But when I tried to perceive something, the scene changed before my eyes.
As if there was a will determined to prevent me from perceiving anything.
The waking figure that had been taunting me, calling me dirty, disappeared, and suddenly familiar faces stood before me.
“You.”
A voice devoid of warmth, one that cannot be imagined as belonging to one team.
“Because of you, Hyun had to work twice as hard.
Don’t you have a conscience?”
“I wish you were the one who wrote the request to be excluded from the team, you motherfucker!”
“How long will South Korea's top S-Team have to put up with someone like you who can't even guide properly?”
The scene in front of me became reeling, like an endless nightmare.
Voices echoed.
“We failed to use the Silent Prince.
We should have killed him to complete the plan...
Six years ago, this seemed more difficult than dealing with the Empress.”
“The hunt for these insects was more persistent than we expected.
We had no choice but to reduce the number of people in the palace to a minimum.”
“It seems like it was the right decision.
It would be annoying if our identity was revealed now, wouldn’t it?”
The original goal was to brutally kill Prince Louis, to force the Emperor and the Duchess to cross a river from which there would be no return.
However, they succeeded in spoiling the relationship between the Emperor and the Duchess even more.
And perhaps when tomorrow morning rises, the sun of the empire may change.
They loved chaos.
“This time, the Emperor will definitely die.”
Closest to the leader.
He whispered, smiling weakly.
There was a heavy silence between the voices, but in that silence there was a hidden joy.
The most brutal of them all.
Six years ago, it was that little monster who preserved the palace that was about to collapse.
But if the Emperor does not die this time too, as happened in that twisted moment in the past, and emerges alive...
If he comes out of that gate alive with a body about to explode...
“This would be evidence of the intervention of that evil, corrupt ruler.”
And then…
“You.”
According to the teachings revealed by the Great Master, that would be the time to bring out that person they had prepared so carefully.
“Now, since the Emperor has not found his partner yet, we must prepare that person.
The goal is the day the Duchess will hold a magic show, when all eyes will be focused.”
The dazzling gift that was specially prepared to seduce the Emperor.
"Yes!"
“Hey, this is so annoying!
Why are you interfering and making a mess?”
The Awakened must protect the Guides.
They should treat mentors who can heal them with respect.
But this team, which included South Korea's elite S-Rank Awakeners, was rife with discrimination.
“Hyun, are you okay?”
Unlike me, who practiced disgustingly strange mentoring, there was an S-rank female mentor in this team who had exemplary strength.
Obviously, I was the one who tripped and fell, so why did they suddenly rush to another guide while staring at me with angry looks?
I clicked my tongue boredly, examining the harsh terrain of the gate.
Very strange.
Why does it seem like it's happened before?
Why don't I feel pain in my chest?
'As if it doesn't concern me at all.'
Wasn't I deeply hurt and disturbed by such words before?
I would pretend to be strong and keep a deadpan expression on my face, but when I returned home, I would drink soju to excess in pain.
'But now I don't feel anything.'
As if they had read my thoughts, the Awakened's expressions became fiercer.
Then they stood in front of me to block my path.
“You.”
Their distorted expressions were truly disgusting.
'What is this, am I a monster?' Why are they surrounding me like this?'
In the back, Hyun, the rank S mentor, was cocking her head and smiling at me.
'Ah, what a vixen.'
Suddenly, one of the awake people extended his hand towards me.
“What?”
"Ha!
That's really…"
When I tilted my head inquiringly, one of the men shouted with a fierce expression:
"We have to conserve Hyun's guidance energy!
Why are you staring at her like that?
Even we hate receiving your guidance, you bastard!"
He seems to have a very dirty mouth.
I knew a voice that could elegantly disdain others without having to say a single obscene word, and compared to him, this person seemed despicable...
'Hey, who was that?'
“You!”
While I was lost in other thoughts, the man with the dirty mouth quickly approached, shouting obscenities.
Then he grabbed my wrist tightly.
Ah, what rubbish.
I felt anger simmering, and I raised my eyes sharply, but the Rank S Guide, who was hiding in the back, approached me.
Then she spoke in a worried tone:
"Oppa!
Don't do this, it hurts!"
Ah, now I understand clearly.
I was getting bored with this situation.
It wasn't painful, and it wasn't annoying anymore.
There was a reason why I couldn't feel anything even as I watched the awake person vomit in front of me while sucking my energy.
“Not you.”
“What?”
I knew the amazing feeling of accepting my power.
This is not the disgusting feeling of absorbing guidance energy like a parasitic insect.
Rather, a gentler touch, and more passionate looks.
The feeling of a truly awakened person who longs for me, who is ready to kneel and be courted at any moment.
Those blue eyes that met my gaze gently.
Not these, but in the place that has become my real world.
Ah, a clear realization before my eyes.
Caseys.
That damned emperor.
'I came to save that man.'
Suddenly, a faint laugh burst out of me.
Whoever sees me thinking about him now might think that we are lovers.
In the midst of this deep delusion, I think of that man as I realize the reality...
Oh my state of mind!
“Ugh… you bug, what are you saying now?”
“What?
Leave me, you trash.”
Fuck!
I slapped his hand away.
“You!”
I looked coldly at the awake person, who backed away in astonishment, and at the woman who approached, pretending to be kind, and sneered:
“I am not an insect, and if we want to compare, your dirty mouth is the closest thing to an insect.”
“How dare you speak with that impudent mouth of yours!”
"silent."
I slapped his hand coming towards me again.
“I know you're all fake.”
“He died, and I am alive.”
There was a sudden silence, which made me shiver.
The things standing expressionless seemed like statues, not living human beings.
As if that wasn't enough, the scene changed again.
“Haha, really.”
A black hole appeared.
That ominous energy that seemed as if it would engulf me was clearly approaching.
“You vile monster, because you can't manipulate my memories, are you using my death experience now?”
There was a portal extending to infinity.
And maybe in my imagination.
Something I didn't see directly fell with a heavy thud.
My trembling eyelids gradually subsided.
“I will not be afraid.”
Even if I get run over by those monsters' feet, I won't die.
This is all just an illusion.
When my mind became completely clear, I was no longer drawn into illusion.
“These fake illusions are not scary at all!”
Then, the scene cracked.
As if a mirror was shattering, the shape of the gate that was about to explode and swallow me disappeared.
And also my former colleagues who stared at me with hatred, as if they were not human.
They were all shattered into dust.
And before my eyes he appeared...
“Kiiiiiiick!”
Because I broke his mental attack, there was a giant flower writhing in extreme pain, rolling on the ground.
“You damned flower!”
I gritted my teeth and extended my hand.
Was it because of the shock of my exit, or because of the guiding energy that I unconsciously spread during the mental attack?
I saw a crack in the ice.
I quickly extended my hand towards him.
Before that cursed flower regains consciousness!
And finally…
I touched him.
“Open your eyes please, Your Majesty!”
When I barely reached the man's hand, which looked like blood was flowing from it, and when I held it tightly, my guiding energy rushed into his body.
'Oh, again?'
My eyes darkened.
The mental attack that was attacking him swallowed me up again.