Chapter 335:
‘I’ve heard of this.’
Galitz swallowed his saliva as he looked at the innocent-looking blonde boy.
‘Among the Tellers, there was a Primordial Teller said to have existed since the beginning of the universe. Among them, there’s a king who doesn’t establish his own faction but roams various parts of the Mixed World.’
While the other three had each built their own factions and ruled as kings, gaining their own titles, the king of stories who wandered alone was famous in a different sense.
An eccentric.
Even though it wasn’t known where he was or what he was doing, Oelo was strangely on par with the other kings of stories.
It was the first time Galitz saw such a person in the flesh.
“Oelo. Even if you’re on par with me, it’s quite rude to visit the headquarters without permission.”
“Is there a need for such a formal process between us?”
“You came in uninvited. The Celestial Corporation is my land, and myself. You should know better than to come here without permission.”
“Really? Then try to chase me out.”
Oelo spread his arms wide, smiling brightly despite Lotfiout’s threatening glare.
“Do you think I can’t?”
“Did you forget? I’m the King of Wandering. In this Mixed World, there’s no place I can’t go if I want to.”
“You’ve been holed up near the Free Market of the Celestial Market lately, just boasting.”
“Is that so? You can check if it’s just boasting.”
Oelo and Lotfiout.
The two kings of stories glared at each other. Their gazes tangled in the air, spreading a huge pressure around them.
Even Yu-hyun and Galitz found themselves tightening their lips without realizing it.
‘As expected of the kings of stories. They’re showing power on par with the 1st generation Divine Spirits.’
Even though Oelo was using an artificial body rather than his real one, he didn’t budge an inch inside the Celestial Corporation, which could be called Lotfiout’s stronghold.
Although all the kings of stories were considered equal, Yu-hyun thought Oelo was just slightly more superior.
How long did this silent push and pull continue?
Knowing that continuing this pointless tug of war would be foolish, it was Lotfiout who eventually raised the white flag first.
“Tch. If you were a half-baked partner, I would have forced you to come with me by threatening you.”
“That’s why I came. Who else could stop you but me?”
“That’s why it’s regrettable. Well. Deputy Kang Yu-hyun. Congratulations. You’ve successfully landed a blow on me.”
Despite everything, Lotfiout had no choice but to concede on how and when Yu-hyun had met Oelo and become close to that extent.
With this, there was no justification for rejecting Yu-hyun’s resignation. He had already declared it himself.
“You don’t have to feel too regretful. Even if I leave the Celestial Corporation, the fact that I was once part of it won’t change.”
“Then?”
“We can still work together as partners. You could call it subcontracting.”
“Didn’t you say you liked freedom, where no one oppresses you?”
“That’s only until I establish myself completely. Let’s call this a step back for two steps forward.”
“Not bad.”
Lotfiout didn’t push his luck any further. With Oelo stepping in, being greedy would only make him look bad.
Having reached such a high position, dignity was important, and Lotfiout had enough sense to know that.
“A Teller who has become independent for the first time in my company has been born.”
“Were there none before?”
“No matter how hard and painful it was, there was no one with enough spirit to roam the wilderness outside the solid walls of the company.”
“Then I’m the first in this too.”
“It’s a pity. I would have liked to see you earn the title of the youngest director after being the youngest manager.”
Even as he said this, Lotfiout knew that Yu-hyun’s resolve was firm. This was merely the lament of an old man missing out on a valuable talent.
“Now, since we’ve settled most of what we wanted, shall we get to the main point?”
Oelo was already excited, proving that he hadn’t come here for nothing.
“Lotfiout, I heard on my way here. A bug has infiltrated the company?”
“Yes. Praytion. He planted a mole. No, rather he approached and coaxed someone who was already there.”
“So, he finally made a move after staying hidden all this time…”
Oelo’s gaze shifted to Yu-hyun.
The timing of Praytion’s stirrings coincided with Yu-hyun gathering fragments.
As he guessed, Yu-hyun had become the perfect bait to make Praytion move.
“So, what did you do with Praytion’s minion?”
“I killed him. With my own hands.”
“Are you crazy? Didn’t you get a confession?”
“So, you want me to just sit back and watch as someone bares their fangs at me?”
“Sigh. Whatever, did you at least read any traces if you killed him? Where?”
“There were no traces. He approached cautiously. However, he spread quite troublesome information. Something about the world ending if all the fragments were gathered. He seemed to have falsely convinced others that my actions, along with Damcheon and Catharsis, would lead to the world's destruction.”
“What nonsense. He’s the one who looks like he’d bring about destruction.”
Although Oelo was upset at losing the trail he’d caught, he couldn’t be too upset as the fact that Praytion was starting to move was good news.
“Well, it’s something. Better than nothing.”
“Are you leaving?”
“There’s nothing more to gain here, and you’d be the most uncomfortable. I don’t want to be an unwanted guest.”
“You’ve always been so light.”
“Because I’m light, I can go anywhere, anytime. Unlike you who sit heavily in place.”
Lotfiout waved his hand, saying he was done. Continuing to argue with Oelo would only exhaust him.
Before parting, Lotfiout spoke to Yu-hyun.
“I hadn’t realized it until now, but it’s finally becoming clear. Kang Yu-hyun. What lies ahead of you might be a terribly painful fate. More so if you’re connected to the Codex.”
“I know.”
Yu-hyun had realized this as he returned with the power of fragments and as he felt more connections with them.
Even though he thought he had saved the Earth, his destiny didn’t end there.
Even Yu-hyun couldn’t predict what would happen next.
“Still, I have to go.”
“Are you going to fight against fate?”
“I don’t believe in fatalism.”
Yes. He may have cursed his fate in the past, but not now.
Nothing was predetermined in the world. The future could change depending on the choices he made.
“I just see the reality in front of me.”
“Haha. I don’t dislike young people with such spirit.”
Lotfiout said, handing Yu-hyun a small piece of paper. It was a business card.
“If you need help, contact me.”
Yu-hyun was surprised that Lotfiout would give his contact information directly. He bowed his head, thanking him.
After that, Yu-hyun and Oelo left the Celestial Corporation.
Oelo had come alone using his power, but since he wasn’t leaving alone, he and Yu-hyun took the space train together.
“Aren’t you going to say goodbye to the others?”
“We’ll meet again sooner or later. There’s no need for that.”
“Well, that’s true. Still, it’s surprising. Lotfiout giving out his business card isn’t common.”
“Is that so?”
“A whole truckload of the Divine Spirits of the Great Sage Army would be desperate to get his card. You should know how significant what you have is. You’re now both my partner and someone with Lotfiout’s business card.”
“You think highly of yourself.”
“I deserve it.”
“Well, true.”
Oelo stretched his legs, looking out the window of the space train.
“There’s progress, but Praytion is the problem. Knowing he’s plotting something using the fragments makes me uneasy.”
The way Executive Director Hata corrupted Georn was by using the power of fragments.
A Divine Spirit who lost half of their power couldn’t resist the power of the fragments. Even if they were a 1st generation Divine Spirit, it was the same.
While Hata did the deed, it was Praytion who provided the fragment.
Even the nonsense Hata spoke about the world’s end must have come from something Praytion misled him about.
This meant Praytion must have other fragments and was likely plotting something else.
“He might have already reached Earth.”
“That’s a big problem.”
Yu-hyun had witnessed firsthand how Georn changed and the disaster it brought.
Although there were no Divine Spirits on Earth, so a similar disaster might not occur, there was no guarantee that nothing similar would happen in a place with so many fragments.
Perhaps there might be smaller but numerous problems occurring simultaneously due to the high number of fragments.
“Right. So keep collecting the fragments. Make him desperate enough to show himself.”
“What about you, Oelo?”
“I’ll keep moving, checking places where his traces appear. You should be careful too. Praytion might reveal himself on Earth at any time.”
“Lotfiout mentioned that his followers were called Bookworms. What exactly are they?”
“What do you think Bookworms are? Creatures that eat books. Remember? This world is a vast book created by our Father. The fact that the foundation of the world is small text is because of that influence.”
“Right.”
“Bookworms eat those books, literally bringing about the destruction of this world. Praytion is the first Book
worm, and those influenced by him also become Bookworms.”
“World destruction is practically the same as the Exodus, isn’t it?”
“The destruction they seek is symbolic. Filled with tragedy and screams. In the end, living creatures must remain. Without living beings, there’s no despair or screams. But Bookworms are different.”
They literally want to destroy the world.
Eating the text that forms the foundation of the world, tearing the paper, and ruining the book.
In a world composed of stories, Bookworms erase the stories.
“There were such beings?”
“A long time ago. Now, they’ve almost disappeared. You should know about the myths the Divine Spirits of the Great Sage Army have, right?”
“Right.”
“That’s when it happened. The war against the Bookworms.”
Yu-hyun gulped. The fact that the war against the Bookworms was similar to the myths the Divine Spirits boasted about meant that the enemy was that dangerous.
“You’re asking me to fight such beings?”
“I have a conscience. I won’t really make you fight them. No matter how dangerous the Bookworms are, they can’t interfere with the Lower World. Of course, you might have to deal with those influenced by them, but you can handle that.”
“True.”
“Besides, the Bookworms lost most of their power in the great war of the past. They can’t build their power anymore. The truly dangerous ones break nearby stories just by existing.”
“What about Praytion?”
“With the legend of him being the first to tear a book, if he unleashed his full power, he could destroy everything. But he’s not foolish. He’d hide his power. That’s the kind of being he is. Anyway, you focus on collecting the fragments.”
If Praytion was on the move, they had to speed up collecting fragments.
If Praytion gathered some fragments and used them recklessly, it would be too late to stop him then.
So they had to gather and retrieve as many fragments as possible.
That was why Oelo chose Yu-hyun to collect the fragments.
“But what if I collect the fragments and act on my own? Why do you trust me so much?”
“Now you ask?”
“Just curious.”
Oelo chuckled at Yu-hyun’s words.
“Stop it. If you had such thoughts, do you think I’d have approached you? I trusted you because I saw your actions and thought I could rely on you.”
“What if it was all my acting?”
“Then I’d be the fool. If you went that far, it’s inevitable.”
“Aren’t you worried about me collecting all the fragments? You don’t know what I might do.”
“I don’t know. And I don’t care. I don’t know what will happen when the original Codex returns. I only care about one thing.”
Oelo’s purpose was singular.
To punish Praytion, who betrayed their Father.
He didn’t care who became the owner of the Codex.
“…I see.”
“Yes. We’re arriving soon. Go to your kids. They must be eagerly waiting.”
“That’s what I planned.”
After getting off at a nearby train station on Earth, Yu-hyun parted ways with Oelo.
Crossing the dimensional portal at the train station, Yu-hyun finally returned to the Earth he had missed.
He could have gone directly to the White Flower Management building, but he chose to walk slowly, savoring the moment.
‘It feels like it’s been a long time.’
Yu-hyun finally stood in front of the White Flower Management building.
Since he hadn’t informed them of his arrival, no one knew he was there yet.
Would they be surprised if he suddenly showed up?
With such idle thoughts, Yu-hyun opened the door and entered the building.
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