Unexpected Encounters
And so, we finally completed our tumultuous journey through the Cave of Screams. We hadn’t cleared every corner, but we’d defeated the boss monster and reached the end, which was enough for now. The remaining undead lurking in the shadows would be left for the investigation team or other adventurers to handle after our report.
Though we’d accomplished a major task, our adventure wasn’t over yet. The most crucial part—returning safely—still lay ahead. Crossing the undead-infested Blue Mountains was no small feat, and reaching Mule safely was essential to give meaning to all our efforts. Many adventurers had lost their lives due to complacency after a successful mission, so we needed to stay vigilant.
On our way back, the topic of conversation was the Chaos Mimic. According to Ansol, “If something that big came out of a baby mimic, imagine what the mom and dad mimics would give us!” Everyone seemed to agree, though the specifics were lost on me. Still, I got the gist and didn’t argue, though I firmly vetoed the idea of opening any more chests right then.
As we traveled, my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. I was most curious about the outcome of the Vagabond Extermination Plan and the Golden Lion Clan’s advance into the Iron Mountains. I was eager to return to Mule and find out, which perhaps explained my quickened pace.
The timing of our return was tricky. According to my knowledge of the future, the Vagabond Extermination Plan should have concluded long ago, but the results of the Iron Mountains campaign might still be pending.
I decided to keep my mind at ease. While a part of me was anxious, I didn’t want to rush and make mistakes. As the saying goes, “More haste, less speed.” It was best to proceed calmly and handle each task as it came.
There was plenty to do. I needed to obtain performance certificates for the Ancient Alchemist Vivian’s Dungeon and the Ruined Laboratory, and submit the exploration report for the Cave of Screams. We also had to manage the distribution of our spoils, upgrade our equipment, and file the clan establishment application. Most importantly, there was the matter of dealing with user Go Yeon-ju.
Thinking about all these tasks made my head spin, and I couldn’t help but sigh. But as I’d resolved earlier, tackling them one by one would surely lead to a positive outcome. With that in mind, I hurried back to the small town of Mule.
As the northern gate of Mule came into view, a wave of relief washed over us. I glanced around, taking in the misty landscape and dew-laden grass. The world was quiet, with only the occasional whisper of the wind to break the silence.
It had taken us ten days to reach the Cave of Screams and one day to explore it. That was as planned, but our return was delayed by a day. Despite our efforts to hurry, Yu-jeong had trouble keeping up due to lingering injuries from Horrence.
I hadn’t noticed at first, lost in my thoughts, but Ha-yeon discreetly pointed it out. Yu-jeong had been soldiering on without complaint, but we took breaks whenever she showed signs of struggle, encouraging her along the way.
By the seventh or eighth day, Yu-jeong’s condition improved, and we resumed our usual pace. On the tenth day of our return, we decided to march through the night, confident that we were close enough to Mule to avoid major dangers. This allowed us to make up for lost time.
After eleven days, we finally returned to the small town of Mule.
The path gradually changed from wild grasslands to a more trodden road, and soon the humble northern gate came into view. It had taken us 22 days in total to return to Mule.
We had left in the first week of March, so it was now nearly the end of the month. As the gate loomed closer and the guards came into view, my heart raced with excitement.
“Welcome back, adventurers! May the angels bless you…”
As we reached the gate, two scruffy guards saluted us energetically. After a brief acknowledgment, I turned to see the unified expressions on my companions’ faces. I wondered how they’d react if I suggested heading straight to the inn, The Modest Lady, for training. But that was just a fleeting thought.
Inside the gate, the quiet streets greeted us. It was early morning, and only those in dire situations or the truly mad would venture out at this hour.
“We’re finally back!”
“I could cry. Seriously.”
“Yay! Yay!”
This had been our toughest expedition yet, and as soon as we stepped into the city, the group erupted in cheers. Vivian yawned repeatedly, covering her mouth, while Shin Sang-yong nodded off, struggling to stay awake. Ha-yeon tried to hide her fatigue, but it was evident on her face. And Go Yeon-ju…
The moment we entered Mule, she fixed me with an intense gaze I’d never seen before. I met her eyes calmly, and she winked, sending a silent message I understood immediately. I turned to the group, who were eager to head to the inn, and spoke quietly.
“User Jung Ha-yeon.”
“Yes?”
“Please lead the others back to The Modest Lady.”
She looked puzzled, as did the others. They were curious about my sudden change of plans, but I shook my head and continued.
“I have something to check. It won’t take long.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to rest first, unless it’s urgent…?”
“It is urgent, so it’s best to handle it now.”
Ha-yeon tilted her head, her eyes filled with concern. I subtly shook my head to convey my determination. She sighed softly.
“Alright. If you need our help…”
“Don’t worry. User Go Yeon-ju will assist me.”
“Go Yeon-ju?”
“Yes. It’s something that requires the reputation of the ‘Ten Strongest.’”
Ha-yeon seemed to ponder this. It was unusual to have urgent matters at this hour, but not impossible. Knowing part of my plan, she likely assumed it was related to Go Yeon-ju. Or perhaps she thought it was due to Go Yeon-ju’s temporary status with us.
After a moment, she nodded and mouthed, “Be careful.” I responded with a gentle smile, and she led the sleepy group toward the inn.
As they disappeared down the street, only Go Yeon-ju and I remained at the gate. She watched me for a moment, then smiled brightly.
“Shall we take a walk? Outside the gate, of course.”
“I don’t mind, but it’s odd to leave right after entering.”
She laughed and gently took my arm, leading me out. We retraced our steps along the path the group had taken. After a brief silence, Go Yeon-ju spoke first.
“Do you dislike long conversations?”
“I don’t mind if they’re necessary, but I prefer not to beat around the bush.”
“Me too. So, I’ll get straight to the point, though it might take a while.”
“I understand. Please, go ahead.”
As soon as I said I’d listen, she stopped abruptly. I had a sense of déjà vu, as if I’d been in a similar situation before. Faces of Kim Han-byeol and Jung Ha-yeon flashed through my mind, but Go Yeon-ju’s voice quickly brought me back to the present.
“There’s something off about you.”
I tried to speak, but she raised a hand to stop me. I decided to let her continue.
“I’m not just talking about visible abilities. Sure, those are baffling enough. But, considering I’m only a five-year user myself, it’s hard to claim I know everything. There might be something special about that child… Anyway, being strong in the whole plane isn’t a problem. No one can deny that’s your unique ability. I might be curious, but I have no right to pry.”
Her words felt different from Hayeon’s, likely because she was a seasoned user. Still, I remained cautious. Acknowledging external abilities like that could mean she intended to probe other areas.
As I expected, Go Yeonju narrowed her eyes and continued.
“Back in the third-floor suite, you said your goal was survival and returning to Earth. Survival and return. Every user in the whole plane has thought about it at least once. Your words shook me. They weren’t the naive words of a zero-year user; you were predicting the situation and had a grand plan. And you showed you had the ability to execute it. I pondered. If I go into the city now and see tomorrow’s situation, and if your words are proven true, the anxiety I feel might disappear.”
“I’m curious about the source of that anxiety.”
“The root of my anxiety is none other than you. Zero-year user Kim Suhyun is the cause of my unease.”
”…”
The cold dawn wind blew, rustling the grass. I looked up at her with a hollow gaze. She wasn’t looking at me. She was simply spreading her arms, savoring the breeze. After a while, her lips parted again.
“Call it a hunch from experience or a woman’s intuition. You’re an enigma. I allowed you to join the expedition because I wanted to observe you.”
A tightness crept into my chest. I took a deep breath to steady myself and spoke in a calm voice.
“After observing, what do you think?”
“I told you, I can’t figure you out.”
She answered immediately, tilting her head slightly.
“At first, you seemed like a kind user who cared for the kids. But sometimes, you sent shivers down my spine. Then, you’d sacrifice yourself for your companions. Yet, at times… you seemed like a merciless killer drenched in blood. In the end, I can’t tell if your anger is because your companions were hurt or if it’s just a reaction to provocation.”
”…”
Listening to her break down each point, I finally understood why Go Yeonju had approached me with questions after I dealt with Horrence. Her eyes had a probing light, and her questions were all meant to test me.
I couldn’t think of anything else to say. As I remained silent, Go Yeonju slowly approached, clasped her hands behind her back, and leaned forward. When I glanced down, her provocative eyes were looking up at me. Meeting my gaze, she spoke in a soft voice.
“Even you must admit it doesn’t add up, right?”
“There’s no rule that a person, or a user, must have only one emotion.”
“True. But there’s one thing missing in your actions. Do you know what it is?”
“I don’t.”
“Don’t play dumb. It’s consistency. If you changed your face with each action, you’d seem like a completely different person. And since you’re playing dumb, let me tell you in advance.”
She paused, then stepped back, putting some distance between us. She smiled slightly as she looked at me standing there.
“Survival and return. Fine. I won’t deny it. But don’t try to cover my anxiety with your eloquent words. What I’m truly curious about is the part of you hidden deep inside.”
The wind had stopped. Silence enveloped us. A strange sense of déjà vu washed over me.
“So, will you answer me now?”
At some point, the distance between us had grown. She raised her right hand, extending her fingers before lightly touching her collarbone.
And I, with a slight nod, acknowledged her. The moment she saw that, her delicate lips parted slowly, and her gentle voice drifted across the meadow.
“Even now… do you want to kill me?”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
Yes, the golden weekend has ended, and a new Monday has begun. Haha. We’re finally back to the grind. And it seems the fate of Go Yeonju, which you’ve all been anticipating, will be decided in the next chapter. :D What choices will Kim Suhyun and Go Yeonju make? Please look forward to the next installment! :)
PS. Thank you to everyone who tossed coupons my way. I was pleasantly surprised when I checked the list today. (—)(__).
『 Reader Comments 』
sereson: Wow! Congratulations on being first! I don’t think I’ve seen you before. Why have you been a silent user all this time? ㅜ.ㅠ Anyway, now that you’re active, I’m looking forward to lots of comments from you. Haha. ’~’
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juan: Haha. Johnson stamp? What’s that? I don’t know, so please explain it in detail. (__ )*
다이린: Oh! :3 ← I like this expression. From now on, it’s mine. Ahem.
Blasphemy: Haha. Thank you for the valuable advice. Sometimes when I’m thinking of new monsters, it gives me a headache, so your input will be very helpful. (__) But in English, huh. It’ll be great for improving my English skills.
메카스타: Oh. A tablet. I’m thinking of getting one, but is it worth it? I have an ultrabook, but I’m worried about carrying it around too much.
(魔皇笑)地獄音: The setting is still there! It remains unchanged~. :3
hohokoya1: Hmm. For now, I’m thinking of holding off on allocating the remaining 12 stat points. But… Oops. Spoiler alert! That was close. Ahem!
천화백부: 1. No comment. 2. It’s possible. 3. There are a lot. (ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ.) Most of them will be sorted out in this installment, so please wait a bit.
오피투럽19: Oh, oops! I accidentally hit the register button! ㅋㅋㅋㅋ. Thank you for the coupon. (__)
UrDREAM: Haha. There are records like that, but Suhyun and the kids, as free mercenaries, don’t need to get involved. It’s pointless for them. (The kids just want gear and treasure…) The headache-inducing stuff will be handled by the investigation team later. :)
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