Chapter 329: Let’s Head to the North! (1/2)
Something was strange. Kang Chul-In, who woke up after 48 hours, was a totally different person from before. For Dorian, the feeling he had when he saw Kang Chul-In was extremely hard to explain. If someone had to describe it, they’d say that Kang Chul-In looked wiser than before. Immeasurable wisdom and insight seemed to radiate from his eyes. His atmosphere was no longer that of ‘dominance,’ but more of ‘the Supreme Being’s composure.’
“What… happened…? No, that aside...” Dorian asked cautiously. “Are you… really Kang Chul-In…?”
Kang Chul-In replied.
“In your eyes.”
“...?”
“Do I still...”
“...?”
“Look like Kang Chul-In?” Kang Chul-In asked, eerily.
Shiver! A chill ran down Dorian’s spine.
“You… who are you...”
“Pfft.”
“...!”
“Nave.” Kang Chul-In smirked. “Why, are you surprised?”
“...!”
“Kek… that’s why you are called an idiot. It’s so easy to trick you.”
That cunning smile. He was the Kang Chul-In that Dorian knew.
“Kang Chul-In...”
“Learn to be more skeptical, idiot.”
“Hey...”
“How many times do you want to be...”
“Heyyyyyyyy!”
“...!”
“Hey, you bastardddddd!” Dorian screamed. “You bastard, you…!”
“Who told you to be so nave?”
“Urgh… Urghhhh…!”
“Tsk tsk.”
Despite Dorian’s roar, Kang Chul-In was as easy going as ever.
Tremble tremble…! As a result, Dorian’s body trembled as he tried to suppress his simmering rage.
If only I could just beat that guy up…!
He wanted to punch Kang Chul-In in the face. Of course, he didn’t, or rather, he couldn't. If he did, Kang Chul-In would take out a horrifying revenge on him.
“Argh!” Dorian exploded in anger.
“Hmm… seems like someone is quite furious, huh?” Kang Chul-In made fun of Dorian as he twitched his lips.
“If you were me, you would be angry too.”
“I wonder?”
“...”
“The problem began when you asked whether I am Kang Chul-In.”
“R-Really?”
“I am me. Why did you ask such a retarded question?”
“Hmm… t-that is… you look… somewhat different...”
“Like how?”
“The atmosphere...”
“...?”
“So right… hmm… How do I put it… anyways… urgh...” Dorian began to ramble.
“You don’t even know what you want to say, do you?”
“I do!”
“Answer my question then?”
“That is… if one’s friend froze in place for 48 hours and woke up with a change in ambiance, anyone would think like me.”
“48 hours?”
“Yeah.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“...”
“I do.”
“And you’ve definitely changed.”
“That...” Kang Chul-In replied. “…Is to be expected.”
“Expected?”
“This suit.”
“The one you’re wearing now? The Ectoplasm Oversuit that the monkey mentioned?”
“Yes.”
“What about it?”
“Inside this...”
“...”
“The life of the Emperor of Blood and Iron of the ancient empire is recorded down.”
Kang Chul-In revealed all the details of his conversation with the Emperor of Blood and Iron.
“Gasp…!”
“I could absorb all of the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memories – from birth to death – from this Ectoplasm Oversuit.”
“...!”
“Moreover, in the collection of memories...”
“H-Huh…?”
“Also lies the secret about this world.”
“By secret, you mean...”
“The Great Summoning.”
“...!”
“And the system.” Kang Chul-In did not try to hide anything. “You and I, the other Lords, and the explorers… why were we Earthlings summoned to this continent? The answer lies in the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memory from 1,000 years ago.”
“Gasp…!” Dorian was shocked to his core. “T-Then… Kang Chul-In, you… you know everything? About this world’s secret?”
“Of course.”
“Huh...”
“What we’ve been experiencing… is part of a giant project that was planned 1,000 years ago.”
“I-I don’t really get you… Kang Chul-In… I don’t understand...”
“If you want, I will explain step by step.”
“Hmm…!”
“However.” Kang Chul-In added. “When you hear this story, you will have to face the unforgivingly tough reality.”
“...”
“And...”
“Yes? And what?”
“I’m not really happy with the word choice but… let’s just call it a great cause. In return for listening to the story, you have to help me achieve the great dream. Without abandoning it halfway, till the end.”
“A great cause? What kind? Don’t tell, you are referring to your ambition...”
“You idiot!”
“Ah, why...”
“I can conquer this continent myself without your help.”
“T-That’s true, now that I think about it...”
“What I’m referring to...”
“Uhuh...”
“Is protecting and reconstructing this world.”
“...!”
“Our opponent is not the Gullveig Alliance. The alien race Agnaga – the conquerors who wreaked havoc in this world 1,000 years ago – is our true enemy.”
“W-What…!”
“Pangaea is a land of sorrow. It had been devastated by the Agnagas in the past. That tragedy… is about to repeat itself.”
“...!”
“Let me ask you again, Dorian Explorer.” Kang Chul-In’s voice carried an immense weight. “Will you or will you not listen to my story. Choose. I’ll leave that decision to you.”
“Hmm…!”
“Even if you choose not to, I won’t blame you.”
“G-Give me some time...”
“But I will call you a coward.”