Chapter 217: Omen
Chapter 217: Omen
〈Reminiscence〉
“A second—a second strike is coming! Get out of the way!”
Someone shouted a warning. But I had no time to dodge as the voice urged. I barely managed to lift my head, only to see the air filled with incoming attack spells—yellow flashes, blazing fire, and the sharp whistle of wind. The spells bore down on me as if to tear me apart, brimming with unmistakable killing intent. The sight left me numb.
I tried to push myself up from the ground, but I kept slipping in the blood that flowed like a stream, collapsing again and again. Fighting through the confusion, I struggled desperately to get back on my feet.
Even then, as every inch of my body screamed in agony, I felt that something was wrong.
But we were the ones who struck first.
For some reason, Yoo Hyuna came to mind. Her light brown hair, falling in soft waves. Her benevolent face, held in a gentle smile. A white Valkyrie coat that boldly exposed her shoulders, as if flaunting her voluptuous figure. The ‘Holy Queen’ Yoo Hyuna, appearing from among the enemy Users.
We had scoffed at the Holy Queen Yoo Hyuna’s recommendation to surrender and immediately launched a preemptive strike. And she, in response to our mages’ opening volley, had let out a soft sigh before slowly raising her hand.
In that instant, a massive, hazy barrier unfolded before their army. The barrier didn't just block our spells; it performed the miracle of reflecting every single one of them. Right back at us. To be able to cast such a large-scale defensive spell in such a short time was something I had never seen or even heard of.
“Kim Soohyun! Get up! I said, get up!”
Someone’s shout struck me again. The voice snapped me to my senses, and I gritted my teeth and forced myself up.
Boom! Boom! BOOM!
A powerful impact shook my entire body, and the next thing I knew, I was floating in the air. It felt like I was going up a slide backward, and then I was sent tumbling violently across the ground.
Without even a moment to spit out the salty blood that filled my mouth, my eyes closed.
*
Ahn Sol’s tone was relatively calm, but it seemed to conceal a sense of urgency. I composed myself. I trusted Sol, and she trusted me. Rather than stall by questioning her further, I needed to act quickly as she had said.
However, there was something I needed to clarify first.
“Alright, I understand. But let me ask one thing first. Is it impossible to choose both? For instance, couldn't we go to one place first, and then head to the other?”
“That's why I said I was sorry. It's too late to choose both now. For now, you have to pick one, quickly. Otherwise, we'll be too late for both. I have a feeling.”
I could not yet take Ahn Sol’s words entirely at face value. Still, when she said there was no other option, I nodded and studied the two directions she had indicated: forward and left. I chose without hesitation.
“Let's go left.”
“Yes. Just keep going straight this way.”
Ahn Sol let out a deep sigh, as though her part was finished, and came to my side. I took her hand and quickened our pace. As a precaution, I gradually expanded my Sensing.
The path was unfamiliar, so much so that it could have been named Easter Egg 2. But this was no time to dwell on such feelings.
I was hurriedly leading Ahn Sol out of a narrow path. Just as a haphazard pile of heavy boxes and a slightly worn container came into view ahead, an unidentifiable presence brushed against the edge of my Sensing. I stopped reflexively and focused my senses on that presence.
As I focused and expanded my Sensing on that spot, I was soon able to get more detailed information.
Two. There are two of them.
Two Users were nearby. If I continued straight, I would expose myself to them, but going around would take too much time. Looking around, I was relieved to find a narrow path off to the right. It was a gap just wide enough for one person to squeeze through. I quickly squeezed my body into the opening.
“……”
“……!”
As I moved, muffling my footsteps as much as possible, I began to hear what sounded like a conversation. I proceeded even more cautiously until I reached a spot just out of their line of sight.
From there, I peeked out just enough to get a minimal view, then immediately circulated my magic power to enhance both my vision and hearing. And then….
“Why do you keep doing this to me? I told you I'm not interested.”
“You might not be, but I am.”
“Ha! D-Do you think I've forgotten what you did to me during the Rite of Passage?”
“You…”
Isn't that Park Hwanhee? What's that bastard doing here?
In the open space ahead were two Users. And one of them was a User I knew well. Standing before Park Hwanhee was a shorter User with an intimidated posture. He was so short and slender that, at a glance, one might mistake him for a woman.
I listened quietly to their conversation.
“Baek Hangyul. No, Hangyul. I'm truly sorry about what happened back then. But please, calm down and just listen to me for a moment.”
“Cut the crap! I-If you keep this up…”
“…What if I do?”
“I-I’ll expose you for what you really are. I’ll tell everyone what Yuna and I went through because of you back then.”
“Heh. What was that?”
As the User called Baek Hangyul cried out desperately, Park Hwanhee let out a faint laugh. He then took a large step toward Baek Hangyul. Baek Hangyul tried to pull away, but Park Hwanhee's hand shot out and grabbed his shoulder.
“Go on.”
“What?”
“I said, go on. You think that will make me bat an eye? Don’t you remember there were other people there besides you, Yuna, and me?”
“Th-That's…”
Baek Hangyul stammered. Park Hwanhee glared at him with a sharp gaze before his expression softened and he let out a deep sigh. He lowered the hand on Baek Hangyul's shoulder and continued.
“You frustrating kid. Yes. I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry. But back then, I had no other choice. If I hadn't... done that to you two, what do you think would have happened to everyone else?”
“So you're just asking me to understand and let it go? Without any thought for our side of things—how we almost died, how we barely survived and trembled with betrayal?”
“Yes. You must be angry. I'd be angry too. I get it. But for now, try to put your personal feelings aside. Let's look at reality. We're in a completely different world now, not Earth, not the modern world.”
“Enough. I’m sick of hearing that. Why are you trying to drag Yuna and me into your insane plan?”
At the words "insane plan," Park Hwanhee's softened expression instantly froze over again. He then began to press Baek Hangyul with a sharp voice.
“Insane? Why do you think that?”
“W-Whatever! It's safe here! Why are you making things so complicated when we could just follow the rules…”
“You idiot. In three months, just three months, this safety net will be gone. After that, we won't have a place to sleep or food to eat. We'll have to fend for ourselves. What do you think will happen to the Users who don't get an offer from a clan?”
“Hmph. I doubt that applies to you. Why do you even care?”
“Why wouldn't it? Am I supposed to just abandon the comrades I've been through thick and thin with since the Rite of Passage?”
“I-It's hilarious hearing you talk about comrades. And didn't you make a deal with those people anyway? Do you even have the right to say that? A-And…”
At Baek Hangyul's words, Park Hwanhee's face twisted into a frightening scowl. Sensing his sincerity, Baek Hangyul's voice slowly trailed off. Park Hwanhee breathed heavily, staring intently, before speaking as if letting out a sigh.
“I'll say it again, I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry. But the plan I told you about is the best method I have. We have no foundation here. You can call it a deal, but it can bring about the best outcome where everyone can survive. Why can't you understand that?”
“I-I don’t know about any of that. Fine, whatever. I don’t know what ulterior motive is hiding in your plan, but let’s say your intentions are good. Th-Then do it only with the people who want to! Why are you trying to drag innocent people like Yuna and me into this? Please, I’m begging you. I’ll keep my mouth shut, so leave us alone. Please….”
As if he had used all his strength, Baek Hangyul collapsed as soon as he finished speaking. Park Hwanhee immediately reached out to him, but Baek Hangyul didn't take his hand. Park Hwanhee stared silently at the slumped figure, then bit his lip and took a step back.
It was then. It was only for a fleeting moment, but I didn't miss the cold glint that flashed in Park Hwanhee's eyes.
A moment of silence passed before his lips slowly parted.
“I need your power. Your power could have a tremendous impact on this world called the Hall Plain.”
“What? How do you… N-No. What are you talking about all of a sudden? What power?”
“Don’t play dumb. Yuna already told me everything. I heard that with your power, you passed in only five days what the rest of us could not break through.”
“Wh-What? Yuna did?! No. That can't be right. There's no way… Don't tell me you guys did something to her…!”
What?
Baek Hangyul wasn't the only one shocked by Park Hwanhee's words. My own mind went blank. As their standoff continued, I quickly regained my composure. And immediately activated my Third Eye.
〈 Player Status 〉
1. Name: Baek Hangyul (Year 0 User)
2. Class: Aegis (Awakened Secret, Aegis, Beginner)
3. Nation: -
4. Clan: -
5. True Name · Nationality: Heavenly Talent · Republic of Korea
6. Sex: Male (18)
7. Height · Weight: 173.7cm · 58.8kg
8. Alignment: Lawful · Good
[Strength 38] [Durability 54] [Agility 36] [Stamina 48] [Magic Power 62] [Luck 74]
〈 Achievements (0) 〉
〈 Unique Ability (1/1) 〉
1. Reflection (Rank: D Zero)
〈 Special Ability (1/1) 〉
1. Aegis System (Rank: C Plus)
〈 Latent Ability (3/3) 〉
1. -
2. -
3. -
Holy shit, an Awakened Secret Class? No, why is Aegis appearing now?
An Awakened Secret Class. A class that appeared only twice in the first playthrough. The moment I saw it, I almost screamed out loud, but I managed to clamp my mouth shut and swallow the cry.
A mixture of joy at finally finding it and astonishment at the ridiculously overpowered Player Status washed over me all at once, but I kept a firm grip on my senses. There had to be a reason Ahn Sol led me here. If so, the right thing to do was to set aside my emotions for a moment and deal with the situation at hand. Suppressing my rising excitement, I continued to focus on their conversation.
“Let me be clear, we didn't lay a single finger on your girlfriend. No, in fact, she came to me on her own.”
“D-Don't lie. Yuna would never do that. Why would she go to a bastard like you…”
“Hangyul. I’m older than you, so don’t talk to me like that. Besides, you can ask her yourself. Why would I lie about something that would be exposed immediately?”
“You call yourself my older brother? Don’t make me laugh. After you abandoned us and ran….”
As if he had no response to the accusation, Baek Hangyul could only let out a pained groan. Park Hwanhee watched him for a moment before slowly crouching down to meet Baek Hangyul's eye level.
“Hangyul.”
“……”
“I don't know why you're so desperate to hide yourself. But think about how frustrated your girlfriend must have been to come to me. She went through the same thing, thinks the same way, and probably hates me just as much as you do. Think carefully about why she would give me that information.”
“Th-That can't be right. Yuna… Yuna would never have told you that…”
“She told me for your sake. Think about it. You've seen and heard it all for yourself until now. Do these people look trustworthy to you? The ones who openly fight amongst themselves? They might pretend to care about us now, but after the training period is over, they won't give a damn about anyone except a select few.”
“B-But.”
“Yes. Like I told you, I made a deal. But I believe it was unavoidable. After all, we're still powerless. But rather than being torn apart in different directions according to their whims, I think my way is much better. And your power will be a great help in establishing our place here in the future.”
Our place? Your place, more like, I spat inwardly, calming myself down. I could still only see his back, but the Baek Hangyul who had been so vehemently refusing at the start was nowhere to be seen. The way his hands twitched was proof that Park Hwanhee's words were getting to him.
Park Hwanhee must have caught on to Baek Hangyul's state as well, because his expression grew even more sincere. I could tell that expression was completely fabricated, but to an unknowing observer, it would look as if he were putting his entire heart and soul into it.
Then, he gently extended his hand toward the User slumped on the ground.