Chapter 393
Chapter 393
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 394
Chapter Title: The Mystery on the Island
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“……Is this that island?”
After meeting Kim Jin-woo, Han Se-yeon boarded a private jet with the Sword Ghost and landed on a small uninhabited island hidden somewhere in the Pacific.
A quiet space where only the sound of the wind could be heard.
The surroundings were entirely covered in forest, as if no human hand had ever touched it.
Han Se-yeon scanned the area with wary eyes and asked.
“Have you been here before, Uncle Soo-gi?”
“I visited once 25 years ago as the chairman’s bodyguard.”
Twenty-five years ago.
A time before she was even born.
Considering that her father had always been with Uncle Soo-gi, it meant this island had been left abandoned for those 25 years.
“You said you don’t know what’s hidden here either, right, Uncle Soo-gi?”
“That’s correct. The chairman always went underground alone.”
The Sword Ghost glanced around briefly before speaking.
“I remember the path, so I’ll guide you.”
“Yes, please do.”
Following the Sword Ghost’s lead, Han Se-yeon walked through the forest.
She sensed the presence of wild monsters here and there, but they fled in fear of the aura emanating from the Sword Ghost, so nothing too dangerous happened.
How long had they walked?
The Sword Ghost stopped in his tracks.
“We’re here.”
A single rectangular white building stood at their destination.
Han Se-yeon stared at it blankly.
For some reason, it didn’t feel like an ordinary structure.
It gave off a strange sense of mystery…… Like the atmosphere of ancient ruins, perhaps?
Then a sudden thought crossed her mind.
How had her father discovered this island? It would’ve been hard to find something hidden in a place like this.
Lost in thought, she snapped back to attention at the Sword Ghost’s words.
“There’s a staircase leading underground once you enter the building.”
“Ah. Okay, let’s go in right away.”
Han Se-yeon nodded and moved to enter the building.
That was when the Sword Ghost spoke from behind.
“No. I’ll wait here.”
Han Se-yeon halted.
“Pardon?”
“The chairman once said that if a day like today ever came, I must let you go in alone.”
“……My father said that?”
Han Se-yeon was momentarily surprised.
Did he already know I would come here?
“Hmm. If it’s Father’s orders, there’s no helping it. I’ll be right back.”
“Take care.”
Nodding, Han Se-yeon opened the building’s door and stepped inside.
The interior was pitch black; she couldn’t see a thing.
Right in front of her was a staircase leading underground—the very space the Sword Ghost had mentioned, which she recognized immediately.
Han Se-yeon turned on her smartphone’s flashlight to illuminate the darkness.
An inexplicable anxiety and fear welled up, but she shook it off with a small sigh and slowly descended the stairs.
Step by step.
……How much time had passed?
Before she knew it, she had reached the end of the stairs, arriving at a narrow passageway.
She blankly looked around.
“……Spellwork?”
The passageway walls were covered in countless spells.
Her knowledge of spells wasn’t advanced enough to decipher them, but she could tell this was no ordinary place.
Han Se-yeon let out a short breath and walked down the seemingly endless passage.
It wasn’t long before she reached the end.
A single wall blocked the path. It was etched with numerous spells and stars, and at its center was a drawing of a human silhouette.
“What’s this?”
Han Se-yeon stared at the drawing blankly.
Upon closer inspection, she recognized it.
It was the painting titled ‘God from Another World’ that she had seen at the mystery exhibition.
She vaguely recalled hearing that the same painting had been found at several ruins and was being studied by many mystery scholars.
That was when she happened to notice a tiny groove in the wall.
“This hole……”
She rummaged in her pocket and pulled out the key that had been tucked into her father’s book.
Holding it up to the groove, she saw it was about the right size.
She was certain. This was the key to what lay beyond the blocked wall.
Han Se-yeon inserted the key into the hole.
Click!
Whooooom!
A pure white light began emanating from the countless spells on the wall.
At the same time, a mystical energy poured out, enveloping her body.
And then—
The intense light swallowed Han Se-yeon whole.
When she came to, she was in a pitch-black void where nothing was visible.
Startled for a moment, Han Se-yeon calmly looked around.
She wasn’t sure how, but some kind of power had transported her to another space.
That was when—
Flash!
A massive eye emerged from the darkness where nothing had been visible.
Han Se-yeon jumped back in shock.
“……An eye?”
[You’ve come seeking qualification from me.]
A bizarre voice echoed in her mind.
It wasn’t the natural voice of a living being.
The giant eye looked down at her and spoke.
[The same blood as that human who sought me before flows through you…… You’re his kin.]
The eye’s mutterings continued. Han Se-yeon swallowed hard at its grotesque appearance, which made her skin crawl.
“W-Who are you?”
[…Me? How should I define myself? In human terms, ‘Mystery’ would be fitting.]
……Mystery? Did it mean the Mystery she knew?
The Mystery blinked its giant eye and continued.
[How intriguing…… I sense a strong power of freedom in you. A power of freedom no ordinary human could ever obtain……]
Power of freedom? What’s that?
The giant eye looked down at Han Se-yeon and said.
[I’ve grown interested in you. Let’s make a deal. I’ll give you the answers you seek, if you tell me the origin of that freedom you possess.]
It was 10 p.m. on a late night.
After a quick trip to the convenience store in slippers to satisfy a brief hunger pang, I was heading back to the dorm with a black bag in hand.
That was when a familiar voice rang out from somewhere.
—Whoa! That’s amazing!
“……Yoon Ha-young?”
Walking toward the voice, I found the main characters gathered in the park.
At their center was the light spirit contracted with Lee Seo-jun. They had apparently gathered to see the spirit.
But I heard they trained together since morning—had they really been together this whole time?
—Seo-jun, can this one use magic too?
—Yeah.
At Lee Seo-jun’s signal, the light spirit crossed its arms, seemingly displeased at being treated like a spectacle.
[What a hassle. This is the last one!]
With those words, the spirit conjured five tiny orbs of light in its palm.
Everyone gaped and clapped at the sight.
—Woooow!
—Incredible!
The spirit crossed its arms and tilted its head up proudly.
[…Hmph. You’re impressed by this? Want me to show one more?]
Despite complaining about the hassle earlier, the spirit seemed inwardly pleased and performed another magic trick without being asked.
That was when Yoon Ha-young spotted me and waved enthusiastically.
—Hey? Sun-woo!
All eyes turned to me at her words.
Choi Seo-yoon, who had been squatting to watch, jumped up and waved.
“Sunbae! Come here!”
I scratched my head for a moment before approaching them.
“You guys have been together this whole time?”
“It just kinda dragged on after training. You said you had something today—did it go well?”
“Yeah. Wrapped it up fine.”
I gave a light smile to Choi Seo-yoon, who asked about me, then turned to Lee Seo-jun.
“Getting along with the spirit?”
“Yeah. It took to me right away. Turns out it has a name: Luna.”
[……]
The spirit eyed me with arms crossed.
Same hostile vibe as before.
Probably because the attention on it had shifted to me.
Then the spirit said something unexpected.
[…Your vibe’s changed a lot.]
I tilted my head.
“My vibe?”
[…Yeah. Your scent, your aura—all of it’s changed drastically. How can someone change this much in a day?]
I blinked blankly and sniffed myself.
No smell. What’s up?
I might brush it off from someone else, but coming from a spirit with sensitive senses, I couldn’t ignore it.
“How’d it change?”
[Before, you had this kinda gloomy aura…… Now……]
The spirit trailed off, turning its gaze away with a shy expression.
[I-It’s kinda more to my taste now?]
“Huh?”
Everyone wore puzzled looks at the spirit’s words.
I was no different.
Just yesterday, this thing freaked out at the sight of my face(?), so why now?
Puzzled by the spirit’s sudden change, a thought flashed through my mind.
……Could it be the Demon World Tree’s blessing?
One of its sub-abilities is ‘Nature Affinity.’
Spirits love beauty, but their bond with nature is on another level.
And the only change in me overnight was this.
[……]
The spirit stole shy glances at me and said.
[…What is this? My heart’s racing. What do I do?]
The spirit clutched its cheeks with both hands, looking just like a girl in love.
Everyone looked flustered by the spirit’s behavior.
Even Lee Seo-jun scratched his cheek awkwardly.
Showing favor to someone else in front of your contractor was bad etiquette.
[Can we maybe switch contracts?]
Contract bonds can’t be broken unilaterally without special cause.
Sigh. Yeah, who’d reject me anyway?
No eye for people.
I chuckled and said to the spirit.
“Hey. Too late for that.”
The spirit made a pouty face.
[Waaah……! Why’d I do that?]
A message appeared before my eyes.
[You’ve achieved the ‘Relationship Reversal’ accomplishment.]
[Reward: 3,000 points acquired.]
Han Se-yeon slowly emerged from the small building hidden on the uninhabited island.
The Sword Ghost naturally approached to check on her.
No visible injuries; she seemed fine physically.
But her face bore a deep shadow, as if something bad had happened.
“Miss?”
At the Sword Ghost’s call, Han Se-yeon looked up at him. Her eyes held profound melancholy and confusion.
“Did something happen inside?”
Han Se-yeon clamped her mouth shut, then nodded.
“Yes. Something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.”
“What happened?”
“I’m sorry. I can’t say.”
That answer reminded the Sword Ghost of what had happened with Han Dae-hyun here 25 years ago.
The chairman’s response back then had been the same.
What on earth was inside to elicit this reaction?
Countless questions swirled in the Sword Ghost’s mind, but he let it go.
“Then did you get what you wanted, Miss?”
“What I wanted……”
Han Se-yeon trailed off, then nodded.
“Yes. More than I ever imagined.”
Han Se-yeon recalled what had just transpired.
Her encounter with the Mystery.
And from the Mystery, she had learned so much.
The hidden laws and secrets of this world. The power of freedom she possessed and its origin.
……And the uniqueness of Kim Jin-woo, which even the Mystery took deep interest in.
“If……”
The Sword Ghost turned at Han Se-yeon’s words.
“If you had to choose between fighting for freedom or accepting life as it is now, which would you pick?”
The Sword Ghost stroked his chin at the cryptic question.
“……Hmm. I think I’d choose to fight for freedom.”
“Even if it brings great chaos to the world? Even if everyone suffers greatly?”
“Huh? Well, that’s……”
The Sword Ghost trailed off.
Han Se-yeon shook her head as she looked at him.
“No, forget it. Don’t worry about it. It’s late—let’s head back. Things are about to get busy.”
With that, Han Se-yeon started walking.
She had so much to do from now on.