Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Pavane for a Dead Dwarf (2)
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***
Three days before the mercenary squad departed for the Singanling Mountains.
Shortly after parting ways with Morine, Yeomyeong left the Saintess and the dwarf behind and returned to his room at the base camp.
It was an unfamiliar room where he hadn't even unpacked his bags, as he had to head straight to northern Manchuria upon arrival.
He pulled out his phone from his bag in one corner of the room, intending to update Seti on the situation.
'What the hell is this?'
But when he took out the phone, he saw dozens of texts from her piled up.
As Yeomyeong looked at the messages—packed tightly with content, no emojis—his earlier thought resurfaced.
'...Am I that untrustworthy?'
A short laugh, followed by belated guilt.
He felt bad for not checking the burner phone until now, having left his bag at the base camp.
Pushing down the rising emotions, he read through the texts one by one.
Thanks to Seti's decent writing, they were easy to read.
They started with light check-ins, then moved to serious topics like the academy searching for the owner of the Imperial Knight Sword.
The varied messages continued, but at some point, they all said the same thing.
Beware the Saintess.
Even if you unluckily get involved with her, never build any rapport.
Her crazy entourage won't leave you alone if you do, with a special warning to watch out for her mother.
Yeomyeong swallowed a bitter smile.
'Too late for that.'
He was already entangled with the Saintess and had exchanged a 'deal' with her deranged mother.
While the Saintess and the dwarf chattered, the secret transaction that passed between the two women.
'She cherishes her daughter so much, she could turn that on anyone else too...'
Yeomyeong shoved thoughts of Morine to a corner of his mind. No need to understand her madness any further.
Madness was like ink—get too close, and you'd just get stained yourself.
Anyway, to change his train of thought, he pulled the forged resume from his pocket.
A relic symbolizing his unaltered past. His eyes grew cold as he gazed down at it.
He pondered whether to tell Seti it had been exposed, that her cover-up had failed.
With her personality, she'd surely blame herself.
After a brief hesitation, there was only one answer. Yeomyeong decided to tell Seti the truth. For some reason, he didn't want to hide anything from her.
He tore up the resume—and his doubts—shredding them to bits, then raised his phone.
Only one number saved in it. Should he call? But she'd be in class now.
In the end, Yeomyeong slowly typed out a text, unfamiliar with the keyboard. It felt like they had parted only moments ago, yet he had so much to say.
The mercenary squad's ploy using the exposed resume as leverage, his meeting with the Saintess, and the deal with her mother...
[To Seti, it's Cheon Yeomyeong. Got your texts. Sorry for the late reply...]
It took over thirty minutes to write the long message starting with a stiff preamble.
As he neared completion—over 5,700 characters—someone opened the door and entered.
***
"Rookie... no, Cheon Yeomyeong."
Darulma Dun, the chaebol dwarf from Dungan Heavy Industries.
He met Yeomyeong's eyes while holding an antique wooden box.
"This is my token of apology to you."
Thud. As Darulma entered the room, a clear fragrance assaulted the nose. So potent it altered the surrounding mana.
Even Yeomyeong, ignorant of elixirs, knew instantly from the scent: this was worth Kwon Captain fetching personally.
"We specially procured this from beyond the dimensional gate. I'm sure you'll like it."
"...Thank you."
Despite receiving such a precious item, no gracious words came. He had noticed it was prepared for the Saintess, not him.
'Too valuable to give to the guy who forged his resume...'
Unless they gave something even better to the Saintess, this was just a bribe because she wanted Yeomyeong.
The mercenaries had targeted only her from the start; he was an afterthought.
'Sshould I thank the Saintess?'
Yeomyeong stared blankly at the wooden box and the dwarf, then turned back to his phone to finish the text. Period, send.
Misunderstanding the look, perhaps? Darulma added hurriedly.
"May I explain this elixir for a moment?"
"No need to trouble yourself..."
"Elixirs are always like this—mess them up, and it's disaster."
He waddled over on short legs and opened the box.
Click.
The next instant, the fragrance vanished. The elixir sucked in all surrounding air, containing its aroma.
Protecting its own potency? Beyond the now-vacuum-sealed box appeared a translucent green gem.
Yeomyeong's eyebrow twitched at the sight.
The elixir in the box defied his common knowledge. Rough like unpolished raw stone, yet sparkling like glass?
'Aren't elixirs usually pills or raw ingredients like wild ginseng?'
Before Yeomyeong's question ended, the dwarf began explaining.
"Beautiful, isn't it? This is the famous elixir from the World Tree."
"...World Tree?"
The largest tree in the world, burned by America to crush the elves' resistance. Why here?
"It's the crystallized sap that flowed from the World Tree, hardened solid. Now that it's gone up in flames, money can't buy it."
"..."
"What do you think? To obtain something like this, our Dungan Heavy Industries..."
At that moment, the dwarf's voice no longer reached Yeomyeong's ears.
More precisely, all senses drowned in a single sound. Vision blurred, hairs stood on end.
I sense that child's bond.
A bizarre voice, inhuman.
Yeomyeong realized it came from the World Tree Crystal and frowned.
What the hell is this now...
What are you? Why has a being with no fate or destiny encountered that child?
What nonsense? Yeomyeong wanted to retort, but his mouth wouldn't open.
Yet the World Tree Crystal, like Morine's telepathy, read his thoughts and replied naturally.
You truly know nothing. Met any elves lately?
Elves? Yeah.
What bond? Good or ill?
No bond. Just passing acquaintance.
A lie.
...
But you believe it sincerely... so truth as well.
What the hell are you babbling? What's this trick?
As Yeomyeong summoned mana to regain his senses, the World Tree Crystal glimmered.
No fate, yet bonds touch; unqualified, yet sincerity felt. Misfortune for my intended owner... but I gladly accept this choice.
…
Better you than that owner. You, human touched by my child's bond—take me joyfully.
With that bold declaration, the voice faded.
Senses returned to reality; the summoned mana dissipated into air.
Yeomyeong blinked in a daze.
"...Cheon Yeomyeong? You alright?"
Seeing his face, the dwarf—who'd been explaining the crystal's effects—frowned.
Expression full of 'What's wrong with this guy?'
"Just a brief dizzy spell... nothing to worry about."
Head throbbed faintly, but that was it. Yeomyeong rubbed his forehead and eyed the crystal.
'What was that just now...'
The World Tree Crystal gave no response. As if the conversation never happened.
'...Dream or real—eating it will tell.'
Yeomyeong reached for the crystal. Seeing it, the dwarf yanked the box back in horror.
"You, have you heard nothing I said?"
Can't say I was chatting with the crystal... Yeomyeong shut his mouth.
The dwarf scowled sharply.
"I said not to eat it now. This crystal holds the World Tree's will. Even a superhuman like you needs a month to digest it."
"...World Tree's will?"
"Yes, will. Faint remnant thought, but is the World Tree ordinary? This elixir digests slowly over time."
Was that voice its will? Yeomyeong was certain. No proof, but his instincts and mana whispered truth.
"...I get you want the elixir, but we leave in three days at least. Eat the World Tree Crystal after the job."
The dwarf tried closing the box, hiding reluctance poorly.
But just before it shut, Yeomyeong snatched the crystal—superhuman speed outpacing the dwarf's eyes.
"H-Hey!? Wait!"
Too late. The World Tree Crystal was already in Yeomyeong's mouth.
Gulp. Surprisingly, it tasted like toothpaste.
"I said not to eat it now! What were you thinking...!"
The dwarf gaped as it slid down Yeomyeong's throat. Unfazed, Yeomyeong summoned mana calmly.
"You said three days. I'll digest it before then—just keep everyone out of the room."
"..."
"I promise."
Before Darulma Dun could retort how absurd that was, mana rippled from Yeomyeong's body.
Intense mana even a non-superhuman could feel.
'Damn it.'
Not wanting another headache, the dwarf gritted his teeth and fled the room.
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