My Brother’s Changed ------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was in the middle of a deep sleep when I felt someone shaking me. As I groaned and opened my eyes, I found Ansol’s clear gaze staring down at me. The dim dawn light filtered through the pitch-black forest, and a chill crept over my body, likely because we were in the heart of the woods. I circulated my magic briefly to awaken my senses and then sat up, feeling surprisingly refreshed.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, I did. Did you sleep well too, brother?”
Ansol usually called me “oppa” when we were with others, but when it was just the two of us, she insisted on using the more formal “orabeoni.” It was a bit embarrassing, but not enough to make me cringe, so I let it slide. Watching her bow politely, I couldn’t help but think she must have been raised well.
After responding to her greeting with a gentle smile, I turned to wake Hyun and Yujeong. But before I could, I felt a tug on my sleeve. Turning back, I saw Ansol hesitating, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something. I spoke in the kindest voice I could muster.
“Yes, Sol? Is there something you want to say?”
“Orabeoni… I…”
She avoided my gaze, staring at the ground. But then, biting her lip, she looked up with a determined expression. I had no idea what she was about to say, but I braced myself for whatever was coming.
”…I need to… go.”
”…”
“I’m too scared to go alone… Can you come with me?”
”…Go ahead.”
I shook my head in disbelief. But this time, Ansol didn’t back down. Despite my firm refusal, she clung to my sleeve, her lips pressed tightly together. Just as I was about to scold her for being childish, I caught sight of her trembling eyes.
In the end, I decided to relent this once. But I couldn’t help but feel puzzled by Ansol. We’d been in this world for over three months, which meant she was a full-grown adult at twenty. She looked young for her age, but surely her mental age should match. Yet sometimes, her actions were those of a child.
It wasn’t just me who noticed her odd behavior. Yujeong and I, having spent enough time with her, could clearly see it. Yujeong once asked Hyun about it, but he dodged the question. It seemed like he was hiding something about Ansol. I resolved to ask again when the opportunity arose and walked with Ansol away from the camp.
“This should be far enough.”
”…”
“Sol?”
“Orabeoni… Please don’t leave me here.”
“I’ll stay right here. Don’t worry, just do what you need to do.”
“I’ll hold you to that. Promise.”
After making me promise several times, Ansol finally let go of my sleeve and disappeared into the bushes. I took out a cigarette and lit it, trying to ignore the awkwardness as I heard the rustling of clothes and then the sound of her relieving herself. Did she not feel embarrassed with a man nearby, or did she not see me as a man at all? Either way, it wasn’t a pleasant thought, so I focused on my cigarette.
As I finished my smoke, the sound of her finishing up reached my ears, followed by the rustling of her returning. Seeing her visibly brighten upon spotting me, I felt a sense of relief.
“Thank you.”
“Honestly, you’re such a handful. You can’t keep doing this.”
“Hehe, I’m sorry.”
I lightly scolded her, amused by her cheerful demeanor, and turned to leave. But before I could, Ansol suddenly hugged me tightly. Startled, I dropped my cigarette. Why was she being so forward all of a sudden? Seeing my flustered expression, she rubbed her face against my chest with a gentle smile.
“Orabeoni.”
“Yes, yes?”
“To be honest… you scared me a bit yesterday.”
”…Did I?”
I figured as much. I must have seemed brutal when I casually threatened that vagrant with a knife. But Ansol, nestled against me, wasn’t trembling, so I waited for her to continue. After a moment, she spoke in a cautious voice.
“But… you’re always strong and kind. If it weren’t for you, I…”
Her voice trailed off, and she closed her eyes, unable to finish. I sighed inwardly, feeling a strange mix of emotions as I held her.
The woman in my arms was destined to become a renowned user, a priestess of light. Her reputation was so great that even the Odin Clan, a gathering of the continent’s top users, sought her out. Despite my own efforts, I couldn’t compare to her in terms of fame or ability. Yet here she was, relying on me, and it filled me with a peculiar feeling.
Caught up in the moment, I found myself hugging her back. Ansol seemed surprised at first, but then her expression softened. I gently stroked her back and her ebony hair, whispering softly.
“Should I have spared that woman yesterday? Is that why you’re scared?”
Ansol shook her head vigorously, making my chest tickle. But seeing her reaction, I smiled. She seemed to enjoy my touch, her earlier anxiety replaced by a serene smile.
“No… I won’t be scared. Hyun said we need to be like you to survive. He said we’d all be dead without you… that we should stick by your side and do as you say. So I trust you, Orabeoni. Please don’t abandon me.”
So Hyun had said something so commendable. It meant I had firmly secured my place in their hearts. What had been blind reliance was now a steadfast belief as we ventured deeper into the forest.
“I won’t abandon you. But Hyun’s wrong about one thing. It’s not about doing as I say; it’s about thinking together and working hard. This kind of behavior…”
“I know. I know. But… just for now, I want to stay like this.”
I wanted to hold her a bit longer, but I wasn’t one to lose control. So I gently released her, but Ansol quickly snuggled back into my arms, nodding earnestly.
“I’ll do my best. I’ll work hard enough to make you proud… so…”
“So?”
“Can we stay like this a little longer?”
”…”
“Please stroke my hair. Quickly.”
Taking my silence as agreement, Ansol rubbed her face against me, urging me on. Watching her, I shrugged and raised my hand. Today marked a turning point in how she saw me.
“How’s your body feeling?”
“Great. I checked this morning, and my endurance stat went up by one. It’s amazing how quickly I recover. I feel more flexible, too.”
“Well, as a melee fighter, you need to focus on endurance. Otherwise, you’ll end up fragile.”
“Haha.”
Hyun seemed pleased with his improved stats, laughing cheerfully. Yujeong pouted beside him, but she seemed happy too. Watching Hyun, I felt a twinge of envy. I wanted to boost my stamina as well…
If you sustain injuries that exceed your stat limits, your endurance might decrease. But if you only slightly exceed them or get injured just below your limit, you can increase your endurance with proper healing. Just like how a broken bone heals stronger, the body adapts to certain levels of injury.
Leaving Hyun to show off his recovery by twirling his spear, I packed up the camp. After a quick breakfast, we set off again toward the alchemist’s dungeon.
I was certain the traces we’d seen at the forest’s edge weren’t from vagrants. I was following their trail, after all. The fact that the trail hadn’t disappeared and continued deeper into the forest suggested they were heading somewhere significant. I suspected that “somewhere” was the ancient alchemist Vivian’s dungeon.
“Feels like we’re in for another swarm today.”
Ahn Hyun, who had been keeping watch, stepped forward and spoke up. It seemed like he was referring to the battle with the wolf pack yesterday. Even as he spoke, he remained vigilant, and I decided to join the conversation.
“That fight was definitely the most dangerous one yet. It’s not common to see them come out in such numbers, though it’s not unheard of either. Anyway, once we finish this expedition and head back, let’s get you some proper gloves.”
“Gloves…? Oh, you mean armor? I’m wearing the basic gear we got from the User Academy…”
“That’s just leather, so you can’t expect much protection from it. As a spearman, chainmail or scale armor would be more practical and easier to move in than plate mail.”
“Ah, I see. I know a bit about weapons, but not much about armor. Thinking back to yesterday’s fight, having better armor would definitely help. I could focus more on attacking with my spear if I didn’t have to worry so much about defense… But wouldn’t buying all that cost a fortune?”
I nodded at Hyun’s words. Quality armor from a reputable shop is often beyond the reach of beginners. Most of us are too busy just trying to make ends meet, let alone afford new gear. Even getting new weapons for our first expedition was a luxury that other novices might envy.
“That’s true. Unless we strike it rich, there’s no guarantee of a steady income even as experienced users. We’ll have to save up carefully and acquire things one step at a time.”
“Well, if it comes to that, we still have the GP from the initiation ceremony, so don’t worry too much.”
“Absolutely not. Like I said before, that’s a last resort. We need to save the GP for when we really need it. Let’s make do with what we have for now.”
“Ugh, money is always the issue, isn’t it?”
I chuckled at Hyun’s prematurely old-sounding complaint and nodded. Among our group, Hyun was undoubtedly the one who had adapted best to the Hall Plain. His awareness of his need for better armor and his foresight were commendable.
After a brief chat with Hyun, I activated my detection and third eye abilities. The traces left by the users who went ahead were becoming clearer. At this rate, we could catch up to them by tomorrow or the day after.
Of course, I had no intention of joining forces with them. If luck was on our side and we found the dungeon first, I planned to claim the rights. Experienced users would understand the importance of first discovery. But even if we didn’t find it first, I wasn’t too worried.
<It seems they stumbled upon it by chance and failed, ending up dead. Well, calling them dead might not be entirely accurate. Three of them… or maybe just one. What I mean is…>
The Alchemist’s Dungeon isn’t supposed to be discovered yet. I remember uncovering the Cave of Wailing two years from now, followed by the Alchemist’s Dungeon a few months later. But if the caravan ahead of us found it, and if my hunch is correct, they would be wiped out. They likely failed to conquer the dungeon and perished inside.
If they found it first, we could just wait nearby for a few days. Eventually, we’d find their bodies. They might even clear some of the traps and monsters at the entrance, making it easier for us to enter later. Plus, we could collect their equipment, which would be quite profitable.
Having calculated all this in my head, I quickened my pace. I was eager to deal with the dungeon and move on to explore the Ruined Laboratory and the Cave of Wailing. The others, unaware of my thoughts, simply followed my lead as I sped up.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Royujin.
Hyun and Sol are starting to change their perspectives. Now, only Yujung remains…
What hidden backstory does Sol have? Please look forward to it. :)
『 Reader Comments 』
CrossDie: Congratulations on being first again! As expected of the renowned first commenter. Hehe.
Saramin: Yes! I’ll continue to write without forgetting my initial resolve. Thank you for always leaving comments, Saramin. :)
Aintje: I hope you enjoy episode 54 as well. (__)
GradeRown: Haha, I can see why you’d think that. There’s a noticeable difference in Suhyun’s attitude between the first episode and now, and that’s intentional. The glimpses of his true self are his original personality. I hope the stamina question is resolved in this episode.
Phantom: In the upcoming story, you’re correct. The reason for killing the vagrants is that leaving them alive could become troublesome. Upon rereading, it does seem like the noise they made was annoying. Oh, and… about continuous updates… um. (Runs away!)
Kiacel: The sense of disparity is intentional, so please keep watching as the story progresses. I definitely need to pay more attention to the presence of the surrounding companions. Thank you for the valuable advice. :)
Neisha: I understand why you might think that. However, Suhyun has already proven his
Amhyangin: There was a mention in a previous episode. The kids talked to Suhyun about the GP, but he told them to save it. It was probably just two or three paragraphs, so you might have missed it.
15420011: Yes, the kids are smart. They can handle things well on their own, but when they don’t fulfill their roles, Suhyun gets angry. If they had said,
Blami: Thank you. Your supportive comments keep me typing. Hehehe.
I read all the comments repeatedly. Please don’t feel too disappointed if you’re not mentioned in the reader comments. If you’re really curious, send me a message, and I’ll reply! (Please leave lots of comments! And recommendations… ☞☜)
That’s all for today.
I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.
Pre-selections, recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.