Episode 44: Attribute Awakener

Karang found Bulldog Ajussi.

As soon as I heard the news from Horizon, I ran to find Karang.

At the place I followed Horizon to, Karang was holding a long smoking pipe.

,Oh, you’re here.

For some reason, the smoking pipe she was holding looked familiar.

,That smoking pipe.

,Huh? You have an eye for things. It’s a smoking pipe made by a well-known artisan.

,No. It’s not that I have an eye for things, it’s just that I’ve seen an acquaintance use the same one.

It was the smoking pipe that Ririran used before she was attacked by Cosmic Jak.

,You used the same one as me?

Karang raised one eyebrow, then soon wore a ‘no way’ expression.

,Is it Ririran-nim?

,Do you happen to know her?

,Of course, I was the one who gave her that smoking pipe as a gift.

Just like Inferno, the world is truly small.

To be exact, it’s probably because Ririran or Karang are in such influential positions.

Even on Earth, the presidents of each country know the faces of the rulers of other countries or their close aides.

It wasn’t strange that Karang, the madam of Dream Flower Pavilion, had a wide network, even if she wasn’t the monarch of a country.

,She’s a good person. I respect her as a fellow woman.

I shouldn’t mention that Ririran recently died once.

,I heard you found something regarding Bulldog Ajussi.

,That’s right. Horizon delivered the message well.

She tapped the ash off her smoking pipe and stood up.

,First of all, the person from the Radiant Faith Order that I mentioned before came again. That person really likes one of our kids.

Even if they belong to a cult, they’re still men.

Their love for women hasn’t changed.

,So I hinted at it to that kid, and they told me this and that.

,Is it okay for a member of a cult to be so loose-lipped?

,Did you forget? This is Nox.

A lawless zone.

I’m reminded once again of what that means.

Nox was a world where even members of cults could openly walk around.

,Anyway, when I asked about someone named Bulldog, they said he was a new recruit who recently joined the Radiant Faith Order.

,Huh?

After hearing the next words, I stupidly asked back.

I doubted my ears, wondering what I had just heard.

Bulldog Ajussi belongs to the Radiant Faith Order?

Isn’t it just someone with the same name?

,After further checking, they said he’s a magician who handles fire and lightning.

Damn it, it’s really Bulldog Ajussi.

I’m confused.

Why would Bulldog Ajussi join the Radiant Faith Order?

That guy might have a rough mouth, but he’s someone who doesn’t discriminate against anyone.

He even employed me, who didn’t even reveal my ability properly and was a nobody, for several months.

Perhaps he joined the Radiant Faith Order with some other purpose in mind.

My head became complicated.

,Did you hear anything else?

,I couldn’t ask more than that. It could raise unnecessary suspicion.

But seeing as they said he’s a new recruit, he probably isn’t in the same place as the cult members.

I’ve additionally entrusted it to guys who are good at finding people.

,Thank you. I’m counting on you.

,I’m the one who’s glad to be able to repay my debt, so I feel relieved.

I don’t know what happened to Bulldog Ajussi.

One thing is certain, he’s safe.

I decided to take comfort in that as much as possible.

Still, there’s one thing that bothers me separately from this.

It’s the fact that Bulldog Ajussi’s wife hasn’t been mentioned anywhere.

She was a kinder woman than the beast-like Bulldog Ajussi.

I hope nothing bad happened to her.

* * *

Radiant Faith Order.

Bulldog Ajussi.

While my head was complicated due to these two issues, I completed the week that Karang had entrusted to me.

As I faithfully fulfilled my role as a Holy Magician, I healed most of the common soldiers and injuries.

Fortunately, there weren’t any major illnesses besides the previous hundred people during the week.

I just used Holy Magic to my heart’s content without Resurrection Magic.

Thanks to that, I had the opportunity to use Holy Magic in practice, and my proficiency increased.

Now, I can easily heal light sword wounds and colds.

Raphael would be very happy if she knew.

If the work at the Grace Magic Tower ends, there will come a day when I can see her again someday.

Until then, I will achieve so much that she will be surprised.

,You’ve worked hard. Here’s your weekly wage.

As I finished preparing to leave Dream Flower Pavilion, Karang handed me a bag filled with gold.

,It’s quite heavy, did you perhaps give me a bonus too?

,I know our kids are grateful to you and gave you quite a bit of stuff, so I told them not to make your journey heavy.

,Haha, you’re quick to notice.

Indeed, even if they weren’t items that could be immediately processed, I received quite a bit of valuables.

The women of Dream Flower Pavilion receive numerous gift offensives from the men who adore them.

And those gifts were passed on to me.

Is this what it feels like to be a host living off the money given by women in the entertainment industry?

I don’t know well, but I thought of it as a reward for working diligently and kept it.

,You’ve worked hard. If there’s work again next time, can I call you again?

,I’m a diamond customer, so I have to go on a business trip anytime. Just call me.

Thanks to Horizon, I gained a hefty source of income.

I had to act with all my heart for the regulars who would steadily appear in the future.

Karang smiled gently.

,Thank you. You’re truly a benefactor of Dream Flower Pavilion. Everyone in Dream Flower Pavilion will remember you in their hearts, so ask for Dream Flower Pavilion’s help anytime.

Even if they don’t say it out loud, they will cherish me in their hearts.

That’s the deep meaning contained within.

,And Horizon, please take good care of that kid.

My eyes saw Horizon talking with Babiyen.

Horizon was asking Babiyen if she was okay, but Babiyen refrained from speaking as much as possible.

She had a face that reminded her once again of what she had done.

,She’s changed quite a bit since living outside.

,If she’s changed, is it for the better?

,It must be for the better. She used to be more quiet and shy.

When I heard that she brought someone, I didn’t even think it was that kid.

,People grow in their own way.

,That’s also true, but it must mean that you guys are trustworthy enough.

I don’t think I’ve done anything particularly trustworthy.

It seems that the incident in the Moss Flower Cave was a bigger memory for Horizon than I thought.

,So please take good care of her in the future too.

,I’m the one receiving help.

,If that’s the case, then that’s a relief.

Horizon is competent.

So I was also indebted to her.

With that, we decided to leave Dream Flower Pavilion.

Bang!

At that moment when we left Dream Flower Pavilion, the windows of the Dream Flower Pavilion building opened all at once.

There, the women were scattering flowers on the path we were taking.

,Thank you. Saint-nim!

,I will never forget this grace of saving my life!

,Come as a guest next time! I will definitely repay your kindness!

The flower petals mingled with the lights of the red-light district and shone beautifully.

It was such a beautiful sight that even Aransol and Babiyen, who were next to me, were mesmerized.

,Everyone is really sincerely grateful.

As Horizon said.

Their gratitude was contained in these flower petals.

,How is it, Aransol? It’s not worthless, is it?

If I hadn’t healed them, I wouldn’t have seen this scene.

Just this alone was enough to justify saving them.

,Yeah, it’s beautiful.

Aransol also smiled brightly and walked through the flower petals with excited steps.

Is it because the original is outstanding?

The sight of Aransol walking ahead through the flower petals was so beautiful that it was as if a goddess had descended.

,You’re completely lost in thought. Lost.

I heard Babiyen’s grumbling voice next to me, but I decided to ignore it lightly.

＊＊＊

After that, Horizon also took charge of guiding us back.

,Horizon, you could have stayed longer.

Dream Flower Pavilion is Horizon’s hometown.

There was no need for her to rush out of her hometown, which she had come to after a long time, because of us.

,It’s okay. I’ve graduated from Dream Flower Pavilion.

Horizon seemed very mature.

Separately from that, Babiyen remained silent throughout.

As soon as our eyes met, her eyes trembled, it seemed she was quite embarrassed by what happened when she was mentally attacked.

,Is it just me who hasn’t done anything? My body feels a bit stiff.

Meanwhile, Aransol wore a somewhat uneasy expression.

Come to think of it, Aransol had been lying down the whole time, and this time she just did some training and was going back.

It must have been boring for her this time.

,I can quickly resolve that stiffness.

I willingly offered Aransol an opportunity.

In front of the path Horizon was heading towards.

A group of people were quietly blocking the path.

With scar marks and grim appearances, they were undoubtedly dressed as bandits.

,Oh, th-there.

Even though she’s active on the ground now, Horizon is also a resident of Nox.

She was flustered that the same Nox people were blocking her path.

But it was wrong to expect a sense of kinship from barbaric bandits in the first place.

Bandits really don’t attack those who look rich.

Rich people tend to have their own means of defense.

But the nouveau riche are different.

It’s easy to rob someone who has just earned a large sum of money.

Because they’re most careless when they’ve earned money.

Like those guys who stabbed me in the stomach and ran away with only the money on the first day I finished my Pioneer work.

Anyway, they’re barbaric otherworlders who were born as bandits.

Some people express their gratitude for saving their lives.

Some people come to harm lives for money.

It was a Nox-like world.

,Hey, you guys there, why don’t you put down your bundles and have a chat?

Besides, these guys probably have nothing to lose.

We came as guests of Dream Flower Pavilion.

The fact that they’re attacking that means that these guys are in that much of a desperate situation.

,Hic!

At that moment, I felt a heavy sensation behind my back.

When I turned my head to see what it was, there was Babiyen attached to my back.

Babiyen and my eyes met.

Doubt swirled in both my and her eyes at the same time.

Babiyen isn’t the type of person to be scared of anyone.

She was a woman who fearlessly stood up against her teacher’s injustice.

Why is she clinging to my back in surprise right now?

,…Babiyen.

,N-no, th-that’s, this is!

Judging by this, she still has the habits from when she was Baby Babiyen.

,…Harua?

Then, for some reason, Aransol looked at me with slightly sharp eyes.

It meant, ‘Why are you sticking with Babiyen in this situation?’

,Babiyen is still a baby.

,Wh-who’s a baby!

Babiyen screamed in horror.

She was pulling her head back as far as she could, but her body was still attached to my back.

,Eeeeeek!

Babiyen struggled desperately in terror.

For some reason, I felt like I was looking at a mouse caught in a mousetrap.

,Haa, that’s not what I meant when I said I wanted to do something.

Meanwhile, Aransol took a breath and created a sword from her grasp.

It was Aransol’s exclusive sword given by the Sword Monarch.

Pajik-

At that moment, I saw red sparks flying.

I rubbed my eyes, thinking I had seen it wrong, and then opened them.

Pajijijik!

At that moment, red sparks formed on the sword and bounced up.

,That’s.

,Aransol-ssi, were you an attribute awakener?

Horizon revealed a surprised expression.

Attribute awakener, what’s that?

It was something I didn’t even know as a Pioneer’s common sense.

,…You seem to not know, but it’s not just magicians who have seeds.

Then, this time, Babiyen finally fell off my back with a very embarrassed face.

She trembled with a face that showed she was terrified.

Why are you like this? I don’t want to be stuck with you either.

Meanwhile, Babiyen added an additional explanation.

,Anyone has a natural attribute depending on their seed.

Magicians are cases where they develop this extremely, but there are rare cases where swordsmen also awaken their seeds.

That’s what they call an attribute awakener.

As far as I knew, Aransol wasn’t an attribute awakener.

That means she awakened this time after eating the elixir.

I realized once again how mysterious the elixir given by the Designated Merchant was.

When sparks flew from Aransol’s sword, the bandit members hesitated.

They also had expressions that showed they knew the fear of attribute awakeners.

,What are you hesitating for, you morons! We have more people!

When the bandit members behind pushed them, the ones in front were pushed forward as they were.

This place happened to be an alleyway.

If you push from behind, there was nowhere to retreat.

,Those who don’t want to fight, put down your weapons and lie down.

Even more intense red sparks flew from Aransol’s sword.

,Or you’ll suffer a terrible fate.

Kaang-

When Aransol lightly struck the wall with her sword, intense red sparks bounced up.

Murderous intent flickered in her eyes.

It was a sincere statement.

,Fight!

,Look at the numbers, what are you scared of!

,If we don’t earn anything today, we’re done for anyway!

In the end, the bandit members rushed at Aransol all at once.

At the point of committing banditry in Nox, they were the lowest of the low.

They had nothing to lose.

When they rushed at her, Aransol leaned forward without hesitation.

At the same time, she stomped on the ground and shot forward like a bullet.

The sword, which soared fiercely from below, cut through one of the bandit members.

Then, the sparks that spread from the sword wrapped around the bandit member’s body.

,Aaaaaaak!

The bandit member writhed on the floor as he was electrocuted with a death cry.

He trembled on the floor, showing symptoms of electrocution.

Aransol didn’t stop there.

She plunged into the bandit members and swung her sword as if showing a dance.

Each time, a bandit member was electrocuted and fell.

Watching that scene, I realized how dangerous attribute awakeners were.

Unlike magicians, who have a limit on casting magic, they were fatally wounded every time they swung their swords.

,R-run away!

,Damn it, we’re screwed. Run! Run!

In the end, the bandit members gave up and started to flee.

Seeing that, Aransol shook off the red current by swinging her sword instead of chasing them further.

,Horizon.

,Y-yes!

However, I didn’t have as kind a heart as Aransol.

As soon as I called Horizon, she, who had lived in Nox, understood what it meant.

Shadows soared from under the feet of the fleeing bandit members.

Kudangtang!

They were instantly tied up and sprawled on the floor.

While Aransol turned around with a surprised face, I moved my steps.

,Aransol, those who are bandit members are guys who have other thoughts if they return alive.

Babiyen followed me by my side.

She was already creating flames in her grasp.

Baby Babiyen was quick-witted.

,We have to make an example so that they don’t dream of revenge when we come next time.

When I gestured, Babiyen threw flames at those who were tied up by the shadows.

The bandit members screamed as their bodies burned and rolled on the floor.

,Babiyen, turn it off.

At my command, Babiyen gestured and the flames went out.

At the same time, Babiyen looked down at her hand with a reluctant face.

,…My magic efficiency has increased because I went berserk.

Did she grow without even realizing it?

Thinking that good is good, I stood in front of the bandit member who was burned.

Then, I stepped on the hand of the guy who was giving the orders earlier.

Kwajik!

The sound of fragile bones breaking echoed because his body was burned.

,Aaaaaaak!

The bandit member screamed at the top of his lungs, but there was no one to help him.

This is Nox.

It’s the place where the principle of survival of the fittest is best applied.

I gave Holy Magic to his grasp.

Then his hand started to recover little by little and I stepped on it again.

,Heueok, eok!

,Remember our faces well today.

I hate bandits.

I despise those social evils who gave me my first wage and second death.

So there was no reason to show mercy to the trash who harm others under the pretext of being socially disadvantaged.

,If something like this happens next time, I will never let you die.

His face turned white.

He knew well that it was a threat worse than threatening to kill him.

He nodded his head like crazy.

It was a satisfactory answer.

When I took my foot off him, my eyes met Aransol’s.

,Did you become disillusioned?

When I asked just in case, Aransol shrugged her shoulders and made her sword smaller.

,Are we the kind of people who would feel disillusioned by something like this?

That’s true.

,Rather, I learned something. I think I lacked poison.

,No, I don’t think that point is bad.

Aransol’s kindness isn’t a bad thing.

It’s just that the world is wrong for not returning kindness properly.

And I know best that I can’t change the world.

So neither Aransol nor I become disillusioned.

It’s just that this is the kind of world it is.

,Uh, uh, are we just doing this much and sending them away?

Horizon tilted her head from side to side with her sword drawn in both hands before I knew it.

She had an atmosphere as if she was about to dismantle someone at any moment.

Is it because I heard that she’s from Nox?

She looks timid on the outside, but she often shows a creepy side.

But Horizon didn’t ask further and let them go.

,It’s strange. Even so, Nox didn’t touch the guests of the same neighborhood family.

Horizon tilted her head while looking at the bandit members.

,…Could there be some circumstances?

,It’s none of our business.

Anyone would have circumstances.

But that didn’t mean there was any reason to consider those circumstances.

,Let’s go back.

I saw all the good and bad sides of Nox.

Now it was time to breathe in the outside air.