Chapter 46
The next morning...
Suhyeok sat in the Duke’s office drinking tea with Calahil and the Duke.
He lowered his teacup.
Then looked at Calahil.
“How is your sister?”
Calahil smiled.
“She’s much better, thanks to you.”
Then he added,
“Preparations to commercialize the Elixir are also proceeding smoothly.”
He gestured toward several documents.
“As for some of the items you purchased...”
“I’ll deliver them to the Players you mentioned.”
Other than the ore intended for Dolkin...
Most of the auction items were difficult for Suhyeok to use personally.
Taesu, Hyuna, and Yumi also faced restrictions on many of them.
So...
Suhyeok decided to send them to the three guilds still remaining on the 10th Floor.
Some of those items would definitely be useful.
Calahil glanced toward another part of the room.
“...Still...”
He looked genuinely shocked.
“Seeing it directly is hard to believe.”
“This situation is far beyond what I expected.”
The Duke looked in the same direction.
Fern was kneeling on the floor.
Both arms raised above her head.
Whenever they started lowering...
An invisible Leon smacked the back of her head.
Fern flinched.
“Eek...”
Suhyeok answered calmly,
“We made a deal.”
Calahil stared.
“A deal?”
He blinked.
“Not blackmail?”
“Truly a deal?”
Suhyeok looked at Fern.
“Blackmail?”
He sounded offended.
“That’s a harsh accusation.”
Then he asked,
“It was mutually beneficial.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Am I wrong?”
Fern immediately shook her head.
Fast.
Repeatedly.
Like a terrified squirrel.
Calahil and the Duke fell silent.
Seeing the Saintess of the Church reduced to this state...
Was almost enough to make them pity her.
Calahil forced himself to continue.
“Ahem.”
“Everything you requested last night has been prepared.”
Several wagons waited outside.
Guards stood nearby.
The Duke sipped his tea.
Then asked,
“Why are you sending only the elves away?”
He looked at Suhyeok.
“You left the barbarians here.”
“If you want future cooperation with them...”
“Wouldn’t it be better for you to accompany the elves personally?”
Suhyeok looked outside.
The wagons were preparing to leave.
Arwen met his eyes.
Several elves bowed gratefully toward Suhyeok.
Arwen also gave him a quiet farewell.
Suhyeok remembered their conversation the previous night.
Arwen had asked,
Are you truly not coming with us?
Then she looked at the object in her hand.
And you’re even entrusting me with the World Tree’s Seed.
Suhyeok’s reason was simple.
His goal from the beginning...
Had been to obtain their help.
He had already achieved that.
My objective is complete.
Then...
A system description had appeared.
[Legendary - Ring of the Great Spirit]
·
Greatly increases affinity with spirits.
·
·
Depending on the user’s capability, allows contracts with desired spirits.
·
It was the treasure the elves gave Suhyeok in return.
Spirit users had been extremely rare even in Suhyeok’s previous life.
Someone with merely a high-ranking spirit...
Could already be considered one of the Tower’s strongest.
For Suhyeok...
Who had no natural spirit affinity...
This item was essential.
Arwen hugged Seong-a, who ran toward her.
She laughed softly.
Our savior is colder than I expected.
Then she smiled.
Still...
I think I’ll miss this child.
Leon immediately scoffed.
[Hmph.]
[Why don’t you just take her with you, nya?]
He crossed his arms.
[You two look perfect together, nya.]
Arwen laughed.
Did I make you jealous?
Her expression became playful.
Don’t worry.
I’ll be gone tomorrow.
Seong-a tilted her head.
[Kitty, are you jealous?]
Leon froze.
Then began panicking.
[W-Who said I’m jealous, nya?!]
He waved his paws.
[Y-You’re ridiculous, nya!]
Arwen later asked Suhyeok,
Are you heading directly to the barbarian territory?
Yeah.
Then you must have something to gain there too.
She smiled.
I heard they live in the polar region at the far edge of the Empire.
They probably need your help more urgently than we do.
Clatter. Clatter.
The wagons now began moving away.
Suhyeok finally turned from the window.
Then answered the Duke.
“Something more important requires my attention.”
The Duke nodded.
Suhyeok continued,
“More importantly...”
“How are the preparations for departure?”
The Duke answered,
“They’re barbarians.”
He sighed.
“Food and wagons take time to prepare.”
“Even so...”
“Everything should be ready by tomorrow morning at the latest.”
The giant wagons used to bring the barbarians had all been damaged.
They were currently being repaired or replaced.
And because the barbarians kept eating...
The food supplies were disappearing at an absurd rate.
Suhyeok shrugged.
“That’s fine.”
Then he looked toward Fern.
“We have more than enough people willing to help.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Don’t we?”
Fern flinched.
Her eyes widened.
Then she immediately shouted,
“I-I’ll order them to prepare everything right away!”
The moment she finished...
She ran out of the room.
Calahil and the Duke stared.
Again.
Suhyeok calmly sipped his tea.
“Mm.”
Then he said,
“That settles it.”
That evening...
A banquet was held inside the Duke’s estate.
Taesu and the barbarians were drinking heavily.
They had somehow started their own drinking party.
“Hahaha!”
One barbarian slapped Taesu’s back.
“Human man!”
“I like you!”
“You drink well!”
He raised his cup.
“You are a man recognized by barbarians!”
Taesu laughed loudly.
“Haha!”
“You’re every bit as much of a ‘man’ as I am!”
He lifted his drink.
“If I don’t want to lose, I’ll have to drink even more...”
SMACK!
Taesu yelped.
“Urgh!”
He rubbed his back.
“Why did you suddenly hit me, Miss Yumi?”
Yumi glared.
“I told you to stop drinking.”
She crossed her arms.
“What are you going to do if you get drunk again and can’t wake up tomorrow?”
Hyuna nodded.
“That’s right.”
She looked at Taesu.
“Listen to unnie, old man.”
Taesu laughed nervously.
“H-Haha.”
“On a wonderful day like this...”
“A little drinking should be fine...”
Yumi’s expression became darker by the second.
One by one...
Every barbarian except Taesu quietly left.
One whispered,
“H-Human woman scary...”
Another nodded.
“Barbarian woman scary when angry.”
Then another added,
“Human woman also scary.”
Sponsorship messages appeared.
[‘God of Casanovas’ has sponsored 5,000 Coins.]
[Message: A man already living under someone’s thumb. Truly unfortunate.]
[‘Goddess of Marriage and Family’ has sponsored 5,000 Coins.]
[Message: ^^]
Taesu stared at the retreating barbarians.
“W-Wait!”
He looked betrayed.
“How can you leave without any loyalty?!”
He shouted,
“Didn’t we say men die together?!”
Yumi grabbed him.
“Quiet.”
No matter how desperately Taesu called...
The barbarians kept leaving.
Eventually...
Yumi dragged him away.
Meanwhile...
Seong-a ran around excitedly.
