Decision
Who is the decision for?
Book 6-9.1
“Release the monsters to call forth human awareness and make sure they do not commit any sins. That definitely may be a method, but what do you think about the possibility of innocent people living properly being killed by the monsters?”
“All big events in history required sacrifices.”
“I heard a story like this. Was the reason the forgotten continent perished because there were no righteous people left?”
Origin looked toward Yulian with a surprised expression. Yulian knew about something she did not expect someone from the desert to know.
“It is something I have known from the past, and something I was even more interested in after coming back from the Magic Tower.”
Yulian started to speak as if he knew what Origin was thinking, and Origin nodded her head before responding.
“You are correct. However, as humans come together, the number of righteous people will only increase. One of the unique traits of humans is the ability to get stronger and stronger as they come together for the same cause.”
Yulian thought that she was not wrong as he asked.
“So, am I the first?”
He was asking while thinking about Venersis.
Origin shook her head.
“I first met with the Shuarei’s Glow. Just like the Glow was destined to meet first with the Magic Tower, the Shuarei’s Glow was destined to meet with us first.”
“And his response?”
“The Shuarei’s Glow has fortified the defense around the oases while withdrawing all warriors stationed around the Monster’s Desert.”
Origin did not specify that Venersis said he would need to think about it.
Yulian started to worry after hearing that Venersis did as Origin asked. It was true that it was quite difficult to defend against these monsters. They were having a hard time just leading a group to the Monster’s Desert in the first place. Origin’s people were willing to lessen the burden on them. It would be the same as signing a non-aggression treaty. Furthermore, if they chose to do that, Pareia can safely get stronger.
The people of the continent weighed on him, but he was not their Glow. He would have absolutely rejected the offer if he was their Glow, but he was the Pareia’s Glow, not the Shuarei’s Glow or the continent’s Glow. The reason he could not immediately agree with Origin’s offer was probably because of compassion for his fellow humans.
Yulian thought it over multiple times before finally starting to speak.
“I will temporarily stop the progression. However, do not take it as my accepting your offer. I just need time to think.”
Origin’s expression brightened up as she responded.
“Of course. Nobody will be able to go against the Glow’s decision. I just as that you think hard about the reason for our movement and make a wise decision. I will visit you again once you have made your decision.”
Once Origin bowed to Yulian, he just gave a short reply as he was still full of concerns.
“Goodbye.”
Origin smiled as she disappeared into the fire as she had originally arrived, and Yulian could only blankly stare at the bonfire that was still burning brightly.
“Yulian!”
Yulian came back to his senses after hearing someone calling for him and looked behind him.
“Master.”
“Tsk tsk tsk. Look at you just blankly sitting there like an idiot. I feel sorry for your warriors.”
As Chun Myung Hoon clicked his tongue on his way over, Yulian asked with confusion.
“Master, what are you doing here?”
His master had not been willing to come with them even when he asked.
“Did they come?”
Yulian did not understand his master’s question for a moment and just stared at Chun Myung Hoon before his eyes turned wide.
Chun Myung Hoon knew about it.
“Master, how do you know?”
“Didn’t I tell you I didn’t just go around sightseeing while I was gone? I heard and learned a lot.”
“Ah!”
Yulian shouted out in understanding at Chun Myung Hoon’s response.
‘I really must be an idiot. The master at the Magic Tower said that my master was someone who knows and helps. Does that mean that master already knows about everything and came to help me?”
Chun Myung Hoon saw Yulian’s expression and started to speak.
“Based on your expression, you must have heard from that old hag that I am someone who helps. It’s funny. Although the meaning may be a bit different, I, Chun Myung Hoon, received the Heaven’s Mandate to help others before I ended up in this world.”
“Then master … you …?”
‘You knew about everything when you approached me as a foreigner?’
“Oh, what is that expression for?”
“No...nothing.”
Seeing Yulian looking depressed as he lowered his head, Chun Myung Hoon started to pat Yulian’s shoulder as if he already knew and answered.
“Didn’t I tell you in the past? I am originally not from this world. It has not been very long that I learned that I was someone who is supposed to help you and someone else. I know that may not be enough for you to stop thinking that I strategically approached you.”
“No, I know. I definitely heard it.”
Seeing Yulian urgently respond, Chun Myung Hoon smiled brightly as he started to joke with Yulian.
“You are a king of a nation and close to forty years old. You cannot act like that. Even if the world is crumbling down, you must stand confidently.”
Yulian had too many things to think about that he did not respond back to Chun Myung Hoon’s joke and instead asked a question.
“Master, what am I supposed to do?”
“That is something for you to decide.”
Yulian fervently shook his head as he answered.
“It is too complicated. Am I supposed to feign ignorance for everything and everyone else and just think about our Pareia?”
“That is good in its own way. You are the Pareia’s Glow.”
“But then all of the monsters will flow to the continent, and many innocent people will lose their lives. I also worry about who the continent has to defend against that large amount of monsters.”
Chun Myung Hoon nodded his head and answered.
“Why are you so worried? You are the leader of hundreds of thousands of warriors. You have enough strength to fight off these monsters. There will definitely be some losses, but you will only lose one while others may lose ten to defeat the same amount of monsters. You cannot compare the difference of the two.”
“Master!”
Yulian was glaring at Chun Myung Hoon.
“Yulian, what are you so worried about? Do what your heart tells you to do. The words of others cannot do anything to help your decision. What you are doing right now is grumbling. Figure out who you are. Remember what your name is.”
Seeing Chun Myung Hoon sternly answer, Yulian closed his mouth. His master’s words were right. The thing he could rely on most right now was the fact that he could grumble to his master.
“Master, I think I need to think it over a bit longer.”
“Of course. Walk down the path you think is right. I will watch over you.”
Yulian felt the weight lessen at that single sentence from his master and nodded his head.
The next day, Yulian gave the order for all troops to withdraw.
The Castle of Storm was becoming rowdy.
A large number of knight brigades, mercenaries, and free adventurers stepped into Pareia one by one.
But they were all confused. The Castle of Storm was extremely peaceful, and none of the nearby oases showed any signs of monster attacks. On the other hand, the continent was receiving significant damage from the monsters’ attacks.
The quick thinking people figured it out. The desert warriors of Pareia and Shuarei were not fighting against the monsters.
Many of these people sought out meetings with Yulian. These requests were even more numerous from the knight brigades that were sent from nations.
However, Yulian did not meet with anyone.
His subordinates would have helped appease the requesters if they knew his thoughts, but Yulian did not say anything even to his closest people. Neither Runa, Pere, nor even Grace knew what Yulian was thinking, so they were having a hard time dealing with all of these requests.
“Honey, I’m getting so worried seeing you like this. I’m already worried enough because Violet has been getting weaker these days.”
Grace started to whine to Yulian, which was not like her normal self. Even she noticed it. She could tell that something important was happening. No, the thing that worried her the most was Yulian and Violet’s health.
Both of them were getting weaker as the days went by. It started once the monsters started to appear.
“I’m sorry.”
Yulian held her hand and started to caress it as he started to speak.
“Is it a concern that I should not know about?”
Yulian just blankly gazed at Grace after hearing her question. He had not told a single person yet.
Runa was also finding Yulian’s actions to be odd, but it was something he had not even told Runa.
‘Runa would agree to it with no hesitation. He puts Pareia first.’
Yulian had a bitter smile on his face as he responded.
“Not yet … please hold on a little longer, Grace.”
Grace closed her mouth and quietly left the room after seeing Yulian’s expression. It was an expression she had not seen before in their entire marriage. Her husband had never looked so down regardless of what was weighing on his mind.
After quietly watching Grace leave, Yulian stood up from his seat. He was feeling extremely frustrated.
“Mm……”
Yulian started to frown as he let out a moan. He was not used to the strong sunlight after not coming out of the room for a couple of days.
“Hyung-nim.”
Yulian turned around after hearing a familiar voice. Once he turned around, he saw Aizen standing behind him.
“Aizen!”