Leveling Up Alone

Chapter 272: Horus (6)

Shwaaaaaa!

Cairo recently experienced a torrential downpour, a rare occurrence for quite some time. In the past, such downpours had always been warmly welcomed because the country was predominantly desert, and these rains were viewed as a blessing of life. However, with the advancements in technology and Egypt's prosperity, the country was able to construct highly advanced desalination plants, effectively resolving its water scarcity issues.

.

These desalination plants were rigorously managed by the government to ensure a consistent water supply to the general public. The abundant availability of water no longer rendered rain a blessing. Instead, a heavy downpour was now met with a sense of melancholy, akin to the reactions in other countries, due to the somber atmosphere it brought.

Diiing~ Diing~ Ding~

The melodious sound of traditional instruments filled the air as a traditional Egyptian funeral procession was underway.

[…]

They usually set up tents to host such funerals on rainy days, but this time Tayarana requested that it proceed without any tents. She herself was attending the funeral, drenched in the rain, accompanied by her handmaidens and Mariam as well. All of them wore solemn expressions as the funeral proceeded.

As the traditional instruments played, Tayarana looked up at the sky and whispered, [The sky is dark…]

Shwaaaa…

[The sun… I can’t see Ra…]

As she had mentioned, the sun remained hidden behind rain clouds, casting the sky into an obsidian shroud that only intensified her sorrow.

Splash… Splash…

Han-Yeol, dressed in a somber black suit, silently approached her, offering neither words nor gestures. He simply stood by her side, a silent sentinel.

[Han-Yeol,] Tayarana broke the silence with a voice heavy with sadness.

[Yes?]

[In Egypt, we perceive death as the commencement of a new journey.]

[Ah, yes…]

Han-Yeol had immersed himself in the ancient traditions of Egypt, learning that the Ancient Egyptians considered death a gateway to a new existence, exemplified by the mighty pyramids. These grand structures served as the eternal abodes of pharaohs in the afterlife, and the treasures entombed with them were destined for that otherworldly journey.

[Do you believe our Horus comrades find solace there?]

Tayarana's heart ached for her fallen raid party members, and it was evident that she longed for their presence. Had she been there to fight alongside them, their fate might have been different.

This marked the first time in her life that she had been so profoundly affected by the loss of something precious, and it was the first instance of remorse she had ever known. The only other time she had lost someone dear to her was when her mother had passed away, but she was too young then to comprehend or retain the memory.

Han-Yeol refrained from offering consolation, recognizing that she needed the space to grieve without the burden of regrets. Despite Tayarana's formidable prowess as a Hunter, she was not immune to the emotional toll of loss.

[Tara…]

[Yes, Han-Yeol?]

[Let's mourn as much as we need to right now, and then let's live life to the fullest, so that when we meet them again, we can tell them that we've lived on their behalf as well,] Han-Yeol said, offering the only comfort he could muster.

He wasn't particularly eloquent, and this was the first time he had ever comforted someone in grief, so he struggled to find the right words.

Nevertheless, his sentiment was more than enough for Tayarana. What she needed was someone who would sincerely share in the sorrow of losing her comrades.

[Thank you, Han-Yeol, for being here with me…]

[Don't mention it, Tara. I'm just doing what feels right.]

Of course, neither of them fully grasped the depth of what he meant by that.

***

A traditional Egyptian funeral typically spanned a week, and during that entire week, the rain refused to cease, as if the heavens themselves were grieving alongside the mourners. It marked the first time in the country's history that such prolonged rainfall had occurred.

Meanwhile, news of the Horus raid party, one of Egypt's most renowned, being annihilated by terrorists, spread like wildfire. The public breathed a collective sigh of relief knowing Tayarana was safe, but they mourned the loss of the raid party members, who were revered for their patriotism.

The media extensively covered the funeral, even suggesting that the relentless downpour was a manifestation of the heavens mourning the goddess' loss of her raid party members. Such a story might typically be dismissed as tabloid nonsense, but this time, it carried weight.

[I agree, it's highly likely that the princess can move the heavens too.]

[She is beloved by the gods, after all.]

[Wow... I thought it was nonsense, but our country has never experienced this much rain in its thirty-three-year history.]

[Wasn't our climate arid and desert-like?]

[I went to primary school. Yes, our climate should be dry.]

[So, our princess really has the favor of the gods?]

[Yes.]

[It's true! I swear!]

[Don't doubt our princess!]

Internet comments were inundated with praise for Tayarana, differing only in whether they revered her as a mortal or a deity.

However, Tayarana retreated to her room after the funeral, regardless of the public's adulation. She remained in seclusion, abstaining from eating, drinking, or any activity.

[Tayarana-nim... It's Mariam.]

[…]

She wasn't going to collapse or experience any ill effects just because she had skipped eating and drinking for a few days; after all, she was a Master Rank Hunter. However, she remained an important figure, and concern for her well-being was inevitable.

[Is she still cooped up in her room?]

[Yes, Your Excellency.]

[Haa... Tara…]

President Phaophator visited after learning that Tayarana had secluded herself in her room, but she didn't open the door, not even for him. Phaophator decided it was best to respect her privacy for the time being and refrained from forcing the door open. Despite calling her three more times during his visits, she didn't respond.

Ultimately, he had no choice but to leave her be, as he had more pressing matters to attend to. The entire country and continent were grappling with the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, so he had to fulfill his duties as the leader of Egypt and Africa.

[Mariam.]

[Yes, Your Excellency?]

[Let me know the moment she emerges from her room.]

[Yes, sir!] Mariam replied.

Phaophator let out a sigh before walking away, one of the rare occasions when he resented being the president.

[Haa... Tayarana-nim…] Mariam sighed as she continued to wait in front of the door.

***

The following day, Han-Yeol paid a visit to Tayarana.

"Hey~"

"Ah, Han-Yeol-nim," Mariam greeted him with a bow.

Han-Yeol didn't display any particular reaction to it, as he was accustomed to such gestures by now.

"How is she?" he inquired.

Mariam shook her head and replied, "She hasn't shown any signs of coming out yet."

Han-Yeol noticed that Mariam had also lost a significant amount of weight. It turned out that she had been refusing her meals, claiming she couldn't bear to eat when her master, Tayarana, was starving herself.

However, the issue was that Mariam wasn't a Master Rank Hunter like Tayarana, so she wouldn't be able to endure as long if she continued down this path. After all, a B Rank Hunter's mana was only a fraction of a Master Rank Hunter's.

"But how are you?" Han-Yeol asked.

"Pardon me?"

"You seem really tired right now. Are you alright?"

"Ah, yes... I'm alright..."

Mariam was taken aback by the sudden question. Visitors typically asked about Tayarana's well-being, not hers. It wasn't unusual for people not to be concerned about her; after all, she was a servant, known only to the public and not within the palace.

Seuk…

“…!”

Mariam's face flushed when Han-Yeol suddenly reached out and placed his hand on her forehead.

‘W-W-What…?’ She was at a loss, as this was the first time someone had shown her this much attention.

"You have a fever, Mariam. You can't starve yourself just because Tara is doing the same. You're a B Rank Hunter, so you can't endure it as long as she can."

"But Tayarana-nim hasn't eaten or drunk anything for days. How can I do so when she's suffering alone?"

"Tsk tsk... It seems Tara is making things difficult for a lot of people."

"N-No! That's not what I meant! Tayarana-nim is grieving right now, so..."

Mariam was unwavering in her support for Tayarana, regardless of how well Han-Yeol treated her, and she couldn't help but get emotional when he placed blame on her.

However, Han-Yeol was not one to sugarcoat his words.

"Do you really think she can make life difficult for everyone around her just because she's sad?"

"B-But...!" Mariam wanted to argue that it was different because Tayarana was the princess, but she couldn't bring herself to say so after seeing the look in Han-Yeol's eyes.

“Also, I’m here to say goodbye.”

“Huh…?”

“I’m going back to Korea.”

“What?!”

Mariam was taken aback by Han-Yeol's words. She had expected him to stay in Egypt for a while longer, especially after hearing from Mujahid that Han-Yeol had mentioned something unusual about the Faiyum hunting ground. She had been certain that he intended to stay to investigate it further.

But he was leaving? It didn't make sense to her, and her mind, not functioning at its best due to her condition, struggled to analyze the situation.

"B-But..." she began.

"I came to say goodbye to Tara, but it seems that she's not responding."

'D-Don't tell me... Is that why he spoke in Korean?!'

Mariam had a habit of responding in the language Han-Yeol used, so she had unconsciously used Korean throughout their conversation. It suddenly dawned on her that he had deliberately spoken in Korean so that Tayarana wouldn't understand their conversation since Tayarana didn't speak Korean. Tayarana might misconstrue their conversation.

However, Han-Yeol was currently bidding farewell only to Mariam.

[B-But Han-Yeol-nim...!]

"Shh! Enough. I no longer have a reason to stay here, and I'm not the kind of person who indulges in a child's tantrum," Han-Yeol cut her off.

He had the ability to be quite cold when necessary, often leaving people wondering if he was the same person.