Chapter 368
Chapter 368
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 369
Chapter Title: The Giant Black Dragon Emerges
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The "giant black dragon" that appeared in the Himalayas circled nearby civilian villages for about five minutes before vanishing.
Fortunately, there were no casualties, but the black dragon reportedly used spirit speech to leave behind a cryptic message: "There's no need to fear. The one I, Cruas, intend to judge is not you. I am merely enjoying the freedom granted to me for the sake of judgment."
The Association suspects it may be a higher existence than the "Beast of Disease" that was subjugated in the Himalayas, and they are continuing their pursuit. Its current location has also been confirmed to be near the Asian continent.
"Hey, hey. Kim Sunwoo. So what happened?"
Monday, in the [Advanced Mana Utilization] class led by a special instructor invited by the Association.
All the major players had gathered for this special class, which selected 80 applicants from across all grades.
At Shin Youngjun's call, I set down my smart student notebook, which I'd been using to watch the news.
"What?"
"The giant black dragon that just appeared. That's the dragon from your subconscious, right?"
As Shin Youngjun asked, all eyes turned toward me.
The subconscious referred to the "Deep Dive Exploration" from the first midterm exam.
I met their gazes and nodded.
"Yeah. I told you. It's a real creature."
"Man, that's wild... How did you know about a dragon even the Association doesn't recognize? Do you have precognition or something?"
"Precognition? Come on."
I denied it once, but their stares held a deep seriousness that words couldn't dispel.
They really seemed to believe I had precognition.
Well, in this world, 'precognition' isn't pseudoscience or cult nonsense, so that reaction makes sense.
"But they say this giant black dragon might be connected to the Beast of Disease. Could it be after you, Sunwoo? It was talking about judgment and all that."
This time, Yoon Hayoung spoke to me.
"Don't worry. It's not after me."
As I said that, I subtly shifted my gaze to Lee Seojun.
Cruas was after Lee Seojun.
The original story, and all the information I'd gathered so far, pointed to that.
But even if future events were accelerating, I hadn't expected Cruas to appear four years early.
And I had no idea why it was spouting lines about 'judgment' that weren't in the original.
"Oh, and this goes without saying, but if that thing shows up in front of us, do not even think about fighting it."
I said it like a warning to everyone, but directed at Lee Seojun.
Lee Seojun seemed to catch my meaning and gave a small nod.
"Pfft, that's obvious."
As Shin Youngjun replied, the invited instructor's voice came from the front.
—...how much of the heart's mana you can distribute to the brain is key. Mana utilization relies heavily on imagination.
I turned my gaze to Jeong Mijin, the Association's invited special instructor.
Her voice captured the students' attention.
The lecture content was excellent.
Maybe because she'd lectured for numerous magic guilds, there was plenty in it that was helpful even to me now.
No matter how well-versed I was in magic theory, I hadn't learned magic systematically.
—...try it that way. Now, everyone, hold out your palms, draw up your mana, and make it rotate. Then move the remaining mana in your body to your brain.
At the instructor's words, we held out our palms.
Following her method, we drew mana up into our palms, made it rotate, and simultaneously distributed the leftover mana to our brains.
Woooong....
Soon, the mana floating above my palm rotated rapidly like a sphere of wind attribute.
Distributing mana to the brain as instructed made the manifestation feel smoother than usual.
[Brain rotation is accelerated by mana.]
[You have gained enlightenment.]
['Mana Control Technique (A)' proficiency increases by 2%.]
My control technique proficiency rose. But ignoring the messages floating in front of me, I focused on distributing the mana.
Right then.
"...Oh."
The instructor, who had been observing the students' practice,
was now standing in front of me, looking at the magic manifested on my hand with eyes full of interest.
"As expected, the rumors are true—you're not ordinary. Kim Sunwoo."
I was used to such praise, so I started to give a casual thanks.
At that moment, the instructor said something unexpected.
"I've never seen mana this pretty and beautiful in my life."
"Pardon?"
I tilted my head.
Mana is beautiful?
At that instant, Yoon Hayoung, who had been deeply focused on her own mana manifestation, turned her gaze to the mana floating above my hand.
"Yeah? Sunwoo, your mana looks super vibrant today."
"Oh, it kinda does."
Shin Youngjun chimed in from the side. The other major characters nearby, who had been watching my magic up close, nodded in agreement.
I blankly stared at the mana floating above my palm.
I hadn't paid much attention, but now that I looked closely, the differences were clear.
The rotation of the mana, the light... it was like a work of art.
Why was it like this?
"...Ah."
Then I realized why my mana had changed.
It was due to the newly acquired trait, [Aesthetic Sense].
And a message appeared before my eyes.
[A minor future change has been detected.]
[Karma increases by 0.5.]
What? Why did karma go up?
[To define mysteries, they are neither good nor evil, but chaos. They can become anything for their own amusement, and the world itself is their playground.]
In the Hanseong Pharmaceuticals head office, Han Seyeon was reading the book her father had left behind, [The Will of Mysteries and the Hidden World].
It was written in an ancient language, but with her knowledge, she could read it without much trouble.
[Humanity is neither as free nor as capable as it thinks. The notion that humans are the masters of the world is the height of arrogance; we are merely parts in the machine that operates the world.]
The book was filled with profound content.
It brimmed with criticism of humanity and was underpinned throughout by fear of mysteries and the world.
Han Seyeon looked again at the very first page of the book.
"...Who is the author?"
No matter how she searched, there was no name. Maybe it had faded because the book was so old.
"Parts in a machine...
Is this about determinism?
That everything in this world is predetermined?
The content is more philosophical than I expected.
[This is the hidden world concealed from humanity. The world's 'great fate' is set, and no matter what you do, it cannot be changed. Even if you force it to change, you will only receive punishment by the laws of the world. Only beings from other worlds, not belonging to this one, can alter the world's fate.]
"Beings from other worlds."
She recalled what she'd heard at the Dimensional Research Institute.
The story of similar yet different dimensions existing.
It had seemed far-fetched, but seeing similar content here made it impossible not to harbor deep suspicions.
Then, a sudden question occurred to her.
"But if you have the power of prophecy, can't you change the future?"
The existence of precognition abilities was already established fact.
So, all you'd have to do is act opposite to the future seen in precognition.
Moreover, she knew someone suspected of having precognition.
Kim Jinwoo.
And the next sentence.
[Even a prophet who knows the future cannot change a predetermined fate. If someone before you speaks of future events without hesitation, that person is highly likely to be an outsider from another dimension.]
Han Seyeon narrowed her eyes.
Because the figure described in this passage reminded her of Kim Jinwoo.
And at the same time, words she'd heard at the Dimensional Research Institute flashed through her mind.
—That ritual, is it the one someone else was investigating?
—That person may be a regressor from the future.
"Regressor...
A regressor could also mean someone from another point in time's dimension.
"Then, knowing future events...
Because Kim Jinwoo is a regressor?
[Unfortunately, I too am bound by the laws of the world, so I cannot include much in this book.]
"...Laws of the world."
The law that Lee Pilhee had mentioned.
[But I hope that many who read this book will develop a deep interest in the 'world.']
Han Seyeon turned the page.
[All truths of the world are held by mysteries. If you seek truth, pursue mysteries.]
This was the last page.
Again, it urged chasing after mysteries.
"...Was Jinwoo a regressor?" That's why he knew future events, and even the identities of the demons?
Her mind grew confused.
It was a story too vast and profound for her to accept.
"The future...
If Kim Jinwoo really came from the future, what had he experienced there?
What was his connection to Kim Changhyun? Exactly...
Han Seyeon turned the last page.
[N562-A22 Basement Level 3]
A small phrase with coordinates.
It was her father Han Daehyun's handwriting. Han Seyeon's eyes trembled slightly.
She touched the small key that had been tucked into the book.
[A future change has been detected.]
[Karma increases by 0.8.]
"Argh, you scared me."
Afternoon homeroom at 5 PM.
While listening to the homeroom teacher Lee Heeyoung explain the schedule, a message suddenly appeared saying the future had changed.
What the hell was this?
Why did karma rise again?
As I pondered that, I felt a gaze directed at me from somewhere.
Looking around, everyone in the classroom was staring at me.
"...Kim Sunwoo?"
"Ah, sorry. There was a fly in front of my eyes."
I waved my hand in front of my face like shooing it away.
Laughter from Lee Heeyoung and the students filled the classroom.
Everyone except Yoon Hayoung sitting next to me.
"...There was no fly."
"There was."
That brushed it off, and even Yoon Hayoung had nothing more to say as she nodded.
Lee Heeyoung clapped her hands to refocus everyone and continued.
"There's two weeks left until the school festival, Taehwije. As you know, third-years have the pro wizard exam scheduled, and there's a culture of yielding the festival to first- and second-years."
The last school festival of the year, Taehwije.
Last year, I'd enjoyed everything at Taehwije, but starting from third year, we don't participate due to graduation preparations.
Which is great for me.
I don't particularly want to enjoy anything at Taehwije anyway. No special events or anything.
However.
"But third-years do have one mandatory thing. Participation in one event at the Culture and Arts Competition during Taehwije."
This is the problem.
The third-year Taehwije incident that created Lee Seojun's black history, still talked about even after graduation.
"Ugh, annoying."
"Do we have to?"
As expected, complaints erupted from the students.
Lee Heeyoung smiled and said,
"Last year's third-years all prepared, so of course you have to."
Then she continued.
"There are various kinds in the Culture and Arts Competition. Manifestation Arts Contest... singing performances... cooking contest... plays, etc."
All things no one wants to join.
If I had to pick something I'd do, it'd be the Mana Manifestation Arts Contest or the cooking contest.
For reference, Lee Seojun and Yoo Ara get forced into the play.
Just because they're handsome and pretty.
Since it's a lifelong black history, I'll definitely avoid the play.
"Sunwoo, what are you doing?"
"Naturally, Mana Manifestation Arts."
With the [Aesthetic Sense] trait, I'm confident in first place.
Then Lee Heeyoung's voice rang out.
"Oh! And theater participation is low. Anyone you want to recommend?"
An unnamed student raised their hand.
"Kim Sunwoo is good at acting."
I frowned and turned my head. Then another student raised their hand.
"Yeah, during last special training class, his waiter acting was insanely immersive."
With the recommendations continuing, Lee Heeyoung's gaze naturally turned to me.
"Kim Sunwoo? Are you thinking of doing theater—"
"I'd rather die."
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