I just said it correct it, didn't I? So why do you keep saying things?
The blond man seed to be showing his frustration along these lines of thought. By Earth standards, there were few people as highly educated as him, yet since the other kept acting like a lunatic at every opportunity, he no longer had the energy to point it out.
Yeah. So this is what it ans to be an alien.
When she was a child, she used to watch sci-fi and nurture all sorts of fantasies about them...
Unlike in the movies, they didn't bother learning English or anything—they're an alien making absurd remarks... in Korean, of all languages.
Seonwoo Yeon silently lowered her head. In truth, if she were to confess now, she had once felt a bit disappointed to learn that Alphaurins had nothing to do with flying saucers. Yet, as she quietly observed the cosmic traveler contained within Kim Giryeo's body, she sotis felt relieved that her imagination had been off the mark.
Well, I suppose this type is way better than those aliens who shoot ray guns and try to conquer humanity.
Conquering humanity. Conquering humanity. But mulling that phrase over carefully, a strange worry starts to creep in.
Wait, no. Co to think of it, could an invasion of Earth actually happen?
Swish.
It was around the ti a sea breeze blew. Seonwoo Yeon, without bothering to fix her disheveled hair, drifted into thought. For now, she decided to list, one by one, the events the man nad Kim Giryeo had experienced since he had awakened.
Human trafficking
Assault
Deception
She thought it was fine to stop listing them now.
Huh?
Honestly, just counting the incidents that ca to mind, she couldn't expect a high rating for the planet. At this level of unfriendliness, it was practically grounds for a lawsuit.
But recently, due to the humans' outrageous greed, even the alien's friend had died. Could this really be considered okay?
Anyone could see that this was the kind of situation where you just couldn't stay calm, right?
Rattle rattle rattle.
Seonwoo Yeon subtly began to tremble at her fingertips. Of course, the evening breeze on the coast was cold, but more than that, her unease had grown so strong that she couldn't keep her body still.
That person possesses skills far beyond anything we call 'abilities,' doesn't he?
He's retired in both his past life and this one, but who would dare call that wizard a 'retired' creature?
A mont later, she spoke up, feeling as if she were taking the lead and shouldering the responsibility.
Excuse ...
She tried to give her advice as objectively as possible, aiming to prevent the alien from making a fatal decision.
Kim Giryeo, but you know...
Yes, yes.
I feel like we really need to address this seriously, so I'm going to say it.
Yes?
From now on, you must genuinely and completely refrain from taking personal revenge.
Ssshk.
His expression remained blank, but Kim Giryeo, now clearly calr, turned his head. As he looked out at the sea once more, he focused intently.
To be honest, I haven't been very fair until now. After all, I had my own connection with Hunter Ahn Yoonseung...
Yeah.
To be honest, I was feeling so troubled that, for a while, I unconsciously ended up supporting your actions, Kim Giryeo. No, it was almost... refreshing, actually.
I understand.
The phenonon of unconsciously adopting a posture similar to soone nearby. Now that I think about it, there was definitely a technical term to describe this situation... but what was it again?
_-
The human crossed her arms just like the Alphaurin. Then, in that stance, she slowly spoke the following words.
But looking back at the way Kim Giryeo got involved in the investigation, there were just far too many problems.
Hmm.
The more I think about it, the more it crossed the line. In the end, it seems fair to say the outco was sothing that simply couldn't be tolerated.
Mixed in her voice were a hint of sincerity, a reproach, and an unmistakable trace of fear. For reference, she didn't consider herself particularly special. She knew that if she provoked Kim Giryeo too much, she might et a fate similar to those criminals known as [Beasts].
You were wrong this ti.
Yet, despite that, Seonwoo Yeon carefully continued her argunt, determined to prevent any greater problems from arising.
Did I really do sothing wrong? Even though the legal penalties specified were so lenient?
If you think the law is too weak, the best thing you can do is pay more attention to politics.
_-
At least, from the perspective of an ordinary citizen, that's how it is.
_-
Of course, I don't trust all the politicians I've voted for either. But still, leaving punishnt up to individual judgnt would obviously be even less reliable, wouldn't it?
I see.
If morality were such an easy concept that anyone could define it alone, there wouldn't be any debates in this world.
But was it really appropriate for such a response to co from this conversation? Kim Giryeo, who had been quietly listening to Seonwoo Yeon, gave an unexpected reply.
I'm in trouble again.
Not even a few seconds had passed since he'd been cautioned about his phrasing, and now, with a slight delay, ca a chiding about his apparent lack of ethics. Kim Giryeo seed to find the situation sowhat absurd. He let out a faint, almost chuckling sign and slowly slumped in a sulky manner. Judging by the way even his eyebrows moved to display an expression, it was clear he was only half joking.
No, uh... uh, you didn't have to get so discouraged, I, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings or anything. I just—I—
It was around the ti the civil servant felt awkward at soone pretending to cry.
I know.
Yes?
The spirit of the oceanic planet suddenly fell silent. The young man, expressionless, straightened his posture and spoke imdiately.
I already know the logic Hunter Seonwoo Yeon has been using to give all these pieces of advice.
What?
So, does that statent an he's promising not to invade Earth while shooting laser guns everywhere?
P, phew.
Do you have to show so obviously that you're relieved?
Feeling a bit defeated, the Archmage, after observing the acquaintance's reaction, imdiately began speaking again.
But anyway, there's really no need to worry about that. The truth is, the plan I've been working on lately is completely the opposite of that concern...
Yes?
First of all, I'm well aware that not everyone on Earth is bad, you know?
Hmm.
The very reason I fell into despair in the first place was because of Yoonseung's mistakes. Well, I suppose that's only natural to say.
Yes.
Even though such things happened, the guilty are only a tiny minority... in the end, the majority of the world is just ordinary.
How could soone who abandoned their holand run wild on a planet like this?
I was never given the right to govern this society.
The blond man quickly completed his self-reflection. Then, having been holed up at ho until now, he voiced the thoughts he had been feeling.
On the contrary, this incident made realize that Earthlings ant more to than I had thought.
She was well aware of how unpleasant the thought had been. After all, she lanted that she shouldn't have gone so far as to attach a tracking spell to Ahn Yoonseung—so is further explanation really necessary?
I guess I really did quite grow fond of you humans.
It beca certain. That eluded sothing that had always lingered around her like invisible oxygen had finally been identified as affection. Honestly, it wasn't as if she'd worked that hard at socializing to form any real sense of camaraderie.
At what point had it happened? Or perhaps it wasn't a specific mont at all—maybe it was simply that the natives of Earth themselves were so insanely pure that his eyes couldn't help but be drawn to them.
Oh, right. Seonwoo Yeon-ssi. Actually, high-difficulty gates have been occurring very often lately.
Oh, yes. That's it.
That's actually because I administered sothing like an injection in advance. But even though I've made the dungeons easier like this, if people keep hunting, they'll end up getting hurt eventually, right?
Who?
Hunters like Jung Hasaong and Seo Esther... so many of them...
But just as that brief mont of contemplation passed, an unexpected topic suddenly erged.
Besides, for lower-ranked Awakeners like Gu Seohyeong, monsters are especially dangerous beings.
Although he had taken a bit of a roundabout way to get there, what Kim Giryeo truly wanted to say was actually quite simple.
Seonwoo Yeon-ssi, what do you think was the true, fundantal cause of Ahn Yoonseung's death?
There was no point in locking himself away and brooding over the past. It was ti to start making real plans for the future.
The fundantal cause...
You've been reassuring this whole ti that it wasn't my fault. So, since I've already been granted a sort of pardon, why don't I co up with a new excuse now?
What?
I believe the [Birth of the Gates] is what ruined this world.
At Kim Giryeo's words, Seonwoo Yeon's eyes widened. But before the conversation could even progress, the blond man—having seized the initiative—continued to assert his point.
I'm not usually the type to give complints, but the more I learn about this planet you live on, the more I realize—it's truly an impressive place.
How could he suddenly praise another region so highly?
What surprised most was the level of culture. Who would have thought that even back in the distant Joseon era, they followed scientific autopsy procedures so thoroughly?
Ah.
In a frustrating situation where even appealing to mana couldn't provide an answer, they kept searching for another way, falling tens of thousands of tis in the process... Seeing that, honestly, humans are not to be underestimated as fools.
E, except for you, nobody usually underestimates our intelligence.
Of course, when it cos to the single field of magic studies, this place isn't even worth the dirt under my hotown's toenails!
A suddenly raised tone, as if to emphasize the sentence. However, it seed to be nothing more than a small device ant to draw the listener's attention...
Anyway, the science of this world is nothing more than a curious kind of mystery to .
Kim Giryeo quickly returned to his usual tone.
Even in places where magic is strictly forbidden and not a single trace of mana exists, this world has techniques capable of determining both the cause of death and the assailant from just one corpse.
The danger of monsters. The hunters' workplace, where safety can never be guaranteed. And the reverence for human technology, and so on.
For reference, there was only one reason Kim Giryeo began bringing up such a complex story.
But then, one day, a Gate completely shattered the artistic safety system that humanity had built up.
_-
Especially in a small country like Korea, if only the Dungeon Shock hadn't happened, no one would have dared to commit murder.
Ever since the appearance of the Gates, violent cris between humans on Earth had increased by a staggering twenty-tis. Even, yes, it said, soone had accidentally caused the ground to split open while drilling for oil, even if that ad sohow led to sudden exposure to imnse magical energy—Earth was never ant to experience a "shock" of this magnitude.
In the end, the real problem was that an entity from the cosmos called a Kishimche had recklessly interfered.
To put it simply.
Monsters. Dungeons. And, of course, items, and so on.
Because all these concepts appeared far too quickly, it created an excessive amount of chaos.
Yes. As long as that exists in this world, we can't feel safe going forward...
Gate, gate.
A brief murmur to himself followed. Kim Giryeo muttered sothing in a voice barely audible, then belatedly turned his head toward the human beside him.
Seonwoo Yeon-ssi.
Y, yes.
First, on behalf of those with superpowers, could you briefly answer one question?
It almost felt like it could beco a burden, but the man quickly added that it was just a simple survey. As a result, the conversation proceeded smoothly.
What do you think would happen if I completely erased the Gates and restored this world as much as possible to its original state?
I'd love that. I'm totally in favor of it.
The situation was slightly different from what was expected. She thought he would at least ponder it a bit, but the lucky 8-rank civil servant, who had claid the position of a predator in this society, made his choice imdiately.
First of all, losing my parents on the day of Dungeon Shock was a huge trauma.
Hmm.
Actually, I'm just an ordinary individual. In cases like this, I'd like to answer as objectively as possible using statistics.
Statistics?
In the country I live in, the ergence of artifacts allowed only a tiny fraction of people to survive, while the total population had long since changed its leading digits.
Seonwoo Yeon answered that she was absolutely in favor of magic disappearing. But even after finishing the survey, she still had sothing left to say.
But, what is you just ntioned with the primitive shaman then their head slightly in ambiguity.
To put it taphorically, in my past life, I was a soldier riding in a tank.
What kind of nonsense is that?
And here, I'm a young man in a fancy sports car.
Seonwoo Yeon listened attentively.
Wait, can you try imagining a sports car in your mind?
Yes.
Now, let's say I'm in a vehicle and co across a street tree I don't like.
Y, yes?
If you drove a sports car at top speed and ramd into a tree, do you think the roadside tree might get uprooted?
For a while, a aningless conversation ensued.
They break or get ripped off. It's often on the news when drunk drivers do that.
But she wondered why this was happening...
I see. So, physically speaking, everything is theoretically possible?
Yes, yes.
But if you were to crash into a tree at top speed, could the driver really escape without injury?
User Comments
0 comments from readers