Chapter 7: If you can’t explain it properly, you die in my hand.

Elysia, the Knight Commander of the Kingdom of Martayu.

After spending a cozy day with her master,

she returned to her own world and was handling her duties as Knight Commander.

Knock-knock-

“Yes.”

The one who visited Elysia’s office was,

Vice Commander Maril.

“Commander! Where… where did you go yesterday? I was really worried.”

A clear expression of relief was evident on Maril’s face.

It seemed she had been searching for Elysia, who hadn’t been seen all day yesterday.

“I apologize, Maril. Due to sudden personal circumstances, I had to take a day off without notice.”

She didn’t mention crossing dimensions, meeting her master, and fighting monsters in that world.

This was because it could be interpreted as a sign that the Demon King might still be alive.

The era of peace had only just begun.

Elysia didn’t want to break this peace with uncertain information yet.

“Ah, so that was it. It’s fine. After all, I could handle most of the tasks myself.”

Maril smiled awkwardly.

Then, for a while, she and Elysia discussed work matters.

“The remnants of the Demon King’s army, which were discovered in the southern region of the continent half a month ago, were completely wiped out yesterday.”

“I see, well done, Maril.”

Maril finished reporting on the work that had piled up over the day.

She subtly glanced at Elysia’s face and then spoke.

“It seems you had something good happen yesterday. You look radiant.”

“…Do I?”

Elysia paused her pen for a moment and lifted her head.

Maril was right.

The day she spent with her master was sweet.

Elysia had become the Knight Commander after the Demon King’s death, but reality was different from what she expected.

The duties of a Knight Commander involved far more administrative tasks than she had imagined.

Maintaining the kingdom’s public order.

Personnel affairs for high-ranking knights.

Various meetings with the kingdom’s ministers…

Although she occasionally wielded a sword,

it was merely to train her subordinate knights.

Elysia often reminisced about the days when she traversed battlefields with her master.

Everyone on the continent was enjoying this era of peace, but for Elysia,

the battlefield she shared with her master held more meaning than a peace without him.

That’s why the day she spent with her master yesterday was even more precious.

“Well… I suppose you could say something good happened.”

Elysia smiled faintly and refocused on her documents.

****

After finishing her duties, Elysia made her way to the temple.

She had to address the matter her master had requested.

The phenomenon of monsters appearing in his world.

She thought that Saint Irene might know something about it.

“It’s been a long time, Saint.”

“Oh, Elysia! It’s been a long time. Come in, please.”

Irene, who had been praying in the temple’s grand chapel.

Her eyes widened when she saw Elysia, a colleague she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Irene, who had greeted her with warm welcome, looked puzzled seeing Elysia, who appeared more serious than usual.

“Is something… the matter?”

“I’m afraid I have something rather serious to tell you.”

“Hmm… then, shall we go to my prayer room first?”

Deep within the temple.

Irene’s personal prayer room.

There, the two sat down to talk.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Elysia wear such a grave expression. What is it?”

It was by no means easy to say that she had crossed dimensions to meet her master and fought monsters there.

Because the kingdom was barely recovering from the scars of the past decade of war.

However, for the sake of her master and the safety of his world,

Elysia did not hesitate to inform Irene of this fact.

“Actually… I recently crossed dimensions to another world.”

“Crossed dimensions? Elysia, what are you…”

“I met my master.”

Irene’s eyes widened.

“The Hero… Is that true?”

“Yes. My master summoned me. To his world.”

Elysia systematically explained everything that had happened so far.

Irene initially wore an expression of disbelief.

But after hearing Elysia’s detailed explanation, she had no choice but to believe her words.

Irene instantly became serious.

“My master asked me to inquire if you, Saint, might know anything about this phenomenon.”

Irene fell into thought for a moment.

She clasped her hands, closed her eyes as if in prayer, and then opened them again.

“Such a thing… However, regarding the appearance of monsters in the Hero’s world… I don’t know anything either.”

“Is that so…”

Elysia showed a disappointed expression.

“However, I can certainly tell that this is no ordinary matter. For this, I will need deep prayer. If I receive any answer from the Goddess, I will inform you immediately.”

“Understood. Thank you, Saint.”

Elysia nodded.

Although she hadn’t received a clear answer, she thought that Irene, who bore the name of the Goddess’s proxy, might find some answers.

Thinking so, Elysia rose from her seat.

After Elysia left, Irene remained alone in the room.

Elysia’s words kept replaying in her mind.

‘My master summoned me.’

That single sentence shook Irene’s heart.

Irene still missed him, the one who had defeated the Demon King and returned to his original world.

The time they had spent traveling together.

His warm smile.

His reliable back as he protected her.

Everything flickered in her mind.

After finally accepting their predetermined parting.

She had just begun to sort out her feelings.

But Elysia said she had met the Hero.

That she was fighting alongside him, just like before.

Irene sat on the bed and hugged her knees.

‘Me too…’

It was her honest feeling.

She envied Elysia.

Knock-knock-

“Saint, it’s dinner time.”

The priest’s voice came from outside the door.

“…I’ll skip it today.”

“Saint? Are you feeling unwell?”

“No. It’s just… I have a great worry, so I think I need to pray alone for a few days.”

Irene’s voice trembled slightly.

She tried hard to hide her tears, but they weren’t completely concealed.

“Saint, is something wrong?”

The priest called out again with a worried voice, but Irene didn’t answer anymore.

After the sound of footsteps faded away, Irene got up from the bed and knelt in the center of the room.

She clasped her hands together and bowed her head.

“Oh, Goddess…”

She began to pray in a small voice.

“Please… please give me a chance too. Like Elysia… so I can meet the Hero too…”

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Her fervent prayer echoed in the quiet room.

****

The day after Elysia was unsummoned.

As soon as I woke up, I visited the Administration Office again.

Because yesterday had been chaotic, I hadn’t been able to properly inquire about guild establishment.

This was to take care of that.

“I’m here to inquire about guild establishment.”

“Yes, here are the documents related to guild establishment. Please check the conditions, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask anytime.”

I took the documents the employee handed me and began to skim through them.

Guild Master requirements.

Required documents.

Establishment costs…

But as I read the conditions, there was a part that caught my eye.

‘The Guild Master must have a record of activity as an awakened individual in Korea for at least one year.’

“Wait, this condition…”

“Ah, you mean that part. To become a Guild Master, you must have at least one year of activity experience.”

I don’t meet the condition.

I had just registered as an awakened individual yesterday.

Not even a year, it’s only been a day.

‘What a waste of a trip.’

Indeed, thinking about it, it wouldn’t make sense for just anyone to be allowed to establish a guild.

Given that awakened individuals are essentially national power,

the existence of guilds is that important to the nation.

Elysia could practically be considered a foreigner, and I had been missing for 10 years before suddenly reappearing.

It made sense that the Administration Office wouldn’t hastily approve guild establishment.

“Then… there’s nothing I can do.”

I returned the documents and stood up.

I can’t wait a year.

Just as I was about to leave, thinking I needed to find another way.

“Wait.”

Someone called out to me.

A woman’s voice I seemed to have heard somewhere before.

I naturally turned my head towards that voice, which strangely evoked a sense of déjà vu.

Standing where my gaze landed was a woman with ebony hair.

“Who…?”

Where had I seen her?

It didn’t come to me immediately.

“You don’t remember me. Hmph, I knew it.”

At her words about me not remembering her, a memory suddenly flashed.

It was her, the one I saw in the Awakened community yesterday.

“Cha Seorin…?”

“Too late. You should have recognized me right away.”

As if trying to hide some complex and subtle emotions.

She put on a mischievous face, approached me, and lightly punched my chest.

“Why… why did you only appear now… I… *sigh*… how much I looked for you…”

And then Cha Seorin slowly lowered her head.

The emotions she tried not to show on her face,

couldn’t be hidden in her trembling voice.

“Ah, I had circumstances that prevented me from contacting you. Haha, sorry.”

“Circumstances? You couldn’t contact me for 10 years?”

My unnecessary apology backfired.

It was like pouring oil on the embers of emotion that Seorin was trying to extinguish.

“On the day of the entrance ceremony… you said you’d come… you said you’d come to see me…!”

Her voice grew louder.

I could feel the gazes of the surrounding Administration Office staff and other awakened individuals beginning to gather on us.

“After disappearing for 10 years, all you have to say is… just ‘sorry’? Is that all?”

“Hey, Seorin. Just calm down for a moment… I’ll explain everything. I can explain.”

“Alright. Go ahead and tell me! If it’s not a convincing explanation, I swear… you’re dead!”

I had a feeling.

A feeling that if I couldn’t explain properly here, Seorin might actually kill me.