Chapter 99
Chapter 99
The familiar scent of fabric softener and warm body heat. Nari, slowly opening her eyes, came to her senses as she saw Kang Ihyun hugging her tightly.
“Nari, you’re awake. I.”
“...How many days have I been like this?”
“Two days and six hours.”
Kang Ihyun was smiling at her while tears streamed down his face. Seeing his expression, Nari pulled Ihyun into a tight embrace.
“Sorry, I made you worry.”
“No. It's not that. I'm just happy you came back. Nari, you won't go anywhere now, right? You'll stay here, won't you? Please.”
Kang Ihyun blurted out disorganized words at random. Nari was about to nod, thinking he must’ve been very worried, when a black system message appeared before her.
[Borrowing the skill of the Messenger ‘Crawling ◼◼’!]
Feeling a sense of foreboding, Nari raised her finger to look through the message logs.
[Exclusive High Tier Skill :: Fragment of the First Dream]
[Using the Authority of the Constellation ‘Blind ◼◼’s ◼◼’.]
[Borrowing the skill of the Sub King ‘◼◼◼◼ in the Boundary’!]
[Sub King ◼◼◼◼ Exclusive Skill :: I am everywhere. I exist here.]
[Summoning the ‘Gate of the Otherworld’!]
After checking the logs, Nari narrowed her eyes. There were traces of skills being used without her permission while she was unconscious.
As she continued to scroll up through the message logs, she felt a chill run down her spine.
[Borrowing the skill of the Queen ‘Life ◼◼◼ Goat’!]
[Borrowing the skill of the Spirit ‘◼◼’s ◼◼◼ Vampire’!]
By contracting with her Constellation, Nari could ‘borrow’ the abilities of all Constellations in the outer universe line. That’s why she was called an ‘all rounder’ who could solve everything.
However, those abilities had been used without her even knowing.
“Kang Ihyun, did I... use any skills?”
“I'm not really sure. But while you were collapsed, there were several times when your heart throbbed and spirit energy poured out in surges.”
Damn it, Nari bit her lip. She had only tried to terminate the contract midway, so she had no idea what on earth was happening.
[The Lord of the Abyss looks at you and says not to worry, for this is not yet the end.]
“...Huh?”
A new black indirect message appeared before Nari. She could only blink at the message from the ‘Lord of the Abyss’ rather than ‘The Lord of Chaos.’
[The Lord of the Abyss strokes his beard, saying those fellows are using your spirit energy as a medium to drag in a Gate from the past.]
“...Those fellows? Dragging in a Gate? Who are you?”
Kang Ihyun looked at Nari in confusion. Ignoring him, Nari continued to stare at the indirect messages. Pop, another message appeared.
[The Lord of the Abyss chuckles, saying he is a Constellation from the outer universe who is on your side.]
“...On my side? Then you’re not on the side of those other Constellations?”
“What are you… talking about, Nari.”
Feeling anxious, Kang Ihyun tightened his arms around her. As Nari relaxed her tension, feeling somewhat relieved by that sensation, another indirect message appeared.
[The Lord of the Abyss strokes his beard again, saying he is your only military force for now.]
Only military force. Nari stared at the indirect message at those words. Come to think of it, the white rabbit had said something like that. That ‘among the Constellations of the outer universe, there are those on your side.’
“If we fight, is there a chance of winning?”
“...Nari?”
Nari spoke with her head held high in a serious manner. Every Constellation of the outer universe had already become her enemy. She could no longer borrow their skills.
Therefore, this ‘Lord of the Abyss’ was her only hope.
And the mention of dragging in a Gate must mean that The Lord of Chaos had brought destruction to reality by riding through her dreams.
[The Lord of the Abyss looks at you intently, stating that his hobby is beating up the familiars of that Chaos what's his name instead of going to the gym.]
[And, he himself is....]
Following the continued explanation, Nari slowly stood up. As she moved out of his embrace, Kang Ihyun reached out his hand desperately. Standing up, Nari looked at Kang Ihyun and spoke.
“...A Class 1 Gate is about to open, isn't it?”
“Nari.”
“I'll just resolve that and come back.”
“Please don't go. Please. Okay? We made a promise.”
“I'll be back.”
Kang Ihyun grabbed her hand. Watching this, Nari squeezed his hand tightly. Ihyun’s expression became even more uneasy.
Nari’s atmosphere was different from usual. She looked full of confidence. She had always been someone who seemed like she might suddenly vanish somewhere, but this time, there was a deeper sense of gravity and sincerity added to it.
He didn't know for sure, but he had a premonition that if he let go of her hand now, he would never see her again.
“We have the Oath of the Sacred Flame. Anyway, for both you and me, if we deceive the other, it's an immediate trip to hell.”
Right. There was an oath. Recalling that fact, the anxiety wrapping around Kang Ihyun subsided a little. He loosened the strength in the hand that was holding Nari.
“You must come back. Because we promised.”
“Yeah, where would I go leaving you behind.”
“...Please return quickly, Nari.”
Nari smiled at those words and opened the door to the simulated combat room. As she opened the door to the monitor room, following the traces of spirit energy she had spilled without knowing, there was an unexpected person.
“Uncle.”
“Nari! You are safe. Somehow, after Mr. Kang Ihyun went in there, all the equipment went dead, so I couldn't grasp the situation inside.”
“How is the area around the Gate right now?”
Startled, Ah Nan put on his horn rimmed glasses and took out his tablet. Nari checked him and walked slowly down the hallway, and Ah Nan followed behind her, explaining.
“Currently, a gate has appeared in the skies over South Korea. It is estimated to be Class 1, and hunters from all over are gathering to prepare.”
At those words, Nari frowned and checked the tablet. The familiar door visible at the Gate entrance was the same shape as the one she had opened.
“What kind of preparations?”
“Hunter Jeong Suho and Hunter Min Jaeyoon are devising countermeasures. Each guild leader is also gathered. Hunter Kang Ihyun is also scheduled to participate soon.”
“Uncle, you take care of the other hunters. Instead, have Jeong Suho prepare to snipe from the building, and Min Jaeyoon establish a defensive line on the ground. I'm going inside there.”
At her determined words, Ah Nan looked down at Nari.
“Do you know the identity of that thing... or do you have a separate plan?”
Hearing that, Nari took out a black half scissor and a gold half scissor from her inventory simultaneously.
The tips of the scissors caught on the floor of the Sanctuary's hallway, making a screeching sound. Pressing the elevator button, Nari looked at Ah Nan.
“Did you hear my whole story?”
“...Yes, I heard everything from Kang Sujin.”
“Then the explanation is done. It seems the Constellations are making a final desperate struggle because I said I'd break the contract. Still, since my spirit energy is the connecting bridge, they won't kill me.”
“Spirit energy is the connecting bridge, what does that mean?”
Ah Nan pushed up his horn rimmed glasses as if he didn't understand. Nari spoke slowly in response.
“Ten years ago, it was those Constellations who ruined the Class 1 Gate in the East Sea. Now, they've dragged that Gate here using my spirit energy as a medium.”
“Pardon? I still don't understand what you mean at all.”
Nari, who was trying to be calm, eventually spoke with her true personality showing.
“Ugh, I don't know. It's complicated to explain! Just think of it as D*raemon summoning the ‘Anywhere Door’ and dragging the East Sea Class 1 Gate here! And the medium for summoning that door is me! So they say they can't kill me either!”
“I see, I understand completely now.”
Nari, who had explained the power of the second strongest Constellation in the outer universe using a children's cartoon character, stared anxiously at the elevator.
Soon, with a ding, the doors of the upward elevator opened. When Ah Nan tried to get on with her, Nari blocked him. Noticing the atmosphere, Ah Nan spoke.
“Are you going to defeat that D*raemon now?”
“Yes.”
“Is there a chance of winning?”
“A little. But I have a way to increase it.”
To Ah Nan, who asked what that was, Nari handed over something she had grabbed in her hand. Ah Nan gripped what was in his hand and spoke to Nari.
“Miss Shin Bitnari.”
“...Yes.”
“Be careful, and careful again. Do not die. Please. When you return... I will buy you something delicious.”
“Steak.”
“I'll buy it for you. Just return safely.”
Nari smiled broadly. Soon, the elevator went up toward the rooftop. With every floor it climbed, Nari took anxious deep breaths.
Ding. Then the elevator arrived at the rooftop. It would usually be locked, but it seemed they had left it open given the situation. Nari opened the door.
Up there was her destroyed room door. Inside it would be the ‘East Sea Class 1 Gate’ from ten years ago.
Mom said it wasn't my fault, but it wasn't as if there was no responsibility at all. If I had to pick, was it the responsibility of ‘not knowing myself’?
Even now, Nari doesn't know why her dreams were connected to a door like that, or how she could pull that into reality. In fact, she was in a state of not understanding most of what was happening.
Something that wouldn't be a big problem for others felt like a responsibility to Nari.
Because it was clear that if she could have controlled her spirit energy well, this wouldn't have happened.
Until now, she had left stabilizing her spirit energy and roaming the deep world to The Lord of Chaos.
She had only faced herself once, when she had that ‘strange dream.’ Therefore, The Lord of Chaos could use her spirit energy much better than she could. Because he knew Nari far better than she knew herself.
This is the result.
So, she must end it completely before he uses her further. Nari stared at the Gate with a firm expression.
She was confident she wouldn't be an easy target anymore. She could choose not to give up on herself anytime, anywhere.
Because Mom said she loved her, there was an uncle below who would look after her, and there was a guild leader who willingly believed her words.
For this task, guild leader Baek Jangmi would be on standby in the White Night, and Min Jaeyoon would do his best to prepare the defensive line despite having far less experience than her.
And she knew Jeong Suho would be preparing a response without a single doubt in her actions. There hadn't been a single contact, but Nari now knew better than anyone that it was an action based on trust.
Above all, there was Kang Ihyun, who told her to definitely come back. To return, she had to take responsibility for all of this. To do that.
“I have to defeat that thing! Lude won’t do! So I don’t need the alt character anymore!”
Below the rooftop, on the streets, an evacuation procession was continuing to avoid accidents caused by the appearance of the Gate. Even in that situation, if she approached the Gate, people would take photos.
If that happened, Nari’s ‘social anxiety’ would be activated before she could even enter.
But right now, she didn't need ‘Lude’ but ‘Nari.’ Nari shouted as if speaking to someone.
“I won't care about others' eyes or anything, so give me back my power. This originally belongs to ‘Nari,’ not ‘Lude’!”
She was afraid of revealing herself. But she was more afraid of the people she cherished dying.
Simultaneously with that determination, Nari’s status ailment changed.
[Status Ailment :: ‘Social Aversion’ is greatly alleviated! Rank will not decrease even if the main body is exposed.]
Nari closed her eyes tight and opened them. She felt her body becoming lighter.
Taking a deep breath, Nari borrowed the skill of the only Constellation she could currently borrow from.
[Exclusive High Tier Skill :: Fragment of the First Dream]
[Using the Authority of the Constellation ‘Blind ◼◼’s ◼◼’.]
[Borrowing the skill of the Old Man ‘◼◼◼◼ of the Abyss’!]
“W-Woah.”
A monster resembling a pterosaur was pulling a white shell carriage. Startled by the sight, Nari soon climbed onto the carriage.
Flap. The monster beat its wings. Nari flew through the sky toward the Gate.