Chapter 133. At Least (1/2)

The Salt Desert — where white pearl crumbs ripened under the scorching sun, was filled with ferns and long tropical trees that resembled palm trees.

There, a human figure dropped from the sky.

Splash!

The splashing and the subsequent sinking noise were unusually loud. Kazuki, who had finished setting up a campsite, was resting under his tent when his gaze was forced towards the lake. The white pillar of water that shot up from the middle sprayed in all directions.

As the head and back of a youth appeared on the water, Kazuki realized Stage 3 had ended.

He expected it to take a few days at the very least, but it seemed to have ended rather quickly.

“Seol!”

He called Seol Jihu’s name out loud, but the youth didn’t budge. He only floated around with his head in the water.

Only then did he realize that something was off.

He immediately began running before coming to a halt. This was because Chohong, who had been fooling around in the middle of the oasis, had suddenly jumped in.

“Wake up!”

When Seol Jihu didn’t react to her close screaming, she quickly dragged him out of the water.

“Heeeeeeey!”

Worried that he was dead, Chohong shook his body crazily, and Seol Jihu’s body fluttered like a flag during a storm.

“What are you doing!? Are you retarded!?”

Maria ran over in a hurry and kicked Chohong’s butt hard. This was because it was a taboo to thoughtlessly manhandle an unconscious person, whose injuries were unknown.

Seol Jihu’s eyes were half-open. But his dazed state clearly showed that his consciousness was jaded.

“I don’t notice any outside injuries.”

Kazuki murmured after quickly scanning Seol Jihu’s body. Maria chanted a healing spell, but when it didn’t seem all that effective, she clicked her tongue.

“You’re right. It is his mind, not his body, that is injured.”

“Can you treat him?”

“Mental treatment can only be given by an extreme minority of High Ranked Priests. If a Magician were here, they could help calm him down a bit, but….”

Kazuki looked around the oasis. But he couldn’t find the Priest, who must have followed Seol Jihu to Stage 3.

“Wait just a bit.”

Maria smacked her lips.

“His eyes are in focus, so he must be conscious. If he’s like this because of exhaustion from overburdening his mind, just resting will help him recover.”

Hearing this, Kazuki nodded his head calmly. However, he was boiling on the inside.

‘Just what the hell happened?’

Kazuki knew how strong Seol Jihu’s mental endurance was. After all, back in the Huge Stone Rocky Mountain, when his mind and body were on the verge of breaking down, he had endured with nothing but his willpower.

‘Did he meet a god or something…?’

Not knowing that his frustrated thought was spot on, Kazuki began to take off Seol Jihu’s jacket and armor.

When Sakamoto Jun handed him a healing potion, Kazuki supported Seol Jihu’s neck and slightly tilted the bottle.

Thankfully, his throat drew gentle gulps. Seeing how he was recognizing and accepting the liquid flowing inside, he didn’t seem to be unconscious.

Then, after about ten minutes, Seol Jihu spat out a short breath. Seeing the youth blinking his eyes, Kazuki opened his mouth.

“Did you recover your senses?”

Seol Jihu rolled his eyes side to side.

Kazuki spoke.

“We are at the oasis, the place we entered Stage 1 from. You’re back in Paradise.”

“….”

“It hasn’t been that long. About an hour or two since I returned from Stage 2.”

Seol Jihu gave a small nod before letting out another short breath.

“Seol, there’s something I want to ask.”

Seeing that the youth had regained his calm, Kazuki neared Seol Jihu’s face and whispered.

“She went to Stage 3 too, right?”

Seol Jihu realized that he was referring to the Priest.

“Do you know what happened to her? This is a matter of critical importance.”

Kazuki looked quite desperate, and Seol Jihu felt like he knew why.

This was because one of the Seven Gods had revealed the Priest’s identity.

Seol Jihu closed his eyes gently.

Ira’s voice rang out and dyed his vision white. She must have created a portal underneath him and sent him back as soon as she rewarded him.

In a way, she was being generous.

It seemed that he didn’t need to worry about the others. Since the remaining four members passed Stage 3 as well, they had the right to receive the rewards they deserved.

Once they woke up and received their Harmonious Wish, they should return to Paradise as well.

Then suddenly, as if to prove that his thinking was correct, another splash rang out. Everyone’s attention turned to the lake.

The Priest must have regained her consciousness as she tilted her head as soon as she rose to the surface of the lake. As a result, her wet hood fell back, and her long hair flowed down.

The jet-black hair glistened brightly under the sunlight.

Chohong’s eyes widened in shock, and Maria dropped her jaw with a loud gulp.

Kazuki quickly tried to cover their eyes, but it was impossible to block multiple pairs of eyes.

The woman went ‘Ah’ and touched her head. But she must have realized it was too late as she turned and faced the six pairs of eyes staring at her fixedly.

She slowly put her arm down.

She was the Daughter of Luxuria — Seo Yuhui.

“Vitale Resurgens.”

A fist-sized orb formed on Seo Yuhui’s palm and radiated a green light. Maria covered her eyes with the back of her hand and muttered.

“Holy f… an Ancient Spell….”

Although Seo Yuhui was wearing a wide and flabby robe, her twin peaks protruded out. Hugo, who was swallowing his saliva while looking at her chest, quietly asked.

“What’s an Ancient Spell?”

“A hella rare spell.”

“Is it good?”

“Shut up. This is the first time I’m seeing one.”

Maria couldn’t take her eyes off Seo Yuhui and spat back at Hugo as if he was a bother.

The green orb quickly shot down and was absorbed into Seol Jihu’s nose. His pale complexion slowly regained color and his dazed eyes recovered their clarity.

As vitality began to surge out from the inside, Seol Jihu could quickly raise his body.

“Thank you.”

When he bowed and expressed his thanks, Seo Yuhui returned a serene smile.

“Also….”

Seol Jihu hesitated before continuing with difficulty.

“I’m sorry.”

Seo Yuhui’s eyes widened at his sudden apology, and she tilted her head. Then, she realized why he apologized and sent him an odd look.

“…You’re the same as ever, apologizing for something meaningless.”

“Pardon?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Seo Yuhui shook her hand as she covered her mouth.

“I meant you had nothing to apologize for.”

“But because of me, you—”

“No.”

Seo Yuhui gave a somewhat alluring smile.

“It might be the opposite.”

Seol Jihu blinked his eyes at the whispering voice.

Didn’t the Seven Gods force Seo Yuhui to participate in the Banquet as his guard?

Seol Jihu was tilting his head, while Seo Yuhui was smiling brightly.

“I didn’t realize at all!”

Sensing a strange current of air flowing between the two, Chohong suddenly exclaimed out loud. She seemed somewhat displeased.

“Why did you hide your identity?”

“Chohong!”

Kazuki gave her a warning, but Chohong didn’t stop.

“Am I wrong? She’s an Executor! If she had stepped up during Stage 2—”

“Manners, Chohong! Watch your mouth.”

Kazuki cut her off sharply.

“She said she had a reason, didn’t she?”

“What did you just say? Watch my mouth?”

Chohong’s fuse was lit. Kazuki also became icy like a blade.

When the two High Rankers seemed ready to fight, Seo Yuhui stepped between them modestly.

“Those who passed Stage 3 cannot participate in the Banquet again.”

When Chohong met her pure eyes, she flinched.

“I’ve cleared the Banquet in the past, so participating this year was a special case among special cases. Because of it, a restriction was placed on my abilities and in revealing my identity.”

Her refined, gentle voice rang out like the twilight’s sunlight gently embracing one’s ears. Hearing this, Chohong subconsciously calmed down.

“I can’t reveal the reason because it is personal, but I had to participate.”

“No—”

When the woman who was known as the Daughter of Luxuria politely asked for an understanding, Chohong became embarrassed and could only scratch her head.

Now that she knew her circumstance, there wasn’t much she could say. Especially since she performed more than her fair share of work.

“I just meant… it would have been nice… if you said something….”

She must have really been flustered as Chohong suddenly explained politely before hiding behind Seol Jihu.

Kazuki clicked his tongue.

“…My apologies.”

“Don’t be. It’s my fault.”

Seo Yuhui gave a refreshing smile.

“But—”

Kazuki wanted to say something, but he shut his mouth when Seo Yuhui shook her head. He then pushed his hair up before letting out a long sigh.

“…Let’s go back. To Haramark.”

*

Although they took a carriage on the way there, they had to walk on the way back.

The atmosphere of the Alliance team was rather quiet. But that couldn’t be helped.

Walking along with them wasn’t just someone famous. She was an Executor, one of the strongest Earthlings in Paradise and one who had created countless legends with a man named Sung Shihyun.