Chapter 68

Chapter 68
## Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Arrival at Oliver’s Castle

‘Could it really be him…?’

The thought struck her the moment she stepped onto the tarmac to board the luxury jet.

A particular man had pulled Gracia’s attention.

He appeared to be a refined, elderly British gentleman.

Despite the years on his face, there was no way she could misidentify him.

‘Melson! What on earth is he doing in South Korea?’

Melson.

He was a mythic figure, a man who had conquered the absolute peak of his profession.

The rumors suggested he was destined for a high-ranking role within the British monarchy following his retirement, but after those whispers, he had effectively vanished—scrubbed from the public eye without a trace.

Yet here he was, standing on Korean soil.

And he wasn’t alone; he was accompanying another man.

‘…A dignitary of the royal house?’

Even if that were the case.

Would someone of Melson’s legendary status travel all the way to Korea just to personally act as a chauffeur for this individual?

It defied logic.

Who was this person?

Melson was the kind of figure who wouldn’t bother to provide a personal escort for the Korean head of state himself.

Furthermore, Melson hadn’t granted so much as a passing glance to Gracia.

She was a global phenomenon, the most powerful individual on the planet—there was zero chance he didn’t recognize her.

Yet, toward the man beside him, he displayed a look of profound warmth and genuine care.

‘…Who could he possibly be?’

She was left entirely in the dark.

“Young Master Oliver. Are you heading out to see a girlfriend? You’ve certainly put effort into your appearance today~”

At the dressing table.

Oliver gave a stiff shake of his head in response to the elderly woman’s teasing.

He kept his eyes fixed on the tall mirror standing before him as he spoke.

“It isn’t like that. Tell me honestly… do I look like I’m in good health?”

“But of course~ You look the picture of health. No stranger would ever suspect you were unwell.”

He wore a suit that fit him perfectly.

As the old woman adjusted his necktie, she took another look at his features.

She had used cosmetics to mask his ghostly pallor.

She had given his skin a touch of color, making him appear vibrant and sturdy.

‘I must be getting soft in my old age. Why am I so prone to crying?’

She discretely dabbed at her eyes.

It had been nearly half a decade since Oliver had last interacted with anyone from the outside.

For five long years, he had remained a prisoner within the walls of this fortress.

A man who had seemingly lost all passion for the world was now fastidiously grooming himself for a guest.

Having raised him since he was a boy, she viewed him as her own flesh and blood, constantly fraught with worry. With a heart that had been failing since birth, Oliver often looked as though his life might flicker out at any moment.

He had possessed no drive to survive.

He had completely disconnected from his own existence.

But today, Oliver was preparing with genuine fervor.

He had been at it for half a day, refusing to rest.

He wouldn’t have exerted this much energy even for a romantic interest.

“Do I truly look like I’m healthy?”

He had repeated the question dozens of times.

Each time, the woman gave him a reassuring nod and a wide smile.

“I’m telling you the truth. Even though I was the one who applied it, the result is flawless.”

“Then… that is a relief. Let us go up.”

Oliver ascended the stairs, his body tight with nerves.

When they reached the roof, the turbulent ocean surrounding the island stretched out before them.

“There is still quite a bit of time before they arrive. Are you certain you want to wait here?”

“Yes. I am fine. I enjoy the crisp air.”

“The temperature is dropping. Should I fetch a coat to cover you?”

“No, I’m alright, truly.”

Oliver’s gaze remained fixed on the horizon.

The itinerary involved a transoceanic flight followed by a helicopter transfer to this location.

His posture—how could one describe it? It was almost prayerful.

Standing against the sun, Oliver seemed to be undergoing a quiet internal transformation.

The old woman, who had been his constant shadow for years, felt a shiver at the sight.

‘He is bracing himself to meet the world.’

The realization hit her then.

Oliver was finally preparing to emerge from his isolation.

He was ready to engage with life again.

For two straight hours.

Oliver remained as still as a statue despite his physical fragility, waiting for the aircraft.

At long last, as the sun began its descent, a helicopter broke the line of the horizon.

“…”

Oliver squeezed his hand into a tight fist.

What were the right words?

What was the proper way to say hello…?

It’s an honor to meet you, I am Hudson.

No, Oliver.

Which identity should he present?

Phantom? Randolph? Or perhaps Mr. Park Hyun-myeong?

“The guest has arrived, Young Master.”

[Abyssal Labyrinth] The Best Start

He looked out through the glass of the helicopter.

A vast, unending sea. A solitary island in the distance.

‘It’s like something out of a fantasy story.’

A massive fortress loomed at the island’s center.

It looked exactly like a set from a high-budget film.

This was his first trip to England, and his first time seeing a real castle.

Not to mention, his first time spending twenty-five hours straight in the air.

A day defined by new experiences.

‘This is where Hudson lives?’

A private island, a castle, helicopters, and jets.

No matter how you looked at it, the guy wasn’t just some random person.

He had pegged Hudson as nothing more than a sharp-witted player from the Golden City Arcana.

“We have reached our destination.”

Melson, who was at the controls, announced.

The aircraft touched down gently on the roof of the fortress.

Shortly after, the hatch opened, and I stepped out onto the landing pad.

“It is a pleasure to meet you.”

A well-built man stood there, waiting to greet me.

I took his measure.

He stood about 185 cm tall.

He had wavy blond hair and piercing blue eyes.

He had a lean frame, but he carried himself with presence.

This was Oliver. The man behind Hudson.

“I am Hud… Oliver.”

“Park Hyun-myeong.”

We shared a handshake.

His palm was damp with the sweat of anxiety.

The smile he gave was incredibly forced and awkward.

It was a stark contrast to the self-assured Hudson he played in Pangeniar.

He was trying his best to look the part, but… well.

“Wait. One moment, please.”

Oliver suddenly lifted his hand.

A soft, golden glow began to coalesce at his fingers.

It was the Fragment of the Broken Golden Rule.

He brought it toward my head, and I felt a slight clarity wash over my thoughts.

“Are you able to understand my speech now?”

“…It functions as a translator as well?”

I was genuinely caught off guard.

I hadn’t realized the Fragment possessed such a capability.

A heads-up would have been nice, but that’s just the way things go.

Classic game mechanics.

Oliver offered a small smile.

“Indeed. The Fragment of the Broken Golden Rule includes an integrated translation feature.”

Automatic translation.

I wondered if it had other hidden perks.

As I shifted my gaze toward the elderly woman, Oliver spoke up quickly.

“Ah. You may place your full confidence in them. They are as vital to me as my own heart.”

“They look like good people.”

“There are only four of us in this entire castle. Our security is absolute; the island isn’t found on any charts, and it’s invisible to satellite surveillance. You are completely secure here.”

An island that doesn’t exist on maps?

Invisible to satellites?

A practical question entered my mind.

“How do you manage to get food or resources?”

“Melson handles the deliveries once a week. But… you must be exhausted after such a journey. I should show you to your quarters first.”

Air-dropped supplies, then.

Oliver began to lead the way.

The old woman and Melson watched his back with peculiar expressions.

They looked like parents watching a bird finally test its wings outside the nest.

‘He’s definitely carrying a heavy history.’

I gave a mental shrug.

He had his reasons, no doubt, but I wasn’t one to prying.

Personal family drama wasn’t my concern.

Unless he decided to open up, I had no reason to poke around.

After getting settled, we gathered for dinner.

The spread was impressive: turkey, roasted seasonal vegetables, steak, lasagna, and the right wine to wash it down.

Observing Oliver eat with such quiet, refined grace made me feel as though I’d been dropped into a different reality.

‘Is he actual royalty?’

It wasn’t just the etiquette.

The artwork, the photography, and the artifacts scattered throughout the halls were all high-tier.

“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you two become acquainted?”

Melson inquired, standing nearby in his formal butler attire.

I’d picked up on it during the flight—he had no idea who I was or what my connection to Oliver was.

Oliver’s eyes darted around in a momentary panic.

It was a bit difficult to explain our meeting point.

…Should I tell them we met at a gambling hall?

It would be funny to say we brokered a deal over the Fairy Queen’s Tear.

I kept my answer simple.

“We met through a game.”

“Oh! Gaming companions!”

It sounded almost trivial when put like that.

But it wasn’t a lie.

Melson let out a warm laugh.

“I’ve heard that these days, building friendships through gaming is quite common.”

“…Melson. I would prefer to focus on our meal.”

“Of course, Young Master.”

Melson bowed his head respectfully.

Despite his composed exterior, he knew Oliver was the ‘Dementia Warrior,’ but he didn’t know the specifics.

I cut into my steak and took a slow look at Oliver.

‘Just as I suspected.’

Much like Hudson’s stats, Oliver’s condition was laid bare before my eyes.

Traits: Illegitimate offspring

Condition: Heart failure (deteriorating), liver and pancreatic dysfunction, diabetes, and 18 other medical complications.

There were no combat stats, but the health status was vivid.

An illegitimate son.

The British class system still held weight in certain circles, but real noble blood?

And his health—any observer could tell he was walking on the edge of the grave.

It explained the massive divide between Hudson and Oliver.

‘That’s the reason he’s so fixated on Pangeniar. Because of his physical limitations.’

It wasn’t just a love for Serengeti.

With a body that broken, he needed to tether himself to something outside of his physical form.

Pangeniar was the ultimate sanctuary for him.

Living a separate life as Hudson allowed him a perfect, idealized existence.

‘Even a high-tier elixir won’t fix that mess.’

Even the best potions wouldn’t be able to reconstruct those failing organs. They might provide a temporary boost, but for a systemic failure like this, they were a band-aid.

Of course, a cure wasn’t entirely impossible.

‘A Saintess might be able to manage it…’

If a Saintess provided a direct blessing, there was a glimmer of hope.

But you couldn’t just bring one to Earth, and those with that level of power had perished during the great expedition.

…The Sea Saintess.

She would have had the power.

“Is the meal not satisfactory?”

“No. It’s excellent.”

I shook my head to clear the thoughts.

He was working hard to hide his illness, but I had already seen the truth.

I couldn’t unsee it.

However, there was nothing I could do for him at this moment.

I possessed a blessing skill, but ‘Star Blessing’ was designed to purge curses, not repair biological damage.

The kindest thing I could do for Oliver right now was…

‘Treat him normally.’

Act as if he were anyone else.

Once dinner concluded, Oliver guided me to the fortress’s lower levels.

We came to a massive, circular vault door. After a series of security checks, a room resembling a high-tech laboratory was revealed.

In the center sat two large, cylindrical pods.

“What are those?”

“The most advanced life-support units available. They have independent power systems—they can function for six months even if the main castle loses electricity.”

This was why Oliver was so sure he could be of help.

This wasn’t just a residence; it was a stronghold.

A high-tech bunker disguised as a castle.

Everything here had been designed for a single purpose: Oliver’s survival.

“Impressive. But why are there two of them?”

“One is for my use, and the other is for you, Mr. Park Hyun-myeong.”

It made sense. Sharing one would have been impossible. The equipment was meant to keep Oliver alive during the deep dive.

Regardless, the setup was flawless.

With these facilities, we could sustain ourselves until the labyrinth was conquered.

To be honest, it exceeded my expectations.

Very few people entered a labyrinth with this level of preparation.

“I’ll be counting on you in the labyrinth.”

“Yes! Leave everything to me.”

Oliver finally seemed to relax, offering a spirited, genuine smile.

Oliver couldn’t stop his heart from racing.

Phantom. The man was standing right there in front of him.

The aura he projected was exactly like the one in Pangeniar, even if his face was different.

‘The rumors were accurate.’

The whispers that Phantom was likely of Korean descent.

They were true.

But despite all the rumors, no one had actually met the real Phantom.

Many claimed they had, but those were all fabrications.

‘I am the first.’

The very first person to stand face-to-face with Phantom.

How could he not be overwhelmed with excitement?

Phantom wasn’t just a player. He was a legend. A myth made flesh.