Chapter 873
Chapter 873
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 873
Chapter Title: God's Atlantis
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"You know the Monster Hunting Tournament, right? A terrorist attack to assassinate the Third Prince is going to happen there."
Elena's face hardened.
Terrorism.
The weight of that word hit her differently than it did me. I was an exile banished from another world and sent to Atlantis. But Elena was a native of the continent who lived in Atlantis, and the Yustria Empire was her homeland.
The Imperial Five Pillars.
It wasn't for nothing that they were called the five pillars upholding the empire. They fundamentally moved for the sake of the empire.
"...Tell me more details. As far as I know, the Monster Hunting Tournament takes place near the capital. Who the hell is crazy enough to target an imperial prince right next to the empire's heart?"
Unlike Elena, I remained calm. Even without my intervention, Kang Myung-jin, who was participating in the tournament, would handle it. No, even if Kang Myung-jin didn't participate, it wouldn't matter.
"That crazy bastard? The Third Prince himself."
"What?"
Elena, who had been frowning, soon relaxed her face. The excitement faded from her in an instant as she regained her composure.
"...So it's the Third Prince staging it himself? I see. That makes sense for him."
The Third Prince's goal was to draw attention during the Decennial Games. And subtly pin the blame for the assassination on the Crown Prince.
He was going this far because the Crown Prince was the most likely successor to the throne in the current situation. Having already secured the position of Crown Prince, if time passed without incident, the throne would naturally fall to him.
"Hoo."
Elena leaned back into her chair and rubbed her temples. From her perspective, the Third Prince's sudden move wasn't welcome. It was variable enough to disrupt everything.
"Couldn't you have told me about something this important sooner?"
"Who was it that said they weren't interested in my knowledge of the future?"
"......"
Elena fell silent, at a loss for words. At first, she had proudly declared she didn't need future information, but after tasting its sweetness through me, she occasionally asked for it. Though very rarely.
'Knowing future info lets you reap benefits easily with minimal effort.'
Of course, Elena had paid the price for it. I had grown stronger quickly partly thanks to her.
"If it's the Third Prince's self-staged act, it'll end without any casualties."
"Yeah. So no need to worry."
Elena sank into quiet thought. Her index finger tapped rhythmically on the desk in her office.
"Yu-jin. Can you be 100% sure that the future you know won't change?"
"Most things won't change. If you leave them be without trying to alter them, they happen as they should. ...I can't say 100%."
"Let me rephrase. In the future before your regression, what was I doing at this point in time?"
I recalled the original God's Atlantis. Elena didn't appear until much later. As far as I knew, she did nothing at this point.
"Nothing. She probably didn't even participate in the Decennial Games?"
"The current timeline has diverged from the future you know. I've made moves from the shadows. The aftermath could greatly alter the original future. What if an accident occurs during the Third Prince's supposedly flawless self-staged plot, and he actually dies? ...Hoo. Just thinking about it is horrifying."
To check the Crown Prince, they needed both the Second and Third Princes. The Second Prince alone couldn't stand against him—the Crown Prince was too big a threat.
"Sounds like you're planning to make a move. Plant someone inside?"
"I don't have the manpower right now. And they're all untrustworthy anyway. For minor matters, sure, but this involves a prince."
"......"
I smiled awkwardly without a word.
Elena kept bringing up Yuria. The implication was obvious. She wanted to use her. Of course, I had no intention of sending Yuria to her or even lending her. Summoning Yuria was impossible anyway.
And I didn't take Elena's words at face value.
House Baldert was vast. They surely had someone suitable for this, even if not on Yuria's level. But Elena didn't trust them. She fundamentally distrusted people, especially her own family in House Baldert.
'She acts like she trusts me... but probably not.'
Working with Elena had taught me her ways. When she tasked someone, she always had double and triple contingencies.
"The Monster Hunting Tournament runs for two days starting tomorrow. Time is tight. It's tricky to select and deploy someone suitable now."
Elena stared at me pointedly. I knew exactly what she meant.
"...I've got plans tomorrow."
I was supposed to look after Lee Min-jung with Yoo Seo-hee. Min-jung was already warming up to Seo-hee, so I planned to build rapport while Kang Myung-jin was away.
"Cancel them. It's probably something with a woman anyway. This is more important."
"Hoo. Elena. This is a problem. I have lines I can't cross either."
"Does that include toying with the maids in the mansion? They're complaining a lot right now. Some guest leering at them lewdly."
Caught off guard, I denied it immediately.
"I just talked to them a bit."
They were Elena's maids, so I tried charming them gentlemanly through conversation. I might have slipped into mild sexual harassment unknowingly. Elena's watchful eye prevented anything rougher, and with Joo Seo-hyun, Rilsne, and Yoo Seo-hee around, there was no need anyway.
"You're more stubborn than I thought. Didn't you want to date me? I'll give you the chance this time. What do you say?"
"A date as the reward? Not bad."
I considered it seriously. First, the date spot should be far from the Yustria Empire—like the City of Lights, Etin. It was outside the empire's influence, with a modern vibe that would heighten the sense of escapism.
Even Elena would loosen up in the thrill of deviance, and I'd gently seduce her into a hotel bed.
Not perfect, but satisfying.
"Just make sure the Third Prince doesn't die, right? When's good for the date? A month after the Decennial Games end?"
"You're misunderstanding something. The date is tomorrow."
My body froze.
Tomorrow was the start of the Monster Hunting Tournament.
"Elena, you're going yourself?"
"I've wrapped up all my tasks, so I'll have some free time. And... there's something personally bothering me."
Even as she said it, I saw through her—she still didn't fully trust me. It didn't bother me anymore.
"If you participate in the tournament, it'll blow up. The Third Prince would revise his plans just based on that. ...Ah. Is that what you're aiming for?"
"I have no intention of interfering with the Third Prince. The Monster Hunting Tournament allows bringing squires. I'll participate as your squire."
Squire.
A glorified errand boy. They handled things like hauling monster corpses. Nobles brought them as backup guards for emergencies. But they never joined the hunt itself.
Originally a venerable tournament for knights, that was why. What about cheating if the squire hunted? The system doesn't care about form. It didn't stop squires from advising, though.
"As my squire? That's a pretty novel joke."
"Is it my appearance or status? No problem. Hide the status, alter the appearance. Like this."
Snap.
Elena snapped her fingers. A blue butterfly fluttered and vanished. Her unique illusion magic: Illusion Summoning.
At the same time, her appearance changed.
Her blue hair turned dark brown and lengthened, her height shrank. Her face transformed too. The pristine, sculpted beauty became plain, like any girl from the city streets.
I gaped, rubbed my eyes, and double-checked her transformation.
"How'd you do that? Some special item that changes appearance?"
"I don't have such an item. This is illusion magic."
"Illusion magic? But illusions shouldn't work on me..."
I had Absolute Mind. Mental attacks, including illusions, didn't affect me.
"Not all illusion magic tampers with the mind. Higher illusions can crush and control the opponent's psyche, sure, but fooling the eyes like this is also possible. Simply put, it's a mirage."
I understood it as a highly advanced hologram.
"...Impressive."
I let out a sigh of admiration as I looked at Elena. Not just her looks—her aura and presence had completely shifted. If she hadn't openly used illusion right in front of me, I probably wouldn't have recognized her as Elena.
"Can you fool even the tournament judges? From what I know, they're no pushovers."
"Unless it's one of the Imperial Five Pillars, no one can see through my illusions. Even if it is one, if I use it in earnest, fooling them is child's play."
"But there's one person. One who might see through it."
"Kang Myung-jin, master of Aiplein Legion? No issue. I can secure his cooperation separately."
Kang Myung-jin's Dragon Eyes (S) might pierce her illusion. Unless she used it at full power.
'Low rank might mean he can't. In the original, his eyes were EX rank when he killed Elena.'
I sighed, looking at the confident Elena.
"This isn't the date I had in mind."
"Stop grumbling and be grateful for the date with me."
???
Seira, daughter of Noit Arphis—the Foolish Sword Duke, one of the Imperial Five Pillars—arrived at her villa in the capital just in time for the Decennial Games.
True to her training fanaticism, she holed up in the villa's training hall, swinging her sword nonstop. But she couldn't focus deeply. A certain man kept popping into her head.
Sung Yu-jin.
The knight of House Baldert, the exile—he wouldn't leave her mind. And every time she thought of him, her chest tightened, her body heated up.
It'll fade with time, she thought vaguely. But far from improving, her condition worsened.
Of course, Seira knew what this reaction meant.
'...I'm in love with him.'
She knew Sung Yu-jin was staying at House Baldert's capital villa. Yet she hadn't contacted him. Not only was it their villa, but she felt scared and embarrassed at the thought of meeting him.
Knock knock.
A knock echoed in the training hall. Normally, she'd snap at them. Interruptions during training pissed her off. But not now. She wasn't focusing anyway.
"Come in."
The door opened, and a sturdy female knight approached with stiff steps.
"I told you not to disturb my training unless it's urgent..."
"Milady. We have information on Sir Yu-jin."
"Mm. Report."
Seira's irritated tone softened at the mention of Sung Yu-jin's name.
"He submitted an entry form for tomorrow's Monster Hunting Tournament."
"......"
Seira fell silent. Her mind raced. Visiting House Baldert to see him was daunting. She was the lady of House Arphis. Every action required political caution.
And she wasn't on great terms with Elena Baldert.
But what if they met "by chance" at the tournament? No need to worry about House Baldert then.
"I'll enter the Monster Hunting Tournament. I'll rack up good scores to elevate our house's prestige."
"Everyone will admire you, milady. I'll prepare your entry form."
The knight withdrew. She knew Seira's real goal wasn't the tournament but Sung Yu-jin, yet she kept quiet for her shy lady's sake.
The moment the knight left, Seira swung her greatsword into training. Her focus was even worse than before.
'What to wear tomorrow? Can't do a dress for a hunt... Better avoid manly clothes. If I smell like sweat, I'll want to die, so minimize perspiration...'
The tournament itself was the last thing on her mind.