Chapter 157
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 157: How to Greet Halloween (5)
I organized my thoughts. Let's make an assumption. Park Yulhan, and expanding the scope a bit, Erentos. These two, thanks to their innate vampire eyes, could predict the Calamity, and they created the Wild Hunt to stop the world's destruction. After that, they established their own solution and are moving to execute it. Their solution is none other than using the Keys to open the Tower's doors. What the Tiger bastard told me. However, while that method might stop the 'Calamity', it inevitably causes the 'Flood of Calamity'.
“Wait a second.”
'Anyway, good luck. Protagonist of the 3rd turn.'
Fragmented information gathers in my head. Previously, the Recorder told me I was the 'Protagonist of the 3rd turn'. At that time, I didn't know what the Recorder meant, but now that I know Regressors exist, I can guess. It probably means 'the number of times this world has returned to the past'. The 2nd turn was probably the turn the Tiger bastardregressed to. The Tiger bastard denied the 2nd turn. He said the method Na Yuhan proceeded with in the 2nd turn was not right. And… during the 1st semester midterms.
'Don't tell me, we failed even in the 2nd turn where we increased the density.'
At the time, the Wild Hunt caused an incident Na Yuhan hadn't expected. In other words, unlike the game story Na Yuhan knew, they generated a huge number of monsters. But when that operation failed, they said that to Na Yuhan. Why did the Wild Hunt say '2nd turn' back then? —Because it was the first time Na Yuhan appeared in this world in the 2nd turn. So this current 3rd turn is the 2nd turn for Na Yuhan. Because the 2nd turn was his first time. From his perspective, it was the 1st turn.
'...He said the Oracle summoned him.'
It's highly likely the Oracle summoned Na Yuhan from another world to stop something, probably the Wild Hunt's movements and the resulting Flood of Calamity. That is the story of the 2nd turn. Then how did the story go in the 1st turn, when Na Yuhan wasn't there? Did the Wild Hunt's solution succeed in the '1st turn' plot that the Oracle wanted to stop? If so, why did someone turn back time? When they 'succeeded'? …If they succeeded, there's no need to turn back time. An ominous feeling rose up. 'What is the standard for success in the first place?' The survival of humanity? The survival of a certain number of people? Who judged that? My head got complicated. The one who turned time from the 2nd turn to the 3rd turn is the Tiger bastard. But… who turned time from the 1st turn to the 2nd turn? More than that, does the Wild Hunt know this world is the 3rd turn?
“Hmm….”
“What's wrong, Nahyun?”
“No, nothing. Just thinking it's complicated…”
I set up hypotheses.
Did they turn back time believing there was a better future? Or… was it someone else's interference? My thoughts tangle. I pressed my temples and fell into deep thought. In the meantime, Park Yul-ah's story seemed to have flowed into miscellaneous things about Park Yulhan.
“For reference, he likes the blood of people with pretty mana.”
“What the heck is pretty mana…”
…Thinking more about it yielded nothing. I'll have to ask the Tiger bastard about this. I came to that conclusion and focused on Park Yul-ah's words again.
“He'd probably like Nahyun-ssi's blood, too!”
“I hate that….”
…I focused for nothing and learned something I didn't need to know.
[A Story Fragment has been added.] [Story Fragment / Unread]
“So, you lost the Key?”
—That's how it turned out.
“Pathetic.”
—Ha… I can't deny it this time.
A quiet and dark room. Inside that space, thoroughly protected by dozens of sound-blocking items, a young man with orange hair and fox ears smiled with his eyes. Looking at the shadow of the person reflected in the orb.
“More importantly, I'm thinking of making a move soon.”
—You move fast…
“The more thorough the preparation, the better.”
He tapped the orb with his fingertip and smirked.
“From now on, the Balder Family will no longer be able to interfere with the Wild Hunt.”
—That'll make things easier.
“And after this case, the Tower God Cult will also begin its activities in earnest.”
—How many Gold Coins of Truth are left?
At that question, he rested his chin on his hand for a moment as if calculating something, then shook his head.
“There are enough to make the ‘Wedge’, but not enough to make ‘Proselytizing Posters’ to show dreams to everyone.”
—As I thought… What about the strategy of approaching the human high-ranking officials?
“The Oracle's interference is severe.”
—Hmm, understood. I'll think more about that on my end.
“Yes. Then I will do what I must do.”
As the smooth hand wearing a leather glove gripped the orb and applied force, cracks began to appear on the orb.
“Goodbye.”
Not long after, the orb shattered into pieces. He nonchalantly pulled out a shard of the orb that had dug into his leather glove, then paused.
“...Will Noona understand me?”
But soon, letting out a smirk, he shook his head, dusted off his hands, and walked out of the room.
Returning to the Academy, I dragged my fatigue-soaked body to wash up. Just as I barely managed to change into pajamas and was about to lie down on the bed, a letter flew through the gap in the door again today, without fail. I had tried all sorts of ways to catch the culprit so far, but having failed, I had practically given up on catching them. I wonder how long they'll keep this up? I picked it up, thinking I'd just tear it up, but I felt a sense of incongruity at the lightness, different from the usual bulk.
“Huh?”
I opened it just in case, and inside was a small card, unlike the usual. The content written on the card, characteristic for its fox emblem, was simple, contrary to my expectations.
[Let's meet soon]
…What.Considering they send a letter every day, isn't it no exaggeration to say we're already meeting constantly? More than that, I don't want to meet any more than this letter? This was ominous in its own way. …Let's consult with my friends tomorrow. Just as I thought that, the letter burst into flames.
“...!”
Startled, I dropped the card, and it instantly turned to ash and disappeared. It turned to dust in an instant, as if it had never existed. Flustered, I felt the faint texture of dust under my foot and swept it away. …Nothing happened.Seriously, what is this?A warning note for what? While I was lost in thought, the bracelet trembled faintly.
—Are you sleeping?
It was a message from the Tiger bastard. As soon as I heard his voice in my head, I pouted and answered.
“No, I was trying to sleep, but my sleep fled because of some weirdos.”
—Lucky for me.
“...That's when you're supposed to say it's unfortunate.”
—Is that so. I'm sorry.
This guy, honestly. He has a surprisingly dense side. I wondered if I should tease him more, but then I was surprised at myself for having that thought. …Why are you relaxing?! I slapped my own cheeks with both hands. Snap out of it!
—Hm? I hear a slapping sound.
“No, it's nothing. More importantly…”
I thought about the connection between the Tower God Cult, which uses proselytizing methods that make you recall memories of the previous turn, and this guy, who is a Regressor. …As expected, isn't it highly likely they're connected?How many people would know that this world is a newly started turn?
“Do you know about a group called the Tower God Cult?”
—Tower God Cult?
“Yeah. They keep interfering lately! It's annoying!”
—Calm down.
As I spoke, my personal feelings got mixed in and my voice raised, but the Tiger bastard just answered calmly. He's always so composed that listening to his voice makes me feel calm— No, wake up! Wake up!
—Tower God Cult… I don't know much about them. But Park Yulhan would know.
“Park Yulhan?”
—Yes. The Wild Hunt has more information than you think, and most of the information inside the organization goes through Park Yulhan's hands.
“I've thought this for a while, but isn't the leader of the Wild Huntyou?”
—No. It is Park Yulhan.
“...In name only?”
—Hm. He shows a pathetic side sometimes, but he is reliable.
In name only? I recalled all the pathetic sides he had shown. Right… I guess he looks that way to your eyes…
“I'll respect your taste.”
—Hm?
“But then, do you know your leader almost got caught by us today?”
—…Did something like that happen? I told him over and over to be careful about going to the field.
Tsk, I heard the Tiger bastard click his tongue.
—I'll have to have a word with him when I get back.
“Seems like a pretty horizontal culture… over there…”
—I suppose.
The moment you say you'll 'have a word' with the leader, I know there's no leader's dignity or whatever. I nodded to myself and asked about the topics I was curious about due to recent events.
“Then… did Park Yulhan create the Wild Hunt? To stop the Calamity?”
—No. The one who created the Wild Hunt was his grandfather, Erentos… or so I heard. I don't know the detailed circumstances, but I heard a certain incident occurred after its founding, and Park Yulhan succeeded him.
“Was the purpose of the Wild Hunt's creation to stop the Calamity from the beginning?”
—I don't know about that. But guessing from what Park Yulhan says, research on the Tower, Spiritual Power, and the Oracle seems to have continued since his grandfather's generation.
If so, there's a possibility they've been aware of the Tower's Calamity since at least Erentos's time.They must have been preparing for at least a few decades. They must be thoroughly prepared, which is why the government and Hunter organizations find it hard to catch the Wild Hunt.
“Umm… I see. You're surprisingly not a power holder.”
—...Do I need power?
“It's good to have, right?”
—If necessary, I'll take the leader position from Park Yulhan.
“No. I feel like you'd still be a figurehead. Don't do it.”
—……
At my words, the Tiger bastard fell silent for a while, as if sulking. But he's kind of dense… it's a bit…Yeah. A bit much. I readily accepted the fact that this guy might not know as much information as I thought.
“Okay. That's fine.”
But he must know this.
“By the way, you… how many times have you turned back time?”
Regression. Since this guy is the party concerned who remembers the regression. How much time passed? After a silence that felt long, the Tiger bastard finally opened his mouth.