Seoul was a busy city. The population was extremely dense for its small land mass, and everything was so centralized in the capital that it had become a societal issue. It was also the beacon of Korean culture or the so-called "hurry culture" that encouraged speediness whenever possible. When all of these elements came together during rush hour, several roads in Seoul transmogrified into a hellish congestion of traffic. One of these roads was in the central part of Seoul, the Gwanghwamun intersection.
Honk! Honk! Honk!
Inter-city bus drivers coming in from Paju and Goyang cities laid on the horns, and taxis joined the noise pollution as they weaved into the lanes. Countless drivers who wished to get home fast altered lanes here and there and turned on the blinking signal to thank the driver behind for their kindness in butting into the lane. As they did so, however, the road on the Sungnyemun Gate became more congested, and the screeching noise of the car honks grew louder. The plumes of smoke rose thicker. And for the first time ever, Javier Asrahan was confronted with the global issue of air pollution. The result?
"Ack! Hack!"
Javier suddenly broke out into a coughing fit that couldn't be controlled. Right after he was teleported into another dimension, the air he breathed in this new world was…
It smells like the air inside a century-old bathroom.
It was horrendously awful. His throat stung each time he sucked in the terrible air, and his lungs heaved in terror.
The air here is comparable to... Hell.
Just then, Javier recalled the last time he was in Hell with Lloyd and its volcanic ash-filled air. The air quality in Seoul was exactly the same. No, in some ways, it was worse than how it was in Hell.
Honk! Honk! Vroom! There were honking sounds coming from every direction around him to Javier's dismay. Moreover, the metal carriages nearby were blinding him with their lights, and the bright streetlamps on the wide roads were also hurting his eyes. And the buildings here were so tall, he wondered how they were built.
It's a bleak and savage place.
Javier suppressed his grandmaster-level senses that were in a frenzy, trying to catch all the new sounds and stimulations around him. Immediately turning off his senses to save himself from the overwhelming chaos, he studied how Lloyd was doing.
Lloyd, too, looked similar. His eyes widened in shock, his mouth was slightly open, and the muscles around him were tense. He was equally lost watching the scenery spanned in front of him. But Javier could feel the subtle difference.
He's acting.
That was what he looked like in Javier's eyes. Even though Lloyd was checking out this strange place with curiosity in his eyes, there wasn't innocent wonder in them. Instead, it seemed as if he was feeling nostalgic about the sight in front of him. And Javier was correct that was the exact emotion Lloyd was feeling.
Woah. Is this for real?
Lloyd's gaze surveyed around. He was in Seoul. The place he thought he had forgotten and would never come back to. The inter-city buses, taxis, and cars passed the Gwanghwamun intersection. And the flood of people clothed in all familiar styles. The throng of tourists. Unconcerned local passersby. This was a much too familiar scene for him but one he hadn't missed.
Tsk.
A strange feeling gripped Lloyd. He couldn't show it because Javier was by his side and had to act as if it was his first time in the city. However, he couldn't shake off the wistful feeling that rushed into his heart.
This needlessly reminds me of the past.
Lloyd didn't have many good memories in Seoul even though he once lived in the city. His childhood wasn't too bad. However, the last few years he spent there before his departure were the worst. Life had been particularly harsh for him back then.
Room rental. Construction site. Part-time. Room rental... My life was stuck in an endless cycle.
To earn his Civil Engineering License after graduating from college. That was the only goal that allowed Lloyd to endure through those harsh years, which didn't even allow him to dream of relaxation or leisure. Lloyd had only recently escaped from leading that sort of life and put it all in the past. However, now that he was back here…
Those feelings from back then resurfaced again.
Lloyd felt pissed. If there was one, the good thing was that he was back as Lloyd Frontera.
It's really a relief.
Lloyd looked at his hands and body. He was Lloyd Frontera in body and clothes. The same went for Javier. Lloyd immediately signaled to Javier, "Hey, wrap your sword tightly so it can't be seen."
"Yes, Young Master."
They were in Seoul. No one wore a sword around their waist, and that was what Lloyd had told Javier before coming here. That was why he made Javier cover his sword with a cloth. Lloyd actually wanted to avoid bringing a sword altogether, but that would be too telling of his knowledge of Seoul. As such, he simply instructed Javier to cover his sword with a cloth. Aside from the sword, there were several more things he had to check over.
"Remember what I told you? Don't be too obvious," reminded Lloyd. Don't walk around gaping awkwardly at everything you see like a country bumpkin"
“I see," said Javier. "But Master lloyd."
"What?"
“Isn’t it your first time here as well?" asked Javier accusingly.
"Obviously," huffed Lloyd. You won't believe how out of place I feel too."
"Is that so?"
“Yeah. Particularly because of those people. I don't know why they keep holding out such strange things toward us. " Lloyd pointed to one side with his chin. Javier's gaze followed and saw what he meant.
“Look at those foreigners," one of the locals said.
“Oh, my goodness. They're super hot," a girl beside him chimed.
“Looks like they're wearing cosplay."
“Yeah, it's so cool seeing foreigners do cosplay."
Click! Click! Dozens of smartphone cameras clicked to capture their image. Dozens of curious eyes focused on them at the same time.
Javier's face hardened. "Master Lloyd, it looks like they have found out that we are outsiders. What should we do?"
"What else?" Lloyd shrugged innocently. "Walk normally. Don't grab your sword."
"All right, Master Lloyd."
Javier obeyed Lloyd. Even though his surroundings were too noisy, and the strange sights and people were almost frightening to him, he didn't sense any danger nearby. Javier was relieved by this. He felt even more at ease seeing Lloyd's reaction.
I knew it. He's familiar with this place.
Lloyd's attitude, gait, and gaze were too telling. Even though he was pretending to be in a strange land, there was a subtle familiarity that couldn't be hidden. It was especially the case with his gaze that surveyed the whole place. It belonged to the one who came back to his hometown after a long while.
Javier decided quietly. If fake Lloyd's nostalgia and joy prompted him to refuse to leave this city, he'd forcibly take his young master back home even if he had to be dragged back. However, this was the exact opposite of what was going on in Lloyd's head.
I hope I can go back safely.
Despite being in Seoul for the first time in a while, he didn't particularly feel joyful about returning. He wanted to go back to the Lorasian continent as soon as possible. He was scared that something would go sideways and force him to remain here.
Well, anyway, I just have to keep in mind what the Dragon King told me. This is the destination spot, so I just have to return here and say the words within twenty four hours. Then I'll be able to go back safely.
Just then, Lloyd recalled what Dragon King Verkis told him before he stepped inside the magic circle for the dimensional shifting.
He told me I could be rest assured since this was a round trip. He also said that this item would be helpful in finding the key material for the Jewel of Truth.
Lloyd opened his palm, revealing what was inside. It was a small compass.
"Master Lloyd, do we simply have to walk where the compass takes us?"
"Yeah. That's what the Dragon King said. He said it directs us toward where his traces of magic are coming from."
It was true. The compass was a tracker to find the key material for the Jewel of Truth that Verkis manufactured on the spot. To be more precise, it was the tool that traced the magical mana that had been used when the key construction material was sent to Seoul in the past.
"So, this compass will teach us where the construction material is. We just have to follow it."
"I see. But there is just one thing."
"Hmm?"
"What is Sir Ppodong doing here?"
"Eh…?" They were walking in the direction of the Gwanghwamun Plaza when Javier pointed to Lloyd's chest. That was when he saw. His eyes met Ppodong poking his head out from Lloyd's inner pocket.
"Ppodong?" Lloyd called in surprise.
"Ppodong!" Ppodong flashed a smile at Lloyd as he answered cheerfully.
Flustered, Lloyd spoke. "When did you get in there? I told you all to leave my pocket before I was teleported."
"Ppodong!"
"You did get out with everyone else at the time?"
"Ppo-do-dong!"
"Okay. You sneaked into my inner pocket when I was conversing with Javier and the Dragon King, I see."
"Ppodong!"
"You really don't have to be so concerned about me..."
"Ppo-do-dong! Podong!" Ppodong made a grand gesture with his tiny paws.
"Thank you for wanting to protect me in a foreign land."
"Ppodong!"
"Ahaha." Lloyd let out a flustered laugh. It never occurred to him that Ppodong would follow him to Seoul. "Listen, Ppodong. This is a foreign place, so we don't know how they'll react when they see you here. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Ppodong!"
"Okay," Lloyd said gently, "Answer me quietly. Lower your voice."
"Ppodong..." whispered Ppodong.
"Good job," complimented Lloyd. "Right. Don't come out of my inner pocket, so no one will see you."
"Ppodong..." Ppodong cast his gaze down.
"You want to look around Seoul?" A smile appeared on Lloyd's face.
"Ppodong!"
"Aha!" Lloyd's eyes danced with mirth. "That was your reason for sneaking here with me in the first place."
"Ppo-do-dong? Ppodong!" Ppodong waved his hands defensively.
"Come on. I think I'm right."
"Ppodong! Ppododong!" protested Ppodong.
"All right, all right! I’ll believe you. But you can't be seen. You have to be careful. Got it?"
"Ppodong!"
Lloyd sternly warned Ppodong. Afterward, he resumed his walk with Javier in the direction the magical compass guided them toward. They continued walking past the statues of Great King Sejong and General Lee Soon-shin, Cheonggye River, Seoul Plaza, and Sungnyemun Gate. The entire time, they caught everyone's attention around them.
It was impossible for them to not be noticed. Why? They were wearing Lorasian clothes. There was also Javier's ridiculously handsome appearance, transforming every path he tread into a fashion runway. People murmured among themselves, most of them dazed by Javier's looks. Lloyd sighed.
Tsk. This is bad. We can't be seen like this. What should we do after finding the jewel?
When Lloyd thought about it, he felt slightly stuck. Since the key material was quite large, the sight of such a dashing-looking man dragging it around would eventually garner attention and possibly prompt a police report. Lloyd shook off his concerns.
Well, it won't matter if we create a little fuss. I'm not coming back to Seoul anyway. Plus, even if the railing is large, Javier will be able to run carrying it. So even if we gain traction and the police, whatever. We just have to rush to the intersection and say the word.
They might appear on the news. But since they'd be back in the Lorasian continent by then, who cared? And just like that, they kept walking, past the three-way junction, and reached the foot of the Namsan mountain.
"It appears the material is somewhere on this mountain," remarked Javier.
"Yeah. That seems to be the case."
Out of all the places, it had to be in Mount Namsan, which was the center of the city. Lloyd hiked the mountain feeling dazed. From then on, he intentionally avoided paths with more people. Luckily, it was also nighttime and dark outside, so they managed to clandestinely move while not being seen by anyone except for those riding the cable cars above them. As they climbed higher, Lloyd's eyes focused on the compass.
It looks like the material is indeed somewhere on this mountain. Hmm. But the compass keeps pointing up. Why is that? It wouldn't be pointing in this direction if the material was in the side or foothill of the mountain.
Lloyd felt odd. He was already high in the mountain, but the compass kept pointing upward. This made his heart flutter but in a bad, nervous way.
Haha, no way. It can't be near the Namsan Tower or somewhere nearby.
Lloyd prayed that it wouldn't. He wished it with faith and hope. But the heavens turned a blind eye on Lloyd. The magical compass clearly pointed to the Namsan Tower as they walked up.
Ah. I've got a bad feeling about this.
Lloyd continued to walk with that bad feeling until they were out of the woods and found themselves on the wooden stairs. They went up, mixed with a group of couples and tourists, who all peered at them with marvel in their eyes, and passed Haechi, the Seoul city character, until they arrived at the outdoor observation deck of the Namsan Tower.
Just then, Lloyd heaved a deep, heavy sigh. The compass finally revealed the last core material.
For Pete's sake... So, the last key material is the Love Lock Railing, the landmark of the Namsan Tower?
