Chapter 253: Plateau of Delusion
Chapter 253: Plateau of Delusion
Back in my first playthrough, a single misjudgment on my part led to my older brother’s death. I should have been the one to die, but my brother, determined to save his foolish younger sibling, rushed in with only his closest comrades. He managed to save me, but he died in my place.
I think that was when my personality began to change. My reckless nature, which had once rebelled against my brother’s unconditional protection and made me charge in without a second thought, did a complete one-eighty after that incident. I became more inclined to take a step back, to deliberate and observe. It was such a drastic change that even my True Name was altered.
Remnants of that habit have stayed with me into this second playthrough, influencing my actions. Whenever a suspicious situation arises, I begin to respond by considering every possible outcome. Some people found my way of thinking so frustrating they would call it paranoia.
This was a similar situation.
Earlier today, right after the battle with the Poison Jackals, Ko Yeonju had said nothing in response to my comment, “I think we’re being herded.” She had only managed a slight nod to show her agreement. It was a situation where we had a strong suspicion but no hard evidence. Neither I nor Ko Yeonju could detect any presence. This meant that the Users—or Vagabonds, currently herding us were skilled and highly organized.
Crackle, crackle!
The sound of sputtering sparks pulled me from my thoughts. The roaring blaze had begun to die down. I reflexively felt around beside me, my palm closing around a few branches. I tossed the kindling into the fiery pit.
The area around the campsite was quiet. The occasional chirping of insects only accentuated the deepening silence of the night. Since nighttime ambushes weren't uncommon, I calmly spread Sensing through the area. As I did, I felt a stirring from the cluster of sleeping bags.
The presence rustled for a moment before suddenly sitting bolt upright. I turned my gaze in that direction and saw a single User striding toward the campfire. A woman with long, flowing hair approached, stopping a short distance away before speaking to me.
“Oppa, it’s me. Let’s switch for the night watch.”
“There’s still some time before the shift change.”
“It’s fine. I can take a little extra time.”
“…”
Lee Yoojung came over and carefully sat down next to me. The way she walked and sat was incredibly unnatural.
A moment of silence passed. She hugged her knees, which were bent in half, and stared blankly at the campfire before resting her face on one knee and speaking.
“Aren't you sleeping, Oppa? If you’re worried, it’s okay. I’ll watch by myself for a bit, and when the time comes, I’ll wake up the person I’m paired with. Baek Hangyul, was it?”
“Ah, yeah. But don’t wake him.”
“Hm? Why not?”
“He was training hard late into the night and just fell asleep. I think he was planning to get a little sleep and then stand for the night watch again.”
At my words, Lee Yoojung looked over at the sleeping bags with a surprised expression. Then, she let out a small chuckle, her shoulders trembling slightly.
“Ahaha. Training while on an expedition.”
“It’s nothing to laugh at. It just shows how passionate he is.”
“You think so? What do you think, Oppa? Does he seem good?”
“He’s ridiculously good when he’s practicing. The problem is, he can’t perform in a real battle like he does in practice.”
Lee Yoojung shifted on her bottom as she laughed, but then her expression tightened into a slight grimace. She quickly smoothed it over, as if trying not to let it show. I sighed inwardly.
Lee Yoojung bit her lip for a moment before speaking, her expression a little more composed.
“Right, I’m not in a position to laugh at anyone. I got injured myself yesterday. I’m sorry.”
“It wasn’t an injury from doing something stupid; you had your reasons. You don’t need to apologize.”
“Hee hee. To be honest, I’ve been trying to read your mood, wondering if you were mad. I’m glad you’re not.”
“I am. Starting just now.”
“?”
“Stand up.”
I deliberately raised my voice, my tone authoritative. Lee Yoojung looked at me with a startled expression before hesitantly getting to her feet. As I turned my body while still seated, I noticed one of her legs was slightly raised. I gently lifted my hands and untied the leather cord of the pants I had bought for her, which were fastened at the front.
“O-Oppa?”
“Stay still. I already know. Don’t get any funny ideas.”
Yoojung flinched and took a step back, but she froze at my next command. After untying the leather cord, I immediately pulled her pants down. Before my eyes were white underwear covering the slightly protruding, cleft mound at her center, and her smooth thighs stretching out on either side. I heard a sharp intake of breath from above.
“Ah…”
“Yoojung. Move your hands and spread your thighs a little.”
Yoojung quickly brought her hands down to cover her underwear, but I forced them away and parted her thighs. I then examined the area around her adductor muscles—the muscles that make up the inner thigh—and saw that the skin had turned a sallow yellow.
“…”
“Just as I thought. Your walk was a little unnatural.”
“…Sorry.”
“Sigh… I’m going to touch you now. I’m treating you, so don’t be alarmed.”
It was a strange thing to say when I had already pulled her pants down, but thankfully, Yoojung nodded. Even in the dark of night, I could see her face was flushed red, but I quickly focused my attention on her thigh. I roused the Eternal Flame dormant within me and channeled it into my hand.
After leaving Mule, I had resolved not to use Eternal Flame if I could help it. But treating Yoojung was far more important than that resolution, and since I was only using it lightly for healing, it wouldn't be a major burden.
I placed my searing hot hand on her soft thigh and permeated it with my magic. As I slowly moved the Eternal Flame I’d injected into her thigh, I could feel the lingering venom of the Poison Jackal that had penetrated deep inside. Ahn Sol’s treatment had probably helped for a while, but it seemed she hadn’t been able to get rid of the poison that had seeped all the way in.
“It might feel a little strange, but bear with it.”
I began the treatment without delay. The poison was quite tenacious, but it was useless against a Myth-rank ability. As the Eternal Flame warmly soothed her from within and burned away the venom, I could see Yoojung’s stiff thigh gradually relax. At the same time, her sallow skin slowly began to return to its original color.
After burning away the last bit of poison that had stubbornly tried to flee, I removed my hand. Yoojung quickly grabbed her pants and pulled them up. She must have been incredibly embarrassed.
I clapped my palms together, dusting them off, and spoke in a quiet voice.
“I’ve burned away all the venom for now. Just in case, drink half of this antidote potion and apply the other half to your skin. And wake Ahn Sol up now and ask her to treat you.”
“R-Right now? But she’s sleeping…”
“Ahn Sol was on the last watch, so she can just switch with Hangyul. Tell her I ordered it, and you can explain the situation.”
“Ah… okay. Are you going to sleep now, Oppa?”
Yoojung, who had been tying the cord, lowered her head slightly and asked. I gave a calm nod and stood up. I had wanted to ask her if she had any sense, but seeing the look on her face, she seemed to be genuinely reflecting on her actions. Still, I couldn't shake the thought that she had been foolish. Before heading to my sleeping bag, I patted her lightly on the shoulder.
“If poison isn’t treated properly, it often comes back. Next time, if you’re in pain, don’t endure it. Tell me right away. We’re scheduled to arrive at the plateau today. What would you have done if something had gone wrong?”
“I’m sorry…”
“Tsk. Anyway, don’t overdo it. I’m going to sleep now. Make sure you get treated before the night watch is over.”
“Okay! You sleep well too, Oppa.”
Yoojung, who had been keeping her head down, must have thought it was over, as she immediately looked up and gave me a bright smile. As I watched her walk off to wake Ahn Sol, I slipped into my own empty sleeping bag. Just as I was about to drift off, I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten.
Come to think of it, it seems she’s decided to start speaking casually with me.
*
The sun, having climbed to its zenith, beat down with scorching rays. Soft, sun-baked earth and large, crooked boulders dotted the mountain range. To the left, a single stream of water trickled along a carved path, its gurgling surface reflecting the sunlight in a dazzling shimmer.
Having left the Plains of Wailing, the Fold of Blade Winds, and the forest behind us, a vast, grassy meadow stretched endlessly before our eyes. And in the center of that meadow stood a colossal mountain that pierced the clouds. The mountain was so immense in width, and its peak soared so high that its end was not visible.
“Whoa…”
“Wow…”
Ahn Hyun and Ahn Sol exclaimed in unison, craning their necks all the way back. Today marked the ninth day since we had left Monica. The journey was supposed to take ten to eleven days, and we had been slightly delayed by the battles along the way. However, it seemed that making good time at the beginning and rushing as much as possible for the remainder had paid off, as we had arrived just before our destination earlier than expected.
A cool breeze flowing from the mountain gently wrapped around us before sweeping past. I savored the refreshing air for a moment, then turned to the others and spoke.
“This is the Mountain of Delirium, where our destination, the Plateau of Delusion, is located.”
“The Mountain of Delirium? The view is nice, but the name is strange.”
Yoojung, who must have been properly treated at dawn, tilted her head, her face looking much more comfortable.
The view from the Mountain of Delirium was certainly beautiful. If this were Earth, it would be a great place to lie down and enjoy a picnic, but unfortunately, this was the Hall Plain. There was no time to lie about and admire the scenery with the grass as our companion.
We still had to climb at least 2,000 meters to reach the Plateau of Delusion, so I was about to find an entrance that would allow for the shortest ascent. Just as I was about to announce our departure toward a familiar-looking area, I noticed Ko Yeonju, who was standing quietly behind me, subtly gesturing with her eyes.
I used my quick wits to swallow the words that were about to leave my mouth and quickly said something else.
“If we hurry, we should be able to reach the Plateau of Delusion before nightfall. It’s faint, but a field effect activates the moment we enter the Mountain of Delirium. So, we’ll take one last break to get ourselves ready before we head into the mountain.”
As soon as my order was given, a flurry of activity broke out among the clan members. Ahn Sol was approaching Yoojung, likely to check on her wound, while Kim Hanbyul had her hand in her bag, seemingly counting her jewels.
As I watched them from a slight distance, I felt Ko Yeonju subtly approach. She then whispered in a quiet voice beside me.
“Soohyun. I have something to say.”
“Yes. Did you figure something out?”
At my direct question, she shook her head. It was a long shot to expect to catch them in a single day when they had evaded our notice for nine days.
I remained silent, signaling for her to continue. Ko Yeonju let out a small sigh and continued in the same hushed tone.
“This is just a personal thought, but I think you’ll need to be extremely careful once we start climbing the mountain.”
“Please explain in detail.”
“I’ve been thinking about it ever since I heard what you said yesterday. Well, I didn’t make any progress in the end. But I’ve experienced cases like this a few times before. And whenever I do, there’s a habit I always fall back on.”
“What kind of habit?”
“The habit of putting myself in their shoes. In other words, I try to become the herder myself. If I were the one herding us right now, I think I’d consider this the perfect time to strike.”
“Hmm.”
Ko Yeonju was saying that the herders were likely to target us before we entered the Plateau of Delusion. Her point was valid. The Plateau of Delusion was a rather burdensome place even for high-year Users if they didn't have a Mind-Calming Pill or an ability to resist its field effect.
I nodded my head in agreement.
“I was planning on being sufficiently cautious from the start anyway. I’m continuously scanning with my Sensing, so if they make a direct move, I’ll be able to respond immediately.”
“Understood. I’ll also be making my own preparations, so if I sense anything strange, I’ll signal you right away.”
“Yes. I’ll be counting on you, then.”
With my confirmation, Ko Yeonju let out a sigh as if she had said all she needed to and turned back toward the other clan members. As I watched her walk away, her sharp eyes scanning our surroundings, I slowly mulled over her words.
Putting myself in their shoes. So, if I were the herder…
If it were me, I’d rather wait until after they came out of the Plateau of Delusion… Huh?
The moment I thought that, a single idea flashed through my mind.