3.
The world shattered like a mirror.
Crack crack-
Slowly, little by little, the scene of the meeting hall crumpled. The amniotic fluid under my feet cracked. Marquis Baek Seol-to, who had been shivering beside me, cracked. The nobles all cracked. Crack crack! Crack crack…
The world peeled away from the broken mirror.
Through the cracks, scenes other than the scene of the meeting hall could be seen. Marquis Baek Seol-to wielding the whip. Viscount Dae Ha-ran burning the village. The world shattered into hundreds of pieces. And screams leaked out of every crack.
"You're right. Mr. Gong-ja."
Kaleidoscope.
This was Ja Soo-jung's world.
"Your deduction is correct."
Splash.
Viscount Ja Soo-jung walked in the center of the assembly with amniotic splashing around her feet. With every step she took, the world shattered even more. And in this broken scene, the scenes of other places could be seen.
"This life isn't this one's first life."
"…"
I sucked in a breath of air.
"How many times has it been?"
"I don't know. No, I know, but I'm not sure if I can give Mr. Gong-ja the answer you're looking for. You are worried that this one will collapse from exhaustion after repeating like billions of times, aren't you?"
That's right.
Raviel was strong. Even if Raviel was imprisoned for ten days that were repeated forever, her heart wouldn't rot easily. But what if, instead of ten days, someone repeated their entire life, forever?
What would happen to that person's heart?
What kind of stench would come from them?
"This one was originally given one skill."
After a while, Viscount Ja Soo-jung reached the center of the meeting hall.
Even the throne that had cracked like glass. The throne's armrest had cracked, and in that crack, the scene of Viscount Sun Heuk-sin eating people. One of the throne's legs had cracked too, and the scene of an unknown person dying could be seen there.
"Many Dragons live and have lived in this world."
Ja Soo-jung sat down.
The throne with a cracked armrest and cracked leg.
She rested her arm on the scene of people killing people and placed her leg over the scene of people being killed.
"There are people who made special contracts with Dragons. The Dragon Guard. Dragon Knights. They go by many different names in each region, but they all have one thing in common. These people's descendants inherit the Dragon Bloodline."
"Dragon Bloodline?"
"Yes. You can think of it as a minor copy of the Dragon's power."
Ja Soo-jung ran her hand over the armrest.
"For example, let's say there was a Dragon who had the ability to create a vast library that contained all the information in the universe. That is the Dragon's power. On the other hand, the power of the Dragon Bloodline, at best, would be the ability to enter that library and borrow a book from time to time."
Viscount Ja Soo-jung was expressionless.
Her lips, which were no longer smiling, opened.
"The relationship between a Dragon Emperor and Dragon Knight can be compared to a god and their Devotee. So those who have the Dragon Bloodline could be considered Apostles."
I paused.
"By Apostle…"
"Among the Apostles that Mr. Gong-ja knows is the Lady of Golden Silk."
The image of a young miss who cursed the world while wielding a large hammer came to mind.
The Lady of Golden Silk's ability. Her body could not be damaged by physical attacks.
"This one's ability is [Perfect Recollection]."
Viscount Ja Soo-jung spoke.
"This one remembers everything I've seen, heard, or felt. Not only do I remember them, I also have the ability to rewatch my memories as if they were lucid dreams."
"Have you ever seen a similar power, Mr. Gong-ja?"
I had.
From a very close distance.
I thought of the face of a certain part-timer who greeted customers with a smile at a cafe.
Someone who had once been the owner of a Great Library that collected all of the records in the universe. The Librarian of All Things.
"Hamustra…"
"[The Pond of Accumulating Memories]."
Viscount Ja Soo-jung said the Librarian's true name.
"This one inherited Hamustra's power. A long time ago, an Apostle who worshiped Hamustra as his god came to this kingdom. Although the Apostle was eventually repelled, he left a descendant before he died. If we were to trace this one's family tree, we will eventually reach that Apostle."
It is thanks to that, Viscount Ja Soo-jung continued.
"This is possible."
It was at this moment that Viscount Ja Soo-jung lifted her finger.
Crack crack-
The mirror that covered the world shattered once more. Broken shards fell and collided with other falling shards. When two shards collided, they suddenly shined brightly and transformed into beautiful white butterflies.
The two shards became the butterfly's wings. When the world shattered, millions of shards fell, becoming hundreds of thousands of butterflies that fluttered around together.
Crack crack, crack crack…
Like petals in the wind, white butterflies filled this world.
"Come here, Mr. Gong-ja."
Viscount Ja Soo-jung beckoned.
"…"
I took a deep breath before walking toward the throne of mirrors. (TL: The 'Mirror Faction' finally makes sense)
Flap.
White butterflies fluttered around me. One of them passed just in front of my nose. A voice escaped from the butterfly's wings.
-The Count was killed in action, Young Miss.
The butterfly was made of two shards. Each silvery wing had its own scene. The person reflected on one of this butterfly's wings was Count Ah Ru-ho. (TL: My brain exploded here… this was the first time there were any gender indicators for the Count since her introduction in Chapter 216, I even reread those chapters to be sure, and of course… she's female… T~T)
The Young Count's lips twitched slightly.
-What about First Brother?
-There has been no word. He led a death squad out to retrieve the Count's remains, but there has been no word from them yet. I don't dare to say it, but perhaps…
-Ahhh.
-Young Miss. It cannot be helped. Young Miss is also a member of the Tiger Count Family. Misfortune comes to everyone, but the tiger bites those misfortunes, chews them up, then spits them back out at the world that dared to challenge it.
-I don't know anything about politics. I'm not ready.
-Humans aren't ready when they're born and they aren't ready when they die. Life isn't about being ready. It's about being able to endure. Young Miss, rise to Countdom.
The butterfly fluttered off gently.
Into the kaleidoscope of butterflies.
"…"
On the wings of one of the butterflies, Marquis Baek Seol-to held back tears. There was also the scene of Viscount Sun Heuk-sin gritting her teeth.
Holding back anger, Viscount Dae Ha-ran murmured.
-During the rebellion, those scumbags did nothing. But when they enter the council, they are all Great Admirals and Generals. Fuck, should I kill those bastards?
Hundreds of butterflies, each carrying sounds of their own, fluttered in the air.
"As you can see."
Viscount Ja Soo-jung spoke to me as I reached the throne.
"All the past events that this one experienced are recorded here. Originally, this one only remembered my own life, but after I got the [Gold Dragon's Eyes] and [Ice River Dragon's Breath, I became able to store the lives of others."
"…"
"This is the world where all of this one's memories are recorded. Including you, only two people have been here. You should feel honored Mr. Gong-ja."
"Was I invited to the Viscount's consciousness?"
"Yes. That's right."
Viscount Ja Soo-jung spread out her palm.
"According to you all, you are taking a peek at this one's skills."
A golden card formed above it.
Among the skills possessed by the Tower Master, this was the last card.
+
[Mansaeng (萬生)]
Rank: EX
Effect: This was an ability that was originally at the level of 'Perfect Recollection'. But it has blossomed after overlapping with several skills to become a higher level skill. It is a glass garden where the people, objects and events you have experienced are recorded. You can replay any number of memories stored here as you please.
That's not all.
+
Puduk.
Something landed on the back of my hand.
It was the butterfly I saw earlier.
-Aaaak!
A red scene was being reflected on the surface of the glass wings. It was a scene I was fairly familiar with by now. Marquis Baek Seol-to swinging the whip.
It was just.
The face of the child groaning under the whip was different.
-Uk, huk! Ah, aaaaak!
It was Ja Soo-jung's face.
Much younger than now.
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
"Viscount. What the hell is this…?"
"If the person Marquis Baek Seol-to had run into that day was this one instead of the peasant child."
Whoosh!
The thick whip dug into a young Ja Soo-jung. The snow was stained with her blood.
"It's a scene that follows that assumption. This one is fully aware of the cause and effect of the past. [If it was someone else], [If something else had happened]. Even the IF scenarios can be reconstructed"
"Why would you reconstruct IF scenarios…?"
"In order to know."
A scream rang out.
"How painful it was for the child who died by the Marquis' hand."
In the scene on the glass wing, Ja Soo-jung fell to the ground, foaming at the mouth.
"People don't want to be easily understood. They don't like to feel sick, they don't like to feel pain, and they don't like it when someone says 'I understand'. Naturally. They are all strangers to each other."
Whoosh!
The small back twitched.
Upon being whipped, Ja Soo-jung grabbed a handful of snow. As if she was desperately grasping onto her fading life.
"This one will stand in front of the people in this kingdom who have suffered. And I will say. [I know how painful it was]."
The snow in her hand melted with her body temperature.
It dripped down.
As the snow dripped, it landed in the growing pool of blood.
The transparent water gradually mixed in with the bright red liquid.
"The pain they suffered. The pain they endured. Only by knowing them will this one be able to tell them without lying."
I know how much you suffered.
"This one will now experience the same amount of pain."
"The Golden Rule…"
"Yes. That's right. Only this one can understand those who were sacrificed or marginalized by the kingdom."
"…"
"Resentment that can't be solved anywhere or by anyone, the people can take it out on this one. Do you see? This one isn't just comforting them out of sympathy. It's not just words. ."
Viscount Ja Soo-jung spoke.
"This one really understands."
With clear eyes.
"I truly understand them."
"…"
"With this one ascending to Dukedom, no one in this kingdom will be left out. Of course, that doesn't mean misfortune will stop. Someone will suffer. But now, the kingdom can understand their suffering through this one. Accept it. Release it."
I.
Confused, I looked around once again.
-Spare us! Please, General, spare us!
It was hell.
-Aaaaak!
-Ugh…huk. Ah…
In the glass garden, Viscount Ja Soo-jung bled and screamed on behalf of the others. Even in the pillars that supported the garden. Even in the archways supporting its domed roof. Even in the countless windows that lined the walls. Even in the hundreds of thousands of butterflies that fluttered around the pillars, beneath the dome and beside the walls. Everywhere you looked, Ja Soo-jung was bleeding.
-My, my name is Baek Seol-to. Young Miss of the Marquis Family.
It wasn't just that.
-This subject is a commoner. It is my honor!
On one glass wing, Young Miss Baek Seol-to came to apologize to Ja Soo-jung.
In this IF scenario, Ja Soo-jung didn't die.
Ja Soo-jung was stronger than the original commoner child. Healthier. Although her body had been damaged by the whip, she didn't die.
-This one's name is Ja Soo-jung.
-Ja Soo-jung? That's a strange name.
-Young miss…
In that world, Baek Seol-to and Ja Soo-jung became closer.
Ja Soo-jung, who had been born as a commoner, was smart and capable enough to fill in Young Miss Baek Seol-to's lacking knowledge.
Thanks to Ja Soo-jung's private tutoring, Baek Seol-to was able to neatly complete her grandfather's homework.
-I, I was praised by grandfather for the first time! What should I do?! I'm so happy. What should I do, my mouth won't stop smiling…?
-Congratulations, Young Miss.
-Yeah! It was all thanks to Ja Soo-jung!
Young Miss Baek Seol-to grabbed Ja Soo-jung's hands and jumped around.
There was none of the egotism and prejudice of nobles who claimed that they shouldn't breathe the same air.
A small coincidence made a big difference.
A small change created a meeting.
A small encounter created a human.
-I will live for you.
Viscount Sun Heuk-sin, who had met Ja Soo-jung much earlier, smiled brightly.
[getid]
No, she wasn't a Viscount. Sun Heuk-sin had thrown off her nobility. Then, she entered the Counter Intelligence Division with Ja Soo-jung. The two of them became close colleagues who caught the criminals in the kingdom one by one.
-You have to avoid massacring the civilians, General.
-Why?
Ja Soo-jung pouted slightly at Viscount Dae Ha-ran.
-Isn't faster to kill them?
-You can't do it just because it's fast. The clean up afterward will be much faster. This place isn't that large, but the land will be returned to the Royal Territory anyway. The General needs to create subjects for the kingdom, not enemies…
Countless shards.
Countless butterflies.
The countless worlds where Ja Soo-jung bled, screamed and died were displayed on the left wing of the butterflies.
And on the other side were scenes of better possibilities. Scenes with no murderers or victims. This is what was shown on the butterflies' right wings.
The countless butterflies in her world represented countless lives and deaths.
"Because this one wasn't there."
Glass and butterflies. Blood and screams. Life and Death.
"Because this one was too late. Because this one wasn't born yet. That's why all of the tragedies in this world happened."
Underneath the white butterflies.
God clasped her hands together as if she was praying to something.
"If this one had been by everyone's side, they would have had a better ending. They would have lived better lives. It's this one's fault for not always being by everyone's sides. Therefore, this one will suffer as much as they have suffered."
For eternity.
"…"
I finished reading the engraving on the card.
+
[Mansaeng (萬生)]
Rank: EX
Effect: This was an ability that was originally at the level of 'Perfect Recollection'. But it has blossomed after overlapping with several skills to become a higher level skill. It is a glass garden where the people, objects and events you have experienced are recorded. You can replay any number of memories stored here as you please.
That's not all.
Through cause and effect, you know how past events transpired. The more accurately your grasp of the causes and effects are, the more accurately you can construct IF scenarios.
You can simulate the world.
※However, this skill can only be activated after you have acquired [Gold Dragon's Eye] and [Ice River Dragon's Breath].
+
It was the ability to create hell.
"Mr. Gong-ja."
The Lord of Mansaeng opened her mouth.
"You asked how many times this one has repeated this life."
"…"
"But it would be meaningless regardless of how many times my answer is. Because this one isn't just repeating my own life. The subjects of this kingdom. All of those who have lived and died during the time of this kingdom. This one lives all of their lives forever."
That's why.
The reason Viscount Ja Soo-jung's entire life is a trauma.
The reason I saw her entire life unlike the others.
"The entire time…"
I was speechless.
"Are you always replaying these scenes in your head? Even while sitting in the meeting?"
"Yes."
"Even while smiling in front of your lovers?"
"Yes."
Viscount Ja Soo-jung said.
"Sorry."
Tuk.
An expression from Viscount Ja Soo-jung's expressionless face.
"Sorry."
"…"
"I'm sorry you were born late. I'm sorry I couldn't live with you. I'm sorry I couldn't save you."
Sorry.
The butterflies flying around the garden seemed to say that word at the same time. The happy IF scenarios disappeared. The silver wings only showed reality. Marquis Baek Seol-to whipping the young commoner, Viscount Sun Heuk-sin consuming human flesh, and Viscount Dae Ha-ran burning the innocent villagers.
"Sorry."
The young God was saying sorry to everyone.
She was apologizing for all the death, all the disasters, and all the devastation the Kingdom had suffered until now. To those who died to other people. Those who killed other people.
About everything.
"I'm sorry, everyone."
It was the only breath left in her heart.
"Viscount…."
Unable to take it any longer, I took a step forward,
"I'm sorry, Mr. Gong-ja."
Viscount Ja Soo-jung grabbed my left hand.
"Because this one was not with Mr. Gong-ja."
Something warm seemed to pass from her hand to mine.
When I looked down, I saw a white butterfly with its wings folded.
"That's why Mr. Gong-ja was killed by Yoo Soo-ha."
For a moment.
My breathing stopped.
"That's why, Mr. Gong-ja had no choice but to kill Yoo Soo-ha."
Flap.
The butterfly slowly unfolded its wings.
And the world reflected on those wings became visible.