The Veteran Player Already Knows

Chapter 148 - Aftermath (2)

Han Si-yeon was, in fact, an NPC that any Conqueror player would have to go through at least once, no matter which route they took.

Demons were the main enemies in the latter half of the scenario, and she was the only one who could build a bridge to the Spirit Realm, which could help effectively hunt them down.

“Hmm.”

I toyed with my necklace, lost in thought.

Although it was currently an incomplete Gnosis’s Heart, it was an item that could only be completed inside the Spirit Realm.

Because if you met the optimal ‘conditions,’ a final weapon against demons would emerge.

To complete this, I had to meet this person, so I would get involved with her one way or another as I progressed through the scenario.

“...”

“...”

I met the eyes of the person lying silently on the bed, staring at me.

White hair. Red irises.

It was a look that specifically revealed which of the parents’ genes the Seo sisters had inherited more strongly.

Seo Ah-in and Seo Hye-in didn't have appearances that exuded an atmosphere commonly found in ordinary people, but this person was truly, how should I put it?

She didn’t seem human. The aura she was exuding.

‘...That’s actually true, isn’t it?’

This person was a spirit who had taken on human flesh.

Her body was human, but her soul was a completely separate existence.

In other words.

Compared to a normal human, it also meant she had quite a few special abilities. In a spiritual, something-or-other kind of way.

“Could you come a little closer?”

Simultaneously with those words.

[ A ‘Spirit Link’ attempt has been detected. ]

This was it.

Spirits were a race of ‘magicians’ that were among the best in the entire world.

Compared to ‘magic’ or ‘rituals,’ which were mainly focused on combat purposes, sorcery was a very peculiar type of work, despite using the same mana.

The support-type skills in my skill tab, which I had been putting off as not very useful, were all of that sort.

Just this Spirit Link alone, which let you see the ‘color of the target’s soul,’ sounded like a what-the-heck-is-this-skill just from the description.

But if you properly understood its effect, you would understand why the Seo sisters behind me were so frozen.

‘In terms of information gathering, there are few who can match it.’

The only one who could come close would be Darien, who could read the minds of anyone nearby without question.

But even she couldn't keep up with the ‘follow-up information’ that came after the Spirit Link.

The lore was that spirits could predict a person’s fate just by looking at the color of their soul.

It was called prediction, but seeing the power it exerted in the game, it was simply future-telling.

“...”

So, well.

I guess it would be okay to let someone else penetrate deep into me just once.

[ Demon Warding check roll... Success! ]

[ Would you like to counter? Y/N ]

And thanks to the Bracelet of Demon Warding I was wearing, a message popped up saying I could deflect it.

Without hesitation, I touched N.

Immediately, a reaction came from the other side.

“...Oh my.”

Han Si-yeon-ssi, who had been staring intently at my face as I approached, gave a slight smile.

“To know what it is and just let it in... Are you really okay with this?”

I just shrugged my shoulders without a word.

In the first place, I was also curious about what you would say.

[ Kim Gyu-sik ]

[ Kim Gyu-sik spent his childhood in the slums. And C¾ð¾î¶õ °ÍÀº ¾ÆÁÖ ±â´ÉÀ» °¡Áø ÇÁ·Î±×·¡¹Ö ¾ð¾î ÀÔ´Ï´Ù

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With my character sheet shattered to this extent, I myself wasn't sure how the game ‘system’ would judge my future.

As I was thinking that, Han Si-yeon-ssi, who had been staring intently at me for a long time, smiled again and nodded.

“Piercing insight, courage, boldness... Yes. It must have been a rough journey, but you’ve come through it so admirably without becoming jaded.”

“Is that so?”

“I know what kind of knowledge you are expecting from me. But I’m sorry, that is beyond my abilities.”

So that’s how it is.

A pity.

I sighed and replied.

“Is that what it judged?”

“I believe you already know the answer.”

So that’s how it is.

“Then what about that?”

“Just as you think.”

Hmm, I see.

“No, then what I originally thought-”

“Regarding that part, I also-”

“In that case, I suppose-”

For a long while after, a conversation like a Zen koan continued.

Anyone who didn’t know would wonder what on earth we were talking about.

The fact that the Seo sisters, who were left out of the conversation, were looking at each other in confusion was proof of that.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen mother have a conversation so... ‘equally’ for so long...”

“I-I feel the same...”

“She’s someone who usually grasps a person as soon as she sees them and manipulates them as she pleases...”

“In that sense, she’s similar to Gyu-sik-ssi...”

“...”

No, but you two.

Weren’t you guys in a concept of being awkward with each other until just a while ago?

What’s with this natural back-and-forth now?

“...Anyway, the conclusion will be that. I will do my best to help you in that regard. It seems that I, and my children, have received a lot of help from you.”

“Then the date?”

“At your convenience.”

However, apart from that.

Talking with Han Si-yeon-ssi wasn't a bad experience for me either.

If you searched the entire game and considered only insight and intelligence, she was one of the top five.

As they say, a nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse; this person also immediately understood what I wanted.

“W-what was that conversation just now?”

“I-I don’t know either. It was like some quick, sharp exchange of moves between masters...”

“...”

I let out a deep sigh at the sight of the Seo sisters, whose eyes were spinning at the same time.

Why was there such a wealth gap in brainpower despite being of the same bloodline?

‘Well, to put it simply.’

Something terrible was coming to kill me soon.

I was preparing with all my might to avoid it.

And as part of that, I would have to set foot in the ‘Spirit Realm’ soon, and this person meant she would help with that.

“Where in that conversation was any of that mentioned?!”

Seo Hye-in nodded her head vigorously, as if she strongly agreed with Seo Ah-in’s shriek.

Seriously, who couldn't understand this?

The subjects were omitted, but our intentions were expressed very concisely and clearly.

“...”

“...”

A look that said, ‘Only you could do that,’ came from both of them at the same time.

And Han Si-yeon-ssi, who had been watching them, suddenly spoke up.

“...More importantly, kids. Why are you just standing there blankly?”

And seeing that, a gentle smile bloomed on Han Si-yeon-ssi’s face.

It was a different kind of smile from the one she had when she looked at me earlier.

Yes.

The face of a ‘mother’ that can only be shown to family.

“Come here. Let me give you a hug.”

“...Huh.”

“...”

Hearing those words, the Seo sisters, who had approached hesitantly, were pulled into a tight hug by Han Si-yeon-ssi.

The faces of the Seo sisters, who had been frozen stiff until then, simultaneously showed a different emotion welling up.

Because it was a warmth they remembered. A warmth they hadn’t experienced since they were young.

“...Uh, uh.”

Seo Ah-in, whose arms were flailing in the air hesitantly, carefully wrapped them around Han Si-yeon-ssi’s waist.

As if it still didn't feel real.

“You’ve suffered a lot while mommy was gone, haven’t you?”

“...”

“It’s okay. Everything’s okay now.”

“...Ooh.”

As soon as she heard those words, Seo Ah-in, whose tears seemed to well up, crumpled her face and buried it in Han Si-yeon-ssi’s embrace.

Seo Hye-in-ssi had a similar reaction.

“Mo...m.”

“Yes.”

“Mom.”

“Yes. I’m here.”

“Mom, mooommyyy...”

Hmm. Yes.

A tearful family reunion. How touching.

“...”

But, how should I react here? I couldn't follow the emotional line.

For me, an orphan with no living relatives who had never had a family and didn’t know my parents’ faces, this situation was a bit awkward.

It wasn't for nothing that I had been rolling around in the slums since I was young.

“Oh, don’t worry about that.”

“...Pardon?”

I tilted my head at Han Si-yeon-ssi’s sudden words.

“Because you’ll have a family soon too, Gyu-sik-ssi. I can’t read other prophecies, but that one is certain.”

“...I’m getting a family?”

“It happens, doesn’t it? When an adult gets a family.”

“...?”

What is that?

I didn't know anyone who would adopt me at this point.

However, unlike me who was just standing there blankly, the Seo sisters stopped moving as soon as they heard those words.

Even while sobbing and hugging Han Si-yeon-ssi, there was a palpable sense of tension in their instincts.

“Well, I do think there are quite a few candidates. Instead of picking one or two, how about just becoming one big family altogether? I think these two would be fine with it too.”

The Seo sisters flinched simultaneously again.

Now they were timidly patting their mother, who was lying in her sickbed.

As if telling her to please be quiet.

No, so what is that? What does it mean?

“Oh my. You’re completely underdeveloped in that area, aren’t you?”

“...”

Why are you suddenly insulting me?

***

So, my business with Han Si-yeon-ssi was also smoothly resolved.

[ Current Alteration Points: 4 ]

“Hmm.”

I stared at the window floating before my eyes.

This was the value I had accumulated while progressing through the scenario so far.

As I’ve said repeatedly, this was something that changed the ‘ending route’ depending on how it was accumulated.

‘Surely...’

The point at which a full-scale ‘alteration’ occurred in the game was when this hit 5.

It meant that just one more, and something of a cataclysmic level would arrive.

And as far as I knew, there was one event in the near future where I could accumulate this.

“...Should I get started?”

Muttering to myself, I fiddled with my phone.

The contacts designated under the [Flyswatter] category popped up.

Lee Si-yeong. Cornelius. Master of the Magic Tower. Darien. Kim Kang-in. Sepia.

And I made a call to the last contact on the list.

I could hear someone answering the phone with a sweet voice on the other end.

[Ah, hello? I don’t recognize this number, may I ask who this is...?]

“It’s me, you peeping tom bastard.”

[...]

The person on the other end of the call immediately shut up at the sentence that seemed to radiate intimidation.

Yes, this one was ‘Raven.’ A follower of the King of Flies who had corrupted Edgar with demonic power.

[...My, my. It’s a carefully crafted cover identity. How on earth did you find me?]

“Is there anything I don’t know?”

Indeed.

If it became known who this guy was masquerading as in human society right now, it would cause quite a stir.

Well, that’s that.

“I told you before. That I’d pay a visit.”

[...]

“Wipe your mouth and wait for me.”

Well, a promise is a promise, isn't it?

I had a mountain of things to talk about with this guy.