Beyond the Eternity

Parasitic organisms were not dangerous because of their strength, but their ability to infect and possess other living species. The grade 4 Faceless One was dangerous because it was able to silently infiltrate its host's mind and consumes their consciousness.

It made perfect sense why Soo Jinyoung was able to captured by the stray people. Looking closer, I could see several red veins spreading throughout her body.

Fortunately, she was still alive. But her consciousness will eventually be consumed by the parasite if she was left alone.

Park Joonhyuk frowned and muttered besides me. "This woman... Isn't she rather brave? Or is she just stupid?"

"You can read her status window?"

"If you can read her information, then it's natural for me to do so as well."

Ah, reader benefits, was it? Considering his title as the King of Apostles, he should be able to read the information of characters as well.

Park Joonhyuk said, "In any case, do you know the items to fight against the parasite? I can list them out if you want?"

"There's no need."

Feeding her elven forest essences won't be enough to eliminate the parasite. Worst case scenario, the parasite would absorb the healing properties of the medicine and become even stronger.

'Open the Exclusive Shop.'

Upon command, the red system interface appeared infront of me.

[The shop manager (Administrator) is currently absent.]

[The default shop will be opened in the meantime.]

[A few features might be unavailable.]

To my luck, the exclusive shop can be opened when the administrator is absent. Although the trading function won't be available, It was enough to purchase a few necessary items.

[Exclusive skill, 𝕺𝖒𝖓𝖎𝖘𝖈𝖎𝖊𝖓𝖙 𝖂𝖆𝖑𝖑 has activated.]

A bunch of neon lettering smoothly flowed inside my head and I began purchasing the items one by one.

[You have purchased one Bottle of Starfire Essence.]

[You have purchased one vial of Crystallized Ether Dust.]

[You have purchased two Flasks of Moonlit Nectar.]

[You have purchased one Phoenix Feather Ash.]

[You have purchased five Blackthorn Mushrooms.]

[You have purchased one Magic Power Burner.]

[A total of 7,780 coins has been consumed.]

The space distorted and the purchased items appeared infront of me. I lit up the Magic Burner and crushed the ingredients before pouring them into the shove. Park Joonhyuk tilted his head and asked.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like? I'm making medicine."

"Wait a minute, are you really making that with just information from the novel?"

"Why? Can't I do it? You were the one who said it—if I follow the proper procedures, I can create anything, right? Besides, it's just a simple medicine. It's not difficult to make."

"What are you now, a doctor?"

"Well, I know a bit about medicine. My mother always wanted me to become a doctor, so I had to learn the basics of things like this. But that's a story for another day."

I mixed all the ingredients properly and adjusted the heat of the Magic Burner.

The mixed ingredients began to boil and eventually changed colour. I covered my nose. It was the kind of medicine that had a terrible taste along with an unsightly appearance. Even so, It would serve as a good medicine.

Park Joonhyuk placed his hands on his hips and stared at the soup-like medicine. He said, "By the way, are you sure saving her is the right choice?"

"What are you saying?"

"You know, I've read the novel to the end. From what I've read, It doesn't seem like Soo Jinyoung is a good person."

"Is there any good person in this world? If that's the case, you can apply that same logic to Song Jaewon."

"What the hell are you talking about? Wasn't Song Jaewon fighting for the people? Yes, he had done some terrible in the latter part of the story, but It couldn't be compared to this woman."

Park Joonhyuk's words weren't completely wrong. In response, I said, "You can't judge people by only looking at one side of their story."

"Tch. You say that while knowing the goal of this woman. Saving her might come back to bite you."

"I'm not just doing it for her sake," I replied while carefully pouring the finished medicine into a small vial. "It's a matter of survival. I'll take every opportunity to keep someone useful around if It means I can survive. Besides, even if she dies, we still have Song Jaewon."

"Cold-hearted much? And you call me a villain."

Even though I said that with a straight face, my mind was rather complicated.

Soo Jinyoung's goal was to destory the <Fate Stream> which is somewhat similar to my goal, but her ways of going about things were rather brutal. So I could understand Park Joonhyuk's concern.

Still, her strength, along with that of the regressor, was necessary to reach 'that' place. If either of them were to die, the consequences for this world would certainly be nothing good.

Therefore, both protagonists must be kept alive until the end. But that's like trying to keep two sunfish alive, realising that fact only dropped my spirits further.

[The constellation 'Divine Crane Doctor' is looking at you.]

[The constellation 'Divine Crane Doctor' is impressed by your medicine skills.]

[You have received 300 coins from a donator.]

Divine Crane Doctor? Ah, so someone like that was also there. I should probably find the Donguibogam when I'm free.

I knelt close to the unconscious Soo Jinyoung and carefully raised her head.

The medicine bubbled slightly as I uncorked the vial. The foul smell made me gag, but it was necessary. I opened her mouth and poured the liquid down her throat.

For a moment, nothing happened.

I tilted my head, confused. Did it not work? I thought I followed all the procedures though. Or could It be that I messed up somewhere.

Park Joonhyuk sighed as if he had anticipated this outcome. "See! I told you it's not that easy."

"Didn't I follow all the procedures? I think It'll take effect in a moment."

"Reading and doing are two completely different things. Don't you know? Talent is the deciding factor. If you could create something like a medicine by just reading it once, anyone would have become a great Alchemist. And even a great Alchemist wouldn't be able too..."

"Arrrggghhhhhhhhhhh!"

Before he could even finish, a painful scream suddenly emerged from Soo Jinyoung. It was a terrible scream that almost sounded inhuman.

"W-What? What the hell...?!"

"The parasite is fighting back. Pin her down quickly!"

Park Joonhyuk and I held Soo Jinyoung and pin her to the ground. Even so, the strength of [Lv. 60] was no joke.

"Why is she reacting this way?"
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"The medicine is strong so there will be backslash. Haven't you heard of the saying 'the cure is sometimes as painful as the disease?' The parasite won't let go easily, but this is the only way to purge it."

"Tch! Damnit, why the hell is she so strong? This stupid brute..."

Soo Jinyoung continued to thrash around violently as body convulsed as crimson demon-like veins pulsated and bulged through her system. It was almost impossible to pin her down without causing harm.

This perverted parasite... Did It like Soo Jinyoung's body this much?

Park Joonhyuk shouted. "How much longer?"

"It's hard to say. It looks like the parasite has gone deep into her blood vessels, but I don't think It take long."

"ARRRRGHHHH!!"

Soo Jinyoung let out another scream. Her eyes snapped open and turned bloodshot. At the same time, her nails dug into the ground which left deep grooves in the dirt as she writhed.

Park Joonhyuk cursed under his breath. "This is insane! Are you sure she would survive this?"

"She will. Her overall stats are high enough to withstand the procedure. She just needs to endure a little longer..."

Suddenly, Soo Jinyoung's body went limp, and the red veins across her skin began to recede.

Just to be sure, I activated a skill and checked her status window.

+

[ « Soul Status » ]

Name: Soo Jinyoung

Age: 27

Main Attributes: Infinite Reincarnator (9th Turn) (Giant), Fallen Star (Myth)

Skills: Demon Dragon Eyes Lv. 8, Pheonix Flame Lv. 9, Seven Heavenly Swordsmanship Lv. 10, Mental Barrier Lv. 6, Beast Mode Lv. 6, Crowd Steps Lv.

6, Sky Wind Lv... Omitted.

Divine Authorities: Regeneration, Succession

Overall Stats: Physique Lv. 60, Strength Lv. 60, Agility Lv. 60, Magic Power Lv. 60.

...

+

Her system interface looked the same but her abnormal status has disappeared.

I realised a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from my forehead.

Everything worked out in the end. At the very least, there was no need to worry about an infected Soo Jinyoung rampaging in the Seoul Dome.

I looked at Park Joonhyuk and opened my mouth. "Help me find a spoon."

"Huh? Hasn't she been cured already?"

"Yes. But I need to feed her the medicine to get rid of all lingering impurities."

"This guy, when did I turn into your house maid?"

"Do you want to feed her?"

"You know what, It's not so bad after all."

As I brought the Magic Power Burner closer, Park Joonhyuk entered a nearby store and gave me a spoon. I scooped up the soup with the spoon, blew it and put it inside Soo Jinyoung's mouth.

Park Joonhyuk crossed his arms, eyeing me with suspicion. "You know, you're suspiciously good at this whole medicine-making thing."

"I told you, I know enough to get by. Besides, it was all in the novel."

"Sure, but knowing something in theory and actually doing it are two different thing. You're either a genius or there's something else you're not telling me."

I shrugged. "Call it luck or intuition. Either way, she's alive, and that's what matters."

Park Joonhyuk still had an expression that screamed 'I am not convinced'.

"Ughh..."

He sighed.

"Fine. But what now? We can't stay here forever."

That's right. We can't afford to lag behind any longer.

It would be good if we were able to find the Disaster of Ruin before the Nightmare scenario begins. In fact, that would be the best case scenario. But that's easier said than done. Considering that the Disaster can't attack anybody at the moment, he must be keeping a low profile somewhere in Seoul.

... Where could we find that bastard?

[Exclusive skill, 𝕺𝖒𝖓𝖎𝖘𝖈𝖎𝖊𝖓𝖙 𝖂𝖆𝖑𝖑 has activated.]

I looked through the texts of the original work and found something that could aid me.

I looked at Park Joonhyuk and said. "We'll head east."

* * *

After a while, we left Gangnam and headed for Songpa-gu. We moved at a tremendous pace.

"Why are we heading east?"

"I have a hunch that the Disaster of Ruin is somewhere in Songpa-gu."

"A hunch?"

"Something like this happened in the original work. While everybody was transported randomly, the Disaster of Ruin was transported to Songpa-gu. Since he's restricted by the Story, he won't be able to attack so this is the best opportunity to kill him."

I looked at Park Joonhyuk who was running besides me and asked, "By the way, can you carry her?"

"What? Hell no!"

"C'mon, I know you don't like her. But you can at least use one of your puppets."

"I don't want to."

Park Joonhyuk quickly moved away from me as if I was the plague. Rather, he was avoiding the unconscious Soo Jinyoung who I was carrying behind me.

What was he so afraid, I wonder? My mind didn't linger on that matter for too long though.

Finally, we crossed the Jamsil Bridge and entered Songpa-gu. To be precise, Jamsil-dong. But It was a different sight from what I imagined.

I narrowed my eyes.

Something had wrapped around the 555 metres Lotte World Tower. It was massive clumps of crimson flesh that pulsed rhythmically as if it was alive and spread like a parasitic growth along the Tower's surface. Not only that, there were also parasitic growths growing on the streets and surrounding buildings.

The entirety of Songpa-gu had transformed into a nightmarish realm.