Chapter 260
Chapter: 260
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 260
>Chapter Title: Regina's Crossroads (4)
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Achondroplasia.
It wasn't a commonly heard disease name, but it was still a legitimate Earth-style medical term. And they were calling Sungjin, dressed as a Delcrossian, an otherworlder?
"...By any chance, are you from Earth?"
The dwarf snorted and crossed his arms.
"Can't you tell just by looking? With Ionia gone, what other world besides Earth could handle this hyper-dimensional over-technology?"
Over-technology?
If you're going to call it that, aren't those tools you're wearing way too crude and old-fashioned? They'd be perfect after a tweak like adding a windmill or steam engine.
'At least the Earth before it fell, when I was alive, was a world dominated by semiconductors and software.'
Sungjin was lost in such thoughts when Dexter picked up his goggles and grumbled.
"To waste the precious time of this genius, Dexter! If it weren't for the Elder's request, I'd kick a fool like you out on your ass right now!"
What did you say, you little shit?
Sungjin's brow twitched in irritation.
This guy, getting cockier by the second. Don't you realize I'm holding back out of respect for my father's face? If not, I'd be the one...
'Hang on a second!'
Suddenly, a realization hit Sungjin like a thunderbolt, making him blink.
He had consciously stopped his brain from spinning to avoid accidentally leaking the Holy Emperor's thoughts, but now, with the simmering anger rising, his mind finally started turning again, slowly but surely.
Come to think of it, he'd almost forgotten, but hadn't the Holy Emperor once explained this to him?
—He's a wise ancient dragon who's guarded Delcross for the past millennium. I can't reveal his true name, but I call him 'Elder.'
Right. No wonder he felt strangely powerful. That old man really was a dragon!
Those vertically slit pupils had seemed suspicious.
'In that case!'
Sungjin suddenly bared his teeth in a feral grin.
Dexter flinched at the inexplicable chill and blinked in surprise.
Ignoring him, Sungjin flashed a gentle smile and spoke politely.
"It's a pleasure to meet another Earthling. I've heard so much about your world's advanced technology from the Elder. You know what kind of person he is, don't you, Mr. Dexter?"
"Ah, yeah. Whatever...."
Dexter replied with a bewildered look, as if wondering, *What's with this guy all of a sudden?*
"But what brings you, an Earthling like Mr. Dexter, to another world, living in this 'dragon's' workshop?"
"What? Why are you suddenly asking that? What do you plan to do with that info?"
Dexter's eyebrows twitched as he glared at Sungjin.
No big reaction to the word "dragon." Confirming that, Sungjin smiled broadly.
"Oh, it's nothing. I just appreciate that you're toiling away here for 'us,' when you could be in a fine place like Earth. So, could you show me around the workshop?"
Seeing Sungjin's gentle smile, Dexter flinched again and muttered under his breath.
Whoa. Why does that smile look so menacing?
"Pardon?"
"...Nothing. Follow me."
The door creaked open.
For some reason, Dexter seemed a bit cowed as he flung the door wide and gestured. Sungjin followed and peered inside, only to be quite shocked by the chaotic scene before him.
'The inside of the door is a whole different space!'
The workshop was less a room and more like a massive exhibition hall.
Engines of unknown purpose spewing fierce steam as they churned, bizarre crystal panels flashing with blinking lights. Wires in such complex tangles that their connections were impossible to trace.
Shelves upon shelves filled with such distinctive machines across multiple levels, and dozens of tall platforms to climb them.
It was as if objects from worlds and eras beyond count had been gathered in one place. Just glancing around made Sungjin's head spin.
"Haha, what do you think! Could you even imagine a place like this existed?"
As they wove between the heaps of machinery, Dexter seemed to regain his confidence, his voice growing louder.
"Look at this! A marvelous machine that performs dozens of fractional distillations in mere moments with simple controls! And that one? It's incredible too—a [Soul Reader] that can read not just a person's memories, but even records from past lives!"
"Ooh...."
Of course, Sungjin, who had lived a life far removed from machinery both in his past and now, could only offer simple admiration.
'Hmm, yes. Very intricate machines.'
Before long, they arrived at an isolated colossal machine. It was enormous, covered in a towering monitor reaching the ceiling and plastered with flashing crystal panels.
Ta-da!
Dexter spread his arms wide and proudly declared.
"Behold! The highlight of today—the ultimate [Homunculus Engine Editor]!"
But Sungjin's reaction remained simple.
'I see. An incredibly complex machine based on principles I don't need to understand.'
"Wow.... That's really impressive...."
Clap, clap, clap.
Dexter's mouth twisted at the soulless praise.
"...That's it?"
"No, it's splendid, Mr. Dexter. I'm so stunned my mind's in a fog—I can barely speak."
Sungjin spouted nonsense without batting an eye, then added,
"But is this over-technology really from Earth? From my knowledge, it seems a bit distant from Earth's tech."
Even at a glance, the antiquated crystal panels emitting eerie glows were far from Earth's machines.
Dexter frowned suspiciously.
"Of course, this is Ionia's final legacy. It's over-technology, no doubt, but not from Earth. How did you know?"
"Well, 'we' have high mental ages, so we've accumulated experience in all sorts of areas."
"...Hmm?"
Only then did Dexter sense something off. He began scrutinizing Sungjin with fresh eyes.
Hadn't he been lumping himself with the Elder as "us" from earlier? And despite his youth, he carried the solemn air of someone who'd seen it all.
Sungjin met his gaze with feigned innocence and poise. Dexter suddenly jolted back a step, his face plainly showing *Oh no!*
*Gotcha!*
"...By any chance, are you a hatchling?"
His voice dropped to a whisper, but Sungjin pretended not to hear, turning his head to dodge the question.
So if someone looks young but has a high mental age, they're all dragons? Now, who's the one soaked in fantasy?
After that, things went Sungjin's way.
"If you're worthy of becoming our ally, then despite being an Earthling, Mr. Dexter, you must have used this over-technology to live at least a thousand years, right?"
"No, no, that's not... I'm just...."
As Dexter broke out in cold sweat, Sungjin smiled warmly.
"Please speak comfortably, Mr. Dexter. I only have a mental age of 640 years. Compared to you, who's mastered this over-technology over long ages, I'm just a foolish fledgling."
*I didn't say I've lived 640 years.* So it's not a lie.
Even that was enough to drain the color from Dexter's face. He'd unwittingly insulted a proud hatchling destined to grow into a mighty dragon.
Good. Time to squeeze him a bit.
"Please help out this young, naive one, Mr. Dexter."
With that, Sungjin dumped out all the items from the Dimensional Realm he carried.
Not just the three ice hearts, but the Nebraska amulet, soul stones, magic pebbles from his siblings, and even the handkerchief tied to the nutcracker.
Since he was already in the workshop, might as well milk it for all it was worth.
"Whoa, isn't this too much...? This wasn't the deal...."
Dexter's face darkened at the mountain of work.
But Sungjin smiled and added,
"The Elder said to fulfill 'as much as possible,' so I got a bit greedy. Ah, is it too many items? Then I'll go ask him again."
"No! No, it's f-fine."
Dexter waved his hands frantically, then pulled a device from his belt. He began scanning each of Sungjin's items one by one.
After a while, his eyes widened round, and he shouted in all seriousness.
"Huh? Wait, wait! What is this?!"
"Pardon?"
As Sungjin asked blankly, the excited Dexter yelled,
"No way? It's here? Is this it? The [Signpost] made by the Oracle, said to reflect the Oracle's mind?!"
What he held up was a pendant with a shattered crimson gem embedded—the keepsake from Sungjin's grandmother that he'd found in the labyrinth before.
* * *
This happened over a dozen years ago.
Around the time the Astros Mercenary Corps had just finished a commission and was staying briefly in the metropolis of Regina.
The mercenaries, having earned a rare big bonus, were celebrating boisterously with drinks.
"Next commission's in Brittany! You'll come with us again, right, Bart?"
The heavily drunk Justin asked Nate, who was busily packing his female disguise.
But Nate didn't even glance at the captain, focused solely on his packing.
"How about officially joining the mercenaries this time? I'll settle your pay fair."
"Pass this time. I have somewhere else to go."
"...What? No way!"
Justin bellowed. He'd assumed Bart would join and eagerly taken on a commission a bit tight for their level.
"Who'll handle the commission without you?"
"Do it without me, or cancel it."
"Impossible! The pay for this one's insane! We can't cancel!"
But Nate, already dressed as a woman, strode across the tavern and said coolly,
"I know this chance won't come again. Who knows when I'll next head to the northern continent? I need to hurry to Marie."
The mercenaries watching the spat whispered among themselves.
Marie? A woman's name? Of course it is!
"What?! Bart! You finally got a girlfriend?"
"This sinful bastard's got his first love interest?!"
"You lucky dog! Is she pretty? Does she say she's waiting for you?"
Amid the rowdy excitement of the Astros Mercenary Corps, Nate pushed open the tavern door and stepped out—after kicking off the clinging Justin hard.
He was in a hurry for a reason. His lover, Marie, was unusually frail.
'Something feels off....'
Always tailed by assassins like a shadow, he couldn't stay long for her safety.
He'd stocked her with plenty of food and firewood, even leaving a [Signpost] he'd made himself as a precaution.
Yet an ominous premonition lingered that something major would befall Marie.
It was just as he was about to head north.
Crack.
A sound rang in his head, and the thing around his neck split in two. It was the last [Signpost] from his mother.
"......!"
Of all times, now.
The timing of the Signpost's breakage was clear.
'Going to the Sigmund Territory now will cause big trouble!'
Nate froze in place.
Was an assassin trailing him nearby? If he went to Marie like this, would he not only endanger himself but expose her location too?
'What I must do is set. Following the Signpost's guidance, I need to get as far from the north as possible.'
Still, Nate hesitated.
He'd left her reluctantly, but Marie was so frail she'd wither without his holy power soon. He had to visit within days.
'But Mother's foresight is never wrong. If I go to Marie now, irreparable disaster will strike.'
Closing his eyes and steeling himself, Nate tossed the broken pendant to the ground before the tavern, per his mother's dying wish to leave it if it shattered.
"Bart! Bart! Please! Come on?"
And so, dragged away by the tireless Justin still clinging behind, he ended up heading to Brittany.
* * *
[I received several Signposts from Her Majesty when I was young.]
Nate explained calmly to the Elder.
The previous Oracle, Empress Besheba, had left him three crimson gems total. One broke when he was still a small child.
The young Nate had followed its guidance then, only to get trapped in a labyrinth alone with a guard knight hired to assassinate a prince.
After barely killing the knight and escaping, Nate couldn't help doubting his mother's intent for a time. But later he learned it had dramatically averted his fate of being dragged to Rohan.
He'd given another to newborn Owen as a godfather's gift while fleeing assassins, thinking his own days were numbered anyway—hoping it would aid the child's future more than his own.
[And the final Signpost shattered at Regina's crossroads.]
As always, Nate had faithfully followed his mother's words.
But that choice at the crossroads had instantly upended his and Amelia's fates.
[If your mother hadn't altered that choice, what do you think would have happened?]
At the old man's question, Nate rested his chin and pondered deeply.
Had he sought her out then, he surely would have learned she was pregnant. And he wouldn't have met Tatiana on the way to Brittany.
With assassins on his tail, he probably couldn't have stayed by Marie's side long. But he would have circled the Sigmund Territory, visiting and caring for her often.
[Even if I'd guarded her, Marie wouldn't have escaped death in the end.]
Nate knew now. No matter the choice, Marie's life wouldn't have lasted longer.
But he could have saved young Amelia. And wandered the continent alone with the child.
Life wouldn't have been abundant, but they'd have toured the continent's wonders, sought out delicacies, and spent joyful times. That alone would have made them happy.
[Her Majesty, as Oracle, 'knew' all that and moved the threads of causality.]
A clear karmic difference existed between "moving" causality and "creating" it.
But that applied only to ordinary folk ignorant of causality.
An Oracle who pierced all causality, grasping its beginnings and ends—even merely moving it accrued karma fully.
[Her Majesty must have shouldered an unimaginably vast karma.]
The woman who drove a little girl to death's door repeatedly, plunging her life into excruciating pain, had amassed karma heavy enough for eternal torment.
Then what of his mother?
The former Oracle who, knowing the girl's misfortune, still moved causality to make it so?
Nate raised his head, his gaze heavy with shadow.
[What future did Her Majesty see, and what price did she resolve to pay?]