The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board-Chapter 423

Seol checked the messages. The usual flood of messages indicating that the Adventure was complete hadn’t appeared yet.

Their Adventure was unfinished.

Whether it was a MacGuffin or a tragic ending, this fairy-tale-like adventure had awkwardly concluded.

As Seol looked ahead with tired eyes, Ur was standing there.

"What did you do… What have you done?" Ur asked him. "She's naive! She's going to believe your optimistic words and wait! Rather…"

"She's going to wait. Since I told her to."

"You fool…! Why are you so confident? Do you really think we can bring her back?"

Ur could feel the weight behind his question. And it seemed like Seol's party and even Somi would be crushed by that weight.

"Since I said I'm going to get her, we'll have to get her."

Seol's words were clever.

He didn't speak of success or failure—he only spoke of his resolve.

"Damn it…"

The reason Ur felt frustrated wasn't because he thought Seol was irresponsible. No, Seol wasn't irresponsible, nor had he lied—he really intended to bring her back.

In fact, Seol might have understood the weight of those words better than anyone. That's why he said that so resolutely.

Perhaps even the girl left in the rift of time had trusted Seol because of that, and that's why she swung the hammer.

'Damn it…!'

Ur found the situation frustrating.

Although it wasn't a competition, he felt defeated.

It was as if the wind was jealous of the sun stripping the traveler of their clothes.

Seol had achieved his goal using an unprecedented power that Ur couldn't even comprehend.

The power of trust, which was usually worthless, could exhibit an oddly powerful strength when one was faced with an unexpected crisis.

Sometimes worthless, sometimes unbelievably valuable.

That was why Ur was so frustrated. He had witnessed the power of trust—which had shattered his truth and exhibited an infinite value—right before his eyes. And in the process, he'd been completely excluded.

However, recovering from the frustration didn't take long. As if wanting to apologize, the god of fate had finally raised Ur's hand.

"How could this be…"

Ur checked the statue of Maradum that remained there. Specifically, the Stone of Time it was holding.

There was some power within it.

Far greater than he expected.

"Was that foolish Magician… right?"

Maradum was right.

The power accumulated in the Stone of Time was enough to send one person to Cagon in a single leap. However, it would only be a one-way trip.

Swoosh…

For a moment, Ur's eyes gleamed with greed.

He wanted to return to the time before Cagon's destruction and punish the Wizards who had made him this way. He also wanted to witness their downfall.

Perhaps this was the goal of his newfound life.

When Ur touched the Stone of Time, another hand approached.

Swoosh…

Seol's hand gently rested on Ur's wrist.

"It's you again… Did you read my thoughts?" Ur said without even turning, and then warned him. "If you wanted to stop me, you should have drawn Agony first."

"I'm not trying to stop you."

"What…?"

It was a ridiculous situation.

This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

The power he desired was right in front of him. He would have surely seized it without hesitation and left for Cagon.

Then, why was he hesitating? Why did the weight of this hand feel like the weight of the world?

"This power is meant to bring Somi back. You know that."

"…"

If he hadn't met Seol, he wouldn't even have pondered about it.

From Ur’s perspective, Somi wasn't someone particularly useful. She had marginal uses, but beyond that, there was nothing about her that would attract his interest.

'Then… why can't I choose?'

Ur was a free being.

He should be able to do whatever he pleased.

However, he couldn't.

Was it because Seol was strong? Because he would lose if they fought?

No.

It was because of Somi's actions.

She had done something Ur couldn't.

Trusting others.

Sacrificing oneself.

Taking a step forward fueled by that trust.

That made him hesitate.

The doubt that choosing only himself might be the wrong option had taken root in his mind.

'How could this be…'

Somi and Seol… They were hateful beings who had shattered his truth and infused him with the vague power of trust.

"Ur, I trust you…"

"You trust me?"

"Yes. We're going back to the Throne of Ashes to bring Somi back."

"You reckless fool… Just how much more are you trying to gain with those words?" Ur's eyes turned cold. "I'm not as foolish as her, nor have I been bewitched by you."

"Not everyone believes in others because they're foolish."

Swoosh…

Seol removed his hand from Ur's wrist.

"I trust you because you're trustworthy."

"…"

Ur's hand trembled. And then he realized.

The reason why he hadn't been able to move his hand.

Ur had wished for someone to stop him.

Ur thought of every gaze ever fixed on him—from his birth to the present.

Everyone either feared him or held him in awe.

But no one had ever said they trusted him.

Because he was an absolute being, he was one of the few people who could live as they pleased. People merely accepted the choices he made, not trust him.

Seol was the first person to ever say he trusted Ur.

Ur remembered why he thought trust was an intangible resource, just like a currency.

Trust circulated, going from one place to another.

The trust Seol had received from Somi, he'd passed it on to Ur.

"I…"

WHOOSH—!

WHOOM…

The Star Graveyard started to change.

The ceiling split apart, revealing a starry night sky.

Then, a large altar emerged, holding a blue orb, which soon started to emit its power into the sky.

"Ur!"

"I…"

FWOOSH—!

A beam of light shot into the sky. That light was headed somewhere in the past.

* * *

Somi, who had been left in the past, didn't live a tragedy. In fact, she was being treated with utmost care.

"It's alcohol!"

"The oak is rotten! Bring something proper!"

"If we're going to die anyway, why not drink before we do!"

The dwarves, who had been left behind, were similar in nature to the Time Variants, differing only in behavior and speech.

In other words, they were beings who would, one day, naturally disappear. A predetermined death awaited them.

Although death awaited them, the dwarves didn't mourn excessively. Instead, they indulged in pleasure.

They'd been drinking for almost a week straight.

That meant it had been over a week since Maradum had been defeated.

Somi's mind raced. She realized that time inside and time outside flowed differently, since there was no way a week had passed without any news unless she had been abandoned.

Yes, unless they had abandoned her…

"The time difference is a problem…'

If the time was different, how different was it? What if the timeline was drastically twisted? What if they had come to find her immediately, but she had already turned into dust, given her aged body?

"Oof…"

Somi's thoughts grew heavy.

Unlike now, when she swung the hammer, it felt exhilarating.

"What's wrong? Why aren't you drinking as usual?"

Surprisingly, Somi was sitting next to King Sirion of the Throne of Ashes, being treated as a guest.

She was dressed quite impressively.

As if Sirion had looted the clothes of a human noblewoman, the old-fashioned dress fit her perfectly without needing to make any adjustments.

Somi felt like she was Snow White, who had suddenly appeared in the dwarves' world.

Although Snow White probably didn't look that wrinkled.

"No! Let's drink!"

Somi gulped down the drink from the oak mug.

"Good! Very good!"

"Hahaha!"

The dwarves, regardless of her feelings, caroused through the festival.

They weren't delicate enough to take into consideration her emotions. Not only that, but they, too, were in a pitiful expression due to their predetermined death.

"Haha… It's delicious! Dwarven alcohol is the best!"

Somi gave a thumbs up and patted the dwarf next to her on the shoulder, prompting them to erupt in cheers.

"Hahaha! That's it!"

"We've won! We've won!"

A few moments later, while the dwarves were asleep where they sat, Sirion left the hall.

Somi was missing.

However, finding her wasn't hard.

Whir…

In a place where the wind was strong.

"So here you are."

Somi was looking out from the fortress with a completely sober face.

The majestic scenery filled her chest.

She was at the pinnacle of the Throne of Ashes.

As one would expect from an ancient structure, there was no safety railing except for one precarious handhold.

"Why did you follow me?"

"Three have died after climbing this tower."

"Three?"

"Two died foolishly because they were trying to build the roof after drinking alcohol."

"Oh no…"

"And one just jumped. It was my daughter."

"…"

Somi looked away from the scenery she'd been mesmerized by. And then looked at Sirion. "You're quite perceptive…"

"You might think jumping would end the anxiety and the self-loathing I don't understand, but…"

"It's fine… Because it won't be today."

"That's a relief."

Somi placed her hand on the railing and said, "Have you ever trusted someone?"

"If I hadn't, the Throne of Ashes would have struggled. However, before Maradum appeared, things were fine. Don't you think so?"

"Hmm…"

"Those who walk the future don't need to dig the past. Even if we died and turned into dust, the world would continue existing, right? That's enough for me." Sirion gazed at her with his wise eyes, his beard covering half his face. "Rather, I want to ask you. What's the future like?"

"That…"

Somi told Sirion all sorts of things. Perhaps she just needed someone to talk to.

"I see… So humans will prosper, after all."

"It wasn't like this before?"

"This is an era of war. Many have died, and humans also struggled. However, listening to your words makes me feel a bit uneasy."

"Huh? Why?"

"How could they prosper again so much?"

"Hmm… I also don't know."

After chatting to her heart's content, Somi looked satisfied and clasped her hands behind her back.

"Then, shall we go back?"

Sirion knew.

He knew their connection could momentarily numb her pain, but it would never truly solve it.

"Are you afraid…?"

"Huh? Of what?""

"It seems you think you've been abandoned."

"…"

Somi's face darkened instantly.

"Acting on impulse will make you end up like me."

"Your cheerfulness is your charm. Everyone likes you."

"But I'm not particularly into…"

Somi smiled awkwardly.

It was a smile that was neither ugly nor beautiful.

"Well… isn't that how one would normally think?"

"…"

"Left in this state, in an unknown place… Isn't it strange to think they are going to come back for me? If they do, they must be crazy. Isn't that right?"

"So you wish they come back for you."

Somi's face twisted. "He said they would come… He told me to wait."

"Why did you break the stone?"

"Don't ask why. I just… believed. That he would definitely come to rescue me."

"Why are you doubting now?"

"I don't know! That's just who I am! The dwarves don't understand a woman's heart!"

Sirion chuckled. "If it were me… I would have given up on you."

"How could you curse me like that…"

Then he straightened his face. "But… it seems their thoughts are different."

"What…?"

"Look at the sky."

At his words, Somi looked up in surprise.

WHOOM…

A radiant blue light had swallowed the sky.

Whoosh…

Whoosh…

The vibrations grew stronger.

"Huh…?"

"You seem to have good comrades."

Whoosh…

Whoosh…

"Seeing how they came for you, after all."

BOOM—!

A blue beam of light fell from the sky.

The beam formed right in front of the pinnacle of the Throne of Ashes.

A voice came from the beam. "I've finally found you…"

It was Ur's voice.

Soon, Ur stepped onto the railing.

"Th-They came for me!"

"I'm suffering because of that reckless fool."

"You…"

"The one you're waiting for is elsewhere. Unfortunately, the stone didn't have enough power to bring him along."

"I see!"

Whatever it was, Somi looked happy. Her trust, having been rewarded, brought her immense pleasure.

"But you seem happy… Did you enjoy your time here?"

Somi muttered. "Well, the dwarves were nice, and the food was good… Ah! The alcohol! The alcohol is really the best! But…"

Soon, her face got twisted as if she was about to cry.

"I want to go back."

"Then let's go back… Name?"

"Yes?"

"Name. Your name."

As Somi asked back, Ur said more bluntly.

"Ha-Han Somi. Didn't you know my name?"

"A name only gains meaning when you hear it directly from the person."

"Is that so? But more than that, don't I look strange now?"

"What do you mean?"

"I became an old woman overnight."

"Don't worry. Once we get back, you're going to return to normal."

"That's a relief…"

Somi smiled broadly.

"As time passes, all living beings age. Humans are no exception. It's only natural."

"Although you talk a lot… it doesn't reach me very much. I feel like last time it was the same…"

"Looking back, that's a bad habit of mine… I'll try to fix it."

"Huh… Are you the type who changes?"

"I am."

The Wizard of Origin, Ur, was someone who sought the truth. But he could also leave behind what wasn't the truth and learn anew.

"That's me. I'll take your advice. And…" Upon looking at Somi, who had become an old woman, Ur removed his mask and awkwardly smiled. "My name is Ur. I'm The Wizard of Origin."

"Y-Your face…"

Ur's face was identical to Seol's

However, his actions, along with a subtle sense of intimidation, were the opposite.

Even Somi could tell he wasn't Seol despite having the same face.

And that him saying his name had a special meaning for him.

"Engrave it in your soul. Hold onto it until the moment you die. It will be a great honor for you."

"What are you saying…?"

"And your current appearance… it doesn't look strange at all."

"Are you saying I'm pretty in a roundabout way?"

"Over-interpreting is a bad habit of yours."

"I hear that often…"

As Somi tried to step onto the railing, Sirion grabbed her hand.

"Hey."

"This is awkward… even if you like me…"

"Hahaha! It certainly is a bad habit of yours."

"…"

"I want to leave something behind, too. I, Sirion."

Ur shook his head. "This place is a rift in time. You are a fixed being. Nothing you possess can transcend time."

"If it's an object, sure." Sirion looked at Somi and smiled. "There's something hidden in the basement of this fortress. Something your future selves can grasp."

"Wouldn't it have been destroyed?"

"It's a mechanism and magic built by our ancestors. No matter how much time passes, I'm sure it was protected from greed. I'll tell you how to open the door."

Sirion explained it to Ur and Somi.

Ur lifted Somi up.

"Then, let's go."

Sirion bluntly said, "Farewell, Magician."

"It's Wizard…"

FWOOSH—!

Ur threw himself into the beam of light.

As they disappeared, the beam of light soon faded.

Swoosh…

Sirion was left alone, chuckling.

"Humans… To think they would prosper again, as expected…"

Crack…

His body, which was made of the time's residue, and the Ash Fortress slowly started to crumble.

"I guess it's understandable."

Fwoosh—!

The dwarven kingdom shattered into pieces.

Meanwhile, as they passed through the beam of light, Somi's body gradually returned to its original form.

Her clothes also reverted to the equipment she had when she first arrived at the Throne of Ashes.

And finally, she returned to the Star Graveyard.

"Cough… Oof… Oof…"

"I'm back!"

"…"

Somi stood in the center of the Star Graveyard, dazed as if she had walked out of a dream.

Fwoosh…

Today, as if she were the protagonist, the beam of light from the Star Graveyard rose into the sky.

Seol approached and offered his hand to help her up.

"I-I thought I was left alone…"

Seol silently smiled at her.

Somi finally made a tearful face. She finally realized she'd come back.

Then, as if she'd realized something, she looked around.

She was looking for Ur.

Ur, with the beam of light behind him, was looking down at the city from the top of the ruins.

"Ehm…" Ur asked without turning around. "So, how was the time travel?"

[The resurrection of Maradum, the Calamity Magician, has been stopped.]

[The Stone of Time’s power has completely vanished.]

[The Star Graveyard's appearance has changed and is now fixed.]

[You have obtained hidden space information directly from Sirion.]

[You have received information on Hidden Adventure 'What Hasn't Yet Burned.']

[Once the conditions have been met, a Sudden Adventure will activate.]

[Snowman’s and CollegeStudentsMustDie's great achievements have caused changes in the world.]

[Large and small changes happen in Pandea, The World of Eternity.]

…