Chapter 117:

Chapter 117:

Chapter 117

The Hanul Clan, who entered the cave late, was captivated by the scenic view in front of them, but they quickly tried to find Yu-hyun and his companions.

“They’re not in sight.”

“Maybe. There’s only one way to get here. There’s no chance we missed them.”

“Does that mean, the prey is inside there?”

Everyone’s eyes turned to the giant island.

The island that existed inside the huge cave.

Between the lush plants of unknown origin, they could see glimpses of elemental phantoms made of different attributes.

“First, we approach the island.”

The leader of Unit 3, who was not Jeongwang Seok, said.

‘Did they go to that island? But why is it so quiet?’

Jeongwang Seok felt something was wrong in his heart, but he didn’t say it out loud.

Jeongwang Seok was given the qualification to lead Unit 3, but the collectors had much sharper judgment than him on the field.

That’s why he just watched quietly in this situation.

If Yu-hyun and his companions went inside, there was no other place they should be than that island.

Unless.

It was very unlikely, but he felt uneasy that they might have pretended to go inside and hid somewhere secretly.

Jeongwang Seok shook his head and dismissed that absurd leap of logic.

He was sure that no matter how cunning they were, they couldn’t do something like that.

Unit 3 followed the path that connected the entrance of the cave and the island, heading towards the island.The roots of this story extend from novell bìn origin.

Their original goal was to secretly follow Yu-hyun and his companions, who moved around without fear in a group of three, and kill them.

But the island in the crystal cave.

As soon as they discovered the phantoms there, a single emotion began to flicker in the eyes of Unit 3 collectors.

It was greed.

“These are elemental phantoms, aren’t they almost rare species?”

“If we catch them, they might give us some good by-products?”

“We can also get points.”

Everyone’s eyes naturally turned to the leader of Unit 3.

It was a question of whether they could leave behind the golden lumps that were alive and breathing in front of them while carrying out their mission.

“The mission continues.”

The leader had to make a clear decision on this matter.

Some collectors were about to show disappointment at his firm words, when his next words fanned their hearts even more.

“However, it is necessary to eliminate the phantoms that block our way ‘while’ we are looking for them.”

“Whew.”

“As expected, you’re the leader.”

They got a rare permission. Unit 3 members were happy with their leader’s decision and started to show their fighting spirit.

Jeongwang Seok fell into an illusion that he was leading some reliable people while watching them.

That was when it happened.

“Leader. Someone is coming from behind.”

“What? Everyone stop! Get in formation!”

At the words of his subordinate who was watching the rear, everyone’s senses sharpened.

At the same time, unidentified people appeared from the entrance of the cave where they had just crossed.

They were members of Twilight Veil Clan who went out to eliminate intruders.

They quickly crossed over to the island and faced Hanul Clan.

“...”

“...”

A sudden heavy standoff.

Hanul Clan couldn’t understand what was going on.

In the end, Jeongwang Seok stepped forward. It was his turn to do so here.

“Listen. I don’t know who you are but...”

He was about to tell them to get out of their way without interfering.

The air flashed and Jeongwang Seok reflexively reached out his hand without knowing it.

Slash!

And his left arm was cut off and rolled on the ground.

“Aaaargh!”

He screamed with a torn throat from the loss of his body and the terrible pain that came with it.

His distorted face in pain, his tearful eyes caught the man who attacked him.

“You crazy bastards!”

They attacked this side without a shred of hesitation.

They didn’t doubt that this side was their enemy.

To use your brain, to devise schemes and make your enemies fight each other.

She was unhappy with that itself.

She pretended not to, but I felt her heart.

It’s bothersome, you have to think, it’s annoying.

Surely, you could see it that way.

Suddenly, I remembered my previous life.

Choi Doyoon said that to me.

My method was nothing but a trick for weaklings who had no power.

Real strong ones crush everything with their overwhelming power, because that makes the spirits happy and it’s satisfying itself.

That’s what Kwon Jia (regressor) claimed.

Just don’t bother and crush them with soda.

“I see.”

Maybe my plan now didn’t match what Kwon Jia usually did.

She was a regressor, but different from me.

She lived longer and more than me.

And she had the regressive trait of fixing her direction in life.

She probably chose to get rid of her enemies without hesitation.

She had done so until now, and maybe she would do so in the future.

To Kwon Jia, my method might be hard to accept even if she understood it intellectually.

Bothersome, you have to think, it’s annoying.

“You know what, Miss Jia? I enjoy something called build-up.”

“Build-up?”

“Yes. Sure, it would be great to smash your enemies as you say. But in the end, that’s only momentary. When you look back later, you won’t even remember it because it happened so quickly.”

Let’s say there’s a story. The protagonist here is very strong. He’s the ultimate munchkin material.

He’s so strong that he eliminates anything that blocks his way with his power.

He also ends the final boss before he even makes a plan.

The story ends like that.

Then what’s the value of this story?

A very strong protagonist who just solves everything in an instant with a bang! What’s the fun in that?

Sure, it’s satisfying.

But that’s only momentary.

Without any process or preparation, doing so inevitably lowers the level and value of the story.

Do you think I can’t do it myself because I’m doing this?

“You see, the stage is ultimately about the protagonist who leads and carries it. But a stage with only one protagonist is boring. It’s not aesthetic to have a very strong protagonist who just beats up all the enemies he sees.”

That’s not the stage I want.

Of course, the protagonist should stand out. But it’s not just him.

Those who exist as the background, and those who inevitably support the protagonist as supporting characters.

And even the audience who watch everything from afar.

All these things have to work together like gears in a machine.

‘You have to draw out the most of them, and build them up gradually. And then, when the scenario is completed, you explode it at the most optimal moment with a bang!’

That’s what build-up is.

It’s a kind of aesthetics. Like having an appetizer before the main dish, it’s true that it’s bothersome and tedious.

But every step of the way, it ultimately makes the main dish shine.

“And that will surely be the best feast.”

“...”

“Well, I guess you still don’t understand. I understand. You must have fought in a different way than me. So I won’t force you. Someday, I’ll also fight in the way you want me to. But sometimes, just know that there’s a way like this.”

Did my persuasion work? Kwon Jia pouted her lips but seemed to agree.

“...Fine. Maybe, the way I want isn’t always right.”

That sharp remark was not directed at me. Rather, it sounded like self-criticism that was close to scolding herself.

She quietly turned her eyes to the fierce fight between the two clans.

She seemed to try to understand my aesthetic of build-up.

I laughed silently at her funny appearance.

That was when it happened.

Shaaaaaak──!!!

A high-pitched scream that echoed throughout the giant cave.

The two clans who were fighting fiercely stopped their fight and looked towards the inside of the island.

The spirits did too.

But not me.

“Miss Jia. Look. This is the main show.”

Finally, the main dish begins.