Chapter 245. In the Name of Choi

Ismile asked Chi-Woo to at least reveal his name. Apoline nodded. Though she had gone on a whole expedition with Chi-Woo, she still didn’t know his name. She did hear him introduce himself as Chichibbong, but she didn’t believe it. There was no way a person could have a name like that even if they considered cultural differences.

“What are you doing? Can’t you at least tell us your name?” Apoline asked. But Chi-Woo didn’t open his mouth and simply glared at Ismile, who was smiling at him. People like Apoline might wonder what the big deal was about revealing a name, but it was different for Ismile. Ismile knew Chi-Woo’s situation and who he was. Thus, Chi-Woo didn’t know why Ismile was putting him in such a tight spot.

“Does it even matter?” It was then a clear voice spoke up, sounding so bright and pure that it seemed otherworldly. “He already proved himself enough from the fact that he was invited to this meeting. And what does revealing his name have to do with the current situation?”

Everyone turned to the voice. It was the first time that Alice Ho Lactea spoke up. Alice continued, “I think the important thing is how we would be able to prevent the definite future of the G.o.dly territory’s destruction.”

As Alice spoke, Chi-Woo could clearly see Ismile’s expression falter a bit. And it was more surprising to see how the others—Apoline, Yeriel, and Emmanuel, who had been agreeing with Ismile—suddenly didn’t dare to open their mouths. They simply showed their discomfort through their expressions.

“…That’s true.” Even Ismile dropped the topic despite his visible displeasure of having lost the opportunity to reveal Chi-Woo’s ident.i.ty. The Ho Lactea was a top family. Though they might be a bit lacking compared to the Choi family from GS3E, they were right below them. n.o.body could disagree with the fact that they were the clear second place among the Celestial Lights, and with Chi-Hyun’s absence, Ho Lactae’s influence was currently strongest in the room.

Ismile sighed before turning to Chi-Woo and asking, “That’s settled then. Will you now tell us how we can protect this city even while defying the legend’s will?”

Chi-Woo was relieved that they pa.s.sed over the topic of his name. He didn’t know if Alice helped him on purpose, but he was grateful all the same.

“Yes, then…” He began explaining the plan.

***

After finis.h.i.+ng his explanation, Chi-Woo looked around while feeling nervous. In all honesty, there was not much to the plan. It wasn’t complicated; it was actually pretty simple since the central point of the plan was to backstab the Demon Empire. But he was confident they would be able to change the future if they succeeded, and now it was all up to the Celestial Lights to acknowledge that.

“Hm…” Ismile broke the silence with a long sigh and asked, “What do you all think?” He didn’t state his own stance, but asked for other people’s opinions as the one moderating the meeting.

“Hm~ Sounds like we would definitely be able to take the Demon Empire by surprise if we follow this plan…” Yeriel’s eyes rolled around once. “I think it will be a good opportunity to gather merits too.”

Chi-Woo felt hope from the positive response.

“Of course, that is if the plan succeeds,” Yeriel added.

“Yes, only if it succeeds,” Emmanuel repeated.

“So, do you all agree with this plan or disagree? Why don’t you each say that first?” Ismile asked while yawning. For some reason, he appeared quite uninterested in the results, and Yeriel and Emmanuel both immediately replied.

“I disagree.”

“I also disagree.”

Chi-Woo was stunned.

“What about the others?” Ismile seemed to have already antic.i.p.ated their responses and looked around. It was then Chi-woo realized that things were going horribly wrong. He looked at Noel, and she appeared fl.u.s.tered. She wanted to help him, but couldn’t; after all, the one who had told her to back off was none other than Choi Chi-Hyun. Apoline showed a similar response. It seemed she had already decided to disagree, while Alice remained silent. Chi-Woo couldn’t understand.

‘Why…!’ He thought it was a plan worth executing. What did the Celestial Lights think was lacking that they all disagreed without any hesitation?

“This guy doesn’t seem to understand why we’re shooting him down,” Ismile murmured while glancing at Chi-Woo.

“I agree that it is a creative tactic, and the rewards we would get for succeeding would be very big. It really is a compelling idea,” Yeriel said and gave him a one-sentence explanation, “But its risks are too great.”

“But—”

“Before you continue, let me ask you one question,” Yeriel cut Chi-Woo off. “Do you think the plan you just proposed has no risks at all?”

Chi-Woo halted. He knew that was not the case. Instead, like Evelyn said, a single mishap could topple the house of cards of a plan, and they would meet the worst ending without being able to do anything.

“You can’t say that, right? That’s how it is. Things don’t always go according to plan,” Yeriel continued. “Of course, it will be great if everything goes as we wish. But we have to consider what would happen if it doesn’t. For example, something unexpected might suddenly occur and endanger all of us.” Yeriel looked at Chi-Woo carefully as he stood unmoving, at a loss for words. “Your plan would risk thousands of lives. Would you be able to shoulder the burden of such risks as the one coming up with the plan?”

Chi-Woo’s shoulders felt heavy, but he clenched his teeth without a comeback. To be honest, he couldn’t swear that he could do as Yeriel said. But the moment he said those words, the conversation would be over, and right now, he needed to do everything he could.

“…Yes,” Chi-Woo answered.

Someone snorted at Chi-Woo’s answer. “Anyone can swear about anything,” Emmanuel said and murmured, “Not only do we have to use up all the precious merits we gathered, we have to put our lives on the line… There’s no way Choi Chi-Hyun hasn’t thought of this plan, but he still told you to back off. Even the one considered a legend decided to give up rather than undertake the dangers.” Then Emmanuel asked with cold eyes, “Are you really telling us that you would accomplish something that even the legend judged to be too difficult? And we are supposed to believe you?” Words as cold as his eyes shot down at Chi-Woo.

“…”

“How can we trust you enough to listen to your orders?”

“It’s not an order, but a request—”

“That makes it even more unreasonable,” Emmanuel coldly cut Chi-Woo off. “A planner is basically the same as a commander when moving through a plan. And a commander is someone who is supposed to order—not request—others to carry out his plan.”

Silence permeated the conference room.

“…Hm, hm.” Apoline glanced at Chi-Woo while worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. Then, in the end, she scoffed and said in a mocking tone to Emmanuel, “When did you start following the legend so earnestly?” It seemed Apoline was trying to defend Chi-Woo a bit considering the experience they had gone through together.

“I don’t earnestly follow him. Instead, I dislike him as a person.” Yet Emmanuel responded calmly instead of getting angry. “But that doesn’t mean I would deny all the achievements he’s made.”

Apoline pursed her lips again. Everything Emmanuel said was true.

“Whatever my personal feelings are, he is a legendary hero who everyone acknowledges—in comparison to this no-name hero in front of us.”

Noel scowled after hearing Emmanuel diminish Chi-Woo.

“Isn’t it obvious whose decision we should trust more?”

“Isn’t that too harsh?” Noel jumped from her seat and protested; her face was all red in anger.

“…This is unexpected.” Emmanuel’s eyes turned wide in surprise. “I thought you of all people would agree with me.”

Noel flinched.

“Aren’t you the legend’s most loyal follower? This man is going against the legend, so how could you respond this way? Who is this man exactly?”

“I…can’t…” Noel trailed off. Emmanuel stared at Chi-Woo full of curiosity.

“…”

Chi-Woo’s face looked blank. He realized then what Evelyn had meant.

[Are you confident that your name can surpa.s.s even the legend’s?]

Chi-Woo had thought wrong from the start. The important part wasn’t how good their plan was, but whether the person who proposed the plan had the skills for the others to place their trust in him and follow his orders. Chi-Woo should’ve thought more about the standards the Celestial Lights were going to a.s.sess his plan with.

“…I don’t see the value of discussing this matter any further,” Emmanuel clicked his tongue as Chi-Woo remained silent. “I can’t listen to the orders of a hero who won’t even reveal his name. Need I say more?” He shook his head and turned to Ismile.

Ismile looked intently at Chi-Woo and shrugged.

Emmanuel continued, “It seems it would be a waste of my time to stay any longer, so I will be leaving first. I will prepare to move locations the moment I return to my room.”

Chi-Woo watched Emmanuel get up to leave and clenched his fist. Evelyn had asked him if he trusted this plan, and Chi-Woo told her he did. But honestly, a part of him felt doubtful and wondered if his brother could’ve been right. Rather than for everyone to die if something went wrong, it might be better to just give up. He already did so much. If he continued to keep his mouth shut like this, everything would naturally progress as his brother wished. But Chi-Woo felt a strong premonition burning inside him, telling him that he must not do that. It warned him that he must act now.

“I am…” Chi-Woo spoke. Then his clenched fist loosened, and a die fell from his grip. A flash of light followed.

***

A familiar sensation swept his entire body. Dizziness. .h.i.t him, and Chi-Woo felt his legs give out as soon as he fell to the ground. Soon, Chi-Woo opened his eyes. He was puzzled when he saw his surroundings. He saw a gra.s.sland under the night sky. He was outside in a place full of trees and gra.s.ses, and he saw figures he had never seen before. He couldn’t see their faces well because they were slouching. They were crying over the earth while their shoulders trembled as if they had just heard some tragic news.

“Are you all right, Teacher?” It was then someone approached Chi-Woo and supported him. Thanks to it, Chi-Woo was able to stagger upwards, but when he turned to his side, he was stunned.

“I understand how you feel, but you must get your spirits up. If you also…”

Chi-Woo was shocked to see that the voice belonged to Emmanuel. Emmanuel’s face was covered in wounds, and his whole body was bleeding, as if he had just barely escaped a warzone.

“s.h.i.+t!”

Before Chi-Woo could ask what happened, there was a shrill echo.

“It’s over!” Someone collapsed to the ground.

“It’s all over! What more can we do from here!?” A woman shouted while shaking her head so that hair flowed down and covered her face. “In the end, Ru Amuh also…!”

Chi-Woo doubted his ears. It sounded like something bad had happened to Ru Amuh. What was happening?

“I can’t believe it…that Ru Amuh…” the woman cried out, “How…did we…come to this…?” She shouted, “It’s because all we did was run away! We kept escaping…!”

“Be careful of what you say,” Emmanuel warned, but the woman didn’t stop.

“What? Did I say anything wrong?” Instead, her voice got louder as she shouted. “If you think about it, it’s all your fault!”

“What?”

“I heard that you went against the decision to resist in Shalyh! Didn’t you say you’d always regretted that ever since then?”

Chi-Woo’s eyes opened wide. He had wondered why he was transported to this point in the future.

“If we had managed to protect the G.o.dly territory somehow, the Ca.s.siubia mountain range and the league wouldn’t have…!”

“Stop. Everyone stop!” The woman prostrating on the ground got up and lifted the other one up. “Emmanuel is right. This isn’t the time for us to fight amongst ourselves”

“Let me go!”

“Why don’t you cool your head down first… I’m sure Teacher’s the one struggling the most now…” The crying woman dragged the shouting woman away and disappeared into a corner. The only ones remaining in the area were Chi-Woo and Emmanuel. Silence circled around them.

“I’m sorry, sir,” Emmanuel hung his head and apologized. “That idiot is right.” With a bitter smile, he continued, “If only I hadn’t disagreed with your plan then…”

Chi-Woo slowly turned around to look at Emmanuel. He realized why he was here now, but he didn’t have much time. He needed to go back to the present before Emmanuel left the conference room.

“Mr. Emmanual,” Chi-Woo said in a low voice. “If we had stayed behind to protect Shalyh, would we have changed this future?”

Emmanuel looked sorrowful as he answered, “…Yes.” His eyes looked very regretful. “Whenever I think about it now…I want to kill my past self.”

With this, Chi-Woo realized that his premonition hadn’t been wrong.

“If we had done what you said, we might’ve been holding a celebration inside the Demon Empire’s main castle right now.”

Chi-Woo’s eyes brightened. He asked with more affirmation this time, “Then what could I have said at that time that would stop you from disagreeing with me, Mr. Emmanuel?”

Emmanuel’s eyes widened. “Uh…Probably…”

***

There was a great commotion inside the conference room. Chi-Woo suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground. Noel and Ru Amuh were of course shocked, but everyone else, even Ismile, was also dumbfounded.

“Hey! Can you hear me? Wake up…ah!” Apoline was. .h.i.tting Chi-Woo’s cheeks and shaking his shoulders when she suddenly gasped. Chi-Woo was awake.

“Are you okay? You suddenly—ah!” Apoline fell on her bottom as Chi-Woo suddenly shot to his feet, and she was pushed away. Emmanuel also stopped after hearing the sudden commotion.

“What in the…”

Emmanuel was saying until Chi-Woo cut him off, “Come right back. I’m not done talking.”

Chi-Woo spoke in a commanding tone. Emmanuel couldn’t understand Chi-Woo at first. Who was Chi-Woo talking to? Was he talking to him? How dare this man give him an order?

“What did you just say—”

A message suddenly popped up—not only in front of Emmanuel, but on display for everyone to see. At first, Emmanuel wondered why somebody had suddenly shared their user information with him, but then he read.

—Name: Choi Chi-Woo.

—Planet: G-S-3-E (Earth)

“G,S,3,E…Earth?”

—Record: The youngest son of the Choi family among the 12 Celestial families lighting up the Celestial Realm.

The moment Emmanuel read Chi-Woo’s name, his planet of origin, and his record, he hurriedly looked back.

“I order you in the name of the Choi family, come back to your seat.”