Seol-Hwi stepped into the clearing and gazed at the seven rainbow-colored roofs, lost in thought for a moment.

Memories from the past came flooding back.

There were good memories and bad memories.

Among them, the most special memory was meeting her.

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“If she’s alive, we’d surely meet here, but…”

He knew better than anyone that it was realistically impossible.

She had already lost her life, existing only as a dummy, as the system described.

Still.

“Even just seeing her face is something.”

Seol-Hwi slowly surveyed his surroundings. The path in front of the entrance was familiar despite the passage of time.

It was a path he had traversed many times, whether coming to the murim world or fleeing from it.

‘Part of me wants to throw everything away and confront that so-called Absolute One right now, but…’

Seol-Hwi forcibly quelled the rising anger.

It can’t end so simply.

He will witness with his two eyes the sight of him going berserk.

Otherwise, the years of suffering would have been too wasted.

As Seol-Hwi was about to walk again, he halted once more.

Under the red roof far away, he discovered a figure crouching with a hole dug in the corner of the wall.

“Tsk tsk. That guy is… still at it.”

Too much time had passed, and he couldn’t remember the name or position, but it was the one who had initially flustered him upon entering here.

And the second time, he was subdued all too easily.

“Hey, come out. You’ve been caught.”

Perhaps because it was a little distance away.

Seol-Hwi gestured, but the figure didn’t move. It seemed he didn’t think he could be spotted from that distance.

“You, crouching under the hole in the wall there. Yes, you. You’ve been caught.”

Could getting a little closer have had an effect?

In the end, at Seol-Hwi’s shout and gesture, he eventually rose from his crouched position and stepped forward.

“Tsk. I’ve had bad luck all day…”

The guy was grumbling as if resigned to his fate as he approached.

He seemed to have no intention of resisting, knowing he was already discovered by a skilled person.

“What’s your name?”

“What will you do with that? You’ll kill me as soon as your curiosity is satisfied.”

“I’m not really the type to enjoy killing.”

“…Then will you spare me?”

“If you answer well.”

“Hmm… Then…”

He seemed to ponder for a moment, resting his chin in his hand, then soon shook his head.

“Still, it won’t do. Who can I trust here… Ah!”

In the middle of speaking, he looked up with a surprised face.

At that moment, a figure was hurtling toward him at an incredible speed.

“Moron.”

Swoosh-

The opponent was shocked by the man’s curse.

There was no way to avoid the surprise attack of the man wielding the massive sword.

‘Huh…?’

However, the man’s body approaching him felt unnatural.

To be precise, it seemed like his body was tilting to the side, and soon the reason became clear.

“Once is fine.”

Thud!

The man fell headfirst and died instantly.

Seol-Hwi merely tapped him, and the man’s balance faltered, causing him to crash headfirst into the ground.

“Just trust me for once.”

Seol-Hwi gave a sly smile right in front of his eyes.

The nameless man who had ambushed him once and had been knocked down once.

Shouldn’t the last memory be a good one?

“Who knows? Maybe with your skills, you’ll walk out of here with pride.”

That way, this final life would have some value.

Yang-dae of the Seven Yang Troops was lying flat on the yellow roof.

He was frightened because the man who said, “Wait here for a bit,” disappeared and didn’t show up for quite some time.

“Am I going to get caught by some strange guy and die like this?”

He moved to another spot and lay flat on the yellow roof.

The third most dangerous place among the seven buildings.

A place often visited by those skilled in martial arts.

For Yang-dae, who only intended to roam the red building, this place was no different from a danger zone.

Bang! Boom!

“Ugh… What is it?”

He listened intently to the sound of the window frame breaking beneath the roof. Then he glanced down and saw a middle-aged man helplessly falling to the ground.

Bang!

The second time was even more spectacular. The wall shattered entirely and fell apart.

Yang-dae cautiously peeked out and discovered the man waving at him.

“Almost done, just wait a little longer.”

“Uh, um…”

And then he went back into the building. Soon after.

Boom! Crash!

Sounds of things breaking and shattering echoed from various places.

‘Is he dealing with everyone alone?’

At some point, as the noise reverberated floor by floor, a middle-aged man rolled out from the first floor.

Afterward, he lay sprawled, unable to move.

‘Why did such a skilled person come in at this hour?’

Yang-dae, watching the situation, couldn’t understand.

Even in this yellow building, there must be some capable individuals, yet Seol-Hwi, who introduced himself, was sweeping through as if he were cleansing the inside.

The commotion that started from the fourth floor continued to the first floor, and now it had become quiet again, as if he had gone somewhere.

‘It’s still dangerous. It’s a good thing the Shadows of Dawn haven’t arrived yet…’

“Hey.”

“……!”

Yang-dae, who was lying flat, startled and opened his eyes wide.

Fortunately, it wasn’t a stranger, but a man named Seol-Hwi approaching.

“Nothing happened?”

“……Well, I was just lying flat. What’s that in your hand?”

“Oh, this?”

The man muttered to himself, “Oh, this is important,” and began to lay something down.

“I brought some things from inside the building. If we go around more places, there could be more. I just roughly swept the buildings I knew. Well, this should be enough. I brought some bamboo too, so take it.”

“Ah……”

He stared blankly.

Not only was there the bamboo badge containing the power that only one person could possess, but there were also such precious treasures inside the building.

They were clearly extraordinary weapons and protective gear. Moreover, among them were things he had never seen before.

“First, put this on. It’s called the Earth Demon Armor, quite a fancy name, but it’s useful with its Land Wind technique. And this is the Eight Emperor Body Armor, it should be helpful.”

“…You’re giving all of this to me?”

“Hey, hoarding is pointless if you’re dead. I know from experience.”

“Experience, you say.”

“There’s something about it. You have to wear the armor under your clothes. Concealment is key.”

“I’m grateful you’re giving me this… Are you sure you don’t need it?”

“Yeah. It’s fine. I’m incredibly good at fighting. You could say I’m nearly invincible.”

Yang-dae looked worried, but as the other handed it over with such an innocent smile, he couldn’t refuse anymore.

Honestly, even with all this gear, he still wasn’t confident about surviving this place.

“And just eat this.”

“What is this?”

“It’s Divine Pill and Heart Pill. Better than not eating it.”

“Oh, okay.”

Seeing the thoughtful gestures, he decided to trust the other person and eat everything.

“Finished eating?”

“Yeah.”

“Then turn around.”

“…Why?”

“The Divine Pill needs time to take effect. I’ll help you absorb it quickly.”

Yang-dae was a bit hesitant but didn’t refuse. Considering the other’s martial skills, he thought if there were any ill intentions, they could have acted anytime.

Yang-dae assumed his stance, and Seol-Hwi placed his hand on Yang-dae’s Body Blood Point.

“…!”

After about ten breaths, Seol-Hwi withdrew his hand.

“It’s done.”

“Already? Wow. My body… my inner strength…”

He marveled at the power and immense inner strength he was experiencing for the first time in his life.

How could he become so strong in such a short time… It felt like a dream.

“My help lasts only while you’re here at the Martial Arts Island. From now on, it’s up to you.”

“Of course. By the way… you really are an amazing warrior.”

“Not really. I’m just a person no different from you.”

“What are you talking about? I’ve never seen a warrior as amazing as you. Are you perhaps a recluse master?”

“Recluse master, no way. Anyway.”

Seol-Hwi sat down next to Yang-dae.

And while gazing at the same place he was, Seol-Hwi started a conversation.

“Well, there’s nothing particular to do now, so shall we chat? What kind of place is the Hidden Demon Hall you belong to?”

He readily agreed to Seol-Hwi’s suggestion. After all, there were things he was curious about regarding his counterpart.

Seol-Hwi had quite a lot of conversations with Yang-dae. About his affiliated unit, about life.

As they talked, he eventually started sharing his own stories and experiences.

Of course, he referred to the Absolute One as ‘God’, and the system as ‘God’s Design’.

He described AI as a transcendent being.

From the beginning, he didn’t think the other person would believe his words, so he spoke without much meaning.

“Indeed. You seemed like something different.”

Although this was the reaction, perhaps he dismissed it as nonsense in his mind.

Still, the fact that he responded and tried to empathize suggested he was making an effort to believe.

“…So, to summarize, you’re saying you came back inside to break the design made by that so-called God?”

“That’s right.”

“And, perhaps hoping that the woman named Seo Ryeong might be there, you also came to Martial Arts Island.”

“That’s right.”

“Oh.”

Seol-Hwi found himself responding repeatedly to Yang-dae’s seemingly serious contemplation.

He didn’t know how much or to what extent Yang-dae believed him. Sometimes, seeing Yang-dae frown and nod as if he understood something was amusing.

With a rather serious expression, Yang-dae spoke.

“Then, as you said, the chances of seeing that woman, Seo Ryeong, inside this Martial Arts Island are almost none.”

“That’s right. It’s not just this time. It’ll be hard to see her ever again.”

“Why?”

“I told you. Her life as a player is over.”

“That’s right. But why is it hard to see her forever? Can’t you just go back to the beginning?”

Yang-dae tilted his head curiously.

In response, Seol-Hwi clicked his tongue inwardly and replied.

“Didn’t you listen to me properly? Even if you go back to the beginning, she already met her death as a player…”

“Exactly. Which point is the beginning?”

“What?”

“Where is the point you call the beginning?”

Seol-Hwi looked at him in disbelief. He was about to answer with a frustrated expression when something felt off.

The beginning he thought of was…

“Starting with the Supreme Pavilion Lord?”

“That’s right……”

“The beginning I have in mind is.”

Yang-dae smiled slyly as he spoke.

“Before she was born. More precisely, returning to before the God’s Design given to her. Then maybe they could meet.”

“……!”

An entirely unexpected approach.

The beginning for her was before his private meeting with the Supreme Pavilion Lord.

If her beginning is before that, what if Seol-Hwi went even further back?

“Yes……. That’s right.”

Seol-Hwi was covered in goosebumps.

A way he hadn’t thought of at all.

Even if she, chosen as a player, may have disappeared.

The point where she, like him, was chosen as a player and started for the first time.

If it’s possible to go even further back.

“Maybe we could meet.”

“But is it really possible to go further back? It’s God’s Design after all……”

“I don’t know. However, that guy might know.”

“Who is that guy?”

In response to Yang-dae’s question, Seol-Hwi answered with a serious expression that had not been seen before.

“Simulation Lv3.”