Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: Premonition (9)
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Suhyun nodded with a half-hearted expression.
“That makes sense. So, who was the other parent?”
“I don’t know.”
“?”
“The other parent was a wandering elf. That’s why I tried to stop it. I always say it—half the problems in the world happen because of good-looking, pretty things.”
There was malice in Eirum’s words.
“We spent a few days together, then she vanished. Later, she showed up again with the baby in tow. Then she disappeared again. So I don’t know who she was.”
“I get the gist, but isn’t treating Erendil separate from that? What does the parent have to do with it?”
“If the other parent had been a decent elf girl with good bloodline, she wouldn’t be sick in the first place.”
Suhyun recalled why Erendil was in pain. She was suffering because of her innately powerful superpower. Wouldn’t that mean her bloodline was actually good, causing the pain?
“Fine, I get it. Now get out so we can treat her.”
“Hey, can you let go of my neck? You can just tell me.”
Suhyun grabbed Eirum by the neck from behind, and Eirum said in a fluster.
“What if you disappear again? I don’t want to wander around here. I’m a busy guy too.”
“Disappear? Why would I do that?”
“I just saw you do it.”
“That wasn’t disappearing. You came while I was in a state of being gone. But how did you see it? Even if you have strong mental power, piercing through that is a whole different matter.”
“I saw it with my superpower.”
“I see! So you’re…….”
Eirum stopped walking ahead and turned his head. He stared straight at Suhyun.
“A mage?”
“You can tell that?”
“You must not know why I’m called a sage.”
Eirum wagged his finger with an arrogant attitude. Doing that with his barrel-like body made him twice as annoying.
“Do you know what my ability is?”
“What is it?”
“I can see the future.”
“…!”
Suhyun’s face showed shock. His own ability to turn back time was shocking enough, but seeing the future was plenty shocking too. A cheat ability he’d never even seen before.
Suhyun’s hand twitched. If he could, he’d grab the guy right now, drag him out, and use him as a future oracle.
Oblivious to Suhyun’s thoughts, Eirum spoke casually.
“Of course, it’s not that impressive. I can’t see it whenever I want or in detail. It’s really just fragmented glimpses that pop up sporadically.”
‘Tch.’
Suhyun clicked his tongue inwardly. From what he said, it was far from the future sight he’d hoped for.
Unaware that he’d unknowingly saved his own life, Eirum kept chattering.
“That’s why I like this forest. It’s perfect for piecing together those fragmented inspirations. Oh, but I didn’t guess you’re a mage from seeing the future. That was just a lucky shot. Because of your dragon features.”
“You read faces too?”
Suhyun scoffed. Dragon features, really.
“Don’t underestimate elf physiognomy.”
“Dragon features? What kind of features are those? You wouldn’t say that if you saw a real dragon.”
“You don’t know what dragon features mean?”
“?”
Suhyun paused for a moment before answering.
“Something as powerful as a dragon, right?”
“That’s why humans are…. Dragon features aren’t that.”
“Then what are they?”
“Exactly what they sound like—features that show you’re fated to become a dragon.”
“???”
Suhyun couldn’t comprehend and asked again.
“Become a dragon? How can a human become a dragon?”
Eirum grinned at Suhyun’s curious question. It was a mischievous, impish smile.
“Curious, huh? Good attitude. Everyone turns into a curious kid in front of the great Eirum. If you’re curious, ask more politely……. Gah!”
“A sage who can see the future, but poor judgment.”
Suhyun immediately grabbed Eirum by the neck and lifted him up.
“Are there eyes watching us in this forest right now or not?”
“N-No, none.”
“And if I’m a mage, do I have the power to beat you or not?”
“Y-Yes, you do.”
“Can you see the future now?”
“I-I can, I can! Put me down!”
Thud—
“Gah, gah. You violent bastard…….”
“I’m not particularly violent. Go out and ask around.”
“Ptoo!”
“Keep going with the story. What do you mean I become a dragon?”
“It’s not weird that you don’t know. Most people don’t.”
Eirum rubbed his neck as he spoke.
“What do you think dragon reproduction is like?”
“How dragons reproduce? Male and female mate and have offspring, right?”
“There are no baby dragons. At least not that I know of.”
“…!”
“Of course, a dragon that powerful could probably have offspring if it wanted. But from what I’ve seen in records, it’s far from baby dragons growing into dragons.”
“What records did you see?”
“Legends about what happens to mages who reach enlightenment. Others laughed it off as nonsense, but I had a hunch. It’s real. ‘That mage turned into a dragon and flew away~’ You know that legend?”
“Hey, I’m human.”
“Oh right, you are. Anyway, elf legends often mention mages who became dragons. Even in dark elf legends.”
“How do you become a dragon?”
“If I knew that, would I be like this? I’d be practicing to become one. Even becoming a mage is hard, and you need a ‘great’ in front to even spawn those legends, so it’s not for just anyone. I guessed you’re a mage because of those features. Don’t worry about it. I’ve seen dragon features on over ten people, and not one became a dragon.”
“All of them mages?”
“Two exceptions were mages. Once you reach a certain mage level, you develop those features, I think. Anyway, that’s what dragon features are. If you ever turn into a dragon, treat me well.”
Suhyun thought of the dragon. A massive red body and indifferent eyes looking down. Hard to believe that was once human.
‘Should I believe this elf’s nonsense?’
“But if you can see my superpower…… you must have known about Erendil’s issue too?”
Eirum was sharp despite his appearance. Suhyun realized he already knew about Erendil’s problem.
“Superpower overload?”
“You knew. Then why didn’t you say?”
“No certainty.”
“That’s not very confident for the actions you’re taking.”
“And even if you know, is there a way?”
“A way? …… Eat well, sleep well, exercise. That’s it.”
As Suhyun’s eyes turned cold, Eirum hurriedly added.
“It’s true! That’s all there is! What do you want me to do?”
“I crossed that lake, wandered into this weird forest, and the answer I get is ‘Get good sleep and exercise’? That’d be ridiculous.”
“No, really, that’s all there is. I’ll make you some strengthening tonic, have her take it and keep using her superpower. Once her body gets strong, the symptoms will fade naturally.”
“Why didn’t you tell Ethan that?”
“That idiot wouldn’t get it even if I told him. He kept demanding a one-shot cure potion. If it were possible, I’d do it!”
Eirum’s attitude was confident. Suhyun sensed from that confidence that Erendil’s condition wasn’t as serious as he’d feared.
‘Good.’
“But are we heading out?”
“You just got here and already know the way? Impressive. We’re not. If Erendil came, there are a few herbs I need. This forest is a treasure trove of wisdom. If you want something, look around.”
“Want something?”
“Want to see the face of a lost love? Go through those trees to the lake and dunk your face in. Wonder where your hated enemy is? Sit on that stump and wait for the red bird. Want to lose track of time exercising? Go back the way you came out earlier. Of course, check your condition. People have starved to death there.”
Eirum rattled off knowledge about the forest. Suhyun, who wasn’t particularly interested, half-listened until he paused.
“You can find out where a hated enemy is?”
“Sit on that stump and wait for the red bird.”
“Then?”
“Ask it, and the bird will answer.”
“…….”
“It’s real!”
“If it’s a lie, you’re added to my enemy list.”
“It’s real, you paranoid bastard!”
Eirum grumbled.
“I’ll go get the herbs. Wait there.”
Suhyun sat half-doubting on the stump.
But even after hours, no red bird appeared.
‘Should I kill him?’
As murderous intent toward Eirum surged, something occurred to him. The earlier hallucination hadn’t appeared when he was focused. So……
Suhyun relaxed his focus. The surroundings blurred like fog, and the red bird appeared.
“What do you want to know?”
“!”
“What do you want to know?”
A parrot-like tone. But Suhyun excitedly asked.
“Before I came back to the past, who were the ones that turned me into a wreck?”
Living cautiously to avoid getting hit twice was good. Thanks to that, Suhyun was no longer an easy target.
The problem was it made tracking enemies harder.
The situation was different now, so enemies wouldn’t touch him, and since he’d already returned to the past, investigating was tough.
“Questions can only be answered yes or no.”
“What? Wait, hold on!”
His heart raced.
“Before I came back to the past, was becoming a wreck related to China?”
“Yes.”
“…!”
Something clicked, and Suhyun asked again.
“Was it related to Korea too?”
“Yes.”
“They worked together?”
“Yes.”
“Those fucking bastards…….”
The curse came naturally. But he didn’t lose his reason to rage. Deep down, he’d already suspected. Creating such an intentional situation alone would be hard.
“Is Yi Jung-young there?”
“Yes.”
‘One more to kill.’
Suddenly, Eirum’s voice came from outside.
“Talking to the red bird?”
“!”
“If yes-or-no answers are inconvenient, say there’s one last question, answer honestly. Then you’ll get a real answer instead.”
Suhyun did that.
His chosen question was, ‘Where are they mostly at right now?’
“The afterlife.”
The red bird answered and flew away.
“???”
“How was it? Worked?”
Eirum looked at Suhyun, arms full of herbs.
“You didn’t hear the conversation?”
“That’s a conversation inside you, so I can’t hear it. Helpful?”
“Need to call it back.”
“Impossible. It won’t return for a while after one go.”
“How long is a while?”
“Longest decades, shortest years?”
“Damn it…… Tell me that first!”
“W-Wait! No violence!”
Suhyun closed his eyes to sort his complicated thoughts. He’d finally found a way to find enemies, only to fumble it ridiculously.
‘More importantly, the afterlife? They’re dead?’
His enemies mostly in the afterlife. That meant a lot had died. Suhyun couldn’t understand. No matter what, why were the healthy ones all dead?
‘Did my actions change that? No, even so, those guys wouldn’t die that easily…….’
“If you’re done, shall we head out? Making the medicine takes time.”
“Don’t want to interrupt medicine-making, so asking now. Do you know what this is?”
Suhyun pulled out a transparent orb. He’d gotten it long ago but still hadn’t identified it. It clearly wasn’t ordinary since it absorbed superpowers, but no way to figure it out.
Eirum tilted his head at it.
“What’s this?”
“…Never mind. Let’s go out.”
“Hey, if you ask, explain fully!”
Eirum was dumbfounded but didn’t press Suhyun further. He realized Suhyun could choke him anytime.