Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Priest of Time (3)
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Kang Sung-jun wore an expression of utter shock, as if he never imagined the words "Priest of Time" would come from Seo Yu-ju's mouth.
"Did you just say... Priest of Time?"
"...Yes."
Kang Sung-jun fell silent for a long moment before slowly opening his mouth.
"...Other compensations are possible. But summoning the Priest of Time would require enormous losses for me and my clan. That's..."
Seo Yu-ju replied coldly.
"Enormous losses. You'll have to bear them."
"......."
At her firm words, Kang Sung-jun shut his mouth.
"Yun-seong suffered enormous losses too. Are you saying Incarnation Clan, the perpetrator, can't bear any?"
"...That's not what I mean. It's just that the level of compensation is too excessive...!"
"What's excessive about it? We're just asking Incarnation Clan to restore Yun-seong's arm that they took."
Kang Sung-jun ran a hand down his face before speaking.
"...Trainee Seo Yu-ju. As Incarnation Clan's master, I fully acknowledge responsibility for what happened to trainee Lee Yun-seong."
"......"
"However... summoning the Priest of Time is an entirely different matter. It's not as simple as you make it sound."
"What's so complicated about it?"
"...I don't know how you know about the Priest of Time, but she's from the Holy Kingdom. Not the Neutral Nation."
"......"
"Even to summon her, we'd have to deliver vast wealth to her order. You may or may not know this, but her divine power is a miracle she can use only once a year."
"I know that."
"...The biggest issue is that even if we offer the wealth and plead, no one knows if she'll accept."
"...What do you mean?"
".....She hasn't used her power once in nearly three years."
Everyone was stunned by Kang Sung-jun's words. If what he said was true, the Priest of Time possessed such immense power yet hadn't used it anywhere in three years.
"Do you understand what I'm saying? Even if we summon her, the chances of her refusing are nearly 100 percent."
"......"
"Kings, nobles, merchants, major clan masters—the continent's elite have begged her with vast riches, but she hasn't used her power in nearly three years."
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Seo Yu-ju's face darkened.
"Th-that can't be..."
"...If you understand, please request another compensation. I'm willing to accommodate any other demands."
"......."
After a silence, Seo Yu-ju slowly spoke.
"Then... at least ask the Priest of Time. It doesn't matter if it works or not—just trying shouldn't be a problem...!"
"...Trainee Seo Yu-ju."
"...Please."
"It's likely a waste of effort."
"...If you refuse, I'll take this to trial. I'll bring up all the evidence and the indefinite contract."
Rather than annoyed by her words, Kang Sung-jun sighed, pitying her for wasting energy on a futile cause.
"...Hoo..."
The other party members began pleading with Kang Sung-jun too.
"Please save Yun-seong hyung! At least contact the Priest of Time...!"
"Fix Yun-seong oppa's arm! Please...!"
Sensing their strong resolve, Kang Sung-jun replied.
"...Understood. For now... I'll contact the Holy Kingdom. But don't get your hopes up. I'm not trying to discourage you—it's just that I see no chance."
Seo Yu-ju thanked him.
"Thank you just for trying..."
"...Then I'll take my leave."
In the end, Kang Sung-jun judged Lee Yun-seong's words to be true.
After meeting Yoon Yeon and speaking with the trainee who'd talked to Lee Yun-seong, everything matched what he'd said.
Kang Sung-jun was heading to the prison for final confirmation. To speak with Ju Seung-hwan one last time.
Spotting him, the guard straightened rigidly.
"I-Incarnation Clan Master. What brings you here...?"
"...I'd like a brief talk with Ju Seung-hwan. Is that alright?"
"Ah... Yes. I'll guide you."
"Thank you."
The guard led the way.
After a short time, he spoke.
"Here, Clan Master."
"...Would it be possible to speak with Ju Seung-hwan alone?"
"...Uh..."
Private meetings with inmates and clan members weren't normally allowed, but facing the Incarnation Clan Master, the guard permitted it.
"Haha... Yes, fine. But keep it under 10 minutes... If others find out, I'll be in trouble."
"I'll finish within 10 minutes."
"Y-yes! Then..."
The guard left. Sensing Kang Sung-jun's arrival, Ju Seung-hwan spoke from inside.
"C-Clan Master?"
"....."
"Clan Master! You've come to see me! Can you tell me how things are going? Because of that worm...!"
"Quiet."
"...Pardon?"
Ju Seung-hwan flinched at Kang Sung-jun's icy tone.
"...I have some questions for you, Ju Seung-hwan."
"Wh-what do you want to know, Clan Master?"
"...I've heard everything. Threatening and beating trainee Lee Yun-seong, even attempting murder. And trying to kill Seo Yu-ju who came to save him?"
"...I did beat Lee Yun-seong, but I had no intent to murder!"
"Don't bullshit me—!"
"C-Clan Master?!"
Ju Seung-hwan looked dazed, never having seen Kang Sung-jun this angry.
"You... insane bastard...! No intent to kill? Then what do you call stabbing his arm with a dagger until it burst?!"
"No! That guy! He stabbed his own arm with the dagger!"
"Lying to the end...?"
"No! Believe me!"
"Bullshit...! Is Lee Yun-seong suicidal? Why would he stab himself?!"
Even Ju Seung-hwan realized his words made no sense, his face paling.
"Before bringing you to the Training Facility, I clearly warned you. No causing trouble!"
"...C-Clan Master..."
"Do you even realize how much damage you've caused the clan?!"
"...Ugh... Ugh..."
"The clan's reputation is in the gutter! Word's spread inside the facility that you tried to murder a trainee! Soon it'll cover the continent!"
"Th-that can't be..."
"Recruiting Seo Yu-ju's party is off. She even demanded we dispose of you. She's afraid of retaliation."
"D-dispose? Of me?!"
"I heard you tried to murder Seo Yu-ju too. From her and Yoon Yeon."
"Please! Don't dispose of me! How much have I contributed to the clan...! I've been loyal!"
"You shouldn't have touched a trainee in the first place! Don't you know touching facility newbies is an absolute taboo in this world?!"
"Clan Master! We're being played! Lee Yun-seong... that bastard stabbed his own arm!"
"Shut up! Despite your usual behavior, it was my mistake to trust you and bring you here!"
"Clan Master!"
"After this, there'll be a clan meeting. Whether to execute you or cripple your mana circuit and body before exile."
Ju Seung-hwan's face went deathly white at his words—the harshest punishments possible.
"Th-this can't happen... It can't...!"
"I'm here to inform you."
Kang Sung-jun tossed a document at him.
"Wh-what's this...?"
"A nondisclosure oath."
"Y-you're really going to...?!"
"We can't just let someone who knows clan secrets live freely. Sign it, and we'll cripple your mana circuit and body but spare you."
"Clan Master! Please don't do this...!"
"Refuse, and it's execution. Think it over in your cell. You have three days."
Kang Sung-jun finished and left.
"Aaaargh—!"
Only Ju Seung-hwan's wails echoed in the prison.
"Hoo..."
I arrived at my office and sighed wearily.
Just yesterday, everything was going smoothly. Seo Yu-ju's party recruitment was nearly complete.
Seeing Lee Yu-hyeon use a barrier at the demonstration had thrilled me. I knew she was an awakener, but a barrier user?
Ha Yu-ri must have hidden that detail for three months to recruit her.
Despite her schemes, their joining my clan had me elated until yesterday.
Shockingly, one madman's antics ruined it all. Our reputation took a massive hit, and now we had to beg the Priest of Time for healing.
'...I'm exhausted. Have I lived my life wrong...?'
I'd prided myself on not living poorly. Yet these sudden crises bred doubt.
At least Lee Yun-seong and Seo Yu-ju survived. If they'd died, it'd be catastrophic.
'...Then we'd have no defense if the continent turned on us publicly.'
In this continent of Eras, touching Training Facility graduates was fine. Not morally, but penalties were light if caught.
But touching facility newbies? A whole different level. Strictly forbidden by continental law—a taboo among taboos.
Sure, other major clans had done it before without getting caught.
All crimes are fine until caught, but consequences follow if they are.
In that sense, touching trainees was utter madness.
"Hoo... Not the time for this. First... contact the Holy Kingdom."
I could lie to Seo Yu-ju and Lee Yun-seong, but I didn't want to. Their eyes were so desperate.
"...Lee Yun-seong has no power, but he has real camaraderie."
Building such bonds here was incredibly hard. If I envied him for anything, it was those comrades.
I stopped thinking and infused mana into the crystal orb.
Soon, a voice responded.
-Please state the service you desire.
"VIP contact network."
-To use this service, identity verification is required. Please provide name and affiliation.
"Kang Sung-jun, Incarnation Clan Master."
-Verifying face. Please wait.
"......"
-Verified. Where would you like to connect?
"To the Holy Kingdom, Aitas Church."
-Understood. Please hold.
"......."
Click.
- ...What brings Incarnation Clan Master to us?
"...It's been a while. Captain Pides."
- ...Indeed. Never thought you'd contact the Holy Kingdom...
"I have a request."
- ...Speak.
".....Could we get help from the Priest of Time?"
- Hah... If you mean the Saintess... She no longer uses her powers. You know that...
"Please... At least pass on the message."
- ...First time I've seen you beg like this. Fine... I'll relay it, but don't expect much.
"...Understood."
- But I need the reason. Why do you need the Saintess's power?
"...An attempted trainee murder in Baronia's Training Facility. One lost an arm."
- Hm... Just one trainee? As an outsider, I wouldn't know, but is it worth that much attention?
"...The perpetrator is from our clan."
- I see. What's the trainee's name?
"Do I need to give the name?"
- ...Normally, yes for healing. The Saintess sometimes receives oracles from Aitas.
"Trainee Lee Yun-seong."
- Got it. She's nearby anyway, so I'll ask. Then...
"Yes. Thank you truly, Captain Pides."
Click.
"Hoo..."
I'd done what I could. Whether Lee Yun-seong's arm heals is up to the heavens.
'Maybe rest a bit...'
I was drained from handling Ju Seung-hwan's mess.
After closing my eyes in the chair for about 30 minutes, the crystal orb flashed.
"...Already?"
Only 30 minutes since the request? I expected a reply tomorrow at earliest.
'Obviously a refusal.'
Poor Lee Yun-seong, but unavoidable. No one could force the Priest of Time.
Click.
"...Result already?"
- .....
"...Captain Pides?"
- ...Unbelievable...
"What...?"
- The Saintess... is departing for Baronia tomorrow.
Hearing Captain Pides, I was so shocked my heart nearly stopped. Her, who hadn't used her power in three years, moving for a mere injured trainee?
"Y-yes?... I-is that true...?"
- ...She seemed unwilling at first... But after hearing the trainee's name, she agreed. No idea why.
'What...'
I couldn't grasp what was happening. I'd expected zero chance.
- She leaves tomorrow... Should arrive in two days. For safety, she'll travel with the Holy Knights. Note that.
"Y-yes..."
Click.
"...What the hell?"