“This is more powerful than I’ve ever seen it.”
Doral seemed to be puzzled. Joonbum realized this wasn’t what Doral expected and asked, “Is something wrong?”
“I’m not sure. The Ainos don’t get this dramatic effect when we use it. It does clean ourselves of our diseases and such, but this is something else!”
Joonbum thought for a moment and asked again.
“Is it because he’s human?”
“I doubt it.”
Doral shook his head and explained, “I heard of some human using the top grade before. The effect was recorded, but I don’t think it was to this extent.”
“Then it’s not because he’s a human.”
“No. I’m not sure why this is happening.”
Doral looked confused. A thought suddenly popped up for Joonbum.
“Is it because we changed the hunting method?”
Doral looked at Joonbum with a startled look. It seemed like a plausible reason.
“Yeah, we did hunt it down easily. We always used some kind of poison to weaken the regeneration ability. Maybe it was because we didn’t use that method this time? Hmm. Oh and isn’t he the one that came from the Gate? Like you? But he didn’t undergo the change like you. Then… Ugh, I’m not sure.”
Doral spoke his mind and looked more confused. Joonbum turned to Jinpok. He was as if he had gotten much taller, going from 5’10” to 6’3″. His face also looked very different now that his skin turned him much younger and cleaner.
“Huh? Fa-father? What’s going on? Who is he?”
“So, is he okay? Is he… huh? Who is this man?”
Hallis and Dorrin who had been waiting outside came into the room and asked Joonbum in shock. Jinpok was that much different now.
*
“Hmm, why am I here!”
Jinpok shouted as he frowned at the horse. Joonbum grinned as Joonbum, Doral, and Jinpok walked down the road through the forest.
It was the next day when they healed Jinpok. Hallis began drinking with his old friends and was knocked out, unconscious because of heavy drinking. It looked like he lost his love that made him drunk.
-Ugh, let him be. I’ll go with you instead. I think I will be more useful than him. The empire is vast but I have experience traveling there.-
Joonbum realized Jinpok had a lot more life stories here. Dorrin also looked concerned as she heard Jinpok traveling down to the empire.
-Maybe I can solve the issue once and for all.-
Joonbum remembered what Jinpok said to his wife when they left.
‘Maybe it’s related to his wife’s family problem.’
Dorrin Bayne was a typical noblewoman. She had the same vibe as people in the higher class and had dignity in whatever she did. Even when she was working like a commoner, she did not lose her charm. It was amazing that Jinpok managed to marry her.
‘I guess he was always lucky,’ Joonbum thought. Jinpok did have a hard time living here, but he managed to survive and live as a noble.
“AMBUSH!”
Jinpok suddenly stopped and took up a bow quickly. It was so sudden and unprecedented that Doral and Joonbum took time to realize what happened. An arrow was fired from Jinpok’s bow and it struck a man within the bushes.
“UGH! We’re busted! ATTACK!”
“ATTACK!”
Several men began running out while shouting.
“YOU- UGH.”
“DIE! DI- ARGH…”
In a few seconds, multiple arrows were fired and penetrated the enemy. Bandits were killed instantly and fell to the ground, leaving behind a few men who barely managed to block the incoming arrows with their shields.
“What are they? Bandits?” Jinpok shouted as he kept firing his arrows. Joonbum glanced at the fallen enemies.
‘They are not just regular thieves or bandits.’
The empire had a lot of bandits. What was interesting was that some of the villages that turned themselves into bandit groups as the empire became weaker.
‘Mercenary…’
The bandits had well-cared for weapons and moved very quickly. They were not just some ordinary bandits.
‘It’s the third time.’
It happened after twenty days into the empire after they left Hallis’ village. They had been attacked three times already.
“DIE!”
A man with a shield ran up to Doral, raising his axe, but Doral threw his spear at him, penetrating both the shield and the man, killing him instantly. Then there was another man that Joonbum just killed with an arrow on his head. Jinpok was at front, swinging his giant axe like it was nothing.
-Are you going to use that?-
-Yeah, isn’t it cool? Axe is the best.-
Jinpok did not seem to be curious about what had healed and it allowed him to move about freely. He just accepted it casually and asked for another top grade healing potion, explaining that his wife needed to become younger to be fair.
The weapon was powerful. The shield was destroyed as it was used to try to block the axe.
Soon, it grew quiet with bodies scattered around.
“This is too boring.”
Jinpok swung his axe to clean the blood from the axe and used the cloth of the dead bandit to clean it some more.
“I should’ve stayed behind with my wife! Why am I here fighting these stupid bandits!”
Jinpok began ranting again. But Joonbum knew he was actually enjoying the journey. Jinpok then began searching the bodies for any valuables and managed to find a sack of gold coins.
“I should buy some gifts for my wife!”
