Chapter 132
Chapter 132
Chapter 132
"Heh..."
Alexios let out a hollow laugh as he knelt on the ground.
Though he had exploited the opponent's carelessness and used an impromptu method, he had taken a solid blow.
"This bastard..."
"Hahahahaha! Serves you right, doesn't it?"
Janus, too, didn't come out unscathed, clutching his abdomen with one hand. He had wounded his enemy.
To achieve that result, Alexios had pushed himself so hard that one of his legs was crushed, but he didn't care.
Even if he lost the overall fight, it was as good as winning the match.
His opponent had paid dearly for underestimating Alexios.
"Whew..."
Janus let out a deep sigh, as if trying to compose himself.
"Annoying."
Janus didn't hide his emotions. Though somewhat calmed, he couldn't conceal his humiliation.
If he had his way, he would kill Alexios right now.
No, beyond killing, he wanted to tear him to shreds.
But he couldn't.
There wasn't enough time. Even though Alexios now lay prostrate and helpless, he was merely waiting for an opening.
If they continued the battle like this, it would only devolve into a messy brawl.
"Is this it? It's not the first time I've experienced failure, but it's the first time I've had to admit defeat like this..."
"How dare you try to escape on your own...!"
"Escape? Ha... Your insolence reaches the sky. I can kill the likes of you anytime. However..."
CRASH!
At that moment, something fell from the sky, as if blocking the space between Janus and Alexios.
[SSR Goblin King]
Bihyeong
The forest's master appeared at the commotion.
"It's just that I don't have time..."
Janus clicked his tongue at Bihyeong's appearance and began to draw a spell formation.
"This old man is watching with both eyes wide open, and you dare try to escape so openly?"
The long-distance teleportation magic, [Teleport].
Janus paid no mind to Bihyeong in front of him and continued to draw the magic circle.
"Of course, I must escape. If you can use those big eyes to see what I'm trying to do, that is."
"What are you talking about..."
Bihyeong looked up at the sky at Janus's words. A massive spell formation was already completed there.
It wasn't the [Teleport] being cast in front of him. It was a higher-level magic, one that had given elder mages the image of a weapon of war.
Advanced-tier Magic
[Meteor]
Area-of-effect annihilation magic capable of blowing away the forest itself.
"When...?"
Bihyeong had not taken his eyes off the opponent for a single moment since he first saw him. It wasn't an opponent he could afford to be casual with.
"I didn't originally intend to use it, but I'm glad I drew it as a contingency. Heh..."
Janus had held back some power.
Even during his fierce battle with Alexios, he had prepared for the situation where things might go wrong and the [Goblin King] might intervene.
"Dear Goblin King. I have no intention of fighting you."
Janus delivered an exaggerated greeting and leisurely completed the [Teleport] magic circle.
"You could surely stop that magic as well. Therefore, I hope you'll consider this not a declaration of war, but a means to buy time."
"That glib tongue of his."
Bihyeong growled, his lips curling up.
Janus was right, Bihyeong could stop it.
If it had been an unblockable attack, he would have chosen to crush the opponent in front of him, but Janus had deliberately prepared a magic that could be stopped.
"Then, I hope to see you again under better circumstances."
"If you set foot in this forest again, I'll turn you into a lump of meat, so it'd be best not to even try."
"I'll keep that in mind."
With those words, a rain of meteors poured down, and Janus vanished.
"Heh..."
Bihyeong turned his eyes from the vanishing Janus and looked up at the sky.
A rain of destruction was falling.
But it was a rain that could be stopped. As long as he, an umbrella, a barrier known as the [Goblin King], stood firm, the rain of rocks could not drench the forest.
"This is going to be tough..."
Bihyeong stretched his body. Then, his muscular hulk blurred.
Soon, Bihyeong disappeared, like a mist.
BOOM!
And his form appeared right in front of a falling meteor.
BOOM!
And then another meteor.
BOOM!
As if an umbrella had been erected in the sky, the meteors were crushed before they could pass a certain range.
The charge-type skill of [Goblin King] Bihyeong, whose entire power was concentrated in his strength stat.
[Divine Dexterity]
Literally moving with divine dexterity, the sky began to be dyed sand-colored by Bihyeong's fists.
"Hahahahah!
Bihyeong crushed all the meteors raining down from the sky.
Now, what fell was not a rain of meteors, but a thick rain of sand and dust.
He couldn't stop that, of course. Bihyeong looked at the pouring debris and burst into laughter, as if resigned.
"Hehe... Stay still, punk. I have something I want to ask you."
Bihyeong, still laughing, appeared before Alexios, who was crawling on the ground, and threatened him.
"...Eat sh*t."
"Uh-hahat! That's more fun."
CRASH!
Bihyeong immediately subdued Alexios on the spot.
It was to ensure that no one else could play any more tricks.
"Hmm? Now that I look at him... Isn't this the Fist King rumored to have killed Doren?"
Bihyeong, stroking his chin and looking down at the unconscious Alexios, then slapped his forehead as if the current situation was absurd, bursting into laughter.
"This one and that one, all of them are suspicious bastards! Hahahahat!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After about 5 days of train travel, we arrived at the border of the Federation.
Fortunately, no spectacular events like the train being attacked occurred. In fact, that was natural.
Considering the astronomical amount of money that went into creating a single magical floating train, vigilance wouldn't be lax.
"The Federation has complicated roads, so everyone should be careful not to get separated. Especially Noah."
"Why are you singling me out?"
Eleanor began to question Baekyang's remark as she explained about the Federation before entry.
She truly looked clueless. Utterly shameless.
"...The Federation's roads aren't just 'complicated'."
Baekyang lightly brushed off Eleanor's question and continued her explanation.
"Unlike the Empire, the Federation sometimes has different laws in different regions."
"Even if the laws are different, aren't they generally all similar?"
"Well, yes, but... there are areas exclusively for yokai, and areas exclusively for humans."
Baekyang said with a bitter expression.
There's definitely something there.
There must be a behind-the-scenes story I don't know. This is a conjecture I gained from past experiences.
My damn luck stat is telling me not to overlook this blatant foreshadowing.
This trip won't be smooth either.
"Our destination is Mount Bongnae. A place where I, a yokai, cannot enter."
Yokai cannot set foot in the domain of [White Dragon] Jinsun.
However, there is an exception if they abandon their wicked yokai energy and cultivate their mind and body.
That would classify them as a different race, not yokai.
"Conversely, the intermediate area, Goblin Forest, is forbidden for humans. Strictly speaking, it's because humans can't endure it."
The yokai energy of [Yokai King]
Kang-cheol, which encompasses the entire Federation. Ordinary humans cannot live in places where that yokai energy is thick.
Yokai energy, which possesses the power of chaos, twists the world just by existing. If humans are continuously exposed to that dense power, they either become yokai or go insane.
"Understood? Once you get lost, ordinary humans can't come back. You can't wander around freely like usual."
Baekyang emphasized with a threatening demeanor, then softened her attitude again as if annoyed, saying,
"That's all."
"Alright, thanks for the explanation."
Baekyang had only accompanied them on this trip out of goodwill.
She might have received scholarships and other things from the professors, but for her, they weren't really necessary.
She had only come along because she was worried about Eleanor.
In the original story's timeline, she would have been the one asking for help, but now it's a bit earlier than that.
Since she doesn't seem to know about the anomaly in the [Goblin Forest], this decision is purely out of goodwill.
"Then, let's proceed with immigration procedures. Ulla will handle that, right?"
"Ohh... This is my first time seeing such a kind goblin. How fascinating."
"...It wasn't anything special."
It's not an exaggeration. Rather, Ulla's reaction is normal.
As Baekyang said, it might be a small kindness, but considering the 'goblin' race, it's a huge deal.
A race inherently fond of pranks and torment.
For them to show kindness to others is an act that suppresses even their instincts.
Whatever made her like that, I don't know, but… there must be some reason.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The Federation's Government Office.
"Hmm, so Ali, Arie? And this one is Koo, Kuoh..."
"It's Arietta Domine and Oz Quabadis."
"Haha, my apologies. Western names aren't familiar to me."
Ulla, who was in charge of our immigration procedures, seemed to be sweating.
It seems he's having trouble writing down our names.
Federation names fundamentally include Chinese characters, so that might be why.
Considering that he works in a government office, it's quite strange, but it's probably due to the extremely limited interaction between them.
The two nations are neighbors, yet they have almost no cultural exchange.
"So, what do your names mean?"
"Uh... just a moment."
Ulla, who had been struggling for a while, approached with an apologetic expression.
"Excuse me, do your names happen to have any meanings? The Federation seems to consider that important."
"Ah! Ah! You know, what if we just make up Federation-style names?"
It was Eleanor, as expected, who excitedly asked, as if eager.
This kid loves these kinds of events, so I expected her to jump in.
"Big sister Lus once said she traveled to the Federation. She used the name 'Justice' back then, and I want a Federation-style name too!"
"Ahahaha... That's one way, but it might get confusing. And we're not staying long..."
"I still want one! As a souvenir!"
"No..."
Ulla started to sweat as she looked at me.
She seemed to be judging whether it would displease me.
A [Successor of the Mage King] holds authority in their very name.
For me to adopt a foreign, Federation-style name would easily lead to all sorts of speculation. Moreover, even if it's somewhat mitigated, am I not an outcast from [Spellerge]?
So she was gauging my reaction.
"Master! Let's do it. It's a rare occasion, isn't it?"
"You should think before you speak."
Eleanor, realizing Ulla's gaze was on me, started bouncing around like a puppy going for a walk, urging me on.
This girl calls herself royalty, yet she doesn't even think about politics. I worry for her future.
Still, well... I understand. Aside from political motives, it would be a suitable memory-making event.
"Arietta, is that alright with you?"
"A Federation-style name? Hmm, I actually like the idea! I'm looking forward to it as an opportunity to interact with many people."
"The Saintess knows what's up."
If Arietta is fine with it, then it's not bad for me to go along with it either.
"While we're at it, why don't you try making an Empire-style name, Baekyang?"
"Oh, no, I..."
"Ooh! That's a great idea!"
It was Eleanor, again, who reacted to my casually tossed remark.
She definitely thinks this is a picnic.
Eleanor then led Baekyang, Marie, and Arietta, and started chattering about all sorts of names.
Meanwhile, Ulla, who had secretly slipped away, scratched her head and said,
"Ahaha, looks like I'm making names I never intended to. But are you sure it's okay?"
"What is?"
"Wouldn't Spellerge rip you apart with all sorts of rumors if you make a new name?"
"Probably. But I'm not going to care. Come to think of it, they're sending assassins, so I'm not even angry about people talking trash."
My life is being threatened, so talking about asylum or whatever doesn't really scare me.
If I were to lose my position over something like that, I would have been overthrown long ago.
I, not Oz, am fallible.
Even if I didn't make a new name, they would have definitely badmouthed me at some point.
Yet, the fact that I remain in this position is also Salem's subtle way of saying he won't interfere until I challenge him.
After all, no matter how much the outsiders chatter, Salem, with his absolute power, won't even bat an eye.
"You surprisingly don't care much about such things."
"I'm past the point of caring. Do you think the slanders I've endured are few?"
I'm working so hard for the world, yet you all look at me like I'm something strange.
What needs to be done, must be done. There are things that cannot be avoided.
Many things will happen in the future. So, when you can enjoy yourself, you must enjoy it to the fullest.
Because these small memories will be the driving force that sustains me.
"Master! Shall I make a name for you? How about it?"
"I already have a name in mind, so it's fine."
If I leave it to Eleanor, some strange name is likely to pop out.
She'd only think of messing with me anyway. After all, a Federation-style name is just an East Asian character name.
If it were my original name...
"Uh..."
At that moment, a faint hypothesis, always kept in a corner of my mind, resurfaced.
Something forgotten, something I didn't even realize I had forgotten, rapidly came to the surface.
"Uh-oh...?"
And all those things mixed together to form...
"What... is... this...?"
Fear enveloped me. Unable to bear the overwhelming terror, I collapsed, clutching my body.
"W-what is this...?"
When did it begin?
When did I forget this possibility?
I turned my eyes towards something that adorned a corner of my vision. I directed my awareness towards something that had become so natural that I no longer consciously noticed it.
[Erosion Rate 72%]
I felt an unbearable dread at the alarmingly high number.
When was the last time I checked? When did I stop caring?
Exactly when, at what point in time.
"What was my original name...?"
Have I forgotten the person 'I' am, not Oz?