The Strongest Guild Kidnapped Me

Chapter 116

A video was uploaded to an online community showing children on a train journey. The video captured the children's amazed reactions as they descended into the underground world, their ears and tails standing up in surprise. As they attempted to pass through the turnstiles, crawling underneath and making squeaky noises, the reaction in the comments was explosive.

- **[Soo-in Fan]:** "Their cuteness is lethal..."
- **[Jinjinjja]:** "I wasn’t feeling great lately, but seeing this made me happy ??"
- **[Trickshow]:** "This video makes me want to have kids, lol."

Despite the children’s attempt to ride without paying, people weren’t angry. After all, it was natural for Soo-in children to be unfamiliar with modern technology. People simply saw it as an adorable mishap.

“Not bad,” thought Kang Jin-ho, pleased that there were no comments scolding the children. The label “Soo-in” turned what could have been seen as ignorance or impolite behavior into endearing innocence. This meant he didn’t have to worry about the children getting reprimanded wherever they went.

Kang Jin-ho felt reassured as he continued watching the video, which ended with the kids being startled by the speeding train. Their tails and ears rose in surprise, and Sophia caught them as they stumbled. Even Kang Jin-ho, known for his cold demeanor, found himself charmed.

"Not bad at all," he thought.

As for their faces being seen—it didn’t bother him. By now, such exposure was inevitable for guild members. The important thing was the children’s growing recognition. No one dared to trouble a well-known person with a positive image. All was going according to Kang Jin-ho’s plan.

He moved to the window. At certain times, he could see the children near the pond below. Today, as always, he planned to start his day by watching their lively antics.

“Hey, kings!”

With an emphatic tone, Levinas stepped out in front of Saebyeok, puffing out her chest in a proud stance she only took when she had something to show off.

“What’s going on?”

“Levinas bought something amazing!”

“Amazing?”

“Yeah!” Levinas eagerly led them over to a well-preserved handcart, in much better condition than the old cart with stuck wheels.

“Levinas got it for a hundred thousand won! It’s almost new, second-hand!”

“Wow.”

That was likely from the recent dungeon rewards. To think she spent it on something so useful.

With this cart, they could accomplish so much more, from easier vegetable harvesting to gathering more scrap. Just looking at it made their tails sway. As they pondered its possibilities, Saebyeok climbed onto the cart, signaling that she wanted to be pulled along. Grabbing the handle, they pulled her.

“All aboard!”

Levinas quickly hopped on as well. Though it held the weight of two, the wheels made it light enough to pull.

“How’s the ride?”

“It’s good.”

“Now we have our own ride!”

They wandered all around the park with the two excited children on board, gathering empty bottles as they went. After a while, they parked at a spot in the park.

“This is amazing. Owning a new cart was my dream.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You can do so much with a cart like this.”

The old cart required oiling to move, but this one rolled smoothly without any effort. Who knew such a great cart existed? Stroking its metal frame, Gyeoul felt immense satisfaction.

“Hey, why don’t we gather some scrap metal with this?”

“Sure.”

Pulling the cart, they moved toward the guild building, where they encountered familiar faces: Midsummer, Jung Yuna, and Choi Jin-hyuk.

“Gyeoul, what are you doing here?”

“We’re collecting scrap metal.”

“Oh, I see...”

“Yes! This is our new cart, and the wheels run so smoothly.”

“Right… they sure do…”

Midsummer, Jung Yuna, and Choi Jin-hyuk seemed uneasy. Did they not like the cart? Their reaction was a bit puzzling.

“This is a top-of-the-line cart...”

“Oh, wow, top-of-the-line?”

“Yes, would you like to ride? It’s got a really nice ride quality.”

As they gestured toward the cart, Levinas and Saebyeok scooted over to make room, even beckoning them with inviting gestures.

“No, I’m fine,” Midsummer said with a nervous laugh, glancing around at the people watching them. Only then did they notice the many eyes on them.

“You’re not going to ride…?”

“Uh, no. It might be a bit…”

“Oh…”

Maybe the cart didn’t match their style. Gyeoul’s ears and tail drooped in disappointment.

'That’s a shame.'

Midsummer was wealthy, and Gyeoul was not; the gap in their perceptions couldn’t be helped.

“Um, instead, how about you get on, Gyeoul? I’ll pull you.”

“It’s okay; I prefer pulling it myself.”

“Oh, really…?”

“Yes. My dream was to pull a high-quality cart.”

Every time the old cart’s rusty wheels jammed, Gyeoul had promised herself, “Someday, I’ll pull a brand-new cart.”

Now that it was here, there was no way she’d ride instead of pulling.

“Well… okay…”

Midsummer looked unsure, glancing at the cart. Not wanting to force her, Gyeoul waved her off reassuringly.

“I’ll go pick up scrap metal now.”

“Alright…”

After saying goodbye, Gyeoul resumed pulling the cart. After only a few steps, it suddenly grew heavier.

“Huh?”

Why did it feel so heavy? Looking back, she saw Midsummer sitting in the cart, her face flushed as she lowered her head, seeming embarrassed to be using something so mundane.

“Just a quick ride, maybe?”

“Oh! Yes!”

The fact that she joined despite her embarrassment made Gyeoul’s tail wag in delight.

“You guys get on too,” Midsummer gestured to Jung Yuna and Choi Jin-hyuk. They hesitated, just as Midsummer had moments ago.

“…If we all get on, it might be too heavy to pull?”

“It’s fine! These wheels are great!”

“Really?”

“Yes! I’ll pull all of you!”

Energized by the new cart, Gyeoul persuaded Jung Yuna and Choi Jin-hyuk to hop on. Even with five people on it, the cart held steady.

“Gyeoul, isn’t this too much?”

“It’s fine!”

Heaving, Gyeoul strained to pull the cart. Her arms trembled with effort, but somehow, it wouldn’t move.

“Huh.”

Why wasn’t it moving? Tilting her head in confusion, the cart slowly inched forward. It took all her strength to keep it moving.

‘Wow.’

To pull a cart with five people aboard—it had to be thanks to this amazing new cart. She happily pulled it along.

As they passed in front of the guild building, all eyes were on them—a small child pulling three adults and two other children. It would have looked odd to anyone unfamiliar with the situation. But these were members of the famous Dawn Guild and their young Soo-in wards.

Was it a game? Training? No one could say, but people watched with fascination.

“Yuna, slow down a bit.”

Perched on the cart, Midsummer signaled to Jung Yuna, giving a subtle cue not to pull too fast.

“Okay.”

Nodding, Jung Yuna waved her staff, and the cart’s speed decreased slightly.

In reality, it was Jung Yuna’s magic, not Gyeoul’s strength, moving the cart. Not wanting to disappoint Gyeoul, she secretly used her magic to help. Gyeoul, unaware, kept pulling with all her might, maintaining the same steady pace.

“Hah… hah…”

“Gyeoul, maybe it’s time to stop?”

“Just… a little… more…”

What was it about this cart that made her try so hard? Midsummer recalled the old cart beside Gyeoul’s tent.

That cart was so old it was barely usable, yet Gyeoul had refused to discard it, treasuring it despite its state. For her, a new cart was a dream come true.

“Not a toy or anything…”

It was hard to grow accustomed to hearing such things from her. Feeling a pang of sympathy, Midsummer sighed.

Just then—

“What are you doing?”

A familiar voice made Midsummer look up. Guild Master Kang Jin-ho stood there, looking slightly irritated, alongside Cha Ju-yeon, the Sacred Guild Master.

“Oh my, bullying?”

“N-no! We’re just playing!”

“Playing…?”

Cha Ju-yeon and Kang Jin-ho turned to see Gyeoul, trembling all over. She was straining her entire body to pull the cart, a sight that looked rather pitiful.