Hard to Believe, Just as He Said

Just as he had said, it was a story that was hard to believe. He could see the future? For all they knew, the man was nothing but a fraud. People liked to say that anything could happen in the Tower of Infinity, but seeing the future was a claim of an entirely different order.

For a long while, Yujun and the rest of the party could not bring themselves to speak.

"……It's true."

Ju Donghyeon said it with a grave face.

"Excuse me. Even if an ability like that actually exists, there's no way you have it. You said you possess ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Clairvoyance skill, didn't you? And now you're telling us it can predict the future on top of that? Do you honestly think that makes any sense?"

"It makes sense because that is, in fact, what I can do."

Hong Yeji let out a baffled, empty laugh.

"And who exactly is going to believe that?"

"Which is why I'm telling only all of you. I believe you can resolve this."

"Believe what? We literally just met."

Hong Yeji broke off and turned her head toward Yujun.

"Oh, right. Yujun. Didn't you say you knew him?"

At her question, Yujun hesitated.

If he admitted to knowing the man here, it would come out that he had played War of the Gods. Being found out wouldn't really be a problem, but Hong Yeji was under the impression that he had never played it.

"No. I must have been mistaken."

"Ah……."

Just then, Ju Donghyeon looked at Yujun.

"I'm not placing my faith in all of you. I'm placing it in him."

"In Yujun?"

"That's right."

"……You didn't even know his name, did you?"

"That is also correct."

"Then how can you trust him?"

"Because before the door was opened, I caught a glimpse of a future in which he distinguished himself."

"You saw it in that short a time?"

"To be precise, it unfolded before my eyes on its own."

"Wasn't there a limit on Future Sight? Earlier you said something about thirteen hours, didn't you?"

"That refers to when I choose to look at a future I want, when I want it. Separate from that, there are times when Future Sight activates on its own."

Hong Yeji scratched furiously at her head.

"Ugh, forget it. Yujun, you decide."

"So in the end, you're dumping this on me?"

"No—look, honestly, I find it hard to believe. But if what he's saying is true, then this whole thing gets a lot easier, doesn't it? And without you, none of it means anything in the first place. So decide for us."

Ju Donghyeon nodded.

His eyes settled on Yujun.

"I don't believe this plan succeeds unless you are there."

"Why?"

"The player who spread the plague is considerably strong. In the future I saw, you were the one who killed him yourself."

"All right. Then let me ask just one thing. Is Future Sight all-powerful? Is it like a game—there's a cooldown, but in exchange you can see whatever you want, however you want?"

"Not that either. Even when I look, what I can see is extremely limited. If I were to want the plague player's location, all I would actually be able to see is, quite literally, where he is standing. And to obtain any other information, I would have to wait several more days."

Concrete information. The fact that he was willing to say this much meant Ju Donghyeon was taking the matter seriously. And he did not seem to be lying.

"Let's exchange messenger numbers, for now."

"……Sorry?"

"Just in case the worst happens."

"Understood."

In truth, he wanted to keep building a relationship with Ju Donghyeon. Clairvoyance and Future Sight, both! If that was real, there was nothing to lose by getting close to him. No—it was an excellent thing.

And the Ju Donghyeon I knew would do anything for you once you got close.

In short, help him this once, and Yujun would have someone he could make use of whenever he needed him.

"Ah, and I would prefer that you stop killing the mutant monsters."

"Sorry?"

Yujun echoed the words Ju Donghyeon had just offered. What was that supposed to mean? Don't kill the dwarf zombies?

"If they come at you, it can't be helped…… but seeking them out yourself to kill them. I would rather you didn't."

"Meaning, why?"

"If the player who spread the plague dies, there is a good chance they will return to their original forms. Should that happen, there would be no need to go hunting down the zombie dwarves in the first place."

"……Ah. I see what you mean. I'll do what I can."

Ju Donghyeon had been speaking with an eye on what would come after the matter was resolved. If the dwarf zombies were already dead by the time the plague's curse lifted, then curse or no curse, none of it would matter. And they had already killed a great many of them. He felt a little guilty.

"When should we depart?"

"Now."

"Now?"

"Yes. There's nothing further to prepare, so we would do better to move at once."

"But where are we going? You said we wouldn't know the location for another thirteen hours."

"The last time I used Future Sight was three days ago."

"Where was he then?"

"The Koruna Kingdom."

"……The Koruna Kingdom?"

"Yes. I only glimpsed it for a moment, as a scene, but I am certain it was there."

"Are you aware that players were sent there as support?"

"Have they arrived?"

At Ju Donghyeon's question, Hong Yeji answered.

"No. Most of them are dead."

"……."

"They smashed through the castle gate and got in, then the monsters cut them down without any resistance. All they managed was to cause a huge mess. I'm sure they didn't know what they were walking into."

"I see. Since you came through safely, I take it things were resolved well enough."

"Yes. Thanks to Yujun."

Ju Donghyeon nodded.

"Please tell me when your preparations are finished."

"We don't have anything to prepare."

"Then may we leave right away?"

"Yes."

Ju Donghyeon joined Yujun's party. Klinsman, however, chose to stay behind.

"I shall remain and guard this kingdom."

"Please do. That's better. Someone has to stay and hold this place."

"You have my thanks for all of this. Because of you, we escaped crisis more than once. I ask that you see the curse resolved as well."

"We'll do everything we can."

He exchanged messengers with Klinsman, too. He really shouldn't have been accepting just anyone like this. Klinsman was an exception. There was nothing to lose in knowing a steadfast, powerful warrior.

Fortunately, the dwarf zombies had been unable to leave the castle. Yujun had sealed the gate with a barrier, and because he had reduced the barrier's range, its duration had lengthened, so they could depart the Kingdom of Sitahel with peace of mind.

They were all capable players besides, and even Shin Jiwon—whose physical ability lagged furthest behind—rode on Paranet's back as he ran, so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their pace was considerable.

A strange light entered Ju Donghyeon's eyes.

"A rare undead summon."

"Yes."

"Judging by the unusual luster of the bones, his caliber is quite high as well. A growth type."

"You can tell that?"

"I have always had a particular interest in summons. And there is no way a mere skeleton—he isn't even a Death Knight—would have a body that large. Of course he is a growth type."

Even in War of the Gods, Ju Donghyeon had loved collecting summons.

So he really is the Ju Donghyeon I knew. Good.

In the Koruna Kingdom, no player afflicted with the plague was immediately in sight.

Hong Yeji tilted her head.

"Is this the right place? It doesn't look like any of the players have caught the plague. If anything, it doesn't seem to have spread at all."

"Just because he was here doesn't mean he necessarily spread the plague. Or it could still be progressing slowly."

"Hm. That tracks."

"What's the plan?"

Yujun asked Ju Donghyeon.

Ju Donghyeon spoke.

"Simple. We spend the remaining eleven hours wandering the Koruna Kingdom. If you spot the description I gave you, tell me."

"So there's a high chance that player is here?"

"Most likely. If he means to set a plague loose here, the way he did in the Kingdom of Sitahel."

Then Hong Yeji spoke.

"By the way, Donghyeon. There's something I'm curious about."

"What is it?"

"Have you ever played War of the Gods?"

"An abrupt question."

"I'm just curious, that's all."

"I have. Not merely played it—I lived buried in that game."

"I knew it……."

"Hm?"

"Everyone I've seen with a ridiculously broken ability has played War of the Gods. It didn't feel like simple coincidence."

"I see. Then you must have played it as well?"

"Huh? Do I look like I did?"

"Yes. You seem to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠possess a very fine ability."

When Ju Donghyeon said it with a quiet smile, Hong Yeji visibly flustered.

"C-Clairvoyance can't see other people's abilities too, can it?"

"No. I was only speaking generally. You seemed like someone who had played War of the Gods."

"Hah…… haah……."

Hong Yeji had said she was a fifth-year player, too. She was no ordinary person herself. Thinking back on how enthusiastically she had gone on about War of the Gods, she must have received some kind of special privilege. That wasn't what mattered right now.

"Scattering one by one feels like too much. There are five of us, so let's split into a group of three and a group of two."

Yujun said.

"No. The three of you go with Paranet. I'll go alone."

"What? Can't we all just stay together?"

"No. That's far too inefficient."

"All right. Even by my judgment, that seems the better choice."

Ju Donghyeon agreed with Yujun.

Hong Yeji looked faintly uneasy.

"If that plague player shows up, aren't you the only one who can handle him? Then splitting up doesn't really mean anything, does it……."

"Even if we find him, we won't be fighting right away. And if you call, I'll come running at once. With Paranet there, buying that much time won't be difficult."

When Yujun said it with a firm face, Hong Yeji nodded.

"……Okay."

"The rest of you search the outskirts. I'll head inward."

There was no guarantee they would find him before Ju Donghyeon could use Future Sight anyway. In fact, the odds of failing to find him were very high.

Just as he'd thought.

He had gone all the way to the capital of the Koruna Kingdom and found nothing out of the ordinary.

Little time remained before Ju Donghyeon could use Future Sight again.

Before that.

There ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was one thing he still had to do.

He had reached level 250 not long ago. Which meant that if he used a Rainbow Sticker, he would be able to equip a level 400 weapon.

Yujun opened his inventory, took out the item he had already picked in advance, and without a moment's hesitation affixed a Rainbow Sticker to it.

Overwhelming attack power. It wasn't even in the same league as the Mana Sword he had been using—the Mana Sword's attack power was a mere 4,290. Comparing the numbers alone, this was nearly a sevenfold increase. The options weren't anything unusual, which was a flaw, though with performance this good it hardly counted as one.

This isn't the end.

The Stone of Omnipotence. He had to socket the Stone of Omnipotence—the one he had made last time with Blue Dolle Herb—into the new weapon. The Stone of Omnipotence was famous for granting a greater bonus when mounted on Mythic-grade gear.

Good.

He was trembling. Riding that swell of anticipation, Yujun drew the Stone of Omnipotence out of the Mana Sword, where it was still mounted, and set it into the Radiant Transcendent Sword.

Shaaa—! A brilliant light poured from the Radiant Transcendent Sword.

What kind of effect did it pick up?

He drew a steadying breath and checked the Radiant Transcendent Sword's information once more.