Chapter 241
Chapter 241
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 242
Chapter Title: Entering the World Record Archive
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The sun had set, and the surroundings had already grown pitch black.
A glance at the time showed it was 9 p.m.
After wrapping up my secret deal with Bert, I climbed to the uninhabited back mountain on Ganghwa Island.
The reason was simple.
I needed a quiet spot away from people's eyes to use the mana core.
The powerful mana waves it emitted during use seemed likely to cause trouble.
—Grrrrr...
"...This place has more monsters than I thought."
Perhaps because it was a mountain at night, monster growls kept echoing.
Staying alert for any potential attacks, I pressed onward.
...Time passed like that.
I reached the summit.
"Whew! The air's nice up here."
The view from the top was nothing but darkness. With no civilian areas nearby, there wasn't even a cityscape to speak of.
A boring sight, but perfect for secretly doing something shady(?).
I took a deep breath and pulled out the [Mana Core] from my pocket.
A transparent orb emitting a faint magical glow.
Honestly, I had no idea how to use it.
Maybe just inject some mana to activate it?
"Let's give it a shot."
I channeled mana into the mana core. It trembled slightly, then began emitting powerful mana.
"Oh...
I released the mana I'd been injecting.
I'd worried it might need something else to work, but that was a relief.
Now that I'd figured out the rough usage, time to try dimensional observation.
I closed my eyes and activated the 'authority.'
The method came naturally to my body, allowing instant use without delay.
[Consumes 10 causality.]
[Uses authority, 'Dimensional Observation.']
Woooong!
Activating the authority, I felt a new energy through my skin.
My internal mana drained rapidly.
It matched the sensation from the previous activation.
"Urk!"
Mana pouring out of my body.
Dizziness hit me at the same time, and I gritted my teeth.
Last time, the authority had canceled after exhausting all my mana shortly after use.
But not now.
The mana core would supply the mana needed for dimensional observation.
I injected mana into the mana core.
Woooong!
The mana core in my hand trembled violently.
As if it had a will of its own, it released mana once mine was depleted.
Woooong!
Circular mana waves followed immediately.
[All conditions for 'Dimensional Observation' have been met!]
"Ugh!"
An unfamiliar energy I'd never felt before surged around me.
Not mana, not mystery—an aura beyond anything I'd experienced.
It spread wide, then engulfed me like a living creature.
When I came to, the space had changed.
A black void reminiscent of outer space.
But its walls were covered in glowing blue runes.
Or maybe not walls. The runes seemed to float in midair.
"But where is this?"
[You have entered the 'World Record Archive.']
[Reward: Acquire 30,000 points.]
"...World Record Archive?"
A completely unfamiliar name.
Naturally, it was never mentioned in the original story.
The name suggested a connection to dimensional observation.
Still, 30,000 points just for entering a new space?
"Hmm."
Questions swirled, but I felt inwardly pleased at the free points.
I gazed at the runes filling the wall-like space.
The outsider's blessing activated, imprinting their contents in my mind.
"What is this...
The runes formed a massive history book.
Records of the world.
Not just past and present—future events too.
...The issue was that the futures shown diverged entirely from the current timeline.
In other words, these were fragments from my previous life.
Lee Seo-jun winning the Seongmu Tournament solo at 19.
Lee Seo-jun reaching S-Rank at 22.
Other figures' records filled it densely too.
I searched for Jin Cheon-woo or Kim Chang-hyun, but the sheer volume made it tough.
The records weren't that detailed anyway.
Still, determined to check everything, I kept looking around.
Eventually, I found the record of Lee Seo-jun's death.
No details on how he died.
Oddly, nothing after was readable.
Not unreadable—more like the runes rejected me.
"Probably because it's a time I haven't lived through."
Disappointed, I tried various things but realized 'dimensional observation' only let me view timelines I'd experienced, then gave up.
I turned around this time.
Vast runes stretched behind me too.
A quick scan suggested these were records of my 'current' life.
Right before my eyes: 'Kim Sun-woo and Lee Seo-jun's joint Seongmu Tournament victory.'
"But what's with the overlays?"
Previous life's runes were neatly arrayed, but current ones had traces of new runes written over old.
The common thread in the overlays: points where I'd intervened.
I vaguely understood why.
My interventions had altered history.
I turned left to check more.
More vast runes lined up there.
Which timeline was this?
This life? Previous?
Curious, I approached and examined them.
"...Can't see it."
No content visible. Meant a timeline I hadn't experienced.
Given the scale, maybe previous life? But uncertain.
...No way it's the next loop, right?
"Ugh."
The thought alone was horrifying.
Pondering what to do next, a voice spoke.
[Currently observable dimensions: total 'two.']
[Touch a desired timeline's runes for detailed observation.]
[Opportunity: only once.]
"Now we're talking."
I'd worried this might be dimensional observation's limit.
I'd gathered causality for more than just this info.
Two observable dimensions meant my original reality was off-limits.
No regrets there.
With urgency to gather more causality ASAP, I had no intent to waste it on nostalgia.
My goal from the start: confirm Lee Seo-jun's death moment.
No hesitation, I acted.
"Urk."
The blinding light that forced my eyes shut faded.
I slowly opened them and looked around.
A familiar space.
Spacious living room, TV, sofa, dining table, lights.
'This is the news. The World Wizards' Association has announced the 167th promotion wizard list. Three wizards qualified for S-Rank review. From Korea, Wizard Choi Seo-yoon has advanced to S-Rank review.'
The TV news filtered into my ears.
I stared blankly at it.
A familiar woman's face appeared on screen.
...24-year-old Choi Seo-yoon.
Unlike the youthful face I'd seen that morning, she carried a touch of maturity.
[Arrived in 2039.]
April 2039, spring.
I'd returned to that day.
This space was the apartment I'd lived in back then.
Dazedly scanning around, I spotted a man on the sofa watching TV.
My past self.
...No, not past—future me?
Future felt off too.
Just call him my previous life's self.
Anyway, previous-life me watched TV with a bored expression. Knowing his feelings well, I couldn't help a wry smile.
Probably bored with the repetitive daily grind.
Even as I approached, he didn't stir. I was invisible. Touching yielded only passage through.
Pure 'observation.'
Facing my previous self stirred odd feelings.
Seeing that lonely figure made me inexplicably sad.
Past me had always been alone.
No contacts, living reclusively to avoid influencing events.
Believing if I stayed quiet, the world would reach a happy end.
Wrong choice in the end.
Lee Seo-jun died, everything reset.
"...Tch."
Pointless sentiment.
Regret changed nothing; do better now.
And now, I wasn't as lonely.
Intervening in the story had built many bonds.
Still, fear sometimes gripped me—what if one mistake lost it all...
I'd just have to avoid that.
A sudden thought struck.
If I could see the ending here and return to my original world.
Could I abandon everything achieved here and go back peacefully?
I wasn't a resident of this world.
I was an 'outsider.'
The day to return might come.
When it did, I would...
My chest tightened; I cleared my mind.
Think on that later.
I left the apartment, heading to Seoul's downtown where Lee Seo-jun's death occurred.
Not far from my place, I arrived quickly.
"Amazing."
Felt like a nostalgia trip.
Ironic, reminiscing over the future, not past.
Six years had changed Seoul a lot—visibly so.
Even the smartphones in people's hands showed the time gap.
Especially seeing familiar faces on billboards.
Yoo Ah-ra, Yoon Ha-young, Shin Young-jun, Lee Hyun-joo...
Korea’s star wizards representing 2039.
"But what time is it now?"
Looking around, I spotted a massive clock.
[3:20]
"Not much time left."
By my memory, around 3:30, the evil dragon Cruas would appear downtown.
Ten minutes or so remaining.
Lee Seo-jun mobilized late, so seeing him would take longer.
"Hmm. Nothing else to do here."
Scanning around, I spotted a familiar face.
An unexpected one—I was shocked.
"...Kim Chang-hyun?"
It was none other than Kim Chang-hyun.
With all his suspicious traits, I'd wondered if he linked to Lee Seo-jun's death.
But actually running into him here?
Kim Chang-hyun leaned against a wall, face dark. He clenched his teeth, exhaling a pained sigh.
He looked unwell.
Then—
Weeeeeeng—
A siren blared suddenly.
The alert for magic terrorism or monster attacks.
[Catastrophe-grade beast mana detected!]
[Citizens, evacuate to underground bunkers immediately!]
[Repeating: ]
[Catastrophe-grade beast mana detected!]
[Citizens, evacuate to underground bunkers immediately!]
Downtown turned to chaos instantly.
"Run—"
"Kyaaak—"
Citizens rushed to the city's underground bunkers.
Amid the panic, Kim Chang-hyun stayed put, face still pained.
Why the agony?
I wondered, then thought: maybe 'coercion' tormenting him.
Like, he wasn't supposed to be here originally.
Then—
Powerful mana pulsed from afar.
Chills ran down my spine.
Malevolent mana inspiring terror just by sensing it.
Turning, a massive black dragon flew toward us.
First time seeing it with my own eyes.
Evil dragon, Cruas.
Same catastrophe-grade as the 'Plague Beast,' but overwhelmingly superior.
"Tch!"
Kim Chang-hyun glared at the dragon, then fled backward.
Debating pursuit, I followed.
Lee Seo-jun hadn't mobilized yet; I could return till then.
Once distanced from the dragon, Kim Chang-hyun halted.
The pained expression had eased.
He squatted, clutching his forehead.
"This is absurd. Ridiculous. This guy, right to the end..."
Kim Chang-hyun muttered angrily. Unfamiliar sight—no emotions shown in my memories.
Sighing deeply, he spoke again.
"This life's a bust."