‘Thank you…’[1]

…Was what I should be saying.

I kept thinking that it was the answer, but for some reason, I couldn’t say it. Losing out on an opportunity like this was a stupid thing to do and despite my brain knowing that, it felt like my body was rejecting it, so I started to panic.

‘I need to accept.’

I kept repeating that in my head, but my lips betrayed me.

“I… well…”

“Yes?” Jung Ha-Yan asked.

“I-I actually have something to do… a-after class. I’m sorry,” I replied.

“Ah…”

Jung Ha-Yan looked really disappointed and her dejected expression reminded me of a puppy that its owner had abandoned. I blamed myself only for a moment for making such a stupid decision. I thought about why my body was rejecting it, but I couldn’t think of an answer. I was bothered by Miss Jung Ha-Yan mumbling something to herself, but I had no choice but to ignore it.

‘I don’t have a good feeling about this.’

I didn’t think he would go that far, but it was possible that this was part of that sly bastard’s trap because he was definitely a petty person. However…

‘Keeping up with the lesson is hard enough.’

Learning something new was a good thing, but learning through homework and assignments was already giving me a headache. Even though I had come up with several reasons, the fact that I had made a stupid mistake was undeniable, but I didn’t want to change my mind because I was starting to recover my breathing.

Just then, the bell signaling the end of the class rang, and Miss Jung Ha-Yan slowly exited the room while still mumbling to herself. She looked really sad, so I thought about grabbing and stopping her, but I didn’t bother to raise my hand, as the other recruits in the room were approaching me.

“Y-You’re really amazing, unnie…” a girl commented.

“Ah…”

“Who knew Miss Jung Ha-Yan would give that kind of lesson and give an offer like that?” another said.

“You… think so?” I asked.

“Yeah. Based on the mood of today’s lesson, I think that alchemist said something to Miss Jung Ha-Yan… After seeing your skills, I guess she wanted to recruit you because she’s an executive member of the Blue Guild. You might even receive an offer from them soon,” they explained.

Another girl beside me continued the conversation.

“Sora unnie said she wasn’t going to join, so it doesn’t matter if she gets the offer or not. Didn’t you see her instantly reject the instructor’s tutoring offer?”

“Yeah… I did do that…” I commented.

“Miss Jung Ha-Yan seemed a bit desperate, though…” a girl mentioned.

“Did she?”

“She also looked surprised…” the girl added.

“It was when Sora unnie succeeded, right?” another trainee asked.

I heard the other trainees talking amongst themselves, but I couldn’t really hear them because I kept thinking about the expression I had seen on Miss Jung Ha-Yan’s face and the strange feeling I had. When I started talking, I noticed the trainees looking at me again.

“Hey…”

“Yes, Sora unnie?”

“Did you guys feel anything strange?” I asked.

“What do you mean?” they asked.

“About Miss Jung Ha-Yan. Didn’t she seem a bit strange today?” I asked again.

“She did seem kind of out of it today and kind of angry too… It was like she was tired. At least that’s what I felt…” one of them replied.

“She seemed… kind of slow-witted,” another described.

The answers were different from what I wanted to hear. Another trainee beside me immediately started talking.

“Hey! Someone might hear you. Pffft. But you’re not wrong though…”

“It’s true! She did give off that vibe when I first saw her, but back then, I just thought that she stuttered a lot. I don’t know if all geniuses are like her, but didn’t it feel like she was disabled or something?”

“Are all geniuses like that?” another asked.

“If that’s what it’s like to be a genius, then I’m not envious at all. Aren’t they just d-d-d-d-d-d-dumb?” a trainee mocked.

“Oh my gosh! Your imitation is perfect! Do it again.”

“A-All of you are i-idiots! I-I don’t understand why you’re all so stupid… pffft. I guess she doesn’t know that she looks stupid when she talks like that,” a trainee said.

“That’s hilarious!” a girl commented.

“Since she’s kind of slow-witted, I’m sure that’s the reason why she’s dating a guy like that alchemist. From the people I know, there’s always a person like that. You know, the people that have trouble communicating with others. People who didn’t grow up in a proper family would usually end up like her. I’m sure she has a few traumas,” a trainee explained.

“That’s kind of harsh, but it’s still funny, though. You don’t really think she’s disabled do you?” one of them asked.

“Who knows? She might’ve been normal, but she became crazy after studying magic too much… Don’t you agree, Sora unnie?” a trainee asked.

‘Maybe I thought too seriously about it.’

Seeing the other trainees talking and laughing as if it wasn’t a big deal made me feel stupid for thinking about it so seriously.

‘I guess she just wasn’t feeling well.’

No one thought there was something off about her, and thinking about it now, Jung Ha-Yan did seem sick. The way she kept grinning and stuttered was funny now that I thought about it. Seeing the other trainees imitating her made me laugh without realizing it, so I guess it wasn’t such a big deal.

‘She really did seem slow-witted…’

I continued the conversation while thinking that they could be right.

“Who knows? It’s definitely a possibility, and it’s like that in the movies, too. The people that are kind of crazy and people with autism supposedly have a really good memory. I’m sure it’s the same case for magic. It seems like Miss Jung Ha-Yan has an innate affinity with magic, though…”

“Really?” one of them asked.

“Maybe she really is crazy. Haha. There are some people that are suffering from aphasia because of the trauma they had received from the tutorial dungeon. Maybe she’s the same case,” I commented.

“You’re finally smiling, unnie. You looked so serious earlier,” a girl pointed out.

“It’s because your comments are really funny, and I am actually thinking the same. Slow-witted. Hahaha. Thinking that Miss Jung Ha-Yan may actually be slow-witted makes me feel stupid for looking up to her. What’s the point of being a genius when you’re stuttering all the time?” I said.

“You’re right, unnie. Even if you’re on the same level, I’m sure the guild would want a person that’s not crazy or can at least speak properly,” a girl agreed.

“You have a point. Maybe I should join the Blue Guild and take over. There isn’t anything that says that I’m not a genius, and once I grow strong enough, the guild will want me more than that stuttering idiot since the Guild Master shouldn’t be an idiot.” I pointed out.

“I’m sure you can do it. If that happens, you better not forget about us,” they joked.

“How could I? Even if you join a different guild, let’s all keep in touch. Hey, if the Guild Master takes a liking to me, then I could even request to bring you guys into the party,” I suggested.

“You’ll do that?” they asked.

“I’m sure it’s possible. The Blue Guild isn’t a large guild anyway…” I replied.

“I really hope that happens because they’re definitely different from other large guilds. If you have power… It makes sense considering what that alchemist has been doing up until now. If you do join the Blue Guild, what are you going to do about him?” a girl asked.

“A member like him shouldn’t exist in the guild I’m going to join. He’s nothing but Jung Ha-Yan’s sidekick, so it’ll be over once they break up…” I answered.

“You’re going to break them up right now?” they asked.

“Ruining the life of a person with a production-type job is easy. What is he going to do when I report that I was sexually harassed? Miss Jung Ha-Yan, no—that slow-witted idiot will stop liking him and since he has been a thorn in the guild’s side, they’ll take this chance and throw him out. Wouldn’t it be beneficial if I pretended to be the victim for a little bit and receive support from the guild?” I asked.

“You’re going to go that far? Wait, if someone hears you…”

“Don’t worry. I sealed the room with mana ever since you started calling her slow-witted,” I assured them.

“Wow…”

“This place has nothing, so I need to at least do this to survive. Skills are important, but you sometimes need knowledge to live life the easy way,” I told them.

“I feel like you’re really going to succeed, unnie…” a girl remarked.

“It’s usually better to do whatever it takes to get what you want because being a weak woman is an amazing weapon in society,” I added.

“I feel like I just learned something today,” another commented.

“Unnie, I think someone is here to see you.”

“Who is it?” I asked.

Right when I was thinking that it wouldn't be so bad to take my sidekicks with me, I turned back and noticed a man waving his hand quietly.

‘Chang-Ryeol oppa?’

Out of the people on the attack team, I felt a bit uncomfortable around him because he wasn’t talking much anymore, and he started to become quite cold. I wasn’t sure why he came to see me, and because I couldn’t read his expression, it was difficult to guess.

“I’ll be right back,” I told the girls.

“Okay, unnie.”

Obviously, I started walking toward him. Unlike the sidekicks who had helped me temporarily get rid of my boredom, the man in front of me was kind of an important person.

‘Why is he wearing a mask?’

I still couldn’t understand him, but I didn’t show it. When I quietly approached, he spoke first.

“Let’s talk.”

“What’s wrong, oppa? Oh! Didn’t you say you recently met with the Guild Master of the Blue Guild?” I asked.

“...”

“Do they have an entrance test, too? Did they confirm that you’re going to join them? How much did they offer you? You did negotiate the offer, right?” I asked.

“...”

“Our worth should be decided by us, not them. If you negotiate well, they can increase your pay…”

“Just shut up because I’m not here to talk about that, and lower your voice,” Chang-Ryeol warned.

“Fine. What is it about?” I asked.

“Honestly, I don’t like you…” he started.

“That’s a relief because I don’t like you either,” I retaliated.

“But that doesn’t mean I hate you because we had spent some time together in the attack team, and we did go through some stuff in the tutorial dungeon…” he continued.

“Stop talking about that and get to the point,” I demanded.

“I’m not sure what your plan is from now on, but don’t get involved with the Blue Guild and just live a quiet life,” he answered.

“What? This is so sudden,” I commented.

“This is a warning. Don’t do anything stupid and just quietly think about yourself. Don’t try to pull the same bullshit you pulled in the dungeon,” he warned.

“What? What did I do in—”

“You think I don’t know? You’re too greedy,” he pointed out.

“Stop talking nonsense and tell me something useful…” I asked.

“This is all I can tell you. I don’t want to be deeply involved with you, and I don’t want people to think that I can’t keep a secret. Honestly, I feel uncomfortable telling you this right now and it’s annoying,” Chang-Ryeol confessed.

“What do you know?” I questioned.

“This is the information I’m going to give you. Stay quiet,” he repeated.

“Wait, don’t be like that… Have you agreed to join the Blue Guild?” I asked again.

“I’m leaving. I gave you a clear warning,” he said.

“What? Chang-Ryeol oppa!” I yelled.

After he was done talking, he wore his mask again and started to walk away. It was a short conversation, but there was an unpleasant feeling inside me.

‘If there was something he wanted to say, he should have just said it.’

I was annoyed because he spoke vaguely and just ordered me to listen to him. Not only did I frown, but I started talking to myself.

“That idiot. If you’re going to give me intel, be clear about it. I never asked for that kind of information.”

When I went back to my sidekicks, I noticed they were still talking, and I was sure they didn’t notice I was coming back, as they were busy talking loudly to each other. I became curious as to whether they were talking behind my back, so when I focused my mana on my ear, their voices became clearer, and obviously, they weren’t talking shit.

“But do you think unnie can really join the Blue Guild? Didn’t she miss her chance when she rejected slow-witted Ha-Yan’s offer?” a girl asked.

“I don’t think so. Even if that were the case, if her plan works out, then it’s almost certain she’ll join the guild and it’ll be like she’s getting revenge on that stupid alchemist. Him and his useless production job…” another spoke.

“If unnie joins the Blue Guild, will we get the chance to join them, too?” they asked.

“I’m not sure, but I’m sure unnie will take care of us. And since that slow-witted Ha-Yan has taken a liking to our unnie, it’s likely that she still hasn’t given up on her.”

“Why do you think that?”

“She kept mumbling to herself as she was leaving the room earlier.”

“Really? I didn’t hear anything…”

“What did she say? She said...”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“I-I-It’s okay… I-I still have a lot of chances… I can do it.”

“Your imitation of her is so funny...”

“I almost couldn’t stop myself from laughing...”

1. Han Sora’s POV ☜