Chapter 34: Preparation (1)
It was a coffee shop in a bustling area located near the portal.
I sat there sipping coffee, facing Yu-hyeon, whose appearance had changed since the last ti we t—though I could not tell if it was a disguise or his natural face.
For several minutes, we did nothing but sip our coffee in silence.
Thinking we might spend the entire ti just drinking coffee if this continued, I finally spoke first.
"So, why did you co looking for ?"
"Well, I ca to see how you were doing, Brother. It was purely for the sake of a greeting."
"Cut the bull. Is that sothing a guy who ca to see
the mont I left Glory would say? You probably ca to check if I am keeping the item safe."
"Haha! Well, that is part of it."
I did not know what exactly was so funny, but Yu-hyeon laughed at my words as if they were amusing.
However, when I continued to stare at him without any change in expression, he stopped laughing with an awkward look on his face.
"My, my, you truly are brusque, Brother."
"You are the strange one. We are not exactly on terms where we can sit around leisurely drinking coffee and laughing together, are we?"
"Do they not say that even a brush of sleeves is fate from a past life?"
"Enough. Just say what you ca to say."
My past life was not even in this world, so what fate was he talking about?
They say cultists instinctively use people's hearts to draw them in, and it seed those words were true.
Therefore, I cut off Yu-hyeon's nonsense at the source.
"If you are going to be like that, I suppose I have no choice. Actually, I ca to see you because of sothing that is about to happen."
"Sothing about to happen?"
"Yes. Are the Midterm Exams for Glory not starting soon?"
Midterm Exams.
At those words, I could not help but stiffen my expression.
The first Midterm Exams at Glory held significant aning.
'Those Midterm Exams were full of trouble.'
In fact, for the Midterm Exams at Glory, the na 'villain den' was more fitting than 'academy.'
Even in the novel, it was less a stage for the cadets and more of a diabolical episode where various incidents broke out.
I asked Yu-hyeon back with a cold face.
"So, what about the Midterm Exams?"
"They probably will not proceed smoothly. Even though there have been several incidents at Glory, that much will not change."
"..."
I did not want to admit it, but Yu-hyeon was right.
The first Midterm Exams were always a practical test that invited outside Players to showcase the level of Glory—essentially, it was closer to an event.
There was no way that practical test, which had never changed before, would change just because of what happened recently.
No, they would likely try to maintain it even more firmly.
That way, Glory could clearly show that they had not been shaken by the recent events.
'And I will be the one struggling and dying there.'
Thinking that far, I could not help but feel quite stressed.
Still, the words Yu-hyeon spoke next made my stifled chest feel a bit better.
"Still, did I not cause quite a stir last ti? Thanks to that, most of the random nobodies will be filtered out."
"...I suppose that is true."
"And the remaining ones will not be able to move easily, either."
Indeed, although we were having a casual conversation now, who was this guy?
Was he not the one who had certainly set Glory ablaze when it was already in a state of unrest?
As Yu-hyeon said, there was a high possibility that things would go more smoothly than in the novel.
Therefore, with a much-improved mood, I asked about sothing else I was curious about.
"Then is your group coming this ti too?"
In the story I knew, the Reverse Heaven Sect did not appear during the Midterm Exams.
However, in this changed situation, those guys might infiltrate as well.
But Yu-hyeon's answer was unexpected.
"No. We are not moving this ti."
"What?"
"That is also why I ca to see you like this, Brother."
Yu-hyeon smiled brightly and spouted more nonsense.
Since when were we so close that he was spewing those kinds of words without a break?
When I looked at him with cold eyes, Yu-hyeon did not give up and added more.
"As I said before, I think you and I have quite a good connection, Brother."
"This is only the second ti we have t. How so?"
"Haha, sotis a shared purpose makes a connection deeper than long-term acquaintance. Just like how yesterday's enemy is today's ally."
I was utterly speechless at Yu-hyeon's audacity.
He was speaking with such conviction; would he even listen if I said sothing?
Is it not said that the scariest thing in the world is a crazy person with convictions?
I eventually had no choice but to sigh and give up.
'Co to think of it, it is not entirely a bad thing.'
He was a villain and a fanatic who might act unpredictably, but at the sa ti, he was a strong and useful guy.
He was soone who would definitely be helpful if we stayed on good terms.
The problem, as I just ntioned, was that I did not know when or where he might fly off the handle.
Well, it was not like any brilliant ideas would co to mind just by thinking about it right now.
Therefore, I moderately accepted it and continued the conversation.
"So, is the discussion among yourselves finished?"
"What discussion are you referring to?"
"You an you are going to use
instead of your group stepping forward."
"Ah, I suppose you could think of it that way. Though it is not exactly the correct answer."
What did that an?
Fortunately, my question was quickly resolved by Yu-hyeon's swift explanation.
"Coming to find you was my independent action. It has nothing to do with my affiliation."
"...What?"
"I have not reported the details regarding you."
Yu-hyeon spoke while casually savoring his coffee.
However, the content was not casual at all.
'He did not talk about ?'
What kind of place was the Reverse Heaven Sect?
They were a group that had stubbornly survived despite making enemies of both villains and Players alike.
The reason they could endure so tenaciously was simple.
It was the solidarity of the organization.
These were people who deviated from normal human thinking, which prioritizes self-interest, and valued their cause more than their own lives.
The solidarity of those fanatics was stronger than anything else.
But what Yu-hyeon just told
was sothing that broke that solidarity.
'Is he doubting them?'
Otherwise, it made no sense.
I did not know why he believed my words, but he seed to be doubting the Reverse Heaven Sect to which he belonged.
'Is this a good situation or a bad one?'
As strong as solidarity is, it also has weaknesses.
The characteristic of a tightly-knit organization is that once cracks start to form from the inside, it tends to crumble easily.
'Simply put, the collapse of a villain organization is definitely a good thing.'
But it was not a matter to be thought of so simply.
Depending on the situation, the Reverse Heaven Sect were guys who could be more reliable than any ally.
I was continuing those thoughts with a serious expression.
Yu-hyeon spoke with a bright smile, as if he knew exactly what I was thinking.
"It is not sothing you need to worry about, Brother, so do not let it bother you too much."
"..."
"You and I are in a relationship ford by judging each other's value. I have no intention of giving up my own value."
Back then, I was just struggling to survive, but did it turn out like that?
However, since it was a beneficial misunderstanding for , I did not bother to correct it.
'Besides, judging by the way he talks, the Reverse Heaven Sect should be fine for now.'
I did not know about later, but as long as there were no problems right now, it would be fine.
Moreover, there was nothing I could particularly do even if I agonized over this part.
"I understand. If you say so, then that must be it."
"Haha, great. It is so comfortable to talk with you, Brother, because the conversation flows so smoothly."
"Stop spouting useless nonsense."
"Useless nonsense? I struggle so much because of that usually."
That is because the Reverse Heaven Sect is full of people who are all sowhat strange like you.
But saying that out loud would not be helpful.
Therefore, I swallowed that thought and continued speaking.
"Anyway, what you want is for
to protect the Saintess, right?"
"That is correct."
"If you were just going to say that, there would have been no need to co all this way to find , would there?"
"Well, that is true. It seems you have prepared well on your own, Brother."
Yu-hyeon's eyes sparkled as he looked at the sword hanging at my waist.
"I do not know where you got it, but it looks like a good artifact."
"I have no intention of giving it to you, even if you look at it like that."
"Hahaha! I am satisfied with what I am using now, so you do not have to worry."
Yu-hyeon laughed as if my reaction was amusing and handed
sothing.
Upon receiving it, I imdiately expressed my confusion.
"A wooden box?"
"It is the reason I ca to see you today. As you said, Brother, I would not have co all this way just to tell you to protect the Saintess."
He was right.
Those were not things that required eting in person like this.
If so, it ant he had t
today to deliver this...
'What on earth is it?'
Ultimately, unable to contain my curiosity, I opened the wooden box I had received.
Clack!
As soon as I confird the contents, I imdiately closed the lid again before anyone else could see.
"What is this..."
"Even if our goals are the sa, you have to struggle alone this ti, do you not, Brother? This is your paynt for the trouble."
"...Do you usually hand out things like this as paynt for trouble?"
"Haha, of course not. I gave it to you because it is you, Brother. I want to maintain a good relationship with you for a long ti."
Yu-hyeon was spouting nonsense again.
But this ti, I could not dismiss it as re gibberish.
The contents of the wooden box I just received made his words feel truly sincere.
'It was definitely an elixir. A very high-grade one at that.'
Even though I only saw it for a mont, the quality was so excellent that it was clearly a high-grade elixir.
My heart would not allow
to reject it just because a fanatic gave it to
and it might be suspicious.
For
right now, it was sothing I needed more desperately than anything else.
'I have to take this.'
It was not a matter of whether Yu-hyeon's words about 'maintaining a good relationship for a long ti' were true or not.
Normally, to obtain an elixir, one had to go to a Gate of at least A-Rank, which was out of the question for .
It was even more out of the question to obtain one with money.
Therefore, I gulped and put the wooden box into my pocket.
Then, Yu-hyeon looked at
with a strange gaze.
"Why are you putting that in your trouser pocket? Instead of using a spatial storage pouch?"
"I do not have money, so I cannot buy things like that."
"...Wait a mont. Then where on earth are you storing that item from before?"
"I have it well hidden in my dormitory, of course. They say the darkest place is right under the lamp."
Yu-hyeon stared at
for a long ti with a look of disbelief before letting out a deep sigh.
Then, he unfastened the bracelet he was wearing and handed it to .
"This is an artifact with a spatial storage function, so take it. From now on, keep the Blade in here."
"This must be expensive; is it really okay?"
"Stop talking nonsense and just take it."
Seeing Yu-hyeon glaring at
with cold eyes, I had no choice but to accept the bracelet he was handing over.
If I had hesitated any further, he looked ready to kill
right there in the middle of the bustling area.
As I put the elixir and the sword I got from the Gate into the bracelet, I expressed my admiration.
"As expected, spatial storage is great. I cannot even feel the weight."
"...I am sure you would feel that way. Well then, I will ask you again to look after the Saintess."
"I was planning to do that from the start."
"My trust in you has dropped a bit after what just happened, Brother."
Even though he was the one who could not find the Blade and caused a stir in the end.
But I did not bother saying that out loud.
I had enough social savvy to read the room.
Instead, I checked the ti and spoke.
"It is ti for
to go. You have nothing else to say, right?"
"Yes. I have given you everything I had to give, so let's wrap it up here."
Yu-hyeon stood up in response to my words.
Since I had no more business here either, I stood up as well.
"If a problem arises that you cannot handle alone, you can contact
at the number I gave you before."
"Yeah."
"I am a bit anxious after what just happened... but anyway, I will leave everything to you, Brother, and be on my way."
With those final words, Yu-hyeon imdiately left the coffee shop.
I watched his back and thought.
'At this rate, it really would be better to stay on good terms.'
Except for the fact that he was from the Reverse Heaven Sect and that way he called
'Brother,' he was a quite decent person.
He was a crazy guy in many ways, but at the sa ti, he was quite a cheerful fellow.
...It was not at all a feeling that arose because he gave
an elixir and a spatial storage bracelet; it was a purely objective evaluation.
"Well, what's given is given, so I should use it wisely."
It would be rude not to use what I had received.
Therefore, I also moved toward the portal to make thorough preparations with the items I had been given.
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