episode_0059

“Wow… ! Ugh… ”

A male student in the seat seemed to be unable to hold it in any longer and poured vomit into a bag.

It was a reaction to riding a rough off-road vehicle for the first time, rather than the luxury city car that I had always driven.

The first-year students sitting around him were also complaining of similar symptoms.

They moved at a slow pace through the rough terrain, which had been shaking violently for several hours. As we left the vicinity of big cities, the paved roads disappeared.

It was fortunate to have at least an unpaved road, but there were times when the road was cut off and we had to take a detour between high hills or up a valley.

“Wow… How long is it until you arrive?”

“We have to go at least three more days.”

A second-year female student sitting across from me answered calmly. Unlike the first-year students who were having difficulty adjusting, the second-year students who had experienced a few field games were just sitting there as if they were bored.

“What… You say?”

At her words, the first-year boy looks despairing.

“I think I’m lucky. When I went there last year, it took twice as long as it does now. Fortunately, the agricultural district has been built and the road is being rebuilt.”

“That… Wow… !”

The male student, who had been spitting for a while again, grumbled softly in his voice.

“Wow… What is this? The speed is slow and the ride quality is the worst. If this is going to be the case, wouldn’t it be better to ride a horse like our ancestors?”

“Would you provide the pasture and hay needed to raise horses? There’s not enough food for people to eat, so we’re in this mess right now… ”

The second grader from earlier threw a slap at the male student.

“I’m thankful that there is at least magic. If I didn’t have that, I’d just walk all the way to the south.”

She glanced sideways and turned her gaze to the driver’s seat. The female classmate sitting there did not take her hand off the gear stick the entire time. Through the contact surface, sparkling particles were seen constantly flowing into Stellite, which is the vehicle’s power source.

“Anyway, this is… It’s slower than the speed I can run with my body strengthened… I’d rather just get off… ”

“Do you think Rubin’s price is worth 1 million R? I’m thinking about running all the way to the south. Even the demonic beasts and looters you encounter along the way can be defeated before they get exhausted, right?”

“… ”

The male student no longer opened his mouth. Instead, a first-year female student sitting next to him muttered quietly in an uncertain voice.

“I guess it’s really okay… ? If you ever encounter a dark magician… ”

“Don’t worry. Those guys are nothing special. Last time I went out during the first request, I killed three people by myself… ”

“Phew… ”

“There are three people… ”

Someone’s rant, with a hint of dark feelings toward the female student, soon dissipated into the air along with the ridicule coming from in front of them.

“Well, what is it?”

“Hey, chick. Even if four kids just like you attack you, it’s hard to beat a single warlock. If the Rubin value is the same, magic will never be able to withstand black magic in terms of destructive power. Wake up from your dream.”

The second graders, who had barely suppressed their laughter, spoke to the male student who was looking embarrassed.

“Yes? But obviously… ”

“The guys you dealt with were not warlocks, but dregs. The real ones are probably in organizations like PLF or a theater troupe. When we meet later, we will immediately see the difference.”

“I… But the theater troupe is definitely… Baek Seo-yeon senior… ”

“He doesn’t live in the same world as us. Is it for no reason that he is considered the strongest candidate of all time?”

A second-year student shook her head in response to the first-year female student’s cautious question. It was a famous story that everyone already knew.

last year. The entertainment troupe suffered a tragic collapse after suffering near-destruction damage from a new member of the cradle. The leaders, who were powerful warlocks whose names were on the red wanted list, were all killed during the subjugation process.

The identity of the new student was Baek Seo-yeon of Paecheon, a rumor that spread immediately upon admission. She said that she happened to step on their tail while doing an external request and did not miss the opportunity.

The entertainment troupe was by far the most notorious among many criminal organizations. On the other hand, the investigation and subjugation were sluggish, to the point where there were rumors that he had several prominent families as his backers in exchange for doing the dirty work for him.

So Baek Seo-yeon, who took the initiative to eradicate them, was literally praised.

The public rumor that Paecheon was one of the theater company’s biggest customers was quietly buried amid such cheers.

Meanwhile, this was also an opportunity for Baek Seo-yeon, who had formed a rivalry with Yeon Myeong-ha, to further attack her.

Instead of the skills that are difficult to distinguish between superiority and inferiority, the opposite personalities of the two began to come into the spotlight, and Baek Seo-yeon, who was recognized for her contribution, was even crowned as Paecheon’s new successor in place of her eldest brother, who disappeared for an unknown reason.

“… You guys never bring this up in front of Minha? Because this is the topic he hates the most. Have you heard about your senior who got his ear cut off in a duel last year? That’s why you talk about this in front of Minha without notice.”

A second-year female student glanced outside the window and muttered. In the direction she was looking at, there was an off-road vehicle that Yeon Myeong-ha was riding.

To limit it to a human aspect, those who followed this request also had a higher liking for Baek Seo-yeon.

However, since they are already intertwined with Jeokhwa through various relationships, there is no room for them to reach each other.

“Soohee. If I stay just a little longer, I’m at risk of particle exhaustion. Change seats in 10 minutes.”

“Okay!”

The person sitting in the driver’s seat shook off his hand holding the gear stick and said.

“Wow… !”

“Again, again… You guys should take a look at him.”

She scolded the boy who started nauseating again. Then, I glanced at someone in another vehicle that was following behind me. He sat silently the entire time, without shaking an inch.

The strange figure of only a black intruder suit with a white mask floating around was clearly visible even though it was quite far away.

***

Green waves flowing with the breeze continue endlessly beyond the horizon. First of all, the first impression is that it looks quite peaceful.

“Wow… ”

From the person sitting next to me, I heard an exclamation that seemed to have been made unconsciously. Other students who were tired from the difficult journey also seemed to find some comfort in the scenery unfolding before their eyes.

When I turn my head and look ahead, I see Yeon Myeong-ha still maintaining a strong posture without any disturbance. Even after a long journey, the hair that is still shiny and the skin without a single blemish is quite impressive.

“Well, well… why… ”

“… No.”

As if sensing a fleeting moment, Yeon Myeong-ha shivered slightly and stuttered softly. The eye holes of the mask are covered with a polarizing film, so your gaze will not be visible.

Perhaps because he is a spiritist, he definitely has something that ordinary people do not have. In particular, unlike Muyoung, who only has a specific sense developed, it feels like his overall sensitive sense of compassion is evenly developed. I wonder if that’s why I suffered more from mental contamination.

When I shook my head, Yang Yanha also turned her gaze in another direction.

Soon the southern gateway city began to come into view. In front of the gate, I see a group of people already lined up to meet us.

Two people were equipped with particle array devices on their wrists, and the rest were armed with firearms in their hands. It has a typical configuration with a wizard as the commander, with a shortage of personnel, and judging from the patch logo on the shoulder, it appears to be a private soldier prepared by the company.

When I stopped the car at the hand signal and got out, the man standing in front approached me and bowed his head to Yeon Myeong-ha. He has the impression of a young, bespectacled, attractive person.

“It is an honor to meet the Lady of Red Flowers like this. This is Chief Cheon Hwa-seong, who is in charge of the 1st Southern Agricultural District. This time, I took on the role of assisting those who were dispatched from the cradle with their requests.”

However, contrary to his kind and polite attitude, he frowns with pity.

“The person in charge of conveying the request to us must have been Executive Director Jin Yun-cheol? Where is he going? I haven’t heard anything about a change in person in charge.”

“The managing director had an accident while inspecting an agricultural district some time ago and was rushed there. I sent a crow right away, but I think our paths diverged when we left. The documents related to the change in position are at the head office, so please check later… ”

“Tsk, it’s okay. What about the situation in the South?”

“Yes? Ah, yes. Not bad. To be honest, we are maintaining really good security these days.”

The man continued his explanation as if he was embarrassed.

“A few years ago, a large-scale subjugation drove them out into no-man’s land, and no significant activity has been detected since then. The supplies to leave for the capital are also being prepared smoothly. The procedure will be completed in about 2-3 days, so you will be able to proceed without difficulty as per the original schedule.”

He now bowed almost as if he was bowing.

“However, there are cases where spies operating secretly in the city are arrested… ”

“That’s it. Those guys are everywhere. I think that explanation will suffice.”

“Yes? Ah, yes… ”

Perhaps thinking that it wasn’t a big problem, Yeon Myeong-ha interrupted the man mid-sentence.

Even in my opinion, if it’s just one or two spies, I don’t think it would pose a fatal threat to carrying out the request.

Anyway, this happens frequently in other regions except the capital.

We joined the Enterprise’s private army and made our way through the gateway city. We descended south for a few more hours, passing alternately through winding hills and plains.

Soon, the panoramic view of a large city built on a sizable basin appears before our eyes. Although it is not comparable to the capital, the heavy metal walls surrounding it are sufficiently tall and majestic.

In addition, what was noteworthy was that an additional layer of defense was installed. The defensive wall that fills every crevice in the mountain appears to have been built to guard the southern and eastern parts of the basin, as well as uninhabited areas that are not yet within reach of administrative power.

After being immersed in the scenery for a while, I hear the voice of Chief Cheon Hwa-seong, who was ahead of me.

“The largest city in the South. Welcome to Jinryeong.”