026. Minions

Traces of the prison break remain throughout the prison.

Doors wide open, corroded restraints rolling on the floor, scars carved all over the walls and a burned garden,

Kim Woo-jin took all of that into his eyes and went outside.

To the north of the garden, where the aftermath of the prison break had not reached, there was an inactive world tree.

Lily was sleeping on the branches of the World Tree, covered with leaves.

He must have exhausted all his strength while interfering with the dimensional barrier. While Kim Woo-jin was gently brushing her hair, a prison guard brought Yulia.

“The actions of the elves have nothing to do with me.”

And the first thing he said was quite amusing.

High Elves, who are the nobles of the Elves, start by denying their relationship with the Elves.

“The actions of the elves?”

“I heard you. That it was the elves who knocked down the guards and freed all the prisoners. Never, absolutely not what I ordered. In the first place, even if I told you to, you wouldn’t listen.”

As Kim Woo-jin knew, there was only one case where a high elf abandoned an elf. When there is a larger cause or goal. When it is at a level that even abandoned elves can understand.

And in this case, the cause was to avoid building ill feelings with Kim Woo-jin himself.

Around that time, Kim Woo-jin slowly began to draw.

Why did Julia Karsen hand over the seed of the World Tree, what kind of relationship she had with Albenius, what was her plan.

“There are no excuses for that. Are you going to leave this mess and get out of here alone?”

However, it didn’t show.

“Really. How could I come up with such a detailed plan when I had just entered Purgatory?”

“If the elves had escaped together, you would have been right. But the elves were left with their sins. why? Because of you.”

Whether the reason was the World Tree, the high elves, or both, it didn’t matter. In any case, the fact that he remains after helping to break out means that there must be a reason for that.

“I feel sorry for you.”

“If you investigate, everything will come out. If your name comes out of the mouths of the elves, you too will be sent to the 3rd Punishment Room.”

“···that’s.”

“But before that, are there any issues that need to be resolved between us?”

Kim Woo-jin leisurely crossed his legs and leaned against the tree. Observe Yulia, who is trembling with anxiety.

She didn’t know, but Kim Woo-jin now understood everything behind the scenes. However, hearing it directly from her mouth and simple estimation are completely different.

“You said you met Albenius. how?”

“I have no reason to tell you.”

“Sorry, but you don’t have a choice. As long as you came here as a prisoner, I’m thoroughly the best.”

He wanted to make an equal deal with the advantage of information, but there was no reason for Kim Woo-jin to accept it.

warden and prisoner. That alone was no reason for Kim Woo-jin to go low.

I don’t know if the world tree would have bloomed properly and entered Yulia’s control, but wouldn’t that be it?

“···Yes. The moment the warden interfered with the seeds of the mother tree, everything went wrong.”

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Julia was also fully aware of that fact.

“···like.”

The silence and worry were short-lived. Yulia took one shot at the car the prison guard gave her.

“Now that this has happened, I will tell you directly.”

“I look forward to it.”

“Take my hand.”

“Me as the warden and you as the prisoner? For what?”

Yulia hesitated for a moment at the repeated question. But since I came this far, there was no turning back.

ruined it anyway Whether it’s already ruined, bread, or charcoal, it’s time to go.

“I know that this purgatory is a prison for prisoners, but it is also a prison for you.”

“That sounds absurd. Why is this a prison for me, who is not even a prisoner?”

“I don’t know. Albenius did it, so I just believe it.”

“Did you just decide to come out shamelessly?”

“Because I already ate. Would eating a little more glue make any difference?”

No, that’s not what’s important. Yulia smacked herself in the mouth and put on a serious expression again.

“If you hold my hand.”

He held out his hand slowly.

“I will take responsibility for breaking down your prison.”

* * *

It’s a reckless gamble.

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Julia knew too. But there was no choice.

From the point where Kim Woo-jin interfered with the seed of the World Tree and succeeded, and the point where the World Tree followed Kim Woo-jin better than her, everything went awry.

Purgatory is a prison. Kim Woo-jin is the warden and Yulia is a prisoner.

Now that she had the status of warden and prisoner, the only point she had in purgatory was the world tree. It had to be.

However, because that was not the case, the plan to negotiate and persuade through the world tree and eventually achieve what they wished for was shaken from the root.

In the end, all she had left was gambling.

“…”

“…”

The answer did not come back for a long time. In the heavy silence, Yulia swallowed dry saliva.

“Why do you look like that?”

He did not avert his gaze. Pretending to be more calm, pretending to be nothing, smiling.

“therefore.”

After a while, Kim Woo-jin’s mouth opened.

“You’re going to join hands because you’re going to get rid of my job.”

“It’s not a job, it’s a prison.”

“It’s prison for a prisoner like you, it’s just a job for me. And I don’t know anything about you Without knowing anything, to blindly hold your hand?”

“I heard you saw all the papers about me.”

“I know where you are from, what you did as a hero, how old you are and what your personality is, but your relationship with Albenius isn’t listed.”

“We met in the dimension where I was.”

“As a warrior?”

“no.”

“Then it’s Arban, not Daydram. What kind of relationship, exactly?”

“It is a partnership. If the director held my hand, it would be a similar relationship.”

“For what?”

“I told you. I will release the warden from prison.”

“It is a means to attract me. But it must also be the purpose of your coming. Is the method also a world tree? Interfering with the dimension and destroying the barrier?”

“Isn’t it just me talking too much?”

“Because I’m the one holding the initiative.”

“…I’m angry, but I can’t refute it.”

Not having initiative, not having cards to use were painful to the core.

It was because she only had one card, but it wasn’t her fault. Against a high elf, an opponent who can rip the card called the World Tree is strange.

“Wanting to destroy the prison means wanting to break out all the prisoners, but no matter how you look at it, that doesn’t seem like the final goal…”

Tok tok, what followed was not a conversation, but Kim Woo-jin’s muttering, deep in thought.

“you.”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s say you made a hundred concessions and succeeded. Let’s say I was stupid and just planted a world tree and the initiative passed to you and all the prisoners escaped because of it.”

In reality, it would never be possible.

“Then the World Tree will listen to you, and it will affect the barrier so that all the prisoners can escape.”

The escape of warriors beyond their limits. A situation unfolds that the upper level never wanted.

Not just one or two, but all 33 escaped, so no matter how much you try to hide, you can’t hide. It’s called nangjungjichu, because they’re special no matter where you throw them. so it’s a warrior

“by the way. What’s next?”

Up to this point, it is quite predictable. Purgatory, where all the prisoners are gone, loses its meaning and Kim Woo-jin has to pay the price for not managing it well.

But he wasn’t the only one who had to pay the price.

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Julia Karsen. There is no way the self-proclaimed gods will leave the culprit who destroyed Purgatory by giving the seeds of the World Tree.

“If you are lucky enough to hide, you will have to hide for the rest of your life. You have to live each and every day with trepidation. But why are you doing this? For what?”

need a trigger An opportunity for a noble high elf who lived for thousands of years to throw away everything he had.

“Sade Delm.”

“What kind of relationship do you have?”

“He is an escort knight who has protected me since I was young. He is like a father.”

“···Right.”

And the name she spat out was enough to convince the trigger.

He knows Albenius and is acquainted with Seid.

Knock knock, Kim Woo-jin knocked on the desk. The brief silence soon dissipated.

“···Wait a minute. Julia. Is it Yulia?”

“Why are you calling my name all of a sudden?”

“I thought it looked familiar somehow.”

“Do you know me?”

“No, it is. I will accept your offer.”

After a while, she disappeared with satisfactory results. Kim Woo-jin reached out and picked a leaf and rubbed it with his fingers.

Rather than a meaningful action, it was just unconscious.

But maybe because of that, Lily woke up.

beep!

Upon discovering Kim Woo-jin, she vigorously rubbed his face.

“Yes, yes.”

As Kim Woo-jin stroked it, he growled and went back to sleep.

“Sade Delm…”

It’s a name I miss.

A comrade and warrior who fought alongside him back to back.

But now, a close friend who can no longer be seen.

“I couldn’t believe that Julia was this Julia.”

If it’s a coincidence, it’s really amazing.

* * *

The prisoners who entered the 3rd punishment room, Julia, were the dwarves who had to be dealt with next.

Kim Woo-jin conducted a personal interview with Derkain.

Unlike Yulia, it was a normal interview in the office.

“I don’t know exactly what to name what you’re building, but the purpose is clear. Hiding the World Tree. Completely blocking out all of its appearance, energy, and atmosphere.”

“The World Tree is the tree of God. Do you think it would be possible to completely conceal such a thing?”

“So I’m asking you. He is one of the best Dwarf craftsmen in many dimensions, but even a warrior? There is no reason not to use it.”

“Okay.”

Derkhain swallowed a groan. To be honest, it was a difficult request that I couldn’t be sure of, but he had no choice.

“As I said, I cannot do it alone.”

“I will let all the dwarves help you. Whether or not they enter the punishment room is another matter.”

“You are thorough.”

“What materials do you need?”

“First, I’ll think about it and then I’ll tell you. We can’t just start without any countermeasures.”

“All right. If you tell us what you need when creating a blueprint, we will deliver it to you. There is no departure for the time being.”

“Isn’t this the departure?”

“Good is good.”

The pair, Kim Woo-jin, cheered the atmosphere by clapping.

“Then the personal interview is over. In solitary confinement…”

“Can I ask you one thing?”

“What is?”

“I’ve been thinking hard about it. You, who are no different from the owner of this purgatory, do you really need to hide the World Tree?”

from whom?

All prison guards and prisoners are already aware of the existence of the World Tree. It is absurd to hide from those who already know.

“After removing all of them, there is only one left. Besides you, the guards, and the prisoners, there is only one person who goes in and out of Purgatory.”

convoy. The beings who capture the hero and turn him into a prisoner, taking him to purgatory.

“I was thinking too much. Why would I hide it from the convoy?”

“Yeah, I thought so too. There’s no point in convoys. I don’t know if it’s above it.”

above it. Those who treat the convoy like limbs.

“god.”

The warriors, the ones who used Dercain to their heart’s content and sent them here.

“I am a horse. I thought you were their faithful dog. That’s why they’re wagging their tails and doing their best.”

But it wasn’t. What would it mean to hide a world tree great enough to affect the dimensional barrier?

“You, aren’t you one of their minions?”

“Is that important?”

“It’s not important. I hate them.”

Derkhain laughed.

The old man’s flame, which had been extinguished, began to burn again.

* * *

That night.

The prison, where everyone was asleep, was quiet. Prison guards patrolled the hallways.

The moment the prison guard passed in front of a room, the door opened without a sound.

A shadow escaped and closed again.

Even so, nothing has changed in the room. At least from the outside.