The Main Characters That Only I Know

Chapter 29:

Chapter 29

I sat in the [Room of the Observer] and observed the world of thought.

On one side of the wide plain, there was a wall that surrounded a huge city. 

On the opposite side, there was a dense army.

‘The 20th Siege of Constantinople. The war that ended the Roman Empire, which had a history of over 2,200 years, by the Ottoman Empire.’

The Ottoman Empire’s troops that invaded for conquest were at least 150,000.

On the other hand, the defending Byzantine Empire’s troops were 7,000.

The difference in military strength was more than 20 times by simple calculation. 

It didn’t seem to make much difference even if 50 collectors were added.

‘Even if each collector has more power than an ordinary soldier, there is no answer if the difference in military strength is like that.’

Unless they were high-ranking collectors who could wield legion-level power, but the level of collectors who could enter here was between rank 5 and rank 8. 

There was no reason to expect them to perform exceptionally.

It was the same for Kang Hye-rim, who had not fully awakened her trait yet.

But the reason why I brought her here today was because of her awakening.

‘Exactly, the Sword Master of the previous life had built his first fame here.’

The Sword Master of the previous life had earned his nickname as the Sword Master and made his name known here at the Siege of Constantinople.

In order for Kang Hye-rim to fully awaken her remaining trait, she had to go through this place.

‘Of course, the Sword Master of the previous life’s activity was half a year later… but it might be too late by then. Now is the best time.’

She might be too strong to enter here by then. 

And I had too many things to do to wait until then.

-Yu-hyun. Can you see it? The scenery right now.

“Yes. I can see it well.”

-Can we… win this?

“Hmm. I don’t know.”

Kang Hye-rim probably didn’t mean to show it, but her voice was trembling. 

Anyone would have the same reaction if they faced 150,000 troops. 

Some of the collectors with weak guts even sat down on their seats.

-I thought it would be easy with more than 50 people coming in, but it doesn’t seem like that.

“It would have been insufficient even with 500 people. The defense on this side is 7,000 compared to 150,000 on that side. And there are 10,000 elite infantrymen of the Ottoman Empire called Janissaries. They basically put all their efforts on that side.”

And it was 150,000 when it came to the troops that could be directly used in battle.

If you add non-combat personnel, it would be close to 300,000 on that side. 

It was natural for anyone to feel discouraged when facing them from the defensive position.

-Then why did these people come here? It doesn’t seem like they came without knowing. This place is not suitable for collectors to farm anyway.

“It’s because of opportunity.”

-Opportunity?

“Kang Hye-rim. More than 50 collectors have gathered here right now. And each collector has a teller they contracted with.”

And each teller has a library.

“Do you know how many libraries are gathered here right now? More than 35. And how many spirits are watching over those libraries?”

-Huh? That is…

“Right now, more than 2,000 spirits are watching over this place.”

-Gasp.

When I told her an approximate number, Kang Hye-rim opened her mouth wide and quickly closed it.

But her eyes were shaking violently and scanning the surrounding air quickly. 

She must be checking the messages sent by the spirits.

“This place is not just a space to show off your own library. If you look bigger and farther, it’s a place of opportunity where you can appeal to other library’s spirits. It’s also the same for spirits. It’s a place where they can get to know new collectors they didn’t know before.”

-It does seem like that when you say so. It feels like there are more eyes than before…

“Maybe other library’s spirits are also looking at you carefully. Whether you are a real or fake collector of rumors. And depending on how well you do, they might even move to our library.”

-So this means that the purpose here is not to clear the world of thought, but to use this point where many collectors gather to take care of each other’s interests?

“That’s a bit harsh way to put it, but it’s not wrong.”

The teller appeals to the spirits of other libraries to grow their library.

On the other hand, if they don’t show their charm properly, they lose their spirits to other libraries.

This place was not just a place to clear the world of thought, but a fierce battlefield where collectors, tellers, and libraries competed with each other.

But.

“That’s not enough to make us different from others.”

-Huh?

“Why would it be better to do the same as them? Kang Hye-rim. Think about what we have done so far. Did we do it like others? No. We did outrageous things that others would never think of doing. That’s why we succeeded and came this far.”

-That… is true?

She must have read something from my words, Kang Hye-rim answered in a somewhat uneasy tone.

I’m sorry, but that’s correct.

“So we will act with the purpose of clearing this world of thought.”

-What?!

I spoke to calm down the surprised Kang Hye-rim.

“We will quit if it seems dangerous. But it’s better to at least show that we are willing to try.”

I said I would do it, but I didn’t expect much.

The original purpose was to fully awaken Kang Hye-rim’s unopened trait.

Just like she did in her previous life.

‘Even the Sword Master of the previous life couldn’t clear this place. He lasted the longest, but he failed.’

But even so, the Sword Master of the previous life gained a huge reputation here and got a chance to leap forward by fully awakening his trait.

‘There is a difference of half a year in time, but she has already caught up with the Sword Master of that time.’

She cleared four worlds of thought and acquired points and stories from there. 

And thanks to the support of the spirits, she probably earned more points than the Sword Master of her previous life.

‘Points are the measure of strength for collectors. It’s worth trying.’

If she really breaks through the extreme probability and sees a possibility.

‘Then…’

I’ll have to step in.

I checked my own points and calmed my mind even more.

***

The war had not started yet, so the collectors gathered with people they knew well.

The collectors who gathered in groups of three or five looked at other collector groups with wary eyes.

Kang Hye-rim, who watched that scene from a distance, felt contemptuous.

‘It’s not enough even if 50 people stick together, and they’re already wary of each other.’

Their purpose was not to clear the world of thought, but to stand out as much as possible during the given time. 

Naturally, other collectors were potential enemies.

Kang Hye-rim felt disgusted by the sight and shook her head, throwing her gaze outside the wall.

“Hey, miss. Are you going to be alone?”

“How about joining us?”

Some groups approached her, targeting Kang Hye-rim.

“We can show off our cool skills and share the pay, right?”

“If you come to our side, you’ll stand out more than the others.”

Their intentions were obvious. 

They wanted to make her belong to their group and get a little more attention from the spirits.

Or some of them had ulterior motives for her beautiful appearance.

But Kang Hye-rim didn’t even answer them. 

She just ignored them with a cold expression as always.

“What? You’re ignoring me after I talked to you?”

“Come on. Let’s go. She doesn’t like it, what can we do?”

“Tsk! How unlucky. Do you think you don’t look like you cleared the worlds of thought by yourself? Let’s see how long you can last here by yourself.”

“Brother, let it go. She must know what to do by herself. Anyway, she’s like someone who crossed the line without permission. How rude and ungrateful. Just do it all by yourself.”

‘Sigh.’

Kang Hye-rim’s eyes narrowed at their actions that seemed to say they should join them.

‘They’re all trying to use each other. How shameless.’

Kang Hye-rim had to hold back a sigh that came out.

Maybe it was because she had been acting alone without meeting other collectors until now, but she felt a lot of mental fatigue already.

‘Yeah. Let’s endure it. For Yu-hyun, I’ll endure it.’

Kang Hye-rim calmed down her anger and grabbed the sword hanging on her waist.

Thump thump.

The feeling of the sword in her hand made her heart hot. 

On the contrary, her head cooled down as if ice water was poured on it.

The battle that would soon begin made her blood boil.

But she also felt anxious about whether she could do more than that.

‘It’s funny.’

Kang Hye-rim let out a sarcastic laugh.

When did she ever worry about something like this? 

Her trusted teller recommended this place to her. 

That meant there was a reason for it. 

Didn’t it always work out like that?

She ignored the cold and jealous eyes from behind and finished preparing for the upcoming battle.

Clap clap!

“Welcome, mercenaries!”

At that moment, someone appeared on the wall with cheers.

The collectors’ eyes turned to him.

He looked at them with hopeful eyes and was a handsome man with brown hair.

He was in his mid-30s. 

He wore a luxurious armor that proved his extraordinary position and his escort knights followed him as if to protect him.

“Who is he?”

“You idiot. What did you hear before you came here? He’s the fantasy body who is in charge of the defense of this siege.”

“What did they say he was? A king?”

Most collectors had access to basic information, but they didn’t seem to know much because it wasn’t very important.

The man introduced himself.

“My name is Constantine Dragases Palaiologos. I know it’s not much, but I’m also the legitimate emperor of the Roman Empire. As a representative of this place, I thank you brave mercenaries for coming to support our defense.”

The 50 collectors who came here were ‘mercenaries’ for the emperor.

‘So this is how it works.’

Kang Hye-rim admired his appearance inwardly. 

His smile was different from his eyes, which were heavy and his expression had an undeniable fatigue.

He had already fought several fierce battles and left traces everywhere.

“I wish I could treat you a little better for your sake, but unfortunately I don’t think we have time for that. The Ottoman bastards have started to move. It’s time for them to attack soon.”

‘This man…’

As he swept over the collectors with his words, Kang Hye-rim felt a sense of incongruity.

The emperor and his knights, and the other soldiers who defended them were all fantasies made of stories. 

They were basically stories that were made up.

If it was a game, they would be close to NPCs.

‘But… they look like real people.’

His eyes, voice, tone, everything. 

They didn’t look like fantasies that someone had intricately created, but rather living beings that thought and moved on their own.

That feeling became stronger when he talked with his subordinate knights.

“Your Majesty. Even so, you shouldn’t say anything that would lower your morale.”

“Hmph. We’re already in a desperate situation, what’s the point of holding back? It’s better to be honest with our feelings and say whatever we want.”

“Can I curse? I have a lot of grudges.”

“Just don’t be disrespectful.”

“Aw, man. If I can’t say it…”

“Haha! Isn’t that like you?”

They seemed to be out of their minds in the face of death, but their conversation was so absurd that it could have made them lose their nerve, but none of the soldiers relaxed their tension.

They laughed at their frivolous conversation, but their eyes were glaring at the enemy army beyond the wall as if they wanted to kill them.

Woo woo woo!!

“They’re moving.”

The smile on Dragases’ lips disappeared.

As he said, the Ottoman Empire’s regular troops who had finished their preparations started to move.

Dust rose up as they walked, and the ground shook slightly.

Gulp.

The collectors who were overwhelmed by the sight clenched their weapons with tension.

A translucent window popped up in front of them.

[The Siege of Constantinople has begun.]

[Resist the enemy’s attack and lead this war to victory.]

[You only have one chance.]

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

That’s why they had to do their best and stake everything on this fight.

The battle began.