The remaining physical aptitude test schedule was automatically canceled due to a monster appearing midway. There was no talk of postponement or anything of the sort.
It seems the next physical aptitude test will proceed in the next semester according to the regular academic schedule. This semester has concluded with that.
“These days, the hospital rooms come with personal safes. Things have really improved, haven’t they?”
However,
Even after all the guild officials and journalists had left,
Ryu Jung-min, the guildmaster of Yeonwol, was still at the school. To be precise, he had come to visit the hospital room where I was admitted.
“Why are you still here at the school?”
There shouldn’t be anything left to do. The physical aptitude test is already over, and it’s been three days since the monster, Markocias, was defeated.
It’s time to go home already.
“I’m not doing this because I enjoy it. But what can I do? At the very least, I want to get an answer before I leave.”
“An answer?”
While I tilted my head, wondering what he meant, Ryu Jung-min handed over a few documents.
It was a contract.
“I’ve been telling you every time I see you, haven’t I? You’re our top choice for Yeonwol.”
“Ah.”
So it was related to the contract. Now that I think about it, we hadn’t had any detailed discussions about it yet. The physical aptitude test and the unexpected break that followed took up so much time I didn’t even have a chance to hear the conditions.
In a way, I was the one keeping Ryu Jung-min waiting.
“To join Yeonwol, you’ll have to drop out of school first, right?”
Ryu Jung-min had even prepared both the contract and the withdrawal papers. He wasn’t joking; with this, he seemed ready to kidnap me to Yeonwol on the spot.
I couldn’t just stamp the contract without careful thought. I decided to clearly convey my intentions.
“Thank you for the offer, but I don’t have the heart to join a guild right now.”
“Ho ho, are you rejecting Yeonwol?”
This was like turning down a job offer from a major conglomerate. If other students saw this scene, they would likely think I was crazy.
“It’s not that I’m outright rejecting it, but I’m not skilled enough to join Yeonwol just yet.”
“Isn’t that enough? I think you’re well-qualified already. You proved it during the last battle.”
What kind of proof was that? I merely blocked Markocias’ flames with a spoon.
It wasn’t even something I achieved on my own; midway through, I even received Arna’s help.
My body has no redeeming qualities at all. What could possibly be so appealing about me?
“When the Code 61 Jaggan revealed itself to be a variant, you immediately requested command authority from the situation room, right?”
“Yes, I judged it was a little risky to blindly follow the coordinator’s word.”
“Ho ho, that’s exactly the point.”
Ryu Jung-min lightly smiled and pointed at me—or rather, at the area near my chest.
“The ability to read the situation in the field. Awakened individuals with such skills are quite rare.”
Nowadays, probably thanks to the times, each guild has technical personnel.
Their role is rather simple: analyze monster data, design tactics suitable for the situation, and systematically plan the training for awakened ones. In sports terminology, they’re akin to coaching staff.
Thanks to the support of these technical personnel, awakened ones can focus solely on fighting. Researching monsters and devising strategies are all handled by the tech personnel, so the awakened ones just need to go out and fight.
However,
In this industry, nothing is absolute, just like in sports. No matter how perfect the analysis and strategy may be, they don’t always work out. Variables can arise.
In these situations, assistance from the tech personnel is useless and the awakened ones present on the field must make the judgment calls themselves.
“Someone who can act as both an awakened individual and perform the duties of a technical officer… Wouldn’t a guildmaster naturally want someone like that?”
That’s why Ryu Jung-min wanted to recruit me. He needed an awakened individual who could quickly revise strategies and devise plans even when on the field—in short, someone akin to a playing coach.
“The conditions are more than reasonable. Take a look at the contract.”
The conditions were so flawless they could be signed without hesitation. It was the kind of offer a C-ranked awakened individual could never expect to receive. Truly the extravagance of a major guild.
“Still… I think it would be difficult.”
However, there was no changing my stance midsentence. I returned the contract to Ryu Jung-min.
Ryu Jung-min offered a small smile.
“Ho ho, with an amount like that, it seems you value something more than money.”
He was spot on. There was something more valuable to me than money.
It was Arna. As the villain, it’s my obligation to torment Arna. It’s a responsibility no one else can take over.
It’s something only I can do. I hold the duty to support our protagonist until the very end. Until this responsibility is fully concluded, I cannot leave Arna’s side.
Joining a guild in the middle would simply be out of the question.
“It can’t be helped. If that’s how you feel, I guess I’ll have to step back for now.”
Ryu Jung-min didn’t pry into my personal matters too much. Surprisingly, he let go quite coolly. He then rose as if preparing to leave.
“Just because I’m stepping back now doesn’t mean I’ve let go completely. Even if you don’t think about it now, things might change by the time you graduate, right?”
“Graduation…”
“Our guild will always remain open. When you change your mind, feel free to come visit anytime.”
Before leaving, Ryu Jung-min handed me a business card. Along with it, he presented a jewel glowing with a dark red hue.
“It’s a gift.”
It was about the size of a fist. It wasn’t an ordinary jewel; rather, it was precisely a mana stone, typically a trophy acquired from monsters.
Perhaps this was a mana stone obtained during the defeat of Markocias. Since it came from an A-rank monster, it was bound to be worth a high price.
He had just given me such a valuable item as a present.
“Take some time to think where to use it.”
“Thank you very much, for everything.”
“There’s no need for thanks. Thanks to you, I had a great time as well. I hope we meet again.”
Ryu Jung-min waved at me one last time before leaving the room. That was how the guildmaster of Yeonwol departed.
Swish—
The moment Ryu Jung-min left, someone new entered the room.
“It’s time for your medication.”
I looked to see who it was—it was Choi Soo-eun, rolling in a medical cart.
“Is it that time already?”
Today was the third day since being admitted to this hospital. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been hospitalized this semester.
I may very well have the most visits among the combat division students. At this point, I’ve even become friends with the doctors here.
Almost VIP status.
“How’s your body feeling?”
“About the same as yesterday.”
After dumping all the pills into my mouth, I took a sip of water. I have to endure this muscle pain, so medication is essential.
“Who was that person just now?”
Choi Soo-eun glanced towards the entrance of the room, looking at where Ryu Jung-min had disappeared.
“The guildmaster of Yeonwol.”
Not recognizing Ryu Jung-min’s face even though Yeonwol is one of the well-known major guilds among the public, Choi Soo-eun seems to show little interest in such matters.
“The guildmaster? But he seems too young to be one….”
“Despite appearances, he’s an auntie who’ll be forty in just a few days.”
“Forty…!?”
Choi Soo-eun’s eyes widened in surprise. It was understandable; Ryu Jung-min appeared much younger than his real age.
He looked young enough to pass for a student of our age.
“So… why did the guildmaster from Yeonwol come all the way here?”
“Hmm? Do I have to explain that as well?”
“It’s not that I insist you must, but….”
Choi Soo-eun slightly bowed her head, revealing a somewhat wistful expression. It seemed as though she wanted me to tell her.
Since it’s not much of a secret anyway, telling her shouldn’t be a major issue.
I informed Choi Soo-eun about the conversation I had earlier.
“I received a recruitment offer.”
“Recruitment…? Do you mean a guild contract?”
“Yes.”
“So, all the rumors on the community sites were true?”
It appears there have been related discussions about my possible contract on community forums. Choi Soo-eun murmured to herself, seemingly amazed.
“Then…”
Choi Soo-eun then stared at me intently, her eyes filled with focus, and asked.
“Are you joining a guild now? Will you leave this school completely?”
“…”
What is this? Asking questions like this? She normally didn’t show any interest in me before, right? She didn’t really care what I did previously.
But now she’s prying into who I met, what I talked about, and what I intend to do next.
I mean, she’s not even my girlfriend or anything. I don’t know why she’s so curious.
Let me casually probe her once.
“Maybe. I’m still pondering whether or not to go.”
“…”
“They’ve offered pretty decent terms.”
Instantly, Choi Soo-eun’s eyebrows twitched. The earlier intense gaze had faded and now flickered like a dying flame.
With a trembling voice, Choi Soo-eun asked me, as if holding on to a straw,
“Is it absolutely necessary for you to join the guild?”
At the same time, she grabbed my shirt tightly.
“Can’t you… just stay here…?”
