In Celtic mythology, the Fomorians were shown in different aspects.
Some were beautiful enough to captivate the user’s soul, some have the head of an animal, some were giants, and some have missing limbs.
‘It’s hard to describe them by appearance, but the Demon Race’s Fomorians tend to stay in groups without concealing their identity, so that makes them easy to identify at least.’
Among the royal lineage, the Demon Race didn’t tend to go about in groups.
Though there were three exceptions.
One was the priests who serve superior beings.
The second was the worshippers of ‘Demon Kings’.
And third are those who were involved in the study of magic.
In the case of the historical Fomorians, they seem to belong to the second category.
There was a Fomorian king who boasted absolute power.
‘The group was led by Balor the Evil Eye, a one-eyed giant.’
Balor had a prophecy that he would fall into the hands of his grandson, and this prophecy was realized on the plains of Moitura.
Balor’s grandson was the Celtic god of light and the hero of Tuatha Dé Danann, god Lugus.
He is the perfect natural enemy for Balor, and the hero who drove the Fomorians to their defeat.
However, now, a superior being, Lugus jas limited authority to intervene in this world.
On the other hand, the Demon King Balor and the Fomorians are in the present world in their full form.
Britain is said to have less intelligence compared to Korea, but these beings are recorded in myths.
‘We have to recover the ‘Imoogi’s Exorcism’ from these people…?!’
Sung Gukeon smiled broadly and nodded, perhaps satisfied that I guessed correctly that the auction involves the Fomorians.
“Yes. The Halloween Party we’re headed to is hosted by the Fomorians, led by the Demon King Balor.”
Sung Gukeon spoke in a playful voice.
“Worst case scenario, I’m determined to win the bidding. I managed to bring a good item card just in case.”
The auction rules were also written in the document handed over by Jeon Muyeong.
In principle, the auction price should be paid in the official currency of Britain, sterling issued by the Bank of England, or gold.
However, it can also be paid by an item card if an agreement between the bidder and the seller is reached.
‘Just what kind of item card does he have that can count as ‘Imoogi’s Exorcism’s’ equal?’
I tried to think about the item cards that Sung Gukeon had as my playable character, but nothing seemed to come to mind.
Although, Sung Gukeon hunts otherworlds every week so it wouldn’t be strange for him to possess expensive items.
“It would cause a scandal though if it became known that a lawmaker participated in a Demon Race auction in another country and won a prize! Hahaha!”
“Sir…”
Just imagining it seemed to make Jeon Muyeong’s head ache.
Engaging in a deal would mean Sung Gukeon’s item card would be handed over, increasing the possibility of him getting caught.
As he said himself, I would prefer for that to be the last resort.
“We just have to take care of everything. There’s no way that Muyeong and I will fail when we join hands.”
“…Yes, I suppose so.”
“Alright, then let’s organize our retrieval plan. Open a page with the structure and timetable of the auction house.”
From there, the three of us buried our noses deep into reorganizing and polishing the plan.
Sung Gukeon and Jeon Muyeong took the lead, and I also helped using the knowledge and data I knew from the game.
Since it was me and two of my playable characters on the job, we quickly came up with a bold and precise plan.
It wasn’t a short flight, but our time was rewarding and fruitful.
When we were about to get to Heathrow airport in London, finish some paperwork, and head to our accommodation…
“…Sir, I think we need to break down this plan and re-establish it from scratch.”
It felt like the sound of thunder came down on us.
Soon after getting into an unmanned taxi, Jeon Muyeong announced so in a soulless voice.
“Why? Tell me in detail.”
“I think it’ll be easier to understand if you see this.”
Jeon Muyeong floated a hologram.
‘Breaking News’
A video from one of Britain’s local news stations was announcing a news flash.
In the video, a huge neon sign tower was shown.
The moment I saw the tower, I was captivated by a strong sense of deja vu.
‘This is… This is what the lunatic did to the clock tower on April Fool’s Day!’
Compared to the neon sign tower that we saw back in April, this one was much larger and seemed to take into account the aesthetics of the place, but I know it’s the same person who did it.
There are a lot of problems with this kind of action, but the biggest of them is the stark difference between this sign and the one from April Fool’s Day.
Big Ben, one of London’s biggest landmarks, was vandalized to be a neon sign tower.
This kind of thing being done to Big Ben is…!
“Hahaha! Didn’t something similar happen to this happen in Eungwang High this year? I think I saw an article written by the newspaper department about it.”
Sung Gukeon was such a kind sunbae that he even checks out the school’s newspaper.
But now isn’t the time for laughs.
One by one, the artistically made neon signs formed letters in elegant handwriting.
The text reads ‘Notice Letter’
In other words, whoever did this is trying to make a big announcement using Big Ben.
‘The reason for this notice… Don’t tell me…’
An ominous feeling struck me.
Immediately after interpreting the contents of the notice, only one person came to my mind.
As soon as I imagined the character, my fingers immediately began to curl in embarrassment.
Sung Gukeon perfectly interpreted the sentences and summarized the notice letter’s content.
“He is planning to visit the Demon Race’s palace to return the work of a genius who doesn’t have the courage to face the public.”
“If it’s the ‘Demon Race Palace’, it must be the one that is engraved with Demon King Balor’s seal. A powerful player must be aiming for the auction house. The Demon Race would’ve noticed this, so the security will be tightened.”
Jeon Muyeong sighed.
On the other hand, Sung Gukeon looked very intrigued.
“Phantom Thief you say. Maybe he’s a hoobae of mine. I want to meet him!”
My fingers shriveled at Sung Gukeon’s words.
I really didn’t want to meet him.
* * *
Nabiryeong (Butterfly Spirit) stared quietly over the pond.
While looking at the surface of the water, a butterfly hidden among the lotuses began to flap its wings.
She couldn’t tell when she hid that butterfly in this garden.
Nabiryeong liked the blue wings of the butterfly.
“Come here.”
The blue butterfly flapped its wings a few times, but it didn’t dare come closer to her as if the butterfly was wary.
Even after Nabiryeong talked to the butterfly a few times, it didn’t respond.
Nabiryeong decided to use a different method.
Hwiiii….
Energy wave flowed out of Nabiryeong’s fingertips and transformed into a butterfly.
The butterfly she spawned was small and faint in color, looking as if it was harmless.
Bewitched by the butterfly’s wings, the blue butterfly flew out of the lotus flower.
The two butterflies flew over the pond together, sprinkling scales here and there.
Nabiryeong enjoyed the dreamlike scene for a while.
“Hoo, hoo, hoo…”
When Nabiryeong beckoned, the butterfly came down gently near the surface.
When the blue butterfly reached a lower altitude…
Fwoa! Shwa!
Nabiryeong burst the butterfly that she beckoned for.
In the aftermath of the explosion, the surface of the pond shook and a small spray of water swallowed the blue butterfly.
The blue butterfly tried to fly away, but the water surrounding its body didn’t let it.
After a few more moments of struggling, the blue butterfly stopped moving.
Nabiryeong smiled pleasantly at the ripple left on the surface of the water.
“Here you are.”
It was when a man arrived that Nabiryeong’s excitement disappeared.
She was surprised by the man’s sudden visit.
She quickly fixed her expression and covered her face with her sleeve, pretending to be shy.
“I would’ve come to you if I knew you were looking for me.”
When she pulled her sleeve away from her face, her usual affection-filled expression was seen.
The man grumbled even after seeing that expression from Nabiryeong.
“You’re a good talker. About the subject of being busy carrying out the orders given by ‘that person’…”
“I wouldn’t have met you if it weren’t for ‘that person’, so I want to carry out all his orders faithfully.”
When Nabiryeong eased him with her sweet voice, the man reached out his hand, looking as if his mood was lifted.
Nabiryeong grabbed his hands tightly with both hands before leaning on his shoulder.
“I’m also sad that I get to spend less time with you.”
Nabiryeong was whispering affectionately, though she was forming complicated thoughts in her mind.
The man didn’t seem to be upset simply because they had less time with each other.
There must be more reasons why the man was upset.
“Did you find out what ‘that person’ ordered me to do? You discovered it later than I thought.’
Unlike the man and the Bear Clan who had repeatedly failed their missions, Nabiryeong built strong trust with ‘that person’ by fulfilling every tricky order given to her.
Nabiryeong’s duties gradually increased, including things that the man who holds affection for her might not like.
“…Have you completed the ‘mission’ given to you?”
“You know I can’t tell you.”
Nabiryeong’s face looked puzzled as she buried her face deeper into the man’s shoulder.
The man changed his position so that Nabiryeong could lean on him comfortably.
He spoke proudly as if he were revealing a great secret.
“So it seems that the butterfly you sent to the Dragon King’s Shaman arrived safely.”
Nabiryeong didn’t affirm or deny his words.
Instead, she gripped him tighter.
The man continued speaking.
“It’s a less dangerous mission than planting an authority around the shaman, but I don’t like that you have to face the association as your opponent.”
As Nabiryeong expected, the topic of her potentially having to face the association.
Though she was surprised that the man knew about her mission with the shaman.
She reflected on herself for having underestimated the man.
‘The first target I caught has a strong sense of self, so things didn’t go as I wanted even after a year of hard work. But this new target…’
The new target was easy and simple enough that she feels as if she spent a year for nothing.
In an instant, the brainwashing worked to the point that the target would exterminate himself with just a word from Nabiryeong.
However, Nabiryeong kept this fact under wraps.
‘If the Players’ Association collapses now, it will be too easy for ‘that person’ to achieve his goals. The association needs to endure.’
The more Nabiryeong completes her missions successfully, the more ‘that person’ would trust her.
But her plan is more complicated and advanced.
If a false report is discovered or her mission is revealed, Nabiryeong will die.
She’s playing a game of push and pull with her life on the line.
Of course, even if her life depended on it, she intended to keep this close balance.
“…I’m sorry. I can’t tell you anything, but I think I’ll continue to make you feel upset.”
Nabiryeong implied that her mission was still in the works, the same thing she told ‘that person’
She whispered with a voice full of sadness and determination.
“I’ll try to hurry things up a little. For you.”
The unsuspecting man hugged Nabiryeong with a satisfied face
