Chapter 57
The Arrow That Left the Quiver (16)
When I arrived in Kona, the sun was already hanging at the edge of the eastern sky.
“Come to think of it, the sun rises in the west and sets in the east here.”
It was a strangely unique sight, and I only just noticed it now.
I chuckled at myself for being so oblivious.
The scenery in Kona had changed slightly.
The town was far more guarded than before, and there were many injured beast-people scattered around.
Well, that’s understandable—after all, this place was in the middle of a war.
Remi’s smiling face suddenly came to mind, and I bit my lip.
After all, the reason I came here was to create a world where no child would have to live a life full of wounds like Remi did.
I put the Noggacheon into my inventory and trudged into the heart of the village.
I had worried about being stopped at the checkpoint at the entrance, but apparently, word had spread that I was the human who saved Echo and Clara and cleaned Giliard’s back.
After walking deeper into the village, I recognized a familiar alleyway that Echo had once led me through, claiming it was her home.
“I was going to visit Echo’s house too…”
As I reminisced about the small memory, I stopped walking and stood still.
“Ah.”
A single word, full of absent-mindedness, slipped out.
Surprisingly, I realized I didn’t know exactly where Echo’s house was.
Having only willpower isn’t enough sometimes.
I looked around, debating whether I should ask someone for directions.
“Unnie!”
At the voice calling from afar, I shut my eyes tightly, overwhelmed with emotion.
A bright and cheerful voice.
At the mouth of that alley, a small cat-beast-person was running toward me, arms wide open.
Echo was someone who was going to save this world, and yet she also knew how to rescue a lost little lamb.
Of course, the memory of a small child who no longer existed came to mind as soon as I saw Echo, but I pushed it aside and returned her smile with one of my own.
“Echo!”
Echo threw herself into me with all her strength.
“How have you been?”
“Unnie, I was upset that we couldn’t see each other for so long last time. When are you coming to visit our house?”
With a pure, innocent expression, Echo rubbed her cheek against my sleeve.
Seeing her emotions displayed without hesitation, I couldn’t help but smile lightly.
This village must have cherished Echo greatly for her to grow into such an honest and kind child.
“Sorry, I’ve been a little busy. You’ve been okay, right?”
“Of course! Oh, I grew a little taller too.”
Echo straightened her back proudly.
I thought she hadn’t changed much, but her proud expression was cute, so I ruffled the top of her head gently.
At that moment, Onak, who had been behind us, slowly approached.
“Ah… it’s been a while.”
He still smiled broadly and waved, but he was limping as if his body wasn’t fully recovered.
He had used Hanromi’s effective potion, but it seemed he needed more time before moving as freely as before.
Onak bowed politely, expressing his gratitude.
“I heard you came. I also heard the warriors received a lot of help.”
“Oh, it was nothing.”
While the adults were making their calculations, Echo was excitedly running circles around me.
Her chattering voice constantly tickled my ears.
“What did you come for today? Did you bring sandwiches?”
…Sandwiches.
Come to think of it, the first time I met Echo, I gave her a sandwich too.
On the Ganacia Continent, a single sandwich could win the favor of children. How pure this place must be.
Echo’s eyes, looking up at me with anticipation, sparkled brightly.
But today, I didn’t come here to play with Echo.
I knelt to meet Echo at eye level and slowly placed my hand on her small shoulder.
At my serious gaze, with no trace of a smile, Echo’s eyes widened in curiosity.
“Echo, I have a favor to ask.”
“If it’s a favor from unnie, I’ll do anything!”
“No, no. First, you need to hear what it is before answering. You can’t guess what I’m asking for yet.”
“Unnie would never ask something weird!”
Having met me a few times already, the trust she had in me simultaneously filled me with guilt and regret.
Unlike Onak, who furrowed his brows sensing something off, Echo was still smiling brightly.
I had to ask this child to join me on a journey for the fate of the continent.
‘Is this really right?’
Words caught in my throat.
Even so, I said,
“Could you come on a short journey with me? I need you, Echo, to save this continent.”
I had no other choice but Echo.
Even if it meant putting her in danger.
Honestly, the world I lived in was South Korea, not this 51st floor.
Even if it made me seem like the villain, it was an unavoidable choice.
“Me?”
“What do you mean?”
Onak sharply separated Echo from me and questioned me.
The favorable look he once had vanished, replaced by deep suspicion, his red eyes glaring intensely.
“A journey? Where exactly are you going?”
“…To Provelo.”
“Are you insane?”
No, this is perfectly reasonable.
But Onak quickly hid Echo behind him.
Not only that, but I could feel a faint hostility in his gaze.
Probably thinking, “Humans really can’t be trusted.”
‘Kinda disappointing.’
I had created this whole situation myself.
Onak looked resolute, as if he would never understand without hearing the reason.
I sighed heavily and looked up.
I wanted these two to understand.
About what I had to do.
“This will be a long story.”
I explained in more detail to Onak and Echo, expanding on what I had told Anton.
Throughout the story, Onak remained silent, eyes fixed on the ground, while Echo nodded along occasionally.
By the time I finished, the sun had already set at the eastern horizon.
“I still can’t allow it. I heard the path to Provelo is already shrouded in mist. I can’t let Echo go to such a dangerous place.”
Ah, of course.
Onak had raised parentless Echo like a child, so I naturally expected his opposition.
But Echo’s response was different.
Fidgeting with her hands while staring at the ground, she asked in a clear voice,
“Is this something only I can do?”
“…Uh? Yes.”
“Echo, what are you talking about? It’s dangerous!”
Onak quickly tried to stop her, but Echo looked up at me with pure, unwavering eyes.
“Then… will everyone really stop fighting?”
“….”
Echo’s eyes sparkled brightly.
For a moment, I was speechless, staring down at her.
If I had asked the same favor from Remi, wouldn’t she have looked at me with the same eyes?
Overwhelmed by the sudden surge of emotion, I could only stare. Echo, with her innocent face, asked another question.
“Then… will both beast-people and humans be happy?”
Happy?
Being happy just because they stop fighting sounds like a story from a fairy tale.
I couldn’t give a definite answer, and I didn’t want to lie.
But perhaps I could give her at least a hopeful answer.
I cautiously patted Echo’s head and murmured,
“I don’t know. But the hatred between them will disappear.”
“Then I’ll go!”
“Echo!”
Onak was even more surprised by her cheerful response.
Honestly, I was extremely surprised too.
I had prepared myself to persuade her if she refused… and if that didn’t work, I was ready to take her by force.
All justified as a necessary choice to clear the scenario.
Echo looked at the surprised faces of the two adults in turn and said in a bright, cheerful tone,
“I want everyone to stop fighting. I don’t want anyone to get hurt! I don’t understand why we have to hate and hurt each other. It’s scary outside… but if unnie helps me, it might be a little less scary!”
Echo said this without any pretense.
She shone as if she were simply happy to do what was right.
Onak couldn’t bring himself to argue further and lowered his head.
I also looked away in embarrassment, when a small warmth touched my hand.
Soft, tender little hands clasped mine tightly.
“My mom said… hating someone is really hard. So everyone would be having a hard time.”
“….”
“Unnie, even if humans dislike us… they probably don’t actually want to, right?”
Seeing me speechless in front of such realistic concerns,
‘The never-wilting sprout’ smiled brightly.
“Ah… the sun’s rising.”
Echo, leaning on my back and dozing, murmured in a sleepy voice.
“Mm… sandwiches…”
Next time we meet, I’ll bring a whole bundle of sandwiches without fail.
I yawned until my mouth felt like it would tear and rolled my tired eyes.
Provelo was in the southernmost area of the border between beast-people and human territories.
To put it plainly, east was human territory, west was beast-people territory, and south was Provelo.
But direction wasn’t the main issue.
I had thought the Ganacia Continent was about the size of Jeju Island, but now I regretted underestimating it.
I had ridden Noggacheon for eight hours from Kona, yet there was no sign of anything resembling a sanctuary.
Moreover, I had to avoid the assault squad likely stationed near Raykam, close to Provelo, so my eyes had to stay constantly alert.
By now, Agemor was probably lurking somewhere far to the north, grinning mischievously.
Unlike me, who was struggling, he must have been enjoying himself.
‘Thinking about it makes me mad.’
I pressed the pedals harder out of frustration.
After driving almost all night, I was on edge.
The path to Provelo was mostly blocked by mist, constantly consuming gold, which didn’t help.
I wanted to rest a bit, but we were in the middle of Agemor’s territory, so that wasn’t an option.
“Phew…”
I envied Echo, sleeping soundly as if nothing were wrong.
I should have checked if Noggacheon had a proper backrest or if I could buy an additional saddle.
I had been staring at the endless darkness ahead for hours, sighing heavily.
Then, it happened.
“Ah—.”
I let out a sharp exclamation.
Before me, which had been nothing but shades of black, something completely different appeared.
A magnificent golden semicircle rose from the black earth.
A solid wall of light that would not allow any darkness to intrude.
Any fool would immediately recognize it as Provelo.
After a grueling eight hours, we had finally arrived at Provelo.
I increased the speed for another ten minutes before finally stopping Noggacheon.
“Echo, wake up.”
As Echo blinked awake, I stretched my stiff back from sitting for so long and observed the dome.
The golden barrier of the dome was opaque and faintly glowing, so the interior couldn’t be seen clearly.
From a distance, it looked as though massive stone pillars reached all the way to the top of the dome, but I wasn’t certain.
And if there was one comical thing about this mysterious dome…
“Unnie, is that the door?”
A single door hung on the semicircle.
It was decorated with intricate patterns and what seemed to be the upper body of the god Oerisa, but compared to the massive dome, it looked ridiculously small.
I suppressed a laugh and glanced around.
‘Fortunately, no assault squad nearby.’
I walked with Echo toward the door.
Then a concern I had postponed suddenly resurfaced.
‘Ah, but they said we need a gatekeeper to revive the Ancient Oath.’
I still hadn’t solved the second hint.
Even the elite assault squad from South Korea couldn’t figure out Provelo and had to turn back.
I had only obtained the answer regarding the “never-wilting sprout,” but I didn’t know how to enter, leaving me in the same situation as them.
If it were only Echo, she might somehow break through the wall and get inside.
I looked back at Echo casually and said,
“Echo, I don’t think I can go in there. For now, only you can enter. Can you check what’s inside and let me know?”
“Just me?”
“Yes, I’ll need to ask you. Ordinary people like me can’t get in.”
“You’re completely special, unnie!”
Echo clenched her tiny fists and frowned as if it were absurd.
Right, Babel wouldn’t allow me in.
Still, at least you are special.
I smiled and grabbed the doorknob.
“Shall we try opening it?”
Even if I couldn’t go in, I could leave it to Echo, who looked confident.
Feeling the warmth of Echo’s hand holding mine, I steeled myself and pulled the doorknob.
“If it’s scary, come out immediately. I’ll… wait in front—uh?”
Click.
I hadn’t expected the doorknob to turn.
To my surprise, the doorknob rotated, and my body was pulled inside.
I looked at Echo with an awkward smile and chuckled.
“It… opened?”
