Otherworld Quest: "Are You a Priest?"
"Are you a priest?"
Cecil looked up at me with wide eyes, repeating the question. I shook my head as I answered. There was no need to lie.
"I'm not a priest, but I have a bit of a special talent. Wound recovery, stamina restoration."
As I said this and extended my staff toward the girl, a puff of pure white mist rose gently, then seeped into Cecil's skin.
"Ah!"
The girl let out a small gasp of surprise at the sight, then realized her body was healing. Her face lit up with astonishment. She flexed her injured leg a few times before scrambling to her feet in a hurry.
"...Th-thank you!"
She bowed deeply, her manners impeccable. A grin tugged at my lips. What an incredibly polite girl.
I flashed a satisfied smile and spoke.
"No big deal. It was nothing."
"No! I really am grateful. My leg was hurt, and I had no idea how I'd get back to the village... Um, could I treat you to dinner tonight as thanks?"
"Dinner?"
"Yes... I just want to repay you somehow."
She smiled shyly. It was so adorable, she reminded me of Eunha.
But that thought didn't last. Remembering why I'd come here, I quickly replied.
"I'm afraid that won't work."
"Oh..."
"Instead, I have one question."
"Yes? What..."
As Cecil trailed off and looked up at me, I pressed on.
"Actually, I dropped a black stone around here. Have you seen it? It's about... ah, yes. Roughly the size of two finger joints."
At my words, Cecil let out a soft "Ah!" and pulled a black stone from her pocket.
"Is this what you mean?"
"Yes, that's it! Where did you find it?"
"Well, up there... Ah! The pendant!"
As she explained where she'd found the Mana Stone Fragment, Cecil suddenly paled and cried out, realizing something.
"Pendant?"
"Y-yes... Um, excuse me! Could you help me one more time? My pendant fell up there... Oh, but it shouldn't be dangerous now! The bear's probably gone..."
She looked apologetic for asking again, her eyes darting around nervously before she glanced up at me cautiously.
"...Could you come with me?"
Her fidgeting was so endearing that I couldn't help but laugh. It was impossible to refuse.
"Alright. I'll help you."
"Thank you! Really, thank you!"
With my permission, she bowed repeatedly in gratitude. Then she shouted, "This way!" and tugged at my hand.
From her urgency, that pendant must be something important.
"So, did a bear attack you?"
I asked as we climbed the mountain together. Cecil touched the torn fabric of her top, clawed by the bear's talons, and replied.
"Yes, a bear just appeared out of nowhere..."
"You nearly had a close call."
She nodded slightly.
"I almost died."
Her hand trembled in mine.
"Don't worry. It's safe now."
I gripped her hand firmly to reassure her. Only then did she break into a bright smile.
"Thank you. Um..."
"Yuhyun. Kim Yuhyun."
"Ah, I'm Cecil!"
She beamed, introducing herself.
"Pretty name."
"Ah... Yuhyun-nim has a cool name too."
Being complimented on my name by such a young girl felt oddly nice. But moments later, she tugged my hand harder.
"If it weren't for you, Yuhyun-nim, I couldn't have come back for the pendant. Thank you so much."
"No problem."
I chuckled softly as we kept walking. Soon, we reached the spot. Cecil gasped "Ah!" and ran ahead.
"Here it is."
She picked up the pendant from the ground and called out. I nodded and scanned the surroundings.
The bear's gone, right?
Good. As I turned toward Cecil, a few pebbles suddenly tumbled down from above.
...No way.
It was a classic movie trope. I looked up quickly—and sure enough, a bear the size of a mid-sized car loomed there, drooling as it poked its head out.
"Cecil!"
I shouted and dashed forward. At the same instant, the bear lunged at her.
In one or two seconds, it'd crush her.
High-Speed Movement!
I yelled inwardly and kicked off harder. My body shot forward like I'd gained superpowers, arriving right in front of her. I scooped her up tightly and rolled across the ground.
"Kyaa!"
Her scream pierced my ears. I checked her over, worried she'd been hurt, but she was fine—just startled by the suddenness.
"Goblin Summon!"
After saving her, I summoned the goblins. Twenty-four of them appeared, surrounding the bear.
"Grroooaaar!!"
Instead of panicking at the sudden goblins, the bear roared fiercely, fired up for battle.
"Attack!"
I pointed at it and yelled. The goblins charged without hesitation.
"Keruk! Kek!"
"Groar!!"
But the bear was the size of a mid-sized car—a monstrous bulk that made you whistle in awe. The goblins, though numerous, were only 120cm tall dwarves. The fight was one-sided, like an adult versus kids.
Can't do it without buffs, huh?
I clicked my tongue and extended my hand.
"Ebony Staff Summon!"
With the call, the staff appeared in my grip. Buffs took effect on the goblins, turning the tide—they started pushing the bear back.
"U-um..."
Cecil, still in my arms, called out in a voice thick with fear. I stroked her head to calm her.
"It's okay. It'll be over soon."
I slammed the staff into the ground.
"...Dark Arrow!"
A black orb formed before me and shot toward the bear.
Boom!
"Groooaaar!!"
It exploded on impact, staggering the beast. The twenty-four goblins swarmed it.
"Keruk!!"
"Keket!"
Overwhelmed, the bear collapsed without much resistance.
"Whew..."
I exhaled heavily and looked down at Cecil in my arms. She stared back, half-dazed. Our eyes met, and she flushed crimson with an "Ah!"—like a ripe apple.
"..."
She was so cute I chuckled and patted her head.
I need to feature orcs too, but I've only got three—that's a problem. Hurry up and build an orc legion... wah wah.
But even so, the Goblin Summon skill pops up again... soon summoning 100 goblins!