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[Chapter 174]

[Foundation of Reconstruction (7)]

The 3rd tier overrank Yekyung's skill stone.

From the moment he first saw it, Eunha felt a strong attraction.

As expected, the skill stone showed Eunha an intense luminescence.

Eunha was able to become the owner of the skill stone after Ryu Yeonhwa's concession.

It will take time to embody this.

Because the skill stone is so big.

Meanwhile, the skill stone bigger than his head.

Eunha carried it around for two days straight, infusing mana into the skill stone.

Thanks to that, the size of the skill stone had become smaller than before.

"I wonder what providence is contained in it..."

The skill stone now shrunk to the size of a fist.

Eunha fell into thought while infusing mana into the skill stone that was a bit too big to hold in one hand.

There were two possible providences he could anticipate.

Magic that could perform wide-area bombardment.

And magic that could perform jamming.

I hope it's jamming...

Although wide-area bombardment magic was tempting too, he wouldn't have much use for it given his lack of internal mana.

So he hoped for jamming magic.

It would be less taxing on mana and have a very wide range of use.

Whatever it is, hurry up and absorb.

Then I'll use it well on my own.

He obtained an Eulji grade artifact and requested Byeok Haesu to craft an artifact.

He also obtained one of Yekyung's skill stones.

Eunha was just feeling good.

In the meantime─.

"─According to discussions with Mana Management Organization officials this time, we've concluded that what the Pandora Clan Lord said earlier is worth trying."

Lim Gaeul called another meeting.

The topic of the meeting was about the operation to bring the cocoon in Uijeongbu.

☆

"According to the Intelligence Bureau, Special Operations Bureau, and Surveillance Bureau, the Uijeongbu Arts Center remains intact."

Lim Gaeul explained and.

The director of the Intelligence Bureau showed photos.

Uijeongbu seen from the air.

Although the image quality wasn't good, it was generally visible.

The center is hollowed out.

Ah, it must be because of Seoyoung noona.

Eunha could see a huge crater formed in the center of Uijeongbu in the photo.

According to the Intelligence Bureau director, it was the aftermath of Shin Seoyoung activating her gift <Miracle > in the previous Uijeongbu Recapture Battle.

"Except for about a 500m radius centered on where Uijeongbu Station was located, fortunately, the shape of the city seems to remain."

Lim Gaeul instructed to flip through the photos.

Soon the photos flipped through quickly, showing the current state of Uijeongbu.

The area near Uijeongbu Station was desolate enough to be called a ghost town.

Then the slides stopped.

Compared to the photos that had just passed, there was a photo of a building that maintained an almost intact state.

It was the Uijeongbu Arts Center.

"This is a photo taken by players who infiltrated Uijeongbu 3 months ago. Although the building in the photo looks small, you can see the condition of the Arts Center well, right? We won't know unless we go inside to check directly, but experts say there's a high probability the cocoon is intact."

""""...."""

"They say people who participated in the recapture battle at that time cast protection magic around the cocoon and also placed concealment magic. And according to information from 3 months ago, it seems monsters strangely don't try to go near the Arts Center."

""""...."""

"It seems high-tier monsters respect each other's territories and keep their distance from Uijeongbu, what do you think?"

Isn't it worth trying?

Lim Gaeul asked with that kind of nuance.

Those who anticipated the unspoken words she didn't say all remained silent.

It was understandable.

If they agreed with her opinion, it was obvious they would be tasked with entering Uijeongbu occupied by monsters to retrieve the cocoon.

Even though there are said to be fewer monsters in Uijeongbu compared to before...

We have to consider the monster forces coming down from Yangju, be wary of high-tier monsters existing in Uijeongbu, and there may be unconfirmed high-tier monsters.

So it's unavoidable that the clan lords are reluctant.

Eunha understood their feelings.

Most of them were people who had experience participating in the Uijeongbu Recapture Battle.

For those who had experienced hell in Uijeongbu, even the word Uijeongbu brought back trauma.

It wasn't just them who had trauma.

Due to the failure of the 1st Uijeongbu Recapture Battle, Korean people came to fear Uijeongbu.

"So I think it would be better to send in a small number of people to investigate the condition of the cocoon in the Uijeongbu Arts Center, and if the condition is good, bring it to Gangbuk."

Is there anyone willing to go to Uijeongbu?

Perhaps that's why Lim Gaeul brought it up indirectly.

The clan lords avoided eye contact.

The silence grew longer.

Eventually, she opened her mouth as if she had no choice.

"─Pandora Clan Lord."

"Yes, Fairy Lady."

"Since it was the Pandora Clan Lord who suggested this idea, if it's alright, how about the Pandora Clan Lord goes to Uijeongbu once?"

She called Eunha.

Her tone was gentle, and the content seemed to give Eunha a choice, but.

The meaning behind her words was different.

Eunha couldn't not know that.

Since I brought it up, I must participate in the operation.

If he refused here, people would probably show an even more negative attitude.

Eunha's action was predetermined.

That was his intention from the beginning.

"I will follow the Fairy Lady's words. In return, I would be grateful if you could send a few of our clan members and the Twelve Seats along."

""""...!!""""

Uijeongbu is dangerous.

Even the Pandora Clan Lord wouldn't risk his life.

Most people who thought that way turned their heads at his words.

Pandora Clan Lord, are you crazy?

Pandora Clan Lord, think carefully.

This is... no.

Regulus, Shilla, Myeongwang Clan Lords.

The three shook their heads, avoiding Lim Gaeul's gaze.

Other clan lords also tried to dissuade him.

"I will do it."

Nevertheless, they couldn't break Eunha's will.

The clan lords sighed softly seeing Eunha's stubbornness.

On the other hand, Lim Gaeul nodded willingly at Eunha's answer.

"Yes, then I'll entrust it to the Pandora Clan Lord. I'd like you to come to the designated place with your clan members in two days. I'll send the detailed schedule to the Pandora Clan as soon as the meeting ends."

"Fairy Lady, what about support troops?"

"As for support troops... I'll send one Maestro to check the cocoon's condition and Twelve Seats Priscis Memory. And also..."

<Time Witch> who had been sitting in the Twelve Seats' seat with her mouth shut until now.

She brushed back her flowing blonde hair and gave Eunha a bright smile.

Meanwhile, Lim Gaeul turned her gaze to the other Twelve Seats.

Then suddenly─.

─Chak!!

A sound full of spirit rang out.

Just by Kang Hyeonchul raising his hand, such a sound suddenly occurred.

People's gazes turned to him.

"Ahem... Ahem! Ahem! Ahem ahem!"

""""...."""

Perhaps thinking of his position as one of the Twelve Seats, Kang Hyeonchul cleared his throat while appealing to himself.

His eyes were sparkling.

People clicked their tongues.

"Hmm..."

Lim Gaeul's gaze stopped.

Kang Hyeonchul nodded his head vigorously.

Then she quickly turned her gaze and spoke to <Thunder Emperor> sitting next to him.

"Lee Dojin player. Along with the Pandora Clan Lord..."

"Yes, I under..."

"I'll go!!"

""""...."""

While Lee Dojin was trying to answer.

Kang Hyeonchul, who couldn't hold back anymore, suddenly stood up.

"Send me and my clan members! We'll go to Uijeongbu and bring back the cocoon!"

The administrator attending as a proxy for the Blaze Clan from afar was tapping his chest.

Regardless, Kang Hyeonchul continued to ask to be chosen.

"Haah..."

Lim Gaeul sighed openly.

There was no reason not to send Kang Hyeonchul when he was so eager to go himself.

Eventually, she had to resign herself.

"Alright, Kang Hyeonchul player. Then please help the Pandora Clan Lord bring back the cocoon from Uijeongbu. Know that this operation will be the most important foundation for rebuilding Gangbuk."

"Yes!!"

The dignity of the Twelve Seats couldn't be found.

Kang Hyeonchul rejoiced frivolously.

"That guy really..."

<Holy Mother> Park Hyerim gritted her teeth and.

People sighed.

And Eunha, who ended up going to Uijeongbu with <Yama > out of the blue─.

"─Should I just ask to be removed."

Anticipating what would happen in the future.

Eunha drooped his shoulders.

That guy is definitely a nemesis.

The thought of spending several days with Kang Hyeonchul in Uijeongbu was just horrifying.

☆

After finishing the meeting that day.

Eunha sent Jeong Hayang and Noh Euna away, and chased after the old man walking down the corridor.

"Teacher Baek Seojin."

"Who's your teacher? When did I ever accept you as a disciple?"

"Well, since you taught me swordsmanship, of course I should call you teacher."

"You brat, really..."

<King of Darkness> Baek Seojin.

Eunha stopped him.

Baek Seojin, who had turned his back, smiled at Eunha.

"So, Pandora Clan Lord. Why did you call me?"

In the corridor heading to the Surveillance Bureau.

He, who was also the Minister of the Mana Management Organization, asked Eunha.

"There's something I want to ask."

"Alright, ask. I'll answer if I know."

Actually, since becoming a player and meeting Baek Seojin again.

Eunha had been looking for an opportunity.

But recently there were various incidents, and he forgot to ask when he actually had the chance, missing the timing to ask.

And in a few days, he would leave for Uijeongbu and not be able to meet Baek Seojin for a while.

That was the reason Eunha deliberately chased after him today and spoke to him.

There aren't many chances to meet Teacher Baek Seojin.

It will be even harder to see him if I return my quasi-Twelve Seats qualification.

So I have to ask before that.

It was something he wanted to ask since last year.

It was a curiosity that arose from then.

Eunha opened his mouth.

"─You know the player called <Necromancer > Ban Ikhyeon, right Teacher?"

"...How do you know about that?"

"When I was attending the Academy, I asked <Sword Empress>."

"<Sword Empress>... I see, so Jinhee told you."

<Necromancer > Ban Ikhyeon.

A player called a living legend.

But a player erased from history for using an unacknowledged power to control the dead.

Last year, Eunha, who faced Armageddon, the leader of the demons, through <Madam > Bebe's body, had been thinking continuously.

He had been seeking answers continuously.

What kind of person was this <Necromancer >?

And─.

─Does Baek Seojin know that <Necromancer > didn't actually die but transformed into a mein and became Armageddon?

That was the question he most wanted to ask.

Eunha looked straight at Baek Seojin without taking his eyes off him.

"<Necromancer >... It's an alias I haven't heard in a long time."

"..."

"But the alias <Necromancer > is an incomplete alias to refer to that guy. Jinhee, she probably wanted to lower that guy's true value somehow, but if you want to fully understand Ban Ikhyeon, you should use a different alias."

"<Magic King>?"

"Yes, <Magic King>. That guy didn't simply research magic to control the dead."

There were only two people in the corridor.

Nevertheless, Baek Seojin looked around and told Eunha.

"The essence of that guy lies in exploring ma (魔). Necromancy was just a byproduct to him."

"What does it mean to explore ma? I don't quite understand..."

"Simply put, it's exploring mana. Furthermore, it's exploring beings and worlds made of mana."

"...Why is that taboo?"

"Did Hwang Jinhee say that?"

"...Yes."

"With Jinhee's personality, that could be the case. If you simply think the essence of ma is that guy Ikhyeon's necromancy. Exploring ma isn't bad. Couldn't you say what you learned at the Academy is also exploring ma?"

Baek Seojin laughed.

Eunha mulled over what he was saying in his head.

Eunha, who had heard from <Sword Empress> Hwang Jinhee, thought that exploring ma itself was simply learning mana studies that humans shouldn't do.

But Baek Seojin firmly answered that it wasn't.

Nevertheless, Eunha had an unresolved question.

"Then what did <Magic King> research in the past that made him use things like necromancy? You said earlier that was just a byproduct, right?"

What did <Magic King> essentially research?

What did he research so diligently that he kept using necromancy that made people frown?

And Eunha guessed that it was related to <Magic King> transforming into Armageddon.

To this, Baek Seojin answered in one word.

"─The soul."

"What?"

"You could say what Ikhyeon researched was the human soul. Specifically, he tried to find out how the soul acts on the world. Things like necromancy are just byproducts he learned in the process of researching the soul."

"Soul... Does that really exist?"

"Well. Some people believe it exists, some don't, so that's up to each person."

The concept of soul was still an unexplained area in mana studies.

Mental body, soul, and so on.

Not much had been revealed.

That's why the positions of people researching mana studies were divided.

Some said the soul exists.

Some said it's not a soul but just a thought.

In Eunha's case, he was neutral.

"But from Ikhyeon's perspective, he had no choice but to cling to the concept of soul. He had a lot of internal mana but his heart wasn't good, so his body wasn't in good condition."

"..."

"So he thought if he researched the soul, he might be able to reconstruct the body. And the research seemed to be making progress as he started to get healthier. But the problem was..."

"What was the problem?"

Baek Seojin trailed off.

Should I say it or not.

He seemed lost in thought.

Soon, Baek Seojin opened his mouth to Eunha's question.

"Ikhyeon embodied and manifested myth. As he manifested myth, his body couldn't withstand the weight of the myth and began to face demise."

"Myth?"

"It's complicated to explain... Just know that such a realm exists. There's no need to know now anyway. Just think that he faced a crisis of slowly dying, consumed by his own magic."

"..."

"In that situation, Ikhyeon had no choice but to become more obsessed with researching the soul. But in the end, he couldn't avoid death and died."

Baek Seojin's eyes sank.

As if lost in old memories, he remained silent for a while.

"...It seems I've said all I have to say, so I'll be going now."

Saying he had nothing more to say.

Baek Seojin turned his back.

"Teacher."

"What now."

At that moment, Eunha called him again.

Baek Seojin responded in an irritated tone.

To this, Eunha─.

"─What would you think if that person didn't actually die but came back to life as a mein?"

"Mein?"

At the word mein.

A chill ran through Baek Seojin's eyes.

☆

"Mein was the solution Ikhyeon reached after his research. It referred to not only reconstructing the body but also a being that had advanced beyond human."

The dark connection is needed from now on.

<Madam > Bebe was a person of darkness.

The fact that Armageddon knew her means he must have deeply infiltrated the darkness without Baek Seojin knowing.

So Eunha told him about the incident that happened last year.

"So that guy didn't die, but completed his research and came back to life as a mein..."

After hearing Eunha's story.

At first, Baek Seojin showed displeasure, telling him not to joke around, but then showed an accepting attitude.

Furthermore, he expressed displeasure at the story of Ban Ikhyeon coming back to life and infiltrating the darkness he had created.

"Listening to what you say, Eunha, we can't easily rule out the possibility that meins have infiltrated the darkness."

"Yes, so I was hoping you could crack down on the darkness side, Teacher."

"It's originally my jurisdiction. I'll do that even if you don't ask. By the way, something happened in the darkness that I don't know about..."

I must be getting old.

Baek Seojin muttered quietly.

On the other hand, his face was frozen cold.

He was quite displeased.

He showed cold anger.

"Thank you for letting me know. I'll investigate thoroughly as soon as I get back."

"Yes, please do."

Eunha sent Baek Seojin on his way.

Then he stood rooted to the spot for a long time.

"Darkness that Teacher doesn't know about..."

Is that really possible?

Eunha found it hard to believe.

It could be thought that Armageddon's skills were that great.

At the same time─.

─Maybe as Teacher Baek Seojin said, he's gotten old and his skills aren't what they used to be.

Maybe Baek Seojin's power has weakened.

So maybe that's why the power of darkness passed from his hands to <Abyss > Seon Wuharyeong and Han Changjin in his previous life.

Eunha couldn't shake off such thoughts.

"Unlike what I thought... Teacher Baek Seojin couldn't properly control the darkness."

There are many gaps in the darkness.

Then he has no choice but to fill those gaps himself.

Eunha made up his mind.

☆

That night.

Two shadows visited the mortuary where players who died in this recent calamity were laid to rest.

Security was meaningless to them.

"Kkeul kkeul."

An old man wearing sunglasses even at night.

When the old man tapped the floor with his cane, space cracked open.

Soon, the old man and a sharp-looking man entered the cracked space.

"It should be somewhere around here."

"Is that so."

Countless coffins were neatly arranged on the floor.

The man who stepped forward searched for something, passing between the coffins here and there.

After a while─.

"─Here it is, On Taeyeong."

"Open it."

The man stopped in front of the coffin he had been looking for.

The old man approached the coffin the man had found, tapping the floor with his cane.

"Hooh..."

The man opened the coffin.

Inside the coffin was a male corpse wrapped in white cloth.

Only the face is visible.

A corpse with closed eyes and a pale face.

The old man confirmed the face of the man he had been looking for and split his mouth into a grin.

"Let's see."

The old man placed his hand over the corpse's chest area.

He checked the condition of the corpse by flowing mana.

It didn't take long.

The old man lightly clicked his tongue.

"There's a knife wound in the heart. Tsk, this will make restoration work difficult. I wonder if the heart will be fine even after restoration."

"But except for the heart, the rest seems fine."

"Hmm... I'll have to take it back to research and try restoration."

The old man snapped his fingers.

Space cracked open again.

The man sighed softly, saying he's always given all the work.

Nevertheless, he lifted the corpse and walked into the cracked space.

Soon, the man poked his head out from the space.

"If we leave the coffin empty like this, we'll be caught. What do you plan to do?"

"I found a suitable body last time. We'll put that in instead, and touch up the face a bit. Kkeul kkeul."

The old man snapped his fingers again.

A corpse appeared in the coffin.

The old man used magic to make the corpse's face look like the face of the corpse that had been in there earlier.

"Anyway, when it goes into the fire and turns to ashes, it'll all be the same, what does it matter? There's no way we'll be caught, hmm. Kkeul kkeul."

A body that gives the confidence to perfectly embody myth.

The old man, Armageddon, was greatly pleased.

"The most appealing is that Noh Eunha child's body, but it can't be helped."

"That guy has already accumulated some myth, so troublesome processes won't be needed."

"That's right. It's a shame, really a shame."

"Compared to that, this On Taeyeong guy's body hasn't accumulated any achievements, so we'll have to start from scratch."

"We'll have to newly construct the process connecting Mana Church, Mana God, and me. Even if we take this child's body, it's meaningless to just take the body."

Mana Church = Mana God = Armageddon.

The work of adding one more process '= On Taeyeong' to this.

It will take a long time.

That's what the foundation of reconstruction is.

The foundation for himself to become a god.

Nevertheless, Armageddon couldn't help the smile on his face.