ushernet Chapter 231
Chapter 231
Thanks to Hypnosis-chan’s Sacrifice, the Seal is Broken.
One of the two final locks within Yujin’s soul had been released.
The second restriction after regression.
The mystery of the first timeline.
Why...
Why didn’t he ever have children with his wives?
A memory that he had been compelled to keep secret until now began unraveling Yujin’s mind.
[“Disciple...? But I’m already thirty-five... This is seriously dangerous...”]
‘Now that I think about it, back then, Master was worried about having children at an older age...’
And at last, a memory from the first timeline resurfaced.
In that recollection, Aika had been deeply anxious.
Unlike in the second timeline, where they met earlier, she had only met Yujin at the age of thirty-three in the first timeline. By the time Yujin graduated from the Academy, she was already thirty-five.
For Aika, whose dream was to have many children, this was a source of constant distress.
She had gone to ridiculous lengths, even poking holes in condoms and wearing cat ears while acting all cutesy during intimate moments. She’d abandoned her usual dignity all for this reason.
[“Master! I had a dream! If you get just a little stronger here, you won’t have to worry about that anymore!”]
‘In the first timeline, I knew. About transcendent beings. I’d heard about them from the Saintess.’
The only reason Yujin hadn’t been overpowered by Aika’s advances back then was that he managed to convince her.
He had a dream where a horned young girl explained it to him:
Aika’s strength had already surpassed what a status window could measure. If she pushed herself just a little further... she could become a transcendent being.
And once that happened, there would be no more worries about childbirth.
She could have as many children as she wanted—enough to form a soccer team.
That was how Yujin had persuaded her.
Ding!
[The advanced skill ‘Divine Power’ has been activated.]
[‘Complete Hypnosis’ is forcibly triggered.]
[“Ah, okay...!! I’ll do my best!”]
And Aika... was successfully convinced.
Though Yujin didn’t realize it at the time, his efforts were guided by the then-unfallen Saintess. He truly believed that just a little more effort on his part would be enough.
...Little did he know that they would bear no fruit until he turned forty-seven.
[Hic. My power keeps growing, but it feels like I’m just one step away...!]
‘I felt so guilty about it. And I was sorry to Shia and Alice too.’
This was one of the reasons Yujin from the first timeline had been harshly criticized worldwide.
Despite being the world’s number one Awakened and marrying Shia and Alice along with Aika, he had no children. Public opinion wasn’t kind about it.
Especially for Aika, who endured each day feeling like another “Seol Hayeon,” constantly teased for her age and fertility concerns.
Of course, Aika never blamed Yujin.
Even Shia and Alice had expressed their understanding, agreeing it would be cruel to have children before Aika.
Yet, Yujin had always felt guilty.
He knew how much they all wanted children, the fruits of their love.
He knew the criticism they faced as a result of his hesitation, which affected not only him but his wives as well.
‘Why did I do that...?’
-Pause.
‘...Wait. Was this also the Saintess’s doing?’
But Yujin in the second timeline was different.
Unlike before, he now understood.
He realized that his “Complete Hypnosis” stemmed from the Saintess’s divine authority.
And if it was the Saintess, guiding their actions would have been a trivial matter.
In other words, the reason they hadn’t had children in the first timeline...
Was because the Saintess had interfered through hypnosis.@@@@
This revelation struck Yujin like a bolt of lightning.
‘She didn’t want us to have kids because she was planning to regress us....’
“......!!!”
‘No, that can’t be the only reason! There has to be more, especially since this memory resurfaced right now!!!’
And then another realization.
Look at the current situation.
They were in the middle of the final boss battle. His Master was at risk of losing her arm again.
Why did this memory come back at this exact moment?
It had to be for a reason—one meant to turn the tide of this battle.
Yujin instantly recognized it as part of the Saintess’s design.
‘And this isn’t about me....’
[“Master——!!! The reason we couldn’t have kids, it was all because of her!]
The memories that had resurfaced in Yujin’s mind were quickly conveyed to Aika.
Hurriedly, he laid out his suspicions:
The reason they hadn’t had children before regression was to make Aika a transcendent being.
The reason she had ascended so quickly in the second timeline.
The reason she possessed physical abilities that overwhelmed other Awakened.
It was because the most gifted individual had spent fifteen years training relentlessly in the first timeline.
And lastly...
The reason she had to be this way.
The reason this memory came back to him only now.
[“So, Master, if anyone can strike that thing down, it’s you!!!”
‘I don’t know how exactly, but I’m sure of it!’
Yujin’s thoughts were transmitted directly to Aika.
Faster than telepathy, faster than sound—the resonance of their souls ensured instant understanding.
The final boss...
Was split in two.
-Shatter... Thud.
"......."
A moment of silence.
All eyes turned to Aika and the being before her.
The monstrous creature, which had unleashed countless tentacles without pause, the strongest entity in Awakened history...
The final boss lay defeated, split from head to toe.
"Huh? Did I... do it...?"
"......!! Master!!!"
"Waaaaaahhhhh!!!!!"
Delayed cheers filled the cavern.
Yujin, overwhelmed with pride for his Master.
The others, relieved that the nightmare was finally over.
"Waaaaahhh!!!"
"I don’t really get it, but now I can finally have kids with my disciple!!"
For Aika, her happiness was fueled by the thought that she could now, at last, bear the fruits of love with Yujin.
All those hopeful emotions overflowed, merging into a wave of elation.
"It’s really over now...."
The EX-Class Gate that once threatened humanity’s extinction...
Was finally closed, thanks to Aika’s hard carry.
【———This is exactly why I didn’t want to fight.】
"......Hik!!!!?"
Just as it seemed the curtains had closed on their ordeal,
a voice reverberated through their very souls.
It was a chilling sound, like nails dragged across a chalkboard, crawling into their ears and settling in their bones.
Instinctively, everyone’s gaze was drawn downward.
"......!!!"
‘The Gate is collapsing!?’
At that moment, all nine of them realized the horrifying truth.
The floor of the boss room, which they had been standing on, was disintegrating beneath their feet.
And below it was... the sky.
A sky that gleamed ominously with an unnatural red hue.
And below that...
Seoul.
"We haven’t even recovered the Core yet... why is this happening...?"
-Whoosh.
"......Eh?"
Before anyone could grasp the meaning of what was happening,
Aika froze in place.
Her expression went rigid as she felt something brush against her ankle.
‘No way....’
-Flinch.
‘Monsters!? But they weren’t supposed to enter the boss room!!?’
The thing gripping her ankle was a monster.
It was one of the countless creatures that had been unable to step foot near the boss room before.
But now, with the Gate collapsing and the boundaries of space and dimensions breaking down,
the crumbling floor had allowed them to swarm in.
"......!!!! Master!!!"
"Discipleeeee!!!"
Yujin stretched out his hand.
Aika immediately extended her arm in turn.
The two transcendent beings reacted with lightning speed,
their movements synchronized like clockwork.
But the floor crumbled faster than they could act.
-KRUMMMBBBBLLLE!!!
"HIIIIIIIIK!!!!?"
Aika’s body plummeted into the abyss.
But it wasn’t just Aika.
Yujin, along with all nine members of the raid party...
And...
【Go forth, my minions.】
[Kyaaaaarwuuuuu!!!!!]
"......!!!!?"
‘Even the monsters!?’
More than ten thousand monsters—
An overwhelming tide of creatures—
descended from above.
And their destination was clear: the city of Seoul, looming ominously below.
-Gulp.
‘If this keeps up, Seoul will be trampled!!’
It was the beginning of Phase 2.