Unexpectedly, the painting was gentle.
Was it to help Nameless understand?
Or maybe it was linked to memories, as the painting kept moving to aid comprehension.
Thus, the last three paintings arrived.
Nameless squinted his eyes, determined to concentrate until the end while observing the painting.
“…A magic circle?”
A complex magic circle that resembled Jackal’s yet appeared different, where the nameless one began to chant and infuse his mana.
Soon, a sinister dark light burst forth from the magic circle, starting to shroud the entire painting.
“…Are they trying to teleport somewhere?”
It seemed a bit more advanced than Jackal’s, but under the circumstances, it must be spatial movement.
Two paintings left.
“Where on earth are they headed?”
With a deep sigh, Nameless moved to check the next painting.
*
He gazed at the landscape within the painting, quietly observing.
As he guessed, the nameless one had taken a step into a different realm.
Despite witnessing it firsthand, Nameless squinted at the unbelievable sight.
“Is this the advancement of magic science that Bell mentioned…?”
If that’s the case, just how much have they progressed?
High buildings decorated even more lavishly than the royal palace filled the space, and silent carriages roamed the streets.
A heavy-armored bird floated in the sky, and people seemed unafraid, despite the monsters looming above them.
“Where is this…?”
Where in the world could this be?
It seemed too different from a simple future, as the appearances of the people were vastly distinct from now.
Even the races were limited to humans.
“Hmm…”
Nameless’s questions couldn’t linger for long.
The nameless one began stepping forward, making the painting change abruptly.
Without hesitation, the nameless one stepped out….
“No, is it me?”
He moved toward an alley filled with trash, reminiscent of a slum he had visited before, contrasting sharply with the affluent scene. He entered a small building that matched the ambiance well.
“…Where am I headed?”
He arrived at a shabby door, hesitating for a moment before resolutely opening it.
He encountered someone very familiar.
“That person is…?”
With drooping eyelids and eyebrows furrowed in a pout, and even the spot beneath the eyes.
“Master?”
Time had passed or was it a side effect of dimension distortion? Slightly different in appearance, yet he couldn’t deceive his eyes.
That person, no, that individual was certainly his Master.
“…Why is Master here?”
Nameless’s head began to spin as if it would explode.
He found it hard to accept the reality unfolding before him, almost feeling nauseous.
Why was Master here?
Or was it really Master?
Though the appearance was astonishingly similar, there were subtle differences upon closer inspection.
Like being about three inches taller than he remembered or the hair a little shorter than usual for a woman, falling just below the shoulders.
Also, that strangely androgynous face.
However, such thoughts of Nameless were overshadowed by the striking resemblance that person bore to Master.
Doubtless, that person was indeed Master.
That brought forth another looming question.
‘Why am I here?’
As if answering this thought, the version of himself in the painting lost his hesitation and began to move immediately.
Slowly reaching out, he grabbed the slender wrist.
Then, he began to lead the seemingly flustered Master somewhere.
Caught in the sudden situation, Nameless was just as perplexed as Master.
Where was he dragging Master off to?
And why this rude attitude?
“What are you doing…!”
Nameless glared at his painting self with the intent to kill.
Yet, it didn’t reach.
No matter how he struck the harmless painting, his view only shook about without any change.
It was hopeless.
Then, the anticipated scene unfolded in the painting.
At that time, it seemed Master didn’t have any power, unable to resist Nameless’s grip.
Master swung weak punches, shed tears, and finally gave up, letting the spark in her eyes fade out as she followed without resistance.
Even though it was just a painting, watching it tore Nameless’s heart apart.
He felt like he was only hurting Master.
He resented his own helplessness.
“…”
Like Master in the painting, he too felt powerless, staring into the painting with hollow eyes.
He couldn’t look away.
He needed to see the next part to decide how to apologize or how to react.
“Next, to the next….”
Nameless aimlessly moved ahead.
*
It was just another day like any other.
…Until just a moment ago.
-Creeeak.
After finishing his part-time job and a volunteer stint at the orphanage, Harang was enjoying a well-deserved rest when someone came to visit.
“Who are you…?”
The man was dressed in high-quality cosplay, typically seen in fantasy scenarios.
The first thought that crossed Harang’s mind was, “Is this some kind of hidden camera prank?”
But, did such people even exist?
In such high quality?
From that moment, Harang’s mind began to spiral.
“Did you come to the wrong place…? No, then how did you get inside…?”
While he was muttering those words, the man remained silent.
He simply furrowed his brow and stared at Harang.
‘Could he be one of those new-age freaks I only see in the news…?’
Harang had never imagined such a thing would happen to him, trying not to show his panic, he lifted the phone in his hand.
To call the police for help.
“Ugh!”
But the man wasn’t about to let him do that; he gripped Harang’s hand.
‘What strength…!’
Harang couldn’t even put up a proper resistance as he was dragged away.
*
After some time passing in this manner?
“Aren’t you going to ask anything?”
Once the people around them had vanished entirely, the indifferent man spoke to Harang, who was biting his lips.
“…What difference would it make to ask?”
“No, there’s no difference.”
…That’s right, there wouldn’t be any difference.
So why was he asking?
Moreover, where on earth was he taking him?
Although he had questions, he didn’t voice them.
He feared if he said something annoying, the man might interpret it as an escape attempt and retaliate.
Plus, the fleeting glimpse of sadness in the man’s face lingered.
“…”
Of course, he didn’t resist entirely.
Who would just go along passively with a kidnapper?
But the man was so strong that the more he tried to resist, the tighter his grip became, and Harang ultimately gave up.
“Help me!”
He even cried out to passing strangers for help, but for some unknown reason, no one came to his aid.
Was the world this bleak?
Or did this man do something?
From then on, Harang abandoned the thought of escaping from this man and soon found himself in a secluded mountain area.
‘…What is this?’
Upon entering a small container space, Harang couldn’t believe his eyes.
He was staring at a detailed magic circle, the kind generally seen in fantasy when using magic, that was so intricate it felt like a child’s play.
“From now on, you will be leaving this place.”
Leaving? Where to? Why?
Countless questions swirled in his mind, but what escaped Harang’s lips was something entirely different.
“…Am I going to die?”
A statement born of instinct.
In response, the ominous man spoke sternly, his expression momentarily serious.
“No, you won’t die. You need to live.”
“…”
He was the one who kidnapped him, yet he wanted him to live?
What on earth was he talking about?
No, was it wrong to expect common sense from someone so enthralled in cult-like practices, scribbling magic circles in such a container?
“Ugh.”
Harang felt hollow.
What crime had he committed to deserve this?
He could firmly say he had lived righteously, feeling utterly wronged.
Seeing Harang’s expression, the man furrowed his brows and added.
“…At this rate, it looks like you’re on the verge of taking your own life.”
Excuse me.
Muttering under his breath, the man placed a hand above Harang’s head and began to chant.
“What the….”
Suddenly, dark mists began to rise from around him.
It flowed into his mind.
‘…Why am I here?’
Harang’s mind turned blank, and memories started to fade away.
“Now, let’s go.”
“Wait? Where are we going…?”
More importantly, who is this person?
“From now on, you’re going to meet me.”
What on earth does that mean?
Is what he’s seeing even himself?
His mind was a jumbled mess.
No, he couldn’t even think straight.
He just stood there in a daze.
“It’s quite selfish, but this is the only future where I could be happy.”
After the man’s final words, he stepped upon a complex symbol.
And then, he fell into the abyss.
