Welcome to the Museum (1)
It was, frankly, impossible not to be pleased by the way he kept thinking more and more highly of me.
Lee Kiyoung had already played an important role in Kim Hyunsung’s kingdom, but this incident had clearly shaken him up as well.
No, not just shaken him up—I figured he had suddenly come to a blunt realization.
Thinking about the question he’d asked me a few days ago, I let out a snort of laughter.
“I told you, brother, I’m not going anywhere.”
Maybe he’d been probing me because he thought I might leave if another side wanted me badly enough. That was probably why he’d tried testing the waters without even realizing it.
Honestly, if you looked at it objectively…
I do have some talent, don’t I?
It was ironic to be the one judging my own worth, but the influence Lee Kiyoung had had on Blue was far from small.
That was true both financially and diplomatically.
The potions produced at Blue’s potion factory were being distributed not only in Lindel, but all the way to Celia and Dawan, piling up enormous wealth, and it wasn’t just the potion business—projects pushed forward by the administration team were slowly beginning to spread their wings as well.
To put it a little extremely, Blue no longer really needed to go on expeditions at all.
They could practically spend the rest of their lives loafing around on potion profits alone.
Of course, that wasn’t the only thing I’d accomplished.
I was the one who had completed the trilateral alliance between the Red Mercenary, the Black Swan, and—if you counted Kasugano Yuno’s Yozora Guild—the quadrilateral alliance as well, and I was also an Honorary Bishop of the Holy Empire.
With ties to the Papal Office and friendly relations with influential nobles, it was only right to say I was already an important figure diplomatically.
And I was one of the Empire’s Eight Seats besides, with Dialugia under my control.
To be blunt, even if I left Blue and founded another guild, I’d be lacking nothing.
It was only natural that Kim Hyunsung would feel uneasy.
Why?
Because he currently had nothing he could offer me.
Not gold, not status, not items.
Back when we first met, I’d happily swallowed whatever scraps he handed me, but now Kim Hyunsung and I were almost equal in social standing and position.
It might be a little unfair to him, but if anything, I was actually the one with the edge.
The pure-hearted Lee Kiyoung who used to get starry-eyed over the sight of a single rare item was gone now.
It wasn’t the best example, but if I had to put it into one, it was like a sweet, naïve couple who had been dating since school, only to grow into adulthood together.
The little accessories, the small surprises, the warm cup of coffee they shared on a rainy day—things that once thrilled them gradually became ordinary, then numbed by familiarity.
Once your standards rise, it becomes only natural to lose your sense for what you should do, what you should give, what words will actually make the other person happy.
And especially if the other side had achieved great social success and lacked for nothing, then even gifts like luxury bags, wallets, or jewelry would seem awkward.
Would this really make them happy?
It was easy to choose a present for someone who lacked things.
But choosing a gift for someone who already had everything was not easy at all.
It was only natural that Kim Hyunsung, who wasn’t particularly accustomed to human relationships, was having a hard time of it.
That’s not what I want, Hyunsung.
Obviously, I wasn’t asking for an expensive present or some legendary-grade item.
What I wanted was much simpler…
“Kiyoung.”
“Ah, yes.”
Yes. This is what I wanted, you idiot.
A single cup of coffee held out toward me by that hand, trying to be casual about it.
That was the kind of small thing I wanted.
Correct, you punk.
I found myself feeling, just a little, almost proud of him.
He must have noticed that I was pleased, because his face was now carrying an oddly satisfied look.
“Oh my… oh my…”
“Did you just see that?”
“Homona…”
“The atmosphere is nice…”
What was a little strange was that strange, unidentifiable looks and voices had started flying in from all around us.
“They said the coffee was brought in from another kingdom. You seemed a little tired, so….”
“Thank you. I actually didn’t sleep at all last night, so this should help.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
I didn’t exactly feel blatant stares, but for some reason it seemed like everyone was sneaking glances our way.
I think I know why…
The main reason was probably that there were only four men included in this expedition.
So that’s the lot, huh.
From one angle, it was only natural that attention would concentrate here.
Aside from Kim Hyunsung, me, Park Deokgu, and An Gimo, the entire expedition was made up of women.
…
Women here, women there—wherever I looked, it was all women.
I’d thought recently that Jung Hayan and Hwang Jeongyeon seemed a little down, and now I had to admit the reason was right here in front of me.
Jung Hayan, who was at least coming on the expedition, was in a somewhat better situation, but looking at Hwang Jeongyeon’s expression as she greeted Park Deokgu, it seemed she was worrying about something other than the journey itself.
The same went for Kim Yeri, who hadn’t been selected this time.
I still remembered the expression that little girl had made when she’d been cut from the roster after staring at Kim Hyunsung with those desperate eyes of hers.
For Kim Yeri, who barely changed expression at all, it was a notable exception.
From Kim Hyunsung’s point of view, it had been a decision made for Yeri’s safety—and because there was no need to drag her into a force like the Black Swan, where the percentage of assassins was so high—but for Yeri, who had always been included in the first team, it had been a disaster.
I mean, if the man she loves is going to spend more than a few weeks in an environment like this…
I’d be worried too.
Even a cursory glance around me showed the sort of scenes only a women-majority guild could produce.
“Did you bring your pads?”
“Yes, unnie. I packed the supplies we got in advance.”
“I really hope it doesn’t come during the expedition… it’s uncomfortable to move around, and it’s such a pain.”
“Tell me about it. There aren’t any medicines here, either. Why hasn’t anyone developed a magic for this yet…?”
“Couldn’t alchemy solve this?”
They were talking about things that didn’t sound like they should be mentioned so casually.
It wasn’t so much that they were being careless as that they simply thought it didn’t matter.
One thing was certain: women who grew up as adventurers on this continent were almost 180 degrees different from the women of Earth.
Their ideas about sex were freer, and they were more self-directed in how they acted.
Since their physical abilities were already nearly equal to men’s, they tended to be more easygoing and cared far less about other people’s gazes.
Even in the smallest details, the differences showed.
There were even some members who sat down and changed into armor of the stocking-like variety without caring whether I saw them or not.
I felt Jung Hayan tugging at my sleeve for no reason at all.
It’s not like that, Hayan. This can’t be helped. It’s just inertia, okay?
The assassin and archer types were mostly wearing armor with quite a bit of exposure.
Of course, if that had been all there was to it, Kim Yeri and Hwang Jeongyeon wouldn’t have been making such uneasy faces.
More dangerous than those defenseless women were the groups that were consciously aware of me for no good reason.
Can’t say I hate it.
To put it bluntly, the four of us here were all pretty decent catches by the standards of this continent.
Kim Hyunsung, with his model proportions and celebrity face, was the man who had turned the impossible possible in just one year.
My own face might have fallen a little short, but I’d also built up a certain niche following that was not exactly unwelcome… and that was enough.
Park Deokgu, with his huge frame and muscles that looked ready to burst, definitely had a market too.
An Gimo too…
He might seem plain at first glance, but he’d once aspired to be an actor, so his face had a solid baseline.
What mattered most was that these were men with social standing and guaranteed futures.
Not only did they possess the martial strength this continent valued above all else, they were also executives of a newly rising venture company, so it was perfectly understandable that people would want to make a good impression on them.
They’re all getting on in years, after all…
Age didn’t really matter, of course, but since they were all in their late twenties or early thirties, it made sense that they’d want to find a decent match.
Usually, players at that level were very picky.
The middling ones got rejected before they even had a chance to approach, and the good-looking ones were always surrounded by a few chosen playthings, but there was no way they took those relationships seriously.
In the end, men and women, Earth and continent alike, all wanted roughly the same thing: a partner who felt like a proper match.
Strangely enough, the most popular one was Park Deokgu.
Harem King Park Deokgu…
After he finished greeting Hwang Jeongyeon, seeing him surrounded by women actually made me a little envious.
He didn’t seem to care in the slightest about Hwang Jeongyeon’s expression as she bit her lip.
“Can I hang on your arm for a bit?”
“I mean, I guess it’s fine, but… heh….”
“Look how solid his body is. It’s all muscle.”
“You’re really tall.”
“Well, I just ate well and slept well, so I kept growing, ma’am.”
Park Deokgu, at the center of a bunch of women giggling and blooming into laughter at every little thing, was the very picture of an old-school Gyeongsang romance expert.
Kim Hyunsung probably thought it was better to stay away from him, since Park Yeonju, their guild master, had her eye on him. I was in the same boat, given my relationship with the Mercenary Queen, so it wasn’t easy for me to approach either.
Of course, the biggest reason was probably Jung Hayan, who was clutching my sleeve tightly and glaring at everybody from every direction—but as a man, I still felt a little jealous of Park Deokgu.
Contrary to the expressions of those left behind, the atmosphere among those departing on the expedition was pretty good.
Once just one more person joined, this expedition’s lineup would finally be complete.
Just as everyone had been waiting for, one figure slowly came into view.
“Kkeeeeaaagh!”
It was obvious who it was.
Special escort Dialugia.
I told them not to bring her…
And right beside her had also appeared that lovely little troublemaker I’d specifically said not to bring.
I should be firmer about this…
Seeing that she’d brought Toltol-i right to the farewell, it looked like I hadn’t been able to stop her after all.
I understood Dialugia’s feelings, of course… but I was certain this would be even worse if she said goodbye here.
Then what the hell was yesterday’s farewell supposed to be…?
Whatever she was feeling, the expedition that had been waiting to depart was already growing busy.
“Ah… you’re here. You should say your goodbyes and then head out.”
“Yes.”
“Kiiiiiing…. Kiyaaaagh….”
“Everyone, prepare to depart.”
“Yes, Guild Master.”
Park Yeonju, the Black Swan’s guild master, was greeting Lee Jihye.
“Kiiiiiing…. Kiyaaaagh!”
“Then I’ll be off. Jeongyeon, please take care of the others. And the training for the recruits as well….”
“Yes. Leave it to me, Hyunsung.”
“Yes. Please take care of things once again.”
“Of course.”
“I’ll be back soon, Yeri. Hyejin, prepare for departure….”
“Yes, Guild Master.”
While Kim Hyunsung handled Kim Yeri, reassuring her and entrusting the guild to Hwang Jeongyeon while he and I were gone, I could see him heading out the door together with Cho Hyejin.
Jung Hayan, who had been keeping watch over every direction, was now busy saying her farewells to the people who remained, since it was time for her to leave as well.
“Kiiiiiing…. Kiiiiiing…. Kiyaaaaaagh!”
But I couldn’t exactly count myself among that group. I had to face a grand farewell ceremony with Toltol-i.
“Kiiiiiing… kiiing….”
“You have to behave, Dialuria. Mommy is… mommy is….”
“Kiyaaaagh….”
“It won’t take long. Your friends will stay with you in the meantime. It won’t be the nest, so it’ll be a little uncomfortable, but there’ll still be plenty to play with, so you won’t be bored.”
“Kiiing….”
“I’m so sorry to leave you like this, baby….”
“Kkeeeeaaagh!”
“Toltol-i, your dad and mom have to go out for a little while to take care of something important. You can hold on, can’t you?”
“Kiiiiing…. Kkeeeeaaaagh! Kkeeeeaaaagh!”
Seeing tears streaming down those huge eyes of hers made my own chest ache.
Of course, Dialugia’s heart was probably hurting to the point of tearing apart.
“Dialuria, if you cry, it’ll make Mommy’s departure harder….”
“Kiiing….”
“Dialugia, I think we really do need to go now. Everyone’s waiting….”
“Wait… let me hold her one last time, baby….”
The sight of the mother and daughter grieving together was, in its own way, beautiful.
But the expedition had already finished preparing to leave.
Dragging things out any longer here only made the whole scene more awkward. Ending this with one final hug was probably the best thing to do.
Dialugia spread her arms wide.
“Dialuria….”
That was when Toltol-i passed right by the outstretched arms of Dialugia.
“Kyaaaagh! Kiiing! Hek hek! Kiiing!”
She ran past her and into my arms in an instant, whimpering and flooding me with tears as she clung to me.
“Dia… luria?”
“Kkeeeeaaagh! Kiiing…. Hek…. Kiiiiiing!”
Her face kept burying itself in my chest as she whimpered, and she looked almost pitiable.
“Kiiiiiing…. Kiiyaaagh. Kiyaaaagh!”
She was even shrieking at the expedition members who were waiting to depart.
“Kkeeeeaaagh! Kkeeeeaaaagh-kyaaaagh!”
“Can you stay quiet, Toltol-i?”
“Kiiing…. Kiiiiing….”
“Once this job is over, I’ll play with you all week. Until then, you need to hold on.”
“Kiiing… kiyaagh….”
I caught sight of Dialugia staring at Toltol-i, who was licking my face like she’d lost a country.
“Dia… luria?”
Her expression was all too clearly that of someone who had been betrayed.