Episode 179
“Because it is not free. The ‘Jin Shi-hou’ who was with you would have answered exactly what I just said in one word. It would have been ‘So?’ or ‘What does that have to do with me?’ He would have definitely said something like this. This is freedom. Not even the ascended ones can answer like Jin Shi-hou. As I said before.”
“… …Because it has a relationship with the editor?”
“Yes. That’s why I’m proposing. I do it for my own benefit, and you do it for yours.”
“… … How does it benefit me to become a qualified candidate?”
“It’s simple. You have to be the right person to get me out of here.”
“… … So, I have to become the right person and get you out of here?”
“Yes. As you can see, I can’t move, so I have no choice but to borrow the power of the incarnation.”
“… … .”
“I will actively help you in the process. I will also cooperate with you so that you can become a free being. Is it a little difficult? Let me put it simply. Let’s join hands. For the benefit of both of us.”
“… … If you are the one behind it, you can ‘force’ me. Why don’t you force me and come out like this?”
It can definitely be enforced.
It has nothing to do with contractual issues.
Even if the contract was made in a simple manner, it is not without reason that there is a backstory. In particular, [Crystal of Grudge] has such power that even the higher-level constellation [General Who Burned to Death] cannot say anything.
This means that they are not something that can be ignored simply because they are tied together.
He, who was like that, was treating Han Jeong-ah, the incarnation, as an equal.
Compared to those who usually look down on the incarnation, this is a nobleman.
[Crystal of Grudge] continues speaking.
“For the sake of trust. The path you have to walk from now on is not an easy one, so I am forcing you to walk that path. It is meaningless. You must be able to walk that path voluntarily, and you must do so. I will not force you.”
The man’s words were firm.
“If you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to. Just sprinkle the contents of the box on the agar. When I return to Star #12, I will freeze the abyss as soon as I am ready. It will depend on how you do it, but in the end, you will become a Transcendent, and the deal will end with you getting what you wanted.”
“… … Then will you step down from my position as your supporter?”
“If you want, I’ll do it. But if you don’t want, I’ll keep my position as the backbone. After all, you have a choice, don’t you?”
In this situation, there was only one answer Han Jeong-ah could give.
“Can I think about it and then tell you?”
“Do so. As you can see, I have a lot of time.”
“… …Before that, there’s something I’d like to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“… … You said you would be the first, right?”
“That’s right.”
“I saw another star version of myself in the Abyss earlier.”
“Yeah, I saw it too.”
“… … .”
“I think I know exactly what you’re asking. You’re right. If you want to be the first, you have to do it.”
I closed my eyes.
This is quite complicated.
“… … I’ll give you a definitive answer soon.”
[Crystal of Resentment] nods.
“I think there’s about a minute left. Now go back.”
So I came back like that.
It was inevitable that his expression would remain stiff.
Even after moving to Star #12 with Jin Shi-hoo, his hardened expression remained the same.
“Why did you have such a shit-eating expression on your face earlier? Did you go and get hit?”
“That’s not it.”
In the Salvation Guild office, Han Jeong-ah thought for a moment.
Should I tell Jin Shihou?
I thought about it for exactly 2 seconds.
There was no reason to think long.
You can tell Jin Shihou.
Jin Shi-hoo still doesn’t know what a suitable person means. He found out something he didn’t know, so if he takes everything he gets and keeps his mouth shut, he’ll be called a punk.
I didn’t want to do that.
“Your Majesty Jin Shihou.”
“why?”
“I went in and heard a few stories.”
“Did you hear?”
“I think there is a story that you, Lord Jin Shihou, must know.”
But the answer I heard from Jin Shi-hoo was quite unexpected.
“Is it okay for you to tell me that story?”
“……yes?”
“If telling me that story will be detrimental to you, then you don’t have to do it. I’ll find out anyway even if you don’t tell me.”
I feel strangely reassured.
Jin Shi-hoo.
What should I say about this guy?
I should say he’s a very trustworthy man.
I wasn’t saying this just because we spent one night together.
Beyond being sturdy, the composure and confidence that radiated from the person himself was extremely impressive.
“Listen. It’s a bit long.”
“You don’t have to do it.”
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
“I’ll just do it.”
“Okay. Tell me.”
Han Jeong-ah told Jin Shi-hoo everything she had heard from [Crystal of Grudge].
Those stories made Jin Shihou realize many things.
Suitable person.
“Who will be the first?”
“yes.”
“So those who are not suitable exist among these many stars? Like stars that have been reset, or just Earth-like stars that are flowing naturally.”
“Yes.”
“That’s unexpected.”
“What is it?”
“If our older sister is the right one, then among all these stars, Jinsong is already dead.”
“… … I guess so?”
“It won’t be the only one left, oh… … that’s it.”
Han Jeong-ah tilted her head.
It seems like Jin Shi-hoo realized something, but Han Jeong-ah didn’t realize anything.
“They say that there are certain beings that appear regularly throughout the history of the Earth.”
“Is it a being that appears regularly?”
“Historical figures like Buddha, Jesus, Abraham Lincoln, King Sejong, Napoleon, Genghis Khan, etc.”
“… … .”
“My older sister is like that too.”
“… … Are you Jinsongi?”
“A hero who always appears in human history and always leaves behind achievements. In addition, he is a being who is not greatly influenced by his surroundings, has a steady and upright personality, and is always the center of attention for most people in that era.”
Han Jeong-ah just watched Jin Shi-hoo sit on the office chair and take out a cigarette and light it.
This was clearly the Salvation Guild office, but it felt strange, like I had gone back to the time when I used to serve Jin Song-i.
That doesn’t mean Jin Song-i smoked cigarettes like that.
“It’s like, I don’t realize it, but I keep solving mysteries.”
Han Jeong-ah didn’t understand what he was saying.
“Only Hanjeong.”
“yes.”
“It seems that the story of this star was also looking for a suitable person.”
“……yes?”
“Did you see me earlier? My older sister.”
“I saw it.”
“How did it look?”
“… …It looked weak.”
“That’s right. I’m weak. It’s only been ten years. The period of time I’ve been awakening to mana and training.”
“Ten years? Why only that… … .”
“I told you. The story of the stars is also an experiment.”
He smoked his cigarette silently, really silently.
“Are you okay?”
Jin Shi-hoo slightly shrugged his shoulders at Han Jeong-ah who asked him that.
“I thought it would be okay, but I guess not.”
“yes?”
“I thought I only had to kill about eight people, but I have a feeling I’ll have to kill more.”
It’s creepy.
Those eight people, maybe.
“Are you ascendants?”
“Oh. I thought it would be easy if I just killed them, but the situation is really strange.”
“How strange?”
He put a new cigarette in his mouth.
“What do you think about doppelgangers?”
“Are you a doppelganger?”
“Is that a bit much? If a doppelganger is a bit like that, what if it’s another Han-Jeong-A from another star that you met in the Abyss?”
“To be honest, I don’t really think much about it. After all, we’re people living on different planets. Even if we have the same name, the same appearance, and the same personality… … it doesn’t have anything to do with me. I don’t think about it at all.”
“Right? Me too.”
“… … .”
“I thought it had nothing to do with each other, but looking at this, I think it doesn’t.”
“You don’t think so?”
“Yeah. I feel like I’ve become a lab rat.”
Jin Shi-hoo turned his head and met her eyes. In that moment, Han Jeong-ah felt goosebumps all over her body.
Because Jin Shihou’s eyes were too cold.
“There are truths in this world that you don’t need to know. Things that you’ll only feel bad about knowing and won’t be of much benefit to you.”
“… … .”
“I feel like I’m starting to face the truth now. Han Jeong-ah.”
“yes.”
“I think being a suitable candidate is something that is very important to me.”
“But?”
“What on earth has happened so far to gain the ‘conviction’ that she is our older sister?”
“… … .”
“Countless ‘artificial incidents’ would have happened, and there would have been another you, another me, and another someone else. What would Jin Song-i be like after another me died? What would Jin Song-i be like after another you died? What would Jin Song-i be like rolling around in a place as dirty as mud? Would Jin Song-i have become a hero then? Or would she have collapsed somewhere along the way?”
It was a difficult question to answer easily. At least for someone of Han Jeong-ah’s level, it was definitely difficult.
But that wasn’t the case for Jin Shihou.
The higher your level, the more different you become from others.
One of the differences is the process by which we gain ‘confidence’.
Variables? There shouldn’t be any.
Before any result can be achieved, countless trials and errors must be made to eliminate as many variables as possible.
That’s how confidence is created.
It’s similar to ordinary scientists doing various experiments with flasks and going through all kinds of processes such as mixing lead and copper and baking them in an oven to develop superconductors.
The difference is that it uses people.
Is Jin Song-i the most likely candidate? If so, how did you come to think that she is the most likely candidate?
Because I have already seen the process of steadily becoming a hero, even though I rolled around in the mud and got my body and mind dirty.
Jin Song-i is the most likely candidate. This alone must have gone through all sorts of processes, and Jin Song-i is definitely the right candidate. In order to gain this certainty, many other processes are needed.
Jin Shihou was convinced.
Already, countless ‘Jin Shi-hoos’ and ‘Jin Song-yis’ have rolled around and rolled again in the giant experimental field called the star.
Han Jeong-ah said something to Jin Shi-hoo, who looked very serious at first glance.
“I guess I said something wrong.”
“no.”
“No, that’s not true. I’m sorry. I should have just kept quiet.”
Jin Shi-hoo smiled and held out his hand.
“Give me that box.”
