Chapter 108: Reality distortion (4)

The environment inside the Mirror World was something that humans couldn’t live in.

It was a bloody place. The sky was painted violent red, mist obscured their vision wherever they looked at, and there was a pit of blood that couldn’t be identified whether it belonged to a corpse or a living creature, wriggling in all directions.

It was a place that reminded Yoo Seodam of Hell Gate. Because of this he wasn’t comfortable staying in that place.

While Yoo Seodam had to rely on a mask to be able to stand on this place, the masters of Murim didn’t even need it. They only frowned a little in front of the discomfort they felt. Indeed, they are truly SS ranks. Unlike A rank superhumans which were still in the boundary of normal humans, SS rank superhumans were something entirely different because they had already exceeded human limitation twice.

This was a very unpleasant space. The expressions of the Masters were stiff. It was as if they couldn't believe what they saw right now.

Everything that walked on this space was an existence that had already lost their mind. The only thing left inside them was their primal instinct.

‘Something to eat.'

‘Something new has come.'

‘Are they weaker than me?'

‘I do not know.'

‘I’ll know once I take care of it.'

For all bizarre creatures with a mismatched body that lived in this world, they always had ‘food’ shortage, and the appearance of Yoo Seodam and the masters could be a very good meal for them.

Whether it was a worm standing on human feet, or an elf's head on an animal's torso, they were once an ordinary species.

“……Let's get started.”

The operation proceeded quickly.

While crossing through the unstable dimensional passage, all weak creatures from each and every original dimension perished. Only those who were strong enough survived…. But no matter how strong they were, in the end they were nothing but mindless beasts. On top of it, they were already exhausted and dying, they couldn’t help but get swept by the masters of Murim. 

“I’m sorry.”

While other masters looked at them with disgust, Master from Hwangyeong sect who had not only transcended the physical realms of human power, but he had also transcended the human aesthetics of beauty. His sense of beauty went beyond what humans perceived, and because of this, he was not fazed by the grotesque appearance of these alien creatures. Instead, he looked at them with eyes filled with pity because they had no choice but to live like this because of their circumstances.

“You still have to kill it.”

"I know….."

After reminding her fellow master, Seol Jungyeon pulled out a pure white sword and stepped forward. Then, her dance began.

Even in this terrible hellish environment, Seol Jungyeon's sword dance was still beautiful. The ugliness of this world was completely suppressed by her beauty. Whoever saw it might mistake this place as heaven for a moment.

As she swung the sword down, she reaped the lives of the alien creatures without causing them any pain. She also cut off the portals that affected Earth. Probably by now, the supernatural phenomenon on Earth was gradually disappearing.

Kuooh…!!

As the creatures of this world slowly died one by one, the world itself began to wriggle. Yes, this world was also a living creature.

Moments later, ‘something’ rose from the ground. It was something incomprehensible to the naked eye. From its head, which resembles the head of a wolf, octopus tentacles slithered towards all directions. It also had 6 arms which have 6 fingers each. It was a very strange creature, even stranger than any other creatures in this world.

It was something that had already lost its essence of life and was just waiting for the day it would perish.

Even the Hwangyeong sect master couldn't see that thing with his naked eye. It had a very disgusting and trauma-inducing appearance.

Yoo Seodam originally thought that he would be able to withstand its appearance because he had been in so many dimensional travel, however, he was wrong.

Even though he is indeed a dimensional traveler, he was still only an A rank superhuman. He was still insignificant and weak.

However, there was only one person here who could withstand its appearance. It was Seol Jungyeon.

“Poor child.”

Seol Jungyeon said as she stared at the creature. How long have you been suffering here? How much pain did you have to endure every day after losing your hometown? How can you still live even after accepting such despair? 

That side of Seol Jungyeon  was something that Yoo Seodam really liked.

She always said,

‘I am a person who has no skill other than swinging a sword.'

She couldn't embrace other people warmly, she couldn't free other people from the ban, she also didn’t have the verbal skills to make other people happy. So she always tried her best when people needed her for her swordsmanship.

“You can stop now. I’ll send you off.”

* * *

At the request of Yoo Seodam, ‘supernatural phenomenon’ quickly became front-page articles. And the reason he requested was because ‘civilians need to report supernatural phenomenons that we missed, so we can respond quickly.’

And thanks to that article, the ‘Special Supernatural Phenomenon Response Team' which includes the Murim people, also became a hot topic.

If one day something suddenly happens, like a sighting of a ghost, or an unscientific phenomenon where you could hear a voice from the empty air, then immediately contact the ‘Special Team'! The Murim people will run to solve it!

In the middle of the article, instead of Yoo Seodam’s face, Seol Jungyeon's face was grandly displayed. It’s sad, but it can’t be helped because her face was much more influential than any words.

In the future, supernatural phenomenon will occur more frequently. 

…..Probably, until Hell Gate disappears. The frequency of supernatural phenomenon will also increase, and after 10 to 20 years, it may become a common occurrence like dungeons or gates.

Until then, the monopoly of solving supernatural phenomena fell into the hands of Another League and New Murim League.

In addition, various foreign substances obtained from the Mirror World were a valuable commodity for science, It was traded at great prices, so, both Another League and New Murim League were able to earn a lot of money in an instant.

-The image of Murim people is increasing day by day. That's good news.

Shin Hye-ji’s voice could be heard from the tablet. It was a simple function called video call, but it was a very strange technology for Seol Jungyeon.

Seol Jungyeon was aware that people were still on the edge because of the New Murim League. It was because an independent group consisting of 3,000 superhumans was no different from a time bomb. On top of that, they also had 20 SS rank superhuman and an SSS rank leader.

It is understandable that the world, including the President of the United States, were keeping them in check.

However, how could Murim people live after hearing such crap such as ‘People of Murim now belong to the International Association and they must assign all of its armed forces to the state.’

Honestly, even if Seol Jungyeon started a legal fight, the one who will be at the disadvantage was themselves. So, while avoiding people who keep them in check as much as possible, New Murim League had to somehow raise their status and imprint their strong image on people’s mind so that they could become completely independent.

There was a real precedent similar to that.

‘…Of course, it’s not good to imitate those guys.’

Most of the superhuman groups which were internationally recognized as independent organizations were terrorist groups, so the Murim League had to avoid that image.

-By the way, how’s your condition Master?

“Of course, I’m fine.”

Right now, Seol Jungyeon was floating in a swimming pool located in a five-star hotel in Los Angeles. It was specially reserved for her, so no one else was there. From the swimming pool, she could enjoy the sight of thousands of city lights on the ground. Los Angeles' night view was truly beautiful.

-Hmmmmmm. Is that so?

“…Why?”

Seol Jungyeon tilted her head as she looked at Shin Hye-ji who was smiling mysteriously.

-You still have an anxious expression…. Are you waiting for Yoo Seodam Hunter-nim again?

“……”

Seol Jungyeon  could only smile bitterly at Shin Hye-ji’s question.

-To think, someone as wonderful as Master could be swung around by a man…

“I can’t help it. He is such an attractive man.”

-Ahhh! Master, how could you say something like that!

“Huhu, you'll know when you fall in love too.”

Shin Hye-ji shook her head helplessly. She was aware that even now Yoo Seodam was running around talking with high-ranking people from numerous International Associations for the sake of Murim people.

Originally, Seol Jungyeon told him that she would go with him, but Yoo Seodam refused it by saying ‘If the master herself comes, it may have a negative effect.’

-Still…. Aren’t you tired of waiting all the time? You don’t have much time to be together.

Shin Hye-ji knew Seol Jungyeon well because she always followed her everywhere. And every day, Seol Jungyeon was always looking at a smartphone she is not familiar with, and waited for Yoo Seodam’s call.

“…Wouldn’t it be embarrassing if I whine while he’s running around for my sake?”

Seol Jungyeon certainly wanted to be with him, she wanted to be intimate with him, gazes into his eyes, and know a little more about him, but she knows that she can't.

"I am okay."

Waiting was something she’s familiar with. Rather than being trapped in a snowy mountain and hoping for rescue that might or might not come, she could wait for him no matter how long she had to. Because she was much happier and had a more valuable life now. 

-You can't be like that master!

“…Why are you shouting?”

-You have to be a little more active, master. Like… You know…At night….

“We already did it. It was a very sweet night.”

-What? Whaaattttt? 

Then, Shin Hye-ji, who was proudly giving advice a moment ago to Seol Jungyeon, became redder and redder.

-Re, really?

Well, even though she was the one who seduced Yoo Seodam at first, the role quickly reversed because she was inexperienced in that kind of thing.

She smiled faintly without answering Shin Hye-ji’s question as she recalled the memory of the very affectionate night she shared with Yoo Seodam. Her train of memory only stopped because Shin Hye-ji was once again giving advice.

-Then… What about using your mouth?

"Huh? Of course I did-”

-No no no! Not that! I mean conversation!

“…Conversation.”

Yoo Seodam’s life was filled with ups and downs. He always had something new to tell her every time they met. So there was never a single moment of boredom when she’s with him.

But, the stories he told her were all about the incidents that occured in the past, he never said a word about how he was living now.

That man had a lot of secrets.

There were times when he disappeared. He put up a notice that he was ‘dispatched’ and couldn’t be contacted. Also, even though he wasn’t someone from Murim, he knew about Mugong well. He even mastered the unknown discipline called Magic, and possessed knowledge about dimensions.

Just what is his identity? What did he do when he disappeared?

And, did he know about her story?

Whenever they met, Seol Jungyeon was always the only one who asked him about his life. She had never talked about her own life.

There was still a lot of distance between them.

“Hmmm…….”

Seol Jungyeon put her hands on her chin. She was still floating in the pool. After pondering for a moment, she opened her mouth.

“…That’s a good idea.”

* * *

“…..I'm tired.”

Upon returning to the hotel, I walked towards my room with staggering steps. Thanks to Director Michael, I was able to use a five-star hotel for free. However, I didn’t have any chance to properly enjoy the facility this hotel had.

I was so busy explaining about ‘supernatural phenomenon’ to high-ranking people that I did not have any chance to enjoy the amenities provided by the hotel.

It is already 2 a.m. Will they deliver it to me if I make an order now? It’s a 5-star hotel, so they will, right? I can’t just have my food delivered from another restaurant at this kind of hotel.

‘Ah… yeah, there’s that too.'

‘Where is it?'

I took off my suit and socks, put it in the corner, and headed to the bed while listening to the system’s message.

However, I couldn't answer the system’s words.

"Huh..?"

"You're very late."

It was because someone is sitting on the seat by the window where the night view of the city was beautifully lit up. With platinum hair and light pink eyes that resemble a sunset on a snowy mountain, she beckoned to me while sipping on a red wine. She was only wearing a thin nightgown.

“Come here.”

I couldn't refuse. As I got closer to her, I could see her cheeks were already blushing, as if she had gotten slightly tipsy. She could have blown it out with her power, but she must have her reason for not doing so.

“Well, that…. Clothes…”

She was wearing an extremely thin nightgown that I couldn’t look at. When I looked away from her, she smiled.

“I just want to have a conversation today, so sit down.”

As I sat down, she took out a glass she had prepared and poured red wine in it. Was it something she learned from someone? Her hand gestures were quite clumsy, but she had the basic etiquette to handle wine.

Somehow laughter bubbled out from my mouth when I thought of her studying by calling a sommelier for this moment.

Very soon, Seol Jungyeon raised her glass. The moon light and city lights reflected against the glass. At that moment, it occurred to me, that no matter how many times I saw her smile, I would not get tired of looking at it. 

Two wine glasses bumped against each other. That night she and I shared many secrets.