◈ Episode 152

A day ago, November 10th.

"You said you'd let me go if I did as you said! But what is this?"

"Don't speak informally to me in a sneaky way."

"Does informality matter right now?"

"Don't swear. You might just end up leaving me alone."

It was a calm tone that didn't sound like a joke. Noctane, who had been venting his anger, took a half step back without realizing it. From the first time they met, he had been strangely afraid of Kim Ihyeon.

But perhaps it was because I met him several times while going through the parole process, but now I was used to it. More than anything, my resentment was overcoming my fear.

"No, honestly, isn't it all thanks to me? Of course, that Pecatum guy too..."

"Asterikeya. Not Mr. Pecatum."

"...Asterike-sama was great too! But I also contributed."

The more he talks, the more desperate his expression becomes.

"So, yes? Please just let me go of this."

Noctane carefully grabbed the restraint around his neck. Thanks to Kim Yi-hyun telling him the password, he was able to release it for a moment. But the freedom he had finally gained was taken away again.

Of course, the existing password didn't work. It was also questionable how Kim Yi-Hyeon knew the password in the first place. Did he hear it separately from the guard?

In any case, the person who currently holds Noctane's lifeline is Kim Lee-Hyeon.

"Do you know how uncomfortable it is to live with this? It gets stuck in my throat no matter what I do, and it's so heavy. It lowers my quality of life."

Please, I won't run away!

I changed my strategy and appealed to emotions. I rubbed my hands together and even shed tears. It was a performance that I gave my all to, to the point where I unconsciously felt ashamed of myself for my mean appearance.

At this point, you might feel sympathy.

"no."

"You devilish bastard! This is it, a scam!"

"Fuck, you piece of shit. Did you forget what I told you?"

"He said he'd let me go if I helped him with the work… yeah."

"I told you I'd get you out of prison."

Kim Yi-hyeon pointed to his feet with his finger. The asphalt road. It had been a long time since he had stepped foot on the ground of the outside world. Although he didn't show it, Noctane was moved.

"That's why I took it out. From then on, it's my freedom."

"Why are you so jealous? It's my life."

"Because we have officially received your new recruits."

With no words to say in rebuttal, he just twisted his mouth.

"If you understand, then do better in the future. Whether it's your meals or your sleep, the quality of your life will be determined entirely by your performance. It'll be a much easier place to work than you think, so stop whining."

"Oh, you're whining…."

"I think I'm being kind enough. Or not?"

In the end, Noctane remained silent.

Did he agree with Kim Yi-hyun's words? Not at all. It was just that his cold tone conveyed the meaning that it was his last chance.

"If you're curious, look back at your past. How did you end up not being able to make decisions about your own life?"

It was a simple hierarchy.

It was a necessary procedure. Dustborn was second to none, and the professor and his party did not like Noctane. There was no way Leila would like it if they brought in criminals to use him.

Kim Yi-hyeon exchanged glances with Leila, who was looking at him with an ambiguous look. A bitter smile appeared on her lips. It was interpreted as meaning that she would trust and leave it to him, even though she did not feel like it.

'This is enough.'

After completing all preparations, we left Ishrad.

The number of vehicles that had been reduced to one has increased again to two. Thankfully, the Ivory Tower side provided a car that had just been released. It was like discarding a used car and receiving a new car.

It was quite a distance to the old Shalem territory where the lab was located. I would definitely be stuck in the car for a few days. I looked out the car window and drew a map of the surrounding area in my head.

A piece of knowledge suddenly came to mind.

'Come to think of it, Shamalshina was nearby.'

Kingdom of Shamalshina.

It can't be said to be a poor country, but it's not a developed country with a high international status either. It's a country that wasn't invited to the summit in Episode 13, either in the game or in reality.

However, even if it was on the list of invited countries, it would not have attended. In the past, it was a fairly famous tourist country, but things are different these days. The government is run in a very closed manner.

'I wonder if I can make a connection with the current rap phase.'

While I was at it, I asked the professors and their group for their opinions.

"Shamalshina? Why there? Isn't there nothing there?"

"Mr. Pablo. I find that kind of condescending tone a bit…."

"Please forgive me. This is just between us."

A time to stop moving and rest for a while.

We discussed our schedule while filling our bellies with dried food.

"We may not be able to say that our national power is strong, but we are not without anything."

Westcreek added an explanation.

"The shrine of Shamalshina has been famous since ancient times. I heard that an elder I knew once went there as a tourist. To see the saint worshipped by the shamans."

"A saint?"

The professor seemed to be hearing it for the first time. It was probably because it was an old story. Having lost her memory, she had to put in a lot of effort to understand the modern international situation.

"You can think of her as a symbolic figure of the Shinto shrine. It is said that saints are only produced from certain shaman families. They are said to be born with special powers from generation to generation."

"If it's a special power…."

"Of course it's a spell."

"Are you saying that the spell is passed on to the child as well?"

Leila shook her head at the professor's question.

"I know that spells do occasionally pass on their power, but the odds are slim. It's unlikely that they'll last for hundreds of years. I think there must be some secret."

Of course, there is a very high probability that the succession may not have been interrupted.

But Leila was convinced that what she saw wasn't everything.

"They say the saint can read the future."

"Is that possible?"

"Well, I'm not sure, but I think it's possible. The reason Shamalshina was in the spotlight as a tourist destination was because of the 'spots' hosted by the Shindan."

Clear brown eyes stared at Kim Yi-Hyeon.

"Let's go and see. They say outsiders aren't welcome right now, but who knows? If we can contact the saint, and if she can truly foresee the future... it would be a great help."

Her attitude was more serious than usual. If she met a being with supernatural powers that could see into other time periods than the present, Leila had so many questions to ask.

The destination has been decided.

We took a detour from the plains that were still in the aftermath of the disaster and took the mountain path. Unlike Earth, there were many uninhabited lands on Polaris. They were the territories of abandoned or ruined nations.

The human sphere has become so narrow in just 40 years. There are still countries that are still alive, but their future is uncertain. It is a fate like a lighthouse in the wind that could collapse overnight.

I felt it deeply.

Around noon on November 11th.

The operation team arrived at the border of Shamalshina after a day's drive.

"Tongue, Mr. Hyun. This is...."

It was a field of corpses.

Even that wasn't perfect. Traces of human life were scattered around like leftover food. Flies were buzzing around the stinking pieces of meat.

Synapse and Ghost quickly checked the body.

"It's been quite some time since it entered the active decay phase."

"I see. The muscles appear to have decomposed, and it appears that 30 days have passed since death."

"30일?"

Kim Yi-hyeon frowned. The severity of the situation was explained by the tragedy before his eyes alone. However, Ghost's opinion hinted at an even greater possibility.

"He died less than a month ago and has been neglected until now?"

"That would be the case if we did not deliberately promote corruption."

"What the fuck…."

I couldn't help but swear. Kim Yi-hyun looked up and around the checkpoint. The roads and buildings were intact. It was hard to believe that there had been a battle.

"Edwin. What do you think?"

"Does this appear to be the work of the Legion?"

After a brief silence, Edwin answered.

"I can't guarantee that. I've never heard of the Legion being interested in Shamalshina. A month ago, it overlapped with the time of Ishrad."

"The Legion likes to use diversionary tactics."

"It doesn't seem like the current legion has the luxury of doing that."

"So you're saying there's no relationship?"

He shook his head.

"...I decided to talk to Kamael Losfer. It seems like the organization is not under proper control right now. There may be a leader who is leading his subordinates and acting unilaterally."

And then, he observed the shape of the corpse being eaten.

"It's a familiar way."

Kim Ihyeon also knew what Edwin had guessed. No, he had already imagined the identity of the villain in his head before hearing his opinion.

Now the prediction has become almost certain.

"Professor. What should we do?"

The professor swallowed dryly at the soft call. He had borrowed the form of a question to respect the professor's position, but his tone was almost forceful.

She could only nod her head.

"…Let's go in. Everyone, get back in the car."

In an emergency, the agents moved in unison. Everyone except Noctane, who was trembling with fear, not knowing what was going on, was on alert.

The two vehicles drove along the road with their engines roaring. Shamalshina is a small country, like Atlanta. It didn't take long to reach the center.

During this time, no passersby witnessed it.

The reason for the disappearance of the citizen was quickly revealed.

"This crazy kid…."

The capital was a wasteland. The shrine where the saint and 36 shamans resided. The royal palace, a symbol of the monarchy. The bustling city, the center of civilization, had all disappeared, leaving only the site.

Traces of having been swallowed by something absurdly large.

The agents inevitably recalled a scene from the past.

"I'm sure. It's my godmother's doing."

Kim Yi-hyeon clenched his teeth. He should have killed the godmother back then. At this point, when the second half had not yet begun, the godmother was the biggest and most fatal variable.

"Birds, we need to find survivors. Let's spread out and search!"

"Yes. There might be survivors. Ghost, you stick with Leila."

"Okay."

The agents of the lab began to look around like they were catching mice. Leila's face was particularly pale. She seemed to be in a state of great psychological shock.

"Sir, what about us?"

"Chelsea and Edwin. Asterike takes Echidna."

I gave Asterike a [vibranium composite sword] while giving instructions. Considering the situation, I don't think the Matriarch will still be there. But I needed at least a safety device.

"Okay. What about Hyun?"

"I need to think about it for a moment."

Chelsea, who would normally have grumbled about being the only one arguing, followed the instructions without a word.

After sending his colleagues away, Kim Ihyeon was left alone in the ruins.

Calculations were made rapidly within the brain.

'It's not as bad of a blow as I thought.'

The only main character in Shamalshina is the saintess. She is not a playable character. She appears during the story and gives advice to the professor and Leila.

To be blunt, it's not necessary.

The game's scenario has been seriously distorted, so I came here just to hear about even a corner of the future. If I had been friendly with the saint, it would have been helpful, but I didn't suffer any immediate harm.

'It's not like you can choose the future you want to see in the first place.'

I know it's very random. If you read anything, you've probably come here to try and rub it in the past. It doesn't help in battle either, so you can just pass over it with a little regret.

but.

'It's a different matter if the saint is passed on to the godmother.'

If the godmother carries the saint's foresight on her back.

The godmother's risk level increases absurdly.

There are two solutions.

'We must find him and kill him immediately.'

It would be best if I could subdue the godmother.

As a second option, we must eliminate the saint.

It was the moment of conclusion.

Slow down.

Suddenly, dark red mucus rose up from the ground.