Chapter 191
Chapter 191
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 191
Chapter Title: The Real Story
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Clap!
As Mumyeon clapped his hands, the scenery changed.
Lee Si-woo's eyebrow twitched as he realized he was suddenly standing alone in the center of an empty room tiled with white marble.
He was displeased at having been whisked away alone, as if abducted, leaving his companions behind.
But he wasn't foolish enough to show his discomfort, so he asked nonchalantly.
"Are we going to talk while standing?"
At his natural yet composed demeanor, Mumyeon let out a low laugh and spoke.
"Sit and be comfortable."
The thought of where he was supposed to sit when there was nothing had barely crossed his mind when a chair rose up directly behind him.
It was less like it had sprung up and more like it had been created, a phenomenon that made Lee Si-woo wet his dry mouth with his tongue.
'He's not an NPC.'
He knew it the moment he saw him.
No, it was impossible not to know.
The gaze felt from behind the mask, which had no eyeholes, was chilling, like a centipede crawling on his skin. The subtle yet sticky interest felt like it was squeezing his heart.
Was that all? He could even feel the aura of Barathrum from Mumyeon.
'To possess the aura of Barathrum means he's a being with divinity. He can't be a fake. But he's not the real one, either. The true Mumyeon died inside Barathrum. So what is this guy? If he's neither real nor fake, then what…?'
Tension, as if his spine were freezing, rose with the question, but Lee Si-woo showed none of his inner turmoil, sitting down in the chair and casually crossing his legs.
"Why did you bring me here?"
In response to Lee Si-woo's question, Mumyeon asked something unexpected.
"Did he send you?"
"He? Who are you talking about?"
As he spoke, Lee Si-woo thought that the 'he' Mumyeon was referring to might be the progenitor demon, and his guess was correct.
"The demon."
Lee Si-woo fell silent at Mumyeon's short reply.
How did he interpret that silence?
Mumyeon tilted his head and continued.
"No. The demon didn't send you. But you are related. Do you know each other?"
Was he annoyed by Mumyeon's reaction, as if he had seen right through his thoughts?
Lee Si-woo threw back a question of his own.
"Where is Lee Si-woo?"
"The wedding."
"Then there will be a reset."
A meaningful statement from Lee Si-woo.
To those words, which any other NPC would not have understood, Mumyeon replied calmly.
"Seeing that you know about the reset, you are clearly Lee Si-woo, but a user. Then… did I ultimately accept the demon's proposal?"
It was clear that the Mumyeon before him had some awareness of this world.
"What are you? An NPC? Or…"
"If by NPC you mean the other figures who are reset, then I can tell you that I once belonged to that cycle, but I have now broken free."
Only then could Lee Si-woo grasp what kind of being this Mumyeon was.
It seemed the Mumyeon before him had been altered by some kind of bug.
An NPC who should have functioned normally, but due to the divinity he possessed, had broken free from the cycle and become aware of his own nature.
That was the Mumyeon of this trial world.
Yes, just like the progenitor demon's NPC, who not only stole Adrian's body but also coveted his own.
"What was the demon's proposal?"
Perhaps finding Lee Si-woo's cunning attempt to get straight to the point impudent, Mumyeon shook his head lightly and spoke.
"Hmm, selfish. You're not the only one who's curious, so let me ask first this time. Are you the original Lee Si-woo?"
"Yes. I am the original."
Having heard the answer he wanted, Mumyeon offered a belated reply.
"The demon proposed that I become human."
"...To become human, you say?"
"He said this world was flawed, that it wasn't a complete world but a breeding ground close to perfection. And he proposed that if things continued this way, the world would fall into decline and collapse. To become human and build a world for humans."
It was a lie.
The demon didn't care one bit about the well-being of the world.
The demon had only one goal: to become human.
But Lee Si-woo didn't voice this fact.
In his mind, the current chapter was a world built on the premise that Mumyeon had not accepted the demon's proposal.
'The secret chapter will start soon, and there I'll find out why Mumyeon accepted such an absurd proposal. So, it's forbidden to say anything unnecessary to this Mumyeon. It will only create variables I can't handle. Nothing good will come of it.'
Lee Si-woo subtly twisted the point.
"Why did the demon want to make not only himself, but you as well, human?"
In truth, he could guess the reason.
The demon didn't want an omnipotent being who could control his life and destiny to exist once he became human.
No matter how much he yearned to become human, how could he tolerate a being like Mumyeon who could put a leash on him at any time?
This self-serving aspect of the demon was something Lee Si-woo himself, being a part of the progenitor demon, knew better than anyone.
"Well, that's something I wouldn't know."
"So? That proposal. Are you going to accept it?"
"No. I will not accept it. In my view, this world, though incomplete, is running quite well. That's why I'm puzzled. I have no intention of accepting that proposal… so why are you standing before me?"
Just as expected of Mumyeon, he seemed to have no intention of letting it slide.
But it didn't matter.
"Whatever you're curious about, you will find out soon enough."
"How?"
"Because the secret chapter will open soon."
"Secret chapter? What is that?"
"If you know I'm the original, then you must also know I'm a being from the future."
"I'm not certain, merely speculating."
"Then do you also suspect that this is a virtual world based on a story from the past?"
"To some extent."
"Then you'll understand quickly. Everything you've seen and heard is a lie. It's all a world molded by the demon for his own convenience. But now that I have returned…"
Lee Si-woo paused to catch his breath before continuing.
"Soon, the real story you have never seen or heard will unfold."
At Lee Si-woo's bold words, Mumyeon let out a low hum.
And for a long while, the two stared at each other in silence.
As if trying to gauge each other's silence.
* * *
Rios asked his subordinate.
"The refugees?"
"They've arrived."
"And him?"
"He's nowhere to be seen, but we believe he's likely mixed in with the refugees."
"That makes sense. No matter how skilled he is, he won't be able to pass through the capital's checkpoint easily."
"What should we do? Shall we proceed immediately?"
"Tell them we will be responsible for the refugees' meals this time."
"Will they not be suspicious, since we've never done anything like this before?"
"Why would they be suspicious when we're voluntarily making the donations they so desperately want?"
"But if they confirm the food was poisoned, they will surely suspect us. This job… whether it succeeds or fails, the probability of us taking the blame is too high."
"Don't worry. The other clubs will testify to our innocence."
"The other… clubs, you say?"
"Yes, when it happens, the other clubs will point to Lee Si-woo as the suspect. And they'll testify that he's the terrorist who destroyed the base city, a blood-crazed murderer. Hmm, and that he has a motive to kill the refugees, possessing an ability that makes him stronger the more people he kills."
"Have you already finished talking with the other clubs?"
"Well, I had to pay a price of some decent suits and items… but if I can catch him with this level of investment, it's more than worth it."
The Dawn club member swallowed dryly.
He didn't know when it started, but at some point, Rios had begun to charge forward like a runaway train with broken brakes.
Perhaps it was because he had stayed in this world for too long.
Or maybe it was a sense of duty, so old it had begun to rot, that was leading him down the wrong path.
But one thing was certain.
As long as Rios was determined, Lee Si-woo would not be able to escape this snare, no matter what he did.
Rios's eyes flashed with a chilling light as he spoke.
"Now, let's begin the free meal service."
* * *
The meal service proceeded smoothly, and over a thousand refugees, thinking it their lucky day, began to eat greedily.
Perhaps because they had arrived at the capital, their faces seemed much more relaxed. Rios frowned as he observed them.
'Why? Why do I feel so anxious? Everything is proceeding smoothly, so why?'
Was it because of some unknown premonition?
Deciding to meticulously check his plan one more time for any flaws, Rios approached Luce, the checkpoint commander and a holy knight of the Mumyeon Order.
"Greetings, Sir Luce."
Luce, a holy knight with a warm appearance and fitting blond hair, responded to Rios's greeting.
"Welcome, Mr. Rios. Hmm, you don't look well. Is it perhaps because of the matter you requested?"
"Yes. I'm concerned about the terrorist I mentioned before. I was wondering if anything happened at the checkpoint…"
"You don't need to worry about that. As you know, Mr. Rios, due to the barrier Lord Mumyeon has cast over the capital, no uninvited guest can enter without passing through the checkpoint."
"Indeed, that's to be expected. Still, if it's not too much to ask, since we're dealing with an unbelievable terrorist, I'd appreciate it if you could be a little more vigilant than usual. As the other club masters testified, he is the one responsible for the fall of the base city. If such a malignant seed were to enter the capital…"
Luce smiled gently and patted Rios's shoulder with a friendly hand.
"Rios. Don't worry. As long as I am here, no ruffian can pass through the checkpoint. You know, don't you? My 'Eye of Vigilance' can weed out anyone not on the capital's population list."
Just then, the guards stationed at the checkpoint began to stir.
At the same time, Rios, his mouth as dry as if he had chewed sand, took a deep breath and watched the situation unfold.
Just as he feared, the refugees who had been eating near the checkpoint were collapsing one by one.
Seeing the refugees sprawled on the ground, trembling as if having a seizure, Luce turned pale and rushed over.
"What is it?! What's happening?!"
"Commander. We have a serious problem. The refugees who finished their meals are in bad shape. Moreover, those who didn't eat are fine, so it seems… the food was poisoned."
At the word "poison," Luce's head snapped around.
The very first day that the clubs, who never made donations, stepped up to provide free meals.
Coincidentally, a horde of refugees who had eaten the food were collapsing to the ground, poisoned.
A natural, if not obvious, look of suspicion.
But Rios responded calmly and collectedly.
"Commander. I am not so foolish or stupid as to do something so openly suspicious."
"...But only those who ate are like this."
"Commander. I've told you before. The terrorist has an ability that makes him stronger the more he slaughters. Therefore, this incident must be his doing."
"Hah, but still, how could this happen so soon after the food was distributed? No matter how skilled he is, how could he poison the food that was just handed out…"
"It's proof of how capable he is, Sir Luce. Think about it. I am someone who has taken care of countless refugees from the base city until now. Why would I harm those poor people? Of course, I admit that the circumstances make me look suspicious… but I have no moti—"
Rios, who had been in the middle of defending himself, stopped talking.
He had seen it.
A black-haired man walking from the direction of the capital, not the checkpoint, chatting amiably with a youth wearing a Mumyeon mask.
Lee Si-woo.
'What? Why is he over there? And why… why with Mumyeon…'
Lee Si-woo, who had arrived with Mumyeon—the master of this city and this world—by his side, surveyed the surroundings with the look of a detached observer and opened his mouth.
"Well, what a mess. It seems something serious has happened. Wouldn't you agree, Lord Mumyeon?"
"Mm."
Seeing Lee Si-woo, who clearly seemed to be on friendly terms with Mumyeon, Rios clenched his fists tightly.
He didn't know the full story, but unless he was a fool, he couldn't fail to realize that seeing this meant his plan had gone wrong.
Did he notice the fierce glare from the clench-jawed Rios?
Lee Si-woo, who had been strolling leisurely with his hands behind his back, smirked and said.
"Well, if it isn't Lord Rios? A pleasure to see you. It's been a while since the base city. But… why are you glaring at me like that?"
Lee Si-woo's lips twisted into a sneer.
"It's quite unpleasant."