68
The time it took to return to the capital from the Village of Time in the north was shorter than expected. This was because Apophis had spent a large sum to buy a one-time gate scroll.
“With this, we should be able to reach the capital in one go.”
Given that Isquis’s life was at stake, they couldn’t afford to take a leisurely journey back as they had when coming here. However, Yeon Ji-ho tilted his head at the gate scroll that Apophis said he had gone off alone to buy.
“Where did you get the money?”
“Ah, about that…”
It was a good thing that they now had a way to reach the capital in one go with the gate scroll. However, a one-time gate scroll was an item so expensive that even the wealthy would hesitate to purchase it, and it was out of the question for Apophis, who hadn’t had a penny since the Gorgon duchy had completely collapsed.
Apophis hesitated for a long time at Ji-ho’s question, then bowed his head deeply and fidgeted with his hands. After a while, he said in a small voice:
“I… sold the tent.”
“What?”
“Huh.”
“…”
The reactions of Ji-ho, Chronos, and Shango followed in order. But what Apophis feared most was Set’s reaction.
Apophis hesitated for a long time before slightly raising his eyes. And then his gaze met directly with Set, who was looking at him with cold eyes. Apophis’s shoulders twitched, and his head dropped down again.
What roused Apophis again was Ji-ho’s voice.
“Wow, how much did you sell it for?”
“Ah, ahem, hmm. I sold it for about 1 million tera…”
“1 million tera? How much is 1 tera worth? Um, how much is the monthly living expense for people here?”
“It varies depending on the person, but most commoners can live comfortably on 2,000 tera.”
Two thousand tera for the living expenses of an average single-person household… Ji-ho’s mind raced. Then Set, who was beside him, whispered softly:
“With 1 million tera, you could buy a small house in the capital, Ji-ho.”
“Oh!”
Ji-ho’s eyes sparkled with joy. It was unbelievable that the pop-up tent he had bought before was sold for such a value. Ji-ho continued to ask Apophis questions.
“Does it usually sell for that much?”
“Of course, Ji-ho. Items that can be used without the help of mana are very rare.”
As the atmosphere changed, confidence crept into Apophis’s tone. As he now explained confidently, Chronos, who was listening nearby, let out a short laugh.
“Even so, you pulled off quite a scam, didn’t you? Haha.”
“…I merely added a few explanations, Lord Chronos.”
“Who says you don’t have the most vicious tongue of Gorgon?”
Apophis, who had actually sold it to a merchant passing through the north by attaching all sorts of plausible words, became embarrassed. But there were no lies. It was true that it was the only one of its kind in this world, and he was sincere when he said he would refund if they found something similar.
Of course, the refund would only be possible if they could find him.
In any case, Ji-ho’s face blossomed with a smile at the fact that funds had been secured. He didn’t mind at all that the tent he had lent had been sold.
However, there was one thing that even Apophis, known as the most vicious tongue of Gorgon, hadn’t anticipated. He found himself facing a white palm suddenly thrust in front of him.
“Then give it to me now.”
“…Pardon?”
“The money left after buying the scroll.”
“…”
Apophis blinked and looked at Ji-ho. A bright smile bloomed on his face. At that moment, Apophis felt a fear even greater than when facing Set for some reason.
“That tent was mine, you know. Haha.”
He was clearly smiling as he spoke, but it sent chills down Apophis’s spine. With this strange sensation, Apophis silently took out the money pouch he had kept in his pocket and gently placed it on Ji-ho’s palm.
“How much is it?”
“After buying this and that, about 10,000 tera…”
“Thank you. You don’t have to give me the small change. You worked hard, Apophis.”
Ji-ho smiled brightly, speaking with a look that assured Apophis had kept some small change for himself. Apophis’s heart skipped a beat, as he had indeed put the smaller denominations in his personal pocket, excluding the ten thousand tera.
After Ji-ho put the 10,000 tera deep into his personal bag, everyone dispersed. All the doors of the widely opened caravan were closed, and preparations for departure were soon completed.
Similarly, as Ji-ho was tidying up small things in the caravan, he suddenly felt as if someone was tugging at the hem of his clothes around his waist and looked down. There he saw a familiar child.
“You’re… uh… Ray?”
“It’s Gilray! Ray is my nickname.”
Ray, who had received chocolate from him before, was now looking up at Ji-ho without crying. Ji-ho patted the child’s head with a welcoming face.
“Right. Gilray, what’s the matter?”
“You know, big brother…”
“Yes?”
Ray hesitated, mumbling something. Then, squeezing his eyes shut, he shouted:
“How can I become a Gorgon knight?!”
“…Huh?”
Ji-ho’s eyes widened at the words about wanting to become a Gorgon knight, not even one of Gorgon’s beasts. However, the child seemed sincere, looking at Ji-ho with clear eyes.
“…Why do you want to become a Gorgon knight?”
“I want to eat choco!”
“Ah, choco…”
Apparently, the chocolate had been such a shocking taste to the child that it made the Gorgon knights look honorable. Ji-ho chuckled, and the child’s face turned red.
“And I want to protect you too, big brother! I’ll protect my mom too!”
At those words, Ji-ho smiled softly and tucked the child’s hair behind his ear. If that’s the case, it would be better to become an honorable Hwangseong knight rather than one of Gorgon’s beasts.
Remembering how people had looked at passing Hwangseong knights with such respect before, Ji-ho said as if trying to persuade Ray:
“Ray, if you want to become a knight, how about becoming a Hwangseong knight? You’d make a great knight.”
“Nuh-uh. I don’t like them. They don’t even accept small-folk… And they ruined our village!”
Ah. I see.
The Hwangseong knights, admired by everyone, must look like terrible villains to the child. Ji-ho gave a bitter smile.
“I want to become a cool and special Gorgon knight like Grandpa Chronos.”
Moreover, the child had never met a small-folk knight before. Of course, most knighthoods prefer ordinary humans. To such a child, Chronos, who had become a knight, must have seemed like an amazing person.
“Alright, then may I offer some delicious choco to the future knight?”
“Yes!”
A bright smile bloomed on Ray’s face. Ji-ho picked up the child and went into the still-open caravan to take out some chocolate from the drawer.
After placing it directly in the child’s hand and setting him back down outside the caravan, the child held it high in the air.
“It’s choco!”
“Are you going to eat it alone?”
“No, I’ll share it with my friends! Because I’m a cool knight.”
It seemed that the ‘knight’ the child knew was a bit different from the Gorgon knights, but Ji-ho didn’t mind. If this could leave a good impression about Gorgon’s beasts…
“Ji-ho, we’re about to depart!”
“Okay! Gilray, let’s get you back to your mom now. Shall I take you?”
“No. A knight can find his way alone!”
Having obtained the chocolate, the child walked away with proud steps. Ji-ho watched until the child disappeared, then turned and boarded the caravan.
He saw that everyone except Shango, who had climbed into the driver’s seat, was on board. Apophis briefly checked the headcount and then took out the gate scroll from his bosom.
“Well then, we’ll start moving. □□□…”
Once again, incomprehensible words flowed into Ji-ho’s ears. As he listened, Ji-ho suddenly thought:
Ah, so those incomprehensible words are magic spells.
All the words Ji-ho couldn’t understand had come from Apophis’s mouth. It was mostly when magic was being performed.
There was only one time it came from Set’s mouth, and even that was when using a gate. So that means…
Words that don’t exist in Ji-ho’s world are incomprehensible to him.
If this hypothesis was correct… Ji-ho swallowed as goosebumps ran up his arm. It seemed unbelievable, truly unbelievable. However, once the thought occurred, it wouldn’t disappear and kept circling in Ji-ho’s mind.
Perhaps, is someone ‘translating’ our language for us?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
