Chapter 1359. Visit (9)

“Are the party members okay?” I asked.

“Yes. They seem a bit confused, but I think they’re fine. They’ve been there for a long time, so there’s a lot they’ll need to adjust to,” Rafael answered.

“...”

“Marian and Joo-Hyuk have both aged. If it weren’t for you, I probably wouldn't see them again. Thank you, hyung,” he said.

“I should be the one thanking you. I received help I never expected... How about you, Mr. Rafael?” I asked.

“I’m fine too. Of course, things are a bit awkward, and it stings a little that the others share things I don’t know about... but everyone’s back to normal. Joo-Hyuk is still Joo-Hyuk, and Marian is still Marian,” Rafael replied.

‘Damn it. Kim Hyun-Sung is the only one who changed.’

“

Ah

, and...” Rafael paused.

“...”

“Marian’s pregnant. I think she discovered it after coming back here,” Rafael revealed

“What?”

‘Wait, what? Suddenly?’

“They were there for a long time. As soon as she found out, she punched Joo-Hyuk, calling him a bastard... but she didn’t really seem that angry. I heard Joo-Hyuk was a big source of strength for her when she was struggling back there. It’s sudden, but it’s a good thing. I have a niece or a nephew now,” Rafael continued.

‘I never really sensed that...’

Actually, now that I thought about it, the miracle priest was looking at the hunting dog weirdly. I nodded subconsciously upon remembering her reaction when he got injured. Still, it was a bit shocking to her news of a pregnancy without any buildup.

‘Well...’

Then again, they spent quite some time there, so I guess it wasn't that strange. I nodded and offered my congratulations, but I couldn’t help noticing Rafael’s slightly bitter face.

For a moment, I wondered if he had feelings for Marian, but his reaction didn’t really suggest that. It seemed more like he had just realized how much had happened without him knowing about it.

I’d probably feel the same if I were in his place. When I imagined substituting the pig and Hwang Jung-Yeon with the hunting dog and the miracle priest, I nodded again, understanding Rafael’s sense of alienation.

‘He must be feeling the distance.’

Rafael’s party members were pretty close to each other. No, calling them close wouldn't do it justice. They had been working together as one party for so long that—if one considered how much time they had spent living and fighting side by side—it wouldn’t be strange to call them family.

Considering that Rafael was the only one separated from the group while the others shared so many experiences, it was no surprise that he felt alienated. To exaggerate a little, he definitely felt like he got left behind. And on top of that...

‘One of them died.’

He didn’t even get to witness the old mage's death. He had to have heard how the old man saved the entire party by casting a spell to sacrifice himself, so not being there at that moment had to be weighing heavily on him.

He was also feeling regretful. The slight darkness in his eyes probably came from that regret.

“So...” Rafael said.

“Yes?”

“I think we’ll stop doing official activities as a party for a while. I haven’t asked the others yet, but they clearly want to rest, especially Marian. She fought without knowing that she was pregnant, so I guess that makes it even scarier for her,” Rafael revealed.

‘It’s more than that. Surviving that chaos was a miracle.’

If anything had happened, Rafael’s party would have come to the Blue Guild first to kill Seraphim.

“What about you, Rafael?” I asked.

“Me? I’ll wait until my party members are ready. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’ll be resting the whole time,

haha

... I plan to work solo for now. I can’t just stand still at a time like this.

"I’ve also received a new commission from Lady Oscar, and I need to investigate the hexagrams, too. I know the Republic and the Democratic Country are already studying them, but I’m sure there’s still something I can do.

"After all, I’m one of the few who actually came back from there,” Rafael answered.

‘Even now, he’s working so hard... that’s our Rafael.’

It was the perfect moment to offer some comfort.

“Everything will be fine.”

“I-I’m sorry, hyung. I’ve been talking too much about myself...” Rafael said.

“It’s fine, Mr. Rafael. If anything, I should’ve been more considerate. Things have been so chaotic since I came back that I haven't even thanked you properly. I should’ve visited you, your party, and Lady Oscar, too...” I said.

Between the Big Boy Family affair and Kim Hyun-Sung’s situation, I hadn’t been able to visit anyone. I hadn’t even received reports from the Magic Tower, the Democratic Country, or the Republic about their research on those hexagrams.

Since there hadn’t been any new developments, it didn’t seem like they were making much progress, anyway.

Belial was already researching the anomalies spreading across the continent, and unfortunately, there was no way mortals could easily reach decent results.

Fortunately, there’d been some progress in securing those magic circles and rooting out the cultists worshipping the hexagram itself, but those captured cultists seemed more like puppets under the influence of the system, or perhaps the will of a transcendent.

In other words, moving the investigation into a new phase was difficult.

Still, the effort wasn’t meaningless.

‘Data is data.’

Even if it seemed insignificant, samples were always valuable. If they could gather enough data—what kind of people were drawn to the hexagram, what traits they shared, what places they had recently visited—perhaps the answer would come not from above, but from below.

As I tapped my thighs absentmindedly, Rafael asked, “Hyung, when are you leaving again?”

“...”

“Do you have no intention of staying here?” Rafael asked.

“There’s a reason I can’t stay here. I can’t explain everything right now, but... for now, I just need you to trust me,” I answered.

“Of course, I trust you. But honestly, I can’t recommend going back there again. Not after what I’ve heard from Joo-Hyuk and Marian. You know what I mean, right? That place is dangerous, and it’s only going to get worse.

"They might have already noticed your presence...” Rafael warned me.

‘Yeah, I know.’

“I’m well aware of the danger,” I said.

“If you really plan to go back, please take me with you this time. I promise I won’t be a burden. You have my word, hyung,” Rafael requested.

“...”

“...”

Once again, he asked, “D-did I disappoint you?”

‘Yeah, I was a little disappointed. I never imagined you’d get beaten that badly by Jung Jin-Ho...’

“No, Mr. Rafael. You did everything you could,” I answered.

“H-hyung...”

“But regarding this matter, I need you to trust my decision. I understand why you’re worried, but there were too many complications back then. I can’t say for certain that I’ll be able to take you with me,” I told him.

“

Ah...

” Rafael muttered, and then he nodded with a faint disappointment visible through his eyes. Even though he had enough of his own problems to deal with, he was still worried about me.

It wasn’t surprising that I found myself nodding at how different his attitude was compared to that

guy

.

Even while eating, he kept glancing at me and spoke carefully.

There was plenty to talk about. On the surface, this meeting was supposed to be about expressing gratitude, hearing updates about Rafael’s party, and sharing recent events, but it seemed like he was genuinely happy about finally getting a chance to meet me again.

Since we were in the middle of a battlefield but somewhere peaceful, his mood seemed a little brighter. Wait, no, it was more like he was forcing himself to be a bit more cheerful. Of course, no one knew better than him that this wasn’t the time to laugh and relax, but perhaps this was his way of showing that he wanted to take a breather.

After the meal, we went to a café for coffee and continued talking. Even then, he kept going like a parrot, talking endlessly. They were conversations I wasn’t particularly interested in, as they were of little value. Honestly, it all felt like some kind of buildup.

‘He’s a good guy, but man, he’s boring.’

His real reason for visiting me remained unclear to me, but it was clear that he had something else on his mind.

“

Ah

, right. So...” Rafael trailed off.

“...”

“About my training...”

He brought it up again. His expression was solemn, even though the air was easing up.

“By the way, hyung,” Rafael said.

“Yes?”

“I...

um

... heard something,” Rafael said hesitantly.

“...”

“I heard that you fought with the Blue Guild Master...” Rafael mumbled.

“Who told you that?” I asked.

“

Ah

, it was,

uh

... Mr. Ahn Ki-Mo,” Rafael answered.

‘That guy really sticks his nose everywhere.’

When did those two even become close? At first, I thought they didn't have a connection, but apparently, Rafael had built ties in more places than I was aware of.

“The guild’s atmosphere feels a bit gloomy... and you, too... I even ran into Miss Kim Ye-Ri on my way in, and she looked really down. Her eyes were swollen, like she’d been crying, and she didn’t look like she’d slept at all.

"I’m sorry if this is rude to ask, but... did you have a serious fight?” Rafael asked.

“It was just the usual argument,” I answered.

“Do you argue often?” Rafael asked.

“Not really... I’m not even sure how to explain it. Maybe it was because emotions were running high at the time, but honestly, I barely remember what we even said. I just told Mr. Hyun-Sung to come back, and he got really agitated... We couldn’t see eye to eye. Maybe I was a bit too hasty,” I explained.

“

Ah...

”

“It’s all my fault. I didn’t mean to say anything bad about someone Mr. Hyun-Sung trusts,” I said.

“Someone he trusts...?” Rafael asked.

“I’d rather not mention the name,” I said.

“Then, hyung... you didn’t tell the Guild Master about the hexagram, did you?” Rafael asked.

“...”

“...”

“No,” I answered.

I was sure Rafael knew why I hadn't done that.

“Mr. Hyun-Sung needs rest. If he discovers what’s happening across the continent right now, he’d come running immediately, but I think it’s too soon to ask for his help.

"The things that happened, and his wounds... they haven’t healed yet. I don’t know if it’s possible, but I’d rather keep all these hidden from him for as long as I can,” I explained.

“...”

A sigh was necessary here, and it had to be sound sympathetic, like I truly cared about Kim Hyun-Sung.

Finally, Rafael asked the question he had been holding in.

“By any chance...” Rafael paused.

“...”

“Your eye color turning black again... is it related to Kim Hyun-Sung?” Rafael asked.