Chapter 224

Chapter 224. Tangled and Twisted Fates (1)

While Hyunwoo was wandering in search of the secret space of the house of Count Protoram.

Someone had visited Gemal, the capital of the Atar Empire.

‘Is it here…?’

It was Yang Hyewon, clutching a thick envelope of documents to her chest.

As the carriage passed through the massive iron gate, she swallowed dryly.

Eventually, the carriage came to a stop.

Before getting out, she cleared her throat.

“Ahem, ahem.”

Once she calmed herself and stepped out of the carriage, the view that had been visible through the window now lay clear before her.

In the middle of an expansive forest, the full size of which was hard to determine.

Buildings made of wood were lined up in rows.

Not just one or two, but dozens of them stretching out.

And amidst those buildings, some carts and boxes seemed to float in midair.

“Huh?”

Hyewon found herself unconsciously opening her mouth in a slight daze at the sight, which was slightly different from what she had expected.

It surprised her to see such an unusual scene beyond common sense.

Moreover, she was taken aback by its grander scale than she had anticipated.

‘This rivals the size of a decent village…’

And the entire area was heavily guarded by hundreds of knights and soldiers.

It wasn’t something hard to understand.

This was the home of the dwarves.

‘The only race said to have the technology to create magic tools…’

Unlike magic stones that any mage could craft, magic tools were items that only the dwarves could create.

But the past war had seen many dwarves perish.

The remaining dwarves were said to number less than a few hundred.

‘Because of this, the Atar Empire and even the Order are sensitive to their safety.’

Access to this place was restricted to a very limited number of people.

However, Hyewon, among all the players, was the first to breach the restriction and enter the dwarves’ residence.

‘Technically, it wasn’t me who breached it.’

The one who had secured the right to visit this place was K.

Hyewon was merely acting as K’s proxy.

Even then, she was not free to move around as she pleased inside.

Despite coming in with official permission, as many as five knights accompanied her.

Officially, they were to guide her, but it was closer to surveillance under the guise of guidance.

“Ahem, ahem.”

Feeling the gazes fixed on her, Hyewon quickly composed her expression.

Perhaps waiting for this, one of the accompanying knights pointed in a direction and spoke.

“You should head that way.”

Clutching the envelope tightly once more, which contained the documents given by K a few days prior, she headed in the direction the knight pointed.

Looking at that envelope reminded her of what K had said.

The past events, the things she had to do for the future.

And the reason K entrusted this task to her.

– I barely got this opportunity by rubbing shoulders with and pleading to the nobles of the Empire.

– There’s no guarantee there will be another chance like this next time.

– So you must be cautious.

Hyewon steeled herself.

‘Don’t get nervous.’

She couldn’t afford to ruin things with a pointless mistake.

This might be the only chance to bring the race of magic tool creators to Korea ahead of the world’s great powers.

* * *

The place beyond the wall I entered was a secret space, approximately 2 meters wide and 20 meters long.

It resembled a narrow corridor, barely enough for a couple of adults to pass.

That secret space existed not only on the third floor, where the bedroom was, but also on the second and first floors, where the library and office were located.

‘It has holes on the floor that allow free movement from the first to the third floor by installing a ladder.’

Combining the three floors, the area was by no means small.

And the not-so-small space was filled with papers.

‘Mostly maps and reports sent from various places.’

There was so much that I had to buy an expansion pack for my inventory to take in all the materials.

The reason for gathering such an amount of paper was simple.

It bore the marks of Reitan’s struggle in search of the fragments of divinity of Palao.

‘I had a feeling there was something, but he searched the entire continent…’

Reitan was earnestly searching for the fragments of divinity.

With the sole desire to present them to Agnotia.

It was an astounding level of devotion.

‘I never thought I’d benefit from someone else’s faith.’

Thanks to this data, I could save an immense amount of time.

‘I can skip the places confirmed to have no divinity.’

And I’ll check the places he suspected.

‘I should skim through all of it to set a concrete schedule.’

After gathering the data and leaving the residence of Count Protoram, I hurried towards the temple.

When I traversed the portal to reach Habon.

A message arrived indicating my party members had returned to our base before me.

And it carried unwelcome news.

– Pudding: We returned first. That mage is here. You had to meet regarding magic tools?

At the news of Ahel’s visit, I let out a sigh.

‘I forgot that my mana was imprinted on the binding magic tool.’

I had forgotten because I hadn’t used the magic tool to control Ahel.

After instructing Yang Taeho not to drive Ahel out, I hastened my steps again.

Ordinarily, when I arrived at our base, Rice Cake would’ve been the first to greet me.

The one who offered its company and openly stuck to me.

But not today.

It crawled under the bed on the second floor before I even arrived.

And through sharing its vision with me, it indicated that it was paying attention to my mood.

It had sensed that I wasn’t in a good mood.

“Long time no see?”

As soon as I opened the door and entered, Ahel greeted me first, but I didn’t respond.

I just wanted to conclude our business and send him away as quickly as possible.

So without any greeting, I immediately placed my hand on the binding magic tool on Ahel’s neck and dispersed all the mana.

“It’s done.”

It would have been nice if that had ended this tiresome connection.

“You know, I’ve taught you so many things; don’t you owe me at least a bit of an explanation?”

Unfortunately, reality doesn’t always lean in a favorable direction for me.

“Honestly, I thought we got along quite well, didn’t we? You received a lot of help from me. Yet, if you chase me away like this, it leaves me feeling hurt.”

The bonds formed in the past kept making me review my choices.

I detested that to the point of shivers.

Now was not the time to look back at what had been left behind but to move forward quickly.

“Unlike Sharan, I at least want to hear why I’m being abandoned like this all of a sudden. If you have any conscience, give a proper explanation…”

“You guys are all going to die.”

So I just blurted it out.

“The enemies have a way to break through Temoria’s barriers. The moment they start making a move with determination, you all will perish along with this land.”

They had begun collecting messeo, even at the risk of the information leaking.

‘It’s a sign that the time to go on the offensive is near.’

After I pointed out those facts one by one, Ahel replied in his usual cheerful manner.

“It doesn’t really surprise me all that much. I’ve known for a long time that the odds were against us.”

Where he got the information, whether it was credible or not.

Ahel didn’t waste time with unnecessary questions.

Instead, he focused on a different matter.

“Since we’re talking about it, could you let us take refuge in your world? If only we could use that gate…”

“Impossible.”

“Oh, come on, don’t reject it so flatly. I’m not just asking for it for free. We’ll somehow compensate you, even if we have to empty the wallets of all the rich folks.”

“From the start, it’s impossible…”

“Gold is valuable in the outsiders’ world too, right? You have ties with the association. Could you try negotiating to arrange some mercy for us?”

“Our decision is not what matters. The gods you believe in, without a doubt, have anchored your feet here.”

Ahel, who had been asking with a friendly tone for the Biharin’s survival, fell silent like a broken machine.

“Don’t you understand? Your esteemed gods shackled you here, fearing you’d bolt to another world.”

Proportionally to the weight of the secret that weighed on me, my voice rose.

“You can’t leave here. No matter how much you struggle, you cannot escape this dimension! No matter what you do, never!”

The shout that eventually burst out echoed enough to fill the building.

The surrounding area became chillingly silent, not even the sound of breathing could be heard for a length of time.

“Hic.”

Kim Yul, who suddenly began to hiccup, covered his mouth.

“You probably understand too, so it’s enough!”

Yang Taeho, who approached me, calmed me.

I diverted my eyes away from Ahel, who became completely still, and tightly shut my eyes.

Not speaking was enough to make me feel frustrated to death.

But after talking, the turmoil within me felt just as maddening.

In the end, all that remained was regret.

I did something foolish, swept away by emotions, even though there was no good to gain from it.

‘If the Biharin hear about this, they’ll try to exploit the players more aggressively.’

If they have evacuation in mind, a minimal friendly relationship is a necessity.

But if they learn that escape is impossible?

There will be no other option left for the Biharin, driven to the cliff’s edge, but to defend this place.

How many will go to any lengths to make it happen?

There’d indeed be players who’d end up used and discarded.

It was laughable how quickly I regretted spilling it out, unable to hold back my frustration.

But spilling milk can never be retrieved.

‘I should give Lily a heads-up.’

If the Order’s headquarters bring up evacuation, not to hint that it’s impossible.

‘Tell them to drag it out as long as possible.’

After several deep breaths, I spoke as evenly as possible.

“If you have your sights set on escaping, first resolve it with the gods you serve. Ask them to release the shackles binding you, or kill the gods altogether.”

It was an unfeasible solution I spoke as I walked to the entrance and opened the door.

“This is all the advice I can offer.”

Essentially a farewell urging them to leave without wasting time here.

Seated on the sofa, Ahel covered his face with his hands and exhaled heavily.

“Ah, really, should have followed my master.”

According to rumors picked up here and there, his master was said to be one of the traitors.

‘Because of that, there were many opinions to execute him when the Tower of Magic revolted.’

It was the Bennett family, including Rashar, who actively prevented it.

Hearing Ahel’s self-mocking murmuring, I added with a laugh.

“It’s not too late even now.”

Ahel tapped the collar on his neck and responded.

“I just don’t like being in pain.”

He couldn’t have not known I reset that collar just now.

A non-imprinted binding collar could be removed anytime.

Yet since he didn’t remove it and stayed, it was obvious.

‘He seems to have quite a lot to protect as well.’

But that’s his issue, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

Without further protest, Ahel rose to his feet.

“What about the mana exchange?”

“I’ll recharge the mana in the accumulating tool and send it back when needed.”

“Should I recharge my mana in the same way?”

“No, there’s another spatial magic user.”

“Then I see no reason to receive it.”

“Got it.”

I quietly closed the door as Ahel left the base on his own.

It felt like my body was being dragged underground.

My body was too heavy for me to take even a step.

It took stating to myself a dozen, a hundred times that it was the right thing to do before I finally moved away from the entrance.

“In two days, I’ll make a move. I’ll re-announce the exact schedule, so if you need personal maintenance, finish it by then.”

“… Okay.”

“Mmm…”

Briefly instructing the party members, I went upstairs to my room.

Damned System

TL’s Corner:

K lost his cool.