2. Return to Superbia (2)
Vivian shed tears right before leaving the monastery.
Leaving the children seemed to keep bothering me.
Crying all the way to the front door, Vivian followed me, looking back at the children who came out to see me off.
In the middle, the girl named Emma burst out the front door and nodded to me.
This is the child who rushed at the head of the guard to protect Vivian.
‘Thank you so much for saving me-!’
Vivian hugged Emma tightly one last time and left reluctantly.
The expression of Petra seeing off is as good as the children.
When I first brought the kids, I just laughed heartily.
Hearing that I was exiled, I keep looking depressed.
My expression probably won’t be easy either.
‘Manager Guild… .’
It’s a group that didn’t exist in the previous episode.
Even in this episode, I didn’t know the internal situation well because I was with the 1st warrior’s party.
I only heard the name recently, and finally heard the explanation today.
They are a group created because of me.
He remembered what he had heard about Petra earlier.
‘It’s not just the 1st warrior party that’s famous. You tried to hide behind the name Philip, but there were those who tried to use it.’
‘The story of selecting those who were no more than tramps and raising them as members of the 1st warrior’s party was an epic story as interesting as the heroic tales in mythology.’
‘The managers gathered with the mindset to respect you and take care of the warriors. They say there’s a woman named Penny at the center of it.’
penny.
I never expected to hear that name again after coming here.
I heard that she is the guild master representing the managers guild.
The person who took my story and gathered managers to build strength.
The manager guild was created two years ago.
At that time, they said that they gathered to imitate the name Philip because they could make some money and become famous.
However, a year ago, Penny appeared and used Philip’s fame to increase the size of the guild.
Recently, it is said that he left because he wanted to help the 1st Hero Party managed by Philip.
‘Penny, you bastard… .’
I didn’t know it would be like this.
‘Are you an idiot?’
Externally, Philip is the actual manager, and I am just an agent.
So there is no point in kicking Ian out.
But Penny has been showing up from time to time since a year ago and trying to push me away.
I don’t know why you hate me so much.
About a year ago, I told the first party kids about the dungeon where Hidden Peace was hidden, and I heard they got it there.
Had I been left alone in a dungeon?
The point at which Penny started to expand the Managers Guild coincided with that time.
Anyway, I thought he knew my identity because he tried to push me away, but I didn’t care.
No matter where you go, no one will believe you.
But did you really not know?
Even behind the scenes, Philip’s name was made almost like a hero without me knowing?
‘This is a funny kid… .’
Now I understand why the village chief of Arke immediately recognized it.
Originally, it wasn’t that famous, and it’s close to impossible for a village chief to match that seal with the existence of ‘Philip’.
There must have been a story like this in the inside story.
let’s stay
Take the 1st warrior party with twisted personality with your own hands.
Behind the scenes, I put up the value of my name.
I’ll take the arrow holders from the front and give you some time.
In the meantime, I took Vivian and other people and threw a proper party.
… What is Penny doing?
I can’t help but laugh out loud
To be honest, I don’t think it was stolen from the 1st party, and there’s no benefit to me if I raise the name Philip.
It’s true that it’s kind of funny.
When I smiled, I looked back as Vivian didn’t seem to be following me.
“Vivian?”
Far away, Vivian stopped and stared blankly at a bulletin board.
***
Vivian, who was walking along with Ian, stopped abruptly.
Her gaze was fixed on one spot and she caught her footsteps.
notice board.
It is a facility to write down the words about the warriors.
Several pieces of paper were stuck to the front of a large wooden board.
Everyone was gathering and reading this and that.
“Wow, I heard that the 1st hero party built a defense line?”
“Isn’t it the first time that this level of achievement has been achieved in the Demon War?”
“I finally see hope for war… .”
Most of them talked about the 1st Hero Party.
Some people looked at the portrait at the top of the bulletin board and talked about it.
“Every time I come, my eyes are happy… . I wish I could see Sylvia in real life.”
“Honestly, Beatrice is better.”
“You both say you don’t know. The real treasure is the aria wrapped tightly under the nun’s uniform.”
Is it that people live there after all?
After Philip symbolized the warriors’ party like an idol, all kinds of talk comes out.
However, there is no such thing on the bulletin board.
It is registered and filtered through inspection by local officials.
When an insulting post about the 1st warrior’s party was posted, Ian sent Kati to deal with it.
It’s like setting a few examples so that it doesn’t happen again.
Since then, no vulgar comments have been posted on the bulletin board.
In Vivian’s ears, the noise around her was only a mumble.
She just blankly looked up at the portrait of Sylvia at the top.
‘… envy.’
When I was a wannabe.
Every time I passed by this place, I was heartbroken.
He said he wanted to grow up like Sylvia and protect people.
I also posted compliments or cheers on the bulletin board, and I also fought against those who framed me.
I ran away and came back now.
Sylvia wasn’t sure if it would be okay if she dared to have that hope again.
‘Can someone like me really do well… .’
Today, Sylvia’s portrait only felt higher.
“Vivian?”
Ian, who had been walking ahead, returned and called.
While I was lost in my thoughts, I couldn’t follow him.
“ah… I’m sorry.”
Ian, who was standing next to him, looked up at the bulletin board.
“Ian-nim, did you see Sylvia in person?”
“I watched until I got tired of it.”
“okay… . Maybe I can go up there someday too.”
Posting a portrait on the bulletin board is not a few parties.
Even so, the 1st warrior party alone is overwhelming.
Ian is clearly a skilled manager who has managed the first party.
Vivian wasn’t sure if she was a useful enough person to satisfy Ian.
“I’ll let you go up.”
Ian said calmly.
“yes?”
Surprised, I looked to the side and looked at Vivian with the usual nonchalant yet unconcerned face.
As much as his tone of voice was calm, his expression was also calm.
However, it was difficult for Vivian to accept it calmly.
“That is my job.”
It’s like going up on that bulletin board.
A calm tone that says nothing is difficult.
I felt the certainty that Vivian would not grow and rise, but that she would grow and raise herself.
Of course, that would happen, but Vivian laughed at the nonchalant attitude about what to worry about.
“… Yes. I will believe you.”
***
After making a promise to Vivian, I started walking again.
Kati’s gaze following him is somehow stinging… .
Kati used to hit me a little too.
However, after leaving the warrior party, it got a little worse.
Is it because of my mood… .
“You are a sinful man. You can’t shake a woman’s heart carelessly.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
*
You can see the training camp in the distance.
Take a close look at how much has changed.
Compared to the past, it has changed quite a lot.
In the past, there were only a few shabby, flat wooden buildings.
In the large playground in front of it, sand was blowing.
There are now five large stone buildings in front.
After that, there are 5 more of the same.
The playground in front was still sandy, but it was tidy as if it had been maintained.
Hundreds of people were scattered all over the place.
There is a group of people practicing, and there is a group of people taking classes.
Certainly, it is a bit different because the breath of power and capital is in contact.
The feeling of a well-organized training center comes to mind.
“Was it like this when Vivian was around?”
“I think I’ve grown a little bigger than then. It came out half a year ago.”
Approaching the entrance, two armed men look this way.
Maybe a private guard?
In the past, it was practically a public space, and drunken homeless people would come in and make excuses.
The environment is so much better.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to train.”
“Are you a member of the Managers Guild?”
“no.”
The two briefly exchanged glances.
“Can I help you with the guild sign-up process?”
The stiff expression changed to a stern expression.
This is a commercial smile.
If I refuse, I think I’ll be annoying, so I’ll have to move on flexibly.
“Actually, this is my first job, and I am tired from coming from afar. Please let me know where I can apply for membership, and I will visit you later.”
Upon a positive answer, the two smiled and pointed to a building.
The sense of belonging is great.
“If you are a member of a guild, there is a discount for using the training center, so I recommend doing it as soon as possible.”
“thank you for the information.”
They greeted each other with the same businesslike smile.
Money is the most important thing in the subspace pocket.
There is no reason for me to sign up to get a discount.
More than anything, it’s annoying because there are a lot of restrictions on activities once you belong.
After passing the entrance, I asked Vivian.
“If you trained here, did you also take classes?”
“no. Hey, I don’t have money… .”
“Do you think it is expensive?”
“Because it’s a burdensome price for me… . Talented wannabes have managers attached to them and pay money for them. condition that you pay it back later. It’s never happened to someone like me… .”
The manager pays the wannabe, develops it, and gets it back.
The agency pays trainees, develops them, and then returns them.
It’s true that I made it like an idol.
Even the infrastructure and system are following that modern idol… .
Even the number of aspirants multiplied several times is similar.
This feels a bit odd.
After all, isn’t it just my influence?
Because this guild was completed by Penny.
Entering the building in the middle, the first floor was a large lobby.
It is decorated with luxurious and elegant wood and soft lighting made of magic stones.
Almost like a modern hotel.
The woman at the reception desk greeted me in a businesslike manner.
Whether it was a class application or a request to join a guild, I ignored them and rented two rooms with private bathrooms.
I don’t know how long I’ll stay, but I made it 90 days.
The receptionist handed me two keys.
“You can go to room 302 or 303.”
After getting the key, I was about to go up, but I stopped for a moment.
There is something I want to check before going up.
“Vivian. Can I go alone?”
“Why, why?”
“I was curious about how the class was conducted.”
“ah… . If that’s the case, ho, I’ll go alone… .”
Is it something to be afraid of that much?
If you train, you will gain confidence and your personality will improve.
I handed the two keys to Vivian and went outside.
Mercy and Kati followed me all along.
“Does it make any sense? You wouldn’t be able to teach me anyway.”
“just in case.”
If it’s a proper class, if it’s helpful to Vivian.
If there’s anything I can’t teach you.
I’m willing to pay to take classes.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a manager’s guild, it’s nabal, and it doesn’t matter if you can grow Vivian.
With such a solemn thought, I focused on the sounds coming from all over the playground.
Various noises were distinguished one by one and flowed into my ears.
After listening for a long time, I came to a conclusion.
‘… There’s nothing wrong.’
Theoretically, most of what anyone could say.
There was no need to tell Vivian while paying for such things.
“yes? Are you going back already?”
“Because I heard everything.”
“I wonder what you did to your ears. I don’t know what sounds right, but… .”
It becomes possible naturally when the body of a superhuman rises above a certain level.
Every time this happened, there was no way to explain it, so I just shrugged my shoulders.
“So, how was it?”
“Hmm. It must be worth the money.”
“I knew I would.”
No wonder I uploaded Vivian first.
Well, nothing special will happen at the dorm.
There was nothing more to check, so I headed straight to the inn.
***
As she climbed the stairs, Vivian was choking.
My legs are shaking and I feel like I’m going to fall backwards at any moment.
This is an autonomous training center.
She returned to the place where she watered the dreams that would never grow.
When I saw the scenery of the training center again, my heart was pounding.
It may be a new beginning.
Perhaps, you may face a completely different self from the past.
I felt such anticipation.
Even if you’re not Sylvia.
Even if Ian isn’t Phillip.
Even so, the meeting between the two was not unusual.
There was no law that I couldn’t grow as much as they did.
That expectation was shattered as soon as Ian and I parted.
To be precise, it was when Ian asked if he could go up alone.
Without Ian, being alone in this nightmare filled place was terrifying.
while climbing the stairs.
Vivian felt like a child tossed into thin air.
I felt like I was lying when I promised to trust Ian.
Without relying on Ian, Vivian was the same loser as before.
still walked
To repay Ian for believing in him.
To answer his expectations, I grabbed his trembling leg.
Climbing this one stair would not be the way to repay Ian, of course.
However, if I couldn’t climb even one of these stairs alone, I would never be able to live up to Ian’s expectations.
With every step, daggers from the past flew.
Other wannabes he despised.
A manager who bent his head to see reality.
‘You’re not Sylvia.’
When I finally came up to the third floor, the manager who pushed me into the pit was in front of me.
Is it hallucination?
Are you looking at the rest of the rest too tired?
My heart is beating in a different way than before.
while breathing hard.
the hallucination said.
“Vivian?”
The hallucinations in the memory were transferred to reality.
It was not in vain.
The manager was actually in front of me.