Chapter 8: really
[Meet Tana within 1 hour.]
[If you fail this quest, you will not pass the 4th Job Advancement Trial…]
[Time remaining: 0:59:55]
“Goddamn it.”
I cursed at the status window for throwing the same damn quest at me every day.
It didn’t make me feel any better, though.
“Haa…”
I rubbed my face in frustration.
This job advancement trial showed no signs of ending.
Since I’d keep visiting Tana anyway, couldn’t it just let me advance already?
At this rate, I’d unlock hyper skills before my fourth job advancement.
“Juhyuk-nim…!”
“Oh, Shai.”
As I approached the research lab, Shai called out to me quietly, gesturing for me to come closer.
“What’s up? You coming out here like this?”
“Well… something big happened, and I thought you should know.”
“Big?”
“Yeah.”
Shai explained.
The lab director, fed up with months of no progress, had pushed Tana beyond her limits in the latest experiment.
As a result, she went berserk, causing an explosion that erased six researchers.
Shocked, the director resigned, leaving these words:
—This is neither magic nor science. This is beyond humanity. It’s the realm of gods.
—We’re tampering with something we shouldn’t.
“Hm… really?”
I wasn’t surprised.
It had happened in the game, and I knew it was about time for it.
So I didn’t think much of it.
“And, uh…”
Until Shai’s next words.
“They’ve decided to bring in a high priest from the Temple of Time as the new lab director.”
“…What?”
Thud.
My heart sank.
“…Juhyuk-nim?”
Seeing my face harden, Shai looked puzzled.
“…”
“Juhyuk-nim…? Are you okay?”
Cold sweat dripped down.
I couldn’t stay calm.
…High priest?
“…The high priest, you said?”
“Yeah, I think… his name was Akairum…”
“…”
I hadn’t misheard.
The new lab director was indeed Akairum.
Something was terribly wrong.
There was still a year left before Akairum was supposed to come to Critias.
Why now…?
“Juhyuk-nim? Juhyuk-nim!”
“…Yeah.”
Shai’s voice snapped me out of my confusion.
“Are you okay? You look really pale…”
“…I’m fine. Thanks for telling me.”
“You’re not sick, are you?”
“I said I’m fine. I’m heading in. Don’t want to get caught out here.”
I entered the lab and crawled into the vent.
My mind was still half-gone.
The future had changed.
I didn’t know why, but Akairum was coming soon.
Tana’s final ritual was approaching.
What should I do?
Thud—!
“Ow, sh*t—”
Lost in thought, I botched the landing, crashing headfirst.
I thought I’d gotten past these rookie mistakes.
“…Hey, Tana.”
“…Are you okay?”
“This is nothing.”
“Not that. You look pale.”
“…Oh.”
Her words made me pull my poker face back together.
It must’ve been obvious if even Tana was asking.
Looking at her calmed me down for some reason.
The unease faded a bit.
But, paradoxically, a different kind of anxiety crept in.
The days I could see her like this were numbered.
Soon, Akairum would take over, and her final ritual would begin.
If it succeeded, she’d vanish.
If it failed, she’d be trapped in eternal pain.
I wouldn’t let that happen.
…But the anxiety wouldn’t go away.
“…Tana.”
“Yeah.”
“I… no matter what, I’ll…”
I stopped mid-sentence.
Why was I saying this?
“…What?”
“…Nothing.”
I couldn’t finish.
Saying it was to repay a debt was a flimsy excuse, even to myself.
Then why?
Did I not want her to die because of the bond we’d built?
…No, that wasn’t it either.
It was something more complex than just attachment.
“…”
Could it be… I had feelings for her?
Beyond affection?
“…Tana.”
“Yeah.”
“Where were we in the book?”
I pulled out the fairy tale book.
I couldn’t decide yet.
Worrying wouldn’t change anything.
I needed to focus on the present.
The future could change.
I was here instead of Jang, wasn’t I?
So Akairum showing up early wasn’t that strange.
It was time to prepare.
“…”
Shai couldn’t relax, sweating bullets.
The other researchers weren’t much better.
And for good reason—King Hekaton himself was standing before them.
It was his first time visiting the lab.
His unannounced arrival had the researchers scrambling to prepare.
Hekaton headed straight for the underground prison, ignoring everything else.
“Is this the girl?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Hekaton spoke, looking at Tana.
Akairum answered.
“Begin.”
Hekaton ordered Akairum to start the experiment.
Akairum relayed the command to the researchers—
“——–…——…!”
The researchers began chanting.
Then.
Crackle!
“Argh—!”
The massive magical circle above Tana surged, and lightning-like flashes struck her.
Unable to bear the pain, Tana grimaced and groaned.
Soon—
Her deep navy hair and eyes began turning white.
A sign her rejection response was nearing critical.
‘This can’t go on. We have to stop.’
Shai’s heart raced.
Having seen countless experiments, he knew pushing further could cause another disaster.
“The rejection response has reached critical levels.”
Shai spoke urgently.
Akairum, realizing the limit, was about to order a halt.
“Stop. End the experiment—”
“Increase the intensity.”
Hekaton’s voice cut through, firm.
Everyone froze in shock.
“But, Your Majesty, the rejection response—”
“I… am the king.”
Thud—!
He slammed his scepter into the ground.
“Are you defying your king?”
“…As you command.”
Akairum ordered the intensity increased.
With no choice, they complied.
And then.
“Argh…!”
“The rejection response is spiking!”
“It’s out of control!”
The response exceeded critical.
The ground shook like an earthquake.
Black smoke rose from Tana.
Akairum shouted.
“Stop! Halt the experiment! Your Majesty, get back!”
“Continue! Who dares stop it?!”
The delusional king ordered them to proceed.
And then.
“Arghhh…!”
“Run…!”
A flash erupted from Tana, triggering an explosion.
Everyone except Hekaton fled from her.
BOOM—!
Light flared.
Hekaton was caught in the blast.
The researchers, eyes shut tight, slowly opened them as the noise faded.
“Huh…?”
“What…?”
They gasped.
Hekaton, expected to be obliterated, stood unharmed.
“How is he…?”
“Shh—!”
As Shai questioned, another researcher gestured for silence, pointing at the king.
“Look…!”
“—!”
Following the gesture, Shai nearly screamed.
Hekaton’s soul was flickering in and out of his body.
“…Monster…”
He was no longer human.
“No more delays.”
Hekaton spoke.
“Akairum. As you know, tomorrow is the ritual.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
“If it fails… you’d better be prepared.”
Hekaton left with his royal guard, not waiting for a reply.
“Phew…”
Shai exhaled.
As the king left, the researchers began talking.
“That was close…”
“How is His Majesty alive?”
“Well… this should be the final ritual.”
“Whether it succeeds or fails, the subject will vanish, right?”
“Yeah, but if it fails, we’re screwed too.”
…
Vanish.
Tana, hearing it all, quietly closed her eyes.
“Hey… Juhyuk-nim.”
“…Shai?”
As I was about to enter the lab as usual, Shai called out from behind.
A bad feeling crept in.
Whenever he waited out here, it was never good news.
“I hate to say this, but… you need to prepare yourself.”
“…Prepare? For what?”
“In twelve hours, Tana’s final ritual begins.”
“…What?”
“Whether it succeeds or fails… Tana will… vanish.”
“…”
“You won’t be able to see her anymore.”
“…”
I fell silent.
My worst fears had come true.
…Already? That’s fast.
It had been a month since Akairum arrived in Critias.
Tana’s final ritual was about to begin.
Shai, watching my reaction, continued.
“You should… say your final goodbyes—”
Thwack—!
“Ow!”
I smacked Shai on the head.
His words pissed me off.
“Final, my ass.”
“…Huh? But…”
“I’m not letting that happen.”
“…What? How?”
“I’ll stop the ritual.”
“How?”
“I’ll block it physically.”
“What?! That’s insane!”
“Shh, keep it down. People will hear.”
“Oh…!”
Shai glanced around, relieved no one was there, and whispered.
“No, that’s impossible…! The king’s attending this ritual with his royal guard…!”
“Don’t care.”
“Don’t be stubborn…! You’ll die!”
“I won’t. I’m going.”
I entered the lab.
“Hm…”
Three quests left for the fourth job advancement.
Complete them, and I’d finally advance.
Two were obvious: meet Tana and stay by her side for 10 minutes, as always.
…What’s the third?
Thud—!
I opened the vent and dropped down.
“Hey, Tana.”
“…”
I greeted her, but she didn’t respond.
“…Tana?”
I called again.
No answer.
Puzzled, I approached.
“Tana, what’s wrong?”
“…You don’t have to come anymore.”
“…Huh?”
She spoke abruptly, like a declaration.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m… tired of the book.”
“…”
“Tired means… I’ve lost interest. I don’t want to see it anymore.”
…Oh.
I realized.
She was trying to push me away.
She knew she wouldn’t see me again.
“…Hm.”
But anyone could tell she was lying.
Because she was terrible at it.
“You’re not exactly good at lying.”
“…”
She said nothing.
Then, suddenly—
—This will be the final ritual…
—Whether it succeeds or fails, the subject will vanish…
“—!”
Tana’s face twisted.
“Vanish…”
“…What?”
“I’m… not human… vanish… ugh—!”
“Tana? What’s wrong! Tana!”
Damn it…!
Tana was showing signs of awakening.
Her hair and eyes turned white.
“Tana, are you okay? Calm down!”
“Stay… back… ugh…!”
Black smoke began rising from her.
“Vanish… that’s what I wanted… isn’t it…?”
“Tana, please calm down! Tana!”
“F*ck…!”
The ground started shaking.
She was about to go berserk.
There had to be a way…
“…Oh.”
Jang calmed her by hugging her.
…But there was no guarantee that would work for me.
Was there another way?
“Ugh…!”
She was on the verge of losing control.
…Screw it, I don’t know anymore.
“—!”
Tana’s eyes widened.
I grabbed her and pulled her into a tight embrace.
“Tana, it’s okay.”
“Ah…”
Her convulsions began to subside.
Her hair and eyes slowly returned to normal.
I didn’t think that’d work.
“How…?”
“I’ll protect you. Don’t worry.”
“…”
Her convulsions stopped completely.
She spoke, now calm.
“…No, I’m not okay.”
But I wasn’t ready to let go.
“Just… a little longer.”
“…”
When I hugged her, I realized.
I love her.
Truly.