Chapter 98: Horizon of Communication (2)

Silence.

The figure perched on the rock quietly watched me.

I didn’t speak first either.

Instead, I lifted my gaze and stared back at the person on the boulder.

A woman… or a man?

The question arose immediately.

It wasn’t just because of the figure’s long, flowing black hair that cascaded down to their waist.

They appeared to be in their early twenties at most.

The white robe—whether martial attire or casual wear, I couldn’t tell—seemed two sizes too large, and the exposed skin was even whiter than the fabric.

Though their features were distinct, the slender lines of their face softened any potential harshness.

Their eyes, shaded like peach blossoms, tilted slightly upward.

Their lips were a striking crimson, as if painted with something… or perhaps unnaturally flushed with blood.

Yes, as they say in the world:

A horoscope brimming with the Peach Blossom Curse.

But what truly caught my attention were the eyes.

Even within an overall androgynous appearance, the reason I couldn’t confidently determine their gender.

Those eyes devoured the feminine aura that otherwise surrounded them.

The brown eyes were so deep, it seemed as if they held all the storms of time.

They reminded me of a bloodstained tiger crouching in a field of flowers.

“Finished your appraisal?”

When that voice reached my ear, I finally knew their gender with certainty.

“I see you’re quite disappointed that this venerable one is a man,” the man muttered with a smirk.

“Yet I’m disappointed as well. If you were a lovely woman, I would have welcomed you with open arms like the waiter at the Wind and Cloud Inn.”

But I remained silent, maintaining my silence.

I didn’t even protest when this person, who looked much younger, almost like a boy, spoke to me with such condescension.

I was certain that even if I were Go Geonho, this brat would still treat me the same way.

With that conviction, I said, “What a pathetic man you are. While browsing the forum, I noticed how posts about people who narrowly escaped death and gained enlightenment were quite eye-catching. Indeed, fortuitous encounters are rarely obtained easily.”

I met his gaze squarely, his eyes narrowed like a cat’s.

“You are the Sky Thief.”

“That’s the alias I use on the forum. Now, let’s see. What should I call you?”

“Lee Taejun.”

“Lee Taejun? Is that your alias?”

“No. That’s my real name.”

At my words, the Sky Thief’s eyes widened dramatically.

Then they narrowed sharply, filled with keen interest.

“Oh? You’ve actually uttered your true name. It seems you’re just an ordinary mortal, like a pebble rolling on the road.”

“No, that’s not it,” I replied, shrugging.

“I simply assumed that knowing my name posed no threat, since we belong to completely different dimensions anyway.”

Moreover, Earth is officially a region where the Latest Version of the Current Status Window, allowing interdimensional communication, has not yet been distributed.

Even if I revealed my identity, the information wouldn’t reach anyone who could actually threaten me.

The Sky Thief’s eyes narrowed.

“True. You’re right. Knowing your true name changes nothing. And in a way, that applies to me as well.”

“Is that because you’re as ordinary as a pebble rolling on the road?”

“You impudent brat.”

The Sky Thief chuckled.

His high-pitched, almost childish laughter didn’t quite match his youthful face.

But it didn’t last long.

He answered with a faint smile.

“No. It’s because I am a being even more insignificant than a pebble rolling on the road.”

”…”

He replied in a voice as light as a feather, but I couldn’t tell if he was being serious or sarcastic.

A smile lingered on his lips, but his eyes held no trace of amusement.

He continued in the same tone.

“Nevertheless, don’t expect me to reveal my true name to you. I won’t tell you my true name, dwelling, Holy Class, or anything else.”

Well, I didn’t particularly want to know his Holy Class anyway.

Whether that was his true meaning or not, the point remained:

He refused to voluntarily disclose any information.

Then I have a method too.

I silently activated a function in the Status Window.

Though our worldviews differ, Biyeong is still a Status Window holder.

This should at least allow me to verify his capabilities.

But the moment I brought the QR Code Reader close to Biyeong, an unexpected notification popped up:

Hmm.

Manager Mi’s swift explanation appeared.

Hmm, so there’s no way to check the Sky Thief’s information right now.

In that case, I have only one option left.

“Then I’ll be taking my leave now,” I said expressionlessly.

”…What?”

“I’m leaving this room.”

This was the Face-to-Face Chat room within the Horizon of Communication.

As a virtual dimension, the exit method was naturally very simple.

Just open the Horizon of Communication Status Window,

and press ‘Yes’ on the window that popped up before you.

“Wait, a moment!”

Just as I was about to touch the Status Window, Sky Thief, who had been sitting on a rock, hastily opened his mouth.

He didn’t stop there.

He quickly jumped down from the rock.

Clang!

The impact caused the longsword at Sky Thief’s waist to swing violently.

“Wait a moment! You’re leaving just like that?”

“Yes.”

“Did something urgent come up? Are you going to the restroom?”

“No.”

“Then you’ll be back?”

“I won’t be back.”

“What?”

Sky Thief urgently tried to grab my T-shirt.

Of course, his attempt was quickly thwarted.

We were now in “Manner Mode,” where any physical contact was prohibited.

As soon as his hand touched my clothes, it was repelled with a spark.

“Huh? Why is this happening?”

The wild and cold demeanor from moments ago had vanished without a trace.

Now, his eyes were round and pleading, like a lover trying to cling to someone leaving.

But I replied with a stony expression.

“Why would I discuss anything with someone who refuses to reveal anything?”

In the first place, I had accepted Sky Thief’s Face-to-Face Chat request.

Partly because I hoped it might aid my growth, and partly out of simple curiosity about the Face-to-Face Chat feature.

I also wanted to understand how users could still exist on a forum that had been closed long ago.

Now, my curiosity about Face-to-Face Chat had been satisfied.

The Sky Thief before me declared he wouldn’t reveal his information, and I couldn’t verify it through a QR code either. He even went so far as to call me a “useless, insignificant being.”

“I’m not that patient. I don’t have time to waste here, bickering with someone I don’t even know.”

”…”

The Sky Thief opened and closed his mouth, at a loss for words.

“Then I really will be going.”

Just as I was about to tap the Status Window again…

“Biyeong,” the Sky Thief spat out.

“It’s not the name my mother gave me, but I’ve lived my entire life under that name. So you could say it’s my true name.”

”…”

I slowly withdrew my hand from the Status Window.

To be honest, I had been thinking about him a little.

After all, someone who would desperately post a “person search” ad for at least 3,650 days…

I was certain that he wouldn’t casually discard a connection he had finally managed to establish.

Of course, if he hadn’t grabbed my hand, I would have left this room without looking back.

“Furthermore, I don’t know what stories from our world you’ve heard, or how much you know. But I can tell you one thing for certain.”

Biyeong continued in a low voice:

“As I said earlier, I’m just a lowly commoner, rolling around like a pebble on the road. I can’t answer anything else right now. So if you’re not satisfied with this answer, feel free to leave.”

I stared silently at Biyeong.

He turned his head sideways, staring at the ground as if he wouldn’t stop me even if I left right then and there.

So, I asked quietly, “Then, if the time comes later, will you tell me?”

“Tell you what?”

“Your story.”

Biyeong’s eyes turned toward me again.

A moment of silence filled the space.

The trickling sound of water and the calls of nameless birds brushed past.

“I can’t be certain, but I won’t deny it either.”

“I understand.”

I nodded and raised my hand to the Status Window.

”…”

This time, Biyeong didn’t stop me.

He stood with his arms crossed, lips pressed together as if he had resigned himself.

I addressed him, “I’ll be back soon. Next time, I’ll initiate a Face-to-Face Chat.”

“Huh.”

Biyeong’s eyes widened.

“So it’s true?”

“Nobody would lie about something like this.”

My answer brought a clear look to Biyeong’s face.

Looking at him now, I wondered if I had misperceived the bloodthirsty beast-like glint in his eyes when we first met.

“I see. Then, to you…”

“Please use a different form of address. I don’t know how much longer you’ve lived than me, but I don’t like being treated with such familiarity.”

”…How impudent of you.”

“Then I’ll continue to live impudently and never come back here again.”

“I have one question for you.”

Biyeong changed his form of address more readily than I expected.

This wasn’t exactly pleasant either, but it was better than being called “you bastard.”

“How did you manage to view my posts?”

“How did you manage to access a forum that was closed long ago?” Biyeong asked.

I blinked once and answered immediately.

“I can’t reveal that information right now.”

“Right now?”

“Yes. Perhaps I’ll tell you when the time is right.”

Biyeong’s face went blank, as if he’d been hit by a sudden realization.

But that didn’t last long.

He chuckled and nodded.

”…Alright. Then, I’d like to make a request.”

“What is it?”

He hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking:

“Even if it’s just to hasten that ‘time,’ would you be willing to visit here occasionally as a guest?”

He was beating around the bush, but the crux of his request was simply for me to be his companion.

I didn’t answer right away, instead studying Biyeong’s expression.

The boy stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking deliberately relaxed, his gaze slightly averted.

Yet beneath that facade lay something far more mature than his appearance suggested.

His expectant expression made me ponder many things.

“I won’t be able to visit often, but I’ll come by when I have time.”

“Really?”

“Enough to be a conversation partner, at least.”

Biyeong’s eyes sparkled.

“Thank you.”

He added quietly, “I’ll repay this kindness someday, somehow.”

“I won’t refuse,” I replied with a smile.

“Then I’ll head back for now.”

“Are you busy?” Biyeong asked, looking slightly disappointed.

I needed to check the reaction to yesterday’s press conference and monitor the Synchronization Rate, which was still 2% short of the target. Even after reaching the goal, Biyeong would still have plenty of opportunities to be my conversation partner.

With that, Biyeong cautiously asked, “May I… make a request?”

“What kind of request?”

It would have been awkward if he suddenly asked me to fetch something from another dimension.

Fortunately, his request was quite modest.

“Next time you visit, I’d appreciate it if you could bring some food.”

“Food?”

“Anything is fine, as long as it’s not Wall-Breaking Pills.”

I glanced at the chat window above my head, slightly surprised.

Manager Mi, who understood my look, replied:

That was possible?

Such a feature is unimaginable in the current Parsley Market.

To prevent confusion between dimensions, Parsley Market imposes strict restrictions on transactions.

Firstly, posts from worlds with vastly different worldviews don’t even show up in each other’s feeds.

Even between dimensions where transactions are permitted, the Market C/S Team can unilaterally cancel a deal if they determine the item is unsuitable.

Additionally, to prevent fraudulent transactions, the system prohibits the free transfer of items.

However, Face-to-Face Chat remains completely unmonitored.

Now I understand why the Latest Version removed the Face-to-Face Chat feature.

If this feature still existed, everyone would communicate directly through the Horizon of Communication.

Who would use Parsley Market, subject to the Company’s surveillance?

“Of course, if you’re in a harsh environment where you’re worried about having food to eat tomorrow, that’s a different story.”

Biyeong’s voice interrupted my fleeting thoughts.

“Reading the forum posts, I see there are quite a few dimensions that suffered severe food shortages during the Great Famine, comparable to the Central Plains.”

“That’s not a problem. Obtaining food isn’t difficult. I’ll get you some.”

Judging by his appearance, Biyeong didn’t seem to be starving. Yet, after 3,956 days since I last saw him, he was asking me to bring him food. There had to be a reason.

“Thank you.”

Biyeong nodded, his eyes brimming with anticipation.

“I’ll repay you accordingly.”

“You promised.”

“Though I am but a humble mortal, I never speak with a forked tongue.”

Before I could respond, I was abruptly kicked out of the Face-to-Face Chat.

And just like that, Biyeong’s figure, standing with his hands clasped behind his back and staring at me, suddenly faded into the distance.

In the darkness, Biyeong’s status window materialized before me, not my own.

The moment I processed the information…

”?”

My eyes widened involuntarily.

The moment after closing Horizon of Communication

“Sigh.”

I settled deeper into the sofa, steadying my breathing.

Even now, the fresh scent of grass and the gentle babble of a clear stream lingered in my mind.

Just before leaving the Face-to-Face Chat:

Biyeong, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, silently seeing me off, his eyes holding an unreadable expression.

And finally, the Status Window I checked through the QR Code Reader:

“Manager Mi.”

“Anything you need to tell me?”

Right now, the only thing I can deduce about Biyeong is his origin.

Judging by his attire, manner of speaking, and the longsword at his waist…

He was clearly from a world rooted in martial arts.

It wasn’t particularly surprising.

The Parsley Market was flooded with martial arts-related items, and Phil Damrok was full of posts from members of groups like the Demonic Cult and the Renegade Alliance.

But that was all I knew.

Manager Mi sent a dejected emoji.

In conclusion, to find out how Biyeong ended up alone on that forum, I’d have to hear it directly from him.

“Maybe someday I’ll find out.”

Well, this could be considered a fortuitous encounter.

It’s definitely an opportunity I wouldn’t want to miss.

If I keep maintaining this connection, there will surely come a day when I can hear the full story from him.

So for now…

“Let’s start by thinking about what to feed Biyeong.”

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

According to the “Information” in Biyeong’s Status Window, building a good relationship with him is the most important thing right now.

Just then…

Tweedle!

My smartphone rang.