Chapter 33. Collaboration (2)
“I received a revelation a long time ago. It said that one day, a true hero would appear and set this chaotic world right as its savior.”
“……”
“And I am certain that hero is Kang Yujin.”
As Seok Taejun listened to Ju Minha's story, an awkward expression appeared on his face.
“So it's Joan of Arc Syndrome……”
Joan of Arc Syndrome.
It was a phenomenon that had briefly become common after the integration with the Fantasy Great Realm.
I received a revelation from a great being, so follow me…….
People saying things like that had started appearing everywhere.
Of course, most of them were simply delusional or mentally unstable.
It was believed that after the world merged with the Fantasy Great Realm, more people had begun believing in supernatural beings.
There were also quite a few people who misunderstood contact with a Constellation or Apostle as some sort of divine revelation.
Back then, very little was known about Constellations or Apostles.
“Leader of the expedition.”
“What is it?”
“Which type is Ju Minha?”
At my question, Iason smiled.
“As far as I know, that man is the real thing.”
“……”
“He didn't mistake a message from a Constellation or Apostle for a revelation. He's not lying, and he isn't mentally ill either. Ju Minha really did hear a ‘voice.’”
“Whose voice was it?”
“That's the problem. There are no clues about that part. For all we know, it might have been the whisper of a demon.”
“But Ju Minha believes it was a revelation from a divine being?”
“Exactly. You could say he's similar to the leader of the Order of the Morning Star.”
“……”
That was right.
The leader of the Order of the Morning Star was also said to have suffered from Joan of Arc Syndrome.
Claiming to have received revelations, he had predicted the future and demonstrated all kinds of miracles.
Eventually, he had built the enormous religious organization that existed today.
“But that guy… despite receiving such a revelation, lived very quietly. Unlike the others, he never went around shouting, ‘Follow me!’”
“……”
“He simply helped orphans, did small acts of kindness, and waited quietly.”
“Waited……”
“Right. He was waiting for the savior mentioned in the revelation. Even though he had no idea when that person would appear.”
Iason smiled.
“That guy is the real deal, Nameless Constellation.”
“Birds of a feather really do flock together.”
That was Lee Jukheon's opinion.
“Lee Jukheon, that's a little……”
“Am I wrong? He looks like he'll get along perfectly with Kang Yujin.”
“Well… it is true that Kang Yujin also has incredible faith in the Great One……”
Seok Taejun scratched the back of his neck with an uncomfortable expression.
“Anyway, Ju Minha, where are the other contractors from the Hoseo Faction? Haven't they arrived yet?”
“They will not be coming here.”
“What?”
“I positioned them where they can evacuate the civilians in case something goes wrong.”
Ju Minha spoke calmly.
“The four of us here will carry out the subjugation of Taotie.”
“……”
“Hey, hold on!”
Hearing that, Lee Jukheon frowned and stepped forward.
“Are you joking right now? You're saying the four of us—you, me, Kang Yujin, and Seok Taejun—are supposed to kill Taotie?”
“Yes.”
“Hey! Kang Yujin, Seok Taejun, we're leaving.”
Lee Jukheon raised one hand as he spoke.
“They're obviously trying to dump this whole thing on us. They asked us to work together, but they're only sending one guy? How does that make any sense?”
“Hmm…… Even I think that's a little unreasonable.”
Seok Taejun nodded as well.
“Hasn't the entire Hoseo Faction been unable to kill it until now? If it's that dangerous, then this is……”
“Because I believe.”
“What?”
“Because I believe in the Savior.”
Ju Minha turned his gaze toward Kang Yujin.
“If it is the Savior, I believe he would be capable of killing it even by himself.”
“……”
“Your companions are different, but no matter how many people who cannot coordinate with you come along, I doubt they would be helpful. They would most likely only get in your way.”
“Then why are you joining us?”
When Kang Yujin asked that, Ju Minha calmly replied,
“Because I am confident that I will not get in the Savior's way.”
“Not bad. Do whatever you want.”
“Hey, Kang Yujin!”
Lee Jukheon shouted from the side, but Kang Yujin ignored him.
“But what happens if I can't kill that monster?”
“Then it means my judgment was wrong.”
Ju Minha answered with a cold expression.
“It would mean that you were not the Savior I believed you to be.”
“I get it.”
“Thank you for understanding, Savior.”
“Everything else is fine, but don't call me Savior. I'm not interested in that kind of thing.”
“Then I will call you Kang Yujin.”
“Do whatever you want.”
Seok Taejun and Lee Jukheon watched the conversation between Kang Yujin and Ju Minha with dumbfounded expressions.
“Then let's get moving and kill that monster.”
“Hey, Kang Yujin! Didn't you hear what we just said?! These conditions are unacceptable! We need to complain!”
Lee Jukheon shouted again.
Without even turning around, Kang Yujin answered,
“It'll probably be faster for us to just kill it ourselves than waste time complaining.”
“As you can see, that's the kind of personality he has.”
Iason's frivolous voice reached me.
“From an ordinary person's perspective, he's enough to drive you insane. He's the type who deliberately makes situations more complicated.”
“……”
“But for the Constellations watching everything, he'll probably make things more entertaining.”
Hearing that, I finally understood why Iason had recommended Ju Minha to me.
‘From a contractor's perspective, he's simply an annoying troublemaker. But from a Constellation's perspective, he can help create interesting content.’
Come to think of it, there were Constellations with similar personalities.
The S-rank Constellation, ‘Grand Preceptor of the Golden Whip,’ was a perfect example.
He was known to absolutely hate situations that seemed boring.
Because of that, he was infamous for intentionally increasing the difficulty of events by activating hidden pieces and doing similar things.
‘You could say he's basically creating missions on his own. This time, it's a four-person-party mission to kill Taotie?’
Of course, Seok Taejun and Lee Jukheon might find it irritating.
But if things went well, it would become highly entertaining content for the Constellations.
“When Ju Minha is alone, he's just a quiet contractor who spends his time taking care of orphans. He's very skilled, but because he rarely takes an active role, he isn't particularly interesting from his Constellation's point of view.”
“……”
“But if you put him together with Kang Yujin, they create a synergistic effect.”
Iason leisurely explained his plan.
“Once Ju Minha becomes convinced that Kang Yujin is the savior he's been waiting for, he'll start taking action to turn Kang Yujin into a genuine savior. He does have a tendency to deliberately choose dangerous options, but if you can overlook that part… he has the potential to become an extremely capable strategist.”
“A strategist……”
“He's more talented at analyzing situations and creating plans than fighting on the front lines himself. I think he'd be useful as someone who can handle things behind your contractors.”
Unlike Xiahou En, Iason had no intention of handing Ju Minha over to me.
His plan was to make Ju Minha a companion of Kang Yujin while keeping Ju Minha contracted to himself.
If that happened, Ju Minha, who was currently nothing more than a ‘kind church guy who takes care of orphans,’ would transform into a ‘fanatical strategist willing to grind himself to dust for the Savior.’
