Chapter 107 Karma (2)
Karma. Depending on the good or evil act, the price of the action was returned.
‘So this is what it meant.’
Yoon-seok thought as he looked in the mirror. He didn’t know the criteria, but a number appeared over his head.
[Evil: 1,891,700]
The index reached nearly 1.9 million. It was hard to tell how high the number could reach. However, he knew one thing.
[Good: 1,901,200]
Karma separated good and evil deeds. Good deeds didn’t diminish the index of bad deeds. Perhaps it might be a fact. What was different from any other religion’s logic that repentance would lead you to heaven?
‘But the figures seem a little strange…?’
Both good and evil amount to 1.9 million, which was virtually a tie. Therefore, his head tilted unconsciously. Frankly speaking, he couldn’t say that he’d done many good deeds in his life, whereas he had committed so many acts that were considered evil.
‘…Was it because of that?’
Yoon-seok, after contemplating for a while, came up with a theory. It was evil to kill people regardless of the reason. However, if the target was evil, the accumulated evil deeds increased along with the good, which explained these odd figures.
‘Are my good deeds a little high because of what happened before I was brought to the Tower?’
No clue. But he thought it would become more clear if he met more people and accumulated data.
‘Still, I got a good one.’
He needed this kind of ability. Originally, he planned to use Skill Synthesis to create something decent, but it was unknown whether he would reach the expected outcome. Therefore, Yoon-seok was just willing to accept this ability rather than calculating whether it was worth 650LP.
‘Oh, I’ll have to check that out, too.’
Yoon-seok also confirmed the special reward he received for ending the duel within 15 minutes. Perhaps it wasn’t random, as it was perfectly aligned with what Cheon-ma said.
*String of Contract (Rank EX) – The bond with the contracted admin strengthens when used. The admin can summon the contractee, and if they accept, they can move to the admin’s space.
In other words, this meant that he could now use WP to buy powers without reaching a particular floor to meet the admin. Well, he hadn’t accumulated enough WP to purchase powers, but it wasn’t a one-off, so there was no need to postpone it. Yoon-seok used the item immediately.
「Bond with Lady of Liberation strengthens.」
A white light appeared all over his body for a brief second. Nothing changed, but…
As soon as the light disappeared, a new phrase appeared. It was Elle’s summoning notification.
「Lady of Liberation is calling you.」
「Would you like to accept?」
A swift response as if she had been waiting all this time. But Yoon-seok pressed no because he still had things to do.
‘Let’s do that…’
「Lady of Liberation is calling you.」
「Would you like to accept?」
The call came again regardless. For some reason, he could imagine Elle’s current expression in front of him, and Yoon-seok grinned.
“Please call me back later. It won’t take long.”
Elle could see Yoon-seok as long as he wasn’t on Earth. Well, that didn’t mean she would stick around 24 hours a day and watch. But, as expected, the call alarm was cut off as if she were already watching him.
Yoon-seok approached the tablet and checked the remaining APs. Even if he didn’t use Skill Synthesis, there were still 6.52 million AP left.
‘Now I can upgrade it.’
Yoon-seok paid 6.144 million AP and upgraded magic to Rank S.
「Rank of Mana (S) has increased.」
Thanks to absorbing all seven magic stats from this duel, he was able to raise it to Rank S and upgrade it again.
‘Am I finally in Rank S+…?’
Of course, that was just the general stats, and the actual stats were higher. By combining {Divine Ultimatum} and Dragonian Ring, his magic increased by a further +9.
‘My magic alone will never dry up anymore.’
That would remain true for challengers up to five floors higher than him. Cheon-ma’s magic rank was only SS+ on the 19th floor, after all. Then, 376,000 AP was left. Yoon-seok chose to keep it without hesitation.
‘I’m gonna have to put off what I had planned….’
Originally, he would recall his martial arts in the remaining time and name them one by one. In short, he was going to name his techniques. The reason why Yoon-seok, who always thought it was just for show, finally changed his mind was simple. He realized the real meaning of technique names after being taught by Cheon-ma.
Heavenly Reign. Traverse. These weren’t just techniques of the Heavenly Sword but also the appropriate names of the martial arts skills used by Moorim challengers. No, the expression appropriate wasn’t right. The names that used to seem pretentious clearly showed what the techniques were after.
This didn’t apply to all martial arts of Moorim, but they weren’t just names. It embodied the identity of the technique; it was high maintenance work to showcase its future direction. So it wouldn’t end in an hour or two, but it didn’t matter since he could continue after coming back from the meeting.
“I’m done.”
Yoon-seok muttered quietly, and an instant response arrived.
「Lady of Liberation is calling you.」
「Would you like to accept?」
Come to think of it, it had already been more than two months since he last met her.
When he answered the call, his vision went dark. There was nothing awkward about it now that he had experience with it. As he slowly opened his eyes, he could see the cabin’s interior, slightly different from his memory.
‘Seems like she bought something else again.’
He could see new items in the place spread here and there. Maybe these were the items she bought with WP, as with the rocking chairs. However, Yoon-seok sat in the so-called boss’s chair without saying much about it. Tea and refreshments were placed on the table before him as if Elle had prepared them in advance.
“You don’t have to do this.….”
To be honest, it was burdensome, but Elle left no room for this.
“No, it’s because I want to. At least I want you to relax here. Now, would you like to drink the tea first?”
At Elle’s urging, Yoon-seok took a sip. It was different from the last one, but the tea was sweet. She seemed to know well about Yoon-seok’s preference.
“It’s delicious.”
“Huhu. I knew it.”
Yoon-seok’s short appreciation made Elle blush slightly, and she started telling him what this tea was and its effect like a cosmetics store employee. Honestly, he didn’t listen to any of it. Did she light a scented candle? Somehow, the sweet smell that filled the cabin wouldn’t let him concentrate.
“…”
Yoon-seok looked at Elle quietly, who was chatting excitedly. A hoodie that went down to her jawline. Scarlet hair flowing out from the side, and a lady warrior attire harmonizing white and red colors. It was the same as usual, but somehow it felt different.
Soon Yoon-seok discovered one difference. One of the buttons on her blouse was undone. Well, it wasn’t that big of a deal, but it seemed out of place. However, looking at the beautiful and delicate exposed neck below the opened button, Yoon-seok felt anxious and changed the subject.
“…So what did you summon me for? I thought it was urgent since you repeated it a few times.”
For a second, he thought it was a good transition of the topic, until Elle replied in an aghast tone.
“…Did you think it was urgent?”
“…”
Yoon-seok, who rejected the call several times and asked her to wait, had nothing to say. But fortunately, Elle didn’t seem offended. She spoke plainly.
“Urgent, but also not urgent. That would be best.”
It was confirmed that she didn’t summon him just to chat or ask favors. Yoon-seok grew curious and waited for her to continue.
“Moorim. Are you going to go?”
It was an unexpected question. Besides, didn’t that sound like she was stopping him from proceeding on the fixed schedule? When he never had such a schedule like that in the first place.
“…Why would I go to Moorim?”
Yoon-seok tilted his head and asked. Elle was startled. She didn’t seem to expect such an answer. Yoon-seok, who felt something from her look, quickly continued.
“Did you perhaps see my future?”
“…”
There was no answer, but he knew. Clairvoyance, one of power under the alias name Lady of Liberation. In the past, Yoon-seok was able to escape from the Heavenly Warrior’s trick thanks to her power. In other words, the future viewed with clairvoyance wasn’t absolute. The future could change.
Therefore, a cold sweat formed on his spine. There was only one reason for Elle to change the future.
“What’s going on? Why did I go there, and what else happened?”
When Yoon-seok asked with a stern look, Elle replied with a slightly confused expression.
“I don’t know why. I’m also not sure about the timing. A month? Or two months? I don’t know, but not too long from now, you were in Moorim.”
“…”
He couldn’t understand. He thought something was going on because Cheon-ma and Namgoong Soso went back, but that was all. He was only curious and had no intention of going there and intervening. Was there a chance for that to happen afterward? He didn’t have a clue, but that wasn’t what he wanted to ask Elle.
“What happened there?”
“I can’t tell you in detail because I’m not showing it to you in person.”
Elle responded firmly. If it were the usual Yoon-seok, he would have accepted her explanation. But it was different from usual.
“Why are you lying?”
He wasn’t angry. Yoon-seok asked because he was genuinely curious about the reason.
“L-lying? Why, why do you think so? I’m serious, though?”
A reaction that confirmed it was a lie.
“…”
Yoon-seok quietly closed his mouth and looked at Elle. Why was he so sure that she was lying? It was hard to explain, but it was his hunch. Of course, there was a reason too. When he told her about the synthesized skill b Bloodseeker Ultimatum}, she immediately told him about what she saw through clairvoyance.
When Yoon-seok calmly told her about this, Elle sighed.
“I did… yes, it happened.”
Should he say that she brought it upon herself? Elle’s voice sounded very sad. Soon, she started to look over Yoon-seok’s expression and carefully continued.
“But aren’t you angry?”
It seemed like she was most curious about this, even in this situation. Yoon-seok grinned as he saw Elle asking with a shrunken gesture.
“Well, I’m currently more curious about the reason.”
“I lied to you earlier. Can you believe anything I say?”
He couldn’t use Eyes of the Executer on Elle. She’d always had her hood down since they first met. Somehow, it felt like he could tell if she was lying without technical help just like a moment ago, but…
‘It’s better to be sure.’
Yoon-seok said in a stern voice.
“No, I don’t think I can accept it as it is.”
Was the answer that shocking? Elle lowered her head. It seemed as if he was looking at a hurt animal, but Yoon-seok continued with determination.
“Maybe it would be different if you could look me in the eye and answer.”
Elle slowly raised her head. Already, she seemed to have realized what Yoon-seok meant.
“Eyes of the Executor…”
That was a given. She knew a lot about Yoon-seok’s skills.
“The skill doesn’t work. With your current magic stats.”
He was only reminded now that there was such a condition. It didn’t happen until now, so he couldn’t think of it right away. The Eyes of the Executor would lose effect if the opponent’s magic stats were a level higher than his.
“Plus… you can’t use that skill on me.”
“…?”
He couldn’t use the skill even if there weren’t a difference in magic stats? Were admins immune to skills? Many questions rose in Yoon-seok’s eyes. Looking at him, however, Elle took off her hood.
Flutter.
Elle’s hidden face was revealed. All Yoon-seok could see was her high nose and white jade-like forehead. He had no choice but to. There was a gold cloth around her eyes, like an eye patch.
“I lost both my eyes in exchange for clairvoyance. Of course, there is no disruption because there is another ability to replace it… but you won’t be able to use that skill on me.”
Elle spoke in a nonchalant tone, but she looked sorrowful. Yoon-seok didn’t ask if it was true. He didn’t have to.
「By Lady’s Commandment, all beings in the realm cannot lie.」
Lady’s Commandment was invoked. Not by Yoon-seok, but Elle.
“I don’t have to say much about this power, do I?”
The commandment was absolute. Even if she was the one who invoked it, she couldn’t avoid it either. As if he could see her will, Yoon-seok’s expression shifted, and he asked again.
“What happened there?
Elle replied.
“You save Cheon-ma, who is in danger of dying there.”
“And?”
“Do you need another reason?”
“…?”
Yoon-seok was dazed. He went to Moorim to Cheon-ma, and that was it? Then why did she want to change the future? The answer was extremely simple.
“But she’s….”
Elle looked at Yoon-seok. He felt something black penetrating him beyond the cloth that covered her eyes. What she’d shown Yoon-seok so far was just a part of her, but was she originally like this?
Elle spoke indifferently.
“She is Yoon-seok’s rival, isn’t she?”
Her voice sounded clearer after taking off the hood. It was so cold that he wondered if she was the same person he’d seen before.
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