novelraw Chapter 142 : Chapter 142
Chapter 142 : Chapter 142
Chapter 142 - Pangaea (8)
“Kuaaaargh!”
For someone in a near-death state, his scream was quite powerful.
“Why are you screaming like that? Anyone would think I was hitting you.”
“I’d, I’d rather….”
“Rather have me kill you? That’s what they all say.”
A cliché and typical line.
I continued, a slight smirk on my lips.
“No one has ever died this way. So, give up any hope of dying.”
What I was doing was burning the mana in his dantian.
It was only painful; people didn't die from this.
There was no physical impact, after all.
“I guess I’ll have to do it again until you beg me to save you.”
I placed my hand on his dantian again.
Then I infused a little bit of mana.
“Kuaaaaaaargh!”
Evan, the 4th Vice-commander of the Dukerein Pirates, found his voice again.
This time, I planned to go for a bit longer.
I wouldn't stop until he begged me to save him.
“Aaaargh….”
Evan’s face turned as red as if it were about to explode.
His eyes bulged as if they were about to pop out.
Despite that, he gritted his teeth and endured.
But this was a battle Evan couldn’t win.
He couldn't die, he couldn't lose consciousness, and without losing any strength, the pain just kept amplifying.
Ultimately, it was a question of when he would raise the white flag.
“Save me.”
And finally, the welcome words flowed from Evan’s mouth.
“Save me?”
When I removed my hand from his dantian, he stared into the void with a look of someone who had lost everything.
And then he said nothing.
“In any case, since you’ve shown the will to live, we can talk again. Where is it? The place where you found the gate to the new world.”
I didn’t expect him to speak right away.
But I could feel that the atmosphere had changed.
And what was clear was that Evan knew about that place.
Silence followed for a while.
He no longer said he didn't know.
Not only would I not believe him, but if he said that, the pain would start again.
‘Abyss.’
In truth, I was also in a very complicated state.
Could that place really be the Abyss?
The question that had started once now dominated my thoughts.
So I decided to check.
With an ‘if not, then so be it’ attitude.
I leaned in and quietly asked in his ear.
Whether this ‘new world’ he was talking about was, by any chance, the Abyss.
“What?”
In that moment, Evan’s eyes widened.
That was answer enough.
So that was it.
“Now talk. The location of that place.”
I had my pride too.
My pride wouldn't allow me to fail in finding out here.
I placed my hand back on his dantian.
***
[Current Merit: 35]
The moment we arrived at the port, the quest progress updated.
Contrary to my expectations, the value had only increased by 7.
‘Even after annihilating a pirate ship?’
Of course, I had no complaints.
If anything, I was worried that my merit would rise too quickly and I would have to leave Pangaea without any gains.
‘Is it because many people did it together?’
Strictly speaking, discovering the gold vein before was my achievement alone.
But this time, I was with a mercenary company of thirty.
Although I had made the biggest contribution, it was the Count who had set the entire stage, so I also felt that this value was appropriate.
Of course, all of this was judged by the Abyss.
There was no room for me to interfere.
“You there. Did you say you were going to the capital?”
The Count’s gaze towards me was friendlier than ever.
It was I, not the mercenary company, who had completed his plan.
“Yes. I plan to stay near the port for a day and then leave immediately.”
“I haven't had a chance to ask why you're going to the capital yet. My mind has been preoccupied with other things.”
“There's someone I need to meet in the Jerome Knights.”
“The Jerome Knights? You mean the one in the Imperial Palace, led by the 3rd Princess?”
I nodded.
“That’s right.”
“Incredible. I knew you were no ordinary person, but to think you have connections with the knights of the Imperial Palace as well.”
My connection was with the princess, not a knight of the Imperial Palace, but I didn't mention it.
It would be a hassle to explain.
“Well, with your skills, I suppose you could aim to become a knight of the Imperial Palace.”
“You flatter me.”
I just smiled.
“Ah, by the way. Do you remember what I said about rewarding you?”
“Of course.”
“I need to think a little more about how to reward you, but how about staying at my mansion for a few days? My domain happens to be on the way to the capital, so it won’t be much of a detour.”
There was no reason to refuse such a favor.
My original plan was to head straight for the capital, but I thought it would be fine to rest for a few days and clear my head.
While staying at the Count's mansion, I could also instruct Ramel in swordsmanship.
Teaching a remarkable talent is always a joyful thing.
“Then I’ll shamelessly accept.”
And so, we moved to Count Berwood's grand mansion.
***
While Count Berwood had been away from the mansion, a guest had already arrived at the Count's residence.
A woman with long, blue, straight hair, and an ageless atmosphere and appearance.
And the way she handled her mana was very unique.
‘Ten to one, she’s a mage.’
They don't exist on Earth, but during my Johan Raven days, I had met many mages.
Although I was a layman when it came to magic, I could recognize the aura that mages exuded.
A feeling just like the woman in front of me.
She greeted the Count informally.
“Long time no see, Lord Berwood.”
“Deli. As far as I know, you were scheduled to arrive tomorrow?”
“I was too curious to wait. Did things go as planned?”
When the Count nodded, her face brightened even more.
“Ah, please introduce yourselves to each other.”
The Count introduced us to each other.
As I had expected, she was a mage.
To borrow the Count’s words, her magic was said to be among the best in all of Pangaea.
“It seems Your Lordship met an interesting person during your journey?”
Deli’s gaze was on me, and the Count didn't deny it.
She smiled with interest and extended her hand to me.
A gesture for a handshake.
As I lightly took her hand, she seemed to play a little prank.
Trying to tickle me by infusing mana.
‘A psycho.’
To play such a prank on a first meeting.
Looking back, there were many of this type among mages.
Whether psychos were drawn to magic, or they became psychos by immersing themselves in magic.
I couldn’t know that far, but I couldn’t fall for such a prank.
“Ack!”
In that moment, Deli screamed.
After defending against her mana, I had counterattacked and given her a slight shock.
“What’s wrong, Deli?”
When the Count asked in surprise, Deli covered her mouth and shook her head.
“It’s nothing. Nothing at all.”
While doing so, she mouthed ‘Wow!’ repeatedly at me, expressing her admiration.
She was definitely a psycho.
Judging from a few conversations, I could roughly guess the relationship between her and the Count.
She knew the purpose of the Count’s recent journey.
And she was showing a deep interest in the ‘new world.’
‘Business partners.’
The Count didn't hide that fact from me either.
We had already shared secret matters.
“So, you, Seo Ji-han, found out the coordinates? But is it trustworthy? What if that guy was lying?”
I answered with a smile.
There was no way Evan could have lied.
Because I had created a situation where he couldn't.
“Hoh! What a confident smile. When you smile like that, I can't help but believe it.”
“Deli. As I said, I owe this man a great debt. I keep wondering how I should reward him. What would you do?”
“What’s there to think about? Your Lordship has a treasury in your mansion. Why not let him choose for himself from there?”
“From my treasury?”
“Why? Does the thought of actually giving something away make you regret it?”
The Count shook his head firmly.
“Of course not. Considering the debt I owe him, nothing he chooses would be a waste.”
“Then it’s settled. I’m looking forward to it too, so let’s go right now!”
But there was one problem.
Items from this world couldn't be brought to Earth.
Except for the rewards from the Abyss, all other items would disappear, which meant it would be a waste of one of the Count’s treasures.
Kkiiik!
The treasury door opened, and the Count’s treasures, neatly displayed, unfolded before my eyes.
From brilliant ornaments to various weapons and armors, and even magical tools.
They were precious items at a single glance.
But to me, they were a pie in the sky.
The more I looked at the displayed items, the greater my disappointment grew.
“You may choose whatever you like. I’m curious about your taste.”
Perhaps reading my troubled expression, the Count gave me a look that said not to feel burdened.
‘I should probably look around for a bit and then decline.’
I thought it would be better to ask for cash instead.
It would be useful while I was in Pangaea.
With that thought, I walked around, looking into the inner part of the treasury.
And when I reached the last display case, an out-of-place item caught my eye.
A very old, untitled book.
An ancient book from another world, my interest was naturally piqued.
I carefully took the book from the display case.
When I opened it, all the pages were filled with abstruse drawings.
At a glance, they seemed to be separate and unrelated, but looking at the book as a whole, I could guess that they were a series of connected movements.
“Don’t tell me you’ve chosen that?”
The Count tilted his head.
“Do you happen to know what this book is?”
“I have tried in many ways, but in the end, I couldn’t figure it out.”
“So, a book whose contents haven't even been identified was in the treasury.”
“I don't know how long it has been here. At least, even my father didn’t know about that book.”
Books are different in nature from other items.
As long as I could read and remember it, it would still be useful even if I couldn't take it to Earth.
I was about to refuse to pick a treasure, but my mind changed in an instant.
“May I choose this book?”
“Hmm. If that is your choice, I won't stop you, but to choose that….”
“Then I'll take this.”
At my decision, Deli clapped her hands.
“I was excited to see what you would choose, but you’ve made a very interesting choice. As expected!”
“As expected?”
“Oops! That just slipped out. You don’t have to mind it!”
I didn’t bother to reply.
If I continued the conversation, there was no telling what would come out of that psycho’s mouth.
In any case, it felt like I had made a good choice.
The drawings of extraordinary movements that ran through the entire book.
One more thing had been added to my to-do list while staying in Pangaea.