184 – Paradise – 4

“So is the experience for that lava worm still not tallied?”

—I know, right. Since it even teleported due to the rampage, it should have definitely died by now.

Lucy agreed with Gi-jun’s words with a shrug, then thought for a moment before speaking as if she had realized something.

—Perhaps the flow of time in this barrier is applied a little differently, Contractor. If so, it makes sense why the experience isn’t tallied right away.

“The flow of time is different… Isn’t that something amazing?”

—Of course. Honestly, that woman named Kurenai didn’t seem to have the ability to create such an amazing barrier, so what is it?

“She probably borrowed the power of a fragment of a Unique Territory.”

—Just because you have that doesn’t mean anyone can twist the flow of time.

Even while Gi-jun and Lucy were debating, his companions were too busy looking around.

The one who was most excited was, without a doubt, Eun-shin.

“Wow, it’s a real shrine… Hyung, look at the torii outside, the torii! It’s a real torii! Even when I was on Earth, I couldn’t visit Japan, so I never dreamed I’d get to experience a shrine like this!”

Eun-shin shouted in excitement, pointing at the red pillared gate erected at the entrance of the shrine.

Gi-jun stared blankly at him and suddenly asked.

“Shin, do you by any chance like Japan?”

“Aaargh, no!”

Eun-shin shook his head in horror at the question, which was as taboo to a Korean as “Do you support the Communist Party?”

“Right, I asked the wrong question. Do you like Japanese culture?”

“Isn’t that just asking if I’m an otaku? …Well, I am.”

Gi-jun felt like he could faintly understand why Eun-shin, who was decent-looking, diligent, and kind, had no resistance to women.

After all, it was not that different for Gi-jun either…!

Tilla, who was watching the two of them banter, spoke with sparkling eyes.

“Earth is really a fascinating world. It’s a completely unfamiliar environment to me, but Jun and Shin already know it, don’t you? This isn’t your first time?”

“I find it fascinating too. Lately, I’ve been thinking that perhaps the cultures of all sorts of worlds end up developing in similar directions.”

“Probably not. Because the culture of the world I lived in did not take on such diverse aspects. I wonder why. Is it because Earthlings lacked individuality in terms of abilities, which conversely allowed their culture to develop in such a variety of ways…?”

“That just means Earthlings are weak. Tilla, you’re pretty good at throwing shade too.”

Meanwhile, Laura did not even think of joining the conversation of the three and was staring closely at the katana hanging elegantly on one wall.

Indeed, there was no hiding it.

The sword she was equipped with had a long, gently curved blade, making it very similar in style to a katana.

As Gi-jun cast his gaze on her, Laura, noticing it, spoke with a strange expression that was hard to read.

“I always thought Carmilla wielded a rather unique sword, but I never expected to see a similar one here. So it was originally a type of sword wielded by a priest… I feel a strange connection.”

“That’s not it, Laura. Ordinary shrine maidens don’t wield katanas.”

“What are you talking about, Hyung? A shrine maiden and a katana are such a well-matched combination— Ah.”

—Slide

The moment Eun-shin realized he had gotten too excited and awkwardly shut his mouth, a savior—Kurenai—appeared at a truly exquisite timing.

“I am sorry to have kept you waiting.”

Over the shoulder of Kurenai, who entered as the door opened and bowed politely, several shrine maidens could be seen bowing in the same manner.

Since she had brought the party to the shrine, ushered them into the room without ceremony, and left, he had wondered what kind of scheme she was plotting, but it seemed she had brought her elites.

…Of course, it was likely to protect herself in case of an emergency rather than to attack Gi-jun.

“I was late in attending to the guests and serving tea. Please forgive my rudeness. Murasaki.”

“Please excuse me.”

Among the shrine maidens, a woman whose purple hair stood out just like her name approached, placed a teacup in front of each member of the party, and poured tea with a reddish tint.

“It might taste a little bitter, but it is a tea brewed from the roots of gromwell, which is good for the body, so please feel safe to dri— Oh my.”

“I will drink it with gratitude.”

Before Murasaki could even finish her explanation, Gi-jun raised his teacup and moistened his throat.

At this clearest possible expression of trust, the tension that had imperceptibly filled the room eased considerably.

Of course, Gi-jun acted so boldly only because he had something to rely on.

‘This is why I love the Unfailing Body Clock.’

—It seems they really didn’t tamper with the tea. The other cups are fine too.

Seeing Gi-jun take another sip of tea without saying a word, the rest of the party finally put their minds at ease and drank the tea.

Seeing that, Kurenai’s gaze was fixed on Gi-jun once more.

It appeared she had reconfirmed that he was the leader of the party.

Sure enough, sitting opposite Gi-jun, she bowed her head again and spoke in a polite voice.

“Before we talk, I would like to apologize once again for keeping you waiting for so long. Things are currently a bit hectic within the shrine grounds.”

“A trainee shrine maiden went missing?”

“She wasn’t found in the village, so we think she might have gone outside, unable to endure the confinement. We worry that she might have slipped and fallen on the mountain… We can only hope she returns safely.”

Gi-jun raised his head at those words and quietly stared at Kurenai.

She, who was wearing a worried expression, blushed at Gi-jun’s gaze and turned her head away.

With her eyes cast down and her eyelashes trembling, she looked truly pitiful.

“I am not accustomed to men, so it is embarrassing when you look at me like that…”

“Hah.”

“Control yourself.”

Tilla, who was sitting next to her, firmly pressed down on the hilt to sheathe it again as Laura, who had been watching, snorted and tried to draw her sword.

Desperately ignoring his party members who were putting on a comedy skit, Gi-jun let out a sigh and blinked.

“I am sorry. I was just thinking that since the circumstances are not good, it can’t be helped if I am misunderstood.”

“I have already cleared the misunderstanding. If you had truly harmed Sakura, you would not have come to find me in this manner.”

“Thank you for believing me.”

“But unfortunately… I do not know how to exit this barrier either.”

Kurenai abruptly spoke a despairing conclusion.

“This barrier was created with the goal of permanently—yes, completely—isolating a certain area, including our shrine and village, from the continent of Leta. It was once a part of the continent of Leta, but now, this place exists independently as a small world.”

“Unique Territory.”

She flinched at Gi-jun’s whispered words.

It was as good as having confessed everything already.

“You used a Holy Relic.”

“That is… correct.”

Kurenai showed a flustered look, as if she had not expected him to guess it all at once.

On the other hand, the shrine maidens who escorted her showed signs of tension, bringing their hands to the scabbards at their waists as if they would draw their swords at any moment.

…No, did all shrine maidens really wield katanas?

—Okay, we can get out immediately if we just find and destroy the Holy Relic.

The ruthless Lucy reached a violent conclusion, but she was not wrong.

Since they had received confirmation that the barrier was maintained by a fragment of a Unique Territory, a Holy Relic, the party would surely be able to escape as long as they found and destroyed it.

That was precisely why the shrine maidens turned hostile toward Gi-jun all at once.

“If, by chance, you say that you will leave this place even if you must destroy the Holy Relic… I would like to ask you to please not do so.”

However, unlike the shrine maidens under her command, Kurenai showed no sign of hostility toward Gi-jun.

Perhaps she already knew that they could not match Gi-jun with their power.

To Gi-jun, Kurenai seemed to possess strength comparable to a Legendary rank—but since this side had not only Gi-jun but also Tilla, it was only natural for her to be intimidated beforehand and tuck her tail if she had noticed their strength.

“Is that so? Why?”

“Not only would it be troublesome for us if the Holy Relic were destroyed, but touching the Holy Relic carelessly is also dangerous for you as well.”

Thus, she kept talking to Gi-jun, maintaining a calm, and in a way, even subservient attitude throughout.

“The Holy Relic draws a massive amount of energy to maintain the barrier. If you attempt to approach or destroy it, there is no telling how the Holy Relic will react. Perhaps it might even extort your mana at will.”

—She is definitely trying to scare us. It’s true that the Holy Relic is impressive, but there’s no way the Contractor can’t destroy it. You even tore down the Lord of Thorns’ castle!

‘She doesn’t know we conquered Valahia, Lucy. Maybe she’s genuinely worrying.’

Gi-jun calmly soothed Lucy and asked Kurenai.

“First, I’d like to ask, why did you create the barrier?”

“It was to protect our children. I do not know if you noticed, but we became targets of a civilization hunt and lost a significant number of our members. Had we remained on the continent of Leta, we would have surely been defeated in the Civilization War and met ruin. So…”

“So you created the barrier to escape.”

Kurenai could not bring herself to answer and lowered her head deeply.

From her perspective, Gi-jun was merely an uninvited guest who had suddenly intruded upon a peaceful world where they were living well on their own.

Having to suddenly reveal the bare face of their failing civilization before such a person, she could not help but feel ashamed.

Gi-jun, who was facing her, was in an equally awkward position.

To think he would drop into a place like this of all things due to a rampage of authority. If he was going to be random teleported, how nice would it have been if he had been dropped in a place like a secret dungeon that no one had found.

‘For us to leave, destroying the Holy Relic is the fastest way. However, if the Holy Relic is destroyed, the survival of the civilization of the shrine maidens living in here will be endangered. It might just be Kurenai’s bluff, but even approaching the Holy Relic could be dangerous. And of course, she wouldn’t show us the Holy Relic without hesitation.’

Gi-jun let out a deep sigh.

It was good when they were just doing the Grand Quest in Gratia; getting involved with the Civilization War again brought nothing good.

Not only did he have to witness unspeakable sights while dealing with the hunters who pounced on him from all directions, but he also ended up as an illegal intruder in a civilization that had locked itself away to escape destruction.

—Contractor, let’s fight and win. I have the confidence to overcome all of it.

‘It’s good to be brave, Lucy, but I cannot slaughter people who bear no ill will toward me just for my own convenience.’

Indeed, that was the conclusion Gi-jun had reached.

Of course, it was unfair for the Lumen party to find themselves suddenly trapped inside a barrier, but that did not mean they could destroy the barrier at will and put those shrine maidens in danger.

—Is that the Contractor’s path of a superhuman? If so…

‘Lucy, you aren’t thinking of provoking them first to make them attack us, are you?’

—Ugh.

Gi-jun uncannily read the mind of his contracted spirit and blocked her intentions.

As the startled Lucy shut her mouth, he chuckled and cast his gaze on his party members.

“I’d like to hear everyone’s opinion.”

“It seems Jun’s mind is already made up. If you intended to destroy the Holy Relic, you would have put it into action long ago, wouldn’t you?”

Gi-jun could only readily agree with Tilla’s sharp observation.

“I’m sorry, Tilla.”

“There’s no need to be sorry. Jun’s will is my will.”

With the two in agreement, Laura also nodded with a somewhat relieved expression.

“I also feel a sort of affinity with them… We cannot stay trapped in here forever, but couldn’t we look for other ways before that?”

“We have to protect these people…! I want to protect them, Hyung!”

Eun-shin’s comment was ignored this time as well.

Having gathered everyone’s opinions, Gi-jun faced Kurenai once more and spoke.

“You won’t be able to believe us easily, but at least we have no intention of going after the Holy Relic right now.”

“Pardon…?”

For a moment, an emotion of disbelief seemed to flash across Kurenai’s face.

Perhaps she had been preparing to confront him on one hand, even while begging for Gi-jun’s mercy.

Gi-jun continued to speak to Kurenai, who had frozen in place as if it were a completely unexpected reaction.

“In return, though it might be shameless of me to say as a guest… I would like to find out if there is another way to escape the barrier, so I hope you can help us a little.”

That was Gi-jun’s compromise.

Of course, if he could not find a way in the end, Gi-jun might have to think otherwise, but he didn’t want to draw a battle line just yet.

He also had something to rely on in his own way.

“…You are a kind person.”

Kurenai quietly murmured.

“Those we met in Leta were not like this, but for you to show us this much consideration…”

Of course, she couldn’t bring herself to trust Gi-jun right away.

At the very least, there was no longer any affectation in the smile she wore toward Gi-jun.

“If so, we must naturally show our courtesy to our guests. We will serve you so that you experience no discomfort during your stay here. Murasaki.”

“Yes, I will prepare the lodgings right away.”

The purple-haired shrine maiden, who had poured tea for the party earlier, backed away and left the room with great dexterity.

Kurenai seemed to remain silent for a moment even after that, but soon opened her mouth again.

“And… though I am not confident it is possible, I will also offer a prayer to Kore. The barrier is also maintained by Kore’s power, so if we prepare the ceremony with care and offer our prayers, we might be able to send only you outside the barrier.”

“A ceremony, how long does that take?”

“It is one month.”

At that moment, a deadline was drawn in Gi-jun’s heart as well.

One month. He would also do his best to find a way to exit the barrier.

And if he couldn’t find one, and if they couldn’t leave the barrier even after Kurenai offered her prayers.

If even Gi-jun’s trump card could not break through.

At that time, Gi-jun might have to break his own conviction.

“That’s great. By the time we get out of here, our equipment will be fully completed.”

“Though there is no guarantee we can return to Uralta immediately even if we get out of here.”

In this way, the Lumen party unexpectedly welcomed a long vacation.

However, there was still an unsolved mystery remaining.

‘But where on earth did the evil spirit go?’