"A loophole?"
"Yeah, a loophole. If you don’t like the vibe, call it a secret art."
At my words, the fox cut in with a drawn-out "Aaaah—."
"Ah, I get what you’re trying to do. Smash the event before it’s ready, right? Like we did to the [Descendants of Fomalhaut] or that elephant head."
"Mmm, that’s the simplest and surest method, yeah."
Eliminate the elements the event needs in advance. Then a bug triggers and the scheduled event gets canceled.
Blocking an advent by removing a required component is, broadly speaking, the same idea.
That’s how we erased the event tied to the [Living Flame], and cornered the [Predator in the Mountain].
The crow shook his head.
"Sinhwa, you’re not planning to move right away without waiting the week, are you? This time they’ll be expecting that."
"Right. I won’t do that. They’re already watching me."
You only use tricks like that when the other side is off guard.
"Ah!" the buffalo mask blurted, cutting in.
"W-we could meet Gong Isu and go to the past! T-that’s the l-loophole, right?"
"No! No more time travel!"
"If it comes to it, it’s a tool you could use, isn’t it?"
The fox took the buffalo’s side.
"You’re really on the same level as him, huh?"
"Excuse me?"
"Let’s keep rewinding time as a last resort."
Playing with time carries too much risk.
If it were like Gong Isu—actively initiating a time jump—that’s one thing, but leaning on someone else for a limited time move is a bad card to play.
"Fine. Then what exactly are you going to do?"
This time the crow made a thoughtful "Hmmmm..." and spoke.
"It’s not exactly a loophole, but how about stopping by Buyeo?"
"B-Buyeo?"
"Yeah. It’s a method we used before in its own way, so we can reuse it. Do you remember the moment in yesterday’s fight when you actually hurt him, Sinhwa?"
"I barely landed one hit and that masochist went into heat, yeah, I saw it."
"...Not that. I mean the [Blade of Flesh]. Sinhwa. I’m right, aren’t I?"
I nodded.
"Right. I am going to Buyeo."
Even if my power doesn’t work on them, the power of an Abyssal being works on itself.
"And an item like that—there’s more than one, isn’t there?"
There’s something in Buyeo that pairs with the [Blade of Flesh].
"That was the loophole? I was expecting something impressive, but it’s the same method we’ve been using."
I pointed at the fox with a grin.
"Ha, knew you’d say that. That’s not the real loophole."
Delete the trigger conditions.
Undo the doomed branch.
Steal the enemy’s power or resources.
Those are all usable, but they’re not the plan I’m considering.
"It’s a method virtuous old veterans never use... but the times are what they are."
I said that, then continued.
"And again, we are going to Buyeo. Like I said—gotta pick up the [Soul Jade Seal]—"
"Yang Seohu is there. You okay with that?" the crow pointed out.
"Ah, right. Perfect timing. From now on, Yang Seohu is going to be our friend."
"Friend?"
A what-are-you-even-saying kind of look.
"Yeah. Friend. If effort doesn’t cut it, we use the power of friendship."
The fox scratched her head for a moment (exactly the posture I take when I’m irritated, which was a little funny) and said,
"You know the worst things happened every time you started going on about friendship, right?"
"Hm? I’ve said stuff about friendship before?"
"Ha— tsk. Forget it."
"Okay. First, we meet Yang Seohu, then..."
I woke up.
"Ugh... I’m dying."
If it’s a game, shouldn’t pressing [Rest] pop me back to max HP?
I forced open eyes that didn’t want to open... ah, seriously, kill me now. I barely cracked one eye and shut off the alarm blaring from my smartphone.
"Haaah... at least I got up on time."
I don’t know what else we talked about in the dream, but I know exactly what to do and where to move now.
I immediately got up—well, failed to, and just dialed from where I lay.
"Mmm, hello. Yes, it’s me."
A bit of polite greeting and a quick status pass.
Then, after a brief report, I said to the person on the other end,
"So the cultist friends are starting to move, yeah?"
— That is correct. We verified it once, twice, thrice for certainty; you may rely on this intel.
The voice from the phone belonged to Blood Marquis.
He had been the head of the [Blood Demon Cult], which served the [Blood Demon King], avatar of the [Predator in the Mountain]—but when the [Predator in the Mountain] was stripped of its power as an Abyssal being...
And Pani ended up what she is, Blood Marquis became my subordinate.
"When do you expect contact?"
— By our estimate, about three hours from now.
From here to Buyeo is roughly two hours and thirty minutes.
"Tight, but if we leave within thirty minutes, we won’t be late."
My condition isn’t perfect, but a lot better than before.
"Got it. And... how’s Cheongho?"
— Ah, truly a curiosity worthy of being called a world-class eccentric. His behavior is excessive, but he has not exceeded the scope of the charge His Reverence gave him.
Through our deal, the [Laughing One] transplanted a part of himself into my corpse golem.
He reshaped the golem’s body into Cheongho’s appearance, so we’re stuck calling it Cheongho.
Anyway, looks like he’s doing as instructed.
"That’s fine, but could you consider a different title than ‘His Reverence’?"
His Reverence?
It means the most venerable person in the world; it’s a Buddhist term, too. I’d rather be called the [Wizard King]—I don’t want to be called that.
— As you wish, O [Supremely, Greatly, Most-Wise Exalted One].
"Wait, is ‘supremely’ part of the title?"
— Does it not please you? Then perhaps the Most High—
"Okay, stop, stop!"
Whatever. Titles don’t matter.
I changed the subject and gave a few more orders.
— I shall carry out your commands, even at the cost of my life.
"...I appreciate the enthusiasm, but keep it to something short of dying."
The call with Blood Marquis wrapped up soon after.
He’s an NPC set up as a wicked cultist, but maybe because I’d just had that talk with Park Gwangrim yesterday... Hearing "I’ll lay down my life for you" felt a bit heavy.
"Good. That’s settled."
Still lying down, I ran a few more numbers, then called Tudor.
"Tudor, what are you doing? Yeah. I need to go somewhere right now. Can you broker transport? What? Huh? Why? What? No! Why does it matter what Pani and Aub are wearing? Ah, right. Yeah. I’m curious. I am. When this is over I’m definitely dropping by Vasiliisa to see. Hey, come on! Are you calling a car or not?"
I let myself get dragged into Tudor’s teasing and the call ran long.
"Jang Hyundeok? No, he’s not well enough. Just call the scarred guy you introduced before. Huh? What scar? There’s only one besides Jang Hyundeok. Ah... I see. So he ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ was a mass-production model, too. No, no. I’m just saying."
A security taxi driver I’d often been referred to when Hyundeok wasn’t available.
I’d thought it was always the same guy, but apparently they were all different.
"I’m going to Buyeo. Huh? Dangerous? Yang Seohu? Ah, I know. I’m going to Buyeo to meet Yang Seohu. No, it’s fine. Yeah, don’t worry. I’ll stop by Vasiliisa soon. I said I got it. Ah, yes. Most beautiful Madam Tudor. Thank you. Have a lovely day."
"You’re heading out again without staying even twelve hours?"
As I started getting ready, Heo Sanghyun spoke in a sepulchral voice.
"This week’s going to be chaos. Gwangrim’s heading right out with me. Please keep a good eye on Jang Hyundeok."
A shadow of worry fell under Sanghyun’s big eyes, but he didn’t press.
I know he’s worried about me, but it can’t be helped.
Time is short.
"I’m ready."
Park Gwangrim had returned to his usual crisp suit.
With his hair tied back in a ponytail and even a fedora pulled down, he—well, it suited him in its way, but maybe a bit anachronistic?
"You look like an actor from an old Hong Kong movie."
"I’ll take that as a compliment."
"Good. I called the car, so we’ll go as soon as it gets here."
"Wizard!"
Jang Hyundeok’s voice.
"Yeah?"
"Where are you going?"
"Mmm— to meet a friend? But why are you dressed like that?"
I’d told Park Gwangrim to get ready, sure—but why is Hyundeok also dressed like a pro driver bound for a danger zone?
"I heard from Gwangrim."
I looked at Park Gwangrim, but he waved his hands and said, "Was that a secret?"
"You’re going to Buyeo? Yang Seohu is your friend?"
"Yep. A friend."
"Since when?"
"About... five hours from now? If we’re lucky, within three."
"I’m going too. I’ll drive."
"Just lie on the floor and rub Red’s belly."
[squeal!]
"If I sit still I’ll go insane, so let me come."
"Then go dance with Rollie."
[grrrrrrk!]
"Are you serious right now? Hey! Don’t even say Achilles’s name!"
[rattle—]
Achilles drooped his head, dejected.
No, don’t get discouraged, Achilles.
You’re the best—uh—whatever. Anyway, the best.
"What are you going to do if you come?"
"What were me and Hyunji—and my siblings, for that matter?"
Jang Hyundeok suddenly threw out a non sequitur.
But his expression was more serious than ever. Not one I could brush off.
Fair—must’ve been frustrating when the one person who could answer was asleep the whole time.
"I’ll tell you when we’re back."
"Tell me on the way. And tell me who I’m supposed to be mad at."
A few thoughts surfaced.
["You made Jang Hyundeok into something special."]
["Please help Jang Hyundeok grow."]
["That’s my wish."]
Words the [Source of Life] said with a smile.
Is it okay to bring him?
‘What are you doing, Kim Sinhwa, you idiot. Just knock him out and go.’
‘W-what if we just e-erase Jang Hyundeok’s m-memory? Then it’s all solved, isn’t it?’
Maybe annoyed by my hesitation, the psychopaths in my head offered suggestions worth hearing.
‘Everyone shut up!’
‘No. Sinhwa, I disagree. Bring him.’
The crow’s voice buzzed in my skull.
‘Why?’
‘Hyundeok’s car is still in Ansan.’
‘So what—? Wait. Hm...’
We won’t have to wait for a taxi. We can open a [Dimensional Gate], jump to Ansan, then move out right away.
We’re already up against the clock. This route saves a lot of time.
"Hyundeok, don’t you dare come whining later about how you didn’t know and you regret it."
"Yahoo! I won’t say that, don’t worry."
Yahoo?
Hyundeok bounced as he got ready to go.
If the overexuberance is an act, that’s actually a relief.
That weird fixation and those wild emotional swings.
Maybe the mania’s keeping him from controlling his feelings.
I scratched my head for a moment and said,
"Ah, guess I should cancel the taxi."
Tudor’s going to nag me again.
Hyundeok’s declaration that he wouldn’t regret it was withdrawn in about two hours.
"Aaaaaugh! You should have told me beforehand!"
Hyundeok’s scream.
"I did tell you, you idiot!"
I shouted back.
"You didn’t say it would be like this!"
How am I supposed to explain that ‘this’ is ‘this’?
Dding— dding— dding—
Disaster alerts had been pouring in on our phones for a while now.
Yeah. This is the ‘this.’
[Message from the Foreigners Management Agency. Risk of disasters such as landslides—please take special care to stay safe.]
[Message from the Foreigners Management Agency. Falling rocks, collapses, and strong gusts are occurring. Trails are closed; please refrain from entering and keep safe.]
Up to here, they read like ordinary disaster alerts.
[Message from the Foreigners Management Agency. The red rain is caused by sewage, tainted by a red tide, being whipped into the air by gale-force winds. It is not blood falling from the sky.]
[Message from the Foreigners Management Agency. Do not be unsettled by groundless rumors; please refer to accurate information from the Foreigners Management Agency and the prescribed disaster-response guidelines.]
[Message from the Foreigners Management Agency. A locally occurring tornado has caused livestock to be flung into the sky and then to fall. The entrails raining from the sky are by no means human. Do not, under any circumstances, leave designated safe zones.]
[Message from the Foreigners Management Agency. Severe lightning is striking. Do not, under any circumstances, go outdoors, and do not look up at the sky. Do not look at the sky. Do not look at the sky.]
[Message from the Foreigners Management Agency. Do not ignore our warnings. These warnings are for your safety and your life. Do not go outside. Do not look at the sky.]
We were somewhere out in the wasteland near the Seocheon–Gongju Expressway.
KWHOOOOM— an explosion.
Weather: clear.
At any time, blood, corpses, or Yang Seohu may fall.
