Chapter 754 – 754. Connection (5)
The air in the forest was very cold.
The thing I was most worried about was Runan’s condition, but perhaps thanks to seeing the effect of Eunhyeon’s potion properly, his complexion was very good.
He would not have been able to fully preserve his body temperature if he had been hit by the cold wind of dawn in his worst condition due to the loss of one hand and excessive blood loss.
“… There is someone.”
Feeling the presence of people in the forest at dawn when the sun hadn’t even risen yet, Ju-hong raised his nerves and alerted his surroundings.
Even Ju-hong himself couldn’t explain it properly, but he could definitely feel their presence.
It was because of the senses of a beastman that were several times superior to those of ordinary humans.
This sense was like the lifeline of Ju-Hong that allowed him to survive in his adventurer life.
But despite the scarlet warning, Erin calmly nodded her head and did not stop her steps in front of her.
“Did you not hear me? Someone in this forest right now…”
“Know.”
In fact, Erin was aware of their presence even before Scarlet.
Her senses are more sensitive and superior than those of beastmen.
She immediately noticed the sign and even managed to pinpoint the number and location through detection.
Even so, the reason Erin didn’t take any action was because they were familiar with Erin.
‘Rather than being used to it, is it true that I know it?’
This expression was more appropriate because it was not a relationship that I saw so often that I was familiar with it.
Neither the arrangement of formations they took, nor the number of members acting as teammates, nor the smells they knew were their enemies, she judged.
Erin stopped her steps and spoke briefly.
“Stop coming out.”
Eventually, the distance was so close that the voices could be heard by those who had been holding their breath watching in their direction until now.
Apparently hearing Erin’s voice, they began to appear one by one in the forest.
“… !”
When he found a group that completely hid his identity by covering his whole body with a black cloth and even covering his face with a black mask, Ju-hong held his breath.
The presence she felt was that she was watching her and Erin from somewhere, but she hadn’t been able to pinpoint the number or location.
‘… What the hell is this woman?’
Far from bowing down to the role of her scout, she has superior abilities compared to her other adventurers, but Erin easily transcends her ability to detect them.
Come to think of it, Erin has been weird since she first attacked herself.
It was to the extent that, at a distance that she could not even recognize herself, she identified her position, rushed in a straight line, and took her first attack.
Ju-Hong did not know that thanks to her inheriting the characteristics of Shin-Soo, she has a sense that easily surpasses the five senses of an ordinary person, and that she is actively using the technology of sensing she learned from Eun-Hyeon.
That’s why the current vermilion didn’t know what her current level of erin was.
And the fact that such a strong woman became Eun-hyeon’s wife was surprising the more I thought about it.
When Ju-hong was shocked at Erinn’s state once more, one of the people in the black mask who had revealed her appearance stepped forward.
Ju-Hong, who immediately recognized that they represented them, did not know who they were, but he showed no hostility as he got down on one knee and bowed his head respectfully.
“… After.”
When Ju-hong let go of his guard with a little relief, a man dressed in black who seemed to be the representative of the group spoke to Erin.
“I came to see you.”
They were members of the Heilangdan.
“… Did Hyuni send it?”
“No.”
Erin did it anyway, but she didn’t think so either.
If he had come to meet him, Eun-hyeon would not have Heilangdan come to meet him, but he would have come himself.
She does it because she knows very well that she will be more than happy.
Venkel, the leader of the Black Wand members who met Erin, explained the situation in detail.
“We acted with the judgment that it was appropriate for us to step in to serve the captain comfortably.”
Certainly, it was not that difficult to rescue Runan by Erin alone.
However, it is a different matter from rescuing Erin alone, who was in danger after being tortured.
“Well, that’s right.”
In fact, Erin also saved Runan as Eunhyeon commanded, but carrying Runan on her own was a chore as she couldn’t ride Bumblebee or use Retona.
So, I decided to stop by a nearby estate or village and wait for Runaan to come to her senses and restore her health.
If Heirangdan took care of Runan on her own, she would be doing away with all the trouble for Erinn, so she had no reason to be reluctant.
Erin glanced behind her and winked at Ju-hong.
Zhu Hong understood the meaning of handing over Runan, who was supporting him, and nodded his head.
“Captain!”
When Erin and Venkel gave permission, the Black Wand members immediately ran towards Runan.
Although the fainting Runan did not hear the voices of the members, it clearly showed how much they valued Runan just by their actions.
“But he… ?”
Venkel looked at the scarlet that had been carrying Runan all the way to this place and made a puzzled expression.
Erin pondered for a moment on how to explain the scarlet, and then she picked out the right words and surrounded them.
“He’s Hyun’s acquaintance. Hyun-i told me to bring it.”
“I see.”
It was a brief explanation, but Wenkel did not ask further.
Doubting what his wife Erin said was also doubting Eunhyeon, so that was enough for him to know.
As the Heilang members took over Runan’s support, Ju-hong, relieved, relaxed his shoulders and walked side by side with Erin.
“… Brother’s subordinates?”
“Hmm… What are you talking about?”
The Heilang members are ultimately following Eun-hyeon’s orders and moving, so it’s not particularly wrong.
Ju-hong put on a complicated expression for a moment and muttered softly.
“Brother… There are a lot of people following you.”
“Huh. Because Hyun is great. He is strong and very smart, so many people follow him.”
She is not alone.
All of those who are called the six heroes of the Arcena continent, including Illyana and Riod, respect and follow Eunhyun’s will.
Because Eun-hyeon had not only skills, but also the popularity and ability that made it possible.
And he was so proud that he was the teacher and husband who taught him.
“…”
However, Ju-Hong, who listened to Erin’s chattering beside him, put on an expression that he couldn’t understand.
“Is your brother strong?”
“Huh.”
“I can’t do that…”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Recognizing that vermillion’s expression belatedly, Erin put on a puzzled expression.
“Hyeoni oppa had no talent for fighting. Because you were weaker than me.”
“… Huh?”
“My dad said it too. Hyun-i oppa doesn’t have any talent for things like martial arts.”
For a moment, Erin couldn’t understand what the vermilion’s words meant.
What Zhu Hong said was not about the scope limited to ‘physical arts’.
It refers to all techniques used to fight to the death with others, including swordsmanship and spearmanship.
“Hyun has no talent? Nonsense.”
Erin denied it.
Then, what is Eun-hyeon like now?
Although it is an unofficial fact, Riod himself has admitted that it is impossible to defeat the current Eunhyeon, even the hero Riod, who is said to be the best knight in the kingdom.
Now, even Shiete, who taught Eun-hyeon swordsmanship, acknowledges it and has reached a level where she enjoys sword fighting with Eun-hyeon.
It’s a joke that even a passing dog wouldn’t laugh at Eun-hyeon’s lack of talent.
“It’s true, though. My brother and I learned martial arts together from our father, but the gap in age and physique narrowed in an instant.”
There are always individual differences in who achieves how much and how much.
When Eun-hyeon was 19 and Ju-hong was 14, the two learned martial arts together from Ju Hyeon-seong.
Of course, Ju-hong, a 14-year-old girl, was no match for Eun-hyeon, who had a stronger, more mature body as a man.
However, it was the beginning of learning martial arts.
“Two years have passed since I learned theater from my father, and for the first time Hyun-yi beat my brother.”
And since then, Eun-hyeon has never been able to defeat Ju-hong.
Joo Hyun-sung’s words were true.
Eunhyun had no talent.
How would you feel if you were easily overtaken by a 16-year-old girl even if you tried and poured everything in while saving your sleeping time?
As a scarlet, I couldn’t tell.
If Ju-Hong had been easily overtaken by a child younger than himself, he would have been unbearable.
He must have been so ugly and embarrassed, and he might have wondered what the hell he had put all his effort and time into.
He couldn’t have endured that misery himself.
Even so, Eunhyun laughed.
He showed a bright smile saying that he sincerely congratulates the achievement that beat him.
‘I hated that laugh so much back then.’
I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t laugh.
The incident in which he defeated Eun-hyeon for the first time was an incident that proved Ju-hong’s achievements in the far-reaching genre and at the same time proved that Eun-hyeon’s achievements were futile.
Even though he was denied the effort and time he had accumulated over the years, he smiled calmly and shouted at Eun-hyeon, who congratulated him for the cause, if he had no pride.
It made me angry because it seemed like a laid-back attitude that didn’t even care about winning over myself.
The scarlet of a 16-year-old girl who was in the midst of puberty was a time when she was so immature.
And Joo Hyeon-seong died, and Ju-hong drove a nail into the heart of Eun-hyeon, who was the only person he could rely on.
“But now it seems that Hyun-hyung oppa is stronger than me.”
After fighting Erin, she gauged the level of Eunhyun who had taught Erin, who easily overpowered her.
“Are you regretting it?”
Erin read Juhong’s feelings.
The emotions that bloomed in her heart were dull with her regret, sorry, and guilt.
It is probably the feelings toward Eun-hyeon.
“…”
Juhong kept his mouth shut at Erin’s point.
Stabbed to the point, he forcibly endured the feeling that the emotions inside him were about to burst out like a balloon pricked by a needle.
Erin did not bother to ask what Ju-hong regrets and feels guilty about Eun-hyeon.
Erin was also curious about Eun-hyeon’s past, but this was something that Eun-hyeon had to hear directly, and she thought it was not right for her to ask Ju-hong on her own.
As the Heilang members took Runan and disappeared first, there was no further conversation between Erin and Ju-Hong, who were left alone.
The silence lasted until the two reached the village.
When they passed through the entrance and entered the village, a Heilang member waiting at the entrance came out to meet them.
“I reserved two rooms at the inn. We will guide you. And… He is coming now.”
It wasn’t too difficult to realize who the ‘him’ the Heilang member was referring to was.
However, perhaps because it was her unexpected news, Erin was taken aback and her expression of joy showed on her face.
“Hyeoni is here!?”
“Yes. You just arrived.”
“… !”
Contrary to Erin’s delighted expression, Ju-hong’s face hardened with tension.
Relationships that were once severed were about to be reconnected.
