บท 327: 741
[Chapter 189]
[What Should Not Be Touched (5)]
The Sejong Clan Lord resigned.
According to publicly known facts, he was attacked by monsters.
As a result, his mana circuits were ruined and he became unable to manifest magic, and he was apparently suffering from severe PTSD.
"─Saying it was the work of monsters with just that... It's ridiculous. It's just covering their eyes and saying 'ah'."
Samra Clan Lord <Earth Dragon> Chong Eun-ju.
She clicked her tongue upon hearing the news.
Displeasure was evident in her voice.
Of course it had to be that way.
The Sejong Clan was in Gwangjin-gu.
And the clan overseeing Gwangjin-gu was the Samra Clan.
So from the Samra Clan Lord's position, she couldn't insensitively accept the news that someone under her command had become a cripple.
"Using such an obvious trick, who on earth did this?"
The situation was clear.
Monsters are beings that eat humans.
Yet the Sejong Clan Lord survived intact except for abnormalities in his mind and mana circuits.
There was no way it was the work of monsters.
It was the work of humans.
Moreover, someone skilled enough to place a strong suggestion on the Sejong Clan Lord's mind to keep his mouth shut.
Furthermore, someone with the backing to openly do such a thing.
To this, Chong Eun-ju fell into thought.
"..."
Her thoughts turned to the 'purpose' underlying this incident.
Several possibilities emerged.
Among them, three likely ones:
One, it's simply an internal struggle.
People related to the Sejong Clan conspired to replace the Clan Lord.
If so, it's understandable that the Sejong Clan isn't raising their voice about this matter.
In fact, the Sejong Clan only sent an official document to the Samra Clan saying the Clan Lord had changed.
There was no other reaction.
The Sejong Clan must have concluded to bury it on their own.
So that possibility was high.
Another one is─
"─Are they trying to weaken the Samra Clan?"
It took a long time for the Samra Clan to stably occupy Gwangjin-gu.
As the Samra Group rose to 10th place in the business world, their sponsorship scale increased dramatically, and thanks to that, they implemented a policy of persuading influential clans in Gwangjin-gu.
Among them, the Sejong Clan was one of the persuaded clans, and they were once strong enough to oversee Gwangjin-gu.
Such a clan was an ally.
But someone targeted the ally.
They're trying to weaken the ally and take away the Samra Clan's influence in the long term.
It seemed plausible to think that way.
If so, the enemy could be said to be extremely meticulous and unfathomable.
At most, it could be the clans in Gwangjin-gu that take a negative stance towards the Samra Clan.
Since they can't wage clan wars, are they trying to eliminate the Samra Clan's allies in this way?
Chong Eun-ju frowned.
She had to be cautious.
Gauging the enemy was also a task.
The thought of waging war again in Gwangjin-gu, which she had just put in order, was a tremendous waste of manpower.
The last possibility she considered was with No Eun-ha.
I heard the Sejong Clan Lord's son had a conflict with the Pandora Clan Lord's younger sister.
So there's a possibility that the Pandora Clan Lord went crazy and turned the Sejong Clan Lord into a cripple.
This possibility was also low.
Yet it was strangely realistic.
The No Eun-ha that Chong Eun-ju had observed so far was someone capable of such a thing.
"Depending on the situation... He's a guy who can show an infinitely arrogant attitude."
She knew No Eun-ha well.
She had once tried to recruit him when he was attending the academy.
So she understood that his personality wasn't all that was shown during the Seoul invasion.
No Eun-ha might be capable of that.
The problem is─
─<Crimson Wing> is still followed by public sentiment.
What benefit would such a person gain by doing this?
Momentary revenge? For what?
That can't be.
Two assumptions coexisted.
So she couldn't hastily draw a conclusion.
Chong Eun-ju sighed.
I want to hope it's just an internal struggle in the Sejong Clan, but it still feels uneasy.
Anyway, she couldn't carelessly pass it over.
Chong Eun-ju decided to analyze it from multiple angles by mobilizing the information network within the clan.
Of course, she had to ask the darkness too.
It was clearly a matter the darkness was involved in somehow.
They would tell her if she just paid an appropriate price.
"What is this..."
But her expectations were off.
The answers that came through the routes she knew fell into two categories.
「─We are also trying to grasp the detailed circumstances. But don't expect much.」
One was a response saying they didn't know.
This was the answer that came from the routes she usually used.
Chong Eun-ju was surprised that there was darkness even the darkness couldn't grasp.
It meant they were cautious enough not to be detected by the darkness.
Or the darkness was incompetent.
Meanwhile, the other answer came by tracing back her route.
In other words, it was sent by the core managed by the <King of Darkness>.
「─Bury it.」
The answer sent by the core was short.
Chong Eun-ju's face crumpled.
It was essentially informing her that the core of darkness was involved.
And it could be seen as a warning from the <King of Darkness> to Chong Eun-ju who was trying to trace the background.
"Whoever it is, they seem to have very solid backing."
However, with this answer, Chong Eun-ju could roughly eliminate one possibility.
The darkness doesn't try to empower one particular faction.
So telling her to keep her mouth shut could be interpreted as meaning it wouldn't harm her.
Then it's not the second assumption.
There is no enemy in Gwangjin-gu.
In the end, this incident is─
"─Either an internal incident in the Sejong Clan, or personal venting by the Pandora Clan Lord."
Which one to choose.
Chong Eun-ju fell into thought again.
If it's the latter, it would be quite unpleasant.
It would mean the Pandora Clan Lord invaded her jurisdiction and cut off her limbs.
☆
The incident was almost concluded.
All the people who bullied No Eun-ae returned to their daily lives.
They didn't remember clearly what they had gone through.
But their way of thinking changed.
They became more cautious and tried not to harm others.
Or they completely refused to associate with others.
It was due to the fear inscribed in their subconscious.
The teachers are awaiting punishment and.
The students have all been punished...
Now the only thing to worry about is Eun-ae.
There were many other things that happened.
For example, he had to deal with the changes that would occur with the Sejong Clan Lord's resignation.
To this, Eun-ha ordered Lee Gang-hyeok to take measures to make the Sejong Clan keep their mouths shut appropriately.
Lee Gang-hyeok, known as the king of the alleys, had wide connections in this aspect.
Thanks to this, Eun-ha could easily overcome the Sejong Clan's suspicions.
On the other hand, he also had to take appropriate measures for the Sejong Clan Lord.
Since his mana circuits are broken, he won't be able to live as a player anymore...
I should support him so he can live.
With Yoo Do-jun's help.
Eun-ha laundered the source of funds and supported the Sejong Clan Lord's family.
He planned to support them for life so a family of two could live moderately.
I can't let them starve to death.
I should keep them alive just enough not to die.
He only guaranteed the minimum livelihood.
Meanwhile, he planned to help them materially and emotionally when they got sick.
That way they would live without feeling satisfaction in life, unable to die.
Meanwhile, Park Seong-ho and the other perpetrators were not sent to juvenile detention.
Their community service hours increased, and it was decided they would be forcibly transferred or expelled.
It was because Eun-ha's father hesitated in his decision at the end.
It's sad that Eun-ae ended up like this... but he said he didn't want to ruin those kids' lives.
Eun-ha recalled his father's words.
All the family members followed his words.
Above all, Eun-ae also didn't want severe punishment for the students.
Eun-ha acquiesced too.
Meanwhile, there was a time when his father called Eun-ha out separately one day.
'─So are you feeling better now?'
'...No. Just so-so.'
'That's how it usually is. Revenge doesn't make resentment disappear.'
Father must have noticed.
He's the Chief of Staff of Sirius Group.
How could he not know the situation?
Nevertheless, father called Eun-ha out but didn't directly ask about his actions.
He wasn't disappointed.
He didn't criticize.
He only advised.
'─Eun-ha.'
'Yes, dad.'
'Now that you're married, you should call me father. What's with dad, dad.'
'...Yes, father.'
'There's no power in the world that lasts forever. As the saying goes, power doesn't last ten years, someday the power I have will pass to someone else.'
'...'
'It's the same for you too. For now you just need to keep rising, but someday you'll stand at the top and only wait for the day to come down.'
It was similar to what Choi Yun-han, the first chairman of Galaxy Group, had said.
At that time, Eun-ha straightened his posture.
Father continued speaking calmly.
'─So when you wield the sword of power, I hope you'll think about the future when you'll come down from there someday.'
'...'
'The future of the person whose head will fly by your sword of power could someday become your future. So please, think deeply before wielding the sword.'
Father wasn't a player.
But father was also a swordsman.
He just used a different sword.
Surely father must have killed many people's lives until now too.
Eun-ha could feel the regret emanating from father at that time.
And at that time, there was only one thing he could say for his father.
At that time, Eun-ha bowed his head.
'─I'll keep it in mind, father.'
'Alright, that's enough.'
That he would absolutely do so.
Eun-ha couldn't promise.
He only said he would keep it in mind.
Father read Eun-ha's thoughts but didn't try to force him.
The conversation between the two father and son ended like that.
"─What are you thinking about?"
"...Thinking about you."
"Tch, liar."
"Just... I was thinking about this incident."
Soon Eun-ha snapped out of his thoughts.
Jung Ha-yang held his hand.
She leaned her body against him.
Eun-ha felt her warmth while watching flower petals flutter.
It's really pretty since it's not time for the flowers to fall yet.
Ilsan Lake Park in Gyeonggi-do.
On this day, Eun-ha set out to give Eun-ae some fresh air.
Jung Ha-yang and Seon Mi-ye also joined.
Currently, Eun-ae was walking ahead holding hands with Seon Mi-ye.
"There's a bird that looks like a duck sitting on that rock over there."
"It's a coot. That bird just said it's upset after hearing Mi-ye's words? How can you not tell the difference and see it as a duck?"
The two are looking at the lake.
The two who met after a long time were chattering away.
Eun-ha smiled involuntarily seeing the two.
I guess time is medicine.
Eun-ae seems much better now too.
After confessing about her gift.
No Eun-ae started showing symptoms like anthropophobia.
Especially towards Eun-ha.
She must have read my emotions.
She must be very scared.
Eun-ha understood her.
He tried not to approach Eun-ae as much as possible.
But a few days ago, for some reason, she approached Eun-ha first.
And she said she wanted to go to Ilsan Lake Park.
Eun-ha of course readily agreed.
That's how they came out here today.
Meanwhile─
"─Is it okay to leave Eun-ae like this?"
"Shouldn't it be fine?"
Eun-ha was worried about her.
Since that day, Eun-ae hasn't been going to school.
Even when the middle school chairman, who was surprised to hear about father's authority, came personally to plead, it was no use.
So as a result of compromise.
Eun-ae was able to receive an indefinite leave of absence citing mental illness as the reason.
It was fortunate but also worrying.
Afraid that Eun-ae might end up living shut in her room like this.
Or that she might live associating only with plants and animals while distancing herself from all people.
Then Jung Ha-yang smiled gently.
"She can go to school when she wants to. Is there a need to go at a certain age? There are experiences that can be gained outside of school too."
"That's true. It's better than going out when her heart isn't properly prepared and exhausting her mental strength for nothing."
"Right. And unlike others, Eun-ae doesn't need to live suffocatingly according to a set curriculum."
"Peep peep pa pa pa poo poo poo!"
Eun-ha nodded.
Jung Ha-yang was right.
Father and mother will support Eun-ae materially and emotionally no matter what she wants to do in the future.
To begin with, Eun-ae had a lot of money.
Just by growing the Eunranghwa, she was earning enough money to live without lack for her entire life.
So she didn't need to be bound much by the world's standards.
"You're right. Hearing your words, Ha-yang, I just hope Eun-ae lives comfortably doing what she wants."
I'll do anything to make Eun-ae live happily.
Eun-ha resolved again.
Meanwhile, he was scared.
Since Eun-ae can hear my emotions to some extent, it would be better not to get too close from now on.
If I make a mistake, my emotions could affect Eun-ae's mental state...
Will Eun-ae love someone like me?
Eun-ha was afraid.
But it was an unnecessary worry.
From a distance, Eun-ae called him.
"─Oppa!! Take a picture of us!"
As if she had grasped his heart.
Suddenly she raised her voice to draw Eun-ha's attention.
"Alright, got it."
His younger sister smiling brightly.
Eun-ha quickly blew away his worries.
Then he took a picture of Eun-ae and Seon Mi-ye posing with his smartphone.
The two were captured beautifully on the screen.
Just as Eun-ha was feeling satisfied─
─Whoosh
Suddenly a strong wind blew.
Flower petals scattered and blocked the view.
Just a few seconds.
And he discovered a player standing where the wind had passed.
"""..."""
A masked player.
Though wearing a hooded jacket, the animal ears couldn't be hidden.
Eun-ha and Jung Ha-yang identified the identity of the person who appeared before their eyes.
It's someone from the dark side.
Sure enough.
Ain sent a telepathy.
The telepathy was only delivered to Eun-ha.
[─This is a message from the <King of Darkness>.]
At the words <King of Darkness>.
Eun-ha flinched.
In contrast, Ain was calm
[We'll cover for you this time, but don't act recklessly next time.]
The <King of Darkness>'s warning.
Eun-ha nodded silently.
He had expected this to some extent.
There was no way his actions wouldn't have caught Baek Seo-jin's eye.
He had moved so openly after all.
And he had also expected.
As long as I'm on the Fairy's side, and as long as I'm beneficial to the Fairy government.
Teacher Baek Seo-jin won't be able to strike me down.
Baek Seo-jin would turn a blind eye.
Because he still had use value.
That's why Eun-ha could remain largely unfazed while hearing Baek Seo-jin's warning.
But Baek Seo-jin's words weren't over yet.
[─One darkness is enough for this country. Don't keep trying to invade my territory thinking I'll allow it forever.]
"..."
This was a stronger warning.
Baek Seo-jin knew that Eun-ha was gathering forces in the back alleys and using them like darkness.
It seems the teacher's skills haven't rusted completely, or maybe he's become more sensitive since then.
Since asking Baek Seo-jin about Armageddon two years ago.
Eun-ha had been independently strengthening his own information network.
It seems he had caught Baek Seo-jin's eye in that process.
I should restrain myself for a while.
But I can't pretend it didn't happen now.
As a sign of passive agreement.
Eun-ha nodded faintly.
Ain seemed to recognize that.
[─That is all.]
Leaving those words, Ain disappeared.
Only then did the frozen atmosphere that had momentarily descended on the area dissipate.
"Eun-ha... what did that person just say to you?"
"They said to treat you well."
"Don't joke around."
"...They told me to be careful."
It was a day that gave much to think about.
Eun-ha spoke evasively to Jung Ha-yang and approached Eun-ae and Seon Mi-ye.
☆
The Sejong Clan Lord's resignation.
The incident that occurred in a small clan in Gwangjin-gu didn't draw the world's attention.
It wasn't that big of an incident.
Internal clan struggles were commonplace, and the Sejong Clan Lord wasn't a player with much fame.
However─
"─The Pandora Clan Lord is reckless. I thought this from when I first saw him, but is he the type to mercilessly eliminate anyone who falls out of his favor?"
<Abyss> Seon U Hwa-ryeong.
As the Director of Surveillance of the Mana Management Organization, he was keeping an eye on this incident.
He wasn't the only one.
The Mana Management Organization is watching.
The reason Seon U Hwa-ryeong knew No Eun-ha was the main culprit of this incident was because he was one of the real powers in the darkness.
"It's also strange that such a person has been called a hero until now."
Seon U Hwa-ryeong made a "hmm" sound.
He thought about No Eun-ha.
<Crimson Wing> No Eun-ha.
He was a dangerous person.
In a world where monarchs have disappeared, only darkness remains, living legends have pacified the world, and the Fairy government has been established.
He was a person with the potential to make the title of monarch resound in such a world again.
No, not potential, but 'danger'.
After the Seoul Disaster two years ago, No Eun-ha completely absorbed Yongsan-gu and Jung-gu.
It's surprising that a new clan accomplished in just a few months what even the Samra Clan took years to achieve in stabilizing an area.
Yongsan-gu and Jung-gu are currently showing fanatical allegiance to No Eun-ha.
It means people trust the Pandora Clan more than the Mana Management Organization right now.
And that's not all.
Public sentiment has continued to follow No Eun-ha since the Seoul invasion.
Public sentiment was the will of heaven.
If No Eun-ha set his mind to it, he could not only subjugate two districts but also usher in an era of monarchs again.
He had the public sentiment for that, and the military power, and above all─
─He also has the sponsorship of groups.
He even created a specific religion.
Sirius, Alice, Luminous.
And Eternal, Donghae, etc.
Also the Eun-ha God Religion.
He had a solid background.
At this point, Seon U Hwa-ryeong was suspicious.
He wondered if No Eun-ha had intentionally made strategic marriages.
What's more problematic is─
"─No Eun-ha led this incident by moving people unrelated to the darkness. In other words, he's trying to create an independent darkness..."
The 'underside' that could support those things.
Through this incident, Seon U Hwa-ryeong detected circumstances that he was wielding forces similar to darkness.
Although it's not comparable to darkness yet, the speed at which that force was growing was terribly frightening.
King of the Alleys, Lee Gang-hyeok.
They dared to call their leader by such an alias following the <King of Darkness>.
"I don't know about the others, but it would be better to eliminate this Lee Gang-hyeok."
<Abyss> judged.
Another darkness is not needed.
One darkness is enough for this world.
The shadow government should be one.
Isn't that why the <King of Darkness> defeated all other monarchs except himself long ago?
Gaining the world's recognition because of that.
Being treated as a living legend.
Wasn't he able to keep the darkness whole because of that?
So another darkness was an existence that absolutely couldn't be overlooked.
But it's difficult to plant people too.
Every person planted gets eliminated... Do they have some skilled people over there?
Soon <Abyss> groaned.
They couldn't be seen as simply alley gangs.
Whether it was Lee Gang-hyeok's skill.
Or someone else's skill.
Traces to dig into that force were not easily found.
Someone skilled was erasing the traces themselves.
But they can still be eliminated for now.
Those bastards are connected through various organizations, so it wouldn't be difficult to tear them apart if I set my mind to it.
If I send a woman with outstanding skills that Lee Gang-hyeok would hang himself for and assassinate him...
Bewitch Lee Gang-hyeok's heart with a woman possessing a gift skilled in brainwashing or seduction.
Assassinate Lee Gang-hyeok at a crucial moment.
Dismantle the force like that.
And draw them into the darkness to integrate them into one darkness.
<Abyss> showed interest in the plan he suddenly thought of.
And he decided to try it once.
It was then─
[─Sharpen.]
"Yes, Minister."
Baek Seo-jin's contact arrived.
For a moment, Seon U Hwa-ryeong flinched.
His intuition told him.
That his thoughts had been seen through by Baek Seo-jin, no, the <King of Darkness>.
Sure enough.
Baek Seo-jin's business was simple.
[Just leave it be.]
"...Yes, I understand."
He knew Baek Seo-jin's nature well.
Seon U Hwa-ryeong didn't express any objections.
The call ended with that.
Seon U Hwa-ryeong sighed.
"It can't be helped. I'll have to bury this matter as it is."
The old man was old.
The reason such an old man had been able to survive in the darkness for so long was because he knew when to back down.
☆
Eun-ae noona cried a lot.
Avenier had never seen her cry like that before.
And he felt very sad that there wasn't much he could do for her.
"─Alright, I've decided!"
But he couldn't just stay helplessly still.
He realized through this incident.
What he wanted to do.
At first, he only thought about becoming a player by becoming Eun-ha hyung's exclusive.
But that was his parents' dream.
Avenier's dream was even grander than that.
"I'll make sure Eun-ae noona and others don't cry! I'll scold all those people!"
Avenier, 13 years old.
Dreaming of entering the Player Academy, he decided to become a 'much' stronger player than just a strong player.
Such a firm heart solidifies his magic.
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