I knew how the magic mechanism worked since I started as a wizard. Hence, I was also aware of how difficult what Kim Hyunsung said during yesterday's meal was…
It was hard to say that Jung Hayan's achievements were human. Wouldn't it be right to say that Jung Hayan had entered the realm of the gods in the first timeline?
Her prowess in the first round surprised me, leaving me no choice but to think about it. The second round was hopeful in the sense that Jung Hayan was more skilled in terms of mass destruction magic, but it couldn't be denied that she was inferior in all respects to her previous self.
Why Kim Hyunsung hung onto Jung Hayan from the beginning of his return, and how the first human race, which seemed like it was going to stumble and collapse, was able to withstand the hands of the Mask Trash…
I finally understood.
It was almost obvious why Jin Qing wanted to kill Jung Hayan. There was no other way to control Jung Hayan except to make her kill herself.
Perhaps it was after Jung Hayan's death that mankind began to be pushed sharply.
To be honest, I understood. I thought of magic as a means to become the first wizard on the continent. All the wizards were in awe of her. Scholars and alchemists were unable to understand her magic mechanism.
Hobbies and likes, how much Jung Hayan was able to grow when her only friend was magic… It could be said that setting limits in the first place were a foolish act.
If the impurities of the Masked Trash hadn't intervened, Jung Hayan might've grown a little stronger. Since her hubby was Lee Kiyoung, her stalking magic became so difficult to detect that I had to use the Mind's Eyes to do so. Not even Kim Hyunsung could detect her magic.
To be honest, I didn't even know if I knew all the magic of Jung Hayan.
Nobody would say anything about it, but who knew if Jung Hayan had developed her own telescope magic and was looking at where I was?
'It's scary to think so.'
As I turned to the side with anxiety, I saw myself stuck and immersed in a narrow room.
I hadn't even washed, and I'd just use cleaning magic to wash up, just as Jung Hayan did.
-I'll kill you… I'll kill you. I'm going to kill you!
'…'
-Park… P-Park Mijin. I have to kill her. I have to. I have to kill her. She has to die.
The constant scrawling of the pen was similar to that of a genius mathematician who had only been seen in movies. I didn't know what magic she was studying, but her growth seemed to be a foregone conclusion.
'Her magic has gone up, too.'
It was surprising that she raised her magic stat in less than a day, but there still wasn't enough time even considering that.
I thought that we were just on the starting line.
Lee Jihye was looking at me when she sighed. "Making a run for it is the answer, right?"
"No, Noona, I told you that we have a 25 percent chance."
"I don't bet with only that much probability. Of course, I'll pretend I'm doing my best, but I'll always be ready to raise my hands and escape. That's why I'm telling you that I'll take one more person. No matter how many times I think about it, ten people are too few."
"Then do it. Honestly, I can't afford it… But if it's about one person. I'm sure it'll be okay."
"That's good to hear."
"So, did you do the simulation?"
"Oh, yes, I just did it. How much stronger does Jung Hayan need to be to fill the western Soldier Hill with seawater? How much can she fill with the current magic stats? That's what you're asking, right?"
"What about the results?"
Lee Jihye peeked into the Goddess's Hand Mirror she was holding.
[34.3%]
"I don't think there was any such operation… I don't think you're trying to play pirates in the hills… You're not trying to make Noah's Ark Unit 2 without me knowing, are you?"
"It's just a measure of how far Jung Hayan has come."
"It's not enough if you want to fill it up to 100 percent. Isn't it almost impossible to raise stats more than twice?"
"Not more than twice. If we raise it by ten at a time, we get extra points. But we have to raise it by at least 20 to fill it all up. Even considering that the intellectual staunches are rising together… I don't know if it's possible even if she reached the minimum number of stats required…"
"Is it possible?"
"Well…"
'Honestly, I don't think it's possible.'
"It may be better to abandon the first game. If you are waiting for growth, you have to look further. Oppa, you remember when the demons caught you, right? You also grew explosively back then, didn't you? The instantaneous movement magic also came out at that time. How about handing over half of humanity with the mindset of sacrificing in the first game and increasing the strength by being stuck inside as much as possible? Thirty-six days, no, thirty-five days now? It won't be possible within 35 days. If you stick with it as much as you can, would you still be able to pull it after several months? If Oppa gets kidnapped once in the middle of the war, I will summon even a planet and land it on the head of the pigeons."
"I'm thinking about that, too… Jung Hayan isn't the only problem."
"Why don't you let all your pain and anguish disappear? Let's just ride Noah's Ark."
"I was already thinking of it even if Noona hadn't mentioned it. I'm just trying to see how I can use these 35 days. What about the official announcement?"
"I'm slowing it down as much as I can. If there's a crisis on the continent after 36 days, it'll be confusing. It's been a long time since the last time the press has shut up… The same goes for the other people in the conference room yesterday. Even if I didn't say anything, they shut their mouths on their own. That's advantageous to us, at least."
"You have a schedule?"
"No, they all refused. They don't have to come, and they say they'll come by themselves if I called them. I thought it would take some time to fix it, but the leaders of some regions seemed to have different ideas. Still, I've made a list of the troubled people, so you'd better calm them down if you need them."
"Oh, yeah…"
"Anything else from yesterday?"
"I've told you everything I know. After Noona went out shopping with Hyejin, I drank a glass of wine and returned home to work. Then I cleaned up the manual… I only worked. To be honest, since I was a little shocked, I couldn't do anything else…"
"Some would think I left because I wanted to. I went away so that you could talk about something important. Hyejin also felt sorry. She seemed to think we had a chance."
"Chance? A chance… What…"
"But she's still cute, even after she knew there's no hope… Did I tell you how upset I was when Hyunsung bowed down and apologized? I felt it when I saw it. So anyway… How are you really going to do this?"
"I'll give it a try when the whole thing has settled. It's easy to persuade Kim Hyunsung. I have a story to tell, so I'm a little cranky, and it won't be a big deal if I get back to normal after work. If you put Cho Hyejin on the mound as an avatar and run sincerely, it will be over in one night."
"I'm sure it won't end. I've been trying so hard to seduce him in the tutorial dungeon… He's a no-go."
"Shall we make a bet?"
"A bet if Cho Hyejin and Kim Hyunsung will work out? Let's do it. But if I win, let's play fairies. And you'll play Lee Kiyeon. I'll Play Lee Jihoo. I don't care what you bet."
"Don't regret it."
"Right back at you, Oppa."
'What? Why is she so confident?'
"…"
I was naturally concerned about the way she bet so boldly.
Of course, I didn't think I would be defeated, but that useless confidence kept on coming to my eyes. At a time when one couldn't take back what they've already said, Lee Jihye would laugh if I lost.
'Oh, why do I want to take a step back?'
I knew that I shouldn't step down for Cho Hyejin's honor, but I thought I should pass it on lukewarmly for the time being. Fortunately, Lee Jihye's voice first came to me when I looked out the window, wondering how I should turn things around.
I thought she regretted it.
"So… where are you going now?"
"That's obvious."
She knew everything and still asked, didn't she?
"There's another problem besides Jung Hayan."
"Oh, you're right."
Aside from Jung Hayan, there was one more problem that I had to solve.
"You're going to balance things out."
"That's right."
Honestly, I wasn't sure if it would work or not, but there's only one place to try it.
If we picked a candidate, Kim Hyunsung would also be put on the table. One of the people who could act as a deterrent to the tactical nuclear weapons of the opponents was the official second-in-command of the continent when Raphael was unable to move. magic
She went missing in the first round, and her whereabouts were unknown. I didn't know why she disappeared without a rumor in the first round, but I thought that perhaps her personal problems were the cause, or she was caught in a trap of the Masked Trash.
As soon as I got off the wagon with Lee Jihye, a large castle temporarily built to serve as a forward base came into view.
"Ahhh, Noona…'
I was told that a temporary guild house would be built at the forward base, but I didn't expect it to be that large. Who would look at that and think that it was a makeshift barracks? The temporary residence of the Red Mercenary looked like a royal castle in a small kingdom.
"Welcome to the Red Mercenary. Long time no see, Mr. Chairman."
"Oh, I know… Yes, Choi Young-Ki. Long time no see. You've changed a lot."
"It's been a while, after all. Lee Jihye, it's been a while."
"Long time no see, Mr. Young-ki. I'm sorry you have to pick us up like this when I heard you've just been promoted."
"Cha Hee-ra told me to bring you guys in person. She seems to be really pleased that the Chairman has come to visit."
"I don't think you're very pleased that I tagged along."
"Haha, that can't be true. The Red Mercenary always welcomes guests. Even more, if it's people like Lee Jihye."
"Is this a scouting offer?"
"That can't be true. I don't want to be hated by the Black Swan Guild Master. Come in, Mr. Chairman."
"Thank you for guiding us.
"No, it's an honor. Being able to serve sir Lee Kiyoung is a glorious responsibility only a few people in the Red Mercenary can have."
'What was that…'
"If you have anything need or feel uncomfortable with during your stay, please feel free to tell me."
"Oh, yes. Thank you."
'The Red Mercenary is amazing.'
I didn't know if it's because I hadn't seen the place in a long time, but everything felt new.
Even if the Blue Guild had grown a lot, the stronghold of the Lindel tradition seemed to be the Red Mercenary. They differed in units and size.
I thought it was a collection of rough mercenaries who fought against anyone regardless of gender or well-trained potentials. In addition to this, it was Noona who was at the pinnacle.
Seeing him guide us to the rooms, and not the office, somehow reminded me of the second time we met. We went in after two mercenaries who were guarding the front greeted us.
Mankind's second inhibitor candidate smiled at me, disheveling her red hair like a lion.
"Are you good at it?"
Cha Hee-ra must have been reminded of the day when she was telling funny jokes.