CHAPTER 256: PARASITE

"WHEN I entered this world, I originally planned to awaken the pairs of Esper and Guide with a 100% matching rate. But, as you already know—"

"You lost," Yihun said, cutting off the System. "You lost, so all your plans went downhill."

"I said I didn’t lose," the System insisted. Even without a pair of eyes, it was clear the dice-headed entity was glaring at Yijhun. "Anyway, this country sucks."

"You’re talking about South Korea, right? So, you fell into our country."

"Yes. I was initially planning to enter the biggest country in this world. But I couldn’t even do that."

"Because you lost."

"Shut up before I make you."

Yihun acted like he was zipping his mouth.

Only then did the System continue talking.

"There’s only one pair of Esper and Guide here with a 100% matching rate. Worse, I couldn’t even awaken the Guide at the time because I only had enough power to awaken the Espers here. I also prioritized awakening the natural S-Class Espers since they could, at the very least, stop the apocalypse from ending the world."

Oh.

Now it made sense as to why South Korea had more natural S-Class Espers than the others.

"Fortunately, I had enough power to awaken an S-Class Guide."

"You’re talking about Moon Noa-ssi, right?"

"Yes, that kid. Unfortunately, his fated pair wasn’t from this country. I didn’t have the power to look for his Esper."

"Oh, god— you’re useless."

"Do you want to lose your ability to speak that badly, kid?"

Again, Yihun acted like he was zipping his mouth even though he had no intention to completely shut up.

I’ll speak if I have to.

"As a last resort, I entered the Core of this country’s strongest Esper."

Ah, the System is definitely talking about Ki Gayoon-ssi.

"I borrowed some of his strength while I was guiding Kwak Hakjae in establishing the System’s Heart and the System Fragments."

Aigoo.

What a parasite.

"I thought I found a safe hiding place— until that kid went on a Rampage for the first time."

Ah.

Yihun was familiar with that incident all too well.

I almost died when I got buried in rubble caused by Ki Gayoon-ssi’s Rampage!

"When that kid went on a Rampage, his Core had become too poisonous for me. Luckily, that incident brought me to you," the System said, pointing a long and slender gloved finger at Yihun. "You are the strongest Esper’s fated pair, Noh Yihun."

First of all, eww.

Second...

So, he knows my name.

Yihun was actually surprised because the System just kept addressing anyone as ’kid.’

Anyway, this dice-headed dude was starting to sound ridiculous.

"I’m Ki Gayoon’s fated pair? Aren’t you mistaking me for someone else?"

"How could I mistake you for someone else when you awakened as a Guide the moment you met Ki Gayoon?"

Ah, so he also knows Ki Gayoon-ssi’s name.

Even so, none of it made sense.

After all...

"But I’ve never met Ki Gayoon-ssi in person before."

"You’ve awakened when you met your Esper."

"And I’m saying I haven’t met him yet—"

Yihun was forced to stop yapping when that cave— or wherever they were— started to shake hard.

It was as if they were experiencing an earthquake.

"Ah, our time is up. Let’s wrap it up here."

Yihun blinked in surprise when, all of a sudden, the System was already standing too close to him.

His size had already changed because right now, they were already the same height.

He was just towering me a moment ago...

"You were wrong when you said I lived inside your body without paying ’rent,’" the System said, poking Yihun’s chest with his sharp nail. "I expanded your Core. How do you think were you able to absorb all the hearts and Cores of your siblings?"

Oh?

The Sytem even knows that?

"I thought you were having a deep slumber."

"How could I continue sleeping when I no longer have enough space in your Core after you’ve absorbed your siblings’ remnants?"

Oh.

"I wanted to hide in your body until I fully recovered, but the Virus had already found me," the System continued, poking his finger deeper into Yihun’s chest. "We have to reset everything."

Yihun flinched when his chest started bleeding.

It fucking stings.

He wanted to grab the System’s wrist to stop it from poking a hole in his chest.

However, he couldn’t move.

He also couldn’t say that he went numb because he could still feel the sharp pain of having a sharp nail drill a little hole into his chest.

What the fuck is the System doing to me?

"I’ll make it so every single one of us forgets that we’ve met here— yes, including the Virus. That’s the only way to stop the Virus from going after you, Noh Yihun," the System said, pausing for a moment before dropping a bomb: "So, let me borrow your body for a moment."

Yihun knitted his eyebrows.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t speak.

If the enemy is a Virus, then the System should change its name to ’Parasite!’

***

MOON NOA, as an S-Class Guide, was truly special.

Not many people knew this, but he actually had the Mana of an Esper. He wouldn’t say that he was on the same level as Ki Gayoon, though.

However, he should be able to withstand attacks from S-Class Espers.

Unfortunately, the enemy this time was way stronger than any Espers in the world.

"GIVE UP, S-CLASS GUIDE. IF YOU STEP ASIDE, I’LL SPARE YOU. I ONLY NEED THE CHILD YOU’RE PROTECTING."

Heh.

Moon Noa, with his eyes still closed, didn’t move from his spot.

He remained standing in front of the unconscious Noh Yihun— protecting the kid with his barrier.

Creating shields wasn’t actually one of his strongest points.

Not until today, though.

The System gave me a new skill in order to protect Noh Yihun.

Moon Noa would admit that the barrier that he created was one of the strongest barriers he had seen in his life.

However, that sturdy barrier already had cracks all over.

He may not see them because his eyes were closed, but he could feel the cracks because each crack caused him a deep cut in his body.

Yes, that was the price he had to pay for using that ability.

"KID, STOP PRETENDING YOU DON’T HEAR ME."

Moon Noa just smiled, provoking the ’god’ with his silence on purpose.

As expected, the ’god’ with a nasty temper let out an angry scream— causing the barrier to finally collapse.

The attack even created a strong quake.

Oh, no.

Moon Noa thought he was already dead, but someone stood in front of him protectively.

"You did well, Moon Noa."

Hmm?

It sounded like Yihun’s voice, but also not...

"You may open your eyes now."

Moon Noa opened his eyes when curiosity got the better of him.

Noh Yihun’s face greeted him.

However, the kid’s aura was different,

And his eyes are glowing red...

"Moon Noa, I’m sorry to say this, but I need you to become my new vessel," ’Yihun’ said bluntly. "And I need your memories sealed, at that."

Hmm?

Now Moon Noa was confused.

Is this the supposedly omniscient System?

***

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