Chapter 55
Chapter 55. Partner (3)
If only he could have been prepared.
If only he could have known the future through a novel or game.
Hanbin was thrown into another world without any warning on his way to work.
His landing spot was hell.
To be precise, it was the 8th floor of the Spirit Demon Realm, but calling it hell wouldn't be much of an exaggeration.
Giant tree forests so tall you couldn't see the top even if you craned your neck until it hurt. Dreamlike natural scenery.
Waterfalls flowing upward, luminous mushrooms as large as human torsos, a colorful sea of clouds flowing along the mountain ridge.
And the sacred, hungry monsters roaming within.
Looking back, it was remarkable that an ordinary modern-day office worker survived three months in there.
Eating moss, quenching his thirst at springs.
Every night whispering through clenched teeth, 'why the fuck is this happening to me.'
Just before being crunched up by monsters, or if not that, dying from either malnutrition or a nervous breakdown.
"Nonne fungus visus est. Immo, parvulus stat."
An angel, no.
He met the legendary witch.
She later explained that the first thing she said was 'I thought it was a mushroom, but it's a little child.'
She said she had been gathering ingredients to make mushroom stew.
'Come with me for now, little one.'
She pulled Hanbin out of the hellish 8th floor of the Spirit Demon Realm.
She provided him a place to sleep, gave him meals, and taught him the language of this world.
Hanbin wasn't completely rotten by nature and was fairly diligent.
He tactfully did chores like cleaning and housework.
He borrowed the kitchen to cook, and Isolde ate the food Hanbin made with great satisfaction.
Perhaps that earned him points?
'I don't know how it is on Earth, but here you need to have strength.'
'You seem to have aptitude, why don't you try holding a sword?'
'Your circuits aren't suitable for alchemy. But having knowledge won't hurt.'
Isolde personally taught Hanbin until his talent as a Knight blossomed.
When Hanbin showed interest, she also taught him the basics of alchemy.
As she had said, Hanbin's circuits at the time had a structure unsuited for alchemy, so despite having an excellent teacher, he didn't achieve notable results.
Looking back, those were carefree days.
His entire routine consisted of attending lessons, training, eating together, and sleeping.
Peaceful, or perhaps leisurely.
From the perspective of a modern person who could lie in bed watching turtle mating shorts, the days were boring enough to make him yawn.
Still, he had no major complaints.
The Spirit Demon Realm where her cabin was located was truly a beautiful place.
Safety issues weren't a problem as long as Isolde was there.
Picking up a book from the library and turning pages on a sun-drenched terrace even made him feel like he was at a fine resort.
But above all, the reason this time was precious was because the time spent with her was enjoyable.
'You want to do what again? Do we really have to do something......'
'What's wrong with it? It's fun.'
'Hanbin is bothersome.'
'You enjoy it once we actually do it though.'
On days when warm spring breezes blew, they'd go fishing in the pond, dragging along Isolde who'd slept in late with disheveled hair.
Lying sprawled on the grass, looking up at the midsummer night sky, learning the constellations of this other world.
Harvesting autumn's ripe red apples to make a year's worth of apple jam like kimchi-making.
On days when heavy snow piled gently on the windowsills, they'd curl up in a blanket before the fireplace, feeling each other's breath.
Living together and watching her, Isolde wasn't the angel-like person of first impressions.
The more he knew her, the more he couldn't figure out what she was thinking or what kind of mindset she had.
Eccentric, sometimes impossible to read, at times frighteningly cold...
'Master, do you know what day it is today?'
'May 15th.'
'That's right. In my hometown, they call it Teacher's Day. Here's a gift.'
'Put it in that drawer. I'll check it later.'
'......'
Hanbin liked that Isolde.
Even if she was different from others.
Even if she was someone with somehow deficient sensibilities.
She was a precious connection to Hanbin.
'Hanbin.'
'Yes.'
'The necklace gift. Thank you so much.'
He could also feel that Isolde regarded Hanbin very specially.
And so time flowed endlessly.
Parting came suddenly one day without any warning.
'Something came up. We can't live together anymore.'
'May I ask why?'
'No.'
'I somehow thought you'd answer that way.'
'Pack your things. I've prepared a bag.'
Isolde saw Hanbin off sitting at her desk as usual, without turning around.
'Take care. My little one.'
He met her again years after that.
It was when Hanbin, having left the Secret Burial Unit, participated in the Great Subjugation.
***
Isolde, who had suddenly appeared, proposed participating in this Red Moon.
He naturally refused.
Though he missed his old comrades, 'Jurgen' had tasks to solve.
When the proposal was rejected, Isolde readily backed down.
Whether she was truly convinced by this.
Whether the proposal was just a pretext and she actually just wanted to meet Hanbin after a long time.
Or whether there was some other reason he couldn't guess.
"I don't know."
Hanbin leaned back against the sofa, feeling a headache.
Below his puffy eyelids, memories of the past flowed back.
'I'm okay.'
'Instead......'
'Even if everyone forgets me. You remember me, Captain.'
Vic, who had pleaded with a bright smile.
'Why are you angry?'
'Everything was for Hanbin.'
'This way I can protect you.'
Isolde, who had muttered while clutching at her collar like a child being scolded, before Hanbin who had raged like fire.
He had thought the memories had faded with time.
He had thought even the fragments of emotion would have dulled at the edges by now, yet they rang so vividly in his ears and pierced his heart.
Hanbin ultimately couldn't forgive Isolde.
But he couldn't hate her forever either.
So he postponed it indefinitely.
But the knots of connection are so complex that even when put away, they appear before your eyes again someday.
Just as before, tangled tight.
—Clunk
The document case opened slightly and a few tentacles crawled out.
[Hanbin][Sad?]
Through the gap, gentle eyes looked up at Hanbin as if peeking.
Before he could say anything.
Several tentacles stroked the back of his hand as if comforting him.
[It's okay][Vic][Happy]
He felt no temperature from the tentacles. Yet they were warm.
After stroking the back of his hand for a while, Vic, seeing Jurgen's lips soften, wrote as if it'd been waiting.
[Vic][Comfort][Praise]
"Mm?"
[Candy]
And it wiggled its curled tentacle tip as if demanding tribute.
At the comical sight, Jurgen finally laughed.
"How many do you want to eat?"
[100!]
"Here, here you go."
[!!!!!!!!]
Vic's tentacles danced gleefully at the generous candy donation.
***
Penelope returned to The Richfield Hotel after her squabble with Jurgen.
But being upset didn't mean she'd thrown aside her work.
Penelope had decided to participate in the subjugation during this Red Moon.
The Red Moon was both an event involving some danger and an opportunity to achieve merit.
If Penelope, the co-representative of Y&P, earned achievements, Y&P would benefit directly or indirectly.
However, the subjugation forces would be deployed throughout the Labyrinth Demon Realm.
Opportunities to build notable achievements among them were limited, and such positions naturally attracted fierce competition.
She needed to secure a good position first.
And fortunately, five of the Six Heroes were staying at this hotel.
Sword Saint Kaylus.
Beast Empress Ravina.
Witch Isolde.
Star Saint Stella.
Iron Mountain Brok.
Heroes of the Great Subjugation who wielded great influence not only in personal martial prowess but in various fields and regions.
As the hotel owner, Penelope had opportunities to build connections under the guise of coincidence.
She'd try talking first, and if that didn't work, she was even considering solicitation with bribes.
It might seem a bit underhanded, but she had to use whatever she could.
And now, facing such an important moment.
What filled Penelope's head were deflating memories.
The argument with Jurgen this morning.
"Haah......"
Looking back, it was the first time they'd raised their voices and fought since becoming business partners.
Strictly speaking, rather than fighting, Penelope had unilaterally thrown a sudden tantrum and left......
Just as a driver gets flustered when a car suddenly accelerates on its own.
"......"
Penelope too was flustered by this situation.
First, let's examine the line that triggered all this discord.
'Miss Serena is also a partner, isn't she?'
It's true that Serena is also a partner.
And Jurgen doesn't necessarily have to share all his secrets with Penelope.
There's really no reason to throw a fit over that part, if she thinks about it calmly.
However, she clearly remembers feeling impatient.
But if you ask 'impatient about what?', the answer becomes vague again.
It was an irrational emotion in many ways.
"My head hurts......"
Penelope leaned forward onto the table like a stretching cat.
Come to think of it, it was the first fight since they became business partners.
"Well, whatever."
Anyway, Jurgen was wrong first.
'Partner' isn't a word that should be thrown around so casually.
"He's not even coming to make up first. So very, very vexing."
Just as Penelope was grumbling with an indescribable displeasure she couldn't explain to others.
Clunk.
She heard the sound of the suite door opening.
"Huh?"
This was strange.
This was the exclusive Royal Suite that Penelope used instead of a home.
Even if there were a guest, Manager Ritz or another employee would have contacted her by intercom.
"Jurgen? Is that you? Or Serena?"
No answer came.
The darkness stretching beyond the mood lighting felt suddenly thick.
Penelope reached for her Palette and grasped her alchemy catalyst.
She thought it might be overkill, but she'd been on guard ever since being attacked by the Undertaker.
Even if the suite door opened, to reach this study one would have to pass through the living room and one bedroom.
Penelope held her breath and half-crawled to position herself with the wall as cover.
"If you don't answer within three, I'll consider you an uninvited guest with ill intent."
Still no answer.
Then it definitely wasn't Jurgen or Serena.
"One, two......"
"Hello."
"Kyaaaaaaah!!!!"
Right at that moment when Penelope was at peak tension.
Someone poked her shoulder from the side, making Penelope's heart nearly fall out in shock.
Without thinking, she fired a 'Heat Ray' loaded in her circuits toward that direction.
But.
Wuuuung.
The magic that should have shot straight dissipated as if doused with cold water.
Magic that had already completed loading was nullified.
"Did I startle you? Sorry."
Startled?
Of course she was startled.
Startled because someone suddenly poked her shoulder from behind.
Startled that magic could be blocked this way.
But most of all......
Startled that the person who pulled this prank-like-not-prank was the Witch of the Western Border, Isolde Blackwood.
No matter if she's one of the Six Heroes or the Witch of the Western Border, who visits someone like this!
Why poke the shoulder, why! I nearly had a heart attack!
She almost said, but.
Perhaps thanks to her experience navigating the treacherous social circles.
"Hello, Miss Blackwood, what brings you here? Was there something uncomfortable during your stay?"
Penelope's response was professionalism itself.
She responded with a calm that surprised even herself, wearing a businessperson's smile.
And for good reason......
She was among the VIPs staying at the hotel this time, one Penelope had been especially keeping an eye on.
After all, wasn't she also an Alchemist?
There was personal respect, but people in the same field naturally have much to talk about.
She had been a person of interest to target when attempting to build connections with the Six Heroes.
Since she'd come first, she had to make the most of this opportunity.
"Can we talk for a bit?"
"Of course."
"And don't call me Blackwood, call me Isolde. I don't like my surname."
First, Penelope went to get some cola.