Chapter 107 – Crossroads of Spacetime (3)

“Speak.”

“What exactly is exchanged in an exchange meeting?”

Only after Lee Hanseong’s permission was granted did Rough bring out his question.

Thanks to the Overmind formed among the spirits through the linkage of <Grasp> and <Primordial Chaos Gang Qi>, the language barrier between them had disappeared.

Even though their languages differed, everyone understood the questions and answers.

“There are no restrictions. All knowledge, skills, and items you possess are subjects of exchange. If I had to recommend something, knowledge would be the most efficient.”

Information about the higher-level skills Lee Hanseong had integrated and evolved in reality.

Among them, combination formulas possible only with the skills of those currently present here were written in the air.

[<Funeral Knowledge> + <Etiquette Knowledge> = <Ritual Studies>]

[<Ancient Knowledge> + <Spell Knowledge> = <Spell Script>]

[<Forging Knowledge> + <Hunting Knowledge> = <Hunting Studies>]

[<Monster Language> + <Relativism> = <Monsterology>]

[<Hunting Studies> + <Monsterology> = <Monster Hunt>]

.

.

.

[<Dexterity> + <Acrobatics> = <Artisan>]

Simultaneously, the skills possessed by the spirits also floated above their heads.

Deeming no further explanation necessary, Lee Hanseong granted freedom of speech with that.

“Then, from now on, freely exchange what you need with each other.”

Only then did the exchange meeting truly begin.

If likened to a game, it was a process where the spirits upgraded themselves through automatic research.

* * *

The spirits looked at the combination formulas written in the air and chose the skills they needed.

They identified counterparts who had the other half required to evolve into the desired skill.

“Me, you. Have. Need.”

“How rude, barbarian. However, I too require what you possess, so I shall forgive this discourtesy just this once.”

“Words, long. Answer shortly.”

“Sigh, it means I permit the exchange.”

Rian approached Utangka, who possessed <Spell Knowledge>, to obtain <Spell Script>, and with a sigh, began exchanging knowledge.

—Hey, primitive man. I’ll join too.

“Good!”

Non also joined Utangka’s side, who had <Hunting Knowledge>, to obtain <Hunting Studies>.

It seemed he believed that since the purpose of weapons ultimately lies in hunting, Hunting Studies would lead to the advancement of blacksmithing.

Thus, while the three gathered to exchange knowledge.

Elsewhere, knowledge exchange was also taking place.

“Oh my. You want to talk with me? I suppose you don’t find me unpleasant?”

“Our differences are not wrongs, merely variations. What is there to find unpleasant? If we can help each other, wouldn’t that be good?”

“You… seem a bit different from the humans I knew. Alright.”

To obtain <Monsterology>, Henrietta, who possessed <Monster Language>, and Alter, who had <Relativism>, also began exchanging.

Originally, Henrietta had intended to exchange with Non, but since Non went elsewhere, she did not refuse Alter’s polite proposal.

Moreover, thanks to her layering <Empathy> over the Overmind, knowledge exchange between the two proceeded even faster than elsewhere.

“Oh, dear. I missed my turn.”

However, Rough, who had actually asked the first question, did not separately exchange with anyone.

Although Arcen remained, he had erased his presence with Phase Shift, seemingly having no intention of getting involved with the spirits, so even those who had recognized him earlier had now forgotten him.

He planned to exchange separately later, after the others completed their primary exchanges.

Instead, for now, he began work to obtain another higher-level skill he could acquire alone: <Strong Fortune>.

Whoosh—

He focused not on the Shadow God summoned to the Reverse World, but on the body left in the original history.

With a slight sense of falling, he could move his original body.

While still leaving half his mind in the Reverse World.

Rough, whose mind was split into two due to the effect of the Yang Mind Art, realized its utility and smiled.

“Aha? So it’s like this.”

The history of Rough wearing a mask had ended after briefly visiting the Ardenia Continent where Hanna had been.

Thus, his body was still wandering now.

Even though his mind had been absent for a while, he hadn’t encountered any particular danger.

Because the path he was passing through was a safe route called the ‘Path of the Fairies.’

Thanks to the fairies’ fortune protecting travelers on the path, Rough could wander safely even on a continent dominated by all sorts of monsters and vampires.

Perhaps there was also such a reason why he could overlap phases with other continents when he had unfolded causal disturbance in the previous historical alteration.

“Two bodies positioned in two locations. I wonder what would happen if they overlapped.”

Thus, this time too, Rough confidently unfolded causal disturbance and phase superposition.

Oom.

The phases of Rough standing on the Path of the Fairies and the Shadow God existing in the Reverse World overlapped, increasing the fortune of both locations.

Fortune is a capricious power influenced by people, places, and time.

It was not strange at all for fortune to increase as two locations with different spacetime overlapped.

Whoooosh—

A strange wind swirled around Rough, briefly disrupting the laws of the world surrounding him.

As the phases of the two spaces influenced by fortune overlapped, it created a judgment as if Rough possessed two fortune skills.

Oom.

[Conditions met. General Skill <Fortune> evolves into Rare Skill <Strong Fortune>.]

He had deceived the world to induce evolution as if two fortune skills had integrated.

Simultaneously, the fortune held by the Shadow God also evolved into Strong Fortune.

But he instinctively sensed he couldn’t deceive the world again in the same way.

Because the fortune held by Rough’s Yang Spirit and Shadow God were essentially the same, the total amount of fortune couldn’t be increased.

This time, fortune could evolve into Strong Fortune only because the fortune of the two spaces had combined.

To increase the total fortune once more here, another variable beyond time and place was needed.

‘Another variable…’

Coincidentally, with the newly acquired divination, he could identify another variable to deceive the world.

Rough’s Yang Spirit on the Path of the Fairies took out a deck of cards from his pocket.

It was a divination tool that naturally appeared as the record of the divination skill was added to his history.

Shuffle. Flip. Flip. Flip.

Laying out cards on the ground, drawing them one by one, Rough divined his own fate.

“Hmm! Oho!”

Making strange sounds as if inspired by divination, he gathered the cards and closed his eyes.

It seemed he had figured out a way to complete the Three-star promotion.

Squirm. Squirm.

The moment he found the method, perhaps due to the influence of the Strong Fortune Rough possessed.

Lee Hanseong’s Primordial Chaos Gang Qi, which had grasped the Reverse World, flowed into the Path of the Fairies through the overlapped phases, triggering a new reaction.

[Conditions met. <Disguise> and <Travel> integrate.]

[Rare Skill <Dual Identity> is formed.]

Rough’s skill, which would have originally integrated with other skills, integrated through a new combination discovered via divination.

“Dual Identity… It means adding a variable to a person with fortune!”

Testing by activating Dual Identity, he felt something alien.

The world recognized Rough standing on the Path of the Fairies as a being other than Rough.

At this moment, the <Strong Fortune> held by the Shadow God in the Reverse World and the <Strong Fortune> held by the second identity on the Path of the Fairies were recognized as fortune possessed by separate entities.

With phase superposition currently maintained, Rough essentially possessed two Strong Fortune skills with two identities in one body.

The total amount of fortune increased once more.

Clap!

As Rough lightly clapped his hands, Lee Hanseong’s Primordial Chaos Gang Qi was drawn by the Strong Fortune, bringing change within him.

Then, naturally, the integration of the two overlapped Strong Fortune skills of the same type occurred.

The entire process proceeded without any obstacles, as if heaven itself was helping.

Once again, the world was deceived by Rough.

[Conditions met. Rare Skill <Strong Fortune> evolves into Unique Skill <Great Fortune>.]

Oooom!

As a result, the Great Fortune dwelling in Rough began to draw fortune from its surroundings.

Click.

Suddenly, the Overmind linking the spirits ‘coincidentally’ fluctuated, causing the synchronization rate with Non to skyrocket.

The knack of <Dexterity> was ‘luckily’ transmitted to Rough.

[Conditions met. <Acrobatics> and <Dexterity> integrate.]

[Rare Skill <Artisan> is formed.]

Click.

Integration of skills following immediately upon acquisition.

Goooooo.

The flow of achievement within the phase where the Reverse World and the Path of the Fairies overlapped was clearly biased toward Rough.

This was not something possible with Great Fortune alone.

It was as if fortune-series awakening skills like Sima Yi’s “Plans by Man, Success by Heaven” or the Yaksha’s <Slow> had been deployed.

Beyond Great Fortune, the Legendary Grade <Heavenly Fortune> had taken root in Rough.

Whoooosh!!

Lee Hanseong’s will dwelling in <Grasp> recognized Rough’s Great Fortune and descended half of the Holy Light Body to assist him, temporarily amplifying the Great Fortune to the level of Heavenly Fortune.

This was on par with the Yaksha’s <Eternal Pride>.

Rough, noticing Lee Hanseong’s descent, placed his arm over his chest and offered a polite bow toward Hyu’s black curtain in the dark.

Nod.

[Feat, ‘One Favored by Heaven’ achieved.]

[The Wind Constellation records Rough’s feat and altered history with a pleased gaze.]

[Third awakening skill 《Great Fortune Circulation》 blooms.]

[Rough’s Three-star promotion is completed.]

[Continuing historical alteration to complete Four-star promotion.]

[Remaining achievement is consumed. Current remaining achievements held: 6 > 5]

The assistance of Heavenly Fortune was an event sufficient to become a promotion completion feat.

* * *

However, even though Rough had completed his promotion, it would take considerably more time for the other spirits’ primary exchanges to conclude.

Because knowledge meeting knowledge and sublimating into new learning is not something that happens in a short time.

At least, unless one had reached the center of the universe and gained wisdom, as Lee Hanseong had.

“Hmm, exchanges can be done whenever there’s time.”

So Rough focused on his reality rather than the Shadow God in the Reverse World.

This was his choice, but also Lee Hanseong’s choice who had descended upon him.

Lee Hanseong intended to make Rough the protagonist of this historical alteration.

‘Even spirits divided across multiple eras, through Rough who has received the Wind Constellation’s Blessing, I should be able to meet them all.’

Step. Step.

Rough wandered aimlessly along the Path of the Fairies, going wherever his feet took him.

Pluck— Crunch.

“Mmm. This time it’s a savory cheese flavor.”

When hungry, he plucked and ate randomly flavored tree fruits hanging over the Path of the Fairies.

Growl.

When sleepy, he covered himself with a blanket and slept outdoors.

Flip— Pluck.

When encountering a fork in the road, he decided the path using simple divination by standing a branch and going in the direction it fell.

Clap clap!

“Everyone! I will now begin the performance.”

And when a village appeared, true to being a jester, he performed and gave laughter to the people.

Like the Path of the Fairies, thanks to fairies hiding the villages, they were safe from outside monsters or vampires, but they usually couldn’t laugh.

For one, they were essentially trapped in the village.

And because fairies themselves weren’t exactly benevolent, children periodically disappeared or were swapped with fairies.

It was a fairy prank called ‘Changeling.’

Nevertheless, the reason people couldn’t leave the village was because life inside was still better than that of humans outside.

On the Arpelgia Continent, the reality was that being a fairy’s plaything was preferable to living as livestock for vampires, treated as blood bags, or becoming monster prey.

‘If the Arcadia Continent’s genre was fantasy, the Arpelgia Continent’s genre was dark fantasy.’

Lee Hanseong muttered inwardly, having learned of such reality while observing Rough’s travels.

“Hoping it was an enjoyable performance, I shall now take my leave.”

So Rough hoped that, at least during his performances, people would forget the darkness of reality and laugh.

Because fairies love laughter, spreading laughter like this sometimes led them to whimsically bestow miracles.

“Huh…?! My body is healed?”

“It’s a fairy’s whim! Congratulations.”

Perhaps when Rough awakened as a 1-Star, healing a child with an incurable disease through laughter also involved fairy intervention.

Then, one day while watching Rough’s journey.

‘Huh?’

Lee Hanseong realized that the village Rough had arrived at this time felt somehow familiar.

He felt a sense of déjà vu, as if he had seen a similar place in another spirit’s memory.

“Monster! Go away!”

“Don’t come closer!”

Then, children’s voices reached Rough’s ears.

As Rough approached, he saw children bullying a girl.

“Stop!”

Rough hurriedly intervened between the bullying children and the bullied girl, stopping the situation.

“Oh, it’s Uncle Jester!”

“Mister! When does the performance start?”

As if asking when they had ever bullied anyone, the children ignored the bullied girl upon seeing Rough and threw questions at him.

“It’s planned to start once the audience gathers. So if you want good seats, you should hurry too.”

“Ah! Right. If we don’t go now, we’ll lose the front seats. Let’s hurry.”

“Okay!”

Rough gently accepted their questions and sent the children elsewhere.

Left alone with the girl, he finally turned his attention to her.