Chapter 150: Dream
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 150: Dream
He was the first one I ever stole a weapon from. Jang Ye Ri had included the Dark Bat in the list of items she would return to me, but it was a weapon I coveted, so I had no intention of giving it back.
For me, that encounter had been an enjoyable one, but for him, it was surely a memory he’d rather forget. From his perspective, I was nothing but a thief who had stolen his precious weapon. And besides, the man was strong.
He had the stats to wield an item of that caliber, and he was worthy of it. To be honest, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he was slightly stronger than me. Of course, now that I had the Reaper's Scythe, Dainsleif, and had evolved into a Weapon Specialist, I wouldn't lose, but that didn't make him any less of a burden to face.
The moment I saw Park Han Cheol’s face, I immediately sent a communication to Jang Ye Ri.
[I see a familiar face…]
No matter that she was a demon, the possibility of a trap was high enough that I had to be suspicious.
[He is one of those who follow me. There is no need to be on guard.]
[Easy for you to say, but I’m not convinced.]
[You may think you erased your tracks, but unless it rains, they will surely be found. It would be more advantageous for you to completely erase your trail at the entrance to the North. I am not forcing you. You can go elsewhere right now if you wish… but I think it would be better to rest your weary body inside…]
[Hmm…]
[Check his equipment.]
At Jang Ye Ri’s words, I began to slowly observe Park Han Cheol from a distance. He was indeed completely unarmed. He wasn't even wearing armor. If I were to throw a spear at him in this state, it would be a fatal blow. This man was trusting Jang Ye Ri’s word, revealing himself, bare-bodied, before a demon who posed a threat to him.
[He has nothing.]
[Whether you believe me or not is your choice.]
I began to slowly approach Park Han Cheol. He flinched as I drew near but said nothing to me. Even when I was within range to swing my sword and take his head, he just stood there, watching me.
“I have prepared a gift.”
Park Han Cheol, who had been quietly looking up at me, held out a bracelet.
[Archmage Isaac’s Translation Bracelet]
[A translation bracelet created by Archmage Isaac out of boredom. While researching the ecology of ancient Green Skins, Archmage Isaac grew frustrated by the language barrier, so he researched magic on the spot and immediately created bracelets to gift to the Green Skins. It has no other function besides translating the Green Skin language.]
It was an item I had never even seen in the shop. It looked like an original, so he must have acquired it from the Secret Store or a dungeon. What was more surprising was that he truly hadn't told anyone about me. I didn't know if this was an item he already possessed or not, but it seemed certain that he had prepared it to help keep my secret.
“I’ll make good use of it.”
I dismounted my wolf, slowly stood before Park Han Cheol, and after putting on the bracelet, I spoke in the Green Skin tongue.
- It’s been a while.
“You remember me?”
- I am making good use of your weapon. Aside from the Reaper’s Scythe and this sword, your weapon is the best, so you should be proud.
“What an honor…”
I tried a slight provocation, but there was no reaction. To be precise, it felt like he had no killing intent at all. Assassins might be different, but warriors like him were usually poor at hiding their emotions. For Park Han Cheol to react this way, I felt I could trust him, at least a little.
“Follow me.”
I nodded. There was definitely some kind of magic at work here. As Park Han Cheol slowly touched the ground, a small door revealed itself from beneath the covering of snow. I didn't know if it was a former dungeon or something they had built, but it certainly looked like the perfect place to hide.
- How did you come to know that woman? No, how long have you known her?
“It hasn’t been more than a few days. It was a simple transaction. And then I came to follow her. It was effective that she and I thought alike.”
Hearing the conviction in his voice, I sent another communication to Jang Ye Ri.
[Do these people know you’re a demon?]
[Only a few, but he, at least, knows.]
She was a bolder woman than I thought. To use a more dramatic expression, she had a great capacity for things. If what Park Han Cheol said was true, it meant she had revealed all her secrets to him within just a few days of meeting him.
Of course, it was highly likely she had already investigated his background and how he was living, but even so, that didn't eliminate the penalty for revealing such a secret. This was especially true for someone as strong as him.
I felt like I was beginning to understand why she was loved by these people, despite being a demon. Her personality was the complete opposite of mine. While I was cautious and suspicious of everything, Jang Ye Ri was unhesitant. She stated her opinions with a forthright gaze and recruited those who shared her will. She didn't back down; she faced things head-on.
I couldn't help but think that Park Han Cheol must have decided to follow her based on her character, rather than her race.
This became the catalyst for me to trust them a little more, so I had no choice but to follow Park Han Cheol further until I was looking at a large gate.
“Welcome to the underground city of Abraham.”
What I saw was a city that rivaled Somorah, a civilization thriving with life. The most bewildering part was…
‘Green Skins?’
A few young Orcs and Goblins were scattered here and there. It seemed highly likely they were individuals who had been sold as slaves. And it wasn't just the Green Skins. Some of the city's inhabitants all had the mark of a slave branded on their foreheads, arms, or other hidden places.
- Astonishing.
The word escaped my lips before I even realized it.
I never dreamed they would be building and living in a city like this in a place like this. The name ‘underground city’ truly suited it. No, to be precise, it couldn't be called a city just yet. The population seemed quite large, but the atmosphere was more like that of a town. I was the only one carrying a weapon. The Green Skins here were clearly being raised in the human way.
Only then did I realize what the woman once called a witch truly sought.
Harmony.
What she wanted was coexistence and harmony. In a world like this, it was an absurdly idealistic notion. A city where different species gathered to live together was unthinkable. I stared blankly at the city for a moment, and Park Han Cheol, watching me, spoke.
“When she shows you something like this, of course you have no choice but to follow.”
Even the me of the past would have surely nodded. She was an ideal leader.
“We believe in our queen. That’s the reason you can stroll through this city with your weapon right now. I hope you don’t disappoint that trust.”
- I, too, believe in her.
“I’ll guide you to a place where you can stay for a while.”
We slowly began to walk. Once again, various scenes caught my eye.
In the fields, which our tribe had only just begun to experiment with, crops were growing as if by some magic. The town's grounds were larger than I expected, with no visible end in sight. As I slowly took in this magnificent city, I sent a communication to Jang Ye Ri.
[This is magnificent… You… are magnificent.]
No more words were needed. No flowery language was necessary. It was exactly as I had just said. She was magnificent.
[Thank you, Blood Dagger. To be honest, I am happy to hear that from you.]
[Are all the young Green Skins former slaves?]
[That’s right. There aren't many, but we are rescuing them, little by little. They are also the ones I promised to return to you.]
[That should be left to the children to decide. They don’t seem to want to leave this place…]
It seemed there was a reason for the rumors about the witch who was mad for blood, who was said to have killed slaves for sport since she was a child. The slaves she had supposedly killed were likely the children now playing here. I couldn't even begin to imagine how much she must have struggled to create this city of Abraham.
[How long has it been?]
[About 12 years, I think… At first, it was a small village. As more people who shared my will joined, it began to grow, and I, too, was able to dream.]
[A dream?]
[You will understand if you look around the city.]
At Jang Ye Ri’s words, I began to slowly walk through the city.
- I’m going to look around a bit.
“Do as you please.”
The part of the city where people lived was quite large. But even in the uninhabited parts of the town, there was an enormous amount of space.
It was a space so vast an army could line up without it feeling cramped. Unable to contain my curiosity, I had no choice but to ask Park Han Cheol.
- How far does this underground city, Abraham, extend?
“To Hadum.”
My jaw dropped.
“To be precise, the path isn’t this wide the entire way. We’ve only managed to barely carve out a path to Hadum. Besides Abraham, there are two other cities in between, Rob and Humer. The city closest to Hadum is Humer, and the farthest is this one, Abraham. I heard it all started from Humer.”
- Is it alright for you to tell me this?
“You’re a demon anyway, aren’t you? The queen asked me to answer any questions you might have. I am only following orders.”
I nodded. As I slowly walked out of the area where the humans lived and looked at the empty clearing, I could clearly see traces of an army having trained there. There were very old-looking scars on a large boulder.
They had been training here for a long time.
This woman, who was neither human nor demon, had created a place for herself in a world where there was no light. I didn't know her well. The time we had spent together was incredibly short. And yet, I respected her.
Jang Ye Ri, who had sought out various information on the ecology of demons because she herself wanted to be a Green Skin, was a demon more like a Green Skin than I was.
A smile crept onto my lips as I sent her another communication.
[Rebellion.]
What she wanted was a rebellion. To completely overturn the great city of Hadum from the depths of the earth. As if she had received my message, she replied immediately. It was a question that required no thought.
[Will you get on the same boat?]
She had even invited me here to recruit me. I was dumbfounded at how far she had calculated. At the question of whether I would get on the same boat, I laughed.
[In return for teaching me about etiquette and trust, I will tell you one thing about Green Skins.]
[…]
[Wherever a battle breaks out, we are always there. We are fighters and warriors. There is no reason… to refuse.]
I was being evasive, but she would surely understand what I was saying. As expected, a voice filled with joy soon came through. Jang Ye Ri always maintained a stoic expression, but for some reason, I was certain she was smiling right now.
[Thank you, my mate.]