Chapter 680 – Even If I am Not There (2) #PART1

Park Hwigang.

He had died and come back to life, though he didn’t remember it. So now that even his minor injuries were fully healed, Park Hwigang should have seemed no different than usual. And yet—

His expression was clearly off.

“…Everyone, I’m just not in the mood today.”

Something was different.

“What are we even supposed to do now?”

It was like he carried the weight of the entire world’s worries on his shoulders. And how could he not? The Holy War Alliance had split into two factions…!

Maybe it was because it felt like someone else’s business—the chat was on fire.

-So, whose side are you on, Hwigang?

-Just tell us that one thing lol

-Don’t tell me you’re going to chicken out?

-These trolls are really having a field day now

Normally, he’d have cracked down hard on that kind of chat.

“Sigh…”

But all Park Hwigang could do was sigh. As mentioned, his mind was in utter turmoil. And this wasn’t just a problem for him—this split was no small matter for the Explorer’s Federation either.

Ruckus.

Outside the door to Park Hwigang’s personal room, the voices of other explorers from the Federation’s main headquarter could be heard.

“What’s the point of founding the Alliance in the first place? Wasn’t it to clearly help the Arcana continent in moments like these?”

“And you think dumping info at the frontlines is helping? Huge mistake, pal.”

“Don’t underestimate the Alliance.”

“Don’t overestimate it either.”

As you can see, things were complicated.

“Ugh, I don’t know anymore.”

The reason the Holy War Alliance split was simple.

The reemergence of the Demon World’s gate—Behemoth’s Maw—had caused a rift. The hardliners wanted to attack it, while the moderates wanted to wait.

-Honestly, aren’t both sides making valid points?

Park Hwigang nodded at the comment.

In the past, he might’ve criticized both sides for their lack of unity and quoted the teachings of the Church of Hoyeol… but this time, he understood both.

‘Of course they want revenge.’

The hardliners.

They wanted to charge into Behemoth’s Maw and strike the Demon World. Among players, this included Nam Taemin, Leonie, and Camilla’s Shining Guild.

Of course, major Arcana factions were also involved.

-Crimson Eyes are with the hardliners—can’t they just charge in now?

The Dune Clan of the Crimson Eyes.

They looked ready to march straight into Behemoth’s Maw. Some might ask, Aren’t they afraid of the Demon World? But those people didn’t know the Dune Clan’s strength.

‘And they want revenge, too.’

The Dune Clan wasn’t native to the Arcana continent. They were survivors from another world that had been swallowed by the Demon World. That’s why Park Hwigang could fully understand their stance.

‘Same goes for Taemin.’

Nam Taemin, once hailed as Korea’s pride—how many times had his tragic past been broadcast? After losing his family in the Cataclysm, seeking revenge against the Demon World was only natural.

-What, are you saying the moderates stabbed them in the back? lol

-Come on, they just wanna take it slow

-If they go now, they’re more likely to get wiped out

Park Hwigang bit his lower lip.

‘Honestly, I lean toward the moderates too…’

The moderate faction had valid concerns.

After the Great Collapse, the Demon World had become even more dangerous—possibly more so than when the Ten Thrones ruled it. The AAU had classified it in Arcana terms as “Unregulated Content.”

In simpler words:

‘Not just the difficulty, but even boss fight mechanics could be all over the place.’

No matter how much the Holy War Alliance had grown, rushing in recklessly was dangerous. That was Park Hwigang’s thinking, but…

‘Still, just sitting around isn’t going to change anything either.’

As he said, the hardliners weren’t completely wrong.

The current chaos might actually be the best chance to rip out the rotten roots of the Demon World.

It was a spicy, divisive issue—just the kind of thing viewers loved. Park Hwigang lowered his head.

“Everyone, the stream ends here for today.”

For those who were ready to clip and spread whatever the top-ranked NetTuber-player Park Hwigang had to say, this was a thunderbolt from the blue.

“I’m not accepting donations today either.”

-So what’s your opinion then, Hwigang!!

-Coward rage quit

-Then why’d you even go live?

Leaving the raging chat behind, Park Hwigang fell deep into thought.

‘…Maybe.’

Maybe this kind of conflict wasn’t new.

After all, the Holy War Alliance was always an anomaly organization—its very scale defied common sense.

‘It started with Taemin and Hisagi, the legendary rivals…’

It was impossible for there to be no rivalries among an alliance filled with top-ranking players. The conflict had just remained under the surface until now.

Park Hwigang clenched his lips.

“It’s all been quiet thanks to Mr. Hoyeol…”

But now that Hoyeol had stepped down as the Alliance’s Supreme Commander and set out to conquer the Arcana Chronicle’s final content…

The issues that had been suppressed were erupting.

Someone might say, Well, better now than later.

Isn’t that what they always say—Better to take the first blow?

‘I get it. But still…’

Park Hwigang muttered under his breath.

“…Something feels different this time.”

As a non-Transcendent, Park Hwigang hadn’t witnessed the spacetime duel between Hoyeol and the Weapon Master.

But through the footage—and the reactions of those who’d watched it live—he could sense something.

If they couldn’t catch up again this time…

“It really feels like… he won’t come back.”

Shake shake.

“No. That’s just a lack of faith, Park Hwigang.”

The Messiah of the Church of Hoyeol will return.

Park Hwigang shook his head as if to clear his thoughts.

But the gloom surrounding him didn’t lift so easily.

“What kind of fool thinks such ominous thoughts…”

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