890

 [Chapter 221]

[From the Lowest Place (5)]

After Baek Seo-jin's defection was revealed.

Han Chang-jin conducted a massive search and overturned the darkness.

I might not know, but there might be people communicating with that person.

I need to root them all out while I'm at it.

He weeded out anyone even slightly connected to Baek Seo-jin, and among them found people communicating with Baek Seo-jin.

Not satisfied with that, he also turned the blade of search on those who had sworn loyalty to him.

As a result, he found 8 informants.

"What should we do with them?"

"Hand them over to the Fairy government. Given the situation, we need to save face for the Fairy government."

Han Chang-jin glanced over the informants.

His gaze was utterly cold.

The face of <King of Shadows> and Pandora Clan member Han Chang-jin were completely different.

He even personally tortured the informants with a face that Pandora Clan members wouldn't recognize at all.

"But we don't need to take them all, sending about 4-5 should be enough. So we need to choose who to send..."

Slayers with traces of torture.

Han Chang-jin examined their faces and pointed out a few people.

"These 4 I just pointed out have relatively intact faces. Let's send those people to the Fairy government. They'll handle it." "Yes, I'll do that." "And for the rest... Brainwash 1, use drugs on 2, and torture 1 to make them spit out the information they know."

Mastema's brainwashing magic is powerful.

Perhaps the moment the brainwashing magic is used, the subject's mind might collapse.

Han Chang-jin, having received advice from Eun-ha, decided to act thoroughly.

Still, there probably won't be much gain.

Meanwhile, Han Chang-jin didn't expect much.

The person he knew would be prepared for this kind of thing.

Surely those informants don't have much information.

Where is that person hiding?

He must be hiding somewhere in the realm of darkness...

Han Chang-jin turned away from the Slayers.

Sitting on the throne of darkness, he checked the map Twenty-five had given him a few days ago.

There were 11 places estimated to be where Baek Seo-jin might be.

He must be in one of those places.

Han Chang-jin thought while recalling each circled location one by one.

Wait, Changwon?

Come to think of it, in Changwon...

Then Han Chang-jin focused on Changwon at the very bottom.

Changwon could be said to be where Baek Seo-jin's darkness originated.

And there─

─That person's secret chamber is there.

It was a long time ago.

But the memory was vivid.

Baek Seo-jin's secret chamber in Changwon.

He had visited for training the secret chamber whose location was unknown due to geomantic formations, and whose interior was filled with all sorts of traps.

As he remembered, it was large enough to accommodate quite a lot of people.

No doubt about it. Baek Seo-jin must be hiding there.

Han Chang-jin was certain.

Baek Seo-jin would be waiting for them to come there.

He's trying to draw us in.

Draw us into a situation favorable to him, and counterattack using geographical advantage.

It was Baek Seo-jin's teaching.

For the players, it was no different from walking into a trap themselves.

They had to fall for it even knowing it was a trap.

Because at this rate, it was the Fairy government side that would lose by dragging out time.

"For now, I should send people to investigate this secret chamber. Report to Eun-ha as soon as results come in. But of all places, Changwon..."

Han Chang-jin looked at the map and sank into thought.

Various possibilities came to mind.

If players gather their forces and move south to Changwon, and Slayers take that opportunity to attack Seoul, it would be the worst case scenario.

And some time later─

"─Really? You say Mine-like people were confirmed in Changwon?"

Han Chang-jin received a report.

His prediction was correct.

Baek Seo-jin was hiding in the secret chamber.

☆

A message came from Han Chang-jin.

Baek Seo-jin's whereabouts had been identified.

Eun-ha immediately reported to the Fairy, and the fact was kept confidential.

They planned not to disclose it until the operation started so that Baek Seo-jin couldn't respond in advance.

It's a trap to draw us in.

He must be plotting something in Changwon.

Meanwhile, Eun-ha and Im Ga-eul noticed the hidden intention.

He's the <King of Darkness>.

Such a person wouldn't have given clues to expose his location so easily.

They could think that Baek Seo-jin was plotting something.

Whatever it is... We have no choice but to fall for it knowingly.

Eun-ha felt anxious.

They had to step on the landmine even knowing it was there.

As a result, Eun-ha and Im Ga-eul had no choice but to assume what strategy Baek Seo-jin would employ and think of countermeasures.

Countless possibilities came to mind.

The two racked their brains.

Moreover, Eun-ha still had things left to do.

I still haven't decided who to appoint as the last Twelve Seat.

Song Yun-seo, Ryu Yeon-hwa, Kim Cheol-sik.

The three were selected as Twelve Seats.

Now only 1 position remained.

A supporter to replace <Holy Mother> Park Hye-rim.

Eun-ha was in a situation where he couldn't readily decide.

If possible, I'd like to decide from among Regulus Clan members where <Holy Mother> belonged...

Unfortunately, there was no satisfactory supporter among Regulus Clan members.

Young, promising supporters happened to die in Gangneung.

One of the Seven Lions was hospitalized.

He can't participate in Baek Seo-jin's subjugation.

The Regulus Clan Lord knew this too, so he couldn't strongly recommend anyone to Eun-ha.

The debut stage for the 4th generation Twelve Seats could be said to be Baek Seo-jin's subjugation battle.

We need to select someone who can perform well there.

That's not all.

We also need to check if they have high loyalty to the Fairy.

As a result, if we consider various factors and mention people who can be selected as suitable candidates─

─Our noona, Cha Eun-woo, Iriya.

The problem is there are only these three people.

Unintentionally.

A situation arose where the suitable candidates were in Pandora Clan.

It was only troublesome.

He was already being cautious after selecting Ryu Yeon-hwa as a Twelve Seat.

If he selected a supporter from Pandora Clan too, he was bound to be criticized for lack of fairness.

"Still, there are no suitable candidates that catch my eye besides those three."

Nevertheless, it couldn't be helped.

There were no supporters more excellent than those three in this country currently.

Moreover, Noh Eun-ah was <Holy Mother> Park Hye-rim's <The Seed>, and Cha Eun-woo had also studied under her.

To receive less criticism... We have no choice but to push through with legitimacy.

Noona and Cha Eun-woo.

I have to decide between those two.

Eun-ha excluded Iriya.

From the start, Iriya was overwhelmed with managing the Eun-ha Faith that had practically become a state religion.

And he couldn't put a fanatic in the Twelve Seat position.

No, he didn't want to.

"Who should I choose..."

The choice narrowed down to two people.

Eun-ha fell into contemplation.

In a way, it was a happy worry.

But before that, there was one matter that needed to be resolved first.

Let's go meet <Holy Mother> first.

I should select someone reflecting <Holy Mother>'s opinion as much as possible.

There was a need to let the public know that <Holy Mother>'s opinion was reflected in selecting the Twelve Seats.

That way, there would be justification for selecting a Twelve Seat from Pandora Clan.

Eun-ha gathered his clothes and stood up.

☆

According to the Regulus Clan Lord, Park Hye-rim was currently in an emaciated state.

He added that she had improved compared to the beginning.

There was a good reason for that.

"Stress isn't good for the baby, I'm so worried. It's a very precarious time for Hye-rim unnie..."

"Sigh, unnie must be feeling awful. That Baek Seo-jin bast... Ah, ah, I should use nice words. What a mess because of that person."

Hearing the news that Eun-ha was going to visit Park Hye-rim, Noh Eun-ah and Cha Eun-woo also followed along.

Their faces darkened as they got closer to the hospital.

Park Hye-rim was pregnant.

<Yama >'s child was in her womb.

But <Yama > had died, so she must have received a psychological shock.

Nevertheless, to protect the child, she had to let go of her anger and hatred.

That was the reason why she, who had acted like a madwoman when first hearing of <Yama >'s death, had no choice but to become docile.

It's very unfortunate.

Why did <Yama > have to die...

Like Noh Eun-ah and Cha Eun-woo.

Eun-ha also felt sorry for <Holy Mother>'s situation.

He also felt irritated at Kang Hyeon-cheol.

He seemed like he would never die.

Who knew he would go like this.

He was a fiery man.

To think he blazed fiercely like fire but in the end, contrary to his momentum, went out so futilely.

Eun-ha cursed Kang Hyeon-cheol.

As the father of three children himself, he couldn't help but feel more sorry for Kang Hyeon-cheol and Park Hye-rim's situation.

"Noona and Eun-woo, you take good care of her. She must be feeling very lonely."

"Of course."

"That Baek Seo-jin bast... Sigh... He's really a fucking bastard. I want to throw him to monsters as food."

Eun-ha asked the two.

The two nodded.

Eventually, they reached Park Hye-rim's hospital room.

The two who had shed tears once quickly fixed their makeup.

They smoothed their faces as if they hadn't cried and opened the hospital room door.

"Hye-rim unnie! We're here!""Unnie, how are you feeling? Are you okay?"

The two greeted in bright tones.

Eun-ha followed them in.

Park Hye-rim seemed to have been reading a book for prenatal education on the bed.

"Ah, you came?"

Her face was very gaunt.

Her smile wasn't the same as before either.

It was a smile tinged with sadness.

Nevertheless, the three pretended not to notice and approached Park Hye-rim, chattering.

"Here. We bought some fruit. They're all good ones, so eat them all without leaving any. Don't give them to others either." "Ah, Pandora Clan Lord. You didn't have to buy such things. Thank you."

Eun-ha handed over the get-well gift.

Park Hye-rim was happy to receive the gift.

"Anyway, thank you all for coming. I'm so glad to see your faces. This child will surely be happy to meet you too."

Park Hye-rim caressed her belly.

Her belly wasn't swollen yet.

But she smiled warmly as if feeling the baby's movements in her womb.

"At first, I was very angry. I wanted to beat Baek Seo-jin to death. But when I thought of this child, I couldn't get angry." """...."""

"He was an unreliable person who always made me worry... But still, he's the last gift that person left me. I want to avenge him so badly, but more than that, I want to give birth to this child."

Avenging Kang Hyeon-cheol and giving birth to the child.

Park Hye-rim must have agonized a lot.

And she decided to choose the future, not the past.

She decided to give up her hatred for Baek Seo-jin in order to give birth to the child.

That's why─

"─I'll ask you like this."

Park Hye-rim bowed her head to the three, shedding tears and pleading.

"I can't fight. So the only thing I can do is ask you like this." """...."""

"Please, kill that bastard. Kill everyone who joined him without leaving a single one. I know it's a shameless request, but please."

Park Hye-rim's body trembles.

She has difficulty breathing.

Noh Eun-ah and Cha Eun-woo quickly stood up and hugged her tightly.

"Unnie, calm down. Don't get angry." "Don't worry. I'll kill those bastards so much they'll regret being born into this world."

The two raise her up.

Park Hye-rim cries loudly.

The two also shed tears, empathizing with her emotions.

Then Park Hye-rim's gaze moved to Eun-ha.

"You came here about my position, right?"

"...Yes, that's right."

"You can do as you wish with that position. I'll unconditionally accept whoever you select as my suitable replacement. So I'll just ask this one thing."

"..."

"Kill Baek Seo-jin."

Park Hye-rim pleads earnestly.

There was only one answer Eun-ha could give her.

He opened his mouth.

"I'll definitely do that. Don't worry. So <Holy Mother>, please take care of your health as the top priority."

"...Thank you."

Park Hye-rim sobs.

But she smiles.

Having entrusted her hatred to him, she could now smile with a bright face.

"Don't worry, unnie. I'll film those bastards dying. When the baby is born later, let's watch it together!"

"Eun-woo, that's a bit..."

Meanwhile, Cha Eun-woo had become infected with Park Hye-rim's hatred.

While Noh Eun-ah tried to stop her.

Cha Eun-woo revealed her fighting spirit.

☆

Park Hye-rim's permission was given.

Now the remaining task was to select one of Noh Eun-ah or Cha Eun-woo as a Twelve Seat.

Eun-ha didn't have to worry about it.

"I'll become a Twelve Seat. Give me Hye-rim unnie's position."

"Noona..."

The day they returned from the hospital.

Noh Eun-ah visited Eun-ha's office and spoke with a solemn face.

A face that seemed to have resolved something.

Eun-ha couldn't help but ask.

"What's your reason for wanting to become a Twelve Seat?"

"Because I'm Dad's child too." "..."

"Why are you trying to pay for Dad's crimes alone? I have a responsibility to pay for Dad's crimes too."

In fact, Eun-ha had already noticed her feelings.

Noh Eun-ah was dissatisfied with him becoming the Twelve Seat leader and trying to atone for their father's crimes.

Noh Eun-ae was the same.

The two were also looking for ways to help their father as his children.

As a result, Noh Eun-ae decided to regularly do volunteer work with their father.

And Noh Eun-ah wants to become a Twelve Seat and dedicate herself to the country.

Our noona's stubbornness is well-known.

Eun-ha couldn't just oppose.

 He lacked justification to oppose, and he understood her desire to do something for their father.

In the end, Eun-ha had to give in to her stubbornness.

"It will be very tough. When something happens, you might be called first among the Twelve Seats."

"I don't mind." "All the salary we earn from working will be returned to society."

"I still don't mind."

"It's very dangerous."

"Honestly, isn't what I'm doing now just as dangerous?"

"That's true. It might become even harder than now."

"It's still okay. Even if it's hard for me, will it be harder than for you?" "Ugh..."

"So make me a Twelve Seat. I'll lighten your work. Let's share the burden you're carrying on your shoulders, Eun-ha."

"It'll be less if we divide it between two?" "Yes. This is something Seo-hyeon, Ha-yang, Yu-jeong, Yeon-hwa... they can't do. I want to do that work. Choose me, I'll do well."

"Sigh..."

Eun-ha let out a long sigh.

He'd thought this since they were young.

He felt he could never win against his sister's words.

Eun-ha smiled wryly.

"The birth of the first Twelve Seat siblings, huh."

"Maybe someday the story of the Noh family will be recorded in history."

The two burst into laughter.

─ 4th Generation Twelve Seats List ─

Fairy Power Year 23

Division

Name

Affiliation

Dealer

Noh Eun-ha

Pandora

Dealer

Ryu Yeon-hwa

Pandora

Dealer

Kim Cheol-sik

Habaek

Guardian

Seon Gi-jun

Donghae

Hunter

Han Chang-jin

Pandora

Supporter

Precise Memory

Korea Mana Management Organization

Supporter

Noh Eun-ah

Pandora

Sniper

Yu Su-jin

Tempest

Ranger

Chae Seon-woo

Myeongwang

Caster

Kang Ye-sol

KK

Navigator

Song Yun-seo

Korea Mana Management Organization

Telepathist

Jin Pa-rang

Pandora

☆

Shortly after the 4th generation Twelve Seats were officially announced.

"From now on, we will commence the operation to subjugate Baek Seo-jin and his subordinate forces."

The subjugation operation began.

Hundreds of players immediately moved secretly towards Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do.

8 Twelve Seats are participating.

<Divine Spear> Ryu Yeon-hwa.

<Winter Cypress Sword> Kim Cheol-sik.

<King of Shadows> Han Chang-jin.

<Witch of Time> Precise Memory.

<Silent > Yu Su-jin.

<Wind Mage> Chae Seon-woo.

<Summoner > Kang Ye-sol.

<Azure Wind> Jin Pa-rang.