Treasures We Long For
The other world was a place only the fortunate few could cross into, and upon death, they would return to Earth.
Many returnees longed for their former world.
Because there were countless opportunities, treasures, and training methods unique to that place that could elevate their abilities, and because they had formed many bonds there as well.
Lim Dojun was free from such constraints since he could travel freely between Earth and the other world, yet even so, this spatial magic was shocking.
‘I can bring items from the other world here, and take things from Earth over there?’
When he first learned spatial magic and created a pocket dimension, he had never imagined something like this.
He had assumed the two worlds were entirely separate dimensions, so he never expected they could be connected in this way.
-Zzt!
The moment his concentration wavered with stray thoughts, the pocket dimension closed.
“Huff! Huff!”
Lim Dojun exhaled heavily.
Spatial magic still felt unfamiliar, making it difficult to maintain.
‘Moreover, it seems even harder on Earth.’
He wasn’t sure why, but sustaining the pocket dimension was noticeably more difficult on Earth.
While resting to recover his exhausted stamina and mental strength, Lim Dojun fell into deep thought.
How could he best utilize this pocket dimension?
If used properly, it could bring about revolutionary changes.
He needed to think this through carefully.
* * *
The Astelgard Returnees’ Gathering.
It was a casual meetup where Astelgard returnees gathered among themselves.
There was no grand purpose behind it.
When collective action was needed, they would raise their voices through the Returnees’ Union, but in truth, it was closer to a social gathering.
A place where people from the same homeland could laugh, enjoy themselves, and reminisce about old memories.
Park Taeseok pondered the notice that had just been posted.
“Hmm. So Sehan is bringing a guest…”
Park Taeseok had been a fairly skilled mage in Astelgard.
He had been a mid-tier mage with eight years of experience at the Red Magic Tower, one of the major towers!
Since he had held a high-ranking position assisting the elders, he was confident in his own abilities.
That was why he disliked returnees who weren’t affiliated with the Returnees’ Union.
He had struggled desperately to survive and somehow gained power to return, yet there were those among the cowardly returnees who had accumulated no strength at all because they made no effort.
Since the Union wouldn’t accept such people, they tried to join even these casual gatherings, and Park Taeseok particularly disliked that type.
But the guest arriving this time was different.
-Hyung-nim. That person told me through our shop. He said my cat found a good new owner and got nice and fat… I’m tearing up just hearing about it. You know I used to have insomnia, right? I finally overcame it this time.
Lee Sehan’s words were something every returnee could empathize with.
It was a pain only they could share with each other.
“Right. If he’s willing to share even such trivial news, then even if his skills are lacking, his character must be decent.”
That was enough qualification to attend the gathering.
Since his character passed, perhaps his lack of power was simply due to bad luck?
With that thought, Park Taeseok entered the returnee community, specifically the ‘Astelgard Continent Minor Gallery.’
Everything was anonymous, so most posts were nonsense, but it was still a place where he could communicate with people who shared the same sense of belonging from their homeland, which put his mind at ease.
Moreover, the anonymity was an advantage.
It meant he could browse comfortably without needing to put on airs.
Park Taeseok chuckled as he happened upon the post.
“What kind of nonsense is this now?”
It was pointless content.
Yet it was also the kind of thing curiosity wouldn’t let him scroll past.
He decided to check the comments.
“Ha… what nonsense…”
Though Park Taeseok found it absurd, he found himself leaving a comment without realizing it.
Everyone’s wishes weren’t grand.
They longed for the food they ate back then, the drinks they had, the objects that held memories with them.
* * *
“A rock, alcohol, a diary, spices… There are far more people longing for small things than I expected.”
Lim Dojun checked the comments left on his smartphone.
He had posted the question just to hear people’s opinions, and before he knew it, it had become a popular post with countless comments.
Thanks to that, he now clearly understood what people wanted.
While obtaining specific items like diaries would be difficult, common things like alcohol or spices were worth bringing through the pocket dimension.
“What’s that?”
“Ah. It’s nothing special.”
In response to Casian’s question, Lim Dojun casually slipped his smartphone into his pocket.
He was currently using his smartphone in Astelgard.
He had tested whether he could bring it through the pocket dimension, and as expected, it worked.
Moreover, maintaining and opening the pocket dimension was easier in Astelgard than on Earth, so it wasn’t particularly difficult.
Of course, there was no internet access, but he could still view offline screenshots.
It was to review and remind himself of what to bring so he wouldn’t forget.
“Are we heading out now?”
“Yes.”
The ones who had come to greet Lim Dojun were Vex and Olivia of the Rodonos House.
Vex had fully recovered from his injuries, so there was no longer any need for him to stay in this village.
“That was brutal. Just how powerful is your magic that it’s so terrifying? Even after emergency treatment, it felt like all the blood vessels and nerves in my body were freezing.”
“Haha…”
Because he had been directly hit by Lim Dojun’s magic infused with dragon’s will, Vex’s recovery had taken longer than expected.
However, Vex held no grudge.
“Don’t forget that you promised to help us later.”
“Only if what you said is true.”
In exchange for breaking Olivia’s necklace, Lim Dojun had promised to help the Rodonos House once.
Therefore, the stronger Lim Dojun became, the more beneficial it was for them.
“Once I return, I’ll investigate the incidents surrounding the Rodonos House in my own way. I’ll make my judgment after that.”
“Do as you wish. There will be plenty of false information, so just make sure to distinguish it properly.”
“I’ll look into it through multiple channels, so you don’t need to worry about that.”
Once he returned, he would have accumulated considerable contribution points, so he planned to request information from the Blue Magic Tower.
Since the Blue Magic Tower was one of the major powers on the continent, it would possess a great deal of high-level information.
As long as he had contribution points, he could investigate anything.
‘I should also visit the auction house.’
The underground black market would provide related information from an entirely different perspective.
While he was at it, he should also browse the items at the auction house.
You never know.
He might find something else made from dragon bones, like the hand mirror he had obtained last time.
“Right. We’ll be heading to Milberg. Apparently, the merchant guild our family has been secretly supporting is located there.”
The reason the survivors of the Rodonos House had attacked the auction house wasn’t simply to retrieve their family head’s sword.
Hidden inside the sword’s hilt was information about a secret power the family had been nurturing in secret, passed down only to the family head.
Vex tapped the sword hilt at his waist.
“I need to tell them to welcome their rightful young master.”
The merchant guild, one of the top in Milberg, was the Rodonos family’s final hidden blade.
Vex was determined to rebuild his family using the guild’s funds.
“I hope we meet again under better circumstances next time.”
However, since there might come a time when military force was needed, the help of someone like Lim Dojun was essential.
Lim Dojun nodded and looked at Olivia.
“Ah, right. Lady Olivia.”
“You’re using formal speech now?”
“We’re no longer in an adversarial relationship.”
The moment they became neutral, Lim Dojun began showing proper courtesy.
Olivia pretended otherwise, but she quite liked the sight.
“Is there perhaps another treasure passed down in your family? Something like that necklace.”
“Trying to break that one too?”
“Haha…”
“You’re not denying it.”
“……”
Olivia let out a sigh.
“I’ll look into it once I return. That necklace was quite unique, so there probably isn’t another. Don’t get your hopes up too high.”
“That’s enough for me.”
“You want that strange energy that resided in the necklace, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
Lim Dojun nodded, seeing no need to hide it.
‘No one else but me can obtain a Dragon’s Body.’
If it were possible, Olivia would have obtained the power long ago.
“I can sense what that energy is since I wore the necklace for a long time. The merchant guild in Milberg handles many valuables, so if we find something there, I’ll let you know.”
“Oh…!”
Lim Dojun was slightly moved.
He hadn’t expected Olivia to go this far.
“If you do that for me, I’d be truly grateful.”
“So don’t put off helping us later. Think about it seriously.”
“Of course!”
He really needed to investigate the Rodonos House thoroughly.
Lim Dojun hoped that their claim of being falsely accused was true.
* * *
A text message from Lee Sehan.
Today was the day of the Astelgard Returnees’ Gathering.
Since Lee Sehan was his guest, he had offered to drive together and had come near Lim Dojun’s house.
“Dojun-nim!”
Lee Sehan, who had arrived in a yellow sports car, waved his massive frame.
“I’m sorry. Did you wait long?”
“Not at all. I haven’t been here long either.”
Lim Dojun had arranged to meet him at a location slightly away from his house, just in case, to keep his residence hidden.
“Shall we go then?”
“Yes.”
They got into the car together.
With a roar, the car began speeding down the road.
Lee Sehan glanced at the crossbody bag Lim Dojun had brought.
It was bulging, making him wonder what was inside.
“It looks pretty heavy. You brought something?”
“It’s my first time attending, so I brought some gifts.”
“Ah. Gifts…”
Lee Sehan smiled awkwardly.
‘Those people have such high standards that ordinary gifts won’t impress them.’
Since they were all returnees, they already possessed power, capital, and some even held authority.
“Um… I don’t know what the gifts are, but even if they don’t like them much, please don’t be too disappointed.”
Lee Sehan looked at the bag with worried eyes.
Even if that small bag was filled with luxury watches, they probably wouldn’t be impressed…
‘I’ll have to take good care of him by his side.’
Since he was the one who invited him, he needed to stay close and make sure he didn’t feel awkward, and help him get acquainted with the others.
As Lee Sehan made up his mind, Lim Dojun smiled faintly.
“Haha. Understood. But I don’t think those people will dislike my gifts very much.”
At the very least, judging from the community comments, that was certainly the case.