Chapter 123
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: A Plausible Excuse
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“Hello, Ryu Min. Or should I call you Prophet? Whichever you prefer?”
At Christine’s words, Ryu Min shrugged.
“Call me whatever’s comfortable for you.”
“Do you have time for a chat? Not just a quick one—something a bit longer.”
“Yes. Have a seat, Christine.”
With Ryu Min’s permission, Christine sat across from him.
Jeffrey stood guard at her side.
Ryu Min’s gaze naturally turned to him.
“Why don’t you sit down too?”
“I’m fine.”
Jeffrey replied curtly, but Christine raised an eyebrow and shot him a subtle glance.
*Butler Jeffrey? We agreed not to do anything to make the Prophet uncomfortable, remember?*
Reading her look, Jeffrey cleared his throat and corrected himself.
“If it’s okay, I’ll sit.”
“Of course. Make yourself comfortable. No need to be on guard.”
Ryu Min smiled as if to say relax, but Jeffrey’s expression remained stiff.
He wasn’t the type to smile much in front of others anyway.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Christine quickly introduced him.
“This is Jeffrey, our church’s butler. He’s been with my father since I was a child—practically family.”
“I see.”
Ryu Min already knew who he was.
The assassin who’d tailed him on Nathan’s orders last time.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ryu Min.”
Technically not their first meeting, but he extended his hand anyway, mentioning it deliberately.
To gauge his reaction—and surprisingly, Jeffrey shook it with an uncomfortable look.
“I’m Jeffrey.”
*He’s uneasy around me, which means he’s got some conscience.*
Peeking into his thoughts, Ryu Min didn’t sense anything too malicious.
More than that, his feelings toward Christine were unexpected, but Ryu Min didn’t bring it up.
He didn’t want to ruin the meeting either.
“So, what brings you to Korea? Christine? A date with CEO Ma?”
“That wouldn’t be bad, but I came to see you, Ryu Min.”
“Me?”
“You mentioned it before. That I’d be in danger once Round 11 hits.”
Christine asked with a serious expression.
“I want to hear the details. Can you tell me?”
“Hmm.”
Ryu Min deliberately made a thoughtful face.
Right now, he was basically the top dog as the Prophet.
Dragging it out would just make them more desperate.
Sure enough, Christine looked anxious, then finally blurted out.
“I’m not asking to hear it for free. I’ll pay properly for the prophecy…”
“No payment needed.”
Ryu Min wanted her to hear it for free.
It was better that way—putting her in his debt.
“When it’s a matter of life and death, how could I ask for compensation?”
“Oh… in that case…”
“I’ll tell you. I hesitated to get too specific before, worried it might alter the future, but I’ve thought it over—I can share a little.”
As Christine wanted, Ryu Min laid out the details.
“I don’t know the Round 11 quest myself. But based on what I saw, Christine, a group that refuses to accept you will try to harm you.”
“How exactly?”
“It’s too grim to say outright. Let’s just say your life will be in danger.”
“Does that mean you’ll be saved? That your life gets spared?”
“Yes. As I said before, a savior will appear to rescue you.”
“Who is it?”
Ryu Min quietly shook his head.
He couldn’t say in front of Ma Kyung-rok that Black Scythe would save her.
Jealousy was a given.
“I can’t tell you, just like before. One word from me could change the future. Honestly, sharing this much already makes me nervous.”
“But knowing who it is would help…”
“If I reveal the name, the future could shift. You might not get saved and end up dead.”
“…”
“The key point is you mustn’t miss the person who saves you then.”
“Cling to him, you mean?”
“Put crudely, yes. Put nicely, nurture the connection. Miss that chance, and even if you’re saved, your life ends before Round 15. That’s all I can say.”
“Hmm…”
Christine fell deep in thought.
*Attacked by a group that won’t accept me?*
Who could’ve imagined such a tragedy in Round 11?
“Who’s this group threatening me? Do you know?”
“No. The scenes I saw didn’t reveal that.”
Regret crossed Christine’s face.
*If only I knew who the threat was…*
Sure, some prince on a white horse would save her, but eliminating the danger beforehand was preferable.
*Or should I let things play out as fated, to build that bond with the savior?*
Intentionally facing danger and waiting for the lifeline?
If she hadn’t known, maybe—but now that she did, it took real courage.
“Don’t worry too much, Christine. Just let fate unfold.”
“But…”
“Is there anything more pointless than fretting over a future that hasn’t happened? My visions might even be wrong. The future shifts constantly with the present.”
“…”
“That’s why I don’t obsess. I’m just warning you. Isn’t surviving the next round more pressing than worrying about Round 11 dangers?”
Christine nodded, agreeing it made sense.
What fool worried over unconfirmed events?
No need to dwell on what might not happen.
For now, at least.
“While we’re on the topic, let me share about the Round 9 quest.”
Ma Kyung-rok, Christine, and Jeffrey’s attention snapped to him.
Next-round info—exactly what they wanted.
Finally, the awaited details poured from Ryu Min’s mouth.
The three focused intently.
They pretended nonchalance, but strained to catch every word.
“Hmm, Round 9 isn’t too tough.”
“Yeah. We could pick easy mode and clear it if we want.”
Ryu Min nodded at their comments.
“Like Round 8, Round 9 lets you choose difficulty. Up to you.”
“If this is the main quest, what’s the sub-quest?”
Ryu Min shook his head, feigning ignorance.
“Sadly, I didn’t see that far.”
A lie, of course.
Sub-quests had to stay his alone.
But one doubted it.
“You’ve seen up to Round 11, but not Round 9 subs?”
Jeffrey spoke up.
His tone dripped skepticism, but Ryu Min brushed it off.
He held the power anyway.
Even if he called shit soybean paste, they’d have no choice but to believe.
“The future isn’t mine to pick and choose. I only catch glimpses—next-round basics or scattered events after.”
With that, Jeffrey had no retort.
What could he do if futures weren’t fully viewable?
Christine shot him a sharp side-eye.
*Butler Jeffrey, did you have to show your doubt so obviously?*
*Sorry.*
Jeffrey blinked an apology.
*Still doubting me, huh.*
Ryu Min decided to share more info.
“In Round 11, players worldwide will mix. You’ll quest with foreigners.”
“Oh… with other countries?”
“Does that mean we could all meet?”
“Exactly.”
Ryu Min didn’t deny it.
Zones wouldn’t fully merge, but some countries would blend.
“Then we’ll meet Black Scythe in Round 11 too?”
Christine’s question caught Ryu Min off guard.
Everyone knew the name, but he hadn’t expected her interest.
*One wrong word, and Ma Kyung-rok gets jealous.*
Glancing at Ma Kyung-rok’s thoughts, no issues yet.
He saw it as casual curiosity, like spotting a celeb.
“Of course. You’ll meet Black Scythe in Round 11. CEO Ma, even sooner.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Next round, all Korean zones merge into one.”
Ma Kyung-rok’s eyes widened at the news.
“Really?”
“Yes. Short on numbers, so Korea gets one zone. Means Black Scythe, you, CEO Ma, Ahn Sang-chul, actress Seo Ah-rin—all in the same place.”
“Then we’ll see you too, Prophet Ryu Min, next round?”
*That’d be trouble. I am Black Scythe.*
The words nearly escaped, but Ryu Min held back.
“Of course I’ll be there. But meeting those I’ve prophesied to would be problematic.”
“Why?”
“Quest together with prophecy recipients?”
Ryu Min subtly shook his head.
“Might alter the future.”
A plausible excuse.
* * *
A prophet’s word is law.
Especially if every prediction so far hit 100%.
You assume the next one will too.
No doubts.
Call shit soybean paste or cola poison—they’d believe it.
Anyone who’d heard prophecies multiple times and benefited would.
*Meeting prophecy recipients could change the future. Perfect excuse.*
Ryu Min dropped the zone merger news for Round 9, paired with this rationale.
To keep them from seeking him out.
*As long as I stay quiet, my changed face means they’ll never find me.*
He’d avoided nicknames for this reason.
Even now, claiming Black Scythe? Who’d buy it?
*Can’t say it anyway. Gotta sell the Prophet class hard.*
No one challenged his excuse—they were tamed.
Just as he planned.
*Nothing easier to fool than firm allies.*
His identity would leak when numbers dwindled visibly.
*But I’ll have a nickname-hiding method by then.*
Plans were set—no issues.
Just execute when time came.
Then, a text on the Lost Ark phone he carried.
[Your followed seller on Player Place has listed an item.]
Ryu Min smirked at the message.
*Joo Seong-tak posted an item.*
Curious what it was, he opened the PlePle app.
Tapped the followed sellers, clicked Joo Seong-tak’s ID.
His item appeared.