Chapter 116: Following the Natural Flow

Everyone sat in a circle.

Bran, Haidian, Jin Seong-ha, Dam Da-on, Dam Sa-on… and Ion.

Among them, Ion instinctively glanced at Da-on for support, but…

Da-on wasn’t looking at Ion at all. She was only staring back and forth between Jin Seong-ha, Haidian, and Bran with an expression that screamed Thank the gods I’m alive to see this. That level of bliss… Well, Ion probably wore the exact same face whenever he walked into a Sansevieria greenhouse.

“Leader, shall we talk now?”

“Yes. I’ll start.”

Ion summarized everything that had happened in Idea: the Human–Giant War, the key to the Giant Temple, the baby dragon and Breeder, Teacher’s magic tower, System Age’s interference, the dead Idea Breeder in the World Tree’s mental realm, Baba’s true identity that Bran had told him, the Holy See, and the existence of the celestial realm. Even the fact that Ion was a celestial half-blood.

While speaking, one hand unconsciously stroked Sanse’s leaves, the other kneaded Baba’s cheeks. He didn’t even realize he was doing it.

“You went through hell, On-on. But seriously—what the hell? Not a single thing is going according to the novel.”

Sa-on grumbled. Ion replied,

“<Hunter and Hero> needs an update.”

He couldn’t speak of the real <Hunter and Hero> here. Not in front of the protagonist. The Apostle might be watching. The Apostle only looked away from Jin Seong-ha when watching the other protagonist, Sara Harundas, when attending another Apostle’s play with the gods, or when presenting a play in another world. The problem was that no one knew the exact timing. He could only speak freely in a safe zone the Apostle’s gaze couldn’t reach—like the World Tree’s mental realm.

“The Breeder who died in the World Tree’s mental world said there’s another version… a revised edition. A remake version.”

“We already guessed that much. The Breeder who looked like Teacher told little Jin Seong-ha that D-NATE would be created, so it’s reasonable to assume he read the remake. And in that remake, we’re proper characters.”

Sa-on’s voice was full of glee-filled.

“I kept telling you, Ion. We’re not trash.”

“…Yeah. You were right.”

You’re not trash. I am, though.

Ion hadn’t forgotten Teacher’s words: the others had roles, but he was still trash.

Sa-on grinned like he’d won the lottery.

“So, what does the remake say? Share.”

“I didn’t hear the details, but…”

Ion thought for a moment, then told everyone,

“There exist beings called Apostles. Extremely powerful, absolute… the ones who created the system.”

He had originally planned not to mention the Apostles. But the more he thought, the more he realized he had to. When he was young, Teacher had spoken of the Apostles. The diary in Neuche D’Deiv Tower had also contained the keyword “Apostle.” Ion already knew of their existence, and the Apostle knew he knew. Pretending ignorance would be the unnatural act that would actually draw attention. So it was better to reveal their existence.

“That’s all I know. We’ll have to dig around and find out more.”

“Hm. Beings who made the system…”

Jin Seong-ha, who had been softly kneading Ppuru the way Ion kneaded Baba, spoke.

“Besides Leader Ion, did anyone here already know about the Apostles?”

“I didn’t.”

“I didn’t either.”

Sa-on and Da-on answered.

“I didn’t know either. For now, we just follow the leader’s orders. He knows the most.”

“No, wait—I’m not planning to give orders—”

“The leader’s ultimate goal is world peace, right? You don’t harbor some twisted dream of destroying the world, do you?”

“Of course… For plants to grow comfortably, the world needs to be peaceful.”

“That’s enough for me. I’ll follow the leader’s orders.”

“No, I—”

Jin Seong-ha’s lips curved.

“The story has already diverged from <Hunter and Hero>. The one who knows Idea best is you. The one connected to the celestial realm is you. The only one who knows about the Apostles is you. Even those two Ideans trust you more. It’s only natural that the one who knows the most gives the orders.”

Everything he said was correct, so Ion had nothing to retort.

Everyone else also looked convinced.

“So, tell us. What do we do right now?”

There were three big things to do:

1. Recover Baba’s memories—the clue to the Demon King’s resurrection.
2. Secure miniaturization equipment to enter the celestial realm.
3. Investigate System Age on both Idea and Earth.

Teacher had told him to move “naturally” so as not to stand out, so they also had to follow the novel’s plot whenever possible. Now that the system was Level 4, madness-possessed giants would appear in dungeons. They had to find where to use the Giant Temple key and prepare for SS-rank dungeons. Since the Human–Giant War and the mainland Demon–Giant War had already put the giants in crisis, the second phase would probably be reached quickly.

As for the Demon side… no clue how that would go. They’d only know when Il-on returned.

So for now—

“We have to follow the novel’s plot as much as possible. Even if we don’t want to, we’ll be forced to anyway.”

Ion translated for Bran and Haidian, who had been left out of the Korean conversation. Bran crumpled his snack bag loudly.

“<Hunter and Hero> is about defeating the Demon King, right? Fine, the Demon King isn’t something that dies just because you humans struggle—but why do I have to follow that novel’s plot?”

“Because to defeat the Demon King, we first have to revive him. We only need to work together until the resurrection part. And like you said, if the Demon King is truly god-class, he won’t die to mere human desperation. What, are you scared the Demon King will actually die to Jin Seong-ha?”

“You’re insane! Saying such ridiculous nonsense so confidently… The Demon King is divine! Just as gods don’t die, neither does the Demon King!”

“Bran, quiet. Just follow Dam Ion’s orders. Command.”

“…”

Bran was cleanly shut down by Baba.

A hybrid’s goal was the Demon King’s resurrection, so cooperating until that point was fine. After that, they could turn into enemies again—same goal for now.

As for Haidian—

“It’s all so complicated I don’t even know what’s what… but the elder said never decide complicated matters alone.”

“Exactly. We can’t let you decide alone.”

Bran nodded with full agreement. Haidian glared, but Bran just opened another bag of chips and ignored him.

“Yes. When we finish the raid and return to the village, please talk to the elder.”

Haidian, with his Revelation attribute, was an indispensable member. Ion turned to Da-on.

“Da-on, it’d be best if you went with him and persuaded the elders.”

“Got it.”

Fluent in Idea language and already knowing the whole story, Da-on would handle the details perfectly without further instruction.

Next was Sa-on.

Sa-on, wearing an odd expression, smiled brightly when their eyes met.

“Yes, orders?”

“…You’re being surprisingly obedient.”

“Oppa has always been open-minded toward On-on. Noona told me to listen to On-on well too.”

“When is Il-on coming back?”

“Before the SS-rank dungeon appears.”

“Did she say anything about the ring?”

The initial-engraved ring Il-on had passed through Sara.

“No idea. She just has it. If she gave it to you and not me, there must be a reason.”

“…Since we’re on the same side now—Wendy Lowell. You guys have her, right?”

“Hm? Wendy Lowell?”

Jin Seong-ha showed interest—he must have heard that he and Wendy form a romance line in the novel.

“Yeah. We’re protecting her.”

“…Protecting?”

Wasn’t it for awakening-method research?

“Age is targeting her. Don’t ask why—we don’t know the details either. Noona just said Age would go after her, so we’re guarding her.”

“Ha, the more I hear, the more ridiculous—Dam Sa-on!”

Unable to hold back even among all these handsome men, Da-on glared at Sa-on.

“Since when do you blindly follow orders like some puppet? You’ve never been the type to just shrug and say ‘I don’t know’!”

“Guess I got nicer with age.”

“If you keep acting like this, I can’t trust we’re really on the same side!”

“I don’t particularly feel like earning your trust? As long as On-on trusts me, I’m good.”

Sa-on said while picking his ear. Da-on’s face turned red and purple. Jin Seong-ha looked used to their bickering.

“Both of you stop… Dam Sa-on, once we’re out of the dungeon, send Wendy Lowell to Horizon.”

“Horizon may or may not be able to protect her, but sure. As you command~”

Finally—

“My turn.”

Jin Seong-ha gazed leisurely at Ion.

Ion already knew what to assign him.

“Jin Seong-ha Hunter, you’re coming with me to meet the Age Cult leader.”

The Yangsan S-rank dungeon’s clear condition had changed from “destroy the gate stone” to “exterminate all monsters” when it reached Level 4.

It took time because the area was huge, but they achieved it, and the clear message finally appeared.

Two exit gates emerged.

Until now, Earth and Idea gates looked different, but now both were identical oval portals of rippling red light—only the destinations differed.

[Destination <World–Earth> Reset in <11:59:59…>] [Destination <World–Idea> Reset in <11:59:59…>]

Heading to Idea: Bran, Haidian, Dam Da-on, and five members of Special Team 1 (including Shin Min-ji)—decided before entering.

Heading to Earth: Ion, Jin Seong-ha, Sa-on, and the rest.

Time to part for their respective missions.

At the Idea gate, Ion asked Da-on,

“You memorized the place and date, right?”

“Yep.”

Just because the worlds were connected didn’t mean every future dungeon would link them.

The soonest connecting dungeon Ion knew of was one month later— December 18: Earth’s Canada S-rank dungeon, Idea’s Deand Red Field.

They would meet again there.

“Take care of Earth business, Ion. And… Jin Seong-ha Hunter, if anything happens, contact me. I’ll reach out too.”

“Will do. I’ll keep the chat window open.”

They had stocked up on communication scrolls and items from the updated shop. System IDs were required to message, but Ion kept his secret for “certain reasons” and told them to message Sa-on or Jin Seong-ha instead.

A chance to message Jin Seong-ha directly—Da-on didn’t complain.

Next, Ion said goodbye to Haidian.

“Haidian-ssi, I hope things go well with the elder. When we meet again, I’ll bring a whole crate of Earth liquor.”

“Thank you, Ion-ssi. Ah, and cosmetics too, please. I heard Earth’s cosmetics industry is advanced. Hehe… It’s rare to be born with such a precious face; I should take care of it from now on.”

“…Sure…”

Haidian had awakened to something strange.

Bran waved off any farewell, saying they’d see each other in just a month.

“Whatever. Fix this. It won’t stop crying.”

Bran held up a little bat curled into a perfect ball.