Valdebich remained silent for a moment and glared at Yeon-woo. It seemed like he recognized Yeon-woo.

‘His personality is different from how it’s described in the diary.’ The Valdebich Jeong-woo remembered was simple and kind. Although he sometimes went berserk during battle and ran forward without looking bad—which was how he got his nickname “Sword Yaksha”—he was normally timid and never said a mean word about anyone. It was why his companions always teased him and why Bayluk had managed to deceive him so easily.

However, the Valdebich in front of Yeon-woo was nothing like that. His eyes were blazing, and he looked unyielding. The scars all over his body were evidence of the rough battles he’d been fighting. The madness that exploded whenever he grabbed his sword had also been refined into a fierce fighting spirit. However, despite looking like a seasoned warrior, his difficulty in speaking remained. Valdebich didn’t speak with his voice but used Open Speaking instead, probably because he could deliver his thoughts faster that way. 『You’re… ###, right?』

Yeon-woo’s name was blurred out again because it was still marked as confidential. But Valdebich had said “Cha Yeon-woo”, meaning he knew exactly who he was.

“Did Jeong-woo tell you my name too?”

『In passing.』

“He must’ve said it when he was drunk.”

『You’re spot-on.』 Valdebich wordlessly looked Yeon-woo up and down again. Many emotions flashed through his eyes. Since he was looking at the exact same face that his old friend had, he was probably having mixed feelings. It was understandable since he and Jeong-woo had started together at the Tutorial and stayed good friends. Valdebich forced his complicated emotions aside and sighed. 『Haa! I couldn’t say for sure…but you really came all the way here?』 He narrowed his eyes at Yeon-woo. 『You cause trouble just like your little brother. How can brothers be so similar?』

“No.” Yeon-woo snorted. “I’m way better than him. Face-wise and personality-wise.”

Valdebich looked at Yeon-woo with a flabbergasted expression, like he was wondering what kind of nonsense he was listening to. He clucked his tongue. 『Your narcissism is also the same. Only the way you speak is different. Don’t your other companions complain about that?』

“I’m only speaking the truth. What would they complain about?”

『You really are brothers.』 Valdebich shook his head.

Yeon-woo brushed it aside. “Before that, there’s something I want to ask.”

『What is it?』

“This place is inside of the Tower, but why are there so many otherworld gods here?”

Kroooo. Valdebich was about to reply when the cries of the otherworld gods rang in the sky again. The stage shook once more. The sky trembled as if it were about to collapse. The gods began to fight each other, still angry that they had lost their prey. Valdebich watched the scene and slowly stood up. 『I don’t think it’ll be a good idea to continue speaking here. Let’s move first. Follow me.』

He didn’t wait for Yeon-woo’s response before he began moving. The barrier moved along with him. He seemed used to the situation. Yeon-woo used Wind Path to step after Valdebich.

* * *

Valdebich led him to a location that was far from where Yeon-woo arrived with multiple barriers layered over a large plain. When Yeon-woo entered the area, he saw a graveyard with countless tombstones. Valdebich was living in a cabin just past them.

“Those graves are…”

『Why do you ask when you already know? They are the graves of those of my race, although I couldn’t bury them properly. Come in.』 Valdebich’s tone was a bit sharp, and Yeon-woo could feel the exhaustion dripping from his words.

A half-giant who had chosen to be a graveyard keeper…it seemed like Valdebich was retrieving the remains of the giants and burying them one by one. Without being asked, he was carrying out this task alone. It was no wonder he was vigilant, considering that he was doing this under the looming danger of the otherworld gods.

The cabin seemed quite large to Yeon-woo since it had to accommodate Valdebich’s size, and it only contained the bare necessities.

‘It’s the same.’ The layout was a carbon copy of Valdebich’s room in the clan house. Valdebich also couldn’t escape from the ghosts of the past.

『This is the only thing I have to give, so don’t complain.』 He roughly placed a teacup in front of Yeon-woo. It was so big that Yeon-woo didn’t know what it was at first.

‘Is this a washbasin?’ He could barely tell it was a teacup because of the designs Valdebich had added to it. ‘Looks like he’s still bad with his hands.’ From the black water that filled the washbasin-like teacup, it seemed that Valdebich had brewed coffee. ‘My stomach will explode if I drink this.’

It was the first time Yeon-woo had been given so much coffee in one go, and he wondered how he’d be able to drink it all. The handle of the cup was so thick that he had to hold it with two hands. It reminded him of the time when his friends poured him a large batch of drinks when he had his first vacation after enlisting in the military. After a few sips, he made a judgement. “Bitter.” It wasn’t just bitter; it was extremely bitter.

Valdebich frowned. 『It’s an item from your home planet, though.』 Despite his standoffish attitude, Valdebich had closely watched Yeon-woo’s reaction to the coffee. He didn’t have many coffee beans in his backyard, and so he was being as generous as possible to his visitor. He couldn’t help being irritated by Yeon-woo’s complaint.

Yeon-woo ignored Valdebich and asked with an expressionless face, “Jeong-woo gave you this recipe, didn’t he?”

『How?』 Valdebich’s frowning face shifted a bit.

“It’s obvious. That bastard doesn’t even know how to drink coffee. He thinks the bitter it is, the better. Have you been drinking this bitter stuff all this time?”

『A-at first it was hard for me as well, but over time, the taste grew on me…』

“People on Earth enjoy espressos, but most of them savor it slowly, not gulp it down like they’re drinking beer. Even if the taste buds of the giant race are different from humans, we should share some similarities since you’re a half-giant. You thought this bitter coffee suited this gloomy place, didn’t you? How can you think exactly like Jeong-woo?”

Valdebich didn’t answer, and frustrated, Yeon-woo stopped drinking the coffee and stood up. “Do you have a kitchen?”

『Over…there. But why?』

“I’ll change that strange taste of yours. I’ll use the kitchen for a bit.”

Yeon-woo didn’t wait for his permission and entered the kitchen carrying both coffee cups. Valdebich stared blankly at Yeon-woo’s back. Why had he stuttered and excused himself? The way Yeon-woo controlled the atmosphere and made others speechless was different from Jeong-woo. This visitor with Jeong-woo’s face was similar and different at the same time. Valdebich closed his mouth and was silent for a while.

* * *

“Try this.” A moment later, Yeon-woo put a fresh cup of coffee in front of Valdebich filled with milky brown liquid. Valdebich looked at the alien item and then at Yeon-woo doubtfully.

『Did you mix coffee with milk?』 Valdebich found this action impossible to understand because he’d only been drinking espressos.

“It’s a caramel macchiato.”

『C-cara…what?』

As he looked at how flustered Valdebich was from his inability to repeat the words, Yeon-woo sighed and rubbed his temples. “Caramel macchiato. It’s perfect for people who’ve lost their sense of taste like you. I substituted the milk and caramel syrup from Earth with something else since we don’t have it here, but it should taste all right.” This version had already received positive reviews from the Head Elder and Brahm, so he wasn’t concerned. He got a headache thinking of how much he had to avoid the other One-horned members who pursued him after hearing about this drink. The ingredients were all in his subspace, so it wasn’t that difficult to make it.

Valdebich looked at the coffee, his face still full of doubt. Then, he took a sip with a grimace. “Good. This!” He spoke out loud without realizing, his eyes wide. 『How did you make this?』

Yeon-woo lifted a corner of his mouth. “Business secret.”

Valdebich’s face fell again. 『You’re just like Jeong-woo in this way.』

“You don’t have to drink it just that way. If you have ice, you can take it cold, too. You might like that better.”

Valdebich drank the coffee as Yeon-woo explained and exclaimed in astonishment, relishing sweet coffee after drinking so much espresso. Valdebich’s bright smile was a huge change from the dark expression he’d had ever since he met Yeon-woo. Yeon-woo smiled along with him.

『I’m full.』

“You drank over ten bowls like a fool. it’d be weird if you weren’t.” Yeon-woo clucked his tongue looking at the bowls piled up next to Valdebich. The dead Gluttony Emperor would have been embarrassed by the sight.

『Don’t call me a fool.』

“Then let’s say you have a large appetite.”

Valdebich didn’t respond.

“More importantly, I want to talk now if your stomach’s full.”

Valdebich clenched his fists because Yeon-woo didn’t let him win a single argument. It was more annoying since he was saying all this with an impassive face. At least, Jeong-woo would have laughed.

However, Yeon-woo’s presence was an extraordinary event. He’d expected that one of Jeong-woo’s family members would enter the Tower after receiving the letter, but he felt strange now that it had actually happened. His feelings were especially complex because Yeon-woo had the exact same face as Jeong-woo did.

“I’ve been searching for you all this time. You know why, right?”

Valdebich nodded heavily. He had sinned. 『I heard Jeong-woo appeared in the Tower again and resurrected Arthia. I guessed that one of Jeong-woo’s family members was pretending to be Jeong-woo to take revenge. And…I’ve also been preparing since then.』 Valdebich hung his head. 『I’m willing to give you my head if you want to kill me. I have no excuse for myself. But I have one request. Please…just give me a little time. I have some unfinished business. After I’m done, I’ll hand over my head myself, so please allow me some time.』

Yeon-woo opened his Draconic Eyes to look at Valdebich. Imperfections were clumping and dispersing next to him. He was speaking…the truth. He truly was prepared to die. Yeon-woo clucked his tongue and closed his eyes. ‘I guess you weren’t completely abandoned.’ Yeon-woo muttered to himself. From Leonhardt to Valdebich…Yeon-woo said he found it difficult to forgive them, but he found himself becoming less angry. They had buried their feelings for Jeong-woo in their hearts even after he was dead. “I’m not interested in taking your head.”

『What?』

“I’m almost done with the revenge anyway, and all that’s left is that bitch Vieira Dune. Your head makes no difference.”

Valdebich was speechless.

“But if you still want to make amends to Jeong-woo…”

Valdebich looked questioningly at him.

“Pay him back by becoming my sword.”