The Main Characters That Only I Know

Chapter 371:

“Why… why did you…?”

It was possible for a teller from the middle world to become a Divine Spirit in the upper world.

Although such cases were extremely rare, there were some who had actually achieved it.

It was not entirely impossible.

It was very uncommon for tellers to reach the horizon of the story, but most of them chose to become Divine Spirits at that point.

It was common sense and natural.

No one would refuse to become a better being.

But Yu-hyun gave up on ascending to the seat of the stars and became a human by himself.

He was a being from the middle world who did not go to the upper world nor stay there, but degraded himself to a being of the lower world.

‘Of course, considering Yu-hyun’s skills, he would be stronger than most Divine Spirits even as a human, but still, the difference between humans and Divine Spirits cannot be ignored.’

The human body was bound by the material world.

Even if they completely crossed over to the mixed world, they would bleed if they got hurt, they would have to eat if they were hungry, and they would have to sleep if they were tired.

Being swayed by desires and needing consciousness was almost a disability in the mixed world.

That’s why most of those who came from the material world to the mixed world tried to become stronger and rise higher.

If they only melted into the mixed world properly, they could heal their wounds in an instant with just text, they could live without eating, and they could stay awake.

Their perspective of the world became higher, and their senses were maximized.

In terms of the human world’s story, Divine Spirits were like the final form of evolution that reached the limit of their species.

But Yu-hyun kicked away such an opportunity and went down by himself.

Gares, who became a Divine Spirit, could never understand it.

“Why did you do such a thing?”

“What’s that?”

“You could have gotten the seat of the stars. You were already strong, but if you became a Divine Spirit as well, you would surely have a similar power to the first-generation Divine Spirits. Unlike other ones who are looked down upon as fourth-generation, you could have been called a proper another generation.”

Gares shivered at the thought of what would have happened if Yu-hyun had ascended to the seat of the Divine Spirits.

This man could have been one of the top beings among the first-generation Divine Spirits, who could be considered as leaders of each great army.

Maybe he could have created his own new great army.

Most Divine Spirits would have followed his lead, and watched his every move with respect.

He wouldn’t have to bow to anyone, and he could rule as a god in any land.

He had a place where he could do anything he wanted, but Yu-hyun threw away that chance by himself.

“Becoming a Divine Spirit, so what?”

“What?”

“So what about that? Becoming a Divine Spirit? And then gaining great power, is that something to be happy about?”

“But still, becoming a human is weird.”

Gares also had a time when he was called a human.

But the humans of his time were much more superior than the humans of now.

The humans of now could not even handle the power of mystery properly, but the people of Gares’ time could use that kind of power as anyone.

They were only categorized as humans, but they were completely different species.

Humans were always lacking and wanting.

They were weak and powerless unless they united.

“Humans cannot contribute properly to the world. Of course there might be some exceptions. But most humans… cannot overcome the limit of matter. They lack ability and talent. They cannot show a better story.”

Story was an important value in the mixed world.

Everything in the world was made of letters, and what those origins made was one huge book.

The story engraved on the book meant both the history of the universe and the future to come.

Various beings left their marks on that story.

There were great beings who occupied most of the pages, but there were also some who could not even carve out a single letter and were forgotten.

And most of those beings were humans.

Endlessly lacking and wanting beings. Pitiful races that were stuck at the bottom of the mixed world.

“You can show a better story. You were different from when you were a teller, so if you became a Divine Spirit maybe you could show a much more amazing story… You could have engraved your name on this huge flow of the mixed world.”

That’s why he couldn’t understand it.

The man named Kang Yu-hyun was not someone who would stop at this level.

He could show a more amazing story.

Gares felt that possibility from his novelization.

But why?

Why did he choose to become a human at the horizon of the story that could be called a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

Even if it was Yu-hyun’s will, Gares could not hide his regret.

“Don’t you want… a more valuable life?”

“What is a valuable life?”

Yu-hyun, who had been listening silently, asked back. Gares was flustered but did not avoid the answer.

“Well… of course, building fame and spreading your name, and leaving your mark on this world…”

“So what do you gain by doing all this? Do you think your past mistakes will disappear if you do that? Do you think all the things you felt lacking in yourself will be filled?”

“That is…”

Gareth could not answer, even with a lie.

Even if he ascended to the starry seat, the throne of the Divine Spirits, not everything would be perfect.

His king proved that. He still suffered from his guilt, and only lived by recalling his old glory.

Yu-hyun fiercely struck back at Gareth, who could not refute anything.

“You can’t even argue properly about what is right and wrong, what is more amazing.”

“…”

“At least I know what you’re trying to say. Yeah. In the big picture, the Divine Spirits are great beings, and the lower beings are not. They are people who lack talent, are lazy, and have insufficient abilities. But even among the humans you judged like that, there were people who faced their stories seriously. But did the Divine Spirits do that?”

Yu-hyun recalled the people he had seen in the Mental Realm.

Even if they were made of stories, they were definitely living humans.

There was the last emperor who gave his life to save his people.

There was the brave sailor who faced the invincible demon of the sea for revenge.

There was the knight who did not give up his dream even when he was crushed by it and faced reality.

“The people I know did not deny themselves even when they hit the wall and suffered unreasonable pain.”

Yu-hyun respected them for that. He wanted to be like them.

There is no such thing as perfection. Everyone eventually lives with imperfection.

The Divine Spirits boasted that they were the end of evolution.

They possessed perfection and purity as a race. But was that true?

“Are you not the ones who are trapped in the shackles of stories, you Divine Spirits who claim to be superior beings?”

“That is…”

Gareth was surprised by himself, who could not answer.

Even if he tried to say no, his true heart agreed with Yu-hyun’s words.

He could argue.

There were certainly Divine Spirits who continued to strive and advance.

There were very few great people among humans.

Statistics, probability, rational thinking.

He could deny Yu-hyun’s words with all that.

But.

“That’s right…”

Gareth nodded his head with a hollow smile.

He realized that Yu-hyun was not trying to argue about right and wrong here.

Yu-hyun just said that he chose this path because he respected and admired what he had seen.

What would it mean for him to say anything about that?

But this man’s will would not break.

“I don’t regret becoming human. Some might point fingers at me and call me foolish, but I don’t care.”

“…”

“I’m much better off than those who can’t admit their limits and point fingers at others, even if I fail and keep going.”

Everyone thought the Divine Spirits were great beings, but Yu-hyun did not.

They said they reached the limit of their race, but was that true?

The Divine Spirits Yu-hyun saw were those who could not grow even in the free mixed world because they were bound by their stories.

They became overwhelmingly strong beings, but that was all.

The Divine Spirits lost their potential.

Could those who lost their potential be called alive?

Could they really look down on and insult someone else for being lacking?

In fact, they should be condemned more than anyone else.

“As expected, you are amazing, Yu-hyun.”

Gareth confessed his honest feelings with a smile.

“I thought you changed when I didn’t see you for a while, but that wasn’t it. You’re still the same as before. That shining ideal, those unyielding eyes. In the end, I was wrong.”

“…That’s too much.”

“So what are you going to do from now on?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I want to help you somehow. I know the geography of this area well. I can’t do it for long, but I can guide you for a while.”

“A guide? I’m honored that a knight of the round table would do that.”

“Hey. I’m just a lowly one who carries my brother’s glory on my back.”

Gareth pretended not to care, but Yu-hyun knew how talented he was.

He was none other than Gawain’s younger brother, who had hidden his identity and status to become a knight with his own skills.

He had never shied away from any hard work.

He admired Lancelot, the knight of betrayal, more than anyone else.

Even though he met his end by his hand, he still forgave and praised him as a Divine Spirit.

He was different from the others who looked down on people as Divine Spirits.

“If that’s what you say.”

“Where are you going then?”

“I’m going to look for some people. Have you heard anything?”

“Oh, you mean the people from White Flower Management?”

No matter what anyone said, the first ones Yu-hyun had to find were his old colleagues.

He guessed that Yoo Young-min was doing well, but he hadn’t heard any news about Kwon Jia, Seo Sumin, Baek Seo Ryeon, or Sung Yoo Chan.

“Hmm. I don’t know much either, but there is a place I suspect.”

“A place you suspect?”

“Well, not so much suspect as… just a place with a high possibility. There’s a place not too far from here where the lords have gathered and built their territory.”

Yu-hyun had never heard of such a place before and was naturally curious.

Gareth was happy that he could finally have a conversation that piqued Yu-hyun’s interest. He told him everything he knew.

“Some of the lords are relatively weak, or rather, lacking compared to the other lords. They formed an alliance and called it the Lord’s Alliance. They have a unique ideology there. They protect the weak and prevent plundering.”

“I didn’t know there was such a place.”

“Well, the really strong lords don’t belong there. It’s mostly a place where those who are considered lacking gather. But even if they’re weak, they’re still lords, so they became a force that can’t be ignored. I bet most of the people from Earth went into the alliance’s territory.”

“That’s where I have the best chance of finding my old friends.”

“That’s right. Even if you don’t find the person you’re looking for, you might meet someone who knows something. So it wouldn’t hurt to go there, right?”

Gareth’s words made sense. It didn’t seem like a bad idea to go there.

Kwon Jia and Seo Sumin were so skilled that they would do well wherever they went.

There was no way that rumors about them wouldn’t circulate in the alliance’s territory, so he wouldn’t lose anything by going there.

Yu-hyun decided to make the alliance his next goal.

“I need to move quickly.”

“Well, it’s a bit far from here. But the road itself is not complicated, so you should be able to get there soon.”

“Is that so?”

Yu-hyun said that and got up from his seat.

Gareth asked him in surprise.

“Where are you going? Are you leaving right now?”

“No. We have guests.”

“Guests?”

Gareth finally noticed the faint presence coming from afar.

There were many of them. And they were openly exerting their power as they approached.

They didn’t look like they came to have a chat.

At the same time, Gareth admired Yu-hyun’s senses for noticing the intruders before he did.

‘Is he really human? He seems stronger than before.’

Before he could finish his thought, black shadows fell from the sky and surrounded Yu-hyun and Gareth.

They were not human but Ain species, who had crossed the line of transcendence.

“Are you the Book Pile Lord?”

Yu-hyun didn’t answer.

He ignored their question as if it wasn’t important and glared at Kang Hye-rim, who was asleep.

“Black Thunder Lord. You’re still alive after all. Listen up, Book Pile Lord. Hand her over to us right now. Then we’ll let you go nicely.”

“…You guys.”

Gareth frowned and tried to get up, but Yu-hyun stopped him.

“Yu-hyun sir?”

“This is my business.”

He had expected this to happen.

Not only were they after him, but they also came to kill Kang Hye-rim.

It wasn’t like there were no such people in the past week.

Those who came to kill Kang Hye-rim frowned at Yu-hyun’s blatant attitude and raised their energy.

Gareth swallowed hard.

They were very strong.

There were about 10 of them, all transcendents.

Especially their leader was almost as powerful as a second-generation Divine Spirit.

Yu-hyun didn’t flinch even though he was under their pressure.

He scanned his surroundings as he stood in his place.

“Five third-generation Divine Spirits. One high transcendent, just below the lord level. Seven mid transcendent. Fifteen low transcendent. And 103 more below that.”

“What are you babbling about?”

“That’s the number of people who died by my hand before you came.”

Yu-hyun answered calmly as he put on Aporia’s mask.

“Ten more will be added to that soon.”