Chapter 204

The Black Star.

At that name, Seonghyun snapped his mouth shut.

The leader of the Over Palace and known as the head of the 9 Heroes.

To Seonghyun, his image was closer to that of a Daddy-Long-Legs, but in any case, there was no doubt he was a great NPC.

He had just been checking his fear-type skills and contemplating what to exchange for the 『Tome of the Overlord』.

To think the name Black Star would come up here.

He had thought Branch Manager Penelope had just come by, but then a forgotten name appeared.

‘What is he trying to give me now?’

No, more like…

‘The Will of the World, that is, the system, is blocking him, so it's difficult, right?’

Hadn't Branch Manager Penelope apologized for the same reason when he was looking for a quest?

Not much time had passed since then. It was a bit strange for the Black Star to be trying to give him something now.

Still, it was the Black Star, who had always helped him.

Seonghyun nodded, looking forward to it.

‘Let's hear what he has to say.’

He looked at Branch Manager Penelope, as if telling her to speak.

She, who had been bowing her head, understood his meaning and continued.

“The Black Star said that there is a Tome of the Predecessor in the sixth region, and that he would give it to you.”

“Tome of the Predecessor?”

At those words, Seonghyun tilted his head as if asking what that was. Helena, on the other hand, gulped and spoke nervously upon hearing the words.

“Uh, uhm?”

Branch Manager Penelope didn't react much to Helena's response.

Seonghyun, however, looked at Helena's reaction, finding it strange.

It seemed she knew something, but this kind of reaction was a first, so it was novel.

Normally, Helena would have boasted about knowing it first.

‘Strange. Should I ask after this is over?’

As Seonghyun was thinking this, Branch Manager Penelope continued.

“I believe you will understand the details in the sixth region.”

“Hmm.”

The sixth region.

It was about time to move on, and it wasn't a place he couldn't go.

However.

‘The sixth region was the city related to classes, right?’

Cities divided in detail by class.

Mages had to go to the city of Magic Towers for their respective element, and priests went to the city of Sanctuaries.

For Seonghyun, a black mage, it was obvious.

The sixth city, the city of black mages and death, Hexia.

He had to go to Hexia, which was also famous for having the second-largest Over Palace branch.

Wasn't it that after the 3rd Class Advancement in the fifth labyrinth region, you were supposed to go to a city for your specific class to truly master it?

Even so, there was no rule saying he couldn't go to other cities, so he had thought about visiting them first.

The Over Palace's fondness for him was a bit burdensome.

But now, a reason to go had emerged.

“Do I have to go to Hexia?”

“Yes, you do.”

Branch Manager Penelope answered firmly.

Seonghyun nodded as if he had no choice.

It was burdensome, but they had also helped him a lot, so he didn't have a strong aversion.

Branch Manager Belmore had been very burdensome, but Branch Manager Penelope was alright.

Hoping the next one would be the same, Seonghyun replied.

“Alright. I'll go to Hexia. I can get the details once I'm in Hexia, right?”

“I am truly sorry, but yes. The Black Star also conveyed his apologies, saying that being able to only relay the message like this is also a lack of virtue on the part of our Over Palace.”

“…No way.”

Just what they had done for him so far was far from lacking in virtue.

He had no idea what he was talking about.

In any case, Branch Manager Penelope said that and continued to bow her head.

Seeing her, Seonghyun figured he had tested his skills enough.

He nodded, thinking he should prepare to move to the next region.

“Then, thank you for everything until now. I'll be on my way.”

“I may not have a day to see you again, heir, but until the day we meet again, I pray for your continued success and well-being.”

After replying to the overly formal Branch Manager Penelope that he understood, Seonghyun headed for the sixth city.

Left alone, Branch Manager Penelope watched Seonghyun depart for the next city and consumed a large amount of her own mana to send a report on a black piece of paper to the Black Star, stating that Seonghyun had left for the sixth city.

And she included a depiction of what she had seen.

6.

In a place with a long corridor where up, down, left, and right were indistinguishable, as if the whole world were a mirror, no, a universe, someone strolled.

Thump, thump, thump.

No one responded to the sound of footsteps echoing in the universe-like corridor.

An entity of unknown identity, whether old or young, woman or man, strolled there, unfolding the paper birds that flew to it.

One paper bird was from Pentagrid.

A paper bird with a story about the awakening of the red-haired being of the abyss, and another from Pentamir, which had flown in with a video containing that red-haired woman.

The head of the 9 Heroes, who had always watched over the world.

The Black Star looked at the video on the paper bird and slowly closed his eyes.

“…Indeed, he is our Lord.”

That voice was not directed at the red-haired woman.

It was a statement made to the young man standing calmly beside the woman.

To Seonghyun.

The voice, in which deep emotion and longing coexisted, trembled slightly as it continued.

“I have sent the Tome of the Predecessor, which has been passed down for ages, to the sixth region. I must also send something worthy of it. For our Lord.”

At the Black Star's muttering, the universe-like corridor trembled violently as if in response.

A light, like a jewel embedded in the universe, stole all the colors of the world, and when it dyed the world pure white, the world vibrated and cried out as if singing a song, no, a hymn.

[To our great Lord!]

[The heads of those who pretended to be false monarchs!]

[Offer them up!]

[A portion of their necks!]

[In the sixth region!]

[Place their heads on the altar!]

[All for our Lord!]

The last part felt as if a body were trembling with joy.

Hearing such a hymn, the Black Star opened his mouth as if in reply.

“Do not be shaken.”

[Our master!]

[Is but one!]

[Even the master of the past!]

[Serves our master!]

[There can be no greater joy!]

Through the conversation with all the spirits, the Black Star nodded his head.

Their great master, who had not only obtained the Monarch's Staff but had also revived a master of the past and made her his vassal.

“How could we not worship him.”

He continued, his voice soaked in emotion.

“My foolish comrades of the past will be pleased.”

Saying so, he thought that he was not wrong, that Helena's will, which he had missed so dearly, was not wrong.

The Black Star was so pleased.

And so.

“We must make thorough preparations.”

He vowed and vowed again that they must never become a nuisance to their new reigning master.

Then, he cried out to the world.

“In the name of the head of the 9 Heroes, the Black Star (黑星), I declare. I shall convene the Hero Council.”

7.

A place decorated like a penthouse on the highest floor of the E-World headquarters building.

A man sat in front of a computer, which was placed alone in the room, smiling with interest.

The man, who had already appeared in various mass media outlets several times, a genius of the century, and the one who had succeeded in realizing the first virtual reality, Park Won.

He looked at his monitor and muttered with genuine interest.

“What is this?”

The place the man, who had muttered as if even the genius of the century didn't know, was staring at showed the scene of the Black Star convening the Hero Council.

And the cause of it, Seonghyun, was also shown.

E-World was clearly a game that Park Won had created.

But it was not the game he had intended.

Strictly speaking, that is.

Park Won tilted his head as he looked at his screen with interest.

What on earth had he done to make the slow-to-act Black Star even think of moving?

“Because of that homunculus modeled after Helena?”

‘Isn't she just a doll that looks the same on the outside?’

Park Won had thought so too, but seeing the living, breathing Helena, he scratched his head.

‘What on earth is that.’

That power, which even the Immortals described only as an ‘unknown power.’

Honestly, he was curious.

What kind of power was it that allowed one to act so freely within the world he had created?

He was truly curious.

And so.

“Hmm, I’ll have to wait and see for now.”

When the report about a skill error came up before, he hadn't paid it any mind.

But to think it would make the Black Star move like this.

It was unexpected for the Over Palace's Black Star to move so actively, but Park Won nodded as if he found it rather amusing.

“Right, this is what makes a game fun.”

Watching his creation move so freely, he issued a directive.

[From now on, forward all matters related to the user 『Seonghyun』 to the top.]

“Now then, we can't just let something as fun as a Hero Council pass by.”

Park Won looked around and, like a child who had found a fun toy, muttered as he looked at the list of other heroes.

“Shall we open a small event?”

There was still quite some time until the Hero Council, but shouldn't events be prepared early?

[To Event Team Leader Baek Jiwoo. We will hold a meeting regarding a new event.]

[And as a reference for the user 『Seonghyun』, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsongs attendance is also requested.]

It seemed two screams were heard from the E-World headquarters, but that was none of Park Won's concern.

0.

After hearing the words relayed by Branch Manager Penelope, Seonghyun couldn't help but be quite interested.

Wasn't it a new incident in the sixth city?

As a gamer, he couldn't not be interested.

‘Is it a new main quest?’

‘If not, is it a clue about a new skill?’

‘Perhaps it's a trace of a new vassal.’

As Seonghyun was having these interesting thoughts, he suddenly looked at the now-quiet Helena.

‘Hmm.’

‘Come to think of it, didn't she say Tome of the Predecessor?’

‘It seems to be related to Helena. And she's still quiet?’

“Helena?”

“U-Uh?”

“You’re pretty quiet.”

“U-Uh. M-Maybe because I'm a little tired?”

The way she was flinching was very suspicious.

As Seonghyun looked at Helena with narrowed eyes, she turned her head away, pretending not to notice.

‘This isn't the usual Helena. This is really strange.’

Just as he was contemplating whether he should ask…

Helena spoke urgently.

“I-I must be really tired… I-I'll go back to the Netherworld!”

“Hmm.”

“I-It's true!”

It was clear she knew something, but if he asked, it would be a spoiler.

Seonghyun decided to let it slide.

“Alright, then come back when you're not tired.”

“R-Right! Th-Then I'm off!”

Watching Helena flee to the Netherworld, Seonghyun wondered what on earth it could be to make her act like that.

‘This just makes me more curious.’

‘I have to get to the sixth town faster.’

As Seonghyun took a step with that thought, he suddenly thought of the Rapid Guild.

‘Come to think of it, I think I've introduced quite a few people to the Rapid Guild. I wonder if they're doing well?’

That thought crossed his mind.

But for now, he was more curious about what on earth was in the sixth city to make her act like that.

Seonghyun quickened his pace and headed for the sixth city, Hexia.