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[Chapter 173]

[The Last Nightmare]

After sending Lee Do-jin and Priscis Memory to Gangbuk first.

Lim Ga-eul entered Gangbuk after receiving word from the Mana Management Organization that the army had started to retreat.

"...It's serious."

She had thought so even when looking from Gangnam.

Gangbuk had become hell itself.

Even non-Players don't get scared seeing human remains scattered everywhere.

It means they've adapted to death.

Lim Ga-eul muttered seeing adults and children alike outside cleaning up remains, more than the collapse of Gangbuk.

"...It's Lim Ga-eul."

"It's the Fairy! The Fairy has come!" "Why did you come only now? Were you hiding somewhere and only appear now that the situation has calmed down?" "Come on, would she do that?"

"The timing is really exquisite, isn't it? Appearing right after Ye-gyeong is subjugated?"

Soon people recognized her.

Naturally she stood out as people who went on patrol with her were surrounding her in droves.

Moreover, there was a difference in appearance between her and people in Gangbuk.

While Gangbuk people looked shabby, perhaps because there was no water or no time to wash.

In contrast to the collapsed city center, she showed fair skin and a neat appearance.

So there was no way she would look good to Gangbuk people.

"Sigh..."

It was expected.

Lim Ga-eul sighed softly.

Trying hard to ignore the voices of people sneering and chattering looking at her.

She headed towards the Blue House.

To go to the Blue House, she had to pass through Gwanghwamun.

She could have gone around or entered the Blue House hiding her body, but─

─That would be a bad move.

She knew that if she did such a thing, it would create an opportunity for public sentiment to explode.

While stopping her tour and coming to Gangbuk, she did what she could to support Gangbuk.

She even sent messages to Kang Hyeon-cheol and Park Hye-rim who had gone on a business trip to Gangwon-do to hurry back.

Besides this, she took various measures to prevent damage.

"Fairy... People who heard the news are all gathering at Gwanghwamun, what will you do?"

"What to do... I have to go. Before that, I should stop by the Mana Management Organization and bring people to move together. I need that much information to return to the Blue House and command the situation."

"Yes, then I'll contact the Mana Management Organization."

But even if damage was minimized.

People don't appreciate the difference between worst and second worst.

What comfort could possibly work for those who were at the scene of destruction?

Knowing their hearts well, she deliberately didn't say that she had made a forced march to return to Gangbuk and taken various measures to minimize damage.

"Fairy. We're at Gwanghwamun now." "Yes."

Passing Deoksugung Palace.

Lim Ga-eul arrived in front of Gwanghwamun.

The faces of people assisting her hardened seeing what was ahead.

""""...."""

Because many people were gathered on both sides of the road.

They shout something.

They look with cold gazes.

People who personally felt the unwelcoming atmosphere closed their mouths.

Those worried about Lim Ga-eul's safety suggested it would be better to turn back even now.

"No, we're going."

Lim Ga-eul flatly refused.

She knew if she turned her back on those people, public sentiment would completely turn away.

Though knowing she would be cursed.

She advanced without wavering.

She who was once loved as an actress heads towards people criticizing her wearing an iron mask.

""""...."""

As she passed by.

Those who had been chattering closed their mouths and greeted her with cold gazes.

Trash was strewn across Sejong-daero.

People had thrown it just before.

Lim Ga-eul smiled bitterly.

In a way, no reaction was scarier than criticism.

Nevertheless, she took steps forward.

It was then.

Someone was walking from beyond the path she was advancing on.

Lim Ga-eul stopped walking.

"How dare they block the Fairy's procession..." "No matter what, this is too rude. This has completely crossed the line."

Those escorting her frowned as if displeased.

Nevertheless, the man walked boldly and soon stopped in front of Lim Ga-eul.

""""...."""

Pandora Clan Lord.

The gazes of all those present focused on him.

☆

The Fairy stopped her tour and returned.

Eun-ha who heard the news immediately went to Gwanghwamun.

Because he remembered the incident that occurred at Gwanghwamun after her return in his previous life.

It was an incident where the Fairy's prestige plummeted.

In his previous life too, Lim Ga-eul sent Lee Do-jin and Priscis Memory to Gangbuk to try to sort out the situation.

But Ye-gyeong was not easy.

It caused malfunctions in the two's magic with jamming.

In the end, Lee Do-jin only made Ye-gyeong retreat by joining forces with other Players.

Naturally, Gangbuk people who were pervasive with fear of Ye-gyeong had to tremble in fear.

In the end, as fear grew, they exploded with complaints towards the Fairy.

Somehow the army retreated.

Word that Lim Ga-eul would pass through Gwanghwamun spread throughout Gangbuk.

People gathered like bees to see her passing through Gwanghwamun.

The meaning of the Fairy passing through Gwanghwamun is no different from a performance saying she will directly command from now on.

A place with political meaning.

She tried to widely announce the Fairy's return and show her will to directly command the situation.

So she deliberately didn't go around, and passed through Gwanghwamun while receiving people's criticism.

At that time, Eun-ha and Lee Yu-jeong were also there to see the Fairy's face.

So Eun-ha knew what humiliation Lim Ga-eul suffered then.

Especially─

─Hong Jin-woo that bastard was the problem.

Until Lim Ga-eul returned at that time.

One of the heroes who became widely known in Gangbuk.

Hong Jin-woo of Dangun Group's direct line, who had a gift to confront Ye-gyeong, led his comrades to face the Fairy.

At Gwanghwamun where everyone was watching.

Moreover, blocking Lim Ga-eul's path passing through Gwanghwamun.

'You are certainly Dangun Group's...'

'─You're too late. Why did you come so late? If the Fairy had come a little earlier...'

'...'

It was such brazen and rude words.

Nevertheless, Lim Ga-eul couldn't say anything to Hong Jin-woo's words.

Because at that time, public sentiment followed Hong Jin-woo who had saved many people with his gift called <Resistance >.

In a way, Hong Jin-woo represented public opinion in questioning Lim Ga-eul.

Not just that.

─On Tae-yang's party was there too.

On Tae-yang who played a big role in blocking Ye-gyeong along with Hong Jin-woo.

He led his party members and stood by Hong Jin-woo's side.

Besides this, Players who cooperated in the process of facing Ye-gyeong even took Hong Jin-woo's side.

In the end, Lim Ga-eul─

'─I command with the Fairy's authority. Player Hong Jin-woo. Subjugate Ye-gyeong together with the Twelve Seats.'

'Yes, thank you Fairy.'

Unable to overcome public opinion.

She had to give Hong Jin-woo operational authority to execute Ye-gyeong's subjugation in front of everyone watching.

At that time, people and Players all applauded Hong Jin-woo.

Lim Ga-eul had to head towards the Blue House humiliatingly without receiving any welcome.

I can't let that happen in this life.

So Eun-ha quickened his steps leading his tired body.

Even if Hong Jin-woo died in this life, and On Tae-yang ended up dying too.

Public sentiment was still turbulent.

While the head of state was away, they experienced a crisis close to destruction, so who in the world would welcome the head's return?

It was obvious.

Sure enough─

"─Ha, look at her parading after everything's over. Wow, being Fairy must be so easy?"

"What exactly does the Fairy do? Huh? The Cocoon doesn't even operate properly, so why should we support the Fairy?"

"Give me back my child! You bastards!" "We must thoroughly check what those people were doing for three days! Gangbuk was on the brink of destruction, were they perhaps leisurely playing somewhere!?"

Gwanghwamun was like a marketplace.

People standing on both sides of Sejong-daero all cursed the Fairy with angry voices.

""""...."""

Pandora Clan members including Eun-ha closed their mouths, killed by the atmosphere.

Among people gathered at Gwanghwamun, there were Players too.

Injured people shouted loudly cursing the Fairy government.

The atmosphere was that hostile.

Those welcoming the Fairy's return were an extreme minority.

"Huh? Isn't that Pandora Clan?"

"...It is! Only Pandora has an emblem with a golden box on the chest!"

"Pandora Clan must have many complaints too. Thanks to them defending Yongsan-gu, monsters couldn't come up."

"Huh, really... So the story that Noh Eun-ha was alive was true."

"Didn't you see? The person who blocked Ye-gyeong earlier was that person! Didn't you see the Crimson Wings?" "Ah, that person is this person?"

""""Oh, God!""""

Then people sent favorable gazes looking at Pandora Clan.

Clan members smiled awkwardly.

They were flustered as those who had been cursing the Fairy with hostile faces just before suddenly spoke favorably to them.

Amidst that, the sound calling Eun-ha's name was overwhelming.

"..."

Eun-ha heard their voices.

Then he personally realized.

Public opinion was with him.

Thinking about it, it was natural.

I did accomplish a lot in three, four days.

Though it seemed like boasting.

Eun-ha could feel people worshipping him because of the accomplishments he achieved.

As Hong Jin-woo did before the regression.

People were elevating Eun-ha as a great hero.

No, these aren't accomplishments comparable to Hong Jin-woo or On Tae-yang.

Even before the regression, Ye-gyeong was alive when the Fairy returned.

But what about himself?

People who came out as soon as the army retreated couldn't not know.

That he subjugated Ye-gyeong.

Having finished assessing the situation up to there, Eun-ha immediately called Hoshimiya Kaede.

"Kaede, you're keeping Ye-gyeong's mana stone right? Give it to me."

"What are you going to use this for?"

Kaede handing over Ye-gyeong's mana stone.

Eun-ha received the mana stone bigger than his head.

Then immediately crossing through the crowd─

""""─...!!""""

He stepped onto the path of the Fairy's procession.

People stirred.

Eun-ha walked on the road with trash scattered here and there towards the Fairy, not caring.

""""...."""

People held their breath.

Expectation settled on people's faces about what he, the hero who prevented Gangbuk's destruction, would do to Lim Ga-eul.

Meanwhile, Lim Ga-eul stopped walking.

Lim Ga-eul who had been walking in silence opened her eyes wide seeing Eun-ha suddenly appear before her.

On the other hand, people behind her whispered that Eun-ha's action blocking the path was too rude.

In that situation─

"─I am Pandora Clan Lord Noh Eun-ha."

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

Eun-ha suddenly knelt on one knee.

He raised the mana stone held in both hands towards Lim Ga-eul.

The mana stone's size was huge enough for people scattered on both sides of the road to see.

There was no way they wouldn't know what that mana stone was.

"This is Ye-gyeong's mana stone. We were able to subjugate it as a result of combining forces with my clan members and the Twelve Seats."

"Pandora Clan Lord. So why are you holding this out to me?"

Clearly.

Lim Ga-eul who grasped Eun-ha's intention asked loud enough for others to hear.

Her eyes gleamed.

She smiled affectionately as if finding Eun-ha adorable.

To this, quietly so others couldn't hear, he went "Ugh" and.

Eun-ha immediately continued speaking.

"I thought it would be a fitting gift for the Fairy's return, so I brought it. So please receive Ye-gyeong's mana stone, and lead us from now on."

"Hooh." """"...!!""""

Currently, Eun-ha's status represented the public opinion of Gangbuk people.

Noh Eun-ha who had fought risking his life to protect Gangbuk people until now knelt before the Fairy.

When their spiritual pillar unexpectedly bowed his head to the Fairy.

People were greatly shocked.

They began to hesitate.

Perhaps criticizing the Fairy wasn't a wise action.

Because Pandora Clan Lord Noh Eun-ha must have taken the wisest action to protect Gangbuk.

It was then.

"─All of Pandora Clan sincerely welcomes the Fairy's return."

Again crossing through the crowd of people.

Mok Min-ho and Ryu Yeon-hwa stepped forward.

Leading clan members, they who stepped to the front stopped behind Eun-ha.

Then like Eun-ha had done, they knelt on one knee and paid respects to the Fairy.

""""...."""

<Snow Spear> Ryu Yeon-hwa.

Pandora Clan Sub-lord Mok Min-ho.

News that they had taken down two Level 4 army commanders had spread throughout Gangbuk.

People couldn't not know them, so they stirred seeing those they had been praising kneel.

From the start, they even represented the will of the clan that became most widely known after the Cocoon collapsed.

It didn't stop there.

"─Twelve Seats Ji Yong-hyun. I sincerely welcome the Fairy's return."

"Twelve Seats Hwang San-gun..."

"Twelve Seats Do Wan-jun..."

"Twelve Seats Yu Su-jin..."

Twelve Seats appeared one after another.

Ji Yong-hyun, Hwang San-gun, Do Wan-jun, etc.

Twelve Seats who had been fighting going around Gangbuk since monsters invaded knelt.

"─Twelve Seats. Lee Do-jin. I have safely carried out the Fairy's order." "Twelve Seats Park Hye-rim. I have safely carried out the Fairy's order."

Lee Do-jin, Park Hye-rim, Kang Hyeon-cheol, etc.

Twelve Seats who appeared afterwards also bowed their heads to the Fairy.

Only then did people realize they had been making a wrong judgment.

""""We welcome the Fairy's return!""""

All people out at Gwanghwamun shouted kneeling.

"I didn't expect this."

The atmosphere reversed in an instant.

Seeing people appearing one after another kneeling starting with Eun-ha.

Lim Ga-eul laughed softly.

Eventually Lim Ga-eul, who had been looking around, answered Eun-ha.

"Thank you, Pandora Clan Lord." """"...."""

Everyone listened to Lim Ga-eul's words.

She knew this, so she deliberately spoke loudly.

"But I think it's too much for me to receive, appearing after the situation has calmed down. However, I can't say I won't accept the Pandora Clan Lord's heart..." "..."

"So how about we do this? I will use Ye-gyeong's mana stone to develop Yongsan-gu where the Pandora Clan Lord is active. I saw while passing through Yongsan-gu that the damage seems severe." "..."

"I'll use it only for Yongsan-gu's development, borrowing the Pandora Clan Lord's name."

Lim Ga-eul showed a bright smile.

To this, Eun-ha who raised his head added softly.

"There's Jung-gu too."

"Ah, that's right. I forgot that the Pandora Clan Lord had become Jung-gu's representative. Then I'll use it to develop Yongsan-gu and Jung-gu."

Subtly.

Eun-ha used the Fairy's mouth to nail down that Jung-gu was under Pandora Clan's jurisdiction.

Their interests aligned.

Eun-ha chuckled.

But Lim Ga-eul's statement wasn't over yet.

She opened her mouth again.

No, Lim Ga-eul suddenly called a telepathist beside her.

The telepathist who heard her whisper nodded.

Soon the telepathist relayed telepathy to people around.

[Mana Management Organization Special Bureau Director Min Ji-a relays Fairy Lim Ga-eul's words. In the name of Fairy Lim Ga-eul, from now on Pandora Clan Lord Noh Eun-ha will be temporarily granted qualifications equivalent to the Twelve Seats to counter the monster army.]

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

Treatment equivalent to the Twelve Seats.

A declaration no one expected.

Those present were astonished.

─I didn't expect this either?

Eun-ha was the same.

It was unprecedented and groundbreaking.