Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: The World Conference Has Its Charms (2)
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The outskirts of the Empire, Shyrn.
The carriage sped swiftly toward it.
The scenery we'd passed through in the small villages along the way was filled with nothing but ordinary daily life, free of any real trouble. So we simply set off on our journey with relaxed hearts.
We'd spent a peaceful night in the village from last night, too. If anything, our arrival might have livened up that quiet little place a bit.
When we carefully presented the Emperor's edict and revealed ourselves as the Hero's party, the village head—an elderly man—had looked utterly flustered, and the murmurs from the surrounding villagers had filled the air.
Caught between belief and disbelief, they'd scrambled to prepare a grand welcome anyway.
I knew we needed to build our fame, but it had never occurred to me that announcing who we were would feel so embarrassing.
The memory of last night, when we'd pleaded to just stay quietly and asked only for a place to sleep, made my fingers twitch uncomfortably now.
As we rode onward in the carriage once more, the weather was surprisingly clear and cool for winter, keeping everyone's drowsiness at bay as they went about their tasks.
The twins sat facing each other, refining their mental resonance. They giggled now and then, looking playfully mischievous.
Seren recited her prayers, practicing her control over holy power again. Things seemed to be going better than expected, judging by the faint smile on her face.
Lisroom checked the protective spells hung on the carriage once more, then rolled mana over her palm to pass the time.
Only Sio did nothing in particular, just peering out the window now and then with a furrowed brow.
"Sio. What's wrong? Was the bed last night not comfortable enough?"
So I tilted my head and asked.
"Nah, I'm past the age of whining about beds. Hmm... It's just that everyone else looks so carefree, kid."
"Huh? Is it that everything's gotten so tangled up that you're snapping at us now?"
"You think that's it? Hero, you're feeling pretty relaxed right now, aren't you? All those sights we've passed—people looking more peaceful and livable than you expected. You're letting your guard down because of that, right?"
His pitying gaze, like he was telling us to snap out of it, pricked at my heart a little. And it wasn't aimed just at me—the twins and Seren flinched too.
"But all the villages we've seen so far have been like that...? No one had faces full of worry."
"Sigh... True enough. But still, Saintess, kids—you can't all stay so innocently cheerful. Do you even know where we're headed?"
Sio let out a sigh as he posed the question.
"The Empire's edge, Shyrn. It's a border city, so security's tight, and half the population is military. That's why we brought entry permits."
Seren finished her practice and answered.
"You ever been there yourself?"
"No..."
"The kids probably haven't either. And you, Hero? Obviously not."
Freyr and Frel nodded in unison, and I could only affirm it too.
"Right. So just wait'll you see it for yourselves. Better not act like you're on a picnic with your guards down."
Don't go slumping your shoulders for no reason later, either.
Sio wrapped up his words like that and turned his gaze back to the window.
We paused for a moment at his words and demeanor, our moods a touch heavier, but we carried on with what we were doing. Time marched on regardless, and we had our preparations to make.
Until finally, the city called Shyrn came into view.
A peaceful day, just like any other.
I started it off as usual. Naturally rolling out of bed and into the living room, I found Sihyun ready for work and watching TV. I scratched my belly and greeted her.
"Morning~ You're in for another tough day."
"Your gut's working overtime too, bro... Quit scratching before it rips open."
Sihyun tossed the remote she'd been holding at me.
"Hoi!"
I bounced it in the air to tease her.
"No chance! I don't fall to attacks from the weak~!"
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah, fun times. Hoi!"
I plopped the remote on top of Sihyun's head and did a victory dance. Sidling over to block the TV, I shook my hips enthusiastically until she sighed.
"Ugh... This jerk. Ever since you got exposed as being strong, why are you so bold now? You're seriously pissing me off, bro..."
"The brother you chose. Tough it out with grit... Hoi! No chance! Hehe, teleport launch!"
While I was talking, Sihyun swung a kick at me, so I dodged with a short-range teleport. She stared at me with a dumbfounded look as the magic flowed seamlessly.
"Wait, bro? What can't you do...? A swordsman doing teleports now? Hide it already, please..."
"Heh heh... Pretty reliable, right? Just trust your bro from now on."
"That sounds anything but trustworthy... Whatever, I'm heading to work."
Sihyun shook her head and stood up. She shooed me away like I was in her path and headed for the door.
"Alright, have a good one!"
I saw her off, and she tossed a comment back like it just occurred to her.
"Oh, bro. I've gotta go overseas in two days. You'll be okay alone for about a week, right?"
"Huh...? Why so sudden?"
"World Hunter Conference. No choice—the Association picked me to go. Oh, Yuna's probably going too? I think Luna Guild sent her last year."
Huh, what's that? Why's everyone going but me?
"Take me too. I'm a Hunter—why leave me out!"
"I'd love to, but it's invite-only. I'm repping the Association, Yuna's from one of the top five guilds. You, uh... basically unemployed?"
A world where specs rule everything. What a filthy place.
"So basically, I'm solo for a week...?"
"Pretty much~ Oh, seriously heading out now. Text Yuna too. Bye!"
The door slammed shut with a thunk, and ironically, Yuna's message popped up right away.
- Siwoo... I'm going overseas the day after tomorrow...
"Yeah, heard. Sihyun said she's going too, and you."
- Wanna come together? Didn't get an invite...?
"Sadly, I'm just some no-name A-rank Hunter. First I've even heard of it."
- Come overseas with me at least...?
"Yeah, that could work."
Just tag along, right?
- But we'd have to stay apart the whole week. We'll be holed up in the conference building...
No dice.
"Yeah, got it... Have a safe trip. I'll watch on TV..."
I could only muster a "have a safe trip."
Two days flew by, and now I was tucked in a corner of the bustling airport.
The World Hunter Conference must've been way more popular than I'd imagined—an annual event drawing massive crowds. The place was packed with Koreans seeing off Hunters heading abroad.
Pushed around by the throng, we ended up greeting each other quietly in a corner. Sihyun and Yuna, faces half-hidden, waved hi.
Showing their faces outright would draw eyes our way, so they just whispered to me.
""We'll be back, so stay out of trouble.""
"What? Why say the exact same thing? Anyone'd think I'm the troublemaker."
I mean, sure, I've fixed troubles, but started any? Not that I recall.
"Well... Fair point, but your usual behavior's sketchy enough. Leave you alone, and boom—problems."
"Baby's right..."
"Yuna, quit calling me 'baby'?"
I sighed, watching Yuna nod along softly with Sihyun's words.
"Whatever. You two, go already. We can still chat overseas, right?"
"Duh. We'll text when we get there—talk then."
They waved and turned away. Other Hunters from the top five guilds, already grouped up, beckoned them over, and they headed that way.
- Baby... Stick with me there too...
- No, who said 'baby'? We'll hang out, so quit the weird nicknames?
- Nope... Gotta impress my sister-in-law.
- Wait, you're ignoring me—how's that impressing...?
They seemed close, but their bickering felt downright sisterly.
They squabbled on for a while before joining the others.
Finally, the full Korean Hunter delegation waved to the cheering crowds and headed overseas.
Whatever the big deal was, the airport echoed with fervent cheers that day.
And I just went home to scratch my belly.
What the heck am I supposed to do for a week...?
Ugh, already bored.