Chapter 899. Holy Sword Warrior and the Honorary Cardinal (2)
“Are you... going to go into the dungeon with us?” Rafael asked.
“I’m not sure. I’d like to if I have the time... but I can’t promise anything... For now, I think finding that dungeon is the top priority. I think it’s best if we adjust our plans later since we both have work to do...” I suggested.
“Ah...”
‘He looks really sad.’
“But I’ll think about it as positively as possible since it’s your plan,” I added.
“You don’t have to... Please do what’s comfortable for you...” Rafael said.
His expression was different from his words, but it was fine. I was interested, after all.
“No, it’s an issue. A monster capable of wielding holy power... that is just bizarre. As you said, it’s highly likely that it's the reason behind the anomalies happening in the nearby regions. Even if we don’t go into the dungeon together, I think it’s best to investigate the ecology with experts... There are too many strange things going on for it to be just a variant,” I suggested.
“You think so?” he asked.
“Yes. I think it’s best to investigate the place where the monster was first found. Is your camp there?” I asked.
“Yes. We made camp at the place where we first discovered that monster,” Rafael replied.
‘Should I go now?’
I was quite free once I was done eating with him, and the camp had pretty good scenery. I would certainly be able to capture excellent pictures if we set up a campfire there.
On top of that, we could make stew, drink beer together, and talk about random things.
I'd have to post that on Benigoagram. Even if we weren’t going for that reason, it was a place I had to go at least once because I couldn’t just tell him that the dungeon was located below the Vatican.
The dungeon was top secret, and it wasn’t something I could tell him even if I wanted to do so. It was an unranked dungeon, after all. It wasn't even an Average or Rare-rank dungeon.
I could overstep my boundaries if I wanted, but using cheats more than necessary as an administrator would make the system think that I was a delinquent. The most I could do was drop him hints and help his party find the dungeon through normal means.
“How about we go together?” I suggested.
“What? Really?” Rafael asked.
“Yes. It’s kind of late, but I think it’ll be fine if I just take a look. If you have room, I could maybe spend a night,” I answered.
“What?”
“If... you don’t like the idea...” I paused.
“N-No, that’s not the case... P-Please wait a moment. I need to make preparations... I need to make a call,” Rafael stuttered.
“...”
Rafael quickly took out his hand mirror and called someone. I couldn’t really hear him due to the barrier, but it sounded like he was shouting. I was worried because it seemed like they had different opinions, but I saw him nodding quietly in the end.
‘But how should I let him know about this?’
It’d be problematic if the system told me that giving hints was cheating.
The guild's investigation would be faster than Rafael's party, but I didn’t really like that.
Obviously, Rafael would say that he was fine with it, but the Holy Sword Warrior party wasn’t part of the Blue Guild. In other words, it would appear like the guild was stealing the party’s hard work. I didn't want to do that, as there was no need to cause unnecessary conflict.
“I think it’s best if we leave after dessert, hyung,” Rafael suggested.
“Okay, Mr. Rafael. Ah, can I bring a few people with me?” I asked.
“Yes, if that’s what you wish... Are they from the Blue Guild?” Rafael asked.
‘I’m sure he’s worried.’
“They’re not from the guild. I know what you’re worried about, but you don’t have to worry, Mr. Rafael. I don’t know if this will make you feel reassured, but the ownership of the dungeon will definitely belong to your party...”
“No, it’s nothing like that. It’s not because of the ownership of the dungeon... Honestly, that doesn’t even matter. I could give it to you if you need it...” Rafael paused.
“Haha, I appreciate the offer. I’ll do my best not to put you and your party members in a difficult situation,” I reassured him.
“You don’t... need to be that considerate...” Rafael said.
We talked as we proceeded with our meal. They weren’t really important conversations, but they were good enough to pass the time. Soon, his hand mirror vibrated again, and he brought up the topic once again.
“Let’s get going, hyung,” Rafael said.
“Ah, okay. Could you tell me the coordinates?” I asked.
“Of course,” Rafael replied.
After seeing the coordinates that Rafael sent me almost immediately, I walked and saw a green griffon. I was actually going to ride Whitefall, but the griffon had two saddles, so I immediately took out my hand mirror.
“Could I take a picture...” I asked.
“Sure.”
[With Mr. Rafael’s Green Griffon]
[#Nighttime flight #Departure #New Beginning]
This would be good enough.
“Hold on tight,” he said.
“...”
I thought it would be an uncomfortable flight, but I was mistaken.
I noticed that we were getting farther away from Lindel.
After some time, I saw a forest and lights everywhere.
A party had probably come out for an expedition. They looked like Epic-rank adventurers, and they were sitting in front of a campfire. I assumed they were discussing their future plans or their plans about the expedition tomorrow.
Even though it wasn’t anything special, it was a sight that one would see in a fantasy novel.
Their tattered and simple tents reminded me of the old days as well.
‘That’s a must.’
Unlike these camps, the camp over there was really eye-catching.
‘Isn’t that a little too fancy?’
It was really big. If I were to exaggerate a bit, I'd say that I was looking at a castle or a small village. The large tent covered a vast area of the clearing, and the lamps revealed luxurious items that reminded me of glamping[1].
I had to ask because of the griffon...
“Is it that place?”
“Yes. It’s a bit simple, but...” Rafael paused.
‘You call that simple?’
“I had to put in some work in case you felt uncomfortable,” Rafael confessed.
‘In that short period of time?’
“I don’t think they finished building it... Looks like we’re kind of early,” he said.
“You didn’t need to do that. I’m worried that I caused trouble for your party,” I said.
“It’s fine. We weren’t making any progress anyway, and I’m sure the party members will be happy to see you, too,” Rafael denied.
‘That’s what you think...’
I was sure his party was unhappy to be caught up in all this from out of nowhere.
They were happy that I was going to help them, but no one would be happy about building a camp during their break. To make matters worse, they were going to take down the camp anyway, so this was basically pointless.
At most, the camp would last only a month. They also didn’t have staffers to build the camp, so I was sure these top adventurers were finding it hard to stomach the reality that they would have to build the camp themselves.
In other words, this wasn't practical at all. They had decided to build a camp to create a resupply point closer to where they assumed the dungeon was located, but this fancy camp was just too much.
This fancy camp was just a distraction. Actually, if this camp was a smokescreen, then it was pretty successful. After all, who would think that Rafael's party was here to investigate a possible dungeon upon seeing the fanciness of their camp?
Everyone would most likely think that some rich adventurer like Lee Ji-Hoo was here to have fun, and they wouldn't care about the party afterward.
The camp was so fancy that it was worthy of being posted on Benigoagram. I was convinced that it would appear in a camping magazine or something. Perhaps this was the reason he had raised his voice earlier.
The griffon descended slowly amidst my silly thoughts.
His party greeted me upon landing.
“It’s been a while, Father Lee Ki-Young.”
“It has, Mr. Lee Joo-Hyuk. Have you been doing well?” I asked.
The hunting dog was still as charismatic as always.
“Hello, Father Lee Ki-Young. I’m so happy to see you.”
“I’m happy as well, Miss Marian. I heard you’ve been struggling a lot,” I greeted.
“No, it’s really nothing,” Marian replied.
Marian, the Miracle Priest.
“Hello, Father Lee Ki-Young.”
I didn’t really remember the remaining members, but it would be best to greet them one by one by reading their information using Mind’s Eye. It felt like the party had grown pretty big while we hadn't seen each other.
I could see unfamiliar faces, and I decided it was better to get them to like me by saying their names and titles rather than ignoring them outright.
“Ah! I heard a lot about you. Aren’t you Neina, the Gray Mage?” I asked.
“H-How did you...” Neina stuttered.
“I really wanted to meet you in person... I can’t believe we’re seeing each other like this. I never imagined you’d be in the same party as Mr. Rafael. Actually, the Blue Guild was going to contact you, but it looks like we were late,” I told her.
'See? She’s going crazy about it. She’s smiling so brightly.'
“I’ve visited many camps so far, but I’ve never seen a camp this stylish,” I said.
I decided to compliment their hard work and act like a commoner to gain their favor.
This tactic wasn't going to work on everyone, but parties used to living in the wild instead of in a clan house or guild house liked compliments like this. They really liked it when I told them that it reminded me of the old days.
I looked like a weak person who wouldn’t even lift a finger to help when it came to something like this, but look at their faces. They definitely thought I was different.
“I’ll do it, hyung,” Rafael offered.
“It’s fine, Mr. Rafael,” I told him.
“It’s because we’re feeling really uncomfortable, Father Lee Ki-Young. We’re really grateful that you’re here...” Rafael said.
“I was worried that maybe I was being too nosy. I’d like to say this just in case, but the Blue Guild has no intention of taking your achievements...” I reassured them.
“O-Oppa.”
‘This... timing is bad.’
“O-O-Oppa...?”
“Isn’t... that Miss Jung Ha-Yan?”
Neina, the Gray Mage, spoke while her eyes sparkled.
“Is that really Miss Jung Ha-Yan?” she questioned.
“Y-Yes. Hello,” Jung Ha-Yan greeted and bowed.
I saw Han Sora standing beside her. I was happy to see familiar faces in an unfamiliar place, but why did she have to appear now? I definitely didn’t contact them. I looked at her as if I was demanding an explanation, but she looked away from me.
“I-It’s dangerous for children to come here alone. I-I-I came as their main guardian,” Jung Ha-Yan explained.
‘What’s so dangerous about this? They have no chance even against weak adventurers...’
And that was when I saw children walking out from behind Jung Ha-Yan and Han Sora...
Cherubim, Dominions, Thronus, and Seraphim.
“Hello, Father.”
They all greeted and bowed toward me at the same.
I smiled awkwardly toward Rafael’s party.
“These children are here to help.”
“I’m Thronus.”
“I’m Dominions.”
“I’m Cherubim.”
“I-I’m... Seraphim. I-I look forward to working with you...”
1. Glamping is a portmanteau of "glamorous" and "camping," and describes a style of camping with amenities and, in some cases, resort-style services not usually associated with "traditional" camping. ☜