Etranger - Chapter 121

“That is assuming the worst-case scenario. However, I think it’s unlikely that events will turn out that way. Anyway… they certainly ‘smell’ similar to the Creator. Maybe you’re the most sensitive…” Nakun said before he was cut off.

“Possibly? To me, it sounds like you want the sages to come out. Am I wrong?” she replied.

“If we take on either one of them separately, the overall damage can be greatly reduced. Wouldn’t that be fair for both of us?”

The woman stared at Nakun’s face then closed her eyes and bowed her head down in thought. She was immersed in calculating the benefit versus the risk. The King of Sages, Nakun, glanced at her briefly before turning his gaze outward.

Summer had arrived. The trees had grown lush and green.

Nakun, who was considered one of the strongest sages, along with Senun, also closed his eyes while burying himself deeper in his chair. Contrary to the opinions of the other sages, Nakun felt that the woman in front of him was truly terrifying. Among the resurrected Original Beings, this woman was the most mysterious and gentle. However, no one truly knew the depths of her abilities and skills. However, Nakun’s instincts were telling him that the delicate and pretty woman in front of him was far more difficult to deal with than any vicious or terrifying sage.

‘I believe people called her ‘Satan’… one of the first humans created by the Creator…’

***

“Everyone has gathered, so let’s talk now,” San said with a visibly irritated look on his face. He had his hands behind his back and walked slowly forward while scanning the people’s faces. Every time someone met his eyes, they shuddered.

It was evening now. They were in a luxurious inn located on the outskirts of the city of Kurant. After joining an unexpected battle, the Essen crew moved half a day before deciding to rest for the day in this inn. Since high-ranking aristocrats (Rain and Gun were apparently known to the party as the nobles of the Grand Duke) and martial royalty (Absolute Clansmen) had descended upon his small city, the mayor of Kurant took care of their lodgings.

San and Biyeon decided to take this opportunity to rest a few days in Kurant. The Essen crew members were unpacking their gear and preparing for dinner. Since it was getting dark, they had to hurry and buy what they could and spend the rest of the day maintaining their gear.

In the midst of their busy schedule, San sent a crewmember to round up everyone for an all-hands meeting in the front yard of the inn. Most of the people were dissatisfied with his sudden, coercive decision, but they gathered together nonetheless to observe what their two Captains planned to say.

***

The city of Kurant was a border city that connected the northern mountainous regions to the central fertile plains of the kingdom. The city was also on the border between two nations, the emerging militaristic nation in the west called the Pibuno Monarchy and the traditional powerhouse of the east, the Poran Kingdom.

If one followed this border between the monarchy and kingdom southward, one would come across a large basin area, which acted as a buffer zone between the two nations, and also find the home of the ‘Empire of Mercenaries’, the Ki-Jang Clan.

***

30 some-odd eyes were paying close attention to San. They were literally staring at his mouth, awaiting his words. Some were standing or leaning against something while others were seated. They all wondered why he had called this sudden meeting.

There were 14 crew members from Count Essen’s estate, 2 members each from the Dong-Myung and Ki-Jang Clan, 4 members from the Imperial Family, including their combat escorts, and upper-ranking warriors and merchants who joined during the trip.

The atmosphere became tense and tenuous as they waited for San, who seemed to be angry, to speak. The 14 Essen crew members had already taken five steps to their right. San looked at the remaining crowd on the left. They were all nobles.

“I need to make something clear before saying anything further. Let me ask you all a question.”

“…?”

“Our Essen crew’s destination is Prigojin, the capital of the Damun Empire. Where is your destination? Why are you following us? Is there a reason why we should stay at this inn? We came here because you told us to come, but I’m feeling very unpleasant…?”

Everyone opened their eyes wide at his unexpected questions.

“We’ll be heading to Prigojin. We want to accompany you. Wouldn’t it be beneficial if we travel together?” an energetic voice rang out.

While the others were dumbstruck with San’s sudden question, one person immediately responded once San asked. Everyone’s eyes turned to him. It was Gibin. Giyoung vigorously nodded her head beside him.

“We also need to go to Prigojin. I respectfully ask of you to allow us to travel together,” Dongyoung and Dongha said immediately afterward, not wanting to lose out to the Ki-Jang clansmen.

“What about you?” San asked as his gaze turned towards the imperial family members, Rain and Gun, and Gun’s two guards, Seyum and Segyum.

“I…” Gun started to stutter.

“We are also going to Prigojin. Wouldn’t it be nice to go together? We won’t be a burden,” Seyum said as he cut Gun off.

“I never asked for any of you to accompany us, so you’re already a burden. Is it the same response for you guys over there?” San said curtly replying to Seyum’s response and focusing his attention over to the merchant, Dobel.

“The destination we need to go to deliver our products is Prigojin. I’ve lost eight escort guards, so I hope to travel with you and gain protection. Of course, I will pay,” Dobel, the top manager, stated politely.

“That’s… interesting. We met by chance, but all of our destinations are the same. How am I supposed to interpret this coincidence?” San said as he turned to Biyeon.

“Every one of them must have a sob story that would make a seagull cry. By the way, they’ll have to pay for their meals through work, but I’m not sure if they’re capable of doing any work,” Biyeon said blatantly without even glancing at the gathered crowd. The people who responded just a moment ago flinched.

Somehow, the presence and aura that the woman was giving off were scarier than the man’s. They could all feel a cool, numbing feeling passing down their backs.

San turned to the others and stated, “If your thoughts are all so, I won’t be against traveling together. Well… it’s not like I can really stop you if you’re following on your own two feet. However, as we experienced during the day, we may not know what will happen on our way to Prigojin. Also, my responsibility is to keep the Essen crew as safe as possible. I do not want unnecessary annoyance. I want to have a pleasant trip, so I need you all to make some promises before we settle this issue.”

“W-What do we have to promise?” Dobel asked while stuttering. His primal merchant instinct made him speak up even though the atmosphere was suffocating.

“If you are dissatisfied with what I require, you don’t have to go the same way as us. It will be up to you whether to accompany us or not. What do you think? Isn’t it fair? Also, if you disagree, please keep at least a two-hour distance away from us. If not, I will regard you as an unfriendly group. Here, unfriendly includes the meaning of being hostile. Now… would you all like to listen to the content of my request?”

“We will listen.”

“First, we promote an atmosphere where everyone respects each other. In particular, we do not tolerate playing and eating while relying on one’s social identity and status. Furthermore, if my crew is treated unfairly, like servants or slaves, I will do the same to you. I will not sit back and watch you order around my crew while you leisurely walk behind them, as you did just a moment ago, with your hands behind your backs. Anyone who is dissatisfied with this request can leave!” Once he finished his request, San took a moment to look at everyone in the eye. No one moved. It seemed like they had all turned into stone statues.

“Second, I don’t care what you usually do, but I won’t tolerate non-participation during emergencies. In particular, I will never forgive the act of leaving your compatriot hanging on the battlefield or not participating when a countermeasure is needed. I have a dirty temper, so I detest people who fall back and run away. You will be beaten into submission or face death. How are these conditions? Would you like to travel with us? If you don’t agree with these terms, leave.”

“…”

“Thirdly, all schedules and plans must be thoroughly aligned with our Essen objectives and properly assessed by our Essen crew. Of course, consultations are always possible, and any plans going forward will reflect all opinions and come to a reasonable decision. If you are dissatisfied, I will not stop you from parting ways with us in the middle of our travels… as long as you keep a distance of two hours away… How about it?”

“…”

“Fourth, I and my crew will work to protect your life and property in every feasible way possible. As long as we are together, we will treat you like brothers or sisters, and we will take care of you with the same importance that we would put in defending ourselves. You should do the same for us. Will you do this? Do you agree?”

There was no response.

“Finally, in whatever case, you have to take a vow not to persecute or harm us with resentment for what happens on our way to Prigojin. Please make this pledge with a guarantee based on your honor. In simple terms, you will make a promise not to strike someone in the back. I will promise, too. I will never be hostile towards you for whatever happens on this trip. However, you will certainly pay the price if you violate this pledge. What say you all? Will you do it?”

There was no objection. No one decided to withdraw. They were all people with a clear purpose. However, their minds would probably never be at ease.

Perhaps, they’d need to change all the attitudes and habits they had enjoyed as nobles or people of a certain social stature. They’d have to relearn, and quickly. Some may have equated San’s requests with the difficult time they spent as trainees in their respective clans. However, they all felt a sense of discomfort at the prospect of being considered ‘equals’ with unfamiliar people who were from unknown classes…

San made everyone sign a document. Throughout the process, San’s appearance was serious and solemn. His mood commanded respect. It could be said that he was completely free from suspicion as everyone acknowledged his words and recognized that he would do as he said.

The gathered people made their vows with solemn and firm expressions as if they were entering a war. Originally, a pledge was such a thing. Regardless of the format, it transformed informal person-to-person relationships into “official relationships”. There was no such thing as a light pledge. There may be some insignificant beings who broke their promises with light hearts, but San was definitely not this type of person.

[It seems like everything’s been settled, but did you have to be so hard on them?]

[No. This time around, there are three Awakened Warriors joining our ranks. In one way, they’d be considered generals or esteemed nobles in any other scenario. The same goes for those kids in the Absolute Clans. Looking at the large discrepancy in combat strength between them and our crew members and their willingness to accept our conditions, I think they see how much they have to gain through this transaction. I actually feel like they’re willing to do anything to obtain something from us. If we don’t set the rules and conditions from the beginning, our organization may crumble like a house of cards. To watch something that we’re in charge of just crumble like that… we can’t let that happen, right?]

[I guess we’ll have to encourage and motivate our crew.]

[Those friends? Do they need more motivation? Their livers are already swollen enough, so I don’t think we’ll have to do anything.]

[They are different people from us. We need time to adapt to each other.]

[Adapt?]

Biyeon smiled and waved her hand. She turned and walked away cheerfully. She hummed as she started waving her hand, calling the crew to come over.

“We’re going to have a party tonight. I need you all to prepare some fragrant liquor and make a big bonfire. Also, let’s grill that meat we’ve been saving up. I want the musicians to prepare their instruments. I’ll make that blunt Captain San sing! We’ll also make our new colleagues sing to get to know their names! Let’s break the ice!”

“Ice… Soju cocktail…” San muttered under his breath. He smacked his lips just thinking about the drinks he had on Earth… “Wait, what song am I supposed to sing this time?”