Chapter 276
Chapter 276
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 277
Chapter Title: Dealing with the Mystery
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Chapter 277
The mysterious crystal was embedded in the center of the throne where the Predator King had been sitting.
“……Is this the mysterious crystal?”
Lee Seo-jun muttered as he pulled out the transparent orb embedded in the throne.
At a glance, it looked similar to the Mystery that had created the virtual world, the ‘Virtual World Creation Device.’
But the two were fundamentally different.
If the ‘Virtual World Creation Device’ was merely a simple shell for outward appearances, then the mysterious crystal could be called the true essence of the Mystery.
Now, if he destroyed this, everything would return to nothing, and they could go back to the original world.
Lee Seo-jun glanced at me briefly before speaking.
“Then, should I smash it?”
“Yeah.”
Just as Lee Seo-jun was about to infuse the orb with mana to shatter it.
Light began to emanate from the orb.
[……Hey, hey! Wait a minute!]
A frantic voice echoed in my head.
The distinctive immature, childlike tone was unmistakably the will of the Mystery.
At the same time, the space shifted into a pitch-black void.
It felt like floating in outer space.
By now, I’d experienced it so often that I wasn’t even surprised.
This was the Mystery’s space.
“……Huh? Where’s this?”
Choi Seo-yoon, experiencing this for the first time, looked around with a flustered face.
Lee Seo-jun, now familiar with such situations, calmly surveyed the surroundings.
Then, someone appeared before us.
Choi Seo-yoon stared at the being in front of her and muttered.
“Sheep……?”
The entity had the face of a sheep.
But its body was that of a young human child.
It was a grotesque form, but I’d seen something similar before.
Choi Seo-yoon stared at it blankly before turning her gaze to me.
“Sunbae-nim, what the heck is that……?”
“It’s the Mystery.”
“……The Mystery?”
“More precisely, the Mystery’s ego hiding within it.”
Choi Seo-yoon, still unable to comprehend, looked back and forth between me, Lee Seo-jun, and the Mystery with a bewildered expression.
“……Have you two been through stuff like this a lot?”
Instead of answering, I shrugged.
At that moment, the Mystery clasped its hands together in front of us and shouted loudly.
[I’m sorry! I was wrong!]
The Mystery knelt down.
[I’ll let you all out, so please don’t destroy me!]
A desperate cry unbefitting a Mystery.
It felt so pathetic that it was oddly amusing.
“……We can just get out by destroying you anyway, so why bother?”
Lee Seo-jun said in a cold voice.
He must have been showing such hostility because he’d heard from Kwak Mu-jin about the atrocities this Mystery had committed.
[Let’s make a deal, a deal!]
“......A deal?”
Lee Seo-jun looked down at the Mystery and asked.
[Yeah, you! You’re that guy’s son, right? Jin Cheon-woo! Actually, he made a deal with me too. That’s how I’ve survived without being destroyed until now.]
According to the past stories, Jin Cheon-woo had once broken through the Predator legion alone and reached the mysterious crystal.
And the reason Jin Cheon-woo had been able to escape the virtual world alone back then was because of a similar deal.
Mysteries like this one were sly, cunning creatures with quick wits.
[What do you say? You must have a ton of questions for me, right? Don’t you want to make a deal?]
Lee Seo-jun fell silent for a moment and turned his gaze to me.
He was asking for my opinion on what to do.
He probably had a lot of questions too.
“……Well, making a deal isn’t a bad idea.”
Opportunities to deal with a Mystery didn’t come often.
Especially one where they held the advantage.
And since this followed the flow from the original story, it made sense to accept.
However, since I’d intervened, the contents of the deal would proceed a bit differently from the original.
“Alright. What’s the deal?”
[First, guarantee my survival. In return, I’ll answer one question you want, and get you three out of here.]
Lee Seo-jun shook his head.
“That won’t do.”
[……What else do you want?]
“Make it so everyone who fell into the virtual world—not just us—can get out.”
[…….]
The Mystery fell silent at Lee Seo-jun’s words. It pretended to ponder for a bit before speaking.
[Ugh. This isn’t normally allowed, but fine, I’ll make an exception!]
The sheep face grinned grotesquely.
“There’s more.”
[……Huh? More?]
“I already know what you’ve done. Promise you’ll stop devouring people or anything like that from now on.”
The Mystery rolled its eyes thoughtfully.
[That’s…….]
It stroked the fur on its face with a serious expression, continuing to mull it over.
It glanced at Lee Seo-jun, realized he wouldn’t budge, and reluctantly nodded.
[……F-Fine. That’s the end of the deal. I can’t concede any more. Got it?]
“Yeah.”
Lee Seo-jun nodded with a dissatisfied look.
[Alright, so what do you want to kn—]
“Hold on.”
I cut in, interrupting the Mystery.
It looked at me with a ‘what?’ expression.
“That’s not enough.”
The Mystery’s face scrunched up in annoyance.
I was amazed at how a sheep face could show such a range of emotions.
[What are you talking about? Look how much I’ve already conceded!]
“Whatever. My condition is ‘no limit on the number of questions.’”
[Are you kidding? You think that’s possible?]
“If not, no choice. Seo-jun.”
At my call, Lee Seo-jun turned his head.
“Yeah?”
“Give me the crystal.”
Lee Seo-jun blinked before nodding and handing over the crystal.
I immediately gathered mana in my hand.
“Negotiations failed. Good luck.”
The Mystery flinched and reached out in panic.
[Huh? Hey, hey, hey! Wait! Hear me out!]
The Mystery made a pleading face and waved its hands.
I paused the mana for a moment and stared straight at it.
[No limits isn’t possible. I have my reasons.]
“What reasons?”
[……You wouldn’t understand even if I explained, but we have set rules too. Breaking them could make me disappear.]
It seemed to be referring to the laws of the world.
It didn’t apply to me as an outsider, but since I knew the circumstances to some extent, I had to concede that point.
“……Hmm. Fine, can’t be helped.”
[I knew you’d understand!]
The Mystery narrowed its eyes and smiled.
Lee Seo-jun and Choi Seo-yoon shot me puzzled looks at those words.
“Then, just putting a limit is fine, right?”
[……Huh?]
“Questions up to the maximum you can handle.”
[……?]
The Mystery’s eyes darted around. That sight was grotesque yet fascinating every time.
“And give each of us one blessing.”
[Blessing?]
Mysteries had the power to grant blessings to humans.
Of course, they were too prideful to do so easily, but the situation was what it was.
Above all, this one had an incredibly strong will to survive compared to other Mysteries.
This would definitely work.
[……Ugh. Fine, got it.]
The Mystery drooped its head.
I grinned.
Negotiations complete.
Mystery promises carried binding power, so now I could do as I pleased.
[You have achieved the ‘Professional Blackmailer’ accomplishment.]
[You have obtained 3,000 points as a reward.]
Afterward, we posed questions to the Mystery.
First, the method of immortality, just like in the original story.
The Mystery explained there were various ways to achieve immortality, and spoke of the most orthodox one with the fewest side effects.
To summarize the Mystery’s explanation of immortality:
1. Materials are needed to become immortal.
2. The material for immortality is the body of blood kin born in the Boundary World.
3. The one seeking immortality must experience death once.
4. They revive from death through some method. A Mystery’s power is required in this process.
5. They take over the body via a soul transplant ritual.
6. Since the body could be destroyed during soul transplantation, both sides must possess strong mana.
[This is the cleanest method with the fewest side effects.]
At the Mystery’s words, Lee Seo-jun pondered briefly before asking.
“What are the methods with side effects?”
[Modifying the body or forcibly injecting Mystery essence into a human body, stuff like that. But using those methods comes with side effects like the body aging, grotesque mutations, or mental clouding.]
I’d seen similar cases before.
The grotesque figure from the Seonhyeon family was probably one, and Kwak Mu-jin as well.
“Ja-un’s goal must be reviving Jin Cheon-woo. Leaving you alone was probably to wait for your body and mana to grow.”
I tossed some bait to Lee Seo-jun, and he nodded seriously.
“Yeah. Seems like it.”
I glanced at Choi Seo-yoon.
She was pursing her lips with a confused expression, unable to follow the conversation.
Immortality and Jin Cheon-woo’s revival.
It wasn’t a normal topic, so her reaction was natural.
[No more questions?]
The Mystery asked. I raised my hand.
“I have one.”
[What is it?]
“Tell me how to become a god.”
Jin Cheon-woo wanted to become a god. And ‘god’ meant more than just immortality.
Immortality was merely a step toward becoming a ‘god.’
This process of becoming a ‘god’ hadn’t been covered in the original story.
Lee Seo-jun and Choi Seo-yoon looked at me blankly, surprised by my question.
The Mystery blinked at me before speaking.
[……You know that much, huh. Sorry, but I can’t tell you that.]
“Why not?”
[I told you. We have set rules.]
It was the expected answer, but disappointing nonetheless.
“……Well, can’t be helped. Then give us the promised blessings.”
The Mystery made a reluctant face before speaking.
[Fine. The blessing I can grant is the ‘Blessing of the Unreal.’]
“……Blessing of the Unreal?”
Blessing of the Unreal.
It was a blessing I’d never heard of, not even in the original story.
[Exactly as the name says—a blessing that makes you stronger in the unreal.]
“What exactly does ‘unreal’ mean?”
When I asked, the Mystery shrugged.
[Places that aren’t reality, literally. Like virtual worlds, dreams…… there are lots.]
Limited to unreal realms. More restrictions than expected.
The key would be how strong the effect was.
[I’ll grant it now.]
The Mystery reached into empty space. Simultaneously, three dazzling white lights appeared.
The orbs seeped into me, Lee Seo-jun, and Choi Seo-yoon respectively.
[You have acquired the special characteristic, ‘Blessing of the Unreal (A).’]
[All stats increase by 30% in non-real places.]
[‘Blessing of the Unreal’ activates.]
[All stats increase by 30%.]
I looked down at my hand.
Since this place was also unreal, the effect activated, boosting all my stats.
30% was equivalent to activating Battle Lust, so not bad.
Virtual worlds like this were set to appear in future plotlines anyway.
[Sigh. I’m cleaned out now. That’s it, right?]
Lee Seo-jun nodded.
“Then tell us how to get everyone out without destroying you.”
Having finished the deal with the Mystery, we escaped the Predator Fortress.
Our destination was the spot where we’d first arrived in the virtual world.
There, we found Russen.
To escape the virtual world, we had to gather the fallen people and send them back through the Mystery.
When we told Russen he could return to reality, he shed even more tears of gratitude than when he’d received the ramen.
We took Russen with us to the city of the living.
By the time we arrived at the city of the living, many people had already gathered.
Those who’d fled through gates had confirmed the Predator’s death and returned.
With Russen and innkeeper Jeong Cheong-ho’s help, we gathered those who’d fallen from reality into the virtual world.
In total, there were seven people.
There had been more originally, but they’d all died.
“……Thank you!”
“I thought I’d live and die here forever……”
“Sigh. What about my friends who died here……”
The people tearfully expressed their thanks one by one.
And on the final night in the virtual world.
The people gathered at the inn for a feast.
Lavish food and drinks.
Even music.
It was to share one last moment before returning to reality.
“Heh heh. Our heroes should have a drink too.”
An unnamed middle-aged Mystery scholar offered us glasses.
Lee Seo-jun smiled and shook his head.
“No thanks. We’re minors.”
“Alcohol from an adult is fine.”
“Still……”
“Ahem. If you insist, then I won’t hold back.”
I cut off Lee Seo-jun and quickly took the glass.
Lee Seo-jun gave me a ‘what?’ look, while Choi Seo-yoon eyed me with narrowed eyes.
Ignoring their stares, I downed the glass.
“Kuh.”
How long had it been since my last drink.
The taste was similar to beer, but as boundary beer(?), it had a slightly different, better flavor.
“Wow, this is super refreshing.”
“This kid knows his booze. Kahaha!”
The Mystery scholar laughed heartily.
Then, Choi Seo-yoon, sitting next to me, looked at me with half-lidded eyes and spoke.
“……Sunbae-nim, is that tasty?”
“Hmm…… It’s alright?”
I said, grabbing some snack with my hand.
“Really? Hmm. Should I try some too?”
Choi Seo-yoon reached for a glass on the table.
At that instant, I snatched the glass from her hand.
“Hey now.”
“……What.”
“Minors don’t drink.”
“……What’re you saying? You’re a minor too, sunbae-nim. You’ve been drinking since last year even.”
Choi Seo-yoon narrowed her eyes and shot back. Lee Seo-jun blinked and tilted his head.
“Since last year?”
“Well……”
“It’s nothing. Don’t mind it.”
I brushed it off with a smile, and Lee Seo-jun eyed me suspiciously for a moment before nodding.
The feast lasted about two hours before the time came to leave the virtual world and return to reality.
We all gathered outside the inn.
Breathing the cold night air sobered me up a bit.
I showed everyone the ‘mysterious crystal’ in my hand.
“Now I’ll explain how to return to reality.”
My words, with the buzz worn off, made everyone nod seriously.
“I’ll infuse the crystal with mana. It’ll emit light.”
As a demonstration, I infused mana into the orb. The transparent orb glowed blue.
“Touch the orb then, and you’ll return to reality.”
“Ooh……”
I looked around and turned to Russen first.
“Then, Russen-nim?”
“……Huh? Me first?”
Russen stepped forward with a tense face.
“Yes, just touch the orb like I said.”
“……Got it.”
Russen approached and spoke.
“I’ll say it again—truly, thank you. See you in reality soon.”
With that, Russen touched the orb.
A strong light burst from the orb.
Wooooong!
Flash!
When the light faded, Russen was gone.
“……Did the old man really go back to reality?”
One of the Mystery scholars muttered blankly.
“Yes, Russen-nim has returned to reality. Next…… the person right next to you, please.”
Thus, the Mystery scholars returned to reality one by one.
Time passed, and everyone had returned. Now only Lee Seo-jun, Choi Seo-yoon, and I remained.
“Who wants to go first between you two?”
At my question, Lee Seo-jun held out his hand to me.
“Give me the orb. You go first, Si-woon.”
I shook my head.
“No. I’ll go last.”
“……Alright? Then you first, Seo-yoon.”
“......Me?”
Choi Seo-yoon thought for a moment before nodding.
“Yeah, see you sunbae-nims later!”
Choi Seo-yoon touched the orb.
A strong light burst like before, and Choi Seo-yoon vanished. I turned to Lee Seo-jun.
“You’re next.”
Lee Seo-jun smirked and nodded.
“Got it. See you in reality. Come right away.”
“Yeah.”
The orb shone brightly again.
Lee Seo-jun reached out and touched it.
Flash!
Lee Seo-jun vanished too. Now, aside from the virtually generated characters, I was the only one left in this world.
Being alone felt strangely off, but I shook it off with a deep sigh.
Now I was in a state of complete freedom.
It was time to do what I had to.
“Hey. Mystery.”
At my call, a voice responded.
[……Why’d you call?]
“You know where the [Seed of Origin] hidden in the Boundary World is, right?”
[……Huh? Wait, how do you know about th—]
The Mystery’s trembling voice rang out.
I turned and gazed at a distant mountain before speaking.
“Guide me. I’m going to find it now.”