The Mist Vol 1 Chapter 35

Vol 1 Chapter 35

Kapros was on his way to the large city of Torelit, which was said to be reached by heading straight west. Having already realized from his previous experience that it would be much easier not to get involved with that guy, Kapros took advantage of Yu-wan asking the innkeeper something and quietly snuck upstairs, concealing his presence. Although he was perplexed, that was all.

It seemed their paths had coincidentally overlapped, but Kapros was about to leave this place soon. Since everyone's travel speed varied greatly and their destinations would also differ, there was no reason to encounter each other again. And when he came back downstairs a while later, Yu-wan was nowhere to be seen. Thinking his judgment had been correct, Kapros set off, and a few days passed.

When he saw a man who suddenly approached quickly and grabbed his clothes in the town he had entered for another rest stop, it took Kapros some time to recall the guy he had been half-forgetting.

"...Finally found you."

"Who are you?"

When Kapros asked quizzically, the man's face frowned slightly.

"Don't you remember?"

A low, cool voice. A swordsman wearing black armor...

As he looked at the face with distinct shadows cast on its features, trying to recall when he had met such a guy, the face of the man he had seen in Asgar and the small town a few days ago clearly came to mind after a moment.

'Yu-wan...'

He had thought he would never see him again when he saw him last time, but to think he would encounter him again here. Seeming to realize that Kapros had remembered, Yu-wan spoke with a stiff expression.

"I thought it had to be you, so I've been searching continuously, and finally I see you again."

As he had feared, it was indeed the case. The last conversation they had when they met came back to Kapros's mind.

"I'd like you to teach me about magic."

"What?"

"Just showing me would be fine too."

The guy who had shown an unusual interest in his magic. The unpleasant feeling he had experienced then also revived with the memory. Kapros asked with a hardened expression, glaring at him.

"Were we acquainted?"

As Kapros frowned and asked back, Yu-wan spoke without any change in his expression.

"I believe I helped you twice."

For a moment, Kapros was at a loss for words. It was true. The problem was that although Yu-wan had saved him, it hadn't left him feeling particularly good. Still, the fact remained that Yu-wan had saved his life, so as Kapros was keeping his mouth shut, Yu-wan glanced towards an empty alley and then spoke in a low, almost whisper-like voice.

"I've been searching for you ever since."

"I'm sure I told you we should go our separate ways amicably."

As Kapros glared silently, imagining fire in his mind in case he needed to use magic immediately, Yu-wan reflexively seemed to read his intent to attack and casually placed his hand on his left hip. Good instincts.

"I need information about magic."

"Find another mage."

"You're probably the first to claim to be 4th circle on your own."

"I told you to go to the Wizard Tower."

"I was kicked out."

...Can NPCs even kick out users?

Seeing the calm face answering seriously and coherently, Kapros felt at a loss for words. Finally, as he was about to say something more, he sighed and ruffled his bangs inside his hood. If you want to chase down a complete stranger like this and make what seemed like a request or demand, shouldn't you give a good reason? After doing well in party hunting, why suddenly, of all things, this fuss about being curious about magic?

As Kapros stood silently, trying to suppress his frustration and anger, Yu-wan, who had been watching him, remained silent for a while before speaking.

"...There's something I need to find."

'A quest?'

The first thing that came to Kapros's mind at these words, spoken even more slowly than before as if carefully choosing his words, was a quest. THE MIST's quests were so bizarre that no one could confidently say there was a standardized rule for quests, which led to countless users giving up and accepting penalties even after accidentally stepping into a quest.

"Seeing you, I thought magic might... have some connection to it."

The phrase "I thought" meant it wasn't certain.

"What if it's not related?"

Although Kapros asked with a deeply furrowed brow, Yu-wan, unable to see his face hidden by the hood, answered nonchalantly.

"Then there's nothing I can do. But since there are hardly any clues, I want to be sure even if there's only a slight possibility."

"Then what exactly do you want to know about magic?"

"That's..."

"..."

"It's difficult."

What kind of person is this?

Just as Kapros was starting to think it might be better to settle this with a fight out of exasperation, Yu-wan, who had been pondering silently for a while, finally looked at him.

"Of course, from your perspective, my request must be annoying. I understand."

The suddenly conciliatory tone left Kapros half puzzled and half suspicious inwardly, but what followed was even more so.

"So, you just go on your way as before, without worrying about me."

What is he thinking?

Although it was clearly a good thing for Kapros, he hesitated slightly, unable to understand. Then, as if this would solve all problems, the guy straightened his shoulders proudly and finished his last words.

"I'll just follow you around."

"Ha!"

Kapros's mouth fell open in disbelief. After glaring for a few seconds, seeing the guy's expression that seemed to be serious, something hot suddenly started boiling up inside him.

'This bastard... Is he challenging me?'

Although there's nothing as unsightly as stubbornness clashing like this, at this point, it really felt like a fuse had been lit. Kapros exhaled, then slowly met the guy's eyes and coldly pulled up the corners of his mouth.

"You're really doing whatever you want."

"..."

"Do as you please."

After glaring for a long time, Kapros finally averted his gaze and turned around slowly. The caution in his movements until the very end was due to the possibility that Yu-wan might attack from behind after lulling him into a false sense of security.

"...Just now. That was a movement I'd believe even from a swordsman."

A low mutter was heard from behind, but without listening to all of it, Kapros began to walk forward with large strides. He had never been more grateful for being able to walk without limping, with the dignity he desired, not ashamed of how others saw his back. And this was the ridiculous beginning of how he unwittingly ended up with a stalker-like guy tagging along behind him.