Chapter 1310. The Magic Tower (23)

“How are you feeling? Are you okay?” Song Soo-Kyung asked.

“Y-Yes, I’m fine. I feel a bit sleepy, but I still have some mana left,” I answered.

“Do you know how much...” Song Soo-Kyung asked.

“I can’t fully recover right away, but a few hours of proper rest should do it. Don’t worry too much,” I answered.

‘Why is he questioning me so thoroughly?’

“...”

“...”

“I heard from Mr. Carlton about the magic circle...” Song Soo-Kyung said.

‘Really?’

“Yes, though I can’t be certain. I just vaguely remembered seeing something before... It sounds absurd, but it’s apparently a chimera summoning circle...” I told him.

“No, it’s not absurd at all. Actually, I’ve already told the rangers and mages to check if there’s a magic circle inside the castle. We can handle attacks from outside, but if a chimera shows up from inside, it'll be a serious issue,” Song Soo-Kyung said.

‘Wow, they move really fast.’

“Do you think they’ll find anything?” I asked.

“They haven’t found anything yet... If the chimeras really are being summoned through a magic circle, then we have to extend the search beyond the castle, which isn’t easy.

"We’d need an expedition team... and volunteers are hard to come by. As you know, it’s not like anyone can go out right now,” Song Soo-Kyung answered.

‘This could get complicated.’

“But...” Song Soo-Kyung paused.

“Yes?”

“Maybe there’s an opportunity,” Song Soo-Kyung continued.

“...”

“The enemy is underestimating us,” Song Soo-Kyung said.

‘Yeah, it’s true.’

“I don’t know if underestimating is the right word, but without a doubt, the enemy...” Song Soo-Kyung trailed off.

“...”

“They seem to be thinking that they only need to watch the castle,” Song Soo-Kyung continued.

‘His instincts are sharp.’

Honestly, anyone who wasn't an idiot would realize it. The reason they were holding back with the chimera attacks wasn't due to some hidden power within the castle.

‘Clearly, they just want to crush us slowly.’

Perhaps they just enjoyed making us miserable... that was the perfect phrase to describe this situation. A few were still shouting in victory, but most of the fighters were wrapped in bandages.

The death count seemed low, but in reality, there weren’t many who could still fight. They rejoiced at the sight of victory, yet had no preparation whatsoever of the attacks that were about to come. Even Song Soo-Kyung could see that.

Of course, they relied on the castle’s defensive barrier and their trustworthy command center, but that alone couldn’t make up the difference in strength.

This level of damage was sustained in a defensive battle without a single special variant, so it could be said that we were already losing. Of course, as the boy who knew nothing, I could only be shocked by that fact.

“R-Really? I was sure we had won,” I said.

At the absurd question, Song Soo-Kyung revealed a faint smile and said, “Of course, this isn’t a meaningless victory. Morale has risen. And the purpose of the castle is never to annihilate the enemy, but to hold out until reinforcements arrive."

‘Right. So that’s why you’re stuck here.’

“More importantly, I think we need to move your room,” Song Soo-Kyung suggested.

‘Really? Move my room too?’

“

Huh?

W-Why...” I asked.

“Wasn’t it dangerous?” Song Soo-Kyung asked.

“No. Thanks to Big Boy hyung—”

“Mr. Big Boy was almost in danger as well,” Song Soo-Kyung said, interrupting me.

“...”

“...”

‘Wow, this guy is a true professional.’

“I’m sure Mr. Big Boy was in danger as well,” Song Soo-Kyung added.

‘A pro at gaslighting. Well, handling a little kid is nothing for him.’

“

Ah...

”

My face fell. Song Soo-Kyung seemed to empathize with my feelings. Looking downcast like me, he suggested, “I think it would be better to have professionals protect you. Of course, this doesn’t mean Mr. Big Boy is lacking. We can arrange a place closer to the third wall. That way, you'll receive help from the knights of Heren."

“...”

“I’ll also make sure Mr. Big Boy can have a place nearby,” Song Soo-Kyung added.

Of course, as an innocent little kid, I only wanted to spend a bit more time with Big Boy, but hearing that he could be in danger, I wasn’t cold enough to just stay silent. Now that I thought about it, Big Boy was covered in injuries.

Big Boy had vowed to protect me, and he ended up with so many injuries...

I couldn’t help but nod slightly. “Y-Yes, I’m fine with that. But what about hyung...”

“

Ah

, Mr. Big Boy said he was going to the walls to do some repairs,” Song Soo-Kyung answered.

“I-I see...” I mumbled.

“Yes.”

‘Repairs on the walls... Wait, he’s really repairing them.’

I snuck a look at him through my Telescope, and sure enough, there was Big Boy talking with Carlton.

"Big Boy, you idiot."

"What now..."

"The kid... what are you going to do? He looked pretty down..."

"..."

"Are you just going to leave him like that?"

"What are you talking about? We’re in the middle of a war, you idiot. That kid is just doing his part and recovering. You’re being gloomy about everything. Since when did you start worrying about him?"

"That’s not the point, Big Boy! Say something. Encourage him. He looks like a great mage, but he’s still just a kid. He hasn’t been out in the world long. Don’t you see he needs someone like you right now? Didn’t you notice his expression? He looked like an abandoned puppy..."

"..."

"Shut up, Carlton. It’s not that simple."

"What?"

"The kid needs to start figuring out what’s right and wrong. He needs to know what a proper life looks like... and just because we found him, it doesn’t mean we’re obligated to take responsibility for him forever. Don’t you feel bad for him? If his luck had been better, he could’ve had a better life... but he just had to meet someone like me."

"Hey, Big Boy. Do you really think the kid cares about that? For him... being around you is enough..."

"Exactly. He doesn’t care, so we have to make him care! You idiot. He needs to be prepared starting now!

"

"Why are you yelling?! Goodness, this guy!"

"We’re living on borrowed time! Damn it! Wouldn’t it be better to leave him with someone like Song Soo-Kyung than let him be alone?!"

"..."

"Carlton, you really think a lowlife like mine, living off the sword, can protect the kid?! Huh?! Answer me."

"..."

"Answer me, you bastard!"

‘They’re acting like they’re filming a drama or something.’

It seemed like the scene had reached the point where tears were inevitable.

"Just think of it as temporary guardianship. The kid’s got too much affection, so if I don’t go this far, he won’t understand what I’m saying... Am I wrong, Carlton? Even if it’s forced, damn it! I need to be harsh so that he gets his act together! That idiot!"

"..."

"..."

"You’re not wrong... but do we really need to go this far? He still needs someone to lean on."

"It’s exactly because of this that we have to keep our distance. If we die in this battle, he needs someone who can protect him."

"Song Soo-Kyung... can we trust him?"

"I mean... do we look trustworthy? Carlton, people like us are killers, whether we like it or not. Strictly speaking, our chances of dying are higher. We’ll have to think about what comes after... but at least in this moment, it’s not a bad thing for the kid to get along with Song Soo-Kyung."

"I can’t really argue with that... but I still think the kid should have a choice, Big Boy. That’s what’ll make him happier."

"There’s nothing good about hanging around people like us, Carlton. That’s one thing I know for sure..."

Big Boy’s bitter smile while carrying some bricks wouldn't stop popping up in my head.

Carlton could only quietly swallow his curses, unable to refute Big Boy’s words.

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

‘Damn it... you guys aren’t going to die.’

It felt like the stage was set.

‘Now, all that’s left is to call Hyun-Sung... and pretend to let Song Soo-Kyung catch me...’

As soon as that thought came to my mind...

Fwooooosh.

“

Uh...

”

The defensive barrier protecting the castle was suddenly turned off. I wasn’t the only one who noticed that. Song Soo-Kyung reacted even faster. I saw his pale face as he rushed to the window.

“...”

“...”

“

Ah... ahh...

”

‘Damn it... it wasn’t a warning.’

I realized that I had underestimated First Life Ki-Young. He wasn't pressuring Kim Hyun-Sung or trying to watch the castle a bit longer. There was no way he would leave this place untouched for so long.

‘So he's just going to bring this place down?’

It seemed that his plan was to simply crush everything. Perhaps he judged that there were plenty of other places to raise Kim Hyun-Sung, or he probably just disliked the current situation. Whatever the reason, he decided to wipe Heren off the map.

‘That easily? There are civilians...’

To think he would kill everyone so easily.

I was at a loss for words by his decisiveness.

I had seen many scums in my time, but he was a real scum. In addition to normal chimeras, there were even special variants out there. I could feel Song Soo-Kyung’s eyes trembling as he stared at them.

While I was staring blankly at the window, he said, “Don’t move.”

I saw Song Soo-Kyung holding a dagger.

‘Wow... this guy...’

“If you try to cast a spell or establish a contract, I will stab you,” he threatened.

‘This psychopathic lunatic.’

His eyes weren’t like the Song Soo-Kyung I knew. His eyes looked completely wild, almost insane. Just like the second life, this was the true version of First Life Song Soo-Kyung. He had no conscience and no restraint.

It wasn’t just him. Jung Jin-Ho was the same, and Ki-Young, too. Those forced to survive in this hell were broken in some way.

Song Soo-Kyung’s eyes even looked like they were spinning.

‘This guy’s insane.’

He even pressed his dagger against my lower abdomen.

“I am aware of... what’s here...

Hehe... hehe...

” Song Soo-Kyung mumbled.

‘Why the hell is he still using formal speech? Is he nuts...’

“What? What do you mean...?” I asked.

“I told you to shut up. Otherwise, I will

really

stab you. You just listen to me,” he said.

The thin dagger cut into my skin. I felt it split my flesh, and my shirt was slowly soaked red. Memories of the time I was stabbed in the abdomen flashed in an instant.

I instinctively shrank and stiffened. My breathing grew shallow and rapid. I felt dizzy and felt like collapsing to the floor.

“Walk,” he commanded.

“...”

“Let’s go to the basement. There’s a passage there that can get us out of the castle,” he revealed.

He quietly parted my shirt with the dagger to check my brand.

‘T-This crazy bastard... damn it... This lunatic...’