Chapter 93

The Organization spoke.

“What do you plan to do about Soo-oh?”

Are you worried about her? You two have gotten really close, so is it because you don’t want to part ways?

“I’m going to force Soo-oh into freedom. A person shouldn’t be bound to anyone. One must live freely doing what they want.”

Then the Organization furrowed their brows.

“You’re abandoning her?”

“No. Speak clearly. This is about independence.”

Everyone eventually reaches a moment where they must stand as their own individual personality. If you miss this moment, your light fades and warmth diminishes.

Therefore, I wish for people to enjoy all kinds of freedom.

Even now, like Oh Myeong-seong who yells about martial arts world justice while slicing someone in one stroke and killing them.

His light has turned deep purple but it’s big, and his warmth is that much greater.

And the warmth he spreads is far more than what he personally possesses.

“Because even if reality doesn’t allow it, I believe a world where everyone can live freely is coming, which is why Soo-oh must also be free.”

I told the Organization what I desired.

“People should freely express emotions, love others, create what they want, and do everything according to their desires.”

That’s why I ascend beyond this sky. Not for people to stand over other people, but for people to stand above numbers.

Even if people die not from lifespan but other reasons, it’ll merely be a matter of numerical increase or decrease.

I can obtain more warmth then.

I don’t just believe such a world will come. I know it will. When everyone pursues freedom while infringing on each other’s freedom and stealing the power to be free…

There’s no right or wrong here. It’s pure survival competition. Just keep doing what we’ve done in nature until now.

“What does that have to do with you going outside?”

Not swayed by words.

“It’s related. If I share myself, people become freer. Hey, Organization. Are you satisfied with your current body?”

At my words, the Organization looked down at their own body.

A young woman in her early twenties.

The appearance of a mid-thirties man is nowhere to be seen. I didn’t know if becoming a Harvesting System meant freedom even from gender, but it’s probably a similar ability.

“The skin color isn’t pleasing. You don’t look human.”

“People with fatal wounds end up like that. Consider it fortunate that they survived.”

The Organization agreed with my words. Back then, they were practically a corpse. Looking at the memories, their limbs were torn off, their internal organs ruptured, they were truly on the brink of death.

“You don’t understand your own strength.”

“I don’t. You said I was human, right? I’m just feeling around in the dark examining myself.”

Then the Organization lifted their arm, rested their chin on it, and stared at me.

“Were you really human? Sometimes when you talk, it gives me chills. It feels like something non-human pretending to be human.”

We’ve talked a lot over the past year about various things. Most of the topics centered around Soo-oh, but we didn’t completely avoid casual chatter either.

“You’re just a monster now.”

“A monster, huh.”

The Organization avoids making a decision, talking around the issue.

If you don’t want me to take Soo-oh, you could say you’ll take care of her.

Or are you thinking about how to deal with me?

She used a sensation I couldn’t feel to look at me and spat out her understanding of what I am.

So far, she’s kept me alive because of Soo-oh, but maybe she thinks she can’t let a dangerous monster roam free.

The current Organization is running the Organization well.

People usually swing swords to protect what they have, even if it’s unjust.

Will the Organization do the same?

The Organization remained silent for a long time.

Then they spoke in a small voice.

“Don’t go.”

It was a very quiet voice. But I was shocked.

Huh?

No, what did the Organization just say?

“Don’t go?” Why does it sound like pleading? If it had been “You can’t go” or “Go already” or “Do as you please,” I would have understood.

But asking me… pleading with me?

Looking at the Organization’s face, their skin tone had slightly changed, as if they were embarrassed.

Wait a minute. So the Organization is embarrassed about what they just said? You don’t want me to leave? Have you really grown attached to me too?

No. This isn’t about having some affection for me as Soo-oh’s accessory, right?

A faded memory shines. In a world of only gray, a man laughs foolishly at some sight. What he’s laughing at isn’t important. The laughter itself glows.

Then the memory slowly loses its light and sinks back into the depths.

“That’s such a stupid thing to say, Organization. We don’t even call each other by name, aren’t close friends, I’m just an extra that came with Soo-oh.”

Why are you saying that?

The Organization opened their eyes wide. Then their eyes narrowed.

They’re smiling.

“Seeing you so flustered makes saying it worthwhile.”

The Organization said that and looked forward. I saw through their gaze, but their eyes were wandering through empty space. They weren’t looking at anything specific, but at the past.

“I won’t tell you yet. Wait four years. Four years.”

Suddenly, the Organization drew a line.

Four years.

It’s a long time.

But it’s also a short period. In the first world, I waited for over 80 years.

“Then I will share myself with people.”

At my words, the Organization chuckled.

“Do it. The Organization. A place where everyone can use the Divine Martial Art. That sounds fun.”

Everyone using the Divine Martial Art?

Ah, right. The Organization knows I know the Divine Martial Art. They mistakenly think it’s Eun-jai’s technique, but I have the memories of the Harvesting System.

“I like it, but wouldn’t that shake the Organization’s position?”

“We already have Gap-jae and Bing-il. And there’s a man named Jung Jae-woo. The energy of the Divine Martial Art is distinctive, impossible to miss.”

Jung Jae-woo is the Chief Enforcer of the Heavenly Palace. I thought I caught his gaze before but didn’t think much of it. Looks like the Organization remembered.

This is why gazes are troublesome. It’s hard to tell whether someone consciously recognized you after catching your gaze or just let it pass.

Moreover, this energy stuff is foreign to me.

“By the way, can you sense that energy from me?”

If I’m radiating such energy, I need to be more careful moving forward. To prepare for potential danger, I asked the Organization.

“No.”

The Organization answered briefly. Then they lowered their hand from their chin and turned their gaze toward me.

“I don’t sense anything. You’re not extracted power, you’re the rule itself.”

The Organization once called me something akin to annihilation when they saw me.

Just a monster on the opposite side of ki that can’t be utilized.

“When the Organization touched me, didn’t you realize?”

“When I tried to remove what I thought was lint stuck to your clothes, the thread kept unraveling until the whole garment started to fall apart.”

I nodded remembering the faded memory.

“Yeah.”

“That was you. When I inserted ki thinking it was lint, you grabbed it and pulled. If I hadn’t let go, I would have been drained to death.”

I recalled the Sucking Grand Law technique used by Oh Myeong-seong and Goo Sung-yong. Corpses drained by the Sucking Grand Law shrivel and twist. Isn’t this subtly different?

“Didn’t the Organization shiver from cold?”

“It was cold. Colder than I ever want to experience again.”

While saying this, the Organization looked at me with a hint of fear in their eyes.

“That coldness from your fingertips alone affected me that much. Is the warmth you seek meant to cover that cold? The day I first asked about your purpose, you said you’d do anything for warmth. So your sharing yourself is definitely to gain warmth, right?”

Then the Organization hit the truth casually.

This is why smart people are annoying.

It would be better if everyone were dumb.

No, but that would be strange.

“But you still say not to go?”

As humans, shouldn’t we stay away from scary things?

At my question, the Organization gave a bitter smile.

Then they raised a finger, pointing at the yard or house, recounting events involving me, Soo-oh, and the Organization.

Last winter, we played building snowmen in the yard.

This spring, we skipped stones by the water’s edge below the cliff.

Not long ago, we built sandcastles on the sandy beach below.

And a few other small incidents.

These are the pegs of memories increasing the probability of Soo-oh clenching her teeth and the opportunities for the Organization and Soo-oh to grow fond of each other.

Of course, I was there in between, but I wasn’t part of it.

I taught them and left them to play.

“Why does that matter?”

In response to my question, the Organization giggled like a child rather than sounding particularly feminine or masculine.

“Whatever you are, whatever plans you make, whatever you do, it doesn’t matter anymore.”

Then the Organization sat facing me directly on the porch.

“Having received an impossible treasure, until the light of that treasure fades, the black sword of I, Mo, shall be yours.”

That was the Organization saying with full courtesy as an individual.

“Really foolish, don’t you think?”

“I know. So what? Among those who criticize me as foolish, has anyone given me such a treasure? I’ve already had enough. No, I’m satisfied with this.”

A faded memory flickers faintly. Deep regret. Was this kind of idiocy what being a friend meant?

It was what I longed for, but I don’t know why it feels like this.

Trying to speak, I picked up a heart shredded and powdered by coldness.

It’s completely empty.

There’s nothing there, yet it whispers as if something exists.

A memory spanning from the faded recollections through the first world to the second world points to a single word.

“A companion?”

“Yeah. That suits me.”

The Organization smiled like an innocent child.

Simultaneously, somewhere in my memories, an old woman bowed her head.

I couldn’t utter a word.

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