Chapter 83.2

Chapter 83 (Continued)

It seemed to imply ‘something will happen.’

“So what would happen?”

“Your existence would overlap with the you that should exist in another timeline. If it were only that, it might be manageable, but the likelihood of more significant issues arising is high.
Time errors are not to be taken lightly. The specifics are beyond even my understanding.”

“…So, ultimately, the ‘wormhole’ resolves all those problems?”

“Exactly. It acts as a sort of ‘breakwater.’”

Geumyang withdrew her hands.

“Spatial travel demands substantial energy and comes with numerous side effects. Furthermore, wielding this ability requires resolving the distortions in space-time.
Overcoming these challenges through my power and magical influence, and integrating it into the mechanism of spatial domination, is what the wormhole does.”

Geumyang laughed softly and placed her hands on her hips, speaking proudly.

“The wormhole itself is an astronomical aggregate of magical power!”

It felt like an incomprehensible miracle induced by magic…

Geumyang pointed at me with her index finger.

“Even when you channel a small amount of magical power in the wormhole, it gets amplified. That’s why it happens. And it’s also why staying in the wormhole for too long negatively affects you.”

Geumyang moved to stand beside me.

“Do you understand now? No matter how extreme the environment connected through the rift, it gets stabilized within the wormhole. You can’t alter the extreme environment of the wormhole. Dropping a single drop of cold water into boiling water would be meaningless, wouldn’t it? Only the changes occurring inside the wormhole can be expelled outside the rift.”

“I always wondered why… Now it makes more sense.”

The wormhole is a massive collection of magical energy.

That’s why even a small discharge of electrical power within the wormhole would be amplified as it traveled through the wormhole.

“Why are you telling me this now?”

“What’s the point of telling a novice about this? It would only give you a headache.”

“…That makes sense.”

I accepted her reasoning.

“Keep training, kid. You still have a long way to go.”

Geumyang patted me on the back as she passed by.

‘Wormhole…’

A space I became familiar with each time I crossed the rift.

‘Is there a way to utilize this?’

A new question arose in my mind.

* * *

Kim Yeon-hee settled into a seat in the cinema, holding popcorn and a drink. The rest of the seats were empty. The movie started playing on the big screen.

It was a late-night movie.

With very low ratings.

It was so late that it was unsurprising that no one else was present.
However, another guest entered the theater.

The guest chose a seat right next to Yeon-hee, despite the numerous empty seats.

It was a short-haired girl.

Yeon-hee didn’t glance at the guest beside her.

“You’re here?”

She simply greeted, munching on popcorn.

“Yes.”

The short-haired girl, Oh Baek-seo, responded calmly, her gaze fixed on the screen.

“Has the surveillance loosened?”

“Yes, it’s been quite lax lately. It seems the old hag’s condition has deteriorated significantly.”

“I see.”

“…Hm?”

Yeon-hee squinted at Baek-seo’s waist and smirked mockingly.

“The White Wheel Sword… Did you lose it? The great Oh Baek-seo carrying around an ordinary sword. That’s unusual. It must have been an important weapon… Can’t you even take care of your own belongings?”

“Oh, right. How’s your thigh? It should have healed by now, but it must have hurt quite a bit. I worry you might still be mentally distressed since you’re so weak-minded.”

“Hehe, just as I expected.”

Both of them conversed with smiling faces.

The truth about the Head Principal’s manipulation had been revealed, clearing up their misunderstandings.

Ultimately, what remained between them was a mixture of residual anger, hatred, and… guilt from fighting as enemies.

“…Modified Morse code. It’s been a while.”

Baek-seo remarked.

The Head Principal’s subordinates communicated using a specific variation of Morse code.

Yeon-hee had tapped her thigh during the interview, pretending to be nervous, to convey a modified Morse code message to Baek-seo.

Naturally, Baek-seo understood immediately.

Thus, Yeon-hee conveyed the meeting place, time, movie, seat, and the fact that she had something to discuss about the Head Principal.

“Your mission is the same as Han Seo-jin’s, right?”

“Yes. There’s nothing to hide.”

Last semester, Han Seo-jin’s mission was to monitor Oh Baek-seo.

Baek-seo assumed that now Ahn Woo-jin was also under surveillance.

“Your disguise skills are quite impressive. I didn’t recognize you at first.”

“You would have noticed soon enough. You always catch my subtle habits. Besides, I knew you were closely watching me.”

Yeon-hee, or rather, Kim Dalbi, took off her glasses and let her silver hair fall over her shoulder.

“So, you’re voluntarily surrendering and revealing yourself?”

“I had no choice~. So, I decided to change direction. Revealing myself and talking to you first.”

“That’s quite wise. So, what do you want to talk about?”

Although the misunderstanding had been resolved, Baek-seo remained cautious.
She had carefully scouted the area on her way to the cinema.

Regardless of everything, they were currently on opposing sides. It wouldn’t be surprising if Dalbi suddenly turned hostile.

Dalbi stared at the screen.

It was a boring movie with poor reviews, so there was no need to expect any excitement. However, it was convenient not to have to deal with awkward eye contact.

The movie’s sounds filled the two girls’ ears.

It was a scene where the protagonist, sneaking into the house at night, was greeted by his family. However, due to his head injury and resulting amnesia, he couldn’t recognize his family, shocking them.

At that moment, Dalbi spoke again.

“Oh Baek-seo, tell me why you were given freedom.”

Baek-seo, despite being a subordinate of the Head Principal, currently enjoyed a certain degree of freedom. The reason for this was kept secret.

“Why should I tell you?”

Baek-seo asked kindly.

A shadow passed over Dalbi’s lifeless eyes.

“Because I’m going to take down that damned hag. So, tell me her weakness. The reason you have freedom. You hold her weakness, don’t you? If you fail, I can do it instead.”

Dalbi was resolute.

“I… just can’t forgive that hag.”

“You know, I haven’t given up on anything yet.”

“…Huh?”

Dalbi turned to Baek-seo.

“Since they’re bound to target us soon, we can’t just sit around.”

“‘Us’?”

“The Disciplinary Committee.”

The die was cast.

Woo-jin knew who the enemy was but chose to side with Baek-seo.
Baek-seo had accepted him.

“We’re going to take her down.”

So, Baek-seo would fight alongside them.

“And…”

Baek-seo turned to Dalbi, and their eyes met.

Baek-seo’s kind smile reflected in Dalbi’s dark eyes.

“Now you’re part of ‘us,’ too?”

“…?”

Dalbi’s eyes widened after a moment. A spark of life returned to her eyes.

“What did you just say…?”

Baek-seo’s words sounded like she was considering Dalbi an ally.

Could there be another meaning?

Dalbi pondered, replaying Baek-seo’s words in her mind.

“Now that we’ve cleared things up, it’s settled. I haven’t forgiven you for targeting the Leader, but the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

“Are you serious? You changed your mind just like that?”

“Yes. It feels right.”

Dalbi was bewildered, but Baek-seo seemed unfazed. However, Baek-seo appeared to have thought it over thoroughly.

After a moment of hesitation, Baek-seo confessed.

“You know, I liked you a lot.”

“What! Suddenly getting all sentimental…!?”

Dalbi’s face turned red in surprise at the unexpected comment.

“Though I have some resentment now, I had to capture you, and there were misunderstandings… I’m sorry for my foolish actions.”

Baek-seo scratched her cheek awkwardly, smiling.

Understanding Baek-seo’s words, Dalbi opened her mouth in surprise and then nodded in admiration.

“Wow… You’re really…”

“Pathetic…” she muttered softly. She then chuckled.

The heavy atmosphere lightened instantly.

Dalbi had revealed her intention to oppose the Head Principal, and Baek-seo had cleared her misunderstanding with Dalbi.

There wasn’t much resentment left between them, and Baek-seo genuinely liked Dalbi as a friend.

There was nothing left to hold them back.

With this, Baek-seo no longer wanted to leave Dalbi alone.

“So, don’t do it alone.”

Baek-seo leaned toward Dalbi and said.

“From now on, let’s do it together. We agreed on this, didn’t we?”

“We agreed…?”

“Yes.”

Baek-seo nodded.

She recalled their childhood, when they picked peony flowers together in the garden.

“We vowed while picking peonies to get properly angry at that person. Back then…”

“…?”

“So, at that time…”

Baek-seo’s smile faded slowly.

Dalbi’s face showed no sign of recalling the memory.

An unexpected sense of foreboding gripped Baek-seo.

“When did we ever… do that…?”

Dalbi’s cautious question left Baek-seo momentarily frozen.

The sound stopped.

It was a quiet scene in the movie.

The protagonist, with lost memories, was staring blankly at the meadow with his father, trying hard to recall the memories that wouldn’t come.

______________

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