Chapter 146 – Pangaea (12)

“Unit Leader, what happened?”

“Sir, do we just have to go back?”

Yoon Joo-hee and Ramel asked with anxious expressions.

I got on the carriage and gave a slight smile.

“Just wait and see.”

At my relaxed demeanor, Yoon Joo-hee’s expression showed that she understood immediately.

She had also met the 3rd Princess in the dungeon with me, so she knew that things would have to work out well.

On the other hand, Ramel was trying to hide his disappointment.

He was a thoughtful kid for his young age.

Though he had completely misjudged the situation.

“Ramel. Who do you want to meet the most in the Jerome Knights?”

But the boy hesitated and couldn’t answer readily.

And then he said.

“Sir, it doesn’t have to be the Jerome Knights.”

It was obvious what he was thinking when he gave such an answer.

“You don’t trust me.”

“Th-that’s not it, but.”

“Then tell me. If you have the chance, who would you like to have a meal with, or something like that.”

Ramel thought for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“If I have to make a wish, I’ll choose the commander of the Jerome Knights.”

“The commander of the Jerome Knights, you mean the 3rd Princess?”

“Yes. Regardless of her status, she’s the strongest person. She’s even a Sword Master.”

“A Sword Master….”

Clera had introduced herself as such in the dungeon.

She had cleared the monsters of that huge dungeon by herself, so she was definitely not at an ordinary level.

But since I hadn’t seen her swordsmanship for myself, I still had some doubts.

“When you hear the anecdotes about the princess, you can’t help but admire her. Don’t you think so too, sir?”

“Do I?”

I was a bit vague about that part and continued.

“Then I’ll promise you at least one meal with the princess.”

Of course, Ramel also gave an awkward smile and mumbled his reply.

Meanwhile, the guards seemed to have finished their discussion.

Since they couldn’t just ignore the order of someone from a count’s family, they had no choice but to go to the training site and report.

One of the group eventually left and started riding his horse in a hurry.

Now that the situation had progressed this far, the conclusion was as good as reached.

***

The purpose of my visit to Pangaea was to find clues about the Red Dragon, which might be here.

Unexpectedly, I met a mage named Deli and obtained useful information, but the content was not good news.

Because I learned that finding a dragon would be difficult.

Now, the person I had to meet was Jenolf, whom the 3rd Princess had mentioned.

According to the princess, Jenolf was a dragon researcher, so I had some hope that I might find out something more.

For now, the priority was to meet the 3rd Princess, who could put me in touch with him.

“We apologize for the rudeness!”

The guards came to the carriage and bowed their heads in unison.

It was an expected outcome, so I wasn’t too surprised.

“So, does this mean we can pass through this road?”

“Yes. And I have been ordered to guide you, so please follow me.”

With that, one of the guards turned his horse’s head, gesturing that he would lead the way.

In that moment, Ramel’s expression turned dumbfounded.

“Sir, what’s going on right now?”

“I told you. I’d get you at least one meal with the princess.”

Ramel finally replied as if it was sinking in.

“……Yes. Sir.”

He was a lucky fellow to have met me by chance and been hired as a guide, learned swordsmanship, and even gotten to meet the 3rd Princess he had so admired.

And that luck might not be over yet.

Depending on what he did after meeting the Jerome Knights, something even bigger might be waiting for him.

Finally, our carriage arrived at the place where the Jerome Knights were gathered.

The entrance of a rugged-looking mountainous area. There, a group of about 50 people were taking a rest.

The Jerome Knights, said to be the empire’s finest elites. I scanned their figures from a distance with my Mana Eyes.

And I had to admit it.

‘Did they scrape up all the talent in the empire?’

I didn’t know what the overall level of Pangaea was, but the aura they were emitting was overwhelming compared to any group I had met before.

Neither the Red Scorpion Mercenary Company nor the Dukerein Pirates could compare to them.

It was even rude to compare.

And among them, one person with the largest mana, Clera Erendina, began to walk towards me.

On both sides of the 3rd Princess were a man and a woman who seemed to be her closest aides. At that sight, a smirk escaped my lips.

Because the appearance of the two men and women was exquisitely reminiscent of Choi Ho-joong and Shin Ah-yeon.

As Clera got closer, her surprised mouth opened wider and wider. And finally.

“It really is you! How could this be!”

I answered with a smile.

“Long time no see, Clera.”

But what flew at me along with the first greeting was the deadly killing intent emitted by the 3rd Princess’s two aides.

“How dare you!!”

“How dare you speak the commander’s name so carelessly!”

They looked ready to aim for my neck if the order was given.

Clera immediately calmed the two down.

“Yaren! And Rildia! This person is my guest. Be polite.”

“But Commander!”

“Do I have to say it twice?”

“N-no, ma’am!”

“Hey Clera. I’m fine, so don’t scold your subordinates too much.”

“No. If you were offended, I apologize on their behalf. And you two, bow your heads immediately!”

At Clera’s stern voice, the two immediately bowed their heads 90 degrees to me.

Of course, their expressions were a different story.

Their wary eyes towards me remained unchanged.

‘They’re displeased that I’m speaking informally to the princess.’

But there was no reason to be intimidated by them.

From the beginning, my meeting with Clera had started on equal terms.

Ramel was rubbing his eyes as if he couldn’t believe the current situation.

“Welcome, Seo Ji-han! I don’t know how this happened, but shouldn’t we talk separately?”

At Clera’s words, I nodded.

***

After moving to a quiet place, Clera welcomed me warmly once again.

“How did you get here!”

I briefly explained the circumstances to her.

From the story of obtaining a map to Pangaea after clearing the dungeon to the things I had experienced in Pangaea.

To Clera, this seemed very strange.

Encountering a being from another world would still be an unfamiliar event in Pangaea.

‘Well, they might get used to it soon.’

After all, an entrance to the Abyss had been discovered in the seas of Pangaea.

“Earth is a truly strange place. Are there that many dungeons there?”

“Compared to Pangaea, yes.”

“Truly unfair! Why wasn’t I given a map to Earth!”

“Why? Are you curious about other worlds?”

“Isn’t it obvious! Humans are beings who always pioneer the unknown!”

I considered telling Clera about the Abyss, but then I dismissed the thought.

No matter how much she was a member of the royal family, it was still something that had not been revealed to the world.

I didn’t want to needlessly interfere in Pangaea’s affairs.

The important thing was my business. After hearing me out, she nodded.

“Right! You asked me about dragons back then too.”

“Clera, can you arrange for me to meet the Jenolf you mentioned?”

“Considering the debt I owe you, that’s nothing.”

“That’s great.”

“However, I can’t guarantee that Lord Jenolf will tell you what you want to hear. I can’t force him that far.”

“If you arrange the meeting, that’s enough.”

After all, the rest was up to me.

Even if I couldn’t get anything, I could accept it.

I had already reaped some harvest in Pangaea.

“But as you can see, our knight order is currently in training. Can you wait?”

“Of course.”

“And I’d like to make you a proposal.”

“A proposal?”

“Soon, our knight order plans to enter a dungeon that has formed on the mountainside. Would you like to go with us?”

I accepted the proposal immediately.

Because I was curious about what Pangaea’s dungeons were like.

A moment later, I revealed this to Yoon Joo-hee and Ramel.

In fact, Yoon Joo-hee wasn’t much of a concern, but Ramel was the problem.

He was still just a swordsmanship novice with overflowing talent.

“Alright, sir! I’ll go too!”

Of course, it was an expected reaction.

“Yoon Joo-hee. You can escort him well, right?”

“Of course, Unit Leader.”

“But I’m not just telling you to protect him. Ramel has started to properly wield a sword, so he should have a chance to play a proper role.”

At my words, Ramel’s face lit up.

He could have been scared at his young age, but he was indeed not an ordinary boy.

At that moment, Yaren appeared before us again.

He was Clera’s right-hand man.

He was a guy whose atmosphere was so similar to Choi Ho-joong that I wondered if they were doppelgängers.

His position in the organization too.

“The commander sent me to give you a basic briefing on the dungeon.”

His tone was much more polite than before.

“Speak.”

On the other hand, he seemed offended by my continued informal speech.

But I was on informal terms with Clera. So I couldn’t use formal speech to her subordinate.

Above all, his face reminded me of Ho-joong.

Yaren looked at me and shook his head.

“Before that, Seo Ji-han, I’ll ask you one thing. Have you ever received a title of nobility?”

“No. I haven’t.”

At my answer, Yaren let out a deep sigh.

At the same time, I could feel a deep frustration.

He suppressed his emotions and continued to speak.

“For your information, I received the title of knight last year.”

“Are you implying that I should grovel?”

“I was just saying you should be a little more polite. I don’t know what your relationship with the commander is.”

“That’s enough with the side comments, how about we start the dungeon briefing now?”

“Haah!”

Yaren took a deep breath again.

It was clear that he had been instructed by Clera.

“I’ll only explain once, so listen carefully!”

“I will.”

“The dungeon difficulty is high. And the three of you have been assigned to my squad.”

“Then what role should we play?”

“You don’t have to do anything, just follow behind me and observe.”

“Is that Clera’s will?”

At my words, Yaren took a step closer to me.

Then he whispered in my ear.

“It is my will.”

An unexpectedly bold attitude.

He continued to speak.

“And if you call the commander by her name one more time, I won’t let it slide.”

Frankly, I was a bit flustered.

I hadn’t expected Yaren to come out like this.

I looked at him and smiled.

It didn’t particularly feel bad.

Because the right-hand man of a knight commander should naturally show this much loyalty.

‘It’s just that he resembles Choi Ho-joong too much.’

So I just wanted to mess with him a little.

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