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146
“Everyone gathered because you were coming, and you just walked straight out — is that right?”
“I’m sorry. I had to urgently go see my master about something.”
Having entered Edelen, Hanbit was taking in the girl’s complaints.
[Liventia Norstun]
Liventia, now living again under the name her father gave her.
Hearing that she was receiving education to become a mayor, the atmosphere around her felt a little different.
The look of ‘Ria’ still clearly remained — but still.
“How’s life been?”
“Good. Aside from there being too many things to memorize.”
Liventia’s expression, speaking with a shrug of her shoulders, was bright.
Hanbit gave a quiet smile and asked:
“Not running away these days?”
“Running away? Not a chance. If Atsvel-unni catches me, I die.”
-Lol.
-Consistent as ever.
-Run and die.
-Conditioned fear. Lol.
Liventia, shuddering and shaking her head.
With the responsibility of eventually taking on the mayoral position, Atsvel wouldn’t be letting things slide either.
Of course, since Liventia herself had decided it by her own will, she too was putting in sincere effort.
“The city’s mood has gotten quite a bit livelier too.”
Avantgarde, following behind, was looking around.
Citizens who had been suffering under excessive taxes.
Visibly more relaxed and bright compared to back then.
Probably thanks to Henley, who had taken on the acting mayor role, sorting things out quickly.
“Here we are.”
In the middle of that conversation.
The three arrived at the central city hall.
Liventia stepped out in front and walked through the entrance.
“Let’s go in.”
***
“Was it those Holy Nation people again?”
A large reception room on the 2nd floor of the city hall.
The colleagues from that time, gathered in the room, were listening to the account from Black Dragon.
“I had a bad feeling about it. You basically almost died.”
Atsvel, who had been worried early on, let out a sigh.
That much of what had happened in Ifrit had also been a continuous series of dangers.
“So a whole city nearly got wiped out.”
Cowen focused on the monster wave.
Probably worried about a danger that could come to Edelen.
“Here is fine. There’s no space suitable for a nest. And we’ve also captured Isis, the center of the experiments — so things will stagnate for a while.”
The scientists conducting monster enhancement experiments were not just Isis.
Worse than her — but there were still other scientists who had been conducting research.
Even bringing things back up to the minimum operational level would require considerable effort.
Of course, new talented individuals would no doubt appear before long.
“Pirnen…… so that’s what happened.”
Henley wore a bitter expression at the fall of an old colleague.
Compared to the time when Pirnen wasn’t obsessed with capital, the shock must have been considerable.
“Having left it in Leon’s hands, I believe the investigation will be conducted properly.”
“There aren’t many people who can touch the Artua family. The Royal Guard commander is also not a person swayed by political pressure, so it should be fine.”
Henley, seeming it had also been something he was concerned about, gave a nod.
“But you know.”
Just then, Liventia, who had been listening, began.
She continued with her arms folded.
“Why does the Holy Nation keep targeting Raven Kingdom so much? With my dad, with Ifrit — isn’t the obsession excessive? Is it simply because we’re a hardliner nation?”
Liventia’s question was understandable.
Especially for her, as someone who had been a victim — it would have felt all the more unjust.
“It’s also that Raven is a hardliner nation — but the Holy Nation’s schemes spread across the entire continent and the sea to begin with. Their ultimate objective is world domination.”
“……So things like what happened to us are happening in other countries too?”
“Some have already fallen. The major nations are still holding out, but even they will have infiltrated spies running around.”
“That’s…… truly the worst.”
-For real, their reach is insane.
-The Holy Nation (not holy).
-No players have entered the Holy Nation;
-Black Dragon will probably dig into it.
-Counting on you.
-Black Dragon and the Guardians of Truth, activity ON.
The Holy Nation’s outrages don’t particularly pick and choose their targets.
Both the hardliners who view Erpot as an enemy, and the moderates who prioritize dialogue with Erpot, are ultimately just prey.
‘First things first — joining the investigation team.’
The viewers are hoping Black Dragon will uncover everything.
But charging into the Holy Nation right now would mean not even getting past the entrance.
Broadening reach is something to do after becoming part of the investigation team representing Raven Kingdom.
“Shouldn’t we be preparing something?”
Henley, who had sunk briefly into thought, spoke up.
The will that they couldn’t just stand by and take it.
“That’s why I came back. For now, let’s train up the adventurers.”
“Adventurers?”
“Yes. More than soldiers defending the city, raising adventurers who can contribute from various directions for the city’s sake is important.”
Hanbit picked up the parchment and pen on the table.
And thinking of the talented people in his memory, he began to write.
“……Are these really the right people?”
Cowen’s expression grew increasingly serious as he checked the contents.
A jumbled mess of names he had never heard, adventurers with problems, and perfectly ordinary adventurers.
“They’re right. Your role is important, Cowen — so no matter what, hold on and raise them.”
“…….”
When he pushed the parchment forward and said that, Cowen’s face turned serious.
Having scanned the list again, he exhaled briefly.
“If you say so, there must be a reason. For Edelen’s sake, I’ll do my best.”
Trust in Black Dragon incomparable to all manner of worries.
That was what steadied the resolve.
“There won’t be regrets. Then next…….”
Hanbit shared several pieces of advice and exchanged everyday conversation.
That continued until the stream ended.
***
The next day at noon.
Having finished preparing, Hanbit left home.
The destination, Vestige headquarters, was about an hour’s distance.
‘Will this do?’
On the subway, Hanbit looked at his own outfit.
A suit he had been wearing up until recently at the company.
He wondered if it was too formal — but this was ultimately a business deal.
Making the most proper impression would be right.
‘The mask…… I’ll have to keep wearing it.’
A message from Luna that had arrived around the time the stream ended the previous day.
Content with the advice to be sure to wear a hat and mask.
Hanbit, having his own experience of being caught, followed those words without resistance.
Rattle—
The running subway had already arrived at the destination.
‘Exit 3 is…….’
The Vestige headquarters building right in front of the exit.
Having found the way, Hanbit walked up the stairs.
And then.
“Oh? Isn’t that that person?”
He came face to face with an enormous crowd waiting there.
“Is it really Black Dragon?”
“It must be!”
“Black Dragon-nim! Please look over here just once!”
People closing in while holding out cameras and microphones.
The ordinary people gathered behind were also filming with smartphones.
Even though the appointment had been arranged with the audio muted — to think it would come to this.
“Just a moment. I’m——”
A flustered Hanbit was stepping backward, trying to create distance.
At that moment.
Beeeeep—!
Suddenly a sharp sound struck the ears.
“Ugh!”
“How loud!”
“Who is this!”
People losing focus at the ear-piercing pain.
At the same time, someone grabbed Hanbit’s arm.
“This way.”
Shhk—
A woman with a black hat pulled low led Hanbit through the crowd.
When they had escaped the chaos, the two arrived at the building’s back entrance.
“Things got more tangled than expected. Are you alright?”
The woman, releasing the arm and removing her mask, asked.
Seeing the face, Hanbit could tell her identity.
“Luna?”
“Hello. I wonder if it feels strange not being a character?”
“No — the atmosphere is similar, so it doesn’t feel strange.”
“Is that so?”
The cool-edged atmosphere felt from Luna’s character.
It appeared similarly in her actual self as well.
Now he could understand why she was popular.
“Thank you. You saved me there.”
“That was my mistake for not anticipating it. Seeing us together yesterday, the press must have just deployed people around the buildings.”
The countless reporters covering RP-related news.
Luna, who was a vanguard difficult to get information on, was seen on stream moving together with Black Dragon and Raphina.
That clue alone was enough to station people around each company building.
“But what was that sound earlier?”
“Ah, something like a loud toy. Though I didn’t expect to use it in a place like this.”
Accustomed to reporters, her response was quick as well.
If he had been trapped and fallen into interview hell as-is — just thinking about it was a headache.
“Shall we head in?”
“Let’s.”
The two entered the building.
Fortunately, thanks to solid security, entry was being screened.
“Head up to the 7th floor.”
Following the guidance, they got straight into the elevator and went up.
When they arrived at the 7th floor, a spacious conference room came into view.
“Oh, you’re here!”
A short woman lifting her head in welcome as the door opened.
Luna, who had stepped forward, tapped her on the head and said:
“This is Raphina. Pretty different, right?”
“……Ah.”
Raphina — the exact opposite of her mature character.
It matched the timid personality.
“Hello. I’m Black Dragon.”
“Hello. It was noisy out front, I’m sorry. I should have changed the location.”
She bowed her head in apology.
Having heard the news of the entrance just now, she had apparently been pacing anxiously waiting in front of the elevator.
“Not at all. Thanks to Luna it was fine.”
“The ones who swarmed are at fault. Is the uncle inside?”
“He’s been here since morning, apparently. Black Dragon-nim, I’ll show you in.”
Guided by the two, Hanbit entered the conference room.
There, an uncle in a Hawaiian shirt was standing with both arms spread open.
“Welcome, Black Dragon-nim.”
“……Hello.”
A man of unusual appearance.
White beard and hair, and sunglasses — it was difficult to gauge an exact age.
Come to think of it, no one except Hanbit was wearing a suit.
“Now, please have a seat.”
Following his guidance, Hanbit sat in the prepared spot.
Luna was in the adjacent seat, and Vestige’s two people were facing across.
“I am Vestige’s representative, Diorama. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“I’m Black Dragon. The honor is mine as well.”
In the middle of the light introductions, Hanbit checked Diorama’s expression.
But the smiling face was somehow difficult to read.
“Is this not stuffy for you?”
Diorama asked, touching his own face.
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
Only then did Hanbit realize he was still wearing a mask.
Not being the only one keeping his face hidden was impolite.
Shhk—
He immediately took off the hat and mask and set them on the adjacent chair.
And Raphina, seeing Hanbit’s face, was the first to widen her eyes.
“Oh?”
A face so similar to the Black Dragon character.
No — to be honest, they were practically identical.
“……This is unexpected. I didn’t think they would be the same.”
Luna too, studying the face with apparent surprise.
People who make their appearance identical to their character are extremely rare.
Because many want to live as the perfect ideal appearance at least in the game.
But the Black Dragon in front of her had no need for that.
Because he was one of the most handsome people Luna had seen in her life.
“You’d better watch out for the fan club.”
“What?”
At Luna’s smiling warning, Hanbit showed a puzzled reaction.
Diorama, listening to the exchange, slowly gave a nod.
“A handsome face that inspires trust. Truly Black Dragon himself.”
He, who had not been surprised, nodded as though satisfied.
Perhaps seeing the identical appearance as a positive thing.
Not that it was something Hanbit had chosen of his own accord.
“Now, shall we get the difficult conversation over with first?”
Diorama went straight to the point.
He took out a small box from his bag and said:
“I have the intention of giving 1.5 billion won for the Belmora episode walkthrough. And if you can give us information we absolutely need, I will include this.”
Click—
Diorama slowly opened the box.
Inside was a single envelope resembling an invitation.
“What is this?”
“An invitation to Astra — the special community that only some vanguards can be invited to. It’s an invitation to participate there.”
In his composed explanation, a somehow strange word caught.
Surprised, Hanbit asked back:
“……Astra?”
