Who Is The Pup That Doesn’t Know To Fear The Tiger? (2)

There were 27 legion members gathered in the dining hall, including me. They looked at me with curious eyes at the sudden summons.

“First, I think you’ve all already grown accustomed to the new powers you’ve received over the past few days.”

“……”

The dining hall, which had been noisy and buzzing until I spoke, fell silent and everyone focused on my words.

“I’m very pleased that the process was your voluntary effort. As some of you know, despite being in a training period we recently went on an expedition to a dungeon. Naturally, we had results and found some things that could be called treasures. Using those as materials, I spent a month crafting items. New members might not know, but the staff Arun is holding, the armor for Lee Hyo-ju and Hazel, Naruan’s coat, and Mae Young-ryeong’s staff were all made by me, so I won’t accept complaints.”

After saying that, I placed each piece of equipment on the large dining table that could seat just under thirty people so everyone could see.

Despite me leaving the room earlier, they had obviously been given some mental training; not a single murmur arose as I set out the gear.

“First, I need to make something clear. Those who didn’t participate in the expedition may receive slightly different quality equipment than those who did. It’s not a huge difference. The same goes forward, but there must be no quarrels over equipment. Keep that in mind.”

“Yes!”

The group beamed. No, it was more than that; though they made no sound, their faces were full of anticipation.

“Tch. You seem to be taking my words lightly, so put this in your heads: the reason you wear good equipment is to protect your family from others more easily, not to show off or live alone.”

When I raised my tone, the legion members’ expressions turned serious and one by one they nodded.

It’s fine for now. But if we prosper as planned and loot several ruins and dungeons, I can’t guarantee they’ll keep the same mindset.

In truth, even in large legions it’s common for fights to break out over high-grade gear or potions.

Even aside from the legion, the Battlefield of the Gods was originally almost an individual contest.

Items and potions that make and protect you stronger in that place were one reason someone might drive a knife into a friend’s back.

“Then let’s begin. When you’re called, come up and receive your equipment.”

After distributing the items, just over half the members had received gear, while the remainder were fewer than half.

Particularly, those who had received equipment were at a loss because not everyone who had gone on the expedition had been given gear.

“For the next year you’ll endure training that can make you spit blood and break bones. Before that process starts, Talis and Bioss requested organization. Listen carefully.”

Warrior leader Naruan, vice leaders Inex and Hugo

Group 1 Naruan, Quick Poison Kitas, Island Guard Joel

Group 2 Inex, half-orc Ostum, Dancing Halberd Hippoly

Group 3 Hugo, Meo of Passing Art, Michel of Passing Art

Mage leader Arun, vice leader Simon

Alain, Jules, Louis, Jeanne

Priest leader Mae Young-ryeong, vice leader Apher

Chloe, Patrick

Special unit leader Hazel, vice leader Soria

Amazones Liru, Druid of Sacrifice Cheong, Beastmaster Stephan

When I announced that the military members Lee Hyo-ju and Merus and everyone except me had been subdivided into organizations, no one seemed surprised, as if they’d expected it.

Then the members found a commonality among those who hadn’t received gear: they were leaders or equivalent.

“There’s one more thing to receive. That will be distributed through the leaders. Let me say in advance to avoid misunderstandings: the equipment leaders receive will definitely be better than what you got. As I said before, normally those who didn’t participate in the expedition are excluded from equipment distribution. But as I’ve kept stressing, we live as representatives with a slightly different purpose, so I took care to ensure benefits reach members who couldn’t participate. Understand?”

“Yes!”

“If anyone has complaints or anything to say, speak up.”

At that moment, a woman who had been sitting deliberately far from the door in the large dining hall shot her hand up.

It was Hippoly, clutching the halberd she had just been given tightly to her chest with one hand.

“Uh.”

“Commander? Commander, did you prepare your own equipment?”

“…Huh?”

“I’ve never used such a fine weapon in my life. I was just curious whether you had prepared yours… I’m sorry.”

Just as I was about to say it’s fine and sit down, I felt glances shooting at me from all directions. The truth is I haven’t made mine yet; I’m short on materials…

“My gear will be later…”

Twitch! Twitch! Twitch! Twitch! Twitch! Twitch! Twitch! Twitch!

Even Naruan glared at me with wide eyes.

“I’ll make it later. Tess has obtained the materials, and I can only make it once that arrives.”

“Yes, thank you for answering.”

Sweating from that unexpected moment, I hurriedly dismissed the representatives who had received equipment before any more questions arose.

Half the members congratulated those they were close to as usual, inspected their new gear, and then headed up to their rooms.

In fact, the equipment supplied to them was all super-rare grade.

Materials were scarcer than expected, and since I made gear for those who’d been with me from the start first, the equipment grade decreased the further down the list.

“First, Inex, Hugo, Simon.”

“Yes.”

“Yes!”

Inex had been supplied with rare equipment during a previous expedition.

However, Inex and Hugo’s supplied gear had long since become ragged, and Simon had crafted a staff from the large amount of ‘Crystal—mana’ found during the expedition. Its grade was Unique.

The three who received gear read the attached appraisal documents and, looking astonished, kept glancing between me and the items.

It’s natural they’d be surprised at equipment of this caliber. After ordering them to read and then delete the appraisal, I called the next names to distribute the next items.

“Apher, Soria, Merus.”

I offered words of advice to the two women who quietly stepped forward rather than handing out equipment.

“You two know already, but putting aside the effort I put into making these, they were crafted thanks to the efforts of those who participated in the expedition, including those three scatterbrains. ‘You can’t leave and if you betray us you’ll die’ also covers selling or destroying these items for other purposes. Keep that in mind and warn your squad members.”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

The items given to Apher were leather armor and a circlet; the leather armor was made from Myryans’ hide and excels at absorbing physical attacks.

Soria received a navy robe and a five-colored orb. As she read the appraisal, her hands began to tremble.

“Is, is this real?”

Whether to read the appraisal or from shock, her previously closed eyes were wide open as she stammered over the appraisal and then stared at me in amazement.

“An equipment appraisal?”

“Yes!”

“Exactly as it is.”

“…Commander, you really are a frightening person.”

Soria’s turquoise eyes stared straight at me.

I wondered what she meant, but I felt too lazy to ask and let it go.

Anyway, after that day Soria never closed her eyes in public again. She often smiled, showing her mysterious turquoise eyes.

And whenever she met me she always bowed politely. It felt like having a female bodyguard.

Merus’s item gave me the biggest headache.

Because I had no clue what type of representative he actually was.

In sparring he dodged all sorts of ways, would suddenly set traps, and would burst with power in emergencies; a strange sort.

I got a hint from his talents and subtly asked; he took the bait.

He turned out to be a shaman-type, using bizarre curses and rituals and summoning absurd entities…

Merus grabbed the mid-length dark blade and bounced up and down on the spot.

After a long while, he flew at me to hug me but Hazel shoved him into a corner of the dining hall; even so, his grin never left his face.

After handing items to Soria and Apher, the remaining people were the military Lee Hyo-ju and the leaders of each combat group: Hazel, Lee Hyo-ju, Naruan, Mae Young-ryeong, and Arun.

Before taking out their items, I placed what could be mistaken for a bundle of red cloth on the table.

It was ‘the Cloak of Recoil’ ranging from super-rare to unique grade, intended to be a symbol of the legion.

“Each piece has names on it, so find your squad members’ items. Once you’ve found them, go distribute them now. And leaders, check whether any 4th-year members still haven’t used their registration card and report back to me. I’ll be on the first-floor terrace. Lee Hyo-ju, Merus, follow me.”

Because they always clustered together, it was a mistake not to check status windows individually.

Apher and Hugo’s status windows had no skill category opened at all.

Just in case, I ordered the others to be checked as well, and took the unaffiliated Lee Hyo-ju and Merus back to the first-floor terrace.

“Wait! Boss!”

…I was about to. If not for Naruan’s high-toned voice.

“Naruan? What is it?”

“Doesn’t the boss have one of these? Huh?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at Naruan’s question as she pointed at the dark red cloak that looked like congealed blood, then pulled the cloak from my inventory, wrapped it over my shoulders, tightened the Earth Dragon scales, and set it to fit perfectly.

“Woah!!”

“That’s cool!”

“So stylish!”

When I infused the cloak with divine power, a black emblem appeared showing a large-headed staff and a longsword crossed to form an ‘R’ shape.