"This camera is really that expensive..."
It's worth as much as three months of my salary. Even though it's mine now, my hand trembled as I forced myself to steady it, afraid I'd drop it.
"Still, this is insane."
I've always been clueless about cameras—then and now—but I can tell this one delivers killer performance.
"Originium engineering really is top-tier."
It's a rechargeable digital camera, yet its Originium battery can run it for nearly a year. No wonder it costs so much. And the image quality is superb.
"Good. Now then..."
"Buying something else?"
"Yeah. A whetstone."
"...? For what?"
"Why, to get a whetstone."
A sword isn't like in the comics where you slash around and sheath it, done. After cutting for a while, the blade dulls. Blood residue can cause corrosion.
"Hand it over! I'm amazing at this, you know?"
"You're right. You sharpened it perfectly!"
"Ahem! Basic stuff—here!"
Don Quixote was the best at sharpening among us, but since I'm the only one caring for my blade now, tools like a whetstone or dust blower are absolute essentials.
"It's weird... it doesn't really fit Christmas, does it?"
"What do you mean? Santa isn't handing out whetstones, is he? What choice do I have but to buy one?"
"That's true. But isn't whetstone shopping here in Dragon Gate a bit much?"
"Why? Is it odd?"
"Why are you speaking so strangely?"
"Strange words are strange, what can I do?"
Achoo!Sniff...
"Are you catching a real cold?"
"Hmm... no fever, but you're right. Should I suspect plague?"
"If a neglected cold goes untreated, it can lead to pulmonary tuberculosis..."
"Ahem. I'll warm some water."
"Oh, I think there's ginger left. One moment?"
"By the way, I never expected Baekhyun to stay in Dragon Gate..."
"He chose it himself. He won't return until two years from now."
"Ah... that's right. Kids these days grow up so fast—before you know it, they leave their parents and fly off, only coming back sometimes, right?"
'Kids...? He's no kid, is he?'
"I'm sure it's a decision that will benefit him. Trust and wait."
"Well, I suppose. He's perceptive; sending him out on his own might've been a good choice."
"He may be clever, but can he handle his temper...?"
"Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he came crawling back in a week, admitting he can't handle it!"
"Don Sahaeng, seriously... won't last two weeks, right? Here, your ginger tea. It'll warm you up."
"Thanks. It's nice and warm."
Achoo! "Ugh, it's cold—what is this... a cold...?"
Suddenly I feel like someone's talking about me? It's driving me nuts.
"Are you cold?"
"Aren't you cold? It's midwinter."
Chen and I are bundled up in thick clothes, but even they can't block the bone-chilling wind between these buildings. Yet Talulah, dressed as if it's autumn, asks casually.
"I'm wearing [Arts]."
Does she know how much that single line terrifies most casters?
Casters are already far fewer than other mercenaries, and half are Sarkaz with extraordinary Originium affinity.
Even in such small numbers, their treatment in the mercenary world is on another level. One capable caster is worth ten infantrymen.
Caster attacks introduce countless battlefield variables. High-power Arts can fight a hundred foes; healing Arts are always in demand; wind Arts are rare, and if you master them, you command exorbitant fees.
But their numbers are low because only those born with talent or the Infected can use Arts, and mastering them is tremendously difficult.
[Arts] are unquestionably a user's power, but they're not bound to your body like muscles—they're invisible, intangible organs. Wielding that unseen force isn't easy. It's like grasping a single thread in a raging torrent.
My Mountain Spirit helped me grasp it, so I have decent talent. Favorable Wind, Cloud Crossing, Four Rings, and Sword Wheel all channel wind, one of the most complex elements.
But the Arts Talulah wields before me now are flame-based. Simple as they are, in terms of destructive power, they're the most accessible.
She controls that in a crowded street so no one is harmed, while keeping herself warm—and shows no sign of strain.
My Favorable Wind or Cloud Crossing might look easy, but they drain mental stamina. Yet she manipulates something even more precise effortlessly.
'No wonder Koschei would covet her as a state-level caster.'
In ten years, she'll be a walking natural disaster, melting buildings with her thermal updraft alone.
'I just wish someone could stop that before it happens.'
Honestly, I never intended to actively alter the story. If there's a war in Kazdel now, there's nothing I can do, and I barely know the narrative. I only research when I'm curious.
As a swordsman, and out of gratitude to Moejang for taking me in... or maybe just because I want to, I intend to support the Sword Sect's resolve to set things right.
"Hey. What are you thinking so hard about?"
"...Sorry. I was just wondering what expression Uncle would make if I bought a whetstone again."
"Uncle?"
"Your uncle."
I know it's rude to call the head of Dragon Gate 'Uncle,' but it's already stuck in my mouth.
"It's crazy how many people are here..."
"It's Christmas. In Laterano, it's almost a national holiday. So this is nothing."
As Chen said, in Laterano Christmas is a state event. It must be more spectacular there, but to a country bumpkin like me, even this looks amazing.
'What bumpkin? Shut up, you fool! Danguk's capital isn't some village.'
Why does it suddenly appear to make me curious and then vanish? And it wouldn't show up when I asked—now it lives rent-free in my head?
'Hey! How old do you think I am, you skinny brat!'
'Ugh.'
'........'
'Hey, are you sulking? Hey? Hey...? Hey?!'
It never answered after that, so I dropped it and chose instead:
"Mandu, please."
"...Dumplings?"
"They're a winter snack. You should have some. Anyway, it's not on my card."
And thus began the winter snack tasting expedition.
"Ha...ha... it's good, right?"
"Yeah. Chen, take your time eating."
"Yeah. Sorry for worrying you?"
Aside from Sinclair, this is the first time I've hung out with someone my age. Well, except that mission with Sua and... who was the other? Seongcheol? That felt more like an entanglement than hanging out.
'I didn't expect Chen to be my age.'
Now I can't make my '37' joke. Wait, I can: Swaye is 27, so even if Chen lives to 37... never mind.
Talulah is two years older than us, and I heard her dream is to join the Royal Guard someday and make Dragon Gate just. Knowing her fixed future makes me uneasy.
"So when are you leaving?"
"Hmm... I heard it'll be around this time next year."
This time next year... if Talulah leaves Dragon Gate, a clash with Koschei might come within a year.
"...I need to prepare."
"..? Yeah. You have to if you're going to protect a place like this."
"But it's amazing! You're already in the Violent Crimes Unit! And we're the same age..."
"It's only a two-year contract. Just that."
"If your uncle recognized you at that age, you must be strong... any secret to getting stronger?"
"Secret? Hmm... oh, push-up rations. I'll go grab them~"
"W-wait! You're so impulsive..."
'Think. Secret?'
I could never teach Talulah [Arts]; I'd be the one learning from her. And physically, unless boosted by the Mountain Spirit, I don't measure up. Half Draconic Sarkaz—Draconic! One of the most durable races on Terra!
'He can't teach two-handed swordsmanship either; he uses his homeland's style.'
I'm hardly in a position to teach others anything.
"I'm back. Want some?"
"Thanks, I'll take some."
Ha...ha...
She really quiets down when eating. Thank goodness. Now, the secret... the secret... ah! That's it!
"No, I guess there really is none..."
"Push-ups, a hundred; squats, a hundred; sit-ups, a hundred; a ten-kilometer run."
"...Huh?"
"At least, I did that every day."
No joke. Before that bald hero's regimen, I ran myself ragged in training and cycled through that torture while practicing swordsmanship because I was so weak.
"And you call that a secret..."
"Hmm... got it."
"Talulah?"
"Did you do it consistently?"
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"Yeah. Every single day. Oh, and I never skipped breakfast."
Starting the day with bananas would be nice, but we can't always afford bananas. When you're on the run, what's a banana compared to rent?
'Next time I should look for fruits like bananas here.'
"Oh. You said I'd be next-door?"
"Right. Your uncle said so, too."
"Is that building far from here? I'd like to check it out first and get the lay of the land."
"It's not too far. We could go and come back. How about it, Chen?"
"I'm game."
"Great... Excuse me, are those dried persimmons?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Want a whole box?"
"No. Give me all you've got."
That moment became the single biggest charge on Wei Yenwu's card so far.