Chapter 255: Chapter 255 Open World (4)

Open World (4)

Explorers age much faster than ordinary people.

After all, the higher the floor they climb, the more time they spend in the labyrinth.

A single expedition could last for almost half a year.

‘But why is he so young?’

I briefly wondered about the secret to his youthful appearance as I looked at the man with platinum blonde hair slicked back in a pomade style.

And then I gulped.

There were more important things to process than his youthful appearance.

[I heard you were at the royal palace. When did you come here?]

Lee Baekho was at the royal palace when the city was burning.

[Who told you to set a fire? Without my permission.]

It was the Ruin Scholar who set the fire…

“Do you want to die?”

…and Lee Baekho was angry about it.

Then what was the reason?

Even the Ruin Scholar, the target of his anger, frowned as if he didn’t know.

“I don’t understand at all. Why are you hostile towards me? You also benefited from my actions.”

“Benefited, my ass. That King bastard isn’t going to come out just because you burned this place down.”

“Hoo, so the King really was your target?”

The Ruin Scholar’s eyes sparkled at Lee Baekho’s answer, as if he had thrown bait.

But…

“What? The King is your target?”

…Lee Baekho scoffed as if he was pathetic.

“You old man, you really don’t know anything. Well, whatever. I’m too lazy to explain.”

Lee Baekho waved his hand dismissively.

“…You’re more ill-mannered than I heard.”

The Ruin Scholar couldn’t hide his displeasure, as if he had never been treated like this before.

Of course, Lee Baekho didn’t even bat an eye.

“Yeah, you’re the one who’s ill-mannered, talking back and stinking like that. Ha, seriously, get some new dentures. The stench is reaching all the way over here.”

“Wh, what…?”

The Ruin Scholar was hit below the belt after just one sentence.

“How dare you…”

The winner was already decided, judging by how he was trembling with anger.

Well, I couldn’t even imagine that old man winning a verbal battle against Lee Baekho, who had inherited the spirit of a K-gamer.

“Alright, then let’s get to the point.”

Lee Baekho got to the point, ignoring the Ruin Scholar’s anger.

“So how are you going to take responsibility? My gukbap restaurant burned down because of you.”

That was the fundamental reason why he was angry.

“Gu, gukbap…?”

Although the Ruin Scholar didn’t even seem to understand, Lee Baekho continued to vent his anger.

“He was an NPC, but he was the one who made it the most realistic after listening to my suggestions. Ha, he even said he would make kkakdugi for me later…”

“…Don’t tell me there was an alchemy workshop in Karnon?”

“Alchemy, my ass.”

Lee Baekho spat on the ground.

“This is why I can’t talk to NPCs. Hansu hyung would have been angry with me.”

I flinched at the sudden mention of my name, but he probably would have been angry. I can’t believe there was a place in this city that could make gukbap.

‘…He should have told me! I haven’t even tried it yet!’

I felt anger towards both of them.

Of course, there was nothing I could do.

I just had to pretend to be a clueless barbarian and watch the situation unfold.

“So what do you want? I don’t want to make an enemy of you. I’ll compensate you if your workshop was damaged because of this incident.”

The Ruin Scholar then tried to negotiate.

It was a bit of a surprising sight.

The madman who set fire to the entire southern part of Karnon was trying to resolve this peacefully through dialogue? Just how high was Lee Baekho’s status for this old man to act like this?

Although I couldn’t be sure yet, one thing was certain.

“Pull out your dentures.”

“…?”

“You’re saying you’ll compensate me? If you’re really sorry, pull out all your dentures with your own hands. Then I’ll let it slide.”

He was a troublesome enemy, but a reassuring ally.

That was Lee Baekho.

“…I don’t know what you’re misunderstanding, but this isn’t some kind of denture—”

“Bullshit.”

Lee Baekho took a step forward, signifying the breakdown of the negotiation.

And he said,

“Then what’s this?”

It was a statement that no one here could understand.

But a brief moment was enough.

Tadat.

He lightly pushed off the ground.

Whoosh.

And his figure disappeared in an instant.

I could only see fragmented scenes, as his Agility stat was so high that even my dynamic vision couldn’t keep up.

Lee Baekho clenching his fist.

The Ruin Scholar’s flustered expression.

And…

Swaaa!

…a magic barrier blocking their path.

It was the combination of ‘Danger Detection Support’ and ‘Barrier’, a magic combo essential for mages to survive in a roguelike world.

Judging by its purple color, the mana density was almost at its maximum.

It could even withstand the Ogre’s punch once.

But…

Kwagic!

…it couldn’t withstand Lee Baekho’s fist.

“……!”

The magic barrier shattered like glass.

And at the same time, the blue energy surrounding Lee Baekho’s fist also disappeared.

It wasn’t a meaningful achievement for the Ruin Scholar.

It was enough to prove it even with his bare fist.

Thwack!

The brief exchange ended, and Lee Baekho’s fist landed on the Ruin Scholar’s jaw.

Something white flew out along with blood.

“See, you were lying.”

Lee Baekho caught it in midair and clicked his tongue.

“Why would it come out if it’s not a denture?”

Even I thought he was crazy.

_____________________

“Are you really determined to see this through?”

Unexpectedly, the Ruin Scholar quickly got up after being punched. And he looked at Lee Baekho with an emotionless gaze.

“I won’t dodge if you attack again.”

“Wow, it’s my first time seeing a mage say that in close combat.”

Lee Baekho laughed as if he couldn’t believe it, but he didn’t seem to be underestimating his opponent.

After all, Lee Baekho was also injured.

‘Why is he injured?’

I still didn’t understand.

The Ruin Scholar cast another barrier after ‘Danger Detection Barrier’ was broken, and Lee Baekho broke through that too with his bare fist and punched him in the face.

And that was all the exchange I saw.

“Tsk.”

Lee Baekho spat blood on the ground and asked,

“What was that at the end?”

“Just a simple curse spell.”

“There’s no way I would be affected by a curse.”

“You should know this, at your level, right? Your body was temporarily immobile. I used that opportunity to complete the spell using your body as a medium.”

“Ah, so that’s why my Magic Resistance didn’t work.”

Lee Baekho nodded in understanding.

It seemed like it was a technique that most veteran mages in this world could use.

Ha, there was no such OP application in the game.

“But this doesn’t make sense. You did that in that short amount of time? It takes other mages at least a few seconds just to connect.”

“I’m the one who created this application, so I should at least be able to do this much.”

“Wow, so you were the one who created this damn technique?”

Lee Baekho glared at the Ruin Scholar as if acknowledging him as an opponent.

It was the same for the Ruin Scholar.

“I know about your situation. And I have a guess as to why you left the royal family.”

“So?”

“I’ll make you a tempting offer since we’ve met.”

“What is it? Tell me.”

Lee Baekho asked back, as if he was also curious.

It seemed like he was more interested in this than the revenge of the gukbap NPC.

I subtly stepped back, feeling a strange tension in the air.

That’s when…

“How about we finish him off first and then talk?”

…the Ruin Scholar spoke, turning his gaze towards me.

Ha, I didn’t expect this kind of development.

‘Damn it.’

My heart pounded.

My life was already on the line with just the Ruin Scholar, and if Lee Baekho joined in, there was nothing I could do.

Except for revealing that I was ‘Lee Hansu’ and appealing to his emotions.

“You can’t.”

Fortunately, Lee Baekho refused the Ruin Scholar’s offer, even though I was considering the worst-case scenario.

Because he knew I was a player.

It wasn’t because he couldn’t bear to watch me die.

“Then it would be like I’m doing what you want.”

It was just about taking the lead.

But could it be that the Ruin Scholar felt frustrated?

He spoke as if persuading a difficult child.

“He’s a noble now.”

“So?”

“He’s a potential enemy since you’ve turned against the royal family.”

It was a rational statement, even to me.

But fortunately, Lee Baekho didn’t even listen.

“So what? I’m confident that I can control him, so mind your own business.”

The source of his confidence was obvious.

He knew I was a player.

He was confident that he could screw me over whenever he wanted, no matter how close I became to the royal family.

‘So it’s actually a good thing that he knows my identity…?’

“Then… I’ll have to move.”

The Ruin Scholar finally gave up on his desire to take me down, unable to break Lee Baekho’s stubbornness.

Well, I was probably less important to him than Lee Baekho.

“Ah, just so you know, I’m not teleporting.”

“Teleport…?”

“Teleportation. You go first. I’ll follow you. You can do whatever you want, but be prepared to die if you try anything stupid.”

“…Then I’ll be going.”

The Ruin Scholar then floated into the air with the man who seemed to be his servant.

It was Levitation magic.

“What are you looking at? Go first, I’ll follow.”

The Ruin Scholar stared at Lee Baekho for a few seconds and then disappeared beyond the flames.

I had overcome one crisis.

But it was too early to relax.

One of Lee Baekho’s characteristics was that he was unpredictable.

“Hey.”

“…What.”

I didn’t bother hiding my fear as I spoke.

Lee Baekho chuckled and then…

“I saved your life once, you know?”

…left after those words.

I was momentarily dazed.

‘Was he really just trying to take the lead when he told me not to die?’

Well, I still didn’t know.

But if it was true…

‘It’s a bit touching.’

I wiped my soot-covered nose with my hand.

“Tsk.”

Geez, this bastard.

He said he didn’t build relationships.

___________________

Raven arrived soon after Lee Baekho and the Ruin Scholar left.

“Mr. Yandel!”

Thanks to the Ruin Scholar’s reputation, there were many knights and military mages mixed in with the people behind Raven.

“We came to save… Huh? Why is no one…?”

Raven looked confused as she didn’t see the Ruin Scholar anywhere. The royal forces behind her also had similar expressions.

I quickly explained the situation before they misunderstood.

“So you’re saying that ‘that person’ who appeared during the assassination attempt came and started fighting the Ruin Scholar?”

“Yes, they suddenly started fighting and then disappeared.”

“Do you know why he was hostile towards the Ruin Scholar?”

“Well! I don’t know either!”

There was one reason why I simplified the story as much as possible.

I judged that someone might think Lee Baekho helped me based on this situation.

“You were really lucky.”

The knights didn’t doubt my statement since it was an incident involving such big shots.

“Then we’ll be going now.”

The royal forces stayed behind to investigate the area, and Raven and I left after watching them for a while.

The first to greet us were the survivors who were already outside.

The fifteen lives that Raven and I worked hard to save.

They all bowed repeatedly, their faces covered in soot.

Of course, it didn’t last long.

After all, they wouldn’t die just because I didn’t accept their gratitude.

“Huh? Where are you going?”

Raven asked as I turned around.

Honestly, I wanted to rest after that incident, but…

“I made a promise.”

“…Promise?”

I had told the mage, Reven Arpegan, that I would try my best if I had the strength after saving my companion, when I received the fire-attribute equipment and consumables.

Raven looked dazed for a moment, but she didn’t stop me or scold me for doing something meaningless.

“Go ahead. I’ll be helping the people here.”

Well, I guess it’s something like ‘let’s each do our best in our respective positions’?

I looked down at Raven as if she was a good girl and then stepped back into the flames.

And about 12 hours later, until the fire was finally put out by a downpour…

Swaaaaaaaaa!

…I saved 17 more lives.

It was a paltry number, not even enough to be a main episode in a movie or cartoon…

「Character’s fame has increased by +1.」

「Character’s fame has increased by +1.」

「Character’s fame has increased by +1…….」

「…….」

「…….」

…but it was my best.