Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: The Emperor (1)
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The area in front of the training center was less crowded than I expected.
Since it was the last day, I thought it would be a bit chaotic with various guilds visiting for recruitment…
I was worried I had come too late, but then I saw the personnel manager from the Four Stars Guild, who I’d met earlier, at the entrance.
“Oh? Hyeon-ung, you’re here.”
“Am I very late?”
I didn’t really care about the other guilds, but it would be a bit of a problem if the person from the Lord’s Castle had already left…
“Not at all. The representative from the Lord’s Castle is still here, so let’s go and greet them first.”
Following the manager’s suggestion, I went inside with him to make my presence known.
The first thing I saw were members of the Four Stars Guild busily cleaning up, just like they did with other batches. In the first-floor dining area, summoners were gathered in small groups.
“Looks like not many guilds have arrived yet?”
By this time, most guilds would have already picked up their recruits, but there were still too many people.
“Ah, about half of them haven't arrived yet.”
During our time, they came to get us incredibly fast. Thinking that they were a bit late this time, I headed up the stairs.
I arrived at the fifth floor of the training center, in front of the office that Tae-soo had once used as the training director.
*Knock, knock—*
“Master Choi Seong-uk, the Pioneer is here.”
“Let him in.”
When the door opened, the master of the Four Stars Guild, whom I had seen in passing with Tae-soo before, was sitting at a table with a man who had a very familiar mustache.
“My, my, please come in. You must be tired from your long journey.”
The master of the Four Stars Guild greeted me warmly, which surprised me a little.
The mustached man sitting behind him with a sullen expression was Butler Barein… no, on closer inspection, he resembled the butler but was much younger.
He looked to be in his mid-twenties at most.
“Hello. Is the gentleman behind you the butler’s son?”
“This is Bares, an apprentice butler. I checked with the person in charge of this training session, and it seems you showed no interest at all.”
He didn’t confirm it, but being an apprentice butler with such a similar name, it had to be true.
“But I was actively involved in the last session, wasn’t I? As I recall, I was told that I only needed to pay close attention to the previous session…”
“Even so, lending the training facility for new summoners is a favor extended to the Pioneer, yet you seem to show too little interest.”
He’s just as good at picking fights as his father.
“Realistically, I can’t participate in every training session. The Guild Alliance is educating them well according to the curriculum, so what’s the problem?”
Bares’s face flushed red, and the Four Stars Guild master’s expression darkened.
Frankly, I could have just bowed my head and let it slide, but I had no intention of cowering before some young pup who wasn't even the real butler.
I hadn't done anything wrong.
“So… are you saying you did well?”
“I didn’t do anything particularly well, but I didn’t do anything wrong either, did I?”
“We went to the trouble of supporting you, yet you didn’t even recruit a single person. You haven’t even created a guild.”
“I prefer being alone, you see. And the conditions for the training center support didn’t include a requirement for me to recruit anyone or create a guild.”
As I retorted to his every word without backing down, his face turned into a ripe tomato.
“Hey, now, why are you acting like this…”
The Four Stars Guild master was getting anxious, but what’s wrong is wrong.
Honestly, if the Lord’s side decided to stop supporting me with this training center, I could just buy or build a new one.
“How dare a mere summoner…”
“The Lord himself told me to only focus on the last training session. Are you in a higher position than the Lord?”
At the mention of the Lord, he seethed, unable to contain his anger, then shot me a glare and stormed out.
Couldn’t even properly argue his case.
“Hyeon-ung, how could you treat someone from the Lord’s side so harshly?”
The Four Stars Guild master looked distraught.
“He was making such a ridiculous fuss that I got a little heated.”
“Still, he’s from the Lord’s Castle…”
“Well, if they say they won’t support the training center anymore, I can just buy a building and use that, can’t I?”
If he was going to pick a fight like this every time, that might be the better option.
“It’s not about the training center support. If the Lord’s side views the Alliance unfavorably because of this and imposes some disadvantages…”
He seemed to think that the Guild Alliance, or rather, the Four Stars Guild, would be marked because of this incident.
“There will be no harm to the Four Stars Guild or the Alliance.”
“How can you be so sure…”
“I’m much closer to the Lord than you think, Guild Master.”
The Lord calls me his savior and said he would betray an angel if I just brought Alice to him. Him, giving me a disadvantage?
That was absurd.
Both the Four Stars Guild master and the personnel manager behind him were anxious, but I reassured them once more by pointing out that the apprentice had left as soon as I mentioned the Lord.
“Well, if you say it’s fine…”
“Yes, yes. Nothing will happen, I promise. More importantly, have you gathered the Armor Enhancement Scrolls with Grace?”
“Ah, I have them with me.”
The number of Armor Enhancement Scrolls with Grace held by the Four Stars Guild was 380.
“If that’s too many, you don’t have to purchase all of them…”
He had gathered an enormous amount since the last time he sold his entire stock to me.
As expected, being part of the Alliance and controlling the floor bosses to monopolize them made a huge difference.
“No, I’ll buy them all.”
The success rate seemed to have dropped significantly after hitting +200, so I’d be happy if even 10% of these worked.
After completing the transaction, I went down to the first floor and saw a familiar face.
“Mijeong?”
Behind Mijeong stood two women and one man who looked to be in their early to mid-twenties.
It was clear they were here to pick up new summoners.
“Huh? Hyeon-ung, what are you doing here…?”
“I had a little something to take care of.”
“What is it? Are you trying to recruit someone?”
“No.”
I briefly explained the situation to her.
“So that’s what happened. What a pain.”
“I know, right? Is the Golden Lion Guild recruiting these three this time?”
“We weren’t planning on recruiting anyone since we took on so many last time, but there were just too many good candidates.”
Indeed, when I asked about the new summoners during my transaction earlier, I was told that, unlike the 35th batch, this group was good overall.
Come to think of it, Ha-young’s trait was also quite good, aside from the terminally ill part.
Anyway, that apparently made the competition fierce.
Looking over at where the new recruits were sitting, I could see that the number of people had decreased considerably.
Only five or six were left.
Maybe this time, no one would be left unchosen.
****
“Hanna? You’re not eating more?”
“I don’t have much of an appetite today.”
It was probably because it was the day we returned to the labyrinth.
Normally, she could easily polish off a four-person portion for breakfast, but today, she only ate three.
I always felt that the break periods passed by quickly, but this one seemed to have gone by in a flash.
Of course, looking back, we went to many places and did a lot together, but I couldn't help feeling a sense of regret.
“You won’t be able to eat for a while, so you should eat a lot now.”
“Aw, we can just eat again next time.”
I had recorded so much that I had nearly 50 video recording crystals, but I wondered how much meaning they would hold…
Knowing that their memories would disappear, it was inevitable that the mood would be a bit down.
Though, of course, there were some who were unaffected.
“Kkyuing!”
“Ppoyo! Ppoyo!”
Goldrake and Nix, those two were in the middle of a game of tag as usual.
“Stop it, you’re kicking up dust.”
I put the leftover food on a cart and pushed it outside before leaving Kabisa.
The crowd grew larger as we approached the central plaza.
“There are so many summoners.”
“It feels like there are more than on the first day.”
“It’s probably about the same as the first day.”
Most summoners head out at the same time.
The time they come out of the labyrinth is also… ah! With the new summoners added this time, there might actually be more.
“Huh? Son-in-law?”
“I think they’re calling you, Hyeon-ung.”
I turned around to see Tae-soo.
What son-in-law?
“Come on, Tae-soo… Son-in-law?”
I thought I told him there were still two years left…
“Mister, what’s a son-in-law?”
“It’s not important… huh?”
I was startled.
“Oh? It’s Ha-young!”
“Hyeon-ung! Rina, Hanna! Alpen.”
Ha-young, dressed in an outfit similar to other summoners with a dagger and a large bow on her back, waved at us.
“Didn’t you say you weren’t going to send her into the labyrinth?”
“There’s no parent who can win against their child…”
It seemed Ha-young had eventually persuaded him.
It was her choice, but I had hoped she would find something to do outside the labyrinth…
“So, are you going to be together in the labyrinth this time?”
“Dad wanted to, but I said it was okay. I can’t be a burden to everyone just for my sake.”
“I’ll be with the main party, and Ha-young will be joining the new summoner team.”
Of course, the new summoner team would have experienced guild members assigned to it, but from Tae-soo’s perspective, he must be anxious…
I wondered if I had said something unnecessary.
“Never overdo it. In the labyrinth, it’s always safety first, safety second, and safety third.”
Although, contrary to my words, there had been quite a few dangerous situations, I had rarely pushed myself to the limit by my own will.
“I’ve heard that a hundred times from Dad. That person, Mijeong? She’s our team leader.”
“You can trust Mijeong.”
It wasn’t a special arrangement for Ha-young; it was the Golden Lion Guild’s policy that for the first labyrinth expedition with new summoners, one of the executives, excluding Chil-seong and Tae-soo, would be in charge.
“I’ll work hard and become a great….”
“Summoner Lee Ha-young? Why are you here? Didn’t you receive the instruction to stay with your party members?”
“I… I’m sorry.”
“Do you think monsters will stop attacking if you say you’re sorry?”
Wow, Mijeong usually had a very gentle and kind demeanor, but she seemed a bit different with her guild members.
“Hey, Mijeong? We haven’t even entered the labyrinth yet, don’t be too…”
“Weren’t you the one who said not to give her special treatment just because she’s your daughter, Director? Ha-young is my party member. Summoner Lee Ha-young, return to your position!”
“Ye-yes! I have to go now, Hyeon-ung. Don’t overdo it either…”
She really knows how to establish discipline.
Maybe worrying about special treatment was needless…
I waved at Ha-young, who was moving with a very disciplined look on her face, as a sign of encouragement.
This must be what they call bittersweet.
I felt a little sorry for her, but it was the path she had chosen.
“Mijeong, please take good care of Ha-young.”
“Of course. She’s one of our guild members.”
Treating her normally, like Mijeong was doing, would probably be more helpful for Ha-young’s development.
“I should get going too. Take care of yourself.”
“You too, Tae-soo.”
After waiting for about five minutes, a blue light appeared, and my vision began to change.
…?
It wasn't the usual musty and damp first floor of the labyrinth, but a Chinese-style room.
Looking around, it seemed to be the same villa I had stayed in before leaving the labyrinth.
It appeared that if you exited the labyrinth from the 65th floor, you would return directly to the 65th floor.
First, I re-summoned my companions.
“Hyeon-ung!”
“Mister!”
“You called for us quickly.”
We exchanged warm greetings, and just in case, I asked if they remembered anything, but as expected, like my other companions, they couldn't recall a thing.
“I can’t remember anything, but it must have been fun, right?”
“I trust that you treated us well, mister.”
“Knowing you, Hyeon-ung, I’m sure you took good care of me. Thank you.”
Thanking me for something they don’t even remember.
They were all trying their best to act cheerful, but their disappointment was written all over their faces.
“Not everything, but I did some filming.”
“Filming?”
I explained and took out the video recording crystals.
I had put name tags on each crystal, so I handed out the ones filmed at night to each of them.
They had asked me to give them these before we came to the labyrinth.
“We’re curious too.”
“Why do only they get to watch?”
“There’s one with everyone in it.”
I took out a crystal I had filmed and infused it with mana.
“Wow, that’s a really beautiful sea.”
“Oh, that cake looks incredibly delicious.”
“Milli and Timi, you two ate it too.”
“Mister, what’s that red stuff? It looks like me and Alpen are about to die.”
It was Rina and Alpen suffering after eating tteokbokki during the festival.
“Hanna, how many plates are you eating?”
My companions’ reactions were better than I had expected.
“Hyeon-ung, how did you think of this?”
“This is the best!”
It was nice for me to be able to reminisce about the memories once more as well.
Unfortunately, my own memories didn’t return.
As I was about to play the next video, I noticed it was a bit noisy outside.
*Screech—*
The sliding door opened, and Go Hwa-yeon entered.
“Great Hero Oh, thank goodness you’re awake. There’s been an attack, so we need to evacuate for now.”
Evacuate?
“Is it an attack from the Martial Alliance?”
But isn’t the Heavenly Demon in this building right now?
“It’s not the Martial Alliance; experts from the Imperial Palace have invaded. I don’t think we can hold them off for long, so you must flee quickly.”
Not the Martial Alliance, but the Imperial Palace?