episode_0140

“……”

I couldn’t say anything.

Was it because I couldn’t believe Haru’s words?

No, that wasn’t it. It was an undeniable fact that she, like me, was someone from ‘outside’ who had read the original story of this world.

If so, there would be no need for her to lie to me about this part.

The world would be destroyed. I rolled the words around on my tongue for a moment, thinking.

Not just humanity being wiped out, but the planet exploding?

It was an utterly preposterous story, but precisely because of that, it had credibility.

After all, it wasn’t as if I’d never seen novels with such crazy endings before.

It was incredibly unfortunate and unlucky that the original story of the world I was reincarnated into had such content.

‘Oh, my head.’

I pressed my temples, frowning. I’d heard something too sudden. A preposterous story, yet one I couldn’t help but believe.

So, to sum it up, it was that kind of story?

The world would soon be destroyed. I would only know the detailed process if I asked, but at least according to her, the planet would shatter.

But even if the world were to be destroyed like that, who would simply accept the end?

Haru was probably the same. That’s why she seemed to have formulated something akin to a migration plan to the moon…

‘Hmm.’

At this point, I couldn’t help but recall a certain entrepreneur from my previous life.

It was a ridiculous thought, but somehow, I felt like Haru would also know that person.

Still, I didn’t say it aloud. Haru’s expression was too serious at the moment to crack such a joke.

The leader of a villainous group with a significant threat level across the entire world having such a fragile expression.

It was quite absurd. It simply… allowed me to infer that this world would walk the path of destruction in such a devastating state.

I slowly pushed off the ground and stood up. A sigh escaped me naturally.

Haru, meanwhile, seemed to have forgotten she’d slammed me to the ground, and was looking down with an utterly solemn expression. What could she be thinking?

“Hey.”

I was suddenly curious about what was going on in her head, but instead, I spoke other words.

“It seems you’ve left out a few important things.”

“……”

“So, what’s the connection between that moon migration plan and kidnapping academy students?”

That was the part I was curious about. Kanzaki Rie and Jinyong from Cheongsong. Song Myungwon and a girl named Yoon Seoah from Jeokho.

What was the consistent intention of Haru and the Moonlight Church in targeting students?

“……That’s right.”

I looked at Haru, and she soon lifted her head, meeting my gaze as she replied.

“You probably guessed it, but Song Myungwon and Yoon Seoah are also students closely related to the ‘otherworld,’ just like the two students from Cheongsong Academy.”

“……”

So it was true? I folded my arms and stared at Haru with an even sharper gaze.

Of course, this time, unlike before, she continued speaking without caring.

“They achieved harmony between their bodies and the space of the otherworld beyond the gate… As a result, they became excellent Awakeners. Strictly speaking, they might seem unrelated to the moon.”

She paused, then looked up at me with eyes that flickered meaningfully.

“The problem lies in the ‘moon’s’ characteristics in this world.”

“……What?”

I flinched, raising one eyebrow.

The moon’s characteristics?

“Yes. Whether it was originally such a world, or if the author set it that way, I don’t know… But this world’s moon has an environment very similar to beyond the gate.”

“The world beyond the gate…? Wait, then that means.”

“Ordinary people, just by stepping on the moon’s surface, wouldn’t last even three days and would die.”

In response to my re-question, Haru didn’t hesitate for a moment, immediately confirming the worst thought I had hypothesized.

So, even if they abandon the exploding planet, only Awakeners can live on the moon, is that what she’s saying?

I narrowed my eyes and asked.

“And the subjects for human experiments to solve that are the academy students… Is that what I’m to understand?”

“……”

Haru remained silent, but sometimes, silence itself was an answer.

I let out a deep sigh.

“I can’t agree with that. No matter how grand the cause, what sin have those kids committed to be sacrificed for it?”

“……It won’t affect their lives. And I don’t need your agreement.”

“Then what?”

I shrugged at Haru’s cold reply.

A low hiss filled the air. Calmly, I gathered the cold energy diffused in the atmosphere. My fingertips began to freeze with a cracking sound, slowly aiming at Haru.

She frowned, and I let out a slight laugh.

“The conversation has broken down, then. From now on, what needs to be done is clear, isn’t it?”

“Are you going to fight me again…?”

“I understand that the plan itself has a deeper meaning, but that method simply doesn’t align with my nature. I have to stop you.”

“……”

“If you want my cooperation, you should adopt a more humanitarian approach, and then…”

Haru’s expression vanished, and it was the moment I was about to offer a compromise, including my final recommendation.

*Slice!*

In an instant, space was sliced open.

Before I even registered it.

“……”

I instinctively pressed my lips together and touched the tip of my ear. I could feel the burning sensation clearly. Blood was flowing.

…What kind of attack was that just now? A chill ran down my spine.

“You’re mistaken about something, Lee Hyunjin.”

At that moment, Haru spoke. I turned my head, and she continued, looking at me with incredibly cold eyes.

“I don’t want to cooperate with you. I merely wished to maintain a good relationship, if possible, simply because we’re from the same ‘origin’…”

“……”

“If you intend to obstruct my plans, there’s no need for me to bother with lukewarm ‘dialogue’ as a means to remove your obstruction.”

*Thump!*

I didn’t bother to reply. I simply pushed off the ground, using fluidification, and approached Haru at the maximum speed I could manage right now.

“……Useless endeavor…”

She tried to swing her hand at me again, but this time, I was just a little faster.

*Grab!* I roughly seized both of Haru’s wrists, pressing my body close to hers.

Haru’s expression visibly wavered.

“What…”

She seemed very flustered, but what did I care? It was none of my business.

I simply raised the corner of my mouth and asked.

“I have a question. Can you use your spatial ability even while in physical contact with another object?”

Haru sharply lifted her gaze, and I continued speaking, not losing my smile.

“In other words, can you still teleport while I’m holding you like this?”

“……Of course.”

“Oh really? Then try it.”

I had no intention of hearing her out. I simply slammed my foot onto the ground, and at that moment, the entire artificial island on the sea began to tremble.

*Rumble, rumble, rumble…!!*

Haru seemed to notice the source of the vibration, her pupils trembling as she turned her head.

I twisted my lips, gripping her tightly so she couldn’t escape my grasp.

“I’ve pulled all the seawater from the vicinity. I may not be as good at manipulating water as Yoo Seonghyeon, the Student Council President, but…”

“……T-This crazy man.”

“Still, ice-attribute magic is also a type of water-attribute magic. They’re very closely related, like relatives.”

*Crack, crack, crack!* With a harsh sound like something fracturing, the artificial island began to lift halfway up. About 5cm?

It was a small number, but it was enough. Enough to temporarily seize control of this entire campus as my space.

…Anyway, all the students inside had gone down to the underground facilities under Lee Cheonsang’s guidance.

In that case, there would be nothing to bother with. Everyone on the surface here was a Moonlight Church follower, in other words, enemies.

“Take your followers and get out of this country right now.”

I lowered my voice, speaking chillingly.

“Or at least disappear from Busan. Don’t even think about kidnapping innocent kids, and revise that damned migration plan.”

“……You don’t mean.”

Only then did Haru whip her head around, her expression one of horror.

It seemed she finally understood my intention.

“If you don’t.”

A cold smile appeared on my lips.

“Both you and I. And all your followers, including the bishops, will face an ice age right here. Let’s all become ice statues together.”

Such a noble spirit of self-sacrifice, offering my life grandly for others, was not something I possessed.

‘Still, if push comes to shove, I’ll trap everyone, including her, in a block of ice.’

Doing so would at least buy me time. Whether Lee Cheonsang woke up, or Myeongseon arrived.

Or if the Holy Sword support from the Hero in Daejeon, who noticed the anomaly, came down…

It meant I could have time to resolve the situation while I was frozen.

With that intent, I began to spread frost over Haru’s white arm, which I was holding, and she looked up at me with a hardened expression.