Chapter 118: I had dinner with Adrang
“Hmm.”
I let out a low exclamation.
Thinking back, I’d agreed to part ways with that brother-sister duo at Crossfade. From Zenon’s perspective, sticking with us would only increase risk, so it was only natural for them to hurry along.
Though I nodded gently, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of regret and licked my lips. I raised my hand and waved at her.
“It’d be nice to meet again sometime. Eat well and live well.”
“Ahh, yes! See you later, big brother!”
Jena gave me her signature warm smile and waved back. Meanwhile, Zenon let out a snort as if unimpressed.
He’ll never change, will he? If you keep this up, you’ll never make any friends.
“Hey, Park Jeong-yong.”
I was musing silently to myself when Zenon suddenly spoke up. Not expecting him to initiate conversation, I opened my eyes wide in surprise.
“Huh? What is it?”
“… Be careful.”
I was expecting some weighty declaration, but this was disappointingly anticlimactic. No thanks, bro-tsuundere.
I smirked and shot back.
“You take care of yourself and your sister. Be cautious not to get mixed up with strange situations anymore.”
“…Right.”
“Where are you headed next?”
“Hmm. Since becoming free for the first time since coming to this world… it might be good for Jena and I to rest at our current residence first and discuss our future plans.”
From Zenon, who usually talked about ‘future plans’, exuded an ease I had never seen before.
Jena, too, seemed to feel it and clung tightly to her brother, flashing a radiant smile.
“Alright. Got it.”
Since it felt kind of rude to hold on any longer, I decided to let the two of them go.
“I hope you have a happy life with your brother.”
“Goodbye, Lady Jena. Let’s get closer next time!”
Seop Baek and Seseona also waved, offering their well-wishes. Jena nodded enthusiastically, her eyes tearing up upon hearing their words. It was a touching scene.
I turned my head to Ruci, who stood like a lifeless scarecrow.
“Are you not going to say goodbye?”
“Why should I? What did those pointed ears ever do for me?”
“…”
That’s true… but still, you’re so heartless, kid.
While I was conversing with Ruci, Jena and Zenon had already moved quite far away from us. In the blink of an eye, they were lost in the crowd.
I stared in the direction they had disappeared for a while longer, then spurred my steps forward.
“It’s bittersweet, huh.”
“Ho ho! Exactly!”
Seseona nodded in agreement with my muttered thoughts.
Upon reflection, Seseona had mentioned before that she had talked with Jena during the exam. She, too, must’ve felt a fair amount of regret.
“Let’s move on, shall we?”
However, one cannot indulge in endless reflection about the unavoidable. There are certain things travelers must do when newly arriving in a city.
“Let’s gather supplies and find lodging.”
“Yes, Sir Jung Yong.”
“Understood!”
“Ugh… too many humans. I might throw up…”
And so, our group now comprised of me, Seop Baek, Seseona, and Ruci headed directly towards the commercial district.
I was leading the group using the Crossfade district map I had obtained from Hik.
“Hmm. This way.”
The structure of Crossfade is basically no different from Kern. Buildings spread out radially from the central main plaza.
A typical medieval European-style city design, the only peculiarity being that the architecture leans more Eastern in style.
“The district layout seems similar too.”
Taking the central downtown as the midpoint, the left section is the commercial district, and the right side is the residential district. The only difference is that there’s a separate area called the ‘Shrine of the Unspirited’ located at the top end of the downtown area.
“Such insanity.”
Right after entering the residential district, I realized just how complacent I had been.
All of us, lost in the sight before us, blurted out a comment or two.
“Woah… this is really… incredible.”
“Lord Jung Yong! The people are like scattered trash!”
“Kyaaaah…! I’m gonna… die! T, there are too many people!”
I especially agreed with Seseona’s comment.
It’s true. The people are scattered about like trash. No matter where you look, all you see are the backs of heads. I swallowed nervously and started scanning the crowds for inns.
And soon enough, my anxiety became reality.
“Sorry, sir. All rooms have been booked up a month in advance.”
“Our inn will likely not have any vacancies until the end of the Unspirited Festival…”
“Thinking of booking an inn now? Too late. Wake up, buddy.”
I had forgotten about the inn rush during festivals. My accumulated complacency exploded.
After hearing full-house announcements from over 10 inns I visited, I started shaking the fist I had clenched. I had no choice but to accept it.
“Ah… if only I hadn’t wasted time in Kern…”
Had I known this would happen, I should’ve quickly wrapped up my business and come straight to the capital.
What kind of luxury was I chasing, putting up with all kinds of abuse while spending a whole week in Kern? I deeply regret it now.
—If you’re angry, why don’t you just die and come back?
As if hearing my inner muttering, Older Brother Sooho threw in a comment.
I twisted my lips into a smirk and quietly responded, making sure the others couldn’t hear.
“Don’t talk so absurdly, sir. Is dying really that easy?”
—Is it?
I momentarily couldn’t respond.
I want to say ‘Of course it’s easy, you idiot!’ but I know well it’s a lie.
And it seems Older Brother Sooho knows too, for his following tone was filled with jest.
—What’s so hard about dying for the 144th time? It’s not hard since the feeling of getting used to it, X-like.
“… You know well, don’t you. Are you from the Psychology department?”
—I’ve already defended my doctoral dissertation on the psychology of immortals. Look, Brother understands that feeling.
Like the friendly neighborhood older brother, Older Brother Sooho empathizes with the hardships of immortals.
He was also an immortal during his human life, and being the same Korean, if any issues arise, we might end up seriously consulting. Our positions are similar after all.
Anyway, I shrugged and let out a low sigh.
“I probably would’ve waited the same even if I had gone back.”
—Oh ho. Why?
“It’s not like I was idling in Kern.”
My healing from the aftermath was, in fact, secondary.
I was more concerned about Tara, which led me to stay for her aftercare.
I left the suddenly orphaned Tara in the care of Flick’s Temple and sold all the gems and runes obtained from the random boxes to Hik. I donated that money to Flick’s Temple as child support and bribery.
By now, the two must be sketching out plans for the temple’s remodeling.
Thinking about the apologetic looks of the two I saw last, I smirked.
—You did a good deed, no regrets.
“Nah, it’s true, but it does make me feel this way.”
—Aha. Understood. Intense, isn’t it.
I felt the incredibly intense gaze pressing down on my back and pointed it out. Older Brother Sooho immediately seemed to understand, letting out a deep sigh.
The source of the intense gaze was Seop Baek and Seseona.
“Lord Jung Yong. Didn’t I suggest numerous times that I should go to the capital first…?”
“Why insist on staying when you didn’t even tell us the reason? You’re being too much, Lord Jung Yong…”
The two alternated their words of lament. Their complaints pierced straight into my chest.
That’s right. The one who insisted on staying behind in Kern was none other than me. The two had been advocating for going to the capital beforehand.
‘By the way, that title ‘Jung Yong-nim”
When there was just one, I didn’t notice, but with the two of them calling it in tandem, it sounds extremely awkward. It’s hard to distinguish them before seeing their faces.
I should standardize the titles soon. I vowed internally.
‘Ah… I miss those days.’
I reminisced about the test days with the random team of males.
I missed that unique atmosphere of a group of men who had unintentionally formed together. They’d meddle in anything related to me but were completely apathetic about anything else… a vibe strongly reminiscent of temporary labor camps or the army.
‘… Gotta find the random brothers soon.’
I realized only now. There’s a significant flaw in our current party.
There aren’t enough male elements. I’m the only one. It’s exhausting. Being the harem master is too heavy a burden for me.
“Follow me first. There’s a place we can rely on.”
I pushed my way through the crowd, avoiding their piercing gazes.
The two followed closely behind while muttering their grumbles of dissatisfaction.
“Where are we going, sir?”
“Even if it’s a bit far, this seems like a full house situation, doesn’t it…?”
I glanced at the two once, then pointed at a spot on the map I had in hand. The two simultaneously let out an exclamation and stared at me.
I smirked and met their gaze.
“This is what connections are for.”
The place I pointed to was none other than the “Shrine of the Unspirited,” located in the northern district of the capital.
I turned my gaze northward, catching sight of the vaguely visible grand stadium and the splendid tiled roofs beyond it.
“Let’s go visit Master Adrang.”
*
Put simply, the “Shrine of the Unspirited” is the nation’s imperial palace.
However, Markteuriseu isn’t a monarchy to begin with. Since the 100 strongest knights of Markteuriseu, known as the ‘Cavalier’, form a council-like government similar to a parliamentary system, it’s more akin to the National Assembly Hall than a palace.
That’s probably why the Shrine of the Unspirited is an open space accessible to anyone.
Well, anyone who satisfies one condition, that is.
“No, no, sir, those who haven’t undergone the ranking assessment are not allowed to enter. I’m sorry, sir.”
The guard in front of me had been repeating this since we arrived.
The muscular man, equipped with a sword and armor, is the Shrine’s guard. He kept his entrance firmly blocked with an apologetic expression, thwarting our entry.
“Sir, please undergo the test first and achieve at least the lowest rank, ‘Warrior’. Without that, you cannot enter the Shrine of the Unspirited.”
Indeed, only those who have taken the official martial arts ranking test of Markteuriseu can enter the Shrine.
‘Ah… this is what’s tripping me up now.’
From the moment I arrived in Kern, I kept telling myself that I should take it, yet somehow I neglected to do so.
Caught up in the schemes of Cassas’ apostles and Resurrection Sect members, repeating countless deaths, it completely slipped my mind.
“I don’t care! You know Adrang, right? I’ve had dinner with Adrang! Toasted with him! Ugh! Aren’t you gonna move? Adrang will be mad when he finds out how I’m being treated here! Kak, you know! Just move!”
In sheer desperation, I resorted to baseless intimidation.
While I dislike such behavior, it’s necessary in this situation. Because…
“How do you expect me to get to the test center now? Are you gonna cut through this human Great Wall for me? Huh?!”
“Why, why me… The crowd is thick because of the Unspirited Festival, sir…”
An enormous crowd. That’s the problem.
Normally, it would be about an hour’s walk from the residential area we’d been in to the Shrine.
But do you know how long it took? A good half day. The sun is already setting.
My companions are exhausted, collapsed like rag dolls.
‘This is no time to back down!’
Even if the crowd doesn’t thin out until night, the test center will close for the day. And if I don’t resolve this, after all the effort to reach the capital, I’ll end up sleeping rough.
I may not mind, but considering Sung Baek and Seseonna’s reactions, I’d rather avoid that.
“Please! Allow us in! I need to see Adrang!!”
“The rules of the Shrine are inviolable! Even if my life were at stake, I cannot let you pass!”
Even after begging on my knees, the guard’s position didn’t budge.
I gritted my teeth in frustration, even contemplating using force, but in the end, let out a deep sigh and turned around.
“Shhh…”
Already, because of the loud argument, eyes were turning our way. If I draw more attention and get branded a criminal, it will complicate my future plans.
There’s no choice but to retreat for now. I sighed.
“Hey… everyone.”
I made my way back to the group, hands empty. The exhausted stares of everyone but the limp Demon King focused on me.
I had to shatter the glimmer of hope in those eyes.
“Looks like… we’re sleeping rough tonight.”
Sung Baek and Seseonna’s crestfallen expressions pierced my heart, and an Ruci’s fiery low kick hit my leg.
Ahh… what a legendary life this is; arriving at the capital yet ending up homeless.
