Chapter 423
Chapter 423
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 423
>Chapter Title: The Thirty-First Horse Overturns the Game Board
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Kwaaaaaa—!
A powerful blue light forcefully shoved Kang Seol, Ur, and Mariju aside.
Kwachik…
“Urgh…”
“Owww…”
Their landing was clumsy, but the fact that they returned to their original timeline without any broken bones was already a miracle.
“…….”
Of course, that miracle had come at the cost of someone else’s sacrifice.
“Haa… Huu… Huuu… My god… I…”
Mariju was overcome with awe, realizing that everything he had just experienced was real.
It was understandable.
Humans revered time as something divine, so even catching a glimpse of its power was enough to send them into excessive excitement.
Kang Seol checked his messages.
There was no notification that the adventure had been completed.
Their adventure remained unfinished.
Whether it was McGuffin or a tragic end, this fairy-tale-like journey had wrapped up in an awkward conclusion.
When Kang Seol looked ahead with weary eyes, Ur was standing there.
“What have you done… What did you do?”
Ur asked Kang Seol.
“She’s naive! She’ll believe your optimistic words and wait! Instead…”
“She’ll wait. I told her to.”
“You fool…! Why are you so certain? Do you really think we can bring her back?”
Ur felt the weight of that question. Kang Seol’s group, and even Han Somi, would be crushed by it.
“I said I’d go get her, so I will.”
Kang Seol’s words were cunning.
He didn’t mention success or failure.
He only spoke of his will.
“Damn it…”
Ur wasn’t frustrated because he thought Kang Seol was irresponsible. No, he wasn’t irresponsible. No matter the situation, he didn’t lie. He truly intended to go retrieve her.
In fact, Kang Seol might be the one who understood that weight the best. That’s why he spoke so firmly.
The woman left in the rift of time must have believed in him for the same reason, swinging that hammer.
‘Damn it… Damn it, damn it!’
He was angry.
There had been no contest, yet it felt like defeat.
Like the wind jealous of the sun stripping the traveler’s clothes.
Kang Seol had achieved his goal using a power Ur could never touch—an unprecedented force.
Trust, a power worthless in everyday life, could wield grotesquely immense strength in utterly unforeseen crises.
Sometimes worthless, sometimes infinite.
That was why Ur was venting his frustration. He had witnessed trust shatter his truths and unleash infinite value right before his eyes. And he had been thoroughly excluded from that process.
But recovery from despair came quickly. The god of fate had given Ur’s hand one final lift.
“…No way.”
Ur confirmed the statue of Maradum left behind here. More precisely, the Time Stone it held.
Power dwelled within it.
Far greater power than expected.
“That fool of a mage… was right?”
Maradum had been correct.
The power accumulated in the Time Stone was enough to propel one person to Kagon in a single step. Of course, not enough for a round trip.
Suuu…
For a moment, Ur’s eyes gleamed with greed.
He wanted to return to the era before Kagon’s fall and punish the sorcerers who had made him this way. And watch their downfall.
It might even be his newly regained purpose in life.
As Ur’s hand reached for the Time Stone, another hand approached.
Swish…
Kang Seol’s hand gently rested on Ur’s wrist.
“…You again. Reading my mind?”
Ur spoke without turning to look at Kang Seol. And he warned him.
“If you’re going to stop me, you should’ve drawn Bitan first.”
“I’m not trying to stop you.”
“…What?”
It was a ridiculous situation.
If that coveted power was right in front of him, Ur would have seized it without hesitation and left for Kagon.
So why was he hesitating? Why did this lightly placed hand feel as heavy as the world itself?
“This power is for bringing Han Somi back. You know that, right?”
“…….”
Before meeting Kang Seol, he wouldn’t have even considered it.
Frankly, Han Somi wasn’t all that useful. She had minor utility value, but nothing else to pique Ur’s interest.
‘Why… can’t I choose?’
Ur was free.
A being who could do anything he wanted.
That was Ur.
Yet now, he couldn’t.
Because Kang Seol was overwhelmingly powerful? Because fighting would lead to mutual destruction?
No.
It was because of Han Somi’s actions.
She had done something Ur could never do, something he shouldn’t.
Trusting others.
Sacrificing.
Stepping forward fueled by that trust.
That made him hesitate in his choice.
For the first time, he doubted whether always picking options solely for himself was wrong.
‘No way…’
Han Somi and Kang Seol.
Loathsome beings who shattered truths and infused them with the hazy power of trust.
“…I trust you, Ur.”
“You trust me?”
“Yeah. We’ll head back to the Ashen Throne and bring Han Somi home.”
“You reckless fool… What do you gain from saying that?”
Ur’s eyes grew cold.
“I’m neither as foolish as her nor swayed by you.”
“Not everyone’s a fool for trusting others.”
Sruk…
Kang Seol removed his hand from Ur’s wrist.
“They trust because it’s worth it.”
“…….”
Ur’s hand trembled. And he realized.
Why he couldn’t move it.
Deep down, Ur had wanted someone to rein in the man he had been until now.
He recalled the gazes directed at him from his birth to the present.
Everyone feared Ur.
Everyone held him in awe.
But no one had ever said they trusted him.
As an absolute being, one of the few who could live by his whims, those who always had to accept his choices never trusted him.
Yet only Kang Seol now told him he trusted him.
Ur remembered why he thought of trust as an intangible currency.
Trust circulated.
From one side to the other.
Kang Seol had passed on the trust he received from Han Somi to Ur.
“I…”
Huuuuuung—!
Kugugugugugu…
The Star Grave began to change.
The ceiling opened, revealing a night sky filled with stars.
A massive blue orb rested on the grand altar, poised to extend its power toward the heavens.
“Ur!”
“I…”
Kwaaaaaa—!
A beam of light shot toward the sky.
That light was heading somewhere in the past.
* * *
The left-behind Han Somi did not live a tragedy. No, more precisely, she was receiving extremely lavish treatment.
“Booze, booze!”
“The oak tree’s rotten! Bring proper stuff!”
“We’re dying anyway—let’s drink and go!”
The dwarves left behind were mere time variants, differing only in behavior and speech from the originals, but their temperament was the same.
In other words, beings destined to vanish naturally someday. A scheduled death awaited them.
But weren’t humans the same? Just as all existence had death predetermined, the dwarves didn’t grieve unusually.
Instead, they indulged in pleasure.
They drank nonstop for nearly a week.
Meaning a week had passed since the battle with Maradum.
Han Somi thought.
That time inside and outside differed.
A week with no word meant they hadn’t abandoned her—otherwise, it couldn’t have happened.
Yes, unless they had abandoned her…
“Time’s different, but still a problem…”
If it differed, how much? What if the timeline was massively warped?
What if they came quickly, but she had already turned to dust? Especially in this old woman’s body…
“Hoo…”
Han Somi’s thoughts multiplied.
She had felt so refreshed swinging that hammer.
“What’s wrong? Not drinking like usual?”
Surprisingly, Han Somi sat beside Ashen King Sirion, receiving VIP treatment.
She wore quite fitting attire.
Likely human clothes plundered by Sirion. An old noblewoman’s garb—antique yet perfectly tailored without pinching.
Han Somi felt like Snow White suddenly appearing in the dwarven world.
Of course, Snow White wouldn’t be this wrinkly.
“No! Cheers! Cheers!”
Han Somi gulped down the orc mug full of booze.
“Good! That’s the spirit!”
“Uhahahahaha!”
Regardless of her inner turmoil, the dwarves enjoyed the festival.
They weren’t delicate enough to read her mind, and they too faced a poignant fate before death.
“Ehehehe… Delicious! Dwarven booze is the best!”
As Han Somi gave a thumbs-up and patted the dwarf beside her, the dwarves made funnels with their hands and shouted.
“Uhahahaha! That’s it!”
“We won! Victory!”
A moment later.
While the dwarves slept slumped in their seats.
Sirion stepped out into the hall.
Han Somi was gone from her spot.
Finding her was easy.
Whiiiiiing…
Where the wind howled fiercely.
“You’re here.”
Han Somi gazed out from beyond the fortress walls, her face showing no sign of intoxication.
The majestic scenery filled her chest.
But her spot was the spire of the Ashen Throne.
True to ancient architecture, aside from one sturdy railing, there were no safety measures.
“Why follow me?”
“Of those who climbed this spire, three died.”
“Three?”
“Two idiots got drunk, stacked up to the roof, and fell.”
“Oh no…”
“And one just jumped. My daughter.”
“…….”
Han Somi tore her entranced eyes from the view.
She looked at Sirion.
“…Sharp intuition.”
“You might think falling ends your anxiety, my unknown guilt too… But…”
“…Enough. Not today, anyway.”
“Then good.”
Han Somi placed her hand on the railing.
“Have you ever trusted someone?”
“If I hadn’t, the Ashen Throne would’ve been in peril. Wasn’t it fine until Maradum appeared?”
“Hmm…”
“One who walks the future needn’t dig into the past. Even if we die and turn to dust, the world persists, no? That’s enough.”
Sirion gazed at her with eyes full of wisdom.
His beard covered half his face.
“Rather, I wonder about this body. How’s the future?”
“That’s…”
Han Somi had shared all sorts of stories with Sirion. Perhaps she needed someone to talk to.
“I see… So humans ultimately prosper.”
“Not here?”
“It’s an age of war. Many died. Even humans falter. Hearing you makes it feel oddly bitter.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Why can they prosper so again?”
“Hmm… No idea.”
Satisfied after chatting freely, Han Somi clasped her hands behind her back.
“Shall we head back?”
Sirion knew.
Their rapport could numb her pain temporarily, but it wasn’t a fundamental solution.
“…Afraid?”
“Huh? Of what?”
“…You think you’ve been abandoned.”
“…….”
Han Somi’s face darkened instantly.
“Acting on whims leads here. Got it?”
“That cheerfulness is your charm. They all liked you.”
“I’m a dwarf now…”
Han Somi bared her worn teeth in an awkward smile.
Neither ugly nor beautiful.
“Who wouldn’t think that?”
“…….”
“Left like this, in unknown lands… Coming back would be weird, right? Yeah, if they do, they’re insane. Right?”
“You want them to come get you.”
Her face twisted.
“They said they would… Told me to wait…”
“Why smash the stone?”
“Don’t ask why. I just… trusted. They’ll definitely, definitely come.”
“Why doubt now?”
“I don’t know! That’s just me! Dwarves don’t get women!”
Sirion laughed heartily.
“If it were me… I’d have abandoned you.”
“How dare you curse…”
He sobered, face stern.
“But… they think differently.”
“…Huh?”
“Look at the sky.”
Han Somi looked up in shock.
Kurururung…
The sky turned blue.
Huuung…
Huuung…
The vibrations grew stronger.
“…Huh?”
“Good companions you have.”
Huuung…
Huuung…
“They’ve come for you after all.”
Kwaaaaaaaaaa—!
A blue pillar of light descended from the sky.
It formed right before the Ashen Throne’s spire.
A voice echoed from the pillar.
“…Found you at last.”
It was Ur’s voice.
Soon, Ur stepped onto the railing.
“You, you came!”
“This reckless fool’s dragging me into his mess.”
“You’re…”
“The one you expect is waiting elsewhere. Sadly, the accumulated power isn’t enough to bring him too.”
“I see!”
Whatever, Han Somi looked delighted. Trust rewarded brought immense pleasure.
“But… you seem happy? Enjoying life here?”
Han Somi murmured.
“Dwarves are great, food’s great… Ah! Booze! Booze was the absolute best! But…”
Her face crumpled as if about to cry.
“…I want to go home.”
“…Then let’s go. Name?”
“Huh?”
“Your name.”
Ur spoke more curtly as she asked again.
“H-Han Somi. You didn’t know?”
“Names gain meaning when heard directly from the bearer.”
“Really? More importantly, don’t I look weird now?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m an old lady. Overnight.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll revert upon return.”
“Phew…”
Han Somi grinned broadly.
“And all life ages with time. Humans can’t escape it. Natural.”
“You say profound stuff… but it doesn’t click. Like last time…”
“…Reflecting, that’s my bad habit. I’ll fix it.”
“Eh… You can change?”
“I change.”
A truth-seeker, the primordial archmage Ur. Yet Ur was also a being who shattered falsehoods and awakened anew.
“That’s me. I accept your advice. And…”
Gazing at the old-woman Han Somi, he removed his mask. And gave an awkward, slight smile.
“I’m Ur, the primordial archmage.”
“Eh… your face…”
Same as Kang Seol’s.
But opposite demeanor.
Plus an underlying pressure.
Same face, but Han Somi knew he wasn’t Kang Seol.
And that his naming held special meaning.
“Etch it into your soul. Cling to it until death. Likely a great honor.”
“What’re you…”
“And your current form isn’t strange at all.”
“Beating around the bush that I’m pretty?”
“Overinterpreting’s your bad habit.”
“…Hear that often.”
As Han Somi tried to climb the railing, Sirion grabbed her hand.
“Hey.”
“Eek… This is trouble. Even if I’m…”
“No, khaha! Definitely a bad habit.”
“…….”
“I want to leave something too. This Sirion does.”
Ur shook his head.
“This is a time rift. You’re fixed. Nothing you have transcends time.”
“Objects, maybe.”
Sirion smirked faintly and said.
“Beneath this fortress lies a secret. Things your future selves can claim.”
“Won’t it be destroyed?”
“Ancestral mechanisms and magic. No matter the time, greed won’t breach it. I’ll tell you how to open it.”
Sirion explained it to Ur and Han Somi.
Ur scooped up Han Somi.
“Then, let’s go.”
Sirion grumbled curtly.
“Farewell, mage.”
“…Archmage.”
Kwaaaaaa—!
Ur leaped into the pillar of light.
As they vanished, the pillar faded.
Suuuu…
Sirion alone chuckled.
“Humans… prosper again, eh. Indeed…”
Zzjjjjik…
His body of time residue and the ashen fortress began crumbling.
“Worthy.”
Puhwaaaaaa—!
The dwarven kingdom shattered to pieces.
Meanwhile, passing through the pillar, Han Somi’s body gradually regained its original form.
Her clothes reverted to those from arriving at the Ashen Throne.
And finally, she returned to the Star Grave.
“Keheok… Heok… Heok…”
“I’m back!”
“…….”
Han Somi stood dazed in the Star Grave’s center, as if waking from a dream.
Kwaaaa…
Today, as if she were the protagonist, a pillar of light soared to the sky from the Star Grave.
Kang Seol approached, offering his hand to help her up.
“I-I thought I was left alone there…”
Kang Seol just smiled silently.
Only then did Han Somi’s face crumple into tears. She finally realized she was back.
She glanced around as if realizing something.
The one she sought was Ur.
Ur stood atop the opened ruins, gazing at the city, back to the pillar.
“Um…”
Ur asked without turning.
“So, thoughts on time travel?”
[The raid battle against Archmage Maradum’s revival ritual has ended.]
[The power of the Time Stone is completely depleted.]
[The Star Grave’s altered form is now fixed.]
[Acquired information on the hidden space directly from Sirion.]
[Obtained information on the hidden adventure ‘The Untouched’.]
[Sudden adventure will trigger if conditions are met.]
[Snowman and College Student Dies achieve remarkable feats, bringing change.]
[Great and small changes occur in the Eternal World.]
……