58
After Isquis left, the bustling caravan became somewhat quieter. Shango also said he would move the horses first and headed to the driver’s seat, leaving only Apophis, Set, and Yeon Ji-ho inside the caravan.
“So, is the future schedule all set now?”
“Yes. We’ll go to the Village of Time to find Chronos, then head straight to rescue Baal. …But Ji-ho, you…”
Set hesitated uncharacteristically, unable to continue his words. He didn’t want to take Yeon Ji-ho to the imperial palace.
Of course, Emperor Hadad would be at the imperial palace, and Set didn’t want to show Yeon Ji-ho to him. As he hesitated, unable to say this outright, Yeon Ji-ho spoke first.
“Is it because the imperial palace is dangerous, so I can’t go with you?”
“…That’s right. We probably can’t easily sneak Baal out, so we must be prepared for armed conflict.”
It wasn’t the truth. More than the danger, Set’s desire to not show Yeon Ji-ho to Hadad was greater. However, Set didn’t show this and lowered his eyes.
“Then I’ll stay out of it. In battle… I probably won’t be much help.”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Ji-ho. His Excellency will place you in the safest location.”
As Apophis spoke, Set began to consider where to hide Yeon Ji-ho while they headed to the imperial palace. In the past, the Gorgon Duke’s castle would have been the safest, but it had long since been destroyed after losing the war.
Meanwhile, Yeon Ji-ho began to ponder something else upon hearing they would head to the imperial palace. It was about their future schedule.
“Then… when will we be able to return to Korea?”
“Korea, you say? Your world, Mr. Ji-ho?”
“Yes. I’m not sure when all of this will end.”
Although Soo-cheol, who now knew the situation, readily agreed to take care of the vegetable garden, Yeon Ji-ho couldn’t leave home for too long regardless. To Yeon Ji-ho’s question, Apophis answered lightly.
“It won’t take long. It’s not like a war is breaking out.”
His tone was mixed with confidence. Apophis began to speak, saying he had thought about what would happen when they all returned to Korea while Yeon Ji-ho was away.
“As soon as we return, I’ll start earning money first.”
“Money?”
“In that world, we don’t have social status, right? From what you’ve said, Mr. Ji-ho, it doesn’t seem like there are other people from different worlds besides us… So we’ll need to earn money, if only to create an identity for ourselves.”
Although the beasts of Gorgon were gathered under the name of a knightly order, looking at what they actually did, they were far from righteous knights. They were closer to mercenaries than knights.
Apophis, a magician and item creator, was more interested in making money than any other beast. That’s why he was the deputy, and it seemed he had already been thinking about what to do when living in Korea.
“Although the beasts might look a bit stupid… They all earn their keep. Ah, except for Baal.”
“Mr. Baal?”
As Yeon Ji-ho looked curious, Apophis let out a troubled sigh. Instead, Set, who had been silently listening to the conversation, interjected.
“…It would be difficult to have a proper conversation with that guy, Ji-ho.”
At those words, Yeon Ji-ho recalled what he had read about Baal in the novel.
“Hadad. Please be careful in this war.”
“Gliese? What brings you here at this hour?”
Hadad slightly opened his mouth upon seeing Gliese visiting his room late at night. Her face was tinged with slight anxiety. The pale moonlight lingered on Gliese’s cheeks.
“What worry has made you anxious?”
“…Have you ever heard the story of the man with the broken horn?”
Hadad gently stroked Gliese’s cheek, but her complexion remained unchanged. She was merely bringing up a story that seemed to belong in a fairy tale.
As Hadad slightly shook his head, Gliese’s eyes closed deeply. The moment they opened again, moonlight filled Gliese’s deep pupils.
“‘The sharpest horn of Gorgon.’ That man will appear in this war.”
“…If you mean the sharpest horn…”
“Yes, ‘Baal’. They say he massacres without distinguishing between enemy and ally.”
By this point, it was a story Hadad had heard of as well. Although he had never shown his face on the battlefields Hadad had been to, there were stories of this murderous maniac who only appeared at the final moments.
It was said that even Set Gorgon, the master of the beasts, couldn’t handle him and rarely brought him out. It was a rumor that Gliese had good reason to be anxious about.
“There’s no need to be so anxious, Gliese.”
“But…!”
“It’s alright.”
Hadad cupped Gliese’s cheek and brought his face close. As his warm breath touched her nearby, Gliese’s trembling subsided a little. Hadad whispered softly.
“Because I cannot die for any reason.”
“…Hadad? What do you mean?”
“Because God has destined me.”
However, the content of the novel flowed differently from Hadad’s confident words. As Gliese had feared, Hadad suffered a fatal wound after encountering Baal for the first time on the battlefield, due to Baal’s reckless charge without any regard for his own safety.
Unlike other beasts, Baal was someone who didn’t cling to his own life. That was all Yeon Ji-ho knew.
“It’s best not to get close to him. That guy… is closer to an untamed monster.”
“That’s right. Even if you happen to meet him, don’t think about getting close. He’s a guy who can’t be controlled by words.”
Unlike before, Apophis warned several times, and Yeon Ji-ho nodded for now. Although it was unlikely that he would ever be left alone with this man called Baal, Set and Apophis seemed so anxious that he felt he should respond.
“Then what about Mr. Chronos, who we’re going to meet now?”
“Chronos is…”
Just as the answer was about to continue, the caravan suddenly screeched to a halt, and the sound of horses neighing could be heard from outside.
As the vehicle tilted due to the sudden stop, Set quickly wrapped his arm around Yeon Ji-ho’s shoulders. Meanwhile, the balance of the vehicle returned to normal. It seemed something was blocking the way.
When there was no sign of moving again even after waiting, Apophis finally said he would go out first and opened the door. Yeon Ji-ho carefully asked Set, who was glaring outside while still holding him.
“What could it be?”
“It’s not something ordinary. I told Shango to ignore most things and keep going.”
About ten minutes passed like that. There was no news from Apophis who had gone outside. Finally, Yeon Ji-ho, who had been hesitating, suggested to Set that they should go out and check.
“If so, Ji-ho, you stay inside. No matter what happens, absolutely do not come out…”
“Hey, Set Gorgon! Are you in there?!”
At that moment, a voice was heard from outside. Set’s movement also stopped, and his expression darkened. It seemed to be a familiar voice.
“Who are you to casually call His Excellency…!”
“Casually? What do you mean casually, he’s not even a duke anymore, right? Or should I call him like this?”
The voice was high-pitched and clear. Yeon Ji-ho hesitated at that voice.
“Set!”
“Get out of here right now…!”
“Set, come out! I have something to say!”
At those words, Set’s body slowly began to move. He met Yeon Ji-ho’s eyes once and then slowly opened the caravan door. And soon, the outside scenery became clearly visible to Yeon Ji-ho as well.
Right in front of the door stood Apophis, blocking the way, and a slender figure arguing in front of the makeshift stairs attached to the caravan. Between the folds of the robe thrown over her head, luscious red hair swayed.
As soon as Set came out after opening the door, the woman swiftly removed the hood attached to her head. At the same time, her red hair flowed down.
“You really were alive…!”
A small tear rippled at the corner of the woman’s pink eyes. Large eyes, a well-defined nose and lips, and lovably red cheeks.
“What’s going on, Apophis?”
“Your Excellency, I apologize. Because this woman was blocking the carriage with her body…”
“I’m sure I ordered you to ignore everything and pass by unless it was something significant.”
Set’s cold, sunken eyes looked down at the woman. The woman, who couldn’t hide her joy at seeing Set, suddenly shuddered at the chilling aura.
“…Set? Don’t you remember me?”
“Don’t call my name as you please.”
At those words, the woman’s mouth opened slightly. It was such an apparent change in expression that even Yeon Ji-ho, watching from behind, could see it.
“Now that Hadad has abandoned you, have you come looking for me, Gliese?”
She was the most lovable female protagonist of this novel, Gliese.
