Chapter 106
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Conclusion of the First Crossroads of Destiny
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Seol Yu-bin's urgent cry reached my ears, and I immediately moved to the Frost Core's location alongside Chae Yeon-hwa.
And I froze solid at the sight unfolding before me.
"W-What is this?"
Chae Yeon-hwa's barriers—seventh-grade or higher—that had enveloped the Frost Core were all slowly developing cracks.
Inside them, the Frost Core itself was contracting and expanding repeatedly, as if it would burst at any moment.
"About two more minutes... before it gives out."
Chae Yeon-hwa, having instantly assessed the situation, placed a hand lightly on the barrier and continued.
"The demonic energy spread by the Lord of Indulgence stimulated it, causing the Frost Core's chill to surge uncontrollably from within."
"Hyun-sol, you eventually... No, wait—what exactly are you saying?"
Seol Yu-bin looked at Chae Yeon-hwa with a somewhat ambiguous expression.
"I've heard all about your reputation countless times. But even your barriers can't fully contain it?"
"Yes, they can't. Not only do I lack the mana left to deploy stronger barriers there,
but it's already on the verge of exploding, so containing it is just a temporary measure. It'll burst eventually."
Chae Yeon-hwa shook her head calmly.
"There's no mana left to spread stronger barriers there either... The Frost Core itself is already preparing to collapse.
Right now, this is just holding back the explosion for a moment. In the end—"
It was then.
Pzzzt—!!!
New cracks spread across the entire surface of the Frost Core like crashing waves.
Seol Yu-bin instinctively stepped back and shouted.
"No... It's accelerating!"
We all scanned our surroundings simultaneously, racking our brains for any possible solution.
Reposition the mana stones? They're frozen solid—can't even touch them.
Layer more barriers? The wave repulsion would cause an immediate explosion.
Move the Frost Core? Touching it would set it off instantly.
Share our mana to suppress it? All three of us are drained from intense combat.
Nothing would work properly.
As snow flurried and frost pierced into our lungs, Seol Yu-bin suddenly turned to me.
Her eyes were already filled with resolve.
"Hyun-sol."
"Noona?"
"...You, evacuate everyone from Seolga right now. I'll stay here and... embrace as much of the Frost Core's chill as I can."
"What?"
The words slipped out before I knew it.
Seol Yu-bin forced a smile.
"I'm Seolga's heir, after all. If it's my responsibility... I have to shoulder it."
She moved toward the Frost Core.
Even Chae Yeon-hwa looked shocked and naturally grabbed Seol Yu-bin's arm.
Then she bowed her head deeply.
"I'm sorry. I only meant to borrow a tiny bit of the Frost Core's power to deal with the Lord... but for some reason..."
"...We can't pin it all on you. Mother and I overused its power fighting the Lords too.
That's why I'm making this choice without hesitation."
"Still... that's utterly insane. If you take it on—"
"I know I might die. No, the odds are high. I already failed the test half a year ago."
Yu-bin cut her off.
"But right now, it seems like there's no other way."
"Noona."
I gritted my teeth and stepped in front of her.
"Hold on. That method just won't work."
Yu-bin swallowed hard and looked up at me.
Her face looked pale under the icy barrier's glow, but her eyes were as resolute as when we fought the Lich.
"Hyun-sol, this isn't the time for emotions. If this thing blows... the whole country, you, Chae Yeon-hwa, everyone upstairs—"
"There's a way."
I cut off her desperate, despair-tinged cry in one breath.
"...What?"
"There's a way."
I stared straight at the cold spilling from the Frost Core and said it.
"Exactly one. A way to stop this without any of us dying here."
Seol Yu-bin's pupils trembled wildly.
"Hyun-sol... don't tell me, you—"
I slowly raised my right hand.
And said very quietly,
"...I'll absorb the Frost Core myself."
"Are you insane? You think that's possible? Even I and Mom failed—how could you..."
"It is. There's exactly one method that can really work."
As I answered, I looked at the new alert that had appeared.
[Main Story Chapter 6: The Demise of the Snowflake and the Red Dawn Begins, Along with the First Crossroads of Destiny.]
Defeat the Lord of Obsession Kallias, Lord of Comparison Raes Belkuel, Lord of Indulgence Pasara Nevrigos, Lord of Ruin Azator Harmegion and Survive.
Ding—!!!
You have partially cleared the Main Quest. The Lord of Obsession Kallias was recruited instead of defeated,
the Lord of Comparison Raes Belkuel fled on the brink of death, and the Lord of Indulgence Pasara Nevrigos
and Lord of Ruin Azator Harmegion have met their ends. Rewards will be distributed.
70,000 SP
S-Grade Item Guaranteed Draw Ticket
A~S+ Skill Draw Ticket x1
S-Grade Trait Guaranteed Draw Ticket x1
The SP reward was a bit low, but including what I got from Karseiron earlier, I now had 100,000 SP.
That meant I could acquire the final trait required for Stellar Magic—one of the three conditions, an S-Grade trait:
Split Reconstruction.
With that, I might be able to absorb the Frost Core's power and fully make it my own.
I stowed the other rewards in my inventory for now and entered the System Shop to purchase the Split Reconstruction trait.
Ding—!
A new window appeared before my eyes.
[Split Reconstruction purchase completed.]
Below it, the trait information automatically scrolled into view.
[Split Reconstruction]
Grade: S
Splits, disassembles, and rearranges mana, authorities, monster energies, or form waves that the user contacts or attempts to absorb, reconstituting them into a form suitable for the user—a high-level conversion trait.
Unlike typical absorption or assimilation traits, it granularizes the target's essential structure into fragments, then automatically reassembles them within the user's tolerance.
[Trait Effects]
[Split]
- Surgically severs the core of overloading or rampaging energy at the wave level for forced stabilization.
- Allows even unbearable energies to be taken in by breaking them down.
[Reconstruction]
- Reassembles split fragments to fit the user's mana circuits and constitution.
- Converts them into optimized new properties without weakening from the original.
[Simultaneous Circulation Optimization]
- Automatically adjusts circuits to circulate clashing heterogeneous attributes simultaneously.
- Essential condition for multi-attribute and heterogeneous mana fusion in Stellar Magic.
A ultra-rare trait that breaks down unmanageable quantities and qualities of power into pieces for assimilation, then remakes the assimilated power as one's own.
Special Note: Essential base trait for handling Stellar Power and its superior authorities. No true Stellar Mage in history lacked this trait.
Even if one existed, they could not be called perfect Stellar Mages.
"After all the bullshit hurdles holding me back until at least sophomore year second semester, I finally get a trait worth seeing."
A bitter laugh escaped me unbidden.
But that's that, and this is this.
Having confirmed all the trait's effects, I tore my gaze from the Frost Core and looked at the two women.
"I can't explain in detail, but I have a powerful unique trait that lets me withstand the Frost Core of the Eternal Frost."
"......"
"......"
They both wore expressions like I'd just spouted nonsense that hurt their feelings.
But as I'd said, there was no time for detailed explanations, so I gently took both of Seol Yu-bin's hands and spoke.
"Noona, I know my actions so far make me hard to trust,
but please believe in me just one more time."
Seol Yu-bin, her hands in mine, seemed momentarily speechless, just staring blankly at me.
The fierce resolve to charge into the Frost Core moments ago was gone,
and fragile, wavering emotions were blooming from deep within.
"You..."
She couldn't continue for a moment.
A little later, she slowly raised her hand and laid it over the back of mine.
Her fingertips trembled, but it wasn't just from fear.
"...You really believe you can handle what you're about to do?"
"Yes."
"What's your basis?"
"I can't explain it in words. I'll prove it by succeeding."
"..."
Seol Yu-bin drew a long breath.
The exhale from her battle-weary lungs turned white in the frosty air.
Then she slowly nodded.
"...Okay. Fine. You've always been like that. You're an adult now anyway—no right for me to stop you anymore."
Her words were half resignation, half trust.
Chae Yeon-hwa watched the exchange for a moment before slowly approaching.
"I... won't oppose it either."
"Really?"
She wore her familiar smile on her bloodied face, but clearer now.
"Even if we evacuate, if Seol Yu-bin fails, we're dead anyway.
Clinging to a sliver of hope isn't so bad."
Chae Yeon-hwa whispered with a faint smile.
"Plus, based on Hyun-sol I've seen so far, I believe you'll definitely succeed."
"..."
Her words struck deep in my chest for some reason.
Faith without evidence or cost... Or maybe it was Seol Yu-bin's subtle gaze piercing me too.
"Then..."
I looked at them once more.
"One last question, quickly. Are you really okay with this?"
Yu-bin stood firmly in front of me and answered shortly.
"Yes. It's your decision, but..."
She fixed me with an unyielding gaze.
"We're not leaving. No matter what you do, Hyun-sol—we'll watch over you to the end."
Chae Yeon-hwa bowed her head lightly as well.
"Focus on surviving first. I have no intention of letting you die..."
The Frost Core was pulsating faster and faster.
As if signaling it was truly on the verge of exploding.
I quietly released their hands and took one step toward the Frost Core.
"Then... let's begin."