I opened my eyes to a white ceiling.
My body felt heavy, like my limbs had been filled with something dense and uncooperative. I couldn't get up. I couldn't even speak, because my throat was so dry it felt cracked down the middle.
I was still trying to gather enough will to push myself upright when the door opened.
Kim Taewon walked in, and behind him, a woman I didn't recognize.
"She's awake!"
I blinked. It was rare to see the workaholic, always grumpy Kim Taewon raise his voice.
Hearing surprise come out of him so openly was almost more disorienting than waking up here.
"Quickly, heal her."
The woman crossed the room and took my hand before I could process what was happening. I was too weak to pull away, so I didn't.
Warmth moved through me slowly, then all at once, strength returning to my limbs like water filling a cup. It was a strange sensation.
It helped. But I guess healing abilities can't fix thirst...
"Wa...ter," I managed, the word coming out barely recognizable.
The healer poured a glass without a word. I downed it in seconds and held it out again. Then again after that. Three cups before the rawness in my throat finally started to ease.
"What happened?"
The two of them exchanged a glance.
"None of us were at the National Auction, so I can't say for certain. That would be a better question for the Guild Master." Kim Taewon paused. "What I can tell you is that after the attack, you lost consciousness. You were brought here for recovery."
"I see." I trailed off... "What about the others? The people who were there, are they okay? Are they still cleaning everything up?"
"If you mean the Baekwha sisters, they're fine. Everything's been handled." He hesitated before talking more. "You've been asleep for a month."
I stared at him.
"A month? Not a week?"
"A month."
I didn't say anything for a moment. A month. I tried to fit that into some shape that made sense and couldn't quite manage it.
My thoughts drifted to my constellations. I was contracted with them now, all except Tree-nim. Which meant they would know. They always seemed to know things before I did.
"We'll leave you to rest. If you need anything, let us know."
"Ah — my phone—"
"You didn't have one on you when you arrived." He gestured toward the side table. "The Guild Master had one bought for you. In case you needed to reach someone."
A brand new phone sat there, still in the box.
"...Thanks."
They nodded and left.
The door clicked shut and the room went quiet. I looked around slowly, at the unfamiliar ceiling, the unfamiliar walls, the careful stillness of a home that belonged to someone who wasn't here.
It was strange, being alone in Jinhyuk's house. Stranger still that it had somehow become the place I woke up in.
"Have I really been asleep that long?" I asked out loud, even though the date on the phone was right there confirming it.
『 The Shiniest Gem 』
That's right. I wish I could have possessed your body a little longer. The human world is truly fascinating.
『 Above The Broken World 』
Tch. Next time, I shall be the one to possess it.
I stared at the screen.
Some things really didn't change. A month-long coma, two new contracts, and they were already bickering.
I wasn't sure why I'd been so afraid of contracting with them. I think some part of me had worried they'd be different afterward, that something would shift in the way they spoke and treated me. But here they were. Exactly the same.
It was oddly comforting.
"Why did I even pass out for so long?"
『 The Shiniest Gem 』
Why are you asking the obvious?
『 Above The Broken World 』
Perhaps she incurred some manner of illness during her unconscious state. If so, this is a significant problem.
"No, I'm fine." I shifted upright slowly, testing my limbs. "It's just, I had this dream. Or something that felt like a dream. It was so vivid I don't know if I can even call it that. It felt real."
I turned it over carefully in my mind. A runaway princess. Fleeing across a border into another kingdom. The quiet of a church, the smell of stone and incense...
I had lived every second of it.
『 The Shiniest Gem 』
Child, what are you talking about? That wasn't a dream.
『 Above The Broken World 』
I cannot believe I contracted such a slow human.
『 The Shiniest Gem 』
She's not the brightest, but she's my child. How dare you run your mouth. Should I kill you?
『 Above The Broken World 』
I would be impressed if you can land a single hit on me.
『 The Shiniest Gem 』
Hah, this thing is talking big? With just a single move, you would be begging me to spare you.
"Enough. Seriously, are you guys kids?" I sigh at their bickering. "Where's Tree-nim?"
I tapped my fingers against my arm, waiting for the familiar blue glow of a notification window.
"We need to talk about that quest."
Silence.
"Tree-nim?"
Nothing.
I sat up straighter.
"...Where is Tree-nim?"
『 The Shiniest Gem 』
Uh...
『 Above The Broken World 』
For constellations, enforcing quests comes with a heavy price. He used some of his life to do that so you could obtain that staff.
My fingers shook at those words, and suddenly, I was reminded of my dream of how I lost my family in the fire. Everything happened so fast that I couldn't even say goodbye to them properly.
And life just kept moving on, as if they never existed in the first place.
...I never even got to thank him.
Why did he have to do something so stupid? Why did he—!
I pressed my lips together and looked away from nothing in particular.
Would life just... keep moving? Would I wake up one day and realize I'd gone a whole morning without thinking about Tree-nim, and then two mornings, and then a week? Would it get easier without me even choosing for it to?
I didn't want that.
I really didn't want that.
"You're not saying he's dead, right?" My throat felt stuck asking that.
『 The Shiniest Gem 』
Dead? Why would he be dead? He's just sleeping for recovery. Just give it another month and he'll be better in no time.
"What? Why did you make it sound like he died trying to do stuff for me?!" I wiped at my eyes quickly and turned on my other constellation. "Say what you mean properly!"
『 Above The Broken World 』
I apologize. You did not let me finish.
I exhaled sharply through my nose.
"Hah.... Seriously... But why would Tree-nim even risk his life over a staff?"
『 The Shiniest Gem 』
That staff belongs to you, child.
"What do you mean it belongs to me?"
『 Above The Broken World 』
You have recovered some of your memories, have you not? Connect the dots. Though I suppose asking that of you is optimistic.
『 The Shiniest Gem 』
You are asking for death. No one insults this child but me.
『 Above The Broken World 』
I would like to see you try.
"Hey—" I cut them off before it could spiral again. My mind was already moving too fast.
"Wait. So those weren't dreams. Those were my memories." I said it slowly. "And I was unconscious for so long because of that. And the staff is what triggered it."
I stared at nothing in particular.
It all connected. Every piece slotting into place at once, and I didn't know whether to feel relieved that it made sense or terrified by what that meant.
『 The Shiniest Gem 』
See? A genius. She takes after me entirely.
The bickering continued but I'd stopped hearing it. There was too much suddenly sitting on my chest.
『 Name: Seo Elena 』
『 Rank: L 』
『 Title: Owner of ■■■ (U), Saintess (L), Locked (??) , Locked. 』
『 Constellations: The Shiniest Gem, Above the Broken World 』
『 Abilities: Gentle Heart (U), Blessed From Coffee (U), Eyes of the 12 Stars (U), Aerial Healing (S). 』
Stats:
— Strength: 20 ▲
— Agility: 32 ▲
— Vitality: 24 ▲
— Focus: 41 ▲
— Luck: 40 ▲
— Memory Synchronization: 50% ▲ 』
『 Your abilities and memories have returned due to the effect of obtaining your staff. 』
I looked at the screen that changed in so many ways. My rank that used to be a C-rank was now something I couldn't even comprehend.
And look at my stats, haven't they tripled since I last checked them? What is this? This is a hallucination, right?
"I'm going back to sleep. I think I'm still dreaming."
I tucked myself back under the blanket, closed my eyes, and waited for unconsciousness to take me somewhere simpler.
It didn't come. My brain had too much to chew on and absolutely no intention of letting me rest. After about ten minutes of staring at the inside of my eyelids I gave up, threw the blanket off, and got out of bed.
Maybe walking would help.
I made it as far as the couch.
I sat there for a while, turning everything over, the memories, the staff, Tree-nim, the rank, all of it, until the thoughts started blurring together and I couldn't hold any single one long enough to examine it properly. My brain was full and going in circles and helping no one, least of all me.
I reached for the remote.
Fine. I'll watch something mindless.
I should have anticipated that the only thing Jinhyuk had his television connected to was the news. Of course it was. I don't know what I expected.
I watched the news anyway.
A woman stood in front of a gate so massive it barely fit in the frame behind her. I had never seen one that size before.
[ BREAKING: Biggest gate since the First Great Dungeon — Is Korea done for? ]
"—KHA has requested international support, but all parties have declined to participate in the subjugation due to the high risk to their own hunters. So far, only Hunter Saber and the Flame Emperor have entered. Nearly twenty-four hours have passed since they went in, and there has been no contact."
I was on my feet before I realized I'd stood up.
Saber. That's Jinhyuk.
That's why he wasn't here. That's why his home was empty.
I stared at the screen and felt something cold settle in my stomach instead.
"What's happening in there? Is he okay?" I pressed my fingers together, waiting. "Can't either of you tell me anything?"
『 The Shiniest Gem 』
That lover boy of yours is inside fighting an Aberrant.
"What's an Aberrant? Can he win against it?"
『 Above The Broken World 』
Those creatures you encountered when your precious café was destroyed. That is an example.
"That was an Aberrant?!"
『 Above The Broken World 』
Correct. They are beings that exist outside of the system's integration.
『 The Shiniest Gem 』
To put it simply, they are the system's natural enemy. Though this particular one isn't exactly an Aberrant anymore. Perhaps the better way to describe it is... a former one.
I opened my mouth to ask what that was supposed to mean.
The system window appeared before I could.
『 Quest Activated! 』
『 Defeat the Former Aberrant! 』
The first recorded appearance of a Former Aberrant has been confirmed. Aid Hunter Han Jinhyuk in defeating the creature known as 'Beast King', and in doing so, uncover the history of the Outsiders.
Rewards:
‣ Deeper understanding of Aberrants
‣ Memory Synchronization: 8%
『 Failure to comply results in death. 』
I stared at it for a long moment. Then I closed my eyes.
I give up.
Every time I thought I had a handle on one piece of it, three more appeared. Maybe the correct approach was to simply stop thinking altogether.
It would probably be less exhausting than this.
I opened my eyes and looked at the quest window still floating in front of my face.
"Fine, system. Let's do whatever you want." I jabbed a finger at the floating window. "But I want 10%. What's the point of 8%? Round it up, you hear me?"
The window sat there, completely unmoved by my negotiation.
『 The Shiniest Gem 』
...She's bargaining with the system.
『 Above The Broken World 』
I have no words.
"I'm serious. 10% or today I'll really die."
『 ૮(◞ ‸ ◟ )ა 』
"Oh, you finally responded. So, will you do it?"
『 Quest Revision! 』
『 Defeat the Former Aberrant! 』
Help defeat the creature known as 'Beast King', and in doing so, uncover the history of the Abberant species.
Rewards:
‣ Deeper understanding of Aberrants
‣ Memory Synchronization: 10% ▲
『 Failure to comply results in death. 』
"Now, we're talking. Okay, then I'll go then."