The Bet

Chapter Nineteen – The Bet

In Ibrahim's Room

After returning from Unknown's room, Ibrahim couldn't help but feel relieved to see him in good health.

But the moment he recalled what had happened… a shiver ran down his spine.

Let's go back two days earlier, specifically when Ibrahim was cleaning Unknown's room.

— Ibrahim's Perspective: —

"Finally… I've finished cleaning Unknown's room,"

Ibrahim muttered as he stepped out of the room.

As he walked toward Unknown, he found himself sinking deeper into the strangeness surrounding the boy.

From the very first day they met, Ibrahim thought Unknown might be the child of one of the Forgotten…

or perhaps a biological experiment created by one of those secret organizations.

But he quickly dismissed that thought.

He remembered trying to ask for Unknown's name—

and then that bizarre distortion in reality occurred.

After adopting him and spending so much time together,

Ibrahim buried what had happened that night deep in his mind…

and decided to tell him the truth only when he was grown up.

But…

what had happened over the last two days reignited the strange feeling that had always surrounded Unknown.

After much thought, one sentence echoed in his mind:

"There's a cosmic conspiracy… and Unknown is part of it.

Either he's a pawn… or something far greater."

And why did he think this way?

Simply put… there was no other explanation for what was happening around this child.

He was deep in thought as he made his way to Unknown's room—

but what he saw when he entered… shocked him.

Two people stood beside Unknown.

One of them, staring at Unknown, said:

– "So this is one of the new little brothers you've gotten to know, Sect Master?"

But the one called the Sect Master didn't reply…

His mind was elsewhere.

---

Somewhere else…

Two figures—one old, one young—sat playing what looked like chess… or something similar,

The details of which will be revealed later.

Suddenly…

Many eyes turned to look—specifically, all those at Level 1 and above—toward Ibrahim.

Some were filled with worry, like the two figures seated.

Others radiated joy, or a sense of freedom.

Some no longer cared about anything.

Two felt pure confidence.

But there was one emotion they all shared:

Anticipation.

The old man asked the young one anxiously:

– "Do you think he'll succeed?"

The young man replied with a calm smile:

– "Why the fear, old one? Don't you know who he is?"

The old man exploded in anger:

– "Old one?! You're a million times older than me! Yet you still appear young!

You should look like a skeleton, out of respect for the agreement we all made to appear as majestic as possible. But look at yourself!"

The tension that had filled the space eased a bit due to this ridiculous argument.

After a short while, the old man said more calmly:

– "But why did he take the risk, in your opinion?"

The young man smiled again and said:

– "That… is something we'll never understand.

Look how he allowed those children, from Level 0 in realm 4, to influence him.

That's something neither you nor I could ever do.

Don't worry about him. He's done harder things.

Remember?"

When they recalled that "ancient event," both of them felt a chill pass through their bodies—

something that shouldn't have been possible.

Then… silence.

Suddenly…

A voice echoed, heard only by those at Level 1 and above:

> "A bet.

An open bet for everyone.

Place your wager—will he succeed, or not?

Place your bet now!"

A multitude of beings, of countless forms, gathered and began placing their bets.

As for what the bet is about?… that will be left for the future.

---

Back to the Sect Master.

He knew nothing of the bet, nor the gazes of the others.

What he received… was something else entirely.

A message.

It came from one of the elders of the sect in realm 7 – Level 0.

The message contained:

Two books,

Instructions to give one to Unknown,

The other to another child,

And a letter addressed to "the guardian of the new disciple."

After reading the message, the Sect Master's eyebrows furrowed—

but he didn't care.

His task was only to deliver it.

He then looked up to find Ibrahim, who had just arrived—his face still frozen in shock.

The Sect Master looked at him and asked directly:

– "Are you the one responsible for Unknown?"