It was an ordinary day.
Trigo, the apprentice blacksmith of the Puiego tribe, was descending from the mountains carrying mined obsidian. Suddenly, a torrential downpour poured down so abruptly that it felt like he couldn’t even open his eyes, and his feet sank into the mud without a chance to avoid it. He thought it must be a landslide.
But then, he found himself waking up not buried under the earth but in the den of a demon. And then… he must have fled with all his might before losing consciousness. Trigo’s eyes flickered open for a moment.
“Oh, he’s awake!”
Three pairs of eyes were looking down at him. Trigo blinked his eyes once and then groped around to find his axe. It was an instinctive reaction. Even as an apprentice blacksmith, Trigo had basic combat skills.
“How does it feel to come back from the dead?”
At that moment, the woman looking down at him spoke. Coming back from the dead? Yeah. That’s right. I almost died, didn’t I?
‘Could these humans possibly…’
Now, the stopped incident came back to him. And come to think of it, there was no feeling of heat on his forehead. Trigo sprang up like a spring.
“Hey, you humans. Did you save me?”
A moment of silence passed. The three humans exchanged glances and signaled each other.
“Oh. They’re humans. Look at that. Not dwarves!”
“Indeed, it’s rather strange. Wait. Now that I think about it, isn’t the way she speaks a bit odd? The way she talks doesn’t match her lip movements. It’s like she’s using translation skills.”
“This doesn’t seem right. We should inform Leader Pyeong and Leader Dok.”
Their muttering was audible to everyone.
“Hey, you humans. You heard it. Let me ask again. Are you my saviors?”
The Puiego tribe was sure of its benefactors. Trigo needed to confirm. Then, a woman with a curious look in her eyes answered.
“Well, I’m one of your benefactors! Call me Seo sunhwa.”
“I’m Trigo of the Puiego tribe. Seo sunhwa, are you a healer?”
“Oh-ho. What’s with all the talking?”
“Seo sunhwa. Shouldn’t we call the leaders first?”
“Ah, Seo Sanghoon, just hold on a moment. It’s just a greeting, what’s the harm? Nobody instructed us not to talk,” despite the man’s objections, Seo sunhwa’s interest didn’t wane. Trigo, who was observing him, furrowed his brow.
“Team leader?”
I wonder what that thing is, and why I’ve been looking for it all this time. And the clothes they’re wearing are weird. …. Trigo looked around. There were things everywhere that he had never seen before. Just when he thought something was wrong, the woman answered.
“Oh, she’s our team leader, the healer who treated you. She’ll be here soon. So, what exactly are you? Hmm. Is that a weird question? You’re a person, right? No, wait. How did you end up there in the first place? Could it be some kind of dimensional thing?”
Meanwhile, Pyeong-ari was going through a particularly intense time. It was due to the follow-up measures regarding the unidentified individual found in the ant tunnel.
“Oh my, that’s troublesome. The unidentified individual is something our Healing Guild intends to protect.”
[Pyeong-ari Team Leader. This is a matter of significant national importance. Moreover, isn’t this person found in a location strictly managed by the Association?]
“You make a good point. A place strictly managed by the Association. Yes, that’s right. It’s the person found during the ant tunnel extermination operation.”
[You know it well. So please transfer them to us.]
“Just a moment. I haven’t finished speaking yet. It was clearly an extermination operation under contract, wasn’t it? Let’s see, it’s written in the contract like this. Article 4. The byproducts of the ants disposed of by the participating team belong to the Association. However, other resources belong to the participating team. Now, hold on, when did the unidentified individual become a byproduct of the ants?”
[…Uh, is that really the Healing Guild’s official response?]
“Of course, I’m speaking under the approval of our representative.”
[Haah, you already have some idea, don’t you? I mean, that unidentified individual could be a dimensional being. Once again, we request your cooperation.]
The Association representative opted for a different approach in response to Pyeong-ari’s firm attitude. It was the persuasion card. But it seemed to have little effect.
“We’ll cooperate, we’ll participate in the investigation, we’ll do everything. But the investigation must involve healing. We’re only here for protection and management. I don’t understand what the problem is.”
[…That’s not possible.]
“I don’t understand. Are you implying that the Healing Guild, like the Kenya Association, was planning to conduct experiments on the unidentified individual?”
Pyeong-ari furrowed her brow and raised her voice. Just as a short sigh came through the receiver, someone knocked on her office door.
“Um, Team Leader…”
It was an intern. The intern, seeing Pyeong-ari on the phone, gestured with a pen quickly. Soon, a Post-it note appeared on her desk.
Unidentified individual with the Dungeon Strategy Team. Recovered.
Understanding the message, Pyeong-ari signaled for the intern to leave.
[In this day and age, what experiments? We’re only here for information gathering and education to help them adapt to our society.]
“Haah, are we still having the same conversation? Let me say this one last time. Information gathering, education, anything is fine. But the whereabouts of the unidentified individual will be provided and managed by us.”
[Understood for now. We’ll arrange a meeting soon to discuss further. Let’s have a proper conversation then.]
The lengthy call ended. Pyeong-ari looked at Dok Jong-sik, who was sitting across from her. There was much to discuss with him.
“Is everything resolved?”
But it was Jong-sik who spoke first.
“I doubt it. It’s not a problem that can be easily resolved with just one phone call. By the way, isn’t it time to talk about it now?”
“…”
Silence. Pyeong-ari glanced at Jong-sik discreetly.
A few hours earlier, several unidentified individuals, including the one discovered by Jong-sik’s group during the extermination operation in the ant tunnel, had been found. Four in total, including the one discovered by Jong-sik’s group. Some of them were even deceased.
Anyway, Jong-sik, who discovered the unidentified individual while crossing the Jordan River, had come to Pyeong-ari with a request, almost like a demand, that he must take him with them.
Why did he make such a request? Did he know something? Pyeong-ari wanted to hear his answer now. She circled around to ask.
“I think the person you brought back… I suspect they might be a dimensional being. What do you think, Jong-sik?”
“I agree with that assessment.”
“So, what about my decision to take him with us?”
“It’s hard to say right now. It shouldn’t take too long. Let me sort out my thoughts, and we’ll talk about it then. I feel like I should tell you even if Pyeong-ari Team Leader doesn’t ask.”
With a determined expression, it seemed he had nothing more to say. He wasn’t the type to be swayed by coercion. Likewise, persuasion wouldn’t work either. Pyeong-ari nodded her head in response.
“Sigh, I hope we hear back as soon as possible. Oh, and since you seem interested in that unidentified individual, let me tell you in advance. It’s too late for today, but tomorrow, there will be a face-to-face investigation conducted by the guild dimension. Of course, the association will be involved as well. How about it, will you participate directly?”
Jong-sik nodded his head. Seeing this, Pyeong-ari stood up from her seat. Since there was no response to listen to, there was no need to sit around.
“Let’s go up then. They said he woke up.”
So the two of them got up from their seats.
***
“What nonsense! Dimensional being? A world without dwarves? Huh, ridiculous. I need to get out of here right now. Where’s my axe?”
Trigo shouted, grabbing at the person’s collar. Seo sunhwa, startled, stepped in front of him.
“Whoa? Trigo, calm down. We’re just as confused as you are.”
“Human woman! Get out of my way!”
“Ugh, I said let’s call the team leader first.”
Su Sanghoon, frowning, approached Seo sunhwa’s side. A human barrier was erected in front of Trigo. Trigo flared his nostrils. As the tense atmosphere began to form, Jong-sik and Pyeong-ari arrived.
“They must have heard part of the story.”
Seeing the situation, it seemed so. Jong-sik, who quickly grasped the situation, walked up to the team members.
“It seems like you’re looking for your axe. Here, give it to me.”
“What? B-but…”
“Isn’t it still dangerous? You might not have fully recovered yet.”
The team members reacted with a mix of concern. Pyeong-ari was no exception. But Jong-sik continued without hesitation.
“It’s okay, please give it to me. Since it’s your own belongings, it’s natural for you to take care of them.”
At that moment, Trigo looked at Jong-sik.
‘Is this guy really the team leader?’
If so, then he must be the one who saved him. Considering that he’s asking for his own weapon back, it seems like there’s a chance for communication.
“I don’t want to be associated with you and your kind. Let me go. I have to go to the Achukarata Mountains.”
“It seems like you’ve heard a rough explanation, doesn’t it?”
“Nonsense! That’s ridiculous!”
“Well, it could seem like that until you see it for yourself. Understandable. Let’s go out and talk about it slowly.”
“Team leader. Over here.”
Jong-sik handed the axe he received to the dwarf, Trigo. It seemed like the situation was getting sorted out. Pyeong-ari looked at Jong-sik and Trigo, then spoke. Of course, there was some resistance from the dwarf during this process. However, Jong-sik’s firm attitude prevented any further refusal.
“I’ll drive. You can see outside from the car anyway. Jong-sik, you’re heading straight home, right?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go together! I can go alone if…”
[Puiego tribe, Senior Blacksmith, do you know Kutja? There’s something I need to talk to him about privately, so let’s quietly leave. If you don’t know Kutja or don’t want to talk about him, you’re free to go alone.]
“Ku, Kutja!”
Trigo’s eyes widened. As he looked around, he saw Jong-sik smiling at him. It was a reaction indicating that no one else had heard anything. Eventually, Trigo had no choice but to follow Jong-sik silently.
“And what about us, Team Leader?”
“I told you to go home earlier, didn’t I? Oh, and please keep this conversation confidential.”
“Aww, I thought we were going to the team leader’s restaurant today.”
“…Can’t help it. Let’s go in.”
The clinging team members were taken care of by Pyeong-ari.
***
“It seems like you’ve heard a rough explanation, doesn’t it?”
“Nonsense! That’s ridiculous!”
“Well, it could seem like that until you see it for yourself. Understandable. Let’s go out and talk about it slowly.”
“Team leader. Over here.”
Jong-sik handed the axe he received to the dwarf, Trigo. It seemed like the situation was getting sorted out. Pyeong-ari looked at Jong-sik and Trigo, then spoke. Of course, there was some resistance from the dwarf during this process. However, Jong-sik’s firm attitude prevented any further refusal.
“I’ll drive. You can see outside from the car anyway. Jong-sik, you’re heading straight home, right?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go together! I can go alone if…”
[Pueko tribe, Senior Blacksmith, do you know Kutja? There’s something I need to talk to him about privately, so let’s quietly leave. If you don’t know Kutja or don’t want to talk about him, you’re free to go alone.]
“Ku, Kutja!”
Trigo’s eyes widened. As he looked around, he saw Jong-sik smiling at him. It was a reaction indicating that no one else had heard anything. Eventually, Trigo had no choice but to follow Jong-sik silently.
“And what about us, Team Leader?”
“I told you to go home earlier, didn’t I? Oh, and please keep this conversation confidential.”
“Aww, I thought we were going to the team leader’s restaurant today.”
“…Can’t help it. Let’s go in.”
The clinging team members were taken care of by Pyeong-ari.
***
Basement 2.
“This, this can’t be happening.”
He must have sensed it the moment he stepped into the elevator. That they had truly entered a different dimension. Jong-sik looked down at the dwarf, who seemed like the world was crumbling around him. ‘He must be shocked beyond belief.’
Or not,
The dwarf’s mouth gaped open when he saw Pyeong-ari’s car. And what about the scenery outside the car window? Regardless of whether he understood or not, he must have felt like he entered a new world.
And so, they drove for about ten minutes.
They arrived at Jong-sik’s house before they knew it.
Until then, the dwarf’s mind was still absent.
“What are you doing? We’re here, so get out.”
“Uh, um. Y-yes.”
At Jong-sik’s words, the dwarf hesitantly got up. Meanwhile, Jong-sik exchanged a light greeting with Pyeong-ari.
“Don’t get off, just go. We said we’d investigate tomorrow, right?”
“Yes. It might be difficult for me to come personally, but we’ll send someone, so come with us.”
“Okay. Thank you for today.”
“The conversation we postponed today… please make sure to have it next time.”
Vroooom-
A moment later, only Jong-sik and Trigo were left in the alley after Pyeong-ari left. Trigo regained his senses for a moment and spoke up. It seemed he just now remembered why he had accompanied the man.
“Human. How do you know Kutja?”
“It’s not the place to discuss that here. Follow me.”
Jong-sik gestured ahead and led the way. Even though it was past midnight, the lights in the restaurant were still on. He took Trigo to the ground floor store. Inside, as the restaurant was closing, Jong-pal greeted them warmly upon seeing his brother.
“You’re a bit late today. But who’s this?”
Seeing Trigo follow behind, Jong-pal gestured, asking who he was. Jong-sik naturally answered and slumped into a chair.
“My guest. He’ll be staying with us for a while. More importantly, Jong-pal, do we have any beer?”
“Uh, yeah. We do.”
“Boil some ramen and get some beer. No, make it two packs of ramen. Two packs.”
Nodding, Jong-pal turned towards the kitchen. Jong-sik looked at Trigo, who was still standing, and said,
“What are you waiting for? Didn’t you come to listen to the story? Sit down here.”
It seemed like it was going to be a long, long night.
