Chapter 449: Our Hyunsung (1)
I didn't mean this in any figurative way whatsoever. The expedition was really over.
Of course, we didn't abandon our last chance. Sure, we all felt upset, but we still had to maximize our profits. Besides, there was still hope that a legendary-grade item might come out next time.
However, the results were miserable. We had gained yet another rare-grade item.
It was a very shabby result compared to the horrors they faced due to the last named monster hunt. This had obviously been a huge loss.
The adventure, in which they risked almost all of their fortune, ended miserably with two rare-grade items and a manuscript.
In short, this expedition left nothing on the party but a scar. There was no need to mention that the atmosphere sucked.
I wasn't expecting this at all. Whether the Friendship Clan's members were out of luck, or whether the museum's reality was too terrible, we were yet to figure out, but at least the hardships they faced were real.
'Looking at it from the perspective of a businessman, it was profitable, but...'
It was hard to look at the expressions on their face.
Although it wasn't enough for everyone to come together to resolve the crisis, the previous minor quarrels were still pushing them back to a situation that was akin to the Cold War era.
'Friendship Clan slumps.'
I wondered if they still had the strength to continue running the clan. Even I couldn't guarantee that it would remain stable.
Seeing how all the female members but Kook Minji had terrible expressions, they seemed to have made up their minds. They looked like they were looking for the right timing to cut ties, as if they hadn't forgotten the maxim, 'A slump means to cut ties.'
The innocent Lee Cheol-woo seemed not to notice it yet, but I could already smell the end of the party. Even a blind man would know that the end of the Friendship Clan was coming soon.
'This is their end.'
I was certain of this fact.
The Friendship Clan would be done for within a week. No, it might disband at that very moment.
"..."
"..."
'I should cut ties with them quickly too.'
Although I felt a little sense of responsibility, it disappeared with a shake of my head.
It was because I thought that I had done all that I had to do. Although there had been some small accidents, I could confidently say that my contribution exceeded 70% in the process of dealing with the named monsters.
"Er... what are you going to do now, boys?" Kook Minji broke the silence.
"I don't know. First, I have to go to the dorm and think about it. We still have money to stay for a few days. It would be better to dispose of the items here. We either get a loan and come back here, or we find another route. Although we suffered a lot of damage... We can't just stand still like this."
'Don't get a loan.'
"Something must've gone wrong. I don't know why there is such a book in the museum in the first place..."
"You heard it. They also have items from the continent that they think are worth holding. If it is a manuscript from a best-seller, so they would have determined that it was worth exhibiting in the museum. I can't understand it either, but the price will be fairly good. I don't know how much we can get if we sell it to collectors, but... we have to try to sell where we can get the best price. Damn."
"It'll be difficult."
'It's not easy to place such an item in an auction.'
It might be sold at a slightly higher price if someone wanted it for sure, but that all just naïve hope. No matter how much it would be, it would certainly be insufficient to make up for the party's loss.
Considering that auction fees were enormous, there might not be much they could actually get.
'Okay, I will handle the fee.'
"I can handle that much."
"What?"
"I have some connections with the auction house. If you leave it to me, I will sell it and send you the payment. You can write a separate transfer contract. Since the fee is too high... if I talk to them, they will understand."
"No. No. There's no need to write a separate contract. If you have connections, I think it's better to ask them. More importantly, what are you... going to do now?"
'What do you mean? I have to go do my job.'
This was the right time to cut off ties with them now.
"I do not know..."
"First, let's go have a meal. Although it was a failed expedition, I still have a few things I want to say..."
'I hope it's not a recruitment offer, you bastard. How can you think of holding me in this situation? You have no shame. You can't do that.'
Just as I was about to express my rejection, the three women took the timing first.
"Oppa, we have something to tell you."
"Huh?"
"We really don't want to say it right now, but... it seems that we're done here."
"What? What is it all of a sudden?"
"We've been thinking about it for some time, but I think right now is the best timing to tell you. I think it's better for us to go our separate ways at this point. We don't have any reason for it, but... there wasn't really any contract term, anyway. "
"Don't you think this is too sudden?"
Kim Daegun, who could be said to be one of the clan's central figures, also felt surprised.
He tried to keep calm, but his face told me he was certainly having a hard time doing that.
The clan was at a crossroads between survival and disbandment, and three members suddenly left the six-member Clan. It wasn't unreasonable to have such an expression.
However, there was no way to criticize their actions.
Internal affairs were also the responsibility of the Clan Master and the Vice Clan Master. They neglected that responsibility when they became crazy at the sudden arrival of a vulpine woman.
"We don't have to get a payment. It will be hard for you in many ways. However, we'll take a rare-grade item. Is that okay?"
"That doesn't matter, but no, I mean. How about talking a little more? If you leave without any precautions like this... I don't think it'll look good for you either. I think it would be good to think about it after you decide what you'll do first."
"No. We understand you, but I don't think we're compatible with the Friendship Clan. We felt that in today's hunting. Also, the overall atmosphere isn't the same as before. We have nothing to say except we're really sorry."
"Girls, how can you do this out of nowhere?"
"Minji, you should think about whether this is really a community worth working on. Anyway, we'll go first. If we cross paths again, don't ignore us, boys. We can meet occasionally and do something like hunting. Minji, we must keep in touch... Kiyeon unnie, we will also keep in touch with you."
It was all quick and cruel.
The women of the former Friendship Clan disappeared without saying another word. I felt shameful again, since I felt like I was the one who put a dagger into the heart of the Friendship Clan.
Kim Daegun and Lee Cheol-woo looked desolate.
Of course, Light Kiyeon wasn't the owner of a personality that could think about their situation.
I had to cut ties with them quickly. It hurt my pride that the kids stole the first move.
"I'm sorry. I have work to do, too."
"What?"
"Um... the expedition was fun, Cheol-woo, Daegun. Minji and I had a little misunderstanding, but I still enjoyed it."
"How can you..."
"I don't think this is where I'm supposed to be. In fact, I feel uncomfortable about belonging somewhere... I'm sorry."
"Kiyeon, let's talk for a second."
'Don't be clingy.'
"No."
"Kiyeon, how can you..."
'What, man. We weren't that close for you to be saying that.'
"Kiyeon, if you were uncomfortable with our clan's expedition, I will formally apologize. I hope you think about it again."
"..."
"Please, even if it's for my sake."
'Why the hell would your sake matter?'
Cheol-woo's sake never mattered.
"In fact, I shouldn't be saying this, but in the next expedition, if possible, I hope we can move together as a clan. Of course, we know we are not good enough, but I hope you think about this positively."
"That's a bit... I want to go with you too, but... I really have something to do."
"Why don't we go to the dorms and have a meal together? We received a lot of help from you this time, and we would at least like to say thank you."
I bet, the moment I went to the dorms and had a meal with them, I would be caught in a swamp that I wouldn't be able to escape from. I was sure they'd try to hold onto me somehow.
If they gained the resource called Light Kiyeon, they would gain enormous profits that would cover all the damages.
They had already confirmed with their own eyes how powerful I was, after all.
"Y-Yes, unnie... let's go together. I'm sorry about what happened before."
Even Kook Minji had started to say weird things.
The thief's psychology of recruiting someone who deserved to belong to a large guild made me clear my throat.
"Kiyeon."
'Enough, you bastard.'
It was quite a sight to see him holding my hand. His face looked very serious for some reason.
"Er... Did I do something wrong?"
"No. It's nothing like that."
"I don't know if I'm mistaken, but I thought Kiyeon and I were sharing the same feelings in the dungeon..."
'What feelings?'
There was always that one person that was confused about a girl's actions.
I was only nice to them for a while, but they stuck to me as if we were exchanging great feelings.
The innocent-looking guy spat out strange lines with a beet-red face, but such means could barely shake the impregnable heart of Light Kiyeon.
Rather, it made me feel even more annoyed. It was rather creepy to see a man suddenly looking at me with a serious face.
"I don't know what you're talking about. This is making me uncomfortable. Can you please let go of my hand?"
"Kiyeon."
"Let go of that hand, Cheol-woo."
Even the big guy had come into the mess. Love and war ran rampant in the middle of the city, after all.
Kim Daegun, that bastard, also suddenly appeared and stood between Lee Cheol-woo and me. It was hard to see him confront Lee Cheol-woo. He probably felt like a knight defending the princess by grabbing my other hand.
I felt even more embarrassed due to the gazes that were now focusing on us.
"Would you both let go of me?"
"Kiyeon, please think about it one more time... I want to talk to you."
At that moment, a familiar voice came from behind right before I tried to use a rather tough measure to escape.
"Please, let her go."
The moment I looked back naturally, I saw someone who was of a different level from these ugly people. In fact, he looked like a Greek God in comparison to them.
He had a sword sheathed against its waist.
The armament was modest, but the symbol embedded in his chest revealed the identity of the person who suddenly appeared. I couldn't continue with further description of his appearance since it would make me look pitiful.
'What the hell, you bastard. Why are you so handsome?'
The Blue Guild Master.
The lovely returner.
It was Kim Hyunsung.
"I'll warn you one last time. Let go of her."