Book 4-4.4
Yulian scrunched his face to hold back his anger as he spoke. Seeing Yulian being like this, Runa started to speak.
“They are guaranteed to have planted many moles in Pareia as well. That is how they would have found out that Edwin-nim was related to the changes we are going through and probably tried to get rid of Edwin-nim to cut off one of our pillars.”
“I am just a lowly merchant. Why would they think so highly of me?”
Listening to them say that he had suddenly become the target of the Silence Empire, Edwin started to speak in shock. Runa shook his head as he answered.
“What would happen if Edwin-nim was missing from our current operations? Edwin-nim currently has a large influence on Pareia. It would be a significant hit for us as well if Edwin-nim was assassinated.”
“The Silence was aiming for that.”
Once Yulian interjected, Runa finished his response.
“Yes. We must hurry as well. We need to install enough moles so we can see the movement of the Silence Empire on the palm of our hands.”
“Since I left that to you last time, take good care of it. Anyways, I need to leave for the Shire tomorrow, but I am not feeling very comfortable with leaving because of what happened.”
“We will need to increase patrol on the borders as well as the number of warriors on the construction site.”
“I guess I should leave the Red Storm here.”
As Yulian responded that he would increase the patrol warriors and leave the Red Storm at the construction site, Runa quickly jumped up and down.
“You cannot do that. The most important thing is the Glow’s safety. I will personally go to the construction site.”
“Mm. If that is the case, take Greatest Warrior Egane and Pere with you. You are also a very important person.”
“I already have a plan in mind. The Glow can just go and safely complete the goal.”
“I will not be stubborn since I trust you.”
Yulian answered that way before asking Edwin a question.
“What if you reside in the desert for a while?”
“I cannot do that thinking about the people who will be waiting for me with their eyes wide open. I also need to keep delivering goods to Pareia so I think I should quickly return.”
Yulian nodded his head at Edwin’s answer and started to speak to Haisha.
“Haisha, you will not take part in my trip this time. Instead, please take 1,000 warriors and make sure Edwin reaches the border to his kingdom safely. You do know why I am saying this, right?”
Haisha immediately bowed his head and responded.
“I will do as the Glow instructed.”
Once everything was resolved, Yulian started to think about the Shire once again. He also started to think about the term ‘savior.’
He still didn’t think he deserved such a grand title. However, thinking about what Tuma Takaka had said, he felt like he would be able to safely absorb the members of the Shire into Pareia.
The night passes by and the dawn arrives.
Let the bell ring out loud.
Far far away, I see the yellow sand.
Toward the Land of Hope.
Raise the sails!
Follow the wind and let’s cross through the sand~
Captain Thriger’s fun and refreshing song was good to hear and helped raise the mood.
Nobody knew where the song came from, but Captain Thriger’s love for this song was quite extensive. The song originally has two verses, but everybody was looking forward to the day Captain Thriger completed the third verse as he always claimed he would do.
“We are almost there, Glow.”
Captain Thriger shouted loudly toward Yulian who was looking around from the deck. Once Yulian heard Captain Thriger, he started to look forward.
There seemed to be nothing out there except the desert sand. However, the Shire people who have lived in secrecy were supposedly right there.
Tuma Takaka started to mumble next to Yulian.
“They used an incantation to make it look like the desert. I presume that Captain Thriger received help right outside the entrance into the tribe. It is difficult for foreigners to enter the tribe itself. Orisen-nim was only able to enter after visiting four times.”
“What is in their tribe for them to be so secretive?”
“I presume the Glow will be shocked at the scenery that does not look like the desert at all.”
Yulian looked at Tuma Takaka with confusion at the answer before deciding that he would find out soon enough.
The Desert Runner #0 stopped at the edge of the quicksand river and quickly lowered the anchors. Once the ship had completely stopped, they lowered the wooden ladder for Yulian and Red Storm to get off the ship.
“Please be safe Glow. We will be waiting over here.”
As Captain Thriger and the crew watched Yulian and the group off, Yulian started to smile as he answered.
“Since Tuma Takaka-nim has said it shouldn’t take too long whether it goes well or terrible, it shouldn’t be too long. Take some time to relax and go sand fishing or something.”
“Hehehe, for some reason, there are no monsters at all in this area. I presume the mysterious people here have done something to make that happen. Please have a successful trip.”
Yulian nodded his head before leading Tuma Takaka and the Red Storm forward.
“It’s been a long time since I walked the Path of Illusion.”
Tuma Takaka became nostalgic walking through the path to his hometown. He had not been here for fifty years. Seeing Tuma Takaka being like that, Yulian started to ask a question.
“Are you saying this whole road is an illusion?”
“Yes. Close your eyes, clear your mind and then take a step. You will understand what I am talking about.”
Hearing Tuma Takaka’s quiet voice, everyone closed their eyes as if they made a promise and started to control their breathing.
Bang.
As soon as they all lifted up a foot and took a step, Yulian and the Red Storm quickly opened their eyes and looked around at each other in shock.
Putting aside the fact that there was a ‘bang’ noise on the sandy ground, the ground itself was hard. It did not feel like sand.
“The whole path is made of stone. Shall I show you?”
Tuma Takaka looked around at Yulian and the Red Storm amusingly as he asked. Yulian, as well as everybody else, nodded their heads.
“If this was a weird incantation that affected a person’s senses, someone like the Glow or the Red Storm warriors who have strong mental fortitude would not have been affected. However, the incantation here is not just a trick; it is something that you cannot see unless you clear your heart.”
Tuma Takaka said that before lifting up his staff and lightly tapping on the ground.
Tap.
There was a small noise from the staff before the surroundings instantly changed. The ground that Yulian and Red Storm were walking on quickly changed to a road made of white stone, with odd looking stone monuments on the side. Each of the monuments seemed to be made of two long stones standing up with a large rock placed on top of them. It was so amazing as there was no way humans would have been able to lift up such a large rock and put it up there.
Boom. Boooooooom. Boom. Boooooooom. Booooom.
The group started to hear the noise of a drum that was slowly approaching them. As the Red Storm members put their hands on their swords out of nervousness, Tuma Takaka quickly urged them to stop.
“They are only coming out because they are shocked to see the illusion being broken. Do not ever put your hand on your swords.”
As the Red Storm quickly took their hands off of their swords, they heard a clear but quiet voice.
“Hello esteemed guests. From where have you come?”
Even Yulian could not see the person as they were so far away. The person must be extremely skilled for them to be able to clearly hear the person at this distance.
“It is a type of incantation. They must have realized that I broke the illusio and reaching out to figure out my identity.”
Tuma Takaka who had a good idea as to what Yulian was thinking after seeing his surprised expression started to speak. He then lifted up his staff.
“Pareia’s Glow Yulian Provoke-nim, his shaman and his warriors ask for your understanding for visiting the Shire without prior notice.”
“Who is the one that knows of our ancient incantation?”
Once they heard someone speak again, Yulian could see something moving far far away.
“My name is Tuma Takaka. At one point, I had been given the name of ‘New Person’ by the Shire.”
The approaching people did not say anything and just increased their speed toward them. The five men who were wearing black clothing which was not often wore by the desert people, approached Yulian’s group the instant the group felt like they could finally see the approaching people’s faces.
“The Desert Conqueror, War God of the Eastern Desert, Pareia’s Glow Yulian Provoke-nim’s great name has been spread to our Shire as well. It is our honor to meet a hero.”
As the youngest looking man of the group stepped forward and bowed to Yulian, the four behind him started to bow toward Yulian as well.
“You are praising me too much. It is my honor to meet the members of the Shire who are known as the hermits of the desert.”
Seeing Yulian modestly answer like that, the young man bowed once more before starting to speak to Tuma Takaka.
“The young Shire who left a long time ago. I finally get to meet Tuma Takaka-nim who is now treated as an elder of the Shire.”
Tuma Takaka became slightly shocked hearing that he was treated as an elder of the Shire and asked.
“I left the Shire when I was young. Although I was born in the Shire, I ran away from that responsibility and followed my own will. How could someone like that become an elder?”
Tuma Takaka spoke respectfully to the man who seemed to be much younger than him.
