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Chapter 61
“Don’t Be Stubborn”
It was such a simple and obvious idea, but it was exactly right. Why hadn’t I thought of it before?
Roitz explained clearly, even the method of distillation.
“We can’t find the God’s Stone by searching alone. So instead of entering enemy territory, we must make this place our base.”
If we could do that, searching for the God’s Stone would be much safer and more efficient.
The knights listened like students meeting a great professor and registering for graduate school.
“Of course, we can’t achieve everything in a day. But I promise we will finish the mission and return within a month.”
Roitz ended his speech with confident words, almost like a main male lead.
Tired eyes below the stage began to shine with hope.
Their looks mirrored Roitz’s steady gaze.
I wasn’t unfamiliar with seeing Roitz explain things, but somehow this felt different.
It made me truly realize Roitz was now the commander of Elche. Usually, he felt like just a close friend.
Thinking back, this confident and determined side of Roitz was probably what drew me to Elche.
The assurance from his confident attitude.
The strength and persistence that made you believe he could really do it.
After a short meeting, the knights and soldiers were assigned to areas of the forest. I focused on Roitz’s words, wondering which area I would get.
“That’s it. We start first thing tomorrow morning.”
Huh? What about me?
I raised my hand eagerly.
“What about me?”
Roitz looked at my bandaged left arm without expression.
“You’re going there with that arm?”
“Of course. It’s fine.”
This was true. As long as I could swing my sword and run, I was a knight in good shape.
“Go get treatment now, Serdin.”
“I can go.”
“We don’t need a liability who makes things worse by pushing too hard.”
“I’m not pushing myself, and I won’t be a burden.”
This wasn’t a game of tag where I’d be a block. Everyone was going on a mission.
I didn’t want to be like someone who came on a volunteer trip but got sick and stayed in the community hall all day.
“Don’t be stubborn.”
“Do I have to prove I won’t be a burden?”
I wanted to raise my left arm confidently, but it was still too weak.
Instead, I opened my eyes wide and raised my right hand holding my sword.
“I’ll catch twenty monsters today.”
“……”
Roitz seemed about to say more but just answered.
“Fine. But there’s a condition.”
“What condition?”
“Only twenty monsters of rank five. If you kill a higher rank monster, it counts as minus one.”
I was about to argue there’s no such rule but shut up when I saw his firm gaze.
The Mabyeoksu was a magical tool that worked stronger on stronger monsters.
It was less effective on rank fives, so clearing weaker monsters in the area first would help.
“Twenty monsters? Easy!”
I gripped my sword and ran out immediately.
“Why did you say that? Because of you, I’m suffering.”
“What suffering? Why did you follow me in the first place?”
The sun was setting in the forest as I looked back at Cute.
Still, I had eighteen monsters left to catch. Only two more to go.
“We agreed to eat together. Forgot?”
“It doesn’t have to be today.”
“I said the first meal. I don’t like breaking promises.”
“Isn’t this already breaking the promise?”
“Look, a monster’s coming. Let’s catch it quickly.”
“Why don’t you help?”
I swung my sword and killed a small hedgehog-like monster. It was rank five but had poisonous teeth and was aggressive, so careful.
“So why did you come here?”
“A surprise visit. How do you like it?”
“Not great.”
I worried he might tell Roitz about the Choro grass incident.
“You’re harsh, Noona.”
Cute pulled me suddenly and killed a hedgehog monster charging me, then smiled.
“I’m very helpful, see? I saved you earlier too.”
“So why did you come?”
“The Veiche family decided to support this expedition’s supplies. I came to deliver them.”
Hearing a noble from the Veiche family came as a supplier, I was speechless.
Cute, always unpredictable, had now come to the distant and dangerous Edikal Forest.
“For multiple reasons?”
“Yeah. Deliver supplies and check on someone.”
“Someone?”
Cute pulled out something—a piece of bread.
I looked at it suspiciously, but he tried to take it back when I stared.
I decided not to give it back and ate it.
“When did you get this?”
“Eat first, then ask.”
Cute watched me eat and smiled. He took another piece and ate it, then handed one to me.
“You eat well.”
I wondered what he was thinking, but he just smiled.
“You came here and do nothing but this? Why?”
“I’m doing something.”
“Like what?”
“Watching you kill monsters and smiling.”
I couldn’t figure him out.
“Why did the Veiche family send supplies?”
“To show off.”
“Show to who?”
“To people. To say Veiche supports the expedition. They expect to gain something.”
Suddenly, I sensed a monster approaching from behind. Cute and I both swung our swords and stabbed behind.
“When they decided to send supplies, they didn’t expect the Elche commander to become Velkyrente. I didn’t know either.”
The Velkyrente and Veiche families didn’t get along well.
There had been a pride battle between the two families about 200 years ago, and they hadn’t been close since.
“Are you allowed to be here? Won’t your family be angry?”
“I don’t care. And if they are, I know how to fix it.”
“How?”
“If I teach you, will you help?”
Though the original story hadn’t started, Cute’s personality wasn’t very different.
Always playful and unpredictable, but always calculating.
He was trying to trade with me despite not offering anything good.
“No, I won’t teach you.”
Given his nature, he probably didn’t come here without a reason.
Even if he seemed random, he had his own purpose.
The sun was setting.
“Done. Twenty monsters.”
“That hedgehog was mine, Noona. Aren’t you taking it too easy?”
“You wanted to eat quickly. Would you prefer I wait longer?”
“Okay, but…”
Cute tilted his head and looked at me.
“Does that person still not know?”
“What?”
“Looks like not.”
His eyes showed doubt.
“Why keep doing this? If it were me, I wouldn’t go back.”
“Go back.”
“No, Noona, hear me out.”
I just wanted to eat and rest, but nodded politely.
“Okay, keep talking.”
“So I wouldn’t go around in circles. I’d pick one sure thing instead of losing everything by chasing many.”
“Ah, okay, got it.”
I didn’t really understand but nodded.
If I asked more, Cute would probably annoy me longer.
“Would you do that too?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
But Cute was smart enough to notice I only gave a half-answer.
He rephrased and explained:
“You secretly made incense from Choro grass to remove the beast’s core… You’re not going around in circles.”
“…What? What did you say?”
It shocked me.
‘How did he know?’
Cute blinked at me.
I wondered how he learned that, waiting for more.
But Cute just nodded slowly.
“Probably true. Just a guess.”
