Chapter 486: Blue’s Circumstances (2) |
My[1] legs trembled, and I felt like collapsing to the ground.
My legs felt like they didn’t belong to me, so I naturally focused on making sure that I wouldn’t collapse because I didn’t want to embarrass myself.
I was once an adventurer, but my talent only allowed me to become a Rare-ranked adventurer.
However, since I was once an adventurer, I couldn’t let myself fall first, especially when the pallid-looking and trembling Miss Kim Mi-Young was doing her best to endure it.
I bit my lips.
‘Shit…’
I looked up and saw the guild master staring at the messenger with a grim face. I couldn’t quite describe it, but he was definitely trying to suppress himself to the best of his abilities.
His behavior had changed, but it seemed that his habits had changed as well.
He was trying to suppress his fury, but the tinge of hostility coming off of him was making it hard for me to breathe.
I was about to exhale the breath that I had been holding in because I couldn’t take it anymore.
Fortunately, the guild master composed himself before it was too late and said cautiously, “Please bring it to the meeting room.”
“Ah… B-But we haven’t checked it for traps yet…”
“I won’t repeat myself. Bring it. And…” the guild master trailed off.
“Y-Yes, sir,” the messenger replied.
“The other party members… Actually, summon the party members aside from Miss Ha-Yan. Tell them to gather in exactly three minutes,” he ordered.
“Yes, Guild Master.”
“...”
When we were finally dismissed, I was finally able to release the breath that I had been holding in.
“Ha… Ha…”
“Ugh…”
Miss Kim Mi-Young bent down and started retching, but she quickly composed herself and stood up.
“Miss Kim Mi-Young, d-do we need to attend the meeting as well? He didn’t say anything to us,” I asked.
“I think it’s best if we attend. He probably forgot to say it because he has a lot on his mind… He also mentioned that we have to attend the Blue Guild’s official meetings. More importantly, we will be able to plan more effectively once we’ve seen the sub guild master’s condition,” she replied.
“That’s true, but…”
“We might be able to gather hints as well. I’m sure that’s the reason why he has decided to summon the party members. He probably decided to exclude Miss Jung Ha-Yan because he was worried about exacerbating her condition. Whew…” Kim Mi-Young exhaled at length.
“Let’s head out. We should go there and wait …”
“Sure.”
I punched my unresponsive legs before walking. Soon, we arrived in front of the meeting room. I couldn’t feel the presence of many people inside the room, so the party members weren’t inside. However, I was sure that they would arrive soon enough.
I was worried that we would get kicked out, but the guild master nodded quietly upon seeing us.
At the sight, I had to acknowledge that Miss Kim Mi-Young was right.
I noticed someone else’s presence and turned my head to see Yoo Ah-Young, the blacksmith, and Lee Chang-Ryeol, the assassin. I bowed and saw them returning the gesture in kind without saying anything.
I figured that they had to have realized that a silent greeting was the best in the current situation. Anyway, they looked like they weren’t ready to talk about the sub guild master’s condition.
It hadn’t been that long since they joined the Blue Guild, but they looked as upset as the guild master.
The sub guild master helped Yoo Ah-Young a lot so that she would be able to adapt quickly to the Blue Guild. Therefore, I was sure that out of everyone who joined at the same time as her, she suffered the most shock of them all.
Blue Guild’s Chief Secretary, Miss Jo Hye-Jin, was sitting next to Yoo Ah-Young. She looked somewhat calm, but I could feel that she was different from her usual self.
I quietly took my seat at the corner, and the door opened once more, revealing the faces of a few people.
Park Deok-Gu walked into the room with bloodshot eyes along with Miss Hwang Jung-Yeon, the magic scholar, and Miss Han Sora.
I also saw Miss Sun Hee-Young, and she looked like she was in a daze. Miss Elena walked into the room as well after finally waking up from a fainting spell.
Miss Kim Ye-Ri and Mr. Ahn Ki-Mo showed up not long after the others.
There was a gloomy atmosphere in the room.
There was a moment of silence.
Miss Sun Hee-Young shattered the ice, which was unlike her.
She seemed to be on edge, which betrayed her usual sunny disposition.
‘Is she really the Miss Sun Hee-Young that we know?’
Her expression looked so grotesque that it felt strange to call her the Saint of the Forsaken.
“So everyone is here aside from that dumb bitch. Is she still crying? Is that incompetent piece of shit still crying?”
“Hey, stop it already, Hee-Young noonim. I understand that you’re upset, but Ha-Yan noonim is the most upset out of all of us. While we’re on the topic, I don’t think it’s right for you to use those ugly words to someone who barely managed to survive. This is unlike you…” Park Deok-Gu pointed out.
“How could I not be worked up? Do you really think that Father Lee Ki-Young took that dumb bitch with him for no reason? If she had just done her job, then all this wouldn’t have happened. I’m sure she completely forgot her job because she was excited about going out with him. I’m sure that everyone agrees—Mr. Lee Ki-Young needed someone who could protect him properly rather than a madwoman,” she explained.
“That’s…”
“I intentionally didn’t summon Miss Ha-Yan here, Miss Hee-Young. I believe she needs to rest because she’s still mentally unstable, so I think you can stop now,” the guild master said.
“But…”
“I’m well aware of what you want to say, Miss Hee-Young. Once everything is done, I’ll definitely take action, so please calm down. Your current attitude isn’t helpful at all,” he ordered.
“...”
“...”
“Whoo…”
“...”
“I’m sorry for making everyone feel uncomfortable. The guild master is right, I think I’m a bit too worked up. I’m sorry for ruining the atmosphere,” she apologized.
“Hey, you don’t have to apologize. I understand very well why you’re on edge. By the way, did you call us here because we’re going on an expedition sooner than planned?” Park Deok-Gu asked.
“That’s not it. The Federation recovery plan will proceed as usual, but depending on the situation, the recovery plan might begin a bit later than expected,” the guild master replied.
“What are you hesitating for?” he asked.
“Still, it’ll happen a lot faster than scheduled. I thought it was ridiculous when I heard that the preliminary investigation would take nine days to complete,” Ahn Ki-Mo commented.
“If they say that it’ll take that long, then I’ll just head over to the Federation by myself, Ki-Mo hyung-nim,” Park Deok-Gu said.
“We have been pressuring the other nations to pick up the pace on their preliminary investigation. Right now, I want you guys to focus on the upcoming battle and create strategies for it. However, the reason I summoned you here is different,” said the guild master, “The Federation sent a message over to us. It looks like a video projection in a magic hologram containing Mr. Ki-Young’s message. I wasn’t going to show this to you, but I thought it would be best to show this to you guys, at the very least…”
“Perhaps Mr. Ki-Young hid some kind of message in the video,” the guild master added.
“Is that true?” Park Deok-Gu asked.
“Yes,” he replied.
“I-I’m sure hyung-nim hid something because he has been telling me not to despair in the face of adversity. Our hyung-nim is smart, so I’m sure he came up with a plan,” Park Deok-Gu commented.
“I agree,” he said.
“So let’s go ahead and play the magic hologram… By the way, are you sure the demons aren’t the ones who sent it? Still, it could be a message from hyung-nim asking for help after escaping somewhere. Anyway, h-hurry up and play it,” he requested.
I knew it didn’t make sense, but the atmosphere started improving a bit at the idea that Park Deok-Gu had proposed. If Park Deok-Gu was right, then it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the situation would improve dramatically.
However, the room became quiet when the magic hologram started playing.
“Ah… Ahh…”
It was so shocking that the trembling Miss Elena fainted once again.
Everyone was at a loss for words.
The magic hologram depicted a very straightforward image.
[...]
It was an unknown piece of meat sitting on a chair.
“W-What is that?”
“...”
It was difficult to grasp and explain.
No one was talking, but I was sure that everyone thought the same. The unknown piece of meat was moving slightly, so it was easy to deduce that it was still alive. However, the unknown piece of meat didn’t look alive.
It wouldn’t be strange if it suddenly stopped moving.
“I-I think something is wrong…”
“...”
“Someone say something… Is that hyung-nim on the chair?” Park Deok-Gu asked.
“...”
“T-That’s our hyung-nim? A-Are you saying that’s really him?” he asked again.
“...”
“There’s no way that’s him. I’m sure… I’m sure that’s not hyung-nim! I’m sure this is a fake video that those dirty demons had fabricated…” he continued.
[...]
[Nice to meet you, everyone. I’m Lonovera, a high priest of the 27th Legion as well as Belial’s loyal priest.]
“...”
[I’m sure you’re shocked because you probably didn’t expect us to greet you like this… The reason I’m talking to you like this is that Belial—the great ruler of thousands of demons—has a message that he’d like for me to deliver to you.]
“...”
[He also wanted me to show you how we’re treating this human—the Chosen of that scum Benigoa. It should be easier for you to understand if you think of it like this—he wants to demonstrate the inadequacy and incompetence of Benigoa, the folly of attempting to establish a relationship with any gods, and the foolishness of trying to prevent the powerful Belial. He wants to show it all.]
[U-Ugh…]
[I’m sure you can see how we’re treating this dumb human. This is the result—the result of rejecting Belial’s hand and insisting on remaining devoted to Benigoa. Now, this dumb human whom everyone calls Benigoa’s Second Coming has become like this.]
[Ahhh, ah, ack…!]
[Look! He’s suffering because he can’t let go of his god! Use your dirty eyes and see how much pain he’s suffering, how much pleasure he’s feeling, and how he’s desperately trying to reject the corruption, even at the cost of his life! Haha!]
[Ah, ugh… Ack…]
[Struggle in pain for as long as you can and die—you stupid, dirty, and incompetent humans.]
“...”
[The light of this continent is about to go out!]
[Be aware of your helplessness—feel it on your skin!]
[Useless humans of this continent—we are your fear.]
[Your enemy...]
[And your nightmare…]
“...”
“...”
“...”
[That is all.]
1. Park Joong-Ki’s POV ☜
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