The Nomad of the Desert (1)
A name is the proof of continuity. From the moment it is first called to the final time it is uttered, one is bound under the single definition of that name. A name is the means by which an object proves its identity. Back when all humans wandered freely without names—back in the days when there was no way to prove that the "me" of yesterday was the same entity as the "me" of today—someone bundled those fleeting moments that would otherwise vanish like smoke into the unit of a "name." That great invention has been passed down to this day, serving as the means to prove one's own continuity.
Therefore, Kang Hyunseo could be called a peculiar object. Because she had gained a new name, she had gained a new origin. And because she had lost her name, she might have lost her original origin. That is what a name is. A proof of continuity. A representation of one's origin. A rebellion against nothingness.
***
I was on my knees, bound tightly with thick ropes. I had reached a point where all my options had vanished while I was busy hesitating. It was my first time experiencing something like this in the twenty years I’d lived in the Tower. Honestly, I was quite flustered.
'To think the day would come when I’d get caught because I was dithering.'
A taut tension flowed between us and the nomads.
"Was it you who killed our kin?"
"...If I said no, would you believe me?"
At my words, the man wearing a hood drew his curved blade. Sitting atop his camel, he looked down at me with cold, golden eyes. Anyone could see he had every intention of killing me.
"See? Even if I said I didn't do it, you were planning to kill me anyway."
"Climbers and settlers can never coexist."
"That’s exactly what I wanted to say. Monsters come from the front, but settlers come from behind."
As I smirked, the man dismounted from his camel. His blade aimed straight for my forehead.
"If you spout that nonsense one more time, I’ll strip you naked and drag you behind my camel."
"Wow. You sure have a way with words for a woman."
"...You’re one to talk. Cursed be those who desecrate the dead."
"Like I said, we didn't do it."
Eunseo, who had been listening to the conversation, spoke up cautiously.
"I apologize for interrupting your conversation."
At Eunseo’s words, the nomad man shouted.
"Those who are not the leader have no right to speak!"
"But I am the guild leader..."
"..."
The nomad man looked flustered, glancing back and forth between me and Eunseo.
"..."
I giggled and pointed at Eunseo with my chin.
"That’s right, she’s the guild leader."
"I’ll never understand the thinking of Climbers."
"Excuse me?"
At Eunseo’s question, the man grew angry, as if it were obvious.
"Within the Tower, strength is justice and human rights. It’s laughable that a weakling is a leader."
The man shook his head and muttered, "Tsk, these Climbers."
"But isn't it the same for you guys? Isn't that right, Grandpa?"
"..."
As I stared directly at the old man sitting on the camel, the nomad’s face stiffened. In an instant, a sharp blade was pressed against my throat.
"Whoa, isn't that blade poisoned? If I get cut, I’m a goner, you know?"
"Do not wag that wicked tongue of yours."
At the man’s words, the old man on the camel let out a deep breath.
"Zaphir. That is enough. The test is sufficient. You know well that it was not them."
"..."
Are they actually going to let us live? As I stood there in shock, the old man laughed.
"Little girl, are you surprised? Your killing intent is wavering."
"...I was just thinking about how many people I’d have to kill to make you listen."
"Ha! What an arrogant little wench."
The man sheathed his curved blade. It seemed he really did intend to let us live.
"S-see, Hyunseo-nim? People can understand each other through conversation."
"...Eunseo, you barely said anything, though."
"W-well, that may be true, but."
While Hyunseo was pouting, Zaphir irritably cut my ropes. A few strands of my bangs, caught on the tip of his blade, were sliced away.
"...Old man. Should I take this as a clear declaration of war?"
As I picked up the fallen hair, the old man on the camel laboriously climbed down to the ground.
"Understand, Climber. That fellow has merely lost his daughter."
"..."
Ah, so that’s why he’s so grumpy. I turned to the back of Zaphir, who was heading toward a tent, and said,
"You, you would’ve died if it weren't for this old man. Consider yourself lucky."
"That bastard! Calling Hakim-nim 'Grandpa'? That damn wench!"
"Hyunseo-nim..!"
"Oh my. Hyunseo."
"Kya, as expected of my master."
As Zaphir drew his blade once more, the nomads beside him held him back.
"Let me go, you idiots! I’ll drag that wench’s head behind my camel!"
"Zaphir! We are in front of the High Priest!"
"Get a grip, man!"
"Finding your daughter comes first!"
I flashed a smile at Zaphir, who was gnashing his teeth and glaring at me.
"Look at that! A devilish wench risen from hell! May the flames of hell be upon you!"
Ignoring Zaphir’s words, I held out my hand to the old man.
"Kang Hyunseo. A Climber ascending the Tower, and the master of these three."
"Hoho, I am Hakim. The advisor of this group, and an old man waiting for the day he dies."
"Hakim... are you a High Priest?"
Hakim, meaning a wise person or sage. Only the High Priests of nomad groups could receive such a name.
"I was. Oh, girl with the heavy name."
"..."
I frowned at Hakim’s words.
"My name isn't heavy."
"I know. It is not heavy right now."
"..."
I chewed on Hakim’s words and glared at him. A name. I didn't think he was talking about my real name.
"A name is important. I hope that your name brings peace, unlike [Life]."
I swallowed hard at Hakim’s words. If it was related to the Tower of Life, it was definitely a main quest. Perhaps my inheritance quest was an important one intertwined with the main quest.
"...Do High Priests see a lot of things?"
"Perhaps. Or maybe I’m just senile with age."
"You’re going to dodge the question like that?"
"I merely spoke the truth. You should rest in the tent behind us. It is a tent for visitors."
Hakim pointed to a tent, then returned to his group with a meaningful smile.
The nomad group began to tie up their camels and organize their tents. Most of the members seemed to have lost family, as muffled sobs could be heard from here and there.
"You."
"?"
Following the old man, a man with a stiff expression approached and spoke. He appeared to be a priest of the nomads and was dressed in ornate patterns.
"Are you really going to stay with us?"
When I looked behind me at the priest’s words, the three heads nodded.
"Looks like it. Why?"
The stiff-faced priest sprinkled water droplets with a wet branch.
"..."
"We do not believe in false gods. Climber. You ominous Starry Body."
"...What did I say?"
When I turned, Eunseo laughed embarrassedly.
"I never asked you to believe in me, did I?"
The quest said to gather Apostles, not believers. I didn't care who they believed in.
The stiff priest’s face twitched, and his posture relaxed.
"Do you not intend to proselytize to us?"
"Proselytize? Ah, you mean sales? Why would I?"
"...A strange name. A truly strange name. Hakim-nim might be right after all."
The priest muttered and shook the water droplets off his own body as well.
As the priest left, a notification window appeared.
[You have received the blessing of a different name.]
[Total Stats -10%]
[Remaining time: 5 minutes]
"Agh! This is a curse!"
I hurriedly shook off the water droplets and snorted. "Hmph. How ridiculous. I’m not interested in settlers either."
Even so, I kept a close watch on Hakim, who was comforting the people in the distance.
'A name, huh.'
It was definitely a conversation that seemed related to a hidden class. I fell into thought, repeating the inheritance quest in my mind. 'Starry Body, Apostle, Holy Radiance.' It had such a religious vibe. Could my class be something like 'God' or something? It would be cool if it were something like the God of Thunder.
As I was lost in excited thoughts, Eunseo spoke to me.
"Are we staying together for now?"
"We have to. Where else would you find such hospitable settlers?"
At my words, Hyeongtae said in an incredulous voice,
"That’s rich, considering that guy Zaphir seems desperate to kill our master."
"...That’s true."
I could feel his gaze, sharp enough to sting.
"Leave that to me."
"?"
"What are you going to do?"
"Mister? I-it might be dangerous."
"Don't worry~ I heard the story."
Ildo tapped his armor and approached Zaphir.
"What is he trying to do?"
"I don't know. Let's just rest in the assigned tent for now."
The tent Hakim pointed to was large and ornate. It seemed true that they welcomed us. Such a fine tent was only given to truly recognized visitors.
I sat on a chair outside the tent and looked up at the darkening night sky. Beyond the small oasis, I could see Zaphir and Ildo talking.
'Doing useless things.'
They’re just settlers, after all. Like a train station, a place to pass through and part ways with while climbing the Tower.
"Well, they’ll realize it soon enough."
However, contrary to my thoughts, the two men who had been talking began to tear up, and soon, they shared a warm embrace. From a distance, they looked like brothers meeting after a long time.
"What the."
Just as I was looking at them in bewilderment, Zaphir began to sob with his face buried in his hands.
"Oh, oh my. He’s crying. He’s crying. He cried~ Eunseo, look at that! That guy from earlier is crying!"
"Hyunseo-nim..."
"Wow, is Master really a grade-schooler? No, is she legally a grade-schooler?"
At my words, Zaphir glared at me once, then let out a deep sigh. His eyes were filled with pity rather than anger.
"Kya, Master. It looks like he thinks you’re pathetic."
"Zaphir-ssi must see Hyunseo-nim as a total brat now."
"Pfft. Well, her appearance is middle-school level, after all."
I glared at Hyeongtae, who was laughing, and pouted.
"Who’s middle-school level! I’m an adult, an ad...!"
"Hyunseo-nim?"
I felt a sharp killing intent that pierced my heart. It was a very sticky, unpleasant killing intent. Feeling as if I had fallen into a cold swamp, I reflexively clenched my fists. A foul stench wafted from the fading killing intent. Just like that crazy bitch’s.
'There’s no way that woman is in the Tower.'
The day I killed my master and ran away. Didn't she declare that she would never return to this kind of world?
"Hyunseo-nim..?"
"Oh? Oh, oh. It’s nothing."
Just as I was thinking about that moment with my senior, something strange about the tent village caught my eye. A vivid bloodstain that had surged upward as if someone’s head had been split open. A missing corpse. A foul killing intent.
"...No way."
As I glared across the sand dunes, Hakim approached.
"Did you feel it too?"
"Yeah."
Grandpa has good instincts. As I was agonizing over it, Hakim placed a hand on my shoulder.
"You with the heavy name, it is the time when the stars rise."
As he said, an enormous number of stars were floating in the sky.
"Tonight is a night when the Baleful Star shines brightly."
"..."
Hakim’s eyes narrowed.
"The star that illuminates you."
"That’s right."
I stood up and drew my sword.
"But, I’m sorry, but there’s one more bitch who likes that Baleful Star besides me."
As I drew my sword, all the other tribesmen drew their curved blades.
"H-Hyunseo-nim?"
"Master? What are you doing?"
"Oh my, Hyunseo. I thought you were getting along just fine..."
As soon as everyone’s groaning ceased, the sand began to tremble gently.
Kugugugung -
"I didn't think that crazy bitch would follow me all the way here..."
As soon as I finished speaking, the sound of a horn blowing was heard from over the sand dune.
Puuuuuu-
That sound. It was chillingly identical to the one I heard when the nomads appeared.