Chapter 192: Drawing the Holy Sword
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 192: Drawing the Holy Sword
"Where am I?"
When I opened my eyes again after losing consciousness from the light emitted by the Saintess, a pure white landscape stretched out before me, much like the space where I first met Chubby Ahn.
I had been in a place like this briefly during the classic masterpiece Chunhyangjeon as well.
'Every time I'm supposed to have moved somewhere, it’s always a place like this.'
Counting them up, this was already the third time. At this point, I could practically be considered a regular in the "white void."
Surely, if I just stayed still, a message would pop up or someone would—
"Sorry if I startled you. I don't have much time."
—show up.
I turned my head toward the source of the voice.
'An object head?'
It was a man with a sturdy build wearing a suit, but with a book where his head should be. The pages of the book were constantly flipping, making a soft rustling sound.
I wasn't particularly flustered by the sight. I had expected something like this to happen to some extent.
'I came here aiming for this, after all.'
With a Protagonist Share of 45%, I figured it was about time I started meeting entities like this.
"You aren't surprised. It's as if you expected this."
"I'm Rubenia."
After saying that, Rubenia made a motion as if sitting down in mid-air. Immediately, a chair, a table, and a tea set appeared as if they had been there all along.
"Sit, for now."
"Yes."
Since they had called me the moment I entered Akabellum, they must have business with me. I figured it wouldn't be too late to ask my questions after hearing what they had to say.
They said they didn't have much time, but like most people in high positions, that was probably just a formality.
"There's so much I want to tell you... hmm... what do you want to hear first?"
"Pardon?"
I suspected it the moment I heard that flippant tone. I wasted time waiting, thinking they were actually going to tell me something important. If you said you didn't have time, please just start with the important stuff.
"Then... how much do you know about me?"
"I know that this isn't where you were originally supposed to be."
The answer came flying back the moment I voiced my biggest curiosity.
'They know?'
I was taken aback. My first question was meant to be both important and a bit of a probe. I had half-given up on getting a straight answer, thinking it would be great if it worked but fine if it didn't.
Since it had come to this, I went straight to the point.
"Why was I possessed into the body of Baek Tae-yang?"
Baek Tae-yang was a character so unexpected that even Chubby Ahn was shocked. I wanted to know the reason why I was possessed by a character who, according to the descriptions, should never have appeared.
"I didn't decide that. Hmm... if I had to put it one way, I suppose you could say it's the result of what everyone wanted."
Vague words.
Instead of asking for further explanation, I chose to move on to the next topic immediately. I could chew over and analyze the hidden meanings later.
"Is Chubby Ahn not a god?"
"Chubby Ahn?"
Rubenia reacted with confusion, as if hearing the term for the first time. Then, as if suddenly grasping my intent, they clutched their stomach and began to laugh for a long time.
Since they kept wasting time despite saying they were busy, I couldn't hold back and spoke up.
"Excuse me..."
"Ahahaha! Sorry, sorry. So you call ―――― that."
"What?"
"Ah, you can't hear this?"
They let out a deep sigh, muttering, "Just how far did he block things off?"
"Chubby Ahn? That guy might look like that, but he's more thorough than he seems. Um, ah. What was the question again?"
"I asked if Chubby Ahn is not a god."
"Just as you suspected, he isn't."
I knew it.
Now that the two most fundamental questions were resolved, I felt a sense of clarity. Now it was time to ask about the smaller details.
"Are you a god, then?"
"Since I am Rubenia, I suppose so. But I am not omnipotent."
"I was only barely able to call you because we're inside Akabellum. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have been able to see you like this."
I nodded at Rubenia's words.
'Right, if they were omnipotent, they wouldn't have met me in such a roundabout way.'
They wouldn't have needed to use the Saintess as a medium; they could have met me in a dream. But Rubenia called me here through the Saintess in Akabellum. Choosing such a cumbersome method meant their range of activity was limited. It wasn't much different from Chubby Ahn waiting in front of Kim Min-su's dormitory.
"Then, did you give me the quests?"
Quests.
From the Main Quests to the Emergency Quests and so on. They had been sticking to me like a tag ever since I entered the Academy Pure Love Diary. Sometimes they seemed like they were trolling me, but in the end, they served as a guiding system.
'Even if they aren't omnipotent, they might be able to do at least that much.'
It was a matter of possibility. However...
"Quests? Ah, those are a sort of tutorial."
Once again, their answer defied my expectations.
"A tutorial?"
"Yeah. Honestly, if you enter a world you know nothing about, you wouldn't have a clue where to start, right? So, as a courtesy, ――― probably arranged those in advance."
"Who?"
"Ah, sorry. You can't hear this either, obviously."
Their voice sounded as if they were blaming me, saying, "There sure is a lot you can't hear, huh?" But I could tell instantly that they weren't being serious.
'I can't see their face, but I can read their expression.'
A series of incomprehensible situations. Rubenia made a gesture as if thinking for a moment, then spoke again.
"Sorry, I spent too much time laughing and chatting. I don't think I can take any more questions. From now on, I'll just do the talking."
Saying that, they downed the black tea on the table in one gulp. Since I couldn't tell where their mouth was, it looked like a magic trick.
"First, from the moment you entered Akabellum, I borrowed Lilmay's body for a bit, so she probably won't remember anything."
Lilmay, can you hear me?
I nodded at those words.
"And you might be wondering what to do from now on, but you can just do what you usually do. You know, the stuff you always do."
They continued with words that seemed to anticipate the questions I was going to ask. To say they weren't omniscient despite this was absurd.
"Keep a close eye on Kim Min-su... he's a loose cannon. You know you have to clean up after him if he causes trouble, right?"
I didn't know that.
"You don't have to! But you probably will. Wow, I really don't have time now. The last thing I want to tell you is—"
"Make sure you pull the Holy Sword."
With Rubenia's final words, light once again enveloped my entire body.
'No, why do you keep knocking a perfectly fine person unconscious...'
And so, I lost consciousness again.
++++++++++++++++
While Baek Tae-yang lay unconscious in Akabellum...
Our hero, the Indomitable Hero Kim Min-su, was sitting in front of a computer.
Even when he tried to call for people, only Baelson was around, and he was in a stifling situation where he had to ask for permission to go anywhere. In times like this, he had to look for a solution from the outside.
'And I know just the way.'
Just as the Pure Love Diary Writer said, now that he had realized the Truth and Reason of the Universe, any obstacles blocking his path were merely temporary.
Reply to [I feel a bit neglected.]: [Doctor Know-It-All] Pure Love Diary Writer [Tae-yang Rank]
You went on a trip abroad after a long time, but you feel like you've been left alone? No one is around?
Hmm... and even the woman you flew with isn't there... Well, they're probably preparing a surprise for you.
If not, then doing a surprise yourself is one way to go about it.
Did you say you went to the Holy Kingdom of Rubenia? I haven't been there myself yet, but...
Well, there's something I always emphasize when giving advice about traveling abroad.
Women... their eyes always open to something new in a fresh environment, so to speak.
The same goes for men.
I've also heard that Victory Academy cadets are incredibly popular overseas.
Besides, since you're someone called a Hero... well, it's not like you have to go somewhere special.
Couldn't you just charm people at the place you're staying?
You could spend your time like that... or maybe some special symbol in the Holy Kingdom of Rubenia...
For example, what do you think about... trying to pull the Holy Sword? Just a thought.
Actually, if the Indomitable Hero doesn't pull the Holy Sword, who will? lol.
It's such an obvious story, I don't even need to see it. lol.
If you pull the Holy Sword, women will be lining up. Why are you even worrying about this?
Get moving right now.
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'As expected of the Pure Love Diary Writer.'
Even the person who usually left malicious comments was nowhere to be seen today. It was a situation where the timing was just perfect.
'I'm a VIP too, since I took a private jet.'
According to Baelson, the place he was staying was also very expensive. It felt as if the tangled threads were untangling themselves.
Kim Min-su threw his door open and called for Baelson.
"Baelson!!!"
"What is it?"
Baelson appeared, his muscles bulging as if he had just been working out. Kim Min-su briefly stared at the muscles and compared them to his own body. Then, just before his confidence could plummet, he spoke.
"Lead me to where the Holy Sword is."
Eyes full of conviction. Words carrying a firm resolve.
Baelson looked at him, utterly shocked, and opened his mouth.
"No."
What kind of nonsense is that?
That was the look Baelson gave Kim Min-su.