Chapter 534: Hidden Piece (1) |
The incident happened a few hours later, and a lot of things happened right after we reached Mirror Lake. It had been a while since we went on a group vacation, the guild members were more energetic than usual.
After reaching the city and unpacking our luggage, we ate together to relieve the exhaustion during the carriage ride.
Mirror Salmon, the city’s specialty, was pretty good. I was a picky eater, but I managed to finish two servings. Park Deok-Gu and Ahn Ki-Mo’s plates were stacked quite high, and Elena kept on gasping in shock whenever she took a bite.
‘Well, it really is that good.’
We hadn’t really done anything yet, but it already felt like we were actually on vacation. We had high expectations of Mirror Lake.
“I’m really looking forward to it. A-Are you looking forward to it as well, O-oppa?” Jung Ha-Yan asked.
“Yeah. I thought we’d immediately see the lake as soon as we arrived, but I guess that wasn’t the case,” I replied.
“They intentionally reserved a restaurant that’s a bit far from the lake so that we’ll look forward to seeing the Lake. I’m sure it’ll be great. Don’t you think so, Oppa?” she asked.
“I’m sure you’ll really enjoy it, Sub Guild Master. I’m not usually the one to say something like this, but it’s really romantic,” Hwang Jung-Yeon chimed in.
“Why do you look so surprised, hyung-nim? Miss Jung-Yeon and I had visited this place before for a field survey. Anyway, it’s best if we get up quickly if we’re done eating. Mirror Lake is the prettiest during this hour,” Park Deok-Gu suggested.
“There’s a separate entrance, but the ship Mr. Deok-Gu brought is too big, so we probably can’t go that way. The carriage is probably waiting there already, so we can just walk there slowly. Let’s go. You too, Guild Master,” said Hwang Jung-Yeon.
“Ah… got it,” Kim Hyun-Sung replied.
Kim Hyun-Sung stood up awkwardly, and I smiled in satisfaction because he was acting like a child on a package tour. He was acting his age, and Jo Hye-Jin next to him seemed really excited as well.
“You look like you’re enjoying yourself.” I pointed out.
“Please don’t be ridiculous, Sub Guild Master,” Jo Hye-Jin replied.
Anyway, the guild members, including Kim Hyun-Sung, started walking happily, and I was satisfied with the Park Deok-Gu tour so far. Traveling with a full stomach meant that one could enjoy the views properly, and the hiking trail to the main tourist spot was decorated beautifully as well. It was one of the factors that contributed greatly to the great atmosphere. I also thought that the excellent atmosphere was the main reason I was so satisfied with the Park Deok-Gu tour so far.
We walked for a few minutes, and we finally saw Mirror Lake.
It was a scene that made me gasp. I thought it would be kind of disappointing, but it was a sight worthy of being called the Sacred Democratic Country’s number-one tourist spot.
The lake seemed as massive as the ocean, and the scenery itself made it too beautiful to be called a mere lake. The Mirror Lake was aptly named because not only did it reflect the sky, but it also looked like someone sprinkled light particles all over the place.
The Mirror Lake looked like someone had emblazoned jewels on it.
Everyone stared in awe and expressed their appreciation with their jaws on the ground.
“It’s pretty.”
Even Kim Ye-Ri exclaimed, and she had never been the type to express her emotions.
“I feel like I’m getting cleansed… like the sins and fear deep inside of me are disappearing,” exclaimed Han Sora. She was a crybaby who needed cleansing.
“I thought I’d seen many interesting things after arriving on this continent, but this scenery is the best,” said Yoo Ah-Young.
“How is it sparkling like that?” Lee Chang-Ryeol asked.
“We have no explanations so far, Mr. Chang-Ryeol,” said Hwang Jung-Yeon, Park Deok-Gu’s girl.
“What do you mean?” Lee Chang-Ryeol asked.
“It’s like I said. We have no idea how it’s like a mirror and how there are light particles floating about it. Scholars are still trying their best to find out why, but who knows? Honestly, I don’t want to know why because it’s more romantic that way,” she answered.
“I didn’t see any salmon farms nearby, so I wonder how salmon live here,” said Lee Chang-Ryeol.
‘What’s the point of nitpicking? As long as it looks pretty in my eyes, that’s all that matters. Don’t you agree, noonim?” Park Deok-Gu asked.
“Ah… Yes, it’s really pretty,” Jung Ha-Yan answered.
It seemed that Jung Ha-Yan could still get affected by her emotions because she repeatedly nodded in response to Park Deok-Gu’s words and hugged my arm.
Elena glanced at us.
Jung Ha-Yan was probably expecting me to do something romantic, but I was embarrassed to do something like that in front of everyone.
“This is just the beginning. It’s going to be even more ridiculous,” Park Deok-Gu said.
“I think you mean spectacular,” I corrected.
“Same thing. Why are you ruining the nice atmosphere, hyung-nim…? Anyway, get on, everyone. Hurry up. We’re going to see it up close. Seeing it from Nice Boat will definitely be a lot better. Hurry up, bro,” he urged.
“Yes, I’m coming,” Kim Hyun-Sung replied.
Kim Hyun-Sung glanced at me before taking the lead, and we soon got onto the ship.
I finally saw the interior of the ship. It wasn’t that extravagant, but I could tell the effort that Park Deok-Gu exerted into building the ship. The amenities were luxurious, and it seemed that he focused on that more compared to the overall interior.
The massive ship started heading toward the lake, and Kim Ye-Ri started yelling in excitement. Ahn Ki-Mo’s satisfied look was a plus. There was definitely a difference between looking at it from afar and up close. It felt like I was flying while riding the ship. If I were to talk about its mysteriousness, it was on the same level as the World Tree.
I still couldn’t see the edge of the lake. The water swayed as waves were created when the large ship sailed slowly on it. The sky seemed to be moving as well, along with the particles of light. Jung Ha-Yan definitely saw a scene from a movie because she stood at the very bow of the ship and spread her arms while staring at the lake.
“O-Oppa… P-Please hold me from behind,” Jung Ha-Yan requested.
‘Please don’t do this… Ha-Yan.’
However, I wasn’t mean enough not to play along in a situation like this, so I grabbed Jung Ha-Yan’s waist, and she giggled in response. Sun Hee-Young and Elena stood behind us, waiting for their turns, while Kim Hyun-Sung was staring at us in satisfaction.
Jo Hye-Jin looked like she wanted to do what we were doing, but her lover wasn’t interested, so it seemed that today would be another defeat for her.
Everyone cheered and gasped at the scenery. Honestly, it wasn’t that great, but the cheers made Park Deok-Gu feel even more satisfied.
Rumble!
There was a rumbling noise, and the ship slowly sank. I looked at Park Deok-Gu doubtfully, but he only nodded in response, telling me not to worry.
The ship was soon fully submerged, and we saw a never-before-seen scenery.
‘I can’t believe that it can submerge. Shit…’
The reactions of the guild members made me think that this scenery could cleanse even low-ranking demons. I honestly didn’t think that the lake would be this dazzling underwater. In other words, the lake wasn’t just acting like a mirror.
There was an inexplicable natural phenomenon that couldn’t be explained by earthly common sense at work here.
Jo Hye-Jin unknowingly extended her hand out when a particle of light floated over to her. I wasn’t sure if the particle of light was holy power or mana, but I started thinking that perhaps I could use it as a catalyst.
“How did you do this…?” I asked.
“Well, I called over a few mages. This is the first time we’re using this, and it’s great that it’s working properly,” Park Deok-Gu replied.
“This is definitely a better view,” I commented.
“Did the view manage to cleanse you even just a bit?” he asked.
‘It’s not that great.’
“Do you feel the darkness inside you disappearing or something?” he questioned.
“Thanks, Deok-Gu,” I said.
“Ahem, I’ve been waiting for you to say that to me, but I feel happier hearing it from you. Ah, look! There’s a school of salmon!” he pointed out.
“It’s pretty,” I said.
“I can tell that you’re happy. Noonim seems to be enjoying it as well,” he commented.
“It feels like I’m inside a blue-and-white universe,” Jung Ha-Yan chimed in.
“Oooh! That was poetic! Let’s follow the salmon and see where they’re going,” he suggested.
“Is that okay?” I asked.
“Don’t worry, what are you so worried about? Ha-Yan noonim is even here. Don’t worry about anything and just enjoy the tour, hyung-nim. You can look forward to tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, too. Let’s gooo!” he shouted.
‘This pig is having too much fun.’
I couldn’t help but feel slightly anxious because Park Deok-Gu’s happiness meant that misfortune was soon to follow. However, the scenery truly helped me forget my trivial worries.
Even Han Sora cried at the scenery…
I couldn’t really understand why she was crying because we were just looking at nature, but she looked as if she had been redeemed.
‘Well, she did help summon a demon...’
Jung Ha-Yan seemed to be swimming in guilt, so I looked away and about absolving her.
Park Deok-Gu got more and more excited because the audience’s reaction got better and better. I couldn’t help but laugh because he was steering the Nice Boat in a funny way. Everyone was enjoying the relaxing time in their own way, but Kim Hyun-Sung was probably the happiest.
It felt like his happiness was directly proportional to my happiness.
Honestly, I started getting tired after twenty minutes because they started to look the same in my eyes. However, I made sure to reveal various reactions for Kim Hyun-Sung to see. After all, he had been having a difficult time recently.
‘I definitely need to do some lip service.’
Their goals had always been to take care of my mental health and make me have fun, so I wanted them to feel like they had achieved their goals. Kim Hyun-Sung was overjoyed at my fake reactions, and he looked like all this was because of him.
I felt like once we were done here, he would definitely ask me again and again if I had enjoyed the trip.
“Wow!”
‘He’s having the time of his life.’
“Ah!”
‘This is really tiring, Hyun-Sung.’
“It’s really amazing.”
‘People will think that you’re the one who created Mirror Lake, man.’
“I think it’s even better… because it’s so big.”
‘As long as you’re happy, Hyun-Sung.’
“All right, we’re heading up now, so hold on tight!” Park Deok-Gu exclaimed.
It was finally over. I started thinking about what kind of reaction I should show once we surfaced, but…
‘Where are we…?’
We arrived at a place we had never seen before, rather than Mirror Lake.
“Damn it… What’s going on?”
My jaw dropped the moment when I saw a wormhole in a huge wave.
“Set sail! Set sail! Set saiiiiil!!!” I screamed.
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