Chapter 190
Chapter 190
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: New Exploration (6)
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“Why is that?”
Truth be told, Kim Suhyun wasn’t all that surprised. He knew just how insular these people were. Why else would the old Suhyun have given up on ever making contact with them?
The old Suhyun giving up meant more than just throwing in the towel. It meant it was truly impossible.
Suhyun had tackled every impossible mission thrown his way, pulling off solutions no one else could dream of—he was practically the military’s fixer. And when even he raised his hands in defeat, the military stopped trying altogether.
-To drag them out, you’d have to send in an army.
Of course, that kind of approach was off the table. This place wasn’t theirs alone.
That left Suhyun curious. In fact, he’d come this far more out of curiosity than any burning need to establish relations. Just why were they so dead set on isolation?
“It’s tradition.”
“Uh… is it some tradition about living and dying underground?”
“No, not that kind of tradition. It’s something deeply meaningful, one we’ve upheld for ages. And it’s not just us—it’s the dark elves, too.”
“What kind of tradition could demand that?”
“Why should we tell an outsider?”
Suhyun responded with utmost sincerity.
“Your Highness, you seem unaware of the situation outside. In the past, humans rarely came near here, so isolation worked fine. But things have changed. The monster in the lake is gone, the path to the surface is open, and humans are flooding in. That old isolationism won’t hold up anymore.”
Of course, it would hold up just fine. Humanity generally respected other races’ ways when dealing with them. But from the other races’ perspective, they couldn’t fully understand or trust human customs—especially not insular groups like these.
Such races naturally felt uneasy about human approaches. Knowing this well, Suhyun stretched the truth a bit.
“…Even so, we intend to stick to our ways.”
“As for my status, I hold a pretty high position among humans. If what you’re protecting isn’t some dire secret, tell me. I can pass the word along. You might not know this, but humans place a lot of weight on justification. With a solid reason, no one would push from the outside.”
Jennifer, listening from the side, shot Suhyun a look like she couldn’t believe his gall. His intentions were transparent. Suhyun wasn’t the helpful type. He wasn’t doing this for them.
“Hmm… You’re really in a high position? Can we trust that?”
“If Your Highness or anyone else has even a little contact with human society, I could prove it right away. But right now, that’s not possible.”
“You look young. Is it true? How’d you get there?”
“I’m a mage.”
“!”
The dwarf stared at Suhyun in shock. Mages were always rare and awe-inspiring. It didn’t matter how insular the other-race society—even they felt the same.
Jennifer and Shaena, glancing over, just shrugged. There was no reason to lie about something like that. It’d be exposed the moment they checked.
“Truth be told, our tradition isn’t some huge secret worth hiding, nor something to broadcast. We’re descendants of exiles.”
“Exiles?”
“Yeah. Exiles who fled underground when dragons went mad and rampaged.”
“Dragons rampaged? When?”
“Close to a thousand years ago, I think…”
Suhyun stared at the dwarf in disbelief. A thousand years ago, and they were still hung up on it? Even for other races…
“Don’t look at me like that. We fled from dragons at first, sure. But after that, we chose to stay put. We know what’s out there. We know there are no dragons around here anymore. But there’s no reason to leave, either. Outside’s crawling with monsters, and we’d have to fight other races. In here? Safe, as long as you discount the earth dragons.”
They’d fled in fear at first, but even after the dragon terror faded, they stayed. Inside turned out better than expected. Suhyun could see why. The sophistication here outshone even top cities like Heimken outside. Why leave a place like this?
Even from a quick glance, Suhyun’s sharp eyes caught plenty. The city had its own waterways, a near-modern plumbing system. The buildings were impossibly refined for refugees.
He hadn’t seen the dark elves’ territory, but it couldn’t be any less impressive.
“So we just live here.”
“While looking down on outsiders?”
“Young folks do have a bit of that attitude. Even among the elders… a little… ahem.”
Living amid such splendor, it was inevitable they’d look down on other races scraping by in tribes outside. The dwarf knew it well.
“But does looking down mean you have to avoid contact?”
“We avoid contact for a different reason. Fear of dragons.”
“?”
“Our ancestors’ ancestors’ ancestors… going way back, the ones who built this city left us this warning: Dragons might sneak in disguised as outsiders, so beware.”
“…That’s it?”
“No matter how much time passes, words like that don’t fade. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t see us as just another race like yours. Ah, we treated you that way because of the statue. That one out front? Legend says it warns us if a dragon approaches. I always wondered if it really moved…”
“I’m not a dragon.”
“I figured as much. That’s why I let you in. In my view… if a dragon came here, we’d just have to accept our doom.”
A fathomless glint flickered in the dwarf’s eyes.
“Dragons are the law. We can only obey. If you really were a dragon, chasing you off would be pointless—you’d just smash through. I wondered why the statue moved, too… Excluding that you’re a human mage, I can’t think of any other reason.”
“I’m curious why I keep getting linked to dragons myself. But if you think that way about them, doesn’t isolation defeat the purpose?”
“That’s my take, not everyone’s. Most believe we have to stay closed off to keep dragons out. Some use it as an excuse for their superiority complex… Anyway, that’s the general consensus. I’ve no intention of bucking it. If you want to meet the dark elves, I’ll send someone with you. Just look around quietly and leave.”
“If full exchange is off the table, how about limited trade?”
“Limited trade?”
“I know your other races here live more abundantly than those outside. Clothing, food, shelter—all covered. But luxuries? Humans have unique goods and weapons that’d interest you, right?”
“We’re interested, but… worried about the side effects. Getting hooked on that stuff could be dangerous.”
“With control this tight, side effects won’t be an issue. And like I said, humans will overrun this area soon. You can’t avoid contact forever—better to learn now.”
Like old Japan’s shogunate allowing Western trade only through government channels, Suhyun proposed a controlled approach. Muruno seemed swayed.
They lived underground, but not in total isolation. Scout teams periodically checked outside, gathering needs. With humans incoming, they’d scheme contact. Was banning it forever the answer?
No—better to gather intel and prepare.
“Ally with me, and I’ll cushion the shock. How human factions divide, how society’s structured, how we operate.”
“You’ll tell us all that?”
“No reason not to. Humans aren’t a unified race like you. We can check each other plenty.”
“Hmm…”
Muruno was clearly tempted.
“What’s our end?”
“You dwarves have plenty we covet. Don’t worry about that.”
“Fine. I’ll consider it positively. Planning to convince the dark elves, too?”
“If possible.”
“Give it a shot.”
* * *
After similar talks in similar straits, Suhyun convinced the dark elves. They suspected him more—mostly dragon-related.
Shaena’s fervent defense as a fellow kin helped; otherwise, he’d have been booted.
Still, they agreed to a trial run.
“A dark elf and dwarf scout team will escort you out.”
Suhyun didn’t mind. In fact, he welcomed it. He could guess the outside situation by now.
The Russian Ivan had probably realized he’d missed something. Blue Bear’s team leader vanished, and Suhyun with him. Not many places they could’ve gone.
With Suhyun entering first, curious, greedy mercs would’ve followed. He figured plenty had crossed from Anes to Debrao region.
“Huh…?”
Something was off.
No one was in sight.
Sure, Debrao was hell on people—maybe mercs came and bailed. But this empty?
In Anes, you’d spot moving mercs from afar easy…
“Hey. Backwater dark elf.”
“Call me backwater dark elf one more time, and I’ll kill you. We’re outside now.”
“…Dark elf. Is this human that impressive?”
“You’ll see.”
Shaena’s voice bristled with thorns.
“But didn’t you say humans flooded this area? Where are they?”
“Don’t believe me? Go to Anes. It’ll be overflowing.”
Suhyun said so.
But…
Even Anes had no wandering mercs.
“?????”
Suhyun reeled at the incomprehensible scene. He’d been underground less than two months—why this?
Felt like everyone around Anes had vanished.
He headed straight for the elf tribe. Thankfully, they were still there. They spoke the moment they saw him.
“Mr. Kim Suhyun, you need to head back right now!”
“What happened?”
“We don’t know exactly. But our other comrades got calls and rushed back. Something’s up in human society for sure.”
“What about Aidana or Erendil?”
“I sent them back with potion recipes and herbs. They looked like they wouldn’t return anytime soon.”
Tension creased Jennifer’s face as she listened. What the hell was going on?
“Let’s go to the base. They wouldn’t have pulled everyone out completely.”
Suhyun’s hunch was right. The lakeside base held minimal staff. They rushed out, stunned to see him.
“Team Leader Kim Suhyun! You must return to Pyongyang immediately.”
“Tell me what happened first.”
“Blue Bear’s gone too! They ditched me?!”
Jennifer stormed out, incredulous after getting word.
“Did a dragon show up?”
“No. Something worse.”
“…?”
“Monsters are appearing on Earth.”
* * *
When the dimensional gate opened in Pyongyang, humanity panicked at first. The surrounding area got nuked like a bomb hit. What if another gate spawned? Terrifying.
But over a century, that fear diluted. New fears emerged: monsters through gates?
Even those weren’t taken too seriously. The Union handled threats gravely.
Massive forces guarded Earth and Cameron gates. Lost flying monsters crossing? Intercepted instantly.
Monsters on Earth, though.