Episode 173
Everyone blinked at Han Jeong-ah’s words.
I had a hunch, and it turned out that my hunch was right.
She was a very familiar face, standing squarely in the center of a crowd of people clearly walking through the smoke.
But I couldn’t help but be surprised when Han Jeong-ah ordered me to confirm the kill.
Han Jeong-ah, 12, who was walking from the other side, stood in front of Han Jeong-ah, 2403.
After looking at the two for a moment, he opened his mouth.
“This is Han Jeong-ah of Star #12, and this is Han Jeong-ah of Star #2403. They belong to the Salvation Guild, but one is the Master and the other is the Team Leader. Their powers are also different. One is a natural powerhouse, and the other is… well… just an Awakened one.”
It might sound vulgar to Han Jeong-ah of 2403, but she couldn’t help it.
Not only was Han Jeong-ah of 2403 not a strong enough person to warrant an adjective, but Awakeners with that level of power were widespread.
I think this will sum it up a bit.
Among the Awakened Salvation Guild members of Star #12 who have come here, there is not a single one who is weaker than Han Jeong-ah of Star #2403.
I stepped back for a moment.
It seemed like they had a lot to say to each other.
To be exact, the people of Star #2403 seemed to have a lot to say.
On the other hand, #12 was not.
“Your Majesty Jin Shihou.”
“Uh, why?”
“Are the people here from Star #2403, that is, from Jin Shihou’s hometown?”
“huh.”
“… … What do you want us to do?”
Han Jeong-ah, the star #12, knows that she has a choice.
It was simple.
The winner of this Abyss will be decided based on which side I take.
“Only Hanjeong.”
At my words, Han Jeong-ah of star #12 and Han Jeong-ah of star #2403 reacted at the same time.
“yes.”
The answer is limited to 12.
Han Jeong-ah of 2403 was frowning in displeasure.
Most people will react like this when they first see their doppelganger.
I was like that too.
anyway.
“What do you want to do?”
“I will follow your opinion, Mr. Jin Shihou.”
“entirely?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
I was really curious.
“why?”
“If I can owe something like this to someone like you, it would be a gain.”
“What if I just shut my mouth?”
“You’re not the one who would close it, are you?”
I ended up laughing.
Han Jeong-ah, the star #12, knows me better than I thought. Is it because I’m surprisingly easy to understand, or is it because Han Jeong-ah is sharp?
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“… … Perhaps you, Jin Shi-hoo, are not a ‘player’ so you may not know, but 100,000 achievement points are more valuable than you think. It is difficult to convert into cash.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes. Those people might not know since it’s the beginning, but the more achievement points you have, the better. You’ll understand what it means later on, Jin Shi-hoo.”
“Oh, I’m listening.”
“We will give up this competitive Abyss. Shall we step aside?”
“Is this really okay?”
“… … I have received a favor, and although my stomach hurts, I am not a shameless woman. As you can see by looking at Han Jeong-ah over there.”
I see.
He said, pointing to the limited number of 2403 with his finger.
“I’m not that close with this person.”
“… … It looks like that.”
“But what exactly does it mean to give up?”
“It means that you will not kill the ‘Chimeras’ that appear in the Abyss. It is possible to escape in the middle, but would you like to escape? However, if you escape, since you came with me using the companion ticket, you will return to Star #12.”
I kind of understand it.
“If I kill a chimera, where do the points count?”
“Usually, coming to the Abyss with a companion ticket means that a ‘normal person’ is coming with you. If such a companion catches a Chimera, the Awakened who used the companion ticket decides whether the points will go to the Red Camp or the Blue Camp.”
“Are you sure?”
“… … I was sure about it originally, but I’m not sure this time.”
Then just try it.
I flicked my fingers toward the ceiling.
Crunch-!
A small chimera hiding in the ceiling falls to the floor with a popping sound.
When I looked at Han Jeong-ah, she nodded and said.
“A message popped up asking whether I should add 100 points to the Blue or Red camp.”
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It’s complicated, but if you try it one by one, it’s simpler than you think.
“What are the clear conditions here?”
“You just need to retrieve the item located in the final room. It could be a boss monster or just an item.”
I looked at my older sister and Hong-Hyeon for a moment.
“But where did Secretary Yoon Young-soo go and are you two left alone?”
“The chief secretary went to a higher difficulty level.”
“Oh, really? Okay.”
I thought about it for a moment.
I briefly thought that I should release it after a long time, but honestly, it’s not like I went to Titan or anything and haven’t seen it in 10 years.
It’s only been a few days.
My older sister asked me that.
“Hey, Shifu.”
“why?”
“Have you eaten?”
I ended up making a weird face at the weird question.
“Do I look like someone who would go and starve to death to my older sister?”
“No, that’s not it. I just think you look a little thin.”
I burst out laughing.
“Don’t worry. I’ll go first. I’ll explain the current situation later, so don’t worry.”
My older sister didn’t bother to catch me.
He winked at Han Jeong-ah, who was 12 stars tall. Let’s go.
She nods.
Naturally, we ended up walking through a ruined room.
hmm.
“Only Hanjeong.”
“yes?”
“It’s a little disappointing.”
Han Jeong-ah asked back with a puzzled expression.
“What is it… … ?”
“If only I could put a debt on someone like me, then so be it.”
I’m talking about the small talk we had a little while ago.
Han Jeong-ah nodded. It was clear.
“Is that all I can do?”
“……yes?”
“Debt? What debt is there between us?”
“… … .”
“This is something I ‘asked’ of you. You did it. There is no debt between us. If you ask me for help, I will put aside everything and come to help you. I will not say or even think about leaving you in debt in the process. Han Jeong-ah.”
“……yes.”
“I don’t take things like fate lightly. Especially not with people I’m in a relationship with. So don’t say things like that again. You and I aren’t tied together by debt.”
At my words, Han Jeong-ah laughed.
When spring came, Han Jeong-ah said with a smile that came naturally.
“Yes, I will do that.”
* * *
Han Jeong-ah of Star #12 walked in silence.
I didn’t say anything to the Awakened Salvation Guild members who followed her, but I had to do it.
This is purely Han Jeong-ah’s opinion.
She turns around.
“everyone.”
“Yes, Master.”
“……sorry.”
Everyone tried to stop Han Jeong-ah from bowing her head. Cha Ju-yeon said.
“There is no need for that, Master.”
“No. This is the right thing to do. It’s no different than me stealing 100,000 of your achievement points.”
“… … .”
“I will take responsibility for this until the moment I die. I am sorry.”
No one could stop Han Jeong-ah from bowing her head firmly once more.
This was strange, since it was pushing away people around it while drawing out energy and hiding it.
There was someone who tapped her on the back.
She raised her head. It was Jin Shihou.
“Why are you doing this?”
“… … .”
“I didn’t say anything, but I feel a little sorry.”
“Is that so?”
“The normal game got distorted because of me.”
“… … .”
“So what I’m saying is, I’ll protect your star from the ascenders.”
“… … .”
“It’s only natural to destroy the Colosseum, and at least I’ll let you live a long life. All of you.”
“You’re not issuing empty promises, are you?”
“Have people been living like this? Let’s stop talking nonsense and go catch that boss or whatever. But.”
Jin Shihou’s expression was very strange.
“You look at our older sister and don’t know what to do. Are you okay?”
“… … To be honest, at first I was hesitant. But it’s true. It’s the Jin Song I served.”
Han Jeong-ah was genuinely puzzled.
“How is this possible?”
“I don’t know.”
“… … In the Abyss, from the Imjin War to the BC period, all sorts of events unfold continuously. How can the same beings exist in a world created by going through all those Abysses? No matter how many times you reset it… … .”
“That doesn’t make sense?”
“Yes. It’s as if there’s a creator who makes sure to appear the characters that need to appear while adjusting the established history… I don’t know. Should I say it’s as if there’s a creator?”
He looked at Han Jeong-ah with strange eyes.
“I don’t know if it’s because you’re sharp or because you have a rich imagination.”
“Me?”
“Oh, you.”
“… … .”
“It’ll come to light someday. So don’t worry about it now, Han Jeong-ah.”
“yes.”
“let’s go.”
Han Jeong-ah immediately tried to give orders to the Awakened Salvation Guild members around her.
But Jin Shihou stopped it.
“Tell the others to rest here. Let’s just go. Let’s make way.”
Jin Shihou hates crowded places.
Han Jeong-ah walked like that.
With Jin Shihou.
* * *
I walked silently.
First of all, this must be made clear.
I know almost nothing about the Abyss.
It might be natural since I almost never went in even when the gate was there.
But I know one thing.
No matter how far away, if you focus your senses, you can catch ‘all beings’ that enter that sense.
“You said that mana rifle? Just give me one of those.”
Han Jeong-ah silently took out the Mana Rifle and handed it to me.
The barrel was quite short.
Longer than a pistol, shorter than a typical rifle.
This kind of thing… … that… … what was it called?
“A machine gun? Something like that?”
“To be exact, it would be a machine gun. The Mana Rifle itself is a rifle, but its basic model is based on a machine gun. The reason is… … .”
Han Jeong-ah continued speaking, pointing her finger at the barrel of the mana rifle I was holding.
“This part is the barrel. Normal guns have rifling, but rifles like the Mana don’t need rifling.”
“okay?”
“Yes. Since it is a weapon that shoots natural energy as it is, it hits the target almost in a straight line. You don’t even need bullets. All you need is energy. Here… … and hold it on your shoulder… … .”
Han Jeong-ah trails off. It was to be expected. Our distance was quite close.
Our faces are almost touching each other’s noses.
No, our noses just touched.
“Isn’t it too close? Should we do it here?”
“… … Are you crazy? This is the Abyss.”
It’s cute.
I muttered softly and roughly assumed the poses I had seen in the movies.
“… … Your posture is fine. Have you been in the military?”
“I didn’t go, but my counterfeit went. Was it an air defense unit?”
“… … .”
“Anyway, I guess I can just put in some natural energy and shoot, right?”
“yes.”
I didn’t hesitate. I’m a practical person by nature.
He brought his eye to the scope and raised his natural energies.
The gun he was holding shook violently.
Then, Han Jeong-ah, who was next to him, became flustered.
“Okay… …Just a moment.”
He tilted his head. He took his eyes off the scope and asked.
“Is this how it was originally?”
