Chapter 294

Chapter 294. Palao’s Will (9)

Once doubt took root, it swiftly grew, nourished by past memories and an underlying sense of incongruity.

Even if it was unexpected and abrupt, the collapse of the defense line had been puzzling.

“If indeed some of the priests of Temoria were persuaded to abandon the front lines…”

As soon as the speculative thought aligned perfectly with reality, a chilling sensation ran through her body.

“So, it seems we might have to reduce the rations provided to the refugees for the time being…”

The comment from Jordan brought Rashar back to reality as she rubbed her face in frustration.

The endless stream of challenges was dragging her down to a deep abyss, with no reprieve in sight, whispering that she might not escape this quagmire.

Overwhelmed by the feeling, Rashar took a hurried breath and said, “Let’s head to the ration distribution center.”

She planned to gather her thoughts on the way there and decide on how to adjust the rations.

However, an unexpected Scenario awaited me during the process.

“Oh, thank you. Thank you.”

“Priest, apostle, thank you so much.”

As they neared the distribution center, a group of people suddenly began to express their gratitude toward them.

It wasn’t just them. Practically everyone passing by knelt without hesitation, tears streaming, speaking of their gratitude toward us.

“Thanks to Lord Palao, my children no longer suffer from hunger.”

“I am truly grateful. I don’t know how I will repay this kindness…”

“From now on, I will listen to Lord Palao and follow her will. Sob…”

Curious and puzzled by the situation, she noticed the bundles in the hands of the refugees.

Both Jordan and Rashar hardened their expressions simultaneously upon realizing what was happening.

“Someone is distributing military rations without authorization.”

Exchanging glances, they rushed forward.

As they passed by, each refugee we encountered offered their thanks, but before long, the temporary ration distribution center appeared in their sights.

Rashar stopped abruptly in her tracks, not even reaching her destination.

It was a scene she had never imagined.

“What on earth…”

Behind the distribution center were sixteen or so carts lined up in rows.

“Hey! Move more quickly!”

Amidst this, a man was shouting irritably at the knights carrying the goods.

“Vellego Protoram?”

He looked leaner compared to the past but not unrecognizably so.

What on earth was he doing here?

Unlike Rashar, frozen in place with her thoughts and body halted simultaneously, Jordan quickly moved toward Vellego.

“What on earth is going on here?”

He dove straight into the matter, forgoing even a polite greeting. What was he doing here, and what were these supplies?

Vellego’s face twisted angrily at the question that encapsulated both queries.

“Why are you asking me that?”

He clutched the scarf around his neck tightly and snapped nervously.

“I just prepared what I was told to!”

His harsh response alone indicated that Vellego wasn’t involved willingly.

Finally, gathering herself, Rashar approached again.

The distance between me and Vellego was only a few meters.

“Preparation? Who exactly instructed you to prepare this?”

In the brief moments it took to cross that distance, Jordan continued to interrogate Vellego up close.

Rashar was soon startled by a familiar name without even preparing herself mentally for its mention.

“Who else would it be! It’s that outsider K!”

She froze again in place, though this time Rashar quickly gathered herself and moved forward.

To be precise, it would be more accurate to say she wasn’t in her right mind due to the shock, yet Rashar ran toward Vellego.

“Again!”

She urgently asked, gripping Vellego’s shoulders firmly.

“Say it again! Whose orders were you acting on?!”

“Ugh…ugh…!”

Of course, as he was being relentlessly shaken back and forth with his shoulders gripped firmly by Rashar, vellego couldn’t possibly answer properly.

The conversation resumed only after Jordan managed to restrain her with all his strength.

Staggering as if dizzy, vellego glanced sharply at both of them.

“None of these idiots have a clue about what’s going on, what’s wrong with this damn order?”

And then he grumbled openly as if begging us to listen.

“The knights too, you…”

Thankfully, vellego began to share what he knew without dragging it out.

“I don’t know why you’re asking me, but it’s true, K ordered it. To stockpile food supplies for a significant number of people in each castle.”

The instruction was to provide those supplies in Palao’s name when the time came.

Bound by these orders under the condition of parole, with binding shackles in place, he couldn’t defy them.

Despite the disparity in the scale of the preparation from what he initially thought.

It required spending the family’s cash reserves like water, and many times he had to pound his chest in worry.

When it came down to selling even the recently returned mansion, he couldn’t help but weep bitterly.

‘Even so, the shackles didn’t break.’

In the end, by K’s direction, vellego had no choice but to stockpile enough supplies to sustain hundreds of thousands for days.

Long-stored grain, easy-to-preserve jerky, and compact dried fruits among others.

Ensuring the market prices didn’t skyrocket was another meticulous task.

It wouldn’t have been possible without the persistent observer and verifier from time to time, an outsider named Persona, under K’s instructions.

“If only that guy hadn’t been around, I could have smuggled away some assets…!”

No more tears came as he faced his own empty pockets in this condition.

Naturally, Jordan had no interest whatsoever in the personal circumstances of Vellego.

Thus, he quickly followed up to gather the needed information immediately.

“Delivery of supplies for a substantial number of people – exactly how much is that?”

Accompanied by an intense gaze, suggesting he would hand over Vellego’s shoulders to Rashar again if he didn’t answer immediately.

Vellego, feeling pressed, fumbled through his pocket.

“Ah, well… It’s stored significantly in Habon, the northern Viceta Fortress, and in the central Loborre along with three other fortresses and the closest rearguard bases.”

Just in case, a secret underground shelter near Viceta had been stocked with provisions, including medical supplies.

To shelter civilians if nobles abandoned them again, as had happened in the past.

“And also…”

Vellego pulled out a slightly thick envelope from his pocket.

With seasoned administrative handling instincts, Jordan sniffed out that the envelope contained documents related to this case.

With-nimble hands, he snatched the envelope, tore it open at the speed of light, and rapidly scanned the contents.

After verifying the information recorded in writing, he exhaled a deep breath, and inaudibly murmured.

“Thank you, K.”

Jordan only dwelled in that sentiment for that brief moment.

Afterward, he dashed toward the carts loaded with supplies.

“Sir Alio! Sir Alio!”

Tasked with organizing the supplies brought by Vellego and also reinforcing guards to prevent refugees from raiding them, he quickly sought out his next duties.

On the other hand, Rashar remained for a while at the spot, clenching her fists tightly.

She found it hard to believe this situation.

‘The legion is approaching, and the order’s troops have already retreated from various front lines.’

The painstakingly pushed front line had not only reverted but also held the risk of being pushed further.

Having started to abandon fortresses and evacuate, food shortages were an unavoidable problem.

Furthermore, the emergence of messeo between fortresses isolated the fortresses located in different regions.

As time had passed, the food problem was likely to grow, potentially causing great famine.

Faced with the end times, she had imagined and assumed even such a worst-case Scenario.

And yet, one of those worst-case outcomes had suddenly become better.

All thanks to K who commanded the preparation of a considerable amount of relief food for a significant number of people.

What did this situation signify?

‘Even though they left.’

Despite having anticipated everything, the outsiders had still left.

But why had he prepared food through Vellego?

‘Could it be, is it…’

Could it be mere sympathy? A repentance for abandoning us so coldly? Or perhaps…

‘No, no.’

Rashar shouldn’t let hope linger.

She knew that they couldn’t escape this land.

So don’t expect anything.

Hoping that the departed would return, just holding on until then, was foolish.

With what determination she had accepted ruin and death, Rashar vowed not to repeat such foolishness by counting on hope again.

Repeatedly steeling myself with such pledges–

– Just in case, don’t stay in Gemal.

– An earnest request rather than a farewell…

It became unavoidable; she lowered her head deeply to hide what seemed to be tears.

* * *

‘Persistent.’

The divinity of Karlos felt from beyond the gate was still intact.

No matter if he was an apostle, there had to be a limit to the power a human could wield.

Yet, Gilenios was stalwart.

‘The fact that they’re holding on so tenaciously indicates they intended to use this place.’

The Hole was excluded from their options.

Created by abnormal space-time distortion, it couldn’t be traversed by ordinary beings within causality.

At best, monsters already beyond causality or players under the protection of the system could use it.

Of course, the system had no intent of protecting the Biharin, thus they would never use the Hole.

As a result, the only choice left for the Biharin was this gate.

Hyunwoo, having met Gilenios only a few times, must have spoken with him before the third trial.

‘Knowing the possibility, he wouldn’t give up easily.’

Persistent determination was one of Hyunwoo’s formidable weapons.

As long as there’s a possibility, Hyunwoo will find a way and push forward to achieve it.

Therefore, closing this gate was imperative to prevent any actions.

The intense resistance from the other side hindered any progress.

‘I can’t close the gate after letting Angramoti onto Earth.’

Its power of erosion transformed various life forms into monsters.

The lower the innate mana, the easier it would succumb, making ordinary humans virtually defenseless.

‘If it crosses over, earth would become a living hell.’

Thus, the system needed to expel Angramoti before shutting the gate.

Afterward, the system would contain the Hole near the front line myself, leaving only the others to the players.

This way, the odds of players encountering the Biharin would diminish drastically.

With time, Hyunwoo would have no choice but to accept their demise.

‘If he can’t bring himself to decide, I’ll have to do it for him.’

A future where the Biharin survive and live on Earth is more harmful than beneficial.

Among them, there might be those who’d readily sell out Earth for personal gain.

Allowing the Biharin to survive would risk them inadvertently bringing over such elements—they’d be blended into the group.

The risk was unacceptable.

‘In time, he’ll understand that this was the best choice.’

Hyunwoo, a rational being capable of logical reasoning, probably already knew.

But for now, swayed by human emotions, he couldn’t fully reconcile with that fact.

Therefore, to spare Hyunwoo, closing this tiresome gate promptly was necessary.

Overcoming the dispersed focus caused by creating games and blocking various Holes, the system had taken a few days to gather strength.

Fully resolved to expel the one intruding in the continuum, intending to settle the weary struggle for good, it gathered its divinity in full.

At that moment, from behind, it felt a divinity exactly like its, no, unmistakably its own.

Damn System

TL’s Corner:

Hyunwoon’s making a move.