The Road Back (1)
After guzzling booze with Knartash all night, he crashed in the guest room.
The next day, early morning.
Woojin yawned lazily as he rummaged through his bag, sorting the survival gear he'd bought yesterday for easier access.
'Not much stuff.'
He'd bought a ton with the money he'd squeezed from Knartash, but his inventory had actually shrunk. That was because he'd handed over about eighty percent of the Neidans he had to the Ogre Tribe.
The Neidans from the Farm Faction beasts he'd fried with lightning strikes back then.
Knartash had refused them at first—valuable cores like those—but Woojin had forced them on her anyway.
'Can't eat 'em all anyway.'
Intact Neidans could be stored for a good while, but they had a shelf life.
It had taken ages to get from the Depths of the Demon Realm to here. Better to offload them before they spoiled.
And... to fight the enemy, the Ogre Tribe needed to get stronger. They'd clash with the Dark Priests eventually when they pushed north.
'Feed 'em up, and they'll earn their keep.'
At least he wouldn't lose out.
With that thought, he closed the bag. He yanked the straps tight, securing the flap, and knotted the ties so they wouldn't come loose.
A perfectly packed rucksack, military-style. Ready for the road.
'Alright... time to go.'
He stepped out of the room.
In the living room, the Ogre Queen was sprawled on the sofa, while Arwen and Koko played in the corner.
Shake, shaka-shake—
Arwen dangled catnip, and Koko chased it frantically. The squirrel leaped to snag it.
Just like playing with a cat.
Knartash watched from the sofa, her eyes tracking the toy's path along with the flying squirrel.
"Time to head out."
"Yep."
Arwen and Koko stopped playing instantly and got ready to leave. Knartash muttered regretfully.
"Already? I was gonna treat you to breakfast at least."
"Long road ahead."
He planned to hustle south and meet up with his old contacts as soon as possible.
Knartash replied,
"Still, eat first. Takes time to fetch the war rhino."
"Got it."
Wishful thinking wouldn't make it happen.
They sat at the table for breakfast. Veggies and pork spine bones boiling in a huge pot—a dish the Ogres had recently gotten hooked on.
'Bone stew, was it?'
Pretty decent.
Felt like haejangguk with bones. Ever since mingling with humans, Ogre Tribe cuisine had leveled up noticeably.
As he gnawed meat off the spine...
Near the end of the meal, footsteps echoed from outside. A massive creature approaching.
'Rhino's here.'
Woojin picked his teeth and stood. The others rose too, grabbing their bags and heading out.
The war rhino lumbered toward them, an Ogre rider on its neck.
A familiar face.
"Logar's riding?"
Woojin asked, and Knartash nodded.
"You want your survival secret, right? Better than some stranger—Logar'll make the trip smoother."
"Yeah... makes sense."
Thoughtful of her.
After thanking her, Woojin and his crew climbed onto the battle rhino's back.
"Safe travels."
"See you next time."
With brief goodbyes...
The rhino ambled south, not too far off.
* * *
War rhinos had power but lacked stamina. They'd sprint explosively, then pause for breaks.
'Kinda sluggish.'
After the super-efficient spider lately, the rhino felt underwhelming, but...
Still no slouch. Each dash-and-rest cycle brought the destination noticeably closer.
The ash clouds thinned.
Blue sky peeked through already. Flowers and grasses sprouted here and there—thanks to the 3rd Expedition Force purifying multiple Rift Cores.
The rhino bounded through the scenery toward clearer shadows.
Days later...
A big city came into view. Buildings lined inside log walls, vast wheat fields sprawling around it.
Woojin double-checked.
"...This the 3rd Pioneer City?"
"Yes, sir."
Logar nodded. Woojin marveled anew.
'Wheat farming now, huh.'
Unthinkable before. So much change, hard to keep up.
If Woojin felt that way, Arwen and Koko were floored. Ex-Dark Priest and Demon Realm squirrel gawked like country bumpkins in the big city.
The rhino neared the gates.
Farmers weeding the fields glanced over, then bent back to work. A war rhino in broad daylight? No big deal.
But the gate guards were on edge.
"Sorry, no rhinos inside. Smashed buildings before."
The guard signed to Logar: access denied.
Logar complied readily.
"I'll camp in the nearby woods with it. You handle your business in town, Guardian."
"You sure?"
"Fine by me. Easier this way."
Logar insisted, so Woojin dismounted without argument.
He walked into the city.
First stop: a building on the outskirts. Not huge, but a fancy mansion.
Thud thud.
He knocked repeatedly. No response.
'Cindy's not here.'
Guess she hadn't returned yet. Woojin looked disappointed; Arwen, beside him, asked curiously.
"Whose place is this?"
"Cindy lives here—my little sis kinda. Probably still tied up with business."
Disappointing, but expected.
She was swamped rolling her new ventures with her inheritance.
'Gotta track her down.'
He turned away.
Headed to the city center. A massive cathedral there, expanded with new annexes.
But Woojin ignored the fresh builds. He aimed for the shabby old training hall.
He eased the door open...
And saw ranks of soldiers. Familiar stance: feet shoulder-width, knees bent in a horse stance.
'Horse stance training.'
Soldiers trained with heavy sandbags on limbs. Groans leaked out; an old man tsked in annoyance.
Blind monk in worn robes. Woojin had once trained under him.
'Bow.'
Bow scanned the soldiers with his wooden staff.
"Worse stamina than novice monks... Shame on you. Even eight- or nine-year-olds last longer."
He jabbed sloppy stances with the staff.
Woojin watched quietly.
'Same as ever. Some things don't change.'
World spun fast, but not everything did.
As he thought that...
Bow tilted his head, sensing him. Scanning with his divine eye. Spotting the familiar presence.
"...Training ends here today."
The soldiers blinked in confusion. Way earlier than usual.
"Uh... we can go?"
"Stay if you want more."
None did.
They bolted out. Woojin bucked the flow, stepping forward.
The two men faced off.
"Long time no see."
Bow grinned, tapping Woojin's chest with the staff.
"Knew you were alive... As expected."
"Everyone says that."
"Follow me. Tea in the office."
Bow led the way.
Woojin's group followed into the cathedral. In the office, they lounged on the sofa. A nun served fresh tea and snacks, then left.
No eyes on them. Woojin ditched the stuffy hat and scarf.
Bow asked,
"Faking your death on purpose?"
"Not planned... Was gone so long, death rumors spread. Decided to roll with it."
Woojin sipped the tea. Expensive stuff—great aroma.
Arwen hesitated to touch her cup, fidgeting like on pins. Glancing around nervously.
Scared her Dark Priest past would slip.
'Pointless worry.'
Already busted.
"Why bring a Dark Priest along?"
Divine eye saw through her. The old monk knew from the start.
Arwen jumped at the blunt question, but Woojin munched snacks casually.
"She's my subordinate."
"Reckless. She's got serious power. What if she stabs you in the back?"
"Nah, good heart."
"This one's good-hearted too?"
Bow gestured at the squirrel. Koko sat on the table, munching sugar-dusted biscuits.
Cute, but the monk wasn't buying it.
"Keep it away. Don't want a monster at my table."
"Squeak!"
Offended, Koko puffed its cheeks with a shrill cry. Woojin chimed in.
"Understands human speech."
"Not the point... Shoo it. Makes my spine crawl. Wanna lock it in a cage."
"Ain't it cute?"
"Not by my standards."
Divine eye pierced essence.
To the blind monk, Koko was a horrific beast from the Depths—a pack leader.
"Arwen, hold him."
"Yes."
Woojin handed over the squirrel. Koko sulked but nestled in her arms like a baby.
Bow shook his head in disbelief. Powerful Dark Priest and a city-wrecker beast.
What a combo?
"Explain."
"Sure."
Woojin caught up on everything.
Bow listened, arms crossed. So much had happened, Woojin kept wetting his throat with tea.
Quite a while later...
"...And that's how it went down."
Long tale done.
Odd silence settled. Bow pondered, then spoke.
"Heard wild tales in my time... But this is another level. Too chaotic to wrap my head around."
"Fair enough."
Listening to the end was impressive. Woojin's story was pure madness.
But Bow took it seriously. He slid over quill and paper.
"Write it down? Lots useful for the church alliance. Summarize the key info."
"Got it."
Asking a blind man to write? Harsh. Woojin would pen the report before leaving.
Munching biscuits, he scribbled furiously. Bow rummaged his desk, pulling something out.
A letter envelope sealed with red wax. He handed it to Woojin.
"What's this?"
"After your 'death' rumors, Cindy stopped by. Left this with me."
Cindy had left a letter.