Chapter 308: Business
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 308: Business
Your strength is marvelous. I offer my respects to the power that allowed you to slay a mighty member of the Necro Species and return safely.
Your surprise attack during that earlier peril was impeccable. I am grateful that you were able to minimize my blood loss.
If you have the will, join the South. Why not live and breathe alongside the stalwart explorers of Hechituk, the sanctuary of warriors that has produced countless legendary fighters throughout the eons?
I guarantee that great glory shall be yours.
A hero’s lechery is a sacred ritual that gives rise to powerful warriors. Unlike the stuffy North, polygamy for a strong warrior is encouraged.
With your strength, you could command tens of thousands of submissive and beautiful maidens.
Dialogue loaded.
‘That’s enough...! I’ll just say it like that...!’
Fire.
“Th-thanks for saving me. Want to live together? Don’t you need a wife?”
—Slap!
Far off in the Sharmana Anuyai tents, the sound of someone facepalming reached Nefertiri’s keen ears.
Had she not been so flustered herself, she would have done the same.
“Um... Hemeth, was it? You are beautiful, but such a sudden proposal is a bit much.”
“N-no. No.”
Because she had shortened her words to the extreme, it had come out as an invitation for him to live with her.
It went from ‘Why not live among the great warriors of the South? You could have many beautiful and fine wives’ to ‘Let’s live together. You need a wife.’
“I’m sorry.”
“Th-that’s not what I meant!”
She had been rejected without even confessing. In all her hundreds of years of life, she didn't think she had ever experienced such a humiliating moment.
“Right... I’ll pretend this never happened. You’re, uh, someone important, right? I won’t spread rumors.”
“I’m telling you, it’s not like that!!”
Overly agitated by being rejected before she could even start, Hemeth began to bark and shout, causing the other nearby explorers to come running.
“Aven-nim!! What’s going on?!”
“Nefertiri! What is all this commotion?!”
The South had always looked down on and ignored the Northern explorers. At the center of that pride was the powerful 8-star explorer, Hemeth Nefertiri.
“Wh-what did you say?! Nefertiri proposed—?!?!”
“No, I haven't even said anything yet.”
“But Aven-nim rejected her!!!! He rejected!! He!! Meth!! Nefertiri’s proposal—!!!!!!”
“Whoa, hey, take it easy.”
The Northern explorers were hooting and hollering for everyone to hear.
Among so many high-grade explorers, how could there not be someone with a hearing enhancement skill? Those who had been eavesdropping on Hemeth and Yoo Eon’s conversation approached and began to spread the rumor like wildfire.
“The War Queen of the South was dumped by a Northern explorer—!!!!!”
“Kyahahaha!!! How inhumane—!!!!!”
“Please, stop this....”
Contrary to Yoo Eon’s own desire to keep the story from leaking, the relationship between the two regions was already sour. Furthermore, the relationship had worsened due to Ashuras Vidhyarti’s absence.
Now that they had a chance to stick it to the South, they all chimed in and shouted at the top of their lungs.
Of course, everyone here knew it wasn't entirely true, but it felt good to scream about the South’s embarrassment.
“Ugh, kgh...!! I’m telling you, I didn’t... I didn’t propose...!!”
“Yes, yes, I know. I’ll talk to them.”
As Hemeth stood there trembling with her fists clenched, Yoo Eon stepped forward to restrain the Northern explorers.
“Now, now, let’s not do this. You all know Hemeth-ssi didn't mean it that way.”
“But Aven, the humiliation we Northern explorers have suffered until now is far worse than this.”
“Then why are you relying on my strength to vent your frustrations? You’ve done enough, so stop.”
“Ah, well... Understood.”
Since he reasoned with them properly, the Northern explorers stopped and dispersed. Hemeth Nefertiri, her cheeks flushed bright red, watched them leave with a pouting lip.
“So, Hemeth-ssi? Your surname is a bit long, so I’ll just call you by your name.”
“D-do as you wish.”
“Going to the South will be difficult. I already have a family. As for a wife, I don’t really need...”
“B-but! You could have the most beautiful women of the South at your knees...!”
“I already have three wives. I don’t see a need to add more.”
“Ah, I... I see... Three wives....”
Hemeth turned her head slightly and stole a glance at Yoo Eon, trying not to be obvious. Unlike during the battle when his flesh and bone twisted into a grotesque form, he now stood with a tall stature and a sturdy build.
He had rare black hair and captivating odd-colored eyes. His left golden eye was like that of a wolf; while knowing his martial prowess might have influenced her perception, she couldn't deny it.
‘Certainly... with looks like that....’
Even though it was a misunderstanding, the way he remained unfazed by her supposed proposal made him seem like a grape on an unreachable branch—all the more tempting.
“Even despite tens of thousands of gold in wealth? You could live in luxury for the rest of your life without ever working.”
“I think life would be boring if I just played all the time. More than anything, I have a reason to enter the Labyrinth.”
“Hmph... Is that so? But if it’s a Labyrinth you want, Hechituk has one too.”
“It has to be Calax.”
“...I see.”
Hemeth let out a deep sigh and nodded. She seemed to accept it for now, but told him to come to Hechituk whenever he changed his mind.
“...Are you the same breed as the Golden Emperor?”
* * *
“The sun is rising.”
“That means the Hollow Breeze is completely over.”
“The portal closed a long time ago.”
“Haha! After doing this for so long, it doesn't feel finished until the sun comes up.”
Normally, the Hollow Breeze portal would start closing around this time, and they would spend another few dozen minutes clearing out the remaining monsters and organizing the byproducts before preparing to return.
However, due to the major event of Belmorak’s appearance and the fact that I had closed the Hollow Breeze portal early, most explorers had already finished their preparations to head back.
“Say, Aven. Have you thought about coming to Roanmarie?”
“Pardon? Haha. It would be nice to go.”
I preferred the advanced lifestyle of Roanmarie over the developing city of Calax. Since their progress was based on magic, the air quality wasn't bad; it was more like a harmless technological innovation.
But I couldn't just say 'okay' and leave right away. Theodora was handling the business in Calax, and Sera’s family had been running the Mounted Goat Inn for twenty years.
Ravi... would probably jump for joy. She’d go on about it being the home of magic or whatever. I wasn't sure about Tresha. Sola might like it since it was closer to her home.
Roanmarie might be a better environment for Yura. And Iris would have to set up her magic item shop all over again.
“It would be difficult right now. It’s not a decision I can make alone.”
“I see... I was thinking of handing over Megingjord to you when I retire.”
“Yeah... please don't do that. I have no intention of being a Clan Master.”
He was saying some very scary things. I had absolutely no desire to be the leader of a massive clan that everyone knew by name.
“O’Connor. Do not covet Calax’s precious talent.”
“Khahaha! Delbaheim, I’m joking. Just a joke.”
When Delbaheim, who had arrived with Soles Getia, spoke up sharply, O’Connor laughed heartily. I heard that Delbaheim had been there during O’Connor’s very first Hollow Breeze as well.
I suppose even Orichalcum Grades were close with one another.
“Then... shall we return together, Aven?”
“How are we traveling?”
“We’ll take an airship to Melabaha. It’s the city with the nearest Gateway.”
“I see. I’d appreciate that.”
Once the preparations for the return were complete, the heavily injured explorers began to be transported from the tents first. Thanks to the powerful mages, most weren't in critical condition, but the recovery of the wounded was always the top priority.
The Southern explorers didn't care about that; the explorers of Karnak Obelisk, including Hemeth, were the first priority.
They began returning one by one using simplified Gateway magic.
“Explorer Aven-nim. This is for you.”
“Hm? What is this?”
One of the mages from Sharmana Anuyai handed me something before entering the portal. It looked like a golden ticket, but I didn't know what it was.
“It is a plaque signifying a VIP of Brahman. It was issued in the name of the 8-star explorer, Hemeth Nefertiri-nim.”
“I see. What is it used for?”
“It is a type of privilege certificate given to VIPs who receive the highest treatment in all Southern cities. You will be able to have all your food, clothing, and shelter taken care of without money.”
“Aha.”
Suddenly giving me something like this? And the scope was all Southern cities—wasn't this much more incredible than I thought?
“What if I lose it?”
“It is enchanted with Southern magic. If it leaves its owner’s hand, it will return home, so you need not worry.”
“That’s amazing.”
The Sharmana Anuyai mage said that, bowed politely, and walked toward the portal.
He looked exactly like someone of Middle Eastern descent, so it was still fascinating that we could communicate.
“A VIP, huh.”
I held the golden slip of paper up toward the rising sun, and its brilliant reflection made it look like real gold.
“Aven, preparations for the return are complete.”
“Understood. Let’s go.”
I had business in Hechituk anyway. I had visited Roanmarie’s Great Labyrinth, though not properly.
Perhaps I could find something useful in Hechituk’s Great Labyrinth.