Chapter 297: Butterfly Effect
Chapter 297: Butterfly Effect
Ahn Sol's eyes were quite clear for someone who had just woken up. As I watched her quietly, I felt a strange sense of unease. Her face was expressionless, and her eyes were deep and sunken. She was only staring intently at me; her usual goofy smile was nowhere to be seen.
At that moment, Ahn Sol's lips slowly parted.
“Orabeoni. I dozed off and missed what you said. I'm sorry.”
“Huh? Oh.”
“But, if you don't mind, could I hear again which city you said you were going to?”
“…The first destination is the eastern general city of Prinsica. The second is in the north, a small city in the northeast called Mule. I plan to take care of business in Mule and then return to Monica.”
Ahn Sol probably knew the general locations of the cities. The reason I added such specific details was because her tone and attitude were anything but ordinary.
And the moment I heard her words, I recalled what had happened at Barbara's Warp Gate and the User Academy.
Could it be activating again?
Ko Yeonju, who knew the situation, wore an intrigued expression. Most of the other clan members, however, were staring at Ahn Sol, dumbfounded. Her behavior just now was a stark contrast to anything they had seen from her before.
Seeing Ahn Sol frown slightly, I activated the Third Eye.
Player Status
1. Name: Ahn Sol (Year 0 User)
2. Class: Priestess (Normal, Priestess, Runner)
3. Nation: Free Mercenary (Free)
4. Clan: Mercenary (Rank: D Plus)
5. True Name · Nationality: One Who Guides the Light · Republic of Korea
6. Sex: Female (20)
7. Height · Weight: 160.1cm · 46.7kg
8. Alignment: Lawful · Good
[Strength 25] [Durability 28] [Agility 27] [Stamina 35] [Magic Power 88(+1)] [Luck 101]
(Remaining stat points: 3 Free Points and 2 points reserved for Magic Power, for a total of 5.)
One Who Guides the Light…
Putting aside everything else, Ahn Sol's True Name held a profound, unknown meaning. I racked my brain, but nothing specific came to mind. I could only vaguely speculate that it might be related to the Secret Class, 'Priestess of Radiance'.
“Orabeoni. Please take me with you on this mission.”
“Alright. I will.”
“I'll go with you, Orabeoni…. Huh?”
“You asked me to take you. I said let's go together.”
I said it declaratively. Ahn Sol, who must have thought I wouldn't allow it, widened her eyes and pursed her lips.
Luck may be an unpredictable ability, but hers was at the incredible value of 101. I had personally experienced just how much power a Luck stat of 101 could wield. Because I knew this, and because I was the one who had raised her Luck to 101, ignoring her words would be the same as denying myself.
I casually ignored the pleading looks from the others who also wanted to come. Then, to make it clear there would be no more additions, I spoke in a louder voice than before.
“Then, in addition to Ko Yeonju and Kim Hanbyul, I will add Ahn Sol to the party. That is all.”
“Clan Lord. Should we begin preparations immediately?”
“Let's do that. This concludes the meeting. Thank you all for your hard work this morning. Ko Yeonju, Kim Hanbyul, and Ahn Sol. The three of you, please prepare to leave at once.”
“Yes, I will. Hey, you two. Sol. Come with me.”
Ko Yeonju pointed at them both as she stood up. Kim Hanbyul rose quietly, while Ahn Sol got up with a bright, beaming smile. Her expression had already returned to normal.
What a mercurial expression, I thought, as I turned to Jung Hayeon.
“User Jung Hayeon. We will be back within three days at the most. I'm leaving the clan in your hands until then.”
“Don't worry. And please, take care of yourself, Clan Lord.”
Jung Hayeon replied in a clear voice. Hearing her answer, I felt a sense of relief.
After the meeting was dismissed, the clan members immediately began their preparations. Since this was more of an errand than a full-blown expedition, it didn't take long. Despite the sudden departure, we were ready to go before noon.
I considered leaving right away, but Ahn Sol's stomach started to growl, so we decided to have a simple brunch before setting out.
And as I ate the tasteless food prepared by the hired staff, I had to struggle to calm my pounding heart.
I'm finally going to see my brother. And his comrades. To them, I was a sinner. A single wrong decision had cost them all their lives, and ironically, I was the only one who survived.
The reason I hadn't met my brother until now was that I didn't want to interfere with his future path. But thinking about it now, I strongly felt that was just an excuse. Perhaps the guilt buried in my heart had subconsciously made me avoid them.
They died because of me. I was the problem.
If it hadn't been for me. If I hadn't done what I did.
I slowly closed my eyes and recalled 'that time'.
‘Oh my~ My dear Soohyun~ Were you waiting for your big sis? Aww, there, there. Just wait a little longer, okay? I’ll come save you soon~.’
‘What are you going to do now, you idiot?! Why did you let things get this bad…? You should have just liked me instead!’
‘Haha. Don’t worry. I’ll hold them here, so run! Hurry!’
‘You dumbass. Just wait. I’m going to fuck up the bastard in front of me, then beat the shit out of you. Until then, run as fast and as far as you can.’
I had already regretted it countless times in the first playthrough, tormented by guilt. But even after so much time had passed, the heart-wrenching guilt wouldn't disappear. The last words of the Haemil Clan members who came to save me were too vivid to be so easily forgotten.
Honestly, I still don't understand. Of course, they had come on my brother's orders, but they showed no resentment, even as they were dying. Could a human—no, a User—really do that...?
When my thoughts reached that point, I put down my spoon. The thought of meeting my brother and my comrades from the first playthrough again made it impossible for me to swallow my food.
*
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The sky, which had been clear without a single cloud this morning, suddenly began to pour rain like crazy just as we were about to leave. It was a sudden downpour without any warning. But I didn't delay our departure. We hadn't prepared waterproof robes because of the recent stretch of clear weather, but we could just buy some from a shop. And since there was a shop on the way to the Warp Gate, there was no need to waste time.
“Mmm. Orabeoni. Why are those people acting like that?”
Ahn Sol asked, slightly lifting her hood as if the garment, pulled down so low it covered her face, was stuffy.
The three of them and I had arrived at Monica's Warp Gate. And just as Ahn Sol said, the area around the gate was swarming with Users. They were all shouting complaints about the Warp Gate in unison.
“Everyone except those going to the eastern cities, please wait! As of yesterday, travel to the western and northern cities has also been restricted!”
“Fuck! Why can't we go to Pamela! I need to get there now!”
“Who just swore? Shut your mouth! They're the ones who cut off travel unilaterally, what do you want us to do about it!”
“Agh, agh! The weather's already shit, so why are those northwestern bastards suddenly acting up too! It's raining, how long do you expect us to wait!”
The west and north are blocked too? Things are taking a strange turn…
I tilted my head for a moment, but it seemed there was no major issue with traveling to the eastern cities. I took Ahn Sol's hand firmly and began to push through the crowd of Users. When we reached the front of the Warp Gate, I saw a female User sweating profusely as she explained the situation. The clan emblem symbolizing the Istantel Low Clan was drawn on her prominent chest.
The woman turned to us, panting heavily.
“Can we go to Mule right now?”
“Travel to the central, western, and northern regions is completely restricted right now. We're keeping our side open, so you'll be able to use it again once Mule opens their gate. You'll have to wait until then.”
“What about Prinsica?”
“That's possible. Put the fee in here and wait just a moment. I'll change the destination right now.”
The female User pointed to a container full of gold coins and then dashed toward the warp magic circle. She looked incredibly busy, running around all by herself.
After dropping the fee for four people into the container, I glanced at Ahn Sol's face. I had originally brought her along to see her reaction, but since travel to Mule was impossible, there was only one option left.
Ahn Sol's face was the picture of calm. No, in fact, she even let out a silly little laugh from time to time, perhaps because I was holding her hand. Just as I was beginning to wonder if she'd pulled a trick just to come with me, the voice of the woman who had run to the magic circle rang out loud and clear.
“It's Prinsica, right? Go on in!”
Her voice was slightly muffled by the sound of the rain, but it was so loud that I could hear it clearly. When I turned my head forward, I saw the Warp Gate was now glowing with a blue light.
“Soohyun? Aren't you going in?”
“We are.”
As I stood there watching instead of entering immediately, Ko Yeonju, who was just about to step through, looked back at me. I began to count silently to myself.
One, two…
And on the count of three, I plunged into the Warp Gate.
*
A single User was sprinting across the land. His speed was astounding, suggesting his specialized stat was Agility. Reaching a building with a pointed spire, the man burst through the door and immediately bounded up the stairs.
He passed the first, second, and third floors, and upon reaching the fourth, he found himself in a wide hallway filled with a chilling aura. With an urgent look on his face, he glanced around before dashing straight down the right side of the corridor.
Pant, pant!
The man, who had been running nonstop down the hall, finally stopped in front of a slightly ajar door. He took a couple of ragged breaths to compose himself, then threw the door wide open and shouted.
“Kim Yoohyun! Kim Yoohyun!”
Bang!
He'd opened it with such force that the door swung back and slammed shut with a loud noise as soon as he entered.
Inside the room were several Users. They had been gathered around a bed with worried expressions, but they slowly turned toward the door. They all scowled, clearly displeased by the man's noisy entrance.
However, their expressions changed drastically at the man's next words.
“They're here! They've come! Someone who can cure Banshee's curse has arrived!”
“What did you say?”
Kim Yoohyun, who had maintained a cold expression the entire time, shouted with wide eyes.
The man trudged over to the bed and looked down at the woman lying there. She looked to be in such critical condition that it wouldn't be strange if she died at any moment, but she was still breathing faintly. He let out a sigh of relief, then placed a hand on the shoulder of Kim Yoohyun, who was still glaring at him, demanding an answer.
“They said they're from the south. They don't have an Elixir, but they say they can cure Banshee's curse.”
“Cure it without an Elixir…? What's the User's name?”
“I didn't catch a name. Ah! They said they're from the Mercenary Clan. You know, that clan from Monica that's been doing well lately!”
“The Mercenary Clan… I've heard the name once or twice. Did you get a message from the Istantel Low Clan?”
At Kim Yoohyun's question, everyone in the room shook their heads. The man, as if extremely frustrated by the situation, pounded his chest and spoke.
“What does that matter! The point is they can cure her!”
“You're right. Where is that User now? Right now…”
“They didn't come alone. The Clan Lord and a few clan members came with them. Anyway, I ran straight here to tell you, and Hyerin is guiding them, so…”
“Excuse me.”
It was then. Knock, knock. A rap sounded on the door, and then it swung open.
From beyond the door, a group of Users in rain-drenched robes appeared. Despite being indoors, they all had their hoods pulled up over their heads.