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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Jjescus ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
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Chapter: 162
I followed the village chief into the heart of the village. When I had walked with Jawoon, no one was on the streets, but as soon as I followed the chief, people started appearing. It was the same road, yet it was different.
"There were no people a while ago... Has something happened?"
The chief looked at Jawoon and me alternately and said, "When a stranger appears in the village, it means a fugitive or a monster is trying to invade the village. So everyone hid in their houses, wary of you."
"Were you the watchman, old man?"
"Something like that." Jawoon nodded and said, "Don't worry about it. Anyone would have done the same."
The chief looked at him incredulously. She didn't seem as stiff as her cold first impression.
"It's strange for you to say that, Jawoon. Weren't you the one causing all the commotion?" Looking at him, the chief added with a faint smile, "When you first arrived in our village, you were furious, saying that you had committed no crime and there was no need to be wary."
"I was just surprised to be treated like a criminal when I wasn't. I did that because I didn't know the situation of the village..."
Jawoon looked embarrassed.
The chief smiled mischievously and said, "We didn't know your situation either."
I stared at the chief and asked, "So, that means Jawoon wasn't originally from this village?"
"That's right."
"Ah." I nodded briefly.
The chief led me to a large thatched house in the center of the village. People were gathered in the front yard. Some were carrying firewood, and others were fixing a well bucket.
White smoke was rising from beyond the thatched house. As if they had always lived like this, they were each doing their own work without complaints.
They all created a natural scene like a painting.
When they saw the chief approaching, they greeted her, but when they saw me, they looked surprised.
"Look there."
"It's an outsider."
I awkwardly bowed my head slightly. The chief, with her hands behind her back, approached them first.
"Chief, are you here for dinner? You might have to wait a little longer."
"Alright, I see."
"You must be hungry. I'll bring it out soon."
"No, take your time."
The chief looked around at the people gathered in the yard, peeked around the corners of the thatched house, and then returned.
"Where are Danyo and Gongyoung?"
The people looked around at each other and replied, "I don't think they're here."
"I see."
After a brief conversation with the villagers, the chief came back to me.
"There are some children I'd like you to meet. They'll be here soon. Since it will take some time to prepare the meal, why don't you sit here and watch."
The chief pointed to a bench in the yard. Aro ran over and took the middle seat. I sat timidly on the edge.
It wasn't that I was timid, it was just... suddenly realizing that I was an outsider in this village where everyone seemed to belong, made me feel out of place.
I had been so surprised to find a village in such an unexpected place, and now I was part of a group that seemed so completely together...
It was such a disconcerting feeling.
When I was fighting in the northern wilderness of Wolhan Fortress, I had never felt this out of place, since everyone there was also an outsider.
Ah, yes. This awkward feeling reminded me of when I first entered Blood Cloud Fortress and was constantly kicked around.
There were people who looked down on me because I was from a poor family, and they would come and harass me whenever they had time.
Even though those guys weren't exactly rolling in dough themselves, I'd often get a beating for no reason at all, just because I didn't have any relatives who could slip a few coins to the boss.
Thanks to that, I actually ended up catching the eye of the fortress lord, which was a good thing in the end, but those shitty memories didn't just disappear.
'Uncle, Uncle.'
Poking me in the arm with her finger, Aro suddenly appeared. Even though I'd sensed her coming, I stayed still, but she just smirked at me, oblivious.
'Here I go!'
She swung her short arm, trying to punch me.
What a sudden attack. Sure, it was more like a slap than a punch, but still.
'What are you doing?'
'Is it true that Uncle caught the monster?'
When Aro asked that, the man who had been sharpening his blade in front of the matting flinched.
I glanced at him and, understanding Aro's intentions, nodded.
'Yeah, I caught it.'
'How could Uncle catch a monster all by himself? I don't believe it.'
'Why not?'
'Uncle can't even dodge a punch.'
Ha. I scoffed. Now the man who had been sharpening his blade turned around to look at me.
'You said you caught a monster alone? Really?'
He seemed to be around my age, and judging by the way he stopped sharpening his blade to ask about monster hunting, I guessed that blade wasn't for cooking.
'Yeah.'
The man scanned me from head to toe and asked, 'Where are you from? Since the village chief brought you here, you must have run away from somewhere far off, but you don't seem dangerous. You don't look dangerous at all. Well, I think I could beat you in a fight.'
I looked down at my clothes.
The clothes Old Man Jawoon had put on me while I was unconscious were way too big, making me look like a scarecrow. In contrast, this guy had rolled up his sleeves, revealing his tanned forearms.
I chuckled and replied, 'I guess you're bragging about chopping some firewood...'
'You look so weak, I bet you can't even chop firewood.'
The other guy snapped back, offended. Was he really getting upset over just one comment? He was so young.
'Uncle here really did kill a monster by himself.'
Aro suddenly spoke up for me. Actually, she hadn't even seen me fight...
I didn't think she'd seen the monster's corpse either, so why was she suddenly taking my side?
'Don't lie. You're so small.'
The man sneered. Aro frowned.
Then, Old Man Jawoon intervened. 'That's not true. I saw Baek kill the monster and collapse next to it, so it's not a lie to say that Baek can hunt monsters.'
Everyone around me turned to look at me.
I was taken aback by the sudden attention, but fortunately, someone soon called out that dinner was ready.
People quickly lost interest and began to get up and move.
Tap-
Aro poked me again.
I turned my head, and she said condescendingly, 'Uncle, why didn't you take the chance? I told you to befriend him. Uncle Osang has always dreamed of becoming a monster hunter.'
So she had been trying to help me.
I opened my eyes wide and stared at her. Aro pulled on my clothes and led me to the thatched house where people were going to eat.
'Sit here.'
The village chief offered me the seat of honor.
'No, thank you.'
I waved her off, but my refusal was useless. I had essentially taken the village chief's place, but surprisingly, no one seemed to care.
Except for Osang and a few kids, no one else showed any interest in me.
Thanks to that, I was able to eat in peace.
"Elder, didn't you say that outsiders rarely come here?"
Jawoon, the first to finish his meal and now sipping water, looked at me and set down his cup.
"That's right. It's not a common occurrence. As you know, with monsters appearing all the time, how could anyone reach the village?"
"Then why is the atmosphere so strange? I was expecting to be interrogated."
Saying it out loud, I suddenly felt the villagers' lack of vigilance even stranger. I lowered my voice and whispered, "Why aren't you wary of me?"
Jawoon looked at me questioningly, as if I'd said something absurd. "Why should we be wary of you? Unless you're planning to suddenly pull out a knife and attack us, what reason is there to say such a thing?"
"You've suddenly changed your attitude, so it's suspicious."
I eyed my rice bowl dubiously. I had eaten everything they gave me without hesitation, but seeing their lack of suspicion, I began to wonder if there might be poison in the rice.
"By the way, the weapons you had are all in my house. I took them just in case, while you were unconscious. I'll return them to you later. I apologize for the impoliteness."
"Oh, yes. I understand. It's fine."
Jawoon stroked his beard and added, "The village chief has a special ability. She can perceive people or objects. It's a gift."
...A special ability? An ability, huh?
People with abilities were few and far between, even if you searched the entire Mokryeo Kingdom. Such things were more common centuries ago, but now they were merely historical relics. That's why I hadn't wanted to let Gae Yeohwa, whom I met in Naam Fortress, slip away.
Honestly, my ability is only half-baked. Even if the ability itself is complete, I can't use it properly.
According to Gon, King Taejo seemed to have used his ability in a different way, but I don't know if I have the same conditions that the Taejo had, or even what those conditions are.
And now, that ability has been found again in this village, somewhere in the demon realm. If I could get the village chief on my side, it would be a huge advantage.
The problem was, judging by the atmosphere of this village, it seemed highly unlikely that the village chief would follow me.
Of course, I don't know how to return to Mokryeo yet.
"What do you mean by 'perceive'?"
Aro, who was eating next to me, suddenly replied. "Our grandma can know everything."
Her mouth was full of food, so her pronunciation was slurred.
"Can you swallow before you speak?"
The child nodded. "It's just as I said. I'm not sure how detailed it is. She's never told me. But she can read everything. That's for sure."
Jawoon smiled faintly, as if reminiscing. "Thanks to her, I was able to confirm that I was not a criminal."
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Jjescus ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
Join our Discord for release updates!
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