Chapter 792: The Last (25)
[The fall of the kingdom of Eberia. A continent terrorized by new threats. -Reporter Kim Sung-kyung of the Lindel News]
[Where and what was the Continental Protection and Management Committee doing? Former Chairman Lee Kiyoung accuses the committee of incompetence. -Reporter Kim Sung-kyung of the Lindel News]
[What happened there that day? The horrors were heard through the voices of survivors. -Reporter Merlia, the State Newspaper.]
[Elena officially leaves the Blue Guild. There is no conflict with the guild members. A decision for the elves who have lost the kingdom. -Reporter Cheonwi, Dawan News.]
[The whereabouts of the Sunset Swordsman is unclear… The Blue Guild dismisses the Guild Master’s retirement theory. However… -Reporter Kim Sung-kyung of the Lindel News]
[Has the Sunset Swordsman really abandoned the continent? I understand the incomprehensible behavior and travel and the shock of the loss of the Honorary Cardinal, but… -Continental News Agency]
[Now, when he too has to overcome sadness, the continent’s citizens are waiting for the Sunset Swordsman… -Reporter Merlia, the State Newspaper.]
The news about the complete destruction of Eberia was enough to shock the continent.
Almost like they had been waiting for that exact moment, the media began to rush to uncover the truth of the incident, and citizens were unable to hide their anxiety.
To put it a bit exaggeratedly, it felt even more confusing than Judgment Day.
Actually, this situation didn’t even feel strange. As it was said that the world would be destroyed, the foreign defense was not done in the north. It would have been unreasonable for ordinary people to actually feel the danger.
Of course, I wasn’t dismissing the fear they felt at the time, but I was sure that this event would have felt more real.
‘Eberia, fuck, disappeared from the map. They must be feeling devastated.’
In the case of adventurers, they were looking at that incident from a slightly different perspective…
‘Because the non-combat personnel is different.’
The fear of a man who could endure huge waves was different. It didn’t take long before that fear was expressed. They were beginning to find ways to influence them in many directions.
Calling the press for the right to know or exchanging undisclosed information.
Most of the things seemed useless, but the fact that their influence could not be ignored was also a problem. Personal remarks and public opinion were completely different. Not to mention…
Several groups were using the situation maliciously.
“They want to get rid of the ones that were annoying to them in the past.”
-…
“Why are the soldiers just watching it?”
-I’m not sure, but I think I know why the Vice Guild Master was trying to exclude the Guild Master.
“Huh?”
-I knew he was enduring heavy burdens, but I didn’t know how much pressure he was enduring while fighting…
“…”
-There are more articles about the Guild Master than Eberia, which has disappeared. Even malicious articles… Of course, they are keeping within the line, but… They’re standing on top of it. As long as it is written in good language, the fact that they criticize the Guild Master does not change.
“Yeah… well.”
-No, even if they didn’t intend to criticize, it’s undeniable that they are driving the Guild Master to a corner. They don’t know how hard it is for the Guild Master to pick up his sword and how cruel it is to ask him to come to the forefront again. Even this situation is getting politicized…
‘I didn’t exclude him for that reason, though…’
-I can also understand why Jihye made such a choice.
‘Don’t think like that. Brigade Hyunsung is too much, but Brigade Hyejin is even more…’
“Don’t try to understand Lee Jihye’s feelings. Why are you trying to understand the feelings of someone who blew up a kingdom? You only need to do what you can do. Actually, it’s not really a bad situation.”
-How is this not a bad situation? Elios went missing. Jihye has lost her mind to the demon because of one wrong choice. I’m sure she’s continuing… her tough fight.
‘It can’t be that tough.’
-If at least a little bit of her conscience is there… I can’t imagine… how much tormented she must be feeling for what she has done.
She wouldn’t be that tormented.
-I… What should I do…
‘Rather, you seem to be the one tormented…’
It seemed certain that various situations were bothering Cho Hyejin.
I thought it was hard enough for her that even I couldn’t judge.
Her emotional shock brought forth by Lee Jihye, who sold her soul to the demon, was already big, and all of the circumstances would feel as if it was tormenting her. In addition to Elena leaving the Blue Guild and media response issues, many problems had to be solved officially. There was guild work as well, and many issues had to be dealt with informally.
If I hadn’t helped, the guild wouldn’t work normally.
The crazy remarks of the insane bastard I had seen in the Kingdom of Eberia were convincing.
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that we were having the worst times both financially and politically.
‘I’ll remember those motherfuckers. Really. Fuck.’
The assholes, who were hostile to the Blue Guild, and the bastards who escaped because they didn’t want to be in a sinking ship. I remembered everyone…
-It’s really embarrassing to say this, but the fact that the Vice Guild Master is here is comforting.
“Well, that’s not something to be embarrassed about. Didn’t I tell you? It might not be that bad of a situation.”
-Yes?
“It’s hard to explain in detail, but I think I should also think about the possibility that Jihye is keeping her conscience a little bit.”
-What…
“I wonder if she understands my current situation and is helping me…”
-What are you talking about?
“The probability is low, and it’s also undeniable that the continent is collapsing, but ironically, all of these situations are working nicely for me. It would be easy to understand if I say that more people are praying to the gods. It is also true that many people are looking for Hyunsung. I told you that I need tremendous divinity to go back, right?”
-No. Honestly, it’s hard to understand what you are talking about.
“Just keep in mind that Jihye is keeping her consciousness even when her soul has been taken away by the demon.”
‘Because this isn’t Jihye’s method in doing things.’
Honestly, I couldn’t say that the probability was high. Still, it was a bit more convincing that Lee Jihye went crazy and caused this. However, no matter how much I thought about it, I didn’t think Lee Jihye’s methods were this terrible.
She was a snake.
It was my way, not hers, to bluff or to conjure big shocks to draw attention.
Jihye Lee’s preferred method was to observe and move quietly, without anyone noticing, and endlessly choking and choking the other’s throat.
If Jihye had been trying to deal with things in the right way, she wouldn’t have dropped such a big bomb. She would have suffocated and sunk the continent without them even knowing that their necks were being slowly strangled.
Of course, I remembered how she would have acted if she was me, and the story would be different if she were a romanticist who wanted to take revenge, but Lee Jihye followed reason rather than emotions.
‘She is also avoiding communication with me.’
She intentionally refrained from making contact with me. If that hypothesis were correct, it would be to avoid Lucifer’s eyes. I had gained quite a lot from the extinction of Eberia.
The first was the portal that Jung Hayan was currently investigating.
Second, the fact that Lee Jihye and Lucifer were related in some way.
Third, there was a ground on which the divinity could gather.
The second hint deserved the most attention.
‘Does she know?’
If Lee Jihye intentionally avoided me to deceive Lucifer’s eyes, if she was getting ready to backstab Lucifer, not me, maybe…
Lee Jihye might know the content of the bet or information related to it.
“Of course, that’s a possibility. Maybe she’s just venting out her anger, trying to kill humans, or she’s hoping that we’re making this assumption. Perhaps she’s actually getting ready to backstab us after all. However…”
-Yes.
“I don’t think that Jihye is only moving in the direction the demon wants.”
-P-Probably. She’s a strong person. Even after the Soul Stealer stole her soul, she steadfastly… overcame it.
‘The Soul Stealer… Fuck.’
“I think it would be nice to take some time to decide her intentions. Should we move with the assumption that Lee Jihye is acting for us or that she’s moving in the direction of becoming a complete enemy?”
-Of course, I choose the former.
“Don’t choose right now. If we gamble thinking that it was the first option, but it turns out to be the second, we’ll be met with a bad ending.
-I believe in Jihye.
“I only half-believe her. Still, what you need to do right now is track the portal where Lee Jihye disappeared.”
-Yes.
“And getting a satisfactory result from the meeting, we’re going into now.”
-I know.
“So let’s stop looking at articles and move on.”
-…
“The other people might be waiting.”
-Yes.
Cho Hyejin got up with a slightly tense face.
When she opened the door slightly, Alps, who followed as an attendant, was waiting.
The new guild member, who looked at her with an anxious face, soon followed behind by a half-step.
Since she already knew things, she should understand that this meeting would be difficult as well.
-The representative of the Blue Guild Master, Cho Hyejin, is entering.
After she said that, I was able to see those who intentionally sent distorted faces when she stepped inside. I could see that they were hostile at just one glance.
Weren’t their gazes following her until she sat?
-Is the Sunset Swordsman very busy?
-Guild Master is currently focusing on other work.
-Haha… Gosh…
-…
-I don’t know what he’s doing, but it must be very important. The kingdom of Eberia has been destroyed. It has disappeared completely from the map. While the continent is in a crisis, the one who is called the Sunset Swordsman is ignoring all that… sigh… well… gosh…
-Hey! What are you saying about the hero who saved the continent!
-I am saying that even more because he is the hero who saved the continent. Isn’t this a situation where Elios’s whereabouts are also unknown? It is a time when even a small amount of power is needed, isn’t it? Perhaps the Blue Guild isn’t very interested in this matter.
-Be careful with your words… you should be grateful. Thanks to the Blue Guild…
-The Blue Guild didn’t save the continent from the external enemies alone. We were able to lead the holy war to victory because the entire continent joined forces. The same is true this time. All the continent must work together to get out of this crisis. But… what is this? Let’s recall the reason Lee Kiyoung created the Continental Protection and Management Committee!
‘Look at that bastard using my name.’
-Not only the Sunset Swordsman but also the Mercenary Queen isn’t participating. Inherit the spirit of the Continental Protection and Management Committee! That’s why I insisted that we create a stronger command that will inherit the will of Honorary Cardinal Lee Kiyoung.
‘…’
-The time has come to gather that will once again, everyone.
They said that while the cat was away, the mice would play…
I seemed to be able to know what those bastards were aiming for.
‘You guys are not saying you will control Hyunsung, are you? Son of a bitch.’
At this, my laughter disappeared.
‘You want to do Tactic Kim Hyunsung?’
I started to get annoyed.