“She’s an interviewee… I checked her pass, and there weren't any issues… Uh… What should we do? Mister Ki-Mo?” the girl asked.
“I’m not sure. She should be getting up soon…” the gentleman replied.
“She’ll be up soon.”
“Thank you, Miss Sun Hee-Young. I’m glad you’re here. She seemed like she injured her head…” the gentleman said.
“I think… the three of you should get ready to write a written explanation,” a lady suggested.
“Ah, no. If that happens, oppa—”
“I already contacted the guild master and the sub guild master,” the gentleman interrupted.
“Is that true?” the lady asked.
“It’s not something we can hide anyway,” said the gentleman.
I opened my eyes slowly and saw an unfamiliar ceiling along with faces looking down at me. There was a woman with pigtails, and she reminded me of a cat.‘Miss Kim Ye-Ri.’
It was known to everyone that the Blue Guild had three geniuses. The guild master, the sub guild master, and the girl with pigtails before her.
She was known as the Blue Guild's daughter, and it was all because she was skilled with a dagger, a long sword, and a bow. She had completed ranger training, and her close combat skills were top-notch because the Guild Master of the Blue Guild himself was her trainer.
I finally understood why I lost consciousness before I could put up a fight.
A handsome man wearing glasses with no lens was next to her.
'He's Mr. Ahn Ki-Mo.’
He was a holy knight with perfect scores on hexagonal agility tests.
'I’m sorry, that’s all I know about you.'
I turned unknowingly and saw a beautiful woman sitting on a chair.
I was feeling out of it, but my eyes widened when I saw the beautiful lady wearing a traditional priest outfit. She seemed friendly, but for some reason, she seemed to have a cold side.
The beautiful lady walked up to me and pushed my hair back. “Open your eyes wide.”
“O-Okay,” I replied.
My mind became clearer when the light entered my eyes..
“Miss Sun Hee-Young?” I called out.
“Yes, she seems fine,” said the nun.
“Miss Kim Ye-Ri,” I said.
“...”
“Even Mr. Ahn Ki-Mo… is here. You’re really here,” I mumbled.
“You should rest for even a brief moment. Your condition…”
“It’s truly an honor meeting you like this. I’m a fan of all of you. Ah, I-I’m also sorry for telling you late. I’m not an intruder. I came here for the interview…” I informed them.
“...”
“Ah… the interview,” I said.
“...”
“The interview!” I shouted. I got up instinctively, and I felt a sharp pain radiating from my forehead. It seemed that I had accidentally bumped into someone as I got up.
“Ack!” I shouted.
“Are you okay?”
The person I bumped into exclaimed, but my eyes were on the clock on the wall.
I looked around and opened my Goddess’ Hand Mirror.
‘I’m late.’
“...”
“...”
“What should I do?” I asked.
“...”
“What… should I do?” I mumbled.
My interview was supposed to happen five hours ago. I worked so hard to reach the final interviews, and I couldn't believe that I ruined it. For some reason, I wasn't crying, but my shoulders drooped, and my feet quivered.
“You don’t have to worry, Miss Belier,” Sun Hee-Young said.
“What?”
“The accident happened because of the guild's mistake, and the Blue Guild isn’t that strict. The sub guild master has already received a report about what happened today. He said he’ll be here soon, so lie down until then,” she explained.
“What? Will I be doing the interview like this?” I asked.
“Sorry,” Kim Ye-Ri chimed in.
“It’s fine, Miss Kim Ye-Ri,” I said.
“I would like to apologize as well,” Ahn Ki-Mo said.
“You really don’t have to apologize. I’ll be embarrassed if you keep doing that,” I told them.
“It’s all. My fault,” Kim Ye-Ri said.
“It is your fault, but I’ll apologize as… Ugh!”
“I’m really okay. I was startled, but it all worked out… in the end. Anyone would find me suspicious if they were to see me looking around in the middle of the guild house like that, so don’t worry about it.
"By the way, I really feel like I'm dreaming. The thought of meeting all of you after getting accepted to the guild made my heart flutter, but… I have no regrets meeting all of you like this. Even if I don’t make it—”
“That won’t happen. I don’t know about other people, but our sub guild master hates letting go of talented people. It seemed like you worked really hard. I’m sure it wasn’t easy training as a fighter…” Sun Hee-Young said.
“I feel embarrassed hearing that. I mean… I lost consciousness before I could even do anything…” I said.
“Hahaha…”
“I-I’m sorry,” Kim Ye-Ri said.
‘They’re good people.’
I was kind of nervous, but I eventually felt comfortable around them.
“Miss Ye-Ri has always been kind of impatient,” Ahn Ki-Mo said.
“Stop it,” Kim Ye-Ri warned.
“Last time—”
“I won’t say it again, Mister Ki-Mo,” Kim Ye-Ri interrupted.
“Haha… wanting to keep your dignity in front of your junior—ARGH” Ahn Ki-Mo screamed.
The two started wrestling to the point that I questioned whether I was watching a play or not. I honestly thought the atmosphere would be a bit more serious. I could tell they were close, and it reminded me of my early adventurer days when my party members and I would go to a pub to call it a day.
These people weren’t any different from us back then.
‘Oh, it’s Miss Alps.’
“You’re all here,” Miss Alps said.
“Have a cup of coffee while you’re here,” Sun Hee-Young suggested.
“Yes, ma’am. Oh! You had a guest. Hello,” Miss Alps greeted.
“Hello!” I greeted Miss Alps.
“No, Shiro!” Miss Alps shouted.
“It’s fine,” I said.
The puppy looked so adorable as he ran at me while wagging his tail.
“The interview… Ah, you’re the final interviewee. I’ll finally have a junior!” Alps exclaimed.
I felt kind of bad, but Miss Alps looked cute when she tightened her fist.
“The process is shorter than what we went through,” Yoo Ah-Young chimed in.
“Sit here, Ah-Young unni.”
More and more people arrived after Miss Yoo Ah-Young joined. Miss Sun Hee-Young seemed unhappy by the fact that more and more people were coming, but she was definitely having fun because she was smiling.
“How are things with Chang-Ryeol oppa these days?”
“I’m not sure… He’s pretty busy right now… so I don’t really have time to see him.”
“Mr. Chang-Ryeol takes on many unusual tasks. He has spent the shortest time in the guild, and if you think about it, it’s been a while since we saw him.”
“We gathered last week, too. Mister. The regular meeting.”
“And this is…”
“Ah… I’m Belier.”
“She’s my junior!”
“I haven’t been accepted yet.”
I really wanted to join them, and it was perhaps because they considered each other as family. They chatted and often made jokes about each other. I was sure they ate and trained together. I reckoned that long expeditions with them would be really fun as well.
It was just admiration at first since they were the most famous guild on the continent, and everyone dreamed of joining them. Their pay and benefits were great, but I simply wanted to spend more time with them.
And that was when I heard a voice outside…
“You pig, can you even take responsibility for this? If we get sued, will you defend the guild? Should we cut off the head of every guest who visits the guild? You want all of our guests to worry about losing their heads?”
“I didn’t… do that…”
“Shut up, man. Do you really think that the conversation will end by saying that? Will that resolve everything? You’re dead.”
I couldn’t really hear them, but it was something like that.
The door opened with a click, and I saw a woman with a scar on her face.
“Come in, sir.”
“Huh?”
The noisy atmosphere soon became quiet, and I saw everyone standing up quietly.
Was I supposed to get up as well? I looked around, trying to figure out what to do, and I felt a hand grabbing my shoulder. It was Miss Kim Ye-Ri, and she was telling me with her expression that I didn’t need to stand up.
“You’re here.”
“Have a seat, everyone.” A clear and crisp voice echoed.
Then, I saw Mr. Lee Ki-Young along with Mr. Park Deok-Gu.
“Ah…”
Mr. Lee Ki-Young was walking in a dignified manner, and he was wearing a pure white priest outfit. I couldn’t quite describe his appearance. I felt indescribable emotions as I stared at him, and my jaw dropped without realizing it.
“You're…”
“I’m Belier,” I introduced myself.
Mr. Lee Ki-Young's voice was so sweet that it made my brain tingle. His voice was so low that it sounded like he was whispering to me, but his voice filled my head.
'Am I allowed to lift my head? Should I greet him while looking at him? Will that be considered rude? Can I look straight at him?'
“You can lift your head, Miss Belier,” Lee Ki-Young said.
I looked up and saw the face that everyone could see everywhere.
I had seen his face many times through various articles, pictures, and posts made on Benigoa Net, but I still had a hard time breathing when I saw his actual face.
It was like there was a radiant light behind him—no, perhaps there actually was a light. I wanted to grab my chest because it felt like someone was banging on my heart, but I couldn’t do it. My hands and feet were trembling; I felt numb all over.
This was weird—too weird.
‘He’s like an incubus.’
I had never met or seen an incubus before, though.
Obviously, it was rude to think that way, and I couldn’t understand why I thought of him as an incubus when he was a saint emitting a pure, radiant light. However, that was honestly the impression that I got from him. His lips were small, and his neck was long; those weird emotions disappeared when I realized what I was staring at.
I shook my head to regain my composure, but I still couldn’t speak properly.
I was sad. He was an angel who had given up everything and had descended from the heavens for the continent's sake. He had given up his position to become human. He was like a flower before it was plucked—no, he was like a flower that had already been plucked and was on the verge of withering away.
He was thin… like… like he could break at any moment, and it seemed like he'd crumble even at the slightest touch… He had been plucked and had been trampled on many times, but he was like a resilient flower bud trying its best to bloom.
“Heuk…”
'Why… am I crying?'
“Heuk… heuuuuk… heung…”
'Why can’t I stop crying, Father Lee Ki-Young? Why am I crying?'
“I’m sorry. My… emotions… suddenly… Heuk… I couldn't stop it…” I muttered.
I had no idea why I was apologizing. Actually, I knew why I was crying. I was sure he had seen this sight before since he was beloved by all denizens. My tiny existence was probably the reason he was summoned to the continent once again, and I could be the reason why he had once sacrificed everything.
“Heuuuuk… heuuuk…” I cried.
I felt someone wiping away the tears falling from one of my eyes.
Their hands were really thin, but they were so warm…
“Your sins will be forgiven in the name of Goddess Benigoa,” Lee Ki-Young said.
“Heuuuuuk… heuuuung…”
I couldn't stop crying as he held me in his arms.
“Heuuuung…”
I cried for a while.
“I’m sorry… Heuk… I’m really… sorry,” I said.
“...”
“...”
“G-G-Get away from him.”
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