The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

Chapter 103

The Black Fog bought Seol and Mirei enough time to escape the Shadow Hunters.

Urgh

Mirei, are you alright?

Im fine. I just I just need to catch my breath.

Mirei pulled out a cigarette from her inventory and placed it in her mouth. It was lit shortly after, letting smoke roll out of her mouth.

Haha how unsightly.

Is that a painkiller?

Howd you know?

Pandea had many kinds of painkillers in the shape of a cigarette. They often absorbed its effects by burning it and inhaling the smoke.

She carries painkillers around with her?

As Seol gave her a suspicious look, Mirei simply shrugged.

"Its because my body's in pretty bad condition."

...Is this what you meant about not having that much time?

- Hm What should I do I dont have that much time, though. Could you perhaps ask someone else?

Those were the words Mirei told Seol when he first met her.

You remember that?

Answer me. Dont hide anything from me anymore, either.

...Fine. Youre right. I dont have that long left to live.

How much time do you have left?

I dont know either. At the longest it could be more than a year. At the shortest, I could even die tomorrow. But thats life, though, no?

Mirei gave a sheepish smile while exhaling more smoke.

I feel a bit better now. Should we keep walking? My hideout isn't too far from here. We have more than enough time to talk while walking. And Im sure you havent forgotten, but I am a pretty busy person, too.

After finishing her sentence, Mirei wobbled to her feet.

Are you sure they havent found your hideout, though?

I dont know. Still, even if they did, it should take them some time. Those guys normally hunt Shadow Summoners through their sense of smell or instinct, so I prepared special measures for them there.

I see. One more question then, why cant I use Shadow Summon in front of the Shadow Hunters

It was your first time meeting a Shadow Hunter, huh? Those guys are trained to hunt Shadow Summoners specifically. It isnt too strange for them to have a special skill or two. Well, it wouldnt work against someone on Gregorys level or anything, but it is dire for people like us.

As she said, being unable to use his shadows in his Shadow Space was a horrible experience that Seol did not want to have again.

But then how did thwart Malacus when she couldnt use her summons?

Even if Seol could break through the Wall of Awakening this Adventure, what next? Was he really capable of defeating or avoiding Malacus?

Seol's demeanor shifted to seriousness in response to the critical situation.

Dont worry too much. If the experiment is successful

Mirei, I cant trust you anymore.

......

You hid way too many things from me. Your name, your pursuers, even the fact that you were a shadow.

Sorry.

I havent changed my mind. However, I do think that I have a right to know everything now.

Mirei scratched her head.

What do you want to know?

Everything, responded Seol.

Mireis hideout entered their vision finally.

I want you to tell me what you are afflicted with, why the Shadow Hunters are chasing you, why your relationship with Gregory soured, and

Seols golden eyes exchanged glances with Mireis eyes.

Why you became a shadow?

Mireis lips twitched.

* * *

Gregory was an ill-tempered and heartless individual.

You stupid idiot! Give up already!

"No! I don't want to, Gregory, you stupid idiot!"

Gregory was stupid.

How dare you say that to your master?!

I dont need any lessons like this!

Hah!

And Mirei hated Gregory.

She couldnt understand why people revered him as a legendary individual.

Still, regardless of how she viewed him, Gregory was undoubtedly a legendary Shadow Summoner.

At a young age, he delved into the unique study of Shadow Summoning.

Shadow Summoning was a study that the summoners of the past generation simply wrote off as delusional.

However, Gregory gathered the scattered fragments into one. And then, he combined them with his own theories to create his own study.

That was how Shadow Summoners, a class that never existed before, was born.

Gregory had multiple disciples as well, but there was one disciple he treasured the most.

That disciples name was Mirei.

She, his third disciple, was an orphan from a small tribe that he took in and raised, at a young age when she was still being breastfed. His decision to do so was deemed eccentric by others.

However, Gregory saw it differently.

She is a genius.

Mirei was a genius.

Her intelligence was blinding. The rate she absorbed new information made Gregory believe that she could quickly reach the essence of Shadow Summoning.

Gregory was in awe of her.

Mirei will become greater than even me someday.

However, Gregory hadnt taken her nature into account.

He later learned that Mireis name meant kind flower. Like her name suggested, Mirei was kind.

She loved all life and cherished it.

The problem was that her personality stood in the way of her reaching greater heights as a Shadow Summoner.

Mirei, shadows are a tool. No, even describing them as tools would be dangerous. They are savage beasts. You must always keep a leash on them and teach them to be subservient.

No, shadows can become friends.

You are foolish I know the true power of shadows. They are a frightening existence. Showing an opening by cherishing them is a dangerous action. One day, they will devour you.

They always fought back and forth with their words like this.

Gregory wished for her to obediently focus on his teachings. He even planned to pass down everything he owned to her one day.

However, she refused it all.

"Gregory, you are the smartest person I know. You're smarter than meno, you're smarter than anyone. However, for this... just this... I'm right. Shadows aren't simple existences subservient to power. We also arent their masters either. We simply need to understand them more."

You fool shadows are dead. You, someone whos living, would have to bear all of their regrets. Do you really think you would be capable of enduring that? You would simply be swayed and used by them!

I will use my life to prove that Im right. And you, Gregory youre just a coward whos simply too scared of shadows to approach them.

You will one day learn the meaning behind my words, Mirei.

Gregory and Mireis relationship had ended there.

After all, their approaches to Shadow Summoning were intrinsically different.

Mirei then left Gregorys side, and after that, she traveled the world.

However, as she had left Gregorys side, many who held grudges against Gregory began targeting her, too.

One of such groups was the Shadow Hunters.

Gasp Gasp

She had gone through many difficult battles, but she was still diligent with her research.

The Genius Mireis 7th Log To coexist with shadows, we must go beyond assimilation. Assimilation is just another word for the summoner to hold onto the reins while they use the shadows as tools. There is a limit in understanding each other with this method.

A lot of time had passed.

For Gregory For Mirei

She had gone through many fake identities, shown many fake expressions She was now living while pretending to be someone else.

However, Mirei still held onto one truth.

Is it hard, Sodin?

Sodin was a shadow who had been with her for many years. And Mirei, like her name suggested, was always kind to him.

...Im alright.

Let me know if it hurts.

Im fine, but how are you?

Me? Haha Im good, too.

Sodin always felt sorry for her.

Despite her research going on for many years, no progress had been made at all. He, her shadow, believed that he was at fault for it.

Mirei, your theories might be true. However

Stop.

The reason your research has made no progress is because I am weak. It might be better to look for another shadow

Stop talking about that. Thats not the problem.

Mirei sincerely believed that. She also believed that with enough time, she could coexist perfectly with shadows, too.

However, something unexpected happened.

She did not have much time left.

Krgh

Mirei, you witch!

Her pursuers were persistent.

Especially the group with the Shadow Hunter named Malacus.

In the end, she was pierced by his arrow and swept away by the river.

Haha How could this be To think that I, the genius Mirei cough would make a mistake like that.

It was a mistake getting onto the carriage like that.

Malacus had caught her. She fought back well, but she couldnt avoid his arrow.

Mirei used her wits to barely avoid him, but she was in a critical condition. She had spilled too much blood.

Her consciousness was fading. Blood continued dripping out of her chest.

Gasp Urgh Whats the number this time? Sodin, do you remember it?

...the 299th Log.

Yeah. Th-the Genius Mireis 299th Log Uh I cant think anymore. Why cant I think? Sodin, dying is quite interesting. It hurts, but it also doesnt hurt. Was it like this for you, too, Sodin?

...It was.

Youre still here, thats a relief Huh Huh? So that was it. Yeah, that was the problem!

What are you saying, Mirei?

I found out why we couldnt coexist. Cough N-No I cant die like this I only just learned now. I need to prove it to Gregory

Mirei!

Mirei realized it moments before death.

She realized that she was right. She realized the method to become one with a shadow.

She discovered the method to go beyond the master-servant relationship, the method to make them truly accept each other.

The summoner has to experience death too. Thats the only difference between shadows and summoners. All we had to do was understand that. But how? Urgh What do I I dont have enough time No

Mireis clear, glass-like eyes started to cloud.

She was moments before death.

But then

Sodin opened his lips.

Mirei.

Maybe if we temporarily put them into a false-death state ah, so it was that.

Mirei.

Sodin its cold. Were you always this cold, too? Im sorry, I didnt know. Th-theres a blanket in the bag

Mirei, listen to me.

Thud.

Sodin fell to his knees in front of Mirei. As her eyes grew cloudier and cloudier, she asked him a question.

Do you think Gregory was right about my death? Were you disappointed that I couldnt make your hopes come true, Sodin? Are you going to eat me now because of it?

No. I swear to you thats not true, Mirei.

Im so relieved

Sodin then spoke to Mirei while giving her a resolved look.

You are a kind person.

Hehe Yeah, thank you.

Grab.

Sodin grabbed Mireis hand.

Strength was leaving her hand. Just like Sodins cold hand Mireis hand would soon become like that, too.

And then, Sodin said something to her.

I will buy you some time.

What What are you saying?

Thud.

Sodin put his forehead to the floor.

You must not die here. Werent you the one who always said this? That you would leave behind a great mark That you would prove that Gregory was wrong That you would give shadows a life after death

......

I will give you my body. It wont last long, but it should still give you enough time to yell into the world.

No, Sodin. Urgh Dont do it! Dont do itttttt!

If I was stronger I could have protected you Im sorry for being weak.

Fwoooooosh!

Sodins black energy pulled apart before wrapping around Mirei.

It was as if she had been covered in a new layer of skin.

Mireis fading consciousness even returned, giving her enough time to hear Sodins last words.

Mirei, you were my hope. I hope that you can achieve your dreams. Goodbye, my friend

* * *

Smoke puffed out of Mireis cigarette. The smoke held her memories.

It also held Sodins face, his voice, and his memories.

The living and the dead accepting each other Its easy to say, but is that really possible? Thats what youre thinking, right?

...I understand everything now.

You know Gregorys summons are all powerful, but they all despise him. He restricts them and controls their actions.

Seol patiently listened to Mireis words.

But is that the right thing to do? I dont think so. So thats why Im going to challenge it. Im going to challenge it until the end, until I can leave behind that great mark.

She looked at Seol.

There wasnt even a hint of playfulness on her face anymore.

And Im going to do it through you. So now, choose. Youre free to go back now if you want. If you do, it will be like we never met each other, and you will guarantee your own safety the further you go from here.

And whats the other option?

Assist me and see the end of this research. During that process, you will experience death too. So, what will you do?

Now that Seol knew everything, the only thing he had to do was choose.

After a short thought, Seol opened his mouth to answer her.