Resurrection Chapter 106 - Hyung, Get a Grip

When the story of the Black King came up, I recalled the fact that Min Gongchan had answered that he didn’t know the exact time the Black Dragon would appear. Still, I figured the Black King wouldn’t just wake up and run rampant at any old time, so I asked, thinking he might be able to guess the approximate timing.

“How much time do we have left? Can’t you even make a rough guess?”

At my question, Min Gongchan sighed.

“…I don’t know about anything else, but I’m certain of this one thing. It’s drawn to a max-level being.”

“What did you say?”

Then that means the faster Heesoo hyung gets stronger, the faster the Black King will awaken as well. Seeing the tense expression on my face, Min Gongchan slowly nodded his head and continued speaking.

“A strong power is bound to be drawn to another power. Because they interact with each other. The stronger Seo Heesoo gets, the more the Black King awakens, and the influence of the gods who react to it grows stronger, and because of that, Seo Heesoo gets even stronger. Everything happens at once, influenced by each other. It’s similar to how a stone that has started rolling picks up acceleration.”

“Even so, we can’t slow down Heesoo hyung’s growth. If we dawdle and Yaksha manages to defeat Heesoo hyung…”

Yaksha might reach max level. It was a horrifying thought just to imagine, but it wasn’t impossible. Since he had already entered the body of Shin Lion, the current highest-level being in existence, he could be said to be the person closest to max level at present. If he defeated Heesoo hyung and obtained a large amount of experience points, it was practically a foregone conclusion that he would be the first to reach max level.

I didn’t know what that bastard would do if he reached max level. It was frightening because I couldn’t predict his actions at all. What was certain was the fact that he wouldn’t have even a speck of interest in things like saving the world or the prosperity of humanity. A bastard who wouldn’t shy away from any means to achieve his own goals would never care about something like the fate of the world.

To keep Yaksha in check, we had to make Heesoo hyung reach max level before him. In any case, once Heesoo hyung reached max level, he would have to find the Black King and kill it. If we were planning on settling the score, we couldn’t be afraid of the Black King’s awakening.

On the other hand, I thought I knew why Min Gongchan was keeping me alive instead of killing me.

Having seen the future, he must know that Heesoo hyung is the one and only person who can defeat Yaksha and kill the Black King. That’s why he’s trying to protect me, the one who can make him reach max level, without being able to kill me.

Even if he denied it, it seemed Min Gongchan held a glimmer of hope in his heart that Heesoo hyung might become the world’s savior. The more I listened to Min Gongchan’s story, the more I could be sure of that fact.

In the end, what was important was Heesoo hyung’s choice. All he had to do was choose to protect the world in the final moment without abandoning it.

That was a fact I could never doubt, so there was no need to have useless worries. All I had to do was help Heesoo hyung reach max level with all my might.

But as soon as I thought that, the spot where Heesoo hyung had bitten me stung as if I had been stung by a bee. The more certain I became, the more Min Gongchan’s words weighed down a corner of my heart. Heesoo hyung’s attitude of being not just conscious of me, but obsessed, was unsettling. The thought that what Min Gongchan said might become reality was gradually gaining more credibility.

By accepting Ulfheðinn, Heesoo hyung’s heart had clearly become confused. The only way to solve it was to prevent Ulfheðinn’s divine possession. If Ulfheðinn didn’t appear on its own and dominate Heesoo hyung’s body and mind, Heesoo hyung would also be able to collect himself without being swept away by it.

I raised my head and asked Min Gongchan.

“Let me ask one thing. Do you know a way to block divine possession?”

At my question, Min Gongchan furrowed his brow.

“I get that you want to believe Seo Heesoo’s behavior is because of the divine possession, but…”

“Is there a way, or isn’t there?”

“There is, of course. If the person in question strongly refuses, then even a transcendent being can’t descend at will. In Seo Heesoo’s case, he’s undergoing divine possession because he himself wants it. Saying it’s all Ulfheðinn’s fault is just a way of turning a blind eye to the truth.”

“Is there an external way to block it?”

“Unless he breaks the contract and quits his apostleship, it’s impossible as the first and only apostle. You’re talking about just taking the abilities and refusing communication, do you think that’s possible?”

I shut my mouth, and Min Gongchan observed me carefully. He gazed silently at my neck, which was covered by a bandage, and made my heart jump.

“It seems you’re finally starting to believe what I said about Seo Heesoo going crazy over you and destroying the world…”

“Who said I believe you?”

I shouted angrily. Under no circumstances could I doubt Heesoo hyung. Believing in Heesoo hyung was the same as believing in my own will to save the world. The moment this belief was shaken, I knew very well that everything would fall apart, so I denied the fact that Heesoo hyung had begun to show an irrational attitude.

“Heesoo hyung is not that kind of person. In the first place, does it even make sense for Heesoo hyung to go crazy because he loves me? The very fact that it’s me of all people is just ridiculous.”

Min Gongchan’s lips twitched as if he were about to say more, but I didn’t give him a chance to spout nonsense. I continued speaking quickly, as if to convince myself.

“Rather, the more I listen to you, the more I think that the only person who can solve this whole situation is Heesoo hyung. You think so too, which is why you’re trying to evacuate me and Heesoo hyung to a safe place for now, right? Because the only person who will reach max level, and the only one with the will and qualifications to do so, is Heesoo hyung anyway. It just means that Heesoo hyung’s choice at the end needs to be the right one.”

At my point, Min Gongchan’s face contorted.

“How many times do you think I’ve been deceived by that hope? That’s why I can’t forgive Seo Heesoo even more. Because that bastard betrayed you, and us! And yet you always…!”

As I flinched at the anger he revealed, he grabbed both of my arms tightly. In that state, his body trembled like an aspen tree as he looked at me with burning eyes.

I saw a sharp, cold light blazing in his eyes. It wasn’t a metaphor—Min Gongchan’s eyes were truly burning with a blue glow.

His lips moved as if he were about to say something more. But his impassioned emotions quickly vanished like embers. He slowly let go of my arms and took a step back. Then, he spoke in a tone tinged with deep fatigue.

“Let’s drop it. It’s no use saying this kind of thing to the you of now.”

“I don’t know why, but that remark is upsetting.”

With an expression mixing disappointment and resignation, Min Gongchan shut his mouth as if he didn’t want to argue anymore. I looked at him and asked.

“Let’s say we give up on Heesoo hyung, like you said. Is there even an alternative? Is there any other way to keep Yaksha in check, eliminate the Black King, and turn the world back to the way it was, just like I want?”

Min Gongchan said nothing. Instead, he took out a dimension pocket from his clothes, handed it to me, and said.

“…Mr. Kang Cheoljun will soon tell you to go to Elysium. Everything you need is in here, so you don’t need any other preparations. Leave within the day.”

Seeing the dimension pocket I had completely forgotten about, I was slightly flustered. I didn’t think he would give it to me this easily, but Min Gongchan showed no sign of reluctance.

In any case, it was the item he had promised. I took the dimension pocket and put it away. Still, there was something else I needed, so I asked a question in return.

“What about my Lævateinn?”

Min Gongchan answered as if he had expected that question.

“Kim Piljoong probably has it.”

“What? Kim Piljoong?”

“Those guys searched every nook and cranny of Dungeon 77, so they must have gotten their hands on Lævateinn along with Trishula.”

Come to think of it, that was right. If they had found Trishula while searching Dungeon 77, they would have also found Lævateinn, which would have been nearby.

“If they found someone else’s property, they should return it. Why are they holding onto it?”

“There’s no reason to return it, either. With it, they can summon you at any time.”

“They’re using it as bait?”

“It’s an item that would tempt not only you but also Yaksha. Because Yaksha also knows he can lure you with it.”

I was angry that they were holding onto someone else’s weapon as bait, but Min Gongchan pointed his finger at me and said with emphasis.

“But don’t go wandering off using the divine weapon as an excuse. It’s bound to return to your hands even if you don’t make an effort. Besides, with your current skill level, even if you found Lævateinn, all you could do is make an offering anyway.”

At his blunt remark, my face turned red. I wanted to protest that I had trained in my own way, but I was woefully insufficient to release Lævateinn’s seal. Still, I had made a promise to the Golden Emperor, so I had to get Lævateinn back as soon as possible.

I was about to say that, but before I could, Min Gongchan turned to leave. I abruptly grabbed his arm and asked.

“If Heesoo hyung and I go to Elysium, what about you?”

Min Gongchan looked back at me. I didn’t think he would assist with Kim Piljoong’s plan. Since he had already guaranteed that the plan would fail, it was highly likely that he would try to catch Yaksha in some other way. I was about to ask what that was, but Min Gongchan silently pulled his hand away from mine. And he answered the question I hadn’t asked.

“Don’t worry. We’ll meet again soon enough.”

I frowned and was about to say that I hadn’t been worried. But as Min Gongchan lifted the entrance flap to exit the tent, my eyes met with Heesoo hyung’s, who was standing there stock-still over his shoulder, and I clamped my mouth shut again. He was staring this way with dark eyes, and I had no idea how long he had been standing in that spot.

Min Gongchan noticed it too and turned his gaze from me. He glared once at Heesoo hyung, then moved his feet and walked off in that direction.