Foresight's Collapse
"Urk…."
Lee Shin-yul, who had only glimpsed his own future, collapsed to his knees. Beyond his bowed head, blue light flickered in his eyes. Even now, he seemed to be desperately searching for a future where he could survive, but the result was the same.
If Lee Shin-yul resisted at this very moment, he would die. That future was unchangeable.
The gap between me—now with my demon horns restored—and Lee Shin-yul was that stark.
I had no idea exactly what future he'd seen to act like this, but I had no intention of just sitting back and letting him do whatever he wanted.
"Lee Shin-yul."
"……."
I approached the collapsed man and placed a hand on his shoulder. Fortunately, he didn't resist, but his eyes still burned with that blue glow, as if he hadn't given up yet.
"What future did you see, exactly?"
"Why are the 1st Gen Awakeners acting up?"
"What do you mean they're not 1st Gen because we cleared the dungeon?"
I unleashed a barrage of pent-up questions, but Lee Shin-yul just glared at me, hostility plain on his face.
Then.
"Kuh… ugh."
Cold sweat poured from Lee Shin-yul as he suddenly groaned. He pitched forward and passed out completely. The blue glow in his eyes faded at the same time.
"……."
Wondering if he was faking it, I checked his condition. His dilated pupils suggested it was real.
How much of the future did he have to see to end up like this?
Back in Jellun, I'd seen Saintess Eliza use her precognition unique ability a few times. I knew full well the burden it placed on the user each time.
Early in the expedition, just one use of that precognition ability left Eliza bedridden for half a day, her body under such strain she couldn't do anything.
Moreover, properly wielding that precognition required precise control from the caster. It wasn't omnipotent.
For example, imagine an apple right in front of you. Even that alone branches into countless possible futures. Someone nearby might snatch it up, or you might eat it yourself. Or maybe no one touches it, and it rots away.
Each possibility carries the 'will' of the observer. Precognition shows the futures where that will comes to fruition.
He must have seen countless futures just now, when he tried to take me on—each one infused with his own intentions about how he'd act.
In Lee Shin-yul's case, having absorbed numerous opportunities might have lightened the load a bit, but meticulously controlling the will embedded in all those sprawling futures would have been a massive strain, enough to melt his brain.
And even then, he said it wouldn't work properly against me.
"……."
I placed my hand on the nape of the unconscious Lee Shin-yul's neck. The sharp, pointed nails I'd had as a one-horned demon. A light squeeze, and he'd be dead.
Without even putting up a proper fight in his fainted state.
"…Tch."
But killing him like that left a bitter taste.
What the hell happens to the 1st Gen Awakeners, anyway?
That was the biggest reason, really. It didn't add up for the 1st Gen Awakeners to be guardians protecting the dungeons. Even the 2nd Gen had learned mana core cultivation from them, and while they weren't saints, they'd undeniably reduced the monster population.
Hell, I'm a 1st Gen Awakener myself. No mana core, returned at a totally different time, sure.
And just now, he'd said as much. That he thought I couldn't be 1st Gen since we'd cleared the dungeon.
What does that even matter?
If Lee Shin-yul died here, all those questions would vanish into the void.
"…Sigh. Fuck. Not like I'm cleaning up some bastard's mess."
With a heavy heart, I withdrew my hand from his neck. Oblivious to my inner conflict, he lay there fainted, drenched in cold sweat.
"Fuck."
The thought of the horns sprouting from my forehead made me reconsider killing him. I'd dreamed of such a normal life.
And yet, here we were.
Crack.
Hm?
I thought I was slipping back into my old demon life, but as I touched the horns on my forehead, they began crumbling away in fine pieces.
"Oh."
Good. Nearly turned full demon again there.
"……."
With the horns gone, some of the rage I'd felt toward the fallen Lee Shin-yul subsided.
"…Tell me everything when you wake up."
With that, I contacted the Gu-guk Guild.
* * *
It didn't take long for Kim Ji-seon, the section chief of Gu-guk Guild, to rush to the vacant lot where Lee Shin-yul lay collapsed. The spot was on the outskirts of Seoul, so I just pinned the location on a map app, and she arrived quickly.
I waved to Kim Ji-seon, who was scanning the area with a grave expression from afar.
"Over here."
The empty lot had only me and the collapsed Lee Shin-yul. Spotting us, her eyes widened, and she ran over.
"President!"
Kim Ji-seon immediately checked on Lee Shin-yul. He was still out cold, sweat streaming down his face. She shot me a serious look.
She'd seen Lee Shin-yul grab me by the collar and fly off earlier. Plus, his clothes were in tatters, like he'd taken a barrage of sword strikes. Anyone would think we'd fought.
But I had no injuries, and I'd been the one calling her to check on him. It must've looked suspicious.
If we weren't somewhat acquainted, she might've been on guard against me, but luckily, it wasn't that bad.
"…What the hell happened?"
"We had a little scrap. Honestly, I'd like to know why he started it."
"……."
"How's his condition?"
Kim Ji-seon pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his brow.
"…He gets like this sometimes."
"Hmm, I see."
As she examined him, she kept stealing glances at me. She seemed uncomfortable with me sticking around.
"Well, I'll be off then."
"Pardon? But…."
"Just have him give me a call when he wakes up."
Gonna have to make up some excuse to Sujin about these rags.
* * *
"Sigh."
Three days had passed since my blowout with Lee Shin-yul. As expected, no word from Gu-guk Guild.
Apparently, they'd even canceled all his official schedule—news reports were all over it daily.
He's not still passed out, is he?
I hoped not. I'd spared him on purpose, but if he hadn't woken up yet….
I have so many questions.
I hadn't planned it that way, but meeting Lee Shin-yul had etched countless mysteries into my mind. I could dig for answers myself, but hearing them straight from him would be most reliable.
I'll wait until next week. If nothing, I'll go find him.
Slurp.
Finishing my thoughts, I lounged in the hammock in the yard, sucking down an orange juice.
Soon, Yelena emerged from the house, fidgeting.
"Soo-hyeok, this chest part feels a bit tight."
"Tight? Nah, looks perfect on you."
Yelena, clad in white armor, grumbled awkwardly.
An A-rank armor-type artifact made from White Drako byproducts from a 'Drenian'-type dungeon. The 'Royal Guardians Model 12.'
It had cost a whopping 200 million won just for this one.
I'd shelled out that fortune to gift it to Yelena.
"Hmph."
She'd whined about it feeling off at first, but soon her lips twitched upward—she liked it.
Seeing that eased the sting of the expense. A little, anyway.
Yeah. That's what matters….
Yelena smiled faintly, stroking the gleaming white armor. Despite claiming it was tight, she admired it from every angle. The White Drako's pale leather shone brilliantly in the sunlight. Plate armor covered her torso, with an iron skirt down to her thighs; arms and legs had separate articulated pieces for easy movement.
Worth every penny.
Truth be told, I wouldn't drop that much cash just because she looked cute or whatever. But it was time to give her something tangible.
She'd helped with farming and chores without complaint, but I hadn't paid her wages. Letting her live here like family was supposed to be thanks enough, or so I thought.
Sujin had even made her a card out of guilt, but she barely used it—maybe grabbing mayo or cup ramen at the mart downtown.
What could I do? Time for a proper gift.
I'd originally planned a sword.
If possible, I'd asked Do-cheol to replica the Gu-guk Sword for her. But with things soured between me and Lee Shin-yul….
I'd pivoted to buying an artifact instead.
"Looks good, right?"
"…It's decent enough."
"Good. Time for a test drive then."
"Test drive?"
Test drives are for new cars, but at 200 million a pop, this armor rivaled a sports car.
"Yeah. Thinking of hitting a dungeon that's been on my mind. What do you say?"
Expensive armor like this needed real use to justify the cost. Hoarding it like a shrine relic was pointless.
"Not bad. Been cooped up at home—starting to get antsy."
"Perfect."
Yelena's face lit up, excited. Phew, glad she wasn't against it.
"Which dungeon's got you worried?"
"One in Seoul. The Soul-Eating Labyrinth."
"That one. I know it."
The Soul-Eating Labyrinth. Fitting its nickname, it was a high-rank S-rank dungeon. Special too, since it sat in Seoul unconquered.
Dungeon type: Abyss. Like Jellun, with a similar ecosystem.
It's unique, alright.
Not just because it was in Seoul and still uncleared. What made it stand out among dungeons was that it wasn't unconquered by choice—they couldn't.
No Dungeon Master Room, right?
Dungeons typically consist of safe points, monster-infested fields, and the Dungeon Master Room where the boss slumbers.
But the Soul-Eating Labyrinth had no Dungeon Master Room.
Ji-hyang mentioned it once. Higher dungeons can defy physics entirely.
People said there probably was one—it just couldn't be reached by normal means, making it seem absent.
Such 'special dungeons' popped up worldwide occasionally. They required specific conditions to access the master room, earning a headache-inducing reputation.
Come to think of it, Gu-guk Guild never tackled this one either.
Now that I pondered it, they probably couldn't.
Lee Shin-yul's unique ability, Precognition, only showed futures. If every path led to failure here, even his power couldn't reveal the master room.
A special dungeon.
One of Korea's rare S-rank specials, sharing Jellun's ecosystem—the world I'd been dragged to. Worth a visit.
Might even uncover clues to what Lee Shin-yul mentioned.
Was gonna go solo, but….
Special dungeons were unpredictable. Better with backup.
Sujin was too risky. Ji-hyang lacked the power.
Someone strong enough, but okay with danger.
"Ahem."
"Hehe. Heart's racing, Soo-hyeok."
"Yeah. Haha."
Oblivious to my thoughts, Yelena beamed like a kid with new armor.