“Uhh…”
Karlstein’s eyes fluttered open to a searing pain coursing through his body. He shook his head to clear his mind. His sluggish limbs, heavy as if waking from a deep sleep, slowly stirred with a flicker of energy.
As his senses slowly returned, he propped himself up to take in the surroundings. Empty, lifeless desolation welcod him.
“What the…”
Just monts ago, he had been having a normal conversation…
Karlstein struggled to piece the events together.
Right…
He had been investigating the Sephiroth stronghold in World when he touched the illusion of a tree masking their hideout. And then—only his consciousness had been whisked away sowhere. There, he’d spoken with soone.
“Mm.”
Images flickered in his mind: A colossal white tree. A white bird.
Yes… He had spoken with soone, likely Sephiroth.
Suddenly, a sharp pain stabbed at his brain, like needles piercing his skull. His mory of the conversation remained fragnted.
“Mmm.”
Karlstein shook his head again to steady himself, exhaling deeply. As the fog in his mind slowly lifted, the ache in his body faded.
“Sephiroth. Ahh…”
With the pain subsiding, he began to rember the conversation.
Right… It claid to send back to where I truly belong.
The details were still riddled with holes, but he rembered the gist of it now.
Where he truly belonged… Not just World. Not the Galactic Empire, either. What Sephiroth ant was painfully clear.
My past life…
It referred to his life before the transmigration.
“Haha.”
From the mont he first entered the Community—and even long before—he had searched relentlessly for any trace of his past, only to find nothing.
Yet he was offered a way back to the Earth he once called ho.
“…”
Karlstein admitted it was all normal up to that point. Regardless of motive, he was made an offer. Regardless of his response, he was given a choice. Putting aside whether that offer was genuine or not, everything went fine until that point.
But then… they continued talking, and sothing went wrong.
A sharp pain shot through his skull again, as if he were recalling sothing forbidden.
“Phew…”
Once the pain ebbed away, his fragnted mories began to realign.
“…”
《Sephiroth》 was this powerful?
It even knew about his transmigration, which no one except Aria knew about, and offered to help him return.
However, Karlstein was no longer the greenhorn from the early days of transmigration who whined about wanting to go ho. He had spent much of his life in the Galactic Empire and accomplished many things. He did not lack attachnt to his current life enough to abandon everything and leave abruptly.
To begin with, he had no lingering attachnts to his forr life except for just one thing.
Right. I rember why I argued with it.
The one regret he left behind: his younger sister. The child who was left to face the world alone after her only family was gone.
“…”
That was why Karlstein clashed with Sephiroth. Though truthfully, it was more like him one-sidedly venting his anger. It was uncertain whether it was unable to contain his fury or was bound by certain limitations, but Sephiroth shattered the pitch-black dinsion, hurling him into an unknown place.
“Damn it…”
Beyond that, everything was a blank. It felt as if his mory had been forcibly wiped.
Karlstein sighed.
Bastard Sephiroth. You really are worth a good shakedown.
That tree was not to be taken lightly, of course. The fact that it could summon him in such a way—despite his near flawless ntal defenses granted by ntal Invariability—proved how formidable it was.
It was rather shocking. Karlstein’s mind should have been immune to any sort of tampering.
Though I’m sure it’s because I’m in an Avatar…
It made sense, in a way. Right now, he was just wearing an Avatar. His mind was basically detached and anchored into it.
Vulnerabilities might have erged during that process. The Avatar Connection System was extrely tricky, and not all so convenient to use.
“For now, I’ll discuss this with Aria…”
Logout. Eh?
“Logout.”
…
Logout?
“Mm.”
Apparently, the logout function was broken. Was it just temporary?
“Integrated Dinsional Community!”
…
Even the Community was not responding.
Scratch scratch.
“Looks like I’m screwed?”
It seed things had taken a slightly troubleso turn.
“That asshole Sephiroth.”
Whether this was intentional or not, it definitely needed looking into.
***As Karlstein surveyed his surroundings and pieced together what had happened, he managed to get his bearings.
That’s a relief.
He had not been thrown into an unfamiliar realm. This was a world he recognized.
“I feel for your situation, but see, we’re not running a charity.”
“…”
“Right? Lucky for you, we could use a porter.”
Karlstein gave noncommittal replies and fell in step behind the group. Their attire was an odd mix of dieval and modern styles.
“In any case, having an A-rank healer in the party is reassuring.”
“Hehe. Just leave it to .”
“You’re the only one to count on, Miss Ayoung. You’ve got a big heart, too. Hem-hem.”
Huh… I got a feeling that guy isn’t really talking about her heart.
The male party mbers’ gazes shifted awkwardly, drawn to the healer’s heart that swayed prominently with every step she took.
“Let know if you need any buffs.”
Her priestess robe, with its oddly modern design, only heightened her allure, accentuating an air of immoral sensuality.
Mm. A woman who knows how to work the art of concealnt…
“Miss Ayoung could’ve taken it easy while raking in those bonuses, given her healing power. If only the Association wasn’t so pushy.”
“I gotta do my part for humanity too.”
“Haha! That’s our Miss Ayoung!”
Well, that about explains the atmosphere.
This was the , a world where Hunters ford parties to conquer the Towers spread across different countries.
Hmm…
It was the sa world where Perpe lived, which was why Karlstein did not worry much. Once he t her, he could connect with Aria and resolve the Avatar link issue.
Perpe was usually buried in training, but she ca and went using rit Points often enough. He figured it would be no big deal.
However…
“I heard Team Supre from the U.S. has their eyes on our Tower.”
“You an the party led by that new S-rank prodigy?”
“Yeah. Tsk.”
“Ugh. The Berserker Witch’s rewards are enough to make anyone drool, sure enough.”
“Don’t they know business ethics? I dunno what the higher-ups are even doing. Tsk-tsk.”
“What if Team Supre takes down the Berserker Witch?”
“Then well… we’re screwed. Where else in the world do you find a boss that hands out rewards without being defeated?”
The fact that Perpe was a boss monster in this was a bit iffy.
…
“Still… our country may have been the only one lagging behind, but maybe Korea will finally break through the 50th floor and reach the 51st.”
“Most other countries are already past the 70th floor, you know.”
“How complicated.”
“Don’t lose hope. The boss is a problem, but perhaps even we can make it to the 50th floor.”
“Yeah, who knows? We might even defeat the Berserker Witch.”
… Defeat Perpe with their pitiful level?
“Hmm…”
“You there. You need to stop falling behind and stick close, my friend. Sotis they co at you from behind.”
“…Yes.”
In any case, Karlstein easily pinpointed his location thanks to eting a good-hearted(?) party. Moreover, among the various Towers of Trials, the Tower they were currently ascending was the one erected in Korea.
Korea. In so ways, it could easily be mistaken for the place he lived in his past life, but…
That can’t be.
There were several worlds with modern settings in the Community, just not the ordinary Korea he had known.
It was a parallel world. A Korea that was the sa yet different. Still, Karlstein felt it was worth taking a look around.
Since I’m here, it might be good to see how Perpe has been doing.
Given Perpe’s talent, it would definitely be worthwhile. Of course, eting her and solving the logout issue would be top priority.
Karlstein hurried to catch up with the group ahead.
***After he left.
Thud.
“Uugh… That f-fiend…”
“What the hell is that man? He really isn’t a monster?”
Three Hunter agents in suits, who had been hiding using concealnt skills, revealed themselves in the spot the party had just vacated.
“Koff.”
“The asuring device?”
“…It’s broken.”
“This is insane… Does this an he’s on par with the Berserker Witch?”
“He wasn’t on the entry list.”
“…”
“Let’s head back and report first.”
“What about them…?”
“A-rank healers are rare, but this is more urgent.”
“Understood.”
“Phew… What in the world.”
The agents, appearing to be governnt affiliates, quickly cleaned up the area and withdrew.
Their fingertips still trembled at the mory of what occurred monts ago.
****Hmm… They held no hostility.
Although the Hunter agents had shown no signs of killing intent or hostility, he had no idea what they were up to, struggling to hide in that cramped spot like compressed cushions. It was such a pitiful sight that he simply left them be.
But they were still stronger than the ones in front.
Another reason for his lenience was that their attire suggested they were more managent personnel or governnt workers than combatants.
“Miss Ayoung! We need a shield!”
“Leave it all to ! [Barrier of Protection]!”
“Out of the way! [Fire Arrow]!”
“Vanguard, catch your breath for a mont!”
“Huff… huff…”
“Persistent bastards!”
“But it’s almost over! They’re tired too!”
“Let’s go! [Glorious Charge]!!”
“Support him!”
Vooom-
Hmm…
Karlstein pondered the strength of this party compared to other Hunters. To be frank, he viewed their strength as little more than that of Imperial civilians who had undergone body enhancent injections.
Yet they spoke of defeating Perpe? Regardless of the rank differences among Hunters, it struck him as utterly comical.
Karlstein glanced at the beast drooling at him from outside the shield—supposedly so Barrier of Protection or whatever—encasing them in a hemisphere.
Growl-
The creature had three bright-red eyes, a body the size of an average horse, and fangs sharp enough to chew through iron. While the other beasts focused on the Hunters in front, this one glared only at him, drooling.
“Hmm…”
What’re you lookin’ at?
Karlstein casually positioned his middle finger against his thumb, ready to flick. He returned the glare and lightly flicked his fingertip.
Whoom-
Crash-
“Ahh!! The Barrier of Protection!!”
“Miss Ayoung!”
“Vanguard! Shields up front!”
Mm. Their party mbers could attack from inside though…
“Everyone stay alert! I think sothing’s out there!”
“F-for the Barrier of Protection to be breached like this…!”
“Miss Ayoung! What’s the cooldown?”
“Ranger! Drop out of combat and guard the surroundings! There could be soone hiding!”
Uh…
Apparently, a porter was not considered part of the sa party. Karlstein had unintentionally ended up trolling. He quietly looked away from where the wolf monster had been, now completely disintegrated.
Still, I shouldn’t troll.
He was a little more generous to big-hearted(?) people.
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