Otherworld Quest - "Who Are You?"

Ena asked me in a cautious voice, "Who... are you?" Simultaneously, her gaze shifted to the clothes I was wearing.

Damn... Only then did I realize from her look that I wasn't wearing my cloak.

Clicking my tongue bitterly, I put on a deliberate smile and opened my mouth. "Would you believe it if I said I'm just a passing traveler?"

"......"

At my words, Ena's expression twisted in the most satisfying way. But it was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠only for a moment—she slowly relaxed her furrowed brow and spoke. "......I'll believe you."

"Your face doesn't look convinced at all."

"Honestly....... it's just hard to believe."

She glanced around at the soldiers strewn about nearby as she said it. Fair enough—it was way too flashy for a mere traveler. On top of that, I'd summoned goblins and orcs right in front of her. Who'd buy a story like that?

"Master, Master! Can I absorb their Vital Energy?"

Right then, Elena came trotting up to my side.

I nodded gladly. "Go ahead."

"Thank you, Master!"

Shouting that, Elena planted a loud smack of a kiss on my cheek before starting to drain the Vital Energy from the soldiers pinned down by the goblins and orcs.

Meanwhile, I turned back to Ena and spoke. "It's not really a coincidence. Though finding you at a time like this? Pure luck."

"What do you mean?"

"I had business with you, so I came here on purpose."

Clearing my throat with a light cough, I looked her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠straight in the eye and continued. "......I'm looking for a black stone. You have one, right?"

At those words, Ena let out a short gasp, then nodded and unfastened the necklace hanging around her neck. "Is this what you're after?"

A black stone was embedded in the center of the necklace. But it was tiny. This Mana Stone Fragment must've been a small one.

"That's the one. Could you hand it over?"

"......"

Ena fell silent at my request. With her eyelashes lowered and her lower lip caught firmly between her teeth, she seemed deep in thought. I waited patiently, without pressing her.

A few minutes passed like that, and Ena finally lifted her head. "......If it's not too shameless, could I ask one favor?"

"What favor?"

"There's a man named Sion....... I want to kill him with my own hands."

She said it in a resolute voice.

Sion... yeah, the lord's son. The bastard behind the child kidnappings.

Definitely a guy who deserved to die. But as the lord's son, he'd have way more guards than I could imagine. Even with goblin and orc summons, they weren't invincible.

"You want my help with that?"

"Yes. I know it's impudent. But that man—no matter what it takes—has to die."

Ena gritted her teeth, her fists clenched tight.

"Mind telling me the story?"

I decided to calm her down while getting the details.

At my words, Ena nodded readily and began recounting her ordeal.

"A week ago, I started investigating the child disappearances on orders from Lord Darhan. This morning, I finally got evidence. So I rushed to the kidnappers' hideout with my men."

That matched the Otherworld Quest details so far.

"......And that's when I saw it. Men raping little girls not even ten years old. It was hell. The most horrific thing I've ever witnessed in my life....... They weren't human. Worse than human."

Her face twisted in contempt as she ground her teeth.

"And Sion was leading that gang, right?"

"Yes."

"Did you fail to catch them?"

"No. We sealed the entrance tight and captured them all."

"Then what's the issue? They weren't punished?"

Ena nodded, her face burning with frustration at my question.

"......Why not?"

I played dumb, even though I knew the full story.

Gripping her fist hard, Ena spat out the answer. "Because he's the lord's son."

I didn't ask anything more after that.

Just like the quest description.

Nodding as if I understood the rest, I spoke up. "Got it. I'll help."

"Really?"

She shouted, her face full of disbelief.

"Of course. Plus, I need that black stone."

Only then did realization dawn on Ena's face, and she handed over the necklace. "I'm sorry. You saved my life, and here I am making this shameless request using the stone as an excuse....... I have no words for my benefactor. But the situation was that desperate."

"I get it."

I whispered to her with a faint smile tugging at my lips.

Ena's expression grew even more grateful as she replied. "Thank you."

I gave a small nod at her words and extended my hand again. "Kim Yuhyun. Call me Yuhyun."

"Ena."

After the introductions, I turned toward Elena. She'd apparently finished absorbing all the Vital Energy and was now lounging on a large boulder with a dreamy, satisfied look.

"Elena, the cloak."

At my words, she hopped to her feet and scurried over. As she slipped it off, her seductive curves came into view—along with a pair of black wings and a serpentine tail.

"A demon?"

A startled voice leaked from behind me.

"Don't worry. She's my slave now."

"Pardon?"

"Elena's my slave."

I reached out as I said it, and she handed over the cloak without a peep.

"A demon...... as a slave."

Visibly shocked, Ena glanced back and forth between Elena and me. She was clearly suspicious of who—or what—I was. I really should've been more careful; my impulsive side kept causing headaches.

Letting out a light sigh, I draped the cloak over myself and spoke. "Goblin unsummon. Orc unsummon. Elena unsummon."

Ena's face lit up with shock once more at the sight.

"Your true identity is......"

She clamped her mouth shut midsentence, probably deciding it was rude to pry. It wouldn't have been an issue if she had, but her holding back made things easier for me. Worst case, if things got messy, I could just wrap up the quest. I'd already secured the original goal: the Mana Stone Fragment.

"Let's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠move."

"Ah, yes."

As I turned to go, Ena replied with a hesitant look and followed me down the mountain.

Almost at the base, I gazed at the distant castle and asked, "That it?"

"Yes."

From afar, it didn't look that big. More fortress than castle, really.

The castles in movies are always so badass. Tsk tsk.

Turning to Ena, I asked, "Any way in?"

"If Yuhyun-nim attacks the front gate with those goblins and orcs from before, it'll create a gap in the walls. And since it's late, we'll have our opening."

I nodded and summoned the goblins and orcs.

"Hit the entrance."

"Keruk!"

"Chwik!"

Without a word, they charged toward the gate. Soldiers spotted them, rang the alarm bell, and swarmed that way.

"Now."

Ena urged me. I nodded and followed her swift steps.

Luckily, thick bushes ringed the castle, keeping us hidden. Not that it mattered—all eyes were on the monsters anyway.

"......Climb carefully."

We reached the wall, and Ena scaled it first, extending a hand down to me.

I unsummoned the jet-black staff for a moment, then clambered up the crudely piled stones.

Piece of cake.

It was laughable calling this a wall. Tsk tsk.

Once inside with Ena, I immediately unsummoned the goblins and orcs. Chaos erupted at the gate again—they must've been baffled by the sudden disappearance.

"This way."

Ena grabbed my arm and tugged. I nodded, and we hurried off.

Soon we reached the towering keep. Suddenly, Ena yanked me behind a house.

"This is close enough."

"Huh?"

"Summon the goblins and orcs one more time to stir things up. I'll head in alone."

"What're you talking about?"

"Just what I said. I'll go in by myself. No need for Yuhyun-nim to risk it inside."

I frowned. "What about you, Ena?"

"Me....... I'll be fine. As long as I can kill Sion."

"......"

I stared at her silently. Clearly, she planned to off him and let the guards capture her after.

She'll die for sure.

It'd be way worse than what almost happened earlier. She knew that too.

...Might as well watch.

After eyeing her for a bit, I nodded. "Got it."

"Thank you. If I survive and see you again....... I'll repay your kindness, Yuhyun-nim."

With that grateful send-off, Ena started sneaking toward the castle interior.

I promptly summoned the goblins and orcs. "Attack."

They lunged straight at the soldiers.

In the chaos, I pulled out my smartphone and selected Item Transparency.

Oh...

As the transparency kicked in, my body really turned invisible. I tested by moving my limbs slowly, then touched the wall just in case.

...No ghost-phasing through.

Chuckling wryly, I pulled my hand away and tailed Ena from afar.

Secret passage, huh.

She'd reached a spot overgrown with vines. Sword in hand, she hacked them away and stepped inside.

I followed suit.

Ahead, Ena lit a torch.

Prepared this beforehand?

Did she anticipate something like this? I tilted my head, then kept pace with her distant figure.

After a long trek, the castle interior came into view. Ena tossed the torch to the floor and picked up speed down the passage.

I trailed her silently. My smartphone showed less than five minutes left on the transparency.

Cutting it close.

To be safe, I hung back at least ten paces.

Clunk.

Suddenly, Ena shoved open a door and slipped inside. I darted in just before it swung shut.

"......!"

There, sandwiched between two women, was a man snoring away, snot bubbling from his nose.

"Sion."

Ena murmured softly. She drew her sword from her belt and slashed his leg without a second's hesitation.

"Arrrghhh!!"

The room filled with a horrific scream.

"Kyaaah!!"

The two women beside him shrieked too. The whole castle seemed to echo with cries. Every soldier inside would swarm here any second.

But Ena ignored it all, leveling her dripping sword at Sion. "Apologize to the little girls you killed."

"Guhk! Guh! Y-you......"

"Apologize to my subordinates you murdered, you fucking dog!"

Roaring, she thrust the blade forward. It pierced his shoulder clean through.

"Arrrggghhh!!!"

Another scream ripped through. Heavy footsteps thundered from beyond the door—armed guards closing in.

What now?

I hesitated, smartphone in hand.

"Beg! Beg!"

"Guhk, kuh! S-sorry! I was wrong....... Guhk! Forgive me...... Spare me! Uhk!"

Under Ena's renewed snarling, Sion finally started blubbering apologies, trembling.

Her lips twisted into a grotesque grin at his groveling. "You pathetic fuck."

With a cold snap, she severed his throat.

"Uk!"

I let out an involuntary grunt. Luckily, Ena didn't catch it amid the noise. She tossed her sword to the floor and stared blankly out the window.

From her demeanor, escape wasn't on her mind at all.

She planned this from the start.

What a woman. With a wry smile, I dropped the transparency and spoke.

"All done, Ena?"