HideLand

🟠 Chapter 19 :

Days later, the construction work finally came to an end.

The foundations were done, the walls stood tall, and even Bark smiled once… then went back to his usual stone-faced self.

The workers gathered to receive their wages.

Small bundles of paper money… not much, but it meant something to those who spent their days covered in dust and sweat.

I accepted my pay silently and sat in the shade of the workshop, deep in thought.

"Maybe... I should look for a new job. Something less exhausting… and maybe more suited to my skill."

I was lost in calculations when I heard a familiar voice.

"Takero-dono… I believe this is where we part ways."

I slowly lifted my head.

Ren stood in front of me, his small bag slung over his shoulder, and his face calmer than usual.

"It's time for me to go… I'm heading to the city of Osmara."

I froze for a moment.

I knew this was coming… but I didn't expect it to hit me like this.

I had grown used to him—to his energy, to his weirdness.

But I didn't protest.

"I see."

Ren smiled faintly and sat beside me.

"You know... if you hadn't been in that prison, I wouldn't have made it out."

"At first I thought you were a burden… but you turned out to be a true leader."

He looked down, then added,

"But… deep down, I couldn't accept that. I always wanted to lead. I wanted to write my own story—not just follow someone else's."

I had no idea where this whole leader-follower thing came from. I never thought of myself as his leader. I let out a sarcastic chuckle and ran my hand through my hair.

"You idiot… if it weren't for your skill, we wouldn't have escaped in the first place."

"Maybe… but it was our journey."

He stood up, looking at me with eyes more mature than I'd ever seen in him.

"Thank you, Takero-dono… for everything. Maybe one day we'll meet again—as rivals."

I raised an eyebrow.

"I told you—I'm not interested in adventures."

Ren smiled. That smile carried a mix of confidence and nostalgia.

"That's true… but I have a feeling that won't last forever."

I watched him walk away—steadily.

I wasn't sure if I truly saw him as a friend.

But one thing was certain… he filled a part of my empty life.

And his departure… felt more unsettling than I expected.

When I think back to how I came to this world and ended up in prison, if not for people like Raynar and Ren, I might have rotted there. I could've gone insane… maybe even sold off to nobles.

They were… beautiful coincidences in this strange world.

And now… I was alone again.

Well, I'm used to this. It's not that big of a deal.

Time to look for a new job now that all this is over.

I earned 75 experience points.

My skill has levels. To move past level one, I need more than 100 points.

As I level up, the crafting capabilities of my skill will improve.

By noon, I was walking around the city…

Maybe I'd find a job that suited me.

But… nothing.

Until I finally reached a blacksmith's shop.

They were hiring.

"Perfect… finally something I can do."

I went in… and got the job.

The beginning was tough. But after about two months, I got used to it.

In one of the cheap inns I was staying at, while eating dinner in the downstairs tavern…

I overheard some people talking behind me.

"This hunter card?… They've added social benefits to it. Anyone who has one gets better treatment than regular citizens."

Hunter card…

The card Ren had gone to get. It had been two months since he left.

From what I've heard, there's a basic training phase to get the card. They send you to a training facility for a while to learn how to kill monsters. But they're not actual tests—there's no real danger of dying.

In novels, they call it an adventurer card. Here, it's a hunter card… hmm, what a difference.

In those stories, there are either real combat trials or some magical crystal they touch to get ranked. I wish that option existed here.

But out of all that… the phrase that caught my ear the most was:

Social benefits.

Benefits.

Yes… that's the word that grabbed my attention.

Maybe I won't get a high-rank card, but that's fine. As long as I get one… it'll be enough.

It's just training in the end. It's not like we'll be fighting actual monsters.

Ren left two months ago.

From what I've heard, registrations happen

every six months.

Which means… I still have four months left.

Alright, then…

In four months—I'll set off.

To get that card.