Chapter 303

Chapter 303. Spotlight (5)

In a certain resort in Gyeonggi Province, which was being used as South Korea’s No. 2 refugee camp.

Instead of getting out of the car when I arrived in the parking lot, I picked up the tablet PC left on the passenger seat.

I intended to skim through a new report from Lily that arrived yesterday.

‘Starting with the power distribution.’

When I opened the saved file, a blotchy world map appeared. It wasn’t just one, but several kinds.

The distribution according to the number of players, the location of the powerhouses, and the results of evacuation drills and civilian risk awareness surveys, along with a few other factors had been considered when creating the data.

Among them, the one I first checked was the data showing the locations of the powerhouses.

‘Gretman was assigned to Russia.’

The apostles, including the apostle of Temoria, Greg Tembon, were assigned one each per continent, with an additional one assigned to the headquarters of the association.

Beyond that, the talented or major figures from each order, known for their names, were also sent to different regions.

The reason for separating powerhouses like this was simple.

‘First, it meant not to gather senselessly and cause trouble.’

The second reason was that the strategic points on Earth were not concentrated in one area.

Manufacturing plant clusters.

Energy and food production regions.

Ports for imports and exports.

The elements needed for the world economy to function were spread across the globe.

The arrangement of powerhouses visible to me was the result of considering the locations of such strategic points.

It was essential work to maintain Earth’s ecology.

The outcome of personnel placement according to various conditions was as follows.

South Korea had become the strongest force in Asia.

‘Only in terms of power, it’s similar to the United States.’

It was a rather satisfactory result as South Korea needed to be safer than anywhere else.

Indeed, considerable effort was put into achieving that goal.

The fact that Horfe and Rashar ended up in the same region was the result of such effort.

Of course, there would be no further intervention beyond this.

The Biharin could not choose the country they would stay in, but they were given the freedom to choose the group to belong to.

That group would become their workplace in the future.

All related content was included in the camp’s education program.

By the time I finished reviewing the data, a call came through.

The caller’s name was Han Taeju.

He was a player who joined as soon as I established the guild.

“Guildmaster, have you arrived? It looks like people might be coming out soon…”

He was a figure who managed mission-related work at the Order of Palao, and in the Palao Guild, he became the head of the player personnel team.

Scout new players or select those who wished to join; that was the task of Han Taeju and the player personnel team.

I answered him as I got out of the car.

“I’m in the parking lot. I’ll be there shortly.”

“Okay, I understand.”

“Stick to the initial plan and accurately notify about the place where the hiring presentation will take place, how to get there, and the date.”

“Yes, but… do you think those people can really find the location of a presentation held in the heart of Seoul?”

“If they can’t find it, that’s that. We can’t spoon-feed them everything.”

“That’s true, but….”

It was an issue that was already raised during the meeting.

Why not hire a bus and take them directly to the presentation site?

It was a solution that I outrightly rejected.

Are we supposed to pick them up and drop them off every time they commute?

They must carry out the utterly simple act of traveling from their home to a destination on their own.

‘If they’ve attentively participated in a month-long education, they should be able to use public transportation.’

Temporary transport ties with nearby cities had already been arranged at the municipal level.

They could easily embark on a journey on their own merit.

‘Unless they’re exceptionally talented individuals requiring special treatment.’

Continuing to provide meticulous care to common folks would be a waste of time.

In every matter, principles and exceptions coexist.

So, I reiterated what I said at the last meeting.

“Unless Team Leader Han intends to personally escort them every day, it’s an unnecessary concern, as I clearly stated.”

“…… I apologize.”

“Instead of worrying unnecessarily, distribute promotional materials related to the presentation, and explain how to utilize them several times. That would be more helpful.”

The guild’s promotional materials weren’t just haphazardly put together.

They were meticulously crafted to assist as much as possible with using public transportation and reading maps.

Even if someone lacks literacy, reading it multiple times shouldn’t make understanding difficult.

It was produced in Tenir language used by the Biharin, so they should have no difficulty reading it.

“And they must have already been assigned temporary accommodations from the government.”

They must have also received living stipends to get by until they begin earning a living.

Once they find their place to stay, it will be easier to move elsewhere next time.

Inwardly urging them not to make me repeat myself again.

Having finished my conversation with Team Leader Han Taeju, I headed out of the parking lot towards the resort.

A substantial crowd stretched across the entrance and lobby.

Among them were individuals waving promotional materials, catching the attention of the Biharin.

Those were likely personnel dispatched by different guilds.

Even besides the Palao Guild, other guilds mobilized to secure new combatants.

Biharin families gathering in clusters were observing them instead of exiting the resort.

All Biharin here must have gathered information related to this from their education courses.

Thus, even non-combatants remain on site, observing the guild representatives.

‘Non-combatant job positions are prepared too.’

According to the directive from the association, every guild must employ a certain percentage of Biharin within their internal staff.

To keep large organizations running, individuals beside combatants are necessary.

Administrative and clerical roles, cleaning, on-site dining, or inventory management.

Somewhere, their roles would be required.

Rather than continuing to survey the noisy lobby, I began walking in one direction.

Skillfully navigating through the crowd, off I went to find the reason for coming here.

Fortunately, finding familiar faces wasn’t difficult.

Ahel had discreetly released some mana.

“Oh.”

Thanks to that, Ahel was the first to spot me.

He waved energetically, calling out as soon as he recognized me.

By that time, whispers had already started circulating among those who noticed me.

I gestured to Ahel, dismissing the many staring eyes.

Understanding my signal immediately, Ahel clasped the arms of the ones beside him and moved swiftly in the direction I indicated.

“K!”

Ahel approached with a bright expression as he broke free of the lobby and exited through the entrance.

Behind him, Jordan also displayed a visible sense of anticipation.

Rashar, who accompanied them, seemed to have a slightly different stance.

Rashar, who seemed to be searching for words, eventually spoke simply.

“…… Long time no see.”

“Indeed.”

Meeting after a month truly felt like a long time.

Unlike the dispatching of items or letters to the outside of the camp, direct contact or phone interactions were restricted.

This was natural as it was impossible to completely verify all visitors at the residential quarters of the Beastfolk or Dwarves.

‘Primarily to protect uninformed Biharin from falling victim to absurdities or making potentially harmful mentions in the future.’

And also to prevent big guilds from monopolizing combatants.

Having exchanged brief reunion greetings, I pointed towards the amassed attention and spoke.

“Let’s move. Shall we?”

I made the first move, and Ahel and Jordan quickly followed.

Rashar, hesitantly, joined a beat later.

Unlike most others, these three individuals held value worthy of personally bringing into the guild, and indeed meriting my endeavor to fetch and escort them myself.

‘That’s why I came to personally get them.’

As soon as we reached where the vehicle was, Ahel started fiddling with the door handle, asking.

“Why isn’t this opening? Didn’t they do it like this in the video?”

Instead of answering orally, I just pressed the key.

Only then did the vehicle door open, and Ahel quickly slipped inside.

“Oh! Is this Earth’s carriage?”

“Wow, the interior is quite comfy.”

Ahel and Jordan, displaying their curiosity openly, settled in the back seat.

Taking the driver’s seat, where I had to drive, left just the passenger seat.

While waiting for Rashar to get in, I handed over an envelope of prepared documents to the back seat.

“These are the employment terms offered by the guild. One is in Korean, the other in Tenir.”

In Bihar, the writings of players were translated so they could read, but on Earth, without a translation magic tool, only spoken words were translated.

‘It might be the Damned System acting up, or the limitation of translation programs.’

Once the gate is completely closed, I’ll retrieve the divinity and urge for an update.

“Review the Tenir documents, but sign on the Korean ones.”

“Oh, I can read it without any problem now.”

At that moment, Ahel nonchalantly made a shocking statement and began reading the Korean document.

“……”

I stared incredulously at Ahel.

Being able to read a foreign language they first encountered in just a month?

‘As I thought, mages are something else.’

While internally marveled at Ahel’s learning and memorization capabilities.

Jordan, too, was going through the Korean document, occasionally glancing at the Tenir document when something was unclear, seemingly cross-referencing meanings.

‘I thought my learning ability was quite good, but…’

Seeing those two, I felt the need to reevaluate that notion.

By the time I was inwardly clicking my tongue, Rashar finally settled into the passenger seat.

“While moving, check the proposed annual salary, welfare benefits, and other duties included in the employment contract, and ask any questions if you have them.”

I handed the employment document to her and continued talking.

“And players were dispatched to the camps assigned to others too.”

Shamel, Yuria, and also Lario and Alio.

Those who were somewhat influential within the Order of Palao were assigned to Camp No. 8 installed in South Gyeongsang Province.

As someone was sent that way too, we might soon see them in Seoul if they intend to join the Palao Guild.

“I’ll get going now, so please put on your seat belts.”

I never thought the day would come where I’d tell those I met in Bihar to buckle up.

Guiding those unaware like young stars, ensuring their engagement and movement.

Ahel and Jordan exchanged a few whispered remarks, before distinctly clicking the belt buckle.

They didn’t just stop there; they clicked and unclicked the buckle repeatedly, seemingly exploring its mechanism.

Meanwhile, Rashar, who had been struggling with fastening the belt even incorrectly, received my assistance.

Unable to endure more, I personally clicked it for her, fastening the belt.

Following this, the vehicle embarked and all displayed surprise at the ride distinctively different from carriages.

“Wow! If we travel in this, we wouldn’t get motion sickness.”

Ahel was carried away with excitement, even though many modern people still experience motion sickness.

“The means of transit have developed tremendously; is there anything else you could ride? Like a train or an airplane? The one that flies in the sky. Is it similar to levitation magic?”

“If you want, you can purchase a ticket and ride any time. Since you’d be traveling to install magic circles for a while, there will be plenty of opportunities.”

“Oh, didn’t you say there wasn’t any teleportation magic here?”

I leisurely nodded.

Damned System.