889

 [Chapter 221]

[From the Lowest Place (4)]

Crimes are forgiven through merits.

A bad law hastily enacted in the era of monarchs, allowing those who could achieve merits to be forgiven for any crimes they committed.

That law was almost buried and forgotten when the era of monarchs ended, but it still lingered on even after the Fairy government was established.

It was kept just in case.

"To repay your father's crimes with the merits you've accumulated so far..."

Even a bad law is a law.

In this society, that saying is misattributed to Socrates, but the truth of its origin wasn't important.

Im Ga-eul and high-ranking officials also held the belief that even a bad law is a law.

That's why she as the Fairy, <Index > as the manager of the Player Library, and others had dedicated themselves to the country.

Originally, laws have no emotions.

Depending on how they're used, they can become good laws or bad laws.

It's not that people are above the law, but that people are above the law.

In the end, how to use that law was up to the person executing it.

That was the reason why laws hastily made in the era of monarchs still existed.

"You must have been very desperate. To say you'd give up everything you have to protect your father... Even saying you'd step down as Pandora Clan Lord? Does that mean you'd leave the clan?"

"...If the Fairy wishes, I'll do so."

There were too many people who had committed crimes.

If they were all made to pay for their crimes, society and the economy would be paralyzed.

So Im Ga-eul was hesitating on how to deal with them.

Of course, she was considering forgiving crimes through merits.

The problem was that there were crimes that couldn't be forgiven through merits.

It was a situation that absolutely shouldn't be approached lightly.

That's why she was holding off.

"You're really offering your neck, aren't you?"

"Yes."

Im Ga-eul recalled how heavy the crimes Noh Eun-ha's father had committed were.

It's not a crime that can't be forgiven.

If his crimes were offset by Noh Eun-ha's merits, there was nothing that couldn't be forgiven.

The problem is─

"─You're saying this knowing it might be Baek Seo-jin's aim?"

That it might be what Baek Seo-jin is aiming for.

Noh Eun-ha gave up everything.

Having stepped down from the fame of <Lord >, the position of Twelve Seat, and Pandora Clan Lord, he becomes an ordinary player.

He won't be able to participate in operation commands and might not even get proper information for the subjugation of Baek Seo-jin.

In the worst case, Noh Eun-ha might be put under house arrest and unable to participate in the subjugation.

That's why Im Ga-eul asked in a warning tone.

To this, he answered.

"Yes, I know."

"And yet..."

"I can't turn a blind eye when my father is being attacked right in front of me. The reason I've come this far is all... to protect my people too."

A face that showed no lingering attachment.

Im Ga-eul saw such a face on Eun-ha for the first time.

She sighed.

"Alright, fine. I'll forgive your father's crimes with your merits."

In the end, Im Ga-eul made a decision.

Her words took precedence over those of the Chief Justice.

That was the authority of the Fairy.

She spoke in a solemn tone, as if passing sentence.

Then─

"─However."

Im Ga-eul continued.

Her two eyes were fixed squarely on Noh Eun-ha.

Her voice rang out clearly.

"Giving up all merits and trying to run away can never be an example to the citizens, and cannot be seen as sincere repentance."

"..."

"From now on, I order you to dedicate your life to the country to protect this nation and its citizens."

Eun-ha's eyes widened.

A question appeared on his face.

Im Ga-eul knew this but didn't give Eun-ha a chance to speak.

"Therefore─"

Im Ga-eul took a breath.

She emphasized each syllable as she spoke.

"─From this moment, by the Fairy's order, I appoint player Noh Eun-ha as the leader of the 4th generation Twelve Seats."

"...!!"

"Twelve Seat leader Noh Eun-ha is to organize the 4th generation Twelve Seats as soon as possible and take responsibility for successfully subjugating Baek Seo-jin and the Slayers. That's my answer."

The dissolution of the 3rd generation Twelve Seats.

With <Yama > and <Thunder God> dead, and <Holy Mother> unable to function, it was unavoidable.

Im Ga-eul was thinking of organizing the 4th generation Twelve Seats.

Of course, making Noh Eun-ha the leader was extremely impromptu.

But there would be no opposition.

The times were what they were.

And people would want it.

Even if <Lord > Noh Eun-ha was embroiled in controversy, they would think there was no one more suitable.

That's why Im Ga-eul appointed Eun-ha as the leader.

"Remember that the way to atone for your crimes is to always approach with the mindset of being in the lowest place while in the highest position, dedicating yourself, serving, and working for people from the lowest place."

Im Ga-eul smiled gently.

Eun-ha couldn't say anything.

Then he bowed his head deeply again and answered in a heartfelt tone.

"Thank you... so much."

☆

That day, Fairy Im Ga-eul appeared in public.

What she announced to the citizens calmed the tumultuous world.

[Many people have committed crimes. But we cannot ignore their contributions to rebuilding this country and to its economy and society after reconstruction. In the disasters that occurred several times since I took office, those people helped us create the world as it is now.]

People in politics and business had committed crimes.

But among them were those who conducted charity work, saving people affected in disaster situations.

Their selfless dedication and support couldn't be ignored completely.

[However, I believe the saying 'Money is innocence, no money is guilt' should not dominate the world. Among them are clearly those who have committed crimes that shouldn't be committed as humans. We cannot forgive them all.]

Hit-and-run, drunk driving, contract killing, etc.

There are clearly those who have lost their human decency.

Im Ga-eul declared she had no intention of forgiving even their crimes.

[Therefore, as the Fairy, I order. We will thoroughly investigate the crimes of those who have committed them and leave them to legal judgment. Crimes that can be forgiven through merits will be forgiven, and for crimes that cannot be forgiven through merits, punishment will be given.]

Her announcement gained agreement from many people.

They knew too.

They were angry but rational.

They weren't unaware that if all criminals were punished, the country couldn't function.

Above all, they were drawn into Im Ga-eul's eloquence, and their attention turned elsewhere.

[Before that.]

""""...."""

[There are beings that must be punished first. We must eliminate Slayer Baek Seo-jin and his subordinate forces. I declare that I will prioritize their elimination in my actions.]

The elimination of Baek Seo-jin and his subordinate forces.

Im Ga-eul concluded that day's announcement by presenting the most urgent topic at the end.

☆

The 3rd generation Twelve Seats were dissolved.

People were excited about Eun-ha becoming the leader of the 4th generation Twelve Seats, but also expressed concern.

"Does this mean they're entrusting the power of players to the Pandora Clan Lord now?"

"But isn't there no one more suitable than the Pandora Clan Lord?"

The existing world was wrong.

With Baek Seo-jin's true identity revealed, people felt skeptical about the fact that the world they had been living in was as twisted as it could be.

People truly wanted a new world.

As a result, they wanted people who could become symbols of a new era to become the 4th generation Twelve Seats.

<Index >, who was the symbol of 1st generation players, had lost his place now.

"Still, there's only <Lord >."

"We can trust Noh Eun-ha."

In that sense, people accepted Noh Eun-ha as the Twelve Seat leader, regardless of his background and crimes.

There was no one more suitable.

And Noh Eun-ha and his father gained some public support by making a public apology to the nation.

People didn't criticize them but applauded them to do well in the future.

"Phew... I bowed my head to the Fairy, and came back wearing a crown on that head. Is this really okay?"

Meanwhile, Eun-ha felt conflicted.

He had sincerely gone to Im Ga-eul to give up all power to save his father.

He was going to say he'd give up everything and step down if he could defeat Baek Seo-jin.

But Im Ga-eul told him not to run away and entrusted him with leading the 4th generation Twelve Seats.

That's not all.

The right to organize the Twelve Seats...

He even gained the authority to organize the Twelve Seats as he wished.

Originally, when the Twelve Seats are dissolved, official documents are sent to various clans instructing them to select candidates.

Then their abilities are verified and the Twelve Seats are fairly selected.

Eun-ha gained the right to select the Twelve Seats as he wished, ignoring that entire process.

Well, it can't be helped.

Given the current situation, there's no opportunity to verify candidates' abilities.

Eun-ha gave a bitter smile.

Even Baek Seo-jin probably didn't expect the situation to flow this way.

That he would now be able to draw out the strongest forces to eliminate them.

Currently confirmed Twelve Seats are me, Jin Pa-rang, Chang-jin hyung, Yu Su-jin, Precise Memory, Uncle Gi-jun, Chae Seon-woo, Kang Ye-sol...

Eight people, is it?

Now I need to select the remaining four.

Two dealer positions, one supporter position, and one navigator position.

Those were the positions that needed to be filled now.

The deliberation didn't take long.

Eun-ha immediately went to the administration office.

"Ah, Clan Lord."

"Shakira noona. Is that person here today too?"

"That person... Yes, she's in the middle of talking with the administrator."

"I see, thanks."

Shakira welcomed Eun-ha.

Eun-ha was guided by Shakira and went to Han Seo-hyeon's office.

In the office, besides Han Seo-hyeon, two people were sitting on the sofa.

The three were in the middle of drinking coffee.

"You came?"

"Oh my, hello. Clan Lord?"

"Hello."

<Star-Counting Witch> Song Yun-seo.

And Hermit, who had the name Agares before regression.

In the process of returning from Gangneung.

Eun-ha learned about the existence of the two from Yu Nam-hoon's report.

He was surprised and went to find Song Yun-seo with his injured body, and─

'─Hello, Pandora Clan Lord. It's nice to see you up close like this. You're not too badly hurt, are you?'

'Where on earth have you been and what have you been doing all this time...'

'If you ask what I've been doing, I'd say I spent time wandering the country following people's stars? While doing that, I also helped the Pandora Clan Lord in various ways. This person standing next to me is someone I met in that process.'

'...Agares?'

'No, I don't know why you're calling me that, but my name as a Mine is Hermit.'

Song Yun-seo had taken Eun-ha's breath away as if seeing someone after a long time.

Then, contrary to her previous behavior, she suddenly entrusted herself to Pandora Clan.

The two lived in the clan headquarters, helping clan members or assisting Han Seo-hyeon with administrative work.

Really... Where has this person been and what has she been doing to take in Agares as her subordinate?

Eun-ha was amazed at Song Yun-seo's ability.

On the other hand, he was relieved to hear that she would no longer wander.

He was even thinking of making her join the clan if necessary.

That's how outstanding Song Yun-seo's abilities were.

Even if he couldn't keep her as a clan member, he had to keep her in some other way.

This worked out well.

Eun-ha had that power now.

"Player Song Yun-seo."

"Yes? What is it? Suddenly making such a serious face..."

"I'll appoint you as a 4th generation Twelve Seat. You absolutely have no right of refusal." """...."""

Han Seo-hyeon, Song Yun-seo, Hermit.

The three looked at Eun-ha who had suddenly said something out of the blue.

There was no atmosphere or anything.

Only Eun-ha was serious.

This person maintained her position even before regression when the Twelve Seats in Gangneung ended up like that and the 4th generation was selected as Twelve Seats.

Although she took a lot of criticism from the 2nd to 4th generation, there was not a single person who could replace her.

She belonged to the Mana Management Organization.

As a result, she was able to continue being a Twelve Seat for political reasons as well.

Nevertheless, her skills were recognized.

Eun-ha was relieved that such a person had appeared before him.

To this, Song Yun-seo─

"─Alright. I'll accept that proposal. I guess it was my fate to become a Twelve Seat at this time."

Contrary to Eun-ha's expectation.

Song Yun-seo accepted readily.

He had worried about what if her wanderlust struck again, but it seemed there was no need to worry.

"Instead, I'll join as part of the Mana Management Organization. When others think about it, they might get the impression that too much power is being given to Pandora Clan."

"That's fine, please do so. Thank you so much."

"It was going to be this fate anyway, so... Um, the problem is Hermit. She could come in with me like this, but Hermit's power is too valuable for that... Hermit, how about joining Pandora Clan while we're at it?"

"Pandora Clan?"

Song Yun-seo asked Hermit.

She blinked her eyes.

She seemed lost in thought.

Then she said sheepishly.

"Before becoming a Mine, I admired Pandora Clan, so if you'll have me, I'll gratefully join." "Of course. I'll guarantee you the best treatment if it's you."

"Yes, welcome. No, since you're becoming a clan member now, can I speak comfortably?"

Agares, no, Hermit's joining.

Han Seo-hyeon and Eun-ha greatly welcomed it.

Especially Eun-ha was more pleased because he knew to some extent about Hermit's power.

It was like picking up a jewel while sitting still.

Since <Star-Counting Witch> said she found her just after she became a Mine and took her along, I probably don't have to worry about the danger of her becoming an exorcist like before regression.

For now, it seemed better to have her enter the Player Academy and get a player license first.

As Eun-ha and Han Seo-hyeon were making plans with their eyes─

"─I would be very grateful if you would accept me as an administrative officer."

"What?"

"Huh?"

At Hermit's shy words.

The two were dumbfounded.

They had gained the strongest administrative officer.

☆

Song Yun-seo joined the Mana Management Organization and became the Twelve Seat in the navigator division.

Im Ga-eul was very pleased.

 <Index > Yoon Seong-jin who had been living buried in work, <Big Data> Mo Ra-yul who had become a slave, and Yoon I-byeol who had been suffering as a controller also welcomed her, they say.

Unfortunately, Song Yun-seo had no intention of helping with their work.

The navigator position was filled like that, and now the dealer positions needed to be filled...

After that, Eun-ha rummaged through the player information organized by Jeong Ha-yang to organize the Twelve Seats.

It was to find dealers who could replace <Yama > and <Thunder God>.

The situation wasn't favorable.

The disaster that occurred in Gangneung was serious.

Almost all the elite dealers of Blaze Clan and Silla Clan were either injured or lost their lives.

If possible, he wanted to consider an equal distribution of power among the clans.

However, among the dealers who needed to be deployed immediately to subjugate Baek Seo-jin, there was no suitable existence.

That's how different the power of <Yama > and <Thunder God> was even among dealers.

The only one who could stand on the same level as them─

─There's only Yeon-hwa.

<Divine Spear> Ryu Yeon-hwa.

There was no one else but her.

Eun-ha fell into contemplation.

In the end, he selected her as a Twelve Seat, occupying one position.

There's no one more suitable than Yeon-hwa.

This is unavoidable.

Now he had to select one more position.

He wanted to select Mok Min-ho, known as <Sword Saint>.

But after selecting Ryu Yeon-hwa, selecting Mok Min-ho as well might not be viewed favorably.

Therefore, if he had to select a dealer who showed loyalty to Im Baek-yeon and had a good reputation as a second choice─

"─It can only be the Habaek Clan Lord."

Habaek Clan Lord Kim Cheol-sik.

<Winter Cypress Sword> Kim Cheol-sik.

Although the clan grade was low, Habaek Clan just lacked clan achievements.

Since they had split off from Zenith Clan, the clan members' skills were also excellent.

Usually, it would be right to select players from A-grade or higher clans, but...

Eun-ha had the right to organize the Twelve Seats as he wished.

He decided to close his eyes and select Kim Cheol-sik as a Twelve Seat.

Thus, the dealer division was filled, and now only one supporter position remained.

☆

Meanwhile, the previous generation <Divine Spear> Nam Gung Seong-un was also staying with Pandora Clan.

Having suddenly come up from Cheongju, he immediately took Ryu Yeon-hwa and went to the training ground.

Whistle

Snow flurries swirl.

Cold wind brushes against cheeks.

Only two people could stand comfortably in the cold that had dropped to extreme low temperatures.

"I'll pass on my myth to you. Then, Yeon-hwa, you sublimate it into your own myth based on mine."

"Yes, Master."

Ryu Yeon-hwa was happy to receive his teachings after a very long time.

She also wanted to be of help to Eun-ha.

She spent time in the training ground where winter had arrived, having only heard that she had become a Twelve Seat.