Chương 49: 463
[Chapter 130]
[Cutting to the Chase (6)]
Before the establishment of the Player Academy.
Right after conquering the red dungeon Jogyesa area.
"Legend? What nonsense... Why on earth do we need to create that? I really don't understand."
The one who becomes the mirror's owner will someday become a hero who drives away the darkness of the world.
<Index> Yoon Seong-jin unhesitatingly expressed his opinion to the Lord of Darkness.
"—Because the world needs heroes now and will continue to need them in the future."
<King of Darkness> Baek Seo-jin answered as if it was no big deal.
Then Yoon Seong-jin clicked his tongue as if dumbfounded.
"So you want to create heroes? What are you going to use heroes for?"
The world was destroyed.
It's a world teeming with despair.
That's why people who faced destruction needed heroes to lead them to a bright future.
Just like the "Living Myths" who were heroes who overcame the great calamity.
People will continue to yearn for the appearance of heroes.
"Most people are weaker and more fragile than us, so they need something to lean on. That's why heroes like us need to become something they can lean on."
So let's create heroes who will be their hope so people can continue living.
Baek Seo-jin's will was firm.
And he wasn't the only one with similar intentions.
"—Don't you think so too? Moon Jun."
"Hmm..."
"See."
Baek Seo-jin asked the large elderly man who had been silent until then.
The elderly man in a martial arts uniform grunted shortly and nodded heavily.
Including him, others nearby also took attitudes as if agreeing with Baek Seo-jin's opinion.
"Alright... I understand. But why that artifact in particular? We could use other artifacts besides that one."
In the end, Yoon Seong-jin took a step back.
Then he expressed doubt, revealing his annoyance.
He had no choice.
If Baek Seo-jin's plan was accepted, he would have to rework the area swirling with complex techniques.
"Didn't you just say it yourself? There are only two ways to obtain that artifact."
"That's right. One is to disarm the traps that even I would have to stay up all night to disarm, or..."
"Or be recognized as the artifact's owner."
Baek Seo-jin abruptly cut him off.
Yoon Seong-jin frowned.
Then he sent a look telling him to answer his own question.
Baek Seo-jin shrugged.
"By the way, what did you say was the mechanism for that artifact to recognize its owner?"
"It detects subtle desires emanating from mana. If it detects desire, that stone statue's head grows..."
"That's exactly it. Hey, Seong-jin. Do you really think there are people without desire? I can assert there aren't."
"..."
"The reason people have hope is because hope hasn't been realized yet. And we need to keep making people able to hold onto hope forever. In that sense, isn't this a pretty good legend?"
"...It's nothing but hope torture, completely. So. Are you planning to deceive people that the reason a hero hasn't appeared yet is because the world isn't as desperate as the legend, unlike reality? That hope hasn't come yet, so don't give up and wait for hope to come?"
"And make them believe they shouldn't give up on life because the world isn't as desperate as the legend, unlike reality."
"Hah... Do you think people will believe such things?"
"Can they not believe? Those who most desperately need hope."
"..."
It's an absurd story.
But Yoon Seong-jin couldn't deny it.
Baek Seo-jin continues speaking.
"And if someone without desire appears, that's good in its own way too. Doesn't having no desire mean they're satisfied with this moment?"
"...If desire originates from lack, I suppose so. If they're satisfied with this moment and think their future will be bright, maybe."
"Then a hero without desire... if we just maintain that state, can't we make them move as we want? On the contrary, a hero with desire would take quite some effort to humor, wouldn't it?"
"..."
"Heroes need to be controlled. Otherwise, the world will become chaos itself."
"Is that something you should be saying?"
"Because it's me, I can say it. Jun, don't you agree?"
Yoon Seong-jin just clicked his tongue.
He didn't have any thoughts of trying to change the world anyway.
Meanwhile, Baek Seo-jin asked Moon Jun, who had been looking around the red dungeon area.
<Iron Fortress> Moon Jun—
"—Superhumans need to be controlled. We can't let superhumans rule the world anymore."
A tone that felt weighty.
Moon Jun's will was that firm.
Then he spoke again—
"—Player Academy... That name sounds good."
"Not bad. It's better than old-fashioned names like Superhuman Training Institute, Hero Military Academy, or Hunter Academy."
"...So in the end, you're going to do the same as any other country."
Baek Seo-jin laughed heartily and affirmed.
In the end, contrary to his wishes, Yoon Seong-jin had no choice but to start working on creating the legend as they desired.
While also foreseeing his own fate.
"Hahaha! If we're going to create a legend, why don't we make some youthful legends too? Shouldn't there be some romance? For example... if a boy and girl watch fireworks together at the cultural festival, eternal love will blossom..."
As an aside.
<Divine Spear> Nam Gung Seong-un, who returned after taking the artifact's test, added his thoughts.
It's said that legend spread very secretly and greatly.
☆
Cheoksa Danyo Jomun Mirror.
The artifact imbued with magic that dispels various buff magic including debuffs was a precious item recognized as Inheon grade.
Since the mirror is inconvenient to use in battle, I should use it as material to make a sword like On Taeyang did before the regression.
However, Eunha, who obtained the mirror in front of everyone, decided to use it as material for a new sword without hesitation.
As someone who needs to act on the front lines, it would be difficult for him to use the artifact, and it was obvious that taming the still rebellious artifact would be a troublesome task.
It was better to melt it down.
Conveniently, Haesu hyung promised to make a new sword during summer vacation, so I can take the mirror then too.
Soon Eunha withdrew the mana he had infused into the artifact.
The bronze mirror, drained of all mana, trembled slightly as if crying.
Nevertheless, Eunha ignored the mirror's pleading sound and stepped onto the path leading up to the lake.
""""...""""
Ever since he obtained the artifact in an unbelievable way.
The people who couldn't take their eyes off him still seemed at a loss for what to say.
In the end, they remained silent.
Staring intently at Eunha who came up holding the bronze mirror in one hand.
But those whose eyes actually met his startled and turned away.
Just then.
"—Captain, you were so cool! I was so moved watching you obtain the mirror earlier! You were just like a protagonist from a story!?"
"Hey! How can you be the only one acting cool! Ah... this is really a shame. I had similar thoughts too..."
Choi Eunhyuk ran out from among the people and poured out his admiration to Eunha.
Jin Parang chimed in too.
The two pressed their faces close, saying they wanted to see the mirror Eunha obtained in the game up close.
When Eunha handed the mirror to them, their eyes sparkled like stars.
"Wow... It's really amazing. So this is the mirror that's said to make one a hero?"
"Hey! Don't just touch it yourself, pass it to me too!"
"I want to see it too! Show me! Show me!"
Choi Eunhyuk and Jin Parang let out exclamations of admiration.
Ariel joins in too.
Before long, those close to Eunha flocked to him, breaking the heavy silence.
Cheers spread here and there.
Eventually, public opinion began to positively evaluate Eunha's achievements.
The way these guys are looking at me is a bit burdensome...
Eunha now found their gazes burdensome.
He wanted to ignore them, but their gazes were too intense to ignore.
Then he spotted Jung Hayang standing among them.
"Oh, Hayang..."
"—Yes, I think so too. It was really, really cool."
"..."
Eunha spoke to her, intending to change the atmosphere.
But she suddenly said that.
She abruptly grabbed his hand and expressed her impressions.
"Hayang, calm down a bit..."
"How can I calm down!? Eunha, you should have seen it from above yourself! You suddenly seemed to make some decision and infused mana into your sword..."
Jung Hayang was very excited.
Eunha was caught by her and had to listen to her recount of his heroic deeds.
It was embarrassingly awkward with her subjective impressions added in.
Someone please change the atmosphere...
The people nearby were almost no different from Jung Hayang.
Eventually Choi Eunhyuk hugged him, and Ariel clung to his waist.
Jin Parang held the mirror high above his head and danced like crazy.
It was too chaotic.
To the point where he now wished for someone to rescue him from here.
At that moment, as if granting his wish, an event occurred that changed the atmosphere.
"—Oh my, were you all waiting for me to come? To welcome me like this... how sensible."
The people in the back suddenly parted, and that flow spread all the way to near the lake.
The crowd split.
A path was made.
"Well, I'm more sensible though. They say the protagonist appears last, right? So I've been holding off on attending until now..."
The person who appeared on that path walked as if it was only natural.
She seemed to be paying attention to each step as if enjoying their gazes.
"But there are a lot of gazes today... Has news that I'm going to show something today already spread?"
Galaxy Group's direct descendant Choi Ga-in.
She who arrived as the end-of-semester party was ending muttered nonchalantly.
Then she accepts the people's gazes pouring on her as natural, as if saying whatever.
She raises her nose high as if emphasizing that she is the protagonist of the party.
She was wearing a glamorous dress and accessories.
""""...""""
Among them.
The reason she was receiving all the attention was because of the brightly shining bracelet under the night sky.
The bracelet was emitting a soft light as if the moon hanging in the sky had been brought down.
"You're curious about this too, right? This? It's just a flower, a flower!"
Ohohoho, Choi Ga-in laughs roughly while pretending to be elegant.
Eunha watched the hand she held high, ignoring her laughter.
"That's..."
A bracelet made of pure white flower petals.
Strangely, the flower petals were sparkling.
Choi Ga-in cackled while deliberately raising the bracelet on her hand as if showing off.
Meanwhile, Eunha, standing in her path, couldn't close his mouth.
"It's a flower I discovered on Mara Island this time, probably the only one in the world that never withers and keeps sparkling! Aren't you curious what name I gave this flower?"
""""...""""
"It's—!"
As if boasting about a newly bought accessory.
She asked the people captivated by the softly glowing bracelet.
No one answered.
But she continued speaking regardless of people's reactions.
"—Moon's Blessing! How about it? Isn't the name really pretty?"
Choi Ga-in shouted towards the crowd with exaggerated gestures.
Then Eunha—
—Found it.
Moon's Blessing.
One of the final ingredients for the elixir.
Eunha, who finally confirmed with his own eyes the ingredient he had been searching for, raised the corners of his mouth.
☆
I was relieved thinking I could relax from tomorrow with summer vacation starting, but.
No Eunha caused trouble again.
Yoo Dojun couldn't hide his complicated feelings.
Does that Eunha know what he just did...
No Eunha forcibly obtained the artifact that had been passed down as legend in the academy until now.
He didn't break the rules of the game.
But he didn't purely follow the rules of the game either.
Isn't that cheating?
No. He didn't use magic, so it's not cheating...
Hey, but isn't this going too far? If we do this, I did it too!
...He's crazy, that guy.
The Cheoksa Danyo Jomun Mirror is an artifact that had been waiting for its owner for decades.
It could be said to be an artifact receiving that much attention from people.
But Eunha became the artifact's owner in a shocking way.
It was unknown whether people who had been conducting the game in the traditional way would accept his method.
Yes, those of us who know No Eunha's nature might be able to let it slide...
Yoo Dojun pricked up his ears.
He listened to the sounds occasionally heard amidst the silence.
People who knew No Eunha well seemed to accept this naturally, having become used to it by now.
But upper class students who didn't know No Eunha didn't seem to like how a decades-long tradition had disappeared so easily.
Isn't that arrogant?
Wow... this really went too far. This isn't right!
Yoo Dojun clicked his tongue inwardly.
At this rate, Eunha might become public enemy number one.
Moreover, seeing that the instructors hadn't declared the game over, it seemed opinions were divided among them too.
Damn, what should I do.
If left like this, public opinion will flow in a bad direction.
But I can't blindly push public opinion in a good direction either...
Yoo Dojun couldn't decide readily.
Any choice was problematic.
No Eunha's influence in the academy could be said to have reached its peak.
In this situation, if public opinion is manipulated to be even more favorable than now, problems will definitely arise.
No Eunha will have no choice but to pay attention to public opinion from now on.
Also, it was unknown what tricks students worried about their influence decreasing might pull.
"So somehow I need to divert people's attention elsewhere..."
Yoo Dojun soon sighed.
Choi Eunhyuk praised Eunha's achievements, and other friends joined in too.
Well, okay. If left alone, public opinion might have flowed in a bad direction for Eunha.
It's good to let it flow in a good direction, but...
The loudest voice wins.
Thanks to friends shouting the loudest amidst the silence, even those who hadn't come to their senses started praising Eunha.
Others clap while disapproving.
The instructors also acknowledged Eunha becoming the artifact's owner as public opinion flowed this way.
So the remaining problem was the need to calm the heated atmosphere.
But—
"—Why is that Hayang there..."
Yoo Dojun slumped his shoulders.
He had thought people with influence to manipulate public opinion, including himself, would view the current situation calmly.
But Alice Group's direct descendant Jung Hayang was now repeatedly shaking Eunha's hand.
Honey was practically dripping from her eyes.
It was a part that clearly showed she was excited.
"What are you doing there..."
To change the atmosphere of public opinion, he needed not just his own power but Jung Hayang's power too.
Because Seona, Minho, and Eunwoo's influence had limits.
Yoo Dojun just wanted to drag Hayang out of there right now.
But even if we put out the urgent fire, what should we do about what happens next...
On the other hand, Yoo Dojun fell into thought.
Even if we change the academy's public opinion, we can't change the world's atmosphere.
Surely the news that No Eunha became the owner of the Cheoksa Danyo Jomun Mirror will spread throughout the industry before long.
Then how will those who graduated from the academy receive Eunha's story?
It was obvious they would receive it negatively.
"...Somehow we must justify Eunha becoming the owner. But how on earth should we do that..."
So there was a need to do some image marketing to prevent industry people from viewing Eunha negatively.
This story needed to be transformed into a plausible story that could be packaged somehow.
"—Ah."
Then an idea flashed.
Changing Eunha's alias currently known in the industry.
"Since it was difficult to gauge what kind of being 'the academy's hidden dragon' was... We'll promote an alias related to this incident and sublimate No Eunha's accident into an achievement."
Yoo Dojun racked his brain.
There was one word that came to mind.
"—<Cutting the Gordian Knot>."
Cutting the Gordian Knot.
It's an anecdote from China's Southern and Northern Dynasties period.
The emperor of the Northern Dynasty tells his sons to untangle a skein of thread with three colors tangled together.
To this, the second son said complex problems just need to be cut, and unlike his brothers, he cut the skein.
Later, he received the throne and became Emperor Wendi.
There were similarities to Eunha's current situation.
Yes, there's no choice but to do this.
Until Eunha establishes a stable foundation in the industry, we have no choice but to win people's favor with the phrase <Cutting the Gordian Knot>.
It's troublesome having made one wrong friend.
Only then could Yoo Dojun let out a sigh of relief.
And right at that moment.
"...Why is that Choi Ga-in showing off?"
Choi Ga-in appeared.
She seemed to be in a particularly good mood today and drew people's attention.
Although the bracelet on her wrist was concerning, thanks to her the atmosphere could be changed.
"Still, there are times when she's helpful..."
Just for today.
Yoo Dojun was grateful for her existence.
☆
Darkness lurks everywhere.
The alias 'Cutting the Gordian Knot' that spread in the player industry soon extended its reach into the darkness.
"...So the owner of that mirror has appeared?"
Twelve Seats <King of Darkness> Baek Seo-jin.
He too heard that rumor.
At first, he couldn't remember the artifact called Cheoksa Danyo Jomun Mirror.
Then he recalled the memory of conquering the red dungeon Jogyesa area with his colleagues long ago.
"So. That hero is being called <Cutting the Gordian Knot>?"
After a very long time.
Finally, the protagonist of the legend he fabricated has appeared.
Baek Seo-jin showed intense curiosity.
"Hmm... No Eunha..."
No Eunha.
Baek Seo-jin knew that name too.
The story of a hidden dragon surpassing <Snow Spear> Ryu Yeonhwa waiting for his time at the academy was famous in the industry.
What was unexpected was that such an outstanding person became the owner of the Cheoksa Danyo Jomun Mirror.
"How can someone with that level of skill have no desire? Just how upright of a person..."
He couldn't believe it.
How could such a person exist in this world?
So he looked into the details of how <Cutting the Gordian Knot> No Eunha became the owner of the bronze mirror.
"Hah..."
And he burst into laughter.
According to the story, the stone Buddha's head grew to its limit.
Then No Eunha cut off the stone Buddha's head in one stroke.
"He's truly the incarnation of desire... Just what kind of guy is this?"
It's unexpected.
Too unexpected.
He never thought such a being would appear in the world and overturn the legend he fabricated.
He broke the board Baek Seo-jin had designed.
But rather than getting angry, he became curious about him.
Baek Seo-jin stroked his chin.
"Let's see... Come to think of it, there should be a schedule around this time for the Twelve Seats to give lectures at the High School Academy..."
Just what is his true identity.
It seems I'll have to see this being called No Eunha with my own eyes.
Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực