Chapter 409: Expanding Kang So-hyun Universe (End)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 409: Expanding Kang So-hyun Universe (End)
Stay calm.
In times like these, one must remain calm.
If I lose my mind and panic, things might truly become irreversible. Even if I feel like I’m going insane, I have to handle this with the utmost composure.
I mean, what kind of nonsense is all this… well, they didn’t say it out loud, so I guess it’s not technically “nonsense”?
Anyway, I don’t know if these thoughts are just delusions, but if I handle this calmly, maybe it’s not too late?
Misunderstandings are often surprisingly easy to resolve if you just show people the honest truth.
…But how am I even supposed to bring this up? I can’t exactly say, “Hey everyone, I’ve actually mastered the art of mind-reading and can see inside your heads, and you’ve got it all wrong,” can I?
First, okay, first, let’s find someone who seems like they can be persuaded.
Let’s see what Lilac is thinking—he usually believes almost anything anyone tells him.
‘…Yeah, now that I think about it, it makes sense. Right before Yu-hak’s birthday party, So-hyun said it. He said he did it because he was worried something bad would happen to me and Yu-na. He told us to just take the hit because he “just knew.” Back then, I thought he was just talking out of anger, but what if he actually knew what was going to happen in the future?’
No, you crazy bastard. That’s not it. I mean, in a way, you’re right, but the context is totally different from what you’re imagining…! I didn’t even know I had regressed back then!
This guy is a lost cause.
I should have expected as much from someone who got gender-swapped by a fairy.
Who else? Someone else?
Wouldn’t my Ga-eul believe me?
‘If So-hyun hadn’t been there, I would have been eaten by those poisonous insects and died back then… Maybe the fact that So-hyun didn’t abandon me in Hell and saved me had that kind of meaning? The way he kept putting up with me and forgiving me even when I was being mean and picking fights, maybe…!’
…Wait. Ga-eul’s thoughts are actually mostly true, so I can’t even deny them? No, but still, what’s wrong is wrong…! Ga-eul! What do you mean the Masked Villain is me from the future…! Why would you believe such nonsense!
If Ga-eul is out, then fine, Ha-ni. Ha-ni would surely think that regression is total bullshit…!
‘He said he was sorry for using me. Between what he said when we fought the War Demon at the orphanage and his behavior until now… there’s so much evidence that I can’t even deny it. He was able to move because he was receiving information from his future self every time an incident occurred.’
No. It’s not. Deny it. Please, deny it! It’s a bit funny for me to say this, but honestly, do you really think regression makes sense?
What about Cathy Noona…? Cathy Noona, you won’t fall for this incitement, right? You pride yourself on being cool-headed and strictly professional.
‘…After we all died and left his side, how hurt and lonely must that affectionate boy have been? I have to make sure it doesn’t happen like that this time. I need to hug him more and tell him everything will be okay.’
I’m touched, but right now, what I need isn’t a warm hug; it’s someone with eyes that can pierce through to the truth.
‘Aha, if the Masked Villain came from the future, then the Philosopher’s Stone and Cadet Kang So-hyun’s subsequent actions make sense. He was a more incredible person than I thought…?’
Even Professor Park A-ram.
‘The reason So-hyun felt guilty toward me was because he heard the fact that he couldn’t save me. Is that why his response was perfect, and why he was friendly to me from the start?’
Even Master.
‘Ah, honestly, I don’t know much about regression, but I feel like it really could be the case for So-hyun.’
Even Aisha.
Because my damn past self had built up such an absurd amount of “foreshadowing,” no one doubted the theory that the Masked Villain was a regressor.
Except for Rose, who was busy contemplating new sexual jokes, and Baek Seol, who was grinning because she already knew the Masked Villain’s true identity, everyone was convinced.
What is this? This insane lore—are you guys novelists? Why does the lore about me get deeper by the day? How did it even come to this?
Is it my fault?
Is all of this really my fault? I don’t think so.
Even if I was at fault in the beginning, saying it’s my fault that the world-building has expanded this much is just too much.
Clinging to my last shred of hope, I looked toward the Chairperson, a woman who harbored the same divine power as I did and who might have a way to perceive the truth.
The Chairperson would surely see something…
‘Everything that has happened from the past until now is explained by this. Cadet Kang So-hyun doesn’t seem to know the identity of his future self, but is telling him really the right answer…? No, probably not. He’s a cadet who already carries so much on his shoulders.’
…So you were the cause?
‘No, but wait a second. If the Masked Villain is the future Cadet Kang So-hyun, does that mean I’ve also come full circle to…? No, no. That’s not it. Even if I like the Masked Villain, that’s a Cadet Kang So-hyun who is older, has been through many hardships, and is more mature…! Wait, if I put it that way, does it mean I’ll end up liking Cadet Kang So-hyun once he gets older, goes through hardships, and matures…? No…? I don’t think so?’
…What on earth is this person thinking right now? Her thoughts are passing by so fast I can barely read them.
‘Right, even if the base is the same, if the experiences are different, they are different people. Of course. The Masked Villain and Cadet Kang So-hyun are different people. They have to be different…!’
Those are very nice words, but is it just my imagination that the meaning sounds a bit off?
‘…By the way, if the base is Cadet Kang So-hyun, I’m getting a bit curious about the face under the mask.’
I’m going to lose it, seriously. If I knew it would be like this, I should have just said I remembered everything when I took off the mask.
It felt like my decision to stay quiet and just listen to them because I didn’t want them making a fuss had backfired spectacularly.
“S-So, So-hyun, what did you bring?”
Perhaps sensing that I had noticed something, Cathy Noona awkwardly tried to change the subject.
…No, I have to fix this right now. If I let this slide, I don’t think I’ll ever have the confidence to correct it again.
At the same time, I had no idea where to even begin dismantling this insane world-building.
Even if I told the truth now, I felt like things would just get twisted even more strangely because of that crazy lore.
“…Ah, well, I happened to come across some artifacts, and I thought they might be helpful.”
In the end, I chose to run away like a coward.
Should I say I was intimidated by the lie that had grown too large for me to handle?
Honestly, how am I supposed to deal with that?
Fine, let’s just think positively. It’s not like everything is entirely wrong. From now on, the Masked Villain is my future self, and I’m just the guy struggling while receiving info from him without knowing his identity.
I really intended to live honestly from now on, but the mess my past self left behind is so huge that it’s just impossible.
Ignoring my stinging conscience, I poured the artifacts I had brought onto the table, and everyone’s eyes began to sparkle.
“W-What is all this?”
“I just picked them up on my way here.”
“…Do you really think that makes sense, So-hyun?”
Everyone looked at me as if I were being ridiculous, but this wasn’t a lie.
I really did just pick these up in a dungeon; it wasn’t even that hard.
I gave Cathy Noona a pill that increases total mana, Ga-eul a pair of boots that increase movement speed, Master a necklace that increases fire resistance, and Aisha a ring that increases magic resistance.
As I handed out items that each of them needed, they all thanked me, and Baek Seol seemed surprised that there was even a gift for her.
And then, the grand finale.
“Here, this is for you.”
When I handed Ha-ni a sword that was strictly sealed, she took it with a slightly flustered expression.
“…What is this?”
“The one I got you last time didn’t match your style or attribute. I put a bit more thought into picking this one.”
“…Don’t tell me you went out just to get us gifts? These are all things you’d be hard-pressed to find even at a high-end auction house.”
“Ah, it wasn’t that much trouble. I ran into a Golden Goblin.”
“What are you talking about…”
Ha-ni, who was reacting as if I were being absurd, suddenly froze as she realized the item she was holding was no ordinary weapon.
Hmm, was it a bit much?
The items for the others were all around Legendary or Semi-Mythic grade artifacts.
A Semi-Mythic artifact: Leticia’s Fang.
It was a sword that had been sealed in a place called the ‘Tomb Honoring the Witch of the Snowfield.’
Fighting the dragon’s clone was a bit of a pain, but since it was just a clone, it wasn’t that much of a struggle.
Fortunately, the gift offensive seemed to work. Everyone forgot about their bizarre role-playing and looked at me with eyes full of emotion. It wasn’t exactly why I brought them, but I felt relieved.
“Well, anyway, it looks like everyone likes their gifts. Shall we head out?”
“Yes. Since we’re already here, let’s do some sightseeing and head back at our leisure.”
“But is our attendance record going to be okay?”
“We have two professors here, me and A-ram Unnie, plus the Chairperson. Why are you worrying about that?”
At Ga-eul’s sudden question, Cathy Noona replied with a laugh, and as if on cue, everyone burst into laughter. The awkward atmosphere seemed to have completely melted away.
* * *
At the same time, within Kang So-hyun’s inner world, a small meeting was being held among the artifacts.
“So, what is it this time?”
Honestly, when this meeting was called, Sun Wukong thought Lucifer and the Will of the Saint were trying to pick a fight with her again. However, to her surprise, the two of them just shrugged, saying they didn’t know either.
“Hmm? It wasn’t you two? Then who called this meeting?”
Usually, those two were the main ones picking fights under the guise of a “meeting,” with other artifacts occasionally joining in. He naturally assumed it was the same this time, but the culprit was an unexpected figure—or rather, artifact.
“It is I!”
The artifact that, until recently, had behaved like a mix between a child and a beast, growling and snarling.
‘Black Shadow’ seemed to have grown rapidly after recently devouring the sword of light, Claiomh Solais.
In contrast to its usual form as a flickering, amorphous shadow, it now looked as if it were trying to express something specific with its shadows.
Until recently, it hadn’t shown much intelligence because it was busy absorbing the knowledge flowing into it, but it seemed to have fully integrated that power now. But to suddenly start calling itself “this body”—what had gotten into it?
“During my time with the Master, I have realized my true identity!”
“…Is that so? That’s good for you, but what exactly is this identity that required calling a meeting?”
“I am a Dragon!”
…Well, since the base of the artifact known as Black Shadow is a dragon’s shadow, it wasn’t entirely wrong.
“Recently, I watched the Master fight other dragons and I thought!”
“Hmm, now that I think about it, he has been fighting a lot of dragons lately.”
From Vritra to Nidhogg, and even a battle with some ice dragon—had it been stimulated by all that?
“I, too, wish to become a magnificent Evil Dragon like Vritra…!”
…Sigh, So-hyun. You fed this thing so many different things without discretion that it’s gone haywire.
You at least shouldn’t have fed it Nidhogg.
What should be done about this?
In a way, it was a desirable trait for an artifact to resemble its master, so he considered just leaving it alone. Unfortunately, it seemed it wasn’t just one artifact that had gone crazy.
“And here is my first comrade who has decided to help me become a magnificent Evil Dragon!”
— The Mask of the Hypocrite’s eyes flash with light.
…Come to think of it, those two were used together quite often.
“And…? Did you call a meeting just to tell us that?”
“No! The main point starts now! There is one thing that stands in the way of me becoming a magnificent Evil Dragon!”
“Right, and what is that?”
“You! Stone Monkey!”
“…Have you lost your mind? If you’re planning to become a Mad Dragon instead of an Evil Dragon, I shall pity you.”
“No! Because of you, the Master uses me less often, and because of that, I don’t get to eat well!”
“Watch your tone.”
“I mean, I don’t get to eat well!”
Well, like master, like artifact; it seemed it had learned how to role-play quite thoroughly. Unfortunately, Sun Wukong had no desire to play along.
“Therefore, I shall defeat you and prove it! That I am the strongest artifact, and the one who will become the worst Evil Dragon…!”
“Hoh…”
Sun Wukong turned her gaze toward Lucifer and the Will of the Saint, but they just shook their heads, signaling her to handle it herself.
Taking a quick look, it was true that Black Shadow’s level had become quite decent.
At first, he thought it was just something that manipulated shadows, but it seemed it really did provide value for everything it was fed.
“But you see.”
As Sun Wukong smiled brightly at the lunging shadows, the movement of the shadows came to a dead halt.
“If you were going to try something like that, you should have done it when I was just ‘Ruyi’ alone.”
On this day.
An unintended incident occurred where the hierarchy of Kang So-hyun’s artifacts was re-established, but unfortunately, there was no change in the rankings.
“Gwaaaaah…! Sorry! I’m sorry!”
“Now, now, stop that. If you open your mouth while being hit, you might bite your tongue. You have to be careful.”
“Save me…!!!!!”
“Since you don’t seem to have any intention of closing that mouth, it’s a bit of a hassle, but I’ll close it for you myself. Now, don’t worry. I’ll make sure you never even dream of a rebellion again.”
And so, they say Black Shadow’s path to becoming an Evil Dragon remained long and arduous.