#130
The string that had been pulling me tight loosened little by little at those words. The stubborn hand broke away from the hem of the dress only after tying it into a knot.
Iobel’s figure had already disappeared from sight. Se-hyeon, who had been watching the vassals busily going to and from the small-looking weapons refinery in the distance, turned around only when the wind blew through his hair.
“Shall we go to the training camp?”
“yes.”
The Celestial Race that came with Sehyeon were currently receiving empire training from Gapjun Kim. There were many Celestials who already had empires, but most of them were running their empires with so little knowledge that it could not be called experience.
Therefore, Se-hyeon persuaded everyone to receive Kim Gap-jun’s Spartan-style training, even if only for a short period of time, and today was the first day of the ten-day training. As it was a short period of time, the training was scheduled to be carried out on a tight schedule. To the point where you are educated when you open your eyes, and educated until you close them.
Among the Celestial Race, Yu Si-un and his Grand Duke were also included. It was a moment when the power of Kim Gap-jun, who had raised himself to Empire Level 5, was truly demonstrated.
Surprisingly, Kim Gap-jun was unable to hide his heightened expression even as he lost his temper. He cleared his throat and turned around, his towering shoulders telling me he was glad to have something to do.
Yu Si-un and all the Celestials had already completed their alliance contract with Se-hyeon. It would have been more correct to call it a federation. The main axis of the Celestial League was centered around Yu Si-un. As of now, the total number of empires in the League of Thousands was 145.
With Sehyun joining, Sehyeon’s alliance achievements have already exceeded the quota.
[Building an imperial alliance. (178/100)]
Now all that was left was to conquer the tower and upgrade Ruhak’s level.
“Pen, do you know where Mr. Owl is?”
“The fishman’s man said he wanted to share the punishment he received, so they are both currently living in the lake.”
Sehyeon stopped in his tracks and lowered his gaze. Frog man, no. Aul had not currently returned to the cavalry empire. Even when I asked him why, he remained silent, so I left him alone, but now I realized that it was so that he could be punished with Kwak Jeong-han.
Last night, Se-hyeon visited Kwak Jeong-han and gave him the punishment he so desperately wanted. But it was an indefinite punishment. It was a punishment I didn’t know when it would end, and it was a punishment I might never be able to finish.
‘Until Kwak Jeong-han himself achieves satisfactory results, we will live as if we are each other’s dead. Until then, I will not look for Mr. Kwak Jeong-han, and Mr. Kwak Jeong-han must not look for me either. This is the punishment I give to Mr. Kwak Jeong-han.’
Kwak Jeong-han understood the punishment and accepted it. It was never a severe punishment. However, for Kwak Jeong-han, it was an ordeal higher and harder than any wall. The opponent he had to overcome was himself, not anyone else.
When a person with low satisfaction achieves enough performance to be satisfied with himself. Probably a lot of time will have passed by then. As if this moment is blurry.
Sehyeon started walking again after stopping. A training center located not far away was visible. Perhaps to comfort the sinking Sehyeon, he felt Pen’s scarred hand enter his hand.
It was a warm hand. Each hero had a body full of scars, making it difficult to even fathom the depth of their lives. The tightness and hardship were evident in their breath at every moment, to the point where one wondered if they had had a smooth life. Sometimes I wanted to ask.
Where is their hometown?
The entrance to the training center, which was getting closer, appeared right in front of us. However, as soon as he stepped in, Sehyeon had to witness a familiar sight.
“now! Come sit down quickly! Oh, you were so close to the person in front of you! If it’s dazzling, sit in the shade! Draw it, like that. Uh-huh, don’t push the person in front of you!”
As I approached, using the booming voices as an indicator, a large crowd of people sitting huddled together on the lawn in the center of the training center came into view. It was impossible to characterize them as they all had hidden wings, but it was clear that they were Celestials.
“Listen carefully while blowing some air into your nostrils. As a result of my experience here, training efficiency is fast because the training center and education center are combined. Here, when we say that efficiency is fast, we are talking about when all fields are systematically subdivided. Training instructors and instructors, a training center perfect for each field. Training difficulty level by grade and training center opening level. What I will explain from now on is how to subdivide the training center. It’s important, so listen carefully. “I know I’ll be scolded if I say later that my vassal’s stamina has increased.”
In front of the Celestials looking up with wide eyes, there was Kim Gap-Jun, stepping on a chair. The way he shouted with such force that his stomach was sinking made it seem like he had quite a passion for education.
Of course, the gazes directed at him began to move away little by little as Sehyun approached. So much so that Kim Gap-jun, who couldn’t see it, looked back.
“No, why do you keep glancing behind you? What on earth is behind it… .”
Kim Gap-jun turned his head and looked back, and as soon as he saw Se-hyeon, he was so startled that he jumped up from where he was standing. However, as soon as he realized that the gray-haired person was Se-hyeon, he rushed towards him with a pointing finger.
“No, why does this guy keep appearing from behind and startling people and making a fuss! “Isn’t it a bit bitter if you show up quietly?!”
“It was because Gapjun Kim was good at explaining things, right? “Looking at your back, it looks like you’ve lost weight.”
“hmm… hmm! Draw it. I have to endure losing weight, ugh! so… “Why did you appear?”
“I came here to see if you were doing well, and you also take outdoor classes?”
“Ah, everyone was frustrated, sleepy, and very whiny, so I packed them up and brought them out.”
“Now that we’re out, why don’t you give us some free time?”
Kim Gap-Jun stared at Se-Hyeon for a long time with a shocked expression, then turned sharply and approached the Celestials. He waved his hand to tell Se-hyeon to run around for a while, and only when he saw the Cheonin people jumping up and down starting to run around the lawn did he come back to Se-hyeon.
“How about education for the Celestial Race?”
“Except for those who feel sleepy after lunch, everyone tends to work hard. “It’s only the first day, so I don’t know anything yet.”
So does he. It was still only the first day, and it felt too early to discuss anything. Kim Gap-Jun’s words continued.
“Everyone was so docile that I was very scared and worried about what to do, but since I was still trying to do it, I had to take him with me.”
“Please take care of yourself. And sometimes, let me get some air like this. “If possible, I also practice recovery skills as much as possible.”
“Mind your own business. Starting today, the guy who is top-ranked is already losing his stamina by wandering around in 50,000 places, wow.”
“It doesn’t matter since I’m going with my kids anyway, right? Or would Kim Gap-Jun come with you?”
“Damn. “You can conquer several floors a day.”
“I’m expecting about the 5th floor, but I think I’ll have to try it today to find out. I’m thinking about starting from the 10th floor… “I wonder if it will work out.”
There was a limit to how much experience you could earn for each level, so even if you had cleared a lot of towers, you had to conquer floors that were equivalent to your level in order to level up. Additionally, Elix does not have a party concept, so experience points are gained based on the quota per individual.
They said that just because you let go, you don’t get experience points.
The good news is that even if you kill one monster together, experience points are distributed according to each person’s achievement. Therefore, in order for Sehyun to gain experience, he had to hit the first stroke. Even if the heroes take over after that.
“Don’t go crazy, use your tongue in moderation.”
“Why, are you worried?”
“Stop talking like shit and get out of here! “What are you doing with a busy person?”
Kim Gap-Jun stopped pointing and shouted at the Celestials that break time was over. The Celestial Race, who were basking in the midday sun, began to gather together again after hearing those words. In it were Yu Si-un, his Grand Duke, Gong Jae-woo, and Huey.
After keeping his eyes on them for a while, Sehyun quietly left with the pen when everyone was concentrating on the class.
The time to go to the tower was slowly approaching. Even though he had already received the bow from Keppel last night, Sehyeon opened his inventory and checked it again. After checking this several times, he felt relieved and headed to the gatehouse.
Heroes were already waiting in front of the gatehouse where the door was open. Even though there were at most four people going with us, they were all who showed up.
Sehyeon turned his back one last time and looked at the castle tower. The top of the sky-high castle tower shimmered in the clouds. It was a distance where I couldn’t tell if they were watching or if I was there.
I turned my head without even checking. Suddenly, the image of Ruhak flashed through his mind. In addition, what his office looked like when I visited it last night.
“let’s go.”
Ruhak was standing there with his back to me, in a place where there was nothing in sight. It was a moment when everything seemed like a lie, including the charred walls, the remains of items that seemed to have melted, and the soot-covered shards of broken glass.
The words spoken to Sehyun, who had stiffened, were short. It was a word that made it seem as if the ground beneath his feet was sinking. Without even turning around, Ruhak urged Sehyeon to leave in a suppressed voice. It wasn’t even an angry voice. Words that sound somewhat weak and tired.
During the time Sehyeon was gone, Ruhak was also struggling in pain.
As I left the office and headed to my room, I had to think about many things. Still, he made many people forget what was behind him.
It was then that I realized that our relationship with each other was dangerously ambiguous. Also, the fact that both of them are neglecting it.
I was planning on talking about it when I got back. Now is the time to check his trustworthiness, which I was unable to check because I was scared.
Also, his growth.
