Chapter 20 : Preliminary preparation

The Intangible Phantasma.

Roaming the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean at speeds several times the speed of sound, a massive icosahedral structure of blue crystal.

Conspiracy theorists say: It’s an alien terraforming device!

Experts say: It’s a lifeform that crossed over from another dimension through a gate.

Even mages say: No, it must be an artifact dropped onto Earth by a higher-dimensional being!

Despite countless controversies and studies, even after three years, its true nature remains unknown.

[‘A large, blue, jewel-like object flew from west to east, emitting a bizarre, piercing sound.’]

Records indicate the first sighting came from a Japanese vessel fishing in the Pacific safe zone, which remained undisturbed even after the gate opened.

This otherworldly object, whose origins and time of appearance are unknown, has been sighted occasionally by ships from various countries since the first report. Eventually, the Association, realizing something was happening in the Pacific, dispatched an investigation team.

However, despite the team’s best efforts, observing it proved difficult. Sometimes it would fly in the sky, other times it would submerge and move underwater. Moreover, its range of activity covered most of the Pacific. It was only natural that capturing it wouldn’t be easy.

Eventually, the Association assembled a team of highly sensitive Awakened individuals, known for their detection abilities, and tasked them with figuring out what it was doing.

And soon after, it was designated as ‘Impurity,’ a top-tier hazardous object.

The reason was simple. No matter the method, areas affected by Phantasma became ‘contaminated,’ without exception. The ocean it roamed turned into a deep, viscous blue from the depths, gradually transforming any life it touched into otherworldly beings. Slowly, very slowly. The contamination of the Pacific was progressing unnoticed.

The reason people hadn’t noticed the Pacific’s contamination until now was likely due to the numerous sea monsters lurking within and the extremely gradual progression of the contamination.

And when it became known, people were gripped by fear. Fear of an entity slowly encroaching upon their living space. Fear of not knowing its purpose. Fear of a being possessing incomprehensible abilities.

Thus, it was a natural course of action for the Association branches of various countries around the Pacific to unite and prioritize its subjugation.

And now, the alliance formed for its subjugation was entering its fourth attempt.

*

The day after meeting Baek Si-eun at the park.

The school’s armory opened.

The Guardian Academy is a paramilitary organization of Awakened individuals. Teachers and high-ranking student Guardians are immediately deployed in times of war. The weapons stored in such a place are bound to be extraordinary. Therefore, the opening of the school’s armory was a very rare event.

The reason for the armory’s opening was simple. It revealed its inner workings for the four A-rank students participating in the upcoming Phantasma subjugation battle. It was a battlefield treasure trove, built upon donations from numerous Guardians and Hunters. From the lowest-grade equipment to mid-to-high-grade equipment worth hundreds of millions of won, it was filled with treasures of considerable value.

And I was sitting somewhere in that vast space, fiddling with my phone.

“Hey, Seo-hyun…right? Aren’t you going to pick anything?”

One of the 3rd-year seniors who entered the warehouse with me approached and asked. The necklace with a purple jewel and the ring with a beautiful emerald in her hand were impressive. Judging by the slight mana I felt, they seemed to be artifact-type accessories she had chosen.

Maintaining my posture of looking at my phone, I slowly raised my head and looked up at the girl who addressed me. Blonde hair, golden eyes. An exotic face. But Korean. Probably a case where their appearance changed significantly due to awakening.

“I’m a returnee. I’m not really compatible with the things here.”

Since I was concentrating on viewing the Phantasma data on the wiki site, her interruption felt a bit bothersome. It was unnecessary, too. Of course, I wasn’t against getting to know her, but I didn’t want to interrupt this intriguing flow right now.

However, she was persistent. It seemed like she was determined to start a conversation.

“Oh, you’re a returnee? Then, by any chance…. How old are you?”

“…Nineteen.”

Since I was transferred in my first year of high school, three years later, I’m nineteen. However, I didn’t really feel my age. Age, the number of years a person has lived. Does it hold any significance for me, who’s lived as a foreigner, experienced numerous accelerated thoughts, and had my body replaced?

“Ah, so we’re the same age? Are you using formal speech because of the senior-junior relationship? If you reveal you’re a returnee, everyone will be okay with informal speech.”

“Hmm… Really?”

Her words were news to me. Aren’t humans creatures who value relationships? Actually, informal speech was more comfortable for me too. But my younger sibling did the same, and the internet also said it’s better to use formal speech with seniors, so I maintained this attitude.

“Of course. Returnees have a skewed sense of age, but I think everyone will understand.”

“…So it’s okay to use informal speech?”

“Pffft… You’re already using it. Have you talked to him?”

She chuckled softly and pointed towards the inside of the warehouse. I followed her finger with my gaze. A black-haired man was touching the axes displayed in the corner with an indifferent expression. He seemed lost in thought, staring at the axes, oblivious to the commotion here.

“Hey! Yoo Seok-jun! What’s a mage doing with an axe! You should be looking for a staff instead!”

The blonde I was talking to, Shin Yu-ha, shouted at him. My ears are ringing.

Perhaps hearing her, he turned his head this way.

“Shin Yu-ha, come and take a look. This axe is the real deal, you know? I’ve been thinking about this tactic lately. I bind their feet with earth magic, then bam! I smash their head, and it’s a one-shot.”

The man called Yoo Seok-jun grinned and lifted a large battle-axe. It looked incredibly heavy, but maybe it’s because of his muscles? How can he lift it so easily?

Shin Yu-ha, the blonde next to me, tapped the sword on her waist and said,

“If you get into danger like that, I’m seriously not helping you.”

“…You two seem close.”

I casually threw in a word because they seemed so close. I wondered if it was rude to do so on a first meeting, but Yoo Seok-jun responded affably. He finally strapped the axe to his back and said,

“Of course. I’ve saved her countless times.”

“Whatever. Didn’t we agree to call it even after we saved each other once?”

I inwardly sighed as they bickered again. Are they what’s commonly called popular kids? They didn’t seem to suit me, someone who enjoys quiet meditation. Feeling a bit tired, I turned my gaze away from them and looked around, when I spotted a pink-haired girl peeking out from a corner of the display case and looking this way. It was Baek Si-eun. I gave her a little wave.

Baek Si-eun trotted over. In her hand was a staff, a magic catalyst. It was made of iron and silver, and it had a jewel attached to facilitate the flow of star mana. She seems to have chosen well.

“As I said, it looks like you chose well.”

“Hehe…. ”

She giggled and stroked her staff. It didn’t matter what she chose as long as the mana conductivity was high. Still, I had taught her how to choose a better one, and she followed my advice. A strangely warm feeling spread in my chest, and I smiled along with her. Is this what it feels like to be content?

After that, it was just travel, travel, and more travel.

After the armory closed, we took an Association vehicle to the airport. Our goal was to fly to Chiba Prefecture, located east of Tokyo, Japan’s capital. Currently, the residents had mostly evacuated as a precaution, and numerous Awakened individuals gathered from various countries, including Korea, were forming a base.

After lunch at the airport, we boarded the Association’s airplane. It was a sleek, streamlined aircraft, equipped with protective barriers against potential attacks from flying monsters. An Association executive who boarded with us said it was a state-of-the-art hybrid aircraft combining mana and existing technology, but I wasn’t really interested and didn’t listen properly.

*Woooosh—*

Inside the plane, slowly ascending into the sky, I quietly meditated and sharpened my mind. I believed preparing oneself for battle was essential, even if I was stationed at the very rear. Killing and being killed. Fighting to survive. I was about to set foot on the edge of that.

…And to confirm the capabilities of those who disturbed my peace and gnawed at my homeland.

In the darkness of the curtained airplane, I was there, utterly alone.