episode_0004

“Oh my, oh my, oh my.”

The next morning, as soon as dawn broke, I headed to Ms. Rie’s shop, standing idly before her as she continued to marvel for several minutes.

As I quietly watched her, uttering only “Oh my, oh my” like a broken record, Ms. Rie carefully hung the painting on the wall and then rushed over to me.

—Kneading, kneading, kneading, kneading.

Ms. Rie’s touch was rough and unrefined, so much so that I half-suspected she might be kneading my face like dough and then tear a piece off.

She had kneaded so hard that when she pulled her hands away, sticky sweat clung to my skin, and the mesh pattern of her gloves was deeply imprinted on my face.

“Thank you so much, I can’t wait to show it off to my friends. Would you like to meet them sometime?”

“No.”

I clamped a hand over my mouth, surprised by how decisively and quickly the answer had come out.

Why did I say no? I hadn’t even thought about it.

“Hmm… That’s a shame. Ahem, ahem, then, did you bring the currency I gave you yesterday?”

“Yes, here it is.”

I lifted my top and showed her my money belt.

It was a makeshift money belt I’d fashioned from spare curtains at home. I’d never traveled abroad on Earth, but I recalled advice that a money belt was essential for overseas trips, especially to Europe, so I’d made one.

“Oh my, oh my.”

Ms. Rie marveled at my money belt, letting out sticky drool, drip, drip. I suppose my money belt was quite well-made.

“Ahem, ahem! So… since you’re all ready, shall we go?”

—Burst!

“It’s noisy.”

“Crows are always quite agitated at this time of day. Now, Mr. Yuseong? This way.”

I followed Ms. Rie, who offered to guide me to the city, and we walked along the street.

It was early morning, with no people around. Only the constant cawing of crows broke the silence each time the sunlight reflected off the glass windows. So, I quietly trailed behind Ms. Rie until she stopped.

“Here we are.”

We arrived at a large bridge.

The enormous bridge, built layer by layer with moss-covered bricks, looked sturdy enough to withstand five thousand people like me jumping on it.

“Just keep walking straight ahead, and you’ll find a gate. Beyond that gate lies the city you desire, Mr. Yuseong.”

“I’ll definitely be back by evening.”

“Then I’m relieved. I’ll spend some cozy time with my friends, so you have a pleasant time too, Mr. Yuseong.”

“Thank you, Ms. Rie!”

“Oh, there’s one thing you should be careful about, I almost forgot.”

Ms. Rie placed a delicate hand on her cheek and spoke to me with a wry smile.

“You must never enter a white building.”

“Is there such a building? Is it really pure white? What about dust—”

“Never.”

“Do not enter.”

“Because I cherish you more than anyone.”

“I know it’s impossible to stop you.”

“No one can deter your curiosity.”

“This is for your own good.”

“Do not enter.”

“Never.”

“…”

“Do you understand?”

Ms. Rie dropped her polite tone, repeating the warning eight times in a chilling voice.

Oh, I just won’t go in. Why is she acting so scary?

I approached her with a stern expression and extended my hand.

I’ve done it once, so it should be familiar now.

“…Please, promise me, Mr. Yuseong.”

“I will.”

As I pressed my trembling thumb into her hand and stepped back, Ms. Rie smiled brightly as if nothing had happened, waving goodbye with a handkerchief.

As I walked away, my back to her as she fluttered her handkerchief, like a painting I had drawn, her cheerful voice added another piece of advice.

“Oh, and absolutely, absolutely~ don’t look back~”

Rumble…

The ground rumbled with the sound of a wall collapsing, but I didn’t look back as advised.

It was a bit chilly on the huge bridge, filled as it was with a thick, hazy fog.

But the city I was heading to seemed quite advanced for a fantasy world.

Streetlights, resembling those from modern times, illuminated parts of the bridge, showing me the way like signposts.

—Thud, thud, thud.

I carefully stepped only on the moss-covered bricks, jumping, running, and walking, but the end of the bridge was nowhere in sight.

Streetlight, streetlight, streetlight, bone, streetlight.

Bone, bone, bone, streetlight, bone.

Something felt off-balance, didn’t it?

Although I had already passed them, I wished I could rearrange the mismatched bones and streetlights.

But it was a path I had already passed, and it was obvious there was a reason Ms. Rie had insisted so many times, so I continued to walk quietly until I finally managed to exit the massive bridge.

“Wow!”

The sight of the vast field, the lively chatter of people (despite the somewhat drab surroundings), the long lines of travelers, and the extended procession of carriages made my chest burn with excitement.

This bustling atmosphere and vibrant conversation—this is a city, this is fantasy.

People wore swords at their sides and shields on their backs, prepared for a dangerous world.

I was the only one without anything, which made me feel naked and vulnerable, but what could I do?

I quietly stood at the very end of the line.

“Hock, ptui.”

“Another bust today. These explorers are making it impossible to find work.”

“Still, it’s a good thing those explorers are around. I thought I’d be stuck there for good…”

The fierce-looking men, with knife scars on their faces, chatted among themselves without even glancing at me, who stood behind them.

As I stood there, eavesdropping on the men’s conversations, the line quickly dwindled, and before I knew it, I had arrived at the gate Ms. Rie had told me about.

—Thump, thump, thump, thump.

“Alright, alright, step this way! You there, don’t break formation!”

“Do not move from now on. If even a fingertip stirs…”

At the gate, which resembled a giant triumphal arch, stood a humble checkpoint. The guards, presumed to be working there, their shining armor clanking, directed people and thoroughly inspected them.

The remaining guards, apart from those conducting inspections, were pounding their spear shafts on the ground, creating a ruckus.

Ugh, just ordinary noise.

My ears hurt, but there must be a reason for it. I watched the men in front of me pass through quietly, then stood before the guard who was looking at me.

“Halt. Where is your pass?”

I showed him my empty hands and was flustered. True to a resident of a dark fantasy world, he had no sense of humor and immediately raised his fist at me, who had nothing.

“Wait, search his body first. Punishment comes after.”

“Yes, sir!”

But the fist never reached me. As a woman with her visor raised passed by and interjected with advice, the male guard also raised his visor and abruptly pulled out a white rod!

It was smaller than mine, but why a rod?

My bewilderment was short-lived, as the guard began searching me, holding the white rod near my body as if conducting an airport security check.

This scumbag, he’s not trying to extort money, is he?

Just as I was regretting not having offered a bribe, the white rod lightly tapped my neck.

It was cool, a pleasant coolness like ice in my mouth on a hot summer day. As I shivered, I met the eyes of the male guard, his visor now raised.

“…Confirmed.”

His eyes, which had previously held blue irises on white sclera, now turned completely black, and his mouth mechanically opened, spitting out syllables before his jaw snapped shut.

Did ink just explode in his eyes?

“You may pass, you may pass, welcome, welcome.”

“Thank you?”

Well, at least I passed.

—Thud, thud, thud…

As I passed through the gate, a fanfare rang out, and the cheers of people could be heard.

A clown on a giant ball juggled and smiled mischievously, children held their parents’ hands and sang, and parents waved, welcoming those who entered through the gate.

[Welcome to Helstrom, the Second Heart of Humanity!]

Passing through the boisterous crowd, I saw countless stalls and bustling throngs of people.

People, even after passing people. In my city, it’s like there’s an alleyway quota, with two people assigned to each alley.

I walked through the streets, observing merchants spitting as they negotiated, and explorers taking off their well-worn goggles to chat with their comrades.

Even without doing anything specific, just observing was enjoyable.

Helstrom, a place name that made me wonder if I’d ever read about it in a novel… but seeing the bustling explorers made me realize it again.

I really have entered the world of [Chronicles of Otherworldly Exploration].

Howard, you scoundrel, even if you hate fan art, you could have just said so.

But this world – whether Howard created it, witnessed it, or merely recorded it, I couldn’t say – filled me with a profound sense of wonder and warmth.

In the novel, people were always dying, devastated, and walking around with deathly expressions. But the people here are incredibly happy.

Yes, it’s better to come to a place like this than to be cooped up alone at home.

I expressed my gratitude to Howard. If I meet him here, I’ll buy him a meal.

And so began my Helstrom sightseeing. I walked forward, hearing countless footsteps echoing my own.