A system message rang sporadically after Seodol knocked down the enemy.
They seem to be swarming not just around Seodol, but also toward me.
When I checked my mini-map, it showed the unique interface that only appears when it was activated inside an otherworld.
Red dots on a foggy map.
These were signs of enemies.
‘Did this castle turn into the Fomorians’ garden just as Seodol said…?!’
But there was something odd.
A garden simply refers to an otherworld conquered by someone.
The owner of the garden rules the otherworld and the enemies in it but seeing the enemy that Seodol had just knocked down, something seemed off.
And it seems like Heukma and Seodol are thinking of the same thing.
“This is strange. It felt like it was searching for anything biological instead of searching for a specific intruder.”
“I agree. Usually, the enemies in a garden follow the order of their owner. It’s strange that it chose to attack ‘lost guests’.”
“Yeah. It would’ve warned us or at least confirmed our identity.”
Enemies inside an otherworld are by-products of the extreme torrent of energy waves inside one.
Therefore, even if the otherworld is conquered by someone, it is still difficult to control the spawning of enemies in the garden itself.
Still, the owner has the ability to control the behavior of enemies.
It was strange that an enemy went after Seodol out of the blue.
The enemies' actions and how we entered this otherworld in the first place — these things were on my mind.
‘I’ve experienced a similar thing in PMH…’
When Joo Soohyuk and Ahn Dain were in third grade.
Saeum of April infiltrated Nabiryeong’s (Butterfly Spirit) garden and died.
It’s similar to what happened here.
‘He just realized that he was in Nabiryeong’s garden.’
Nabiryeong’s light skill obscures the boundaries of all things.
It was unclear how he entered the otherworld in the first place, but most users concluded that it was related to Nabiryeong’s abilities.
However…
Analyzing the situation further, I think I change my mind.
‘There’s no way Nabiryeong is in England. She’s busy carrying out the Black Screen’s order. Even if she’s here, she can’t afford to reveal her powers.’
It was just before she died at the hands of the Black Screen did Nabiryeong reveal her true powers.
Her actions in PMH were too obligatory to grasp their intentions.
She came to this world to know what her purpose was.
— I wonder if my wings can stop the storm that ‘that person’ is brewing. I want to stop it, even once.
That was what Nabiryeong said when she discovered a “frozen point”, a freeze-type otherworld in Seokcheon Lake.
Nabiryeong wanted to stop the huge storm that the Black Screen was planning at the end of PMH.
I don’t think she’s ever thought of the sacrifice in the process.
‘Nabiryeong will be watched closely if she reveals her powers. I’m sure she’s still trying to gain their trust by playing as a good soldier.’
I was convinced that Nabiryeong wasn’t involved in this matter.
If it’s not her, then how can I explain the similarity between the current situation and what happened in Nabiryeong’s garden?
The power of the Black Screen.
Research by the Demon Race.
‘It’s not Nabiryeong’s light skill that Joo Soohyuk and his party were dragged into the garden in PMH, but maybe…’
Like ‘summoning an otherworld’ and a ‘freeze-type otherworld’, it’s possible that this is also the result of extensive innovative research.
In the game, there was a description that it took the Black Screen a long time to ‘summon’ or ‘call’ an otherworld to a specific location, and the ‘freeze-type’ otherworld was the result of the Demon Race’s extensive research on other worlds.
Perhaps the same is true for this ability.
‘Maybe the Black Screen obtained this power later on through their connection with the Fomorians.’
There were still a few gaps, but it was a rather convincing theory compared to thinking that this was Nabiryeong’s intervention.
The two clan heads, who are clueless about Nabiryeong’s ability, simply seemed to regard this situation as a result of the Demon Race’s research.
“Those demons are good at making useless things. Just like their stupid eye. Looks like we got caught in it.”
“They used this power in the presence of guests? It would be a hassle if a guest died here, but I guess they’re in a hurry.”
“The sudden change of schedule may have pushed them to use untested measures.”
Unlike me, who was stifling my presence, enemies proudly approached Heukma and Seodol.
They noticed an enemy approaching them, but they remained calm.
Following Seodol, Heukma also took out her weapon.
Her weapon is a horsewhip, which is a form of a much shorter riding crop type compared to long whips like the bullwhip that Kwon Lena uses.
“Do you want to make a bet? On who will catch more enemies.”
“If you let me hit you when I win, I’ll think about it.”
“Well, it’s not that it would be painful, but I don’t like being kicked by horse’s hooves. It’s quite unpleasant… No, no, I’m not saying I want to be whipped. Oh, well, that’s fine I guess. Then if I win, will you answer one question of mine?”
Heukma, who was about to swing the horsewhip at Seodol, stopped moving.
She seemed intent to take on the bet.
“I’ll think about it. Let’s not count this one enemy you caught earlier.”
“Okay then. Let’s start at the count of three. Three, two, one…!”
When Seodol’s countdown was over, the two rushed in different directions.
They quickly disappeared from view, and the red dots on my mini map rapidly disappeared too.
That means they defeat an enemy with one hit as soon as they see one.
‘Heukma and Seodol taking care of the enemies would mean the other guests are relatively safe.’
If the Fomorians have done this in a crowded place like a tourist spot, it would’ve been a big disaster.
I decided to focus on my two playable characters instead of the other guests and these two clan heads.
‘At this rate, my playable characters wouldn’t suffer too much, but there are other variables here so I need to hurry and help them.’
I passed the corridor where Heukma and Seodol were talking and continued to move cautiously.
***
Druidess Goo Seulbi.
Although she has never attended school yet, she is a high school student in Eungwang High’s Year One Class Zero.
She is also a student/disciple of Merlin.
Goo Seulbi grew up in a gutter-like environment where it was difficult to experience the benefits of civilization, but she believed that she was a special person.
She had her dreams and worked towards them.
And Good Seulbi’s faith did not betray her.
Merlin, who appeared in her dream one day, took her as a disciple.
Merlin generously conveyed the vision and knowledge of druids and druidesses, which are said to only be handed down as oral traditions.
He taught Goo Seulbi through dreams and often gave her assignments.
Although she was given many strange and difficult-to-understand tasks, Goo Seulbi trusted her teacher and wholeheartedly carried them out.
‘Master Merlin is a strange man, but I know he’s a genius!’
The only place Goo Seulbi gained proper knowledge was the local library, but it was a small one with more fairy tale books rather than expert and professional ones due to its small budget.
In fairy tales, Merlin was usually described as an elusive crazy wizard or prophet.
Goo Seulbi confirms that the Merlin she actually meets in her dreams was a strange man.
Still, she never doubted her teacher.
Until Merlin suddenly changed his words on the day Goo Seulbi took the entrance exam for Eungwang High.
— A new star has appeared! The appearance of a nova has changed the flow of stars!
Merlin, the prophet who reads the future through the movement of stars.
He didn’t hide the fact that he could see the future, and he sometimes would talk about the future that he saw.
When he recites his prophecy, he always looked at Goo Seulbi with a somewhat detached face.
Looking at his expression, Goo Seulbi vaguely guessed her future.
‘I guess something bad will happen to me.’
Merlin said he had no power to change his prophecies.
He always looked sorry, and Goo Seulbi would pretend she doesn’t know what he was apologetic for.
Rather, she comforts him.
No matter how miserable the future that awaits her is, it cannot be worse than the life she had before she met Merlin.
She still hasn’t been able to escape from a house that seldom has electricity or gas.
Her parents still treat her the way they always did.
Goo Seulbi learned from Merlin how to put her violent parents to sleep or hide from their sight.
‘If I become a full-time player, I won’t have to hide the fact that I’m a druidess and I could easily leave. I can accept what my future will be like. I can endure.’
Goo Seulbi had blossomed her talent as a player, and she was planning to leave home as soon as she became a high school student.
Goo Seulbi became a great druidess through her dreams, and she was about to become one in reality.
‘Whatever. If I hadn’t met Master Merlin, I would’ve gone through a more difficult time anyway. I would’ve died earlier.’
She was curious and scared about the future Merlin saw, but Goo Seulbi faithfully followed his words.
She decided she will put her faith in her master’s teachings until the end.
Or at least until his prophecy is fulfilled.
Goo Seulbi cemented her determination, but one day, Merlin became very excited.
— I guess I better forget all the prophecies I’ve made so far!
For the first time, Goo Seulbi felt her vision go red.
She was so nervous and upset by the way Merlin talks about the future, and now he says they should forget everything.
Goo Seulbi wanted to spray Merlin a special reagent used in butane gas burners, but unfortunately, she can’t afford to bring that item into her dream.
Instead of saying harsh words, she chose to ask a question with the most courtesy she could muster.
— What kind of future did you see that made you so excited?
Merlin replied in a very good mood.
— The future is out of sight!
— Seriously! Are you kidding me?!
For the first time, Goo Seulbi snapped at her teacher and shouted at him, but Merlin just laughed it off.
It took Merlin quite a while to regain his composure and stop laughing before saying something serious.
— How can I not be happy when my vision of my student’s death is gone? I don’t take your death lightly.
As expected, Merlin saw her death before.
Merlin was very pleased that the appearance of a nova made the flow of the stars unreadable.
According to him, there is a possibility of a future that is not fixed.
Since that day, Merlin has not given a single prediction of the future.
But he still gives her odd assignments, just like this one.
“I think we’re in an otherworld… What the heck? When did we enter one?”
Following Merlin’s order, she infiltrated the Fomorians’ castle.
And now she was lost.
She could stand being lost, but there’s one thing she just couldn’t endure.
Goo Seulbi suffered from the exaggerated gestures of the person beside her.
“Big problem. I have to dress accordingly when targeting otherworlds, but I can’t take off my clothes now as the Phantom Thief Neon!”
