Vol 6 Chapter 48

#(3)

Hyung was delighted when he heard from Kapros that knowing how to use the Holy Protection skill would automatically block the desert sunlight.

"Well, who would've thought that useless skill would come in handy like this. They say even dog poop has its uses, how fortunate! So I don't need to buy that potion or whatever?"

"...Yeah."

"Hahaha, then let's head straight to the desert after stopping there. Which way is the place where we can buy that potion?"

"This way."

When Kapros answered briefly and started walking in one direction, Hyung followed with a pleased expression. Following his memory of visiting Edenia's house before, Kapros traced the path from the main road and after a while, they arrived in front of the Muharam family mansion he remembered.

"It's quite big. Seems more like a house than a shop?"

It is a house, Hyung. But before saying that, Kapros took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Knock knock knock.

"Is anyone there?"

After knocking a few more times, when he thought enough time had passed for someone to come out, he heard the sound of locks being opened from inside.

"Oh my. I had a feeling a familiar guest would visit today."

Edenia. The woman who was both an apothecary selling potions that could cross the Desert of Death and an aide to the elves living in the desert forest, greeted them with wide eyes.

"Come in."

Seeing her brown hair loosely tied and draped over one shoulder exactly as before made Kapros feel somewhat nostalgic, reminded of when he had visited with Kran. The inside of Edenia's house remained unchanged as well, except that the curtain that had been hanging in front of the room where the elf Siravi Ren had stayed was now rolled up and tied.

"Well, I recognize this mage since I've seen him before, but who is this new person? He's quite handsome."

Edenia smiled while looking at Kion-hyung. At her interested gaze full of rich charm, Hyung blinked his eyes quickly several times and wore an expression of deep contemplation about how to respond. After thinking for quite a while, he laughed energetically and said:

"Well... everyone does say that about me..."

"This person is my companion and hyung."

Kapros quickly cut in with the introduction, and Edenia clasped her hands together saying "Oh my."

"I suppose he's going to the forest too?"

"Yes."

Hyung looked at Kapros with round eyes, not understanding why he had suddenly cut off his words, but Kapros avoided answering by keeping his gaze fixed only on Edenia.

"Then does he need to receive qualification verification from Ren like Kapros-nim did?"

Hmm... since Hyung was specifically directed to Ilumine's Forest by the order itself, probably not? But if Siravi Ren was here, it might be good to meet and discuss it clearly.

"Probably... not. Is Siravi Ren not here now?"

As Kapros spoke while glancing at Hyung's face, who was unusually quiet listening to their conversation, Edenia put a hand to her cheek with an apologetic expression.

"Actually, Ren isn't here right now. Oh dear. They didn't say when they would return."

"No, it's fine. The reason I came was because I need that thing I came to get from you before again."

Kapros quickly shook his head. Edenia nodded with a bright expression.

"Ah... I see. It seems the potion you received last time performed well. I'm glad. Were you able to achieve your goal there?"

Just performed well? The faint memory of suffering from nausea every time he drank it because it worked too well came to mind.

"...Yes. It was a great help."

"Not at all. You rightfully earned your qualification by winning the bet with Ren. Of course, that qualification is still valid. How much of 'that' do you need? Would the same amount as last time be enough?"

"No. It was a bit short. Could I ask for a few more than that?"

Though Kapros never wanted to recall the taste of Edenia's potion again, the memory of crossing the desert half-dead when the potion ran short was still vivid, so he had no choice but to request additional production. Fortunately, Edenia didn't seem displeased and readily nodded, saying she would.

"Of course. It's not difficult. Please wait here a moment while I make it."

Edenia, wearing white flowing clothes befitting someone living in a sunny desert city, disappeared into another room, leaving Kapros alone with Hyung in the quiet living room.

"She sells medicine? There's quite a gap between her appearance and profession."

Hyung asked in a lowered voice while gesturing toward where Edenia had disappeared.

"Um... well."

When Kapros first came here, he too hadn't imagined Edenia would be an NPC who made potions. Perhaps it was because the information first obtained from the information guild was from several decades ago.

"From what I heard earlier, you've been here before?"

"Yeah."

"Then... did you go to the desert area then too?"

"Yeah. ...That was with Kran."

After adding one more word since his answers seemed too short, Hyung made a sound of acknowledgment "Hmm..." and started looking around at decorations and such as if bored. As Kapros was heading to the sofa thinking he might sit down to wait, Superior, who had been quiet since coming to Bala Monyak, suddenly spoke.

[ Whew. Finally I can speak a bit. ]

"Uh..."

Kapros, who had been about to lean back comfortably on the sofa, straightened his back with a start at the voice echoing in his head.

"...Superior?"

[ Yes. ]

"What's this suddenly?"

[ It's not sudden. I've been watching all along. But I couldn't speak because of that man you were with until just now. ]

"That man?"

Though Kapros thought Superior must mean Caesar, he asked just in case, and heard Superior's most serious answer yet.

[ Yes. That man who emanated such evil energy that I couldn't even speak. ]