Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
61. Rival (5)
After Seodol took down the Enemies, the system message rang sporadically.
⟨Warning, Enemy approaching.⟩
It wasn’t just around Seodol, but it seemed that Enemies were approaching my direction too.
Checking the information on the minimap, I saw the special effect that appears when opening a minimap in an otherworld.
On the blurry — as if covered by fog — map were red points.
Those were markers pointing at the Enemies.
‘Just as Seodol said, this castle became the Fomori Demons’ Garden…!’
But there was a point that bothered me.
Garden meant an otherworld dominated by someone.
The Garden’s owner ruled over an otherworld and Enemies, but looking at the Enemies Seodol just dealt with, something troubled me.
It seemed that Heuk-ma and Seodol had similar thoughts to me.
“Strange. More than looking for infiltration, it feels like they’re detecting and responding to biological[1] reactions.”
“It seems so. Usually, the Enemies in the Garden follow the orders of the person, who is the Garden’s owner. Isn’t it strange that they’re attacking ‘guests, who lost their way’?”
“Yeah, they should at least warn, or check.”
The Enemies appearing in the otherworlds were like by-products appearing together with the powerful superpower wave current summoned by an otherworld.
So even if someone made a dominated Garden, it was difficult to control the appearance of Enemies inside the Garden itself.
Even so, the Garden’s owner could limit the Enemies’ actions.
Them attacking Seodol willy-nilly was strange.
The Enemies’ actions, and the otherworld’s entry process both bothered me.
‘I experienced a similar situation in PMH…’
At the time when Ju Su-hyeok and An Dain became 3rd years, Sawol Seeum was killed in Nabiryeong’s Garden during infiltration.
The events in that place were similar.
‘When I came back to my senses, we were in Nabiryeong’s Garden.’
Nabiryeong blurred the borders of reality.
Because of that, though there were unclear points about the otherworld infiltration process, I concluded it was related to Nabiryeong’s ability and skipped over it.
However, looking at the situation now, I changed my thoughts.
‘As Nabiryeong would be busy now, carrying out the Dark Mastermind’s orders, there is no way she is in Britain. Even if she was here, there is no way she would reveal her power at this point.’
The moment when Nabiryeong revealed her true power was just before she was about to be killed by the hands of the Dark Mastermind.
Because Nabiryeong’s actions in PMH were extremely ambiguous, it was difficult to figure out her intentions.
I learned with what goal she was doing all of this after coming to this world.
— I’m curious if the flap of wings of a mere Minor Creature like myself can stop the storm summoned by ‘Them’. I want to try to block it.
At the time when we discovered ‘Frozen type Otherworld’ under the Seokchon Lake, Nabiryeong said that.
Nabiryeong planned to try to stop the enormous storm that the Dark Mastermind summoned in the PMH ending.
But it seemed she didn’t think at all about the sacrifices in that process.
‘If Nabiryeong reveals her natural power, it’s obvious she will be restricted, so there is no way she would do that. She will faithfully put her hands and feet to work, while gaining trust.’
As I thought this far, I became certain that Nabiryeong didn’t interfere in this case.
If it wasn’t because of Nabiryeong, how could I explain the current situation and its similarities to the events in Nabiryeong’s Garden.
The superpower displayed by the Dark Mastermind.
Demons’ magic research.
Tying the two together and thinking about it, I drew a conclusion.
‘If the reason Ju Su-hyeok’s party was dragged into the Garden in PMH wasn’t because of Nabiryeong’s Gwangrim…’
It was possible that this was a result of some kind of superpower research like ‘Otherworld Summoning’ and ‘Frozen type Otherworlds’.
It was described that the Dark Mastermind spent a long time to obtain the ability of ‘Otherworld Summoning’, and the Frozen type Otherworlds were the fruits of Demons’ magic research.
In that case, it may be the same with the ability to pull over otherworlds.
‘Won’t the Dark Mastermind obtain this ability by dealing with Fomori Demons in the future?’
There were several parts that bothered me, but it was a more persuasive theory than Nabiryeong’s interference.
The heads of the 12 Zodiac, who didn’t know about Nabiryeong’s ability, seemed to just simply regard this situation as result of magic research.
“Demons are good at making useless things, just like Eyes, aren’t they? It seems that we’re surrounded, ma’am.”
“They use such an ability in a place with guests? It will be annoying to deal with if someone dies, but I guess it’s pretty urgent.”
“With the sudden change of plans, they might have used a method they weren’t yet able to test.”
The Enemies were approaching Heuk-ma and Seodol, who unlike me, who was hiding my presence, were confidently revealing themselves.
The two noticed the approaching Enemies, but looked laid back.
Heuk-ma’s weapon was a black horse whip, but compared to the long whip from bullwhip category that Kwon Lena used, it was a much shorter riding crop used by horse riders.
“Do You want to make a bet, ma’am? Who can catch more Enemies.”
“If You let me kick You if I win, I’ll think about it.”
“A horse hoof’s kick is more unpleasant than painful, so I hate it, but… no, it doesn’t mean that I want to get whipped. Well, good. Then, if I win, will You answer my question?”
Heuk-ma, who was about swing the black horse whip towards Seodol, halted her movement and replied.
It seemed that Heuk-ma was planning to accept the bet.
“I’ll think about it. The one You’ve caught a moment ago doesn’t count.”
“Then let’s count down from three. Three, two, one…!”
The moment Seodol finished the countdown, the two ran in opposite directions.
The two disappeared from my vision instantly, but the red dots on the minimap were quickly disappearing in the directions the two were heading.
It seemed they were subjugating the Enemies the moment they discovered them.
‘If Heuk-ma and Seodol step forward, the risk to ordinary people from the Enemies will decrease.’
One may question how many courageous ordinary people would leave the area designated by Fomori Demons, but weren’t there cases everywhere where visitors broke the safety rules and got themselves in trouble?
Instead of worrying about the immature ordinary people, who may or may not exit, and the 12 Zodiac heads, who were adequately powerful, even after leaving the Korean Peninsula, I decided to worry about my Playable Characters.
‘There is no way that my Playable Characters wouldn’t be able to overcome this much, but as there are variables, support will probably be necessary.’
Passing the corridors Heuk-ma and Seodol disappeared into, I carefully continued to move forward.
* * *
Druidess Gu Seulbi.
Though she didn’t attend school even once, Gu Seulbi was a highschooler from Eungwang School’s 1st year class 0, and Merlin’s disciple.
Gu Seulbi grew up in a ditch-like place, where it was difficult to enjoy the conveniences of civilization, but she believed she was special and cultivated her dreams without any doubts.
That belief didn’t betray Gu Seulbi.
Because one day, Merlin appeared in her dream and took her as his disciple.
Merlin generously passed onto her the secret laws and knowledge of druids and druidesses, that was only passed the oral way.
Through the dreams, he taught Gu Seulbi and gave her tasks.
There were many tasks that were strange and difficult to understand, but Gu Seulbi believed her master and carried them out.
‘Master Merlin-nim is a strange Person, but a genius!’
The only place Gu Seulbi could obtain the proper knowledge was a neighborhood library, but because of the small budget, it had much more children’s books, that were put by the residents on the purchase request, than specialized publications.
In the children’s books, Merlin was usually described as a crazy magician or a prophet, who no one could understand, but in fact the Merlin Gu Seulbi met in her dreams was also strange.
Even so, Gu Seulbi never doubted her master.
Until on the day Gu Seulbi took the Eungwang School’s entrance exam, Merlin suddenly changed his words.
— A new star has appeared! With the appearance of the new star[2], the flow of stars has changed!
Merlin was a prophet who read the future from the movements of stars.
He didn’t hide the fact that he could see the future, and he would sometimes talk about the future he saw.
When reciting things related to prophecies, he would always look at Gu Seulbi with a worried face.
Every time her master made such a face, Gu Seulbi would vaguely guess her future.
‘He is thinking we’re waiting for a very bad future.’
Merlin said that he didn’t have the power to change the prophecy.
While saying this, Merlin always said he was sorry, and Gu Seulbi — rather than pretending to not know what he means by apologizing — comforted him.
Even though she was waiting for some miserable future, it wouldn’t be worse than before she met Merlin.
She still wouldn’t be able to escape home with cut off electricity and gas, and her parents’ tempers would be the same as before.
But she learned from Merlin how to put her violent parents to sleep or hide from their sight.
‘Once I become an official Player, hiding the fact that I became a druidess won’t be necessary, so I’ll be able to easily leave. I believed that no matter what future held, I would have room to breathe. So I was able to endure.’
It was a plan that Gu Seulbi would leave home the moment her talent as a Player blossomed, and she became a highschooler.
It was the plan that Gu Seulbi would become a great druidess and soon become one in reality too.
‘So what? If I didn’t meet master Merlin-nim, I would die faster, or it would be harder for me.’
She was curious and fearful what Merlin saw in the future to make him so apologetic.
Even so, Gu Seulbi followed Merlin’s words.
Because she made up her mind to follow her master’s teachings until the moment the future strikes.
But leaving alone that Gu Seulbi’s resolution and determination, Merlin spoke with extreme happiness.
— You should forget all the prophecies I told you until now, huh!
For the first time Gu Seulbi fell into such shock, she thought of committing mutiny.
Did Merlin mean to say that Gu Seulbi should forget how much anxiety and gut-wrenching she felt because of his comments about that future?
Gu Seulbi thought she wished to put Merlin on a butane gas burner and splash special reagent on him, but regretfully, the reagent was in the reality, not in the dream.
Instead of cursing, she asked with the utmost politeness.
— What kind of future did You see to make You so excited?
Even though somewhat sarcastic words came out, Merlin replied very happily.
— No future was visible!
— Ah, really!? Are you joking!?
Hurting inside, Gu Seulbi raised her voice at her master for the first time, but Merlin smiled and giggled as if there was something good about it.
Merlin, who laughed for a while, needed some time until he could speak calmly.
— The death of my disciple wasn’t visible, so how can I not be happy? Your master doesn’t joke about his disciple’s death.
As expected, it appeared like Merlin did see her death.
Merlin was seriously happy that with the appearance of that new star, the flow of stars wasn’t visible.
Based on what Merlin said, there were possibilities in the future, which was no different from being fixed.
After that day, Merlin didn’t make any prophecies.
But like before, he gave mysterious tasks, just like now.
“It seems like otherworlds… What? When did I enter an otherworld?”
The Fomori Demons’ castle, which she infiltrated following Merlin’s orders.
Right now, Gu Seulbi became a missing child.
She could tolerate becoming a missing child, but there was a thing that was difficult to endure.
The being just in front of Gu Seulbi right now, who was expressing suffering with extravagant body movements.
“That’s a big deal, eh? I have to change clothes that befit the conquest of otherworld, but I’m the Phantom Thief Neon right now, so I can’t change from the phantom thief’s clothes!”
*~*~*
[1] biological reaction — ‘living body’ reactions.
[2] new star — 신성 (sinseong) literally means new star, but that’s what supernova are called due to a misconception before the astronomy revolution that supernovas are births of stars, not their deaths. But it also very much means new star.
Translator’s note: Merlin gets a spot on the most based characters in this novel from the first chapter he appears in.
Patron thank you note:
Thank you patron, Nobody, please accept this Matucana tuberculata ‘s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Al, please accept this Echeandia chandleri’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Dust, please accept this Macropteranthes fitzalanii’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Maru, please accept this Tristemma mauritianum’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, kamisonk, please accept this Monolena primuliflora’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Kasimir Ilmonen, please accept this Aloiampelos ciliaris’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Tara Hess, please accept this Dichelostemma congestum’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Ice, please accept this Chaetogastra mollis’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, anonymous Kofi-supporter, please accept this Aristaloe aristata’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Hematite, please accept this Drimia maritima’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Deflubs, please accept this Galtonia candicans’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Rose Marie, please accept this Bessera elegans’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, TheFloorGuy, please accept this Barnardia japonica’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Akemidy, please accept this Albuca shawii’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Links to support this translation and access to 8 advanced chapter (Patreon & Kofi)
> Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LibraryKeyTranslations
> Kofi-Euro: https://ko-fi.com/wanthetranslator
> Kofi-USD: https://ko-fi.com/wanthetranslatorusd
Did you see a mistake? 🐞
Leave a Reply