Side Story 47: New Year (3)

Ma-Hyeol pondered.

He had come to understand the principles of Absorption and Life and had reached the top of the sky. He naturally realized the existence of a vast universe beyond with that enlightenment. Perhaps, a problem lay there. A mere speck, a human, had dared to glimpse the heavens, thereby incurring its wrath.

Between the heavens and the earth lay a vast expanse that embraced all creations. From the perspective of the grand universe, humans were different from the commonly known belief. They weren't the entities bridging the heavens and the earth. They were merely specks that briefly rose and eventually faded away.

Hence, those heavenly judges who condemned him to hell for merely killing some of these beings were, in fact, the ones who violated the cosmic order.

However, he had no means to oppose them. As Ma-Hyeol destroyed the tower, he occasionally hesitated due to the gazes he felt from the vast sky above. To them, they were merely looking down, but to him, it felt like his soul was freezing under their scrutiny.

Even now, those heavenly judges were watching him.

"…!"

At that moment, Ma-Hyeol had to stop his thoughts. The spirits emerging from the opposing camp weren't problematic. Regardless of their varied appearances and their endless respawns upon being slain, one thing was clear. They posed no threat to him. They were simply too weak.

The real problem was their leader.

Like Ma-Hyeol, the enemy leader would also resurrect after a certain time from their base. Now, he could see the leader returning. Ma-Hyeol was demolishing the first tower, but he hurriedly stopped and began to retreat. While the resurrected enemy leader had fortified his weapons at the base, Ma-Hyeol had been solely focused on destroying the tower, leading to a clear disparity in strength. The power emanating from the opponent leader's ax was indeed different.

Such a demonic ax. I need to return to the base.

While Ma-Hyeol was retreating towards the safe zone, he suddenly heard something.

- Do not leave. I am watching. Lure the enemy. I will help you.

A voice coming from the forest echoed in Ma-Hyeol's head. It was from one of the monsters on his side that a creature entrusted with a role similar to a general.

It wasn't unusual for monsters to think and speak. After all, hell was such a place. However, it was unsettling to know that a monster possessed power equivalent to him, who had reached the top. He now knew that humans no longer bridged the heavens and the earth.

Even so, a mere monster giving commands… Where did it get the audacity to do so?

- This is my second time. As you can see, I'm here due to victory in the previous battle. If you wish to survive, follow my instructions. I told you not to go! I told you!

Ma-Hyeol ignored the plea.

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Upon returning to the base camp, he saw newly summoned spirits. They, too, were preparing for battle. Although their eyes were filled with confusion and fear, they did not leave their formation. It was probably due to the command engraved in them when they were summoned to hell, just like the command imprinted on him.

***

Ma-Hyeol arrived at the base camp's weapons storage, and a blue ghost greeted him.

- Hello. You know, right? I am the owner here, Lu-Azo. You don't need another explanation, do you? If you can't figure it out, you should just die. Haha! Do you think intimidating looks will scare me? Why do you think I should fear and die because of it? Ridiculous. Seriously.

Ma-Hyeol's eyes twitched. How dare this entity belittle him in such a manner? This was inconceivable in the living world, whether it was a human, ghost, or monster. Everything on earth would flee just from his shadow. This small, winged, blue ghost would have trembled and fled from his mere shadow if they had met in the living world.

Yes, everything was under his dominion until the envoy from heaven descended. From the lives of commoners to the very essence of existence, they were all under him.

Ma-Hyeol's face hardened as he remembered the emissary from hell. The emissary, taking the form of a woman, had an utterly cold gaze. Whenever she looked down at him, he felt no different from any other worthless being. He didn't know how he was killed by that emissary nor how he was dragged here. When he came to his senses, he was in the midst of hell with a single command ingrained in him.

Keep fighting. Forever against beings like yourself. Keep fighting. Keep fighting.

Right then…

"The tower has been destroyed."

A terrible noise echoed from the heavens.

- Why are you so dazed? You seem lost. It's your tower. Your tower was destroyed. Pitiful. Do you want to live or die? If you don't want to live, just leave. I, Lu-Azo, am quite busy too.

The blue ghost smirked again.

***

"I can't work with our team. If I leave my spot, our side should cover it. What the hell is the jungler doing? Those guys are doomed."

"The jungler's too busy farming. It's obviously a bronze game, isn't it, Master?"

"It sounds like this is too easy for you. I heard there are better rounds than just between bronzes. What now...?"

"Yes?"

"Are you showing me a bronze game because I'm in bronze? That's mean."

"Are you still in bronze? I hadn't realized. I'm sorry."

"That place is inescapable even for a challenger. You've experienced it, you should know."

"As you might know, I started from there too."

"Being talented is a different story."

"Talented…"

"Gamer Butler. The world is curious about you. Of course, you disappeared suddenly. I feel the same. I want to see your gameplay again."

"Call me anytime. I'm ready."

Joshua's smile was gentle, but Seon-Hu knew the effort it took for Joshua to create such a smile. It was a smile that had now become too perfect, making it even more heartbreaking.

The same was true even during their meal. Joshua praised the dishes endlessly and ate with relish, but that was it. Joshua's displayed smiles and praises were not for himself but merely responses to others.

Seon-Hu asked with a smile resembling Joshua’s, "Right?"

"Yes?"

"Is there another game running?"

"Yes. If you're displeased, I can switch to another."

"No, I should leave. Yeon-Hee must be waiting. And isn't the most fun game a bronze battle? I expect the same next time."

By then, Seon-Hu's bowl was empty, but there was still food left in Joshua's. It seemed Joshua intended to leave it. The dish Seon-Hu was most proud of was left untouched by Joshua. Nothing worked. Nothing could sway Joshua.

All I've done for you is force that smile. I'm sorry.

Seon-Hu was disheartened but hid it as well as Joshua did.

"Look forward to it. Next time, I'll bring something you've never imagined."

"Yes, I'll be waiting. However…"

"Yes?"

"May I share this exquisite food with my subordinates?"

"...Huh? You mean the Plague Attack Team members?"

It was the name he hadn't thought of in a while. Joshua remembered them. Or was he recalling forgotten members?

"If you allow, I wish to share it with them."

"I would've prepared more if you'd said earlier. Alright. I gave it to you, do as you please."

"Thank you. They will all cherish it."

"Just one dish seems inadequate. Giving leftovers isn't a good look. When they eat it, your subordinates will return to their old selves."

"...Please take care."

For a moment, Joshua's voice wavered, but Seon-Hu didn't react even after hearing it. At least not outwardly. But internally, a strong voice echoed.

His efforts weren't in vain! Joshua was changing! And that voice exploded out to Yeon-Hee as soon as he returned. Seon-Hu exclaimed as he opened his cabin door, "It wasn't pointless! Joshua left some food… What's happening?"

"Seon-Hu... I…"

The room was organized neatly, and Seon-Hu had already achieved his divine status. But there was intuition in a father-to-be.

Change wasn't exclusive to Joshua. Something small was happening inside Yeon-Hee too. Seon-Hu approached Yeon-Hee, taking her hand.

"Let's try to be good parents."