Chapter 15. I’m Here Beside You.

Jihyuk finally established his guild. It took two weeks from application to approval. The application fee wasn’t cheap either. Nevertheless, the reason he created the guild was because the guild laws applied to guild members. That was why Jihyuk couldn’t forcibly bring the Orc Healer Gorsh.

Gid, Yayel, Mahushu, and Kayak joined the guild. Grace and Grendal decided to make a decision after this expedition.

With this, the guild-related matters were completely finished. Jihyuk now had to slowly prepare for the expedition. The period he could rest between completing a mission and starting the next was exactly half a year. Since more than three months had already passed while he was at Crescent Lake, the remaining time wasn’t very generous. Now, only a little over a month remained.

If he became an A-class Warrior, that period would increase to a year, and for S-class, the time limit itself would disappear, but it would still take several years to reach that point.

Anyway, Jihyuk had already decided what he would do for this expedition. He had to hunt demons to avenge Grace and Grendal.

He went to the mission archive and personally received the mission manuscript scroll. It was a mission to eliminate the demon Genevieve.

Two years ago, the B-class Warrior Raig team had taken on the mission but failed, and after being neglected for two years, the contribution score had risen to 80 points. To be promoted from C-class to B-class, he needed to achieve a contribution score of 150 points, so accepting and completing this mission would fill more than half of the required points at once.

The demon Genevieve….

He was in a labyrinth in the Beast Plains, located in the southeast of the continent. Geographically, it was much closer than the last expedition. However, the difficulty level was not to be underestimated. The fact that they had to go to the Beast Plains already guaranteed a high contribution score for the mission.

The climate of the Beast Plains was a bit milder than here. It wasn’t a bad climate for camping, but the problem was that many bugs were attracted, and food would spoil quickly unless it was dried. Still, there was a river, so there was no need to worry about drinking water.

In fact, the scary thing about the Beast Plains was the swamp in the middle. To get to the labyrinth, they had to go through the swamp, which was quite a difficult task. But since everyone had experienced it in the first expedition, he believed they would pass through without much difficulty.

Anyway, there were a total of four cities to pass through before reaching the Beast Plains. There were no large cities, but two medium-sized cities and two small cities.

He generously estimated the expedition would take half a year. The distance was definitely shorter than the western Demon Realm, but he expected it would take a long time to enter the labyrinth in the Beast Plains and catch the demon.

It was definitely going to be a tough journey. That’s why Warriors didn’t even want to look this way.

Still, Jihyuk judged that it would definitely be a gain if he considered getting Grace and Grendal. At least, it was rare to find someone like Grace among healers.

There was a limitation that he had to protect her because she was weak in physical combat, but still, her experience of having been in a Warrior team for many years was not something to be ignored. Since the probability of casualties was much higher than in mercenary groups or guilds, surviving for a long time meant that she had excellent adaptability and talent.

Of course, there were problems like being a chain smoker, a foul-mouthed person, having anxiety, and occasionally having seizures…, but that would gradually improve in the future.

Jihyuk prepared for the expedition for a week. Now that everyone was experienced, they thoroughly prepared on their own.

Everyone replaced their equipment with new ones. In particular, he spent a considerable amount of money to buy a staff with a small magic orb attached for Yayel.

The Orc Grendal was surprisingly an archer. Moreover, he used not just any bow, but a huge horn bow made of a monster’s bone. When he attached a bowstring made by twisting tendons, it became an incredible bow that ordinary people couldn’t even dare to pull. Naturally, its destructive power was beyond imagination.

He practiced archery every day. It seemed that he had lost his touch after resting for two years. Still, thanks to his experience, his accuracy increased rapidly.

Yayel also bitterly felt the limitations of low-level fire magic and tried to learn higher-level combat magic. Still, perhaps because she was a theoretical scholar, her understanding of magic was considerable. Although incomplete, she managed to succeed in using high-level fire magic clumsily after continuous practice. Of course, it was still far from being usable in combat, but she would become proficient if she practiced steadily for a long time.

After finishing all the preparations, they finally set out on their expedition.

Ahㅡ.

Grace’s eyes fluttered as she looked at the capital’s walls, which she was leaving for the first time in two years. As she looked at the walls turning red with the sunrise, she was immersed in old nostalgia.

Grendal also looked at the receding capital, his eyes deeply sunken. A strange emotion bloomed uniquely within him as well.

The healer began to tremble. She urgently looked for a cigarette. The hand holding the pipe trembled. It was a symptom of her anxiety acting up. However, she pretended to be calm. Grendal watched her with a worried expression.

“Are you okay?”

“…I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

Gid, who had been watching the atmosphere quietly, stretched out loudly, eurachachaㅡ.

“Ssi-ee-beol, I was getting so restless just staying in the capital, this is perfect.”

The bald guy smiled mischievously and glanced over his companions.

“I’ve finally made it, right? Now I’m a member of the guild, too.”

Mahushu immediately hit the nail on the head.

“You’re not very useful. You’re not even good at getting hit.”

“Ayi ssi-ee-beol, if I was really useless, would the Boss-nim, uh, have begged me to become a guild member, uh?!”

“…Did I?”

When Jihyuk said that, Gid immediately made a whining sound.

“Ayi, Boss-nim, you should just agree and move on in situations like this.”

The companions laughed. The stiff atmosphere quickly dissolved.

Grace was also starting to calm down. Grendal also looked at his companions with a slightly smiling face.

…It was a good team. The Orc felt peace for the first time in a while.

Jihyuk said a word to the two newly recruited men and women.

“Don’t feel too pressured from the start. Slowly recall your old senses. You’ll quickly get the hang of it after experiencing it a bit.”

“Yes, Boss-nim.”

Before they knew it, the morning sun soared above the horizon. The darkness was completely gone.

Grace was afraid, but she forced herself to muster courage. For her dead lover.

…And, for herself.

Three days after departing from the capital, they made their first camp on this expedition. It was the first camp in two years for Grace and Grendal.

“Everyone, sleep well.”

They each spread out their mats in a comfortable spot and lay down. Jihyuk watched his companions lying down and sleeping in front of the crackling campfire. Soon, the surroundings became quiet. Only faint breathing could be heard.

Jihyuk also soon lay down in his spot. He saw a beautiful night sky. He watched it for a long time before closing his eyes and trying to sleep. But after a while, he suddenly heard a groan, euu.

The Warrior reflexively opened his eyes wide and looked at the source of the sound. It was Grace. She was twisting her body and having a seizure. He quickly ran to her.

“Grace, Grace…!”

He held her in his arms. And gently patted her back.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m here. The Boss is here, so don’t be afraid. Hmm? I’ll protect you. That’s right, that’s right, good girl. Calm down. Shh, that’s right.”

After calming down a bit, she sobbed quietly in his arms. Everyone quietly got up at the commotion. But Jihyuk put his finger to his lips as if telling them to pretend not to know and gestured for them to lie down and sleep quickly. Seeing the Boss’s gesture, they lay back down and closed their eyes.

He gently patted her back. After a while, she lightly pushed his chest with her hand.

“I’m, okay now…. I’m going to sleep.”

Her voice was stiff. It seemed she was embarrassed that her shameful behavior, which she wanted to hide, had been revealed.

“Okay, sleep well.”

She lay down. He also returned to his spot.

Grace tossed and turned for a long time before falling asleep.

· · ·

Ten days after leaving the capital, they finally arrived at the first city. It was a medium-sized city called Gehel. It was an ordinary city with nothing particularly distinctive.

Jihyuk didn’t bother going to an inn and headed straight to the inner castle. Now that he was a real Warrior, not just a candidate, there was no problem with relying on the nobles a bit. It was more comfortable and safer that way.

The Baron of Gehel was a plump-looking man. They gladly welcomed Jihyuk’s group.

However, there was a guest who had arrived here a day earlier than Jihyuk. He said he was on his way back to the capital.

Who is it?

He was thinking of seeing his face at least once, but the other party seemed more urgent and came to find Jihyuk first. As soon as Jihyuk saw him, he realized he was in trouble.

“Are you the human Warrior?”

He was a beastman with a muscular body. He was a head taller than Jihyuk, and he was a sharp man with fierce eyes and fangs that were visible whenever he smiled eerily.

Of course, Jihyuk knew him well. There was no way he couldn’t know him. …He was notorious even among Warriors.

A-class Warrior, the wolf beastman Nabr.

He was a bit unlucky. To think he would meet him here.

“Who are you?”

“Nabr. A-class Warrior.”

“Ah, I see. I’m Kang Jihyuk. C-class.”

Nabr held out his hand. As expected of a beastman, his hand looked thick and rough. Jihyuk looked down at the hand for a moment. He cautiously reached out his hand while being wary.

At that moment, the beastman Warrior suddenly reached out to grab Jihyuk’s neck. It was quite fast. However, he was far less skilled than his master Aizel. Naturally, the hand that reached out in a surprise attack didn’t reach Jihyuk.

…This bastard?

He looked at the human who had avoided his attack with interesting eyes. He didn’t get angry and jump around because he had avoided it, as if it was a joke.

“I thought the rumors were exaggerated, but they weren’t? You definitely have talent. For a human.”

It was a condescending tone, but Jihyuk didn’t care at all and calmly replied.

“Is this the beastman’s way of greeting?”

“This? My way of greeting. Why? Does it make you feel bad?”

As expected of a dog bastard with a dirty reputation, his behavior and temper were also dirty. Jihyuk had unfortunately met a dog bastard he didn’t want to associate with.

“It’s just a bit unfamiliar. I’ll be sure to remember it next time.”

However, Jihyuk was polite to a certain extent and didn’t back down.

Seeing that, Nabr smiled eerily. But Jihyuk didn’t even blink an eye. He seemed to think of it as courage.

“I’ve met a junior I like for the first time in a while, huh? …Ssi-beol, everyone just gets scared when they stand in front of me, so it’s not fun.”

“Scared? Why?”

The beastman laughed even louder. It seemed really funny because his shoulders were shaking.

“Ssi-beol, there’s really a guy like this among humans. Wow, this is really fun. You also have skills. You’re the real deal, this bastard.”

Jihyuk remained calm even when he called him this bastard and that bastard. The days of being happy or sad about just one word were long gone.

His eyes were full of excitement. Jihyuk couldn’t help but wonder if he should have just lowered himself appropriately, but he wasn’t a candidate anymore, so there was no need to act subservient. …He was just wondering whether to avoid it because the poop was dirty.

“I’ll gratefully accept it if it’s a compliment.”

“Yeah, it’s a compliment. I sincerely like you.”

Nabr stared at Jihyuk for a moment.

“Come to my room later. Got it?”

“What for?”

“Just because. I want to give you a gift for making me laugh.”

Jihyuk knew what that gift was. He thought about refusing, but stopped. There was no need to provoke him here. It would be the right choice to agree appropriately and then slip away.

“I understand. I’ll go later.”

“Okay, see you then. Human.”

He smiled deeply, glanced at him up and down, turned around, and walked away swaggeringly. The fierce air finally subsided.

He had a dirty reputation from a long time ago. He caused minor incidents from C-class, and from B-class, he began to reveal his fierce fangs in earnest.

He often caused problems even among fellow Warriors. There were also many rumors that he had a close relationship with the gang leader. That’s why the Imperial Family also considered him a person of interest.

Anyway, there was no good in being on bad terms with him. Jihyuk would be leaving soon anyway, so he just needed to deal with him appropriately until then.

A bastard with nothingㅡ.

By the way, he really didn’t have a dick.

This guy was the perfect example of how broken a male could become after losing his dick.