Chapter 224

Panicked.

No, not just panicked, but also infuriated.

If there’s one shining object, it’s unmistakably the only one.

The Memorial that reflects Carsein’s past.

Surely, the Status Window said it was a Memorial too.

But why?

Why am I seeing this house where I escaped from popping up here again?

-Swish.

My head whipped around at the sudden feeling of someone’s presence.

A man was walking within three steps away, and I knew by his eyes how eerie he looked.

Yes, I remember this.

On a dark night shrouded in mist.

A particularly deep darkness filled the air today.

That day when everyone except me was laughing and talking loudly in front of the house.

A figure was cast in front of the house, which I had never seen before.

It was a man holding a knife.

In that moment, I realized everything and relaxed my body.

-Stomp, stomp.

Even though I thought he would charge at me when our eyes met, the man simply walked straight ahead.

As if he didn’t even know I was there.

As if he couldn’t see me.

He approached step by step.

When his body touched mine, my body didn’t collide with his. The man who passed through me continued walking straight.

Yes, this isn’t Carsein, but my memory of the past.

“This is…”

My gaze turned towards the direction I knew well.

There, I saw myself returning home after finishing a part-time job silently.

A man walking home with a kitchen knife in hand.

And the past me who noticed the situation at that moment.

Vaguely, memories of that time started coming back.

***

-Ding dong.

The doorbell rang in the man’s hand.

The voices in the living room, laughing and talking, paused for a moment.

“Who could be the guest? Was anyone of you two expecting someone?”

“I haven’t.”

“Me neither. Younger Sister?”

“What about Mom?”

The three sisters shook their heads, none of them having invited a guest.

“It’s not my guest either. Who could it be at this hour?”

The second sister tilted her head and opened the door.

-Click.

“…? What is it?”

Though the door was open, no one was there.

Only silence filled the air, no sound at all.

The bell was clearly pressed, yet no one was around, making the second sister furrow her brows in annoyance.

“Damn. Who would ring the doorbell nowadays?”

Grumbling in frustration, she closed the door and went back inside.

But was it really just silence?

An intense struggle was happening in the soundless place.

-Groan.

“Ugh! Let go!”

“Gah!”

Minhyuk, who disarmed the knife and subdued the man with a surprise attack, found himself struggling against the man’s strength.

Drunk and dulled senses made it risky if any noise escaped. He failed to knock the man unconscious by choking him.

“Haa. Haa. Who are you? What are you doing here?!”

The man, now holding the knife again, glared at Minhyuk, finally focusing and recognizing him.

“What? You… Are you that kid, Minhyuk, living in this house? How dare you… Even a younger brother like you can’t be treated properly. You’re just a useless brat.”

Yes, this man was a senior, a year older than Minhyuk.

A senior from the same school.

But there was a background to this incident.

“Kim Minhyuk, you piece of trash. I have something to talk to your younger sister about, so get lost!”

“Hey, Lee Youngjun. Do you think your confession will be accepted by her?”

“What?”

“You were rejected at school.”

“You bastard! I wasn’t rejected! How dare you say that!”

“Even if you were rejected, do you think drinking and barging into someone’s house will change anything?”

At these words, Youngjun gritted his teeth.

“Her refusal was because she was embarrassed to answer right away! So move aside now!”

“…”

If he kept talking with that knife, he’d better move aside.

Clearly, the guy was not in his right mind. If he entered that house, what would he do?

With his drunken state, if he got rejected again, the outcome would be obvious.

Minhyuk had been hated by this family countless times.

But no matter how much he hated them, he didn’t want to see them brutally murdered.

He steadied himself.

Fighting an opponent with the same weapon might be different, but facing an opponent with only weapons on his side.

It wouldn’t be strange if cold sweat poured down.

But Minhyuk calmly assessed the situation.

“Haha. Dare you interfere with my love? You’re crazy?”

Drunk, he felt less pain.

On the other hand, seeing his staggering body, there were clear weaknesses in balance and vision.

“If I can just handle that kitchen knife, I might be able to bring him down.”

Youngjun aimed the cold edge of the kitchen knife at Minhyuk.

“Fine, fine. A hindrance like you should disappear. Eunhye would probably be happier without a brother like you anyway. You’re just unnecessary in this family. It wouldn’t be strange if you disappeared faster. Right? Ah, once I deal with you, Eunhye might actually be happier. Heh, hehhehe.”

Crazy.

So creepy it gave goosebumps.

“Dieeee!!”

With bloodshot eyes, Youngjun lunged forward.

His face looked as if a screw was loose, aiming directly for Minhyuk’s neck.

But his movements were awkward.

His actions were clumsy, with only his arm showing signs of strength while the rest was dull.

There was a gap to exploit.

-Flick! Flick!

Minhyuk dodged two consecutive attacks lightly, looking for an opening. As soon as a gap appeared, he moved like lightning.

-Push!

The blade narrowly missed Minhyuk’s cheek, leaving a few drops of blood in the air.

During that moment,

Minhyuk accurately broke into Youngjun’s embrace, grabbing the knife-wielding arm and flipping it over.

“Graaah!!”

-Tang.

The body fell to the ground, landing on its back. Minhyuk pressed harder, pinning Youngjun down.

Struggling despite being drunk and forgetting the pain, Youngjun was quite annoying. But when he started to lose strength, the sound of police sirens echoed.

“What’s that? Why are there sirens?”

“It seems there’s some incident outside.”

“Ah! I’m scared!”

“Wouldn’t it be less scary if you stuck close to the eldest sister?”

Soon, the sirens faded away.

The family’s warm atmosphere started to return.

And soon,

Minhyuk came inside the house.

“Hey, you always come back so late…”

Minhyuk tried to sneak into the room, pretending not to notice. But the second sister, Eunhye, grabbed his arm.

“What’s this on your face? Why are you covered in bandages like this?”

Minhyuk brushed off her hand again.

“Leave it. It’s not your concern.”

“What? Hey! Someone is worried!”

-Knock.

“Damn. What kind of rude guy is this?”

“Leave him. Why keep worrying about this idiot?”

“…”

At the eldest sister’s words, the second sister swallowed her frustration and turned away.

But why?

Eunhye couldn’t help but feel uneasy and looked toward Minhyuk’s room.

Later, when she heard from the police about the injuries on Minhyuk’s cheek…

She gasped and covered her mouth.

***

▶The Hidden Memorial has ended.◀

This is called a Memorial?

I’m speechless.

This is just an unpleasant memory of my past.

Something that will fade away with time and doesn’t matter anymore.

To show this as a Memorial?

“Damn. I’ve been tricked.”

What a joke.

I brought specific evidence for the final presentation at the Symposium, but this was just a waste of effort and money.

As the timer was about to run out,

The Status Window displayed another system message.

-Ring!

▶As a special reward for the Hidden Memorial, the player will be provided with secrets of this world!◀

Secrets of this world?

【Your choice will determine the fate of another person in this world.】

“What?”

What does this mean?

My choice determines the fate of another person?

Does that mean if I make a wrong choice, that person will die?

“Explain it clearly! What does this mean?!”

Though I shouted, the Status Window did not respond.

▶This scene is part of the Hidden Memorial.◀

▶Collecting more Memorials will provide additional information.◀

▶Gather information related to the Kingdom of Wederos.◀

▶The effect of the Memorial is lifted. The timer starts.◀

10…

9…

Nervousness spiked as the eerie message played.

My choice decides someone’s life or death.

Even if it’s a game, isn’t this an unsettling story?

“Damn. What the hell is this…!”

Grinding my teeth in frustration, I noticed the timer was almost up.

I couldn’t stay like this when the timer ends.

“…They said to gather information related to the Kingdom of Wederos.”

There’s nothing else as an answer.

Even after trying multiple retries, the only way to get an answer is to investigate the Kingdom of Wederos, which I’ve never seen before in the game.

The secrets of this world.

The connection between my life and someone else’s.

By investigating the Kingdom of Wederos, I might find another answer.

▶The timer has ended!◀

▶The time freeze effect is lifted.◀

“Harnei. Is it okay if we go a bit faster?”

“Hmm? There’s no problem, but…”

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Eh? Wha—? Kyaaak!”

***

Questions remained about the Kingdom of Wederos.

The doubts arose in Rusmaier.

An old man wearing a ring had questions and summoned Delphina, reacting strangely when a certain magic was invoked.

From there, hints about the Kingdom of Wederos began to appear.

Moreover, Pollux had asked a mysterious question.

“Are you from the Kingdom of Wederos?”

“…What?”

“If you’re not from the Kingdom of Wederos, you shouldn’t be able to wear this ring. Yet you wear it without any side effects.”

Special rings and their side effects.

I wore this ring without any issues.

Whether it’s a game setting or if there’s a hidden backstory, I don’t know.

But for me, this is the key to unraveling the mystery.

“The Kingdom of Wederos… I don’t know much.”

Only that it’s the only kingdom in the west, not a tribe.

Other than that, Harnei doesn’t know much.

But, if you know someone in the west…

“Talpon.”

“…Carseen? Did you have a good trip?”

“Sorry for asking abruptly. Can you look at this first?”

He held out his hand to show the ring.

“This is…!”

“This ring. Pollux said there are side effects. And that only someone from the Kingdom of Wederos can wear it.”

“Hmm. Pollux, huh…”

“And this sword is the same, right?”

“…Yes. Only someone from the Kingdom of Wederos can use it.”

But I already confirmed it.

That this sword fits perfectly with my body.

▶The Silver Dagger from the Kingdom of Wederos grows in power in proportion to the player’s growth!◀

The message was clear enough; no further explanation was needed.

“Tell me. About the Kingdom of Wederos. And there must be something important for me.”

“…Alright. It’s fine to tell you now.”

Talpon fell silent for a moment, then closed and opened his eyes, confirming no one was listening before sitting down.

“Before answering, I have a question. Carseen, where are you from?”

“Wait, what are you talking about? I’m—”

“Not from the House of Bargrand. You’re not even a resident of this world.”

“…!!”