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I could tell that Jonathan was bearing a huge burden. In fact, he looked different from the way he was before the Stage of Advent and the way he was in the past. His appearance made me recall the time after his heyday, when he looked like a lion and when he got used to dominating. The faint smile on his lips reminded me of the years we couldn’t be together. His eyes were looking at me as if he was chasing memories, so I must have brought up nostalgic memories to him. He was only kind to me and was cold when he gave orders to his people. In that aspect, he was similar to me. The lonely beast in the past was now reigning as a monarch of fear.
I connected with him telepathically.
- We are finally meeting at the end of all of this, Jonathan. Thanks for staying alive.
- It has been a long time.
Jonathan looked over my shoulder and greeted Yeon-Hee with his eyes. They seemed to recognize each other at first sight even though their appearances had drastically changed. The Stage of Advent was a space where they could share many stories to empathize with each other. Jonathan turned toward me again. He was quiet, but his eyes were chatty. He must have had many things to tell me.
Meanwhile, the surroundings became noisy. I wondered why, and then realized that it was because of Orca. Any Awakened who hadn’t entered the master section would find it impossible to see through Orca’s disguise in the necromancer’s robe. In fact, Jonathan, the Fifth Evil, and the guy who assisted her hadn’t seemed to have noticed Orca’s identity. However, the contaminated wetlands around Orca suggested he wasn’t an ordinary person. They were all experienced, so they knew that the Maruka clan’s clones could be born from the bubbles at any time.
The Fifth Evil called Jonathan in a tense voice, “Master?”
Jonathan also became edgy, and his eyes immediately became sharp and menacing. He was calculating whether or not they could defeat Orca.
He asked.
- It looks like it's in your party, right?
I clarified.
- It’s not a party member. It’s a pet.
- A Maruka aristocrat is your pet?
Jonathan looked at me and Orca, then laughed silently.
- Privilege? Or is it because Mary is manipulating it?
I shook my head.
- Neither.
I could see the question in his eyes.
- Then how?
I grinned slightly.
- I beat it up until it submitted.
His eyebrow twitched.
- …It took me a while to realize just how strong you and Mary were, even after entering here.
***
Orca was a noble of the Maruka clan even though both Yeon-Hee and I treated it disdainfully. It was the monster that could only be confronted by an elite attack squad with the leader in at least the master section. In fact, even an Awakened in the challenger section would find it hard to defeat if they didn’t have enough capabilities. Such a thing had entered human territory, so it was natural to make a fuss. However, people settled down quickly.
As Jonathan walked through the curtain and came into the tent, I briefly saw Orca, who was glancing in from the outside. There was a bottle of whiskey inside the metal box that Jonathan brought.
Tak!
He put the whiskey down on the table. Yeon-Hee and I looked at it the way people in this camp looked at Orca.
Yeon-Hee sent him a message first.
- Jonathan, this is more surprising than you entering the challenger section. You still have stuff from outside?
He grinned.
- I knew today would come. It’s a jackpot that you came, haha.
Yeon-Hee responded.
- Wow, you are kind of creepy.
Jonathan retorted.
- Hey, you are creepier.
The two seemed to be in a good mood as they exchanged barbs. Even then, I couldn’t take my eyes off of the whiskey, especially the worn-out brand on the label. The remaining parts of the sticker were tainted with blackened blood. I wasn’t fixated on it because it was a top-of-the-line whiskey that cost more than thirty thousand dollars per bottle. It was because I knew what Jonathan had been keeping this for. This was a talisman to him, like how I carried around my father’s bank book. Although he had prepared for the Stage of Advent nonstop and entered after fully equipping himself with A-class items, Jonathan must have also experienced a series of struggles the entire time he was here. This was especially so because he was so famous. Those who had a grudge against Jonathan Investment Finance Group or even those who didn’t have any resentment would have tested him in a variety of ways.
- I’m finally opening it.
Jonathan opened the whiskey, and a scent that couldn’t usually be found in this world saturated the air. He handed it to Yeon-Hee.
- Ladies first.
I was next, and Jonathan took a swig last. It wasn’t intentional, but the order was based on our levels. Yeon-Hee was Level 559, I was Level 551, and Jonathan was Level 482. We drank more whiskey according to that order and talked.
Jonathan said to Yeon-Hee through telepathy.
- Then, you must not have tried Round Two.
She shook her head.
- If I did, I wouldn’t have been here. There are so many bastards.
- Is the girl one of them? She is completely fucked now.
He was talking about Priya.
- Why did you even bother? You should have let her die. It’s not worth it.
“Haha.”
Jonathan let out a brief laugh, then he looked at Yeon-Hee and swept his hair up.
- I remembered the first time I saw you, Mary. But it seems like this place has stained us with blood.
His long blond hair, which was like a lion’s mane, fell behind the crown of his head, revealing his eyes. They held a question, wondering if they would be able to survive outside. Jonathan took another sip of whiskey and then handed it to me. I didn’t refuse. I also didn’t stop Jonathan from drinking more as he slowly loosened up. Yeon-Hee and I had experienced lots of times like this, but this was the first time in decades for him. He couldn’t always suppress himself as the king of fear. He seemed desperate for some time to complain to his old friends. She must have felt his emotions and was sympathizing with him.
Yes. Jonathan had been waiting for this moment. That was why I let my best friend do whatever he wanted that night.
***
I tried to get drunk on purpose, but I didn’t try to compete recklessly with quantity as Seong-Il did. It was only one bottle, so I focused on each sip. Then, we all ended up getting very drunk. Yeon-Hee’s flushed face was hot. Jonathan was lying on his slide as he giggled and looked alternatively between Yeon-Hee and me while clapping. Since I was now under the influence of alcohol, the surrounding scenery looked like a watercolor painting. I couldn’t hold it in, so I kissed Yeon-hee, making Jonathan laugh even louder.
He hollered gleefully, “I knew this would happen! Congratulations! Congratulations! Hahahahaha-!”
He was so loud that the Fifth Evil came in to check on us.
Jonathan shouted at her, “Get out, Olivia. This isn’t a place for you!”
His main skill, the Descent of the King of Hell flared up in his hand. Although it was named after a god like my skill, his main skill was highly compatible with any skills and items as he had gotten it from a challenger box. Despite its low Proficiency Level, it blazed like the greatest fire that could engulf the entire world.
She apologized deferentially, “I’m sorry, Master. Have a good time with your friends.”
He didn’t put out the fire even after the Fifth Evil left.
Swoosh-!
He wrapped the tent with the flame like a clown’s deft stunt.
He boastfully said, “You still think this skill is poor? Hehehe.”
“Yeah, it’s so freaking bad,” I replied.
Yeon-Hee responded, “Hahahahaha. It’s poor? You will never be able to no matter how many times you beg. I couldn’t even convince him that my skills were superior to his.”
We were all drunk, and it had been a long time since I had gotten this excited. Time slipped along. Yeon-Hee fell on me as she stumbled. She was doing that on purpose as she wasn’t the type to be conscious of Jonathan. She sat on my lap while tilting the bottle and stuck her tongue out to take the last drop. Jonathan also got up while staggering. He seemed to enjoy feeling out of balance because of the alcohol.
He moved limply and spoke, “This is a real party. Googol should learn this much from us. Do they actually think call girls are going to make a party shine?”
“Googol… That has been so long, but do you still remember all that?” I mumbled.
“Mmm… What do you mean by call girls? You guys must have had a lot of fun.” Yeon-Hee looked at me like she was trying to tease me. Her mischievous eyes soon curved up while she sniggered, and I laughed along. Jonathan had obviously mentioned it on purpose because he clapped while his half-moon-shaped eyes kept smiling.
It felt like the war was over, and we were back to a peaceful world. The objects that were spread like stains due to my blurred vision and the smiling faces of the two people made me feel that way.
Jonathan interrupted, “Hey, no PDA[1] in front of me. People without a lover like me will get too sad.”
I retorted, “Why? Olivia is kind of cute. You look great with her.”
Jonathan giggled. “Hehehe.”
“Anyway, isn’t it time for our King of Hell to regain his dignity?” Yeon-Hee said.
“Fuck that,” cursed Jonathan.
We were all babbling without thinking twice. When Yeon-Hee finished talking, I suddenly noticed someone. I squinted and the figure of a woman standing at the entrance of the tent became more pronounced. It was the Fifth Evil, and she was clearly shocked. She had the same expression as she did in the past, when the First Evil had repelled Doom Caso’s incarnation. Even though she had been dying then, she had been very shaken to see Doom Caso's incarnation running away.
However, she was now directing such an expression at her master. When Jonathan looked back at her, the Fifth Evil hurriedly erased her surprise and bowed her head.
She said apologetically, “I’m sorry, Master. I have an urgent message for you.”
It wasn’t just me. Yeon-Hee also knew it was time to end the party. A bit of steam that contained the smell of alcohol started to form on the two’s faces. It was the same for me. When the steam disappeared, my eyes blurred briefly and my good mood was also gone. I stood up shakily, and Yeon-Hee came down from my lap. Jonathan also returned to the state he was in before he had brought the whiskey over.
A quick look at tinyurl.com/2p9emv8w will leave you more fulfilled.
The air became heavy. For a moment, the Fifth Evil stiffened as if the heavy air was crushing her.
Jonathan asked sternly, “What’s the situation?”
She responded quickly, “A lot of different cases. Some have accompanied large-scale troops, and others are being led by the guild leader him or herself.”
The Fifth Evil seemed deeply resentful of the fact that their camp was considered the weakest. On the other hand, Jonathan looked at me nonchalantly. The Fifth Evil’s gaze followed Jonathan’s eyes.
“Olivia,” I called her by her real name, instead of ‘Fifth Evil’ or ‘Jinn.’
“Yes, New Master,” she answered while being conscious of Jonathan.
“They have a predetermined fate, just as you are originally under me. Your responsibility isn’t difficult. You just have to remind them of their fate. Gather the leaders of each camp here under Odin’s name.”
She blinked. “Under… Odin’s name?”
“Yes, my name, Odin.”
1. An abbreviation of public display of affection, as when a couple makes out in public. ☜