NOVEL WEB Side Story Chapter 3 - Coincidence, Necessity, and Encounter (2)
A being who breaks through the dust fog and reveals its true form.
He followed Seo-joon's voice and slowly turned his gaze.
“...... hmm?”
Eventually, he checked Seo-jun's appearance, and
he also seemed to recognize Seo-jun's face.
“you are...?”
The eyes of the two staring at each other slowly began to widen.
“Why are you here?”
“That's what I'd like to ask, but why are you here?”
The two of them just stared blankly at each other's faces, repeating questions in amazement.
Silence fell for a moment.
How much time had passed like that?
As if breaking that awkward silence.
I heard the words of a mentor somewhere.
< What is it? Do you two know each other? >
Hearing the mentor's words, Seo-joon lowered his gaze gently.
The mentor twisted his small body around in Seo-jun's grip.
After a while, it freed itself from its grasp, jumped down, and landed on the floor.
Then, through the dust fog, I began to carefully examine the being that appeared.
< Um...? >
However, unlike Seo-jun, the mentor did not recognize the presence in front of him.
< Who are you? It looks like you're a freshman ... < No matter how you look at it, you don't seem to be human... How did Seojun Kim know? >
The mentor tilted his head and expressed his doubts.
Seeing such a mentor, Seo-joon nodded slightly.
The mentor was then... wait.
It's not Kim Seo-joon's ‘and', but
how do you know Kim Seo-joon's ‘this'?
< How could Seo-Jun Kim have such a great appearance...? >
The mentor had his arms folded and had a puzzled look on his face.
How come that figure is ‘Kim Seo-joon can't have friends...?' It felt like.
“What does that mean, mentor?”
< Uh... yes? That's it... >
The mentor shuddered and continued.
< Kim Seojun-nim doesn't have any motivation for being a freshman. You don't have any close first-year friends and... >
“Well, that's true, but... You can still get close to first-year students through their chatter.”
Then, as if the mentor was talking about something, he firmly shook his head and replied.
< Are you Seojun Kim? I hope so. In the first place, Kim Seo-joon couldn't even leave a post in the beginner community. What did you say while you were bullied by freshmen? >
Bullied by freshmen?
say that now
Who is the reason why you can't post in the community in the first place?
“And I’m a bully, so what’s that… Whew. no.”
Seo-joon shut his mouth tightly as if to pick up the words he had been spitting out.
It was right to explain things that were clearly different from the facts.
It was because I knew that there would be no use in trying to explain to my mentor based on my experience.
And well…
it was true that I didn’t have any close freshmen.
The only thing I know about is the twisted existence...?
But I couldn't even say that I was acquainted with the twisted being.
Seojun shrugged once and opened his mouth.
“This is the first-time student I met when I went to another dimension.”
< Yes? Is it another dimension? Do you mean another dimension...? >
“Haven't I been to another dimension for 10 months? I want to buy time to complete the lecture.”
< Um...? ah! Then! >
The mentor crossed his small palms.
Then he tilted his head and opened his mouth again.
< Then is the person I met in that dimension…? >
“Yes. This is the freshman I met then.”
< Oh... >
Then, the mentor pursed his lips and made an admiring expression.
It was as if the fact was strange.
I don't know what's so strange about it... Anyway.
What did you say your name was then...?
Oh yeah.
“Aren… did you say that?”
“That's right. You remember.”
Aren gave a small smile.
However, because of the appearance, there was an illusion that there was a slight halo shining from behind.
Seojun stared blankly at Aren.
Aren was a beginner Seojun met when he was in another dimension for 10 months.
At that time, he received a lot of help,
and honestly, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Seo-joon was able to establish the path of transcendence that he decided to walk thanks to Aren.
As much as Aren is a beginner, it is hard to believe.
No, in a sense, he possessed martial arts that surpassed those of transcendental instructors.
Not only his appearance, but also his transcendent powerlessness and gentle personality.
It was the existence that I thought Aren was the one who had everything.
Seojun responded to Aren's smile and smiled at him.
“I didn’t expect to see you here again. I received a lot of help in many ways at that time—”
for a moment.
Then, with a sudden thought, Seo-joon cut off the words he had been uttering for a moment.
At the same time, without realizing it, my body stiffened.
A thought just flashed through my mind.
Did he even know what Seojun was thinking?
Aren asked Seo-jun with a questionable expression.
“Anyway, why are you here? You left then, and I thought you would have transcended, of course.”
“ah.”
At Aren's words, Seo-joon let out a small exclamation.
As I said earlier, Aren was the last day.
When Seo-joon visited another dimension, he was a beginner who existed in that dimension.
And let's briefly summarize the situation from then until now.
Seo-joon continued training for 10 months in that dimension and
eventually returned to Earth.
He had a final battle with such a great voice and
went to the observer to break down the boundary space.
And right after Seo-joon lost consciousness in the boundary space.
I woke up in a place where I didn't know if it was the earth or what it was.
so now.
There is Aren here, who doesn't know what the earth is.
Putting this together in a nutshell…
“Why did you come back to my dimension? no, how?”
also.
Hearing Aren's words again, Seojun nodded once.
and no worries.
Fortunately, this place didn't seem to be Earth.
Purity or chaos?
I thought the earth was a mess...
“Haa...”
Seo-joon let out a sigh of relief without even realizing it.
But I couldn't help but feel relieved.
‘Then how should I return to Earth now?'
Likewise, this place wasn't Earth.
Seo-joon is relieved and worried.
He slowly opened his mouth with Shim Jung, who was in the middle of it.
“That's... what actually happened—”
Right then.
Koo Goo Goo Goo...!
In an instant, Aren's whole body started to explode with tremendous mana.
The magic of Samdanjeon (三丹田) possessed by Seojun before he lost his power.
It was slightly less than that, but it was almost comparable in power.
A moment of embarrassment.
Before long, a translucent yellow film wrapped around Seo-jun.
And almost at the same time.
Whoops!
There was a terrible crash as something hit the translucent membrane heavily.
Seo-jun slowly turned around and looked at him with a bewildered feeling.
and looked at it.
Weiyiyiing—!!
There, something unknown was covering the sky in pitch black.
At first glance, a spider...?
It was as if a swarm of hairy spiders were covering the entire sky.
Shu Shu Shu Shu Shu Shuuk!!
And even while shooting strange long awl-like poison needles!
“What is that...”
Seo-jun unknowingly twisted his eyebrows.
The appearance is also the appearance, but
the momentum felt was not at the level of a normal grade monster.
With a bit of exaggeration, the Demogorgon I met in Italy seemed to be on the same level as him.
Whew——Oh!
Poison darts pouring from the monstrous creatures that covered the sky hit the translucent membrane around them fiercely.
Damn it!
It began to pound the curtain ceaselessly, like black rain pouring down from the sky.
< Hee hee hee...!!! >
Mentor was frightened and quickly came back into Seo-jun's grasp.
I could clearly feel the movements of the mentor, who shivered in Seo-jun's grip.
On the other hand.
Aren stood there with a nonchalant expression.
It's okay to get tired of the pouring rain.
Aren didn't blink an eye.
“Let’s change seats.”
He just spoke calmly to Seo-joon.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaa!!
At the same time, Aren's whole body began to explode with mana.
It wrapped around Seo-jun and the mentor for an instant, and
soon Seo-jun's vision reversed in an instant.
#
View reversed again.
Eventually, the first thing Seo-jun saw was a certain room.
“You can rest assured that this is where I live. Just like before, I've sorted out dangerous things in advance.”
Soon after, I turned my head gently at the voice I heard suddenly, and Aren was looking at Seo-jun with a small smile.
“You can sit where you feel comfortable. It's a bit shabby, but please understand.”
At the same time, Aren seemed to show an example.
He quietly sat down in the nearest chair.
Seojun slowly looked around.
Overall, the room is spacious, clean, and has a warm atmosphere.
It was a room that felt like the house of a great sage living alone away from the world.
The last time we met, we had met by chance, so this was the first time we had come to Aren's residence.
As I was looking around Aren's room,
the mentor suddenly pushed his head out of Seo-jun's grip.
And look around.
After making sure it was safe, I jumped down.
He then smiled brightly at Aren.
< Unlike anyone else, you really have good manners! I hope someone learns! >
It sounded like someone was asking to hear it, but...
the mentor shouted again with a very confident expression, holding his hand on his waist as if he didn't know anything.
< Late introduction! I am Seojun Kim's mentor mentor here! Thank you for saving me! >
“Mentor...?”
Aren tilted his head slightly at the powerful mentor's words.
I wanted to keep thinking a little like that.
As if suddenly realizing, Aren shouted.
“ah! He was the one who supervised the mentors of the Transcendent Academy. nice to meet you My name is Aren.”
< Huh? Do you know me? >
“Sure. You are a legend in the mentor world. The word mentor itself is named after the mentor, so how could you not know that?”
At the same time, Aren opened his eyes wide as if he was really surprised.
And Seo-joon couldn't help but be slightly surprised by Aren's reaction.
Was your mentor this famous? It was because I wanted to.
But...
after hearing that and thinking about it, I thought it might be.
First of all, the mentor had the authority to meet directly with the director.
A transcendent academy that nurtures beginners across all dimensions.
Being able to meet directly with the head of such a transcendent academy was something that no one could do.
At the time, it was taken for granted, but
after hearing this, the mentor seems different.
< Hahahahaha! I'm a little too famous! Umhahahahaha! >
No.
Where on earth do you think that is a legend in the mentor world?
It is certain that all mentors in the world are dead.
< Didn't you say Aren is also a student at our academy? Has there ever been such a perfect person in our academy? Unlike anyone else. >
“I wanted to ask from before, but who the hell is that...”
< There is! A very unscrupulous person who sold manners to causality! >
the mentor shouted out loud.
Seeing such a mentor, Seo-joon was about to say something... but just kept his mouth shut.
It was because he knew that there would be no point in talking anyway.
“haha. You two are really good.”
Aren, who watched the two of them, smiled calmly.
Seo-joon had nothing to say and just shook his head.
“First of all, thank you very much for your help. Aren.”
“no. You don't even know each other.”
Aren responded to Seo-joon's greeting with a bright smile again.
“Also, there's something I want to ask...”
Seo-joon asked Aren with a slight slur.
“Is this really Aren’s dimension?”
“yes. That's right.”
Aren calmly nodded.
And Seo-jun heard Aren's answer.
“Haa...”
A small sigh of relief leaked out from Seo-joon involuntarily.
To be precise, relief and worry.
It was a sigh mixed with those two emotions.
First of all, it was fortunate that this place was not Earth.
However, now Seo-joon has lost all his strength.
It's not enough that he fell into an unfamiliar dimension in that situation. I
was chased by a money bug tree and
almost died by a flying spider, but
now I was able to survive thanks to Aren, but
I had to worry about the future.
Above all, there is no way to return to Earth.
Maybe I should be stuck in this dimension for the rest of my life.
‘Although time passes quickly in this dimension...'
To be exact, there was a difference of 20:1.
20 days here is equivalent to one day on Earth.
Is there any way to transcendence academy?
Come to think of it, why was Mentor here?
“Mentor. Come to think of it, why are you here, Mentor?”
< Yes? Me? >
“Yes.”
The mentor answered Seo-joon's question with a slight surprise.
And then I put my chin on my chin and thought.
< Uh... I see? >
He tilted his head.
“yes? What do you mean?”
< That's all, the director suddenly told Kim Seo-joon to go quickly, so I came to Kim Seo-joon. And when I opened my eyes, what strange trees... >
Mentor just tilted his head as if he was really confused.
Seojun tried to ask more, but just kept his mouth shut.
Because that's not what's important right now.
Seojun took out his smartphone from his pocket and held it out to his mentor.
“Then can you go to the transcendent academy and call the director?”
< Ah yes! Wait a minute! >
The mentor accepted Seo-jun's smartphone without questioning anything else.
And then, as usual, he tried to disappear with Seo-jun's smartphone.
Goong!
< Ako! >
A loud shock sound was suddenly heard.
Where I looked, my mentor was rubbing his forehead, complaining of pain.
< Huh...? >
The mentor rubbed his forehead in great embarrassment.
And it seems that this can't be the case.
It went on and on to the smartphone screen.
Goong! Goong!
However, only the troubled head is stuck in the smartphone.
The mentor was finally able to stop the behavior only after a small bump developed.
< Why is this...? >
The mentor manipulated the smartphone for a while.
And a pop-up notification window.
“error! The connection with the system has been lost.》
< ......? >
The mentor's expression contorted.
And then head up!
He raised his head towards Seo-joon and shouted.
< What is this! >
What if you ask me that?
“For some reason, the transcendent academy is not connected. It's not just Kim Seo-joon, it's the same for me.”
Aren's words followed.
Seo-joon let out a deep sigh without even realizing it.
“If that’s the case…”
Ha, damn it.
What should I do with this... just then.
“Are you thinking of going back to the original dimension again?”
Aren's cautious question was heard.
Seo-joon nodded his head weakly, pushing away the thoughts that came to him for a moment.
“yes. If only I could go.”
“Hmm...”
At Seo-jun's words, Aren thought for a moment.
So little time passed.
“I… I think I can help.”
Aren cautiously opened his mouth again.
“...... yes?”
Seo-joon suddenly raised his eyes involuntarily.
“Instead, there is one condition.”
“what...?”
Aren continued to speak with a serious look in his eyes.
“Could you please do one favor of me?”
“Please… is it?”
“yes.”
Aren nodded calmly and continued.
“Actually... As you know from looking at it earlier, the state of the dimension is strange these days. Suddenly, monsters that did not exist began to appear, and in recent years, strange phenomena that cannot even be identified have begun to occur.”
It is said that it happened suddenly recently...
Aren added that it was around this time that the connection to the Transcendent Academy was cut off.
Seo-joon couldn't hide his burning feelings.
Somehow, it seemed to be a change that occurred when the observer was expelled.
“Because... people's suffering is not a word. I'm blocking it somehow... but it seems there is a limit. In addition, since the investigation into the cause continues... It seems that it is difficult for me to handle everything by myself.” It is said
that the fact that he was able to run into Seo-jun just now
was also a situation in which he was dispatched to investigate a strange phenomenon.
Seojun let out a deep sigh.
To be honest, it wasn't difficult to do Aren's request.
No, if I could return to Earth, I had to listen to it unconditionally.
but.
“But now my condition is like this...”
It was the fact that none other than Seo-joon had lost all his strength.
In its current state, it was quite unreasonable.
“Ah...”
Aren nodded slightly with an expression of regret.
As expected, Aren seemed to know that Seo-jun had lost his strength.
That's why it was difficult to listen to Aren's request even if he wanted to, but
somehow Aren seemed to think differently.
And that thought fits.
“Then…”
Aren looked at Seo-joon again and slowly opened his mouth.
“What if I could get my lost power back?”