Chapter 38: “Send me back.”

“Send me back.”

After saying so, a message abruptly appeared in my mind.

[Returning to your original world.]

My vision became hazy, and everything began to collapse.

I used to close my eyes tightly because of the severe motion sickness, but now I didn’t.

I just stood still, watching the world.

Moving into the distance.

Farther away from the world.

Then, when Arash’s whole world came into view, I could see it.

A giant big enough to cover the world, a huge dragon with a bead in its mouth, something that is covered in fire, something shiny reminiscent of the universe…

They were all looking down at Arash’s world.

That was when I instinctively realized.

These must be the Constellations.

I now understood why these overwhelming beings see humans as just toys.

Just looking at them, I felt my heart racing like it’s going to burst out.

…And.

The Client had turned me, a mere human being, into a temporary but similar state as these Constellations.

When my view completely blacked.

I opened my mouth to ask.

“Client. Originally, I didn’t think I would ask you, but.”

[ … ]

“What the hell are you?”

My world is still black.

I waited for the Client’s answer as I felt myself floating with the feeling of being weightless.

[ …It’s still too early. However, I promise I will tell you when the time is right. ]

“Then at least tell me why it’s too early.”

[ In due time, but for now I can’t tell you why it’s too early.”

“That’s roundabout bullshit.”

The Client is someone who wants to kill every protagonist in existence.

And I’m a person who can freely move between dimensions, killing ridiculous beings that are monopolizing their world’s blessing.

“…I’m asking just to be sure. You’re not a protagonist, are you?”

Then, as if coming from somewhere, I thought I heard a woman’s laughter.

I’m probably mistaken.

Because the Client I know has never shown any emotions.

[ No way. ]

“Is that so.”

[ Do you want to see me? ]

“Of course.”

[ …Well, then, just a glimpse. ]

Suddenly, the universe which was all around me, seemed to converge on a single point.

Accompanied by a dazzling array of gold colored lights was a woman…

“…Huk!”

[Time has returned to normal.]

When I came to my senses, I was back in my studio apartment on my bedding.

I quickly hunched up and felt my chest.

My heart felt stuffy, as if the wind had been knocked out of me.

‘What was that?’

No, did it even happen?

Slowly standing up, I checked my remaining lifespan instead of my watch.

It has decreased by one day.

Which means one day has passed.

“…I can’t believe I slept like a log for one day.”

Maybe it’s because I saw something in that gold color light.

Or maybe it’s because I spent nearly 100 days in Arash’s world.

There’s no way to know.

I picked up my phone and checked the date.

As expected, only 25 days have passed on Earth.

“Hey, Client.”

[ … ]

“Are you asleep?”

[ …]

It’s strange.

She would always quickly reply whenever I called.

No, come to think of it, there was a time after the Lee Yeonjun incident that she didn’t reply at all.

At the time, she had said that she was taking a break because she was tired, but…

It’s unusual.

Can’t do what can’t be done.

I can only ask her later.

“Hmm.”

Touching my black aether suit, somehow it felt stuffy.

Now that I think about it, I’ve never used a 1st-Grade suit before.

Taking off the suit and putting it into a box, I pushed it to a corner as I checked my gain.

[Arash’s skill Inventory (B) has been absorbed.]

This was the skill I got from Arash.

There were quite a few other good skills since Arash was a battle mage, but I didn’t get them in the end, still, I have no regret.

I wasn’t sure what Inventory did, so I checked.

[ Inventory (B) ]

Description: Space of its own to store goods.

Maximum storage capacity: 70 kg

Maximum storage volume: 10 m3

Caution! Items with energy source above A-Rank cannot be stored.

Inventory, a skill very similar to a ‘subspace,’ was what I wanted to get the most.

It seems quite different from a subspace in many ways, but so what?

With some restrictions, Inventory can also bring stuff between worlds.

When I opened my inventory, a translucent brick-pattern window appeared in the air, and a list of items that were kept inside appeared.

Just before I left Arash’s world, I wandered around in my astral form looking for materials similar to the ones recorded in the White Witch’s library, and as a result, was able to get things that are similar, albeit not the same.

There was even a bag containing fairy dust and soil full of vitality floating in the air.

Although it wont blossom the Silver Spiritual Flower, it could still create a better environment for it.

Taking the stuff out, I led my tired body to the aether safe and opened it.

Inside was the flower swaying its withered petals.

“Hey. You’re still alive, right?”

[Mhm.]

“I got some things that might be helpful to you, so hang in there.”

[It’s cold…]

After carefully removing the soil and placing it around the flower, I sprinkled the fairy dust inside the magic protected glass tube.

Fairy dust is almost like a pollen, so I had to carefully sprinkle it, and only managed to finish doing so after 30 minutes of standing.

[…It’s nice.]

“Is this enough to keep you alive for the time being?”

[Mhm.]

I haven’t found any proper materials yet.

I need to go search other dimensions, but for now I can’t because I have plans with Celeste.

After finishing what I could do for the flower, I checked my ability.

Name

Yoo Seodam (Lv. 42)

Attributes

Strength: 39

Stamina: 38

Agility: 40

Vitality: 1

Mana: 42

Talents

Swordsmanship (A+)

Deprived (A)

Intuition (A)

Sharpshooting (C)

Hunting (D+)

Cooking (D-)

ETC…

Skills

Protagonist Hunter Lv. 2

Araceli’s Mana Circling (SS)

White Swordsmanship (S)

Inventory (B)

Wind Step (D)

6th Sense (F)

White Witch’s Library (F)

My level has reached as high as 42.

It’s safe to say that I’m really D-Rank now.

And at this growth rate, I’ll be able to survive as a hunter anywhere.

Also, Wind Step and Mana Circling can push my physical fitness to the limit while White Swordsmanship allows me to hunt more efficiently, thus, if I were to properly work as a hunter, I’ll be able to live comfortably without having to worry about money.

“By the way, what does equipment with energy above A-Rank mean?”

[Arbitrary grade system, determined by the amount of energy contained in the item.]

The answer was given by a machine-like system instead of the Client.

[If compared to Earth’s equipment, 1st-Grade equipment corresponds to A-Rank.]

‘Oh…So my mega shooter can be stored in my inventory?’

It’s always been uncomfortable having to carry my mega shooter around.

This alone made it a great harvest.

Including my mega shooter, I stored some other low grade equipment that was taking up space in my apartment.

Next, I picked up my phone.

I’ve been away for a long time in another world, so I don’t know what has been happening on Earth.

I checked several useful apps, including a timeline app that summarizes the news from the past few weeks.

It’s a good app to use when you’re short on time and want to quickly figure out what has been happening.

If I need to know more, I can click on the news and check.

While checking the news, I texted Taylor.

[Yoo Seodam: I’m back.]

I don’t know why, but Taylor said to me, ‘If you ever go to that strange place, message me every time you return,’ and I had agreed, so that’s what I’m doing.

Next, I texted Celeste.

Because there’s the sword debate in a few days.

A reply came immediately from Celeste.

[Celeste: Photo (Link)]

“Hm?”

It was a selfie of Celeste.

Or more precisely a rough selfie of a doll with no facial expression.

There was also a link in the photo.

[Celeste: It’s my Stargram account.]

[Celeste: Please follow me.]

Follow?

[Yoo Seodam: Shouldn’t you ask if I had an account first?]

For about 30 seconds there was no answer, then a text with a sullen emoji came back.

[Celeste: I’m sorry. I’ve had one for a while, so I thought mister Seodam had one too.]

[Yoo Seodam: …]

Well, I had nothing to say.

[Yoo Seodam: But what’s this for?]

[Celeste: I’m trying to increase my social media presence for the sword debate.]

[Celeste: I’d like to follow mister Seodam’s account.]

[Yoo Seodam: That’s fine.]

[Celeste: I just wanted to.]

Well…

I didn’t like using social media very much even though many people started using it later than I did.

It’s very annoying having to learn something new.

Still, I checked Celeste’s account just to see what it looked like.

“Crazy, a million followers?”

When she made her hunter debut a few months ago, she said she didn’t even have a social media account.

Right, after the incident with the UTV reporter, she created an account to live broadcast.

I didn’t pay any attention to it since then because I have no interest, but now I couldn’t believe it has exploded in this short period of time.

Well, it’s stranger it didn’t happen sooner considering she has the looks, connection, wealth, and talent.

This was bound to happen from the moment she created her social media account.

I slowly looked through her post timeline.

There was an expressionless selfie that wasn’t different from her normal look she had uploaded with thousands of positive reactions from people saying it was another good selfie.

Looking at the most recent ones, I saw some that were taken with Taylor, and judging by her pouty expressions, it seemed like Celeste forced Taylor to take them.

Still, she wasn’t coldhearted to disregard her junior.

Taylor’s fierce exterior is just a pretense.

‘Huh?’

Looking at the picture with Taylor, I noticed a comment.

It was in English, but it’s possible to translate it into Korean perfectly.

[Aren: It’s been awhile since I saw a picture of Taylor ♡♡ You’re as beautiful as ever. (Likes: 29 / Dislikes: 97)]

[Taylor Nine: Hey (beep)holes. Who left a comment? After going through it, I feel like I’m going to puke. It’s the same (beep)hole. (Likes: 4539 / Dislike: 127)]

…Taylor’s reply was over the top.

I wonder how heated she must have been while writing the comment.

Aren.

Me and Taylor have a great deal of bad blood with this guy.

As the 12th strongest S-Rank superhuman who debuted three years after me, he has always despised me on the battlefield, and my self esteem was low at the time, so I didn’t really care much since it was something that happened often.

However, whenever it happened, Taylor would step forward.

She would throw all kinds of insults at Aren, but the more Aren was criticized, the more he started chasing after Taylor, saying he liked it.

‘That bastard is really persistent though.’

Wasn’t it time he came to his senses after being cursed that much?

Anyways, I was amazed that Aren also had Stargram, so I clicked on his account.

‘…He’s so rich?’

Instead of selfies, he posted photos of a strange tattoo on the back of his hand, gold necklaces, expensive wallets, and suspicious hand gestures on top of cars.

His number of followers is also formidable.

Well, Aren is a strong S-Rank superhuman, and also held a high position in the Master Swordsmen Association.

‘Wait a minute. So he’s coming to the sword debate?’

It’s fine either way, but I’m still reluctant to see a creep.

As I mindlessly scrolled through Aren’s posts, I noticed something strange.

Aren is seen wearing different accessories in every photo except for two accessories that are worn in every one.

An old wooden bracelet around his right wrist and an old fashioned pearl necklace around his neck.

It didn’t seem like something Aren, a person who pursues ‘cool,’ would wear, but he wore them in every photo.

Oh, right.

I remember now.

I’m certain he had them on him when we met a few years ago.

‘These…’

Only

[Skill White Witch’s Library (F) activated.]

Before I could guess what these accessories were, my skill noticed it first.

[Starting magic search.]

[Searching…]

[Search complete: Ordering by original imprint.]

[Enchants identified as Enhance Strength (B) and Enhance Agility (C).]

[The corresponding magic skills are confirmed to be compatible.]

[Do you wish to try ‘Cracking?’]