Chapter 296: Time has passed (2)
The world had changed so much as time continued to pass.
To be precise, only the Empire, or the country that was now called the Sacred Democratic State, and its surroundings had changed, but at least no one could deny that positive changes were taking place inside.
Most noticeable was the disappearance of the empire-wide class.
Of course, informally, there had to be a visible class. Most of the nobles still had enormous wealth and were referred to as parliament members, and Charlotte was also a part of the parliament.
However, the fact that the status system was officially abolished was a story that the general public would also cheer for.
Privileged classes such as the nobility and the royal family had completely disappeared.
Of course, there should have been a privileged class of priests, but as much as it had the Church’s title, there was no word about the privileges the Holy sector enjoyed.
Rather, it was not necessary to explain that there had been a widespread awareness of how they were wielding greater power than before, based on sacred democracy. It was a privilege that should be enjoyed by those with the job of a priest serving God.
Everything went exactly as I thought. Although distribution had not yet been completed, the Goddess mirror was distributed one by one for each generation, and the contents that were transmitted through the mirror of the Goddess were all packaged and aired in favor of the current government and foreigners.
Although a lot of information was released, it was natural that the information that the general public could access was very limited.
Things I thought were a bit unfavorable to me couldn’t even be examined in the first place. A lot of the citizens had been fooled by the television they called the Goddess’ mirror.
As a result, the task of shaking public opinion using the media was a piece of a cake. I had been hoping for this to happen right from the very beginning.
If the cage was comfortable, animals would not dare go out of the cage.
‘If they are happy, that’s it.’
No one cared about the truth. I didn’t know if it was because of the Goddess’ blessing, but it was enough to leave the inside problems to our Alice/Oscar.
It wasn’t that there weren’t any creaky parts, but she was moving as well as I intended, and above all, she was passionate and highly motivated.
What I had to think about at this point was the things outside the country, rather than inside.
‘Are the kingdom bastards out of their minds?’
It was no wonder that what I just heard from Senator Chenko remained strangely in my head. The problem was the United Kingdom, which was sensitive to each and every step from this side. Of course, it was a natural reaction.
Since a revolution broke out in a nearby country and the heads of the royal family fled, they were worried that a similar kind of revolution would break out in their kingdom.
I could understand by looking at the world history that took place on Earth, but I didn’t like the fact that they kept trying to ostracize our country.
As the number of knights in the country had decreased significantly, I wanted to avoid conflicts with foreign forces as much as possible.
‘Alliance’
Alliance was necessary for the country to survive, and work to improve relations with the Republic was also essential. To do this from only within, the country was very limited.
My choice of a neutral country, Laios, was far too reasonable as my first diplomatic stage.
Of course, Dialugia would not have liked this news.
“So. You really are going outside today.”
“Aren’t you familiar with the inevitable situation? I talked about it a few days ago… I thought that recently after I finished my work, I could always come to the nest…”
“It was something you hadn’t done so far, so you just did what you were supposed to do as a father. You know it’s not something you can show off or use as a bargaining chip.”
“It won’t take that long. Still, today I attended her classes.”
“Actually, it’s a promise that should have been kept months ago.”
“It was an unavoidable situation. How can I visit a school that was closed and has been remodeled? It is unfair to blame me for that since I participated in a larger visit in a better circumstance. And I’m saying because I’ve already said that. I am not that free either. Even during that busy schedule, if you keep expressing your dissatisfaction like this, when I have poured out my passion on Tol To-ri made her happy enough, I can’t help but be disappointed. Or is there any other reason that you don’t want me to leave the nest for?”
“What…”
“For example, Dialugia, you don’t want to let me go…”
Although it was a word thrown to provoke Dialugia, I noticed that Dialugia’s expression had changed. She looked at me absurdly, as if asking what the heck I was going on about.
‘Fuck… I am also popular, you know.’
I was loved by some unique people, but at least it was not enough for me to be treated like that. No wonder my face heated up as she continued to look at me the same way one would look at an insect. In that moment, I saw Tol To-ri, no Dialuria, and Max running to us after classes were finished.
Although her body trembled, she and I played a good relationship in front of her. As I pulled her body as tightly as possible, Dialugia glanced at me and frowned.
However, it was natural that she would be unable to push me away. She must be conscious of Dialuria. Dr. Kang Hyun-wook’s solution was still in progress.
“Dad! Today…!”
“Everyone was watching, Dialuria. I can see how hard you have been working.”
“Hehehehehe!”
“Aside from classes like this, you are working hard on what your mother is teaching you, right? What do you think, Dialugia?”
No wonder I looked at Dialugia with my eyes full of love. Dialugia, who had been showing her rotten expression until now, was also acting with love for her daughter.
“I saw it well, honey. You were amazing, Dialuria. Especially, the last swording demonstration is really…”
“… …”
Of course, Tol To-ri’s eyes, who harbored a twisted characteristic, would see the two of us disapproving. The way she looked at her mother was scary in itself.
Dialugia looked a little embarrassed, but I began to express affection with the momentum that I would give infinite love, and she glanced at me as if telling me to stop.
‘Screw you, woman.’
It was dreary and timid revenge, but I didn’t care at this point.
“Oh. Our youngest son, too, I watched you well.”
“Yes, yes.”
“You are getting along with Dialuria, right?”
“Ah… Yes… Yep, Father.”
“Yes!”
In fact, it didn’t feel like they were getting along very well. Max, the museum manager, who had not forgotten the body-hammering of their first meeting, was still struggling with Tol To-ri, and Tol To-ri still did not like her younger brother.
I usually thought that this was a problem to be solved by time, but it was taking longer than I thought.
Anyway, as the class visitation, which I thought was a big task, ended, and as we had a good time after eating together on the way back to the nest, I didn’t see the time to leave for Laios fast approaching.
As expected, Tol To-ri cried and grabbed my pants, and he did not express it well, but the manager also showed signs of disappointment.
“I’ll be back soon, so you have to listen to your mom and wait. Max, also take good care at managing the museum, and the opening seems to have to be delayed a little more because something has happened…”
“Yep. Okay.”
“Okay. Tol To-ri… No, Dialuria. This time it won’t take really long, so it’ll be fine.”
“Okay.”
“Well, let me hug you. Come here.”
Her appearance of jumping in immediately was quite cute. I even stopped as she ran towards me in dragon form.
With the sound of Kieeeeeek! There was a lot of saliva on my face, but I didn’t get upset.
It felt as if Max was noticing the tearful breakup between a daughter and father. As I beckoned, he noticed this and approached.
‘This one has also changed a little.’
There had been a strange increase in him acting like a baby. Originally, even when she was in a human form, our Tol To-ri was openly clingy, but in Max’s case, he often took a position that seemed to be constantly watching out.
Perhaps it could be said that it was a side effect of having connected with me too suddenly.
Of course, as he was the No. 1 contributor that accelerated the magical hologram’s birth, I gave him the best care, but it was a different story from whether Max was comfortable with me.
Only recently did he do this little by little, so I had no choice but to think that the guy had also changed.
It didn’t seem as if he didn’t like to be treated as a child, as I saw a small smile come out in response to a single stroke on his head.
‘He’s cute…’
I couldn’t help but mull over all the changes that had happened as I returned to the Guild House.
It was because it was not only the background and Max that had changed.
Blue also had undergone a huge change. Now, the newbies brought in as the Blue’s second party, Lee Chang-ryul, Yoo Ahyoung, and Han So-ra, had grown to the point that they could no longer be called newbies.
In particular, Lee Chang-ryul achieved a startling growth, but rather than stats and his talent levels, he had a colossal and fatal awareness of battle.
As a blacksmith, Yoo Ahyoung grew enough to handle Dialugia’s scales, and although a little lacking as a tank, she was able to grow into a kind of front liner that could stand up stably based on her excellent stamina.
The same went for Han So-ra. She still had her lame one eye, but she was on the verge of a direct contract with the demons beyond the stage of beasts.
Of course, it went without saying that her growth as a Black Wizard was a secret between us.
Ahn Ki-mo was still the same, but he was putting all-out efforts to raise the second party to the level of the first party with Hwang Jeong-yeon, who officially became Park Deokgu’s girlfriend.
‘Of course, it will be impossible, but…’
Blue’s main party could be said to be the best in the current country or continent. In Park Deokgu’s case, who was now solidifying his position as a genuine tanker in name and reality, he hadn’t changed so much, but his skills weren’t stationary. He had gone up to a position with his crazy training, and in fact, he was able to fight with Kim Hyunsung’s eternal lieutenant Cho Hyejin.
Originally, Kim Ye-ri, a kid who could be classified as a genius, had achieved terrifying growth and grew up with an appearance that could not be called a kid anymore, but for some reason, she did not grow at all in one place. Sun Hee-young had also grown into a top-notch priest. She was given the title of Honorary Bishop that I had previously received, and she had a divine power worthy of its position.
If I had to clear it up, Blue had become stronger and stronger. Not only by force, but also by political position, which had risen to the point where no one would dare challenge it.
In fact, it was not an exaggeration to say that it was on the path to success. Of course, even amidst such growth, some anxiety elements somehow bothered my nerves.
There were two things, to be precise.
One thing was Kim Hyunsung, the lovely returner, and…
The other thing that amplified the anxiety more than him was Jung Hayan, who had been very quiet recently.
‘It’s too quiet. Fuck… Why is she so quiet these days?’
Being able to make me so anxious without doing anything could be said to be one of Hayan’s ability. The atmosphere was like the calm before the storm.
Soon, the candle would blow out.