Chapter 299
Chapter 299
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 299
Chapter Title: Disaster Alert
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"Loophole?"
"Yeah, loophole. If that sounds bad, call it a tie."
The fox let out an "Aaaah—" as she chimed in at my words.
"Oh, I get what you're planning. Smash things before the event even starts, right? Like what you did to the [Children of Fomalhaut] or that elephant-headed freak."
"Hmm, that's the simplest and most reliable way."
Eliminate the elements needed for the event beforehand. That causes a bug, canceling the scheduled event.
Removing the requirements for a descent stops the descent too—same principle on a broader scale.
I'd used this to wipe out the [Living Flame] event entirely and corner the [Predator of the Mountains].
The crow shook her head.
"Myth, you're not thinking of skipping the week-long wait and moving right away, are you? They'll be expecting that this time."
"You're right. I'm not doing it. They're already watching me."
You can only pull this off when they're off guard.
The buffalo yelped "Ah!" and jumped in.
"W-We meet Gong Isu and go back in time! Th-That's the loophole, right?"
"No! No more time travel!"
"It's a backup we can use if needed, isn't it?"
The fox taking the buffalo's side.
"You're just as bad as him."
"What?"
"Let's keep turning back time as a last resort."
Playing around with time carries too much risk.
Sure, if I could actively time travel like Gong Isu, but relying on someone else for limited jumps makes it a poor card to play.
"Alright, so what's the plan?"
This time, the crow opened her mouth with a "Hmmm..."
"It's a bit of a loophole, but how about stopping by Buyeo?"
"B-Buyeo?"
"Yeah. It's reusing a method from before, so it should work. Remember when you landed that hit on him in yesterday's fight?"
"I barely clipped him once, and that masochist got all hot and bothered. Saw that much."
"...Not that. The [Sword of the Flesh]. Right, Myth?"
I nodded.
"Yeah. We are going to Buyeo."
Even if my power doesn't work, the abyssal being's own power does.
"And there's more than just one of these things, right?"
Buyeo has an item that pairs with the [Sword of the Flesh].
"That's the loophole? I was expecting something big, but it's just what we've been doing all along."
I grinned and pointed at the fox.
"Hah, knew you'd say that. That's not the real loophole."
Eliminate event triggers.
Rewind botched developments.
Steal the enemy's power or resources.
Those are all worth trying, but not my actual plan.
"It's a method no decent veteran would use... but desperate times call for desperate measures."
I said that, then continued.
"And like I said, we're going to Buyeo anyway. We need to grab the [Soul Shackles] too—"
"Isn't Yangseo-ho there? You okay with that?"
The crow's point.
"Oh, perfect, you mentioned it. I'm going to befriend that Yangseo-ho from now on."
"Befriend?"
A ridiculous what-the-hell retort.
"Yeah, befriend. If effort fails, use the power of friendship."
The fox scratched her head furiously for a moment (exactly like my go-to pose when I'm pissed off—kinda funny) and said,
"You know every time you talk about friendship, the worst shit happens, right?"
"Huh? Have I brought up friendship before?"
"Hah—sigh. Never mind."
"Right. So, after meeting the Yangseo-ho..."
* * *
I woke up.
"Ugh... I'm dying."
If it's a game, shouldn't hitting [Rest] just max out my HP?
I forced my glued-shut eyes open... Fuck, I'm really dying here. I barely cracked one open and killed the blaring alarm on my smartphone.
"Haaah... At least I woke up on time."
I don't remember the rest of the dream conversation, but I know exactly what to do and where to go now.
I tried to get up right away... but couldn't, so I just dialed while lying there.
"Hmm, hello? Yes, it's me."
Some pleasantries and a quick situation update.
After a short report, I said to the voice on the other end,
"So the cultists are starting to move?"
- Indeed, my lord. We've double- and triple-checked, so you can trust it.
The voice from the smartphone belonged to the Blood Marquess.
Originally the leader of the Blood Demon Cult, which served the [Blood Demon King], incarnation of the [Predator of the Mountains], but after that entity lost its abyssal power...
And turned into a pawn, the Blood Marquess became my subordinate.
"When's the expected clash?"
- Roughly three hours from now, we estimate.
Buyeo's about two and a half hours from here.
'Tight, but if I leave in thirty minutes, I won't be late.'
Not at full strength, but way better than before.
"Got it. Uh... How's Cheongho holding up?"
- Truly a legendary eccentric worthy of the title. He's a bit over-the-top, but he hasn't crossed the bounds set by the [World-Honored One].
The [Smiling One] transplanted part of itself into my death spirit golem via our deal.
Since it reshaped the golem's body into Cheongho's form, I've had no choice but to call it that.
Anyway, seems like it's following orders.
"Everything's good, but can you drop the World-Honored One title?"
World-Honored One?
Means the most noble person in the world—Buddhist term too. [Archmage] is better; I don't want that crap.
- Understood, [O Supreme, Paramount, Wisest Sovereign].
"You're not seriously starting with Supreme, are you?"
- Does it not please you? Then Most Exalted...
"Ah, stop, stop!"
Fuck it. Title's not important.
I changed the subject and gave a few more orders.
- I shall accomplish your commands, even at the cost of my life.
"...Appreciate the effort, but don't actually die."
The call with the Blood Marquess ended soon after.
He's an NPC set up as an evil cultist, and right after that chat with Park Kwang-rim yesterday... his vow to sacrifice himself feels a bit heavy.
"Alright. That's settled here."
I did some more calculations lying down, then called Tudor.
"Tudor, whatcha doing? Yeah. I need to head out right now, so hook me up with transport. What? Huh? Why? What? No way! Wait, is Panni and Orb wearing those outfits really that big a deal? Oh, yeah. Totally. I'm dying to know. Gotta hit Basilissa after this. Come on! Won't you call the car?"
Got caught up in Tudor's teasing, and my words dragged on.
"Jang Hyun-deok? Nah, he's sick. Just call that scar guy you introduced before. Huh? What scar? There was only one besides Jang Hyun-deok. Oh... Damn, that guy was mass-produced too? No, no. Just talking."
The security taxi driver I'd been introduced to when Jang Hyun-deok wasn't around.
I thought it was always the same guy, but apparently not.
"Heading to Buyeo. Yeah? Dangerous? Yangseo-ho? Oh, I know. That's why I'm going to Buyeo—to meet Yangseo-ho. Nah, it's fine. Don't worry. I'll swing by Basilissa soon. I said I got it. Yeah, yeah. Fairest of the fair, Lady Tudor. Thanks. Have a great day."
* * *
"You're leaving after less than twelve hours?"
As I started getting ready to head out, Heo Sang-hyeon said in a creepy tone.
"Gonna be hectic all week. Kwang-rim's coming with right away. Take good care of Jang Hyun-deok."
A shadow of worry hung under Heo Sang-hyeon's big eyes, but he didn't say more.
I get he's concerned, but no choice now.
Time's short.
"I'm ready."
Park Kwang-rim was back in his usual dapper suit.
With her ponytail hanging down her back and a fedora on—well, it suits her, but kinda retro?
"Like an old Hong Kong movie star."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Alright. Car's coming, so we go as soon as it arrives."
"Archmage!"
Jang Hyun-deok's voice.
"Yeah?"
"Where you going?"
"Hmm—meeting a friend? But why are you geared up like that?"
I told Park Kwang-rim to prep, but why's Jang Hyun-deok looking like a pro driver heading into danger?
"Heard from Kwang-rim."
I glanced at Park Kwang-rim, but she waved it off with "Was it supposed to be a secret?"
"Buyeo, right? Yangseo-ho's a friend?"
"Yeah. Friend."
"Since when?"
"About five hours from now? Three if we're lucky."
"I'm coming too. I'll drive."
"Just lie at home and scratch Red's belly."
"Kkiieee!"
"Stay still or I'll go nuts, so let me come."
"Dance with Rolly then."
Grrr rumble!
"Ah, keep that up? Wait! Don't even mention Achilles!"
Kkiririk—
Achilles hung his head dejectedly.
No, don't get down, Achilles.
You're the best at... whatever. Anyway.
"What're you gonna do there?"
"Me, Hyunji, and my siblings—what the hell happened?"
Jang Hyun-deok suddenly dropped a curveball.
But his face was dead serious. Hard to brush off.
Makes sense—he's been pent up with no one to answer while I slept.
"I'll tell you after."
"Tell me on the way. And who should I be pissed at?"
A few thoughts flashed in my head.
["You have changed Jang Hyun-deok into a special being."]
["Please help Jang Hyun-deok grow more."]
["That's my wish."]
Words from the [Source of Life], smiling.
Should I bring this guy?
'What're you doing, Kim Shin-hwa, you idiot? Just knock him out and go.'
'Wh-Why not erase Jang Hyun-deok's m-memory? Th-That solves everything, right?'
Frustrated by my hesitation, the psychos in my head offered advice I'd actually consider.
'All of you shut up!'
'No. Shin-hwa, I disagree. Bring Jang Hyun-deok.'
The crow's voice buzzing in my head.
'Why?'
'His car's still in Ansan.'
'So wha—? Wait. Hmm...'
No waiting for a taxi—generate a [Dimensional Gate], fly to Ansan, hop in, and go.
Already tight on time. Saves a ton.
"Jang Hyun-deok, don't come crying later about regrets or whatever bullshit."
"Yahoo! Won't say that, so don't worry."
Yahoo?
Jang Hyun-deok bouncing around, prepping to leave.
If he's forcing the energy, better than nothing.
Weird obsessions, wild mood swings.
Maybe the mania makes him unable to control his emotions?
I scratched my head and said,
"Ah, gotta cancel the taxi."
Tudor'll nag again.
* * *
Jang Hyun-deok revoked his "no regrets" declaration after about two hours.
"Uwaaaah! You should've warned me!"
Jang Hyun-deok's scream.
"I did warn you! You idiot!"
My shout.
"You didn't say it'd be like THIS!"
How do you explain "this" is "THIS"?
Ding- ding- ding-
The disaster alerts pouring from my smartphone since earlier.
Yeah. "THIS."
[From the Foreigner Management Agency: Landslides and similar disasters are possible. Please take extra safety precautions.]
[From the Foreigner Management Agency: Falling rocks, collapses, and strong gusts are occurring. Trails are closed—avoid entry and stay safe.]
Up to here, standard disaster alerts.
[From the Foreigner Management Agency: Red rain is sewer water contaminated by red tide blown up by winds. It is not blood pouring from the sky.]
[From the Foreigner Management Agency: Do not be alarmed by baseless rumors. Check the accurate info and disaster response guidelines from the Foreigner Management Agency.]
[From the Foreigner Management Agency: Localized tornadoes have caused livestock to be lifted into the air and crash down. The entrails raining from the sky are not human. Do not leave designated safe zones under any circumstances.]
[From the Foreigner Management Agency: Intense lightning is falling. Do not leave indoors. Do not look up at the sky. Do not look at the sky. Do not look at the sky.]
[From the Foreigner Management Agency: Do not ignore our warnings. This is for your safety and life. Do not leave indoors. Do not look at the sky.]
We're on some wasteland near the Seocheon-Gongju Expressway.
Kwaaaaang—explosion.
Weather: clear.
Occasional blood, corpses, or Yangseo-ho may rain down.