Second Life in Another World (4)
Second Life in Another World (4)
Flames rise up.
Smoke from burning goblin corpses covered the sky.
A battle of 50+ against 13.
The latter took the victory.
Naturally, the damage taken was zero.
It was a miraculous result.
And looking at the one man who caused that miraculous result, everyone held their breath.
Sion was among them.
'What on earth is this...'
Her pupils trembled uncontrollably.
As if witnessing something unbelievable, her brain couldn't keep up.
He took care of all those numbers by himself? And in this short amount of time?
She felt afraid deep down.
She knew to some extent, despite their short meeting, that Seojun wasn't a bad person.
However, her body trembled automatically at the thought of that martial prowess being turned against them.
But that trembling soon subsided.
'...He's not a bad guy.'
Rona's declaration that he wasn't a bad person played a big part in this.
At least she was better at judging people than Sion herself.
Hoo, Sion steadied her breath and looked at Seojun.
'Personality, skill, even his looks are flawless.'
Seeing that handsome face, her own face flushed automatically.
She shook her head to shake off the heat and thought about her future relationship with Seojun.
She realized that being a party of two women had many problems, thanks to the men from the Mercenary Kingdom earlier that day.
Surely, if he joined their party, he would be a great asset.
However, it was questionable whether he would actually join.
'Should I try asking him?'
There was a possibility of offending him depending on how she asked.
Sion wasn't very sociable, but maybe if she was with Rona, it might work out.
Sion thought that and gazed endlessly at Seojun's profile.
After finishing all the follow-up measures.
The three headed to the Commercial City Kukurika to report to the Adventurer's Guild.
During the trip, the three got closer in their own way.
But a problem arose after they arrived.
"Present your ID."
Sion and Rona were fine, but Seojun didn't have an ID.
When he was troubled about what to do, Sion and Rona approached.
"This man is not a dangerous person."
"He's someone who doesn't know the situation here. We apologize for causing concern."
The guards' tension eased at the sight of two beautiful girls bowing their heads.
Regardless of the other party's reaction, Sion continued.
"We are adventurers belonging to the Adventurer's Guild, and we were out investigating the Forest of Miasma. He is a Lost One we met there."
As she spoke, she casually pushed her armor slightly to the side, reached into her chest, and pulled out a card.
Rona tried to pull her card out from her chest in the same way.
But since the difference in volume led directly to a difference in the depth of her cleavage, it wouldn't come out easily.
As she twisted her body to try and pull it out, her mountains shook wildly, creating an incredible spectacle, and because she was tugging at her collar to get it out, more of her skin was exposed compared to Sion.
Still, it didn't take long before Rona managed to pull out the card.
The card, which was bronze and emitted a metallic sheen, was an Adventurer's ID issued by the Adventurer's Guild.
They handed it to the guard.
"His name is Seojun. We vouch for his identity. We plan to register him at the Adventurer's Guild and make an ID for him."
"Hmm, I see. It would be better to do that quickly. Once the card is finished, have it checked here again. And since it's the rules, I'll have to charge one silver coin as an entrance fee for someone without an ID."
"Of course. Thank you for your hard work."
Sion, who put the returned card back into her chest, paid the guard one silver coin.
At the same time, the guard gave permission, and the three were able to enter safely.
"Thanks. You saved me."
"It's nothing, I just did what was natural."
There was a short happening like that, and the three arrived safely at the Adventurer's Guild.
Sion headed straight to the counter.
"We are the Sion and Rona party. I want to report that we have returned from the Forest of Miasma quest."
"Yes. Please wait a moment while I check the records."
The receptionist took out something like a ledger from inside and checked it quickly.
Soon, she finished checking and opened her mouth.
"Hmm... It's the quest to investigate the Forest of Miasma. According to the records, it seems eight people signed up for it?"
"Ah, I need to report that matter as well..."
As Sion trailed off, sounding less like it was hard to say and more like she didn't want to say it, the receptionist, perhaps being quick-witted, pointed to the inside.
"It seems there was a problem? I'll prepare a room inside, so please go there."
"Understood. And this person is also involved, so I'd like him to accompany us. But before that, I want to register him with the guild. Could you help with that?"
"Hello?"
Seojun drew a friendly smile.
The receptionist accepted it with a slight blush.
"Yes, hello."
"It seems he's a Lost One. That's what he said himself."
"Oh my, that's truly fascinating."
The receptionist widened her eyes but finished the preparations needed for registration.
Sseuk, she handed over the registration application form.
Seojun quickly filled it all out and handed it back.
After that, well, it proceeded smoothly.
They sold all the byproducts from catching the goblins and met a man called the Vice Branch Manager to talk.
Having finished the day's work, the three sat in a circle at the inn's restaurant and enjoyed dinner.
And just as they were finishing their meal, Sion said to Seojun.
"Seojun. Thank you so much. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be here right now."
She bowed her head.
It was like Sion, who gave off a stiff/earnest feeling.
"I've only received help from you, I don't know what to say."
"It's okay, don't worry about it. It's not your fault, I helped because I wanted to. So let's split the quest reward evenly."
"Are you really okay with that? The quest reward is 12 gold coins. We barely did anything, and you're saying we should split it into 4 each?"
"Yeah. I'm not that obsessed with money. Besides, if I can buy your favor with 8 gold coins, it's a profit."
"......Uh."
Sion and Rona seemed speechless at Seojun's answer.
It seems they didn't expect such an answer to come back.
"Uh, if that's what Seojun says, let's end the talk about the reward here."
Ahem.
Sion, who said that, cleared her throat.
And then she spoke to Seojun with a serious expression.
"Let's leave the reward talk at that. Actually, Seojun, this is the main point."
Sion steadied her breath with a tense face.
Wondering what on earth she was going to say, Seojun waited until she was ready.
Before long, Sion, having composed herself to some extent, opened her mouth.
"Actually... I want you to join our party."
"Are you recruiting me?"
When Seojun asked back, Sion nodded.
"We haven't been together long, but you've probably noticed. I don't know the ways of the world and I'm not wise. But on the other hand, Seojun is strong, and, how should I say, wise... In short, it would be reassuring if Seojun became our companion. Since we're a party of just two women, it doesn't seem to be a good thing when it comes to being adventurers."
She's very quick to notice.
However, Seojun didn't show it and listened attentively.
As if responding to that, Sion continued to speak without resting.
"When the goblins attacked, I thought you were someone I could trust. It was a situation where it wouldn't have been strange for you to run away alone, but you helped us."
"That's just because I could do it."
"That might be true, but I trust my intuition. How about it, won't you become our companion and teach us this and that? Of course, we'll teach you what we know about this world and help you too. I don't think it's a bad deal."
Teach me this and that, huh.
He felt a bit lewd at that line, but inwardly he was cheering.
'It's the same as the original work.'
It had been a long time since he read it, so he didn't remember it perfectly, but he remembered this scene very well.
And what choice he had to make here.
He glanced at Rona, who was smiling brightly next to Sion.
Her expression was clearly smiling, but he felt a somewhat cold gaze.
Accepting that gaze calmly, Seojun said.
"I'm really happy you invited me. I have nowhere to go, so getting companions is a good thing. But could you give me some time to think? About one night."
"Yes, I suppose so. It's certainly not a matter you can answer right away. You don't have to rush. I'll look forward to a good answer."
She thought he would refuse, but when the answer that he would think about it came back, Sion's expression brightened noticeably.
Rona's cold gaze disappeared, but even though it disappeared, the glued-on smile that made it impossible to know what she was thinking didn't change.
Deureureuk, he stood up from his seat.
"Thanks for the dinner. Then I'll go in and rest first."
Had midnight passed?
A night where the surroundings were completely dark and the sounds in the street had disappeared.
Knock, knock, someone knocked on Seojun's door.
'They're here.'
Sseuk, he got up from the bed.
Then he approached the door and asked.
"Who is it?"
"I'm sorry for the late hour. It's Rona. I have something to tell you for a moment, could you let me in?"
The voice that returned was Rona's.
At that, Seojun grinned.
But that was only for a moment; he wiped away the smile and replied in a puzzled voice.
"Could that talk wait until morning? I'm a bit tired."
"It's a conversation that can't be had if not now. I know it's unreasonable, but can't you grant my request?"
"Hmm, alright."
He opened the door.
And a pitch-black shadow pounced on him.
Seojun fell backward onto the bed just like that.
And the door closed at the same time.
"...Seojun-ssi."
The pitch-black shadow said.
The identity of the shadow was Rona.
She had already approached Seojun's close proximity and pressed down on both his shoulders with her hands.
Rona's face was pushed right in front of Seojun's nose.
Her attire was pajamas that you put on over your head and tie at the waist with a string.
Because the collar was wide open compared to her monk's robe, the plump mounds that shouldn't be seen from the chest were naturally peeking out halfway.
Seeing that figure illuminated by the moonlight, blood rushed to Seojun's lower body.
At the same time, Rona's light pink lips opened.
"You know... what I mean, right?"
Her delicate, slender hands stripped off Seojun's clothes.