Ch.143Eden Guard+

# 143. Edenguard+

‘But why is this person so nervous?’

The common opinion was to rest today, regardless of tourism or guides or whatever. While we were deciding which tavern to stay at, a man I’d never seen before spotted us and shouted “Veritas!”

So I thought, ‘Ah, he’s Korean! The hypothesis that others besides us came to the tower was correct!’ I just wanted to ask him various questions, but…

“Sunghyun. If a stranger suddenly approaches you, grabs your shoulder, and tries to talk to you or ask questions, wouldn’t anyone be startled?”

That’s… fair.

I admitted that I got excited.

But looking at the raid members’ expressions and reactions, they seemed rather calm, making it look like I was the only one getting worked up.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I was just too happy to see you.”

“Ah, ah, yes.”

“Since you called us Veritas, you’re Korean, right?”

“Y-yes, I am.”

My fatigue temporarily vanished. I nodded at Seyeon.

“You guys go ahead and get rooms to rest. I’ll talk with this person and join you later.”

“Yes, captain. Come quickly.”

“Yeah.”

I sent the visibly exhausted raid members to the tavern first, even though they were trying to hide it. It would be better for this person to deal with one person rather than seven.

‘…Or not?’

Seeing the man glancing at the backs of the raid members, it seemed like he might prefer the company of those incredibly beautiful women, even in their disheveled state.

Anyway, I picked up Danya who remained by my side instead of following the others, and said:

“Would you like to talk over something to eat?”

“Ah, ah, yes.”

**

‘Huh… he says there are at least dozens, maybe even hundreds of people that he knows of.’

Even church people offer small yogurts or snacks when evangelizing. I couldn’t just interrogate a stranger without offering something in return.

After providing various things to the man who had led the “Anyway Goddess Is The Problem” raid team, I asked him questions one by one. Despite being extremely nervous at first meeting, he was actually quite articulate.

“There are raid leaders who try to climb the tower later because they can’t stand the Panoja life, but they’re as rare as hen’s teeth. Frankly speaking, the common trait among people who fell into this tower is that they cleared the Mensima raid. Anyone who played that far would understand how dangerous it is to wander around this world with their actual bodies instead of game characters, even without being told.”

“That’s true.”

“The underlying consciousness of the Panojas staying here is that the advance teams who started first will pioneer the tower, just like they pioneered the game.”

“I see.”

“If this place were one massive connected world like the game, it might be different, but since it’s divided into separate floors… they just gave up easily.”

The “Anyway Goddess Is The Problem” raid leader, or AGIP for short, was describing the current situation somewhat self-deprecatingly.

Saying he was also one of those “Panojas” (Fantasy World Workers).

“But how did you get here? Can you perhaps move freely between floors…?”

“No, nothing like that. It was a one-time possibility just for us. The city where we were supposed to rest got destroyed.”

“Ah… then, where have you been?”

“Majikant.”

“Majikant! Majikant.”

Since it seemed rude to just interrogate him, I politely shared some information too.

“So to summarize, the people currently remaining in Edenguard have no will to climb, and although there’s still occasional influx of new people, that flow has significantly decreased. Some people challenge the upper floors, but there’s been no news from them. Before entering the tower, you knew nothing about the disappearance of raid leaders. You only learned how many people had vanished after entering the tower.”

“That’s correct.”

It was nice to hear about Korea after so long, but that was it. There wasn’t anything particularly helpful. Though disappointing, I didn’t think I’d get any more meaningful information by asking further questions, so I was about to get up when:

“Veritas… you’ll succeed in clearing this time too, as always, right?”

“Well, I can’t promise that. We’re trying our best, though.”

“Will we be able to return home?”

The AGIP raid leader’s question made me pause.

“Today, while getting this takeout, I felt the ‘familiarity’ of this Panoja business and the everyday fatigue that comes with it. It hit me so hard I had to sit down on a bench.”

“Hmm.”

“Whether we can return or not is vague right now, but it’s scary how this lifestyle itself is becoming familiar. Maybe that’s why I drink alcohol every day and dig up memories. For fear of breaking down otherwise.”

He seemed anxious, fidgeting with his hands and fingers restlessly before bowing his head to me with a request.

“I know it’s a huge burden to ask this of someone I just met, but could you be our hope?”

“Hope?”

“We’re trapped here doing Panoja work without any hope, withering away. But if a raid team that has properly climbed the tower, that maintained the top position for over a year, is actively progressing… if other Panojas hear this news…”

They might be able to live with a bit of hope.

I held back a sigh that was about to escape at the AGIP raid leader’s words. I knew I couldn’t offer any encouraging words, even empty ones.

Who climbs the tower without fear?

When I came to Edenguard, except for Seyeon, there were no Koreans.

Even for a top-ranked raid team, getting hit hurts and getting stabbed kills.

Besides, even if we leave Edenguard in a few days, wouldn’t we just be giving them false hope without any real benefit?

But.

‘If it weren’t for Seyeon, I might have been one of them too. Though I probably would have formed a party with other raid leaders and attempted to climb.’

Thinking this way, I could understand this person’s perspective.

Our arrival here was a special case. If our climbing gives them hope, it seems petty to calculate the benefits.

“We came here to rest, so we don’t want things to get noisy. I’d appreciate it if you could keep quiet about us until we leave the city.”

“Ah…!”

Honestly, I considered refusing to avoid unnecessary complications, but since we’re going to leave to climb again anyway, I can’t control what this person says or does.

So I thought the best option was to avoid any awkwardness between fellow gamers while ensuring our rest period wouldn’t be disturbed.

“Thank you. Thank you so much. Thanks to you, I think I’ll overcome my existential crisis! Other raid leaders might also be encouraged when they hear this news.”

“It’s nothing.”

“But, that cat…”

“That’s a secret.”

“Ah, yes.”

There’s no reason to tell him about Danya.

With a handshake, I ended this meeting with a Korean person I hadn’t seen in a long time.

**

Meanwhile, the six Veritas members who arrived in Onor rented rooms, two people per room, and quickly dispersed to their respective rooms. It was natural since their leader Sunghyun wasn’t there, and they were extremely tired.

The youngest duo, Seyeon and Yuri, assigned to room 304, quickly showered, changed into comfortable clothes, and dived onto the bed.

“Unni.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you feeling better now?”

“Haha, of course. I’m fine.”

They were close in the game, had the smallest age gap, and had been together in the tower almost from the beginning. They had developed a bond beyond friendship. They even had a special relationship where they didn’t deny each other’s existence despite liking the same man.

“Unni.”

“Hmm…?”

Less than a minute after lying down, Yuri pulled Seyeon back from the brink of dreamland. Yuri moved to Seyeon’s bed and snuggled into her arms. Since this wasn’t the first time, Seyeon naturally patted Yuri’s back while keeping her eyes half-closed.

“Yuri…?”

“You know, unni.”

“Yes.”

“When we were fighting that demon.”

“Yes.”

“Everyone did great, but… oppa was something else.”

“Ah… he really was the best. Even thinking about it now gives me chills.”

When the raid talk, especially about their beloved Sunghyun, came up, Seyeon’s eyes flew open.

“Especially when the captain shouted, ‘Seyeon, block it!’… ah.”

“I was terrified then, thinking something might happen to you.”

“It did hurt a lot, but how should I put it… I felt like the captain was relying on me. Trusting me. That feeling hit me so hard that my body moved on its own, even knowing it was dangerous.”

“I know that feeling, I know. I feel the same.”

They talked for a while about their experiences during the raid. As Seyeon’s eyelids gradually drooped halfway:

“Unni.”

“Hmm…?”

“With such an amazing oppa, the other unnis might confess to him anytime.”

“…?!”

Seyeon’s bloodshot eyes from fatigue flew wide open again.

“T-that.”

“That flow is inevitable! But I think we need to consistently appeal our presence to oppa. What do you think?”

“That would be nice, but… how?”

Yuri giggled and whispered in Seyeon’s ear.

Seyeon’s face turned bright red.

“Y-you’re crazy, you’re crazy!”