The 31st Piece Turns the Tables
chapter-262

The 31st Piece Turns the Tables

Chapter 262

“Mi Ah is…”

Yu Shin sighed, as if he had been placed into an awkward situation.

“She’s not in a condition to meet anyone, especially strangers, like you.”

Seol nodded his head, agreeing.

‘That’s understandable if it’s Mi Ah.’

Mi Ah was the cautious type, rarely meeting with anyone.

She had only ever opened her heart to one person.

It seemed entirely out of character for her to not only meet with Yu Shin but also to have visited him recently.

Even so, Seol wasn’t the type to give up.

“Is there any way I could have a conversation with her?”

“If it is something that could harm Mi Ah… I’d rather not.”

“Hm…”

Though Yu Shin seemed kinder than anyone when taking care of the kids, he now felt cold and distant.

However, there was no reason for Seol to look at him negatively.

While the Soul Eyes Tribe had been prosperous in the past, their numbers had dwindled, leaving only a few members. It was natural for him to be cautious.

As Seol thought about how to convince him, Seol Hong stepped ahead.

“Yu Shin, Seol is not a bad person.”

“How could I trust him, though? Mi Ah is…”

“Trust me.”

“......”

“If you can’t trust him, trust me.”

Seol Hong then looked at Yu Shin anxiously.

“Could you please let him meet her?”

Yu Shin glanced back and forth between Seol and Seol Hong.

Haah…

After a long sigh, he gave his answer.

“Tomorrow, I’ll bring Mi Ah to where your carriage is parked. She probably wouldn’t want to meet you, but… if it’s someone you trust, Seol Hong, he might be able to help her, too. Mi Ah really needs a lot of help right now.”

“Hold on, carriage? You know where our carriage is?”

“Yes, there was a bit of a commotion. But I let them know that it was your carriage, Seol Hong, so there won’t be any problems.”

It was clear now that if it hadn’t been Seol Hong’s carriage, something terrible could have happened to it.

They had forgotten for a second that they were at Dokkaebi Street. Ruffians who wanted to steal from carriages lurked in every corner.

‘We should leave someone behind next time.’

Though Seol was uncertain that it would happen again.

Regardless, after securing a promise, the three of them left Dokkaebi Street. Thanks to the rumors that they were Yu Shin’s guests, no one dared to bother them.

Creak…

The coachman immediately began to complain once they reached the carriage.

“L-Lady Seol Hong, this place is dangerous. S-Some scary-looking ruffians started shaking the carriage, threatening me. I didn’t know what to do, but…”

It was as expected.

“I already heard about it,” said Seol Hong. “Let’s leave.”

“Ah! I was waiting for those words!”

The coachman had clearly been waiting to escape from the smelly, dangerous alleyways.

“But… why are you trying to meet with this Mi Ah person?” asked Seol Hong. “And judging by how they were called ‘her,’ she’s likely a girl, too.”

Despite knowing nothing about Seol’s intentions or the woman named Mi Ah, Seol Hong stepped forward to help him.

While it was reckless, it also served to prove how much faith Seol Hong had in him.

“Mi Ah is a special person. There is something I have to confirm with her.”

“Is it important?” asked Seol Hong.

“Very important,” replied Seol, nodding his head.

* * *

The carriage returned to the same spot the next day.

However, unlike yesterday, the three of them were waiting outside the carriage for visitors.

Soon after, the people they had been waiting for arrived.

A pair of shrouded individuals, one male, and one female, both wearing blindfolds, approached them.

Seol, in particular, couldn’t take his eyes off of the woman.

‘...Mi Ah?’

He was shocked because she looked vastly different from how he remembered her.

“B-Because someone came to see me… I really didn’t want to come…” stammered Mi Ah as she weakly walked closer.

- Hye Myeong, look over there! It’s pretty, right?

- What are you telling me to look at? Where? What is it?

- The stars, the stars!

The Mi Ah Seol remembered was much more energetic and bright.

“I-I want to go.”

“Mi Ah, we already came all this way. Why don’t we at least talk with them?”

“No. I’m sure…”

Mi Ah’s head drooped down.

“...they’re trying to make me draw again.”

Draw.

Chi Woo and Seol Hong were puzzled by what she meant. What was it about drawing that caused her to tremble in fear like that?

Yu Shin then looked at Seol.

“Are you trying to make Mi Ah draw?”

Seol shook his head.

“I am not.”

Yu Shin smiled after hearing that before relaying it to Mi Ah.

“You heard that, right, Mi Ah? He’s not trying to make you draw.”

“R-Really?” asked Mi Ah, looking up toward Seol.

“Really.”

“Then… it’s okay if we talk.”

Seol then asked Seol Hong and Chi Woo if he could have a conversation alone with Mi Ah.

While Seol Hong and Chi Woo obviously agreed, Yu Shin refused.

Or more accurately… Mi Ah refused.

“St-stay with us, Yu Shin.”

“Mi Ah?”

“Being alone… is scary.”

At a loss for what to do, Yu Shin looked at Seol.

“It’s alright if you join us,” nodded Seol.

Creak…

As Seol entered the carriage, Yu Shin and Mi Ah followed and took their seats on the opposite side. Since Mi Ah was unable to speak properly, it was up to Seol and Yu Shin to lead the conversation.

“I will be straightforward,” said Yu Shin. “How do you know Mi Ah?”

“I-I don’t draw… I can’t draw anymore…”

Mi Ah continued to murmur to herself about being unable to draw. She was broken.

“I am looking for the Luminous Bell,” answered Seol, directly.

Flinch…

In an instant, Mi Ah seemingly returned to normal as if a bolt of lightning had cleared the fog in her head.

“The Luminous Bell?”

“Yes, the Luminous Bell.”

“...Mi Ah?”

Yu Shin had sensed that something about Mi Ah had changed as well. And her next words shocked him completely.

“Yu Shin, could you wait outside?” asked Mi Ah.

“...Will you be alright?”

“Yes, please leave.”

“Y-Yeah…”

It was as if everything leading up to this had been an act. As Yu Shin left the carriage, Mi Ah continued.

“If you’re asking me about the Luminous Bell, then…”

“I believe that you can help me find it.”

“Why?”

“Because I know.”

“......”

“I know that you were the person he handed the Luminous Bell to.”

“How… How do you know? Did you… Did you meet him?”

“...Yes.”

- Who’s he?

- Argh, Snowman’s up to his bullshit again!

- Please tell us what that Fate thing is! 😭

- I wish I could steal his brain… his knowledge…

“Where is he now?”

“Somewhere far away.”

“...As expected. Did he achieve what he wanted to?”

“I am not sure either.”

In truth, Seol did know.

But there was no way he could tell her that.

“Did… Hye Myeong tell you about the Luminous Bell?”

“I cannot tell you that.”

“Fine… But it’s already too late.”

- Who’s Hye Myeong?

- idk, something with Fate.

- Why is everyone scared of whatever names he brings up LOOOL

Rustle…

Mi Ah then pulled out something.

A bell the size of an egg.

“Is this perhaps…”

“Yes, the Luminous Bell that Hye Myeong left behind. But as you can see…”

The Luminous Bell had lost its strength.

Though it had once radiated with brilliant light, it was now decaying with corruption.

“How did it end up like… I think I understand,” said Seol.

“You know a lot more than I expected.”

Seol bitterly smiled.

‘So it exhausted all of its power when it was used that one time.’

Seol still remembered using the Luminous Bell in the past and how powerful it had been.

“After he left, the Luminous Bell lost its powers. Just like… me.”

“Mi Ah? You lost your powers…?”

Mi Ah possessed a power far greater than any other member of the Soul Eyes Tribe. In fact, it was possible that her abilities were the strongest in the tribe’s entire history.

‘But she lost that?’

Mi Ah was capable of making special drawings.

“I can’t draw anymore… While I was acting earlier, it really is true that I can’t draw.”

“Is it something with your hands?”

“No, I can still draw. They just… can’t become special anymore. My powers have run out.”

“...I see. Then were you perhaps acting like that because people are searching for you?”

“There were a few hard times in the past, but… luckily, they all fell off on their own. I’ve been acting like this, just in case, though. I suppose you could say it’s a habit of sorts.”

Seol paused for a second to think before letting out a sigh.

‘Ultimately, it’s a dead end.’

Recently, everything had been going wrong for Seol, as if the world was conspiring against him. He just considered this to be another incident to add to the list.

“Fuu… I guess it’s best if I give up on the Luminous Bell. It was nice to meet you.”

“P-Please wait…” interrupted Mi Ah.

“......”

“What… How did Hye Myeong live after that? After he left me…”

That was one answer Seol could give with certainty.

“He silently walked on.”

“...That’s just like him.”

“Well then…”

“In truth…”

Mi Ah then revealed the truth that she had been hiding.

“...there is one more left.”

“...What?”

“There is one more drawing left. With Hye Myeong and me both in it.”

“...Oh my god.”

“I will give you that drawing, but in exchange… would you accept my request?” Mi Ah asked.

Translator - goguma

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

Two days had passed since Seol and Mi Ah had met, but Seol had already explained his plans to them on the very same day.

“Is that really true?”

“Yes, I believe it to be a risk worth taking,” replied Seol.

“You aren’t wrong, but… There was a power like that in the world? I still can’t believe it.”

“I know, right?! How does that make any sense?”

“What will you do, Lady Seol Hong?”

“......”

In the end, they decided to go along with Seol's plans for the next trial.

However, the surprising thing was that Chi Woo was joining them once more.

But it wasn’t for any particular reason.

“It sounds fun!”

And there was no reason for Seol or Seol Hong to reject him either. It would surely be easier with Chi Woo’s help.

Two days after their discussion, they arrived at Mi Ah’s house. It was a flimsy wooden cabin in the mountains, isolated and surrounded by wilderness.

Sniff, sniff…

“It smells like paper.”

“It does…”

Seol nodded, agreeing with their statements.

If it smelled like paper, they were surely at the right place.

Knock, knock…

Creaaaaaak…

“You’ve arrived… I’ve been waiting for you. Let us begin right away.”

Mi Ah hurriedly began preparing a few things.

With Seol and Chi Woo’s help, they moved the furniture outside, revealing scrolls scattered throughout the room.

“The drawing I was talking about was this.”

“...It’s definitely it.”

It was a drawing of a smiling Hye Myeong. Although he was dressed in robes typically worn by Buddhist monks, his hair remained unshaven.

Chi Woo and Seol Hong both looked confused.

“This drawing… No, I’ve definitely seen this person before somewhere…”

“Why do I get the feeling… that he’s someone really famous…”

Ignoring them, Mi Ah continued.

“There are a few precautions that you must take. First…”

Mi Ah then began explaining the events that would unfold next to Seol and the others.

“You’re serious? That’s really what’s going to happen?”

“Alright, get ready. Everyone, hold hands.”

“Are you not joining us, Mi Ah?”

“Because I cannot exist there. Another me exists there.”

“...I understand.”

Seol stood at the center, gripping Seol Hong’s and Chi Woo’s hands tightly. They couldn’t afford to let go, any slip could lead to significant problems.

“Then… I’ll begin.”

Fwooooosh…

Mi Ah then began to radiate an unusual energy.

Or, more accurately… it was the drawing in her hand radiating it.

“So that you may face the world hidden beyond the paper… reveal the true form of the world covered by ink.”

Flutter, flutter!

The scrolls began to flutter as a mysterious wind surged through the room.

And then…

Glooooooooooow!

A brilliant light shot out from Mi Ah’s drawing, enveloping the three of them.

Thuuuuuud!

A jolt coursed through their bodies, as if they had plummeted from a great height.

They then heard a few birds chirping.

“Urgh… What happened? Did it fail?”

“I don’t… think it did.”

Seol then pointed at the scenery in front of him.

They found themselves on an open plateau, surrounded by tall grass that swayed gently in the breeze, filled with fresh, invigorating air.

“Huh? This is…”

Seol Hong pointed to the horizon.

“Seol, are the people we were supposed to find… them?”

She was pointing at a pair of silhouettes.

“...It seems so.”

Seol was inwardly looking forward to it.

Though he had anticipated this moment eventually, he hadn't expected it to arrive so soon, if at all.

He wondered if he was meeting him too soon.

“...Huh?”

A robed man and a young girl painting while blindfolded stood on guard as Seol’s party approached.

The monk was especially on guard, appearing almost hostile.

“Who are you three? Where did you come from?”

“......”

“I asked you to reveal yourselves! If you don’t answer me…”

Seol was at a loss for words.

The young, handsome man in front of him then took a stance, preparing his long staff.

Seol had raised 10 powerful pieces, all of which had tested Ascension.

He was one of them.

Though he was still in an incomplete state right now, he was a man who would one day be called the Great Virtue. Hye Myeong, a corrupt monk, stood right in front of Seol.

“I asked you who you were!”

Was Seol his master? Or another consciousness within him?

[You have received additional information on Hidden Adventure 'Luminous Bell'.]

[Sudden Adventure 'Luminous Bell' is now active.]

[This Adventure is very dangerous.]

Chi Woo’s jaw dropped to the floor.

“How does this… make any sense?”

The reason for Chi Woo’s surprise was because of the young girl hiding behind Hye Myeong.

She appeared even younger than Seol Hong, and despite it being their first meeting, they instinctively knew who she was.

“Hye Myeong… Who are they?”

She was Mi Ah—only much younger.

It was a time when Mi Ah was young, and Hye Myeong’s powers had not yet fully developed.

The three of them had entered the world in Mi Ah’s drawing.

[Due to a strange power, Sudden Adventure ‘Back Then’ is now active.]

[This Adventure is very dangerous.]

……