117th Episode: Crossfade
Our group stayed in Kern for about another week. This was because we had agreed to head to Crossfade, eight days later, just before the Mu Shin Festival began.
The reason we could reach Crossfade, which normally takes a week by foot, in a single day was largely thanks to Zenon.
“Crossfade… since I remember the dimensional coordinates, teleportation is indeed possible.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“… I never said I’d take all of you…”
“Okay, thank you!”
“…….”
Initially, we had stayed in Kern longer than expected because we were relying on Zenon.
Partly because there were lingering aftereffects like headaches or fainting, and we needed some time to recuperate. Plus, there were still some tasks left to do.
Saying we “loafed around” isn’t exactly accurate; most of the time, we were either helping with the reconstruction of Kern or trying to calm down the angry villagers.
Even on this last day in Kern, things didn’t change much.
“If this devil doesn’t leave Kern right now!”
“What’s the guard doing?”
“Save Rachel!”
If we were to say that I lost at rock-paper-scissors and ended up running an errand for the mayor, it would be accurate. As soon as the victims’ relatives saw my face, they bombarded me with fierce criticism and even threw stones.
I remembered the bloody battle with the Resurrection Sect a week ago and couldn’t help but smirk.
‘Of course. I did intentionally draw a lot of attention to myself.’
I had brutally killed the sect members to focus their attention on me. About eighty percent of it was also due to personal feelings.
Moreover, after hearing Older Brother Sooho’s solution, I used the Shadow Chains to turn the entire neighborhood into a special SM play area. Anyone who witnessed that scene would surely remember this crazy guy.
“That person led the massacre, didn’t he?”
“Well, he doesn’t look like someone who’d do that…”
“Are the words ‘bad guy’ written on his forehead?”
Once the relatives started pouring out their resentment, the people around them began whispering.
Suspicious and distrustful eyes, as well as glares filled with hatred, spread around me, creating a stifling atmosphere.
“Still, but Adeolang-sama is apparently defending this person…”
“I hear he was pressured by Adeolang-sama.”
“So? Is Adeolang-sama also in cahoots with those murderers?”
“Shh! Who’s gonna hear ya, idiot?”
Doubt quickly turns into baseless certainty.
Punch! A stone hit my forehead.
“Oof.”
No need to check where it came from. As I glanced around, I spotted a man in his thirties who was frantically searching for “Rachel.”
“Drop dead! You piece of trash!”
The man kept hurling curses and stones at me. Stones that initially came sporadically soon began to fall like hail.
Of course, it wasn’t a Gatling stone shooter; the people nearby had jumped in on the bandwagon.
“Here we go again.”
I sighed.
Based on a week’s worth of experience, once this kind of situation starts, there’s no point in saying anything sensible. The best choice is to ignore it and just go about your business.
I hurried my steps while wrapping the shivering girl beside me in my arms.
“It’s too much… This is too harsh, right!”
The small figure protected by me, Gena, spoke. After gazing at the people with an expression of shock, she pulled her hood deeper over her head.
Her tone suggested feelings of injustice, filthiness, and meanness.
“This is ridiculous. O, Oppa did all this to help those people… and worked so hard, even risking his life… and this is the result…”
A glance revealed the complex look in Gena’s eyes beneath the hood as she stared at the citizens.
The world certainly runs unfairly, but I had somewhat anticipated this based on things I experienced in my past life. Still, to Gena, it might seem quite unfair.
Here, it was time for long-time veteran black ox Park Jeong-yong, the perennial winner of the ‘Unfairness Award’ for 24 years running, to step in and offer comfort.
“Someone just needs someone to blame. Let’s just move past it peacefully.”
“Why should it be Oppa? Is Oppa not upset?”
Upset? Are you nuts? Of course, I’m furious to the point of madness.
However, I always say, and I mean it — I hate being bothered. What have I learned during 24 years of being a sucker? Once you’re caught up in the madness of the collective, your heated arguments won’t amount to anything.
“Things in life are like that. Don’t let it bother you. The one who gets stressed is the one who loses.”
“But…”
“And speak properly. I wasn’t doing that nonsense just to save them. I did it for us. Your Oppa was the same.”
“… That….”
By the way, the only thing Gena did today, if we consider rock-paper-scissors, was losing like crazy out of pity for me, and that’s why she decided to accompany me on the mayor’s errands.
The cloak she’s wearing is the Evolutionary Black Wing that I gave her. I had anticipated something like this would happen, so it was a natural precaution.
As I watched Gena’s eyes fill with tears of frustration, I sighed inwardly.
‘I should’ve refused the offer to go along, as I knew this was going to happen.’
Even Seop Baek and Seseona had offered to come along before, but I had steadfastly refused. Gena was no different, but when she looked at me with earnest eyes, saying this was a way to repay me for helping her, I felt I couldn’t refuse.
I wanted to keep my treatment in the village a secret from the group. If they found out, they’d likely lose their tempers more than Gena. Besides, I, now an upgraded human weapon, could handle a 1 vs 100 fortress fight with ease without even a scratch, but the girls wouldn’t know that.
Because it’s not just stones flying. Sometimes, something a bit more dangerous comes flying, too.
“There they go again, you bastards.”
I caught a kitchen knife aimed at Gena out of the air. “Keying.” The edge of the knife rang sharply as it was caught in my hand.
“Huh….”
The citizens, realizing what they had just thrown, paused their actions momentarily. I gave them a cursory look, and then returned the knife in the direction it came from.
“Kchhhaeek, Punch!” The knife flew in a clean line and embedded itself deeply in front of the nose of the middle-aged woman who threw it, making a sound too heavy for an old kitchen knife.
“…….”
“…….”
The atmosphere flipped entirely.
Whereas before, there had been a mood of hate, anger, and resentment, like the execution of a death row inmate, it now felt more like the executioners were watching the condemned.
I deliberately tilted my lips and pointed subtly to Gena with both arms around her.
“There’s a child on board. Okay?”
They couldn’t say a word. I gave them a mocking glance and continued walking.
To be honest, at first, I felt resentment and irritation, but around the third day, I started enjoying it.
Seeing such a vivid reaction gave me a strange sense of exhilaration. Looking back, maybe I have quite an exhibitionist streak.
“I’m not a baby, Oppa…”
As I was enthusiastically showing off my twisted personality, I heard Gena’s complaining voice.
I chuckled lightly and apologized.
“Sorry. But I’ll tell you a military story in a bit.”
“Ah, okay. Thank you. Heehee.”
Gena’s face blushed slightly, then she nodded cheerfully. Her steps toward the inn became light as if she had forgotten everything.
‘Why does she like military stories so much anyway?’
Gena likes the military stories that I tell. I don’t really understand why. The psychology of this otherworldly red-haired alien is deep and intricate.
After giving a silent look to the crowd, I noticed familiar faces and raised my thumb.
“…!”
Tara and Flick, who had been hiding in the crowd watching over me, were there. I gave them a silly smile at their worried expressions.
What’s so serious? I’m actually enjoying this.
That was the message of my smile, but I’m not sure if they got it.
After casually waving behind my back at them, I followed Gena.
‘Just hang in there until today. Just until today…’
Everything will be fine when we get to the capital, Crossfade. With that baseless positive mindset, I sighed and shuffled along, wanting nothing more than to flop into bed for a nap.
…
“Alright, I’ll start the teleportation. Get mentally prepared.”
In the middle of a broad plain on the outskirts of Kern, our group stood holding hands, staring blankly at Zenon.
Zenon checked the magical circle drawn on the ground with a blood-red liquid and then stood at the center of our group, forming sigils and chanting the incantation.
“Teleport.”
As white light blinked and a familiar sensation engulfed us, that peculiar nauseous feeling from using a gate started rising from my feet to my brain.
My body stretched out and then suddenly contracted. Then, an oppressive silence enveloped us.
“… We’ve arrived. The capital, Crossfade.”
The world began to move again after Zenon’s cold voice rang out.
“Hmm…?”
I had tightly shut my eyes but carefully reopened them. I exchanged bewildered glances with the others and slowly turned our gaze. We all simultaneously let out gasps.
The surrounding scenery was a world apart from what it was just moments ago.
“Wow. It’s beautiful.”
“Truly. It’s been since the time of the Demon King that I’ve seen such a bustling city!”
Admiring my own words, Seop Baek chimed in agreement. I nodded, taking in the surroundings.
Wooden and stone buildings blended harmoniously. While they’re not particularly flashy, the varied shapes of these closely-packed buildings gave off a sense of vitality.
Moreover, compared to Kern, which had a stronger fantasy vibe, here in the capital, the East Asian decorations were much more prominent.
“Wow. It seems like there’s some festival going on? I didn’t notice this kind of atmosphere when I was working…”
Seseona, standing beside me, rounded her eyes and looked around. As she had said, the street was in full festival mode.
The central avenue was teeming with countless people, overflowing with a vibrant, bustling atmosphere. Endless caravans were busily transporting goods, and a lion-dance parade was making its way through.
“Who are you rooting for in this Mu Shin Festival?”
“Nameless knight, right? This time, they will surely earn the title, won’t they?”
“Haha. I heard the challengers are quite formidable this time around!”
“Looking forward to it, huh!”
The excited murmurs of the people reached our ears, and their faces were alight with joy. Truly, I hadn’t seen civilians with such bright expressions since coming to this world.
“It’s lively, isn’t it! I like it!”
Seseona was wide-eyed, taking in every detail of the street. Watching her bright eyes from the side, I muttered.
“There’s a preliminary event or something related to the Mu Shin Festival.”
“Mu Shin Festival? What’s that?”
Seseona looked at me with sparkling interest.
Because she had suddenly closed in, I slightly pulled back while thinking — what exactly has she been doing in the capital until now?
Well, considering she’s a girl who’s deeply uninterested in anything outside her own interests, I guess it’s plausible she wouldn’t know.
I explained what I knew.
“National-wide martial arts tournament and an election. They choose the strongest and let them rule politically.”
“Wooah. They select politicians through a fighting tournament? I’ve never heard of such a political system!”
“My word.”
Wait. It was a question I had also wondered about before, but is this truly alright?
The fighting mind and the political mind are two completely different things, right? Do the citizens accept their country being run like this?
Ultimately, unable to contain my doubt, I asked Zenon, and he readily answered.
“Rather, the current Marceteuriseu was what the citizens desired. Originally, Mu Shin Festival was a martial arts competition far from politics, more like a ceremony.”
This was an unexpected and unforeseen answer. The citizens actually desired to choose their leaders through combat?
I tilted my head in puzzlement, my voice rising in inquiry.
“Does everyone here love to fight?”
“Not necessarily incorrect, but… haven’t you faced the Demon King, who invades without any reason?”
“Ah.”
The Demon King’s appearance. Indeed. I hadn’t thought of that and nodded, immediately guessing the gist of what he meant.
Looking at my face, Zenon added more details.
“Continuous appearances of the Demon King, and furthermore, secret organizations like the Resurrection Sect wreaking havoc at random, left the powerless common folk feeling like their lives were as fleeting as flies. Not only this country but all the natives of Paraiso strongly reject powerless leaders.”
“I see. It makes sense.”
“Even Mittelrand is similar. That nation has a king sitting on the throne, but the most powerful high-ranked wizards called the Seven Majestic Mages dominate the real power. It’s all based on the same logic. Everything is what the majority of the commoners wanted.”
“Hmm.”
Among other things, it surprised me first and foremost to discover that there was a king in Mittelrand.
Thinking about it, Halsenberg was a border count, a baronial rank in the feudal system. If there’s a feudal system, a king must naturally exist.
‘Why does this seem so obscure?’
A border count like him is a patriot brimming with loyalty to the nation, but I’d only heard talk of the central government regarding the Seven Majestic Mages.
Moreover, in the towns large and small that we visited in Mittelrand, I occasionally heard about the Seven Majestic Mages, but not even a single piece of gossip about the king, whether positive or negative.
‘… That level of authority, huh.’
Isn’t it often said that negative comments are better than silence? Simply put, a leader who lacks real power isn’t even treated as existing—a mere puppet.
While I was mentally scoffing at some unnamed king’s face, Zenon, who had already started walking down the street, tossed a casual remark over his shoulder.
“The Mu Shin Festival also happens to be the time when the heads of state from each country gather for a regular meeting. From Mittelrand, some of the Seven Majestic Mages will visit instead of the nominal king.”
“Oh ho.”
I recalled the conversation I had with Adrang a week ago, and my gaze inadvertently fell on Seop Baek’s finger, where the inky-black ring she still proudly wore caught my eye.
The Seven Majestic Mages were coming to the capital, and it seemed they would be here as dignitaries for the Mu Shin Festival.
“Hey. Does the Dragon Empire and Unterland also have such unique characteristics? I’m curious.”
On my side, Seseona tapped her fingers on her lips and muttered. I, also genuinely curious, nodded.
Then Zenon smirked as he looked at us.
“The Dragon Empire, I don’t know. But Unterland is definitely unique.”
He dropped this cryptic statement and then briskly walked ahead without another word. Startled by his sudden move, we blinked, and Zenon glanced at Gena.
“We should go now. Gena.”
“Ah.”
Gena’s eyes widened as they alternated between me and Zenon. Then she quickly followed Zenon’s side.
And with a bow. She deeply bowed to us.
“Well, then. We’ll part ways here.”
This was the announcement of our departure.
