Chapter 80: The Saintess’s Guild Creation Plan!

“Angel, huh. Pfft.”

The elf, who was a slave, began to laugh.

“Keep a straight face. Now.”

“Yes.”

I gave the laughing elf a light smack on the head.

“Now, are any of you freeloaders here? It’s a problem, really. Lesser humans should feel honored to give us their money, but instead, they keep submitting complaints out of envy.”

Neiphir’s explanation continued.

“What the hell, does that mean the money’s running out?”

A middle-aged man in armor raised his hand to ask.

“So, what’s left is this: we’ll minimize the benefits related to returnees. Pensions will be cut in half, and instead, we’ll help you find jobs.”

Job placement, huh.

That sounds nice, but considering the pension is being cut in half, it’s not so bad.

Even with half, we should still be able to make a living.

But the real problem is whether people who’ve suffered in another world will accept that.

“Half of the current pension? What the hell.”

“So we can’t just sit around shooting the breeze anymore?”

There were more lazy men than I expected.

No wonder they’re getting criticized.

I mean, it doesn’t affect me since I’m already earning money.

“Honestly, people complain about taxes, but it’s the taxes from hunters that fund our welfare.”

“They’re just jealous of us.”

An old man shook his head.

“That might be true, but people don’t understand why the Bureau kept this system going despite the criticism.”

“Yeah, if the non-humans caused trouble, that’d be a huge problem.”

Sure, that arrogant, immortal bat and those overpowered beings are basically cheats.

Makes sense, right?

What would happen to this country if the non-humans rose up?

I’m genuinely curious now.

“The folks in the Parallel World might be better off, though. The elderly there get compensation from the state, but I won’t get a thing because I look too young.”

“You’ve taken enough. You should move yourself, not just sit back and toss thunder spears to kill people.”

An old man said that to Neiphir.

I mean, if you skewered a few chickens on those lightning spears, you’d have a nice rotisserie.

“I don’t want to do that. Too much hassle!”

“You can’t! The chicken business here is ours!”

A harpy objected.

The harpy’s family had been running a traditional fried chicken place for 30 years.

A rotisserie made by an angel would be serious competition.

They wouldn’t allow it.

“Hearing the harpy say that always throws me off. I mean, you’re both winged species, but… I don’t know. It’s weird.”

“Is there a rule against a harpy running a chicken shop?”

“Well, anyway. Let’s play the video.”

The screen lit up with a returnee adaptation training video that looked hastily put together.

It was basic stuff.

It explained the Korean culture returnees need to know to live in Korea.

It also covered things like ethics, which might have faded from their memories after being in another world.

The ethics video made my head ache.

“Is this going to be another ‘what returnees need to know about Korean society’ lecture? Couldn’t we just watch a movie instead?”

The revolutionary leader raised his hand.

“Oh, you don’t like it? Want to fight about it?”

“No, I’d lose.”

Haha, quick to back down like a good rabble-rouser.

“Exactly. Smart.”

“Who could stand up to someone who’s lived for 500 years, you crazy woman!”

“Lightning spear.”

Zzap!

The revolutionary leader was a good leader.

And other returnees, not wanting to become roast chicken, quietly watched the video.

It was full of completely useless stuff.

I’d rather they just show us some adult films.

“When is this going to end? Why are they teaching nuclear response tactics in a returnee video?”

Yeah, I don’t get it either.

Anyone here could probably hit a nuclear bomb out of the park.

“Oh, about that. There’s been an update. New returnees will have to sit through this three times, then they can apply to skip it afterward. This might be your last time.”

Oh, could this be my last time here?

“Could be?”

“There’s still a compulsory social gathering for returnees.”

“That’s just the same thing with a different name.”

“It’s like a company dinner. It’s mandatory because your old-world behavior makes people uncomfortable, and we had no choice.”

“What did we do?”

“It’s not just you. Some idiot from the RPG world went into a convenience store and asked for a potion.”

Yeah, that’s kind of ridiculous.

“They do sell hunter drinks, though!”

The likely culprit shouted out.

“Why the hell are you drinking hunter drinks? Was your RPG game so hardcore that you just consumed everything you picked up?”

“You idiot, that’s for hunters! It’s basically just an energy drink!”

“Hah. We worked so hard to make Korea the strongest in the world!”

“But this isn’t that Korea.”

Neiphir shook her head at the old man from the Parallel World.

That’s true.

The Korea of reality is just a small peninsula.

What’s the point of making a Korea from another world the strongest?

Wait, hold on.

Doesn’t that mean we could just take over the civilians?

After all, I’ve got the Tower of Destruction in my hands.

Hold on.

I think I have a good idea.

“So, basically, non-hunters are just upset because we’re living well, right?”

“It’s an open secret, but yes.”

Then the answer is very simple.

There’s a great way to mess with hunters and those anti-returnee civilians.

“Then let’s band together and form our own guild.”

“What are you talking about?”

“When you think about it, it’s simple. Hunters are jerks, right?”

The ones I’ve dealt with, except for the quick-witted ones, were absolute jerks.

Everyone around nodded or perked up, seeming to agree with me.

Especially the centaur, who was rocking intensely.

“Yeah, those bastards.”

“Those brats disrespect us just because we’re old.”

Exactly, that’s why they’re jerks.

In reality, a lot of hunters are morally bankrupt unless they’re from the next generation.

Of course, there are more good ones, but it’s true that many are jerks.

The reason is obvious.

Either people with terrible personalities became hunters, or they became arrogant because of their abilities.

“And despite that, they don’t complain about returnee pensions. They’re quiet on that front.”

“That’s because if they complain, they’d have to get involved, and they don’t want to.”

Exactly.

So we need to rise up.

“That’s it. Let’s smash the hunter society. Let’s take them down.”

“The hunter society?”

“To be honest, everyone here was a big deal in the other world, right? If we unite, we can raid dungeons and gates ourselves.”

I haven’t directly encountered groups that oppose returnees, but the image of hunters in my mind is the worst.

“I mean, hunters are awful, but we’re not really at odds with them. The real problem is the citizens, right?”

It’s not like there are that many.

And it’s not like blood ties.

What about the hunters’ families?”

“Right, the hunters’ families.”

“Ah.”

“If their families are all connected, it’ll get complicated.”

Maybe, from a different perspective, hunters are manipulating things behind the scenes.

Since they can’t raise hell themselves, they use citizen groups to prevent us from rising up and changing the returnee system.

“That makes sense. So, according to the Saintess, messing with the hunters is the way to mess with the people who criticize us.”

“Exactly.”

Come to think of it, this sounds fun.

One by one, I think of the hunters who tried to stand in my way.

In hindsight, they probably caused all that trouble to save their guilds.

But that’s not my problem.

It’s time to fix the system.

“Well, that’s not exactly the best plan.”

“But, honestly, Neiphir, you don’t want to deal with this either, right?”

Judging by her expression, she didn’t seem keen on the idea.

“Yeah, you’re right. Why don’t you guys handle it?”

“It’s a good plan, but the old folks here…”

The old folks from the Parallel World probably won’t be of much help.

No offense, but aside from knowing history and going to the past, they don’t have any particular abilities, right?

I mean, I’ve been blessed by the gods, but these Parallel World folks haven’t even defeated the flow of time—they’re just old and weak.

At best, they’ll be lucky not to die while handling dungeons and gates.

“We can’t drag the elderly who’ve served the country into this mess. After all, they have their own compensation.”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

“Sorry for making the younger ones suffer.”

Honestly, the generational gap is a bit of an obstacle.

When you look closely, it feels like their mindset has aged along with their appearance.

That’s the impression I get from looking at Neiphir.

At least she’s not one of those who goes on about ‘back in my day’ after living for 500 years.

“The Saintess has a point, though.”

“What is it?”

“To create a guild, you have to become a hunter.”

With that, everyone fell silent at Cheonma’s words.

We have to become those damn hunters?

“…….”

Hmm.

That’s a problem.

But wait—I have a loyal pawn.

My ex-sister and the second goddess of Earth!

“Hm. I’ll take care of that problem. So, if you’re in for the ‘destroy the hunter society’ project, step up, excluding the elders from the Parallel World.”

“Then what about the martial artists?”

Honestly, I’m not too fond of them either.

I’m more comfortable with the returnee community, so I asked them.

“We’ll do things our own way.”

So, they’re also planning to mess with the hunters, huh?

They seem confident, so I guess they have some strength.

Does that mean Neko Cheonma will go with them?

“Is Neko Cheonma on their side too?”

“Hmm. I don’t really mind going with them, but I’m different from the martial artists.”

It seems like Neko Cheonma and the martial artists don’t get along.

It’s more like they just ignore each other.

“Do you only recognize one martial sect?”

“Well, I was Cheonma at the end, but I gave it all up and returned to Joseon. It’s a bit of an awkward relationship, not even the same world.”

Well, that settles it.

Cheonma, you’re mine now.

At least I’ve secured a powerful ally.

“So most of you are from the returnee community? But not many of you have a personal reason to destroy the hunter society, right?”

“There’s nothing else to do.”

“I hit a real slump. And just using this power for mundane tasks or lazing around is annoying.”

“Numbers are shrinking, huh? Only the familiar ones are left.”

Only the returnee members are left.

The pitiful slime, the 24th century person, the doll.

Just the ones I recognize by their handles.

Is the invisible man and the puppeteer sitting this one out?

“Is the dollmaker sitting out too? And the invisible man?”

“Oh. Well, I’m helping with the family business like Harpy.”

Like Harpy?

Hopefully, it’s not related to dolls.

“You’re not sewing eyes onto dolls at home, are you?”

“No, our family deals with magic tools.”

“Oh.”

“Our main product is dolls that run on magic. Teddy bears are especially popular.”

That sounds somewhat relevant.

Dolls making dolls.

I almost questioned it but stopped myself.

Now it’s the invisible man’s turn.

He’s always been quiet, so maybe he’s sitting this one out too.

“Invisible man, what about you?”

“Well, aside from being invisible, I’m not that great.”

That’s a bit disappointing.

Being invisible alone isn’t much these days, with all the thermal sensors and mana detection.

Plus, there are monsters that rely on smell or sound rather than sight, so it’s not always a good thing.

Honestly, it doesn’t seem very helpful.

“Are you okay with that?”

“Well, I’ve been using my invisibility to work on a few projects. You know that show on Weckflix where the laundry machine comes to life? I’m starring in the next one called ‘Even Invisible People Deserve Love’. I also help with stunts in other dramas.”

“Ah.”

That sounds productive.

When I think about it, movies are a good fit.

“I can offer some support, but I can’t directly participate.”

“Well, constructive lives are great too.”

“Hmph! I’m not joining!”

A bat flutters up, whining loudly.

“And who are you?”

“I’m a vampire!”

Even though it’s tiny, it seems really upset.

“You, vampire, go play with the succubus over there.”

I yawned and pointed at the succubus, who, instead of yawning herself, grimaced at me.

“I don’t want to hang out with him either.”

“Vampire, why don’t you ask the succubus to be your friend? Just muster up the courage and say, ‘Will you be my friend?’”

I generously gave the vampire advice on how to make friends.

If he’s being rejected by a fellow monster like the succubus, what’s left of the dignity of the progenitor?