Chapter 87
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: School Trip (2)
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Hermit's words were quite simple.
The grand scheme of the plan remains the same.
They had found a replacement for the World's Root and had already acquired it.
However, since the replacement wasn't as strong as the World's Root, some of the detailed operational guidelines had changed.
And finally, Maestro possesses a video of the moment Gwuiryeong and Geomryeong fell, and he is targeting Yuhwa.
In summary, that was the gist of it.
"That is all."
"I see."
I was impressed with Hermit for conveying the information so precisely without violating Unknown's 'Vow of Absolute Obedience'.
Of course, he'd spoken vaguely, assuming I already knew the general plan, so it was a method that wouldn't have worked on anyone else.
In any case, it was a relief that the grand scheme of the plan hadn't changed.
A relief, but
"One question remains."
"A question, you say?"
"According to you, Maestro recorded the battle with Geomryeong and Gwuiryeong using a special drone. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
I couldn't believe how surprised I was to hear that. To think Maestro had seen that fight.
"A drone capable of penetrating the dense mana barrier of the Yeoncheon Field would have to be a micro-mana drone."
""
Hermit looked a little surprised, as if wondering how I knew such a thing.
"That drone would be heavily affected by mana, so it must have malfunctioned during Gwuiryeong's 'Chaotic Presence' in the middle of the battle. The recording must have cut off partway through. Am I right?"
"That is correct."
Hermit nodded, his expression one of surprise.
"Even so, it means he saw me fight, at least until the 'Chaotic Presence' was deployed"
Although it was to save Jia, showing Maestro my fighting style was the worst possible mistake.
The Maestro I knew would have become 100% suspicious after seeing me fight.
"Why isn't he investigating me?"
Maestro's method of handling things was to eliminate possibilities one by one, starting with the least likely.
In other words, investigating me before targeting Yuhwa was Maestro's typical way of doing things.
"Given Maestro's personality, it would be normal for him to conduct a background check on me first."
And Maestro was the executive who had been in charge of the human experiments at Sunlight Orphanage.
Inside Jilli-ui Gumyeongja, there would be data recording the Sunlight Orphanage experiments.
Naturally, my full name would be written in that database.
He would have eventually arrived at the hypothesis that there was a high probability I was a survivor of the Sunlight Orphanage experiments.
And yet, there's no investigation into me at all?
For someone like me who knew how meticulous Maestro was, it was incomprehensible.
"That investigation is already complete. After finishing, Maestro was convinced that there was no problem with Kang Seoyul."
"No problem?"
What does he mean?
There's no way Maestro wouldn't know about Sunlight Orphanage.
Even if he'd forgotten, the data would still exist.
"Yes."
Hermit smiled.
"Because I erased all traces of your suspicious past."
"What?"
It was the smile of an assassin, cloaked in pitch-black darkness.
"Kang Seoyul, survivor of the Sunlight Orphanage experimental site."
Hermit looked me straight in the eye, his gaze dark.
"I'm telling you that I have completely erased the records of that past."
My pupils dilated to their limit.
"It seems your questions have been answered, so now it is my turn to ask."
Hermit's smile vanished, replaced by a dry, expressionless face.
"Elder, no"
His cold gaze was enough to send shivers down anyone's spine.
"Kang Seoyul. What exactly are you?"
My heart sank.
""
""
We stared at each other for a long while.
I don't know how much time passed like that.
"I see."
Having organized my thoughts, I spoke first.
"Maestro trusts you, Hermit. So it's not so strange that he would entrust my investigation to you."
My tone had shifted from the arrogant Great Spirit mode back to my normal Kang Seoyul voice. I judged that there was no point in maintaining the act now that I'd been found out.
"You would have gotten Maestro's permission, accessed the organization's database, and found my information. You must have found something different from what you learned when you investigated me in Korea."
I sighed, stroking Geumho, who was still baring his teeth.
"You must have found out that I'm from Sunlight Orphanage, and that it was a place Jilli-ui Gumyeongja used for human experiments."
""
"Bound by the Great Spirit's Vow, you couldn't have just handed that information over to Maestro as it was."
It would have violated the vow not to disclose my information to others.
"So you fabricated the information. Right?"
Hermit gave a small nod.
"Tsk. So this is how it turned out."
I let out a sigh.
"My identity. My identity, huh."
What could I say to convince Hermit?
Anyway, Hermit can't betray me because of the vow.
He could try to screw me over, but there's no way Hermit, who harbors such hatred for Unknown, would antagonize me, Unknown's enemy.
In other words, no matter what I say, my relationship with Hermit won't change. As long as I am Unknown's enemy.
Alright. I've decided what to say.
"Your guess is probably right. I'm not a Great Spirit."
I decided to use the Meiden and Yuhwa version of the lie.
"I'm just a survivor of the Sunlight Orphanage experiments."
"As I thought."
Hermit nodded.
"How were you able to use the spirit's artifact?"
"During those experiments, they implanted factors from various races into my body. Thanks to that, I became able to use several ancient artifacts."
"And how did you know the internal affairs of Jilli-ui Gumyeongja so thoroughly?"
"The researchers told me everything. I was just a test subject who was going to die soon anyway. They talked about all sorts of things. I conducted my own investigation based on that information."
"So based on that information, you hacked the organization's information transmission routes."
There's something like that?
I had no idea.
"Right."
Might as well just agree for now.
"Then how do you explain the reason why I can't see your information with my eyes?"
"Simple."
I am Kang Seoyul.
A master liar.
"You saw what kind of experiments they did there, right? The researchers messed with my system a bit during those experiments."
I can spit out a lie like this in my sleep.
"That's probably why, don't you think? Your eyes are precise. A tiny change is probably causing them not to function properly."
"I see."
Hermit nodded slightly.
"So that means I'm just a pathetic fool who got tricked into a restriction by a mere brat."
"Hey. I'm not 'nothing'. I'm actually pretty skilled, you know."
I'm a 'D' rank, no less.
Ah, the self-loathing.
"Are you claiming to be on the same level as Unknown?"
"No, not that."
My expression turned serious.
How could I compare myself to Unknown?
There's no one who can fight him one-on-one and win.
At least, not at this point in time.
"Hah."
Hermit let out a deep sigh.
His face was that of someone who had fallen into deep self-loathing.
He seemed to deeply regret getting scared and making the vow.
"Then what about your promise to release the Vow of Absolute Obedience?"
"Ah. That?"
I flickered a translucent flame on my fingertip.
"I can release it. The part about being able to use the Spirit's Flame is true. With this, I can definitely burn away only your restriction."
"I see. Is that also the power of the forcefully injected factors?"
"Yes."
"Then, right now"
"I can't. There are two problems."
I shook my head.
"First, if I remove the Vow of Absolute Obedience, Unknown will notice."
The Vow of Absolute Obedience can't be removed secretly. The moment it's gone, Unknown will know.
"If he finds out about your betrayal, there's no telling what Unknown will do. The entire plan could change. Then my own plan to deal with Unknown will go up in smoke."
"Ah."
Hermit let out a small gasp.
"I see."
It seems he was so blinded by the thought of having the restriction removed that he forgot something very simple.
"And this is the more important problem."
"?"
"Unknown's restriction is incredibly strong. To undo it, I need an equivalent amount of mana."
"Which means"
"Yep. My mana is still insufficient."
I smiled brightly.
Hermit's face hardened.
I averted my gaze slightly.
"Hah"
I glanced back at the sound of Hermit's sigh.
"Alright. In any case, it's true that you can solve this damn curse, right?"
"Yeah. Want proof if you don't believe me? Go ahead and conjure up a mana barrier."
"Very well."
Hermit focused his mana with a doubtful look in his eyes. A sturdy mana barrier about 50cm in diameter formed above his palm.
Its obviously solid form seemed to be a testament to his skill.
This is actually much harder than it looks, but he does it so easily.
It was a simple motion, like pulling a snack out of his pocket.
"It's ready."
"Ah, okay."
I let out a small sound of admiration and once again created a small flame on my fingertip.
A collaboration of the Flame of Imprinting and the Spirit's Flame.
"See? The mana contained in this flame is tiny, right?"
"Yes."
Hermit's eyes narrowed.
His gaze seemed to ask what I could possibly do with something so meager.
"If I stretch this out, compress it, and then bring it to the barrier"
*Fwoosh-*
The sound of something burning could be heard as the barrier and the white flame met.
And the next moment.
*Piiiiing-!*
"Ta-da."
"Huh?"
The mana barrier couldn't maintain its form and shattered into pieces.
"See? This is the power of the Spirit's Flame. It burns a portion of the mana, making it unable to maintain its shape."
Hermit's eyes widened in shock. He looked genuinely surprised.
"Do you believe me now?"
"Yes. It's certainly an incredible power. A flame that burns mana"
Hermit seemed convinced.
"Anyway, that's all from my side."
I stroked Geumho, who had calmed down a little in my arms, and spoke.
"So, what's the verdict?"
"The verdict?"
I scoffed.
Why are you acting like such an amateur?
"I'm asking if you're going to side with me or with Unknown."
"Is there really a need to answer that?"
Hermit smiled brightly, as if wondering why I'd ask such an obvious question.
"If I can escape the boss's curse, I'd sell my soul to the devil."
It was a good expression, a perfect mix of hatred and anger.
"And personally, a Test Subject A who harbors a desire for revenge against Unknown is more trustworthy than some unknowable being like a spirit."
"Is that so?"
Hermit gave a bitter smile.
"In the first place, as long as I'm bound by the Great Spirit's Vow, I have no choice but to be in the same boat as you."
"You know that well."
We looked at each other and shared a small laugh.
"By the way, was that archaic way of speaking you were using before all an act?"
"Yeah."
It was more of a pain than you'd think.
"I see."
"Why? Want me to go back to the 'Elder' voice?"
"No. Your current, natural way of speaking is much better."
Hermit gave a faint smile.
"Ah. I should probably get going. If I'm gone too long, I'll draw suspicion."
"Right. Be careful. You know this, but if Unknown gets suspicious, it's over, so watch out."
Of course, it's only over for Hermit.
As long as the Great Spirit's Vow exists, I don't have to worry about my information leaking.
"I know. We've already passed one major hurdle, so you don't have to worry too much."
"That's a relief."
"Ah. Before that."
Hermit held out a small accessory to me. A ring?
"This is a ring with a built-in communication function. It's single-use, but it's an item renowned for being untraceable. I'll contact you with this ring if something urgent comes up."
"Nice."
I took the ring.
"Then I'll really be going."
"Alright. Take care."
Hermit's body gradually blurred and then vanished completely.
The more I see him, the more he really is like a ghost.
Seeing Geumho's expression become completely calm, he must have really disappeared.
"Kyuu."
I stroked the head of Geumho, who had returned to his angelic expression, and turned towards the lodgings.
When I first heard Hermit's story, I wondered how things would turn out.
In the end, it seems to have worked out well, which is a real relief.
By the way, I really need to gather mana quickly.
Seeing the 'Vow of Absolute Obedience' up close, I think I'll need to be at least A-rank to break it.
Can I reach A-rank by the day of the national competition?
No, I have to make it.
If I want to bring Hermit over to my side for sure, I absolutely must!
Before that, I first need to decide who to use the newly acquired 'Succubus Trait' on.
"Hmm."
The deliberation was brief.
Yeah, it's probably better to use it on Siyeon than on Jia.
No matter how I think about it, this is the answer.
"Alright."
Tomorrow is a free day on the trip, too. Maybe I should call her aside and have a talk.
Australia was famous for its monster parks, right? I should suggest the three of us go tomorrow with Geumho.