Chapter 28: Fragment (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 28: Fragment (4)
Two days passed, then three, then four.
Time flowed faster than I’d thought.
Our coordination steadily improved as well.
A day earlier than expected, we completed our conquest of Baekdusan Cheonji.
Today was December 30th.
Now, all that was left was to wait for January 1st.
“…Not bad.”
A magnificent, open view unfolded before my eyes.
It felt like I had conquered nature itself.
Beside me, Kang A-rin stretched her arms high above her head and took a deep breath.
The stretch highlighted her slender figure.
‘…’
I didn't know where to look.
Lately, I’d been growing more and more conscious of her.
Ever since that day with the lightning, she had started sleeping next to me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I never had a chance to refuse. She just settled in. If I moved, she would follow.
Of course, we weren't pressed together like that night, but we were still close enough.
After spending so many days and nights together, I gradually grew used to the distance.
It was uncomfortable at first, but now… it just felt natural.
There was this one day.
Kang A-rin went out exploring by herself.
She left alone, saying she was going to collect data on Baekdusan's past ecosystem.
I didn't stop her; I just let her go.
After all, there were no Magical Beasts on the lower slopes.
As I was waiting for her, tossing firewood into the mountain lodge's campfire, her scent drifted in on the wind.
The familiar scent tickled my nose.
‘Looks like she’s almost here.’
I knew instinctively that she was approaching, without even needing to check where the scent was coming from.
Thinking that, I lifted my head.
“Fuck?”
I was momentarily floored.
Isn't this dangerous?
I could feel us growing accustomed to one another.
On top of that, her attire was becoming more and more wild.
And "wild" was a generous way to describe it.
I turned my head and said firmly.
“Your clothes… cover yourself up properly.”
She answered, her words trailing off as if she were disappointed.
“Yeah, yeah.”
I turned my head back to look at her.
Kang A-rin shrugged lightly and added.
“Now, all we have to do is wait.”
I nodded.
“On the 31st, it seems best to wait until midnight.”
“Yeah.”
She replied curtly, a smile on her face.
We left Cheonji behind and descended to the mountain lodge.
That evening, the campfire at the lodge burned quietly.
And we stared into the fire, zoning out.
It was our only daily routine. There was really nothing to do in the evenings.
She was the one who broke the silence.
“So, what are you going to do with the Fragment once you get it?”
She rested her chin on her hands, which were propped on her knees, and looked at me.
“You don't know how to use it anyway, right?”
Then her expression changed.
It was a mischievous, impish smile.
“Or am I wrong? Does our prospective new Glory guild member know? How to use the Fragment?”
I thought for a moment before answering.
In truth, the answer was already decided.
“I’m going to use it.”
She suddenly shot to her feet.
“Who? You?”
A sharp flicker passed through her eyes.
I looked at her for a moment, then answered calmly.
“What’s it to you?”
She furrowed her brow at my response.
*
A complete darkness descended, as if it had swallowed the forest and the great lake.
The night was silent; not even the sound of breathing could be heard around us.
We waited quietly at the edge of Cheonji, without even lighting a fire.
It was to avoid giving the Magical Beasts any chance of discovering us.
How much time had passed?
-Ruuuumble
Breaking the long silence, the ground began to rumble lowly.
The vibrations grew stronger, and soon the sky was stained a jade green.
Streaks of green light tore through the darkness, falling toward the center of Cheonji.
-Craaash!
With a tremendous roar, a meteorite that fell from the sky slammed into the middle of the lake.
For a moment, the surroundings were engulfed in jade-green light.
It was the Fragment.
“It's here.”
I muttered briefly.
“Whoa…”
Kang A-rin breathed in awe, gazing at the magnificent sight.
The green meteor shower falling from the sky seemed to hold a supernatural mystique.
But I had no time to get lost in admiration like she did.
The Fragment, embedded in the lake, was emitting an intense light, gradually illuminating the area.
The light radiated energy as if it were alive, blanketing the entire mountain.
“Is it over?”
she asked.
“No."
-Rumble rumble rumble
-Rumble rumble rumble
The ground began to shake again.
The ensuing vibrations grew stronger and stronger, as if waking the very earth around the lake.
Drawn by the Fragment's energy, Magical Beasts began to appear, tearing through the forests and mountains.
They instinctively flocked to Cheonji, chasing the powerful energy.
The Magical Beasts, aware of each other's presence, began to fight amongst themselves before they even reached the Fragment.
And in the midst of that chaos, the energy was slowly consuming them.
I took a short breath and threw myself forward.
“Now.”
Leaving behind that single word, I dug my feet into the slope and slid straight down.
I picked up speed, pushing aside the snow and dirt on the slope.
Kang A-rin had promised to open a path through the water from behind me.
I glanced back slightly, intending to check her movement.
But.
“Huh…?”
For a moment, I was speechless.
Kang A-rin wasn't in the promised position; she shot past me.
No, to be precise, she was sprinting even faster than I was.
She hadn't even slid down the slope.
She plunged toward the lake without hesitation.
‘Crazy…’
I stared at her back in astonishment.
It was already too late. She was rapidly approaching the Fragment.
I soon unleashed my mana for her.
Releasing my mana, I parted the water, securing her path.
The light that had been illuminating the lake suddenly went out.
Not long after, Kang A-rin walked out of the lake.
And then, she held out her hand to me.
“Here.”
With a satisfied expression, she offered me an ordinary-looking stone.
“I promised I'd give it to you, didn't I?”
I knew at once that it was the Fragment.
*
Complete darkness enveloped us, and the surrounding space began to shatter like glass.
Starting with Cheonji, cracks slowly began to form.
“Why on earth did you do that?”
As soon as the Fragment—the temporal axis that constructed this world line—disappeared, the cracks spread uncontrollably.
Before long, the mountain lodge would collapse as well, and we would return to our original time.
“Because… it's fun, isn't it?”
I had been flustered by her impulsive action.
But she, with an innocent smile, casually placed the Fragment in my hand.
We headed for the mountain lodge amidst the slowly collapsing world.
Opening the door and stepping inside, we waited to return to the present.
I sat down and looked at the stone-like Fragment.
Its jade-green surface clearly displayed the System's crest.
It was unmistakably the Fragment.
‘It’s done.’
I nodded.
Right. In the end, as long as I got it, the method didn't matter, did it?
Even after entering the lodge, Kang A-rin wandered around.
As if feeling a lingering regret, she let her gaze wander, her fingertips brushing against the walls and furniture.
“I don't wanna go~”
“…Why?”
She turned to me with a playful smile.
“Just because~ It was so relaxing and nice.”
I chuckled.
“I guess that could be true.”
After Kang Yu-sung died, she took on most of his duties.
It was clear she had been busy lately.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up and she approached me.
“So, are you really not going to tell me how to use that thing?”
I thought for a moment.
Eventually, she'll have to use a Fragment too.
Of course, right now it was hidden deep in the basement of the Pentagon in the USA, but someday.
She might have to use it alone later, so it seemed like a good idea to teach her how now.
“Watch closely.”
I held up the Fragment for her to see and said.
“Grip the Fragment tightly in your left hand.”
That's the hand closer to the heart.
I demonstrated, doing the same.
“Then, close your eyes and call the System. You know what I mean, right?”
The System, in other words, the status window. When you call it, a list of your Authorities will appear.
I actually called up the System.
====
[Authority: ]
====
‘Tsk.’
It was a bitter feeling.
Now that Death Regression was gone, my Authority slot was empty.
“After that, you just have to repeat it in your head. 'I accept the System'... like that.”
“Then, a light will burst from the Fragment.”
I finished my explanation, my eyes fixed on her.
Her face was filled with glee.
“Wow… Like that?”
“Right, like this.”
‘…?’
Like this?
I whipped my head around.
Just then, an insane vibration shot through the hand holding the Fragment.
Jade-green light seeped through the gaps between my fingers, erupting in a brilliant flash.
‘Fucking hell?’
I instinctively tried to drop the Fragment.
But in that instant, Kang A-rin placed her hand over mine.
-Grip
She gripped my hand tightly, interlocking her fingers with mine as if to never let go.
“Mmm~ So this is how you do it.”
This was no longer a joke.
The prelude to a perfect absorption. My mind reeled in confusion.
“Hey, let… let go of this!”
I shouted in confusion, but she paid me no mind.
I drew on all the mana in my body to try and pry her off.
But Kang A-rin also fiercely drew on her mana to resist.
And then.
-Wrap
She wrapped her legs around my body, locking her arms around my waist.
The grip was so strong that I couldn't escape even when I twisted my torso.
I couldn't move.
She lifted her hips, meeting my gaze.
“I told you, didn't I?”
Her eyes were shining, deep and intense.
“The Fragment is yours, but…”
Her voice, soft as if it were melting, drifted through the space.
“From now on, you're mine too.”
I glanced out the window and saw that the collapsing world had finally reached the vicinity of the lodge.
Time was running out.
She gave a captivating smile and slowly brought her lips to my ear.
“But… you know what?”
A soft, low voice whispered, brushing against my ear.
“Actually, I'm yours too.”
The moment her whisper ended, the air trembled.
It was the prelude to time travel.
At the same time, light burst from the Fragment.
And my vision once again faded to white.