Vol 6 Chapter 49

Evil energy... It was a moment that made Kapros newly aware that Caesar was a Knight of the Demon God quest user.

"Why is that?"

[ Though I can't explain it well, I couldn't come out carelessly because of the strange energy emanating from him. A very evil and powerful energy, that's what I felt. Is that man your enemy? ]

Only upon hearing this did Kapros realize that Superior didn't know what he took for granted - that Caesar was a Knight of the Demon God quest user and positioned as his enemy. Of course, since Kapros hadn't told him.

What should he say here? As a user, Kapros knew from the words he had heard while progressing through the quest and from the released quest videos that the Demon God was showing increasingly ominous signs.

But it was clear that explaining all of this honestly to Superior, an NPC, would be futile. However, it didn't seem right to pass without any explanation, and it seemed appropriate to at least tell him that Kapros had learned various things while searching for Superior's traces. So was the only option to explain with appropriate embellishment again?

"You could say he's an... enemy. But actually, there's something I forgot to tell you..."

"Kar. What are you muttering to yourself about?"

Suddenly, Hyung plopped down next to him with a puzzled look. Kapros startled and closed his mouth. Superior did the same. Though Superior's existence in the staff didn't seem like something that needed to be hidden, somehow the timing kept being off, making it difficult to explain openly.

"Ah..."

"Why that expression? Were you surprised? But why isn't that woman who went in to make medicine coming out yet? I'm dying of boredom..."

Just as Hyung spoke loudly, Edenia emerged from the room carrying small bottles.

"I'm sorry, was I too late? I'm here. What were you... Oh my. You two seem very close."

Hyung, who had clung to Kapros in surprise at Edenia's appearance right when he was saying he was bored, smiled while ignoring Kapros's gaze after being forcefully pushed to the side of the sofa and hitting his side.

"Ah, yes. Well. We're... very close. Haha, hahaha."

"Hyung..."

"Sorry, Kar."

Hyung, shrinking his shoulders at Kapros's look, stepped back and apologetically patted Kapros's back where Edenia couldn't see.

"I was actually a bit worried since you didn't come with the knight who accompanied you last time, but I'm glad the person who came with you this time seems very nice too. Here, take these."

Edenia held out the blue potions gathered in the folds of her skirt toward Kapros. It was such a large amount that even he, a man, couldn't hold them with both hands, so he had to set them down on the sofa with Hyung's help. After putting the roughly twenty potions into the Ring of Storage so they could be retrieved at any time, Edenia asked as if she had been waiting.

"Will you wait for Ren here?"

Though it might be good to meet Siravi Ren once before leaving since, being an elf, they would likely know about recent elven developments, the fact that they had left without saying when they would return was concerning.

"No. Please just give them my regards. We'll probably meet again when there's a chance. Thank you for helping me this time as well. We should probably be going now."

"Oh my, you're leaving right away without even having a drink?"

Edenia, who had briefly shown a disappointed expression, nodded as if it couldn't be helped.

"Ren will be disappointed when they return. Though they didn't say it after you left, they quietly held you in high regard. Hoho. You're always welcome, Mage-nim. Please come back anytime if you need these potions again."

Though they were kind words, just imagining having to drink that potion again made Kapros's stomach churn. With those final words, he and Hyung stood up and left with Edenia seeing them out.

"Take care~"

When they reached the street where the waving Edenia was no longer visible, Hyung glanced back and let out a refreshing sigh.

"Now that we're all prepared, we're really going, huh. Ah, it doesn't feel real. I've traveled all over the continent doing quests until now, but this is my first time in a desert. What's the desert like? Are there lots of strong monsters?"

Well. If Hyung was asking what the Desert of Death that Kapros had experienced was like...

"There are no monsters. But the sun's curse is stronger than you'd think. You should be fine since you can use the skill at the right time, but I... had quite a headache."

"Huh, you did?"

That desert sunlight could be called the most difficult opponent among all the enemies he had encountered while playing the game. What doubled that enemy's attack power was, of course, Edenia's hellishly-flavored potion now safely stored in his item window.

"Sounds boring if there are no monsters. From now on, I'm counting on you, so please take care of me. Kar."

Hyung, wearing an obviously deflated expression, roughly ruffled Kapros's hair through his hood while playfully pressing down. Kapros felt his hair under the hood becoming a mess from static electricity but said nothing.

In the past, he would have avoided such contact with plenty of room to spare, but now being able to accept such things pleasantly held more meaning for him. Though he didn't say it, Hyung seemed to think the same, looking at him with a fresh gaze while grinning.

"You used to avoid even being touched, but your personality has really improved. Oh, you cute kid."

Though Kapros couldn't agree with the final form of address, he couldn't help but smile at feeling Hyung's pride in the words before it.

"Oh, Kar. You just smiled, right? You did smile, right? Can't you push back that hood a bit? I can't see your expression at all!"

As Kapros quickly walked ahead while listening to Hyung's grumbling voice, Superior let out a small laugh.

[ That person really cherishes you. ]

"...Yeah."