The Black World (2)
‘This… bastard…’
I couldn’t help but swear at myself, but in reality, my situation wasn’t all that bad. I felt a little guilty thinking like this, but assuming that everything I had judged so far was true, then having the shaman by my side would be similar to having a strong alliance, as I did with Cha Hee-ra and Kim Hyunsung.
Plus, she’s unconditionally loyal…’
In other words, she was the perfect ally for me.
At this point, I was lucky not to have chosen the path of a Summoner when the job presented itself to me.
‘This is a new class altogether.
This shaman was not only the owner of the large guild in the Free City of Celia, but was also a non-standard existence whose power had a different concept than her preexisting magic – and could also see the past and the future!
I couldn’t accurately assess her strength, but based on her stats and potential, she could be of greater use than even Jung Hayan.
Naturally, I had to smile.
‘I guess I’m the irresistible type of trash, then.’
Of course, I had to confirm my assumptions before I could even think about reeling her in. Besides, I still had other questions on my mind.
With this, I had no choice but to respond to the shaman who was currently looking at me with an impatient expression.
“I have a few more questions. How did I die in the black world?”
It was what I was most curious about.
“I don’t know that.”
“Do you mean you couldn’t see it?”
“I couldn’t. Perhaps it was because I died earlier than the master.”
“Maybe. How did you die?”
“I died for you. I haven’t looked in detail, but that was all I could tell in the black world, I had no regrets at the end.”
“Well… Then I’m curious about how we got to know each other.”
“I’m sorry, but what do you mean…”
“It is just as you heard. As you know, I can see others’ information with my ability. Thanks to you opening your own info, I was able to check it with my own eyes…”
“Yeah.”
“You’re a wizard with a magical stat of 96, complete with a legendary class, and a legendary ability. No, would it be correct to call you a sorcerer?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“I can’t see the black world, so I can’t say for sure, but… I imagine I wasn’t very strong there, was I?”
“No. The master is more dignified than anyone else…”
“It’s not what I’m saying. I am asking on the grounds of a physical specification. Am I right?”
“Yeah… That’s right.”
“The question is, why didn’t you resist me? You said you saw me choking you, but there’s an explanation missing in there, especially assuming that we must’ve met each other at a later date back then compared to now.”
“That’s right. I haven’t seen the exact date, but I know that in the black world, master and I will meet two to three years from now.”
“It means that you were 22 when we met.”
“That’s right.”
“Well, it doesn’t really matter when we met, but the point is that you were in a stronger position than me.”
“H-how dare I say that?”
“You know I’m right. If you had the intention of killing me, I would’ve already died. The same can be said here and now. Why didn’t you kill me in the black world?”
My asking this question was inevitable. I didn’t know why, but it was clear that I had been abusing her the first time around. Her mental state didn’t seem to fare well because of it.
I thought about the possibility of her using drugs or indulging in other methods, but I knew none of that could affect a person this strong. I knew that she must have had a lot of opportunities to break free from me if she wanted to.
That being said, there must be a reason as to why she chose to stay.
This shaman began to nod slowly, as if she was agreeing with my question. I realize she had been waiting for me to ask this all along.
“That’s…”
“That’s?”
“That’s because… I, in the black world loved you.”
I almost fell off my chair upon hearing her answer. However, Kasugano continued talking, her eyes directly meeting mine.
“It’s hard feeling emotions in the black world, but what I felt for you was obvious. I was in love with you there.”
“Perhaps you developed it while you were nursing me?”
“It could be that. However, I think it has something to do with fate.”
“Right…”
“The more time I worried about you, the more I kept thinking about you. Of course, that also meant I spent more time with you. After spending so much time in the black world, I suppose the feelings transferred to me, so I can’t help but feel this way now.”
Am I some sort of chic magnet or what?’
In fact, I had never even thought of myself as handsome. Although I had no flaws except for my asymmetrically-shaped eyes, nonetheless, it was not enough to say that I was handsome.
The word ‘handsome’ suited someone like our lovely Kim Hyunsung.
It was no exaggeration to say that he was the kind of person that could be considered ‘perfect, due to those strong, big eyes, sharp nose, pretty lips, and chiseled body.
‘His personality isn’t bad, either…’
If anyone was suited to be the object of people’s affection, it would be him. In short, I did not understand why these women clung to me instead.
In Jung Hayan’s case, I had acted on my own accord to capture her attention, but in the case of the other women? I had no idea.
I had even gotten the affection of a powerful woman in the first timeline just by staying still!
Of course, this hasn’t been confirmed yet.
‘Isn’t this an advantage at this point?’
“Perhaps that was why I felt like I could accept anything from you.”
“What about the opposite? Was I in love with you?”
“I think you weren’t. But I must have been one of the only people my master could lean on.”
I don’t know the past Kiyoung’s feelings, but she was probably right.
“I understand to some extent.”
“Then…”
“What you’re saying absolutely makes sense. It’s very impressive that you revealed your own information and showed me your own status window. In fact, I don’t doubt your ability to see the future, the past, and even the black world. I don’t even have to check. I can see your ability with my own skill.”
“Ah.”
“But it’s still not enough.”
“What do you mean?”
“This feels too suspicious. I’m curious about how you’re explaining what you’ve seen in the black world, compared to what you really saw—the black world me and the present me are not the same person. Likewise, the black world you and the present you are not the same. Of course, I don’t deny that you are affected. Still, it sounds absurd from my point of view. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”
“O-of course.” At this, the shaman trembled. It was as if she feared me telling her to go away.
“It’s not just that. There is no guarantee that everything you told me is true. I’m worried that you told me only the things you wanted. I don’t know what being your master means, too… To be honest, it sounds unpleasant. How many people in this world can accept this kind of story?”
“Ahhh…”
“How can I trust you?”
“That… that’s…”
“What you told me about the black world doesn’t do anything. With that alone, I can’t be your master. How can we build the relationship you want?”
It sounded like a trashy deal, but it was the only thing I could work on.
“I-If you want, I can give you anything you want…”
“That’s not what I want. If this relationship is established, what you have is mine regardless… Or are you looking for a relationship whose foundation is based solely on words?”
“N-no. My… Everything belongs to my master. That… That’s right!”
“Is there any way I can restrain you? No, have you ever thought about how | can take you in with no doubts in mind?”
“Of course. There will be a way. I know my master feels suspicious. Yes. There is a way.”
She seemed a little excited as she spoke.
“I hope you can explain.”
“There’s an incantation.”
“Incantation?”
“Yeah. It’s a kind of witchcraft that helps my master own me. I can transfer ownership of my body to you.”
‘Is that possible?”
I had never heard of this method up until now. Sure, I had thought about creating magic that was similar to it, but nothing had come to mind then.
Perhaps it was she who had created it with her own powers. If I were to think of it as her way of preparing the day when she’d meet me in this timeline, then it would make sense.
“It’s a kind of incantation that I put on myself. I directly connect my body, my master, and my mind…”
“I guess I know what you’re talking about. However…”
I wondered whether she was lying and that the magic would have the opposite effect, but I didn’t want to think about the possibility.
Just as Kasugano Yuno was desperate, I also wanted to earn myself another powerful ally. I wanted to be able to get her on my side as quickly as possible, without all the headache.
I hated gambling, but just this once, I felt like the risk was worth it.
“Alright, let’s see.”
“Okay. Then I will quickly start the ritual.”
With her eyes closed, her smiling expression was apparent. It was almost as if she had just gotten the entire world handed to her on a silver platter.
When she pulled a little dagger out of her arms, I flinched a little, but when she hurriedly wounded her own arm with it, I realized that she was trying to complete her incantation with her blood as the medium.
‘Is the process similar to alchemy?’
“Please wait a little a bit… It’s almost done. Almost!”
“It’s fine. You don’t have to hurry.”
Seeing her drawing the incantation on the floor was quite the sight to behold. Even though I had told her not to hurry, she still seemed anxious to finish it as soon as possible.
The process looked similar to most of the spells that I had dealt with, but the truth was, I still felt confused.
Only one thing was for certain; this incantation was more difficult than 1 initially thought
It was a spell that could only be completed with blood as the medium, even if the caster was a high-ranking wizard on her level.
I didn’t know anything else, but the effect of the spell was certain.
I waited for her to finish, a mix of anticipation and nervousness welling up from within me. Soon, I saw her rigid figure settle down in the middle of her incantation. She then looked up at me from her kneeling position.
“You can come this way.”
As I moved, a faint light glowed from the incantation on the floor.
There was still no reaction from Juliana. At least I knew whatever this was wouldn’t hurt me.
After a faint red light embraced her, the shaman opened her mouth again with a very satisfied expression.
“S-sorry, but I need to take my master’s blood…”
Almost as if in an enticed trance, I cut myself slightly on the hand and reached out for her.
“I want to give my all to the one who is before me. This lock will be a blood covenant that nothing can break, and no one can interfere with.”
The light burst out in an instant.
I somehow thought I had to grab her head, and so I did. Thus, I saw a fragmentary, yet incomprehensible sight.
It was literally the scene where I was strangling her.
It must have been the black world she saw.
‘Get rid of your pity, you damn bitch. All of you are the same.’
‘Ahhh… Poor man.’
‘You think you have the right to pity me?’
In the scene, Kasugano Yuno cried and hugged me.
Hwaah ahhhhhh!
When I opened my eyes again, I could see the incantation she drew being absorbed into her body.
“It was a success, Master.”
As she spoke, Kasugano looked overjoyed, which in turn made me feel guilty.
“Perhaps you really are a piece of trash….
If the Lee Kiyoung from before had seen me now, he would probably think something along the lines of, ‘Isn’t this bastard a real piece of shit?’
Because of this, a sense of shame came upon me.