Chapter 96 – Carbuncle – [One]

Kim Jihyeok walked slowly, turning his head back.

He could see Seo Yun walking from behind. The girl’s voice reached him.

“So to put it modestly, I took down four paladins with four strikes using my storm-like swordsmanship? Those paladins probably trained for over a decade in the setting, but they were no match for me.”

“Seo Yun, what are we going to do with you? It seems you don’t know how to use the word ‘modesty.'”

The girl was walking with two friends, and she looked quite happy chatting away.

That smiling expression felt excessively new to Kim Jihyeok. The girl he usually remembered almost always wore an expressionless face. Not grinning like that.

Kim Jihyeok didn’t have the confidence to intrude between them. Especially now that the distance between him and that girl had grown even further.

It wasn’t just Kim Jihyeok feeling that way; it was an objective fact within the village.

“Oh my, Sir Seo Yun?”

An old man and a middle-aged man who walked out of a tent recognized Seo Yun and pretended to know her. Seo Yun followed suit.

“Ah, Sir Hwang Jiseok and Sir Hwang Jarang. Hello.”

Then the two adult men grinned and greeted Seo Yun.

“Well, well, you even remember our names… Hello!”

It was a respectful bow, as if addressing an equal or superior adult, not a small girl.

Even before, Seo Yun received half-adult treatment despite her age. She was the top contributor, the village’s most important Priest, and with her appearance and uniquely mature demeanor, she wasn’t a girl to be taken lightly.

So even before, some adults respectfully called her “Sir Seo Yun,” but that was only a few polite ones.

Now, however, those who spoke casually to her have completely disappeared. Even those who would speak casually to anyone younger than them used honorifics with Seo Yun.

It had been like that since the last incident. When the Crusaders invaded and everyone was in chaos, the girl stepped forward, raised her voice, and even negotiated, leaving a deep impression on the villagers.

Now, Kim Jihyeok clearly saw even some Senior Players using honorifics with her. Though there was no explicit agreement, it seemed her status in the village had risen to just below Oh Haengbok and Oh Haengun.

Not long ago, his mother, who had treated him like a non-existent child since he left home, suddenly visited.

At first, he thought she wanted to reconcile with her son. Kim Jihyeok pretended to be annoyed but secretly felt relieved as he let Madam Park Haekyung into his tent.

But then Madam Park Haekyung suddenly started asking all sorts of questions: How are you getting along with Miss Seo Yun lately? You used to be so close, why aren’t you seen together these days?

After a few questions about Seo Yun, he finally understood why his mother had come. That woman clearly wanted to show off to the neighbors that her son was close with the Priest girl, whose status had risen in the village.

It was infuriating, and it was obvious she would bother the girl if left unchecked. Kim Jihyeok harshly told his mother to get out, completely severing their mother-son relationship.

Thus, among the ordinary villagers these days, being close to that girl was considered something to boast about.

In such a situation, a short, shabby Rogue brat approaching that girl was unthinkable—a lack of self-awareness. It was like that before, but even more so now.

So these days, he couldn’t even muster the courage to face her.

Even now, if he ran into that girl, he wouldn’t know how to act. Afraid it would just be awkward, Kim Jihyeok avoided encountering her.

That’s why he was walking under an Invisibility Spell, so his current appearance wouldn’t be seen by that girl.

Seo Yun and her team members’ conversation continued to reach him.

“See? That’s how much I matter in the village.”

At Seo Yun’s words, Han Siwoo muttered.

“Very impressive indeed…”

Mid-sentence, Han Siwoo let out a scream. When Kim Jihyeok turned his head again, Seo Yun was pinching Han Siwoo’s back, saying:

“Where do you think you’re being sarcastic, huh?”

As Han Siwoo glared, Seo Yun giggled. Meanwhile, watching their playful interaction, Kim Jihyeok felt a surge of emotion. Acting so familiarly like that?

He thought he had already given up on his relationship with that girl, but it seemed remnants of attachment remained. This damn obsession and jealousy just wouldn’t disappear, but there was no way to resolve it.

Kim Jihyeok stood still while invisible. Seo Yun and the other two passed by him.

A while later, Kim Jihyeok had dispelled his Invisibility and was trudging along.

A girl suddenly spoke to him.

“Kim Jihyeok? Where are you going?”

It was Kim Rayeon. Why is this crazy bitch here? Her face might be pretty, but she’s another annoying type to deal with…

Kim Jihyeok answered vaguely.

“Going to the after-party, why…”

“The feast can wait a bit, right? Let’s go somewhere. Come here.”

“Where…”

“To Mister Kim Ak’s grave.”

Kim Rayeon said that and briskly walked ahead.

Kim Jihyeok followed and stopped in front of Kim Ak’s grave.

Kim Rayeon knelt before Kim Ak’s grave mound, which was clearly tended to with care every day. Then she closed her eyes and muttered in a reverent voice unimaginable from her usual self.

“Let’s pray.”

A week had passed since the Crusader incident. And so far, nothing had happened in the village.

Even now, while the village Players were feasting, it was the same.

Oh Haengbok, seated at the head, opened his mouth.

“Well, everyone—”

At that moment, all the village Players tensed up. They were worried that another infrasound might come from that Orc’s mouth.

“—it’s truly fortunate that we can gather like this to eat again. I heard we might have barely survived this winter on half a potato each? Thanks to everyone’s hard work, we can get through winter like this. You’ve all worked hard… Everyone, dig in!”

But the words from Oh Haengbok’s mouth, though gravelly, were calm. His tone was quite gentle.

Only then did the village Players relax and start eating the chicken porridge placed before them.

And Seo Yun, sipping makgeolli, glanced at Oh Haengbok. Oh Haengbok, meeting her eyes, smiled slightly and slowly turned his head away.That was an uncharacteristically natural attitude for an orc. He had been like that not just now, but throughout the past two weeks.

Since that day, Oh Haengbok had not demanded blood, nor had he expressed excessive interest by calling me “our pretty one.” He also hadn’t suddenly erupted in anger at the villagers or taken out his frustrations on Oh Haengun.

Perhaps it was the necklace around his neck—the magic necklace the Crusaders had given in exchange for the village’s provisions (an item that increased Mental Stat by 1 point while worn, nominally a gift to the Angel of the Hearth, not that orc vampire)—working its miraculous effect. Or maybe, as the orc claimed, it was because so much blood had drained from his head that day, leaving his mind clear.

Whichever it was, Oh Haengbok’s mental state had improved remarkably, to anyone’s eyes. Thanks to that, the village’s troubles had also decreased significantly.

Everything was surprisingly peaceful, to the point it felt unreal. Considering the fight not long ago, it was something unimaginable.

‘He said that sun would bring about his own death, calling it the Sun Ship or whatever…’

Perhaps this time, a Prophecy of Death had truly been averted. Maybe this tranquility was born from that.

Feeling reassured by that thought, Seo Yun looked at the teenagers having their meal. Sitting in a suitable spot, she spoke to Seong Juri.

“We came a bit late, but I don’t see the other kids. Where’s Jihyeok? I don’t see Kim Rayeon either.”

“I don’t know about Kim Jihyeok, but Kim Rayeon is probably doing her morning prayers.”

Seo Yun raised one eyebrow.

“Morning prayers?”

“She prays diligently every morning and evening. I don’t know if she’s trying to alleviate guilt because she thinks it’s her fault he died, or if she’s genuinely grieving… but she does it without missing a single day, so it’s really pitiful.”

Seo Yun thought for a moment and muttered.

“Is she praying for Mister Kim Ak to go to Heaven? Since there’s a Heaven in the game and prayers have actual effects, maybe she believes in that…”

“Probably.”

A solemn atmosphere flowed briefly.

“Later, when you become a Goddess, send him to Heaven, Seo Yun. Kim Ak deserves to go to Heaven, right?”

A passing Warrior Player said, and the words came so abruptly that Seo Yun answered unconsciously.

“I will.”

Then, after a brief silence, Seong Juri stared directly at her.

“Have you finally decided to accept your identity as a baby goddess?”

“No.”

“Well, you are Seo Yun-nim, the leader of Happy Village. You shouldn’t ascend to the Celestial Realm but stay here and lead everyone…”

“You’ll die if you keep that up, you bitch.”

Seo Yun growled, and Seong Juri giggled. Seong Juri stopped laughing and turned serious, speaking cautiously.

“Did I cross a line while joking?”

“Huh? Not really, why?”

“No, it’s just that Gaeulbi’s expression suddenly turned bad.”

Seo Yun looked and saw that Gaeulbi was indeed wearing a serious expression.

And Gaeulbi seemed to have belatedly noticed her own expression was bad. The chimpanzee apologized.

“Huh? Sorry! I’m not angry at what you said, it’s just that I suddenly heard a curse…”

“Why a curse?”

“It’s because my resistance to curses disappeared. I usually don’t hear them, so when I do, I unconsciously turn serious.”

“You said that happened while living in the troll village, right?”

At Seo Yun’s question, Gaeulbi nodded vigorously.

“Yeah. It’s my weird thing, so don’t mind either of us!”

And Seong Juri muttered.

“If that happened from living in the troll village, is Han Siwoo like that too?”

“Yeah. I heard he is.”

That’s when it happened. Han Siwoo’s voice came from beside them.

“What are you talking about, you low-level bastard? Daring to mess with me, you fucking asshole?”

Seo Yun looked and saw Han Siwoo facing Lee Jongho.

Thinking they might be fighting, but that wasn’t it. Lee Jongho spoke playfully.

“What, bastard? If I had something like that speed bracelet, I’d have hit level 5 long ago.”

“Bullshit, you idiot.”

The atmosphere between the two exchanging words wasn’t hostile.

Seong Juri listened blankly to their conversation, then turned her head this way.

“They’re cursing?”

“No, he hardly curses when he’s with us…?”

While Gaeulbi was flustered, Han Siwoo and Lee Jongho continued their conversation. It was a dialogue mixed with harmless curses.

Seong Juri muttered.

“Guess he’s comfortable since he’s with guys.”

Gaeulbi’s eyes widened.

“Comfortable?”

“Yeah. When he’s with you, he watches his mouth.”

“Watches his mouth? Why? Because I don’t like hearing curses?”

“That’s part of it, but isn’t it because he’s hanging out with two girls? Knowing girls dislike guys with foul mouths, he’s probably managing his image…”

Listening to Seong Juri, Seo Yun thought. That guy watches his mouth because he’s hanging out with girls?

It’s understandable when he’s with Gaeulbi. Isn’t it blatantly obvious that creepy Han Siwoo likes Gaeulbi?

But the problem was that Han Siwoo didn’t utter anything resembling a curse even when he was alone with her, not Gaeulbi. So far, the strongest profanity Han Siwoo had directed at her was ‘bullshit.’ She hadn’t heard ‘fuck’ or ‘idiot’ or similar profanities he’d normally throw at a friend.

So, does that mean he doesn’t feel comfortable around her? Even though she acted casually all this time? Even though she acted like a same-sex friend, he didn’t feel that way?

‘So, in that guy’s eyes, I’m also…’

It was bewildering, even. Seo Yun silently drank her makgeolli.

An older man appeared at the feast and spoke to Oh Haengbok.

“Sorry to interrupt the feast, but there’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“An old man who was farming came running to tell us—Carbuncles have appeared.”

Oh Haengbok blinked.

“Carbuncles? Those with meteor fragments on their foreheads?”

“Yes. Those cat-like creatures.”