Chapter 446: Archangel’s Tear (8)

Before Lennok could even utter a word, Dreyfus casually turned his gaze behind him.

Flarapap!!

The orb of talismans floating above their heads shattered, and Je-byeok’s body slowly descended from within.

Surprisingly, Je-byeok’s body, which had been covered in wounds, was now completely healed.

Gapseon had deliberately stalled for time, healing Je-byeok, in case Soryu couldn’t give up on Je-byeok and attacked.

Je-byeok, whose muscular upper body was exposed through his torn dragon robe, said nothing, his head bowed.

“Where your time will stop today… it won’t be hard to guess, will it?”

“…….”

Seeing Je-byeok remain silent, Gapseon shook his head.

“Don’t cling to wicked artifacts; look at reality. How long do you think you can live as you please?”

“…That’s absurd. Are you, who has lived far more arbitrarily than I, lecturing me?”

Yanikus Barbaria let out a low laugh.

“If you want to chatter like that, then save my grandson right now. Make that rogue, who’s still watching my disgrace, kneel.”

Despite his quiet tone, his words were incredibly sharp.

It was only natural for the old man’s pride, who almost sacrificed his own life, unable to choose between the artifact and his grandson, to be trampled.

But Gapseon, knowing this, still firmly rebuked him.

“The reason I’ve generously taken you in today is because I believed you weren’t someone who should die in a place like this, even if you are weakened.”

Saying so, Gapseon pulled a small paper doll from his pocket and threw it to Je-byeok.

Dreyfus spoke, watching Je-byeok naturally grasp it.

“I heard you rejected the Lighthouse’s contact a few times. They must still be waiting, no?”

“…Now, this Barbaria is supposed to bow his head to the Eyes of Blue?”

“There are others besides you.”

“…!”

“It’s not that those with the same intentions gather. It’s simply that those who understand each other’s different desires eventually gather under one banner.”

Je-byeok fell silent at Gapseon’s calm words.

Dreyfus spoke, watching Je-byeok slowly turn away.

“It’s not too late for anything. The Lighthouse Keeper will be waiting for your decision.”

There was no answer. He simply bowed silently and carefully embraced his dead grandson’s body.

Between affection and hatred. Even though his grandson resented him until his dying breath, he was still the last of his blood kin.

Gapseon also added no more words.

“…I hope you make a careful choice.”

Whoosh!!

Je-byeok’s body transformed into a flash of light and vanished beyond the plain.

Was he planning to return to Kaiushyu to recover from his injuries and the aftermath of this incident?

His disappearance without even a word of greeting clearly showed how arrogant and brazen Je-byeok was.

It also showed how highly Gapseon evaluated him, trying to draw him into the Eyes of Blue.

Ultimately, Yanikus Barbaria left without revealing any answer or emotion until the very end.

Yet, Lennok somehow felt he would see that arrogant man again in a different setting.

“It’s not a new thing for those who reach higher Hierarchy to suffer from excessive mental and physical exaltation.”

Gapseon abruptly spoke to Lennok, who had been staring at the spot where Je-byeok vanished.

“They simply gave up everything, knowing they couldn’t live long. But their skill is trustworthy. If he joins the Eyes of Blue, he’ll be a great help.”

He wasn’t wrong. Lennok had no intention of doubting Je-byeok’s capabilities, who, in a weakened state with a hostage, endured a 3-on-1 battle and even pushed back.

If Soryu hadn’t toyed with his grandson’s life at the end, the battle would have unfolded differently.

But this was not the time to offer his thoughts on Gapseon’s words.

“…I don’t know why you’re telling me that.”

Lennok, adjusting his mask, turned his head towards Gapseon and replied in an unpleasant tone.

“I have no interest in whether Yanikus Barbaria lives or dies. You should know that.”

After all, Lennok was here as a space-type sorcerer belonging to Pandemonium.

No matter how powerful the opponent, even an 8-level transcendent, it was right not to be friendly if they belonged to the Eyes of Blue.

However, how to escape this situation was now the problem he had to worry about.

But Gapseon, despite Lennok’s lukewarm reaction, burst into hearty laughter.

“Well, you don’t have to be so wary; I have no intention of capturing and killing you here. I don’t have the time for that, either.”

Gapseon tilted his head slightly, casually uttering chilling words.

With his head tilt, hundreds of talismans attached to his mask swayed, tracing faint arcs.

“In the talismanic art I practice, we believe that a great law cycles every 45 years.”

“…….”

“Therefore, I can roughly tell if the person I face has gone through that cycle once.”

Lennok, understanding the meaning of Gapseon’s words, narrowed his eyes behind his mask.

He couldn’t understand the precise meaning of the talismanic art as a magical formula, but the odd man’s words were, in the end, very simple.

The speaker was saying that he knew Lennok was a wizard not yet forty years old.

“Young, truly young… To be a space-type special-attribute sorcerer not yet even in his forties. I’ve spent no small amount of time on this plain, but it’s a talent I never imagined.”

The red eyes drawn on the talisman-covered mask glowed strangely.

“So much so that I can’t believe such talent has only now emerged and joined Pandemonium.”

Silence fell. The atmosphere slowly heated with tension.

In the sharp air, like walking on a knife’s edge, Lennok also slowly drew out his magic.

‘This is different from Je-byeok’s situation. I can escape.’

Gapseon was clearly a much more powerful sorcerer than Je-byeok, but it was unlikely he possessed Je-byeok’s mobility.

Unlike Je-byeok, who was an 8-level physical ability user, Gapseon’s magical art involved manifesting a mobile fortress using talismans as a medium.

Then, wasn’t it natural that his mobility would be inferior to a physical ability user?

‘Since Je-byeok has returned, the Kaiushyu lockdown should be lifted. I’ll collect Tucker’s belongings, call for transport at an appropriate time, and return to Vulcan…’

Engaging in a wasteful battle with Gapseon here would be a bad move.

From Lennok’s perspective, having a foot in the Eyes of Blue, there was no need to side with Pandemonium and eliminate the Watchers.

It was preferable for the two forces to reveal their true intentions and maintain a balance of power.

However, Gapseon opened his mouth before Lennok could finish his mental calculations and act.

“It’s regrettable, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be the Eyes of Blue.”

“…What?”

“If whoever remains at the end can look forward to the next, wouldn’t that be good enough?”

Dreyfus said so, slowly walking backward.

“In that sense, my thoughts differ from the Lighthouse Keeper’s… but since that child said she would bear even that, I will simply move as she wishes.”

Along with his words, the talismans that composed Gapseon’s entire body began to scatter little by little, fluttering into the air.

At the same time, the magnificent wall of talismans behind him slowly disappeared.

Even though a clear human presence was unmistakably felt within the mass of talismans, no human form was visible anywhere beyond the thousands of fluttering talisman pieces scattered in the air.

“I suspected you might be a spy from the Order Alliance, but if that were the case, you would have tried to intervene in some way much earlier. Having confirmed that, it’s enough.”

“…Order Alliance?”

“There must be a reason why young sorcerers like you are only now appearing in the world.”

A raspy voice whispered through the talismans, completely ignoring Lennok’s words.

“Incidentally, I hear there’s a young wizard in the Lighthouse who broke through the Labyrinth and met Jindun.”

“Wait, that’s not…”

But Lennok immediately understood the meaning of those words and sweat beaded on his forehead beneath his mask.

“Was it Evan…? I will personally take a seat in the Lighthouse this time and see if you would make a good opponent for him.”

“…….”

“If the opportunity arises. Let’s meet again on a pleasant day.”

With those words, Gapseon’s entire body became talismans, shattering into pieces.

Chwarararak!!

The scattered talisman fragments spun in a circle in the sky, then disappeared as if nothing had happened.

High-grade talismanic art, whose principles were difficult to deduce even when seen with one’s own eyes. Was it a form of moving the caster’s body?

Although the conversation took an unexpected turn due to the opponent’s strange nature, it was clear how powerful Gapseon was regardless.

The Eyes of Blue’s main combat force in the Western Continent.

Were such monsters moving for the Lighthouse in branches other than the main contingent led by Lapis?

Working with the Eyes of Blue, Lennok had suspected that there was more than met the eye, but he never expected to encounter such an odd and significant figure in this setting.

What method did they use to make powerful superhumans, wandering the Western Continent, join the Eyes of Blue one by one?

Even more surprising was the attitude of already joined beings like Gapseon, who actively persuaded people like Je-byeok to join the organization.

Hadn’t Je-byeok also seemed swayed not by Lapis herself, but by the persuasion of a transcendent like Gapseon?

Lapis was presumed to have sharp discernment, but this was beyond imagination.

Lennok concealed his presence and headed towards the plain where his dead teammates lay scattered, gathering his thoughts.

‘Gapseon suspected I was a spy from the Order Alliance.’

All he knew about Lennok was that he was a young, space-type special-attribute sorcerer.

Yet, if he could infer and suspect the Order Alliance from just that information, there could only be one reason.

It would be impossible unless the Order Alliance had sorcerers who directly handled space-type magic systems.

‘Moreover, he already knew Evan’s name. Of all things…’

It wasn’t strange that Evan’s name, who dealt with the drug lord and broke through the labyrinth, was known within the Eyes of Blue.

Even if information concealment was good when the drug lord was dealt with, it would be impossible to hide the labyrinth incident, which involved considerable skilled individuals.

The problem was that Gapseon was comparing Evan and Victor as young, talented wizards on the same level.

If Gapseon reacted like this after only seeing Victor for the first time, then other Watchers or Pandemonium members probably wouldn’t be any different.

Perhaps the day would come when he would truly have to play both Evan and Victor simultaneously in front of everyone.

Lennok let out a small sigh at the gloomy speculation that made his head ache just thinking about it.

“Hmph…”

Perhaps it was fortunate that this incident wasn’t without its gains.

Although the situation became complicated by encountering strong opponents one after another, he ultimately achieved his initial objective.

Lennok quietly looked down at the Archangel’s Tear, the radiant jewel in his hand, then slowly turned his back.

It was no exaggeration to say that not a single thing went as originally planned, but in the end, Lennok obtained the artifact of the Old World.

He would have plenty of time to consider how to handle it.

It was time to return to Vulcan.

He rummaged through the deceased Tucker’s belongings and found a long-range communicator.

Among the communication records in the communicator, he found a few recently contacted numbers and called them. On one of them, he found the person he was looking for.

“You want me to come now? Well, it’s different from the agreement, but the payment was made in advance, so I understand.”

Grrrroooom!!

Tucker and his other comrades must have used different means of transport to get to Kaiushyu.

It was only natural that the person in charge, Tucker, would have contact numbers for relevant parties.

A heavy truck, of a different caliber than the jeep Lennok had arrived in, pulled up shortly after.

The middle-aged man who got out of the truck scratched his belly and narrowed his cloudy eyes at Lennok.

“Your face and the number of people seem different from when you first arrived…”

“…….”

“No, were you even wearing a mask like that in the first place…? Well, it doesn’t matter.”

The man yawned widely, gestured towards the back of the truck, and got back in.

“Hurry up and get in. I’m a bit busy; I have to stop somewhere on the way back.”

“…Understood.”

Without a word, Lennok climbed into the back of the truck, and the driver immediately set off.

The truck quickly sped away from the plain, which was now a mess with the bodies of Tucker, Rick, and Olga.

From the back of the cargo area, which was set up for a few people to sit, Lennok watched the back of the driver’s head with interest.

Even though he called using Tucker’s communicator, the driver didn’t ask where he was.

He couldn’t have failed to see the bodies strewn across the plain. Was he pretending not to see, or did he truly not see them?

It was clear that this truck was being operated in a more peculiar way than expected.

‘No, does it even matter anymore…?’

Even if the driver tried a trick and attacked Lennok, he could simply crush him on the spot and find another means of transport.

Hadn’t the things Lennok needed to worry about significantly decreased since he acquired the Archangel’s Tear?

All that remained was to report the completed mission to Hylaea and decide how to dispose of the tear.

How to get back to Vulcan isn’t a big problem at all.

Thinking that, Lennok leaned against the truck’s cargo wall and quietly exhaled.

Originally, he had intended to use Davi to check on the famous strong individuals of the Western Continent, but it wasn’t as easy as he thought.

“…Haa.”

His body’s tension relaxed at the thought that the operation was over, and fatigue washed over him.

Fortunately, Lennok didn’t have to fight at full power, but even without that, the operation hadn’t gone smoothly, and a complete mess had ensued.

How many times had the simple plan of robbing Je-byeok’s vault and escaping grown far larger than anticipated?

Considering Gapseon, the 8-level Watcher from the Eyes of Blue, intervening at the end, it was not strange that Lennok was now suffering from considerable fatigue.

‘I need to act… but I can’t help it.’

Wearing the mask, it was impossible to smoke a cigarette.

Lennok rummaged in his pocket and chewed on a few of the elixirs he had stolen from Je-byeok’s vault that were most helpful for fatigue recovery.

A sharp ringing sensation echoed in the back of his head, and his vision felt a little clearer.

Given the truck driver’s seemingly unwell condition, he shouldn’t let his guard down too soon.

But perhaps because his body was steeped in fatigue, or because he was in the warm truck cargo area, the surrounding time seemed to flow incredibly slowly.

Crackle…

Along with a jarring noise, as if a tape was rewinding, he felt his consciousness being stretched.

Was this a sign of falling asleep?

Lennok raised a hand to lightly slap his cheek, but seeing his own hand enter his vision a moment too late, he immediately realized.

No, that wasn’t it. It wasn’t a misconception; his very senses were slowing down.

“…!!!”

Only then did Lennok’s eyes flash as he realized he wasn’t just sleepy, but that time around him was actually slowing down infinitely.

Not manipulating space-time, but an acceleration of consciousness so rapid that it was impossible to gauge proper speed.

Lennok had experienced this phenomenon a few times before.

Hadn’t this phenomenon occurred when Myeong himself appeared before Olivera during the Cartel executive meeting?

“You look very tired.”

The moment he realized, the man was standing before Lennok.