Chapter 253

Episode 253 What if (1)

I couldn’t overcome the warchief’s persuasion and decided to stay until I found a way to overcome the situation. Following the plan he came up with, he pretended to leave and settled down in a deserted area.

“I have prepared items that you can use during your stay. If there is anything missing or uncomfortable, please feel free to tell us.”

But... are you kidding me? Hey, you said you wouldn’t leave any evidence!

“This is different from what I promised.”

“Don’t worry. These are stolen without notice and will never be caught. “You can use it comfortably.”

What are you saying now? Something that should have been there is gone, so how can it not be noticeable? No matter how much effort you put into it, there is always a chance that you will be discovered when you omit it.

“I won’t take it. “Take it.”

The only people who know of my existence right now are the warchief’s henchmen, but that’s still true. Aren’t these guys too bold? Don’t you think that my stay here is an adventure?

I used my right of veto with a feeling that I was the only one who was so worried, and my clothes turned upside down.

“But...”

“If this happens again, I will leave here then.”

“...All right.”

Fortunately, the other person obediently gave in to my growling. Eight pupilless eyes squinted.

“If not everything, wouldn’t you please accept a little bit? Both Sangun and the Great Chief will be heartbroken if they find out that everything has been rejected.”

no. Was this really a concession? Could it be that they were planning for it to come out like this from the beginning?

I wondered whether I should get rid of this too, or accept it as I was sure the mountain army would come and complain. There was only one answer.

“...I will only accept food and medicine.”

Let’s take this. It’s so annoying when Sangun comes and whines and asks why you didn’t get it.

“There is no need for a cure.”

“...then.”

“...This is enough.”

In addition, in this acceptance, there is a calculation that it would be easy to crush the empty space for consumables such as food and medicine.

I didn’t say it again, but these are the two things I crave the most right now. Damn it, even with my terrible fire-making skills, there are too many bugs in this forest.

“yes.”

As I watched the other person suddenly smile, I couldn’t hide my doubts, thinking, ‘I think this is what happened...’

However, since I couldn’t return what I had already said I would receive, I just took everything that was handed to me. The empty inventory was filled again.

“If you have any problems, please call me anytime.”

“Don’t come here again.”

Don’t call me. I never call you.

Are you calling me crazy?

I muttered like that and walked away. This is because the meeting place was chosen to be far away from the campsite, just in case.

For your information, the way to meet is that one person leaves a note with the date of the appointment, and the other person reads it and stands that day. In other words, if you miss the confirmation timing, you will not be able to meet. Just as I plan to do so in the future.

Crispy.

Let’s talk about it.

The skin of the tree that I stepped on instead of the soil was slightly crushed. It’s not because I stepped on it particularly hard, but because the trees around here are so old. I’ve said all this because they are huge trees with roots exceeding 2m in diameter.

The problem is that in the process of growing as they please, they become entangled and create curves as big as my height. Add to this the spring water flowing between the trees, the waterfall, and the slippery moss, and you can see why there are so few people coming and going here.

The road is really very rough. This is not an area where you can come in to get herbs or mushrooms.

“Whoa.”

Of course, because it is such a place, it is something you can rely on.

I stopped in front of the rotten tree, grateful for the rugged mountain terrain. For some reason, this huge tree, which can barely be touched by twenty adults in their 180s, is rotting with its broken body.

However, the true value of this rotten tree is not its majestic appearance. The usefulness is that if you go through a mysterious gap inside the tree, you will be connected to an open cave.

“...I don’t know how Sangun found this place.”

I praised Sangun for arranging the place and went inside the tree. Every time I ran my hand over the wall, I could feel the soft moss and small convergence flowing through it.

“It’s finally home...”

And soon, the dark passageway was dyed blue.

I relaxed. This is because the areas of glow-in-the-dark moss and luminous mushrooms exactly overlap with the scope of the cave. In other words, it means that I have finally arrived at the hideout.

shit. I don’t know.

If you think about it this way, it’s not like time can be rewound.

I chewed my lips for a while and then relaxed my body. Growling. My stomach, which I had been eating so well for the past few weeks, cried on time. My depressed mood immediately changed to bewilderment.

“I’m hungry even at this moment... I was like that when my leg was crushed...”

But I don’t really want to eat. Even though I know that I should eat best when I don’t feel like eating, I did this. I really don’t want to eat.

I just closed my eyes.

It was a little cold, perhaps because there was no stove.

* * *

“Inquisitor.”

In the Archmage’s opinion, rank was quite important in group life. The atmosphere was the same whether the organization in question had a vertical or horizontal atmosphere.

At the very least, the final decision maker must have the appropriate authority as the pinnacle of the hierarchy. Otherwise, the organization cannot survive for long. It was a realization that came from her long experience.

“He asked for a favor under those conditions... but what does the Inquisitor think?”

For that reason, the Archmage cautiously asked the person who was barely guaranteed a break. I knew this question would interrupt the young man’s conversation, but I had no choice.

After all, she is respected because she is an elder and is given the right to give advice because she is a wise person, but how does that give her the right to overstep her authority?

It is only the leader’s responsibility to select personnel, and the center of this party is only the warrior. How can an Archmage who can advise, but cannot be the captain of the journey, make decisions on his own?

“Would you please accept his request?”

So she forced the Inquisitor’s dry cheeks to demand an answer. “Please give me a moment to think.” Sunken green eyes asked for a little time.

Even though the Archmage summarized it as best as he could, the rather long story seemed to complicate her mind. Of course, it had to be that way.

“...God gave me an oracle some time ago.”

“...yes?”

But this was a truly unexpected story.

The Archmage was embarrassed and the Inquisitor lowered his eyes. The Archmage’s voice, which was about to go up due to a seemingly confused movement, broke down again.

“May I ask what kind of... oracle it is?”

“He told me to go north and seek answers.”

“North...”

“Also, the last lost one... um. He told me to send it back... “I wonder if this can be interpreted this way.”

If you have heard an oracle, it is right to inform the temple. However, following the Inquisitor’s words, the Archmage reflexively thought of someone.

“Kill... Save... In a way, it was a meaning that could be translated into these two words.”

Is this... perhaps an oracle aimed at someone they know? Of course, there aren’t any words related to it, but it’s more likely than not. still.

“...It’s been a while since God gave me vague words.”

This is the first oracle that requires multiple separate words. The Archmage also paid considerable attention to that fact.

“Ordinary oracles, no matter what word they are written in, if you summarize them, they end up with one meaning...”

That is because it is very rare for oracles to be given, and in most cases, the oracle itself leaves no room for interpretation. It was the same when he announced the devil’s invasion, when he increased the number of commandments from 9 to 10, and at least when he selected a warrior.

The God of this world did not enjoy having his will interpreted in many ways.

“The ‘lost one’ mentioned earlier is also ambiguous. Even the modifier ‘lost’ leaves too much room for interpretation...”

This oracle is truly unusual in that it is divided into three words with completely different meanings and that it is impossible to know exactly who it is upon hearing it.

The Archmage held his chin at that fact. The nail that stuck out because she forgot to cut it pressed against her cheek.

“Do you really think so? As soon as I heard what the Archmage said, I immediately sensed the identity of the target.”

The skin hidden under the fur was scratched by the fingernails, and drops of blood trickled out.

“...Inquisitor.”

“Once we’re done here, we’ll head north. Daniel’s joining as Inquisitor... doesn’t matter. Instead, let it be said that it is up to you to prevent problems at the temple you belong to.”

“....”

The Archmage touched his cheek, which had begun to tingle, in response to the Inquisitor’s dry voice. Can this be reversed?

“I will report the oracle to the temple. So until then, please don’t pretend to know anything. If they hear from you, I’m sure they’ll hurry up and leave.”

Can this get better?

“...All right.”

...Will she fail again?

The Archmage eventually left without saying anything.