The Birth of a Santa Rank
When you live long enough, you experience all kinds of things.
Before even becoming an adult, he became an adventurer.
From picking herbs to surviving countless dangers—his life had seen everything.
Among all those experiences, the most unbelievable one was this:
Becoming the Guild Master of the Bern Adventurer Village.
Not all guild masters in this world are high-ranking.
Sometimes, an ordinary adventurer like him could become one.
Especially in remote areas far from big cities, things like that happened often.
Still—
Being a guild master was special.
It wasn’t something just anyone could become.
He always thought it was a miracle that he became one.
But now—
That miracle had encountered another miracle.
“Rudolph?”
The Guild Master tilted his head.
He wasn’t very good at reading, but he could recognize that word.
“Why is a legendary magical beast mentioned all of a sudden?”
The talkative man asked while still buried in paperwork.
His nose was almost touching the paper, his hands moving nonstop, yet he kept talking.
“Right? Rudolph is practically a legend.”
“What nonsense are you saying? Stop playing around and do your work. You just need to sign. I already prepared everything.”
“Well… I’d love to, but I don’t have time right now.”
The Guild Master smiled.
“I think there’s a Rudolph in our branch.”
The talkative man let out a long sigh.
“Master… I respect you. You saved me when I was about to starve. But I cannot tolerate your lazy attitude. Just sign the papers, please!”
He spoke without breathing.
Every time, it was impressive.
“No, really. I hate paperwork, but this isn’t a joke. That horned rabbit… it might be Rudolph.”
The talkative man finally lifted his head.
“...What?”
He looked completely dumbfounded.
“I told you before. I know someone who understands magical beasts. I asked them to check, and they replied—Rudolph.”
“Why did they think that?”
“I don’t know. They just wrote ‘Rudolph.’”
The talkative man nodded.
“That definitely sounds like your acquaintance.”
Then he added:
“Cutting out all context and sending only the conclusion—that’s exactly your style.”
His face became serious.
“Can we trust that person? Every year, someone claims they found Rudolph. People even fake horns on animals.”
Then he muttered:
“…But if it’s someone you trust, Master… maybe it’s real.”
The talkative man stood up and went to the shelves.
He began searching through old documents.
“Where was it… I’m sure I saw it…”
Before he arrived, everything was a mess.
Now, the documents were neatly organized by type and time.
To the Master, it already looked perfect.
But to the talkative man—it still wasn’t enough.
“Having a competent worker makes life easier… and harder at the same time.”
After searching for a long time, he found an old paper.
“Master, should we call this person? Or send the healing mage to them?”
“Who is it?”
“I don’t know. But according to this, they know a lot about Rudolph.”
He sighed.
“Honestly, that mage and the child don’t seem to know much about magical beasts. It’s better they learn.”
“Even if it’s not Rudolph, that party is extremely valuable.”
“Alright. We’ll call them using guild funds.”
“Thank you… though I wonder if they’re still alive.”
The talkative man picked up a new paper.
“I’ll write the report for headquarters. You won’t do it anyway.”
Then he added:
“This is going to be troublesome.”
“A dual-attribute healing mage is already enough to attract nobles…”
“But if it’s Rudolph too—then even royalty will go crazy.”
A smile appeared on his face.
The Master smirked.
“You’re happy thinking about that aide getting in trouble, aren’t you?”
“….”
The talkative man tried to hide it—but soon smiled again.
“Petty guy.”
The Master thought:
Did he like the woman who got taken from him?
He always seemed uninterested in women.
But maybe… he did care.
“Ah!”
The talkative man suddenly shouted.
“Master!”
“Our branch is getting an S-rank!”
“If it’s Rudolph, that means Santa’s contractor!”
The Master blinked.
“So we’re witnessing the birth of a Santa rank…”
“I thought S-rank was just decoration.”
“Same here. Never thought I’d see one in my lifetime.”
“Then we should prepare a Santa necklace too.”
“But we must keep this secret.”
“As long as possible.”
“Of course.”
“...But who is the contractor?”
The child?
Or the mage?
“We need to find that out first.”
The Master muttered and sighed.
“This is going to be a lot of work…”
The merchant caravan continued peacefully.
Juhwan had been called as a healing mage—
But he barely did anything.
Sometimes, someone got a small injury.
But no one asked him to heal.
Probably because he was paid per case.
Still—
“Getting paid without working… feels uncomfortable.”
It reminded him of his old life on Earth.
He couldn’t relax.
“Can’t be helped.”
During the day, Juhwan slept in the wagon.
Lizzy drove instead.
To others, it looked like he was lazy.
…Which wasn’t entirely wrong.
When he woke up, he played with Dorothy.
They sat together and talked about random things.
Peaceful. Warm. Happy.
At night, Juhwan stayed awake.
He walked around the Miller Company area.
There were rumors of bandits.
Even if most were false—
“There must be some truth.”
And inside the wagon—
Lizzy and Dorothy were there.
He created a small flame in his hand and walked through the darkness.
No one around.
Only the sound of wolves.
After three days—
Nothing suspicious.
“Let’s go back.”
He turned around.
The campfires glowed in the distance.
He always stayed within sight of them.
“You never know what can happen.”
Then—
He saw a torch moving in the darkness.
Far from the wagons.
“….”
He extinguished his flame.
And listened.
“Mmm… mm…”
A muffled sound.
Then a man’s voice:
“Don’t struggle! If you resist, you know what happens to the other two!”
Juhwan recognized the voice.
The fire mage.
Then—
Dragging sounds.
And a woman’s quiet sobbing.
“….”
He understood immediately.
Tonight—
Karin and Jessie were on watch.
Lizzy and Dorothy were asleep.
That left—
Marie.
Red Sword always said:
“Don’t interfere in others’ problems.”
But—
Juhwan couldn’t ignore this.
“She’s guiding our party.”
That was enough reason.
He remembered how that man looked at Lizzy.
“Yeah… that’s enough reason.”
Juhwan moved silently.
Like a hunter.
No sound.
The voices got closer.
The man planted the torch and gathered stones.
Marie sat on the ground, unable to escape.
Crying softly.
The fire mage didn’t notice Juhwan.
Until—
Juhwan appeared behind him.
Marie’s eyes widened.
Juhwan didn’t even look at the man.
He walked to Marie and helped her stand.
“What the hell?! I was first! Wait your turn!”
Juhwan raised his fist—
But stopped.
Marie grabbed his arm.
“P-please… stop… don’t fight…”
“….”
She was shaking, crying.
“D-don’t… fight…”
Then—
“Who’s there?!”
Karin’s voice.
Others started coming.
“Tch! Ruined it.”
The fire mage left.
Laughing voices echoed.
Karin ran over and hugged Marie.
“Are you okay?!”
Marie nodded weakly.
“Juhwan helped me… thank you.”
“…Thank you.”
Karin bowed several times.
But Juhwan didn’t understand.
“Why did you stop me?”
Marie spoke while trembling:
“He’s a 4th-rank combat mage…”
“You’re higher rank, but you’re a healer.”
“You would lose.”
“If we fought him—we’d die instantly.”
“So you were just going to endure it?”
Juhwan asked.
Karin answered:
“The guild tries to help…”
“But most people are like him.”
“They can’t control everyone.”
“Adventurers are ruled by strength.”
They walked in silence.
Then Marie said:
“Thank you… but don’t clash with him again.”
“Most people avoid them.”
“….”
Jessie ran over.
The three women cried together.
Juhwan turned away.
“Maybe I handled this poorly.”
Now—
There was resentment.
And people like that—
Hold grudges deeply.
“But if it happens again… I’ll do the same.”
Not because of Marie.
But because—
Lizzy wasn’t safe either.
He had seen that man’s eyes.
Marie was just the easier target.
“Next time… I won’t let it go.”
If you look weak—
More will come.
Just like his past life.
He walked faster.
Finally—
He reached the wagon.
Checked the locked door.
Only then—
He relaxed.
Lizzy opened the door quickly.
“Juhwan, are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s okay.”
“No one will die this time.”
Santa might be a terrible being—
But he sent him here wishing for happiness.
So—
“It will be okay.”
“No one will be unhappy.”
Not Lizzy.
Not Dorothy.
And not himself