Chapter 39: Successor

Every unique entity in The Lost World had a History tab that could be checked when players clicked View More, which provided a brief summary of the entity’s life since they were born or came into existence.

Take Lakrak as an example of characters players paid attention to. His History tab was filled with God-related entries and countless other accomplishments rather than trivial information about him. For any ordinary character, on the other hand, information such as their job, spouse, how many children they had, or how many times they almost died would be recorded. Therefore, History was a kind of profile for characters.

Hwee-Kyung’s History was roughly as follows:

[(...)

Age 13, Automation Market. Fell down the stairs because the stairs got swamped with people.

Age 14, Automation’s Inner Palace. Fell down from the bathroom into the sewer.

Automation Alleyway. Attacked by a masked hooligan

3 Kilometers southwest of Automation. Got picked on and fought with children of the same age.

Automation Salt Storage. Locked up for 4 days for stealing.

Automation Market. Jar filled with water fell over head.

Age 15, 5 Kilometers southeast of Automation. Attacked by a herd of stray dogs overnight.

(...)

Age 21, 12 Kilometers southwest of Automation. Fell 7 meters down a cliff with a wheelbarrow loaded with silk.

The Gyo family’s stairs at Automation. Attacked by a vagrant Goblin group.

Hunter’s Hut at Automation. Attacked by the Soo family’s hunters.

(...)

Salt mine Entrance of Automation. Attacked by an assassin from behind.]

There were no exact dates or times because there were no calendar systems in place yet, but with automatic age conversion based on Earth’s system, the approximate time could be estimated.

Sung-Woon saw Hegemonia get annoyed while scrolling up and down the History tab, which didn’t suit the dignified appearance of their horn helmet.

“No, it isn’t there. I didn’t see incorrectly,” said Hegemonia.

“What are you talking about?” replied Sung-Woon.

“There’s no particular sign of you getting involved. You’re not lying about your involvement when you just go lucky, are you?”

“You can think whatever you want.”

“Oh, damn it.”

It had been some time since Sung-Woon first intervened with Automation, but it wasn’t that?long ago. Hwee-Kyung was born before all the other players were summoned to this world in the first place.

‘It’s been about eight years.’

Sung-Woon believed one of the most important things in The Lost World was reconnaissance. Discovering species, tribes, Abominations, Fiends, and Ancient Ruins in advance and coming up with a plan to benefit from them in the future was the way to get closer to victory.

There were some problems though. Players were called gods, but they only got to think by themselves and only had one pair of eyes. If a player didn’t utilize the view their Small Area could provide, they could only observe what was going on by going to the place themselves with their divine body. Fortunately enough, Small Area: Insects was one of the areas good for conducting proper reconnaissance.

‘But the best for that would be Small Area: Birds…’

In any case, Sung-Woon didn’t find it odd that Hegemonia would have thought that Demonic Magic Enchanted Hwee-Kyung was cursed.

There were many ways to obtain Demonic Magic in the Lost World. Among them, Ancient Ruins were the most exemplary, but the more common way was to have an entity who was Demonic Magic Enchanted nearby. There were deviations for each species, but Demonic Magic Enchanted individuals were randomly born and could be distinguished by certain characteristics, such as Hwee-Kyung’s horns, which would grant the individual the special skill of Demonic Magic.

‘However, while there is good Demonic Magic like the Electric Demonic Magic that Lakrak got, there is also bad Demonic Magic.’

Bad Demonic Magic was especially hard to distinguish from curses, and Hegemonia had mistook Hwee-Kyung’s Demonic Magic as the Misfortune Curse.

‘Curses can be useful, but it’s a burden to have it in the beginning when the characters are still physically growing. The Misfortune Curse is also the worst. All kinds of misfortunes arise when a character has it.’

In fact, Sung-Woon thought it was only natural for Hegemonia, who didn’t seem to lack in skills or experience, to mistake the Probability Demonic Magic for the Misfortune Curse.

‘Because even I thought that way in the beginning.’

Eight years ago, Sung-Woon had observed several individuals at Automation with Hwee-Seo and his children as his main focus. Automation would serve as a major base in the future, so he knew he would come back there even though it would be in the distant future for Lakrak’s Clan at the time.

The lord of Automation, Hwee-Seo, was better in terms of abilities compared to an average person, and his children also inherited some of his greater than average traits. However, the most unusual character that grabbed Sung-Woon’s attention was Hwee-Kyung.

‘When I first saw her History, I thought I didn’t have to read further to figure out that she had the Misfortune Curse.’

But Sung-Woon didn’t jump to conclusions just because the probability was high. This world was obviously based on The Lost World, but it was real, and there was something that made him uneasy. Moreover, he had time to spare to observe her further.

Sung-Woon managed his locust swarms while watching Lakrak’s Clan every now and then. He also kept vigilant of other powers and, at the same time, observed other major bases like Automation with the goal of taking over them in the future. His observations resulted in him discovering an assassination against Hwee-Kyung.

One of the servants inside the Automation castle had used a hammer to hit the floor of the bathroom to the point that the floor would break if someone were to step on it. Sung-Woon couldn’t tell what that was for at first, but soon realized after Hwee-Kyung went into the bathroom. It was an assassination attempt targeting Hwee-Kyung.

‘If she fell into the sewer, she would likely die, and even if she didn’t, she would at least have a broken limb and eventually starve to death, not being able to find her way out in the dark sewer. And even if she found her way out and lived, there would be no way for her to find out who planned it. All the records in her History do seem like accidents, but they could also be the results of someone’s intervention. Then this might not be the first attempt at her life. Well, let's save her first.’

However, Sung-Woon's first warning to Hwee-Kyung using his swarm of flies hadn’t worked. Hwee-Kyung only thought the flies were annoying and stepped onto the tampered floor. She then tumbled and fell into the old sewer. She calmly assumed it was because of her curse, and Sung-Woon was the one who was more surprised.

‘...She lived through this? Without even getting hurt?’

Sung-Woon then created fireflies to guide Hwee-Kyung to escape, but Sung-Woon knew that Hwee-Kyung would have made it out alive without his fireflies. Because this was when Sung-Woon realized Hwee-Kyung didn't have the Misfortune Curse, but rather Probability Demonic Magic.

***

Sairan was puzzled after seeing the arrow drop behind Hwee-Kyung’s back. He knew he wouldn’t be able to grab it in time, so he was ready to shoot out a thunderbolt, but the arrow suddenly fell to the ground in a gust of wind.

‘The wind itself isn’t strange since we’re in front of a cave, but it’s strange that the wind was strong enough to overturn an arrow already shot. It’s not impossible, but…’

Sairan’s next move had already been decided. A thunderbolt struck from Sairan’s hand before the assassin could pick up their second arrow.

Boom!

The assassin fell as the currents ran through him and collapsed, his body charred black. Small flames rose from his split skin and sizzled as the fat burned.

Sairan put his arm around Hwee-Kyung and asked, “Are you okay?”

“Oh, yes. Thank you.”

Hwee-Kyung definitely felt the time passing by. She thought that everything was finally going as it should have.

As Hwee-Kyung raised her head, Hwee-Jun seemed embarrassed that his last move didn’t go as planned. All the soldiers simply stood by him with their spears, intimidated by the thunder.

Hwee-Kyung then said, “I’m going to kill you and become the next lord of Automation.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! You’re a monster with horns! You never belonged with our siblings in the first place!” replied Hwee-Jun.

Hwee-Jun eventually said what he had been thinking, and Hwee-Kyung nodded as if she had been hearing such words for a long time.

Hwee-Kyung walked forward with her sword and looked back at Sairan.

“Sarian, help me.”

“Of course.”

Then the dawn broke, bringing about a blue sky, and the clip-clops of horse galloping could be heard.

“Stop!”

Hwee-Kyung had no intention to stop what she was about to do even if it were someone's errand boy shouting, but she recognized the voice immediately. The man rode towards Hwee-Kyung with his back to the morning sky.

“I told you to stop. Hwee-Jun, Hwee-Kyung.”

“...Father.”

Hwee-Seo had arrived with his horse.

Behind Hwee-Seo, Hwee-Seo’s subordinates and soldiers could be seen running up the Soo family’s stairs.

***

Hegemonia clenched their fists and shouted, “Yes, it’s done!”

“What do you mean?” replied Sung-Woon.

“It was worth summoning the sabertooth tiger to shamelessly buy some time.”

“...I guess you knew that was a shameless move. Anyways, what do you mean it’s done?”

Hegemonia laughed from inside their helmet.

“Can’t you tell? I, who bought enough time, already won.”

“Really?” Sung-Woon smiled under his mask. “Alright. Let’s hear why you think that way.”

Hegemonia said, “You must have forgotten because you were so focused on Hwee-Seo’s children fighting each other, but our Contradicting Prophecy was on who would be chosen as Hwee-Seo’s successor. First of all, as long as Hwee-Seo is there, all soldiers of Automation will follow Hwee-Seo’s orders. Even if the soldiers belong to a family, only when the lord isn’t present do they act on their own as long as it doesn’t oppose the lord’s will.”

“So what?”

“What do you mean? Hwee-Seo will definitely choose Hwee-Jun as the next successor. He’ll probably choose right on the spot, and there’s nothing Hwee-Kyung can do after that’s decided. The seat of the lord of Automation is very special. It’s not one that can be taken just by killing Hwee-Seo. And if legitimacy is broken, all the other families won’t just watch and do nothing.”

Sung-Woon shook his head and said, “No, your assumption itself is wrong. Why would Hwee-Seo choose Hwee-Jun as his successor?”

“What? Isn’t it obvious? You’ve seen everything until now. Hwee-Jun is the one who politically aligns with Hwee-Seo. Even though Hwee-Kyung’s way of thinking is more correct, it’s different from Hwee-Seo’s. And Hwee-Seo is aware of all this.”

Sung-Woon stayed still with his arms crossed.

“Hey, wait. Did you just laugh?” asked Hegemonia.

“No? I didn’t laugh.”

“I just heard you laugh.”

“I‘m telling you. I didn’t.”

“What is this feeling… Why does something seem off…”

***

Hwee-Seo walked between Hwee-Jun and Hwee-Kyung.

“There’s no need to fight anymore. I will choose the next successor right here, right now.”

Hwee-Jun seemed a bit surprised, but thought this was rather a good turn of events. While he wasn’t as convinced as Hegemonia, Hwee-Jun thought he was likely to become the next lord.

However, Hwee-Kyung seemed to think differently as she looked at Hwee-Seo.

“Father, I have something I want to tell you first.”

Hwee-Seo heard those words quite often, so he almost instinctively replied, ‘I’m busy now, let’s talk later.’

But as he looked into Hwee-Kyung’s eyes, his mind seemed to go blank.

“...Your horns have grown quite long.”

“Yes, and you’ve cut your beard.”

“...What is it you want to tell me?”

Hwee-Kyung always thought that the words about to come out of her mouth would be hard to say, but it was easier than she thought.

“Why have you been trying to kill me all this time?”

Behind Hwee-Kyung, Sairan nodded.

Hwee-Jun stared like he didn’t know what that meant, and Hwee-Seo stayed silent.

From far away, Hegemonia was visibly baffled. Sung-Woon laughed at Hegemonia’s reaction.

‘The reason why Hwee-Kyung seemed cursed was because of Hwee-Seo. Hwee-Seo has wanted to kill Hwee-Kyung ever since she was young. Of course, he couldn’t do it with his own hands because of the pressure from the other families. He would have been embarrassed to reveal his personal vengeance, no, his personal grudge. So his assassination attempts were rather rare and careful. But because of that, Hwee-Kyung’s Demonic Magic was able to prevent those assassination attempts without much difficulty.’

Hwee-Seo then said, “...Since when do you know?”

“Well, I think I knew a long time ago, but I just convinced myself it wasn’t true. Because I didn’t want to believe it was true.”

“...You probably don’t remember Ryeo.”

Hwee-Kyung hadn’t heard that name in a while.

“I married three women, but Ryeo was the only one I ever really loved with my heart. I was trying my best and doing everything I could to protect Automation, but once I looked back, I found my journey full of scars. When I thought I couldn’t do it anymore, Ryeo came into my life. I thought I could push on as long as Ryeo was next to me. But…”

“Mother passed away while giving birth to me.”

Hwee-Seo readily admitted that.

“Yes. I believed Ryeo died because of you. Because you were born with those damn horns. So I thought you had a damn curse.”

“But that wasn’t true.”

Hwee-Kyung lightly tapped one of her horns with her finger. She could feel it being tapped as they weren’t fully grown yet.

“My horns didn’t contain such a curse. You even told me that I was born ripping my mother's stomach with my horns, but if you think about it, that’s strange. Horns are things that grow, and they wouldn’t have been so long when I was born. That was a lie too, wasn’t it?”

“...Yes. Ryeo didn’t die while giving birth to you. Her fever was severe. The midwife said Ryeo was too weak to give birth.”

Hwee-Kyung nodded. She felt somewhat relieved now with the guilt of killing her own mother lifted.

On the other hand, Hwee-Seo seemed to have become more tired and dreary. Hwee-Jun and Hwee-Kyung had never seen him like that. They might come to know what he was feeling as they get older.

“That’s enough talking about mother. Choose your successor.”

Hwee-Jun, who had been holding in what he wanted to say during their conversation, suddenly blurted out, “Father! Don’t tell me you’re going to decide on who gets to be lord out of personal guilt.”

Hwee-Jun seemed somewhat relaxed after saying it, but his eyes couldn’t stay still. That wasn’t the case for Hwee-Kyung.

In Hwee-Seo’s opinion, Hwee-Kyung seemed determined about something before she even spoke with him.

‘How is this so, Kyung? It seems like you’re the one making this decision, and not me.’

Hwee-Seo opened his mouth to speak. His voice was slightly husky.

“I don’t have any reason to push this any further, so I’ll decide now. The next lord of Automation to follow in my footsteps will be…”

***

Meanwhile, Hegemonia realized the sudden change in the situation.

Hegemonia clasped their hands together and impatiently muttered.

“Please, please… God, Buddha, Allah…”

“...That won’t work.”