Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: A Warm Send-off
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"I told you to keep it quiet…"
The core members of the Guardian Guild were gathered in Jeong Hoon-hyeon's room.
There was Guild Master Jeong Hoon-hyeon, along with Young-jin, Ji-yoon, the Park-Ha-Gong trio, and even Eun-hee.
The table was laden with so much food and drink it looked like its legs would break.
Do-jae had only meant to stop by to say his goodbyes and tell them to stay safe, but thanks to someone's planning, it had turned into something of a party.
And the one strongly suspected of being that "someone" spoke with a bright smile.
"That's why it's just us, right? Hehe."
"Are you trying to announce to the whole neighborhood that I'll be gone for a while? This is pointless. Get back to work."
When Do-jae spoke in a feigned angry tone, Young-jin made a gesture of wiping away tears.
"But you said you don't know how long you'll be there. We don't know when we'll see you again… *sob*…"
"Hey, anyone hearing this would think I'm going off to die."
"Sigh. Still, it's a relief that I won't have to worry about getting a knife wound in my gut while you're gone."
"Hey… that was…!"
Young-jin rubbed his waist, a pained expression on his face.
But he couldn't hide the smile that stretched from ear to ear.
"Don't be too hard on him! Director Young-jin went to a lot of trouble to prepare this."
For some reason, Ji-yoon was taking Young-jin's side.
Considering how they always bickered, it was rather awkward for her to suddenly defend him.
"That's right, Director Young-jin was so thoughtful, thinking of you, Do-jae. That's too harsh."
This time, Eun-hee defended Young-jin.
Do-jae had thought Eun-hee, at least, was capable of rational thought, so her reaction was quite bewildering.
"No… it's just that keeping my departure a secret is better for the guild… and I'll be trying to come back as quickly as possible… so a gathering like this is…"
Do-jae, for the first time, started rambling.
That was how intently all the guild members were looking at him.
"Hey, come on now. How much time is left? About an hour? Vice Guild Master! Eat up before you go. They say you miss Korean food like crazy the moment you go abroad, so eat until you're sick of it."
Jeong Hoon-hyeon placed a pair of chopsticks in Do-jae's hand.
Come to think of it, he'd always been the type to eat anything, whether in the other world or anywhere else, but he supposed he had managed thanks to instant ramen and rice balls.
This time, too, he had packed his subspace full of various instant foods and ingredients, but since he couldn't eat those here, Do-jae reached for the food.
"These ribs… are delicious. Mmm…"
"Team Leader Jeong Eun-hee's mother sent those."
"*Cough*…"
Do-jae choked on the marinated rib he was chewing.
No wonder the taste was familiar.
"Is that so? Just like last time, Eun-hee's mother is a really great cook."
"Last time?"
Ji-yoon shot back at Do-jae's words.
But Eun-hee placed chopsticks in Ji-yoon's hand, stopping her from saying more.
"Ji-yoon, eat up."
"Huh? Oh… okay."
Starting with Do-jae and Ji-yoon, everyone began to eat.
They talked about their lives, current events, and sometimes even romance or politics.
No one mentioned monsters or Gellahan.
In that moment, Do-jae could feel just how considerate they were being of him.
In the end, he was stuck enjoying the party until the very last minute, but he didn't feel bad about it.
"There are only five minutes left, right?"
"Yeah. It's almost time."
The month he had promised Havik was about to be up.
He had considered the possibility that the man might mistake the time or be late, but Altein had said that wouldn't happen.
He'd called it causality.
"Take care, sir!"
"Vice Guild Master! Come back healthy!"
"Make sure you come back alive."
"I look forward to another lesson when you return."
Young-jin and the Park-Ha-Gong trio smiled at Do-jae.
He hadn't thought crossing over to the other world was a big deal, but for some reason, Do-jae felt a lump in his throat.
"Vice Guild Master! Don't worry about the guild, just go!"
"Oppa, that bastard Havik. Make sure you kill him!"
Jeong Hoon-hyeon and Ji-yoon also cheered him on.
Even without the Eye of the Golem, he could tell how much they cared for him.
And finally, Eun-hee.
"I told Do-young you went on a long business trip. To a place where you can't be contacted. I'll take good care of him while you're gone, so don't worry. And this."
Eun-hee handed him a pretty envelope.
Inside was a letter written in crooked, pressed-down handwriting.
"Do-young asked me to give this to you."
Do-jae engraved Do-young's letter into his heart, word by word, before carefully placing it in his pocket.
The content was just "Come back safe," and "I miss you," but he could feel a sentiment far greater than the words themselves.
Do-jae cherished everyone's feelings in his heart and said with a bright smile,
"Then I'll be on my way."
***
A ruined city.
The only building left intact was the royal palace.
Inside, a boy was leaning against the throne.
"Is this a festival? Kuhahaha!"
A handsome, blond-haired man walked out of the darkness, laughing heartily.
The man sat down beside the boy and watched the same scene the boy was observing.
- ♬♪♪
Dozens of beastmen were dancing to the cheerful music.
The cat-people, with their long tails swishing and pointed ears twitching, shook their bodies vigorously, their blood-soaked forms a stark contrast to the lively tune.
*Thud—.*
One of the cat-people collapsed onto the wet, red floor, twitched, and then went limp, but no one paid any mind, continuing to dance with passion.
One minute, three minutes, five minutes.
As time passed, more and more cat-people collapsed to the floor, and after about ten minutes, not a single one was left standing.
*Clap, clap, clap—.*
"A splendid banquet!"
The blond man, Havik, stood up and applauded.
He seemed genuinely impressed, sparing no praise.
"To dance a courtship dance until the last flame of life is extinguished in a blissful dream. What greater glory could there be!"
Despite Havik's fervent praise, the boy didn't even blink.
The boy with the vacant eyes, Ridirian, waved his hand, and monsters emerged to begin cleaning the hall.
They cleared away the cat-people's corpses and wiped the floor clean.
And the moment all the cleaning was finished.
"Gurgle…"
"Krrk…"
The monsters' bodies began to twist grotesquely.
Their forms crumpled further, curling into balls.
*Splat—!*
Their bodies burst all at once, splattering a thick, viscous green blood everywhere.
Only then did Ridirian look at the monsters, now mangled beyond recognition, and smile faintly.
"I find this color more to my liking."
"I always feel this way, but your tastes are quite unique, Ridirian!"
"More importantly, Havik. What brings you here? And when did you decide to ignore my words and cross the chasm of causality?"
Ridirian stood up and picked up a piece of monster flesh that had flown his way as he asked.
From a distance, it might have looked like a child playing with a curious object, but Havik, right beside him, was bracing against a powerful aura that made his lustrous blond hair ripple.
"I just went to have a look! I even saw an interesting fellow!"
"And for that, not only did you suffer damage to your state, but you also handed over one of the few remaining dragons?"
"Ridirian! No need to be so sensitive, is there? It was just a small incident. Kuhahaha."
"Havik, that's your problem. They may be beings caught at our feet, but do not forget that a single tiny insect can infect and kill a great elephant."
*Toss—.*
Ridirian threw the piece of flesh he'd been fiddling with and climbed back onto the throne, sitting in an arrogant posture.
Though the chair was far too large for his small frame, he exuded an aura that seemed to fill it completely.
"So, is there something you wish to say?"
"That fellow has arrived here."
"So that's why your state was damaged again."
"But what can I do? It's fun! Kuhahaha!"
Ridirian frowned and looked at Havik.
True to his title, 'Havik of Choice,' he enjoyed finding a target, presenting them with two choices, and watching what they would do.
But being a creature of impulse, he always gave choices on a whim, leaving Ridirian to clean up the consequences.
"I'm not having fun. In any case, I cannot move right now, and your state is unstable. That leaves Bedeia and Balan… Since you're the one who caused this, go meet them yourself and deliver the message. Tell them to eliminate the Adversary."
"Hmm… Balan will be delighted, but will Bedeia listen?"
"If she can find traces of that man on the Adversary, Bedeia will move."
"Kuhahaha. Finding those two will be a pain, but this is getting interesting, isn't it? Well, see you later!"
Havik disappeared back into the darkness.
Ridirian propped his chin on his intertwined hands, staring intently at some distant point as he spoke.
"The stench of the Ascetics reaches even here… I'd like to see you off myself, but I'll save that for next time."
***
A man appeared in a secluded forest.
*'It's been a while.'*
Do-jae breathed in the fresh air and surveyed his surroundings.
Fortunately, he couldn't sense any monsters.
The first thing he checked was his status window.
*Flick—.*
[Information]
Name: Lee Do-jae
Level: 150
Title: Golemancer
Life: 110,300 / Mana: 551,030
[Stats]
Strength: 405 / Stamina: 320 / Agility: 370 / Spirit: 405 / Resistance: 220
(Points: 0)
[Skills]
Passive: Heart of the Golem Lv. Max / Subspace: Lv. Max / Eye of the Golem Lv. Max / Nerves of the Golem Lv. Max / Blood Armor of the Golem Lv. Max / Skeleton of the Golem Lv. Max
Active: Golem Summon Lv. 7 / Golem Armor Lv. 7 / Swordsmanship Lv. 9 / Archery Lv. 1 / Fire Lv. Max / Fire Arrow Lv. 3 / Fireball Lv. 3 / Wind Lv. Max / Wind Arrow Lv. 2….
*'The status window is appearing this time. In that case, the skills…'*
Fortunately, his skills also activated automatically.
The golem-related skills could be triggered just by thinking, while the magic skills were cast by chanting an incantation.
*'In that case… Altein, Ruiden. Are you there?'*
Do-jae called out to the Ascetics.
Being able to use his skills meant the Ascetics' power was functioning properly.
And as expected, the Ascetics responded.
- Ho ho, to think you'd return to the place you abandoned and fled.
- Is this the southern part of the continent? A little further down, you should find the village you saw, our village.
The voices of Altein and Ruiden echoed in his mind.
Havik wouldn't have brought him here for no reason.
Being able to receive their help was a somewhat hopeful situation.
- I am calling myself…! I am waiting…! Take me there!
Elatra's cry rang through his head.
Do-jae scowled deeply and spoke to her.
*'Alright, just please be quiet. Every time you speak, my whole head throbs.'*
- Understood. Take me to myself.
As Elatra fell silent, peace returned to Do-jae's mind.
*'Then let's head to Elatra's temple first. I'll listen about the Ascetics as we walk.'*
- As you wish. I will show you the way.
- Then shall I be the one to explain? I can tell you stories of the old days as much as you like.
Do-jae nodded.
Since he didn't know what Havik was planning, he decided to prioritize restoring Elatra's original power.
*Woong—.*
Before that, Do-jae took a few items out of his subspace.
Among them, he pulled out a wide, long garment and put it on.
It was the robe given to him by Sarieta, the chief of the Gray Elves.
- Head straight north.
Do-jae pulled the robe's hood down deep over his face and, following Altein's words, began to walk north.