Chapter 394
Chapter 394
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 395
Chapter Title: The Power of Freedom
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This is the memory of what happened to me today, Han Se-yeon.
[......You don't understand my words at all.]
I felt confused by the Mystery's explanation.
To borrow his words, I apparently possessed a power called 'freedom' that others didn't have.
And the source of that power came from a 'special someone' who had complete freedom.
"What do you mean? What exactly does 'freedom' refer to?"
[It can be called a special ability that allows you to escape predetermined fate...... and the laws of the world.]
The Mystery continued.
[Even if I explain it like this, you won't understand. With that in mind, to help with your comprehension, I propose a deal. How about exchanging some of your memories for part of my knowledge?]
Exchanging my memories for part of the Mystery's knowledge?
"......Does that mean all of my memories for just some of your knowledge?"
[Yes. For your information, giving me your memories won't cause you to lose them or anything like that.]
I clamped my mouth shut.
Gaining part of his knowledge. Was this truly a fair trade?
[No need to worry. I know what information you want from me.]
"Okay. Let's make the deal."
I couldn't walk away empty-handed after coming this far.
[Very well. Then let's begin the trade.......]
At that moment, a faint light began to emanate from the giant eye. It soon seeped into my body.
"......Ugh!"
At the same time, a flood of knowledge churned through my mind.
The secrets of the world. Humanity's limits that cannot be overcome by changing fate. And the power called freedom that ignores those limits....
The massive volume of information kept pouring in, making my head feel like it was going to split open.
And as time passed, the transfer of knowledge finally ended.
I bit my lip as I recalled the knowledge I'd gained.
The world I'd learned about through the Mystery was so vastly different from and shocking compared to what I'd known until now.
Humans had no free will.
We humans thought we were forging our own futures, but in reality, we were beings who lived according to predetermined fates, like NPCs in a game.
"......Hic."
A surge of frustration welled up inside me.
What had all my hard work been for until now?
I'd believed that Hansung Pharmaceuticals' Bu Hong and my pharmaceutical techniques were all the result of my efforts.
And I'd believed that my actions to become the head of the Hansung family were based on my convictions and will.
But that wasn't true.
I was just a machine designed that way. A greedy machine programmed to take over the Hansung family.
[......Hmm. I see. So that's how it is. Ho ho.]
As I felt a sense of emptiness and futility, the Mystery's voice rang out again.
When I looked up, the Mystery was peering into my memories and seemed intrigued.
[......Now I understand. Who it was that gave you the power of freedom.]
......The power of freedom. Now I knew what the Mystery meant by freedom.
Come to think of it, earlier the Mystery had said I possessed the power of freedom.
A sudden question arose.
I was just a human living according to fate, so why did I have the power of freedom?
As if reading my mind, the Mystery spoke.
[You have escaped your predetermined fate and are in a state of freedom. Of course, it could be temporary, but right now, that's the case.]
"......What does that mean?"
[There is a special being around you who has completely escaped fate. I can't say more, but that person is even changing the fates of those around them using their own power of freedom.......]
......Someone like that was around me?
Who could it be?
As I pondered alone, one person's face floated into my mind.
"......No way."
[Hohoho...... It's the one you're thinking of. I can't explain in detail, but you were chosen by that person and received the privilege of escaping your predetermined fate. I don't know how your life will change from here, but enjoy your freedom......]
......At that moment, the world began to turn pure white.
No, it wasn't the world turning white. A blinding white light poured out before me, swallowing up sound, sight, sensation—everything.
And—
Flash!
As the light flashed, a familiar ceiling came into view.
The feel of the bed hit me at the same time, along with the irritating blare of an alarm.
It was the starting point of yet another ordinary day.
I blinked up at the ceiling, then slowly wiped the cold sweat from my brow as I sat up.
The clock read 6:40 a.m.
Suddenly, the dream I'd just had...... no, what happened on the uninhabited island yesterday, flashed through my mind.
Even thinking back now, what I'd gone through yesterday was unbelievable.
—Ring ring ring!
I shut off the noisy alarm and got out of bed.
"Ugh."
I took a sip of water from the glass on the nightstand, and my foggy mind cleared in an instant.
Then I picked up my smartphone and thought for a moment.
I tapped out a message.
......Sent.
Time to get ready for work.
[Karma has increased dramatically in the future.]
[Due to your influence, the fate of someone with immense presence has been completely overturned.]
[Karma increases by 3.]
Early morning.
I'd woken up to my alarm when a message popped up.
An increase in karma.
But this was a bit different from what I'd seen before.
It said someone's fate had been completely overturned. Because of me.
I slowly sat up and examined the message again.
"......3 karma. Feels like the first time I've gotten this much in one go."
The karma I'd gained from intervening in events so far had maxed out at 1.5.
But this was the first time I'd gotten over 3 in a single shot.
What on earth had happened to cause this much karma?
"What did I even do yesterday?"
Racking my brain, I'd done a lot yesterday, to be sure.
I'd gone to Yang Tae-min to commission a weapon to deal with Cruas, met Han Se-yeon and obtained Gretel's elixir and clues about the tree monster from 200 years ago.
And...... I'd eaten the demonic tree's fruit, met up with Lee Seo-jun's group for a brief chat.
"......Hmm. Doesn't seem like I did anything that would change someone's fate."
I'd been running around here and there, but I hadn't really done much of note.
Really.
Though questions filled my head, I quickly brushed them aside.
As always, guessing without clues led nowhere.
—Ring ring ring!
"Ugh, shut up already."
Smack!
I turned off the alarm and got out of bed.
I turned on my smartphone, and a message had arrived.
[Jinwoo oppa. Good luck today too.]
It was from Han Se-yeon. I smiled wryly and replied.
[You too, Se-yeon.]
I set down the phone and pulled back the curtains, revealing dazzling morning sunlight.
"Nice weather."
Seoul Mage Association, top floor. 'President's Office.'
"With Sword Ghost Jang Su-gi's support, the position of next head of the Hansung family is currently leaning toward Han Se-yeon."
Kim Jin-cheol gazed out at the city below as he received the report on the Hansung family.
"I thought Han Se-jin would be the frontrunner without much support base, but to think one Jang Su-gi could flip it like this......"
The Hansung family's next leader position was a topic even Kim Jin-cheol, called the strongest mage, paid close attention to.
For one, the Hansung family was the second most powerful force after the Association. Plus, if they wanted, they could bring massive chaos and danger to the world with their strength.
Moreover, they'd used their immense power countless times to commit illegal acts in the shadows without anyone knowing.
They'd been so cunning that no evidence could be found, but the Association was always on the lookout.
Waiting for the Hansung family to slip up and give them a tail to grab.
Kim Jin-cheol had brought Lee Seo-jun to Han Dae-hyun's funeral to show people the Hansung family's danger.
"What do you think, President? Between Han Se-jin and Han Se-yeon, who looks better?"
"Obviously Han Se-yeon. Who knows what would happen if that utterly vile brat took over the Hansung family?"
Unlike the innately evil Han Se-jin, Han Se-yeon was known for her very gentle personality.
She was a hardworking type immersed in her specialty of pharmaceuticals, and known to value the law.
"......The variable would be if Han Se-yeon became our enemy."
Han Se-yeon possessed shrewdness beyond her years.
It was her ability that had elevated Hansung Pharmaceuticals from a mere drug company to a top-tier corporation, and her cautious nature meant she never showed her weaknesses to others.
If considering who would be tougher as an 'enemy,' it was obviously not Han Se-jin, but Han Se-yeon.
"......We can only hope that doesn't happen."
Muttering that, Kim Jin-cheol suddenly whipped his head around and asked.
"Ah, but we still haven't found that Cruas bastard?"
Two weeks had passed.
In that time, I'd focused on joint training with the main characters to boost my personal skills, while keeping an eye on the Association, Hansung family, demons, and Jaun's movements.
Fortunately, nothing particularly noteworthy had happened.
If anything, a new trend was blowing through the Hansung family centered on Han Se-yeon.
For reference, Han Se-jin's news had suddenly cut off.
He seemed to still be going to work, but he wasn't doing any opinion-mongering or anything—just staying quiet.
He was clearly plotting something, but I had no idea what, which worried me a bit.
And today.
"This is the Pro Mage License Exam venue. Please stamp your admit here."
The long-awaited Pro Mage License Exam had finally begun.
The location was the 'Pro Mage Exam Hall' in Chungbuk, as pre-announced.
"Wow. So many people."
Yoon Ha-young gasped in admiration as she looked around the exam hall.
A massive crowd had lined up in front of the huge building.
From examinees taking the test to guild scouts, Association officials, spectators—it went on endlessly.
"Ugh...... I'm so nervous. What do I do?"
Yoon Ha-young muttered with an anxious expression.
"Just do as we practiced. Passing is guaranteed."
I gave her a light smile, and she nodded slightly.
We approached the entrance. An exam staffer greeted us.
"Oh? You're Kim Sun-woo, right?"
"Ah, yes......"
"Wow, I've been a fan since way back. Ah! Please stamp your admit on this hologram here."
Yoon Ha-young stamped her admit on the hologram first. A mechanical voice sounded.
[No. 251, Yoon Ha-young.]
"Oh. Done. Sun-woo, you next."
I held my admit to the hologram as well.
[No. 252, Kim Sun-woo.]
After authentication, we used a magic tool to imprint a magic spell on the backs of our hands.
It was like a barcode that lasted five days, containing examinee info to prevent cheating.
"You're all set. Please proceed through the right corridor to the auditorium and wait there."
I nodded and headed down the staff-guided corridor.
It was a maze, but thanks to memories from my previous life, I reached the destination easily.
The place we arrived at was a massive auditorium.
And inside were nearly 500 people.
—Hey. That's Kim Sun-woo over there.
—For real.
As soon as I appeared, the gazes of everyone in the auditorium turned to me.
It was a situation I'd grown used to from recent exams, so I didn't pay it much mind.
"Sun-woo. Looks like we line up by number."
"Yeah. We're in the 250s, right?"
"Yeah. The 250 line...... Ah. There it is."
A picket sign marked 250 where Yoon Ha-young pointed.
We headed straight there. As we lined up, I looked around.
"Not many people in the 250 line yet."
"They'll come soon."
Right then, the person ahead of us in line turned around, as if having heard our voices.
A familiar face came into view. He squinted at me.
"......What? Kim Sun-woo?"
I stared straight back at his call. Our eyes met, and he shrugged uncomfortably.
"Hey. Hi."
It was Yoo Seong-jin.