Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Kebaswak Area (2)
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Going in together posed no issue at all, since they were truly there to search for people. Suhyun could plainly see what Mogok was thinking.
‘He’s trying to figure it out somehow. Good attitude, but….’
As expected from orcs who had no prior dealings with humans and lurked in the outskirts, their limitations were clear. If Suhyun harbored malicious intent, he could have easily deceived them with a convincing act, even from inside.
The relations between the non-human races originally inhabiting this planet and the newly advancing humans remained complicated.
In any case, Suhyun had no plans to deceive them. There was nothing worth scavenging in the area, and he simply intended to rescue Jindo 1 Team safely before pulling out.
“Mogok. You sure it’s fine? That guy doesn’t seem like a pushover, just in case…”
“Don’t worry. If he planned to attack from inside, he wouldn’t have just stood around here. And you think I’d go down without a fight?”
Mogok put on a show of confidence as he thumped his chest. A sword hung at his waist, and a bow was slung across his back. Kebaswak’s underground wasn’t terribly dangerous, but complacency had no place.
“You said you’re looking for comrades? Got any food?”
“Of course. No need to pack anything for me.”
He had no intention of exploring while gnawing on orc-style dried meat. The calorie packs Suhyun had brought were bland and tasteless, sure, but they were perfect from a hygiene and nutritional standpoint.
“Then just pack mine. Here, grab this rope.”
“No need.”
“??”
Mogok eyed Suhyun like some clueless fool.
“That’s outsiders for you… Even folks born here take care going down. Cut the bravado and grab the rope already. You’ll regret it if you get lost later.”
“Sorry, but I really don’t need it.”
Suhyun pulled a map generator from his pack. A portable device that tracked the user’s movement distance and automatically generated maps. Invaluable for probing maze-like structures.
“You want the rope for navigation, right?”
“That’s right.”
“This’ll do in its place. It’s fine, really—if you don’t trust it, use the rope yourself. So, where’s the entrance?”
Mogok blinked at the device in Suhyun’s hand before turning away. Disbelief was written all over his face.
“Follow me.”
* * *
Passages leading into Kebaswak’s depths turned out to be surprisingly plentiful. The catch: most were natural formations, unfit for easy human traversal.
‘People really underestimate the non-human races.’
Merchants paid some mind to non-humans for trade’s sake, but mercenaries who held them in high regard were few and far between.
The non-human races weren’t the type to be dismissed. Sure, their tech lagged behind humans’, but they’d thrived on this planet far longer. They possessed knowledge unknown to humanity.
Suhyun never underestimated them. Countless problems he’d resolved stemmed from intel sourced from non-humans. If the Jindo side had approached the orc tribe for info on local monsters, none of this mess would’ve happened.
‘Orcs can be a handful to deal with, though….’
The air grew steadily chillier. Mogok led the way, one hand holding a lamp. Traces and markers from frequent orc passage littered the area.
“Hey.”
“?”
“That looks inconvenient. Here, use this.”
Suhyun already wore portable night-vision goggles, so he handed Mogok a compact flashlight. Mogok took it with a wary frown.
“What’s this?”
“Like the lamp you’re holding, but better. Looks cumbersome—leave yours here and take this when you head back up. Press there for light.”
“!”
Mogok stared at the flashlight in bewilderment. He flicked it on cautiously. A brilliant beam poured out, making him flinch.
“So humans really do wield wondrous things…!”
“Bit embarrassing if that amazes you… Anyway, holing up in isolation isn’t ideal. Not saying mingle with humans, but trading with other non-humans wouldn’t hurt.”
Not to the extent of the Ames Plains elves actively engaging humanity, but contact with non-humans who did would let goods and tech trickle in—no shock at a mere flashlight then.
“Hmph. I’ll consider it.”
Mogok masked his astonishment and marched onward. Suhyun trailed behind and asked,
“You know what’s down here?”
“Better than you do, warrior.”
“Then spit it out.”
Suhyun brushed off the jab. Mogok shot him a glance before replying.
“Cave bats, for starters.”
“Not the one-shots. Anything else?”
“…This place never had mighty beasts to begin with. Craving something fierce? Hunt down those ant ghosts I mentioned.”
“Ant ghosts aren’t that tough either.”
Mogok scowled. Dismissing ant ghosts? Catching them wasn’t impossible, but it took a band of warriors steeling themselves. No monster to scoff at.
“Ant ghosts aren’t tough? You wield spirits or something?”
“Huh? Oh, superpowers. Names vary, gets confusing. You can use it, right?”
“…!”
Mogok was stunned inwardly, but it tracked. An unseen human venturing here solo, brimming with uncommon poise. Spirit-handling explained it.
“So that’s the deal.”
“What do orcs do when they run into ant ghosts?”
“No clashes aboveground—we steer clear of their haunts. Same here; we avoid fights unless we have to. Deep in, we evade. Nearby nest? We hunt.”
Fickle pests when they popped up unexpectedly, but facing one head-on in normal circumstances? Escaping was straightforward.
“Hm. Orcs poke around here for red boar mushrooms, then?”
“?!?!?!?”
Mogok fixed Suhyun with his most shocked look yet.
“H-how’d you know?”
“You guys the only ones around? Overheard from others.”
“Ah, aha, right…”
The underground sprawled wide. Other orc tribes could slip in via passages unknown to them. Suhyun knowing wasn’t odd.
“Some other tribes trade with yours?”
“Yeah, that’s how word travels.”
“Mm…”
Truth was, Suhyun had no clue if any orc tribes currently traded, but he lied without batting an eye. The region’s vastness made verification impossible.
Mogok mulled it over upon hearing that. He’d caught wind of nearby non-humans dealing with humans. Yet his tribe had opted to shun contact, benefits be damned.
But was that truly wise?
“I’ll lead from here.”
“What?”
“Time to close in.”
Suhyun had let Mogok steer clear of wrong turns until now, but guidance fell to him. He’d locked coordinates around their vanishing point—time to scour thereabouts.
‘Still a ways off.’
“If we get lost…”
“Rope runs dry, we turn back—no issue. Heck, turning back now works too. Told you, just point me at the entrance; don’t need the help.”
“I’ll stick till the rope’s gone.”
They’d passed the orc-traveled stretches. Fresh markers needed from here. Yet Suhyun advanced without leaving a single one, utterly at ease. Whatever that gadget was, Mogok couldn’t bring himself to trust it.
‘This really okay?’
Suhyun didn’t strike him as an idiot, but expecting full trust from a stranger had limits.
“Stop.”
“?”
“I heard something.”
“What sound? I didn’t hear…”
“Shut it and stay quiet. Don’t interfere.”
The unflappable Suhyun until moments ago now radiated killing intent, clamping Mogok’s mouth shut. Even his protest died unspoken. Suhyun’s presence cut that sharp.
Enemy strength be damned—carelessness was forbidden. Sound detected, Suhyun readied for confrontation.
‘True Sight… won’t cut it.’
Handy spell though True Sight was, it wasn’t universal. This gloom differed qualitatively from surface dark—no light sources inside. Useless without faint outlines to latch onto.
Mogok still couldn’t fathom Suhyun’s reaction. His own senses were keen and alert. A sound he’d missed? He pressed an ear to the ground.
“?!”
Faint, rhythmic echoes. Hearing it at last, Mogok gaped at Suhyun in shock. This sound?
“What’s it sound like? Ant ghost?”
“No, not ant ghost. They don’t make noises this faint.”
They stood in a small cavern, narrow tunnels branching out.
“Then… someone else?”
“Could be. This isn’t our private turf.”
‘Not Jindo 1 Team, I hope?’
Suhyun hesitated a touch. Meeting now muddied things. Ideal scenario: stumble on the lost Jindo 1 Team himself and guide them out. Crossing paths with them already navigating? Messier tale.
Then came a most unexpected figure.
“Dark elf?!”
“Orc?!”
“You two seem cozy.”
Suhyun lowered his gun. The dark elf showed no malice. Worst case, telekinesis could crush her throat in a second.
“A human too?!”
“But can you two even communicate?”
“I don’t speak Elvish.”
“I know a bit of Orcish, but…”
Suhyun’s translator covered Elvish and Orcish alike, but absent contact, they’d have no reason to know each other’s tongues.
“Then I’ll handle the talking. Dark elf—what brings you here?”
The dark elf was outfitted like a hunter. Pack on her back, rifle in hand. Unfazed by Suhyun, she’d clearly dealt with humans.
‘No dark elves in these parts to begin with?’
“Hunting. And you lot? Human and orc—what’s going on here…”
“Not strangers to humans, I see.”
“Who’s mistaking me for an orc? Where d’you think this rifle came from? Straight from a human trader.”
“Speeds things up, then. I’ve got business here—asked this orc to guide me.”
“Ah, got it.”
The dark elf nodded as the bizarre pairing clicked. Orcs and humans traveling together? Rare absent compelling cause.
“Hunting, huh… So, after ant ghosts?”
“Mm… Yeah. Not yielding, though. You won’t beat me to the kill.”
“?”
Suhyun blinked—what was this dark elf on about? Dead serious delivering that line.
“Not here for ant ghosts.”
“Oh? My bad?”
Having solemnly whiffed, the dark elf grinned sheepishly.
“Good, then. So why are you here?”
“Folks got hit by ant ghosts. Came to pull ’em out.”
“That’s… Ah, you know where?”
“Roughly, yeah.”
“Need a hand?”
“…You’re after the ant ghost corpse, aren’t you.”
“!!”