The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 397

395. The Prophet (3)

Folding its white wings silently, the bird that foretold the future permeated the world on the brink of destruction.

The sky shone with a deep indigo hue. The mana in the air was so thick that its shimmer was visible, to the point where those with low Awakening grades would self-destruct from being unable to control their own magic. But of course, most people, not only those with low grades but even those with high grades, had already disappeared.

Every city in the world, even the capital of the nation that was called the last bastion, was plunged into silence.

The power protecting the world had weakened, and the presence of Transcenders [beings who have transcended the limitations of a single world] lurking outside could be clearly felt. They were like hyenas, waiting for the moment right before the Source devoured the world, the moment the barrier completely disappeared. Those who had lost their own worlds, or had swallowed them directly, yearned for the foundations they had lived on and tried to scrape together even fragments of other worlds.

He stood on the ruins and looked up at the sky. He felt a slight sense of helplessness and a strong sense of déjà vu. No, he had already witnessed similar scenes countless times. Those memories faintly surfaced in his mind – the collapsing sky and the spreading moonlight.

A white bird landed in front of him as he groped through unclear memories. His faded hair fluttered in the wind caused by the flapping wings. Although only a very small part of its true self had entered through the gap where the power protecting the world had weakened, the white bird’s presence was overwhelmingly immense. However, his sunken golden eyes stared at her indifferently.

– The Crescent Moon’s betrothed.

The corners of his eyes twitched slightly.

“I don’t remember ever being engaged.”

– I thought it was the most appropriate title. In any case, the completed you will not be able to maintain your current self, so you cannot even be called the same person.

The white bird said nonchalantly.

“Why did you come to me? The Future-Seeing Species, was it?”

He had been in close contact with the system administrators of this world more than anyone else. He had also heard about the silent white bird, the Star-Counting Bird.

“You’re quite talkative for your nickname.”

– The future that the Future-Seeing Species can see is not just one. It is about selecting the thread with the highest probability from among the countless strands of possibilities.

The white bird continued quietly.

– But the moment you utter it, the possibility becomes a prophecy that must be fulfilled.

The power to fix the possibility of the future she saw to a higher probability. That was the ability of the white bird, who stood at the highest position among the Future-Seeing Species.

– The future I prophesy changes into something no different from what is determined, but even so, it is not perfect. If the prophecy goes wrong, I have to pay the price.

Depending on the importance of the prophecy, her power might be temporarily weakened, or her very rank might drop, or she might even have to give up her life. That was why she chose silence.

Hearing the white bird’s words, he raised the corner of his lips crookedly.

“So, the conclusion is that you came to open your beak because you have something to prophesy, is that it?”

– For my beloved tree.

“Love, how ridiculous.”

– You wouldn’t be able to feel such emotions because you have become an existence that cannot stand on the same line as the intelligent beings belonging to any world. Ordinary Awakeners, as well as even Wonmaekja [those who have achieved a state of enlightenment or mastery], are insignificant to you.

“Well, I’m also a Wonmaekja for now.”

– That is how you are disguised. Wonmaekja cannot be your kin either. You are closer to a Transcender, only hidden. You must have already felt it – the emotions that briefly attract interest but soon scatter like grains of sand.

He was silent. It was as the white bird said. Interesting things were rare, and even those rare things quickly became boring.

– You might be able to love something insignificant, but you cannot. Because you know your own value well, you will not be able to sincerely give your heart to someone who lowers themselves and falls in rank, because that is an act of cutting down both sides.

“Other than the Transcenders outside, ordinary emotional exchange is impossible. Is that what you came to prophesy?”

– Transcenders will not be different either because you are strongly tied to the Crescent Moon. Unless it is a Transcender who is equal to or superior to her, both the Transcender and you will unconsciously draw a line.

“You’re just saying in a roundabout way that I won’t have a lover or a friend. That’s what prophets usually do.”

It was a trivial story.

“Get to the point.”

– You will never be able to care for anyone other than the Crescent Moon. You will continue to wander the world, and after slowly filling up, you will lose yourself and stand by the Crescent Moon. On that very day, the Source will be swallowed by the moon.

“Now, should I try to cut off the head of the prophet who spouted ominous words? Then you’ll blurt out a way to escape.”

– You are a forced immortal.

The white bird continued coldly.

– Even if you cut off your own head, only the memories on the outermost layer will disappear, and the rest that are piled up will be recovered by the Crescent Moon. And it will be repeated again.

Because he was an existence belonging to and protected by the world he was placed in, the Transcenders could not touch him.

– But.

“As prophecies always do.”

– Only two humans will become special to you.

The Star-Counting Bird’s prophecy continued.

– One is the Black Eclipse, the one who will swallow you, the only being who can bring you the end. So, even if you are bound by the Crescent Moon’s chains, you will not be able to resist being drawn to them. Rather, because you are inextricably bound, you will want to get closer and closer.

“There are those who call death liberation, but it’s not an exit I like.”

Even so, the fact that there was an end itself was not bad. His golden eyes slightly curved with a faint expectation.

– I will not say that the eclipse will be perfectly achieved. It will be the result of the choice between you and that human, but at least, the eclipse will give you a little more time.

“I should treat them well when I meet them.”

He said casually.

– The other one is an ordinary human, an existence that will appear insignificant and insignificant compared to you, one of the countless unremarkable humans.

“And yet I can feel them as special?”

– I do not know.

The white bird raised its head high.

– Unlike the Black Eclipse, there are uncertain possibilities intertwined with him that cannot be determined. Perhaps you will not even know of his existence, and you may not even pass each other. Even if you recognize him, it may end there.

He was an uncertain existence that even the white bird’s ability could not raise the possibility of. If the other person was a Wonmaekja or a high-grade Awakener, the strands of possibility would be fewer and clearer. Most of what they wanted to do would succeed, so there were few crossroads.

However, it was impossible for ordinary humans to break through all the obstacles they faced. They would turn to other paths, give up on overcoming them altogether, or even back down. The farther and more difficult the path to the goal, the more numerous the crossroads became, especially for those with a temperament that made it difficult to give up.

– But if.

The white bird’s eyes crossed space and time.

– If you meet an ordinary human who has come to love an unlovable being within an extremely low probability, and if he does not give up until the end…

She looked at me.

– We will get what we want.

“We?”

Instead of answering, the white bird spread its two wings wide. The tips of the white feathers fluttered in the wind. She slowly lowered her head, offering a polite greeting.

– I stake the life of the Star-Counting Bird and declare it.

The prophet’s gaze reached me. The fragments of memory I had been clutching in my hand completely scattered. The system message window was flashing red.

[Warning! The Sesung Guild area will be closed soon! Raiders, please leave the area!]

[Warning! Warning!]

The countless strands of moonlight, the silver chains, completely disappeared. Sung Hyunjae’s body was lying on the floor. His half-open golden eyes stared blankly up at me.

[Raiders, please leave the area immediately!]

“Didn’t you say it was urgent?”

He laughed silently.

[Special Quest! Let’s get out of the Sesung Guild area!

Reward: 1,000 points]

I took a step back.

[Reward!: 10,000 points! ㅠ△ㅠ]

I turned around. With a limping gait, I approached the end of the garden. I reached the end, which had collapsed from being hit by building fragments and didn’t need to be jumped over, and jumped down. My body was thrown to the ground and rolled over and over. Minor injuries were unavoidable, but thanks to Grace, I didn’t suffer any major injuries.

Supporting myself with my cane, I started walking again. I came out onto an empty road with no one around and kept walking.

I felt a little nauseous.

‘Crescent Moon and the white bird.’

What they wanted became clearer.

The Crescent Moon wanted to complete Sung Hyunjae, the small moon, and completely eliminate the Source. Just swallowing one world creates a Transcender. So, Sung Hyunjae, who had refused to become a Transcender and had gone through the destruction of countless worlds, would also be able to eliminate the Source. Possible, the white bird also said.

‘…Beloved, tree.’

The tree where snow falls. The fifth Source. If Sung Hyunjae was completed, the Source that the white bird loved would also disappear. So, the white bird had to stop the Crescent Moon, the completion of the small moon. But Sung Hyunjae was an existence belonging to a world where Transcenders could not directly intervene.

“So, damn it!”

You took my brother, didn’t you? To keep me from giving up? Then if I succeed in stopping the Crescent Moon, will you give him back? No, in the first place, why me? Why Yoohyun?

“…An unlovable being.”

Because I loved him. Is that why? My steps slowed down. It became difficult to breathe. If you say that, then is something wrong with my brother, from the beginning.

“Still, my brother was, cute.”

I can’t help it, that’s just how it is. I just, I just liked my brother.

“…Damn it, what kind of greeting is that.”

As you said, I’m just an ordinary human. I couldn’t give up, so I’ve struggled all the way here. Honestly, my body is already tattered, but you still took my brother away, saying I can’t stop.

My chest and head were a mess. I couldn’t even blame anyone for anything. The white bird made a prophecy, but in the end, it was my choice to come this far.

I missed Yoohyun like crazy.

“Han Yoojin?”

A strange voice was heard. It could be someone I ran into somewhere, but I didn’t remember. I didn’t need to remember either. Still, I turned my head. Three men who looked like hunters were standing there. Their grades were B to C. Here, it would be A to B.

My mind went cold. They were relatively low-grade monsters that wandered around outside without staying within a certain area.

“How nice, wandering around with your head up in the middle of the day.”

The guys suddenly started picking a fight without even finding the empty streets strange. It’s not the middle of the day. The sun is setting. They must have self-awareness, but they couldn’t escape the monster routine.

“Why are you picking on a powerless F-grade? If you’re successful hunters, why don’t you do your jobs?”

I took a step back and took out my gun. The B-grade, now A-grade, had a puzzled expression.

“A gun?”

“I know it won’t work on you. It’s just something useful among the lower ranks, so I got one for self-defense.”

In the world before regression, there were only ordinary firearms. Even a low-powered pistol wouldn’t work on a C-grade. Maybe it would leave a bruise. Thanks to that, the A-grade slowly approached me without any wariness, as if to intimidate me.

“Now you’re openly committing illegal acts. As a mid-level hunter, I can’t just let it go.”

“What illegal acts? But are you really mid-level? You seem too free for that. Won’t a hole be drilled in your crown if you get hit by this gun?”

“This bastard. Try shooting me! It won’t even tickle─”

Bang!

Since he told me to shoot, I pulled the trigger. The mana that had been packed tightly while the guy was approaching burst out from the muzzle – a mana bullet with the power of up to S-grade. The A-grade was flustered by the unexpected storm of mana, but it was too late to avoid it.

Thwack – the A-grade’s head disappeared. My body, which had received the recoil, slid back.

“What!”

Amidst the surprised shouts of the remaining A-grade and B-grade, I set off a smoke bomb, then I used the stealth skill. With the jacket’s buff added, it was a stealth skill that even an S-grade wouldn’t easily notice. I ran out and approached the B-grade, who couldn’t figure out what was going on and was the closest, as quickly as possible and shot again. The B-grade fell even more easily.

“You bastard!”

The A-grade noticed my location in the direction of the attack. The quickly thrown wire whirred and wrapped around my body. Since my leg was uncomfortable, I couldn’t avoid it, so I put the gun in my inventory first. Since I was tied up anyway, I released the stealth skill, and the A-grade tried to rush at me but stopped with a flinch.

Since I had killed two people in an instant, he must have become wary and didn’t approach rashly but instead pulled the wire roughly. Since Grace only nullified damage, my body collapsed powerlessly.

“You……!”

“Do you still think of me as Han Yoojin?”

“…What?”

“I disguised myself so well, but some small fries are picking a fight. If you let this go and quietly clean up, I’ll spare you. There are many things that would be problematic for me to do.”

The A-grade rolled his eyes in embarrassment. No matter how careless he was, there was no way an F-grade – in his mind a B-grade – could kill an A-grade. Since there were no dungeon firearms, it must have felt like an attack skill disguised as a gun, at least A-grade or higher.

“A, a disguise…….”

“These two died fighting over dungeon items. Tell the Association that.”

The A-grade hesitated, then released the wire and turned to run away. Watching his back disappear between the buildings, I let out a short sigh. I need to use the stealth skill well.

I took out a dagger and tried to cut the wire that was tying my body. Damn it, it won’t cut well. As I was doing a sawing motion close to sawing, a silly laugh leaked out.

Why am I so full of regrets that I can’t give up? Not only my brother and Sung Hyunjae, but everything else too.

Staggering, I got up from my seat. I started walking again.