Otherworld Quest: The White-Haired Mercenary
My vision, which had gone pitch black in an instant, gradually brightened, slowly revealing the scenery of a forest. It was a sight straight out of a fairy tale. Calming my heart, which was pounding with tension and excitement, I took a steady look around.
Not far off, a crystal-clear lake so pure it seemed transparent caught my eye.
"Wow, that's beautiful."
I couldn't help but let out a gasp of admiration. Tearing my gaze from the lake—where it felt like a little fairy might pop out any second—I pulled out my smartphone. Opening the map, it displayed the location of the person holding the Mana Stone Fragment. Gauging the distance from where I stood, it wasn't as far as I'd thought.
Is it right there?
I had a feeling things might wrap up easier than expected. With a faint chuckle, I started walking along a gentle mountain path. The endless forest scenery suddenly gave way, opening up to a vast plain—like soft dough rolled out smoothly on a board with a rolling pin. Tonguing my cheek in awe, I scanned the surroundings.
In the distance, hugging a river, was a small village with several houses. Comparing it to my phone, that seemed to be my destination.
"Medieval era, huh."
Well, it was a world with succubi, so advanced technology was probably out of the question. Guessing as much, I descended the rugged mountain path and hit what looked like a carriage road. It was daytime, but there weren't many people around—just a few farmers tending crops in the distance now and then.
This is nerve-wracking.
I felt like I'd stepped into a medieval movie as the main character. Steadying my racing heart again, I walked on until I entered the village. A few kids stared at me blankly, wide-eyed with curiosity. When I waved hello, they beamed innocently and waved back. The villagers didn't seem too hostile—at least on the surface. I'd have to talk to the adults to know for sure.
...But more importantly.
The real issue was the mercenary band staying in the village. The White-Haired Mercenaries, right? Their leader's hair had to be white, true to the name. Scanning around with that in mind, I spotted a woman smoking a cigarette in the distance.
Found her.
Small village perks—I'd located her quick. I straightened my clothes and hair, making sure nothing was out of place, then approached slowly. She must've sensed me, because she raised an eyebrow and looked my way. A moment later, she scanned me up and down with a surprised expression.
"Hello."
Her gaze was a bit off-putting, but I kept my cool and greeted her politely. After all, I was the one asking for a favor.
"Who're you?"
Her voice dripped with curiosity as she spoke, gray smoke curling into the air. It was oddly seductive. As a mercenary, her body was toned to perfection—lightly tanned skin like Latin heritage, a healthy build, contrasted by her sparkling white hair. A striking, exotic look.
I swallowed dryly and answered quickly.
"My name's Kim Yuhyun."
"Kim... what?"
"Kim Yuhyun."
"Weird name. Not from around here, huh? Some young adventurer? Or a merchant?"
The quest described her as a real piece of work, but she didn't seem that bad. We were chatting smoothly enough, which was good news for me.
"Just a traveler."
"Bodyguards?"
"Pardon? Oh, it's just me."
"Brave guy. And unarmed to boot... Wait, you here to hire me? Need an escort?"
She burst into cheerful laughter, taking a deep drag on her cigarette. It hissed as the filter burned down fast, stopping just a finger's width from the end.
"...Where to?"
I shook my head quickly.
"No, it's not an escort job."
"Then?"
"I'd like you to give me the Mana Stone Fragment."
"Mana Stone Fragment? What's that?"
Her puzzled head-tilt made me double-check my phone map. It's her, right? The marker matched her position perfectly.
...Does she not know what it is?
I tilted my head too, then looked up at her—Matilda—and explained.
"It's a black stone. About two finger-widths big."
"Oh, this?"
She let out an exclamation, brushing her hair behind her ear. There it was: the Mana Stone Fragment, attached to her earlobe like an earring.
"Yes, that's it."
I nodded eagerly, and she flicked her spent cigarette butt to the ground.
"How much you payin'?"
"Pardon?"
"You ain't expectin' it for free, are ya? You nuts?"
"Oh..."
That's when it hit me—I'd forgotten the most crucial part. Too fixated on the fragment, I'd overlooked preparing something to trade for it.
My bad.
Frowning, I pulled out my phone.
...Gotta bail on the quest here and grab something to swap back in the real world.
She'd made it into an earring, so she cared about accessories. A decent necklace or earrings might do the trick. With my thoughts sorted, I spoke up.
"My mistake—I didn't think of that. I'll come back later."
"Hold up."
"Yes?"
"Forget that. How 'bout that thing in your hand?"
She stopped me, pointing at my smartphone.
"...Give me that, and it's yours."
I made a troubled face.
"Sorry, no can do."
"Fine. Hmm..."
She hummed thoughtfully, then lit up like she'd had an idea.
"How 'bout this?"
"This what?"
"Help us scout a dungeon, and it's yours."
"A dungeon?"
"Yeah. We get the treasure, you get what you want. Deal?"
It was tempting. Too tempting—suspiciously so.
Trap?
But her vibe was friendly, not sleazy like the quest warned. Weighing it carefully as I eyed her, she spoke up.
"We're all set to head out. Decide now, or kiss this goodbye."
She flicked the fragment on her ear with her index finger.
Should I?
My resolve wavered. If I quit the quest, bought jewelry, and came back only to find she'd already left for the dungeon, it'd be a waste. No guarantee she'd even like what I brought.
...If it gets dicey, I can just quit the quest.
Plus, I had my Goblin Summon skill—24 goblins at my call. No way I'd lose to her with that. Feeling secure, I nodded.
"Got it. I'm in."
"Smart choice."
She grinned broadly and stuck out her right hand. I shook it firmly, saying, "Please take care of me."