74th Episode
One of the factors that made me uneasy was the exact whereabouts of the group.
Since there’s no other way to get news, we’re heading to the Valley of the Dead. It’s been almost three months since I parted ways with them.
“Of course, they haven’t been sitting idle during this time.”
Some must have passed the trials and left. Others might have escaped like Seop Baek did, without completing the trial. There’s no real penalty for that, anyway.
Actually, given how much time has passed, it’s less likely they’re still lingering in the Valley of the Dead.
“So, where are they now?”
“Um… the frog uncle and the dwarf grandfather will probably still be at the Valley of the Dead.”
“… Hm?”
That was unexpected.
I furrowed my brow, countering her statement, and Gena hesitantly shrank back in fear, continuing.
“While you and your brother managed to escape that Hell, the two were still attempting the trial.”
“Really…?”
I thought I just heard the words “Hell” and “escape.”
Hell, indeed. Excluding Halssenberk, it is the most difficult testing ground. That could make sense.
No, Halssenberk is technically an irregular testing ground, so among the current arenas, its difficulty is undoubtedly number one.
“… You mean they’re still struggling there?”
Dumbfounded, I urgently asked.
“When did you two escape?”
“It hasn’t been a month yet.”
“Did you pass the trial?”
“My brother barely passed the trial, but I couldn’t. In fact, I was on the verge of death when my brother saved me, and we managed to escape then.”
“Hmm.”
To have passed the hardest testing ground, your brother must be pretty capable.
Perhaps the reason for his strength lies in the fact that he must protect someone. I glanced at Gena, whose demeanor was dejected, and thought about that possibility.
“… Hm?”
Then, at one point, I realized something and suddenly questioned Gena.
“Just Skaro and Aldcon? Then what about Seseona… the blonde-haired woman? Where is she?”
“Th-that person is most likely in Markeuteuriseu.”
“Really?! Where? Tell me where she is right now!!”
Bang! Without realizing it, I excitedly slammed the table.
Gena shrieked in fear and, with a trembling voice, finally managed to mutter while nodding vigorously.
“Yes, yes! That kind sister passed the trial early and told me she was going to Markeuteuriseu. But I don’t know the specifics since that’s all I heard.”
“Alright, just don’t freak out. I’m not gonna eat you.”
“Yes….”
Her teary eyes softened at my words, and I sighed, feeling a little conflicted.
Just knowing that one of my acquaintances from the alternative world is nearby got me excited.
“Ah, by the way, she mentioned something.”
As I was scratching my head in confusion, Gena suddenly added that.
Her eyes and expression.
Clearly, she knows something.
I shot her a probing glance.
After a moment of hesitation, Gena looked at me directly.
“That sister said she had something important to do in this world,” she said solemnly.
“Important… thing?”
She doesn’t seem like the type to have something serious on her hands, does she? I couldn’t help but imagine the worst scenario at that moment. Then Gena slowly spoke.
“She’s gone on a pilgrimage to master cooking.”
“… What?”
“The capital, Crossfaded, is famous for its delectable delicacies.”
“….”
“She heard that from the deity of the Valley of the Dead and left for Markeiteuriseu.”
Are you kidding me?
Is there something wrong with my ears? Is this some kind of joke?
Traveling to Markeiteuriseu is reasonable enough—after all, the only accessible countries from theirs are Markeiteuriseu and the Dragon Empire—but it’s the following statement that’s problematic.
I have so many questions I don’t even know where to start.
Feeling dizzy, I leaned forward and placed my hand on my forehead, asking,
“Cooking? Why is she suddenly learning how to cook? Is cooking a mandatory subject for paladins now?”
“Well… I thought someone like you would know better.”
What does that mean?
Is today some kind of Quiz Special episode of my life? Why is everyone I meet turning it into a quiz show?
Frustrated, I raised my voice.
“How am I supposed to know?! I haven’t seen her since the Trial Veil!”
“She made a promise at the Trial Veil,” Gena continued.
“To what?”
“I heard she promised to treat you to a nice meal. She might be referring to you when she mentioned a man with black hair.”
“….”
“She always smiled when talking about you. She even envied you.”
Ah. I see.
I clutched my forehead.
Now the entire story was finally clear to me.
“… Is she serious?! Did she take my joke seriously?”
The voice echoing in my mind was none other than mine.
It was the offhand comment I made when pushing Seseona through the gate.
“If only you learn to cook. Make sure to prepare a hearty meal later. To repay what you’ve received here.”
“Social conventions,” I muttered.
When you bump into an old friend after a long time, saying, ‘We should grab dinner sometime!’ is a universal trope. But actually following up and having dinner together never happens.
It’s just a cliché.
“My head is buzzing….”
I sighed heavily, muttering under my breath.
“Alright, calm down. The important thing isn’t that right now.”
After a while, I managed to get a grip on myself.
After reconsidering, I remembered my original purpose here: having this conversation with the red-haired elf girl.
“Hmm.”
I cleared my throat to recompose the atmosphere, and Gena, nibbling on the leftover food, glanced at me.
“Alright Gena, where is your brother?”
“He… hasn’t come back yet. He’s out working.”
“Working? At what?”
“That….”
Gena’s sentence trail faded, and her expression darkened again.
Could she be about to cry again? As I was bracing myself for that thought,
Gena slowly shook her head and spoke.
“I don’t know. Ever since we came here, he hasn’t talked much about his work.”
“Hmm.”
Seems like he’s up to no good.
Just by her reaction, I could already piece together enough details. He doesn’t need to elaborate any further about what he’s doing.
In that case, the chances of this girl’s brother being the man I’m looking for have increased. This is good news.
Gena’s brother has gone dark. Taking that as a given, I formulated my next question.
“Alright Gena, your brother… wait a sec.”
I can’t remember his name. It was certainly listed in that list. Let me check.
I reached under the table to glance at the list briefly.
“[32. Zenon – Slum 3rd Alley, 8th Shack. Living with his younger sister.]”
So his name is Zenon. I nodded and continued my inquiry.
“Alright. Zenon. Has he shown any unusual behavior recently?”
“Unusual… behavior? Like what?”
“Anything. Anything at all.”
The contemplative Gena suddenly opened her eyes wide, but when she met my gaze, she quickly averted her eyes and closed her mouth.
She remembered something. But she’s hesitating whether she should tell me.
‘So, it’s important information.’
Exactly the kind of information I wanted.
The type of details one hesitates to divulge to others.
I briefly smirked, and then I forced my face into a serious expression, mentally preparing to play a guilt card.
“Gena, please. This is a matter of life and death.”
I leaned in toward Gena, gripping her hands tightly.
She flinched for a moment but, upon seeing my desperate expression, gradually relaxed. She sensed the truth in my eyes.
Her trembling lips parted slowly.
“M-mon…life..?”
“Yeah. Someone dear to me is in danger. Can’t you tell me?”
“B-but… Brother said not to talk about it…”
“Someone as precious to me as your brother is to you.”
No lies there. I value myself above all else.
Perhaps moved by my pitiful expression or the emotional blackmail involving her brother, my tactic worked.
After much deliberation, Gena finally shut her eyes tightly in resignation.
“Okay… recently, Brother has been making a lot of money. A huge amount.”
“A huge amount of money?”
“Yes. He says he’s found a reliable business partner…”
“Business partner…”
“For this deal to go well… he mentioned we might leave the slums and buy a decent house,” she continued.
The line was so packed with hints, it was practically a giveaway.
Zenon, whose face I can barely recall. The circumstances surrounding this “business partner” reek of something suspicious, and it probably has something to do with my impending doom.
“What the hell are you doing, you bastard?”
