NOVEL NEXT 3. The Other Side
“Hyun Siwoo! Listen carefully. If I don’t make it back…”
It was a memory he didn’t want to recall.
Gray eyes were fluttering in the wind. In a hellish situation covered in ash, dust, and flames, she spoke calmly.
“Use this to return to the starting point.”
[Twisted Time] (Grade: Unclassifiable)
Creates a critical error in the flow of time, reverting to the past up to the limit. (Usable count 1/1)
She said it was an item she had been saving to use only in the final moment. And now she was giving it to me like this.
When I hesitated to take it, she forcibly placed it in my hand. Perhaps due to the snow, her hand felt very cold for that brief moment of contact.
“And… I’m specially giving Neaiba to you, oppa. You two seemed to get along surprisingly well.”
“We don’t get along at all! There’s no need to give it to me, can’t you just stop this? What exactly are you planning?”
Neaiba was her first constellation. What on earth was she planning to do, to say such things? But even with my questions, she didn’t stop talking.
“Remember this without fail. If you end up going to the past, get Ahezar for me and bring it. You already know how to acquire it since you’ve been through it, right?”
“I know, but…”
I lacked confidence. My voice trailed off involuntarily.
I was anxious. About what she had said so far, and what she was about to say.
“Next life, I should make Ahezar my first constellation. That seems like it would make for a fair fight.”
“Next life? No, there won’t be any need to turn back time! Who would that benefit? Just to make me suffer alone?”
“If I start with Ahezar in hand, I might reach the 90th floor instead of just the 70th. Honestly, that level would make the next round worth trying.”
“You’re insane.”
The reason my words came out so harshly was perhaps because I instinctively knew they would be her last.
But if I had known they were truly her final words… I would have spoken more honestly. I would have said goodbye more properly.
No, I should never have let her go like that. I should have held on to her until the very end.
…To the Hyun Habin of the previous iteration, that is.
“Don’t worry too much, oppa. You trust me, right? I’ll come back safely, so let’s meet again.”
That farewell, in the end, was never kept.
◆◇◆◇◆
At the exact moment Habin was opening the box and having a mental breakdown, on the opposite side of the Earth.
A high-rise hotel in New York.
Specifically, in the center of the most luxurious suite.
The man who discovered the flower bouquet with the letter tucked in it hastily cleared it away, startled. The tips of his ears had turned red, as if slightly flustered.
‘No matter how many times I experience this, I can’t get used to it. Ugh, it’s so cringeworthy.’
World Hunter Ranking No. 1.
The strongest who appeared suddenly one day, as if dropped from the sky.
The greatest magician.
The owner of Neaiba, the “Thinking Staff,” an item known to be the only one of its kind in the world, classified as “Holy Relic Grade.”
Despite these numerous titles and public attention, the true identity of the top-ranked “Fides” was always shrouded in mystery.
Most people knew that even the name itself was just a nickname.
They say the leaders of various countries know his real name, but whether even that is true…
When it came to Fides, rumors were all that abounded.
This was partly due to his thorough habit of never removing his mask anywhere.
Click.
After confirming that no one else was in the room, ‘Fides’ quickly removed his mask.
“Why did they suddenly call for a meeting? I thought I was going to die from sweating.”
What if I get heat rash on my face at this rate? I should hurry and research some related magic.
Fides frowned irritably. The face revealed as the mask came off belonged to none other than…
Hyun Siwoo.
The very same brother of Habin who had been lounging on her sofa, munching on pizza just moments ago.
“Damn… Why did I only think of using a mask…”
[Right. Blame your lacking brain, tsk tsk. Did you think wearing a mask would make you look cool?]
“Come on, isn’t that a bit harsh? Instead of just mocking me, why don’t you help?”
[Why should I?]
“For such a great constellation, can’t you do even that much?”
[What? Use my magnificent magic just to prevent your heat rash? I don’t want to.]
Siwoo glared at the staff leaning against his side with a disgruntled expression.
The ‘Thinking Staff’, Neaiba.
One of the seven most powerful constellations across the entire system.
The only memento of the ‘first iteration Hyun Habin’ he had taken on.
‘If it weren’t for that, I would have discarded it long ago.’
Neaiba was the very thing that had instantly propelled Siwoo, who had no talent, to first place upon regression…
But at the same time, it was his greatest burden.
Siwoo sat down on the sofa with a tired expression. Neaiba quietly asked, as if it had been waiting.
[Did she open it this time too?]
“Open what?”
[The box. The one you left behind.]
A moment of silence fell. Siwoo recalled the gift he had left at ‘home’ and answered.
“She probably did.”
[But you never know.]
“With her personality, there’s no way she wouldn’t have opened it.”
Siwoo chuckled as he flipped through channels with the remote. His sprawled posture on the sofa was hardly different from when he had met Habin again.
Perhaps regretting that the conversation might end here, Neaiba spoke up once more.
[It seemed like Habin was quite angry. Is it because you disappeared for five years?]
It was a bit long, wasn’t it.
Hyun Siwoo shook his head as if bothered.
“Do you think I knew it would take this long to obtain Ahezar? Even knowing the future, why was it so difficult?”
[Tsk tsk. The Habin before regression managed to do it in a week as soon as she learned the method.]
“…Honestly, she shouldn’t be used as a point of comparison.”
Siwoo closed his eyes, exasperated.
In truth, he hadn’t intended to disappear for so long. He certainly hadn’t planned on living this ridiculous double life.
However, all the tasks involved in changing the future were fraught with danger, and rival factions were swarming everywhere…
He thought it would be safer to live under a different identity without even approaching home until he had properly established himself.
‘Let’s pretend to be a non-existent person. Just until I hand over Ahezar. After that, Hyun Habin will take care of things, right?’
He had believed that with absolute certainty and acted like a madman.
But when he actually met her and tried to speak, something unexpected happened.
‘Little sister. Actually, I regressed…’
[This statement is critical to system maintenance. Delivering it will turn the system administrator against you.]
‘The reason I disappeared for five years… What I’ve been doing is…’
[This statement is critical to system maintenance. Delivering it will…]
‘What the hell?’
These windows only popped up when he stood in front of Hyun Habin.
Don’t deliver it, it’s a critical statement. If you reveal it, you’ll be antagonized by the administrator.
So he had no choice.
Hyun Siwoo, knowing who the ‘system administrator’ was, didn’t want to incur their wrath just yet.
‘It didn’t pop up when I mentioned Neaiba… Is it because Neaiba is contractual, and we have a shared memory relationship? What exactly are the criteria? What kind of situation is this?’
[I can’t say anything to Habin either. You’ll have to find a way to break through, or be prepared for the system’s hostility. It’ll be difficult otherwise, you know?]
The most he could convey after beating around the bush was along the lines of ‘I left that thing you asked for over there.’
Thankfully, cash transfers didn’t seem to be restricted.
“Damn it. I don’t know either. I’ve delivered the item as instructed, so now Hyun Habin will take care of the rest, right?”
I’ll just give up and live this double life as Fides. I needed another identity to handle dangerous matters anyway.
Hyun Siwoo glanced at the mask from the corner of his eye.
“Hmm…”
It’s a bit hard to act dignified, and managing my image is challenging.
Sometimes it’s embarrassing when people praise me, but honestly, it’s a sweet job right now since it pays so well.
Thump.
Sprawled back on the sofa, Hyun Siwoo muttered as if recalling something.
“But Hyun Habin said she’d hit minus first place from the start in this life, or something like that. Is that even possible?”
Honestly, it must have been a joke, right?
A negative number for ranking, where would such a thing exist?
◆◇◆◇◆
Right here, as it turned out.
Minus First Place.
The world’s first ☆negative ranking☆, no less.
“…Is this for real?”
[It is real.]
“Whoa, you scared me!”
[……]
Habin, who had been poking the sword, jumped back in surprise.
‘That voice came from the sword, right?’
So it really is a constellation.
From what she’d heard in online rumors, people communicated with constellations either through indirect messages or direct speech.
While Habin was pondering this, ‘Ahezar’ continued speaking.
[First of all, thank you for retrieving me. I thought I’d be sealed away forever.]
“Ah, no. I just want to cancel this. Sorry. Goodbye then!”
Can I just close this…?
Creeak, squeak squeak.
As Habin lifted the lid again, Ahezar cried out urgently.
[Ah, you can’t! Cancellation is impossible! Resealing is absolutely not an option!]
A voice that sounded quite desperate.
[And the seal is already completely broken, so resealing is impossible! Didn’t you confirm it? I’m already registered as your constellation!]
…It’s too late.
“Damn it.”
The first constellation was impossible to change no matter what.
It’s a relationship bound by the strongest contract, including shared memories and power. Termination, transfer, or even suspension is impossible.
Even if you later contract with other constellations and have two or more, from the second contract onwards, there are restrictions on the influence they can exert on each other, and there are limits to the power you can obtain from the constellations.
That’s why from the second constellation onwards, no matter how much they rely on each other, the relationship can’t be more than ‘indirect assistance’ or ‘indirect alliance’.
So you need to carefully button that first button well.
“And the state of this first button is…?”
Habin’s face crumpled in an instant.
[Ah, why are you displeased! It’s awkward to say this myself, but I am the strongest among existing constellations! You should be bowing in gratitude in this situation!]
“Yeah, no. There’s no way someone like Hyun Siwoo would bring something so amazing. Especially not to me.”
[I-It’s true! I don’t know who this Hyun Siwoo is, but it’s true, I tell you!]
A whining voice, as if its pride had been hurt. Habin half-listened to it as she opened her status window again.
“Status window, check constellation information.”
[1st Constellation: Ahezar]
Revered as the most powerful war god of Aurayden, the first world to perish. Was the leader of the Seven Holy Relics, but lost all positions and was sealed due to an act of rebellion.
[Traits]
Revival of the War God (Can bring back all skills Ahezar possessed in the past), Usurper’s Spirit (When used, nullifies the abilities of constellations weaker than oneself.)
(Due to the constellation’s history, all constellations affected by the system are hostile towards you)
(This is a reciprocal relationship. Because there is a price for releasing the seal, you can ignore restrictions and bring forth most of the power.)
Aurayden, the perished world.
She knew this term. It was a name often attached to items of at least ‘Legendary Grade’ or higher.
‘This was the leader of the Seven Holy Relics? Then… could this also be Holy Relic Grade?’
‘Holy Relic Grade’ is the highest grade, of which only one has been discovered in the world. The constellation possessed by the world’s number one ranked ‘Fides’ was exactly that.
If it was the leader among such Holy Relic Grades, just how strong could it be?
No, setting that aside…
Habin’s expression suddenly hardened.
[Well, don’t you see that my words are true!]
“…I’m not sure about that.”
Habin pointed to the bottom of the notification window.
“It says all constellations turn against you? What kind of ominous message is this?”
She had been shocked when the ‘System Administrator is hostile to you’ window appeared from the moment she awakened, but this was going from bad to worse.
[All constellations affected by the system are hostile towards you]
“Ha, all constellations are hostile to me?”
[I-It’s fine! No need to worry. I’m the strongest anyway!]
“No, doesn’t this mean you’re the strongest but also an outcast?”
[O-Outcast! What are you…!]
“Exactly, what the hell did you do?”
In response to Habin’s interrogation, Ahezar cried out as if wronged.
[It’s not like I wanted to be an outcast. This is all because I rebelled against God, or what’s now the System Administrator, to prevent the world’s destruction. As a result……]
Aurayden, the perished world.
The modifier ‘perished’ wasn’t attached for no reason.
Ahezar fell silent for a moment, as if recalling the past. Habin half-listened as she tidied up the box.
“Yeah, yeah. The scale is no joke! Well, it was written in the description. Rebelled against God, no less. Wow, impressive.”
A soulless compliment. Habin had already given up. Her life just never seemed to run normally.
In the past, she had struggled to hide the fact that she couldn’t see status windows, but now her ranking hits negative numbers? Anywhere she goes, people would probably want to capture her for live experiments.
And now that she’s obtained a constellation, she’s branded as a rebel and a fugitive. One that’s antagonized by all constellations, no less…
‘No matter how I look at it, this is a dead end, right?’
[This world is clearly on the brink of destruction too. The System Administrator has gone mad. You must stop the administrator with me.]
“Why?”
[If we don’t stop it, this world will surely…!]
Silence.
Habin remained quiet, lost in thought.
Let’s assume what he’s saying is true. And becoming stronger… let’s say that’s good for now.
But.
The moment my power is revealed, all constellations will be hostile towards me. The system too.
And I’m supposed to prevent destruction despite all that? Breaking through all those checks, penalties, and dangers? All by myself? The success rate is obviously abysmal.
Reserving a hellish group project on a global scale.
No matter how I think about it, I can only see a path of thorns.
‘To begin with, destruction or whatever, I don’t even know if this is real or not, so why should I?’
Habin asked disinterestedly.
“I see. So when do you think the world will end?”
[Are you finally taking my story seriously!]
Excited by this first sign of active engagement, Ahezar eagerly racked his brain.
[Well, in our world, it took about 30 years from the appearance of signs of destruction to the actual end.]
“Oh! Then we’ll probably take about that long too! It’s been about 5 years since the Gates appeared, so we have about 25 years left?”
[That’s right! It’s probably correct. It could be a bit longer.]
“Great! That’s very useful information.”
Tap tap.
Having finally finished tidying up, Habin looked up with a bright smile.
“Then I’ll spend the next 25 years having fun!”
[…?]
“I’ll do everything I want and leave no regrets in life!”
[W-Wait. What are you saying…!]
Belatedly grasping the situation, Ahezar tried to change tack.
[Th-Then, how about aiming for the position of world’s strongest? Are you going to let this overwhelming power go to waste!]
“Hmm, certainly, there was a time when I desperately wanted to become an Awakened. To enter the Gates myself and search for my family.”
[That’s right!]
“But today my family member showed up out of nowhere? And in quite an infuriating manner?”
[D-Don’t you have any other desires? Money, what about money!]
Ahezar was not unfamiliar with humans.
Weren’t humans always a species obsessed with money and fame?
“Right. Money is important. But today, 10 billion suddenly appeared in my bank account.”
Habin smiled contentedly as she looked at her transaction history. Just seeing the numbers made her heart swell. Is this really my once-pitiful bank account?
“Now I’ll use this to live a truly fulfilling life for the next 25 years! Thanks for letting me know, bye-bye!”
Casually tossing out words that would make Hyun Siwoo grab the back of his neck if he heard them, Habin flopped onto the bed.
[Ah, no, you shouldn’t do that…!]
Of course, Ahezar had already grabbed the back of his metaphorical neck in exasperation.