Chapter 25 : I Can’t Do It (Part-1)

“The price of a contract must be equal. Let me give you a gift.”

“A gift?”

Min-woo perked up his ears.

He already thought the price had been paid in full.

The most important part was the promise not to harm those around him.

He had grown accustomed to living with the weight of that promise, finding solace in knowing that his loved ones would remain safe from harm.

The assurance provided him with a sense of peace, allowing him to focus on what lay ahead.

And next, he had managed to sever part of the “Fragment” that tormented him.

This was a significant victory for him, a step towards reclaiming his life and sanity.

Every small victory felt monumental, as he gradually learned to cope with the burden he carried.

It was a long journey, but he could see glimmers of hope starting to emerge along the horizon.

That was enough for him.

But if the other party was voluntarily offering a gift, he had no reason to refuse.

Accepting this gesture could open new doors for him, possibly bringing further opportunities for healing or connection.

He had learned the value of accepting help when it was offered, and this moment felt like another chance to embrace the unknown and navigate his path forward.

“Then… I’ll accept it with gratitude.”

As Min-woo said that, the corner of the Strange Nation being’s lips lifted.

Seeing him happy made her feel good as well, despite herself.

There was something refreshing about his joy that resonated within her, stirring feelings she hadn’t fully understood before.

It was a curious thing—just watching a human made her emotions stir.

The way he expressed simple joys illuminated a part of her that had been dormant for ages.

It was as if she was discovering a new layer of existence, one that sparked wonder and curiosity in her heart.

The Strange Nation being’s thoughts grew deeper.

She realized how much she yearned to connect with him, to understand more about the world he came from.

Her desire to share in his experiences became stronger, wanting not only to witness his happiness but to dive into it fully.

She wanted to give this human the best she had.

The thought of sharing her world and her gifts with him filled her mind with excitement.

She envisioned ways to express her gratitude for the joy he brought into her life, and in doing so, she felt more like herself than she had in ages.

“The best gift. Yes, evolution.”

For a monster, evolution represented the ultimate form of survival—essentially, its very reason for existence.

Becoming stronger signified the key to sustaining life,

And she had persevered through her own experiences in that manner.

With unwavering conviction, she presented her offer.

“I’ll share my power. How about my ‘eye’?”

“…Your eye? You mean the one on your forehead?”

“That’s right. My eye is famous even among the Strange Nation for its beauty. If you accept, an eye will form on your forehead and you’ll be able to use my power.”

Her tone was confident.

The Strange Nation being was certain—

This was the greatest gift she could give.

However, Min-woo’s expression twisted slightly, revealing a mix of thoughts that danced behind his eyes.

“An extra eye on my forehead? …That’s a bit…”

She added that it typically remains closed, so it wouldn’t be noticeable at all.

However, Min-woo still wished to decline.

The reason he wanted to rid himself of the Fragment’s power from the very beginning wasn’t merely related to his lifespan—

It was also to eliminate the terrifying aura that his appearance seemed to project.

Just imagining it sent a shiver down his spine.

“Sorry, but I’ll have to decline. I don’t need such overwhelming power.”

“A rejection…?”

Though the Strange Nation being was taken aback, she soon burst into laughter.

“Heh. A human with no greed for power—you’re truly fascinating.”

Her eye, which could see through all falsehoods, conveyed to her that Min-woo was indeed telling the truth.

He genuinely lacked any desire for power.

Was it not humans who sought power who had been responsible for her awakening? Her offer had been made with confidence precisely because of that belief.

Yet, this individual displayed no such yearning or emptiness.

This only deepened her fondness for him.

With her arms crossed and her chin resting on them, she murmured,

“Then what should I give instead…”

At that moment, Min-woo cautiously spoke.

“I don’t need power. But… could you maybe introduce me to a monster that can absorb this Fragment? Preferably a docile one.”

The Strange Nation being narrowed her eyes.

“…To even perceive that Fragment, the creature would have to be at least A-class by your standards. Most monsters of that level are sealed.”

Min-woo fell silent.

‘I figured it wouldn’t be that easy.’

The Strange Nation fell into thought.

…Something a human would need…?

She looked down at the body she currently resided in—

A body that was cracking and deteriorating,

Barely holding on through the Fragment’s power.

And then she realized something significant.

“In that case, how about this?”

She spoke with a calm demeanor.

“To fully absorb the Fragment, I must return to my original body. This one will die in the process.”

Though the body appeared healthy now,

It was only temporary.

…

“But if I stay by your side, this body can continue to live by absorbing the power of the Fragment.”

The Strange Nation being pointed to the third eye on her forehead.

“This body has a portion of my power infused into it. It has become a part of me, a sort of avatar. It can use my power, and in return, I can draw power from the Fragment through her.”

Min-woo nodded.

Honestly, he had no choice but to accept the offer.

If he refused, it would mean choosing the girl’s death himself.

He felt a heavy weight on his conscience at the thought of making that decision.

The image of her frightened face played in his mind, and he knew he couldn’t let her down.

‘If I can even slightly rid myself of the cursed power of the Fragment…’

It wasn’t a bad deal.

There was a chance, however small, that this could lead to freedom for both of them.

The temptation of a normal life, free from the burdens that haunted him, slowly began to outweigh his fears.

“That doesn’t sound so bad. Better than nothing.”

“Then I’ll give you this as a gift.”

The Strange Nation being looked a little disappointed.

She had wanted to give him something more impressive,

But if this was the compensation he chose, she had to respect it.

“And then…”

The Strange Nation being suddenly turned her head to gaze into empty space.

Her eyes faintly glowed.

“There were those watching us… remnants of the sorcery that cast strange spells on me.”

She lightly extended her hand.

“The Curse of Petrification.”

It wasn’t just a warning.

It was retribution for those who tried to harm Kim Min-woo—and dared to lay hands on the Fragment.

It was a punishment delivered to the observers, those who referred to themselves as the Future Anomaly Research Institute.

Their arrogance had brought this upon them, and now they were left to face the consequences of their actions, consequences they never believed would come.

At last, she looked at Min-woo.

A slightly strange human—but one she had grown oddly fond of.

There was something about his presence that felt comforting amidst the chaos.

She couldn’t help but think about all the moments they had shared, quietly supporting each other in a world that often felt unpredictable and harsh.

“Then I’ll be going… to my original body.”

Quietly.

And gently.

She closed her eyes and vanished.

Darkness.

Her original body was still bound in the frame of the seal, and the form was incomplete.

But—

‘The third eye has recovered.’

The Strange Nation being opened her eyes.

Even within a body shattered into fragments, the most important part—her eye—had survived.

And the fragment she had absorbed was slowly revitalizing her from deep within.

‘At this rate… this is more than enough as a foundation for recovery.’

It was an unexpected stroke of luck.

To find a Fragment in the very place she had arrived at in response to a human’s summons.

‘It’s only a matter of time before I escape this seal.’

As she began focusing to consolidate her power, the space trembled.

She slowly turned her head.

‘…This presence…’

A faint aura she vaguely remembered.

Someone on her level—or perhaps beyond.

The presence approaching was a monster who had once served Him alongside her.

One of the few beings as powerful as she was.

From the darkness emerged a black figure—a massive, snake-like body, and the face of a human woman: an old companion.

She, too, was still bound by a seal, unable to move freely.

“Strange Nation being… you’re still alive.”

And then, another monster appeared.

It moved with a fluidity that hinted at its strengths, a vibrant energy radiating from its form. The air thickened with tension as the new presence drew closer.

The Strange Nation being felt a shiver run through her incomplete body, a mixture of recognition and wariness.

“Why are you here?” she asked, her voice steady despite the uncertainty brewing in her mind.

This was no ordinary encounter; the balance had shifted since their last moments together.

Each creature bore the weight of their past, the struggles that had bound them in this eternal cycle of confinement.