Thus, we successfully completed the tumultuous conquest of the Cave Of Wailing. We hadn't fully cleared the entire cave, but we defeated the boss monster and reached the end, so we'd done more than enough. The task of cleaning up any remaining undead wandering the cave was left to the investigation team or other players who would follow after our expedition report.
Though we'd accomplished a major feat, the expedition wasn't entirely over. The most critical task—returning—still lay ahead. Crossing the Blue Mountains teeming with undead was a challenge in itself, and above all, safely returning to Mule was what gave meaning to everything our caravan had achieved. Some players, lulled by the satisfaction of completing an expedition, had lost their lives due to carelessness, so we needed to stay vigilant.
On the journey back, the hottest topic was the Chaos Mimic. According to Sol, 'If a baby mimic gave us something that big, the daddy and mommy mimics will definitely give us something even bigger!' Her words resonated with the group. I couldn't quite grasp the exact meaning of what "bigger" referred to or what they were agreeing on, but the context gave me a rough idea, so I didn't comment further. (However, I firmly ignored any suggestions to open the chest now.)
During the return, countless thoughts swirled in my mind, and I organized them. My biggest curiosity was the outcome of the Vagrant Extermination Plan and the Golden Lion Clan's advance into the Iron Mountains. I was eager to return to Mule and learn the results, which might have quickened my steps.
However, the timing was tricky. Based on the future I knew, the Vagrant Extermination Plan should have concluded long ago, but whether the Iron Mountains campaign would have results by the time we returned was uncertain.
I decided to stay as calm as possible. Though a corner of my mind felt anxious, I didn't want to rush and ruin things. As the saying goes, "The more haste, the less speed," so steadily tackling what needed to be done was the right approach.
There were plenty of tasks piling up anyway. I needed to obtain achievement certificates for the Ancient Alchemist Dungeon and the Ruined Laboratory, and submit an expedition report for the Cave Of Wailing. The rewards and loot from this expedition needed to be processed and distributed, equipment upgrades had to be considered, and the clan creation application was still pending. Above all, the most pressing matter was deciding what to do with player Go Yeon-Joo.
Thinking about the tasks ahead made my head spin, and I could only sigh. But as I'd resolved earlier, tackling them one by one calmly would surely lead to a positive outcome. With that self-assurance, I hurried toward the small city of Mule.
*
When Mule's north gate began to faintly appear in the distance, my group and I finally let out sighs of relief. Glancing around, I saw the dim mist settling over the ground and dew-kissed blades of grass. The surroundings were quiet, with only the occasional whisper of wind brushing past our ears.
It had taken ten days to reach the Cave Of Wailing and one day to explore it. That much was as expected, but our return was delayed by an extra day. Despite our efforts to hurry back, Yun-Jung's condition slowed us down. The lingering effects of the wound from Horrence meant that any increase in pace left her struggling to keep up with the group.
Honestly, I was initially too preoccupied with other thoughts to notice. I'd sensed the march was slightly sluggish, but Ha-Yeong's subtle hint helped me realize the issue. (Impressively, Yun-Jung hadn't shown any sign of struggle to me, enduring and marching on as best she could.) I didn't slow the pace, but since I'd decided to take things calmly, I made time to accommodate Yun-Jung. Whenever she showed the slightest sign of strain, we took brief rests to encourage her.
Yun-Jung's condition improved over time, and by days seven and eight, we managed to restore our normal cycle of marching and resting. On the tenth day of the return, we decided to march through the night. Judging that we were close enough to Mule to avoid major dangers, the overnight march allowed us to make up some of the delayed time.
Thus, after 11 days, we successfully returned to the small city of Mule.
The path we walked was gradually changing. From grassy, overgrown plains, the road became uneven but showed signs of humans. As we pressed on steadily, the modest north gate slowly came into view. Calculating the total time, we returned to Mule after 22 days.
We had left Mule before the first week of March, so the current date was likely late March. As the north gate drew closer and I saw the lone guards standing watch, my heart inexplicably raced with excitement.
"We welcome the safe return of the players! May the blessings of the angels…"
Upon reaching the gate, two scruffy guards saluted us energetically. After a brief acknowledgment, I turned to see the group, each wearing a unified expression. A strong curiosity struck me—what would their reactions be if I suggested heading to the Modest Lady inn for training? Of course, it was just a fleeting, silly thought.
Stepping through the north gate, a quiet street greeted us. It was likely dawn, and unless they were in unavoidable circumstances or outright mad, no players would set out for an expedition at this hour.
"Ughhh! We're finally back!"
"I'm gonna cry. Sob sob."
"Woo! Woo!"
Having endured the toughest expedition yet, the kids erupted into cheers the moment they stepped into the city. Vivienne was yawning incessantly, patting her mouth, while SShin Sang-Yong nodded off with sleepy eyes. Ha-Yeong tried to hide it, but her face was etched with fatigue. And Go Yeon-Joo…
The moment we entered Mule, she fixed me with an intense gaze I hadn't seen before. Meeting her stare calmly, she winked, sending a silent signal. I understood its meaning instantly. Turning to the group, who were eager to head to the inn, I spoke quietly.
"Player Jung Ha-Yeong."
"Yes?"
"Please lead the others. Head to the Modest Lady inn first."
Brushing her hair behind her ear, she turned with a blank expression. The rest of the group looked equally puzzled, wondering why I was acting this way, but I shook my head and continued.
"I have something to check on. It won't take long."
"Still, wouldn't it be better to rest first? If it's not urgent…"
"It's urgent, so I'd rather handle it now."
At my firm tone, Ha-Yeong tilted her head. Her worried gaze swept over me, but I gave a subtle shake of my head, signaling my resolve in a way only she would understand. Seeing my gesture, she let out a soft sigh.
"Alright. If there's anything we can help with…"
"I'll handle it, so don't worry and head to the inn," Go Yeon-Joo interjected.
"U-player Go Yeon-Joo?"
"Yes. It's a matter requiring the prestige of the
As Go Yeon-Joo cut in, Ha-Yeong seemed to sink into thought. Claiming urgent business at this hour could seem forced, but it wasn't entirely implausible. Normally, she might not have accepted it, but having heard parts of my plan, she likely assumed it was related. Or perhaps she thought it involved Go Yeon-Joo, given her temporary alliance with us.
After glancing between me and Go Yeon-Joo, she nodded slowly, mouthing 'Be careful' in a way only I could see. I responded with a faint smile to ease her concern, and she began leading the sleepy group toward the inn.
As their figures gradually disappeared into Mule's streets, only Go Yeon-Joo and I remained at the north gate. After a moment of looking at me, she smiled prettily and spoke.
"Shall we take a walk? Outside the north gate, of course."
"No harm in that, though it's a bit odd to come in just to go back out."
I replied gruffly, and she giggled, gently grabbing my arm to lead me. We exited the north gate again, retracing the path the group had taken. An awkward silence hung between us for a while, but the first to break it was Go Yeon-Joo.
"Do you dislike long conversations?"
"I don't mind if they're necessary, but I hate beating around the bush."
"Same here. Then I'll skip the roundabout talk and throw a fastball. Though it might still be a bit long."
"I understand. That's what I wanted. I'll listen carefully."
The moment I said I'd listen carefully, she stopped walking abruptly. A fleeting sense of déjà vu hit me, as if I'd experienced a similar moment before. The faces of Kim Han-Byeol and Jung Ha-Yeong flashed through my mind, but Go Yeon-Joo's voice quickly erased them.
"There's too much about you that doesn't add up."
"Hmm."
I let out a soft hum, about to respond, but she raised a hand to silence me. I decided to keep listening.
"I'm not just talking about your visible abilities. Sure, those are incomprehensible too. But as a mere year 5 player, I can't claim to know everything. Maybe you have a special ability like that kid. Fine. Being strong in Hall Plain isn't an issue. No one can deny that's your strength. I'm curious, but I don't have the right to pry."
As a seasoned player, her words felt different from Ha-Yeong's. But I didn't let my guard down. By acknowledging my external abilities first, she was setting the stage to dig into something else.
As expected, Go Yeon-Joo narrowed her eyes and continued.
"Back in the third-floor room, you said your goals were survival and returning to Earth. Survival and return—things every player in Hall Plain has thought about at least once. Your words shook me. They weren't the naive ramblings of a year 0 player but the calculated vision of someone who could predict the future and draw a grand plan. And this expedition proved you have the ability to execute it. I hesitated. If I went back to the city now and saw the situation tomorrow, and your words were proven right, the shock might erase the unease I feel. But…"
"What's the source of that unease?"
"The source of my unease isn't anything else. It's you. Year 0 player Kim Su-Hyeon—you're the cause of my unease."
"…"
Rustle… rustle…
A cold dawn breeze blew, and the grass swayed gently. I looked at her with a hollow gaze. She wasn't looking at me, merely standing with her arms outstretched, savoring the wind. After a while, her lips parted again.
"Call it a gut feeling born from experience or a woman's intuition. You're an enigma. I joined this expedition because I wanted to observe you."
My chest began to feel tight. I steadied my breathing, exhaling slowly, and spoke in a calm voice.
"What did you find from your observation?"
"I said you're an enigma."
She answered immediately, tilting her head slightly.
"At first, you seemed like a kind player caring for the kids. Then, sometimes, a terrifying player directing killing intent at me. Other times, a devoted player sacrificing for the group. But occasionally… like a blood-soaked killer with no shred of mercy. In the end, I couldn't tell if you were angry because your comrade was hurt or just provoked."
"…"
Hearing her final words, spoken with deliberate pauses, I realized why Go Yeon-Joo had been probing me with questions right after we defeated Horrence. I'd sensed a searching look in her eyes, and now it was clear—her questions were all tests to gauge me.
I had nothing to say. As I kept my mouth shut, Go Yeon-Joo slowly approached, hands behind her back, and leaned in close. Lowering my gaze, I met her provocative eyes looking up at me. Locking eyes, she spoke in a soft voice.
"You must feel it too—your actions don't quite add up, do they?"
"There's no rule saying a person, a player, must have just one emotion."
"That's true. But there's one thing missing from your actions. Know what it is?"
"I don't."
"Don't play dumb. Consistency. If you changed your face with each action, you'd seem like entirely different people. And since you're playing dumb, let me say this upfront."
Pausing briefly, she stepped back, creating distance. Smiling faintly at me standing still, she continued.
"Survival and return. Fine. I won't deny it. But I'd rather you not use those eloquent words to cover my unease. What I'm truly curious about is the depths of your inner self."
The wind stopped. Silence enveloped us. A strange sense of déjà vu washed over me.
"So, will you answer now?"
At some point, the distance between us had grown. She raised her right hand, extending her fingers before lightly touching her collarbone.
I gave a slight nod. Seeing this, her delicate lips parted slowly, and her soft voice echoed lazily across the plains.
"Do you still… want to kill me?"
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