Light of Arad: The First to Walk - Chapter 51



Only Noblemtl

051

Jinseong just stared into Azalea’s purple eyes.

The first reason I couldn’t move was, of course, because I was flustered.

‘… … That’s right. The first time I met Azalea wasn’t in front of Diregie.’

Just before facing the 6th Apostle, Diregie of the Black Disease, the user meets Azalea, and she moves together with the user adventurer, creating a protective shield that protects them from Diregie’s disease.

In other words, the main scenario quest targets who deal directly with Deregier are the user, Louise, Michelle, and Azalea.

Of course, Jinseong also remembered up to that point.

‘Now that we’ve met, I remember, damn it. There was a scene that passed by like a silhouette. There was a scene where Louise… … Louise meets Azalea and talks.’

There is only one cutscene that is very short and is literally just a silhouette, so you can’t even see the name Azalea or her appearance properly.

If it’s because of the limitations of human memory that I only remember that scene after encountering Azalea, then maybe that’s inevitable.

“Answer me. Who are you? Why are you chasing after Lady Louise and the adventurer?”

Azalea asked.

Jinseong flinched at her attitude, which suggested that she would even resort to force if she didn’t like the answer, judging by the way she slowly moved the wand she was holding.

Now, even though she was officially a member of the [Abnormal Phenomenon Emergency Response Committee] of the Bel Myre Principality Magician’s Guild, the second reason she couldn’t speak confidently like usual was because of her true identity.

“Hey, I’m not a weirdo. So, let me tell you something, uh…”

Jinseong knows countless words that can describe Azalea Rot.

Leader of the Grim-Seekers.

His true identity is a survivor of [Planet Terra], the source of past destruction and the beginning of everything.

He is also aware of Nemerna Hilder’s ‘plan’ and has inferred their intentions to some extent, and his goal is to protect the world by preventing their plan from being realized.

A person who has been preparing and executing for a long time to achieve that goal through a combination of time-bending technology and magical powers.

At the same time, the users, that is, the adventurers, are on the side of the adventurers, believing in them and giving them strength.

What on earth should I say in front of someone who can be counted on one hand in terms of importance in the world of the game Dungeon & Fighter?

Azalea’s wand was pointed a little more towards Jinseong himself.

“If your purpose is to kill time-.”

“Azalea-sama… is someone who is in a similar situation, yes, over there, rather than being in that situation, but has that kind of goal.”

In the end, Jinseong had to choose.

Not just right now.

There is no need to fight with Azalea, even if it is for the sake of what Jinseong himself will experience in the future, and even if it is because he knows what will happen here, in Arad.

Let’s think about the possibility that you might have to actively interact with her, not just not support her.

“Huh? What is that… No, more importantly, what is my name-.”

Azalea’s purple eyes widened.

Jinseong said as he looked at her.

“Prophecies…must go astray.”

Gulp.

Jinseongdo, who had finished speaking, and Azalea, who was listening.

At the same time, it was a word that made me swallow my saliva.

The two looked at each other for a moment in silence.

Jinseong was also observing Azalea’s expression.

Purple eyes that looked as if they would pierce through Jinseong himself, trying to keep his composure but with a look of confusion.

“Do you know about the prophecy?”

Azalea asked.

It’s a question, a test of sorts, that doesn’t give any clues.

And Jinseong knew the exact expression to answer that question.

“Rather than a prophecy, hmm, it’s more like a plan. In order to protect Arad, we have to thwart that plan in some way.”

Azalea’s eyes sparkled once again as she listened to Jinseong’s words.

She said as if something had just occurred to her.

“That’s strange. I’ve experienced something like this before… before.”

Listening to her expressions that seemed to reminisce about the distant past.

Jinseong smiled faintly.

“Are you talking about that place that is now a dense forest?”

Because I thought of an expression that could solve this situation.

Jinseong said, looking at Azalea who could no longer hide her surprise.

“I ‘also’ belong to the Bel Myre Principality Magician’s Guild. [Abnormal Phenomenon Emergency Response Committee], my name is Jinseong.”

That was the wedge.

* * *

The expression “plan” rather than “prophecy” means that it should not come true.

That alone is shocking, but what did Jinseong mean by what he just said?

“That, that… that….”

Azalea, with a shocked expression, was left speechless.

Jinseong felt a strange sense of pride at having surprised Azalea, the very woman he knew, but now was not the time to be fussing.

How important is the information that Jinseong knows now?

How many truths and stories are contained within it.

Because without going into detail, it was almost like a statement that he was aware of the hidden truth with just one sentence.

“Don’t be too surprised. I’m the only one who knows that. No one I know, including the head of our wizard guild, knows that information.”

Jinseong had to quickly reassure her.

Only after hearing those words did Azalea finally nod her head slightly.

“I see. [Emergency Response Committee for Abnormal Phenomenon]… You said Mr. Jinseong, right? Did he foresee the future and pass on knowledge and information to Mr. Jinseong-.”

He, that is, ‘Archangel Myer’.

A wise man who shared the truth to save the world, in order to protect Arad together with Azalea.

Jinseong knew that there was no need to tell this story in detail right now.

“No, no, that’s not it. It’s just… um, right now is not the right place or situation to talk about all of this. It’s hard for me to tell you everything.”

So Jinseong slightly bowed his head and said no more.

That was exactly what Jinseong wanted.

Anyway, how is Jinseong perceived by the current Azalea?

‘Hehehe, I guess I’m perceived as a disciple of Archmage Mayer or something like that. This should be enough for now.’

At this level, I think I will be able to gain enough trust to solve the problem at hand.

Azalea’s eyes moved left and right for a moment.

“That’s right. The important thing is that you know what happened to me and him back then… and the fact that you insist on saying that in front of me also means that you have a strong will similar to mine but different goal for the prophecy to go astray.”

She compiled the situation by collecting only the parts she could definitely accept from Jinseong’s words.

‘As expected… … He’s not the leader of the Grim Seekers for nothing. He’s not someone who’s lived from the time he was on the planet Terra for nothing.’

Even though she was faced with a situation that was so shocking that it was hard to believe, her words and actions were so calm that Jinseong was amazed.

Azalea asked again.

“So what’s going on here?”

The question about the purpose was the same as when we first met just a few minutes ago, but the feelings contained within it were completely different.

Jinseong answered, scratching his head.

“The reason why I’m here is… As I said, I have my own purpose. It’ll be long to explain. Oh! But don’t worry, I’m not bothering Lady Azalea or anything.”

“Do you know what I’m trying to do?”

Jinseong, who was looking into the sparkling purple eyes, had to slowly look away.

Of course I know.

The reason Azalea came here was to ‘protect’ Diregie. Together with Louise.

However, after seeing the influence of Diregie that even transformed people, Louise ultimately chose to save people, and when the two met a little while ago, Azalea was probably persuaded by Louise.

‘Louise is no ordinary person either. She is one of the seven who founded the Grim Seekers and… … . Hmm.’

So instead of protecting Direji, the two decided to save the people.

They must have already discussed joining forces with the adventurers to defeat Deregi.

‘… … The problem is that I can’t say this.’

Since he couldn’t talk about this kind of information without showing off his own abilities, Jinseong was left with nothing but vague words.

“Just about?”

“……yes?”

“I mean, I have a rough idea… about how to deal with Diregie, the Apostle Diregie.”

Above all, because such content is not important right now.

Azalea’s eyes widened again as she saw Jinseong speaking only of the essential points.

“Wow. You know about him and my work, so I figured you’d know about the Apostles, but… almost like you were reading my thoughts. Do you have the ability to manipulate time? Or open dimensions or something?”

“No, that’s not it. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be here. Dimensions… or something. I wish I had that kind of power, actually that’s the right thing to do, haha.”

Jinseong smiled awkwardly and rubbed his black arm.

It wasn’t a real thing, considering the background setting of the Dark Knight.

Anyway, the incompatible, harmonious atmosphere ended there.

“I’m hungry, I’m hungry, I need to fill my stomach!”

Because a scream like a monster echoed through Northmire.

It was a voice that made even Azalea flinch, let alone Jinseong.

And what caught my eye from the direction the sound came from was a giant rat.

A giant rat, larger than a human, that walks on all fours and picks up speed in an instant, then suddenly stands up on two feet to survey its surroundings.

“That rat just now-”

“It’s a ‘scar’. And maybe if the scar starts to move-.”

The giant rat ‘Scar’ started heading somewhere again, and what could be seen in the distance was the female ear inspector user, NPC ‘Poison King’ Louise, and Michelle Monaghan.

Jinseong continued speaking.

“-It looks like they’re trying to track down Direji’s location by chasing that rat.”

“Then I should hurry and follow you. If I encounter Direji first, it would be a big problem.”

With those words, Azalea began to prepare herself to move.

That kind of appearance was something that made Jinseong flinch and nod at the same time.

‘It was contamination after all. Azalea doesn’t follow the user.’

I don’t remember Azalea and Louise meeting here, but I know that they met after that.

Above all, since Jinseong was certain that the female demon slayer user’s quest had been contaminated, he was able to deal with it without panicking.

“No, you don’t have to follow me, Azalea. I’ll chase after you.”

“Yes? But if you do that-”

“I know where Deregi is anyway. It’s okay.”

“That, that- how did Jinseong-nim do that……”

Azalea’s purple eyes, which had been looking at the scar, were fixed on Jinseong once again.

Jinseong looked at her with a sly smile.

Unless you’re a user who just recently started playing the game Dungeon & Fighter, there’s no way you wouldn’t know about it.

“I told you. I am a member of the Magician’s Guild’s Emergency Response Committee. I know a lot and am very prepared. I will tell you the location, so it would be best for you, Azalea, to wait there for the three of us to arrive.”

The place that is even more famous for its BGM, the very place where Diregie is transferred and staying.

Even in Jinseong’s own memories, it was a dungeon that was ‘so spicy it made his mouth stink’.

.

“Indeed… That’s good. It hasn’t been long since I met you, Jinseong, but somehow I feel like I can trust you.”

Azalea nodded.

When all the information I had been leaking to her finally started to work.

Jinseong suggested.

“Can I ask you a favor instead?”

In a sense, he could tell that meeting Azalea was a stroke of luck, as he recalled .

There was no way Azalea could refuse Jinseong’s offer.

As soon as she nodded, Jinseong started chasing after the female ghost inspector user.

Azalea muttered as she watched Jinseong’s back moving away.

“If it’s that person, maybe… I can’t go back to that place… ”

It was something Jinseong couldn’t hear.