Sieun dipped her head. "Thank you, Mister Loki, for saving that woman." Her mouth tightened. "But did you have to beat them that hard? With your power you could have incapacitated them easily or at least held back. When they respawned they were spasming and screaming. That kind of shock can even leave trauma."
"If it does give them trauma, that will be the best result," Loki said, voice flat.
Seuin's brows drew together. "What do you mean by that?"
"You know locking them in a cell means nothing," Loki said, meeting her eyes. "They are still free here and might try something like that again."
"We can make them understand their mistakes in the real world. Beating people like that is not an option. We live in a society. We have laws," Seuin said, jaw set.
"Not in here," Loki answered quietly.
"If I wanted to do heinous things here, there is no law here that can stop me. And since you can't even identify me, you can't do anything to me in real life either. Am I right, Captain?"
Seuin's hands curled in frustration, knowing he was right.
"Inside here, the only law is level and skill. The sooner you accept that, the better."
Silence pressed for a moment.
"Cases like today will only increase," Loki went on. "They might be happening right now while we speak. But the three I broke will think twice next time before doing something like that again, because they will remember how it felt."
Seuin's gaze hardened. "Are you saying the government should start beating people and controlling them through fear?"
"You can't control anyone here, Captain Kang. The best you can do is maintain order. Make simple rules like rewarding the good with items and punishing the bad with death."
"What if that death is their last one? What then?"
"...Well, you have to follow the rules", he replied calmly.
"We can't just decide who lives and who dies like that. It's just... wrong."
"Just tell your higher-ups what I mentioned to you and let them make the decision. And say this. if they don't start doing it, someone else will."
Seuin drew a long breath. Frustration flickered in her eyes, mixed with a tired kind of fear.
"But before any of that, you need to be in a position to do the deciding. And for that, you will need power." Loki said, and her eyes lifted to his. "So you and the others better start leveling up".
Loki turned to leave. But Seuin stopped him with a quiet call.
"Mister Loki, wait. I have a favor to ask of you."
He paused. "Hm?"
"Since you clearly know what you're doing here, could you give me one day of yours to train my team and me? Teach them the basics of this world. How to manage their stats. How to survive. Things like that"
She drew a breath and held his eyes. "We can handle common and uncommon mobs, even the common bosses are no problem. But the higher-tier bosses are different. Too many of us die when we go to hunt one. I was hoping you could give a class on coordinating and taking down one."
'What do I do?' Loki weighed it.
'It's just one day, and it won't slow me down much. And with Greed's Touch, it does not matter even if I take a day off and help them. This can also get me close with the government and military people.'
"Alright, I can do that," he decided."But what's in it for me?"
"What do you want?" Seuin asked. There was pride in her spine and worry under it.
"I'm prepared to meet your terms if they are reasonable."
"Two hundred TLE per person, paid up front," Loki said. "And a personal favor from you later."
"I can approve the TLE," she said, curious despite herself. "What is the favor?"
"I'll tell you when we're done with the training."
Seuin blinked, then tried to lighten the air.
"Mister Loki, I'll say it now. I'm not doing any naughty favors." She folded her arms over her ample chest with a crooked smile.
"It's not that kind of favor," Loki said, deadpan, but his eyes moved to them involuntarily.
She laughed, a small burst of relief.
"Alright. I can accept your terms."
They set the details, shook on it, and parted.
Seuin watched him go, frustration and tired hope warring in her chest. The things he said were still stirring in her mind.
...
Loki stood in front of the teleport gate with a panel in front of him.
[Please Enter Town Name]
'I should check if the town I spawned in my first life is open or not. '
[Destination: Sandrock Vale]
[Use 100 TLE to travel to Sandrock Vale?]
Seeing that it was open, Loki pressed Yes and entered the portal. After a flash of light, he arrived.
[Welcome to Newbie Town: Sandrock Vale]
Sandrock Vale was hotter and brighter than Ashen Hollow. Sun baked the sandstone walls and the hard, dusty streets. There were cliffs and broken ledges instead of trees, and sand piled in corners like traps.
'I much prefer Ashen Hollow to this. It's too bright here,' he thought
"Okay, I give up. Nobody can clear that temple," a man snapped, angry and winded.
"Yeah… let's farm normal mobs and try again when we're stronger," his friend said.
'Temple?' The word tugged at Loki's memory.
Then, after a while, it finally clicked.
"Ahhhh, the Temple of Faith, I totally forgot about it.", he said, louder than he meant.
"Who is that?" said someone, noticing his shout.
"Let's go ask if he wants to party with us."
But before anyone could approach him, he disappeared.
...
[Welcome to Newbie Town: Ashen Hollow]
A ripple of light folded shut behind the people that just arrived.
"So that's a gate," someone murmured, rubbing their arms. "Feels kinda weird."
"Not as incredible as I thought it would be."
"This place feels very dark and depressing," a third muttered.
"Oi, you better give back the TLE I lent you."
"Bro, you don't even know what TLE does."
The one at their head took a step forward. He had Ink-black hair swept back in a controlled wave, no stray strand out of place. Pale skin, razor jaw, and straight nose, paired with his dark brown eyes, made him look dashing.
He wore a charcoal-black, double-breasted suit that shaped his shoulders and pulled narrow at the waist; from the lapels and seams, golden thornwork bloomed as if armor were growing out of the cloth. A deep violet tie sat tight, held by a spiked brooch around a faceted amethyst that glowed from within.
His gaze moved once across the place, taking in the ruined scenery.
"Someone go and ask where I can find Haeun," he said.
"Right away, young master," one of the entourage answered, jogging away in a hurry.
At his side stood a woman in a draped hood over copper-ginger waves to her upper back. Wispy bangs framed a heart-shaped face with a soft jaw and small upturned nose. brown, almond eyes watched everything beneath matching brows; long upper lashes, minimal lip tint, and a clear peach complexion.
Black ritual robes shaped her into an hourglass. In her right hand, an iron-black staff topped a ringed, spiked head around a glowing red gem.
She tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "Who is this Haeun?"
"A family friend," he said without looking at her. "She asked me to come and discuss some things with her."
She clicked her tongue and folded her arms. "Fine, just get it over quick, and then keep your promise."
"Yeah, yeah, I'll do that after I am done here. By the way, what was the name of your ex again?"
"Seojin," she said, voice tight. "Kim Seojin."