Book 2: Chapter 400: You dare to smack me in the back? (3) |
<You dare to smack me in the back? (3)>
“Haha!
Cale Henituse was laughing out loud.
“…….”
Emperor Steisen quietly observed him.
‘That guy is a bit, a bit weird.’
He thought about what Ahn Roh Man had said about Cale.
‘He’s a good guy. Honestly speaking, he seems to me like a really good guy. Almost stupidly good.’
However…
‘When I look at him, he’s clearly a trustworthy dude. I'm doing the things I'm doing right now because I trust him.’
‘But whether it is Cale Henituse or Alberu Crossman… Both of them are a bit annoying.’
‘…I wonder if everybody who has worked with me felt like this too.’
‘That’s the kind of thought I've been having these days. Anyways, chatting with them will make the back of your head feel cold.’
Emperor Steisen was indeed feeling as if the back of his head was cold.
‘But that cold feeling isn't necessarily bad?’
That was right.
It did not feel that bad.
‘Because things are progressing in the way you want.’
That was right.
‘Plus, Cale Henituse would have already worked his ass off to create a path for you.’
That did seem to be the case.
‘It does make it feel like all of the time you spent contemplating how to resolve the issue was meaningless, but… It doesn't feel that bad once you see that Cale Henituse worked even harder than you would have and acts like it was no big deal.’
Ahn Roh Man was exactly right.
‘That guy doesn’t seem to know that he himself is a workaholic. That guy seems to think of himself as a Chief Advisor or something, but… I think he’s a Chief Advisor and an Assault Captain put together. He stands in the vanguard, stabbing out in all directions.’
Yes. He did seem like that kind of person.
‘It’s just… Ah, anyway, just talk to him. It should be quite fun.’
Yes. It was fun.
Steisen slowly smiled before the smile got bigger.
His gaze headed past Cale to a dark corner of the room.
“I'm relieved.”
Ahn Roh Man’s parents.
Steisen was able to be born thanks to them. As such, Steisen felt like they were his parents as well.
To him, the Transparent © were the enemies who killed his parents.
But RPOG was the only thing his parents left behind, and the only world where Steisen could survive.
He could not forgive them messing with this world.
He needed to at least protect this place.
He had been living to keep that resolve for a very long time.
‘I'm not the only one who had that thought.’
“System. That guy wasn't a complete airhead.”
The System.
That guy had been working to protect this world as well.
“That should be why he wishes to find and meet you, your Majesty.”
“That's true.”
“I simply thought it figured out the Transparent Bloods’ schemes too late and was urgently trying to do something.”
But that was not it.
“…That guy has been working for a while to protect this world as well.”
For quite a long time.
“On his own.”
Yes.
The System. That guy was truly alone.
At least he had Ahn Roh Man.
Steisen's gaze sank low while looking at a dark corner of the room.
“Are the System and One separate entities?”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
If the System was the World Tree…
One was like an Elemental the World Tree created.
“But One follows the System’s will.”
Although they were separate, they were also kind of the same.
“Any discussion with One will be fully delivered to the System.”
Steisen nodded his head at Cale's comment.
He now looked forward to meeting with One even more.
His gaze headed back to Cale.
“The System must have been stealthily progressing the hero quest without the Transparent © knowing about it.”
“Yes, your Majesty. At some point, I'm sure the hero quest will be known by the world.
Steisen put on a sharp gaze.
“Is Alberu Crossman the hero?”
“!”
Choi Han flinched.
Cale just smiled.
“Yes, your Majesty.”
“You tricked Ahn Roh Man.”
“No, your Majesty. We just didn't tell him.”
Cale corrected Steisen.
“Both Ahn Roh Man and you didn't tell us everything at first either, your Majesty.”
“I see.”
Steisen accepted it right away.
“You can't trust each other completely just because you share a common enemy.”
"Exactly, your Majesty.”
Steisen leaned back against the couch.
He contemplated for a moment before starting to speak.
“Our Lienti will need to step in if the hero needs strength.”
“It would be great if the Land of Knights uses its power for us.”
“… You-”
Steisen stopped for a moment before continuing with a stiff expression on his face.
“I heard you plan on gathering the Eight Evils together as one.”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
“Will you do it together with the hero?”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
As Cale continued to answer without any hesitation…
“Meeting with the Lan Queen and me is also to gather our interests as one?”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
“Your final goal is using ‘everyone's strength’ to stop the omnipotent god?”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
Steisen's eyes were burning fiercely.
He spoke not to the System but to Cale.
“You were already preparing a large playing field.”
“It is just my own little image, your Majesty.”
Cale smiled brightly as he responded.
“Ha, hahaha-”
Steisen laughed out loud.
But the laughter soon stopped and an intense heat took over.
“You did all that while also creating conflict between the Hunters, the Demon World, and the God of Chaos.”
Steisen tapped his knee with his palm and fell deep into thought.
He then realized something.
“Cale Henituse.”
His voice was shaking a bit.
“You made the God of Chaos fight against the Hunters. I'm guessing you plan on making the forces of the God of Chaos get kicked out of this world or shunned.”
He sounded pretty confident about his analysis.
“I'm sure you did something in the Demon World as well. You’ll make it so that the Demon World can’t pay any attention to New World either.”
He looked at the smiling Cale.
"Then all that is left are the Hunters and the omnipotent god.”
He asked Cale.
“You plan on releasing everything you have prepared at that moment, right?”
Cale had always said the following.
He said that he and his people would only fight the Hunters and the omnipotent god.
He's been saying that the World of the Gods and the Divine World were none of his business.
There was no need to carry that burden.
That was why Cale was able to answer without any hesitation again.
“Yes, your Majesty.”
“Mm!”
Steisen groaned.
Otherwise, he would not have been able to hide the thrill shooting down his body.
Image.
A large playing field was being created.
Gods.
Demon King.
The omnipotent god.
A human was trying to swing the forces of such large existences to do as he pleased.
These large existences were completing that big picture without knowing about that human.
In the end, he would shrink the large and mighty forces of their enemies to a bearable level.
“Ha.”
He couldn't help but be thrilled.
“However…”
Cale slowly said one thing to the Emperor.
“I plan on breaking the Hunters into two as well.”
“…Huh?”
“When the hero appears, the Transparent Bloods will not be able to pay as much attention to New World as they want.”
‘Ah!’
Steisen jumped up from his seat.
“Ahn Roh Man!”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
The President had put his remaining term and everything on the line to declare war against the Transparent ©.
“Yes. The Transparent Bloods are more of a threat to us than the Five Colors Bloods!”
It was because the Transparent Bloods, and therefore the Transparent Corporation, were the only ones who could restrict the system.
They were the operators of RPOG!
“If you make it so that they are unable to pay attention to the game because of things happening on Earth 3…”
‘And if we pushed in at that time to fight against the omnipotent god and the Five Colors Bloods…’
“…It’s possible.”
It really was possible to save RPOG.
They would be able to save all of New World.
He looked into Cale’s reddish brown eyes.
“…Scary bastard.”
Those were the only words he could think of right now.
* * *
At the same time, Alberu suppressed this unexplainable leeriness and put his hand down from rubbing the back of his head.
He then proceeded with what he needed to do.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Alberu suddenly felt his back go cold and immediately turned around.
“!”
Clopeh Sekka was standing by the door with a smile on his face.
Clopeh slowly approached the surprised Alberu.
He sat down on the chair next to Alberu and warmly asked.
“Are you doing well with the commenting, your highness?”
“Huh? Uhh, yeah. Yeah.”
Alberu had a half-transparent window open.
It was the official community inside the game.
It was possible to connect to the outside internet while playing RPOG, which allowed videos to be uploaded in real time.
Alberu was currently participating in the comments for the ‘Birth of Eden Miru’ video.
Smile.
Clopeh smiled and Alberu flinched.
“I will trust you, your highness.”
“Mm.”
Alberu just groaned.
Clopeh looked at Alberu's obviously awkward and burdened face and simply smiled before standing back up.
“Then I will be on my way now, your highness.”
He respectfully bowed to Alberu and headed toward the room door.
Alberu watched Clopeh for a bit before looking at the comment he had left.
===================
– Light Dragon. But why is a Light Dragon considered evil? And what is a Holy Evil?
– Aren’t things going a bit weird?
===================
He had left that comment as Clopeh had asked.
Choi Sun Hee and Rosalyn were working on this as well.
Alberu now looked at the reactions.
===================
– Huh? That really is a bit weird. Why did the former boss of the Seventh Evil suddenly disappear? And how come it is Light Dragon and not Lunatic Dragon?
– He was born looking quite holy based on the video. Rather than the Demon King, this seems like The Birth of a Hero who defeated darkness (dark red clouds) and released light (aurora)?
– I thought the Eight Evils were secret areas. How is so much information leaking like this? Are the operators trying to reveal the Eight Evils to the world?
– Is a new episode about to come out? Or maybe just a large-scale quest?
===================
“…The playing field is going to flow oddly.
Mm.”
Alberu contemplated for a moment.
His eyes landed on the word, ‘light.’
Tap. Tap. Plop.
He left a comment in the community.
===================
But didn’t something happen at the Temple of the Sun God not too long ago too?
I thought that the God of Chaos or some weird faction appeared there.
But now there is one of the Eight Evils associated with light? Isn’t this really weird?
I feel like something that has nothing to do with territory is about to happen.
Sun, light… Doesn’t it feel like there has to be some connection?
===================
The Sun God was being mentioned out of nowhere, but…
Alberu peeked at the Sun Sword and nonchalantly commented.
“Yeah. I need to create something for myself too.”
Hero.
He should create some build up for that too, right?
Rather than suddenly appearing out of nowhere…
Shouldn't he create some justification for the hero to appear as well just as Eden Miru did?
Screeeech.
Clopeh carefully closed the door and headed back to his study.
“Hoo hoo.”
He stood by the window once he got there.
He could see a beautiful plain out in the distance.
Nobody would think this place was the location of the boss of the Seventh Evil.
It was too refreshing and beautiful.
“Yeah. It is beautiful.”
Clopeh Sekka.
He was creating a legend.
“… Eden Miru. He cannot remain as a mere evil.”
But this legend was not for Eden Miru.
Eden Miru was just another step in the process.
“Normally, the good and evil of a world fight each other.”
But still…
“They end up fighting together to protect their home when a new enemy shows up and threatens their world.”
That was not a matter of good and evil but one of survival.
“Cale-nim.”
He thought about his liege, who was most likely working hard no matter where he was right now, and mumbled to himself.
“I know the big picture you have in mind.”
Use the Eight Evils and the Kingdom of Darkness to rule the ‘evil’ side.
Make deals with the Lan Kingdom and others to create a space for the ‘good.’
And finally…
“Neutral.”
Ahn Roh Man and Alberu Crossman.
One was the king of Earth 3.
The other would be the new Emperor of New World.
“Good, Evil, Neutral.”
These were the three factions that always existed in a world.
“You plan on gathering all three sides together to defeat the enemy of this land…this world… To defeat the enemy that would eventually threaten our world as well.
‘I can see what you are trying to do.’
“The path you are trying to walk.”
That treacherous path.
“That path must not fall.”
The legend will definitely be created.
Clopeh Sekka.
He was creating this seed known as Eden Miru to prepare for the time when the Eight Evils and many kingdoms would come together.
“Cale-nim. I will move any rocks in the way of your path.”
Clopeh Sekka’s eyes were burning with passion.
His eyes that were as green as the lush plain glowed brighter than ever.
Cale Henituse.
Alberu Crossman.
Clopeh Sekka.
They were all finishing their respective preparations toward a single big picture despite not chatting with each other.
* * *
"Achoo!”
Cale suddenly sneezed and felt a chill down his spine.
"Are you okay?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Cale answered gently and smiled.
“Mm.”
Queen Tamahi.
Cale was now back in the Lan Kingdom.
He left So Hee with Emperor Steisen of the Eastern Empire, and Choi Han was planning on staying there until the end.
Once that was confirmed, Cale had quickly returned to the Lan Kingdom.
“Things changed from our original plan, but I feel relieved that you are here.”
Queen Tamahi pointed to the side.
“You can stand next to the Chief of Staff.”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
Cale moved next to the Chief of Staff and respectfully bowed.
“Please take care of me.”
“Yes sir. I mean no. I will do it properly from here on.”
“Yes sir.”
The Chief of Staff was pretty old. Cale smiled as if he was happy with the man’s stern words.
“Hae-il. Is that fine as your name?”
“Yes, Chief of Staff-nim.”
“Alright. Then for today, you are an attendant who works for me. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Chief of Staff-nim.”
Cale, who currently had black hair, put on an attendant's uniform and smiled like a disloyal subject.
However, half of his face was covered up in bandages.
The Chief of Staff and Queen Tamahi felt leery at his smile but their faces and bodies soon stiffened at Cha Run's arrival.
“…The wanderer has arrived.”
The wanderer, So Hee.
The guide for the Church of the God of Chaos, Sir Hin Pao.
A new wanderer had stealthily come to the Lan Kingdom to learn about what happened.
“Huuuuuu.”
Queen Tamahi let out a deep breath before heading toward the stealthy meeting site.
“Oh esteemed Dragon. I will introduce you as the Captain of the Guard.”
Cale had not come alone.
The new wanderer.
He had no idea who it would be.
‘I needed to call a strong Dragon.’
Cale looked toward the black-haired man standing as Tamahi’s Captain of the Guard.
The Dragon had hair different from his usual color.
– There’s always something when you call in a rush.
He looked toward ancient Dragon Eruhaben.
It had been a while since Eruhaben stood as a guard knight like this. Cale had not pretended to be an attendant for a while as well.
‘Time to make the God of Chaos fight against the wanderer!’
Cale firmed his resolve.
“Heh.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle out loud.
“…….”
Eruhaben looked at Cale with an extremely sour look on his face but Cale did not even notice because he was too excited thinking about how to smack the wanderer in the back.
Eruhaben thought to himself.
‘He's excited.’
He was right about Cale being quite excited.
It had been a while since he managed to properly play two sides against each other and smack them in the back.
—–
Author’s Note
Hello, it is Yu Ryeo Han.
Already 400 chapters! My goodness!
Maybe it is because I had a feeling this would happen, but a part of me is thinking, ‘of course you did this.’ Hahaha!
These days, I am finding Cale and everybody in the story to be my friends.
After spending so much time together with them, they are the ones I spend the most time with in my life. The desire to finish this story as best as possible is getting stronger and stronger.
I am also extremely grateful to all of you who have been with me on this journey and want to give you the best ending as well. I truly mean that.
But you see…
When will this story come to an end? Hahaha!
Thank you for always being with me.
And please continue to take good care of me.
– Sincerely, Yu Ryeo Han –
—
Translator’s Note
Dear Yu Ryeo Han,
Cale deserves to rest. Finish the series and start a new one. There’s plenty of options about how you can go about this! The Adventures of Thugaben! On and Hong as the new heads of the Molan Household! The FUUUUUUUUUTURE with the children averaging 10 years old all grown up! A true academy arc with the kiddos in school! LET CALE GET HIS REST! ALL HIS FELLOW MCs are resting WHILE YOU KEEP MILKING HIM!
—
Translator's Comments
Seriously though, Cale wants a break y'all.
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