The Plateau of Delusion
In my first life, I made a single, catastrophic mistake that led to my brother’s death. It should have been me who died, but my brother rushed to save his foolish younger sibling, bringing only a few close comrades. He managed to rescue me, sacrificing himself in the process.
That event marked the beginning of a profound change in my personality. My reckless nature, which had always rebelled against my brother’s unconditional protection, did a complete 180. I became more cautious, preferring to step back and observe before acting. My very identity seemed to shift.
Even now, in my second life, remnants of that habit linger, influencing my actions. Whenever something suspicious arises, I consider every possible outcome before responding. Some find my cautiousness frustrating, dismissing it as needless worry.
Today was one of those days.
After a battle with the venomous wolves, I mentioned to Go Yeon-ju that it felt like we were being herded. She merely nodded in agreement, unable to provide any concrete evidence. Neither of us could detect any presence, suggesting that whoever was orchestrating this was highly skilled and organized.
The crackling of the fire snapped me out of my thoughts. The once roaring flames were now dwindling. I reached for some nearby branches and tossed them into the fire pit.
The campsite was quiet, the occasional chirp of insects accentuating the stillness of the night. Given the frequency of night attacks, I cautiously scanned the area. From the cluster of sleeping bags, I sensed someone stirring.
The figure eventually rose and walked towards the fire. A woman with long hair approached, stopping a short distance away before speaking.
“It’s me, oppa. Let’s switch shifts.”
“It’s not time yet.”
“It’s fine. I can take over a bit early.”
Yoo Jung settled beside me, her movements awkward and unnatural.
Silence hung between us. She watched the fire, resting her face on her knee.
“Aren’t you going to sleep, oppa? If you’re worried, it’s okay. I’ll keep watch and wake someone else when it’s time. Was it Baek Han-gyeol?”
“Yeah, but don’t wake him.”
“Why not?”
“He just fell asleep after practicing late into the night. He probably planned to nap briefly before taking his shift.”
Yoo Jung glanced towards the sleeping bags, then chuckled softly.
“Training during an expedition, huh?”
“It’s not something to mock. It shows dedication.”
“Really? What do you think, oppa? Is he any good?”
“He’s great during practice. The problem is he can’t replicate it in real situations.”
Yoo Jung laughed, then winced slightly, trying to hide her discomfort. I sighed inwardly.
She bit her lip before speaking again, her expression more composed.
“Yeah, I shouldn’t laugh at anyone. I got injured yesterday too. Sorry.”
“It wasn’t a pointless injury. You had your reasons. No need to apologize.”
“Heh. I was worried you were mad at me. Glad you’re not.”
“I am mad. Just now.”
”?”
“Stand up.”
I raised my voice deliberately. Yoo Jung looked at me, startled, then slowly stood. As she turned, I noticed her leg was slightly raised. I reached for the laces of her leather pants, which I had bought for her, and began to untie them.
“Oppa?”
“Stay still. I already know. Don’t get any strange ideas.”
Yoo Jung flinched but stopped moving at my command. I pulled down her pants, revealing her white underwear and smooth thighs. A sharp intake of breath came from above.
“Ah…”
“Yoo Jung, move your hands and spread your thighs a bit.”
She hesitated, covering herself, but I gently moved her hands aside and spread her legs. The inside of her thigh was discolored, a remnant of the venomous wolf’s bite.
“Just as I thought, your walk was a bit off.”
”…Sorry.”
“Let me touch it. I’m going to heal you, so don’t be alarmed.”
Despite the situation, she nodded. Her face was flushed, but I focused on her thigh, channeling my energy into my hands.
I had resolved not to use my powers after leaving the city, but healing Yoo Jung was more important. The energy flowed into her thigh, burning away the venom. Her tense muscles relaxed, and the yellowed skin gradually returned to its natural color.
Once the last of the venom was gone, Yoo Jung quickly pulled up her pants, clearly embarrassed.
I clapped my hands together, brushing them off, and spoke softly.
“I’ve burned away the venom. Drink half of the antidote potion and apply the rest to your skin. Wake An Sol and ask her to heal you.”
“Now? But she’s sleeping…”
“An Sol was supposed to take the last watch, so switch with Han-gyeol. Tell her I ordered it and explain the situation.”
“Oh… okay. Are you going to sleep now, oppa?”
Yoo Jung tied her pants and looked at me. I nodded, standing up. I wanted to scold her for being reckless, but her expression showed genuine remorse. Still, I couldn’t shake the thought of her foolishness, so I patted her shoulder before heading to my sleeping bag.
“Venom can come back if not treated properly. Next time, tell me if you’re hurt. We’re reaching the plateau today. What if something happened?”
“Sorry…”
“Just don’t overdo it. I’m going to sleep. Make sure you get treated before your watch ends.”
“Okay! Goodnight, oppa.”
Yoo Jung smiled brightly, then went to wake An Sol. I watched her go before settling into my sleeping bag. Just as I was about to drift off, I remembered something.
‘Looks like we’ve dropped the formalities.’
The sun was high in the sky, its rays beating down relentlessly. The soft earth and large rocks dotted the landscape, while a stream flowed to our left, sparkling in the sunlight.
Before us stretched an endless green meadow, leading to a massive mountain that pierced the clouds. Its vastness was overwhelming, and its peak seemed to touch the sky.
“Wow…”
“Whoa…”
An Hyun and An Sol exclaimed in unison, craning their necks to take in the sight. It was the ninth day since we left Monica. The journey usually took ten to eleven days, and though battles had delayed us, our early progress allowed us to reach our destination sooner than expected.
A cool breeze drifted down from the mountains, gently wrapping around me before slipping away. I savored the refreshing air for a moment, then turned to the group and spoke.
“This is the mountain where our goal, the Plateau of Delusions, lies. Welcome to the Mountain of Illusions.”
“The Mountain of Illusions? The view is stunning, but the name is a bit odd,” Yu-jeong remarked, tilting her head with a newfound ease, likely thanks to the treatment she received at dawn.
Indeed, the scenery was breathtaking. If this were Earth, it would be the perfect spot for a leisurely picnic. Unfortunately, this was the Hall Plain, and there was no time to lie around and enjoy the view.
We needed to ascend at least 2,000 meters to reach the plateau, so I was searching for the easiest path up when I noticed Go Yeon-ju signaling to me with her eyes.
Quickly, I swallowed the words I was about to say and shifted gears. “If we hurry, we can reach the Plateau of Delusions before nightfall. The field effect is weak, but it starts as soon as we enter the Mountain of Illusions. Let’s take this time to make any final preparations.”
At my command, the clan members sprang into action. An-sol approached Yu-jeong, likely to check her injuries, while Kim Han-byeol rummaged through her bag, counting her jewels.
As I watched them from a slight distance, Go Yeon-ju quietly sidled up to me and whispered, “Soo-hyun, I need to talk to you.”
“Did you find something out?” I asked directly.
She shook her head. It was too much to expect that we’d catch something that had eluded us for nine days in just one. I stayed silent, signaling her to continue, and she sighed softly before speaking again in a hushed tone.
“This is just my personal opinion, but once we start climbing, we need to be extremely cautious.”
“Go on.”
“I’ve been thinking about what you said yesterday. I haven’t made much progress, but I’ve encountered situations like this before. And there’s one habit I always fall back on.”
“What habit?”
“Putting myself in the enemy’s shoes. If I were the one doing the hunting, I’d see now as the perfect opportunity.”
“Hmm.”
Her point was clear: the hunters might target us before we reached the Plateau of Delusions. It made sense. Without resistance to the field effect or a calming pill, even seasoned users found the plateau challenging.
I nodded thoughtfully. “We’ve been on high alert from the start. I’m constantly scanning for magical activity, so if they make a move, we’ll respond immediately.”
“Understood. I’ll keep my own preparations in place and signal you if I notice anything unusual.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
With that, Go Yeon-ju exhaled as if she had said all she needed to and turned back to the others. Watching her walk away, eyes sharp and vigilant, I mulled over her words.
Putting myself in their shoes… If I were the hunter, I’d wait until after we left the Plateau of Delusions… Wait, what?
A sudden thought flashed through my mind, catching me off guard.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yu-jin.
I need to inform you of a change in episode 200. There was a scene where Kim Soo-hyun and Han So-young recalled Park Da-yeon being alive, but she was already deceased at that point. I apologize for the oversight and any confusion it caused. (__)
As you know, I’m currently in the middle of my final exams (which end this Friday). I should be able to update tomorrow, but I might take a break on either Thursday or Friday. Despite starting early, the scope is twice that of the midterms, and I feel underprepared. If I do take a break, I’ll be sure to inform you. I apologize and ask for your understanding. (I did well on Monday and Tuesday’s exams. :D)
My inbox is overflowing. Yes, I’ve received messages about Ro Yumi, Ro Yuri, Ro Yuna, female soldiers, and offers to buy shoes or bags. I’ve also received many messages of support and feedback. I’ve read them all, but due to my current situation, I can’t respond to each one individually. ㅜ.ㅠ If you need a reply, please send me a note indicating so, and I’ll get back to you after my exams next week.