Chapter 497: Fourth Time (7)

Pat, pat, pat.

Seo Jun-Ho groped around his own body. He could still remember being penetrated by hundreds of iron wires.

'But there aren’t any wounds..?’

Seo Jun-Ho looked around and saw Deus, who had become a small toy robot.

- This is a virtual reality world made of zeros and ones. We are not in the real world.

"We’re not in the real… world?”

Was this world made from a mental-type skill? He didn’t voice out his thoughts, but Deus answered him.

- It is a bit different from that. I’m sending electrical signals to your brain and nerves.

“…!”

‘He can read thoughts, but he’s not using a mind-type skill.’

- Humans emit electrical signals every time they think, and I’m simply reading those signals.

Seo Jun-Ho felt goosebumps breaking out all over him. Deus’ words meant that he couldn’t even have his own thoughts here.

Seo Jun-Ho made sure not to think too much as he looked around.

He was still in the same place.

'He definitely said it. He wanted me to prove something to him.'

‘So, do I have to fight for my life here? What’s the point when I’m not going to die here?’

Seo Jun-Ho asked inwardly.

- You’re getting used to it faster than I thought. However, I will not be fighting you.

'Then, how do I prove myself?’

- You will find out when you face it. All right, let's move on.

When Deus’ words fell, the stars in the universe stretched out like taffy as Seo Jun-Ho flew somewhere at a tremendous speed.

"Ah!” Seo Jun-Ho tried to catch his breath.

- You will not die even if you don’t breathe. You can breathe comfortably out of habit.

Was that really the case? Seo Jun-Ho’s heart was madly pounding against his chest, but when he held his breath, he didn’t feel suffocated. However, it still felt strange.

- Now, look over there.

Seo Jun-Ho turned and saw a kindergarten. It was a familiar kindergarten.

- It can't be helped since we’ve arrived here. You frequented this place before.

"Oh, it seems so...” Seo Jun-Ho finally remembered. However, the kindergarten had been reduced to nothing but a page within his memories.

Seo Jun-Ho looked back at Deus.

- Go inside.

Seo Jun-Ho didn’t know what Deus was trying to do, but he obliged and walked through the main door. He saw a hallway decorated with deer and giraffe stickers.

"Okay, next~"

He peeked at the class in session through the window and saw children huddled together like chicks.

‘Cute…’

Seo Jun-Ho smiled without realizing it, but his eyes suddenly quivered.

"Jun-Ho, will you tell us?"

"Um... Yes...”

The child who wobbled up was familiar. It wasn’t strange because the child was him.

Seo Jun-Ho’s face darkened. He stared alternatingly between the child version of himself and Deus.

- Watch quietly. Don’t do anything violent.

"B-but…!"

Seo Jun-Ho cringed, and the cringe was even more pronounced because the sight was clearer than any video out there.

"Hehe."

What was up with that dumb look? Seo Jun-Ho visibly cringed and clenched his fists.

"What does Jun-Ho want to be when he grows up?"

"A firefighter...” Baby Jun-Ho spoke shyly.

The teacher grinned and exclaimed, "Oh? I'm so proud of you! Do you want to save people? Is that why you want to be a firefighter?"

However, Baby Jun-Ho shook his head and said, "I like to spray water…”

"Ah… I-is that so?"

Deus glanced at Seo Jun-Ho.

- It seems that you were abnormal even back then.

"Please stop bothering me..."

- All right.

The scenery changed once more.

It seemed that they had traveled even further into the past because Seo Jun-Ho saw himself in a stroller.

"Oooop, oo-ah!" Baby Jun-Ho was focused on sucking his pacifier.

Seo Jun-Ho’s expression turned pale, and he couldn’t help but ask, "Just what is this supposed to prove? Isn’t this harassment?"

- Hmm.

Deus hummed as if he was agonizing over something.

- Certainly, I do not think that it is bad, but it is ambiguous.

"I do not know what you are talking about, Deus-nim."

- I need to be certain.

"Certain about what exactly?”

- I have to be certain that you won’t be tainted with evil.

"If that is the case, just the activities I have shown so far..."

- Even a mountain will change shape given enough years; won’t people’s hearts change as well?

Tap, tap, tap!

Deus crossed his arms.

- We’re done exploring your childhood, so it’s about time for us to take a look at the more grown-up version of you.

The scenery turned green as zeroes and ones filled the world.

Eventually, a brand-new scenery appeared.

It was a drowsy afternoon.

Seo Jun-Ho could feel the gentle breeze of the wind passing by his ears.

“We’re in a high school?"

- It is a stormy period, and people often develop vile hearts during this time period.

“By any chance, are you trying to find fault with me no matter what?”

- I thought you had already caught on to it. I have to find fault with you so that I won’t have to help you.

‘That's so mean…’

High schooler Seo Jun-Ho was messing around with High schooler Shim Deok-Gu.

‘Deok-Gu, he looks so young.’

“I can’t believe that he once looked like that. He has an M-shaped hairline, so this is unexpected.”

However, Seo Jun-Ho was glad that Shim Deok-Gu was aging gracefully. Personally, he thought that Shim Deok-Gu looked like Mads Mikkelsen but with a pot belly.

- Hmm.

"How about this time?"

- …

Deus didn’t say anything. He eventually spoke, but he sounded confused.

- I cannot understand.

"What do you mean?"

- You couldn’t be farther from what I was worried about—No, rather than words, you should be able to understand it properly if I do it like this.

A system window appeared in front of Seo Jun-Ho.

[Seo Jun-Ho]

Alignment: Line/Neutral

Characteristics:

① Stubborn - If he thinks he is right, he will never back down.

② Self-sacrifice - He is willing to sacrifice himself for others, even if it means risking his life.

③ Poetic Justice - He will not hesitate to draw the sword of punishment against evil.

④ Life of Hardships - He is living a life of suffering.

"Hm." It was Seo Jun-Ho’s first time being evaluated by a transcendent being. Seo Jun-Ho smiled bitterly at the Life of Hardships and asked, "I think this is a pretty good evaluation, is it not?”

Deus silently stared at Seo Jun-Ho for a moment.

- Yes, this is probably right because this result was obtained after taking a deep dive into your psyche. Yes, it has to be right.

Deus had scoured even the bottom of Seo Jun-Ho’s heart, but he couldn’t find even a single seed of evil. Seo Jun-Ho was trustworthy—the result he had obtained was telling Deus that Seo Jun-Ho could be trusted.

‘But… I don’t know…’

Helping Seo Jun-Ho become even more powerful would have an incomparably profound impact. Perhaps Reiji felt the same when she thought about whether she should help Seo Jun-Ho or not.

Deus felt like he was stuck in a quagmire. He had no idea if he was about to make the right choice or if he was about to make a choice that he would regret later down the road.

- I have no choice but to trust you.

At least, Seo Jun-Ho—Player Specter—was a man worthy of trust.

Deus ended his long contemplation and made a decision.

- You said it’d take you seventeen years to absorb Tepes’ Nucleus? I can solve that problem for you.

***

The solution ended up being so simple that Seo Jun-Ho didn’t know if he should laugh or cry.

"Do you want me to put this in that container?"

- Yes. You cannot wait seventeen years, right? Then, we have no choice but to modify the item.

Seo Jun-Ho’s jaw dropped to the floor. He stared at the jar and asked, "Will the item become weaker once you’ve modified it?”

- It is probably going to be like that at first. You will have to use it more often so that it will become as powerful as it was before it was modified.

In short, it was like kimchi. Kimchi’s taste would improve as it aged.

Seo Jun-Ho dropped Tepes’ Nucleus into the jar.

Deus lifted the jar and shook it furiously. Once he was done, he pulled out the nucleus with his hand made out of machinery and held it out to Seo Jun-Ho.

- Here.

[Modified Tepes’ Nucleus]

Grade: Legendary

Description: The nucleus that came from killing Tepes, the first True Vampire. Modified by Deus Ex Machina.

Effect: Forced sleep for 10 days when taken. Acquisition of Wheel of Time (S).

‘It’s still S. There's no difference...’

However, Deus had said that the Skill would become weaker, so Seo Jun-Ho reckoned that the Skill would be similar to an A-Grade Skill in performance.

"Thank you."

- It is nothing. Please—your strength—the strength you’ll obtain in the future. Please use it in a good way.

"Of course…" Seo Jun-Ho smiled.

Deus nodded.

- Then, I will send you back to where you were...

"I will visit you again next time."

- Sure. And once again, I will ask, but please…

Deus trailed off and shook his head.

- This old man’s nagging will be too much for you to bear. Forget it.

When Deus’ words fell, Seo Jun-Ho's consciousness was sent somewhere else.

"...actor? Contractor?"

Seo Jun-Ho’s eyes snapped open, and the first scene he saw was the Frost Queen staring at him with wide eyes while shaking her hand in front of his eyes. Seo Jun-Ho took a while to compose herself.

The Frost Queen remarked to Seo Jun-Sik. “This is troublesome. Our contractor has lost his mind.”

"I'm sure he’s with the Administrator right now. Come to think of it—that was ridiculous. We definitely pressed the button at the same time, so why did the Administrator discriminate against me?"

“I’m glad you couldn’t come with me,” said Seo Jun-Ho.

Seo Jun-Sik would receive his memories once he was recalled, but in the meantime, Seo Jun-Ho was safe from the former’s teasing.

Seo Jun-Ho finally came to his senses.

The Frost Queen sighed in relief.

"You should have told us if you’re going somewhere. You could have left a note, at the very least."

"I had no idea what would happen, so I couldn’t leave a note. I’ll make sure to leave one next time," said Seo Jun-Ho. He had just told them about what had happened between him and Deus Ex Machina. “Anyway, I'm going to sleep for the next ten days.”

"That means..."

Seo Jun-Ho and the Frost Queen turned to Seo Jun-Sik.

"Me? Why me?"

"Do it properly while I'm gone."

"Are you talking about the three amusement park parades a day? Don't worry about it. I’ve already gotten used to it, and it was pretty easy." Seo Jun-Sik revealed a stoic expression and said, "Don't I just have to remain seated while looking like this?”

"Nice. Keep doing that.”

Seo Jun-Ho handed over his Vita to Seo Jun-Sik before entering his bedroom.

"What did I say you should do if someone calls me?"

"There is a ten-day wait before a decision is made."

"Good job. Help yourself to as much food as you like while I'm gone."

"What about the meal coupons?"

"You're acting as my representative, so I won’t be stingy."

"Thank you so much. I'm really going to try my best!” Seo Jun-Sik hugged his precious meal coupons and repeatedly thanked Seo Jun-Ho.

"The two of you better not cause any trouble. Be good while I’m gone.”

"Contractor, geez, I am also a queen. I will watch over Jun-Sik, so sleep tight.”

"If Frost tries to make trouble, I'll do my best to stop her."

“…”

‘Why can't I trust either of them?’

Seo Jun-Ho felt uncomfortable.

He sent a message to Yeon and Shim Deok-Gu before entering his bedroom.

"Now, let's get started."

He was about to absorb Tepes’ Nucleus, which was his fourth nucleus after the Frost Queen, Janabi, and Erebo’s nucleus.

Seo Jun-Ho lay comfortably on the bed and clenched the Modified Tepes’ Nucleus.

***

When Seo Jun-Ho finally fell asleep, Seo Jun-Sik muttered, "What should I say… it feels like the parents are out on a trip, leaving their children at home?”

"What could happen in ten days?"

"You’re right. I guess we can just live life as usual."

Buzz.

The Vita on Seo Jun-Sik's left arm suddenly vibrated.