The Illusion Canyon, A City Where Time Stands Still
“Can’t see much with the rocks in the way, but there’s definitely something underneath. Suhyun, you’re really something.”
“Well, sometimes things just work out.”
“Right? It’s like you accidentally hit a frog with a stone. Haha.”
“I don’t think it’s dead yet… We should go down and check.”
Go Yeonju’s playful tone made me feel a bit awkward. I had sent out a wave without much thought, and it ended up splitting the rocks, pinning down a monster that had been resting below. It was like a bolt from the blue—or rather, a rock from the sky.
I turned my gaze from the bewildered faces of the others to Kim Hanbyeol and Baek Hangyeol.
“Kim Hanbyeol, Baek Hangyeol. Let’s get ready.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Yes, yes!”
“Don’t be nervous. Hanbyeol will handle the rest, so just focus on maintaining your manifestation.”
Kim Hanbyeol answered calmly, but Baek Hangyeol seemed a bit tense, swallowing hard. He had decent user information and talent, and most importantly, he had the passion to succeed. Despite this being his first expedition, he had followed without complaint.
But if there was one flaw…
“He can’t seem to treat real situations like practice.”
“Hangyeol, let’s start now. Everyone, gather around us.”
“Okay, okay.”
Kim Hanbyeol selected a few gems from a handful and asked Baek Hangyeol to manifest the Glance Back. As the clan members gathered and formed a formation, Baek Hangyeol took a deep breath and raised his right hand.
Flash!
A brilliant light emanated from Baek Hangyeol’s raised hand. As a soft, misty barrier enveloped his hand, Kim Hanbyeol began chanting.
”───. ───. ───.”
Kim Hanbyeol’s unique ability was Jewel Amplification. It might not seem impressive at first, but its value skyrocketed because it could amplify others’ magic, not just her own. She could even mix in other abilities as her skill allowed, making her a valuable asset. Though, for now, “gem-eating hippo” might be a more fitting description.
“Target specified: Glance Back. Using Azurite White.”
As Kim Hanbyeol continued her chant, bright light streamed through her clenched fingers. When she gently opened her hand, the gem floated up and curved towards Baek Hangyeol’s right hand.
Once the Azurite White settled softly in his hand, Kim Hanbyeol spoke her final incantation.
“Jewel Amplification.”
A low hum began as the jewel amplification started. It was like a serene flow. Curious, I read the flow of magic, feeling the gem’s internal magic explode within the Glance Back’s domain.
The explosive magic blended seamlessly with Baek Hangyeol’s magical wavelength. The Glance Back, initially confined to his right hand, began to expand.
“Oh, this is interesting.”
“Fascinating~.”
“Remarkable~.”
”…”
‘Remarkable? Not fascinating?’
Ahn Hyun, Lee Yujeong, and Ahn Sol each expressed their thoughts. Usually indifferent to Kim Hanbyeol’s work, they found this scene quite refreshing. Ahn Sol’s last comment was amusing enough to draw a faint, wry smile from Kim Hanbyeol.
The Glance Back slowly expanded its range, starting with Ahn Sol, then Lee Yujeong, and Go Yeonju, until the barrier reached me at the front. As the clan members entered the Glance Back’s domain, they each let out curious exclamations.
“Huh? What’s this? Wow!”
“Cough! Cough!”
I wasn’t an exception. The oppressive field that had been weighing on me vanished instantly. Ahn Sol, who had been most affected by the field, coughed a few times before gaping in surprise.
“Wow. I felt so drained before, but now I feel energized.”
“Right? My head and body feel lighter too.”
Relieved from the pressure, their spirits lifted, and they began to chatter. Baek Hangyeol, hearing Ahn Hyun and Lee Yujeong’s praise, exhaled with a more relaxed expression.
Kim Hanbyeol observed the gem floating around Baek Hangyeol’s hand, nodded, and reported to me.
“Oppa, it’s done.”
“Good job. How’s the status?”
“It’s depleting faster than during practice. We’ll need to monitor the duration.”
“Got it. We should head down the canyon…”
The Yeoulganek clan seemed to have descended the wall effortlessly. While it wouldn’t be a problem for Go Yeonju and me, our current situation was different. The triple-layered field effect in the Illusion Canyon was not something to be taken lightly.
As I pondered our next move, someone tapped my shoulder. I turned to see Go Yeonju pointing insistently to the right.
“Suhyun, are you planning to go down like this?”
“That would be difficult. One wrong step and we might fall out of the Glance Back’s range. But what’s with the pointing?”
“It seems the first rescue team went this way. There are more tracks.”
“Hmm. That might be, but…”
I had been following the Yeoulganek clan’s tracks, thinking they might have found ruins in the Illusion Canyon. Following their trail meant I wouldn’t have to rely on memory to find the ruins.
After a moment of consideration, I decided to follow Go Yeonju’s suggestion. However, I planned to memorize the terrain below in case the trail was longer than expected.
“Let’s head this way. We might find a path down as we walk.”
“A wise choice.”
As we turned in the direction Go Yeonju indicated, the clan members reformed their formation. Since we had to march within the Glance Back’s barrier, we needed to adjust our pace for Kim Hanbyeol and Baek Hangyeol.
“Let’s move out.”
We began our march, keeping the canyon to our right. The sun grew stronger, and the mist within the canyon gradually thinned. The thought of soon reaching the ruins awakened a latent tension within me.
As we walked, preparing in our own ways, a sudden thought struck me about the creature hit by my rock.
“Was there a monster that could move freely in the canyon without restrictions?”
“We should be close.”
“Yes, just a bit further. It’s hard to believe we came down here.”
Looking up, I saw the towering canyon walls, just as Go Yeonju described. Fortunately, we found a relatively gentle slope to descend, though “gentle” only meant it wasn’t vertical. Some of the ranged members decided to stick close to Go Yeonju and me, as a misstep could send them tumbling down.
“Damn…”
”…Tsk.”
After descending, Ahn Sol and Baek Hangyeol exchanged sharp glances. They had been vying for space next to me during the descent, each trying to claim more of my side.
Though they didn’t argue openly, their hands on my waist engaged in a silent battle, which was obvious even without looking.
“Hey, you’re maintaining it better now, aren’t you? You used to be so focused you couldn’t even talk, but now you seem more relaxed.”
“R-really?”
“Yeah. I heard you’ve been practicing even during the expedition. You’re working hard~.”
“Heh, heh. Thank you.”
Turning slightly, I saw Baek Hangyeol’s shy smile in response to Ahn Hyun and Lee Yujeong’s compliments. They found his reaction endearing and laughed together. Just as the atmosphere grew warm and friendly, a chill swept through the air. The source was, of course, Ahn Sol, her expression twisted in irritation.
Listening to their banter, I kept my eyes on the path ahead. As we moved forward, I spotted several rocks about 20 meters away, incongruous with the surrounding terrain. They were undoubtedly the rocks I had dislodged.
“We found it.”
After tossing out a quick remark, I tried to hasten my steps but soon settled back into my usual pace. My words had silenced the chatter among the clan members, who must have realized something was hidden beneath the stone from the conversation I had with Go Yeon-ju earlier.
The gentle sound of water flowed to our left, where a wide river meandered through the landscape. On the ground, partially obscured by a stone, two white forelegs and a limp, fluffy tail peeked out. I stopped in front of the stone, staring at it in a daze.
“White legs, a white tail… Could it be?”
“Hyung, what is that?”
“Wow, the tail’s still moving… It must be alive.”
Swallowing hard, I stepped closer. As I moved, the scene shifted, and the stone came into view. I hurriedly grabbed the stone, feeling a faint tremor through my hands. With a swift motion, I lifted and tossed the stone aside, revealing the creature beneath.
Splash!
“Kyuu…”
“Oh my!”
“What the—”
The stone splashed into the river, and the creature beneath was finally revealed. It wasn’t a monster at all.
It was about the size of a small foal, covered in white fur with a softly glowing horn atop its head. It was a unicorn, but not a fully grown one—a baby unicorn.
“Oh my goodness! Is that a unicorn?”
“Yes, it is. Ansol! Get over here!”
The unicorn, now free from the stone, lifted its head weakly. More blood than expected stained the ground. Though it had narrowly escaped death, its body and legs were severely injured. It looked up at me with tearful eyes, then began to crawl away, struggling to move its front legs.
“So, so sad…”
“Get a few healing potions from the bag and start casting healing spells. Keep going until I tell you to stop.”
“Kyuu…”
“That’s right. Don’t run away. Good, good. We won’t hurt you. We’ll heal you right away.”
‘That was close.’
I took the potions Ansol handed me, feeling as if I’d just dodged a bullet. As I lifted the unicorn, it weakly struggled, frightened by the unfamiliar humans. It let out a sorrowful cry, tears like pearls falling from its eyes.
Laying it gently on the flat ground, I quickly uncorked a healing potion.
I worried it might be too late, but our swift actions paid off, and we managed to heal the unicorn completely. We used up four high-grade healing potions, but it was worth every drop.
“Kyuu, kyuu!”
“Oh, look at it! It’s being so cute.”
“Aww, that tickles. Stop it…”
“Haha! Look at it nuzzling Ansol’s face. It’s adorable.”
After healing the unicorn, we decided to rest for a while. The ruins were less than an hour away, and it seemed wise to replenish our energy before venturing further.
The unicorn, now fully recovered, basked in the attention of the female members. It seemed to understand we had helped it, approaching us with more confidence than before.
Of course, this behavior was mostly directed at the women. Unicorns are known to prefer females over males, with a particular fondness for maidens. It’s said that after men, they rarely form bonds with anyone else.
Ahn Hyun, having been rebuffed when he first tried to touch the unicorn, pouted in frustration.
“Hyung, I have a question.”
“Yeah? What is it?”
“Are you going to take it with us? You said it’s a unicorn. I don’t know much, but it seems incredibly rare.”
“It is rare. Its horn and blood are known to have many uses. But we can’t take it with us.”
“Why not?”
“A unicorn is like a divine creature. Unless it chooses to follow us, we can’t force it. Even if we tried, there would be consequences. Remember the Blue Mountains? It’s said to be even more dangerous than a banshee.”
Unbeknownst to me, in Hall Plain, killing a unicorn brings a curse even more severe than that of a banshee, which guarantees death within a month. A stronger curse would have been a real headache.
“That’s a shame.”
“Unless it chooses us or we find a naturally deceased one, it’s best to let it go. Divine creatures are known to repay their debts, so letting it go might bring us a reward someday. So, let it go without regret.”
‘Not that we really owe it anything.’
Ahn Hyun seemed satisfied with the explanation, nodding while casting longing glances at the unicorn. Ansol, Lee Yoo-jung, and Go Yeon-ju were gathered around it, while Kim Han-byeol and Baek Han-gyeol watched from a distance, maintaining a barrier. Interestingly, the unicorn didn’t shy away from Baek Han-gyeol’s touch, confirming its preference for females.
Wait, what?
I was just starting to question Baek Han-gyeol’s true gender identity when—
“Hey, Uni! Where are you going?”
“Kyuu~.”
At Ansol’s call, the unicorn turned its head and began toddling toward me. Ahn Hyun watched with envy, then grew excited as the unicorn approached us.
“Oh, it’s coming! Hyung, it’s coming to us!”
“That’s strange…”
“What’s strange? Hehe. I finally get to touch it.”
“No, it’s nothing.”
The unicorn stopped at my feet, looking up at me with bright eyes. I met its gaze without flinching, knowing it disliked being touched by men.
Then, as I pondered what to do, the baby unicorn let out a cheerful sound and began nuzzling my leg.
Nuzzle, nuzzle.
“Oh my gosh! Look at it nuzzling your leg, oppa. It’s so cute!”
“That’s unexpected. I thought unicorns didn’t usually take to men… Huh?”
Go Yeon-ju paused mid-sentence, turning to Baek Han-gyeol. Her head tilted in confusion, mirroring my own thoughts.
‘Is it because I helped heal it?’
I hadn’t expected it to show affection toward me, and I was a bit taken aback. As I watched it nuzzle my leg, Ahn Hyun, feeling left out, reached out with a mischievous grin.
“Hehe. Let me hold you too.”
“Kyuu?!”
“Oh, it’s so soft… Ow!”
“Kyuu! Kyuu!”
As Ahn Hyun tried to lift the unicorn into his arms, it swiftly swatted him with its tail. A sharp smack echoed, followed by a yelp. Startled by the sudden attack, Ahn Hyun let go, clutching his reddened cheek.
The unicorn scampered away, hiding between my legs.
“You little—!”
“Kyuu kyuu!”
“Hahaha! That’s hilarious! It hit him and then hid between oppa’s legs!”
“This is really strange… Why does it like Baek Han-gyeol and Su-hyun but not him…?”
Ahn Hyun, frustrated, tried to catch it, but the unicorn deftly dodged him, darting around the rock. The chase continued for a while, but the unicorn was surprisingly agile.
I sighed, stepping off the rock to scoop up the unicorn as it ran toward me. It looked at me with surprise, then snuggled into my arms, letting out a contented sound.
“Huff, huff! Why does it like you but not me?”
“Kyuu kyuu!”
At Ahn Hyun’s outburst, the unicorn lifted its head, then nestled back into my arms, nuzzling happily. The female clan members, eager for another chance to hold it, edged closer, their eyes fixed on the unicorn in my arms. But it paid them no mind, content to stay nestled against me, its legs playfully kicking.
Hanbyeol Kim, after confirming our gathering, slightly reduced the area he had expanded for our break. With a face full of curiosity, he turned to the unicorn and spoke.
“But it’s strange. How could a unicorn be here?”
“Unicorns have strong magic resistance. Harmful magic barely affects them.”
After giving a brief answer to Hanbyeol’s question, I lifted the creature gently.
“But why were you here?”
“Kyuu kyuu?”
“Did you come alone? Where are your parents?”
“Kyuu. Kyuu kyuu, kyuu kyuu kyuu. Kyuu, kyuu kyuu, kyuu kyuu kyuu kyuu.”
I had no idea what it was saying. It seemed to understand me, though. I sighed and gently cradled it.
We couldn’t stay here forever. We’d rested enough, and our resources weren’t infinite. As I mentioned earlier, unicorns can’t be taken by force. As fascinating as it was to see such a mythical creature, it was like a pie in the sky—beautiful but unattainable. Fortunately, it seemed too young to realize I had caused it any harm, so it was best to let it go and continue on our separate paths.
“Everyone, listen up. We’ll be moving out in ten minutes.”
“Can’t we take it with us, oppa?”
“No, we have to let it go. Taking a unicorn with us would be a disaster.”
“Oppa~.”
Ignoring Yujeong and Ansol’s whining, I gently patted the unicorn’s back again.
“Little one, listen carefully. If you want to follow us, you’re welcome to. But if you were just out for a stroll or if there are other unicorns nearby, you should go back. They’re probably worried sick about you by now.”
“Kyuu?”
The baby unicorn tilted its head at my words, then nodded. After confirming its response, I calmly set it down on the ground. The little unicorn slowly turned and began to walk in the direction we had come from.
“Oppa, are you really going to let it go? You’re not taking it with us?”
“Ahem. Yujeong, calm down. Let me explain. Unicorns are sacred creatures. We have to let them go.”
’…That’s a very broad explanation.’
Hyun, eager to show off what he’d learned from me, began explaining to the disappointed clan members, but few were listening. Their eyes were glued to the unicorn, wagging its tail as it walked away.
“Goodbye, Uni! See you again!”
Unable to contain her sadness, Ansol waved with a voice full of longing. Naming it ‘Uni’—what a peculiar sense of naming.
The baby unicorn paused, glanced back at us, then lifted its front right hoof and let out a “Kyuu.” The female clan members squealed in delight at the sight.
As the unicorn disappeared beyond the canyon, the clan members began to express their regrets one by one.
“Ah, I really don’t understand this whole plane. I’ve only seen a tamed unicorn once before. I never thought I’d see one here. It’s a shame.”
”…”
“Suhyeon? Suhyeon! Why are you spacing out?”
“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing.”
When Yeonju nudged me playfully, I shook my head in response. Ever since witnessing the unicorn’s actions, I couldn’t take my eyes off the direction it had vanished. The unicorn had definitely lifted its front right hoof before leaving. I recalled reading a record about a user who had tamed a unicorn in the first round. According to that record, the baby unicorn’s gesture had a specific meaning.
‘What was it again? Was it ‘see you again’…? No, there was another meaning…’
Back then, I didn’t think I’d ever have a connection with a unicorn, so I hadn’t paid much attention. I furrowed my brow, trying to recall the exact details, but it was all too vague. Eventually, I gave up and let out a long sigh.
‘Well, I’ll find out eventually if I wait.’
In any case, the unexpected appearance of the unicorn had allowed us to enjoy a pleasant break. Everyone had likely recovered some stamina during the rest, so it was time to return to our main task.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Royujin.
Phew. I’m sorry. I originally planned for us to discover and enter the ruins in the latter half of this chapter, but the unicorn subplot ended up taking longer than expected. (__) Just in case, let me explain the unicorn and banshee curse settings.
If a unicorn (or banshee) suffers harm other than death: The ‘subject’ of the curse is the unicorn (or banshee). This is more of a retaliatory action or minor curse rather than a powerful one.
If a unicorn (or banshee) is forcibly killed: In this case, a powerful curse is automatically placed on the one responsible for its death. Even if the perpetrator is unknown, the curse is ‘unconditional.’
Regarding the above cases, there are ways to preemptively defend against or lift the curse if received.
『 Reader Comments 』
Hanbangmode: Oh? Didn’t you get first place last time too? Impressive. Haha. Congratulations on first place. Enjoy this chapter.
Saraminsaeng + KKKranuse: =ㅁ=…. I might need a machine gun.
Lancelot du Lac: Yes, it’s unlikable. It’s all my fault. ㅜ.ㅠ
Yauro: Yes, it’s hyung. Not noona.
hohokoya1: Today’s chapter is packed. Haha. Honestly, I didn’t expect the unicorn subplot to stretch this long. -_-a Thank you for the congratulations!
Morph: Yes, the GP from the early boss monster and what Suhyeon gathered is a lot, but GP is generally hard to accumulate. Seraph will appear again after some more time passes post-expedition.
Erhasia: Ah, I remember. Some people dropped the story back then. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ. They said they couldn’t stand harems outside of the protagonist. ㅜ.ㅠ
Repil: Oh, I see. But Ansol will enter the ruins and forcibly… Ah, never mind. I almost spoiled something. Haha!
Podytop: I’m holding back until it subsides. But if it continues, I have my own thoughts. I can’t be the only one in turmoil. Hehe. -_-+
Offitour19: Hmm, that’s a bit unfair to the author of that work. Comments should be about the content. Am I being too sensitive? ?ㅇ?
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I hope you always read with a relaxed mind.
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