<Chapter 161: A Strange Combination (3)>
I tilted my head, watching Unknown’s expression filled with anticipation.
“Could you say that again?”
“…”
Looking at my calm and unaffected expression, Unknown frowned slightly.
I grinned as I shook my head, pretending not to know anything.
“…Tsk.”
Unknown clicked his tongue.
And then he turned away and started walking away from me. It seemed like he completely lost interest in me.
Watching Unknown walking away, I cheered inwardly.
‘I succeeded.’
The essence of the Time Dragon.
A relic that held the power of the Time Dragon, akin to the heart of the Time Dragon.
Its unique ability is time regression.
It has the ability to go back to a time within the last hour.
I used this ability to return to a time 20 minutes ago.
To prevent Unknown’s sudden action, managing my expression was the best strategy.
To do that, at least 20 minutes needed to be rewound.
I even considered rewinding a full hour, but I decided it was unnecessary and held off on it.
‘The penalty will only become stronger.’
The more time I rewind, the stronger the penalty. Considering that regressing 20 minutes was the optimal choice.
‘First, I need to check.’
I checked the Artisan’s Portable Forge. There was something I needed to verify.
All the ancient relics that I would use later were still there.
But that was it.
The most important thing was missing.
‘As expected, the Stone of Creation isn’t here.’
I had suspected as much, and it turned out to be true.
The essence of the Time Dragon is a one-time-use ancient relic. It disappears from all timelines immediately after use.
This is to prevent its reuse.
‘Otherwise, I could regress infinitely.’
I had fully anticipated that regression would be limited to a single use.
‘I thought there might be some uncertainty.’
When I came back 20 minutes earlier using the regression ability of the Time Dragon’s Essence, I had hoped that even the Stone of Creation would have reverted to its original state.
Even though the penalty is terrifying, it’s clear that being able to regress is a tremendous thing.
‘The Stone of Creation must have disappeared beyond the timeline, just like the Time Dragon’s Essence.’
To be precise, the Stone of Creation doesn’t ‘create’ objects, it ‘transforms’ into the objects in question.
So, it was only natural for the Stone of Creation, which embodies the concept of the Time Dragon’s Essence, to disappear completely from the timeline.
‘I can worry about the penalty later.’
The penalty for time regression doesn’t come immediately. Concerns about the penalty can be postponed.
‘Then, for now, I’ll erase the Stone of Creation from my mind.’
I quickly composed myself.
There is nothing to be gained from harboring regrets. What’s important is now, deciding what to do right after regressing.
‘I have gathered enough information.’
It was vital that Unknown held back their power to not kill me. The battle dragged on, and because he fought excluding all the main abilities that could kill me, I was able to observe various traits.
‘I have somewhat grasped Unknown’s combat style as well.’
The Dragon’s eye and the Elf’s eye.
Besides, various traits were acquired during the battle and ancient artifacts with observational abilities.
Thanks to these, I managed to somewhat patternize Unknown’s combat style.
‘Based on that information, I will devise a strategy again.’
This is the foremost condition for victory.
‘And once the strategy is all set up…’
A gleam flowed from my eyes.
‘This time, I will strike first.’
Just a while ago, I was the one being attacked, but not this time.
‘Now it’s my turn.’
* * *
Maiden was sitting in the office with a horrified expression.
“Just now… what did you say, you?”
With trembling eyes, she glared at the man in front of her, Allen Velvet, or Hermit.
“Kang Seo-yul is in danger,” he said.
“Not that!”
Maiden shouted, rising from her seat and approaching Hermit closely.
“Master… what about Caribma Nerista?”
“The ‘Master’ is a fake identity. His real identity is the boss of a villain group called ‘Saviors of Truth’. His codename is ‘Unknown’.”
“… Ha.”
Her head felt heavy.
Hermit’s words felt like a hammer hitting her head.
It was that shocking.
“You want me to… believe that?”
Maiden had a personal friendship with Master. They had been close enough that Master owed Maiden a debt at one point.
“20 years… for no less than 20 years we’ve been together. And you say he’s actually a villain?”
On Maiden’s wedding day, Master congratulated her with a stoic face.
“The person… whom I admired and followed so dearly… is a villain?”
On the day Maiden gave birth to her daughter, Leah, Master gave a gift.
It was a baby’s clothing.
She vividly remembers him handing it over with an expressionless face, saying to put it on her when the baby grew a bit more.
“I can’t believe such nonsense…!”
Maiden’s face distorted ferociously. It was a face like that of a child throwing a tantrum.
“Even if you can’t believe what I say, you would trust Mr. Kang Seo-yul’s actions, right?”
“… What?”
Hermit stared at Maiden with a serious look in his eyes.
“Do you think Mr. Kang Seo-yul entered the Dragon’s Lair without any real intention?”
“That is…”
“Just to build up his achievements, he went on an overseas expedition for three weeks. Do you really think that?”
“…”
Maiden’s fierce demeanor slightly faded.
It certainly was strange.
Kang Seo-yul’s power came from an anomalous object called the ‘Ancient Relic.’ And using such anomalous power was difficult in places with many watchful eyes.
‘Despite such circumstances, that kid… took as many as 16 ancient relics.’
That fact was questionable.
Although Kang Seo-yul said he simply kept them for insurance, she had been subconsciously thinking that it couldn’t be the only reason.
“So, that kid went into the Dragon’s Lair… to deal with Master… ‘Unknown’?”
“Yes.”
Maiden’s mind began to slowly cool down.
She grasped the relationships before and after the event, analyzed the current situation, observed Hermit’s words and expressions, and accelerated her thinking.
She quickly reached a conclusion.
“… Really, Master is a villain?”
“Yes.”
If what Hermit said was true, everything fit perfectly.
“…Wait.”
At that moment, Maiden’s pupils slowly expanded.
“…When Leah was kidnapped. Leah was wearing the clothes and jewelry that Master gifted… ”
Like an earthquake, her pupils shook erratically.
“No way…”
“Yes.”
Hermit gave a bitter smile.
“It was Master’s doing.”
Maiden clutched her head and staggered, distraught.
“Leah… he drove my daughter to that state… It was Caribma?”
“…”
“I’ve been helping him without knowing that…?”
Maiden’s body tilted dangerously to the side. Hermit caught her before she could fall.
“…What about Sang-jae?”
While being supported by Hermit, Maiden asked with an indescribable expression in her eyes.
“He too… Is he involved with Caribma?”
She had a desperate look in her eyes, seemingly begging for the answer to be no.
“…Yes. He was also killed by him.”
However, the truth was merciless.
“…Ah.”
Maiden’s vision turned white. She couldn’t recover from the shock.
“Why… Why!!”
She grabbed onto Hermit’s clothes, crying uncontrollably.
“He said so.”
Hermit bit his lip.
“Maiden Critines is a useful woman.”
“…What?”
Maiden’s lips quivered.
“Her family hinders the use of her. It is necessary to isolate her completely, turn her into an avatar of revenge, and turn her into a ‘pawn’ that can be used when needed because the emotion of revenge is the best to exploit.”
“What is… that…”
Hermit’s face filled with disgust.
“And he said this at the end.”
The day Allen Velvet acquired the codename Hermit.
Unknown said the following words at the end.
-Kim Sang-jae. I anticipated that you would come to find me if he died.
Everything was within the palm of Unknown’s hand.
-I expected your power to awaken.
The breakdown of Maiden Critines was thoroughly planned to aid Unknown.
-Now, Allen Velvet. Follow me. If you refuse to…
It was a tragic script woven to exploit Maiden and Hermit.
-I will kill your benefactor’s wife, Maiden Critines.
That’s how Allen Velvet became ‘Hermit’.
“…You.”
Maiden’s face turned ashen.
It must be because she precisely understood the meaning behind Hermit’s words.
“Yes.”
Hermit gave a bitter smile.
“I worked under him as a part of an organization called the Saviors of Truth.”
Maiden for the Master.
Hermit for the Unknown.
They had been working as the minions of their enemies.
“…Shit.”
Blood trickled from Maiden’s lips.
She was at a point where she couldn’t even sigh at her own foolishness, even becoming a ‘burden’ to Allen Velvet.
‘Dumbass bitch…’
She cursed herself, feeling a gnawing sense of self-loathing.
“There’s no time to regret.”
Hermit said.
“If we stay like this, even Kang Seo-yul will die.”
“!”
Maiden’s eyes widened in shock.
She had momentarily forgotten due to the immense shock.
“Tell me. Why is the kid in danger?”
“There’s no time, so I’ll explain quickly, skipping the background information.”
Hermit’s eyes sharpened.
“We will retreat to the Dragon’s Lair.”
“…Retreat? How?”
The Dragon’s Lair was an isolated space.
Further entries were impossible.
“The person with the ability to make it possible is on our side.”
“There’s someone with such an ability?”
“Yes.”
“Who is it?”
“Shirakawa Ai. An acquaintance of both Kang Seo-yul and myself.”
Hermit fiddled with a white potion in his pocket.
He played with the ‘Potion of the Sea.’
* * *
The conquest of the Dragon’s Lair was progressing quite swiftly.
“The thing is a thing, boy. Don’t you really want to join our guild?”
During the break, Susan approached with a smile.
“I don’t think I’m necessarily needed in this guild.”
I haven’t really stepped forward much.
Everyone seemed to handle things well on their own.
All I did was provide some informational assistance.
I did participate in the occasional unfavorable battle, but not many times.
“We do need you. A versatile person proficient in both literary and martial arts is always welcome!”
Other guild members chimed in with whistles.
“Come on in!”
“We, The One, welcome you!”
“I also want to escape being the youngest!”
Everyone looked at me with friendly eyes.
“If the conditions are insufficient, we can raise them a bit more.”
Tay draped his arm over my shoulder.
It was a refreshing smile accentuated by his sparkling eyes.
“If you say no, I can even give up my ratio. If I could just see this magic power up close every day…”
Lately, that look in his eyes has started to become seriously scary.
“How about it, Luke? Do you still think it’s a fail when it comes to immediate power perception?”
“…”
Luke subtly avoided Susan’s gaze. Susan gave a small smile.
“It seems like Luke has changed his mind.”
Susan chuckled.
“Because when Luke doesn’t want to admit a mistake, he acts like that!”
“He’s stubborn in strange places!”
The guild members also followed with laughter.
Luke gritted his teeth in annoyance.
“Thank you all for the warm welcome, but I’m sorry. I have my own goal to pursue.”
“Is that goal something you can’t achieve with ‘The One’?”
“Yes.”
“…I see?”
Susan shrugged her shoulders.
“Well, then there’s no helping it. We’ll have to give up.”
“Susan! It’s too early to give up! If we raise the conditions a bit more….”
Tay frantically gestured and rushed towards Susan.
A sticky expression that seemed to say he couldn’t give up on me.
…It’s genuinely scary.
“Ah, I don’t know. If you want to woo the boy, you do it, Tay.”
Susan turned away.
“For now, let’s pass through that door. After defeating the boss.”
“….”
“….”
Along with Susan’s words, the guild members’ faces quickly became serious.
Everyone is looking at the ‘door’ leading to the boss zone with serious expressions.
“Well, everyone. Let’s slowly head to put an end to this.”
Susan looked at the master.
It was a look asking if they could start. The master nodded slightly. Susan smiled.
“Give it 5 minutes to wrap up preparations!”
At Susan’s words, the guild members dispersed instantly and began checking their equipment.
I had nothing particular to prepare, so I stood quietly.
“….”
And just like me, a man who seemed to have nothing to prepare.
Caribma Nerista.
I approached the master, Unknown.
“It’s the end.”
“Yes.”
Unknown’s interest had completely cut off since our last conversation.
And just as I intended, we successfully arrived at this place.
Should we slowly start the operation?
“Master.”
I called out to Unknown.
“Do you know that?”
And I said.
I recited verbatim the words Unknown had said to me some time ago.
“There is no system for me.”
Last time, I was the one surprised,
but this time, it was Unknown’s turn to be surprised.
“…!”
From completely opposite positions.
Wearing completely opposite expressions.
Unknown and I stared at each other.
My first move was,
“Do you know what this means?”
It was a declaration of war announcing the beginning of the second round,
“…haha!”
and a rampage switch that would break Unknown’s patience.
“Hahahaha!”
Watching Unknown cover his face and burst into laughter, a sight I had seen at some point, I coldly steeled my mind.
As if announcing the beginning of the second round.
Fwaaah!
Unknown’s aura sharply fluctuated.
<Chapter 161: A Strange Combination (3)> End
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