Chapter 259
Chapter: 259
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 259
>Chapter Title: Regina's Crossroads (3)
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>The space unfolding before his eyes clearly resembled the Rift that Seongjin had seen before.
However, unlike the Rift that had disoriented his vision like a broken kaleidoscope, this place was a static world, like finely crafted glass shards.
Frozen cross-sections of the world were scattered here and there. They were so devoid of movement that they resembled mere decorative reliefs carved into a stone wall.
[This place is…….]
[The Rift I mentioned earlier. It has an owner, so it's a personal space governed and managed by him according to his own rules.]
Moreover, surprisingly, this world even had a 'floor' one could stand on. Seongjin stepped onto what felt like granite or marble—he couldn't tell which—and blankly looked around for a moment.
Suddenly, he recalled what Ricardo, possessed by Siegurt Sigurson, had said to him.
—In this halted world, you alone were the one and only friend who could understand me.
Hadn't the young bard Loran once said something like this?
—Passion! Love! Longing! I couldn't feel any intense desires there! That's why my songs abandoned me!
They had all called it the world halted by Delcross. But could anyone really say that after seeing this place?
Weren't the countless fragments of gray, solidified worlds like tombstones mourning a dead one?
[Indeed. The most stable state might mean complete stillness. It may not be much different from death.]
Somehow knowing Seongjin's thoughts, the Holy Emperor explained it that way.
No more faint thoughts leaked from him as before. His gray eyes, now fully regaining their composure, examined Seongjin with a hint of doubt.
[Are you alright?]
[…Yeah, I'm fine.]
Worried his thoughts might be read, Seongjin had consciously emptied his mind, so his response was a bit slower than usual.
The Holy Emperor tilted his head slightly, then approached and poured divine power over his head. It seemed he thought Seongjin had suffered some major shock during the spatial transfer.
[I'm fine, so you can stop now.]
Enveloped in brilliant light, Seongjin quickly opened his mouth to clear his head.
[Isn't divine power too precious to waste like this on a healthy person?]
[What's the harm? It's not taxing, and it's not something you can price anyway.]
[That's exactly why it's a waste!]
[Is that so? Since you say it's such a waste, I'll do it once more when I get the chance.]
Whoosh.
Seongjin glared amid the pouring white light once again.
No, this guy!
[You… you there!]
It was right then. An elderly man appeared behind them.
He had materialized silently from thin air, dressed in a plain robe. His sharp features and neatly combed white hair evoked the image of a stubborn scholar.
[What in the world is going on here!]
His mouth agape in shock and his awkward stance greatly undermined the dignity that seemed dignified at first glance.
'What the? He's ridiculously strong.'
Seongjin tensed and heightened his senses fully, but then—tap—the Holy Emperor patted his shoulder reassuringly and lightly nodded to the old man with a calm face.
[It's good to see you again, Elder. I apologize for showing up unannounced after saying I wouldn't respond to summons for a while.]
[…….]
[Ah, today I've brought my son along. I thought I'd let him tour your 'workshop.']
Only then did the old man turn to Seongjin, his face shocked as his mouth flapped open. His eyes were bulging so much it seemed they'd pop out with the slightest touch.
'Is it safe to let my guard down?'
Seongjin met the old man's gaze and slowly relaxed his body.
He was no ordinary human, that much was clear. Being in the Rift, and those vertically slit pupils reminiscent of Cardmos somewhere.
'Well, Cardmos is insanely strong too, but in reality, he's just a useless parasite.'
As he stared blankly at the old man with such thoughts, the old man rushed over, grabbed the Holy Emperor's arm, and dragged him aside. Then he whispered faint thoughts urgently into his ear.
Of course, Seongjin, now adept at catching thoughts, heard everything.
[What are you doing!]
[As I said earlier, I'm sorry for the sudden visit. I made a promise to my son, so I'd like to borrow your workshop a bit.]
[Fine, the workshop is one thing, but why bring 'that thing' here!]
As he said it, the old man shot Seongjin a sidelong glance, his eyes utterly murderous.
The Holy Emperor immediately hardened his expression and quietly admonished him.
[Please mind your words. The child can hear you.]
[…No, listen! That thing is……!]
[I just made it clear. He's 'my son.' Understand?]
[…….]
The old man stared at the Holy Emperor with trembling eyes, as if deeply shocked.
Ignoring him, the Holy Emperor shook off the old man's arm, turned to Seongjin, and waved his hand lightly.
[Come say hello, son. This is the 'Elder.' He's the one who first formed the 'Council of Six' I mentioned before. He leads it in practice now.]
…In practice?
So effectively, it meant nothing? It somehow made his already scant dignity erode further.
[No need to be overly formal, but don't be rude either. When it comes to his dedication to fruitless pursuits for so long, he deserves a modicum of respect.]
[……?!]
Seongjin looked at the Holy Emperor with wide eyes.
Father, were you always like this? Why do you seem like a different person whenever we meet outside Delcross?
Just then, the 'Elder' urgently grabbed the Holy Emperor's arm again.
[Listen, Nate. Let's talk for a moment.]
[I don't have time. I need to tweak some souvenirs for the children with my son.]
[Just a moment! You can bring your son next time, can't you?]
As the desperate Elder raised his voice, the Holy Emperor finally regarded him with cold eyes.
[The 'next time' you speak of isn't something I can promise so easily. As you know, Elder, time and causality are both pressing for me.]
[Th……!]
[Or would you hand over the [Key] of the Lycanslope race to my son outright? Then he could come and go here whenever he needs…….]
[Huh!]
The flustered Elder seized both of the Holy Emperor's arms. His face was full of dismay, realizing the man was seriously spouting nonsense.
[Aaah! The workshop? Yes, use it as much as you want! Your 'son' must need a capable assistant in this unfamiliar place, right?]
[No need. I'll handle it myself…….]
[No! You'll change your mind for sure. The greatest living engineer will oversee it personally!]
The Elder waved his long robe sleeves frantically as he shouted desperately.
Suddenly, a massive door materialized smoothly before their eyes.
Its surface was engraved with intricate reliefs, and at the center, two golden lions held the handle in their mouths—an ornate, antique door.
Bang bang!
The old man pounded hard on the firmly shut steel door and yelled loudly.
[Dexter! Hey, Dexter! Are you in there?]
A faint reply came from inside: 'Yes, Elder.'
Nothing was behind the door standing alone, yet a voice came from within—truly wondrous.
As Seongjin examined the steel door curiously, the old man scowled at him briefly before glancing at the Holy Emperor and slyly turning away.
[If you have time, come out and help the guest! Just give him a tour of the workshop!]
[We don't have time for tours, Elder. We need to work on the items soon…….]
[He's an important guest, so give it your all! Fulfill his requests to the maximum the workshop facilities allow! Use any materials you want; he won't complain!]
Only then did the Holy Emperor relax his stern expression and nod. It was as if he'd been waiting for this.
[Thank you for your consideration.]
The Elder shot him a resentful glare as if annoyed, then soon sighed and shook his head.
[Enough with the thanks. The issue's resolved, so come here and let me see you!]
[Yes, understood. Now, go inside, Mores.]
And with that, the Holy Emperor was dragged off somewhere by the so-called Elder.
[…….]
It had all happened so quickly. Suddenly left alone, Seongjin stood blankly before the solidly shut iron door.
That Elder guy—the first person I've seen the Holy Emperor defer to? Must be quite something in this world.
Though the introduction made him seem oddly undignified.
Then, moments later, the thick steel door—which seemed too heavy to open by pushing—opened smoothly with a small sound.
Creak.
Followed by a thin voice.
"So, what's your business, little one?"
What?
Seongjin's eyebrow twitched.
Little one, on first meeting? To someone whose mental age is over sixty?
The deeply ingrained respect for elders surged up instantly, but as he was about to snap, he noticed the other's gaze was quite low.
Much lower than expected.
[……!]
Pushing open the steel door from inside was a short-statured dwarf.
Clad in thick work clothes with a tool set of unknown purpose slung over, wearing goggles as big as marbles that covered half his face.
Seongjin blinked down at him in bewilderment.
'Who the hell is he calling little one?'
The dwarf spoke again in a dissatisfied tone.
"If you have business, spit it out, little one."
Hm?
That's when Seongjin felt a strange incongruity and tilted his head.
What? Something's off.
"Hey!"
His irritation was obvious, so Seongjin quickly pulled out the ice heart he'd brought.
His prickly attitude grated, but Seongjin composed himself. Be polite first. I'm the son visiting his father's friend's house.
[Ah, sorry. Mr. Dexter? Could you take a look at some items from the material world?]
"Of course you'd come here for material world junk! This is a workshop, isn't it? Is that all?"
His short mustache twitched with each snappish word, buffeted by his snorted breath.
Only then did Seongjin realize the source of the earlier incongruity and widened his eyes.
What? He's speaking out loud, not with thoughts?
"Hand it over then. Let's see what you want to show the great Dexter."
"Sniff sniff."
Is there air here? Am I breathing right now?
As he sniffed in surprise, Dexter pulled up his goggles and asked pityingly.
"What are you doing? Is this the time? No self-introduction on first meeting? No greeting to your elder?"
No, aren't I actually older? He doesn't look over sixty no matter how I see it.
After gauging for a moment, Seongjin replied obediently. He was visiting as the father's son, and his appearance was fully Mores. Plus, this guy might age slowly despite looks?
[Uh, no. Sorry. It's just my first time seeing someone speak aloud in the Rift.]
Dexter glared incredulously.
"What? Then do people speak with something other than their mouths?"
The vivid sensation of air vibrating his eardrums was definitely there.
Seongjin cautiously moved his lips.
"Ah, ah……."
Oh, a real voice came out?
"What the hell? This idiot."
Looking down at Dexter, who snorted derisively, Seongjin cautiously voiced the question that had been itching since earlier.
"Um, Mr. Dexter. Are you perhaps… a dwarf?"
Short humanoids from another world—dwarves were the first that came to mind.
But something unexpected happened. The dwarf yanked off his goggles, hurled them to the ground, and bellowed.
"Argh, I'm going insane! How many times do I have to hear this? It's just simple chondrodysplasia! You ignorant otherworlder soaked in fantasy!"
[……!]
Seongjin gaped in utter absurdity.
In all my life, to hear from an actual otherworlder that I'm the one soaked in fantasy!