Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Hand Signals and the Boundary Zone
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Morning mealtime.
The menu was the same stew as yesterday.
Except this time, it wasn't me who made it—Hyun Tae-jin did.
A few slices of puffed-up smoked jerky floated in the watery broth. It must've tasted decent enough, because Hyun Tae-jin gulped down the steaming soup without hesitation.
"Ah, hot hot."
"..."
He seemed fine.
Maybe last night's nightmare wasn't that big a deal after all.
After downing a bowl in one go with a fierce exhale, Hyun Tae-jin asked,
"So, where are we headed today?"
"We've found the well, so we should head back to the boundary zone."
"The boundary zone..."
"Where the goblins are."
"..."
Boundary zone and goblins.
Mentioning them made Hyun Tae-jin's pace slow as he drank from his bowl.
He looked reluctant.
I had no intention of blaming him for it.
Killing or being killed—
Neither was something we were used to.
"If you don't want to, you can just stay here."
"...Really? That okay?"
"..."
That took some guts.
Not that it was impossible, but his response was almost admirable—
"—Kidding. After all the help you've given me, I'd follow you to the ends of hell."
"...I'm never going to hell."
"Just a figure of speech."
...So it was a joke.
But probably not entirely.
There must've been some sincerity mixed in.
Responding playfully, Hyun Tae-jin finished off the stew in his bowl.
To be honest, I didn't really care whether he came along or not.
Helping newbies was just a hobby. Solo play had always been my main thing. Party play felt more foreign, if anything.
I wasn't used to interacting with people. My life had been holed up in my room, surviving on games and instant rice, so I lacked smooth conversation skills or topics.
If Pavarintos hadn't become reality, my life would've fallen apart on its own.
...With a mess like that, should I be glad the world turned out this way?
'Maybe I can think of it that way...'
Looking back, the original world we lived in wasn't exactly safe either.
Climate change, economic downturns.
And then there was that highly irregular leader elected in some superpower nation. Our world might've been enjoying its final peace, like a boiling pot ready to explode at any moment.
Pavarintos's ads had always hinted at apocalypse, after all...
"Ugh—"
Whatever. No need for deep thoughts.
With a sigh escaping my lips, I sorted out my tangled mind and stretched.
"..."
Swoosh.
Suddenly, my eyes met Hyun Tae-jin's.
But the moment they did, he quickly looked away and buried his face in his stew bowl.
...Did he have something to say?
But his gaze had been a bit low... Was there something on my clothes?
'Nothing there...'
No stains in sight.
I'd brushed off the dirt long ago. All that was visible was the clear outline of my chest against the black robe.
...Come to think of it, I hadn't really checked myself out properly yet. It was quite voluptuous, but from a top-down view, there wasn't much to see, so I hadn't given it much thought.
Plus, whether because of the vampire race or the gender swap, my desires in that area were basically nonexistent.
What I craved instead was 'bloodsucking.'
'Guess I should suck some today.'
Destructive wording, but nothing else came to mind. Shrugging it off, I drew the dagger from my waist.
Shing—
"Hup? Do-hwa? Why the knife all of a sudden...?"
"Just bored."
"...That's really why?"
"?"
"N-no, nothing."
No other reason.
There was still time before Hyun Tae-jin finished eating. I just pulled it out to practice Telekinesis.
'Telekinesis.'
I didn't reply, activating Telekinesis to levitate the dagger in the air.
"Whoa..."
"..."
"Hup. Sorry."
"...Nothing to be sorry for, right?"
"R-right."
What kind of conversation is this?
Anyway. I'd practiced levitating my body yesterday too, but it seemed Hyun Tae-jin hadn't seen it properly.
"Kinda like a flying sword, huh."
"..."
What's that, you weeb?
—Can't say that.
I knew what he meant, though.
Flying sword. It was a skill in Pavarintos too.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Preparations to head to the boundary zone were complete.
Breakfast done, mana recharged.
All that was left was packing—
"Leave half the food and utensils here."
"...Pardon? The food?"
"It's all baggage anyway. For scouting, one day's worth is enough."
"But... what if someone comes and takes it?"
"Our loss then."
"..."
Half joke, half serious.
Hauling around a backpack full of potatoes and jerky was a clear stamina drain.
Plus, losing food supplies wouldn't be a huge loss.
Food was important, but no reason to carry excess.
Lose it and it's a shame; leave it and it's a gain.
I only had one emergency blood pouch as spare rations myself.
Scraaaape—
"This okay?"
"Better than carrying it, even accounting for the risk."
In the corner of the well clearing.
We dumped the potatoes and jerky into a tilted sack, then left the well behind.
"Oh, and on the way, I'll teach you a few hand signals. Memorize them."
"...Hand signals?"
"Signal emotes... no, hand signs. Can't talk during scouting, so we'll communicate with these."
"Ohhh..."
"Watch. This means trap ahead, watch your step. This means sound nearby, halt. This is retreat, this is short break and regroup—"
"...Uh...?"
I taught him essential scouting emotes... slash hand signs while marching.
Common ones from the game.
Fixed parties could use Discord, but random matches ignored it anyway.
Voice chat got annoying with overlapping sounds, so hand signals were useful.
"Okay, test time. What's this signal?"
"...Silence?"
"This one?"
"Um... trap marker...?"
"...And this?"
"Uh... ah! Halt and combat prep?"
"..."
...All wrong.
What did this guy even hear?
I didn't expect him to nail it first try, but zero correct was unexpected.
He was good with physical stuff, but memory wasn't his strong suit?
Felt a bit screwed, but I didn't mind much.
Repeat while walking, and he'll get it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Hyun Tae-jin's unexpected memory issues.
But no need to worry—it was still a long way to the 'boundary zone.'
Swoosh—
"Uh... halt?"
Shh, shh.
"...Resume?"
Nod.
"That's... no idea."
"Just a head nod."
"Aha!"
Real-time crash course it was.
Dozens of times on the march.
Repeating the hand signs seemed to slowly sink into even Hyun Tae-jin's hopeless head.
How long had we walked?
Swoosh—
"Halt?"
"Good. From here on, real deal—no talking."
"...Got it."
A faint, odd smell tickled my nose.
Scanning after signaling, I spotted strange stains on one side of the cave passage.
'...Goblin.'
Traces absent from the outer zone.
Definitely goblin-made.
This marked the boundary zone.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The footsteps echoing in our ears gradually quieted to a hush.
Pat pat—
Boundary zone where goblins and beasts coexisted.
Maybe because we'd both felt its dangers.
Hyun Tae-jin and I stepped carefully, minimizing noise with deliberate strides.
Step—
And soon after.
Swoosh—
"..."
A faint sound seeped into my ears. I immediately raised my hand in signal.
Halt.
Hyun Tae-jin followed, stopping his trailing steps.
...Training paid off, clearly.
Relaxing inwardly a bit, I focused on the faint noise.
Crunch crunch crunch, scraaape—
"..."
Familiar sound.
Giant ants' footsteps.
Number... probably three.
Scout ants usually grouped in threes.
'Still far off.'
'Straight ahead... around the corner, so line of sight's good.'
'Combat's the issue... if they're blocking this path, it'll be trouble.'
If memory served, this tunnel led to the goblins' food storage.
I didn't know alternatives.
Ominous Cave's tangled paths made rerouting tough.
'With a tank, I'd fight in game...'
'...But reality, plus newbie? Dicey.'
Giant ants.
Not that strong.
Level 1, but low intelligence made them goblin-equivalent, basically level 0. Defense low enough for Mana Arrow or Lightning Strike to pierce easily.
But they came in threes, requiring control for solo.
'Flying shots not mastered yet...'
'Lightning Strike chain stun best, but targeting...?'
'Tanking's the variable.'
Not impossible.
Solo, I'd alternate Mana Arrow and Lightning Strike, dodge with Telekinesis. But mana-heavy.
Party: Hyun Tae-jin tanks best.
Shield up, Heavy Stance—should hold fine...
But in reality?
In Pavarintos game, even minor wounds were risky. Untreated led to infection, silly deaths.
Reality worse.
Game character death? Whatever. My body? Precious.
...But.
This fight wasn't that hard.
Backing off here meant few fights ahead we'd handle.
Shh, shh—
"..."
Turning back, I signaled Hyun Tae-jin.
Too far for ants to hear talk, but practice signals anyway.
Enemy ahead.
Three ants.
Can we fight?
Hyun Tae-jin's face, looking back, showed clear tension.
He got the meaning?
Mouthing smaller, I asked again.
Three ants.
Can you fight?
Hyun Tae-jin didn't answer.
Didn't understand? No, his eyes said otherwise.
Dead serious, tense gaze.
He just watched my hands and mouth in silence.
...Nod.
Finally, a resolute nod without a sound.