Chapter 214: East, Hwaseong (2)

Chapter 214: East, Hwaseong (2)

I burst Orphele’s bubble. Or, more precisely, I shattered it into many smaller ones and as a result, rain was falling from the sky.

Each divine beast has its own weaknesses.

The fiery fox’s weakness, of course, is water, which is why she’s so afraid of rain.Alll latest novels at novelhall.com

A brief, artificial rain shower wouldn’t douse her fire, but it could temporarily disorient her.

As the rain falls from nowhere in the dry sky, the frightened creature gradually shrinks in size, until it’s about the size of an average fox and runs away.

“It’s raining! Catch Miho!”

“It’s already run away...!”

“Damn it, when is the senior ninja going to come back?!”

The ninjas who were still able to move their bodies shouted as they looked helplessly at the cute tail of the fleeing rookie in the distance.

Her name must have been Miho.

Her appearance and name reminded me of Gumiho, but alas, she didn’t have nine tails.

I didn’t really go after her.

I might be able to kill it, but I couldn’t catch it.

-Roar!

The sky rumbled again, and Aizel, who had been hugging me with a sullen expression on her face, lifted her magpie paws and reached over my head to catch the thunder that was falling toward me.

“This is the third time you’ve done this... Aren’t you going to tell me what it is?”

Aizel rubbed her hands together and tilted her head to look at me. Aizel was questioning the lightning bolt that had struck me after using the third chapter of the Reverse Heaven.

“Maybe I’m being punished for being too good.”

“...Bad luck.”

Aizel giggles at my sarcasm and hugs me tightly again.

With her, I look around, soaking up the rain that will soon stop.

All around us, people were shouting and running around, claiming to have found wounded.

The battle was effectively over.

We had just made progress.

[Progress:

Saint – 9%

King – 4%

Demon – 9%]

As expected, the King’s progression is boosted by commanding and leading in battle.

What’s unusual is that Aizel, Kaen, Yuri, and others were also judged to be major figures.

I’m not sure what that means right now, but it’s a good thing.

There will be plenty of opportunities to fight alongside them in the future.

“Good work.”

From the other side, Edward approaches, clapping his hands.

“I know it’s a lot to take in, but for now, we need to help clean up this mess. And Cadet Zetto, Medical Officer Priscilla wants to see you.”

“...Understood.”

I guess I’m supposed to help treat the wounded.

Even the rain in the dry skies doesn’t give me a chance to relax but I didn’t mind, as long as I can make good progress.

***

“It just so happens that the village’s senior ninja and the two elders have gone to a nearby village to help.”

“They had to deal with a new divine beast?”

“Yes, that’s where things get tricky, because this one was a high-level divine beast.”

As I helped Priscilla check on the wounded, I listened to a bit of their story.

Some of the information I already knew, some of it new.

The problem that Hwaseong needed to solve was the divine beasts that were wreaking havoc in the country.

However, I realized something in Ishay.

I realized that the information and problems were the same ones I had known before, but in a slightly different form.

Originally, my goal was to visit each country in the East and make connections with the so-called “High Ones” by solving their problems and issues.

I figured that these connections would help prevent terrorism during the festival.

I also made the best possible impression on Princess Kimei, the future Queen of Ishay, and the King’s brother, King Shui.

There’s nothing I can do to stop it.

The ‘dog’ she’s worried about is already in the palm of my hand.

‘But what are they doing over there...?”’

Priscilla turned her head and glanced at the three women on the other side.

There were Aizel, Yuri, and Kaen.

“Zetto, I have a headache.”

“It’s because you used too much mana, and you’re suddenly feeling dizzy...”

“My muscles are sore from blocking the divine beast attack earlier...”

The seemingly healthy, or at least well, women pretended to be sick and took a seat where the least prioritized were sorted.

“I put out the immediate fire, so it doesn’t matter...”

“...I’ll send you back.”

I’m going to have to let these women off the hook.

***

While Zetto had safely chased away the divine beast, the silver-haired boy who remained in Ishay was trying to figure out how to get to Hwaseong.

“You want to go to Hwaseong? You can take the train.”

“A train...? What is it?”

The bearded old man, who looked much older than he was, stammered.

“You don’t even know trains...”

Judging by the boy’s shabby appearance and lack of common sense, the old man didn’t even bother to tackle him, assuming it was due to his lack of education.

The old man then explains to the boy about trains.

“So if I take the train, I can go to Hwaseong, right?”

“That’s right...”

“I want to get on the train.”

“Do you have any money?”

“I don’t have a dime.”

The boy’s ears pricked up at the sound of money.

He had been spending every penny he earned on his sister’s treatment.

“Then you won’t be able to catch the train.”

“Give me money.”

The boy spread his hands.

“...I’m not paying you for anything.”

“I’ll sleep with you. Why do old people sleep with young children and give them money?”

The boy’s life in the underworld had taught him to see only the abnormal, and he had no common sense.

“You...! You deserve to be punished... I’m not that kind of person.”

At the mention of prostitution, the old man was taken aback.

“Really? Then how can I get paid?”

The boy didn’t seem to know what he was talking about.

“Hah... Bow down.”

“What’s a bow?”

The old man with the cane barely managed to stifle a sigh as he explained that bowing is a culture of the East.

The boy understood and immediately bowed down to the old man.

Then he dusted himself off, stood up, and held out his hand.

“Now give me the money.”

“With your bald head... Yes.”

The old man clicks his tongue and puts the money into the boy’s tiny hand.

It was just enough money for a train ride.

“But what are you going to do in Hwaseong?”

The old man, who was curious about the boy’s purpose, asked and the boy’s lips twitched as he looked at the money, then he answered in a nonchalant voice.

“I’m going to kill a man. 50,000 gold.”

“......Yes, go ahead, go ahead.”

The old man gave up on further conversation.