There Is No World For ■■

Having experienced this before, Yeomyeong wasn’t flustered. He calmly responded in his mind.

“I don’t know what a repeat symbol is, but I am Cheon Yeomyeong.”

—It is both a lie and a truth.

The crystal’s light swept over his forehead, as if trying to see through his thoughts.

—Your real name is... Dung Beetle? Why would you give yourself such a name?

...

—Cheon Yeomyeong sounds more human, so I’ll call you that.

...Is this different from the crystal I encountered in Manchuria?

Compared to the one he conversed with back then, the crystal before him felt... a bit more impudent.

—Cheon Yeomyeong. I ask you, why do I sense “our” power in you?

Yeomyeong easily realized that “our” referred to the World Tree. He carefully considered his answer.

“I consumed a crystal.”

—You? How?

Yeomyeong unconsciously recalled the moment he swallowed the crystal given to him by Darulma.

Was the crystal reading his memories? The World Tree’s crystal fell silent for a moment.

Before the silence could engulf the space entirely, the crystal let out a lament.

—The plan has gone awry.

—This is why repeaters are so...

—This is the problem with experience absolutists. They’re always vulnerable to variables. Don’t you agree?

A series of words Yeomyeong couldn’t understand followed.

He neither affirmed nor denied, simply gazing at the crystal.

The crystal stared back at him. When the atmosphere had grown heavy, it finally spoke again.

—Cheon Yeomyeong. What kind of person are you?

“...Are you asking about me?”

—Yes, you. The one who has rendered countless sacrifices meaningless and will lead more lives to be wasted.

...

—I do not blame you. After all, one cannot resent a butterfly on the opposite side of the world for a house lost in a typhoon. I know you merely flapped your wings. As all butterflies do...

The words were filled with an inexplicable sadness. Overwhelmed by a sudden wave of emotion, Yeomyeong furrowed his brows slightly.

“I am simply myself.”

—A philosophical answer. It’s also the farthest from what I wanted to hear.

“Lengthy questions lead to lengthy answers.”

—You never miss a beat. You’re just like that Border Count. Not just in personality—you even look like him. Are you related?

“Do I? I don’t feel that way at all...”

Just as Yeomyeong began to respond, the crystal suddenly emitted a blinding light.

Startled, he instinctively gathered mana, but the light enveloping him moved faster.

“What are you doing all of a sudden?”

The crystal didn’t answer. Instead, the light grew brighter, piercing through his closed eyelids.

It swirled violently, as if trying to tear through his mind, before vanishing.

What was that? As Yeomyeong cautiously opened his eyes, he saw the crystal, now radiating a gentle glow.

If it were human, it would’ve looked as though it had recoiled in shock.

The trembling voice of the crystal matched its demeanor.

—It seems... “I” have already made a choice.

“...What choice?”

The World Tree remained silent again.

After a moment of resonating light, it spoke in a voice strained as if suppressing something.

—It’s unfortunate. You too will have to make a choice.

“...Another cryptic riddle?”

—A riddle... Let’s call it foresight instead. No payment required.

Payment? What is this, a fortune teller? As Yeomyeong entertained the absurd thought, the crystal continued.

—Just as we once did, you will weigh the weight of life. Billions and millions... or perhaps even more extreme. Tens of billions and one.

...

—When that moment comes, remember this one phrase: “I believe in your choice.” Will you remember that?

“...I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

—Neither do we. Why did I choose you? You don’t look like a protagonist to anyone.

“Protagonist? What does that even mean...?”

Yeomyeong’s question was left unfinished.

The crystal’s light disappeared faster than his words could follow.

Crack.

With a sound like something breaking, the floating sensation abruptly ended, and his senses returned to normal.

****

The moment Yeomyeong opened his eyes to reality, he rolled off the small inn bed like a puppet with its strings cut.

Perhaps it was because he’d expected to wake up in the World Tree’s dream?

His head slammed into the concrete floor, the impact sharp enough to drive the sleep from his system instantly.

A heavy pain throbbed in his forehead, prompting a bitter smile that he quickly suppressed.

He could feel an unfamiliar presence in his room.

“...Who’s there?”

He muttered, massaging his forehead. The darkened room offered no reply.

Of course, if they planned to reveal themselves willingly, they wouldn’t have bothered hiding.

Quietly, Yeomyeong began channeling mana and weaving a spell.

The hidden presence audibly gulped, but Yeomyeong was faster, completing his telekinesis spell.

First, an invisible force sealed the door and windows. The click of locks echoed through the room, followed by a crushing weight enveloping the space.

In the next moment, his telekinetic energy located something transparent attempting to leap out of the window.

He immediately adjusted the spell to seize the intruder and clenched his hand to tighten the grip.

Or at least, he tried to.

As his spell moved to choke the intruder’s neck, a panicked voice screamed out.

“B-Brother-in-law! Wait!”

...Brother-in-law?

The events that followed happened almost simultaneously: Yeomyeong halted his spell just in time, and the restrained figure pulled off their transparent cloak.

...

The moonlight crept through the window, illuminating the room.

Under the faint glow, Yeomyeong’s eyes met those of the girl suspended in mid-air by his telekinesis.

Eyes slightly lighter than Seti’s blue ones.

Yeomyeong silently stared at her, rubbing his temples before looking again. Words failed him.

The silence grew heavy and awkward.

“Um... Did you sleep well? I didn’t wake you, did I?”

As the moonlight outside retreated, unable to endure the awkwardness, Neti spoke with a sheepish smile.

Yeomyeong, faced with her smile, briefly considered throwing her out the window. However, his eyes caught the transparent cloak in her hand, and he let out a sigh.

“That invisible cloak—where did you get it?”

“...Miss Soemiri gave it to me. She said it belonged to you.”

Just as he expected. To be precise, it was a borrowed item.

“And why are you only mentioning this now?”

“...I forgot, honestly.”

“Fine. You’ve had a lot going on, so I’ll let that slide. But what were you doing sneaking into my room at this hour with it on?”

“...No comment?”

Yeomyeong pushed the window open and began shoving Neti’s body toward it. Only when she was halfway out did she hurriedly confess.

“I-I was curious!”

“...Curious about what?”

“Well... That is...”

As her words trailed off, Yeomyeong continued to push her toward the window, clearly unwilling to hear more.

Neti clung to the window frame, letting out a mix of screams and frantic noises.

“Your face! I wanted to read your face!”

...

A short silence.

Even the night breeze seemed baffled as it swept through the room. Finally, Yeomyeong sighed and pulled her back inside, setting her down on the floor.

“You’re incredibly skilled at telekinesis...”

Whatever she was saying, Yeomyeong ignored her and snatched the invisible cloak from her hands.

He meticulously inspected it for any signs of damage before sitting back on the bed.

Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Neti quickly knelt before him in a formal apology.

“I’m sorry...”

...

Yeomyeong pressed his temples, trying to process the situation. To be honest, he wasn’t particularly angry.

Compared to that “saintess,” this was nothing more than a harmless prank.

Deciding to let it go, Yeomyeong asked lightly, “...So, what did you see in my face?”

Though his tone was casual, Neti’s response was anything but.

“It’s both good and bad.”

“...?”

“Brother-in-law, your face has what’s called a Yangsoyu reading—sharp eyes like a phoenix and eyebrows that slope toward your temples. It signifies talent and success.”

“...And the bad?”

“You have the worst luck with women. If your first partner has a peach blossom curse, your fate will be ruined. So, your first partner is crucial.”

“...?”

“Oh, and for the record, my sister doesn’t have a peach blossom curse.”

This... sounded familiar somehow.

As Yeomyeong tried to place where he’d heard it before, he sighed, wondering why he was even taking her words seriously.

“Neti.”

“Yes, brother-in-law?”

“I don’t care about face readings or curses. Next time, instead of sneaking in, just ask. Got it?”

He patted her shoulder as he spoke, a clear signal of forgiveness and dismissal.

Neti stood, bowing deeply in apology.

As she reached for the door handle, she hesitated and glanced back nervously.

“...Please don’t tell my sister.”

“Of course. It’ll be our secret.”

“Thank you...”

Unfortunately, Neti’s wish didn’t come true.

The moment she opened the door, she was greeted by Seti, arms crossed, waiting in the hallway.

“What’s my little sister doing at this hour?”

Neti turned to Yeomyeong with a pleading look, but he could only shrug with a bitter smile.

Sorry, this one’s out of my hands.

****

The dark inn room remained cloaked in night, with dawn still far off.

“So, someone’s using the World Tree’s crystal to mass-produce rat beastmen in the sewers,” Seti said, her voice sharp as she absorbed Yeomyeong’s recount of the dream.

“A skeleton dragon, shepherds, and now an army of rat beastmen? This chaos couldn’t get any worse.”

“...Don’t forget the outsiders flocking to the city, drawn by the World Tree crystal and forbidden relics,” Yeomyeong added. He’d deliberately left out the parts about his direct conversation with the crystal, focusing instead on the general information.

“And the Court Lords seem to have no intention of stopping this mess.”

In fact, aside from the Eastern Court Lord, the others were making the situation worse, as if preparing for war.

“This game has grown too big. I don’t even know where to start.”

Seti, seated by the window, lightly bit her lower lip as she pondered. Moonlight streamed over her silken hair, flowing like liquid silver.

Yeomyeong, distracted for a moment by the sight, stood up from the bed with the invisible cloak in hand.

“Do we really need to get involved in this mess?”

“...If we don’t? Are you suggesting we just watch from the sidelines and step in when it matters most?”

“No, that kind of laid-back strategy won’t work. Without a network of informants, we’d never know when the crucial moment arrives.”

“...Then?”

“There’s an old saying in back-alley gambling dens: If you can’t read the game, flip the table.”

As Yeomyeong spoke, he rummaged through his bag.

Pulling out a small pouch he always carried, he caught Seti’s curious glance.

“...Flip the table? How exactly are we supposed to do that?”

“If we have the cards, it’s not impossible.”

Yeomyeong opened the pouch, revealing its contents: a golden seal that gleamed like sunlight, an ivory-handled relic, and a crimson-stained key that resembled blood.

“That’s...”

“The Key of Tears. A forbidden relic given to me by the Blue Rat.”

Yeomyeong held up the key, its aura radiating an oppressive weight as if declaring its extraordinary nature.

He hadn’t used it since receiving it in Manchuria, but now seemed like the perfect opportunity.

“A forbidden relic? Don’t tell me...”

Seti’s eyes widened as realization dawned.

The World Tree crystal and the forbidden relics—these were the baits the Court Lords used to lure outsiders into the city.

If the actual relics were publicly revealed, rather than just rumors, it wouldn’t just disrupt the game—it would plunge the city into utter chaos.

Unimaginable chaos.

But there was a catch.

“...Are you sure about this? You might lose the relic.”

“Once I’ve learned its technique, it won’t matter.”

“...How long will it take you to learn the technique from the relic?”

“That depends on the relic itself. I can’t guarantee it, but I think I can master it within a week.”

His words would have sounded arrogant to most, but Seti couldn’t refute him.

If it were anyone else, maybe. But she knew better than anyone just how talented Yeomyeong was.

After a moment of contemplation, Seti tapped the windowsill lightly, deep in thought.

Silence filled the room, broken only by the faint stirrings of the city beyond. As dawn crept closer, she finally spoke.

“Yeomyeong, while you work on mastering the relic, I’ll spread rumors about it throughout the city. Maybe even announce it’s going to be auctioned.”

“That’s not a bad idea.”

Yeomyeong smiled faintly, handing her the invisible cloak.

“Whatever your plan is, this should come in handy.”

Seti hesitated, staring at the cloak with a complicated expression, perhaps thinking of the saintess. Eventually, she accepted it.

As she tucked the cloak away, she asked, “When will you use the relic? Right now? Or after breakfast?”

“...Let’s eat together after this. I’ll be quick.”

Yeomyeong stood in the center of the room, holding the Key of Tears. Seti silently stepped aside, giving him space.

For a moment, the two of them exchanged quiet glances, a subtle tension rising between them.

Then, a strained voice interrupted.

“Uh... Sister, sorry to ruin the mood, but...”

At the doorway, Neti stood awkwardly, her arms raised.

Both Yeomyeong and Seti turned their heads toward her simultaneously, their expressions a mix of surprise and exasperation.

Neti’s face was flushed red—whether from holding her arms up too long or sheer embarrassment, no one could tell.

“Can I... put my arms down and leave now?”