"Hmm... My shoes seem to have gotten quite dirty," I remarked, prompting a displeased and distorted frown from Jung Yura. Her trembling indicated that she had no choice but to comply with my wishes.
Meanwhile, Lee Jihye's scrutinizing gaze remained fixed on me throughout this exchange.
Frankly, I was more intrigued by how she had secured such a prominent position within the Black Swans than by Jung Yura's well-being.
Jung Yura herself spoke up, saying, "You appear to be curious about this situation."
"Indeed, I am. Frankly, I'm surprised they've allowed you to treat her in this manner. Despite the trouble she's caused, she still possesses considerable power. Are you certain there are no risks involved in your actions?"
"There's absolutely no risk involved, rest assured," Jihye replied.
I fell silent, engrossed in assessing Yura's status using my unique ability.
[Check player Jung Yura's Show Details and potential.]
[Name - Yura Jung]
[Title - The Worst Woman Ever]
[Age - 29]
[Propensity - Calculating Strategist]
[Job - Assassination Thief (Rare Grade)]
[Job Effect - Acquisition of basic archery knowledge]
[Occupational Effect - Acquisition of basic dagger skills]
[Occupational Effect - Acquisition of basic trapping knowledge]
[Job Effect - Acquisition of basic assassination knowledge]
[The acquired knowledge is not accessible.]
[Capacity]
[Strength - 41 → 05 (Growth limit: Hero or higher)]
[Agility - 55 → 10 (Growth limit: Hero or higher)]
[Health - 43 → 11 (Growth limit: Hero or less)]
[Intellect - 40 → 30 (Growth limit: Rare or less)]
[Durability - 20 → 05 (Growth limit: Rare or higher)]
[Luck - 23 → 10 (Growth limit: Rare or less)]
[Holy - 43 → 09 (Growth limit: Hero or higher)]
[Overall Review - Her body has suffered extensive damage from external shock. Most of her magic circuits are destroyed, and her muscle fibers are damaged, causing a significant drop in her stats. It's safe to say her life as an adventurer is over. She can be healed with divine healing magic or by a saintly-class priest, but there's no guarantee of such an event. It's a tragic loss to lose a talent with such great potential, unlike Kiyoung Lee.]
Among all the information, her newly-assigned title particularly caught my attention. I had expected such a title to emerge, but I hadn't anticipated the resultant decrease in her stats. Intrigued by my curious expression, Lee Jihye spoke up once more.
"Her body has sustained damage in various areas," she explained.
"Despite her outward appearance, she's going to struggle to lead a normal life. The media has been harsh, and her survival is almost miraculous. To be honest, I'm the one who saved her. The situation hasn't been properly assessed yet, and this has upset our guild's higher-ups."
"I see."
"While we were trying to grasp the situation, some individuals saw it as the perfect moment to showcase the consequences of 'abusing' one's powers. Jung Yura became their prime example."
"Hmm..."
"There are other internal issues at play, but those are guild matters, and I'm not authorized to disclose them, regardless of my position."
"Does that suggest there's a power struggle within the guild?" I asked, already anticipating the answer.
As expected, Lee Jihye nodded.
I had assumed that the Black Swans were in disarray, but this was worse than I had imagined.
Apparently, there were many power-hungry individuals within their ranks, much like Jung Yura. Perhaps this situation wasn't entirely negative; it gave them a reason to purge those unworthy.
"The guild's leadership was thoroughly corrupt," Jihye continued, "so it was only right to oust them and replace the Guild Master. I assume you share the same view."
"Well..."
"I don't make baseless claims. If all goes as planned, the guild will undergo a transformation, and the Guild Master will be replaced. Contrary to what you may think, most of this has been achieved peacefully."
"Is that why you've been sent here? Because of this woman?"
"What truly matters is our internal affairs, not what happens to Yura. Equally important is the public perception of this mess. You've certainly made quite a spectacle this time, Kee."
"I'm not sure what you mean..." I said in a confused demeanor.
"It seems you're concerned about me using this information against you. Don't worry; there's no magical recording. Anyway, I had to do what was best for the guild, even if it meant siding with a few insignificant members or aligning with you and the public."
"And what did you choose?" I asked her.
"I compiled hundreds of reports after analyzing the current situation, the reasons behind the guild's decline, the path the Black Swans should take to move forward, the relationship between the Blue and Red Mercenaries, and the Blue's potential for growth. I also included a profile of you, Kee Miyoung. However, I don't think I elaborated on that part enough."
"So, my actions were a bit too audacious for the higher-ups. Is that why you've come to visit, even though our guild is still reeling from recent media coverage?"
Lee Jihye was indeed quite clever.
In essence, she had seized the guild's internal crisis as an opportunity to showcase her abilities.
"The fact report was far from perfect," she admitted. "I'm not as gifted as you, Kee, and time was limited. In a situation where no one else was willing to take responsibility, I saw it as a chance to step up and demonstrate what I could offer."
"So, what changes do you propose?"
"Of course... But I think you're more interested in why. Can we discuss that later? First, you'll need to tell us your conditions. We can compensate you generously, in addition to the official apology gift. We have resources to spare... Oh, and if you wish, you can have this woman too!"
"How thoughtful of you."
"But, of course!"
I glanced back at Jung Yura, who still lay helplessly on the floor. A faint smile crossed my lips as I observed her. How pitiable.
"I know deep down she'll want to recover," I thought to myself.
However, high-ranking priests and divine elixirs were scarce in this region. There were few individuals who could truly be considered high priests, and bringing them here was an expensive endeavor. The same applied to elixirs; alchemy wasn't a common profession, and the ingredients were rare.
In essence, Jung Yura's best chance at recovery was to steadily regain her strength by repeatedly tackling dungeons.
As I reached out to brush a few strands of her hair away, I saw her gaze meet mine. Her expression conveyed a mix of anger, resentment, worry, and regret, all in stark contrast to my now spotless shoes, thanks to her earlier compliance.
"In truth, I didn't expect things to go so smoothly," I admitted.
"It's true; my interest was piqued."
"I suppose you've come to realize," I continued, "that you can't truly grasp what can happen to people until it actually happens."
"It's a difficult notion to grasp, but it's exactly the kind of retribution individuals like you require. If given another chance, you'd probably go back to your former ways."
"Don't worry; the same principle applies to me."
"Ah..."
"But it won't play out the way you hope. Unlike you, I'm not a child who only learns when at rock bottom."
"In your case, it was just bad luck this time. If you work hard, you might recover, so try to live with strength. Oh, and since you've held onto your values until the end, I believe you deserve a small reward. That's what makes society beautiful, don't you think?"
As I rummaged through my pockets, Jung Yura's expression crumpled even further. Then, I took a handful of gold coins and scattered them on the floor. Yura's lips were bloody from biting them too hard, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Shouldn't we adjust our expressions to something more suitable?" I suggested.
"Yes, Yura. It's a gift from Kee, after all."
"Thank you."
Watching her pick up the gold coins from the floor in such a pitiful manner brought a smile to my face. It was amusing to see how easily one could fall from grace.
I knew this wasn't the kind of lesson a morally upright person would choose, but I believed it was the only way for Jung Yura to truly learn. To defeat one's enemies, sometimes you have to be as crafty as possible without compromising your values.
This chaotic situation wasn't over yet, but at this moment, I was severing my ties with Jung Yura.
"It was fun while it lasted. You're free to leave whenever you like." I said to Jung Yura.
Perhaps Jung Yura would never recover from this setback. I couldn't see any major guilds wanting to invest in her, even in the distant future.
Hope could be great, but so could despair. People might believe in rainbows after the rain, in joy after suffering, but society didn't always work that way.
Even if her suffering eventually ended, it might take ten or twenty years.
Nonetheless, I knew Jung Yura would continue to yearn for that day.
"It's only human to do so," I mused.
I had no idea what kind of life awaited her after the hate subsided, whether it be in a slum or a red-light district, but I was certain she would always remember...
"She chose to fight the wrong enemy."
As she left the parlor, Lee Jihye began to speak once more.
"Are you satisfied now, Kee Miyoung?"
"Hmm, only halfway. I hope you can explain what you're capable of." I replied.
"Of course. I believe you'll be quite satisfied." she said.