Chapter 12

Translator: True Detective

Chapter 12. Encounter (1)

—Ding~!

...

The 3rd Floor was also a quest to protect the village.

This time, it was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a swarm of sticky and unpleasant Black Slimes.

I put the loot into my inventory and stretched.

Before I knew it, I was outside the Tower, and the cool dawn air welcomed me.

"Phew... Ended safely today too."

I pulled the Cloak of Night Shadows deep over my head.

Just as I was killing my footsteps and walking towards the crosswalk.

"Huh?"

Far away, a woman was running towards the crosswalk as if being chased by something.

Her back view with long straight hair fluttering looked precarious.

But something was strange.

She had both eyes tightly closed.

"What's with that person?"

I wondered if a sleepwalker came out at dawn.

But she started sprinting towards the road without hesitation.

"Ha... Seriously."

I scratched my head vigorously and sighed.

Although not a status window, text seemed to appear before my eyes.

'You are a kind person, go help quickly~'

vs

'Whatever, Heaven knows you have trash personality, and you're tired, right? Go home quickly, browse the gallery, and sleep?'

I wasn't exactly trash, but I wasn't the type to scratch and make a boil (make trouble for myself) either.

I hated meddling, whether receiving or doing it.

Clearly, I made up my mind to just pretend not to see and go back.

But my feet didn't move.

If I end up seeing that woman die.

My dreams would be needlessly fierce.

"Ah sh*t! Meddling is a disease too!"

I kicked off the ground and ran towards her.

I have to grab and stop her.

Thinking that, the moment I was about to reach out my hand.

The woman suddenly stopped and swung the sword at her waist, sheath and all.

—Whoosh

A swing sound that would slap the cheeks of a Major League clean-up hitter was heard.

"Crazy."

There was no time to think.

If I get hit by that, it's instant death.

Instinctively, I used the cloak's ability.

My body scattered like black smoke and moved 5 meters backward.

The heavy scabbard cut through the space where I was just now.

If my reaction was a bit late or if I didn't have Shadow Movement, my head would have exploded beautifully.

"Haa...? What the?"

I glared at her while sweating cold sweat.

She was aiming the scabbard with an undisturbed posture.

Her closed eyes still didn't open.

Instantly, all sorts of thoughts flashed through my mind.

Is it a trap?An assassin planted by the Association or another faction knowing I would pass by here?Did they throw bait to dig out my identity?

She stood quietly.

Looking closely, her body wasn't facing me.

"Uh-oh?"

Only then could I know.

She didn't swing looking at me.

She felt a presence and swung instinctively.

Isn't she closing her eyes in the first place?

And even now, she couldn't pinpoint my exact location.

Whether due to the cloak's stealth effect.

Or because her eyes couldn't see, I couldn't know.

But what was certain was that she didn't come targeting me.

"Was she just a crazy person?"

Almost went to the other world while meddling.

I swept down my chest and stepped back.

There was no reason to converse here while revealing my identity.

Since I almost got killed trying to help, I've done my duty.

I killed my footsteps so she wouldn't notice and left the place quietly.

She stood there for a while without lowering her guard.

My heart thumped all the way back home.

They say the world is wide and the strong are many.

To think a monster like that walks around the streets.

I really need to get stronger quickly.

I clenched my fist and hastened my steps.

I returned home, washed up, and lay on the bed.

Like a habit, I logged into [Tower Gallery].

I expected it, but the situation was more serious than I thought.

While I stopped sales due to tax issues, the gallery was full of patients complaining of withdrawal symptoms.

Scrolling down, I also saw a post analyzing me.

I laughed hollowly looking at the phone.

Why is the condition of these people like this.

Then, a post uploaded in real-time caught my eye.

As soon as I clicked, the screen changed.

The moderator was residing in real-time and managing it.

It seemed posts containing my nickname were unconditional censorship targets.

Finally, I discovered a post that was most relatable yet scary.

"The reactions are very hot."

You punks, I want to sell the most...

I put the phone by the bedside, closed my eyes, and thought.

I do have to sell goods... I still have money left, but I'll use this up soon too.

Since money is an existence that just stays in the account and leaves.

I just wish someone would sell it for me sensibly if I throw them the goods.

Without worrying about taxes or identity.

Is there no one like that somewhere...

Let's think after sleeping first, so sleepy.

I passed out just like that.

Next day, Red Scale Guild Master Office.

As the door opened in front of Hong Chae-yeon, a woman with a sword at her waist and eyes closed entered.

It was Cha Seo-yun.

"Oh, you came?"

A woman who appeared to be a secretary bowed her head and said.

"Then I will be outside."

"Ay, why go out, it's not like we met yesterday or today, just stay. Seo-yun-ah, it's okay right?"

"Yes, it's fine. More than that... why did you call me?"

Hong Chae-yeon stood up and rummaged through the drawer, saying.

"Oh my, I just called to have a cup of tea! You don't have friends either!"

"Pfft..."

"Friends... I ha..."

The secretary covering her mouth.

A flustered look was visible on Cha Seo-yun's expression.

She took tea out of the drawer and brewed it.

"This is Luminaris Bloom Tea I got when climbing the 25th Floor. The scent is quite decent."

"..."

When hot water soaked the tea, it evoked the scent of flowers scattering in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the moonlit night.

"Ah! Did you find the item you wanted?"

"That...!"

"True... It would be hard to easily get an item that restores 'eyesight'... Same for me..."

Hong Chae-yeon made a slightly dispirited expression.

"I also...! Have friends."

Hong Chae-yeon realized what she said earlier and apologized while hugging her.

"Aww~ Cute!! Okay sorry sorry, of course I know. You're friends with me too."

"Oof...! Suffocating."

Cha Seo-yun was buried in Hong Chae-yeon's chest and was suffocating.

"Still, it's been 5 years since we met, isn't it time to speak comfortably?"

"Oof...!! I... am comfortable with this."

"Okay, if you are comfortable~"

When Hong Chae-yeon let go, Cha Seo-yun inhaled the lacking oxygen and glared at Hong Chae-yeon's chest.

"Huff... Dangerous weapon..."

—Sip!

When Cha Seo-yun took a sip of the poured tea, her closed eyes flashed open.

Seeing that, Hong Chae-yeon looked at her contentedly.

"How is it, tasty right?"

Cha Seo-yun quietly nodded her head only.

"...I've been curious since before, why do you take care of me every time?"

"Hmm~ Just because you're cute?"

"...Hueet?!"

"Puhahahaha, I told you this appearance is cute?"

"...Don't tease me!"

During the conversation, Hong Chae-yeon frowned slightly and rubbed her right arm.

"Ugh...!"

Cha Seo-yun asked worriedly.

"Are you still... in pain?"

Hong Chae-yeon asked in surprise.

"...You knew?"

"...If it was a secret, I apologize. I knew since we first met."

"No... No need to apologize, it's just not something worth showing."

Hong Chae-yeon's secretary approached with a worried expression holding an orange-hued potion.

"G... Guild Master!"

"Ugh... No, it's okay... It's bearable... We don't even have enough for Su-yeon..."

Once the pain subsided, Hong Chae-yeon sighed in relief.

"Phew... It's not a cure, but I found a potion that feels like a painkiller. But it's not coming up on the Exchange these days so I'm a bit worried... Even if not for me, it's necessary for Su-yeon..."

Then, Cha Seo-yun smelled the scent flowing from the orange-hued potion.

"...Uh? I smelled this scent yesterday."

"...What? Where?!"

Hong Chae-yeon grabbed Cha Seo-yun's shoulders ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠strongly as if excited.

"...Ugh!"

"Ah... Sorry, I got excited because it's too important information for me..."

"...It's okay."

"So... Where?"

"That is... It might not be accurate. I wasn't in my right mind then either, and it could have been just my feeling..."

"I am in a state where even that feeling is desperate right now..."

Cha Seo-yun said it was hard to explain in words, marked the location on a map, and returned saying she had to go now.

Hong Chae-yeon was staring intently at the map.

The secretary who was watching from the side opened her mouth cautiously.

"It might not be the SW you are looking for."

"...Well, the probability is high that it's not. Still, this is the first tangible information, right?"

The secretary closed her mouth quietly.

Because she had investigated SW all this time, but there was no meaningful information.

"I will prepare."

"...Thanks."

Hong Chae-yeon prayed desperately looking at the location and time Cha Seo-yun marked on the map.