Novel

What do you mean by that?

Lee Sungmin tilted his head and asked, but Kim Jonghyun only made a suspicious smile and did not reply. Instead, he asked while taking a glance at Bern.

But, why are you here?Didnt you say so?

Bern laughed.

That you wanted to meet the mercenary that exterminated the ogre chimera in person.Ah. Ooooh so thats it.

Kim Jonghyun nodded his head. He grinned before looking at Lee Sungmin.

So you are the mercenary that exterminated the ogre chimera?Yes.I didnt think so because you were younger than I thought.

Kim Jonghyun waved his hand as he said that. When he pushed against the empty air, the levitating ogre chimeras head flew towards him. Lee Sungmin frowned and took a few steps back. The ogre had been beheaded. The two eyes were dug out, and the thread that sewed the mouth had been taken out and its mouth was wide open.

Very interesting.

Kim Jonghyun hummed. He extended his two hands to grab the head.

This chimera has a variety of high-level magic cast on it. Though, I cant completely know what they are since its dead. However, whats for sure is that the mage that created this chimera is enough to be called an archmage at least.Thats difficult for me to accept.

Bern frowned at Kim Jonghyuns words and refuted him.

Archmage isnt a word that can easily be said.You cant say that. Even though its a different field, you must acknowledge that persons abilities, no?Ugh.

Bern groaned. Grabbing tightly onto his sleeves, Bern sighed before turning around.

Theres no reason for me to listen to it together. Ill be going back to the guild then.

Saying that, Bern left the room. Sungmin, who was left alone with Kim Jonghyun, tried to call Bern back in panic, but the doors had already shut. Behind him, Kim Jonghyun giggled.

Isnt jealousy such an embarrassing thing?Jealousy?Sir Bern hasnt had any progress for a long time. So what Im saying is its like martial arts. To reach a higher level, one must first climb up the wall. And for a very long time now, sir Bern hasnt been able to do that.

Muttering those words, Kim Jonghyun pushed the ogres head towards Lee Sungmin. It was as though he was throwing a basketball. Sungming dodged the ogres head with panic when he saw that it was flying towards him.

He may be able to reach the realm of archmages once he climbs over that wall, but he hasnt been able to. How stuffy must he feel about himself?

Saying that, Kim Jonghyun waved his hand again. The corpse and guts of the ogre, all levitating in the air, started floating towards him.

Well, lets leave that aside. I said a while ago, but this corpse is very interesting. If it were up to me, I want to start explain to you every little detail about how this monster had a variety of magic cast onto it and how many types of monsters were used in the creation of this monstrosity using the ogre as the base but it should be hard for you to understand since you are not a mage.Lets get to the point.How was it?

Lee Jonghyun shrugged his shoulders and asked.

I heard from sir Ludd, who went with you to the extermination of the ogre. However, I wanted to listen to you, who has actually fought the thing itself. What did you feel as you fought it?

(T/N: Ludd may have been translated to something else before Roode Lude. Rude Idunno) I dont get what youre asking.Didnt you feel something strange as you fought it?

Asked Kim Jonghyun, receiving that question, Lee Sungmin thought back to the fight with the ogre. Something strange he didnt feel at all. In the first place, this was the first time Lee Sungmin fought an ogre, so it was impossible for him to compare it with other gores.

None.What of its durability? Regenerative capabilities?It didnt even get scratched when I attacked with full power. All I could do was to attack its weak points, like its joins. I pierced its eye, but it regenerated back in less than one minute.Was there anything else special about it?Nimble I think it was. Also, the attacks were heavy. I would have become a pulp if I got hit on that straight on.

Lee Sungmin explained the things he felt while fighting with the ogre. Listening to that quietly, Kim Jonghyun nodded his ehad.

Okay then.Does this help you at all?Its better than not listening to it.

Kim Jonghyun giggled and grabbed the ogres guts.

It was a helpful story. Although people say that the corpse contains a lot of information, that isnt usually the case with chimeras. The moment the chimera dies, the magic cast on it is dispelled.

The tangled large intestines opened. Lee Sungmin took a few steps back with a frown.

Ogres are classified as top predators. However, that doesnt mean that they are capable of receiving a full power attack from a peak-level expert frontally. Although they do have regenerative capabilities, that doesnt mean they can regenerate an eye in one minute. This helped out a lot.

Lee Sungmin looked at Kim Jonghyun that said that. After a while, he opened his mouth again.

What were you trying to say last time?Oh, oooh? Oh its nothing.

Kim Jonghyun made a mysterious smile.

You. You are twisted.What?The laws of cause and effect is twisted around you. Are you aware of that?

Lee Sungmins expression stiffened after hearing that. A being with twisted cause and effect. The ones that noticed this about him were only Msh and the mediators of Erebrisa.

How did you know?So you did know. Wow, this is amazing. If I was in your state, I would have despaired and gone crazy.

Kim Jonghyun giggled. He took a few steps back and waved his hands. Two chairs flew from the corner and landed near the two of them.

Would you like to drink something? Theres coffee, red tea, and even green tea.No its fine.

He didnt feel like drinking. Despaired and gone crazy. These words nagged his mind. Kim Jonghyun made a dry laugh seeing that Lee Sungmin was frighteningly staring at him.

Who told you?

Asked Kim Jonghyun while crossing his legs. Although he did offer, he didnt drink anything either.

Msh.Aha. The god in the mountain of trial and suffering. So you trained in Mshs mountain?Yes.Okay. How many years?Is that important?No, it was a personal curiosity of mine. You dont have to answer. Yes. So did Msh tell you? That the cause and effect has been twisted?Yes.Do you understand about him?

Being asked that by Kim Jonghyun, Sungmin took a deep breath and replied.

He told me that I would suffer for eternity after my death.Such an unkind explanation.

Kim Jonghyun giggled again.

Can you tell me why the cause and effect have been twisted?And if I talk about it?I will be able to reply to what you are curious about.I cannot trust you.I can swear. I shall absolutely not talk about what Ive heard from you to anyone else. This is an oath of a mage to the great mana, and cannot be reversed. If I do, Ill die.

Kim Jonghyun spoke as though it was nothing. As he said that, blue mana swirled around his body. An oath to mana. Lee Sungmin knew about this as well. Mages that walk on the path of magic cannot go against that oath. Lee Sungmin stared at Kim Jonghyun for a while before speaking.

I have died once. I have died, and I have returned.Do you mean you went back in time?Yes.So thats why the cause and effect have been twisted. Well, of course. Birth, living, and death. This is the first rule that makes up the world as well as being the most fundamental cause and effect. All existences are bound by this cause and effect.

Tap. Kim Jonghyun tapped on the armrest of his chair.

This doesnt only apply to life forms. Its like that for the chair below me as well. A carpenter creates a chair. It is used as a chair, and it is broken. That, is also cause and effect.

Kim Jonghyuns lips curved into a smile.

What do you think needs to be done for a broken chair to return to its normal state?Fix it.Correct. However, will that fixed chair really be the same chair? Repairing the broken part, hammering new nails in this process, the chair would become a completely different chair altogether. Even a chair is like this. Then what of life? A dead human returning to the past is the act against the most fundamental law of the world. Acting against cause and effect causes it to be twisted. This becomes karma that the soul gathers.

Lee Sungmin listened to Kim Jonghyuns words silently. His voice now sounded excited.

All karma are accounted after death. What Msh said is the truth, but he didnt explain enough. It wont end with just suffering. Oh, not that I know what kind of suffering you will go through.Thats nothing different from what Msh said.Its not like Ive died. Mortals can absolutely not know about the afterlife. Well the study of magic is the pursuit of truth at the extremes of nonsense, so if a mage glimpses at the truth, they might be able to come to a realization about the afterlife and other things that are not allowed for mortals but if they do, then they must be a sage that has transcended the archmagic realm.ALL new 𝒄hapters 𝒐n nov(𝒆)lbin(.)com

However, Kim Jonghyun laughed. He glanced at Lee Sungmins face before continuing.

If all youve heard from Msh is that your cause and effect has been twisted, I have other things to tell you.And what would that be?You are strange.

Kim Jonghyuns eyes narrowed.

Not only are your cause and effect twisted, but also.

Also

Also.

Also, also, also.

Kim Jonghyuns last word strangely lengthened out and echoed. Lee Sungmin raised his hand to block his left ear. When he panicked, Kim Jonghyuns mouth became shut. Blinking several times, Kim Jonghyun shrugged his shoulders.

I cant.What?I cannot say.

Kim Jonghyun made a bitter smile while saying that. Lee Sungmin became absent minded at those words.

What do you mean by that?If I say it, I will die.

Saying that, Kim Jonghyun stood up.

Please understand.W, wait. What do you mean by that?Im not sure if Im allowed to say this or not.

Muttered he.

Your life may not be yours anymore.

Those words were mysterious in meaning. Naturally, Lee Sungmin didnt understand any of it. When he was about to ask again, Kim Jonghyun raised his hand to stop him.

Will you find me again next time?

It was a polite request.

I also am very confused, and need time to organize my thoughts.I cannot understand.Me neither.

Kim Jonghyun made a bitter smile.

However, this is the absolute truth. If I do say it, I will die. I do not want to die. At least right now.

Saying that, Kim Jonghyun took a deep breath.

Please find me again next time.