Chapter 80 (2/2)
The Archer nodded his head at the youth's polite inquiry.
”My younger sister. By blood. Ayase Yui.” (?)
”You didn't go with her the first time?” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”I told her not to go from the get-go. But then, she got blinded by the number of contribution points on offer and ended up tagging along….” (?)
The man's eyes narrowed to a slit. Whew, He sighed softly and shook his head.
”In any case. I'm taking on the role of the header of this rescue team, and Master Ian has taken on the leader role. But…. I plan to consider your opinion as much as ours as well.” (?)
Seol Ji-Hu didn't know how to reply and could only pucker his lips in an ”Oh”. It was his first time meeting someone so refres.h.i.+ngly open like this.
”You are the one who came to us with the plan, not to mention possessing the rudium, too. And I heard that you even contributed greatly during the battle of the Arden Fortress, too….” (?)
He continued to speak about this and that, before he took a look behind Seol Ji-Hu and suddenly extended his hand.
”My name's Ayase Kazuki. Let's do our best.”
”I'm Seol.”
Ayase Kazuki lightly shook hands with the youth and turned around to leave. Almost right away, there was a sound of fabric rustling behind Seol Ji-Hu's back, so he sneaked a glance and his eyes opened up wider almost immediately. There was someone quite unexpected standing there.
”M-Miss Agnes?” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”In the end, you decided to go.” (Agnes)
Agnes was looking at him while somehow standing upright.
”But, I thought… Weren't you still in recovery?” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”I've received a focused, intensive treatment, so I'm healed enough to take a stroll, at the least.” (Agnes)
Now that he took a closer look, she seemed to have improved a great deal than before. At the bare minimum, her entire body wasn't wrapped tightly in thick bandages anymore.
”But, still. You haven't fully recovered yet. What if your wounds flare up again?” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”There is a medical centre set up in the camp, so you don't have to worry. Besides that….” (Agnes)
Agnes's eyes were narrowed, the glint within them getting sharper.
”Are you really going?” (Agnes)
”Yes.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”You know that you can back out now if you wanted to, yes?” (Agnes)
”Even you're saying the same thing, Miss Agnes.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
A wry smile formed on Seol Ji-Hu's lips. The thing was, even though the partic.i.p.ants had been decided a while ago, Cho Hong still gave enough hints of wanting to see him back out of this mission. She didn't come out straight and say it, but still, it was pretty easy to tell.
”I'm just curious.” (Agnes)
Agnes slowly pushed her gla.s.ses back up her nose before carrying on.
”Now that I think about it, you also did something similar back in the Neutral Zone.” (Agnes)
‘I did?' (Seol Ji-Hu)
”But, why?” (Agnes)
In all honesty, even Seol Ji-Hu himself had no confidence to answer that question clearly and concisely.
He knew full well why others wanted him to back out of this mission. After all, it was far too difficult and dangerous for a Level 2 Warrior to take on. If it weren't for all his achievements so far, he'd not be able to get a foot in the door, regardless of being the original planner or not.
Even after that point setting aside, what Agnes wished to know had more to do with his fundamental reason.
For instance, Ian was partic.i.p.ating because he felt responsible. Cho Hong was doing this because of loyalty. As for Ayase Kazuki, it was for his sister, and the other two partic.i.p.ants all had their own personal reasons, too. They all had a reason to partic.i.p.ate, even if that meant they had to put their lives on the line.
”Since your rewards are guaranteed whether you go or not, it can't be about greed. And, you haven't been a part of Carpe Diem for as long as Chung Cho-Hong, either. So, why did you volunteer for this mission?” (Agnes)
”Because, I don't want to do that.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
Seol Ji-Hu threw that out there without much thought. Seeing Agnes's eyes grow larger, though, he realised his mistake and quickly continued on.
”Well, I… I'm not sure. It's just that, Miss Agnes, what you said sounded like the beginning of a compromise.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”That wasn't my intention. But, compromise isn't always bad.” (Agnes)
”Oh, no. It's just what I think. Don't mind me.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
He waved his hand around and mumbled something hastily. Even if it was Agnes, there was something he just couldn't bring himself to tell her.
‘….Because, my emotions are making me do it.' (Seol Ji-Hu)
It was telling him to go.
If he were to speak from his heart, then well, Seol Ji-Hu hated making compromises. More specifically, he grew to hate the idea of it after experiencing that dream. It was all because of his gambling addiction.
He knew that it was bad. He knew that he shouldn't be doing this. He knew that what he did was wrong. Even then - just one more time. Just one more time, and after that, one more time…. Didn't he become a broken mess in the end after making one compromise after another?
Now was the same, too. He knew that he didn't really have to go. He knew that he had already done what was expected of him. He even knew that, if he were to keep stepping forward without realising his own limits, then sooner rather than later, he might end up getting burned real bad.
However, didn't Gula say it? The future was not that easy to change. That he'd have to go through unimaginable trials and tribulations. That he needed to exceed his own limits.
He instinctively felt it. He felt that, the moment he started thinking, ‘Isn't it okay to back away since I've already done enough to create this situation? No one's going to look down on me now, right?', he'd soon be compromising himself once more.
The first time would be difficult, but from the second time onwards, it'd get easier. If he kept reaching compromises every time he faced a situation similar to this one, then…. In the end, he'd go back to how he was. Such a thought strongly bubbled up in his head. This would be more or less like him drawing a line on the sand denoting his own limitations and not willing to cross it.
And so, Seol Ji-Hu decided to never reach a compromise with himself, at least with his emotions.
Like now.
”I don't want to live like that.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
Seol Ji-Hu formed a refres.h.i.+ng smile.
”That's what I think.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”…..”
Agnes didn't seem wholly convinced. However, she wasn't going to dissuade him from going because of that. In the end, she quietly closed her eyes and accepted his explanation.
”…I understand.” (Agnes)
A brief moment of silence later, she carried on.
”If your mind is made up to that extent, then there is nothing more I can say.” (Agnes)
Agnes spoke in a serious tone of voice before abruptly lifting her top up.
Seol Ji-Hu was taken aback from the sudden strip show and was thrown into confusion, but then, a deep frown quickly formed on his face. Although new flesh was growing over it, seeing how deep the wound on her ribs still was, he could tell it must've been incredibly serious.
”I didn't lose my hope even when the battle actually commenced.” (Agnes)
Agnes finally continued on after showing him the wound.
”Several mutated Orcs tried to rush us, but they weren't difficult opponents at all.” (Agnes)
Agnes's tone sounded too neutral for an excuse. No, she was simply conveying what happened in a calm voice.
”I can definitely be certain of one thing that, during the battle, I had never let my guard down once. Meaning, I had focused all my being to keep an eye out on our surroundings.” (Agnes)
Her voice became lower and hushed, causing Seol Ji-Hu to inadvertently pay even more attention than before.
”But, just one shot.” (Agnes)
Agnes spoke up to there and stopped.
”….One shot…. Is it?” (Seol Ji-Hu)
Seol Ji-Hu asked back, confused.
”That's the best I can describe it.” (Agnes)
Agnes shook her head.
”I heard something similar to a gunshot, and everything before my eyes became ‘white'. When I came to, there was this hole in my ribs.” (Agnes)
Agnes pointed to the wound. Seol Ji-Hu swallowed his saliva.
”I was able to barely stand back up thanks to the Priest's timely healing spell. But, even with a Colossal healing spell, the wound couldn't be healed completely. That attack made me feel the approach of death for the first time in a long while.” (Agnes)
”It couldn't be healed with a Colossal spell??” (Seol Ji-Hu)
The ‘Cure Colossal Wounds' - a divine spell that perhaps best represented the High Priests, one of the upper-levels Jobs available to the Priests walking on the paths of a specialised healer. It was an incredibly difficult spell that Maria actually collapsed from using it just once.
But then, that very spell was used right after she was wounded and still didn't work? It was truly an unbelievable story.
It was around then that he heard a bit of commotion. Rays of bright light were creeping along the floor, by his feet. Ian had finished activating the magic circle.
”Looks like it's time for you to go.” (Agnes)
Agnes slowly lowered her top.
”Thank you for your advice.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”Please, do not forget. Be mindful of the unseen sniper.” (Agnes)
”I'll definitely keep that in mind. And I'll also see you 30 minutes later.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
Seol Ji-Hu bade goodbye and hurriedly walked away. He grasped the large s.h.i.+eld being handed to him and stepped into the glowing magic circle.
Soon, four Warriors and an Archer holding large s.h.i.+elds surrounded the Priest and the Sorcerer from the front, back, left, and right to form a protective formation. Ian slowly stood back up in the middle of the magic circle.
”The preparations are complete. We will be transferring in 50 seconds, so if you have something to say, now should be a good time to do so.” (Ian)
”Hey, stop trying to jinx us and let's get this show on the road already!” (Cho Hong)
Cho Hong angrily yelled out.
More people came closer to the circle to spectate. Meanwhile, Seol Ji-Hu began counting down in his mind. As he counted, he wasn't sure where to look, so he stared at Agnes. Her eyes of worry, something she was doing her best to mask, gave him a feeling of comfort for some reason.
'41, 42….' (Seol Ji-Hu)
As the 50-second mark grew ever closer, the light emitted from the magic circle grew brighter and brighter.
'47, 48.' (Seol Ji-Hu)
And a short while later….
'49, 50!' (Seol Ji-Hu)
Just as he finished counting to 50….
Hwaaaahk!!
The magic circle suddenly rotated and the world seemed to spin at the same time. Several swirling voices confused his hearing, and his vision was being dyed in pure whiteness. As the feeling of being endlessly sucked in overwhelmed his senses, he worked his b.u.t.t off not to let go of the s.h.i.+eld.
Soon, though, the sensation of the spot below his navel suddenly being yanked down smacked him and then, everything around him darkened.
< 80.=”” ”i=”” don't=”” want=”” to=”” live=”” like=”” that.”=”” (4)=””> Fin.
(TL: Ayase Yui is a j.a.panese name. In case you're not aware, j.a.panese names, just like Chinese and Korean, start with surnames first. In this case, that's what the author went with, so this person's family name is Ayase, while her given name is Yui. Which can be slightly confusing, because other names were arranged in their usual Western way. It was in the raw like that, by the way.)