Throw Eye's Gift

This damn constellation jams some weird thing right into my eye without even asking. The culprit behind this illegal medical procedure spoke in a tone brimming with self-satisfaction.

Before ascending to the seat of a constellation, I was already known as the War Incarnate back in my hometown. Do you know what I owe that to?

"I have no idea."

Honestly, I couldn't care less. What I'm really curious about right now is whatever the hell 'Throw Eye' is that you shoved into my eye. Not your life story.

At that moment.

Whoosh—.

A massive hand made of light pointed at me. More precisely, it targeted my right eye, and the War Incarnate continued.

It was thanks to the 'Throw Eye' implanted in that right eye of yours. After long years of training, I gained eyes that overlooked the battlefield and claimed countless victories.

"……."

I felt my right eye with my hand. It seemed no different from usual.

No, even if it has changed, I won't know until I look in a mirror.

But since this is bound by the system, I should be able to check its info.

The moment I willed it to learn about 'Throw Eye', a holographic window popped up.

'An EX-grade skill…?!'

Whatever got jammed into my eye, if it's an EX-grade skill, that's the end of the discussion.

'And it's passive!'

No mana drain, no need for training to master its applications like an active skill. It just activates on its own as long as I breathe.

This is straight-up 'jackpot?'

An EX-grade skill beyond any price had just dropped into my lap. All from a brutal back-and-forth with a constellation.

"……."

The elation was short-lived. A creeping unease started gnawing at me.

Why is this guy handing out goodies like candy when he's not even my sponsoring constellation?

'Just because I'm the son of his agent?'

Giving me an EX-grade skill for illegally possessing his precious agent's body? That didn't add up logically.

As if reading my doubts, the War Incarnate spoke.

Of course. Thanks to you, my precious agent survived.

"Ah."

In one word: compensation.

Normally, Mom would've died at the hands of that destruction demon.

But with me here, that never happens.

Someone might call it overly optimistic since the future isn't set in stone yet, but I see it differently.

I'm definitely killing that destruction demon and saving Mom.

The reason the War Incarnate gave me 'Throw Eye' ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠must be because he recognized that resolve.

And giving Throw Eye to you? I don't regret it one bit.

"……."

The world you exist in is one without your mother. A world without the Messiah, right? Then the only one to inherit her will is you, her son.

A faint bitterness tinged the solemn voice of the War Incarnate.

I've lent my power so you can protect the world she sacrificed her life for. So promise me here and now: you won't let her death be in vain.

"I promise."

I said it with utter sincerity, and that truth reached the War Incarnate fully.

The next instant.

Fwaaah—.

A vortex of white light swirled open ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right in front of me. Beyond it, a city engulfed in flames came into view.

I knew this was a passage to that world.

Go now. Thanks for humoring my pointless chatter.

"……."

I stared silently at the War Incarnate, then turned and headed for the vortex.

Just before leaving, I asked casually.

"One last thing I want to know."

What is it?

I pointed to the burning city beyond the vortex.

"Is that world over there 'real'?"

It was some half-baked philosophical crap even I barely understood.

But the War Incarnate didn't ask what I meant.

A constellation's insight pierced the true intent behind my words effortlessly.

Was the world in this Reverse Dungeon - Advent Day just an elaborately faked simulation?

The War Incarnate gave a clear answer without hesitation.

There is past, present, and future there.

"That means…."

I swear on my discerning eyes that judge truth from falsehood: it's 'real'.

I stood still, repeating his answer to myself.

A real world.

Not some meticulously recreated fake, but a place with clear continuity of space-time.

Just somewhere on a parallel line—a different worldline entirely.

Then….

'It was worth it.'

I saved people who almost became sacrifices because of Oh Kyung-hoon.

But I'd thought it pointless.

If it was just a recreation, Oh Kyung-hoon's death ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and the survivors were all unreal 'fakes' anyway.

But no.

'Even if the people in my world don't come back….'

At least there. If the world beyond that vortex is 'real', then all those lives I saved are 'real' too.

Yeah. No reason for emptiness at all.

It was plenty worthwhile.

A thank-you slipped out unbidden.

"Thank you."

No, thank you.

"I sincerely hope we meet again in another world, honored Constellation…."

Me too.

After that brief exchange, I took a step toward the vortex.

Immediately, the light of another world enveloped me.

"…Honey! Honey!"

As consciousness returned, Dad's urgent voice rang out.

I slowly lifted my eyelids. Through my blurry vision, I saw Dad's stunned face.

Almost called him 'Dad' again without thinking.

I mumbled, lips twitching.

"Where…?"

"The shelter! More importantly, are you coming around now?! Any pain…?"

"The demons…?"

"We handled them while you were out cold! Worry about yourself first!"

Looks like Dad took on all those demons alone while I was chatting with the War Incarnate.

I didn't pass out on purpose, but I felt kinda guilty.

My head throbbed from the blackout. Grimacing at the headache, I tried to sit up….

"…Huh?"

I realized not just Dad, but a crowd of people surrounded me.

Shelter's full of evacuees, so that's normal, but….

"These people…?"

A few faces looked familiar. Strangers, yet ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠oddly recognizable.

"…Ah."

I remembered. Of course they looked familiar.

Dad helped me up and said,

"Survivors from Bucheon City."

The people hiding in Oh Kyung-hoon's Barrier of Protection all stared at me.

"After you passed out, the ones who could fight joined me. I told them it was too dangerous, no need…."

"It was necessary."

The voice came from a middle-aged man pushing through the crowd. One of the Bucheon folks, probably.

"Regular folks might not have seen from afar, but players like me with mana-enhanced sight saw it all. Oh Kyung-hoon, that bastard, bleeding black blood with his heart ripped out—and still alive."

"……."

"If not for Player Sung Hyun-sook, we'd all have been massacred by him."

The man bowed deeply.

"My family and I survived thanks to you."

Beside him stood a woman clutching a newborn, eyes glistening with tears.

I just rolled my eyes around, scanning the surroundings without reacting.

Countless people gazed at me intently.

Then.

One by one, they bowed toward me. Adults and kids alike.

That's when it hit me for real.

I'd saved them.

"……."

In my world, they died. But not here.

They're vividly alive. Standing before me, crying and laughing with joy.

Expressing their gratitude.

Mom… why are you crying?

That day, Mom wept covered in blood. Dad held her as they grieved together.

And in the end, before everyone in the shelter, she had to confess the full horror of what just happened—the atrocities she had no choice but to commit.

But 'no need for that now.'

Everything's different.

Because I saved them.

And they survived because of Mom.

So they'll… yeah. Keep living on, even after I return to reality.

Because this is a real world with a future.

Yeah. If you hadn't told me, I'd have dismissed it all as pointless and wallowed in stupid delusions.

'Thank you.'

As I silently thanked the War Incarnate watching from some lofty height,

"Mom! Dad!"

A childish voice rang out from the crowd.

Wait, that voice?

"Those are my mom and dad! Hehe! Aren't they awesome? Jealous much?"

A goofy-looking kid burst through, jumping around and yelling at the top of his lungs.

'That brat…?'

…It's me from back then?

"I knew Mom and Dad could do it!"

"I was watching on TV—they were totally badass! The best!"

"When I grow up, I'm gonna be an awesome player just like you guys!"

"Mom! Mom! Teach me that too! Y'know, the whoosh! slash and boom! thing!"

Damn. I'm exhausted to death, but this kid won't shut up, so I can't even rest.

Does he have a motor in his mouth?

I can't exactly smack my younger self….

What kinda punishment game is this?

Staring at your kid self is a profoundly horrific experience.

Did I really act like such a hyper little punk ten years ago?

Some mix of self-loathing and embarrassment… damn, it's torture anyway.

"Hearing that from my son makes Dad so happy?"

"Eee!"

Dad grinned wide and scooped me up—er, the ten-year-old me.

The ten-year-old me… tongue-twister.

Just call him the kid.

The kid squealed like a chick in Dad's arms, making a huge fuss.

Insane. Was kid-me that hyper?

"What's wrong, honey? You hurt?"

"…Nah, just tired."

"Then nothing beats some son-healing time. C'mon, Jae-min. Give Mom a hug too!"

Healing my ass—what healing from that punk.

Of course, the clueless kid lunged into my arms.

Then flipped around like a cat, hamming it up with full cuteness.

I nearly snapped, where'd you learn that crap? but held it in.

I forced my lips into a smile and patted the kid's head.

"Such fatherly love. Don't just pat—give him a kiss too."

What? Who the hell said that horrific nonsense….

"Ah."

Association Chairman Uncle.

Seeing him like this brings back memories. He still had a full head of hair back then.

"They were so well-behaved while you were out, not kid-like at all… Heh heh. Total 180 in front of Mom and Dad."

"Mom, guess what? Chairman Uncle gave me tons of chocolate and snacks? I told him you'd get mad if you found out…."

"Jae-min? Wasn't that our little secret?"

Secret? I remember it clear as day.

Uncle comforted me when I was scared something bad happened to Mom and Dad, saying it'd be fine.

If not for him, I'd probably have bawled my eyes out in fear.

A smile crept up unbidden.

"…Thank you."

"Formal talk from you? Making me all awkward."

"But I'll make you pay later for stuffing my son with snacks without permission, you baldy monster."

"Now that's more like you."

Mom's personality—no surprise anymore.

We traded lame jokes and burst out laughing.

Until the screams filled the shelter.

"……!"

Not ordinary screams.

Unpleasant wails like someone scraping a sharp dagger into an ear.

Chairman Uncle clapped his hands over his ears in shock.

Dad and I simultaneously covered the kid's ears first.

The sudden unidentified screams.

But no one in the shelter thought they were human.

—!!

The screams dragged on. Each endless wave made the shelter's fluorescent lights flicker repeatedly.

Some people foamed at the mouth and fainted from shock.

Chills ran down my spine. My senses sharpened. Cold sweat dripped from my chin.

The kid trembled, clutching my clothes tight.

"Ugh, kuh…!"

Dad, unable to cover his ears fully because of the kid, gritted his teeth through the nightmare.

Blood trickled from his ears.

Same for me.

The sudden agonized screams.

This hadn't happened ten years ago.

But I knew exactly what they were right away.

Drip—.

Feeling the blood from my bitten lip and torn eardrums soak my face.

I glared at the system message that appeared before my eyes.