Chapter 586: Reunion after a Long Time, and… (3)
We had finally reunited after one year. Everyone was busy laughing and talking to each other.
During the four days I was unconscious, they couldn’t stop talking as if they didn’t have a chance to get together before.
‘No, looking closely, it doesn’t look like that.’
Some seemed to have already met and had a meal together.
‘But they wouldn’t have met that frequently.’
Wasn’t that only natural? Even if the guild members were scattered for a year, it didn’t mean that they had left their duties or responsibilities.
Hw.a.n.g Jeong-yeon and Sun Hee-young were still in charge of the Blue Guild, and Kim Hyunsung and Cho Hyejin couldn’t leave the joint training center.
Even in Kim Chang-ryul and Kim Ye-ri’s case, it was not easy. Since they had professional characteristics, they were forced to take on several and various tasks.
Considering that even Elena was dealing with matters related to different races, the only ones who felt at ease were Jung Hayan and Park Deokgu.
In fact, I didn’t want those trollers to do anything else, but my stomach had already begun to hurt for some unfathomable reason.
I naturally couldn’t entrust them with an espionage mission, but they didn’t have any administrative capabilities, either.
Jung Hayan looked like she didn’t train separately after coming to the North.
Should I have taught her how to manage the guild before? I thought about it, but I couldn’t leave anything to them. Perhaps the other guild members knew that as well, so they left the two alone.
‘I don’t think it’d be bad to teach a little bit of guild work to Hayan, but…’
If she knew how things worked around the Blue, I wondered if she would think about me more each time she had an accident, but I rejected it.
Perhaps she would be anxious, preventing her from staying still. As I thought about Jung Hayan, the 5th district, which had collapsed due to her, lingered in my mind.
Naturally, I became curious about what happened after I pa.s.sed out. I wanted to meet Lee Jihye quickly and ask her what happened to the post-work.
Shouldn’t everyone have other things to do? There had to be other works left. I had hope, but I stopped myself even if it meant I had to force the work behind me.
‘Yes, let’s just hang out today.’
I wanted to drive the guild members away by pretending to be sick, but the situation was more likely to worsen. It was more beneficial to get up and appeal that there was nothing wrong with me.
As I slowly stood up, my eyes focused immediately. Several people, including Kim Hyunsung, ran to support me, but the first one that got to me was Jung Hayan.
The appearance of her running and taking a seat next to me reminded me of unknown insanity.
The pig, who saw it, satisfyingly spoke.
“The only one who should take care of hyung-nim is Hayan, after all. Is it okay for you to be moving, though?”
“Of course, there’s no problem except for a little loss of physical strength… Isn’t that right, Elena?”
“Yes… definitely… it is, but…”
‘Don’t try to add any more details. That’s enough. Don’t say anything useless, and let’s eat instead.’
“I think I want to eat something.”
While saying that, I stared at Kim Hyunsung. In fact, it didn’t matter what my recommendation was. Kim Hyunsung was the Blue Guild Master, not me.
Most of all, I wasn’t currently part of the Blue Guild, so it was only proper for him to recommend, decide, and control even a small part. As expected, I saw him nodding and addressing the members.
“It’s been a while since we’ve gathered like this, so it would be nice to have a simple meal with everyone.”
“I’ve been waiting for you to say that. So, are we all having a drink together today?”
“I think it would be better to drink only enough to not interfere with work tomorrow. It’s just dinner. We shouldn’t be here like this. Let’s move on.”
“I know. Hyung-nim, if you’re feeling okay… Would you like to have a drink too?”
“No, Kiyoung…”
“I think one drink should be fine.”
“…”
“…”
At that moment, everyone’s gaze was fixed on Elena.
The Elf Princess ever so slowly nodded as if she was reluctant.
I was sorry, but it would be like torture if I couldn’t get along with them on a day like that. Park Deokgu was singing a strange song, showcasing that he was in a very good mood.
I didn’t know why she was excited, but Jung Hayan also seemed to be highly energized.
‘I like this too.’
As we had finally gathered after such a long time, I felt genuinely glad to see the guild members. It was also nice to feel Jung Hayan stick to me like a cicada sticking to a tree and hearing the voice of Park Deokgu, who had always been loud right from the very first day.
The same went for Ahn Ki-mo’s silly jokes and Yoo Ahyoung’s reactions that responded appropriately to the mood. Although I was complaining in my mind, there was no way I wouldn’t like spending time with the guild members.
We left immediately. I wondered if I should change my clothes, but I just decided to go out in my usual clothes.
I settled with just a white shirt and jeans. The restaurant wasn’t that far away, after all. We managed to get a seat easily, and of course, the conversations never stopped.
“Oh, I’ve been wondering. Why was Hyejin only the one that came? No, how did you know we’re in trouble?”
“Actually… I went to play chess.”
“Ah…”
‘We didn’t have a spiritual connection like I thought.’
“I came here first, but the people said you went to another district. I went straight with a Griffon and headed to District 5’s office building. Of course, I couldn’t even dream about what was happening inside. Although I did feel something strange…”
“Hyejin is right. I was outside then. Well, I couldn’t even imagine that something like that would happen. I just thought you were in negotiations or doing other talks. The government building suddenly collapsing scared the h.e.l.l out of me. When I saw hyung-nim’s appearance at that time, my heart almost fell right out, right, Ki-mo?”
“I think I was lucky that Ye-ri and Deokgu were there…”
“This is all fate. Doesn’t it give you gooseb.u.mps when you consider that everything fitted perfectly like a puzzle? G.o.ddess Benignore led us there.”
‘He doesn’t even pray…’
“What was Ye-ri doing?”
As I looked at Kim Ye-ri, who came with Kim Hyunsung, she spoke in a low voice.
“Uncle Deokgu said that we should catch them.”
“Who?”
“He said there might be people who had run away… he asked to look around the government building.”
‘Whew… that’s why they say that practice makes perfect.’
Park Deokgu’s growth made me feel proud.
“So, did you catch them?”
There was no verbal answer. However, seeing that she did a small V with her hand, they seemed to have achieved something. I had no choice but to shout “Nice, Kim Ye-ri!” deep inside.
It was impossible for Mikhail and Natalie to escape. They might have captured the two reactionaries as well as the remaining members of the Order.
“Mikhail and Natalie…”
Again, no answer was heard. Instead, Kim Ye-ri’s raised a V finger once more.
‘Oh, you’re great… Deokgu, you did a good job too. Really, you did amazingly well this time.’
“By the way, how have you been?”
“It was the same every day. Working… sometimes having a gla.s.s of wine by myself… and working again… what did you do?”
“I’ve been wandering here and there. Before I left, I thought a year would pa.s.s by quickly, but it was much longer than I thought. I can’t even explain what happened to Ki-mo and me. There were times when just the two of us went into a dungeon and almost died.”
“There was that too, but we almost went through big trouble because of the lack of food. Funds also ran out in the middle of the trip. There were times when I wanted to get help from the guild, but… it was a little embarra.s.sing… I stopped by and worked from time to time, but the treatment was better than I thought.”
“I saw it on Benignore Net. There were a lot of comments.”
It was Hw.a.n.g Jeong-yeon who suddenly intervened in the conversation.
‘Yes, I thought you would do that a lot.’
I wonder if she spent her days as if she lived at Benignore Net.
“Actually, it was something I should have done in Lindel… I thought I was going to settle in the nearby forest. I couldn’t even imagine pushing to go north as it was. Thanks to Deokgu and Ki-mo, there wasn’t much damage, and I was very relieved. Oh, you mean what happened to Lindel? To tell you that, we’ll need to go back exactly eight months ago. The fact is…”
For some reason, it felt like the story would be lengthy. Whenever Hw.a.n.g Jeong-yeon looked like that, it was always better to stay as far away as possible.
As I turned my gaze from Park Deokgu and Ahn Ki-mo, who couldn’t escape, I heard Yoo Ahyoung and Kim Chang-ryul talking.
“…”
“It was a bit rough, but he has certainly taught me a lot. At first, I was dissatisfied with learning from the basics… I think I got something other than the knowledge the system provides…”
“I see.”
“Would you like to see it?”
“…”
The story of Yoo Ahyoung, who had been with the Dwarves for some time, was in full swing there. Cho Hyejin, who was walking not very far from me until we took a seat, was having a conversation with Sun Hee-young, which seemed to be about work.
‘The two of them can’t give up work even here.’
The atmosphere was extremely warm. I watched them talk to each other about of topics and catch up. I also felt like I was smiling sincerely after so long.
It was the same after the food was served.
“Isn’t this a mirror salmon?”
‘Ah, that was really good.’
The food comforted both my tongue and stomach.
I had no time to worry about meals the past few months, so I had completely forgotten it. I became even more grateful that I met them again. I didn’t know why I was with them, all I know was that I was in a good mood.
The gla.s.s of white wine was perfect for setting the mood… We seemed to be drinking as if we were in a real drinking party.
Soon after, the voices began to get louder little by little, and finally, I heard chattering voices.
“So, I’m saying that’s what I said at that time! Hey! Let go of that hand!”
Some guys were unraveling their own adventures, and some were spitting and debating.
“Just have one more drink. O-O-Oppa.”
“Ah… Well. I don’t think it would be a problem.”
“A little more. L-Let me serve you.”
“No. There is still a bit left. It’s been a while since we’ve done it, so shall we have a toast?
“Yes, yes, yes.”
“You didn’t have a hard time, right?”
“Yes… it was… a bit hard, but…”
Just looking at Han Sora’s face, I could see how hard it was for Jung Hayan. Those faces that silently looked at me seemed to contain all kinds of hardships and trials that occurred in the past year.
We were having so much fun that no words could explain how I was feeling. When I saw Kim Hyunsung, who couldn’t speak to me easily, I realized that my small plan was successful.
Maybe, for the time being, he would linger a few steps away from me.
Although it felt like it wasn’t enough, we ended our get-together at about 2 a.m.
There were many silly stories, but no one would’ve had any disagreement over the fact that it was a time well spent.
The next morning, Lee Jihye came to me in good timing.
“Did you have fun last night?”
“Well… Yes, somehow.”
“There was a bag and a letter at the door… I don’t know who sent it, but I put it inside. Here is the list of doc.u.ments that were processed when you were sleeping… Benignore Net’s reaction is here… The size of the damage and the current situation is on the back page. Unfortunately, it doesn’t contain any information that came from Mikhail’s mouth. Even though he’s about to die soon, he said he wants to talk to you.”
“Ugh…”
“What are you doing? It’s time to work. How much liquor did this man drink? Get up quickly. You have been taking a good rest so far.”
‘Yes, I’m getting up, Jihye.’
I had also been waiting for that moment anyway.