Chapter 141: Bat’s Memory

Two women sat facing each other in front of a crackling campfire.

The one with a sturdy build over 180cm and a wolf-cut hairstyle was from Earth—Elliot Middlerner.

The slender one under 160cm, draped in a mage robe, was from Idea—Seimir Sion.

Upon entering the dungeon, the two realized it was maze terrain.

Then they realized the person they dropped with was from another world.

At first, they approached gladly.

‘Hello. Are you from Earth?’ (Idea language)

‘Hm. An Idea person. You really look just like us.’ (English)

‘Nice to meet you. Seems you don’t know Idea language, but I speak Earth language, so it’s fine.’ (Korean)

‘That sounds like Korean…? Sorry, I don’t know Korean.’ (English)

‘You can’t understand me?’ (Korean)

‘Trouble. Should’ve learned a bit. No communication is awkward.’ (English)

‘Ah, you don’t use the language Dam Da-on taught. Didn’t anticipate this… awkward….’ (Idea language)

After this series of exchanges… they arrived at the current awkward silence.

Both were naturally quiet people, dropped alone together, leading to this situation.

After a long while, Elliot glanced up.

Just then, Seimir perfectly timed raising her head too, and their eyes met.

“…….”

“…….”

Both forced awkward smiles by curling their lips, then lowered their heads again.

Seimir focused on polishing her staff, while Elliot unnecessarily pushed more firewood into the fire.

No conversation passed between them.

The atmosphere wasn’t hostile.

Just mutually awkward… and embarrassed, but favorable toward each other.

Ready to accommodate and consider if the other requested anything.

“……Hm. Sleep now. I’ll take watch.”

Elliot mimed sleep by cupping hands on one cheek, yawning, and closing eyes.

“Ah. You mean sleep. Yes, sleep. I’ll take watch.”

Seimir nodded and opened her eyes wider.

She gripped her staff tightly with both hands, ready to cast magic anytime.

Meanwhile, Elliot noticed the Idea person misunderstood her words.

But lacking courage to clear the misunderstanding, she just ignored it.

While the two women were in a storm of awkwardness, not far away.

“Heh. Earth alcohol is sweet like fruit wine. Could chug a whole crate and not get drunk.” (Idea language)

“Right. Da-on and Min-ji said Idea alcohol is better, but Earth’s way tastier? They lied!” (Idea language)

Haidian Heroi and Sieg Frizen poured wine straight from bottles down their throats.

Canadian rules banned alcohol in dungeons, so hunters smuggled it in.

“Hey. What’re you saying. Speak so I understand. Keh, but Idea alcohol is strong. Burns the throat.” (English)

“Yeah. If they only drank this crap, they’d go nuts for Earth alcohol. Once full trade with Idea opens, should I monopolize liquor industry first.” (English)

“Let’s partner. Rich without hunting. Hey, Idea guys. You be ad models.” (English)

Just imagining made the Canadian hunters guffaw happily.

All faces flushed from drink.

Understandable—hunters all women, only Haidian and Sieg men, both exceptionally handsome.

Good eye candy meant alcohol went down sweetly even without snacks.

“What’s so funny? Let us laugh too.” (Idea language)

“Voice is nice too~ Gotta do business with us. No modeling elsewhere.” (English)

“Can’t understand a word.” (Idea language)

“Smiling means not bad. Just nod. Nod nod. Haha!” (Idea language)

Everyone laughed watching handsome men nod without understanding.

Language barrier, but alcohol’s common tongue made them close.

Soon meeting Elliot and Seimir would bring scolding and back smacks, but for now, they were happy.

And……

Here, one dropped alone.

‘Illusion attribute. If maze terrain and Bran-nim alone, absolutely don’t move from spot. Others can move.’

‘Hey! Why only I can’t move?’

‘Non-awakened. No system window, so staying put is safest. Wait there for rescue.’

‘…Ha, sh*t.’

Hearing the firm warning, Bran stayed put for days after entry.

Normally, he’d ignore such words and dash around.

But……

“Wanna meet Damion and Sanse soon.”

“Hold on a bit. We’ll meet soon.”

“Can’t wait.”

“Ah, geez. Just a few days.”

“Bran lives here. I go to Damion!”

“Hey hey, Baba-nim. No!”

The companion bat’s anxiety made Bran tame while stopping it.

“Bran no system window. I see system window. So I can move.”

“So if system shows trap, how avoid alone? Monster appears, how fight?”

“I fight good. Look my sharp claws.”

“Ha…… Please just wait here quietly. Or I’ll tell Ion later Baba-nim didn’t listen?”

“Bran mean.”

“Yeah yeah, mean, so just wait. Instead, when Ion comes, I’ll praise you waited maturely.”

“…Okay. I be mature bat.”

Truth… Baba wasn’t mature after.

Ears perked at every breeze, every distant explosion or howl.

Worried it’d fly off alone, Bran held Baba in arms.

But limits exist.

Days passed, Bran’s patience dwindled.

‘Why listen to human orders?’

‘Waiting this long enough, right?’

‘No, maybe I should rescue them?’

‘Awakened or not, except Sara Harundas, all pathetic….’

Around then.

“Bran! Damion smell!”

“What?”

“This Damion. Damion close. Coming from there!”

Baba flapped wildly, escaping Bran’s arms.

Bran tried grabbing late, but Baba dodged nimbly and zoomed off.

‘What? When did this bat get so fast?’

Bran froze briefly, then snapped awake seeing Baba turn corner.

Sending Baba alone risky—trap in maze bad.

“Ah, whatever. F*ck. Just move!”

Bran bolted from spot.

“Damion!”

A bat plumply round in unbelievable way splatted onto Ion’s face.

Ion peeled the bat off his face.

Small head, tiny nose, round sparkling eyes, bunny-like ears.

Soft gray fluff… and……

“Why so fat.”

Really chubby.

Knew from ‘Sage’s Mirror,’ but seeing in person, even rounder.

Ion held Baba in hand and kneaded quickly.

Yes…. This.

Warm, squishy yet firm feel.

Complicated mind cleared.

Like forehead on Sanse leaves.

“I fat? Not nice to touch?”

“No. Squishy.”

“Damion same. I missed Damion. Damion?”

“…Not really.”

“Damion same as ever.”

Baba rubbed tiny head on Ion’s fingers repeatedly.

Ion didn’t notice his own smile, nor Sa-on watching with odd expression.

“Greet Sanse too.”

“Yeah!”

Ion placed Baba in pot; Baba roamed, getting fur on Sanse leaves.

“Sanse, good? Prettier!”

“…….”

“Really? Wanna visit home.”

“…….”

“Okay. Instead I scold Damion!”

What conversation……

“Hey. Just you two? Haven’t met others?”

“Yes. Stuck long in one spot. Long way. Keep moving.”

After brief reunion, three people and one bat hurried steps again.

Lost a day to unavoidable secret trial—must move diligently.

While moving, heard Idea situation from Bran.

War with giants fully ended in Idea.

Giants all returned home.

But now idol worship issue surfaced.

“Now war with System Age begins. Idea or Earth.”

“Not war level. Holy Agency bastards stepped in, suppressed quick.”

“That easy?”

“Sure. Most Idea follow main god, so Age-like weird idol groups only social misfits… Wait. Use chance preach demon god?”

“They won’t fall to Age, but tempted by demon cult?”

“Yeah, won’t. But double annoy Holy Agency bastards. Kekeke.”

Same personality despite long absence.

Ion unknowingly smiled slightly at Bran; Sa-on watching beside looked displeased.

“Anyway, how’s our On-on’s pet bat memory? Any clues on demon king seal?”

Ion curious too.

Baba answered brightly.

“I found memory. But not found. I no memory!”

“What mean.”

“Found memory but that memory gone!”

“So what mean.”

“Don’t understand? You grew with Damion, why dumb?”

Baba tilted head purely curious.

“I lag behind our youngest. Explain kindly again?”

“Hey. Expect kind from Baba-nim. I’ll explain. Too lazy for details, planned reveal when all gathered with Jin Seong-ha guy… anyway. Explain to others, Damion.”

“Yes.”

Bran stopped in place.

Not topic for walking, so Ion and Sa-on stopped too.

Bran spoke with slightly serious face.

“Baba-nim missing memories before meeting you. Like carved out. Older half-breed than me says memory seal magic. Carved memories, sealed somewhere.”

“Why seal bat memory?”

“Dunno reason. Holy Agency gave info. Demon king’s bat sealed with king. Info even we didn’t know.”

“What?”

Ion blinked dazedly.

“Doesn’t make sense. Demon king sealed ten thousand years ago, bat too—how produce descendants?”

“Yeah. No sense. Only one assumption possible.”

Yes.

Combining all info, only one reasonable explanation.

“No way…….”

Sa-on reached same assumption.

Unable to continue, Baba summarized instead.

“Yeah, right. Demon king seal already broken long ago!”