Chapter 340
Chapter 340
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 341
Chapter Title: Aftermath in Aporia
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According to the original story's flow, Jaun stole Jin Cheonwoo's soul and fled.
They had spent fourteen years stealing countless mysteries just for this one day, arming themselves with ancient artifacts, so Jaun's success was, in a way, an inevitable outcome.
Eight ancient artifacts.
Fourteen small gates.
Twenty-one kinds of barriers and sealing mysteries.
Forty-two kinds of confusion and curse mysteries.
They had used over eighty mysteries for this operation alone.
Even Choi Ilhyeon, known as the greatest wizard after Kim Jincheol, had his limits trying to fend them off single-handedly when they were armed to the teeth with such mysteries.
"...Still, we kept the damage to a minimum."
Since they had taken out the "Blood Ghost"—who was supposed to cause the most slaughter in this Aporia incident—early on, they averted catastrophic losses.
In the original flow, countless Association wizards would have died at the Blood Ghost's hands, leading to nearly sixty escapees.
But thanks to my intervention, the number of escapees dropped to zero.
I considered that result good enough on its own.
Now that everything was over.
I sat on the crumbled wall, checking the messages and additional rewards I hadn't gotten around to earlier.
[S-Rank Villain 'Baek Woocheol' has been eliminated.]
[Causality increases by 1.]
[A major change in the future has been detected.]
[Causality increases by 1.5.]
['S-Rank Simultaneous Elimination' achievement unlocked.]
[10,000 points acquired as reward.]
I gained causality from taking out the Blood Ghost.
Including the future change detection and Teresa's elimination, that made over three points of causality in total.
It felt like the intervals between gaining causality were getting shorter.
"Kim Sunwoo."
As I was lost in thought, Yoo Ara approached and sat down next to me.
Yoo Ara gazed up at the night sky with a pensive expression before murmuring to herself.
"...Thanks. You helped me out again."
"With what?"
"You saved me from the Blood Ghost earlier. I knew right away it was your magic. It's like... your color shines through in the spells."
True to her sensitive nature, she had immediately noticed my involvement.
I had nothing particular to say, so I didn't respond.
A brief silence fell.
The chilly night air prickled my skin, and as I debated getting up due to the odd discomfort, she spoke.
"...I feel kind of down."
"...Out of nowhere?"
Yoo Ara gave a wry smile at my words.
"Just... I can't help wondering why I'm so inadequate."
She, who always showed a strong and confident front, was saying something uncharacteristically weak.
"Earlier... I came face-to-face with Jaun, the one I hated so much, but I couldn't do a thing."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"I was scared I might die. I want to get stronger fast, to grow enough not to lose to anyone, so I can help others too. But I can't because I'm so lacking."
Yoo Ara turned her gaze to me.
"I want to be like you."
She had been secretly comparing herself to me.
To Lee Seojun in the original story. To me now.
Looking at her, I felt a strange sensation.
The special emotions the main characters had shown toward Lee Seojun.
Those emotions were now directed at me, not him.
And in that moment, I got scared.
Could someone like me really take on the protagonist's role of growing those around him just by existing?
I thought for a moment before speaking heavily.
"No need to rush. You'll grow faster than anyone."
Yoo Ara turned to me with a faint smile at my words.
"You're being awfully careful with your words. Is this pity from the 'true genius'?"
"...True genius, my ass. I'm serious. Your talent is special."
Though overshadowed by Lee Seojun and stuck with the 'eternal second place' label, she possessed talent that would claim first in any generation.
She was a 'genius' too.
"If my talent is special, what does that make yours?"
"Mine's nothing compared to yours."
"...What? Are you messing with me?"
It might sound that way. But this was sincere.
I was only ahead temporarily thanks to 'outsider benefits' and 'experience from regression.'
Lee Seojun or Yoo Ara could surpass me anytime.
"I'm serious. You have talent that's incomparable to mine. In a few years, you'll crush guys like Jaun effortlessly. So have some pride."
Whether she sensed my sincerity, Yoo Ara pressed her lips together and stared at my face.
Then, as if gaining courage, she smiled faintly.
"Yeah. Thanks."
Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.
A single ship armed with all sorts of magic tools was speeding away.
It was Jaun's ship, which had escaped Aporia under the Association's watch.
"...The damage is worse than expected, but we achieved our goal."
Natasha murmured softly, leaning against the wall.
"Yeah. Only eight out of fourteen made it back. That's a painful loss."
Jin looked around at the survivors in the ship: Berth, Sca, Natasha, Baek Eunseong, Aaron, Lee Cheong, and Werner.
"We lost six...?"
"Losing Teresa too makes it seven."
"Forget what's done. Let's pick up where we left off."
Natasha turned to Jin as she spoke.
"So, it's true that no mana was felt in the magic that killed Teresa?"
"Yeah, it's true."
Then she turned to Baek Eunseong.
"And it's true no mana was felt from the Rune Clan guy who cut off your arm?"
"Yeah. Definitely. I remember it clearly."
Natasha sighed deeply at Baek Eunseong's words.
"Hey, Baek Eunseong. Why didn't you share that info?"
"...Uh? Well... I didn't want to go into detail about my humiliation..."
Sca chuckled softly at Baek Eunseong's mutter.
"He's super embarrassed about stuff like that. Hid instead of coming back when he lost the Cup of Life. Heh."
"Hey, stop bringing up the Cup of Life!"
Baek Eunseong shouted.
"But it's surprising. That Rune Clan bastard infiltrated Aporia for revenge. What a total psycho."
Lee Cheong said.
Then Natasha turned to Berth.
"But Berth, why've you been so quiet?"
As all eyes turned to her, Berth crossed her arms.
"...That magic with no mana. I've seen it before too."
"Huh?"
Everyone reacted with startled surprise at Berth's words.
"Where?!"
"At my villa in Korea last year."
"...Last year?"
Jin thought for a moment before speaking.
"You're not talking about when Lee Seojun was attacked by demons, are you?"
"Right. No mana was felt in the magic that pierced the demon's body back then."
Everyone fell into deep shock.
"Wait, wasn't that magic fired by that Dawn's Blade guy?"
"I thought so too. Does that mean Dawn's Blade are the culprits?"
Berth, who had been quietly watching, spoke up.
"I think the owner of that magic is Kim Sunwoo."
"What are you talking about?"
Natasha asked.
"Exactly what I said. The magic from the villa was very similar to Kim Sunwoo's. And he has the capability."
Everyone wore stunned expressions.
An utterly unexpected figure had been named as the culprit from Berth's mouth.
"So... from the villa, the Cup of Life, the Prophet's Night, Atlantis, and now Aporia... Kim Sunwoo was the one chasing us all this time?"
Baek Eunseong said, his hands trembling.
"Not content with that, he made me eat shit, cut off my arm, and forced that humiliating Blood Oath?"
The members murmured at Baek Eunseong's words.
"...Wow. Hearing it like this, he's the worst of the worst. Kim Sunwoo must be a total lunatic. What kind of guy is he?"
"But didn't they say he's a servant of the Rune Clan? Kim Sunwoo's too young."
"And I heard he used lightning properties when taking your arm."
Baek Eunseong's face twisted demonically, and he swung his 'Heavenly Flower Spear' through the air.
Whoooosh—!
"We need to kill that bastard right now."
"No, we can't."
Berth said.
"We have the Blood Oath. We can't harm Kim Sunwoo."
"What are you saying? The oath ended the moment he killed Teresa today."
"It's just my guess that Kim Sunwoo is the culprit."
"...What?"
"To break the oath, we need 'proof' that gives us certainty."
The Blood Oath relies on one's 'conscience.'
In other words, acting against one's conscience triggers the oath carved into heart and mana, resulting in death.
"...No, Berth!"
Baek Eunseong yelled loudly.
"I was certain Kim Sunwoo was the culprit, but you had to say that and stop me!"
"Sorry, but the Blood Oath has a clause preventing comrades from harming Kim Sunwoo. If I don't stop you, I'll die."
Baek Eunseong went speechless and loosened his grip on the spear.
Jin let out a hollow laugh.
"We got completely played by Kim Sunwoo. I didn't realize back then, but the oath conditions are way stricter than they seemed. All too favorable to him."
"...Haa. This is maddening."
Baek Eunseong scratched his head. Berth looked around at everyone and said.
"We need evidence. Solid proof that he's the one."
At that moment, Sca raised his hand.
"But Berth, we also need to prepare for his resurrection. Isn't that priority?"
"...True. We have a lot to do."
Morning broke in Aporia.
The chaotic incident was fully resolved in a single day, and the temporarily released prisoners were re-incarcerated.
The injured Association wizards received treatment and regained stability, and parts of Aporia's crumbled walls were repaired.
Aporia looked much the same as yesterday—except for the missing 'soul of Jin Cheonwoo.'
"Kim Sunwoo, what happened yesterday will be reported to the Association."
"Yes. Understood."
I had a brief meeting with Kim Deokhyeon about Jin Cheonwoo's soul reacting to me.
I had nothing to say, but thanks to Kim Deokhyeon knowing my situation, it passed without issue.
Time passed, and it was nearly time to leave Aporia and return to the mainland of South Korea.
Lee Seojun, Yoo Ara, and I waited for the ship while gazing at the sea tinged by the setting sun.
"A lot happened."
As Yoo Ara murmured blankly, Lee Seojun nodded.
"Yeah. Feels like just more mysteries piled up. Even more confusing."
Lee Seojun glanced at me as he spoke. It seemed directed at me. I didn't react.
"Can't believe I have to go to school tomorrow."
At Yoo Ara's musing, something occurred to me.
"Oh, right. Midterms are coming up soon?"
"Ah, yeah. The exams..."
Yoo Ara grimaced at the mention of exams.
Her eternal second-place days were tough enough, but now facing eternal third-place talk, this exam was crucial for her.
I wasn't too sure about this exam either.
Abyss Exploration.
It wasn't covered in the original story.
Just then, a ship appeared on the horizon.
"Time to go?"
We turned at the familiar voice from behind.
Choi Ilhyeon stood there with a gentle smile.
"Yes, it's about time. What about you, sir?"
Choi Ilhyeon shook his head at my question.
"I still have work here."
Then Lee Seojun spoke up as if remembering something.
"Oh, right. Wasn't it your generation when the Abyss Exploration exam was abolished, Mr. Choi?"
"Abyss Exploration?"
A flicker of puzzlement crossed Choi Ilhyeon's eyes.
"...Yeah, it was abolished in our time. Why?"
"It's our midterm, so I wondered if you knew anything."
Choi Ilhyeon stroked his scruffy beard at Lee Seojun's words.
"...Abyss Exploration is a test of escaping your inner unconscious."
"Your inner unconscious?"
Yoo Ara murmured to herself.
"Yes. Everyone sees something different inside, so I don't know what you'll encounter. Could be something precious."
"Or something you hate most..."
Choi Ilhyeon murmured thoughtfully before smiling.
"Well, anyway, it'll probably make for some fun memories. If you're lucky, you might even visit the unconscious of people around you. Or others might visit yours."
The Regressed Extra Becomes a Genius