Things That Cannot Be Changed (1)

I kept a steady watch on Kim Dokja through my Clairvoyance.

Just in case any variables cropped up, I needed to be ready to move the moment they did.

Thankfully, Dokja managed to meet up with Lee Jihye without a hitch.

After getting tossed around by Queen Mirbad and finally reuniting with Lee Jihye, Kim Dokja was back on her feet. I stopped watching her and rolled my eyes toward Lee Jihye instead.

Three days since I’d last seen her, and the growth was obvious. Her skill proficiency and overall stats had clearly climbed.

Kim Dokja exchanged a few words with her, then took off running toward the island’s interior in a hurry.

She’d overheard that Yoo Joonghyuk was trying to force the Disaster meteor containing the Disaster of Floods to hatch early—that was why she was sprinting.

Soon enough she ran into Lee Hyunsung, now decked out as Captain Korea, traded a few quick words, and bolted deeper inland again.

I shifted my Clairvoyance to the heart of Nodeul Island and scanned the Disaster meteor with the Guide meteor still embedded in it.

Definitely bigger than Igneel’s Disaster meteor or Myeong Ilsang’s.

I’d never seen the Disaster of Ice—the Ice-Named Ghost Dragon—or the Disaster of Water, Orcanox, so I couldn’t compare those. But this one was clearly larger than the meteor that had landed at Anguk Station for Igneel or the one in Gangdong-gu for Myeong Ilsang.

More importantly, the flow of mana racing across the outer shell of the Disaster meteor was no joke.

So that’s why Yoo Joonghyuk and Kim Dokja lost when they fought the Disaster of Floods—Shin Yooseung—in the original.

In the Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint webtoon, only three people could even stand against the Disaster of Floods Shin Yooseung: Yoo Joonghyuk, Kim Dokja, and Jung Heewon, who had Uriel as her sponsor and wielded Uriel’s stigma, Hellfire.

Every other incarnation would be lucky just to buy a few seconds against her.

Time to start moving.

To pull off the “41st-Turn Shin Yooseung Rescue Operation” I’d planned, I needed to execute a few key steps.

First: keep as many of the Seoul Dome’s incarnations alive as possible when the Disaster of Floods Shin Yooseung—or the monsters she’d tamed—started attacking. The more survivors, the less hostility and resentment the 41st-turn Shin Yooseung would face from them later. That part was non-negotiable.

It’s going to be the most grueling, annoying job of the lot… but there’s no way around it.

I turned Clairvoyance back on Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk.

Just like in the webtoon, Kim Dokja was talking back enough to get on Yoo Joonghyuk’s nerves; I watched Yoo Joonghyuk press a pressure point on Dokja’s body to shut her up.

The Disaster meteor’s about to hatch.

Right on cue, a system message announcing the Disaster meteor’s hatching signs floated in front of my eyes.

Through Clairvoyance I watched the Disaster meteor’s body slowly tremble as it greedily devoured the Guide Disaster. A few more minutes and it would hatch for real.

Realizing time was almost up, I opened the window of My Room and called the party.

“It’s about time. Everyone, come out.”

They finished their preparations in a hurry and stepped outside My Room. I looked them over, then spoke.

“I’ll explain the operation in Dokja’s place for now. Anyone have an objection?”

No one complained. They simply shook their heads and waited. I started giving orders.

“Heewon, take this path north. The Nouvelle Vague people will be coming down that way. A monster wave’s about to start, so work with them and hold the monsters off. When I send you an indirect message at the right moment, come back here.”

“Got it.”

“Sangah, Yooseung, and Gilyoung—move east and wait there for now. Once the monster wave begins, team up with the King of Beauty Min Jiwon and the Maitreya King Cha Sangkyung nearby and hold the line. The moment the Han River freezes over, sprint for Nodeul Island.”

“Yes.”

“Yes, Oppa.”

“Yes, Jinwoo hyung.”

After giving the main party their rough assignments, I turned to Han Donghoon. He flinched under my gaze and looked at me carefully.

“Donghoon, I need your help.”

“M-me?”

“Yeah.”

I didn’t know the details myself, but in the original Ways of Survival Han Donghoon was one of the Seven Kings of Seoul—a real talent. Here, though, the former prophets Lee Seongguk and Jung Minseob had kept him from ever becoming a king, so his potential never fully bloomed.

Even so, his overall stats and skills still outclassed most of the other incarnations in the Seoul Dome.

I bought three speaker-equipped drones from the ordinary shop and handed them to Han Donghoon.

“J-Jinwoo hyung… what are these…?”

“Donghoon, can you fly drones?”

“Uh… yeah. I know how.”

“Perfect.”

I stepped closer and gave him his orders.

“Hide somewhere safe. When the monster wave starts, use these drones—speakers and cameras included—to survey the surroundings and give proper instructions to the incarnations gathering here.”

“W-what?! M-me giving orders? That’s impossible, hyung!”

“Donghoon. I know you’re a hikikomori. I get that you don’t like stepping out in front of people.”

“Ugh… saying it that bluntly kinda hurts…”

“But right now I need your strength. So that even a few more people in the Seoul Dome can stay alive.”

“……………”

Han Donghoon hung his head, looking completely unconfident. I glanced at him and continued.

“If giving actual orders is too hard, just call out what’s coming—‘monsters charging from that direction,’ or ‘this many are about to hit.’ Even that much will let the sharper group leaders and bosses pass the commands down to their own people.”

“I-if it’s just that much… okay.”

“Sorry. And thank you for finding the courage.”

I gave his shoulder a couple of light pats, then looked at Lycaon standing beside me.

“Lycaon, I’ve got a job for you this time.”

“Hoju is the benefactor who avenged our tribe’s enemies. Command me as you will.”

A spark lit in Lycaon’s eyes. He clenched his fist and looked down at me. I met his gaze, scanned the surroundings, and went on.

“I know that as a Guide you can’t directly oppose the Disaster. So help the Seoul Dome’s incarnations who get caught in the monster wave the Disaster of Floods is about to unleash.”

“I shall give it my all, Hoju.”

Having issued the orders in Kim Dokja’s place, I activated Clairvoyance again.

Looking at Nodeul Island, I saw an annoying mid-grade dokkaebi standing atop the Disaster meteor, saying something. Bright rays of light began shooting out from every part of the meteor in response.

Finally starting for real.

While checking Nodeul Island through Clairvoyance and reading the newly updated Main Scenario, I gave orders to the party members who were still staring blankly at the window.

“The fifth and final Disaster—the Disaster of Floods—has opened its eyes. Move.”

“Understood. What about you, Jinwoo?”

“Me…?”

At Jung Heewon’s question I looked toward Nodeul Island and finished.

“I think I’ll try playing ‘rescuer’ for a bit—even if the role doesn’t suit me.”

Shin Yooseung bound Yoo Joonghyuk’s limbs with 6th-grade monsters—Sulfur Mummies—and walked across Nodeul Island with a deeply shaken expression.

Companions?

The word that had come out of Yoo Joonghyuk’s mouth—“companions”—had shaken her to the core.

How was that even possible? Of all people, that Yoo Joonghyuk calling someone a companion?

But if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠those words were sincere… if this turn’s Yoo Joonghyuk was different…

Maybe I could also…

KWA-AAAANG!

The thought that rose unbidden startled her so badly she stomped the ground with all her strength.

Crrrk…!

Calling some woman I’ve never even seen in the 41st turn a ‘companion’? Don’t make me laugh. I refuse to accept it.

Shin Yooseung ground her teeth, remembering Yoo Joonghyuk calling a complete stranger a companion.

Then what about me? What about all the time I’ve lived? What compensation is there for my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠turn?

I hate you, Captain.

I hate the you who said, after Jihye unnie died, “The naval battles ahead will be a little harder.”

I hate the you who said, after Hyunsung oppa took the Iron Blood Dragon’s breath for you and died, “I lost a valuable shield.”

What were Namwoon oppa and Seolhwa unnie—and everyone else who fought for you—to you?

…What was I to you?

I wandered alone for over a thousand years inside the labyrinth of the world-line for your sake, for the world’s sake… and not once did you ever call me a companion…

And now you’re calling some woman you’ve never even met in the 41st turn a companion? Right in front of me?

“…Ha!”

Shin Yooseung felt the emptiness, betrayal, jealousy, and rage welling up from deep in her chest and let out a small, hollow laugh.

“I’m going to kill them. Every last one of them.”

I’ll slaughter every incarnation in the Seoul Dome…!

“Kill her! That’s the Disaster!”

As if the universe itself wanted her to vent even a little of that rage, Seoul Dome incarnations came charging in without knowing their place. Shin Yooseung’s lips twisted into a warped smile.

Killing them would be easy—their bodies were so weak a single finger would do it.

She raised her hand to bisect the incarnations rushing at her, and swung.

Charrreuk—!

“…Huh?”

She couldn’t. Ice chains had locked her arm in place.

Charrreuk—!

“Waaaaah?!”

“S-save me?!”

While she was distracted by the ice chains for even a second, two more ice chains shot out from the forest of Nodeul Island and snagged two of the Seoul Dome incarnations.

She had been about to kill them just to relieve some stress—only to have the chance stolen right in front of her eyes.

“……………”

Shin Yooseung stared into the forest with an expression of pure disbelief at having her prey snatched away.

Then she turned her head and narrowed her eyes at the ice chains still binding her arm.

…These chains are weird. The sheer volume of mana flowing through them shouldn’t exist this early in the scenarios.

Whoever made these chains was clearly a high-level powerhouse—someone even her current self couldn’t afford to take lightly.

But who?

As far as she remembered, the strongest incarnation in the Seoul Dome right now was her Captain, Yoo Joonghyuk. There was no way anyone stronger existed.

Kwachang!

She forced power into the arm bound by the ice chains and shattered them, then scanned her surroundings.

I can’t feel a single trace of mana nearby. That settles it. Impossible as it is… there’s an incarnation stronger than the Captain somewhere close.

Pat!

At that moment she heard someone charging at high speed from the forest behind her. Shin Yooseung spun around.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

A flashing longsword. A woman in a white jersey and black pants. Shin Yooseung recognized her instantly.

Because she was Lee Jihye—a member of Yoo Joonghyuk’s party in the 41st turn.

Jihye unnie…

Seeing her, Shin Yooseung recalled the Lee Jihye who had died in the naval battle in her memories.

“How dare you leave Master in that state?!”

Lee Jihye charged with killing intent rolling off her. Shin Yooseung’s smile turned chilling.

“…Jihye unnie.”

Right. The Jihye who had cherished her, the one she had followed—was already gone. She was dead.

Rage boiled in Lee Jihye’s eyes. Ghost-killing intent burned within them.

Moments later, the dignity of a Historical-grade Constellation erupted from Lee Jihye’s entire body.

Her sponsor was the strongest on the seas—the Maritime War God, Yi Sun-shin.

Shin Yooseung instantly saw through the aura pouring from Lee Jihye: she was about to use a stigma.

This was a river, and a river was Lee Jihye’s home ground.

“…To the gods…”

Shin Yooseung’s read was correct. Lee Jihye began chanting the formula to activate the stigma Ghost Fleet.

As she spoke, water spouts rose all across the Han River and translucent warships surfaced.

“There are still twelve ships left…!”

Twelve ships appeared on the Han River, radiating overwhelming presence. Any ordinary incarnation watching would have gone weak in the knees.

But that only applied to ordinary incarnations.

Even as the Ghost Fleet locked its cannons on her position as if to crush her, Shin Yooseung simply smiled with something like nostalgia.

“…Yeah. You looked just like this. Naval battles were always your specialty, unnie.”

Lee Jihye frowned and tilted her head at the Disaster who looked at her Ghost Fleet without a shred of fear—only longing—and spoke those words.

“…Unnie? You’re older than me and you’re spouting that crap?!”

Shin Yooseung ignored her and kept talking.

“But you’re still far from ready. A captain belongs on her ship. What are you doing down here?”

Then she closed the distance at a speed Lee Jihye couldn’t even perceive, seized her chin, and continued.

“Poor unnie. You have no idea how Yoo Joonghyuk will use you… and how she’ll throw you away.”

And how you’ll die.

“You crazy bitch! What kind of speed is—!”

Chwaak!

Lee Jihye, startled by the speed that had grabbed her chin before she could react, swung her sword belatedly.

Shin Yooseung dodged the blade with almost casual ease. The gap in their stats was so overwhelming it was like an adult fighting a child.

“You, who spent your whole life wanting Yoo Joonghyuk’s recognition, die at sea—the place you loved most. And you die in a horrible way.”

Slaughtered by the Japanese that your sponsor hated so much.

“All ships, open fire!”

At Lee Jihye’s cry, the twelve ships floating on the Han River opened fire on Shin Yooseung simultaneously.

Yet Shin Yooseung only watched the incoming shells with a cold smile and spoke.

“Do you know what Yoo Joonghyuk said after losing you?”

The shells from all twelve ships hammered her body.

Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!

An ordinary incarnation would have been reduced to unrecognizable scraps. But the woman standing there was no ordinary incarnation—she was a Disaster.

“This is insane… Even the Disaster of Water took damage from that. So what the hell is she…?”

Lee Jihye cursed when she saw a human silhouette still standing perfectly fine inside the smoke.

“Want to know why your attack didn’t work on me, unnie? It’s my unique skill—Beast King’s Sensitivity. According to Yoo Joonghyuk, it’s one of the strongest defensive skills there is. Where was I? Ah, right. I was telling you what Yoo Joonghyuk said about your corpse.”

When the wind finally cleared the smoke, Shin Yooseung stood there without a single scratch. She looked at Lee Jihye and finished.

“From now on… the naval battles will be a little harder.”

“!”

Lee Jihye’s body flinched hard at those words.

Shin Yooseung looked at her with something like pity, a smile full of emptiness, and a massive whirlpool began to form in the Han River.

“Oh shit… what now?!”

Lee Jihye whipped her head toward the whirlpool as her twelve ships rocked violently.

There, a monster that was evaluated as a sub-Disaster tamed by Shin Yooseung revealed itself.

Krrrrr…

Like Queen Mirbad—the first 5th-grade sea species she had tamed after awakening as a Beast Tamer—King Masswood possessed a massive body and even more majestic horns. It glared at the Ghost Fleet floating on the Han River and let out a low growl.

Shin Yooseung quietly raised her right hand and gave the order.

“Cry, King Masswood.”

Receiving its master’s command, King Masswood’s eyes flashed. It slowly rose.

Then its jaws began to open wide.

KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA!

The Cold Breath of King Masswood—king of the sea dragons that ravage the oceans—slammed into the Ghost Fleet on the Han River.

With a single breath the riverbed froze solid in an instant, and the hulls of Lee Jihye’s Ghost Fleet began to ice over as well.

“…How am I supposed to beat something like that?”

Watching her trump card—the Ghost Fleet—freeze completely, Lee Jihye stared at the frozen ships with a vacant expression.

Shin Yooseung looked at her and spoke.

“One piece of advice, unnie. The Ghost Fleet is strong… but without water, it’s meaningless.”

With those words she closed the distance until she stood right in front of Lee Jihye and swung her fist.

“Goodbye, unnie. In this turn you won’t have to die that horrible death. I’ll send you off without pain.”

Lee Jihye blankly watched the fist flying toward her face.

Kwang!!

Shin Yooseung’s fist was about to bury itself cleanly in Lee Jihye’s face. Or so she thought.

Kwaak!

If someone hadn’t caught her fist mid-swing, that is.

“Yooseung-ah. Even if you’re going through puberty, throwing a punch at your sky-high unnie? Our kid’s turning into a real delinquent.”

A flinch.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

At the unfamiliar male voice coming from inside the dust cloud, Shin Yooseung’s brow furrowed.

She put a moderate amount of strength into her arm to pull her fist free. That much force would have been hard even for Yoo Joonghyuk to hold—she was sure she could break free.

But.

What kind of strength is this…?

No matter how hard she pulled, the fist wouldn’t budge. Shin Yooseung glared into the dust cloud with a startled expression.

Kwang!

“Keuhk…?!”

A kick shot out of the dust and slammed into her abdomen. Her body flew helplessly through the air.

Kwang! Kwang! Kwaaang!

Shin Yooseung’s body crashed through several trees in the forest of Nodeul Island before finally stopping after smashing into five of them. She roughly wiped the blood from her lips and glared ahead.

As she stared, the dust cloud began to clear. Standing there was a man in a black coat just like Yoo Joonghyuk’s, cheerfully pinching both of Lee Jihye’s cheeks and playing with them.

“…Ha?”

Shin Yooseung stared at the man who was so leisurely, so casually goofing around on a battlefield, as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

“Oh? Yooseung’s up? Sorry, sorry. Jihye’s cheeks are just so soft I couldn’t help myself… By the way, our Jihye really does have those devilish cheeks, doesn’t she?”

“…Is this really the time for that, Jinwoo oppa?”

Jinwoo oppa…?

Shin Yooseung’s expression twisted at the words that came out of Lee Jihye’s mouth.

What? There’s no one Jihye unnie would call ‘oppa.’ She always called Hyunsung oppa ‘soldier ajusshi’ or ‘Hyunsung ajusshi.’

And there had been no companion named Jinwoo among the 41st-turn party members.

So who the hell was this man?

The man in front of her pulled a potion from his coat pocket and handed it straight to Lee Jihye.

“Tsk tsk. Jihye, getting beaten up this badly by Yooseung… aren’t you going to lose your unnie title at this rate?”

“…What are you talking about? You’re saying that woman over there is Yooseung?”

“Didn’t your master tell you? That kid is the future Shin Yooseung who came from another parallel world.”

“…That’s a lie.”

Lee Jihye stared at Shin Yooseung with trembling eyes, then opened her mouth with an expression that said she couldn’t believe it.

“…That tiny little brat grows up bigger than me, stronger than me, and then… and then…”

As she spoke she scanned Shin Yooseung’s body, her gaze lingering on one particular spot. Her expression turned to pure disbelief; she bit her lip as if rage was about to burst out of her trembling voice.

The man, wondering what had set her off, scanned Shin Yooseung’s whole body himself—then realized exactly where Lee Jihye’s eyes had stopped. He shook his head and gently patted her back.

“Jihye. You’re not small either. You’re bigger than the Korean average, you know?”

“…Oppa, that’s sexual harassment.”

“Better than calling you small, isn’t it?”

“……………”

Lee Jihye turned her head away with a sulky face and started gulping down the potion the man had given her.

Listening to their conversation and watching their behavior, Shin Yooseung glared at the two of them with an expression of pure incredulity.

“Ha… First that woman I just killed, and now you. Who the hell are you? Why are you talking to Jihye unnie like you’re so close?”

“Hm? Me?”

At Shin Yooseung’s question the man tilted his head, then gave a small nod and opened his mouth.

“My name is Park Jinwoo, and I’m the first companion of the Yoo Joonghyuk you used to follow.”

“……………What?”

At the words of the man who introduced himself as Park Jinwoo, Shin Yooseung’s eyes began to tremble violently, as if she had been hit hard.

“Don’t bullshit me! Y-you’re a companion? And that woman earlier was the Captain’s companion too? Don’t make me laugh…! Don’t make me laugh…!!”

Shin Yooseung screamed with an expression that refused to believe it. Park Jinwoo simply watched her quietly, offering neither rebuttal nor restraint.

A short while later, when her outburst had calmed a little, Park Jinwoo continued.

“Whether ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you deny it or throw a tantrum, the truth doesn’t change. In this turn, I really did become Yoo Joonghyuk’s first companion.”

Then a mischievous smile—no, the look of someone who had just found a brand-new toy—appeared in his eyes as he glanced at Shin Yooseung and spoke again.

“What was it again? That Yoo Joonghyuk said she absolutely needed me and asked me to become her companion? Ah~ right. Sorry, sorry. You never even got to hear the word ‘companion’ from her, did you? I poked an old wound there. My bad, Yooseung-ah!”

Snap!

The moment Park Jinwoo’s sly voice touched the reverse scale that was her deepest wound, something inside Shin Yooseung’s head felt like it snapped cleanly in two.

“…I’ll kill you. I’ll definitely, definitely kill you…!! I’ll tear your limbs off while you’re still alive and feed you to the monsters…!!”

Ominous mana began surging endlessly from her entire body. She glared at Park Jinwoo—who had touched her reverse scale—with eyes full of murderous intent.

But.

“Oof~ so scary. Our Yooseung already knows how to talk back to Oppa. Keep it up and you’ll get a spanking on that little butt of yours.”

Even so, Park Jinwoo kept smiling that sly smile and provoked her.

KWA-AAANG!

“Die—!”

Apparently unable to hold back her rage any longer, Shin Yooseung wrapped mana around her legs, reinforced her leg strength, and leapt at Park Jinwoo.

Yet Park Jinwoo showed not the slightest agitation. A smile stayed on his lips while a cold, frost-like chill filled his eyes as he looked straight at her.

“Yooseung-ah, Yooseung-ah.”

Cheolkeok. Cheolkeok. Cheolkeok.

A cold chill flowed into Park Jinwoo’s right hand. Thick ice began covering it, and soon an ice gauntlet formed over his fist.

Then a chill like freezing cold—blue mana—began to whirl around his entire body.

Kugugugugu—!!

Huh…?

Realizing it a beat too late, Shin Yooseung stared at Park Jinwoo with a startled face.

Because she had felt this exact mana wavelength before.

This mana… it’s the same as the ice chains that bound my arm earlier…?

She blankly stared at Park Jinwoo, whose mana wave was stronger than even the Yoo Joonghyuk she had just been fighting.

Noticing her gaze, Park Jinwoo opened his mouth in a voice as cold as frost.

“How arrogant of you, Yooseung-ah.”

KWA-AAAANG—!!!

“Keuhk……?!”

The force of the blow was incomparable to the earlier kick. Shin Yooseung’s body flew at more than twice the previous speed.

“You got cocky because you’re the strongest of the five Disasters and even subdued that Yoo Joonghyuk.”

Park Jinwoo watched her body fly limply after taking his fist and spoke.

“If Yoo Joonghyuk is the mid-boss, then I’m the final boss.”

You don’t get to act arrogant and drop your guard against the final boss.