Chapter 690: Lee Kiyoung, You Piece of Crap (4)
‘Is it possible or not?’
[A common-grade forced quest has been activated.]
[With the current continental situation, it would be impossible. It is forbidden to intervene in human life and death directly, and even if permission is granted, huge penalties are imposed. Especially in our case. Considering that even the smallest interventions have significant divine disturbances… (0/1)]
‘It’s not that I don’t understand.’
[A common-grade forced quest has been activated.]
[Thank you for understanding… Ju… Junior Lee Kiyoung. As expected, we’re in sync. (0/1)]
‘Because I know how it’s also working over there.’
[Yes. Other continents also need a lot of budgets, so honestly, I don’t think I can afford to invest in this place anymore. You can think that giving you the light was the last support. At least you have wings! R-Right? (0/1)]
‘But is it really impossible? If you gather and sacrifice a few guys like Elune and…’
[Even if I sacrifice Elune, it’s impossible. It’s possible with the divinities that the old ones have gathered for an immeasurable amount of time. An ordinary human could use shortcuts anyway, but as you know, you have become more expensive. (0/1)]
‘That’s true…’
[It won’t happen, but if I assume that I save you, that’s the same action as saving the dead god. It’s no different from bringing Altanus back to life. If I could afford to consume that much divinity, I wouldn’t let you die in the first place. I always say this, but the last support was very unusual. It was passed because one of the superiors eagerly wanted to scout you and Kim Hyunsung. I wouldn’t have done that otherwise. (0/1)]
‘Hmm…’
[I’m a bit sorry to say this to my lovely junior Lee Kiyoung, but as you know, you’re a bit harsh… no, you’re a bit peculiar. There are a lot of conservative people here, so there are a lot of talks. The same goes for Kim Hyunsung… How could we believe in a fallen man? (0/1)]
‘What?’
[S… Still, the one I mentioned earlier… Rather, that’s why he said that he had to scout you more, and he was focusing on why you accepted it rather than accepting Lucifer’s power. He really wanted to see you… Unfortunately, you’re too busy right now. (0/1)]
‘There are a lot of things bothering me, but in conclusion, it means it is possible?
[N-No. It’s impossible. It’s against the laws of the continent… (0/1)]
‘Wouldn’t you say it’s possible if you were prepared to face the penalty and consumed the divinity they had collected for countless time?’
[You’re… But… Actually, it’s hard to move that degree of divinity. The dimensions in which the superiors are in charge also have many problems, and if that degree of divinity is consumed, there is a possibility that the dimensional balance itself will be broken… (0/1)]
‘But it means that it’s possible.’
[I-It is. (0/1)]
‘Then it’s done.’
For the time being, it seemed that I could continue to shed tears of light.
Of course, I decided to sacrifice all of it for the sake of holiness, but what kind of verification process wasn’t necessary?
The more I checked, the more I felt like it fit.
If it were Lucifer, it would be possible.
Even if Light Kiyoung really turned into light, it was possible to save me if it was Lucifer.
She faced enormous penalties, and her track record would have blown up one way or another, but I thought she would surely be able to revive me if it were her.
No, as I listened to Benignore, it’s likely that I wouldn’t even die in the first place. In order to minimize the damage, why wouldn’t she choose to intervene in the middle at all costs?
I didn’t know why I even made such an annoying bet, but I could understand if that was the contract’s content.
Demons could intervene in the world only by contract.
A demon like Lucifer would be able to intervene without signing a contract, but it would be hard not to know that having a formal contract was a way to get less penalty.
The undeniable fact that no matter what it was, the damages she’d incur if she were defeated were enormous.
It was only for a moment, but I started wondering what I had to pay if I was defeated. What did past Lee Kiyoung offer to get Lucifer’s involvement?
I became anxious about whether my past self signed a contract of slavery to work with Kim Hyunsung under her for the rest of my life.
I, of course, thought that I didn’t have to dig. I thought it wasn’t Lucifer that would win the bet anyway.
[A common-grade forced quest has been activated.]
[There are only two days left now. Lee, Lee Kiyoung. We can do it, right? (0/1)]
‘I guess.’
[A common-grade forced quest has been activated.]
[I used to think of what to do if you abandon our continent, but… as expected, Lee Kiyoung is Lee Kiyoung after all. I believed. Even if Elune was against it, I always believed you. W-We’re going all the way together, right? (0/1)]
‘No…’
[That thing that we buy together and sell together. I-I’m doing it too! (0/1)]
‘…’
[Because we are soul partners. Yes. I-I always believed in you. (0/1)]
‘…’
[Even when everyone was pointing fingers and cursing you, I believed in Lee Kiyoung to the end. (0/1)]
‘…’
[Oh! I-It’s time for the meeting. Believer Lee Kiyoung should cheer up. I, too, will try to find a way to help you as much as possible. We are one. We are one! (0/1)]
“This one too…”
There was a bit of anxiety, but it was also very hopeful.
‘It seems like yesterday that she was trembling that I would abandon the continent after 36 days…’
I was half sure that in the end, it seemed like Lee Kiyoung decided to accept it.
I thought it would be wise to be careful about my back until the end, but I thought I could see what Benignore’s hopeful mood meant.
With only three days left, I wondered if she thought that the preparation wasn’t bad even to her.
Benignore’s endorsements were of little use, but she felt that the continent seemed to be moving step by step toward the bright atmosphere.
‘That’s because she also has a lot to get out of this.’
Basically, the happiest news was that she could protect her workplace.
Wasn’t she turning the happiness circuit for the secondary gains?
It was natural to get promoted and maybe even get incentives for being credited with pushing away or killing external forces.
If I made up my mind to move toward the light, she’d get definite benefits from her perspective.
The atmosphere seemed to diverge opinions about me but no one could argue with the fact that he and I were the core of a typhoon.
It was a confirmed story because I’d been favored by one of the superiors.
Benignore was also trying to sneak that line. I even wondered if she was actually smart.
As I tapped my thighs, a voice began to come from the front. Come to think of it. I was playing with her.
“It’s the Vice Guild Master’s turn.”
“…”
“…”
“Ah. Yes. I spaced out for a moment.”
“You can be at ease. It’s not a game that tries to distinguish the superiority and inferiority.”
The one who was quietly looking at me was Cho Hyejin.
“Who said it wasn’t a game to distinguish the superiority and inferiority? It actually is.”
“Yeah? Then, let’s go with that.”
“…”
“…”
“Hyejin’s skills have decreased a lot since we last played.”
“Rather than that, it seems that your skills have improved. You have some good moves.”
‘This…’
“Oh. Rather, try this tea.”
‘…’
“It is said to be a healthy tea that clears the head… They said it might work.”
“Where did you…”
“People on Benignore Net recommended it. You’ll probably like it.”
‘Wow…’
She looked very worried.
‘I guess I was a bit out of myself.’
I wasn’t even aware of Cho Hyejin playing an entertainment game, so what else would I need to say?
It seemed that she somehow felt that she wasn’t very nervous. The game was tilted to my advantage, but she didn’t have an expression that showed it. Didn’t she have a warm smile even in the situation just before the checkmate?
I was thrilled to see other people worrying about me, but it hurt my pride a little. It didn’t seem too bad to speak about it lightly. Wouldn’t there be a reaction if I provoked her?
“The tea is delicious, but… the game … It’s not that I’m skilled, but it’s correct that your skills have decreased.”
“…”
“It’s too easy… Is there something wrong with your head? You shouldn’t have made that move earlier. This is only fun when the opponent is at a similar level…”
“…”
“I think you should practice a little more before coming. Well, I understand that there are two days left until the day of the final battle, but your skills have become really rotten. Hey! I will take this with delight. I’m taking all the knights. It’s awesome. It’s awesome. Whew.”
“…”
“I can see the checkmate in front of me… Should I take this one or not? I’ll save you once. Instead, I’ll take the Bishop. Gosh… Oh my. It’s delicious. Isn’t your brain frozen?”
“…”
“Oh, it’s too easy. It feels like playing a game with Hyunsung. Really.”
“I think you’re being too harsh. I’m not like the Guild Master.”
“It feels like playing a game with him, really. This one too. I will enjoy taking this one. Slurp.”
“…”
I noticed her gaze slightly changing as she bit her lips tightly.
Although she moved the horse with a little firmer determination, there was no way that something would change.
The war situation was already inclined to my favor, and the only thing Cho Hyejin could do was be beaten.
“My hand slipped and took this one again.”
“…”
“Look. Phuhehehehaha.”
“…”
“Checkmate! Never ask to play chess again. Really.”
“One more match.”
“What do you mean? It’s late.”
“One more match. Just one more.”
“Even if we do, the results are obvious. It’s no fun. First, win against Lee Jihye, no, the manager Kim Mi-young. Then I will be your opponent.”
“Just one more match. One more.”
“You’re begging too much. I don’t want to.”
“No, just…”
“It’s too easy.”
“No… No, just one more game! Let’s really have the last match!!”
“…”
“…”
“S-Sorry for yelling.”
“You don’t have to get so worked up with something like that. You worked hard all day today. You can scream.”
“Just one more.”
“Gosh. I really don’t want to. Let’s clean this up and have wine. I have something to tell…”
“What? What is it?”
“How about Hyunsung? Is he doing well?”
“Yeah. Well, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong. Before I came out today, it seemed that the Guild Master was in a bit bad mood… but it was as usual. Come to think of it. He asked me to check if the Vice Guild Master was fine. He said he couldn’t get in touch with you. He also wanted to come here with me…”
“Isn’t Hyunsung busy? I can’t be in his way.”
“Ah… Yes. Even so…”
“Is the guild atmosphere fine?”
“Yeah. It’s fine. It seems that Hayan had a little problem, but…”
‘That’s also going well.’
It really felt like there was only the last puzzle piece left.
“Now, really…”
“Yeah. There isn’t much left.”
“Do you think it’ll be okay?”
“It’ll be.”
“You seemed nervous so far…”
“That problem was solved. We are well prepared, and I hope it works out just as I think it would. I think it’s best to finish it without anyone getting hurt. I hope it will be easy.”
“No one will get hurt.”
“I don’t know… Still, I really hope that’s the case.”
As if sensing the anxiety, Cho Hyejin was biting her lips. She looked like she was thrown with the death flag. She had a face that wanted to ask what’s going on. She felt something nasty was going to happen.
She forcibly opened her mouth with her smile as if changing the subject.
“Well, what did you want to tell me?”
“I almost forgot the main subject.”
“…”
“I don’t want to talk about something serious when you have a day off, but… I think I have to tell you. It’s not a big deal. It is news that your mission has changed.”
“What does that mean…”
“You can proceed according to the manual at the beginning of the battle.”
“And after that…”
“This is just in case.”
“Yeah.”
Her voice was trembling.
“So. Only just in case.”
“…”
“If I…”
“Yeah.”
“It’s the manual that you should follow if anything happens to me.”
As I gave her the prepared document, Cho Hyejin’s face, biting her lips tightly, came into view.
“This… this… this…”
A saint’s quest to sacrifice himself for the light.
Her head was staggering as if she couldn’t stand up properly, and her hands trembled as if she couldn’t believe it. Tears were filling her eyes, and her lips were constantly quivering.
Didn’t it look like she was having a panic attack? I felt embarrassed hearing the sound of her breathing as if she was going to pass out.
I even wondered if I shouldn’t have called Cho Hyejin and gave her a quest, so what else would I need to say?
‘Ah… Did I pick the wrong person for the job?’
“Lee Kiyoung… Lee Kiyoung… Lee Kiyoung… you.”
“…”
“You…”
For the time being, I had to speak with a grim face. It’s right to properly prepare for it if I was going to do it anyway.
“I told you. That’s just a precaution if the end has come to me.”