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Chapter 223: Completion Ceremony (1)

I knew this was an important issue.

It was natural for me to want to show Tol To-ri all the good things, as he had not yet formed his disposition. He even already had a strange characteristic!

If he ended up with a selfish or calculating disposition, there would be a big problem raising him.

‘Hmm…’

I could no longer stay still in regards to Tol To-ri’s education. I simply couldn’t entrust Dialugia with such a crucial matter.

Seeing the kid sleeping next to me while snorting, I began to wonder if my worries were useless.

However, in any case, I had to pay attention in his early stages as he may soon have enough power to blow away a castle with one simple breath.

As I slowly turned my gaze away from Tol To-ri and looked ahead, I saw two women who were still fixated on him.

“He is really cute.”

“Yes. He seems a little tired. Lately, he was so excited that he wasn’t able to sleep well.”

It was Cha Hee-ra and Dialugia.

It is quite surprising to see that they had become quite close after only three days.

Cha Hee-ra also maintained a relatively amicable relationship with Jung Hayan, so it can be said that she had good sociability in her own way, but Dialugia was a little different.

Even if her sociability was zero in the first place, she couldn’t even blend in. I had a rough feeling about how Cha Hee-ra could get close to her.

Perhaps Cha Heera was able to develop their relationship because she understood the mother’s heart to some extent. Looking at Cha Hee-ra gently patting the head of Tol To-ri was similar to how one would pet an animal.

“Hee-ra, are you not going to the completion ceremony?”

“Ah. Is it already this late? Well, if I stay from the beginning to the end. What would I do? Anyway, I only need to memorize a congratulatory speech… The executives decided to do the rest. How about you?”

“I’m going later. I have to leave today, but there are some things I haven’t organized yet. I’m almost finished.”

“Time flies so fast. It’s already the completion ceremony… Oh, did you manage to form the backline?”

“…”

“You couldn’t in the end.”

“No. I’m just going to look inside Lindel. It was hard to find a useful wizard, so I tried to find archers, too, but I didn’t like anyone. Everyone is below my standards.”

“Are you saying this for the other clans and guilds, recruiting kids below that level, to hear you?”

“I don’t mean that…”

“I was kidding. You don’t need to panic.”

“That’s so mean.”

“I still want to say something, however. Is that okay?”

“If it’s advice, it’s welcomed.”

“Blue has a cut line that’s too high in the first place.”

“So we look that way, huh?”

“No, more than Blue, you seem to be putting strict standards on other people.”

“Hmm… You might think so.”

I knew Cha Hee-ra was right.

“In the first place, the Blue members are a little peculiar, honey. We both know how strong Kim Hyunsung and Jung Hayan, the two geniuses, are. There’s also that kid, Kim Ye-ri, and even that priest, Sun Hee-young. She isn’t remarkably great, but she’s innately familiar with divine power.”

“Yes.”

“Cho Hyejin, that girl, can’t be called a genius, but she’s definitely talented. I think that trying hard is part of talent, too. I bet that probably Kim Ye-ri, no matter how strong the kid gets, will have a hard time catching up with someone like Cho Hyejin.”

“Hmm…”

“In fact, it’s peculiar as to how all of these talented people are gathered together. Usually, most of these people should be running their own guild or clan somewhere. Well, anyway, even if we leave these monsters aside, there are other ordinary people in your guild, right?”

“Right.”

“You, too…”

“Yes.”

“So is the Mage Scholar Hwang Jeong-yeon… And your guild’s big fat… Oh, you said it was Park Deokgu. Isn’t that the same for him? But, as far as I can see, these people are also members of the guild that shouldn’t be left out right now.”

That was definitely true.

“Even though you and the Mage Scholar originally had one foot in the combat group and the non-combat army, it’s not like that for Park Deokgu, right? I feel a little sorry for him, but in fact, I thought he was going to fall off soon.”

In fact, I had thought the same thing as her.

“Look at him. Not only had he endured for a longer time than I thought, but he was even able to improve. It’s because the guild members helped and cared about him so much that that pig will someday become a top player.”

“You’re right.”

If it were before, I would have shaken my head at Cha Hee-ra’s words, but it was definitely different now.

Of course, Deokgu may be more famous as a tanker with a famous name rather than becoming famous for his personal strength, but certainly, Park Deokgu now had the potential to catch up with Kim Hyunsung’s party.

“Even ordinary people can be strong, with the right support and care. That’s why our Red Mercenary’s recruitment cut line is lower than expected. In fact, there are times when people who you never expected anything from suddenly stand out, you know?”

“Hmm…”

“Talent is, of course, important. There are cases where you can’t do anything. But when I see people, there is one more thing I see other than talent.”

“What?”

“Their willpower.”

“Good.”

“Actually, that’s why, in the beginning, I accepted your request here. It may sound funny, but your eyes were a little different… Usually, those who are desperately clinging achieve one or two things.”

It certainly made sense.

Even if my eyes could see almost anything, it didn’t necessarily predict the future.

In fact, I had no idea that Park Deokgu would grow this much. At the same time, I never expected Lee Jihye to be perfectly settled in the Black Swan.

‘The same goes for me…’

“You’ll do it in your own way, but that’s what I wanted to say. Let’s go out and take one last look. After the completion ceremony, you should take your guild kids anyway.”

“Ah… You have to do the speech, right?”

“Yes. It’s annoying, but I have to do what I have to do. What about Dialugia?”

I had initially thought that Dialugia wouldn’t want to go.

“It would be hard to move together, Cha Hee-ra. Dialuria is still sleeping…”

“Ah. Then we’ll come together after I’m done.”

“Alright.”

‘Blue doesn’t need completion ceremony or whatever.’

Come to think of it, the outfit Cha Hee-ra wore was a little different from usual. Usually, she preferred wearing clothes with a little exposure.

It was the same when I first met her, and when I saw her wearing a dress at the party.

It seemed that she now thought that she had to be formal as she had to read the congratulatory address in front of everyone. Seeing that she was wearing pretty cool armor, it seemed that it would be okay to call her a Red Knight rather than Red Mercenary.

I was also dressed neatly, but I couldn’t be compared to her current extravagance.

‘She really is cool.’

As we headed to the training center’s tourney hall while being escorted by members, I saw all the trainees lined up. On the platform, Lindel’s main guild masters were sitting in a simple tent while watching the trainees.

‘Hyunsung!’

Of course, even Kim Hyunsung stood out. Though he was speaking to Black Swan Guild Master Park Yeon-joo, he smiled when he caught sight of me.

I didn’t want to wave my hand frivolously, so I greeted him with a nod.

Meanwhile, Cha Hee-ra climbed onto the platform without giving another glance to the trainees.

Although some trainees looked at Cha Hee-ra’s red hair in an immobile position as if amazed, most of them wore a tense expression.

‘Come to think of it, is it their first time seeing her?’

She was ranked as Lindel’s top player, as well as the leader of the Red Mercenary Guild.

Her red hair fluttering behind her armor made her look like a goddess on the battlefield. Usually, those kinds of people exuded an intimidating aura without even trying.

I don’t know if it’s an appropriate example, but it was similar to watching TV.

I, too, went up on the podium with her. I took a seat in the right place and looked at the trainees eagerly, but unfortunately, no one stood out that much.

After the ceremony was over, Lee Chang-ryul and Yoo Ahyoung would prepare to head to Lindel with me. I could see some glances over here.

‘Was Kim Ki-cheol’s case solved well?’

Upon seeing Ahyoung’s happy expression, I felt like it did.

Perhaps she was thinking of messing with him a little more after the completion ceremony.

Lee Chang-ryul stood still, wearing the mask he always wore, but he sent me a favorable look.

It was then when Cha Hee-ra started her congratulatory speech.

“I’m sorry for making you suffer through such an ordeal such as a speech. I would like to go to Lindel and focus on my own life, but usually, there are useless events and customs in these places. In fact, I don’t have much to say to you. The guild’s executives wrote the congratulatory remarks…”

‘She won’t read it.’

“I’m not into these things, and I’m sure you’ll need a little more realistic advice than just trying to look good reading something like this.”

Looking at the Red Mercenaries’ executives’ expressions standing together on the podium, I could tell they already expected this.

“Actually… it is inevitable to hold a sword once you get here. Whether you’re a blue-collar worker or a hater of fights, someday the day will come when you’ll have to lift your sword. Monsters could attack the city, or war could happen unexpectedly. Players are designed to live that way.”

This was an interesting story.

“That’s why we gave non-combatant soldiers and people useless training such as basic physical training. This expression will be easy to understand for those who don’t know the world’s situation yet. You guys were sent here as warriors and were also raised as warriors. From Earth’s point of view, it may sound ridiculous, but you are all warriors. The possibility of disaster is definitely something that could make you shrink, but… Of course, everyone has different ways of fighting… Well, if I continue to talk like this, I’m going to end up rambling. All I want to say is one thing. Don’t get killed in useless places.”

“…”

“…”

The entire venue had become quiet.

“See you on the bigger battlefield, newbies.”

As if planned, the flag of the Red Mercenary was lifted. The ceremony ended with all the members sending a salute to Cha Hee-ra.

I had no choice but to think that it would not be so bad even if I went to the Red Mercenary Guild instead of going to Blue with Kim Hyunsung.

“Would you like to say a word, too?”

As I shook my head, she came down from the platform, looking perfectly at ease.

‘I’m really going to fall for this one…’

Rather than being a ‘woman,’ the person Cha Hee-ra had become was cool.

Thanks to the fact that she had wholeheartedly distracted me, there was no time to have a look around the trainees waiting for completion. As I tried to go for one last scope, the other guild executives began to herd their charges out.

A few trainees started to move on to the wagons that would take them to Lindel, and Blue, which received the two reserved ones, was no exception.

Yoo Ahyoung and Lee Chang-ryul were now on their way to the Blue flag.

It was then that a person came in my line of sight, someone who had not received any offer and thus had stayed by the sides, looking for the wagons that were just waiting to depart.

‘Han Sora.’

For some reason, this felt similar to when I had seen Lee Jihye last year. I had thought about bringing Sora along, but I knew Blue didn’t need another alchemist.

Of course, I also knew it wouldn’t be bad to use her since she had the passion for it, but since she already had friction with me…

‘Usually, people who are desperately clinging achieve one thing.’

The words Cha Hee-ra said before we came here lingered in my head.

I habitually looked at her status window, but nothing had changed much from before.

‘No…’

The most crucial thing had changed. I was so surprised that I began to laugh.

[Class: Warlock]

‘Would you look at that…’

Almost unconsciously, I began to call out.

“Hey, come here.”

I saw Han Sora’s pupils shaking as she realized I was talking to her.

“Please come here, Han Sora-ssi.”

Though I was talking as formally as I could, she did not cease her trembling.