707

 [Chapter 181]

[Daddy Long Legs]

Before the regression, somewhere in Gwangmyeong City.

22-year-old Noh Eunha was building up his reputation by making considerable achievements in the Seoul invasion.

However, no clans approached him as he was evaluated as uncontrollable.

Even if there were, they were only low-quality clans, so Eunha lived a day-to-day life with Lee Yujung.

"─I'm tired of the highway now. Time doesn't pass and if I stay there, I feel like I'll become like those people someday."

"I'm fine with it."

"I'm not okay. How many times have you fought with those people just this week? Didn't I tell you to just endure it?"

"They started the trouble first."

"Tsk!"

"?"

"Eunha, when did I teach you to be like that? Are you going to keep not listening?"

"Huh, what's with you... Calling yourself noona when your birthday is later than mine."

"My mental age is much higher than yours, you know? So you should call me noona."

"Yeah, good for you being old. At the end, even you bet on me..."

"So? Are you going to keep doing the highway? I'm thinking of looking for other work now. Do you want to keep doing this alone?"

"..."

By that time, Yujung had become quite adept at handling Eunha.

Moreover, Eunha's personality had softened somewhat and he would listen to what Yujung said.

It was the same then.

Eunha had no choice but to fall for Yujung who seemed to be testing him.

"..."

"Hm? What? I can't hear you well!"

"So what kind of work are you going to do?"

"Well... The pay probably won't be as good as the highway work, but there should be a lot of jobs if we look. They say the probability of anomalies occurring nationwide has increased since the Seoul invasion two years ago. Wherever we go, there should be work."

"So you don't have any thoughts in the end."

"Still, it would be a hundred, thousand times better than staying here now, right? Come on, Player Noh Eunha!"

"?"

"Do you want to keep partying with me? Or not?"

Yujung giggled.

Eunha made a blank face.

The answer was already decided.

However, he didn't want to admit it at that time.

So he changed the subject.

"So where are we going?"

"Hmm... Shall we go to Seongnam, which is closest from here, and think about it?"

"Then I'll go to Seongnam too."

"Sigh... You could just say you want to party together, do you have to say it like that?"

"What did I do."

"Okay, noona will let it slide. Let's go, go."

That was the story before the Fog Flower Party was established.

However, the two met various people and continued connections, laying the foundation for the Fog Flower Party.

And the event that decisively created the Fog Flower Party occurred in Seongnam City where the two had left for.

"─This is... Where did all these guys come from?"

"Prepare for battle. They're coming towards us now."

"I'll cast buffs. Be careful."

"There are a lot of them. Don't worry about me and focus on yourself first."

The effects of the Seoul invasion were still ongoing even after 2 years.

There were monsters like the 3rd tier overrank Lizard King that escaped from Seoul while avoiding pursuit by players.

Although the Lizard King was subjugated.

The remnants of its forces or other corps commanders' remnant forces were still alive.

Some of them had hidden in Seongnam City, and happened to rise up just when the two arrived.

""..."

Seongnam City was engulfed in flames.

The monsters tried to sacrifice Seongnam City to cause another Seoul invasion.

Fortunately, the calamity was quickly ended.

While people's screams were constantly spreading and the city was engulfed in flames─.

──!!!

A white pillar shot up.

Magic that annihilated the existence of 4th tier monsters in an instant.

It was the gift <White Silver>.

At that time, Eunha who was close to where the flash of light shot up immediately ran there.

""..."

There wasn't a single monster there.

Collapsed building debris.

Deeply dug ground.

In the pit that was presumably where <White Silver> had activated, there was only one girl.

"Help... me..."

The girl was crying.

Disregarding her hair dyed silver and white, she desperately asked for help.

Only then did Eunha realize.

That the girl was embracing a woman who had presumably protected her.

"Please, save my mom."

The girl called out desperately.

Eventually, Eunha went down into the pit as if drawn by something.

""..."

Noh Eunha, 22 years old.

Ha Baekryeon, 10 years old.

That was their first meeting.

☆

The year changed to the 16th year of the Fairy Era.

21-year-old Eunha recalled what he had to do this year.

Even if the future might have changed... I still need to keep it in mind.

The 16th year of the Fairy Era could be called a generally peaceful year.

Although there was a dungeon exploration boom and occasional conflicts between clans, there were no events that would shake the world.

The problem was next year, the 17th year of the Fairy Era.

Just when people seemed to be waking up from the nightmare of the Seoul invasion, incidents would occur one after another.

<Myeongwang > Sindorim's terror attack in Yeongdeungpo-gu.

And the monster wave in Seongnam City.

These two calamities would once again pierce holes in people's hearts.

As it would be a big blow to the Fairy government, Eunha had to keep it in mind.

Still, it's quite ambiguous. I can't be sure if it will happen in this life or not.

I don't know how to deal with <Myeongwang > either...

Thinking about <Myeongwang > Sindorim's terror attack, he also had to recall the circumstances of Mana Religion.

However, unlike the previous life, the variable in this life was that <Saint of the Order> Iriya didn't martyr herself.

Moreover, she led believers to found something called Eunha Religion or Eunha Sect, greatly weakening Mana Religion's power.

In such a situation, it was very ambiguous whether Mana Religion's believers would cause terror with <Myeongwang > Sindorim.

There's no answer even if I think about this. Unless I infiltrate Mana Religion to check if Sindorim is there...

Eunha decided to put it off for now.

He moved on to the next problem.

The monster wave in Seongnam City.

Those who survived the Seoul invasion had secretly hidden in Seongnam City and been increasing their forces...

I wonder if those guys will be there in this life too.

This situation was different from before the regression as well.

Last year's Seoul invasion was wrapped up too cleanly.

Before Eunha led reinforcements back to Gangbuk with the Fairy, they had subjugated all but the corps commander Caesar Hopper.

As a result, unlike in the previous life, there was no time for Yekyung to prepare forces to oppose the returning players, and the Lizard King didn't escape to Gwacheon.

Before the regression, the only one the Gangbuk players took down before the Fairy returned was Freak Sphinx.

But in this life, they took down three, no, four including the two Great Toad Chiefs.

I'm not sure about the damage trends, but anyway, it should be clearly different from before the regression.

The probability of anomalies occurring nationwide increased due to the influence of the Seoul invasion.

Nevertheless, it was unlikely that the monster wave incident would occur in Seongnam City like in the previous life.

So in a way, it was fortunate for the people living in Seongnam City.

Not for Eunha though.

Because─.

─The event that allowed me to meet Baekryeon was the monster wave that broke out in Seongnam City...

This way, the event where I meet Baekryeon disappears.

Eunha met Ha Baekryeon then.

Moreover, the Seongnam City monster wave was the beginning that revealed the fact that she awakened the <White Silver> gift and a second Fairy appeared in the world.

But in this life, that event won't happen.

It's good for Baekryeon though.

If it weren't for that incident, she wouldn't have lost her mother.

At that time, the reason Ha Baekryeon awakened was related to her mother who died protecting her from monsters.

For Ha Baekryeon, the Seongnam City monster wave was a terrible trauma.

So Eunha thought it was fortunate that she wouldn't experience such a thing in this life.

"Ugh..."

It's fortunate.

It's fortunate, but the event itself where he would meet Ha Baekryeon disappeared.

Eunha had mixed feelings.

But he couldn't just not meet Ha Baekryeon like this.

It's unfortunate for Baekryeon... But it's only a matter of time before it's revealed that she has the <White Silver> gift.

4th grade of elementary school.

The Fairy government mandatorily educated elementary school students from that time to handle mana to protect themselves.

In the end, when that time comes, Ha Baekryeon will have no choice but to manifest her mana, and she'll be caught right away.

If that happens, the situation that would unfold for her afterwards was obvious.

She would grow up under the protection of the Fairy government.

She would be in the same situation as in the previous life.

So unfortunately, he couldn't leave her alone to live her own life.

Since she would be discovered sooner or later anyway.

He had to take the initiative to protect Ha Baekryeon before she was discovered.

As far as I remember, Baekryeon's mother has no connection to the political or business world.

The world that will be obsessed with the idea of raising a Fairy will take Baekryeon away from that person without hesitation.

So I have to protect her.

This year's top priority.

Eunha decided to find Ha Baekryeon and protect her himself.

It meant he would meet her 1 year earlier than in the previous life.

I wanted to protect her as early as possible, but it turned out like this. It can't be helped. According to Baekryeon, she lived without a fixed residence before entering elementary school...

Ha Baekryeon spent her life wandering around the country with her mother before becoming an elementary school student.

As a result, Eunha had difficulty finding her whereabouts in this life.

Of course, it wouldn't be too difficult to find her if he asked Isipo. Even so, he would have had a hard time focusing on it while gathering promising talents at the Academy.

If I approached Baekryeon recklessly, I might have caught the eyes of those in power...

"─Now it's about time to go meet her."

So now.

I'm going to meet Ha Baekryeon.

Eunha could barely contain his excitement.

☆

And so, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi-do.

Eunha found the elementary school where Ha Baekryeon was said to be attending.

"Papa, pupu?"

"Don't look at me like that."

"Pupu."

There's a difference in dismissal times between lower and upper grades.

When Eunha arrived at the elementary school, it was time for the lower grades to be dismissed.

Eunha was quietly watching the students coming out of the elementary school while hiding his body in a nearby building.

It might have looked strange to Buldak's eyes.

Buldak looked up at Eunha with suspicious eyes.

"I'm doing something important now."

"Bipu bi."

Saying he doesn't understand.

What important thing is watching elementary school students.

Buldak scolded with his wings.

Eunha smiled bitterly.

Even though they communicate emotions through the pass, how could Buldak understand his feelings?

"She's an important person to me. The kid is nice too, so you'll like her too."

"Papu bi."

Buldak shook his head.

He seemed to have given up on something.

Eunha turned his head away from Buldak and looked at the elementary school students again.

According to Isipo, Baekryeon always comes out through the main gate when leaving school.

If I wait, Ha Baekryeon will come out.

Eunha could be certain recalling Isipo's report.

""""..."

"But why is everyone looking at me?"

"Papu bi."

Meanwhile, Eunha felt many gazes directed at him.

They were gazes from parents who came to pick up their lower grade elementary school children.

As soon as they saw Eunha's eyes, they immediately avoided him with their children, or whispered something among themselves while looking at him.

Eunha tilted his head and.

Buldak flapped his wings and disappeared somewhere.

I don't know.

It's not like I committed a crime or anything.

Although people's gazes bothered him.

Eunha decided not to think much of it.

Then he focused his attention on watching the elementary school students.

Come to think of it, it's a problem... At this time, Baekryeon wouldn't have awakened <White Silver> so her hair would be black...

Soon Eunha encountered a problem.

It was because of Ha Baekryeon's appearance.

He had simply thought he could find a child with snow-white hair among the elementary school students, but thinking about it, Ha Baekryeon's hair would still be black.

"I should have asked Isipo for a photo too... I stupidly forgot that."

Eunha frowned.

He thought it might be better to go back and prepare a photo.

But it was Seongnam City, Gyeonggi-do.

It was so far away that he felt conscious of the clan members' eyes if he went back and forth several times.

Right at that moment─.

"─Ah."

Eunha's eyes widened.

Unlike what he had been worrying about.

Eunha found Ha Baekryeon.

It's Baekryeon, no doubt.

Although her hair was black.

He could tell by looking at her face.

There were many youthful aspects, but it was similar to when Eunha first met her in his previous life.

Above all, his intuition was telling him.

That child is Ha Baekryeon.

She's going home alone as Isipo said.

Her mother is working at the store, was it...

Hair tied in two braids.

Like wings or a tail.

Ha Baekryeon was coming down the stairs shaking her hair.

To Eunha, that sight looked just like a butterfly fluttering its wings.

She's cute.

She grew up well.

I can tell just by looking at her face.

That Ha Baekryeon grew up loved.

Her face was very different from Ha Baekryeon's face when he met her after she lost her mother in the previous life.

An innocent, pure, cheerful face.

Eunha's mouth corners rose involuntarily.

"Wow, pretty."

Soon when she smiled brightly seeing flowers blooming by the roadside.

Eunha was approaching her then, emotions preceding reason.

His reason was paralyzed by being immersed in memories and.

It could be said that emotions came first as he was immersed in joy.

And so─.

"─Huh?"

"...Hello."

Eunha stood in front of Ha Baekryeon.

She who had been looking at flowers for a while turned her back at the sudden shadow cast.

She who probably thought it was a friend her age and turned her head flinched when she saw the long legs that entered her eyes.

Then slowly raising her head, Ha Baekryeon realized that the person who approached her was an adult over 180 cm tall.

Their eyes met and.

Eunha carefully greeted her while she was surprised.

And only then did he realize he had made a mistake.

 Damn, I was only thinking about going to meet Baekryeon, but I didn't think about how to approach her.

How foolish and stupid.

It was because his heart was too far ahead.

He mistakenly thought that Ha Baekryeon would know him just as he knew her.

Eunha was flustered facing her.

How, in what way.

Could he break down Ha Baekryeon's wariness and gain her favor?

In a short few seconds.

Eunha quickly racked his brain and spoke whatever came to mind.

"─Aren't you hungry? Don't you want to go eat hamburgers with me? You liked cheeseburgers and seasoned fries, right?"

"..."

"..."

Ha Baekryeon flinched again.

Eunha regretted it after speaking.

He frantically racked his brain and recalled that Ha Baekryeon liked hamburgers, but it seemed to have raised her wariness instead.

Huh? Is that not it?

Soon Eunha questioned himself inwardly.

Although Ha Baekryeon was wary, she did show some reaction.

The cheeseburger worked.

Eunha, who prided himself on knowing Ha Baekryeon well, could detect signs that she was conflicted.

He spoke one more word.

"...I'll buy you a shake too."

"...!"

Ha Baekryeon showed a reaction again.

She was tempted by Eunha's offer, moving her twin braids.

"Ah!"

"?"

But that was only for a moment.

Ha Baekryeon who was about to be tempted by Eunha's offer suddenly came to her senses.

She hurriedly stepped back.

Then she put her hand into her clothes and pulled out some whistle.

Did she carry something like that around?

Eunha was just bewildered.

And he only thought Baekryeon was cute, not thinking in any other direction.

As a result─.

─Piiiiiiiiiiiii!!

He made the mistake of letting Ha Baekryeon blow the whistle loudly.

The sudden whistle sound.

Eunha was greatly flustered.

He couldn't understand why Ha Baekryeon suddenly blew the whistle, and the sound was so noisy.

The reason was soon revealed.

Ha Baekryeon took the whistle from her mouth and─.

"─Police─uncle─!!"

"...!!"

Police uncle.

That name had the magic to make even people who hadn't committed crimes run away.

Eunha ran away at full speed.

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