Chapter 326: 335

 Then, as soon as Moon Issak finished speaking, the alarm indicating new incoming System messages rang.

[You have received a scenario-sharing request from User, ‘Moon Issak.’]

[If you share a scenario with Moon Issak, you can use him as a powerful Ally. You can look forward to a large increase in power.]

[However, the scenario’s reward may be reduced or changed, and you will be bound to actively cooperate with and fulfill Moon Isaac’s desired reward of obtaining the [Pope] position.]

[At this point, you are unaware of the progress of the scenario you’re currently working on.]

[Sadly, the User, ‘Moon Issak,’ seems like the kind of human being who would be willing to resort to violent means if you reject his offer.]

[User, ‘Moon Issak,’ is deeply interested in you, but… it wouldn’t be wise to provoke him.]

     The system was still handing me new information in that half-mocking tone.

     I couldn’t fathom the criteria for when a system message would be sent or what information was contained inside, but the bastard only summarized the situation after I’d almost figured out the whole process or situation already. It never gave a heads-up, and it even looked as if it tried to gloss over or hide important information in order to influence my choices.

     Even now, the system was pretending to be objective, but the messages were essentially thinly-veiled threats pushing me to cooperate with Moon Issak.

     I had no idea what scenario I was currently undertaking, and the only thing I’ve noticed is that Moon Issak would be greatly bolstered if I were to join his scenario.

     So, even though I theoretically had the upper hand…

    ‘He’s trying to persuade me by holding Kim Sangyoon hostage?’

     Furthermore, I was particularly bothered by one of the system’s sentences: [The Scenario’s reward may be reduced or changed].

     I had no idea what scenario I was currently undertaking, but… my goal was clear when I signed a Contract with the Servants: the resurrection of the [Red Lotus] guild.

     However, when one considers this goal as a reward…and if the reward was reduced or changed… In the worst-case scenario, I may not be able to fully revive the Servants or only a portion of them. What a terrible thought.

     I glanced at the system message again. My heart tightened when I saw ‘violent means’ written at the bottom, but even if I were to be tortured by Moon Issak, I couldn’t accept his proposal as it was.

     However, it was also unwise for me to give a direct refusal in my current situation. After all, Kim Sangyoon’s life was currently entrusted to a woman who appeared to be Moon Issak’s colleague.

     So I tried to leave myself some room for other options, “…I can’t make that decision by myself.”

     “Are you worried about Seo Dawon’s share of the scenario rewards?” Moon Issak grinned as if he had already guessed my thoughts. “Between Seo Dawon and Kim Sangyoon, of course Seo Dawon would be more valuable.”

     “…It’s not that.”

     “My current power is stronger than Seo Dawon. Seo Dawon has been stagnant for several years since his death, but I have continued to collect the Goddess’s relics, unseal them, and receive high rewards.”

     “……”

     “And, perhaps your insidious Contractor didn’t mention it, but… In all Contracts, living Users are given priority. Are you aware of that?”

     “What are you saying…”

     “No matter what you promised Seo Dawon, if the Contract has already been signed, you can decide how to compensate him.” With that said, Moon Issak raised my chin. He was preventing me from bowing my head; with a devilish smile, he whispered, “Whatever you promised Seo Dawon… you can decide on the ‘when’ whenever you please.”

     “……”

      “You can accomplish his goals just right before you die after 80 years of fooling around… Furthermore, the more you level, the more control you’ll have over the Contract and your Contracted party. If you hold out until your level is in the late 6,000s, Seo Dawon wouldn’t be able to speak in your presence without your permission.”

      “……”

      “This bond seeps into one’s consciousness. No matter how arrogant a summoned being is, their loyalty towards their master increases with time.”

     “……”

     “Of course, our Red Lotus Guildmaster-nim would have tried to hide it, but all intelligent summoned creatures belonging to the Hub System, (excluding imprisoned Users, of course,) follow this rule. This wouldn’t be any different for a Necromancer.” Moon Issak stared at me quietly, as if he were trying to gauge my reaction.

     I made a great effort to not make a contemptuous expression, but it wasn’t easy. If he knew that Seo Dawon and I were bound by a Contract, then he could guess how Seo Dawon died. It was almost startling how he could say something so disgusting.

     However, considering the relationship Moon Issak had with Seo Dawon while the Mage was still alive, I thought the source of Moon Issak’s cruelty may be due to lingering hatred. In the [Vengeful Ghost Memories], Moon Issak seemed to have quite a poor relationship with Seo Dawon.

     That’s why I didn’t even bother to refute those words. I couldn’t get involved in their messy relationship.

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     However, Moon Issak was more perceptive than I had thought. “Oh my…”

     He scanned my face with icy eyes. Then, he murmured something incomprehensible, “Have you become intimate with Seo Dawon? How did he seduce you?”

     “……”

     “Hmm… So you sympathize with Seo Dawon, thinking of him as a ‘dead person’ rather than a summon.”

     “……”

     “Choi Lee-kyung, Choi Lee-kyung… How foolish. That’s just a programmed, monster-like being, not a human.” Moon Issak attempted to persuade me, but it was hard for me to listen to him anymore. I turned my head away, but was soon stopped by his hand on my chin.

     He fixed his gaze on mine. He seemed to hesitate, as if he were contemplating something. At that moment, the Puppeteer standing next to him stopped the inquisitor. She frowned as if she had read something in his furrowed brows. “Don’t tell me… let’s stop this. Do you intend on abandoning the scenario?”

     “Wh…at…” I looked at Moon Issak, a rush of anxiety coursing through me. However, he seemed to have made up his mind, influenced by the doll master’s objection.

    Moon Issak moved his lips, “[—-].”

     He said something, but my ears couldn’t pick it up. However, after Moon Issak opened his mouth, my headache worsened and my heart began to beat violently. Anxiety and tension mixed together; I felt like vomiting.

     However, at the same time, I became unable to blink; my gaze was attracted to Moon Issak’s eyes as if they were magnets. When he saw my fixated gaze, he smiled slightly. Only then did the throbbing pain that had been buzzing in my ears gradually subside.

     I couldn’t resist, and my body lost strength. The inquisitor looked at me and asked, “Hmm, what would be good? First… What kind of relationship did you have with Seo Dawon?”

     “…Ah.” I slowly parted my lips while looking at Moon Isaak’s smile. And, without resisting, I answered something, but my voice didn’t reach my own ears. On the other hand, Moon Isaak seemed to hear me without any problem.

     As I finished speaking, Moon Isaak’s expression changed oddly, “Well, this is an unexpected surprise.”

     “……”

     He lowered his head and whispered something into my ear once more.

     I wanted to resist those words, but in the end, I found myself nodding without knowing what Moon Isaak was saying. I felt that it was right to simply accept his words without further judgment. Moreover, the pain that had been ringing in my head gradually subsided the more I stopped resisting.

     Upon seeing my softened expression, Moon Issak smiled satisfactorily. The Puppeteer, who was watching us, reprimanded Moon Issak. “…He can’t decide to participate in the scenario under hypnosis.”

     “Do you think I don’t know that? However, Choi Lee-kyung will only be able to understand my words after experiencing this.”

     “…When he wakes up, I bet you’ll be faced with a lot of resistance.”

     “I’ll just erase his memory.”

     “You…”

     “Just get rid of your false sympathy. Do we have the leisure to argue about this?”

     After the conversation I couldn’t understand finished, the Puppeteer eventually closed her mouth. She looked at me with a slightly guilty expression and then carried Kim Sangyoon on her back.

     I stared vacantly at both of them before looking at Moon Issak again because he had started to fiddle with my cheek using his cold fingers.

    When Moon Issak and I made eye contact, he smiled softly and ordered, “From now on, I’m the person Choi Lee-kyung likes.”

     “…Yes…”

     “As much as you do for —-. Committed. Wholeheartedly.”

    “…Yes…” My headache flared momentarily, but in the end, I concluded that Moon Issak was right.  After nodding vigorously, my heart suddenly started pounding heavily when I looked at him.

     Strangely, the echoes of my heart felt sharp and painful. It felt stifling and frustrating… At times, it felt like something was blocked; Moon Issak’s expression made regret and melancholy well up within me.

     Such complicated emotions flooded me; tears flowed automatically. Wiping the corners of my eyes where the tears flowed with a handkerchief, he whispered, “When you’re done crying, forget about —- completely.”

     “…Ah…”

     “Don’t resist. Take a deep sleep, and when you wake up, everything will be alright.”

     Just like that, darkness descended.