The Main Characters That Only I Know

Chapter 418:

Yu-hyun and Mordred were complete strangers.

If there was any reason that could be cited for their connection, it was simply that they both had some ties to King Arthur.

It was quite surprising to Yu-hyun that Mordred had personally sought him out.

"For what reason have you come looking for me?"

The person before him was none other than Mordred, the notorious traitor who was said to be one of the darkest figures in the history of Camelot.

Despite bearing King Arthur’s blood, he never became king and led a rebellion to claim the throne. He died in the final battle of Camlann after a fierce fight.

Considering the story he carried, it wouldn't be odd if Mordred harbored hostility toward someone who had been close to Arthur.

"My father’s…."

Mordred started to speak but soon shook his head, as if he felt unworthy of even mentioning that name.

"I am not worthy to utter that name. Rest assured; I haven’t come to question your ownership of Excalibur or anything like that. Nor do I intend to hold any grudge or hostility toward you for inheriting my father’s legacy."

Even if it were an issue, Excalibur had already been completely absorbed by Baekryun, so it could not be returned.

With Mordred showing such goodwill, Yu-hyun eased his guard somewhat.

"So, is there something you wanted to ask me?"

"There are many things I want to ask, but that’s not why I came."

"Then…?"

"There’s someone who wishes to meet you. I came to deliver that message."

"Someone… wants to meet me?"

Yu-hyun narrowed his eyes. Someone wanted to meet him?

He couldn’t find anything suspicious in those words.

The only unusual part was that Mordred was the one delivering the message.

"As far as I know, Sir Mordred, you're quite a formidable person, one who wouldn’t be intimidated anywhere."

"Are you trying to gild the face of a traitor remembered throughout the history of the Mixed Realm?"

"Setting aside past events, this is purely my assessment based on your current level and reputation."

As the son of King Arthur and a knight of the Round Table, Mordred indeed possessed remarkable skills.

Mordred, the second-generation divine spirit.

Although his abilities were often underrated due to his infamous betrayal, the fact that he fought Arthur nearly to a draw in their final battle at Camlann showed how powerful he truly was.

The fact that such a person had been sent merely to deliver a message strongly indicated that the one wishing to meet Yu-hyun was no ordinary individual.

"Who is this person?"

Mordred briefly looked around, ensuring no one was eavesdropping on their conversation.

Once he felt secure, he lowered his voice, answering in a near whisper meant for Yu-hyun’s ears only.

"The False Prophet wishes to meet you."

"……."

The False Prophet.

Yu-hyun couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

"Could you… repeat that?"

"The False Prophet wants to meet you. I came to Camelot not only because I heard news of my father but because I received a request from him."

"That’s… But, who exactly is this False Prophet?"

The dark figure Yu-hyun encountered in his dream had also mentioned finding the False Prophet if he wanted to meet him.

Yu-hyun had always thought that one day he might seek out this False Prophet, although he had no idea who it was. But he hadn’t anticipated that the Prophet would be the one to reach out first.

"I don’t know much either. I only met him recently. But his power is genuine. Right before I came to Camelot, he told me that something was going to happen here."

"That’s rather intriguing."

"And it’s not just limited to Camelot. He also knew about the movements of the Shrine, things no other prophet has ever foreseen. At this point, it seems strange that he’s called the False Prophet at all. To me, all the others seem like imposters, and only he appears to be genuine."

A prophet who could see the future with greater accuracy than anyone else, yet bore the title of ‘False.'

Mordred felt that such a situation was an incredible paradox, a bizarre contradiction.

Reflecting on how he came to meet this individual, he found it equally strange.

Being branded as a traitor, Mordred could no longer stay in Camelot, and so he eventually left the Mabinogion.

The place where he finally settled was the hell ruled by Satan, lord of the Great Army of Pandemonium.

Seeking to atone for his sins, Mordred had chosen to live near the Cocytus Lake, in the harsh environment of the Ninth Circle of Hell. Satan, the lord of Judecca, neither drove him away nor welcomed him.

It was there, near that frozen lake, that he encountered the False Prophet.

"You met the False Prophet near the Frozen Lake?"

"Technically, he came to find me."

The False Prophet had informed Mordred of future events. Mordred had initially been skeptical, but as time passed and events unfolded as foretold, he had no choice but to acknowledge the Prophet’s power.

Eventually, the False Prophet foretold him that Camelot would soon vanish from the Mixed Realm and that King Arthur would perish, also mentioning Yu-hyun.

He instructed Mordred to inform Yu-hyun of his location.

"Did he not tell you why he wants to meet me?"

"Unfortunately, I don’t know that either. While I know his power is real, we haven’t known each other that long. But I can guess there must be some reason."

"I see."

"So, are you planning to go meet him?"

Yu-hyun hesitated in his response.

He knew he needed to meet the False Prophet, but hearing that the Prophet was actively seeking him stirred a strange wariness within him.

‘The False Prophet. Judging by his actions, he certainly knows something about me. More importantly, he knew of futures that other prophets cannot foresee. Does he possess such advanced foresight?’

No.

Yu-hyun instinctively felt that the False Prophet, like himself, was a possessor of ‘Fragments.'

With the Codex Fragment in his possession, the False Prophet could see futures hidden from others.

‘It’s him.’

Yu-hyun finally grasped the essence of who the False Prophet might be.

The important question now was whether, as Mordred suggested, he should go to meet this Prophet or not.

He wasn’t inclined to simply rush to a meeting just because the Prophet wished it, but time was pressing.

‘Besides, that dark figure said to come through the False Prophet if I wanted to meet him.’

What was the reason for such a statement?

It was because meeting the dark figure would be impossible without the False Prophet’s help.

Ultimately, if he wanted to move forward, he would have no choice but to go meet the False Prophet.

‘Though it’s not ideal, it seems I have no choice.’

Yu-hyun nodded, deciding to accept Mordred’s proposal.

"Very well. Will you be guiding me to him, Sir Mordred?"

"No. I have my own matters to attend to. But I can tell you where he is."

"And where exactly is this False Prophet?"

"Eden."

"Pardon?"

"And Cocytus."

"…You’re saying he’s somewhere along the border between them?"

Mordred nodded. Yu-hyun’s face naturally tensed.

Cocytus was known as the residence of Satan, a first-generation divine spirit. And Satan’s domain was, of course, adjacent to Eden.

More precisely, Eden had intentionally constructed a forward base right at the edge of his domain as a defense against Satan.

The overseer of that outpost was none other than the archangel Michael, who shared a long-standing enmity with Satan.

"That’s… reckless. But perhaps it’s also safer because of it."

To others, it might seem like a ticking time bomb, but to Yu-hyun, who had some insight into the political landscape, it was quite a logical location.

Satan had no intention of starting a war with Eden. Considering his nature and his ambitions, Eden didn’t even occupy Satan’s interest.

It was Eden that remained on high alert, carefully watching and guarding against Satan, while Satan continually met them with indifference.

"I’ve said all I came to say."

"Thank you for letting me know."

"No, I should be the one to thank you."

With a slightly somber expression, Mordred glanced at Baekryun, which hung from Yu-hyun’s waist.

"I never managed to do anything for my father. In my youth, I was consumed by power and ambition, and I ended up committing an unforgivable sin."

He had always regretted what happened back then.

—

—

However, now, even the one he sought forgiveness from had disappeared.

So, to whom could he confess this agony? In front of whom should he bow his head, shedding tears?

In the end, all of this was a sin and burden that he would have to bear for the rest of his life.

For this reason, Mordred felt gratitude toward Yu-hyun. It was Yu-hyun who had inherited King Arthur’s sword and carried on his legacy.

Knowing that his father hadn’t left with nothing to his name allowed some of the heavy weight in his heart to dissolve.

Although he felt regretful that he wasn’t the one to inherit it, he didn’t feel jealousy toward Yu-hyun. In fact, he inwardly acknowledged that Yu-hyun was far more suitable than he was.

"So please, I ask of you."

"…Merlin, Arthur, and now Sir Mordred, it seems you all expect a lot from me."

"Haha. Is that so? Well, I suppose that could be true."

Finding it amusing himself, Mordred let go of his hardened expression and allowed a smile.

Seeing this, Yu-hyun’s eyes gleamed.

"You two look alike."

"Hm? In what way?"

"Sir Mordred and Arthur. You truly resemble each other."

Mordred widened his eyes, surprised by the comment.

"Well, I did inherit his blood."

"It’s not just in appearance. When you smiled just now, it felt like him."

When Mordred had laughed, Yu-hyun, for a moment, saw Arthur’s image overlaid upon him. It wasn’t merely a resemblance in looks; even the atmosphere, the gaze, and other subtleties were similar.

"You have every right to be proud."

"…Is that so?"

Mordred clenched and unclenched his hand, then nodded with a slightly relieved expression.

"Thank you."

* * *

With Mordred gone and no one left to meet, Seo Sumin, who had been waiting until the very end, finally approached.

"Are your conversations over?"

"Yes. Thank you for waiting."

"Tsk. Honestly, it was me who needed a long talk after finally meeting up with you again."

"Indeed, it seems that way."

The abrupt spread of the news about King Arthur’s death and being caught up in those events had made Yu-hyun and Seo Sumin’s reunion feel oddly subdued, lacking any dramatic flair.

"But this isn’t the last time, right? We’ll meet frequently in the future, so it shouldn’t matter, don’t you think?"

"Hmm, we’ll see. Who’s to say you won’t suddenly disappear again, and this time not show up for five or even ten years?"

"No, I won’t make that mistake again. Besides, that wasn’t my fault either."

"Hmph. If Buddha hadn’t intervened, we wouldn’t have seen each other in five years or even in a lifetime. You might’ve died back then."

"That’s…."

With no argument to counter that, Yu-hyun scratched his head.

"And is there something you’ve forgotten?"

"Forgotten? I don’t think so."

"Are you sure?"

"Uh, probably?"

"Saying it like that means you forgot."

Seo Sumin sighed and summoned a dark energy. It soon morphed into a massive shape behind her, and Yu-hyun’s eyes widened at the sight.

"Darwin?"

"So, did you remember now?"

"Oh, well, I…."

Yu-hyun finally recalled that he’d completely forgotten about Darwin. Recently, with so many pressing matters, it had simply slipped his mind.

[…I understand you, my lord.]

[Me too.]

Laplace and Descartes stepped in, offering their understanding, though Yu-hyun couldn’t help but sense the subtle relief and faint exasperation in their tone: "Glad it wasn’t me, but how could you forget this?"

"Well, uh… Darwin. It’s been a while."

[…]

Darwin silently gazed at Yu-hyun. After what felt like an eternity of awkward silence, Darwin finally nodded and greeted Yu-hyun.

[My lord. It’s been a while.]

"Yes, it has… I apologize for not reaching out sooner. I simply hadn’t thought of it in all the chaos."

[I understand.]

Darwin extended his index finger toward Yu-hyun, who nodded and grasped Darwin’s finger in a handshake.

Swish! Darwin’s body transformed into black letters and was absorbed into Yu-hyun’s body through his hand.

With this, Darwin, who held the ultimate power over the physical form among Aporia’s abilities, was now fully returned.

Now, only Maxwell remained.

"Thank you for waiting with Darwin as well, Ms. Seo Sumin."

"You sure are quick to express gratitude."

Seo Sumin chuckled softly, tapping Yu-hyun’s arm with her fist.

"But you made it back well."

"Yes."

"Are you planning to move soon? And where to?"

"I intend to go to Lord Satan’s domain."

"Very well. Then, I shall immediately rejoin the Alliance."

"I’ll leave it to you."

They didn’t say much more.

They both knew a great war was on the horizon and that this might be their last meeting. Yet, they chose to consciously ignore that uneasy possibility.

There was no need to say it aloud, as they both already understood.

So, for this moment, they simply smiled and spoke as if nothing loomed ahead.

Even if their next meeting took place amidst a world falling apart on the battlefield.

The path they had to walk remained unchanged.

Seo Sumin’s form shot up high into the sky. In an instant, she vanished with a stride that seemed to shake the heavens.

Yu-hyun, now alone, also set into motion.

His destination was Satan’s domain, where the Cocytus Lake lay.

* * *

[At last.]

Rumble.

An icy world where countless glaciers fell from the sky.

In the depths of that frozen world, a three-headed snake, scarred and battered, opened its eyes.

[He’s coming.]

The long-awaited one was finally arriving.

Satan was deeply pleased, chuckling softly.

At the sound of his laughter, a massive glacier in Cocytus split and cracked.

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