Chapter 208 : Chapter 208
Chapter 208 - Tornava Continent (9)
Heo Jeong-ah's face turned red and then blue.
The obnoxious voice of the rabbit fellow flowing through the recorder was annoying even to me, who had heard it several times.
For Heo Jeong-ah, who was hearing it for the first time, it went without saying.
"Is what this bastard is saying true?"
I nodded my head.
"Do you have some trust now?"
"You said they are the Rabbit tribe, right?"
"Yeah."
"I feel like I could only be satisfied if I found those bastards right now and ripped their ears apart."
The quest that had not been generated all this time.
It was enough to make her explode, as it turned out the Rabbit tribe had erased the memories regarding the quest.
"But Seo Ji-han. How did you know in advance and record it? It is as if you knew your memory would be erased."
"I did not just know; I expected it."
"You expected it?"
"The informant I have is a bit special."
I raised the corners of my mouth slightly.
A hatchling is still a dragon. The experience of Rosie, who had been in the Abyss for hundreds of years, was the best informant for me.
"That is petty! If you had such information, it would have been good to tell me in advance."
"It is information I received only a day before coming here."
"You are a bit obnoxious."
I just smirked at her.
"Seo Ji-han, but why did you just leave those Rabbit tribe bastards alone? With your personality, I thought it would not be enough even if you captured and beat them all up."
"I have no intention of leaving them alone. I am just letting them be for now."
"While you are letting them be, I might go and crush them."
But the one who would likely be crushed if she actually did that was Heo Jeong-ah.
"Calm down. We do not yet know in what way they erase memories. If you just go without preparation, you might even have the memory of meeting me here erased."
"Wow, just thinking about it is annoying!"
"So wait. I will not forget to crush those fellows before we go to Earth."
From the perspective of outworlders like us, the Rabbit tribe held the position of the final mastermind of Tornava.
Bastards like an ant-lion that led us into a pit by secretly erasing the memories of the quest.
Clearly, this would be connected to the strange phenomena spread throughout the Abyss.
"Anyway, if our unit's quest is hunting a Kraken, this is not the time to be like this here."
A Kraken is a giant monster that lives in the sea.
To perform this quest, it was necessary to go to a village in the coastal region.
"Heo Jeong-ah, the Turtle tribe's village would be perfect for you."
"A Kraken......"
It was certainly a very strong monster, but once hunted, the quest would be over, so by my standards, it was a very easy quest.
"The bigger problem is my eldest uncle."
It was a problem that news of the old man had still not been heard.
I knew nothing yet about where he was or what quest he received.
"Well, could anything have happened? The old man is a Sword Master."
"Still, something is a bit strange. As you said, even though my uncle is a Sword Master, his presence is not being revealed yet."
The problem was that Tornava was not like a world composed only of humans.
This place, where numerous non-human species lived, had limited residential areas compared to the vast continent.
Most of the continent remained a wasteland, and since interaction between races was not active, rumors might not spread as quickly as one might think.
When I pointed those things out, Heo Jeong-ah's complexion immediately darkened.
"It will not be easy."
"Do not worry too much. We still have a final resort."
"The Rabbit tribe?"
I nodded my head.
There must be someone among the Rabbit tribe who knows the old man's whereabouts.
However, the reason I had not looked for those fellows yet was that I needed to be cautious for now.
If I recklessly invaded, I did not know what might happen.
The most likely scenario was that I would massacre all the Rabbit tribe the moment my memory was erased.
If that happened, there was a high chance I would never find out what the old man's quest was.
"Seo Ji-han, then what is the immediate plan?"
"Entering this Fox tribe village for now."
"Why? Did you not come because of me?"
"I have some business to take care of. You need to help out a bit too."
For now, finding the Bracelet of Dynamis here was the priority.
"What is that?"
"You will find out in due time; for now, go into the village and tell the Chieftain. Tell him your superior has arrived and you must join him."
Superior.
At those words, Heo Jeong-ah gritted her teeth and nodded.
***
Eventually, our Chamryongdan entered the Fox tribe's village.
And then, a three-way meal followed.
The seats opposite the Fox Chieftain were taken by me and Heo Jeong-ah.
"To think there was a superior."
The Chieftain had let me into the village, but he was still wary.
It could not be helped.
Unlike Heo Jeong-ah's case, I had personally sought this place out without the guidance of the Rabbit tribe.
"I followed after sending Heo Jeong-ah here as an advance party. Simply put, we are the follow-up party."
"But how did you know the advance party was in our village? No particular rumors would have spread."
"Let us just say that is an ability unique to Earthlings."
Even if I glossed it over like this, there was no way for them to verify it anyway.
What these fellows knew about Earth was an extremely superficial part.
What I wanted to know was whether the Fox tribe was also in collusion with the Rabbit tribe.
The answer would come out after just a few words.
"I heard Heo Jeong-ah's advance party has not yet been given a quest; do you have no sharp method, Chieftain?"
"Outworlder, I also feel regrettable about that point. However, do not worry too much. As you stay here, the day will come when a quest will eventually be generated."
As expected, it was the same reaction as with the Lion tribe.
"Something is strange. I received a quest as soon as I arrived in Tornava."
"What? You received a quest?"
The Chieftain bastard asked back with a surprised face.
"What is there to be so surprised about?"
"No, I was not surprised."
The hell you weren't.
It was only for a moment, but his expression was certainly suspicious.
And the Chieftain asked me again.
"By the way, which village was it when you first came to Tornava?"
Once I had a suspicious mind, the intention of this question also felt even more suspicious.
"The Cat tribe."
I deliberately mentioned a place farthest from here.
Because it would be difficult to verify for now.
"The Cat tribe?"
"Why? Is that not allowed?"
"N-No!"
Again, an awkward reaction.
I was not sure if it was just my imagination, but it felt as if he were asking:
'It was not the Rabbit tribe village?'
And experientially, my intuition is often correct.
If this place was also in collusion with the Rabbit tribe, there was a high chance they would contact the Rabbit tribe soon.
If my guess was correct, the starting point for all Earthlings coming to Tornava recently was the Rabbit tribe village.
"Anyway, welcome to our village, outworlder."
"Thank you for welcoming us. However, we should settle the accounts, right?"
"Settle accounts?"
"I heard Heo Jeong-ah, who arrived first, cleared five dungeons around your Fox tribe."
"That is true, but."
"We Earthlings and you Tornavans are in a mutually beneficial relationship. Since my subordinate Heo Jeong-ah worked for you, you must also cooperate for my quest. Right, Heo Jeong-ah?"
"T-That is correct."
Heo Jeong-ah's awkward acting.
However, the Chieftain would not have the peace of mind to notice such things.
Because he would be curious about what my demand was.
"First, I must know the content of the quest you received. Only then can we decide whether we can cooperate!"
"It is nothing major, so do not be too nervous."
I smirked and continued.
"My quest is to clear one dungeon near the Fox tribe village."
"It is that simple?"
"I told you. It is nothing major. But there is one more condition."
"Condition?"
"That I must designate one Fox tribe warrior to enter with me."
"It is a strange quest."
"Chieftain, do not worry, I will not designate you."
The Chieftain was not wearing the Bracelet of Dynamis that I was looking for.
Surely, that bracelet must be worn at all times.
I had to find who it was.
After finding them, I intended to enter a dungeon together.
"So, I have a request for you, Chieftain."
"Speak."
"I hope you will assemble everyone in the Fox tribe at the village square tomorrow. It will be troublesome if even one person is missing. Including children."
The Chieftain wore a reluctant expression at my demand.
"Then, by me granting this request, will our accounts be settled?"
"Of course. And Heo Jeong-ah will remain here to continue with you. Right, Heo Jeong-ah?"
"T-That is correct."
"Understood. Then I shall assemble everyone in the Fox tribe at the square tomorrow."
In the end, I was the only one smiling at the end of the three-way meal.
***
The Chieftain kept his promise.
Numerous Fox tribe members gathered at the village square.
Now, my task was to find the fox wearing the bracelet among them.
"I hope you will choose quickly."
The Chieftain wore an unhappy expression at this situation.
"I am picking just one person. Do not rush me like that since I have to be careful."
"I say this once more, but after this work is finished, your subordinates must do more work for us here."
"I promise. As long as Heo Jeong-ah remains here until the moment she has to perform her quest."
In short, it meant Heo Jeong-ah would also be leaving this place soon.
I went up on the stage of the square and observed the crowd.
The Monkey tribe's sacred relic, the Bracelet of Dynamis, was an object known to draw out the wearer's potential.
Surely, not just anyone would be wearing such a sacred relic.
I activated my 'Mana Eyes.'
If I searched based on mana, it would not take very long to find the wearer of the bracelet.
As I concentrated and narrowed down the candidates, the number remaining was fewer than twenty.
'It should be among these.'
I decided to step down from the stage and examine these candidates one by one.
First, starting with the most noticeable old man fox.
His amount of mana was not the highest among the candidates, but it was impressive that his mana temperament was as vigorous as a young man's, unlike an elderly person's.
I walked toward him.
Then, a moment later, I could not help but rejoice.
'I am lucky.'
I found it on the first try.
On the old man fox's left wrist, a rusted bracelet was simply worn.
The brilliant energy radiating from it was similar to the 'Ring of Truth,' the other sacred relic possessed by the Monkey tribe.
"I shall choose this person."
As I pointed to the old man, a look of embarrassment was clear on the Chieftain's face.
It was the same for the old man as well.
"No, why me..."
"Why? Is there a reason why it cannot be?"
"There is no reason to choose an old man like me."
"It is because I felt a freshness from you that is unlike an elderly person."
Having come closer, I could be certain.
This bastard, he is not an old man.