Choice 00460: The Great Hero or Magna Carta?
The request from Magna Carta was surprisingly straightforward.
First, reverse the seal. Then, during the process, divert the path so that the soul can settle into the body. In other words, all I had to do was thaw the frozen body of the Great Hero and insert the souls of Magna Carta and the Great Hero in sequence. Magna Carta assured me it would handle the rest.
The souls in question were right in front of me, floating like tiny orbs. Two spheres, one black and one white. These were the souls of Magna Carta and the Great Hero.
It was only after hearing this that I fully grasped Magna Carta’s intentions.
First, it wanted to explore the human world.
By taking over the Great Hero’s body, this was entirely possible.
Second, it sought revenge on the Great Hero.
Magna Carta requested that its soul be placed into the Great Hero’s body first, followed by the Great Hero’s soul. This meant that although the body originally belonged to the Great Hero, Magna Carta would gain control by entering first.
So, what would happen to the Great Hero, who entered second? They would become like a tenant evicted from their home.
And third, it wished for eternal rest.
In essence, this process involved a dragon’s soul entering a human body, which meant their frequencies wouldn’t align.
Considering the case of Han-gyeol, bodies and souls tend to gravitate towards matching frequencies. The Great Hero, now a mere tenant, wouldn’t sit idly by. They would struggle to reclaim control of the body.
Of course, Magna Carta wouldn’t just stand by either.
During this struggle, as the mismatched souls fought for dominance, the Great Hero’s body would begin to crack under the strain. Once the cracks became irreparable, there would be only one outcome.
Death. When the body dies, the soul ascends, which is what Magna Carta referred to as eternal rest. In a way, it was an extension of the great war—a battle for dominance.
“One, one, two, three, five…”
Following Magna Carta’s instructions, I began pressing the orbs from the left.
I stopped after pressing the fifth orb five times. There were two orbs left untouched, but Magna Carta had insisted I not touch them, so I didn’t.
Then, I slowly raised my hands. The next step was to place my hands on the palm-shaped imprint on the coffin and channel my magic. As I felt the cold touch of the stone, I glanced around, taking in the sight of the towering monoliths and the magic circle filling the hall.
I wasn’t entirely sure what pressing the orbs accomplished. But since the Great Hero had already set everything up, all I had to do was follow through.
With a nod of gratitude to the Great Hero, who was likely trembling by now, I poured my magic into the coffin.
Immediately, the dull glow of the magic circle began to change. Perhaps some mechanism had been triggered when I pressed the orbs, as the reaction was instantaneous.
Whoosh!
The reaction was more intense than expected. From the coffin at the center, seven green flames shot out in different directions.
The flames stopped when they reached the monoliths at the edge of the magic circle. The seven monoliths, touched by the flames, were quickly engulfed in green light.
A deep, resonant hum filled the air as the monoliths emitted a brilliant jade light, followed by a massive discharge.
Boom!
The explosion was deafening. I instinctively covered my ears. Thankfully, the ceiling was open; otherwise, the aftermath would have been catastrophic in an enclosed space.
After the explosion, I witnessed the green flames returning from the monoliths, now larger than before.
Crackle! Crackle!
The flames reached the center and wrapped around the coffin. A burst of green sparks shot up, and the engravings on the floor began to glow, expanding outward from where I stood, like molten metal filling a mold.
The coffin, as if in response, began to vibrate and rattle.
It wasn’t long before the entire magic circle was illuminated in green.
“Gasp.”
I involuntarily held my breath. A sudden heat emanated from the palm of my hand on the coffin. No, it wasn’t just my hand. The entire coffin seemed to heat up, and a strange warmth rose around me.
Peering closely at the coffin, I noticed something peculiar.
A long crack ran just below what seemed to be the lid, and water was trickling out.
Come to think of it, wasn’t the Great Hero’s body frozen? That thought made the source of the water clear. It was likely the ice encasing the Great Hero’s body, melting from the flames of the magic circle.
Rattle! Rattle!
As if confirming my thoughts, the coffin shook violently, and I felt my hands detach from its surface.
This was all according to Magna Carta’s plan. I quickly stepped back.
At that moment, as I kept my eyes on the front, the lid of the coffin suddenly swung open.
And then, moments later.
Splash, splash!
The sound of water sloshing echoed as someone slowly rose from within the coffin. Like a puppet on strings, the limp body floated upward.
Finally, the Great Hero emerged. I could finally see her.
Clad in the armor and gear she wore in life, her body was obscured. But as the man had revealed, the Great Hero’s face was that of a beautiful woman.
Her eyes were closed, but her long, slender eyebrows suggested her eyes would be just as beautiful. Below her pale nose were lips tinged with an icy hue, and her chin was delicately shaped.
Her expression was neutral, but her waterfall-like silver hair and the glimpses of her wet, white skin exuded a sacred and holy aura, making her seem untouchable.
Despite her beauty, I couldn’t linger on admiration. We were nearing the end, and it was time for me to act again.
After taking a deep breath to steady myself, I focused on the two floating orbs. The black orb and the white orb. Slowly, I reached out and pushed the black orb towards the floating body. It slipped into the Great Hero’s body as if it had been waiting for this moment.
And then, it happened.
Crackle!
A blinding discharge erupted before my eyes, and the noise from the monoliths grew louder, filling the space.
Simultaneously, the Great Hero’s body convulsed violently, enveloped in radiant light. But it wasn’t over yet. Without pause, another transformation began. Her silver hair, once glowing softly, started to darken, taking on a deep, crimson hue.
By the time her hair was completely black, the sparks had subsided somewhat. Her delicate eyelids fluttered.
After a moment, her eyes snapped open, revealing deep, black irises that shone with an intense light. As those eyes met mine, I knew Magna Carta had succeeded.
With the most challenging part—the soul’s settlement—achieved, we had crossed the most significant hurdle.
Meeting her gaze, I quietly spoke.
“Shall we?”
There was no verbal response. But the woman, or rather Magna Carta, blinked once in acknowledgment.
I smiled slightly. Without hesitation, I pushed the remaining orb into the body.
Then, I turned and began walking towards where my clan members were gathered. With the impending clash of the two souls set to unleash a massive magical storm, it was best to keep a safe distance.
Even from afar, the clan members had wisely retreated from the magic circle. Their faces were all the same—staring in disbelief, mouths agape. As I approached, they all turned their questioning gazes on me.
“Kim Su-hyun, what on earth just happened…?”
As expected, Vivienne, the queen of curiosity, was the first to speak up, but I calmly shook my head. I couldn’t explain everything that was happening, and I had already coordinated with Magna Carta, so I couldn’t speak carelessly.
“Come on! Tell me! I’m dying of curiosity here!”
Despite her whining, I pointed ahead.
Boom!
At that moment, a deafening roar echoed through the hall, making my ears ring.
I winced involuntarily, then looked up to witness the final moments of liberation.
The great hero’s body was rising, spinning slowly in the air, surrounded by swirling strands of black and white light.
At first, the two souls seemed to be fiercely battling, but as time passed, the balance tipped. The white light gradually faded, leaving only traces, while the black light expanded its domain.
Eventually, the great hero’s body was completely engulfed by the black light. Despite being the original owner, the hero’s body was claimed by Magna Carta, who emerged victorious.
In short, it was over.
Flash!
Just as I thought that, a blinding light filled my vision.
The hall was flooded with such intense light that I closed my eyes gently.
I realized that I had been closing my eyes quite often during this expedition. I resolved that once this was over and I returned to the Mercenary House, I would ask Go Yeon-ju to make me some herbal tea to improve my eyesight.
How much time had passed since then?
Not much, it seemed. As I opened my eyes, feeling a slight sting, I saw a black mass slowly descending to the ground.
Once my vision cleared, I opened my eyes wide.
The mass of light that had descended to the floor was unraveling, like threads being unwound from the top.
When all the light had finally dissipated, a woman’s figure emerged from the still-glowing center.
Her jet-black hair cascaded over white armor, and her dark eyes were fixed on me.
At last, Magna Carta had succeeded in resurrecting by borrowing the great hero’s body.
Magna Carta closed her eyes gently, savoring the joy of liberation after thousands of years, tilting her head back with a soft smile. I could hear the clan members murmuring in confusion, but I said nothing, simply watching Magna Carta.
As the light and noise gradually subsided, Magna Carta opened her eyes and began to close the distance between us, step by step. Though she staggered slightly, her movements were surprisingly natural, considering how long she had been frozen. The green flames that had enveloped her earlier seemed to have restored her body.
Magna Carta stopped about two meters away from me. I could hear someone gulping nervously.
“Kim Soo-hyun. Can you explain what’s happening now?”
Perhaps it was the unusual aura emanating from the woman before us, or the phenomena that had just occurred, but even the usually composed Heo Jun-young sounded tense.
There was no reason not to. I nodded once and gestured toward Magna Carta. She responded with a gentle smile.
And then it happened.
Swish, clang!
In an instant, a clear sound rang out as Magna Carta lunged at me, wielding what appeared to be a sacred sword.
Her attack wasn’t particularly powerful, likely due to her incomplete state. But if I did nothing, my neck would surely be pierced.
Yet, I remained still. There was no malice in Magna Carta’s assault. Moreover, a white light was emanating from my chest, and there was no need to move.
Thud!
Two seconds later, I heard the sound of flesh being pierced. It wasn’t from my body, but from Magna Carta’s.
Glancing down, I saw a black sword halted just a paper’s width from my neck, trembling as if trying to push through but unable to advance further.
I calmly patted my chest, confirming that the contract imbued with Magna Carta’s oath had activated properly.
Looking up again, I saw Magna Carta standing right in front of me, surrounded by several weapons glinting coldly.
Heo Jun-young’s distinctive long sword was angled against her neck, Nam Da-eun’s Seol-ah and Cha So-rim’s Arcus spear aimed at her legs. I felt a chill on my neck, likely from Seon Yu-un’s arrow poised over my shoulder.
And that wasn’t all. Somehow, Yoo-jung had moved to Magna Carta’s side, her red eyes gleaming as she stabbed deeply into her side.
“Cough!”
Magna Carta let out a harsh cough.
Once I confirmed the light from my chest was fading, I spoke quietly.
“Why? There was no need to go this far.”
“Cough! I… I wanted to… ensure your trust. And… you have good subordinates. I didn’t expect them to actually stab me. Cough, cough!”
As the calm conversation continued, the clan members turned their questioning eyes on me. Once they withdrew their weapons, Magna Carta rubbed her side and stepped back a few paces.
After catching her breath, Magna Carta spoke in a clear, melodious voice.
“This proves my words are true. Now, may I have some time to clear up any misunderstandings with your companions?”
“Of course.”
By now, the quicker-witted clan members likely understood the situation. Yet, their sharp gazes remained.
Realizing her method of proving the truth might have been flawed, Magna Carta shrugged and sheathed her sword.
“My name is Helena Lu Aeyens.”
She lowered her hands slowly, smiling softly as she continued.
“I was the last star of Alcatraz, known as the great hero.”
Helena Lu Aeyens, the last star of Alcatraz, the great hero.
The reason I hadn’t revealed her true identity was due to a special request from Magna Carta. She wished to continue posing as the great hero while she lived, and I saw no harm in allowing it. It would be easier for her to adapt to clan life as the great hero rather than as Magna Carta (so I decided to address her by the hero’s name from now on).
To help her a bit, I spun the story that I had chosen to resurrect the great hero. I embellished it, saying I had coaxed the hero, who was aware of her sins and seeking redemption, into returning.
When I shared this story, the clan members finally looked at Helena Lu Aeyens with slightly softened gazes. Some were still skeptical, but none were vehemently opposed to the clan lord’s decision.
Honestly, even Vivienne and Sasha hadn’t started off on the best terms with us. Besides, with the contract’s oath in place, what was there to worry about?
When I explained that her attack on me was merely a formality to confirm the contract, the clan members mostly nodded in understanding.
And, as expected, the clan members were also users of the Hall Plane. As the conversation wrapped up with the mention of the Stone of Wishes, they began exchanging eager glances.
“Now it’s your turn to keep your promise.”
“Of course. Did you happen to touch the sixth or seventh orb earlier?”
“Not at all.”
“Then that’s fine. It won’t take long to activate, so you might want to explain things to your companions in the meantime.”
Now that her condition had mostly returned to normal, Helena turned and began walking away with a confident stride. The clan members quickly surrounded me, their eyes sparkling with anticipation. It was a silent pressure to explain…
“Hey… oppa.”
A cautious voice drew my attention, and I turned to see Hanbyul tilting her head in curiosity.
“What is it?”
“When you say promise… what do you mean?”
I realized my mistake. By framing it as a promise, I had inadvertently implied a deal had been made.
Trying to appear unfazed, I replied in a calm voice.
“Oh, I persuaded her. I might have fibbed a bit about the spirits’ reactions. At first, she was overwhelmed with guilt… Anyway, I told her she could meet with the Sword of Oath later and that it would be good to apologize in person. That seemed to pique her interest. So, in exchange for helping, I asked her to activate the Stone of Wishes.”
As I spoke, I could feel the holes in my own lies. I considered just telling the truth since it would come out eventually, but for now, it seemed best to let it slide. After all, I had a promise to keep with Magna Carta—no, Helena.
Yet, Hanbyeol still seemed unconvinced, her brow furrowing slightly.
“Really? But something feels off. Your actions and demeanor don’t seem like those of someone with a guilty conscience.”
“Kim Hanbyeol, that’s enough. I don’t think that’s what’s important right now.”
Huh Junyoung stepped forward to cut Hanbyeol off. I forced a bitter smile. My acting skills must be slipping lately. It seemed Junyoung was the first to catch on.
Hanbyeol shot Junyoung a frosty look but soon fell silent.
I sighed briefly, reminding myself to be more careful with my words in the future. And then there was Magna Carta… damn it.
I explained the Stone of Wishes as Helena, Lu, and Aeyens had described it to me. Each user gets only one chance, and if personal greed takes precedence, the wish might not activate.
“This is a bit vague…”
“Personal greed? How could anyone possibly know that?”
The clan members all looked uneasy after hearing the explanation.
I felt the same way, so I didn’t have much more to add. Most wishes stem from personal desires, after all. If those desires are restricted, is there even a wish left to make?
Just then.
Rumble, rumble!
As everyone pondered the nature of wishes, a sound of movement echoed in our ears.
I quickly turned to the center and saw a stone that had somehow moved to the middle of the magic circle. Around it, six other stones formed a hexagram.
As Helena moved her arm, a deep, resonant sound of magic filled the air, and a green light began to spread in a circle from the center of the stone.
And then.
The green light washed over the stone’s surface, rippling gently like water, creating a scene reminiscent of a portal to a summoning chamber.
I knew instinctively.
The Stone of Wishes had been activated.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Finally, we’ve reached the Stone of Wishes. I’ve crossed a major milestone myself. Haha.
Honestly, if there were fewer characters, I might detail each of their wishes, but with so many, I’ll focus on just a few. For the rest of the clan, I’ll simply note the outcomes of their wishes.
Now, let’s address some anticipated questions:
Sol) But mentally, it’s a male.
Sol) Oh, don’t worry. This dragon was brought in to be useful, not as a romantic interest. Its lifespan is already set.
Sol) It has various uses. It can help raise the level of mercenary mages before the Iron Mountain and solve several issues related to the magic city of Magia. Of course, it will also aid in strengthening our forces.
Sol) Absolutely not. There might be some joking references, but the chance of writing such a scene is zero. Given that the spirit is male, I would feel a strong aversion to it.
Sol) Yes, there is. But this dragon is not that dragon. Hehehe. :D