Chapter 40 – Union
#040.
Tall buildings. The sophisticated buildings that combine fantasy and modern sensibilities gave the Gaon party two contradictory feelings of familiarity and unfamiliarity.
After escaping from such a busy street and entering a quiet street, Chorin and Cheon Jaehee seemed a little relieved.
After about five minutes of walking in that state, they were able to reach an empty lot next to an inn.
“It would be nice to have a talk here.”
With those words, I turned around and faced the two women, and a voice mixed with relief immediately burst out.
“Whew—I’m a little relieved now.”
“I’m nervous because there are so many things I’m seeing for the first time.”
Originally, human beings are complex creatures who have fear and curiosity about the unknown at the same time. All sorts of different races and styles of architecture not seen in modern Korea. It was only the first time seeing them, so it was natural for them to be so nervous.
Gaon gave the two a chance to catch their breath, and when he seemed to have calmed down a bit, he opened his mouth.
“Then, let’s start by simply exchanging information. Were you both injected with mysterious information?”
Chorin immediately answered that question.
“Ah yes. That’s right. He told me to become stronger in preparation for dimensional invaders.”
And Cheon Jae-hee supplemented it.
“If you check that even a language you have never seen before is in your head, it seems that it is not simply an illusion.”
“Hmm… Is that so? To sum it up, we’ve been brought to a strange world, and later we have to be strong to face the invaders. … It’s a big deal.”
Both of their faces darkened.
It’s fortunate that you can use a common language, but it means you have to adapt to an unfamiliar world with nothing but your bare body.
Looking at the appearance just now, the natives here are not particularly friendly to the earthlings, so of course I have no choice but to worry.
Gaon looked at the expressions of the two and picked up the string that tied the armor that had been laid down on the floor.
“Let’s start by looking for a merchant. We sell these weapons to secure initial funds.”
“Ah! Is that why you brought it?”
“Awesome…”
Chorin’s expression was unexpected, and Cheonjaehee’s composure and coolness surprised him, but he seemed to understand it to some extent.
Gaon took the two of them out of the clearing.
Fortunately, there was a guild not too far from the inn. It’s not very big, but it was big enough to see at a glance.
Of course, that was the reason why he had come to this inn vacant lot in the first place.
With a click! With a click!
With every step he took, various weapons tied to the vines collided with each other, spreading a metallic sound. The eyes of the people around him gathered around him, but Gaon didn’t even care.
Cho-rin and Cheon-jae-hee flinched in response to those gazes, but as soon as they entered the upper ranks, their interest diminished and they quickly returned to normal.
Inside the upper building it was quiet. As I looked around the interior, where daily necessities, simple weapons, potions, and luxury goods were displayed, a merchant with a neatly trimmed mustache popped out from one side.
“Come on. What are you going to do?”
“I’m trying to sell some of these arms. Everything is in good condition, take a look.”
As he put the bundle of weapons in front of him, the merchant’s gaze turned downward and then back to Gaon.
A narrow gaze shoots with suspicion.
“It’s definitely in good shape. However… Are you an Earthling?”
“Then is there a problem?”
“No, no. Not really. Then let’s do the math.”
The merchant unpacked the bundle of weapons and started counting the numbers. It didn’t take too long for him to calculate because he had sorted them out in advance.
“Hmm… That’s 33 in total. I will give you 100 silver for each 3 silver.”
In this world, the value of money is determined in the order of copper 〈 silver 〈 gold 〈 platinum. Each currency differs by a factor of 100. In other words, 100 silver is equivalent to 1 gold.
Gaon looked at the merchant quietly.
In the case of arms, regardless of the type, the minimum price is 50 silver. No matter how used it is, hitting them more than 10 times was proof that they were viewed as hogu.
The merchant’s body froze at Gaon’s dry, strangely oppressive gaze.
“Let’s do it in moderation. Because I know everything.”
“… Chet! Got it. Then I’ll do it for 20 silver each. If this is big enough for you, please be satisfied.”
“I will.”
It’s a little below the mid-level price, but it’s still enough. He didn’t even bother to fight with the merchant, and if it was 20 silver, it was enough to be considered conscientious.
The merchant ties up his arms again and sets them down to one side, then enters the storage room and emerges with two of his purses.
“Here are 6 gold and 60 silver. Check it out.”
“… That’s definitely right. Then I will come again next time.”
“That would be nice. Come on! If you find out that the Earthlings are here, there might be a problem.”
“Enough then.”
The possibility of a problem with an earthling stopping by is very slim, but it wasn’t zero, so Gaon packed his money bag and left the top with his party.
As soon as he left the building, Chorin, who had been quiet, opened his mouth.
“Miss Gaon. Great. Anyway, how did you know the merchant was cheating?”
“I roughly figured it out with my unique ability.”
“Great! If Gaon is there, I won’t have to worry.”
“It’s overrated.”
Gently accepting Chorin’s exaggerated praise, Gaon led the two of them into the inn.
The chattering Chorin also hesitated for a moment when he saw her inn, but she hurriedly followed her after seeing Gaon enter without hesitation.
Cheon Jae-hee had been staring at Ga-on without saying anything for some reason.
As soon as I entered the inn, the noise rushed in. Various races, including humans, were enjoying their food and chatting noisily.
As soon as he entered, some people turned their eyes to Gaon, but soon they were busy raising their heads as if their interest had withered.
Shortly thereafter, a young boy came down from the stairs leading to the second floor and spoke to me.
“Welcome! Are there three of you?”
“Okay. Today’s menu is for three people, please.”
“All right. Follow me!”
They were ushered to a corner seat.
It was quite gloomy because there were no windows. There were so many people that I couldn’t help it because all the seats were occupied.
“Miss Gaon. Aren’t you curious? Look over there. It has cat ears!”
“That person over there must be a pretty elf with pointy ears.”
Mixed among countless people, Cho-rin and Cheon-hee Cheon each expressed their appreciation, as if they had finally completed their adaptation to this world.
He was probably too nervous before then to have time to look around. Whether it’s a reaction against him, the story continues without knowing the end.
‘Long time no see.’
This noisy atmosphere. It was an experience I hadn’t had in a long time. It was also a sight that could not be found since the time when the dimensional invaders rampaged in earnest in the previous life.
10th year. So, I think it’s been about 8-9 years. I had never been so relaxed at an inn like this.
No, doesn’t it actually suit you?
At that time, Gaon was alone. After it was revealed that he had been doing tricks behind the scenes and hurting people in order to monopolize all kinds of opportunities, he had been hiding his identity and wandering around.
At that time, I regretted how things turned out like this, but after the whole world was destroyed, I used to miss even that very much.
However, as I went through one more regression, I now have colleagues who do not just mix with people, but also work together.
Gaon secretly smiled as he watched the two women conversing in pleasant voices like chirping birds.
***
“Ah… Full. So what are you going to do now?”
“I plan to stay here for one night. Can you two share the same room? In case you don’t know, I think it would be better for the two of you to be together.”
At Gaon’s words, Chorin and Cheon Jaehee looked at each other, then nodded without asking who came first.
“I’m fine.”
“I have no problem either.”
“Then, one single room and one double room. You can borrow it like this. Let’s go checkout.”
After the meal, the group got up from their seats at Gaon’s words and headed to the counter. Standing there was a woman in her early 30s who seemed to be the mother of the little boy I was guiding earlier.
The woman glanced at the seat where Gaon and the others were sitting and opened her mouth.
“It’s a calculation. Today’s menu is a total of 1 silver and 50 bronze for 3 people.”
“Here it is. And I would like to get some rooms. One single room and one double room.”
“It just happened to be left, but I thought it was good. A single room is 2 silver, and a double room is 3 silver, for a total of 5 silver.”
After handing over her money, the woman took out two of her keys from under the counter and handed them to Gaon.
“Here is the key. If you lose it, you will have to pay for it, so keep it. Single rooms are on the 2nd floor, and double rooms are on the 3rd floor.”
“Thank you.”
After examining the key and identifying the lake, Gaon took the two of them up the stairs. Then he passed the key to Chorin in front of the stairs leading to the third floor.
“Then we’ll see you tomorrow. Let’s take a rest today and think about the future from the next day. Let’s meet at the cafeteria on the first floor by 8:00 tomorrow morning.”
“Yes. Then see you tomorrow. If anything happens, come to me right away.”
“Of course. Please lock the door and sleep at night.”
“Whoops! I know that much! Then let’s go!”
Chorin smiled at Gaon’s concern and climbed the stairs. As she climbed, she stopped.
She turned her head and called for Cheon Jae-hee, who stood firmly in her place.
“Jaehee?”
At Cho-rin’s words, Cheon Jae-hee said she had been staring at Ga-on since earlier, and asked her for her understanding if she had anything to say.
“Chorin. I’ll go after talking with Hyuugaon. Please go first.”
“…”
What the hell are you talking about? Chorin, who hesitated with anxiety about him, nodded heavily at the thought that useless doubt is poison, and that she had no right to control it, and climbed the stairs.
Gaon stared at Chorin’s back as he walked away, then turned to Cheon Jaehee.
“Genius Jaehee. Do you have something to do with me?”
“Yes. I have a question for you.”
“If you have any questions…”
“About Union. You told me before you came over to this world.”
“It was.”
Cheon Jae-hee’s eyes were sparkling with curiosity.
Those eyes filled with certainty were hoping that their expectations would be met.
With such a wish, he quietly whispered in Gaon’s ear so that no one would listen.
“Hyuugaon’s ability is to see the future?”
“… Yes?”
“That’s right! Without that ability, how could I know about Union? Right? Yes? The reason why I have been able to know various information so far is because I can see the future, right?”
“Hmm…”
It is not possible to see the future, but it is true to know the future. But it is not possible to answer this straight away.
However, Cheon Jae-hee raised her voice excitedly alone, perhaps thinking that such a reaction had hit the mark.
“Look! That’s right! Gaon was able to see the future! That’s why he’s so good at spearmanship. Right? You asked me to go to the Mage Tower because you saw me become a wizard, right? It’s because the fact that you saved me last time helped me later.”
“Genius Jaehee. Calm down for now. The voice is loud.”
“Oh! Sorry. I’m so excited. By the way, the ability to see the future… Incredible.”
It seems that Gaon has already been determined to be a person who sees the future within Cheon Jae-hee. Gaon silently nodded her head at the thought that it was annoying to deny this, and rather thought that she would not have to hide information about her future from her.
“Also! I’ll keep this a secret. Then I’ll go up! See you tomorrow!”
Chun Jae-hee laughed while thinking about what she was thinking, then left Ga-on behind and climbed her stairs and disappeared.
“Well… Are you okay?”
Gaon stood there for a while, thinking about Cheon Jae-hee’s misunderstanding, then shook her head excitedly and headed to his room.
The first day at Union went like that.
