Chapter 200 : Chapter 200
Chapter 200 - Tornava Continent (1)
Four months have passed since the death of Kang Jae-gu, the Family Head of the Gwangun Sword Family.
People gradually forgot the death of the man called one of the Three Sword Gods, and stability returned to the dynamics between the sword families, which had been briefly in chaos.
Peaceful days also continued for the Haewon Sword Family.
A while ago, the Chamryongdan conducted a recruitment of members and smoothly reinforced its strength, and Choi Ho-joong and Shin Ah-yeon confirmed once again through an unofficial duel that the two were of equal skill.
Since the two vice unit leaders were competing and developing, it was natural for the members below them to be positively influenced. The Chamryongdan was becoming the best sword unit in the Haewon Sword Family, both in name and reality.
Although that strength has not been fully revealed yet.
My training to recover my past strength also proceeded without a hitch.
Rosie requested several more matches with me, and the gap between us widened more and more.
This was perfectly natural.
The relative time of a dragon that lives for thousands of years and a human who lives for only a hundred years cannot be the same.
I became stronger with each passing day, and in our most recent match, I was able to lightly suppress Rosie in just a few exchanges.
"How can a human be like this? This is just strange of you, Unit Leader Ji-han!"
Rosie left only these words and no longer requested a match from me.
The combat power meter called Rosie had now fulfilled its role.
Compared to a few months ago when there was a zombie incident, my level had risen a dimension higher, but even so, I still could not be certain.
Whether I could go to the Demon Realm. And whether I could challenge the Red Dragon.
The fact that there is a target to challenge is a thrill in itself.
During the days of Johan Raven, when I spent a long time in the position of the absolute being, I felt a sense of loneliness.
As I was lost in various deep thoughts, the person who came to see me was Choi Ho-joong.
"Unit Leader. I have something to report."
For the past few months, there had been no report that could be considered peculiar.
At most, it was that the successor of some sword family was beaten by a newly appeared rookie.
Or that a unique dungeon was discovered somewhere in Gyeonggi Province.
That was about all.
"Is there any interesting news?"
"It is not interesting."
"Then?"
"It is news that Unit Leader Seo Ji-hoon's Wolyeong Knights, who set out to conquer a quest in the Abyss, have not been able to return for quite a long time."
"My eldest brother cannot return..."
At first, I did not think much of Choi Ho-joong's report.
The Wolyeong Knights, who were at the forefront of the Abyss conquest, routinely went to unexplored quest areas, and it always took a long time.
It was even common for it to take over a few months.
"Didn't the recent conquest of the Wolyeong Knights also take about two months?"
"That is true, but in this case, something seems a bit ominous."
"The reason?"
"News is coming in that not only the Wolyeong Knights but also numerous sword units from other families are experiencing delays in their return."
"You mean the same thing is happening even though they are in different quest areas?"
"Correct."
That was certainly strange.
Because the quests at the beginning of the Abyss do not require such a long time.
"I understand. Watch the trend for a day or two more and report again."
However, there was no longer a need for Choi Ho-joong to report directly.
Because news was delivered quickly through media outlets.
The official announcement from the Association came two days later.
The content of the announcement was that all sword units and individual warriors who had recently set out to conquer the Abyss were unable to return.
There were a few exceptions, but even those were only cases where warriors who had set out to conquer a quest a long time ago returned late.
There was nothing special in the interview content that came from their mouths.
"There were no particular special details?"
They consistently reacted as if they had no idea why.
Members of the Chamryongdan began to put forward all sorts of conjectures regarding this.
"I wonder if some problem has occurred with the function of the Abyss recently."
"I don't think that's the case. The Abyss isn't some machine; how could there be a problem with its function?"
"I also thought that perhaps the generation of portals exiting toward Earth is suddenly not working."
"It's an ominous story, but I wonder if the people who recently set out to conquer the Abyss have become lost in the dimensions."
There were all sorts of other stories as well, but no answer came out.
What we could do now was wait a bit longer.
Several more days passed, and there were no more people returning from the Abyss.
'The Abyss itself doesn't seem to have a problem.'
Even I had visited the Spring of Elixir just yesterday.
Of course, because there were no people returning after conquering a quest, the spring was very quiet, unlike before.
Rosie also reacted as if she did not know exactly about this matter.
However, she left one significant remark.
"What is certain is that the Abyss does not malfunction."
"On what basis?"
"Because the Abyss is just that kind of place. You can trust me on this part, Unit Leader Ji-han."
"Then, do you mean that the reason the Abyss has become strange recently is the will of the Abyss itself?"
"I see it that way. Though I don't know why."
"I should go there myself."
"Are you crazy, Unit Leader Ji-han? You're going to go blindly without even knowing what's going on?"
"Because it is an important matter to me."
The Abyss is an even more special place to me.
Because this place is the only window that will allow me to meet the Red Dragon.
It was the driving force for living a second life and the reason for living.
"Honestly, Unit Leader Ji-han, you seem more reckless than our dragon race at times."
"Not to that extent."
I first went to see my father.
Since the official conquest of the Abyss requires the permission of the Family Head.
In normal cases, it is never rejected, but in the current situation, I thought I would not be able to set out for the Abyss conquest without persuading my father.
"I do not permit it."
My father Seo Joon-wook's reaction was as expected.
"But my eldest brother has also not been able to return, has he? Therefore, I intend to go directly to the quest area of the Abyss and find out what is happening."
"I am also worried about Ji-hoon and the Wolyeong Knights. However, in a situation where we do not know what is happening, I cannot send you as well. And there is an important decision to be made at the upcoming Sword Family Union meeting regarding this."
"Could that decision be..."
"Closing the entrance to the Abyss for the time being until the warriors who set out for the conquest return. This proposal is expected to pass without any problems."
It seems that being in a high position leads to many worries, just like in the Kalia Continent where I used to live.
The tendency to seek stability over adventure was no different on Earth.
"Then, you should send me before that so that you, Father, will not be in a difficult position."
"What?"
"I promise you. I will return safely."
"But Ji-han. The current atmosphere is not that simple."
"I know. Because no one is returning to Earth from the Abyss anymore. I wish this situation would end quickly, but as you said, Father, it does not seem like that kind of atmosphere right now."
"You're saying you'll go despite knowing that well?"
"I think the Sword Family Union can decide to close the Abyss for now, but that cannot last long. Since the foundation and root from which the sword families have grown is the Abyss."
"That is true, but."
"If this situation continues for a long time, someone will have to set out for the Abyss to find out why."
"As you say, Ji-han, that is a matter to be considered only after a bit more time has passed."
"What if something happens to the existing conquest teams while we are just waiting without any action?"
At these words, Father could not help but falter for a moment.
Because the existing conquest teams I mentioned included the eldest son, Seo Ji-hoon.
"Please allow me to go to the Abyss."
"…."
"I have always taken responsibility for the words I have uttered until now."
As I continued to show a firm determination, Father was silent for a while.
"Can you promise me? That you will return safely."
"I promise."
After that, Father just held my hand tightly with both of his hands without a word.
For a long time.
***
I learned some unexpected news.
Old man Heo Gyeong-woo, who had set out for the Abyss conquest, had also not been able to return.
If even this old man, who was a Sword Master, could not return to Earth, something serious was clearly happening in the Abyss.
The place where the old man had gone was also where I intended to go.
The Tornava Continent.
When I purchased the Abyss map at the auction house, I purposely bought two together, one of which I gave to the old man and the other I kept myself.
I had Ho-joong bring all the information about this place.
Since it was not an ordinary quest area but a place visited through a map, there was not much information.
I intended to familiarize myself with every small detail.
Because I did not know what was happening or what would happen there right now.
"Unit Leader, I have brought the materials."
The materials Ho-joong brought were at a simple level, not very much in volume.
"Brief me on just the core points simply."
"Yes, Unit Leader."
The Tornava Continent is a place where not only humans but also various non-human species live.
Each species possesses special abilities, and the factions are said to live in an eerie balance.
The fact that the balance has been maintained for a long time without tipping to one side was a very unusual thing.
"And according to the experiences of warriors who have been to the Tornava Continent so far, the quest itself is not difficult. The starting point of the quest is randomly determined to be a village of one of the species."
With that, Choi Ho-joong's briefing ended.
"Good job. You may leave."
"But Unit Leader."
"What."
"Are you really going to the Abyss?"
"Would I have asked you to bring these materials just because I was bored?"
"W-well, no. But the situation is just so serious right now."
"I won't ask you to go with me, so put your worries away."
At these words, Choi Ho-joong reacted fiercely.
"Unit Leader. How can you say something so disappointing? I will go with you!"
"Are you just saying that because you think I will refuse?"
"I will go, Unit Leader."
"You seem serious."
"Must you not be going because you are confident you can return, Unit Leader? Therefore, I intend to believe and follow you."
At that moment, someone else visited my office.
This time it was Shin Ah-yeon.
"Unit Leader. I heard you are going to the Abyss. I will also go with you this time..."
"If even you go, Ah-yeon, who will I leave the Chamryongdan training to?"
"It seems Ho-joong really likes the honorary title of temporary unit leader. Therefore, leave the Chamryongdan to Ho-joong, and I will serve you, Unit Leader."
"Hey, Shin Ah-yeon, what are you talking about? You went to the Abyss alone with the Unit Leader not long ago. This time it's your turn to stay!"
The serious situation in the Abyss did not seem to resonate with these fellows.
"Stop. That is enough."
I am the one who makes the decision anyway.
"Go and tell the members. That we are taking volunteers for the Abyss expedition."
"Do you mean to take the regular members as well?"
"The Abyss will be blocked soon, so I should give them a chance. Of course, only for volunteers."
I suddenly became curious about how many hearts of warriors there were in the Chamryongdan.