The Beginning of Revenge
Jeong Eunseo, standing beside me, asked a question.
“When will you be able to accompany me to retrieve my grandfather’s legacy?”
“It’ll be difficult for the foreseeable future. I need to focus on academy life for the next month or two. If I find some free time, it might happen sooner... but it could also drag on longer, so I can’t give you a definite answer.”
I spoke to her, whose eyes had filled with disappointment.
“In exchange for the delay, I’ll share one piece of information. Listen without asking questions.”
Jeong Eunseo nodded.
“Honestly, I can roughly guess where your grandfather’s legacy is located. There’s a hidden piece on the second underground floor of the Labyrinth. I believe that’s where it is.”
“D-did you discover the hidden piece?”
“Didn’t I just say the condition was no questions?”
“Ah... I’m sorry....”
Jeong Eunseo hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
“If what you say is true and you’re heading to F-class, then I’ll return to the academy starting tomorrow. Rather than waiting from a distance, staying by your side puts me more at ease. I haven’t attended classes for so long that I was held back in F-class anyway, so we’ll be in the same class.”
“Do you really need to go that far? You can continue with whatever you were doing and only act together when I contact you.”
“No. I can’t. I’m too anxious. Who knows what might happen in the meantime?”
She looked at me with worried eyes.
“I know you’re strong, but once the Artemis Guild starts moving, your power alone won’t be enough. When that time comes, I’ll speak to my father and lend you his strength.”
“...Understood.”
Honestly, from my perspective, having insurance wasn’t a bad thing, so there was no reason to refuse her offer. Who would turn down a free backer?
But then a sudden question crossed my mind.
“Jeong Eunseo, there’s something I don’t understand. Why are you treating me this well? If you simply want to find your grandfather’s legacy, there was no need to confront Yoo Heeyeon earlier.”
“Wh-when did I treat you that well? I’m only giving you the treatment you deserve for helping me in the Labyrinth. Besides, you might not realize it, but to keep a Legendary-grade job holder as an ally, this much is far from enough.”
She pulled out her phone and checked something on the screen.
“Our guild has Unique-grade job holders, but not a single Legendary-grade one. The Artemis Guild probably doesn’t have any either. Well... those people might be hiding one in secret, but regardless, your grade is rarer and more valuable than you think. Your job level is still low right now, so the power is somewhat reduced, but as time passes, you’ll grow strong enough that no one can catch up. I’m simply investing in the future.”
I looked at her and thought to myself.
‘It’s not just the Gunner job. The Blacksmith job is also Legendary. If I told her that, she’d lose her mind.’
Still, Jeong Eunseo’s words held some truth. Even the mage from the Magic Tower who radiated that overwhelming mana hadn’t reached Legendary grade. Nam Jin-seok had raised his job level considerably, so I’d lose if I fought him now, but that could change once I grew stronger. Moreover, my job gained additional traits as it leveled up. It was a shame it was the Gunner class, but thanks to [Simultaneous Awakening], it wasn’t that disappointing.
Jeong Eunseo spoke again.
“We already exchanged contact information, so starting tomorrow, let’s head to the academy together. A knight will drive me, so I’ll pick you up on the way.”
“There’s no need to go together. It’ll take up more of your time.”
When I questioned her, she answered casually.
“It’s on the way anyway. Just tell me what time you leave each day and I’ll match it.”
“Hmm... Well, if you insist, I’m grateful.”
In truth, the distance from my house to the academy wasn’t short. Public transportation was inconvenient, so having someone offer to drive me was a welcome change.
“Good. Then we’ll do that starting tomorrow. If anything comes up, I’ll call you, so make sure to answer.”
“Call? Why would you call?”
“Just to talk if I have worries or need advice. Th-that’s what friends do, right?”
Watching her blush while saying the word “friend,” a realization struck me.
‘Ah, she doesn’t have any friends her age.’
Jeong Eunseo had a strong personality and high pride. She wasn’t the type to reach out first either. She was brutally honest, which often hurt others. Before entering the academy she had only private tutors, and after enrolling she skipped classes for months. She had no peers she could call friends. In other words, I was the only one around her age who could fill that role.
‘Have we become friends?’
In the original game, Jeong Eunseo never called anyone a friend. She only saw others as classmates. That made her current attitude somewhat puzzling.
“Do whatever you want. But I might not be able to answer if I’m busy.”
“I have enough tact, so don’t worry.”
At that moment—
I felt someone’s presence behind me and turned around.
“Who’s there?”
To Jeong Eunseo’s question, I shook my head.
“It’s nothing. Let’s end things here for today. We can handle the rest through text.”
After a brief farewell, I parted ways with Jeong Eunseo.
Footsteps echoed as I walked toward the spot where I sensed the hidden presence.
The figure flinched.
“Why are you following me? Got something to say?”
When I spoke toward the wall, Seong Hyun-wook hesitantly stepped out.
“H-how did you know?”
Seong Hyun-wook gritted his teeth and avoided my gaze. I spoke to him coldly.
“Why are you squirming like a dog that needs to shit? Is it because I know Jeong Eunseo and Mage Nam Jin-seok? As expected from someone who only sucks up to successful people, your attitude flips like a switch. Disgusting.”
Only then did Seong Hyun-wook approach me step by step.
“What? Lee Hyunseung, are you done talking? Are you fucking kidding me? Don’t make me laugh. You’re the one sucking up to others, you retard. You have nothing and no power, yet you act like you’re something special. It makes me sick. You’re just a non-awakened stalker bastard. I don’t know how you seduced that woman, but why should I listen to this from some retard who got lucky with a girl and fixed his pathetic life?”
“Hoo.... Hoo....”
Seong Hyun-wook’s eyes were bloodshot as he glared at me. Apparently, having to bow his head and apologize to Nam Jin-seok earlier had been humiliating beyond words.
Still unable to calm down, he shouted.
“People like you make me sick. You trail behind others using their authority, yet act like you’ve become someone important. It’s disgusting. Don’t spout bullshit when you’re just an incompetent who could only scribble on written tests at the academy! I’m not someone an inferior bastard like you can treat recklessly!”
I frowned and replied.
“Why won’t you admit it even when the evidence is right in front of you? Stalker this, stalker that—cut the bullshit. And you think I’m incompetent? You might not know, but I awakened recently.”
Seong Hyun-wook quickly scanned me, then noticed the pistol hanging from my waist.
He burst into mad laughter.
“You said you awakened, so I thought you got some amazing job, but a pistol? A Gunner who has to leech off the mana stat on items because you don’t even have basic mana stats? Puhaha! You retarded bastard. You don’t know anything yet—Gunners are trash. Well, it suits a trash bastard like you.”
“Trash?”
I glared at Seong Hyun-wook.
“If you really think I’m trash, how about we settle it with a one-on-one duel at the academy tomorrow?”
“What? A duel? Me, a swordsman, against you, a Gunner?”
Seong Hyun-wook grinned.
“Don’t regret it. You’re the one who suggested it first. Promise you won’t use your connections. You’re not going to run crying to Jeong Eunseo or Nam Jin-seok after getting beaten, right?”
I spoke while suppressing a laugh.
“I promise.”
Seong Hyun-wook shoved me aside.
“See you tomorrow. I’ll turn you into a half-retard, so look forward to it. I’ll pay you back for the humiliation I suffered today.”
Footsteps faded into the distance.
I watched Seong Hyun-wook’s creepy laughter from afar and muttered to myself while opening my status window.
“Trash Gunner? Fine. See you tomorrow, you idiot.”
[Legendary Gunner]
▶ Job Grade: Legendary
▶ Job Level: 1
▶ Grants exceptional proficiency with firearms.
▶ Greatly increases the growth rate of related traits when handling firearms.
▶ Adds bonus damage to attacks made with firearms.
▶ Currently sealed. Will unlock as job level increases.
▶ Growth-type job. Special stats unlock upon reaching certain job levels.