The Fighting Dog of a Ruined Organization

After receiving Eris’s comfort, I stood up.

“Thanks, Hyungnim Agassi. I’m okay now.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, thanks to you, I feel better. I think I know what to do from now on.”

“Then pat my head!”

Eris said with a stupid smile, her serious demeanor from earlier nowhere to be seen. It’s impossible to tell which side is her real self.

But if she asks for a pat, I should pat her. It’s not like my hand will wear out from patting.

I pat her from the crown of her head to the wavy hair at the back, not just her waxed bangs. Eris seems pleased, giggling and rubbing her head against my hand.

“I’m happy too that Hyeonwoo has regained his spirit!”

Sometimes grand, but to protect this small and delicate boss of Fantasia in reality.

I need to sharpen fantasy to pierce through the cruel reality.

If my very existence is Fantasia’s greatest fantasy, I have no choice but to move forward without fearing reality.

Ding─

At that moment, a message came on Carrot Market. I checked and it was from Reni.

《I’ve gathered my thoughts a bit. I’m trying to think positively. Although I don’t know if I’ll be able to run again in the future, at least I’m alive. If I keep living, a miracle might happen. Without you, I might have lived and died like that forever. So, I wanted to thank you.》

She’s alive.

I thought I failed to protect Reni’s life, but I protected her existence.

If there’s existence, life will eventually be lived. As you live, a miracle might happen someday.

If you believe in that fantasy, you can gain the strength to live on no matter how terrible reality is.

《Yes, a miracle will surely happen. This world can’t have only realistic things happening.》

Especially since this world is a creation made by someone. How stifling would life be if you only considered realistic content in such a creation?

Thinking about it, fantasy-like things have already happened several times. There’s no need to fear reality at all.

So I responded to the message that came earlier while I had Carrot Market open.

《How can I join the goblin extermination party?》

For Eris, who gave me true fantasy, to become the best fantasy myself, I shouldn’t be afraid.

What does it matter if goblins are monsters and stronger than the humans I’ve faced so far? What does it matter if I don’t have the power to overcome monsters?

There’s nowhere in reality where I can run away. The only place where escape is allowed is in fantasy full of optimism.

“Hyungnim Agassi, wait a bit. I’ll bring back the goblin shaman’s skull.”

I handed the dryad’s branch I obtained through this incident to Eris. Eris stared at the dryad’s branch and nodded brightly.

“Okay! I’ll wait quietly by Shizu’s side!”

So I took Eris home and headed to the Phoenix Guild.

To participate in the goblin extermination party.

“Welcome to the Phoenix Guild. How may I help you?”

The Phoenix Guild is the de facto ruler of the Southern District, but its building is not actually located in the center of the Southern District.

Normally, a de facto ruler would be in the center of the district. They need to be able to respond to whatever happens in the district.

But the Phoenix Guild’s location is not in the center of the Southern District, but at the Nam-gye (Southern Boundary) called the border with the outside world.

The reason is simple. The Phoenix Guild is a guild particularly obsessed with monster extermination.

Because of this, they’re not interested in Carpe Diem gradually expanding their territory in the Southern District. As long as they don’t interfere with them.

“I came to participate in the goblin extermination party that’s leaving tomorrow morning.”

“Do you have any special superpowers?”

“No.”

“Are you perhaps affiliated with the Murim Alliance and have learned martial arts? Sometimes people come because the Murim Alliance doesn’t give permission to low-ranking members.”

“I’m not affiliated with the Murim Alliance either.”

“Well then, do you have any way to prove your strength to us?”

“What should I do to prove it?”

“Hmm… Actually, you don’t need to prove anything, but in that case, you need to sign this.”

The receptionist handed me a paper.

Powerless Person’s Life Waiver.

The title was brutal from the start, but the content was simple. If you want to participate in the party to exterminate monsters without any abilities, you can’t claim compensation from the Phoenix Guild even if you die.

Unfortunately, I don’t assume I’ll die. There’s no need to worry about things that haven’t happened.

Because that doesn’t suit Fantasia.

“I’ll sign it without hesitation.”

I signed the Powerless Person’s Life Waiver without a moment’s hesitation. The receptionist said with wide eyes, as if surprised.

“This is the first time I’ve seen someone this crazy. Usually, people absolutely refuse to sign something like this.”

“Well, should one fear death in this world?”

“Hmm…”

The receptionist said while putting the waiver in a scanner:

“Alright. Follow the guide. They’ll explain the details about the goblin hunting party.”

When the scanner finished scanning, the receptionist made a copy of the waiver and handed it to me. Then they rang a bell to call a guide.

“Please follow me. I’ll guide you to the dormitory where the goblin extermination party members are staying.”

I followed the guide. The interior of the building was no different from any company you could see anywhere, making me forget anew that I had possessed someone in another world.

It really looked like a company you could easily see in Korea.

The only difference might be that there’s a dormitory inside the company. Some companies do have dormitories, but it’s not a common sight.

“Applicant, may I ask you one thing?”

The guide politely asked me a question.

“Of course.”

“Seeing that you signed the life waiver, it seems you’re powerless, but is this your first time hunting monsters?”

“That’s right.”

“I see. Still, don’t be too nervous. The opponent is just goblins. There’s never been a story of someone dying in a goblin hunting party. Just leave if it seems dangerous.”

─Anyway, since the raid leader is a superpowered person from the Phoenix Guild, there’s no way we’ll be defeated.

“But since you’re powerless, I’ll specially assign you to the same room as the raid leader. The raid leader needs to know your face to protect you.”

“Am I the only powerless person in this party?”

“So far, yes. It’s rare for powerless people to join parties in the first place.”

Here we are.

The guide stopped in front of a room. There was a list next to the room.

– 

Baek Ji-hwan
Gu Ja-gon

– 

There were three numbers, maybe because 3 people per room was the maximum, and the guide wrote my name, Woo Hyeon-woo, at number 3.

“Mr. Baek Ji-hwan is a low-ranking superpowered person in the Phoenix Guild, but he’s a veteran who has led goblin parties dozens of times. He’s even exterminated goblin hordes including goblin shamans twice.”

Mr. Gu Ja-gon is said to be a low-ranking member of the Murim Alliance, but I’m not sure exactly. He was carrying a staff on his back.

“My guidance ends here. Tomorrow morning, you’ll hear words of encouragement from the guild master and depart immediately, so please manage your condition well.”

The guide opened the door. When the door opened, the two men inside looked at me.

A calm-looking man was maintaining a single-edged sword of medium length, and a rough-looking man was sitting with a staff leaning on his shoulder.

The calm one wore an S earring, so he must be Baek Ji-hwan, and the rough one wearing martial arts clothes must be Gu Ja-gon. It was very easy to distinguish between Esper Hunter and Murim Alliance.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Woo Hyeon-woo. Please take care of me until tomorrow.”

I bowed my head formally to greet them. It’s courtesy.

But it seems the rough-looking Gu Ja-gon had no courtesy.

“Wahaha, brother, you’ve got quite a build? But they say you have no abilities? Did you think you could catch goblins with just your build, even if they’re weak?”

There was a title floating above Gu Ja-gon’s head.

『Martial Artist of the Strong Staff Faction』

– 

Title: Martial Artist of the Strong Staff Faction

Rarity: C

Description: A martial artist of the Strong Staff Faction (3rd), a secular faction of the Beggar’s Sect (2nd), one of the 5 major sects of the Murim Alliance (1st). The Strong Staff Faction uses the Strong Staff Technique, a degraded version of the Beggar’s Sect’s Striking Dog Staff Technique, and is known for its impressive downward striking staff techniques.

Combat Power: 670

– 

Although the description seems mediocre, he’s much stronger than the Three Heroes of Gangnam I met before. My current combat power is 420, so he’s stronger than me.

“Mr. Gu Ja-gon, you shouldn’t speak so rudely even if the other person is powerless.”

The calm-looking Baek Ji-hwan admonished Gu Ja-gon in a low voice.

“Heng, look who’s being a gentleman.”

As Gu Ja-gon grumbled, Baek Ji-hwan looked at me and smiled.

“The beggars of the Beggar’s Sect always show their lack of education. I hope you’ll understand, Mr. Woo Hyeon-woo.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“I’m glad you’re okay with it.”

Baek Ji-hwan said while sheathing the single-edged sword he finished maintaining:

“Although you’re powerless, you don’t need to be too nervous. You can run away when it seems dangerous. If you don’t want to die, just stick close to me.”

“Ha! You namby-pamby. Your words are worse, yet you’re talking about lack of education to me.”

“I’m just stating facts.”

Neither of them is wrong.

『Veteran Goblin Hunter』

– 

Title: Veteran Goblin Hunter

Rarity: C+

Description: A title given for hunting over 1,000 goblins.

Combat Power: 785

– 

Whether it’s Gu Ja-gon or Baek Ji-hwan, they both have higher combat power than me, and Baek Ji-hwan is a veteran who has hunted over 1,000 goblins.

Although he’s only hunted goblins, it means he fights better than anyone else when it comes to goblins. If he’s satisfied with just goblin extermination, who can say anything?

He can’t help but be confident.

“You’re both right. Realistically speaking, if I want to survive, I should stay quiet.”

But I am Fantasia.

“Still, I like fantasy.”

Baek Ji-hwan and Gu Ja-gon looked at each other, then looked at me with strange eyes.

Those eyes held a mocking smile criticizing foolishness.

Well, I don’t care if they mock me. Fantasy is usually mocked by realistic people anyway.

I just need to check how much I can do at my best right now.

I circulate Body Energy to strengthen my whole body and check my combat power.

When I raise my combat power to the maximum with Body Energy, the figure is,

『Combat Power: 790』

What the hell, I’m stronger.