Chapter 846 |
– Just a moment~. Crescent Moon is gone now, so it should work.
Park Hayul swayed back and forth. How had I ended up left here with this guy, of all people? The more I thought back on it, the stranger our connection felt. I lightly kicked a piece of debris caught at the tip of my shoe and looked up at the building. The windows, cracked from the shock, flashed noisily in the sunlight.
It was quiet, as if the crowd of people gathered around me, all talking at once, had been nothing more than a brief dream. My resolve to return was firm. That much had not wavered. But when I thought about when that return would be, I couldn’t help the heavy twist in my stomach. Dark water seemed to seep up from my toes, cold and weighty, soaking into me.
– Chirp.
Grace fluttered up from the jewel on my bracelet and landed on my shoulder. I stroked beneath her chin with the tip of one finger. Right. You were here too. I checked my inventory, partly to make sure everything was still in order. The spear that held traces of my brother was still there as well. The kids’ toys were there too.
‘Right, Silekia.’
It had somehow become mine, but it was equipment Seong Hyunjae had made good use of. I, on the other hand, had no particular occasion to use it, so I had often handed it over to him under the excuse of lending it out. And now he had gone off leaving it in my inventory.
‘His memories were going in and out, so I guess it couldn’t be helped.’
There had not exactly been a good time to give it back. Though, really, who just casually gives SS–rank equipment to someone else like that? Even thinking about it again, it was ridiculous. Or maybe it was his way of saying, I’m impressive enough without something like this. I took Silekia out and tried putting it on. It shrank to fit my body, but there was a limit, so it was still too big. Even so, it was not unwearable.
“It’s mine.”
– Oh, right. You said he gave it to you. If it was taken in just a bit, I think it’d look good on you too!
“Look good, my ass.”
I got embarrassed and shoved the coat back into my inventory. I would return it when I saw Seong Hyunjae. Not give it to him for real, of course. More like a long–term loan.
– Chirp!
Grace suddenly flapped her wings and cried out. Park Hayul said, “Looks like he’s coming himself,” and a moment later, space opened. Someone walked out from inside.
“Myungwoo?”
– Chirp, chirp.
The bluebird circled once around Myungwoo as if greeting him happily. Rookie came with him too, bouncing out in the form of a volleyball.
– Honey!
Rookie bounced high in front of me.
– Why are you alone!
“I still have something left to do.”
– But, Honey!
“Yujin.”
Myungwoo came closer. Reflexively, I almost flinched and stepped back. Still, he didn’t look angry. Myungwoo glanced around me and continued.
“Since your brother went back too, I’m guessing this isn’t something reckless with no plan.”
“Uh, yeah. I explained everything properly, and everyone accepted it.”
“I see. Then I’ll at least hear you out.”
At Myungwoo’s words, Rookie’s eye markings rolled around in panic. He must have realized that I was planning to use keyword OFF. Since it had originally been something the Unfilial Children intended to abuse, I could understand why he felt uncomfortable about it.
“One of my skills is called Final Recompense.”
I explained the skill to Myungwoo. This time too, I vaguely talked around the keyword itself.
– Honey! Honey’s world won’t be able to accept the living Honey anymore!
After listening to me, Rookie bounced up and down as he spoke.
– It won’t stop at people being unable to recognize you. Going back itself will become impossible! I mean, while you’re alive…
So in my world, I would be a dead person, and I could only enter it as a dead person. Like the pre–regression Yuhyun, who had been pushed out because Han Yuhyun already existed there.
“Yuhyun’s title is connected to the living me. That means there isn’t absolutely no point of connection between me and my world. So shouldn’t there be something we can do?”
– If there is a connection, even if it is only one person, we can try, but… Honey’s world’s system has been disconnected and is moving independently now…
“What will happen to me?”
Myungwoo asked Rookie. Rookie turned to look at Myungwoo with a troubled expression.
– Mr. Blacksmith, you… if you go back to Honey’s world, you’ll think Honey is dead, just like everyone else.
“Meaning I would be fine if I remained as a system administrator.”
“What? Wait, Myungwoo.”
– Yes. A formal administrator and an assistant formally designated as that administrator’s successor are granted a certain degree of immunity to mental powers in order to protect the system. Something on the level of an L–rank skill can be ignored.
“Then—”
“No, I said wait a second!”
I quickly cut Myungwoo off. What was he trying to do now?
“If you become a system administrator, doesn’t that mean you’ll have to stay in the world of the transcendents, the Unfilial Children? This isn’t something you can decide that easily!”
“I’m not deciding it easily.”
“Even so, you need to hear a proper explanation first! You can’t just stamp your seal on it blindly! You’ve already been through that once! Rookie!”
– Uh, well.
Rookie’s eyes moved back and forth as if checking something, and his tentacles tapped at the air.
– There is no precedent for someone becoming an administrator while his own world still remains. Even without swallowing your own world, by the time someone becomes enough of a transcendent to interfere with the system, their home has already disappeared naturally. A planet’s lifespan isn’t eternal, after all.
After thinking for a moment longer, Rookie continued.
– As a rule, he probably won’t be able to remain in his own world. Handling the system is too powerful a force.
“See! You won’t even be able to go home!”
– But since the connection itself won’t be severed… he may be able to occasionally suspend his administrator authority and visit as if taking a vacation. About ten days a year?
“He says it’s not as if I can’t go at all.”
Myungwoo said it far too calmly. Ten days a year? That meant 355 days of work a year! If that was a workplace, it was beyond black. It was pitch black.
“Myungwoo, you have your forge too. You said you enjoyed training people, and I heard you’d gotten close to the people in the building.”
“It would be a little disappointing, but I can think of it as an overseas business trip. It’s similar.”
“…It is not similar at all!”
“Yujin, I’m a person from our world. If I become an administrator, I can touch our world’s system.”
His calm voice seemed to be trying to soothe me. The system itself had not disappeared from our world. It had simply been cut off from its external connection. If Myungwoo said he could manage that…
– That’s right! Only Mr. Blacksmith can do it!
Rookie moved as if nodding vigorously.
– There would be two beings from Honey’s world who do not recognize Honey’s death, and it would become much easier to attempt a change in perception through the system. In other words, Honey would have an easier time going home!
“That’s…”
At the words that I might be able to go home, I hesitated without meaning to. I wanted to go back. As if he knew exactly what I was feeling, Myungwoo smiled.
“You don’t need to worry about me. You already know that people can contact each other through the system. And if I install a crystal in the building’s forge connected to the Golden Forge, it should be able to act as a passage.”
– So the people of Honey’s world could come and go like entering a dungeon and meet Mr. Blacksmith. Though not often.
“That might actually be more convenient for me. And if I’m in an administrator’s position, I’ll be able to learn more things more quickly.”
“…Myungwoo.”
“Yujin. I’m still inexperienced, so it won’t happen right away. But I’ll make sure you get home. So you do what you want to do.”
His voice was gentle.
…
Before and after the regression, I had thrown myself recklessly at walls so high I couldn’t see the top. Even without any sharp solution, I had crashed into them, fallen, and struggled to get back up again. Somehow, some way, I had made it through. But honestly, carrying all of it had been hard.
Now, though, there were people who believed in me and reached out first, offering to share the weight. And I could trust them enough to leave things in their hands.
Han Yujin had lived a pretty decent life after all.
“I think this all the time, Myungwoo, but you really might be the greatest piece of luck I’ve ever had.”
I said it with a smile. Myungwoo looked as if he had no idea what I was talking about.
“There are so many other people. Why me?”
“No. You’re the only person I met purely, completely by chance after turning back time.”
The others were people I would have encountered somehow. Yuhyun was my brother, so of course. Yerim was an outstanding Hunter, enough that even I remembered her, and the S–ranks were S–ranks, so I was bound to get tangled up with them. Hamin had already been a successful information broker, Seok Hayan was already famous, and the transcendents, including Park Hayul, had basically been involved from the beginning. Kyunghoon hyung, Sohwan, and the rest were people I already had connections with too.
But Myungwoo had truly been a coincidence. If I hadn’t turned back time and gone to that place that day, he was someone I would have passed by without ever even learning his name.
“You were a blessing that just dropped out of the sky. Honestly, it’s not like I’ve ever had particularly good luck. All my stocks tanked too.”
It had to be rare to fail that badly while knowing the future.
“Most of the other things were closer to results built from my own effort and past. But you were luck I was given even though I hadn’t done anything. Maybe I used up all my luck meeting you. If that’s the case, I can understand why it ran out.”
Myungwoo looked quietly at me. Then he smiled back.
“That’s the same for me. I always say this, but meeting you, Yujin, was the greatest luck of my life.”
“Not the beginning of your suffering?”
“If it’s you, it’s fine. Work me to the bone.”
“Look at this. You won’t even deny it out of politeness.”
I laughed out loud. We pulled each other into one tight hug.
– Aaah, hyung! Me too! I’ll help too! I’ll work hard!
Park Hayul cried out, scattering tears. What was he doing?
– I’m also a person from our world, you know!
“Oh, right. You are. I guess you won’t think I’m dead either.”
He might not look like it, but he was a pseudo–transcendent, so he should be stronger than an L–rank. Though it was hard to trust him.
– And if we’re improving people’s perception, dreams can help too! There’s also a senior who can help!
Hm? Senior? Park Hayul stretched out one long leaf. At the end of it, a jellyfish appeared as if caught there.
– I told you I was going to sleep for a while.
Ru Ga Pheya sounded annoyed as she smacked Park Hayul with a tentacle.
“Sleep?”
– Yes. Thanks to spending time with all of you, I’ve accumulated quite a lot of experience and power, so I’m going to digest it. Once I wake up, I’ll be reborn as a being completely independent from King of Harmless.
Sigma suddenly came to mind. According to Hyunah, he had settled safely into our world, so if he lived a year or two without Seong Hyunjae’s influence, he would be fine.
– Help us! You’re living in my world, aren’t you? Think of it as rent, noona!
– You’re so loud.
The jellyfish beat Park Hayul with rapid little smacks. Several petals fell off and scattered through the air.
– Strictly speaking, the only person in Han Yujin’s world who will be certain that he is alive is Han Yujin’s brother. You and that one over there have become beings outside the world.
The jellyfish yawned long and continued.
– Still, since it’s a dream, I can serve as a passage. Preparation will be needed anyway, so wake me up in a month.
Ru Ga Pheya disappeared, telling him not to even think about waking her before that. Park Hayul shouted in triumph that she would help. Myungwoo, who had been looking at Park Hayul with dissatisfaction, muttered quietly that he was still useful, at least. While everyone seemed to breathe a little easier, only Rookie still wore an anxious expression.
– Even so, Honey. This is still dangerous.
“When has anything I’ve done not been dangerous?”
– No, not only the part about Honey going back. Crescent Moon herself is too dangerous. With the owner of dreams involved, you should be able to obtain power beyond a transcendent through Final Recompense. But Crescent Moon is a very old transcendent. And Chain will be inside Crescent Moon’s territory, which makes this even more unfavorable for you. No matter how many times I calculate it… it’s difficult. It really is.
“I still have to try.”
– And there’s Crescent Moon’s Cradle too! The Cradle is…
Rookie trailed off. The volleyball bounced weakly once.
– Honey may have to deal with the Cradle too. Why not just go back like this? Strengthen the world of dreams and protect Honey’s world. The Cradle is aiming for the system too. I’ve already sent summons to every system administrator on the other Origins’ side, and they are buying time for us too.
“Buying time? Who is?”
– Um, Lord Chaos. So we should be able to protect Honey’s world somehow!
Rookie pleaded with me, saying that if I went back, I could live safely. Tears even welled up in the volleyball’s eye markings.
– I want Honey to be safe! I want you to go back and live happily!
“Yeah. I will.”
I picked up the volleyball and stroked him.
“Rookie. If, and I really mean if, I fail. Could you protect our world using the method you just mentioned?”
– Honey!
“It’s so that I can truly live happily.”
So that I could do everything within my power and move forward without regret.
– I can, but…
“Thank you, Rookie. I’m really glad you’re here.”
– …
Honey. I…
“A lot happened between us too. But if the system administrator had been anyone other than you, things would’ve been much harder. Whatever happened in the past, Rookie, you’re a good guy. That’s what I think.”
It was true that he had deceived and used me, but imagine if some other transcendent had been in Rookie’s place. Horrifying. Rookie stared up at me. Then he squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again.
– Mr. Blacksmith still hasn’t been registered as a formal administrator. He needs to go back and be registered as my successor first, so please use skill OFF in ten minutes.
“Yeah, thank you. I’m counting on you.”
– I like you, Honey.
“I like you too.”
Rookie spun once in midair. Then he bounced through the open space first. Myungwoo tapped me lightly on the shoulder.
“Be careful. And don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Yeah. You too, Myungwoo.”
– Chirp!
Myungwoo’s fingertips lightly stroked Grace.
“Take care of him.”
– Chirp!
Myungwoo returned as well, and the opened space closed. I took a long, deep breath. Ten minutes. I looked down at the watch around my wrist. It might break, so I should put it in my inventory before using OFF.
– Hyung, I’m going to sleep for a bit too. The dream world will become sturdier if I sleep as well.
“Yeah. See you again.”
– Yes. Definitely! I’ll be waiting!
The flower waved his leaves toward me, then disappeared. Grace returned to the bracelet too, and I was truly left alone.
Time passed slowly. I watched the hands inch forward.
‘I wonder if Yuhyun explained things well to the kids.’
I was worried about Gyeol and Seol too, but Byeol was especially young, so she weighed on my mind even more. Still, maybe because she was so young, she would be able to believe that someone dead could come back to life.
The time that had seemed to crawl passed five minutes, and eventually reached ten. I took off the watch on my wrist. I placed it carefully in a box and put it into my inventory.
–TL Notes–
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