#83 Your Imagination Becomes Reality
Seol-a knelt silently, holding her breath as she watched something intently.
It's starting.
These days, her routine had become a source of considerable fascination for Kang-ho—far more captivating than any documentary. It was guarding the Ice Dragon egg.
"......"
Kang-ho watched her quietly. At first, Seol-a simply stared fixedly at the Ice Dragon egg on the table. She'd gaze from afar, then circle it aimlessly, slowly drawing closer. Once near, she'd press her ear against it, her expression as cautious as if checking a pulse.
"Shoon-hae."
And then she'd say this to Kang-ho.
"Yeah?"
"Ung."
She'd ponder deeply—clearly aware she'd hatched from an egg herself—mumbling some explanation. But after all that deliberation, the only words out of her mouth were—
"Me too."
"Huh?"
"Me too."
She was probably trying to say something like, I was like that too.
"I see."
"Ung!"
"That's right. Our Seol-a hatched from an egg just like that too."
"Yummy!"
Seol-a beamed with pride, clearly thrilled that she and Kang-ho could communicate, her chubby cheeks twitching happily. Lately, one of her greatest joys was managing these clumsy exchanges.
Then she'd circle the egg again, hopping about. When Seol-a hopped around something like that, it was a sure sign of intense interest.
Beyond that, she'd occasionally climb onto the table first thing in the morning to cuddle the egg, or try feeding it before her own meals—little acts of devotion.
Ice Dragon egg. Kang-ho had never even heard of an Ice Dragon. Even he didn't know every beast out there. Classifications like SS-rank or S-rank, Fantasy Species or Disaster Species—those only became known after identification. If he'd never encountered one, there was no way to know.
"Hmm, our little one seems quite taken with it."
Ian sipped his morning coffee as he watched Seol-a.
"......"
The guy was obnoxiously enjoying a hand-drip brew prepared by his personal barista. Kang-ho picked up his own cup and asked,
"You're loaded—why hang around here like this? Seoul's full of fancy hotels."
Ian winked, tilting his cup.
"Ah, but this place is nice. Thinking of buying some land nearby."
"Don't."
"Hahaha!"
"Don't laugh either."
"Uhahaha!"
Kang-ho didn't mind people settling around Cheorwon. It just felt a bit embarrassing. He wasn't great at expressing those kinds of emotions. Even he had his awkward sides.
Hyung seems pretty amused, King thought with a chuckle as he watched Kang-ho.
"Anyway."
Kang-ho glanced at the Ice Dragon egg and asked,
"In your country, are Ice Dragons classified as Disaster Species?"
"Hmm... Less a Disaster Species and more like an ancient dragon of that region, from what I hear. A fantasy beast you might glimpse beyond the clouds on blizzard days."
"Got it."
That suggested it could be a Fantasy Species. A vague hunch stirred in his mind.
"Ah."
Suddenly, a large truck pulled up on the far side.
"......?"
Kang-ho turned his gaze. Modern machinery intruding on this land felt strangely out of place. Workers hopped out, bustling about preparations.
"He's here. Secretary."
"Yes."
The black-suited man, who had stood silently like a statue, finally spoke.
"Eek!"
King jumped, startled by the man lurking in the house's shadowy corner.
"Go give instructions."
"Yes."
Whoosh—
The secretary was suddenly over there, issuing orders.
Kang-ho asked wearily,
"Is this what I think it is?"
"Actually, I've already bought it."
"......"
Bzzz—
Kang-ho checked his smartphone.
. . . . . .
Bassago glanced around slowly. This was the Awakener Association's underground interrogation room. Seated alone, he poured all his effort into awakening the mana core at his heart's center, sealed by restraints.
But nothing.
It didn't budge. The seal inflicted by that Choi Kang-ho was far stronger than imagined.
His mind raced.
Lord Baal's been gone to the Demon Sea for quite a while now.
The Demon Sea was true purgatory—a abyssal hell in the Demon Realm. No one knew what lurked there.
By the time he returns, he'll be far more powerful.
Then he'll surely find what we left behind.
Just hold out until then. Seeing what happened to Agaleth, Earth's Absolute wasn't to be underestimated. But with Lord Baal's arrival, the tables would turn.
Bassago closed his eyes, steeling himself.
I absolutely can't talk about dimension travel.
[Grrn......]
No use. The mana core remained ironclad, utterly sealed.
[Sigh......]
As he sighed and opened his eyes—
[......]
Someone sat before him. In the pitch-black interrogation room, a man had appeared without detection. As the faint shadow grew familiar, Bassago realized it was Choi Kang-ho.
"I heard you're not talking."
Kang-ho spoke.
[......]
Bassago stayed silent, so Kang-ho continued.
"Looks like you left something in the Demon Realm. That Baal of your world can use it as a medium to cross into this one, right?"
Flinch!
Bassago's body trembled.
"The medium must be important."
Kang-ho nodded slowly, murmuring.
"Anyway......"
Rooooar—!
Suddenly, immense mana erupted from Kang-ho's entire body. It was so profound and vast, it felt like standing at the heart of an abyssal ocean.
Gulp!
Bassago gulped in terror. He scanned frantically. Bluish mana filled everywhere, crushing him. He realized his body was shaking uncontrollably—hairs standing on end, chills down his spine, teeth chattering.
The interrogation room vanished. This was now the man's domain. In the impenetrable blue depths, two massive eyes gleamed far off. A monster lurked within them—a savage beast cloaked in power.
Bassago had glimpsed the man's true nature. A human with endless, bizarre might. Or was it even human? What happened if you crossed it? Where had he felt this before?
Lord Baal...
Yes—like first meeting Baal. But the power's essence was opposite. Overflowing with vitality, yet the pressure matched.
Suddenly, its master spoke.
-Some pups only wise up after a good whipping.
The voice burrowed into his brain. Vivid futures flashed—highly probable ones. Cold sweat poured, pooling on the floor from the chair.
Shiver shiver—
Agaleth fought this? Desperate, Bassago tried to speak—but his body froze, tongue unresponsive.
[Uh, u- uh buh- ububuh-]
Swoosh—!
In an instant, Kang-ho's dominating power vanished like a lie.
[Hah, hah, hah—......]
Bassago gasped, eyes bulging. The man before him was back to normal, rummaging in his pocket. He activated voice recording on his smartphone and spoke.
"Answer sincerely from now on. I'm asking what I already roughly know, so lie and your imagination becomes reality."
[Y-Yes!]
Bassago nodded frantically.
"How'd you get here?"
[Th-Through Toon World's Eternal Crystal.]
"As expected. Acquisition route?"
[C-Caught a Silver White Fang sub-species.]
"The medium?"
From experience, dimension gates needed a medium present. Valid question.
He knows everything. Bassago thought, convinced by the probing questions.
"The medium?"
[......L-Lord Baal possesses it. An artifact. Type: sword.]
"An item, huh......"
Kang-ho closed his eyes briefly.
"How were you planning to return?"
[O-Once linked via medium, the path doesn't vanish. Like a thread connecting dimensions, it lingers faintly. Just reopen it.]
"Where'd you hide the Eternal Crystal?"
At that moment, Bassago retched. He vomited something up.
"......"
A leather-wrapped bundle emerged from his stomach. No Eternal Crystal aura at first. Unwrapping revealed it: Toon World's pure white Eternal Crystal.
That wrapper completely concealed its power.
Not an ordinary seal either.
"......"
Kang-ho stared, then said,
"Clean it."
[Y-Yes!]
Bassago wiped it on his clothes and offered it politely.
"Would've been easier if you'd talked sooner. Right?"
[Y-Yes, sir.]
Kang-ho pocketed it. He stared at Bassago, hesitating with his smartphone outstretched. Propping his chin, he pondered.
He was about to ask something that might lead to regret.
"Back in the day."
[Yes...!]
"We had a friend."
Nostalgia, regret, longing flickered in Kang-ho's eyes.
"Good guy. To me, a friend and mentor."
What was he getting at? Bassago swallowed, nodding.
"Miss him a lot. Sometimes regret my choices."
Kang-ho closed then opened his eyes.
"Might regret this one too."
[......]
"But some things must be done, regrets be damned."
Kang-ho held out his smartphone, selecting a photo.
From the past. Hero 5—or rather, what should have been Hero 6. He zoomed on Kang Jun-seok and showed Bassago.
"Is Baal this man?"
[......?]
Bassago examined the photo. Arms crossed, long leather jacket. Black long hair, slightly arrogant eyes. High nose bridge, about 185cm tall. Smirking. Faded image, but a long sword at his waist visible.
Bassago stared, then looked at Kang-ho cautiously.
[Wh-Why is Lord Baal... here...?]
"Damn."