Chapter 98
Chapter 98
Inside the Sanctuary's simulated combat room where Nari slept, time continued to flow in that state.
“Miss Nari. You asked me to wait only until tomorrow.”
Kang Ihyun stared anxiously at his phone before turning his eyes back to the simulated combat room where pitch black spirit energy was billowing out. It had already been two days since Nari fell into that state.
“It is dangerous if that state persists. She needs to wake up soon.”
Behind him, Ah Nan pushed up his horn rimmed glasses while staring at the monitor. He had been staying in the monitor room and processing work on his tablet ever since he heard the details from Kang Sujin.
To the question of whether it was alright for a Guild Master to be away, he calmly replied that Mago was a system that ran well even if the Guild Master was absent for a few days, leaving Kang Sujin dumbfounded.
“Yes, her lack of nutritional intake is a concern.”
They had tried to insert an IV line twenty four hours after Nari entered her dream, but they could do nothing. There was the fact that black spirit energy was billowing from Nari’s body like cigarette smoke, but above all else.
Thump!!
“Miss Nari!”
Along with a sound like a beating heart, Nari’s body flinched violently. Simultaneously, a massive amount of spirit energy began to surge again from her heart.
Most of the spirit energy blooming from her was trapped inside the simulated combat room, but some escaped through the gaps in the door, staining the hallway black. Consequently, they had to block the access of civilians and low rank Awakeners during that time.
Because of this, Kang Sujin was also prohibited from entering, and Kang Ihyun, who was capable of neutralization, was on standby at all times for any potential situation.
“Shouldn't we... do something about that? It will be a disaster if it leaks outside the building.”
They had meticulously taped the windows in the hallway, but if that were to be released into the air, it would be no different from a large-scale terror attack. Nari’s spirit energy had a negative influence on those who saw it.
Thinking that, Kang Ihyun bit his nails with an anxious gaze. After a bout of spirit energy escaped, Nari broke into a cold sweat and wore a pained expression.
“Even so...”
Was it alright to wake her up at will? Kang Ihyun looked at the monitor room with a slightly anxious tone. Miss Nari must be fighting her own Constellation inside there right now; if he woke her up prematurely, wouldn't everything go to waste?
“I’ll watch a little longer.”
The sleeping Nari let out a groan. It was proof she was still persevering. He had to trust her. Just as he was thinking that.
Thump!!
Another throb. Then Nari’s body leaped once. Spirit energy erupted from her body like a bomb.
The spirit energy that had been flowing out like mist and blurring the monitor now completely covered the entire monitor room in black. Thick black spirit energy was escaping through the hallways and walls. Kang Ihyun shouted.
“Mi... Miss Nari!!”
Should he really leave her like this? Was that right? Just as he thought that.
“...Mr. Kang Ihyun.”
“Yes?!”
Ah Nan called him from behind. The face he turned back was pale and bloodless. He showed Kang Ihyun a photo on the tablet he was holding.
“Look at this.”
Kang Ihyun squinted his eyes to see the photo.
Let's Duel @
—What is this?! Isn't it a Gate? So scary (Photo)
It was a photo that seemed to have been posted on social media. Black energy was billowing across the night sky, and a massive portal was opening.
Though it had only been posted for a few minutes, it already had over a thousand shares. Kang Ihyun’s eyes widened. No matter how he looked at it, it was a sign that the entrance to a Gate was about to open.
“Right now of all times?”
“That is not all. Look.”
Ah Nan swiped through the pages. A photo taken by someone who had significantly zoomed in on the inside of the portal appeared. It was an act possible because modern phones had performance no different from professional cameras.
“...What is... this?”
Kang Ihyun frowned slightly. A half destroyed white door was visible between the Gate entrances. Something of an indistinguishable form was writhing and emerging from within.
A nameplate was hanging on the door, but it was already shattered and invisible.
“I know what this room door is.”
“What?”
“After the incident ten years ago, I immediately bought Kang Hana’s house. That is the door to Miss Nari’s room I saw back then. I am certain.”
Goosebumps quickly broke out across Kang Ihyun’s spine. Nari’s groans were heard again from beyond the monitor. The expression of Nari, who was drenched in sweat, was not good.
Right on cue, a faded yellow indirect message popped up in front of Kang Ihyun. Reading its contents, Kang Ihyun bit his lip.
His first Constellation was telling him about this situation. With a cold expression, Kang Ihyun immediately turned around.
“I’ll wake her.”
“Is there a way?”
“There is. Please wait a moment!”
Bang! Closing the door to the monitor room, Kang Ihyun moved quickly toward the simulated combat room. The hallway was thick with black smoke as if a fire had broken out.
Barely illuminating his vision by flickering holy fire, Kang Ihyun opened the door to the simulated combat room. As soon as he threw it open, black spirit energy lunged at him.
“...Miss Nari.”
Thump!! Nari leaped again as if her heart were beating. Kang Ihyun ran to her, sat down, and supported her head.
His first Constellation was speaking. That if he left her like this, she might leave him. Unable to bear that thought, Kang Ihyun placed his hand on her forehead.
“That cannot happen.”
Kang Ihyun’s voice trembled. His hand, touching Nari’s cheek, was shaking.
The brilliant golden color faded from his hair, and as the light vanished, only an ugly yellow remained. He stroked Nari’s cheek once.
The divine power surrounding Kang Ihyun gradually vanished, and in its place, wicked demonic energy began to emerge. Sometime during this, the clothes he wore had changed into black and yellow vestments. Just like when he handled the Gate at Wargod.
The vessel of a god, the unique incarnation of the Creator God. Nari’s Constellation intended to make her their Messiah.
What that meant was that Nari would be separated from his side.
“That alone cannot happen. You have to stay by my side. It is fine if you aren't mine, but you cannot become everyone's.”
His voice was stained with ugly jealousy. A person who mastered both good and evil. An individual who could use divine power and demonic energy simultaneously. And one who was excommunicated as soon as he awakened, even before he was ten years old.
The one who knew ‘all’ of Kang Ihyun’s secrets knew the reason for that excommunication.
It was not because he committed a wrong, nor was it simply due to bad luck.
Kang Ihyun recalled the conversation he had with Min Jaeyoon a few days ago.
“Look, I am this unstable. You shouldn't leave me so easily. I’ve finally... barely found balance.”
A double contract that messes with the subject’s identity and makes them lose their way. The condition was that the ‘symbolic color’ must be the same. And it must be a Constellation of the same lineage.
Gold meant Raphael, and the remaining yellow was.
“If you leave now, you are being truly mean. You would be a bad person. Miss Nari, ah, I really, cannot stand it.”
Flash. A yellow light flashed in the distance. Kang Ihyun’s eyes lost their usual light and were dyed with jealousy.
Lately, he had felt this way quite often, but it was alright. Kang Ihyun knew his own use. An existence created for Miss Nari’s happiness. Therefore, he was born for this very act right now.
The entire reason for his existence was this goddess before him. Whether it was identity confusion caused by the double contract or the resulting discrimination, every hardship in his life was all for her.
Only after that thought did his unique trait for a ‘first’ incarnation emerge.
[Exclusive High Tier Skill :: ‘One Who Drags Down the Messiah’ is activated!]
“So, Miss Nari. Don't be a Messiah or anything like that. Don't do that. Please....”
He lightly kissed Nari’s forehead. With his lips still pressed to her forehead, he continued.
“Just stay by my side as a human. Please....”
[Constellation :: ‘The Thirteenth Betrayer’ uses Authority!]
The unique incarnation of the Archangel Raphael, and simultaneously the unique incarnation of the most famous betrayer on Earth.
He revealed the secret he had kept tightly hidden until the end.
Whoosh. Yellow scattered into the black spirit energy. Demonic energy was wrapping around the spirit energy and shoving it back into Nari.
There was no incarnation who could compare to the unique incarnation of the Creator God who could use power nearly equal to a Constellation, but his first Constellation could deal a massive blow specifically to them.
A skill that a priest should not possess, one that involves disobeying the will of God.
Because of that, he was excommunicated simultaneously with his awakening.
[Status Ailment :: ‘The Unloving Cleric’ is activated! Divine power cannot be used until the status ailment is lifted!]
Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of the century who dragged down the Messiah.
Because he had become his unique incarnation at an age not even ten years old.
Kang Ihyun, who pulled his lips away from her forehead, stared at the yellow status window before looking back at Nari.
The yellow demonic energies were stretching out to the hallway and pushing her spirit energy inward. The expression of Nari, who had been groaning in a cold sweat, gradually stabilized.
“Look. Miss Nari, it is so comfortable if you stay by my side as a human.”
Kang Ihyun stroked Nari’s cheek with a quiet voice. If one does not follow fate or justice, it is this peaceful.
“You don't have to do that. I will provide everything you need, I will do anything for you. Just stay as you are. Please.”
Thoughts that the usual Kang Ihyun could not even imagine burst out. Why? He felt like he was gradually going crazy.
It seemed his mind was in an excited state due to excessive jealousy and anxiety, causing him to spit out strange conclusions.
Usually, when these thoughts occurred, the Archangel mediated so he wouldn't sink deeper into gloom; his grandfather and parents had committed such abuse disguised as discipline, and Uncle Jaewon and Aunt Sujin had cared for him so much.
Somehow, he thought that himself thinking these thoughts right now wasn't bad either. Because Nari’s eyes were slowly opening.
“...Kang Ihyun?”
Soon, Nari’s eyes opened thinly. As soon as she woke from her sleep, her vision was filled with his face and black eyes, causing Kang Ihyun to smile brightly.
He didn't even know why he came here. Right, he came to settle the spirit energy. But why? Oh, right. Because a strange Gate opened in the sky, and because it seemed related to Miss Nari. It was also to save people.
And also, what was it? He didn't know. For now....
He was happy.
“Yes, Miss Nari.”
Thinking that, Kang Ihyun smiled broadly and hugged Nari tightly. Nari opened her eyes wide at the strange feeling and looked up at him, but he did not care.
In a plain and tender voice devoid of any ulterior motives as usual, he spoke.
“Welcome back. You aren't hurt anywhere, are you?”
She had returned. To his call.
Currently, only that was important.