Regressor Instruction Manual - Chapter 434. Re: Starting Life in Another World From Zero (3)

‘This feels uncomfortable…’

I thought it was a good idea, so I accepted Lee Ji-Hye’s suggestion. However, I felt uncomfortable even though I wasn’t really wearing a dress. Walking felt awkward to me because my entire body had changed.

I was used to people looking at me, but the way people were looking at me had changed drastically compared to when I was Lee Ki-Young. The stares were bothering me, and I could see the drunkards looking at me from head to toe.

I wasn’t really that annoyed because I could endure their gazes, but my mood undeniably soured.

‘These bastards…’

All men were the same. Of course, that included me.

I looked to the side and saw my reflection in the mirror. I wouldn’t say that I looked beautiful, but I definitely looked charming.

‘Yeah… I’m satisfied.’

With my appearance, people should be friendly to me. In that case, it shouldn’t be difficult for me to find a party. One’s appearance seemed like it wasn’t important when looking for a party, but it was actually important.

It was similar to how companies would find the interviewee’s appearance important.

Of course, famous adventurers could be excluded from the appearance bias, but expedition parties were different because one would have to fight alongside people whom one had just met for the first time.

In addition, one would also have to rely on them in unexpected situations. Therefore, people with the demeanor and appearance of a scammer or even a serial killer would be hard-pressed to find parties that would accept them.

In that sense, Lee Ki-Yeon barely made the cut. I started walking while nodding, and I could finally see the people in the square.

‘Who should I go with…’

It was important to look around. Unfortunately, I had never experienced this type of hardship before, so I was starting to feel out of breath.

‘Finding a party must be difficult…’

Of course, I immediately realized that it didn’t apply to me.

“We’re looking for vanguards to go hunting with us!”

“We’re looking for an archer who’s willing to go on an expedition to a goblin village nearby! We need someone with excellent eyesight, and we’ll leave as soon as you join!”

Expedition parties for Rift Land weren’t the only people looking for other people in the square.

“I’m a rare-ranked assassin. I’ll go anywhere as long as you recruit me. I have a lot of experience, and I can do a decent amount of damage. I’m different from the other assassins. Please recruit me! I won’t need healing, either! I’ll keep quiet and wrap myself in bandages!”

“I’m an epic-ranked hunter! I’ll help you hunt! We’re looking for clan members to join us! Please!”

There were a lot of individuals looking for parties unrelated to Rift Land expeditions, actually, there were a lot more individuals than parties. The majority of the people who were yelling had thief-related jobs.

‘Looking at them now, they look like they’re part of the lower class, but this isn’t new information for me.’

In a square pyramid, they were at the bottom. Higher in the pyramid were priests, mages, and useful tanks. The fact that there was a small pool of mages was the most impressive. It was kind of surprising since the Blue Guild never had to worry about mages, but it was easy to deduce what was going on. If this world were a game, then this wouldn’t have happened.

Unlike in games where one could cast magic with a press of a button, magic spells and the concept of magic itself were considered academic expertise in this world. One had to be smart, and they had to be hardworking as well before they could be a mage.

Rare-ranked mages were rare on this continent. The majority of the epic-ranked mages were either members of a large guild or were considered high-quality freelance nomads.

Of course, there were also mages who only spent their days inside laboratories, and there were also mages who had never gone out to hunt even once because they were scared of going outside.

Mages obviously weren’t having a hard time making a living. I could already deduce how mages were being treated in the current economy.

There were a ton of people with thief-related and assassin-related jobs, so there was a huge job gap between what were considered high-class jobs and them.

Naturally, this only applied to the public. The situation of the large guilds was different because they had no lack of talented mages.

Half of the people looking at me had obviously deduced that I was a mage because I was holding a staff only mages would wield.

“Excuse me, if you’re above epic rank, what do you think about the Demon—”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not at that level yet,” I replied.

“What about going on the field?”

“I’m sorry,” I answered.

“Then rare-ranked raid monsters…”

“I’m sorry. Raid monsters are a bit…” I paused.

“How about we go somewhere quiet and have a cup of tea?” they suggested.

“I’m sorry,” I repeated.

“You’re really beauti—”

“I’m sorry.”

I felt like the conversation became strange toward the end of it, but everyone treated me just about the same. I could join any party I wanted.

Of course, I was just a mage on the outside, but I had nothing to fear with this staff. I felt a bit more relaxed when I realized that I was in a position where I could join any party, but the problem was that I couldn’t find a party with goals similar to mine.

‘This is a one-time thing…’ 

And that was why I would like a party that would satisfy as many of my conditions as possible. I wanted a party with members who had just ranked up from Rare to Epic.

‘It’d be nice if they’re a bit rich and internally stable.’

They would be the perfect guests for Rift Land. People who had just ranked up from Epic to Legendary wouldn’t be so bad either, but I would have to reveal my hidden card if I wanted to join them, so they were out of the question.

While I was walking, I heard a voice with a message that stood out.

“We’re recruiting a mage for the Friendship Clan. We have a strong vanguard, and we have a priest as well. We’re heading toward the Rift Museum, and we’re looking for someone who will hunt with us in a fun and family-like environment!”

”We’ll leave as soon as you join us. We’re the Friendship Clan!”

‘Friendship Clan?’

“We’re looking for a mage who wants to hunt, not get into fights! Our clan master really likes meeting people! Please join us!”

‘He likes meeting people?’

Obviously, I had never heard of that clan. It was a bit strange that I still hadn’t heard of them because they could be considered a decent guild, even in Lindel. Their stats were decent as well.

‘Lee Chul-Woo and Gook Minji.’

It was interesting how a priest was a clan master. The girl yelling next to him had a thief-related job. The name of her job was pretty long, but her stats were pretty average, so I decided to stop looking at her stats.

The stats they had were in the range of what I wanted, and the market was closing up pretty soon as well, so I thought that it wouldn’t be bad to just choose them.

I started walking toward them, and the priest stared at me.

“I… am a mage, but I’m a different type of mage. If that’s okay with you, will you allow me to join your party? I heard that you’re heading toward the Rift Museum—Ah! I should introduce myself first. Nice to meet you, members of the Friendship Clan. My name is Lee Ki-Yeon, and I’m a summoning mage,” I said.

“…”

“My name is Lee Ki-Yeon, a summoning mage,” I repeated.

“…”

‘What’s wrong with him?’

“Excuse me? Can you hear me?” I asked.

“Ah! I-I’m sorry. S-So…”

“My name is Lee Ki-Yeon, and I’m a summoning mage,” I said again.

“Oh! Nice to meet you, Miss Lee Ki-Yeon,” Lee Chul-Woo said.

‘He seems clumsy.’

It was a ridiculous sight to see him get flustered in front of me. He was an epic-ranked player, and those epic and above would have long abandoned their novice habits, so I got worried when I saw him panicking.

I couldn’t help but get worried that I might have walked over to the wrong party, but the stats being reflected in Mind’s Eye were correct. Lee Chul-Woo took a moment to compose himself. He cleared his throat and looked at me again.

“I’m sorry, I…”

“No, it’s fine. By the way… may I join your party?” I asked.

“Before that… can you explain to me exactly what a summoning mage can do?” he asked.

‘He’s not clumsy.’

“Ah, I was being too hasty. Of course. I’m not sure what’s the best way to describe it, but…” I paused.

“…”

“It’ll be easier for you to understand if you think of it as a mix between a summoner and a mage. I can use average-ranked basic magic, but anything above that is a bit difficult…”

”However, if I were to overdo it, I could cast up to rare-ranked spells. My specialty is summoning magic, but it’s impossible for me to go around with the summoned creature for a long period of time…”

”It won’t last for a long time, but it can deal enough damage,” I added.

“Hm…”

“Is that not enough?” I asked.

“No, that’s not it, but I do need to get permission from the other party members. Of course, we’re really thankful that you decided to join us, but since you’re not an ordinary mage…” he said.

‘Ha… shit. Discrimination against special jobs is prohibited, you bastard.’

“I have an epic-ranked job, and it hasn’t been long since I changed jobs. My stats are also epic-ranked,” I added.

“I see…”

‘This is why ordinary parties are so annoying…’

Based on his nature and unique habit, he seemed like a close-minded person. I didn’t think that it was going to be a big deal, so it was a ridiculous sight to see him contemplate so much about it.

Of course, I understood his concern as the party leader, but it was pretty frustrating on my side because the number of people in the square was gradually decreasing while I was waiting for his response.

‘So, can I join or not?’

I wanted to tell him to forget it and turn around, but I had no other choice but to wait because it seemed that players with special jobs were being treated differently. I was sure that I would be treated the same if I were to try and join a different party.

‘I’m not a mage nor a summoner, so I’m sure they need to think about it.’

Even I had to admit that my job was pretty ambiguous.

“I-Is it not fine? I really need to go there… Ha. What should I do?” I commented.

“Of course, it’s fine.”

It was good news, but I heard a voice behind me rather than in front of me. I looked back and saw a warrior with a shield and a blunt weapon.

‘Kim Tae-Geon?’

He was a typical warrior with high endurance and stamina.

Before I could greet him, Lee Chul-Woo welcomed Kim Tae-Geon, and they started talking without me.

“Tae-Geon.”

“There’s a saying about how the system doesn’t lie. She has an epic-ranked job, and her stats fit what we need, so there’s no need to think about it. Going out there and doing something is better than staying here…”

”We can hear the details while heading toward the destination, and if we think that she’s not suitable for our party, then we can just pay her an inconvenience fee,” Tae-Geon suggested.

“I’m sure you won’t be disappointed,” I chimed in.

“Then…”

Lee Chul-Woo nodded in satisfaction, and I was about to revel in my success, but Gook Minji next to him looked displeased. In addition, what she said next was so absurd I had to take a second look at her.

“I’m against it.”

‘Geez, what’s wrong with her?’

“I understand what you’re saying, but… I don’t think this is right,” she added.

It seemed that it was extremely hard to make a living in Lindel.

‘We’re both women. Shit. Come on, work with me here…!’