Chapter 43

His life as a patient did not last long.

It couldn’t. Sleeping in a comfortable bed and eating good meals at every sitting, his body recovered in no time.

Having just awakened, Woojin idly picked up a copper coin and tried bending it.

Crk—

With a slight application of force, the coin folded in half at once. It was nothing remarkable, yet the sight brought a quiet sense of satisfaction. Bragging about one’s strength might be childish, but it was always enjoyable.

Time to be discharged.

His condition had fully recovered.

Woojin rose from the bed, slung the bag he had tossed into the corner over his shoulder, and informed his assigned caretaker that he was completely healed.

When he stepped outside… the sun was already high in the sky.

Perhaps because he had slept so deeply, it was already midday. Having started the day later than others, he would need to move that much more busily.

First, I should speak with Albert.

With that in mind, Woojin headed toward the training grounds. As always, the expeditionary force was engaged in grueling drills.

The red-haired knight was knocking down his subordinates as usual. As Woojin approached, the gazes of those nearby naturally shifted toward him. Albert, too, noticed his presence.

“Take a short break.”

Albert halted the sparring and walked over.

“Jin, how’s your condition?”
“I’ve fully recovered. I was thinking of warming up with some hunting. Is there any suitable work?”

Before leaving this frontier city, he had thought to accept a subjugation request for a bit of amusement.

But the answer he received was unexpected.

“There’s no work. The demonic beasts have been wiped out.”

“…Not even one?”

Woojin asked again in surprise. Albert let out a faint chuckle and elaborated.

“It’s not like we’ve been idle. Before you arrived, we cleared every dangerous area where a rift core was suspected. The spider cave was the last remaining site.”

They had been unable to enter because the cave was covered in spider webs. So Albert had chosen a rather blunt solution.

“We decided to starve them out. We patrolled around the frontier city and exterminated every beast we saw. It served as practical training as well.”

The foundation of siege warfare was cutting off supply lines.

Even if the spider demons had stockpiled food, if every living creature in the surrounding region was eliminated, they would eventually starve.

With that reasoning, Albert wiped out all nearby demonic beasts and planned to wait until the spiders were forced to leave their cave.

But Woojin, who had arrived recently, had dealt with the spider cave himself… leaving the Fourth Expeditionary Force with nothing to do but train in the city all day.

Woojin nodded in understanding.

No wonder they haven’t been leaving the city. They’d already finished their work.

This complicated things slightly.

It wasn’t the right situation to begin a witch hunt. That cunning woman would only reveal herself when a major event unfolded—like when the two sons of the Golden Maggot transported their wealth.

He had planned to hunt demonic beasts casually while waiting for signs of something significant… yet unexpectedly, there was nothing to do.

“Where would you suggest I go if I want some action?”

After a moment’s thought, Albert tilted his head and replied.

“The Fifth and Sixth Expeditionary Forces may still have some subjugation left to do. But if you set out now, you’d probably arrive too late.”

By the time he reached them, they would likely have already found and purified their rift cores.

Albert continued.

“There won’t be much fighting for a while. At this rate, the First Expeditionary Force will soon complete its mission.”

The First Expeditionary Force was merely the vanguard.

Their role was to destroy the rift cores around the frontier city and purify the land—a task proceeding swiftly as planned.

But reclaiming territory meant little if it could not be held. If the land were swallowed again by the Abyssal Realm, all effort would be meaningless.

For that reason, the Order Alliance intended to construct a long wall beyond the frontier city. The First Expeditionary Force would then be stationed there as a garrison to repel invading beasts.

“Once stabilization is complete, the Second Expedition will begin. You could call it the main force.”

Unlike the vanguard, which merely cleared the surroundings, the Second Expeditionary Force would be a true army for conquering the Abyssal Realm.

Far larger in number, it would include renowned clergy, knightly orders, and even a saintess marching to the battlefield.

“I’ve spoken at length, but if you want some excitement, you’ll have to wait until that day comes.”

“Thank you for the advice.”

Thanks to Albert’s explanation, Woojin grasped the broader situation. In short—

For the time being, there’s no work anywhere.

He had hoped to enjoy some hunting now that he was fully recovered, but it seemed that pleasure would have to wait.

**

After sharing lunch with Albert, Woojin left the Fourth Frontier City.

He was not departing alone.

“I’ll be in your care again.”
“My pleasure.”

Just as before, Raymond—the messenger—accompanied him. For Woojin, that was no bad thing. Travel was less tedious with someone to talk to.

Woojin and Raymond mounted their wolves and set out once more.

Wherever he looked, he saw only pale, withered trees and fungi. Plants of the Abyssal Realm that had died after the rift core’s purification.

A crow landed on one of the trees.

Crack—

The moment the bird’s weight settled, the brittle branch snapped and shattered upon the ground. It looked like an ornament made of compressed ash.

The Abyssal Realm is dying.

Perhaps because of that, not a single demonic beast was in sight.

Most of the demonic beasts that once inhabited this region had been exterminated by the expeditionary force. The few that had survived likely fled deeper into the Abyssal Realm. In an environment like this, they could not endure for long.

With the surroundings in such a state… the return journey seemed unlikely to present any surprises. There were hardly any beasts left to encounter.

There’s really nothing to do.

The safety made the trip dull.

Woojin was not the only one who felt that way. The wolves, too, appeared bored, yawning widely and glancing about as if searching for something to occupy themselves.

“Pick up the pace.”

At his command, the wolves eagerly accelerated. The four of them dashed forward, kicking off the ground in unison.

Each time their paws struck the earth, pale, withered fungi scattered into the air. The scene resembled sled dogs racing across a snowfield.

After three more days passed—

They arrived at their destination without incident. The Third Frontier City soon came into view.

“…We finally made it.”

Raymond muttered under his breath.

Just days ago, the paladin had mounted the wolf with boyish excitement. But the ride proved far rougher than he had imagined.

Each time the wolf pounded the ground, the rider’s body jolted violently up and down. The speed was so great that it was difficult to maintain balance. It felt less like horseback riding and more like a rodeo.

As a result, Raymond had clung to the wolf’s back like a cicada, holding on for dear life.

“Perhaps you should consider getting a proper saddle. You ride these wolves skillfully, Jin, but for practicality’s sake, such equipment would be useful.”

“Indeed… I hadn’t considered that.”

If he wished to broaden his tactical options, acquiring saddles would be wise. There would be times when others needed to ride the wolves as well.

I should ask Bow about it.

With that thought, Woojin walked into the city. At this hour, Bow would likely be seated in the training hall, meditating as usual.

…His prediction was only half correct.

Bow was indeed in the training hall, but he was not alone. Someone sat opposite him, wearing a hood pulled low.

From Woojin’s position, only the person’s back was visible.

A guest?

Not wishing to interrupt, Woojin began to step backward toward the exit.

Bow’s keen perception caught the movement.

“…Jin! Come here.”

Bow called out.

Why is he calling me?

Puzzled, Woojin approached.

“It seems you have a guest. Is my presence truly necessary?”

Bow nodded without hesitation.

“My guest, yes—but yours as well.”

At those words, Woojin turned to look at the visitor’s face.

Blonde hair peeked out from beneath the hood. Dark green eyes and delicate features.

Cindy—the youngest daughter of the Golden Maggot.

“…I didn’t expect you two to know each other.”

“Not at all. We’ve just met.”

Bow answered calmly, which only deepened Woojin’s curiosity.

“Then how did the two of you end up speaking?”

“This young lady sought my counsel. We were discussing you, in fact… and the subject of that discussion has arrived at just the right moment.”

Fortunate timing, Bow added with a nod.

Cindy, however, appeared to feel the opposite. She buried her face deeper beneath her hood, avoiding Woojin’s gaze like a rabbit hiding in the bushes.

I can guess why she’s here.

Bow was a renowned monk, someone she could safely confide in. She had likely come seeking advice, perhaps to probe him for information about Woojin… only for the timing to conspire against her, turning the meeting into an unintended three-way conversation.

“So, how much have you heard?”

Woojin sat down and asked casually.

Bow answered without hesitation.

“She said she is the youngest daughter of the Golden Maggot. And she asked whether you are trustworthy, since you seem rather suspicious.”

Bow revealed everything outright.

Cindy’s eyes widened in shock, but Woojin ignored her reaction and spoke lightly.

“She was more honest than I expected.”

“There was little choice. A lie would not escape my inner sight.”

“You can perceive even that?”

The two men continued their quiet exchange.

Cindy stared at Bow with wounded eyes, as if betrayed.

“I asked you to keep my identity secret…”

“If you seek help, do not take a half-hearted stance. It wastes time. Besides… concealing your identity hardly seems meaningful. You heard it yourself just now, did you not?”

Bow countered.

Cindy tilted her head, not immediately understanding.

“…What do you mean?”

“I never spoke your name.”

Yet Woojin had addressed her as Cindy—naturally, without surprise.

Realization dawned. Cindy covered her mouth, blinking rapidly. The conversation had flowed so smoothly that she had not noticed.

Now visibly flustered, she looked at Woojin as though demanding an explanation.

“Let’s continue where we left off last time.”

Woojin smiled faintly as he made the suggestion.