Chapter 62 (2/2)

Teresa pointed to several spots on the map. Seol Ji-Hu nodded his head and hurriedly explained his plan. When he was finished, everyone stared at him in a daze.

”Puh-puhaha! That's bullsh*t!”

The Earthling man guffawed out in ridicule.

”And here I was, wondering what kind of tactic you might come up with, but if that qualifies as a plan, then I…..”

”Excuse me, fella. Do you know what an egg of Columbus is?” (Ian)

Ian's question caused the noisy man to falter.

”Uh-uhm? Excuse me?”

”Well, if you don't know what it is, then just stop.” (Ian)

Ian easily silenced the man and s.h.i.+fted his gaze over to Teresa and Dylan. Teresa was deeply pondering something, while Dylan was tilting his head this way and that.

”The plan itself is pretty simple, I see. Since the Parasites don't know that we're here already, we should use that fact as a weapon - I get that. However, even then, the odds of success is near zero.” (Dylan)

”But, I believe it's worth trying.” (Teresa)

Teresa hurriedly raised her voice.

”Dylan. If it's you, will it be still impossible?” (Teresa)

”Yes, totally. If you're talking about a true high level ranker who has managed to push his or her agility to the absolute limits, then it might be doable, but in all honesty, not only is the terrain of the valley too rugged, the c.o.c.kroaches can fly as well. You will be caught in no time.” (Dylan)

Dylan's immediate refusal was about to bring Teresa to despair, but then….

”I'll do it.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

Seol Ji-Hu raised his hand up.

”W-what did you say?!” (Cho Hong)

Cho Hong's eyes opened super-wide as she freaked out.

”Hey, you!! You can't do that!” (Hugo)

Hugo also displayed the similar reaction.

”Seol, bravery and foolhardiness is….” (Ian)

Ian spoke as if he was sighing out, but his words came to a stop - because, Seol Ji-Hu was pointing at the single earring attached to his left earlobe with his thumb.

”…..M-hmm. However, you still can't control it properly.” (Ian)

”If it's running in a straight line, it's possible. You saw me last night.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”Hey!!” (Cho Hong)

As if she couldn't bear to listen to this nonsense anymore, Cho Hong roughly grabbed his collars.

”Are you really, seriously trying to kill yourself here?! Hah??” (Cho Hong)

”Cho Hong.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”What?! Why are you even….” (Cho Hong)

”Let me go.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

Cho Hong flinched, then.

There was a clear hint of annoyance in Seol Ji-Hu's eyes. It was as if he was telling her not to get in his way.

”You, you…?!” (Cho Hong)

Right in that moment, Cho Hong realised the shocking fact that this youth felt like a total stranger to her. No, it was as if he had become someone else entirely different. His deeply calm eyes were quite similar to when he was confronting Klara inside the tomb. A rush of unexplainable bitterness filler her up.

”Do whatever the h.e.l.l you want! You d*mn son of a b*tch!” (Cho Hong)

In the end, Cho Hong flew into rage and threw his collar down before turning around. As an added bonus, she even spat out, ”Die or survive, I don't care!!”

Seemingly not caring either way, Seol Ji-Hu s.h.i.+fted his gaze back to Teresa Hussey.

Her face showed how fl.u.s.tered she was. She found it unbelievable that an Earthling had volunteered to take on such a dangerous a.s.signment, but also, she couldn't believe that this young man was capable enough to perform the role that even a high level Archer said was nearly impossible to pull off.

In the end, she decided to leave it to Ian's judgement. She thought that these two men knew each other well enough.

”If you stack the Boost up to three times, then…. Mmmmm….” (Ian)

Ian licked his lips for a bit, before opening them with a bit of hesitation.

”There is certainly an outside chance of success.” (Ian)

”T-truly?” (Teresa)

”However.” (Ian)

Ian's complicated eyes landed on Seol Ji-Hu. He wondered to himself, what if something goes wrong?

No, the odds of something going wrong was much greater than anything else. When that happened, he'd beat the ground in lamentation for sure. The youth's actions in the Forest of Denial left that much impression on the Sorcerer, and the potential displayed by the boy back then was also something else, too.

On the other hand, he couldn't help but feel his antic.i.p.ation rising up.

”Your highness. We don't have much time left.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

Seol Ji-Hu urged her.

”I-indeed, that is true, but….” (Teresa)

Teresa remained at a loss, but eventually, she spoke in a serious voice as if she had finally made up her mind.

”May I…. May I truly believe in you?” (Teresa)

”Of course.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

Seol Ji-Hu grinned refres.h.i.+ngly. She was supposed to be a complete stranger to him, but for some reason, she didn't feel unfamiliar to him. Hearing her ask if she could believe in him inexplicably lifted some kind of unseen weight off his chest, too. He had no idea why.

”The decision's been made. I'll get ready, then.” (Ian)

Ian unsteadily pushed himself up. He still didn't seem too convinced, though.

”Your highness, we must remain undetected.” (Ian)

”Yes, I understand.” (Teresa)

Teresa nodded her head.

”Seol, I'm well aware of that artefact being amazing, but don't you want to reconsider?” (Dylan)

Both Dylan and Hugo were trying their best to dissuade the youth, and surprisingly enough, Seol Ji-Hu agreed with them. Somewhat.

”Yes, I know that it will be far too difficult for me alone.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”Right!! So, like….” (Dylan)

”That is why, I'd like to give Dylan an opportunity to pay back the rest of the change.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

Seol Ji-Hu's crafty suggestion caused Dylan's expression to harden instantly.

”Oh, my gosh. I'd like to decline the chance to die with you.” (Dylan)

”That's not it, though. Just provide me with cover fire from a suitable vantage point, please. And also, with Dylan helping me out, the odds of the operation succeeding, as well as me walking out of there alive, will increase substantially, don't you agree?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”……..”

If it was the princess asking him, Dylan would've refused right away. However, the youth in front of his eyes was a different story altogether. This guy saved his life twice already.

For a little while there, Dylan lightly tapped the top of his head, before a helpless sigh escaped from his mouth.

”….Okay. Tell me. I'll decide after hearing you out.” (Dylan)

The operation began.

After climbing down from the Peak, Dylan and Seol Ji-Hu hid themselves behind a hill.

”My fate's in your hands, Dylan.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”Don't worry about it. When you're ready, go ahead. I'll match your timing.” (Dylan)

Seol Ji-Hu smiled at that confidence-boosting words, and rechecked his spell b.a.l.l.s as well as the bow and arrow he received from Teresa's soldiers.

Realising that there was not a single trace of the youth being tense no matter how hard he looked, Dylan could only chuckle wryly. It couldn't be helped, because he didn't know the existence of the innate skill called ‘Future Vision'. No wonder he found the youth rather mystifying.

”To be able to think about the direction, too. It's a lot more intricate plan than meets the eye.” (Dylan)

”I'm just doing everything that I can.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”Is that so.” (Dylan)

”Well, I'm off now.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

Dylan was about to pull out a lengthy arrow, but stopped and asked the departing Seol Ji-Hu.

”Hey, Seol. This could be the last time we meet again, so is it okay if I ask you about something?” (Dylan)

Hearing Dylan's playful tone of voice, Seol Ji-Hu nodded his head.

”I think Hugo asked you this before. But well. Just what did you do back on Earth before coming here?” (Dylan)

”….Uhm…..” (Seol Ji-Hu)

Seol Ji-Hu scratched his cheek, looking troubled a bit, before a bitter smile formed on his lips.

”I was a gambler.” (Seol ji-Hu)

Dylan chuckled without making a sound.

”Okay. I think I now understand what kind of a guy you are.” (Dylan)

”I quit, though.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”I believe you. I shall pray for your success.” (Dylan)

Dylan extended his fist out. Seol Ji-Hu b.u.mped fists with him, and while keeping himself very low, climbed down from the hill.

With every pa.s.sing second, he got closer to the fortress. The acrid odour and deafening noises grew ever louder; the remaining distance was nothing more than the proverbial leap away.

And eventually, he arrived at his destination.

‘Bugs….'

The first thing he saw was a crustacean-type bug creature about half the size of a grown man featuring an alligator-like maw and eight legs, busy rus.h.i.+ng inside the crumbled ruins of the fortress's front entrance.

However, Seol Ji-Hu's concentration was solely focused on one single creature.

‘….Medusa.'

When he first saw it, he thought it was an over-four-metres-long battering ram.

But when he took a much closer look at it, beastly legs were mixed in among the limbs of humans sprouting out of its main body; spotting a thick green hue, they tangled messily with one another to form a mishmash shape coiling upwards, and the upper torso of a female was located on top.

And surrounding this bizarre creature were several bugs roaming around that resembled supersized c.o.c.kroaches.

He wanted to take an even closer look, but there was no more time left. He could be discovered at any moment, and more importantly, the desperate resistance of the soldiers trapped inside the fortress was nearing their end, too.

However, it was a strange thing, indeed - he didn't feel afraid at all. No, he was excited, instead. If he managed to save this fortress, what kind of ramification would that have in the future?

When he thought about it, things were always like this - ‘Future Vision' caused him to be led by his emotions, not logic. It was as if that supposed ‘skill' was pus.h.i.+ng him from behind, telling him to just do it. If he were to be honest with himself, then this so-called skill only seemed to boost his baseless confidence, but the important thing here was that, he still managed to accomplish everything in the end.

‘Maybe….'

[Your Innate ability, Future Vision, is responding to the awakening of the new ability!]

‘….Could it be that my two Innate abilities are connected to one another?'

Such as, they acted as a guide to change his future, for instance.

But then, Seol Ji-Hu shook his head, having recalled the messages he saw back in the a.s.sembly hall when his ‘Nine Eyes' woke up. He knew that the answer he was looking for would only become more clearer after he unlocked the remaining direction of ‘Nine Eyes' first.

In order for that to happen, though - he simply had to save this fortress and return to Haramark, alive.

Seol Ji-Hu breathed out deeply and quickly raised his body up. And then, chucked one of the two spell b.a.l.l.s held in his hands. Seol Ji-Hu silently stared at that ball containing a magic spell as it flew towards its intended target.

Keeruk?

Perhaps sensing that something was wrong, the Medusa's head snapped to the sky above. The spell ball spinning in the air suddenly emitted bright light, then it transformed into a large pillar of liquid that crashed to the earth below.

SPLAs.h.!.+

The Medusa became soaked in an instant, and the moment it reflexively took a look around its vicinity…

Bzzzzz!!

A strand of electricity streaking in like a ray of light pierced the chest of the female portion of the creature.

< 62.=”” the=”” first=”” turning=”” point=””> Fin.