Chapter 497: The Exchange (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 497: The Exchange (6)
“I am Saintess Sophia.”
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
A single introduction was met with a storm of applause.
She continued.
“All of you here are heroes. Though your methods may differ, you are all deeply appreciated individuals who have had a positive impact on the world.”
Hahahaha!
Pleasant laughter filled the hall.
It was an obvious compliment meant to flatter the audience.
But no matter how tired one was of hearing such praise, didn't its impact change depending on who was saying it?
Being praised by the Saintess herself, they couldn't help but feel good.
Having lifted the mood with just a few words, she offered her final remarks.
“You are the stars of this event. So please, relax and enjoy yourselves. I sincerely pray that this day will be more meaningful than any other.”
With that, the Saintess turned and descended from the stage.
In an instant, she was surrounded.
Those who had been waiting for her to come down rushed toward her.
“That was a truly wonderful speech, Saintess.”
“Hehe, thank you.”
“If you have a moment, would you be willing to speak with us…?”
“Of course.”
It must have been annoying to have people approach and pester her without a moment’s pause, yet she showed no sign of it, greeting each and every person with meticulous care.
Well… in a way, it was to be expected.
The Vatican Orthodox Church had likely grown to its current size thanks to their massive donations.
Where else would the funds for the Vatican’s worldwide relief efforts come from?
That’s why the Saintess endured it.
Because a single massive donation from one of them would become the foundation for saving hundreds, even thousands, of people around the world.
“…Still, it’s impressive.”
Even so, that didn't change the fact that it was remarkable.
It was an act only possible because her compassion for humanity was so immense.
If it were me, I wouldn't have lasted ten seconds before scowling or leaving the room.
“Looks like it’ll be hard to talk to her for a while…”
This was a problem.
In truth, the Star Cluster Assembly was just a diversion to capture the world’s attention.
The real reason I came here was to attend the Exchange Meeting being held on the same day.
But I had to know where the Exchange Meeting was being held to even go.
I guess I have no choice.
For now, I’ll just eat with the guild members and pass the time…
“Ah, there you are!”
“Hm?”
A cheerful voice from behind me made me turn my head.
I saw a familiar-looking old gentleman walking toward me.
“Lord Merlin…?”
“It’s been a while.”
The old man Merlin greeted me with a smile.
What’s this?
Our previous meeting had been brief, but I didn't remember him having such a friendly personality.
He glanced around, then spoke in a voice loud enough for others to hear.
“About that business I mentioned before. I’d like to discuss some of the specifics now…?”
“…Ah.”
Now I get it.
He was using a convenient excuse to get out of here.
The Star Cluster Assembly was that kind of event from the start.
A place for world-renowned figures to get acquainted and form agreements to supplement each other’s needs.
For them, the banquet hall was composed of not only the main hall but also various large and small rooms.
“I’d like to move somewhere else to talk. Would that be alright?”
The old man’s gaze shifted to the fledglings who were sitting at the table, staring intently this way.
He was telling me to make up a plausible excuse and play along.
“You can go on ahead. I’ll just let my guild members know and follow you shortly.”
The old man’s brow furrowed slightly at my suggestion that he go first.
But it was only for a moment.
His expression returned to normal, and he nodded.
“Ahem, very well. I’ll be waiting in the room at the very end of the hall. Don’t be too late.”
“Yes, I’ll be right there.”
After sending Merlin on his way, I turned to my guild members, who were still staring at me.
“Sorry, but I have to step out for a bit. It’s fine to talk with people, but don’t cause any trouble.”
“…Come back quickly.”
“I-I’ll be waiting!”
“Umm… How are we supposed to talk to them? I’ve forgotten all my English.”
“……”
The thought of leaving these guys alone was unsettling.
Left with no choice, I made a request to Ju-yeon, who was at least somewhat used to this kind of setting.
“Unnie, can you keep an eye on them?”
She grinned and asked, “Just with words?”
“…Is there something you want?”
“Just take me on one proper date before we go back to Korea.”
“Okay, deal.”
It wasn't a bad offer.
Here, we could probably walk the streets in a more relaxed atmosphere.
As soon as I accepted, Ju-yeon pushed my back with a happy expression.
“Go on. I’ll take full responsibility for the kids, so don’t worry.”
What is this feeling?
I feel like a dad who promised to play with his kids on the weekend but has to leave for an urgent work matter.
“Alright, I’m trusting you.”
“Hehe, of course.”
I forced myself to ignore the pouting faces of my guild members and started walking.
He said he’d be waiting in the room at the end of the hall…
I walked past people strolling down the long corridor in pairs and threes.
Finally, I reached the door at the end of the hall.
“…What is this?”
A strange sensation brushed past my mind.
It felt as if the corridor where I stood and the space beyond the door were completely cut off from each other.
Could it be that Old Man Merlin has deployed his specialty to keep others from entering?
I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
At first glance, it looked like a luxurious reception room, not much different from the others.
But I could see it.
The gray mana enveloping the entire space.
It was the exact same color as the space magic I had seen Merlin use once before.
The moment I closed the door behind me, the boisterous music from the corridor vanished.
It was beyond soundproofing; it felt as if I had entered an entirely different space.
…Don’t tell me he used space magic to separate this space entirely?
As I stood there with my eyes wide in disbelief, wondering if such a thing was even possible…
“You brat! When an elder tells you to come, you should come quickly! What took you so long?!”
Old Man Merlin, who had been fuming this whole time and whom I had been trying to ignore, started his nagging.
Ugh, my head.
*
Merlin.
A prestigious family among the prestigious, favored by the British Royal Family.
Their patriarch, Richard Merlin, was a world-renowned figure among the famous.
An archmage who had mastered the family’s secret art of space magic to its absolute limit.
The greatest old gentleman of this era, possessing aristocratic dignity, a fitting sense of humor, and refined manners.
…That was his public persona.
“How dare you make an elder wait, hmph…!”
But in front of Kim Do-jin, he was nothing more than a grumpy old geezer who had let his age go to his head.
There was only one reason for this.
‘I can’t stand this punk.’
He disliked him.
He disliked the man named Kim Do-jin.
So, why did Richard Merlin dislike Kim Do-jin so much?
The reason was simple.
‘I get a really bad feeling from him.’
Every time he saw him, he felt a sense of foreboding.
Did his sixth sense tell him that Kim Do-jin was actually a dangerous person?
That was half-right and half-wrong.
To Richard Merlin, Kim Do-jin was indeed perceived as a very dangerous man.
But that danger was directed solely at his magic.
‘That bastard is no genius.’
The Kim Do-jin that Richard Merlin saw was no genius mage.
It was a bit cliché, but he was a disaster.
A human calamity capable of plunging all existing mages into despair.
Ever since realizing that, his intuition had been constantly sounding an alarm.
Never let your guard down.
The moment you show even the slightest opening, the Merlin family’s secret art may no longer be a secret.
That was why.
That was the reason he acted so prickly and behaved like a grumpy old geezer who was difficult to deal with.
“I came less than five minutes after you left, sir.”
“Ahem, you brat! When an elder scolds you, you should just say you’re sorry…!”
“Ah, yes. I’m sorry.”
“Hmph… Tch!”
Of course, it was also true that his real personality was showing through a bit.
After fuming for a while, Richard Merlin forced himself to calm down and flicked the staff in his hand.
“Come and stand beside me. I will send you to the Exchange Meeting hall.”
“Yes.”
Kim Do-jin walked over at a leisurely pace and stood next to Merlin.
He was pretending to be completely relaxed, but his eyes were wide open.
‘This is my chance.’
It was, quite literally, a chance.
A golden opportunity to observe how space magic was cast from up close.
Richard Merlin, aware of his inner thoughts, scoffed inwardly.
‘Hah, arrogant brat. Do you really think you can understand the secret art of Merlin just by seeing it once?’
Not a chance.
Once was nowhere near enough.
It would be impossible even for a disaster, or even the grandfather of disasters.
With that confidence, he quickly completed the magic circle.
Soon, the mana he had spread out beforehand resonated with the magic circle, creating a small vibration.
Kim Do-jin watched the process intently.
From the flow of the gray mana to the meaning of the vibrations caused by the resonating magic circle.
Shwaaak!
The gray mana engulfed his body.
And pushed him into another space.
A world where all color had faded, filled only with gray.
In the middle of it, a single space was placed nonchalantly.
A magnificent space, no less splendid than the Star Cluster Assembly’s banquet hall.
Inside, people were laughing and talking.
He knew instinctively.
That was his destination.
And just as he thought.
His floating body slowly descended and settled there.
“We’ve arrived.”
He had no time to respond to the gruff statement.
He was sensing the gray world that surrounded him beyond this space.
As its presence became clearer, more and more things were conceptualized and stacked up in his mind.
‘A place that is real, yet separate from reality.’
A space that certainly existed in this world, yet one that no one could set foot in.
A space that existed out of necessity, yet where nothing existed.
He realized.
The Exchange Meeting hall was not a space that existed here.
It was a space that had existed somewhere in the Vatican, which had been separated and temporarily moved here.
‘Ah…’
I get it.
The answer to space magic.
This empty space was the core of the space magic Merlin used, and his everything.
The moment he perfectly understood that with his mind.
[You have discovered another space that exists in the world, the Void (空白).]
[You have acquired the sub-trait ‘Void (空白)’.]
The moment he obtained his own domain in a corner of the vast world.
Richard Merlin saw it.
The insufferably smug smile that graced his lips.
What lay within it was clearly a feeling of understanding.
But what on earth had he understood?
A wave of anxiety washed over him, and he asked in a trembling voice.
“What… what are you doing right now?”
“What do you mean?”
He grinned and continued.
“I was just looking around, thinking of buying some land.”
“……!”
It was certain.
He had realized it.
The existence of this world.
The ‘Void’ that one must obtain to wield space magic.
‘H-How on earth…!’
It was impossible.
How could he see through the secrets of space magic after seeing it just once!
‘W-What am I to do? If that bastard starts using space magic…!’
It would cause a huge problem.
The Merlin family’s secret magic was not only the pride of the family but also the pride of Britain.
For such magic to be used by some Korean youth?
What greater disaster could there be!
As he was contemplating how to handle this situation…
“Old man, it’s time to choose.”
He presented two options.
“Should we say I stole it, or that you taught it to me yourself?”
“……”
The arrogant brat before him was saying it.
The answer is already decided. All you have to do is choose.
…is what he was saying.