“But... I think I can join later with the second group,” he remarked.

“...”

“...”

As expected, he hadn’t really changed much at all.

For some reason, he looked like the name "Kim Hyun-Sung" absolutely had to be included in that list.

“...”

“...”

‘Why does he just assume he’s going to the Republic in the first place?’

He wasn’t even invited. Could it be that he couldn't care less about what Commander Jin would think? Both Jung Ha-Yan and Kim Hyun-Sung seemed to be taking it for granted that they would be going to the Republic, even though neither of them had received an invitation.

Naturally, there was no way Commander Jin had anticipated a situation like this. He'd think attendants were necessary, but he probably never imagined they would be Jung Ha-Yan or Kim Hyun-Sung.

In fact, those two were exactly the kind of people Commander Jin would be wary of, so it would be like letting uninvited guests into his estate.

“If you’re busy, you don’t need to come...” I said.

“No. It’s an important event, so I think it’s only right that I attend. It seems people are placing great importance on this meeting,” he said, refusing my suggestion.

‘Whether people consider it important or not... do you really need to be there?’

“If I go with you, the citizens of the Democratic Country will probably feel more at ease,” he added.

‘There are no anxious citizens to begin with, damn it.’

Judging by his expression, it didn’t look like he would listen. It was the face he made when his stubborn side was out. Normally, I wouldn't understand it at all, but now, I could see why he was worrying over nothing. He was probably thinking back to the war between the Republic and the Empire in the first life. Of course, he knew things were different now, but it seemed difficult for him to completely let go of that thought.

Even from my perspective, across both lives, it was hard to find a war more brutal than that one. The fact that he said he would join later with a second group was proof that he was suppressing his own obsessive worries.

What I hadn’t expected, however, was that he wasn’t the only one with that kind of anxiety. Hearing a knock on the door, I saw Miss Kim Mi-Young’s dark face as she entered the office, which meant something had gone wrong somewhere again.

“Hello, Sub Guild Master. Ah, Guild Master... you’re here as well,” Kim Mi-Young greeted.

“Good morning,” I greeted back.

I had no choice but to get straight to the point.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Um... the Vatican and the Democratic Country’s central government sent a peace delegation,” she reported.

I could hear the hint of excitement in Kim Hyun-Sung’s voice.

“A peace delegation... that’s good news!”

Sure, if it were a normal peace delegation, that would be good news, but judging by Kim Mi-Young’s expression, this was anything but a normal one.

“How large is it?” I asked.

“From the Vatican, ten thousand holy knights and priests. From the central government, one hundred griffon riders, ten thousand cavalry... three thousand mages, and twenty thousand soldiers. In addition, there are curated adventurers...” she answered.

‘What kind of peace delegation is this supposed to be, damn it?’

“Altogether, about forty thousand... members of the peace delegation... have been dispatched,” she added.

‘That’s basically saying they’re going to war.’

“They say they have already received approval from the Continental Protection Management Committee, and the Republic is urging them to scale down the forty thousand troops—no, members of the peace delegation.

"The Democratic Country dismissed those concerns, saying there’s no issue since they were approved, and in response, the Republic has filed a petition with the Committee while also preparing measures to accommodate the forty thousand...” she trailed off.

“...”

“Additionally... His Holiness Pope Basel said that if you don’t intend to visit the Republic alongside the delegation, he’ll personally make the trip himself.” she continued.

‘This is driving me insane.’

Kim Hyun-Sung’s face was lighting up, while Kim Mi-Young’s expression grew darker by the second. Of course, there was no way that old man would just sit still. Even Oscar, whom I trusted, seemed to have sided with Pope Basel. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

For a moment, I almost wondered if the Pope had been watching those ridiculous propaganda channels, but I knew that was impossible for someone even more out of touch with modern culture than Kim Hyun-Sung.

This situation was that absurd. Whether it was intentional or not, it only confirmed that even the highest ranks of the Democratic Country still held negative ideas about the Republic.

Even Oscar, who was among the most flexible-minded on the continent, was one of them.

“What’s... the public opinion like?” I asked.

“The Republic’s response... isn’t very favorable. Given the scale of the delegation...” Kim Mi-Young answered.

‘Even after all the joint projects and operations between the two sides...’

It seemed that deep-rooted resentment wasn't so easily erased. Adventurers were one thing, but the real issue was the people of the continent who lived through the long rivalry between the Republic and the Empire.

Since they were young, they were raised with hostility toward one another, so even in this era of peace, that bitterness hadn’t faded away.

Officially, both sides were supportive and trusting of each other, but even Pope Basel and Oscar seemed unable to completely let go of their prejudice toward the Republic.

They were probably considering the possibility that this could be a trap. Those forty thousand troops sent under the name of a peace delegation would ultimately be expected to risk their lives to bring me back to the Democratic Country if something went wrong.

‘It was so quiet that I didn’t even realize the so-called peace delegation had already arrived.’

It made sense. Looking out the window, I could see troops across all of Lindel. These soldiers didn’t even exchange casual conversation. They stared straight ahead with determined eyes, and their tightly shut mouths carried the resolve to fight and die for the Democratic Country.

Those weren’t the faces of peace delegation members. Seeing Kim Hyun-Sung looking satisfied at that sight made me feel like slapping him for the first time in a while.

‘I can already imagine the reactions of the Republic’s propaganda channels.’

They were probably saying that those shameless Democratic Country bastards were trying to station forty thousand troops in the Republic’s backyard. They were probably saying that this wasn't a step toward peace, but hypocrisy meant to launch a surprise attack.

Strangely enough, the people of the Republic viewed me favorably, so they probably believed that the Sacred Democratic Country was trying to use the Saint of Sacrifice and Revival as part of some scheme.

“Should we... start preparing?” Kim Mi-Young asked.

It seemed Kim Mi-Young was well aware that this whole situation made no sense. No wonder she looked like she hadn’t slept at all. She had to have been under a lot of stress.

“No, it’s still better than having Pope Basel go to the Republic himself. Instead, we should reach an agreement to cut the scale in half. It’s still a large number, but I'm sure His Holiness and Lady Oscar aren't really expecting to bring the entire delegation anyway. They probably thought around twenty thousand would be the limit, which is why they called such a large number to begin with,” I answered.

With Ha-Yan there, what was the point of bringing that many troops anyway?

“Okay, then... I’ll relay that message,” she said.

“As for the departure... if we’re going together with the troops... I mean, the delegation, there’s no time to rest here. Could you let Ha-Yan know that we’re leaving immediately?” I requested.

“Sure. Should I inform the other guild members as well?” she asked.

“No,” I answered.

“It would be best to take about three people with you, Mr. Ki-Young,” Kim Hyun-Sung suggested.

“...”

“...”

“No, that’s not really necessary...” I said.

“Still...”

I let out a deep sigh. Kim Hyun-Sung flinched slightly, but he still looked like he had no intention of backing down. Lately, he realized that if he pushed just a little, I would give in on minor things. That was another change that came after returning from the first life.

‘Fine... you win again, damn it.’

“Alright, we’ll do that,” I said.

Naturally, I began going through the possible candidates. While I was away, Jo Hye-Jin and Sun Hee-Young needed to manage the guild, so they were out. Colonel Smith, our media officer, had to stay here to handle press conferences whenever something came up, so he ought to remain at the guild as well.

As for the newer members like Alps and Belier, they had already gone through enough in the first life, so there was no need to drag them along to the Republic. Of course, they probably believed that going to the Republic was better than learning guild work under Sun Hee-Young, but why would I even bring a bunch of rookies?

I also wanted to give Yoo Ah-Young and Lee Chang-Ryeol something like a break. Especially Lee Chang-Ryeol. This guy had been through a lot, so he ought to spend some time with Yoo Ah-Young. Hwang Jung-Yeon didn’t go to the first life with us, but she had a mountain of research to deal with, so taking her along would be a loss.

Elena was staying in Everia Kingdom as well.

‘Han Sora is obviously going.’

For some reason, I didn’t feel like calling Park Lian, even though she had always been supporting me from behind.

If I had to bring guild members, three people came to mind—someone who seemed unusually down lately, and it was probably because parting with First Life Ki-Young hit him hard; someone who hadn’t gone through the first life but was still capable enough to ease Kim Hyun-Sung’s anxiety, on par with Park Lian or Lee Chang-Ryeol; and someone who I just couldn’t stand seeing lazing around.

“Let Park Deok-Gu, Kim Ye-Ri, and Ahn Ki-Mo know,” I instructed.

Putting them together, they were basically the Park-Ki-Ri siblings.

“Sir, regarding Ahn Ki-Mo, he’s currently on leave until the 21st. His leave started this morning...” Kim Mi-Young reported.

“Tell him to cut his leave short and come back. This is a special situation,” I ordered.

“Yes, sir.”

‘He clearly took that leave because he knew something like this was going to happen.’

For some reason, I just can’t stand the thought of that bastard Ahn Ki-Mo taking it easy.

Anyway, judging by Kim Hyun-Sung’s reaction, he seemed pleased that Kim Ye-Ri was included. In an emergency, a skilled assassin and ranger was always reassuring, and with Park Deok-Gu in the mix as well, what more needed to be said?

Of course, he did tilt his head slightly at the mention of Ahn Ki-Mo, but since his abilities were useful, he seemed to think that he could be put to use somehow. He looked like he was glad to have an extra meat shield he could rely on in case things went south.

“Then I’ll go get ready, so you should focus on your work, Mr. Hyun-Sung,” I suggested.

“Okay, Mr. Ki-Young...” Kim Hyun-Sung mumbled.

“No need to come out to see me off. I’ll head out as soon as I’m ready, so I’ll contact you after we depart,” I said to him.

“Understood.”

Not long afterward....

“O-oppa... it has been a while since we traveled together. It really has... You’re not... upset with me, right?” Jung Ha-Yan asked.

“Miss Jung Ha-Yan, hold on a second. There’s something stuck on your hat. Ah, what am I doing... You brought everything I told you to pack, right?" asked Han Sora.

“Wow... the Republic? We’re going to the Republic this time? The world better get ready, Park Deok-Gu is coming!” exclaimed Park Deok-Gu.

“It has been a while since we have all gone somewhere together. Hyun-Sung oppa is coming too, right?” Kim Ye-Ri asked.

“Sir... I didn’t take my leave today because I thought something would happen. I really did have plans. I was supposed to go on a trip with my girlfriends starting today... It just happened to be today... Just out of curiosity... will we get any free time once we arrive in the Republic?” Ahn Ki-Mo asked.

I set off for the Republic, together with five members of the Blue Guild and, damn it, around twenty thousand members of the so-called peace delegation. To the people of the continent, it probably looked like a glorious and sacred send-off, announcing true peace across the land.

However, I could guarantee that Commander Jin was probably slamming his desk in frustration, and there was no way this sight would look glorious in his eyes.

— Lee Ki-Young... Lee Ki-Young... Lee Ki-Young!