“So the Emperor is starting a war after gambling by sending down three of his heirs…”
What kind of group is this Heavenly Church for things to escalate to that extent?
He simply couldn’t understand it.
“Anyway, that just shows how serious this is. The White Whale Mercenaries played a major role in the process.”
“So they’ve risen to become one of the Emperor’s playable cards. To think they’ve achieved that in just two years.”
It was hard to believe, but Kyler wasn’t done explaining yet.
“Anyway, because of all that, they’re preparing for war… and as you can see from the documents, the expected scale is clear, right?”
“At a glance, it looks like something we haven’t seen in the last fifty years.”
“Exactly. Naturally, they’ll need support from the other major lords…just like fifty years ago, when Medeia fell.”
And now, the White Whale Mercenaries who had successfully completed several missions even with the sharp-edged Imperial Family breathing down their necks.
It was only natural that trust in them would be high.
“I’d say they have more than enough capability to handle our family’s request.”
“Yeah, seems like we made a good choice. But… does this mean we’ll have to help the Imperial Family once this is over?”
Camillo frowned, clearly displeased by the idea, but Kyler answered calmly.
“Think about it rationally, Brother. The Emperor is dead serious about this war. It’s not a bad idea to make the Imperial Family owe us a favor during times like this.”
“Hmm…”
“Of course, there are things we might lose… but you know how these things go. Getting in line early is always the smart move.”
“Yeah, yeah. Got it. Your advice has always been useful. I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Good. Then I’ll be going. There’s still a lot I need to do.”
“You’re leaving already? It’s been a while since we last met. Why not stay for a cup of tea at least?”
“You’ve got a lot to think about with this issue too, Brother. Same goes for me.”
“Hmm… That’s true.”
In the end, Camillo couldn’t bring himself to stop his departing younger sister.
After all, there was much to prepare for the upcoming banquet as well.
And the Emperor’s unexpected move to prepare for war was bound to affect the banquet significantly.
“Phew… Nothing ever comes easy.”
Muttering to himself, he soon turned his attention back to the documents Kyler had brought regarding the White Whale Mercenaries and began reviewing them more carefully.
***
“Maya. How are you feeling?”
“Nothing much going on. But… you seem to be worried about me a lot lately?”
On the way back from the meeting.
Jun answered Maya’s question without any change in expression.
“You know I’m a leader who always looks out for the health of my members.”
“Hmm…”
That didn’t quite match his usual behavior. He’d never asked like this before. Which only made it more suspicious.
“Actually, I feel great. Haven’t had any nightmares lately. It’s been quiet.”
“Then how are the spirits of your ancestors doing?”
“You mean the old fogies? Uh…”
Come to think of it, the ancestral spirits had been unusually quiet the past few days.
Granted, they were usually silent if they had nothing to say—
—but even then, they’d sometimes pass the time chatting among themselves.
Yet for the past few days, there hadn’t even been a trace of that.
“Huh…?”
Only then did Maya sense that something was off and looked at Jun, wondering how on earth he’d known about it.
And seeing her reaction, Jun realized that the very situation he’d been worried about was indeed about to unfold.
I was hoping it was just a coincidence. But of course… it’s never just a coincidence.
Jun knew all too well why Maya was going through this.
It would’ve been impossible not to know.
The only NPC Jun had thoroughly grasped the story of within the game… was none other than Maya.
So in the end… they really offered him up to the God of Death.
Though barely perceptible even to Eleanor, Maya’s soul was connected to her adoptive father, the chieftain of her tribe.
The reason was so that the chieftain could pass on the ancestral spirits he carried to Maya.
But before the ritual was completed, the tribe was destroyed. And even in its unstable state, that connection had continued.
The problem is that the chieftain who’s at the center of that connection was sacrificed to the God of Death.
Naturally, the ancestral spirits connected to Maya would be deeply shaken.
The bigger issue was that Jun had no way of explaining this to her.
I’m sorry.
The ancestral spirits inherently possessed the ability to detect lies.
Especially when the topic involved matters directly related to them, that power became even more acute, making it impossible for Jun to explain what he knew in front of Maya.
Still, that didn’t mean he could hide everything.
“This didn’t happen because you did anything wrong. But… it’s very likely that this phenomenon will erupt into something serious soon.”
“Leader, do you… know something?”
“Sorry. It’s not something I can explain.”
“…Doesn’t feel like a lie.”
Maya, briefly caught in a wave of unease, stared at Jun with clear, transparent eyes.
“I’ll trust you.”
“…Yeah. Thank you.”
Truthfully, he didn’t want to brush this off with vague words like these.
For Maya who was more devoted to revenge than anyone, he knew this could become another deep wound.
But there was no other option.
Even if he said, “I know everything about your story from the game” who would believe him?
And even if she did believe him, that would open up another set of problems.
Not just Maya.
Jun knew he’d have to keep this from Eleanor and Aiden as well.
Even though the future he once knew no longer existed, the idea that someone had forcibly changed a future they didn’t belong to… might simply feel revolting.
“…? I’m the one going through all this, so why is Leader the one making that pained face?”
“Ah.”
The moment that thought crossed his mind, he wondered if he had unknowingly felt a deep, bitter loneliness.
Once again, he saw Maya’s clear, transparent eyes.
“No…”
“I’m well aware you’re hiding something from us.”
“What?”
“This isn’t the first time, Leader. You know a lot of things we don’t. That’s not exactly normal.”
It had already been quite a while since Maya returned to society.
She now understood most of what was considered common knowledge, and the unbelievable way Jun handled situations from time to time along with his blind hostility toward the Heavenly Church were things that couldn’t be easily explained.
“We’re not going to be hurt just because you’re hiding something from us at this point.”
“Is that so…”
What was he supposed to say to that?
He remembered a time like this before.
Back when he felt Aiden’s talent was starting to outpace his own, he had once been afraid that he might end up a background character in this world, forced to live on alone.
Knowing about a future disaster that no one else is aware of… that was what it felt like.
The crushing loneliness he felt then hadn’t vanished. It seemed like it would always remain tucked away in a corner of his heart.
Didn’t think I’d hear something like this from Maya.
Whatever the case, he decided to take it as a good sign.
Just as he had let these people into the walls of his heart—
It felt like they had accepted him in return.
***
After finishing his talk with Maya, Jun immediately called for Aiden.
“Aiden, I’m sure you’ve noticed lately…”
“Is this about Maya?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmm…”
At Jun’s words, Aiden’s expression grew serious as he listened intently.
Aiden was a light sleeper to begin with.
He had already seen Maya suffering from nightmares countless times, and each time, he’d witnessed Jun placing his hand on her forehead and channeling some kind of power to heal her.
Jun had looked so heavy-hearted in those moments that Aiden hadn’t been able to bring himself to say anything.
Now, finally, Jun had spoken first.
“A major disaster is about to happen.”
“A major disaster, you say…”
“I don’t know the exact details. But what Maya’s going through is a sign… that something is coming.”
He couldn’t say for certain what the conditions were.
At first, it’s nothing more than a simple nightmare. But as time passes, it becomes something far more than that.
In the game, Maya would witness the scene where the disaster began, unfolding directly within her dreams.
The same phenomenon would repeat over and over, and eventually, Maya would go to the actual location herself, uncovering piece by piece how it was all connected to her.
That was the story behind the character “Maya” in the game.
“Then… what should I do?”
“Keep an eye on Maya’s condition. If anything seems off, contact me immediately.”
“Understood. Don’t worry.”
“Hmm…”
“What is it, senior?”
“No, it’s just… you’re surprisingly quiet about all this.”
Same with the conversation he’d had with Maya earlier. And now Aiden too.
Both of them believed Jun’s words almost too easily.
Even now, despite him suddenly warning of an impending disaster, Aiden accepted it without question.
Then Aiden smiled softly and spoke.
“Haha… Honestly, Maya and Eleanor both joke around sometimes, saying you’re a walking disaster magnet, senior…”
That’s harsh.
“But I don’t see it that way. In fact, I think it’s the opposite.”
“Hmm?”
“You prepare for things because you know something’s coming, don’t you?”
“…That’s true.”
“All the incidents we’ve faced while with you…none of them were your fault. It’s just that you happened to be there when they happened.”
And each time, Jun had responded with skill and composure.
“No one else could’ve handled things the way you did, senior. If not for you, there would’ve been countless casualties.”
Even just off the top of his head, Aiden could recall several such moments.
He looked at Jun as if to say, “What more proof do you need?”
“I’m ready to believe whatever you say, senior. And I don’t think Maya or Eleanor would feel any differently.”
“…Hmm.”
There it was again.
Just like when he had spoken with Maya, something tickled in a corner of his chest.
It was a feeling hard to put into words, scratching at his heart…but he didn’t exactly dislike it.
On the contrary, he grew so embarrassed his face felt hot, and Jun instinctively avoided Aiden’s gaze.
These punks… making people emotional for no reason.
He cleared his throat awkwardly and spoke.
“Well, yeah. Thanks for saying that.”
“Haha… I think it’s been a while since I’ve seen you flustered, senior.”
“No, it’s not like that, idiot. Anyway, keep an eye on Maya for the next few days, will you? Eleanor and I are probably going to be busy.”
“Busy, you say?”
“There’s going to be a banquet at House Ron soon. I’ll probably have to meet the head of the Ron family and some of the Western guests invited to the banquet.”
“Ah… I see. If that’s the case, understood.”
It felt like he’d been going to a lot of banquets lately…
But with his position, I guess it can’t be helped.
Seeing Maya’s current situation, it was no longer something he could afford to avoid.
If it had come to this, it only made sense to use whatever means were available.
***
Late at night. Jun opened his eyes in a luxurious room provided by Kyler, where he had been trying to sleep.
All around him was a pitch-black corridor.
The moment he opened his eyes there, Jun instinctively realized he was in a dream.
No… maybe it’s something different from a dream.
A lucid dream?
Even for that, it felt too real.
And more than anything, he sensed a familiar power.
Illusia?
It wasn’t his own dream.
Something or someone else had exerted influence on him, bringing him here.
Neither fully reality nor just a dream…something in between.
Jun focused his mind and began walking in the direction where the energy of Illusia was strongest.
A corridor… and it’s dark. And this air…somehow, it feels familiar. Where have I felt this before?
It was hazy, like something hidden behind a veil of fog, and he couldn’t quite recall it…but then, at some point, a mist of pale pink appeared before Jun.
Illusia… is that you?
Though no voice came out, the pink mist seemed to understand Jun’s unspoken question and guided him down the corridor.
What the hell is going on?
He’d just been touched by his friends’ words, laid down to sleep and ended up in this strange place.
Even so, Jun stayed alert and walked down the passageway, following where Illusia’s energy led him.
What he arrived at was an underground chamber, built with astonishing precision.
Had someone lived here?
Parchment and scraps of leather covered in various spells and knowledge lay scattered across the floor.
In that moment, a strange sense of déjà vu brushed through Jun’s mind.
No way…
Then, beyond the candle flickering on a worn desk, a figure wavered into view.
Sitting in a rocking chair with his back turned…who was he?
Soon, the man stood up.
He wore tattered old rags.
His hair had turned completely white.
His sagging skin was lined with countless wrinkles, yet his eyes held a deep and mysterious clarity.
“You’ve come…”
The reincarnated character.
He spoke, looking straight at Jun’s soul with perfect clarity.
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