The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

"I can guess what weapon was used based on the wound on his body."

"Why… Why, Toki—!"

Yurim cried out and mourned his death.

However, for some reason, I didn't shed tears.

'Huh…?'

It was as if I had already accepted his death long ago.

Instead, it felt natural.

Why is it?

Someone close to me had died—so why couldn't I shed tears?

"Your suspicion was correct—there was a traitor within the Veil. Also…"

For the past three years, I've been gathering information. I had thoroughly investigated the suspicions handed to me by our informant.

"It has been confirmed that Jamad was removed from the position of Smiling Face, and his place has been filled by…"

Yoo Hyun closed his eyes and said.

"…a child of the Veil."

Smiling Face Jamad… Even when I was being tortured at his villa, he was clashing with the Veil.

Yoo Hyun had dealt a fatal blow to him, forcing him into seclusion. Now, I had heard that someone had taken his place.

There was something I had heard from Yurim before.

- I'm not the only one who learned from Master. There was another child my age.

The so-called child of the Veil.

In the past, the Faces had kidnapped a child the Veil was raising alongside Yurim.

I heard that the child had even greater talent than her.

Perhaps, because of that, they didn't kill him but made him one of them.

And that child's name was…

"Shin Yu. It's that child."

Shin Yu…

It was Shin Yu.

"If we leave Shin Yu alone, things will spiral out of control. The only thing that genius lacks is time."

Things were getting urgent.

A lot of blood has been shed between the Veil and the Faces. Who knows how much more blood will be spilled?

"The Veil's Master said this situation can no longer be postponed—depending on the outcome of the final meeting, we may enter a full-scale war."

Our fate depended on this matter."Are you prepared…?"

I looked at Yurim, and she looked back at me.

We thought the same thing.

Nod…

"Very well…"

* * *

Three months since that day…

The meeting place and date between the Faces and the Veil had been decided. Now, I was standing in that very location.

"Yurim, Seol, please listen to me for a moment."

Before meeting with the other members of the Veil, Yoo Hyun had summoned us. It seemed he had something to tell us before joining the others.

"The meeting will be broken off."

"What…?

"Master…"

"I've encountered their leader, Angry Face, before. He… won't give up his ambition of dominating the continent—and we also won't abandon our ambition of stopping him."

The meeting will be broken off.

'Then what about those gathered inside?'

"There's a chance everyone might die."

"That's…"

"Listen carefully to what I'm about to say. If a clash occurs…"

He placed his hands on Yurim and my shoulders.

And after taking a deep breath, he finally said.

"Run away."

"What…?!"

"Master, there's no way we…"

"Listen to me!"

I felt the pressure from his hands.

We had grown strong enough to withstand the pressure, but it was the first time he was acting like this, so it left me bewildered.

"Even if it's both of you, you must run away. Your lives aren't worthy of ending here in vain."

"But why… We're also part of the Veil!"

"I know. But you are Toki’s and my disciples before you are members of the Veil…"

He smiled awkwardly.

"You were a child born from the heart of the Veil itself. Even if things go wrong and the Veil is defeated, as long as you survive… the Veil will live on."

"…"

"Please, promise me. If a clash occurs, just run away."

Yurim and I were both at a loss.

How could he be sure about what was about to happen?

But he said with certainty.

"Please, Seol. Take Yurim and leave. It's okay to forget us and live on your own."

I had no choice but to respond.

"Understood…"

"Thank you…"

After making the promise with him, we joined the other members of Veil.

"Hey! Kid! You've grown bigger!"

"Isn't he bigger than you…? He isn't a kid anymore."

"D-Don't make me laugh! He's still smaller than me. He's still a kid, a kid!"

"Don't take it too seriously, you idiot."

Kiri and Ziliac were teasing each other.

【Long time no see! You've really grown so much! As expected, humans grow up like weeds you've forgotten about!】

Agony approached me and shook my hand.

Yurim and I laughed softly and hugged Agony.

【Welcome…】

We enjoyed that warmth for a moment.

"So you guys are those kids."

"Ah!"

【He's Dae San, greet him.】

Agony introduced him.

His well-built muscles proved he hadn't been neglecting training.

Since he was an agent that operated externally, we hadn't met him before.

The Veil was quite crowded, yet there was still a lingering sense of emptiness.

Normally, Toki and Lian should have been here too.

However, at that moment, someone who could melt away that loneliness appeared.

"Kyahaha—! Long time no see, you idiots!"

"Karen!"

"Where have you been? I thought you were dead!"

A woman with red hair.

She smiled broadly.

The moment I saw her, I realized what kind of person she was—someone very transparent.

Step…

Step…

'She's strong…'

She was similar to Yoo Hyun—perhaps even above him.

However, she, too, didn't feel unfamiliar.

"So you're those kids."

"Yes…"

She had been so reclusive that even Yurim had barely seen her.

"You know, I… Hmm? Ah, now that I think about it, I don't think I need to know you. Okay, let's skip introductions!"

Just as I had heard, she acted as she pleased.

However, there was no doubt that she was strong.

She walked forward.

"Let's go to the meeting place."

Splash…

Splash…

We stood at a castle perched on a cliff where waves crashed relentlessly against its base.

Even though it wasn't very large for a castle, it still had a considerable size, considering the number of participants in the meeting.

"I'm here! Open the door!"

Creak…

At that seemingly ignorant request, the door creaked open.

Thud…

"Hmph."

Although we were calmly walking in, in reality, we were carefully scanning the surroundings.

We were led into a grand VIP room.

No light entered the room—only candles illuminated the surroundings.

People wearing strange masks were lined up, sitting at the dining table.

"Kyaha… Looks like you handled the hospitality. Hey, Angry Face! Come out. Isn't this supposed to be a meeting?"

Swoosh…

The darkness spread, and before we knew it, someone was sitting directly opposite Karen's seat.

"Ur…"

Why was it that the names and faces of everyone in this place felt familiar? The hallucinations, the pain, and the déjà vu that refused to let me go.

The meeting didn't proceed well.

"We won't give up."

"What nonsense is that?!"

TAANNG—!

Everyone except for Karen and Ur didn't say a word.

They all knew the meeting would break off.

Yurim's hand trembled.

I held her tight.

Soon, a clash would take place.

And at that moment.

Slash—!

Thud—!

"Ugh…"

"Kk…"

Karen and Ur's hearts were pierced simultaneously… they had pierced each other's hearts at the same time.

Karen's black sword burned as it pierced Ur's heart, and Ur’s magic had cut a hole in Karen's chest.

Her hair stood on end.

This was a signal the meeting was broken.

Once they realized what had happened, everyone began to move the moment they could.

"Iyaaaa—!"

Slash!

Slaasshh—!

Swords and weapons were drawn simultaneously, and the necks of those who were too slow flew into the air.

Everything proceeded slowly.

No, only to me. The world seemed to have stopped.

[[This is a bloody meeting! Everyone has lost their sanity, and they're pointing their swords at each other! What will you do?]

1. Join Yoo Hyun.

2. Check Karen's status.

3. Protect Yurim.

4. Escape.

…]

'A familiar sensation.'

Even in the chaotic VIP room, my senses were awakened.

A creepy feeling washed over me—someone was targeting Yurim and me.

'A fist…?'

What was flying toward us was a heavy two-section staff.

It wasn't even from someone on the opposite side, but from the Veil.

'Ugh…'

It was the traitor.

'I must react…'

Thud—!

At that moment, the two-section staff was blocked by someone's sword and returned.

At the same time, all of my choices disappeared, and someone was shouting at me.

"Seol! Come back to your senses!"

"Ah…!"

"Didn't you promise me?!"

Promise…

'Yes, that's right!'

I suddenly remembered the promise I made with Yoo Hyun.

"Are you thinking of protecting them?"

"Dae San… Why?"

"The Veil was never my home from the start."

"Don't tell me…"

Regardless of what conversation they were having, I took Yurim and left the place.

"Seol! Stop!"

I couldn't stop.

My senses were screaming at me.

Even if we joined the battle, the Veil's defeat was certain.

I had to protect Yurim.

Crack—!

After breaking a window with my elbow, we ran out of the castle.

Fortunately, the drawbridge was down.

'We must run!'

We must run.

We needed to get away from here.

"Where do you want to go…?"

"…"

At Yurim's words, I stopped at the edge of the cliff.

Splash…

Splaasshh…

The violent sea was crashing against the cliff face.

If we left the Veil, where should we go?

Step…

Step…

At that moment, I heard steps.

Was it someone of the Veil?

"Long time no see…"

This voice… It didn't belong to a member of the Veil.

After looking back, I saw someone wearing a smiling mask—Smiling Face.

'Shin Yu!'

Shin Yu, the Veil's child.

"Long time no see, Seol."

"You know me…?"

Shin Yu tilted his head upon hearing my answer.

"Don't tell me… You still haven't realized?"

"What are you talking about…?"

At that moment, I remembered Lucia's dying words.

- Déjà vu… I had forgotten… You mustn't… forg…

Shin Yu firmly said.

"Where this place is."

Shin Yu took off his mask.

"…"

His face was unfamiliar.

"Ah, this is the first time you've seen my face, right? Well, this is also my first time seeing my grown self."

"What are you talking about…? You are part of the Faces and…"

"Faces? Veil? Who cares about that? After all, it's all an illusion."

"An illusion…?"

Bzz…

[Intermediate Insight activates.]

[You couldn't find anything.]

[Intermediate Insight fails.]

…

"Ugh…"

[Intermediate Insight activates.]

[You couldn't find anything.]

[Intermediate Insight fails.]

…

It felt like my brain was being torn apart.

I was waking up from a hallucination.

"Smiling Face… Shin Yu… You…"

"Smiling Face? What are you talking about, Seol?"

Smirk…

Shin Yu shook his mask.

"That's not the name of this mask. Don't you remember?"

"What…?"

"You know it too. Remember it. The name of this mask… No, maybe you don't need to?"

Whir—!

Shin Yu's mask rotated and flew in our direction.

Thud…

And then, after hitting Yurim's chest, it fell to the ground.

"That's originally yours, isn't that right?"

I instinctively sensed that something was wrong—no, I felt that things were falling apart.

"No… Don't pick it up."

Yurim bent down and picked up the mask.

You shouldn't do that.

You shouldn't pick that mask up…

Memories flashed past my mind.

The talent of seeing through the movement of others and imitating them…

The hell that she would have experienced if I hadn't pulled out of that fate…

"I'm not standing here because I like it, Seol. Everything got twisted."

"Twisted…?"

"If the original owner of that mask didn't have their fate twisted by the mixed dreams… It wouldn't have been me wearing the mask but her. Then, she would have lived in hell. That's how it was born."

Stop.

Don't make her wear the mask.

"No! Yurim! Drop the mask!"

Yurim slowly gripped the mask.

The mask with a smiling face… Why hadn't I been able to remember its name?

"Sob… Sob…"

Yurim was crying.

"It's a dream… Seol. All of this. Everything you've experienced and felt so far has happened inside a dream!"

Shin Yu scolded me.

Dream.

All of this is a dream.

However, it wasn't my dream.

The souls I knew had appeared because my dream got mixed in.

The hell I've experienced, the pain I went through, it wasn't entirely mine.

The Veil and the Faces were things I had never heard before.

This… was hers.

Yurim muttered.

"A girl found in a garbage dump in the dockyard."

"Yurim, stop."

"I never had a friend like you to begin with."

"Please… Stop…"

"Although the Veil took me, I ended up being subjected to human experiments by an evil Magician."

"This isn't funny…"

"With my memories and thoughts twisted, I wore the Faces' mask."

Yurim looked down at her ivory-like hands.

"With these hands… I've killed them all. The family I found in the Veil… and the Faces who used me. It's a scary story, right?"

Her home didn't exist anywhere.

I wasn't the protagonist of this world.

This was a story that had already ended once.

Shin Yu said to me.

"Seol, listen carefully. Even though you realize this is a dream, you can't wake up. There's a problem."

"…"

"It's Yurim, the owner of the dream. She has trapped us here!"

[Intermediate Insight activates.]

[You couldn't find anything.]

[Intermediate Insight fails.]

…

Bzz…

[You've uncovered numerous secrets!]

[Intermediate Insight’s proficiency has greatly increased.]

[Intermediate Insight’s proficiency has reached the maximum.]

['Intermediate Insight' has improved to 'Advanced Insight.']

[Insight activates more frequently.]

[Insight's accuracy has increased.]

[The area of the Insight's activation has widened.]

[Insight describes the phenomena a bit more clearly.]

[Advanced Insight activates.]

[You are currently inside someone's dream.]

…

Everything came back.

The Seol here wasn't the real Seol.

"Seol…"

Yurim looked at me.

Her eyes were moist, as if tears were about to drip at any moment.

"Why did you save me…"

"…"

"Your souls… all of you are fools. You should have left me…"

She grabbed the hem of her chest's garment.

"You shouldn't have taught me happiness… You should have left me living in hell… If you had just done that…"

Tears fell from her eyes.

"I wouldn't be feeling like this now…"

I had entered the second gate of the Pitch Black Labyrinth.

Here, we wander through a soul's dream.

Here were Lucia, Belian, Beldre, Shin Yu, and lastly, the numerous souls of Seol.

And… one soul Seol hadn't expected came along.

There was one more person… One more dreamer.

Swoosh…

Yurim put on the mask.

The mask, as if it had been made for her, fit her face perfectly.

"Seol, there was one secret I hadn't told you yet."

A mask with a smiling face.

Its eyes were slit, and the corners of the mouth were raised high.

Yoo Hyun said.

- Yes! He said that all strength follows a story. Hmm… So, for example…

To become stronger, a story was always needed.

"Seol, I…"

This dream was a story about how she was able to become so strong.

"Am I smiling now?"

Although the mask was smiling, tears streamed down through the eyeholes.

[Many things got distorted due to a lucid dream.]

[You recognize Yaksha.]

[Sudden Adventure 'Yaksha's Dream' is active.]

…

Yurim wore the mask and made an expression.

Seol couldn't tell what kind of expression she was making behind the mask.

"I'm Yaksha…"