◈ Episode 515. An Unpleasant Matter, Indeed (4)
This time, I couldn’t simply turn a blind eye and let it pass.
The Claudi domain.
Young Grandfell.
Lycoris flowers grown from blood.
An unending series of unexpected sights.
Because I simply couldn’t forget the scenes reflected in that blurred vision.
So I had no choice but to question him. ‘What the hell was that, Grandfell?’ I still didn’t know what secrets the Claudi family held. All I had was the lycoris flowers that had filled the vast Claudi domain, allowing me to make the faintest guess.
At the cruelty of that secret. ‘……
So my settings really aren’t everything.’ I, Lee Hoyeol.
As I gained power surpassing that of an ordinary player,
There was a saying I came to understand from the heart.
With great power really does come great responsibility.
So I couldn’t help but wonder.
How was Claudi able to become great?
Whether it was overestimation or misunderstanding, I, Lee Hoyeol, was treated in reality as a great player. Objectively speaking, I was ahead of other players, and I had accomplished a great deal.
But. ‘Even for someone like me.’ Suspicious gazes and strict standards. Checks, large and small, never ceased. Of course, I wasn’t trying to complain at this point. I knew full well that was human nature.
As I said, it was merely a question. ‘No one who knew Claudi ever harbored any doubt.’ About Claudi’s greatness.
Was that simply because of their overwhelmingly great ability and loftiness?
No.
Because I was the counterexample.
Then my thoughts naturally reached one conclusion. [Lycoris flowers grown from blood]
Those flowers that had covered the Claudi domain were perhaps……
Flowers that had bloomed in the process of the Claudi family becoming great.
I clenched my teeth inwardly. ‘Claudi’s secret may very well be cruel. But.’
What I couldn’t understand was this.
Grandfell, you.
Sent your past self.
Back to that Claudi family. ‘Maybe it’s because I have a nephew right around that age.’
The expression left on young Grandfell’s youthful face.
The way he straightened his clothes with small hands.
Even the courteous greeting he offered with all the formality he could muster.
I couldn’t easily forget the image of young Grandfell. ‘But you must have known.’
The reason why that young boy, more than qualified to become the family head,
Had tried, so unlike you, to leave the Claudi domain.
And whatever that reason might have been. ‘We could have changed it, couldn’t we?’
The fact that we could have intervened in young Grandfell’s past and changed the present. You think it’s ridiculous for someone who worried about the butterfly effect to talk about changing the past?
I don’t care whether it’s ridiculous or not.
Right now, there’s only one thing on my mind. ‘There’s nothing in this world more pitiful than a kid who’s grown up too early.’
The Claudi family, [Lycoris flowers grown from blood]
The Claudi domain where those flowers bloomed in full.
All I could think about was what might happen to young Grandfell after he returned there.
Words brushed past in my memory.
-“Remember this, boy. There is no paradise in the place you flee to.”
Unfortunately.
Even I, who was more familiar with Grandfell’s manner of speech than anyone else,
Couldn’t nod in agreement to those words.
Clink.
A pile of [Gold Coins of Space-Time] paid out as a reward. Right now, they didn’t enter my eyes. I shoved them roughly into my inventory and once again reached for the scroll listing the highest-ranked space-time commissions. ‘Let’s look.’
And if there was any linked quest, I would start it immediately. Because only by watching over young Grandfell in that way did I feel I could relieve even a little of this guilt.
But from the quest names and objectives alone, I couldn’t possibly guess. Just as I never could have imagined that I would encounter young Grandfell in the quest from moments ago. ‘……
Damn it.’
Even so, I clung to lingering hope and continued reading. [Mythic Quest: The Storm Dragon’s Jealousy] [Mythic Quest: Nightmare of the Sea] [Mythic Quest: The Boy Who Cried Wolf] …….
But soon, I set the scroll down.
Then I took a small breath inwardly.
I spoke to Grandfell. ‘Let’s take a moment to think.’
Because I still couldn’t understand why you said such a thing. And if I can’t understand, then Grandfell, you have no intention of revealing your secret to me either, do you? ‘That grudge of yours—this time, I’m going to be the one holding it.’
I checked the blinking message. [Hidden Quest: Unearth the Abyss]
The Claudi family has a secret.
A secret no one has ever uncovered.
Until you comprehend that secret.
Until you comprehend its weight.
You shall not be able to wield Claudi’s halo.
-Witness the Claudi family in its entirety. (Success)
I still hadn’t fully grasped the secret.
But perhaps the weight of that secret was so heavy it was beyond imagination.
Now that I could at least guess as much. ‘……
This is nothing less than a tiger’s den.’
My steps back toward [Hidden Piece: Claudi’s Treasury]
Couldn’t possibly be light. Even so, what needed to be checked had to be checked. Whether the gold, silver, and jewels had regained their shine. ‘But before that…….’
~♩♬♩♬♪~
The Social Hall of Space-Time.
I needed to stop by the lower floor over there and turn off this music first. If they were playing it because I was a VVIP, then surely they could turn it off if the VVIP didn’t want it, right?
Click-clack.
Even as I took off the cloak I had been wearing, I declared confidently to Grandfell.
Until you confess your secret first.
Our relationship will remain in a cold war for the time being, Grandfell.
“……!”
But damn it, our cold war couldn’t last long.
Oh, no.
Because my mind had been filled with little Grandfell, I had forgotten.
The possibility that there were other transcendents in the Social Hall of Space-Time……! ‘……
Well, if it’s one or two.’
And if those one or two were the Witch of the Southern Sea, Mary.
Or the heads of the Four Families.
Then all I had to do was brazen it out as usual. ‘Actually, they already know my full name anyway.’
To them, would it really be such a big deal if grand music played along with my appearance? However, with every click of my shoes as I descended the stairs, my faint hopes were shattered miserably.
Click-clack.
With every step I descended.
“!”
The shocked faces of transcendents were revealed one by one. ‘No.’
The heads of the Four Families and Mary, whom I had mentioned earlier. On top of that, players including Nam Taemin, a figure all too familiar to me. All of them were looking up at me as I appeared with that solemn performance accompanying me. ‘Seriously.’
It seemed the world did not want our cold war, Grandfell……! I hate to ask for your help, but in order to disperse this crowd at once, I’ll need that loose tongue of yours that so loathes society.
Only then did Grandfell respond to my words.
Through my lips.
A cold voice flowed out.
“Cease the performance.”
♩♬♩……—Cut.
The music stopped.
In the silence, I continued speaking.
“I am in no mood to associate with you at present.”
I’m telling you, there’s no need to make it sound that meaningful?!
*
“……!!!”
Something was wrong.
Gulp.
Nam Taemin swallowed dryly without realizing it. ‘Mr. Hoyeol……?’
An expression as if he were desperately enduring something.
And yet, from that unwavering face, a faint emotion seeped out.
That emotion felt unfamiliar to Nam Taemin.
No, to everyone present.
Sorrow.
There was no mistake.
The Hoyeol of this moment was desperately suppressing sorrow.
Hisagi’s gaze turned to the black scrap of cloth in Hoyeol’s hand. ‘Is that clothing……?’
In that instant, a thought crossed his mind. ‘To offer condolences to the Great Sage……?’
It was a perfectly reasonable thought. Even so, while thinking his actions were presumptuous, Hisagi shook his head. Yes. If it was the Commander-in-Chief he had seen until now……. ‘Even if he were offering condolences to the Great Sage.’
He was not someone who would swallow his sorrow alone in a place like this.
All the more so when considering the way he had mourned the elders of the Magic Tower and its tower master.
Hisagi bit his lip. ‘Then what exactly has driven you…….’
To suffer such unprecedented sorrow?
“…….”
Everyone could only watch.
Every transcendent, until Hoyeol left the social hall as he was.
Not one of them could utter a single word. [The VVIP is leaving the Social Hall of Space-Time.]
Why had Hoyeol, someone far removed from society, entered the Social Hall of Space-Time? The reason was surely hidden in the sorrow behind that tightly hardened expression.
Jesse looked at the endlessly stretching staircase. ‘Lady Mary can enter the upper floors.’
But even Mary, in this moment, seemed unable to guess the reason Hoyeol had fallen into sorrow. Then……. Jesse’s gaze lifted even higher.
The top floor of the Social Hall of Space-Time.
If I reach that place, perhaps I’ll be able to understand, even a little, why Chief Lee has fallen into sorrow. Jesse pulled her pointed hat down low. Then she made a vow. ‘You still have a long way to go, Jesse Hainess.’
It was not a vow belonging to Jesse alone.
Before Hoyeol’s emotional change, witnessed for the first time,
Those gathered in the social hall came to share a common goal.
They clenched their fists and vowed. ‘We can do it. No, we have to do it.’
Lee Hoyeol, Commander-in-Chief of the Holy War Alliance, Chief Mage, Claudi…….
Just as you, under countless names,
Have become our strength.
Now the time has come for us to share your sorrow.
*
Exit from the space of consciousness.
I opened my eyes in my original location.
What unfolded before me was—
Shrrrrk.
The immense treasures of Claudi, finally having regained their light.
To be honest.
I still feel more than a little hurt by you, Grandfell. ‘But no matter what, I don’t think this is the time for us to fight among ourselves.’
Why, you saw it just now in the Social Hall of Space-Time, didn’t you?
The way all their faces turned pale. If we were to fight even one more time, I was worried that next time, they might be terrified just by seeing our faces.
Besides. ‘I understand your feelings a little.’
Not that I understand what you said to that little kid.
That damned incorruptible integrity that tormented me not only with your loose tongue, but also with your actions.
I mean that I understand that, at least a little. [Fine Item: Yurribe’s Oath] [Grade: Unique] [Restriction: Lv.800]
One. [Master Craftsman’s Masterpiece: Thornwood Bracelet] [Grade: Epic] [Restriction: Lv.950]
Two. [Melted Mountain Beast Hide] [Grade: Legendary] [Restriction: Unknown]
Three, four, five…….
Items piled up so high it was meaningless to count them. Even compared to the magic tools in the Magic Tower’s Garnet Hall, the grades of these items were higher. ‘Do I really need to explain any further?’
However, I, Lee Hoyeol, wasn’t the slightest bit happy.
That’s right.
Because there was a scene overlapping the gold, silver, and jewels.
A field of lycoris flowers grown from blood. Little Grandfell greeting me with that field of flowers behind him. The reason Grandfell, who could not help but be faithful to formality and discipline, had tried to leave the Claudi domain…….
I spoke from the heart.
“Disappear from my sight.”
I can understand at least this much, if nothing else.
Grandfell, why you.
Never took pride in the wealth and glory of the Claudi family. ‘As if I’d ever make use of something this sickening.’
Within the Claudi domain, the order of the family head is absolute. [The Abyss of Claudi devours the offering.]
The treasury became empty once more. It returned to the scenery I had first seen. But my heart was not empty. It was so complicatedly full that it felt as though it might burst. ‘Still, there’s only thirty percent left now, right?’
[Understanding of Darkness: 70%]
I don’t know what kind of past you’re trying to hide from me, Grandfell. But I have my own thoughts too. I, Lee Hoyeol, have no intention of doing this halfway, even if only because it would be unfair after I honestly confessed my own dark history to you. ‘Whatever that past may be, I have to know.’
I looked at the system message. [Hidden Quest: Unearth the Abyss]
The Claudi family has a secret.
A secret no one has ever uncovered.
Until you comprehend that secret.
Until you comprehend its weight.
You shall not be able to wield Claudi’s halo.
-Witness the Claudi family in its entirety. (Success)
The Claudi family’s secret and its weight? ‘This is the give-and-take I learned from you.’
Whatever it is.
Just as you didn’t laugh at my dark history.
I’ll understand all of it too.
Did those feelings of mine reach him?
My lips moved.
Yes, I thought someone like you wouldn’t have forgotten.
“With this, my valuable investment has become meaningless.”
Honestly, that damned grudge of his!
Valuable investment.
He was definitely talking about the one green tea teabag that had been left. ‘……
Fine.’
I’m feeling generous.
This time, let’s order one on a different level—no, a different unit altogether.
A green tea teabag worth one thousand won each. ‘I’m sure that Jeju Island green tea was ridiculously expensive, wasn’t it?’
*
AAU Korean Branch. [Emergency Update]
At the sound of the notification, an emergency was declared.
“A rift has appeared on Jeju Island, senior!”
“A rift? That’s nothing new, so why are you making such a fuss?”
“W-Well, it doesn’t seem to be an ordinary rift!”
“……
What?”
Displayed on the monitor were the emergency update details.
Soon after.
Yun Sugyeom pushed up his glasses, his face twisting.
“A rift connected to Paimon’s territory……? Is this even a rift in the first place?!”
At the same time, breaking news was delivered on the TV.
-Forests in western Jeju Island completely burned down. Nearby green tea fields also entirely consumed by fire…….
News that would enrage “someone.”