TRPSG 7

chapter 7

As I felt my body lift into the air, the scenery around me blurred and changed in an instant.

He was so strong—he carried me with one arm as if it were nothing, moving lightly without the slightest sign of strain.

Impressive. A man really should be strong.

“We’re fine up to this point. I’ll scout the surroundings again, so please follow me at a distance.”

“Y-Yes.”

Kalion set me down and pushed through the bushes once more.

Still, with so many obstacles around, what if there was a monster hiding somewhere we couldn’t see?

Rustle.

The moment that thought crossed my mind, an ominous sound followed.

They say a bad premonition always comes true… This isn’t going to trigger another sudden quest, is it?

But unlike me, who tensed at the shaking bushes, Kalion didn’t even prepare for battle.

“Kalion… um, the bushes just moved…”

“It’s not a monster.”

It was a short answer—too short to explain the situation.

If it’s not a monster, then what? A person?

Just as that thought formed—

Boom.

A loud crash rang out, and a large tree across from us split clean in half.

“Eek!”

A figure stood behind the tree.

No—he had a human shape, but his entrance was so terrifying that I instinctively shrank back and hid behind Kalion.

Did he split that tree with sheer strength? Is he even human?

“What, Kalion? You’re fine.”

A man’s voice—deep and sturdy.

“You sent a signal like you were dying, so I thought you were seriously hurt. Guess you were just exaggerating?”

“…There were circumstances.”

Their speech grew brief. They seemed to know each other.

‘Then… are they allies?’

The man strode closer.

When he had been in the shadows, I couldn’t see him clearly, but under the light, his dazzling red hair stood out immediately.

‘Wow… he’s huge.’

He was about as tall as Kalion, but much broader.

Unlike Kalion, who wore silver armor, this man had his hair loose and his clothes open—far too unguarded for someone walking through a monster-infested mountain.

‘Maybe his muscles are his armor.’

Kalion felt like a cold winter mountain, while this man was like blazing flames.

With red hair and golden eyes, his sharp features made him look like a fire spirit.

“Kalion. What’s that behind you?”

Calling a person “that” felt a bit rude, didn’t it?

‘Well, if he’s someone Kalion knows, it shouldn’t be dangerous.’

I peeked out slightly from behind Kalion.

“Uh…”

The man froze when he saw me.

Like he’d just seen something he shouldn’t have.

‘Do I look that strange? Or is it because it’s his first time seeing Kalion with a woman?’

Whatever it was, it wasn’t a friendly reaction. I missed my chance to introduce myself.

As an awkward staring match began, Kalion stepped aside slightly to mediate.

“We met during our trek. She had an accident and lost her memory, so I was escorting her to a nearby village.”

“…Lost her memory?”

The man’s voice rose skeptically.

Understandable. It did sound like a suspicious lie.

I was ready to hide behind Kalion if he started interrogating or attacking me, but instead, the man scratched the back of his neck awkwardly and looked away.

‘If he has no intention of attacking, that’s a relief.’

When I looked at Kalion, he seemed to realize something and quickly introduced the man.

“My apologies for the late introduction, Master. This is Senes—my older brother.”

That last part was shocking.

‘Brother? They don’t look alike at all.’

Aside from both being handsome, everything from hair color to build was completely different.

Apparently, Senes—Kalion’s brother—was also a monster hunter. Though they were siblings, they hunted separately and only signaled each other in emergencies.

Judging by the situation, Kalion must have sent him a distress signal yesterday when he was badly injured.

Though… what’s the point of arriving a day later?

Anyway, since we’d been introduced, I should greet him.

Or at least, I tried to.

“I see. Senes, nice to meet—”

“Who gave you permission to act like his master?”

He picked a fight out of nowhere.

“…Excuse me?”

“You’re Kalion’s master? You? On what grounds?”

Ah. So that’s the issue.

“Um, I think you’ve misunderstood. I’m not acting like his master—my name is Joo-in, so Kalion just calls me that.”

“Your name is Joo-in?”

“Yes.”

“…Why is your name like that?”

Senes frowned, one eyebrow twitching.

Like you had anything to do with naming me.

If you were dropped into Korea, your name would sound just as weird.

“Anyway, so you’re not his master.”

Senes let out an annoyed sigh, then turned to Kalion.

“So, Kalion. You’re not hurt?”

No apology—just a topic change. That tells me everything about his personality.

Kalion hesitated briefly, then nodded.

He must have decided not to mention that I healed him.

“I was just flustered since it was my first time escorting someone. There’s no other problem.”

“Of course there wouldn’t be—for you.”

That sounded like I was the problem.

‘More importantly, aren’t you going to apologize for picking a fight over my name?’

I glared at Senes, and our eyes met.

His sharp expression made me flinch for a moment, but I refused to back down and stared right back.

Then—

A small window popped up between us.

Current Party Members: (1/1)
A party request has been received. Would you like to accept?

You won’t apologize, but you’re sending a party request? Are you kidding me?

I stared at Senes, and he immediately avoided my gaze.

‘Why is there no reject button?’

When I used my healing skill, there were “Yes” and “No” options—but this only had “Accept.”

Does ignoring it count as rejection?

‘Fine by me—I reject it!’

I pushed the window aside. If there’s no reject button, I just won’t accept it.

I’m not pressing that until you apologize.

“Anyway, Kalion. Does that mean the three of us are heading down the mountain together now?”

“Yes. Now that my brother is here, we can support Master as we go. That’s a relief.”

Relief? What relief? I don’t want to team up with that rude guy!

I tried to signal with my eyes that I’d rather Kalion support me instead, but Senes cut in immediately.

“Support? Is she injured? She looks fine on the outside.”

“She has a weak constitution and tires easily.”

“I wasn’t asking you. I asked her.”

Then he looked at me.

What now? Mad I didn’t accept the party?

“I don’t need any support. Let’s just go.”

“Go where? You look like you’ll collapse after a single step.”

Didn’t you just say I looked fine?

“I am fine.”

“Lack of sleep. Lack of exercise. Severe nutritional imbalance. Your feet look swollen too.”

Senes sighed and pulled out a small pouch.

Before I could even wonder if it was an inventory—

Poof!

A pot and cooking utensils appeared.

…Wait. Cooking utensils?

“We should get you something to eat and recover your strength first. Kalion, take out all the ingredients you have.”

We’re cooking here? Is he serious?

“I only have emergency rations. It’d be better to use yours.”

“Fine. Then go fetch some water. There’s a spring below the cliff.”

“Brother, what about monsters nearby—”

“I’ve already taken care of everything nearby. It’ll be safe for a while.”

“I see. Understood.”

Even in this absurd situation, Kalion didn’t seem fazed at all. He immediately left to fetch water.

‘…I guess this is normal here.’

Meanwhile, Senes began pulling out endless bags of ingredients from his inventory.

For a monster hunter, why is he carrying so much food?

‘Is he actually a chef?’

Well, even in a zombie apocalypse, people still do mukbangs with cheesy ramen and tteokbokki…

‘What is the genre of this world?’

Some kind of survival-adventure with a hint of romance? If this were a game, I’d seriously question its target audience.

‘Still… he looks skilled.’

Senes handled the ingredients swiftly, his rough, battle-worn hands moving with surprising precision.

Like a professional chef.

After chopping everything, he pulled out a red object from his pouch.

‘A gem?’

No… too rough for a gem. Too translucent and radiant for a stone.

About half the size of my fist, he gripped it with both hands—

Crack.

He broke it in half.

‘…He just crushed a rock? With his bare hands?’

Then flames burst to life beneath the pot.

“F-Fire!”

Is he insane?! Starting a fire in the mountains?!

I panicked and tried to clear away nearby branches and leaves, but Senes snapped at me.

“Would you stay still? I’m the one cooking—why are you making a fuss?”

“But the fire! What if it spreads?!”

“It won’t. I used a magic stone.”

“A magic stone?”

“The core of a monster. Don’t you know?”

How would I?

“…You really weren’t lying about your memory loss.”

Senes narrowed his eyes, scanning me up and down.

‘He seems to believe me… so why does that feel so irritating?’