Chapter 310
Chapter: 310
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 310
>Chapter Title: Under the Surface (1)
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“Send out the subjugation force, and while we’re at it, advance the church’s routine audit schedule. This is Amelia’s idea?”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
The Holy Emperor sat in his office, poring over a stack of documents. At his side, as always, Administrator Dorian bowed his head, awaiting the final approval.
It concerned the Cyprus Alliance, which had been sending frequent reports and whining incessantly of late.
“They’ve been requesting a maritime beast subjugation force for a day or two now. There still hasn’t been any clear damage yet, has there?”
“However, Princess Amelia has paid particular attention to this fishing suspension incident. Of course, she said sending an imperial subjugation unit would bring more losses than gains.”
“So, combining it with a church audit.”
“Yes, Your Holiness. By handling both tasks simultaneously, we can expect significant cost savings. Moreover, since we’re indulging their excessive requests, a high-intensity audit shouldn’t provoke much backlash from the alliance.”
The Holy Emperor stroked his chin, lost in thought for a moment.
Amelia didn’t seem like a child who had grasped the truth behind the events on the Cyprus coast and was acting accordingly.
But Amelia had certainly claimed to have returned from the future to the past. So perhaps the girl was preparing for something in her own way.
‘I tried moving Sir Leandro first, but playing along with Amelia like this isn’t a bad idea either…….’
Conducting the church audit without giving them time to prepare felt like a solid approach. It could serve as an opportunity to drive a wedge between the Cyprus Alliance and the church forces, who had recently been trying to move in unison.
As the Holy Emperor’s thoughts turned positive, Dorian hesitated before adding a word.
“And then there’s Prince Logan’s matter…….”
“Logan?”
“Yes. If Prince Logan learns of this, he’ll undoubtedly organize a subjugation force rather than sit idly by.”
“…….”
That was true.
No matter how much they tempted the upright boy with increased allowances, he wasn’t the type to ignore his subjects’ hardships.
Fully convinced, the Holy Emperor nodded.
“Execute it immediately.”
“Then…….”
“If Amelia judged it so, then that’s how it is. No need for the administration to second-guess it.”
“…….”
Thud.
The imperial seal stamped down with surprising ease. Dorian stared at the Holy Emperor, momentarily at a loss for words.
Dorian himself was impressed by the princess’s political acumen, which belied her age.
But to the Holy Emperor, it seemed excessive. He showed an almost incomprehensible level of trust in his children’s judgments at times.
“Then I’ll prepare the budget proposal and carry out the execution together.”
“Do so.”
It was just as Dorian reached for the approved documents.
Flinch.
The Holy Emperor suddenly startled at something, his face stiffening rigidly as he stared blankly into empty space.
“……?”
Dorian, who had extended his hand, awkwardly lifted his head in confusion.
In the past, he wouldn’t have dared to look the proxy of God straight in the face, but years of working closely with him had made him bold enough to occasionally scrutinize the Holy Emperor’s expression.
And there, Dorian spotted those familiar, eerie eyes. Eyes emitting an inorganic glow, their focus somehow off.
The office air froze sharply alongside the Holy Emperor’s halted movement. Even the dust motes sparkling in the sunlight seemed suspended in midair, an uncanny stillness.
‘Did something big happen……?’
Under the heavy pressure, Dorian broke into a cold sweat, unsure what to do.
Tap.
Only Head Steward Lewis, standing behind, calmly caught the imperial seal slipping from the Holy Emperor’s hand.
How much time passed like that?
Blink.
Finally, the Holy Emperor blinked once, focus returning to his eyes as the silvery glow slowly faded. At the same moment, the frozen office air lightened as if by magic.
“Phew…….”
Whatever it was, it seemed over.
Dorian exhaled the breath he’d been holding in relief when the Holy Emperor extended the documents to him as if nothing had happened.
“Dorian, aren’t you getting married soon?”
At the sudden question, Dorian bowed his head in humble gratitude.
“Yes. That’s right, Your Holiness.”
It was still just a promise between the parties, so how did he already know? Such doubts held no meaning before the proxy of God.
Dorian’s fiancée was a colleague in the administration—a spirited young lady, quite the opposite of his own meek self. She had led him into speeding things up, and now he was scrambling to prepare for the wedding belatedly.
Yet as the Holy Emperor looked at Dorian, a fleeting trace of wistfulness passed through his eyes.
“I see. From now on, steel yourself mentally. Children are beings who always far exceed their parents’ expectations.”
“…Pardon?”
“They pull off mishaps with an applicability that turns one lesson into ten disasters. Teach them to draw with a stick, and they ignore the drawing to play with fire using the stick in their hand somehow.”
“……?”
Bewildered, Dorian opened and closed his mouth soundlessly—
Hoo, the Holy Emperor let out a deep sigh and added softly.
“So, I wish you the best of luck as well.”
“…….”
Unsure how to respond, Dorian hesitated. Then his eyes met those of Head Steward Lewis standing behind the Holy Emperor.
The old man gave a warm smile and slowly shook his head at Dorian. Though he said nothing, the meaning was clear.
—Don’t worry. Surely there are no other princes and princesses in the world like those of the Holy Imperial family.
Ah.
For a moment, Dorian felt profound pity for the exalted proxy of God—
‘No, what am I thinking right now!’
Dorian hurriedly shook his head, banishing the irreverent thought.
* * *
[What is that? Magic?]
[Yi Seong-jin! Where did that fire come from? Did you spot the enemy mage?]
[Magic? Was there magic like that in Pangea Chronicle?]
The Little Demon King No. 2 blazed into existence, emanating an alien presence in midair.
The Silent Villains and the Mole Engineer rushed over in panic. Seong-jin looked at them with a slightly proud smile.
How about it? Impressed by this body’s power? Pretty amazing, right?
[Rookie. It’s dangerous, so step back from there first.]
At that moment, Owen shoved Seong-jin aside with a worried look and reached for the flame, intending to scatter it roughly—
Pop!
Before he could touch it, he tumbled backward. A baby goat’s hoof had slammed into Owen’s forehead.
“Urk!”
Owen cried out as he fell.
Roll—
“Hey, why hit me again!”
Rolling a few times before springing up, Owen shouted with an aggrieved expression. But Seong-jin raised his voice even louder, yelling at him.
“Hey, idiot! Do you even know what this is before touching it recklessly? Huh?”
“…Huh?”
His father had told him to mind his manners, but what could he do when this guy acted so dim-witted? If you mess up, you get hit first!
“Do you know what happens if this sticks to you even once?”
“What happens?”
But even without Seong-jin explaining, everyone soon learned the answer.
Whoosh!
While Seong-jin had turned to face Owen, Gurlup had sneakily brushed the flame with her hair.
In an instant, dark red flames spread through the beautiful ranger’s hair.
[Eek!?]
[Oh no? Gurlup!]
Everyone panicked, but the fix was swift. Seong-jin abruptly drew his sword and swung it at her like lightning.
Shing!
The beginner sword traced a long line, severing the ranger’s long hair in a flash.
Flutter!
The scattered strands caught fire and burned away rapidly.
Having completely incinerated Gurlup’s hair, Little Demon King No. 2 lingered in the air a bit longer before finally vanishing without a trace.
[……!]
The sudden events left everyone’s mouths agape.
[It damaged Gurlup, who has high flame resistance! That must be higher-level magic than it looks!]
[But it cut off a party member’s leg? How? This is a green zone, isn’t it?]
[Wait! Did you just say that wasn’t hair but a leg?]
Sure enough, the “hair” had joint mechanisms—Gurlup had apparently fitted her remaining leg into the avatar’s hair.
“See? Know what you almost touched?”
Seong-jin scowled at Owen. But oddly, Owen stared blankly at the spot where Little Demon King No. 2 had disappeared, his face rigid.
What’s up with this guy all of a sudden?
“…Rookie, you okay? Not hurt anywhere?”
Regaining his senses, Owen approached Seong-jin and asked.
Glancing at him, Seong-jin sourly replied.
[The one who got messed up is Gurlup, so why ask me?]
[Oh, right. You okay, Gurlup?]
The beautiful ranger, stroking her now-bald nape with one hand, grinned. Thankfully, Gurlup seemed unscathed.
[No need for worry! As long as one leg remains, I am ever ready! Thanks for the quick thinking, Yi Seong-jin!]
[Glad you’re fine, friend. But seriously, what was that fire?]
Meanwhile, one figure watched them with a grave expression: Hatasu Titi.
[Gurlup. For you to not react at all to Yi Seong-jin’s attack is truly strange.]
Of course, Seong-jin’s action had been purely to help Gurlup. But that was hindsight.
He’d swung the sword without a word. As the Hero of Reversal, Gurlup should have reflexively reacted somehow.
It was as if she firmly believed Yi Seong-jin would never harm her.
[Your reaction to Yi Seong-jin is utterly irrational, no matter how you look at it.]
Among the Silent Villains, Hatasu Titi had been the first to obediently follow Seong-jin’s words from the start.
But that stemmed from a rational judgment that he was worth following. Surprisingly, he was now the one treating Seong-jin most objectively among them.
‘Yi Seong-jin is somehow an enigmatic existence…….’
A fourth guest ID user that hadn’t existed before.
The bizarre flame that appeared and vanished abruptly.
With Yi Seong-jin, utterly unpredictable events kept occurring—Hatasu Titi couldn’t ignore it.
Yet Seong-jin’s responses had always been convincingly sound, so he’d followed without qualms until now.
‘But everyone’s reactions are somehow off.’
Look at Owen, treating Seong-jin like a little brother under the guise of keeping tabs—he’d seemed fairly resolute before, but now he was giggling cutely even after getting headbutted repeatedly by the baby goat.
Gurlup, who rarely opened her heart despite her sloppy appearance, was the same. For some reason, she trusted Seong-jin wholeheartedly.
‘It’s like they’ve been enchanted by something…….’
The terrifying power of evil that the elders always warned about. Hatasu Titi couldn’t help but ponder Seong-jin’s true nature once more.
Just then, the beautiful ranger’s glassy clear eyes fixed on Hatasu Titi.
[Hatasu Titi. I understand your concerns.]
[Gurlup. Are you aware that the current situation is somewhat strange?]
[I am. But I trust the voice of my gut. A hero’s gut never lies.]
[…I see.]
Hatasu Titi was a pureblood Mashuna. He couldn’t possibly understand such “gut feelings.”
He only felt his wariness toward Seong-jin melting away alongside Gurlup’s near-fanatical attitude.
‘Well. Yi Seong-jin’s judgments have been utterly reliable so far. And the rewards and track record speak for themselves. It’d be unwise to let baseless anxiety form prejudices against him.’
Meanwhile, the Mole Engineer fiddled with his goggles and spoke up.
[Anyway, how long are we wasting time here? I’ve got a flawless, error-free strategy this time! Let’s hit the next theme dungeon already?]
The Orc King’s Labyrinth had thrown quite a few variables at them.
Plus the bizarre incident just now.
[…Is it okay?]
Hatasu Titi and the other Silent Villains’ gazes naturally turned to the baby goat.
[It’s fine.]
Seong-jin’s nonchalant reply, as if he’d expected it.
With that, the party’s dungeon run was decided. Watching everyone rise casually, Hatasu Titi’s eyes deepened.
[…….].
Something’s off. Really off.
Hatasu Titi thought so briefly, but soon he too was packing his gear like the others.
* * *
Yeah. Seong-jin judged it was ‘fine.’
The moment they stepped into the theme dungeon, he knew some frantic someone would contact him right away.
[What do you think you’re doing! □□□ □□!]
Darkness suddenly enveloped everything, but Seong-jin didn’t panic in the least. Soon, an enraged goddess appeared before him, shouting in a trembling voice.
[Y- Yustitia.]
[How have you taken my warnings until now! In this unstable world, you dare! You dare……!]
The goddess’s golden spear and blood-weeping eyepatch were the same as before. The only change was her deathly pale complexion, unlike last time.
A theme dungeon where emergencies could strike anytime—think he could return without issue?
Eh, it’s fine. He planned to crush the root of it all anyway.
Krr...
He sensed a pathetic rustling presence from behind.
Dark Yustitia.
The one who’d tasted Little Demon King No. 2 before had lost chunks of its body and seaweed-like hair.
Even the intact parts were soaked in black blood—not burn marks, but physical damage.
Yeah. If it hadn’t severed its own healthy parts, Gehenna’s dreaded flame would’ve burned it to the end.
[You managed to survive somehow, huh?]
At Seong-jin’s casual greeting, it gnashed its teeth. Hatred seeped from its gouged eye socket—almost impressive.
But as it tried approaching Seong-jin again—
Whoosh!
Little Demon King No. 2 reappeared before him.
Keeek!
Dark Yustitia backed off far, not daring to cling again.
Yeah. Now the mood’s right for a proper talk. Seong-jin smirked, eyeing the two stiff goddesses alternately.
[Spit it out if you’ve got something to say. I’ve got a dungeon to clear quick.]