into it. How could I possibly… Sir Hyeon-ung…”
His expression was one of profound injustice. Maybe I was wrong?
“I’ll believe you. So, what did they want to tell me?”
“They said they wished to see you.”
“Where?”
“They said they’d be waiting in the bar on the first basement floor of Kavisa…”
So there was a bar in the basement.
I’d been staying here for a while, but since I was always in my room, I had no way of knowing.
“I’ll stop by after dinner. Don’t tell them I’m coming.”
“Yes, understood.”
I didn’t necessarily have to meet them, but there was no need to give the impression that I was avoiding them either.
It didn’t matter if they knew I was the Pioneer or not.
If their intentions were good, great. But if they acted with malice like the Silver Wolf Guild, I was prepared to return it in kind.
I had decided I wasn’t going to put up with things anymore.
****
Kavisa, B1 Bar.
“Chil-seong, are you sure you saw him here?”
“You know how there’s a party every time the Labyrinth closes, right? I came to be the first one there and saw him talking to the guard out front.”
Yoon Chil-seong’s tone was confident, but Lee Tae-soo was still half in doubt.
And for good reason. Kavisa was the most luxurious inn in all of Kramis.
Even the cheapest room cost over 1 Gold per night.
The plain beer the two were drinking right now was five times the price of what you’d get at any other inn.
“What kind of money does a 34th-generation rookie have to stay at Kavisa? We were so broke at first we had to sleep on the streets until the Labyrinth opened.”
“…We did have times like that.”
“Isn’t it possible he was just talking to the guard?”
“I don’t think so. That guard is incredibly stern, but he was very polite to that rookie.”
Yoon Chil-seong answered with a relaxed demeanor, but Lee Tae-soo looked displeased.
“But what’s taking that guard so long?”
“The inn refused, so it’ll take some time for him to inquire discreetly.”
“Personal data protection in a medieval fantasy game, of all things.”
“This isn’t a game, it’s reality. Plus, it’s a luxury inn.”
“Should I have slipped him some money?”
“Oh, you got a slush fund? Give me some later, then. And you can pay for these beers…”
As Yoon Chil-seong spoke playfully, Lee Tae-soo stared at him with a look of disbelief.
“You go to parties all the time! Just the beer here costs 10 Silver. You want me to pay for it all?”
“Not all the time. And it’s nothing compared to the cost of that Confirmation Scroll someone wasted.”
“Urk…”
“Besides, parties are all-inclusive once you pay the entrance fee. If you bring him here, just give him 10 Silver, or maybe 5.”
Lee Tae-soo shook his head, about to declare they were splitting the bill, when Yoon Chil-seong suddenly stood up.
“Don’t tell me you’re trying to run out on the bill?”
“Not that. I think that’s him over there.”
A man with the same face from the video recording crystal orb distributed by the Silver Wolf Guild was walking towards them.
****
It was dinner time, so the bar was quite crowded.
But there was no mistaking them.
There were only two black-haired men who looked like Summoners.
One of them must have been watching the stairs, as he stood up the moment he saw me.
Up close, the man who stood was quite tall.
They both looked to be in their late 30s or early 40s.
“Are you from the Golden Lion Guild?”
“Looks like we found the right person. I’m Yoon Chil-seong, Vice Guild Master of the Golden Lion Guild. And this is our Guild Master, Lee Tae-soo.”
He smiled affably and extended a hand. I was a little surprised.
I had figured they’d send some high-ranking members, but I never expected both the Guild Master and the Vice Guild Master to come.
“I’m Oh Hyeon-ung.”
“A fine name. I’m Lee Tae-soo.”
I shook Lee Tae-soo’s hand as well and took a seat.
Their attitude wasn’t overbearing, so my first impression was decent. Just then, the bartender approached.
“What would you like to order?”
It seemed like you had to order something as soon as you sat down.
“The same… actually, do you have Dragon’s Tear?”
I was about to order the same as them but changed my mind when I saw they were both drinking beer.
I don’t know if it’s just Kavisa’s beer, but the brew here had almost no carbonation and a muddy taste. It wasn’t for me.
“We have Dragon’s Tear.”
“One on the rocks, please.”
After placing my order, I looked at the two men. They both looked flustered.
“Is something wrong?”
“That… Dragon’s Tear is a bit…”
“It suits my tastes best. If you haven’t tried it, you should have some too. It’s quite good.”
“No, I know it’s good, but the price…”
The price?
I glanced at the price list on the wall. It was 30 Silver a glass.
A bottle was 2 Gold, so it was a bit pricey.
But they were both high-ranking officers of a major guild…
Perhaps they were more frugal than they looked.
“I’ll pay for my own drink.”
“No, no. We asked to see you, so we should pay.”
“Th-That’s right. We have money.”
Their expressions said otherwise, but if they were offering to pay, it wasn’t my place to worry.
“In that case, may I order an appetizer as well?”
I’d already eaten, but I’m the type who can’t drink without something to snack on. Both of them nodded, so I scanned the menu on the wall.
[Kavisa Special
A platter allowing you to taste all of Kavisa’s signature dishes, including roast beef, spicy wings, pork tenderloin cutlets, smoked salmon salad, a four-cheese pizza, and french fries with a special sauce and melted cheese.
Price: 1 Gold]
“One Kavisa Special, please.”
“The K-Kavisa Special? Did you not have dinner?”
“I did, but this looks like a good variety, and there are three of us, so it seems perfect.”
I thought three grown men could easily finish this much, but they all seemed to be quite full.
“Should I order something else?”
“N-No. Well…”
“Y-You should eat what you want to eat.”
A moment later, the bartender brought over the amber-colored drink along with the food.
The portions were smaller than I expected, so it seemed we could definitely finish it all.
“So, may I ask why you wanted to see me?”
“Young people are so direct. Ah, don’t get me wrong. Neither I nor my friend here are fond of beating around the bush.”
“There was an incident at the Silver Wolf Guild’s headquarters today. Were you the star of that show?”
So they were asking about the Silver Wolf Guild, not about me being the Pioneer…
Could they have come at the Silver Wolf Guild’s request?
They were in the same alliance, so it was possible, but I didn’t get that feeling…
“I went to pay the basic training fee, and they started some trouble. Does that have anything to do with the Golden Lion Guild?”
“So it was you. And Silver Wolf is looking for you everywhere… Ah! Don’t misunderstand. We may be in the same alliance as Silver Wolf, but we’re not on the best of terms.”
“Frankly, it was quite refreshing to hear.”
It seems not everyone in an alliance gets along.
“So why did you seek me out?”
“You’ve probably guessed to some extent, but we want to recruit you into our Golden Lion Guild.”
I had indeed anticipated this to some degree.
If they hadn’t come because they knew I was the Pioneer, there were only two other possibilities.
Either they were here for retaliation at the Silver Wolf Guild’s request.
Or they were here to recruit me for their own guild.
“As I was saying, the Silver Wolf Guild is looking for you.”
“They’re undoubtedly seeking revenge for today’s events. If you join our Golden Lion Guild, you won’t have to worry about a thing.”
I’d heard they weren’t on good terms, but to make such an offer so openly suggested things were worse than I thought.
“I appreciate the thought, but I’m not particularly afraid of the Silver Wolf Guild.”
Both of them looked a bit taken aback.
“Uh… um, right. If you were afraid, you wouldn’t have caused such a scene in the first place.”
“Regardless of the Silver Wolf Guild, we truly want to recruit you. If you’re already affiliated somewhere…”
“I’m not affiliated with anyone, but I don’t feel the need to join a guild… Not that I was chosen, anyway.”
Both their expressions darkened.
“That’s… because they didn’t properly understand your trait.”
“My trait is Failed Game Master? It seems to be a much better trait than you thought. Could you perhaps elaborate…”
How did they know about my trait… Ah! I wrote it down on the questionnaire during basic training.
Since they were both high-ranking officers in the alliance, they must have looked up my file.
“It’s good, yes, but I don’t wish to discuss it in any more detail.”
If they thought it was so good, they should have picked me during basic training.
Honestly, I had no intention of joining a guild from the start, but if a guild like the Golden Lion Guild had made an offer, I would have at least considered it.
“…Won’t you at least hear our terms?”
The vice guild master proposed with an affable smile, but I wasn’t particularly interested.
Still, they bought me a drink and a rather expensive appetizer, so I figured I might as well listen. I nodded.
The vice guild master enthusiastically explained the terms, and they were quite extraordinary.
Guild tax exemption, starting as a team leader with a guaranteed promotion to vice guild master in the future, a private dorm and meals provided, priority rental of guild-owned items, support for leveling up, and more.
They were certainly excellent conditions, but they didn't mean much to me.
I had plenty of money, and I was quite satisfied with my current gear.
I’d heard about a party experience bonus during basic training, but with my hunting speed, it was better to just take everything for myself.
“We don’t make offers like this to rookies, not even to high-ranking officers in the alliance. We believe this is a treatment befitting your skills. What do you think?”
The vice guild master’s face was full of expectation, and I felt a little sorry, but my answer was already decided.
“Your offer is…”
“Excuse me, but did you used to be on Witube?”
I was about to thank him and decline when the guild master suddenly asked a strange question.
Was he asking based on something from my file?
“I was, but why do you ask all of a sudden…?”
“Are you perhaps Ung-jjang from UngTV?”
…?
Ung-jjang was the nickname my fans used for me. Naturally, I hadn’t written anything like that in my file.
In fact, I don’t think I even wrote down my channel name…
Or did I?
I couldn’t remember clearly.
“Have you perhaps seen my videos?”
“I knew it. What a coincidence. Seen them? I always tuned in for your live streams.”
Wow. I had thought there might be a subscriber of mine in Elsia, but to think there really was one…
And not just any subscriber, but a true fan who watched all my videos and even my live streams. I never would have imagined it.
“I thought you looked familiar. To think it was Ung-jjang.”
I was used to hearing that nickname during my streams, but hearing it from a much older man was a bit…
Still, it was fascinating, and I felt a sense of camaraderie.
“This is the first time I’ve met a subscriber. It’s suddenly nice to see you.”
I had planned a fan meeting for my 10,000 subscriber event, but it was canceled due to a low number of applicants.
“It’s really nice to meet you too.”
“Witube? Tae-soo, you knew him already?”
“Yeah, he just looks so different now, I didn’t recognize him…”
“Excuse me, but what’s your username?”
I only had 10,000 subscribers, and only a few people joined my live streams, so I remembered most of my viewers’ names.
“Ah… well, my username is…”
He hesitated and mumbled. It seemed his claim of watching all my live streams might have been a lie.
“It’s alright, you can tell me. It’s fine even if you didn’t watch the live streams.”
“No, I really watched them all… It’s just, hey, Chil-seong, you should go to the restroom for a bit.”
“Suddenly?”
“Just go when I tell you to!”
He barked, shooing the vice guild master from his seat.
“It must be a rather unique username. Please, tell me now.”
People come up with all sorts of creative names on the internet, but considering his age, it probably wasn’t anything too outrageous.
Lee Tae-soo let out a sigh and looked at me.
Just what kind of name was it that he was being so secretive?
“Mil… Vet…”
Milvet?
“So you were Milvet-nim.”
That was a fairly normal name, nothing to be embarrassed about.
Of course, it was a username I didn’t remember.
I figured his claim about watching my live streams was a lie.
“Not Milvet… Ugh, don’t laugh, okay?”
“I won’t. Please, go ahead.”
“I’m… Military-Veteran-High-School-Girl-Kyaru-chan.”
The moment I heard the name, I remembered it instantly.
It wasn’t just because the name was incredibly unique,
nor was it because he was a toxic viewer I had banned. It was a name impossible to forget.
“…The Chairman?”