Chapter 41 – After the Subjugation (2)

“Alright, let’s hear your reasons. Why are you so determined to go to the Karahan Mountains?”

After my persistent persuasion, we finally decided to hear Hephaestus out.

We gathered at Hephaestus’ blacksmith shop.

Strangely, the line of adventurers outside scattered as soon as they saw us, screaming as if they’d seen a monster.

At least I know they weren’t screaming because of me, I thought. No matter how many strange rumors are circulating, there’s no way they’d be scared of someone as small and normal-looking as me.

So it must have been Rubia they were running from…

Of course, Rubia’s regeneration is… kind of monstrous.

I mean… her limbs twist back into place, and even gaping wounds close up with a shwoop…

It’s a little… inhuman, I’ll admit… but still…

Screaming like they’ve seen a monster is a bit much, isn’t it?

She was only protecting them!

They wouldn’t have had to see that if they hadn’t abandoned her!

Ugh, ungrateful jerks!

If this were my old gaming days, I would have… Oh! I would have taught them a lesson!

“Your shop is doing well now. I don’t see why you’d risk everything to come with us,” Rubia said as she sipped her coffee, maintaining a stern expression.

She looked like a strict mother-in-law.

“Ah… um…” Hephaestus fidgeted nervously across from her, unsure of what to say.

“Even if you do come with us, how do you plan on returning? We’re going past Karahan to Cartia Village, but you’d have to come back to Roholon, wouldn’t you?”

Now that I think about it, how was she planning to return?

Her home and shop are here, so she has to come back at some point.

Her entire fortune is here!

“If things go well… I’ll have a way back. But… well…”

Rubia’s face immediately scrunched up.

“What if they don’t go well? What then?”

Hephaestus didn’t answer. She just looked at us with a calm, pleasant smile.

“Is it really… that important?”

“Yes.” Her answer was immediate and firm.

“Important enough to risk your life?”

“…Yes.” This time, she answered with a look of determination.

“I see.”

Rubia’s once stern expression cracked a little.

I quietly slurped my milk. It didn’t taste very good.

“We’re not in any rush.”

“That’s fine.”

“We’re only passing through Karahan. It’s not our destination.”

“I understand.”

“We won’t be going to the summit either. We’re stopping halfway.”

“That’s okay. As long as I can set foot at the entrance of Karahan… I’ll handle the rest.”

Seeing Hephaestus’ unwavering resolve, Rubia let out a deep sigh and rubbed her face.

“…Alright. You can come with us.”

Then she downed the rest of her coffee in one go.

“Thank you. Thank you so much!!”

Hephaestus leapt up from her seat and bowed deeply.

Rubia also gave a polite bow.

Uh… should I…?

“Th-thank you…”

But who do I thank? Rubia or Hephaestus?

Both?

Hmm… since I still need to get jelly, I’ll thank Rubia too.

“Th-thanks, Rubia… for letting her come.”

“Even so, the jelly’s still confiscated for now.”

“…Okay.”

Tch… she’s quick to catch on…

“Close your mouth.”

“Mmph.”

“And fix your face.”

I forced a wide smile.

“Good girl.”

Pat, pat.

“Hehe… What are you two doing?” Hephaestus asked, trying to hold back her laughter.

I-I’m embarrassed too, you know?!

But… but! I had no choice if I wanted to get jelly!

And besides, it’s because you insisted on coming with us that I got everything confiscated!

Sure, the free crafting was tempting but… still!

“H-Hephaestus, this is all your fault… so don’t laugh!”

“Oh, really…?”

“Of course.”

“Well then, should I buy you some jelly instead?”

“Gasp…”

Is that… an option?

I cautiously glanced at Rubia’s face.

Her eyes stayed the same, but the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, and her hand stopped patting my head.

Uh oh…

“H-Hephaestus… you don’t need to… really.”

I resisted the temptation of the jelly and refused. I had to refuse…

“Well, if that’s what you want. Oh, and feel free to drop the formalities and just call me Hephaestus. It’d be nice if we got a bit closer during our short time together, don’t you think?”

“Uh, sure…”

“Yeah! And I’ll just call you Noah, not Noah-nim… Oh, wait, how old are you?”

“I’m 20, and Rubia is… Rubia is 25.”

“Wow… I’m the youngest! I’m 18! So I’ll call you Noah-unnie!”

U-Unnie?!

“Nooo… please just call me Noah…”

“No way! You’re two years older than me! So you can speak casually with me, Unnie!”

“Eek… please don’t call me Unnie…!”

Hephaestus looked incredibly excited as she leaned in closer.

“Seriously, how are you 20? Your skin is so youthful! Look at it… what’s your secret? Maybe I should try using some monster blood…”

“N-no! Don’t call me Unnieee…!”

I pushed her overly eager face away.

And why would you use blood?!

“Why not? You’re older, so you’re definitely Unnie!”

“She’s right. But why doesn’t Noah call me Unnie? I’m five years older.”

Now Rubia chimed in with an almost accusatory tone.

Stop ganging up on me!

“Wait… what does Noah call you then, Rubia-nim?”

What the heck?

How come I have to be Unnie, but Rubia gets to be Rubia-nim? [1]

Then just call me Noah-nim too!

I don’t want to be Unnie!!

“She hated it so much I told her to just call me Rubia. But why does Noah call me Rubia while she gets ‘Unnie?’”

The arrows aimed at me had now turned toward Hephaestus.

Perfect, now’s my chance!

“Y-yeah! Call Rubia ‘Unnie’ like you call me! Go on, say it! ‘Rubia-unnie!’”

The blacksmith suddenly went silent.

Why…? What happened…?

Was I not supposed to join in…?

“You’re… something else, aren’t you?”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

Rubia, still staring at me, pulled out some jelly from her pocket.

“W-wait, are you… going to eat that, Rubia…?”

But you said you didn’t like it…

I guess having it in your pocket made you want to eat it?

It was supposed to be mine…

“No. It’s for you, Noah.”

“What?! R-really?!”

“Of course. Here.”

One by one, the jelly dropped from her hand into mine.

The squishy feeling made me happy.

“Heh-heh… this looks so good.”

“Well, now that’s settled. First things first—let’s fix what Hephaestus calls us. Go ahead, Noah. Teach her.”

“Yes…! Repeat after me: ‘Rubia-unnie!’”

More jelly fell into my hand!

If I keep doing what she says, I’ll get more!

I better behave!!

“Wait, are you sure it’s okay for me to call you that?”

“Of course. And since you’re calling me Unnie, why not drop the formalities altogether?”

As I chewed on my jelly, Hephaestus chewed over the idea.

Finally…

“R-Rubia-unnie!”

She shouted with a wide smile on her face.

Does calling someone Unnie make people that happy?

Hmm… I don’t get it.

“Wow! I never thought this would happen! If my master knew about this… well… I think they’d be happy.”

Though Hephaestus had looked overjoyed, she suddenly grew somber.

Rubia, sensing something, carefully spoke up.

“Is your reason for going to Karahan…”

“Rubia-unnie! Would you like more coffee?”

And just like that, her mood brightened again!

“…Yes, please. That would be nice.”

“Right! And Noah-unnie, more milk?”

“Yes… and I’m not Unnie.”

“You’re definitely Unnie! Anyway, I’ll be right back with the drinks!”

Hephaestus waved her hands enthusiastically as she headed to the kitchen.

And then…

She collapsed into a chair, wearing the saddest expression.

She didn’t make a sound.

She was covering her mouth with her hands.

But I could feel it… through my senses, I could feel everything, even beyond the walls.

Of course, Hephaestus didn’t know that.

“It seems like… that’s the reason, Noah… doesn’t it?”

Rubia whispered softly.

“Yeah… it seems like it.”

I nodded.

And chewed on my jelly.

It didn’t taste that great.

“I’m not sure what to do about it… it’s a tricky situation.”

“Why?”

“Because… it’s dangerous. And you’re not in the best shape either… It’s not somewhere an ordinary person like Hephaestus should be going, even with protection… The blessing she has is for crafting, not for combat…”

That was true.

Karahan was dangerous.

The environment was harsh, and the monsters weren’t pushovers.

But…

“We still have to help her.”

I couldn’t hold back my emotions anymore.

They spilled over, just a little.

“I don’t want anyone else I know to die.”

The mask I wore cracked slightly.

“I can read expressions now, using my senses. So I saw Hephaestus’ expression.”

That expression…

It was Luchi’s expression.

It was my father’s expression.

The face of someone ready to die.

The face of someone who didn’t care if they lived or died.

And the face of someone determined to accomplish their goal, even if it meant dying for it.

“So… we have to help her.”

I need to make sure she survives.

I need to know why she’s making that choice.

How can anyone leave the people they care about behind?

How can they expect those left behind to survive that kind of hell?

I want answers.

Footnotes:

1. Nim (님) is a formal Korean honorific used to show respect, while Unnie (언니) is a more casual term used by younger females to address older females they’re close to. Noah is frustrated because she feels Rubia is being addressed more respectfully (with -nim) while she’s being addressed more casually (as Unnie).