The Returner Wants Complete Victory

29 – 029. How to find team members (2)

Rick began explaining to Noah the same way he had to Ellie.

However, this time, perhaps because he was aware that there would be no alternative if he was rejected, the explanation was somewhat longer than before.

It was a sight that made me wonder if he was even listening as he was staring blankly into space.

However, Rick continued to talk as if he was used to it, and eventually, when he finished saying, ‘We may be attacked by the Martial Artist League,’ Noah nodded slightly.

“okay. “I’ll go with you.”

“What are you curious about?”

In response to Rick’s question, Noah continued to stare into space.

It looked like he didn’t have any thoughts, but he probably wasn’t really thinking anything.

Noah, who had been having a snowball fight with the air for a while, turned his attention to us.

Then, he slowly placed his hand on the hilt of the sword while still sitting down.

Improper posture for foot examination.

But as if that didn’t matter, a glistening murderous look soon appeared in his eyes.

Rattling-

Eunha tilted her head and stepped back as if she was having a seizure.

It was a more extreme reaction than expected.

Unlike Noah, who only lightly placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, Eunha lowered her posture so that she could draw her sword at any time.

She was so surprised that cold sweat had already formed on Eunha’s forehead.

And I, too, was surprised by the galaxy’s reaction.

A child who only felt a vague sense of discomfort during the tutorial has progressed to the point where he can accurately read Life in just two weeks?

I thought it was the result of training, but seeing Rick’s reaction with his eyes wide open, it didn’t seem like that.

In fact, Bo-kyung was looking at Eunha and Noah alternately, as if she was embarrassed by the unknown situation.

Maybe your intuition rank went up during training?

Noah also seemed to find Eunha’s reaction interesting, and a slight smile appeared on his expressionless mouth.

“The distribution is 5 to 5.”

“what?”

“Me 5. The three over there are 5. 5 to 5.”

Rick responded with words that were almost violent.

Rick appeared to be genuinely embarrassed by Noah’s words and spoke uncharacteristically at gibberish.

“Noah. It is an unwritten rule that distribution is based on the number of people. Even if there is a significant difference in power between team members, we must find an agreement through dialogue, and we cannot make such a reckless announcement.”

It was as if he was talking to a preschooler.

But Noah was adamant.

“no. This is also a lot of concession. “5 to 5.”

He is less socialized than Eunha.

If Eunha felt like she knew and didn’t do anything, it felt like she really didn’t know and was acting as she wanted.

However, I felt like I knew what kind of thought process the answer to that distribution rate was derived from.

I roughly calculated only myself and Eunha and excluded the rest from the calculation, thinking they were bridesmaids.

But I asked questions as if I knew nothing.

“Why 5 to 5? Still, can’t you tell me the reason?”

Then Noah gave me an annoyed look.

It was as if he was saying, ‘If I explain it to you, will you understand?’

“… “If you don’t like it, quit.”

The actual answer was also the same.

An attitude that seems to say, ‘I’m not confident I can explain it in a way that you can understand, so I won’t explain it to you.’

He wasn’t even looking at me when he answered.

Were you always like this?

This guy also makes me sleep all night… .

“why. “Because Bo-kyung and I didn’t pass the test you gave us?”

“uh. that’s right. … uh?”

Noah, who had been answering half-heartedly, looked back at me in surprise.

Originally, I had planned to give in a bit, but seeing him do that made me feel grumpy, so I just spat it out.

“8 to 2.”

“uh?”

“Based on your calculations, it’s roughly 7 to 3, but you didn’t pass the test I gave you. So, 8 to 2. This was a lot. “I’m giving in because I’m the one with regrets.”

At the part where he said, ‘I gave the test,’ Noah looked embarrassed.

A strange sense of victory came over me when I saw Noah with his calm expression crumbling like that.

“What is that, evil!”

A small explosion erupted from Noah’s forehead as he frowned slightly at my words.

It was the same Rasha-type explosion magic that had been used on the martial artist league member in the carriage before.

However, the power was greatly reduced and Noah’s forehead was only slightly red and swollen.

“8 to 2.”

“… uh… .”

Noah held his reddened forehead and answered with a dumb expression.

“Huh.”

At that time, a strange sound was heard from behind.

When I turned my head, I saw Eunha covering her mouth and rolling her eyes.

what? Could it be that he just laughed at me?

He was watching me carefully, as if he was surprised by the sound he made.

… Homophobia is a long-standing tradition.

Just don’t fight. As long as we don’t fight.

*

After confirming Noah’s joining, Rick went straight back to the store.

The reason was that a customer might come, but I could tell it was a lie just by looking at the sleepiness in his eyes.

After seeing Rick off, I took Eunha and Bo-kyung and headed to the Merchants’ Guild.

You have to buy the equipment needed for the expedition, and it’s good to have some training time while you’re living.

“… “Why are you following me?”

I asked Noah, who was following behind me.

Even though we are on the same team, there is no need to go shopping together.

This is especially true if it is a temporary team like this.

It is customary for the team leader to prepare what he or she needs individually, and only for common artifacts, such as barrier stones, to be prepared separately.

“It’s a team.”

Noah responded to my words as if asking why I was asking such an obvious question.

Now that I think about it, this guy is a guy who always goes alone.

I gave up trying to explain.

It was annoying, and I felt like if I had to explain it to them, they wouldn’t listen anyway.

“welcome!”

When I arrived at the merchants’ union, a salesperson greeted me warmly.

He was that scary friend who cut off any room for negotiation with a single word.

“Is there anything you are looking for?”

“yes. But it’s a bit much. “Can I take my time and take a look around?”

“Yes, of course! Have a good time!”

The salesperson greeted me with a bright smile and returned to her seat.

But the eyes were still focused on us.

I guess I’ll have to give up the thought of cutting the price of things again today… .

First, I picked up two large backpacks and handed one to Eunha and Bokyung.

Then Noah picked up a backpack from next to him.

Even though I travel alone, I’ve been active for quite a while so I thought I would have at least an expedition backpack, but it seems not to be the case.

Well, I guess it doesn’t matter.

When I saw the kids standing with their backpacks, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

What are you doing, you guys?

I need to pack my clothes.

*

Noah left for a while to bring his luggage from the dorm, and the three of us started marching to the lodging with backpacks larger than our bodies on our backs.

“It’s heavy… .”

The children, who were wearing military uniforms for the first time in their lives, cried.

In fact, in Proa, there are quite a few items that can be replaced with magic, so the military equipment is not that heavy.

Drinking water can be purchased locally by carrying purification tablets, and food can also be replaced with energy bars.

All items related to cleanliness can be replaced with magic scrolls.

Clothing, bedding, and tents weigh a little, but these are items that even Earth’s soldiers carry.

In other words, when children make crying noises, they are saying that they are all being punished.

“hey. Even kids who are weaker than you and have less stamina lift something heavier than you and walk 20 kilometers a day. “Don’t worry, you won’t die.”

At my words, Eunha and Bokyung looked at me with disdain.

I was stung by that blatant criticism without even realizing it.

No, apart from Eunha, Bo-kyung and you?

I was going to say that my backpack was heavier because it had a lot of things in it, including barrier stones and lanterns, but when I saw that expression, the words sunk in.

I walked quietly in a slightly awkward atmosphere.

I feel like I’m a clueless older student returning to school.

While I was wondering what I could do to improve this worn-out atmosphere, Bo-kyung tapped the strap of the bag she was carrying and said,

“senior. But how much does it all cost?”

Bo-kyung also didn’t look very curious, as if the question was simply meant to lighten the mood.

As expected, the only child in the group with good social skills… .

It was a grateful consideration.

“About 3 gold per backpack?”

“Oh yeah? It may seem cheaper than you think, or it may seem expensive… .”

Bo-kyung muttered to herself after hearing my answer.

I felt like I knew roughly what he was feeling.

Kids these days don’t have any sense of economics.

It wasn’t a problem that the kids had no concept or anything like that.

That’s because the children have never engaged in direct economic activity since coming to Proa.

At best, the only thing I could do was buy a weapon from a blacksmith shop.

Since I have never earned or spent money myself, it is natural that I cannot judge its value accurately.

After completing the tutorial and training, the only thing I received as settlement support was two gold coins.

When you think about it that way, it seems like a lot of money, but in reality, the cost of lodging at the inn we are currently using is also 2 gold per person.

Compared to this, it feels like an insignificant amount.

But if you look at it objectively, 3 gold is a lot of money.

The amount is about 300,000 won in Korean currency.

“ah. Now that I think about it, I didn’t mention this.”

And when the topic of money came up, something suddenly came to mind.

I didn’t really want to do it because I thought it would be out of style, but now that the opportunity has come, I have to do it.

“We’re almost out of money.”

At my words, I heard the kids gasp and gasp.

Whenever the kids brought up money, I told them not to worry about it and just focus on training, so it was natural that they didn’t know the exact situation.

But now that the training is over, I guess I’ll have to do my part.

“If this expedition fails, we will have to sit on the streets. Or go to a cheap inn with bugs in it.”

Up until now, I had been living off the gold coins that Rachel had given me in Emur to encourage me to stay well, but now even that was slowly running out.

The kids’ expressions began to become serious, as if they sensed that what I said was not a joke.

“Then from now on, you will have to eat rice with stew and bread melted in it.”

A forgotten nightmare comes back to life.

A new will appeared in a face that had shown nothing but tension and determination.

As expected, motivation that touches the primal part is effective.

Okay, guys. Let’s try our best.