Chapter 108 Karma (3)

“Just let her die. You’ve learned everything, haven’t you?”

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand what Elle was trying to say. Rival, that word alone was enough to express and understand her thoughts.

“Will saving her do more than come back as poison in the future? One day, she will be a pain in the neck that blocks Yoon-seok’s future.”

Technically speaking, she wasn’t wrong. As long as he didn’t give up ascending the Tower, he would meet her someday as a challenger. Then he would have to fight for his life, and she would surely be the toughest opponent of all. Like the scene, he saw in the past with clairvoyance.

“..”

The future of signing with the Heavenly Warrior at the Wish Auction. Yoon-seok, who repeatedly fought and struggled like a wild beast, met a young woman at the end. He somehow won, but it was close.

‘Maybe she was Cheon-ma.’

As if he recalled a dream from a long time ago, her face was blurry. However, he could clearly remember that she was reminiscent of Cheon-ma in both atmosphere and swordsmanship. Of course, he didn’t think they were the same person because it was a younger version of her, but things were a little different now. Cheon-ma, whom he thought was an old woman at the time, regained her youth.

‘Will I win in the future when I chose Elle?’

Yoon-seok didn’t sign a contract with the Heavenly Warrior. That had already changed the future. So he may not run into her until he reached the final floor, but..

If not, could he win against her again this time? Yoon-seok, who thought of it casually, became stiff.

‘There’s still a long way to go...’

Was it because of Elle’s drastic change? His vision had narrowed before he knew it. There was still a lack of information, and nothing was properly confirmed. No matter what decision he made, he would have to learn everything first.

“Will she die if I don’t go to Moorim?”

“Probably.”

A monster like Cheon-ma was on the verge of death? He wondered what happened for it to be possible. Well, it wasn’t impossible. She wasn’t immortal. Of course, he did wonder what he could do if Cheon-ma fell into that situation.

“But that’s not the only reason I don’t want Yoon-seok to go to Moorim.”

At Elle’s words, Yoon-seok’s eyes sharpened. That wasn’t the only reason? He almost smoothed over it, but wasn’t that different from what she said earlier?

“..What do you mean? Didn’t you say there was no other reason?”

Did she lie again this time? But how? Lady’s Commandment was still working, was there a way for her to be excused from this power? If so, they couldn’t continue with this conversation. But Elle shrugged as if it was nothing.

“I asked if I needed another reason, but I didn’t say there wasn’t one.”

“..”

Yoon-seok laughed in despair. It was certainly what she said; he was the one who misunderstood.

‘I think I’m seeing many new sides of her today.’

Yoon-seok also knew that there was such a blind spot in this proposition. However, he was careless because he was talking to Elle. He didn’t expect her to throw out such a clever trick.

‘No, is this the real her..?’

Maybe it was. He’d forgotten because she had shown the many clumsy sides of her until now. But, she was a challenger who reached the final floor of the Tower, and she didn’t falter around the Heavenly Warrior when he attacked. His first impression was that she seemed to have many secrets, so he was on high alert.

‘Get a grip.’

Yoon-seok wasn’t angry that Elle deceived him. He continued the conversation after vowing not to repeat the same mistake.

“So, what’s the other reason?”

“To be honest with you, I don’t care what happens to her. I just wanted to check it out.”

“Confirm? About what?”

Elle didn’t answer Yoon-seok’s question. She just continued regardless.

“If you go to Moorim, you will lose something precious.”

‘I will lose something precious?’

Yoon-seok pondered over what Elle might have referred to for her to say such words. Power or family, these were the only two that came to mind right now. Yoon-seok sighed deeply and said.

“..Can’t you put it in simple words?”

He didn’t want to waste time on these meaningless mind games anymore. As if it showed on Yoon-seok’s face, Elle thought for a while and replied reluctantly.

“If you go to Moorim, you will lose an opportunity. A very precious one at that.”

Opportunity? While wondering what kind of opportunity it was for her to emphasize its importance, Yoon-seok tried to ask for details. But at that moment, Elle cut off the conversation and concluded.

“Don’t ask any more questions. I’ve seen multiple futures, and even if I want to tell you, I can’t because of the constraints.”

Constraints. It wouldn’t be a lie as long as Lady’s Commandment was still working. Because of that, he couldn’t say anything, no matter how much he wanted to. On the other hand, however, a strange sense of relief bloomed inside him. At least it wasn’t the worst case of losing a family member. Suddenly, Elle asked in a trembling voice.

“Don’t tell me you don’t think that’s not enough of a reason to not go to Moorim?”

“..”

It jabbed his heart. He didn’t plan to go to Moorim to save Cheon-ma, but..he didn’t know what would happen in the future. However, he was only a little relieved because he said he wouldn’t be given a penalty. But as if she didn’t like Yoon-seok’s mindset.

“I told you before! It’s not just an opportunity. It’s a very, very precious opportunity.”

“But even if you say that, I don’t understand....”

“Ah, ah..!”

Elle punched herself in the chest. Long gone was the cold voice. Now she seemed more like the Elle he was familiar with. Thanks to this, the unknowable tension subsided.

But then.

‘..No, wait a minute.’

Suddenly, Elle’s wish came to mind.

—I don’t want anything from you. I want you to live with no obligation, with your rights.

She said she didn’t want anything. Even in the post-contract conversation, she told him to live freely and do as he wanted. That was why he was hesitant.

‘Why is she so desperate if I miss that opportunity?’

Asking him to let Cheon-ma die and to seize that new opportunity. All of them may simply be well-intentioned actions to help Yoon-seok, but somehow, it felt weirdly out of place.

‘A wish is just a wish. Is she hoping that I will ascend the Tower?’

Come to think of it, Elle was the one who taught him how to combine {Bloodseeker Ultimatum} that was made to punish evil. Of course, at the time, he was satisfied that he was given strong power without caring about the side effects, so he wasn’t doubtful.

Well, he didn’t think that was what Elle had intended. That would be ridiculous. However, he decided to resolve his doubts.

“Elle.”

“What? Why all of a sudden?”

Lady’s Commandment had yet to be released. At this time, he would be able to hear her honest answer. Yoon-seok quietly adjusted his breath and slowly opened his mouth.

“Why did you want to sign with me?”

At the time of the Wish Auction, the Heavenly Warrior said:

—Don’t be fooled! The suspicious one is over there!

There must be something going on with Elle. So Yoon-seok also wondered if there was a trap in her wish. Of course, his questions about admins, wishes, and WP were resolved after hearing the explanation. But he hadn’t heard about this answer yet.

A wish that anyone could achieve. Why, among all the challengers, did it have to be him?

“..”

But was this such a difficult question to answer? Elle was silent. Her fine, slender shoulders started shaking. However, Yoon-seok didn’t back down and asked again.

“How come? Please answer.”

“..”

There was no answer again this time. Yoon-seok kept watching Elle without saying a word. And after a long time, the answer came out.

“..Because it’s you. Because I’ve been waiting for you.”

Elle’s voice trembled. And at the same time, she lifted Lady’s Commandment.

“What do you think? Does that answer your question?”

A question that seemed to ask if it made him feel better now. Of course, it didn’t. He only had more questions.

‘You waited for me?’

He couldn’t understand what she meant at all. However, the lifting of the commandment indicated that she would not answer any more questions from now on. Yoon-seok also backed down. If she wouldn’t tell him, he would just have to find out for himself.

‘She said the 14th-floor mission...’

Kanna Blitz said she knew why Elle chose him. That she could be trusted, but if he ever had a problem, he could take the 14-floor mission trial.

Yoon-seok continued to speak with Elle in the awkward atmosphere. The main thing was what happened in Moorim, which was seen through prophecy, and Elle answered everything to her best abilities.

“Then, I’ll be on my way.”

Yoon-seok returned to the waiting room after hearing everything. Elle used to look disappointed when he left, but this time, she sent Yoon-seok without saying much. He wasn’t sure whether it was because she could summon him anytime or because it was uncomfortable today.

‘What’s the date today?’

Yoon-seok, after returning, checked the time. May 26th, 08:30 AM. According to Elle’s clairvoyance, it was a month or two before Cheon-ma was in danger in Moorim.

‘Although the 14-floor mission is just a mission, I need to find out what’s going on in Moorim first.’

Of course, this wasn’t the right time for him to go back to the plaza right now and ask the Sword Demon. But that wasn’t the only way.

「Return ticket (Rank F) has been used.」

「Returning to Earth.」

Yoon-seok used a 24-hour return ticket. Why did he go back to Earth to find out what happened to Moorim? It was simple. If he couldn’t go directly to the Union Plaza, he could send someone to deliver the word. Of course, there were only a few challengers on the 10th floor or above who would do this simple errand, but..

Yoon-seok, who was almost regarded as a hero on Earth, could have his request quickly resolved by someone.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve been here.’

Yoon-seok, who returned to Earth, checked his attire first. The Cross-Dimensional Bracelet had worked properly, as his equipment from the Tower was still there. However, he had a problem. Where did the clothes he was wearing go?

‘Did it just disappear?’

He didn’t know, but it wasn’t a very important question. After checking his outfit, Yoon-seok looked around. He opened his eyes at the hotel where he stayed for a week on his last trip to Earth. Since he booked it for a whole year, there was no mishap in encountering other guests as before.

Yoon-seok took out his wallet and smartphone from the safe in his room and called the designated contact network.

“..Are you Mr. Yoon-seok?”

After a few connections, a person answered the phone.

“I wasn’t informed that you were coming back. What brings you here all of a sudden..?”

It wasn’t a big deal, but when he was about to ask for clothes to wear outside and for more than ten challengers to go to the square.

“D-did you perhaps come back after hearing about it?”

Yoon-seok kept his mouth shut at the following question. He didn’t know what he was talking about. However, the voice heard over the phone was flustered.historical

Like a child who’d done something wrong.