Chapter 383: Insufficient (8)

“Hahaha—”

Alberu laughed aloud.

Cough.

Beside him, Cale wiped the blood from his mouth with an indifferent expression—
The bleeding had slowed, but hadn’t stopped.

* * *

The virtual world of New World.

Tamahi, Queen of the Kingdom of Lan—one of the Three Great Powers in this vast world—
Couldn’t say a word.

She simply stared at the two of them, her eyes vacant.
Speechless.

“Ha, ha… Cale—”

“What’s up?”

If it had been the usual Alberu, he would’ve worried about the people watching.
But for some reason, he was in a good mood.
And in this game, he tended to act with a little more freedom anyway…

“You’re still the same.”

He said it with a grin, spreading his arms wide as he stepped toward Cale.

For the first time—
No, just like back then.

When The Indestructible Shield had first appeared in the capital of the Roan Kingdom,
Blocking Arm’s magical bombardment.
Protecting everyone.

Just like that time—
He did the same thing again.

What’s wrong with him?

Cale felt a wave of nausea as Alberu approached with open arms.

Why?
Why is he laughing so much?

Alberu was smiling like he was genuinely happy—
And that made Cale… deeply uncomfortable.

He tried to step back, instinctively.
But unfortunately, ever since Young Master Silver Shield had first appeared, Cale’s physical stats had quietly declined—
While Alberu’s had only improved.

“…What’s going on?”

“Hahaha!”

Before he could do anything about it,
Alberu and Cale ended up in a light, awkward embrace.

Tap, tap.

Alberu’s hands lightly patted Cale’s back.
But they were trembling—just slightly.

…Mmm.

Cale noticed.
And that was why… he didn’t push Alberu away.

Of course. He pushed himself too hard.

Although Alberu’s magical abilities were excellent, they weren’t on the level of Raon—or even Rosalyn.
Alberu was simply exceptionally talented.
But he hadn’t broken past his limits.

Someone like that, trying to force mana out the way Raon did—
Of course his body would suffer.

That’s why his hands were trembling.

Tch.

Cale clicked his tongue, stepping back from the embrace.

Despite everything, he asked with rare consideration,
“Do you need help?”

At that moment, Alberu’s expression shifted instantly.
His face turned downright sullen.

“You, helping me?”

With a look of disbelief, Cale also felt a flicker of irritation.

And Queen Tamahi, who had been silently observing it all—

“Your Majesty—”

The guards rushed to assist her, but she quietly refused their help, raising herself up slowly.

Her gaze never left Cale and Alberu.
Eyes fixed—watching them both in silence.

"…"

She couldn’t hear their conversation. With her inner energy, she could have listened in—
But she didn’t want to.

She didn’t need to.

All she saw was the image of the two of them—
Embracing, talking quietly.

A strange kind of affection between them.

The golden light was gone.

So was the silver.
Hinpa Gong had vanished.

Only an empty shore remained.

Yet what held her gaze—
Was the sight of those two figures standing side by side.

The Queen opened her mouth without realizing it.

“…Hero–”

She remembered what Cale had said to her earlier.

‘We’re with the Hero of the Sun, the one who’ll save the New World!
And even the Kingdom of Darkness has stepped in to protect this world! Haha!’

At the time, she had thought it was just a boast.
Now… she wasn’t so sure.

Of course, he had said he would explain everything calmly—after meeting with Hinpa Gong.

But now, in this moment,
Queen Tamahi realized something.

One of them…

One of those two was definitely the hero.
And in every fairy tale, in every legend, there was always—

“…A companion.”

An exceptional, righteous companion—
One who stood beside the hero, never behind.

The Three Great Powers.

That title had long been attached to the Kingdom of Lan, alongside the Eastern and Western Empires.
It was meant to signify strength, honor, prestige.

And yet—

For the first time, Tamahi began to feel something else when she heard it.

Shame.
And a quiet, bitter hatred.

Wanderers.

When they appeared, Tamahi realized—
There were beings far more powerful than she had imagined.
Hidden forces, quietly embedded in the world,
And those forces… were now trying to consume it.

“…Only with light can darkness be perceived…”

Yes.
Wanderers.

If they are the darkness of this land,
Then surely—there must be light as well.

How could the balance of the world be tilted so far to one side?
How could it only belong to shadow?

No.

That wasn’t the way the world worked.
And she was beginning to see it for herself.

The Queen shook her head.

The Kingdom of Darkness?

Tamahi had never heard of the existence of that kingdom.

‘I come from the Kingdom of Darkness.’

‘This man will become the king of another place.’

Moreover, he said that one of them would soon become king. That would mean that another kingdom also exists. Two kingdoms that had never been recorded in the history of this land are fighting a gigantic force involving the Wanderers and even the Gods, to save this world.

“Ah—”

Without realizing it, she let out a sigh. Subtle joy and excitement could be seen in it.

…It’s not the end, but the beginning.

Queen Tamahi thought as she looked at Cale and Alberu, who were talking calmly to each other.

‘It was insufficient.’

The words Cale had spoken to Hinpa Gong—words laced with indifference, even cruelty—began to take on a different meaning in Tamahi’s mind.

‘Your faith was insufficient.’

Those words weren’t just for Hinpa.
They were for anyone who had bowed to the inevitable, who had given up in the face of overwhelming power.

The Kingdom of Lan...
Her kingdom...
It had yielded to the force of the Wanderers.

Not because it agreed.
But because it was weak.
Because resistance had seemed impossible.

Because it would be too difficult… to win.

They had lived on edge for so long—always cautious, always watching.
The martial arts tournament for selecting the successor… it had been more than a formality. It was meant to be a signal, a show of strength.
A whisper to their enemies:

We are still here. We have not broken.

But how much bitterness had they swallowed to get to that point?

Queen Tamahi had feared it all—feared that the palace’s internal struggles might leak, feared what the people would think, feared the scrutiny of foreign powers.
The Kingdom of Lan was one of the Three Great Powers. They couldn’t afford to appear fragile.
They couldn’t appear anything less than invincible.

But now...

She exhaled.

No, they weren’t invincible.

The truth was simple.

“The Kingdom of Lan is insufficient to face the Wanderers.”

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

“Simply… it was truly insufficient.”

There was no shame in naming the truth. There was only clarity.
And that clarity opened a new path.

Because weakness—unlike defeat—could be filled.

And that weakness…

Her eyes burned with resolve.

Can be filled.

Today, she had seen a reliable shield—one that could truly protect.

Queen Tamahi slowly approached Cale and Alberu. Although she hadn’t yet heard Cale’s full story, she already had a clear understanding. At the very least, she could tell the difference between friend and foe. She knew who brought benefit to their people… and who held a pure heart.

“Ah, are you okay?”

Cale, still bleeding slightly at the mouth, asked if she was all right.

Queen Tamahi looked at him and opened her mouth.

“Can we join you?”

“Excuse me?”

To the clearly surprised Cale, she said what she had to say.

Today, the Kingdom of Lan…

“That alliance that includes the Kingdom of Darkness.”

She had to seize this moment—this chance to take a new path.

“The Kingdom of Lan also wishes to join.”

With this opportunity, the Kingdom of Lan could become stronger.

“We will fill in the gaps. Please… give us the chance to grow, to stand and fight.”

She would protect the Kingdom of Lan. Even though she knew it was weak, the Queen of Lan lifted her chin and declared with pride:

“Will you give us that opportunity?”

And Cale…

Oh.

What a stroke of luck is this?

“Opportunity is presented to those who seek it.”

He said this with a calm expression, took the hand Tamahi was offering him, and continued:

“If the Kingdom of Lan joins us, it will be a great force.”

Sly smile~

Cale smiled kindly.

Radiant smile~

Alberu also joined the atmosphere with a bright smile.

As expected.

And Queen Tamahi was sure.

These two people are incredible.

A kingdom wants to join an alliance. These two people made the decision without hesitation. What does that mean?

The leader.

The leader of the alliance is here, and that leader…

Has absolute decision–making power.

And that person is…

The black–haired man.

Cale Henituse.

Then, this blond man…

Probably…

Is the hero.

The Sun Hero.

He’s definitely related to the Sun God.

Queen Tamahi’s gaze deepened. She realized she had escaped from the dark swamp of the Wanderers and the God of Chaos, and finally, she was seeing the clear sky above the surface of the water.

Sly smile~

Tamahi also smiled. Cale and Alberu continued to smile kindly.

– Cale.

Super Rock spoke quietly to Cale.

– But does that Queen know that the Kingdom of Darkness comes from the Evils?

– And the crown prince has no land to rule, you just said he will become the future king.

– So, isn’t our alliance something without substance?

Shut up.

Cale ignored Super Rock. And he looked at Alberu. Alberu’s kind gaze told him:

Let’s keep it this way for now.

Why?

Because one of the Three Great Powers has become their ally.

“Ha, ha—”
Cale chuckled.

“Hahaha!”
Alberu burst out laughing.

“Ha, ha—”
And Queen Tamahi joined in with a soft, relieved laugh.

The silver shield that had manifested in the Kingdom of Lan remained a vivid memory—etched only in the minds of the Queen’s closest confidants who had been present that day.

And yet, its ripple effect across the nation…
It was greater than even the legendary clash between Sohyi the Wanderer and the Heavenly Demon.

* * *

A few days later.

===================

<Crazy! Breaking News!>

===================

Information spread throughout the RMPAG user community, causing a great stir.

===================

<Is the Kingdom of Lan closing?>

The content is the same as the title.

– What? The kingdom is closing? What does that mean?

– All diplomatic activities are halted. The Queen has entered seclusion. The heir selection is suspended.

– Wait, what? They’re cutting off diplomatic ties too?

– The Queen has entered seclusion? Suddenly? What’s going on? What’s happening in the Kingdom of Lan lately?

===================

If you were to compare it to the Central Plains of the Murim World...
It’s like a martial sect shutting its gates.
Not for a short break.
But for an indefinite seclusion.
And that’s not even the full story.

===================

– Not just the royal palace. Now even the Heavenly Sword, the Dark Abyss, and the rest of the Five Great Organizations—except the Justice Alliance—have entered seclusion.
– That’s insane. They’re all sealing themselves off? Then what are users supposed to do in the Kingdom of Lan?
– No, it’s not like that. The five great organizations say they are recruiting a large number of warriors. Regardless of whether they are foreigners (users), from other kingdoms, with experience or without, anyone can apply as a warrior. They say they’ll provide full martial training, starting from the basics.

– Oh. So, can I become a warrior too? I don’t have a penny, but if it’s free, it’s worth a try, right?

– Wait, wait… so the so-called seclusion is just for show? The Four Great Organizations are still moving in the shadows, huh?

– I don’t know, they say external activities are suspended.

===================

Users were confused. But some of them tried to figure out the reason.

===================

– So. The royal palace is sealed off. The Four Great Organizations claim they’ve entered seclusion… yet they’re openly accepting new warriors and guiding their cultivation?
– If they’ve truly withdrawn from external affairs, that means no income from outside missions. And still, they plan to train a large number of newcomers?

===================

And they discovered the reason.

===================

– This doesn’t seem to be the sole intention of the Four Great Organizations.
– Indeed. This move clearly originates from the kingdom itself.

===================

The Kingdom of Lan is acting with a clear goal in mind. A purpose so great that even the four great organizations would follow it without a murmur.

===================

– So, the Kingdom of Lan is training a large number of warriors? Using the royal palace’s money.

– That’s right.

===================

And the conclusion people reach is usually one.

===================

– …Is the Kingdom of Lan preparing for war?

===================

War.

One of the Three Great Powers of New World is preparing for war. This was enough to cause a great uproar throughout the RMPAG user community.

===================

– It seems that it is a war. They say they’re closing themselves off from the outside, but in reality, that doesn’t seem to be the case. If the kingdom were to openly increase its military strength, it could spark tension or even conflict with other nations. That’s likely why they’ve chosen this approach—using the Four Great Organizations as a front to quietly expand their forces under the guise of seclusion.

– …Crazy. So finally, will there be a war?

===================

People celebrated that with the The Great First Step update, major changes would occur in RMPAG. Because there had never been wars between kingdoms before. But some of them raised a doubt again.

===================

– But who is the Kingdom of Lan going to fight against?

===================

It was impossible to know who the enemy of the Kingdom of Lan was. And to that question, most users answered.

===================

– I don’t know. We’ll find out later.

===================

They said the truth would be revealed in time. And just as the attention of everyone in the virtual world of RMPAG—users and NPCs alike—was fixed on the unfolding events in the Kingdom of Lan…

“So, the sacred ground of the God of Chaos, The Primordial Night, is located in the Demon Kingdom?”

Cale nodded at Alberu’s question. He was currently staying in a hidden chamber deep within the royal palace of Lan.
The guide, Hinpa Gong—within his memories lay the map to the sanctuary known as The Primordial Night.
And that path led straight to the Demon Kingdom.

“Yes, Your Highness, you were there, weren’t you?”
“Ah.”
“Then you know the way. Guide us.”

Alberu was momentarily speechless at Cale’s confident request.

“But… what kind of place is the Demon Kingdom?”

Rosalyn responded to Choi Han’s question, repeating what Alberu had once told her.

“A place where the weak and the useless gather.”

When Choi Han’s brow furrowed slightly, Rosalyn added,

“In my opinion, it’s not.”

A faint light flickered in Choi Han’s eyes. Rosalyn turned to Alberu and continued,

“And it’s also the place where Your Highness is trying to build an empire.”

“Oh?”

The Heavenly Demon, clearly intrigued, glanced at Alberu—then turned to Cale.

“When will we go?”

Cale answered with a serious expression.

“Well, I’m thinking we head out as soon as possible.”

He looked at Rosalyn.

“Any word from Raon?”

Eden Miru.
Still no news about that kid’s hatching.

“We should go,” he said firmly.

Whether it’s The Primordial Night or the God of Chaos…
It felt like the first thing he needed to do was meet Eden Miru, the Dragon Half–Blood—and the average ten-year-old children.

 -----

P/R Thought:

Lan joined the squad, Alberu’s hugging Cale like a K-drama lead, and apparently war is loading… send snacks.

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Mayank]