Chapter 935. Gen (14) [Illustration]
“So unlucky. Ah... I just bought this equipment... Damn it,” the man grumbled.
‘You can just wipe it clean, you bastard. You’re ridiculous, and you look really young to say that to me.’
“...”
“Hey, get up,” the man said.
“...”
“I said get up. Geez... people are looking. Whatever...” the man grumbled.
“...”
“Just give him some gold. Things are going to become difficult for us if you don't,” a woman suggested.
“Whoo...”
“You should consider where the others are as well. How much longer are you going to act like you’re still in the tutorial dungeon?” an older man chimed in.
“But that beggar blocked my path, hyung. I didn’t even bump into him that hard, but he fell on the ground.
"He’s obviously a scammer. Don’t you find his actions disgusting? I can only overlook it so many times. If you’re short on gold, don’t think about swindling people and just get a job, you homeless bastard. Geez...” the man grumbled.
“Stop.”
“...”
“Don’t make it more complicated. You have to be careful not to get involved in ridiculous situations like this. The guild master seemed like he’s been in a bad mood lately... If something happens, I don’t know what we're going to do”
‘Since when was Kim Hyun-Sung your guild master? He’s my guild master.’
“Whoo...”
'Wait...'
“It’s so unfortunate. How much do you need?” the man asked.
'I have a lot of money, you fools. Your salaries are paid from my own pocket.'
“What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure. I think there’s been a fight.”
“The Blue Guild?”
“Really?”
The people nearby started murmuring. I had to avoid attention at all costs, but this was beyond my control. The situation was also so absurd that I had no idea what to say.
The Blue Guild’s new guild members consisted of two men and two women.
I checked their stats using Mind’s Eye and nodded. Their potential and growth weren't similar to new adventurers who had just completed the tutorial.
They were worth the investment based on their stats alone. They weren’t superhuman like Jung Ha-Yan or Kim Hyun-Sung, but they had better potential than Ahn Ki-Mo or Lee Chang-Ryeol.
If it hadn't been for this incident, I would have tried training them because they knew their worth better than anyone.
‘Yeah, they probably think that they got everything.’
The Blue Guild was no longer a dying guild, like when we had just joined it.
The Blue Guild was the best guild throughout the continent, and it had a massive influence on other kingdoms and regions, not just on Sacred the Democratic Country.
Even if they ended up becoming bottom-of-the-barrel guild members, no one could afford to ignore them due to the fact that they were members of the Blue Guild.
Even the recent rookie, Belier, already had a massive influence. If my memories were serving me correctly, she was recently invited to a social gathering that ordinary people couldn't even dream of attending.
Obviously, the guild disliked those types of ridiculous social gatherings, but attending them was up to the person.
These fools...
‘They look like they’re enjoying it.’
They seemed to have realized that they were one of the privileged people, and they were acting as if they were leading a different life compared to ordinary people.
They seemed to have enjoyed spending the large amount of money that they had earned, as they looked pretty good in their equipment.
They had to have eaten something good as well, as they looked really happy.
They were full of confidence, too.
They had been living ordinary lives prior to getting summoned here, so they probably felt like protagonists of a story. I was sure the world had become inexplicably beautiful in their eyes.
‘Kim Hyun-Sung. Did you not do a personality check on them?’
Obviously, they were uncomfortable with the attention.
The quick-witted one displayed a business-like smile and asked, “Are you okay, sir?”
‘What? Sir?’
“Looks like we made a huge mistake. Natalia. Can you check if he’s hurt anywhere?” he requested.
“Okay.”
“Can you stand up, sir?” he asked.
“I don’t think he’s injured. He does look like he needs to rest a little because he seems to be in pretty bad shape,” Natalia informed.
‘At least he’s quick-witted.’
However, his gaze toward me was cold.
'Yeah, I’m sure it’s annoying dealing with a homeless person when you’re a privileged adventurer.'
If it hadn't been for the people around us, he would have ignored me and gone on his way. He could have even harassed me. The least he’d do was spit on me.'
“A-Are you okay?” the man asked.
“I’m right, hyung. That bastard needs gold. I offered to take him to the hospital, but he refused,” the other man complained.
“Stop.”
“This is all I have with me right now. It should be enough to get treatment, so use it wisely and watch where you’re going next time,” he warned.
‘Everyone, listen to how this fool is talking.’
Obviously, the people couldn’t hear him, and all they saw was a heartwarming sight of him giving me some money. I was relieved that he was quick-witted enough to know that there were people staring at them.
The Blue Guild had an image to uphold—Actually, that wasn't important right now.
“Consider yourself lucky,” he commented.
“I told you to stop. We’ll be going now. Sorry again for the trouble,” the man said.
After helping me stand up, they disappeared into the crowd, and I noticed people looking at me enviously.
When I opened the pouch, I saw a few dozen coins inside of it.
To me, it was a small amount, but it was a lot of money for me right now. I noticed some people revealing greedy looks at the sight. I was just a homeless person, after all, so they definitely thought that I was an easy target.
‘All right, fine. So you think of me as a swindler?’
"Commander."
— ...
"Hey, Commander Jin."
— ...
"Cheongie hyung. Can you hear me?"
— ...
"Hey."
— Damn it. What do you want?
"Have you heard about how the Blue Guild's Republic branch had recently recruited new guild members into their ranks?"
— ...
"Who recruited them? Was it Hyun-Sung?"
— So you’ve met them.
"Did Hyun-Sung really pick them? You picked them, right?"
— Both of us have approved of them, so we recruited them. That muscle headed fool had decided to ask for my advice, and I gave him the advice that he wanted to hear.
"What exactly did he want to hear?"
— Fast results.
— ...
— He wanted to get results as fast as possible. Weren’t they polite and useful? They’re pretty talented as well. More importantly, their growth rate is quite high. They’re already creating a buzz, so the Republic... has a good impression of them. In fact, they have already cleared a dungeon.
"What about their personality?"
— I told you that they’re pretty polite.
'Yeah, but only to you and Kim Hyun-Sung.'
'I mean, who wouldn’t kowtow in the face of absolute strength?'
I was certain that even people with anger management issues would act docile before their superiors.
They were just pretending to be nice.
How could one eat a random fruit before them without checking if it was edible first?
"Did you do a background check on them?"
— What is there to investigate when they just came out of the tutorial dungeon? They weren’t even offered an official seat. They’re simply temporary guild members of the Blue Guild's Republic branch...
"Like you?"
— ..
"It was a bad joke, so forget it. Don’t be hurt by it or be upset. Anyway, why did you bring them here?"
— Is that important? They’re here to enjoy their long-awaited break. They might be celebrating their successful dungeon raid right now.
"Who the hell enjoys their break at a black market? Well, I know you do. You even snuck into a black market like a rat to buy a maid for two million gold. You said you can read people, but you ended up picking people who are just like you.
"Kim Hyun-Sung didn’t pick them, right? You bastard. I know you gave him false hope, you fool."
— I don’t know what you’re mad about, and I don’t know why you’re taking it out on me.
"So you’re just going to let Kim Hyun-Sung do whatever he wants? I’m sure the Blue Guild’s Republic branch is beneficial for you as well. Can’t you put more effort into it?"
— I’m not someone you can take your anger out on. Know your boundaries.
"And what if I don’t?"
— There’s a limit to my patience.
"And what are you going to do once you've gone over that limit? Are you going to quit? Hey, Intern Jin! If you don’t want to do it, then leave!"
— Damn it, you bastard! What the hell did I ever do to you?! All I did was carry out the things you asked me to do. I spent time with that muscle headed fool. I helped him with his tasks, and I even became like a parrot just to make him understand certain things that he was struggling to understand for some reason.
— I didn’t want to do any of those things, damn it! I don’t want to listen to your nitpicking or even get involved with you. Damn it! Damn it! Lee Ki-Young, you disgusting bastard! I don’t care about the Blue Guild’s Republic branch or whatever! I don’t want to spend another second with that dumbass! And the fact that you’re acting rude in front of me is just...
— ...
— Hold on... I got worked up. I apologize.
‘I honestly understand his frustration.’
— Damn it...
‘Hyun-Sung has a knack for making people feel frustrated.’
I had forgotten about that and had taken out my anger on Commander Jin.
He had to have been having a hard time as well... I was being selfish here.
‘I already feel frustrated at the thought of teaching Hyun-Sung to do certain things, so how could others not feel frustrated about it?’
"It’s fine. I completely understand how you feel, but I won’t go easy on you next time. You better manage that temper of yours."
— ...
"Also, I’m busy right now. There’s somewhere I need to be. See you later."
— Where are you going?
"I'm going to make money."
We had some idiots on the loose.
I needed to show them how violent and harsh society could be. In addition, I could also run into the criminal whom I had been taking care of these days
I spaced out for a moment, but I immediately took action. I stood up and used my telescope to find them. I wasn’t sure whether they were enjoying the attention or were looking for a restaurant to eat at, but they were still near the square.
I went back to acting like I was limping and wrapped myself in my dirty blanket.
“Don’t do anything foolish...” the older member warned.
“I know,” the other male replied.
“Think carefully about the meaning of the guild seal we have on our chest. Think carefully about what this means to us. We’re not the same as them,” the man said.
“...”
“We must forgive them and be generous. That’s the privilege of those who stand above others... and that’s the world we must live in from now on. We have to worry about how others look at us and be modest even in the smallest and insignificant situations.
"We’re on a different level. With great power comes great responsibility. Compared to the things we’ll be enjoying in the future... these things aren't that hard to endure,” the older member explained.
“Whoo...”
“It’s not that I don’t understand how you feel, but...” the man trailed off.
I waited for them in an alleyway and appeared when they got close enough.
“Ah!” I screamed.
“...”
“You're...!”
“You’re... the beggar... from earlier,” the older man said.
It seemed that I looked really weak in their eyes.
“Why... is this bastard...” the man said.
“Ack...” I groaned.
The way I rolled on the ground made me look like I got hit by an eight-ton truck.
“Ahhh... Ack...” I groaned.
“What is this beggar... doing right now?” the man questioned.