Today... one last time (2)

Kim Gongja thought the same as me.

He was standing in front of Sang-Ryun's residence.

It was a safe place.

If the masked man tried to break in there, at least Gongja would know in advance and have the advantage of rewinding time.

So, he wasn't afraid.

Our eyes met before I stepped through the door.

Neither of us said anything.

Not because we had nothing to say.

But because we didn't know where to start.

Now, ten minutes have passed.

The silence is almost unbearable.

I tap my fingers on the rim of the teacup, watching the steam rise from the hot liquid.

Gongja does the same.

He doesn't seem to know how to talk to someone who literally killed him.

And I don't know how to make small talk with someone I literally killed.

So, he's the one who makes the first move.

''How do you remember?''

My eyebrow arches.

''Huh?''

''How do you remember the world after the reset?''

I blink, raising the cup to my lips, using the moment to think.

''The Tower's rules don't necessarily apply fully to me.''

That's all I say.

Gongja narrows his eyes.

Clearly, he's not satisfied.

But, for now, he lets it go.

He brings the cup to his mouth.

I do the same.

And then—

''Argh, this guy is unbearable.''

Gongja mutters, visibly annoyed.

It wasn't directed at me.

He was talking to himself.

To that invisible spirit.

''What? Leave me alone, you damned gorilla!''

My gaze sharpens.

And as if the universe wanted to make things even more ridiculous—

[User should not have spilled tea on his shirt.]

I froze.

''Luxxion…''

[Yes?]

''Why the hell are you narrating my failures now?''

[To reinforce your limited perception of reality.]

''I'm going to shut you off.''

[You can't.]

''I can try.''

Gongja turned toward me, looking like he was about to say something, but hesitated.

His eyes scanned my face carefully.

And that's when we realized it.

The pain of dealing with insufferable voices in our heads 24/7.

A silent connection was made.

Gongja sighed.

''You have one too?''

''If by "one" you mean an annoying spirit that never shuts up, then yes.''

He nodded, suddenly looking more understanding.

''...I respect your pain.''

''The feeling is mutual.''

A pause.

Then, back to interrogation.

''You knew about my skill.''

Not a question.

''I did.''

He leans forward slightly.

''How?''

''Instinct.''

''You're a terrible liar.''

I correct him.

''I prefer "evasive."''

Gongja doesn't like it, but he doesn't press.

''So, that guy…''

''No idea.''

''Not even a theory?''

I shake my head, uncertain.

''Plenty. Nothing solid.''

Gongja blinks. He changes the subject for a moment.

''Anyway… you've got a ghost, right?''

''Something like that. His name is Luxxion.''

''Pretentious name.''

''Same to you, Kim Gongja.''

He didn't see to like the comment.

''My name is just my name.''

I shrug.

''But you say it like it's an important title.''

''Shut up.''

I smile and take another sip of tea.

Gongja then moves on to another important topic.

''Anyway, the masked man's strength.''

''High Rank D, nearly Rank C'' I concluded without wasting time.

Silence.

Then, we exchanged a look.

We're both Rank E.

''That explains a lot.''

''And complicates everything.''

He rubs his face.

''If that's true, I could just kill myself over and over until I find a way to beat him.''

''No.''

Gongja stops.

''You said that way too fast.''

''Because I know it won't work'' I elaborate.

''Why?''

''Because there's a high chance he remembers too. Otherwise, too many things wouldn't make sense.''

Gongja doesn't respond immediately.

He doesn't look surprised.

He looks… annoyed.

''That's going to be a problem.''

''Welcome to my hell'' I scoff slightly.

Silence.

Until Gongja frowns, like he just remembered something.

''Right. Before we start planning how to kill that bastard…''

He leans in again.

''What the hell were you two talking about before the fight started?''

My posture stiffens.

''Hm?''

I almost choke on the liquid in my mouth.

''At the start of the fight. He said something about you being "from the same place as him."

I swallow hard.

But before I can come up with an excuse—

The notifications go off.

[ALERT: USER'S ASCENDANCE AND NARRATIVE POWER IS TOO LOW TO TRANSMIT INFORMATION BEYOND THEIR AUTHORIZATION LEVEL.]

[BREACHING BALANCE WILL RESULT IN SEVERE PUNISHMENT.]

For a moment, my stomach turns.

Narrative Power—must be related to narrative points.

I'd only earn them based on my relevance to this world, only after completing the mission.

For now, I had nothing.

If I tried to speak the truth now…

I'd be punished.

And honestly?

I'd rather not find out what that means.

So, I pull back.

''It's complicated. It's like we're from the same hometown. But different.''

Gongja stares at me.

''You're dodging the question.''

''I am.''

''Are you going to tell me anything concrete?''

''No.''

''Son of a—''

I sip my tea again, ignoring him.

Gongja leans back, clearly frustrated.

But he realizes he's not getting anything else out of me.

Eventually, he lets out a long sigh.

''Fine. New topic.''

He crosses his arms.

''How the hell do we deal with this guy?''

I think for a moment.

And then an idea hits.

''The Alchemy Master's potions.''

He blinks.

He looks like he wants to ask how I know about them, but lets it go.

''The ones I used to awaken my aura?''

''They can help us track his movements better, even with the side effects.''

I paused. Then continued:

''Plus, she should be able to make other useful potions for us on short notice.''

Silence.

Then Gongja nods.

''Makes sense.''

I stand.

''Let's go.''

''Where?''

''Her shop. Where else?''

He hesitates.

''Doesn't that sound dangerous?''

I smile.

''Do you want to survive or not?''

Gongja grumbles.

But in the end, he stands.

And together, we leave the residence.

Heading toward the Alchemy Master.

________________

''Alchemy Master, this is a friend of mine.''

Kim Gongja introduced me with the same tone someone uses to order coffee.

The woman looked at me. Her gaze was cold, analytical.

For a moment, I thought she was going to dissect me with her eyes.

Then, as if someone flipped a switch, her expression changed completely.

''A friend of Gongja's is a friend of mine!''

The smile she gave me was wide enough to make me uncomfortable.

I blinked.

''Right… Liam.''

''Pleasure, Liam.''

She tilted her head, sizing me up for a second before snapping her fingers.

''You're here for more potions, right?''

''Exactly.''

Gongja and I exchanged a quick look.

Neither of us intended to explain the real reason behind the purchase.

The Alchemy Master had already given Gongja some potions to boost metabolism and perception. He still had some left.

Now, we needed something else.

''Something that temporarily boosts agility and strength.'' I said.

''And preferably without extreme side effects.'' Gongja added.

The Alchemy Master raised an eyebrow.

''Hm. That narrows your options quite a bit.''

She walked over to a shelf packed with vials and began scanning the labels.

''Let's see… The Wolf Blood Potion would boost strength by 40%, but could cause violent muscle spasms after it wears off.''

''Pass.'' I said immediately.

''There's the Agile Shadow Potion, which improves reaction speed but messes with balance afterward.''

Gongja shook his head.

''I'm already clumsy by nature. That would make it worse.''

The Alchemy Master laughed and continued.

''The Dragon's Roar Potion increases strength and speed, but there's a chance of internal bleeding.''

Gongja and I glanced at each other.

'' I like my organs functional.'' I muttered.

''Hm… In that case, this is your best bet.'' She held up a small silver vial. ''Ghost Gallop Potion. Boosts agility and strength by 15% for ten minutes. No side effects beyond moderate fatigue.''

It was the best option.

''Done.'' Gongja grabbed the vial without hesitation.

But I still had something else in mind.

''And something that causes damage?''

The Alchemy Master blinked.

''Damage?''

''Yeah. Something that hurts on contact.''

She crossed her arms.

''You want something poisonous?''

''Not exactly. More like…'' I clicked my tongue. ''An AoE damage potion. Like the ones in Minecraft.''

''What?''

I stared at her.

She stared back.

''Never mind.''

I sighed, massaging my temples.

''Can you create something that inflicts pain and direct injury?''

Her expression turned serious.

''What exactly do you need it for?''

Before I could make up a lie, Gongja cut in.

''Let's just say we have a problem and need some creative solutions.''

The Alchemy Master studied us for a moment.

Then shrugged.

''I can do it. But it takes time.''

''How long?''

She thought for a second.

''Three days for a decent amount.''

I nodded.

''Deal.''

The Alchemy Master smiled.

''Great. But a warning: be careful not to overuse these potions.''

She leaned on the counter, eyes sparkling with suspicious amusement.

''Alchemy is a precise science. Every body has its limit. If you flood your system with too many different potions at once, you'll overdose.''

Gongja and I went quiet.

''And what's a potion overdose like?'' Gongja asked.

''Well… depends on the combo. Could range from intense hallucinations, temporary paralysis, spontaneous combustion, or your organs melting from the inside out.''

I blinked.

Gongja cleared his throat.

''Right. So… moderation.''

''Exactly!'' She smiled brightly.

''That really should've been the first warning…'' I muttered.

Gongja scoffed.

The purchase was done. The plan was forming.

Now, we just had to wait.

The next encounter with that masked bastard…

Wouldn't end the same way.