Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Logos
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Yuri fought well.
His movements were clean and precise, but what particularly caught her attention was the 'confidence' in his attacks. The certainty that this strike would never miss. The assurance that his opponent couldn't dodge or block it.
Even if his foes were just weakened goblins, for a 2nd Tier martial artist experiencing real combat with martial arts for the first time, possessing such confidence in his techniques was something to be highly praised.
It wasn't arrogance. True confidence was far better than hesitation born from doubt.
The most common mistake for low-Tier, inexperienced martial artists was getting their feet tangled. Martial arts footwork might seem like simple steps, but it was a full-body control movement, and executing it alongside other techniques was never easy.
This was especially true in real combat. It was common to focus on one side and neglect the other. Even Ha-ryeong, who had been praised for her talent countless times, had struggled with such issues in her childhood.
But Yuri showed no such mistakes. Even against multiple goblins, not just alone, his movements were excellent.
Several times, Ha-ryeong deliberately refrained from attacking the goblins.
She wanted to see how Yuri would react to ambushes coming from outside her field of vision, and in that mischievous test, he never panicked once. Even though they were surely out of sight, he handled them as if he had eyes in the back of his head—perfectly.
'What, he fights this well?'
That was the biggest impression after observing him thoroughly. Ha-ryeong recalled herself at the 2nd Tier. Around 12 years old? Before transferring to the Killing Guard Sect. Back when she belonged to her clan. When she learned martial arts among snakes disguised as family.
Among the young snakes, Ha-ryeong's skills were top-tier, but even then, she hadn't fought or handled martial arts as 'well' as Yuri did now.
Even comparing it to when she came to Logos years later as part of assassin training yielded the same conclusion. Innate environment, type of martial arts, time invested—all favored her childhood self, but even she fell short of the current Yuri.
"Sigh."
On the carriage back to the village. Ha-ryeong, sitting in the driver's seat, suddenly let out a deep sigh.
Goblin blood was no different from human blood. Same red color, similar smell.
She had scrubbed the blood from her fists and shoes diligently, but the smell lingered stubbornly. Yuri wrinkled his nose at the blood stench clinging to his body and grumbled.
"Why sigh so heavily? You'll scare away our luck."
"Because it's a shame."
"What is?"
"If you had been born into a martial family? If you'd grown up somewhere other than an orphanage and learned martial arts earlier? Just thinking about it makes my heart ache with regret."
"Tch."
Yuri let out a hollow laugh and tossed the blood-soaked towel aside. He spread his hand and saw bits of flesh under his nails. Grimacing in disgust, he picked them out carefully.
"Isn't twenty still not too late, as you said?"
"It's not early. So, don't you feel it's a shame?"
"What regret? Regret over a wasted childhood blown away meaninglessly?"
"Something like that."
"Of course I regret it."
"Have you never thought, 'If only I'd been born somewhere else'?"
"I have. Plenty."
Yuri's diary, thick with self-loathing, hatred, and jealousy, had contained such thoughts, and Lee Soo-hyuk had fantasized about it too.
"But what can you do? You can't snap your fingers and go back to childhood, or choose your birthplace. I'll just be content with my current reality."
If he could go back in time? No need to agonize. He wouldn't even ask for the privilege of choosing his birthplace—he'd boot up his computer and delete Seronis, that damned game.
"Besides, my reality isn't total shit. Got a great childhood friend, lived in Lutran thanks to her, learned good martial arts."
"You're right. A year ago, you might have been utterly miserable, but now you're undeniably lucky—anyone would agree."
Elena stared out the window as if uninterested, but the corner of her tightly pressed lips twitched. Watching her obvious reaction was quite amusing.
"Why are you laughing?"
Perhaps hearing the snicker, Elena whipped around to face Yuri.
"Just... grateful."
"Grateful for what?"
"If you hadn't come after getting Uncle Gordon's letter, I wouldn't be who I am now, right?"
He had said "thanks" many times before. But Elena never tired of hearing it. Each time, it made her heart race.
"If you hadn't left right away, we might never have met."
"What... what do you mean?"
"I had a near-death experience too, and it made me think a lot. I was considering leaving my hometown."
Yuri had stayed in Oldor's house to grasp this world and his situation. If Gordon hadn't sent the letter, if Elena hadn't departed immediately upon receiving it—Yuri might have left Oldor. In fact, he had been preparing to discard his 'name' then.
If Elena had arrived later to find an empty room, what emotions would she have felt?
"..."
Elena stared at Yuri's face, speechless. She closed her half-open mouth and blinked several times.
"Th-that's... fateful."
After hesitating, Elena muttered that and turned her head sharply. It was summer; her body felt hot.
It was said in jest, but she didn't take it as a joke. Good thing she went then. Earlier would have been better, but it wasn't too late. Because she went at that time, she met the current Yuri.
'If I'd gone when he was with that Black Snake Gang or whatever, he might have disgusted me.'
Elena thought that and pressed her lips together. Her face burned, and her lips kept wanting to move on their own.
'Fateful, huh.'
How could he say such an embarrassing, cringe-worthy thing so openly? Was the sensibility of Derusia Magic Tower's genius magic girl truly different from ordinary people? Ha-ryeong thought that and crossed her arms.
But setting aside the embarrassment, 'fateful' wasn't wrong. Without meeting Elena, Yuri would never have realized his martial talent in his lifetime. Orphaned in Oldor, unable to choose his birth, he had met someone who supported him, sacrificed for him, and changed his life.
'Unlike me.'
She had no choice but to learn martial arts. No choice but to become an assassin. Nothing else was possible. Ha-ryeong had been an inescapable young snake, with no one to cheer or sacrifice for her.
Idle thoughts. Ha-ryeong narrowed her eyes and scattered her emotions.
"..."
Jake silently drove the carriage.
'Feels awkward to speak...'
The two inside were childhood friends. The woman in the driver's seat was a maid... That's how he parsed it. But Jake couldn't bring himself to join the conversation.
First, the mage showed no interest in private talk with him or the guide. She even seemed wary of him talking to her childhood friend.
The maid was crazy. She brought a goblin to fight the martial artist, then dragged him to a goblin den. Her behavior made it hard to think she was sane.
'No need to get chummy anyway.'
No exact deadline, but hired as a guide. Just fulfill the request.
"Shall I prepare similar requests for tomorrow?"
"No."
Elena answered from inside the carriage.
"2nd Grade requests are too easy."
Chosen partly to show magic's greatness, partly for Yuri to gain safe experience. But Elena had seen him fight.
2nd Grade was too easy. Though grades matched Tiers up to 4th, 2nd Grade wouldn't give Yuri real experience. Couldn't teach him the 'danger' of adventurers, the world, beyond the mansion.
"From tomorrow, pick 3rd Grade requests."
Originally planned 3rd Grade after three days' adaptation, but one day seemed enough.
'3rd Grade will probably be just as easy.'
But she didn't want to jump to 4th Grade. Few monsters in Logos matched 4th Grade, and some were too bothersome for Elena alone.
'Don't want to add more people.'
If requests got annoying, she'd need to hire more, which she hated.
Already disliked having this random guide uncle; adding more? Better to ignore 4th Grade.
"Understood."
At her curt tone, Jake nodded obediently.
'Her personality is... good or bad?'
Charitably, tenacious. Objectively, rude. Especially to him.
'Wasn't this bad before.'
Still holding yesterday's porter comment against him? He didn't even care. Yuri smacked his lips and glanced at Elena. She was now combing her disheveled hair.
Ten years ago, Elena had short hair. Simple reason.
Long hair was a hassle. Thus, all Oldor orphanage girls had bobs. But now Elena's hair reached her back.
Sweat-mussed bangs caught his eye.
"No plans to cut your hair?"
"Why suddenly?"
"Isn't combing it every time you cast magic annoying?"
"I'm still unskilled."
Elena pouted and set the comb on her knee.
"Look at Orca or Rayci senior—they don't get hair frizz from magic. At 5th Tier, your body balances with magic and mana, so no more frizz."
"So. No cutting until 5th Tier?"
"Yeah."
Her stubborn streak, apparently.
Back in the village, they stopped by the Adventurer's Guild before the inn to return the bracelets.
"31 goblins... Confirmed."
Elena had hunted various monsters today, but Yuri only goblins.
"Reward is 150,000 cel."
50,000 cel per 10. Felt how cheap monster lives were in these rifts where they overbred daily. Just Yuri's martial arts cost billions; buying peak arts killing only goblins would require massacring hundreds of thousands.
"2nd Grade average reward is 100,000 cel."
Seeing Yuri's sour face, Elena whispered.
"High-rank adventurers make bank, but low-ranks struggle to eat daily. How's that empty truth feel?"
"Not bothered."
"Adventuring's no path to riches. Most rent guild-tied inns. Don't you want your own place?"
"Strictly, your mansion isn't fully yours either."
Elena's coaxing lips shut tight.
"And all jobs are like that. Top earn big, bottom scrape by. Natural."
"So. Gonna be top adventurer and rake it in?"
"Not decided on adventuring, but if I do, first repay my debt to you."
Debt... Her lips pouted at the word.
"Debt sounds so cold."
"Gotta repay the favor."
"What's the difference?"
"The words are different."
"Sounds the same."
As they bickered, reward collection finished. He handed her the 150,000 cel; she shook her head quickly.
"No. You earned it."
Yuri never refused gifts, past or present.
After parting with Jake and leaving the guild, something caught his eye on the way to the inn.
Yuri stopped and stared briefly. Turning slowly, he saw Elena's back, a bit ahead.
Her frizzy gold hair, combed diligently in the carriage, now flowed smoothly, swaying with her steps.
"What's up?"
Elena turned. Hot summer. Climbed a mountain—not too high. Constant magic and movement meant some sweat.
Sweat-stuck hair on her pale forehead. Puzzled by Yuri's stare, she tilted her head. Her pretty blue eyes blinked.
"Wait a sec."
Yuri eyed her a moment, then spun and entered a nearby shop. Startled, Elena moved to follow, but Ha-ryeong grabbed her wrist swiftly.
"Oh my, oh my."
"Wh-what? Why?"
"Oh my, oh my, oh my. Miss, Yuri said 'wait a sec.' So wait here a bit."
"Why? What is it?"
"Come on, come on. Don't look back."
Ha-ryeong grabbed her shoulders and turned her fully. The strength was too much for Elena to resist. Still confused and flustered, she blinked. So sudden, she hadn't even checked the shop.
"Oh my, oh my, oh my..."
Standing mid-street, Ha-ryeong holding her shoulders—her expression differed slightly from usual. Blank 9, smile 1. Elena glared at Ha-ryeong's eyes and lips, curved faintly more than normal.
"Took longer than expected."
About 10 minutes of glaring at Ha-ryeong. Just as impatience peaked and she considered shaking her off—Yuri's voice.
"What'd you go off alone for!"
"Sorry, caught my eye suddenly. Don't be mad."
"Yes, miss, don't be angry. You mustn't. Oh my, oh my, oh my..."
"What is it?"
Approaching footsteps from behind irked Elena. No more. About to turn despite orders—
Yuri's arm thrust forward with something before her face.
"..."
A blue hair clip with floral engraving.
"Figured you don't do headbands or ties."
She sometimes tied back hair with bands at home, but never gone out like that.
But hair clips? Frequently.
Always plain ones, but maybe this would suit.
Spotted walking; he was hooked. Not overly flashy, matched her eye color.
Entered hooked, but buying needed thought.
Golden Lily nickname—gold flower clip? Gold hair plus gold clip might blend. Or funny with the name?
Three minutes pondering that, two more on price.
Expensive... Not Lutran metropolis, accessory shop for adventurers in this village—1 million cel for a clip? Turns out real gems; shop was upscale.
Would've paid 1 million. After all she'd given him, stingy on 1 mil for her?
But felt ripped off, so haggled. Got it for 600,000 cel. Maybe lower cost, fake gems even...
Yuri liked this clip. Suited her at first sight.
"F-for me?"
She alternated between clip and Yuri's smile. A 'real' gift. Unlike Thunderclap Seven Forms from Kwon Rang deal, or orphanage doll. Yuri's gift to Elena.
"Yeah."
"Why...?"
"Won't cut your hair, right?"
Carriage talk. Elena took the clip with trembling hands. She knew this feeling—indescribable, yet clear. Lips parted unwittingly.
"I..."
No.
Elena swallowed the words. Short deep breath, composed herself. Decided before coming.
Sort and confess after back at Lutran mansion.
"Thanks."
Expression natural. Face hot. Not summer heat—this was emotion.
"I... I'll wear this clip back at the mansion."
"Won't wear it now?"
"No, absolutely not. I'm in a robe. Haven't washed hair. And from tomorrow, 3rd Grade requests—mountain living."
Like Oldor visit, wanted to pick nice clothes and wear it.
"Don't wanna dirty a gift from you."
Fair. Wanted to see it on now, but her point valid.
"Oh my, oh my, oh my..."
Ha-ryeong's smile deepened. Blank 8, smile 2. Voice giggling more than usual.
"Not bad pick for you, Yuri. I was worried. If you brought something aesthetically disastrous, as bodyguard, might've had to smash it to protect miss's dignity."
Ignored the teasing.
Elena stared at the clip in her palm while walking, then carefully pocketed it. No dirt, no damage.
'Wanna go back soon.'
Last schedule before Yuri left—planned to stay long if possible. But gift changed mind.
'Stay a week... then back to Lutran.'
Elena patted her burning cheeks and turned. Logos nearby. Under darkening sky, rift like crimson mist—twilight and night blended.
Ominous yet beautiful.
It was five days after entering Logos that they encountered the Bloodfiend Ghost.