Chapter 175

“It’s been a while, Jain.”

“Yes. But this place is…”

“The estate of Duke Graham, who rules the Tehesa region. I assume you understand what that means?”

At Taewoon’s words, Jain’s eyes widened in surprise. He let out a hollow laugh before continuing.

“Surely… did it turn out like that?”

“Exactly. This is the same world as the ‘Red Man’ Theater, where the Dawn Assembly and Solvers exist. It is your hometown, Jain.”

“Truly remarkable. Moreover… for some reason, it seems there is quite a difference from the era I remember.”

As expected, Jain, having sensed the anomaly with his characteristic insight, continuously scanned his surroundings as if trying to determine which point in time this was.

Taewoon didn’t want to interrupt his time spent solving the puzzle, but since the situation was far from leisurely, he immediately revealed the answer and sought advice from Jain, who had lived through this era.

“Jain, this is a future timeline, quite some time after the Red Man incident. And… the version of you here is called the Assembly Leader of the Dawn Assembly.”

“…Me? That cannot be.”

Contrary to expectations, Jain vehemently denied the fact conveyed by Taewoon.

His attitude was as if he were certain there was some kind of misunderstanding or a hidden internal story.

“I was merely an ordinary Third-Class Solver. Furthermore, I didn’t possess talent that was particularly exceptional compared to others. Even back then, there were plenty of Solvers superior to me.”

Thus, Jain suggested that the version of himself in this era was likely a ‘proxy’ for someone else, focusing on the operational aspects or external activities of the Assembly.

“I get it for now. We’ll look for clues regarding that part step by step… For now, I’ll relay all the information I’ve acquired.”

Summoning Aquila from the void, Taewoon conveyed the events he had experienced in the Theater to Jain. Then, observing Jain’s reaction, he began to ask the core question once more.

“So, in your opinion, what state do you think this world is currently in?”

“This is…”

After reviewing all the information, Jain fell into deep thought.

After a brief moment, having finally organized his thoughts, Jain began to relay the information he had deduced to Taewoon.

“As I mentioned, I was merely a Third-Class Solver of the Assembly, so I do not possess much core information. However, based on the contents mentioned by my future self and the situations occurring across the world… I can speculate that the worst-case scenario the Assembly feared has occurred.”

“The worst-case scenario?”

“The End of Dawn—in other words, the end of the world.”

The word he had dreaded flowed from Jain’s lips. Taewoon let out a groan and began to ask for more detailed information.

“When the End of Dawn arrives, do you know specifically what happens?”

“I do not know well. However, I have seen records stating that the world will lose its power to protect itself and be swept away by various Calamities, turning everything to ash.”

“….”

It seemed that overcoming the crisis of this Theater might require effort far beyond what he had imagined.

Indeed, the end of the world—what could a single human possibly do in the face of such a cosmic-scale Calamity?

Leaving the confused Taewoon behind, Jain hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

“There isn’t much I can tell you right now. However, Taewoon, you must keep this one thing in mind.”

“What is it?”

“Regarding what the ultimate goal of the Assembly is at this moment, as the End of Dawn approaches.”

Taewoon listened intently to Jain’s words as if possessed, and finally, one of the pieces of information that pierced through the core of this Theater was revealed through Jain’s mouth.

“…My future self, and we, will seek to resurrect the Dawn Sun God at any cost.”

After saying only that, Jain was reverse-summoned from before Taewoon by his own will.

It was because he felt there was nothing he could do in this Cycle, and it would be better to borrow the strength of other companions until more information could be gathered.

‘In that case, as expected, first…’

A cluster of light overflowed before Taewoon’s eyes, and soon, a mysterious woman appeared with an elegant smile.

It was Biryeong, a companion who had joined him in the Celestial Secret Theater and could currently be called Taewoon’s most powerful helper.

“This place… is a space filled with so much Murky Energy. Do you require my assistance?”

“Yes. Powerful enemies are scattered everywhere, so I need someone who can be even a small part of my combat strength.”

“That sounds lovely. I shall gladly accept.”

If Biryeong cooperated, the original goal of increasing the Solvers’ combat power could be considered sufficiently achieved.

With that, Taewoon scanned the vicinity a bit more before returning to the Duke’s estate, where he reunited with Frederick, who had returned after completing his investigation a day later.

“Were there any results?”

“I believe the most problematic threats in the area surrounding the estate can be summarized into two. Through exploration of the surroundings and questioning the Residents, I was able to confirm the existence of the ‘Headless Prisoner’ and the ‘Wish-Granting Demon.’”

“Good work.”

The Wish-Granting Demon was certainly one of the sinister beings Frederick had mentioned while heading to the Duke’s estate.

The moment he imagined facing them in a corner of his mind, a mechanical sound rang out as Aquila, operating on her own, gave Taewoon a warning.

[Warning. Unknown contamination has been observed in the Magical Power pattern of ‘Second-Class Solver Frederick.’ Please create distance immediately and take a defensive stance.]

“What?”

Surprised by the unexpected information, Taewoon immediately drew Barata and glared at Frederick, who began to wave his hands in confusion.

“W-why are you suddenly acting like this?”

“Frederick, can you report every single thing you did since leaving the estate, without missing a moment?”

“Of course! After leaving the Duke’s estate, I headed to the nearest Pils Street and began collecting identities and information on recent victims from the Residents. Among them, I found a concerning part in the case of a man named Zenon, so I headed straight for the Hisham Forest, and there… there… Oh dear, why is there a gap in my memory…”

As Frederick calmly retraced his memories, his pupils shook. Soon, a seal with a complex pattern appeared on his forehead, and an unpleasant Magical Power began to fill the area.

An ominous crack was etched into the air, and from within it, a demon’s wing and eye revealed themselves.

It glanced at the suffering Frederick with its eye, then, with a smirking expression, asked Taewoon a question in a repulsive voice.

“Dooo… youuu… waaaant… a wish… granted…?”

A cracked, breaking, unpleasant voice.

It was a voice containing a sinister energy so potent that an ordinary person would lose consciousness just by hearing it, but Taewoon simply smiled lightly and raised Barata, aiming it at the creature’s neck.

“Sure, if someone like you can actually grant one.”

Taewoon’s previously suppressed Magical Power began to explode violently, and Barata, shot out like a flash of light, pierced straight through the head of the half-emerged demon.

Soul-Chasing Eight Ghost Spear Second Form, Flying Spear.

The Spear Strike, launched from the combination of Flying Ring Step and Wind-Advancing Kick, destroyed the demon’s body before it could even react. However, as it was likely not the main body, the creature retreated back through the crack, hurling curses at Taewoon.

“You… damn… brat… tomorrow… night… I shall… return…”

The crack etched in space vanished, and the suffering Frederick collapsed onto the floor.

An ominous symbol remained engraved on the fallen Frederick’s forehead, and Aquila, who had been monitoring the situation, explained to Taewoon that it corresponded to the number 5.

‘Damn it… did Frederick fall for the creature’s Magic Technique and make a wish?’

Since the creature was a demon that granted one wish and took a corresponding price in return, it was reasonable to interpret that the price Frederick currently had to pay was fivefold.

“I came over because I felt a commotion… has it already been settled?”

“Yes. The Wish-Granting Demon visited, but it retreated immediately after taking a hit. I suspect it will return in the near future.”

From the feeling of their single exchange, it didn’t seem like the creature was an opponent Taewoon couldn’t defeat.

However, that was merely a fragment of the demon; while simple combat power might be known, there was no way to guess what special abilities it might possess.

In any case, it meant he had to devote all his efforts to preparing for the confrontation.

“Ugh… pant, pant.”

The collapsed Frederick woke up, drenched in cold sweat. Taewoon asked him about what happened in the Hisham Forest, but Frederick had no memory at all of what wish he had made to the demon.

“I have… no excuse. To think I would hold you back instead of being helpful from the start…”

“There is no need for self-reproach. Rather, we’ve been able to determine the first target immediately, so if we handle this well, we might achieve a decent result.”

Regardless of what it was, he had to clash with the sinister beings of the Tehesa region.

And in Taewoon’s opinion, this ‘Wish-Granting Demon’ was not a powerful enough enemy to pose a significant threat to the Solvers.

“I felt a wicked energy… exactly what happened?”

Alfred, the Butler in charge of the estate’s security, asked about the details. After hearing the situation, he began to stare at Taewoon’s face with eyes full of slight admiration.

“To have already caught the tail of a demon… the Solvers of the Dawn Assembly indeed possess skills as wonderful as their reputation. I shall escort His Excellency the Duke to a safe location with my subordinates. I wish you victory.”

Returning the greeting to the bowing Alfred, Taewoon began to ponder the method of confronting the demon, recalling the appearance of the creature he had just encountered.

Vowing that he would surely pierce the heart of the first sinister being he met upon arriving in the Tehesa region.