Chapter 267
Chapter 267
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 267
Chapter Title: ACT. 54 Homecoming (1)
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“Kyaaaaaah!!”
Jo Min-ah shrieked with joy, hopping up and down.
“Oh my gosh! This is just too cute!!”
Jo Min-ah wasn't the only one.
Jo Min-woo and Cha Eun-ha's eyes were sparkling too, their expressions screaming, 'I want to touch it, too.'
“It may look like that, but it's a disaster that overwhelmed the ancient demonic beast and annihilated most of Washington. Besides, a companion contract doesn't guarantee absolute friendship. It can be aggressive toward anyone other than its contractor, and in severe cases, it can even turn its back on them. You mustn't let your guard down. Though it seems there's a certain fool who knows that and forgot.”
Jun Bo-ra, who had also been half-mesmerized, flinched at Hwang Chan-jin's words and quickly regained her senses.
“Hwang Chan-jin is right. It might look cute, but that's only because it's young. Once it grows a little, it could go on a rampage like we saw before. And didn't you say it would regain its memories as it grows? Wouldn't its destructive instincts reawaken then?”
“Something this cute could never do that! It must have gone through something during its growth! We just need to raise it to be cute and adorable this time!”
“I'm losing my mind.”
[The 'Seat of the Blindfolded Scales' nods, agreeing that cuteness is justice.]
[The 'Devil Who Mocks the Heavens' wonders how they know when they can't even see.]
“Kyuu.”
Rasty naturally spread its wings and settled on top of my head.
As if that was its designated seat.
In an instant, envious gazes poured in my direction.
[You've become quite the beast tamer.]
'The Order's bastards would die of envy if they saw this.'
[...The fact that you did this knowing what those guys are up to is even more shocking.]
I picked Rasty up and placed it on the table.
'Shurue must have appeared in Washington after everything was over.'
It's impossible to know if Salvatio stopped Shurue or not.
However, on the premise that Shurue took the remnants of the ancient demonic beast's power, saving Rasty was a decision that absolutely had to be made.
The ancient one couldn't be helped, but the final one could be changed by my decision.
The Ancient and the Final. Giving the remnants of both to it would be far too dangerous.
'It was an incredibly dangerous situation, but this turned out well.'
Rasty, just as it had said, seemed to have truly lost all its memories.
Filled with the curiosity of a baby, it tilted its head at the people surrounding it, then scratched its head with its foot.
“No matter how I look at it, I can't believe this is that dragon.”
“You said your uncle's baby pictures and current pictures are a world apart. It's probably similar.”
“This damn brat, hitting me where it hurts?”
“Aack! A joke! It was a joke!!”
This should be enough of a distraction.
I turned my gaze to Crow, who was a short distance away.
For a while now, every time our eyes met, Crow had been gesturing for me to follow him out.
I didn't expect Crow to call me first.
While all eyes were on Rasty, I quietly followed Crow outside.
Hwang Chan-jin seemed to notice me leaving, but he turned his head back.
“It was definitely a look that asked why I was being friendly.”
After walking for a bit, Crow was the first to speak.
“Because I know you're trying.”
“Trying... you say.”
“Of course. You've done everything you could. I can tell just by looking at how things are unfolding.”
“That's not enough to convince me.”
“My eyes see many things. For example, that you have the blessing of an archangel.”
Crow pointed a finger above his head.
“That is something only given to one who tries to save countless others by sacrificing themself, and only after continuously earning an angel's favor. Isn't it only natural to be friendly to a being so good that an archangel acknowledges them?”
Crow is someone who has reached the pinnacle a human body can achieve.
A level where one can know much just from the aura a person exudes.
Even without a specific skill like mine, it was entirely possible for him to see certain things.
“Actually, I called you out because I wanted to talk about something else.”
“What is it?”
“Do you remember what I said earlier, about my eyes seeing many things?”
The atmosphere changed.
I felt the hair on my body stand on end and immediately tensed up.
I had already checked what kind of traits and skills Crow possessed.
He didn't have any eye-related traits like my 'Extreme Eye'.
That's why I had no choice but to be even more tense.
What had he seen about me, using something I hadn't been able to check?
“Answer only with the truth.”
“...Understood.”
“Disaster Eater.”
From Crow's mouth came a word that no one else should know.
Something that even I hadn't fully grasped yet.
I felt my blood run cold and shot him a hardened glare.
“How did you...”
“That reaction means I'm right. I knew it. It's because I felt a powerful otherworldly force from you. It's not that amazing.”
The pressure that had been weighing down on my entire body vanished as if it had never been there.
I unconsciously touched my neck.
“Be careful. That power is a double-edged sword. You're probably using a more stable method than I am, but if you let your guard down, you'll be consumed by it. Never cease to be vigilant. One who possesses power must be most wary of becoming intoxicated by it.”
Crow intentionally turned away after saying that.
It was a silent declaration that he had nothing more to say to me.
[What were you talking about that caused static? Hey, Kim Se-hyeon.]
Besial grumbled, but I had no time to answer him.
'A more stable method than I am...?'
Didn't that sound as if Crow possessed this power too?
“What are you two talking about? It's been a while since morning. If we're going to move, we should probably go now.”
Cha Eun-ha, who must have come outside looking for us, stopped Crow.
Sensing the strange atmosphere, she glanced back and forth between me and Crow before naturally adding something to him.
“Oh, right. Crow-nim. I once overheard Min-hwa unni talking with the other guild masters. They were eagerly awaiting your return.”
“Now that you mention it, I have been away for too long. Shall I stop by for a bit?”
After confirming Crow had gone back into the building first, Cha Eun-ha spoke cautiously.
“Did you two fight or something?”
“It wasn't anything like that.”
I doubt it would even be a fight in the first place.
The difference between someone whose pure stats exceed 100 and someone who hasn't.
The gap between the two is enormous.
Cha Eun-ha glanced at me furtively and muttered.
“...Aren't you keeping too many secrets? We're comrades.”
“What is?”
“Don't pretend you don't know. Forget it.”
Cha Eun-ha whipped her head away.
Even if I wanted to tell her, I don't know that much about Crow myself.
The first three, including Crow, are shrouded in so much mystery.
'No.'
EOA intentionally blocked access to information about them.
That's what it felt like.
***
As soon as we left the inn, we headed for the warp gate.
I thought it would be hard for anyone to tail us since we teleported straight there.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
“The warp gate is fine. Doesn't look like Salvatio did anything to it.”
Jun Bo-ra inspected the area around the gate.
“Then we can leave right away. It's best to go before their pursuit team catches up.”
“I think they're already here.”
“They are?”
Instead of answering, I moved.
Behind a tree about 150 meters away.
Someone had been watching us continuously.
“How long do you plan on tailing us?”
I caught up to the person who had been constantly showing up on my mana detection.
Even with a blade at their throat, they remained calm, unafraid.
No, his face actually seemed to brighten.
“Tailing you? Not at all. I was simply looking for the right time to speak with you.”
He immediately put on a charming smile and raised both hands.
He definitely had no hostile intent.
[Activating skill, 'Extreme Eye'.]
[Trait, 'Mysticism' responds.]
[There is no rank difference.]
[Failed to identify the target's information.]
A strange light shone in my eyes.
The Mysticism trait.
A trait I've never seen in EOA, and at the same time, the identity of someone with this trait usually points to one thing.
“Salvatio.”
He neither denied nor confirmed it.
As they say, silence is affirmation.
I brought the sword closer and asked.
“The right time to speak?”
“Because I also had business with you, Kim Se-hyeon-nim.”
“I doubt Salvatio would have any good business with us...”
“You are a hero.”
he said, his face filled with ecstasy.
I shut my mouth.
“A spirit of sacrifice that drives you to save others even at your own expense! The will to fight when you must, and the grit to never back down against a stronger foe and ultimately win! You possess everything a hero needs, so what reason is there not to call you one? A true paragon of heroism. A character straight out of a comic or a movie! That is why I have come to you. Yes. To help you!”
An ardent follower.
No, that's not enough to describe it.
A fanatical faith.
The way he sang my praises was, conversely, enough to give me the creeps.
“The current head of Salvatio. I used to think there would be no player stronger than him, even in the future. But now, that's changed. The first three. Someone who can match them, or even surpass them. That person is you.”
“Aren't you overestimating me?”
“Not at all. I am well aware you are a second-generation player. Second-generation players awakened less than a few months ago. The fact that you possess such power despite that is the ultimate proof. The head of Salvatio, or that Crow over there. They are all like towers built painstakingly over several years. But you, as if by magic, have caught up to them in an instant. I will prophesize. Soon, the strongest in humanity will not be that Crow, but you!”
I remained silent.
He doesn't seem to have any intention of hiding that he's from Salvatio.
What could be this man's true purpose in praising me so much?
To say he was reluctantly part of Salvatio, became impressed by me, and came to help... his eyes held a disquieting light that contradicted that.
“I doubt you came all this way just to say that.”
“You don't trust me.”
He made a hurt face for a moment, then quickly recovered.
“But I understand. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't trust some guy who was tailing me either. You'd probably think I'm spouting all sorts of nonsense to save my own skin.”
[He's good at self-assessment, isn't he?]
“That's why I've come prepared. I'm sure you'll find this tempting.”
He grinned.
Then, lowering his voice, he spoke cautiously, as if untying a secret bundle full of treasure.
“Aren't you curious about the plan the Saintess is secretly preparing, hidden even from the leader?”
***
“I'm going to see my sister.”
As soon as Hwang Chan-jin arrived at the Seoul Central Residence, he said that one line and abruptly left.
Adding that it had been a whole two days since he'd seen his sister.
“Ugh, that sis-con. How can siblings like that even exist?”
“Unni, do you have an older brother?”
“No. I'm an only child, but I've heard all sorts of stories from my friends. They say they fight all the time. Then again, with a brother like that, I guess they wouldn't fight much.”
“I think that's true. I wish someone would learn from him.”
“...Why are you looking at me?”
Jo Min-woo blinked, as if he had no idea what she was talking about.
At that, Jo Min-ah sighed, and Jun Bo-ra and Cha Eun-ha laughed at the same time.
“Well then, shall we all go our separate ways? I need to stop by the East Residence too. Hey, Kim Se-hyeon. Are you listening? He's been lost in thought for a while now.”
“Something's on my mind. I heard you, so you can go. Ah, sorry, but can you guys go home first too?”
Jun Bo-ra grumbled and disappeared via teleport, and the other four also agreed and left first.
Only Crow and I remained.
Knowing that I had intentionally created this situation, Crow waited for me quietly.
“Crow-nim.”
I unleashed my mana.
Darkness enveloped the surroundings, isolating the space from the outside and blocking all sound.
“It seems you have something important to discuss.”
“I probably won't tell anyone other than you, Crow-nim.”
“Putting it like that piques my interest. So, what is it?”
“Ain, Velode. And the EOA plan.”
With each word that was spoken, a subtle change appeared on Crow's face.
And the moment I said all three words.
The smile had completely vanished from Crow's face.
“What are the true purposes of those two, and what is the truth behind the EOA plan?”
“...How did you know that?”
*Kuuuuu.*
Crow pressed down on me with an immense amount of mana.
*You've learned something you shouldn't have.*
It was as if he were saying just that.