Episode 227: The Late Bloomer Model Student (2)
However, unfortunately, the conversation was cut short.
It was due to the situation of the model student, who had suddenly asked to wait urgently only to lose contact immediately afterward.
He was being pursued by the Black Royal Guard, who are known to maintain the order of the Dimensional Order—though they are actually suspicious.
Since conversation is impossible unless both parties can stably maintain their Holy Power, they had no choice but to wait for now.
Consequently, the conversation was paused for a moment, and Sang-hyun and Lee Si-yeon stood facing each other. Lee Si-yeon
, having listened intently to everything Sang-hyun had said as he candidly recounted his past, seemed to have a mix of emotions on her face.
“I never imagined something like that would happen. Regression, to think. Reversing time is a realm considered impossible even for the Constellations.”
“Manipulating space-time certainly wouldn’t be easy.”
“You’ve really suffered a lot. It’s as if you were groaning in agony while clutching an unspeakable secret.”
“It wasn’t quite that, but my mouth was itching to speak. I did want to deal with this frustration with someone.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
Lee Si-yeon hugged Sang-hyun tightly and patted his back.
It was a scene of deep embrace, yet there was a purity that felt neither rational nor sexual.
“What do you think will happen now?”
At Sang-hyun’s question, Lee Si-yeon’s gaze deepened.
Had he not known there was a problem with the Dimensional Order, he would not have needed to think deeply about it.
Of course, he would have lived mindlessly, content with the present, only to face a sudden disaster.
But now that the problem was clearly understood, it was something he could not simply ignore.
“The Dimensional Order does not belong to any specific individual. It belongs to all the Constellations and Divine Thrones. That is the order.”
“But according to what the model student said earlier, it felt very much like someone was trying to monopolize it.”
“That’s right. It is an absolutely unacceptable issue. But it is certainly not a matter to be dealt with emotionally.”
“Hmm.”
“You need to think coolly about the core issues and be cautious until you can see through their true intentions.”
“You need to be rational.”
“Yeah. Phew… A regression defying spacetime. I don’t know where to start or what to think about.”
Lee Si-yeon clutched her throbbing forehead. Countless thoughts, too overwhelming for a human mind to handle, raced through her mind.
Among the Constellations of the Dimensional Order, how many would realize that the current situation is a crisis?
Probably none.
That must be why the Model Student was singled out as a dangerous Constellation and is being relentlessly pursued.
Consequently, ‘that guy’s’ plan succeeded.
The Model Student was never able to reach another Constellation, nor could he convey a single message.
‘That guy’ was thoroughly driving the Model Student to the outskirts of the Dimensional Order. Perhaps he is aiming for eternal banishment.
“Let’s just wait for now.”
“I suppose so. I need to organize what I want to say once we reconnect. So many things are coming to mind.”
“Yeah, just rest for now. The opportunity to talk will come again.”
Sang-hyun nodded at her words and headed to the bathroom.
He wanted to take a hot shower first, then take a half-bath to soothe his cluttered mind. It was three hours later that contact with the Model Student was re-established. It was just when Lee Si
– yeon, slightly weary from waiting, had dozed off, and Sang-hyun was nodding off as well. Just as she had done earlier, Lee Si-yeon took on the role of relaying their messages. She relayed the Model Student's words first. “I’m still being chased by the Black Royal Guard. It seems they won’t give up the pursuit until I’m dead.” Sang-hyun asked, “Is there no way to shake them off?” “No. There is only one being chased, while there are dozens, even hundreds, chasing him. There is a limit to how much I rack my brains. Heh heh.” Was the ability to laugh even in the worst of situations a sense of composure, or madness? Sang-hyun thought it was the former. Or he assumed there was a hidden desire on the Model Student's part to reassure him. “Please tell me the situation. And I also want to know what I can do.” Sang-hyun opened up his heart, too. A sense of duty? Well, I don't think I had such grandiose thoughts. However, from the moment I regressed, I felt the weight of fate being placed upon me. It was because I always believed there must be a reason for the unique regression that others could not perform. That is why I wanted to find the Model Student by any means necessary, through the Goddess of Fortune. To find out the reason. But once I actually reached the Model Student, the situation was more serious than I had imagined. In the world of constellations, which far transcends the human realm, it felt like things had gone completely awry. “For now, this moment might be our first and last chance. No, actually. To be precise, it is my first and last chance. I am in a situation where I have to ask a lot of favors from you, my contractor. How irresponsible, isn't it?”
Thinking of the quiet, model student from his past life, his current appearance felt alien.
It occurred to me that perhaps the model student back then was careful with his words because he was always being chased or hiding.
“No.”
“One thing is certain, for now. If time passes like this without doing anything, both the Dimensional Order and the Player world will head toward an extreme current.”
“Exactly what is happening at the Dimensional Order?”
“A distortion is about to occur. The balance of good and evil is on the verge of collapsing.”
“The balance of good and evil?”
“The meaning is simple. An absolute balance capable of maintaining a 50/50 split between good and evil constellations.”
“Ah…”
At that moment, Upper Rank, realizing something, let out a sigh of realization. It was
because his past life came to mind.
Back then, as time passed, the number of players contracting with evil constellations increased, and
the landscape of the Hunter world began to shift. A picture was naturally formed where evil ran rampant.
And the power of the player who had contracted with a benevolent Constellation began to weaken. It was the beginning of reverse growth.
As a result, by the time Sanghyeon regressed, the world had already become a hell devoid of dreams and hope.
In a sense, the world was so hopeless that the regression itself was considered the greatest gift. It seems
the moment that this misfortune was conceived is now. A situation where the scales of good and evil have collapsed, and absolute balance has been shattered.
“The Mediator has already been neutralized. The Chief Administrator of the Dimensional Order is now unable to do anything.”
“Is he an important figure?” “
The Dimensional Order does not have monarchs like kings or emperors. However, there is a being to hold the center. A being of balance, unbiased to any side. That being has lost his power.”
“…….”
“If the balance collapses, the qualification screening for Constellations and Divine Thrones will be completely neutralized, and the number of Constellations of one alignment will increase in large numbers. Which alignment they become will depend on the whims of the one who destroyed the balance.”
“Who on earth is it?”
“The Eye of Calamity.”
Sanghyeon’s eyes gleamed.
The Eye of Calamity.
It is a familiar name.
[The 'Eye of Calamity' reveals greater hostility toward you for having defeated numerous players sponsored by evil-aligned Constellations.]
[The 'Eye of Calamity' begins devising special measures to concretize your location and existence.]
Sanghyeon had previously recognized his existence and hostile feelings through this message.
A being standing in opposition to the God of Storms. He was the culprit behind the imbalance in the Dimensional Realm.
The Model Student continued speaking.
“However, a Constellation cannot break the balance of the entire Dimensional Realm on its own. But it is possible through indirect means.”
“Are you perhaps using a Contractor?”
Sanghyeon asked, sensing something, and received an immediate reply.
“That is correct. That Contractor is currently active. As his power grows, the imbalance in the Dimensional Realm will deepen. The problem is that time is running out. In human terms… maybe a month at most. It might be less
than that.” The word “one month” sounded like a death sentence. His heart sank.
“In other words, you mean that if we prevent that contractor from taking action, the future could change?”
“At least we can slow down the progress in the current situation. Then we won’t reach the worst-case scenario where the balance collapses.”
“That means… you’re saying the answer is for me to kill the contractor who contracted with the Eye of Disaster.”
“That’s right. If that happens, the first step would be to… neutralize…”
*Static*. Just
as I was about to listen to the model student’s next words, loud static was heard, and the communication was cut off.
Judging by the fact that the conversation was cut off without even a moment to notify, a new situation that would unfold urgently must have arisen.
Lee Si-yeon, who had overheard the entire conversation, looked just as serious as Sang-hyun.
Perhaps that was why. Even though the conversation had ended, she did not speak to Sang-hyun first or send him a glance.
She knew that any words or actions at this moment could place a heavy burden on him.
She believed it was right to wait for Sang-hyun to think, deliberate, and make a judgment sufficiently.
Thanks to her consideration, Sang-hyun had time to think alone.
'I think I know the reason for the regression for sure.' "When I made a contract with the Model Student in my previous life, the situation had already become irreversible. However, from that moment on, he must have been looking forward to the future. He must have had regression in mind."
Although the Model Student hadn't said it directly, Sanghyun could fully guess.
The Model Student must have wanted to change the past timeline. And sending him as far back into the past as possible likely resulted in the present moment.
Whether he trusted Sanghyun or simply proceeded with the regression with a "whatever happens, happens" attitude was unclear.
The Model Student's plan had succeeded.
The current Sanghyun had undergone rapid growth incomparable to his past life and possessed tremendous skill.
If it were the Sanghyun of his past life, he wouldn't have even considered killing a player with the skills he possessed at this point.
However, he had calculated that he could now fight any opponent he encountered.
'I have various personal goals, but that isn't an urgent matter right now. They are things I can catch up to as long as I have enough time.'
Personal goals.
For instance, proudly placing my name in the Top 5 of domestic Swordsman players, or
building up strength and skill comparable to the reputation of the world-renowned player, Jeron Decay.
These are goals, but they are not time-limited. He has time to pursue them patiently.
However, the situation within the Dimensional Sect, which he learned about through the Model Student, is changing every minute and second.
The more active the player contracted with the Eye of Calamity becomes, the worse the situation will get.
The time allotted will also decrease. The more Sanghyun hurries, the more time he has to prepare.
'The hidden quest related to the Eye of Calamity didn't appear for no reason. The Eye of Calamity trying to persuade and intimidate me wasn't for nothing either.'
Past events fit together like a puzzle.
The wheel of fate had already been turning for quite some time.
