Vol 3 Chapter 1

#(1)

The hot desert sun seemed as if it might bury everything in a haze at any moment.

However, the two men walking beneath it were advancing forward, completely unconcerned, despite covering themselves with thick clothes and armor that didn't match the weather.

Thud!

"Aargh, Kap!"

No, perhaps only one of the two was completely unconcerned.

The bright blonde-haired young man who caught the man in the black cape robe who suddenly collapsed mid-step hurriedly reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue potion.

"I told you to just drink it instead of holding out until your stamina runs out."

"It's... fine... If I just rest a bit..."

As the mouth under the hood, which was pulled down so low that the face couldn't be seen, mumbled, the blonde young man's expression contorted like a demon's.

"How is it fine when you've already collapsed three times? Argh, it's so frustrating! Drink! Just grit your teeth and drink it!"

"Uurgh."

With those words, the blonde young man mercilessly shoved the potion bottle into the mouth of the collapsed man. The fallen one weakly wriggled in resistance, but only for a moment. Seeing him gulp down the potion with a powerless expression, the blonde young man let out a sigh of relief. Soon after, a refreshing light circled the body of the caped man with a "whoosh," and he was able to raise himself from the blonde young man's supporting arms.

"Ugh..."

The man in the cape robe, though his complexion had improved, seemed to be holding back a dry heave for a moment after standing up, then shook his head.

"Hah... I really can't stand this taste."

At those words spoken through gritted teeth, the blonde man showed an apologetic expression.

"I know... It tastes like a toilet despite how it looks. But isn't it better than dying from continuously losing stamina in the desert? Especially since you're a mage with weak stamina to begin with..."

"The problem isn't that mages have weak stamina, but that your holy protection skill is a single-target passive."

"That can't be helped. That's why I bought these expensive potions..."

Ignoring those words, the man in the cape robe stared blankly at the seemingly endless desert for a moment, then pointed to a spot.

"We're almost there. We've nearly reached the blinking point on the map window."

"Oh, that's a relief. We only had one of those potions left."

At those words, the man in the cape robe, whose shoulders had tensed again, glared coldly at the blonde man.

"Kran."

It was the powerful gaze of a predator, filled with pressure to stop talking about those damn potions. However, Kran, the blonde man who would have flinched before, was not intimidated by that gaze at all, but rather smiled back.

"It's not a crime to worry! Do you know how frantic I get every time you collapse? My heart does a 360-degree board surf."

"What..."

As Kap, the man in the cape robe, was at a loss for words, Kran, who had spoken proudly, began to walk ahead with a smile.

"Hmm... But Kap, I hope your stamina drops just one more time. Then this time, I could finally carry you on my back..."

"Blink."

Ignoring Kran, who was muttering something with a dreamy face, Kap used Blink expressionlessly and was already several hundred meters ahead.

"...Huh?"

Left behind as if abandoned, Kran stood dazed for a moment, then began running across the desert alone, sniffling.

"Wait! Wait, Kap! How can you go alone? So you treat me like a stranger as soon as you feel better! Don't use Blink! I said wait!"

Whether Kran shouted or not, Kap was blinking away at an incredible speed. The hem of his cape robe could be seen fluttering behind him. Ahead of Kran, who was chasing after him in bewilderment, green shadows were faintly revealing what had long been hidden beyond the desert.

Unbelievably, it was a lush forest spread out on the desert.

The verdant forest, incongruous with the sand, was gleaming green as if welcoming the first visitors to reach that untouched place.

"This forest. It seems to be my correct destination after all."

Kapros spoke to Kran, who was still sulking. Kran had finally caught up long after Kapros had reached the forest and was in a bad mood from the chase.

"I guess so. What if it had been an illusion after you so readily abandoned me in the desert?"

"Your words have an edge to them."

While Kapros could ignore the sullen glare, somehow the grumbling tone was very irritating, so he quietly raised one hand. With a whoosh, a fiercely rotating Screw Fireball was created.

"That must be... my imagination?"

Whoosh!

"..."

Kran, who had directly witnessed the increased power of this Screw Fireball through the monsters they had encountered so far, gulped for a moment and then quickly bowed his head.

"Yeah... Of course it's your imagination. Definitely your imagination."

"Good. Then let's enter the forest."

Kapros immediately turned towards the lush forest on the desert. He almost laughed involuntarily at Kran, who looked cute despite his age as he grumbled quietly behind him, "Phew, really too much, too much!" while obediently following, but he held it back.

Come to think of it, this guy had helped without a single complaint throughout all the hardships they faced to get here, so wasn't it a bit too much to abandon him without hesitation?

'He seems to be really upset, what should I do...'

As Kapros was contemplating whether to turn back for a moment, he suddenly widened his eyes and turned his head at the arm wrapping around his shoulder. A face revealed between light blonde hair was grinning.

"You were just worrying that I might be upset, right?"

Did this guy learn mind-reading?

"Heh. I know you like the back of my hand. To think the day would come when Kap would worry about someone. This hyung is so hap... Gack!"

Kapros remembered that Kran was a year younger than him. Had he forgotten?

Without hesitation, Kapros pushed that face away with his palm and began walking twice as fast. Now, there was not a shred of hesitation left.