The Main Characters That Only I Know

Yu-hyun opened the book of Baek-ryeon with trembling hands.

Before, it was to the point where he couldn't even make out the letters, but now at least the letters had formed enough to be recognizable.

‘But still, there are gaps between the letters, making it hard to understand.’

It was true that there had been a significant change. Although the content of the book was still unreadable, at least now it met the minimum requirement to be called a book, unlike before when it couldn't even be considered one.

So, why had such a change suddenly occurred?

Baek-ryeon had been unusually quiet for a while, and then the book had suddenly transformed. This meant that something recent had caused the change.

‘Could it be that something has influenced it because I possess the Fragment?’

It was a reasonable hypothesis, with a high likelihood. And right now, what mattered most was the content written in the book Baek-ryeon held.

‘Baek-ryeon, do you remember what happened in the past?’

‘Did you remember anything about the fallen Salio Empire?’

[No, it's different from that.]

Baek-ryeon's answer was somewhat odd, but even he couldn't explain more, even if he wanted to. If there had been more he knew, he would have told everything, but the memories returning to her were only at the level of a seed just beginning to sprout.

He needed time to recover all his memories.

‘How long do you think it will take? Until you recover all your memories.’

[……I don’t know. But it will take quite some time. I don’t think I’ll be able to remember everything before the war begins.]

Baek-ryeon felt frustrated, wondering if he had spoken out of turn. When Earth was engulfed by the Second Phantasm Shock, Baek-ryeon had once dreamed a faint dream.

At that time, he had been watching someone. He didn’t remember exactly who, but he was certain it was a man, and he had been someone very precious to him.

He had looked at him, crying as he apologized.

What had he replied to him?

He couldn’t remember. The dream had ended there, and the lost memory had blocked everything further, as if forbidding access to what lay beyond.

The lost memory had begun to slowly awaken as he spent time with Yu-hyun, who had fully adapted to the mixed world.

If there was a catalyst, it was likely the enemies carrying the name of the Salio Empire.

‘What am I?’

Until now, Baek-ryeon had never questioned her own existence. There had been no need to.

But after being with Yu-hyun and experiencing so much, he had changed.

The old records he had thought were lost simply due to the passage of time and system degradation turned out to be memories he should have as a person.

Why?

Hadn’t he just been an AI created by an empire that perished long ago?

Why did it feel like he was perceiving the present as if it were the past?

‘What could be in my lost memories?’

Ordinarily, he would have felt the need to retrieve those memories, but Baek-ryeon felt an odd sense of unease. It was as if something terrible would happen once he regained those memories, a bad premonition that haunted her like a nightmare.

‘Baek-ryeon, is there nothing you remember right now? Anything you can tell me?’

[I don’t know. But one thing is for sure—something bad will happen in this war.]

‘Something bad?’

[Yes. I don’t know exactly what, but something… something bad, for sure.]

Baek-ryeon was certain of at least this.

He didn’t know how he knew about the future war, but he was sure that something would happen in this war.

And whatever it was, it would be bad for them—definitely not good.

[So, Yu-hyun, be cautious. I’ll tell you immediately if anything else comes to mind.]

‘Got it.’

Yu-hyun instinctively knew that Baek-ryeon wasn’t worrying without reason.

There was a valid reason behind Baek-ryeon’s warning. It wasn’t rational, but if he was this anxious, there must be something to it.

He had already planned to approach this battle seriously, but after hearing Baek-ryeon’s words, he felt the need to prepare even more.

* * *

The Lords and their transcendent subordinates left Old Town.

Nearly 20 Lords, over 80 transcendents, and one Executor.

Though the number of 100 was too small to be called an army, their sheer strength alone was enough that no powerful nation on Earth from five years ago could compare.

They didn’t even bother to hide their movements or where they were heading.

They were sending a clear message: "We won’t avoid this fight, but we also won’t cause unnecessary damage. Let’s fight properly on a real battlefield." The Lords of the Alliance were making this declaration.

The Salio Empire didn’t reject this challenge. It was, after all, what they wanted as well.

The Lords were heading to the headquarters of the anti-Salio Alliance, where Baek Seo-ryeon had been secretly active for some time.

The enormous secret base, built underground in a desolate wasteland, was so vast that even the Lords clicked their tongues in astonishment.

While the Alliance didn’t control everything within their territory, they still boasted information-gathering capabilities second to none.

That such a secret organization was operating right beneath the Alliance’s nose was truly astounding.

But now, there was no point in complaining about it. In fact, the Lords were relieved that such a place even existed.

It was much better than waiting for a battle with the Salio Empire while camping out in the streets.

The Lords and transcendents each received their own private rooms, where they could prepare for the upcoming battle.

‘A place like this is remarkable. If this were Earth, a space like this would be unimaginable.’

Baek Seo-ryeon had spoken casually about the anti-Salio Alliance’s secret base, but it was not every day, even in the mixed world, that you encountered a facility of this scale, reminiscent of a massive arena, existing underground.

‘There’s even an elevator connecting the surface and the underground.’

Yu-hyun took the elevator to the surface. Of course, the elevator had been designed to blend in with the surroundings, so it was invisible from the outside.

Upon exiting, the cold night air greeted Yu-hyun.

He lightly brushed back his wind-tossed bangs and looked up at the sky through the crevice between the rocks, where the blackened night sky stretched out above.

“Did you come for some fresh air?”

Someone had arrived before Yu-hyun.

“Wi Muhyuk.”

Wi Muhyuk, once known as the Military God .

Now called a Lord, the man sat perched on a rock, gazing out at the barren landscape.

Even if a battle broke out, there was nowhere nearby that could be harmed. The secret base of the anti-Salio Alliance was situated right in the middle of this wide wilderness.

There wasn’t much to see, so it was clear that Wi Muhyuk had come out because he too was feeling uneasy.

“It’s been a long time… but it’s probably too late to say that now.”

“Haha. I didn’t expect us to meet again in a situation like this.”

Wi Muhyuk smiled gently at Yu-hyun.

“It’s good to see you, Kang Yu-hyun, Teller.”

“I’m no longer a Teller.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ve become a human, Kang Yu-hyun.”

Wi Muhyuk, about to verify Yu-hyun’s words, widened his eyes in realization.

“Don’t tell me… Have you reached the Horizon of the Story?”

“The way you’re reacting suggests that you’ve reached it as well, Wi Muhyuk.”

“…Yes, I have. That’s how I became a Lord.”

Wi Muhyuk had also reached the Horizon of the Story. He had realized that to survive in this changed world, he needed great strength, and through considerable effort, he had achieved it.

Although he hadn’t ascended to the rank of Divine Spirit due to his lack of talent, he had still obtained enough strength to be envied by others.

However, what he couldn’t believe was that someone like Yu-hyun, who had also reached the Horizon, had chosen to become human instead of a Divine Spirit.

Wi Muhyuk, about to say something, shook his head, realizing that it was pointless.

“Kang Yu-hyun, you really do surpass my imagination. You’re exactly as I remember you.”

“You’re giving me too much credit.”

“Not at all.”

For a while, the two men stared silently at the midnight wilderness.

The barren land, where not even a single blade of grass grew, was filled only with massive rocks scattered irregularly.

One would think that the mixed world would be a far more livable place than Earth, but this area wasn’t exactly a place of romantic beauty.

“The world has changed a lot, hasn’t it?”

“Yes. It took me by surprise as well.”

Wi Muhyuk didn’t bother explaining in detail what had happened in the last five years. There was no need, and he knew this man would already be aware of it.

Wi Muhyuk also didn’t ask Yu-hyun where he had been for the past five years.

He had heard the rumors—rumors that Kang Hye-rim, the Sword Empress, whom he had first contracted with, had become the Black Thunder Lord, and had been defeated by Yu-hyun, now known as

the Book Pile Lord, upon his return.

It was simply the way things were. Each of them had their own circumstances, and there was no need to pry into them.

Just sitting together and having a quiet conversation like this was enough.

“What do you think of the upcoming battle?”

“Are you worried? That doesn’t sound like something the man once called the Military God would say.”

“Does it? But… even so, I can’t help but worry about the upcoming battle. I have something to protect now.”

Wi Muhyuk hadn’t started a family during the five years he’d spent in the mixed world. His only family had been his late daughter and wife.

He had vowed to remember them forever, and thus, the idea of starting a new family had never even crossed his mind.

But that didn’t mean he had no one to protect.

Wi Muhyuk had become the Lord of a city. And he liked his citizens. He didn’t want any of them to die or suffer, which is why he had chosen to fight against the Salio Empire.

Duty, responsibility, personal feelings—it didn’t matter.

As long as there was something to protect, he would always fight, even if it meant his own death.

Yu-hyun nodded, as if this was the most natural thing in the world.

“The upcoming battle will indeed be dangerous… but we will win.”

“You think so?”

“I’ll make sure of it.”

“Well, coming from the man who defeated Choi Do-yoon, it’s a convincing statement.”

“You know Choi Do-yoon?”

“He’s famous. Plus, he’s the only Executor from Earth. He’s said to be a Returner, and as a Lord myself, it’s only natural that I know him.”

“And you get along with him?”

“Surprisingly, yes.”

The fact that Choi Do-yoon, that psychopathic lunatic, got along with anyone was hard to believe.

Or perhaps, it was Yu-hyun who didn’t want to believe it. After all, the Choi Do-yoon of this life was different from the one from before.

In his previous life, Choi Do-yoon had lost his mother, his only family, and that had turned him into the person Yu-hyun had known.

But in this life, Choi Do-yoon’s mother was still alive, and at least he wasn’t the reckless person he used to be.

Yu-hyun had come to realize this more than anyone else while crossing swords with him.

So this was it.

This world had changed. Because of him.

“Oh. So this is where you were?”

Just then, another guest arrived.

Recognizing him, Yu-hyun smiled and greeted him.

“Lim Gunwoo, the Collector. Long time no see.”

“Haha, now it’s Lord Lim Gunwoo. I’ve even earned the splendid nickname of the Idle Lord.”

“That doesn’t sound like a particularly good nickname.”

Idle Lord—considering Lim Gunwoo’s behavior and demeanor, it fit perfectly. Now that he thought about it, even Windarin had been called the Smallest Lord by the citizens of his city.

Knowing Lim Gunwoo’s personality, it probably wasn’t a derogatory nickname but more of a term of endearment.

“Did you leave Choi Yeri behind and come up alone?”

“Hmm? Oh. Ye-ri’s been nagging me nonstop. Ever since she became my lieutenant, she hasn’t let me out of her sight. It’s exhausting, really. No wonder she can’t get married.”

“I thought she was already married.”

“What? Ye-ri? To whom?”

“To you.”

“Huh?”

At Yu-hyun’s words, Lim Gunwoo waved his hands in denial.

“Haha, Yeri and me? No way. Yu-hyun, it seems you’ve gotten a lot better at joking since we last met.”

“Well, if you say so…”

The three of them chatted casually, enjoying the cold night breeze. Inevitably, as they thought about the upcoming battle, the conversation shifted to the war with the Salio Empire.

“This fight won’t be easy.”

“I know. It’s not just the Salio Empire we’re up against.”

“The Great Army of Olympus and the Great Army of Asgard, right?”

“Exactly. And this time, Asgard is sending a second-generation Divine Spirit—Magni.”

“Magni?”

“Damn.”

Magni's reputation was well-known to both Wi Muhyuk and Lim Gunwoo.

The son of Thor, Asgard's strongest god, and a Divine Spirit possessing strength comparable to his father’s mighty power.

“But you don’t have to worry about that. Kwon Jia will take on Magni.”

“Kwon Jia? Will she be okay on her own?”

“Yes. She’ll be fine.”

Considering where Kwon Jia’s Heaven Biting Divine Art originated, she was the perfect counter to Magni. In fact, if the opponent was a Divine Spirit from Asgard, there was no one stronger than Kwon Jia.

“The only remaining concern is who Olympus will send.”

“Hmm. That’s a problem too. But wouldn’t they send a third-generation Divine Spirit? Asgard sending a second-generation seems like they’re crossing the line a bit.”

“I wish that were the case, but Olympus likely understands the importance of this war. They might send a second-generation Divine Spirit as well.”

“If it’s a second-generation from Olympus… that means they’re a Divine Spirit too.”

Lim Gunwoo shook his head, as if a headache was forming.

“The opponents are no joke. They have two Executors, and nearly thirty Lords on their side.”

“Still… we can’t avoid this fight.”

This time, it was Wi Muhyuk who responded. Lim Gunwoo, knowing this, reluctantly nodded.

“I know. There’s no choice, so we’ll just have to fight as hard as we can.”

“Then let’s survive, no matter what.”

“Agreed.”

“Let’s do it.”

The three men exchanged faint smiles and lightly bumped fists.

This took place the day before the Salio Empire’s forces would arrive.

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