60 – 12 – I Will Carry – 5

Gin’s parents had reached the conclusion that because the moon strengthened the werewolf’s wild nature and took away their reason, the only way to escape the werewolf’s shackles was to overcome the moon head-on.

At the same time, silver, which possessed purifying properties, was also essential to overcome the mental pollution the moon brought to werewolves and to wash away the venom.

“From the time the child was young, we continuously exposed him to the moon and silver according to a strict schedule. We did a truly…… truly terrible thing to Gin.”

From outside, the screams of Gin, who was still being scolded by his father, could be heard.

Giving a bitter smile, the woman ran her hand over Gin’s experimental logs spanning nearly twenty years spread across the laboratory table, and continued speaking in a low voice.

“I wanted to rid Gin of the werewolf’s shackles at all costs. It was too terrible to lose one’s reason entirely and turn into a slaughter-crazed beast every time a full moon appeared, or every time the alpha wolf howled……”

“Do the villagers feel the same way? That is, prioritizing Gin over themselves.”

At Gi-jun’s sharp question, the expressions of the party members stiffened slightly.

However, the woman nodded confidently.

“You might not expect this, but we were all from the same research institute. We researched and studied magic together from a very long time ago…… Even after becoming werewolves, we relied on each other to survive tenaciously and reached this place. We are practically one family now.”

“One family, huh.”

Recalling the woman who had particularly welcomed Gin when they first entered the village, starting a combo attack by slapping his back, Gi-jun also nodded.

“Moreover, it is very difficult for a child to be born between werewolves who are not originally purebloods…… so Gin is like the child of everyone in the village.”

“It is indeed surprising. In the first place, it is rare for those who were bitten by Vrykolakas and reduced to their kin to even obtain the freedom to start a family.”

“Yes, that was also the reason we fled following Quinodon. Because we loved each other very much.”

Smiling faintly at Hervunt’s point and offering a supplementary explanation, the woman’s expression turned serious again as she continued.

“Admittedly, the current research has been thoroughly planned and experimented with since Gin was still in my womb, so it cannot be applied to others. However, if only Gin can return to being a human, the data obtained in the process will allow us to start experiments that are more universal, stable, and applicable to other werewolves like us……!”

Although he had already looked over the materials in general, the content of the research was so independent and specific that even Armillca, who had held high expectations, shook her head.

Just as the woman had explained, what meaning would there be for the JAHIL party to barge into research that had been built on a schedule meticulously drawn up since Gin’s birth?

“Is there really anything we can do to help with that research?”

Gi-jun asked, resolving that if human experimentation was required, he would run away without even looking back.

Fortunately, she nodded.

“To be honest, we are in a situation where we have already done everything we can do with our own power.”

“Only one thing remains,” she said, holding up her index finger.

“And that is silver imbued with moonlight.”

Silver, the metal that suppressed werewolves who were strengthened by moonlight.

Looking at that alone, it seemed as if the moon and silver could never achieve harmony.

However, they had formulated a theory to the contrary: that precisely because werewolves were ruled by the moon, they had to utilize the true power of the moon to completely suppress it.

It felt like a pseudo-scientific theory similar to fighting fire with fire, but since everyone else listening nearby was nodding seriously, Gi-jun had no choice but to go along with the mood for now.

Would he really be able to cook and eat samgyetang this summer…… Just as Gi-jun was having such thoughts, Hervunt asked in a stiff voice beside him.

“Does such a thing actually exist?”

“If it is this ruin, there will definitely be silver holding moonlight. We also have a guess as to the location.”

As could be seen just by looking at the Moon-Welcoming Stone, a special mineral that only came from this ruin, the power of the moon was exceptionally strong here.

If they had been continuously exposed to that mystery since long before the Vrykolakas fugitives settled down, it would not be strange for the power of the moon to dwell within silver.

“So, where is the location?”

“There is a place where we previously mined silver. Looking at the map, it is around here……”

The woman pulled out a map that described the geography of the ruins in quite detail, boldly drew a circle near the center with a pen, drew a straight line from there to a very large mountain range, and drew two overlapping circles on top of it.

“If we trace back along the leyline, it is almost certain that there is a silver vein here. In fact, the Quinodon gang ruling the ruins also tends to avoid this mountain.”

“So it is certain for now that there is something that greatly weakens werewolves……”

“However, the path there will be extremely dangerous. Beyond this point is completely occupied by the Quinodon gang and―― feral werewolves, so we have never dared to go.”

Although she spoke with great worry, the party members actually brightened up upon hearing those words and each offered a comment.

“I knew there would be a hot spot.”

“We can certainly rake in some experience points.”

“I’m nervous, but…… I will do my best!”

“It finally feels a bit like a quest now.”

At the last words added by Hervunt, Gi-jun couldn’t help but chuckle as well.

Gi-jun had also been inwardly expecting this kind of development since the moment he stepped in to help with the research.

The ones conducting the research were strictly NPCs, and the Summoned would retrieve the items necessary for the research one by one; that kind of development.

In the midst of that, they had even obtained a map describing the inside of the ruins in detail, which was an impeccable achievement.

“Ahahaha…… you are brave people. Still, please rest today and depart tomorrow. It is almost time for the moonlight to grow stronger, so it will be difficult to deal with the wolves.”

“Moonlight?”

Gi-jun tilted his head at those words.

“Isn’t the moon here fixed in the sky?”

“That’s right. It’s just that once a day, there is a time when the light it emits becomes stronger; at that time, not only does an earthquake occur in the area, but the moonlight even enters this village.”

The concept of this ruin was indeed thorough.

As Gi-jun clicked his tongue in amazement, the woman smiled faintly and added.

“As you all might have guessed, it is not a real moon, but―― it is probably an extraordinary artifact related to the birth of this ruin.”

“An artifact! Can we take that moon as well?”

“Why don’t you give it a try? Our eyes will be quite entertained watching you hop up and down.”

Hervunt spoke mockingly at the words of Armillca, whose greed showed no signs of subsiding.

Leaving the two who began their staring contest again, Gi-jun spoke.

“Then tonight…… although I do not know if it is truly night, let us rest for a bit before leaving. Ma’am, may I borrow the kitchen for a moment?”

“Pardon? The kitchen?”

The woman’s eyes went round in bewilderment.

Gi-jun took off his stuffy helmet and grinned.

“Yes, perhaps my cooking will be of help to Gin.”

“Excuse me……?”

Tonight’s dinner menu was tteokgalbi shaped like a round full moon.

Actually, he had hesitated for a moment about whether to make hamburger steak, and the cooking process was not that different, but since he was presenting a dish to many people after a long time, he wanted to secretly and slyly appeal to them that he was Korean and that what they were eating was Korean food, without them even realizing it.

So, having made up his mind to make tteokgalbi, he then arrived at the thought that since he was making tteokgalbi anyway, it would be polite to make it luxuriously without mixing it with pork or other vegetables.

As a result, he reached the final decision to make Damyang-style tteokgalbi, finding himself in the position of doing the tedious work of preparing the expensive beef short ribs one by one, deboning only the meat, and mincing it.

It was fortunate that he had bought a whole cow, saying they did not know when they would eat on the expedition road.

“Wow…… you handle knives really well, Jun-nim.”

“Mhm.”

Although Gi-jun had to take off his gauntlets to cook, he did not compromise on the other parts, stubbornly wearing an apron over his armor; at the sight of him mincing the rib meat by dazzlingly wielding kitchen knives in both hands, Laura clapped innocently.

Since the other members, who had been bored staying inside, had gone out to look around the narrow village and greet the people, Laura was the only one left among his party members right now.

Actually, Armillca also wanted to stay by Laura’s side, but Hervunt and In, who saw through her intentions, dragged her out together.

“Have you ever thought about wielding a sword as a weapon?”

“A kitchen knife and a sword are different.”

“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way……”

“It’s fine.”

Gi-jun stopped Laura, who was on the verge of bowing her head to apologize again out of her excessive respect for him that constantly made her subservient.

Seasoning the moderately minced meat with sugar, honey, and soy sauce obtained from an importer in Turis, Gi-jun continued speaking.

“At first, I held a shield because I didn’t want to be a nuisance to others. I tried holding other weapons too―― but in the end, the shield felt most familiar in my hands. So, eventually, with my master’s help, I learned how to fight with a shield.”

—You are wrapping up your training with that devil in a very plausible way, Contractor.

Lightly ignoring Lucy’s words, he began to knead the tteokgalbi with his hands.

As she remained silent even though he had been kneading the meat for a while, he glanced sideways only to find her eyes welling with tears, seemingly moved by his blatant lie.

Gi-jun was so flustered that he even forgot to maintain his concept and muttered.

“What’s this? Why are you crying?”

“Because I can feel your noble resolve, Jun-nim……! I knew you were a hero to the core, Jun-nim……!”

Did this girl intend to misinterpret his intentions and turn him into a hero regardless of what he did?

But putting aside the fact that her blind respect was burdensome, it was quite helpful in the current situation.

‘Since there are only the two of us here…… and Laura is a trustworthy person, it would be best to tell her now.’

Thomas Aquinas, an Italian-born priest who was also a great theologian and philosopher, left a famous quote: ‘To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.’

Although the object of faith Master Aquinas spoke of was God, the faith Laura held in Gi-jun would not be much different from that.

No matter what Gi-jun said, Laura would trust and follow him without demanding clear proof.

“Laura, I have something to tell you.”

“Y-yes?! Please tell me anything! I am resolved…… and ready!”

A masked man speaking in a serious voice while kneading tteokgalbi with an apron worn over his armor.

If it were Gi-jun, he would have detested such a person, but Laura was waiting for his words with her eyes shining brightly.

‘Lucy.’

—I already set up a barrier.

She set up a soundproof barrier utilizing spirit power without even Laura noticing.

Whatever words she was expecting, it would be more shocking than that; Gi-jun smiled bitterly and opened his mouth.

“――― is the enemy.”

“Pardon……?”

It was a question asked not because she could not hear him, but because the content was too shocking.

However, Gi-jun did not explain further, only adding as he kneaded the tteokgalbi:

“So be careful.”

“Yes…….”

Whether she understood from his serious tone that it was not a joke, Laura nodded with a blank expression.

Gi-jun nodded back and returned to his cooking.

‘For the tteokgalbi, I just need to grill it while seasoning. For the remaining bones and meat, it would be nice to make a broth and eat it with noodles.’

—Noodles? Yay, Contractor is the best!

—Kit!

Whether Gi-jun had a serious conversation with his party member or not, Lucy was simply overjoyed and jumping around at the fact that she could consume noodles tonight.

Every time she showed such behavior, Ur glared at her as if she were pathetic, but Gi-jun did not bother to point out the fact that the creature itself was no different from Lucy once the food he made was set in front of it.

* * *

Gi-jun’s tteokgalbi and noodles were, of course, highly praised.

Although the selective small-eater Armillca ate only a little and left the rest this time as well, Gin and Hervunt went so far as to finish what she had left and ask for another bowl of tteokgalbi each.

“I understand what you meant earlier. This dish…… surprisingly, contains a power that denies evil existences.”

Meanwhile, Gin’s mother was startled and widened her eyes as she ate his food.

“Furthermore, it only shrinks the power as a werewolf without any major side effects…… It feels as if a defiled soul is being healed, ah.”

“Keup……”

Unlike her, who described the efficacy of Gi-jun’s cooking in detail as if she were a critic, Gin’s father emptied his bowl of noodles in silence, tears dripping down.

Gi-jun smiled bitterly at the sight, recalling someone he knew well, and spoke.

“Still, if you eat it long-term, it might not be good for your body.”

“It might look like the body is getting worse, but that is strictly when discussing the magnitude of power. Rather, I feel the pure magic power, which has been pushed aside by the werewolf’s energy all this time, slowly squirming in my body.”

“It is truly…… a truly amazing dish. To think that we, who were driven into the darkness, would be treated to a dish so full of the energy of light.”

After clean-sweeping all the bowls, Gin’s father offered Gi-jun a handshake.

“Thank you. It was a dish that gave us hope that we, too, could return to being human one day.”

“If the opportunity arises, I will treat you to cooking again.”

Whether he was pleased by those words, the man’s pot-lid-like hand holding Gi-jun’s was squeezed tightly.

He shook Gi-jun’s hand vigorously a couple of times and then let go.

“I must reward you. Oh, by the way, do you know how to shoot a gun?”

“Ah――! That won’t do, Dad!”

Gin, who was licking his lips after clean-sweeping his second bowl of tteokgalbi, sprang up from his seat and shouted.

“You should give that to me! I’ve been practicing shooting hard!”

“Gin? What would you use it for?”

“Of course, because I will follow these people to mine the silver containing moonlight! I need a weapon to protect myself!”

At Gin’s bombshell declaration, Gi-jun nodded, thinking he had expected him to act that way, whereas his parents turned solemn as if they had not considered it in the slightest.

“No.”

“No, Gin. Do you still not get it even after failing once? You cannot handle them.”

From the woman’s words, Gi-jun realized that Gin had not simply come out to gather food, but had ventured out to find the silver containing moonlight by his own strength.

“Why? As long as I have a weapon, I can fight in my own way! I can wield a silver axe without any problem, and the same goes for a gun! I’ve been practicing hard all this time!”

“What kind of talk is that……! Do you know what these people are going to gather silver for?!”

“Sit down, Gin. You are weak, and I cannot let my son go off to commit suicide.”

“I’m a respectable adult now, too――! I want to get proper revenge on the bastards who ignored and trampled over me!”

A fight between parent and child unfolding on the spot.

At the sight, which was something one would only see in an Earth drama, Gi-jun even felt a sense of nostalgia.

Of course, the ending was also similar to a drama; Gin, a teenager who was furious at his parents for not understanding his wishes, stormed out of his seat and left.

Right, he had not paid attention until now because he was a werewolf, but the fellow was still only nineteen years old.

“Everyone is like that when they are young. It is a period when they do not doubt that they possess special potential. He will be fine after tasting bitterness once; I was like that as well.”

Hervunt shrugged and spoke in a joking manner in an attempt to clear up the extremely awkward situation, but unfortunately, it did not have much effect.

Armillca, who made one wonder if she was wasting all the calories she saved from eating small meals on chocolate, giggled as she took out and bit into a new piece of chocolate.

“Didn’t he think it would be fine if he went with us? It’s just that our combat power would decrease from having to protect that brat――.”

“Armillca.”

“No, it’s okay. Because it’s the truth.”

The woman let out a sigh and stood up from her seat.

“I must reason with him. That child still does not know how attractive of a prey he is……”

“I will go too.”

“M-me too!”

As Laura stood up following Gi-jun, Armillca’s eyes sparkled as she attempted to get up from her seat.

“Ah, then I will also go with Lau――ra……”

“Sit down. Since you won’t be of any help.”

“What else would you do besides provoke the boy even if you found him?”

However, the hands of the two extended from both sides soon forced her back down into her seat.

They were truly reliable party members indeed.

Gi-jun, who walked out of the house with a smirk, spotted Gin right away without having to go far.

Fortunately, a woman living in this village had found Gin first and was holding onto him.

“―――, Auntie.”

—Still…… your father…….

Seeing that Gin called her Auntie, she seemed to be the woman who had welcomed the group first at the entrance of the village earlier.

Hugging Gin, patting his back roughly, and stroking his hair, she was indeed coaxing and comforting him with all her heart.

“Ah…… Tolomea, really.”

Upon seeing that sight, Gin’s mother momentarily wore a complex expression, but before long, she walked toward them with a smile.

Gi-jun turned to Laura, whose blank expression suggested she had not yet recovered from the shock, and shrugged.

“It’s better if we don’t interrupt.”

“That lady……”

At that moment, Laura suddenly opened her mouth and spoke.

“She seems to have a really strong attachment to Gin.”

“Because she said he was like the son of everyone in the village.”

“A son……”

For some reason, a shadow fell over Laura’s face at those words.

“If that is truly the case, it is amazing. To think that one can treat a complete stranger like a son just because of the accumulated years…… No, is it actually possible precisely because they are complete strangers?”

Her question sounded strangely vivid.

As if she had some experience related to it.

Only then did Gi-jun realize that her blank expression might not have been due to the conversation they had shared earlier.

“If you ever need someone to talk to about your worries, tell me.”

At the words he brought up, Laura shook her head in surprise, as if she had not expected it in the slightest.

“Jun-nim listening to my worries? That is far more than I deserve.”

“It makes me worry more if you say that, so just tell me.”

“……!”

At Gi-jun’s casual tone, Laura’s eyes went round for an instant, before her eyes quickly narrowed as they formed pretty crescents.

“Then I will ask you later. Since my mind is all over the place right now because of other matters.”

“Then do so.”

“Sigh, why did you have to tell such an important fact only to me in the first place……!”

Whether she had gained quite a bit of energy from Gi-jun’s non-consoling consolation, or had felt a sense of familiarity from his casual attitude, Laura also laughed while blaming him in a rather playful tone.

Lucy watched this and delivered her judgment.

—It looks like you’ve already entered a route, what should we do? Ur, would you sacrifice your body to burn them?

—Kit!

—……Fufu.

The next day, the JAHIL party left the village and set out for the mountain with the silver vein, trying their best to ignore the desperate gaze sent by Gin, who was bound tightly to a pillar in the living room.

* * *

[Biche♥ (Dimensional Waiting Room): Ah, he’s ghosting me again.]

[Biche♥ (Dimensional Waiting Room): Jjun, you’re a really extravagant man. You know that?]

[Biche♥ (Dimensional Waiting Room): (This message has been deleted.)]

[Biche♥ (Dimensional Waiting Room): You’re still inside the ruins, right? I know. You must be busy, and you’d be even busier as the party leader.]

[Biche♥ (Dimensional Waiting Room): Still, I’m disappointed. No matter how busy you are, can’t you check your phone once in a while and send me a message? How can you not contact me for a whole day?]

[Biche♥ (Dimensional Waiting Room): I’m not deleting this one, because I’m mad.]

[Biche♥ (Dimensional Waiting Room): (This message has been deleted.)]

[Biche♥ (Dimensional Waiting Room): (This message has been deleted.)]

[Biche♥ (Dimensional Waiting Room): You need to realize how bored I am and reflect on yourself.]

[Biche♥ (Dimensional Waiting Room): I’m just bored, you know?]

[Biche♥ (Dimensional Waiting Room): How are your party members? You didn’t forget what I said about watching out for women, right?]

[Biche♥ (Dimensional Waiting Room): Ah, and I just thought of one more thing you need to be careful of.]

[Biche♥ (Dimensional Waiting Room): Internal division.]