Lee Guho's Past: Trials on the 13th Floor Field
"Ah."
After walking for so long, Kim Nayeong's legs finally gave out, and she collapsed. Gisohee, who was right beside her, hurried over in alarm.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah... I'm fine. Just... give me a moment to rest..."
But a stern voice cut in.
"Get up! Right now!"
It was Lee Guho's voice, rough and unlike his usual self. Gisohee shot him a look that said to stop, but he kept shouting.
"You're dragging the whole party down! Get up!"
"Uh..."
Kim Nayeong gritted her teeth against the pain and forced herself to stand. Namgung Seojun, who had been watching, paused for a moment before speaking.
"We move out again."
The party resumed their march, and Kim Nayeong barely managed to keep up with the group. Fortunately, they didn't have to go much farther before a break was called.
"We'll rest here for a bit."
Namgung Seojun had spotted a spot with a wall for decent cover, so the group gathered, set down their gear, and took a breather. Seojun pulled some jerky from his pouch and started chewing. It was hard to eat proper meals on the move, so snacking like this was necessary. Lee Guho and Jo Jaehun supplemented their calories with their own cookies or hardtack.
In the meantime, Gisohee stayed by Kim Nayeong's side.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Kim Nayeong forced a smile in response, but anyone could see she was in bad shape.
"Hold on a sec."
"No, don't—"
Gisohee ignored her protests and pulled off her shoe by force. What was revealed was a foot blistered and bloody from burst blisters.
"......"
"I-It's... fine."
Kim Nayeong tried to put her shoe back on, but Gisohee handed her a potion.
"Thank you."
Tears welled up in her eyes. She hadn't even been able to afford the cheapest potions. With tears streaming down her face, she applied it to her foot. Watching her sob, Gisohee decided this couldn't go on. She approached Namgung Seojun.
"Seojun, are we just going to keep pushing like this? Nayeong's struggling so much."
Seojun glanced at the map on his belt, pondering, when Lee Guho stepped up decisively.
"We have to. We need to maintain our usual pace. Hell, we're already way behind. Don't baby Nayeong."
Their opinions clashed, but Seojun checked the map and made the call.
"At this rate, we can reach the small village by tonight. We'll rest there for dinner. It's better for her that way."
It was a solid decision. Gisohee and Lee Guho both nodded.
After the break, the party set off again. About an hour in, Namgung Seojun shouted.
"Enemies ahead, 700 meters—quadrupeds, unidentified, around 15 of them."
The group snapped into combat formation. For battles on the 10th floor stretch, Seojun had taken on the freerole dealer role aggressively. He positioned himself a bit apart to prepare his attacks, while Lee Guho began chanting spells. Jo Jaehun and the guards raised shields near the attackers. Kim Nayeong stayed quietly in the protected spot with the other porters.
"Kyaaaoooo!"
A wolf's howl echoed. From the sound, they knew it was black wolves that prowled dark areas. Soon, massive wolves charged toward the party.
"Firebolt!"
Lee Guho's spell shot out first and fast.
Boom. Kyaaang!!
Two wolves dropped immediately, and the fight was on.
Whoosh. Kyang!
Seojun wielded his sword skillfully, thinning the wolves' numbers. The main defense line held firm with their shields.
Clang! Clang!
"Watch the low attacks!"
Jo Jaehun's large shield covered even below, but some shieldbearers had smaller ones and redoubled their caution at his warning.
"Energy Bolt!"
Lee Guho's timely magic blasted more wolves, steadily reducing their count. Up to this point, it was a smooth fight.
But one wolf spun with blinding speed for an unexpected strike.
"Kyaaak!"
The guards blocked it in a panic, but startled Kim Nayeong shifted, separating from the main group.
"Damn it! Cover me!"
Jo Jaehun asked his fellow shieldbearers to hold and broke off to shield the isolated Kim Nayeong. Namgung Seojun immediately summoned Sylph.
"Sylph, buff!"
Sylph sang a song, applying the buff. Speed boosted, Seojun began massacring the black wolves. Ten minutes later, the battle ended without casualties.
"Whew..."
Namgung Seojun wiped sweat from his brow, looking drained. But then!
"Ah!"
He noticed a wound on the back of his hand. In the frenzy, he'd taken a minor scratch from the wolves.
"Huh? Seojun, you okay?"
He rarely got hurt, so Gisohee looked worried as she hurriedly pulled a low-grade potion from her bag and applied it.
"Ow... it stings a bit."
It wasn't serious, of course. Seeing Namgung Seojun and Gisohee like that—with their leader scratched up from overexertion—Lee Guho's expression darkened menacingly.
It showed just how much strain Seojun had gone through because of Kim Nayeong. And that fury turned on Lee Guho, who had brought her into the party. He stormed over to her with a scary glare. She tried to explain.
"That wasn't... I didn't mean to—"
Before she could finish, his hand swung.
Slap!
He struck her cheek and barked.
"You trying to get yourself killed? You crazy? If you wanna die, do it alone! Don't screw over your teammates! Just stay behind the guards quietly! You couldn't even do that and hurt the team!!"
"But... I... sob sob..."
Struck on the cheek amid the grueling schedule she was barely enduring, Kim Nayeong started crying from the resentment.
"Crying? What do you have to cry about? Your dumb panic move got our main attacker injured!"
Lee Guho scolded her even harsher, and she just sobbed. Finally, Gisohee intervened again.
"She's just a production class who doesn't know any better. Enough already?"
Only then did Lee Guho stop and turn away. The party began cleaning the battlefield. Porters collected the wolves' noses for merit points and fangs as loot. They picked the best hides too.
Namgung Seojun chewed bitter pain-relieving herbs while sitting on a rock to rest. The hand wound had healed, but it still ached. He spotted Gisohee comforting Kim Nayeong.
"It's okay. You're not used to combat yet. It's fine."
Kim Nayeong wept bitterly in her arms.
Before evening fell on Deskov, the party spotted the village sign: Deskov.
"Who goes there?"
At the guard's question, Seojun stepped forward as party rep.
"Adventurers climbing the tower."
"That so? Come in. Our village is under the goddess's rule—don't even think about causing trouble."
The guard opened the gate, and they entered. The temple priest checked the monster noses.
"Total merit points: 298. I'll round it to 300. How do you want it divided?"
"Per the party's set shares, please."
"Got it."
As requested, the priest distributed to the regular members, excluding Kim Nayeong.
At the shop:
"These wolf fangs are prime. Nice hides too! All together, 10 gold."
Seojun took the money and divided it right away.
"4 gold to party funds. The remaining 6 per our shares."
Once again, Kim Nayeong got nothing. She was a temp member, contracted to go only to the 15th floor without merit or profits. From her view, just getting escorted there was gratitude enough—plus she'd gained some exp, so she was content.
Deskov was tiny; aside from temple, shop, and inn, it was all homes. No choice, Namgung Seojun's party headed to the sole inn.
"Welcome."
The lounging innkeeper perked up as they entered.
Seojun asked, "Any empty floors?"
"Yeah, the whole third floor's free."
Not many adventurers passed through, so it was quiet.
"How many rooms on three?"
"Ten."
"We'll take the whole floor."
Big spenders. The innkeeper grinned. "Dinner tonight and breakfast tomorrow?"
Seojun nodded, and the smile widened. "Just 2 gold."
Not cheap, but Seojun paid from party funds without hesitation.
"Thank you! Dinner's coming right up."
After the group meal, they scattered to rooms. Lee Guho and Kim Nayeong entered theirs. A small room with a decent bed and an attached bath/toilet—that was it. Lee Guho dumped his gear in the corner and turned to her.
"Strip quick. Brace yourself tonight!"
"Okay."
She nodded and began undressing, a subtle smile on her face. The condition he'd proposed when taking her on last: serve him every night. So she tended to him like a master each evening.
And she enjoyed it.
It had been just over a month since Kim Nayeong joined the party.
"Kamel!"
Someone shouted the city's name. The massive city on the 15th floor came into view. Seeing Kamel's walls, tears flowed from Kim Nayeong's eyes.
Five weeks since meeting Lee Guho... six months since being abandoned in the 11th-floor city. Memories of her hardships flooded back, bursting her tear ducts. She wept openly at the sight.
Upon reaching the city, they first took her to the guild at the gate, as she'd wanted.
"Leaving right away?"
She emerged after just 10 minutes inside. At Seojun's question, she smiled.
"Yeah. They said head to a hospital in a nearby sanatorium city. And a party's departing immediately."
She'd gotten her assignment on the spot and come out to say goodbyes. Short five weeks, but she'd bonded with the party and was grateful.
"Take care."
"You too, sis—great job."
"Thanks for your hard work."
Starting with Namgung Seojun, they exchanged farewells. She especially asked Jo Jaehun to look after Lee Guho and wished Gisohee well with Seojun. Finally, Lee Guho.
"Take care. Stay safe always."
"Yeah."
They hugged lightly. In that embrace, she whispered.
"You... grab Yuki. Quick."
"What?"
It was out of nowhere.
"I know you best. So snag her. No regrets later."
"Why would I? A second-class slave... a slut? Why?"
"'Cause that's your type."
He was speechless. Back on Earth, he'd forgiven her affairs multiple times. Hell, it even fired him up for the next round. She knew his tastes well.
She stressed to the stunned man.
"As an inviter, you can make her your personal slave. Do it right then. Yuki'd be perfect for you."
"......"
Lee Guho just gawked, and she patted his back a few times.
"Do good."
He nodded unconsciously. With goodbyes done, Kim Nayeong reentered the guild.
"Alright, let's head into the city."
Led by Namgung Seojun, the party moved toward the center. Lee Guho glanced back at the guild building several times, a hint of regret on his face, before catching up.
"Idiot..."
From a window inside, Kim Nayeong watched Namgung Seojun's party—Lee Guho—tears streaming down her face.
He was a good guy. On Earth, he'd understood her betrayals time and again. Here too, he'd helped her. If she'd begged him here, things might've gone differently—much better for her.
But that was her last scrap of conscience. Parting now was best for him.
With regret and sorrow etched on her face, she accepted the farewell.