White Whale's Footsteps – The Road to War
The restaurant in White Whale's Footsteps also doubled as an inn. They somehow managed to cram around fifty people into a bunch of tiny rooms. It wasn't exactly a "warm bed," but everyone was satisfied to crash indoors for free.
As dawn broke, the mercenary band prepared to leave the village. Normally, they'd rest a few more days to shake off the fatigue from the journey, but they had urgent business elsewhere.
The luggage was distributed among them, including to me and Chris. We silently shouldered our backpacks.
Swish!
I had my inventory, and Chris had her Subspace, but we both carried our packs by hand anyway. Unless someone was completely oblivious, this was the right move. Social dynamics could be subtly tricky like that.
Think about it. A newbie who just joined yesterday struts around more comfortably than the veterans, even if it's thanks to their own abilities? Some hotheads would definitely get pissed. And in a group of fifty, the odds of zero hotheads were zilch.
'It's not even inconvenient, so better to just carry the damn thing and avoid drama.'
In a modern world where such "old-man grumbling" gets publicly roasted, maybe it'd be different. But at this world's living standards, it could easily rub people the wrong way. Besides, for our strength levels, this luggage was nothing.
We could always pop back to Earth for a break whenever.
Thud, thud.
A few minutes after waving goodbye to the grateful villagers, I realized it was time and called out to Janet, who was leading the way.
"Where exactly are we headed? You guys seem in a real hurry..."
"Oh, you don't know yet? We're off to make a killing."
"A killing?"
I put on a baffled expression, though I already knew. Still, double-checking couldn't hurt—those time travel glitches from Terraforming had left me with this petty obsession.
"Yeah. There's gonna be a war breaking out just up ahead."
"W-what? War?!"
Chris, who'd been listening quietly beside me, jumped in surprise. I faked a shocked look for good measure. Knowing the outcome, I wasn't scared or startled at all.
Janet burst out laughing at our reactions.
"Hold up—this is news to me. Does this mercenary group really take on stuff this dangerous?"
Chris's expression sharpened. She didn't know that dying here just meant respawning or rewinding time, so her reaction made sense. From her perspective, I was still her lover—the one precious life she had to protect.
I'd feel the same if she were in danger back in Terraforming. Totally understandable.
"Pfft, scared already?"
"It's not about fear. It's about trust. If Chanyoung hadn't asked, you were just gonna drag him into a warzone without a word?"
"Whoa... not 'us' into the warzone, just 'him'? Talk about overprotective. Your man's cool with you heading to war, but not him going? Hmm... that's beyond touching—it's straight-up extreme."
"...Don't change the subject."
"Pro tip: Ease up on the clinginess. Might push him away, y'know?"
"You bitch..."
Chris's face turned fierce. I sighed inwardly at the sight. Looked like last night's goodwill was crumbling again.
"Wh-whoa?"
Janet blinked in surprise at Chris's expression, caught off guard. She hadn't expected such a sharp reaction.
By last night, Chris and Janet had gotten friendly enough to call each other acquaintances. Janet's teasing had been pure playful ribbing, no malice.
But Janet's genius was limited to money sense. Her people skills were just average. I'd pegged her as "someone with decent intuition."
"Oof... Wait, you're serious? He's really your reverse scale?"
"From Chris's view, you kinda tricked us, Captain. Not that surprising she'd snap."
"...R-really? Damn... You must have some real skills to get a reaction like that. How many women do you gotta enchant?"
"I'm just as enchanted by Chris, so it evens out... Oof!"
Thwack!
I clutched my side. Penalty for sappy talk in front of others—courtesy of Chris. But her expression had softened completely. Her lips twitched, and her ears were faintly red.
"Goddammit. Hold up, that's giving me chills. Fuck."
Scratch, scratch!
Janet grimaced and rubbed her arms. Seemed like my mediation had eased the tension, right on cue.
'So hurry up and explain, Janet. Can't exactly tell Chris I can rewind time.'
Back on Earth, I'd explained my powers to her: dimension-hopping, perfect language comprehension. She'd accepted it—or rather, glossed over the details because she trusted I wouldn't screw her over.
But time reversal? Infinite respawns on death? That's the stuff she'd grill me on. And I couldn't give a perfect, question-free answer.
So, I had to keep it secret.
'Plus... it only grants traits for 100% clears without dying once.'
I'll fight tooth and nail to stay alive—like it's my one and only life. No need to spill unless we're on death's door.
"Uh... Chris? If you're pissed, sorry. 'War' was an exaggeration. It's just your run-of-the-mill territorial skirmish."
"..."
"And way safer than you think."
Chris's pretty brows furrowed again. Territorial war or full war, it was still a massive battle. Janet's words probably didn't inspire much trust.
I wouldn't have bought it either, without the original story knowledge. But I knew it was true.
After a brief pause, Chris spoke.
"I signed up knowing mercenaries face risks, but saying a territorial war's safe? What bullshit..."
"The winner's already decided."
"The winner's... already set?"
"Eh... You'll see when we get there. Mercs joining a territorial war where the victor side hires us. Oh—and we're obviously going to the winners."
"...As long as it's not too risky, I'm good."
"Then no worries."
"Winners' side" eased her anxiety a bit. Victor or loser, safety was the same, but the word choice reassured her.
"Alright then. We'll take that as you teasing us, Captain."
"...Yeah, sure."
Janet grumbled awkwardly. From a superior's view, Chris's outburst was tricky—borderline insubordination in that split second.
But Chris didn't rebel like this every time. Janet's joke had poked her trauma about losing me, so no real warning was warranted. Janet knew she was at fault too.
"So, how long to that territory?"
"Six days at a leisurely pace. But we gotta make it in four."
"Not much rest in between, huh."
"You got the basics covered, right? Ah, seeing how smitten Chris is, your stamina must be overflowing? Heh heh heh!!"
Whoosh, whoosh!!
Janet pumped her fisted hand up and down near her head—mimicking a guy's jerk-off motion. And that's exactly what it meant.
"You crazy bitch..."
Janet had just earned her official "certified crazy bitch" stamp from (ex-)Gwangnyeon-i.
[Skill]
Name: Roar
Level: 0Lv
Effect: Amplifies your voice.
Details: Voice volume increases automatically upon acquisition. Enhance with mana infusion.
Price: 30,000 Karma [Purchase]
Now that I'd dropped out of college, I had fewer reasons to balance time between reality and the novel worlds. Still, I didn't spend all my time in White Whale's Footsteps. I had business in Terraforming too.
I'd just finished my first desk job duty: inspecting the Combatant Lodge.
Too bad Chris couldn't join me on this trip. The Audit Team had three squads, each with very few members—too lean to handle two newbies.
So Chris and I got split into different teams.
'Good thing we got our fill on Earth and in White Whale's Footsteps—she wasn't too bummed.'
My first outing had yielded results. Not that I'd ever buy this skill, but meeting its owner auto-registered it in the shop.
As a passive skill, I'd sensed its effect the moment we met.
'Voice amplification passive... way more annoying than it sounds.'
That's why purchase odds were rock bottom. It might evolve at higher levels, but no way was I dumping 30,000 Karma on a skill with drawbacks.
"Well, Senior, I gotta meet a friend for dinner..."
"A girl? No way... you're not cheating, right?"
"Sigh... Idiot. Hot guys always have tons of girl friends."
"...Really?"
"Only virgins who never dated think guy-girl friendships are that simple... Tsk tsk."
"I've had plenty of girlfriends!"
"They all latched on 'cause of your Combatant background, dummy."
"..."
"Haha... I'll head back slowly. Drive safe."
"Yeah. Good work."
"Uh, if you got so many girl friends, maybe hook me up later... Gah!"
"Don't embarrass yourself in front of the newbie—shut up and follow me!"
I waved off the Audit Department senior. Lucky they're all good folks. "Good" meaning they don't pry into my private life.
Thud, thud.
Tap.
I waited in front of the restaurant where I'd arranged to meet. Not the grubby, makeshift outer Shelter spots—this was a clean joint. I'd eaten here before; food was solid.
The surrounding buildings were tidy too. This residential area abutted the Combatant Lodge—the Shelter's outermost edge.
But locals here lived as well as the core districts. Wealthy Combatants splashed cash on outings and overnights.
'That's why Combatants can have fun around here without breaking the bank...'
...Thud, thud.
As I eyed the restaurant, footsteps approached—heading straight for me. I didn't turn. Curious how she'd react.
...
Finally, she stood behind me. A few seconds of hesitation, then her finger tapped my shoulder.
Tap, tap.
"...D-did I keep you waiting?"
"You're here."
"Call ahead next time you come to District 12!"
"How? You don't even have a phone."
"...Tch."
Her usual prickly vibe, sans the daily edge.
My first inspection stop was District 12. Today, off-duty Ri Shaolin crossed paths with me.
She'd been napping in the shade after lunch, freaked out when she spotted me—muttering curses under her breath.
"What's with the getup? You look dressed up."
"N-normal? Your eyes are weird."
"Maybe. C'mon, let's eat."
...
Nod.
Ri Shaolin's face lit up a tad at my backhanded compliment. We entered the restaurant.
The meal was decent as always, and she seemed to enjoy the surprise meetup. Afterward, a short walk, then we parted.
She was out for the day, not overnight. No moves today.
Fruit's sweetest when perfectly ripe.