The market sprawled with activity as Ji Sung and Yuki strode side by side. But, even the lively market can't sprout his smile at all.
But Yuki's strange coke would do. It tasted bitter sweet, and had a very unique color of azure and amber. It cost 40 bronze coins for two glasses. Yuki paid with one silver coin, and he got 10 bronze coins in return.
"Joo Dan Tae, that smug bastard, you know him?" Ji Sung threw empty glass on a trash-can, then hid his hand inside his dark blue hoodie jacket while his eyes enjoyed the market environment.
"Everyone here knew him." Yuki answered as he read his map cationously while holding his plastic glass. "He is the strongest mercenary and always barking already on level 95."
"Is that rare for someone with that level here?"
"Yeah, it's rare." He rolled the map, and put it on backpack. "But don't worry, there is no up paddled stat like in MMORPG games. Here, a level only added new skills to our system. And everyone knows how disgusting his method for leveling was …soo…" With a long wait, he continued. "Better leave him alone, he does not deserve our time."
If Yuki said so, that would probably be wise. But still, Ji Sung waa curious about something. "Are you not even angry at him? Not slightly?"
"Nope, not at all." Yuki said casually, like it was nothing for him.
Ji Sung was speechless for a while. Back then on Earth, he also sucked it up while getting bullied by Butian, but he had reason. A good reason not to fight back. He had something to protect. His scholarship, his mom.
Here, Yuki had nothing to lose. Yet, he does not even fight back while being tarred.
Coward? No, he was definitely not a coward. Instead, he was the bravest man Ji Sung ever met. He tried to protect his enemy's life back in Ormit Cave, after they beat him up.
"Why?" Spontaneous Ji Sung asked. "He clearly bullied you in front of everyone. You should figjt back, at least talk back."
"I'm not a fan of confrontation." The answer was clear. "If there was another way to solve any problem, I prefer using that, rather than fighting back. Besides, if we fought back, back then, we would be fined 50 gold coins."
"You have a point, there." But Ji Sung can't let it go, not without trying to prove his point of view first. "Yuki, do you realize, while you don't fight back, the bully will continue to bully you over time. It would get worse. You would—"
"I know, but look." His face showed frustration, yet, he pushed his tone down while talking with Ji Sung. "No offense. I made friends with my bully, right?"
Ji Sung can't deny what he said. He successfully proved that. Yuki gained trust from his co-worker after what happened in Ormit cave. "But it's different." No wonder Yuki got bullied. With that way of thinking, everyone would see him as someone who easily gets trampled.
No word came from him. Perhaps it would be wise not to push on this matter yet. Yuki does what he feels is good for himself.
"Should we find some help?" Ji Sung opened a new subject. "I wonder why that bastard had the other four with."
"That would be wise. This cave was different from Ormit. Kar, is one of many great mines on Konstantin. It supports our kingdom economically as an export commodity and there…." He continued as he pleased.
It was always a pleasure hearing Yuki's voice, especially while he speaks about history, politic, heck even he had his own conspiracy theory about everything. The way he talks about it reminds him of 4chan on a reddit thread. Perhaps he was one of those cult members.
Ji Sung let him talk and occasionally nodded. Atvleastvhe would forgot about that Joo Fucking Dan Tae.
And Yuki kept babbling. "... But, it's weird. Why are orcs and goblins interested in mine caves latelly. Something fishy happened here. Someone must be behind all of this. Someone must be pulling the string, but who?"
Yuki rubbed his chin with a serious expression as he squished his brain out. He fall for his own conspiracy theory about cave, orc, and goblin.
"You took it too seriously. And about our party members." Ji Sung had no idea, he was new here. "Any suggestions?"
Yuki came back to himself as he nodded and talked normally. "Let's find someone, here. I promise someone to do the quest together."
"May I know, who?"
"You already know who." Naughty smile drew on her thin lips.
With such a smile, Ji Sung guesses, someone he might know was probably Ha Un. It must be. Yuki's affiliation with the Traveler Association, that alone would be proof for his guess. "It is a girl?"
"Yep, the cute one. He knows how to handle things. Besides, you two already had chemistry. Come, don't be shy. She would love partying with us."
His trek abruptly stops. Ha Un. It must be that crazy petite girl. Does she tell Yuki about their night together? Yes, that night, Ji Sung was a bit drunk and doing something, but that was because she seduced him. Because too much wine.
And that only once, once! "Nothing happened between us, no, just a—"
"What happened, Ji Sung? Why are you anchored there? You forgot something?"
"What did she tell you?"
"Everything. How gentle you are back then and—"
"E–everything?" Ji Sung trembled. He can't believe that girl dare to tell what happened that night to everyone.
"Let us go, she is waiting for us at the Tavern."
Yuki entered a two story stone building, covered by grape vines. He stops at the front of the swinging doors, turn at Ji Sung. "What happened to you? Hurry, you don't want Joo Da Tae to beat us on a quest, don't you? Come on."
That crazy girl. What does she want?
"Yuki, Ji Sung?" The girl voice came from behind.