Chapter 132: Giant Colony (2) |
TL/Editor: Rungir
Schedule: none
Illustrations: none
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"Then, I wish you luck, hero."
As she spoke, the figure of the old woman, laden with earrings and necklaces, began to fade and then vanished without a trace.
"......"
The silver-haired woman stared at the spot where the old woman had disappeared.
After some time passed,
Rain Dranir, standing beside her, asked.
The woman's face was slightly flushed.
The old woman who had disappeared before their eyes was none other than the entities from the Seventh Heaven, Iova and Teutican.
Iova had given Rain the advice she desperately needed at that moment, and upon hearing it, Rain immediately awakened to a new realm of power.
She had made a tremendous leap forward in an instant, which naturally left her feeling elated.
"We need to recruit new members."
The woman, still fixating on where Iova had vanished, spoke.
'She definitely told us to hurry.'
With that thought, she recalled Iova's advice.
-You should act quickly on whatever you're thinking. The future is changing faster than you expect. If you delay, you'll miss out on everything.
Thus, the woman had decided to shift her original plan of purifying what they had gained from defeating the 'Serpent that Gnaws on Roots' to recruiting new members.
Nothing was more critical than not losing any of her comrades.
"Are you talking about that magician? Didn't he already reject us?"
"It wasn't a complete rejection. He just said he had things to do before joining. And this time, it's someone else."
It wasn't Elysis Desire.
She still needed more time before awakening.
That left only one person.
"We're going to the Giant Clusters."
The woman turned her head north as she spoke.
That's where the new member they needed to recruit was.
---
In the Baekseong Palace's small council room,
All the royals were seated around the round table, just like last time.
The only difference from before was that it was Utekan who had convened the meeting, not Zion.
"I didn't realize royal meetings were held so frequently."
The first to speak among the royals was Rubrious.
With his characteristic gentle smile, he looked at Utekan.
Despite his words, Rubrious knew exactly why another royal meeting had been convened.
In fact, everyone there knew the reason.
'The conclusion of this succession contest.'
After all the royals returned to the imperial city from subjugating the calamity, the Founding Festival began, preventing any proper discussion.
It was natural to gather again now that the Founding Festival had ended.
"Are we not here to discuss the winner of the calamity subjugation and the privileges that will be granted? Let's wrap this up quickly. I don't want to be here longer than necessary."
At Rubrious's words, Diana, who had been wearing a sour expression, spoke up.
She was obviously in a bad mood because the winner of the throne contest had already been determined, and it wasn't her.
"Originally, the privilege we all agreed on was taking the lead at the upcoming 'World Conference.'"
Evelyn, who had been listening silently with an unreadable expression, finally spoke.
Her gaze then shifted towards someone.
Following her gaze, the other royals also focused their attention on one person: Zion.
"There seems to be no objection that Zion is the winner of this contest... So, let's agree to give Zion the leadership role at the World Conference and conclude the meeting."
The royals remained silent.
They wanted to protest a hundred times over but couldn't.
The difference between Zion and themselves in the subjugation contest was too clear.
Two days.
That was the time difference between when Zion completed his subjugation and when Utekan and Diana did.
They might have argued if it were the same day, but with the date changed, they couldn't.
They had no choice but to accept the outcome.
But then,
"I'm the one who called this meeting, so why are you trying to end it on your own?"
Utekan, who had been quietly observing, spoke up.
"Weren't we gathered here for this purpose? Now that it's achieved, there seems to be no need to continue the meeting."
"Who said that? Did I say I called the meeting for this?"
Utekan's words colored the other royals with confusion.
Answering their puzzled looks, Utekan slowly continued.
"A few days ago, I received some information from the Giant Clusters. An entire tribe was wiped out by a sudden monster attack."
The tribe that was annihilated was one of the giants that had pledged loyalty to him, so it was a significant loss. However, Utekan didn't seem too troubled.
Because he discovered something interesting.
"The peculiar thing is that these monsters were moving systematically, as if controlled by someone."
Utekan's words sparked realization in the other royals, their eyes lighting up.
"Could it be..."
Monsters under control.
It reminded them of the calamity, the monster horde that Zion had recently subjugated.
“What do you think, Zion?”
Utekan asked, smirking at Zion. Although he posed the question, he was already certain. He knew that the monsters showing up in the Giant Clusters were one of the seven calamities, the Monster Horde.
The ability to control monsters, especially at a legion scale, was incredibly rare. As far as he knew, there was only one being in the entire continent capable of such a feat: the ‘Monster King Horrible.’ And this implied something significant: Zion’s failure in subduing the calamity.
Once again, all eyes turned to Zion. Zion naturally brushed off their gazes and chuckled to himself. ‘So it begins.’ There was no confusion in Zion’s eyes. After all, he had intended this situation from the start.
A trap. All of this was a trap set to hunt Utekan. ‘Agreeing too quickly might arouse suspicion.Zion felt the need to make Utekan accept the situation more naturally.
“What are you talking about? Are you saying I failed to subdue the Monster Horde?” “So, you’re denying it? The Monster Horde you claimed to have subjugated is right there in the Giant Clusters.”
At Zion’s response, Utekan laughed even harder. “Is there any proof they’re the same monsters? It’s not uncommon for monsters to group up and attack giant tribes in the north.” “But there has never been an organized legion like this before, moving systematically.”
“Then there must be a new leader for these monsters. I certainly executed Horrible at the Steel Fortress.” “Sure, you could think that. But tell me, isn’t it much more likely that the same rare being survived and is now causing havoc in the Giant Clusters rather than a new one popping up so soon?”
Utekan’s words began to sway the other royals, and they started to nod in agreement. Utekan’s explanation seemed more plausible to them. “Does this mean… the throne competition is invalidated?” Dian’s voice came out cautiously.
In contrast, her eyes were brighter than before. If Utekan’s words were true, this could invalidate the entire ordeal and even crush Zion’s momentum.
However, contrary to his previous statements, Utekan shook his head.
“No, we can’t say that yet. Horrible’s existence hasn’t been confirmed, so there’s still a chance Zion’s claim is correct. Slim, but still a chance.”
“So what should we do?” At that, Rubrious, looking intrigued, asked Utekan.
Utekan, sensing the leadership of the meeting gradually leaning towards him, continued with a pleased smile on his face.
"How about this? Zion re-subdues the Monster Horde that appeared in the Giant Clusters. If they're indeed the original Monster Horde, it's Zion's problem to solve anyway. And if not, it clears any doubts, which is better for Zion, isn't it?"
This was practically assuming Zion's failure in subduing the calamity as a fact and offering him a chance as if bestowing mercy.
"If Zion subdues the monsters attacking the Giant Clusters, we'll never speak of this issue again."
Utekan looked at Zion as if asking what he would do.
'He has no choice but to accept.'
Utekan was confident Zion had failed in subduing the Monster King.
The current proposal was akin to covering up that failure, so there was no reason for Zion not to accept it.
A brief silence followed, and all other royals' gazes focused on Zion, who was unrelated to the Giant Clusters and the Monster Horde, waiting for his answer as outsiders.
Soon after,
"…Let's do it."
Zion broke the silence with his acceptance.
'Done.'
Utekan's eyes began to gleam with a terrible murderous intent deep within.
"Then I'm counting on you."
Utekan, hiding that murderous intent with a laugh, addressed Zion and stood up from his seat.
Having achieved his purpose, there was no reason to continue the meeting.
But as he turned to leave, Utekan was unaware.
"Likewise."
Zion's eyes, swirling with four black stars, were piercing through the murderous intent Utekan harbored.
"I'm going to kill Zion Agnes."
This was the first thing Utekan said to Serkia, looking at her in the Jaseong Palace's office after the royal meeting ended.
He too had known from a messenger sent by Serkia a few days ago.
That Diral had been killed by a woman with red eyes, under Zion Agnes's command.
Already on high alert about Zion, the moment Utekan heard this news, he was certain of his decision.
'We can't leave him be any longer.'
The fact that Diral was discovered meant that Utekan, Serkia, and the other Oma spirits could also have their identities exposed at any time.
Of course, it would undoubtedly come at a great sacrifice, and he might even die, but the risk posed by leaving Zion Agnes alive was much greater.
The plan that had been in place for over a hundred years could crumble.
No, it was bound to go awry.
"So, you deliberately sent Zion Agnes towards the Giant Clusters?"
Serkia asked Utekan in a grave tone.
"Yes."
Utekan briefly replied, nodding his head. In fact, using the appearance of the Monster Horde in the Giant Clusters, he could have nullified this throne competition and dealt a significant blow to Zion. But Utekan chose not to.
'After all, I have to cut off his lifeline this time.'
That's why he gave him a chance and directed him towards the Giant Clusters, practically Utekan's own stronghold.
All that was left was to wait for Zion Agnes to enter the Giant Clusters.
"Everything is perfect."
It couldn't get any better than this. It was as if the heavens had laid out a plan for him to kill Zion Agnes.
'Now it's time to put an end to this cursed fate, Zion Agnes.'
Utekan's eyes had already shifted to the distant Jaseong Palace, visible as a mere dot from the window.
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