Chapter 48 – Divine Maiden (1)

As soon as Sun-woo’s party arrived at the island, settlement began. 

[You have completed the mission excellently. 500 points will be awarded to all party members.] 

All the same points. It seemed that in the continent they had just visited, the Summoners were unable to monitor the summoned as well as summon them. 

Anyway, everyone was satisfied with the reasonably good points, and a reward window appeared before the party’s eyes. 

But Sun-woo heard a voice before the reward window. 

[The barrier stone will be recovered.] 

Upon hearing the voice, Sun-woo opened his phone and checked his inventory. The barrier stone that had been in his inventory until just before had disappeared. 

The Summoners had taken the barrier stone as the voice had said. 

[200 points will be awarded for the achievement of bringing the barrier stone to this place.] 

Though he had merely placed the barrier stone in his inventory, Sun-woo was able to receive additional points for the achievement of safely bringing the barrier stone. 

After that, a reward window appeared for Sun-woo too, but Sun-woo only refilled the potions he had consumed and immediately closed the window. Sun-woo planned to use his points to raise his skills this time as well. 

After that, the party each returned to their own worlds. 

Unfortunately, Caroline couldn’t wake up until she returned, but sleeping might actually be better in the current situation. 

***

Sun-woo regretted this mission more than any other time. The rewards weren’t bad and he was able to obtain a lot of various information, but missing the red-eyed swordsman was very frustrating. 

But Sun-woo knew well that his abilities were still insufficient to catch him. This time too, without Nan-seol, he would have definitely lost to him. 

In the end, there was no choice but to become stronger. 

Sun-woo poured all his points into raising his skills. 

<Spirits of the Earth. Grade 7> Grade increase: 400p 

<Illusion Arts. Grade 6> Grade increase: 200p 

<War Wheel Divine Demon Art. 5 Star> Grade increase: 700p 

<War Wheel Swordsmanship. 5 Star> Grade increase: 500p 

<Seven Star Steps. 6 Star> Grade increase: 200p 

<________> 

Sun-woo raised all skills except Spirits of the Earth by one level: Illusion Arts, War Wheel Divine Demon Art, War Wheel Swordsmanship, and Seven Star Steps. And the points that had to be paid for grade increases also increased. 

Thanks to this, his points decreased from 1,480 to 80, but Sun-woo could feel vitality overflowing throughout his body. 

Now Sun-woo knew that it would be difficult to utilize his strengthened skills well without training. 

From the day after returning, Sun-woo drove his newly purchased used car to his training ground (warehouse) on the outskirts of the city. 

***

Caroline seemed to have woken up the next day. Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be any particular problems, and after a few days of leave, she returned to work at the association and called Sun-woo to the association shortly after. 

Sun-woo was also somewhat worried about Caroline, so he visited the association to meet her. 

“I really thank you. I don’t know how to thank you enough.” 

That was the first thing Sun-woo heard from Caroline when he entered the room. She hugged Sun-woo and expressed her gratitude to him several times. 

After she finally let go, Sun-woo asked about her well-being. 

“Are you okay now physically?” 

“Yes, now both my body and mind are fine.” 

At Caroline’s words that her mind was also fine, Sun-woo carefully asked a question. 

“Do you remember what happened that day?” 

At Sun-woo’s question, Caroline’s expression became a little sad. 

“I remember. Everything. Even that I was being contaminated.” 

Sun-woo looked surprised at her words, but Caroline waved her hand saying she was fine. 

“The Summoner told me that you also know about summoned contamination.” 

Indeed, her extremely shaken appearance that day wasn’t her original personality. Even now, after experiencing such things, she was showing her usual spirited and lively appearance. 

The conversation that had been proceeding comfortably for a while eventually flowed to that day’s events. 

“I think the barrier stone we obtained that day was probably the item that becomes the base for making contamination spreading agents.” 

Sun-woo also agreed with Caroline’s words. There couldn’t be any other reason. 

“Since we stole it, can’t they make medicine anymore?” 

“No. Unfortunately, that base wasn’t the only one there.” 

Well, if it were the only important place, no matter how safe it was said to be, the defense wouldn’t have been to that degree. 

“Still, it would have been quite a big loss, right? But it seems the Summoners don’t need the barrier stone for such reasons…” 

The sacred maiden and the Inspection Office summoned flashed through Sun-woo’s mind. 

“Probably they’re also looking for ways to prevent summoned contamination.” 

“Well, that would be most important for them too.” 

It was a matter of allies decreasing while enemies increased simultaneously. From the Summoner’s perspective, it was definitely something that had to be stopped. 

“Right. For that reason, I need help.” 

“A request?” 

At Sun-woo’s words, Caroline smiled. 

“Yes, a request. We obtained information that the remaining medicines in Korea are still being distributed. We found out the transaction location, but it seems quite dangerous. I’d like to ask for my security escort.” 

According to Caroline’s words, it was a place where combat teams that looked like mercenaries, or rather were former mercenaries, would have problems providing security. 

“I’ll accept the request.” 

Having poured all his points into skills, Sun-woo also needed to earnestly make money. 

“Then please come here in the evening. Dress neatly too.” 

She handed Sun-woo a business card. 

On that business card was written the name of a club. 

When Sun-woo who received the business card greeted her and was about to leave the room, Caroline smiled brightly at Sun-woo and said, 

“Oh, please call me ‘Carol’ from now on. It’s my nickname.” 

At her words, Sun-woo looked troubled. 

***

Sun-woo, who was driving his old used car out of the association’s parking lot, suddenly slammed on the brakes at the parking lot exit. 

“Ah, really. There’s no timing.” 

Sun-woo frowned while picking his ear with his finger. Suddenly the Summoner’s mission had reached his ears. 

“The missions are getting stranger and stranger. What kind of babysitting is this?” 

Sun-woo, who grumbled like Michael for a while, changed the car’s direction toward downtown. 

“Mom, there’s a shaman over there.” 

“It’s not a shaman but a shamanic practitioner, sister.” 

A mother and daughter passing by whispered softly upon seeing a woman in white clothes. 

Other people also tilted their heads looking at her, and several men opened their eyes wide and took out their phones and cameras. 

“Wow! Amazing. The cosplay is really the best.” 

“Not just the costume but she’s really beautiful?” 

Though everyone’s attention was focused on her, she paid no attention to people’s gazes and was busy looking around. 

“This is a very interesting place.” 

Though archaic Chinese flowed from her mouth, people felt her words were like Korean. 

Just as people were crowding around her, Sun-woo’s voice was heard breaking through the crowd. 

“There you are. I’ve been looking for you for a while.” 

When Sun-woo appeared before her by squeezing through the people, a small exclamation flowed from Yeon-hwa’s mouth. 

Sun-woo took Yeon-hwa’s hand and escaped from among the people. 

He walked for quite a while holding Yeon-hwa’s hand and put Yeon-hwa in his car parked next to a small park. 

After getting into the driver’s seat himself, Sun-woo closed his eyes and sighed deeply. 

“What on earth are they thinking? Those guys above.” 

After a while, when Sun-woo’s anger had subsided and he looked to the side, Yeon-hwa was staring intently at Sun-woo. 

Sun-woo, who was about to give her a piece of his mind, deflated and asked calmly. 

“Didn’t I tell you to wait at the park over there?” 

“Yes.” 

“Then why weren’t you there and wandering around?” 

At Sun-woo’s question, Yeon-hwa tilted her head. 

“It was a voice I’d never heard before, so did I have to follow those words exactly?” 

Indeed, her way of thinking was different from ordinary people. 

“Weren’t you scared being dropped in a strange place?” 

“It was interesting. There were so many things I’d never seen before.” 

In the end, Sun-woo raised both hands and feet in surrender. Sun-woo thought about dragging her around without any explanation, but it seemed like a major disaster would occur, so he explained to her about summoned and this world. 

“Ah, so that’s what happened. This way, it won’t be easy for Sun-woo to carry out guardian activities.” 

Sun-woo ignored her words and fell into thought. 

‘To think they summoned a sacred maiden as a summoned. She wouldn’t be combat personnel, so is she aftermath processing? No, thinking about it, there’s only one place to use her.’ 

Sun-woo recalled the pill that had changed in her hands. Thinking of the request he received at the association today, her appearance here was quite natural. 

And her peculiar personality was a very good personality if thought of positively. Being able to not fall into confusion even after falling into such a strange world was definitely praiseworthy. 

Sun-woo looked at her white clothes and sighed again. Wearing these clothes, not just during missions but even normally, she would inevitably receive everyone’s attention. 

In the end, Sun-woo drove to a nearby clothing store and bought Yeon-hwa clothes. The newly bought clothes suited Yeon-hwa very well, but Sun-woo was very frustrated by his credit card statement with holes in it. 

And in the evening. 

Caroline, who had been waiting for Sun-woo in front of the club, glared at Sun-woo who appeared with another woman. 

Sun-woo had no choice but to give another round of explanations in front of her. 

“In the end, this work is for her.” 

Caroline, who had heard the whole story, sighed and had no choice but to allow Yeon-hwa’s participation. 

Sun-woo, who appeared flanked by a glamorous blonde beauty and a cold Chinese-style beauty, captured the attention of people lined up in front of the club at a glance. 

Men were busy looking over Caroline and Yeon-hwa, and women glanced at Sun-woo briefly then turned their heads with low snorts. 

The security guard at the entrance immediately let them through, and when Caroline gave a false name in the hall, a waiter guided the party to a luxurious room. 

After entering the room and each taking comfortable seats, Caroline spoke to Yeon-hwa with a worried look. 

“Will you be okay? I’m sorry for bringing you to such a hectic place after being suddenly summoned.” 

But Yeon-hwa tilted her head and answered. 

“It’s interesting and fun. There’s no reason to be sorry at all.” 

“Indeed, super positive, 4-dimensional.” 

Sun-woo gave a thumbs up at Yeon-hwa’s words, and Caroline looked back and forth between Yeon-hwa and Sun-woo with an incredulous expression. 

Shortly after, the waiter in charge entered the hall with light snacks. 

Before the waiter could say anything, Caroline handed the waiter a business card. 

[Hansam Planning Representative Park Byeong-su] 

It was the business card of the man who had been contaminated and killed by Sun-woo when he first met Caroline. 

“I came to buy medicine through that man’s introduction.” 

At Caroline’s words, the waiter looked carefully at the business card then bowed to the party. 

“Please wait a moment. I’ll guide you after confirmation.” 

The waiter went out, and Yeon-hwa watched the departing waiter until the end while tilting her head.