TOP 41

Chapter 41

Recklessness and Sense of Justice

“Hy–Hyung…?”

I heard Yoon Jiho’s startled voice from behind me, but I ignored it.

This wasn’t the time to be leisurely holding a conversation.

Grrrk!

The Yeti stabbed toward my right armpit, but without caring, it swung its left arm at me.

I quickly drew the Eternal Frost Sword and leapt back.

Whoosh—!

Its claws slashed right past my nose.

Sweat ran cold down my temple at the unexpectedly long reach.

That was close.

The Yeti was a five-star humanoid monster covered in white fur, dwelling in icy mountain terrain.

It was said not to be particularly intelligent, but its strength and defense were considerable.

Which meant—since I wasn’t yet at five-star myself, I couldn’t afford to let my guard down against it.

Fortunately, things over there seem about settled.

The New Cherry Guild hunters looked like they had regained control of their side.

All I need to do is buy time.

I didn’t need to shine in battle against the Yeti.

“Jiho! Get some distance!”

“Y-Yes!”

Still, just in case, I told Yoon Jiho to move back.

Grrrk!

After that, I simply repeated the cycle—receiving the Yeti’s simple attacks and retreating little by little.

If they’d asked me to kill it outright, that would have been difficult. But this much? Not hard at all.

The thing’s attack pattern was quite simple.

After I bought some time—

Slash—!

Shin Chaeri’s rapier, wrapped in Aura Thread, sliced across the Yeti’s throat.

Thankfully, the New Cherry Guild hunters had cleaned up quickly.

“You held out well.”

“Phew…”

I sighed in relief and put away the Eternal Frost Sword into subspace.

“Everyone, rest! Injured, use potions!”

Captain Shin Chaeri gave the order.

I approached the Yeti’s corpse.

“What are you doing?”

“Obviously, dismantling the body—”

“I said everyone rest.”

“But blood and such has to be extracted right away or—”

“Enough. Rest.”

Oh.

I was quietly impressed.

She was letting us rest?

【What a conscientious woman!】

A rare type indeed.

Normally, in situations like this, hunters rested while porters kept working. That was just the way of things.

Since when did mere porters get breaks?

Granted, we’d just been in danger because of the monster breaking through mid-battle. Some might say we almost died.

But even so, an employer who considered that?

I’d never seen one.

The New Cherry Guild really was, just as Jiho had said, not a bad employer from a porter’s perspective.

Just then Jiho ran up to me, all excited.

“Hyung! What was that!?”

“Jiho.”

“You’re crazy strong! Didn’t you say you awakened only recently?!”

“Let’s talk. Now.”

“Yes!”

He looked thrilled, full of questions, probably wanting to know about my training.

But what I had to say wasn’t about that.

“How did you train—”

“Are you out of your mind? Want to die that badly?”

“…Huh?”

“If you’d just run when told, I could have stalled it fine. The Yeti’s slow for a five-star. But you tried to block it? What, do you have nine lives?”

“……”

If Jiho hadn’t jumped in to block it,

If he’d just bolted at full speed from the start,

We wouldn’t even have needed to enter combat like that.

Honestly, Captain Shin Chaeri’s decision was rational.

She hadn’t done anything for us. Just shouted for us to avoid.

Personally, I thought that was the best call.

She could’ve pulled a hunter off the frontline to protect us, sure, but that might’ve fractured the vanguard.

Better to clean up fast, then help.

She just didn’t know Jiho was the type to meddle like that.

So.

“If you don’t want to die, don’t get involved. Just keep yourself alive.”

Meaning: Jiho had trolled.

“……”

He was silent for a long while.

Then muttered faintly:

“…So I was… wrong?”

“Yeah.”

“But I only did it for you… I mean, I didn’t know you were this strong, of course…”

Jiho was stubborn.

But for some reason, I didn’t hate that.

Not bad, this kid.

It was a kind of righteous stubbornness.

The problem was, people like him usually died early.

“Your intent was good.”

“…And?”

“But good intentions without ability are nothing but recklessness.”

“……”

“If that’s how you want to live, get stronger first. Then it won’t be recklessness—it’ll be called a sense of justice.”

Get stronger first.

Will without strength is just reckless bravado.

In truth, I was saying it to myself, too.

If I want revenge, I must first get stronger.

Until then, I must keep my claws hidden.

I couldn’t afford to react like I had in front of Han Sugyeol, swayed by the name “Namgoong Myeong.”

Yeah. That’s right.

Focus on growing stronger first.

Revenge comes after.

Just as I was finishing lecturing Jiho and re-organizing my plans—

“Hey, porter.”

“Yes, sir?”

The incompetent vice-captain approached me.

“You were a hunter?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you say so?”

“Was I required to?”

What business was it of his? There’s no law saying hunters can’t work as porters.

He sneered.

“Suspicious, isn’t it?”

“……”

“Not like your level’s low. Why pretend to be a porter? No reason for it.”

Apparently I’d aroused suspicion.

Truth was, he wasn’t wrong.

I wouldn’t be here playing porter if not for the ‘Ice Crystal’ that could restore Frill’s power.

“Personal reasons.”

“Got something to hide, huh.”

“I don’t think I’m obliged to explain.”

I brushed it off, but he kept pressing, fishing for my background.

“What star rank are you? You can at least tell me that.”

“Four-star.”

“Then show your license. You have one, right?”

“I only just came up to Seoul. Haven’t gotten one yet.”

“…You little fraud!”

Captain Shin Chaeri intervened.

“Vice-captain. Enough.”

“But look at him! Suspicion drips off him!”

“Sigh. And so?”

“…What?”

“He hasn’t broken contract. He hasn’t harmed us. He’s performed his porter duties fine. On what grounds are you interrogating his personal matters?”

Every word was correct.

He was contracted as a porter. Nothing else mattered.

“…But think about it! The regular porter just happened to be absent for his mother’s funeral, and this guy just happened to show up? Doesn’t that sound planned?”

I sighed inwardly.

Sharp bastard.

Useless at actual work, but quick with suspicions.

In times like this, it was better to go on the offensive.

“If I make you uncomfortable, I can just leave.”

Better to offer to walk away than stay under suspicion.

“…?!”

“No. That won’t be necessary.”

The vice-captain was startled, Shin Chaeri stopped me.

As expected.

If the porter leaves here, it’s the guild that suffers.

They could clear the dungeon without me.

But transporting loot and byproducts? Not a chance.

They’d lose profit.

Porters were disdained only because replacements were everywhere.

But here in the middle of a dungeon? No replacements.

And since they were the ones doubting me, I had the upper hand.

I’d already proven some dismantling and combat skill.

If this were a rogue guild, they might pull knives and threaten me. But these weren’t that kind.

Everything pointed to one fact: I didn’t need to bow and scrape.

“Captain!”

“Drop it.”

And the situation wrapped up.

“Honestly, I am curious why you applied as a porter. But I won’t ask.”

“…Thank you.”

In other words—she’d watch me, but wouldn’t pry.

Fine by me.

I had no intention of causing trouble—aside from stealing the Ice Crystal at the end.

“Porters, begin dismantling.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Break time over. Back to work.

The dungeon expedition continued without incident.

The hunters cleaned up the Yetis. Jiho and I dismantled corpses and gathered materials.

Smooth sailing.

Except Jiho’s behavior nagged me.

“……”

Ever since I scolded him, he’d gone quiet, lost in thought.

I didn’t mind. Less pointless chatter.

Though it did get a bit dull.

Not a problem—Frill could keep me company.

You found the Ice Crystal’s location?

【Not exactly, but I know the general direction! I’ll pinpoint it once we’re closer!】

It’s definitely in this dungeon, right?

【Yep!!】

That was the whole reason I came here: the Ice Crystal.

What’s the first thing you’ll do once you get your power back?

【Hmm… maybe throw an ice ball at the back of your head?】

What did I even do…

【Hehe. Just kidding!】

…

Her ambitions were modest, as always.

I almost wanted to abandon this whole Ice Crystal quest.

Then—

“Stop!”

Captain Shin Chaeri suddenly ordered a halt.

Nothing had happened, so I wondered why.

“We’re lost.”

…We had a missing-route issue.

“By mid-slope, we should’ve found a cave. But nothing. And since Yetis aren’t spawning, we’re definitely off the main route.”

The [Snow Mountain Cave] dungeon was exactly what it sounded like.

The first half: snowy mountain terrain.

The latter half: cave terrain.

We should’ve hit the transition cave by now—but hadn’t.

“Anyone notice anything cave-like on the way here?”

No one raised a hand.

But that was only the humans.

【Me! I saw one!】

Frill shot up her hand, yelling.

What did you see?

【A cave! The entrance was buried under snow, but beneath it was an opening!】

…Would’ve been nice if you’d mentioned that earlier.

【You didn’t ask!】

…Fine, you win.

I raised my hand quietly.

“Yes?”

“There was a suspicious spot. About ten minutes back, there was an area slightly more sunken than the rest.”

“Oh? Where exactly?”

“About ten minutes’ walk back.”

“Good eye.”

Captain Shin Chaeri praised me, and I simply bowed my head slightly.

【Hey! I was the one who found it!】

Good job. But I can’t exactly say that, can I?

【Hmph. But, Yujin—】

What?

【Why didn’t you demand a reward this time?】

…What do you take me for?

Sure, if it weren’t for me, they’d have wandered much longer.

But demanding payment for just this would’ve been too much.

Even someone like me knew when a demand would fly and when it wouldn’t.

Still, it stacks up.

Perfect porter work.

Kiting the Yeti.

Finding the path.

If I added a few more contributions like these?

Then I’d have grounds to demand proper rewards.

So I’ll wait until then. Got it?

【Knew it! You weren’t being nice—you were plotting!】

…

Why did it sound like she was calling me shameless?

[Snow Mountain Cave]

• An endless snowy mountain. A single cave lies within.

• The hidden ice-type treasure, “Ice Crystal,” slumbers here.

• Recommended Entry Level: 5

• Difficulty slightly above user’s level. Exercise caution.

• Current entrants: 12

Ding!

Dungeon information updated.

• Current entrants: 12 → 13