Chapter 624. The Stormy Period (2)
[Blessed]
Everyone’s attention was drawn to that mysterious modifier.
Nam Cheolmin, the chief analyst of the Great Alliance, began the briefing.
“This variable was probably something even the AAU didn’t predict. Same goes for me. No, seriously, who could have expected something like this? That someone’s level would double just because they were ‘blessed’?”
Nam Taemin, Hisagi, and Leonie.
With the three of them gathered in one place, it should have been noisy from the start.
Yet, no words were exchanged.
How could all three of them be so silent?
Nam Cheolmin swallowed a sigh and added,
“So, don’t blame yourselves too much.”
At his brother’s words, Nam Taemin pursed his lips.
“……Damn it.”
Demonic monsters had always been shackles to players.
Now, when those creatures could no longer run rampant as before, it should have been the perfect opportunity to prove his growth. Of course, it wasn’t just out of personal ambition.
After much thought, Nam Taemin muttered under his breath,
“What would the Supreme Commander think of us?”
He had seen it.
That day, the vacant gaze of the Supreme Commander.
Even though the silver hair had returned to its former glory, he knew— that didn’t erase the hardships the Supreme Commander had endured.
That’s why he blamed himself.
He rejoiced.
And then fell into despair again.
Hisagi’s expression was different from usual as well.
“Moreover, unlike other players, we’ve received significant support from the Supreme Commander. The Supreme Commander must have had expectations for us…”
Yet, instead of meeting those expectations, they were overwhelmed by the sheer difference in level and had to retreat in haste.
Hisagi forced a bitter smile.
“Perhaps we’re still dependent on the Supreme Commander.”
When fighting alongside Lee Hoyeol, fear was never an issue.
Even when they faced the Ten Thrones, whose levels were unknown, as long as Lee Hoyeol was there, there was no room for fear.
Bang.
The heavy atmosphere was shattered by Leonie.
“That’s why I told you to just go for it! What’s so scary about those oversized bastards? I mean, seriously, could they be stronger than dragons or—?!”
Leonie had practically been dragged off the battlefield.
Of course, she wasn’t completely serious about what she was saying.
Even as a [Berserker] immune to most status effects, she had eyes too.
When those monsters appeared, her guildmates lost their fighting spirit in an instant.
‘Enough. What’s the point of making excuses now?’
Only after the three of them had calmed down somewhat did Nam Cheolmin clear his throat.
“Ahem. So, now that everyone’s done with their confessions, I have something to admit too. It’s purely my speculation, so I haven’t reported it to the AAU yet, but…”
“What is it? Why the hesitation, hyung?”
“I’m not hesitating, I’m being careful.”
Nam Cheolmin pushed up his slipping glasses.
“I think the ‘Blessing’ in the message is related to the Supreme Commander.”
“ ?!! ”
Both of them—
No, even Hisagi’s always-squinting eyes widened.
That was to be expected.
The implications of ‘Blessing’ were immense.
It had to be properly understood.
Hisagi carefully reconsidered Nam Cheolmin’s words.
“The Blessing was a buff that affected the monsters. If that Blessing is related to the Supreme Commander, then the meaning behind it is quite significant, Analyst Nam.”
If they misunderstood this, it would mean that the reason those monsters had become twice as strong was Lee Hoyeol.
Nam Taemin turned his head sharply towards his brother.
“Hyung, is that true?”
“To some extent.”
“And that’s why you didn’t tell the AAU…?”
Ssk.
Leonie, sensing the weight of the conversation, sharpened her senses, checking for any eavesdroppers.
Fortunately, she didn’t detect any.
Only after Leonie nodded did Nam Cheolmin exhale a sigh.
“Fine, but could you guys listen until the end? To be precise, it’s not the Supreme Commander himself but his Contracted Spirit, Hiel.”
“Hiel? Why is that name coming up all of a sudden?”
Since she was the Supreme Commander’s contracted spirit, it was expected that she wasn’t an ordinary one.
Only recently had they begun to understand Hiel’s true nature.
After all, even the Spirit Kings bowed their heads before her.
But now.
Hiel was somehow the cause of the buffs empowering the monsters?
“I wasn’t convinced at first either. But after reviewing the AAU’s database, I became certain. Here, this is what the original forms of the boss monsters we fought look like.”
A series of holographic images appeared.
“Something looks… off.”
“Move over, you big guys. Oh—wait, you’re right.”
“Their attributes. Their attribute values are different.”
“As expected, Hisagi catches on quickly.”
Indeed.
It wasn’t just the [Blessed] modifier.
The monsters’ appearances had changed as well.
“The one we fought under the Great Alliance was the ‘Guardian of the Verdant Forest.’ So, we didn’t notice at first, because this one’s attribute hadn’t changed. But the monsters faced by Second Sun, Sinhwa, and other guilds… were different.”
“……!!!”
Then came the recorded battle footage.
Nam Taemin and Leonie both furrowed their brows.
“Huh? Why does something from lava look like that?”
“There’s grass growing in glaciers?”
“Their attributes changed. Because of that ‘Blessing.'”
That was when the two of them finally began to piece things together.
Hisagi realized it faster than the others.
Because it was Hisagi who was exposed to the elemental science of the Magic Tower as a [Magic Spearman].
“Analyst Nam, are you suggesting that a spirit capable of altering the attributes of boss monsters over level 1,000 to ‘Forest’ is the same spirit that serves as the Supreme Commander’s contracted spirit?”
Nam Cheolmin nodded.
“Yeah. It can only be Hiel.”
“W-Wait. What are you saying?”
Hisagi spoke in a low voice.
“It’s possible.”
“What?”
“If Hiel has broken free from the Supreme Commander’s control.”
“…..!!”
“….”
Normally, Nam Taemin would have lost his temper at such an outrageous claim.
But he had seen it.
The Supreme Commander’s vacant gaze.
His black hair.
The clear signs of loss.
Leonie, who hadn’t seen it herself, retorted furiously.
“That makes sense, but do you really think that’s possible? More than anyone, you two should know Hiel wouldn’t do something like this!”
“Don’t think about this emotionally.”
“Emotionally? What are you—”
Nam Cheolmin added another hypothesis.
“The link between the Supreme Commander and Hiel. That’s what we shouldn’t overlook.”
“Their connection…?”
“Their bond started with the World Tree’s Seed.”
If the World Tree was involved, then the theory held up.
“The rift between them, the monsters growing stronger, and all of them possessing Forest attributes— everything starts making sense.”
It felt like the pieces were coming together.
But there were still too many unanswered questions.
Just then—
Bzzzt.
A phone vibrated.
Nam Cheolmin flinched.
A message.
Not an emergency update, but enough to make him speak in a stammer.
“T-The Supreme Commander just issued a summons?!”
tl/n: Commander-in-Chief => Supreme Commander, Guardian of the Lush Green Forest => Guardian of the Verdant Forest.
I, Lee Hoyeol.
I understand my place perfectly.
Before stepping onto the podium,
I glance at the mirror and straighten my outfit.
‘Without a doubt. The World Tree’s Blessing has weakened.’
I don’t know the exact reason, but the [First World Tree’s Blessing] that once dwelled within me now felt significantly loosened.
It wasn’t just a feeling of fatigue or a vague intuition— even the rate at which my magic regenerated was noticeably slower.
‘If I hadn’t awakened the Ten Thrones’ magic…’
I probably would have suffered magic exhaustion after casting just one or two high-tier spells.
Of course, now that the [First World Tree’s Blessing] had faded, and Hiel had slipped beyond my control—
“I can’t recklessly unleash magic like I used to.”
Grandfell.
What would you think if you saw me like this?
Let’s take a guess.
You’d probably say something like this—
“I, Grandfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo, do not rely on others.”
So what? Why should I care?
You’re not here in this body anymore.
From now on, I have no choice but to move forward as Lee Hoyeol, in my own way.
And knowing you, Grandfell, that would piss you off, wouldn’t it?
‘Because while pretending to be you, I’m doing things you’d never do.’
But if you didn’t want this, you shouldn’t have left when I begged you to stay.
That’s right.
I, Lee Hoyeol, have decided— to survive.
To reunite with Grandfell.
I vowed to become shameless—more than anyone else.
Because that was not your way of living—it was mine.
And finally, when the clock struck the hour—
‘Not even a second late this time.’
I stood before the Holy War Alliance that I had summoned with my own will.
“Gentleman.”
Even Grandfell would have conceded this time.
Even my conscience twinged slightly.
But I had to declare it shamelessly.
This was a declaration that Grandfell would never make— one born out of my inability to overcome this ordeal alone, one that moved the entire Holy War Alliance to action.
‘Of course, I do have at least a speck of conscience.’
I have my logic.
How much have I—how much has Grandfell—done for them?
Sometimes, it’s only fair to balance the books, isn’t it?
‘Damn, even self-justification is hard…’
I, Lee Hoyeol.
If I could, I would have shut my eyes and ignored all of this.
“There is only one reason I have summoned you.”
I force myself to speak.
“Show me your growth.”
“..!!!”
Wait.
Why are they reacting like that?
Why do they look… excited after hearing this nonsense?
‘…?’
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