Chapter 104 – LV.? Mage Troll – [One]

Seo Rayeon left Happy Village a week later.

During that week, Seo Rayeon provided ‘angelic care’ to the people released from petrification and the five men brought from the dungeon.

While doing so, she hardly mingled with the people of Happy Village. It seemed she disliked interacting with those who remembered her from her time as Kim Rayeon—that is, from a time when she was more immature, less beautiful, and less superior than she is now.

Thus, Seo Rayeon wanted to sever ties with her past self. She also immensely liked her newly acquired angelic body, a fact proven by her purchasing four mirrors for her own use with the Contribution Points she had earned.

Seo Yun found it difficult to tolerate such behavior. Before Seo Rayeon left, she advised her.

“Being of the Angel race isn’t that special. So, I wish you wouldn’t act so high and mighty.”

And Seo Rayeon shook her head.

“It seems plenty special to me?”

“I don’t know? It’s just a game race.”

“But the meteorite doesn’t change a person’s race without any criteria, right? Unni was reborn as an Angel because you were noble. Your race was given to match your great final act.”

Seo Rayeon continued with a smug smile.

“Of course, my case is different. I know this appearance and even past achievements aren’t truly mine. So, from now on… I’m going to find what is mine.”

“By ‘what is yours,’ you mean your followers?”

“Right.”

Seo Yun frowned. It was something she had learned all too well in just a week, but Seo Rayeon enjoyed being praised for her appearance and being an object of worship as an Angel or future Goddess. Things Seo Yun found utterly detestable.

Yet, in fact, that very difference was also proof that Seo Rayeon was a copy of this side.

‘I have a strong desire to be recognized among people. That’s why I like being praised too. But beyond that, my dislike for being treated as an Angel or future Goddess or praised for my appearance stems from a visceral revulsion. Seo Rayeon lacks that revulsion, so she can purely enjoy all of it. As an extension of her desire to be recognized by people…’

The reason the other side lacks that visceral revulsion, unlike this side, is already known.

According to Seo Rayeon herself, the Doppelganger’s ability only copied the memories of the angel girl Seo Yun’s body and could not copy the memories of her previous body. Her memories of Seo Yun start from the Hearth Goddess’s illusion, or so she said?

Thus, Seo Rayeon doesn’t even know that this side was originally male. Whether it’s because the thoughts this side had in the past weren’t copied exactly, or due to the memory confusion Doppelgangers supposedly experience, Seo Rayeon believed this side was a female firefighter from the start. She only felt that her body had changed from its original state.

Ultimately, Seo Rayeon, while a copy of this side, clearly considered herself female. With differing inclinations on top of that, she had similar desires to this side but significant differences in her actions and thoughts.

Seo Rayeon approached. The girl pulled this side into a hug and whispered.

“Let me say it again, thank you.”

“For what?”

“For lending me this appearance, for not kicking me out immediately telling me to get lost, and for various things… It really feels like I’ve gained an unni. Come visit the neighboring village later? I’ll treat you incredibly well, promise.”

Having said that, Seo Rayeon stubbornly left. She headed to the neighboring village with the people who had chosen to follow her.

Then, something white began falling from the sky. Someone who had come out with Seo Yun to see her off muttered.

“It’s snowing again…”

No one welcomed the snow falling now. Snow falling from autumn to spring was now nothing but common, tiresome white trash, more frequent than rain.

Seo Yun was also frowning, wondering why it had to snow just as they were leaving.

Seo Rayeon stopped and recited a spell.

“Warmth of the Hearth.”

Then, a red aura spread around her. It was unmistakably the Hearth Priest’s spell that warms one’s surroundings.

“The Angel…?”

People who had been walking while shivering turned their heads to look at Seo Rayeon. Then, they all bowed their heads deeply toward her in unison.

Especially in the eyes of those who had been petrified and released, there was profound astonishment and reverence. Those with intact memories of the old world had not yet fully accepted that this world had become a fantasy game. To them, a fantasy game Priest’s spell would truly feel like a prophet’s miracle.

Watching the entire scene, Seo Yun clicked her tongue inwardly.

‘She casts one spell and puts on a damn show.’

That wasn’t the only thing she disliked right away.

Everyone leaving was carrying their own bundles of luggage, but Seo Rayeon alone carried not a single bundle. Considering the girl had 11 Health and wouldn’t tire from carrying heavy things, it was beyond irritating; it was absurd.

Was she worried that carrying luggage would damage her dignity as an Angel? Perhaps she intended to reign as a theocratic ruler, following the Priest’s Flavor Text from the Rulebook. Maybe she was already trying to secure authority…

Anyway, Seo Rayeon seemed to like this side, but Seo Yun did not like that side. Her smugness after changing bodies, and her attempt to psychologically dominate people in pitiful situations and reign like a cult leader, were both grating to the point of making one’s eyes sting.

However, Seo Yun did not stop any of those actions. Because in her view, Seo Rayeon was, in any case, a necessary presence for the people.

The five men who had lost their livelihoods, and the people who had been stone statues for years and were suddenly released into a harsh world without warning, all needed something to rely on. A high-level Priest had ample ability and will to help them.

Also, the neighboring village… That place had become even harder to live in than before because its leader, Kim Jongil, had been killed, and exchanges with Happy Village had been cut off since that day. As it was, there was no guarantee they would survive this winter.

Seo Yun thought it wasn’t her fault, but she was still concerned. Seo Rayeon going there was welcome. The presence of a Hearth Priest who could supply fire to everyone would be the greatest help for that village’s survival.

The snow fell more fiercely, and soon the figures of Seo Rayeon and her followers were no longer visible.Seo Yun returned to the village and spoke to the bracelet.

“Rayeon just left.”

The Troll that appeared before her nodded.

“Is that so. She kept that promise at least.”

“Since I’ve called you anyway, can I ask one thing?”

“Ask.”

“Gaeulbi keeps pestering me, wanting to know why she gets special treatment from you. Can I tell her? Things like the reason she needs to become a Goddess, or the completion of the world, stuff like that.”

The Troll nodded.

“You may tell her.”

“Really, is it okay?”

“As long as you don’t spread it to just anyone.”

Oh Haengbok summoned the Prophet Angel from the lamp and asked.

“Me, the fate that the sun will kill me… have I overcome it now?”

And the Prophet Angel answered.

「No」

“Then inevitably…”

「To repeat the prophecy made earlier, the sun will kill you」

Oh Haengbok let out a sigh, revealing his disappointment.

‘I thought I had overcome that fate by surviving the invasion of that sun-like shining ship last time, but it seems that’s not the case.’

A week ago, Gaeulbi asked Seo Yun this question.

The Troll gave the bracelet only to you, and you seem to follow its words, but why exactly? Are you perhaps being threatened by that Troll?

However, Seo Yun was reluctant to tell her teammates about the Goddess or the Meteorite. She judged that the conversations with the Troll were information that required a kind of confidentiality.

So when she didn’t answer, that damn Chimpanzee spent the whole week pestering her to please explain, didn’t she? Harassed like that, Seo Yun finally offered the answer to the question she had heard earlier today.

After hearing the explanation, Gaeulbi raised one eyebrow.

“So… for the world to be completed, three Gods must appear?”

“Right. Only then will the Meteorite stop arbitrarily manipulating the world, they say.”

Han Siwoo asked.

“Then does that mean Seo Rayeon has to become the Goddess of Beauty?”

Seo Yun shook her head.

“If someone has to become the Goddess of Beauty, the top candidate is me.”

“No, by anyone’s measure, Seo Rayeon suits the Goddess of Beauty, doesn’t she?”

“Both she and I have 10 points in Charm.”

At Seo Yun’s words, Han Siwoo made a strange, twisted expression.

“I’m talking about personality, not looks.”

Seo Yun cleared her throat and spoke.

“Given Seo Rayeon’s personality, she shouldn’t be made the Goddess of Beauty.”

“Why?”

“The Goddess of Beauty is the first of the three Chief Gods whose position must be filled, because only with her can the invasion of the Final Boss Skeleton be stopped. The Goddess of Beauty is a position that can completely control things like the Kingdom of Immortals, Liches, and Vampires. Putting that Lunatic Seo Rayeon in that position is unsettling.”

“But if she becomes the Goddess of Beauty, wouldn’t she have to act like a real evil Goddess? The Meteorite might demand actions fitting the role even from Gods.”

“If necessary, I’ll have to do that.”

“The Goddess of Beauty we met in the Dungeon was truly insane. It’s hard to imagine you acting like her.”

“Well, I’ll just act.”

“To force something that doesn’t suit your personality… isn’t it mentally torturous to keep up actions that don’t fit you?”

At Han Siwoo’s words, Seo Yun sighed.

“I don’t want sympathy for a future that hasn’t even arrived yet. Got it?”

“The Rulebook also said becoming a God isn’t a joyful thing.”

Why is this bastard acting up like this? Seo Yun frowned and looked at Gaeulbi.

Somehow, this Chimpanzee, who was the one demanding the explanation, had no proper reaction. She seemed lost in thought, but well, Seo Yun decided not to pay attention. She’d told her what she asked to be told, so she’d probably stop pestering her now.

“Ms. Seo Yun? Are you there?”

A voice came from outside the tent.

Seo Yun got up and went outside the tent. A village Warrior Player was standing there.

“Do you have business with me?”

“Well, Ms. Seo Yun, you’re close with that Barbarian Warrior, right? Could you perhaps go and talk him out of it…”

Did Arnold cause some trouble? Seo Yun obediently followed the Warrior Player as requested.

And what Seo Yun saw as she arrived was a crowd of people gathered as if to watch something, and the figures of Arnold holding a Greatsword and Oh Haengbok holding an industrial sledgehammer.

The two excessively muscular Warriors were facing each other with their weapons pointed. Seo Yun flinched, wondering if they were about to duel, but looking closely, that wasn’t it.

“Neither is holding their original weapon. The Chief is even wearing two Strength-reducing rings. They’re probably going to Spar, but is there a need to stop them?”

At Seo Yun’s question, the Warrior Player answered.

“What if the Chief loses? Wouldn’t that be a big problem?”

“Why?”

“If he’s defeated in front of everyone, his authority as a Leader will be diminished. The title of Incheon or Korea’s strongest Player would also be taken by that Barbarian Warrior…”

And since he couldn’t speak English and had no confidence in persuading that intimidating and gruff Barbarian Warrior, he was asking Ms. Seo Yun to do something, so Seo Yun nodded.

She was approaching the two just before they clashed.

“Begin!”

Amid someone’s shout, two massive pieces of metal collided. Oh Haengbok and Arnold had swung their respective weapons.

Perhaps because both had their Strength restricted, there were no shockwaves or eardrum-shattering collisions, but a loud noise still erupted.

Since it had already started, it couldn’t be stopped. Seo Yun shrugged and silently watched their Sparring match.