Chapter 214
Chapter 214
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 215
Chapter Title: Shocking Revelations
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Chapter 215
Lee Seojun's face was filled with shock at the emerging secrets.
"...I died before you were even born? What happened?"
At his question, Lee Yun-kyung clamped her mouth shut for a moment before beginning her long story.
[It was an ordinary day, just like any other. Late into the night. We'd agreed to meet in a park near there after finishing some personal business. And that's when I was ambushed out of nowhere.]
"...Was it Jin Cheonwoo who ambushed you?"
[Yes. He stabbed my belly—where you were about to be born—with a hand infused with mana.]
Lee Yun-kyung continued in a sorrowful voice.
[...And so I died without even knowing why. All while hearing him say, 'I'm sorry.']
"...Do you think you know why Jin Cheonwoo did something like that?"
[...I have no idea.]
"Haa..."
Lee Seojun let out a pained sigh.
He pressed his forehead with his palm, as if reeling from the shock.
"...So that's what it meant when they said I carried death with me?"
As Lee Seojun murmured quietly, Lee Yun-kyung spoke up.
[...What happened to him now?]
"...He's dead. By my grandfather's hand. Jin Cheonwoo killed too many people."
[I see...]
Lee Yun-kyung murmured softly in a voice laced with sorrow.
"Don't you resent Jin Cheonwoo?"
[...Of course I do. What he did is unforgivable. But all I want is to know why he did it. He wouldn't have done something like that for no reason.]
A brief silence fell.
Then Lee Yun-kyung's gaze turned to me.
[...By the way, who are you?]
"Ah, I'm... Seojun's friend."
Caught off guard by the sudden attention, I bowed my head reflexively.
[A friend... Summoning a spirit isn't easy. For you to be here means you're pretty close to Seojun.]
"...Uh, yeah. Pretty much."
I glanced at Lee Seojun as I replied. He looked at me and nodded slightly.
"Seonwoo. He's a good friend. He's always helping me out a lot."
At Lee Seojun's words, Lee Yun-kyung looked at me again.
[...Thank you for being close to Seojun. A good friend becomes a great strength no matter the hardship. Anyway, seeing how big you've both gotten, this must be quite far in the future for me, right?]
I nodded slightly.
"Yeah. Probably about 19 years from now... no, over 20 years into the future."
[...Then, do you happen to know someone named Choi Il-hyun?]
Hearing the familiar name so suddenly eased my tension a bit.
"I do. He's still doing well, and he occasionally gives me some magical guidance."
Lee Yun-kyung gave a faint smile at my words.
I couldn't read her exact expression since she was made of mist, but I could feel her smiling.
[That's a relief. He was so reckless and full of challenge that people used to joke he'd die young. But if he's lived this long, he must be quite the long-liver.]
I didn't reply.
That's when Lee Seojun chimed in.
"There's one more thing I want to ask."
Lee Yun-kyung nodded.
"I'm currently tracking down Jin Cheonwoo's lingering spirits. He's dead, but his remnants are still a huge threat to the world. Do you know anything about his goals?"
[His goals...]
Lee Yun-kyung trailed off, lost in thought for a moment, then spoke again.
[It's probably related to human limits. He's had a long-standing interest in that sort of thing. Especially 'immortality.']
"...From what I've investigated, Jin Cheonwoo seemed like he wanted to become a god."
Lee Yun-kyung nodded.
[Yeah. Maybe he did want to become a god. Truthfully, I don't have answers for that part. Whenever I'd ask about his research progress, he'd always say the same thing.]
...
['I can't tell you anything.']
"...I see."
[Sorry I couldn't be more help.]
"No, it's fine."
That's when it happened.
A faint light began to flicker from her body. And the Mystic, who had been quietly watching from the side, spoke to us.
[Sorry to interrupt the flow, but our promised time is almost up.]
Lee Seojun turned back to Lee Yun-kyung.
Her misty form was gradually losing its shape.
"...Do you think Jin Cheonwoo loved you?"
Lee Yun-kyung nodded at his question.
[Yes. The feelings we shared were real.]
"...I see."
Lee Seojun nodded again, as if a question had been resolved.
In that short time, Lee Yun-kyung's form grew even fainter.
[...It's about time for goodbyes. Seojun, I'm really sorry I had to meet you like this.]
"...No, it's okay."
[...Still, I'm glad I could see you, even like this.]
"...Me too. It was nice meeting you. Mom."
Lee Yun-kyung gave another faint smile at Lee Seojun's words.
[Yeah, thank...]
Lee Yun-kyung vanished before she could finish.
A moment of silence followed.
Lee Seojun stared at the empty space where she had been, then asked the Mystic.
"...Where do humans go when they die?"
[Huhu. I can't tell you anything. If you want info, pay up.]
Ignoring the Mystic, Lee Seojun turned his gaze to the 'Soul-Containing Box' in front of him.
Half of the soul dust inside had vanished.
"Half the dust is left—can I summon the same soul again with this?"
The Mystic shook its head.
[No, impossible. Once a soul is summoned, it can't be called again.]
"I see..."
Lee Seojun murmured in a disappointed tone.
[Well, anyway, my job's done. Thanks for the entertaining show. Hehe.]
The Mystic shrugged and laughed, waving at us.
[Alright, time for us to part too. Take care, everyone!]
At the same time, a brilliant white light emanated from me, centering on Lee Seojun's body.
Woooong! Flash!
When I came to, the scenery around us had changed.
No longer the Mystic's space, but the reality we belonged to.
Jin Cheonwoo's hideout.
['Meeting with the Dead' achievement completed.]
[Reward: 3,000 points acquired.]
I stared blankly at the message window in front of me.
I'd earned 3,000 points from the achievement.
I wondered if karma would rise too, but unfortunately, no.
I turned to Lee Seojun. He was staring at the floor, lost in thought.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. I'm good. Feels kinda refreshing, actually."
Lee Seojun gave a small smile.
"...Good to hear."
"Seonwoo. Thanks. I don't even know how many times I've said that to you now..."
"I get it, so stop. It's creepy."
Lee Seojun chuckled and nodded at my words.
I turned my attention away from him and looked at the 'Soul-Containing Box.'
All the materials inside were intact, but half the 'soul dust' was gone.
"Can I take the remaining dust?"
"Yeah. Doesn't matter to me. I used half, so the other half's yours by right."
"Okay. I'll take it then."
"But what're you gonna use it for? Gonna meet your family too?"
...Family, huh.
If I could meet family with necromancy, I'd want that too.
But.
It'd probably be impossible to meet family that way.
"Nah, just keeping it in case."
"...Fair enough. Ah! It's already 3 PM. Let's head out."
"Sure."
Having wrapped up the day's business, Lee Seojun and I left the hideout.
Cool yet warm sunlight shone brightly on us.
Winter's chill was ending, and spring's warmth was arriving.
New semester starts in three days. Time for a fresh mindset.
We descended the mountain in silence.
Then, a moment later, I stopped as if I'd realized something.
"Let's split here."
"Where you headed?"
"Got something to take care of real quick."
"...Alright? Was gonna grab dinner, but oh well."
"We'll eat at the opening ceremony."
"Yeah, got it. See you in three days then."
"Yeah."
After bidding Lee Seojun goodbye, I climbed back up the mountain and entered Jin Cheonwoo's hideout.
Traces of the necromancy ritual lingered inside.
I reorganized the necromancy materials, cut my finger to drip blood into the box.
Then I pulled out the ritual staff from my subspace and swung it, channeling mana.
Woooong!
The space before me shifted again.
[...Huh? What're you doing? Why're you back?]
The goat-headed figure looked at me with a puzzled voice.
"Why d'you think? There's only one reason I'd come here."
[True that. Hehe. Gonna use your blood to summon a related soul, like that kid?]
"Yeah. Anyone connected to my blood—just bring someone.]
[Sorry, but no can do.]
The Mystic refused outright.
When we summoned Jin Cheonwoo, it at least pretended, but this time it flat-out rejected without even trying.
"Reason?"
[Can't say. No matter what you offer, I can't tell.]
"...That serious, huh?"
[Yep.]
It was disappointing, but I'd half-expected it.
I moved straight to Plan B.
"Then summon a soul with a different medium."
[Different medium?]
The Mystic asked with thick curiosity. I pulled out the 'photo of young Kim Chang-hyun' I'd gotten from the Seonhyeon family in my subspace.
The Mystic's eyes widened in surprise.
Not at the photo, but at me pulling it from subspace.
[Whoa... That was the ability from the karma fragment, right? Neat.]
"...Karma fragment?"
At my question, the startled Mystic waved its hands frantically.
[Uh? Ah! No! Forget I said that! Hehe.]
"Don't dodge— what's a karma fragment?"
[Noooope~ Won't tell~ No matter what you offer~]
...Pissing me off.
"Fine, whatever. Summon a soul related to this photo."
[You're not mad, right?]
"Not mad, so just summon."
[...You seem mad. Hmm. Fine, gimme the photo.]
I handed the photo to the Mystic.
It stared at it and emanated the same mysterious aura as before.
Soon, it stopped.
[...Huh?]
Then it started giggling like last time.
[Hehehe...]
"...Why the laugh?"
Sorry. No souls can be summoned with this photo.]
"What? None at all? That make sense?"
[For real. This photo has three soul traces. But all impossible. One's... a secret. The other two got eaten by souls.]
"...Eaten by souls? What's that?"
[Secret~]
"Argh! If you're gonna be like this, spit back the soul dust! Do you know how expensive that is? Can't even buy it with money!"
As I snapped, the Mystic's eyes narrowed into crescents.
[Hehehe. Ooh, spicy~ So spicy~ Super duper sweet~ Gulp~ Slurrrp~]
The Mystic writhed around making gross noises.
Eventually, it stuck its tongue out at me and mimed licking something. Slurp. Lick lick.
I clenched my fist.
Wanted to punch it for real.
No, one punch wouldn't cut it—maybe a hundred.
It acted all prim with Lee Seojun, but alone with me, its mischief ramps up.
[Hehe. Just kidding. Since I got a snack, I'll give you one piece of info you probably don't know.]
"Info?"
The Mystic handed back the photo.
[This photo has a hidden mechanism.]
"What're you talking about? There's nothing on this photo."
I squinted and retorted.
I'd already checked it ages ago with Outsider's benefits.
No mechanisms hidden on the photo.
[Of course not—it's not made with mana or mystery, so you wouldn't know. Think creatively.]
[Anyways, that's all I can say. Bye now!]
"Huh? Hey, wait..."
Woooong!
Flash!
My vision shifted back to Jin Cheonwoo's hideout.
"Argh! What the hell?!"
That's when it happened.
[Karma rises by 0.8.]
"...Huh? What."
Karma had increased. It didn't last time.
A flurry of questions swirled in my head, but I shook them off.
No point overthinking—it wouldn't yield answers.
"Haa."
I looked down at the photo.
"...So this photo has some kind of mechanism?"
The Mystic wouldn't lie, so I need to figure out what it is.
7 PM.
After finishing all my errands, I got home. The Nepal trip and necromancy ritual had left me more mentally drained than usual.
I flopped onto the sofa.
Silence followed.
That's when I realized Gretel wasn't home.
"...Probably working in the dungeon."
I considered summoning Gretel out of loneliness but decided against it.
Some alone time now and then is fine.
Less than a minute later, the quiet got to me, so I turned on the TV.
['Disease Beast' subjugation success reveals several special facts. Notably, the 'Mystery of Disease' causing the 'disease' behaves like a living organism. Numerous mystery researchers are proposing hypotheses.]
[The most supported is that the 'Disease Beast' was a 'Mystery Apostle.' The existence of 'Mystery Apostles' is a long-verified theory...]
"Oh, right."
Something I needed to do popped into mind.
I opened my smart student planner and accessed the Magic Academy's 'Comprehensive Information System.'
Time to register for classes.
Second year follows the school's curriculum, but from third year, you choose what to learn.
"What to pick."
Truthfully, I have no choice.
I have to stalk Lee Seojun like always.
I recalled and input his third-year class list one by one.
"...Ah, right. Change the reinforcement class to manifestation."
[Advanced Understanding of Manifestation Magic]
[Instructor: Lee Hee-young]
"This one's a must."
As I reviewed my registrations, my hand paused at one.
[Mystery Philosophy Research Club]
[Instructor: Ryan Denit]
"...Gonna take this one too."
In the original story, Lee Seojun picked this while starting to chase Jin Cheonwoo.
It resolves some frustrating mysteries about him.
Essential for me following the original flow.
[Registration complete.]
"Whew. Finally done."
I closed the form with a satisfied smile.
Then immediately checked my messages.
The Disease Beast incident yesterday had flooded me with all sorts of messages.
I ignored them all, scrolling until I found the one.
[Hi. You have that address I gave yesterday? Cool to meet there?]
Short message.
From Yoo Ah-yeon, four hours ago. I replied right away.
[Sure, no problem. See you there tomorrow, same time.]
The Regressed Extra Becomes a Genius