The 31st Piece Turns the Tables

Thud

Thud

Seols heart began to pound, as if something were wrong. It almost felt like his heart was trying to burst out of his chest.

Urgh

Are you alright?

Thud

Thud

The ringing sound went back and forth between growing loud and quiet.

- Open the door, Seol.

Urgh

Seols head rang loudly, leaving him uncertain of whose voice it was.

This was definitely not normal.

Haaaah

Seol took a deep breath.

What? Was it because of the spar

No, its not that

The ringing suddenly turned silent.

Though Seol did not know why, he knew it had slipped over.

Haah

Are you alright now?

Nod

Seol then reached for his heart after nodding.

What in the

And then

Thuuuuuuud!

Bwrgh

Hey, Kang Seol!

Thud

Seol then went limp after receiving a massive blow to his chest.

His energy is flowing backward! Hurry up and lay him down!

Kang Seol!

Riiiiiiiiing

It felt as though their voices were drifting away as his consciousness sank deeper and deeper.

* * *

Drip drip

It was natural for the pressure to increase the deeper you went.

Seol was finally roused by the immense pressure building up around him.

Crush

Urgh

...Seol.

Thud

After hearing someone call his name, Seol managed to brace himself and prevent his body from sinking any further.

Who is it?

Who do you think?

Only now could Seol tell whose voice it was.

Ur.

So you didnt forget about me completely.

Haha

A spirit wearing glasses appeared in front of Seol.

"I've found a lead on the void."

You did?

Yes, and the void is already complete.

...What?

The reason Seols summons hadnt been able to rejoin him was because the void was still incomplete.

Then why

Ive learned why, and why it took this much time.

Raise

Ur slowly readjusted his glasses before continuing.

The door to the void isnt opened from within.

......

"I'm sure youve realized it. Its not me who opens the door to the void, its you."

The void.

What was needed to open the training ground for efficiently growing his familiars wasnt Ur, but Seol himself.

What happened with Karuna wont happen again. That was pure luck, something he only attempted out of ignorance. It will not be happening again.

But how am I supposed to open the door from here? I

Seol could not do it.

Why not?

Thats because I

He wasnt the Immortal.

He was neither as strong nor as wise as the Immortal.

That thought flashed across Seols mind.

Wait Thats not what Im trying to say

Or was it?

I

Open the door, Seol. We will be waiting for you.

Wai

Fssssssss

* * *

When Seol woke up, he realized he had been moved next to the campfire to keep him warm.

He then looked down at his body, noticing that someone had put acupuncture needles into his body.

Essentially, his body is continuously cooling down, and

Urgh

Hes up!

Kang Seol!

Chi Woo helped Seol up.

Urgh What happened

Are you okay? You suddenly lost consciousness.

Ah

Hye Myeong smiled after realizing that Seol was fine.

Hahaha! Of course, thered be some damage sparring with me. You mightve pretended to be fine, but its normal to be hurt. Next time, let us know right away.

......

Seol lacked even the energy to respond to Hye Myeong.

After the commotion was over, everyone went to sleep.

The next day, with about two days remaining before the Ruins of Watala opened, they all relaxed outsideeveryone except one person.

Seol.

Urgh

Seol furrowed his brow, his face turning red. He looked like someone desperately needing to use the restroom.

Haah

Seol relaxed himself.

- Open the door, Seol. We will be waiting for you.

Urs words lingered in Seols head.

Ur definitely said that he would be waiting for him.

In other words, there was nothing else for Ur to do now.

But how am I supposed to open it?

Even if Seol wanted to open it, he didnt know where it was, how to open it, or if it even existed in the first place.

- I heard that he was knocked out and is now constantly on the verge of shitting himself. Am I correct?

- He hasnt shit himself yet, but he seems to be trying really hard.

- I really hope he succeeds. Ah, maybe hes constipated?

- Get some prune juice!

Not knowing what Seol was trying to do, the viewers thought he was just acting strangely.

...Karuna.

- Yes, Master?

You told me you crossed through a door to return to me, right?

- Yes, there was definitely a door.

There was no better advice than advice from someone who experienced it themselves.

Seol then asked Karuna for every detail about crossing over from the void to him.

What did the door look like exactly?

- It was a bit cramped. It was also old, and I was worried I would break it just by trying to push through.

Hm

- Im not sure if this is the best way to describe it, but... hm... The door I went through didnt seem like one meant for regular use. It felt more like a backup door.

In other words, Karuna didnt take a normal route. It was a special or hidden path.

But how did Karuna manage to use that?

It was clearly a low-chance, difficult path if even Ur described it as extreme luck.

Karuna had simply held onto the chance to reach Seol.

And if he had failed, he wouldve likely been still stuck in the void, even now.

Seol saw it as incredible loyalty and determination.

- There are probably more doors.

Karuna added another sentence, making Seol curious.

What makes you think that?

- I sensed it while wandering through the void. I felt an immense presence somewhere, though I wasnt sure exactly where it was.

Hm

There was undeniably a door.

But could Seol open it?

I thought it would go easy because it was for the Immortal

However, constructing the void was more than just complicated.

Seol then recalled what he was trying to tell Ur in his slumber.

I am not the Immortal.

He wasnt the Immortal.

Seol was struggling with the void because he was neither as strong nor as wise as the Immortal, the one who created it.

Still, its not like theres nothing that I can do.

There was certainly a path.

Urgh

Seol concentrated once more. He realized the door wasnt physical, so the answer had to be within his mind.

- Hes focusing again!

- Its starting again!

- Lets go! Loosen up

Translator - goguma

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

The second night.

Haah

Despite spending an entire day trying to open the door, Seol made no progress.

However, there was no reason for him to be so disappointed.

As long as Seol kept working hard, as he was now, finding the door to open the void Ur mentioned was only a matter of time.

No, there could be issues if I take too long to open it.

Seol knew the trial Hye Myeong would face after acquiring the Luminous Bell.

He also knew that, given his current state, he wouldnt be much help.

Unless I recover at least a portion of my powers, I wont be able to help him, and the past will repeat itself.

In the past, Hye Myeong had used the Luminous Bell to overcome a crisis. Since Seols goal was to recover the bell, he couldnt use it himself.

Therefore, if he couldnt help Hye Myeong, he would have no choice but to use the Luminous Bell to overcome the crisis on his own.

While Seol was certainly strong, the opponent Hye Myeong would face in this trial was one that Seols powers were ill-suited to handle.

That was why he was in such a rush.

At this rate, he would simply repeat the past, unable to take the Luminous Bell for himself.

Still, theres still some time left. I have to keep trying.

There was still plenty of time before Hye Myeong would have to confront the threat. Seol knew this because Hye Myeong hadnt awakened any of the powers from the Golden Divine Statue yet.

The threat that Seol was worried about would come after a few more attempts at the ruin.

I just need to open the door before then.

As Seol tried to concentrate once more, someone approached him.

Hahaha! What are you thinking so hard about, brother?

It was Hye Myeong.

However, the word he used to describe him was a bit weird.

Since when did we become brothers?

Last night, dont you remember?

...Because of that?

Yeah, we helped each other grow a lot. What else would we call each other?

He wasnt wrong.

And this was also an opportunity for Seol to get one of his 10 strongest pieces to lower his guard.

Toss!

Take this, said Hye Myeong.

This is

Hye Myeong tossed him a gourd.

Splash

This smell alcohol?

"Yeah. I was saving this, but since you treated me to a meal and weve become brothers, I want you to have some."

- I told you, this bastard isnt a monk at all. Hes never even shaved his head.

- Destroy them! We have to destroy the rules that stand in the way of us attaining the truth!

Seol neither enjoyed alcohol nor was he the type to drink something offered by others.

However, could Hye Myeong really be considered someone else? He was also himself, and his brother.

And from what Seol could tell, nothing had been added to the alcohol. The only thing in the gourd was liquor.

Gulp

Seol took a big swig of the alcohol in Hye Myeongs gourd.

Good, right?

...It is.

The two then sat on a rock, looking up at the moonThe expansive view of the plateau before them filled their hearts.

I said this before, but you seem to have a lot of worries, said Hye Myeong.

Worries, huh smirked Seol. Theres always worries.

Hye Myeong laughed after hearing that.

Hahaha! To be honest, youre the first person Ive met whos as strong as I am.

......

Maybe I was arrogant?

Seol hesitated to answer that question.

I cant influence Hye Myeong too much.

Seol had no idea what might happen if Hye Myeong changed too much after their meeting.

What if Hye Myeong succeeded in Ascension?

Or what if he failed to overcome a barrier and fell short?

Gulp

Regardless, I dont know why youre worrying so much when you have become so strong at such a young age.

Seols brain turned white for a second.

If I were you, Id have no worries at all, hahaha!

Seol felt strange being called strong by Hye Myeong, his legendary piece who would one day challenge Ascension to become a god.

You know, I

Hye Myeong then shared his past.

He had been in a small hermitage, practicing asceticism.

The Soul Eyes Tribe was persecuted, but Mi Ah, someone even they had abandoned, came to his hermitage.

She had lost her sight even before her coming-of-age ceremony.

Although cases like hers had occurred before, they always brought disaster to the tribe, which was why she was abandoned.

I had to protect her.

Hunters seeking to capture her kept coming, causing significant harm to the hermitage.

He had no choice but to leave with her.

Truthfully, it was sheer luck I made it here, and it was even more luck that let me get the divine statue.

Seol glanced down at the golden statue, seeing its eerie smile.

Did Mi Ah not blame them for abandoning her?

"Not at all. Not everyone can reach nirvana. The path to enlightenment is a solitary journey. For some, even sharing hardships is difficult."

I guess you still are a monk, after all.

Hahaha! And you dont seem like an archaeologist at all. Were just breaking the mold.

We just might.

Seol felt a strange sensation swelling in his chest. It wasnt sadness or boredom.

It was just a strong desire to confirm something, no matter what.

Hye Myeong.

Haha... For some reason, hearing that feels familiar. Even though Mi Ahs probably the only person who calls me by my name now.

How would you feel if someone else made the decisions for most of your life?"

...An interesting question.

Seol was the person who made every decision for Hye Myeong.

He wanted to see how Hye Myeong would accept it.

I dont know. I dont know what Id say, but Id like to meet them at least once.

...Who?

The person making the decisions for me, of course.

Despite being right beside him, Hye Myeong was utterly clueless. It was a strange situation, but it also provided an answer for Seol.

Like a firefly in the darkness, Seols conversation with Hye Myeong illuminated the hazy situation before him.

Sensing this clarity, Seol decided to ask more.

A door.

...What?

There is a door inside of me.

What a strange sentence.

I need to open it, but I dont know how. What would you do?

Hm said Hye Myeong, scratching his chin. Since I cant open up my chest to see my heart, Id have to cultivate myself.

Cultivate?

Yes, cultivate. Like developing your mind.

Hye Myeongs view was not too different from Seols.

And that just so happens to be my expertise! Now, why dont we go ask Watala?

Grab

Hye Myeong then gripped the Golden Divine Statue.

What are you trying to do with that?

Dont you know what this relic is?

Roughly.

Then you must also know about Watala, right?

I do.

Watala isnt so much a god as they are a transcendent mind. He is an ancient being who has practiced asceticism to the point where his mind has reached the pinnacle.

You know a lot about him.

Haha, there were details about him in the ruin. It was easy to understand, too, since it was left behind as a drawing.

The Golden Divine Statue.

And the thing possessing it was Watalas mind.

Watala did not ask for much.

However, each time the user receives help, they also aid Watala in escaping the statue. He, too, desired to spread his powers throughout the world.

While most statues like these discovered in ruins are eerie and ominous, the Golden Divine Statue is a rare case where the individual trapped is actually a benevolent one.

Now, Watala, you heard Kang Seols worries, right? If he wants to open the door

- They have arrived.

Whats coming?

Something unexpected happened.

The Golden Divine Statues mouth opened and began to speak.

Even Seols mind went blank, as it was his first time experiencing this.

- Evil has arrived. Prepare yourselves, men of good.

And then

Rumbleeeeeeee!

The ruins door suddenly emerged from the ground, causing Hye Myeong to look around.

Why is it opening a day early

Seol then looked up at the sky.

Rumble

Dark clouds were coming closer.

Dont tell me!

A chill ran down Seols spine.

Its him! Why is he

The evil Hye Myeong was supposed to face after challenging the ruin multiple times was approaching fast.

Hye Myeong still isnt ready yet!

Then, there was only one solution.

Hye Myeong, run!

What?

Run! Quickly now!

Their party members, already awake from the noise, were also surprised by the sudden appearance of the door.

Go in!

What are you

Seol Hong!

Mi Ah!

As Seol shouted, Chi Woo quickly carried them both on his shoulders and leaped into the ruin.

It was the perfect response.

In contrast, Hye Myeong hesitated to look behind at Seol.

Kang Seol!

...s coming!

Fwoooooosh

It was as if a shooting star had streaked through the sky, flying in and colliding directly with Seol.

Kang Seol!

[Bones of Origin consumes the impact.]

[Bones of Origin currently has an empty stomach.]

[Bones of Origin digests all of the impact.]

Seol was sent flying by the impact and was caught briefly by Hye Myeong before both were propelled through the door by the force.

Thuuuuuud

The doors to the ruin quickly closed after admitting Seol and Hye Myeong.

Haah Haah

Are you alright? What the hell was

The two were dazed after being struck by the powerful attack.

The Golden Divine Statue then opened its mouth once more.

- Evil has arrived. Watalas benevolent will and power must not be taken.

Seol then locked eyes with the statue.

It was almost as if it was talking to Seol directly.

- Secure Watalas inheritance.

Seol then saw a few messages appear in front of him.

[Sudden Adventure 'Watalas Inheritance' is now active.]

[This Adventure is very dangerous.]