The Second Coming of Gluttony - Chapter 59

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Episode 59. Favor Returned with Favor, Malice with Malice (2)

The Expedition Party is a single community of fate. Samuel’s assertion was something any Earthian would naturally agree with.
Whether relations between members were poor or they were sworn enemies, the moment they joined the same Expedition Party, every member bore an unconditional duty to cooperate. Otherwise, marches and battles risked descending into chaos, and the entire Expedition could find itself in mortal danger.
By that measure, Seol Jihoo and Clara fell short of what it meant to be a proper Earthian.
Clara, blinded by greed, had started the trouble with her reckless behavior, and when called out, she’d only grown angry. Provoked in turn, Seol Jihoo had pressed his attack against her with aggressive intent.
As a result, the atmosphere among the Expedition Party that emerged from the Tomb was tense as walking on thin ice.
Clara huffed and sniffled indignantly, continually wiping at her eyes, while Seol Jihoo pointedly ignored her.
In the end, less than ten minutes after leaving the Tomb, Samuel came to a halt.
“Ian, I’m terribly sorry, but would it be possible to turn back to the area around the Tomb for a moment?”
“Hmm? Why?”
“It feels as though we left in rather too much haste.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I think we ought to rest for a while. Given what you said earlier, the area around the Tomb seems to be relatively safe….”
He trailed off, glancing at the sniffling Clara,
“…My apologies. She’s a new recruit who just joined the team, and with a Level of 2, she’s struggling a bit.”
He stated his true purpose for the rest in a tone of quiet shame. Ian looked around with an unconcerned expression.
“Come to think of it, we haven’t rested once since we entered this morning. It’s also past mealtime. Rest here for now.”
“Here? But—”
“No matter. If you’re worried about the Forest of Negation’s effects, it should still be manageable.”
“Is that truly so?”
Ian nodded slowly.
“Mages are sensitive to magical energy, you see. Assuming my hypothesis is correct, the point at which the defensive magic activates should lie just beyond this boundary.”
“I… see?”
In that fleeting instant, something flickered across Samuel’s eyes. Only for the briefest of moments.
“It’s remarkable, truly. Such immense magic encompassing this vast forest.”
“In the ancient empire, there were those who were called sages. How could they be compared to a charlatan like me? Well, it’s merely a hypothesis, so don’t put too much stock in it.”
Ian waved his hand dismissively and settled down with a grunt.
“Rest now! Anyone who’s hungry, go ahead and eat!”
Samuel called out loudly, then fixed his gaze intently on Clara. He watched her in conflict for a long moment before turning his attention to an anxious Alex.
“Alex. We need to talk for a moment.”
Samuel pulled Alex aside and spoke in hushed tones at a distance. Alex wore a somewhat troubled expression, his eyes flicking toward Grace, who was comforting Clara.
Next, Samuel approached Clara. His face bore the look of someone who had steeled his resolve.
“Clara. Shall we have a word?”
“Ugh! That bastard!”
“Enough. You’re not some child still in diapers, and surely you understand that your behavior right now is poisoning the entire Expedition’s morale?”
Clara whimpered sorrowfully.
“But I—I—”
“I know, I know, so lower your voice. Come along—I’ll hear you out.”
Samuel spoke tersely, grasping her arm and leading her into the forest. Grace followed close behind them, disappearing into the trees.
“Stupid wretch. She’s got no shame at all.”
Cho Hong muttered scornfully as she gnawed on dried meat.
“Cho Hong.”
Dylan cautioned her, mindful of Alex, but Alex gave an awkward laugh and waved a hand.
“No, no. Honestly, I can’t really talk… huh.”
Hugo spoke up, watching Alex click his tongue.
“Aren’t you going to follow her?”
“Huh?”
Hugo lifted his pinky finger.
“She’s your, you know. Samuel asked you to try cheering her up earlier, didn’t he?”
“Well, that’s….”
Alex’s shoulders slumped, and he soon ran both hands through his hair in frustration.
“Ugh! I don’t know either.”
“Don’t blame me later when she gives you an earful~.”
Hugo chuckled. After a heavy sigh, Alex retrieved the Altar from his Enchanted Bag. Once he’d spread a plate out and begun gathering food on it, Cho Hong asked,
“What are you doing? Why are you gathering food?”
“Might as well get her to eat something. And we can grab a bite too while we’re at it.”
Alex spoke without looking back.
“Why don’t you just go eat with them?”
“Given her temperament, it won’t end anytime soon. We can only hope she feels better after a meal.”
“Well, do what you think is best and come back. But if she starts up again when you return, I won’t just sit idle this time.”
“Tch, fine, I get it. Aren’t you being a bit too obvious about taking sides?”
Alex lifted the Altar with careful hands and walked in the direction his teammates had gone. Cho Hong, stung by the barb, glanced sideways. Seol Jihoo sat a short distance away, smoking.
Hugo, who’d been picking at his food, crept over and held out his cupped hands. Seol Jihoo smiled and pulled out a cigarette for him.
“Hah. This is why Seol’s so good—he always picks up on things so fast.”
Hugo chuckled and patted his shoulder.
“You’re not discouraged from the earlier conflict, are you?”
“Not at all, sir.”
“Right. You did nothing wrong. I have to admit, I found touching the coffin unsettling too.”
“You did?”
“Yeah. I suppose I felt tempted, but something instinctive in me rejected it. I kept thinking I shouldn’t touch it.”
Seol Jihoo regarded Hugo with fresh interest. He wondered, half-seriously, if a Barbarian Warrior’s Class might grant something akin to a beast’s instinct—an intuitive sense.
“By the way, you looked incredibly cool back there.”
“?”
Hugo rose to his feet, cigarette between his lips. He faced forward as if aiming something, his expression turning fierce and menacing.
“…All right. If you insist on taking it, you’ll have to step over my corpse to do it.”
Cho Hong burst into laughter. Dylan smiled quietly. Seol Jihoo’s cheeks flushed red.
“I said that?”
“You did! Wow, for a second I thought I was going to lose it.”
“I just… didn’t understand. I didn’t realize it was something worth wanting so badly.”
“It’s worth wanting.”
He’d thrown out the remark to change the subject, but received an answer.
“As for the necklace, I’m not entirely certain, but I do know what the pendant is.”
Ian tapped the back of his neck as he spoke.
“If my memory serves, it’s likely an object called the Proof of Castitas.”
“Proof of… what?”
At Hugo’s question, Ian repeated himself.
“Proof of Castitas. It’s one of the things given to a Saint.”
“You said it was more symbolic in nature?”
“Not every virtuous woman is elevated to Saint. And precisely because a Saint is a symbolic figure, shouldn’t they appear before the public from time to time?”
Ian’s eyes glinted as he looked at Seol Jihoo.
“Do you know about the Memorize spell?”
“I’ve heard of it.”
“Then this will be easier. Memorize is originally the exclusive domain of mages. Every time a mage gains a Level, they can store an additional spell. For instance, I can currently store four spells.”
“Are Priests unable to store spells?”
“Normally, no. It’s because the Priest is the Class closest to divinity itself. Certain major spells that call upon divine power can only be activated through Equivalent Exchange. That’s why Priests carry Altars and offerings with them—it’s no accident.”
Seol Jihoo nodded. Maria’s face flashed unbidden through his mind.
“In fact, quite a few Priests find that inconvenient. But there are objects that compensate for that weakness.”
“You mean the Cross that Alex carries around?”
“Exactly. There exists an Artifact with spell-storage functionality, one that allows Holy Magic to be cast without making offerings. Though it does have a usage limit, those two features alone make it remarkably valuable. It would be quite useful in urgent situations or when prepared spells run out.”
Now he understood why Alex had coveted it so badly. Without the Artifact, Alex would have been reduced to an ordinary Priest.
“So the Proof of Castitas must be an even better Artifact than the one Alex lost.”
“Better? It’s not even a fair comparison! It can permanently store six Holy Magic spells without any cost whatsoever. That alone grants authority equivalent to a Level 6 mage. And there’s no usage limit—it’s unlimited. How extraordinary is that?”
Ian spoke at length, but it didn’t land heavily on Seol Jihoo. He could only guess from the way Cho Hong’s mouth fell open just how remarkable an Artifact it was.
“If we’d managed to bring it out, I imagine every Priest in Paradise would have come looking for us.”
“That extreme?”
“It’s no exaggeration. And the Longsword, the Shield, the various accessories—every single piece has value rivaling the Proof of Castitas.”
Having finished his explanation, Ian regarded the young man with a calculating gaze.
“Be that as it may, I answered one of your questions, so I’d appreciate an answer to mine.”
Seol Jihoo tilted his head.
“If it’s something I can answer.”
“Then let me ask: if I’d cast my vote in favor, what would you have done?”
This was a question he couldn’t answer easily. He hadn’t truly resolved his conflict even then, had he?
Seol Jihoo, wrestling with what to say, decided to speak the truth as he saw it.
“I don’t know. Convince him, fight him, or give up and leave. I was torn on it all the way through until Hugo disagreed. In the end, I have no idea which choice I would’ve made.”
Trying to read the intent behind the question proved futile—Ian’s face remained impassive. At first, he’d seemed like a cantankerous old man, but those unfathomably deep eyes suggested something else entirely.
“So the conclusion is, you never had any intention of touching the coffin.”
“That’s correct.”
Ian regarded the young man in silence, as though taking his measure.
“You’re a good person.”
“A good person? No, no. Ha.”
Seol Jihoo laughed outright.
‘Good? Me?’
A passing dog would have had more reason to laugh. Yet watching the youth deny it without the slightest hesitation, Ian’s eyebrows lifted sharply before settling back down.
“Humility is a fine virtue. But to my eye, you look like a good person. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have gone to such lengths for a dead woman, would you? Am I wrong?”
“I won’t deny that I pitied the woman. But if you think I did it purely for her sake, well… I’m not so sure.”
“Then you didn’t? So why did you stop it so desperately?”
“If I’m being honest, I suppose I did it for myself.”
“…For yourself?”
“Yes.”
It wasn’t a lie. Because he didn’t want to die. Because he hated the discomfort it would bring to his heart.
Ian closed his eyes slowly, standing motionless as he seemed to turn over their conversation in his mind.
Seol Jihoo, confused, glanced at Cho Hong, who simply raised both hands with a look that said ‘I’ve no idea either.’
After considerable time had passed, Ian’s beard quivered.
“Heh, heh heh heh.”
He laughed softly, then stroked his brow and opened his eyes.
“Ah, that’s it. Every time I look at you, there’s this peculiar discord—now I understand it a little. You’re an interesting fellow. Your words and deeds are nothing special, but your thinking is altogether unique.”
“Aren’t those the same thing?”
Hugo spoke up, but since Ian had been speaking more to himself, he didn’t respond. The mage’s face softened into a warm smile as he stroked his beard.
“Seol. Allow me a proper introduction. I’m Ian Denzel, a Level 4 Alchemist currently serving the Royal Court Mage. I hail from Area 4.”
The introduction came abruptly.
“I heard you’d only recently arrived in Haramag. Did you manage to find a team?”
Seol shook his head.
“Excellent. As it happens, I’m planning to leave the Royal Court Mage quite soon myself.”
“Truly, sir?”
Dylan looked up, genuinely surprised.
“I’ve already given my notice. I’m ending my service after the Forest of Negation reconnaissance mission. The work is easy enough, but I find it all rather suffocating. Besides, at this point I’ve repaid my debt of honor.”
Ian smiled faintly.
“In any case, I’ll soon be out of work, and no particular team has come calling. So—what do you say? Shall we two in similar straits join forces?”
At the old man’s proposal, Seol Jihoo’s expression went blank.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I’m asking whether you’d like to embark on another expedition with me next time. The two of us—we could form our own team.”
“Oh no! Dylan!”
Hugo shrieked and prostrated himself flat on the ground.
“Damn it, will you stay quiet? Beg for forgiveness! Seol! I’m so sorry for rejecting you back then!”
Ian’s eyes widened.
“What on earth is this about?”
“Oh my gosh.”
Dylan let out a hollow laugh, and Ian seemed to grasp the situation readily enough.
“Hm, why? I’ve never thought your judgment was poor.”
“I was tempted, I confess. But I simply lacked confidence. Unless the old master had been there…”
“Ah, him? Now that I think of it, I haven’t heard from him in ages.”
“He’s preparing for retirement, I believe.”
The forest grew louder as more voices chattered. Hugo kept badgering Dylan, but Dylan said nothing in return. Ian, for his part, said there was no need for an immediate answer—take your time and think it through carefully, he advised.
Seol Jihoo was visibly flustered, yet inwardly joy bubbled up like spring water. The expedition had ended successfully, and he’d receive additional compensation to boot. On top of that, a mage had offered to scout him for future expeditions.
It seemed as though everything would fall into place so long as they returned safely to Haramag. That was when it happened.
– Aaaaaaah!
A piercing scream tore through the air from some distance away.
The conversation stopped dead.
Only two people responded with immediate urgency.
“Dylan!”
Cho Hong gripped her Mace and called out; Dylan ground his teeth in response.
“That’s Alex’s voice. It’s coming from the Tomb.”
‘What did he say?’
Seol Jihoo’s complexion darkened. What in the world was this? Hadn’t Samuel’s team simply moved away to comfort Clara?
“Those accursed wretches!”
Cho Hong bit out a curse and bolted forward.
The good mood evaporated in an instant. As Seol Jihoo reflexively gave chase, he prayed inwardly with all his heart.
How she wished her prediction had been wrong.

The Expedition Party members hurrying back toward the Tomb froze the moment they spotted Samuel.
The distance between them was roughly fifty meters. But something was terribly wrong with Samuel’s movements. His face twisted with terror, tears streaming down both cheeks. Worse still, his long hair was swept violently backward, as though someone had seized him by it.
“S-save me…!”
Samuel’s stammering plea cut short as his body suddenly toppled backward. Something fell from his thrashing hands.
“Aaahhh!”
In that instant, Samuel was yanked into the Tomb as if pulled by an invisible current. Bang! The door slammed shut with tremendous force.
A shriek followed—a howl that seemed to tear the very air.
The five members who rushed forward were left speechless. The Tomb’s entrance was utter chaos.
The Altar that Alex had brought to set out the meal lay overturned, food scattered everywhere.
“These… these wretched fools!”
Since the Expedition began, Ian’s rage had finally exploded. As Ian trembled with fury, Dylan raised his Crossbow.
“Cho Hong, Hugo! Cover me!”
Cho Hong and Hugo simultaneously took positions on either side of the Tomb entrance. They exchanged glances and silently counted—one, two, three—before Cho Hong kicked the door wide open. The moment she stepped forward to enter,
[GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT!]
A presence saturated with murderous intent bored directly into their skulls, tearing through consciousness like shredding flesh, rattling their brains.
“Ugh… aaahhh!”
Cho Hong, who had seemed so formidable until now, staggered backward in blind terror, whimpering.
The malice radiating from within was not merely on par with the roar of Commander Rayoner—it transcended it. Cho Hong, Hugo, Dylan, and Ian all collapsed, gasping and choking. Only Seol Jihoo remained upright.
While the others reeled, Seol Jihoo instinctively activated the Nine Eyes—and what he saw made him doubt his own vision.
‘Yellow?’
Proceed with caution.
Why was this? Even Dylan, ranked higher in the hierarchy, was helpless.
The reason remained unknown, but events were unfolding with terrifying speed.
Murky smoke poured from the Tomb’s interior, gradually coiling around his companions. In his panic, something glinted in Seol Jihoo’s line of sight. It was a small Tiare lying near the coffin, its silver surface catching the light.
Seol Jihoo snatched up the Tiare with trembling hands and stared into the Tomb, his eyes shaking. Proceed with caution offered no guarantee of safety either—but seeing Cho Hong’s eyes bulging as she clawed at her own throat, he abandoned deliberation and bolted inside.
Bang!
The door slammed shut the moment he entered. Seol Jihoo flinched but didn’t stop moving.
As he passed through the inner corridor and emerged into the chamber, what awaited him was a corpse sprawled across the entrance to the burial chamber.
Samuel lay there, his vacant eyes fixed on the floor. His body was separated from his head—or rather, torn out by the roots.
“Samuel…”
But he was not alone.
“Alex!”
Alex clutched the insignia he’d so desperately coveted in his hands, but his neck was twisted grotesquely, like a pretzel.
“And… Grace.”
Grace’s head was crushed like a split watermelon.
And then.
…
He saw Clara—split cleanly in half from crown to groin—and his mouth fell open in shock.
Her corpse bore the most severe damage of all. Her eye sockets were hollowed out as if the eyes had been torn from their living sockets. Her limbs were twisted at obscene angles.
Her neck was crushed as if wrung like cloth, crumpled and blackened. Her entire body bore marks of countless collisions against the stone walls, pulped and shredded beyond recognition into a fleshy mass.
Companions who had been alive moments ago lay in pieces. Confronted with that cruel reality, Seol Jihoo turned to stone.
“Why… why…”
If only they’d turned back quietly.
He wanted to run. The thought suddenly gripped him. But he couldn’t. Turning around, Seol Jihoo clenched his jaw.
If it had been Approach Forbidden, he might not have stood a chance. But if it truly was Proceed with Caution, there had to be a way through—at least some broader strategy than simply Immediate Escape.
In this moment, only one option came to mind.
With trembling hands, Seol Jihoo reached toward the corpses. He retrieved the insignia from Alex’s grip, pulled the earrings from Grace’s ears, and found a glowing blue pendant near Clara’s body, lifting it carefully.
!
As he turned back toward the coffin, Seol Jihoo’s eyes widened and he stopped breathing.
The left coffin lay in disarray. The lid was half-open, and a pale blue coldness was seeping from within in all directions.
Could Samuel’s group have opened the coffin?
Dread swept over him when, suddenly, the burial chamber grew even darker.
The silence was absolute. He had the uncanny premonition that any careless movement would spell his doom.
Then.
“Ah.”
Seol Jihoo sensed it.
Eyes fixed upon him. A presence towering behind him in the shadows. And the sickening stench of fresh blood choking the air.
The smoke that had darkened the chamber began to coil around his body. As that suffocating malice brushed his skin, every cell in his body rose in rebellion.
Even during the harshest winter survival training, had he ever trembled like this?
No matter how much he tried to hold steady, his body shook like it was possessed. It wasn’t just the cold radiating from the coffin—something else was crushing down on him.
His brain screamed a warning. Don’t look. You mustn’t look.
Seol Jihoo, turning his neck with the stiffness of a rusted machine, finally squeezed his eyes shut. Then, with trembling hands, he forced himself to reach out. It was the best he could do in this situation.
After what felt like an eternity of five minutes, Seol Jihoo felt the necklace slip through his fingers.
[Mother’s keepsake.]
The thought that formed in his mind nearly made him open his eyes.
[This is a gift from someone precious.]
And then the smooth feel of the Tiare vanished as well.
And then.
[I warned you.]
His consciousness suddenly sharpened.
[I hate those people.]
[I told them not to come in.]
[They came anyway.]
[I tried to be patient, but these two as well…!]
‘I’m sorry.’
Seol Jihoo bowed his head.
‘I thought they’d turn back. I never imagined it would come to this.’
[I know.]
The consciousness continued as if answering his desperate thought.
[They schemed in secret.]
[They deceived me.]
[That man did.]
[He said once they crossed the boundary, I couldn’t follow.]
He’d suspected as much, and his suspicion was right. Samuel and his team clearly hadn’t been able to abandon their greed after all.
‘Is that… really true?’
[It is.]
[Something felt wrong as I was seeing them off, so I followed.]
‘Seeing them off?’
[Yes.]
[They promised they’d come back.]
Somewhere along the way, his trembling had stopped. The malice was still as bone-chilling and terrifying as before.
Yet Seol Jihoo realized that this malice was not directed at him. It felt almost like a petulant child insisting they had done nothing wrong.
How much time had passed?
The earrings and Proof of Castitas were still in his hands, yet he heard the sound of feet dragging. Once he’d steadied himself somewhat, Seol Jihoo took a deep breath and opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was a pair of feet. Not rotted and withered like a mummy, but small and white and delicate.
‘Huh?’
This was supposed to be a dead person. Only then did Seol Jihoo gather his courage and lift his head.
A back view. He saw a woman with silver hair in gentle waves that fell to her ankles.
Dressed in a frost-white gown, she lay down inside the coffin of her own accord. At the soft sound of the lid closing—whoosh—Seol Jihoo came to his senses.
With that consciousness, everything in his mind went quiet.
“Ah…”
‘Did she… save me?’
For someone who’d thought the odds of death were more than fifty percent, it felt like he’d been given ten years of his life back.
Seol Jihoo was about to hurry out when he looked at the scattered burial goods.
“……”
The next moment, he found himself tidying the scattered items. He straightened the tilted coffin lid and draped the red cloth smoothly over it. The Longsword and Shield he arranged crossed, just as they’d been before.
The problem emerged just as the tidying was nearly complete.
Tap.
“Hmm?”
It was bizarre. Even when he placed the earrings and Proof of Castitas back in their original positions, they would tap and tumble downward. No matter how hard he tried, the moment he let go, they rolled away on their own.
‘What’s going on?’
He’d wanted nothing more than to finish organizing and leave, but it seemed the spirit had other plans.
“Hmph.”
[Hmph.]
“?”
[?]
Seol Jihoo tilted his head and thought carefully.
‘Is it… intentional, perhaps?’
“You can take it with you.”
‘…What?’
“Thank you.”
“It was a first for me.”
“Someone who protected me.”
“Come again.”
‘No. I will.’
Seol Jihoo had started to wonder what that meant when he suddenly saw the coffin receding from view.
His body was being pushed. No—as if someone had grasped and drawn him along, he slid through the passage. Soon came the sound of a door creaking open, and the dark world suddenly flooded with light.
As the door shut behind him with a dull thud, Seol Jihoo turned his gaze.
Dylan, Cho Hong, Hugo, and Ian. Four of them waited calmly outside.
Just as Seol Jihoo opened his mouth,
“The smoke dispersed once you went inside, lad.”
Ian spoke in a quiet voice.
“I heard the situation. A restless spirit communicating its consciousness… a curious phenomenon indeed.”
Ian, who had spoken with a wistful air, closed his eyes gently. It seemed the spirit had conveyed its consciousness to the four outside as well.
“Samuel’s team acting independently was my oversight. Had I not voiced such a hasty hypothesis….”
“No, sir. That is not the case.”
Dylan spoke in a dry tone.
“The opportunity was given fairly to all. That they squandered it was their own doing. These four paid the price for their greed.”
“I see.”
Ian regarded the ornaments in Seol Jihoo’s hands gravely—the Proof of Castitas and an earring of unknown name. From some moment onward, Seol’s fate and Samuel’s team’s had diverged starkly.
The old man let out a hollow chuckle, gazing up at the sky with resignation.
“Kindness repaid with kindness, malice with malice… This Expedition has taught me much.”
“I agree. Humans are not the only ones blessed with reason.”
Dylan smiled faintly and turned. The Pathfinder had fallen, but he too had been an archer.
“Let us return.”
Soon after, the Expedition Party reformed under Dylan’s direction and quietly departed the Tomb.
They had entered with eleven. They left with seven.

The journey back was uneventful. Save for Ian reciting a mental stability incantation once along the way, there were no incidents of note.
The Expedition Party’s mood was subdued. Though a tragic loss—an entire team annihilated—had occurred, each member carried much to contemplate.
Death in combat with monsters or enemies was commonplace. But this was different. Samuel had made a critical error in choosing the spirit as an enemy.
Caught in endless questions, Seol Jihoo felt confusion. He could not determine whether to celebrate or mourn this Expedition.
If he was honest, it felt incomplete.
[If we don’t acknowledge the warrior who held back the female Lioness as an Expedition member, who would we?]
Samuel.
[And Alex. A Level 3 Inquisitor Priest from Area 4.]
Alex.
He had never thought either of them was evil-hearted. Samuel, though somewhat autocratic, was a leader who listened carefully to his team members’ voices. Alex was always a bright young man who laughed pleasantly.
So it made no sense. Was there really a need to take such risks in an uncertain situation?
Lost in thought, he gradually began to see sky through gaps in the trees. Horn Hill appeared in the distance. The campsite from before they entered came into view as well.
“How much do you know of death, lad?”
At last, as they emerged from the Forest of Negation, Ian spoke to him.
“Only that one loses the memory of Paradise, and re-entry into Paradise becomes impossible.”
“You know only the outline. But allow me to correct that—there is a way to regain entry.”
This was new to him.
“It is not easy. First, one must resurrect the dead. Second, one must somehow bring back the person who has utterly forgotten Paradise. Should both conditions be met, they are granted a single opportunity for re-entry.”
“Resurrection?”
“More precisely, it is making a wish to God. Asking for them to live.”
The moment those words reached Seol Jihoo, it was as if his head had been struck by a hammer.
A wish.
It was not an unfamiliar word.
[Since you have kept your promise, it is now my turn. What do you desire?]
[Yes, is it resurrection you seek?]
Yes, certainly in the dream….
“Of course, making a wish itself is never easy. One must achieve great deeds in war, receive a divine covenant, offer tremendous offerings… In truth, it is nearly impossible.”
“You believe Samuel was trying to resurrect Vanessa, sir.”
“That is so.”
‘Vanessa?’
At the unfamiliar name, Seol Jihoo turned to Cho Hong, who whispered, “Level 5 Blade Runner. Originally Samuel’s team leader.”
“I warned him just in case, but it seems he couldn’t let go after all.”
“I understand somewhat. They spent a long time together, and when she was alive, they were one of the finest teams in Haramag.”
“Samuel must have felt the weight of it too. In any case, it’s troubling. Samuel was skilled enough as an archer to reach Level 5, but with Vanessa and now Khan gone… we’re short one of our top-ranked operatives.”
Ian abruptly fell silent and rummaged through his pocket. What he withdrew was a round crystal—Seol Jihoo had seen one before at the Carpe Diem office, but this one gleamed twice as brightly.
“From the royal house?”
“Appears so. Would you mind stepping aside for a moment?”
“Of course.”
Seol Jihoo followed Dylan, putting distance between himself and Ian.
“Can they communicate this far to Haramag?”
“It belongs to the crown. If they’re royalty in name, they’d have quality crystals on hand.”
Cho Hong clicked her tongue at that.
“I wish it was just a casual check-in.”
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be.”
Dylan too seemed tense, speaking after he caught the startled expression on Ian’s face.
“A war hasn’t broken out, has it?”
“Hard to say. The Parasite shouldn’t have the capacity to spare attention for us.”
“Then the Federation?”
“That’s even less likely.”
While they exchanged words, Ian finished his communication. Walking back slowly, his expression was far from bright.
“What’s happened?”
“…Contact with Fort Arden has been lost.”
Cho Hong’s face darkened at once.
“Damn it! I knew it!”
“There’s more. Contact was lost two days ago. The Haramag royal house hastily posted a reward and recruited Earthians of Level 3 or above Level 4, and has issued a conscription order to those of top rank and above.”
“A conscription order? They must be joking!”
Cho Hong flared up in anger. Dylan, calming her, opened his mouth.
“How many responded to the conscription order?”
“Not a single one.”
“I see.”
“Can’t blame them. Fort Arden was a plan the crown forced through. Anyway, they say the royal house is currently marching toward Fort Arden with a small force of Earthians and troops.”
Everything had gone awry just as they were about to return. Ian simply stroked his beard endlessly.
After a brief silence, Dylan asked.
“Will you go?”
“You know how it is. I’m still affiliated with the royal house. I’ve received considerable privileges in the meantime, so I’m in a position where I must respond.”
“No, don’t go! You said the Forest of Negation reconnaissance would be the end of it!”
Watching Cho Hong’s intense reaction, Seol Jihoo felt confused. He understood a war had broken out, but he couldn’t quite grasp why she was so visibly shaken.
Having gathered his thoughts, Dylan asked again.
“What did they say to us?”
“The Forest of Negation reconnaissance mission is suspended immediately. Escort me to the agreed meeting point. We’ll talk further once we meet. Of course, they’ll pay the compensation, so don’t worry, they said.”
“The royal house must be in quite a hurry.”
Dylan shook his head slowly.
“We should confer with the team. Will you give us time to think?”
“It’s not like I have a choice. And I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. Well, then.”
Just as Dylan was about to gather his team, he suddenly remembered something.
“By the way, who’s the commander?”
“Theresa.”
“…Pardon?”
Dylan’s eyes narrowed.
“Theresa Hassé came out personally?”
“Ha. You’re reacting exactly the same as I did.”
Ian chuckled and continued muttering.
“That’s right. The princess of the Haramag royal house has set out on campaign herself.”

(To be continued in the next installment)

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