Chapter 206: Elite (2)
Ashton, watching the situation from a distance, shouted with excitement, and the beastman beside him quickly replied. Tehran Fahur, the person whom he wanted to seek advice about Seheranbade from, but somehow they came all the way here together.
“A man named Daniel from the combat assistance team and an 8th-floor mission challenger.”
Daniel Burton. He wasn’t a challenger who stood out, and although he only recognized him now, Ashton remembered him. He didn’t have any special skills, but he used dual swords. The support strategy team advised him to use one sword, but he was stubborn. Well, that wasn’t important right now.
“I’m not asking who he is; I’m asking why that man is doing that in front of him.”
Not to disparage Daniel, but no matter how he looked at it, there was nothing special about him. And he honestly couldn’t imagine how he got to know a big shot like Yoon-seok.
“He acted like he knew everything about the masked guy. Didn’t you hear?”
Fahur continued, scratching his head.
“They met at the lecture last time. And the lecturer ordered them to do a demonstration battle.”
“…Demonstration battle?”
“I heard he concealed his identity and the masked guy lost. So, he only knows him as a 5th-floor exploration challenger specializing in summoning beasts.”
“I know that, so why’s he acting like that now? When Yoon-seok lost the demonstration battle?”
He felt a lot of malice. Daniel was picking a fight with Yoon-seok, but why? Fahur shrugged as if he were asking something strange.
“Well, aren’t these good-for-nothing people sensitive about hierarchy? I’m sure it’s like that. As far as I remember, his personality score was quite low. Was it 3 out of 10?”
Who, how, and why did they die. If no one knew, it was an assassination. Yoon-seok seriously contemplated whether he should use that card now. If he thought about it, it wasn’t bad. Because, how would he know?
All of a sudden, if this guy turned into powder and disappeared in front of their eyes, he could convince them that he would go back to the Tower. While Yoon-seok was contemplating one last time-
“Daniel, what are you doing here?”
“…Team leader?”
Fahur appeared and grabbed Daniel by the shoulder, then offered a smile to Yoon-seok. It appeared he was there to help, so Yoon-seok stepped gratefully.
“Didn’t you receive my call? The Director-General has been looking for you.”
“Director-General?”
Daniel froze at Fahur’s words.
“Do you know why he called me? I didn’t cause any trouble…”
“You have already caused trouble.”
“What? Could you repeat that?”
“…Don’t worry. I think the director has a favor to ask of you.”
“I see! Then I’ll be leaving.”
Relieved by Fahur’s explanation, Daniel left excitedly. He didn’t know what favor he was going to ask, but… for some reason, it wasn’t hard to predict that it would be something insignificant yet difficult.
“If he’d mistaken someone, he should apologize. That person was weird. Right, ma’am?”
As soon as Daniel left, Lee Su-yeon hugged his mother’s arm. She quickly moved on from the incident without giving her any time for doubt.
“Let’s not stay here any longer and leave. I heard the building would be banning outsiders from entering soon. Until then, I’ll guide you.”
“Oh my, then I’ll have to look around before that.”
Was it a good choice to bring Lee Su-yeon? Lee Su-yeon skillfully guided his parents through every corner of the building. His father didn’t say anything, but he seemed to like Lee Su-yeon quite a lot.
“Oppa, isn’t it better to send the security team? No matter how I block the sound, people keep looking at us.”
“I’ll take care of them today, so please feel free to resume your work.”
When the agents left at Lee Su-yeon’s request, the eyes that gathered around them disappeared. Later, as time passed, a notification broadcast prohibiting outsiders from entering the area was sent out, and Yoon-seok quickly left with his parents. Now that no one recognized them, he felt relieved, but he shouldn’t let his guard down yet.
When they arrived at a nearby restaurant, Lee Su-yeon suggested, their full-fledged chat began.
“Is it okay at work? Are you being nice to your superiors? I heard you brought someone very important from another dimension?”
“…Important?”
“Yeah, it seems like a meeting, but I heard that you infiltrated and persuaded them for several days.”
“Oh, yes. I did.”
Yoon-seok had no choice but to answer passively. It sounded like she was talking about {Planet Guardian}, although he didn’t know how that story was adapted. The fact that he smashed the meeting he participated in and chased them down like he was kidnapping them with b Death God} was probably not mentioned.
“I didn’t hear it properly, so I don’t know the details. How did you do it then? What did you say that persuaded him to come here?”
Yoon-seok roughly glossed it over.
“…I just explained, and he understood.”
For some reason, Yoon-seok felt guilty. On second thought, it wasn’t exactly wrong. He exuded magic whenever he spoke for the most part, but he never wielded a sword at anyone except for the Crown Prince.
“Ey, you shouldn’t just say that because you’re shy.”
“Oh my! Was Su-yeon also there at the time?”
“Yes, I was right next to him.”
His mother, inwardly disappointed at Yoon-seok’s concise answers, began to ask this and that with shining eyes. Lee Su-yeon answered without hesitation as if she had memorized her responses in advance.
“I made a mistake during the meeting. But at the moment I thought everything was screwed, Oppa pointed out the flaws in their logic. They couldn’t take their eyes off him whenever he spoke.”
How could they take their eyes off him? They were trembling with fear as if they were going to die.
“Oh my? Then what happened?”
“He spoke so well that no one was able to refute him.”
There was no way they could refute. Because everyone knew that they would die if they refused.
“That’s how the Seheranbade Alliance, ahead of its creation, collapsed.”
“Oh, my. Really?”
However, his mother seemed to like the story Lee Su-yeon made up.
“Come to think of it, Yoon-seok spoke very well when he was young. Do you remember, Yoon-seok? You won an award in a public speaking contest in elementary school.”
It was an on-campus competition and a participation award. There were less than 20 participants and ten types of awards, too. When Yoon-seok scoffed, Lee Su-yeon began to ask his mother this and that with curious eyes.
“Public speaking? Did you do that, Oppa? No wonder you’re so rational. Do you remember what the public speech was about back then?”
“Hm, I think non-violence and peace were the themes of the competition, but I don’t remember the details.”
At his mother’s words, Lee Su-yeon tutted as if it was a pity. Then his father, who stayed silent all this while, added.
“You don’t remember? World peace, starting from national prosperity and defense. That was the title.”
Yoon-seok wanted to die. It was hard to die just because he wanted to, but if he went back to five minutes ago, he might be able to prevent his current predicament.
“…”
Yoon-seok looked at Lee Su-yeon. She was barely holding back her laughter and glancing his way.
After finishing the meal without any problems(?), Yoon-seok separated from his parents under the excuse of work. As he listened, it seemed that the two of them would return to Korea and spend their lives there. After hiding and pretending he’d left, he secretly watched his parents leave.
“Why? Are you worried?”
“A little bit.”
Lee Su-yeon smiled at Yoon-seok’s honest answer. He could tell just by looking at the restaurant and the city surrounding it. It was a long time ago that the world was confused, and people thought the end was approaching. Now, they had returned to their daily lives. This was due to the hour delay period given until the rift opened.
“Didn’t you read the articles? Zero deaths from invaders in the new era!”
When a rift was spotted, troops were called up immediately. If it was huge, the spaceship was summoned to destroy it. As a result, it seemed that there was little damage incurred from the rifts, and there were people who jokingly called Lynn Noah’s Ark. Watching Yoon-seok standing there without answering, Lee Su-yeon placed her forehead against his back.
“…I think you’re very sweet.”
With b Planet Guardian}’s recruitment, Earth was safe from attacks from other dimensions. Nevertheless, seeing him so worried, she could feel how much he valued his parents. Could she also become that kind of person? Lee Su-yeon secretly thought of Yoon-seok.
‘Sweet…’
On the other hand, reflecting on what she said, Yoon-seok smiled sadly. Perhaps she would never have said that if she’d known what he was thinking. He wasn’t worried about anything happening to his parents but about what would happen next.
“…”
If something happened to them, and if he didn’t feel sad, it would be tragic. But there was no reason for him to say this.
“Let’s go now.”
“Yes.”
Yoon-seok returned to Ashton’s office with Lee Su-yeon. As the bodyguards were notified to take over again, he sat on the sofa waiting for them.
“How was it? A day of rest after a long time?”
“It was kind of chaotic, but I enjoyed it.”
“That’s a relief. Then, should we make time like this more often?”
Ashton burst into laughter. As Yoon-seok sat on the opposite side of the sofa, Ashton spread a map over the table. It was a continental map of Seheranbad.
“Anyway, while Yoon-seok was resting, I got a lot of advice and organized the formation. Do you want to see it?”
Come to think of it; he forgot to tell Ashton about the plan revision. It would not be polite to ignore his prepared efforts, so Yoon-seok skimmed through the unfolded map. It was an itinerary that started from Saintrion, the home of the Holy Trinity Cult. Finally, it headed through the fairy and beast-people alliance state Ewin via the demon kingdom Geronian.
“We have organized a separate file for holy items and places.”
“I see. Thank you. But can I change the route depending on the situation?”
“Of course. When are you planning to leave?”
Yoon-seok replied.
“I’m leaving now.”
He received permission to act as he wanted, so why should he waste more time? Vantale, the capital of Saintrion and the country of law. The land of holy miracles where hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gathered from all continents every year.
“I can hear your voices during my prayer.”
At the words of the Saint, believers and bishops buzzed.
“What did she say?”
“…We have to inform the following species about the imminent danger.”
“I’m warning you…”
Everyone swallowed their words. It was extremely rare to hear God’s voice. Moreover, a prophecy at that. That was the final warning until the Tower of Heaven appeared.
“Saint, please speak. What did they warn you about?”
At the Pope’s question, the Saint, who was kneeling, stood up. And she climbed up the podium, looked down at everyone, and spoke solemnly.
“Listen to the following.”
“These humble servants will listen to you.”
The crowd knelt as one and prepared to hear her message. The Pope was no exception. The Pope crouched his old body on the floor with the help of the young believers.
“A deviant wanderer will arrive. He has a pitch-black sword and a pure white heart. He is the one who will bring something dislocated to its beginning.”
The priests bowed their heads and memorized each word.
“There is no mercy on the scale he hands over. If you put your belief on the scale, you will lose your faith, and if you put your faith on the scale, you will receive a promise.”
It was a confusing prophecy, but no one questioned it. Just like when the Tower arrived, God’s word could only be understood later.
“Remember. The oath of the wanderer will lead our power to eternity. More valuable than any gold…”
The words of the Saint delivering the vision stopped partway.
Boom-!
This was because the door of the chapel suddenly swung open. The kneeling believers turned their heads at this display of disrespect at the same time. Instead of the holy warriors that defended this sacred place, a suspicious man stood there.
“…Who are you?”
The Pope carefully asked the man. Even though this was an intruder who cut off the oracle halfway, his voice was polite. It was difficult to explain, but he could feel a weird aura from the man.
The man replied.
“I’m here to make a deal with you.”
They didn’t know why he was drawing his swords if he wanted to make a deal…
“…!”
But his two blades were infused with black sword energy.