* * *

— I was part of the Black Sea Guild’s lab, just like you, Heewon. If I borrow the words of outsiders, you could say… I was an experimental subject.

“…What?”

From the outset, they dropped something I couldn’t ignore.

Not every experimental subject had been rescued; some had disappeared.

Their whereabouts were unknown, but I never imagined one would end up working for the very Black Sea Guild that had wronged them.

“Are you insane? Why would you help the Black Sea Guild?”

— Because for the greater good, small sacrifices are sometimes necessary.

“That’s complete nonsense…”

— Just as you found a reason to live outside, I found mine here. That’s all there is to it.

To find meaning in life in the very place that had tormented them—this person was unhinged.

At the same time, I felt pity.

The Black Sea Guild had probably brainwashed them into this mindset.

— You don’t need to feel sorry for me.

“…I wasn’t.”

No matter how tragic their story, they were actively cooperating with the Guild.

Knowing that didn’t stop the uneasy feeling in my chest.

“If you don’t want pity, why tell me all this?”

— I said it was an introduction, didn’t I? By the way, my name is Im Nayoung. As you might’ve guessed, I’m a very powerful seer.

They spoke so nonchalantly, as if this wasn’t a big deal.

Maybe they thought I wasn’t a threat.

— But being a strong seer also means being powerless in a way. The futures I foresee are almost always fixed, rarely changing. I’m like someone who sees the answers to a test but can’t write them down.

The words hovered between arrogance and self-deprecation.

“Well, that’s… unfortunate.”

A future that couldn’t be changed meant no matter how hard they tried, the outcome was inevitable.

Im Nayoung let out a soft laugh.

— Exactly. Altering a predetermined future isn’t easy. It takes countless moves to gradually shift things, inching closer to success.

There was a strange sense of delight in their voice.

— And I enjoy that arduous process quite a lot.

Was it just my imagination, or was there something off about them?

No, they definitely had a twisted side.

To willingly work with the Black Sea Guild, they couldn’t be entirely sane.

“Meeting me—is that part of your grand process?”

— Would you believe me if I said no?

Not a chance.

Helping the Black Sea Guild was unacceptable.

I considered opening the door and leaving.

— There’s no harm in continuing this conversation. Don’t you want to know the future?

True to their role as a seer, they knew just the right thing to say.

I stared at Im Nayoung’s mask.

“You’ll tell me?”

— Of course. Though I doubt you’ll believe me.

“What is it? Just spit it out.”

— Hmm… In the near future, you’ll part ways with Baek Gunho.

“…”

What utter nonsense.

After bragging about their clairvoyance, they come out with this garbage?

Typical scam artist behavior.

— Seo Heewon, you’re an S-class Awakener, aren’t you?

I flinched.

How did they know that?

Was it through their foresight?

Did this mean the Black Sea Guild and Baekmyeon Sect knew as well?

— Don’t worry, this is just between us.

It was as if they were reading my mind.

I glared at Im Nayoung, who seemed infuriatingly smug behind their Baekmyeon Sect.

— I don’t share my visions with just anyone. Once a future is observed and left alone, it’s truly set in stone. But I’ve shared quite a bit with you.

“Why me?”

— So that when you need me someday, you’ll remember.

Need them?

What kind of nonsense was that?

As if I’d ever rely on someone from the Black Sea Guild.

They were just making baseless claims because there was no way to verify anything.

I scoffed.

“You’re quite the con artist.”

— Heh…

Im Nayoung laughed softly, unfazed by my remark.

— Seo Heewon, you’ve been seeing strange hallucinations, haven’t you?

“…….”

─ Like I said, it’s probably going to be something that sounds absurd—maybe even more so than what you’re thinking—but not completely illogical either. It’s the kind of thing that makes you think, ‘Wow, my life could get this tangled up?’

Just as I was about to tell her to stop spouting nonsense, Im Nayoung said something she couldn’t possibly know.

Something hidden, something even an investigation couldn’t uncover—a hallucination.

─ What you’ve been seeing isn’t just a simple hallucination, Seo Heewon. You’re re-experiencing something you’ve lived through before.

“……Stop talking nonsense.”

─ It’s true. This isn’t the first December 3rd in this world. I’m not sure exactly which cycle this is, though.

At first, her story seemed plausible enough to hook me, only for it to spiral into sheer absurdity.

Even as I looked at her like she was a con artist, Im Nayoung remained unfazed.

─ I’ve seen it too, through my foresight. For a very long time. I’ve glimpsed various futures and tried to figure out what’s happening. After much observation and contemplation, I’ve come to one conclusion: time is resetting around one person.

“…….”

─ Aren’t you curious who that is?

“I’m not interested.”

─ It’s Baek Gunho.

If she was going to say whatever she wanted, why even ask?

Earlier, she claimed she’d cut ties with Baek Gunho, yet here she was obsessing over him again.

Why did it have to be him?

Of all people, Baek Gunho.

It annoyed me.

She had crossed a line.

Terrorists, fine.

But leave him alone.

─ Baek Gunho is a regressor.

“And so what?”

─ In previous lives, he either killed you or tried to.

Memories of my dreams and visions flashed through my mind.

Dreams of me and Baek Gunho clashing—where one of us always ended up dead, the other triumphant, but always at great cost.

─ The starting point of Baek Gunho’s regression isn’t fixed. It’s always different. Up until now, he’s always been one step behind the Black Sea Guild. But this time… this might be the first loop where he succeeded in spiriting you away.

“Your delusions are extreme.”

─ Don’t you think Baek Gunho knows too much? Even seer don’t have that level of foresight. They can’t just see whatever they want whenever they want.

“…….”

─ Baek Gunho always approaches the key players first. And the first person he approached was you, Seo Heewon.

“…….”

─ Baek Gunho’s actions have caused significant disruptions. The biggest distortion? It’s you, Seo Heewon. Originally, you should have been with us…

“Oh? Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m not with you.”

That much, I could say with absolute certainty.

No way in hell would I ever align with the Black Sea Guild.

At my words, Im Nayoung chuckled quietly.

─ It’s not that simple. Do you think Baek Gunho won’t kill you this time?

“Stop talking nonsense.”

─ Right now, maybe not. We want to help you. Even if we can’t, it’s fine. Ideally, we’d like to collaborate peacefully, but…

“…….”

─ If you ever clash with Baek Gunho or find yourself in need of help, please think of us. We’re prepared. Always ready to serve you.

Her words reminded me of the declaration they made after the bombing. It was nauseating.

“I can’t listen to this anymore. I’m leaving.”

─ It was nice meeting you, Seo Heewon. By the way, this laptop will explode soon, so you might want to get out of here.

What? Is she serious?

“Seo Heewon!”

Baek Gunho’s voice rang out.

The timing was uncanny.

Did he foresee this, too? I wasn’t sure, but—

“Just move!”

“What?”

I grabbed Baek Gunho, who was about to get into a car, and yanked him away.

Then—

BOOM!

A massive explosion rocked the area, sending the car flying.

I found myself a step away from the blast zone.

It seemed Baek Gunho had shielded me because I wasn’t hurt. But…

I quickly checked on him, who had taken the brunt of the explosion for me.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

His clothes—some kind of high-grade item, no doubt—weren’t even scratched.

I barely had time to feel relieved before Baek Gunho shot me a sharp look.

“What are you doing here? This isn’t even on your way home.”

“I was helping an old lady carry something heavy, and before I knew it… here I was.”

I glanced around.

Unsurprisingly, the old woman and the men in black suits who’d led me here were nowhere to be seen.

“Just ignore things like that. Are you planning to help every person who looks like they’re struggling?”

“Not exactly… but sometimes you just have to help. We all live in this world together, don’t we?”

He snorted, utterly unsympathetic.

“Let’s deal with this mess first before we talk.”

Baek Gunho gestured toward the crowd drawn by the explosion.

We probably wouldn’t catch the culprits who brought me here, but I needed to look for them anyway.

And after that, I’d have to explain Im Nayoung’s ridiculous story to Baek Gunho.

Though I wasn’t sure where to even start.

Or how much to tell.

* * *