Chapter 285

Chapter 285. Withdrawal (4)

The battle with the legion lasted an entire additional day.

As soon as the battle was declared over, Horfe came looking for me and uttered unexpected words.

“Hey, K. Something strange has appeared before my eyes. It’s telling me to return to our residence and some odd numbers keep dwindling.”

According to Horfe’s account, it resembled the system screen that we, as players, typically saw.

The reason it appeared before Horfe, who wasn’t a player, wasn’t difficult to deduce.

‘It’s likely to evacuate the Beastfolk.’

Although no contact had been made, it was clear the dwarves were also seeing the same message window.

Watching the antics of the Damned System from behind the scenes, I found it difficult to suppress a wry smile.

‘Both the gods of Bihar and Earth are fifty steps, a hundred steps alike.’

The content of Act 2, Scenario 3 that had newly appeared was enough to turn my wry smile into a sneer.

‘A pierced hole, huh…’

At a time when it was clear that Karklein had been injured, was Earth actually being attacked again?

Was that hole opened against their will, or did they willingly open it themselves?

‘I’d wager on the latter.’

As evidence, the hole opened on Earth wasn’t of a grand scale.

At most, it was the size of a 3 to 4-star corrupted area.

It was manageable with just the silver rank players.

However, the number of players who went to Earth worried about their homeland was significant.

‘According to Lily’s report, about 40 to 50 percent of them.’

The rest remained in Bihar, cleaning up the remnants of the legion.

Instead of participating in that cleanup, I returned to the base.

Upon visiting the base after a long time, it felt desolate.

Most of the furniture remained, but miscellaneous items had disappeared, making it seem uninhabited.

While I was wandering outside, my party members had already packed everything up.

I stood silently, somewhat unfamiliar with the sight.

“Human!”

Dennis approached with an excited expression.

“I finally get to see you again.”

Having been unsure of what was unfolding, I had contacted him through my party members.

Luckily or unluckily, I managed to meet him before leaving.

Dennis, who had flown over quickly, urgently poured out words.

“I, I’ve been waiting for a while! Can we leave now?”

“No.”

Dennis’s heightened expression immediately fell at my firm response.

“It’s just starting, after all.”

As I passed by the dejected Dennis, I reached out toward Rice Cake.

The creature immediately rushed over, wagging its tail energetically at the prospect of meeting after a long time.

‘You’ve gotten a bit lean.’

I released mana to fill Rice Cake’s belly.

As I tended to Rice Cake, Yang Taeho descended from the second floor.

“Heh, you’re back?”

“Yes. There weren’t any issues, were there? What about Yul?”

Given Kim Yul’s temperament, he should have come rushing, asking what took me so long. When I saw he wasn’t here, I realized.

“He went to Earth.”

“Earth?”

“There’s the main act 2, Scenario 3, right? We discussed that maybe someone should go back, and since Yul knows the twins and Doctor Seo well…”

Apparently, Yul decided to stay with his family, feeling it would’ve been awkward if he himself went.

“Since In-ah gets along well with Yul…”

Yang Taeho trailed off, cautiously asking if they had done something unnecessary.

I shook my head to deny it.

“No, you did well.”

While I thought the system deliberately opened the hole so there wouldn’t be a significant danger…

‘One can never guarantee what’s ahead.’

Having trusted party members at my family’s side brought some relief.

Almost instinctively, Yang Taeho glanced at the air and then spoke.

“And, oh, there was someone who claimed he was an apostle of Kalros.”

Yang Taeho paused momentarily, as if asking for permission to continue.

The system had intervened, breaking the Divine Canopy I had set up.

I clicked my tongue inwardly and urged Yang Taeho.

“Just tell me succinctly.”

Nodding, Yang Taeho relayed the rather brief story.

Gilenios had visited twice.

The first time, he abruptly stormed into the base’s living room, leaving a message to call him when I returned.

The second visit happened several days later when Yang Taeho was training alone in the backyard.

“He said by the time you came out, he might not be able to move, so he advised heading straight to the Kalros temple, and he’s prepared it already.”

Gilenios likely sensed something was amiss.

Therefore, he did what he could within his means.

“So, are you going to the temple?”

I shook my head at Yang Taeho’s question.

“No, there’s someone who might act up if I do.”

“Huh?”

The contract, not much different from a shackle for Biharins, was something the system was involved in.

‘If it breaks, the bastard will come to know.’

Moving ahead would unnecessarily provoke the system.

‘It’s something that should be ended in one fell swoop without giving any room to respond.’

Until then, I had to hold my breath and await the right time.

Just as the system had moved after some contemplation, I had also laid the groundwork for both big and small plans.

And according to my plan, evacuating from Bihar wasn’t now.

“Please don’t say anything further.”

As if on cue, the Divine Canopy crumbled.

I stifled a sigh at the renewed watchful gaze and Yang Taeho nodded without further questioning.

“Got it.”

As soon as he answered, a realization suddenly dawned upon me.

A future I once saw through Meferoseta’s authority.

“… Do you remember what the first thing that apostle when he came the second time?”

Yang Taeho gave me a questioning look at the random inquiry.

Nonetheless, he answered earnestly.

“The second time… I don’t exactly recall, but it was probably something like, ‘You’ve come? Have you come again?’ That’s not unusual for someone you’ve met before, right?”

I found myself chuckling subconsciously.

‘So, that was it.’

It seemed the scene I saw through Meferoseta’s authority was around this time.

Even though I thought Yang Taeho wasn’t the kind to hit me from behind, I had been consistently suspicious, only to find out how futile it was.

‘Speaking of which, Kim Yul also appeared in the future I saw.’

Kim Yul was there with Yeonwoo.

Back then, it was a scene I couldn’t comprehend, but now, it all seemed so obvious.

Kim Yul and the twins had been growing closer over the past few weeks.

They were the same age, stayed in the same house.

The twins were proactively reaching out to Kim Yul and extending their hands.

‘Because I haven’t properly explained things.’

Being of similar age and perceived personalities, Kim Yul was filling the twin’s curiosity about various things.

‘It seems Kim Yul doesn’t mind their attention.’

With his exceptional subtlety, Kim Yul isn’t likely to speak things he shouldn’t.

Hence, I didn’t interfere with Kim Yul and the twins becoming closer.

Thanks to that, there was someone to watch over my family when I wasn’t around. That’s a good thing.

Instead of feeling uneasy about having a player near my family, I felt reassured.

Reflecting on these thoughts felt strange, but soon I brushed off my reverie and said.

“I’ll introduce you when I return.”

“Huh?”

“My younger siblings.”

Until today, I suspected until the very last moment.

Because of that, although Kim Yul met my family, Yang Taeho hadn’t.

Now that my doubts were cleared, it was time.

“Wow, is that it?”

When I expressed my intentions and began speaking, Yang Taeho reacted more startled than expected.

“Is it over?”

“The doubts, I mean. Even I have some intuition, so I’d have known.”

Momentarily, I found myself at a loss for words, like someone shot through the heart.

No, indeed, I had been stabbed there because I had persistently observed Yang Taeho.

“I’m not sure what I did wrong, but you’ve been diligently watching over everything. Did you also have Rice Cake sneaking around watching me?”

“…”

“Ah, don’t misunderstand. I’m not upset or anything.”

He simply assumed there was some unknown reason and let it go.

It seemed natural, knowing how I didn’t easily trust people.

‘To think he had been so tolerant of the situations despite knowing.’

Although I don’t regret the past, I felt a little embarrassed.

Yang Taeho and I had risked our lives in battle together far more than a few thousand times.

When such instances of life mingling repeat, inevitably a sense of camaraderie, friendliness, and trust develops.

‘There’s a reason camaraderie exists.’

Yet, despite all this, I had constantly been on guard against Yang Taeho.

Simply because I suspected he might one day collude with Gilenios and stab me in the back.

– It’s good to be suspicious, but if it’s too much, it turns into paranoia.

That saying popped into my head because I partially agreed with it.

Even at this moment, I didn’t fully trust everything about my party members.

Should anything suspicious arise, I wouldn’t dismiss it with “He wouldn’t do that.”

I’d be persistent, continue probing, and keep a vigilant watch.

Yet, why did I allow the mingling of party members and family? It was simple.

‘Kim Yul would have nowhere else to go if he betrays.’

He acts as if he’s not bound by anything but secretly yearns for a sense of belonging.

Kim Yul would be the one to preserve the community I’ve given him, not the one to destroy it.

‘And in the case of Taeho hyung, there’s the card of Kim Ina.’

In the worst case, I’d have my own target to repay.

This conclusion came at the end of such reasoning.

I understand it’s not the normal way people think.

However, dropping my obsessive suspicions isn’t something I’m willing to do for now.

Even if living like this is exhausting, it’s more comfortable for me.

‘But maybe.’

While interacting with those I can trust enough to cover the old betrayals…

‘I might improve, after all.’

While I mulled over my complex thoughts, Yang Taeho timidly spoke again.

“I’m not a kid to get swayed by little things, and knowing what you’ve been through, it seems natural. Don’t let it linger. With such experiences, it’s only natural not to trust people easily.”

With all sorts of media freely discussing my family’s past, not knowing was the strange part.

Having observed Yang Taeho who was slightly taller than me for a bit.

I sat back against the sofa, lightly stroking Rice Cake while I spoke.

“Honestly…”

“Hmm?”

“I really don’t dwell on it.”

I’d still be suspicious should there be a next reason for suspicion.

Directly voicing this to him made Yang Taeho stare at me in astonishment.

Surely, only for a moment, before he burst out laughing, giving me a hearty pat on the back.

“We’re both without any hard feelings, so we’re good!”

He encouraged letting me doubt as much as I wanted if that’s what I felt like doing. After all, himself being innocent, he’d just wait for suspicions to dissolve like this time.

That’s what Yang Taeho cheerfully told me.

From the start, he was someone with a dislike for conflict and had a serenity-loving nature.

Perhaps that trait is rubbing off on me too?

Always so tense, the nerves felt somewhat dulled.

It didn’t seem like a bad thing, oddly enough.

While steeped in reflections and emotions, Rice Cake completed its mana absorption.

I shook off my stray thoughts, swapping over the magic tool hanging from its neck.

Inside it was a 7-star Mana Accumulation Tool filled with my mana.

With the food supply sorted for Rice Cake, I headed towards the stairs.

“Let’s take a look at the basement.”

As I descended, the central unit of the basement proudly displayed a small tree.

［Sapling Guardian of the Recluse Village］

• Category: Relic

• Acquisition Difficulty: Legendary

• Rank: ★★★

• Description: The guardian tree of the village where individuals reported dead or missing for various reasons gathered to live. The barrier inscribed on the tree, under the diligent care of recluses, shielded them for hundreds of years. The gaze of the 7 Great Gods, having observed this history, imbues the tree with a sacred power. Its reach veils what lies beneath, in accordance with the wishes of the recluses seeking seclusion from the world.

– Entrance Permitted List (View)

The acquisition difficulty was remarkably legendary.

It was likely the first Legendary item to appear among players.

Of course, its origin was the VIP shop.

‘I initially intended to install it at home.’

Since it was an item for permanent use, I decided to utilize it elsewhere for the time being.

“Not knowing how things might turn out, I added your friend Palao to the list.”

Following behind me, Yang Taeho added.

I nodded, going over the names of people who could enter this space.

The remaining fairies, of course, as well as Rice Cake and those I might need to pick up the fairies in future Scenario developments.

For caution, I removed my own name from the list, ensuring I verified from the outside as well.

Even using divinity did not permit access to the basement.

‘This should suffice.’

After completing my inspection, Rice Cake rubbed its head affectionately against my thigh.

Rice Cake couldn’t pass through the gate either, meaning it would stay here for a while.

‘I suppose it’s alright.’

I filled its belly just now and gave it a 7-star Mana Accumulation Tool.

‘By minimizing its activity and conserving energy, Rice Cake should last about a month.’

Though, it wouldn’t take that long.

After ensuring the well-being of Dennis and other fairies alongside Rice Cake, I exited the basement.

Simultaneously, a new message and fresh system window popped up.

“A new main Scenario is added.”

MISSION

「Main Act 2, Scenario 4: Retreat」

The gate closure is progressing. Players must leave Bihar and return to Earth within the time limit.

（Time Limit: 72:00:00）

「Reward」

• Return to Earth

The time to depart Bihar had come.

Damned System