The Strongest Guild Kidnapped Me

Chapter 119

Where could Saebyeok have gone? I rummaged through the blanket but found no trace of her. Using my heightened Soo-in sense of smell, I picked up her familiar scent on the fabric.

‘What is going on?’

The scent meant that Saebyeok had been here, at least for a moment. Could she have disappeared so quickly?

I turned to look at Levinas, who was staring wide-eyed with fear.

“A-a ghost…!”

Levinas’s ears were trembling, and honestly, I felt the same way. The blanket had moved and made ghostly sounds all by itself.

We continued to stare at the blanket in silence until Midsummer opened the door and walked in.

"Hey, kids, I'm home—"

Midsummer stopped in her tracks, seeing us standing frozen. She looked at us, clearly curious about what was going on.

“Wah!”

Levinas bolted toward her and clung to her, trembling in her arms.

“What’s wrong?”

“There was a ghost!”

“A ghost?”

Midsummer glanced at us with confusion. I decided to explain for Levinas, who was too scared to speak.

“The blanket moved on its own.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It even made ghost noises like ‘ooooo,’ but when we checked, there was no one under it.”

Midsummer hummed, stroking her chin as she walked over. Without hesitation, she stuck her hand under the blanket, causing Levinas to gasp in alarm.

“Don’t touch the ghost’s hiding place!”

“It’s fine. I’m strong, remember?”

“R-really?!”

Midsummer chuckled and began feeling around under the blanket, eventually pulling out a few small marbles. A faint trace of mana lingered on their surface, only noticeable if you looked closely.

“What’s that?”

“Hmm…”

Her smile turned a bit awkward, making me even more curious.

“Is it dangerous?”

“No, it’s just a toy.”

“A t-toy?”

Did toys in this world move with magic? The only toys I’d seen before were a few dolls, so I was bewildered.

“Is this your first time seeing a toy?”

“Yes, I didn’t know…”

I felt a bit embarrassed for reacting to something so trivial. Thankfully, Midsummer didn’t tease me about it; instead, she looked at me with a slightly nostalgic expression.

“Let’s make sure you get to play with more toys from now on, okay?”

“Uh…”

“Yes!” Levinas answered brightly for me, with a smile that made Midsummer’s expression soften. Just then, Saebyeok peeked out from behind the door.

“Did I do well?”

“Yes, you did a great job playing the big sister,” Midsummer praised, patting Saebyeok’s head. Levinas watched, clearly waiting for her own turn for affection.

‘What is going on?’

What had Saebyeok done so well, and why was Midsummer calling her “big sister”? I had no idea what they were talking about.

I’d thought I was starting to understand this world, but it was clear I still had a lot to learn. Maybe I needed to study more about common knowledge here.

---

The next day, Sophia and I sat together on a park bench, enjoying a rare holiday.

“So, you want to learn common sense?”

“Yes. I think I’m lacking in a lot of areas.”

“Hmm…”

Sophia looked me up and down, her brows slightly furrowing.

“Why?”

“Well, at your age, you’re already quite knowledgeable. Any gaps will be filled in time.”

“That’s…”

This was the one downside to Sophia. She was so old that she saw everyone as young and immature, even our guild master.

“But since you’re eager to learn, I’ll teach you. It’s important to have a desire for knowledge.”

“Thank you, Sophia!”

I was so happy that my tail wagged with excitement.

“First, we need to see exactly how much you know.”

“A test?”

“Exactly. Common knowledge covers a broad spectrum.”

“Alright.”

Sophia was right. I had no idea what the test would involve, but I was ready to follow her lead.

“Alright, take a look at this.”

She pulled a chocolate from her pocket. I instinctively opened my mouth, expecting her to hand it to me, but she tossed it to the ground instead.

“Huh?”

Why would she waste such precious chocolate? I stared at it on the ground, bewildered.

“What would you do in this situation?”

“Um… pick it up and eat it?”

“...Even with all that dirt on it?”

“I could just wash it.”

I reached down to pick it up, but Sophia stopped me.

“Normally, we don’t eat food that falls on the ground.”

“R-really…?”

“Yes, but fruits and vegetables can be washed and eaten, of course.”

“Oh…”

So vegetables were okay, but not chocolate? Couldn’t both be washed?

I found her logic a bit strange, but I didn’t question it out loud.

“Do you know which plants in the park are edible?”

“Yes, quite a few.”

I pointed to several edible plants: dandelions, azaleas, and foxtail grass, listing everything I knew.

“Correct. Very good.”

“It’s my specialty,” I replied, my tail wagging from the praise. I wasn’t used to receiving compliments, so this felt nice.

“It seems your knowledge is quite focused.”

“My knowledge?”

“Yes, it’s centered on survival skills.”

“Oh…”

I hadn’t really thought about it like that.

“If you’re unsure, you can compare with others.”

“How would I do that?”

“By comparing your knowledge with those around you.”

Guild members were too busy, so only a few people were available for comparison.

“Levinas and Saebyeok?”

“No, they still lack common knowledge, too.”

“Then who?”

“Over there.”

Sophia pointed to a group of people relaxing on a picnic mat in the park.

“The best comparison would be with ordinary people. Guild members aren’t exactly… normal.”

“Ah.”

She was right. I knew we weren’t exactly average. I followed Sophia toward the group in the park, hoping my sense of common knowledge wasn’t too warped.

---

In the Dawn Guild meeting room, Cha Ju-yeon and the guild members sat around a round table.

“Is it decided we’ll each take turns?” Cha Ju-yeon asked, looking around at the group.

Jung Yuna responded, “Yes. Since we’re dealing with experiencing trauma firsthand, it’s best to be cautious.”

“Good idea.”

The trauma was severe enough to destroy an evil spirit. According to the Dawn Guild’s explanation, the depth and extent of the trauma were considerable. Instead of one person going through all of it, they would take turns.

“Since Gyeoul is a young girl, it’s best if Yuna, Midsummer, and I alternate the sessions.”

Using the spirit’s mana stone, they would experience Gyeoul’s life. Some of it might be embarrassing, so it was best for someone of the same gender to witness it. Choi Jin-hyuk and Kang Jin-ho nodded in agreement.

“We’ll share what we see to help heal Gyeoul’s mental wounds,” Cha Ju-yeon reminded them.

“Understood.”

Everyone in the guild was willing to work together for this one child. Cha Ju-yeon smiled faintly as she gripped the mana stone.

“I’ll go first to demonstrate.”

As a member of the Sacred Guild, Cha Ju-yeon had the power of “holy energy,” giving her a natural advantage over evil mana, allowing her to manipulate the stone’s power as she wished.

With a radiant burst, the mana stone responded to Cha Ju-yeon’s holy energy, emitting a red aura that swirled protectively around her.

Normally, she would be able to dispel this aura, but she allowed it to surround her, intending to glimpse the memories within.

‘How awful…’

Just allowing the mana to settle into her was this painful. As she bit her lip, she realized she had been transported to a grassy plain.

“Where… am I?”

It was a familiar hunting ground—the beginner’s area managed by the Dawn Guild. As she surveyed her surroundings—

Thwack!

Something powerful pierced through Cha Ju-yeon’s abdomen.

“...!”

She rolled backward, unable even to scream.

“W-what…?!”

The pain was overwhelming. It felt as if a fist-sized hole had been punched through her stomach.

What had attacked her? She looked around to find the source.

‘This…’

A small, white creature with fur. Something so small she wouldn’t usually even notice was embedded in her belly.

“A… horned rabbit?”

She could barely move a finger. It felt as if needles were piercing every nerve in her body.

How could something as insignificant as a horned rabbit be this strong?

Cha Ju-yeon’s hands trembled in pain and shock, realizing she was seeing through Gyeoul’s eyes.