Episode 234: Life or Death (1)
It was no longer possible to challenge the next floor.
Sanghyun placed his finger on the notification message to see if the detailed explanation would activate. There was more content.
[To resolve the system-induced imbalance during the growth process, the raid is suspended. While
it is not impossible to ignore this and challenge the next floor, your body will disintegrate upon entry, resulting in instant death.]
“This is too strong a warning to just ignore and go up.”
Sanghyun shook his head. To think
that you can go up, but risk your body disintegrating and dying if things go wrong—this is a level where there is no way to respond.
If it displayed the probability, I would weigh the chances of success and boldly(?) attempt the challenge. But
I couldn't check the probability.
If the system itself is stepping forward to issue such a warning, it is actually better not to do it at all. After all, the system
is supposed to provide warnings and guidance based on objective data. It does not lie.
“After all, even Frederick and Jeron probably didn't make it to the 20th floor on their first attempt. I fully understand.……”
He could somewhat understand why Frederick hadn't been able to tell him in advance.
If so, the strategy was effectively over.
If he went out, met Lee Si-yeon, and reconnected with the Model Student, a conclusion would be reached in some form.
Ideally, he would have liked to catch up on sleep before returning, but every minute and second was too precious for that. He
felt he had to hurry, if only for the sake of the two constellations who were waiting anxiously. There was no time to waste.
* * *
Upon his return, Sang-hyun met Lee Si-yeon immediately.
As soon as she saw his gaunt face and overgrown beard, she looked at him with pity.
At the same time, she didn't forget to praise and encourage him, saying he had worked hard.
It felt just like being cared for by an older sister or a mother.
She kept checking on him, worrying if he was seriously injured or if he was okay.
“It’s time to go back now.”
“That’s a shame. Our meeting wasn’t that long…”
“It can’t be helped. I have to return to inform the Dimensional Order of this. I am the only way.”
“I should have come back a little sooner. I’m sorry.”
“What do you mean? I’m just so happy to see you grow this much. I’m sure the Model Student Constellation feels the same way.”
Lee Si-yeon hugged Sang-hyun tightly.
This moment, feeling his warmth, was so cozy and wonderful. It was as if he understood why people hug.
“If I return to the Dimensional Order, what will happen to the owner of this body?”
“You will forget all memories of the time I was here and be able to live in a healthy body with all illnesses cured.”
“Oh.”
“However, if I erase all memories, it might get in your way or put you in danger. So, I intend to twist one memory and leave it behind.”
“For example?”
“I will remember you as a close friend from a very long time ago. And simultaneously as a successful player friend.”
“Ah.”
“Make sure I return safely to Korea, and take good care of me even after I return. Understand? I’m a lonely child.”
“I understand.”
Sang-hyun nodded.
Just then, Lee Si-yeon briefly reached out her hand, as if she had reconnected with the late-blooming model student constellation.
Then, sending a signal that she was ready, she immediately continued speaking. It was essentially simultaneous interpretation.
“Contractor Shin Sang-hyun. There is something I really want to tell you. It is the karma between us that I have thought about and organized over the years.”
“Hmm.”
Sang-hyun swallowed dryly.
He had a rough idea of what it was, but there were also things he wanted to hear directly from the model student.
“Since I am not the me of your past life, I cannot give you a definitive answer, but I can speak in light of my current self. The reason I didn’t tell you this fact, even though I made a contract with you in your past life, is simple.”
“It must be because I lacked the power?”
“That’s right. I judged that you didn’t have that level of ability and gave up beforehand. So, I likely wished you would simply go through all sorts of trials and tribulations as a player, and rather suffer greatly.”
“Then the times you often told me to challenge this, to challenge that…”
Sang-hyun frowned slightly as memories flashed before his eyes like a slideshow. It is because I recall the grueling hardships I went through.
Occasionally, the model student would offer missions urging me to take on a tough challenge.
Like visiting a dungeon filled with tough, resilient monsters that were incredibly difficult to kill
, or participating in a massive raid where chaotic battles raged non-stop.
Back then, I did it simply because I was told to, but I didn't know the reason. That mystery has finally been solved.
“Right. I believed that while it would be difficult in this life, that experience would hold great significance in the next.”
“So you were preparing for regression?”
“That is correct. However, he probably couldn't have told me. The moment the subject of the experience becomes aware of it, space-time reversal becomes impossible.”
“…The puzzle pieces are fitting together one by one. Combining the two lives into one, a reason emerges.”
“Your ability—the ability to consume artifacts—is not an ordinary one. Rather, it is a one-of-a-kind ability. It is an ability that no other player possesses besides you.”
“That is correct.”
“What I mean is, that is precisely why it is an ability that attracts attention. I heard from the Goddess of Fortune that a constellation like the Dark Hunter took an interest in you from the very beginning, right? That is exactly it. Your ability is so deformed that its strangeness is immediately recognizable.”
“Then, regarding your past life, the fact that you only realized your ability to consume artifacts when you were old enough that it would have been difficult to even realize it?”
“That is correct. I deliberately made you realize it late. I could have told you earlier, but I didn’t.”
“Because your past life—that is, this life at the time—was a failure?”
“It’s a bit of a funny way to put it, but… that is exactly right. I didn’t want to go out of my way to give a singularity to a life that had already failed.”
“Hey… this is too much. No, rather than too much, isn’t it too cold?”
Sanghyun burst into a hollow laugh.
Although he said that, it was not that he was unaware that the Model Student had made a strategic judgment.
On the contrary, he believed the student had looked further ahead and made a wise choice.
Had this ability blossomed early in his past life, he would have been the center of attention from other constellations and the Dimensional Order.
In that process, unlike the fate of the Dimensional Order, which had already entered a tragic phase, he would have merely exposed his hidden card.
That is why the Model Student deliberately gave up in the game, even though he held the best hand. It was because it was a hand that could be used in the next round.
“The ability of regression that I was able to create. The ability to consume the artifacts you possess. And the situation where you met the magnificent constellation known as the Goddess of Fortune, giving wings to your growth. All these elements have combined to create the possibility of changing a past that was previously unchangeable.”
“Hmm…”
“A probability that was merely one in tens of thousands has come to us. That is right now. Among the tens of thousands of situations where the future cannot be changed, there is only one different possibility! We are all standing at that turning point.”
The moment he heard those words, Sanghyun’s heart pounded deeply. To think
that among tens of thousands of impossible possibilities, there was only one possible move to be found.
To Sang-hyun, who had never once won a small lottery prize, that probability felt incredibly small.
Yet, he found himself standing on the timeline of that single probability. At the very moment he could change the future.
The model student added,
“The player who contracted with the Eye of Calamity likely grew their power by killing skilled players and absorbing their constellations. It is also the point where the seeds of tragedy were conceived. In their past lives, they must have already killed many players, and it would have been irreversible.”
“A player who kills other players. Luca Violet. The Constellation Predator.”
“Right. If a player comes to mind, that is the right one. He is the collaborator who contracted with the Eye of Calamity.”
Starting with the Tori and Nietzsche incidents, these were the players of the Predator Network who would occasionally reappear just as Sang-hyun was about to forget them.
Back then, he had thought they were merely ill-fated ties born of greed, but now he realized that was not the case.
Luca Violet and he were destined to be the greatest enemies from the very beginning.
The events experienced earlier were merely stepping-stone issues that arose during the process of advancing toward the final chapter.
“If you kill that collaborator, we can buy time. If the Dimensional Order can swiftly bring this matter to public attention, we can certainly halt the progression much more effectively than we are now.”
“Understood. I understand.”
“You don’t need to worry about what happens next. The affairs of the Constellations and the Divine Thrones are our problem as well.”
Just then.
[Warning! A contractor contracted with the 'Eye of Calamity' has been detected within a 500m radius! A strong wave is being felt!]
[Warning! The target has recognized your presence!]
“……He saw right through it, too.”
Sanghyeon immediately rose from his seat. In any case, the goal had narrowed down to a single objective. All that remained was to kill Luca Violet.
He spoke to Lee Si-yeon.
“Let’s endure this a little longer until the very end. Thank you for all the time you spent with me as my Constellation.”
He addressed her not as the human Lee Si-yeon, but once again as the Goddess of Fortune of the Constellations.
Although he did not want to think that way, he felt that if things did not go well, this could serve as a farewell.
So, he offered his thanks. Because if he died, he would never be able to continue speaking.
“Sanghyeon…”
“Please leave this place to me. And Goddess, please change the fate of the Dimensional Order together with the Model Student Constellation. It’s a cheesy line, but that’s the only clean way to put it that comes to mind.”
Sanghyeon smiled.
Even at this moment, warning messages continued to indicate that they were drawing closer to the enemy.
400m, 300m… At this rate, even Lee Siyeon’s innocent original owner could be dragged into danger.
“I’ll be going now. Please tell the Model Student Constellation as well. Tell them I will change the future of this place. See you then.”
Sanghyeon held her hand tightly one last time and left the dwelling immediately without a second thought.
The decisive battle was imminent.
* * *
Sang-hyun rushed outside and moved as far away from his quarters as possible.
There were two reasons for this.
First, he wanted to ensure Lee Si-yeon wouldn't get caught up in a pointless situation. Second
, this was a place with a considerable number of hotels and a high volume of foot traffic.
Judging by the fact that Luca Violet had specifically sought him out at all costs, he didn't seem to care about civilian casualties.
Therefore, he deliberately exposed himself to Luca and had him follow him.
He sought a place that was free from the gaze of others and where no innocent person would be caught in the battle.
This was a matter to be resolved solely between himself and Luca; an innocent person should not be dragged into it.
Aside from using his acceleration skill, he did not reveal any other skills to Luca.
A battle of strategic maneuvering! He had no intention of wasting even the slightest of his cards.
