Ch.17Ep.17: A Warning to Those from Another World

The reason for going down to the village was entirely because of Brina.

First, Kraud entrusted Brina to Radios Magnum, telling her to explore the world.

What sights should he show Brina, who was venturing outside the Demonic Prison for the first time?

If Brina had been an adult, he would have immediately taken her monster hunting.

But since she clearly appeared to be a minor, he wanted to give her many experiences.

However, this seemed like an excuse.

Perhaps Radios wanted to take a brief rest, even if he had to make such excuses.

Holding Brina’s hand tightly.

Arsia, watching his retreating back.

Somehow, she could almost visualize the burden carried on his shoulders.

The lives of countless Kadinant people, the lives of his Guardian Spirit comrades.

Bearing all of this, what was Radios hoping for, and where was he looking?

‘It’s awkward to tease him like I used to.’

She remembered how she used to tease him whenever she got the chance, but now she felt she couldn’t do that to Radios anymore.

He might think she was acting as if nothing had changed.

Arsia wished she could share even a little of the burden he carried.

After walking for about an hour from the Demonic Prison, they arrived at a small village.

Though it was called a village, it was more like a military settlement governed by the Tulcha Order.

Perhaps because of this, Brina said the village was full of bad people.

Inadvertently, her horns had become a measure for distinguishing between good and bad people.

‘But what’s the standard for good and bad people?’

Murder?

Radios and Arsia had committed more murders than most otherworlders.

The biggest hypothesis that could be inferred here was:

‘Does she perceive people with Outer God energy as bad and those with Olympus energy as good?’

Brina was, after all, a dokkaebi, one of the monsters born from the magical power rising from Cronos’s blood.

Naturally, Cronos’s energy would be circulating within Brina’s body as well.

Perhaps this seemingly far-fetched hypothesis might be correct.

‘I’ll have to observe more.’

Radios had completely changed his appearance, and Brina looked like a cheerful child to anyone who saw her.

Arsia had used polymorph magic to change her face, but there was still a high possibility of being discovered.

In other words, they couldn’t let their guard down just because they had entered the village.

This place was like being in the enemy’s jaws.

If they wanted, breaking out would be as easy as eating cold porridge.

But they didn’t want to do that in a place they had visited specifically to give Brina many experiences.

“Sister Sia! Hurry up!”

“Oh, yes. Coming.”

Had she been too lost in thought?

Radios and Brina were already walking far ahead.

Yes. What did it matter if they were in the enemy’s jaws?

This was a space they had visited nominally for rest, so she should try not to overthink.

After organizing her thoughts, Arsia quickly caught up with Radios.

They found a suitable lodging and lay down on the beds.

“Ahhhh… this soft feeling… I don’t know how many years it’s been since I felt this…”

“Is this what they call a bed? It’s so soft…”

“Both of you rest. I’ll be back shortly.”

After lying on the bed for just a moment.

Radios got up as if he had remembered something to do.

Arsia gave him a look that asked if he couldn’t rest a little longer before going.

But he silently shook his head.

“I have something to check. If you don’t want to rest, play with Brina.”

“You know that’s not what I meant… Sigh, fine, do as you please. I’ll just lie here…”

“Brother Las, where are you going?”

“Just a quick patrol around the area.”

While resting would be the normal procedure after securing lodging, Radios was meticulous.

He couldn’t afford to be careless when enemies could attack at any time.

Although Arsia had lowered her guard somewhat, she hadn’t completely dropped it.

Radios was simply acting as he always did.

Honestly, it was an overreaction.

There was no magical energy in the vicinity that could pose a threat.

There was no sense of being watched either, so it was suitable for resting.

After Radios left to patrol the area, Brina asked Arsia with a curious expression.

“Sister Sia. Do you like Brother Las?”

“W-what? What are you suddenly saying?”

Perhaps because she heard this from an unexpected source.

Arsia stuttered, unable to manage her expression.

Thanks to her reaction, Brina seemed to have turned her suspicion into certainty.

“You do like him, don’t you?”

“Yeah… I’m my own worst enemy for falling for that idiot who does unreliable things… He does everything his way, pretends to care for others but never compromises his own stance… even risking his life… I really don’t know why I like him!”

“Dad used to say that when a woman criticizes a man with abnormally long sentences, it means she likes him. Or she can’t stand the sight of him.”

“…I wouldn’t say ‘abnormal’…”

Arsia felt dizzy from such pure verbal assault.

She hadn’t expected to have her feelings exposed to such a young girl.

Of course, everyone in the Guardian Spirit knew that Arsia had a one-sided crush on Radios.

Everyone except Radios Magnum himself.

Although Brina was young, she was apparently perceptive enough to notice the peculiar atmosphere in the way Arsia looked at Radios.

“Dad told me. If the dokkaebi tribe escapes from the Demonic Prison, great chaos will occur.”

“Really?”

“Yes. To be precise, he said that when the world falls into chaos, a path will naturally open for the dokkaebi tribe to escape the Demonic Prison.”

That’s not wrong.

Although Kadinant was currently stabilized by the otherworlders.

In the end, it had simply been colonized after failing to resist the invasion.

In such a chaotic situation, with a dokkaebi escaping from the Demonic Prison, the world would become even more chaotic.

“That’s why I told Dad I wanted to follow Brother Las and Sister Sia. Since I grew up in the Demonic Prison, I couldn’t properly use my powers.”

The dokkaebi tribe were apex predators.

Monsters in the Demonic Prison that dared to attack them would suffer terribly.

Even when Brina wandered alone in the Demonic Prison, no monsters attacked her.

Just being a dokkaebi made it difficult for others to initiate fights.

“But it was also impossible to fight other tribes. Because I was the weakest.”

Although Brina was a dokkaebi with Cronos’s energy, her origin was as a monster.

That bloodthirsty, ferocious, and cruel monster.

She had lived for a long time without being able to release her instincts.

“So I’m excited. I think I’ll be able to fight a lot if I go around with you and brother.”

“…I see.”

Arsia was about to give Brina a sharp admonishment for casually mentioning fighting.

But when their eyes met, the words got stuck in her throat.

She had to acknowledge the difference between species. Humans and dokkaebi were different.

So instead of admonishment, Arsia decided to offer advice.

“Then you should rest a lot now.”

“What?”

“I have a feeling that today might be the last time we get to lie on a bed.”

Having observed Radios’s actions from the side, Arsia knew.

That today might be the last day they could rest so comfortably.

Brina was puzzled by her words, but only for a moment.

Taking Arsia’s advice, she settled in for a comfortable rest.

***

“Is it okay for us to be like this? I heard that Arsia Cromwell escaped!”

“Oh come on, why are you making such a fuss about something that happened two weeks ago!”

“Deputy Priest Kim Aram died, so of course we should! It means the Guardian Spirit has started moving again!”

“Nonsense. Why would the Guardian Spirit suddenly appear? Those guys can never regroup again.”

In the bustling tavern.

The topic had been unified since two weeks ago.

It was about the death of Kim Aram, the Deputy Priest of the Order that served the Dancing Green Flames.

And the successful escape of Best Guardian Arsia Cromwell.

There were debates about whether the Guardian Spirit had returned to sharpen their swords.

Or whether this was a last gamble by the remnants of the Guardian Spirit.

Arguments were flying back and forth.

Radios sat alone and ordered a drink from the bartender.

“Listen here! Even if Radios Magnum returns, the Guardian Spirit won’t regroup!”

“What are you talking about! You’ve never fought the Guardian Spirit, have you? Those bastards are real monsters!”

“The one who annihilated those monsters was Namgung Ihyun! As long as she rules Midret, the Guardian Spirit can’t do anything!!”

Perhaps because of the alcohol, the light verbal dispute showed signs of escalating into a physical fight.

Radios had come here to gather information, so he didn’t mind.

But if they started fighting, he wouldn’t be able to get information, which was a bit disappointing.

Fortunately, just before it turned into a fight, guards separated them.

“Everyone, please calm down! What kind of disgraceful behavior is this in a tavern!”

“The Priest will be visiting the village soon! Everyone, purify your bodies and minds and return to your homes!”

“..!”

Radios gritted his teeth at the guard’s words, subtle enough that others wouldn’t notice.

‘Why is that bastard… coming here.’

He was caught between a rock and a hard place.

Having just checked into the lodging, leaving wouldn’t be a problem.

But in this village teeming with otherworlders, suddenly checking out and leaving when a Priest was coming?

Anyone would find that suspicious.

‘Do I have to fight after all? But… if that happens…’

If the Order’s Priest died, as they said, there was a high possibility that Namgung Ihyun, the Priest of the Border Dweller, would move directly.

But there were risks in just subduing them.

‘I need to talk to Arsia about this.’

One thing was certain.

Even if the Tulcha Priest and the army he led arrived here, he wasn’t confident.

Ah, of course, he meant he wasn’t confident in losing.

‘I should think of this as a good opportunity to measure how much power I can exert now.’

If he used the Sword of Judgment and even Astrape, a Tulcha Priest would be more than manageable.

Moreover, if he used the dokkaebi mask skill, he would be practically invincible during the casting time of the Sword of Judgment.

Was he avoiding the fight out of fear? No, he was avoiding it because the aftermath would be troublesome.

‘But if they come, I’m willing to face them.’

The aftermath was something he would have to deal with eventually.

He could just think of it as doing it a little earlier.

Furthermore, if he killed a Priest, it would be a perfect warning to the otherworlders.

A warning that the Guardian Spirit had returned and would reclaim the world.

Also, this warning would spread far and wide as news.

So that hidden comrades could gather in one place again.

To weed out the traitors who had betrayed the Guardian Spirit.

‘Come to think of it, killing the Priest seems to have more benefits.’

The remnants of the Guardian Spirit, who had the power to kill a Priest, with Arsia Cromwell lending her strength.

Wasn’t this an opportunity to once again imprint the name of the Guardian Spirit on the otherworlders who had lost their vigilance?

While Radios was internally organizing his plans.

The guards calmed the physical altercation and escorted people back to their homes.

And Radios quietly returned to his lodging without them noticing.