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Chapter 275
Chapter 275
Chapter 275
As Seol looked at Mi Ah while trying to come up with a solution, the surroundings began to change as if to show that there wasn't any time to stay idle.
WHOOM…
"What's that sound?"
Swoosh…
It sounded as if the ruins were flooding.
"Water?"
"Don't tell me…"
Creak…
Crack!
BOOM!The ruins started to collapse.
"It's collapsing! We need to get out!"
At that moment, the Golden Divine Statue opened its mouth.
- Leave.
WHOOM…
As soon as the Golden Divine Statue spoke, a passageway created by the ruins appeared before them.
Swoosh!
"It's water! Water is rushing in! The collapse will get worse. We must hurry!"
"I-it seems like we should escape through this path…"
At that moment, a choice appeared before Seol.
[[As if everything was already handed over, the Ruins of Watala are collapsing. How will you escape?]
1. Stay still and wait for the collapse to stop.
2. Retrace the path you took to get here.
3. Follow the artificially created path before you.
4. Move deeper into the ruins.
…]
Without much thought, they decided to follow the words of the Golden Divine Statue.
"Let's go."
As Seol said that, everyone nodded. It seemed that everyone thought following Seol’s words was the best they could do.
"Hurry!"
Swoosh!
Seol's group slid down the path.
Seol and Hye Myeong protected Mi Ah and Seol Hong, so they weren't injured.
"Huh…?"
"It's turning! Brace yourselves!"
Screech…
The path suddenly veered to one side.
BOOM!
BOOOM!
The sound of the collapsing ruins gradually grew distant.
Screech…
At some point, they were swept away by some unknown liquid, possibly groundwater, and ahead of them, they saw a hole with a faint light. That was the direction they were heading to.
"An exit!"
"Prepare for the fall!"
BOOM—!
With the ruins collapsing, Seol's group escaped through the long passageway.
They were worried about falling far from the ground, but thankfully, they weren't that high up.
"It's them!"
"Get them!"
The ghosts that were stationed at the entrance of the ruins under Shade's orders spotted Seol's group as they escaped.
They tried to approach the group, but falling debris blocked their path.
"I-it's collapsing…"
"The ruins!"
BOOM!
The Ruins of Watala had completely collapsed. There weren't many ghosts to begin with, and with some being caught in the collapse, their numbers dwindled even further.
The ghosts who managed to survive and had some common sense realized that the situation was turning against them and tried to escape, but their efforts were in vain.
WHOOM!
[Hye Myeong uses Sermon: Great Spin.]
[Your weapon spins multiple times, dealing 10% less damage with each successive hit on the enemy.]
Whir!
Paf!
The ghosts' heads shattered like watermelons being smashed.
Unless they were as strong as Shade, none could stand against Seol and Hye Myeong.
Crack!
With the last ghost's neck being snapped, the trivial fight came to an end.
Water trickled out of the collapsed ruin.
"My drawing…"
Mi Ah regretted, thinking that the drawing she had left behind was most likely buried under the ruins, although in reality, Shade's subordinates had burned it.
Seol looked at the collapsed Ruins of Watala and muttered.
"So, it's over…"
"Yes, it's all over…"
Hye Myeong replied to him.
Swoosh…
The two turned around.
Now, there wasn't much time left.
This applied to both Seol and Hye Myeong.
* * *
That night, Seol made a request to Mi Ah and received the Luminous Bell from Hye Myeong.
For some reason, a seemingly displeased Hye Myeong was gazing at the moon, drowning in alcohol.
Late at night, while everyone else was asleep, Seol approached Hye Myeong.
"Since you've received the bell, I guess your business here is done."
"Well, yes. We've completed everything we needed to do here."
Hye Myeong gulped down his drink and then said.
"Seol, I have something to say to you."
"What is it?"
"Don't you want to come with us?"
"…"
Although it was unexpected, Seol responded with a smile.
"Hye Myeong, I have somewhere I belong to."
"Yes… Was it called the Artifact Association?"
"Yes. But why did you bring this up?"
"That's because… I feel like you're going to leave."
"What are you talking about? Of course, I have to leave."
Hye Myeong grinned.
"If you leave, it feels like we won't see each other again."
If the future followed its predetermined course, Seol would never meet Hye Myeong again. After all, he would leave to a distant place to ascend.
"Well, I guess everyone has their circumstances. So, can you grant us one last favor?"
"A favor…?"
"Yes."
The next day, Seol discovered the favor Hye Myeong had mentioned.
"Is this really all you want?"
Scratch…
An artist was sketching on paper.
"Mi Ah said she wanted to capture you guys in a drawing."
"Wh-when did I say that…? Hye Myeong, you're the one who suggested it…"
"Hahaha! Mi Ah, it's better to say it was your idea at times like this. It makes the drawing more meaningful."
Mi Ah and Hye Myeong laughed.
Hye Myeong's group sat on a rock while Seol's group surrounded them. Everyone was facing forward.
The conversation was being held without moving their heads or eyes. They slightly moved only their lips.
Seol asked Hye Myeong.
"Hye Myeong, don't you dislike things like this?"
"Everything changes… Seol, there's nothing in this universe that doesn't change. Even human hearts are bound to change over time."
Chi Woo interjected in a teasing tone.
"Now that it's time to leave, Hye Myeong's finally starting to say profound things. I used to think that he was just a weird guy."
"Hahaha! Is that so…"
Hye Myeong said while smiling.
"Seol."
"Yes?"
"I'm glad we met you."
"What?"
"Meeting you changed us."
He made an earnest expression.
"What about you, Seol? Did meeting us bring any change to you?"
Seol chuckled and said.
"What do you think…?"
Chi Woo chimed in.
"Hye Myeong, it was fun."
Seol Hong bid farewell to Mi Ah.
"Mi Ah, take care."
"Seol Hong unni?"
An uncertain atmosphere filled the air.
"That…"
Hye Myeong hesitated before saying what he had been holding back.
"Seol! We…"
"No!"
Mi Ah burst into tears.
"…"
"Everyone… Left…"
Seol, Seol Hong, and Chi Woo had disappeared without a trace.
Hye Myeong stood there frozen. Unable to react.
"Hye Myeong… They left."
"Yes, they left."
Hye Myeong gently stroked Mi Ah's head as she sobbed.
"Mi Ah, don't cry. Guests have to return eventually."
"Did you know…?
"Yes… Weren't they guests the you from the future invited?"
"…"
The idea that a single member of the Artifact Association could take down Shade was unthinkable. And the strange energy that Seol's group carried made Hye Myeong aware that they weren't originally from this place.
"Everything flows as it should…"
Mi Ah brought over the completed drawing.
"Hye Myeong… But you know…"
"Yes?"
"This drawing…"
Hye Myeong's eyes widened in surprise.
* * *
BZZT!
BZZT!
Unlike when they entered the drawing, returning to reality required them to endure a much greater shock.
"Ugh…"
It felt as if the sky was getting crushed and the ground was turning upside-down repeatedly.
"Oof… Oof…"
Soon enough, they realized they had returned to the very spot where they had first been sucked into the drawing.
"Is everyone…?"
Seol couldn't finish his sentence.
"AAAHHH!"
"Agh!"
Because before him were Seol Hong and Chi Woo, writhing in pain as they lay on the ground.
"Ah…"
While Seol Hong's eyes were rolled back, her mind became filled with suspicious thoughts.
A man wearing Buddhist robes, who had somehow crossed the Dragon Palace's walls, was before a young Seol Hong.
- Found you! Seol Hong, do you know a man called Kang Seol?
- Who are you? Kang Seol…? Who…
- So you don't know yet. Then you probably don't know who I am.
- I don't know! What's your purpose in approaching me? Guards!
- Hmm… I expected this kind of reaction, but it's still disappointing… Hey, Seol Hong.
- Guards!
The man brought his index finger to the young Seol Hong's forehead.
Whoosh…
His index finger radiated a golden energy.
- The time I've spent with you was enjoyable. This is my gift in return.
Thud!
The man's index finger touched the young Seol Hong's forehead.
"Ugh…"
Seol Hong clutched her throat and rolled on the ground.
Swoosh…
The tip of Seol Hong's hair gradually turned golden.
"Her hair…"
What had happened?
What part of the past had changed?
Chi Woo's situation was even more severe than Seol Hong's.
"Ugh…"
The man had also approached Chi Woo.
- Who are you?
- Ah, Chi Woo. Haha, you were quite adorable when you were young. Do you know how shocked I was when I heard you guys were the descendants of Hong Cheon?
- How do you know my name? Who are you?
- Do you remember Kang Seol…?
- Kang Seol? I don't know such a name. Why should I remember a name I've never heard?
- Hmm… There truly isn’t a trace left. Seol… Where did you come from? Where must I go to find you?
The man's displeasure created an unsettling energy, causing the air to tremble due to his emotions.
- Ugh… B-bring it on! Chi Woo is invincible!
- Haha! So your spirit was innate, I see. This is quite delightful… Chi Woo, I'm also going to give you a gift. Remember this movement.
- Movement…?
- Watch closely. I'll only show it to you once.
In an instant, Chi Woo felt as if the world was turning pitch-black.
Whoosh—!
It was a seemingly light yet heavy move.
The man swung his hand downward and stopped near the crown of Chi Woo's head.
- What… Was that?
- Haha! You'll find out later.
- Later?
- Yes. Once your journey to a distant place is over.
- What's that supposed to mean? Tell me more.
Intrigued, Chi Woo pestered the man for answers.
The man shot a cool smile and left the scene.
- When you remember who I am.
Whoosh—!
He remembered who he was.
Seol Hong and Chi Woo recalled that the man who had visited them in their childhood was none other than Hye Myeong.
"Aaah!"
"Agh!"
While Seol Hong's memories resurfaced painfully, Chi Woo, who had experienced a part of Hye Myeong's evolved martial arts, was in an even worse state. He was crawling on the ground with his tongue hanging out.
Tsss…
His hair had turned golden as if it were a lion’s mane.