Chapter 218: A New Faction & The Balance of the Middle Floors (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 218: A New Faction & The Balance of the Middle Floors (3)
Knock, knock.
Another knock echoed.
It was far too polite for an assassin.
No, perhaps showing such confidence was actually more terrifying.
"Come in."
Jinhyuk gripped his Fang tightly and stared straight ahead.
Click.
The door opened, and...
...an unexpected figure appeared.
"My, my. Talk about a cold reception. I've visited many houses, but this is the first time someone's pointed a blade at me right off the bat."
A handsome man with blonde hair and blue eyes.
It was Abraham, one of the Duke's close aides.
Smiling brightly as he swirled a half-empty bottle of wine, one would think they were decade-long friends.
"Don't you have any basic manners? Why are you barging into someone else's room at this ungodly hour?"
"Don't be so stiff. Let's have a quick drink. We've got plenty of time anyway, don't we?"
Abraham strode inside without permission.
Alice, who was in the living room, gasped and quickly put her mask back on.
Then, she bolted toward her room.
Pitter-patter.
Watching her scurry away to her room was like watching a hamster fleeing from a cat.
"What's with her?"
"Leave her be. She's just extremely shy around strangers."
"Is that so? Hmm. Well, mages do tend to have their eccentricities. I suppose it's even more pronounced for someone skilled enough to be considered an Archmage."
"An Archmage?"
Alice?
"You didn't know? Even Pilgrim, the Empire's Chief Mage, was left speechless by the magic she displayed on the castle walls. He turned pale, saying he thought a dragon had appeared at first."
Well, Alice did usually act like a total airhead, but she was originally an incredible existence.
Normally, the Empire's mages and knights wouldn't even be able to withstand her sheer presence head-on.
'But how on earth did she become such a dummy...'
Jinhyuk clicked his tongue, watching Alice peek her head out from the crack of her door.
"So, did you come all this way just to see her?"
"No, I came to see you. To be honest, swordsmen are more my type than mages. My philosophy is that combat should be a direct clash of blades, after all."
"Why is it that every single swordsman is a battle-maniac..."
"Hmm?"
"Nothing. You just remind me of someone."
Cheon Yu-seong.
A promising prospect of the medical world who turned into a bloodthirsty sword demon the moment he held a sword.
Well, used to be a prospect, to be precise.
By now, he had probably hit it off with the Murim folks and crossed over to the enemy camp.
"I was tired from editing anyway, so I'll take you up on that drink. I actually had a few things I wanted to ask you, too."
Jinhyuk sat down at the table.
"I like your straightforwardness. Quite agreeable."
Abraham poured the crimson liquid into a transparent glass.
Since Alice had already swept through the dining table, the snacks were practically decimated, but a few pieces of cheese would suffice.
"If you're curious about something, ask away. I'll answer what I can."
"You don't seem like a bad guy, unlike how you look. Why did you side with the Duke?"
At Jinhyuk's question, Abraham's fingertips twitched.
"Hmm. A heavy question right from the start."
"The night is short as it is, and I don't want to spend all of it with you."
"Pfft, hahaha! True. Two grown men shouldn't be spending the whole night whispering sweet nothings."
"So, what's the reason? You must know what it means for a Grand Sword Master to side with the Duke instead of the Emperor."
"Since you seem to know a lot about the Empire's internal affairs, I'll speak plainly. You must already know how precarious the imperial throne currently is."
Emperor Reinhardt was a puppet emperor with his hands and feet completely severed.
This meant that for the future of the Empire, a new star had to rise.
In other words, the princes who would inherit Reinhardt's name had to prove their own worth.
However.
The 1st Prince was old enough, but he lacked the caliber to be emperor.
'He's the perfect fit if you're looking for an incompetent tyrant.'
He was violent and cruel, coveting immediate pleasure and power rather than ruling wisely.
The 2nd Prince, who was quite intelligent, had lost his life in a mysterious accident while out hunting.
'The nobles most likely had a hand in that.'
Lastly, the 3rd Prince possessed the virtues of a monarch who would go down in history, but he was far too young.
'It would take too long for him to become a threat. Besides, even Beinstern would have to be careful about making a move on the 3rd Prince right after the 2nd Prince.'
One thing was certain: before the 3rd Prince could even build a foundation and take flight, his wings would undoubtedly be torn to shreds by the nobles.
"...So you sided with the nobles?"
"It is for the future of the Empire. The epithet of 'Iron-Blood' vanished long ago, and the reality is that the various kingdoms are just waiting for an opportunity to rebel against the Empire. Furthermore, with the Murim and the third faction in play, I had no choice but to make a decision."
Hmm.
So the future of millions of imperial citizens was more important than a single emperor.
"Why did someone with such a noble cause approach me, then?"
Abraham looked straight into Jinhyuk's eyes.
"The hope that you might be able to change everything."
"Are you serious?"
"I've had a fair bit to drink, but not enough to spout nonsense."
Jinhyuk thought he was joking, but the playful smile had completely vanished from the man's face.
...He was dead serious.
"I know about your relationship with Penheimer. As expected, that old man doesn't know how to give up. So, I investigated a bit deeper. A Player from outside the Tower, whom everyone in the Empire dismissed as insignificant... just how incredible his skills actually were. And the scale of the achievements he has built up. All of it."
Abraham took a sip of his wine.
"To be honest, I don't believe a single human can change a great nation. Even if that person is a Grand Sword Master who has far surpassed the limits of humanity."
That was why he sided with the Duke.
If he couldn't make the best choice, he had to at least choose the next best option.
"However, seeing you made me think a little differently. Perhaps a single human truly can change the fate of the Empire."
"Don't tell me... you're planning to switch back to the Emperor's side? By betraying the Duke?"
"Whether that happens or not doesn't depend on me."
"It depends on my actions, you mean."
"Exactly."
[Lv10 'Gluttony's Eye' determines the truth of the target's words.]
[Abraham's statement is 'True'.]
At least he wasn't lying.
'Well, this is getting interesting.'
Thanks to Abraham's whim, a massive variable had appeared.
A hidden card that, if used correctly, could deal a fatal blow to the Duke.
'The question is how well I can utilize this...'
Jinhyuk's mind began to spin rapidly.
"What will it take to get you on our side?"
"Just as you said, attack the Citadel of Giants without the Empire's help and secure the base. Proving your capability is the absolute prerequisite for all of this."
Well, this was something he was going to do anyway, so it wasn't a particularly difficult condition.
"Secondly, I heard you have a close friend in the Murim."
"Not a friend, more like a leech-like nemesis..."
"I don't know the details, but having an ally on the inside is an incredible stroke of luck."
"No, I'm telling you, he's not an ally right now."
"Your second condition is to obtain internal information about the Murim from him. Naturally, the information must be useful to the war effort."
Damn it.
He had absolutely no intention of listening to Jinhyuk's protests.
It meant he wouldn't budge his heavy ass unless Jinhyuk successfully pulled off both tasks.
Of course, even this much was an unexpected harvest.
For having his rest interrupted in the middle of the night, it was an exceptionally excellent gain.
"I believe we've said enough. Well then, I wish you luck. I shall take my leave first."
Abraham slowly stood up, harboring a mix of worry and anticipation.
As if suddenly remembering something, Jinhyuk called out to him.
"Ah, just in case you're worried—even if things go south and your betrayal is exposed, don't worry too much."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing much. Just that even if things turn out for the worst, I can at least look after you."
A sheet of paper materialized in front of Abraham.
"Goinmul... Corporation?"
"It's an excellent company. One that truly recognizes talent."
Jinhyuk didn't forget to make a final sales pitch.
As the head of the company, he was always welcoming of capable new recruits.
* * *
Time flew by in a blur as they busily prepared to raid the Citadel of Giants.
Since they had to move in a very small group, and even the fastest route to the giants' territory took over a week, there were countless things to take care of.
"How dare you ask Us to carry luggage?"
Alice frowned as she looked at the mountain of supplies.
But it was only for a brief moment.
"Ugh..."
With a fresh bump on her head, Alice hoisted a pack larger than her own body onto her back.
Next, Jinhyuk's eyes fell on T-Bone, who was proudly polishing his weapon beside him.
He had ordered T-Bone, along with Goguma and the other spirit beasts, to focus on leveling up and growing in the insect labyrinth...
But he had summoned him back for this operation.
Even if the others couldn't come, T-Bone, who was contracted as an undead monster, could.
"Clack. T-Bone. Got strong. I protect Master."
T-Bone puffed out his skeletal chest as much as his scrawny bones allowed.
Hmm.
He really needed to give him a bath in ogre milk sometime.
With all those hollow holes in his bones, he looked severely calcium-deficient.
Thinking about sending him to fight creatures thirty times his size made Jinhyuk feel strangely apologetic.
"So, are the three of us really going all the way there like this?"
"Yeah. Aren't you excited? Becoming one with nature, ah..."
They could pick mushrooms, catch crawfish along the way, and truly get into the camping spirit.
Alice looked like she was about to cry, but he couldn't care less.
In the first place, was a comfortable and cozy journey even possible in a medieval setting?
"If you're late, I'm leaving you behind."
Jinhyuk quickened his pace.
"W-Wait for me!"
"Clack."
Alice and T-Bone hurried after him.
* * *
How many hours had passed?
As they distanced themselves from the imperial capital, a quiet mountain path stretched out before them.
Warm sunlight, the scent of green grass, and refreshing air.
It was a stark contrast to Seoul's spring, which was always choked with fine dust and yellow sand.
Of course...
In Seoul, you didn't get tailed during a casual daytime stroll.
Especially not by people carrying deadly weapons.
"Did you notice?"
Alice spoke quietly.
Darting her eyes quickly to scan the forest, her mana detection was truly something to be admired.
"Yeah. I noticed a moment ago."
At first, he thought they were just bandits.
But the ones tailing them this time were on an entirely different level.
'To think even I can't pinpoint their exact numbers.'