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[Chapter 174]

[Foundation for Reconstruction (4)]

1st Uijeongbu Recapture Battle.

When planning the recapture battle, the Fairy government was thinking of subjugating all high-rank monsters inhabiting Uijeongbu, then activating the Cocoon to weaken monsters in the area and accelerate the attack.

From the start, the Fairy setting foot in Uijeongbu that had fallen to become a monster habitat and activating the Cocoon there was practically the same as completing Uijeongbu's recapture.

So─

─At that time, F Unit led by Changhae Clan installed the Cocoon at Uijeongbu Arts Center.

The Fairy government instructed people participating in Uijeongbu's recapture to head to Uijeongbu first and install the Cocoon.

But contrary to the Fairy government's expectations, the Uijeongbu Recapture Battle ended in failure, and the recapture force abandoned the Cocoon in Uijeongbu while retreating.

It's said that Cocoon had the power to protect an area the size of Gangbuk.

It was one of the reasons the Fairy was criticized after the Uijeongbu Recapture Battle failed.

Saying how could they leave a Cocoon encompassing such a wide area in Uijeongbu and come back, does that make sense?

Anyway, the Cocoon was abandoned like that, and surprisingly, it's discovered intact in the 2nd Uijeongbu Recapture Battle.

As it became known that it hadn't received any attacks from monsters for several years.

People were surprised and deflated.

Because they had already made a new Cocoon to install in Uijeongbu.

It's fortunate that Lim Ga-eul installed the Cocoon from Uijeongbu Arts Center in Gwangju as an apology.

Because he knew such a future.

Eun-ha brought it up.

"Yes... it's not impossible. There was a Cocoon there."

"But Fairy. We can't be certain the Cocoon there will be in good condition."

Lim Ga-eul seemed lost in thought.

Park Sang-jin guarding her side shook his head negatively.

But Lim Ga-eul wasn't listening to his words.

"─It's worth checking."

Soon finishing her thoughts.

The corners of Lim Ga-eul's mouth rose.

If there's a Cocoon in Uijeongbu, the benefits the Fairy government could gain were considerable.

One is calming Gwangju's public sentiment.

Another is being able to show the government's dignity to citizens by bringing the Cocoon from Uijeongbu.

Besides this, it meant gaining benefits to raise the Fairy government's status.

She muttered.

"I'll judge whether the Pandora Clan Lord's opinion really has effectiveness, and reconvene a meeting in the near future. Pandora Clan Lord." "Yes." "Let's say the Pandora Clan Lord's qualifications are valid until then. No, if the Pandora Clan Lord's words are implemented, they'll continue to be valid even after that."

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

"Yes, thank you."

The quasi-Twelve Seats authorities that would have been automatically withdrawn while giving Eun-ha rewards originally.

But she decided to guarantee Eun-ha's position until a conclusion is reached.

While people couldn't follow the story starting from Uijeongbu.

The two smiled faintly.

☆

Rewards given to Pandora Clan members.

Eun-ha informed clan members of what was decided in the meeting, and clan members' faces all brightened.

"Chungmu grade..."

"Hey, is that good? It's good right? Looks like it's good seeing your faces. Hehe, what should I get from there?" "Binggu oppa, can you please stop circling around annoyingly? It's distracting right now."

In Choi Eun-hyuk's case, he was dazed realizing he became a hero enough to receive a Chungmu grade medal.

Jin Pa-rang was just happy.

Kim Min-ji seemed to be in a good mood too. Even she scolding Jin Pa-rang couldn't handle her rising mouth corners.

"But can I really receive it too? I don't think I did much compared to you guys..."

"Ubi, you protected me."

"Sigh... that's not merit."

Meanwhile, Yeo U-bi felt burdened by the reward she was receiving.

Yeo U-bi who was poisoned by the Toad Commanders didn't participate in battles afterwards, and only assisted Yongsan-gu navigators.

So she felt awkward.

Yu Nam-hoon tried to comfort her, but Yeo U-bi couldn't just be happy.

"You just have to work as much as you received."

"Huh?"

To this, Eun-ha answered abruptly.

Yeo U-bi opened round eyes.

"The reason the Fairy government gives rewards is to honor merits, but also to ask for help stepping up when another national crisis occurs. So noona Ubi doesn't need to think like that. The Fairy government will use noona as they see fit." "Ah... Is that so?"

"That's right."

Eun-ha shrugged his shoulders.

It wasn't completely wrong, but it was a made-up statement to ease Yeo U-bi's burden.

Fortunately, the lie worked on her.

"Alright! I'll eat that and work hard in the future too!"

"Don't forget Pandora Clan's merits too."

"Of course!!"

Securing another slave following Yu Nam-hoon.

Eun-ha secretly rejoiced.

""""Sigh...""""

Friends who could now roughly tell what he was thinking by looking at Eun-ha's face sighed, it's said.

☆

Currently Gangbuk's public safety wasn't good.

It improved somewhat, but that was barely it.

Compared to before Gangbuk's destruction, public safety was still harsh.

I can't send Yu-jeong to such a place.

Lee Yu-jeong's house is in Gangbuk.

So Eun-ha was protecting Lee Yu-jeong at the clan hall even after the calamity ended.

Luminous Group chairman Lee Jeong-in agreed too.

Lee Jeong-in requested Pandora Clan to protect Lee Yu-jeong.

Unfortunately, Lee Yu-cheon had to cross over to Gangbuk for work.

"How's life here? Is it okay?" "Yes, everyone's kind to me. The food is really delicious too. And... it's good to see you often, Eun-ha."

Though there was a lot of personal interest too.

Thanks to that, Eun-ha often met Lee Yu-jeong these days.

Today too, Eun-ha who checked if there were any problems with reconstruction work in Yongsan-gu spent time with Lee Yu-jeong.

"But where did other people go? I don't see them at all."

"I heard they left to attack a dungeon that appeared in Hannam-dong earlier." "Ah, right. I forgot that was something I ordered."

The clan hall was especially quiet.

Thanks to that, Eun-ha could take Lee Yu-jeong around without worrying about others' eyes.

Hearing from Lee Yu-jeong, clan members seemed to have gone to attack a dungeon.

Eun-ha smiled bitterly.

Guys, hang in there.

It will all become your bones and flesh.

Eun-ha mourned while eating dessert sitting next to Lee Yu-jeong.

"Here, say ah."

"I can eat by myself too."

"I want to feed you. Do you dislike it?" "No, that's not it... It's embarrassing. There could be people around..."

Lee Yu-jeong whispered.

Her lips grazed his ear slightly.

Eun-ha enjoyed her warmth sticking right next to him.

"It's okay. There's no one around..."

"See. There is."

Soon Eun-ha trying to soothe her.

Then Eun-ha's eyes met Han Seo-hyun and Shakira entering the 1st floor cafe.

Eun-ha froze.

...What is she saying?

Han Seo-hyun's mouth moves.

It's hard to hear from far away.

But Han Seo-hyun's gaze and finger were fixed on Eun-ha.

She said something to Shakira standing next to her, then sharply opened the door and went outside.

"..." "...Eun-ha? What's wrong?"

Should I follow or not.

When Eun-ha fell into deep contemplation.

Shakira dressed in attire reminiscent of an Arabian dancer approached.

She who formally joined as a Pandora Clan office worker after the calamity ended smiled softly.

"Clan Lord." "Uh, yeah... What?"

"The administrator said to see her separately later."

"...Was there nothing else?"

"She said 'Someone's living swamped with work, while someone looks quite happy.'"

"Ahem... The administrative side is busy these days too. I was thinking of buying something later, can Shakira noona..."

"Sorry but I'm on the administrator's side. The administrator, not the Clan Lord, holds the purse strings. Then excuse me."

Shakira smiling once as she passes by.

He could tell that while Eun-ha was wandering outside, Han Seo-hyun made people helping with administration, including Shakira, her people.

The lady of the house is angry.

The puppet president smiled bitterly at the future coming soon.

☆

"Come to think of it, Yu-jeong, I used the handkerchief you gave me well. Actually I've been wanting to ask for a while, how did you engrave magic on the handkerchief?"

"Huh? Since I was just staying at home, there wasn't anything special to do..."

"Not that, how did you know the magic to engrave on handkerchiefs?"

"Ah..."

When Shakira received the coffee she ordered and left.

Eun-ha spoke suddenly remembering while watching her disappear.

Come to think of it, Eun-ha avoided crises with Lee Yu-jeong's handkerchief when he was young too.

Her handkerchief had highly effective protective magic formulas imbued.

So when mana was given to the handkerchief, magic activated immediately, making it convenient to use in emergencies...

He couldn't help but wonder.

The reason Lee Yu-jeong, who doesn't have memories of her previous life and hasn't formally learned magic, knows considerable level protective magic.

Eun-ha waited for her answer.

To this, she said─

"─I don't know well either."

"Huh?" "I don't know if you'll believe me... I just knew. I'm not sure since when, but it feels like it automatically comes to mind the moment I become aware."

"..."

"You probably can't believe it..."

"No, I believe you."

"Huh?"

"I believe everything you say."

Lee Yu-jeong furrowed her brow.

She was trying hard to recall something to answer his question.

Because he knew that.

Eun-ha held her hand tightly.

Is it 's influence... Maybe it's the same case as noona Seo-young.

There was something that came to mind.

Eun-ha recalled Shin Seo-young who became able to use all natural magic after activating .

Presumably, people who experienced the world of providence unconsciously remember providence there.

Yu-jeong activated too.

As the price of activating it in her previous life, she can't see now.

Then maybe she unconsciously knows magic due to the influence of stepping into the world of providence before regression.

Eun-ha thought like that.

The reason she can create protective magic by applying formulas seen in nature is due to 's influence.

Judging like that, such a thought suddenly came to Eun-ha.

─Then among people with , maybe there's someone who knows providence that can fix Yu-jeong's eyes?

It's worth trying.

People with the gift may have clues to unlock the magic sealed in Lee Yu-jeong's two eyes.

Fortunately, there are two people with nearby.

I should ask noona Eun-ah and noona Seo-young.

There's also the .

Come to think of it, she seemed to see something looking at Lee Yu-jeong's eyes then.

It seemed she couldn't treat her in the end.

But seeing Riya's reaction then, maybe gift holders feel something.

Just then─

"─Oh, God!!" "...Why did you come here?"

Riya entered the clan hall.

She discovered him in the cafe and suddenly entered the cafe.

Then she clasped her hands and her eyes sparkled.

Eun-ha couldn't help but be flustered at the unexpected appearance.

"I decided to join Pandora Clan to serve you from the depths of my heart from now on. Please forgive the rudeness I've committed to you until now with your broad generosity." ""...."""

Riya kneeling down.

Eun-ha was at a loss for words at the sudden situation.

Regardless, Riya kept muttering something.

So... she wants to join Pandora Clan while treating me like a god?

What god talk.

Eun-ha clicked his tongue.

But Riya's abilities were amazing. Her healing magic could be said to be beyond Noh Eun-ah or Park Hye-rim.

She was excellent as a fighting force.

There was no way Eun-ha would refuse when she herself directly said she'd join.

Moreover, she was a person with the gift.

It wouldn't be bad to have her check Yu-jeong's health and find ways to treat Yu-jeong's eyes in the future.

Eun-ha finished judging.

He was very glad for Riya asking to be used to her heart's content.

Moreover, Riya was no different from a symbol of Mana Church.

So her leaving Mana Church and joining Pandora Clan was in line with weakening Mana Church's forces.

"Alright, good. Looking at your state now, it seems you have nowhere to go, so stay at the clan hall here." "Thank you, God."

"Stop that god talk. If you really want to join my clan, call me Clan Lord from now on."

"Ugh... Then I'll compromise appropriately and call you Lord. Anyway, if I join the clan, you'll become my master right? So I'll call you Lord."

"Is there a need to go that far? What are you thinking? Alright, we can sort out titles later. The important thing is before that─"

However, he couldn't let Riya join the clan right away.

Because she wasn't a Player.

"─Remember you can join after graduating by transferring to the 3rd year of Player Academy high school next year."

"Ugh... Yes, if that's the Lord's will, I'll follow that."

Making groaning sounds.

Riya reluctantly agreed.

☆

Riya left Mana Church.

People leaving Mana Church following her were appearing in droves.

"What a shame."

Clicking his tongue.

The Mana Church vice chief priest in his 40s spoke in a tone reminiscent of an old man.

"If she had stayed just a little longer... To think Riya that child would designate someone else as Mana God. I didn't expect this, tsk tsk."

The old man once called .

The old man created Mana Church without living legends knowing.

And spreading Mana Church underwater, it now grew into a force even the Fairy government can't easily look down on.

Thus it was in a state with only the final stage remaining.

But it failed with the goal in sight.

"What a shame, it's really a shame. But worldly affairs don't go as intended."

For a long time, the old man put effort into work to equate himself with Mana God.

So he created a process for believers' faith to be transferred to him when they believe in Mana God.

Then Riya suddenly broke the process in a situation where he was about to be reborn as Mana God like that.

"So Noh Eun-ha is Mana God. Tsk tsk. I ended up unintentionally helping that child gain mythology."

Mana God = Noh Eun-ha.

She who grew up as Mana God's symbol presented such a simple and clear frame, breaking the process the old man had cultivated for a long time.

As a result, the faith that should have been transferred to him was delivered to Noh Eun-ha.

"Still, it's not like I didn't gain anything, so I should be satisfied with this. Even so, the brainwashing on Riya was sloppy. Wasn't it?"

"...I'm sorry."

The old man threatened the chief priest.

The chief priest apologized sweating.

"To think we'd lose a child we obtained with such effort in this way..."

"I'm truly ashamed, Mana God."

A child abandoned in front of Mana Church long ago.

The chief priest took her in.

The old man who visited Mana Church found her features strange and simply investigated her out of curiosity.

And he was delighted to learn she had the gift.

It was a plan set from then.

But it failed.

Though he said it's fine in words, the old man's mood couldn't help but be uncomfortable.

"Well, it's fine. What's past is past, so we should make plans to compensate for this."

"Yes, Mana God. Please speak."

"First, you are no longer needed."

"...Pardon?"

"If Riya had martyred herself and my existence was deeply imprinted on people, I could have used you importantly too. But now that Riya has left this place, your role is over." "Ma-Mana God...!"

"A failed symbol is unnecessary. A new symbol must take that place. Tsk tsk. You've worked hard until now. Now, just rest well."

The old man snapped his fingers.

Immediately the chief priest clutched his heart and collapsed to the ground.

There will be a commotion soon.

The old man left his seat.

"─Mastema."

"Yes, Lord Armageddon."

The old man called a name.

Then a man's upper body appeared as space split next to the old man.

It was a man with piercings on a face so pale it could be called white.

"We need a new . I have a human I've been watching, so make that child the order's new symbol."

"It won't be easy. Riya's symbolism is so strong... If she had martyred herself according to plan, we could have spread that this human inherited Riya's will, but it's a shame."

"So we must say Riya became corrupt to erase the old symbol."

"Pardon?"

"Riya lost her faith in Mana God after being caught up in calamity and ended up becoming corrupt. Because of that, Mana God sent down a new person to carry out His will on this land. How about it, don't you think it's a good story?"

"Not bad. I'll work on completely erasing Riya's image from Mana Church while pushing that narrative."

"There's one more thing you must do."

"What is it?"

The old man stopped walking.

Then he pointed with his finger.

Where the old man pointed with his finger was an emblem with three pairs of wings that could be called Mana God's symbol.

"To create a new process, we must replace the saint and replace the symbol anew. It's a shame. Since we have to start over from the beginning..."

"Let's move the headquarters while we're at it. Since Jung-gu has fallen into that guy's hands, Mana Church's influence can only weaken. Right now Jung-gu residents are calling the alias more than Mana God."

"Tsk tsk, that's right. Looking at Noh Eun-ha, no, that child's actions, he probably won't leave Mana Church alone. Faith will be poured into rather than Mana God. Yes, we must move the headquarters."

"Do you have a place in mind?"

The old man sank into thought.

Eventually, after looking up at the three pairs of wings emblem for a while, the old man turned his body.

"─Go to Gangnam, Yeouido." "Not bad. People's attention will be directed to Gangbuk's reconstruction. We can recover Mana Church's footing in the meantime."

"I'm counting on you."

"And Lord Armageddon."

The old man stopped walking.

Then the man opened his mouth.

"─It's said On Tae-yang has died."

"..."

"According to information, Noh Eun-ha and On Tae-yang had a life-or-death battle. So On Tae-yang ended up dying..."

"Is the corpse intact?"

"It's said to be fine except for the heart being pierced by a sword."

The old man listened to the man's words.

The old man split his mouth wide.

"─That's welcome news among what I've heard."