Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Lair Theme Park (1)
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But I hadn't expected her not to wake up even by morning.
"……."
He opened his pocket watch to check the time.
8:30 a.m. Morning training time had already passed.
Why isn't she getting up, this one.
He peered into Yeoreum's body. The kid had groaned all night but tried to keep her breathing steady. Maybe that effort was paying off—her breathing was quite stable now that she was asleep.
However, it seemed her exhausted dragon heart had forcibly entered a rest state in the process.
"Ah, really? Then she'll probably be out for three days."
It was Bom's words.
Come to think of it, Bom had slept like the dead for three days after passing on magic to Winter.
"You did well. Our Yeoreum."
Bom stroked the sleeping Yeoreum's head.
Breakfast time.
Winter focused on his chopsticks. He was trying to pick up some acorn jelly, but it kept slipping away, frustrating his horns.
Slip―
The acorn jelly slid between the chopsticks. After several failed attempts, the annoyed kid stabbed it with a chopstick. Now he just had to lift it. She carefully raised the chopsticks, but the acorn jelly split lengthwise and fell apart between them.
"……."
Winter's expression hardened rigidly. A blank look like his brain had frozen. The lost chopsticks hung motionless in the air.
Just then, Yoo Ji-tae carefully called out to her.
"You free today?"
Life returned to her dazed eyes at his call.
"…Huh?"
"Wanna go to the theme park?"
The kid beamed.
Go bring her here.
Such an order had come from the lord.
'I shall obey your command, my lord.'
The 「Archduke's Shadow (SS)」 wearing the guise of a Japanese woman named 'Hashimoto'.
She had been living a breathless life lately. After the Melishia ball ended. With Noah and Wei Lian's deaths, the demonkin were on maximum alert.
Dissension had broken out in demonkin society, and some Invisible teams had splintered into factions. Doubts about the operation to devour the Lair grew, and as opposition mounted, Deputy Ma Nam-jun had captured and killed several demonkin, displaying their heads to intimidate the organization.
But the warnings weren't very threatening. Fear had taken deep root within the organization.
Not a single demonkin survivor from the ballroom meant they had almost no information on the incident. Terrified of some unknown entity targeting them, the demonkin scattered like cockroaches.
In this transitional period, the clone had infiltrated Invisible. Under Deputy 'Ma Nam-jun', she constantly monitored the situation.
To sum up the results:
1. Demonkin are rapidly fleeing the Lair.
2. Demonkin are splintering into factions and plan to lay low while building strength for the time being.
3. Probably no dragon-related incidents for at least 20 years.
Thus, the world was proceeding according to Yoo Ji-tae's plan.
Here, the final obstacle to a 'perfect 7th run' was the 'existence beyond Providence's Horizon' and the 'malice' it sent.
A part even the regressor couldn't control. Though it had been quiet lately.
That day, the clone headed to the 「Underground Labyrinth」 via 「Shallowest Abyss (S)」.
She had come here a couple times in Yoo Ji-tae's stead. Giant containers. Insane airborne special forces troops. And a nimble ironclad armor with a tiny rabbit-like woman.
"Ooh! The pharmacist is here!"
"Pharmacist! Come on in. Uh-heh-heh!"
The troops called Yoo Ji-tae 'Doctor' and BM 'nurse', but for some reason, the clone was called 'pharmacist'.
"Where's BM?"
"You think I'll tell you that easily? Kuhaha!"
Special Forces Captain Bell Varian, drunk on Paradise's light, said that, and the troops burst out laughing, "Wahaha!"
"……."
The clone turned serious.
"How about an arm-wrestle? If you win, I'll tell you."
"Arm-wrestle?"
The troops protested.
"Hahat! Captain! Isn't that too shameless?"
"Look at the arm difference. The pharmacist lady's arm is like my daughter's, but yours is elephant leg thick! And you wanna arm-wrestle? Uh-heh-heh!"
Bell screeched.
"Shut up, you trash! Pharmacist. You in or not?"
The clone gave them a curt look, then shook her head.
She decided to humor them once.
On the table, a slender, fragile arm faced off against one thicker than someone's waist.
"Three, two, go!" a trooper shouted.
Bam!
Bell's hand slammed down instantly, shattering the table.
"Krrk!" His arm twisted, eliciting a pained groan.
An effortless victory for the clone. Cheers erupted like thunder.
"Woooah! Pharmacist!"
"Damn! So freaking cool! Kuhahaha!!"
"My god! Our captain's smashed—pride and all! Gotta hook him to vodka IV till morning!"
"Damn you! Whose subordinates are you? Kyahaha!" Bell bellowed, but they ignored him, rushing to hoist the clone for a celebratory toss. Some went to Bell, tying his hair in pigtails as punishment, only to get smacked.
Tossed into the air, the clone turned her head.
Through them, she saw Morning Star with broad shoulders.
"……."
For some reason, that kid seemed to be growing bigger.
"Ah. A guest has arrived."
A few minutes later, BM returned from outside the labyrinth.
Pushing up her sunglasses, BM greeted the clone while downing sloshing vodka.
"What brings you today?"
"Came to take the ironclad armor."
"Hm, 'Armata' can do as you please. The drug's effects seem to be waning anyway. He's brightening up—right on time."
The guardian brightening up.
It meant the mental corruption was lifting, and Paradise's light was working stronger.
"Ah, but anyway…"
BM broached cautiously.
Then she spoke of the incident at the All-Nations Banquet.
"Simon Abkarian wants to meet the lord?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
Simon Abkarian.
Gallia's savior. France's hero. Leader of 'Overman Without Borders'. World rank 29.
A name even the clone, sharing some of the regressor's memories, knew well.
In past runs, he'd been an ally at times, enemy at others. Looking back now, only his rigid personality stuck out.
"Doubting my master, I suppose."
"Regrettably, my persuasion fell short. The guy's stubborn. If it's a hassle, just refuse. No need to worry about your image in the All-Nations circle."
True enough.
Yoo Ji-tae wouldn't care much what All-Nations thought of him.
Whatever they did, it wouldn't disrupt his daily life.
The regressor held several Federation weaknesses. They knew about the 'unofficial ranker beyond standards' but couldn't speak of it.
And proving it, All-Nations seemed unaware the Federation knew of Yoo Ji-tae.
"……."
Yet for some reason, in the 7th run, Yoo Ji-tae seemed inclined to get close to All-Nations.
Look at the present. BM walking around with a head was proof enough.
The clone nodded after a moment's thought.
"Leave an address?"
Three days later. The clone's officetel.
The clone was still in the guise of a young Japanese woman. As she dabbed makeup on haphazardly for her afternoon schedule.
Tap tap.
Something knocked on the officetel window.
The clone turned. A crow familiar was perched there.
― Caw.
"……."
― Kyaak.
It looked ready to scream nonstop if she didn't open the door.
She opened the window, and the large crow shrank, entering. A letter was tied to its ankle. Some messenger crow. Curious, but the clone silently checked the note.
She burst into hollow laughter at the contents.
[Little Red Door, 60 Rue Charlot, 75003 Paris, France]
She'd left an address saying come if you want to meet, but they'd sent one back?
"Cheeky…"
She was dumbfounded.
A pride contest? Some people get touchier about trivialities with age.
The clone took the lipstick she'd been about to apply and drew an X on the note. Then retied it to the crow's leg and sent it off.
'Lair Theme Park.'
The northern end of the entertainment district.
This fancy amusement park, where Hate Ling and the Lair met, was a first visit for Yoo Ji-tae.
Gaeul had left early morning with friends, saying she'd go play.
Today, only Yoo Ji-tae, Bom, and Winter visited the theme park.
"Pretty crowded, huh?"
Bom murmured.
Vacation should've meant fewer people, but the ticket line was long. Tourists from various countries.
Entering the theme park, a grand airborne castle loomed in the distance as a backdrop. A sturdy cat character mascot symbolizing the Lair waved to greet visitors.
"……!"
Upon entering, Winter's eyes sparkled as she wriggled in Yoo Ji-tae's arms.
"Want down?"
Nod.
Rare for her to ask to be put down.
Yoo Ji-tae set her down, and she began eyeing him slyly.
"What."
"……."
A tiny hand crept closer.
She cautiously grabbed Yoo Ji-tae's finger. Then took Bom's hand with the other.
And started walking ahead. Like she was leading today.
"Got it, Winter. Go slow."
Usually listless Winter was unusually excited, so Bom had to calm her.
The first ride was the Viking. A massive ship rose on magic, swinging like a pendulum side to side. The regressor rode without much thought. Bom and Winter squealed, "Kyaha―!" in delight. Fresh laughter brushed his ears.
Winter, who became humanoid right after birth, especially enjoyed the speed.
"That was fun. Fun for you too, Winter?"
Nod nod.
The next ride was 'Uroboros Coaster'.
At the entrance, a staffer asked Winter.
"Little one. Wanna measure your height?"
Having ridden it several times already, Winter nodded confidently.
Her height: 110cm. Barely qualified.
Soon, Yoo Ji-tae and the kids mounted the back of the captive giant spirit serpent 'Yormungand'.
This spirit loved bizarre flights. The trainer tapped its head with a whip, and it soared into the sky. Like riding a dragon's head.
The serpent flew through the theme park, slyly into Hate Ling, then outside the sky island.
Those seeing the dizzying drop below screamed in thrill. Even clueless Winter screamed along.
In the steep drop, the trainer snapped photos.
Off the ride, their picture—Yoo Ji-tae, Bom, Winter—popped up on the holographic board.
Bom smiling brightly. Winter's grimacing face.
And Yoo Ji-tae's sullen expression, unmasked, off to the side.
"What is this? Too funny."
"……!"
Even mid-hair-whipping, Yoo Ji-tae's dead-serious face was a masterpiece.
Bom and Winter, who got the photo sent, giggled.
After a few rides, it was lunchtime.
At the theme park's end was a ground-view cafeteria. With Hate Ling visible beyond the windows. Yoo Ji-tae decided to eat there with the kids.
They ordered overpriced food at 20x markup.
As they sat blankly.
"Hm? Isn't that Bom?"
Someone from over there called out to Bom familiarly.
"Oh? Professor. Hello."
Bom smiled faintly and bowed.
A middle-aged man with a receding hairline. Professor Myeong Jong.
One of the Lair's renowned professors. Owner of White Horse House. Korean local superhuman ranker.
Also one who'd fallen hard for Bom at enrollment, among the magic professors.
Even during department life, professors like Myeong Jong had courted her persistently, but Bom had firmly refused.
Now they seemed to maintain a good professor-student relationship.
"Oh my. Bom here of all places? Ah, hello. I'm Myeong Jong."
"Nice to meet you. Guardian Yoo Ji-tae."
"What brings you here, Professor?"
"Hm? Family outing, what else? If it's okay, care to join us for lunch?"
No reason to refuse.
Yoo Ji-tae agreed, and Myeong Jong brightly called his family.
He'd crossed paths with Professor Myeong Jong while accompanying Bom to classes, but hadn't paid attention to this timid prof until now.
That Myeong Jong was from Korea's famed magic clan 'Myeong family'.
And that his son was the regeneration druid 'Myeong Yong-ha'.
"Dad, they say they can't make the curry mild."
A large man's voice came from afar. Myeong Yong-ha.
Korea's tactical weapon and top star ranker, his face altered by face mask. But recognizable by aura and build.
Myeong Yong-ha pushed a stroller, a baby's head peeking out.
"Can't make it mild? Why not? I don't like spicy."
"Uhahaha! Then don't order curry! But we just grabbed seats over there, why call us here… Hm?"
Myeong Yong-ha's eyes widened round upon spotting Yoo Ji-tae.
"Huh? You…."