Chapter 118

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 118

Chapter Title: Ha Mun's Farewell

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"Ha Mun left? Just like that, all of a sudden?"

Ha Mun hadn't shown any signs of it when he arrived in Novira with Kang Seol to forge the sword.

He'd simply watched over Karen's embers with a sense of relief.

"Yeah, I was surprised too. But you should hear it from Kibo, not me. I don't know Ha Mun that well."

"Hmm..."

"Ha Mun left a message for you."

That figured.

No, Ha Mun definitely would have.

He had no real connection with Yumira, but he shared a deep bond with Kibo.

'And Kibo's the one who connected me with Ha Mun in the first place, so if there was something for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me, he'd have left it with him.'

Kang Seol replied nonchalantly to Yumira.

"Then I should go see Kibo now."

"Yeah, he's waiting."

Kang Seol walked with Yumira for a bit.

The aura she'd felt somewhat adrift before was now neatly refined.

'Has she changed?'

It seemed the events in Yog'natun had transformed her.

By the time that thought crossed his mind, they'd arrived at Kibo's base.

Kibo's base, now looking rather shabby.

Kang Seol stepped inside.

The sentries on watch numbered only one or two at most now.

Kiiiek...

"Kibo, I brought her."

"Ah, Snowman. You're quick. Didn't you head straight from Gullia to Novira?"

"Yes."

"Rest is important sometimes. Don't push yourself too hard."

"Thank you for your concern. But..."

"Yeah, it's about Ha Mun."

"Has he really left?"

Kibo nodded.

"Feeling a bit miffed he left without a proper goodbye?"

"Not really, but it's a little disorienting."

"Hahaha... He didn't give me the details, but he seemed to have made some big resolution."

"......"

"Looks like the Yog'natun incident changed him too. Here, the letter he left."

Swoosh—

A wax-sealed envelope was handed to Kang Seol.

Checking the seal, Kang Seol realized Kibo hadn't opened it.

As he glanced at Kibo, Yumira beside him answered instead.

"It's for you."

Rustle.

Using the accompanying dagger, Kang Seol broke the seal and pulled out the letter inside.

- From Ha Mun.

'Straight to the point.'

Ha Mun's letter began with that succinct phrase.

Kang Seol read on.

- Snowman. If you're reading this now, you might be a bit taken aback. Or knowing you, you might just think of it as something that happened and move on.

A faint smirk tugged at Kang Seol's lips.

Ha Mun had a knack for seeing right through people.

- I know words of thanks for Yog'natun would never suffice, no matter how many. So I'll skip the empty gratitude.

Even this was so like Ha Mun.

- The reason I'm leaving Novira is none other than you. Yes, because of you.

'Because of me...'

He wasn't one to blame others, so there had to be a reason for writing this.

- Snowman, you're more extraordinary than any transfer I've encountered. Vast knowledge that even surprises me, matched with fitting wisdom. Unlike others, you act like someone who's already experienced Pandea beforehand.

'...Was I too obvious?'

Kang Seol knew all sorts of trivia about Pandea and hadn't bothered hiding the minor bits.

That must've been what tipped Ha Mun off to his oddity.

- And with it, you change the world. You're truly fascinating. Do you feel it? The world has passed through the Mythic Age, Age of Dragons, Iron Age, Age of Faith, and Age of Lies, reaching its limit. Too much evil has filled this Pandean continent.

"......"

- Once, I let everything go. After Orgo left the world in great disappointment, I lost the courage to face it myself. I carried only the one sword he left behind and turned my back on the world.

Orgo's pain had passed unfiltered to his descendant, Ha Mun.

That's why Ha Mun had wandered without a compass in life.

- Then you appeared. Melting the sword Orgo left and giving it to you was a gamble, nothing less. A bet on my future. Not out of noble conviction or purpose. Just...

To Ha Mun, who had turned from the world, a new compass had appeared.

It was Kang Seol.

- I desperately hoped you were the right person. The world felt missed. I wanted you to be the reason I could face it again. It was cowardly. Such gambles usually end in cliché ruin. You'd lose a fortune and wake to a dreadful morning.

Was that how it would have gone?

- But somehow, my pockets are full now. Thanks to you, I have the leeway to step back into the world. But one problem remains—it's no longer a matter of mindset, but me, twisted over so many years.

'...That's why he left.'

- I want to forge an even better sword. And give it to you when we meet again. So for now, farewell. Take care.

Kang Seol carefully folded the letter.

Yumira asked.

"...What does it say?"

She seemed curious about the letter's contents.

"Nothing much. Just that he's leaving."

Kibo chuckled beside them.

"Heh heh... Just like Ha Mun. He left in his own way. Aren't you a bit regretful? He left yesterday, so if you head out now... Let's see, hmm... You could catch up."

Choices appeared.

Kang Seol smiled and replied.

"Let him be. We'll meet again someday."

"Ho ho... In this vast Pandea?"

"Pandea's smaller than you think."

"Hahaha! A transfer teaching this Kibo. But you might be right... Paths merge when climbing Orgo, don't they?"

Kibo was sharp.

He acted as if he knew Ha Mun had left to temper himself.

Kang Seol nodded.

'This is a good opportunity.'

He'd already gotten nearly everything he could from Ha Mun anyway.

Ha Mun's ally rank was Heroic.

Yet, thanks to the might of being Orgo's descendant title, he'd forged two peerless blades. But that was probably his limit.

A miracle born from fine materials and perfect timing.

Ha Mun himself must have known it well—his skills had hit their ceiling, and he could no longer support Kang Seol adequately.

Kang Seol was growing far faster than typical transfers.

Every two adventures for him equaled six or seven for others.

'Ha Mun needs to rank up too.'

Rank up.

Just as his summons had leaped from Heroic to Legendary, allies could undergo the same.

Cupa the corpse vine had left Shade Gorge for broader wings, and Mael wandered daily to experience the world.

Ha Mun would do the same.

'Hope it goes well... Don't want him gone too long.'

For now, with Night Raven as insurance, nothing overwhelming loomed, but the future was unpredictable.

Kang Seol hoped Ha Mun would return at the right time.

'If nearby, probably the Sword Grave... Farther, Iron Heart Marceline maybe?'

The Sword Grave was a holy site for swordsmen and smiths, and Marceline exported arms across Pandea.

Both brimmed with quality steel and skilled smiths.

'Anyway, he'll handle it.'

Kang Seol stood abruptly.

"I should get going."

"Hmm, got a place to stay?"

"No, leaving Novira right now."

"What? Hahaha! Now I see—you and Ha Mun are ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cut from the same cloth!"

Kang Seol bid Kibo farewell and headed for the exit.

"Wait."

"...Hm?"

"I have something to say. It'll be quick."

Yumira stepped out first, speaking to him.

Kang Seol followed with a puzzled look. It seemed she didn't want Kibo to hear.

Once outside, Yumira got straight to it.

"Let's be friends."

Kang Seol caught on immediately.

"You mean add each other as friends?"

"Yeah."

Kang Seol adjusted his interface as he'd learned before.

He'd friended her, but the reason piqued his curiosity.

"Why add me as a friend, though...?"

"I always repay my debts. From Yog'natun."

"...You don't have to."

"No."

Yumira's expression was firm.

More than Kang Seol expected.

"I can't. I owe too many lives."

"Yumira."

"The squad that went with us, Kibo... and innocents too. We owe you so much, Snowman."

"You don't have to repay it all yourself."

"I do. It's all on me."

"Why...?"

She had changed.

Her eyes, expression, even her aura.

"Because I'll lead them now."

"......"

"I'm staying in Novira, so we probably won't cross paths much. That's why I went to this trouble."

"What will you do here?"

"Obvious, isn't it?"

Yumira smiled awkwardly.

Like someone smiling for the first time. It was clumsy, but fine.

"I'll conquer the Great Forest. With my own new relic-hunting squad."

"I wish you success."

"Bye, Snowman. Thanks, for real. Remember this one thing."

She left her final words.

"If you need my help, say the word anytime. I can't do much now, but who knows later? If you ever need it..."

Every syllable carried sincerity.

"I'll give it my all. That's my vow."

Kang Seol smiled faintly and parted ways.

Then boarded a carriage out of Novira.

Kang Seol's carriage arrived at its destination.

He set it as his new base immediately.

"Phew... Lucky."

Life at the new base.

It started off smoothly from the get-go.

Karen rubbed her sleepy eyes and placed a hand on Kang Seol's shoulder.

"Yaaawn... We here?"

"Yeah. Let's find an inn first."

"Okay."

To scout a decent inn in Audenin, they ventured deeper in, weaving through winding alleys like they knew the way.

The footsteps tailing them quickened accordingly.

But at a sharp alley bend, a sword suddenly thrust out.

It was Karen's.

"Urk..."

"First time seeing such blatant tailing. What gives?"

"W-Wait a sec!"

"A girl? Know her, boss?"

"No. More than one anyway."

"I know."

Slither.

The tails filled the alley swiftly.

Blocking front and back to trap him. About seven.

Kang Seol, annoyed, said.

"Wrong guy."

One tail caught on and responded hastily.

"Please... wait here just a moment. We're not here to harm you."

"...Wait?"

Kang Seol couldn't grasp the bizarre situation at first.

He could escape if needed, but curiosity held him.

Soon, voices approached.

"Here she is!"

"Huff... huff... Sorry to keep you?"

"No idea."

"Got it, huff... huff..."

A man panting heavily.

The same one who'd desperately searched for Kang Seol before. He rushed out in pajamas to meet him.

"Hoo... Sorry for the rudeness. Wait long?"

"The process was more bothersome than the time."

"Apologies, it was urgent... Hear me out first."

"But..."

"Ah! Sorry, didn't introduce myself."

The man extended his hand, as if for a shake.

"Nice to meet you. Park Chang-sik."

He grinned, baring teeth.

"Pardon, but is your profile private?"