◈ Episode 495. Strange Talks (2)

How long has it been since Hoyeol introduced me to someone?

No matter how much she thought back, she couldn’t remember since elementary school.

Lee Yerim sat at the corner table and stared at Hoyeol with bated breath.

No loneliness, no shadows on his face.

‘Was it just my imagination?’

But no matter how you look at it, they don’t look like they’re close enough to confide in each other. Especially the way they treat Hoyeol, it’s completely…….

‘They’re treating Hoyeol like he’s their boss?’

I don’t even know the rank of the Holy War Alliance, but they said that our Hoyeol is the Chief Commander, so I don’t know if it’s a strange attitude.

More than that.

Lee Yerim pouted at her parents, who were watching closely.

“What are you both doing there?”

“Huh? Hoyeol is working, and we didn’t want to disturb him.”

“I’d be more concerned about that.”

Why, just the mention of the president’s name?

My dad, Wudangtang— dropped the plate.

Lee Yerim couldn’t believe it.

‘What is this, all of a sudden.’

Reconciliation Dumpling.

In this small, humble snack shop.

The future of Seoul would be at stake.

‘How could I have guessed this?’

Lee Yerim tried to keep a straight face.

‘After all, I said it’s a story we’ll know.’

Besides.

……kuk.

Yerim clenched her fists under the table.

‘I want to know.’

Like I said, I didn’t want to look away anymore.

Exactly what situation and threat Hoyeol was facing.

I know I can’t be of any help to him as a mere ordinary person.

‘But I have to know.’

As a family member and the only sister of three.

Lee Yerim took a deep breath and repeated to herself.

I will never be surprised by anything he says.

Over and over again, she muttered to herself.

‘It’s not a joke.’

Maybe it was because of that that I was able to keep my mouth shut. Until Nam Cheolmin, a man who looked the opposite of Nam Taemin, started making all sorts of dire predictions about the future of Seoul.

But Lee Yerim couldn’t take it anymore.

Nam Cheolmin, let him finish his story.

Hoyeol’s lips move as if he’s been waiting.

“I will be the owner of Seoul.”

The one and only brother’s unexpected declaration.

……Hoyeol. You, no?!

Lee Yerim muttered to herself.

“……Are you going into politics?”

*

Politics?

What bullshit.

This Wensu again.

‘Even if I wasn’t, I’d be embarrassed by your tone.’

Do you really need to rephrase it like that?!

I will be the owner of Seoul.

The reason for my Grandfell-style declaration is simple.

seug.

Nam Cheolmin took out his tablet and envisioned scenarios.

“President Jeong Hantaek has requested close cooperation from our Great Alliance and the Sinhwa Guild. In order to protect the safety of Seoul, there is a high probability that force will be necessary.”

Thanks to Yugweed’s legacy. Seoul is no longer a common land.

What’s more, its value has been proven and spread through media and players around the world.

“In short, any area of Seoul where the buff is valid will be targeted, in one way or another, by everyone but Seoul from now on, and the influence will probably extend all the way to here, which is also Seoul.”

He was right.

Reconciliation Dumpling.

My mom and dad’s pride space was no exception.

My status window is currently filled with countless messages.

The same buffs that were being applied to the Arcana continent were being applied.

“To put it in a more realistic analogy…….”

Dad, Mom, and Wensu listened intently.

And did they consider Nam Taemin’s vulnerability to complex stories?

Nam Cheolmin summarized the key points in one line.

“Now connected to the Arcana continent. Seoul has become a land of unparalleled value since BC, even when looking through the entire history of the world.”

Indeed.

That was why I claimed ownership of Seoul.

Some might criticize.

Yes, this guy, Lee Hoyeol.

Finally, you’re shedding your cloak of innocence and showing your true colors……! But if innocence were so easy to shed, I would have been the first to do so.

‘It’s not greed, it’s not a declaration of candidacy, it’s a burden.’

The Arcana Continent’s buffs are valid in Seoul?

In other words, Seoul is no different from the lands of the Arcana continent.

It means it’s treated as a [Territory].

‘Of course.’

Seoul will have the [Territory] system activated.

Shouldn’t it be obvious by now?

It is.

When I reach the peak of my relationships and influence in that territory.

I was worried about the abuse of the activated [Authority] system.

‘Because it is literally infinite.’

I had activated countless [Authority] in the Kingdom of Yusra, in Frost, and in countless other places, large and small. Of course, I had never truly demonstrated the power of such [Authority].

That’s to be expected.

Who is Grandfell?

A saintly gentleman who doesn’t spend even the money he earns through the Rift on selfishness.

With a character like that, it’s hard to imagine him abusing the [Authority] function.

So let’s imagine a scenario.

What if someone other than Grandfell activates the [Authority] function in Seoul?

The Constitution of the Republic of Korea would no longer serve as a governing force in Seoul. The words of the person who activated the [Authority] feature would become the new law.

I opened my mouth.

“Players won’t be the only ones who want this land.”

“I see, the Chief Commander also thought so.”

“Of course……!”

It wasn’t just players who could activate the [Authority] function, but also any other Arcana Continent entity.

For example……. Not to mention the high-ranking Demon Kings who would have seen everything through the Evil Eyes.

Tak.

At that point, Nam Taemin put down his cutlery.

“So we had no choice but to look for you.”

In contrast to his serious first words.

Maybe it was the dumplings he inhaled.

Nam Taemin’s expression was unexpectedly bright.

“Actually, until just now, I was so busy eating that I didn’t realize it……. If you’re willing to become the owner of Seoul, we, the Great Alliance, will cooperate with you to the best of our abilities!”

Cooperate to the best of our ability.

‘You all have too much faith in me anyway, don’t you?’

But I wasn’t about to reject that trust.

Me, Lee Hoyeol.

I don’t like to admit it, but I’m the only one who seems worthy of the position of owner of Seoul.

‘Well, technically, not me, but Grandfell.’

Seoul has become a land of anomaly.

I can’t emphasize the value and danger enough. Depending on the situation, the threat from the Arcana continent could flood in without the safety of the Rift.

Not only that.

‘We can’t overlook the threat of the real world.’

Nam Cheolmin’s fingers twitched on the tablet.

“Especially since most of the world’s top guilds have branches in Seoul, which is close to the Magic Tower. I don’t want to raise unnecessary suspicions, but since we’re all in the same boat as the Holy War Alliance anyway…….”

I nodded.

“I recognize your concern.”

This wasn’t just a guild issue.

Just as Gaon was the symbol of Korea.

A ranked guild would have a close working relationship with the country.

‘Players, individual pride aside.’

Just like Inazuma, who was at the mercy of the Japanese government. This means that there may come a time when crying and eating mustard will force players to cooperate with the state.

Because this Seoul was definitely worth it.

But.

“That’s the responsibility of the owner.”

Who is Grandfell?

The head of the Claudi family, the land of anomaly, even more than Seoul itself.

He was the owner of the Claudi estate, a territory of immense value.

‘It’s impossible for me to feel any pressure.’

My confident words seemed to have answered his question.

The Nam brothers’ eyes flashed for a moment.

Taemin got up from his seat and started carrying the plates to the kitchen.

“Thank you, Mother and Father. I ate really well.”

“Really? Does it fit your mouth? I’m glad.”

“You can visit our Gaon Center anytime, and I will serve you properly, my mother and father! Oh, I might not be here, in which case you can call my number on my business card here…….”

“Oh my, then shall I accept it without hesitation? Hoho.”

……By the way, you’re welcome.

While I was thinking.

Nam Cheolmin stopped wiping the table and spoke to me.

“I’ll support you with all my heart, Chief Commander.”

His eyes were sincere.

“Ever since the Magic Tower appeared in Seoul, Gaon has been working on a number of fronts to counter the national threat. I don’t know if you’ll need our help, Chief Commander, but……. If you can trust us, we’ll be sure to help you this time.”

An ally.

I should be grateful if he’s willing to do this for me.

Like I said, I wasn’t confident.

‘It’s not my area of expertise.’

Real-world politics, backstabbing, and nervous warfare between nations, neither I nor Grandfell.

I didn’t know much about it.

Of course, I couldn’t go into more depth at this point.

Everything is still speculation, right?

‘And……. The place is a bit different too.’

What were you listening to so intently earlier!

I couldn’t say anything because I was worried about Lee Yerim.

Nevertheless, I didn’t care and just shook the snout.

“I sincerely apologize for today.”

“No, come back later.”

“Thank you for the autograph, Mr. Taemin!”

“No, thank you, Mother!”

Goodbye.

The Nam brothers left such a message at the store and left. Oh, and how many pictures did you take? Considering the advertising power of a player of Taemin’s caliber, today’s dumplings were just nothing…….

This was the moment I felt snobbish.

“Hey, Lee Hoyeol.”

……Damn, it’s finally here.

Wensu called me.

At the same time, my heart sank.

What stories will start to haunt me?

I didn’t even know what to expect, given my many sins.

‘Resurrection? Or the owner of Seoul? Aah……!’

If I could.

I wanted to slap a few palms on my snout.

This is what I call a self-inflicted disaster.

“This sister still doesn’t know what’s going on.”

“I’m listening.”

“You.”

And then.

“You’re going to tell us everything, every single thing, later, aren’t you?”

……?

I thought to myself, if I’m going to be questioned now, it won’t be strange if I’m questioned for days. Even if it’s mom and dad who understand me. I knew they’d be relentless in their questioning.

“Until then, we just have to trust and wait, right?”

Wensu.

Lee Yerim.

……No, the sister didn’t say anything after that question. I honestly wondered if she had eaten something wrong, but I didn’t hesitate to answer.

“Never, I will never betray you.”

In fact, I could answer it now.

‘What’s so hard about that?’

I was brought back from the dead because of my title, The Last Adventurer. As for becoming the owner of Seoul, it was really just a matter of activating Seoul’s [Authority] function.

‘Only.’

There was only one thing I couldn’t be honest about.

Yes, the dark history between me and Grandfell.

I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud yet……!

I saved my words for this moment.

“That heavy trust.”

When it was all over.

So much so that I can say everything with a smile.

When this moment became a memory.

Well, maybe I’ll be able to say everything then.

Me too, but it’s going to take some work on my part to get there.

Suddenly, the sister’s brow twitches.

“By the way……. Can’t you get a grip on your tone?!”

Look, I’m still like this, how can I tell you everything?

*

Demon World.

The ten seats blinked in unison.

They had seen it through the evil eyes.

The Demon King of the Ninth Throne, the Noble Paimon.

“My dear.”

He too opened his closed eyes.

In the teacup.

The black tea’s surface stirred like planting.

“I think the situation is a little different from what we promised?”