episode_0154

Isn’t that right? I no longer had any means to verify the original work, and Haru was in a position where she could easily manipulate the content.

Perhaps there was no grand objective like the preservation of humanity. Maybe it was a scheme to covertly pursue something else, to cleverly remove me as an obstacle…

But.

‘If even Ryu Jinseong says this…’

Was it truly fact? Is the occurrence of a gate transcending such a scale, far surpassing incidents like the Jormungandr catastrophe, truly scheduled?

I thought I was already somewhat vigilant, but the moment it was confirmed, a chilling sensation ran down my spine.

“The world… is ending…?”

Ryu Seeun, who had been in a daze for a moment, slowly parted her lips.

A look that clearly said, ‘Isn’t that just ridiculous nonsense?’ even if she didn’t voice it.

One might think it’s a rather impudent reaction toward her adoptive father, but in a way, this was normal.

What other reaction could one expect when suddenly discussing world destruction or the apocalypse?

Ryu Jinseong, seemingly aware of this fact, simply nodded calmly.

“I know it’s hard to believe. But…”

He trailed off, appearing to ponder how to explain it in a way that would make them accept the harbinger of destruction.

Was there even a need for that? In truth, I had no reason not to believe his words.

Rather, compared to Haru, who understood this world through the original work, hadn’t he predicted the future solely through his own power?

If anything, I felt respect, and had not the slightest intention of doubting him.

“Mr. Ryu Jinseong.”

I spoke. Ryu Jinseong, who had been deep in thought, raised his head and looked at me.

I didn’t know what to ask first, but one question came to mind immediately.

“About that ‘catastrophe’…”

I lowered my voice carefully and added.

“By any chance, do you know exactly when it will arrive?”

I was asking about the timing. For me, it was crucial information, important enough that I would absolutely want to know it in advance.

Even if one is to be struck, shouldn’t they know when it will happen to prepare themselves mentally or brace their bodies?

“…Timing, you say.”

Ryu Jinseong raised an eyebrow for a moment, then responded to my question with a rather strange expression.

“I couldn’t predict the exact timing. I am a mage, not a prophet.”

He initially denied it.

“However…”

His next words followed quickly.

“…It is possible to estimate to some extent. I anticipate that the catastrophe is not far off.”

“‘Not far off’ means?”

I asked again, and after a brief thought, Ryu Jinseong uttered a single word.

“At most, a year.”

The emotion that came to my mind at his low remark was a mix of complexity and relief. A year wasn’t a long time, but it wasn’t the worst, I thought.

That’s what I thought. However, I overlooked the fact that Ryu Jinseong’s words weren’t over yet.

“If it’s short, it could be tomorrow.”

“…”

“…”

I fell silent, and so did Ryu Jinseong. The expression on this man’s face, meeting my gaze, gradually began to turn awkward.

I wondered if this old man could even make such an expression. His emotions had certainly become more varied compared to before.

‘It feels like he didn’t even need to undergo the realm separation now.’

That thought suddenly crossed my mind, but it wasn’t important. I exhaled heavily, breathing out the belated surge of frustration.

“Huuu…”

“…”

“…Doesn’t that just mean you don’t know? It’s an irresponsible statement, saying it could happen anytime within a year.”

“Hmm.”

I gazed at Ryu Jinseong, who tilted his head as if wondering, ‘Is that how it is?’ with a mournful expression.

He seemed to be helpful, but then he became strangely ambiguous.

While I was grateful for him confirming the imminent outbreak of a disaster-class gate…

‘What should I do about this?’

The apocalypse wouldn’t be strange if it happened tomorrow, nor the day after.

What did this mean? It meant there would be no more days of peace.

It was a moment where Ryu Jinseong and I, each with different implications but likely thinking the same thing, wore serious expressions.

“W-wait a minute.”

Cheon Soyul, who had quietly listened until now, stepped forward and looked between Ryu Jinseong and me. Her expression was clearly bewildered.

“Ryu Jinseong-nim, I don’t quite understand your sudden words… A catastrophe? Can the world truly be destroyed so easily…?”

“Hmm.”

“Lee Hyunjin, you too. Why, uh, why are you reacting so seriously? Don’t talk as if you know something on your own; if you have any idea, just say it.”

Ryu Jinseong, who let out a short sigh, also turned to look at me at her words. As if Cheon Soyul wasn’t the only one questioning my demeanor, everyone in the room fixed their gaze on me.

I scratched my cheek and thought. Come to think of it, I hadn’t shared the story I heard from Haru with Yang Chan-ho separately.

It was a highly unbelievable story, and to explain its basis, I felt I would inevitably have to bring up the original work, so I had kept silent…

‘In this case, it might be better to just tell them.’

With Ryu Jinseong’s testimony added, there was no need to hide anything. It would be better to openly share the information and ask for help.

“…To explain this, I need to start with what happened in Busan. It was when I encountered the Moonlight Cult Leader at Jeokho Academy.”

I carefully began to speak. My slow, calm explanation was about the ‘destruction’, excluding Haru’s and my origins.

*****

The office was a mess from the aftermath of the realm separation. An overwhelming silence began to flow among the five people inside.

This was after Lee Hyunjin’s entire story had ended. Ryu Jinseong thought, holding his chin.

‘The Moonlight Cult Leader…’

Haru, the Moonlight Cult Leader. The head of the Moonlight Cult, a villainous group of considerable scale across the entire world, and according to Lee Hyunjin, a monster comparable to the hero Yang Chan-ho.

However, her martial prowess wasn’t of great importance to Ryu Jinseong.

What he needed to focus on was that this Special S-rank villain had left the exact same warning as him.

The end of the world, an approaching catastrophe, and the more specific mention of a ‘super-large gate’.

How that person could know such detailed fragments of information, which he had only barely managed to obtain after nearing the limits of natural magic, was unknown…

Still, there was undeniably a sense of relief within him. Ryu Jinseong swallowed complex emotions.

That person, the Moonlight Cult Leader, was undoubtedly a villain.

Yet, for Ryu Jinseong, who had thought he might have to believe in and prepare for the future catastrophe alone, he couldn’t help but feel relieved.

After all, the world was full of people even more formidable than him, and he wasn’t the only one worried about the future.

“Haa.”

Ryu Jinseong let out a low sigh, then spoke after a short pause.

“…I’ve never met that person, but I want to pay my respects to her conviction. Even if their methods differ, isn’t she also someone striving for survival?”

“Well, that’s true.”

Lee Hyunjin nodded in agreement. While he couldn’t help but frown and express opposition regarding the uncertainties of the moon migration plan and the sacrifices it would entail…

He still thought the mere fact that she had formulated such a plan was remarkable. Didn’t it mean she was desperately seeking a way to survive an unstoppable catastrophe, struggling against it?

‘…No matter what, I can’t condone human experimentation.’

The reluctance was unavoidable. Even if lives were guaranteed, experiments couldn’t be without errors, could they?

If by chance sacrifices were to occur, Lee Hyunjin would completely turn his back on Haru.

Even now, if she were to target Cheongsong or Jeokho, he intended to stand at the forefront and stop her.

Lee Hyunjin, who had briefly solidified his resolve, soon shook his head and organized his thoughts.

Anyway, for now, let’s focus on the fact that he shared a sense of purpose with others. What needed to be stopped was clear. Haru’s impulsive actions were threatening, but the actual catastrophe was more important.

During the Jormungandr incident… Lee Hyunjin was barely ten years old. Therefore, he didn’t know in detail how terrible that catastrophe was.

Still, he knew how many scars the aftermath of that incident had left across the world.

Just considering how much the awakened society was turned upside down by the rampant black mages who sought to recover Jormungandr’s heart.

It was fortunate that the academies managed to fend them off.

Anyway.

*Clap!*

Lee Hyunjin clapped his hands, drawing the attention of those around him, and spoke.

“Well, now that things have come to this, we won’t be able to get Mr. Ryu Jinseong’s help. You’re no longer a Great Mage, and you’ll have to protect the Cheorwon area anyway.”

“Hmm.”

Ryu Jinseong nodded, while Ryu Seeun, conversely, wore a somber expression.

“…Do I… absolutely have to absorb that power?”

Ryu Jinseong’s voice, as he answered her question, was exceedingly blunt.

“Yes. If not you, then who would inherit my progress? From that day ten years ago, I assumed this would happen and took you in.”

Although the timing arrived earlier than he had expected, Ryu Jinseong added, standing up. He handed the orb to Ryu Seeun once more.

This time, as if he wouldn’t accept a refusal, he practically forced the orb upon her and smiled lightly.

“You don’t need to feel indebted to me. In a way, this is me passing on the responsibility I should bear to you, the next generation.”

‘That’s true.’

I agreed inwardly, but I didn’t voice such thoughts in this atmosphere where Ryu Seeun was softly murmuring, “Father…” with such longing.

I’m not *that* tactless.

In any case, Ryu Jinseong, having successfully handed the orb to Ryu Seeun, turned to look out the window.

The man looked beyond, up at the sky, with a noticeably lighter expression.

“Now, all three of you, return. It’s late to say this, but Cheorwon isn’t that safe of an area.”

“…”

I scratched my cheek at his resolute words. Certainly, now that things had come to this, recruiting Ryu Jinseong was impossible.

However, as for the force to replace him—I had ‘acquired’ the new Black Heaven, Ryu Seeun, so there shouldn’t be much of an issue.

It was the moment I answered with a rough understanding and was about to gather my things.

“…But is there really a need to say Cheorwon is dangerous?”

“Hmm?”

I asked, a sudden question coming to mind. While it wouldn’t be as safe as Cheongsong Academy, given it was a gate-prone area.

Still, aren’t gate occurrences fairly stable at the moment? What else could be dangerous?

Feeling such doubts but thinking it was nothing significant, I reached for the office doorknob, preparing to leave.

“You’re saying strange things, son-in-law.”

Ryu Jinseong looked at me with an odd gaze and said.

“Weren’t we just talking about that a moment ago? The ‘catastrophe’.”

“…Huh?”

And I stiffened.

Why bring that up all of a sudden?

“Even if it’s a catastrophe, from what I’ve measured, it’s not a singular phenomenon. It will likely be accompanied by aftershocks… yes, harbingers. For example.”

*Rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble…!!*

“…An S-rank gate, one or two ranks lower than the actual catastrophe, or something like that…”

*Boom, crash! CRASH—!!*

“…”

“…”

Ryu Jinseong and I both fell silent simultaneously. Our gazes creaked as they turned back to the window, where they caught a horrific sight.

The mountain range, which had formed a part of the outside scenery, began to collapse, and above it, a shimmering, dark blue vortex had formed.