Then Shall We Go?
"Then let's go."
Baek Bal Baek Jung said as he took back the telescope from Beda.
"……."
But Beda, who had been pondering for a moment, slowly shook his head.
"…No. I'm not going."
Beda's movement halted abruptly. Baek Bal Baek Jung, who had been about to rush straight to Hura, froze in place.
"Why? Haven't you been waiting all this time just to see Hura-nim off?"
Beda lowered his head. He stared quietly at his palm, thick with calluses, then clenched it into a tight fist.
The helplessness from that moment gnawed at his body once more.
Rank 1 Cheon-gong. The gap between them was wider than he'd imagined. Overwhelming strength, truly.
Even with the three of them attacking together, he hadn't landed a single effective hit.
Throughout the battle, Cheon-gong had been utterly relaxed. Like a grown adult toying with immature children, his arrogance was infuriating.
He'd fought the whole time with a smile playing on his lips. No, he probably hadn't even considered it a real battle.
The one who shattered that smile and disrupted his composure was Geogi Seora, enraged by Hura's death.
Geogi Seora had at least managed to land blows and push him back. Baek Bal Baek Jung had supported her with long-range sniping.
'What… did I even do?'
He hadn't done a damn thing. No, worse—he might have just gotten in Geogi Seora's way.
"…I don't deserve it. I couldn't protect you."
Beda looked up at Baek Bal Baek Jung.
Baek Bal Baek Jung simply blinked back at him.
"You escort Hura-nim."
"Uh… yeah. You sure you're really staying behind, hyung?"
"Yeah. Take care of Hura-nim."
"Got it. Don't worry."
Whoosh—
Without another word, Baek Bal Baek Jung dashed toward the village like the wind. His footwork was mysteriously fluid, even on second glance.
Beda watched Baek Bal Baek Jung's retreating figure, then gazed wistfully at Hura, who was innocently looking around in the middle of distant Nimal Village.
Soon, he turned his body, raising his sword once more.
"Until next time, Hura-nim."
* * *
A sweltering afternoon under the blazing sun.
I wandered aimlessly through an unfamiliar village, letting my feet carry me like some tourist on vacation.
This desert village, centered around an oasis, was a small one, about the size of Shin-dong Village. Clay-colored buildings clustered cozily around it. There weren't many people passing by.
I pulled out my map, wondering if specifying "oasis-centered village" would pinpoint it, but every desert village seemed built around some oasis, big or small.
With no luck, I grabbed a passerby—a guy with a turban, probably an NPC.
"Excuse me."
"Yes? What can I do for you?"
"What's the name of this village?"
"Nimal Village."
"Ah, thanks."
"Sure thing."
Respawned in Nimal Village, huh. Lucky break.
"Now, time to figure out how to track down some leads—"
As I started brainstorming, a voice called my name from somewhere.
-Hura-nim!
As I looked around, someone came running up, beaming happily.
"Hura-niim!"
Baek Bal Baek Jung was dashing over with a Choco Bar ice cream stick in his mouth.
"Baek Bal Baek Jung-nim!"
I remembered his final moments. He'd fired that silver arrow, trying to take the hit from Cheon-gong's arrow in my place.
A warm mix of joy and gratitude welled up, and I pulled him into a tight hug.
"Haha, I thought you weren't coming back."
"You're safe!"
We clapped each other heartily on the back.
But up close, his getup was anything but ordinary.
"…You're too safe-looking?"
From afar, I hadn't noticed, but now face-to-face, the details hit me—like eyes adjusting to the dark.
A turban wrapped tightly around his head. A long, white dress-like robe down to his ankles. And pitch-black sunglasses that screamed Middle Eastern oil baron.
…Or just an excited desert tourist.
"What happened? Did Cheon-gong get you too, sending you here? Is that why you're dressed like this?"
"Huh? What's wrong with it? The shop guy said it was cool."
"…Really?"
"Yeah! Isn't it stylish?"
Baek Bal Baek Jung spun around with a whoosh, asking for my verdict.
My response was lukewarm.
"…Style's subjective. So, not taken out by Cheon-gong, then?"
"Nope. I held my own."
Phew—I let out a sigh of relief.
"Good to hear. Sis gave me the rough rundown. A draw, right?"
"Hm… a draw."
Baek Bal Baek Jung nodded bitterly.
"You could call it that."
"……."
His expression wasn't exactly cheerful. I decided not to pry further and glanced behind him instead.
"Where's Beda-nim?"
"Oh, Beda-hyung headed out first."
"Where to?"
"No idea."
"Pardon?"
"Yeah?"
"……?"
"……?"
I shot him a look like 'How do you not know that?' He returned one like 'How should I know?'
"Ah."
Suddenly remembering, he relayed the message.
"I do know why he left early, though."
"Tell me."
"Beda-nim felt too guilty for failing to protect you. He asked me to look after you, then left to train and get stronger."
"…Guilty?"
"Yeah. No clue where, though."
"No need to feel guilty…"
He was up against Rank 1. Who could blame him?
I had no intention of blaming anyone, no reason to. I didn't want to.
I hadn't even paid him—it was just a friend's goodwill, offering to tag along to the Demon King's Castle.
If anything, I was grateful.
No need for apologies at all.
Slurp-slurp—
"……."
I stared blankly at Baek Bal Baek Jung, who was obliviously sucking away at his Choco Bar.
The tourist in sunglasses delivering the message was utterly carefree.
"…Tasty?"
"Yep."
"And you, Baek Bal Baek Jung-nim?"
"Huh?"
"……."
"Oh, want some ice cream, Hura-nim? They're selling 'em at that stall over there."
"…Sure. Might as well."
"This way."
As we headed to the stall and I picked out an ice cream, I asked casually.
"Not training like Beda-nim?"
"Training?"
Blink-blink. His face was pure innocence, like he had no idea what I meant.
"Yeah. Aren't you pissed?"
"? About what?"
"You three ganged up and it was a draw. I'd be furious."
"……?"
"Sis is already fired up, and Beda-nim left to train. You're the only one so chill. I'm low-level, so I get not feeling it, but…"
Baek Bal Baek Jung slurped his Choco Bar nonchalantly.
"What can ya do? I'm with you on that, Hura-nim. I'm Rank 10, he's Rank 1. Game over before it starts."
"Still, you could at least mix it up with him."
"Mix what? It's not Bibimbap."
"Pardon?"
"He dodged my arrow—that was impressive—but whatcha gonna do? It happened."
Sucking on his ice cream, he spoke oh-so-casually. In his own way, this guy was a real saint.
To stay this laid-back after defeat.
"Oh, right—almost forgot. Here's the stuff and cash you dropped when you died."
Baek Bal Baek Jung rummaged and handed them over.
On game over, you drop 1-5 items and 10-30% of your money. Stats drop randomly too.
Luckily, just my spare frying pan and random ingredients I wasn't using. I carried light cash for times like this, so not much lost. Stats? I'm so weak anyway, no real difference.
"So, what's the plan? Back to Shin-dong Village? Or somewhere else?"
He asked as he returned my drops.
"Nah."
I pulled a silvery coin with a bluish rim from my pocket—the one from Ptah-nim.
A magitech device for teleporting to Machine Hill.
"I can head back anytime."
"What's that?"
"Teleport artifact. Specifically to near Shin-dong Village."
Baek Bal Baek Jung's eyes widened.
"Those are super rare! Where'd you snag it?"
"Got it by chance on a quest."
"…Hidden class job quest?"
"Bingo."
He grumbled.
"Tch. Us non-hidden class folks are jealous as hell."
"Wanna try it later?"
"For real?"
"……."
What a simple guy.
"Anyway, got business here. Sticking around a bit."
"Ah. Sounds like you got something out of it?"
I hadn't mentioned trekking from eastern Shin-dong Village all the way to the northwest Demon King's Castle for a reason.
This dude's sharp when it counts.
"Yeah. Which brings me to this—the clue for my quest is in this village. Gonna hunt it down now."
"Ooh, fun."
I eyed the excited tourist.
"You not busy, Baek Bal Baek Jung-nim?"
"…Huh? Oh… Am I in the way?"
The desert tourist deflated instantly. I waved my hands frantically.
"No no, not at all. I'd love it. Especially from you."
"…Really?"
"Just—high ranker like Rank 10, figured you'd have stuff to do. Wondered if tagging along with me was okay."
"I like hanging with you, Hura-nim. Got nothing else anyway."
"Cool. Help me out, then?"
"You bet!"
The pumped-up tourist rattled off ideas.
"Ask around the NPCs? Buy info from the thieves' guild? Or I scout the village edges? Sharp eyes, me."
I shook my head with a chuckle.
"Heh, Baek Bal Baek Jung-nim. We don't hunt info—it comes to us."
"…Huh? How?"
I glanced around casually.
"Hm… Baek Bal Baek Jung-nim. Desert, right?"
"Yep."
"Hot as hell, yeah?"
"Obviously. Sweating buckets just standing here."
"So, right now—what's the one food you crave most?"
"Food? Lemme think…"
He tossed his empty Choco Bar stick behind him—it crumbled to gray ash.
"Uh… ice cream?"
"You just had that."
"Then… watermelon punch? Red bean shaved ice?"
"Snacks. A full meal."
"Oh, soba! Kongguksu!"
"Getting there!"
"Ah! Aah! Naengmyeon!"
I nodded in satisfaction.
"Right? Naengmyeon hits the spot."
"Huh? Nah, personally I prefer kongguksu over—"
"Naeng. Myeon. That's the one, right?"
"Uh, y-yeah! Who wouldn't? Haha!"
"Good. Specially for you, we'll make naengmyeon."
"……."
Leaving the aggrieved Baek Bal Baek Jung behind, I headed out to gather ingredients.
He scurried up beside me.
"I'm down, but—what's the play? Thought you wanted info."
"Heh heh heh. Just watch. The best info can't be bought."
"……?"
"Oh, yeah—Baek Bal Baek Jung-nim."
"Yes, Hura-nim."
"You do mukbangs?"