“Who’s the Ojak captain these days? It’s been a long time since I left. Is it already five or six years? Even that’s a blur.”

“The last one was Tiamu Bissan.”

“Tiamu? The one who wears goggles?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Haha, that guy’s the captain. He was just a New Recruit when I left.”

Di Shawn seemed quite amused by the news. He even clapped his hands, showing his white teeth as he laughed.

After a brief chat.

Di Shawn subtly raised his head and looked over Kim Songcheol’s shoulder.

“Are those your team members outside?”

The door was closed, so he couldn’t see them, but he seemed to have sensed the presence of the Celestial Spirit Maiden and Setsu.

When Kim Songcheol nodded, Di Shawn had a colleague call the two of them inside.

The Celestial Spirit Maiden and Setsu were guided to a small rupture on one side of the first floor.

Setsu sat down, and the Celestial Spirit Maiden surveyed her surroundings with her hands in her pockets.

One of the Mages on the first floor approached the Celestial Spirit Maiden and spoke to her.

“Are you an Ilwol?”

“That’s right.”

“Your status seems quite high, and you’re young too.”

The Aura of Ilwol, also known as Demonic Energy, is unique even among the Nothingness Forest. Once felt, it’s not easily forgotten. Furthermore, the feeling of Demonic Energy varies depending on the Martial Arts mastered, so it was possible to roughly guess one’s status.

“Why do you ask that?”

“Oh, I have some friends in Ilwol. I was wondering if you might know anyone. A friend of a friend would be great, right?”

Di Shawn’s colleague raised both hands, as if he had no hidden agenda whatsoever.

The Celestial Spirit Maiden watched him silently for a moment, then opened her mouth.

“I am the Demon Lord.”

“The Demon Lord? You don’t mean the rumored former Demon Lord?”

“That’s right.”

A smile briefly faded from his face. He swallowed hard, and his Adam’s apple bobbed once.

But he recovered his composure as if nothing had happened. It was a practiced skill.

“…What? You’re my friend’s superior Official Position, aren’t you? Haha. I’ll have to tell my friend. That I met the former Demon Lord.”

He smiled broadly. If you only looked at his face right now, he seemed excited at the thought of teasing his friend.

“Wow, you’re with someone amazing, aren’t you?”

Di Shawn, who was listening to the story, also raised an eyebrow a beat later.

It’s not that Ilwol and G-up have a bad official relationship.

It was purely due to the pressure from Ilwol’s Demon Lord.

For a small organization like G-up, even a whisper from Ilwol would make them disappear.

All the mages present were pretending not to care, but they were all extremely conscious of the Celestial Spirit Maiden.

Unlike the lower dungeons, where all sorts of organizations were mixed, the higher up you went, the clearer the power of these massive organizations became.

Di Shawn’s eyes were slightly different from when he first met Kim Songcheol.

It wasn’t just Ilwol; it was also a way to gauge Kim Songcheol’s level.

Then, he suddenly shifted his gaze towards Setsu.

She’s part of the Demon Lord’s team.

What is that kid?

Di Shawn decided not to pry. Instead, he got straight to the point.

“So, what brings you to me?”

“Ah, well…”

Kim Songcheol explained simply. The Source was invisible, and they were looking for someone who could confirm The Source in other ways.

“Is that so… Ah, just a moment.”

Di Shawn thought for a moment, then shouted towards the second floor.

“Yobian!”

Soon after, a large Latin male staff member came down. He was shirtless, wearing only shorts. His hair was disheveled; anyone could tell he had just woken up.

“What’s up?”

He rubbed his sleepy eyes and walked to the refrigerator.

Di Shawn opened his mouth towards Yobian, who was gulping down cold water.

“How did you confirm The Source?”

“Me?”

Yobian wiped around his mouth and belatedly looked around the room.

There were unfamiliar faces.

He seemed a little wary, but trusting his colleagues, he let down his guard. If they were problematic people, Di Shawn wouldn’t have let them into the building in the first place.

Meanwhile, Di Shawn spoke.

“That friend’s Source is ‘sound.’ I just realized I never heard how he confirmed his Source.”

Sound.

It’s a Source that can never be known through seeing.

As Kim Songcheol thought that, he recalled what Gyusimja had said.

He had clearly told him not to reveal his Source carelessly.

“But is it okay to talk about The Source so easily?”

He asked Di Shawn, but the answer came from Yobian.

“I’m fine. It’s probably because of a weakness, but it’s hard to find a weakness related to such an abstruse Source. And again, my Source isn’t sound. It’s a ‘melody.'”

He plunked a large water bottle onto the desk and slumped down between Di Shawn and Kim Songcheol.

His face showed signs of exhaustion.

It seemed like he had a lot of trouble with the Source and Official Position.

“Is it a Source where it’s hard to use Magic?”

“Of course it is. I’m a Hunter, you know. I had to extend my Inner World Projection in an aggressive direction… Did it take about three years? Just to properly grasp and Manifest my Inner World Projection.”

Kim Songcheol didn’t fully understand what he was saying. It was because he hadn’t learned 1st-tier Magic yet.

“Don’t change the subject. How did you confirm the Source?”

Di Shawn interjected.

“Haha… that’s a bit difficult.”

Yobian gave an awkward laugh and took a few more sips of water.

“Huh? Why?”

Di Shawn frowned, seemingly not understanding.

Yobian slightly raised a hand as if asking for Kim Songcheol’s understanding, then sent a Magic Message to Di Shawn.

[The friend who confirmed the Source doesn’t like being exposed. Because if the Source is confirmed, the mechanism of Magic becomes known.]

You could say that no one Manifests 1st-tier Magic just to confirm the Thread Source. The vast majority of cases are when they just happen to be able to confirm the Source.

Yobian’s friend was one such case, and he was currently active while hiding the fact that such a Thread was possible.

From his friend’s perspective, there was no reason to step forward.

[Listen without turning your head. You saw the Female Staff Member behind you when you came down, right? She’s the former Demon Lord of Ilwol. She’s a colleague of the friend sitting in front of you right now.]

[…Former Demon Lord?]

Yobian barely managed to control his neck muscles, preventing himself from looking back.

[So why don’t you try contacting her?]

[…Damn it, I’m screwed. What kind of person got in… No, more than that. Even if we were colleagues back then, it’s been years since we last contacted each other, you know? She wouldn’t do it just because I asked, and you know how cramped an A-rank Dungeon is, right? My friend and her friend might end up meeting as enemies in the Capital City. If you meet someone who knows the mechanism as an enemy…]

[Just try contacting her. You have to take some action, don’t you? If she says no, I’ll talk to her properly.]

[Damn it.]

Having finished the conversation, Yobian, like a Hunter of an A-rank Dungeon, opened his mouth without batting an eye.

“I’m going to contact someone who might be able to help. I can’t promise anything.”

He laid the groundwork first, then went up to the second floor.

Without even thinking of putting on his shirtless top, he rummaged through the room’s drawers and found a Communication Device.

A round, flat object.

It was an item bought with Points, and it served as a phone inside the Dungeon.

Yobian projected a Hologram and connected a call to his friend.

Not long after, a voice flowed out.

[Hey, long time no see. You’re not dead, I guess?]

It was the voice of a young Female Staff Member.

“Resa, I need to ask you a favor.”

[You’re contacting me after several months to ask for a favor? You’ve got some nerve.]

“I’ll be direct. Just confirm one Source for me.”

[…The Source?]

“Yes.”

[…]

She was silent for a moment, then continued speaking.

[What’s that person’s name?]

“Name?”

[Yes.]

“Does it matter?”

[It matters a lot.]

“Why?”

[Why are you asking? Just tell me the name quickly. If you don’t want to, hang up.]

“Ugh. Hold on.”

Yobian went outside, leaned over the stair railing, and looked down at the first floor.

“What was his name?”

“Whose?”

Di Shawn asked. Yobian gestured with his chin towards Kim Songcheol.

“Kim Songcheol.”

“Ah, I see. Just a moment.”

Yobian went back up to the second floor and put the Communication Device to his mouth.

“He says his name is Kim Songcheol.”

[Alright. Prepare an empty room.]

Permission was granted immediately.

***

Kim Songcheol entered an empty room on the third floor of the building. It seemed to be used as a storage room, as only a few boxes and dust greeted him.

Sunlight streamed in from a small window, warming the floor. Dust motes could be seen floating in the light.

He had been standing by the window for about ten minutes when it happened.

With an illusory light, a Female Staff Member appeared in the center of the room.

Long, black curly hair and a black leather jacket.

She was a Female Staff Member with striking pale skin that contrasted with her dark hair.

Her age was similar to Kim Songcheol’s.

“Are you Kim Songcheol?”

Resa looked around as she asked.

“For now.”

“What’s your official relationship with that person?”

She asked, sweeping the dust off the floor with Clean Magic.

“That person?”

“The one with the horn-rimmed glasses and Hawaiian shirt.”

“I have no idea.”

“Then why did he tell me to help you?”

I told you, I don’t know that person.

Resa briefly stared at Kim Songcheol, as if trying to discern if he was lying or about to rupture.

But there was no way any flaw would show. Kim Songcheol truly didn’t know that person.

Instead, he was just wondering if Do Chi-ryang’s description was horn-rimmed glasses and a Hawaiian Shirt.

Tsk, how unlucky. To be used like a chess piece. You be careful too. If we, The Foe, are used as expendable pieces, we’re the ones who lose out.

Resa sat Kim Songcheol on the floor, then pulled a chair in front of him and sat down.

Let’s get this done quickly and go our separate ways. You said The Source wasn’t visible?

That’s right.

Then you came to the right place. First, there’s something you need to know. My Magic is basically a curse. Through the curse, you and I will go directly to The Source together. You must not resist. You understand what I mean, right?

Resa’s The Source is a ‘Rabbit Doll with its head torn open.’ It was a cute Rabbit Doll with cotton stuffing poking out, but she manifested the Inner World Projection of a curse based on The Source.

Resa is publicly known as a Mage who uses curse Magic, and she was famous for her irresistible curses.

The reason lies in Resa’s curse mechanism.

Unlike curses that directly project Magic, Resa’s curse is one that changes thoughts.

So, if it were a curse that prevented legs from moving, a normal curse would be placed on the legs, but Resa’s curse makes one ‘think’ that their legs have become unable to move.

Ultimately, it can be said to be closer to Mind Manipulation, and unlike normal curse Magic, it infiltrates the mind. Thanks to her talent, she has manifested a very subtle infiltration path, so no one yet knows her curse mechanism.

I understand what you mean, but go directly? That part seems to need an explanation.

Anyway, The Source is in your head. I just need to open a path with a curse and find it. I know where The Source is. I’ve visited people’s minds so many times I’m sick of it. Of course, I’ve only asked for permission a few times.

Even the highest divine demon law would probably only amount to Brainwashing.

Even that only controls consciousness; it can’t touch other parts of the vast human psyche.

Resa being able to go directly to The Source was the result of several conditions combined.

The special attribute of curse, 1st-tier Magic, and Resa’s own talent.

Otherwise, even if there was no resistance, it would have been impossible to forcefully clear a path to The Source.

Let’s do this quickly. Once we begin, it’ll be over in no time. Are you ready?

Let’s do it.

As Kim Songcheol nodded, Resa held Kim Songcheol’s head with both hands.

Unlike the curses she normally uses, she couldn’t hide her Magic because she had to bestow a powerful curse to open the path.

Thanks to this, Kim Songcheol felt something ominous enter his mind, and at the same time, he was sucked into somewhere.

It was then that Kim Songcheol was trying to resist the curse.

Screaming!

A scream erupted instantly.

Kim Songcheol didn’t remember much.

He was sucked into somewhere, and felt a disgusting sensation in the middle.

Then he woke up.

In front of him, a terrified Resa had fallen from her chair and was backing away.

Wh-wh-what was that?

Ah… it’s the being I Contracted… I think? Probably.

What, what did you Contract with, exactly!?

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know this time either.”

“This is insane.”

Only then did Resa wipe away her cold sweat and sit back in the chair. She looked more determined than Will had expected.

“Get that out of the way. Damn it, we need to uncover The Source.”

She was so used to it that she didn’t even notice it taking up a little space.

“I’ll do my best.”

She pushed a part of the ‘Grotesque Entity’ that remained due to the Contract as far into a corner as possible.

It couldn’t be eliminated. The rest would be up to Resa’s ability.

“Is there anything else?”

Resa asked anxiously.

“Probably not?”

“This is the first time I’ve been this anxious going into someone else’s mind.”

She took a deep breath, then grabbed Kim Songcheol’s head with both hands again.

And then she activated the curse.

A powerful curse permeated Kim Songcheol’s consciousness, and Resa’s mind completely entered it as well.

The aura of the being that had contracted with Kim Songcheol was felt closer than expected, but this much was bearable.

Resa held onto Kim Songcheol’s consciousness and emitted another powerful curse. Even within the complex mental world, she never lost her way.

For Kim Songcheol, it felt like 2 seconds; for Resa, it felt like 8 minutes and 34 seconds.

At some point, Resa leaped through the mental world, and she was able to arrive at Kim Songcheol’s The Source.

‘…What is this?’

What awaited her was not The Source, but an endless void.

A complete Black Space unfolded.

Nothing was visible, and nothing was audible.

What existed there were only Resa’s mental body projected in her Thread form, and Kim Songcheol’s consciousness projected as a mere ball of light.

“There’s nothing here…?”

A sound flowed from the ball of light. Kim Songcheol was also looking around in the form of a ball of light.

Resa shot curses in all directions. But there was no echo.

This didn’t mean the curses had disappeared or been swallowed; it meant they were continuing onward.

“What is this, exactly?”

Resa clutched her head. She was utterly bewildered.

A normal The Source doesn’t exist within a space; only The Source itself exists. It might be hard to imagine, but it’s like The Source is inside jelly. The jelly is the mental world. It was natural for there to be no gaps.

Also, a space larger than the jelly should not exist within the jelly. That was the natural order.

“Do I not have The Source?”

Kim Songcheol said. There was no other way to interpret it. There was truly nothing.

“No… this empty space is your The Source… No. No, this is… it’s too vast to be The Source. My curses still have no echo. The end of this space might be a Capital City… This kind of thing… This is The Source?”

Resa finally began to babble incoherently.

“No, a The Source of infinite size cannot exist. No, even if it’s not infinite, the distance my curses have already traveled would be enough to contain hundreds of millions of normal The Sources and still have room left over.”

“Your position is changing by the second. You know that, right?”

“Ha, damn it.”

Resa tore at her hair, spinning around. She kept mumbling something, but he couldn’t understand it.

Then she stood in front of Kim Songcheol again.

“Okay. If I were to draw a conclusion… I would consider this space itself to be The Source. There are more than a few things that are unclear, but a space of nothingness does exist, after all. If The Source didn’t exist, we wouldn’t have even found something like this.”

“Even a space of nothingness exists?”

“There’s a difference between truly nothing and a space where there is nothing. When approached that way, this is The Source. And if we consider this absurd boundlessness…”

Resa paused in thought for a moment, then opened her mouth towards Kim Songcheol.

“Then your Source is nothingness itself. That ‘Concept’ is your Source. There’s no other way to explain it.”