Chapter 496 – Oblivion (2)

“Hey, hey, hey.”
“Yes?”
“Try this quickly.”

Quickly spearing a piece of steak from the buffet plate, Se-young delivered it straight to Si-heon’s mouth. It was an act both embarrassing and disconcerting, its haste leaving no room for savoring.

“Are you okay?”

This was their dinner, a meal at the hotel after finishing work. Si-heon, confronted with the beautiful smile he was so accustomed to seeing, closed his eyes, striving to evade her gaze.

“It’s delicious.”
“Wow, your reaction is so bland.”
“What more reaction should I offer here?”
“Anyway, you seem to be doing well these days. Did you meet the executive director? You know, the chairman’s daughter.”
“Ah…”
“Why, are you troubled?”
“I’m uncertain if it’s a personnel transfer or a promotion. They seemed to view me favorably.”
“Wow, that’s incredible. I should also try fainting once. I did drama in college, so I’m confident.”
“Haha.”

Cornus, was it? She was known for nurturing exceptional employees, encouraging their growth and facilitating their ascent to higher positions. Her appearance was striking, and her breasts were remarkably full.

“Hold on. Does that mean you could become my boss if I make a mistake?”

While such a scenario was possible, a worse prospect loomed… a shift to a different working environment. This would mean Se-young moving to a location out of Si-heon’s reach.

Honestly, he didn’t want to go, though he couldn’t voice this sentiment. Far from being jealous, Se-young was sincerely congratulatory. He found himself wondering where such a person had come from to land before him.

“Why such a face? Do you really have some concerns? Need a drink?”
“No…Why do you always suggest drinking whenever there’s a moment?”
“You know I have a subtle dependency.”

Se-young set down the fork she had been eating with and contemplated, chin in hand.

“Hmm… is it perhaps a matter of romance?”
“Yes?”
“You’ve been looking rather radiant these days, and there are quite a few who fancy you.”

Although her deduction was reasonable, it also seemed obtuse. Or perhaps she knew and was merely teasing. The thought was somewhat shocking.

“It’s somewhat close, but… I’ve had no connection with that side. Have you?”
“Um, not so much?”
“?”
“Why, why the surprise?”

Se-young seemed to be an outsider, a far cry from his world. Si-heon blinked, his eyes wide in puppy-like surprise.

“No, I… I attended an all-girls middle school, high school, and women’s college.”

It was a revelation he hadn’t anticipated. He had heard that compared to engineering men, women tend to date more actively. Was that not the case?

“Well, that’s when you’re interested. I’m not.”

His enthusiasm deflated rapidly at her lack of interest. He regretted asking. The thought passed through his mind, leaving Si-heon feeling desolate. Upon seeing this, Se-young’s face suddenly hardened.

“……”

Could it be…me? His changing expression was evident. Even dried radish leaves wouldn’t look so sullen.

– Thump, thump.

“Um, erm… why. Do you have someone you like?”
“Ah, it’s ambiguous.”

Se-Young gave a hollow cough, her smile tinged with unease. The corners of her mouth subtly spasmed.

It wasn’t that she despised him as a younger brother. It was merely disconcerting to suddenly realize something. It was an odd sensation, as if it were both pleasant and unpleasant, with an unusual undertone of excitement.

Suddenly, recollections of Si-heon, engrossed in his preparations, flitted across her mind.

“I’m not too sure about what a good perfume would be.”

Looking back now, it was all an act of flirtation. Endearing. A chuckle escaped her lips as she subtly lowered her head to ask a seemingly flirtatious question.

“Heh heh, what’s so ambiguous? Who are you dealing with?”

“It’s not someone from work, but an old acquaintance.”

Si-heon’s words, a bolt from the blue, were a cover-up for the truth.

“Oh.”

Se-Young’s brow furrowed momentarily.

“…Why though?”

“?”

This time, it was Si-heon’s turn to notice Se-Young’s change.

“Let’s get some drinks.”

“What’s the matter?”

“I just feel like drinking.”

“Let’s not drink right now, it’s a serious conversation.”

What could be so important to forbid alcohol? Se-Young, feeling a twinge of agitation, suddenly found herself reflecting on why her mood had soured.

‘…Why am I getting upset?’

Though she had no memory of viewing him romantically, the mere thought of him with someone else irked her. When viewed through the lens of romance, Si-heon seemed to draw her gaze more than before.

Regardless, her appetite had decidedly waned.

“…Should we discuss this on the way?”

“Ah, I’d appreciate that.”

Se-Young and Si-heon promptly rose from their seats and began walking towards the room.

“So, who’s this girl you’ve taken a liking to?”

“That’s the thing, it’s complicated.”

“So, you’re into ambiguity now, huh? Just confess, you rascal.”

“But I’m not sure if she’ll accept.”

Seeing him utter those words, lacking in confidence, tugged at her heartstrings once more. Remembering her brief fit of anger, Se-Young sighed, halted in her tracks, unsure of what to do.

Right, it wasn’t unusual for her to act this way all of a sudden. She should handle this maturely. He may be her senior at work, but now he was a close friend personally.

“What made you interested in her?”

“…Well, she was there for me during tough times.”

Pressing the elevator button,

“Anything else?”

“She listened to my troubles over drinks.”

Stepping into the elevator,

“And?”

“She’s also quite attractive. Her personality is sharp, but somehow also gentle.”

“What do you mean sharp but gentle?”

“That’s just how she is when she drinks.”

“What kind of woman….”

Se-Young’s hand, poised to press the seventh-floor button, hesitated for a moment.

“Just… just a moment. Is… is there more to it?”

This…

‘…….’

Could it be… me?

A long pause ensued, as if time had momentarily stopped. Se-Young, regaining her composure, pressed the button naturally and closed the elevator door.

“Squeak, squeak.”

Inside the ascending elevator, a sudden warmth flushes my face. Fanning herself, ‘Se-young’ steals a glance at ‘Si-heon’. The elevator is of an older design, its slow speed making each second feel agonizingly long.

Hurry up and get there.

Se-young and Baek-yang observe as the two share an awkward silence.

“But, Si-heon?”

“Yes?”

Finally.

“Isn’t that me?”

Clunk!

At that moment, the elevator lights flicker and the power goes out.

“!!!”
“Huh?!”

A large tremor reverberates through the cramped space, the elevator swaying precariously from side to side. The conversation between ‘Se-young’ and ‘Si-heon’ abruptly ends there.

In the pitch-black void, a man and a woman speak.

“Oh… wait. Isn’t this dangerous?”
“Give it a moment.”

Regardless of how perilous the elevator seems, there are minimum safety measures in place. Si-heon, searching for the emergency call button in the halted elevator, reassures her.

“It’s alright. Help will be here in a few minutes. There are many people in the hotel who would want to use the elevator, they will notice the malfunction soon.”

The problem is, this elevator appears to urgently require maintenance.

“Squeak, squeak.”

When the sensation of abruptly dropping kicks in, the situation becomes even more dire.

“…….”

Thud!

It’s the sound of something breaking. Not good. As Si-heon’s hand clasps Se-young’s wrist, the elevator begins its plummet.

Screech!

The elevator is falling, scraping harshly against the wall. One of Si-heon’s arms encircles Se-young roughly. He holds onto the safety bar with one hand, but the velocity makes it useless.

“Hey—”

Just as she starts to speak, Bang! The world shakes violently, and the bodies of the two become entangled.

Crash, thud. Crash.

How many times have they rolled on the floor? Si-heon, forced to release the safety bar and wrap Se-young in his arms, realizes that the emergency light has been triggered. Se-young, feeling a sharp pain in her leg, calls out his name.

“…Oh, Lee Si-heon. Hey, are you alright?”

The body that had embraced her and absorbed the full impact of the fall. In Se-young’s shaky vision, a bright red figure flickers.

“You.”

Blood is seeping from his head.

“You wait, your, your head. …Blood. You’re bleeding. Hey, hey!”

It seems as if her focus is slightly off. As panic-stricken Se-young tries to pull away from his grasp, Si-heon’s arm tightens.

He’s still alive.

“Uh, ah… Keep your eyes open. Wider…. Stay conscious… Hey.”
“Yes.”
“Some crazy guy trying to play the hero. Are you okay? Your head, it’s bleeding. You’re bleeding a lot.”
“Stay still. Sister. Try to calm down.”
“How the hell am I supposed to calm down… .”

Siheon’s hand traced the length of Seyoung’s spine.

“Perhaps, it halted midway while falling. If we stir and plummet further from here… both of us could perish.”

“That isn’t the issue, it’s your current state.”

“…”

“…Hold on. Hey.”

“…”

“Hey!”

“…”

“Damn it-“

“…I’m fine.”

Despite such assurances, strength was ebbing away from his body. Siheon, drooping his eyelids, exhaled a vertiginous breath. He gradually relaxed his arms that had been tightly wrapped around Seyoung, savoring her embrace.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

There was another person who should have been asked that question. This madman.

– Kki-ik, chi-ki-gik.

The elevator began emitting sounds again. Both individuals, silent and still, remained in a prolonged embrace. Despite the turmoil, only one person managed to stand unscathed. Siheon’s physique seemed to be on the verge of succumbing.

In such a pressing circumstance,

【 Please cease. 】

A voice, unheard by anyone, echoed eerily. Faint magical energy shimmered from Seyoung’s hand as she looked down upon the pair.

* * * * * * * * * *

The moment when Lee Si-heon and Lee Se-young plunged into a dream. Byul, as the President of the Korean Hunter Association, was fulfilling various duties. It was a matter of principle – she was responsible for rescuing and guiding hunters engulfed in disaster.

“Skip the trivialities and get to the crux of the matter. I’m truly exhausted.”

“Ha ha.”

In front of Byul, who waved her hand dismissively, an official from the administration department offered a wry smile. As they were now severed from society, they had to be prepared for all possible scenarios.

Provisions, crime, distribution of power and manpower.

“Shall we begin, then?”

Byul, reaching out to clap her hands, signaled the attendees around the massive round table. From the Guild Master of the colossal guild to the national hunters, everyone had convened for this meeting. Prompted by Byul’s signal, a woman commenced her report.

“Yes, I report. Three residential areas recently annihilated have been identified, and it’s been particularly noted that monsters are flocking to regions where water bodies are located.”

“Understood. What’s the status of the generator?”

“Considering the expanding residential territory, we have about 90 days.”

“Why so? We should have ample magic stones.”

At Byul’s query, Seal, an executive from the Red Mage Tower, shook his head.

“We have sufficient magic stones, but what we lack are the machines. Processing like bending can be achieved with magic, but precision work is necessary to comply with standard specifications.”

“What if we modify the internal components of the generator to use unprocessed magic stones as fuel?”

“We’re already exploring that avenue, but the lifespan of a generator meant to endure for centuries may only last a handful of months.”
“Proceed nonetheless.”
“Yes.”

Survival presents the true challenge.
In such dire circumstances, the presence or absence of an effective leader can make a considerable difference.

Star was the perfect fit for this situation.

“Food supplies won’t be an issue, will they?”
“Regrettably, yes. More people are dying than the rate at which our supplies are depleting. The abilities of the creatures inhabiting the tower are surpassing all limits.”

At the executive’s words, Star clenched his teeth. The creatures in the tower were becoming increasingly formidable, as if intent on annihilating all humans on the eighth floor. The small settlements formed by the hunters on the periphery were gradually succumbing to the ongoing calamity.

Even here, at our headquarters on the eighth floor, once our final stronghold,
the power will fail in just a few months.

“It seems we have no choice but to uncover the root of the problem.”

Star voiced his conclusion in response to a guild leader’s remark.

“…The king is the problem.”

The presence of the king is a strong contender for the cause of the tower’s uncontrolled onslaught. More specifically, it’s the ‘Trial of the Tower’ bestowed upon the second King Mokryeong.

“Trial. Could this situation be considered part of the trials?”
“Given the creatures’ genetic makeup closely resembles something from the past or future… it appears that the tower’s power is indeed active.”

The ‘peculiar light,’ initially believed to correspond with the trial, had vanished without a trace.

“The dreams have ceased, but in their place, the creatures have grown stronger. It’s unclear whether this is a positive development. It could be part of the trial.”
“Surely, this can’t merely be the trial. The king would not struggle against these creatures.”
“There are indeed numerous uncertainties.”

There’s a shared question amongst the World Trees and the elite hunters.

“Why would the king’s servants test the successor to the throne?”

If their role is solely to serve the next King Mokryeong, it would be more rational to assist him. If the king’s vessel is such a rarity and the king were to meet his end, how long would we need to wait for the next king?

“The king’s power is amplified through trials. It seems like it’s merely for show. The king is already powerful.”
“Then, what is the purpose of the trial? Are you suggesting that the king’s servants do not welcome this king?”
“We don’t know. Didn’t we come here following the World Tree’s instruction to find out?”

A member of the Knights responded. If his statement held truth, it was possible that the relationship between the current king and his servants had been reversed.

The questions are never-ending.
How can the servants, whose duty is to serve the king, evaluate and impose trials on a king who is their superior?

“The World Tree of the Sea, whom I serve, proposed this theory.”
“If it’s the World Tree of the Sea, has it lived a similar span as the Five Great World Trees? So, what prophecy did it issue?”
“It suggested that the tower may consume the king.”

The tower is absorbing the power of the king.

For reasons unknown, it seemed to correlate with the intensifying might of the beast. Byul, who had been observing the dialogue silently, burst into applause and exclaimed,

“The motives of the minions remain beyond our comprehension.”

‘The World Tree’s thoughts align in this respect.’

They could be attempting to subdue the king, or perhaps they conducted these actions to foster growth. Alternatively, they could be segregated into numerous factions as the World Tree is.

“One certainty stands: mere endurance will not suffice.”

Byul made the judgement.

“The strategy to conquer the tower will proceed. All guilds, knight orders, and government-affiliated hunters should mobilize their members.”

It was necessary to ascend the tower, annihilate the king’s minions, and halt the tower’s operations. The council chamber quivered in response to this drastic resolution.

“I will not tolerate dissent. I bear the responsibility.”

The goal was to save as many lives as possible. The intent was to find a clue to rescue Lee Si-heon, but given the current circumstances, the narrative had shifted.

Byul, after moistening her parched lips, narrowed her eyes sharply.

‘I must save Se-Young, in any way possible.’

It was at this moment.

-Bang!

“Chairman!!! It’s urgent, very urgent!”

The door swung open and a woman stormed into the meeting, beaming and yelling.

A guild leader, furrowing his brow at her, attempted to raise his voice but she had been quicker. Standing next to her, a ‘hunter’ clad in armor was gazing blankly at Byul.

‘…What?’

Impossible.

Byul’s eyes, sharply focused, began to soften, reverting to their usual serene state.

“Se-Young has opened her eyes!!”