“Where are we going now, Brother? Are you going to fight Duke Akirif?”
“I have something to take care of first, so we’ll head there later.”
“Something more important than Duke Akirif? Are you a pawn of the demons?”
“The way you put it makes me sound like a weirdo. It’s because of Serad.”
“Serad?”
“The Metra of M2721.”
Choi Kangjoong explained who Serad was. His family listened, fascinated.
“So, you and that Elf Princess over there are going to help the Metra prince whose throne was usurped by his uncle so he can get his position back?”
“Exactly.”
“Wow. This feels so surreal. It’s more like a movie than the one we just watched. Are you really my brother?”
“Actually, I’m not.”
“Right? You’re actually someone else, aren’t you?”
Yoo Haein’s eyes flashed. Sensing her bloodlust, Choi Yunseo immediately shut her mouth.
“Father, how is the company doing lately?”
“It’s doing too well, that’s the problem. Even the big conglomerates are trying to trade with Marsala through us. We’ve even hired twice as many people.”
“With a son like Choi Kangjoong and a daughter like Choi Yunseo, if the company didn’t do well, that would be a talent in itself!” Choi Yunseo added.
“It’s a good thing I don’t have that kind of talent, right?”
“If you did, Mother would have slapped your back until you changed.”
Choi Kangjoong and Choi Yunseo hung out with their family until late at night before going to sleep in the rooms they had used during their teens.
The next day, Choi Kangjoong woke up after 11:00 AM and walked out. No one was home. His parents had gone to work, and Choi Yunseo had returned to the 6th Dimension Fortress.
Choi Kangjoong reheated the leftover galbi-jjim from the night before. Naturally, he chewed and ate the bones as well. This was more familiar to him now.
‘Reminds me of the old days.’
He remembered the time shortly after he had become an Outer Mind. Back then, he had also eaten galbi-jjim at home in the middle of the day. The difference was that now, he didn’t have to feel self-conscious about devouring five portions.
‘I wonder if the cost of all these ingredients exceeds the price of a single Healing Stick.’
He finished off the meat and bones in the pot and did the dishes. After tidying up the room, he left his childhood home. He could move around easily now, even without his armor.
‘Time to head home.’
Choi Kangjoong leisurely made his way back.
Serad was staying in Iselin’s mansion under heavy security. There was no benefit in letting the world know he was alive just yet.
For him, the situation was unpredictable. It was essentially like being confined. The only difference from a prison was that he could access external information as much as he wanted.
Without making any official demands, Iselin provided everything Serad needed except for the freedom to leave. Serad knew the reason. Even for someone like Iselin, she needed his request to intervene in M2721. Only then could she obtain the consent of the Elf Great Council and move publicly.
She was waiting for him to ask first. It was an Elf custom, and Serad was the one in a desperate position.
‘The one who joined hands with Clessence to drive me out was an Elf. She is also an Elf.’
Serad was lost in thought while working on a geometric structure made of overlapping squares.
‘The intervention of another race in M2721 is a very large element of instability.’
Instances where a powerful nation sends troops at the request of a weak one, only to turn it into a colony, were frequent even in Metra history.
‘However, it is impossible for me to oust Clessence alone. Above all, the fundamental cause of my expulsion was myself.’
Despite being royalty, Serad had paid no attention to politics and had focused solely on manufacturing in his workshop. Therefore, he hadn’t known what was happening around him; one day, he was suddenly in crisis and barely managed to escape.
‘Recovery without loss is impossible. The consumption of energy and resources is essential even for healing a wound.’
Serad agonized over the decision. Was it acceptable for M2721 to suffer losses because of his return?
*Clack, clack.*
Even after he spent time completing the structure, he had no answer. He needed advice. Serad requested a meeting with Iselin through Arthil.
“I will prepare it immediately.”
A moment later, Arthil guided Serad to the drawing room. Iselin and Dielka were sitting there. After greeting Iselin, Serad spasmed upon seeing Dielka.
“Dark Elf! Evil race! Elimination mandatory!”
Dielka merely crossed her legs and offered no particular response. After all, the infamy of the Dark Elf pirates near the Enterprise Union was legendary. Instead, Iselin introduced Dielka. It was more effective than Dielka doing it herself.
“She is not a pirate. She is an Elf belonging to Marsala, the head of a family, and a High Dark Elf.”
“A different kind of Dark Elf?”
When Serad looked suspicious, Dielka summoned a Death Spirit. The hawk-shaped Death Spirit preened its feathers on her shoulder.
“It is possible to believe your words since they come from the Princess. However, complete trust is impossible.”
“What is this tin can talking about?”
“A tin can capable of incinerating a Dark Elf is non-existent.”
He was implying he wasn’t just a tin can since he could burn her to a crisp.
“That’s enough. I didn’t call you here to fight,” Iselin said, and both Dielka and Serad fell silent.
“So, what was the purpose of the meeting?”
“My return will cause chaos in M2721 and result in losses. Therefore, I question if my return is an essential element for M2721?”
“A very Metra-like thought. Indeed. No one can know whether M2721 would be better off with Clessence as king or with you.”
“Even if I lead M2721, the possibility of recovering from the losses caused by my return is unknown.”
“But that isn’t the only reason you have to go back, is it?”
“Query?”
“Who killed your mother and most of your relatives?”
“Clessence.”
“Don’t you want revenge?”
A light of anger appeared on the LCD screen that served as Serad’s face. To resolve this emotion, their support was absolutely necessary. However, there was another question.
“What benefit do the Elves and Dark Elves gain from supporting me?”
“My family, the Deraael, is in a state of competition with Eleanor’s family, the Ardecon.”
“It’s not a competition; you’re mortal enemies,” Dielka chimed in.
The ones who had led the expulsion of the Deraael from the Elf Great Council were the Ardecon. Iselin intended to remember this grudge until the Ardecon were ruined or she was dead.
“Dielka, it is the culture of the Marsala Elves to hide negative aspects.”
“I’m a Dark Elf, though.”
“Stop saying you’re a Dark Elf only at times like this when you usually claim to be an Elf.”
“Cheh.”
“And Dielka and I need Dimension Ships. A lot of them.”
“For what purpose?” Serad asked.
“To fight our enemies. Demons, Monsters, Pirates, and everything else that is hostile to us.”
“Understanding complete. Those are also great threats to the Metra. Even so, complete elimination of anxiety is impossible. I need time to think.”
Iselin nodded. She waited without moving an inch. Dielka got restless and walked around the drawing room while drinking tea.
“Decision complete. How much support can you provide?”
“As much as possible.”
Iselin’s grudge ran deep.
“Is support from the Outer Mind possible as well?”
“Of course.”
“My goal is the death of Clessence. I earnestly request your help in achieving it.”
“Since we are in the same boat, your goal will be realized.”
“Desire: 200%.”
Serad’s request was documented and became an official contract. Immediately after, Iselin publicized Serad’s asylum and his request for support to the Elf Great Council.
Before long, a heated debate broke out over the agenda. Several families, including the Deraael, supported the intervention for the sake of the greater good. The families following the Ardecon opposed it, asking if Marsala intended to start a war by meddling in the succession struggle of M2721.
Iselin’s actions also took place behind the scenes. She mobilized Elf intelligence agents within M2721. Their targets were those who had lost their vested interests or were about to lose them due to Serad’s disappearance and Clessence’s reign. When these Metra were informed of Serad’s survival and promised support, they naturally banded together under the pretext of Serad’s restoration.
Clessence did not stay idle. As subversive groups cropped up like mushrooms after rain, he sent the army to suppress them with an iron fist. However, the members of the Serad Restorationists were originally people of great power. They resisted with their subordinates, who were essentially private soldiers.
The support from Iselin and Dielka also played a role. During the day, the Elves protected them, and at night, the Dark Elves did. Furthermore, because the justification of restoring Serad was so solid, the number of Metra supporting them grew steadily.
Ultimately, Clessence’s suppression failed. Far from being caught, the key figures of the Serad Restorationists cried for the overthrow of Clessence from safe locations. They couldn’t be caught in the first place because the Central Stealth Scout was overhearing every single one of Clessence’s instructions.
Whenever Choi Kangjoong visited Iselin’s office, he could learn about the internal situation of M2721 in detail. It was fascinating every time he heard it. A single world had been split in two because of his choice. Now, M2721 was on the brink of a full-scale civil war.
“Do you regret it?” Iselin asked.
“I don’t feel great about it. But at the same time, I feel indifferent.”
Choi Kangjoong wasn’t sure if it was because it involved another race or because he was an Outer Mind. It felt like it could be both.
“This happened because of Clessence’s excessive greed.”
“Can’t we just kill Clessence right now and end it?”
“Clessence’s supporters make up about half of M2721. Clessence was a popular royal, but Serad is also at fault for exercising zero political influence.”
“I guess he thought all he had to do was make good Dimension Ships.”
“That’s part of it.”
“When can I kill him?”
“We are looking for a justification for Clessence’s downfall. Please wait a little longer.”
“What if there is no justification?”
“Then we’ll have to make one.”
“I didn’t think you were the type to use schemes.”
“Scheming is a basic skill for an Elf,” Iselin said with a smile. Even if it could be seen negatively, she couldn’t separate that part of herself from who she was.
Choi Kangjoong saw a different side of her and began to view her in a slightly different light.
In the end, Iselin never found a justification for Clessence’s downfall. It was because there was no need.
—Waaaaaaaah!
The Orcs led by the Ultra Great Orc Boss Kuralgal invaded M2721. It was that very Kuralgal, who believed himself to be the smartest Orc. Their numbers exceeded five million.
If they were humans or Elves, only one percent of that five million would be proper troops, but Orcs were a warrior race where everyone could fight. It meant that every single one of those five million was a brawler who enjoyed combat and slaughter.
Faced with this, Serad proposed to halt the conflict temporarily and block the Great Invasion first. Clessence refused. He declared there would be no cooperation until the rebels surrendered and every member of their leadership was punished. He believed that even if M2721 was somewhat destroyed, it would be fine as long as he protected the core. He expected that Serad, unable to bear the destruction, would eventually kneel.
Serad gave up on negotiations and turned the Restorationist forces toward blocking the Orcs. Clessence saw this as an opportunity and attacked the Serad Restorationists. The territory occupied by the Restorationists shrank at a rapid pace, and within less than a month, only a handful of locations remained.
With Orcs on the other side, escape was not easy. They were caught between Clessence and the Orcs. Clessence rejoiced, thinking he would soon be able to capture Serad.
However, public opinion toward him was deteriorating uncontrollably. There were even defectors from among his inner circle. He knew but ignored it. He believed that once he captured Serad and blocked the Orcs, he could silence the critics. He was obsessed with catching Serad, regardless of how many Metra died or how much damage M2721 sustained.
And the Elf intelligence agents spread those facts throughout M2721.
“He played the worst possible hand.”
Iselin submitted a new agenda to the Elf Great Council: a preemptive defense against the Orc Great Invasion in M2721. It passed in an instant, and Iselin used the Elf Great Council’s funds to form a defense fleet and mobilize it.
On the flagship of that fleet, the Divine Arrow, Choi Kangjoong was also on board, licking his lips at the mention of the name Kuralgal.