Joining the Guild (3)
“Uh… yeah. Got it.”
Yuna flashed an awkward smile as she handed the mini fan back to Yeong-sik. He slipped it into his inventory without a word. Watching him, Yuna tilted her head with sudden realization.
“So, how’d you take down those lizardmen?”
“With the weapon you saw earlier.”
“…Without any skills?”
Yuna stared at him in disbelief. Taking out lizardmen with no skills? That was impossible unless you had god-tier technique or just steamrolled them with overwhelming levels.
He didn’t look that high-leveled, she thought.
Which meant he’d done it through pure skill. Her gaze shifted to Yeong-sik’s left hand with growing interest. He met her eyes calmly.
“A-ra’s skills are frost magic, so it was easy. Lizardmen are weak to cold.”
“Hmm… true, but…”
Yuna eyed him skeptically. Sure, frost magic worked well against them, but for low-level summoners like them, it shouldn’t have been that effective.
“Did you train in martial arts or something before?”
“Yeah, enough to protect myself.”
Yeong-sik kept his amnesia hidden from her. That could wait.
“Alright. Let’s move.”
Yuna turned and trudged through the swamp. Yeong-sik’s group followed.
After a while, she glanced back at Yeong-sik as if remembering something.
“Oh, right. One thing I forgot to mention.”
“What is it?”
Yeong-sik’s party tilted their heads, listening intently. Yuna’s expression turned faintly bitter.
“Our guild master… Tiriya unnie? She’s not from Earth. She’s a native.”
The group’s eyes widened in shock. From what they’d heard, guilds were formed by Earthlings to stand against the established native powers. A native as guild master? It didn’t add up—like a white person leading a black rights group. Earthlings weren’t oppressed like that historically, but the vibe was similar: constant scrutiny.
“A native guild master? That’s… unusual.”
Yeong-sik had gathered info on this world for two weeks and never heard of a guild like that. He looked intrigued.
“She’s a good person. Too good, really. That’s the problem.”
Yuna’s words carried a swallowed bitterness, her eyes flashing with clear anger. Yeong-sik didn’t pry.
He’d learn the details soon enough living with them. For now:
I just need enough power to protect her from Light Shield.
Staring at Yuna’s back, Yeong-sik thought. What he needed most was basic safety until he grew stronger.
I have to get stronger. Faster.
His gaze darkened as he stared at his hands.
This raid had hammered it home: power was essential to survive here. And for him, building strength wasn’t just adaptation—it tied directly to recovering his memories.
Yeong-sik followed Yuna, mulling his future plans.
* * *
The Salvatore Guild was in Ruberin, the city next to the port of Bellen where Yeong-sik’s group had stayed. Ruberin looked far more rundown at a glance. Roads were poorly paved with potholes everywhere, and the buildings lining the streets were uniformly dilapidated. It lacked Bellen’s vibrant energy.
“First time outside Bellen?”
Yuna glanced back as she led the way. Yeong-sik nodded.
“Yes. First time.”
“Feels different, right?”
He nodded again. The buildings looked shabbier than his cheap inn. Yuna gave a wry smile.
“We used to be in the capital… but guild finances tanked, so we moved here.”
Her eyes grew distant as she scanned the streets. Shaking it off, she perked up.
“Anyway, it’s not bad once you settle in. Don’t look so disappointed.”
“Haha… I’m in no position to be disappointed.”
Yeong-sik smiled bitterly. As Yuna nodded and turned, a question flashed in his mind.
“By the way, why were you crossing lizardman territory?”
The swamp was garbage as a route. No reason for someone her level to hunt there, either.
“Oh, hunting a boss monster. Heard one was spotted recently.”
“Boss monster?”
“Yeah. They pop up in beginner zones sometimes.”
Yeong-sik frowned curiously.
“But why bother with a low-level boss?”
“Half curiosity. Bosses have been super rare lately. Plus, even low-level ones sell for good money.”
She started walking again. Boss monster, huh.
Yeong-sik followed, recalling what he knew. The only one he remembered was Kroll, the orc chieftain from the tutorial—secondhand via messages, not firsthand.
He’d ask for details later.
“Here we are.”
Ten minutes later, they reached a shabby two-story mansion. Yuna pushed the door open.
“Yuna unniiiiiii!”
“…Shut it.”
A girl with brown twintails charged at Yuna. Yuna looked exasperated and flicked her forehead lightly.
Snap!
“Kyaaak!”
The girl tumbled backward, rubbing her forehead with teary eyes.
“Wuu… That’s mean, Yuna unnie.”
“Sigh. Meet Lee Chae-rin. Our firepower.”
“…Firepower?”
Yeong-sik cocked his head; she didn’t look the part. Yuna shrugged with a smirk.
“You’ll see.”
She headed inside. The spacious living room (not that spacious) held two men. One was a sharp-eyed young man with a cold impression, silently reading a book. He glanced up slowly at Yuna—expression unchanging, like porcelain.
“Ah, Yuna.”
The other was warmer: thick horn-rimmed glasses, neat black hair, baggy robe all adding to his gentle vibe.
“The nice-looking one’s Bae Han-seong. The edgy one’s Yu-jin.”
“…I’m not edgy.”
Yu-jin frowned slightly, voice low. Yuna turned to Han-seong.
“Where’s everyone else?”
“Out on expedition.”
“Got it. I’ll introduce you guys first. These are Yeong-sik, Kim Gil-su, and Seo A-ra. They might be family soon.”
“…New recruits?”
Han-seong’s eyes narrowed questioningly—you serious?
Yuna nodded gravely.
“Tiriya unnie decides that.”
Her tone was firm. Han-seong sighed deeply.
“You’ll explain our situation properly later, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Ah! Yuna unnie! I’ve got a question!”
Chae-rin, who’d trailed behind, shot her hand up. Yuna turned.
“What?”
“What’re everyone’s classes?”
Her eyes sparkled at Yeong-sik’s group. Yuna groaned.
“I’ll explain later—”
“Eeeh?! Tell me now!”
Chae-rin whined. A vein pulsed on Yuna’s forehead. She raised her hand to flick—
But Gil-su spoke first.
“I’m a warrior class.”
He beamed warmly at the cute girl. Chae-rin giggled.
“Hee? You don’t look like a warrior, mister! Priest suits you better!”
“Hahaha. Can’t choose what you get.”
Gil-su chuckled heartily. Chae-rin grinned and turned.
“Next?”
“…Frost Mage.”
A-ra sighed shortly. Chae-rin’s eyes lit up at the attribute.
“Waaah! Hidden class? Awesome!”
A-ra averted her gaze, burdened. Chae-rin zeroed in on Yeong-sik.
He shrugged.
“I’m a Mechanical Engineer class.”
Polite as ever. Chae-rin tilted her head.
“Mechanical Engineer? Never heard of it…”
She approached eagerly, scanning him up and down.
“Blacksmiths fight with hammers—what do you use, oppa?”
“Hmm… something like this.”
Yeong-sik extended his left arm, murmuring Blade.
His left wrist split open, a sharp blade emerging.
“Waaah!”
“A special weapon unique to the Mechanical Engineer class.”
He’d preemptively labeled it to cover his tracks fully. Chae-rin oohed endlessly, then clapped.
“That’s it! So cool!”
“Pfft—”
Yuna and A-ra burst out laughing at the famous game character name. Yeong-sik, with no personal memories but Earth knowledge intact, smiled awkwardly.
“Say it for Irel once? Pleeease?!”
“…No.”
“En taro Tassadar?”
“Hard pass.”
“Puhahaha!”
Yeong-sik shut it down firmly. Yuna doubled over laughing.
Creeeak.
“We have guests?”
The commotion drew someone from upstairs. Yeong-sik turned.
A woman stood there.