Chapter 199

“You’re here. Are you alright?”

“…Ah, yes. I’m fine.”

Cheong Joohwa, who had entered the room, sat down while staring at Cheong Soha with a somewhat awkward gaze.

Towards Cheong Joohwa, Cheong Soha first bowed her head and spoke.

“I must apologize to you as well. Due to the suggestion planted in you since childhood, you couldn’t make proper judgments. It was all my fault.”

“…….”

“It’s something that should have been done, but through this incident, it has been officially recognized that you are the rightful candidate for the Azure Dragon. For a while, you won’t be caught up in unnecessary disputes.”

Of course, those words implied that if relations with the other Elders soured someday, they might move again.

Amid the incessant flow of information, Cheong Joohwa sent a pleading look my way.

To ease her confusion, I conveyed only the plain facts.

“It’s not a lie. It’s also why relations deteriorated and she ended up confined in Yangcheolkoong.”

“Of course, she is now completely free from the suggestions. I promise nothing like that will happen again.”

“Well, if that’s the case…….”

After I conveyed a more detailed story, Cheong Joohwa nodded quietly and expressed her agreement.

Then, she turned her gaze to me and bowed her head.

“I received your help again this time. Thanks to you, I survived.”

“No, if you think about it, it’s because I sent the Elders there.”

Although it was necessary to resolve the situation, feeling sorry was still feeling sorry.

At that, Cheong Joohwa chuckled softly and continued speaking.

“I heard you fought with the former Elder of the family because of me? I heard it from the Azure Dragon on my way here.”

“…….”

“Thank you. For keeping your promise.”

The promise to become a team that could trust each other.

It seemed Cheong Joohwa was quite impressed by the fact that I had chosen her side without hesitation in an unfavorable situation.

In reality, it was an action taken partly because I had some confidence in myself, but mentioning that here would spoil the mood.

‘…Come to think of it, it’s not entirely wrong, is it?’

Since falling into this world, this was the first time I had acted so influenced by emotion.

Although I hadn’t shown it outwardly, it seemed I had grown quite fond of the supporting characters at the Academy without realizing it.

“By the way, what happened to Haon and the others?”

“They’re all safe. The collaborator Shin Noeul got a little hurt, but it’s not at a dangerous level.”

In fact, they had also stopped by here earlier and met with Cheong Soha.

Even so, to secure a replica in that war zone just to retrieve me alone—frankly, I couldn’t help but be moved.

“If you understand, please be more careful from now on. They’re kids who worry more than you think.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

But there was no helping it. There was still a mountain of work left to do.

Since we were already discussing that topic, I asked Cheong Soha another question.

“How is the situation outside?”

“After reorganizing the family internally, we are dispatching personnel in order to places urgently needing support. No more powerful Specters are appearing, so it seems the situation will soon be resolved.”

That was good news. It meant the long, drawn-out second Night Parade of One Hundred Specters Crisis was finally coming to an end.

‘But…….’

In a sense, it could be said that this was just the beginning.

The story had entered its predetermined track, and now there were no more stops or brakes.

The train carrying all of us would now simply run endlessly toward its predetermined conclusion.

“…My head still feels a bit dizzy. Would it be alright if I got up for now?”

“Given the considerable strain, of course. If you need anything, you can request it from the servants waiting outside the room.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

After seeing Cheong Joohwa off, Cheong Soha, who had maintained a brief silence, changed her expression to a serious one and spoke to me.

“…Now, let’s discuss something a bit important.”

“What is it?”

“You clearly said that inside the Man-Eating Barrier, you met Cheongil-nim and received various pieces of knowledge and a request from him.”

I had definitely said that.

It was the most certain identity that could explain my current circumstances.

However, Cheong Soha asked me another question with a meaningful expression.

“Is that really all?”

“…….”

“It certainly fits logically, but there are parts that cannot be explained by that alone.”

That was quite a bewildering statement.

Wondering if I had missed something in Cheong Soha’s words, I pondered carefully, but no matter how much I thought, there was nothing.

Towards my confused self, Cheong Soha revealed the answer.

“…Judging by your reaction, you truly didn’t know. Although I also learned this fact unintentionally, Cheongil-nim cannot wield the Azure-White Sword.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes. It’s certain.”

At Cheong Soha’s words, I let out a sigh. If that was true, then my excuse was meaningless from the start.

I had already told Cheong Soha about the second Art Formula inherent in the Azure-White Sword, the Clear Soul Lantern.

“Until now, there have been numerous attempts to recreate the Three Great Divine Tools, but even Cheongil-nim ultimately failed to grasp the detailed principles behind them, they say.”

Therefore, it meant that Cheongil, who didn’t even have the aptitude to wield the Azure-White Sword, couldn’t teach someone the Art Formula contained within it.

“…Ultimately, it means my words were false.”

“That’s right. At first, I considered not mentioning it, but I have the responsibility and duty to know. If only to avoid repeating the same mistake.”

Cheong Soha’s attitude was composed. It was a declaration of her will to hear the answer no matter what.

At that, I naturally began to consider countless possibilities in my mind.

‘Should I say I coincidentally obtained Cheongwoon’s diary?’

However, such a flimsy excuse wouldn’t work on Cheong Soha, who possesses the Eyes of Truth Trait.

To present myself as Cheongil’s successor, I had to twist my words cleverly countless times, so fabricating something on the spot would likely be exposed.

In the end, what I chose was to greatly exaggerate a bit of truth without adding unnecessary embellishments.

“The founders of the Cheong Family.”

“…….”

“Although I am in this form now, I possess memories from that era and am someone connected to them. And I wish to lead the Cheong Family to a better future.”

I didn’t lie.

It was true that this wasn’t my original form, and it was also true that I was connected to the founders of the Cheong Family.

Well, since I was part of the game’s development team, wouldn’t it be strange to say I had no connection at all?

Hearing that answer, Cheong Soha nodded with a somewhat surprised look in her eyes.

“…Is that so.”

And then, she suddenly knelt and began to show me respect.

Thud.

“I have been disrespectful until now to someone who deserves respect. As someone who should lead the family, I was misled by wicked temptations and showed my true state, so I truly have no words.”

“…….”

I don’t know what she guessed my identity to be, but it seemed Cheong Soha interpreted it in a slightly different meaning.

For a moment, I considered correcting the relationship, but soon abandoned that thought and spoke to Cheong Soha as is.

“There’s no need to bow your head. It is enough if you simply watch over the future of the Cheong Family from your position.”

“…I am grateful for the old kindness.”

Well, this attitude wasn’t strange. Until now, I had acted for the future of the Cheong Family more than anyone else and had proven the corresponding ability and knowledge.

While it was natural for me, who knew everything about the original work, to Cheong Soha, it might feel like an indescribable feat.

And for me, the current position wasn’t bad either.

I would be able to receive active cooperation from the Cheong Family in the future, and if necessary, I could even move them directly through Cheong Soha.

‘…Come to think of it, isn’t it essentially no different?’

What is an ancestor?

Someone who knows its history and origins, possesses that level of knowledge, and sincerely cares for their family.

And all three of those elements perfectly applied to me as well.

Even if it were false, it meant there was no problem in performing the role of the family’s ancestor.

Feeling a somewhat subtle emotion at that irony, I finished my conversation with Cheong Soha, left the seat, and departed.

Now, it was time to take steps forward anew.

“So, why did you suddenly call me out?”

[Because there was something the two of us needed to discuss.]

Cheong Joohwa, who had left her seat under the pretext of a headache, soon returned to the room where she first opened her eyes and held a close meeting with the Azure Dragon.

The topic the Azure Dragon brought up was none other than Han Kangyoon.

[I’ve said until I’m blue in the face that that guy carries something special.]

“…You did, didn’t you?”

Han Kangyoon was an odd person, and truly a strange person.

But ultimately, there could be no disagreement that he was fundamentally remarkable.

[At first, I thought only that. I also considered him, like Cheongwoon, to be someone with a vessel different from others.]

“So, are you saying your thoughts are a bit different now?”

[Yes. He is strange.]

The nuance of the word wasn’t special. However, the Azure Dragon’s attitude while saying it was extremely grave.

[Not special, but strange.]

“Even if you say that…… in what way?”

Of course, Han Kangyoon is a being different from others. However, Cheong Joohwa could hardly understand the difference between the concepts of ‘special’ and ‘strange’ that the Azure Dragon spoke of.

[First, his growth speed.]

“Growth speed?”

[Usually, geniuses refer to those who are faster, more skilled, and can fly higher than others. You could also be considered as such.]

“It’s a bit embarrassing if you put it so bluntly…….”

But since that wasn’t important now, Cheong Joohwa began to listen to the Azure Dragon’s words again.

[However, he is a bit different. You too must have felt it at some point while being by his side.]

Han Kangyoon’s growth was closer to following a predetermined process rather than progress through effort.

Not jumping toward footholds located higher up, but footholds aligning before him in order.

The Azure Dragon felt a deep sense of incongruity at that fact.

“Now that I hear it, it does seem that way……?”

[That’s not all. Even excluding that, the power he possesses is strange.]

I thought it could happen once or twice.

Or even if it repeated, I thought it was simply my imagination.

However, through this incident, the Azure Dragon finally became convinced.

[He clearly deviates from reason.]

Wielding Arts that a human body cannot handle, dying yet not dying, and sweeping up everything in sight without being constrained by the size of his vessel.

At that, the Azure Dragon couldn’t help but voice one unbelievable possibility.

[I think he has violated a Forbidden Law.]

At those words, Cheong Joohwa’s eyes blinked rapidly.