Chapter 13. C-Rank Hero
After four days of rest, Kang Ji-hyuk's team left the city of Sele Toria. Everyone gazed at the receding walls with wistful expressions, lost in their thoughts. Gid still couldn't forget the maid's soft, supple skin and smacked his lips. He said getting bathed like that was the best thing ever. He'd found his life's purpose there…
"Fuuuck, we'll probably never come back here…."
Like he was trying to leave some mark behind, the bastard hawked up a thick glob of phlegm and spat it out the carriage window.
"Hope you enjoyed it, you fuckers—!"
His booming shout echoed toward the dawning sky in the distance. Birds perched on nearby trees startled and fluttered away in a flurry of wings. There was something poignant about the sight.
The group was now heading to the capital. It would take another three or four months to get back, but with the job done, their steps felt light.
Gid was already rattling off plans for what he'd do with his share of the money. It was all about screwing around with women.
Mahushu, who'd been listening quietly, turned to Yael with curious eyes.
"Yael, what's it mean to fuck someone in the ass?"
"Uh, th-that…."
Yael shot Gid a fierce glare from head to toe. The bald bastard didn't give a shit and jumped in quick.
"Ahh, that means…."
That's when Ji-hyuk cleared his throat with a deliberate ahem.
Gid snuck a glance at the boss and let out a sleazy heh heh chuckle. No matter how much of a reckless, damn mercenary the guy was, the boss scared him straight. He quickly passed the buck.
"…Ask the boss."
Ji-hyuk suddenly recalled the old days. Back then, he'd pounded Mahushu's holes front and back while she was high on drugs…
Suin are different from humans—their undeveloped asses still feel damn good to fuck.
"Boss?"
Mahushu called out to him. Yael was the one who looked flustered instead. She scrambled to divert the curious warrior girl's attention.
"Mahushu—! H-how was yesterday's training?"
The warrior's face lit up at the mention of training, and she launched into an excited chatter about it.
…Yael finally breathed a sigh of relief.
…Thank god she's so simple.
She didn't forget to shoot Gid a sharp glare. The bastard grinned obnoxiously and whistled away.
Kayak, who'd been sitting with arms crossed deep in thought, suddenly spoke up to Ji-hyuk.
"What will we do once we get back to the capital, sir?"
"We'll figure it out on the way. …Gotta catch up on backlog, recruit a team, that sort of thing."
Gid seized the moment and clung to the boss.
"Aigoo, boss. Please take me on as a teammate. I swear my loyalty. Liver, guts, whatever you want."
"…We'll see, depending on how you perform."
"I didn't hold back at all, you know that. …Right? Heh heh, bossss."
The bald fucker grinned with his yellow teeth. The boss said he'd consider it positively. Gid laid on the ass-kissing like he'd suck the boss's toes right then and there.
Mahushu shot him a disgusted look.
"Keep your honor, damn it—!"
"Fuck honor, does it pay the bills?"
"Honor is a warrior's life and livelihood—!"
"Yeah, you go eat that shit forever. Me? Heh heh, I just need the boss. Bossss~."
Gid cooed at Ji-hyuk all syrupy. The carriage erupted into laughter. Even Yael couldn't help cracking up at the absurdity. Mahushu glared at the group like it wasn't funny.
"Fine, I'll become a great warrior too and get treated like the boss—! Just you wait, Gid. I'll be so great you won't even dare look at me—!"
"Aigoo, forgive my ignorance, oh future great grand warrior. Mercy~."
The bastard shook dramatically like he was mocking her. Yael kicked his shin.
"Aigoo—!"
The tank made a huge fuss about getting hit by the mage. By then, daylight was flooding in from all sides. Grendal suddenly invoked the sun god's blessing and quietly sang a hymn.
Everyone listened in silence, admiring the beautiful scenery outside. It was holy and majestic.
…Before long, the city had vanished from sight forever.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The capital enjoyed a mild climate year-round, but it wasn't entirely unchanging. Early and late in the year brought a slight chill in the breeze. The weather was just like that now. Time to layer up with a thin coat.
As the landscapes shifted from their departure, Ji-hyuk's group finally entered the capital. It had been one hell of a long journey. About seven months by the calendar. They'd hurried a bit to make it this fast; dawdling could've pushed it past the new year.
"Fuuuuck—."
Gid, with his limited vocabulary, could only express his homecoming feels with thick curses. Even Yael, born and raised here, was thrilled to be back on home soil. Mahushu, seeing the capital for the first time, was awestruck by its grandeur.
Ji-hyuk chuckled and patted her stunned back.
"Hey, Mahushu. What do ya think? Fucking huge, right? Told ya it wasn't bullshit. Desert cities are like booger-sized compared to this."
"B-bigger than a booger—!"
"Yeah, maybe a booger ball then."
Gid teased her like some country bumpkin fresh off the farm. Mahushu shrank back a bit. As big as she'd imagined? Nothing prepared her for this big.
For now, the journey together ended here. The team had fulfilled the contract admirably. Ji-hyuk would pay them out later. Urgent business first.
"Wait at that inn. Might take a while, so keep that in mind. Oh, and handle any errands if you need to."
"Yes, boss."
Yael asked if she could pop by the magic academy. Grendal wanted to swing by his guild house. Ji-hyuk approved without hesitation. The rest would wait at the inn, and the group split up.
He headed straight for the inner castle.
After a long walk, he reached the inner gates. As expected, strict identity checks were required. He pulled a scroll from his bag and handed it over.
The guard said verification would take time and invited him to wait inside comfortably. Ji-hyuk didn't refuse.
Sipping the tea provided by a female clerk in the waiting area, the guard returned once checks were done. He apologized profusely for the wait with a deep bow.
"You're clear to enter, sir."
Ji-hyuk took back the scroll and stepped into the inner castle. He went straight to the Hall of Honor.
This was like a guild exclusively for heroes. All hero-related matters were handled here. The mission archives were too.
The Hall was under heavy guard. Ji-hyuk passed another identity check before entering the building.
…Been a while.
Including up to the 15th loop, it had been nearly four years. The nostalgia hit different.
He approached the counter where the staff sat. Technically "staff," but they were all noble-born kids. They saw working here as an honor.
"What brings you here?"
"To confirm mission completion."
"Please wait a moment."
Ding-a-ling.
A staffer emerged from the back. A neat-looking, affable young man. He personally led Ji-hyuk to the mission archives.
This area was even more tightly secured. Not just any staff could enter. Only those with special clearance. Heroes were the exception.
Ji-hyuk entered with the staffer. It felt like a library. Endless shelves lined up, packed with scrolls sorted by mission type.
"Follow me."
The male staffer occasionally checked if Ji-hyuk was keeping up. They delved deep into the archives, reaching the staff room and curator's office.
Ji-hyuk entered the curator's office.
"Welcome."
The curator was an elderly man. Ji-hyuk knew him well. Mage Miguel. He'd managed this place for 40 years.
"What can I do for you?"
"Confirming mission completion."
"May I see your hero plate?"
"I'm a candidate."
"Ah, I see."
Miguel nodded and stood. He gestured toward the door with his palm—time to go.
They left the office and headed somewhere.
"Hand me the scroll."
Ji-hyuk gave it to the curator. He called a staffer to fetch the original. What Ji-hyuk had was a copy.
The staffer soon returned with the original. The curator said follow him and walked on.
Ji-hyuk knew where they were going. The most vital, secretive spot in the archives: the Fount of Prophecy.
Where all missions were born—and completed. Security was tighter than outside. Everyone was on razor-edge alert, no room for sloppiness.
They entered the room called the Fount of Prophecy. Immense mana swirled inside. At the center was the source pouring out that mana.
A pure white feather.
Staff here called it the angel's feather. Ji-hyuk vaguely recalled some scholarly name, but not exactly.
At the room's four corners stood three mages and one scribe. All academy grads fluent in ancient tongues.
The mages translated the ancient script the feather wrote into continental language. The scribe logged prophecy numbers and dates.
Interpretations went to the staff room, where riddles were unraveled further.
That's the insane process behind hero missions.
Everyone saw it as heaven's holy work, so the imperial family oversaw it. Strictly speaking, the curator was mid-level management. The current head was the 15th prince, who'd visited the academy before.
Curator Miguel approached the feather with the original scroll. It whipped toward the scroll like a compass needle.
He brought it close slowly. The feather began reabsorbing the mana it had poured out. It trembled, then halted abruptly and scrawled something.
…A single character.
The ancient word for "complete." Mission accomplished.
The curator passed the scroll to the scribe. She checked and logged the mission number.
All done. Ji-hyuk's completion was confirmed.
The curator took back the original and left the Fount with Ji-hyuk. They headed to the staff room.
Along the way, the old mage suddenly spoke.
"…A candidate, you said?"
"Yes."
"Quite the shock. …First time in history."
He'd checked the contents. A perfect 100-point mission.
Not that the feather scored it. It just prophesied. Scores varied by circumstance.
As he recalled, it started at 40 points. Heroes failed repeatedly, letting it fester into this 100-pointer.
"As a fellow human, I'm thrilled."
"You're too kind."
"Too kind? This is me holding back. …Honestly, it might be the birth of an unprecedented hero."
Ji-hyuk stayed silent. No need to say more. The curator dropped it too.
They entered the staff room for next steps. He fetched the treasurer.
A stern-looking man bowed politely to the curator.
"Treasurer, confirm the payout."
"Yes, curator."
Pay scaled with contribution points. Usually 30 gold per point.
Ji-hyuk's haul: about 3,000 gold. Massive sum.
Deduct expenses, and it'd shrink, but still plenty left.
A hero should earn this much, at least.
The treasurer looked surprised at the high points too. Three sacks for 3,000 coins.
"Store the rest under my name. Just 1,000 gold today."
Even 1,000 was hefty, but standard for wrapping one mission.
Ji-hyuk received the sack of 1,000 gold. Coins thumbnail-sized, but 1,000 made it heavy.
The curator said the mission report would reach the prince today—return by the day after tomorrow at latest. For the hero commissioning ceremony.
"Got it. See you."
Business done. No reason to linger, he bowed lightly and left.
Once he was out of sight, the treasurer clicked his tongue and murmured to the curator.
"100 points… insane. And he looks so young. Must be skilled."
The curator grinned.
"Don't be shocked. …He's not a hero. A candidate."
"…Pardon?"
"You just witnessed history, one for the ages."
Mage Miguel chuckled heartily. The staff there doubted their ears.
A mere candidate pulling a 100-point mission? Absurd. If not from the curator, they'd call bullshit.
The staff room blew up. Word spread from archives to the Hall, then the inner castle.
Rumors of the 100-point candidate swept the capital like wildfire overnight.