35
035 ― If Nothing Goes Wrong
Actually, there was no way to know for certain whether the Gate would really open after a month. However, it wasn't like he could suddenly start looking for dimensional travel magic or something, so waiting for the Gate to open was the first priority.
'I could just endure a month or two on this mountain.'
Sleeping rough for over a month would be uncomfortable, but it wasn't impossible. Since he had plenty of food and water, it would be easy to endure if he just found a reasonably sunny spot to settle.
'I don't need to decide right now, but... Let me first look for a place to sleep tonight.'
Thinking that he might really hole up in the mountains if necessary, Jin-woo began climbing the mountain. Walking through this unfamiliar forest reminded him of when he first entered the Gate. Back then, he really knew nothing and would cheer over a single berry or one fish. His past self was a time when he was so focused on food that he couldn't see anything else.
Actually, not much had changed now, as Jin-woo was still searching for berries and mushrooms here too.
'Oh? This looks similar to an apple?'
He found a round fruit that had ripened to a bright red. The stem shape was a bit different, but at first glance, it was completely like an apple. He wiped it clean with his sleeve and took a crunchy bite, but the taste was different. It had a lot of water and a crispy texture that was closer to a pear than an apple in taste.
'This is good?'
Since earning money from Gates, Jin-woo had eaten various fruits. Not only those he collected directly, but whenever he saw unfamiliar fruits at the mart, he would always buy and try them. He liked apples too, but Jin-woo preferred pears a bit more. So when the first fruit he picked tasted like a pear, his mood inexplicably improved.
'I was really tense during my first Gate, but thinking about it now, I feel a bit nostalgic.'
Of course, this was nostalgia beautified by memory. If you asked present-day Jin-woo whether he'd go back to those times, he absolutely wouldn't. It was really hard back then, and he would startle at even the sound of insects. Still, as time passed, only the good memories remained, and he naturally became lost in nostalgia.
'Oh? A stream.'
While doing so, he also discovered a stream. He had originally been walking in search of water, but he was lucky to find it early.
'Back then, I was so focused that I wildly caught fish and then ran away after meeting Rona.'
He was friends with Rona now, but not back then. He remembered frantically running away after encountering an Elf right from the start, just as the civil servant had warned him about. Learning from that experience, this time Jin-woo caught exactly two fish. Since he could see the fish's blue flames, it was much easier to catch them now. His physical abilities had even improved, so he could easily catch them barehanded without needing a net or anything.
Crackle―
He grilled the fish he caught over a campfire. Using his Fang Dagger, he scraped off all the scales, removed the innards and bones, and generously sprinkled salt. He skewered them on branches in an S-shape and grilled them well, causing the fish oil to drip and make the campfire crackle.
'This looks a bit like saury. The taste will probably be different, though.'
Like the fruit that resembled an apple but tasted like a pear, this fish would probably taste completely different from saury, too. What would fish from the world where Elves live taste like? He picked up one well-grilled fish and tore open the skin. The white cooked flesh was revealed, with steam gently rising from it. Jin-woo heartily bit into the hot, freshly cooked fish.
'Mmm...!'
He was moved. The taste of grilled fish he couldn't eat back then. Of course, after returning home, he had grilled fish at home. He ate it in various ways - boiling it into spicy soup, steaming it thoroughly, and more. But the fish he was eating now was more special.
'I was so upset back then when I had to abandon all the fish and run away.'
At his first Gate, he had caught over 10 fish with great anticipation, but had to leave them all behind. How much regret that had caused him. He was now tasting what he couldn't eat back then. Cooking enhanced by memories was bound to be much more special, even if it was the same dish.
'No, but even without the memories, it's just delicious?'
Actually, even removing the nostalgia filter, it was simply tasty fish. The well-grilled, crispy skin had a texture like crackers, and the meat inside was full of fragrance. Though it was fish flavor, there was no fishy smell at all - rather, it felt fragrant and refreshing. Even though he hadn't sprinkled yuzu or lemon or anything, he could sense something like a fruit aroma. That aroma didn't clash with the taste at all and went well together. He had only sprinkled salt and grilled it, but it was like a dish served at a high-end restaurant.
'Maybe it's because the water and air are good.'
He devoured the two fish in an instant and caught three more to grill and eat. He could have eaten twice as much, but he restrained himself. Jin-woo's iron rule inside Gates was to always eat only half. This wasn't a Gate, but it was still an unfamiliar place, so here too Jin-woo controlled his meal portions like clockwork.
'Phew, that was delicious.'
His stomach wasn't full, but he felt appropriately satisfied. The fruit and fish were all delicious, and the breeze was refreshing. The stream water also had a fragrant quality that made him feel like he might get drunk even without alcohol.
'This is no different from immortal pleasures.'
Was this the Elves' forest? It had a completely different atmosphere from Earth's forests or Primeval Forests. Originally, forests are very cold and cruel spaces - far from resting places, they're no different from horror movies. But the Elves' forest was a bit different. It felt warmer and more embracing. If heaven existed, wouldn't it be a place like this? It was such a satisfying space that he thought so. Perhaps because it was right after experiencing a major incident, such a space was very welcome. Basking in the warm sunlight, Jin-woo thoroughly enjoyed this rare rest.
'...Something's there.'
About 2 hours later. It was time to move.
'One flame? Judging by the flower shape, it must be an Elf.'
That it was an Elf wasn't surprising. He already knew this was the Elves' forest. The flame was strolling through the mountain as if taking a walk, showing no signs of noticing Jin-woo or any hostility. Only after following the flame and approaching did he realize.
"Kyaak! A, a human!"
The identity of the flame was a child. Maybe about 9 or 10 years old. A doll-like, pretty child. In their wavy, flowing light blonde hair was a hairpin made of flowers. Seeing Jin-woo, the child was startled and dropped the fruit basket they were carrying.
They seemed to have been gathering berries. The child was wary of Jin-woo's presence with their whole body and was backing away as if ready to run at any moment. It was as if they had spotted a bear in the forest. Jin-woo crouched down and picked up the fallen fruit. One, two, three....
He gathered all the fruit near him and held it out to the child. He didn't approach rashly, just extended the hand holding the fruit. So they could approach on their own if they wanted. If they ran away, it couldn't be helped, and if they didn't run away, maybe they could become friends like Bulkar.
"You, you won't do anything?"
"I won't."
The child's wariness was very deep, so it didn't look easy. If necessary, he could show the wind spirit using Ego Sword's power, or activate Shartia's flower amulet to show Elven power. He was pondering such thoughts when.
"......"
The child carefully approached and reached for the fruit Jin-woo was offering.
***
"What? No survival report has come in yet?"
"Yes. I'll check once more, but you're certain that Hunter Kang Jin-woo passed through the Blue Portal, correct?"
"I'm certain! Brother definitely entered the portal!"
Bang! The one shouting while hitting the desk was Cheon Ju-hyeok, who had returned from the Gate.
After returning to Earth, he first sent a text to Jin-woo. He had gotten the contact information before leaving the Gate. But there was no reply, though he didn't think it was particularly strange at that point. He thought Jin-woo might have collapsed asleep after experiencing such a major incident and barely making it home.
However, when there was no reply the next day either, and he didn't answer even after multiple calls, Cheon Ju-hyeok realized something was going wrong. So he came to the Management Bureau and asked Jin-woo's handler, only to be told that no survival report had come in yet.
The handler also took this seriously and went to Jin-woo's house, contacted all nearby hospitals, but Jin-woo wasn't found. What on earth had happened?
"Per, perhaps......"
"Perhaps what, Handler?"
"You said you fought a black mage, right? Maybe, well, I hate to think this but......"
"What is it!"
"He was already dead at that time......"
"!"
Lightning struck before Cheon Ji-hyeok's eyes.
The handler's words struck a blind spot that Cheon Ju-hyeok hadn't thought of at all. Because he was already dead, he couldn't return even after passing through the Blue Portal.
What appeared to be alive was because of fighting the black mage. In other words, hadn't Jin-woo actually fallen to Johan? Wasn't he in a state like an undead being controlled while dead?
"That can't be......"
He didn't want to believe it. He didn't want to believe it, but it did explain everything. At least it was much more realistic than saying an E-rank had defeated an S-rank. So he had no choice but to believe it.
Cheon Ju-hyeok covered his face with both hands and bowed his head. Not satisfied with that, he bent deeply at the waist and buried his face between his legs. His mental state seemed completely broken, but in contrast, the handler was actually calmer.
Though her breathing was getting heavy, she clearly knew what needed to be done.
"To the family members... Oh, right, Hunter Jin-woo had no separate family. I'll report to the Mayor first. And also to Hunter Shartia. She asked to be contacted immediately if anything happened."
Thanks to the handler speaking about what needed to be done, even with a trembling voice, Cheon Ju-hyeok was barely able to regain his senses. He also had things to do.
"I... I really didn't want to rely on connections, but I'll have to contact my grandfather. I need to file charges against that bastard Johan."
"Yes. If the Chairman steps forward, there will be great pressure on New York, too."
"I don't know if he'll act for one incompetent grandson, though."
Cheon Ju-hyeok left the Management Bureau with a self-deprecating laugh. And the next day. An article that started in Seoul struck the entire world.
―Cheon Ju-hyeok, the youngest grandson of Cheonok Group, was attacked by a New York Hunter.
―The brutal atrocities of New York's S-rank Hunter Johan Karpoti!
―Cheon Juhyeok files charges against New York's S-rank Hunter.
The world's attention was instantly focused as all nations held their breath watching this cold war. It was the moment when Seoul and New York's relationship, which had been on edge since Shartia's naturalization, exploded.
***
A small house in the Elf village. A young Elf child secretly entered the food storage without their parents knowing and quietly took out fruit and mushrooms, putting them in a basket. Then, while looking around and sneaking out.......
"Mari! What's that basket?"
"Oh, Mom!"
No matter what mischief a child tried to pull, they couldn't escape their parents' eyes.
"Don't tell me you picked up another lost mountain animal or something?"
"No, no! This is... For when I get hungry!"
"That whole basket?"
"Yeah."
The mother sighed with an ‘Oh my’. It was obvious at a glance that she was lying, but it wasn't a bad thing, and she wasn't a child who would listen even if told. Usually, whenever she found an injured mountain bird or lost animal, she would make a fuss about taking care of it.
"Alright. Have a safe trip, and always be careful."
"Okay."
"If you happen to see any dangerous Elves or humans, never go near them. Understand?"
"Y, yeah."
"Good, go on then, my child."
The mother straightened Mari's disheveled clothes and smoothed her hair, re-inserting the flower pin. Mari fidgeted under her mother's touch, then quickly ran into the mountains. The place Mari headed to was one of Mari's five secret bases in the mountains.
"Jin-woo! I brought food."
"Food? I have everything I need, so it's not necessary."
"Still, look. I brought lots of mushrooms too. You said you wanted to eat mushrooms, Jin-woo. Hehe."
"Oh, really? I couldn't eat mushrooms because they might be poisonous."
While Earth was in chaos over Johan's incident. The actual person involved, Jin-woo, was comfortably living in luxury in the quiet countryside. No matter how complicated Earth's situation was, or how cold the relationship between Seoul and New York was, it was currently unrelated to Jin-woo. It would become a problem when he returned, but that was something to think about then.
"Let's grill them."
"Yeah! You're going to take that out, right? The portable stove."
"It's not a stove, it's a brazier."
It was something he had purchased by chance while stocking up on various cooking tools. It had atmosphere and was perfect for leisurely meals. He took out the brazier, lit a fire, and grilled the mushrooms and fruit Mari brought together.
The fragrant aroma of mushrooms and the sweet scent of fruit mixed together to stimulate the appetite. Jin-woo concentrated all his attention on achieving perfect doneness, while Mari was busy examining the brazier from all angles, finding it fascinating. Eating the well-grilled mushrooms and fruit together with Mari, Jin-woo enjoyed a leisurely country life.
'If nothing goes wrong like this, a month will pass quickly.'
It wasn't particularly difficult. Jin-woo's gaze turned toward the distance beyond the secret base. There, a giant tree that had grown through the clouds stood like a mirage.