Chapter 200
Chapter 200
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 201
Chapter Title: The Decided World
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To the woman's question, I fell into brief thought.
Who am I? It was a philosophical and truly difficult question.
How should I even answer this?
I couldn't just say, "I'm Kim Sunwoo."
Then, a small doubt arose from the words spoken by the woman before me—the Apostle of Mystery.
"Before that, answer my question first. The 'thing' you mentioned that can change a fated destiny—is that referring to the power of prophecy?"
In the original story, abilities related to "prophecy" were mentioned several times.
And that power of "prophecy" had altered fated destinies, creating new endings.
Like how Yoon Ha-young was targeted by demons, or Han Se-jin's Jaun Subjugation Unit boarded Atlantis while chasing Jaun.
But the Apostle wore an expression of doubt at my words.
—What nonsense is this all of a sudden? You couldn't possibly not know what that means.
"I'm really asking because I don't know."
—...What?
The Apostle looked flustered. Then, soon after, she gazed at me with strange eyes.
—How could you not know?
"Just answer my question."
The Apostle stared at me with those strange eyes for a long while before opening her mouth again.
—...You really don't know, do you? Fine. Let's check just how much the fated destiny has changed.
Woooong...
Black mana began to rise from the Apostle's body.
Her eyes turned entirely black, and darkness spread across her face from her eyes.
The magic power I sensed was no exaggeration to call upper A-Rank.
And I could also feel the subtle power of "mystery" hidden within that black magic.
With a hardened face, Lee Seo-jun stared at her and assumed a combat stance, emitting light sword aura.
I too drew up my magic power, following Lee Seo-jun's lead.
"Be careful. That pure power of mystery contained in her magic. You felt it too, right?"
Lee Seo-jun nodded at my words.
"If that pure power of mystery is exposed to the body, who knows what might happen, so stay cautious."
"Got it. You be careful too."
Woooong!
A black sphere began to manifest above the Apostle's head.
Seeing it, Lee Seo-jun and I dashed out in different directions.
The Apostle glanced back and forth between us, seeming to deliberate on whom to attack.
Soon, as if she'd chosen her target, she fired the sphere at me.
Paaang!
The sphere absorbed the mana in the air as it shot toward me.
Its speed was tremendous; with my current physical abilities, dodging seemed impossible.
In this unavoidable situation, I immediately used Instant Acceleration.
Paat!
At the same time, my movements exploded in speed.
For at least the three seconds Instant Acceleration lasted, I was confident I could evade any attack, so I swiftly dodged the sphere.
Kwaaaang!
The moment I dodged, a massive explosion and vibration rocked from behind.
"Haaat!"
At that moment, Lee Seo-jun's voice came from behind the Apostle.
While she was focused on me, Lee Seo-jun had spotted the opening and closed in instantly.
But the Apostle unfurled a curtain of black light, repelling Lee Seo-jun's body.
"Kuh!"
Lee Seo-jun rolled across the floor but quickly regained his stance and charged at the Apostle again.
The Apostle, apparently finding Lee Seo-jun annoying, shifted her gaze from me to him.
I immediately activated the Heart of Great Nature.
Thump!
My heart pounded hard, and I concentrated the surging mana at my fingertips.
Soon, the surrounding mana trembled violently, taking the form of a sphere.
About ten seconds. With my improved magic control, that was enough time to manifest a spell that could crush her.
With that, I released the completed sphere toward her back.
Paaang—!
A silver sphere streaked forth, leaving a pure white afterimage.
"Lee Seo-jun!"
At my shout, Lee Seo-jun kicked the Apostle away as if he'd been waiting.
—Ugh?
The Apostle staggered, losing her balance from the sudden impact.
And at the same moment, the sphere I fired collided with her back and exploded.
Kwaaang!
—Kwaaaak...
A massive roar echoed, and the magic shockwave spread widely.
Lee Seo-jun, who had briefly evaded the magic shockwave, charged at the Apostle again, sensing an opportunity.
—Kuhuhuhuuk!
Though her chest was pierced, the Apostle didn't lose her ferocity and unleashed black magic.
Dozens of small black spheres soon floated above her head and fired toward Lee Seo-jun.
However, before Lee Seo-jun's sword, swinging like a whirlwind, the dozens of spheres lost power and vanished.
—Kuh!
Having blocked the spheres, Lee Seo-jun swiftly closed in right up to her nose.
He spun his body like a whirlwind and swung his sword.
Pajik!
In the blink of an eye, the Apostle's left shoulder was severed. He swung again, and this time her right calf was sliced off.
—Kwaaak!
Under the relentless strikes, the Apostle finally spat blood and collapsed to the floor.
"Haaa!"
With a shout, Lee Seo-jun gripped his sword in reverse and thrust it into the defenseless Apostle's chest.
Pook!
—...Cough!
Black blood spurted from the Apostle's mouth. She showed no further will to counterattack.
The Apostle stared blankly at the ceiling before speaking.
—...The fated world has changed, but my destiny remains the same.
Lee Seo-jun panted heavily and pulled the sword from her chest.
"...You've been talking about destiny since earlier. If you knew your destiny, you could've just run. Why didn't you?"
—...Because running changes nothing.
"What?"
—...The world consists of a decided future and an undecided future... The undecided future... can be changed by 'will' at any time.
The Apostle gave a faint smile and spoke again.
—...But this is a grand flow—this moment was already 'decided.' Changing a decided world with will is impossible... Cough!
The Apostle vomited blood. Her breathing grew ragged, as if in agony.
I looked down at her silently.
Her eyes were entirely black, making it impossible to tell what she was seeing, but for some reason, it felt like she was looking at me.
—...Now I understand.
Part of the Apostle's body burst into flames. Smoke and dust rose from her burning form.
—...You are free...
Muttering softly, the Apostle ultimately turned to dust and vanished.
[You have conquered the 'Demon-Tainted Temple.']
[Your karma increases by 1.5.]
[You have defeated the 'Apostle of the Demon Temple.']
[You acquire 3,000 points as a reward.]
"...The decided world."
Lee Seo-jun murmured quietly and turned his gaze to me.
"What do you think that meant?"
I shook my head.
"I don't know."
I really didn't.
Decided futures, undecided futures. The Apostle of Mystery in the original story never uttered such words.
She had simply died with the nuance of, 'I die according to my fate.'
As I sank into thought alone, feeling doubts, it happened.
"...Kim Sunwoo."
Lee Seo-jun called my name in a low voice.
"Yeah?"
"But... are you hiding something by any chance?"
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"It's weird. The things that guy said to you."
"Sorry, but I have no idea what she was talking about either."
I shrugged as I replied, and Lee Seo-jun clamped his mouth shut.
He seemed convinced I was hiding something.
[Character 'Lee Seo-jun' suspects you.]
[You acquire 500 points as a reward.]
It had been a while since emotion points appeared. It was suspicion, an emotion Lee Seo-jun had never felt toward me before.
Suspicion, huh.
For the story ahead, trust had to be the foundation of my relationship with Lee Seo-jun.
If I became someone suspicious to him, it might become an obstacle in future events.
So, how should I dispel his suspicion?
...Should I tell him my secret—the secret of this world?
I pondered briefly but decided against it.
If I told him this world was a novel or something like that, I couldn't predict Lee Seo-jun's reaction, and a huge shock could alter the future unpredictably.
In that case, there was only one way.
"What about you?"
"What?"
"That guy said weird stuff to you too. Something about bearing death. What was that?"
Of course, I wasn't asking because I didn't know the meaning of the 'one who bears death' the Apostle mentioned.
It was simply the best way to convince Lee Seo-jun.
At my words, Lee Seo-jun looked caught off guard.
"Ah..."
I crouched down and brushed my hand over the spot where the Apostle had lain moments ago.
"She must've said that because you have some secret too. Do you know what it means?"
Lee Seo-jun started to say something but closed his mouth again.
I spoke to him once more.
"You're clueless about it, just like I am."
Lee Seo-jun nodded and fell into thought. Then he looked at me with a face that had completely shed its suspicion.
"Looks like both you and I have some secrets."
"Seems that way."
I replied, pretending not to know.
"Let's figure out each other's secrets together. Just like you're helping me, I'll help you too."
"No need for that."
"Still, two heads are better than one."
I had nothing to say and shut my mouth. Lee Seo-jun looked at me and chuckled.
"Oh, and we should keep today's events secret from the others, right?"
"...Yeah. Better to keep it secret for now."
With that reply, I stood up.
"Shall we check the reward item then?"
"Sure."
I walked ahead toward the altar with the reward.
Upon reaching the altar, there was a small jewel box. It looked like opening it would reveal the reward, but the box itself was the reward.
[Soul-Containing Box (Relic)]
Classification: Box
Description: Can temporarily store souls. Stored souls can be used in necromancy.
[Usage Effect]
►Soul Harvest
Can store souls.
*Separate tools and materials are required to store or retrieve souls.
Durability: SS
Lee Seo-jun opened the box. It was empty inside.
"What is this? It's empty?"
"Looks like the box itself is the reward."
"Ah..."
Lee Seo-jun nodded. Since he was the one who suggested coming here, he must have realized what the reward was.
'Jin Cheon-woo's Research Journal' was more detailed than expected.
"I think I get it. It's for containing souls needed for necromancy."
"Yeah, probably."
"You keep the box."
Lee Seo-jun held the box out to me.
"Why?"
"It feels safer with you than me."
"...Fine, whatever."
It wouldn't be a big issue if I held onto it.
This box wouldn't be used again after this year's necromancy anyway.
Pretending to put the box in my bag, I stored it in my subspace.
"Alright, let's head out. Lee Hyun-joo is waiting."
"Yeah."
Lee Seo-jun and I walked to the opposite side of the guardian's room.
As we proceeded down the path, the sound of water grew louder in the distance.
It was proof we were nearing the sea.
Before long, we exited the temple.
Outside the temple, a translucent barrier protected it from the seawater.
"Wow."
Seeing it like this felt like being in an aquarium.
The scenic blue night sea came into view from inside the temple.
I walked to the edge of the barrier and reached out; my hand passed through, feeling the cold water's touch.
Lee Seo-jun and I nodded, bit into our underwater breathing magic tools, and stepped out beyond the barrier.
"Puha!"
After some time, Lee Seo-jun and I surfaced.
Outside, the morning sun was just peeking over the horizon.
"Why are you guys so late?!"
Then, a sharp woman's voice came from behind.
Turning around, Lee Hyun-joo was glaring piercingly at us from atop some rocks.
"Sorry."
Lee Seo-jun smiled as he said it. Lee Hyun-joo looked at him and let out a deep sigh.
"Did you find what you wanted?"
"Yeah, we did."
"...Good thing. Let's go quickly. It's 7 a.m. now. Because of you two, I couldn't sleep and have to head straight to training."
Lee Seo-jun gave a wry smile at Lee Hyun-joo's grumbling.
Then, as if realizing something, Lee Seo-jun furrowed his brow.
"...Wait, 7? Training starts at 7:30."
"Yeah. We've got about thirty minutes, so we won't be late."
Lee Seo-jun's expression darkened further at Lee Hyun-joo's response.
"...No breakfast this morning, then."