When you’re an adult, the day after you recover from your sickness, you should immediately come to work. That brutal truth is the same in this world.

The very same man who wanted to keep me locked in was urging me to work.

“Kim Sheon, you already knew about Dahyun's marriage?”

“Yes. I heard you talking about it so I accidentally broke the door down.”

“So you knew even before I bribed the doctor to tell you that you were still sick?”

“You bribed the doctor?”

“Ahem, no not really.”

The Squad Leader rubbed his nose and changed the topic. He even raised his voice.

“Do you know how much money I spent for you?”

“Quite a lot. I’m thankful for all the help you gave me.”

The Squad Leader blushed.

“It’s nothing. You’re family to me.”

Then his attitude changed.

“No! It’s not nothing! Together, we spent a total of at least two gold coins for you! If not for that lady from the Choi family, you won't even have a house to stay. Now that you’re healthy, please pay it back by working.”

“Aigoo. Squad Leader, I thought we were family?”

“I don’t know you.”

“I thought you were my father.”

“I don’t want to have a son like you. I only have a daughter and," He paused, scrutinizing my face. "I won't let you meet her. I’ll protect her from all evil men.”

“Anyway, what work can I do? Can I join the squad again?”

“There’s no open position for now. A merchant group is looking for guards so I assigned you to them.”

“But Squad Leader, I hate dangerous trips. What if I die?”

“You came back to life so we all know that you’re a tenacious son of a bitch. You’ll live.”

“And if I die?”

“The severance pay goes to the family left behind.”

“But I have no more family.”

“Exactly. I’ll take it and call it off as you paying your debts.”

“Squad Leader!”

“Is Kim Sheon here?”

Just in time, a warrior in a blue uniform arrived.

“Do any of you know Kim Sheon?”

“It’s him.”

The Squad Leader ratted me out without any hesitation.

“The caravan is moving out in the afternoon. Go to the Hall of Assignments to report and receive the briefing.”

After saying that, the warrior left.

“Hehe. Good luck kiddo.”

The Squad Leader also ran away.

“I have to work. Take care of yourself.”

“Please withdraw me from the mission!”

***

I met an unexpected person inside the Hall of Assignments.

“State your name please-“

The man dropped his pen and stared dumbfounded at me. He blinked a few times. Only then did he speak.

“Kim Sheon?”

“That’s me.”

“My friend, you look really well. I’m glad you’re able to move now.”

I felt disgusted. Park Bohyun, who I treated as a close friend, didn't even visit me once. I can't believe I called this man a friend.

“You look well too.”

“Well, I got promoted again. You’re here for an assignment?”

“Yes. My name should be there for the ones on dispatch.”

Park Bohyun scanned through three different sets of papers before he found my name.

“Kim Sheon, you’re assigned to guard the Sasang Merchant Group. You are to assemble by the eastern gate before noon. The Sasang Merchant group will operate beyond the territory of the Celestial Dragon City so the pay will be twenty silver coins. As for the contribution points, it will be given based on the client's approval.”

“Twenty silver coins?”

“You heard it right. It’s a great pay for a two weeks job.”

Park Bohyun reached out for an azure token at the corner of his desk and handed it to me.

“Take it. That’s a sign that you’re a guard for the caravan. Make sure you don’t lose it.”

I grabbed the token and left for the armory. After a series of reorganizations, the warriors no longer kept weapons with them. Instead they were left inside the armory and thus needed permission to be used.

“My name is Kim Sheon and I’m-“

The guard lazily nudged his head and allowed me to enter.

I had never seen weapons that were as shiny as those. Compared to being kept by the warriors themselves, it seemed much better that the weapons were kept here. Their conditions were maintained well and none of them were dull. They even shone as bright as silver.

As usual, I grabbed a blade. They were sturdier than bastard swords so it worked well as a spare. Next, I grabbed a spear. With safety in mind, I had chosen spear as a weapon ever since I became a warrior. A sword may be cool but the utility of a spear is superior.

I checked out the weapons and went straight ahead to the meeting place.

I arrived early so no person of interest was at the area. Having time to spare, I took the time to swing the spear.

Horizontal Slash

Vertical Slash

Stab

I could have learned other forms of martial arts but I used all my contribution points to purchase manuals and resources to increase my ki. Sadly, everything just flushed down the drain.

I continued to hit the air for a hundred times, then two hundred. By the time, I lost count, I heard a familiar voice.

“It’s the bad mister!”

I stopped and turned around. Turns out, it was the little boy I met yesterday.

“Are you training right now, bad mister?”

‘Bad mister?’

My lips twitched. Did I do something wrong to the kid? But my query was answered soon enough.

“Mommy, the bad mister is here!”

The little boy ran away to the culprit.

“Suwon, I told you not to run around!”

“Mommy, mommy, the bad mister is here!”

As soon as the woman saw me, he placed her hand over the kid’s mouth, effectively shutting him up. I nodded at her and waved my hand. In a way, it made her feel relaxed.

“We meet again. By any chance, are you the warrior assigned to us?”

I grabbed the azure token from the inside of my pocket and showed it.

“Are you from the Sasang Merchant Group?”

“Yes. I’m Namgoong Ari, the leader of Sasang Merchant Group."

"I'm Third Rate Warrior Kim Sheon."

"I’m sorry about my kid. I told him that you’re an evil stranger that will take him away to the monsters.”

“That’s a bit... too much.”

Though I said that, it was alright. Kids really shouldn’t talk to strangers. Anyway, letting go of that matter, I sized up the woman in front of me.

If Dahyun was a cute type, then this lady was a hot type. Short black hair, sexy curves and just the right bust. Despite having a kid, she looked like she never got pregnant. Honestly, I would have gunned for her if she didn’t have a husband. You can call me a horny simp but as a man, we sometimes have these wild thoughts.

“It’s my first time to work as a merchant leader so please take care of me.”

We shook our hands and talked while we waited for the goods and the other guards to arrive.

“Can I ask about how big the caravan is?”

“It’s really big.”

Choi Ari gave me an enthusiastically innocent smile. She even looked proud. Truly, like mother, like son.

“I mean how many wagons are we travelling with?”

“Just one but it’s really big. You’ll see.”

'So technically, it isn't really a caravan, right?'

Soon, a single large wagon arrived. By large, what I mean is that it was twice the size of regular wagons. The two horses drawing looked dead tired from pulling all the weight behind them.

“What’s that?”

“The goods. If I halved the amount of merchandise and placed it on another wagon, I would be left with a smaller profit. Plus, there would also be a need to hire another coach and a guard. But if it’s just one, I only need a single coach and a single guard. To even save up on expenses, I hired a guard that knows how to coach.”

Namgoong Ari beamed another enthusiastically innocent smile then approached the wagon.

“Thank you for bringing the goods here Warrior Kangdae."

It was the same second rate warrior that passed by me earlier. Judging by his face, he looked to be around late 20's.

"Everything's ready. Let's go."

Our journey finally began.