The 31st Piece Turns the Tables
chapter-85

Kongory was filled with people, just like when Seol was first transported. However, Seol was already aware that it wasn’t a positive sign.

“And you’re telling me to believe that?”

“Seriously, I’m telling you the truth! There’s already talk that Nevenia isn’t going to do anything about the current situation.”

“How?! Two cities have burned down already! And what about the deceased?! And the people who were kidnapped?!”

“Do you think a country moves on feelings alone? They move for their own interest. What am I supposed to do when Nevenia’s royalty already made that decision?!”

“Dude, keep your voice down. Someone could hear.”

“Who cares if they do? Is there anyone in Kongory who isn’t insulting the royal family?”

“That’s true, but…”

Seol was curious about what they were talking about.

First, Seol headed to the information guild, but for some reason they were inoperational.

‘Damn it… This is going to be troublesome now.’

Seol, with no other choice, headed to his second option, the Adventurer Association. There was still information to be discovered here as long as he looked hard.

[(NEW) [<I’mFucked>’s Post]

[Post Date: A week ago]

[Title: I worked so hard to create my own space in Nobira, so what the hell is all this?]

It took just one day for me to become a complete nobody…

Is the weather here in Kongory better?

- If you’re from Nobira, just stay in Nobira.

- The weather’s better here for sure, but it’s nothing compared to Seoul.

- Man, I miss Seoul… I want to go camping again too.

- Nothing beats a barbeque while camping.

- Wake up, you idiots. Do you really think now’s the time to be talking about this?

- What do you want us to do then?]

[(NEW) [<ReceivingRecommendations>’s Post]

[Post Date: A week ago]

[Title: I’m accepting recommendations for another city to go to]

Other than Kongory.

After all, we don’t know when this fucking city would die too.

I’m going to go further south.

- And you think they'd accept you?

- If you go there, I’m going to curse you.

- Ah, that’s a bit…

- I still can’t believe Nobira died like that…]

[(NEW) [<KillTroll>’s Post]

[Post Date: Just now]

[Title: I can’t believe those fucking weaklings are acting up again. I can’t handle it anymore…]

I’m going to call Private.

Private hyung… yeah? Please say something… Nobira died.

- Did you forget how long it’s been since Private ran away? LMFAO

- Why the hell would Private join this?

- This is too large-scale for a transferee to handle.

- Call Han Yeo-myeong! I thought he was strong?

- Stop bullshitting. The situation’s way too dire.]

[(NEW) [<Yooo>’s Post]

[Post Date: Just now]

[Title: Accept the refugees!]

I can’t believe the people from Nobira would really end up being refugees…

- I want all of the refugees to rescue me~

- Woah, is that Eminem?

- I can’t believe something like this would happen in my lifetime lmfao

- This is so insane… I invested so much into Nobira too…]

[(NEW) [<PtooPtooPtoo>’s Post]

[Post Date: Just now]

[Title: Is this real?]

Are the fucking Nevenia bastards really going to pretend like they don’t know? Really? Why?

- They made a statement that they’re going to do a good job on national security and not let any more trolls enter LMFAOOOOO

- They’re practically calling the doctor after the patient has died… changing the password after they were hacked… these guys are ridiculous LMFAO

- What’s going to happen to us now?

- Nothing. We’ll just continue life.]

Seol noticed numerous posts discussing current events in a negative light, alongside a substantial number of self-deprecating posts.

‘It makes sense since they’re practically defeated soldiers…’

Even though the most Seol could do was come up with his own assumptions based on what they said, it seemed like they weren’t able to have a proper fight and were one-sidedly massacred by them.

They were soldiers who came back from war, who suffered defeat without a chance to retaliate.

And right now, many people in Kongory were transferees and citizens of Nobira.

[(NEW) [<Expert>’s Post]

[Post Date: Just now]

[Title: The reason that Nevenia can’t respond to the situation]

It’s because they’re surrounded by enemies on all sides.

It would be one thing if the kingdom were moderately sized. But as you all know, Nevenia’s stupidly big despite not having the capability to take care of it, and as such, there are a lot of people trying to take pieces of it. Setena, who is to the east and north, is the biggest culprit of this, in fact, they just blatantly taunt Nevenia.

In the end, since Nevenia needs to be on guard against Setena, they put more of their soldiers there. This leaves the security in the northwest comparably weaker, and the trolls were able to slip in through that.

- So what are we supposed to do then?

- Nothing. I think Setena’s aiming for this.

- Huh?

- Nevenia needs to sign a non-aggression pact with Setena first, but Setena isn’t signing it. And because of it, there are people who believe Setena and the troll alliance have signed a treaty and are trying to take Nevenia for themselves.

- Are you a troll?

- What the fuck did you call me?

- You just knew so much haha…

[(NEW) [<ShockingTruth>’s Post]

[Post Date: Just now]

[Title: Nevenia has abandoned its subjects]

These Nevenia fuckers are feigning innocence when the people of Nobira and ruin hunters are all being kidnapped LMFAOOO I should just leave this shitty country.

- They seriously make me want to throw up.

- Nothing’s happening even after something like this happened because the people at the top are incompetent.

- From what I heard, Not only is Nevenia’s army incompetent, but they’re also extremely corrupt.

- Are they going to go for a hat trick? They already have two shitty things, might as well go for a third.

- Forbes lists the Nevenia Kingdom as the #1 Place Koreans Hate the Most, shocking many…

- Why the hell would Forbes decide that LOL

[(NEW) [<Loyalty>’s Post]

[Post Date: Just now]

[Title: What about them though?]

The guys who went on an Adventure for revenge.

Yu Mira and the rest of her gang.

- The ruin hunters? I thought all of the transferees agreed to run away?

- Most of them did. But after Kibo got captured, she decided to lead the party in trying to get him back.

- Damn that’s loyalty frfr I could never.

- Yeah, me neither.

- Kibo and Yu Mira were close, after all.

- Even if they were close, who would risk their life for someone else?

- Does she really think she could save him? That’s insane…

- She practically went there to die…

- It is amazing though. If she comes back alive, I’m going to bow to her and beg her to let me into her group.

- I’m going to offer my services as Yu Mira’s human Roomba.

- I think becoming a human Roomba is more amazing…

‘Mira went after the trolls?’

It was quite shocking to hear.

Seol believed that she would escape after the situation turned dire, but she instead went after the trolls because they kidnapped Kibo.

Seol had multiple thoughts run across his mind. As he focused, covering his mouth with his hand, he heard a sound.

Creak…

“Woah, it’s Oh Yeonhui.”

“And Jin Jeongtak too. What’s going on?”

“I know, right? I wonder what brings the leaders of the alliance here…”

They continued to walk deeper into the Adventurer Association. Seol, even then, was looking through the posts in search of more information.

Scroll…

Karen, wearing a robe, was standing right behind Seol.

“Stop right there,” said Karen to the people who were approaching Seol.

It was a warning to keep distance.

The two guild masters scowled, annoyed that some unknown woman was blocking them.

“...Who is she?”

“I don’t know her at all…”

“Did anyone hear anything about a female party member?”

“I haven’t, nothing about that…”

As they were talking between themselves, Seol answered them without turning back.

“What is it?”

“...You were here, as expected. Yeo-myeong is looking for you.”

“Han Yeo-myeong?”

“Yes, he says he wishes to talk.”

None of the transferees nearby expected to hear Yeo-myeong’s name out of their mouths. And as such, they started murmuring between themselves.

“Han Yeo-myeong? They’re talking about Han Yeo-myeong, right?”

“Why is Han Yeo-myeong looking for that guy? Does he know him?”

“Or maybe he’s trying to recruit him? It’s my first time seeing him though.”

“But who’s that girl?”

“Isn’t that… an elf?”

“Nah, no way…”

Since they had already caught everyone’s attention, it was too late to refuse it comfortably.

Seol spoke once more, his back still turned to them.

“Let’s go.”

* * *

Translator - goguma

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

Seol was guided by the eye-catching individuals to a building visible from anywhere in Kongory.

Considering how a building like this didn’t exist the last time he was here, it was clearly new.

“Come in.”

The sound of Seol’s footsteps filled the 1st floor lobby.

Seol then noticed people wearing different uniforms. It was likely that this building was used by multiple guilds together.

They didn’t show any particular interest to Seol.

“Yeonhui! Are you busy?”

“Yes, I’m busy.”

“Are you sure? Because it looks like you’re just messing around.”

“Can’t you see me working?”

“Hm? Who’s that though? Is that your work?”

“You’ll only end up hurting yourself if you find out.”

“I’m always hurt when I get back from missions though! Are you really not going to tell me?”

“Tch! Stop talking to me!”

“Tch… With an attitude like that…”

“Ahjussi, why don’t we talk downstairs?”

The friendly-looking middle-aged man whom Yeonhui was talking with laughed.

“Yeah, this ahjussi’s going to get transferred soon~”

“Damn it… No wonder.”

“See you after!”

“Yeah, whatever.”

After the Predator Guild and Justice Guild disappeared, Kongory seemed to be in a much better state. It’s just like how a white sheet looks much cleaner just by getting rid of the biggest mess.

Knock, knock.

Yeonhui knocked on the door.

“I brought him.”

“Thank you!”

Seol heard a familiar voice behind the door.

Creak…

“Hyung!”

“Yeo-myeong.”

Seol spotted Yeo-myeong, Noeul, and a few individuals who looked important.

They sat around on a round table and simply glanced at Seol. Why were they acting so important? Did they think they were the Knights of the Round Table or something?

“So he’s the original Private?”

“You were in the middle of an Adventure then so you didn’t see it, right? Man, it was a huge mess then. You should’ve seen how many limbs we found in that temporary building… Urgh…”

“Shh, quiet. Please don’t talk when it’s not your turn.”

“You’re such a nitpicker…”

“What?”

“Ah, it’s so warm today, right? Haha…”

“It’s almost winter soon…”

“I just have a lot of body heat, so…”

“Slippery like an eel… as always.”

Yeo-myeong and Noeul both stood up and walked to Seol.

“I heard that you were looking for me. More importantly, how did you know that I was here?”

“I’ve been keeping tabs on the ranking and the only person who I could think of with a score like that around here was you, hyung.”

“Did you know that I would be going to the Adventurer Association?”

“Yup. I sent some people to other places as well, but that was the most likely place you’d go, so…”

“You’ve become quite meticulous while I’ve been away.”

- Around here (X) In the whole world (O)

- It would be weirder if the ground didn’t collapse when a giant like him is walking around LOL

Yeonhui, who was next to Yeo-myeong, approached them.

She then spoke to Yeo-myeong while looking at Seol.

“Yeo-myeong, we’re here too. You should introduce us…”

“Ah, sorry. Hyung, so these are the guild alliance members. So starting from the left–”

“I don’t have the time to be doing that, sorry. I’m quite busy. I’ll probably have to go after listening to your request.”

“Ah… Y-Yeah? But who’s that next to you? Is she a party member?”

Karen took off her stuffy hood and introduced herself.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Karen.”

“A-An elf?!”

“An elf?”

“Woah… this is my first time seeing one.”

As multiple people childishly reacted, Yeo-myeong led both Seol and Karen to their seats.

As Seol glanced at Yeo-myeong, Yeo-myeong started talking.

“The reason that we’ve been looking for you is because of Nobira.”

“Hm…”

“You already know about what’s happened in Nobira, right?”

“I do.”

“Are you interested in it?”

“Not necessarily it, but I am interested in someone who is caught up in it.”

“Ah, is someone who you know kidnapped?”

Seol shook his head and responded.

“I’m still not sure if she was kidnapped or not. Not like there’s any way to know though.”

“Ah, we have a list of deceased and a list of missing persons.”

“Really?”

“Yes. If you want, we can look for them.”

Since no one in Nobira knew about Chao, he quickly asked about Hamun.

An alliance member left before shortly returning to give a report.

“It seems like the person named ‘Hamun’ has been kidnapped.”

“Is it first-hand testimony?”

“One of the ruin hunters who was successful in their escape apparently saw Hamun get kidnapped.”

Seol’s expression turned sour.

“Urgh…”

A few flinched at his fierce gaze.

“Damn it, so he had been caught up in it.”

“Hyung?”

“So, what do you want?”

“Uhh… So…”

Yeo-myeong was unable to speak. He was frozen by Seol’s intense mood.

Yeonhui, who couldn’t stand to waste time, stepped in.

She was a confident woman who was sure of herself.

“We want you to help us in Kongory.”

“What do you mean?”

“With Nevenia not setting up appropriate measures for the next attack, the only people who can defend Kongory now are the transferees and the soldiers here.”

“And?”

“We don’t know when the trolls who attacked Nobira will attack Kongory. We want to put our strengths together to prevent that from happening.”

“And you want me to help you with that?”

“Yes.”

Seol believed that it wasn’t a bad trade for him either.

With the trolls completely destroying his base, Seol believed that if he hadn’t found another place to go to yet, growing within the powerful alliance would be a hundred times better.

However, their proposal was insulting to Seol.

“So you want to defend Kongory at least? Is that why you called me?”

“Do you dislike our proposal?”

“...Not only have you given up on fighting back, but you’ve already been absorbed by them.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Me, my comrades, my base, my town, my city, my country, my race. Are these really the things you value?”

Seol’s cold voice made Yeonhui flinch.

“Then… is that not the case for you, Snowman?”

“It isn’t.”

Creak…

Seol and Karen stood up.

“I only fight for myself.”

“...Are you refusing our proposal?”

“I am.”

“So you plan on abandoning Kongory.”

“Kongory was never mine in the first place.”

“Sigh… If you keep going like that, you’ll run out of places to go to someday.”

“That’s fine. I only need what’s mine.”

“Are you running away?”

Seol gave a confused expression and looked at the others.

“Running away?”

“...I thought you said you would be leaving Kongory.”

“I am.”

“What else is that other than running away?!”

Karen laughed after hearing that.

“What’s so funny?!”

“Ah! Sorry, sorry.”

Seol looked at Yeonhui’s eyes once more before giving a calm response.

“I’m leaving to get Hamun back.”