Chapter 202 : Chapter 202
Chapter 202 - Tornava Continent (3)
The Seokmyeongdan of Heo Jeong-ah departed for the Tornava Continent one day earlier.
Since we were entering through different maps anyway, both unit leaders agreed there was no need to synchronize our timing.
We agreed to proceed with this journey according to our own schedules.
The ultimate goals of the two units were to investigate the strange phenomena currently occurring in the Abyss and to rescue the old man Heo Gyeong-woo. We decided not to place much significance on anything beyond that.
"Anyone who wants to turn back can do so even now. Staying with the family and focusing on personal training is also a sufficiently meaningful task."
Every single member of the unit joined this journey without exception.
In fact, I did not think it was necessary to go this far.
Since the situation made a return to Earth uncertain, I had no intention of forcing them, nor was it something I should force.
I simply wanted to give my unit members a chance to choose before the Abyss was closed.
"Is there really no one who came this far just to save face?"
"......"
However, even at my final offer, no member turned back toward the family.
Everyone just looked at me with resolute eyes.
"You do not have to do this. Why?"
"Because it is a rare opportunity to come to the Abyss with you, Unit Leader."
It was Shim Gyu-seong who answered as if he had been waiting.
"A rare opportunity......"
"Unless we go through a map like this time, we cannot be together because our progress in the Abyss does not match yours. Therefore, everyone considers this trip to Tornava the best opportunity to go to the Abyss with you."
That was true.
Unlike dungeons where one blindly hunts monsters, the Abyss was a place where one could gain vivid experiences by following a journey with a story.
It was natural that the density of those experiences changed depending on who was by your side.
Yoon Joo-hee was an example, and Shin Ah-yeon, who was with me not long ago, also achieved rapid growth by taking advantage of such an opportunity.
'Even so.'
I had not expected everyone to show the heart of a warrior like this, even in a situation where the Abyss was in such turmoil.
If they were determined to go, I could not stop them.
"Fine. Then we shall begin entering the portal immediately."
I did not lack the confidence to return to Earth.
According to Rosie, the Abyss was a place that did not make errors.
Since the current strange phenomena must be the will of the Abyss, it would be enough to show that we can overcome those tricks.
***
Tornava was a continent where not only humans but also numerous non-human species lived together.
I had studied the races living here to some extent before coming.
However, there was one exception. There were no specific records to refer to regarding the Rabbit tribe.
Only the name of the race was briefly mentioned, and nothing was known about their characteristics or deeds.
According to the information obtained from Rosie, the Rabbit tribe was a mysterious race with the ability to erase an opponent's records.
I thought that might be the reason why there were almost no records about them.
[Passing through the portal. Randomly setting the starting location in Tornava.]
The starting location was quite important.
This was because the type and difficulty of the quest could change depending on which race one encountered.
The most preferred place in Tornava was undoubtedly a human village.
The reason was that since humans shared universal ideologies and values, there would be no reason to clash over such matters.
However, when darkness fell and our vision cleared again, what greeted us was a non-human species I had never seen before.
"Welcome, outworlders."
They were about 140 centimeters tall.
They had a human-like shape, but two long ears protruded from the top of their heads.
However, they did not give off a gross or disgusting feeling.
'......Could it be the Rabbit tribe?'
Based on appearance alone, the Rabbit tribe was a strong candidate.
However, as far as the recorded information about Tornava went, there were no cases where the starting point was the Rabbit tribe.
"I am Rollo, the gatekeeper of the Rabbit tribe."
It was as expected.
For a moment, various thoughts crossed my mind.
This was because I did not know when or how these Rabbit tribe members might erase our memories.
Rosie said there was no way to resist this.
Unless one had immunity like a dragon, we humans simply had to suffer it.
Click.
I immediately played the voice recorder in my pocket.
I had prepared it just in case after hearing Rosie's words, and I had not expected to actually use it.
'Since my memories might be erased, I have no choice but to leave as many records as possible.'
Memory erasure was indeed a troublesome skill.
In fact, looking at the one named Rollo, he did not seem particularly impressive.
The amount of mana he possessed exceeded the average of the Chamryongdan, but it was not at an overwhelming level.
In any case, we also greeted Rollo of the Rabbit tribe simply.
Rollo showed no wariness even after seeing our Chamryongdan enter their territory.
The inhabitants of Tornava also knew through learned experience.
They knew that Earthlings were not invaders but would play a sort of mercenary role.
The Chamryongdan would likely receive a quest to help the Rabbit tribe.
Since Earthlings received rewards for completing quests in the Abyss, and the locals here received help from Earthlings, it was a win-win situation.
"But Earthlings look quite interesting."
"I should return those words to you as well."
"Anyway, since you are guests from afar, I shall treat you to a meal first. However, so many of you have flocked here that I am not sure if there will be enough carrots."
When carrots were mentioned as the meal menu, several members of the Chamryongdan let out groans.
"Do not worry too much! We can bring more carrots immediately!"
Rollo guided us to the village.
Although their appearance was a bit different, the way the Rabbit tribe lived was not much different from humans.
It was more similar to the human world of Kalia where I used to live than to Earth.
From the sprawling farmlands to the markets located in the center of the village, the huddled houses, and the various jobs and roles held by the residents here.
It was natural, but every villager had two long ears standing straight up on their heads.
Finally, the place where Rollo stopped was the Chieftain's house.
"It is our Rabbit tribe tradition to treat guests to a meal at the Chieftain's house."
The sense of incongruity felt in a different world was unavoidable.
However, there was one question that needed to be addressed.
We did not yet know what quest we were to proceed with here in Tornava.
Since quests were usually given immediately after passing through a portal, it was clear that something was strange.
***
True to Rollo's prediction, our meal menu was a feast of orange carrots.
Starting from carrot porridge to carrot bread, carrot fritters, and finally carrot juice.
Even though they were not actual rabbits, I could not understand why they had to do this, but I could not interfere with their eating habits.
What was important was the content of the conversation during the meal.
"Chieftain, I have something I am curious about."
"Speak, human."
"There is an old man who came to Tornava from Earth not long ago. His level of power is quite high, so I think he would have caused quite a stir in Tornava. Do you know anything about this person?"
At my question, the Chieftain's ears twitched from side to side.
"Does that mean you do not know?"
"That is correct, human. Tornava is wider than you expect. It means it is difficult to know all the affairs of the world."
Something was definitely strange.
No matter how wide Tornava was, someone of Heo Gyeong-woo's caliber would be a powerhouse capable of shaking this entire world.
There was no way such a being would remain unknown until now.
Even if the Rabbit tribe's village was located on the outskirts of Tornava.
"Then, what about the large-scale group of warriors who visited from Earth yesterday?"
"I do not know them either."
He did not know of Heo Jeong-ah's Seokmyeongdan either.
I chewed on my carrot bread while observing the Chieftain's eyes.
"Why? Is there something on my face, human?"
"No."
They were not real rabbits, but those rabbit-like eyes were difficult to read.
"Eat a lot, human. You must depart for a long journey tomorrow."
"Is there something we need to do?"
"Yes. Tomorrow, you will have to go to the village of the Lion tribe."
"The reason?"
"You will find out once you go there. Rollo will be in charge of guiding you."
The Chieftain chewed on a carrot fritter and gave me a smile of mysterious meaning.
'What is this?'
Since coming to Tornava, I could not shake the feeling that a screw was loose somewhere.
The starting point was the Rabbit tribe's village.
Yet, we were told to move to the Lion tribe's village in just one day.
If I just thought of it that way, I could let it pass, but I had an unpleasant feeling.
After that, the things the Chieftain said were as lacking in substance as the meal.
***
The Rabbit tribe gave us an entire building as a lodging for the Chamryongdan.
As such, the treatment itself was not bad.
'In any case, what am I supposed to do at the Lion tribe's village?'
Since a quest had not yet been generated, we had to do what they wanted.
I lay down in the lodging and pressed the stop button on the recorder.
Only voices remained, but I had essentially left the first record of the Rabbit tribe.
In fact, I did not feel that they had done anything suspicious today.
To say my memory was erased, all the memories from the beginning to the end were vivid.
Even so, I needed to check if today's conversation had been recorded properly. But then.
'Huh?'
The voice that began playing from the recorder was completely different from what I knew.
What is this! More Earthlings?
It was Rollo's voice.
However, both the tone and the first comment were not what I remembered.
It seems there was another team besides us.
Surprisingly, this was my voice.
The murmuring sounds of the Chamryongdan members also followed.
That is right. Yesterday, a group as large as yours flocked here.
Then are they here now?
No. We sent them elsewhere this morning. To the place where the Fox tribe is.
By the way, are you a Rabbit tribe?
Ho! Amazing! To guess it all at once like that!
It was a completely different conversation.
The voices clearly belonged to me and Rollo.
And in the following conversation, Rollo asked me an astonishing question.
By the way, Earthling. Have you checked the quest?
Of course. It was sent as soon as I arrived here.
How is the quest you received?
It is simpler than I thought.
Erased memory.
This damn rabbit bastard had completely erased the memories of the first part.