Chapter 38 - Delia Island (1)

The training ground in the morning.

Before heading to the Abyss, I stopped by here for a moment.

I wanted to see the Chamryongdan members who were engrossed in their training, and I also had something to tell them.

Compared to other sword units, it was a modest scale, but I liked how seriously they were committed to their training.

Is this the fun of raising something?

In fact, it was an emotion I had rarely had the chance to feel during my time as Johan Raven.

Whenever I recruited private soldiers, only those who were already complete had been chosen.

Under the guidance of Choi Ho-joong and Shin Ah-yeon, the new members were sweating profusely.

What they were learning now was the Muyoung Sword Style of the Haewon Sword Family.

To be precise, it could be called an expanded version of the Muyoung Sword Style, revised and refined by me.

They were the first to have it revealed among the general members of the family, so they were very lucky.

And their luck would not end here.

I was planning to teach my members the swordsmanship of Kalia soon.

“Young Master! No, Unit Leader! You’re here?”

Choi Ho-joong spotted me and ran over in one go.

“There’s no need to go this far. You’re a middle manager of a sword unit now. You have to maintain your dignity.”

“I understand, Yo… Unit Leader!”

“By the way, how are the members? Do they look useful to you?”

“They seem to follow along well when I teach them! Well, I guess it’s also thanks to my good teaching.”

Then, as if embarrassed by what he had said, he let out a small laugh.

“You look happy after getting a title?”

“It turns out this is my calling.”

It was a bit hard to agree, but since he said it was his calling, I had nothing to say.

“Oh right! Please take this!”

Choi Ho-joong took something out of his Inventory and handed it to me.

It was a wooden box with an elegant pattern carved on it.

“What is this?”

“Please open it. I specially prepared it as a gift for your inauguration as Unit Leader.”

When I opened the lid of the wooden box, there was an object that looked like a mask with a squishy texture inside.

“It's a Human Skin Mask. I procured it in the highest quality.”

It was the first time I had encountered such an item, but it was clearly an item used for disguise.

“Thanks, but I don't know if I'll ever need to disguise my identity.”

“You never know, right? It might come in handy someday if you have it. Anyway, I’ve checked its performance, so you can trust it!”

“Alright. Anyway, thank you.”

It was a unique gift, typical of Choi Ho-joong.

“If you have something to say, shall I gather the members?”

This guy had improved a lot, now knowing things without me having to say them.

At Choi Ho-joong's command, the members immediately lined up in front of me.

“I’ve brought news regarding the Ujangsan dungeon that you are curious about.”

The members’ eyes changed instantly.

I relayed to them the matters decided in last night's meeting.

What we had to do now was to hunt a monster of high value.

It was a competition with other sword units, so we had to make the best use of the remaining time to produce the maximum results.

“Unit Leader, does this mean our Chamryongdan will finally enter a dungeon?”

“That’s about right. That's the easiest way to hunt monsters.”

“I’m looking forward to it! Finally, a dungeon raid with the Unit Leader!”

But I shook my head.

“I will not participate in this dungeon raid.”

“What? Are you saying you won't be participating, Unit Leader?”

Choi Ho-joong and Shin Ah-yeon were just as surprised.

“I have something else to do. I have to go to the Abyss as I always have.”

A look of disappointment was evident on the members' faces.

“It can’t be helped. You need to heal your body, Unit Leader.”

“You will take command of the dungeon raid, Ho-joong.”

“M-me?”

“What? Is there a problem? Then I’ll entrust it to Ah-yeon.”

“No, sir!”

It was clear this guy liked having a title.

I called Choi Ho-joong over separately.

I didn't know when I would return if I entered the Abyss this time, so there was something I needed to tell him in advance.

“Even if I’m not here, act as if I am. You know what I mean, right?”

“I understand!”

No further explanation was needed; it felt like we were finally getting in sync.

It seems I had chosen my right-hand man well.

***

[You have a history of clearing a quest in the Abyss.]

[Would you like to move to the vicinity of Yoron Village to proceed with the next quest?]

[Yes/No]

After clearing the Yoron Village quest, this message always appeared whenever I arrived at the entrance of the Abyss.

Of course, my choice until now had always been ‘No’.

The purpose of my daily visits to the Abyss was not for quests but to heal my body at the Spring of Elixir.

But today was different.

“Yes.”

[Moving to the vicinity of Yoron Village.]

The reason I sought the Abyss today was to go to Delia Island.

After passing through the Abyss portal, the scenery that unfolded before my eyes was different from before.

I had instantly traversed a considerable distance and arrived at the location of the last quest.

A holographic signpost appeared in the air, guiding the way to Delia Island.

‘I wonder if it will go as I wish.’

In truth, this trip to the Abyss was a gamble.

The competition proposed by my father to the unit leaders was to catch the monster with the highest value.

I had judged that the Chamryongdan's chances of winning against the other sword units were not high, so I decided to take a chance alone in the Abyss.

According to recently updated information, a large number of previously unknown new monsters were appearing on Delia Island.

Since I had already committed, I had no choice but to trust my judgment.

Suddenly, the Human Skin Mask that Choi Ho-joong had given me as an inauguration gift came to mind.

Come to think of it, it didn't seem like a bad idea to wear this while operating alone in the Abyss.

I had been the target of an assassination attempt before, and there was no need to publicize my movements.

Chwaak!

When I put the Human Skin Mask on my face, I felt a soft texture at first, but the feeling of unfamiliarity soon disappeared.

It wasn't of the highest quality for nothing.

Well then, since all preparations were complete, I should follow the signpost.

The estimated travel time to Delia Island was 4 and a half hours. I had to travel a rather long distance alone.

***

On the path following the signpost, monsters appeared frequently.

None were particularly difficult, but having to face many monsters over a long period was bound to put a strain on my mana.

I was newly reminded of Ho-joong’s importance.

If he had been by my side at a time like this, it would have been a very comfortable walk.

It seemed that once I arrived at Delia Island, I would need to take some time to recover by operating my mana technique right away.

As I hunted monsters and followed the path, I discovered another Hunter who was already heading for the same destination.

But the figure seen from a distance was somehow familiar.

The swordsmanship used to hunt the monster was also a style I had seen somewhere before.

When the silhouette got closer, I understood the reason.

‘It was Min Ha-rin of the Muwon Sword Family.’

This was already our third meeting.

Once in Yoron Village. Once at the Bimu. And today.

Kwaaaaaak!

She finished her hunt by plunging her sword into a Kobold's head.

Even with a brief look, I could tell that her swordsmanship had improved considerably compared to the time of the Bimu.

I didn't know if the trial of being defeated by me had become nourishment, but as expected of the Muwon Sword Family's rising star, her growth rate was tremendous.

As I approached, she must have sensed my presence, for she finished her hunt and turned around.

“You’re a Hunter. Are you heading to Delia Island?”

Seeing as she asked this, it seemed she couldn't recognize me because of the Human Skin Mask.

“Yes.”

I answered briefly.

Because I needed time to anticipate and weigh the scenarios that would occur if I got involved with her.

But her reaction went far beyond my expectations.

“Oh?”

“Why?”

“Your voice sounds familiar!”

That couldn't be.

I had only said ‘Yes,’ and if she was a person with such sensitive hearing, she should have recognized me at the Bimu last time.

It didn't make sense for her to recognize me like this now.

“Well, I’m not sure.”

For now, I played dumb.

“Oh? That voice just now is definitely familiar too! I’m sure I’ve heard it recently!”

Her voice continued, filled with conviction.

“They say just like there are fingerprints on fingers, there are voiceprints in voices. I’m ridiculously good at catching those. If I think for a moment, I think I can even figure out where we met!”

Min Ha-rin suddenly brought her two index fingers to her temples and made a face as if her brain was in full operation.

It was strange that she was so certain, but this kind of reaction was even more absurd.

It seemed Min Ha-rin showed a different side of herself every time we met.

“I think I’m about to remember! Please wait a moment!”

She looked as if she was really about to figure out who I was.

For a moment, I wondered if I should just come out with it.

There was no reason to hide the fact that I was Seo Ji-han from Min Ha-rin.

“Finally! I remember, I remember!”

I felt a little bit empty.

To be found out like this even while wearing the top-quality Human Skin Mask I got from that punk Ho-joong.

“You have a very interesting ability. To recognize me right away like this. As you said, I am……”

“The senior I met in the labyrinth of Yoron Village. That’s you, right?”

This was an unexpected development.

A hollow laugh escaped me.

But when I thought about it, she wasn't wrong.

As she said, it was true that we first met in the labyrinth of Yoron Village.

“……You caught me.”

“You’re much younger than the face I imagined. Back then, it was so dark in the labyrinth that I really couldn't see your face.”

Her sense of sight was extremely dull, but her sense of hearing was extremely sharp.

“Anyway, it’s nice to see you. To meet you again like this, Miss Min Ha-rin.”

At my words, she nodded her head up and down vigorously.

“It’s nice to see you too! I really wanted to meet you again, senior, and to think it actually came true!”

The more I thought about it, the more absurd it was.

To think she couldn't recognize me at the Bimu even with this ability.

A moment later, she opened her mouth with a cautious voice.

“Senior! If it's not too much to ask, this quest too……”

“You want to do it together?”

“Yes! It’s good to help each other! I promise. I won’t just piggyback on you like last time!”

“Well, let’s see.”

Actually, the main purpose this time wasn't the quest.

What I had to do was to put monsters that would fetch a high price into my Inventory.

In that respect, Min Ha-rin’s proposal wasn't bad.

I could leave the quest to her and focus on my own work.

Considering that I could save mana on the way to Delia Island, there was no reason to refuse.

As long as I erased any traces of the Haewon Sword Family from my swordsmanship while we were together, there would be no fear of my identity being revealed.

“Alright. Let’s do it one more time.”

“Really?”

Back then, she was indebted to me, so it would be fine for me to use her this one time.

“I look forward to working with you, Miss Min Ha-rin.”

“Me too, senior! But may I know your name? I was in such a state back then that I didn't even get to ask.”

“It’s Seo Yohan.”

It was an impromptu naming, but it had its own meaning and didn't seem too bad.

But I didn't know at the time.

That in the future, the name Seo Yohan would become as famous as the name Seo Ji-han.