Ch 153
Tale grabbed Kijeong’s shoulder and pulled him back while holding a flaming sword in his hand.
Although there was a fairly large difference in level, Tale was not discouraged. Facing the Ice Blast which was flying towards them, Tale raised his two-handed flaming sword.
He used a technique that accurately pierced the mana center and destroyed the magic itself. It was an attack that ordinary users couldn’t even dream of because one has to stab at a certain point.
The Ice Blast had been destroyed and turned into ice powder.
“Gust.”
“It won’t work twice. Wind Curtain!”
Hwagaak!
The strong wind current created in front of Tale and Kijeong was enough to block the ice powder flying toward them.
“D-Don’t attack! Stop, Ram Hwajeong! Tale-nim, stop as well!”
Leeha shouted hastily, but it was a battle between experts in which he could not intervene.
In a situation where he could not even open his eyes due to the strong wind, Leeha barely raised his head and looked at Kijeong. And Kijeong was also looking at Leeha.
“Kijeong……”
“Hyung……”
Leeha would never forget Kijeong’s expression for the rest of his life.
“I couldn’t see clearly, my eyes were blind. Let’s go back, Kay!”
Tale clenched his teeth and glared at Leeha, then grabbed Kijeong.
It was evident that if the fight continued, they would not be able to defeat Ram Hwajeong. They had to leave quickly when they found the chance.
“Wait! Don’t go! Kijeong-ah! Kijeong-ah!!”
Ram Hwajeong did not release her magic until the two people disappeared.
It was only natural that they did not approach Leeha.
“Kijeong-…”
Leeha stood still and was not able to do anything.
He didn’t know what to say. Should he whisper? What should he do?
It was actually Leeha who hid the fact that he knew Ram Hwayeon and Ram Hwajeong.
Of course, it was only a misunderstanding that he had passed information about the Byeolcho guild or that he joined their guild, but it gave him a headache. He didn’t know where and how to solve the problem. Leeha’s mind went blank as he recalled Kijeong’s expression before he disappeared.
‘I have no choice but to say everything slowly.’ I have to find Kijeong first. Leeha was sure that he could find Kijeong using chain teleport.
However, Leeha’s plan was disrupted instantly. Kijeong and Tale had already deleted Leeha from their friends list. Their location was unknown.
‘Damn it…’
-Kijeong! I’ll tell you everything from the beginning, so listen up!
Leeha hurriedly sent a whisper, but it did not go through. There was no way Kijeong had already logged out. If so, it meant that Leeha got blocked.
“Uh…… Damn it! Shit! Fuck!!!”
Leeha shouted in frustration, but he wasn’t swearing at Kijeong. He had no choice but to blame himself for making things worse in the first place.
“Is there a misunderstanding?” Ram Hwayeon spoke next to Leeha.
‘Right. Ram Hwayeon.’
It wasn’t until he heard her voice that he realized.
Why did Kijeong misunderstand? Because he thought Leeha secretly passed information to Ram Hwayeon. He had to make it clear that he didn’t.
“Ram Hwayeon-ssi. I remember you telling me something earlier.”
“What?”
“About the parasite inside the belly of the lion. You knew that someone leaked information in Byeolcho. I don’t care what method, how, or what was told! You are at least sure that there’s a spy attached by your guild, right ”
“Well. Did I? I can’t remember?”
Ram Hwayeon crossed her arms and tilted her head and smiled. And that attitude made Leeha, who was already sensitive, explode.
“Don’t fuck around and tell me.”
Leeha lifted his musket and the silver Hummingbird hummed.
Ram Hwayeon still had her arms crossed, but Ram Hwajeong, who was standing beside her, changed posture. She lifted up her wand with blue marbles.
Of course. Whether it was a shield or a counterattack, the magic of the 9th ranked Ice Magician would explode towards Leeha.
If it was her casting, it was possible to cast simple magic immediately. She could kill Leeha in a blink of an eye.
“Hmm, I want to tell you but……. I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“It wasn’t easy to recognize with their mask on. I don’t even recognize their voice. I wouldn’t have believed it if they didn’t mention any insider information about the Byeolcho guild.”
“…Is that true? If it’s a lie-.”
“What if it’s a lie?”
Ram Hwayeon also raised her wand.
“Now, are you going to attack me?Ram Hwayeon?”
“If what you said is a lie, just tell me.”
“Hwahong’s guild master…… No, eldest daughter of the Ramlong Group? Just because of one unknown user from Byeolcho guild? Judging from the situation, it didn’t seem like he’s your real brother.”
He had to admit what he had to admit.
Ram Hwayeon was definitely a smart woman, and her momentum was not ordinary.
The red-haired woman exuded pressure similar to the sniper training in the military.
‘Haaa……. Phew……
But I have to say what I have to say. I need to let them know why this happened.’
“Yes. I’d rather fight you. Unknown user? As you can see, that’s true. It’s also true that he’s not my real brother. However, Kijeong is more important. All this time, I stayed quiet because I didn’t want to complicate things, but not anymore. I will tell him the truth.”
“No, no, you’re thinking about it wrongly, Ha Leeha-ssi. Think about it.”
Ram Hwayeon lowered her wand and continued.
“Even if you tell the truth, will he believe you? Or, are you going to record a fight with us? Will that work? Will he believe it?”
“That’s for me to decide.”
However, Ram Hwayeon’s words were true. Even if he recorded this and showed it, Kijeong wouldn’t believe him. Even if he told him all their conversations right now, he wouldn’t believe it.
As long as they don’t catch the real traitor, Kijeong would believe that Leeha betrayed him.
“Hmm, let’s go back to our previous conversation. If you didn’t want to join our guild because of your ‘dongsaeng’, then isn’t it okay now? How about joining our guild now?”
“What?”
“He’s not even your real dongsaeng! I will give you a practical reason to reduce your worries. I will hire you. Become a marksman for our guild, become my escort! Dale castle is only the beginning. To secure more castles and cities in the future, we need talented people.”
“I mean now-”
“1000 gold.”
“What?”
“We will give you 1000 gold as a downpayment. And incentives will be paid according to performance. If you want a salary, we can also give you an annual salary. If it’s you, it would be worth the investment. Abandon your dongsaeng and come to us. You are guaranteed at least 3000 gold per year. Whether it’s from incentives or annual salary, you can get around 5000 to even 10,000 gold per year.”
At least 3000 gold. It’s about 360 million Korean Won. It was Ram Hwayeon’s estimate of Leeha’s value.
The amount itself is more or less similar to what Rising Sun offered him. But it was different from the proposal back then.
It’s not about taking other people’s money and making them shed tears of blood.
He wouldn’t be doing bad things that could get him penalties from Middle Earth. It was a legal, transparent, and skill-based form of employment.
If Ram Hwayeon’s offer was true, staying in her guild for 6 to 7 years, no, it would depend on performance, so 3 to 4 years at the earliest, he could gather the 2 billion won of surgery costs which he had dreamed of.
“For reference, I signed Pei Wu for 5,000 gold. Of course, it was only for Dale Castle and not for permanent employment. Anyway, keep in mind that it’s a huge amount for a musketeer who’s not even at level 100.”
“The betrayal was only a speculation… Are you telling me to confirm it? Do you want to make Kijeong’s misunderstanding about my betrayal a reality?”
Leeha barely opened his mouth.
Ram Hwayeon smiled upon hearing that.
“I am not saying you should betray them. You joining our guild will not change the situation of Byeolcho. After all, the Byeolcho guild is not a problem for me anymore! If it were my father, he would have completely trampled on it and uprooted it so it would never happen again… It’s a waste of time for me right now. There’s one thing I want from Ha Leeha-ssi. Just give up on restoring your relationship with your dongsaeng for now, and join our guild.”
Ram Hwayeon reasonably dug into human psychology.
She said it was not a betrayal. A confident voice entered one’s head.
Can’t he join the Ram Sister’s guild and fix his relationship with Kijeong later?
It was true that he hid it, but it did not really cause any damage. However, how could he get angry without listening to the other person?
Besides, what was with this huge salary?. Why did Leeha start playing Middle Earth in the first place? It was for money, money!
He could close his eyes and accept the offer, and talk to Kijeong later.
He could talk to him when he is free! Would he get upset without listening to Leeha?
It was truly a practical choice! It was the most effective and reasonable way!
‘……That must be what they might have thought. If it were someone else.’
But not Leeha.
The moment he received the money, Leeha’s betrayal would be confirmed.
He would completely lose Kijeong, his somewhat warm and foolish cousin, the person who gave him the freedom to walk on his legs, at least in the virtual world.
Seeing Ram Hwayeon’s smile, Leeha shook his head.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“The relationship between people…… is not like that Ram Hwayeon-ssi.”
Ram Hwayeon’s eyes sharpened at Leeha’s words.
“Whether it’s 1000 gold or 3000 gold, it doesn’t matter. Do you know why I didn’t tell Kijeong that I know you? Because of the benefits Offered by being next to you someday? Or is it because Ram Hwajeong is one of the world rankers? Or was it because you are the eldest daughter of the head of the Ramlong Group?”
Leeha swallowed dried saliva.
He had his reasons. He had wondered if he could get help from them.
However, the situation was different from now. The help Leeha wanted was not like this.
“Not at all! It was a short time but it was the tension of catching Black Angus together and running around, and the joy of drinking together in the pub. Because you were the first person I experienced it with- what I couldn’t do in reality! It was because I wanted to keep the memories!…..I just liked you as a person, regardless of your abilities and background. I still think that you sisters are pretty funny, however.”
Click, Leeha used delicate hand movement. If he did, he really would have to fight against Ram Hwayeon and Ram Hwajeong. Leeha was sure he would lose.
Was he able to? However, he did not have any regrets.
Leeha sighed and strengthened his resolve.
“The thing I cherish more is Kijeong. Even though he’s not my real brother, I would rather fight you, than him. Of course, I would also not join the Hwahong guild.”
Leeha meant it. And his sincere words reached the other person.
Ram Hwayeon suddenly burst into laughter.
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