Jeong Soo-ah.
It had been quite some time since she joined our Steel Legion guild.
What initially felt awkward about the military uniform had become second nature to her.
Her primary role involved reconnaissance through spirits.
Utilizing Spirit Vision required significant magical power and mental strength.
It was by no means an easy task, but she always gave it her all.
‘This is the work entrusted to me by my benefactor… I cannot take it lightly.’
When she became an Awakened and acquired Spirit Vision at the cost of her own eyesight, she thought she would live the rest of her life in darkness.
She was well-prepared for such a fate.
Yet, there were times when she woke up to utter darkness, longing to return to the bright dream realm she’d escaped to during her sleep.
And then…
It was her great benefactor who restored her sight.
‘The one who is magnificent.’
In truth, when she first opened her eyes, she merely thought of it as a blessing.
To give sight to the blind was nothing short of a miracle.
Gratitude filled her heart, and she was determined to repay the kindness of the one who had restored her vision.
However, as time passed, her thoughts began to evolve.
He freed slaves captured by plunderers, fed hundreds with a single dish, and even bestowed divinity upon soldiers through holy cuisine, punishing evil in the process.
Recently, he even revived those who were on the brink of death and performed miracles that even a wizard could not achieve.
Watching these feats unfold, she realized something profound.
At this point, any misunderstandings seemed impossible.
‘A Messiah.’
Coming from a prosperous family, she had nurtured her faith from a young age.
In light of that faith, she perceived the current world as one facing significant trials.
Yet, the Lord was known to provide ways to overcome those trials alongside the trials themselves.
‘The Commander must be the savior sent to save the world.’
In her heart, she wanted to spread this revelation to others, but she wasn’t naive.
Sharing such thoughts with ordinary people was likely to provoke backlash that she understood all too well.
So, she chose to confide only in those who seemed likely to understand.
However, she found that, more and more and many others shared her sentiments.
All moved by the greatness of their leader.
That very fact underscored how many had been saved.
‘I need to assist Him.’
This propelled her forward.
Today, she once again pushed her limits to scout the surroundings and identify potential dangers.
As she prepared to take a short break, exhausted from her efforts…
– “Wow. I thought I was going crazy!”
‘……?’
She heard soldiers’ voices nearby.
Normally, eavesdropping wasn’t her thing, but the content of their conversation caught her attention.
“They say it takes days to prepare that dish, but the guy is insisting on calling a higher-up because he can’t wait. Seriously…”
“Did you really send that to Sergeant Shin?”
She paused.
Hearing her benefactor’s name made it impossible not to stop in her tracks.
“Oh, um… I’m really sorry about that. I panicked and…”
“The only one dumb enough to report such trivial matters to the Guildmaster is you. Back in the day, no one would have believed you could even send the Sergeant up for the task.”
“Ugh.”
“You better apologize properly later.”
“Of course, I will. Anyway, it’s simply unbelievable that so many people are complaining about the fees being so high.”
“For sure. That is pretty irritating.”
The junior soldier’s reprimand seemed to resonate with the others.
“Thinking about the value of Sergeant Shin’s cooking, taking 80% feels like a charitable gesture. I mean, if he hadn’t created that offer, everyone would starve to death or fight over scraps.”
“They’re not even thankful, just whining about how long it takes. It’s pointless to be nice to outsiders.”
She was aware of the guild’s unusual disdain for outsiders.
Conversely, the overly generous camaraderie among guild members seemed a bit strange to her.
Having already become part of the guild, she felt no need to dwell on it and moved on.
“Sergeant Shin is just a kind person who lets it all slide. If it were anyone else, they’d probably tell you to get lost.”
Having absorbed all the chatter, she now understood the situation.
‘My benefactor has offered kindness once again.’
At the same time, a wave of worry washed over her.
‘He is too benevolent.’
Though his kindness had brought miracles to her, the conversations she heard sparked a disquieting thought in her mind.
The one referred to as a Messiah.
But not all such figures encounter happy endings.
‘More often than not… tales abound of those who benevolently trust in others, only to be betrayed.’
Her benefactor was like a reservoir of goodness.
But not all human beings were so admirable.
Those who took advantage of his goodwill might one day draw a blade of betrayal.
Yet, her benefactor remained excessively kind.