I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 322

Chapter 322: Alone (5)

Everyone called him Veneris, the Prophet.

They praised him for his ability to foresee danger, for hearing the voice of God.

But the truth was a hollow illusion.

▶ You can predict future events by spending points. ◀

“…A mere illusion, granted by the game system.”

Not the power of prophecy, but the system’s power.

It wasn’t a divine gift, but a cheap trick.

And now, he couldn’t even use that.

▶ Prophecy Point Usage Log: ◀

[15 points spent to learn that the pursuers have arrived in Illeor.]

[10 points spent to learn that Carsein’s tracks have been discovered.]

[30 points spent to learn that there have been reports of Carsein entering the Illeor Abandoned Mine.]

[20 points spent to calculate the time it would take to reach the mine.]

…

…

▶ Updating Prophecy Points. ◀

[Prophecy Points: 0]

His points, completely depleted.

Veneris could no longer see the future. He had lost the power that had been his greatest asset.

But he smiled, a strange, empty smile.

“What good is this power, now that I’ve lost what I truly desired?”

He had once believed that this power would bring him everything.

He had been praised, revered, elevated to a position of power.

He had felt invincible.

But he hadn’t been able to obtain what he truly wanted.

He had climbed, and climbed,

His only goal to reach the summit.

He had discarded everything he deemed unnecessary, everything that held him back.

He had suppressed his emotions, embraced logic and reason.

He had honed his skills, discarded all distractions.

He had lived the life of an outsider, repeating the same mistakes.

And at the crucial moment,

He had failed again.

“…I should have realized… that they… were the ones who truly mattered…”

He still remembered,

The moment he had cleared all the episodes,

The moment he had thought he had beaten the game, the moment he had been ready to leave this world.

He had been so confident, so eager to finally face his family with his head held high, but…

That choice had cost him everything.

Veneris’s smile was hollow, his eyes empty.

His gaze drifted towards the exit Carsein had taken.

“If I had just… looked around… if I had just… paid attention… I would have realized… that she… was my daughter…”

There was a reason why this world, this game, had given him a second chance, a chance to relive his past.

There was a reason why the events in this game mirrored his reality.

It wasn’t just a meaningless game setting.

When he had returned to his world, filled with joy, when he had finally faced the truth he had been avoiding…

All that remained was regret, guilt, and despair.

“So, Kim Min-hyeok, you must choose wisely. Don’t make the same mistakes I did. Because… that’s why I failed.”

Veneris slumped to the ground, waiting for the sound of approaching footsteps.

-Ding!

▶ Prophecy Points acquired for completing the event. ◀

“…How ironic. Even now, I’m still earning points.”

The status window, which had once been his ladder to success,

His guide, leading him down the fastest path,

Had become his greatest torment.

He had once been grateful for it, believing it was a gift from the heavens.

But now, his opinion had changed completely.

Veneris now loathed the status window.

***

My assumption had been correct. Veneris, just like me, possessed a status window, and he was Korean. That was why he knew my real name.

He was Korean, transmigrated into this game for some unknown reason. And he, too, could see the status window.

So, with my single question, I had learned a lot from Veneris.

Amidst the striking similarities between my past life and the events in this game, the Wederos Kingdom, the one glaring difference, had been a crucial clue.

Yes, it had been the key.

The Wederos Kingdom,

It wasn’t just a game setting.

-So I’ve been thinking. Veneris, and you… perhaps the power of the Wederos Kingdom is simply a bridge, a way to cross over to this world.

A bridge for transmigration, a way to bring a person from the real world into the game.

That was the truth.

He, a fellow transmigrant,

A fellow Korean trapped in this game,

Someone who had experienced the same hardships twice,

Had revealed the truth to me.

It made sense, coming from Veneris, another transmigrant.

And the Prophet’s power, if it was simply the system’s power, wasn’t entirely illogical.

There was a valid basis.

…But,

My mind was still a jumbled mess.

-You could say it’s a shared experience. But for the same events to occur, repeatedly… that’s not a coincidence.

-Kim Min-hyeok, there’s a reason why you’re in Carsein’s body. In other words…

-There’s a reason why you’re here. Just like me.

Those three statements… they still didn’t make sense.

“What do you mean, ‘just like you’?”

What was his reason for being here?

And why had he been transmigrated into Carsein’s body?

Was there a reason why the events in this game mirrored my past life?

“Damn it! What reason could there possibly be…!”

I didn’t know.

I couldn’t understand it.

The reason for my transmigration, his cryptic advice to “look around”… I couldn't make sense of it.

And just as I was struggling with these unanswered questions, a notification appeared.

-Ding!

▶ Pursuers approaching. ◀

▶ Searching the Illeor Abandoned Mine. Time remaining slightly increased due to reduced pursuit speed. ◀

▶ Forced combat may occur if captured by any pursuers! ◀

“…I almost forgot.”

Whether or not this game mirrored my past life didn’t matter right now.

I didn't have time to dwell on the similarities, or the reasons behind them.

I had to survive.

“Veneris didn’t say this game was impossible to clear.”

He was the Prophet.

His prophecies were always accurate.

And he hadn’t said it was impossible to clear this game, which meant there was a way.

I would survive, and I would return to my world.

I left the abandoned mine.

While the layout was complex, escaping wasn't difficult.

I had already memorized the paths while exploring the mine.

But the moment I stepped outside, a pungent smell assaulted my senses.

I recognized the danger and quickly covered my nose, my face contorting in disgust.

“What is this?”

-Ding!

▶ Status Ailment: Kelbia Allergy Level 5 applied. ◀

▶ Providing missing information. ◀

※ Movement Restriction

▶ Movement restricted due to Kelbia Allergy. ◀

▶ You can pass through restricted areas with appropriate transportation or protective gear. Attempting to pass through without these may result in severe penalties, depending on the level. ◀

■ Explanation

[Kelbia fruit has been scattered throughout the area due to Arina Bagrand’s arrest warrant.]

[Most pursuers are using Kelbia fruit to restrict your movement. Choose a different route or use protective gear.]

▶ Updating character affinity levels. ◀

▶ Caution! Those with significantly decreased affinity may report your location! ◀

“…Hah…”

My blood ran cold.

A sudden thought crossed my mind.

Now that I thought about it, my older sister in my past life must have felt inferior to me as well.

So, what had she done when I disappeared?

She had probably done the same thing, mobilizing people to find and capture me.

And she would have taken precautions, ensuring that those I might turn to for help wouldn't assist me. Right?

“Just like her.”

How could she be so cruel, so calculating?

Because of this, everyone would turn against me.

They would be eager to capture me, for the reward, for the chance to gain favor with the Bagrand Duchy.

Affinity? It was meaningless now.

Those motivated by greed would likely be plotting to capture me alive, waiting for me to lower my guard.

And those who already disliked me would use this opportunity to eliminate me.

I had to face the world alone.

But it was fine.

I was used to this.

I had always been alone.

There was no one here who would help me, no one who would—

“Carsein!”

…That voice.

“Stay there! I’ll bring you the allergy neutralizer!”

She dismounted her horse and ran towards me, her violet hair flowing in the wind.

The sight of her made my blood run cold, then warm.

“Are you alright? The allergy hasn’t triggered yet, has it?”

Her hand brushed against my skin as she checked my condition,

And a wave of warmth spread through my body, chasing away the chill.

My mind, which had been racing, finally stilled.

“I knew this might happen, so I came prepared. Come on, let’s go. But first…”

There was.

“…I’ll never betray you. I swear it, on the Oath Orb.”

Someone who would always be on my side, no matter what.

***

We rode in silence.

Thanks to the horse, and the complexity of the Illeor Abandoned Mine, which had delayed the pursuers,

We were able to escape Illeor without difficulty.

▶ Level 3 zone. ◀

▶ Passage permitted due to sufficient preparations. ◀

▶ You are riding a horse. ◀

▶ Allergy neutralizer consumed. Penalty nullified. ◀

The horse, the protective gear, and the Kelbia allergy neutralizer,

She had prepared everything. And thanks to her, I could escape.

But even her preparations had their limits.

“…”

“We… can’t go through here…?”

“No.”

-Ding!

▶ Level 5 zone. ◀

▶ Passage prohibited. ◀

▶ Warning! Attempting to pass through will result in forced unconsciousness! ◀

I could have endured the lower-level zones with the items I had, and by consuming the neutralizer.

But Level 5 was different.

It was a complete blockade, an impassable barrier.

“What do we do…? We can’t reach the Theresia Marquisate without going through here…”

Just then, I noticed a side path.

Kelbia fruit contained a small amount of mana.

So, by enhancing my vision with mana, I could see the different levels, indicated by the intensity of the color.

‘Why is the color so faint here?’

The main path was a Level 5 zone. A single step in that direction would render me unconscious. But this side path… the color was faint enough that I could pass through without penalty, even on horseback.

And the faint color… it formed a path.

Had someone created a safe passage for me, in the midst of this manhunt?

It didn't make sense. Everyone was trying to capture me. They should be tightening the net, not creating escape routes.

‘No, this isn’t the time to question things.’

[Time Until Pursuit: ]

[1 minute 49 seconds]

-Whinny!

We were running out of time.

I had to act, regardless of the consequences.

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