There Is No Place For Fakes [EN]: Chapter 144

Philomel hurried towards the Wyvern.

“Ggyuggyu! There you are!”

The convenient solution had come right to them.

For context, ‘Ggyuggyu’ was a name Philomel had made up on a whim.

Luguine had given it the grand name ‘Populatus,’ but Philomel called the Wyvern Ggyuggyu.

“Ggyu, Ggyuggyu.”

Because it went ‘Ggyu.’

Usually, it would screech something that sounded like ‘Kkieeeeek!’ but it made this sound around people it liked.

After Philomel fed it a few times, the Wyvern started following her around.

She found its affection quite endearing, so she treated the Wyvern very well.

‘Petting it, singing it lullabies, and even defending it when Luguine scolded it.’

Before long, Ggyuggyu liked Philomel more than its original owner.

Philomel rubbed the underside of Ggyuggyu’s chin and said,

“Ggyuggyu, we need a ride. Can you take us somewhere?”

“Ggyu?”

“It won’t take long.”

“Ggyu?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t understand. Give me and Nasar a ride, please.”

“Ggyu…….”

The Wyvern’s gaze wandered around. It seemed conflicted between its owner, Luguine, and Philomel.

“Why? Did Luguine tell you to bring me back?”

“Ggyu.”

The Basilisk wasn’t the only monster Luguine had sent.

“Don’t worry. Even if you disobey Luguine’s orders, I’ll make sure you don’t get in trouble.”

“Ggyu?”

“I can win if I fight Luguine. No parent can beat their child, right?”

“Ggyu…….”

The Wyvern’s eyes were filled with disbelief. Philomel pulled out her trump card.

“If you give us a ride, I’ll make sure you only get beef for your meals when we get back.”

“Ggyuggyu……?”

“Would I lie? Don’t you trust me?”

The Wyvern shook its head.

“I’m telling you, you’ll get to eat only beef every single day.”

“Ggyu, ggyu, ggyu!”

The Wyvern wiggled its body as if doing a joyful dance, then willingly carried the two people on its back.

Sitting in the saddle and flying through the sky, Philomel quietly thought to herself.

‘Ggyuggyu, I’m sorry. It’s a lie.’

Lexion said you’re overweight and will only be eating hay for the time being.

Even as a pitiful Wyvern was being manipulated, the scenery from the sky was breathtaking.

As dawn broke, everything began to be bathed in light.

‘At this speed, even with a rest tonight, we’ll arrive tomorrow.’

Philomel watched the quickly passing scenery with excitement.

“It’s chilly because of the wind.”

Nasar, who was sitting behind her, said. He took off his coat and put it on Philomel.

“Thank you, Nasa…….”

“…….”

Philomel, who had turned around to express her gratitude, had no choice but to stop talking. Nasar, who had met her eyes, also awkwardly turned his gaze away.

Because…….

‘Too close!’

When she turned around, his face was right in front of her, and their bodies were pressed close together.

The saddle on the Wyvern’s back was wide, but it was only meant for one person – one Tower Master.

The Golem that had accompanied Luguine to the Emperor’s birthday banquet in the past had clung to his back on its own, but she couldn’t exactly ask Nasar to do that.

The two people were inevitably forced to stick close to each other.

‘This is so nerve-wracking…….’

She thought it would be okay since they had hugged a few times, but it wasn’t at all.

Philomel fidgeted because of the awkwardness and embarrassment, wanting to create even a little space between them.

Then, her body tilted to the side.

“Philomel-nim!”

Nasar quickly grabbed Philomel’s body as she was about to fall, trapping her in his arms.

“Please be careful. The wind is strong.”

As he said, the wind was strong because of the high altitude and the Wyvern’s speed.

‘If I had slipped…….’

Philomel’s face paled as she looked down at the distant ground.

In the end, Philomel gave up and decided to settle into his arms. Instead, she would keep talking to him to distract herself.

“When are you going to stop calling me ‘Philomel-nim’?”

“……Are you perhaps displeased?”

“No! It’s not that, I just wish you would drop the ‘-nim’ part [a Korean honorific suffix].”

It was a topic she brought up to distract herself, but she meant it. She had been waiting, thinking that he would eventually call her by her name on his own, but there was no sign of that happening.

“That’s a bit…….”

Nasar trailed off, as if troubled.

“I call you by your name, though.”

“But Philomel-nim is Philomel-nim.”

“Come on, don’t be like that.”

“However…….”

“I wish Nasar would just call me ‘Philomel.’ It sounds more intimate that way. Okay?”

When Philomel ended the question with a cute tone, his red eyes widened.

His light pink lips twitched and parted.

“Phi, Philomel…….”

Philomel stared at him with expectant eyes.

“……Nim.”

“Why did you add ‘-nim’ there again!”

“It’s still difficult. I need to prepare myself.”

“What preparation do you need just to say a name!”

They went back and forth about the name issue for a while before moving on to another topic.

Philomel suddenly became curious and asked him.

“Wasn’t Nasar’s teacher a Sword Master?”

“That’s right.”

“Then why did he have a mage disciple?”

“That friend was a bit of an odd person. He told the teacher he wanted to become the best magic swordsman.”

“A magic swordsman?”

“Yes. He often lamented that a peerless genius he could never surpass with magic was his contemporary.”

It seemed he meant Luguine. Recalling her last meeting with him made her heart heavy, but…….

‘Somehow, praise about that person sounds good.’

Philomel’s shoulders lifted slightly.

“So Nasar’s friend dreamed of becoming the best magic swordsman instead of the best mage?”

“That’s right. He believed he had to become the best in at least one field since he was born into the world.”

“So, did that person have outstanding talent in swordsmanship as well?”

“If I borrow the teacher’s words, he said it wasn’t good at all. Still, he received his teachings for quite a long time while being scolded.”

“He’s a persistent person.”

Then Philomel smiled.

“Sorry to say, but even if your friend had talent, it would have been impossible for him to become the best magic swordsman.”

“Why is that?”

“Someone else has already taken the position of the best magic swordsman.”

The person who had put her in this position. Philomel thought, recalling her third older brother.

‘His legs need to heal well.’

With that temper, I don’t know if he’ll stay still in bed.

They ate a simple breakfast of jerky that they had bought for 4 bell [currency] at the market the other day and cookies that Philomel had brought.

“Are the cookies a bit too sweet……?”

“No. They’re just right.”

“It’s okay to be honest.”

“It’s the truth.”

Nasar said that and ate the sugar cookies with a happy face.

At lunchtime, they landed.

While Ggyuggyu rested, Philomel stretched out her stiff body.

“Ugh…….”

Her butt was sore from sitting on the Wyvern for several hours. Still, thanks to Luguine’s comfortable saddle, she was able to endure it, despite not having much experience riding for long periods of time.

The two ate the bread that Philomel had packed for lunch, then walked along the forest path.

Nasar saw the object in Philomel’s hand and asked.

“What is that?”

“Ah, this?”

Philomel gripped the handle of the red object tightly and answered.

“A squeaky hammer!”

“Squeak……hammer?”

Nasar’s eyes widened at the object he was seeing for the first time.

“It’s my weapon.”

Nasar took the squeaky hammer from Philomel and tapped his hand with it.

The hammer made a squeak sound.

“It doesn’t hurt much, though…….”

“That’s for monsters.”

Not for people.

One of the items she bought when she cleared out the Star Shop [in-game store]. A weapon for monsters.

Until now, there hadn’t been a need to face monsters, so the squeaky hammer hadn’t had a chance to be used.

‘But.’

She learned from the experience of suddenly encountering the Basilisk the previous night. Crises come without warning.

‘If the Basilisk had been a subordinate of an evil god instead of Luguine, I would have been in big trouble.’

Thus, she had decided not to let go of her weapon if possible.

Philomel said boldly.

“From now on, I’ll also help with monster extermination, so you don’t have to carry the burden alone.”

Nasar chuckled.

“I appreciate your words, but I’ll try to handle things myself as much as possible.”

“Am I not trustworthy?”

“It’s not that…….”

“Then why are you laughing?”

When Philomel continued to press him, half in jest, Nasar opened his mouth.

“You just seem like a child holding a toy and enjoying it, so it’s cute, so…….”

“I’m……cute?”

“Was that rude of me?”

“No! It’s just not a compliment I hear often!”

From a young age, Philomel was more of a precocious child than a cute one.

‘Even if someone occasionally told me I was cute, I didn’t feel very happy.’

Wanting to be recognized as a successor quickly, she wanted to be a ‘mature child’ rather than a ‘cute child.’

But now…….

‘I’m happy.’

Kardin had also told her she was cute several times, but she had never felt this good or excited.

It’s because it’s Nasar that I’m happy.

The two continued to walk side by side along the forest path.

Then, Philomel pointed to a certain place.

“Wow, look at that! It’s so pretty!”

A single red flower was blooming beautifully on top of one of the piles of rocks.

Philomel stared at the flower, captivated, but in the next moment, she realized that something was wrong.

‘How can a flower bloom on a rock?’

Wait, an extraordinarily beautiful flower and piles of rocks?

Philomel shouted.

“Nasar, step back!”

Nasar had also come to the same conclusion as her and drew his sword.

The piles of rocks connected as one were wriggling. Soon, they took the form of a giant rising up.

“A Rock Giant!”

A Rock Giant is a monster that disguises itself as ordinary rocks and ambushes prey when it approaches.

‘And that is not a flower, but a Rock Giant’s tentacle!’

It is said that beautiful and fragrant tentacles lure humans and animals. In other words, the flower is the only vulnerable part of the Rock Giant’s body, which is entirely made of rock.

“Nasar, that flower is its weakness!”

It was written in the Monster Encyclopedia she had read in the Magic Tower.

“Aim for the flower!”

The flower is on top of the giant’s head. It was too high for Philomel to reach.

“……Leave it to me.”

Nasar quickly sprang out, using the giant’s body as a stepping stone.

“Uh, uh?”

But Philomel doubted her eyes at the scene that followed.

The giant easily grabbed Nasar and shoved him into its mouth.

‘Nasar was eaten by the giant.’

The moment she registered that fact, Philomel rushed at the giant.

“Uwaaaaaa!”

Screaming.