Player who Returned 10,000 years Later
chapter-338

“Kang-Woo? What’s wrong?” Han Seol-Ah asked.

“Nothing.” Oh Kang-Woo shook his head while pulling down the corners of his mouth with all his might.

‘Pfft, huehuehuehuehue.’

He had almost let out a vulgar laugh after having thought up a fantastic idea.

‘Yes, this is the best way to go.’

No matter how one thought about it, searching every nook and cranny of the continent for the Demon God’s corpse was insane. However, there was no one but the high elves who could guide them to the corpse. In other words, they needed to do whatever it took to meet with the high elves.

‘Everything will resolve itself as long as I bring this world to the brink of collapse.’

Kang-Woo smiled brightly. Of course, just because he had made up his mind to bring Aernor to the brink of collapse did not mean he would massacre civilians or partially destroy the continent.

‘Brink is the keyword here.’

The high elves would appear when Aernor was on the brink of collapse, not when it was already collapsing.

‘Putting it on the brink of collapse isn’t that hard.’

Kang-Woo could already think of multiple ways that he could.

‘I’ll need some time to put them into action, but…’

The time taken would still be far shorter than randomly searching for the Demon God’s corpse.

‘Alright.’

Kang-Woo felt like a weight had been taken off his shoulders now that his worries had been resolved. He smiled brightly.

“What’s with that unpleasant smile?” Cha Yeon-Joo, who had been staring at Kang-Woo, frowned. She felt chills for some reason from seeing the radiant smile on Kang-Woo. She sighed and asked, “So, what are we gonna do? Are we seriously gonna search the entire continent?”

Looking for a needle in a desert would be easier than searching for the Demon God’s corpse located who knows where in the continent.

“Nope,” Kang-Woo answered.

“Then how?”

“Have you thought of something?” Layla asked while tilting her head in wonder.

Kang-Woo gazed at Layla, Yeon-Joo and Kim Si-Hun.

‘Even so…’

He could not tell the three of them the plan that he had in mind.

‘Maybe Lilith.’

Kang-Woo was a bit reluctant to tell even Seol-Ah. Although he trusted her, he did not want to show such a side of himself to her.

‘Darling is also horrendous at acting.’

Considering what had happened long ago with Shalgiel, it was probably better to just not tell her his plan.

‘The fewer people know, the better.’

He was trying to drive the entire continent into the pits of hell to make the high elves manifest; although he would be careful to avoid casualties, they would be inevitable. Whatever he did, Aernor would suffer in some way or another. Since it was far too radical of a plan for a Protector of Light to pull, it was best left hidden.

“I’ll explain outside,” Kang-Woo answered while stealing a glance at Douglas.

Layla nodded.

“Thank you for the valuable information, Douglas,” Kang-Woo mentioned.

“Not at all. I should be the one thanking you for the valuable experience.” Douglas shook Kang-Woo’s hand while smiling in satisfaction. “If you ever need my help, feel free to give me a call anytime. Here is my communication crystal code.”

Douglas handed Kang-Woo a mana code, similar to a phone number on Earth, while chuckling in joy. His temperamental nature that they had seen was nowhere to be found.

‘Regardless of the process, I’m glad we managed to get a good ally thanks to Layla.’

Although Douglas was no longer active, he would be a very valuable ally to have since he used to be the head imperial mage. Kang-Woo registered Douglas’s mana code in his crystal orb and stood up.

“Come to think of it, you said that you were from Earth, correct?” Douglas asked.

“Oh, yes. That’s right.”

“Hmm.” Douglas stroked his beard. “The empire… isn’t in the best state at the moment, so I advise you not to travel around too much.”

“Is it because of Princess Iris?” Kang-Woo asked.

Douglas remained silent. He bit his lip with a complicated expression. “I know how the public sees her, but… I at least want you to know that it is not entirely her fault. Everything was orchestrated by… No, never mind. Tsk, just take it as the ramblings of an old man. Anyway, have a safe trip.”

Kang-Woo narrowed his eyes. He felt like he could vaguely understand why such a distinguished mage lived in such a shabby tower.

‘I’m curious about what’s going on in the empire, but…’

Kang-Woo relinquished his thoughts. Since they had exchanged communication crystal codes, he could ask Douglas anytime he wanted.

‘And…’

If things went according to his thoughts, he was bound to learn about the empire’s circumstances even if he didn’t want to.

‘Right now, I need time to organize my thoughts.’

Kang-Woo could not afford to exact such a grand plan with weak foundations. First, he needed to perfect his plan to make the high elves manifest into the physical world. Since it was not so simple to pull off, he could not just think up the perfect plan here and now.

‘I have to consider all variables, roles and methods.’

Kang-Woo had a mountain of work to do; he could not afford to waste time here.

“In that case, we’ll be on our way,” Kang-Woo remarked.

“But isn’t it already late? If you don’t have a place to stay around here, how about you spend the night in the tower?” Douglas asked.

“Oh.”

Kang-Woo turned around and looked outside the window. Three moons were shining in the night sky.

‘Time flew by so quickly.’

Things had been so hectic that he had not even realized that the sun had set.

‘Come to think of it, it hasn’t even been a day since we arrived in Aernor.’

Kang-Woo had completely forgotten because so many things had happened already.

‘I guess there’s no need to rush.’

They had managed to get through the crisis without a hitch thanks to Viscount Velen’s super carry.

‘Thanks, man! I owe you!’

They would never have met Douglas if it hadn’t been for Viscount Velen, and if it hadn’t been for Douglas, they would have done all sorts of pointless things in search of the high elves that did not even exist in the physical world.

‘Shieeet, he carried us so hard. All hail the viscount!’

Kang-Woo’s endless awe and respect for Viscount Velen set his heart ablaze.

“I understand. In that case, we will stay here for the night,” Kang-Woo answered.

“Hahaha. Although it’s nothing much, use this tower however you like. And… Layla.”

Douglas gazed at Layla passionately. Layla nodded with a smile.

“Okay. I will bring you another sacred relic in the evening,” she answered.

“A-Ahem. I will look forward to it.” Douglas stood up while smiling like a puppy. “In that case, I will clean up the room on the upper floor. You seemed to have something that you needed to discuss among yourselves, so go ahead.”

“Thank you very much,” expressed Kang-Woo.

Although it was filled with impure desires, he was thankful for Douglas’s hospitality. Kang-Woo smiled while lowering his head. Douglas closed the door and left.

“Now, then…” Layla looked toward Kang-Woo. “What do you have in mind about our plan of action going forward?”

The other party members also focused on Kang-Woo. Kang-Woo relayed the fake plan that he had thought up.

‘No, it’s not exactly fake.’

To be exact, it was half of the true plan.

“I’m thinking of making contact with the high elves,” he stated.

“Pardon?”

“What the hell, Kang-Woo? Were you not listening to that old mage? He said that there aren’t any high elves in this world.” Yeon-Joo stared at Kang-Woo in confusion.

“No, think about it.” Kang-Woo glanced at Yeon-Joo, Si-Hun and Layla in order.

‘This is the most crucial point.’

He needed to package one among the infinite possibilities as the truth, and make them believe that there was no other possibility.

“Douglas said that the high elves will appear when this world is on the brink of collapse,” Kang-Woo mentioned.

“Yeah… but what about it?”

“Yeon-Joo, do you think the Demon of Prophecy will sit idly by as we try to eliminate the Demon God’s corpse?”

“Ah.”

The faces of Yeon-Joo, Layla and Si-Hun stiffened. The Demon of Prophecy was the pinnacle of all demons, feared even by the gods, that would bring ruin to the universe. Although his identity was veiled in secrecy, he surely existed.

“He will make his move,” Kang-Woo declared.

The Demon of Prophecy was trying to bring ruin to all worlds, but if the Demon God’s corpse was eliminated, Aernor’s protection would be freed from keeping the corpse in check and put a hard stop to his objective.

“He will appear, no matter what. Even if he himself doesn’t, one of the Four Heavenly Kings definitely will,” Kang-Woo continued.

“I see. Come to think of it, you’re right, hyung-nim. There is no way that evil demon would just sit idly by as we go on this expedition.” Si-Hun agreed while making a serious face.

Si-Hun had forgotten since the Demon of Prophecy had not made his move for months after Rakiel’s death, but his forces were still very powerful.

‘The Four Heavenly Kings…’

Since Satan and Rakiel were dead now, only two remained. No, since the Demon of Prophecy was still alive, they still had at least three powerful enemies that they needed to face.

‘Shit,’ Si-Hun cursed in his mind.

His limbs trembled just from thinking about the Demon of Prophecy. He clenched his fists and bit his lip.

Layla grabbed Si-Hun’s trembling hands and turned to Kang-Woo, saying, “I see. I understand what you are trying to say, Kang-Woo. You’re saying that the high elves will sense danger and manifest once the Demon of Prophecy takes action, right?”

“That’s right,” Kang-Woo responded.

“In that case…” Layla’s eyes shone. According to the legend, the high elves would manifest in front of a savior. “We should find that savior first.”

“No.” Kang-Woo shook his head.

Looking for a savior that they had no idea who it could be was just as insane as looking for the Demon God’s corpse.

Layla tilted her head in confusion and asked, “Then what should we do?”

“We’re not going to look for a savior.” Kang-Woo turned toward Si-Hun, who was looking back at Kang-Woo dumbfoundedly, and grabbed his shoulders. He smiled and continued, “We’re going to… make one.”