Karma (2)
Karma. The retribution that returns based on one's good and evil deeds.
'So that's what it means.'
A spark of realization lit up Choi Yun-seok's eyes as he peered into the mirror.
He didn't know the standard. But the numbers floating above his head told the tale.
A staggering 1.9 million evil points. The sheer number was hard to grasp at a glance.
But one fact stood clear.
Good and evil were separate entities. No matter how many good deeds you piled up, the evil tally didn't budge.
It was probably obvious, in hindsight. What religion claimed sins could be washed away, or repentance led straight to heaven?
'But the numbers feel a bit off...'
Nearly tied at 1.9 million each. He couldn't help tilting his head.
Truth be told, he hadn't racked up that many good deeds in life. But acts that could be called evil? They overflowed.
'...Could it be because of that?'
After a moment's thought, Yun-seok formed a hypothesis.
Killing was evil, no exceptions. But if the target was itself evil, maybe good points rose alongside the evil ones. That would explain the bizarre balance.
'Good's slight edge must be from before the Tower dragged me in.'
He wasn't sure. More encounters and data would clarify it.
'Still, scored something good.'
He'd needed a skill like this. He'd planned to synthesize one, but no guarantee it'd turn out right—or how much AP it'd guzzle.
Instead of debating if it was worth 650 LP, he gladly pocketed it.
'Oh, right—check that too.'
Yun-seok confirmed the special reward for ending a duel in under 15 minutes. It matched exactly what Geom-ma Jeong Dae-un had described—no random roll.
◈ Strengthens the bond with your contracted manager upon use.
◈ Manager can now call the contractor, transporting them to the manager's space if accepted.
No longer tied to reaching specific floors—he could buy powers with WP anytime.
Not that he had WP stockpiled for purchases, but it wasn't one-use, so no reason to delay.
Yun-seok activated it immediately.
The bond with the Liberation Witch strengthens.
White light settled over his body and faded. No obvious change from before... but as it vanished, new text appeared.
A call from Elle.
The Liberation Witch calls you.
Will you respond?
A lightning-fast response, as if she'd been waiting in real time.
Still, Yun-seok had unfinished business. He hit decline.
Then...
The Liberation Witch calls you.
Will you respond?
Undeterred, another call popped up. Yun-seok could picture Elle's pouty face, and a chuckle escaped him.
"Please call again a bit later. It won't take long."
Outside Earth, Elle could see him. Not 24/7 surveillance, but she was watching now—the alerts cut off as expected.
Yun-seok approached the tablet and checked his remaining AP. No synthesis needed, so still 6.52 million left.
'Finally time to boost it.'
He spent 6.144 million AP on an S-rank mana potion and downed it.
Mana (S) rank rises.
He'd dumped all seven absorbed stats into mana, so it climbed another rank to S+.
'S+ at last...'
Base stat only—actual value was way higher. Factoring in Heaven Breaking Divine Art and the Draconian Ring, mana got a whopping +9 boost.
'Won't get out-magicked easily now.'
Same-floor challengers? No contest. Even five floors apart wouldn't faze him. Geom-ma's mana was barely SS+ on the 19th floor.
376,000 AP left. He pocketed it—no real use for chunks that size anymore.
'Gotta postpone the original plan...'
He'd intended to review his techniques, naming each form. But now...
His view had shifted after Cheonma's lessons. Form names weren't superficial flair.
Cheonma Gunrim. Sigan Heukgak. Not just Cheonma Sword forms—every Murim challenger named their arts meaningfully. They encapsulated the technique's essence.
Not all arts needed it, but naming gave identity, charted the path forward. No quick task.
Asking Elle to wait hours felt awkward anyway. He could do it later.
"All set now."
Response came instantly.
The Liberation Witch calls you.
Will you respond?
Two months since their last meeting, already.
* * *
He accepted. Vision blacked out—routine now, no disorientation.
Opening his eyes, the cabin looked different from memory. New furniture everywhere, pristine and untouched. Probably WP-bought, like the rocking chair last time.
Yun-seok said nothing, settling into the boss chair. Tea and snacks awaited on the desk, prepped by Elle.
"You didn't have to..."
Overwhelming, really. But Elle left no room for protest.
"No, I wanted to. At least here, relax. Tea first?"
Prodded, Yun-seok sipped. Different from last time, but sweet—suited his taste.
"Delicious."
"Hee-hee, knew it."
Elle beamed at his brief praise, rattling off the tea's type, effects, like a cosmetics clerk...
Not a word registered. Sweet scent filled the cabin—incense?—dulling his focus.
"......"
Yun-seok watched her chatter animatedly. Hood down to her chin, deep-red hair spilling out, shrine maiden robes blending white and red.
Usual look, yet... off. He spotted the difference: top button undone.
Not much—just exposing her slender neck. But gazing at it stirred vague unease. He changed the subject.
"...So, why the call? Thought it was urgent with all the repeats."
Seemed smooth—until Elle's bemused reply.
"...You thought it was urgent, so you ignored me?"
"......"
No defense after refusing her pleas to wait.
Thankfully, she didn't seem upset. Bluntly:
"Urgent, but not that urgent. Perfect."
Not just chit-chat, then. Curiosity piqued, he waited.
"Murim. You really plan to go?"
Unexpected. Sounded like she was talking him out of a scheduled trip. He had no such plans.
"...Why would I go to Murim?"
Elle flinched. Clearly not the answer she expected.
Sensing something, Yun-seok pressed: "Did you see my future?"
"......"
Silence was answer enough.
Future Sight. One of the Liberation Witch's powers. It had saved him from Cheonjongmujin's schemes before.
Futures seen weren't absolute—changeable. Cold sweat beaded his back.
Elle trying to alter a glimpsed future meant one thing.
"What happened? Why was I there, and what went down?"
His voice chilled. Elle looked flustered.
"Don't know why. Timing fuzzy—one month? Two? Not far off, but you were in Murim."
"......"
Incomprehensible. Cheonma and Namgoong So-so returned—maybe trouble—but he had zero plans to intervene. Pure curiosity.
Something trigger it later? Unknown. Not the point now.
"What happened there?"
"Can't say details—can't show it directly."
Elle firm. Normally, he'd accept. But today...
It was Elle lying.
"Why lie?"
No anger—just genuine curiosity.
"L-Lie? Why think that? I-It's true!"
Obvious guilt.
"......"
Yun-seok silently stared. Why so sure? Instinct. Hard to explain.
But reasons existed: She'd freely shared Blood Demon Divine Art synthesis via Future Sight, no strings.
Calmly pointing it out, Elle sighed deeply.
"Yeah... that happened."
Self-reproach? Voice hollow.
She glanced nervously, then ventured: "You're not mad?"
Top concern even now. Yun-seok chuckled at her cowed posture.
"Dunno. More curious why."
"I lied already—why believe me now?"
Couldn't use Executioner's Eye on managers. Hood always up since day one.
But her lies felt detectable sans skill...
'Better confirm.'
Firmly: "No. Hard to take at face value."
Elle's head drooped, wounded animal-like. Yun-seok steeled himself.
"Look me in the eye and answer—would that work?"
She lifted slowly, understanding.
"Executioner's Eye..."
Of course she knew his skills inside out.
"Won't work on me. Not with your current mana."
Right—forgot the limit. Opponent's mana a rank higher nullified it.
"Even without that... can't use it on me."
"...?"
No mana gap, still unusable? Managers immune?
Questions swirled. Elle removed her hood.
Swish. Face revealed—but only pert nose, porcelain forehead. Golden cloth bound her eyes like a blindfold.
"Lost my eyes for Future Sight. Other senses compensate, no issue... but no eyes means no Executioner's Eye."
Casual tone, but heartbreakingly forlorn.
Yun-seok didn't doubt her.
All beings in this domain cannot speak falsehoods.
Shaman's Law activated—not by him, but Elle.
"No need to explain this power, right?"
Absolute, even on the caster. Her resolve showed; Yun-seok softened.
"What happened there?"
Elle answered: "You save Cheonma from death there."
"And?"
"Need another reason?"
"...?"
Stunned. Save Cheonma in Murim, end of story? Why change the future?
"But that woman..."
Elle met his gaze squarely. Something black pierced him through the cloth.
Just one side of her till now? Her true self?
Then, innocently: "She's your rival, no?"
Voice cold. Lips, clearer without hood, chillingly so.
Was this the same Elle?