Inebu began to tell his story.
“I don’t know how much you know about things, Mr. Underdog…but I have quite a high position in the Nile.”
Lee Jun-Kyeong knew that Inebu wasn’t suddenly talking about his position either to brag or intimidate him. Rather, he was speaking out of consideration in order to add credibility to the story he was telling.
“I know that you have enough influence to take the Eyes of Osiris with you to a different country.”
The Eyes of Osiris and Zeus’ Lightning were both divinity-level items of the secret organizations that couldn’t be easily moved, similar to Heimdall’s Bifrost.
Considering Inebu was allowed to travel to a different country with an item of that power, it was a given that he would have considerable status within the Nile.
The Hunter continued, “The start of it all was when Lord Set brought the red gem to the Nile. It was a rare ore that he had found by luck during an expedition to another country.”
Inebu seemed to be saying it was by coincidence. Thinking about it, Lee Jun-Kyeong felt as though it would be possible. Moreover, it was possible to not only obtain it by chance but then also to further understand its power as well.
It was Set, after all.
“It was an item that seemed to amplify mana. A mysterious item that seemed to greatly amplify the power of monsters and promote overwhelming growth.”
Lee Jun-Kyeong nodded as he listened. Merlin’s necklace was still a long way off from losing its potency.
“Considering its power, the study of the red gem had begun as expected, and numerous clinical trials were conducted.”
Hunters were people who especially craved power.
‘The prospect of becoming strong without having to rely on sponsorship is like a poisoned chalice for Hunters.’
It would be like a holy grail, a grail that one had to drink, even if they knew it was poisoned.
Having seen the power of the red gem, the Hunters of the Nile had no choice but to participate in their study even though they had recognized the danger.
“The research proceeded well. We had even succeeded in increasing the amplification rate several times compared to before.”
“...”
“However, the problem was…”
Lee Jun-Kyeong interjected, “You couldn’t control it, could you?”
Inebu smiled bitterly. “That’s correct.”
The red gem was an uncontrollable force.
Madness was a poison.
Not only was it not possible for just anyone to control the urges of Madness but it also wasn’t something that research could control either.
One had to be specifically chosen by one’s Sponsor, have incredible levels of mental fortitude—strong enough to overcome just about anything, or have met numerous requirements in order to deal with the poisonous strength.
No, Lee Jun-Kyeong backtracked.
Considering how strong the ore was, Madness wasn’t something that could be handled even if there was someone who could meet the requirements.
‘That’s why Heracles is so strong as well.’
Even in the history of the future, it would be extremely rare to be able to find a Hunter who could control Madness. To be quite frank, it would be safe to say that there wouldn’t be any.
As for Heracles, he had only obtained the power of Madness under the influence of his Sponsor in the first place and could be regarded as pretty much the only Hunter with any semblance of resistance to the ore.
Therefore, he had ended up becoming a Hunter who even the Demon King had considered invincible. Before, in the past that Lee Jun-Kyeong had studied, the Hunter hadn’t been able to grasp full control over Madness, but now…
‘He can control it.’
Lee Jun-Kyeong suddenly shook his head and concentrated, having noticed that his thoughts kept running beyond his control.
“Eventually, the research reached a plateau with regards to increasing the amplification rate. It seemed impossible to make any further progress."
“…”
"But.”
Things were finally getting to the main point.
“Horus wanted to become the focus of the experiments using the red gem himself.”
“...!”
Lee Jun-Kyeong’s eyes widened in surprise.
.
The successor of a massive secret organization had thrown himself into the experiment. That wasn’t something that could be understood easily.
“It wasn’t an accident?” Lee Jun-Kyeong asked.
Moreover, Horus’ problems had been known to be an accident.
However, to think the truth was different.
Horus had actually volunteered.
“That’s correct. Lord Horus had insisted on being the subject of the experiment even though many people tried to dissuade him.”
“Then…why on earth did Horus want to obtain the power of the red gem in the first place?”
Lee Jun-Kyeong couldn’t understand it.
He, who would have already been guaranteed everything…
Moreover, considering he was a Hero with the title Horus, it was clear that the Hunter’s power must have been strong. Lee Jun-Kyeong couldn’t figure it out. Why did he make such a dangerous choice?
“It was because of Lord Set,” Inebu explained.
That name had come up again.
“It was an open secret that Lord Set wanted control of the Nile, and there had been frequent arguments between Lord Set and Lord Osiris. Lord Set…he was too strong of a Hunter to push to the side. Lord Horus wanted to obtain the strength to prevent Lord Set from making any moves.”
He was someone who had both justification and power. As someone who had everything, he could aim for the throne.
If that was the case, then Horus’ choice made sense.
However.
“About the man named Set,” Lee Jun-Kyeong said.
There was one thing that he just couldn’t understand at all.
“Is it really such a dangerous thing for him to gain control of the Nile? From what I have experienced myself, he didn’t seem to be that horrible of a person.”
Inebu’s expression suddenly hardened, but Lee Jun-Kyeong didn’t stop there.
“Is he being ostracized because he was trying to take away the established right to the throne?”
That was the most likely solution he had thought. But, if that was the case, he would have to stay out of it.
This wouldn’t be history that had been changed because of him, just history that should have flowed. It was just a fierce battle over the throne.
Lee Jun-Kyeong waited for an answer.
“That’s not it,” Inebu answered.
“Lord Horus is a righteous man. There was also a plan to hand over the throne to Lord Set."
“…”
"Only..."
As Inebu tried to proceed to explain carefully, they suddenly heard someone’s voice.
“Hasn’t your meeting already occurred in the evening?”
Someone had entered their location, forcing through Merlin’s formation.
It was a familiar voice.
“Lord… Set…”
It was Set again.
***
Merlin’s formation was still in effect. It was still in place, blocking the gazes of the Nile, turning the gazes of the eyes around him murky.
However, Set had been able to enter there anyway.
“It looks like you followed Mr. Inebu,” Lee Jun-Kyeong said.
Inwardly, he was flabbergasted. He couldn’t believe it.
This had only occurred because he hadn’t expected a person as important as Set would personally chase after Inebu.
Someone on the level of Set would not only be able to avoid Inebu’s detection, but also his own.
Lee Jun-Kyeong then realized that it wasn’t that the Hunter had entered Merlin’s formation.
“Have you…been here from the beginning?” he asked.
Lord Set smiled. “I apologize for overhearing you unintentionally.”
“Isn’t this exactly what you intended?”
Despite Lee Jun-Kyeong’s mockery, Set had a calm face. The panicked one, on the other hand, was Inebu.
“Lord… Set…”
His face was gaunt, the color of death.
It was natural, considering that everything they had just spoken about had been overheard.
Lee Jun-Kyeong was about to do something, but then Set opened his mouth.
“It’s quite curious. I already knew that Horus had a plan to cede the throne of the Nile to me.”
His voice was calm.
“But, to think there was a reason that even with that, he felt that I had to be kept in check… even going so far as to touch that force.”
Set questioned Inebu with genuine curiosity. There was no mana or forceful aura, just a calm gaze that seemed to be more than enough pressure by itself.
Inebu bowed his head for a moment, restless under the scrutiny of the gaze.
However, Lee Jun-Kyeong didn’t step up at that moment, as he, too, needed to hear this as well.
He wanted to hear the reason, the reason Horus had still risked it all, even up to his giving up his body, even after having decided to give everything over to Set.
Inebu slowly raised his head.
As it was already spilled water, as Set had already heard everything there, he had to end it all there.
“Lord Horus…”
Slowly, Inebu opened his mouth.
“He said that there was someone behind you.”
“…!”
“…!”
Lee Jun-Kyeong and Set's eyes grew wide at the same time.
“How many people have heard that story?”
The next person to speak was Set. His voice was cold and his calm expression had finally broken.
But, Inebu didn’t seem to intend to lie.
“I’m the only one.”
“Do you expect me to believe that?”
Ineb nodded at Set's frosty tone.
“Lord Horus had only told me just before he experienced the red gem. I don’t know if he may have spoken to someone before then, but as far as I know, I am the only one who had heard that story.”
As Inebu’s finished speaking, Lee Jun-Kyeong looked over at Set and Inebu at the same time. The Set in front of him was now showing only a relaxed expression. To think that he had been able to feel his nervousness only moments before.
‘So Horus was right then.’
There had to be someone behind Set.
Then.
"I think you'd better go home now, Mr. Inebu," Lee Jun-Kyeong said to Inebu.
“And…”
Lee Jun-Kyeong then spoke again, relieving Inebu, who was mumbling over to the side, of his worries.
“I’ll think about how to treat Lord Horus. I don’t know if it’s even possible, though, so don’t expect too much.”
“T…thank you!”
Inebu nodded furiously as if even that was enough. However, the man still didn’t leave just yet.
“Leave.”
As soon as Set’s permission had been given, Inebu nodded and moved his body. As Inebu glided by quickly, Lee Jun-Kyeong suddenly called out to Set.
“How about we let him be?”
The man’s hand was touching his blade. It was obvious that he was going to kill Inebu. There wouldn’t be any stopping the Hunter if he had made up his mind.
“Whew.”
However, surprisingly when Lee Jun-Kyeong spoke out, Set let out a breath and let things go.
“I think we have something to talk about,” Set remarked.
As Inebu left and Set remained, another forum for dialogue unfolded.
***
“I didn’t follow after Inebu, to be exact.”
Out of the blue, Set had brought it up.
"I kept my eyes on you."
He had kept an eye on Lee Jun-Kyeong, or at least that was what he claimed.
“I already knew that from the beginning. What I hadn’t expected was that you would be watching me this closely.”
It would have been a lie if Lee Jun-Kyeong had said that he hadn’t figured out that Set was watching him. After all, the Hunter would show up when anything happened.
Once could have been a coincidence, but things repeating after several accidents wasn’t probable.
No—it would have been an intended “coincidence.”
Lee Jun-Kyeong had known the Hunter had been around. However, this place had been prepared thoroughly, and he hadn’t expected that Set would have been this close to them, either.
“Someone who is behind you…”
Lee Jun-Kyeong asked a question. There was only one possibility he could imagine as he listened to Inebu. It had been the only possibility that he hadn’t thought through as it was something so unbelievable and incomprehensible.
"Are you Asgardian?”
It was the possibility that the Hunter in front of him had been the spy of Asgard.
Even now, Lee Jun-Kyeong still thought it was ridiculous as he asked the Hunter. The person in talks to be the next head of one secret organization was the spy of another secret organization.
Moreover, it was someone who didn’t have a single thing that he could have wanted…
‘Wait, maybe there was something.’
The Hunter had been aiming for the throne of the Nile.
Things started to make more sense if he considered that Asgard could have said that it would help him. Baldur had even said that he had already met the spy, and the strange smile that had appeared as Lee Jun-Kyeong stood there worrying about who the spy was hinted at something.
Lee Jun-Kyeong began to put the puzzle together piece by piece.
He waited for a response, and Set reliably answered, “You’re not wrong, but you’re also not right.”
“...”
“I’m not a spy or anything like that. Just, it may be better put as…living alongside each other?”
He meant that they were two entities who shared information and helped each other.
“It really is something worthwhile to be shocked about.”
Lee Jun-Kyeong expressed his honest feelings.
“Well, you could think about it like that, I guess.”
Set’s expression had returned to being calm.
However, it didn’t take much time before his face was distorted once again.
“If that’s the case, then who is behind you? Just who the hell is controlling you, who is second to none?” Lee Jun-Kyeong asked.
The Hunter’s hand was still on his blade.
Lee Jun-Kyeong didn’t stop there, however.
“Looking at your reaction, doesn’t it really seem that there is someone standing behind you?”
As Lee Jun-Kyeong finally finished speaking, Set smiled.
“As expected, just like they say, you really are someone who likes adventure.”
Shing!
A rustling sound rang through the air.
“As I had to let go of Inebu.”
His sword was now directed at Lee Jun-Kyeong.
“Should I kill you instead?”
Flicker.
Lee Jun-Kyeong lifted Muspel’s Spear.
However, the odds of winning this fight…
‘There isn’t any.’
Inebu began to tell his story.
“I don’t know how much you know about things, Mr. Underdog…but I have quite a high position in the Nile.”
Lee Jun-Kyeong knew that Inebu wasn’t suddenly talking about his position either to brag or intimidate him. Rather, he was speaking out of consideration in order to add credibility to the story he was telling.
“I know that you have enough influence to take the Eyes of Osiris with you to a different country.”
The Eyes of Osiris and Zeus’ Lightning were both divinity-level items of the secret organizations that couldn’t be easily moved, similar to Heimdall’s Bifrost.
Considering Inebu was allowed to travel to a different country with an item of that power, it was a given that he would have considerable status within the Nile.
The Hunter continued, “The start of it all was when Lord Set brought the red gem to the Nile. It was a rare ore that he had found by luck during an expedition to another country.”
Inebu seemed to be saying it was by coincidence. Thinking about it, Lee Jun-Kyeong felt as though it would be possible. Moreover, it was possible to not only obtain it by chance but then also to further understand its power as well.
It was Set, after all.
“It was an item that seemed to amplify mana. A mysterious item that seemed to greatly amplify the power of monsters and promote overwhelming growth.”
Lee Jun-Kyeong nodded as he listened. Merlin’s necklace was still a long way off from losing its potency.
“Considering its power, the study of the red gem had begun as expected, and numerous clinical trials were conducted.”
Hunters were people who especially craved power.
‘The prospect of becoming strong without having to rely on sponsorship is like a poisoned chalice for Hunters.’
It would be like a holy grail, a grail that one had to drink, even if they knew it was poisoned.
Having seen the power of the red gem, the Hunters of the Nile had no choice but to participate in their study even though they had recognized the danger.
“The research proceeded well. We had even succeeded in increasing the amplification rate several times compared to before.”
“...”
“However, the problem was…”
Lee Jun-Kyeong interjected, “You couldn’t control it, could you?”
Inebu smiled bitterly. “That’s correct.”
The red gem was an uncontrollable force.
Madness was a poison.
Not only was it not possible for just anyone to control the urges of Madness but it also wasn’t something that research could control either.
One had to be specifically chosen by one’s Sponsor, have incredible levels of mental fortitude—strong enough to overcome just about anything, or have met numerous requirements in order to deal with the poisonous strength.
No, Lee Jun-Kyeong backtracked.
Considering how strong the ore was, Madness wasn’t something that could be handled even if there was someone who could meet the requirements.
‘That’s why Heracles is so strong as well.’
Even in the history of the future, it would be extremely rare to be able to find a Hunter who could control Madness. To be quite frank, it would be safe to say that there wouldn’t be any.
As for Heracles, he had only obtained the power of Madness under the influence of his Sponsor in the first place and could be regarded as pretty much the only Hunter with any semblance of resistance to the ore.
Therefore, he had ended up becoming a Hunter who even the Demon King had considered invincible. Before, in the past that Lee Jun-Kyeong had studied, the Hunter hadn’t been able to grasp full control over Madness, but now…
‘He can control it.’
Lee Jun-Kyeong suddenly shook his head and concentrated, having noticed that his thoughts kept running beyond his control.
“Eventually, the research reached a plateau with regards to increasing the amplification rate. It seemed impossible to make any further progress."
“…”
"But.”
Things were finally getting to the main point.
“Horus wanted to become the focus of the experiments using the red gem himself.”
“...!”
Lee Jun-Kyeong’s eyes widened in surprise.
.
The successor of a massive secret organization had thrown himself into the experiment. That wasn’t something that could be understood easily.
“It wasn’t an accident?” Lee Jun-Kyeong asked.
Moreover, Horus’ problems had been known to be an accident.
However, to think the truth was different.
Horus had actually volunteered.
“That’s correct. Lord Horus had insisted on being the subject of the experiment even though many people tried to dissuade him.”
“Then…why on earth did Horus want to obtain the power of the red gem in the first place?”
Lee Jun-Kyeong couldn’t understand it.
He, who would have already been guaranteed everything…
Moreover, considering he was a Hero with the title Horus, it was clear that the Hunter’s power must have been strong. Lee Jun-Kyeong couldn’t figure it out. Why did he make such a dangerous choice?
“It was because of Lord Set,” Inebu explained.
That name had come up again.
“It was an open secret that Lord Set wanted control of the Nile, and there had been frequent arguments between Lord Set and Lord Osiris. Lord Set…he was too strong of a Hunter to push to the side. Lord Horus wanted to obtain the strength to prevent Lord Set from making any moves.”
He was someone who had both justification and power. As someone who had everything, he could aim for the throne.
If that was the case, then Horus’ choice made sense.
However.
“About the man named Set,” Lee Jun-Kyeong said.
There was one thing that he just couldn’t understand at all.
“Is it really such a dangerous thing for him to gain control of the Nile? From what I have experienced myself, he didn’t seem to be that horrible of a person.”
Inebu’s expression suddenly hardened, but Lee Jun-Kyeong didn’t stop there.
“Is he being ostracized because he was trying to take away the established right to the throne?”
That was the most likely solution he had thought. But, if that was the case, he would have to stay out of it.
This wouldn’t be history that had been changed because of him, just history that should have flowed. It was just a fierce battle over the throne.
Lee Jun-Kyeong waited for an answer.
“That’s not it,” Inebu answered.
“Lord Horus is a righteous man. There was also a plan to hand over the throne to Lord Set."
“…”
"Only..."
As Inebu tried to proceed to explain carefully, they suddenly heard someone’s voice.
“Hasn’t your meeting already occurred in the evening?”
Someone had entered their location, forcing through Merlin’s formation.
It was a familiar voice.
“Lord… Set…”
It was Set again.
***
Merlin’s formation was still in effect. It was still in place, blocking the gazes of the Nile, turning the gazes of the eyes around him murky.
However, Set had been able to enter there anyway.
“It looks like you followed Mr. Inebu,” Lee Jun-Kyeong said.
Inwardly, he was flabbergasted. He couldn’t believe it.
This had only occurred because he hadn’t expected a person as important as Set would personally chase after Inebu.
Someone on the level of Set would not only be able to avoid Inebu’s detection, but also his own.
Lee Jun-Kyeong then realized that it wasn’t that the Hunter had entered Merlin’s formation.
“Have you…been here from the beginning?” he asked.
Lord Set smiled. “I apologize for overhearing you unintentionally.”
“Isn’t this exactly what you intended?”
Despite Lee Jun-Kyeong’s mockery, Set had a calm face. The panicked one, on the other hand, was Inebu.
“Lord… Set…”
His face was gaunt, the color of death.
It was natural, considering that everything they had just spoken about had been overheard.
Lee Jun-Kyeong was about to do something, but then Set opened his mouth.
“It’s quite curious. I already knew that Horus had a plan to cede the throne of the Nile to me.”
His voice was calm.
“But, to think there was a reason that even with that, he felt that I had to be kept in check… even going so far as to touch that force.”
Set questioned Inebu with genuine curiosity. There was no mana or forceful aura, just a calm gaze that seemed to be more than enough pressure by itself.
Inebu bowed his head for a moment, restless under the scrutiny of the gaze.
However, Lee Jun-Kyeong didn’t step up at that moment, as he, too, needed to hear this as well.
He wanted to hear the reason, the reason Horus had still risked it all, even up to his giving up his body, even after having decided to give everything over to Set.
Inebu slowly raised his head.
As it was already spilled water, as Set had already heard everything there, he had to end it all there.
“Lord Horus…”
Slowly, Inebu opened his mouth.
“He said that there was someone behind you.”
“…!”
“…!”
Lee Jun-Kyeong and Set's eyes grew wide at the same time.
“How many people have heard that story?”
The next person to speak was Set. His voice was cold and his calm expression had finally broken.
But, Inebu didn’t seem to intend to lie.
“I’m the only one.”
“Do you expect me to believe that?”
Ineb nodded at Set's frosty tone.
“Lord Horus had only told me just before he experienced the red gem. I don’t know if he may have spoken to someone before then, but as far as I know, I am the only one who had heard that story.”
As Inebu’s finished speaking, Lee Jun-Kyeong looked over at Set and Inebu at the same time. The Set in front of him was now showing only a relaxed expression. To think that he had been able to feel his nervousness only moments before.
‘So Horus was right then.’
There had to be someone behind Set.
Then.
"I think you'd better go home now, Mr. Inebu," Lee Jun-Kyeong said to Inebu.
“And…”
Lee Jun-Kyeong then spoke again, relieving Inebu, who was mumbling over to the side, of his worries.
“I’ll think about how to treat Lord Horus. I don’t know if it’s even possible, though, so don’t expect too much.”
“T…thank you!”
Inebu nodded furiously as if even that was enough. However, the man still didn’t leave just yet.
“Leave.”
As soon as Set’s permission had been given, Inebu nodded and moved his body. As Inebu glided by quickly, Lee Jun-Kyeong suddenly called out to Set.
“How about we let him be?”
The man’s hand was touching his blade. It was obvious that he was going to kill Inebu. There wouldn’t be any stopping the Hunter if he had made up his mind.
“Whew.”
However, surprisingly when Lee Jun-Kyeong spoke out, Set let out a breath and let things go.
“I think we have something to talk about,” Set remarked.
As Inebu left and Set remained, another forum for dialogue unfolded.
***
“I didn’t follow after Inebu, to be exact.”
Out of the blue, Set had brought it up.
"I kept my eyes on you."
He had kept an eye on Lee Jun-Kyeong, or at least that was what he claimed.
“I already knew that from the beginning. What I hadn’t expected was that you would be watching me this closely.”
It would have been a lie if Lee Jun-Kyeong had said that he hadn’t figured out that Set was watching him. After all, the Hunter would show up when anything happened.
Once could have been a coincidence, but things repeating after several accidents wasn’t probable.
No—it would have been an intended “coincidence.”
Lee Jun-Kyeong had known the Hunter had been around. However, this place had been prepared thoroughly, and he hadn’t expected that Set would have been this close to them, either.
“Someone who is behind you…”
Lee Jun-Kyeong asked a question. There was only one possibility he could imagine as he listened to Inebu. It had been the only possibility that he hadn’t thought through as it was something so unbelievable and incomprehensible.
"Are you Asgardian?”
It was the possibility that the Hunter in front of him had been the spy of Asgard.
Even now, Lee Jun-Kyeong still thought it was ridiculous as he asked the Hunter. The person in talks to be the next head of one secret organization was the spy of another secret organization.
Moreover, it was someone who didn’t have a single thing that he could have wanted…
‘Wait, maybe there was something.’
The Hunter had been aiming for the throne of the Nile.
Things started to make more sense if he considered that Asgard could have said that it would help him. Baldur had even said that he had already met the spy, and the strange smile that had appeared as Lee Jun-Kyeong stood there worrying about who the spy was hinted at something.
Lee Jun-Kyeong began to put the puzzle together piece by piece.
He waited for a response, and Set reliably answered, “You’re not wrong, but you’re also not right.”
“...”
“I’m not a spy or anything like that. Just, it may be better put as…living alongside each other?”
He meant that they were two entities who shared information and helped each other.
“It really is something worthwhile to be shocked about.”
Lee Jun-Kyeong expressed his honest feelings.
“Well, you could think about it like that, I guess.”
Set’s expression had returned to being calm.
However, it didn’t take much time before his face was distorted once again.
“If that’s the case, then who is behind you? Just who the hell is controlling you, who is second to none?” Lee Jun-Kyeong asked.
The Hunter’s hand was still on his blade.
Lee Jun-Kyeong didn’t stop there, however.
“Looking at your reaction, doesn’t it really seem that there is someone standing behind you?”
As Lee Jun-Kyeong finally finished speaking, Set smiled.
“As expected, just like they say, you really are someone who likes adventure.”
Shing!
A rustling sound rang through the air.
“As I had to let go of Inebu.”
His sword was now directed at Lee Jun-Kyeong.
“Should I kill you instead?”
Flicker.
Lee Jun-Kyeong lifted Muspel’s Spear.
However, the odds of winning this fight…
‘There isn’t any.’
