CHAPTER 27
Babiyen Asteria.

I didn't have to think too hard to know why she was kicked out. It was because the Red Flame Lord had joined hands with Black Dawn. Black Dawn was a world-renowned terrorist group. If Babiyen, her disciple, remained in the baron's family, it would most likely be pointed out as a problem.

The Asteria barony was extremely obsessed with honor. Babiyen was the youngest daughter with no chance of inheriting the title anyway. Cutting her loose quickly was more beneficial for them.

And so, Babiyen was kicked out of the Asteria family. What could Babiyen, who had barely managed to pack her own things, possibly do? She had lived her entire life as a noble. There was no way she could do common manual labor. Manual labor is physically demanding and pays little. The drastically reduced income compared to what she was used to spending would make it impossible for her to feel any motivation to work.

On the other hand, pioneer work, while not as lucrative as being a noble, paid relatively well. What's more, she could use the magic she had learned so far. It was the only profession where she could utilize her skills. It was natural for her to gravitate towards becoming a pioneer.

"Still, it's commendable that she came to the Pioneer's Guild on the very day she got kicked out."

“Babiyen may be a fool, but she’s good at grasping the situation,” Aranseol returned with a sharp assessment. I could feel the displeasure in her gaze. Babiyen had always been jealous of Aranseol and had annoyed her just as much. There was no way she'd like a woman like that.

I, too, had only given her a pass because of the Shishiroka incident. I didn't particularly like Babiyen either.

But separate from that, Babiyen was useful. After all, she had managed to block, albeit partially, the magic used by the Red Flame Lord. Regardless of her personality, she had useful skills as a tool. Most importantly, I had revived Babiyen with my resurrection magic. Whether she remembered it or not, it was better to keep a risky woman like her by my side.

“But even if she understands the situation, her pride is another matter,” Aranseol said, as if she had noticed I was considering recruiting Babiyen. It was true; her pride as a noble would still remain.

"Babiyen."

Well then, I just had to find out.

When I called her, Babiyen flinched and turned around. When she met my and Aranseol's eyes, her own wavered violently. She opened and closed her mouth as if she had a lot to say, but soon straightened her back. Then, as if nothing had happened, she smiled elegantly like a noble.

“Oh my, what business brings you two here?”

Is she trying to pretend she wasn't kicked out? A meaningless struggle.

“What business do you have here?” Aranseol threw the question back at her. I could faintly sense the intention to tease Babiyen behind her eyes. Well, Babiyen had always tormented her. She would want her revenge.

“I-I, Sonyeo, am…”

Babiyen's eyes wavered violently again. Was she going to tell the truth here?

“I came to hire pioneers!”

Unfortunately, she hadn't discarded her pride just yet.

My eyes met Aranseol's. Aranseol's expression said, 'See? I told you so.'

Babiyen wasn't hungry enough yet. In that case, I just had to make her hungry.

“Perfect. How about hiring us?”

“Wh-what?”

"You said you were hiring pioneers. We were thinking of doing pioneer work for a while. If you're hiring, isn't it better to hire people you know than strangers?"

“Uh, uhh…”

“Come on, come on, how much were you thinking of paying?”

I learned something today. Babiyen is weak to being pushed. She had already put on her noble airs. There was no way for Babiyen to refuse. So, she had no choice but to hire us.

I could earn money from pioneer work and also receive employment funds from Babiyen. Killing two birds with one stone.

As we entered the Pioneer's Guild with a dejected-looking Babiyen, a familiar scene unfolded.

“You son of a bitch! You didn't do your job right, and now you want your daily wage?!”

“Aaaargh, he's killing a porter! He's killing a porter! This is discrimination against porters!”

"Excuse me. Won't you let me join your party? What? I'm on a blacklist? How do you know that? Are you my stalker?"

“Hey, that's my personal funds. Why do you keep calling it embezzlement? It's a fair price.”

It was chaotic as always. The work of a pioneer was so dangerous that most of them were tough nuts. That's probably why the Pioneer's Guild was noisy day in and day out.

“...Are they all barbarians?”

It wasn't strange for Babiyen to make such an assessment. From my perspective, pioneers were indeed barbarians. They were the most vicious and petty among the savage This-worlders.

However, as we entered, the pioneers gradually quieted down. Instead, their gazes turned to us. I quickly understood why.

Aranseol and Babiyen.

Aranseol, with looks that could rival a celebrity. And Babiyen, who, while not on Aranseol's level, exuded an air of wealth from her noble upbringing. The appearance of these two was completely out of place in the Pioneer's Guild.

“...Who are they? They look prettier than Arshel.”

“If Arshel were here, she'd be throwing a fit.”

"Idiot, look closely. They obviously have a noble feel to them. They're probably just nobles hiring pioneers for a job."

"Then they could've just sent a servant. Why would a noble come in person?"

“Whatever it is, it's probably best not to get involved.”

Pioneers are quick-witted, likely due to the many ups and downs in their lives. Thanks to Babiyen, it was good that we didn't attract any unnecessary trouble. Nobles were in an untouchable realm. There was no need to poke the hornet's nest.

Babiyen, you're quite useful.

But separate from that, I felt some unwelcome stares. They were mainly directed at me. It was a clear 'who the hell are you to be there' kind of look. Before being a Transferee, as a biological male, they were feeling jealous of a man accompanied by two beautiful women. A beastly attitude, typical of savage This-worlders.

More importantly, I wished they would stop looking so smug about their own looks. It makes me feel left out.

As we went inside, an employee naturally prioritized us. Maybe not me, but the two of them looked classy. So the guild employee acted with tact.

“I'd like to register these two as pioneers.”

“Yes, could you please state your names and professions?” she asked, showing us the profession classification paper and registration forms from the guild.

“Sonyeo is a Fire Mage.”

“I'm a Swordsman.”

I wrote down their professions and names on the form. The employee paused after confirming their details. Aranseol was one thing, but Babiyen was a real noble, so it was natural.

“Yes, confirmed. Here are your pioneer registration cards. Your rank will increase based on your performance in your work, and there are benefits that come with it, so please keep that in mind.”

“Oh, and I'd like to change the profession listed on my registration card too.”

“Yes, may I see your registration card?”

As I handed over my card, she checked my profession. Naturally, my profession was Porter.

“You're a Porter. What would you like to change it to?”

I had been waiting for this question. The corners of my mouth lifted into a wide grin. Among pioneers, Holy Mages were always in short supply. A Holy Mage was a high-class profession that could get hired anywhere.

“Holy Mage.”

Take that, high-class profession.

After registering as a Holy Mage, people's gazes changed to ones of understanding. Of course, a Holy Mage is necessary. I had always wanted to be a Holy Mage. Everyone in the world knows that Holy Mage is by far the best profession.

Haha, look, you savage This-worlders. I am an existence you can't even dare to look up to.

“Harua, you're thinking something useless again, aren't you.”

Aranseol has been getting sharp lately. Unlike Babiyen, who was just sighing beside me, she was focused only on me.

"Aranseol, stop liking me so much. You keep thinking only of me, that's why you're getting so perceptive."

“Fine, I'll stop liking you.”

I didn't expect her to accept it so bluntly.

“S-so, when are we going to the 2nd World?” Babiyen urged, perhaps because hiring us had been a big expense for her.

A rookie who hasn't even taken a pioneer class is treating the 2nd World like a neighborhood stroll. Even with me around, the 2nd World is a place where any number of variables could pop up.

“Wait. You should at least take a class about the 2nd World.”

“What? Isn't that something everyone gets as basic education?”

Oh, is that so?

I looked back at Aranseol, and she had the same expression.

“Ah, right, you're a Transferee.”

So that class was only for Transferees. I was once again reminded of the difference between This-worlders and Transferees.

“Separate from that, we need a scout.”

Another reason I hadn't pushed to go. The absence of a scout.

In the 2nd World, the traces left by Fantasy Species are extremely important clues. In addition, there are quite a few criminals who flee to the 2nd World after being chased in the 1st World. They eke out a living in the 2nd World and prey on people coming from the 1st World. They're after money and goods, and even use people for human trafficking, so a scout was essential.

When Bulldog-ajusshi and I used to travel the 2nd World, scouting was all his responsibility. A versatile pioneer who could scout, attack, and defend. That was Bulldog-ajusshi. I had learned some scouting from him, but it was only for a few months. It couldn't compare to the skills of a professional scout.

“And this is the list of scout applications we've received.”

We waited at the Pioneer's Guild and continuously received applications for a scout. As a result, more scouts applied than I expected.

“What about these ones you've checked?” Aranseol tilted her head, looking at the names I had checked off to exclude.

“They're all men.”

Aranseol tilted her head again.

“You're not accepting male scouts?”

“Sorry, but we can't have a man in our party.”

At my serious gaze, Babiyen's eyes narrowed slightly, and she twirled a strand of her hair.

“...I'm sorry, but it's troublesome for you to see Sonyeo that way.”

“One more stupid remark and I'll spread the rumor that you were kicked out of your family.”

“Wh-what? Y-you knew everything and still did this! Give me back the employment fee I gave you!”

“What are you talking about, my lady noble? We have a contract, don't we?”

Babiyen's out-of-line remark made me snap and blurt out the truth.

“The reason we can't have a man is simple. It's because of your looks.”

“Sonyeo is pretty, I know.”

She's really getting on my nerves.

“You two draw way too much attention.”

Honestly, I was seriously considering making them wear masks. Maybe my sense of things was ruined from spending too much time with Rapiel and Aranseol. Wherever I went with Aranseol, gazes would flock to us.

“If a man joins us, Babiyen aside, it would be easy for him to develop feelings for Aranseol.”

“Why are you leaving Sonyeo out of the conversation?”

“And even if that doesn't happen…”

"Excuse me. Could you please stop ignoring me?"

I gestured vaguely around us.

“Do you think any scout who joins our party could handle the envy of those men?”

The pioneer profession is a rough one. And whether you like it or not, due to the nature of the industry, it's easy to get to know each other. I had only gone with Bulldog-ajusshi after the first few times, so I had few opportunities to get acquainted with others. My faint presence also played a part, as people didn't remember me well. No one remembers a porter. That's why there was no particular reaction when I reappeared as a Holy Mage. Since I had spent the last few months at Rapiel's mansion, most people had forgotten about me.

"You're a man too, Harua."

“I'm a high-class professional, so it's fine.”

A high-class professional like a Holy Mage is an object of admiration for both men and women. Being among pretty women doesn't diminish my professional value.

But a scout is different. Scouting is a profession anyone can learn if they study, so the number of them is high. Moreover, communication skills are extremely important for a scout. For them, every piece of information is their skill and power. So collecting information daily is a scout's routine. Naturally, their faces would become known in the process.

What kind of treatment would a scout who joins a party with obviously pretty girls receive from the outside? They would be criticized by men, and women who are jealous of their looks wouldn't look kindly on them either. The idea that women don't get jealous of pretty women but admire them is a complete lie. In this world, both men and women who are prone to jealousy will be jealous. Just because there are people who aren't jealous doesn't mean there aren't those who are.

So any scout who joins us would have a high probability of being ostracized among the pioneers. Or there might be those who would try to sell our information for money.

Therefore, men are excluded. It would be better for an ordinary female scout among pretty girls to receive sympathy votes.

“So, I'm thinking of going with this person.”

Among the many scouts, I chose the only female one.

I gave her high marks for the audacity to apply as a scout when Aranseol and Babiyen were right there.
“H-h-h-hello.”

Pitch-black hair and red eyes.
A girl who was trembling like a newborn hedgehog.
Horizon.
She was a woman who caught the eye in a different way.
It was because she was equipped with two violent weapons that Aranseol and Babiyen lacked.
I doubt she can even see her own feet with those things. Can she really be a scout?
A woman who made me think just that had come to be our scout.

A Word from the Author (Author's Afterword)
All illustrations are being uploaded to the ‘Muhwa Kkotran’ SNS.
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