348 – Ruin (9)

On the plane to America. Normally, I would have flown to America alone, but Jiwon Choi asked me to go with her, so we sat in first class.

“So, there are many ways. Dok Soo-hee could come out right before the monsters come out, or she could get some additional information…”

She was surprisingly still trying to convince me, and while I was listening to her, I was also thinking about something else. (In fact, it seemed like Choi Ji-won chose to use an airplane instead of a teleporter to buy time to convince me.)

‘Will the book help?’

Will the book really cooperate? I was looking into the fundamental problem from the beginning.

What would happen if you used the ring on a book? Perhaps… its existence would disappear from the face of the earth. Since its characteristics disappear, it makes sense that the book would disappear as well.

However, I don’t think a normal living creature would cooperate with its own destruction. That part is a bit concerning.

‘The book is not ordinary.’

Up until now, the attitude of the book has been closer to that of a transcendent being than that of a mortal being. If you look at the original creations, don’t transcendent beings even view their own lives as if they were someone else’s? I think it’s quite possible.

“…Are you listening?”

“Oh, I’m listening.”

It’s not right to give up without even trying. My opinion, and Choi Ji-won’s opinion. Well… I say this, but in reality, I can’t help but lean toward my opinion. Because it’s my opinion.

“Junho, I think you’re in too much of a hurry right now. Let’s calmly think of a solution. Okay?”

I held Jiwon Choi’s hand tightly, who kept trying to persuade me, and made eye contact.

“I keep telling you, but I’m just going to ask the book.”

“therefore…”

“I’m just going to listen to both sides… and then decide after hearing them all. I know what you’re saying is possible. I’m going to try that too. I’m just going to try the ring first.”

“Uh, yeah…”

“I guess I was a little hasty. Sorry. I’ll calm down.”

I’ve been so stressed out lately that I’ve been rushing things without even realizing it. No, even now, I can feel the stewardesses whispering and looking at me. Let’s calm down. They’re all animals. They’re animals wearing clothes. It’s strange when animals look at me, so why should I be stressed out about what they think of me?

“I just came to ask, just to ask.”

Confirming my attitude, Jiwon remained silent until we arrived in the United States.

I closed my eyes, feeling the animals’ gaze.

**

In the basement of the research lab. Ronald, a high school student who knows nothing about anything, was having a delicious meal at a nearby restaurant, and the president was waiting for me, sitting on a soft chair.

“Nice to meet you!”

“Oh, yeah. What.”

The president shook my hand and even hugged me, but I stood there, feeling a bit awkward. That’s right, I didn’t tell him that I was angry this time. It wasn’t very pleasant to feel like my memories and emotions were disconnected from others.

“So, you want to use the book? Fine. I can certainly accommodate that as a favor.”

The president, who had been talking about various personal matters, left the room with a smile until the end. The researchers who would normally be on standby also left one by one, and in the end, only me, Choi Ji-won, and the book remained in this space. Oh, and the gold bars prepared for the sacrifice.

“… I feel empty.”

When I saw the person I had vented my anger on acting like that, I wondered what use my emotions were. If I wasn’t the one who allowed the return, then even the exchange of emotions, whether positive or negative, was impossible.

Okay. Let’s focus. I picked up a gold bar on the floor, cleared my throat, and spoke to the book.

“I have a ring given to me by Archangel Raphael. The effect of this ring is to erase one of the player’s characteristics. If I use this ring on Ronald, the owner of the book, will his existence disappear? Also, will everything that happened because of you be forgotten?”

Even as I said that, I felt a little taken aback. It was a question as urgent as, ‘I’m going to stab you with a knife now, what will happen to you when I do that?’

□Disappears. And the past changes.□

The gold bars in my hand disappeared, making my nervousness seem insignificant, and the book opened with a snap. As expected, the book showed no resistance to being destroyed by the ‘ring’. Since he said he knew everything, he must have expected me to ask such a question.

“Hey, you see? I told you it worked.”

“… That’s right.”

I let out a tense breath and smiled at Jiwon. I would have just tapped her with my elbow, but I was not sure about the strength.

□I can know everything, but I don’t know everything.□

But the book isn’t finished yet, and the pages keep turning even though I haven’t asked any additional questions.

□I knew the situation.□

You can know everything, but you don’t know everything? So… you have the ability to know, but you don’t necessarily try to know. You just figured out the whole situation.

“… So what did you know?”

“You knew everything, didn’t you? From the fight we had… to the situation we’re in now.”

“Is that so?”

While Jiwon and I were talking, the book didn’t move at all. I wondered what he was thinking about when he said he knew the situation. Even while talking, I glanced at the book.

Well, anyway, the purpose of coming here has been achieved. If you use the ring on Ronald, the past will definitely change. That alone is a big gain.

It was like I was on the 23rd or 24th floor, dealing with the ghost and it disappeared forever. Everything Michael Jeter and the US President did would be undone. The leaders of the world would forget my existence, and I would be able to get my old life back.

Back to a time when I didn’t have any major worries. Back to a time when I only had to worry about climbing the tower. Back to a time when I didn’t have to listen to people passing by telling me stories. Back to a time when no one knew me. Back to my small relationships.

The price is… a precious ring. It is the only means of preventing the impending doom. It is not a waste. I am so desperate that I have to invest in this.

“I’ll have to wait, but…”

My mind was set on using the ring. Later, there may be another item that ‘deletes characteristics’ from the tower. Maybe I will catch the Archangel’s eye again. Of course, as I promised to Jiwon, I will continue to return and find a way as much as I can. Not everything I said was empty words.

However, it is an undeniable fact that my heart is focused on the ring. It is not about covering up the problem, but rather going back to a time when there was no problem in the first place.

“Hey, Junho?”

Just as I was finishing gathering my thoughts, Jiwon tapped me on the shoulder. The book was finally moving.

-Slurp.

A page was turned. The speed of the turning was quite slow, as if a person was speaking slowly after thinking it over carefully.

What could it be saying? What is the book trying to say that makes me worry so much?

□Offer the source of the elixir you have.□

“…what?”

Compared to the time I spent thinking about it, the sentences are ridiculous. The guy suddenly suggested that I hand over the elixir. Is the book crazy? No. I don’t think so.

□This is a favor.□

“Wait, wait. This explanation is insufficient. Origin? Favor? What are you talking about?”

However, the book did not respond after that and closed again. It seemed as if it would not open its mouth until the elixir was given.

-Hug.

Feeling the warmth of Choi Ji-won holding my hand tightly, I calmed down my excited spirit.

Let’s calm down. Let’s just look at the information. Let’s just look at the information.

This book claims to be able to answer ‘all questions’. At least that’s what he claims, so it should at least be considered omniscient.

It knows the past, it knows the present, and according to the American experiment, it knows the future. This book is the one that sees this situation more accurately and objectively than anyone else in the world. (If the book’s values ​​are similar to those of humans.)

A book like that, a book with transcendent powers, said it would do me a favor. In return, it asked for an elixir.

“…”

It’s an opportunity. I don’t know what it is, but the book wants to do something for me. It wants to do me a favor.

Even if you don’t know the direction.

“good.”

Now, the right thing to do is to seize the opportunity.

□Okay.□

A book that opens with satisfaction. The feeling of an elixir disappearing from his arms.

□This is.□

The open page was really densely packed with letters, and they were slightly blurry, like a picture, a video, or a living creature. As I looked at it quietly, I felt like I was being sucked in, and my consciousness gradually became blurred.

□It’s the future you chose.□