Chapter 1426. Continental War (6)

Among the modern people who had crossed over and had been living here for quite a while now were those who enjoyed fandoms.

A representative work was

How the Alchemist and the Genius Swordsman Loves

, which still had a cult-level popularity.

Since it was written in an extremely chaotic period, there were doubts about whether this kind of cultural industry could develop at all, but those worries proved meaningless, as the work became a huge success.

Since the continent lacked things to enjoy, the timing or political situation wasn’t particularly important. There were people everywhere who wanted to enjoy cultural life and fandoms, regardless of the place or environment.

Of course, the first life couldn’t have enjoyed cultural abundance on the level of the second life.

In the case of the second life,

How the Alchemist and the Genius Swordsman Loves

acted as a catalyst. Once its potential was discovered, the top-level officials on the continent poured in their full support for it, and of course, this happened only when the environment had stabilized.

Still, it wasn’t as if there were absolutely no way of entertainment in the first life.

Even before

How the Alchemist and the Genius Swordsman Loves

was introduced, there were already people making a living from creative content.

Naturally, the market wasn’t large. Rumors spread quietly, and a great example of this was how a Japanese person summoned to Celia had published something like a light novel.

I also heard about someone drawing some manga, and I even heard about how there was a play set in the modern era being performed somewhere.

People who enjoyed culture would seek them out and probably invest in them, too.

Among the investors and consumers were adventurers whose names everyone would recognize, along with members of the top echelons from somewhere. In other words, it wasn't strange for such people to have survived the era of chaos back then.

‘They were persistent.’

How the Alchemist and the Genius Swordsman Loves

swept the second life just as the market for it was slowly beginning to grow. In comparison, the market died before it could grow in the first life, and

It’s Wrong to Seek Encounters in a Dungeon

was a novel that gained some popularity among consumers before the market died completely.

To someone who had been starving and struggling, it would be like a single thread of hope for life. Of course, I never really read it. I only heard that something like that existed, but whether I read it or not didn't really matter here.

After all, this idiot would tell me everything, and I just had to nod.

“Wow, you've heard it, too! How did you read

It’s Wrong to Seek Encounters in a Dungeon

in the Republic? I heard its author was summoned to Celia,” Sung Ji-Hoon asked.

“Well, that’s—”

“It must’ve been sold on the black market. It really was

that

amazing. It’s still not widely known, but I guarantee it would be a great hit if this were a peaceful era without war. I’m not saying this for no reason. The novels on this continent are a bit dull, you know. It’s not like we’re here to study or anything,” he interrupted me.

“...”

“On top of that, there are no comics, animation, or games. And then, like a meteor from nowhere,

It’s Wrong to Seek Encounters in a Dungeon

appeared in the midst of this boring era. It made me feel the exact same emotions I felt about it on Earth. I feel like it must’ve sold over ten million copies on Earth, too.

"I don't think you know this, but ten million copies is a really big deal. So how many volumes did you read?” he asked.

“I only managed to read volume one,” I answered.

“What?”

“That was all I could get in the Republic,” I told him.

“If it’s volume one, then that’s the part where Pell Kramer first meets Pia Valentine,” he said.

‘Who the hell are Pell Kramer and Pia Valentine?’

Judging by the flow, they were obviously the protagonist and the heroine. Naturally, I played along.

“I really like Pell Kramer!”

“Right? He’s cool, isn’t he? I really like Pell Kramer, too. He’s my absolute favorite. Honestly, his true value really shows from volume three, but he’s already amazing from volume one, and the characters are so three-dimensional.

"

It’s Wrong to Seek Encounters in a Dungeon

is... how should I put it? It's a bit philosophical compared to other novels that came out around the same time,” he said.

‘Please stop already, you idiot.’

“You can tell that it wants to express what good and evil are, and where true justice lies. It feels like the author’s intent is hidden everywhere. Maybe it’s because he lived as an adventurer even if only briefly, but the descriptions are so vivid,” he added.

‘As if that were true.’

“

Ah,

you’re right,” I said.

“The scene where Pell cried is the best of the best. If I explain without spoilers, many other heroines will show up, too, and there are many pairings you can never even imagine. I’m not joking; there's no way you can ever imagine those pairings. It would’ve been so much better if it had been animated, but that’s impossible here,” he said.

“...”

“

Haa

... there’s so much I want to talk about, but I keep holding back because it might be spoilers.

Ah!

I even have a signed copy. Here. At my house, I even have illustrations the illustrators themselves had drawn,” he said, showing.

“Really?!” I asked as I flinched.

“What? Jealous? Are you jealous?” he asked.

“Of course I am,” I answered.

“It’s nothing special... at least for people like me. We even discovered local bards and held proper recitation events. It was incredible. Back then, it was a festival of madness.

Oh!

It’s embarrassing to say, but I can draw a little, too. Of course, compared to real artists, I’m just an amateur. Hold on,” he said.

Soon, I saw him happily walking along while scribbling something on paper. When he let go, the bag I had been carrying instantly became heavy, but thanks to Chang-Ryeol stepping in right away, I was able to return to moving lightly again.

“I’m not in great condition today. Drawing while walking makes it even harder,” he said.

“...”

“Look at this!” he said.

“It’s Valentine!” I shouted.

“You recognized her right away!” he exclaimed.

‘I just guessed. How is anyone supposed to recognize that drawing using common sense?’

One could only tell that it was a person. He seemed pretty satisfied with it himself, but compared to people from Earth, it wasn’t impressive at all. It seemed he wasn’t born with a talent for drawing.

‘Geez, it’s not like he has no attachment to the continent.’

One way or another, seeing him meet and interact with people and read works or whatever showed that he wasn’t completely inactive socially.

Even so, there was a sense of discomfort nagging at me.

‘We’re basically real best friends now, right? At this point, we’re totally best friends.’

The look in his eyes as he stared this way bothered me for some reason. I wondered whether it was because I was a native of the continent rather than someone summoned here, but there were plenty of summoned ones among us, and he was sending them the same kind of look.

He treated everyone kindly, kept his manners, cracked lively jokes, and rambled on about himself, but there was something missing from his face.

Even as we grew fairly close and spent time together, the subtle strangeness in his expression showed no sign of disappearing.

I had no idea whether this was the right way to put it, but it was closer to the face someone would make when looking at a favorite character rather than at a living person.

It was the same when he looked at Lee Chang-Ryeol or Alps. Even though it felt ridiculous to say it like that, it seemed like he liked the character rather than a human being named Jin Yoo. This wasn’t about the level of affection, but the

type

of affection.

I don’t even know how to describe this...’

One thing was certain, though, and I was feeling that sense of discomfort myself.

“

Whew,

looks like we finally get a break. Do people here not rest at all while marching? People are collapsing, man. Guess they don’t even see that,” Sung Ji-Hoon complained.

“...”

“Jin Yoo, want me to pour you some water. Want a drink?” he offered.

“...”

“

Oh,

after the war, I’ll lend you

It’s Wrong to Seek Encounters in a Dungeon

. Let’s read and talk about it together. I really missed times like that,” he suggested.

‘Is this guy... not actually seeing me as a living person?’

“Aren’t you hungry? Want some jerky?” he offered.

‘Is he just seeing me as a character in a game or someone from a fandom?’

“Oh, come to think of it. In

It’s Wrong to Seek Encounters in a Dungeon...

”

‘Did this guy pay attention to the explanation when he came here? Did he hear... that this place is reality?’

I quickly found the answer to my question.

“Ambush! Damn it! All units prepare for combat!”

“Prepare for combat!”

I heard a cacophony of voices.

Naturally, it would be troops from the Union of Kingdoms or the Empire.

I expected an ambush, and it seemed the enemies really had been waiting, likely a guerrilla unit aiming for the supplies.

If not, then they were probably just volunteer soldiers or mercenaries. The moment the noises echoed, Chang-Ryeol and Alps moved to protect me. Looking startled, Sung Ji-Hoon drew his sword as well.

“I don't have the Holy Sword, but still... watch closely. I know you still don’t believe me. I’ll show you why I’m a hero,” he said.

From here, it was hard to see the enemy forces because they were firing arrows and spells from a high hill. Most of the Republic’s soldiers quickly raised their shields or deployed protective spells, but they were clearly not prepared for this ambush.

“

Aaaaargh!

”

“Prepare the defensive spells. Hurry!”

“

Uaaaaaaargh!

”

Of course, that didn’t apply to me. The Holy Sword Hero quietly drew his weapon and knocked away spells and arrows with absurd ease. He looked as relaxed as if he had gone out for a stroll, and it felt as though the air alone was different around where he stood.

Now, he looked reliable, even though he had been irritating earlier. He hoisted his weapon on his shoulder with a light

tap

before smacking another spell away.

Then, he turned my way with an annoying expression on his face before effortlessly swinging his weapon again.

‘He really is a genius. A real genius.’

One look was all it took. He had none of the impatience or brute awkwardness I had seen from Rafael. He was on a completely different level from fake heroes who simply pushed through with raw strength. Even Alps was staring at him with wide eyes.

‘He’s elegant.’

As ridiculous as it sounded, there was no other way to describe his sword.

Templar Gen had always been faithful to the basics.

Thronus had established his own domineering style by exploiting his long reach.

Will focused on thrusts and painted red flowers amidst the battlefield.

Woo Hyo-Yeol was wild and relied more on his instincts than skills.

Our Hyun-Sung was agile, fast, and innately gifted in the sword.

I had seen many swordsmen with my own eyes, but a swordsman like him was the first. I had never seen one like him anywhere on the continent. He looked as if he was moving very slowly, but in reality, he wasn’t slow at all. Before he even swung his sword, the oncoming arrows and spells were already slipping past him on their own.

“What...” Lee Chang-Ryeol exclaimed, even though he was a man of few words.

I found myself rubbing my eyes in disbelief.

‘Wait, he’s seriously a genius. Crazy. Just crazy!’

When he was unarmed, I thought he was just a reckless kid relying only on his strength, but once he raised his sword, he became a completely different person.

In fact, he was the exact opposite, and imagine adding the Holy Sword to that.

I could finally understand why Cha Hee-Ra, Jung Ha-Yan, and Kim Hyun-Sung were even being compared to him. If my past self, who thought Rafael could replace the Holy Sword Hero, were here to stare at him, he would definitely scoff.

Just then, the Union of Kingdoms' guerrilla unit began descending the hill. I believed they thought the ambush had dealt massive damage to the Republic. Our Ji-Hoon swung his sword again, and blood spurted out of the enemies' necks.

‘Huh?’

I wasn’t seeing things.

‘What the?’

He was killing people...

‘...so easily.’

Having spent a long time on the continent, it wasn’t exactly shocking for me, but...

‘Why does he look so innocent while doing it?’

Ji-Hoon’s bloody face showed not even a trace of hesitation. One would expect him to look uneasy, but there wasn’t a trace of discomfort at all. In fact, the way he smiled so brightly made me wonder whether he ought to be classified as a psychopath, but that wasn’t it. He wasn’t a psychopath, and he wasn't an idiot.

In fact, it felt like he was seeing something different from what I was seeing.

Upon realizing that, I finally noticed the source of the nagging sense of discomfort in me. It was due to the strange light in his pupils. Once again, I was certain that the Holy Sword Hero was seeing something different from me.

‘What is he thinking... while watching these people die?’

Blood splattered, people screamed, yet he neither saw nor heard them.

‘What... are you looking at right now?’

“...”

“...”

The continent’s admins had implanted something in this guy’s eyes and mind.

This was a fact, not just a theory.