53 – So You Want to Be My Partner – 3

George Gordon Byron, one of the representative poets of English Romanticism, was said to have left a famous quote to his editor who came to deliver the news when he gained immense fame overnight due to the poetry collection he published.

‘I awoke one morning and found myself famous.’

Gi-jun could not help but recall Byron’s words as he looked down at the crowd of people surrounding the bottom of the hill where his mansion was located as soon as morning dawned.

Of course, because he was scared, he did not speak to them at all, and after just going for a run, he came inside the house to eat breakfast.

“Phew, thank you for the meal. Eating the food Gi-jun-nim made makes me feel alive again.”

Viv, who had come as soon as day broke as promised yesterday, neatly finished off the meat noodles served for breakfast and put down the empty bowl before speaking.

“Gi-jun-nim, what do you think is the most important thing on this Leta Continent?”

“Power.”

At Gi-jun’s prompt answer, Viv nodded with a vague smile.

“There are many kinds of power, but let’s put that aside for now. Anyway, what is the easiest and fastest way to gain that power?”

“…A dungeon?”

After pondering for a moment, Gi-jun came up with an answer with an expression that looked as if he was about to shout “Eureka.”

A dungeon could be said to be a space optimized for growing stronger in a short period of time, as one could focus on dealing with monsters and also have the possibility of obtaining powerful equipment as rewards.

And if they could be exempted from the toll to enter that dungeon by partying with Gi-jun?

Naturally, wouldn’t it make sense for people to be swarming outside like that?

“That is a difficult and grueling way. That’s not it.”

Looking at Gi-jun, who was satisfied with his own answer, Viv shook her head firmly and pointed at him.

“Me…?”

“A strong person. The best way to gain power is to stick to a strong person!”

“Oh.”

At that moment, recalling his grueling training with Biche, Gi-jun immediately understood and nodded.

Of course, Viv did not mean it in that way.

“Gi-jun-nim, you became recognized as the strongest in Turis through your active performance in the Overflow. Moreover, you even rented this nice mansion with the support of the Lord.”

“That’s true.”

“A person like that is free? There is no party you currently belong to? Even I would have run here at the crack of dawn, waiting and trying to strike up a conversation somehow. If only they succeed in joining the same party as Gi-jun-nim, their status will skyrocket!”

“Status…”

“Yes, status. The strongest in Turis, the one receiving the full support of the Lord! Since they became part of the same party as such a person, wouldn’t their shoulders naturally puff up with pride? If they are lucky, they might even get a chance to catch the Lord’s eye.”

The moment he accepted Viv’s blunt explanation.

Gi-jun suddenly began to feel disillusioned by the situation surrounding him.

Indeed, wouldn’t the thoughts Byron held upon seeing the public, who praised him and enjoyed his work without even knowing the essence of poetry, have been similar to this?

“That’s why I told you that we must choose the party members carefully. What purpose one joins the party for is a very, very important factor. You understand, right?”

“I know that all too well…”

Sighing as he recalled the events that occurred in the tutorial, Gi-jun stood up and spoke.

“First of all, I should filter out the people gathered over there, I’ve got the general idea.”

It was the moment the preliminary participants of the ‘Great Turis Audition’ were all disqualified.

“It would be best to go to the Mercenary Guild after all. You’ll help me select the party members, right?”

“Of course I will help you.”

Smiling brightly, Viv added, “By the way…”

“Could you let me meet the Lord first before that?”

Fortunately, the Lord was very pleased when Gi-jun introduced Viv as a merchant who had signed an exclusive contract with him.

Naturally, there were fairies from the Fairygarden civilization in Turis who traveled to various parts of the continent using their innate spatial teleportation abilities to quickly transport goods, but because those fairies had formed a cartel this time and raised the prices of goods, the Lord had been contemplating whether or not to trade with them.

“That is why there is a saying on the Leta Continent to be careful not to get stabbed in the back when trading with fairies. Because they are too fast, and…”

“Because they are good at swindling?”

“This was not something to say with a fairy right in front of me. My apologies.”

Although prejudice was not good, Gi-jun, who had witnessed a fairy swindling someone as soon as he entered Leta, could not help but nod.

However, Viv maintained a beaming smile as she replied to the Lord.

“I will be different, so please trust and leave it to me.”

“Since you signed an exclusive contract with Jun, of course I must trust you. Until Jun leaves this territory, that is.”

“Even for Jun-nim’s sake, I will surely meet that expectation.”

Despite the Lord’s cold-sounding words, Viv did not lose her gentle demeanor.

Ultimately succeeding in obtaining the list of goods needed for Turis and the trade contract from the Lord, she disappeared on the spot, saying she would return quickly.

The moment he confirmed she had disappeared, the Lord turned to Gi-jun with a small smile.

“You are indeed an amazing person.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean how you seem to have built a relationship of mutual trust with a fairy. Though there is a saying in Leta that nothing is stupider than trusting a fairy.”

“Viv is Viv. I decided to judge her solely by what she has shown me.”

“I sincerely respect that. Because that is a very difficult thing to do.”

The Lord smiled as he said that, but it was not as if Gi-jun could do that for everyone.

Since he was also human, he was naturally swept away by prejudice, thought egocentrically, and even while knowing it was wrong, hurt others to protect himself.

“I am still lacking, but I am trying.”

However, there was no reason to go around advertising that his inner thoughts were also ugly, so Gi-jun sought to protect his conscience by simply speaking briefly like that.

Whether he sensed those feelings or not, the Lord smiled warmly at him and stood up from his seat.

“Right, I heard you are having trouble finding party members. I will help you a bit.”

“Is it alright for the Lord to leave his seat so easily?”

“Of course, it will not be me, but Unika who will help.”

Gi-jun was dumbfounded and glared at the Lord.

Because the intention to stick his daughter to him was all too transparent.

However, the Lord clenched his teeth, ignored that gaze, and ultimately called Unika to instruct her to help him.

“Recruiting party members? I would be glad to help. I am completely aware of all the talented individuals who have made a name for themselves in this city…!”

Even just yesterday, Unika had only followed the Lord’s orders out of duty and had even rebelled, questioning why he was giving Gi-jun a separate villa, but for some reason, she seemed pleased with the instruction to help Gi-jun today.

The Lord, bewildered by her behavior, turned to Gi-jun with an incredulous look.

Gi-jun was certain that the woman fully intended to get a free meal from him again today, but since he did not want to invite the Lord to his house by saying such things for no reason, he pretended not to notice his gaze.

* * *

After the transaction between Viv and the Lord was successfully concluded, Gi-jun headed to the Mercenary Guild accompanied by Viv and Unika.

That sight drew the attention of countless people.

“No way, is he partying with Lady Unika?!”

“You idiot, there’s no way.”

“Anyway, it’s certain that he’s looking for party members. I told you that would be the case.”

“Then you’re saying Lady Unika is simply attending to him?”

“To not go under the Lord’s command even after receiving that much support… in a way, it’s unprecedented.”

No, it was not just drawing attention; the entire city was focusing on his movements.

Viv, who had only heard about his exploits through Gi-jun’s explanation, only now realized what kind of deeds he had accomplished in Turis.

“Jun-nim, just what…”

“He was a hero.”

Unika spoke quietly.

“Soon, everyone in this country will know it.”

The Mercenary Guild, having learned of his visit, cleared the sparring ground prepared outside and welcomed him there, and the person who appeared to be in charge was someone who remained in Gi-jun’s memory.

A young, handsome half-nymph who was identical to humans in every other way, except for his particularly pointed ears.

“Are you the General Manager?”

“As expected, unlike those ignorant Orcs, you remember right away! Take this first, the reward money.”

Upon receiving the pouch he handed over, it felt much heavier than expected.

What was inside were dozens of gold coins.

Gi-jun narrowed his eyes and spoke to him.

“If it’s a reward, I have already received more than enough from the Lord.”

“This is the reward for reporting the undead. I told you it would be paid by the Guild. Now, this way.”

The General Manager, replying with a chuckle, bowed politely to Unika, who was standing behind him, and guided them to a desk temporarily set up in the sparring ground.

When Gi-jun cast a look questioning what this was, the General Manager shrugged and spoke.

“I heard you’re looking for party members?”

“Is this usually done so noisily?”

“This is the result of taking steps beforehand to finish it as quietly as possible.”

The General Manager said so, gesturing backward with his head.

Seeing the hundreds of applicants who had swarmed into the sparring ground before he knew it, Gi-jun made a fed-up face.

As if proving that the Leta Continent was waging a civilized war, many races were mixed together, and among them, a few humans could be seen.

However, when Gi-jun, who felt pleased for no reason, cast his gaze toward them—

“Ugh…!”

They, for some reason, flinched and retreated on their own, disappearing from sight.

Even while watching that, the people around them only wore dumbfounded expressions or sneered, and not a single person tried to stop them.

“?!”

“Do not worry, Jun-nim.”

Unika spoke calmly, pulling out documents from her chest.

“There will be no way for low-quality individuals to deceive Jun-nim and join the party.”

“I haven’t even spoken properly with those humans just now…”

“Jun-nim.”

Viv, who was the only one in this place other than Lucy who would understand his heart, spoke as if to soothe him.

“It is not that there are no humans strong enough to join Jun-nim’s party, but such humans do not operate in places like Turis.”

“…”

Gi-jun was left speechless.

Unika, who was checking the documents, nodded and added an explanation.

“Those who cannot think of competing with their own abilities and instead nose around here and there to pick up crumbs. You can consider most humans as scavengers. They are not worth trusting.”

“…Is that so.”

What proved such a perception was the cold gaze of those gathered here.

Gi-jun felt suffocated at the thought of what it would have been like if those gazes had been directed at him.

When he moved with the Orcs, humans had actually formed bandit groups and attacked them, so he had thought it was simply hatred toward bandits, but…

Perhaps the humans who had been there until just now and left were indeed like hyenas, and perhaps the people in this place despised them because they had suffered damage from them, but.

Even so, this was.

—Does it bother you, Contractor?

‘…I’m just realizing how excellent Viv’s foresight was.’

He replied, trying to act calm, to Lucy, who was checking on his mood in a cautious voice.

In truth, of course it bothered him.

Even so, this was not a situation where he could throw off his mask and claim that he too was a human.

It was just that the weight of the falsehood he had put on,

and the shallowness of the trust they directed at him were felt so clearly that a sigh could only escape him.

“Jun-nim?”

“It is nothing. …Then let’s begin.”

The audition to select party members finally raised its curtain.

And in just ten minutes, more than ninety percent of those who had gathered were eliminated.

This was because they fell short of the party entry requirement of ‘average stats, excluding Charm, at Rare grade or higher.’

* * *

On this Leta Continent, humans stood out too much even if they were only slightly strong.

Ye-min and her group were realizing that fact all too painfully.

“Is it you guys, the ones who have been running rampant lately despite being mere humans?”

“If you’re weak, you should huddle together among yourselves and stay quiet. Why are you overstepping your bounds and coveting our rice bowl?”

“Oh, just as I heard, this woman is incredibly beautiful. To think things like this come out from among humans. It’s fascinating. I wonder if she has Nymph or Elf blood mixed in?”

Even those who did not have the guts to pull off nonsense in the city where public order was maintained under the strict vigilance of NPCs would quickly show their teeth toward their group once they stepped outside the city.

This was especially severe in the case of mercenaries in the same position as them, and those competing for the same request.

Ironically, most of the bastards who picked fights were other races that looked similar to themselves from a human perspective—things that could be called demi-humans, to speak from an extremely human-centric way of thinking.

However, looking at it from their standards, humans were merely an inferior species whose abilities fell far short, despite looking similar to them.

How deeply ingrained must such a perception be for them to mindlessly pick a fight with Ye-min’s group, about whom rumors of being somewhat strong had already begun to circulate?

“Again.”

Ye-min sighed, wondering how many times it had been already that people targeting them had appeared, even though it had not even been a week since they settled in the small city.

Since the pattern of someone stealthily appearing to reveal murderous intent whenever they left the city and there was little sign of presence repeated over and over, she even began to wonder if it was perhaps some kind of quest.

“What if the Thousand-man Slayer title is completed like this? I hate my Charm being reduced.”

“It’s okay, Noona. I will deal with them.”

Eun-shin stepped forward with a bitter smile.

Then, among the scoundrels who had approached them targeting the beautiful Ye-min, a wolf-kin with wolf ears growing out bared his sharp fangs and growled.

“We don’t need men. It’s nice that you’re stepping up to protect a female just because you’re a male, but you should know your place. We’ve already killed many… especially weaklings like you humans!”

Just as the other races, led by the wolf-kin, bared their fangs and lunged forward—

A sparking sphere of lightning was thrown right into their midst.

“Ugh?!”

“Lightning magic—!”

With a crackle, the lightning exploded with a loud light and sound, sweeping through them all at once and causing their entire bodies’ muscles to spasm, rendering them unable to move.

“There are morons who give a magician time to chant.”

Ji-hye sneered at the enemies and created additional arrows of lightning to throw.

Meanwhile, Mok-su, who stepped forward as if to protect Ji-hye and Ye-min, swelled his muscular body and swung his hammer to strike the stiffened bastards, while Ye-min precisely severed the muscles of the enemies’ limbs with sword strikes delivered at a speed invisible to the eye.

“Guhak?!”

“W-What kind of humans are this…!”

“I can’t accept this, all humans summoned to Leta are supposed to be—”

Then, Eun-shin, who had vanished before anyone noticed, appeared behind them and cleanly stabbed them through the heart and neck, killing them.

“How many times has it been?”

“If we count from the moment we were summoned to Leta, it’s the fourth time.”

At Ye-min’s muttering, Ji-hye replied with a sigh.

“When we were in the tutorial, I never imagined that we would become this annoyed and tired simply because we are human.”

“At least we are fine, but I’m really worried about the other Earthlings.”

“What about Gi-jun oppa?”

At the exact timing when one wondered why those words wouldn’t come out, without fail, Ye-min mentioned Gi-jun’s name.

“He rarely even tries to fight when dealing with people, so if such annoying pests cling to oppa too…”

“No, Gi-jun will be fine. He isn’t the type to go around doing things that stand out, nor does he have the kind of appearance that stands out…”

Mok-su, who spoke decisively, sighed and said to Ye-min.

“Wouldn’t it be better to at least cover your face, Min-i? At least the number of bastards acting on impulse would decrease.”

“I’m sorry, Uncle. …But I don’t want to hide it.”

Even while frowning as if feeling sorry to her companions, Ye-min’s resolve was firm.

“Because this is the best way to let Gi-jun oppa know that I am here. And when oppa comes to find us, I want to greet him proudly.”

“That’s not wrong, but…”

“What does it matter? It’s not like Min-i’s beauty could be hidden even if she tried.”

Ji-hye spoke in a somewhat detached tone and shrugged her shoulders.

“Also, thanks to Min-i’s high Charm, we are easily landing good requests at the Mercenary Guild.”

“If our party is to grow quickly, this is definitely the fastest way. This request is the same.”

Meanwhile, Eun-shin, who had returned after cleaning up the corpses, chimed in to support Ji-hye’s words.

Since Mok-su also accepted this fact, he did not refute it and nodded, yet still let out a sigh.

“If only that fellow Gi-jun would hurry up and come, I wouldn’t even need to worry about these things.”

“That means Gi-jun oppa will protect me by my side for the rest of my life.”

Ye-min nodded and spoke with a serious expression, as if she had heard something completely obvious.

Ji-hye made a gagging gesture next to her, but Mok-su was no less serious than Ye-min.

“Yeah, if he’s by our side, there’s no one as reliable as him. I just hope he hurries up and comes…”

“More than that, I miss the curry Gi-jun hyung made…”

However, unfortunately for Ye-min’s party, there were quite a few people on the Leta Continent now who had realized how reassuring it was to have Gi-jun by their side;

to add to that, there were also quite a few who had become addicted to his cooking and could not break free from him.