Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Piercing Through the Darkness (2)
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Rushed through the gap between darkness and wind. Running while maintaining high-difficulty Invisibility Magic was no easy task by any means, but Tae-jin had the talent for it.
However, the moment he left Gate City, he realized he couldn't just charge ahead blindly. Just as he'd cast Invisibility Magic on himself, old man Richer had likely done the same.
Tae-jin focused his mind and scanned the surroundings. The military base's lights shone steadily as always, but for some reason, it felt like the soldiers were wandering around searching for him.
Even by the time he reached home, Tae-jin still hadn't spotted old man Richer.
'Did he really ditch me and go on alone?'
Well, that would be the sensible choice. With the military clamping down, there was no need to risk everything just to honor a promise made over drinks.
Besides, Tae-jin was just an extra; old man Richer had planned to head to the Empire alone from the start. He was only returning for his own goals—there was no reason he had to take Tae-jin along.
Tae-jin slipped through the window into the living room and came face-to-face with a familiar figure. It was old man Richer.
"Old man! You came looking for me?"
"Of course. Didn't I say we'd go together? Where the hell have you been?"
Tae-jin's tension eased a bit in that moment. At least the plan wouldn't fall apart before it even started.
"Man, things felt off, so I went to the inn where you were staying, figuring we'd bail together tonight. You should've seen how shocked I was to find your room empty."
Old man Richer chuckled slyly.
"Heh, you've got some guts. Thought I'd ditched you and split?"
"Anyone would've thought the same in that situation. Anyway, get ready to bolt."
"Yeah, grab your stuff and let's go."
"Grab what? I've already packed everything and got out."
"Everything? You missed this."
What old man Richer picked up was, out of nowhere, a Polaroid camera.
"Why the hell are we taking that? Planning to get caught by the soldiers and pose for pretty pictures with them?"
"Nah. There's nothing quite as intuitive and impressive as this thing. Kaiso Kingdom might undervalue it a bit, but in the Empire, you could trade one for more gold than it weighs."
It was such a pragmatic reason, but on second thought, it held a strange persuasiveness. If it could cover a good chunk of their travel expenses, wasn't it worth it? Just like grabbing jewels before fleeing.
"Fine, whatever. Let's get moving!"
"Alright, let's go."
Old man Richer and Tae-jin cast Invisibility Magic and stepped out of the house. The soldiers still seemed oblivious, everything quiet as ever.
Tae-jin gazed wistfully at the two-and-a-half-ton truck left at the base. If things had gone smoothly, they could've at least ridden that to Letona, if not further.
A grim thought flickered through his mind. No way they'd have to walk all the way to the Empire, right?
Tae-jin shook his head to dispel the foreboding notion, grabbed old man Richer's sleeve, and they started weaving through the overgrown grasses of the Great Plains.
Gate City's orbital cycle was five times longer than Earth's. Five years on Korea equated to just one year here.
With years so long, annual plants and roadside weeds shot up tall. It was still only spring, but the plains' grasses already reached thigh height. By summer or fall, they'd be waist-high.
Good news. They might leave tracks moving through the tall grass, but theirs would blend seamlessly with those of wild beasts or other. And if anyone approached, they could hide in the thickets.
The two pushed on, sustaining Invisibility Magic to its limits.
About thirty minutes in, old man Richer's spell gave out—his stamina and mana running low. Tae-jin could have kept his going longer, but with Richer's expired, no point in overdoing it.
They walked a bit further and ducked behind a large protruding rock. Better to rest while they could. Old man Richer plopped down, panting heavily.
"Huff... Ideally, we'd push as far as possible before resting."
"If you wanna go further, quit yapping and rest, old man. Why rush when you're already huffing and puffing?"
"You're right about that."
Richer said no more, and the two leaned back against the rock, sprawling out. The cool stone felt refreshing against their heated bodies from the trek.
Silence settled between them, the world standing still.
Swish—swish—
The only sound was the grass rustling in the strong wind, huge and enveloping. Occasionally, insect chirps pierced through.
Richer’s breathing hadn’t steadied yet. Tae-jin looked up at the sky. As always, disgustingly many stars studded it.
Trapped in this world, even the stars irked Tae-jin.
'I want to live under smog-choked, dim skies. Why must I stare at this star-drenched heaven?'
The idle thought didn't last. Old man Richer stood first, brushing off his pants.
"Old man, hand over the bag."
"Nah, I can carry it."
"If you collapse, we're screwed. Gimme it. I'll give it back if you get tired—no worries."
It was dark, but Tae-jin could tell old man Richer looked sheepish. Tae-jin grinned and took the bag.
And so, the two trudged across the endless Great Plains. The spring night was cool, perfect for walking.
No matter how far they went, the scenery never changed. Felt like endless treadmill walking. The landscape they'd passed reappeared ahead, the stars fixed motionless overhead. Were they even moving forward? Hard to tell.
Twenty-two? Twenty-three? He recalled his first march in the army.
That night trekking through Gangwon Province mountains had fewer stars than now, but plenty still.
The memory swelled: staring at the heel of the guy ahead on an indistinguishable road, marching silently.
'Thought marches ended with discharge. Guess if fate twists hard enough, you march forever.'
The two walked the fields with lighter hearts. Felt like a few hours had passed subjectively, so they relaxed a tad. If undiscovered so far, the soldiers had likely lost their trail.
With easier steps, stamina drained slower, and talk flowed.
"How'd you become a mage, old man?"
"Similar to you. Some old-timer passerby saw potential in me."
"Really? Become one overnight like me?"
"Pfft, that's rare as hell. Took me about half a year for my first spell."
Half a year. Over two Earth years. Inconceivable time to Tae-jin. But considering other mages took five Earth years for their first spell, Richer had solid talent.
Though if Tae-jin said, 'Old man, you had talent,' Richer would shoot the sourst look imaginable.
Tae-jin wanted to see it, so he said it.
"You've got some talent yourself, old man."
In the dark, Richer's head turned toward him. Couldn't see his face, but the sour expression was palpable.
"Same words, but they piss me off coming from you."
"Whatever. What made you slog two years to become a mage?"
"Hmm. Thinking back, mages are furthest from limits."
"Knew you'd say that—explain properly from the start next time."
A chuckle rumbled from the darkness beyond.
"Swordsmen and martial artists can't wield power beyond their sword's reach."
"Duh, obvious."
Ignoring Tae-jin's snark, Richer continued.
"Plus, they weaken with age. Peak at human age six... Earth terms, around thirty, then steady decline. Exceptions exist, but most follow that."
True. Rare ones push physical limits, but that's exceptional.
"Living in past glory's painful. But mages advance endlessly, even to death."
"They'll outpace you early, but only mages progress infinitely till the end. Mage's privilege."
"Maybe I wanted that elite status."
As Tae-jin opened his mouth to reply, light flashed from behind.
Instinctively, Tae-jin grabbed Richer and dropped low into the grass.
Luckily, a tree stood right behind them—the flashlight wouldn't spot them immediately. Pure luck.
The light swayed side to side; handheld, not vehicle headlights. Soldiers combing the plains on foot, searching for them.
'Movies at least blare sirens when searching. Damn it!'
Spring's chill bit, the dirt cold too.
Prone in the grass, insect chirps rang in their ears from all sides.
The two held their breath, flat on the ground, waiting. Hearts pounding—would the soldiers hear?