episode_0018

7. Falcon Gang (2)

After defeating the boss guy, I was exhausted, so I just laid down in the barrier of ‘Kurtana’ that was protecting Hyunseok and Yeonseo.

When I came to, I felt a bit cold, so I hugged something warm nearby and tried to sleep a little longer.

But then I heard someone’s voice.

” Heung~ You want to hug me while I’m sleeping? You’re really a blessing. Our beloved. ”

When I heard that, my eyes shot open and I fell down screaming at the sight of Hyunseok right in front of me.

” Whoa~! Ah… no! Heh heh… haa, haa, ”

” That’s too bad, if only it had lasted a little longer it would have been really fun. ”

When I looked up, Yeonseo was looking at me and Hyeonseok with her arms crossed, as if her tired body had fully recovered.

” When did you wake up? Are you feeling okay? ”

” I just woke up right before you hugged Hyunseok. I was half asleep, but thanks to you, I woke up completely. Hehe. ”

I used ‘Holy Fire’ to create a sword of flame and prepared to blow it away towards Yeonseo, who was laughing while covering her mouth with her hand.

” Stop… kidding…! ”

” Okay, okay, I get it, so don’t lose your strength. More importantly, what kind of technique is that? ”

” This? It’s nothing. It’s just a flame made of divine power that changed its shape? ”

” Hey, you don’t have a name? You probably have a name. ”

I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Do these tricks really need names? I’m not the type to name techniques in the first place.

” You don’t have to give it a name or anything? ”

” You asked me to show you my skills earlier? ”

” Well, Yeonseo, your skills are cool! The designs of the statues are cool too, so that’s it. ”

” Huh~ I think Charlotte’s skills are pretty good too? ”

” Okay. If you’re so worried about it, you can just do it later. ”

” Really?! Alright. Are you looking forward to it? ”

Well, no, I guess I shouldn’t have asked you to build it.

But since I’ve already said it, there’s nothing I can do.

How can I tell her not to do that when she already has such ‘bright’ eyes?

” What time is it now? Do you know how much we’re passed out? ”

” Let’s see… 7pm? Well, I passed out for a while, right? ”

” What, ‘Right? ‘ Hey!? Sigh, how should I get compensation for that? Since it’s my first time, I didn’t know, so I just left it as it was. ”

Then Yeonseo looked around and looked at a certain place.

” Ah! You just need to take the device to the tombstone over there. ”

” Really? Then shouldn’t we wake up Hyunseok first? ”

” That’s right. ”

*****

After waking up Hyunseok and putting ‘Kurtana’ back in its scabbard, we approached the tombstone.

” Ha~am, sorry. I fell first. ”

Hyunseok yawns and apologizes to me.

Rather, it is I who should be sorry.

” No, it’s okay. You were trying to protect me, right? ”

” Yeah, it’s okay because I was trying to act like a prince to protect our Bul-yeosi. ”

” If you’re okay with it, then that’s great. Hoo, Yeonseo, why are you suddenly doing this to me? ”

Hyunseok glared at Yeonseo with a slightly red face, and I shouted loudly.

” What?! You’re the prince! Stop talking nonsense! ”

” Heung~ Who was that guy you were hugging while saying that? ”

I quickly covered Yeonseo’s mouth and turned around, but fortunately Hyunseok didn’t seem to know what she was saying.

” Seriously… Don’t… say useless things…! ”

” Okay, okay, I got it, Princess~ ”

” Hey..! ”

Hyunseok saw us fighting and smiled

” Phew, we’ve really gotten to know each other better now? ”

” That’s… Well, if you fight like this, risking your life, wouldn’t friendship naturally develop? ”

” Charlotte, that’s such a young boy’s thought haha. ”

When I saw Hyunseok smiling, I felt a little embarrassed and thought that I was thinking too childishly.

Honestly, I know from my experience in this world that when you fight like this, risking your life for each other, things can turn out the way they did before.

Even at that time, some people who were not close to each other but had some reputation gathered together and fought on the same side only then to survive.

After that, we became close and spent a lot of time together and helped each other out.

So, you can’t necessarily say that it’s a childish thought. Anyway, that’s how it is!

” Ahem, so I just bring the device here? Then where does the reward come from? ”

Let’s ask them both before coughing and holding the device up to the tombstone.

” That’s right, that’s how it is. And the reward will fall right before your eyes. ”

As Yeonseo spoke, she brought my hand, which was holding the device, to the tombstone.

” What? Wait, you should say that first!? ”

Then, a hologram of the device began to glow and the contents of the reward were revealed.

[The Magic Stone Generator has been unlocked.]

And then there was this strange box floating in front of me, so I touched it and it was no longer floating and was resting on my hand.

” Hey? What’s that? ”

When I pointed to the box and asked, Yeonseo came closer and looked at it.

” Hmm, a box like this could be an artifact? Well, it looks like it could contain something like that? ”

” Oh! Really?! Should I open it? ”

When I opened the box, there were about ten cross-shaped brooches inside.

As I listened to one, information about the brooch began to pop into my head.

” Oh, is that so? Hmm, it’s not that great, but it’s usable. ”

” Charlotte, what’s wrong? ”

Hyunseok also came to me as if he was quite curious and asked me along with Yeonseo, unable to hide his curious expression.

” It is a brooch that can contain the divine power that I have. It is an ‘artifact’ that becomes bound from the moment I give it with the divine power.

As long as there is divine power stored in it, if you get seriously injured, the divine power stored in the brooch will immediately come out and heal you.

Of course, it’s a disposable item that disappears after that. ”

” Pretty good, isn’t it? ” Hyunseok thought positively.

Yeonseo ” Well, it’s okay. Then is it my turn now? ”

Well, it’s the same reaction as usual.

It’s the usual Yeonseo where she doesn’t care about anything that doesn’t interest her, like when she’s teasing me or something.

After that, Yeonseo and Hyeonseok also received compensation.

In the case of Yeonseo, it is a magic stone Polaroid that can be used continuously by putting magic stones in it.

But unexpectedly, he seemed to like it and kept taking pictures of himself, Hyunseok, and me, smiling.

” Quite, do you like it? ”

” Huh? Oh, yeah. Right. Actually, before the world became like this, I liked taking pictures. Especially animals. ”

It was a truly unexpected reaction.

Even seeing Yeonseo smiling so brightly feels like it’s the first time I’ve seen her.

” What’s wrong? Our little girl. Are you jealous of this? ”

” What?! What the hell are you talking about? I just thought you were pretty when I saw you smiling so brightly. ”

Then Yeonseo suddenly blushed

” You’re really so unaware, you damn fool… You’re trying to fool people. ”

He turned his head away from me, saying something incomprehensible, and walked away.

‘What the hell is he talking about? He’s… ”

And what did Hyunseok get?

” Hmm, can I take this with me…? ”

” Is it still a little difficult? ”

” Huh? No, it’s not that heavy, but it’s big, so carrying it around seems like a problem. ”

A large backpack in front of Hyunseok.

At first I wondered what it was, so I took it out of my backpack and saw that it was a tent.

Of course, it wasn’t just any ordinary tent, it was a magical tent with something like magic hanging on it.

” It looks like a tent straight out of a fantasy wizard novel. ” said Yeonseo.

It was exactly that kind of tent.

When I finished setting up the tent and opened it, it looked pretty nice because it had various tools and a bed.

” If I press somewhere or something, will it get smaller? ”

” Is that so? But I have no idea where that is. ”

So Hyun-seok and I were touching the backpack containing the tent here and there, and our hands ended up touching the logo on the backpack.

The backpack became small enough to be picked up with one hand, which was a good thing.

” Oh, I guess this was the right answer? Thanks, Charlotte. ”

” Huh? No, Hyunseok, you probably got the answer right. ”

Hyunseok and I, who were looking at each other like that, held each other’s stomachs and laughed for a moment.

*****

Since I cleared the tower and received my reward, I had no reason to stay in the tower any longer, so I manipulated the tombstone to get out of the tower.

It’s been quite some time and now it’s completely night outside.

But the difference is that since the tower was cleared, the devastation stopped and regeneration began again.

The old, twisted tree greeted us with new, light green leaves.

The slightly chilly but pleasant night breeze swayed the growing grass and leaves, giving a cool feeling.

‘This is the view you can see when you conquer the tower! It was hard, but it’s nice to see this place that used to be a wasteland turn into this.’

As I was looking at the changed forest, I became worried about Mr. Dosik who was in the settlement.

” Then should we go back now? I’m worried about Mr. Dosik too. ”

As I spoke while looking at the two of them, Yeonseo thought for a moment and then

” Charlotte. I couldn’t use it before, but can I use the artifact that the bandit gave me? ”

” What are you talking about? You couldn’t use it before? ”

Hyunseok asked Yeonseo and me as if he was wondering what was going on.

” I couldn’t use it for a while just now, how are you now, Charlotte? ”

Yeonseo ignored his words and asked me.

” I think it’s available now. Should I use it now? ”

” It would be nice to use the tent that Hyunseok got earlier here. Of course, the atmosphere is like that too.

But now is not the time for that. We have to go find the brat who ran off alone, right? ”

” So let’s use it quickly and go back, is that it? ”

” Well, that’s right. And even though Hyunseok looks like that, he’ll still have a hard time moving. Right? ”

” Huh? No, am I okay? ”

Then Yeonseo, who went behind Hyunseok, lightly hit his back.

” Even like this? ”

” Ugh… I’m… sorry. ”

I thought it was okay since it looked the same as usual, but it looks like it’s still hard.

” Hyunseok, seeing you like that, I guess Yeonseo will be the same. ”

Yeonseo was avoiding my eyes and whistling quietly while keeping an eye on me.

” Yeah, let’s go quickly anyway, rest, and check if the old men found out anything. ”

So we moved to the Mokdong settlement using the artifact that Uncle Dosik gave us.

*****

At that time, in the room of Kang Han-cheol, the leader of the Mokdong settlement,

Hodushik and Kanghancheol were reading a letter while sweating profusely.

‘We have your daughter with us, so we ask that you grant our demands.

Otherwise, we can’t guarantee what will happen to your daughter.’

There was a letter written in just two lines, along with a certificate proving Ara’s affiliation with the Mokdong settlement.