Chapter 151: Marlin Young-ae (1)
This should have been a trip where I could finally get some rest.
“Whoo…”
My body had already gotten into a comfortable stance. The problem was that this sudden development had me feeling constantly worried. I did not know why Mind’s Eye’s level suddenly evolved, but I found myself feeling expectant.
It was only my hypothesis, but it felt reasonable to assume that it was because of Kim Hyunsung.
[Checking the status window and talent levels of the player Lee Kiyoung.]
[Name: Kiyoung Lee]
[Title: Mercenary Queen’s Gigolo, Honorary Bishop of the Holy Empire of Benigore]
[Age:25]
[Disposition: Careful Strategist]
[Class: Living Alchemy Summoner: Unique Heroic Grade 1602]
[Class Effect: Acquisition of Basic Magic Knowledge]
[Class Effect: Acquisition of Basic Alchemy Knowledge]
[Class Effect-Acquisition of Intermediate Alchemy Knowledge]
[Class Effect: Acquisition of Special Summon knowledge]
[Stats]
[Strength: 21/Growth potential: Common or lower]
[Agility: 22/Growth potential: Common or lower]
[Health: 30/ Growth potential: Common or lower]
[Intelligence: 72/Growth potential: Heroic or higher]
[Durability: 22/Growth potential: Common or lower]
[Luck: 60/Growth potential: Heroic or higher]
[Magic: 33/Growth potential: Common or lower]
[Equipment]16021602
[Cursed Sword Juliana: Legendary: Ownership]
[Ramus Tucker’s Introduction to Alchemy: Heroic: Alchemist Only]
[Magic Shield Ring: Rare]
[Attribute: Mind’s Eye: Legendary]
[General Review: You’ve grown up to the point where you can act as a person. The intelligence stats and high luck stats that are already high are very impressive. Needless to say, the rest of your stats are trash, but it is still commendable that your magic power stat is over 30. Of course, among them, the Unique Hero Grade class and the Legendary Grade item stand out the most. There may be limitations, but try to struggle hard. I’ll send you a little cheer.]
‘Ah, it’s become friendlier.’
It may just be an illusion, but it did feel like the General Review had become amiable towards me. Instead of telling me to die, it was actually cheering me on.
Of course, I didn’t know how this system worked, but it probably developed further due to my oath of allegiance towards Kim Hyunsung.
It could be just a coincidence. However, considering the fact that Kim Hyunsung was a returner, it definitely didn’t feel like one.
You couldn’t go back in time just because you wanted to.
Looking at his status, I noticed that one of Hyunsung’s titles stated, “The Regressor of Altanus.” Perhaps he had received someone’s help in the process of going back in time. Was it from supernatural beings? Perhaps he had even received help from God.
The deity called God may be the guy who had made this system and watched us from afar, but he might also be the one responsible for imparting power that ordinary people couldn’t normally use.
Whatever the case may be, the fact stood - this was a timeline different from the first
The problem is…
Why did he turn Kim Hyunsung’s time back?
The answer was simple.
He must’ve wanted something in return, and, in doing so, granted Hyunsung’s wish. I didn’t know what he wanted, but our dear regressor seemed to be someone loved by transcendental beings, so perhaps skill level up was a gift just by being in his presence.
It was a gift meant to comfort one’s hard work, and to encourage them to look forward to the future.
[Attribute]
[Mind’s Eye: Legendary Level]
[You can view the status window and hidden talent level of yourself as well as others. It is a legendary attribute, but an unknown force locks most of its functions.]
[Addition: You can check the hidden uniqueness of yourself and others. A unique characteristic is a type of stat that the player cannot directly check and can only be checked with the legendary Mind’s Eye, an attribute that only the player Lee Kiyoung has.]
Knowing this, I knew that if I continued to work hard in the future, I may be able to release these said limitations one by one. Of course, everything was just my hypothesis. One could even say it was my brain deluding itself.
However…
‘Yes! I will pledge my allegiance! Thank you! It doesn’t matter if I have to think of you as ‘God!
The important thing was that I had gotten new abilities. This was the most important part.
I thought about the difference between my unique characteristics and the attribute, and why it would be important to see this, but I realized that it could be more useful than I thought.
Suppose an attribute was a power given by the system. In that case, the unique characteristic would be the power of an individual who did not rely on the system, and had a different personality other than their original disposition.
Most of my attributes had a positive effect, but perhaps my unique characteristics would not.
On the contrary, it could be very negative.
[Checking the unique characteristics of the player Lee Ki-young.)
[The Liar’s Temptation]
[Seduces the other person and makes them listen to you. The probability of being loved by a dangerous opposite sex increases.]
This was a prime example. Of course, there were also others.
[Checking the unique characteristic of the player Jung Hayan.]
[Love overflowing with blood]
[You can dedicate everything to your loved ones, even your own life or conscience. The probability of awakening in certain situations involving the target increases. Please be careful of side effects.]
In conclusion, I could deal with the people around me a little easier than before.
I didn’t know how much of this unique characteristic could affect individuals, but just looking at Jung Hayan already gave me a good idea.
If Jung Hayan saw anything related to me, it could be classified as an individual’s ability to exert power beyond imagination or to have strange ties to me.
Anyway, while others enjoyed the trip, I had no choice but to work hard on what I had just gained. I felt mentally exhausted from researching new stats and analyzing the current situation rather than analyzing them one by one.
‘But I like it.
If I could lift all of Mind’s Eye’s limitations, I could confirm almost everything about a person. Perhaps I can even learn to read someone’s mind, and extract all the information they knew!
‘Goddess Benigore! Altanus! I will be loyal to our returner! You can give me more! Please give more!
I cried out in my mind again, but nothing changed.
Instead of the Goddess’s voice, however, I heard Jung Hayan speak as she worriedly looked at my face.
“You look a little tired.”
“Ah. Is it because I couldn’t sleep…? I’m actually a little tired. How far until we arrive at Castle Rock?”
“I heard that we just need to go a little more. No… we’re almost there.”
“That’s a good thing.”
“O-Oppa.”
“Yes?”
“That… That… Isn’t Castle Rock where Marlin Young-ae is?”
“Ah… Yes.”
“I’ve heard it somewhere… That… She likes you…”
Park Deokgu, you bastard…’
It feels like it was him who had told her that.
I thought that Jung Hayan had had more time to think alone for a few days, but she seemed to feel guilty about something. I wasn’t sure as to why Jung Hayan was conscious of Marlin Young-ae, but something did come to mind.
‘The letter… Did she read it?’
It turned out that after reading the letter, I left Jung Hayan sleeping and left the room. If Jung Hayan had indeed read Marlin Young-ae’s letter, this could be a useless misunderstanding.
Even more, if she visited Park Deokgu for consultation and Park Deokgu said weird stuff, things could get even more complicated.
Still, it was not good for Jung Hayan to start acting up now, especially since I had a lot of things currently giving me a headache.
‘Ugh, and it’s all this pig’s fault…’
I had no choice but to stroke Jung Hayan’s hair while speaking soothingly.
“You can rest assured that I’m in no relationship with Marlin Young-ae.”
“Ah!”
After the Cursed Shrine incident, Jung Hayan had mellowed down and the incidents had decreased, but of course, she was still being herself. Continuous psychological management was required. I didn’t even need to look at her unique characteristics to know this.
“Hyung-nim! Come out. Hayan, too!”
“Huh?”
“I think we’re already in Castle Rock. Whoa…”
“Okay.”
When I went outside while holding Jung Hayan’s hand tightly, I saw large walls built entirely of rock.
“Wow…”
“It’s something worth seeing, right?”
“It’s truly magnificent to see.”
These barrier walls, all standing high, seemed as if they could withstand any attack without collapsing. I felt a little frustrated upon being unable to see what was within the walls, but just having this as my welcoming sight was already enough to make me fall in love.
Lindel, for me, felt slightly modernized, and the Holy Empire’s capital felt too fancy. However, the castle-like walls in front of me represented the fantasy world I had always imagined.
I found myself unconsciously remarking.
“That’s cool.”
“You think so too.”
“Ah, Hyunsung-ssi.”
“As I heard it, Castle Rock in the past is said to have been the most important and strategic location in the Holy Empire of Benigore.”
“Hmm.”
“The high walls were designed to keep out the monsters, and prevented them from invading the Republic. Of course, no monsters dare to hit the wall now, but it’s still considered as Castle Rock’s pride and joy.”
“That’s understandable. Because the location is good, it is also the closest to the border, with a large forest next to it… Ah! If so, has the condition of the forest only recently started to become a little weird?”
“Yes. I have to check for further details, but I heard that the exchange rate of the mercenaries and free people staying in Castle Rock is constantly falling. Sometimes they see monsters popping out of the forest. I don’t know exactly what it is, but it’s not a good sign.”
Don’t know exactly what it is, yeah…’
It felt ridiculous to hear him say that after seeing just how much he had prepared for it.
‘Cute bastard.’
While gently stroking Jung Hayan’s head, the wagon continued to head towards Castle Rock. The closer we were, the higher the walls became.
It was then that a familiar figure came into sight.
‘Ah…’
Marlin Young-ae, accompanied by her many knights, came out to meet me.
I didn’t know why she had come, but just looking at her made me feel worried.
I didn’t want to upset Jung Hayan. I could also feel Kim Hyunsung staring at me questioningly, wondering if it was because of me that they were here, waiting for us.
At this, I was stuck between showing him my competence and soothing Jung Hayan’s psychological needs.
However, the decision was taken entirely out of my own hands.
“Lee Kiyoung!”
I saw Marlin Young-ae running towards me, tears streaming down her cheeks.
‘Fuck… Hayan, it’s nothing this time.
I made a show of pointedly talking to Hyunsung, making sure Hayan could hear.
“I never told her I was coming… I guess she saw us coming from a distance.”
“I see.”
“Ahem. I think it would be better to say hello first.”
“Yes, yes.”
I waved my hand after getting off the carriage.
Only
“Ah! Marlin Young-ae!”
The moment I tried to act as formal as possible, her breathless figure appeared in front of me.
“Lee Kiyoung-nim!”
Embarrassment flooded into me as she hugged me tightly, acting as if we were a long-distance couple that had only managed to meet again. As her knights watched us warily, I worried about whether I could push her away, or leave her be.
‘Ha…
As Jung Hayan bit her lips in silent agitation, Cho Hyejin and Kim Hyunsung both sported surprised expressions.
It was then that I heard Kim Ye-ri speak, a surprising turn of events as she was always the quiet one.
“Womanizer.”