***
Kim Seoyeon’s face, as she sat alone in the cafe, was flushed red with annoyance.
‘I don’t know what he’s thinking.’
It had been like that from the start. Although they were sitting across from each other, it felt as if his soul was somewhere else. Unlike in the past, when he had focused entirely on her, the current Park Hyunmyeong seemed as though he wasn't listening to her words at all.
‘I even cut my hair.’
She had changed her hair from long to a short bob. She had spent two hours agonizing over finding clothes that suited her. Yet, he hadn't made a single mention of it. It was a drastic transformation. There was no way he hadn't noticed.
- "You don't seem interested."
- "Can I leave now?"
Furthermore, he had even declared that he would get up before her. It wasn't just a simple declaration. He wasn't pretending to leave, either. He had actually stood up from his seat, intending to go. This was an attitude that could never have been seen from the old Park Hyunmyeong. Even the gaze with which he looked at her contained no emotion whatsoever. It was as if he were looking at a complete stranger.
‘It’s not like we’ve never broken up before.’
During their five-year relationship, they had broken up more than five times. However, he had always held onto her after those breakups. This time was different. Despite her traveling a long distance to see him in person, his attitude was nothing but cold. It had never been like this.
‘How can he do that with me right in front of him?’
Fine. Let’s say she could somehow understand the previous points. It was true that she had said harsh words when they broke up. The most infuriating thing was that he had turned his eyes toward another woman while she was right there.
- "Not at all. We are nothing."
While she was right in front of him, he had denied it more strongly than anyone. Not at all. He said they were absolutely nothing. He wrote down his number and took a business card. He even made a date. He did it ostentatiously, right in front of her.
"For someone like Park Hyunmyeong to..."
If Kim Hana had been ugly, she wouldn't have cared at all. She would have snorted and cheered them on to do well together. But Kim Hana was being revered as the 'Righteous Goddess' on YouTube.
The Righteous Goddess. They called her a righteous goddess. It was absurd. Why would a woman like that feel so desperate that she would meet Park Hyunmyeong? It was certain that they were the type to have one cup of coffee and then part ways.
Park Hyunmyeong had nothing going for him. He didn't have a lot of money at home, he didn't have a decent job, and he wasn't particularly handsome or tall. Did he have a good body, or was he full of humor and fun? Who would enjoy meeting a hikikomori who did nothing but play games at home except when he was working or on a date? She only met him because she was who she was.
Vrrr, vrrr!
At that moment, her phone rang. The name saved as 'Jinwoo Oppa' appeared on the screen. Kim Seoyeon smiled as she saw the name.
He was a man who was the 180-degree opposite of Park Hyunmyeong. Literally everything about him was the reverse. He wasn't an office worker, but thanks to running a large business, he had plenty of money; he was handsome and tall. He had a good body, was full of humor, and was active, so there was nothing to find fault with.
Except for one thing.
"Hello? Jinwoo Oppa? What? To forgive you? You don't have any more secrets hidden from me? You even hid the fact that you can 'Transform,' so how can I trust you? You seemed like a completely different person, so I was really scared. You won't do it anymore? Hmm, alright. This is the last time. If you do it one more time, it’s really over, over. So come pick me up. The address here is..."
✺✺✺
"Yo, our broadcasting station’s most venerable 'Kim Won.' I heard you caused another accident?"
"…I am Kim Hana. Please don't call me Kim Won."
Kim Hana, letting out a deep sigh, plopped down into her seat. She was completely exhausted from going in and out of the police station. Going once should have been enough, but they had called her again during the next day's commute, saying they had additional questions.
Seo Jeong-a, who sat next to Kim Hana, turned her chair toward her and asked.
"Who is it this time?"
"A director of a plastic surgery clinic."
"He must see many beauties; why would he do such a thing?"
"I don't know, either."
"True. Our Righteous Goddess Kim Won is a natural beauty, after all."
"Don't talk to me. I feel like I'm going to die."
She really felt like death. Her happy days after being hired as a regular employee were short-lived. Since 'that incident,' the work at the broadcasting station had increased tenfold.
"The department head left this for you before going on a business trip."
"What? Ah..."
Receiving the file, Kim Hana closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh.
"Wasn't this person, 'Gracia,' an American? Why give this to me?"
It was a file containing information about the person called Gracia. He was a super-hero who had appeared and split a mountain, blowing away ten monsters simultaneously. Looking at the video, it was spectacular. It was to the point where one might wonder if it wasn't an actual movie. The scene where he combined thousands or tens of thousands of flashes in the shape of swords into one and fired it was particularly the highlight. With a single blow, he took down a monster that couldn't be caught even with guns or bombs.
Why was such a person suddenly in Korea?
"He said he wanted to meet you."
"Me? Why?"
"Maybe he fell in love at first sight."
"Don't joke around."
"I don't know. Anyway, it’s an absolute uproar because of that. Since it's a situation the U.S. is also watching closely, they say it’ll likely be more than a state guest-level protocol."
"……I don't really want to do it."
There was no way that she, who had just been hired as a regular, could interview such a giant. He was the most watched person in the world right now. Rumors were widespread that even other Dimension Warriors respected Gracia. For the final boss to suddenly visit Korea and say he would see her.
"Then how about that guy? Your boyfriend."
Seo Jeong-a jerked her chin, pointing to a photo placed on Kim Hana’s desk. In the photo was a man. To be precise, there was the man’s back. A warrior with a sturdy, muscular physique. Kim Hana had personally taken the photo of the man's back as he suppressed a monster in an instant and disappeared.
Kim Hana pouted and scolded Seo Jeong-a.
"He's not my boyfriend. He's just like a lucky charm."
Since that incident happened, everything had gone well. To Kim Hana, that man was truly an existence like a lucky charm. She didn't know his name, where he lived, or anything else, and that single photo was all she had left, but she still liked it.
"For someone like that, you sure spend a lot of time doting on it every day, don't you?"
"No, I was just wiping off the dust. Why do you describe it like that?"
Seo Jeong-a chuckled. Kim Hana was a junior who was fun to tease.
"I decided to have a drink with the entertainment reporters in the evening. You in?"
"I have plans."
"A man?"
"Yes."
"Oh boy. The male reporters' drinks will be sweet today, very sweet."
Seo Jeong-a shook her head as if she were truly disappointed. However, she was curious. Despite receiving countless love calls, the great Kim Hana, who had never accepted a single one, suddenly had dinner plans with a man?
Regardless, Kim Hana focused on her work. If she didn't want to be buried under work, she had to clear at least a little of it while she was still conscious.
✺✺✺
"Kill the traitor!"
"Kill the treacherous Snake Princess!"
When I opened my eyes, the sight of Isabella covered in blood entered my view. Corpses were strewn around. They were all soldiers of Paisalmer. The battle was still in full swing.
Turning my head to look behind me, I saw the warp was active. Even though she could have crossed over long ago, Isabella had kept her trust with me.
‘The Queen’s Royal Guard.’
It was a pursuit team that included Great Warriors. If I had been even a little later, I would have been on my way to the afterlife.
"Is the 'Communication with the Stars' finished?"
"Yes."
One fortunate thing was that the Queen was not in sight. Indeed, if the Queen had stepped forward herself, Isabella would not have been able to hold out for long. It was heavenly luck. However, I couldn't rely on luck forever.
"I will clear the path."
Dozens of warriors were blocking the path leading to the warp. Isabella was also in a state of extreme exhaustion.
【Lv. 6】
The level of the Great Warriors reached as high as 6. If Isabella were in a normal state, killing them wouldn't have been difficult, but she had already been holding out in this state for half a day. She had accomplished the task of protecting someone and holding out indefinitely. It would be shameless of me to ask her to clear the path as well.
‘Star Scratch.’
The main skill I had obtained upon becoming a Star Successor. That skill, which I had never used once, finally activated.
<< Burning all ‘Star Power.’ >>
<< Duration: 41 seconds >>
Countless starlights permeated my fist. Afterward, sharp blade edges sprouted over my fist, as if I were wearing claws made of starlight. For a moment, I felt like I had become Wolverine. Star Scratch, as its name suggested, was a wide-area skill capable of scratching even the stars. Of course, I could use it as it was, but the duration was too short for that.
"Kill the treacherous traitor and the unfaithful heretic!"
"It is the will of the Great Queen!"
The treacherous traitor was Isabella, and the unfaithful heretic seemed to refer to me. I swung my fist with all my might toward the warriors blocking the path to the warp. At that moment.
K-boooooom!
Whooooosh!
An explosion so loud it made my eardrums ache occurred, and a pillar of fire rose. However, that pillar of fire was not made of real fire, but of starlight. The Great Warriors within the starlight were all evaporated.
"……."
"Let’s go."
I spoke to Isabella, who was staring at the pillar of stars, lost for words. If fired immediately, it was a pillar of stars that lasted for 41 seconds. Star Scratch had the effect of burning all Star Power at once to prevent intrusion and annihilate enemies in a wide area for the duration. It was truly an Absolute Territory.
‘It’s beyond my imagination.’
Honestly, I was surprised. Even though it was a single-use burst, for a level 1 skill to have this much effect. I couldn't even grasp how much more amazing it would become once it reached level 10 and the skill evolved.
"Follow me. One who has received a blessing can cross this 'Pillar of Stars.'"
When I crossed over first, Isabella gulped and crossed the Pillar of Stars. However, the other warriors were evaporated down to their bones without being able to cross the Pillar of Stars. Only after more than ten warriors died did they finally give up the pursuit. Now, the only thing left was to cross the warp.
The eyes of Isabella, looking at the activated warp, began to tremble violently.
"Isabella. If you want to go back even now, I won't stop you."
The freedom she had dreamed of for a long time. She had always prayed and wished to cross the warp and head to another continent. However, now that she was about to leave the desert where she had spent her entire life, a myriad of emotions were intersecting.
Still, even so.
"…No."
"Then, it is the moment of liberation. Be joyful."
"Yes."
Isabella chose freedom. Along with an awkward smile.
《 ‘Warp’ has been activated. 》
《 Warping from a ‘Starting Point’ is free. 》
《 ‘Isabella’s’ ‘Limit Curse’ is currently neutralized by the ‘Blessing of the Stars.’ 》
《 There are 12 connected cities available for warp from the ‘Kaltsman Desert.’ 》
《 ‘Arcana’ has been selected. 》
《 Starting warp. 》
✺✺✺
《 You have left the ‘Kaltsman Desert’ and warped to the ‘Central Continent.’ 》
《 Welcome to the Golden City, ‘Arcana.’ 》
《 Tip: ‘Arcana’ is a city of extreme materialism. If you do not have gold on the level of a tycoon, it is recommended that you do not even set foot here. 》
Upon crossing the warp, countless people were visible. People wearing golden turbans and moving in carriages made of gold could be seen. The next warp location connected to the Kaltsman Desert was the metropolis, Arcana.
‘It’s one of the major cities connected to the Starting Points.’
The Starting Points were all connected to several cities. Among them, Arcana was the wealthiest city.
‘It’s also a place the Queen can never follow us to.’
The Queen's pursuit team would not give up. Perhaps the Queen herself would chase after us to kill Isabella and me. However, this place, Arcana, was a neighborhood that had a very bad relationship with the desert city, Paisalmer. To the point that war would break out immediately if the Queen and her Royal Guard entered. It was simply ironic that the warp was connected nonetheless.
"The city is... incredibly flashy."
Isabella looked around the surroundings, lost in thought. She looked overwhelmed by the towering buildings and the surrounding architecture. It was a natural reaction, as it would be her first time visiting a city outside the desert.
"Arcana is a place where everything is possible with gold."
"I have some gold that I brought with me."
Isabella took out a leather pouch. Judging by the weight, it was about 300 gold. It was the gold she had scraped together with the intention of crossing over to the Central Continent.
"With 300 gold, it’ll be over after eating and sleeping for one night."
Of course, this was a considerable amount of money for a beginner, but in this place, Arcana, it was an amount that couldn't even provide a meager living. Isabella spoke with a look of disbelief.
"T-that can't be. In the desert, 300 gold could buy ten slaves..."
"That’s because the Kaltsman Desert is a Starting Point."
In the first place, the desert was centered around bartering. The only slaves that could be bought with gold were hunting slaves.
"Look over there."
I reached out and pointed to the sign in front of a bakery.
"A loaf of bread... is 50 gold?"
"It’s because it’s made with the highest quality wheat presented to the King. So they are promoting it like that, saying 50 gold is cheap."
"I can sell my dagger."
A dagger embedded with amber. Selling it would likely fetch tens of thousands of gold. Her attitude of being willing to sell even her cherished sword was commendable, but I shook my head.
"No need. We can just multiply the 300 gold."
"…Multiply it? Are you saying we’re going to do business with this money?"
"A gambling house."
"……Pardon?"
Blink, blink. Isabella blinked her eyes as if she had misheard. I said it again.
"We are going to a gambling house."
"W-what do you mean by that...?"
Isabella stared in horror. To think that the method of multiplying money was gambling. One would have to be insane! Above all, a Star-Awakened, who was the epitome of piousness, was gambling? Her gaze said exactly that.
However, I had something to rely on. It was none other than 【Golden Grace】. One of the 13 hidden traits!
"I'm quite lucky, so don't worry."
"……."
Isabella cast her gaze at me with eyes that said she was worried to death.