Chapter 355: Barbara
Chapter 355: Barbara
Waaah. Waaah.
My god, the sword was crying.
For a moment, a million different thoughts raced through my mind. But first, I quickly picked up the sword I had dropped. Dropping someone else’s sword was rude, but my action was also a reflex born from a strange(?) sense of guilt.
I held Nam Daeun’s sword, ‘Seol-ah,’ in my left hand and gently caressed the blade with my right. I stroked it slowly and softly, just as I had once stroked Ahn Sol’s hair.
Humm… Humm…
After I’d stroked it about ten times, the sorrowful hum that had been ringing out began to subside. I did my best to caress the blade even more gently.
“……”
“……”
Huuuum!
Why did I suddenly have the illusion that ‘Seol-ah’ was smiling brightly?
Is it actually feeling my touch?
Even though I knew the chances were slim, I couldn’t hide my surprise at Seol-ah’s direct response. A moment ago, it had been making a pathetic crying sound, but now, as if that had never happened, the blade was trembling.
What on earth am I supposed to do about this…
Putting all the other strange details aside, Seol-ah was a sword with a definite owner. For it to react this way was an unintended situation for me, and I couldn’t help but feel flustered.
In any case, as I continued to stroke the sword, I blankly raised my head to look at Nam Daeun. She still had her gaze fixed on the floor. It seemed she was just as unable to comprehend the situation as I was.
Seriously… what does she expect me to do…
I sighed inwardly.
And, whether it knew my feelings or not…
Huuuumm~.
Seol-ah just let out a clear, bright hum.
*
Just as Nam Daeun had said, there was a meeting that evening for the members participating in the ‘squad.’ Still carrying the unresolved incident with me, I attended the meeting with her.
And so, the meeting of special Users began, but there was nothing particularly special about its content. It consisted of a brief greeting from Nam Daeun, who had been chosen to represent the squad, and a chance for the participants to see each other’s faces. That was all.
Though few in number, it was a gathering of Users with strong personalities. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say they had strong pride.
Nam Daeun, seeming to understand this well, did not adopt an authoritative attitude during the meeting. She simply said to everyone, “I’ll be in your care during the war,” in a very formal tone.
Her attitude suggested that everyone should handle things on their own from then on, so as time passed, the meeting flowed into a fairly relaxed atmosphere.
Of course, the conversation was dominated by talk of the war. At first, most of it was about Barbara, but it seemed they ran out of things to say, and the topic had now shifted to the Vagabonds.
“Ugh. Sister. I really don’t like those Vagabonds they’ve got hanging outside. I don’t even know what they’re trying to do…”
Hearing a voice, I turned my head to see ‘Nurse’ Kang Ye-bin with a deep frown on her face. She was stuck to Ko Yeonju’s side, in the middle of airing her complaints.
“If they got all the information they needed, they should have just dealt with them cleanly. What’s the point of hanging them up in the center like that…? Every time I see them, I lose my appetite. It’s really awful.”
“Well. I don’t think so.”
Just then, a gloomy voice suddenly cut into Kang Ye-bin’s words. Judging by the deep tone, it wasn’t Ko Yeonju. The one who had responded was ‘Curse Caster’ Kang Tae-wook.
Kang Ye-bin’s eyes widened for a moment, but upon identifying the speaker, her expression soured.
“Ha? Ah~. Right. I’m sure something like that is just~ perfect for your tastes.”
“Your words are a bit harsh. I wasn’t pointing out a matter of taste, but a matter of atmosphere.”
“Atmosphere? What kind of nonsense is that?”
“…Hmph. I don’t have the confidence to make you understand. Let’s just drop it. It’s pointless to explain if you won’t get it anyway…”
“What did you say?”
A look of pity flashed in Kang Tae-wook’s eyes before he sighed and turned his head away.
Atmosphere, he says.
But I felt I could roughly guess the meaning behind Kang Tae-wook’s words.
In short, it was a difference in atmosphere. The clouds of war were clearly gathering over the city. However, perhaps because the ‘advertisement’ Lee Hyoeul had mentioned had been too effective, the Users’ expectations for victory were higher than necessary.
From that perspective, thwarting the Vagabonds’ infiltration beforehand could be seen as having a positive effect on the Eastern Users. It would have certainly awakened their vigilance toward the enemy, even if only slightly.
Excessive tension is not good. But in a war where lives were on the line, thorough vigilance against the enemy was an absolute necessity.
I was quietly lost in thought, then glanced over at the silently sitting Kang Tae-wook.
In the first playthrough, Kang Tae-wook and I had been acquaintances. Of course, it would be hard to say we were very close, but we had once worked together as ‘Vagabond Hunters.’ I still had a strong memory of the incredibly cruel things he did, like conducting human experiments and interspecies breeding on the Vagabonds we captured.
Huuuum…
“There, there.”
I must have been so deep in thought that I’d stopped moving my hand without realizing it. Hearing the faint hum from below, I started stroking the blade again.
“……”
I could feel Nam Daeun, who had been silent in a corner, sending me an apologetic look.
It was then.
“Kim Soohyun. Kim Soohyun.”
“Hm?”
A cheerful, though slightly flippant, voice called my name. I knew who it was without looking. It was Vivian.
“Come to think of it, there’s something I’m curious about. Have you seen Shin Sangyong lately?”
“Shin Sangyong? I haven’t seen him recently. Why?”
“Ah. They say we’ll arrive at Barbara tomorrow or the day after. I thought it would be right for me, as his master, to go see him at least once.”
“Then you should go see him.”
“But he’s never there when I go. It makes me wonder if he’s avoiding me on purpose…”
Vivian’s voice trailed off, sounding a little dejected. I tilted my head at her reaction.
Avoiding her?
“Should I go look for him?”
“Huh? I mean, I don’t mind… but what if you can’t find him? And the timing is a bit awkward.”
Vivian looked surprised at my offer. The meeting was almost over, and one or two Users had already left for their own reasons.
“If he’s not there… well. In any case, it’s not like I can’t meet him just because it’s night. I’ll go take a look.”
“Phew. Okay. Thanks, I’d appreciate that. I suppose Shin Sangyong wouldn’t avoid you, of all people.”
At Vivian’s sigh, I nodded and stood up. Or rather, I was about to.
“Oh, wait. Kim Soohyun, just a second! One more thing.”
“?”
“This is just personal curiosity, but what on earth have you been doing this whole time?”
“Huh? What have I been doing?”
Instead of answering, Vivian lowered her gaze. Her eyes were fixed on ‘Seol-ah’ in my left hand and the hand that was stroking the blade. I reflexively changed the subject.
“Nice weather today. The sky is so clear. Don’t you think?”
“Huh? What are you suddenly talking about? And it’s nighttime.”
She wasn’t falling for it. I immediately put the sword down and stood up. She’s been watching for a while, so she’ll find her way back on her own.
“Hearing you talk makes me a little worried about Mr. Shin Sangyong. I should go right now. You don’t worry too much, either.”
“Uh, okay. Thanks. But… Kim Soohyun? Kim Soohyun!”
I heard her calling me from behind, but I walked quickly out of the barracks.
Damn it. How embarrassing.
Grumbling inwardly, I headed straight for the 3rd Squad’s location as soon as I left the barracks. Although Shin Sangyong was the Rare Class ‘Chimera Alchemist,’ he was currently assigned to a mage class.
However.
To get straight to the point, I couldn’t find Shin Sangyong. I was able to find his barracks by asking a sentry, but he wasn’t there. Even the other Users sharing the barracks didn’t know where he had gone. All I heard was that he seemed to have a lot on his mind lately and that he returned to the barracks alone late at night.
I felt I could find him if I turned the place upside down, but I decided to hold off for now. Since I had confirmed that he does return to the barracks, I figured I could just meet him separately tomorrow.
Still, it felt a bit disappointing to go back just like that, so in the spirit of making do with the next best thing, I decided to look for Kim Hanbyul.
But, after asking around and finding Kim Hanbyul’s barracks, I ended up encountering an unexpected person.
“Oh? Mercenary Lord?”
“Ah. You’re…”
“What brings you here?”
Standing in front of Kim Hanbyul’s tent was Seon Yul, the Tarot Card Magician and leader of the 3rd Squad.
*
Inside the personal barracks of the 3rd Squad Leader, the Tarot Card Magician. Following Seon Yul’s lead, I sat down in a chair at a table in the center, facing her.
The barracks was dark overall. However, the Light Stones placed around were emitting a faint glow, and Seon Yul’s figure was vaguely visible in the dim light.
Soon, Seon Yul’s lips parted slightly.
“I see. You came because you were worried about your clan members… Hehe. You’re very diligent. As it happens, I was doing something similar.”
“I didn’t expect to run into you there.”
“It’s fine. I wasn’t offended at all, so you don’t have to worry. In fact, I find it rather appealing.”
A thin arc formed on Seon Yul’s lips as she looked at me. I stared back at her quietly.
Seon Yul’s attire would make anyone think of a modern magician, an outfit that exuded a unique, mysterious atmosphere. But, as expected of a woman, her top and bottom revealed a fair amount of skin.
A black lingerie-like outfit that revealed her delicate shoulders and beautiful collarbones. Since it was quite sheer, it seemed to subtly reveal the valley between her breasts as well. On top of that, she was even sporting a garter belt below.
Her sensual charm was so prominent that it felt like I was looking at the epitome of a femme fatale.
“Hmm… As for Mr. Shin Sangyong… don’t worry too much.”
“Do you know where he is?”
“Of course. He is a member of my squad, after all. And I’m interested in all the Mercenary members… It seems he’s very nervous at the thought of arriving in Barbara soon. His mind is complicated, so he seems to be wandering around here and there, but I’m just leaving him be. I thought that would be for the best.”
I’d have to meet him myself tomorrow to know for sure, but if what Seon Yul said was true, it was understandable.
Come to think of it… I really don’t get this woman either.
At first, I thought she was just a User full of bluff. But her resourcefulness in managing her surroundings and her sense of responsibility for her role were coming into a new light. It seemed I would have to revise my evaluation of her.
“Still, just in case. When he returns, I’ll tell him the Mercenary Lord came looking for him…”
“Thank you.”
After those words, a quiet silence fell for a while. For some reason, the silence felt uncomfortable, so I decided to speak first.
“Tower of Magic Lord. You said you had something you were curious about.”
That was right. I had met Seon Yul near Kim Hanbyul’s barracks while she was checking on her squad members. I had accepted her request to talk for a moment since I was already there, and that’s how I ended up in her personal tent.
“You can call me by my name. And yes. As I said earlier, I have a deep interest in the members of the Mercenary Clan.”
Seon Yul closed her lips for a moment as if to think, then continued in a low voice.
“But even if I am curious… honestly, it’s nothing that grand.”
“What sort of things are you curious about?”
“I was just curious about you as a person. You could say my curiosity was piqued about various things. What kind of person is he? Is it true he’s the Haemil Lord’s younger brother? How was he able to excavate so many ruins in such a short time? What kind of skill does he have to be able to capture Baek Seoyeon as a Year 0 User? How did he manage to tie down the free-roaming Ko Yeonju? Is he really as virile as the rumors say? Things like that. To turn it around, isn’t there anything you’re curious about me, Mercenary Lord?”
What?
Things were going fine, but then it felt like the conversation had suddenly gone off on a tangent. However, Seon Yul’s expression was too serious to call her out on it, so I tilted my head but opened my mouth calmly.
“Hmm… I think I heard something strange in the middle there, but I think I get the gist. I have things I’m curious about as well. Though they are purely personal.”
“Oh my. That in itself makes me curious. Hehe. May I hear first what you’re curious about me? I’ll understand even if it’s a little naughty.”
“It’s just… I feel that you’re a bit hard to read.”
“Why? Why do you feel that way?”
When I stated my honest feelings, Seon Yul stared at me with a direct gaze. I paused in thought for a moment before continuing calmly.
“Whether it was during the meeting, or from what I heard from my clan members, or when you spoke with the Vagabonds before.”
“Your Mercenary Clan members? What did they say? Could you tell me everything? I’m curious.”
She’s a woman with a lot of questions… Then again, she is a mage.
I gave a slight, bitter smile inwardly at the endless stream of questions. But since I was the one who had started it, I answered to the best of my ability.
“I heard you took good care of them. That you gave them a lot of advice, did readings for them, and chatted with them… They said you were like a real older sister. In any case, I’m grateful for you looking after them.”
“Ah. You must be talking about Ms. Hayeon and Ms. Vivian. There’s no need to thank me. I just took a liking to them and built a friendship, that’s all… That’s why I did a reading for them… Ah.”
Seon Yul’s eyes showed understanding, as if she finally grasped the general situation. It was then. After nodding once or twice as she spoke, she suddenly raised her head with a look of realization.
About a minute passed, and then Seon Yul slowly opened her mouth.
“Um… Mercenary Lord.”
“Yes.”
“This is a little difficult to say… but let me ask you just one thing. Ms. Vivian is a Resident, isn’t she? Are you in a contractual relationship with her?”
I didn’t know why she was suddenly asking this, but I decided to answer truthfully. Seon Yul’s consistently serious expression had been giving our conversation an unnecessary weight from the start.
“That’s correct.”
“Hmm. That’s a relief, for now. Still, just in case, you should take a good look at the contract. And…”
Silence fell again. Compared to her rapid-fire questions from before, this felt frustrating, but considering who I was talking to, I inwardly chanted for patience.
Fortunately, the silence didn’t last long. Seon Yul, who had seemed hesitant for a moment, appeared to have made up her mind.
“Mercenary Lord. I thought about it for a bit, and I think it’s better to tell you. Be careful of Ms. Vivian.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
“I did a reading for Ms. Vivian a while ago, and the result was not very good.”
“Could you perhaps tell me the contents of the reading?”
It might have been an impertinent request, but Seon Yul readily nodded her head.
“Since I brought it up, it’s right to see it through. But you have to keep it a secret from Ms. Vivian.”
“Of course.”
With my confirmation, Seon Yul’s story began.
“The thing about card readings is that while some are for fun, they can be quite ambiguous. But, sometimes, they show a shockingly high accuracy rate.”
“By ambiguous, you mean it’s all up to interpretation.”
“That’s right. Whatever the result, it depends on the interpretation. And some are just for fun in the first place. But last time, with Ms. Vivian…”
Seon Yul closed her eyes as if trying to recall the reading from that time, and continued speaking in that state.
“There’s something she wants. Would it be appropriate to call it a wish? And that wish is very strongly connected to another person.”
“A wish…”
“That, I don’t know. But there’s a very high probability that the wish will come true. And when Ms. Vivian’s wish is granted…”
Come to think of it, there was a time before when I was about to hear something from Vivian, but we were stopped by an unexpected accident. So, I focused even more intently on Seon Yul’s words.
“Honestly, from here on, I don’t know for sure either. So I’ll tell you exactly as the cards were interpreted.”
“Yes.”
“They both cease to be themselves.”
“Pardon?”
Yes, and pardon? The two words were the same, but their meaning changed completely depending on the nuance. Seon Yul must have sensed it too, because she opened her eyes again and licked her lips.
“I told you earlier that interpretation is subjective, right? It could be roughly interpreted as ‘losing oneself.’ Of course, the interpretation is open, but it doesn’t seem to have a very good meaning.”
Cease… to be themselves?
Suddenly, I felt something faint but not unfamiliar approaching. To put it simply, I felt like I was on the verge of understanding.
“Mercenary Lord.”
Just then, I heard Seon Yul’s voice call to me from across the table. She took out a deck of cards from her clothes and held it up slightly.
“Since we’re on the subject, shall I do a reading for you as well, Mercenary Lord?”
Sh-sh-shhk. Sh-sh-shhk, sh-sh-shhk.
And then followed a skillful, expert-level card shuffling.
After finishing a simple shuffle, Seon Yul tilted her head slightly and opened her mouth.
“Is there anything, perhaps, that you’re curious about?”