A familiar energy…?
At the moment I was questioning, a nearly screaming urgent shout emerged from the command center through my in-ear device.
– Hey! Who is that!!
– Counselor! Next to you is the foreigner Jahwayeon from the Cheonma Religion…!
“Ah, yes. It’s okay. We know each other personally.”
I calmly responded to the commotion I heard through the in-ear device.
I could hear the voice of the staff member, who sounded flustered by my brief statement.
– …Excuse me? You know each other? Please… wait just a moment…
However, Jahwayeon didn’t seem to be interested in waiting for that awkward response.
“Processing is indeed frustrating.”
Jahwayeon muttered softly as she turned around. Then she closed her eyes for a brief moment. A faint, dark red energy rose like a mirage around her before disappearing.
She opened her eyes again.
“Now, that should be enough.”
Enough of what?
While I was contemplating the meaning of her words, a different staff member’s voice came through my in-ear device.
– Ah… I understand, Counselor. As the station has been unfolded, outside visitors are, in principle, not permitted, but…
The voice of the staff was trembling.
– Just now, Jahwayeon conveyed to the entire command center the meaning of ‘to assist the direct counsel of the true master.’ Therefore… based on the on-site judgment, I will temporarily allow Jahwayeon’s companionship…
“Ah… I see.”
– Yes… Please take good care of her.
The staff must have been bewildered. I understood that feeling. I was quite bewildered myself.
I decided to empathize with their emotions.
Thus, the three of us proceeded towards the center without any further issues.
But then.
– Zzziiing… Jojek!
With a bizarre noise, the green light that had been shimmering over there began to violently twist.
From the center, a dark blue energy that seemed to devour space itself surged toward us like a wave.
– Crack!
Seeing this, Alice instinctively moved, wrapping my body tightly in her arms.
“Humph.”
Yet, Jahwayeon, who was standing next to me, scoffed and flicked her hand.
The black energy that blossomed from her fingertips effortlessly erased all the distorting space that was approaching us.
Then the scenery began to slowly change.
The green grass of Seoul Forest transformed into dry rocks, and the surrounding concrete jungle morphed into grotesque mountain ranges.
“Are you okay, Teacher?!”
“Ah… yes. But what is happening…?”
I managed to answer, barely, with my waist bent like a bow in Alice’s embrace. To be honest, it felt more like being subject to a powerful wrestling move than being protected.
Alice still held onto me, her expression stiff. Her perked-up ears had drooped.
“It seems that… it’s a phase erosion…”
Phase erosion. It refers to the phenomenon where, in regions where a phase shift occurs, not only foreigners but also the surrounding environment of that world gets temporarily transferred.
Although it’s an ephemeral occurrence and will disappear soon unlike foreigners…
I believe it only manifests when the foreigner’s strength is above a certain level.
In other words, this foreigner is likely closer to S rank than A rank.
At that moment, I heard Jahwayeon’s cold voice next to me.
“Tsk.”
She glanced at Alice, who was hugging me tightly, with a disapproving look, scanning her up and down.
“It’s a strange law for a man and a woman to be so close. Can’t you move a bit away?”
Upon hearing that, Alice quickly released her hold.
“Thank you…”
With my body feeling much freer, I expressed my gratitude to Jahwayeon. After all, it was her black energy that had kept us safe from that wave just moments earlier.
“It’s nothing.”
However, contrary to her words, the corners of Jahwayeon’s mouth twitched.
– Zzziiing…
A sharp noise erupted from my in-ear device. It seemed that since we had entered the phase erosion space, all communication with the command center had completely cut off.
I looked around.
All around me was filled with bizarre rocks and grass emitting a bitter scent, unlike anything I had ever seen before. The open landscape indicated we were at a very high mountain range.
What about Seoul?
It felt like we were somewhere in the land of Central Plains…
In this strange space where I couldn’t determine the direction, I found myself momentarily lost.
“Where to…?”
But I was not alone.
– Sniff sniff.
Alice closed her eyes. Her perky gray ears trembled, then she opened her eyes again.
Alice’s finger pointed in one direction, without any hesitation. At the same time, Jahwayeon slowly pointed in the same direction with her finger.
Both fingers were indicating the same way.
“Here.”
“This way.”
Jahwayeon glanced at Alice with a sidelong glance, then continued speaking.
“I know this place. It seems my lord’s predictions were correct.”
Her voice carried satisfaction that her prediction turned out to be accurate.
Then the story becomes fast. It was fortunate that Jahwayeon had come here.
“Oh really? Where is this place?”
Alice asked, filled with curiosity. I didn’t know what the empire was like, but this must not be a familiar landscape for her either.
Jahwayeon looked off towards the peak of the fog-covered mountain, responding in a cold voice.
“It is a part of Kunlun Mountain.”
She continued with a smirking expression.
“A disgusting place where hypocrites discuss the Dao and falsely claim heaven.”
And then, she no longer asked for our opinions.
“Follow me. I shall personally guide you.”
Honestly, this was a very gracious offer. I followed her without saying a word.
Our formation naturally unfolded, with Jahwayeon leading and me and Alice following behind.
As we walked, Alice quietly whispered in a very small voice in my ear.
‘But… who exactly is that person?’
I also replied to her in the same small voice.
‘She was one of my clients.’
‘I see… but… her character is a bit amusing.’
I almost agreed to those words without thinking.
I noticed Jahwayeon’s ears twitch slightly as if she caught the conversation.
This person is listening to everything.
I hurriedly signaled to Alice, then whispered again, slightly louder than before.
‘Still… she’s a very impressive person.’
Alice glanced ahead and seemed to understand everything. She chuckled, humorously playing along with me.
‘Indeed~ She’s amazing~’
At that, Jahwayeon’s shoulders slightly lifted.
Well, there was no need to tease someone who was acting as a guide. If everyone is happy, isn’t that what matters?
Thus, we walked for a few more tens of minutes.
“Hah…”
I desperately suppressed the rough breath trying to escape. The air was already thin at this high altitude, and with the incline getting steeper, I felt like I was gasping for air.
“Teacher, I can carry you if you want?”
Alice laughed, teasing me while playfully tapping my back and bottom. Her steps were light and brisk as if she were strolling on flat ground.
I realized why they called her a mountain rabbit.
“I’m fine…”
She looked very, very soft, but out of respect for my final dignity as a counselor, I couldn’t let her carry me.
Just as I was about to question how much longer it would take to arrive…
“This is it.”
Jahwayeon, who had been leading us, murmured.
However, in front of me was nothing but a gigantic cliff. Alice seemed to sense it too and squinted her eyes.
“There seems to be something.”
“It’s not just something, it’s a formation.”
Jahwayeon spoke to Alice.
And as she gestured towards the air…
– Woooooo….
The space before us began to warp like a mirage. The scenery of the rocky cliff gradually… softly faded away.
And beyond that, the entrance to a massive cave that had not existed before revealed itself.
“It really looks like a place one wouldn’t want to enter.”
The cave entrance was adorned with stalactites, making it look like a monster was opening its mouth.
The size was enormous, and it felt as if its end could not be seen.
Nonetheless, given the atmosphere, it seemed inevitable that we would enter here, so I prepared myself.
Sure enough.
Without hesitation, Jahwayeon stepped into that mouth.
Alright, we need to go. What else can we do?
I felt increasingly fatigued right from the first mission.
However, the inside of the cave was surprisingly pleasant. They say the size of the interior correlates with the entrance size, and it seemed that was indeed true.
Water dripped, but it wasn’t damp or anything. Instead, the pooling water on the ground Creating a mystical ambiance.
So, we walked into the darkness, deeper within.
How long had we been walking? At the end of the long, dark cave, blue light began to appear.
And at that end, a gigantic space emerged.
It was hard to call it just a cave.
Countless minerals embedded in the ceiling emitted a radiant light like stars in the night sky. The walls, covered in moss, reflected that light, illuminating this gigantic space.
And in the middle of the shallow lake, stood a woman.
Like a celestial being.
No, like a fairy.
A woman wearing pure white robes.
Standing in the center of the lake, she had her eyes closed.
Her hair was pitch black but faded to a pure white like snow, cascading down her back like a waterfall.
While I was momentarily mesmerized by that surreal sight, Jahwayeon, who was standing next to me, quietly murmured.
“… It appears you were right.”
At that moment, the fairy standing far away slowly opened her eyes. Her ice-cold, blue irises met mine with precision.
As I received her gaze, my instincts as a counselor compelled me, and I naturally activated my abilities at that very moment.
[???]
[Main Stance]
[The demons who intruded into your training space without permission appear before you.]
[Suitable Response] [Satisfaction Rate 100%]
[Avoid!!!!!!!!!!! Quickly!!!!!!!!!!!]
My system unleashed a warning that was close to a scream.
What to avoid…
– Clang!!!!!
Before my thoughts even finished.
When I briefly closed and then opened my eyes.
Before me were Alice’s sharp high heels and the dark red energy emanating from Jahwayeon’s hand, interlocked as they blocked the blades.
The important thing is that “the blades were blocked.”
Two hunters had moved simultaneously to protect me.
“The only thing that has changed is hair color. How has that malicious nature not changed at all?”
Jahwayeon scoffed and lightly deflected the fairy’s sword.
I stared blankly at the entire scene, then snapped to my senses and put my hand in my pocket.
My fingers headed for the emergency signal device provided by the association. I needed to press the button to at least signify ‘caution’…
I found it.
– Click, click, click.
But then…
I realized.
‘Ah.’
The communication was cut off.
In the end, I was just jamming what essentially turned out to be a useless piece of plastic.
