Chapter 58. Goodwill with Goodwill, Malice with Malice (2/2)

“And what if I don't want to follow the result of the vote?”

“That won't be allowed.”

Samuel gravely shook his head.

“As long as you remain a part of this expedition, we must act as one whether you like it or not. There are times when you'll have to do things that you don't want to, and you'll also have to back down regardless of your principals. If you continue to insist on doing whatever you want, then I can no longer recognize you as a member of the expedition.”

Samuel shifted his gaze away from the youth as if to indicate that he'd not hear Seol's opinions anymore and scanned around him.

“Seol is obviously against, and well, Clara, you are definitely voting 'for', am I right?”

“Of course.”

Clara's complexion had brightened considerably by now, and she leaned her head back as if she wanted to gloat.

“One vote yes, and one vote against. Let's get started. I'm for it.”

Samuel immediately voted for yes.

“Uhm… I'm voting for yes, too.”

Alex raised his hand and hurriedly avoided meeting Seol's gaze while mumbling timidly.

“S-Sorry about this, Seol. But, I….”

He then opened and closed his lips a couple of times before lowering his gaze altogether.

“Well, since Samuel wants to, I'm also voting yes.”

Grace shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

“Four votes yes, and one vote against.”

Just one more vote for 'yes' would determine the end result of this situation. Samuel looked at the four people who hadn't cast their votes yet.

Seol Jihu closed his eyes as the situation barrelled towards the inevitable conclusion. All sorts of thoughts fleeted in and out of his mind. Should he fight, or escape alone? Should he reveal the truth of 'Nine Eyes' and try changing their minds? Whatever the case may be, he needed to decide quickly.

“I'm against it.”

It was then, a manly voice resounded out. It was Hugo.

“Against it?”

“I don't wanna touch that woman's coffin if I can help it. That's all.”

When Clara asked him with a disbelieving tone of voice, Hugo replied curtly. It was a short-enough answer that perfectly suited his personality.

“Hmm.”

Dylan stroked his chin for a bit before quietly voicing his opinion.

“Against.”

Samuel's brows quivered slightly.

“Dylan, you… are against it?”

“Mm. I understand where you're coming from, but I agree with Seol's deduction he came up with on the outside. When I think about the fate of Kahn's team, it's the right idea not to touch the coffin.”

When Dylan clearly stated his case, Chohong helplessly scratched her head.

“Aooo…. This is so screwed up. Seriously now.”

Her unwilling eyes lingered on the coffin for a bit, before meeting Seol Jihu's. She licked her lips for a while, before grunting out her vote.

“….Eiii, damn it. I vote against, too.”

And so, four votes 'yes', and four votes 'against'. All the members of Carpe Diem had sided with Seol Jihu. Having not anticipated this result, the members of Samuel's team got visibly flustered.

There was only one remaining vote.

Ian remained silent until then, before slowly opening his mouth.

“On the outside, this friend talked about inverse calculation. I can empathize with it to a degree, but it's still based on my hypothesis and thus, it can't be thought of as a confirmed fact.”

Then, he stared at Samuel.

“However, Samuel….”

“Yes?”

“Were you aware of the fact that several times during this expedition, you revealed how much of a rush you were in?”

“Me…??”

Samuel blinked his eyes several times.

“Once, before the battle with the Lioners, and right after. And when the Quill Pen of the Flowing Consciousness was used, and finally, when you were having a heated discussion with this young friend.”

“No, I was just….”

“Rather than you judging yourself, others judging you can be far more accurate more often than not.”

He spoke of truth. Ian's serious, grave tone of voice continued on.

“I pondered a long while, wondering whether I should mention this or not. The reason I kept my mouth shut until now was, firstly, I respected the authority of the leader of the expedition. Secondly, I didn't want to snatch that authority from you, and finally, because I knew of your circumstances.”

When 'circumstances' were mentioned, Samuel became completely lost for words.

“Indeed, what happened was truly a lamentable matter. I do sympathize with your efforts to revitalize your team as it's going through very rough waters. However, from where I stand, it looks like you have not learned anything from 'her' death and are trying to repeat the mistake of the past.”

“….”

“I won't bore you any longer. I believe that we can return with what we have managed to achieve so far and be thoroughly pleased with the rewards waiting for us back home. There is no reason to take on any further risk. And therefore, my answer is against.”

“M-Master Ian.”

“There will be other expeditions in the future. I pray that you don't bet everything on this one.”

That was something Seol Jihu heard Samuel say a little while ago.

Samuel clenched his fist tightly and slowly turned around. Clara looked utterly dismayed, while deep pain was etched on Alex's face. However, Grace didn't seem to care either way.

Samuel held their gazes for a little while before slowly lowering his head.

“….I understand.”

Only then did Ian form a refreshing grin.

“A trustworthy leader is a leader who knows when to retreat. You made the right choice.”

A weak smile struggled to form on Samuel's lips.

“Let's get out of here. We've collected all the burial goods on the walls, after all.”

“Mm.”

Samuel and Ian headed towards the exit with quick steps. Other members of the expedition all turned around one by one to leave, but Seol Jihu remained until the end and guarded his position.

Well, he couldn't be sure that someone might have another idea. He was thinking of leaving last after confirming that everyone had left first.

“You must be really happy now.”

Clara gritted her teeth and sneered at him. Seol Jihu couldn't understand why she was being this angry and this embittered.

“Yeah, you must be really fucking happy now that you can keep that petty principle of yours.”

“Oii. That's enough from you.”

When a mace suddenly came flying at her face, Clara freaked out and quickly took several steps back.

“Ch-Chohong? Even you?”

“The decision's been made already. Stop arguing.”

“Why are you only picking on me?!”

“‘Cuz you keep making problems.”

Chohong began emitting that uniquely cold glare of hers.

Seol Jihu slowly opened his mouth.

“Chohong. Please stop.”

“H,? No, hang on. I was just…”

“I know. I know, but she's not worth your effort.”

After hearing something rather unexpected coming from the youth, Chohong's eyes widened.

“What did you just say?! Hah, you think you won't become like me later?!”

Being on the receiving end of a biting remark, Clara's expression crumpled unsightly and she began to growl in anger.

“You just wait and see. Two years, no, one year, and you will definitely be regretting this day bitterly. Mark my words.”

“If you’re making predictions, then I’ll make one as well.”

Seol Jihu formed a mocking grin.

“You, if you continue to act in this idiotic manner, not knowing what's what, you will die sooner than you think.”

“Wha-what?!”

“You should thank Samuel when you have the chance. Right now, I can't really figure out why a guy like that lets a loose cannon like you hang around him.”

After listening to deeply insulting words, Clara began stuttering as if she was greatly shaken to the core.

“S-stop making me laugh! What the hell do you know?! You're just a Level 1 newbie!”

“I wonder about that. I thought that I contributed far more than you in this expedition.”

Seol Jihu's words remained frigid. So much so that even Chohong was taken aback as well. She always thought that the youth was a kind-hearted and well-behaved kid. This was her first time seeing such an expression from Seol.

“…Keuk!”

Almost instantly, Clara's eyes became moist and she angrily ran out of the exit. Seol Jihu slowly let a sigh escape from his mouth.

“Hey, you….”

“Chohong.”

“Uh?”

“Thanks.”

“Uh, uh, uh, well, I, uh…”

Chohong went, Hmph, at the youth's thanks, and turned around. While slowly walking away, she sneaked a glance and saw his back as he stared at the sarcophagus.

'He had that kind of side to him too?'

Chohong tilted her head this way and that, before wrapping her hands around her neck area. For some reason, that area felt unusually warmer than before.

'It's done.'

With this, he had kept his promise with the woman's spirit.

Seol Jihu corrected the necklace that had been misplaced slightly when he had to return it in haste. He even proceeded to carefully pat away the layer of accumulated dust on the lid and turned around to leave.

“I'm sorry about all the commotion. If I find another chance in the future, I'll come to visit again.”

He left with those parting words; he began smiling softly as he sensed that a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

It wasn't as if he couldn't understand what Samuel was saying. But, apart from the assurance given by the color of the chamber as seen through 'Nine Eyes', ending things this way certainly felt much better to him.

Money and fame? Of course, they sounded nice.

However, none of them compared to his own self-worth he had regained after such a struggle.

Plop.

The sound of something falling came from behind him, but Seol didn't hear it and just closed the exit door.