episode_0104

33. But it has to be him… (3)

Ji-sung and Ji-ah watch the woman sleeping in the man’s arms, squirming and squirming.

The two had opposite expressions. Ji-ah had an expression as if she was looking at something cute. On the other hand, Ji-sung was glaring at the man holding the woman as if he was going to kill her.

Hyun-seok looks at the woman in his arms while receiving those two gazes. Yeon-seo just hopes that this quiet atmosphere will pass.

Was it because of Yeonseo’s wishes? While I was still, Ji-ah opened her mouth.

” Looks like you were tired. ”

As she said that, Zia looked at Charlotte, her second older brother, or rather, her younger sister, sleeping in the arms of the man in front of her, and her expression softened slightly.

But Ji-ah’s expression as she turned her gaze to Hyun-seok had changed quite sharply.

An expression as if asking what on earth they had done to this child.

” That’s… umm… ”

” Ha, okay. I get it. But more importantly, you guys… were trying to join the team that was going to conquer Namsan Tower, right? ”

” Yes, Yeonseo and I met the criteria, but Charlotte didn’t. So instead… ”

” I asked you to conquer the tower in Gyeongbokgung Palace. ”

Ji-seong looked at her as if an unexpected word had come out of her mouth and asked.

” Wait? The Gyeongbokgung Palace I know? Really? Jia, what on earth were you doing while I was… collapsed… ”

He looked at the intelligence shooting at him and cried as if it was unfair.

” Then what should I do? My brother has changed so much since then, and I’ve been leading this place with everyone.

Regarding Namsan Tower… I couldn’t leave it as it is any longer, so I gathered people, but if you don’t conquer the tower to some extent, you’re just going to die, right?

So, at least… I just told you to go for a place with a similar difficulty if you don’t meet the conditions… I didn’t know you’d actually do it! ”

After that, Ji-sung slowly hugged Ji-ah, who was sobbing and shedding tears, stroked her hair, said sorry, and then looked at Hyun-seok.

” So you guys conquered that place? It must have been quite difficult. You managed to get back safely. ”

” It’s all thanks to Charlotte… ”

As he said that, he gently touched Charlotte’s forehead while she was in his arms. Suddenly, Hyun-seok felt a cold murderous aura and turned his head to look behind him.

A sharp, awl-shaped piece of stone was pointed at him. But at the same time, the awl made of stone burned and disappeared.

When Hyun-seok saw the flames, he looked at Charlotte in his arms and saw that she had opened her eyes with sharpness that he had never seen before.

” Charlotte…? ”

” …. ”

Even though I called her, she just closed her eyes and fell asleep again. Seeing that, I just smiled weakly and looked forward. Ji-seong was surprised as if he hadn’t expected it.

” Haha… that… ”

” Phew, yeah. That’s right. Tsk. ”

Ji-seong clicked his tongue as if he was disappointed. However, his expression soon relaxed and Hyun-seok listened to Ji-seong’s story as he spoke to him.

*****

” First of all… let me say one thing. If you make my lovely youngest brother cry, you… ”

” That will never happen. ”

Hyunseok smiled and said firmly, seeming to like it.

” Haha! Yeah, but… how was the Gyeongbokgung Tower? I want to hear the story. So that I can conquer Namsan Tower in the future. ”

” Excuse me. Are you okay, Yeonseo? ”

When he asked Yeonseo, who was trembling slightly next to him, Yeonseo slowly nodded and opened her mouth.

” Can I talk to you? ”

” You? Well, it doesn’t matter. Ji-ah, you also get up and get ready now. ”

At those words, Jia, who had been burying her face in his arms, took out a tablet-type device from her arms and returned to her role, leaving her private appearance behind.

Yeonseo began to speak calmly and in a clear voice.

” At first, there wasn’t really a problem. The undead were just overflowing. So the moment I used my power to scout out the situation… I lost control to the Arch Lich who was there.

No, not only was it taken away… but in return, I was controlled. If it weren’t for Charlotte, I… wouldn’t be here now. ”

” Ark Lich… There was a being like that? I’m sorry. I made you go to such a dangerous place… ”

When Jia bowed her head as if apologizing, Yeonseo shook her head.

” It’s okay. Thanks to you… I was able to gain his knowledge. Oh, by the way… It was a little strange. Do you two know where the demons come from? ”

” Isn’t it just made on the top? Like a game, roughly ‘Whirly’. ”

Ji-sung just waved his hand slightly and asked if Jia was the same way.

” That Archlich said he came from… ‘another world’. ”

” Another world…? Wait, what is that?! ”

When told of the unexpected summoning from another world, Zia stopped organizing the story she had been telling and opened her eyes wide as she asked.

” Sure enough, Archlich said so. And now, in my head, I can see a little bit of the scenery he saw, along with his knowledge of magic.

After that, when we defeated the Dullahan that was with Archlich, a man came out of the tower… ”

” Wait, a man came out of the tower? That can’t… happen… ”

As Ji-seong spoke as if it was nonsense, this time Hyun-seok started speaking following Yeon-seo.

” It’s true. His name is ‘El Rey’, and he pushed us, saying he was the ruler of El Dorado, the city of gold.

We entered the city by the light that appeared when he slammed his hammer on the floor, and after Charlotte defeated him, we were able to go to the tower’s reward room. ”

” Haa, if that story is true… I guess I’ll have to reconsider Namsan Tower too. What do you think, oppa? ”

” By the way, what color was that tower? ”

Ji-seong looked at the two who seemed startled and surprised by his words, as if he realized something.

” Ji-ah, what you just said… is true. Judging from their reactions, it’s the same as what I experienced. ”

” What? What do you mean? More like the color of the top? Why did you ask that? ”

” Because… the Namsan tower that I saw and the Gyeongbokgung tower that those kids saw were black. ”

” Black? ”

” Yeah, the black tower. In that tower… there will be guys with intelligence levels that are on a whole other level than the demons we’ve seen so far. ”

At his words, they just faced each other and remained silent.

Even in such an atmosphere, Jia organized the story she had heard so far on her device and stopped shortly after.

” Hoo, I see. Then I should tell the recon team before they leave. Thanks for talking to me, you two. I’ll go out first. ”

Jia said thank you and quickly left. Then Jisung also got up from his seat and looked at Hyunseok.

” Can you give me a minute? ”

” Yes? Me? Suddenly… ”

” Hey~ I’m not teasing you. It’s just that I haven’t recovered for very long, so I’m still not very good at handling my abilities. That’s why I thought I’d ask you for some help. ”

” I don’t know if I can help, but… Well, I’m curious about your skills in conquering the tower for the first time. ”

” Okay, let’s rest a bit more for now… I’ll contact you separately tomorrow. ”

After Yu Ji-seong left with those words, Hyun-seok continued to watch the door through which he had exited.

Her family, whom she had met a few months ago and who was now her lover… I never thought it would be that person. Feeling how small the world really was, he stroked her forehead as she slept in his arms and waited for her to wake up.

*****

” Whoaaam~ ”

Let’s yawn and get up from our heavy bodies.

” Are you awake? ”

Hyunseok was looking at me and smiling.

” Huh? What about brother and sister? Oh, I fell asleep, right? ”

” Since Hyunseok and I finished talking, you don’t have to worry about it. But… Don’t you have something to tell us? ”

” Haha… ”

” Then, I’ll bring something to eat and drink. ”

Hyunseok slowly pushed me off the sofa and walked towards the kitchen, while Yeonseo sat down in front of me, crossed her legs and asked me.

” Really… are those people your family? ”

” Yeah, that’s right. Now it’s just those two… ”

” Hmm, but why didn’t you say anything when you were talking to Mr. Doosik and whenever related stories came up? ”

” Did I say that…? I, remember… ”

” Oh, that’s right. You said there hasn’t been much since you went to another world. ”

” Yeah, thanks to the fragments of memories I received from Patruna, I was able to regain some of my memories not long ago.

Before that… something happened and I lost all my memories… hehe… ”

At my words, Yeonseo opened her half-closed eyes wide.

” What!? Wait, what are you talking about! I’m talking about… when? ”

” Uh… probably when we enter Garam Settlement. ”

” That time… Now that I think about it, you were hugging Hyunseok at that time. At that time, I thought you were just tired… ”

” Actually… Charlotte attacked me back then, and she was different than usual. ”

” Haa, how much are you two planning to surprise me? ”

After that, I told Yeonseo and Hyunseok… that the evil god Thanatos had touched me.

Because of that… whenever my emotions were unstable, I was increasingly consumed by that power.

” So to sum it up… you weren’t aware of your feelings properly and just kept suppressing them on your own, right? ”

” Well, I missed a few important things… but that’s right. ”

” Now? ”

” It’s okay now. You won’t have to… suffer anymore. ”

” Then that’s good. ”

Yeonseo slowly ate the drinks and food that Hyunseok had brought, leaning back on the sofa and speaking.

” Oh, Charlotte’s older sister was talking about a recon team. Does anyone know anything about it? ”

Hyunseok and I just shook our heads.

” Hmm, then let’s go ask Mr. Doosik. He got here before us, so he should know something. ”

As it was approaching mealtime, I decided to go see Uncle Dosik to have a meal with him and exchange information.