Chapter 532: Mirror Lake (2)

“Why are we suddenly going there? Don’t we have something else to do? We should begin our continent-wide training again.”

“Restoration of the city is already progressing nicely, and the united training still needs some more time. I mean, a battle just ended, and people need to fix and organize some matters due to that. You can think of this as a short break. If you start working, it won’t be the same… it will be good for you to rest a bit. Yeah! That’s right!”

“Still, maybe I can go to a dungeon at the very least…”

“I already went once while you were asleep! Please don’t say that you will go to a dungeon while you are still recovering. Even Hyunsung said that we would go back to Lindel right away.”

“That’s true, but…”

“People in this empire don’t want to hear that you are overworking your body and mind. They want to hear that you are resting well while eating good food. The atmosphere is already pretty tense because of your side-effect, so you should let everyone know how much you are resting. Hyung-nim, at least by now, you should know what you mean to this empire…”

“No.”

“I have been there before, so I am looking forward to it. Even if you search all over the empire, it will be hard for you to find a place more beautiful.”

“You’ve gone there before?”

“Ah, a long time ago… well, I stopped by while exploring. By the way, is Oscar-nim going to join us? Everyone will be glad if you join us.”

“No, since I… since there needs to be somebody who can protect the empire, I have to stay. I am also busy with various other things…”

“Maybe there are some things that I can help you with.”

“No, but I think it will be good for the Honorary Cardinal to go. Haven’t you been working the whole time? I think you need to take a breather. It seems just a day ago since we went on a picnic with the guild members… isn’t it the first time for all of you to go together?”

“Yes, that’s probably right.”

“Then, don’t worry about other things and go. Although I am lacking, I will protect this country in place of Honorary Cardinal.”

“Ah, then, there should be no problem! Hyunsung will also be glad! Hyunsung is actually too shy to bring up a suggestion like this first. He’s probably glad that I brought up something that he has been thinking about for a while now. Hayan also! It’s time for hyung-nim to go farther with Hayan, so this is very important. I, Park Deokgu, will support you from behind so you can throw all your worries away.”

“No, that’s not it…”

“I know that you care for Hayan a lot, but she is a full-grown adult now. The idea for you to protect her and care for her is too old-fashioned. It’s best to express your heart with your body. That’s the solution from the Romance expert, Park Deokgu.”

“But wouldn’t it be too much if you guys became close so fast. Honorary Cardinal, Hayan may be overwhelmed, so I think it’s best if you approach her slowly. A girl knows a girl’s heart better…”

“No. Believe in the instincts of a Romance expert like me. Hayan must be waiting for you to approach her first. She might have run through all kinds of things in her head. I’m sure of it. Hm, hm!”

‘Why is this little sh*t so sure?’

When Park Deokgu received the Moralizing Shout ability in the past battle, did it affect him in such a way too? He looked sure of what he had just said…

‘It’s a picnic this time?’

Kim Hyunsung might have thought that in his head.

Even if we had promised each other to go to the mirror lake in our unconscious state, it was probably something that he didn’t really remember.

Due to the situation, it was difficult for him to leave everything behind to go on a peaceful trip.

Hyunsung probably didn’t understand, but he must have felt compelled to support the guild’s trip to go to the mirror lake for some reason.

He had a good reason to reject the decision, but he most likely…

‘Was thinking of me.’

It wasn’t as if my heart could be completely at ease even after receiving the goddess’s pardon, after all. I had met many people in the past couple of days, but I often made a bitter expression and stared out the window.

I acted like that just to show that I still wasn’t free from my guilt, and the guy must have thought a leisurely trip could prove to be helpful.

Thinking about Doom Kiyoung, he couldn’t help but reach such a conclusion. From Kim Hyunsung’s perspective, it was his priority to take care of my mental health.

In that perspective, the trip was a good option- not only for me but also for the other guild members.

They didn’t say it out loud, but those guys must have been mentally and emotionally exhausted too. They might have felt satisfied by confining me, but it probably didn’t completely relieve them of all mental strain.

‘I didn’t think it would be this bad…’

If I could only ignore the pig, Park Deokgu’s ominous voice, I would have accepted the offer right away.

I thought of many other options but decided to agree in the end.

‘What could go wrong?’

I did want to make time for me to talk to Kim Hyunsung privately. If I went outside, I could probably arrange something like that easily.

“So, are you going or not? To be honest, I just want you to go. No, I’m going to drag you there! I won’t accept no for an answer.”

“You don’t have to go to such lengths, Deokgu. Yes… I had been saying that I wanted to go there many times now. I don’t think it will be bad for me to finally visit it.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Yess! Yesss!”

‘Why is this guy extremely happy?’

It was as if he was hiding a big surprise for me.

He lifted me. Knowing that my body had fully recovered by then, he swung me around like an airplane.

“Are we really going?!”

“Yes, I told you that we’re going.”

“I was so nervous that you will refuse to go again, but I knew you would agree this time.”

“Did I really seem like I didn’t want to go there before?”

“I think I asked you like seven or eight times to go there already. Whenever I asked you, you always said that you were busy… Oscar-nim, are you really not going?”

“Yes, I am fine. Really.”

“Well, that’s understandable in this situation. But I am feeling a bit sorry…”

“No, you don’t have to feel that way. We have enough time after this anyway.”

“Well, I’m glad you think that…”

“So, when are we leaving? To prepare, I have to…”

“Right now!”

“What?”

“We have to go right now. The preparation is done.”

‘This bastard, the way he just drives through…’

He just charged into things without thinking for even a single moment. What would he have done if I had told him that I couldn’t go?

“You already have your clothes on, and that’s all you need. We have a big carriage prepared for you, and everything you need is in there. You can just be at ease and follow me.”

“…”

“Come on, let’s go.”

“Only guild members are coming, right?”

“We did ask the Mercenary Queen and the shaman to join us, but they said that they were too busy. Since you know, it really is a trip mostly for the guild members… and the city won’t run if the Mercenary Queen leaves the city. That’s probably the reason why. Anyway, this is not the time to talk about that. We have to go quickly. Oscar-nim, I am going to buy you a present on my way back, don’t worry.”

For sure, it seemed that it was a trip for the entire guild. If the Blue Guild were leaving, it would have put the city into chaos if the Red Mercenary also left.

After saying my farewells to lady Aris, I wandered into the building with Deokgu, allowing people to greet me.

I responded to their greetings and looked outside to see Jung Hayan talking to Cha Hee-ra.

“Huh…?”

I rubbed my eyes again and made sure that I had seen them clearly. Both of their expressions were dark while they conversed.

It seemed like they were asking how things were going.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, but it was better than watching them fight. Maybe that was also…

‘Is it because of what happened?’

It seemed that after Cha Hee-ra saved me from an older man, whose name I can’t even remember at the time, while he was trying to terrorize the city, Jung Hayan must have decided to tolerate her existence.

She probably had a similar train of thought right now.

When she was put in a situation where she couldn’t handle the events and was about to fall into ruin, Cha Hee-ra always made the cold, logical judgments.

Even when Kim Hyunsung and Jung Hayan had a mental breakdown, she showed an outstanding performance by handling a demon monarch.

Kim Hyunsung might have ended it and Jung Hayan assisted, but the battle couldn’t have been won without her assistance.

‘Although she wasn’t the team’s main player…’

It was enough for me to applaud her.

Since Jung Hayan hadn’t really done anything that time, she must’ve reached a moment where she had to look around her surroundings again.

As I continued to walk past the garden, I kept seeing my guild members. Park Deokgu screamed with his loud voice, and Cha Hee-ra also began to speak to me.

“Is your body alright, honey?”

“Yeah, it did become better… but are you really not coming?”

“I do want to join and play with you, but… how can I stop you from hanging out with your colleagues? I thought about… just brashly joining you, but your Guild Master gave me some looks. Ha… it was so ridiculous that I told him that I wouldn’t go with you.”

“That’s a shame. Was Yuno Kasaguno the same?”

“Well, she’s actually really busy. The fight for the Federation was a bit too strong this time, but she told me to give you a letter. I brought that too.”

“Ah, thank you.”

‘Hee-ra is so good at making friends…’

I knew that she stayed close to Yuno Kasaguno, but I didn’t think they were that close. When I thought about it, I thought I had seen them talking together before.

I wasn’t sure, but it was probably at a café.

I didn’t know why exactly, but it was good to see her getting along well with other guild members.

I felt her grab my arm harder than usual. Then, I heard her whisper in my ears.

“Get me a present on your way back. And when you come back from your trip this time, your next three days and nights are mine.”

‘Hee-ra Nuna, that’s a bit…’

“Of course, be safe and don’t get hurt, and…”

‘I want to do that too.’

“Also, I just want to put this out there, but don’t put on your mask no matter what happens, do you understand? Stick to Jung Hayan’s side as much as possible.”

“That won’t happen. With all these guild members, nothing dangerous will occur…”

“Just take it as a precaution. You know that, honey. Even though it’s different from your power, I also have something similar. The risk is incomparable, but power like that ought to have its consequences. Don’t let yourself think that you can fully control it… this is not something I meant to say in a place like this, but… ah, my nagging had gone on for too long. Anyway, let’s continue this conversation when our three days and nights together have come. Love you, honey.”

“Uh…”

“I said I love you.”

“I… also love you, Nuna.”

I felt like I was half-forced into saying it, but it wasn’t so bad. I could confirm that Doom Kiyoung’s storyline had already been secured into place, after all.