There was nothing else to call him but a madman.
What kind of person could possibly do things like this?
No—maybe I should be grateful instead.
Especially that Necromancer Project. Just hearing the na gave goosebumps. But...
“Do we have proof?”
Proof that the Chinese governnt is really planning a Necromancer Project?
What if Su-ho just made up sothing that isn’t true and simply wanted to kill a high-ranking Chinese official?
Those thoughts crossed my mind for a mont.
Because the more I listened, the more unreal the Su-ho in front of felt.
“Overwhelming power, close to omnipotent... Right, if a god exists, Su-ho would be that god.”
As soon as I thought that, Su-ho started to look different.
But that thought also lasted only a mont.
“A god? Fine, let’s say Su-ho really is a god. Then why on earth would a god be here, doing this under of all people?”
There must be far easier and more reliable thods. Why choose these inconvenient ones on purpose?
Amusent?
Just for fun?
Ridiculous.
Jeong Cheol-min, who lit his second cigarette, stared at Su-ho for a while without saying anything.
Su-ho had that good-natured smile on his face.
Watching that, Jeong Cheol-min involuntarily snorted a laugh.
“Why are you laughing?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Right.
Truth or falsehood, the devil’s or a god’s amusent—so what?
What could I even do with that knowledge?
Until Su-ho stepped forward, all I could do was move within the system the Association built.
Su-ho prodded .
“Why? What is it?”
“There’s just stuff like that, punk. So then, why did you pull all that off and co back to the Association?”
“It’s an ergency, so of course I should co to the Association first. Isn’t that the basics for a civil servant?”
“The fact that sothing like ‘the basics for a civil servant’ cos out of your mouth is cody. Fine, let’s say that’s that. What’s next? Are you planning to clean up after the Second Cataclysm now that you’re here?”
“Close, but a bit different.”
“How different?”
“I already gave the kids a heads-up, but I wanted to tell you in advance too—and ask a favor.”
“So what?”
“Please keep it official that I’m still in North Korea.”
This was the point.
Jeong Cheol-min’s eyes widened at Su-ho’s words.
“What?”
“Since it’s you, not anyone else, I’ll be honest. At this pace, and if things go according to my plan... I’m thinking we might be able to bring an end to the Gates faster than expected.”
“And the Association work gets in the way of that process?”
“If I don’t sugarcoat it, yes.”
“Then do it.”
“Sir?”
“Do it. Frankly, even if I said no, you’d find a way and push it through anyway, wouldn’t you? If that’s the case, just keep in touch with now and then so I can at least be reassured. Like you said—no, just as you want—I’ll stay at the desk, back up the field, and support you.”
“Why are you being so cool about it?”
“Cool, my ass. You’re a guy with your own clear objective. A guy who went and cut the Chinese Chairman’s throat because he needed to—what aning is there in a re departnt head at a small peninsular country’s Association telling you no? And honestly, is this even ‘permission’? It’s just a notification.”
“Co on, even so, I observed the proper courtesy and asked you formally...”
“I know, man. That’s why I’m saying ‘go ahead’ just as coolly. No matter how much we separate public and private, the whole reason the Association and Player institutions exist is to aim for ending the Gates. If pointless procedures and processes blur that essence, then it’s right not to do them.”
“Chief...”
“That’s why I’m actually grateful. To be honest, it’s a [N O V E L I G H T] blessing you didn’t throw your resignation down over this. No—frankly, it’s a blessing you didn’t go bad. You’ve got the kind of power that could make you the god of a new world, like in so comic book, and yet here you are... I support everything you’re doing.”
At Jeong Cheol-min’s words, the corners of Su-ho’s mouth lifted.
Right.
This is the Cheol-min hyung I know.
Recruiting Cheol-min hyung early really was a divine move.
Su-ho bowed his head sincerely.
“Thank you, Chief.”
“What chief... just call hyung. What’s the use of titles now? Watching you makes everything we’re doing feel like kids playing.”
“Oh, what kind of kids’ play is this. But really—call you hyung?”
“You hate it?”
“Oh, I like it.”
“Good. Still, if you’re going to remain an Association man to the end, watch your form of address in front of the kids.”
“Got it, hyung.”
“Well, well—why don’t you just drop honorifics too?”
“Shall I, hyung?”
“Little punk drops them the second I say it?”
“Haha, you told to drop them.”
“Just drop ’em. I’ll call you however I want too. Anyway, you said you gave the kids a heads-up? Then officially, after the Second Cataclysm, we’ll announce you as missing in North Korea? As late as possible, and only if we absolutely have to.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“I said drop the honorifics.”
“Speaking politely is still stuck to my tongue. I’ll mix it appropriately.”
“Suit yourself.”
Jeong Cheol-min stubbed out his cigarette and spoke.
“So, what’s your next move?”
“Aw, it’ll spoil the fun if you know in advance.”
“Good grief. If you don’t want to say it, forget it.”
“Haha, even if it’s disappointing, bear with a bit. It’s not certain yet. If you must know—just think ‘I’m going to tackle a special Gate.’”
“Got it. Only you, , and the kids need to know this, right?”
“Yeah, for now.”
“If you need cooperation, say so. I’ll try to sort out the comms network first.”
“Ha, okay.”
“Going right away?”
“Yeah, I have to move imdiately. The comms are down, so coming in person was the whole purpose.”
“Short and sweet.”
“Still, call and I’ll co anyti, so don’t worry.”
With that, Su-ho summoned a tiny shard of shadow and handed it to Jeong Cheol-min.
In truth, calling it a shard—well, it was a miniaturized Guiyeong Spear.
“What’s this?”
“Think of it like a summons token. Keep it on you, and if you call on the phone, I’ll jump over anyti.”
“That’s a nifty ability.”
“I’m a bit nifty.”
“Oh, really?”
“Then I’ll get going first.”
“Yeah. And this is just being fussy—don’t you dare die. If you die, I’m filing you as missing in North Korea and that’s that. Not that you look like you’ll die anyway.”
“Haha, exactly. Don’t worry. I’ll live longer than anyone.”
“Su-ho.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ve got a question—can I ask just one?”
“What is it?”
“This kind of Cataclysm... will it happen again later?”
“Yeah, next ti...”
In that mont, Su-ho unconsciously stopped speaking.
Then he let out a faint laugh and continued.
“Yes, there will be another.”
“Okay. Thanks for telling .”
“Sure, then.”
When he finished, Su-ho dipped a bow and activated Colorless Solitude.
At once, even though Su-ho was right in front of him, Jeong Cheol-min could no longer perceive him, and Su-ho left the Association on the spot.
Jeong Cheol-min pulled out a third cigarette and clamped it between his lips.
Because he knew what he had to do from here on.
*
After leaving the Association, Su-ho scattered shadow shards at specific places, including his ho.
“This should do for a refit.”
Ti to take the next step.
The planning was done.
Since the Second Effect would last for several days, he pushed down the priority of content he could do starting from the Cataclysm’s mid-phase.
Instead, he moved up the priority of what he could do right now.
One of those was precisely the “Stone Fragnt of Takamagahara.”
Su-ho took the Stone Fragnt of Takamagahara out of his inventory and checked its info.
[ Stone Fragnt of Takamagahara ]
Grade: S
# A stone fragnt that allows travel to the heavenly realm Takamagahara, created when Japan’s Three Sacred Treasures beco one.
# Only those who et the qualifications may use it.
Su-ho still rembered that ti vividly.
[ You cannot use this right now. ]
[ You cannot use this right now. ]
[ You cannot use this right now. ]
[ You cannot use this right now. ]
......
The countless rejection ssages.
“How it galled that I couldn’t use it because of a season lock.”
Still, in the end, he thought it was for the best.
If he had gone to Takamagahara then and ti had dragged on too long, he wouldn’t have been able to carry out any of the plans set to align with the Second Effect.
“But I assassinated Li Jinping, and now I’ve got a bit of leeway tiwise.”
There was a reason Su-ho had kept a close eye on the Second Cataclysm while leveling up his specs.
Because starting from the Cataclysm’s mid-phase, “that thing” appears.
“That can be handled as it pops up... So, shall I use this now?”
Su-ho used the Stone Fragnt of Takamagahara.
[ Using the Stone Fragnt of Takamagahara. ]
Fwoooosh!
Light flared forth along with the item’s activation.
And at last, Su-ho could see it—the ssage he had wanted so badly to see.
[ Moving to Takamagahara. ]
His vision blinked to black.
Then the surroundings ford, and Su-ho found himself summoned at the center of a plaza where three diverging paths branched out.
[ You have entered Takamagahara. ]
He had finally arrived at Takamagahara.
The system, kindly enough, guaranteed that this place was indeed Takamagahara, and only then could Su-ho properly look around.
“Heavenly realm, blah blah... There’s not much to see, is there?”
He knew almost nothing about Takamagahara.
To co to Takamagahara, Japan’s Three Sacred Treasures had to be gathered. But unlike Yata no Kagami and Yasakani no Magatama, which could be obtained from the Imperial Palace Gate, Amanomurakumo no Tsurugi—which becos Kusanagi no Tsurugi—could be obtained from a different Gate.
“Tiline-wise, Amanomurakumo no Tsurugi was found first and put up for auction, so the Three Sacred Treasures were only properly gathered at a very late point.”
Yata no Kagami explicitly stated, “One of Japan’s Three Sacred Treasures; when all Three Sacred Treasures are gathered and beco one, the path to Takamagahara opens.” How could they not gather them?
So the mont the Three Sacred Treasures beca the Stone Fragnt of Takamagahara, Japan’s strongest expedition set out for Takamagahara. Unfortunately, there was no way to learn what happened after that.
Because the Japanese governnt buried it under top-of-the-top secrecy.
Even Suzuki Endo, who was on the sa side, wouldn’t tell.
“Sorry~ I’d love to say, but they begged so hard, you know.”
Her annoying voice suddenly echoed in his head, and his brow furrowed.
“So what I know is basically just that Takamagahara is a special Gate where dinsional travel happens.”
Su-ho shifted his gaze and began a proper survey of the surroundings.
In truth, there wasn’t much to call a survey.
At the ends of the three paths branching from where he stood, each had a portal. From that, he could infer there were likely three Gates to clear here in Takamagahara.
Then, small emblems carved before the three forks caught Su-ho’s eye.
“The sun, the moon, and waves?”
What were those?
In that instant, one piece of information rose in Su-ho’s mind.
“Could it be the Three Precious Children?”
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