The Desert Nomads (3)

Daily life is just that.

A tragedy you expected.

A success you dreamed of.

A life hardened by repetition.

Or perhaps, everything you clung to in the face of death.

Therefore, some things that do not reach expectations, dreams, repetition, or death—

Are bound to be beyond the realm of daily life.

Things that happen mysteriously under the night sky.

Things that defy fate by reading secret starlight.

When such non-daily occurrences, things from outside the boundary, occasionally reveal their form—

We call them miracles.

The desert at night was cold and dark.

But that was a matter of little concern to this girl.

While she ran until her breath reached the edge of her throat,

Her tightly tied hair had come undone,

And her tattered suit was now barely maintaining its shape.

Chae-yi collapsed onto the sand dunes just as she was.

She felt the sand seeping into her wounds,

But that wasn't what mattered.

"This makes no sense. This makes no sense. This makes no sense. This makes no sense."

Even as she muttered, tears pricked her eyes from the shock.

Did I lose to that idiot?

I fought with all my heart, I even fought with the Star-Piercing Sword?

That’s someone I’ve always toyed with.

No, that can't be.

"Something is wrong. Did I make a mistake? Did I miss something?"

Only then did Chae-yi feel that her hand was excessively light.

"The, the Star-Piercing Sword."

Her complexion turned pale as she gasped for air.

"Wh, where is it? I was definitely holding it!"

She muttered, sweeping through the sand, but the Star-Piercing Sword couldn't possibly be in there.

"I dropped it. At the very end..."

To drop the sword she considered her other self.

She and the Star-Piercing Sword were practically one body, so how could she have let it go?

Biting her lip against a stabbing headache, she dug into the sand.

Cold sweat drenched Chae-yi’s body,

And moisture welled up in her stark, shining pupils.

"It’s strange, this can't be."

'It’s the opening on the right, Chae-yi. Haven't I always told you?'

That was what he always said.

Suddenly, the gaze of that person overlapped with Everlight’s face.

A gaze that was infinitely cold and hard.

The gaze that crushed her, whipped her, trampled her, abused her, tormented her, and wounded her.

It had to be him.

Chae-yi bit her nails and muttered.

Under the dark night sky, an unrealistic mystery engulfed her.

"It’s Master. Master has returned. That’s what it was. That’s why I lost."

Only then did everything make sense.

Master had returned in a new body and was testing her, pretending to be a disciple.

To get his Star-Piercing Sword back.

To make her pay the price for his life.

That giant of a man, who stood like a mountain.

He had finally crawled up from hell to kill her.

That was it, he had miraculously come back to life!

"Heh, hehe. Hehehe. So that was it. That was it."

Chae-yi’s eyes turned toward the sky.

A star dyed in red reflected in her white pupils.

"I, I will never. I won't die. I will survive."

Chae-yi staggered to her feet.

"I’ll take back the Star-Piercing Sword, and I’ll ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠survive you."

Madness gradually took root in her white pupils.

"I have to kill him again. Again. I just have to kill him again. Heh heh... Again, I can kill Master again."

With half-closed eyes, she walked slowly through the desert.

Under a dark sky where even the moon hadn't risen, a land of nothing but sand.

Long footprints continued across that barren earth,

But a sandstorm that blew in without a sound slowly erased her tracks.

"So, you mean you don't know~"

When I smirked, Hakim looked at me.

"I merely know that I do not know, Climber."

"..."

I was momentarily speechless and stammered.

"If you know that you don't know... then, does that mean you know? Huh? Wait a second. Uh..."

"My, don't push yourself too hard. It’s only difficult if you try to understand. It becomes comfortable if you just accept it."

"..."

I looked at Eunseo with a look that asked for help,

But Eunseo just smiled awkwardly.

"Ugh, no fun!"

I pouted and looked at the teddy bear sitting on the chair.

"So what do we do about this?"

"Hmm, since I know it is alive, I cannot kill it, and since I know it is alive, I must kill it."

"So. What are you trying to say?"

At my and Hakim's words, Eunseo tilted her head.

"You want to kill it even though you know it's alive?"

"That is merely the mercy of the gods, naive Climber."

"Exactly. Why ask about something so obvious?"

"?"

Still looking confused, I explained simply.

"Eunseo, how would you feel if you had to live trapped inside a teddy bear forever?"

"Oh..."

"No, wait. Maybe until this tower collapses, or until the picture dies, or maybe forever. How would you feel if, even after tens of thousands of years pass, you were sold around and kept as a crying teddy bear doll?"

At my words, the teddy bear started crying again.

"Th, that’s really true. That is a terrible thing."

"Then how about we take it with us?"

At Ildo's words, Hakim smiled faintly.

"That could be a way. Since you are Climbers, you might be able to find a way."

At those words, I twisted my expression.

"I’m already carrying three shackles, and you want to add one more?"

At my words, the three of them looked at me with sheepish expressions.

"Ho ho, three or four. If it’s not gone, it’s there."

"Uh-uh? Are you trying to brush it off by keep saying difficult things? You’re compatriots. Settler matters to settlers. Don't you know?"

At my words, Hakim stared at the teddy bear for a while before turning his gaze to me.

The old man raised his wrinkled hand to cover his mouth, but I could see the corners of his mouth rising from between his fingers.

"Haven't you already given it your heart, my dear?"

"..."

It was true.

If it had really been a nuisance, he wouldn't have even told me in the first place.

He would have quietly taken care of it on that cold sand dune.

"Tsk."

Ugh, it’s because of this expression again.

I massaged my face and said,

"Shut up, I’m absolutely not taking it. Asking me to add more luggage. Am I a nanny? A kindergarten teacher?"

"Ho ho, I suppose there is a fate for that side as well."

Hakim approached me, his golden eyes sparkling.

The brilliant golden eyes, just like Zaphir’s, grew larger and larger.

"Since you already have the solution, wouldn't it be better to take it?"

"What? You said you didn't know earlier."

The old man was taller than he looked, so as he approached, I gradually had to look up at him.

"Yes, I do not know. Only, if it is fate that you did not kill this one."

Hakim looked up at the sky and said,

"The heavens are saying that the solution lies with you."

The sky I looked at blankly, following Hakim, was just full of stars and the Milky Way.

"Tell me simply. I don't know what you're talking about."

"A name that possesses a baleful star, yet gathers people. Since you saved it, there must be a consequence of fate."

"No, I told you I don't know what you're talking about!"

Hakim smiled.

"It seems the Climbers call that fate a Quest."

"Oh! Uh-uh?!"

At those words, I pulled up the quest window with wide eyes.

"..."

It means it’s one of these two? Or both.

The method is with me, the method is with me.

With a clue vaguely visible, I looked at Hakim.

"Hmph, you really are a sage, old man."

"Ho ho, when you get old, you just end up picking up a lot of things."

I grinned and said to Zaphir and the priest.

"I think I can turn this friend back? Probably?"

The moment the priest and Zaphir approached at my words,

Hakim silently took off his necklace and handed it to me.

What is this.

When I received the necklace in a daze, the two nomads were surprised.

Unlike them, Hakim just spoke calmly.

"If you return this one to human form, we will serve you."

"High Priest!"

"Hakim! That is!"

Hakim muttered as he pressed the necklace into my hand.

"It is a wondrous name. It is the first time I have met a name that does not kill settlers, does not see them as tools, and uses its heart."

"Don't get your hopes up, the only ones I use my heart for are my disciples."

Unlike Hakim's reaction, Zaphir glared at me.

"Absolutely not. You would abandon our traditions and customs for just one person!"

"Ho ho."

"If it comes to that, I would rather kill that person myself. That compatriot would want that too! Right?"

Zaphir and the priest started to persuade Hakim.

"There is no guarantee that that Climber can return our compatriot."

"That is correct, Hakim, please! How can you weigh our daily lives against a single life."

I pointed at the two and said,

"Judging by that reaction, is this necklace a token of service?"

"That is correct."

"Giving this to me means..."

"It means we are entrusting our faith and our daily lives to you."

I looked up at the sky.

"Is that written in the sky too?"

"Well. It might be written on your face rather than the sky."

At Hakim's words, I blushed.

"You’ve become quite the mind reader."

I frowned and returned the necklace to Hakim.

"Ho. A rejection?"

"Hakim, what kind of disgrace is this!"

"No, what is this ho ho! Oh Messiah, please forgive us..."

Zaphir was angry, and the priest was just asking for forgiveness from the gods.

I pointed at the two and said,

"They say they don't like it."

"..."

"So go and reach an agreement."

"Ho ho."

I warned the two.

"Honestly, I don't want to take you guys with me. I’m a Climber in the first place. I hate useless connections."

At those words, the two disappeared with Hakim, their faces flushed red.

As I stared at the disappearing nomads for a while, the guild members approached.

"Hyunseo..."

"Weren't those nomads just saying they would serve you?"

"Yeah."

"Why did you refuse?"

At Hyeongtae's words, Ildo nodded.

"If you lead the settlers, it would be profitable."

At ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the two's words, I let out a deep sigh and said,

"Wake up. Monsters come from the front, and settlers come from behind."

"Ah... Betrayal? Ugh. Would they?"

"Well... You never know what people are thinking."

I shudder at the thought of betrayal.

That kind of bad relationship was more than enough with just that crazy bitch.

The next morning.

So, the dawn just before the sun rose.

Under the faintly remaining stars, the nomads knelt.

"So, if I return that teddy bear, you’ll really serve me?"

I chuckled at the people who had gathered.

Zaphir was not visible.

The priest, who had looked strict, was bowing his head next to Hakim.

"Wow, that’s intense, that’s intense. Are you really going to abandon the daily life you’ve lived until now just to save one member?"

"..."

"If you say you’ll serve me, I’m going to tell you to stop the nomadic life and settle down?"

"..."

Since the people were silent at my words, I ruffled my hair.

"Ugh, tsk. I don't even know what I am, so what are you trusting to follow me?"

"..."

The people were still silent.

"Then I’ll just, uh? I’ll roll you all around? I’ll lock you in a dungeon crawling with monsters and only take the ones who survive? Huh? I’ll take you guys and attack the front lines and do things like that?"

"..."

Wow, even this and they have nothing to say? Look at how stubborn they are.

They said the desert nomads were stubborn, I guess it’s true.

"Geez, what funny people."

Well, it’s not that it looked bad, though.

"Ahem."

I looked around at the group of kneeling nomads, minding the corners of my mouth that were rising.

"What are you going to do, Hyunseo?"

"What do you mean what am I going to do. They say our fates are intertwined, so I have no choice but to take them in."

I sat the teddy bear at the entrance of the tent with a tense expression.

"Then, let’s see. Whether it becomes an Apostle, or an NPC."

I quietly turned around and glared at the kneeling old man.

'Or whether it was a trap set by black-hearted monsters.'

"All settlers, stand up and take ten steps back."

At my words, the people stepped back obediently.

"Haa..."

As I stroked the teddy bear, a strange tremor was transmitted.

"Heh, I guess it really is alive."

When I was stroking the teddy bear, I saw Zaphir in the distance.

He had a large backpack on, as if he had decided to leave the nomad group.

A pair of golden eyes glared at me with terrifying force.

'Look, look at that. Look at that gaze.'

If I fail to return it, he looks like he’ll jump at me and say "I told you so," right?

"Alright, ahem. Then I’ll try. But I’m not sure either. It’s just a gut feeling."

I opened the skill window and floated one skill into my field of vision.

A skill that requires a massive amount of mana, even though it doesn't restore health or give buffs.

It’s only because my mana pool has strangely grown that I can use it.

Except for a handful of powerful mages, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it was a skill that others wouldn't even be able to try.

"Whew, I hope my intuition is right."

I slowly closed my eyes and drew up my mana.

Now that things had turned out this way, I wanted to give it my all.

It’s even someone who might become my second Apostle.

The threads of mana unraveled.

Thoughts that didn't seem to be my own flashed through my head.

Warm sunlight.

Noisy streets.

Crunching sand.

Or, a journey of wisdom.

Following that, two suns burning with golden light appeared in my head.

No.

These aren't golden suns, they’re two eyes staring at me.

'What a cheeky one, this is.'

As I opened my eyes with that thought,

A bright pillar of light soared up.

Amidst the fading rays of light, large golden eyes blinked.

"Ah. I’m back."

A clear voice, like marbles rolling.

A beautiful appearance that would steal anyone's gaze.

And then,

Tears welled up in those large eyes.

Oh my, a crybaby, a crybaby.

Well, she said she was nine years old.

"Laila. How do you feel? Do you have no desire to become an Apostle?"

"...?"

I placed my hand on the head of Laila, who was confused while shedding tears, but there was no particular reaction.

'Tsk, I guess it wasn't an inheritance quest.'

Just as I was disappointed,

I heard the sound of someone running.

"Laila!"

A familiar voice.

Only then did I realize where I had seen Laila’s golden eyes.

"Hmph, what a funny thing."

Someone who couldn't dare to approach and was swallowing their sobs from behind.

Everyone held their breath at that unrealistic sound of crying.

I stepped aside to allow their reunion and looked at Hakim.

It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠meant, did you know?

Hakim slowly shook his head,

And filled his gaze with his granddaughter and son, who were in those golden eyes.

The sun was rising in the eastern sky.

The dark night sky and the twinkling stars disappeared,

A time when even the last starlight was fading into the sunlight.

Under the clear sky where the mystery was disappearing,

Zaphir and Laila, father and daughter, were hugging each other.

That sight looked just like the morning greeting they had always done.

The two, standing on the non-daily miracle,

Ironically, were welcoming the morning with the appearance of an infinitely ordinary daily life.

EP. 03 Non-Daily Life END