Damned System

Chapter 48. Interaction (2)

‘So damn fast.’

The speed of Rashar’s party was really something I had to grit my teeth to keep up with.

It was clear they were going slower just to accommodate me.

As a result, whenever we halted our movement, I was always left utterly exhausted.

‘To think my legs would tremble like this.’

Sprawled out and trying to catch my breath for a moment, Rashar approached me hesitantly.

I understood the signal and purchased bread and water from the shop.

Given the possibility of monsters appearing from nowhere, we couldn’t afford to light a fire.

So, the party was making do with the bread and water I bought from the shop as meals.

“…… Thank you.”

I chuckled at the sight of Rashar, whose ears had turned red.

“If I hear it one more time, it’ll make a hundred.”

It wasn’t empty words—her gratitude was indeed excessive. My ears got tired of hearing it.

Moreover, the schedule was delayed because they had to match my pace.

“If you’re really grateful, let’s ensure a safe journey to the temple.”

“Journey……? Hmm, rest assured, I’ll guarantee your safety to the outpost.”

I dismissed her words with a wave and began eating my share of the bread.

“If you need more, just say so. I can supply as much bread and water as you need.”

“This is more than enough.”

After handing out the bread and water to the others, Rashar returned to my side.

Even though I gained some favor for sparing their mana, the gaze they directed at me still felt oddly burdensome.

So, having Rashar sticking close by was preferable.

At least then, they wouldn’t hesitate or cautiously gauge my mood before trying to talk to me.

While quietly eating in the forest darkened by nightfall, Rashar broke the silence first.

“You said this is your first time here, right?”

Swallowing the bread in my mouth, I nodded and replied, “Yeah, I don’t even know what’s where.”

And isn’t that why I asked you to lead me to the temple?

Adding a word triggered the continuation of Rashar’s speech after a short pause.

“Then, may I ask where your hometown is?”

Instead of answering immediately, I stared at Rashar for a moment.

There was something peculiar about the question she just posed.

‘It’s not particularly strange, but…’

It’s a question anyone meeting for the first time might ask.

Checking someone’s hometown or origin is a basic part of getting to know someone, right?

And yet, I felt unease.

‘They think of me as an Outsider.’

It meant someone not belonging to this place, an outsider.

In such a context, if she’s curious about my hometown, shouldn’t she ask ‘what kind of place’ it is?

But Rashar asked ‘where’ it is.

‘Isn’t she too focused on location?’

Isn’t it strange to measure distance while talking about an Outsider?

I couldn’t help but feel uneasy about it, even if I might be overreacting.

If this unease was indeed an illusion, it wouldn’t matter, but if it were real…?

I leaned back against a rock, folding my arms.

‘Caution…is she suspicious?’

It was quite displeasing. After all, I had saved their lives, yet they’re suspicious?

But, at the same time, it was understandable.

‘Someone miraculously appearing to save lives at a critical moment is not really realistic.’

But the timing doesn’t make sense. Why now, instead of when we first met?

Staring at Rashar with complex feelings, I noted that she didn’t shy away from my gaze either.

“Is it difficult to answer?”

“Dunno……”

My one word and gentle urging turned his vague suspicions into certainty.

Her visibly tense face confirmed it wasn’t my imagination.

She was indeed suspicious of me. Assured of this, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

‘At least it’s clear she’s not good at politics.’

She can’t even hide the fact she’s suspicious of me at all.

Her words, coupled with her expressions, revealed so much.

‘Well, being unable to hide one’s thoughts is better than those who guard them jealously.’

I took a moment to organize my thoughts before answering.

The title of the hidden mission I was currently undertaking was the ‘Main Scenario’.

It’s a term that usually denotes storyline progression spanning the larger universe of a game.

This would be vastly different from previous missions involving eliminating monsters in locations denoted by numbers.

Thus, forming alliances on this side wouldn’t hurt.

It’s better to dispel unnecessary suspicions early on and foster friendships.

“Hey.”

“Hmm?”

“I didn’t come after your group but followed a trail.”

“A trail…?”

“There were traces of people where I found this shield in the swamp.”

I tapped the shield with my fingers before pulling out a bag from my inventory.

My tone was relatively indifferent as I continued speaking.

Although I felt annoyed, I wasn’t upset enough to be angry.

‘Frankly speaking, I would’ve been suspicious too.’

Coincidence and fate? Those are things reserved for tales and stories.

Had I been in Rashar’s position, I would’ve been more persistent in my distrust.

So, instead of getting mad, I began showcasing the bag as I explained and defended myself.

The loot I gathered served as excellent evidence.

After a not-so-brief recount, I emphasized clearly.

“If you really think about it, it’s not that I followed you. It’s that you appeared where I was.”

So don’t try to test me. Rashar cleared her throat and averted her gaze.

‘It seems she gets the message.’

Satisfied with shutting her up, I was about to pack the bag again.

But then, seeing the swollen hand that remained fresh in the timeless inventory made me hesitate.

Pieces of corpses collected from the swamp.

I had taken it to verify whether it was a human hand, but since I’ve met living humans, there’s no need to thoroughly examine it anymore, right?

‘Nope.’

Instead of placing the decaying hand back into the bag, I tossed it far away.

Along with the skull that came up when the connection was retrieved.

“Ha.”

No matter how hard I tried to ignore it, knowing an expired hand rotted in my bag wasn’t pleasant.

Clearing it out felt refreshing.

Still, just because my mind felt lighter didn’t mean my body had to become uncomfortable.

I added a word to Rashar, who still eyed the things I tossed.

“Don’t get any strange ideas. I just don’t need them now that I’ve met people.”

Explaining that I originally intended to check them in my world made Rashar’s face blush.

“Ahem, I, I didn’t misunderstand.”

“Sure, you didn’t.”

Responding indifferently, my mind was still busy.

Rashar didn’t seem like a bad person, but she defiantly started being wary of me.

‘Why all of a sudden? Did I mess up somewhere?’

I reviewed the past few days.

Wondering if I made any mistakes, or if there had been any peculiar reactions from the people around me.

Meanwhile, my hands were busy working.

Having discarded the dubious possessions, I intended to pack the bag again.

“Anyway.”

“Hmm?”

Clearing her throat, Rashar picked up a piece of paper laid on the ground, one of the spoils retrieved from an emaciated corpse.

“Looks like you’ve followed the trail of some investigators.”

“Investigators?”

Suddenly, why is she like this? Just a moment ago, she was wary, now she’s explaining voluntarily.

Why is she back and forth like that?

‘Well, there’s no need to refuse.’

I leaned over to look at the paper in her hand.

「Sevarma Canyon, assembles Messeo 13 estimated, contamination severe.」

「Additional investigation impossible. Retreat decision on April 22」

They were unfamiliar letters but I understood the meaning.

‘Come to think of it… the title of these earrings included both Interpreter and Translation, didn’t it?’

As soon as I recalled the name of the earring, Rashar’s finger slipped into view.

“They are called investigators; they observe corrupted areas and record the number and distribution of enemies.”

It seemed like they were acting as reconnaissance.

They were in a high-risk role, required to traverse enemy territory.

Thus, a mage capable of conjuring barriers was mandatory to include.

“Here, can you see?”

Immediately, Rashar pointed to the bottom of the paper.

A bird with wings spread was stamped there.

“It’s the ancient Ferrell royal symbol and the current official emblem of the Ferrell Resistance.”

Next, she gestured to the hilt of the sword on her waist.

“Ah.”

The same bird shape was engraved at the end of the hilt as on the paper.

“As these records belong to the resistance’s investigators, I hope you’ll allow me to retrieve them.”

“…… It’s more significant to you than to me, I wouldn’t forcefully take it. Oh, but the weapons aren’t up for grabs.”

Aside from the two hanging at her waist, they were falling apart, but I wanted to check in the shop window.

“Retrieving the records is sufficient. However, the owner of this record…….”

“They were corpses when I found them.”

After explaining the six dried-up corpses, Rashar clicked her tongue.

“A parasitic colony must have appeared nearby.”

“Parasite?”

“They drink up blood and all bodily fluids.”

The main body burrows in an inconspicuous place, remaining still, whereas worm-like replicas suck up the bodily fluids from beings, delivering them to the main body.

Hence, unless the main body is killed, the replicas continue to multiply.

“Once a parasitic colony forms, burning the area is the only way. Hence, they’re sensitive to flame-based mana.”

Rashar sighed deeply, and I mulled over the words she’d chosen.

‘Flame-based mana? Not flame-based magic?’

There seemed to be a reason the translation opted for different words.

While I pondered whether to ask or not, Rashar tucked the paper away and spoke again.

“Probably the flame magic unleashed by the pursuit group caused the replicas to hide. If it weren’t for that, we would’ve been doomed overnight. Just like the investigators who left this record.”

Again, a strange word lodged itself in my mind.

‘Pursuit group…’

Two flashes from above, abruptly descending groups.

Perhaps the first flash pertained to Rashar’s party and the second to the pursuit group.

I recalled the past I saw through authority regarding Rashar.

“I have something to ask you too.”

“What is it?”

“The past I glimpsed through authority.”

I involuntarily swallowed dryly.

“Who were you trying to rescue?”

Instead of answering immediately, Rashar paused briefly, seeming to select her words carefully.

I chose to wait, not rushing her.

‘Wonder if she’ll answer.’

Up until yesterday, she had been diligent in explaining anything I asked.

Consequently, I gradually learned the common knowledge of this world.

There’re seven gods and their names, as well as their powers.

In the past few days, Rashar was quite kind to me.

But now, for some reason, she was cautious.

Before speaking, she pondered whether it was something she could share or not.

Fortunately, Rashar eventually answered after a lengthy silence.

“Those oppressed at the farm.”

“Farm……?”

“A food farm.”

No long explanation was required.

Adding the word “human” before food farm alone clarified everything.

It implied that just as there are farms for pigs being raised for slaughter, there existed farms for humans.

This meant human beings were considered livestock in this world.

Likely under the reign of those many monsters I had seen. My gut twisted.

Still, feeling uncomfortable didn’t justify halting information gathering.

I was about to inquire about mana.

But before I could open my mouth, two pieces of news arrived simultaneously.

“Sir Bennett, Ahel has awakened!”

「A chat message from codename Kj has arrived.」

Rashar hastily ran to Ahel, and I watched her retreating figure before opening the chat window.

– Kj: Just a moment ago, Squad Leader Yang muttered hyung’s name and took Namkyu away~

‘Namkyu?’

It wasn’t the first time Kim Yul had messaged me.

When I had cleared a Level 4 mission unofficially and even before meeting Rashar’s group, he had reached out.

He told me my codename was being mentioned within the NIS.

‘Though he couldn’t eavesdrop on the details, something about Korea and overseas was mentioned…….’

It was clear something related to me had transpired.

And in that context, Yang Jochul, the squad leader, taking Namkyu alluded to news meant for me, right?

‘I’ll find out soon.’

Unsurprisingly, about twenty minutes later, a name both familiar and foreign appeared in the message window.

Damned System