Chapter 6: A Half That Could Not Become Whole

When we arrived at our destination, Geoje Island, we immediately boarded a waiting boat and headed for the rocky island where the Manpasikjeok had been, as seen in the report’s photo.

Fortunately, after a brief investigation upon arrival, no unusual signs were found.

However, since this was a place where a God’s Relic had been, it was necessary to observe it carefully for a while.

So we decided to spend a day on the rocky island before returning to Geoje Island.

“Most of the daily necessities are on the boat we came on, so you can stay on the boat.”

“Please let us know if you need anything else.”

However, it was actually more of a rock in the middle of the sea than an island, even more desolate than most uninhabited islands.

On top of that, the weather was rougher than expected, so spending even one day there was quite arduous.

Perhaps because of this, Ha-neul and Eun-ae from the support team were busy moving around, but they also kept checking on me, telling me that I could just rest on the boat we came on.

But I politely refused their consideration.

Because, well, I had a conscience.

“It doesn’t make sense to rest when I came here to work.

I do like to slack off as much as the next guy, but I know my limits.”

My main task was to do further investigation once we returned to Geoje Island after this was over, but guarding these three people was also one of my assigned duties.

For me to leave them and be alone on the boat just because the weather and environment were a bit harsh was absurd.

I immediately helped Ha-neul and Eun-ae with their work and kept an eye on Si-ah, who was moving around the island.

While doing so, I was able to chat with Ha-neul and Eun-ae, since I had only talked to Si-ah on the way here.

“You said you’re Ha-neul and Eun-ae from the support team?”

“Yes.”

“This might be a bit rude, but if you’re from the support team, did you come to assist Si-ah like me?”

“Haha, well, you could say that.”

“The support team is mainly where interns or new recruits like us are assigned.

You could say it’s a team for educational purposes.

We learn about the overall work of the Special Missions Department by assisting other teams, and when we gain enough experience to work on the front lines, we transfer to other teams according to our abilities and aptitudes.”

Of course, there are exceptions, she said.

That’s people like me.

In this line of work, innate talent determines at least 50% and at most 80% of one’s ability.

Those who are naturally gifted can immediately work on the front lines and accumulate experience.

But this is a very rare case.

After all, no matter how talented you are, whether it’s magic, incantations, or martial arts.

You need to accumulate power through training, so the novice period is unavoidable.

Usually, that process is spent in the support team in the Special Missions Department.

“Ah, then are you two learning magic or martial arts?”

“I’m more suited for magic, so I’m learning that, but Ha-neul is more suited for martial arts, so he’s learning that.”

“But it’s only been three years……I’m starting to feel a wall these days.

It’s like, I’m only now starting to see the vastness that I didn’t know when I started.”

The more they learn, the more they realize they don’t know.

Eun-ae said she feels the same way, and often wonders about the level of the European mainland.

“So Europe is the home of magic.”

“Ah, right, Jae-in wouldn’t know about this yet.

Yes, as you said, Europe is the home of magic.

In addition, the home of martial arts is China.”

“However, in the industry as a whole, magic is more developed than martial arts.

As you know, China is a rather closed society, so martial arts are often scattered and passed down in secret, and many lineages are often cut off.”

“In contrast, most magic in Europe is researched and passed down through families, so the level is very high.

Thanks to this, Europe is not only the home of magic, but also the center of the supernatural world, like the United States, so to speak.”

Especially within Europe, Italy and England are unrivaled, the two explained.

It’s practically a two-power system.

Even if it’s called magic, it’s not just about shooting fireballs like a game character mage.

It encompasses all martial arts that use magical power, such as knightly swordsmanship.

Of these, Italy is the best in swordsmanship.

England is the best in general magic, they said.

‘Well, it’s an outdated idea to think that magic is only about ranged attacks.’

There was magic in Elden as well, so I could easily understand this part.

Magic swordsmanship.

Especially, Caria’s swordsmanship was not only great, it was chilling.

I wanted to learn it too, but this damn body had zero talent for magic, so I gave up early.

I had a bit of talent for incantations.

But perhaps because I took the power of the demigods I killed.

Even that disappeared, so I couldn’t use magic or incantations.

Well, if I really wanted to, I could use the Rune of Destined Death, which I took from killing Maliketh, to create the black flame of God Slaying.

But even that has such a high cost that I don’t use it unless absolutely necessary.

“Come to think of it, I’m crazy too.

How did I survive without being able to use magic or incantations?

Anyway, I think my life is really tough.”

“Huh?”

“Pardon?”

“No, I was just talking to myself.”

Anyway.

After that, I continued to help the two with their work and listened to their stories.

If Jang-hyeok’s story was a general explanation of the worldview.

Ha-neul and Eun-ae’s stories were more detailed in certain areas.

Among them, there were stories about the atmosphere within the Special Missions Department.

The situation inside Korea.

There were also many stories about foreign countries mentioned above.

These were also fun to listen to, and the content was quite informative, so I lost track of time.

While doing so, the sky had already darkened.

While the two were preparing dinner on the boat, I approached Si-ah to suggest that she take a break and eat.

But just as I was about to call out to Si-ah, she started shaking her head like crazy and said.

“No…way.

No, this can’t be…..how did we not know this until now?”

“Si-ah?”

“Nine days of storms.

Bamboo that is two during the day and one at night.

The messenger of the sea god, a turtle.

The dragon’s prophecy…..”

“Si-ah!”

“How stupid!

Why did the analysis team of the Special Missions Department only realize this now!

In the first place, Manpasikjeok is not just the treasure of the sea god Munmu.

Kim Yu-sin, who was said to have become a god along with Munmu.

Two gods sent a treasure for their descendants, Silla.

That means-“

Si-ah suddenly started taking off her clothes.

She quickly took off her shoes first, then her outerwear, throwing them aside, and rolled up the sleeves of her shirt.

Then she ran straight into the sea and dived in with a perfect 100-point form.

Wondering what was going on, I hurriedly followed her into the sea.

As I was trying to get Si-ah back to the rocky island.

I finally saw it.

The reason why Si-ah suddenly jumped into the sea.

The reason why Manpasikjeok suddenly appeared on the rocky island.

‘Wow…..this….there’s really no time to be bored, is there?’

A size that couldn’t even fit in my field of vision.

It wasn’t a rocky island.

What we were standing on was a turtle.

It was the back of an incredibly huge turtle.

The turtle’s eyes were quietly closed as if it were dead, but I could instinctively feel it.

It’s not dead.

It’s still alive.

It’s just waiting for the right time.

And as if to prove it, a faint black glow could be seen in the middle of the turtle’s head.

When we swam there with Si-ah, we were able to find it.

The bamboo that couldn’t become one because it wasn’t night yet.

The other half of Manpasikjeok.

The second Manpasikjeok.