Everyone is Young Except for Me

At this time, clouds of war lingered over Windia. Edward frowned as he read the documents on the table. He asked Kerenos standing next to him, “How do the immortal humans know about Minotaur? The number of guilds applying to go to the Kobold Mine is steadily increasing.”

Currently, the Kobold Mine was blocked off at Jackson’s request. He said there was a secret passage to the Temple of the Windia and it was dangerous, so it was better to block it off to keep people from being in danger.

‘This is a top secret thing that only me, Jackson, and Kerenos knows about...’

Kerenos said, “I don’t know.”

“You really don’t know...?”

“Why would I lie to you?”

Kerenos had a tightly shut mouth and would never speak without a command being given.

‘So where did the information leak from...’

Kerenos wondered, “Didn’t you want Minotaur to be killed anyway?”

“Yes, but I promised Jackson to wait.” 

“As far as I know, there are many strong people among the immortal ones. From our perspective, it doesn’t matter who hunts it, right? I think it is okay to approve it.”

“What if Minotaur notices that we brought them?”

“It is fine if they go in from the Kobold Mine, not the front door of the Temple of the Wind. Then he won’t know it is Windia’s doing.”

“Hrmm.”

Edward frowned and thought about it. ‘Yes. From our point of view, there is nothing to lose. They can’t die and there will be no damage to Windia.’

Edward held a stamp in his hand and stamped the paperwork in front of him.

[Messiah Guild’s Access to the Kobold Mine.]

[Permitted.]

[Cassiopeia Guild’s Access to the Kobold Mine.]

[Permitted.]

[Guardian Guild’s Access to the Kobold Mine.]

[Permitted.]

…

* * *

Meanwhile, my group was walking through the snow in the black night. It was completely different from the other world where it was bright and I subconsciously gulped. We carefully stepped forward.

“The black night came earlier than I thought.”

“Father, the black night is the opposite of the midnight sun phenomenon?”

“Yes, that's right.”

Midnight sun was a phenomenon where the sun never went down. Then the black night was a phenomenon where the sun never rose. Romelana and Remus had opposing powers and they were responsible for important work here in the North Pole. They were in charge of day and night. Now the two phenomena were happening at the same time.

[The wolf star, ‘Romelana,’ says the black night has become stronger recently.]

[The fist star, ‘Raitra,’ is frowning.]

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ says it won’t be easy.]

Shit, there was no real answer. It was to subdue a constellation that was close to a first-grade constellation. It wasn’t easy even with Raitra and Romelana. It would’ve been much easier to kill him. However, that would be a trap. Damn, there was no answer no matter how I thought about it.

I thought it was a good idea to take a break. Solar melted the surrounding snow, creating a space for our group to sit. We decided to take a five minute break here.

Kim Sujeong opened her mouth, “Wow, I used to want to go to the Arctic but it was just a dream.”

I smiled at her words. “Why did you want to go to the Arctic?”

“There is something mysterious. I wondered about the feeling of a pure white world. I wanted to feel that way.”

“So how do you feel?”

“I don’t want to come back. I didn’t think it would be so hard to walk in the snow.”

Both Gyeonso Dragon and I laughed.

Kim Sujeong tapped at her legs with both hands and I asked Gyeonso Dragon, “Do you feel the same as her?”

“I’m fine. It is a training exercise.”

“What training? Tsk.”

There was no doubt that he was a guy crazy about training. I also liked to exercise but not this much. He was a born warrior. By the way, shouldn’t he train in reality? Why do so in virtual reality? I had a moment of doubt. I asked him why.

Gyeonso Dragon replied with a smile, “It is actually a habit but it isn’t just because of this. Do you know what my childhood dream was?”

He suddenly said something stupid and I couldn’t help snapping, “How should I know?” 

“Haha, as a child, lightning struck in front of the training hall. A 400 year old dangsan tree split apart. I marveled as the tree was felled in a single moment.”

“What does that have to do with your dream?”

“It is relevant. At that time, I was training in Wing Chun under my master. I still remember the words he said that day.”

“What did he say?”

“Don’t be afraid. Lightning only burns the skin. You will one day throw a thunderbolt fist.”

[The fist star, ‘Raitra,’ is bewildered.]

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ is shaking his head.]

I looked at the messages in the sky and also had question marks. Wasn’t lightning and thunderbolt the same...?

Gyeonso Dragon read my expression and laughed. “Haha, you are probably thinking the same as I was back then. Are you thinking it is strange since lightning and thunderbolt are the same?”

I felt a prickle as I was stabbed by the words that were sharper than I thought.

“Y-Yes. Isn’t it the same?”

“Hrmm. I asked my master the same thing. My master said something to me at the time.”

[The fist star, ‘Raitra,’ is curious about the next words.]

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ is urging you to speak quickly.]

[The wolf star, ‘Romelana,’ is shyly pricking her ears.]

“Lightning only burns but thunderbolt drives storms and makes people frightened. Thus, you have to be a man who throws a thunderbolt punch.”

“Ah...” I was amazed by the words that seemed quite true. The difference between lightning and thunderbolt. I hadn’t understood but now I seemed to know.

Then Kim Sujeong approached from behind. Cer was sleeping in her arms. “Is it time to play the Truth Game?”

“What is that? Truth... what?”

She laughed like I was cute. “You just need to tell the truth. If you don’t want to answer then you will be punished by taking a drink.”

“It is a game that young people play.”

“Of course. How often do you drink? Perhaps Mido has tried it?”

“...My Mido?”

I thought about my granddaughter and then the Truth game. A chill went down my back at the thought of her drinking and telling the truth among wolf-like men.

Damn...! 

Since ancient times, knowing the enemy would assist in victory. I decided to try out the Truth game. They seemed to want to do it too.

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ says he is bored and wants to try it once.]

[The fist star, ‘Raitra,’ is clapping and saying it will be fun.]

[The wolf star, ‘Romelana,’ is shyly looking at you.]

“Do you want to let the constellations play as well?”

Sujeong cried out, “Wow, won’t that be fun? Then I’ll do it first! You can ask me anything you want to hear!”

“The penalty is...?”

“Um, what’s good... Ah! How about eating the snow here? Uh, I have a headache just thinking about it. I wish there was red bean shaved ice.”

I smiled bitterly at her words. In fact, there was a cooking technique in Weather Cooking that used snow. It was made with cold snow but in fact, there was actually a red bean shaved ice made with snow. If I headed west, I would find December's Invader and this was a dish that he liked. I would have to come back someday but not now.

“Then I’ll ask you first.” What to ask? In fact, I had many questions about her. Had she met a man? If not, did she want to meet someone? However, rather than that, I was curious about how she had been in the past year. Yes. First, let’s do it lightly. “I’m curious about what you’ve been doing for the past year.”

There was a moment of silence. Kim Sujeong suddenly teared up and bit her lip. Did I ask something that shouldn’t be asked? The next moment, Kim Sujeong’s mouth opened, “In fact...”

* * *

The story lasted quite a long time. I was shocked by the truth that I heard. She bowed to me and apologized. “I’m sorry I hid it...”

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ is closing his eyes at the sad story.]

[The fist star, ‘Raitra,’ is scratching his head in an awkward mood.]

[The wolf star, ‘Romelana,’ is saying to be strong.]

I saw her in tears and sighed. I felt resentment as I stared up at the sky. The cold snowstorm made my heart cold and made me strong.

Hemophobia. What ordeal had this child gone through? God was tiresome. Being scared of blood was fatal for a doctor who saves people. It was the same as asking a chef to cook without a fire or a knife. I didn't know what to say to her. What should I say? It was clear that she had a hellish time since my wife’s death that day.

I patted her back until her tears dried up. Once she calmed down, Cer approached and licked her hand.

“You are better than me, Cer.” 

I watched Kim Sujeong smile and sighed with relief.

I didn’t know why she hid this but I didn’t blame her. The role of an adult was to give an example, listen, and discuss things together, not to teach.

Kim Sujeong sniffed. “I have answered. Then I’ll point out the next person. Next, Romelana? I don’t know if I got your name right.”

[The wolf star, ‘Romelana,’ is surprised.]

[The wolf star, ‘Romelana,’ is blushing at the eyes of the group.]

Surprised? Romelana had a physical constitution similar to mine. I felt like I should fix my inner personality a little bit.

It was Prometheus who asked the question first.

[The star cluster, ‘Star Coffee House,’ has started the Truth Game.]

[The host, ‘Prometheus,’ has started asking questions.]

No, was there such a function? The more I knew, the more miraculous it was. It was happening in my inner world? Strangely, I wanted to go back there to play.

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ is asking how Remus managed to control so many beads.]

Um, come to think of it, that was strange. It would be difficult to cope with the power of so many bead fragments, even if he was a constellation. I didn’t know about three pieces but five or more pieces was impossible without someone helping...

[The wolf star, ‘Romelana,’ says there is a ‘good fragment’.]

What? Wait. Maybe I could find an unexpected answer to the question that didn’t have an answer. I looked up at the sky and asked Romelana, "Romelana, do you have a Star Fruit?”