The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

Swoosh…

The rain soaked the world outside the annex.

Fortunately, it started raining when Seol was inside, so he didn't have to get wet.

The labyrinth was truly a mysterious place.

The existence of weather in this place eased his suffocating sensation.

Swoosh…

Rain streaks hit the ground, causing droplets to splash and scatter in every direction.

His eyes felt refreshed. He realized that his eyes had sensations.

When a gentle breeze blew, the wind brushed past his eyes, and on rainy days like today, his eyes would get wet.

Sometimes, when dust got into his eyes, he struggled to get it out of them, yet he never seemed to mind.

Although his eyes had lost their purpose, he felt like they were screaming ‘we are still here’ at him.

Two months had passed since he entered the annex.

"AAAHHH!"

【Don't do it! You're going to get hurt!】

"I want to stop…"

Just as a wheel loses its value if it stops turning, a person who doesn't progress is consumed by self-depreciation.

This was Seol's case; he had lost his momentum.

"Oof… Oof…"

His fists, which had been crushed from hitting rocks, had returned to their original state. For a superhuman, even self-harm wasn't easy.

"Agony…"

【…】

"Agony, can you see ahead?"

【Yes…】

He had been curious about how Agony could help him in this place where he couldn't see even an inch ahead.

"How?"

【I don't know. Maybe because I'm not human?】

Agony was a demonic spirit; comparing such a being to a human didn't make sense.

"What do you feel while watching me?"

【What…?】

"Do I look strange and pathetic…?"

Agony frowned. However, Seol couldn't see that.

【Don't say bad words! I never thought that!】

"Really…?"

Agony couldn't lie.

【Uh… It was kind of funny when you fell last time. But isn't it okay since I wasn't found?】

"…"

It had already been two months since he became unable to see ahead.

There was no achievement or no sign of change.

"I'm jealous of you, Agony."

【Huh? Why?】

"Because you can see. As if it were something natural."

【Master, you can also see! If you just endure a bit more…】

At that moment, he became tempted.

"Just for a moment… If I use my power for a bit…"

Bonk—!

Agony smacked Seol's head with its arm.

If Seol were an ordinary person, the shock would have been enough to make him faint, but it felt light for him, who was maintaining the Night Crow form.

Agony approached Seol's nose and said,

【No.】

"Why…?"

【That would make everything you've done so far be in vain. That's… That's not something you should do.】

"Something I shouldn't do? To whom?"

【To Master! To all the effort you've put in until now!】

At that moment, life returned to Seol's eyes.

The labyrinth was constantly targeting him, but Agony was by his side.

"That's right…"

【Yes! So you have to endure! Agony will live for a long time. Agony can wait. I'll only laugh once every three times you fall! Agony can resist that much.】

"Agony…"

【Yes? As expected, laughing is a bit…】

"Why are you helping me?"

【Because you are weak?】

"Not that."

【Ah… What was it…】

Agony rested its chin on his hand and thought for a moment.

【Master is Agony's teacher.】

"Teacher…?"

【You've taught Agony various things and waited for Agony. That's why Agony wants to take this chance to become a teacher, too!】

Seol chuckled, and Agony giggled.

【Laughing is good!】

* * *

Three months had passed without any notable achievements.

Seol realized something. No—perhaps ‘fell into despair’ would be more appropriate.

The reason he fell into despair was from his own incompetence.

WHOOM…

Flinch!

The sudden crack of thunder made Seol freeze on the spot. Unable to see, his heightened other senses had increased his shock at the sudden thunder.

Seol, who used to be indifferent even when surrounded by all sorts of monsters, bowed his head and trembled at mere thunder.

Swoosh…

He had no choice but to endure the rain.

Since he was already wet, hurrying into the annex wouldn't make much difference.

If he could see the sky, he would have known it was going to rain. And if he could see ahead, he wouldn't have performed the ridiculous act of falling over in fear of thunder.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

【Master…】

"Ha… Haha… Agony, I have a question."

【Yes! Teacher will tell you.】

"Why does everyone try to become stronger?"

【Huh? I don't know.】

Agony acted as if it could answer everything, but it immediately gave a negative answer—being honest was its strength.

【In the past, Agony also wanted to become strong. Although that was a very long time ago.】

Seol sat on the floor, completely drenched.

【Ah! Back then… I thought becoming stronger would bring lots of happy things. I thought doing strange things was enjoyable. Doing as I please!】

Agony quickly became sullen.

【But… that wasn't good. Agony realized it too late.】

"Has your thinking changed now?"

【Yes… Becoming stronger doesn't make things happy. Instead…】

Agony climbed onto Seol's lap.

【…it reduces sad things.】

"…"

【Agony needs to become stronger! So I can protect the weak. Then there won't be a need to be sad! After all, the weak leaving is sad.】

"Am I also one of the weak ones?"

Agony nodded in response to Seol’s question.

【Yes, you're weak! I think if we fight now, I'm going to win.】

"Then, are you going to protect me too? Because I'm weak?"

【Yes, I have to protect you! Not because you're weak… But because you're my master.】

Agony pressed its body against Seol.

【If Master disappears, I think I will be sad. The saddest in the world!】

"I won't disappear…"

【Master, aren't you trying to become stronger because you don't want to be sad? Isn't it because you want to protect those who are weak?】

Seol bowed his head at Agony's words.

The weakest one was none other than himself.

Just by taking one's vision, the Pitch Black Labyrinth interfered with the intruder's mind.

Seol's mind was in a vulnerable state.

Swoosh…

Rain trickled down Seol's face and fell from his chin.

【Are you crying…?】

"I'm crying…?"

Seol tilted his head at Agony's words.

"I was crying?"

【Yes! Because I'm always watching, I can feel it.】

"But these are raindrops."

【No, this is warm!】

"…"

【Rain isn't warm.】

Agony wasn't really talking about the temperature of the raindroplets. It just explained it that way.

Agony nodded confidently.

【I can know. I do know!】

"…"

Seol pondered those words for a moment.

Recognition.

It felt like Agony's words had broken the concepts Seol had.

'Why didn't I think of that?'

Thinking he needed to see, he tried to confirm the objects and nature's phenomena with his eyes alone. Naturally, that action was blocked by the Darkness, and he couldn't achieve anything.

Why could Strength of the Mind see things the eyes couldn't?

In other words, wasn't it more about perception than actually seeing?

Seol didn't need to limit the potential of his eyes to his field of vision. Instead, he needed to expand his vision into the realm of perception.

Then, a sense that had been dormant for a long time began to stir.

'Huh…?'

He could feel something on his lap, but he couldn’t see it.

But he couldn't see it…

There was a very blurry figure rippling in the Darkness like a single flowing stream.

There was clearly something.

Seol was finally able to see it.

"Agony."

【Yes?】

"I think I understand something…"

【Really?】

"Yes, really."

Seol looked at Agony.

[One Mind activates.]

[Continuous actions have led to new realizations.]

[While One Mind is active, new realizations will continuously occur.]

* * *

Another month had passed since the day it rained.

Although Shin Rip and Shin Hyun were treating Seol coldly, they still watched from afar.

"Has anything happened yet?"

"Not particularly. But he seems to be doing fine. Ah, listen! Those guys have been doing funny things."

"Funny things?"

"Yes. When the little guy strikes a pose, the big guy tries to guess what the pose is."

"So… does he get it right?"

Shin Hyun shook his head.

"Hihihi… No. It's already been a month."

"Hmm…"

"Still, he's a talented guy. Hyung-nim, you also felt it, right?"

"He's overflowing with potential. The problem is that the same potential is hindering him from finding a path. He could become anything, but at the same time, he might not become anything at all."

"Yes! That's exactly what I wanted to say! He's so outstanding that he can't find a simple path, right? Although sometimes, all someone needs to do is simply push one's head straight ahead."

Shin Rip stopped talking and stroked his beard.

"I was even thinking of teaching him to use the sword."

"He doesn't even have calluses on his hands… Not only that but due to the characteristics of his mana, it's going to be tough."

"Even so."

"Hmm…"

"When I see him… It reminds me of that guy."

"Are you talking about Shin Kang? The Third is a bit…"

"No…"

Shin Hyun flinched at Shin Rip's words. If he wasn't talking about Shin Kang, the most outstanding of the three…

"Are you talking about the fourth…? He does feel similar to Shin Yu. Is that why I feel attached to him?"

"It happened so long ago that regret is a luxury now. If Shin Yu had been with us… Maybe we all might have been able to escape the labyrinth."

"Hihihi… Anyway, will that guy be able to escape the labyrinth?"

"The living must breathe with the living. If someone alive only shares their breath with the dead, they will breathe decay. Even if it takes a long time… He won’t give up."

Shin Hyun scratched his body and asked.

"How long do you think it will take him?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Being able to see through the darkness of the labyrinth. He's still a newborn who hasn't even opened his eyes."

Shin Rip smirked and asked Shin Hyun.

"How long did it take you?"

"After waking up?"

"Yes."

"Three years."

"It took me two years."

Shin Rip concluded.

That could be how much time Seol would take.

"Considering his talent, he should be able to do it within two years."

"We could take our time since we're dead. But he…"

"If he cannot find his resolve, even that will be tough. Go on. It's about time."

"So it's already time? Hmm… But it’s admirable seeing how he doesn't give up despite not making any progress."

Shin Hyun delivered a meal to the annex where Seol was.

He couldn't help but find it funny how a dead person was preparing food for someone alive. But it was bearable because it was interesting.

Shin Rip suddenly looked up at the sky.

"Hmm… It seems that it's going to rain."

He saw dark clouds as he looked up at the sky. The rain here came suddenly.

There were often cloudy days.

Seol had gotten sick after being drenched in rain, so he intended to warn him this time.

Shin Hyun also resembled the Labyrinth's weather, especially the part about not having a presence.

Once a swordsman reaches a certain level, their footsteps make no sound. Because of that, unless one saw him, detecting Shin Hyun approaching would be impossible.

Shin Hyun was used to move diligently.

Approaching without someone noticing was easier than anything else.

"Have you come?"

"…"

His heart sank.

'What…?'

As he turned his head in the direction of the voice, he saw Seol looking down Stone Mountain.

'How did he know?'

Seol wasn't even looking in his direction. Could it be that his ridiculous training had somehow made a change?

'This guy…'

There was something different about him.

Although he had seen him every day, something was different about him today.

"You…"

"Let's talk inside."

Seol turned around, pointed to the sky, and smiled.

"Because it seems like it's going to rain soon."