Exile

I had always been the furthest thing from competitive.

I preferred quiet and ease, hated fighting with anyone, and so from childhood I fell behind as a matter of course. Growing up battered this way and that had improved me some, but still—

I never imagined that even as a civil servant I would suffer.

"Han-gyul, you're consistently, reliably useless, aren't you? Hmm?"

Section Chief Park jabbed a finger at the dismal subscriber count and machine-gunned the words at me.

"Look at the civil servants in other cities. They're killing it on YouTube. You can't do that? Why not? You're a young guy, aren't you?"

These days even local government employees were jumping on YouTube to drum up publicity. I knew it was a good idea. Knowing didn't make me capable of it.

"Well… I only really like watching."

"Then analyze it and make something decent!!! Who do you think you are, talking back?"

"…I'm sorry."

"Oh, leave him alone. Like that's going to magically give him a sense of style he doesn't have."

Manager Choi said it absently, eyes on his phone.

Disgusting. The same man who'd shoved me into YouTube in the first place—insisting a young person had to do it—after I'd already said I didn't want to.

Jung Da-jung raised a tentative hand.

"Should I try?"

"No. You're high-value personnel, Jung. You've got more than enough on your plate."

"Aww."

She lowered her hand with a show of disappointment. She knew full well it would never happen. She was just putting on a performance.

God, I was furious.

"I only put you on YouTube because you can't do a single thing right, and even that's too hard for you??? Unbelievable. If I had the time, I'd have cracked ten thousand subscribers myself… tch."

Section Chief Park stormed off in a rage.

Unbelievable. Then maybe he should spend less time secretly playing phone games and try it himself.

Ha.

What was I even doing here?

I sat behind city hall nursing the gloom, and my mentor, Lee Hye-yoon, appeared with coffee in hand.

"Han-gyul, it's been rough, hasn't it?"

"Ah—no, I'm fine."

"Hang in there. The section chief was just venting his frustration."

She patted my shoulder. She'd taken her own share of scolding, and still she was the one comforting me. Lee Hye-yoon really was a good person.

"Am I… actually useless?"

"Of course not."

She smiled kindly.

"You know that saying? Everyone has a superpower—it's just that some people got 'expert marksman' in the Silla Dynasty, or 'master rickshaw puller' in the modern age, so they never realize it."

"…"

"You might have something like that too, Han-gyul."

That was just another way of saying I was useless right now.

"Shall we head in? The section chief will be looking for us."

"Yes…"

Everyone has a superpower, she said.

Would Lee Hye-yoon turn out to be right?

Those words were about to be put to the test.

That evening, during the department dinner, the five of us were swallowed by a light we couldn't explain and dragged somewhere else entirely.

"Wh-what was that just now?! What was that?"

"Am I still drunk…?"

"Kyaaaah! L-look down…!!"

When our senses returned, we were standing in a space that looked like the cosmos. The sensation was far too vivid. This couldn't be a dream… could it?

Then an unfamiliar woman's voice rang out.

"Waaaaagh!!!"

Saviors to rescue a world…?

This whole atmosphere felt like an isekai reincarnation story.

Section Chief Park, still reeling from his scream, seemed to have the same thought.

"W-wait. Is this one of those isekai reincarnation things…?"

"So that means we're dead…?"

"We all died drinking together? Is this for real?!"

Manager Choi shouted in protest, but the goddess remained calm.

In other words: not my jurisdiction, so don't come complaining to me. Even the gods were civil servants, apparently.

At that, we all fell into panic. Manager Choi raged at the goddess about what would happen to his family. Section Chief Park pulled a cigarette from his coat and lit it. Jung Da-jung's lips trembled as she burst into tears. Lee Hye-yoon sank to the ground and stared into empty space.

And me… I was strangely calm. Why? If anything, I felt clearer than before.

Then five pouches appeared in the air.

Holographic letters floated above the five pouches.

Swordsmanship. Archery. Magic. Healing. Survival.

"The protagonist always takes the sword!!!"

Manager Choi bolted forward and snatched the Swordsmanship pouch. That was the starting gun—everyone else scrambled after him.

It was first come, first served?!!

By the time I arrived late, only a single pouch remained.

Survival.

"Manager, how could you just run ahead like that?"

"Ahem. Looks like we took them in order of rank anyway, so what's the problem?"

He wasn't wrong, looking back. Manager Choi had taken Swordsmanship first, then Section Chief Park Magic, Jung Da-jung Healing, and Lee Hye-yoon Archery.

The goddess's voice rang out once more.

And so we opened our eyes in a strange, foreign land.

"So… what do we do now?"

The abilities the goddess had gifted us held potential and nothing more—nowhere near ready to earn their keep. We stayed in the kingdom as adventurers, aiming to clear the quests hanging on our status windows. Completing different quests raised our levels, and with each level came various rewards suited to our abilities. At level five, each of us received exclusive equipment.

Except…

"Haha! Look at this! A sword forged from legendary metal! It's incredibly light and sharp!!"

"I got a staff from the god of life! With this, potions are free for life!"

"My staff belonged to the previous archmage—it multiplies magical power several times over."

"I got a quiver that never runs out of arrows."

"Uh… I didn't get anything?"

It was strange. Everyone else received rewards every time they leveled up. I received nothing. Not at level one. Not at level two. Everyone insisted there had to be some kind of error, but no matter how thoroughly I checked my status window, my quests listed no rewards at all.

In my panic, they offered comfort that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wasn't comfort.

"Huh. That's peculiar~ Why is it always just our Han-gyul who's the odd one out?"

"Right? Even in another world, Han-gyul's still pitiful."

"Did they give you a defective product?! Go yell at the sky and call the goddess!! This needs a warranty claim!!"

"Han-gyul. Keep leveling up just in case. Maybe they'll all dump out at once later."

We kept raising our levels after that. I still received not a single reward—only bare levels. And as my level rose, the quests grew increasingly vicious: Survive the Snowy Mountain, Build a Cabin in the Forest and Survive, and the like.

So while everyone else hit the maximum level of ten and reached the pinnacle of their fields, I was alone in a cave grinding a level-nine quest. When I finally staggered back, battered and broken, they had all received glittering titles of nobility and formed a Demon King subjugation force.

"Ah~ right, Han-gyul was a savior with us too, wasn't he?"

"Han-gyul, are you okay?!"

Some were unwelcoming. Some were expectant. Some were worried. But when I told them I still hadn't hit max level and still hadn't received a single reward, the atmosphere turned ice-cold.

"…Still, you've ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠survived all kinds of environments, haven't you? You might be useful on the expedition."

Thanks to Lee Hye-yoon's support, I was allowed to join the subjugation. I had never received any material reward, but I did have experience surviving in every kind of environment. I thought this time I might finally prove some small measure of my worth.

Until I learned the kingdom had a full support corps.

"Saviors! The food is ready! If it's not enough, just say the word!!"

"Cold? We brought sturdy tents and warm blankets, plenty of them!! Heating Stones, too!"

Come to think of it, there was no reason the five of us had to go alone. And this kingdom was rich—their supplies were stacked to the ceiling. They were competent in the most useless way possible!

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Which meant my Survival skill was completely worthless, wasn't it?!

In the end, I was reduced to Soldier Number One, ladling rice in the mess hall.

"Han-gyul, more meat. Is this any way to treat a Hero who's been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spilling blood against demonkin?"

"Ah, yes! Manager. I'm sorry."

"Hmm. Still living in the past, aren't you? It's not Manager anymore—shouldn't you be calling him Hero?"

"Ah, yes… I'm sorry, Saintess."

"Oh, then since I'm receiving a Magic Tower, does that make me the Magic Tower Master? Magic Tower Master… not bad!"

"Officer— I mean, Ranger, would you like more meat as well?"

"…Yes."

While everyone else claimed a title and soared, I alone was left behind, scraping along the bottom. Was I truly useless? Even after coming to another world—still?

But I hadn't given up yet. There was still the final level: ten. Just as Lee Hye-yoon had said, maybe an incredible reward was waiting once I hit level ten. That would only be fair, wouldn't it? I alone had received nothing this entire time. I believed the level-ten reward would be magnificent enough to repay every humiliation.

And just before we entered the Demon King's castle, I finally reached level ten.

"I—I did it…! I finally hit max level!! And this time there's a reward!!!"

"Oh, for real?"

"What's the reward!!"

My coworkers and the kingdom's people all gathered, waiting for my reaction. I was certain something incredible would appear.

And then—

"…Soul of the Survival Master?"

There was no level-ten reward. Instead, hitting level ten had cleared every achievement, and the achievement reward was the Soul of the Survival Master.

"So what can you do with that?"

"Uh, well… I can make things like this!"

New item recipes appeared on my status window. The simplest-looking one was a stone axe. I picked up a rock and a stick, crafted a stone axe on the spot—and a hundred-odd people stared at me in blank silence.

Their reaction was cold.

"Pfft."

"That's what he got from the goddess…?"

"It's interesting, sure, but compared to the other saviors…"

"Honestly, below expectations."

"W-wait a minute!!!"

I shouted desperately.

"This is just one of the abilities! There might be incredible potential in this. If you just give me a moment—"

"Oh, for crying out loud. I'm sick of this."

Section Chief Park stepped forward. Lee Hye-yoon tried to stop him, but he shook off her hand.

"Let go! Somebody has to say it! Han-gyul… no—Lee Han-gyul! How long are you going to stay a dead weight? Huh? Life is the real deal, you idiot!! We dragged your worthless ass along with us, and you're still nothing but dead weight to the bitter end."

Dead weight. Burden. The pointed words stabbed into my heart again and again. Section Chief Park kept going.

"Please get a grip on your place. Didn't you feel it while you were ladling rice? Do you honestly think you're a savior like the rest of us? If you can't help, then just leave! Your mere presence is a nuisance!"

"Easy, Magic Tower Master. Calm down."

Manager Choi stepped in as if to settle things.

"The Magic Tower Master's words were harsh, but I also don't think Han-gyul is suited for the Demon King subjugation. I mean… isn't it obvious? He has no real combat ability, and the support we have here is more than enough. With the Demon King's castle so close, it would be best if he left the force now. You understand what I'm saying, right?"

I see. They didn't want my name on the Hero's party that slew the Demon King.

I didn't care about glory. I had only wanted to be of some small help.

"…Understood. As of today, I will leave the subjugation force."

"Han-gyul!"

Lee Hye-yoon cried out. But in that moment, I understood. She wasn't going to stop me either.

"Thank you for everything."

I bowed and walked out of the subjugation force.

I just wanted to be quietly useless.

Anywhere without people would do. I headed for the Southern Land, where almost no one lived.

Then the unexpected happened.

"Snow…? Why is the weather like this?"

The south had a warm climate. Snowfall was genuinely rare—and yet a cold wind rose without warning, and thick flakes began to whirl. Within moments the snow piled to knee height, and the driving flurries blotted out the world ahead. All of it in a single day.

"Ugh!!!"

The fierce blizzard knocked me flat. I had no feeling in my hands or feet. No strength left. Having survived a snowy mountain before, my body knew first how dangerous this was. A cold far harsher than anything I'd faced then—and I had no preparations whatsoever.

Was I going to be buried in this snowfield and die? This… from a max-level Survival skill?

"Hahahaha."

There were jokes, and then there was this. A lonely end befitting a useless human.

It wasn't fair. I really had tried, I thought…

I was about to let everything go and close my eyes when—

A voice neither clearly male nor female whispered at my ear.