CHAPTER 122……………………………………….
Can I really interpret the words “nobody needs to know” as meaning that no one has to understand me? Watching Baek Woo-jin staring out the window, thoughts I had been putting off until now surged over me like waves.
“Still, if you want to say it, say it to me.”
There were times I thought I didn’t need to know the narrative of a bad guy. Yet, seeing Baek Woo-jin in person, he didn’t seem like someone filled with malice like in the game, or someone driven insane by insecurity.
“Telling Seo Han-gyeol would only make things sad.”
I could only suspect that he, like me, had been afflicted by some abnormal state.
[Playback 90% complete.]
“Then, are you going to stay here?”
Instinctively, I realized that the time I could spend in this space was running out.
“That’s not my choice. It’s up to Seo Han-gyeol.”
“Do you know why I came to this world, Woo-jin?”
Baek Woo-jin seemed to know something, like Seo Go-gyeol did. Yet he didn’t seem to harbor any strong malice toward me; I judged he might even provide a significant hint.
“Maybe it was what God wanted. Though I’m not sure if it’s right to call it God.”
The answer, contrary to my expectations, was vague.
“Part of it’s my fault, too. I told you—I was lonely and tired living as Baek Woo-jin. I wasn’t capable enough to fulfill what God wanted.”
“Is this ‘God’ related to the special quest?”
If Baek Woo-jin had also received this special quest that tormented me, his sudden actions made sense.
“You probably already realized, so I’ll answer. It’s just as you think.”
In the end, both Baek Woo-jin and I were being manipulated by the existence of a single being.
“So you, too…”
Baek Woo-jin raised his hand to stop my question.
“It’s time for Seo Han-gyeol to leave here as well. I’ll take one last question, so choose carefully.”
[Playback 95% complete.]
Pressure came from both sides.
‘What’s the most important question I should ask Baek Woo-jin?’
I had too many questions: whether he knew the identity of God, who Seo Go-gyeol was, how I should act going forward.
“Did you like Baek So-hyeok, too? I mean… not as family, but as a man.”
Still, the question that came out of my mouth was of no real value. Yet I thought maybe the question that came out unconsciously was exactly what I wanted to know most.
“I did, once.”
Baek Woo-jin’s face looked extremely sorrowful as he spoke.
“So, not anymore?”
“I don’t really know anymore. Whether I love Baek So-hyeok, or hate him, or hated him because I loved him too much…”
To hate because of love—what a sad sentence. No matter how brilliant a heart is, it seems time’s erosion cannot be overcome.
“Baek So-hyeok liked you too…”
[Playback complete. You are expelled from ‘Baek Woo-jin’s unconsciousness.’]
Through the hazy vision, I saw Baek Woo-jin. He was smiling.
[I know too.]
His voice dispersed faintly.
“Gasp!”
I sat up abruptly.
“Haa…”
I had worried I was still on the battlefield when I opened my eyes, but thankfully, I was in my room. Meow was lying next to me, sleeping comfortably.
‘I should check the events first.’
Judging by the flashy sparkle of the status window, it seemed the situation had already been resolved.
[System Quest
Contribution: The Order faction has gained the upper hand with 51:49.
The Chronos Guild belongs to the Chaos faction, so there is no overall reward.
Individual reward for final strike: Random skill box
*You can receive one skill from a different race’s abilities.]
As I intended, the victor was the Order faction. Moreover, since I was the final striker, there would likely be no additional casualties afterward. My primary goal had been achieved.
The important part was what came next.
[Special Quest Cleared
Reward: Permanently increases the guild members’ magic power by 10%.
Acquired the relic of the ‘King of Planarient.’]
The relic was a crown with paint chipped off in several places.
‘I got through this safely again.’
Every time guild members’ lives were at stake, moving forward felt like walking on thin ice.
‘I wonder what that God thinks.’
I had participated as part of the Chaos faction and contributed more than 10%, but the victory went to the other side by a narrow margin. I judged that God wanted to use me to let the Chaos faction win, so I had resisted a little.
‘Since there’s no direct instruction to win, it seems there are limits to issuing special quests. Not sure if that was the right move.’
I’d have certainty after seeing the next special quest. For now, any conclusion is just a hypothesis.
[Assimilation Rate: 83%]
The last thing I checked was the assimilation rate. Considering it had been nearly 100%, it had dropped quite a bit.
‘If this reaches 100%, will Baek Woo-jin who was there come back to this body?’
Recalling his reluctance to return to this body, I doubted it. But since he had resisted assimilation, some change would likely occur once it hit 100%.
“I can’t freely adjust it, up or down…”
Still, after checking the things I needed to first, I felt a little more at ease.
Weooooong.
Meow, responding to my touch, climbed onto my stomach and dug in her paws. It was a sign of affection, but heavy enough to suffocate me.
“Meow, okay, I’m glad too. Have you been guarding the house?”
Weeong.
Meow purred with a playful sound. Being here like this finally made me feel like I was home.
‘But why is nobody here?’
Someone must have moved me here, yet there was no sign of them. Since it’s my home, that someone was most likely Baek So-hyeok.
‘He must have gone out to the guild to finish things.’
I braced myself for scolding for acting on my own, but no one was there, so I felt relieved.
“I’m hungry. Right, Meow?”
My time talking with Baek Woo-jin felt short.
‘Assuming this was really reality, not a dream.’
Yet seeing daylight outside the window, at least a day had likely passed. Realizing that, hunger hit me like I hadn’t eaten in two days.
“Let’s see if there’s anything good in the fridge.”
I got up, intending to grill some fish for Meow along the way.
“Ugh!”
But after three steps from the bed, something suddenly tightened around my neck.
“What the…?”
Ignoring the suffocating dull pain and taking another step, the metal chain around my neck fully materialized.
‘Is this similar to the handcuffs Kang Kwon-ho showed me?’
It was a restraint that materialized if I moved beyond a certain distance.
‘Who could’ve done this? I thought only Kang Kwon-ho would do such a thing.’
I tried to pull, hoping it might come off, but it was useless.
“Is this also a dream?”
I pinched my cheek, but the pain followed.
Thunk! Crash!
Sitting there, I wondered who would do such a thing. Suddenly, the front door opened, and hurried footsteps echoed.
“You’re awake? I’m coming in.”
Baek So-hyeok, uncharacteristically, sounded more like giving an order than a greeting. Without waiting for a reply, he barged in and scanned me from head to toe.
“Why are you on the floor? You’ll catch a cold.”
“Huh? I was going out because I’m hungry, but suddenly this chain appeared. I don’t know who did this—could you release it?”
Contrary to my expectations that he’d scold me for my actions, Baek So-hyeok was unexpectedly gentle.
‘Did he understand everything because the outcome was good?’
Watching me without getting up, he eventually helped me back to bed.
“I thought you’d need food, so I brought some. Wait a bit.”
He even tucked me in before leaving again.
“So-hyeok! You should release this first!”
I shouted after gathering my wits, but no reply came. Looking at him, he seemed unfazed by the situation.
‘Could it really be… him?’
Could Baek So-hyeok be the one who put this on my neck? I knew he had become obsessed with Baek Woo-jin, but I didn’t think he’d do something this crazy.
“I brought it from the place you liked last time.”
Baek So-hyeok entered with the food, smiling faintly. Clearly, one screw was loose somewhere.
“So-hyeok, did you do this?”
I asked instead of taking a bite. Baek So-hyeok’s expression suddenly stiffened.
