Greedy rich people wanted more luxury goods, and skilled adventurers sought better equipment. People naturally desired items that suited their social status. So, it wasn’t strange for someone like me, at the bottom of the social pyramid, to want a cart. Just finding a decent pot on the street could make my day.

This nearly new handcart was my dream vehicle.

“Ugh…”

I looked down, using all my strength to pull the cart. It was exhausting, but the kind of exhaustion that felt good. Step by step, I dragged it forward, only to be stopped by someone standing in my path.

“Hello, Gyeoul.”

It was Cha Ju-yeon, the Sacred Guild Master. The guild master himself stood beside her. Seeing their familiar faces, my tail wagged happily.

“Hello!”

“Hi, Gyeoul. What are you up to?”

Cha Ju-yeon glanced from me to the people on the cart, looking curious.

“This is a new cart, so I was trying it out.”

“Oh, I see.”

“What brings you here, Master?”

At my question, Cha Ju-yeon gave a slightly embarrassed smile, as if she had something she didn’t want to share.

“Well… there’s been a dungeon break recently.”

A dungeon break—when monsters escape from a dungeon into the outside world.

“That sounds dangerous.”

“Yes, but our guild members are tracking them down. Our Sacred Guild specializes in dealing with ghost-type monsters.”

Ghosts? Did that mean there were ghosts in this world? My eyes widened at this new information.

“Are they dangerous?”

“Very. They can read a person’s traumas and show them nightmares.”

“Wow…”

Mental attacks—perhaps even more dangerous for the people here with their strong bodies but human-like mental resilience.

“But there’s no need to worry too much.”

“Why not?”

“We’ve set up a barrier. The ghosts can’t escape, and the moment they use magic, nearby guild members will detect it and rush in.”

“Oh…”

I thought the ghost might prevent me from collecting scrap metal, but it didn’t seem like anything I needed to be afraid of.

“So, can I still go pick up scrap metal?”

“Well… it should be fine, but…”

Cha Ju-yeon exchanged a look with Kang Jin-ho. After a silent exchange, he nodded carefully.

“Better safe than sorry—stick with us.”

“Stick with you…? Wouldn’t that be a hassle?”

“We have to patrol anyway, so we’ll do it together.”

“Oh… alright.”

If it was just patrol duty, it was no big deal. I turned around to ask my friends.

“Want to come collect scrap metal with me?”

“Sorry, I’m scheduled for a dungeon run today,” said Midsummer.

“Oh, okay.”

It was a bit disappointing. It would have been nice if she could join us.

But, well, there were others. Today, I would pick up scrap with the masters and the kids.

In the Dawn Guild’s community, a new trend had started to spread. People would leave empty bottles in places where it was easy to find them.

Technically, it was littering, but neither the police nor the citizens nor the guild’s staff stopped them. It was all to help the Soo-in children of the guild.

“Levinas found a bottle!”

“Me too.”

“I found one too!”

The children hugged their bottles with beaming smiles. Their tails wagged, and nearby citizens silently cheered.

“Gyeoul picked up my bottle!”

An accomplishment of a lifetime! I’ll brag about this online. Someone quickly tapped out a post on their phone, uploading only the words and not the kids’ pictures.

“Hey, do you think we’re getting rich from this?” Levinas asked excitedly.

“Yeah, lately, there seem to be so many bottles around.”

The cart was piled high with dozens of bottles. Even without collecting metal scraps, we could probably make a living off these alone.

The citizens were relieved the kids could make some money. Just then, Kang Jin-ho appeared, holding a tiny glass bottle, smaller than a soda can—a bottle from an energy drink.

“Can we sell this?”

“No, they don’t buy ones this small.”

“Hmm…”

Kang Jin-ho looked down at the bottle with a frown. Why wouldn’t they buy this bottle if it was glass?

He thought about tossing it aside but decided against it, holding it in his hand. As a guild master, he had to set an example for the kids and citizens by not littering.

‘Not that I’ve ever picked up bottles before…’

Had he ever felt so useless in his life? Just then, Cha Ju-yeon approached, hands full of broken glass shards.

“Gyeoul!”

“Yes?”

“Look, I found lots of glass shards!”

“Uh… thank you…”

Though I appreciated the effort, they didn’t buy broken glass shards. Seeing my awkward smile, Kang Jin-ho spoke up in my place.

“Cha Ju-yeon.”

“Yes?”

“Broken glass isn’t exactly helpful.”

“Oh, do they not buy it…?”

Cha Ju-yeon looked genuinely puzzled. She had never sold anything like this before, being of upper-class birth and all.

“Well… um…”

I hesitated, unsure of how to explain. The citizens nearby let out small sighs.

“Poor Gyeoul…”

“She’s got her work cut out…”

These masters had always lived at the top, so the idea of collecting and selling trash was foreign to them.

But seeing them let go of their pride to help the kids was charming in a way. The citizens felt reassured seeing the masters spending time with the children.

“Um… would you like me to show you how to pick up scrap metal?”

“Yes, please.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

I scratched my cheek, feeling a bit embarrassed. Here I was, teaching not just any guild members but the top guild masters how to pick up scrap metal.

The situation felt a bit strange, but I decided not to dwell on it. I was happy spending time with them.

Maybe the masters enjoyed this too…

While we were out collecting scrap metal together—

A soft sobbing sound reached my ears, so faint it seemed like only I could hear it.

Was someone in trouble? I wanted to alert the others, but the masters were busy with their tasks—Kang Jin-ho gathering bottles and Cha Ju-yeon adjusting what looked like a protective barrier.

The other kids had climbed into the cart and fallen asleep from exhaustion. It seemed like I’d have to investigate on my own.

‘It’s coming from that direction.’

In a secluded alleyway, beside a lonely telephone pole, a woman sat on the ground, weeping quietly. Trash was piled up around the pole, obscuring her figure.

“Excuse me…”

What could have happened to make her cry like that? I started toward her but stopped short.

Her body was semi-transparent and gray. She didn’t look like an ordinary person. The word “ghost” from Cha Ju-yeon’s earlier explanation flashed in my mind.

Was that… an evil spirit?

The moment I took a step back, the spirit slowly raised its head.

“…!”

Its pitch-black eyes lacked any whites—a face straight out of a horror movie.

What… is that? My ears and tail bristled in fear.

I tried to turn and run, but a dark-red mana burst from the spirit’s body and held me in place. Its mana began seeping into my mind.

Cha Ju-yeon had said that the spirit could read people’s traumas and project nightmares—was this it?

I twisted and struggled to resist, but I couldn’t move at all.

“Ngh…”

My head spun, and nausea washed over me. Was this some side effect? As I grimaced, I heard footsteps approaching.

“Gyeoul!”

It was Cha Ju-yeon’s voice. Had she sensed the spirit’s mana and come to help?

Relieved, I focused on the spirit in front of me, but it suddenly started acting strangely.

“Aaagh!”

The spirit clutched its head, wailing in agony, like a woman in deep distress. It shrieked in a pitch that felt like it would split my ears.

What on earth was going on? Was this some kind of attack pattern?

As I watched in shock, the spirit’s body began to break apart into light, as if it were being exorcised.

“Huh…?”

My head cleared instantly. Where the spirit had stood, only a single red stone remained. I knew immediately it was the spirit’s mana stone.

‘What…?’

It had read my memories, so why did it die suddenly? Confused, I picked up the stone, sensing an ominous energy from it.

“Gyeoul…?”

I turned to Cha Ju-yeon, who was standing there, her eyes wide with shock.

“The spirit… it just died on its own.”

I held out the mana stone to her, but for some reason, she just stared at it with a grim expression.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep