Recalling the Past (2)
“It’s a dream…”
It was a dream that I had gotten used to now.
As I stood up slightly and looked out the window, I felt the roaring sound and light of that time as vividly as it had ever been. I tried shaking my head, but the feeling stayed.
As I swallowed, I heard a tapping on the door.
“Hyunsung, it’s time for the meeting. Lee Sang-hee summoned all the party members and executives who are still in Blue.”
“Ah… Yes. I will go out soon.”
“Yes. In thirty minutes…”
“Yeah. I’ll be there in half an hour.”
I still had a lot of thoughts to sort through. I always ended up dreaming about the past. Every morning was the same.
However, the moment I looked around, I would always come back to my senses.
As I got up and headed for the bathroom, I saw a grim face reflected in the mirror.
I haven’t been able to sleep well recently.’
I still had a lot of work to do. The Lindel terrorist incident never did exist the first time around. I didn’t even think they would attempt to do anything this early on.
‘This feels so uneasy…
I should have kept Lee Seolho’s temperament in mind. I knew his relationship with Lee Kiyoung wasn’t good, but I would never have imagined that he would go to this extent.
Thanks to this, he had helped me establish my position in Blue, but it had been a painful occurrence as he had fatally injured Jung Hayan.
‘I won’t be able to do this without her.’
In the future, she would become a magician representing Lindel and even the Holy Empire Benigore. Her appearance had been a big source of motivation for everyone.
In fact, if she hadn’t died, the war could have ended with a human victory.
Lindel’s Archmage’s appearance, who was respected by everyone, would be more overwhelming than any other hero, and thus, she played the most important role.
Considering her recent growth rate, she really did have an abundance of talent
She was born with a natural aptitude for magic. The more achievements she obtained, the more her reputation grew as Lindel’s genius wizard.
In fact, there wasn’t much information about Jung Hayan during the first time. She had joined the Magic Guild as a researcher on the condition that she would not participate in any expeditions or wars, and for a long time, she had not shown up.
However, given her personality, her lifestyle had been easy to predict. She had refused to talk with people given her past experiences and had locked herself up in a tower.
Perhaps her daily life had been very monotonous. Her hours probably consisted of studying magic all day and then sleeping. She probably never went out at all.
Other than Kim Ah-young, she refused to talk with others. I knew I was probably right
‘She lacks social skills.’
If this was Jung Hayan’s shortcoming, then it could be called a disadvantage. This was the reason why I took her as my companion on many adventures.
Growth does not end in an instant. Numerous characters have their own stories, and each has achieved growth through their suffering.
Some grew from a co-worker’s deaths, some were betrayed by their lover, and some were able to play their roles during their struggle to the death.
The same went for Jung Hayan.
Perhaps the reason why she had been so strong was that she had locked herself up in the tower and refused to do anything else but study magic.
When I think about it that way, I thought it would be right to send Jung Hayan to the Blue Guild. However, her mentality proved to be more important than her growth.
That was the best choice I could make. After all, Jung Hayan was still growing, both externally and internally.
And now, she had even started dating!
I would never have imagined it the first time around.
The relationship was obviously flawed as Hayan was evidently obsessed with Lee Kiyoung, but the fact stood that they were dating.
By maintaining a lasting relationship with him, the future of extreme choices can be avoided. The worst ending I had seen in my dreams could finally be overlooked. Even if it came to the point where they would break up, I knew Lee Kiyoung would never let anything happen to her.
Meanwhile, Lee Kiyoung was a completely different type of talent than any other talent I had ever seen before, he was a very competent man. It would be right for me to continue paying attention to both him and Jung Hayan.
Since I didn’t feel confident in myself, I needed their talent to prepare for this kind of raid.
Deputy Hye-jin had been my right-hand man the first time around. With a spear, she had managed to scatter the enemy, going as far as to call them newborns.
‘Perhaps she has arrived in Lindel now…’
As I thought about this, I quickly washed my face and stepped out. The familiar landscape came into view.
With the head of the guild gone, Blue seemed to tether on the edge of ruination. It had maintained an alliance with the other guilds, but the quest hall was closed, and most of the guild members already left.
Even some of the second unit members’ transfers had already been decided.
If this continued, then Blue would really dismantle.
Recently, as Lee Kiyoung spent more time with the Red Mercenaries, many members were concerned about him leaving. However, I was certain that he wouldn’t. It was because I was fairly certain of what it was that he really wanted.
He wanted me to take over the Blue Guild.
‘How competent.’
Knowing Lee Kiyoung, he would be able to calm everyone down. I also understood what I wanted. The steps had already been laid out before me. All I had to do was take them just as I had expected.
Not long after I started walking, voices came to greet me.
“Kim Hyunsung.”
“Yeah.”
“I have some documents you need to look at.”
“Ah… Yeah.”
“There are issues you need to look at because Kiyoung hasn’t been here…”
“Did you tell Kiyoung that we have a meeting?”
“Yeah. I heard you were coming. Yesterday, the Red Mercenary took care of Jung Hayan…
“Ah. I heard that too. Please leave the documents that require payment in my room first. After the meeting, I will check it myself, so I can speak to the Master separately.”
“Of course. May I post the announcement on the expansion of guild members today?”
“I will be able to tell you this in person.”
The guild member continued to ask me questions as we made our way to the meeting room. In fact, a lot of people had turned to me after Lee Kiyoung decided to go for a temporary leave.
As we move slowly, it is no wonder that the conference room is in front of us.
Upon opening the door, I caught sight of Lee Sang-hee, who looked noticeably awkward, and Hwang Jeong-yeon, leader of the second unit, staring up at me.
There were only three people in the meeting room that had once been full, and they all looked terrible.
“Ah… You are here.”
“Yeah.”
“Mr. Kiyoung…”
“I heard he’s on his way.”
“I’m glad to hear that…”
“It seems like a long time since we hosted a meeting.”
“Yeah. Sorry. Actually, I should have called for one earlier, but things didn’t go as planned.”
Lee Sang-hee’s eyes were lifeless. However, I knew she would be able to pull through, just as she did during the first time.
“Mr. Kiyoung hasn’t arrived yet, but it would be nice to tell you in advance.”
“Yeah.”
“First of all, I am very sorry to see you put in a bad light. If I had thought of you who were still in Blue, I could have made better decisions. I am very grateful to the two of you, who served as the guild’s support even while I was away.”
“I just did my best.”
“That… In fact, I was able to think of many things while I was resting. Of course, I thought a lot about what to do in the future. Considering the guild’s future, it would only be right to dismantle your unit and send you to another guild… No, that would be the right way.”
“But… No, I couldn’t dismantle the place the Master built with his own hands. I am very sorry to both of you, but please, I would like you to remain in this guild.”
“Of course.
“Yeah… With the master…”
“I am not the master anymore, Jeong-yeon. It is only right that I step down.”
“W-What?”
“I not only endangered you during our expedition, but I had also let you down while I was busy grieving for the Guild Master. Although Lee Seolho had communication with a Japanese guild, I was not able to beat him because of my affection for him.”
“Nevertheless…”
“I’m not the one who should take the lead. I am also included in the category of incompetent people that Mr. Kiyoung has mentioned before. If I take control of Blue again, nothing will change much from before. It is only correct that I retreat. It may be difficult, but…”
“But, I…”
In truth, I had been expecting this kind of decision on Lee Sang-hee’s part. She hadn’t finished talking, but Hwang Jeong-yeon had already expressed her refusal.
Lee Sang-hee’s expression was also darkening. Around this time, it would have been effective to have Lee Kiyoung around to diffuse the situation.
“If Jeong-yeon is reluctant…”
“Yes?”
“I will temporarily keep the seat of power.”
“Ah…”
“Of course, it is impossible for me to do all the work by myself, from one to ten. If you two help me in avoiding the wrong direction, it may not take long for me to get it back to where it was.”
“Ah…”
“There are still many talents who remain within Blue.”
At the same time, a voice called out from outside.
“This is Lee Kiyoung. I’m going in.”