Episode 26: Fragment (2)
The whiteness that had filled my vision soon faded, returning to normal.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on the floor of the cabin. The cold texture of the wooden floor was distinct.
“Ugh!”
The moment I lifted my upper body, a sudden wave of dizziness hit me, bringing nausea along with it.
I barely managed to suppress the urge to vomit and took a look around.
The cabin, which had just moments ago seemed so old and ready to collapse at any moment, had transformed into something entirely new, exuding the rich scent of freshly cut wood, as if it had just been built.
Though its structure remained the same, everything about it felt different. Instead of decay, there was cleanliness. Instead of the uneasy feeling that it might fall apart at any moment, there was a sense of solidity.
‘The past.’
I hurriedly got up and checked the calendar hanging on the wall.
If the cabin had truly reversed time accurately, today’s date should be January 1, 1979.
After all, the Fragment of Harmony is created on that exact day.
“Please…”
But the date in front of my eyes was slightly different.
[December 26, 1978]
Exactly six days before the Fragment was created.
I let out a sigh.
“…That’s cutting it close.”
In the original story, the time travel limit was seven days.
If that limit was exceeded, the time axis would collapse, forcibly returning everything to the original timeline.
And there would be no second chance. The cabin would disappear.
‘That means I have to get it on the very last day….’
As I was deep in thought, planning my next steps—
A voice from behind made me slowly turn my head.
“Mmm…”
A soft, drowsy voice.
I turned my head gradually.
There, stretching leisurely, was Kang Arin.
She turned her head toward me and gave me a familiar smile.
“Did you sleep well?”
“…”
I closed my eyes for a moment, forcefully suppressing the confusion and questions welling up inside me.
I had no idea where to even begin fixing this situation.
Kang Arin, on the other hand, remained unfazed, as if completely unaware of my bewilderment.
I let out a deep sigh as I looked at her.
“…How did you know?”
She had entered just before midnight and locked the door behind her.
I knew it didn’t make sense, but it made even less sense for her to do that without knowing about the mechanisms of this cabin.
My mind was spinning in chaos. Rather than overthinking it, I had no choice but to wait for her response.
She narrowed her eyes slightly and tilted her head, as if this was all insignificant.
“It’s from Glory.”
Kang Arin stretched lazily as she answered.
“Is there anything we don’t know?”
I furrowed my brows slightly at her words.
It was true that Glory had an impressive information network.
But even in the original story, the hidden mechanics of this cabin were never discovered.
“Glory?”
I slowly nodded as I replied.
“I’m not joking right now.”
My words came out sharper than I intended.
Kang Arin, amused by my reaction, smirked slightly.
“I understand why you’re suspicious. But you can trust me.”
She slowly pointed her finger downward, toward the ground.
“Here—Baekdu Mountain. Buried here is one of only two Fragments ever discovered in the world.”
Hearing her words, I tried to calm my subtly trembling heart.
“And this cabin.”
Kang Arin looked around before speaking again.
“This cabin is a space influenced by the time axis of that Fragment. Simply put, the Fragment’s energy twisted time to create this axis.”
‘How does she…?’
It was the perfect answer.
That’s precisely how it was set up.
“What do you think? Still don’t believe me?”
She approached me with a sly smile.
She knew too many details for me not to believe her.
My mind grew even more confused. How did this information reach her?
Was this another snowball effect triggered by Kang Yuseong’s death?
If so, it just proves once again how terrible his management skills were…
“Actually, there’s something I want to ask you.”
Kang Arin leaned closer to my face, her crimson eyes softly glowing.
The look in her eyes was profound, as if she was trying to see through me.
“How did you find out about this information that’s treated as top-secret even within Glory and is known by no one?”
Now it was my turn to explain.
If what she said was true, then only a handful within Glory would know about this.
So, for me to know it? It was natural for her to be suspicious.
But that didn’t mean I had any obligation to answer her.
Without replying to her question, I headed straight out of the cabin.
“Where are you going?”
Her voice followed me from behind.
Though it sounded slightly urgent, there was still a relaxed tone to it.
I didn’t stop walking, only glancing back at her.
“Didn’t you say you came to find the Fragment too?”
Outside, it was still evening.
I took one step after another into the snowy landscape before me.
The cabin, once covered in rain, was now blanketed in pure white snow.
The cold, crisp air pricked at my skin.
“That’s why I’m here too.”
I could feel her gaze from behind me.
But I deliberately ignored her reaction and continued moving forward.
‘I know the exact location and the exact time the fragment will appear.’
Baekdu Mountain’s Cheonji. January 1st.
The Fragment would appear there on that exact day.
Even in the original story, it was an item that suddenly appeared without any warning.
The only concern was how powerful Glory’s intelligence network was in this world where Kang Yuseong was dead.
Even if I generously assumed they knew the Fragment was inside Heaven Lake,
There was no way they could know the exact time it would manifest.
I looked up at the sky.
As I organized my plan internally, I glanced around.
What I had to do was simple—pretend to search while finding a way to shake her off.
It was then, as I walked across the snow-covered field.
—Pfft.
A small laugh burst out from behind me.
The sound, cutting through the cold air, made me halt.
Turning around, I saw Kang Arin covering her mouth with one hand, her shoulders shaking.
She tried to stifle her laughter, but her eyes were already sparkling with amusement.
“Ah, sorry.”
She lowered her head slightly to hide her laughter, but the smile lingering on her lips was undeniable.
Then, lifting her head, she looked at me with a clear and innocent smile.
“It’s just… the way you were thinking so hard… it was cute.”
I frowned slightly.
But her serene smile didn’t fade.
“Hey, you know…”
She slowly walked toward me, each step crunching in the snow, until she stood right next to me.
Looking up at me, she spoke.
Her lips moved softly, each word pronounced clearly.
“Baekdu Mountain’s Cheonji. And January 1st. What do you think?”
At that moment, my mind went blank.
“…”
She tilted her head slightly, flashing a mischievous smile.
“Instead of wandering around in this cold and darkness…”
She grabbed my hand firmly.
“Let’s just stay inside the warm cabin and have a little chat.”
Holding my hand tightly, Kang Arin gently pulled me back toward the cabin.
Though I could have resisted her physically, I had already given up thinking.
So, I had no choice but to let her lead me back.
Glory’s intelligence network was beyond imagination.
Honestly, I was tempted to drop everything and just get a job there right now.
Every single plan I came up with was getting systematically crushed by her.
It was exhausting dealing with someone who seemed to think the same way I did.
“… So, you need the Fragment too?”
There was no point in hiding it anymore.
“Yep.”
She smiled and lightly tapped my arm in response.
Aren’t negotiations like this usually conducted with a bit more distance?
But because the area in front of the fireplace was warm, she had stuck herself right next to me.
I had tried to move to the other side, but she grabbed me before I could.
“Want me to give you the Fragment?”
I stared at her in disbelief.
Wait, is she serious…?
It’s not like I want the Fragment for myself—I need it for the greater good.
Besides, even if I get it, it’s meant exclusively for Sung Siwoo, so I can’t even absorb it.
If I could, I would have already taken it and used infinite regression to crush everything in my way.
Well… not that regression is an option anymore.
“… If you’re offering, I’d be happy to take it.”
Of course, I only grumbled to myself.
Since I had to acquire the Fragment on my own, I was in the weaker position here.
If she was truly determined to obtain it, then a direct conflict between us was inevitable.
And honestly, I wanted to avoid clashing with a character I had created.
Seeing my response, she smiled playfully, amusement twinkling in her eyes.
The slight upward curl of her lips almost felt like she was teasing me.
“I’ll give it to you.”
Kang Arin nodded, speaking as if she could hand it over at any moment.
“But there’s a condition.”
“What is it?”
Of course, there had to be one.
What exactly was she going to ask for?
The Dongbaek Sword?
Iano’s Cross?
She watched my reaction with amusement before finally opening her mouth.
“When you graduate… join Glory.”
My mind went blank for a moment.
Glory was a guild under Glory Corporation.
The undisputed number one guild in the world.
In other words, this wasn’t just a condition—it was a massive offer.
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah.”
Kang Arin remained perfectly composed.
Then, leaning against the fireplace, she continued speaking.
“I know you’re Silent Ghost.”
“And I know you managed to get here all on your own, from Iano’s Tomb to the location of the Fragment.”
She smiled confidently as she continued.
“I simply judged that securing a talented individual was more valuable than a Fragment with an unknown usage.”
She paused for a moment before narrowing her eyes slightly.
“And besides, if you become mine… then the Fragment is naturally mine too, right?”
Kang Arin smirked, tilting one corner of her mouth upward.
“So? What do you say?”
Honestly, it wasn’t even something I needed to think about.
“Sounds great….”
After all, I had already planned to join Glory after graduation.