READ NOVEL ONLINE 42. Ripples (1)
“Take it easy, Yun Su-ho.”
Yun Su-ho stared at me, his lips pressed into a thin line.
When I saw him sitting atop the Kraken, my heart nearly stopped. How did he even find out the workshop’s location?
With a face like a yaksha, he glared at me and began to unleash a torrent of nagging, as if he’d been waiting for this moment.
While hidden quests tend to bring about unexpected events, the 16th floor is generally not a dangerous one. Yet he acts as if I need constant protection.
Just as I was about to snap back, Yun Su-ho spoke first.
“Yun Gaho, I thought you might be dead.”
“What?”
“I was preparing myself to cut open this beast’s belly and retrieve your corpse when you appeared.”
“Don’t exaggerate. You really…”
Ah, could it be that no one told Yun Su-ho about this place?
Setting aside my hasty retreat to the workshop, couldn’t he have contacted Choi Kwon-young or Han Cha-hyun? Yun Su-ho jumped down from the Kraken’s head.
“Do you know how I felt when Choi Kwon-young told me there was an A-rank equivalent magical beast here?”
“Yun Su-ho.”
Choi Kwon-young, you… If you’re going to explain something, you should do it properly. Why leave it half-said?
Yun Su-ho’s expression darkened deeply. It was a face I’d never seen before, despite spending nearly half our lives together like family.
After silently observing me for a while, Yun Su-ho took a step closer.
“Yun Gaho, why did you leave me behind?”
As our eyes met, headlines about him flashed through my mind.
[Rising Star Emerges from Tragedy: Yun Su-ho]
[Re-awakening at First Mission, Single-handedly Clears Floor]
[Korea’s Second S-rank Defender Appears, Scouting War Begins]
[All Party Members Perish… Cosmic Gate to Blame]
[Yun Su-ho Declares: “I Have No Intention of Belonging Anywhere”]
Despite avoiding media exposure, Yun Su-ho was quite famous due to his extraordinary rookie period.
The first Cosmic Gate in Korea occurred at Yun Su-ho’s first mission site. There, he re-awakened as an S-rank. He experienced two nearly impossible events in succession.
His name appeared in articles day after day, which worried me enough to visit him. But as an unawakened person at the time, I didn’t understand just how exceptional this was.
Contrary to my concerns, he seemed the same as always, which only reinforced my belief that he was fine. Now I finally understood his obsession with safety.
Yun Su-ho hadn’t been okay at all.
“You…”
I sighed and looked up at Yun Su-ho. The face that had only irritated me until now suddenly seemed pitiable. I carefully chose my words.
“I’m sorry for disappearing without a proper explanation. Regardless of our personal relationship, it was rude behavior for professional colleagues.”
Yun Su-ho squinted one eye, as if he hadn’t expected me to apologize. His rigid expression softened slightly. I stopped him as he tried to respond. I had more to say.
I felt sorry for Yun Su-ho, still hung up on events from years ago. I also felt I should have paid more attention to him back then.
“But part of the reason I acted that way was because of you.”
“Because of me?”
“Yes. If I had been honest, would you have let me go alone?”
“Why did you insist on going alone…”
“That’s what was wrong.”
But that doesn’t mean I’ll let him control me.
“Why should I need your permission to move?”
“Yun Gaho. The World Tower isn’t as easy as you think.”
“Ha, you think I don’t know that?”
This feeling of talking to a wall. This is why I’ve avoided proper conversations until now. I’ve known this guy for more than a day or two. It was obvious that no matter what I said, it wouldn’t get through.
But I need to make things clear at this point.
“I don’t know how many times I’ve said this, but I know very well that the World Tower is dangerous. But I chose this, so I’m prepared to face the consequences.”
“I just want you to be safe…”
“What’s the point of keeping my body safe if you don’t respect my thoughts at all?”
Yun Su-ho pressed his lips into a tight line at my words.
“What you’re doing isn’t concern. It’s your arrogance, thinking you can control me as you please. I don’t appreciate you saying you’re doing this for my sake.”
“Yun Gaho, I…”
“I’m not finished. Every time you act like this, I feel like you’re calling me inferior. It irritates me and makes me angry. I feel disrespected and it infuriates me.”
I took a step back from Yun Su-ho.
“Su-ho, stop interfering with me.”
“Interfering?”
“Yes, interfering. You keep getting in my way.”
Yun Su-ho’s eyes wavered, as if he’d heard an unexpected word.
“If you’re going to keep acting like this, I’d rather you quit this request. There’s no need to continue when it’s only going to damage our relationship and your career.”
“…”
“I can’t back out due to the circumstances, so you’ll have to. You know our guild isn’t that desperate. They might be a bit disappointed if you leave, but they’ll find a replacement soon enough.”
“Replace me?”
“Yes. If you keep acting like this, I can’t work with you. Ah, if there’s a penalty fee, I’ll somehow…”
Yun Su-ho stepped closer to me. His face was quite different from the anger-filled expression he had at first. As I sighed, Yun Su-ho looked at me with resentful eyes.
◆◇◆◇◆
Ding, ding, ding!
My hunter watch rang incessantly.
It’s understandable. When we arrived at the Cradle, the sun was high in the sky, but our conversation had dragged on longer than expected. Now, a bright full moon had replaced the sun, illuminating the night sky.
My conversation with Yun Su-ho ended without a proper conclusion. We only agreed to have a grace period for the time being.
“As a fellow colleague, if you just protect me to that extent, I’ll be grateful. But if you cross that line again, it won’t end with me just sneaking away this time.”
“That doesn’t make sense…”
“Take it or leave it. I guess I should ask about the penalty fee.”
After blurting that out, I sprinkled an awakening potion on the unconscious Kraken and left the field a step ahead.
Even after leaving the field, I ignored Yun Su-ho, who kept staring at me with a peculiar gaze, and checked my messages. My inbox was flooded with messages from Yun Su-ho.
After scrolling down for a while, I finally saw messages from Han Cha-hyun and Cha Taeyang. Putting aside Yun Su-ho’s messages, whose content I could guess, I checked Han Cha-hyun’s message first.
“Ah, you’ve already been there!”
Berben’s response to Astrona’s message. It also included the opinion that it would be difficult to extract Berben immediately due to his poor condition. And the postscript…
[Please adhere to the reporting time.]
Checking my hunter watch, I realized the reporting time had long passed.
“Ugh, I need to reply quickly.”
I sent a message to Han Cha-hyun with our situation and an apology. Yun Su-ho, standing against the backdrop of the softly glowing coral forest, began urging me to return quickly.
“Just a moment. Let me meet Astrona first. We need to complete the quest before we go.”
“It can wait until tomorrow. It’s late.”
“It won’t take long.”
I couldn’t postpone it just because it was late, especially after waiting so long for this response. Even though he’s not really a person, he looks just like one, so I felt concerned.
‘Maybe I’m getting too immersed in this.’
I made a mental note to visit the mental health center after this job is over. With that thought, I swam towards Badadkkot, bringing Yun Su-ho along.
“Astrona-nim, are you here, Astrona-nim?”
“There’s no need to burst my eardrums. I would have come out without such a ruckus.”
The sharp-eared sea spirit appeared from somewhere, having heard my voice. Akis followed him. It seemed they were having a late dinner, as Akis was still chewing on something that looked like seaweed.
“I’ve brought the final answer.”
“Berben, is he alright?”
“Akina, quiet. Speak, human.”
The sea spirit held back Akis, who was rushing towards me. Though he tried to look composed, the sea spirit’s fingertips trembled slightly. I cleared my throat and relayed Han Cha-hyun’s message.
“He says to stay healthy until he comes.”
“Berbena, that rascal…”
“Berben is in Eidolon now. My colleague will bring him as soon as his condition improves.”
Akis’s eyes welled up with tears upon hearing the message. As he clutched the sea spirit’s collar, the spirit gently stroked Akis’s head.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect you to bring an answer so quickly.”
“I was lucky. That’s all.”
“Thank you.”
The sea spirit expressed his gratitude. Akis also bowed deeply in thanks.
“Badadkkot had fallen, and I thought I’d never see the children again. But I was wrong. I gave up too soon. Thank you.”
[Subquest ‘Still Here (A)’ has been completed.]
“I cannot do anything grand for you, but I will bestow upon you a small blessing.”
A blue aura enveloped us.
[Buff: Blessing of the Ocean (A)
– Greatly increases mana recovery rate, increases magic power/magic resistance by 10, additional reward drop during underwater combat (lasts 72 hours)]
[Item ‘Chimera Egg (B)’ responds to the buff ‘Blessing of the Ocean (A)’.
– Hatching rate increases 50% faster while this effect lasts.]
It was a buff with incredible effects befitting its A-rank. Mana recovery rate can only be increased through additional options on high-rank weapons. And on top of that, a drop rate bonus.
As expected, this was no ordinary NPC. I wonder what he means by saying this isn’t anything grand. I was even curious to see the sea spirit’s status window.
The Chimera egg reacted once again, seemingly in good harmony with the sea spirit. I couldn’t tell if its faster hatching was good or bad for me.
“We’ll discuss the next part of Badadkkot’s story when all your companions are here.”
“Yes, we’ll visit you tomorrow.”
My heart pounded with excitement. The hidden quest was truly within reach now.