I'm Living as a Healer in Nord World - Chapter 6

“Gasp! So, you got kicked out of the Guild Castle?”

“Kicked out? Hardly! It’s just that I… lost my base of operations…”

Along with my personal room. My home, too.

Lydian sighed deeply, as if the ground might swallow her whole.

She and Hern were currently in a tavern in the city of Midgard. Though it was labeled as a tavern, it didn’t actually serve alcohol, so to the players, it was simply a restaurant with an inn attached.

“So, does that mean the guild master is now staying at an inn, too?”

The problem facing the players after being transported into this unfamiliar game world was securing the basic necessities: food, clothing, and shelter.

Through the system, they could pull clothes from their inventory to change or retrieve food to eat, so that part wasn’t an issue. They could even buy these items at NPC shops. As long as they had currency, food and clothing weren’t too much of a problem.

The real issue lay in basic human needs, namely hunger and sleep.

Hunger and sleep greatly affected fatigue levels. Just as in reality, if physical fatigue accumulated, movements became sluggish and recovery slowed.

The world of Nord featured both day and night cycles, and, just like in reality, players’ biological rhythms moved in sync with the passing hours. This meant players were forced to eat and sleep regularly, just as they would in real life. Interestingly, the need for other ambiguous bodily functions didn’t seem to exist here.

After realizing the importance of food and sleep, players began rushing to find places to eat and sleep.

Fortunately, the city of Midgard had numerous inns. By paying a certain fee, anyone could get a meal and rent a room to sleep in.

“I’m thinking of just buying a house. I didn’t consider it before, thinking houses were just cash-shop items, but I checked today and found that some regular houses on the street can be bought with gold. Though, of course, they’re ridiculously expensive. I never expected a real estate system here…”

“Well, given there’s a housing system, it’s not surprising. But even if you plan to buy one now, don’t expect anything nearby. I heard that wealthy rankers have already snatched up properties for investment. I overheard recently that someone’s already bought several properties and is reselling them at a premium. That’s why Koreans have a reputation for this sort of thing.”

“Wow. Really? Then I guess the central district is already taken?”

“Yeah, it’s their exclusive territory now.”

Midgard’s houses differed from the in-game houses players could buy as a service. Standard house prices typically ranged from 40 to 80 million gold, and unlike the modern, artificial feel of in-game houses, regular houses had a mundane, realistic atmosphere reminiscent of the medieval era.

The inn’s daily lodging fee was 100,000 gold, which was quite steep. This meant nearly 3 million gold per month. Because of this, lower-level players who couldn’t afford it often shared rooms or even slept on the streets.

This issue had sparked enough debate that the combat guilds’ alliance was actively seeking a solution. Although it wasn’t a pressing problem now, if the situation continued, it would create a strain on resources.

“Wait, are you loaded with gold, Guild Master? You’re talking about buying a house…”

“Nah, not really. I just got lucky since I’ve been here from the start. Though I did make most of it trading avatars. I was initially planning to save up, but I figured living in an inn would stress me out… so I think I’ll get a house, even if it costs a bit. Are you doing okay financially?”

“Oh, my friend sent me a good amount when we started. And if I run low, I can just go and ask for more. That friend’s super rich, you know.”

“Well, that’s a relief. I thought I might help out some new players in need once I get a house.”

“What? Guild Master, that’s a little too charitable! Even if it’s another girl, at the end of the day, they’re strangers. Isn’t it a bit awkward to let someone just move in? I’d feel totally uneasy.”

Hern’s words struck a nerve, and Lydian scratched her head in thought.

“Hmm, you think so?”

“Think about it. Even if they’re characters, it’s basically like having a roommate in reality. Wouldn’t that feel uncomfortable?”

“Ah… now that you mention it, you’re right. I still think of this as just a game. I guess I lack a sense of reality here.”

“Get a grip, Guild Master. Anyway, I’m against it. Just get a small place and live on your own.”

Lydian looked at Hern and gave a gentle smile.

He was only twenty, yet unusually mature for his age. Feeling a bit of fondness, Lydian reached out to ruffle Hern’s hair. Since Hern was taller, it looked a bit silly, but Lydian chuckled mischievously.

“Honestly, I’d be lost without you.”

“You need to toughen up, Guild Master. I have a friend who’s incredibly selfish, and I’d love to introduce you two. Then again, you’re so opposite that you might not get along.”

“I’m curious about your friend. Anyway, looks like I’ll be staying here tonight.”

“Oh, I’m on the third floor. They said they reserved the fourth floor for women. Just a heads-up, though. Now that people are settling in, there are some creeps hanging around. Watch out for them…”

“Oh, those lunatics! Do they have a death wish?!”

Hern’s voice was promptly drowned out by the raucous laughter of a group of men who had just entered the tavern.

Bursting with loud laughter, the group crowded in and, by coincidence, sat right behind Lydian and Hern.

With his voice overwhelmed, Hern frowned, while Lydian also looked visibly uncomfortable. “We’re done with our meal anyway, so it’s fine, isn’t it?” she asked, to which Hern nodded reluctantly.

“Hey, have you heard the rumor? That second-ranking guild, the Sun Guild—it’s in for a real beating this time.”

One of the players seated behind them lowered his voice slightly. But since they were so close, Lydian and Hern could hear every word. Oblivious to this, the players continued their whispers.

“You know Forget-Me-Not, right? That Saint-ranked player? The Sun Guild hyped her up so much, making her out to be some kind of goddess. But now that we’ve actually met her, it turns out it was all a load of nonsense.”

“Oh, I heard about that. Isn’t she the famous queen bee? They say she’s been using someone else’s photo all this time. Crazy.”

“They say her real face is hideous. I mean, how do you even think of using someone else’s picture in this day and age?”

“Guess it was all part of her scheme. And as long as she was only scamming her guildmates… Well, now the Sun Guild’s reputation is shot. Honestly, if her face was just ugly, no one would care. But using someone else’s photo and pretending it was hers? Despicable.”

“Apparently, the suckers who idolized her were horrified when they saw her in person. Is that even real?”

“They say it was like falling from S-rank to F-rank. She’s a nobody now. No one even talks to her. Her groupies, the ones who were always fawning over her, have all ghosted her. Especially those guys who used to shower her with items—they’re outraged. The guild’s trying to keep it quiet to protect their image, but word’s already out. And with her being a high-ranking Saint, they can’t even kick her out. It’s hilarious.”

“Amazing. They bragged about being the ‘Visual Guild,’ but look at how reality just kicked in.”

“But isn’t the Sun Guild leader, Grand General, legit? He’s an ex-model and now a CEO. Have you seen him in person? His proportions are insane. Standing next to him, you’d feel like a complete nobody. I’ve always heard people rave about him on the forums, but after seeing him, I nearly fell for him. His body proportions are out of this world.”

“There’s even a rumor about a real celebrity in another guild?”

“Who knows? Probably just a rumor. But anyway, Grand General is the real deal. I nearly lost it when I saw him at the guild castle yesterday.”

“But his control sucks. No matter how much cash he’s poured in, his skill is a mess.”

“Hey. The real guild master is the vice-leader. The main guy is just the face. That vice-leader’s skill is unreal—well, at least in-game.”

“How much do you think the Grand General pays his vice-leader? Rumor says over three hundred a month.”

“Insane. Even if it’s three hundred a month, who spends all day controlling someone else’s character? They should be running their own. Honestly, they should go after the person who created that remote login tool. Ruining the lives of dedicated players like this.”

“Unbelievable. A second-ranking guild, and look at their mess. Legion will probably take second place soon. And the ONE Guild leader looks amazing doing whatever he does in the square.”

“ONE’s always been famous. But Legion’s surprising, too. Did you see that mage, Heart of Flame? Turns out he’s a total grandpa. I’ve never seen a senior player like that before.”

“Yeah, I saw him too. Nearly jumped when I saw his face and ID. It’s like he’s someone’s actual grandpa. Probably a chairman somewhere, given his insane gear.”

“That old man’s equipment is seriously decked out.”

Their relentless chatter left them laughing uproariously, clutching their sides. The tavern was noisy to begin with, but sitting nearby made it almost unbearable.

Finally, Lydian shot Hern a look, signaling that they should leave. Hern, seemingly just as fed up with the unpleasant gossip, sighed and stood up.

As they headed toward the counter, one of the male players behind them happened to notice Lydian’s face and hesitated, puzzled. The distance was close enough for them to check each other’s info screens.

“Whoa. So she’s a woman?”

“Who? Wait—Lydian? That Father Teresa? The muscle-bound guy? No way, Mother Teresa? Are you serious? I totally pictured her as a middle-aged dude.”

“A middle-aged guy would actually be normal. I once saw her wearing sunglasses and pink underwear around town, and I thought she was definitely gay. With that look, you’d swear she’s from the ANG Guild. But she’s a woman? Mind-blowing.”

“Maybe she’s playing her dad’s character?”

An absurd nickname floated into the conversation. Lydian, her face burning, hurried away, grimacing as she pushed Hern forward.

“What’s with all these people who know my ID? Am I famous?”

“Come on. Think about your character’s appearance. That customization is genuinely one of a kind. When I joined, you were practically naked, wearing pink swim trunks. And you had a deep tan with those red-rimmed sunglasses. It was… unforgettable.”

Hern shuddered slightly.

“I was seriously second-guessing joining back then. Felt like I was being dragged into something weird after drinking some mystery potion. And, well, Saints are a rare class in this game. At level 70, you’re already high-level, and since the guild master is so devoted to helping people… You’re pretty well-known among the veteran players in Nord.”

Hearing her game character’s description spoken aloud made Lydian’s face turn an even brighter shade of red. She hadn’t thought it was that strange, but apparently, to others, it was a fashion disaster.

Lydian covered her flushed face with both hands and quickly paid the bill. Hern could only throw her an incredulous look.

As she was booking accommodations, Hern tapped her arm as if he remembered something.

“Guild Master, how about we check out Pudung tomorrow?”

“Huh? Pudung? Oh, you mean the Pukin’s Nest?”

“Yes. It’s a low-level hunting ground, but you might need to get used to combat, so it could be good practice. I’m still low-level myself, and going alone is intimidating… But with a high-level healer like you, I’d feel more at ease. And honestly, going with just the two of us seems more manageable than joining some random combat guild.”

It wasn’t a bad suggestion. Though the thought of encountering monsters from the game in real life was a bit unnerving, Lydian swallowed dryly, feeling her nerves kick in. It was something she’d have to face eventually. ‘Best to get it over with sooner rather than later,’ she thought.

‘Alright, worst case, I just die and lose 50 HP and MP, right?’

After some hesitation, Lydian finally accepted Hern’s proposal.