Lee Su-yeon said it would be a month later, half a year later, and a year later. There would be three upheavals in the future, and the key was how they could overcome them. There was a timely error of about a week, but now was the start of the first upheaval.
「Dimensional stores will be integrated.」
「The previous dimension invasion suppression system is greatly weakened.」
These two were the key to this change. The frequency and size of rifts would rise exponentially in the future, and challengers could purchase tickets to other dimensions such as Fedomia and Taklan from the store.
‘Are we going to war now?’
If it progressed the same as before Lee Su-yeon returned, the dimension with the fewest rankers would soon be targeted by challengers of other dimensions.
‘Well, we’re still exceptions.’
That was why he went all the way to Seheranbad and brought the {Planet Guardian} back to Earth. Unlike other dimensions that needed to keep challengers in check, Earth only had to block rifts like they always did. With better circumstances, it would be easier to prepare for the second upheaval that Lee Su-yeon warned about.
‘For now, let’s finish this mission.’
This was now their last mission in the Tower, and it was closely related to his past life and Elle. For some reason, he had a hunch that this might be his last chance to find out about the secret of the incident 500 years ago. Maybe it was because of that impatience.
As soon as he quickened his pace, they arrived at their first destination, Levant. After that, everything was a breeze.
“I have something to say to the chairman.”
“Who are you! Tell us who you are!”
The guards in charge of protecting the parliament were initially uncooperative, but they were soon persuaded and opened the way for them after they explained. Plus, the chairman and Elle knew each other, so that was enough.
“I will deliver this news to each country and prepare for a showdown.”
While Levant was working hard to do their job, Yoon-seok visited James Hambledon at Elle’s request.
“It’s Count Hambledon.”
On the 8th-floor mission, he was only the third son of a small merchant who left his hometown with the ambition to build a family. But a few years later, he became a Count of Levant. Well, it wasn’t his success as a merchant that guaranteed his position, but as a result of his success as a challenger. Anyway.
“Hmm, I heard you were looking for me?”
The careless young man was long gone, and a middle-aged man with a mustache asked the question in a dignified voice. Yoon-seok stepped aside so that the two could speak comfortably. He did want to see him again, but they were on business.
“Elle… no, Ms. Elle….?”
James’s eyes widened when he saw Elle. Yoon-seok watched with interest. What kind of relationship did these two have? It didn’t look like a reunion of old friends…
“He’s fine, so just call me comfortably as you did in the Tower.”
“I-I see… but why are you here? Did you fail to catch him?”
“I guess you haven’t heard the news yet.”
Elle told James all of the news she informed the chairman of. However, unlike the chairman, who shouted after hearing her report, there was no significant change in James’s expression. Instead, James expressed his condolences with a gloomy look.
“Unfortunately, they died, but I’m glad you made it back alive. Really… Kanna was extremely worried…”
“Please don’t mention her.”
“…Alright.”
He could feel the sincerity of the warm gaze toward Elle, but something was off.
‘What is this?’
Contrary to his care for Elle, he didn’t seem to be too happy or surprised she returned alive. Why was that?
‘He knew that the challengers would be wiped out and Elle would return alive?’
If this assumption was correct, it made sense. Then, who could’ve told him in advance? There was only one person who could.
‘No way, is it that…’
Yoon-seok suddenly stiffened.
—After Rick Gerssey’s death, his acquaintances divided the few items. The sword containing his power was retrieved by her, the ring containing the pledge was taken by a friend…
—And the seal, his faith, was returned to his peer.
The peer Britzmann mentioned was James Hambledon. He didn’t know what Rick did to help him, but Rick worked on both sides of the world without either knowing.
“But who is this person…?”
“He’s the one who saved me.”
“He saved you…? From there…?”
James turned to Yoon-seok again. Instead of gratitude, his eyes were full of curiosity and doubt. If his assumptions were correct, it was natural. Originally, Rick was the one who should save Elle, but who was this man who suddenly appeared? He must be super curious.
Of course, it was still only a hypothesis.
“Count James Hambledon. I have a question.”
“…Could you elaborate?”
Yoon-seok thought about it one last time before asking.
“Why didn’t you tell her that the Destructive Monarch is Rick Gerssey?”
Why did Rick have to hide his identity from Elle? This was what he had been most curious about since the beginning. A grave silence lay around the bomb Yoon-seok dropped.
“The murderer is mister…? How did you… no, why do you know his name?”
Elle looked confused, and James Hambledon was flustered. Yoon-seok froze at their reaction.
“W-w-what are you talking about…?”
“It’s what I said. I won’t ask why you’re helping him, but please tell me why you had to hide it instead.”
“I-I mean. I don’t know what you’re talking about….”
James Hambledon suddenly trailed off with his hands clasped. Elle remained quiet, waiting for his answer.
“…No way, you believe him? You don’t even know who he is.”
“You just touched the back of your neck….”
“Back of my neck…?”
“You didn’t know? You always do that when you’re hiding something.”
“…”
James opened and closed his mouth without making a sound. Yoon-seok kindly answered as to why.
“If you try to lie, words won’t come out.”
Yoon-seok was already staring into James’ eyes with the Eye of the Executor.
“Is this person telling the truth?”
“…”
“Is he… alive?”
“…”
For Elle, it didn’t seem important if Rick was a murderer, only if he was alive. Facing Elle’s desperate gaze, James sighed deeply.
“…Yes, he’s alive. And it is also true that Rick is the Destructive Monarch.”
“…!”
The impact of his words was enormous. Elle barely managed to maintain her balance.
“B-but, w-why…”
“Why didn’t I tell you? He was the one who told me not to.”
“Mister wanted that?”
As James nodded, Elle clenched her fists.
“Why… why would he say that… he doesn’t want to be involved with me? Because I’m always a burden?”
“No way!”
“But…”
“He was just afraid!”
James’s voice rang loudly. Elle was a little shocked but remained quiet.
“…Rick didn’t know you were alive until later. That’s why he couldn’t say it because your colleagues are among those She ordered him to kill!”
The fact that he was afraid was true. In his most recent memory, Rick Gerssey felt that way.
—Really… is this okay? It’s not too late.
—…What are you saying?
‘A ruse…’
James’s explanation made it seem like the queen was the enemy… but Yoon-seok didn’t think Rick was simply being taken advantage of. He just didn’t reveal his identity to Elle, and he continued to do evil in the name of the Destructive Monarch according to his own will.
‘What is his purpose?’
Yoon-seok took this opportunity to solve the various questions he had. But as soon as he opened his mouth-
“Elle, I’m sorry I can’t tell you everything. If I have another life…”
Yoon-seok’s body reacted quickly and moved, binding his arms and legs in the blink of an eye. Even if he decided to end his life, Yoon-seok was confident that he could use Light of Purification and Skywrath Energy to save him. However…
“I’ll apologize then.”
Boooooooom-!
Even Yoon-seok couldn’t recover a body torn into so many pieces. Rather than the question of how this was possible, only the question of why was lingering in his mind.
Go back to five minutes ago and prevent suicide. This option came to mind first, but Yoon-seok soon threw it away. He couldn’t feel the flow of magic. At that moment, his body collapsed and exploded. In other words, he wasn’t sure he could prevent it even after turning back time. Also, even if it weren’t James, they could meet Rick, who would reveal the truth as the mission continued.
“…N-no. Why… why is everyone leaving me…?”
Elle collapsed and began to sob. She was a reproduced being, and even though he knew James couldn’t have died like this in the original history, he felt heartbroken to see her like that.
Yoon-seok turned his eyes to the phrases suddenly appearing. At some point, the contents of the special challenge started updating.
「Elizabeth Lorwen learned a huge secret about the Destructive Monarch. If she digs up all the secrets, a different ending may await her.」
「Current information collection rate 75/100.」
There was no longer a phrase asking them to collect information and convey it to their colleagues. Elle just wanted to know what Rick wanted and why so many people had to die.
“I won’t ask who you are. Please, help me. I beg you.”
A few days have passed since. They couldn’t obtain more information related to Rick, but the mission proceeded steadily.
「Group mission (5/15).」
「Two countries refused to participate in the war after hearing the news. Persuade them to participate in the final battle.」
He visited and persuaded the two countries.
「Group mission (6/15).」
「You have learned that the army of destruction is heading to the center of the Tower, instead of the Seheranbad continent. Find a way to get there with the suicide squad.」
He found an ancient treasure that the royal family kept and opened a portal that could directly go to the center of the Tower…
「Group mission (7/15).」
「Find and resolve why the dimensional switchgear is not operating normally.」
Crossing the small open portal, only Elle and Yoon-seok went through.
「Group mission (8/15).」
「The army of destruction broke through the dimensional rift and revealed themselves. Help the spirit keeper protect the cemetery until the dimension switch is working again.」
In the end, they had reached the part where war broke out, as Lee Su-yeon said. From the 8th mission on, all of them were related to the war, so the mission would be over once this showdown was completed. Lee Su-yeon, who went to Moorim with Cheon-ma, would meet up with them soon as their 7th mission was over.
‘I don’t know what will happen to the people who went to Killian, but it’s probably not too late.’
Yoon-seok turned to the man next to him while he waited. They were in the heart of the Tower called the cemetery. He readily helped fix the portal with a person similar to the manager he had met before. He heard it from Lee Su-yeon, so he helped the man who introduced himself as the spirit keeper without any doubt.
“Isn’t it spectacular?”
Yoon-seok was startled by the man’s sudden question. Spectacular? He didn’t know about that, but he thought it was the perfect place to be called a cemetery. There were only gray tombstones littering the desolate ground.
“What is this place for?”
Yoon-seok asked. Of course, he was just testing; he didn’t have any expectations. Until now, the Tower had never told him anything.
“This is a place where the souls of all dimensions rest.”
Contrary to that, the man readily replied as if it was no big deal. But he couldn’t understand.
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