Chapter 54
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 54. Date (?)
I stared blankly into the empty air with dazed eyes.
It felt as if the afterimage of the system message that had just brushed past my eyes was still shimmering.
"......."
I burst into a hollow laugh as if it was absurd.
"No, why do these guys just come hooking in without even turning on their blinkers?"
It felt like it was forcibly shoved into my mouth without even a right to refuse.
But the taste remaining in my mouth was way too sweet.
I checked the class section of my status window again.
[Class: Primeval Maker (Legendary), Primeval Swordsman (Legendary)]
Fortunately, the existing Maker class hadn't disappeared or been overwritten.
Two Legendary classes were coexisting side by side.
"Should I say this is rather better...?"
I have two Legendary classes, just one of which is enough to play and eat for a lifetime.
I calmed down and scrutinized the newly acquired skill information in detail.
I had to check just what level this so-called secret manual left by the First Emperor was.
Skill: [Primeval Swordsmanship Lv1]
* Uses top-tier swordsmanship.
* Receives a positive effect correction when using sword/blade type weapons.
* Inflicts 15% additional damage when using sword/blade type weapons.
* 'Grace of the Sun' is activated when the sun is up.
*Grace of the Sun
Life Force Regeneration Rate: +100%
Aura Regeneration Rate: +100%
Fire Resistance: +100%
Vitality: +10%
Strength: +10%
Agility: +10%
* When the special stat 'Aura' increases, Primeval Swordsmanship is also enhanced.
"Wow... This is crazy."
Just the basic passive effects alone made my jaw drop.
Especially 'Grace of the Sun' was a cheat in itself.
Doesn't it mean fighting during the day is practically the same as being invincible?
To think life force and aura replenish twice as fast and all stats get inflated.
But what was truly surprising was the swordsmanship written below it.
[1st Form: Sunset]
[Draws with the sword the fleeting moment when the giant sun that commanded the mid-sky finally sets red beyond the horizon. Containing the image of the falling sun swallowing all the light of the world on the tip of the sword, it strikes down.]
* Inflicts 1,000% damage to the target and ignores 50% of the struck target's defense.
Consumes 1 Aura.
[2nd Form: Locked]
[3rd Form: Locked]
[4th Form: Locked]
"Huh...?"
A deflated sound came out of my mouth naturally.
1000%?
On top of that, defense ignore?
If it's this much power from the 1st Form, just what level are the locked 2nd and 3rd Forms?
At the unimaginable destructive power, I just blankly stared at the skill window with my mouth open.
Just as I was blankly looking into the skill window, unable to close my mouth, breaking the silence, a clear notification sound struck my ears once again.
*—Ding!*
[Hidden quest conditions fulfilled.]
[Quest: First Step towards Myth I]
[Content: Oh, you who have reached the realm of legend with a human body. Transcend the limits of mortality and become an absolute being who directly writes the story, not an existence in stories passed down orally. Transcend the distant wall of legend and step into the realm called Myth.]
[Success Condition: Possess 3 Legendary Grade Classes]
"......Myth?"
I blankly repeated the letters floating in the empty air.
I thought Legendary was the end.
I thought it was the peak with nowhere left to go up.
Yet something more exists above that?
Instantly my spine chilled, and the memory of that fleeting moment crossing from the Tower to reality flashed through my mind.
The giant pupil looking down at me in the pitch-black darkness.
That overwhelming gaze that saw through my entire inner self, and the fear that entered tearing apart my Legendary grade status effect immunity like a piece of tissue paper.
"Ah......."
Only then did it make sense.
The immunity being pierced wasn't a system error.
That existence was literally an existence corresponding to the 'Myth' grade that lightly chews up something like Legendary.
"Three...."
The Legendary classes I possess now are two: [Primeval Maker] and [Primeval Swordsman].
One more to go.
Does it mean if I obtain just one more, I too can step into that realm?
My heart pounded.
But it wasn't a problem I could solve right now.
I shook my head and organized my mind.
In the flood of pouring information, I hadn't checked what was actually most important and what I was most curious about.
The reward obtained by twisting the fate of the Empire.
I opened the skill window with trembling hands.
[Skill: Defier of Fate]
* Creates a portal connected to the world where the caster changed fate. (Cooldown: 12 hours)
"A connected portal...."
I swallowed my dry saliva.
Will it really work?
No, it had to work.
Reaching out my hand toward the empty air, I carefully opened my mouth.
"I activate the skill."
[Opening the path to 'Aurelius Empire', the world where fate was changed.]
*—Vwoooom!*
The air inside my room began to vibrate heavily.
Centering on the empty air where I reached out my hand, space shimmered like ripples.
Waves spread out as if throwing a stone into a calm lake, and soon the transparent membrane lifted, filling my vision with a familiar scenery.
Antique furniture, piles of documents stacked like a mountain, and the subtly spreading smell of ink and tea scent.
That place was Imperial Princess Cassia's office, a place I had frequented countless times and was too familiar with.
And buried in that pile of documents, I saw the white-haired woman agonizing, supporting her forehead with one hand.
It was Cassia.
Perhaps because it hadn't been long since I left, or perhaps because there was too much work, she looked somewhat fatigued.
She exhaled a deep sigh and raised her head.
And.
Met eyes with me, who was staring intently at her through the hole floating in the empty air.
"......?"
Cassia's eyes grew round.
She dropped the quill pen held in her hand with a *plop*.
Not even realizing the ink was smudging, she blankly opened her mouth and looked at me.
Like a person who saw an illusion, she rubbed her eyes several times and looked again.
But I didn't disappear.
Rather, I was grinning and waving my hand.
Breaking the silence, a voice that seemed unable to believe it flowed through her lips.
"...Si-woo?"
Her expression mixed with bewilderment, gladness, and absurdity entered my eyes nakedly.
I was about to step through the portal but stopped abruptly.
Come to think of it, I was always the only one crossing over to that side.
Looking at Cassia's expression now, her soul had half run away from home, suffering from the mountain-like piles of documents and heavy workload.
I thought the one who needed a change of pace might not be me, but her.
I withdrew my extended foot, and instead reached out my hand and asked her.
"Cassia, wouldn't you like to come over to my side this time?"
"......To your side?"
Cassia put down her pen and blinked her eyes.
To her, it was an unknown realm and a place of curiosity.
She seemed to hesitate for a moment, but soon nodded as if trusting my eyes.
She stood up from her seat and walked around the desk.
She carefully took a step.
When Cassia completely entered my room, the portal shimmering in the empty air scattered like fog and disappeared.
"Ah...."
Cassia slightly parted her lips and looked around.
Her gaze quickly scanned the fluorescent light attached to the ceiling, the computer and monitor placed on the desk, and the smartphone charger placed by the head of the bed.
They were fascinating products of civilization she couldn't see in the Empire.
Her purple eyes, which were blurry like dead fish eyes suffering from heavy workload just a moment ago, began to shine brightly like a child discovering a new toy.
"Is this a magic stone that emits light? No, I don't feel the flow of mana, so how is it this bright?"
She pointed at the fluorescent light and found it fascinating.
I was watching her proudly, then suddenly felt my spine chilling.
Wait a minute.
I quickly scanned the state of my room.
Clothes thrown off, half-eaten cup noodle containers, a mirror gathered with dust from not being wiped for days.
Come to think of it, this was the first time in my life letting a woman into my bachelor pad.
My face burned hot feeling like it had a musty smell from not even being properly ventilated, let alone cleaned.
"Um, Cassia? Shall we go outside first?"
"Huh? Already? I want to look around this place a bit more...."
"No! The outside world has way more fascinating and fun things! Let's go out first!"
I tried to push her back and head to the entryway.
But the moment I was about to grab the front door handle, my hand stopped in the empty air.
The posts I saw on the [Tower Gallery] flashed through my mind like a kaleidoscope.
[Title: Who is the woman in the 11th Floor video? Urgent]
[Title: Is the Princess's beauty for real? I'm becoming an Imperial citizen starting today.]
Thanks to my clear videos, Cassia's face was already sold to the whole world.
Platinum blonde hair and mysterious purple eyes.
A woman with such an appearance strutting the streets in broad daylight?
It was obvious as seeing a fire that eyewitness accounts would plaster SNS and reporters would flock in less than 10 minutes.
The clothes she was wearing were also a problem.
The antique uniform embroidered with the crest of the Imperial Family seemed to say 'I am Cassia' no matter who looked.
"We can't go out like this."
I looked at her with a troubled expression.
"What is the matter? Do you have a reason why I shouldn't go out by any chance?"
"That is... It's a bit long to explain, but Cassia, you have become quite a celebrity in my world."
I roughly explained the situation and rummaged through my closet.
There was no way there would be women's clothes.
In a hurry, I took out a black hoodie and sweatpants, which were the cleanest and most passable among the clothes I wear.
"Could you change into this for now?"
Cassia received the clothes I handed her and examined them with curious eyes.
"Are these... the garments of this world? The texture is very soft."
She changed clothes in my room.
Of course, I hurriedly turned around and sang the national anthem.
A moment later, the rustling sound stopped, and her voice was heard.
"I am done wearing them."
I carefully turned around.
Because they were clothes bought to fit my height, they were ridiculously large for Cassia.
The sleeves completely covered her hands so only the tips of her fingers were barely visible, and the pants looked like they would slip down so she had to tie the waistband tightly.
Her figure buried in the roomy hoodie looked like a daughter who stole and wore her dad's clothes, and also like a girlfriend who borrowed and wore her boyfriend's clothes.
But it couldn't be helped that overall it looked too shabby.
"Sorry. The size really doesn't fit. I'll buy you pretty clothes right away as soon as we go out. Just bear with it a little."
Feeling sorry, I hurriedly packed my wallet.
But Cassia's reaction was strange.
Far from making a dissatisfied expression, she was lifting the sleeve and bringing it to her nose.
She closed her eyes gently and smelled the scent permeated in the clothes.
A faint smile spread across the lips of her who deeply inhaled the scent, not knowing if it was the smell of fabric softener or my body scent.
"I feel like... I don't necessarily have to change."
She muttered softly.
I stopped packing my wallet and turned my head.
"Huh? What did you say?"
Cassia, whose eyes met mine, was startled and lowered her arm.
Her face flushed red like a ripe tomato.
"N... Nothing! I was just saying the clothes are comfortable! Yes, very comfortable! Good elasticity too!"
She flailed her arms in place and made exaggerated gestures.
Anyone could see evident signs of bewilderment.
I tilted my head but decided not to pry further.
"Then that's a relief. Here, wear these too."
I handed her a black hat and mask.
"What are these?"
"Your eye color and hair color stand out too much so we have to cover them."
Cassia obediently pulled the hat down and wore the mask.
Only her purple eyes peeked out from under the hat brim.
It was the perfect appearance of a suspicious person, but at least there seemed to be no worry of being found out as an Imperial Princess.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes. I am ready."
"Let's go. I'll show you what kind of place I live in."
Opening the front door and stepping outside the building, the scenery of Seoul welcomed us.
Buildings soaring as if piercing the sky, power lines connecting them like spider webs, and cars filling the roads.
To me it was an extremely ordinary and everyday scenery, but to Cassia, who lived her whole life seeing only castle walls and magical beasts, it was truly a whole new world.
"Si-woo! What is that?!"
She pulled my sleeve and shouted.
She covered her face with a hat and mask, but it couldn't hide her purple eyes sparkling with curiosity.
What she pointed at was a sports car speeding down the road.
"That is not pulled by horses, so how does it move on its own? Is there perhaps a magic circle engraved on the wheels?"
"No, it's not magic... It's something called an engine..."
When I explained, she nodded and convinced herself.
Then a giant shadow was cast over our heads.
It was an airplane flying drawing a white trajectory along with a roar.
Cassia looked up at the sky with her mouth open.
"Th... That giant piece of iron is flying in the sky! Is that what you called an airplane, Si-woo?!"
"Right. Hundreds of people are riding inside that."
"My word...."
She jumped up and down like a child and found it fascinating.
The principle of how traffic lights change, the automatic doors of convenience stores, even the smartphone held in my hand.
Everything reflected in her eyes were unfamiliar things.
I walked the streets answering one by one her barrage of questions pouring out endlessly.
Her appearance with her eyes shining at the unfamiliar world was quite cute, so a smile hung on my lips without me realizing.
The place we arrived after walking for quite a while like that was a famous department store in the city center.
It was the place where I spent big money for the first time.
As soon as we entered the luxury brand floor, a familiar face was seen.
It was that manager who groveled to me last time.
He recognized me walking from afar at once.
"Oh my! Customer! You've come again!"
The manager abandoned the work he was doing and tried to come running with a business smile plastered all over his face.
His eyes were already glistening with anticipation.
But.
"......."
I looked at him, gave a grin, and turned my steps as if to show off.
To the competitor brand store right next door, not his store.
"Uh...? Customer?"
The manager's footsteps stopped in the empty air.
His expression turned stupid in an instant.
He saw the honeypot that rolled right up to his nose walking into the house next door on its own feet.
I entered the store without looking back.
From behind my back, a voice mixed with the manager's screams, grilling someone like catching a rat, was heard.
It was the sound of that employee who ignored me last time getting chewed out.
Serves them right.
I shouted with joy inwardly and approached the employee of the store next door.
"Welcome, Customer!"
The employee of the store next door welcomed us kindly.
I led Cassia, who was hesitating and hiding behind me, to the front.
"Please outfit her completely from head to toe. With the prettiest ones that suit her best."
"Ah, yes! Understood. Because her body shape is so good, I think whatever she wears will be pretty. Please come this way."
The female employee guided Cassia towards the fitting room.
Cassia read my expression and asked as if anxious.
"Si-woo... Am I going alone?"
"It's changing clothes, I can't follow you in. Don't worry, just wear what the employee picks out for you and come out."
She reluctantly nodded and entered the fitting room.
A moment later.
The curtain of the dressing room was drawn back.
"The customer has come out."
With the employee's guidance, Cassia walked out.
"......."
I stopped breathing for a moment.
She had always worn only stiff uniforms or cold armor.
A flowy chiffon blouse and a mermaid skirt revealing her lines.
And even a sophisticated trench coat draped over it.
She wasn't an Imperial Princess of the Empire, but a sophisticated city woman herself.
No, she was exuding an overwhelming aura to the extent that an average celebrity couldn't even present their business card.
Wow....
As expected, the completion of fashion is the face, huh...
Perhaps unfamiliar with the strange attire, Cassia fiddled with the hem of her clothes and looked at me with a reddened face.
"U... How is it? Is it not too strange?"
As I was blanking out and couldn't answer her question, the female employee next to her admired and answered instead.
"Oh my goodness! It suits you so well! Do you see your boyfriend looking at you mesmerized?"
"......!"
"......!"
At the word 'boyfriend', Cassia and I stiffened simultaneously.
The employee didn't even mind our reaction and continued speaking excitedly.
"Because your girlfriend is such a beauty, whatever she wears looks great. You could really be a model. You two look so good together!"
"Ah, well, that is...."
My face burned hot and I babbled.
Cassia's ears also turned red, and she dropped her head low, not knowing what to do.
But she didn't seem to dislike it.
I couldn't endure this awkward and ticklish atmosphere anymore.
I took out my wallet and urgently shouted.
"Um, the ones you recommended, this one and that one, and the shoes and bag too! Give me all of them! Everything!"
"Yes? All of them? Thank you!"
The employee's mouth hung from ear to ear as she ran to the checkout counter.
We finished the payment as if running away and exited the department store carrying shopping bags full in both hands.
Even after coming outside, a strange silence flowed between us for a while.
But looking at each other's reddened cheeks, without deciding who was first, we burst into a chuckle.
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