The entrance to the 'Dewinged Angel Statue' is opening.]
A desolate field appeared. All the grass was dried up, and a bone dry wind blew through the field. The wind carried grains of sand that left a dusty feeling in the mouth.
A little ways ahead lay an abandoned sculpture with dried trails of bloody tears.
There was also a voice.
[I was discarded.]
[They cut off my wings.]
Ruuuumble–
The plains rumbled, as if a weak earthquake were shaking the field.
[They robbed me of my freedom.]
Salvatore took the lead.
"I think that angel statue is speaking. I have a notetaking skill, so please stay quiet, everyone."
The meaning behind those words was simple—don't interrupt me. All the archers here were outstanding Players. They understood exactly what Salvatore meant and remained totally silent.
Whoosh–
The dusty, grainy wind continued to blow.
[My wings disappeared.]
[I thought to myself.]
[For what reason do I, who was deprived of life, exist?]
Hyukjin was already familiar with this scenario. This Dewinged Angel Statue was enraged. Enraged at the fellow angels that had cut off its wings.
[I am furious.]
[At the fellow angels who snatched away my freedom.]
The angel statue's head began to move like a broken ball-jointed doll, creaking.
'That's creepy.'
The head turned grotesquely to stare at the Players. Fresh lines of bloody tears began to ooze down the dried trails.
Brrr–
The Dewinged Angel Statue convulsed, dust falling off with every spasm.
[Kin of the Ground.]
[Won't you oppose my Kin of the Sky with me?]
It was exactly as Hyukjin remembered.
'The Dewinged Angel Statue.'
It was enraged at its kin.
'It's similar to the ones I saw.'
There was a high chance it was had a similar ability to the angel statues he had seen in the Wind Temple.
Sure enough, a 'red gem' appeared on the Dewinged Angel Statue's forehead. It looked exactly the same as the ones Hyukjin had seen on the statues in the Wind Temple.
'But… not one, but two?'
The statues in the Wind Temple each had one red gem on their foreheads, but this one had two.
Hyukjin could tell.
'One is for attack, the other is for defense.'
He still remembered the terrifying beam those gems had produced. It was a tool specialized for killing. But this angel statue seemed to possess the power to protect as well.
Hyukjin recalled Pietro's record of the ill-fated raid.
–At first, 'that' showed a shocking power to protect us. Every time the red gem on its forehead flashed, we were shielded from an extremely dangerous attack.
It was the same as before. Sitting on your thumbs when you knew what was going to happen was the act of a fool. If you knew the lottery numbers, you should use them.
Hyukjin stopped next to Salvatore.
"Party Leader. May I speak to the angel statue?"
Salvatore was technically the party leader. Hyukjin asked him for permission to keep up appearances.
"Go ahead."
Hyukjin walked towards the angel statue. Its gaze moved to Hyukjin.
[Kin of the Ground.]
[Will you cooperate with me?]
The red gem began to glow faintly with light.
[If you do not…]
[Only destruction awaits you.]
Hyukjin stopped in place. "I can give you the wings you want."
The Players were supposed to fight the angels descending from the sky with this angel statue. That fight would result in the victory of the 'Kin of the Ground', the Players.
But at the last moment, the final angel made a proposal. "Kill them all, and I will take off my wings and give them to you." In the end, the angel statue accepted the proposal and betrayed the Players.
'That's the scenario I know.'
That was the overall progression of this gate. Hyukjin wanted to throw a variable into the scenario.
"What you want most are wings. In your terms, that's freedom, correct?"
Dust continued falling from the angel statue's face. The mouth moved stiffly, producing a voice that was no longer a notice.
"You have… wings?"
"Of course."
Hyukjin took out an item from his Inventory—the 'Angel Statue's Wings' he had acquired from the Wind Temple. The person who had given it to him, Hyun Junghwa, started in surprise.
'That's the item I gave him.'
She had given it to him because she believed he was the rightful owner.
'When you look at Kim Hyukjin's actions…'
It was like he had predicted and created this situation from the beginning. If so, that would mean he already foresaw this 'Dewinged Angel Statue' when they were in the Wind Temple.
'What kind of crazy Playstyle is that?'
It was almost… like he was a seer who knew the future. The Korean Player Hyun Junghwa felt as though she was experiencing the 'Korean Playstyle' spoken of overseas in the flesh.
Hyukjin took another few steps forward.
"This is what you want, right?"
"Yes."
That moment, a powerful wave of mana billowed from the angel statue's red gem. It wasn't visible to the physical eye, but Hyukjin's Eye of Perception picked up on it.
"If you're thinking about attacking me and stealing the wings, I suggest you give up on the idea." Hyukjin smiled wide. "How do you think we cut these wings off?"
The mana building in the red gems rapidly dissipated.
"How did you get that?"
"There were some guys that attacked me first. They were protecting a temple."
"What happened to them?"
"They were destroyed."
"I see."
Hyukjin stowed the Angel Statue's Wings in his Inventory.
"Let me return the proposal to you. Help us punish the People of the Sky."
The angel statue making a proposal and fighting the angels with the Players, vs. the Players making a proposal and having the angel statue fight. The two might seem the same based on just the result, but the process was different.
'If my prediction is right… you can get way more contribution with the latter.'
The System was geared to prefer active Playing over passive Playing. A short period of silence followed, injecting a moment of downtime that the Guardians used to send a flurry of messages.
[The 'Nameless Observer' is observing.]
[The 'Whispering Devil' is having fun.]
[The 'Courageous Lion King' is bored.]
[The 'Barrier of Blue Light' is impressed.]
[The 'Night of Shooting Stars' continues to focus.]
Hyukjin spread out his hands.
"How about it? Will you cooperate with us?"
* * *
Translator – Lei
Proofreader – Ash
* * *
Hyukjin remembered Pietro saying this afterwards:
–The reason half of us were able to survive at all was because the angel statue was in terrible condition.
The Dewinged Angel Statue almost completely spent itself in the war against the 'Sky', allowing the Players to destroy it and escape.
–At that time, we couldn't comprehend the angel statue's final words.
[Still, I did love you.]
The words didn't seem fitting for the betrayed angel statue. There was something weird and illogical about them. Pietro said this in retrospect:
–Those words were basically the final notice stating it would become our enemy. I think those words are to be understood as a declaration of war.
The next moment, the Players began to hear singing from the sky.
'A hymn?'
It sounded like sacred music produced by a beautiful harmony of countless singers, like the chorusing of a choir.
A massive gate appeared in the sky. The angel statue spoke.
"They… are descending."
[The 'War Between Sky and Ground' is beginning.]
The gate opened, and from it appeared angel statues with two wings behind their backs. However, they weren't the beautiful angels one normally imagined. They were day and night from Senia. Their faces were horrific, dominated by mouths that took up two-thirds of the face and were filled with sharp teeth. Pus oozed from their skin, making the angels appear as if they were melting.
"I shall guard you."
Light glowed from the red gem. Hyukjin looked around.
'This…'
A shield, also called a barrier, was deployed.
'…is a shield that allows attacks from the inside but blocks attacks from the outside.'
Salvatore also instantly realized that fact.
"Prepare to fight."
As expected of a sovereign, Salvatore assigned each archer a number and put them in squads. The Players were divided into six regular squads and one special squad that included Salvatore, with each squad having a leader. He accomplished that in a matter of minutes.
"Pointer."
A red light flickered onto one of the six angels that had appeared.
"This is a technique I have called Pointer. It sets a target."
Everyone understood.
"Squads 1 and 2 will handle that one. Move seven steps to the right and set up an attack formation."
He used Pointer again, this time on another angel.
"Squads 3 and 4 will take this one. Maintain your current position."
His eyes moved to another angel. Salvatore could tell it would get attacked by the angel statue on the ground, so he skipped it. It would hurt their DPS if they attacked the same target as the angel statue.
"I'll leave this one to Squad 5. It appears to have lower defense compared to the others."
That was why he only assigned one team to it.
"Squad 6 will handle that one."
And finally—
"Our squad will handle the last one."
"Our squad" referred to the special squad consisting of Salvatore, Vela, Kim Hyukjin, Mark, and Hyun Junghwa.
The six angel statues that had appeared were distributed precisely among the raid members. The leader of Squad 1, Schultz, asked a question.
"Should we fire?"
"Stand by a little longer."
They needed to come a little closer, just a little closer.
That moment, one of the flying angel statues fired a red beam.
Salvatore flinched. Kim Hyukjin said quietly, "Hold."
Hyukjin wanted him to stay in place. Despite recognizing the destructive force imbued in that red beam, at this moment, Salvatore trusted Hyukjin.
"Everyone, hold your positions."
The red beam shot towards them, and at the same time, the 'ground' angel statue spoke.
"I shall protect you."
The red beam collided into the shield. Like a laser reflected by a mirror, the beam bounced off at a different angle.
Salvatore heard a notice from a new Guardian.
[The 'Barrier of Blue Light' greatly respects your decision.]
Just like how Guardians from foreign servers became interested in the Korean server because of Kim Hyukjin, Guardians from the Korean server were starting to gain an interest in foreign server Players, once again because of Kim Hyukjin.
Hyukjin murmured again, "Wait a little longer. Their weakness is the red gem on their foreheads."
Salvatore was of the same intent. Three seconds longer. Once the enemies drew closer for just three seconds, they would begin their attack.
Salvatore aimed for the perfect timing.
"Now."
The six teams began their attack in unison, matching up perfectly with the attack of the 'ground' angel statue.
One angel statue, the one that had fired the red beam, was destroyed. Through that, the Players realized on their own that the angel statues were weakest directly after attacking.
Thanks to the Players' great teamwork, the 'ground' angel statue also seemed to have plenty of stamina left.
Hyukjin stared at the remaining five angel statues in the sky.
'It's different from the past.'
They might be facing the same foes, but the difficulty could vary widely depending on how you handled them. One angel statue was already eliminated, and taking care of the remaining five wouldn't be very difficult. The Players were performing extremely well.
Time passed. Because it wasn't tired, the 'ground' angel statue was able to block the incoming red beams, and the Players were able to destroy all five flying angel statues.
Pietro nearly laughed in astonishment.
'It's this… easy?'
No. This wasn't easy. It was absolutely not an easy challenge.
The key was that 'special squad'. They were firing exactly at the right time and place to prevent the 'ground' angel statue from taking damage. It was because they preserved the 'ground' angel statue's stamina that the shield could be deployed when needed, allowing the Players to hunt down the other angel statues with ease. And at the center of this well-greased operation was Kim Hyukjin. Salvatore might be the official leader, but the true core was Kim Hyukjin.
It was going well. Too well, in fact, that a notice rang out.
[The war is being concluded too quickly.]
Senia appeared. As always, she drew scattered cries of admiration. Hyukjin was so used to the reaction that he took it as a matter of course.
"The war is being concluded too quickly in comparison to the System's arrangement." She quickly continued in a very un-Senia-like fashion. "If many Guardians offer their support, the gate's difficulty can be raised."
Hyukjin realized that this might look like a part of her stream, but it wasn't actually. She was using a legal method to relay information to him, a Player.
'What's going on?'
She could have just appeared and spoken using the language only Guardians and Intermediate Administrators could understand, but she streamed in front of Hyukjin using a language he could understand.
"Many Guardians have offered their support."
The support of Guardians was, in other words, Coins. Hyukjin was sure that not just one, but many Guardians had contributed.
'Which means, they'll increase the difficulty by investing a shit ton of Coins.'
The Sky Gate began to expand. The 'ground' angel statue's voice trembled.
"He… is descending."
The red gems encrusted on the angel statue's forehead dimmed in fear. At that moment, the entire field turned dark red, and an overwhelming aura began seeping from the Sky Gate.
A variable had occurred.
____
"He… is descending."
The angel statue's body hardened, returning to the stone statue it originally was. The gems on its forehead were very faintly shining, but that too looked as though it would soon fade.
"Through the agreement and support of many Guardians, a new scenario will commence."
"How much has the difficulty increased?"
"I cannot tell you that. It is up to you, the Player, to determine."
If Hyukjin had to guess…
'I have a feeling it's been ramped up a ton.'
The situation felt similar to the Fire Giants. When the Fire Giants first spawned, they were supposed to have killed around 30,000 people. In the same way, half of the archers here were supposed to have lost their lives. That was how the original scenario was supposed to play out.
The Sky Gate continued to vibrate and expand. Hyukjin felt an incredible presence on the other side.
'Does the System wish to kill as many people as was originally planned this time as well?'
While receiving support from the Guardians, no less?
'Dammit.'
The still-expanding gate occasionally emitted yellow sparks. The whole process was taking quite a while.
'What kind of foe is it, to require such fanfare?'
The longer an enemy took to appear, the higher the chance there was that its strength merited the dramatic entrance.
'It'll definitely be stronger than the angels.'
Normally, the strength of an angel was represented by the number of its wings.
'Surely it won't be a six-winged angel.'
A six-winged angel had appeared just one time in the history he knew, in an incident that was called the Paris Catastrophe. When the angel with six wings appeared in Paris, France, 10,000 people were instantly reduced to ashes and an additional 20,000 were melted into nothingness by light.
'If a six-winged angel shows up, we're all dead.'
But that probably wouldn't be the case.
'The System wants to get rid of around half of us.'
Using that as a measure, he guessed it would be stronger than a two-winged angel but weaker than a sixer. There was a high chance it would be something that had never appeared in the past (or did appear, but was not told to the public)—a four-winged angel.
He stared at Senia.
"Senia."
"Yes, what is it?"
Senia was as expressionless as ever, but Hyukjin could feel it.
'She wants to say something.'
There was something she was itching to hear from him. Her lips were trembling ever so slightly.
'The monster not showing up yet means they're giving us time.'
She wasn't saying it, but it looked like she was tamping down the desire to shout, 'Hurry and spit it out, right now!'
Salvatore watched in silence. He believed it was better to focus on Kim Hyukjin's Playing right now than to direct the other Players. There was much for him to learn as a sovereign, and as a Player.
"The System suddenly increased the difficulty, even winning the support of the Guardians to do so."
But the boss wasn't spawning right away.
"If the System simply wanted to slaughter us, it wouldn't give us this much time."
"…"
Senia didn't respond, but her wings began to faintly tremble. She blinked a little faster than usual. Hyukjin almost imagined he could hear her say, 'That's right. Hurry. Hurry and raise an objection.'
"In other words, the System needs to kill us, but it also has some kind of absolute reason it needs to protect us."
That was why it was giving them time, time to raise an objection based on that absolute. Playing wasn't fair. It favored the one who knew the most. The ignorant were sitting ducks in this cutthroat world.
Just like in the verbal spar he'd had with Yoohyun's Streamer, Neptune.
"Artificially increasing the difficulty like this will have skewed the balance."
That was a word the System liked. Balance. Impartiality.
"Which means, there needs to be another factor to restore the balance."
That was the reason why the creature on the other side of that Sky Gate hadn't appeared yet. Senia's expression was flat, but she spoke far faster than usual.
"What do you think that factor is?"
"If that side is strengthened, shouldn't this side be strengthened as well?"
"I fully understand what you are saying, Player Kim Hyukjin. May I interpret your words as a formal objection? With my authority as an Intermediate Administrator, I will raise an objection regarding the issue of the System's impartiality. Do I have your consent?"
Senia was speaking so fast that Hyukjin almost thought she was rapping.
"I give my consent."
The entirety of the field turned gray. A field-wide notice rang out.
[By request of the Intermediate Administrator Senia, scenario progress has been briefly halted.]
[If the Intermediate Administrator Senia's request is not appropriate, the System will seek punitive compensation from the Intermediate Administrator Senia.]
It was a little different from a Pause. The Players were unaffected, and only the field was frozen in time.
* * *
Translator – Lei
Proofreader – Ash
* * *
Pietro realized something else.
'That beautiful female Intermediate Administrator is Hyukjin's contracted Administrator. Her name is Senia.'
Pietro turned to his contracted Administrator, a pixie named Bellbell.
"What kind of request did Miss Senia make?"
"She complained that the System's proceedings weren't fair. Haa. That pretty angel must be wrong in the head."
"How come?"
"Even if she succeeds, you guys'll only be given a slight boost anyway. And it interrupted the flow. The Guardians don't like stuff like this. Plus, if she fails, she'll lose her Intermediate Administrator rights. Worst case, she could even be killed."
"She could… be killed?"
Pietro racked his brain. Why? Why was an Intermediate Administrator taking such a risky stand? The reason wasn't hard to puzzle out.
'It's because Senia considers Kim Hyukjin a source of content important enough to risk her life on.'
Pietro glanced at Bellbell, the Streamer who was sighing as she flitted around near his shoulder.
'If it were me in that situation…'
Would Bellbell have raised an objection for his sake? The answer was 'absolutely not'.
'Because there is surely someone out there who can replace me.'
He thought of himself as a fairly outstanding info merchant, but he knew there were definitely at least a few others who could replace him. After all, the world was filled with remarkable people.
'But Kim Hyukjin…'
He was different. Pietro clenched his fists.
'I have to become like him.'
An irreplaceable Player. That was what he had to become in order to Play like Kim Hyukjin. He had to make it so his Intermediate Administrator would speak for him at the risk of their authority or even their life. He was once again made to re-evaluate what kind of content he should make and how, as well as what kind of scenes he should show the Guardians.
A little time passed.
[The Intermediate Administrator Senia's objection has been deemed appropriate.]
[Seeking measures to adjust the balance as per the Intermediate Administrator Senia's request.]
[The opinion of the Intermediate Administrator who raised the objection, Senia, can be partially accepted.]
"The difficulty was raised through the Guardians," said Hyukjin. "In exchange, we should be allowed to receive favors from the Guardians."
Senia nodded. A notice sounded in Hyukjin's ear.
[The 'Nameless Observer' wants to observe you.]
It wasn't the usual 'The Nameless Observer is observing you', but 'The Nameless Observer wants to observe you'. In other words, they were saying they would help him so that they could continue to observe him. Hyukjin understood.
[The 'Barrier of Blue Light' wants to protect you.]
The protection-loving Barrier of Blue Light took the plate.
[The 'Lady of the Scales' deeply sympathizes with the 'value of impartiality'.]
As well as the Lady of Scales.
[The 'True Master of the Heavenly Demonic Mountain' takes pleasure in your 'fortitude to challenge the System'.]
[The 'Conductor of Sound' is awed by the 'virtue of a sovereign'.]
Even the True Master of the Heavenly Demonic Mountain and the Conductor of Sound stepped forward, making a total of five Guardians who had sent messages to him. Senia's face visibly brightened. Her expression remained unchanged, but Hyukjin was now capable of reading her emotions.
'I don't know what she's saying right now, but…'
It was probably something like adjusting the balance in their favor through great support from the Guardians again. The System would get Coins from the Guardians on the opposing side as well as Coins from the Guardians on the supporting side, so it had nothing to lose.
At long last, Senia faced the Players, her body shimmering with golden light.
"By the support of many Guardians, I hereby proclaim a change in the settings. On grounds of the System's impartiality, a temporary allowance will be granted to all Players here."
She looked like an angel that had truly descended from heaven. The kind of angel people imagined, not the monstrous imitations that had emerged from the Sky Gate.
Even Vela, who had seen Senia a few times before, went slack-jawed.
"Ah…"
She was simply too beautiful and magical. Everyone went into a daze upon seeing the angel exuding a sacred golden aura as she proclaimed the change in the settings.
Everyone except for one person. Hyukjin wasn't all that moved.
'Is she that beautiful?'
Mentally, he recognized that she was beautiful, but the thought didn't reach his heart. He did sort of think it might be because he was technically married to Isabel.
(As expected of my husband.)
She always managed to wake up exactly at times like this.
(I knew my husband wouldn't look at other women.)
(How very trustworthy. I picked my husband well.)
(That's right. No matter how pretty she is, she's not prettier than me, is she? Right? Ohoho… ho… ho… yawn.)
And then, she fell right back asleep. It seemed as though Hyukjin's thoughts had spurred her into forcibly waking ahead of time.
The System notices continued.
[The 'Dewinged Angel Statue' reopens its eyes.]
[The 'Dewinged Angel Statue' has been strengthened.]
The angel statue woke up again.
[The Players will be granted a temporary privilege.]
[Each Player may use an ability restricted by the System.]
[However, only one ability can be used.]
[This privilege is effective only in the 'Dewinged Angel Statue' gate.]
Color returned to the field. The sky was almost red in color. The wind blew, scattering grains of sand. A powerful presence loomed from the other side of the Sky Gate.
Hyukjin could tell.
'It's coming.'
If his prediction was right, it would be an angel with four wings. It should be weaker than one with six.
'We can do it.'
He had created this situation. If it was a four-winged angel, it was worth a try.
"Salva—no, Chiellini."
"Yes?"
Now wasn't the time to be fussing about the details. He couldn't afford to hide his knowledge here.
"Opera of Castle."
Chiellini's face stiffened. How did Hyukjin know about his class exclusive skill? What's more, it wasn't an ability he couldn't even use yet because of the level restriction.
'How he knows isn't important.'
They had to get through this first. That was the important thing right now. He didn't pry. With just three words, Chiellini understood what he had to do.
"Understood."
Chiellini was certain that Kim Hyukjin was once again planning something big.
Hyukjin turned to someone else.
"Vela. You use Shrine Dancer."
"Eh? How do you know about that?"
Chiellini whacked Vela on the head. "Shut up and do as you're told."
"Garshdarnit. Grr, I'll let you off just this once. Prepare to get beaten black and blue outside."
Hyukjin looked up at the sky. Something was starting to slowly emerge from the gate.
[The boss monster 'Four-Winged Angel Statue' has appeared.]
It was as Hyukjin predicted. An angel with a massive mouth and four wings spawned. Its official name was 'Four-Winged Angel Statue', and the level was a red question mark.
'We can't defeat it by normal means, but…'
Hyukjin finished the groundwork to kill that boss.
"We're killing that thing."
He was saying the words to Chiellini and Vela, but also to the Guardians watching from above. No matter the situation, he never forgot his acting.
Chiellini immediately echoed the words, loudly enough for the others to hear.
"We will be killing that thing."
Hyukjin's command was relayed to all the archers through Chiellini's lips.
____
Salvatore said loudly, "We will be killing that thing."
Like the outstanding sovereign he was, he didn't show a shred of uncertainty on his face. To the Players, he gave the impression of a stout oak tree. In fact, Salvatore was using 'Spirit', a skill that conferred a sense of reassurance to the Players.
But behind that façade, Salvatore was nervous. It didn't seem like the archers were very aware of it, but as a sovereign, he could feel it. They were facing a foe of tremendous magnitude.
'Four-Winged Angel Statue.'
He'd never heard of it before. Salvatore spoke very quietly, still maintaining Spirit to keep the Players' morale from faltering.
"It feels incredibly strong."
"I know."
"Will we really be able to kill it?"
"We have to."
Hyukjin seemed to be asking back, 'What are we gonna do if we can't?'
'If we can't defeat it, we're dead.' Salvatore realized something that should have been obvious. 'Right, that's true.'
Can we kill it? was the most stupid question he could have asked. If they couldn't, they would die. They didn't even have a Player who could forge a path out, like an explorer. That meant until this boss monster raid was over, they had no way to cut open an exit and escape. Their only option was to fight that angel and kill it.
'It comes down to whether we die, or it does. One or the other.'
Whether they could kill it or not was never important.
'But how?'
He didn't think they could kill that four-winged boss monster with their strength alone. Its gaze as it stared down at the earthlings from high in the air was full of arrogance.
A voice rang out.
[Traitor.]
[And Kin of the Ground.]
The monster would recite the lines it was scripted to say.
Hyukjin said, "Tell the archers to cover the Guardian Tower."
[The traitor shall become dust and disappear.]
[And the Kin of the Ground shall return to under the ground, where they belong.]
"Squads 1, 2, and 3 will cover the Guardian Tower. Squads 4, 5, and 6 will cover us and the angel statue."
"The Guardian Tower? What Guardian Tower?"
Only the US and Korea had one Guardian Tower each. Was that the Guardian Tower Salvatore meant?
'Is Michelle here?'
If Michelle were here, it would be possible. She went around summoning her Guardian Tower using her special ability 'Guardian Tower Summoning', strengthening her growth-type tower Tintin with every battle and consolidating her firm position as a sovereign.
"I will be summoning the Guardian Tower."
Hyukjin honed his focus.
[You may use an ability restricted by the System.]
[However, only one ability can be used.]
He decided to manifest an ability he'd never been able to use before.
'Hyun Junghwa's Consecutive Rapidfire. Vela's item switching.'
He had replicated both of them just by watching. He couldn't do it perfectly, since all he'd done was watch over their shoulder.
'It's different this time.'
With the System's assistance, he could replicate an ability better than ever before.
2) Skill effect:
Flow Perception: Visualize the flow of nature.
Action Replication: Copy the actions of an observation target (currently cannot be used).
Title Replication: Use the title and similar abilities of an observation target (currently cannot be used).
Ability Share: Share an ability with designated observation targets (currently cannot be used).
Hyukjin erased the 'currently cannot be used' clause attached to Action Replication.
[Temporarily erasing the use restriction of Action Replication, a skill belonging to Observer's Eye.]
[You may now use Action Replication.]
Hyukjin thought of Michelle. During their war together, Michelle had summoned her Guardian Tower.
'Action Replication.'
[The use of Action Replication must be preceded by 'sufficient observation'.]
[Please set the specific name of the 'Action Replication Target' that you have ascertained through 'sufficient observation'.]
Apparently, Observer's Eye was always destined to be half-useless if you didn't have Eye of Perception to go with it. Hyukjin had read Michelle's status using Eye of Perception. 34 years old, level 38. Her class was Mercenary Sovereign. He remembered her details precisely.
Innate ability:
Inject Funds
Guardian Tower Summoning
He thought of the specific name.
[Replicating Michelle's 'Guardian Tower Summoning' via Action Replication.]
[Action Replication was carried out successfully.]
Hyukjin temporarily gained a new innate ability, which he immediately used.
[Using the temporary innate ability Guardian Tower Summoning.]
Something began to emerge from right next to the angel statue—a Guardian Tower topped with a floating red eye. It was the Guardian Tower imbued with the soul of the Barrier Magician Ahn Seohye.
Vela was baffled.
"You can summon a Guardian Tower, too?" He tilted his head. "Just how broken are you?"
Even as he groused, Vela went up to the Guardian Tower, clearly knowing what his role was.
Hyukjin heard Seohye's voice.
–What's that thing in the sky? It gives me a bad feeling.
Think you can hunt it?
–I'm not sure. I'll have to give it a try first.
Considering that Seohye saw Michelle's Tintin as prey the moment she saw it, the Four-Winged Angel Statue was obviously no easy foe.
"Chiellini."
Chiellini also went up to the Guardian Tower. The Four-Winged Angel Statue spread its four wings wide, preparing to attack the Players.
[Return to death.]
[Annihilating Rain of Ten Thousand Feathers.]
A terrifying number of feathers appeared in the air, each of them bearing intense killing power.
The leader of Squad 1, Schultz, felt the hair on his neck tingle.
'Tremendous killing intent.'
He gave his orders right away. "Those who have AOE attacks will block the feathers. One beat after we defend, we'll attack."
They had no choice but to use attacks as defense. Schultz felt his heart sink.
'Many… will die.'
If something didn't change, many of them would die from that one attack. Feather after feather was being generated in the air. The moment they shot down, the slaughter would begin.
'If I have to die here…' Schultz tightened his fists. 'I'll fight with no regrets.'
He bit his lips. This was no time to be holding back. The German archer/sovereign Player released his Guardian's favor.
"Seek life to die, seek death to live."
Schultz recited the short incantation. Mana writhed at his back, then extended outward, quickly taking the shape of a large, armored giant's upper body.
"Those who seek death shall live, and those who seek life shall die."
Hyukjin heard those words and recognized them as the famous words spoken by Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
'Is that an incantation?'
Despite being very short, the incantation manifested.
'The length isn't important.'
Hyukjin was struck with an enlightenment. Schultz's will was imbued in those words. Pulling off an incantation may have seemed unlikely from the length, but those two lines were steeped in sincerity.
[The signature move of the boss monster 'Four-Winged Angel Statue' is being used.]
The System being so kind as to state it outright meant the attack coming their way was simply that strong. Balance necessitated the warning.
The white feathers quivering with vicious bloodthirst began to embroider the sky, pouring down like a heavy rain, and the giant that had appeared behind Schultz expanded all at once to partially shield the Players.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Feathers crashed into the giant's body in a flurry of sparks. A good number of them were blocked by the giant.
Schultz expelled a mouthful of blood.
'I… will protect them.'
It was then that Salvatore began to speak. Without being taught, he realized for himself what an incantation was by seeing Schultz do it. He spoke the words that came to his mind purely by instinct.
"Sing, my soldiers."
For an incantation, it was terribly clumsy.
"Climb the castle ramparts and melt the biting northerly wind."
But his incantation was real. He took what he learned from Kim Hyukjn and Schultz to blow his will into being in his own way.
"I am your castle, your refuge, and shall become your indomitable spirit."
That moment, white light radiated from Salvatore's body. Hyukjin recognized the words. They were the lines Salvatore had always spoken when he used his exclusive skill, Opera of Castle. In his past life, Hyukjin hadn't known it was an incantation, but he knew now.
That was the Wargod's legendary AOE buff that, when fighting with a Guardian Tower, rapidly boosted all Player abilities and maximized the Guardian Tower's innate abilities. It was an incredible ability that could raise the very grade of a Guardian Tower by one. If the rain of feathers pouring down was the Four-Winged Angel Statue's signature move, Opera of Castle was the Wargod's first signature move.
Wordless singing began to ring out, and the Players were enveloped in white light. Schultz, who had just been vomiting blood, felt the effects instantly.
'My body's been healed.'
The damage he had just done to his body while using the Guardian favor was healed, and the favor was strengthened even more. The giant took on a slightly red tint to its originally black-and-white color, the armor it was donning becoming red.
'It's gotten stronger.'
The Guardian favor was undoubtedly boosted.
'How in the world?'
It was definitely Chiellini's ability. The other Players felt it, too. They knew Chiellini's innate ability was shining in all its glory.
Hyukjin was focusing on a slightly different aspect.
'Hymn.'
There was a strong sacred feel within that singing, which he could feel more keenly because he had Conductor's Hymn.
'This is a hymn.'
And—
'This is the path a hymn should take.'
Salvatore showed him the future, helping him grasp the correct direction. Hyukjin was left feeling as though he had learned something from the other sovereign.
* * *
Translator – Lei
Proofreader – Ash
* * *
On the other side, Salvatore felt goosebumps rise over his entire body, which was emanating miraculous light.
He suddenly recalled Itachi's prophecy.
–If they meet as friends, so shall the hymn of heaven ring.
Right now, a hymn was ringing through the air. He was able to use this ability because Kim Hyukjin was here, because Kim Hyukjin summoned a Guardian Tower. And also, because Kim Hyukjin told him in advance to use this ability.
'Itachi's prophecy was right.'
The sensation of mana being sucked out of his body nearly made Salvatore stumble, but he held on tight to his consciousness.
'What's… that?'
The Guardian Tower's red eye and the white light he had created came together before disappearing, leaving just the shell of the Guardian Tower. In its place, a girl he'd never seen before was standing next to Kim Hyukjin.
'A… girl?'
She looked young. He couldn't see her face properly because of all the white light around her. Even her body wasn't clearly visible. All he could tell was that she was a woman enveloped in light.
"I'm back," the girl said.
* * *
One of the red gems on the angel statue that had sided with the Ground shined brightly.
[You were the ones that betrayed me first.]
The angel statue's aura became a level fiercer. Its abilities were boosted by Salvatore's sovereign buff. As expected of Salvatore's signature move, it buffed everyone or everything that was considered an ally.
And then, the betrayed angel statue spoke the words it had uttered to the Players in the past.
[Still, I did love you.]
That was what it said before betraying the Players and killing them. Now, it said those words not to the Players, but to the Four-Winged Angel Statue.
Hyukjin heard a notice.
[The quest 'Find the Dewinged Angel Statue's Wings' has been triggered.]
The Dewinged Angel Statue had chosen its stance once and for all. Hyukjin took out the wings from his Inventory without hesitation.
"Here."
The wings in Hyukjin's hands instantly disappeared, reforming on the Dewinged Angel Statue.
[The quest 'Find the Dewinged Angel Statue's Wings' has been cleared.]
[As the quest reward, the 'Angel Statue's Master' title has been generated.]
The angel statue began to change. Rubble fell to the ground, soon revealing an angel that looked like the others.
'Four wings.'
But they weren't perfect wings. The angel flapped its ragged, torn wings and flew into the sky, a large, golden spear forming in its hands.
The two angel statues glared at each other in midair.
[Do you intend on opposing us at last?]
[You are the ones who discarded me first.]
Thanks to their conversation, the Players had a moment to catch their breaths. Schultz was gasping for breath on the ground, and the Players who were struck by the Annihilating Rain of Ten Thousand Feathers downed pots to heal their wounds. Thankfully, no one had died.
Kim Hyukjin heard a voice.
"I'm happy I can walk."
It was the girl wreathed in light, Ahn Seohye.
"I'm happy I can breathe."
He continued to hear her voice.
"I'm happy I can feel."
She lightly grasped the hem of Hyukjin's clothes.
"I'm happy to be alive."
The simple statements continued.
"I want to eat tonkatsu."
Hyukjin could tell that this was no ordinary greeting from the girl who had recovered her physical body, though only temporarily.
Above her head, the 'Red Eye' was gushing wicked light.
The Red Demon Ahn Seohye gave a sweet smile.
____
The Red Eye gleamed wickedly, exuding such intense bloodthirst and chilling aura that even Hyukjin had to take a step back.
"All those who interfere with these joys…"
Seohye smiled radiantly.
"…must be killed."
Almost like when Hyukjin recited an incantation and uttered the final activation words, Seohye did the same.
[Die.]
From that, Hyukjin realized something.
Everyone must die.
Those were the words spoken by the Red Demon in his past life. He thought they were just ordinary words back then, but it seemed they were an incantation.
'She's different from back then.'
The Red Demon who slaughtered so many people said, "Everyone must die." Now, the first part was missing. Instead of an all-encompassing 'everyone', the target was now clearly set to one enemy.
Hyukjin was able to sense another emotion brewing amidst the intense bloodthirst emanating from the Red Eye.
'At the core of this intense bloodthirst…'
He was mentally connected to Seohye. The reason why Seohye became part of a Guardian Tower in the first place was because of her 'strong Guardian Will'. Hyukjin could sense Seohye's desire to protect.
'…is the desire to protect something.'
The result was the same. The Red Demon looked exactly as her name suggested. That sweet, chilling smile, those wickedly gleaming red eyes, they were the same as the Red Demon in his past life. They looked the same on the outside, but the current Ahn Seohye was different.
'The previous Red Demon committed slaughter for the sake of slaughtering.'
But now—
'The current Red Demon wants to protect us.'
Red threads emerged from behind Seohye. Tens of thousands of red threads surged into the sky like spider webs shooting towards prey.
[The 'Angel Statue' awaits orders from the 'Angel Statue's Master'.]
Hyukjin gave the order at once.
'Attack.'
He could see what Seohye was going to do. She wasn't trying to attack the Four-Winged Angel Statue right now. Just like when she faced the Fire Giants, she was pinning the boss down. She, the Barrier Magician and Guardian Tower, would handle restricting its movements, while the 'angel statue' did the attacking.
The angel with four ragged wings also had red gems on its forehead. One of them began to exude powerful mana.
Salvatore realized what he needed to do right now.
'I need to focus my strength on that angel.'
He concentrated his buff on it.
Ahhhh–!
Ahhh–!
The hymn created by Salvatore's Castle of Opera intensified, rippling over the entire field before enveloping the angel statue's body with a bright flash of light.
At the same time—
"You who took my freedom, I still loved you."
The ground angel fired a red beam. The sky angel was bound by Seohye's red threads. The red beam fired by the ground angel became even bigger.
The angel statue's red gem began to crack. A scream split through the sky.
"GAHHH!"
Seohye mumbled to herself, "I'll kill you. I'll kill you. I'll kill you."
Red energy exploded from her body. The red threads constricted the angel's body with greater force. Seeing that, the archers fired at the enemy angel in unison.
The leader of Squad 1, Schultz, shouted, "Use your biggest attack!"
Right now, that 'Guardian Tower' and angel were buying them time. What they had to do was abandon all thought of defense and go all out on offense. They also had the time to unleash their heavy hitting moves. The archers let loose a barrage of their ultimate attacks.
Hyukjin made the same call. He took out the Ink Bow.
'It uses a lot of mana, but…'
Despite the intense physical burden, this was their chance.
Crack!
More cracks splintered through the red gem encrusted on the 'ground' angel's forehead.
'That red beam… will soon be extinguished.'
Before that happened, they had to seize this opportunity.
[Overlaying the Divine Bow Physique's mana on the Ink Bow.]
[Generating a temporary Blackfire Bow.]
[The Blackfire Bow's base item is the Ink Bow.]
It was an artificial, temporary Blackfire Bow. However, it wasn't at all weaker than the real deal.
'Focus my mind.'
The weak spot was that red gem. The 'sky' angel was, of course, resisting by firing a red beam. Which meant, it would be weakest when that red beam stopped, if only for a moment.
'Aim.'
He focused. Every sound fell away, every sight around him ceased to be. Only he and the red gem existed.
'Now.'
Hyukjin fired. An arrow blazing with blackfire sped off. Vela jumped into the air, surging up like he had wings on his back.
Shrine Dancer.
He hurled a fist at the Four-Winged Angel Statue in midair, moving like he was dancing. He flowed elegantly from movement to movement like water.
Vela's hands reached one of the Four-Winged Angel Statue's wings. His eyes flashed red, and he uttered two words, as if activating a magic spell.
"Be torn."
And then, he began to rip off the Four-Winged Angel Statue's wing with both hands.
* * *
Translator – Lei
Proofreader – Ash
* * *
The Players were on their backs, utterly exhausted.
"Hah, hah…"
The leader of Squad 1, Schultz, was also sprawled out on the ground.
"We… did it."
Schultz heard it loud and clear.
[You have successfully hunted the 'Four-Winged Angel Statue'.]
[You have defeated a boss monster.]
They were all taking a break. But something was a little strange.
'How come it's not getting cleared?'
Was there a separate clear condition? Normally, hunting the boss monster secured the clear.
[The 'Sky Gate' is emitting powerful mana wavelengths.]
[Until the 'Sky Gate' expires, the Players cannot leave the field.]
[The 'Sky Gate' is expected to expire in 20 days.]
Pietro felt a spike of anxiety. 'Twenty days?'
The Players were drained beyond all measure. Even getting the best quality food and rest might not be enough to recover, yet they suddenly had to endure twenty days?
[The rewards for the 'Dewinged Angel Statue' Gate will be given only to the Players who survive the 20 days.]
[The quantity and quality of the clear rewards will increase with fewer survivors.]
The Dewinged Angel Statue Gate wasn't over yet.
'The rewards will increase with fewer survivors?'
Then what if only one person survived?
'That person would get all the rewards to themselves.'
He immediately had goosebumps.
'The person here who can do that…'
His gaze moved to Kim Hyukjin.
'…is Kim Hyukjin!'
He had seen some extent of Kim Hyukjin's prowess. Moreover, Hyukjin had his Guardian Tower here. On top of that, Hyukjin was acquainted with Salvatore (Chiellini) and was on very close terms with Vela. If Kim Hyukjin wanted, he could kill everyone here.
'Because he knew what would happen.'
He had come here knowing the future foreseen by the Precognitive Dreamer Ham Sohyun. Pietro stood there frozen, feeling as though every hair on his body were standing on end.
'He seems to be taking something out of his Inventory.'
Pietro tensed. His eyes met Hyukjin's. A chill ran down his spine.
Hyukjin smiled.
"I can clearly see what you're thinking, Mr. Pietro."
"I wasn't thinking much."
"Then why are you so tense?"
"It's not that I'm tense, but that I'm just starting to relax."
Hyukjin grinned. The same thought that had occurred to Pietro had occurred to him. It couldn't be helped. In a situation like this, it wasn't strange to fear the strong. Especially if you were a smart and mindful person like Pietro.
"With Miss Ham Sohyun's help, I predicted this predicament in advance."
Pietro gulped. A few of the archers also watched Hyukjin with wary eyes, ready to act if he made any threatening movements.
"So I brought a lot of provisions and water with me."
He took out the 'Infinite Pouch', which he had filled to the brim with Sunhwa at the department store. It wouldn't be hard for everyone here to last the twenty days.
"This is the Infinite Pouch. I will distribute a set amount of supplies one time every day. However, if anyone tries to harm another Player…"
Standing next to Hyukjin, Seohye finished his sentence with a bright smile.
"I might kill them."
That settled things.
[The 'Lady of the Scales' is deeply impressed.]
[The 'Lady of the Scales' bestows you a 'Judgment of the Law'.]
It was his second Judgment of the Law.
[The 'Nameless Observer' is observing.]
[The 'Barrier of Blue Light' is happy.]
Salvatore was speechless.
'Was he prepared for this situation?'
Wasn't that why Kim Hyukjin had an Inventory full of provisions and supplies? He wasn't just at the level of 'someone to learn from'. His opponent was so high up that just chasing after him would be hard enough, much less learning from him as a peer.
But then, he saw Kim Hyukjin suddenly crack a smile. It was only for a fraction of a second, and Salvatore was only able to glimpse it because he was standing right next to the man. Kim Hyukjin suddenly bent at the waist towards him.
"All of this was done at the orders of Italy's sovereign, Mr. Chiellini."
Salvatore was stunned. The spotlight fell entirely on him.
'Huh?'
He stared at Hyukjin, but Hyukjin was already distributing bread and water while saying, "Just as Mr. Chiellini ordered, I will now distribute the water and provisions."
The quick-witted Pietro went up to Salvatore (Chiellini).
"I am in awe of your insight, Chiellini."
"…"
No, it wasn't me! But he couldn't bring himself to say the words now.
"I hate to even think what might have happened to us if not for your prudent preparations, Chiellini."
"That, um, so. Well, I just did what I should."
Chiellini's reaction confirmed Pietro's suspicions. 'As I thought, Chiellini didn't have him do it.'
This was a scheme Hyukjin had cooked up. The others might be fooled, but the information merchant Pietro could tell.
'But Kim Hyukjin wants to put Chiellini in the public's eye.'
Kim Hyukjin must have used some kind of ability to hide himself. Pietro decided where to steer his boat.
'So I need to play to his beat.'
Pietro bowed his head to Chiellini. "On behalf of the party, I thank you. Italian sovereign Chiellini, your fame shall echo across the lands."
Kim Hyukjin, Pietro, and Chiellini all heard the same notice.
[The 'Whispering Devil' is amused.]
* * *
Ahn Seohye's body was still shining. The light made her body nearly impossible to see. She was sitting on the ground, leaning against Hyukjin's back.
"I really like being able to move around like this."
"Yeah?"
"Before, I had no idea being able to move, being able to breathe were things to be so grateful for."
"…"
Seohye was being sincere. Hyukjin could feel that better than anyone.
"I'll have to return to being a tower again when you leave this field, right?"
"I'll bring you out again soon."
Seohye nodded. "I'll wait."
Hyukjin had felt her desire to protect someone keenly. It was an emotion he knew well—he felt it when he looked at his little sister Sunhwa. A desire to protect her at all costs.
'In the end, I need power.'
The Demon King had made the arrangements. He definitely said, 'I'll wait for you at Endless Sky'. And Hyukjin was nearly there.
"It's a shame the angel statue was destroyed. I think we could have been friends."
"Yeah."
In the end, the 'ground' angel perished, and with it disappeared the 'Angel Statue's Master' title.
"Didn't the angel statue leave something behind when it was destroyed?"
"It did."
Seohye continued to chatter, almost as if simply talking were a treasure to be cherished. Her lips didn't rest for a moment.
"What did it leave?"
"Canvas of Longing."
"Canvas?"
Hyukjin nodded. While talking to Seohye, he was also borrowing Senia's eyes to explain what he got to the Guardians as well.
"What's that?"
"That angel statue's wings were cut off. Right?"
"Right."
"The angel statue said it was 'robbed of its freedom'. I guess that means wings are freedom to them."
"I see." Seohye nodded. She was hanging on every word of his with rapt attention, like it was the most fun thing in the world. "And so?"
"When the angel statue was destroyed, it gave me this Canvas of Longing. It's a kind of tool that can open another Sky Gate."
"A Sky Gate? That thing?"
"Yeah. But that one is a gate going from the sky to here, whereas this one seems to be a gate that lets you go from here to the sky."
"Wow. I wanna go to the sky, too. Do you have to ride a plane to get there, then?"
Hyukjin smiled. What plane?
"But a few conditions are necessary to activate this thing."
"Like what?"
"You need to have the Fountain Pen of Freedom."
"Eh?"
He already had the Fountain Pen of Freedom, fresh from the recent auction.
"Where can you find that?"
"I already have it."
Hyukjin could tell that right now, he had the attention of many Guardians. They were sitting on the edge of their seats, waiting with bated breath for his lips to move.
'Then I should put in a little suspense here.'
A story would be flat without any winding curves. Going straight from A to B wasn't any fun.
"But there's a little problem."
He could see it clearly in his mind's eye—the Guardians were waiting. Hyukjin intentionally took a breath, and then he continued.
"A Player can't activate the Sky Gate."
Players can't activate it?" asked Seohye.
"Nope."
Still leaning against Hyukjin's back, Seohye thought for a moment. Just like how Hyukjin was connected to Seohye, so too was Seohye to Hyukjin. She understood his feelings, to some extent.
"Looks like you have some kind of plan."
"Yeah."
Seohye didn't ask what that was. She also knew that this conversation wasn't just between the two of them, but that it was progressing with the Guardians in mind. Seohye didn't ask, because she instinctively knew this was the right time for a cliffhanger.
Seohye closed her mouth for a bit.
'But really, what is he planning?'
She had no idea. Other than wanting to know what he was thinking, a different kind of greed came to life within her.
'I suppose this is me wanting to have a conversation with just the two of us.'
At first, she was happy and blissful with just being able to walk and talk again, but now, she wanted more. But Seohye knew. As long as Intermediate Administrators existed, and there was a system called 'streaming', they could never have a private conversation.
Hyukjin heard a notice.
[Channel #19207 has closed.]
That was Senia's channel.
"Senia?"
He got no response. Senia was gone. Normally when she stopped streaming, she left after saying so, but not today.
'Did something urgent come up?'
It wasn't strange for an Intermediate Administrator to stream one Player and then go to another, hopping from place to place. He didn't think much of it.
"Sorry," said Hyukjin. "For not being able to give you much attention."
"No, I fully understand."
"I know how you feel."
Seohye was truly lonely. It couldn't be helped. That was just how the situation was.
"I promise you once again. I'll make it so you can get your body back."
It felt like he had a lot of things to do. He had to protect Sunhwa and help Seohye.
"I'm more grateful for your feelings than for those words," Seohye responded.
She could feel his sincerity through their mental connection. Just then, Hyukjin heard someone screech in his head.
(Husband! What do you think you're doing?!)
It was Isabel. Why did she keep waking up? Why was a sealed sword so sleepless?
(Think I can sleep with my husband cozying up to another woman? What's with this chick? Isn't she that Guardian Tower? Why's she leaning on my husband's back?!)
Hyukjin had no idea how this happened, either. He felt bad for Seohye, so he just let her lean on his back. He knew that Seohye didn't think of him as a man, but as someone she could rely on. He was the one and only person in this world she could talk to, the only person who could listen to her.
'Isabel. You know, don't you? The way I see Seohye.'
Hyukjin's link with Isabel was stronger and more deeply rooted than his link with Seohye. Isabel could even read most of his thoughts.
(Yeah, but still. This is a little…)
'I'm the only person in her world right now.'
(Still… My husband's back belongs to me.)
Isabel's voice grew quiet.
'You're well aware of what kind of feelings I have towards her, and what feelings she has towards me. Do you think Seohye sees me as a man right now?'
That was absolutely untrue. Hyukjin knew that very well.
(But you're a married man. You're being overly nice to her.)
'That's because I'm the only person in the world who can be nice to her.'
Hyukjin was now much better at handling Isabel. Maybe because Isabel had lived as a sword for a long time, she had a simplistic way of thinking. She wasn't all that verbally adept.
'I'd like my bride to understand me.' He wasn't asking for unconditional understanding. 'I'll do well. I'll trust you. You can feel all my emotions anyway. Plus, you should be well aware that I don't see Ahn Seohye as a woman, and that she doesn't see me as a man. It's just that I want to give her the minimum amount of comfort a person can give another person.'
Isabel's blade quivered. To be honest, Hyukjin almost wondered why he had to coax a sword like this, but he barely managed to squash the thought before it could surface. It would be troublesome if his inner thoughts were aired out to this fearsome sword.
(Your back belongs to me. You know that, right?)
'I know. Of course it belongs to you.'
(Fine then. Her situation's pretty sad, so I'll make an exception.)
'I knew you'd say that.'
(I-I'm a generous bride, after all.)
A crack appeared on Isabel's blade, caused by her insistence on staying awake.
'Go back to sleep. I understand why you're worried, but I won't give you cause for worry. How upset do you think I'll be if you damage yourself like this?'
That was sincere. There would be no greater heartbreak than breaking a transcendent item.
(Got it. This little crack will be healed right away with auto restoration, so don't worry too much.)
Isabel's ruffled feathers were clearly soothed.
(I'll go back to sleep. Later, you have to go eat tonkatsu or chicken or whatever it is with me, too.)
Isabel returned to her slumber. Meanwhile, Seohye was mumbling something. Hyukjin couldn't catch what she said.
"What did you say? Sorry, I didn't hear you."
"It was nothing."
Seohye got up, then turned and looked at the sitting Hyukjin.
"Remember the incantation I did earlier?"
"You're happy you can breathe, happy you can feel, happy to be alive. That one?"
"Yes. The next part is the most important…"
"It was 'I want to eat tonkatsu', wasn't it?"
"That's right." Seohye smiled brightly. "I want to eat tonkatsu."
"Once you've regained your body, let's go eat tonkatsu. With Sunhwa."
"Ah. I also want to see Sunhwa."
"I'll tell Sunhwa to go see you."
They wouldn't be able to communicate, but Seohye would still be able to see Sunhwa.
"You don't need to. She visited me often."
"Did she?"
"I wanted to say a lot of things and chat with her, but it was a shame that I couldn't." Seohye walked forward. "I want to go on a walk. I'll go look around."
"Alright."
There was nothing dangerous here anyway. Even if there was, the Red Demon could take care of herself. It had been a while since she had two feet to walk on. Hyukjin could feel how precious being able to walk around was through his connection with her.
After Seohye set off on her walk, Salvatore took the chance he'd been waiting for and approached Hyukjin.
"May I ask you a quick question?"
"Anytime."
"I would like to ask about incantations."
Hyukjin knew that was coming. He grinned. "I would have been disappointed if you hadn't asked."
"…I kept hesitating because I thought it might offend you."
"But the sovereign Salvatore must ask, of course."
"Salvatore?"
Ah. That was a slip of the tongue. Hyukjin was just too used to the name Salvatore that he accidentally said it.
"…You've figured out even that?"
Huh?
"I'm truly astonished. Is this Miss Ham Sohyun's ability, your info-gathering acumen, or the power of the information merchant Pietro?"
"That's a secret."
"Understood."
What was so notable about 'Salvatore'? In the future, it was a household name, but Hyukjin couldn't say that. It wasn't that he was trying to hide it, just that he couldn't tell the truth.
"I would like to learn the incantation you recited. Would that be possible?"
"It's possible."
It wasn't a difficult request. Anyone who didn't have the talent or the 'will' to back up the incantation wouldn't get any further than just speaking words. Incantations were fully regulated by talent, and Salvatore was a sovereign Player with enough talent to go around.
'Even if I don't teach him, he'll realize it on his own one day.'
This damned world of Playing was literally 'winners win'. Salvatore was a winner anyway.
'Since he'll figure it out anyway, it's better if I teach it to him.'
It would put Salvatore in his debt, and Hyukjin would get some credit for the deed.
"We've got plenty of time, so I'll go through it slowly. But it won't be for free."
* * *
Translator – Lei
Proofreader – Ash
* * *
Ten days passed.
Thanks to Hyukjin (though publicly, it was Chiellini) acting as the mediator, there wasn't much discord among the Players. In ten days, the gate would be fully cleared, and the rewards would be distributed to the survivors. Everyone took it easy and stocked up on stamina.
"Huh? Something's spawning over here!"
That quiet peace was broken when something began to spawn on the ground—a stone that gave off green smoke. More stones appeared around the field.
[Green Poison Stone]
A stone bearing a powerful poison. If it isn't broken in a set period of time, the poison will start seeping into the air. If left intact, the poison will become stronger and stronger with time.
*Cannot be destroyed with long-ranged attacks.
Salvatore stepped forward.
"I will distribute some hammers."
They were, of course, tools Hyukjin had prepared in advance with Sunhwa.
"I had the help of Miss Ham Sohyun from Taeguk Shield."
The archers took the hammers.
"We have to be diligent about breaking them. The poison will become intense."
With that, everything Hyukjin prepared was revealed.
"Good, I was bored anyway."
"Jeez, this thing's super hard!"
"Hurry and break it. The poison is coming out faster than expected."
The archers started running around with the hammers, and another ten days passed. All the Players who had gone into the Dewinged Angel Statue gate cleared it and came out.
Some news found their way to the media.
–Ham Sohyun, the Precognitive Dreamer of Taeguk Shield. Who is she?
–The sovereign Salvatore shows Italy's potential.
Ham Sohyun's name was raised to the heavens, and Chiellini started using the name 'Salvatore' outright. Thanks to the Dewinged Angel Statue gate, Salvatore's fame rose to the point of rivaling Michelle's.
–Taeguk Shield has an ultimate weapon other than their Precognitive Dreamer.
Rumors of that nature began to spread as well, but the archers who went into the Dewinged Angel Statue gate didn't give any precise details about the mysterious person. Everyone just unanimously agreed that there was an ultimate weapon in Taeguk Shield and didn't extrapolate.
* * *
In a VVIP room in Sungshin's hospital, Ham Sohyun gave a faint laugh as she watched the TV from her bed. On TV, the media was covering 'Taeguk Shield's Precognitive Dreamer' in-depth.
"Even though I didn't do anything…"
The woman peeling mandarin oranges next to her snickered. "That must be Mr. Hyukjin's doing, right?"
"I think so, too."
"I heard you want to see him too, Sohyun?"
"Yeah. I'm curious about what kind of person he is. You've seen him, haven't you, Sooji?"
"Yep." The Poison Witch scowled. "But I'm serious, I think that guy must either be gay or a eunuch."
"Why?"
"I'm openly trying to seduce him, but he's not falling for me."
"You're openly seducing him? You, Cheon Sooji? But he's not falling for you?" Sohyun let out another small laugh.
"Don't ridicule me. I'm serious here. That man's a real riddle. How do you think I can win him over? Don't you have some kind of bibbity-bobbity-boo predictions you can make for me? I want to date him."
Sohyun shook her head. "Give up."
"What makes you say that all of a sudden?"
"I'm really so, so curious about that man. That's why I asked Guildmaster Song if I could meet him."
"I know. What about that?"
"I'm so, so curious. And also so, so scared."
Sooji's face turned serious. She set down the mandarin she'd been eating.
"Scared?"
"Behind that man is something terrifying I can't identify."
"Something terrifying you can't identify?"
"Yeah. It's sharp and cold, but also hot and sturdy. It shines radiantly, yet is infinitely dark."
Sooji started munching on her mandarin again. "Sounds like utter hogwash."
"That's how precognitive dreaming always is, I suppose. I can feel a massive power that is both a blessing and a curse. I don't know how to explain it, either."
"Does that have anything to do with me wanting to go out with him?"
"It does." Ham Sohyun stared at her friend. "Don't get too close to that man."
"Why?"
"You'll die, without fail."
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation.
"May I come in?"
It was Guildmaster Song Kiyeol. Because Sohyun was unable to muster a loud voice, Sooji responded in her friend's stead.
"Come in."
Song Kiyeol came inside. Next to him was Kim Hyukjin, and beside him was yet another person.
As soon as Ham Sohyun saw them, she knew.
'That person is Kim Hyukjin.'
And the person standing next to him was Italy's info merchant, Pietro. She recognized them at a single glance.
'And…'
She realized something else. Upon seeing Kim Hyukjin in person, she saw something. A yellow precognitive note formed in the air.
[D-ewer-Cresadel-Hometes-]
Ham Sohyun, who couldn't normally move her body well, straightened at once. A red brush appeared in her hand, and her eyes turned white.
As soon as she saw Kim Hyukjin, Ham Sohyun began to write.
____
Ham Sohyun groaned.
"Ahh… hah…!"
Her eyes were pure white, and she seemed to be having a nightmare. Her hand moved, and words appeared on the yellow precognitive note.
[Return to thy homeland.]
[There lays a path to the sky.]
Ham Sohyun's body lifted into the air before slumping back down onto the bed. Sooji pulled the blanket over her.
"Surprised you, didn't it?" said Sooji.
"Yes, a little."
"The person next to you must be Mr. Pietro?"
Pietro flinched. "You know me?"
"Somewhat. I know you're an info merchant."
Pietro nodded. "You're correct. I'm Pietro, an info merchant from Italy. I'm running the Black Butterfly. It's nice to meet you, Miss Cheon Sooji."
"As expected, you know who I am."
"Yes. I'm keeping tabs on every Taeguk Shield guild member."
Sooji's eyes curved into crescents. "Then you must also know about Taeguk Shield's ultimate weapon, no, ultimate secret weapon?"
Hyukjin coughed. Somehow, he became known to the world as Taeguk Shield's secret weapon. But really, 'ultimate secret weapon'? It was such an embarrassing title.
"Let's settle the introductions with that," he said.
"Fine. Sohyun will wake up soon anyway."
Pietro quickly noticed the goodwill in Cheon Sooji's eyes.
'She's different from what I found out about her.'
The Cheon Sooji he had heard about was essentially a cold-blooded rose. She didn't get close to anyone around her and was utterly frigid to anyone she considered an enemy. That was why some people called her the Unapproachable Poisonous Thorn or Poison Witch.
'Poison Witch? Poison Thorn? Not at all.'
His intel shouldn't be wrong.
'Everyone has a different side to them.'
Depending on the circumstances and place, the same person could show multiple facets of their personality.
That led Pietro to one conclusion. 'She opens up a bit around Kim Hyukjin.'
He really didn't know much about Korea. His knowledge was limited to 'Taeguk Shield' and 'Wings', as well as the Tutorial Ender So Yoohyun and the PVP genius Shin Yeonseo whose smiling eyes were the talk of the town lately. He also knew the outstanding archer Hyun Junghwa.
'If I didn't know about Kim Hyukjin, it means I didn't know the first thing about Korea.'
That realization hit him anew. The Poison Witch Cheon Sooji seemed to melt into a sophisticated lady in front of Kim Hyukjin. Even the Taeguk Shield guildmaster right next to him, Song Kiyeol, deferred to Kim Hyukjin somewhat. No, not just somewhat, but considerably. It was no exaggeration to say Korea's true champion was Kim Hyukjin. That was Pietro's judgment.
Just then, Ham Sohyun started coming to.
"Mmm…"
"You okay?"
Sooji pressed a button under the bed, and the head of the bed rose with an electronic hum. With the electric bed at almost 90 degrees, Sohyun was able to sit upright.
"Here. Precognitive note. Take it."
Ham Sohyun gestured with her eyes. Sooji knew what her friend wanted just from her eyes and picked up the precognitive note that had fallen onto the sheets.
"I can give this to Hyukjin, right?"
"Yeah. Thanks." Ham Sohyun stared directly at Kim Hyukjin. "I can see it."
"What?"
"The great stigma enveloping you."
"What kind of stigma is it?"
"I'm not sure. A stigma too great and deep for someone like me to interpret is engraved on your back."
She moved her eyes to Cheon Sooji, who asked, "What? Have something to say to me?"
"Don't approach him."
"That again?"
"It's dangerous."
"I've always been attracted to dangerous guys."
Ham Sohyun's eyes once again turned white. This time, her white eyes exuded bloodthirst so potent it made Cheon Sooji flinch. A heavy stillness descended on the hospital room.
"Lowly one. Retract thy interest."
"…"
Cheon Sooji knew Ham Sohyun wasn't the one talking right now. This wasn't her friend. Something was using Ham Sohyun as a mouthpiece.
"I'm warning you, young poison girl."
"…Do you know me?"
"I do. You are the child who is following the Soundless Serpens."
"…"
Hyukjin also realized that Ham Sohyun wasn't herself right now.
'Who is it?'
Was it a possession? A descent? Somehow, it felt a little different from those.
'The Soundless Serpens… is Cheon Sooji's contracted Guardian.'
Whoever it was, they had perceived Sooji's Guardian. Ham Sohyun spoke again.
"Didn't this child warn you?"
"Of what?"
"That you might die."
"She did." Sooji smiled. She looked directly into Sohyun's white eyes. "But if I was going to flee in terror because of a little warning, I wouldn't have gone for that man in the first place."
She licked her red lips. She was indeed Cheon Sooji.
"This just makes me want this man more."
Kim Hyukjin felt his head start to ache. He came because Ham Sohyun said she wanted to meet him, only to find himself in a sudden love quarrel.
'What the hell is this?' After a moment of hard thought, something occurred to him. 'No way, is it Isabel?'
It had to be her.
'Isabel, it's you, right? You're awake right now, aren't you?'
(I don't like her.)
'It's you, isn't it? The one using Ham Sohyun's body for an immature fight.'
(It's not immature! I'm being serious right now. What's that thing humans say again?) Isabel thought for a moment before continuing. (Right, that! I'm serious business right now.)
Apparently, Isabel had picked up some weird lingo. People didn't even say that these days.
(But come on, can you blame me? She keeps coming onto a married man!)
Inside Hyukjin's Inventory, Isabel's blade trembled.
(And it's even more annoying because she's pretty.)
It was true that Cheon Sooji was pretty.
(Seriously, why are there so many girls like her around you? There's Shin Yeonseo, Hyun Junghwa, and Cheon Sooji. Was this somehow engineered?)
Come to think of it, Isabel was right. It was definitely untrue that all Rankers were pretty and handsome. Hyukjin didn't know how things turned out like this, either. It was just a coincidence.
'Even so, you're the prettiest.'
In all actuality, Isabel was just a sword, and if you wanted to split hairs, she looked like a sword. No matter how you looked at it, she wasn't really "pretty". But compliments were free, and he didn't mind giving a little lip service.
(Th-That kind of flattery isn't enough to please this noble one.) Isabel's blade reddened a little. (I'm not happy at all. I'm sleepy, so I'd better go back to sleep.)
Isabel pretended to go back to sleep, but Hyukjin knew she was wide awake. He feigned ignorance.
Ham Sohyun regained consciousness.
"Did I say something just now?"
"You told Hyukjin you loved him."
"I-I did?"
Sooji chuckled. "I'm joking. Anyway, I'll step out for a moment. It seems you higher-ups need to talk."
She got up.
"See you later."
Cheon Sooji left the hospital room.
* * *
Translator – Lei
Proofreader – Ash
* * *
After talking to Ham Sohyun, Hyukjin and Pietro left the hospital room and headed to the parking lot, where Hyukjin's driver was waiting. They got into the back seat.
"The Tutorial Building, please."
Hyukjin was giving Pietro a ride.
"I will arrange a meeting," said Pietro.
"Please do."
Pietro was able to set up a meeting through the conversation with Ham Sohyun.
"Miss Ham Sohyun also seems to want to meet Itachi."
"They're both outstanding Precognitive Dreamers, after all."
"The central reason why they want to meet… I'm sure you know that reason is you, Hyukjin."
"Yes. Somehow, things turned out like that."
Pietro visited Ham Sohyun not only because he wanted to know more about her, but also in order to relay Itachi's desire to meet her. Itachi got in contact with Pietro through his acquaintance Pedro, and Pietro went to Ham Sohyun to convey Itachi's message.
There is a person whose future I can see all too clearly. I hear that you also have very concrete dreams when you dream about that person. What do you say to having a chat together?
Itachi proposed to meet first, and Ham Sohyun agreed. Soon, Itachi would come to Korea to meet her.
As he looked at the sights passing by in the mirror, Hyukjin fell deeply into thought.
'Itachi is coming to Korea.'
In the past, Itachi had never left Japan.
'A change I caused.'
What further changes would this ripple create? What would the two Precognitive Dreamers discuss, and what kind of future would be drawn?
"Since the pivotal reason they're meeting is you, it might influence you somehow."
"Perhaps."
"Your expression kind of tells me you're looking forward to it."
Hyukjin nodded. "I am. I think it'll be fun."
Pietro also looked out the window. They were pulling away from the Gwanghwamun area.
"This is really a place where the past and present coexist. Amidst the latest buildings and slick roads, there's such a beautiful ancient palace smack dab in the heart of the city. Is that the Gwanghwamun Dungeon?"
"Yes. There's a gate there."
"It seems like there are truly many things hidden in Korea. Thank you. For opening my eyes to this country."
The car passed the statues of King Sejong and Yi Sun-sin in the Gwanghwamun Plaza. Pietro tilted his head.
'Huh?'
He didn't see clearly since they were going by in the car, but…
'Did I just… meet eyes with the Yi Sun-sin statue?'
Meeting eyes with a statue? That was odd. But Pietro had definitely felt it happen. As the car pulled away, he whipped his head back to look at the statue of Yi Sun-sin and gasped.
The statue of Yi Sun-sin had its head turned to look at him. There was no doubt about it. Pietro looked at Hyukjin.
"Hyukjin. Don't you feel anything right now?"
"I do."
Hyukjin wasn't as taken aback as Pietro.
'Was today the day?'
He had no sense of the date lately, so he hadn't been paying close attention.
'December 22, 2018.'
A scenario would occur today, one where monsters would spawn en-masse in Gwanghwamun Plaza. On the 22nd, for 22 hours, all manner of monsters would spill forth from the plaza. It couldn't be considered a terribly important event. The rewards were nothing to write home about, and no super strong monsters showed up, either. Even if Hyukjin ignored it, the nearby Players would gather to hunt them down, and the 'Gwanghwamun Plaza Raid' would end in 22 hours.
'But—'
Hyukjin could feel it, too. Some kind of change would occur at the statue of Yi Sun-sin.
'I didn't hear anything about this in the past.'
All he heard was that a bunch of monsters showed up around the Gwanghwamun Plaza and caused some damage. The incident ended with that.
Honk–! Honk–!
The air began to ring with honks from cars. A traffic jam was quickly developing.
"Sir, we'll get off here."
At the same time—
Whirrrrrrrr—!
A siren went off overhead. It was the emergency siren, followed by an evacuation notice. Hyukjin and Pietro got out of the car.
"Pietro. Did you see it?"
"Are you talking about the statue of Yi Sun-sin?"
"Yes."
"I saw it. It was turning its head to stare at us."
It wasn't doing it anymore. Hyukjin started walking first.
"It appears there's something there."
"Sh-Should I come, too?"
"Go hide over there in the underground evacuation shelter. Does your phone have a signal right now, by any chance?"
"It does."
"As you evacuate, please convene my guild members for me."
"By guild, do you mean… Taeguk Shield?"
Hyukjin smiled at him. "I'm sure you're well aware I'm not talking about Taeguk Shield."
"Understood." Pietro felt butterflies in his stomach. "I will call the members of Giantgod."
It wasn't known to the public, but from what Pietro had found out, Giantgod Guild was Korea's strongest guild. The elite guild led by Kim Hyukjin would be converging in one place.
"I already have their contact info."
"Impressive."
The guildmaster of Giantgod was calling the guild members of Giantgod. Pietro hazarded a request.
"May I come with you?"
He wanted to see Giantgod in action. As an information merchant, he wanted to see their potential for himself.
"I cannot protect you."
"That's alright. I can preserve my own life."
"Then do as you wish."
A notice came in.
[The quest 'Gwanghwamun Plaza Raid' has begun.]
____