Chapter 563: The Continent After 1 Year (1)

[Restoration of the North Base Going Smoothly. “We will try to speed up the process as much as possible,” says Kim Mi-young, manager of the Blue Guild. -Kim Sung-Kyung, reporter of Continental Press]

[Is Honorary Cardinal Lee Kiyoung really turning a blind eye to the continent? The Continental Protection and Management Committee has been established, but the chairmanship seat is still vacant. -Kim Sung-Kyung, a reporter of Continental Press]

[Continued Chaos in the North, Soaring Crime Rates. Is the Solution Faith? Honorary Cardinal Lee Kiyoung’s Small Miracle. “Goddess Benignore is always looking out for us.” -The Vatican News.]

[Scattered Blue Guild. Are steps being taken to dismantle it? If the Blue Guild were to disband, where would the guild members go next? ‘The Great Magician,’ Jung Hayan will go to the Magic Tower, ‘The Shield of Faith’ Park Deokgu will join the Red Mercenary with Ahn Kim-mo. Other guild members are already getting offers from several guilds. -Guild Column]

[Everyone cheered due to the new appearance of the Goddess’s Mirror from the Blue Guild. Are smartphones coming into the world? Its Official Name is the Goddess’s Hand Mirror. It will soon be released throughout the continent. Honorary Cardinal Lee Kiyoung says, “I think it will be nice to have a tool that allows a more direct communication.” -Kim Sung-Kyung, a reporter of Continental Press]

[Blue Guild-Master Kim Hyunsung, “The Blue Guild is still strong. We’re just far away from each other for various reasons.” Considering legal action in continuing rumors. -Kim Sung-Kyung, a reporter of Continental Press]

[Great Magic Sensed in the Woods Near Lindel. New Hunting Ground Blocked Due to Mass Death of Monsters. An investigation is underway at the Magic Tower, but the cause is still unknown. The sight of countless monsters, torn to pieces brutally, doesn’t look normal no matter how much anyone looks at it… - Guild column.]

[Honorary Cardinal Lee Kiyoung resigns from the Blue Guild. Discord about Blue Guild Master Kim Hyunsung and Vice Guild Master Lee Kiyoung rekindled. There are testimonies that the two argued with their voices raised in Heren. -Kang Yu-mi.]

[“I’m maintaining a good relationship with Hyunsung.” Why did Lee Kiyoung leave the Blue Guild? -Kim Sung-Kyung, a reporter of Continental Press]

[The Vacant Position Finally Greets Its Owner. Honorary Cardinal Lee Kiyoung as Chairman of the Continental Protection and Management Committee. “Starting with a humble mind and spirit.” What are Chairman Lee Kiyoung’s intentions after accepting the position after no longer being able to resist the people’s will? -Kim Sung-Kyung, a reporter of Continental Press]

* * *

“…”

“……”

“How did things come to this point? And there’s no sign of things wrapping up still. Man… If the weather wasn’t such a problem, I think things would’ve sped up a little bit…”

“Hahaha, it can’t be helped. It would have been a little better if we had access to more magic, but it’s not common for magicians to process magic crystals. Hence, I think this is the extent of it. But we’ve made some progress, haven’t we?

“It looks the same in my eyes, but… What do you think?”

“What do you mean…?”

“The news of the recent discord in the Blue Guild. It’s not like it will matter to us lowlives if such rumors surround a guild like that, but I can’t help but be interested as an adventurer. I’ve been doing the same job for a while now, so I can’t help but pay attention to nonsensical news here and there for no reason… And isn’t this a topic to discuss over a drink?”

“The Blue Guild will be fine. Probably, anyway.”

“There’s even news about the Guild Master and Vice Guild Master fighting…”

“It’s probably just a speculative story. Like the press says, they seem to stay in touch with each other.”

“I think that’s just a show for the press…”

“Hahahaha.”

“Anyway, it’s weird. There’s a crisis on the continent, yet those in power are fighting each other for their own sake. Actually, I don’t think this construction will make any difference… I’m glad I have work to do, but…”

“I understand your anxiety. But I’m sure the Chairman has an idea.”

“Didn’t I say that I don’t trust him, Mr. Ahn? I’m keeping my eyes on him since I think he’s a smart guy… but he has the look of a sly devil. Like he will sell his own country.”

‘This man is really annoying.’

I saw Mr. Choi and Mr. Ahn converse in a corner that wasn’t that far away from me. I was about to laugh because of how ridiculous Mr. Choi sounded. In addition to this, wasn’t the news of the Blue Guild’s disbandment already half-disproven?

I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable whenever somebody brought up that story.

‘In the first place, can the conditions be better than this?’

Wasn’t it already amazing that they were sustaining Warmth Magic for simple laborers?

Of course, it mustn’t have been easy to find a magician who could maintain a warm temperature in such freezing temperatures.

It was ridiculous that such a person would volunteer to act as a construction supervisor despite the harsh environment… It could only be explained that they cared for the laborers.

‘He’ll only come back to his senses after going out to hunt and becoming food for monsters.’

He would surely realize how comfortable he had it with us after living in a harsher environment than the one we were currently in. I slipped my hand into my pockets and checked my hand mirror, which showed the time and date on a familiar screen.

‘It’s already been a year.’

It had been that long since we heard about the opening of the project. I came to the North after quitting my scheduled quest for a rare dungeon, but I didn’t regret it in the end.

My stats had risen a lot, and above all, wages were high. I recently lost quite a bit because I bought the goddess’s hand mirror, but I had no regrets, either.

‘I thought it would come out.’

Right after leaving the tutorial dungeon, the first idea that came to me was the smartphone. I thought it would be released when I first saw the Goddess’s Mirror, but I didn’t expect it to be commercialized that fast.

Of course, it was still difficult to say that it would be distributed across the entire continent, but I thought everyone would have at least one Goddess’s Hand Mirror in their possession within a year. After turning on the screen, I logged onto Benignore Net and wrote a post. There were replies immediately.

[Title: There’s a strange, old man in our workshop, and he’s really annoying.]

[Every day, he does nothing but complain, and whenever the name of the Chairman comes up, he says weird things with all that he has. Today, he blabbered about the Blue Guild’s discord and even insulted that the Chairman had the face of a man who would sell his country.]

[Dirt Poor: Oh lol, What’s the reward for reporting to the heresy interrogator?]

[No ID: He’s not wrong. It’s not to the point of looking like he will sell the country… but he does look a little wicked.]

[Nature Lover: What do you mean wicked? He looks handsome and sexy no matter how you stare at him. And the rumors about the Blue Guild’s discord are such old news. I can’t believe there are still people talking about it. Isn’t there a rumor that the Goddess’s Hand Mirror was made to help him keep in touch with the guild members?]

[No ID: That’s not a fact but a delusion. I work for the Blue Guild… but that had nothing to do with releasing the Goddess’s Hand Mirror. The construction is costing money, so they released the mirror as a way to secure some taxes… It’s not as good as it used to be, but the Blue Guild is still gigantic. Do you think a guild like that would make a mirror for such a lame reason? Lee Kiyoung is not a person who has nothing to do… And isn’t the rumor about the Blue Guild’s discord a known fact to everyone in this industry?]

[Nature Lover: Bullsh*t. I’m a Blue Guild employee. Who are you?]

[No ID: Why would I prove that here? Stop your bs. You’re a Blue Guild member, but you don’t know about the discord? Kim Hyunsung and Lee Kiyoung have been fighting for power for a long time now. It just isn’t visible. Lee Kiyoung kept holding back until he finally left the Blue Guild… Why would Elena be in the kingdom? And why would Jung Hayan be in the Magic Tower? And we don’t even know the whereabouts of Park Deokgu and Ahn Ki-mo… Don’t you know that all these people were members who Lee Kiyoung had brought?]

[Nature saver: That’s ridiculous. hahahaha I don’t know what to reply because that’s so ridiculous.]

[No ID: Look who’s laughing because they can’t handle the truth. You’re not a Blue Guild member, are you?]

[Nature Lover: You think I’m a loser like you? I’m working now, so I’ll prove it in an hour, so watch carefully. ^^]

[No ID: Look at you run with just your underwear on. I’ll bet everything you won’t come back with proof.]

[Lindel Village Resident: Where is the workshop? I think the monsters are moving North. Be careful if you are in a workshop near the middle. Monsters near Lindel are not only disappearing but evacuating. It seems the world is really going to end.]

[Dirt Poor: What is it then?]

[Lindel Village Resident: I don’t really know either. But I feel nauseous seeing the monsters torn apart like that. Even the Magic Tower said they haven’t found out the cause yet… It’s almost reached the point where I feel sorry for the monsters. It’s even impacting the ecosystem. Anyway, be careful. Since the intermediate workshops hadn’t raised the castle walls yet.]

‘Who the hell is No ID?’

I was dumbfounded because I didn’t expect my post to become so popular. As I hurriedly returned my hand mirror into my pocket, I heard voices coming from afar.

“Hey, Miss Kim! We’re going to eat. Do you want to come with us? We should have a drink again!”

“I’m going.”

“You must not have had a hard time today.”

“Do you know how high my stats are in strength and durability? It’s higher than yours, so don’t worry.”

“Um, um… and don’t get too into the Goddess’s Hand Mirror or something.”

“You sound like a parent from Earth.”

“It’s not like you write weird things there, do you?”

I felt a pang of guilt but decided to keep my mouth shut.

“No.”

“You should never write anything weird there.”

“It has nothing to do with you.”

“Even if it looks convenient and fun, people from above are all monitoring your posts and the comments you write on them. Don’t you know that a young man in the neighborhood has disappeared after posting something weird? Be careful before you get dragged off to the Protection Committee.”

“All of that is just a conspiracy theory. Who would believe that? I can’t believe you’re saying that they distribute out the Hand Mirror to inspect people. Even the argument that they’re trying to secure taxes is more convincing than that. How can I check all the countless posts and articles that are posted here? And if people get arrested for posting something like that, you should’ve been captured a long time ago.”

“Hm, hm…”

“Isn’t that right, Mr. Ahn?

“Ha… haha, yes. Maybe.”

“Where’s Mr. Park?”

“He’ll probably be here soon. It seems that the work in his assigned group is running behind…”

“Um… then, let’s wait here. He’ll be a bit disappointed if we go first. By the way, mister.”

“What?”

“How did you guys come all the way here?”

“I’m a little embarrassed to say it, but…”

“Don’t be like that and tell me. We need to kill time anyway. Didn’t you say that you were traveling?”

“Yes, something similar. You can think of it as a short stay here because of a sudden drop in funds on my way to the northernmost point.”

“Based on your strength and durability, you guys don’t look like ordinary people… Especially, Mr. Park. He looks like a beast. Won’t you be able to prepare enough for a trip if you kill monsters? Ah, there are no monsters around here…”

“Precisely.”

“You must have no one to borrow money from.”

“Not really, but… He said he’s too embarrassed to do that.”

“What?”

“He said it’s too embarrassing to ask people for money. Since I was also curious if the construction was going along smoothly, I thought I didn’t have to move in such a hurry. Oh, there he comes. Let’s get up now.”

“What have you guys been talking about?”

He had a loud voice as usual. I turned around and saw a man with a large body.

With his thick beard, which covered most of his face, he looked like a mountain bandit; but he still had a likable impression, and I thought that was because of his personality.

‘Why isn’t he wearing a top, again?’

When one saw a body full of bursting muscles, they normally couldn’t help but automatically blush. It was hard to determine if he was aware of that or not.

“Wasn’t the work hard today?”

“Ah, a l-little.”

“Well, take care of yourself. Anyway, let’s go in.”

I could only think that those people were a bit strange.