Chapter 60 (1/2)

After the discussion with his teammates, Dylan decided to escort Ian to the rendezvous point.

The Forest of Denial was located in the  Southernmost border of human territory. It was also an area where the territories of mankind, the Federation, as well as the Parasite overlapped with one another.

So, perhaps unsurprisingly, the rendezvous point lay somewhere in the way back home to Haramark. And quite obviously, they couldn't let Ian return all on his own, when he didn't possess a lick of close-quarter combat skills to speak of.

There was the slight inconvenience having to take a bit of a detour, but regardless, an escort mission was a still mission, just like any other. Since they were promised suitable compensation, the members of Carpe Diem didn't complain. Much.

Seol Ji-Hu also decided to accompany them on this trip to escort Ian, precisely because of those reasons, too.

While Dylan was negotiating with the two porters, Seol Ji-Hu went to speak to Cho Hong. She was still in the midst of trying to cool her head, but her crumpled facial expression displayed how incensed she still was, while she intermittently spat out several choice words like ‘F*ck this', and ‘What dogsh*t c**p is this', etc, etc. Obviously, she was not successful with her goal at the moment.

And then, upon sensing his gaze on her, she spun her head towards him abruptly and formed a tearful face.

”You were planning to ask me something again, weren't you?” (Cho Hong)

”………”

”How is it possible for a guy to be this curious about everything??” (Cho Hong)

”….Okay, okay. Fine. I will never ask you a question ever again.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

While feigning a look of dejection, Seol Ji-Hu turned around to leave. But, when he did that….

”No, waaaait!” (Cho Hong)

Cho Hong hurriedly ran up to him and grabbed his arms.

”Hey, hey! That's not what I'm trying to say!” (Cho Hong)

”No, I know. It's my fault for being so tactless.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”Hey, will you just listen till the end?! Whenever you are curious about something, you always ask me! But, compared to me, Dylan is….” (Cho Hong)

Cho Hong was about to point at Dylan, but then, stopped midway. He was still busy with negotiating a new contract with the porters.

”No, hang on. Well, there's Master Ian….” (Cho Hong)

Ian had his eyes closed, his expression one of pain and deep contemplation. And then….

”……….”

After spotting Hugo rolling around on the gra.s.s field for fun like the thoughtless idiot he was, Cho Hong's head slowly dropped to the ground.

”……….Go ahead and ask me.” (Cho Hong)

”It's fine. It wasn't that important anyway.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”Wait, are you sulking right now? A man is sulking like a little girl?!” (Cho Hong)

Cho Hong glared at him in exasperation, but Seol Ji-Hu was smiling to himself.

‘I knew it. She's still a big softie in her heart.' (Seol Ji-Hu)

Of course, he made sure that the smile would not be noticed by her.

”Just what is this Arden fortress?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

Cho Hong slowly facepalmed as if she knew he'd ask about that.

”It's a fortress located in a certain canyon, on the border against the Parasites. It's still under construction, I think.” (Cho Hong)

”Why were you so incensed back then, though?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”Well, that….” (Cho Hong)

Cho Hong looked a bit troubled, then.

”Well, it's complicated.” (Cho Hong)

”Is it related to the rebellion?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”Oh? Where did you hear about that?” (Cho Hong)

He just threw that out there hoping, but Cho Hong's complexion brightened up considerably.

”Okay, come and take a seat over here.” (Cho Hong)

He came to ask her a question, but instead, he ended up getting caught by her. Even before anyone had time to notice it, she was no longer annoyed by his questions anymore. Cho Hong began unfolding her tale with some relish.

”Remember what you said earlier? The one about the war between the Federation and the Parasites intensifying?” (Cho Hong)

”Yeah.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”Okay now. Think about it for a sec. Those two are preoccupied with ripping each other apart, so is there a reason for us to jump in the fray? I mean, we're the weakest of the lot too, you know?” (Cho Hong)

”I…. uh, guess so?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”D*mn right it is! I mean, it's not even enough for us to keep our heads down and sh.o.r.e up our strengths. Yet, we're busy building a fortress in the border, so what would the Parasites take that as?” (Cho Hong)

”They would take that as a provocation.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

Cho Hong slapped her knee.

”That's right! That's why, I'm like, why are they poking a b*tch that is minding her own business? When the royals announced this plan, the majority of the rankers active in Haramark all objected, but they went ahead with it anyway, saying it's something that must be done or some c**p like that!” (Cho Hong)

Cho Hong began to properly explode in dissatisfaction now.

”They did whatever the f*ck they pleased, and now they want our help? Did they really think no one's gonna attack them? Did they expect that hostile-as-h.e.l.l Parasite Queen would quietly sit around and wait until the fortress was finished?! Gimme a freaking break. What a bunch of morons.” (Cho Hong)

After Cho Hong added ”That's why I'm really p*ssed off. Wouldn't you be, too?” at the end, Seol Ji-Hu began contemplating quietly. He could understand many parts of her complaints. If he looked at the situation using Kim Hahn-Nah's logic, then this would be like the game you've been playing the way you wanted to until now shoving a difficult quest down your throat.

However, the Paradise was without a doubt, ‘reality'. One had to listen to both sides of the story first. There must be a reason for the Haramark royals to pursue the construction of the fortress in the first place. He kinda became curious about the opinions of the princess named Teresa Hussey were like, too.

Cho Hong had complained to her heart's content, but when Seol Ji-Hu didn't side with her immediately, she began pouting a bit.

”Well…. I know. As long as we are in Paradise, we have duties to fulfil and all that. However, there is a limit to being loyal, you know. They wanna go to war whenever there's a chance, they keep creating troubles for us all the time, and everyday they go, ‘Do this!' or ‘Do that!'. Don't you think it's just too much?” (Cho Hong)

Only after Seol Ji-Hu quietly nodded his head did Cho Hong form a satisfied expression.

The rendezvous point was where the roads merged into one and led to the canyon. It was about two days' travel away from the Forest of Denial, but the expedition decided to increase their pace after receiving the request to arrive there as soon as possible.

The expedition marched for the whole day, and when the sun dipped below the horizon, they set up camp for the night. Dylan was quite satisfied with their progress, saying that they should arrive at the rendezvous point tomorrow morning, what with them having covered so much ground today.

After dinner, Ian asked if Seol Ji-Hu would let him appraise the earring. The youth was curious about its effects too, so he handed it over without saying anything. When Ian told him that the appraisal process might take a bit of time, Seol Ji-Hu chose to take a smoke break and walked to the edge of the camp. He was still feeling a bit restless.

While he sat on the ground sucking on the cigarette, he suddenly felt a warm air tickle his cheek. Dylan was pus.h.i.+ng a tea cup at him.

”Thank you.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”Rather than words, it's the physical things that convey your meaning better.” (Dylan)

Seol Ji-Hu chuckled and pulled out an extra cigarette before handing it over. Dylan lit up and inhaled deeply, a look of rejuvenation forming on his face. He settled down next to the youth.

”What were you thinking about?” (Dylan)

”I was just thinking about Samuel and Alex.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

Seol Ji-Hu answered frankly. Dylan stopped tilting the tea cup to his mouth.

”Oh my gosh. I was wrong again.” (Dylan)

”I thought you were thinking about the war.” (Dylan)

”Ah, that. Well, that's something I'm bound to experience sooner or later, anyway.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

Seol Ji-Hu smiled weakly and spoke in a dispirited voice.

”It's just that…. I still can't wrap my head around what happened.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”First time seeing someone die?” (Dylan)

Of course not. But, from Seol Ji-Hu's perspective, both Samuel and Alex were not some random strangers.

”The life in Paradise is like that. The guy you had a nice chat in the morning would return as a corpse in the evening.” (Dylan)

”Dylan, you look okay, considering. Master Ian, too. Cho Hong, Hugo….” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”….Hmm.”

For some reason, Dylan seemed to be at unease, unable to open his mouth. Seol Ji-Hu wondered if he said something he shouldn't have and decided to change the topic.

”By the way, what will you to do when we get there?” (Dylan)

”Mm? Ah, that. We are thinking of joining the warfare, as long as the royals don't ask something ridiculous from us. And, although he hasn't said anything, it looks like Master Ian also wishes for that, too.” (Dylan)

”Won't Cho Hong go crazy?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”Nope. She may look like that, but she still knows how to separate her duties and her feelings. Of course, I'll have to convince her first, but a chance to have a Sorcerer in your debt isn't easy to come by. It's all worth it.” (Dylan)

Seol Ji-Hu wasn't sure, but by the look of things, Dylan made his choice in consideration of Ian. Was he trying to buy the Sorcerer's favour? Although Dylan sounded like he was coldly calculating profits and losses here, Seol Ji-Hu wasn't put off by that.

Once that discussion came to an end, a bout of silence drifted in between the two men. The only sounds to break it were the tea being gulped down, as well as cigarette smoke being puffed out.

A short while later, Dylan opened his mouth.

”Seol.” (Dylan)

”Yes?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”I don't know if this is too early for you, but…..” (Dylan)

It was then - a voice came calling from behind, looking for the youth. It seemed that Ian was done with the appraisal.

”Oh. Should we go and take a look?” (Dylan)

Even though he was interrupted, Dylan didn't mind it and stood up from the spot.

‘What was he trying to say to me, I wonder….' (Seol Ji-Hu)

It didn't sound like he was trying to recruit Seol Ji-Hu; it was as if Dylan had something else in mind. Seol Ji-Hu carried his unsolved curiosity with him and walked back to the tents.

Inside the tent, the smiling Ian was waiting for the youth's arrival. Meanwhile, both Cho Hong and Hugo were staring at the earring with their eyes sparkling brightly.

”Congratulations.” (Ian)

As soon as Ian saw Seol Ji-Hu, he congratulated the youth.

”As expected of the Empire. I still fail to understand why the nation capable of producing such goods were destroyed like that.” (Ian)

Ian chuckled jovially and handed the earring back.

”The name of this item is ‘Festina Earring'. That saintess has gifted you with something truly wonderful.” (Ian)

”Is it a good item?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”Of course! Now, let's see. First of all, this Festina Earring will become bound to the very first person putting it on.” (Ian)