Mom, It's Your Granddaughter
Mom, It's Your Granddaughter
The Association's organizational structure was broadly divided into five departments.
The Central Management Department, responsible for overall administrative leadership and command.
The Regional Management Department, handling various tasks primarily through branches extended across the world.
The Disaster Management Department, which collaborated with observation units to monitor and manage crisis situations and handle post-resolution measures.
The Monster Subjugation Department, which dealt with urgent monsters and dungeons.
And the Boundary Defense Department, which defended human territories from external threats.
It could be subdivided further, but these five were generally considered common knowledge.
In this framework, the Subjugation Force fell under the Monster Subjugation Department, while the Defense Army fell under the Boundary Defense Department.
A common analogy was the spear and the shield.
The Subjugation Force was the thrusting spear.
Its role was to resolve dungeons and monsters showing signs of escalating into catastrophes within its jurisdiction.
The historic Twin-headed Poison Dragon Subjugation Battle served as an example.
Although the Changhae Family, bordering China, and their sworn allies the Three Great Families formed the main force, the Association had not stood idly by and had contributed significant strength to the subjugation.
In contrast, the Defense Army was the blocking shield.
Their role was not to penetrate and subjugate, but to station themselves in one place and block incoming dangers.
The most representative task was managing the frontline of Africa, the sole existing Demon Realm in the current era.
The Association concentrated its main strength on the very frontlines to prevent the monsters piling up in Africa from spreading outward.
In short, without question, they were the Association's main fighting force... bluntly put, its military.
"...You mean the Subjugation Force and the Defense Army?"
Given that, the order to move both armies could only weigh heavily.
I understood the Association Council members' grave reactions all too well.
'The important part starts now.'
Now, my role was to persuade those hardened expressions.
I had joked to Maxwell that I could just beat them up, but I couldn't actually beat them up.
It would probably be possible, but that would just build unnecessary resentment.
'What to do...'
I moved my heavy fingers and racked my brain.
The knowledge I could draw upon was limited. Either records from the original story, or records obtained in the Tower of Knowledge...
"If I may, could I ask your reasoning?"
'Hm?'
As I kept my mouth shut for a moment, one of the Association Council members whose expression had hardened cautiously addressed me.
Despite being a superhuman who had raised his level considerably, he had an appearance close to old age. Though he now held a pen, the hand I had just shaken still bore the clear traces of conflict.
'Robert Highline.'
One of the Association Council members. Also, the Association Council member the 9th Iteration had devoured...
'His reaction is milder than I thought?'
I tilted my head internally.
His words were rather courteous. I had expected something more aggressive and antagonistic.
After all, wasn't this a situation where some random little blood clot suddenly showed up claiming to be the Association President's proxy and immediately tried to move the military?
- Lord Maxwell, were the Association Council members informed in advance?
- No. Only the Association President's Direct Enforcement Department received information about Lord Lee Ha-yul from the Association Presidents.
When I sent a sound transmission to Maxwell just in case, the answer I got was a negative.
[...They seem to be accepting me more readily than I expected. Isn't there usually resistance? Or did they somehow know this would happen beforehand?]
"Haha, at the very least, none of us possess abilities like Future Foresight. And if I had to press the point... I don't feel any particular resistance."
When I asked more directly, the response came back with a small, hearty laugh.
"It is rather sudden... but we believe the Association Presidents must have something in mind."
[So, because you trust the Association Presidents, you accept it even when they suddenly seat an unknown person as their proxy?]
"Hero Lee Ha-yul, Siyoram's Special Admission Cadet, is far too famous to be dismissed as an unknown person."
The Association Council members replied lightly with enigmatic smiles. My expression grew a little odd at that.
It doesn't register... as a lie.
They truly trusted the Association Presidents, so they were at least provisionally accepting me, whom the Presidents had seated.
I had thought the greatest hurdle would be persuading the Association Council, but it had passed over surprisingly easily.
'Did I hear that the Association Council members were personally selected by the Tower Masters of Space and Harmonization?'
Maybe because of that, their sense of justice was secondary, and their loyalty toward the Association Presidents seemed remarkably high.
[Ahem, then allow me to explain the reason first.]
I severed the branching thoughts trying to stretch out under the gazes focused on me.
[First of all, this is not a confirmed matter. I mean that we must be prepared to respond immediately, because a situation requiring a response may arise.]
"We are already prepared on that front. Combat-ready forces available for immediate deployment are maintained at all times."
[More than that. To give an example... enough to handle it even if a Demon Realm were to appear in the middle of the Inland.]
"...!"
At my casual remark, the Association Council members' faces hardened further.
For them, deeply versed in global affairs, the word Demon Realm would not be taken lightly.
On the contrary, as the executive body of the Association that manages the Demon Realm Frontline, it would hit them even harder.
Considering the immense resources poured into maintaining the African Demon Realm Frontline as it was, what if a similar thing tore open in the middle of the Inland?
Just imagining it would make their knees go weak.
[I am not exaggerating. It may seem fine for now, but it is a catastrophe that could one day turn the middle of the Inland into a Demon Realm.]
"A Demon Realm... what on earth is this situation you speak of?"
[Well... for now, let's tentatively call this catastrophe the Reverse Side. And what I have come here to locate and prepare against is precisely the entrance to this Reverse Side.]
Having briefly explained the definition of the Reverse Side, I subtly raised my right hand and drew it down through the empty air.
The empty space split open following my gesture.
This space itself was under strong security, but because the Authority was 'the same,' I could bypass it without issue.
The eyes of those watching my actions flew wide open.
"The Authority of Space...!"
They might have mistaken it for Spatial Magic or some other ability, but perhaps because they had once served the former Tower Master of Space in their own way, they recognized it immediately.
[I will locate the entrance to the Reverse Side using the Authority of Space granted to me.]
"Aah...! To have been granted an Authority, there is no greater proof of qualification than this."
[...Is that so?]
At one Association Council member's murmur, my expression, as I closed the space back up, turned slightly awkward.
Sure enough, the Association Council members' reactions had changed drastically.
If earlier it felt like, 'We have questions, but I suppose we must follow orders for now?'—now their eyes were sparkling with trust.
'...Should have just shown them the Authority first and started with that.'
Then I wouldn't have needed to tack on all that extra preamble unnecessarily. With a belated realization, I continued my explanation.
[The Reverse Side, like a dungeon, will eventually experience an Outbreak. The resulting damage is immense, difficult to compare even to a chain rampage of ordinary dungeons.]
"Are you saying that this Outbreak will create a Demon Realm?"
[Yes, with a high probability.]
In the original work, any place where the Reverse Side erupted always became a Demon Realm.
Since a massive amount of mana and monsters poured out in an instant, and the area couldn't be dealt with quickly enough and was left neglected, there was no way to prevent its demon-realmification.
"Lord Proxy, do you intend to locate the entrance to the Reverse Side and prepare for its Outbreak?"
[That is correct.]
"Indeed, to block an Outbreak of that scale, an equivalent military force would be necessary. However..."
The Association Council member, Samuel Delaney, trailed off. I could guess the words he left unsaid.
[Certainly, if we try to completely plug a rampaging entrance from the outside, we will suffer massive damage. We might even fail to suppress it entirely.]
"Then..."
[However, if we leave it unattended, it will cause far greater damage later.]
"Hmm... we must pinpoint its location and deploy troops centered around the Defense Army..."
"Did you not say monsters would also pour out? If the threat is comparable to a Demon Realm, it may include 3rd-Rank monsters as well, so as the Lord Proxy said, we must also have the Subjugation Force on standby."
"If the threat is comparable to a Demon Realm, we will have to accept severe losses even if we commit our full strength. If a hole were to open on the frontline in the meantime..."
"...I don't even want to imagine it."
The Association Council members' faces sank into deep contemplation. It was definitely a matter with a lot to consider.
As for the reliability of the information... since I had already proven it with an Authority, they seemed to believe it completely.
After allowing them a moment to think, I tapped my finger against the table.
- Tap tap
The sound echoed loudly, perhaps because the space was so barren.
[I have something to say regarding that.]
"We are listening."
As the Association Council members, who had been exchanging various words among themselves in that brief interval, focused their gazes back on me, I stroked my necklace.
In truth, this was the main point of my plan.
[After I locate and investigate the entrance to the Reverse Side, if I determine that there is no time left before the Outbreak... I intend to enter the Reverse Side.]
"Pardon?"
[And then, I plan to forcibly trigger the Outbreak from within, suppress it, and directly mitigate the damage spreading outward.]
The Outbreak of the Reverse Side couldn't be stopped. The cracks had already spread as far as they could, and the space had begun to function similarly to a dungeon.
An Outbreak was inevitable. If so, then triggering it on our terms, before it grew any larger, was the way to reduce the damage.
At the same time, it was even better if that damage could be contained within the Reverse Side itself, where it didn't matter how thoroughly it was wrecked.
Of course, even locating the entrance was a monumental task, and even if found, entering by ordinary means was impossible...
[I possess the Authority of Space, so it is possible.]
Using the Authority of Space, I could force my way inside. There, I would find the Reverse Side's core and, if necessary, forcibly detonate it and absorb the impact from inside.
"That is... dangerous."
Robert, upon hearing my plan, was appalled and shook his head.
"Though I am ignorant about this space called the Reverse Side, common sense dictates that the aftershocks cannot possibly be calm. Lord Lee Ha-yul, who would be interfering with the core from within, would be exposed to great danger."
Though he spoke politely, it was an earnest expression meaning that I would die if I touched it.
[Do not worry.]
To that, I shrugged and tapped my left arm. Thud, thud! A rough metallic sound echoed from inside my sleeve.
[It is a top-grade artifact specialized in defense. Besides that, I have many other means, and I can mitigate the impact with the Authority of Space.]
"Even so, does it not remain the same that you would be exposed to tremendous damage?"
The reply came not from the front, but from behind. It was a question from Maxwell, who had taken position standing behind me after the discussion began.
"Agent Maxwell is correct. It is far too dangerous a gamble."
The Association Council members also cast dissenting votes against my plan. They seemed to perceive it as even more dangerous than I judged it to be.
[Well, that's just the plan for now. It may change at any time depending on how we assess the situation. And...]
I stroked the Proof of Protection.
[...The danger is something I simply have to endure.]
Because I couldn't run away just because it was dangerous.
If I ran away once, the next time would be easier.
If I ran away now, already making excuses for myself, how on earth could I stop the Tower Masters' future invasions?
So, I couldn't run from the start.
* * *
"The young lady has arrived."
"Oh, is it already vacation..."
Choi Ji-yeon, buried under paperwork as usual, let out an exclamation at the news of Hong Yeon-hwa's return.
"Ugh, my head hurts..."
Choi Ji-yeon pressed her forehead as she recalled Hong Yeon-hwa, who would soon arrive.
Reuniting with her daughter was something a parent looked forward to, but her current workload was simply overwhelming...
The incident in the Changhae Family's territory played a large part.
Since the Three Great Families were bound by a blood alliance, they couldn't just sit back and watch as if it were someone else's problem.
Sending various support and dispatching several key forces, including purification units, regarding that matter had caused more work to pile up.
'And on top of that, a Special-Grade Dungeon pops up out of nowhere causing a fuss now, too...'
Her head ached for many reasons.
In the midst of all this, since Hong Yeon-hwa was said to be visiting, she had intended to take a brief rest and maybe have some tea together.
"How about it? Cute, right?"
"?"
But when Hong Yeon-hwa actually arrived, there was some child in her arms.
Choi Ji-yeon, who had been preparing refreshments, blinked blankly.
'What's this?'
Though flustered by the sudden sight, Choi Ji-yeon quickly gathered herself.
Then, recalling the question just asked, she scanned the child held in Hong Yeon-hwa's arms.
Pure white hair and eyes without a single common blemish. A somewhat sulky expression, but even that was perfectly charming, flawless features.
"...True. She makes me curious how much more she'll grow into her looks already. So, who is this child?"
A child with outstanding looks. She could tell the child seemed somehow special, but why had she carried the child in?
When Choi Ji-yeon tilted her head and asked, Hong Yeon-hwa gently patted the head of the child in her arms.
"Yep, Mom, she's your granddaughter. Say hi."
"I see, my granddaughter..."
Choi Ji-yeon nodded her head with a benevolent expression... nodding... nod...
"What the fuck did you say?"
The expletive spilled from her throat before she knew it. She couldn't comprehend what this fire-attributed daughter of hers had just spouted.
Granddaughter? Granddaughter?
Choi Ji-yeon, horrified, stared at the child in Hong Yeon-hwa's arms, Lee Seo-yul.
...Now that she was aware and observing closely, the child really did resemble him. That unnervingly beautiful son-in-law of hers...
"No, what the fuck, for real?"
"Why are you cursing in front of the child?"
As Hong Yeon-hwa frowned in reproach, a crack spread across Choi Ji-yeon's face.
Her lips parted, trembling from the violent shock.
"...Good heavens. To think I would live to hear such words from you."
"I've got my own complaints about the person who said it, but I'll let it slide today."
Hong Yeon-hwa pouted her lips and gently stroked the head of Lee Seo-yul, who was in her arms.
"Hnn..."
Lee Seo-yul scrunched her face, but while gauging Choi Ji-yeon's reaction, she meekly accepted the touch.
"Huh..."
Choi Ji-yeon let out a low exclamation at the sight, which appeared... rather benevolent in its own way.
"Oh, right."
It was around the time Choi Ji-yeon was still standing there blankly, mouth agape at the sudden situation.
Hong Yeon-hwa, having pressed a snack into Lee Seo-yul's hand, asked in a flat tone, as if it were no big deal.
"Can we deploy our military forces right now?"
"What the hell have you been going on about, seriously, you crazy bitch."
"I told you not to curse."
Choi Ji-yeon pressed her forehead, forcing down the tea threatening to come back up her throat.
She'd meant to cool her head, but it only hurt more instead...