Chapter 321
‘The Genesis System got connected?’
It was a piece of unexpected good news.
I didn’t know why this suddenly happened, but if I had to pinpoint a reason, it was probably because I had delved deeply into this world’s story.
The fact that the Genesis System was connected meant that this world, known to be frozen in time, was starting to function properly again.
Perhaps even the broken communication might be restored.
Yu-hyun immediately touched the Genesis System window, but the window only opened without functioning properly.
‘It’s just connected, but it’s still not fully operational.’
What a pity.
However, this alone was a sufficiently hopeful change.
The fact that the closed passage was now open suggested that the entrance could become wider later on.
Depending on what kind of stories the Gardians would tell in the future, the narrative of this world could officially be revealed to other worlds.
‘But, can it really be possible?’
Could I return alive from this battle against Georn?
In a way, this might be the first and last battle.
Facing this, I wondered if I could really show the full narrative.
‘Still, I can’t stop now.’
I had come this far. It wasn’t just about recovering the fragments and dealing a blow to Pentagram, including Demialos.
While staying here, I became close to many people, laughing and chatting with them, growing quite fond of them.
Ringug, Lean, Gondulbor, Aunt Bella, and even the other Explorers.
I didn’t want to see them die.
Focusing on the battle that was to come tomorrow.
Yu-hyun closed the non-operational Genesis System window again.
* * *
After Yu-hyun disappeared, back on Earth.
Celine was facing various annoying tasks while staying at the White Flower Management headquarters.
The most annoying of them was dealing with some Tellers from the headquarters who blatantly sought her out.
‘Hand over the rights to the senior’s library. They’re such arbitrary folks.’
They coveted the rights to Yu-hyun’s library and pressured Celine to give up some of those rights. Some Tellers tried to buy the library rights, while others subtly coaxed her, promising to help her join their department if she handed over the rights.
Celine rejected all their proposals flatly.
She added that this was not hers in the first place and that they should come and talk when the rightful owner returned.
The rejected Tellers were furious, saying it was pointless to fuss over someone who was as good as dead, but Celine was resolute.
She believed.
That one day, Yu-hyun would return, smiling as usual.
‘Everyone else believes, too.’
Everyone at White Flower Management was waiting for Yu-hyun’s return. Even though he had gone to an exile where even stories had frozen, they all believed Yu-hyun was still alive.
Because Yu-hyun had overcome numerous dangers miraculously until now.
If it’s that man, not anyone else but Kang Yu-hyun.
He would come back successfully, as if to show off.
‘But, who knows how long it will take.’
Even if success was certain, no one knew how long it would take.
It could take as long as 10 years, or even more than 100 years. If he didn’t come back quickly, Yu-hyun would lose everything he had built up until now.
While Celine was worrying about this, the Genesis System window she was using buzzed loudly.
‘What is it?’
Something happened in the library. But it wasn’t her library. It was Yu-hyun’s library, for which she had temporarily taken ownership.
Something was connected there.
‘Who could it be?’
Celine quickly checked Yu-hyun’s library. As the current owner of the library, it wouldn’t open unless she opened it. Not even the president could tamper with this library carelessly.
The fact that it opened meant only one thing.
‘Senior!’
This was no time to hesitate.
Celine hurriedly informed everyone at White Flower Management.
“Everyone! The library is connected!”
“What? Celine, what are you talking about?”
“My library… No, the library that senior left has responded faintly. It’s him! Senior is still alive!”
“What?”
“Wait, hold on a minute!”
It had been weeks since they last heard any news of Yu-hyun after his disappearance.
Now, hearing that he was alive, everyone stopped what they were doing and gathered around Celine.
Realizing that everyone had gathered, Celine immediately displayed the screen.
The screen, which had been filled with static, gradually stabilized, showing something.
“If my guess is correct, this video being transmitted to senior’s library should be a narrative from the exile.”
Everyone held their breath and watched the scene.
And what they saw…
“Yu-hyun…?”
“Is it really him?”
It was a black-haired woman, who couldn’t be recognized as Yu-hyun by any stretch.
* * *
‘What’s this? Why do I feel like someone is watching me?’
Ever since the Genesis System was connected, Yu-hyun felt a gaze directed at him from somewhere. But the Genesis System was still non-functional, and even though he sensed someone watching, there was no way to confirm it.
That wasn’t the important issue.
Without being able to receive the Key Sword from Pieldra, they now had to purely rely on the survivors’ strength to fight Georn.
The only piece of good news was that Georn was also not at full strength.
Considering that he had imbued his power into the Key Sword for his successor, the current Georn was weaker than when he was originally called a god.
‘The only variable is the fragment of Codex embedded in Georn’s chest.’
The key was whether that fragment had filled his lack of power.
Worries still lingered. Even in his current state, Georn had invoked the Curse of the Frozen Land, defeated the Great Five Sisters, and created the Frost Giants.
Even if his power was halved, he was still a Divine Spirit.
Facing such an opponent was like striking a rock with an egg.
‘A hopeful observation would be that Georn might have significantly weakened after fighting the Five Sisters and their followers. And that we have a significant number of people on our side.’
The number of people participating in the battle this time was 2,000.
Excluding the elderly and children, nearly everyone had volunteered to fight.
‘It’s not a question of whether we can do it. We can’t stop now that we’ve come this far.’
It was disappointing not to obtain the Key Sword due to Pieldra’s stubbornness, but it was do or die now.
‘Seeing the future or pulling in possibilities. Not having those options is frustrating and anxiety-inducing.’
Perhaps I had been too reliant on the power of the fragments.
“Are you ready?”
Lean approached Yu-hyun and asked. Yu-hyun silently nodded.
In front of them, people equipped with their weapons and armor were gathering.
The Guardians, known as a warrior tribe, looked like entirely different people the moment they wielded their weapons, even those who seemed powerless in everyday life.
Looking at this momentum, it felt like they could fillet Georn alive even if he were standing right in front of them.
“Usually, before a battle, it’s customary to give a speech to boost everyone’s morale.”
Lean looked at the people who were sending him eager looks and shook his head.
“But I won’t do that today. What I want to say, I’ll say it when we return.”
At those words, the people burst into laughter.
“Haha! Right! It’s better to hear it when we come back!”
“This makes me want to survive just to hear what Lean has to say!”
“Haha. It’s been a while since I fought; my heart is racing again.”
Even on the brink of death, heading into a battlefield from which they might never return.
Everyone laughed.
It wasn’t forced laughter to drive away fear, but genuine, heartfelt laughter.
“Alright then, let’s go.”
At Lean’s words, everyone gathered their weapons and started moving.
The 2,000 people orderly exited Gard.
The ones left behind watched the scene blankly. Those who were too scared to fight or too weak to do so stayed in Gard.
Hender was among them.
As Ringug was about to leave, his eyes met Hender’s, who was watching him.
“Ah.”
Before Ringug could say anything to Hender, Hender glared at him and then turned his head.
A bitter smile formed on Ringug’s lips. No matter what he said now, it wouldn’t reach Hender.
Well, apologizing after returning wouldn’t be too late.
Ringug resolved to survive to tell Hender he was sorry.
To hold out his hand and say, let’s go back to the old days.
Those leaving and those staying.
No one spoke of farewells.
Some to protect their remaining families, others for revenge, and still others simply to end this cursed reality.
Different reasons, but their resolve was the same.
Whiioooo!
Outside, a strong snowstorm raged. But compared to the dreadful cold they had seen long ago, today’s weather was relatively mild.
The people reformed their ranks outside and followed Lean towards the massive ice cliff.
On the white snowfield, a column of people in dark brown and black leather armor charged.
“Ugh. To think I’m out here despite being this old.”
Gondulbor grumbled, adjusting his clothes as if to prevent the snow from seeping in.
“Still, it’s a relief to have your help, Gondulbor.”
“Hmph. Even so, a mage like me can’t just sit idle inside. I’d age and die soon enough anyway.”
Despite his gruff words, Gondulbor, as a citizen of Gard, was determined to save the world.
Over the past 32 years, he had brought
out all the items he had created.
They were precious materials for a mage, but he had resolved to spend them all, knowing they’d disappear if left alone.
It was a heart-wrenching decision, but he didn’t regret it.
“Here it is.”
Lean stood at the entrance of the ice cliff.
The non-explorers among the citizens were overwhelmed by the grandeur of the cliff.
Realizing that the enemy, the culprit who had turned the world into this, was beyond that enormous wall, their resolve burned even hotter.
Following a path hidden by Rayon 32 years ago, the 2,000 people moved.
They murmured in sorrow at the sight of their frozen compatriots trapped inside the ice wall, but no one stopped.
Those who reached the exit took a break to ease their tired bodies. Just breaking through the snowstorm to get here was exhausting enough.
Lean gathered the leaders who were to command the various units for the operation.
“There is Lake Andorim ahead, and beyond the ice mist is Georn. On the map, it’s around here. So, we need to reorganize our ranks here and move as one.”
“The distance isn’t too far.”
“Right. Miraculously, we haven’t encountered any Frost Giants so far, but they are likely near Georn. Are the measures against the Frost Giants ready?”
“Yes, of course. We’ve brought enough runestones.”
“Gondulbor, I’m counting on you.”
“Got it.”
Lean expertly directed everyone on what they needed to do and gave orders.
This was the first and last battle. Failure was not an option, so Lean did his best.
Knowing this, everyone was extremely tense.
It was an unfamiliar land, thought to be lost.
Now, they stood there.
“Everyone, go back and rest. We’ll move in three hours.”
People left the temporary tents and scattered to their units. Watching them, Yu-hyun noticed suspicious movements.
‘Frechen Emperor?’
Normally, Frechen should be with his followers, the knights of the fallen empire, but he was heading somewhere alone.
‘What’s he doing, leaving his knights behind?’
Yu-hyun debated whether to report this, but Frechen was already disappearing into the snowstorm, so he decided to follow him.
It was a bit too late to report to Lean, and if he lost track of Frechen, who knew what he might do.
Yu-hyun quietly followed Frechen, keeping a distance just close enough not to lose sight of him.
Frechen was heading in a different direction from where Georn was.
‘That’s where the capital of the fallen empire is, isn’t it?’
East of Lake Andorim was the capital of the fallen empire. And Frechen was the last heir to that empire.
‘He asked me if I had ever seen beyond the wall. Is this because of that?’
Yu-hyun’s thoughts were cut off.
As he followed Frechen, the outline of a huge castle appeared through the snowstorm.
The once-grand imperial castle was now frozen solid due to the Curse of the Frozen Land.
Frechen entered the imperial castle through the wide-open gates. His steps were unhesitant.
The imperial capital, especially the heart of the imperial palace.
There must be something Frechen was looking for inside.