Chapter 244

Chapter 244 – Belonging to Us All

Infinite Chain.

To speak plainly, I hadn’t placed much confidence in the Infinite Chain’s capacity to locate the scattered shards of Yeokcheon.

My reasoning was simple.

‘Even assuming it possesses the trait to trace objects containing written records… there was no guarantee such a mechanism would apply to the shattered remnants of Yeokcheon.’

Consequently, my attitude had been closer to a relaxed expectation: a bonus if it succeeded, but no great loss if it failed. Yet a certain event completely altered that perspective.

‘…The second piece concealed within Baharmut.’

Acquiring it had been a stroke of pure fortune, but reflecting on it now brought a cold sweat to my spine.

What if I had decided against watching the performance of the fairies? What if my path had never intertwined with Senior Mysern?

I would have remained entirely oblivious to the very existence of that second shard for the rest of my days.

For that reason, when Parun casually mentioned, “The investigation into the Infinite Chain is finished,” his words carried far greater significance for me than they ever could have previously. For the moment, I drew a slow, deliberate breath and spoke.

“Am I able to employ it immediately?”

“You certainly don’t waste time. Take a seat first.”

“Understood.”

I lowered myself onto the parlor couch, and a moment later, Parun continued his explanation.

“To address your inquiry: indeed, ‘it is functional for you.’ Rectifying a handful of minor complications caused the process to drag out beyond our initial estimates, but everything is fully operational now. No flaws whatsoever. …Naturally, the intricate details of the mechanism hold no interest for you, correct?”

“None at all.”

“Right, I anticipated that response.”

Perhaps he had grown accustomed to my temperament by this point.

Parun gave a slight nod, devoid of any irritation, and retrieved a small wooden container from his clothes, setting it upon the desk.

Click.

With a gentle metallic note, the Infinite Chain showed itself.

While I observed its radiant surface, Parun nudged the Infinite Chain toward the center of the tabletop and resumed speaking.

“Very well, just as you requested, here is a brief overview regarding its operation. To begin with: the activation phrase.”

“An activation phrase?”

“Correct. The formula required to awaken the Infinite Chain. That part is straightforward. The genuine complication arises immediately afterward.”

“…?”

I inclined my head slightly in confusion, prompting Parun to slide a hefty pamphlet toward me.

“What is this…”

“Examine it yourself.”

I blinked at him in silence before redirecting my attention to the document.

Could this even be classified as a mere pamphlet?

It contained far too many pages to be considered a simple collection of parchment leaves, yet its page count was too meager to truly resemble a proper ‘volume.’

Furthermore, the written entries were entirely bizarre.

• Is it a physical item?

• Does it possess inscriptions?

• Are you aware of its composition?

….

It resembled an endless chain of mundane inquiries, reminiscent of a parlor guessing game. I scanned the opening pages with a composed expression before rapidly flipping through the subsequent leaves.

The nature of the material remained consistent from beginning to end.

The entire thing consisted of questions.

‘What purpose does this serve?’

At that exact moment, Parun’s voice broke the silence.

“That represents the absolute minimum questionnaire you are required to fill out to trigger the Infinite Chain.”

“And the rest?”

I had expected something of this nature to some extent.

Having previously learned the foundational concepts behind the artifact, I had already assumed the procedure would prove exceptionally intricate.

However, Parun gave a firm shake of his head.

“The reality is far more grueling than your assumptions.”

“…?”

Feeling bewildered, I tilted my head once more, prompting Parun to produce yet another substantial stack of documents and drop it onto the table.

Thump.

“That belongs to…”

“I performed a test run using a sheet of my own personal stationery as a subject. And that happens to be the full documentation required to pinpoint its location.”

What was the total page count?

Perhaps two hundred? Or closer to three hundred?

Parun’s commentary cut through my internal estimation right away.

“Precisely three hundred and seventy-eight leaves. Without leaving a single margin empty.”

“…”

Ultimately, what point was he trying to drive home?

“I remain unaware of the specific object you intend to seek out, but the endeavor will certainly not be trivial. Tell me…”

Parun tapped his fingers against the thick pile of paper as he directed his gaze toward me.

“Are you still intent on pursuing this method?”

“…”

I offered no verbal reply.

I merely evaluated the choices in my mind.

‘An overland trek to discover an unidentified archaeological site versus manually composing responses across hundreds of pages.’

Which path offered less resistance?

An observer might immediately claim the latter option was far simpler. Yet the reality was not so clear-cut.

Why?

‘If the creator themselves, possessing unmatched familiarity with the target stationery, requires an answer log of that magnitude just to trace it…’

There was no telling how many hundreds of pages would be demanded to locate the fragments of Yeokcheon.

While I remained lost in calculation, Parun broke the silence once more.

“Naturally, an alternative path exists.”

“An alternative…?”

Parun brought forward another bundle of documents.

“This represents the record I compiled while tracing the identical paper, but acting under the premise of a ‘caster’ who possesses direct knowledge of the target item.”

“Which implies…”

“You seem entirely unwilling to disclose the nature of your prize. Consequently, I conducted a dual experiment solely for your benefit. The first scenario presumed the user has no familiarity with the objective…”

Tap, tap.

Parun rapped his knuckles against the dense collection of papers.

Subsequently, his finger shifted to indicate the second, considerably lighter stack he had retrieved.

“And the second scenario assumes the user is fully aware of what they seek.”

Was it merely a trick of the light?

A subtle smirk seemed to touch the corners of Parun’s mouth.

In that instant, his true motive became clear to me.

“Come now, reveal what it is you are searching for. As you can see, the task becomes remarkably straightforward when the user is fully acquainted with the objective.”

This individual…

He remembered our past conversation perfectly.

• Why do you harbor such an intense fixation on the Infinite Chain? Is there an item you must locate? Perhaps a forbidden tome or something similar…?

I had dismissed his probing back then.

But his intentions were now entirely transparent.

He had deliberately presented that intimidating stack of papers to unnerve me, only to immediately offer the effortless solution—a calculated tactic designed to dismantle my resolve.

‘Has he been influenced by some malicious spirit?’

First it was Evelyn, and now Parun followed immediately after.

Encountered individually, neither presented an insurmountable issue. Yet dealing with them in such rapid succession made me feel as though my skull might fracture from the strain.

As I bit down on my lip in frustration, Parun displayed an uncomfortably knowing grin and spoke.

“Ponder the matter at your own pace. Though from my perspective, I would strongly advise choosing the simpler route. My cache of experimental materials has been dwindling rather rapidly of late.”

“…What of your academic duties at the academy?”

“The assistants in my laboratory are exceptionally capable.”

“…”

In short, he was driving his subordinates to the absolute limit.

‘Wyvern, are you neglecting your duties?’

[My companion remarked. Remaining motionless is my greatest contribution.]

…I should just drop the subject.

To state the situation concisely.

I was currently grappling with two distinct dilemmas.

The first issue.

‘The obligations of a clan leader.’

I was responsible for sustaining two hundred individuals who possessed no alternative refuge, people who could only wait idly and depend entirely on my leadership.

That aspect in itself was manageable.

I possessed both financial resources and authority.

Even if coin alone proved insufficient to resolve the matter, sheer, irresistible might would force open a path regardless of the obstacles.

The genuine predicament stemmed from Parun.

‘Should I confide in him or maintain my silence?’

The decision was highly delicate.

If I evaluated whether Parun deserved my confidence… indeed, he was sufficiently dependable.

Judging by the traits he had displayed thus far, if I were to declare, “In truth, my objective is to locate the fragments of Yeokcheon—the shattered leaves of an ancient grimoire,” his immediate reaction would likely be, “An extraordinarily intriguing topic for research.”

Then why hesitate to inform him?

‘It is not a matter of distrusting Parun himself.’

Rather, it was the volatile environment surrounding him.

What if Parun were eventually apprehended by the Decullans at a later date and subjected to brutal interrogation? Could he truly guarantee his silence under such duress?

When combined with various other potential crises that could arise…

“Ugh.”

Though it appeared minor at a superficial glance, examining the underlying risks revealed a profound severity.

Therefore, what course of action should I take?

“My deliberations are concluded.”

A voice suddenly echoed through the space.

“What? Have you lost your mind?”

“…?”

“Are you truly prepared to abandon two hundred dependent souls? Aster, I always suspected you possessed a cold nature, but honestly, you are far worse than I—”

Evelyn directed a scathing look toward me, her eyes filled with profound disappointment.

‘Wait, when did this girl even enter my room?’

Had my focus been entirely consumed by my thoughts?

I had completely failed to detect someone as inconsequential as Evelyn stepping into the chamber.

“Do you lack the decency to knock?”

“I knocked repeatedly, but you offered no response.”

“Do you take me for some sort of simpleton?”

Had she actually knocked, my senses would have registered it instantly.

I clicked my tongue at Evelyn’s ever-increasing audacity and directed an inquiry toward her.

“Regardless of that. What brings you here? Are you unable to rest?”

“Who could possibly sleep soundly amidst this chaos?”

“I see.”

A valid point.

Painfully accurate, in fact.

As I subtly tightened my fingers into a fist, Evelyn continued speaking.

“I consulted with Timur. There is positive news—the Black-White Slums do indeed possess emergency reserves.”

“And the catch?”

“Are you surprised? It turns out the 2nd Black-White Slums are rather unique. To be more precise, their leading figure is.”

The prominent leader of the 2nd Black-White Slums…

I possessed a vague recollection of hearing about that individual on several occasions.

‘Unlike the typical leaders of criminal syndicates, he is reputed to hold moderate views, correct?’

Rumors indicated that the 2nd Black-White Slums—a place once regarded as the absolute worst district—had transformed into a habitable environment through his efforts decades ago.

For that reason, he commanded immense deference from every syndicate operating within the 2nd Black-White Slums.

However, that detail was irrelevant at this moment.

“Does that mean our provisions issue is resolved?”

Believing that one of my two pressing dilemmas was on the verge of being settled, I shifted my posture with renewed interest and asked.

Yet, a complication remained.

“If the matter were truly settled, do you honestly think I would have sought you out?”

“…Do you only approach me when an emergency arises?”

“And what does that make your behavior, Aster?”

My situation was entirely different.

I refrained from seeking her assistance even when I faced difficulties.

“Hah, regardless, that is beside the point. The leader’s emergency stockpile is not particularly massive. Furthermore… surely you understand? A syndicate remains a syndicate at its core.”

“Understood.”

The implication was immediately clear to me.

“So, they require payment.”

“Correct. And the pricing structure is quite frustrating. It isn’t entirely fair, yet it doesn’t qualify as outright extortion either. It sits precariously right on the boundary.”

“Then what is the issue? Acquire the entire stock if the price remains within reasonable bounds.”

“The problem lies elsewhere…”

Evelyn let out an exasperated sigh, removed her facial concealment, and collapsed onto the mattress.

“They refuse to sell the entirety of their stores. They claim doing so would violate their sense of fairness.”

“What manner of fairness are they referring to?”

“According to the representative sent by the leader… they have instituted strict purchasing thresholds for each sector based entirely on scale. The issue? That ‘scale’ is determined explicitly by the headcount of registered syndicate members.”

What exactly did that imply?

“Meaning even if we purchase the maximum allowance… it will not suffice to feed the orphans?”

“Exactly.”

What sort of preposterous predicament was this?

It was entirely understandable why Evelyn felt so thoroughly defeated.

While the news of the leader offering food provided a glimmer of hope, it completely failed to resolve the fundamental crisis.

“So… we have circled back to our starting point?”

“It’s marginally improved, at the very least. Do you have any clever strategies, Aster?”

“Observe and wait.”

I methodically organized the variables within my mind.

To be completely honest, I had not yet formulated a concrete plan.

‘I am unable to rely on Lortel under the current circumstances.’

The next potential avenue was the Blandoga Family, but given their own subordinate houses to manage, they would undoubtedly have a vast number of individuals relying on them for survival.

In fact, they would likely exhaust all their resources merely sustaining the inhabitants of their own territory.

Hold on a moment.

‘…Territory?’

An abrupt realization flashed through my thoughts, causing me to inspect Evelyn intently.

“Every entity is expected to manage their own jurisdiction, correct?”

“Presumably…?”

“In that case, whose jurisdiction encompasses the 2nd Black-White Slums?”

“Well…”

Evelyn showed a moment of hesitation, though the conclusion was entirely apparent.

“It belongs to no single entity. While the leader acts as the overarching authority, individual sectors are managed by various large and small syndicates. Isn’t that the case?”

“Precisely.”

Therefore, what did that signify?

“The 2nd Black-White Slums are a shared responsibility for all of us. And the sanctuary for children located within the 2nd Black-White Slums?”

“Belongs to all of… us?”

“No, that belongs to me. However, during an emergency like this, we are capable of sharing resources. Why? Because the youths raised there represent our collective future.”

“Are you suggesting… we plunder the remaining syndicates? To sustain your sanctuary?”

What sort of criminal did she take me for?

I gave a sharp, definitive shake of my head.

“Not for the sake of the ‘sanctuary’ alone.”

“Then for what…”

“For every single youth residing across the entirety of the 2nd Black-White Slums.”

Evelyn drew her eyebrows together, tilting her head in confusion.

Though her gaze clearly indicated she believed I was speaking utter nonsense, I rose abruptly from my seat and made my way toward the exit.

“Inform the leader that he must convene a meeting of every single syndicate.”

“Why would the other syndicates ever…”

Why?

Throughout the vast expanse of these Black-White Slums, was it truly possible that a single one of those cunning bastards—individuals who would fiercely object to being labeled second-rate in terms of resourcefulness—had failed to hoard emergency provisions for a crisis?

I refused to believe such a thing.

“Forget it. I shall deliver the message personally.”

The moment had arrived for every faction to combine their resources and endure this catastrophe together.

The disparate forces of the 2nd Black-White Slums required unification.

‘Under the authority of the Magic Tower.’

Indeed, that was the path forward.