031. Is there any?

“Welcome to!”

An old tavern clerk bows his head and welcomes you.

The weak stench of rotten trees, the smell of people’s sweat, the smell of alcohol and cigarettes, and the inside of the old, uneasy yet friendly interior.

Luine sat down in an empty seat in the corner feeling longing.

“Anything goes well with a dark beer.”

“Yes, I will be coloneled soon.”

The drinks and snacks came out really quickly. When I tapped the lukewarm glass lightly, the cool breeze cooled the dark beer.

One of the only two spells she knows how to do. It was a simple cold spell that had nothing to do with anything other than drinking.

“Keuuu, this is it.”

The taste of cool carbonated water that hits your throat is fantastic no matter what time you eat it.

It’s not that the Imperial Academy doesn’t have dark beer, but rather, there is a magic tool called a refrigerator, so you can always eat coolly, but it’s not as special as eating at an old tavern full of mercenaries.

Perhaps it is because her essence is a mercenary.

Ruine Alias is a hero.

Having been with the great warrior Kang Min-shik until the final battlefield, she was recognized for her achievements and became the head professor of the Imperial Academy.

The reason for the past tense was that she had no talent for teaching anyone. For her, a so-called genius, swordsmanship was an instinct. There was no such thing as the ability to explain it theoretically.

It just works, but if you ask me why, I have nothing to say. I can’t explain and inform you in detail about something as obvious as blinking your eyes and breathing.

After all, a few days ago, I resigned from my professorship and came out on the street again. After completing one of the most trivial requests for her to take on, she came straight to the bar. To taste this dark beer.

As expected, a glass of cool dark beer to drink after the request was special.

“···uh? Aren’t you the hero Kang Min-sik?”

“…I misunderstood the person.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“I said no. The hero is said to have passed away to the original world, but how can he be here?”

“is it···?”

There was a rather interesting conversation amidst the din of noise.

‘It’s Kang Min-shik.’

A hero who came from another dimension to save this world. And the hero who finally saved it.

‘It can’t be Kang Min-shik.’

It has been a long time since he returned to his original dimension called ‘Earth’ through dimensional magic.

Dimensional magic is not that simple, and there was no reason for Kang Min-sik to come back here again after he had achieved or lost everything.

‘Jenny.’

A wizard and companion who accompanied me until the middle of the journey.

she is dead He lost his life trying to protect the weak Kang Min-shik. And from that moment on, Kang Min-shik changed.

It became cold, persistent, and poisonous.

I think it can be enough. Because Janie was in a relationship with Kang Min-sik. That affection was enough to make me jealous to watch from the side.

Maybe that’s why. After saving the world, he left as if running away.

‘No matter what, he was too indifferent to us.’

Still, we were together until the end.

Recalling the subtle regret, he turned his gaze to the center of the turmoil.

And his eyes widened.

“···uh?”

It’s a very familiar look. Though wearing robes, they always wore them throughout the trip.

And the Dark Elves’ sensitive senses are extremely familiar with the fine counting of the opponent’s mana.

Louise stood up from her seat without realizing it. I sat in front of him like a butterfly tempted by the sweetness of a flower.

Before he could raise his head to express his question, he said hello first.

“Long time no see.”

“Who… Louie?”

The expression on his face showed how embarrassed he was.

“I am more surprised. Why is the person who went back to Earth here? Even in denial.”

“How is it?”

“I am originally a mercenary.”

“You said you received an offer to become a professor at the Imperial Academy.”

“It hit me. Because it doesn’t fit my temper. How can I go somewhere else when there is too much snow to unwind here? Some people will recognize me sooner or later.”

Even if not as much as Kang Min-sik, all of his colleagues were famous. They were heroes and, unlike Kang Min-sik, they were still living and working on the continent.

“It might have turned out better.”

“what?”

“Louis, you must have many secret hiding places, right?”

“suddenly?”

“please. Hide me.”

“Yes···?”

Seeing him holding her hand and sticking her head out, Ruine averted her gaze and nodded her head slightly.

* * *

Orange sand does not absorb and amplify heat like the red sand of purgatory. Because of this, Kraft’s desert was not as hot as expected.

“This is it.”

In the middle of the sand desert, a pit dug like a meteorite fell. I could feel the traces of deep magic in it.

Dimensional shifting itself is a high-level magic that requires enormous magical power. Naturally, the traces remain.

The unfortunate thing is that the traces are desert, so most of the traces have been erased by the wind and sand. Even the footprints where they left.

And fortunately, the two high elves were together.

Even deserts have plants.

Whether it’s a cactus or a sprout that has barely managed to pry its head up on the hot, ardent earth.

“This way.”

“This way.”

Yulia and Diane pointed in the same direction. At the end of their gaze was a cactus.

I rode the duck again and ran slowly.

“The mother tree said that the difference between the two of them and the hero Kang Min-sik was three days.”

Know. In this universe, time is one of the absolute laws. The time of Arban and Earth, the time of Earth and Kraft, the time of Kraft and the time of Purgatory are the same.

“Which country belongs to this desert?”

“Although it is a wasteland where bandits have settled down, it is nominally the territory of the empire.”

There was only one empire in Kraft. The overall game felt like a kingdom alliance versus an empire balancing power, so people just called the empire an empire.

“If you go all the way in this direction, what will you find?”

“Dwine, one of the largest cities in the Empire, will appear.”

“Maybe he’s hiding there.”

If you want to hide a tree, hide it in the forest. Populated cities are best for people to hide.

In fact, as long as there are Deokgu and High Elves, it doesn’t matter where they hide.

“Dukgu. transform.”

bruise!

Before long, a panoramic view of the huge city came into view. Before approaching the long line to enter the city, Deokgu’s body shrunk.

It looked like a very small dog, and two of its heads were missing.

“What’s that? It’s very cute.”

“If it’s cute, hold it.”

“Is that okay?”

Kiyin-

He showed signs of disliking Deok-gu, but he had no choice but to give up and go into Yulia’s arms because of Kim Woo-jin’s eyes.

“cute. Gulp Gulp.”

growl!

If you think about it, that makes sense. There’s no way the witch beast would prefer a high elf with pure mana close to the opposite pole. Yulia, who doesn’t care, is unusual.

“You are an elf. It is a pass.”

“thank you.”

The group entered the city safely.

In the fire of war, all the different races united around Kang Min-sik and survived.

The comradeship that fought together was extremely close, and peace after the war raised its head.

Kingdoms and kingdoms, empires and kingdoms refrain from war and conflict, and humans and heterogeneous people lead harmony.

Taepyongseong University. The war that almost led to the end of the continent ironically created an unprecedented peace.

Dewine was indeed one of the largest cities in the empire.

Straight-lined boulevards, well-arranged buildings, countless crowds and vitality, the cleanliness, neatness, splendor and antiquity felt throughout the city, and even the numerous newspapers flying in between.

“Extra! Extra! Warrior Kang Min-shik is back!”

Kim Woo-jin doubted his ears and picked up a fluttering newspaper.

【Shock, the hero who saved the world, Kang Min-sik’s return? A secret meeting between hero Kang Min-sik and the hero Luine Alias captured at a pub outside Dewar…]

【After returning, the hero had a meeting with an old colleague. After that, she disappears with Ruine Alias…]

[A mercenary who witnessed the hero, Dade ‘I knew it was him at a glance. How can you not know the hero who saved the world? I felt the dignity of a warrior.’ Speaking topic…]

[At the appearance of the hero Kang Min-sik, each country pays attention and starts to search for the hero…]

“…that, isn’t it?”

The realization that you are a prisoner, that you have to hide?

* * *

wow-

Kang Min-shik nervously crumpled the newspaper. Rumors, once spread, grew out of control.

If Kim Woo-jin was in Kraft, it would be like confessing that he was here.

“Sorry, it’s my fault.”

It was a future scheduled from the moment the famous Ruine pretended to know.

“it’s okay. It’s not your fault. I would have done the same.”

It’s just terrifying. Please, I hope Kim Woo-jin went to Earth first, not Kraft.

“But where should I go?”

Kang Min-sik asked, stepping on the muddy filth.

A terrible stench stings your nose and a terrible darkness blocks your vision. Even so, it wouldn’t be a hindrance to the hero and the two former companions of the hero.

“Not long.”

They were in the culverts of Palaik, another great city of the Empire.

Palaik is a planned city made by the Empire. Every single building and every single stone on the street was thoroughly designed and built, and the most famous one is the vast and complex underground aqueduct facility.

“This is the only place that can meet your requirements.”

Kang Min-sik asked for two things. A place that no one can find, and consider even the beast’s sense of smell.

“The underground aqueducts of Palaik are dark, complicated, and vast, so even those who have entered and exited many times can easily get lost. It’s a place that everyone hates and even dogs with a great sense of smell don’t want to enter.

‘It’s all here.’ Ruine grabbed the doorknob at the end of the canal.

Suddenly, the door opened. Its interior was so clean and comfortable that it could not be thought of as a sewer.

Beds, desks, carpets, books and all kinds of food. A more comfortable house appeared.

The inside didn’t even smell.

However, Kang Min-sik did not laugh.

“…If there is a trace of magic, there is a possibility of being caught.”

“I laid out the stealth magic circle in five stacks. If not, it’s several tens of meters below Palaik. You can never feel it anywhere.”

no, before that.

“Who are you chasing? you are a warrior There is no one stronger than you in this world.”

“…not in this world.”

“What are you talking about? If you think about it, it was suspicious starting from hiding secretly as if you were running away when you thought you would never come back. What the hell happened?”

“…I can’t tell right now. Just don’t say anything and hide it for ten days. please.”

Ruine sighed at Kang Min-sik’s earnestness.

“…That kind of expression is against the law.”

She tried to avert her gaze and replied bluntly.

And if I hadn’t had the heart to hide it in the first place, I wouldn’t have brought you here.

“Okay, I won’t ask now. But please tell me when the time is right.”

“yes.”

Kang Min-shik nodded and buried himself on the edge of the bed.

“Yes, it will be fine here. It will be fine.”

It should be okay. Even if it is Kim Woo-jin, it will not be easy to find yourself hidden in a place like this.

Not even long. It’s only ten days now.

‘… But wait a minute.’

Did you find that three-headed bastard through my miasma?

Anxiety crept in.

“Is it really enough?”

“You are right. Not full yet.”

It was not the voice of a comrade who had fought alongside him.

When Kang Min-sik raised his head, strangers were standing between the cracks.

One person, one person’s momentum was not as good as that. It was not easy to predict victory or defeat.

“…Louis!”

Louise was lying dead. Fortunately, I could feel my breath.

“Don’t worry. I just had fun for a while. That human should not notice our presence.”

“Who are you…!”

“Inject the hostility. We are here to help you.”

“You came to help me?”

“The Warden of Purgatory has come. It will only be a matter of time before we get caught.”

Kang Min-shik’s spine felt chilly.

“But, don’t worry. The one who brought you here has sent us, and no one will touch you.”

They, the executioners, spoke calmly.

“So come out. It is not suitable here.”

* * *

A magic tool is an object imbued with magic or mana.

What Kim Woo-jin asked to be made is an electron, and in order to hide the sacred tree of the World Tree, its ability must be exceptional.

And, fortunately, it was theoretically perfect.

“really?”

“maybe.”

Becoming a hero gives you the possibility to transcend the limits of creation. Although it is rare, you can get a new ability like Kang Min-sik’s ‘Poison’.

Derkhain had the power of design. It was thanks to this authority that he created a magic tool that could release the restraint sphere.

It took a long time to figure out the magic circle and magic formula of the magic tool, but after figuring it out, with the help of the authority, I eventually drew a blueprint and somehow made it.

But now, everything has become meaningless.

Anyway, the blueprints with the help of authority are perfect, at least theoretically.

However, it is not always easy to turn the theory into reality. And just because it’s theoretically perfect doesn’t mean it’s really perfect.

“Can you make it?”

“Once there are enough ingredients.”

Before leaving to catch the escaped prisoner, almost all the mountains of additional materials released by Kim Woo-jin existed.

“But there is one prerequisite.”

“Um, I guess so. No matter how you look at it, this is a cage.”

Sienna clicked her tongue.

Magic tools were largely divided into two. There is one fence that surrounds the World Tree, which is completely nestled in the northern part of the garden, like a wall, and there are two cages, which are apparently objects for putting birds in.

When a bird enters the cage, the fence resonates and activates the system.

“The World Tree is both a divine tree and a spirit. It doesn’t matter what comes first. In order to completely cover the World Tree, we must eventually trap them both.”

“That’s easy.”

Beep Beep!

Kwajik-

The trunk of the world tree pierced a hole in the blueprint. I grabbed it and tore it to pieces.

An angry bluebird pecked Derkane with its beak.

“Keep! It hurts! Let me try this!”

“I’m sorry, but elves are weak against mother trees.”

“Then can I cut it with an axe?”

“If you’re going to fight for life with me, that’s fine.”

In the end, Derkain had no choice but to withdraw from the World Tree.

“How the hell are you going to find out the blueprint? Isn’t that a bird’s head?”

“Anyone can recognize that cage-like painting. Even birds are drawn on it.”

Due to the dwarves’ useless spirit of historical research, the image of the world tree trapped in a fence and the image of Lily in a cage are still embedded. so i have to know

“Well, it really doesn’t matter. All I have to do is make it.”

The rest of the work is the responsibility of the warden.

“That’s right.”

Sienna nodded.