'Save our separated comrades, and then return home!'
After getting the major gist of Kuzon's story in mere moments—thanks to the wondrous effects of magic—that was the goal.
However, despite the thrill that accompanied having a clear goal and the means to achieve it, something else crept within me.
It was an uncertain feeling that threatened to swallow me whole, and the more I dwelled on it, the more hesitant I became.
This nearly crippling trail of thoughts led only to one element.
'Neron...'
From Old Man Neron's explanation about our world's Neron and his knowledge of the occurrence of these sets of events, to the fact that no 'Neron' could be trusted, I began to feel unease and doubt.
I had also critically thoight about the possibility that Neron knew more than he was letting on, but... it currently felt unreal that he had some suspicious motive behind his actions.
It seemed Kuzon also wanted me to reason things in this light since his own disposition towards Neron was already suspicious.
Regardless, within the span of a few seconds, that seemed to stretch on forever, I was able to at least determine one thing.
'Survive long enough to confront Neron. That's the only thing I can do now.'
With that thought echoing in my heart, I braced myself for the new world that awaited us.
*
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*
The golden portal that connected Kuzon and I from the world I previously occupied to the one we approached finally parted, leading us to a new place.
A fresh fragrance accompanied the wind that blew on my face as we were transported to our destination.
With both resolve and determination, I embraced the future to come, stepping out of the golden portal with energy burning in my eyes.
'Eh...?'
... And, well... things didn't always work out as we wanted, right?
Kuzon and I found ourselves in a shady place the moment we arrived.
It seemed like a massive warehouse, made of pure metal. The dimly lit expanse held a lot of crates around, and the hardly tiled ground hand a crude look.
However, the most important things I noticed were the people.
The moment we arrived, we were greeted with the piercing gazes of strangers. They were at least a couple dozen of them, and they seemed to have been talking to themselves before we arrived.
The moment our presence was made known outside the portal, though, I sensed an immense amount of malice surge from them.
'Damnit! Why did we get transported to this sort of comprising location.'
Was it just my bad luck that I always ended up in places like these?
The people began to speak different languages, engaging in dialects that I couldn't comprehend.
'Haaa... this is bad. To think I finally arrived at a world where I don't understand what they're saying at all.
'I also don't recognize any of them.' My thoughts flowed as I saw their agitated faces.
Their facial structures were strange. I hadn't seen any kinds of people like these before.
It was certainly strange beyond words. A 'new' kind of strange.
"This is bothersome. They're getting closer." Kuzon muttered, taking a step forward.
I could already guess what he was trying to do.
'Welp. Maybe it's for the best.' Inasmuch as these people were likely not to be enemies, and the whole thing was a misunderstanding, we couldn't resolve the issue without any means of communication.
In the end, we had to subdue them... and then figure out a way out from there.
'To do that, I'm sure Kuzon will resort to his ability.'
In a surge of golden light, Kuzon released an overpowering amount of Aether, causing all the people who had begun to close in on us with weapons go instantly fall to their knees in subjugation.
In a mere instant, we had all of them subdued—well, Kuzon did.
*
*
*
Magic truly remained an amazing concept to me. Using it, one could achieve literally anything.
And that included learning a new language.
Scanning the memories of one of the people that were currently dazed and kneeling, I got a feel of their language and identity.
"Looks like we're in a place called South Korea. This is the Year 2023, and this place is one of many secret warehouses of an Illegal Brokers' group." I muttered.
It looked like these people were the bad guys, after all.
I should have figured, considering how they looked like thugs—with their dangerous glares and tattooed bodies and faces.
'I just didn't want to discriminate based on appearances.' I smile crept up on my face as I observed the thirty-one men.
All of them looked human, and while I couldn't sense a Mana Core from them, they had vestiges of Mana flowing through their bodies.
'Interesting. They can use Mana without a Mana Core?'
"We shouldn't waste time with them." Kuzon's voice echoed as he glanced at me.
I noticed he was removing his hand from the head of one of the kneeling men.
'Looks like he already absorbed his memories' I smiled to myself.
With that, it seemed the both of us could understand the language of the people of this place.
However, more than that... it seemed there was a much bigger problem.
>BOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<
An explosion sent the massive steel door that blocked the entrance to the warehouse flying, and a lot of men in black and blue uniforms rushed in.
They were also speaking in Korean, which was now something I could interpret.
"WE ARE THE SPECIAL SEOUL SECURITY SERVICES!" I could hear a loud echo emanate from outside as more of the men poured in.
In no time at all, they had taken positions in strategist places—some holding transparent-like shields, while others wielding this world's staple weapon—a strange technology called a 'Gun'.
"Get down on your knees... NOW!"
Now surrounded by these men in uniforms, I glanced at Kuzon, who seemed to be waiting for my decision.
'Looks like things are going to get more complicated, after all.'
*
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[A/N]
Welcome to the Awakened Modern Era side of the story.
I guess we all know who they're here to save. Let's see how that unfolds, shall we?
