CHAPTER 284: THE SECOND APOCALYPSE (4)

GUIDES rarely entered dungeons.

Hence, Wonhee would say she still felt strange now that she was inside a dungeon that looked like a ruined city.

To be precise...

This is what Seoul looked like during the Outbreak.

Wonhee was reminded of the scary, dark days of their country at the beginning of the apocalypse.

She was safe and sound because her older siblings protected her.

But she saw how people suffered back then, and it was traumatizing.

"Hee-ya, are you alright?"

"I’m fine, Unnie," Wonhee said in response to Semi’s worrying. "I just feel a bit strange since I rarely enter dungeons."

She didn’t tell her older sister that the dungeon reminded her of the Outbreak.

Unnie will definitely bring me out of the dungeon if she finds out I’m shaken because this dungeon reminds me of the early days of the Outbreak.

Wonhee was already in her early thirties, and yet her older siblings still treated her like a baby. It was funny because she was an S-Class Guide who wasn’t only a national treasure but also someone that the entire world valued so much.

"I already cleared the dungeon, so don’t worry about monsters showing up because it won’t happen," Song Moonho assured them. "But this dungeon will collapse in seven days, so we must figure out the requirements needed to forever seal all the Cracks in the world."

Yes, that was their agenda for today.

Hence, Wonhee entered the dungeon with Semi and Song Moonho.

I only have two of the Big 4 with me.

Graham was currently in a dungeon and Lee Seodam was sick.

Speaking of Lee Seodam...

It had been a month since the last time we talked. I met Ruda-ssi the other day, but he didn’t ask me to help Seodam-ssi again. In fact, he pretended that he didn’t see me.

But maybe it was for the best.

Ruda-ssi and Seodam-ssi are the ones in a relationship— I shouldn’t be involved with them again.

"We’re here."

Oh.

What is that?

Wonhee, Semi, and Song Moonho entered the only building covered in snow even though the sun was blazing in there.

Moreover, a powerful aura was coming from the said building.

Then Song Moonho used his teleportation skill to bring the three of them to the rooftop where the aura was coming from the strongest.

But none of us expected to see that... thing.

The rooftop was like an abandoned greenhouse with overgrown plants and trees with gigantic roots.

It actually looked aesthetic.

However, the "centerpiece" was a bit grotesque.

Wonhee gulped hard before she found her voice. "Is that a human brain?"

There was a round table in the middle of the greenhouse.

A round aquarium was in the center, and inside the said aquarium was a thing that looked similar to a human brain— only it had colorful flowers growing in it.

[Welcome, Guide Chu Wonhee, Hunter Semi Jang, and Hunter Song Moonho.]

Wonhee, Semi, and Song Moonho all looked up at the Status Window that appeared above the "flowery brain."

[I am the System.]

Wonhee gasped.

And she wasn’t the only one who did.

Semi and Song Moonho, who were both usually indifferent, also let out a loud gasp.

But who wouldn’t be surprised?

This is the System we’re talking about here!

To be honest, Wonhee thought that it might be a monster using some kind of illusion ability.

But, deep inside her heart, she knew the brain was the real deal.

My Core is telling me that this is the source of my power.

[Congratulations.

You’re just one step away from sealing all the Cracks left in this world.]

"What should we do?" Semi asked. "We want this to end as soon as possible."

[Come closer, Guide Chu Wonhee.]

Me?

Wonhee tried to take a step forward, but Semi grabbed her by the shoulder while Song Moonho stood in front of her protectively.

Hmm?

Why? I’m fine with it...

"You may be the System, but we can’t entrust the most valuable Guide in the world to you that easily," Song Moonho said firmly. "Tell us why you need Chu Wonhee first."

[I don’t have much time in this form, so I can’t explain from the very beginning. Hence, let me tell you why this world attracted monsters and dungeons first. It’s more important than the origin of the monsters, is it not?]

Semi nodded. "That’s a good start."

[The reason monsters were attracted to this world was because this world has more Civilians than Awakened People. In short, this is a world where magic doesn’t exist. Hence, the monsters found this world more "appetizing" than the world where they came from.]

"Ah," Song Moonho said. "Then is it safe to assume that the monsters and dungeons came from a world where magic is normal? A world where the majority of the population could wield magic?"

[That is correct. The monsters came from a world where humans breathe Mana, also known as magic, as soon as they were born. Hence, monsters weren’t a threat to that world. In fact, monsters were hunted. Out of desperation, the "Mother" of these flesh-eating creatures found a way to release her "children" to other worlds where humans were born powerless.]

Wonhee didn’t know what was more shocking.

The fact that those monsters have a "mother" or the fact that there are other worlds existing aside from the world I’m living in?

Perhaps both facts were equally shocking?

"Those monsters have a mother?" Song Moonho asked curiously. "I wonder what kind of woman could give birth to flesh-eating monsters."

[A goddess.]

The silence that followed was deafening.

But it was understandable.

We’re fighting against a goddess all this time?

[Don’t worry. I, and the other Constellations, have already sealed the goddess.]

"Constellations?" Wonhee asked. That part really got her curious. "System-nim, are you a Constellation? What does it even mean?"

[A Constellation is a deity in charge of a world affected by the goddess’ "Corruption." The goddess sent her children to twelve worlds, so we have twelve Constellations at the moment. But, even though the goddess was already sealed, she still has followers even now. Hence, it’s still possible for new worlds to get attacked by dungeons, too.]

"Ah, we don’t have the luxury to care about other worlds right now," Song Moonho said. "So, System-nim, please tell us how to save this world."

Semi nodded in agreement. "We’ve suffered enough."

[The solution is simple, but the execution will be complicated. All you need is to increase the number of people who have Mana. But Forced Awakening is dangerous, and they don’t produce natural Mana— and we need natural Mana to drive away the monsters.]

Oh.

Wonhee was starting to see the picture.

[In order to increase the number of people with natural Mana, we need Guide Chu Wonhee.]

Semi and Song Moonho flinched, but they couldn’t say anything.

They know that I have to do this, and I’m ready for it.

"Please tell me, System-nim," Wonhee said politely. "Please tell me what I should do to save our world."

[Then please give us your heart, Guide Chu Wonhee.]

***

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