Chapter 444: The First To Cry Will Survive (1)

To think that they would go so far as to bully me…

Perhaps the event last night turned out to be the decisive factor for them. It had ruined my entire image, after all.

Honestly, even I would have taken the same action. From their perspective, the expedition would be a big event that could determine the clan’s future direction.

Instead of having a good rest and saving energy, the new member had come to seduce two bigshots. Such an act would undoubtedly deserve criticism.

If they had made such an issue a little bigger, it would be enough for me to be expelled from the party immediately, and even become material for public discussion of other groups. I wouldn’t have anything to defend myself with.

If I had been a Friendship Clan member, I would have been fired, or had received an appropriate penalty.

It seemed that there had been some misunderstanding, but even considering that wouldn’t be enough to label me as clueless.

‘Fuck…’

However, it was unexpected that they would reveal hostility in such an outright manner. Even the expressions on their faces mocked me. I didn’t know what they were planning, but they seemed happy with the thought of screwing me up.

Honestly, I didn’t like that face. I wasn’t used to being messed with.

“Pff.”

“Pfff.”

“Kukuku.”

My ears rang with their obnoxiously mocking laughter.

“Phew.”

I didn’t want to play along with their joke, but my annoyance was now rapidly rising.

‘These bitches…’

As I looked ahead, I could see the people already chatting away from a distance. In the meantime, Max continued to give details about the museum.

He couldn’t even imagine that his father would be getting a blow in the shoulder there.

‘It’s enough for everyone to notice…’

Perhaps, if he slowly looked at the members one by one, he would be able to notice that I was Lee Kiyoung.

Considering that he had discovered that Kim Hyunsung was unusual and that I had special eyes, I thought he would indeed notice. However, as he was trying to take care of a huge number of people at once, he had no time to actually take a look.

Anyone could see that the situation was hectic, so it was understandable as a whole.

‘He seems a little bit excited too…’

He looked thrilled since he had said all he wanted to say, and the museum explorers were responding well. There was even someone taking notes of what Max said as if he was studying. There was also a guy who was sketching the monsters and items in the museum’s exhibits.

They probably intended to acquire as much information as they could about this place, seeing as they would come back more times in the future.

Of course, there weren’t only people who were studying like them.

A fairly high percentage of individuals leaned forward from place to place, acting as if they were really in a museum.

No dungeon revealed the rewards in advance. Depending on the dungeon’s naming and rank, we could only predict what kind of items would come out, but there was no place to display them openly, like the Crack Museum.

It was natural for adventurers who were interested in the rewards to look around excitingly.

“Look over there.”

“It would be hard to get something like this…”

“It’s if it’s a continent-style weapon, but I want to try it out. I’m also curious about what it has as special abilities…”

“I don’t think we could sell it… Let’s see if there’s anything else we can aim for.”

Everyone had a serious look on their faces.

Max smiled heartily. The museum had instantly boomed. The reaction of the visitors inspired him. The way his voice became even more cheerful and determined during the speech was interesting to watch.

In short, this was our usual Max.

“Are the items displayed all that can be looted?”

-Of course, the items here are not all that you can find. Our Crack Museum continues to collect items that can be said to have high historical value. For example, relic-grade items spread across the continent. Most of the things worth preserving are kept in the museum. Of course, such items are also included in the reward list. There are probably things you’d be surprised to find.

“I see…”

-There’s no need to worry. Items specially made by our museum also covers the issue of item insufficiency. Do you have any other questions?

“What about the exact probability…?”

-It’s difficult to give you a definite answer. Those are the things that the Crack Guardians have designated themselves… However, I can tell you that everything is done randomly, and we will be giving you additional opportunities if you wish. Oh! It’s about time to start exploring the museum. I wish I could stay all day with all of you, but if we wait a little more, the people who will come in will be put on hold… All explorers present must move in accordance with the Golem’s orders. Please be careful not to lose or mix party members. If you don’t follow the orders, you might be forced to leave.

“Kiyeon, this way.”

“Yes, Cheol-woo.”

“Let’s move as quickly as we can.”

“Don’t block the way! The legendary-grade dungeon parties will go first.”

As if the comment about being forced to leave left a lasting impression, the people moved quickly.

They wouldn’t want to be kicked out since it was an expensive dungeon.

I would never get used to witnessing the adventurers stand in an orderly manner under the guidance of the magic golem. The party members looking around the exhibition hall had now gathered together and were guided to their seats.

Of course, our party was no exception.

Kim Daegun, who was looking at the warrior items from a distance, and the four female members, who seemed to have something planned, also approached Lee Cheol-woo.

“Minji, have you already organized the list of items?”

“Yes. I checked all the things I thought were useful, but not all since we didn’t have time. But it doesn’t seem like it would cause any significant result. The items displayed in the main exhibition hall probably can’t be easily looted. The same goes for monsters. I was worried about what to do if a legendary-grade monster or a mythic-grade monster appeared, but it looks like there’s no probability of that happening, or if there is, it would be slim.

“Okay. Good work.”

“No, no, it’s only my job.”

“It looks like we should wait for now. According to what I heard yesterday, we might have some spare time. It would be better to prepare for battle from now on. We should prepare some light snacks as well. Before entering, check your equipment in advance. Even though we’ve already checked everything in the morning.”

“There may be people who haven’t checked because they didn’t have time. I think it’s good to have such free time like this. Right, Kiyeon?”

Since she looked at me while she said that, it sounded like she was attacking me. No, since she had called my name in the first place, I was certain that she was indeed trying to hit me.

‘I didn’t have time indeed.’

However, I was curious about her intention to say it while we were waiting for our turn to enter the museum in earnest.

‘Fuck… perhaps…’

Kim Daegun and Lee Cheol-woo still didn’t feel anything strange.

However, when I saw the four people holding back their laughter as much as possible, I already knew what they were thinking.

‘Satan is an angel compared to you guys… you’re all trying to kick me out.’

I was sure they planned to push me out right before entering.

‘Don’t you need a wizard?’

To be precise, they might have thought that, at this point, they didn’t need me. From their point of view, Light Kiyeon was nothing but a freeloader.

Hearing the story from Pak Sergei yesterday, they might have decided that the attack was possible with six people, or at least trusted the adventure insurance. There was that or they might have found another wizard, but my conclusion was that they thought they would be able to adapt even if things went south.

This all felt so ridiculous to me. It was because I could see what their intention was for testing me out.

‘So, they want me to suffer.’

That was the reason why the female members didn’t talk to Lee Cheol-woo and Kim Daegun about it. They would’ve wanted to screw me up in a more decisive moment.

If they were professionals at it, that was definitely something they would’ve at least considered. This was no big deal, but obviously, it didn’t feel very pleasant.

‘Are you even humans?’

Good adventurers shouldn’t be treated the way they were treating me. Once again, Kook Minji opened her mouth when I was about to speak.

“But boys… aren’t you smelling rotten seafood?”

“What do you mean?”

“I think something smells rotten. It’s like a strange fishy smell… It smells a little bit worse than that, actually. It’s like a rotten squid… ugh… It’s really dirty and disgusting. Am I the only one who can smell it?”

“I can smell it, too.”

“Me too.”

“Bleargh. Ugh…”

“…”

Kim Daegun and Lee Cheol-woo seemed worried that they had eaten something wrong, but they would soon find out what that was all about.

“Boys.”

“What’s going on? Just say it.”

“I don’t know. You’d better ask her. I think the strange smell comes from that one.”

“What?”

“Minji, watch your tongue. How many times do I have to tell you not to speak that way?!”

“I’m not saying that for no reason, Cheol-woo. I have a basis for my claims. She is neither an adventurer nor anything valuable in the first place. She’s a gold digger trying to get a free ride in life. Does she really need to enter with us? No. We wasted time in getting her. It would be much more helpful to have her kicked out…”

“Minji!”

“From the beginning, Lee Kiyeon wasn’t taking this expedition seriously. Her only purpose is to somehow flirt with you guys to clear her identity. It would only be harder for us if we enter the dungeon with a person who’s selling their body and soul.”

“Apologize right now.”

“No. I don’t want to apologize. Ask her about what happened yesterday.”

“What?”

“Because Mijeong saw her at dawn yesterday.”

“What in the world did she see?”

“Pak Sergei and Argirmo. They came out of that woman’s room.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes. I saw it with my own eyes, Cheol-woo, Daegun. I even made eye contact with her.”

“…”

“…”

“Er, I mean, that’s a misunderstanding…”

“What would members of the opposite sex be doing during the night? Were you even aware that we were on the verge of an expedition, Kiyeon? Or maybe it just didn’t matter? You’re really healthy, I guess. When we were marching, you didn’t stop whining, yet you suddenly had the strength to play with two men. How much did they pay you? How much did you get for doing that? No, how did you get a secret rendezvous in the first place? Is there a community of body sellers? I also tried to tolerate you as much as I could. The atmosphere was good, and I didn’t want to spoil it like this, but that was too much. I’m saying it because I can’t stand it anymore. Dungeons like this are for adventurers, not for people like you.”

“Listen…”

“What would you like to do? Would you like to go out yourself, or should I drag you out myself?”

‘Fuck.’

Naturally, I took a look around.

The first step was to figure out what the public’s opinion was like.

I first checked the two men who would be my strength.

However, Lee Cheol-woo and Kim Daegun both harbored strange faces.

I didn’t know about Kook Minji, but it seemed that the woman called Mijeong wasn’t someone who lied.

They looked at me as if they were waiting for an explanation.

Twenty-seven years of political life. I didn’t even imagine I’d be put in a corner politically in a place like that.

Of course, there was a way out.

However, before I could even organize my thoughts, my eyes were already prepared to execute my plan.

I did it almost unconsciously.

“Sniff. Sniff.”

I heard a different type of cry coming from me.

‘The one who cries first will survive for sure…’

Within half a second, the crocodile tears began to pour.

“Sniff…”