LTTH C40

Chapter 40

Hansol-nim! Hansol-nim! Can you hear me?

“……?”

A hallucination, perhaps. The aftereffects of a failed enhancement seemed quite profound, the voice in this place unusually loud and buzzing.

Hansol-nim! Please respond if you can hear us!

Was this one of Britain’s mysteries? Or had he become a ghost after death? The vibration of the necklace around his neck put a full stop to these unanswered questions.

Did this necklace have such a vibration function?

Hansol-nim! Damn it, I think the connection failed.

“…Tower Lord?”

Oh, gods! We are connected! Are you unharmed?

Answering hesitantly toward the necklace, a response soon followed. After a few noisy seconds, the Tower Lord’s voice, clearer and steadier, echoed.

We enchanted the artifact with communication magic, just in case while reinforcing it. Though I never expected it to be used like this.

Just now, the value of the necklace, already precious, seemed to soar to the heavens. Is it truly right to return this to the association?

First, we are safe. How about you, Hansol-nim? Are you injured?

“I am safe as well. …But I am indeed in Britain, yes?”

Yes. Though I cannot be sure if it is exactly your location, it is Britain.

The Tower Lord’s uncertain words prompted a flood of questions forming in Hansol’s mouth, eager to burst forth.

How is the experience gain here compared to Korea? Are new quests given frequently? What of items? And so forth.

Yet he dared not voice these questions aloud. Too many ears listened. If the Tower Lord and James knew the peculiarities of Britain, it would be Hansol alone bearing the trouble.

To reach your location, coordinates are required. Is there any way you can confirm them?

“…Coordinates?”

It would be a blessing to have the Tower Lord and James join him here, yet he could not know if others would welcome them. Moreover, he could not know the precise coordinates mages used.

‘Kassie might know…’

As a fellow mage, perhaps Kassie could guide him. After all, his arrival here owed much to Kassie’s magic circle.

“…There is a mage here. I will ask him and inform you. How do I communicate?”

Oh, simply think of me earnestly.

“…Pardon?”

That is the principle of communication magic. Think of the target and speak their name.

‘Then simply explaining this would suffice.’

Bitterness arose within as Hansol quietly endured the mage’s words. The Tower Lord was a powerful mage, far beyond him.

“Very well, I understand.”

Then we will wait.

Hansol slipped the vibrating necklace back into his cloak as he rose. Rachel, watching quietly, spoke.

“Going to find Kassie?”

“Yes. I need to ask him the coordinates here.”

“Are you close to him?”

“Eh?”

Rachel’s face grew serious, and though Hansol blinked in surprise, he answered vaguely, “Yes, somewhat.” It was not like school club activities; was closeness really significant?

Rachel’s expression darkened somberly, but to Hansol, they all looked much the same.

“Kassie is excellent. Probably better than your mage.”

“Is that so?”

‘Most certainly.’

Hansol knew well the mage here—Kassie—who required no incantations, only a touch, to cast powerful buffs. He needed no more proof of Kassie’s prowess. Though the Tower Lord was renowned both in Korea and worldwide, even he likely fell short of Kassie’s skill.

If the Tower Lord was a mage specialized in a single area, Kassie excelled across the board. There was an inexplicable feeling.

“So you say it would be better to choose Kassie over your Tower Lord for that mage’s sake.”

What was this now?

“…I do not understand.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Hansol briefly glanced at the semi-corpse, who gave no answer. What was he after, exactly?

Closing his mouth, Hansol left the tent.

How to find Kassie in such a large camp? He pondered. Just then, several soldiers guarding nearby approached. Asking of Kassie, they kindly guided him toward the destination.

Seemingly, they quarreled briefly over who would lead. Hansol wondered if it were truly necessary.

“This is it, Saint.”

“…Thank you.”

‘When will I grow accustomed to that title, I wonder?’

It would likely take a long while.

Hansol thanked the departing soldier as they swiftly faded, standing before a tent composed of gray cloth and black beams. Just as he prepared to call for Kassie, the curtain before him lifted swiftly.

“Hansol?”

“Oh, hello.”

Was it from the sharply swept hair? Or the absence of glasses hung to one side? Some indefinable presence surrounded him, unlike the Kassie Hansol had just seen.

“Please come in.”

“Oh, yes.”

Perhaps it was his imagination, but Hansol entered pursuing the still-fluttering Kassie without suspicion.

Sparse furnishings: a simple bed, a desk, a small table and chair for guests. Kassie, seated promptly on the guest chair, gestured across and began.

“You must have come for something.”

Hansol took a deep breath at the blunt question. He would have little time to prepare his mind.

“…Might I know the coordinates here?”

“Hmm. Such information is unnecessary unless you are a mage. It is sensitive, as well.”

Kassie’s smiling face froze visibly in real time… It seemed they had hit a mine.

This was a battlefield. They still fought. Though it was a war between hunters and monsters, the enemy should not be assumed to be monsters alone. Surely monsters could use coordinates to cast spells.

Damn it. As his thoughts reached this point, Hansol realized how foolish his question had been. Flushing, he hurriedly added, hoping sincerity might prevail.

“There is no other intention. A mage who came with me got separated during transit, so I need coordinates to find this place. That is why I asked.”

“Ah, a mage.”

“If you distrust me, you may deliver the coordinates to your mage yourself in my presence.”

“No, I will share them and you can convey them to the mage before me.”

“…Understood.”

Fortunately, Kassie stepped back, smiling with ease and offering a simple proposal. Hansol exhaled in relief.

It was no secret conversation; perfectly reasonable.

With permission granted, Hansol called ‘Tower Lord’ to his side while holding the necklace. Soon a voice rang in his ear.

Hansol-nim? Have you discovered it already?

“Yes, I have. I will summon him now.”

Mage coordinates were long strings of numbers and letters. Kassie inscribed them into midair as he recited them. The Tower Lord quickly confirmed and disconnected, saying he would arrive soon.

Hansol glanced briefly at the suddenly silent necklace before putting it away.

The necklace’s vibration resumed just as Kassie finished offering thanks and prepared to leave.

Hansol-nim, is this coordinate correct?

“Yes? Yes, it is.”

‘It must be.’

Hansol responded, looking to Kassie, who nodded affirmatively. He was unlikely to give false information. He would have said so if not possible.

No. It says the coordinate cannot be set.

“Pardon? What is that?”

Please check once more. Hansol-nim, I must depart with James now. Please, survive by any means until then!

“Wait!”

The tone of farewell was grave, and the Tower Lord’s voice ceased.

No, this was not how one departed. At least say when next contact would be made, or the state here—basic decency demanded it.

“Seems it is somewhat dangerous on your end.”

“Kassie says the coordinates are wrong. Or rather, cannot be set…”

“As expected.”

‘As expected?’

Hansol stared at Kassie, wanting an answer. The reaction suggested knowing something.