The Way Back to Goblin Village(2)

“Mount Seorak, you say?”

Mount Seorak, which had been decided as the destination due to Esi’s request.

And when I brought up the content of the request received from Esi and Mount Seorak as the destination to Yeon-ah, she opened her eyes wide with a surprised expression.

Yeon-ah maintained that stunned expression for a few more seconds, as if it was truly an unexpected place.

However, soon Yeon-ah returned her expression to normal and approached the bookshelf in the office.

“If my memory is correct, I believe Mount Seorak was where the goblin clan lived before the Gate Rampage 73 years ago…”

“That’s right, so the goblin warehouse is there too. That’s why we have to go to Mount Seorak.”

“Then please wait… a moment! I’m sure there’s a map somewhere here…”

Yeon-ah rummaged through the bookshelf taller than herself while conversing with me.

Eventually, Yeon-ah found a rolled-up map from the bookshelf and walked to the desk where I was sitting, carrying it.

And when I turned my head, Neon, Arashi, Esi, and Seo-hyun were also sitting around the desk, just like me.

They seemed to have become interested in the talk about Mount Seorak, an external region, and had left whatever they were doing.

I let out a small chuckle at that, but soon had to focus again on Yeon-ah, who had spread the map on the desk.

Rustle—

“It’s quite an old map.”

“It’s a copy that integrates the past Korean map that was almost lost with the current map. Please understand that it’s a bit worn as it’s easily several decades old.”

As Esi said, the map Yeon-ah spread on the desk was an old map with faded parts here and there.

And as she said it was an integrated map, names of unfamiliar regions were written outside the defense city located on the left side of the peninsula.

As everyone, including myself, focused their gaze on that map, Yeon-ah began her explanation by pointing to the defense city where we were.

“First, this is where we are, the Korean defense city. And Mount Seorak that the Ancestor mentioned is… right here.”

After pointing to the defense city once, the next place Yeon-ah pointed to was on the opposite side, a green mountainous terrain located near the sea.

As soon as Yeon-ah’s words ended, projectors that popped out from the desk began to project holograms above the map.

Whirr—

What the hologram floating above the map showed was a three-dimensional image of the defense city, Mount Seorak, and the distance between them.

Even considering just the straight-line distance, it was over 170km, and seeing this, Seo-hyun unknowingly muttered:

“It’s extremely far… Even if we move quickly on foot, it would take at least four days round trip.”

“Hm…? Can’t we just ride the flagship? Then it seems like it wouldn’t even take half a day round trip?”

At Seo-hyun’s words that it would take at least four days, or generously six days, Neon expressed doubt with a puzzled expression.

Since Neon had already ridden the General Management Team’s flagship before, she said so while roughly calculating the time based on her memory, and I also agreed with Neon’s words.

“That’s right, if we take the flagship, we can go and come back quickly, can’t we? Is there a need to base it on walking?”

Why walk on two feet when there’s an excellent modern human transportation method like the flagship?

What I and Esi had business with was only the goblin warehouse in Mount Seorak, not the journey to Mount Seorak.

However, at Neon and my words, Seo-hyun firmly shook her head and said:

“The flagship is absolutely not possible, Lady Shin-yeon.”

Seo-hyun spoke as if she would dissuade using the flagship no matter what.

And before I could express my doubt, Seo-hyun provided an explanation for her words just now.

“Our defense city is relatively safe because it has thick barriers and the stealth curtain is always activated… but from the moment we cross the barrier and leave the stealth curtain, it’s the land of true-name monsters.”

And Seo-hyun added in a low voice, “And monsters are irrational beasts that react to mana and living beings.”

“Then the reason why the flagship is not possible is…”

“A flagship that floats and accelerates using mana stones is a delicious bait that attracts monsters living in the sky. Probably as soon as we leave the stealth curtain, monsters would cling to it, tear apart its body, and it would crash.”

As if there had been several such cases already, Seo-hyun answered calmly as if predicting the future.

And hearing Seo-hyun’s certainty, the idea of using the flagship retreated.

In the end, it seemed that walking was the only method available to head to Mount Seorak.

“…There is a flagship that can be ridden.”

If Yeon-ah hadn’t opened her mouth like that.

Yeon-ah carefully opened her mouth, denying Seo-hyun’s words.

As everyone turned their gaze to Yeon-ah at that, she let out a contemplative sound while thinking deeply about something.

Right after, Yeon-ah displayed an additional new hologram and continued speaking.

“There exists a flagship that can fly without receiving damage even from flying monsters. More precisely, it’s an aircraft carrier rather than a flagship.”

“Wait, Team Leader Yeon-ah, could it be…?”

“It’s a large monster-class aircraft carrier created for intercontinental movement. It has mana concealment ability, killing power designed for up to S-class monsters, and fast movement speed, so there’s no problem flying through the sky where monsters run rampant.”

The hologram Yeon-ah displayed was none other than a huge but agile-looking piece of iron.

Listening to what Yeon-ah was saying, it seemed to be something used when heading to defense cities of other countries.

Seeing Seo-hyun opening her mouth saying she didn’t expect this to be brought up, it seemed that this aircraft carrier indeed had no problem traveling through the external sky.

However, at the same time, judging from Seo-hyun’s nauseated expression, it was also clear that the current situation was akin to using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

“If it’s going to cause unnecessary harm to other humans, I’m fine with walking…”

“No, Ancestor! Of course, it’s a bit large to use for moving such a short distance, but for your convenience, we must use it. And currently, we have three aircraft carriers in an unused state, so there’s no need to worry about unnecessary harm.”

“Well, that’s a relief then…”

If Yeon-ah says that much, there probably won’t be any problems riding the aircraft carrier.

Moreover, I would prefer comfortably riding an aircraft carrier rather than walking for four days.

But even if I liked it, I needed to respect Esi’s opinion who had to go together, so I turned to look at her, and Esi answered without much deliberation upon receiving my gaze.

“I don’t mind. No, rather, if we can go this comfortably, I like it too.”

“I thought so. Then Yeon-ah, let’s go with riding that aircraft carrier thing.”

“Understood, Ancestor. I’ll prepare it right away.”

At my words, Yeon-ah took out her device and sent a message somewhere.

And after finishing the communication, Yeon-ah put away her device, looked at me again, and opened her mouth.

“While there won’t be any problems on the way since you’re riding the aircraft carrier, you need to be careful from then on.”

“What do you mean?”

“As Seo-hyun said, the outside is the land of monsters. If you show even slightly strong mana, monsters will gather to where you are, Ancestor.”

Yeon-ah said so in a tone of conveying caution, though it wasn’t a look of worry as she trusted me.

Then Yeon-ah floated the four major elements above her hand.

“Fire, water, earth, wind, or materialization of imagination. You must not use anything that uses mana.”

“Then even if I see a monster, I have to defeat it with pure physical force?”

“Yes, otherwise a situation where you only had to face three monsters could turn into a situation where you have to face hundreds. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, you shouldn’t use it.”

Yeon-ah’s words that if using anything, it should only be a small lighter-sized flame or a soap bubble-sized water droplet.

At those quite picky conditions, I swallowed a contemplative sound and scratched my head.

“That’s troublesome. Of course, it would be easy to knock them down with just strength… but it could be dangerous in some cases.”

“Hmm, certainly… my attacks only use mana…”

Esi closed her eyes as if feeling ashamed at my words.

No matter how you looked at it, Esi, being a mermaid, didn’t seem to have strong pure physical power, so if any situation arose, I alone would have to step up to resolve it.

Of course, I wasn’t too worried, but it was a reality where some concern was inevitable.

So as I was worrying about a possible future and seeking countermeasures, suddenly Arashi, who had been sitting quietly until now, closed her fan and let out a laugh.

Clap–!

“Whoohoo, if that part is worrying you, why don’t Seo-hyun and I go along?”

“……Pardon?”

The first to express an opinion was Arashi, and what followed was Seo-hyun’s belated voice filled with doubt.

Seo-hyun looked at Arashi with surprised eyes as if to say, “What are you talking about?”

However, Arashi just patted Seo-hyun’s head and spoke with a grinning smile.

“Isn’t it alright, Seo-hyun? After all, you’re a hero, aren’t you?”

“Um, Ancestor…? For that very reason, I shouldn’t leave my post in the defense city…”

“It’s been 4 years since anything requiring your intervention has happened in the defense city, Seo-hyun. Don’t worry and let’s go together, shall we?”

“Ugh… Hmm, yes… I understand…”

Seo-hyun finally gave in and uttered words of acceptance to Arashi’s words, which were closer to an order than a request.

And Arashi, who had forcibly recruited Seo-hyun like that, said to me with a bright smile.

“Would it be alright if we join you as well, Lady Shin-yeon?”

A bright smile that I couldn’t possibly refuse.

So it could be said that it was inevitable that the number of people going to Mount Seorak together increased by two.