ALL NOVEL Chapter 244
Chapter 244: Copycat (3)
Jo Du-jin’s call to Gilbert, a politician from America, had an immense effect.
Not even an hour after their conversation ended, contacts from Australia and Russia came pouring in.
Jo Du-jin summoned Yang Ji-cheol and personally entered into video calls with the officials from each country.
“Go on, give it a try.”
His tone sounded like someone was holding in their anger.
The heroes from Russia and Australia appearing on the large screen couldn’t lift their heads, clad in their translation devices.
The scheme to invade another world had been a collaborative effort led by the two countries.
“The goal was to exile the criminals who failed rehabilitation instead of imprisoning them on Earth.”
“Which means… you were trying to make another world your trash bin? And this is based on the involvement of the world’s Rank 1 Heroes?”
“…….”
“They’re as worthless as these invaders!”
The enraged Jo Du-jin clashed with the officials who could only offer excuses.
In the midst, Yang Ji-cheol was sweating profusely on his forehead, mediating the situation.
After the oppressive phone call from the Korean side ended, Jo Du-jin declared, “I’m going to make this public to the international community.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“I can almost hear the sound of their national dignity crumbling all the way from here.”
But Jo Du-jin’s anger was brief.
He cast a worried look at Yang Ji-cheol and asked, “Are the heroes in Kallem really okay?”
“Yes, as I reported, they parted ways with the criminals on the first day and are now focusing on their original purpose.”
“I hope nothing major happens.”
“With Yoo Ji-han there, I’m sure everything will be fine!”
“……You seem to have considerable faith in Yoo Ji-han.”
“Oh.”
“You also have Watanabe and Park Jae-kyung there.”
Yang Ji-cheol covered his mouth with his palm.
His true feelings had slipped out without him realizing.
“Cough! Yoo Ji-han always brings about good results in any venture he undertakes.”
“He’s certainly a remarkable friend. I was so surprised when he processed Drimium…”
Yoo Ji-han, who confidently brought something no one could handle and made it his own.
There was something inspiring about his feats of accomplishing what seemed impossible.
*
The battle with the fake Yoon Do-ha, who possessed Yoon Do-ha’s magic.
While it was said that his level was low compared to the original, he was by no means something to be taken lightly.
Yoo Ji-han steeled himself for another attack as he headed towards Maz.
“……Is this really Maz?”
“Yes.”
What unfolded in Maz was indeed a bit different from what the group had expected.
After glancing around, Kim Si-hu scratched his cheek and said, “It’s too peaceful.”
Citizens busily walked along wide streets.
They weren’t fleeing to a safe place, nor did they wield weapons.
They were living their ordinary lives just as before.
There were no civil disturbances, let alone any minor skirmishes.
‘The Threads of Truth have all disappeared.’
As it had appeared to Yoo Ji-han from afar, the Thread of Truth grew fainter as they approached Maz.
After stepping into Maz, it completely vanished without a trace.
Only a vague recollection of the specific area where the threads persisted lingered.
“Those people’s outfits are quite unusual.”
“They seem to be from Kabuum.”
“Is that what kind of clothing is in fashion there?”
The citizens of Maz were mostly dressed in comfortable attire.
This curious appearance led many to look at the heroes’ equipment with fascination.
“I-I must go to the guards for now.”
“Let’s go together.”
Yoo Ji-han’s party headed to the guards with the man who survived the encounter with the fake Yoon Do-ha.
The guards welcomed them with astonished looks upon seeing bodies covered in cloth.
“Are you saying someone fainted and did this?”
“That’s correct.”
“Hmm…….”
After hearing the details of the incident, the guard looked suspiciously at the Japanese sword Watanabe was wearing at his waist.
They began to suspect the uniquely dressed heroes as the culprits.
“Over here.”
“Oh, I see you’re from a guild! I apologize for not recognizing it.”
However, when Yoo Ji-han showed them the Yogo Guild’s emblem, their expressions brightened.
In a place where exports through trade were highly valued, they treated guild members with utmost respect.
Yoo Ji-han asked curiously, “By the way, has there been no significant battle around here recently?”
“No? There hasn’t been anything like that lately.”
Yoo Ji-han frowned at the guard’s response.
If Park Jae-kyung was indeed forced to use her Unique Skill, even if the ground shook and everything around them was destroyed, it wouldn’t be surprising.
It didn’t make sense for the law enforcement guards to be unaware of such an event.
However, the guard didn’t seem to be lying at all.
“Well then, let’s head to the guild’s branch.”
After handing off the bodies to the guards, the party moved on to the Yogo Guild’s branch in Maz.
Fortunately, the branch was close enough to walk from the guards’ area.
“There’s more humans here than I expected? I thought there’d be more dwarves.”
While walking, Watanabe expressed his confusion.
He had known that more than half of the residents of Maz were dwarves.
The only group among the Three Major Forces where mixed races exceed half.
And yet, they still hadn’t spotted a single dwarf.
“Over there.”
“……!”
At that moment, Lee Mi-a pointed to a dark alley between the buildings.
In the alley were individuals cloaked from head to toe in large robes.
Yoo Ji-han locked eyes with one of them.
‘What is this?’
The person he met gaze with looked genuinely startled.
Then, almost instinctively, they began to retreat with their companions, as if fleeing in fear.
Then Chilla puffed up proudly and said, “Squeak! They’re running away, intimidated by my presence!”
“How cocky.”
“Squeak, squeak! That hurts!”
Min Yu-ri poked Chilla in the side, making him flail his arms.
*
Upon arriving at the Yogo Guild’s branch, Yoo Ji-han started searching for someone.
He knew that someone hired by the guild was working there.
“Who are you?”
“I’m an official from Leron.”
He found an employee organizing the logistics warehouse and initiated a conversation.
After a brief exchange, she turned out to be one of the people they met a few days back when Team 2 had gone to the mine.
“If you mean them, they went to the mine with my colleague a few days ago.”
“Does the guild go to the mines directly as well?”
“The guild that made the deal in Maz is required to participate in site visits. They should be returning soon, but… it’s taking longer than expected.”
“Please let me know where they are located.”
After receiving the location of the mine from the employee, Yoo Ji-han exited the branch.
He intended to move immediately following Team 2.
“Please wait a moment.”
However, just then, someone halted them.
It was the guards they had met earlier.
“What’s going on now?”
“Are you… the Pig’s Soup Mercenary Corps?”
“Yes, that’s us.”
Had word already spread this far? Even the guards of Maz knew their name.
“Then, is your name Yoo Ji-han? The first outsider to participate in the rituals in Kabuum?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“……!”
As they discovered Yoo Ji-han’s identity, the guards exchanged glances and began to whisper among themselves.
They then bowed deeply and said, “Please, follow us.”
“One of our Rulers is looking for you.”
It appeared the rulers of Maz were seeking the Pig’s Soup Mercenary Corps.
However, Yoo Ji-han swiftly shook his head and said, “We’re busy right now.”
“But this is a request from the Ruler…”
“If they want to meet me, tell them to come to the mine directly.”
“Th-That’s!”
Being swept up in the demands of high-ranking individuals was enough already with Kabuum.
It might be good to establish a connection with the ruler of Maz, but right now the urgent matter was finding Park Jae-kyung and Team 2.
Yoo Ji-han ignored the visibly distressed guards and continued on.
“It finally feels like we’re nearing a mine.”
As they moved farther from the city center, unpaved roads became more common.
The air began to smell dank as they ascended the sloping road.
—This air is musty!
“Squeak! Master! It’s hard to breathe!”
As the surrounding air changed, the Sylph stirred in Yoo Ji-han’s arms and voiced his complaint.
Chilla felt the same way.
Clatter! Clatter!
Dwarves pulling carts laden with ore were moving around furiously.
Dwarves, who had seemingly vanished from the roadside, all appeared to be gathered here.
As Kim Si-hu cast his gaze at them, the dwarf who met his eyes flinched in surprise.
It was similar to the reaction of those who had fled down the alley earlier.
“Stop! Are you visitors from the guild?”
“Yes.”
“……What about that large creature next to you?”
“I am probably a human. Squeak!”
The supervisors overseeing the dwarves at the scene were all humans, not dwarves.
The managers seemed accustomed to the guild’s visits as they held whips in hand and gestured toward a passing young dwarf.
“Hey, you! Come here.”
“Yes sir!”
“You were the one who played the guide last time, right?”
“That’s true…”
“You’re in charge of attending to these guests today. Give them your full attention.”
“B-but sir! I still have my mining quota to fulfill for today.”
“Do as you’re told, you insect!”
Crack!
With no hesitation, the manager swung the whip toward the dwarf.
As if striking the ground, he displayed no reluctance.
The young dwarf braced himself, anticipating the incoming pain with tightly closed eyes.
Whack!
But the whip was caught mid-strike by Lee Mi-a, who was nearby.
“N-no?!”
The manager was astonished to see her unfazed by the sharp twine being held bare-handed.
No matter how hard he pulled, the whip wouldn’t return to him.
The disparity in power was alarmingly one-sided!
Then, with full force, Mi-a grabbed the whip from the manager and said, “You shouldn’t wield things like this against people.”
“They’re not humans. They’re just vermin.”
“What?”
Mi-a shot a displeased glare at the manager.
At that, the manager’s face turned pale with fear.
“Give it back now.”
“Hmph.”
At Yoo Ji-han’s command, Mi-a slowly returned the coiled whip.
Upon receiving the whip back, the manager hastily retreated.
After he completely vanished, the young dwarf bowed gratitude towards Mi-a.
“Thank you.”
“Sure.”
“But you don’t need to jump in like that right now.”
“Why not?”
“If you leave, they’ll take it out on me later for this. That’ll hurt way more.”
“…….”
“It seems like you guys are new to Maz.”
Mi-a was left speechless by the calm but jarring words of the child.
Regardless of age, this dialogue confirmed the treatment dwarves received in Maz.
Watanabe observed the sharp pickaxe the young dwarf was holding and asked, “You don’t resist with something like that?”
“Then I’d just get kicked out. I have nowhere else to go except here.”
“I see.”
“……Since I’ve been given orders, I’ll guide you all.”
The young dwarf led Yoo Ji-han’s party to higher ground.
Yoo Ji-han followed him, asking, “What’s your name?”
“Grun Heights.”
“Can I just call you Grun?”
“Call me however you like.”
Grun, the dwarf, had just been working in this mine for the past few months.
Yoo Ji-han asked him about Team 2, but similar to the guards, Grun didn’t seem to know anything.
“Going inside will take you to the area that’s currently under operation.”
Numerous dwarves were hustling in and out of the mine’s entrance.
In front of them piled various colored ores of unknown composition.
—Oh!
The Sylph jumped in surprise.
Yoo Ji-han realized why it suddenly reacted.
‘Magic Crystals.’
Among the stuff spilling from the ore-carrying carts onto the ground were mixed some magic crystals.
Just as Fran had said in the past, magic crystals were indeed being mined in Maz.
‘They’re treated like gems here.’
Magic crystals were regarded as gemstones in this place.
They felt more like collectibles for the nobility.
However, they weren’t extraordinarily valuable—it was more of a mid-range gem.
—Yuck!
Yoo Ji-han reached into his pocket and gave the excited Sylph a gentle smack on the head.
Grun looked at him sideways and remarked, “The people you’re looking for have probably been here.”
As they approached the scene where dwarves busily worked, many eyes turned toward them.
The dull stares of those looking at humans.
After recognizing that they weren’t the managers of the mine, the dwarves soon lost interest.
Yoo Ji-han observed the dark interior of the mine from the entrance and stretched out his arms, murmuring softly.
“Sylph.”
—Yap!
[Wind Scanner]
A stream of invisible wind burst forth from his palm.
The wind shot deep inside the mine, swiftly racing through the tunnels.
Whooooosh——!
A myriad of spatial information emerged from the depths of the mine’s various forks and blocked paths, delivered to Yoo Ji-han without omission.
Using the collected information, he sketched a virtual map in his mind.
‘It’s not that complicated of a structure.’
Because the space didn’t disperse the wind easily, the skill was being maintained stably.
Just as he was getting an understanding of the mine without entering, something occurred.
“……?”
A very familiar presence was felt from deeper within the mine.
Initially, he thought it might simply be a misperception.
It was familiar to him, but slightly foreign to be detected in Kallem’s mine.
However, a moment later, recognizing it wasn’t just a trick of the mind…
Yoo Ji-han’s expression hardened into a cold frown.
‘Why is there Space Distortion here?’
The Space Distortion that had tormented and toyed with countless heroes in Korea.
It was an unforgettable sensation for him, having faced the mages of Ajesia.
“Grun! What are you doing here?!”
“Ah! Sir!”
Grun stood by, observing Yoo Ji-han’s puzzling behavior when suddenly someone called out behind him.
It was a fellow dwarf who looked to be much older than him.
“Eh?”
Kim Si-hu tilted his head at the man conversing with Grun.
Then he could no longer hold back and shouted, “Hey! You bearded dwarf over there.”
“What is it, human?”
“Do you happen to know a dwarf named Fran Fager?”
“……How do you know my son’s name?!”
Upon hearing Kim Si-hu’s question, the dwarf gasped in shock.
He was the father of Fran Fager, who was on Earth.