novelraw Chapter 28 : Chapter 28
Chapter 28 : Chapter 28
Chapter 28: Unexpected Development (6)
An isolated, abandoned cathedral emitting a somber aura. This was also the hideout of the Reverse Heaven Sect.
Yu-hyeon appeared and entered the cathedral, opening the doors amidst swirling dust. As he did, a sect member approached him. The member bowed his head as soon as he saw Yu-hyeon.
“Brother Yu-hyeon, you have arrived.”
“Yes. I have just returned.”
Yu-hyeon replied with a bright smile to the member who greeted him. Seeing that, the member also showed a slight smile.
“It seems your task was completed successfully. You look to be in a good mood.”
“Haha, does it look that way? My goodness. To think I could not even manage my own expression; I am still quite inexperienced.”
Just as the two were continuing their conversation with casual greetings, the member noticed something and wore a surprised look.
“Brother, what is that wound?”
“Ah, this?”
At the member's question, Yu-hyeon touched his neck. It was a mark as if something sharp had grazed him. Even though it was a wound that could have been fatal if it were just a little deeper, Yu-hyeon’s face was filled with nothing but smiles.
“I had an interesting encounter. This is the price for that meeting.”
“…Was there someone there capable of wounding you, Brother?”
At the member's question, Yu-hyeon recalled the events at the gate once more—specifically, the final encounter with Choi Yu-seong.
‘I did not realize it would be to that extent.’
He had spoken those words at the time, but initially, he had no intention of letting him live. Why take the burden of entrusting an item to someone weaker than himself? Only a fool would do such a thing. Thus, he had intended to unleash an strike that could not be withstood, but he changed his plan upon seeing the boy's power.
‘That was certainly the talent of the Spear God and Instructor Im.’
There was no way he, of all people, would not recognize them. He had clashed with the Spear God a few times, and he had thoroughly investigated Instructor Im before infiltrating Glory. No matter how he looked at it, that was the power of those two.
‘Using someone else's talent. Just what is that Brother…?’
Even if talents were similar, they were never identical. To break that rule and use a talent exactly like someone else’s? Yu-hyeon was not such a boring person that he would kill someone in such an interesting situation. It was because he tried to adjust his power that he ended up with this wound.
‘I adjusted my power, but even so, it was a formidable strength.’
The power of the Spear God and Instructor Im that he used—Yu-hyeon was someone who did not fall behind even against the original owners of those talents. To be able to wound someone like him meant the boy deserved a high evaluation. It was a shame that he did not seem to be able to maintain that power for long, but even that much made him a promising talent to look forward to.
Therefore, Yu-hyeon evaluated Choi Yu-seong highly and answered the member's question.
“Yes. He was a much better Brother than I expected. His mindset was quite good as well.”
“If you are saying that much, Brother Yu-hyeon… But what do you mean by his mindset?”
“Haha! There is such a thing.”
Yu-hyeon avoided the question and spoke vaguely. He did not know if Choi Yu-seong’s talent was prophecy or something else. However, whether his talent was prophecy or not, it was a problematic fact regardless.
‘If it is not, it means internal information of the Reverse Heaven Sect has been leaked, and if it is prophecy…’
It meant there was a traitor who would eventually make off with the Suppressing Blade. Therefore, he could not speak recklessly in this situation where he did not know who the traitor might be.
The member shifted the subject at Yu-hyeon’s reaction.
“I understand. Then, have you handled everything you originally intended to do?”
“Ah, I handled most of it.”
“Most of it?”
“Yes. By causing an incident, I instilled a clear sense of alarm in Glory, and I also saw the Saintess's noble face. However…”
We failed to retrieve the Suppressing Blade. Yu-hyeon spoke and laughed joyfully as if it were fun, unaware of the member's growing frustration.
“This is not a laughing matter! Was that not our most important objective, Brother?!”
“Ah, it is fine. I have left it in a place where I can reach it at any time.”
“…Was that an action that does not go against the Will of Reverse Heaven?”
To go against the Will of Reverse Heaven—it was a statement no different from asking if he had betrayed them. Yu-hyeon, who had been laughing heartily, hardened his expression at those words. He then replied in a low, unpleasant voice.
“Can you take responsibility for those words?”
“…My apologies. I have spoken out of turn.”
“Sigh… Never mind. It must have been spoken out of a desire to serve the sect. I will explain it to the Sect Leader, so you do not have to worry.”
“Yes. If you say so, Brother Yu-hyeon, I understand. I apologize once more for my previous remark.”
With that, the conversation between the two ended. Perhaps having nothing more to say, the member bowed to Yu-hyeon as he had when they first met and departed. Left alone, Yu-hyeon watched the direction the member had gone for a moment before turning his head.
“Hah, to think a fool who does not even know why we serve the Saintess would dare to lecture me.”
Unlike when he said it was fine, Yu-hyeon spat out bitter words in a cynical voice. His reaction was perfectly normal. The person who had just snapped at Yu-hyeon was merely a regular sect member. He was not an entity who dared to say such things to Yu-hyeon, who worked for Reverse Heaven more than anyone else.
“If it were not for the Sect Leader’s will, I would have killed him right then and there, Brother or not.”
The Sect Leader’s will stated that they had to grow the sect's power to spread the doctrine of Reverse Heaven across this land. If not for that, he would have cut that throat immediately.
“The mysterious Brother I met today would suit Reverse Heaven much better than that guy.”
Yu-hyeon casually uttered words that would have horrified Choi Yu-seong if he had heard them. To say he suited Reverse Heaven—did that not mean he suited being a fanatic? But there was a reason Yu-hyeon said this. To Yu-hyeon, Choi Yu-seong was already perceived as a quite useful existence.
“The direction might be different, but admiring and protecting the Saintess is fundamentally the same thing.”
The reason they served her as the Saintess was because of her healing talent. While every player awakened talents related to killing, she was different. A noble power that protected life. Though the world desired the end of humanity, the Saintess's power denied that will. How beautiful was it that while everyone was running toward death, the Saintess alone was running in a different direction? That was Reverse Heaven itself, and it was a miracle.
‘But that is the Reverse Heaven Sect’s way of revering and admiring the Saintess.’
He was likely different. After all, he had recoiled when asked if he was from the Reverse Heaven Sect.
“Still, the look in his eyes was no different from mine.”
It was the look of a fervent believer chasing a sublime goal. It was a gaze so similar he would have believed it was his own eyes reflected in a mirror. So, it should be fine to trust him once.
Yu-hyeon smiled and walked through the dark, abandoned cathedral to meet the Sect Leader.
***
“Ugh.”
I grabbed my splitting head and looked around. I saw the desolate land I had seen before entering the gate. Seeing that, I realized something.
“It has become a bit shorter this time. Am I finally getting used to losing consciousness?”
This made it the tenth time—the number of times I had repeatedly lost and regained consciousness. You probably cannot understand what kind of nonsense I am talking about. But there was a reason I had ended up like this. I recalled the battle with Yu-hyeon from earlier.
‘I did not expect to awaken a new talent at that moment.’
The moment the sword of light he swung clashed with my Black Spear, my consciousness had immediately vanished. I remember closing my eyes then, thinking, ‘I am screwed.’ However, along with the notification that followed, my consciousness was forced back.
[You have awakened a new talent.]
[Talent - Persistence (F) is added.]
It was a talent with a truly simple name. However, at that moment, I instinctively realized it. That this would be the talent to eliminate my Penalty. But unfortunately, that realization was half-right and half-wrong.
‘It felt less like being supported and more like being slapped awake.’
The effect of the newly added Persistence talent was remarkably simple. It did not remove the Penalty; it simply allowed me to endure it. Because of that, I had to simply endure the agonizing pain throughout my body, and as a result, I had no choice but to lose consciousness several times. It was an unexpected development, contrary to my thought that it would gracefully eliminate the Penalty.
‘Still, I did benefit from it.’
Normally, I would have lost consciousness and left my body to whatever flow of events occurred, but thanks to this talent, I was able to talk with Yu-hyeon with a clear mind. I recalled the conversation we had back then—the words Yu-hyeon had spoken to me after we exchanged blows.
—The gate will be cleared soon. I have already taken care of the boss I hid in a half-dead state.
—I shall leave the Saintess to you, Brother. The Academy will likely notice something strange and come soon.
—Ah! I almost forgot. If you ever need to contact me, you can use this. It is not as if you and I are going to see each other only today, right?
“That is right. The contact information.”
My mind had not been fully sound at the time, so I pulled out the contact information I had forgotten until now. It was a contact number written on a small piece of paper. And along with it, there was a message.
—If you, Brother, ever consider coming to the Reverse Heaven Sect, I am always welcoming.
What a useless sentence. Why would I go to such a place? They were people I would not have even paid attention to if they were not a group helpful to Ha Eun-ha. After tucking away the contact information, I looked at Ha Eun-ha and the two cadets lying next to me.
‘It seems he brought these guys along too.’
I was not the one who brought them out. At the time, even looking after my own body was a struggle. So, I had only confirmed that Yu-hyeon was taking care of Ha Eun-ha before leaving, but it seemed he had brought these two along as well.
‘Not that he brought them because he cared about them, though.’
He likely brought them because he was worried Ha Eun-ha would be distressed. As I was looking at Ha Eun-ha and thinking about how to deal with the Reverse Heaven Sect in the future—
“Cadet Choi Yu-seong!!”
I looked forward at the familiar voice calling from afar.
“Instructor.”
It was Im Seong-cheol, running toward us urgently. The composure that was usually felt from him was nowhere to be found. The reason was obvious. Ha Eun-ha was unconscious next to me, and two cadets were collapsed with major wounds.
‘Moreover, my own appearance is not normal.’
My cadet uniform was shredded here and there, and lacerations covered my entire body. In such a situation, how could Im Seong-cheol show any composure? Especially Im Seong-cheol, who cared for his cadets more than anyone else.
“What in the… what on earth happened?! Where is the instructor in charge?!”
“That is…”
“No, moving to the infirmary comes first. Move the cadets quickly!”
Im Seong-cheol quickly gave instructions to the other instructors and teaching assistants who came with him. He must be curious about what happened, yet he strictly follows the priorities. However, someone who can explain the situation is also needed. Therefore, I opened my mouth while enduring the now-familiar pain.
“I am fine.”
“Do not be stubborn! Anyone can see that you are not fine.”
“Still, it is manageable. More importantly, do we not need to understand the situation quickly to respond?”
At my words, Im Seong-cheol hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“…Understood. However, since your condition is not good, Cadet, keep it brief.”
“Yes.”
As Im Seong-cheol said, I continued with a brief explanation. I told him about the ambush by a villain in the boss room and the battle that ensued. I also explained how we ended up leaving the gate. Instead, I omitted anything related to Yu-hyeon. Even though he was a villain, he was a useful guy, and for now, we were in the same boat. I only mentioned that after entering the gate and arriving at the boss room, the instructor in charge was nowhere to be found.
As he listened intently to my story, Im Seong-cheol’s expression soured by the second.
“…To summarize what you said, a villain did this? And you do not know why that villain was inside the gate?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
“And you are saying you did not see the instructor in charge until you left the gate?”
“Yes.”
Im Seong-cheol’s expression hardened at my words, and he muttered something to himself. Listening closely, it seemed he suspected the instructor in charge.
‘Well, that is the most plausible explanation.’
If someone is enough to be an instructor in charge, it means their martial power is quite high, so for them to disappear without a trace, that has to be it. In fact, it was the correct answer. However…
‘In the end, they will not be able to solve the mystery.’
Yu-hyeon had long since departed, and someone of his skill would not have left any traces. No matter how hard the instructors searched for clues, it would be difficult. They would suffer quite a bit because of it… but what could they do? They have to blame Glory for being the stage of the novel.
Just as I was thinking that, Im Seong-cheol finished his brief deliberation and spoke to me immediately.
“Understood for now. Now, you must go to the infirmary. I will hear no further arguments.”
“…Understood.”
I had intended to do that anyway. There was nothing more I could tell them, and if the conversation dragged on, some unnecessary information might slip out. The rest was now a problem for Glory, not me, to handle. Therefore, following Im Seong-cheol’s words, I headed toward the portal, supported by another instructor.
‘It will get loud tomorrow.’
Lee Ho-jae was involved with villains, but he was not a villain himself. However, what happened today was an incident caused by direct villain intervention. Thus, I headed toward the portal while offering my silent condolences to Im Seong-cheol, who would be suffering from tomorrow onward.