A Chick in Front of a Cobra
Maybe the reason the Guild Master wasn’t around… was because of this merchant caravan request.
At first, it seemed like a job given to the Red Sword party.
But when you actually looked closer, the role given to Juhwan wasn’t escort—it was as a healing mage.
At that point, it was obvious.
This wasn’t originally a request for Red Sword.
It was something arranged quickly because of Juhwan. Whether they actively searched for it or had another reason, it was clear the job was brought in for him.
Still…
“They’re fast.”
It hadn’t even been ten days since he arrived, yet they already secured something like this.
The Guild staff didn’t look particularly impressive at first glance—but maybe they were more capable than they seemed.
As the adults kept talking, Dorothy started wandering around the office again.
Children switch emotions quickly.
With Oz around, it was even more obvious.
Watching Dorothy, Juhwan thought:
“Maybe it’s true that animals are good for a child’s emotional growth.”
The talkative guild staff explained the caravan’s location.
It was about a day and a half away.
There was no fixed meeting village—they had to catch up to the caravan along its route.
But to Juhwan and Lizzy, the place meant nothing.
The staff glanced at Juhwan and nodded.
“Red Sword knows this area well. You’ll be fine. Just follow them.”
Then he turned to Karin.
“This time, speed matters. What will you do?”
Karin nodded.
“We’ll rent a horse and a cart.”
The staff smiled.
“Good choice. I know you don’t have much money, but this job pays well. Spend when you need to.”
Karin’s face turned slightly red.
“….”
He continued cheerfully.
“And eat properly this time. Even if it’s porridge, eat twice a day. Don’t go around weak like before. If you collapse again, the Guild gets blamed. Especially me.”
Karin lowered her head.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I always get blamed anyway. But I’m worried about you. Eat properly this time.”
“Yes.”
All the Red Sword members answered together.
Juhwan glanced at them.
“Just how little do they earn… to only eat once a day?”
He made a quiet promise.
“I won’t let my family end up like that.”
If Lizzy and Dorothy ever had to survive on one meal a day…
He felt like he might cry.
Actually, his eyes stung a little.
But Karin misunderstood.
She stepped forward, face twisted in anger.
“What?! You think you’re better than us because you’re a successful mage? Are you pitying us? Laughing inside?”
She looked like she wanted to grab his collar.
But Juhwan was taller—so she couldn’t.
Her clenched fist trembled in the air.
Juhwan sighed.
Not because he looked down on her…
but because the situation itself was ridiculous.
That only made Karin angrier.
Just as Juhwan was about to speak—
Lizzy stepped in between them.
“Juhwan isn’t that kind of person. He doesn’t laugh at others. Don’t judge people based on your own thoughts.”
Her back pressed against Juhwan.
She was trembling.
It was obvious.
She had probably never argued with anyone before.
Yet—
she was standing up for him.
Her body shook like a newborn chick in front of a cobra.
Still, she didn’t back down.
“Cute.”
Juhwan felt moved.
Really… deeply moved.
Karin shouted angrily.
“What would you know?! You’re just a woman hiding behind a man! You’ve never even held a sword!”
“Y-you don’t have to f-fight to—!”
Lizzy stumbled over her words.
She took a breath and tried again.
“I may not fight, but I help in other ways! Fighting isn’t the only way to be useful!”
Juhwan felt a bit awkward.
He missed the moment to step in.
The truth was—
he wasn’t even angry.
Back on Earth, sometimes teenagers would challenge him for no reason.
Karin reminded him of that.
Like a puppy that doesn’t know how scary a tiger is.
He didn’t see her as an enemy.
Just… an immature kid.
“…”
After a few more heated exchanges, Karin lost her temper and raised her fist.
“Stop.”
Juhwan’s arm moved forward.
He grabbed her wrist easily.
It looked thin—like a child’s wrist in his hand.
Karin struggled.
But she couldn’t move at all.
“Impossible.”
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t escape.
It wasn’t because she was a woman.
Since coming to this world, Juhwan felt stronger.
Or maybe everything else just felt lighter.
Even before, he was good at fighting.
Now—
even a man would struggle to beat him barehanded.
“Enough. I don’t mind arguments, but this is too much.”
“…You…!”
Karin gritted her teeth.
The other Red Sword members rushed in to stop her.
“We’re sorry.”
“Sorry!”
The talkative guild staff shouted at the watching adventurers to leave.
Then he looked coldly at Karin.
“You are instructors. Don’t act on emotions. This is work.”
“…Sorry.”
Karin lowered her head slightly.
“…I’m sorry.”
Lizzy also spoke quietly.
“…I’m sorry too.”
An awkward silence followed.
Dorothy stood nearby.
Juhwan stretched out his arms.
She ran into them and whispered:
“Did you make up?”
“…Yeah.”
“Good.”
She giggled and patted his head.
Then Lizzy’s too.
Lizzy leaned slightly against Juhwan, finally relaxing.
Juhwan glanced at Karin’s wrist.
There was a red mark where he held her.
“I need to control my strength better.”
After that, they left the Guild and went to the market street together.
It was awkward.
No one spoke.
They had many things to buy.
The caravan would provide two meals a day—
but the quality wasn’t guaranteed.
Sometimes, meals weren’t even provided.
And since they had a child…
they had to prepare.
Clothes, gloves, hats, boots, water bottles, towels, ropes—
a lot to buy.
Despite the heavy mood—
Dorothy was happy again.
Like a fish in water, she ran around the market.
“This time, let’s go to the weapon street,” Marie said.
“Even if you don’t buy now, it’s important to get familiar with it.”
She showed her sword.
“You should also maintain your weapons regularly.”
The weapon street was quieter.
More serious.
Even Dorothy became calm.
Juhwan carried her as she slowly fell asleep.
They heard the sound of metal being sharpened.
An old man sat in a corner, sharpening blades using a rotating grindstone.
Marie approached him.
“Hello. Please take care of this.”
The man examined her sword and sighed.
“I told you before—don’t do this. Adventurers should invest in weapons.”
He shook his head.
“This is a cheap sword. Taking turns maintaining it? You’ll die someday.”
Marie awkwardly introduced Juhwan.
The man looked him up and down, then at his axe.
“Let me see.”
He inspected it carefully.
“Well maintained… but recently sharpened poorly. A beginner did this, right?”
Juhwan smiled awkwardly.
The man continued:
“It won’t last long. It looks fine outside, but it’ll break soon. Your strength is too much for it.”
He pointed to another shop.
“Go there. They sell weapons suited for strength fighters.”
Jessie added:
“Everyone gets recommendations from him. His eye is trustworthy.”
Juhwan nodded.
“Thank you. Also… is there a place that sells a knife like this?”
He drew a karambit shape on the ground.
The man looked at Lizzy.
“For her?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve never seen that before… but it can be made.”
Lizzy tugged Juhwan’s sleeve.
“Juhwan, I don’t need it. I can just use a normal knife.”
He shook his head.
“No. You need a weapon that fits you. You won’t even get into a stance before getting attacked.”
“But I’m in charge of management…”
“You don’t need to fight. Just survive a few seconds. That’s enough for me to help you.”
Lizzy lowered her head.
A mix of emotions crossed her face.
The man nodded.
“He’s right. Use weapons that match your body.”
The Red Sword members stayed silent.
Juhwan then bought two axes.
Each cost 4 Lina.
Weapons were expensive.
A hammer cost 25 Lina.
A good sword—40.
Even cheap swords cost 7.
“Too expensive…”
Still, axes were enough for now.
Later, they visited a weapon craftsman.
After explaining the karambit—
the craftsman became very interested.
“If you allow me to sell it later, I’ll make a prototype.”
Juhwan negotiated for several finished pieces as well.
There was no real concept of patents here—
so it was a fair deal