Settling One's Karma
By the time evening arrived, the gates in the wall were already closed. For that reason, Woojin and his group spent the night camping outside.
The sun rose again.
Woojin picked up his travel bag. It meant the time had come to part ways with Rogar.
"I'll take my leave now," Rogar said.
His role had been to transport Woojin and his companions to the Wall City. Now that the task was finished, he needed to return to the Nol territory.
Woojin expressed his gratitude for the effort.
"You've worked hard. See you next time."
"Yes. Call for me anytime."
Rogar bowed politely, then climbed onto the neck of the war rhinoceros.
The Nol warrior departed toward the north.
Woojin watched his back for a moment… then turned his head south, as if remembering something he had forgotten, toward the great wall.
"Shall we go into the city?"
"Sure."
They began walking.
As they approached the gate, they noticed people already waiting in line. Those people had arrived before Woojin and seemed to have camped right beside the gate.
After waiting comfortably for a while…
The line wasn't long, so it was soon Woojin's turn. The guards approached, gave a slight nod, and briefly checked his bag and belongings.
Then one guard's gaze stopped on Coco.
The silver squirrel tilted its head. Its black bead-like eyes stared directly at the guard.
The guard gestured toward the squirrel.
"Isn't this… a magic beast? It seems a bit large for a squirrel."
Coco was about the size of a cat. Small for a magic beast, but still twice as large as a normal squirrel.
Woojin answered casually.
"It's just an ordinary pet."
"A pet?"
"Yes. It can even greet people. Watch."
Coco waved one paw as if greeting.
The guard looked impressed.
"Oh… it's very well trained."
The guard dropped his suspicion.
It was a bit big, but in the end it was only a squirrel. Letting something like this inside the wall probably wouldn't cause trouble.
Thinking so, the inspection proceeded smoothly. Soon the guards stepped aside.
'Good thing that went smoothly.'
If things had gone badly, he might have had to rely on Arwen's charming persuasion. Fortunately, that hassle wasn't necessary.
They walked through the gate.
What greeted them was a city so enormous it was almost unbelievable.
Arwen and Coco, entering Yurgis, stared around in stunned amazement.
They had visited a few pioneer cities before, but this place was on a completely different scale. The cathedral alone was so massive that it almost felt like they had entered a city built by giants.
"Th-this place is unbelievably huge…"
"Yeah."
Even Woojin found it impressive. Perhaps because it had been so long, he had forgotten just how large Yurgis really was.
There was no time to leisurely tour the city.
So they simply started walking.
'Where was the place to rent carriages again?'
While trying to recall the path…
Suddenly, the sound of metal rang out.
The clanking of armor with every step.
Six or seven hundred soldiers marched across the square in formation.
Their footsteps were perfectly synchronized. Their steel armor gleamed under the sunlight, reflecting strict discipline. Judging by their appearance, they were troops gathered in the Wall City for the Third Expedition.
Alongside them walked large lizard-like magic beasts—Tarasks.
Each one carried a large ballista mounted on its broad back.
'They turned fortress ballistae into mobile weapons.'
That had been something Woojin himself had done in the past.
He had once mounted ballistae on drakes with great success, and it seemed the Order Alliance had adopted the same concept.
'They're investing heavily in the Third Expedition.'
He wondered how this expedition would turn out.
While watching the army pass by, Arwen quietly suggested,
"Shouldn't we take another route?"
She looked at the soldiers nervously.
Like a thief fearing the law, Arwen—being a former Dark Side priest—seemed intimidated by the Alliance army.
Woojin immediately accepted her suggestion.
"Let's go around. The square is too crowded anyway."
They hurried along another path.
Perhaps because he had looked around a bit, Woojin's memory of the area gradually returned. He walked with more confidence than before.
Before long, they arrived at a carriage company.
Woojin immediately told them the destination.
"Please take us to the Magic City."
After passing through the Magic Tower there, he planned to head to the port city where Cindy was staying.
They boarded the carriage.
The wheels rattled occasionally as it rolled along.
Finding the situation fascinating, Arwen and Coco pressed themselves against the window, watching the scenery outside.
Woojin, on the other hand, felt nothing special.
He let out a long yawn and half-lay down.
'Might as well take a nap.'
A carriage was far slower than a wolf. It would take quite some time to reach the Magic City, so he planned to sleep through the quiet journey.
As he nodded off…
The destination slowly drew closer.
Looking out the window, he saw a large city in the distance, with a towering structure standing at its center.
'Another hour or two and we'll arrive.'
He tried to fall asleep again.
But after sleeping half the day already, sleep wouldn't come. His eyes began to feel stiff.
Eventually he sat up, resting his chin on the window and watching the scenery outside.
The city grew closer with every moment.
Woojin felt a strange mix of emotions—excitement and unease.
'I hope Claire is doing well.'
He sincerely hoped so.
***
The carriage entered the city.
Woojin snapped his fingers.
"We're here. Wake up."
Arwen and Coco stirred awake from their seats.
The priestess and the squirrel both yawned lazily.
Soon the carriage stopped.
Woojin and his companions stepped down to the ground, grabbing their travel bags.
"Where should we go?" Arwen asked, stretching.
Woojin pointed ahead.
A towering Magic Tower rose into the sky.
"We're going there."
They started walking toward their destination.
Though it had been a very long time since he last visited, finding the way wasn't difficult. All he had to do was look up—the Magic Tower was always visible.
Before long, they stepped inside.
"What business do you have here?" asked a male mage sitting at the reception desk.
Woojin immediately stated his purpose.
"I came to see a friend. A female mage named Claire. I'd appreciate it if you could call her here."
"Hmm?"
The male mage's expression turned strange. His gaze examined Woojin suspiciously.
Woojin asked,
"Is there a problem?"
"Mages of the Magic Tower are not so idle. We cannot summon them at will… Are you truly acquainted with Lady Claire?"
If it turned out to be a lie, there would be consequences. The mage issued the warning.
Woojin thought for a moment before answering.
"We are acquainted. That is, if Claire still considers me a friend. Go and tell her a hunter has come to see her."
"You won't give your name?"
"For personal reasons."
As he said that, he took something out from inside his clothes.
It was Elder Bow's recommendation token.
The mage, after seeing it, looked startled and quickly stood up.
"P-please… please wait a moment."
The mage hurried away.
Watching his retreating back, Woojin tucked the token back inside his clothing.
'That worked well.'
He had shown Bow's token simply to avoid unnecessary arguments, but the effect had been dramatic.
Even proud mages respected the authority of the Order Alliance. Besides, the man from earlier was only a low-ranking mage.
After waiting for a short while…
The mage returned. He looked at Woojin cautiously and spoke.
"Lady Claire is currently out. She went to the city's public library."
Claire was not in the tower.
Although they had missed each other, Woojin was satisfied. At least he confirmed she was still in this city.
"Where is the library?"
"If you leave and walk to the left, you'll see it soon. To the left of the main gate."
"Thank you."
He would go there immediately.
Recalling the directions he had just heard, he walked until a large building soon came into view.
It was a multi-story library directly managed by the mayor of the Magic City.
It wouldn't be proper to bring pets into such a place.
"Arwen, wait here with Coco."
"That seems best."
Woojin entered the library alone.
He looked around briefly.
Shelves stretched endlessly like a maze. Many people moved between them.
'This is troublesome.'
The library was huge, and there were many visitors.
How was he supposed to find Claire in a place like this?
As he looked around…
He noticed something unusual.
A white cluster of light floated near the shelves.
It looked like a hand.
As if a translucent ghostly hand were drifting through the air.
Woojin quickly recognized what it was.
'The Cat's Hand spell.'
Cat's Hand.
A spell named after the saying about wanting even a cat's paw to help when things are busy. It creates floating hands to assist with everyday tasks.
Those hands were moving between the shelves.
Following the spell with his eyes, Woojin walked toward it.
Soon he found someone.
A woman wearing a stylish librarian's uniform.
She was humming softly while pushing a cart piled high with books.
Shhh—
Eight glowing Cat's Hands floated beside her.
Each hand picked up a book from the cart, flew to the shelves, and placed the books neatly in their proper spots.
A librarian organizing books with magic.
Woojin quietly watched her from behind.
After gathering his courage…
"…Claire."
He called her name carefully.
Claire turned her head toward him.
Their eyes met.
Woojin tried to greet her with a cheerful smile—
But then he realized something.
Claire's gaze was terrifying.
The female mage stared at him with a completely expressionless face.
'…This might be bad.'
The most dangerous moment was when someone who never got angry finally did.
Woojin shrank slightly and swallowed nervously, trying to find something to say.
But before he could—
Claire beckoned with her finger.
Shhh—
One glowing hand flew toward him.
It grabbed Woojin by the collar and dragged him forward as if pulling him by force.
Soon the two stood face to face.
Claire extended both of her arms.
It didn't look like she was going in for a hug.
Grab!
Like grabbing an unruly large dog, Claire seized Woojin's face with both hands.
In a cold, dangerous voice, she muttered,
"You said you'd come early."
"…Sorry."
There was nothing else he could say.
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