“Excuse me?”
“It’s just… unique.”
An endlessly sprawling area of massive turbulence and five mountains rising at various heights.
At first glance, it just looked like a cloud region with high mountains, but to my eyes, it appeared a bit different.
“Doesn’t it look like a hand?”
The vast area and the five mountains rising.
That shape resembled a giant ‘hand.’
[?]
[Huh?]
[It kind of seems like it?]
[True]
[Whoa]
[Wasn’t it just a planet?]
[God’s hand ㄷㄷ;;]
The Jangmugye being someone’s hand.
The idea that an entire world is the hand of a colossal being was quite astonishing, yet Won-gyeom responded with surprising calmness.
“A hand… right. We used to speculate about the structure of Jangmugye back in the day.”
“Speculate?”
“They say Jangmugye is the right hand that fell from a long-dead True Immortal. We’re living off the corpse of an unnamed True Immortal, or so it goes.”
“……”
“Well, many don’t believe it, but the structure of Jangmugye is fundamentally different from other planets in the minor world. A gigantic fog region exists without any reference point, and if the Cosmic Spirit is filled with a True Immortal’s hand, that makes sense.”
“Has Gyeoryu said anything?”
“That person is hard to meet…”
“Um…”
So, the ground I’m standing on is above someone’s corpse.
It’s not an incomprehensible thought.
Among the Celestials and Demons, there are beings as small as little girls, but conversely, there are also entities that seem like the endless expanse of the world itself.
If it’s a being of the level of a True Immortal, it’s not strange for it to have such a size.
From the start, considering that the ‘sky’ is a living entity, it wasn’t astonishing at all.
“… Insight. I’ve explained the general idea.”
“Thank you.”
Won-gyeom waved his hand, and the scene returned to the Cosmic Spirit.
Now, I just need to head to the meeting room with Cheongjinryeong soon.
[LOL]
[Once I see Cheongjinryeong, I’m going to smack him from behind]
[Are you going to kill everyone?]
[OMG]
[Is Yena not going with us?]
“I think I’ll meet Miss Yena after the meeting. It is, after all, a meeting between Archlords.”
It would be a bit inappropriate for a dead Yena to participate.
Moreover, considering what could happen there, it might be dangerous for Yena to get involved.
Soon after, I was able to meet Cheongjinryeong.
He was crossing his arms with a displeased expression, but it seemed more like he was just pretending to be dissatisfied rather than actually being unhappy.
“Let’s go.”
“Have you prepared well?”
“… I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
[LOL]
[Look at him trying to act innocent]
[Let’s just kill him]
[Acting tough after having his lifespan stolen]
[For real LOL]
As I stared at him, Cheongjinryeong cleared his throat and opened the door to the void.
The meeting place was the Sky Island, floating in a massive turbulence area, a space created by the five original Archlords joining forces in the past.
It was a place where the numerous rules about the clans proposed by Gyeoryu did not apply.
Although the Archlords were bound by countless restrictions, in this place, their free intervention was possible.
Crossing the door, I arrived at the meeting place, where I could see the open earth, the round table set upon it, and the seats around it.
The chaotic display of black and green Cosmic Spirits filled the sky above.
There were two Display Case Practitioners there.
“You’re late.”
“Little One, you were late, weren’t you?”
“Little One?”
[Lilies go ‘whee!’]
[LOL]
[Want to die?]
[Why do all Archlords love ‘little one’ so much?]
[LOL]
[Little Lily]
[Trying hard to sacrifice your lifespan, huh? LOL]
First off, the old man with the pitch-black hair was probably Lord of Black Mist, Jooam.
He was at the Display Case Level 4, significantly superior to Jeokho and Cheongjinryeong.
And the green figure next to him…
“I thought I’d lose my head waiting. Is the new Archlord going to be this late?”
“I arrived on time!”
“In my day, I pondered day and night about whether to keep the seniors waiting and even came a day early. How dare you be so arrogant?”
Lord of Green Mist, Nok Woo-rim.
Unlike Jooam, who seemed to come from the Serpent Clan, Nok Woo-rim had an appearance that masked his race.
His level was Display Case Level 3.
He resembled a gust of wind, mist, or a cloud, looking unstable, but he was actually quite stable in his mastery.
With a neutral voice, Nok Woo-rim chuckled and waved his hand.
“Arrogant little one, sit down quickly. The old man here might get angry.”
“Old man?”
“Are your eyes just for decoration? Ah, of course, they’re beautiful like ornaments.”
As Nok Woo-rim lightly gestured, Lord of Black Mist, Jooam, glared down at me coldly.
“Alright, take a seat. Yes, that’s the right spot.”
The place Nok Woo-rim pointed to was rather cramped compared to others.
It was insignificant compared to the other Archlords, and sitting there, I would have to look up at the others.
It was a spot that clearly showed how they viewed me.
[LOL]
[Decorative eyes, huh?]
[Who does he think he is?]
[Look at him acting all high and mighty.]
[Let’s kill him.]
[Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill.]
[Lily is pretty, though.]
[This seating arrangement is a mess.]
Maybe the viewers were upset; the chat exploded rapidly.
Instead of responding, I glanced at the camera and Cheongjinryeong before taking my seat.
Jooam glanced at Cheongjinryeong, who was standing there blankly.
“Cheongjinryeong, you sit too.”
“Tell me about it.”
“There’s no need for this. Aren’t you being a bit too hard on the newcomer?”
“Are you giving the same spot to everyone? I could arrange that if you want.”
“…It’s like we’re all kids, playing silly pranks.”
Cheongjinryeong stomped over to the spot next to me and plopped down.
With such a tall and robust build, it barely looked like he was sitting.
Nok Woo-rim looked back and forth at Cheongjinryeong and me, resting his chin in one hand and chuckling.
“Lord Jeokmuhyang looks just like Lord Cheongmuhyang. Aren’t they actually siblings?”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Nok Woo-rim.”
“They both have blue hair. Isn’t it all part of the plan to take down Jeokho?”
“Are you suggesting we fight right now?”
Cheongjinryeong glared at Nok Woo-rim like a growl.
Nok Woo-rim flinched back a bit, as if saying, “What kind of nonsense are you spouting?”
Of course, it wasn’t so much about losing in a fight of abstract power, but more about not wanting to break the current situation.
“Geez. I can’t even mess around.”
Four Display Case Practitioners gathered.
With the masters of Jangmugye manipulating their powers, the cosmic spirit filling the sky tossed and turned violently.
[Isn’t one missing?]
[One archlord is absent.]
[?]
“Indeed, one is missing.”
“Hmm?”
“Where is Lord Baekmuhyang?”
There are a total of five archlords.
With Jeok, Cheong, Heuk, and Nok all present, it only leaves Baek behind, who hasn’t shown up.
At this, Jooam and Nok Woo-rim wore very displeased expressions.
“That little one is always late. I’ll fix her attitude soon, but for now, we can proceed with the meeting.”
“Is that so?”
“Indeed. We don’t need to concern ourselves with that girl.”
“Well, then there’s nothing we can do.”
It would be nice to have as many archlords as possible, but there’s no need to drag in someone who’s not coming.
Time passed.
As the time for the meeting authorized by Junseon and Gyeoryu approached, I felt the “rules” of Gyeoryu starting to fade.
Finally, as the clock struck, the regulations of the space vanished completely.
What remained were only the very basic rules like “do not kill each other” and the formal agreements set forth by the archlords.
“Then, let’s begin the 101st Jangmugye meeting.”
The meeting commenced.
■
The Jangmugye meeting.
A gathering of the archlords from Jangmugye, held regularly since the existence of archlords began.
The meeting serves various purposes, but the most straightforward reason is to discuss each other’s realms and share thoughts about the future and understanding of Jangmugye.
At first glance, it seems like a very productive meeting, but in reality, it was anything but.
During the meeting, the absolute regulations of Jangmugye mostly become invalidated.
They indulged in the freedom from the chains of Gyeoryu, and a vicious cycle of the strong oppressing the weak ensued.
Eun enjoyed the freedom of being freed from the chains of Gyeoryu, while the vicious cycle of the strong oppressing the weak continued to repeat itself.
“…So, since you’ve newly risen as the Archlord, shouldn’t we ‘share’ it? If you truly are the rightful owner of Lord Jeokmu-hyang, that is.”
“Absolutely, absolutely.”
Lord Jooam said this confidently, and Nok Woo-rim chuckled heartily in agreement.
So, to sum up what Lord Jooam said:
‘The Archlord of Jangmugye is not a position that can be easily attained, and usurping such a position in this manner shatters the honor and symbolism of the Archlordship. However, even the foolish are entitled to one chance. If the existing Archlords receive their justified ‘share,’ it can be understandable…’
But…
[What utter nonsense, LOL]
[Hahaha?]
[Excuse me?]
[Wow]
[Not even a dog, yet talking nonsense]
[For real, LOL]
Though his words were elegant, the conclusion was the same.
‘Pay the tribute.’
Just like Cheongjinryeong told me, they wanted material goods or souls.
“Are you asking for tribute?”
“That sounds a bit excessive. It’s an ‘obligation’ you should naturally fulfill.”
“This old man is right, Little One. Besides, the Jeokho you defeated has long been fulfilling his obligation.”
“Hmm…”
They want the tribute.
Well, I could give something within reason.
I wasn’t sure if it really tarnished the symbolism of the Archlord, but I wasn’t particularly greedy for wealth.
I looked back at Cheongjinryeong.
“Cheongjinryeong.”
“…Uh. Yes?”
“What do you think? Do you also believe that Lord Cheongmu-hyang should fulfill his ‘obligation’?”
At my question, not just me, but the gazes of both Archlords turned to Cheongjinryeong.
Cheongjinryeong knew my power and had already been on the receiving end once.
I didn’t know what was crossing his mind, but it probably wasn’t a simple situation.
After a moment of contemplation, he finally spoke.
“…Obligations are necessary, aren’t they? Yes, obligations are indeed necessary.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. ‘For everyone.’”
‘For everyone.’
The two Archlords probably thought that Cheongjinryeong was agreeing with them, but it sounded different to me.
‘The obligation of everyone.’
Suddenly, a good idea struck me.
“What if that obligation is better fulfilled by everyone?”
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