I didn’t understand.

From telling me to save the world, to saying that my sacrifice would be the most noble thing.

It was to the point where I even wondered if they were mocking me.

Why me of all people? What happens if I can’t save the world? What does it mean to sacrifice? What kind of answer do they expect from me by saying such things? Without a single word of explanation on what to do.

I didn’t understand any of his words. And at the same time, one question arose.

If the scene just now was the future that would unfold, if it would happen because I didn’t save the world.

Why should the existence of ‘me’ bear the responsibility for that scene?

I am powerless. I knew that fact better than anyone.

Although I had awakened, I didn’t even know how much power I had within myself.

If it were the me from before, who had just returned, I might have answered ‘Yes! I’ll save it!’ without a second thought.

But not anymore.

A heart that had been broken again and again throughout life was just this powerless.

“…I don’t want to.”

At my answer, Silence’s mouth closed. He soon spoke again in a gentle voice.

“I’ll explain again. This world will be destroyed. Whether it’s tomorrow, 10 days later, or 10 years later.”

“……”

“The best case scenario to prevent destruction is for 20% of the currently surviving humanity to survive. Even this cannot be achieved without your cooperation.”

“…Is that a prophecy?”

“It’s something that will definitely happen.”

“You’re saying only I can save the world?”

“Without even you, less than 200 people would survive.”

Silence’s voice was calm, serene, and only benevolent.

I suddenly wondered what expression he might be making behind that veil.

“…I don’t want to.”

“It seems you don’t understand, so let me explain again…”

“I understood, and I’m refusing. I don’t want to cooperate.”

“…Why?”

“I want to ask you in return. What can I do that makes you tell me to save the world?”

Silence fell silent at my question. I laughed as I looked at him.

I had realized quite a long time ago. My life isn’t an action fantasy drama, but a life documentary, and I have to live responsibly for myself.

And so I gave up.

What?

Well. What was it that I gave up?

“What if I can’t save the world? What happens then?”

When the desired result doesn’t come, where will the blame and criticism be directed?

Silence, who had been listening quietly to my words, spoke again in a calm voice.

“You are no longer the powerless you of the past. You are fully capable of saving the world.”

The voice piercing my ears somehow felt cold. As if it should obviously be so, as if no reason could be understood.

Suddenly, a single tear fell.

“…I don’t know. You say I’m capable of saving the world?”

I don’t know. Although I’ve awakened as S-class, I’m still just one S-class. There are over 300 hunters in the world who are S-class, and among them, there must be many who are more outstanding than me.

Yet, why tell me to save the world?

“Of course. As long as you wish, you can do it anytime.”

“And that’s premised on my sacrifice, right?”

“Does that not appeal to you?”

“Does it look like it would?”

“Strange. I thought you would naturally accept.”

“……”

Silence’s voice was nonchalant. The voice rejecting what he thought I would naturally do was too plain. So it felt out of place.

His words sounded plausible at first glance, but in fact, there were many questions and contradictions.

Because it’s possible, it should naturally be done?

Why on earth?

I looked straight at the one standing before me.

“Why should I sacrifice myself?”

“Why do you ask such a question?”

“I want to ask why you’re asking why… Did you think that if you told an ordinary person to sacrifice themselves to save the world, they would just answer ‘Yes’?”

“……”

“Just go grab anyone on the street and ask them. Please save the world. It’s something only you can do. If you say that, how many people do you think would agree?”

With each word I spoke, Silence’s expression hardened. I spewed out words as they came, not even knowing exactly what I was saying.

“Who would answer that they’d sacrifice themselves if told that ten thousand people would be happy if they did?”

And for people they’ve never even met, no less.

I found it strange to treat something that wasn’t natural as if it were. And I thought that my current doubt was the same as the doubt I had when I saw the people inside the erosion gate not long ago.

One shouldn’t take someone’s sacrifice for granted, yet why do people only seek their own comfort without seeing others’ hardships and pain?

“Does someone absolutely have to sacrifice themselves?”

His answer was simple.

“Because that is the best option.”

“My dream is to live happily with a cat, not something grand like saving the world.”

“But you will save it.”

“Is that also a prophecy?”

“How does it seem to you?”

Right now it’s just a moment’s dream, and if I wake up from this dream, I’ll forget this most important thing.

“…Don’t make me laugh.”

Is peace that exists based on someone’s sacrifice truly worth it?

If the things silenced for the peace of the majority start to scream.

“I’ll decide what I do.”

If the sacrificed beings in turn wish for destruction.

“So get out of my dream.”

What will become of this world then?

“Don’t ever do that again!”

“Yes, yes.”

“You really…! I…! Ugh, you’re just like Cheon Shin Woo’s sibling, causing trouble.”

The nagging in my ears was something I’d heard over 30 times already, but I quietly kept repeating ‘Yes’. The hand peeling the apple looked terribly vicious. Isn’t that knife skills? I didn’t quibble about Min Yu Shin peeling an apple with what looked like a weapon an assassin would use.

“You got lucky this time, but if something like that happens again… Sigh, just thinking about how much of a fuss Shin Woo will make gives me a headache…”

I’ve heard that sound 30 times too. Cheon Shin Woo will make a fuss again. I ate an apple like it was someone else’s business.

“Are you even pretending to listen?”

“…I’m a patient, you know.”

“Sigh, what sin did I commit in my past life…”

I grabbed another apple and ate it. Sweet and delicious.

It’s not that I don’t understand why Min Yu Shin is so angry. Despite being told how dangerous it was, I disappeared the moment he took his eyes off me and even got caught up in a gate. If I were in his position, I would have been angry too.

Nevertheless, I didn’t have any particular thoughts. The first reason for that is…

“…I don’t know how to thank Baek Ya. Sigh…”

Because I made it out alive anyway. And the second reason…

“Ugh. There are already problems to sort out… Shin Ah, can’t you please stop your brother? Hm? He’ll at least listen to you…”

I couldn’t really feel that Cheon Shin Woo was making a fuss because of me.

Cheon Shin Woo’s sibling is clearly his reverse scale.

It was something everyone had accepted as fact for years, and no one dared to ask carelessly about his sibling.

Now, suddenly saying that I’m that great reverse scale… Well, how could it feel real?

As a result, I was just eating apples at the Cheonrang affiliated hospital.

Of course, if it were in the past, I would have been in a position to worry about hospital bills for using a private room.

It’s been a day since I was safely rescued from the gate. South Korea was in an uproar over two events in total.

“Hah… I need to meet with Baek Ya soon and talk… Did Yi Hyun say anything strange by any chance?”

“No. He seemed like a nice person.”

“…Baek Ya did?”

Min Yu Shin muttered in disbelief. He soon said, ‘That idiot couldn’t have cleared an S-class gate alone…’

I expressed momentary pity at Yi Hyun’s rock-bottom credibility.

While I was at it, I asked something I was curious about.

“You act like you can’t trust Am Wol, but you went and asked Yi Hyun for help.”

“Am Wol is an untrustworthy bunch, but Baek Ya is okay.”

What kind of nonsense is that?

Before I could ask another question, Min Yu Shin asked me first.

“There must have been a new S-class in that gate. …Do you know anything about it, Shin Ah?”

A new S-class hunter. They made their name known by appearing and ranking, and contributed to saving numerous people by conquering the erosion gate.

The appearance of ‘Yohwa’ caused an uproar not only in South Korea but around the world.

“Hmm. Well…”

Min Yu Shin held his head. His expression was complicated and annoyed.

I quietly checked my status window. The setting as Cheonrang sub-guild master and name were both private. I vaguely knew such settings were possible, but I couldn’t help finding it fascinating.

And the other incident.

“It’s been reported that the number of casualties from this incident exceeds 200…”

It’s the erosion gate itself.

For some reason, the fact that the order to conquer and enter was delayed because it was an S-class gate leaked, and numerous people criticized the association.

Yi Hyun, who entered the unauthorized gate on his own, was originally subject to sanctions, but voices are rising saying ‘Why should a national hero be punished!’

That’s right. Currently, South Korea is in an uproar over that erosion gate and the appearance of a new S-class awakened. Thanks to this, Cheon Shin Woo’s younger sister was completely buried.

“You really need to know how lucky you are.”

Min Yu Shin frowned and sighed as he watched the news flowing from the TV. I’ve heard that thirty times too.

“Yeah, well.”

I pretended not to see Min Yu Shin while keeping my gaze fixed on the news.

Strangely enough, Min Yu Shin didn’t seem to know that I was that ‘Yohwa’. Even though he could find out just by checking my information window, he firmly believed that I was an unawakened.

Yi Hyun kept his promise. Although numerous reporters asked about Yohwa, he only left one sentence, “Oh. It’s a secret,” and didn’t answer anything else. I thought he would have a loose tongue, but it was unexpected.

Other than that, there are many issues like investigating the gate and whatnot, but I’m not sure about the details.

Bzzt.

A vibration sounded from somewhere. Min Yu Shin’s expression hardened as he took out his phone to check.

At the same time.