Ch.46Departure

# 46. Departure

[Yebeop Nojeong: If I also go silent for more than 24 hours without notice]

[Yebeop Nojeong: It’s likely the same disappearance]

[Yebeop Nojeong: As the raid leader and the other two who vanished]

[Yebeop Nojeong: That’s what I think]

[Yebeop Nojeong: Likewise, any of you could disappear at any time]

[Physical Therapist: What exactly]

[Physical Therapist: Is going on? Huh? Why is this happening? Where are they disappearing to?]

[Yebeop Nojeong: I don’t know either]

[Yebeop Nojeong: But]

[Yebeop Nojeong: Soon one of us might disappear]

[Yebeop Nojeong: This is almost certain]

[Yebeop Nojeong: Though it’s just my intuition]

[Physical Therapist: You said it was certain]

[Physical Therapist: Yebeop, you must have your own theories]

[Physical Therapist: Don’t you?]

[Yebeop Nojeong: My guess is]

[Yebeop Nojeong: If the missing people are all still alive]

[Yebeop Nojeong: We might disappear to wherever the raid leader went]

[Yebeop Nojeong: Don’t ask why]

[Yebeop Nojeong: Because I don’t know either]

“Shouldn’t this be surfacing by now? How is there not a single news story about it?”

I’m scared.

It feels like we’re being picked off one by one.

First the raid leader, then Keutjukyeora, then Saeaeks, and now Yebeop Nojeong who predicted she might disappear…

There are only 3 of us left in the raid group now. No raid leader, no deputy leader.

“Other raid groups. Let’s ask other raid members.”

[Physical Therapist: Has your raid leader and other members gone silent too?]

[Asina: Not the members, but the raid leader has gone silent]

[Physical Therapist: Do you know how many days they’ve been offline?]

[Asina: Um..]

[Asina: It says 6 days]

[Asina: You too?]

[Physical Therapist: Yes…]

[Physical Therapist: Has your raid leader and other members gone silent too?]

[StopDrawingGiraffes: (nodding emoticon)]

[StopDrawingGiraffes: (angry emoticon)]

[StopDrawingGiraffes: Raid leader offline 6 days. Members still active]

[StopDrawingGiraffes: Seriously need to beat them up]

“Haah…”

I have no idea what to do. Other raid groups seem to have only lost their leaders, so they don’t seem to be taking it as seriously yet.

Why have we lost 4 people?

Should I be trembling in fear, wondering when I’ll disappear too?

Is being in Veritas the problem?

Or is continuing to log into this game the issue?

[WaterKnowsTheAnswer: (sobbing emoticon)]

[WaterKnowsTheAnswer: Phys]

[WaterKnowsTheAnswer: What are we going to do???]

[StolidBackdoor: (sobbing emoticon)(sobbing emoticon)]

[StolidBackdoor: With Yebeop gone too]

[StolidBackdoor: We’re down to just 3 people…]

[StolidBackdoor: It would be better if they just quit the game]

[StolidBackdoor: But this sounds scary]

[StolidBackdoor: I’m getting scared to even log in]

[StolidBackdoor: Afraid of disappearing too]

[WaterKnowsTheAnswer: Not knowing makes it even more frustrating and scary ㅠㅠ]

Afraid of disappearing too.

Backdoor’s last message echoes in my mind, lingering in my vision.

[Physical Therapist: I can’t do today’s tasks]

[Physical Therapist: Sorry]

[Physical Therapist: I might not log in tomorrow either]

My life game, my carefully raised character, the good raid group I planned to stay with until I quit.

I need to be here to enjoy any of that.

Maybe I should take a break… until we learn something?

**

“What a refreshing morning.”

“It is a refreshing morning.”

“They say words become reality. If I say it’s a refreshing morning, maybe it will be.”

“Did you sleep poorly?”

“A little?”

Just when I thought I’d finally get some sleep, it was the third watch, and though it felt like I’d barely slept, it was already time to wake up. Anyone who’s done military service knows that the shift right before the last one is always the worst.

How did Yebeop Nojeong, who never even served in the military, know this and maliciously change my shift?

Yebeop Nojeong, who had the last shift, was tending to the embers, while Keutjukyeora and Saeaeks were still traveling in dreamland on either side of me.

‘I’m sure I went to sleep in the corner, how did I end up in the middle?’

The culprit was most likely Saeaeks, wasn’t it?

Feeling a bit petty, I poked the sleeping Saeaeks’s cheek.

“Ang-“

“Oh shit.”

…I almost got my finger bitten. Was Saeaeks a crocodile in a past life? Seeing her smack her lips as if disappointed at missing her prey made me chuckle. It felt like I was recharging a bit of energy.

“How does it feel to stand guard in another world?”

“The air is clean.”

“That’s it?”

“Just that it feels like camping, I guess. Oh, and the night sky is very different, which makes it feel real. The constellations don’t match up.”

“You know a lot about constellations too?”

“Just the basics.”

I could bet my finger that Yebeop Nojeong’s idea of “basics” was very different from mine.

Chatting with her helped ease my fatigue, and it seemed like it was time to prepare breakfast and get ready to depart.

“I’ll prepare a simple breakfast. Subin, could you wake the others up?”

“Sure.”

– Yaaawn… Hmm? Unnie? Is it morning already?

– Good morning…

– Yes. Did you sleep well? Seonghyeon is preparing breakfast.

With the three’s morning talk as background noise, I started making Ban Seonghyeon’s signature bachelor cooking (hodgepodge).

“Mmm~”

This should be about the right seasoning.

Fine adjustments don’t suit me, nor can I do them.

Just right.

Ingredients just right. Amount just right. Water just right. Seasoning just right. Taste just right. Visual just right. Heat just right.

Somehow I’d become Veritas’s chef, as they enjoyed the food I used to just throw together for myself.

‘Food always tastes better when someone else makes it.’

Of course, every rule has exceptions. Let’s not recall what we ate for dinner yesterday.

Just as the cooking was nearing completion, the raid members emerged from the tent, stretching and showing off their morning beauty.

Keutjukyeora gave me her usual morning greeting with a slight bow, while Saeaeks sniffed the air, then smiled brightly and quickly set up the dishes. Yebeop Nojeong seemed to be tidying up inside the tent.

I spoke to Saeaeks, who was clutching her stomach and staring desperately at my ladle.

“I, the raid leader, am disappointed in my raid members.”

“Aww, oppa~”

Good response.

“However, I, the raid leader, am also generous. I permit self-service.”

“Yes!”

Saeaeks clenched her fist and took the ladle. After serving herself generously, she waited without eating.

“Thanks for the meal!”

“Thank you again today, leader.”

“Let’s give it a try.”

Keutjukyeora took one spoonful and nodded with a faint smile, Saeaeks had already emptied half her bowl, and Yebeop Nojeong…

“Kuk.”

There was a subtle anger mixed in with her spooning. For the sake of a peaceful breakfast, I pretended not to notice.

Somehow, the turmoil in my heart had largely dissipated.

**

“Ignite.”

Whoosh-

“Ooh! I knew you could do it!”

“Subin unnie, what’s this? You said you had no idea how to do it, but you managed in just one day!”

“Wow…”

As we were dismantling our campsite and preparing to leave, Yebeop Nojeong said she had something to show us, and suddenly a fist-sized fireball appeared at her fingertips!

Keutjukyeora’s holy power was impressive too, but since her skills were still few and low-level, they didn’t have much impact yet. Yebeop Nojeong’s magic was different.

A fireball suddenly appearing out of thin air!

It was amazing.

“I practiced a bit during the dawn watch, but this is my limit for now. Still, now that I’ve got the feel for it, I should improve quickly.”

‘As I thought, she was practicing in secret!’

This was a good sign. An excellent mage could increase the variables available to allies and reduce those available to enemies.

“Now starting fires will be super easy!”

“You’re not thinking of me as a portable lighter, are you?”

“Of course not. How could I think of our top-tier talent Yebeop Nojeong as something so cheap?”

“Your words.”

I felt a sting, but as long as I didn’t show it, I’d be fine.

I clapped my hands to gather everyone’s attention.

“Whether Floor 2-2 is an open field like Kailend Plains or a special dungeon within a field like Knight’s Trial, we’re not going to rush for a while.”

“For the magic, right?”

“For the magic.”

Just as we had taken some time in Albrant for Saeaeks to improve her dual axe proficiency, this time I planned to advance at a more leisurely pace for Yebeop Nojeong’s magic proficiency.

I was planning to forget about Physical Therapist for now.

“Back then, we were running low on food so we couldn’t afford to take it easy. But this time, I’ve considered all that and bought plenty, so we can afford to take our time. Subin, are you okay with this? Just to be clear, this isn’t a plan solely for you. I’ve decided that even if we go a bit slower, your growth is the raid’s top priority.”

“I know that much. Still, I feel sorry, and I’m grateful. I’ll make sure you don’t regret giving me more time.”

Yes. That’s the Yebeop Nojeong I know.

I nodded with a trusting gaze at Yebeop Nojeong’s bold declaration. She nodded back.

As sunlight filtered through the trees and shone on Yebeop Nojeong’s dark red hair, her ‘pretending not to be’ passion seemed to shine throughout the world.

“Now, let’s really depart!”

“Let’s go!!”

It was a refreshing morning and a refreshing departure.

**

“You know that raid group led by Bunkerbuster? I checked today and they’ve all disappeared.”

“They’re already attempting the climb? I thought it would take longer to prepare with so many people.”

“Should we… go too?”

The Golden Wing raid leader stroked his chin, considering.

Money, equipment, consumables, skill unlocking and mastery, and teamwork.

They had prepared everything they could.

He nodded.

“Yes. Whatever awaits us, let’s try to get those high-grade rewards too.”

“Exactly! Our coordination is pretty good, so we’ll do well!”

The Aniri raid leader and Yalyali raid leader, who had been looking gloomy about the difficulties, finally smiled refreshingly.

‘Surely this combination won’t get stuck on Floor 1-1.’