Chapter 78

Chapter 78

[Your 12th Adventure is starting.]

[Adventure 12. Sleeping Medicine.]

[Adventure 12. Sleeping Medicine

You have come into contact with Chao, a Shadow Summoner whose whereabouts have been unknown after disappearing from Nobira. Through a conversation with her, you have realized that she has no intention of returning to Nobira.

Even so, that doesnt mean that she has refused your request. She, who is busy, has requested something from you, who was headed to the Shade Canyon.

Her true identity is the last disciple of Gregory, one of the strongest Shadow Summoners. And you, who wish to sincerely learn something from her, have headed to a location written on the scroll she gave you.

You must earnestly complete what she has requested of you. Well, you should if you wish to receive any of her teachings.

Objective: Complete the objective written on the scroll.

Chaos favorability toward you will drop upon failure.

Remaining Time [About 30 days]]

Theres quite a bit of time on this one too.

It was extremely mentally taxing to clear multiple long Adventures in a row.

Not only was the difficulty of longer Adventures all over the place, but slowly progressing through them would crush anyones will.

Seol moved his body a bit.

Reach

My body still feels heavy

Are you alright?

I think I inhaled too much water

Seol didnt mention anything about Karens change of heart during the Expedition System.

Seol should have been able to easily escape from the mysterious creatures if Karen was fine, but the results were the exact opposite.

That must mean Karen is suffering quite a bit mentally

Seols worries were true. Pandea is filled with sad and painful things.

People die for no reason whatsoever, and some of them even die horrible, gruesome, indescribable deaths.

After all, Pandea was just a world like that.

That was also the reason that Seol deplored entering Pandea when he first stepped foot into it.

Karen just hasnt accepted it yet.

Though Seol didnt know what the era she came from was like, things like that still happened in the current times. Even so, Seol understood why she would be shaken after seeing something like that directly.

Still, I cant let something like that happen again.

Since Seol luckily had a bit of spare time during this Adventure, he realized that it was critical he went over this with her.

Unravel

Seol believed that he had spent enough time thinking about Karen and unraveled the scroll. Chaos request was written within it.

- Once you arrive at Wet Fog Town, spend some time there and observe the situation. Youll realize soon enough whats going on in there.

What I want you to do is steal the sleeping medicine from the man whose face I so kindly drew for you.

However, if you ask around about it, he can just hide it. So be careful, alright?

She really does as she pleases.

Her orders reflected her personality perfectly.

Even so, there should be a way to do this.

Seol stood up after changing out of the clothes he was given and into his original equipment.

Creak

Sarah welcomed him as he opened the door.

Ah, so youre all done changing!

Thank you for your consideration, Sarah. Still, how did you manage to bring me all the way here?

The townspeople helped me! Well Its because I was too weak to carry you on my own, Snowman.

Sarah looked like a simple villager.

Though she didnt have freckles like a stereotypical female villager, she also didnt give off the aura of someone high-class or beautiful. Even so, she gave off a clean and innocent impression.

Sarah, wouldnt people hate me because Im an outsider?

N-Not at all! In fact, they would probably welcome you instead. I wouldnt have brought you into the town if people didnt want to let you in either.

Sarah quickly waved her hands in denial, telling Seol to not worry.

It seems like I desperately need to gather more information

A town not reacting to an outsider at all was practically the same as painting a sign that said Were suspicious, please be careful of us.

What do people in this town do?

Me specifically or the town as a whole?

The town.

We had a bit of farmland, but its a bit difficult tending to it now.

What?

Sarahs face grew dark.

Seol was curious as the womans bright face instantly stiffened up.

...Its because everyones sick.

Sick?

It seems like I need to explain. Please, follow me.

The town wasnt particularly big.

It was small to the point that Seol was amazed by the fact Sarah was able to make it back here.

Sarah, after leading Seol to a building resembling the town hall, paused for a second before speaking.

Just dont be too surprised, alright?

Creak

Sarah opened the door.

Behind the door were patients.

There were over ten beds and there was someone sick in each and every one of them.

The people were all silent and had their eyes closed. It was almost like they were sleeping.

Sarah put her index finger to her lips. It was clearly a sign to not make a sound.

Seol nodded before leaving the town hall with her.

What is going on?

The townspeople are sick. Its all because of the Fog Disease.

Is it an infectious disease?

Sarah shook her head.

Dr. Gunt said that it wasnt.

Dr. Gunt?

Hes the towns doctor. He originally visited the town for a house call, but he couldnt leave after the sick townspeople begged him to stay.

Hm

A disease which wasn't infectious

And the townspeople who were sick from it

Seol asked more questions.

What are the diseases symptoms?

Im done, Sarah!

What?

The firewood! I put it all in the warehouse!

Y-Youre lying

Im not?

Karen wasnt the type of person who lied. Sarah checked the warehouse to confirm whether she was telling the truth or not but fell to the ground after seeing that Karen didnt lie.

Are you that shocked?

Big Sis, you really are incredible! Even the men need a week to do something like this!

Well, comparing your Big Sis to ordinary people is a bit rude, hahaha!

Like that, Seol and Karens daily lives with the townspeople started.

However, Seol kept in mind that living like this was far more damaging to him than going on a difficult Adventure as it dulled his senses.

And now, it has already been over a week since Seol and Karen assisted Sarah, and nothing has changed.

Youre working hard today as well, Miss Elf!

You should work a bit harder though, old man!

Hah, that

Why? Shes not wrong, pfft hahaha

You!

Seol clicked his tongue, seeing how Karen was joking around with the townspeople like it was nothing now.

I thought you were adventurers? When are you going on an adventure then?

Were helping you guys out because we have some free time, alright? Stop trying to end a good thing early, old man.

Urgh Just let us know when youre about to leave.

Why? Are you going to miss me?

Haha! I bet youre going to stay up all night the night before I leave, crying while you pack me food!

Argh, stop your bullshit!

The town was filled with laughs ever since Karen came to town.

It was a difficult time for them and Seols party definitely was a huge help to them.

Creak

Are you done?

Yeah. What about you, Master?

I feel like its more awkward hearing you call me that now.

Y-Yeah, I was shocked after saying that myself.

In just a week, peace has found a place in their hearts.

Seol and Karen spoke to each other while lying in separate beds.

By the way, Master

What?

Wouldnt it be fine to just stay like this?

...Would what be fine?

Maybe we can just live like this?

Seol focused on what Karen was saying to him.

What do you mean by like this?

Like right now. Without any worries Without needing to kill anyone or have a battle of wills. Like this, a quiet life surrounded by good people.

She had been completely swallowed up by the peace.

Is this because of the town we visited before here?

I wont deny that it isn't a part of it. But do you think those people knew that they were doing evil things? And is killing those evil yet weak people really something that we have the right to do?

There would have been more victims if we didnt stop them.

...Do you really think so?

I just did what I had to do. We also didnt have the time to second-guess things. The time I spent thinking could be used to do so much more. I didnt have the time to ask myself if what we were doing was right or not.

Seols goal was Ascension. And he had to face off against the gods, who were behind all of this.

As such, he pressed on. Even if he failed and tripped on his way there, he had to reach the end no matter what.

Because in the end, only that will prove whether he was right or not.

But, Im not sure

Karen.

How nice would it be to live a simple, peaceful life like this where we dont have to do anything

There are people who also know that the world is cruel, but they cant do anything about it unlike you. I bet theyd be jealous if they heard you talk.

Argh, stop lecturing me!

Im just saying, thats all

Karen smiled.

It seemed like she had recovered just a bit.

Sorry.

For what?

It would have been so much easier if I was in the right mindset back then. That guy from back then we shouldve killed him, no?

Youre talking about the person who chased me.

A memory from that day flashed in Seol's head.

Even so, he couldnt remember anything about his face.

His face was covered because of his robes hood. Seol couldnt remember anything other than the ominous energy he radiated.

Ill get him next time. You can trust me on that.

Alright.

Im being serious, that wont happen ever again. Youre safe now!

I got it.

- Hehe

- You guys made up, didnt you?

- You two shouldnt fight! Hug!!!

Seol saw that Karen had properly resolved herself. It was a relief for him, as he was the one who had to trust her.

And now, there was only one thing he had to gain from the town.

You still havent found it yet, right?

Yeah, not yet. I couldnt find anything even similar to it either.

Based on how we were unable to find something thats so easy to discern... It was likely hidden elsewhere

Theres a good chance its the latter, yeah. Then we should think about how well find him

And then

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Someone was pounding on the door.

O-Oi! Its an emergency! shouted an older man from behind the door.

His screams had signed an end to Seols temporary peaceful daily life.