00094 <-- Episode 94: A Misaligned Heart (4) -->
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The Central Palace of West Clunium, the Window of the Setting Sun.
A young, beautiful teenage girl stood before a large mirror, examining herself in a beautiful silk dress. It was a ball gown stolen from the Rusclan royal family.
Levina smiled happily.
“Oh, it’s pretty.”
She looked truly beautiful, with her soft silver bob held in place by a hairpin and adorned with ornate jewelry. Of course, she would never wear this, so it was purely for her own satisfaction.
“But won’t you like Shihan?”
Levina blushed slightly as she thought of her lover.
That was when.
The door opened wide and a black-haired beauty suddenly came inside.
“… … What happened, Levina?”
Karen Inasius was furious. Levina, who might have been embarrassed, was not particularly surprised. Rather, she looked as if she had expected this.
“Karen must have noticed, huh?”
Karen swallowed and continued speaking in a fearful tone.
“I am the prince of Kron Lizate. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice?”
While cleaning up the aftermath of the Lusclan royal family members who committed suicide by drinking poison, Karen discovered something strange while leading her subordinates to bury the bodies.
“The physical reactions of someone who drinks poison while paralyzed and someone who drinks poison of their own volition are different. They didn’t drink poison of their own volition.”
So I looked into it a little more. It was so well hidden that the other princes didn’t notice it, but Karen was currently recognized as the strongest prince in Terranor. She alone was able to find the faint remnants of Levina’s methods.
“… … That paralysis was a trace of your unique fighting technique, Eun-hyeong-sal, Levina.”
Levina didn’t deny it. She just shrugged her shoulders with an expression of surprise.
“I didn’t realize that. I thought that since I was going to writhe in pain anyway, any traces would be erased.”
And then he asked calmly.
“So, is there a problem? Does anyone notice?”
“That’s not it. I haven’t told anyone yet.”
“Then there’s no problem?”
“There is no problem… … .”
Karen raised her voice in confusion.
“What on earth are you talking about?”
Levina smiled broadly. It was a smile so beautiful it was almost evil.
“You know, Karen, someone had to do it anyway. Thanks to you, everything ended up neatly.”
“Well, that’s true, but… … .”
It wasn’t a wrong statement. Karen was already having a hard time assigning personnel separately to isolate the Rusclan royal family. No matter how you calculate it, the current revolutionary army doesn’t have enough strength to withdraw that many troops.
However, the problem was completely solved when the entire Rusclan royal family committed suicide. Although I was angry at their actions of taking the child and family with them, I was actually relieved inside.
Karen asked in a broken voice.
“Do you know the deadline?”
Levina burst out laughing.
“I was trying to do it without knowing the time limit, so what if they find out?”
“Did you… deceive him?”
Why? Levina was the first to change her mind and support Seongshihan?
Levina answered as if it was a given.
“Because I realized I couldn’t convince you. We can’t cause division among ourselves there, right?”
Karen kept her mouth shut. Levina wasn’t wrong.
Certainly, Seongshihan would never have given up on his stubbornness. The Sihan she knew was that kind of boy.
“But Levina, you… … .”
Karen hesitated and asked.
“Didn’t you love time?”
If you truly love someone, how can you fool them so naturally? Karen couldn’t understand it.
But that didn’t seem to be the case for Levina.
“I love you. Of course I love you. More than anyone else in the world.”
She answered sincerely.
“I know him best because I love him. If I thought it could be done by persuading him, I would have persuaded him.”
To begin with, Sung Si-han and the six revolutionary heroes grew up in different worlds. Their perceived ethics are also different.
In return, Levina asked a question.
“Remember, Karen? Count Solon, the lord of the province of Stahl?”
Count Solon was a nobleman in the southern part of the empire. Unlike other noblemen, he did not abuse or exploit the people, so he had a good reputation among the common people.
He was also the greatest supporter of the early revolutionary forces.
“Until the clock cuts his throat.”
Count Solon, who was seemingly a good person, had a perverted hobby. He was a sadist who felt sexual desire only when abusing women.
As a noble who cared about his reputation, he did not touch commoners, but instead committed all sorts of cruel acts against slave women, and was eventually caught.
The count apologized and promised that something like this would never happen again. But Seongshihan did not forgive him.
“The screams of a mere slave woman cost Shihan the head of one of our greatest allies at the time. Do you remember Karen?”
Karen didn’t answer.
At that time, Sung Si-han’s actions were not very helpful to the revolutionary army. Count Solon was a nobleman with a good reputation, and the people loved him.
Even after it became known what atrocities he had committed, I was not angry, but rather I was astonished at how a human being could do such a thing.
Because the opponent is a lowly slave.
Because they are lower beings than the common people.
Even common women responded by saying that it could be like that, even though they are also women.
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‘Isn’t that something you have to endure when you were born a slave?’
Although they were angry at their own mistreatment by the nobles, they were not interested in the plight of the slaves who were worse off than them.
On the other hand, the revolutionary army’s progress became more difficult.
Even if he surrenders and achieves great things, the other nobles have come to know that he can still die according to the ‘standards’ of the other-worldly savior.
And at that time, the empire was so rotten that there weren’t many nobles who could guarantee that they wouldn’t be beheaded.
“Do you think that time limit has changed now?”
Karen could not refute Levina’s assertion. It was certain that Sung Si-han would never have changed his mind.
“But… … you are his lover, Levina.”
I would understand if other friends had done this. But how about Levina? She, the lover of Shihan?
“… … How can you deceive someone you love?”
Levina giggled and walked over to Karen, hugging her like a loving sister and playing with her.
“Oh my, you’re such an innocent sister.”
He continues to whisper softly in Karen’s ear.
“People who love each other can’t reveal all their secrets, right? In real life, relationships that keep some things hidden from each other tend to last longer.”
***
Shihan, who heard the truth of the past, became as hard as a stone.
“Levigna… … .”
Karen continued cautiously, feeling sorry.
“I also kept the secret a secret. I couldn’t agree with what Levina said, but I thought it was a realistic choice.”
From then on, Levina acted like a loving lover in front of the deadline. And it wasn’t an act.
Levina herself truly loves Shihan and considers him to be of service to her, but only by her own standards.
Karen couldn’t understand Levina like that. The relationship between them became increasingly estranged.
While listening to the story, Shihan became impressed.
“You said things were awkward between you two? I didn’t feel that way.”
Karen smiled faintly.
“You didn’t notice any change in other people’s attitudes either, did you?”
From that day on, the six revolutionary heroes’ gazes toward Sung Si-han gradually changed. They still acted calmly in front of him, but inside, they were all aware of the reality.
“Levina said that day. We all owe Sihan our lives.”
It was a commonplace, yet scary statement at the same time. It also meant that Sung Si-han held the lives of the other six revolutionary heroes in his hands.
Seong Si-han waved his hands in embarrassment.
“No, that’s not what I meant… … .”
“We know, we knew that too.”
Only the six revolutionary heroes realized it.
That Seong Si-han is not a Terranorian. And that the fate of Terranor is being controlled by someone who is not a Terranorian.
Also, Sung Si-han at that time said:
‘I’m sorry I got excited, but I don’t think I was wrong.’
Karen opened her mouth in a sad tone.
“Nobody thought you were wrong.”
I just checked how the time limit comes out when others think they are wrong. And humans are beings who inevitably make wrong choices sometimes as they live. No matter how great a wise person or person of character they are.
The cracks in their friendship that had once been broken would not heal. Nevertheless, the six revolutionary heroes fought against the empire together with the otherworldly saviors, acting as if they were normal on the outside.
As time passed, Seongshihan became stronger and stronger.
He has surpassed the barrier of superhuman strength, reached the level of a god, and even defeated General Rondarc, the strongest swordsman in the empire.
The gap between Shihan and the six revolutionary heroes grew wider by the day. In terms of ability, fame, and influence.
Seong Si-han was no longer a ‘stubborn but trustworthy colleague’. When he set his mind to something, he was an ‘unstoppable absolute being’.
By the time the Revolutionary Army had conquered all four major cities of the Empire and was on the verge of a final battle with Emperor Guang, no one doubted that Seongshihan would defeat Emperor Guang and become the new Emperor of Terranor.
So the six revolutionary heroes had a secret meeting separately.
***
In a dark, uninhabited cave.
It was a dark space where even the magic lantern wasn’t turned on. Anyway, since the 6 revolutionary heroes can see through this darkness, there was no point in turning on the light.
No, perhaps it’s because we can’t face each other due to the ugly resolution we’re about to make.
In the darkness, Safaran spoke gloomily.
“The time limit is now out of our hands. We cannot create another mine.”
Theorant clicked his tongue.
“Let’s get straight to the point. There’s no way Shihan will become another madman, right?”
In fact, it is not easy to become crazy to the extent of a madman.
“But I agree that Shihan is not qualified to be emperor.”
As he continued speaking, Theorant glanced at Levina next to him.
“I don’t think a man who can’t even look after a woman properly can rule the people properly.”
“joy!”
Levina turned her head, snorting. Lilstein put his hand to his forehead and muttered in embarrassment.
“This guy is so ignorant of reality. Besides, if he just didn’t know, time would heal him, but he sees Terranor as a world he has to fix.”
As long as Sung Si-han considers Terranor a world inferior to Earth, his attitude will never change.
Saparan clicked his tongue.
“Actually, that’s not a wrong statement. The world of Korea that I heard from him was incredibly soft. How many years does it take to kill one death row inmate?”
Levina opened her mouth, looking around.
“I love Shihan. And I believe that Shihan will definitely become a better emperor than Gwangje.”
And he muttered calmly.
“But we haven’t been fighting all this time just to have a better emperor than Gwangje.”
Theorant added a word with a frown.
“Of course you fought for your own wealth and honor, Levina.”
Levina also refuted with a lively voice.
“Are you saying we should fight among ourselves now, Theorant?”
Two wisps of speculation rose into the darkness. Lilstein waved his hand, sending a blast of magical wind.
“Both of you calm down. This isn’t what we came here for, is it?”
After calming the mood like that, Lilstein clenched his fists.
“Sungshihan, that guy has the power to control Terranor. That’s for sure. And he’s a foreigner. It’s okay now, but who knows how things will change in the future.”
The human mind is easily swayed by circumstances and environments. The faces of those gathered were hardened.
“It seems like everyone has made up their minds. So… … .”
Lilstein nodded as he looked around at them.
“Does everyone agree?”
Levina raised her right hand.
“I agree. His presence is too dangerous. If the light disappears, no one will be able to stop him.”
Theorant and Safaran also raised their hands.
“I don’t like it, but I can’t ignore reality. I agree.”
“I agree too.”
Even Zexengard, who had not been particularly involved in the conversation, voted in favor. With this, the five of them, Lilstein, Levina, Theorant, Sapharan, and Zexengard, came to a consensus.
All that remains is Karen Inasius.
She was just looking at the others with a sneer. They were talking so hard, but they were overlooking the most important part.
“How on earth are you going to defeat the world’s greatest savior?”
The reason this happened is because Shihan’s abilities have grown too much. In order to deal with him now, half of the six revolutionary heroes must be prepared to die.
Everyone was speechless at Karen’s question.
It’s ridiculous. If it was really a decision made for the future of Terranor, why would he be afraid of his own life?
She glared at the others with contempt.
“Six little mice were huddled together and having a really fun time chatting… … .”
Karen herself was included among the objects of that contempt.
“Who the hell puts a bell on a cat’s neck?”
***
Karen neither opposed nor agreed. Since there was no realistic way to deal with Sung Si-han anyway, the meeting that day was just a table talk.
However, he did not inform Seong Si-han of that fact.
The reason why Sung Shi-han and the six revolutionary heroes were divided was the issue of disposing of the Rusclan royal family.
‘Even though you knew it was a sin, you made that choice because you had no choice in reality. You have no right to complain about the fact that there is no realistic way to handle the deadline.’
Both sides were caused by the cold ‘reality’. If that was the case, then it was something that could have just been left to flow as reality did.
Karen’s change of heart was due to Lilstein’s research.
“… … Sending the timer back to Earth? Is that possible?”
A practical way was created. And it did not involve killing or harming the saint.
‘If we just send them back to their original hometown… … .’
Still, I was against it at first.
Shihan had already decided to stay in Terranor. Forcing him to return after being betrayed by his friends was unforgivable. I could easily imagine how angry and betrayed he would be in that situation.
Karen’s heart wavered when she saw Shihan smiling lovingly at Levina.
A voice was heard.
‘If the time comes back to Earth… … .’
A voice from deep within one’s heart… … .
‘Does that mean he can’t be with Levina anymore?’
A voice full of intense emotion.
‘So I don’t have to see him with Levina anymore?’
It was indeed a temptation difficult to resist.
‘… … Rather, wouldn’t that be the way to go for the time limit?’
***
As she finished her story, Karen muttered in a crawling voice.
“… … I know full well that no matter what I say, it will only be excuses.”
So, without saying a word, he decided to pay the price with his death.
But Sung Si-han wanted the truth. He longed for the truth even if it meant bringing back the dead Karen. That’s why he told everything, even though he knew it was an excuse.
“I’m not asking you to forgive me for the betrayal that day. I just told you the truth. The fact that we betrayed you is an unchangeable truth.”
Seong Si-han said nothing. His face was so hardened that he now looked like a corpse.
Karen shrugged her shoulders towards him.
She said with a straightened posture and a face that said she would accept everything.
“Okay, now let’s finish the revenge, Shihan.”
