After Returning, My Abilities are Infinite

Episode 124. Once things go wrong, they spiral out of control (1)

“Looks like he’s having some fun with mortals. Hm… What does he go by these days?”

“Traveler.”

“Yes, Traveler. Such a ridiculous name. I hear he’s wandering about to his heart’s content.”

It was a world painted in white. The magnificent voices of the gods residing there rang out.

“The Akashic Records has begun to stir in earnest… And I’ve been hearing about the ‘user of the Akashic Records’ from the incarnations I sent down. Apparently, his spirit level has risen quite a bit, seeing that news of him has been reaching us.”

“It’s been less than ten years since he descended… As expected, he is very good.”

“He doesn’t even need to use his own power since his wisdom, eloquence, and political mind is decidedly superior to humans. After all, he’s had years of experience.”

“Incredible. With all his names and enormous power, why does he want to stay among mortals?”

“The problem is that he’s lived for too long. He’s bored with everything, so he now has to enjoy such small bits of entertainment to keep on living.”

The voices repeat like echoes resonating in a cave.

“So, it’s like a giant watching ants play. I wonder why he finds civilizations and worlds that could disappear with a swipe of his finger so entertaining….”

“Insignificant stories are always the most interesting. Those are moments that have passed by—moments that we cannot feel. It’s like recalling fond memories and earning satisfaction vicariously from minor things.”

“I still don’t understand. It must be because I haven’t become a god for long.”

Sometimes they looked like lights from fireflies, and sometimes they looked like clear pieces of glass. The entities let out their voices with their mouths wide open.

“Well… But unlike the Traveler, the user seems to be a little slow-witted.”

“Hmm? What are you talking about? That thorough Traveler picked him. That’s impossible.”

“He must have seen the status window saying the ‘Flow of Destiny’ was twisted. Yet, he isn’t making any preparations or taking action.”

“Hmm, maybe he doesn’t know what it means? No way. There’s no way the Traveler descended upon a civilization that hasn’t properly investigated the -Status Window- or an inferior world that hasn’t developed -The Akashic Records- or -Dimensional Studies- yet.”

“But that clever Traveler wouldn’t have rushed down just because of the ‘user of the Akashic Records’… I wonder. Does he have a plan in mind?”

“That’s impossible. Even the Traveler can’t control the disrupted flow of destiny. Just like you can’t hold water in your hands, you can’t turn it back.”

The gods’ faces became curious.

“…What is he up to?”

Nobody thought that the great Traveler would be so reckless to rush over at the sight of a ‘user of the Akashic Records’.

And nobody guessed that the ‘user’ would be unaware of the seriousness of the situation upon seeing the status window’s warning because the civilization of his inferior world was underdeveloped.

Truly no one did.

* * *

How much time has passed since then?

I didn’t necessarily count, but enough time passed for the seasons to change a few times.

Returnees were still pouring in, and the Association had come up with a near-perfect response. Just like the teams in charge of dealing with monsters, teams in charge of Returnees were created. But no matter how systematic the countermeasures were, there were victims. However, the situation wasn’t considered that serious anymore. It was part of daily life now.

Oh.

There was one thing around me that had changed.

“Um, Mr. Si-woo. Mr. Si-woo.”

“What is it again?”

“Well, I’ve been thinking lately. Maybe I should join the front line.”

I stopped training when I heard what Han Yeon-soo said. What was she talking about all of a sudden?

“You said you couldn’t make it through the Monster Fields. How will you survive the hellish front line?”

“I just thought I might. I’ve just been thinking about it lately.”

It didn’t sound like a random remark. Han Yeon-soo looked sincere.

“I’m very happy right now. I used to only have people like puppets around me, but now I’m surrounded by people who smell human. And you’ve been leading me like a light in the dark. It feels like all the monsters in the world might really disappear before I die.”

“But?”

“I think I’m settling for the way things are. To be exact, I feel stalled.”

She smiled bitterly.

“So much time has passed since the Returnee Situation. And since then, Yoo Ji-yeon built up her realm of magic that even the Tower Master can’t easily replicate. Mr. Zhang Wei studied Analysis and Monster Science, and he is now more than a healer. He can also give orders.”

“…….”

“Hyun-woo’s ability to control emotions has improved so much, and Mr. Kim Seung-hyun…….”

As she spoke, Han Yeon-soo glanced toward the TV.

-The new rising star, Kim Seung-hyun.

-The public has nicknamed him ‘Martial God’.

-The Super Rookie to succeed Jeong Si-woo.

-The -Jeong Si-woo Division-. Is Jeong Si-woo truly incapable of failing?

“…as they keep saying all day, has become incredibly stronger than before.”

She sighed as she spoke. I could tell what she meant. Han Yeon-soo’s ability wasn’t the kind that advanced at will or by training. She needed to form legions and expand her forces through and Rift attacks.

Han Yeon-soo had steadily expanded her forces. But it was slow compared to the other Five Heroes.

‘A sense of inferiority? No. She’s finding herself pathetic.’

Han Yeon-soo looked dejected. It wasn’t like her to be so discouraged.

“And also, you, Mr. Si-woo. Now you’ve reached a place I can’t even dare to look at. I feel left behind at the bottom. It feels like you’re just bringing me along with you because we started out together. If I had joined in the middle… I don’t think I could have kept going along with you.”

Han Yeon-soo’s eyes started to well up. It didn’t suit her at all. She didn’t seem like a queen. Was it because she was Mesmerized by me? No, the Mesmerization was supposed to gradually weaken over time.

What Han Yeon-soo was feeling about me now were her true feelings. They weren’t side effects but emotions created by watching my decisions and actions up until now.

Han Yeon-soo, who was stronger than anyone else in my previous life, was now weaker than anyone else in front of me. I wasn’t stupid enough not to know what that meant.

“At the Monster Fields, I ran away because I was scared. But I don’t want to run away anymore. I can willingly lose an arm or a leg. Or I could be seriously injured. As long as it helps, as long as it gives me the strength to move ahead together.”

Her eyes were honest and intense.

“I want to return to the front line like the 1st generation. I want to become stronger.”

“…….”

Hearing what she said, I thought for a long time.

Then, I opened my mouth to speak.

“… Let’s go.”

“What?”

“Let’s go.”

“Let’s… let’s go?”

I don’t know how Han Yeon-soo will take it.

“What if you run away again and humiliate yourself? And you’re my guild member, so I’m responsible for you.”

“…….”

“So, I’m coming with you. I was going to move to the front line anyway if I had the chance. Hunter Lee Hyun-seung recently suggested it.”

But it didn’t matter what she thought.

This was an answer that meant quite a lot to me in my own way.

However she takes it, it would be up to her.

And I was willing to accept it either way.

“Thank you, Mr. Si-woo.”

Han Yeon-soo looked up at me with her still-wet eyes.

“But when we go to the front line—”

“……?”

“—can I hold your hand?”

And she smiled playfully.

Oddly enough.

Her mischievous words weren’t particularly annoying or irritating today.

They just weren’t.

* * *

The front line.

To be exact, it was the front closest to the herd of monsters that were devouring parts of the world.

A long time ago, not long after Rifts occurred, numerous monsters poured into the world. Even though the Rifts were cleared, some monsters weren’t exterminated and hid in the world.

In the past, many monsters gathered that way. There was no way to clear the Rifts with modern firearms, and the situation at the time was too hopeless to hunt down and wipe out escaping monsters.

To make matters worse, because of major crises like -The Great Rift- or -The Mass Disappearance-, it was nearly impossible to stop the monsters from invading. After things stabilized, too many monsters had already settled down in this world.

The monsters claimed their territory and formed herds. And they built an ecosystem and began to live as if they belonged to this world.

The concrete buildings became their nests, and all nearby living creatures became their prey. The monsters gathered in one place and formed a sort of nation, which grew in scale up to the point where it was no exaggeration to call it a continent.

It was similar to a Monster Field but much more serious.

The land of death, also known as ‘Monster Land’.

It was basically the home base of humanity’s biggest threat.

‘The atmosphere here is always so dreary.’

After accepting Han Yeon-soo’s suggestion, I prepared for a few days. It wasn’t easy going to the front line, and it was a decision that required a lot of preparation.

Others in the Jeong Si-woo Division, such as Sung Hyun-woo and Zhang Wei, couldn’t join us because they had their jobs to do. Well, only people like Kim Seung-hyun, Han Yeon-soo, and I had room to grow stronger on the front line in the first place.

Seung-hyun Hyeong was already fighting at the front line with Lee Hyun-seung. We would probably see each other soon.

“Wait for me. Why do you walk so fast?”

Han Yeon-soo, who was following me from the back, smiled as she joined my side.

“You two seem close. You’re different from the rumors.”

“Rumors?”

“Yeah. Well, Ms. Han Yeon-soo’s reputation isn’t that good among hunters. I thought you would be very uptight…… But you’ve been smiling, and you seem nice.”

“Oh, yes. She’s very nice…….”

“Who spread that rumor, sir?”

I was trying to patch things up, but Han Yeon-soo asked sharply. Her intensity caused the hunter from the front line, who was guiding us, to flinch. He was senior enough for Han Yeon-soo to use honorifics, but once he came face to face with her, he couldn’t help but falter.

“Ha, ha, ha. I was joking. It was a joke…….”

“Oh, a joke. I don’t like those kinds of jokes.”

“…….”

The air froze. She could be very cold towards other people. It was pretty uncomfortable. Seeing how the hunter couldn’t manage to speak, I shut my mouth, as well.

“Um… hunter Jeong Si-woo?”

“Yes?”

The hunter who brought up Han Yeon-soo’s rumor broke the ice first.

“Well, I heard you also know a lot about Analysis…….”

“Oh, yes. I’m quite sure of my Analytical skills. But why do you ask? Is there anything unusual going on near the front line……?”

“Yes, I’ve already consulted with the Analysts staying there, but they said they couldn’t know for sure. So, I was about to get outside help when you came just in time.”

“It’s a strange phenomenon happening on the front line, right? I’ll take a look as soon as I get there.”

“Oh, yes. Thank you.”

Thud, thud.

Our footsteps echoed quietly.

“It really bothered me. The phenomenon was a bit… strange. And the Analysts asked us whether we were tired and saw it by mistake.”

“By mistake?”

“Yeah, but more than ten people saw it. So, I argued how they could all see it wrong and pushed for a proper investigation.”

“…May I hear about the phenomenon?”

My face stiffened. The front line. Claims of a ‘strange phenomenon’ by more than ten people, and professionally trained Analysts unable to find an answer.

Those three factors seemed to point to one event.

No, it can’t be. That…that couldn’t be happening already.

It was too fast.

Things couldn’t have been moved forward this much.

“Well… I saw these transparent hole-like things. As I walked around, I could see five or six of them. At first, I thought I was mistaken. I put my hand on it, and it just went through. And throwing things at it made no difference.”

“……”

“But then, more and more people saw them. And they looked a little weird. Just like….”

“Did they look like ‘Small Rifts’?”

“Wha… how did you know? Yes, that’s exactly what they looked like.”

My legs almost buckled when I heard his reply. It felt like someone had hit me in the back of my head with a blunt object. My mind went blank for a moment. It felt like thunder was roaring everywhere.

“Mr. Si-woo, are you alright? Your face, all of a sudden…….”

“No, I’m not okay.”

Small Rifts on the front line.

“…I think I need to take a relaxing pill.”

It was the phenomenon that was the forerunner of The Fifth Disaster.

-The Great Overlord-.